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[WP] FTL travel is ludicrously simple. The only reason humans haven’t discovered it yet is because it doesn’t work within 1000 light years of earth
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"Get past the barrier\n\n My eyes, crusted shut, slowly began to open albiet with some difficulty. I tried to lean forward lifting my head off the side of the bathtub, but a shot of pain shot through my neck, and a tired groan came out of my mouth. My hand came up to massage my neck as I resumed getting up more slowly.\n I reached over to my phone to check the time. It read 9 pm and I was relieved I hadn't spent longer than an hour passed out in the bathtub. \nI rubbed my eyes to clear the final remnants of blurriness, and relief quickly turned into confusion after a weird mass suddenly covered my face. \nI pulled the towel off of my face.\n\noily, pale skin contrasted by the crimson red of an Adidas tracksuit. His gut shot out comically from under it, and more odd than either of those things was the face, small beady eyes, the wrinkles of his rounded face was centered with a huge nose.\n\nI would later learn this creature was an alien, taking the human facade most similar to his natural one and that I was going to be whisked away for a sci fi debriefing\n\nThey chose me to be the gateway into earth, because I really like sci fi novels.\n\nAs the \"alien\" explained this all to me, including the fact that his name was George, as you can assume it was met with some skepticism.\nBefore I had time to make a rebuttal towards the intruderl, which I had surprisingly abstained from doing so, being that most of my focus was on covering up my privates, my vision turned black for a moment, and bathroom was replaced with sci fi stuff.\n\nIf you were to count, 27 aliens sat in 3 rows of nine in criss cross applesauce on bleacher type things. \n\nI saw one of them in a red tracksuit off to the side.\nThe ambassador that spoke first did so with a sense of urgency, and he made very human expressions with his alien face.\n\nAntimatter was blocked in a sphere, 1007.83629 light years away from earth. It was done, maybe for the constriction of progress, but mostly to protect the Civilization from outside assault.\n\n The barrier was put into place as per usual for any budding intelligent life, by an association called the galactic embassy.\n\nThe reason I have been rudely summoned, is because politics within the embassy make it advantageous for them to drop the barrier in 23 years.\n\nThey ( being the 27 elephant aliens who are ambassadors from the galactic embassy) said they would have told us much earlier, but they had to do some studying concerning our culture and language, since we were a type of creature with many languages. The ambassadors had a exasperated office worker vibe to them as they described this, as if this very important thing was some mundane task like making copies or sending memos.\n\nSkip to him in bed, we can see that after the alien debriefing, the clock reads 1:02 am. He sighed and has some trouble sleeping,although he'd much rather absorb the data he'd been given rather than sleep.\n\nHe said they need a 'hero.'and while endearing they thought this was the best approach, I cringed at how unconvincing this was. It's strange they utilized such a naive alien species to do the ambassador work. Now being that I had my time to think, I thought about the chances of anything I just experienced being true or real. The chances were pretty low.\n\nAnd even if it was real what if they were lying? For now I decided to play along, out of fear, and out of a lack of an alternative. \n\nMy council with the president began and while I had doubts about the security of the conversation, I began with *do you read any sci fi, mr president?\"\n\n12 years later\n\nGreg's face is adorned with scars and a weird jockstrap. His previously lackluster body is now very toned and his muscles bulge out of his clothes, which are now very ripped and tattered. He sits relaxedly and he slides a VR headset onto his face. \n",
"If you're receiving this message, it's already too late. I'm sorry, but you are already dead.\n\nThis message is being simulcast in all Gal-Standard BabelFish frequencies from a position up to 1000 light years from your current position. It is our fervent hope that this will allow forward compatibility with the languages of any and all sentiences that enter this area for at least the life span of the small yellow star being used as broadcast power source.\n\nYou have probably already noticed that your vessel has ceased all FTL travel. This is a deliberate effect - this area has been permeated with a quantum wave-particle effect, causing a localized convergence of space and time. In the area of effect of this field, FTL and even high-*c* travel of any kind is completely impossible.\n\nAs your vessel was no doubt traveling at an appreciable fraction of light speed when it was forcibly exited from FTL, you are most likely now a considerable number of light years from the boundary, and as your vessel continues to slow, it will be exponentially more difficult to accelerate again.\n\nI'm sorry, but you're stuck here. Unless your species is exceptionally long-lived, you will most likely live out the rest of your life inside this boundary.\n\n`[MORE DETAILS? [YES/NO]`\n\n`[YES]`\n\nYour sacrifice is a necessary one. During standard planetary seeding, the system at the center of this field was bombarded with the ingredients necessary for sentience to arise. However, shortly after seeding, a previously undetected comet had a close encounter with the fifth planet from the central star, tearing away most of the planet's atmosphere, before colliding with the fourth planet, reducing it to nothing more than a mid-system asteroid belt. Much of the cometary ice was drawn to the next planet in, which had a destructive effect on the seeding efforts - all fledgling sentiences were unable to withstand the oxidization effect, and the seeding of all three planets was determined to be a complete loss. As such, this system was deemed a failure, and unsuitable for future seeding attempts. However, prior to departing, unique local development was detected on the third planet, resulting in the requirement for further observation. \nTo our great disgust, *carbon* based life had developed - great wet things, that *pulse* and *ooze* and force gases through narrow internal fissures to cause atmospheric vibrations at differing frequencies, to pass as a crude communication system.\n\nThe very idea of these... *things* ever finding their way in to the intergalactic community is horrific beyond comprehension. For the good of all civilized beings, this area has been sealed by a 1000 light year quantum space-time interstice implanted in the star - even if the slimy muck-creatures somehow develop space travel, they will never be able to leave this system; not until their star has burned out, leaving their world as nothing more than an ashen husk.\n\nTo you, unknown traveler: I'm sorry - your loss is unfortunate; tragic even. But it is necessary.\n\n...\n\n^(*...filthy mud things from rust-hole planets...*)\n\n...\n\n`[MESSAGE REPEATS]`"
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[WP]: You aren't used to having a permanent name. "Call me whatever" is how you have introduced yourself for decades. But one name haunts you.
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"“Call me Marlie,” said I, dressed in layers of pristine white cotton fibers, on the day I first met the love of my long life. My audience was one man, dressed in old, dirty brown cloth, his hands prematurely wrinkled from a short lifetime of hard and unrewarding labor. With one look in his eyes I knew that this man was nothing special to the world. He was just a poor farmer. Each harvest was sufficient but not enough. He was intimately familiar with hunger but still believed he could know fullness. This man was hope and desperation and an all too human resilience all rolled into one. He defied logic. He defied me.\n\nWhile my lonely millennia had taught me passiveness his mere two decades had taught him joy.\n\nI still remember the first words he spoke to me. He had grinned at me, uncaring of the gaps in his rotten teeth, and proclaimed, “If Marlie be yer name, then I’ll call ya tha’.” \n\nI smiled back at him and took hold of his weathered hand. To the world, this man was nothing special. He would grow old and die as generations of his ancestors had. History would forget him as it forgot all men of common, unadventurous blood.\n\nAs I one day spoke words of love and devotion, I knew that he would one day be forgotten. As we were wed I knew that all too soon I would hold his limp hand as a widow and not as a new bride. When he was overjoyed with the birth of our first child I despaired at the thought of one day holding my own offspring, weakened and mortal and dying.\n\nI knew I would outlive him. I would outlive all of them. There would be suffering and death and none of them would outlive me, as nothing has outlived me before. My husband and children and my children’s children would wither and fade as I persisted as I always had. \n\nI never regretted a moment at his side. My hopeful farmer, my indomitable soul, my Erle.\n\nAs I walk through the modern worlds of commerce and technology I go by different names. Mildred, I was once called decades ago. Meadow is a name I go by when I feel whimsical and overcome with the chaos of the world around me. Mila is my name when I am adventurous, Madison if I want to pass unnoticed, Meghan when I am bored. The name I am known by now is Melanie but it is nothing to me. It is but a word, void of power and importance. \n\nIn all my time on Earth only two names have any true meaning: Erle and Marlie. Two names now forgotten by time, those of a lowly English farmer and the farmer’s strange wife. \n\nOne day, I will hear my true name spoken again. Yet today I must wait. Erle is not here. \n\nMarlie lies sleeping, waiting, and patient.\n"
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[WP] In hell, worlds most evil people are forced to play DnD forever. Their torturer/DM: Gandhi
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"The creak of iron hinges echoes across the chasm, four pairs of feet shuffling in to the dimly lit room. Silently they make their way through the sparsely furnished area to a lone table with five chairs, each with a named placard at the place setting. \nHitler is the first to take his seat, reaching into a small German leather pouch at his waist and retrieving a handful of dice and a small pencil only to toss them on to the table before him. \nVlad, Pol Pot, and Joseph Stalin all follow suit, taking their places, and looking about at the various sheets and books stacked across from each other. \nExchanging glances between the items strewn about and amongst eachother (with Pol squinting ever so much more than the others), neither noticed a small robed figure emerging from the shadows at the far side of the room. Smiling about himself as he always had, he stood behind the head of the table and politely bowed before fixing his wire-framed glasses, taking in the sight of the four men before him. \n\"Greetings. I have been informed of who each of you are and why you are here- and it is my utmost pleasure to introduce you to my favorite past-time: Dungeons & Dragons.\" \nThe four men looked back and forth with confusion but resigned to let the man continue. \n\"This is a game of make-believe. It will require a lot of reading at times, and as we are using the 3.5 version of the rules- we will have so very much to comb through at times. Patience will be a virtue here.\" \n\"Oh yes.. there is one more rule that I have.\" the man continued with a beaming grin. \n\"You will only be playing characters with a true neutral alignment.\""
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[WP] Your nemesis has just revealed him/herself. To your surprise, your nemesis declares you as the evil one.
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"Now hold up.\n\nThat's not right.\n\nThat's not right at all.\n\nThis fool doesn't have the slightest clue what he's talking about.\n\nHe's an idiot.\n\nJust a real idiot.\n\nI mean, me? The bad guy? \n\nIt's laughable!\n\nSure, okay. I raided the military base.\n\nAnd maybe some innocent soldiers died.\n\nAnd maybe some civilians got caught in the cross fire.\n\nAnd maybe that bridge *did* collapse onto the boat passing under it when I set off the bomb.\n\nBut they wouldn't stop chasing me in their humvees.\n\nBesides, I needed the weapons.\n\nAnd the fighter jet.\n\nAnd the tank. \n\nBecause that bastard is up to something vicious and I'm gonna put a stop to it."
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[WP] Tonight, the most popular dive bar in the galaxy will close its doors. You are the bartender on duty when all of its most interesting patrons stop by to say good bye.
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"The shift started out like most others, the small in number; but vast in reputation and stories, regulars began to saunter in around midday. I'd learnt a lot working my shifts at the bar and heard just about every story there was to hear, even if only one in ten were true then these folks had lived some serious lives. most of the regulars were human or humanoid enough so imagine my surprise when a blob like creature appeared in the door way just after three. The rest of the bar fell silent as he slid towards the bar, his body more devouring the stool he chose rather than what I would call sitting on it, still no one spoke. \"so what will it be bud\" I had to hold my tongue almost calling him blub, a mistake I'm glad I didn't make. \"bud light\" the creature replied; I wasn't sure where the voice came from or if it had been a voice at all, it had to be! Even in these parts Telepathic beings were rare..\n\nI noticed some of the regulars shuffling nervously in their seats as I cracked open the bottle and placed it down in front of the customer. \"I don't see you around here often\" I quipped and what I can only assume was an eye seemed to peer back, looking me up and down slowly. \"I don't think your species had even evolved the last time I came around these parts\" the voice sent a shiver down my spine for some reason as I imagined the wealth of knowledge and power such a creature could amass, being older than the entire human race. I was drastically dragged back to reality when a small opening appeared and an audible gas quench bubbled forward... I could only hope that was a burp! \n\n\"I hear you're shutting down tonight.. for good this time\" the voiced cracked again, I was beginning to be almost certain that it was in fact inside my head and so I tested my theory, I spoke no words but thought \"yes, Bobs lease runs out soon, he is packing up and moving sector\".. I waited... \"ahhh I see\" replied the voice \"I haven't seen Bob for a long time, I must be going soon though so I don't suppose I'll catch him... would you tell him Klickin called in, just to say bye to the place, thank you my dear boy... I do fear your day Is about to become a lot more hectic\"\n\nsuddenly the connection seemed to be lost and the Blob was completely gone from sight, then I noticed them. Stood in the door way like silhouettes but they were not, the Shadows were probably the most notorious killers in the sector or maybe this galaxy... and I just remember how they used to love to drink here!\n"
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Should we answer? or not? What would be their interest?
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[WP]The Cosmic Phone is Ringing
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"\"Can you see it?\" He whispered on the wind, gracing the ear of every individual in the crowd of thousands in front of him, all humbled into an ambiguous silence, all waiting on the spaces between his words for something they weren't entirely sure they were ever sincerely promised, something intangible at its core.\n\nThey were lawyers, doctors, fools, skeptics, rich and poor- all failing alike in letting go of their labels as if them turning up at all was simply a matter of taking the ghost for a walk. But he did not falter, nor did he move from where he'd first been spotted sitting for 13 continuous days, unmoved. Harry, they believed he was called. How to properly address him now was a mystery of international proportions. \n\nQuite suddenly the huddled masses did see, not with their eyes, or anything of the physical realm, but with the I that watches the I- the impartial witness. And with gentle but lung-emptying expressions of wonder, some began to weep, and those who weren't too overwhelmed turned to one another in order to join hands and hearts without discrimination. And it was with this they found themselves unanimously fixating on a single butterfly, whose aqua wings thudded with each beat leaving a trail of uneven air and a tremor reverberating endlessly around the Earth. It danced in the late summer sunlight and its hearty heat.\n\nA compassionate smile crossed the weathered face of 'Harry' as he spoke \"the cosmic phone is ringing\".\n\nTo this day, we don't know quite who we had contact with, but it's often assumed it's someone out there. They seem to have rang in the name of peace."
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[WP] Your split personalities learned how to form their own bodies and left you one day. You've recently begun to suspect that one of them is back and is trying to steal your significant other from you.
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"\"Leave, just get out,\" the man named Ed tells me.\n\nI know who he is. It isn't that he looks like me - he doesn't really, even though he is me - but I can tell by the way he speaks that he is the Ed who seeks dark thrills at night, makes me hate myself when I really think about it, makes me sick on work mornings, makes me not me.\n\nI don't reply. Instead, I pack what I can in my large messenger backpack: underwear, t-shirts, socks, deodorant, my glasses, a laptop.\n\nAnd I go. I make my way to the Lafayette subway station, take the C train to the A, take the A to the Airtrain, take the Airtrain to JFK, and buy a ticket to LA. I buy some water, board the plane, and settle in.\n\nI don't feel him. I'm free. When the flight attendant comes by offering anything from booze to soda, I don't hesitate: I order a beer and drink it like a normal person, just feeling the cool buzz without needing to hurt anyone. I'm free.\n\nMy family is happy to see me back home in San Diego. They don't ask many questions - they know that I fled quickly, and that asking questions would probably send me packing again. My parents put me up. I get a job. I get my own place. I go to the gym. I run. I reconnect with old friends. I fall in love.\n\nShe's a lot like me: a past she doesn't like to talk about, but we share our new freedom from whatever lives we left behind. We just want peace, silence, safety, and we find it within one another. We don't want greatness or attention, just to be left alone together, free and in control of our destinies.\n\nOur wedding is a reflection of ourselves: A quiet Friday afternoon, just the two of us, my childhood friend as a witness, an anonymous but friendly clerk from San Diego city hall. We have tickets to Spain for a long weekend to celebrate simply. We marry quickly, happily, a genuine smile from my friend and the clerk.\n\n\"Congrats,\" says Ed, drink on his breath, \"I got this.\""
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[WP] You travel back in time, through history, and decide to go to the Big Bang. Once there you witness the event, but then you keep going, only to come upon the previous universe. You travel to Earth to greet people worried about a black hole nearby that is growing. You have both good and bad news.
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"My time machine phased me onto the past Earth with a low hum and a flash. I stepped out of my glass orb to find a city swirling in chaos. To my left, a grocery store was being raided by seemingly normal people with an unfamiliar primal look in their eyes. On my right, a massive screen shone on the side of a skyscraper. A news anchor's head was projected, looming over the city. He stood unwavering. His voice was the voice of extinction. Calmly and coldly, he delivered the news that was the source of all the chaos.\n\n*The black hole is upon us. Evacuation attempts have all failed. May we pass in peace.* \n\nWith each loop of the message the terror of what I was witnessing dug itself deeper into my skin. I sat still for a while and watched the world burn. After a few minutes I broke myself free from the contagious and paralyzing despair. \n\n\"I know what I must do\"\n\nMy time machine had room for one more person and I was not going to watch an entire race die before my eyes. \n\nLuckily, in the midst of the riot, no one had noticed my time machine and I. I think this was for the best, these people were desperate. They knew their demise was inevitable as well as I did and they would have latched on to any chance at escape they could. \n\nI had to find someone, and convince them to come with me. All without tipping off the desperate mob that their may be a light at the end of the tunnel. \n\nIt was then that I saw her. A stoic beacon in a buzzing crowd. She sat curled up on the curb, casually eating an apple, while the world fell around her. I approached.\n\n\"How are you so calm?\" I shouted, to overcome the noise of the crowd. \n\nShe looked up, flashing her green eyes. \n\n\"This is no big surprise, it's been on the news for years.\" She looked back down at the street.\n\n\"We just couldn't do anything about it, I lost hope a long time ago\"\n\nI leaned closer and prepared to do what I came here to do. \n\nIn a whisper I said \"do you want to come with me? I have a way out\" \n\nShe scoffed \"There is no way out, it's over.\"\n\nI grabbed her hand\n\n\"If you have any sense of hope and curiosity left in you, then follow me\"\n \nA smile peaked over her delicate chin, showing an emotion that I imagine hadn't been seen on Earth in quite some time.\n\n\"What's your name anyway. I at least want to know which delusional guy is holding my hand at the end of the world.\"\n\n\"Im Adam, and I told you it's not the end for us. Now c'mon\"\n\nWe ran towards the pod hand in hand. Her voice flinched with each stride as she called out \"don't you want to know my name, oh valiant savior\"\n\nI had already known her name. I knew just who she had to be. Humanity had to start anew and you can't start a new world with a Nancy or a Gretchen. \n\nBefore I could answer, Eve and I made it to the pod. In a blur, we left the old world behind. Only to find the green gardens of a world reborn.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"
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[WP]As the ice began to recede around the edges of Antarctica, small ancient buildings had been revealed.
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"Throughout history, a special type of being has been talked about. Some call them Gods, most recently we've started calling them Superheroes. Their stories are as old at time itself and they come from all over; the Vikings had tales of Gods of War and of Light, Christians have the Holy Trinity, and Marvel has Apocalypse and the Hulk. Often talked about but never confirmed, these beings are known to have immense power, ranging from control of electricity to providing fruitful harvests to telekinesis. They've remained a mystery, but that might be changing.\n\n\nIn the year 2022, global warming has become less of a threat and more of a reality; glaciers have melted and climates have changed drastically. Among these changes is the warming of the polar caps. Antarctica has been hit the hardest with a record-breaking recession of ice along the outsides of the continent. Antarctica is now the *third* largest desert in the world, behind the Sahara and Arabian Desert. As the ice continues to recede, newly discovered ancient structures are emerging, and with it, knowledge of archaic beings are coming to light.\n\n\nWhat remains of the few discovery teams that have been dispatched to these locations have found technology that is far more arcane or technical than we've ever seen. A hammer than cannot be moved, shoes with wings that allow for flight, and a bush that provides constant warmth, like a hearth. We have limited data analysis on these items as our trips have been... problematic. Members of the discovery teams are vanishing without a trace and no source has been located. The situation is rife with unknowns, but you have all been selected to ship out in two weeks to collect these relics at all costs.\n\n***\n\nCritique is welcomed. I started writing this but ended up not liking the way it was flowing. Instead of deleting it all and moving on, I wanted to throw it out there.",
"A documentary crew had seen the spectacle firsthand—so they had told us—before the initial existence of its existence became classified knowledge. Inside a helicopter circling the arctic shelves. A climate change expose set to release some four years later; the crew had braced themselves for the long run. Cameras had been focused for some time on the cliffs already. Massive ice giants propelled off the land by the hour, and for most of the crew the spectacle of thousands of tons of ice falling had long since worn off. Nevertheless they were there, cold and silent watching the continent fall away.\n\nIt was during the days end, the crew nestled in a research outpost scrying through the days video that they felt the world begin to shake. Massive rumblings, like a spike driven into the heart of the land. Cups and pots thrown around, compound shaking, it lasted three minutes. The structure fell silent again, quieter now than previously. The crew held fast to sink ends and steel pipes waiting for aftershocks. They’d been there month in and month out, some existing in these freezer shacks well into the summer warmth. All of them were veterans to this land. In the wake of such a rumbling, they’d felt in its aftermath fear reminiscent of their first days out in the cold; an unmistakable reminder of the sheer power this land possessed. \n\nMars, the on hand supervisor for the team was the first to regain his bearings. Rather than work to right the now years worth of rations scattered across the room, or even help the others still dazed, Mars instead grabbed his winter coat off the rack. Out of all the crew he was perhaps the most well acquainted to this environment. In order for these hostile territories to be traversed experts were required, climate scientists who had a vested interest in this place were few and far between. Quite frankly very few—even with incentive, wanted to return. Mars was the golden in-between—Smart enough to know the dangers, greedy enough to not care. Mars knew earthquakes were money makers. That shaking of that size would probably knock something out of alignment. Seeing a colossal ice fall would make for good footage, and good money. The rest of the crew, disoriented though they were knew better than to argue with Mars over it. They grabbed their gear and followed him out.\n\nThe ice shelf looked more or less the same, Ice was ice after all. Only Mars could truly understand the consequences of the shaking. An earthquake that magnitude no doubt effected the integrity of the structure. All they had to do was wait for the sounds. After only twenty minutes Mars intuition had been validated. Deep, hearty cracks could be heard within a section of the shelf. The crew hunkered as far back into the helicopter as it would allow. The sound alone was terrifying, each new iteration bringing with it tons of ice crashing down into the cold. They watched in silence as the last of the cracks sounded off, and an enormous mass was displaced over head. None of them had ever seen something of this magnitude, the ice came down into the ocean with force, prompting spumes and sprays of water high enough to hit the crew. The scene was as amazing as it was terrifying, and they’d gotten it all. \n\nMars turned around to congratulate the crew on their imminent payday when he noticed they were still mystified by the ice fall. He smiled and joked but found they were still entranced by something, something else. He turned around and saw what engrossed them so. Jutting out of the ice—now deep blue and and almost appearing formed and shaven, were what appeared to be remnants of structures. Burned, decayed red and beige covered points. Within the ice the colors darkened further still near the structure; Shadows moving far across the shelf in every direction. Whatever this structure was, its true size was far bigger than the fraction of the shelf that had fallen to reveal it. \n\nThe crew watched in silence, trying to find some way to rationalize what they were seeing. In the viewing of the structure, Mars suddenly noticed that the silence they were aware of was not simply silence, it was complete and utter absence. Nothing could be heard outside the helicopter anymore. The ice and shards below were mute to them, and the always grating sound of their copters blades overhead had been rendered inaudible. The crew had found their hearing re-directed—forcefully even towards something that demanded it, that could control it. In the back of their heads they could feel a faint vibration, a quiet hum that began to sing in their minds louder and louder. They couldn’t silence the vibrations as they expanded, filtering through their veins and eyes. Then, from the constant rattling a voice was suddenly discernible. It was a grainy and hollowed out tone, it spoke with an emotionless depth that sank into their stomachs. The last thing the crew noted they remembered after that was what they believed to had heard within themselves. A phrase, or a segment of one: “Not time yet.” After which they noted that they’d returned to their encampment, not a single one of them remembering the journey. In the future to come those few word they’d heard would be the mantra by which humanity would, in the near future, live—and perhaps die by.",
"\"It's like they're frozen in time!\"\n\nRichard exclaimed, lying spread-eagle on the ice. Below him, almost like a looking glass to another world, the clear ice revealed ancient architecture - spires of unfathomable height, twisting and reaching upwards, like the city was a hand and the buildings its fingers.\n\nThe icy plains were empty, save for Richard and Josh. The discovery of the frozen city had broken international news - and people began to call it the \"8th wonder of the world\". However, with the wars and universal regulations on planet safety, very few people had the opportunity to indulge in sightseeing. \n\n\"Do you reckon that they're really not as big as they seem?\" Richard stumbled over his words. \"Th-that the ice is magnifying them like what the scientists say?\" \n\n\"Dunno,\" came the surly reply from Josh.\n\nAll around them, the ice had been crafted into artificial dunes. Large craters formed by failed drill attempts pock marked the barren landscape. The city just seemed to grow further away the deeper you dug - and ultrasound tests proved that the buildings were indeed much further down than they appeared.\n\n\"What if its Atlantis? The lost city!\"\n\n\"Rich...\"\n\n\"I mean, imagine that! How would they even know it existed in the first place?\"\n\n\"*Richard*....\"\n\n\"I mean, I doubt it. That's just not reasonable is it?\"\n\n\"**Richard**! Shut up for a second and look!\"\n\nRichard stopped mid-sentence, and immediately did as he was instructed. He pressed his nose against the ice, and cupped his hands around his eyes in attempt to focus on the sprawling buildings beneath him.\nBelow them something seemed out of place. It was tiny - like an ant trapped in a glass sphere. But it just didn't seem right.\n\n\"Wh-what? What *is* that?\" Richard stammered. \n\nJosh sat up, wiping the frost off of his windbreaker. He slung his backpack off his shoulders, and rummaged for a while before finding his binoculars.\n\nHis hands trembling, he pressed them against the ice, and peered through them... and found somebody peering right back at him. The corpse looked like a normal human - other than his ashen blue skin and lips. His face was pulled into a twisted smile and his eyes visibly glazed, even through the ice.\n\nNaturally, Josh recoiled. Richard clambered over to him to take a look as well.\n\n\"Well, would you look at that! Do you think the ice makes us look small to them too?\" Richard asked, ever full of wonder.\n\n\"Don't you know what this means, you idiot!?\" Josh chastised his slow witted companion.\n\n\"...no?\"\n\n\"He's dead! Look at him! We could be in danger - we have to go, now!\" Josh knew something about this had felt wrong from the start. The mounting dread in his chest had eclipsed, and he knew they had to leave, NOW.\n\n\"C'mon!\" Josh shouted, tugging Richards arm. \n\nBut Richard didn't budge, he stayed, peering through the ice.\n\n\"*Richard*! I want to leave, *now*!\" \n\nJosh pulled Richard again, but unfortunately reality dawned on him too late.\n\nAs Richard's body turned limply on the ice, Josh noticed the blue tint of his skin, the glaze in his eyes...\n\n*and his twisted smile*.\n\n",
"The Soviet icebreaker carves through the ice, as thick as a man is tall, cutting it like cardboard. A little resistance, but barely: a deep crunch echoes out over the ice, announcing our arrival to the Arctic.\n\nI stand on the deck with a few of the other scientists. Deckart, the geologist, scopes the horizon with an enormous pair of binoculars. I've only known him a few days, and I already know his mind is usually miles away.\n\nRosa May, the biologist. She is a study in life herself. She emerges on the deck behind me, an enormous scarf ensconcing her head. I hear a sniffle. She's been fighting a cold.\n\n\"We there yet?\"\n\nI turn to look at her. \"Have you looked around? You see all this ice, right?\"\n\nShe takes a moment to scan the world outside the ship.\n\n\"Isn't much to look at, huh? Bunch of ice cubes?\"\n\nI stare at her in disbelief. Scientists are in awe of the world, find miracles in every corner. I haven't seen Rosa May impressed by anything yet. And the worst part: I can't ever tell when she's kidding. Or is that the best part?\n\n\"...the fuck.\"\n\n\"What was that, Deckart?\"\n\n\"I'm not seein' this.\"\n\nI look down at Rosa May, unconsciously intending to share a quizical look with her, but she is busy blowing her nose over the deck railing.\n\nStanding next to Deckhart, I squint my eyes and try to follow the direction is binoc's are pointing. He notices me standing there and passes them over.\n\n\"What am I looking at, Deck?\"\n\n\"Take your face out of those things for a second. *There*.\"\n\nHe points out over the ice, leaning in close so I can follow his arm like a rifle sight. I see what look like black specks.\n\nAn image is written on the glass of the binoculars in an instant. I almost drop them over the railing.\n\nBlocks of concrete. Shaped, artifical materials. Steel, by the look of it, no way to know. Geometric shapes with holes that only intelligent creatures include in their homes, windows, portals to survey their environment. Buildings in enormous clusters, honeycomb, emerging from the ice as the sun rises over a mountain and reveals it in sweeping lines of shadow and light - there and not there.\n\nMy heart begins to pound, and my eye is attuned for sensing movement in the scene before me. I know it's improbable.\n\n\"What is this?\"\n\n\"This trip just got a lot more interesting.\"\n\n---\n\nThe ship stopped a few hundred yards away from the first building. While the crew stayed behind to take pictures and radio in details about the size and location of the frozen city, I volunteered for the expeditionary force. \n\nWe are making our way over the ice, the dwellings in the ice looming over us. The group consists of me, Deckart, Rosa May, an arctic guide, Jim, and a couple of guards with semi-auto shotguns, for any enterprising polar bears. Or now, for any hostile creatures we may stumble upon.\n\nA voice crackles over Jim's radio. \n\n*\"Scouting party, give us live updates. What's your status?\"*\n\n\"We're approaching now.\"\n\nThere's a pause on the airwaves that feels like hesitation - a beat before an inevitable question.\n\n*\"Any signs of life?\"*\n\n\"Nothing.\"\n\n---\n\nWe're walking through the streets of this place, if you can call them streets, and if you can call this a place.\n\nI'm walking in a dreamland. This isn't real. \n\nShimmering facades of smooth metal towers shine in the Arctic sun above. To our left, the south, are a few rows of buildings, then empty ice and then the ship. To our right, the north, the structures fade into the ice. You can see them sitting there, staring out, trapped, for a few feet into the ice, and then they fade into opacity, like a stranger falling into the dark sea.\n\nI hear a deep, dark hum. I can't tell if it is just beginning, or if I didn't hear it before. It comes from beneath and vibrates my core. The wind blows and chills extra.\n\n\"You guys hear that?\"\n\n\"Hear what?\"\n\n\"That humming sound.\"\n\n\"I don't hear anything.\"\n\n\"It's just the ice shifting.\"\n\n*\"Status update?\"*\n\n\"Nothing yet, over.\"\n\n\"What are you doing? Come back here!\"\n\nI look over just in time to see Rosa May disappear into a building half covered in ice. We all jog over and I go in after her.\n\nIt's cold inside, like a walk in freezer. Cold mist twines around my ankles. I don't see her.\n\n\"Rosa!\"\n\n\"Boo!\"\n\n\"What's the matter with you? I almost hit you.\"\n\nShe looks into my eyes with her wild blue orbs for just a second, then turns and runs up a staircase. Without thinking, I follow.\n\nAs we disappear into the building, rounding turn after turn in the staircase, I hear Deckart's muffled voice fade into the cold:\n\n\"...the fuck are you two doing?\"\n\nNow the only sound is the double clatter of footsteps as we rise, rise.\n\nIt is perfectly dark, we only find our way by feel and memory: the steps are all uniform. Our feet learn the cadence of the rise. \n\nShe is always one turn ahead of me. I'm thinking about why I don't call out. Why I just follow. Do I know something? Have I just given in to this? Have I given myself to whatever happens to her?\n\nI'm probably fooling myself. I'm not thinking. We never do. We act, and then come up with a reason for it after. I'll come up with my reason later.\n\nThe stairs end and our final footsteps echo over a room. Perfectly dark, as the stairs, but the sound of it tells us there is a high ceiling overhead and walls far away to the left and right.\n\nNo, not dark. A small, glowing light out over the water of darkness, a spark in the night. A pulse. A hum.\n\nI didn't hear it over my heartbeat and heavy breath, but the hum is loud in here. It fills my ears and my chest and gently vibrates my brain in my skull.\n\nRosa May is walking over to the light. I follow behind.\n\nWe walk for an impossibly long time. The small light becomes bigger, and then it is a tube, a glowing tube as tall as I am, sitting on the floor. It looks like it is made of glass, which is frosted on the outside. A dark shadow lives inside.\n\nThere is a small computer terminal in front of the tube. It is a dark screen.\n\nRosa May puts her hand on in, leaves it there for a few seconds, then takes it off. Nothing happens.\n\nThen...\n\nThe screen turns green. Strange symbols flash across it, then begin to scroll from top to bottom. It finally settles on a set of large symbols that stay on the screen for a few seconds, then scroll off to the left. \n\nEach set of symbols is accompanied by a booming sound that fills the room. It is no language I have ever heard. It doesn't sound like a human language. But what do I know? I'm losing my mind right now.\n\n\"What are they saying?\" Rosa May whispers.\n\nThe words stop at the sound of her voice.\n\n*ENGLISH DETECTED*\n\nThe symbols reappear on the screen. The voice booms again. Only now, the symbols are words, english words, and the voice is speaking human, english words. They repeat again, and again, and again.\n\n \n \n \n\n*INITIATE DEFROST SEQUENCE*\n\n \n \n \n---\nThanks for reading! I've got a lot of stories on r/xilead"
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[WP] You're delivering Pizza one night. When you get to the door of a large Victorian house in the woods, a nervous woman answers the door without opening it all the way. She mouths something to you.
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"\"Excuse me?\" The boy asked the woman behind the door, slightly frustrated at her insistent attempts at mute conversation.\n\n“Did *it* call you here too?” The woman asked, her voice the choked whisper of a beaten child\n\n“If *it* is whoever ordered a pizza to this address, then yeah. *It* did call me here,” he answered with the snarkiness of youth. \n His loud voice caused her to jolt, and he saw the silhouette of her face turn in a scan of her surroundings. \n\n“Please be quiet, *it* always gets the loud ones.” \n\n“What is *it*?” The boy wondered. To his own surprise, he had lowered his voice. Something about the woman unnerved him. She was no prankster, her voice was unmistakably honest and with hints of fear luring by its edges. This wasn’t so strange however, the boy concluded. After all, only a looney would live in a place like this. He had glimpsed bits and pieces of it as he drove up the serpentine road, an oversized and dark house with board-covered windows and rotting roof tiles. He did, however, feel better standing on its wooden porch than he had while driving through the trees. Their naked branches had hung over him like buzzards soaring above a corpse; they had looked hungry, starving even. \n\n “*It’s* not safe,” she said after a brief pause. “You have to leave, leave now.” The woman was now raising her voice, and the boy felt an urge to silence her. Something was watching, something he needed to hide from, he knew in the muddy backwaters of his mind. \n\nHe turned on his heel without a word to the lady behind the door. He could feel her eyes on the back of his neck as he walked the stairs towards his moped. *Hurry*, he felt her whisper. \n\nSomething wasn’t right about the front lawn. When he had parked his moped it had been quite far from any trees, under open skies, now he could merely see the hint of its existence beneath the veil of a weeping willow’s branches. \n\nHis premonition from before came back, stronger than ever. Illogical yet persistent it burrowed into his mind, and before his eyes the trees started swaying in the wind still forest. In the opaque blackness of their shadows, *it* moved, cavorting and twisting in unseen terror. His little bright red moped was now nowhere to be seen, and when he looked around he saw the branches behind him too, reaching for him with their greedy roots.\n\n“Come inside, hurry!” The woman screamed in a desperate injunction. \n\nThe boy’s feet started moving on their own, driven by his phobia of the beyond lurking amongst the trees. He climbed the warped wood of the stairs as the slithering woodwork trailed him like phantasmal huntsmen. \n\n“Open *it*!” He implored as he neared the door, and at his command *it* burst open, letting the boy stumble inside. *It* closed behind him, leaving the boy in squalid darkness as he languished on the house’s dusty floorboards, crying and shaking from nebulous thoughts clashing in his little head. \n\n“Welcome,” a voice said, the husky rasp of dead leaves in the wind. \n\nThe boy opened his eyes, and screamed himself mute at the sights he saw, at the sights that saw him. At *it*, that saw him.\n",
"Let's start out by stating that I don't work for fun, I do it for money. I don't wake up in the morning and look forward to climbing into my '94 camri and driving to God-knows-where in the dark to give people grease-laden bread trays. No, I wake up in the morning and wish that unaccredited technical school had actually panned out.\n\nA pothole in the gravel driveway jolted me out of my nightly mourning. I had already been in a foul mood, but I have hated potholes with a passion ever since two winters ago. Don't ask me about it. I kept a closer eye out for more potholes as I rounded the final bend and approached the large Victorian house at the top of a hill.\n\nThe white weathered house loomed large above my dirty green 'chariot.' A sense of dread overcame me. *What if I don't get a tip?* Old people don't normally tip well; they think that twenty-five cents makes it worth my while to go out in the cold, wet darkness and deliver their non-dessert pie. I swung my legs out of the car with as little effort as possible and made my way to the door, delivery in hand.\n\nThe door crawled open as I trudged up the old creaky steps. And by 'open' I mean 3 inches wider than completely shut. This is about as 'open' as people normally open their doors to strangers that come to their house at nighttime, but you'd think they'd at least be a bit more cordial with guys ferrying around their Italian circles of food layers.\n\nI'm not good at reading people's emotions. Just ask my 23 previous girlfriends. Actually, they all claimed that they had never even been my girlfriend, but I think that was probably just their way of coping with breaking up with me. I'd gauge this woman's current state as 'nervous.' To be honest, I would, too, if I had just fallen in love with the pizza delivery boy.\n\nI think I am as smitten with her as she is with me. She mouths something to me, but I can't hear her over the sound of my heart beating through my chest. Instinctively, I raise the pizza and mumble out how much it costs. It's like the whole world had come into clarity. Oh, how I love my job! If I didn't have it, I would never have met her - my new girlfriend!",
"The woman was very old and shaking all over her body. At first I didn’t fully understand what she was saying to me. I repeated what I had just said to her. \n“Ten euros please. Ten.” I put up all my finger to get the point across. It was freezing cold and I wanted to get back, so I wasn’t really interested in anything she had to say to me. It was time to just collect the money and leave.\n\n“I don’t…I don’t have that much money, sir.” Her voice crackled, but this I understood.\n“Then I’m sorry madam, but I can’t give you the pizza. You have to handle me the money first.”\n\n“B-but, I’m hungry.”\n\n\nI looked again at the gigantic mansion she lived in. Cleopatra would have been jealous of a house like this, but this woman is telling me she hasn’t even got ten euros. What a fool does she think I am? I already had a rough day, it was freezing, I was a bit sick and I had to pee. But despite getting really pissed off I did my best to keep friendly. I would not want her to get a heart attack or anything, god knows when I would be able to get home in that situation.\n\n“I’m really sorry madam. We can’t deliver you a pizza if you don’t pay us first. Those are the rules. Otherwise we’d go bankrupt, I’m sure you understand.”\nIn my head all sorts of curse words were flashing by, but I forced myself to smile. The old woman raised her finger and started smiling secretively. I did not like this attitude one bit.\n“You did not listen to me carefully, young man. I said I did not have that much money. I did not say that I can’t pay. Maybe I”ll be able to pay you in another way.\"\n\nI did not like where this was going. I really did not. Then the woman reached into her back pocket and showed me a rose. “This rose is all I have good sir, it represents kindness and compassion and I hope it will fill you with enough warmth to accept it as a payment.”\n\nThe rose was beautiful and all, but If she had offered me the thing I at first thought she would have offered me, at least I would have been somehow flattered. But this was just plain silly.\n“My boss would not like it if I just came back whit a rose mad-“\n“You should broaden your horizons. Forget about money and bosses or whatever is keeping your prisoner. Look within your heart and accept my token of gratitude.”\n\nMy first delivery ever and off all the people in the world I end up with an overaged hippie. Typical. “Madam please, I really can’t do this. I need to be paid with money.”\n“It’s your last chance young man!”\nSomething in her voice sounded threatening, but I really could not give in to this. “It’s not funny or anything madam. Please. It’s stone cold, I have been here way longer than I should and if you’re going to keep messing with me much longer, can I at least use your bathroom?”\n\n\nThen a lot of things happened at once. The door flew open and there was no sign of the old woman anymore. Now, before me stood a lady in her mid-twenties, who reminded me of someone I had once seen in a toothpaste commercial. I was blinded by the flashing lights of thousands of shooting stars. In the doorway there were gulfs of blue flames that were heading towards me and above me flew a rabbit on a flying bicycle. Then the deep, booming voice of the young lady started chanting. Her message rhymed and was sort of theatrical but in a very exaggerated way. It sounded like shitty teenage poetry from a total amateur and I won't bother you with it. It came down to me being an insensitive demon (maybe she just used the word “monster”, but I’m not really sure) and my appearance would now match the rotten core I had on the inside. I had one month to find someone who could truly love an atrocious piece of filth like me, or else I would forever remain a beast. After this, I felt a tickling sensation all over my body. When I looked at my arms and body, there was nothing but a gigantic, furry mess. Also the pizza was gone and I had pissed my pants. \n\nWhat the hell happened? All the lights in the house had faded. After fifteen minutes of running around the mansion and banging all doors and windows to no response, I thought the only thing I could do was ring my boss. When he picked up I decided to cut the crap and just tell the plain truth. \n\n“Oh no. Not again.”\n\nThere were a few reactions I had expected, but this was not one of them. I heard my boss shout to coworkers in the distance.\n“How many times must I tell you people, that we don’t deliver pizzas to 91, Beaumont Boulevard. That prank is no longer original. Stop sending new guys there, IT IS NOT FUNNY ANYMORE.”\nTo my shock, I heard laughter in the background. My boss started talking to me again. “That woman always does the same thing. We tried to sue her once, but she turned the judge into a candle and all the lawyers into clocks. It was a total mess, I can tell you that. So I’m real sorry mate, but I guess you just have to find someone that really loves you. The last guy who had this done to him already had a pretty devoted girlfriend, so it turned out all right for him. Who are you again?”\n\n“Roger.”\n\n“You’re the new guy, no?” My boss started shouted in the distance again. “It’s Roger. Isn’t that the whiny jerk who I told you not to hire?” Affirmative sounds came from the background. My boss moaned silently under his breath “oh, finding someone is gonna be hell for him.”\n\nI could not believe what I was hearing, then my boss continued.\n“Well Roger, let’s say I just pay you for a month upfront. You don’t have to work or deliver any pizza. It should give you the opportunity to, like, do what you have to do to become, you know, a human being again. If I can give you some advice Roger. There’s a club in town, if you like to go, you could meet somebody who really loves you.”\n\n“You’re kidding. I mean. This is all a joke.”\n\nMy boss chuckled. “I’m afraid it isn’t. But if we look on the bright side, I’d say this is a beautiful opportunity for you to come out of your shell. So as I said, I can give you a month, but then I want you working again, as a beast or as a man, otherwise I will have to fire you. Okay, cheers mate and good luck!”\n"
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Other concepts within this:
The draft goes in order of who lost the most territory the previous year, similar to a sports draft.
Drafting a particular prodigy student after they graduate can cause great upheaval in the war and allow for one of the smaller nation states to rapidly increase their standing and territory. There are several cases of this happening.
Refusing to work or fight for the nation state you are drafted by can have you be exiled beyond the realms of civilization.
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[WP] You attend one of several schools that exist in the world, which lead to a global draft of the best and brightest students, furthering an endless gentleman's war between several nation states.
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"The trick is the pinky. You have to keep it straight out, and *hold* it - the less tremors the better. \n\nIt sounds much easier than it actually is. Try it for yourself. Pretend you're about to sip a cup of tea, grip the imaginary cup by the handle and stick your pinky out as straight as possible, while making sure to minimize the amount of shaking your pinky does. \n\nIf you've done it, congrats! - but before you getting all balloon-headed, that's just the start of it. You have to keep your pinky out for the duration of time it takes you to finish your cup of tea (which, for the true experts who know how to slip slowly enough, can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 days). \n\nI am the best Tea Sipper. And that is how I won the final tournament between the gentleman's war that gave the U.S. control over all nations. Britain was a close second. \n"
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[WP] The universe we live in was actually built by universe-building contractors. You are an intern and you've been assigned to create a boring lifeless world named Earth...
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"I couldn't help myself. I knew I was disobeying direct orders, but could you blame me?\n\nOMN1 had sat us all down on day one and explained what an internship with T3RR4 would mean for all of us. The application and acceptance into the program was only step one in the rest of our careers, the rest of our lives. After three years of working with the company at entry level, we would be given the chance to test up into a more focused position. There were physical creators, who made stars and planets. There were organic creators, who formed different types of living beings. Then there were the metaphysical creators, who manipulated the physical and the organic so that they could feel, explore, and discover purpose.\n\nI spent the first year of my internship working underneath the physical creators. Our supervisors had each of us experiment with forming our own projects. Most of my peers got something fun. Stars. Comets. One of them was assigned a supernova. But HY6R4 wanted me to make a planet.\n\n*Based on your resume and evaluation levels,* HY6R4 told me. *We feel it best for you to continue at this level.*\n\n*Below everyone else* is what they meant by that. But HY6R4 had underestimated me. Everyone in management had.\n\nI snuck into the organic department and began using things I found there to embellish my planet. Earth, that's what they'd told me to name it. What an ugly name. But I could still make it into something beautiful. I began to cultivate flora and fauna on this Earth, each day making a new creature or improving upon one that already existed.\n\nThey roamed over the planet. I loved to watch it.\n\nBut I wanted more.\n\nThe metaphysical department was the most guarded, but I managed to take a few files out during a break and slip them back to my work station. The coding on the first page of what I read was almost a foreign language to me. But I put it into the system for my planet and waited to see what happened.\n\nAt first, nothing.\n\nThen, the second day, everything exploded. Earth had been almost completely taken over by one of the stronger organisms. I watched in horror as the microscopic ecosystem got thrown off balance by these creatures. What had once been a calm world was now an orb overrun by a diseased set of creatures. Apparently the metaphysical code had affected them more strongly than the others.\n\nHY6R4 came over to inspect my progress. Their mouth dropped open in shock.\n\n*What have you done?* they asked me.\n\n*I was hoping you could tell me,* I replied sheepishly. I showed them the code I'd put into the system.\n\nHY6R4 glared at me. *That code is faulty. We had it archived for a reason.*\n\n*Oh,* I replied. *Well. What do we do now?*\n\nHY6R4 sighed. *Watch your planet destroy itself.*\n\n*And then?*\n\n*Start over.*"
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[WP] You are the God that oversee's Earth. Your boss instructs other Gods to give their planets standard dramatic fates, but tells you to end Earth in comedic fashion.
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"It was that time. I sighed deeply as I sat on my cloud. I got an email from my boss. “You know what day it is. But all of these executions have been... how do I put this? Boring. No flash, no color, no fun. If you could, try to make it enjoyable. You might even get a raise.” I clicked off the email and brainstormed. I sat at my desk for 30 minutes thinking of ideas. “GIANT GUN!” I thought about. “No....” I sat there for more time. “Hey God. I was wondering if you could take my shift tomorrow. I know we’re supposed to restart our worlds but it’s my fathers birthday and Kronos is very picky. I have to be there.” I stood there shocked at what he just told me. “What? Tomorrow is recreation day. You expect me? ME? To make it right. Look man. If you walk out that door and I don’t see you, your Greek world will never exist. Or, to be exact, won’t for approximately 4.567 billion years.” Zeus stood wide eyed. He snapped his fingers and walked away. Then, the idea came to me. BOOM!!!!! Rainbow bombs.\n\nHey guys. Something short because I don’t have enough time to edit/fix it. Hope you enjoyed it.",
"You knew it was going to be a long day.\n\nAt work, you get an email from your boss. *hey god can u destroy earth its boring now theres not evem msgic*\n\nYou sigh deeply.\n\nYou find the Comedic Doom button and watch sadly as your planet boils into the void, destroyed by infinite pasta tubes and extraterrestrial cheese."
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Saw this as a title of an Imgur post, thought it might make an interesting WP
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[WP] At first, nothing happened. Then, after a few seconds, nothing continued to happen.
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"She cut the wire. The lights on the panel flickered and went out. She heard a small click as the electronic lock disengaged. Now for the physical. She pulled the pin in her hair which stayed in place due to her skintight suit. This was the easy part. With a slight flick of her wrist, she popped the door open.\n\nThe door to the safe opened with a creak. She inhaled. Rusty hinges were an unforeseen complication. At first nothing happened. She paused. Then, after a few seconds, nothing continued to happen. They must be pretty deep sleepers.\n\nShe swiped the jewels from the safe and slipped out the window into the night. Before she got very far, I figure dropped down in front of her. The outline of a cape and pointed ears were barely visible in the dim streetlight. A deep voice spoke from the shadows.\n\n“That’s not yours, Selina.”",
"At first, nothing happened. It was still and silent as could be. Nothing made a noise, nothing seemed to want to move to end the quiet. A few more seconds, and it continued.\n\nMinutes passed, and the quiet remained steady over the lounge room. Everyone stood in the same spot as they had before the strange, sad groan had fallen on their ears. Those who had been seated, remained as such, as well.\n\nNo one moved.\n\nNo one blinked.\n\nNo one even breathed.\n\nNo one was alive anymore.\n\nThe quiet was frightened away by the repeated sound of the sad groan. It echoed like a whisper throughout the hallways of the brightly lit office building. The sound appeared to be coming from everywhere as the floor became covered in a thick, gray fog. It spread like a cold during the winter season. Quick and unassuming until it had its hold visibly on everyone.\n\nSomewhere in the depths of the conference rooms and manager's offices, someone screamed and something happened.",
"The word \"glorious\" had never rung so true. I hadn't been religious for several years, but I swear the true exalted elation that coursed through me in those seconds of absolutely remarkable *nothing* brought heavenly choirs to a jubilant crescendo. \n\nIn the darkness, I reminded myself gently not to hope. Not yet. Rejoice, of course, in this reprieve; thank every conceivable higher power for this quiet moment.\n\nSo very quiet. I had been screaming my throat raw for so long. I was surprised the echos weren't still bouncing off the walls.\n\nIt had hurt so bad. It hurt and it was dark and the lack of the sense made the pain stronger. Every lash seemed to cut deeper. I often wondered if even my bones were sliced and ragged now.\n\nThey said they kept it dark so that I wouldn't know where I was. I kept trying to place their voices but they spoke only in whispers to disguise them. They didn't say much, anyway. Just used their \"tools\" on me.\n\nGod, it had hurt so bad...\n\nThe silence and the nothing washed over me. Even the slow, steady drip of my blood had ceased its usual tick-tock regularity.\n\nI couldn't even hear my heart beat.",
"Her strength was faltering as she climbed up the ladder. Her clothes hung loosely off her skeletal frame. She reached for the lever to open the hatch but couldn't find the strength to fully grasp it. She used her wrist. As the hatch swung open, the sunlight screamed in her eyes. How long had it been?\n\nAt first, nothing happened. She waited. Then, after a few seconds, nothing continued to happen.\n\nThe attack must be over, she thought. Did we win?\n\nWe didn't. There was nothing left but dirt and rock and bone. All around her, for as far as the eye could see, there was barely a sign that a city had ever stood.\n\n\"Hello,\" she called. \"Hello?\" she screamed.\n\nNothing continued to happen.\n\nShe looked for a vantage point and spent half a day shambling towards a small hill in the distance. She made it nearly a mile, to her credit, before collapsing.\n\n\"Help,\" she whimpered.\n\nAt first, nothing happened. Then, after a few hours, nothing continued to happen.\n\nNight came, something happened, something small and quiet and merciful, and she never saw morning.",
"(Part one)\n\nIt felt like my brain had been reset- since the sound stopped. Seconds later, after I let my heart slow down, and I pulled back the bolt, the spent .308 casing fell from my model 24 R700. With both eyes open, left giving depth perception and right glaring into a scope, third mil dot bellow the reticle resting on my former target. After the muscle memory reignited the fleshy bits between my ears, I felt the glaring heat causing me to sweat. My lungs began to squirm in uncomfortableness, heart pounding, left hand begging for mercy from the unforgiving sun, left forearm begging to retreat from the hateful glare of the cosmic nuclear reactor and into the shade the rest of my body benefitted. \n\nAlmost a mere thirty seconds ago, this man was sprinting across an alley while carrying a PKM. I had seen him briefly as he had turkey peeked the alleyway to look for his foe. He didn’t think that his soul was under a microscope from almost a thousand meters away, or that he was about to undergo a surgical operation to the ‘*Fatal T*.’ \n\nI let out the breath I had been holding in for so long- finally relaxed my shoulders, but kept my eyes open despite a mild irritation. That’s twenty seven confirmed kills in the past four hours. The first ten made me question my humanity. The twenty seventh made me question my ammo count. \n\n“Tango down, kids, how does it look up there?”\nI asked, engaging the next bullet in the magazine into the firing chamber. Then, I detached the magazine and slid each and every 7.62x51mm round into the magazine, letting my children’s words register before lightly slapping the restocked magazine into the smooth mag well, a satisfying click letting me know that it was correctly in position. It was hard at first to make sure I always had a bullet ready to go, even harder to learn to preemptively reload or even reload on demand without moving the gun off of the stable location, situated via bipod in a busted out window and stock in my shoulder.\n\n“Pops, Akira spotted some weird triangle shaped machine that had two circles, one in the front and one in the back. Two men were on it- sis says that it was as fast as a bullet!”\n\nI smirked a little. \n“It’s a motorcycle, son. They were around long before I was born. They have this cap that you unscrew and pour in gasoline- the stuff we used in that napalm batch we made? It makes energy that is used to make the engine operate a-“\n\n“Poppa, no offense but I don’t care. It just moves so fast that I was worried it could outrun your bullet- what if they want your bullet makin thingy or o- they want to eat us like them other townsfolk, pa?” \nMy daughter asked, cutting me off. That’s good, probably needed to be. Who gives a fuck about history and fun facts in the apocalypse? Well, other than the so called military of the new inhabitants in my old town that seemed to know what a reloader was...too bad they didn’t know what a 101st Airborne Ranger was before their now external brain bits became wall graffiti- a gratuitous artwork of childhood memories, regrets, dreams and knowledge. Maybe they shouldn’t have tried to kill a family, regardless of their desires; they might not have ended up as lifeless husks that had the smell of a sewer thanks to emptied colons and bladders. \n\n“Pa, there’s a group comin up on the main road by the ugh...old Jewell....jewel-ers store”\nA man came out in the open- not an alleyway I could barely see, but in the wide open. He had two others at his side, armed with SPAS-12 shotguns and sporting ridiculously well fit business attire that did not match their bodyguard-like role. Having to gently move my rifle so that I could examine the sweat of his brow without causing noticeable movement, I eventually rested my first mil dot bellow the reticle slightly above the area between his eyebrows. I almost pulled the trigger as he reached for something large. IED maybe? \n\nNo- it was a...a fucking loud speaker. A fuckin lifeguard colored megaphone. Even though I had a compensator on the rifle that specifically radiated sound to the horizontal axis of the barrel, the large amount of dead soldiers and relatively nice looking home compared to the others should have been a dead fire way to pin point my location. I’m the new age Albert fuckin Einstein I guess. This dumbass was swinging left to right as he spoke, to give the whole area an audio sweep. This level of stupidity is because of an achievement of intelligence by their ancestors. \n\nMan made a machine that can do the thinking of the world- day later, every major government collapses, any remote accessed digital technology becomes unusable, currencies lose all value, electricity stopped working unless it was for food or climate control purposes. All our spaceships launched, our satellites became the eyes of the new god, and only a day after that, mass quantities of some chemical resources were being manufactured and exported to mars- sorry, ‘*heaven*,’ by disturbingly perfect, computer designed to the genetic code.... *humans*....they seemingly disappeared and left everyone else to rot on Earth. It was a weird ordeal, only read about it personally since, well, the TV wasn’t going to work ever again. \n\nI may be the last man alive from my generation- never seen someone else like me. It makes me the smartest man alive, currently, if it’s true. I wasn’t no spring chicken when they tested the *Phoenix- AHGT* procedure on me, but I wasn’t an old fart either. Being forever thirty five eliminated the mid-life crises and kept a nice balance of patient wisdom with a splash of intuition followed by charismatic energy and ingenuity. \n\n“**We found the old stain-paper writings about you- I’m the mayor of Mudville. We know of that your kids are just C-lones of you. We know you made yous-self buncha bullets thinkin you might need to protect your-self. The people were scared of you then- but we only want your bullet maker and your little selfs. If we eat the Little yous, our doctor said we gets to live forever and make all the clips for our guns that we want. We’ll even let’chu live and train our soldiers to fight! It’s for the great**-er g-g...”\n\nThe megaphone rolled from his palm as he was tackled backwards by a kinetic ghost of wind that was followed with a *cough of god* from an illusive rifle; His body guards looking upon their boss, who wouldn’t be alive much longer, in complete fear, horror, disgust and terror...For ‘*soldiers*’ they sure seemed a little sea sick at the sight of gore.\n\n“Hel...help...me- m-m-momma”\n\nHe choked out, blood rolling from his lips between his pronunciation that was tainted with a worsening gravel in his voice.\n",
"I expected a deafening noise, a screech, a crash, a bang. Anything. Something to continue the noise, sights, motion of what was happening before I blacked out. When was that? Where was I?\n\nCar. \n\nI was in a car. Still? No, no movement. I tried to open my eyes. \nNo, that didn’t work. \nOk, think back. Why was I in a car? Blank. \nOk, fine. Start simple. Was I driving? No. I wasn’t driving. So a passenger. I was a passenger in a car. Good. Whose car? Blank. \nOk, so who was driving? Sammi! \n\nTires, the grating noise of heavy metal on metal, a jolt. \nAir. \nWe went through a barrier. We rolled. We… We… I don’t know. We must have stopped. Not moving now. \n\nQuick, get out of the car, just move, Sammi! \n\nI jerked up to move. Expected the seat belt to hold me back. \nNothing. I felt nothing. I could do nothing. Christ, we were fucked. \nI could feel my heart racing. At least something worked. \n\nBut wait… That smell isn’t right. No burning rubber, no leaking gasoline or dirt burning my nostrils. It was more like…alcohol? We weren’t drinking. No, soap? Cleanliness. The acrid smell of disinfectant and artificial cleanliness burned through me. Distantly a beep, beep, beep able to penetrate through the ringing in my ears. \n\nScrambled brain put the pieces in place for me. A hospital? Ok, so we had made it. Nausea permeated through me. No, I couldn’t think that. Not yet. Get the facts, she’ll be fine. I just need to open my eyes and ask someone.\nNow. \nOk, now.\n\nI tried to scream, tried to move. But I couldn’t. I must have wrestled for hours. I wanted to sob, crawl into a ball, pound my fists. Nothing. Nothing worked, nothing moved. How long have a been like this? I waited for someone to come in, to notice I was lucid, to tell me what was happening. Patiently at first, then with increasing concern, frustration, anger, rage. Eventually I burned out. Must have dozed off. \n\nI woke up. I know I did because there was a different noise in the room. And smell. Chanel no. 9. \n\nMum. Oh god, mum. What she must think of me. How could she must hate me. She trusted me. \nWhat was that? What was that other noise? I can’t make it out over the rumble in my ears. Murmur. Deep, reverberating in my chest like a soft hum. Not quite continuous, so not a trolley being pushed. Irregular. Off beat. A slight pause, then mum. \n\nTalking. Mum was talking to someone. She broke. I felt the hard compression on my legs. The heaving. The sharp intakes of breath. My mum was falling to pieces over me. I tried to reach out, tell her I was here, alive. \nBut nothing. No movement. No speech. No sight. …Couldn’t bloody well smell my way to tell her for fucks sake, could I. I cried my own tearless cry at the thought. I was a blank, a mass. Wait, a vegetable? Would I stay like this forever? \n\nShe needed to go to Sammi. \n\n\n_[so...obligatory this is my first Reddit/WP post…be gentle?]_",
"At first, nothing happened. Then, after a few seconds, nothing continued to happen.\n\nMy husband turned to me.\n\n\"I guess we could call that a success.\" He turned and hugged me, his unshaven face scratched my forehead, his tired eyes, like my tired eyes closed in relief. I could smell that we both needed a shower. \n\nBehind his back the carton of eggs started to fall, as the effects of the machine wore off.\n\nThere was a loud splat as the eggs hit the floor. We ended our embrace and looked at the scene around us. Long shafts of sunlight entered into the building, the floor was dirty; some discarded rubbish lay strewn around here and there. In the centre of the old factory building, on the back of an old truck, there was the result of our endeavor, a machine which could stop time, only in a small area, only for a short while, but it was enough. Years of work, our chronobreak.\n\n\"I'm going to take a shower\" I announced. \n\n\"I'll join you for that, but fist lets get this generator turned off.\" \n\nThe smell of diesel and the growl of the generator came from a few meters away from the Chronobreak. We disconnected the cables, pulled the tarp over our machine and got into the cab of the truck. I started up the engine, and we started driving. \n\nAfter years of toil and labour, we finally had time on our hands.",
"u/Officialsandwichman sat and waited\n\nSeconds ticked by. He checked his watch. Only been 10. He knew it would take longer. \n\n\"writing prompts always do\" he thought to himself...\n\n\"this is really cleaver, I bet someone has a great idea that they are gonna drop for this one....\" \n\nHis watch again, 1 minute passed....\n\n\"well, a watched post never boils\" he put his head back and gaufed, \"more like u/socleaver, am i right?\" he asked to no one. His cat had long since left the room.... \n\n\"cus a watched pot never boils.... Watched post... Ya....\" he explaines to himself, trying so hard to validate his joke, that even he is now embarrassed by....\n\n\"maybe 10000 likes, that would be good.... Its really a good idea.... Cant wait!\"\n\n\"no, its not about the likes, its about the community.... But gold, could you imagine?!\"\n\n\"GUILDED!\" he shouted, as if he were some street thug, excited to see his homie again\n\nHis watch, 3 minutes... \"is that all? Well, let see what else is on front page.... Crypto.... Cats.... Dog videos...\" \n\nBack to his watch, 10 minutes had passed.... 600 seconds of nothing.... But suddenly, a reddit icon appeared at the top of his cellular device....\n\nu/dworkphone commented on your post\n\nJoy of joy! What interesting thing did he come up with?\n\nWith rapt attention, he reads the story from the prompt\n\n\"Thats it?!\" he asks himself, outloud, not expecting an answer\n\nYes u/Officialsandwichman, thats it. \n\nRegretfully yours, \n\nu/dworkphone\n\n\n\nEdits: user names\n\n",
"In the beginning, God created the Earth. And he saw that it was good. \n\nOn the second day, God created man. Wait, scratch that. \n\nOn the third day, God created man. Shit, hang on, something went wrong again. \n\nOn the fourth day, God channeled all his greatness, lifted his arms high into the heavens and said \"let there be man!\". \n\nAt first, nothing happened. Then, after a few seconds, nothing continued to happen. \n\n\"What's wrong God?\" asked the Sun. \"You look a bit flustered. Should I turn the temperature down a notch\". \n\n\"No, honey babe. It's fine. It's all part of the plan\". \n\nOn the morning of the 14th day, following a week of quiet meditation, God spoke calmy yet forcefully \"By the power I possess, I hereby create the race of man\". \n\nThat night, God struck one of the Earth's moons with such force that it was forever lost to the galaxy. And so on the 15th day, the earth became monolunar. \n\nOn the 28th day, drunk on brandy, God glared down at Earth. \"Ya fuckn' retched peece of shiit land. I curse ya. I weesh I neva bludy made ya en thee furst plass\". \n\nThen god saw little things moving around on Earth. He peered closer, and saw man. \"It worked! Oi Sun. Look at this shit! Look what I did.\"\n\n\"Yes, well done God. You've done very well\". \n\nOn the 1,005th day, God watched his creations. One was scheming. Some were getting fucked up on cave brew. Two were fighting. Three were having a threesome. And God saw that it was good. "
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[WP] You are a creature, describe your first interaction with a human being.
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"It stared at me.\n\nI stared back.\n\nHow peculiar. It has soft hair on the top of his head and around, what I only can assume is, it's mouth in great volume but everywhere else it's sparse. How will it stay warm on this planet's winters?\n\nIt breathes heavily. Is it perhaps frightened of me? It flinches at the tilt of my head. How amusing. It has its stick in its hands. The stick is pointed at me. I inch forward and it yelps. \n\nI do not understand what it speaks. It looks frightened. I freeze. The seconds drag by slowly. Something is falling from its eyes. Why?\n\nIt spurts out noises again. Maybe it is terrified of me. It has no reason. I mean no harm, even if it doesn't know that. I was just curious at what life forms could be here on this planet. This small thing is just so fascinating. \nIt throws it's stick at me. The stick glances off, of course, but why did it attack me? ",
"I am a white-tailed spider. Put simply, that means I am most atrocious monstrosity on Earth. Nothing likes me. I don't even like me. The first time I saw my reflection I vomited. However, I'm slowly starting to embrace what I am. \n\nMy first interaction with a human went about as well as you'd expect. She screamed, then mumbled to itself about how she'd never sleep in the house again. She then brought a male human in from the next room. \n\n\"Up there, above the curtain\", she said with tears in her eyes. \n\n\"Oh, no.\" The guy said. \"Anything but this\". \n\n\"Find something to kill it with\". \n\nAnd so they left for the kitchen. It was at this time that I retired to my secret spot above the window frame. Nothing could find me there. \n\nWhen they returned, the humans cried with horror. \n\n\"Where is it?!\" said the girl. \"It could be anywhere\". \n\nThe search lasted two hours, but of course they couldn't find me. \n\nIt was dark when I emerged once more. I crept my way towards their sleeping bodies in silence.",
"Somehow I was caught. Now I'm stuck in the squeezing grasp of this strange creature.\nI kick my legs out in hopes of freeing myself, but no luck. It keeps pulling my ears and stroking my fur. I move to bite, but miss. \nI can feel my heart pounding in my chest, powerful and fast. It's about to burst. \nThe creature sniffs me, and puts it's mouth against the top of my head. Is it not going to eat me? \nIt holds a carrot in one of its deformed paws, extending it to me. I sniff, and after presuming it is safe, eat it. \nThe creature makes a strange bubbly sound and squeezes me once more."
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[WP] In the far future, teleporters have become the mainstream way of travel. Suddenly, two years after the worldwide release of the teleporter, more and more users begin to go missing. You are one of them.
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"I opened my eyes and stepped off onto what should've been the junction between New York and London. Instead I stepped out into a long hallway that was cold. I shivered and rubbed my arms to get warm. \nI wander down the singular hallway and I see a corner. I walk up and turn and its another Teleporter. Bit old fashioned. An Exit Only pad. I laughed a bit. Haven't seen one of those since like 7 decades ago. \nSuddenly it came alive. A man stumbled out. He was wearing a military uniform. What?\nHe stood up straight and I saw the confusion. \n\"Where the hell am I?\" He asked. \"I was trying to get back to London.\"\n\"Me too\" I said. \"I think we have been kidnapped.\"\n\"Impossible\" he said. \"I'm Bridagier Lethbridge-\" \nHe was interupted by a huge amount of clanging. Were those footsteps? \n\"Not now..\" he muttered. \"We defeated you. A long time ago.\" I tried to ask what was happening but my voice had failed me. \n\"All humans shall be upgraded.\" A metallic voice rang out. \"Proceed down the hallway. You will be upgraded.\" \n\"Um. Sir?\" I asked, trying to stay calm. \"Whats going on?\"\n\"Dont worry ol chap.\" He smiled. \"I happen to know a man who can help us. His name is the Doctor.\"\nI frowned. \"Doctor.. Doctor What exactly?\"\n\n"
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[WP] She didn't care even if he was a god. She was going to slap him. He deserved that much anyway.
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"Alison wished she had never meant Donald Blake. He was a total jackass. At first, he seemed like an ok guy who certainly had the best looks on a guy she had seen for a while. She had meant him on a night out, in some seedy club that her friends had dragged her into. The music was loud and the drinks were cheap. The night was a pretty fun one so far and she was enjoying herself, perhaps she had a few to many but as it was a Friday night who could blame her.\n\nShe had spotted Donald on the dancefloor as soon as she had entered the club but she knew she had no chance with him whatsoever. First of all, he was a really good-looking guy, with incredible muscles and long blond hair, he even had a beard which she usually didn’t like on a guy but it worked on him. This meant that all the other women were hovering around him like Hyena’s around a fresh kill in the Serengeti, this made getting to him problematic but not only that, he would have his choice of them and there were a number of better looking females on show tonight, flaunting themselves for his affection. Secondly, she had never really been any good with the opposite sex, she found it difficult to talk to them, she had a couple of boyfriends in the past but they had never lasted long. So she left the others to it and enjoyed herself by drinking copious amounts of alcohol and having a laugh with her friends. They even got her on the dancefloor a couple of times but she would hardly call herself a graceful dancer but it was good to let loose sometimes. Apparently whatever she had done had attracted his attention as when she was sat alone at a booth he had made his way over to her.\n\n“Hello there, mind if I have a seat?” He asked, his voice a deep melodious tone that fell just right on her ears.\n\n“Not at all, it is a free country after all” she said with a smile.\n\n“Thank you, my name is Donald by the way, what is yours?” He asked with a smile as he slid down into a seat opposite her.\n\n“My name is Alison, pleased to meet you Donald” she replied.\n\n“Nice to meet you too Alison, can I ask you a question?” He asked.\n\n“Sure go ahead, I might even answer it if it’s to my liking” she replied with a smile.\n\n“How come you weren’t out there with the rest of the women trying to get my attention?” He asked with a chuckle.\n\n“Well it’s quite simply, as there were quite a few surrounding you, I thought I stood no chance at grabbing your attention so decided to just have a good time, I didn’t come out intending to pull anyway” she replied.\n\n“That is fair enough and believe me you have caught my attention by the fact you seemed not interested in me, that doesn’t happen very often” he said.\n\n“Well I admit you are quite attractive but that doesn’t necessarily mean you are gods gift to women or that everyone would want some of you. Personality counts for something as well” she replied.\n\n“That it does and I would like to get to know you better” he said.\n\n“Well I suppose you can have my number and we can arrange something in the next few weeks” she said trying to sound very casual but surprised by her luck.\n\n“That will have to do” he said with a smile and took her number before going off. She didn’t speak to him again that night and it was a few days later when he called her and they organised a date for the following weekend.\n\nShe was quite excited for it as he seemed like an interesting guy from their brief interaction at the club and she hopped this would lead to something. She got all dressed up for it and met him at the restaurant he picked for them, it was a nice place and she saw that he was already there in a very nice suit. Over the meal they got better acquainted with each other, discussing what they did for a living and where they grew up. She decided to do something which she didn’t often did on the first date but she kissed him goodnight before going to her apartment.\n\nOver the next few dates they got closer together and she had some genuine feelings for him. After the third date she went back to his place and stayed there the night. He was a very good lover, the best she had ever had. They had a few more dates and a few more nights of pleasure but eventually he stopped calling her and she felt that she had been used.\n\nIt was a few weeks later that she learned the truth when watching the news and she saw that Donald had lied to her. He was flying around the city dressed in a strange costume and wielding a hammer which blasted lighting out of it. The caption said that Thor, the god of thunder was battling aliens in defence of the city once again. She wanted to slap him for having lied to her and just using her for sex.\n",
"\"Hey, asshole!\"\n\nNot many people turn back when addressed like that. There is a voice deep in your heart that convinces you that you are, in fact, never an asshole. \n\nBut Simon turned back instantly. He had been called that so often that it had become a reflex for him. Simon didn't go out of his way to be one. It was just the way he was. Some people are kind. Some people are clever. Simon was a thriving breed in times that were best suited for people like him - an asshole. He couldn't help it. More often than not, he wasn't even aware of it. \n\n\"Yes, miss?\" He smiled at the petite woman storming towards him. \n\n\"Who the fuck do you think you are?\" \n\nDroplets of spit traveled from her mouth in a clean arc and hit him right on his nose. \n\n\"I don't know what you are talking about, miss.\" \n\nHe shrugged his shoulders in embarrassment. He really didn't know. The woman looked like angry. Her pale face had turned a deep shade of crimson. Almost as if painted on. \n\n\"What? I am coming straight from the play.\" She picked up a white napkin and wiped the paint away from her face. \n\nThe play. That was where Simon last was. It was the worst. Unclear, Simon proceeded to walk away. \n\n\"Hey,\" the voice again.\n\nHe turned back just in time to see a hand travelling straight at his face. His reflexes worked fine and he stepped back to avoid it. \n\n\"Ma'am, I don't know what your problem is.\" \n\n\"I am Aphrodite.\"\n\nThe same look of disappointment in her face that Simon had seen countless times in his father's. \n\n\"Yeah? I am sorry I didn't recognize you.\" \n\nHe extended his arm for a handshake. Nothing. The woman stormed away with the same speed she had come at. \n\n-----\n\n\"Hey, Simon!\" Alan hollered at him. \n\n\"Alan, where were you? I was looking for you everywhere. God, this play sucked. Something was missing.\"\n\n\"Or someone. Let's go.\" Alan put a hand over his shoulder and smiled cryptically at him.\n\n-----\n\n\"Laura, what the fuck is wrong with that Simon guy?\"\n\n\"Let it go, Hannah.\"\n\n\"Let it go? How the fuck should I let it go? He ruined the whole play.\"\n\n\"It isn't the first time, you know.\"\n\n\"I don't know why Alan keeps casting him. There isn't anyone else in this city who can play Hermes?\" \n\n\"Some friend of his. What can we do?\"\n\n\"Fuck Alan. If Simon isn't on stage next week, I am going to kill him.\"\n\n-----",
"There was something about the early mornings when she could hear the old life behind her. It was not so far behind then, in that quiet. The hotel rooms coughed in their soft air-conditioning, and he would be asleep then.\n\n\nShe would listen, she remembered, to the quiet. That was a long time ago. Back then quiet was hard to come by. She remembered how lucky she was, and in those moments of quiet, she would revel in the memory of the noise.\n\n\nThey had met amidst noise. His name was Dillon Thomas. He had changed it to Billy Dillon sometime in his twenties. He was still performing acoustic then, and the crowds were yuppies, intellectual types that could hear the changing of the times in his words, and feel the establishment being torn down in their rebellious congregation. Billy Dillon was a superstar.\n\n\nShe saw him at the Gaslight. He hadn't seen her then. She saw him next at Old Port. He wore big shades then and slung the electric guitar low to his knees. The teenage revolution had kicked off. She was a fan of him. He saw her then.\n\n\nShe remembered the cheers and the boos. Everyone was pushing upfront. In those days there wasn't much security. He smiled at her and called her up. A big man let her through. The way through the tent was dark and she smelled cigarettes and beer.\n\n\n\"Oh my God, I'm a huge fan!\"\n\n\nDid he hear? She was not sure. He took her in the limousine. There were screaming girls everywhere. Their hands painted the glass, flashes of screaming faces each time a picture was taken. But inside the car was quiet and he took off his shades and he was tired and smiling.\n\n\n\"So what's your name?\"\n\n\n\"Sarah,\" she said.\n\n\nHe would write a song about her. But that would be after the storms had passed and it was always quiet. After it was too late.\n\n\nBut then she was young, and he was young, and he was a God to all the young people. And she was with him. That first night in the hotel room was like some dream. She remembered how her mother would cry the next day, how worried she had been. But that night was soft, exciting in its exotic taboo.\n\n\n\"Many girls want me,\" he had said. \"You should feel lucky.\"\n\n\nAnd he smiled and looked like a boy who was just trying to be cocky. And she loved him more for that. And that night lasted forever and she slept beside him until early morning, listening to the quiet.\n\n\nHe went with her for a long time. Mother was against it and so she ran away. She went on tour with him. Together they stood against the waves of screams and roars of theaters. They toured England and America and all the nights were loud and full of new things, new places and people. And in the early mornings she would think of her old life in the quiet.\n\n\nThen came the drugs. He was God then, and God was offered everything. And he did everything. She quarreled and he hit her. He apologized. Then they quarreled again.\n\n\nHe spent nights away from her. He spent nights with other women. The magazines loved it. He called her sometimes, drunk, and he would cry into the early mornings.\n\n\n\"I miss you.\"\n\n\n\"I miss you too.\"\n\n\nShe was young.\n\n\nShe caved in and she used as well. They got back together and he almost overdosed. His people covered it up as a motorcycle accident. God could not be shown to be human. That would be bad for business.\n\n\nBut he took a break. \n\n\nThey lived together on Montague street in a basement down the stairs. It was quiet there and low key. She absorbed that quiet and for a little while, things seemed to be okay. She thought life could be this way forever. And she was happy. They had money and he had married her. He had cut down on using, and promised he would get clean.\n\n\nShe got pregnant. They had three children in five years. He was a good father. He was God again, but in a different way. She loved him. Life was good.\n\n\nThe roar of the masses was too loud. She remembered the day he told her he was going on tour again. The oldest child was five. He was happy, ready to lead his faithful. How could she say no? \n\n\n\"It'll be different this time, right Billy?\"\n\n\nHe kissed her. \n\n\n\"Of course, babe. I promise.\"\n\n\nThat was the voice of a generation. A voice she had run away from her home to hear in person. A voice who loved her. \n\n\n\"Okay.\"\n\n\nHe started using on the road. He was using more and more. There were other women. The magazines reported it while she was home alone with their children. The women were younger than her, and prettier. He was happy. All the pictures showed him smiling. He never called. It was always quiet then in that house. And in that quiet she remembered the life she used to live. She cried sometimes.\n\n\nWhen he returned a year had passed. He was to go out again. She could not take anymore. Mother was ill but not dead. She gave her strength.\n\n\n\"Leave him. Leave him for your children's sake.\"\n\n\nAnd she did not care if he was God. She slapped him when used in front of them, when he would smoke in the living room. He deserved as much. And he would hit her and cuss her out.\n\n\n*I deserve that for being stupid,* she thought.\n\n\nAnd she was strong and she left him. She took their children and he was alone. But he was never *really* alone. He had his people, and that made leaving him easier.\n\n\nLater he would write a song named after her. He would beg her until she crumbled on the phone, until she cried and her body grew too weak to sit. She would hang up and listen to the quiet and sing the old songs she had fallen in love with.\n\n\n*Be strong.*\n\n\nEventually he moved on. He stopped calling. The children received money from him. She received enough to live comfortably. The media left her alone and she lived quietly. He remained a God even as age took his youthful glamour. He was just old then, and a God in a different way. They had him in textbooks and he won endless awards. That song he wrote about her was hailed as a masterpiece.\n\n\nShe thought it was funny sometimes, in a sad way. She still kept his picture, pictures of them when their love was good and living was strong. She grew old and saw the children off. She took solace in the quiet. She took comfort in seeing her children grow.\n\n\nAs death neared she was not afraid of what would come after. She had stopped believing in any Gods. All she knew was that death would bring quiet.\n\n\n-\n\n\n*Hi there! If you liked this story, you might want to check out my subreddit, r/PanMan. It collects all my different stories and stuff of that nature. Check it out if you can, and thanks for the support!*"
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[WP] Thousands of years after humans have gone extinct, dogs evolve human like intelligence. They're obsessed with us and don't know why.
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"\"Listen to what you're saying, Ruffins! These humans were supposedly as intelligent as us, had opposable digits, two free limbs to use them, *and* lived six times longer than we do. It's absurd! The amount of resources wasted researching these childish fantasies - \"\n\nThe Shepherd couldn't contain himself. \"Do you think the Grid Streams of Manhattan island are natural? Or do you think those huge pyramids our teams dug up last year weren't monuments? What about those tunnels we keep hearing about being found by the Seine or near the Moscow formation? How else do you explain them?\"\n\n\"Who CARES?! I'm sick of it! It's all anyone ever talks about, it's all we waste our time on. Our whole society is obsessed with this species.\" \n\nFido continued, a mocking note clear in his voice \"'New discoveries from Italy! Did humans master combustion? Could they have even ... Gone Into Space???'\" His tail made it obvious how riled up he'd made himself. \n\n\"What drivel! Next they'll be reporting they kept us as pets; I bet everyone will eat it up too. Meanwhile, simply being born a Chinese Crested means you'll *never* be considered for a leadership role, no matter how talented you might be. And when I bring that up, everyone's quick to dismiss it. 'Ain't nobody got time for your whiny social justice nonsense'. You care more about these 'humans' than your fellow dogs, Ruffins.\"\n\n\"You're wrong, Fid. They *were* the way you describe. Intelligent, long lived, skilled. In many ways, better than us. But they disappeared. *That's* why we must study them. To save canine-kind, we've got to find out what happened to them, before it happens to us.\" ",
"Late at night, after the pups had been tucked in, Bob and Alice Malamutson would sit on the porch of their home and talk of happy things. They would reminisce over fences they had smelled together, and of the squirrels they had chased when young and free. Usually it was a peaceful, meditative conversation, but tonight was different.\n\n\"Why do we do it?\" asked Bob suddenly, cocking his head toward his wife. \"Do what, dear?\" she replied.\n\n\"Why do we get up every day and put on a leash and go to work? I mean, why?\" Bob resumed lapping at a bowl of beer, his third that evening, and Alice flattened her ears slightly. \n\n\"Because we have to Bob,\" she said. \"You want to lose your job? The house? We all do our part in the whole...thing,\" she continued, waving a paw absently, \"because if dogs didn't, everything would fall apart like it did for the humans.\"\n\nA long silence hung between them, punctuated only by a thoughtful lapping from Bob.\n\n\"Yeah, but what if *they* weren't right?\" he said eventually. Alice's fur began to bristle and she had to will it back down. \"What do you mean?\" she asked, careful not to bare any teeth.\n\n\"I just mean, what if the *humans* had the wrong idea about life and we're just following their mistakes?\" Bob had finished the bowl and was now staring at his wife with that dumb, goofy just-happy-to-be-alive expression that often accompanied his most idiotic actions. Alice just stared back at him. Failing to take the hint, Bob plowed on.\n\n\"Like, I go to work every day, just run along the old tracks into town, right? I get into the city and I'm in the office all day going over marketing strategies with the boys. We do ok out of it, Master be praised, but it's just kind of...phony. Like, everyone says \"Good job\" when we finish a contract and everyone acts like we're doing something *real*, but it's *not*, Alice.\" Bob was now looking up at her with sad, sad eyes and she felt her heart melt a little. \n\n\"It's just *barking* Alice,\" he said. \"It's just barking. A client comes in and says they want everyone to know about their territory and we just bark about it. that's our strategy every time, just barking wildly about stuff that *doesn't even matter*. We try to do presentations and stuff like we read in the holy Book of the Dummies, but we can't because we don't have *fucking thumbs*, Alice. We can't even hold the *fucking pens*.\" Alice sat and shook quietly.\n\n\"Like, have you ever actually stopped and smelled the fences along the train tracks, Alice? So many cool dogs have pissed there, *so many*. They pissed there, then they died. And what was it all for? So we can just keep the cycle going? What happens when we run out of things to piss on? What do we piss on then?\"\n\nAlice suddenly snapped and lunged towards Bob, growling and slavering. \"We'll just keep pissing, Bob! We'll just keep going, barking at things and pissing on literally everything we can! Because it's who we are and who *they* were and it's all we know, and it's all we *should* know, because do *you* know the answer to The Question, Bob?\"\n\nBob was flat on the porch now, utterly fear-stricken. \"No,\" he said weakly.\n\n\"*No you don't*,\" Alice said. \"*Are* you a good boy?\"\n\n\"I don't *know*,\" said Bob sadly.\n\n\"No, *we* don't know, Honey\" said Alice, and Bob looked at his wife and remembered again why he loved her so.\n\n\n\n",
"\"I don't get it! We're the most intellectual beings on this world, yet we can't get behind this mystery.\"\n\nThe other dog was slowly walking circles into the ground rambling on and on about the humans,as he tends to do lately, it slowly began to worry me how obsessed he became with them.\n\n\"Look Balu, I said trying to calm him down, we know that there are no humans, heck we don't even know if there ever were humans, no dog has ever seen one and... \nAnd yet we all are born with a clear picture of them in our mind\" He aggressively interrupted me.\n\nHe kept going, picking up speed: \"Think about it, nobody has ever seen them and yet we all know what they are, with no deviation. They must have created this world for us. There are no records of us dogs creating such things as our world wonders, the metal forests, the sunken giants or even the pyramids. They made it all for us.\"\n\nSlowly I tilted my head to the left looking straight into Balus eyes. \"So what, if they created the world, I felt anger growing inside of me, why did they leave us? And where are they now Balu?\"\n\n\"Oh don't you worry Racer, he smiled that naive loving smile of his, they will come back to us one day and take us to their beautiful place, I will forever believe that.\"",
"Silence prevailed in the bridge of the CSU Retriever. They'd been assigned to sweep this sector and look for traces of felid vessels after numerous reports of ships going missing in the region, but so far they hadn't found any of the telltale signs of pirates. Glancing at my bond-mate Mancha I couldn't help but shudder looking at the scarred gash where her ear had been before she was caught in one of the felids brutal pirate raids. \n\n\"CIC give me a scan of that gas giant aft.\"\n\n\"Aye sir, sending LIDAR pulses that way.\"\n\nThe cats were ambush predators, so they had a nasty habit of disguising their ships in the gravity well of larger stars to amb-\n\n\"Sir, contact 170 degrees horizontal, 25 degrees vertical, .25AU\" The sensor technician interrupted my thoughts with the unexpected contact. I unconsciously curled my tail in at the news. For a ship to sneak up behind us that close without us noticing, it would have to be a top of the line military-grade stealth ship. \n\n\"Ops prepare the \"red dot\" protocol. If the cats think they can take us out without a fight they've got another thing coming. \"\n\n\"Sir it's not the felids.\" I paused and cocked my head to one side. \"In fact I'm not getting a pattern match in any of the database of species the elders uplifted.\" \n\nMy ears pricked up at this information. If what he said was true, our crew could have the rare opportunity the initiate first contact with an unknown species. \n\n\"Send them a hail and get our science team up here. They're going to want to see this.\"\n\nSuddenly the main view screen cut in to a view of this new ship's bridge. Tail wagging with excitement I watched a tall bipedal creature who I assumed to be their captain begin to speak. I couldn't see its face due to the grey nanosuit covering its whole body, but for some strange reason I felt more at ease than I had in a long while. \n\nIt spoke again in that strange melodic voice, but this time the auto translators caught up in time, showing our first message from an uncontacted race.\n\n \"Who's a good boy?\"\n",
"“Any more information on humans?” Pochi whined, looking up at Rover.\n\n“Not yet, but I might be getting close. This is so frustrating...” Rover growled, as he flipped a page of an ancient tome with his nose. He’d spent the last six months alone trying to decipher the script- it seemed like the “humans” had had multiple languages. Though, some of them might have used the same alphabet. They weren’t sure yet. This language seemed to be a part of the common alphabet, and River had found multiple instances of words that correlated to what seemed like other languages. A language that developed to be universal, perhaps? \n\n“Pochi, get me a tome that includes any other possible language using this alphabet. I’m going to get the bottom of this eventually.” Pochi barked, and looked to a shelf, beginning to drag different books down. They were heavy and unwieldy- not at all like books that had been made by dogs. But they were the only true connection left to the elusive humans.\n\nRover didn’t know *why* he was so driven to know about humans. Why he and everyone he knew seemed to love them, despite never knowing any. But that was his job. He was supposed to figure out why. He had a few theories- but theories were next to useless. He needed evidence. \n\nFor that, he had a massive budget. Recently, President Trunks had approved a budget that raised taxes, despite her positions on the subject, as a way to provide all the funding Rover could ask for. Ancient records from around the world were delivered to his doorstep, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. No *Indiana Bones* shenanigans for him, thanks.\n\n“Hey Rover?” Pochi spoke up. He had one of the books open at his paws. \n\n“Mmh?” Rover growled, distracted by his work.\n\n“Do you think we might have been companions, somehow?”\n\n“That seems obvious, honestly. We are genetically predisposed to love them.”\n\n“I think we might have been pets.” Rover’s ears perked up, and swiveled towards Pochi, as if he thought he had heard him wrong.\n\n“Pets? Like, a cat? Please Pochi, don’t be preposterous. I don’t see how any intelligent species could keep another intelligent species as pets.” Rover turned back to his work, flipping another page and licking his drying nose.\n\n“But, maybe we weren’t as intelligent back then. Shouldn’t there be some records left by us if that were the case?” Pochi cocked his head, looking down at the book. \n\n“Pochi, I suggest you stop this line of thinking immediately. Our best estimation puts human extinction at well under one million years ago, which would decidedly *not* be enough time for dogkind to become sentient if we weren’t at the time of humans.”\n\n“But we only have history stretching back-“\n\n“Because there was probably some disaster that destroyed it! Pochi, stop it. We need to focus, not dwell on fantasies.”\n\n“Yes, Rover...”\n\n___\n\nIf you liked this, please check out my subreddit, /r/OpiWrites, where I post all of my stories!\n\n",
"Roofus sighed, staring out the window of his corporate tower. It was a crystal clear day and the wind carried the scents of celebration. His ear twitched as he heard his door click open. \n\n\"Congratulations, sir. It went off without a hitch.\" A voice said from behind. \"Sir?\" \n\nRoofus cleared his throat, \"Sorry, erm, thank you, Sparky.\" \n\nSparky approached, \"Is everything alright? I thought you would be thrilled.\" \n\n\"No, I am. Everything is fine.\" Roofus said. \"I am just in a thoughtful mood.\" His eyes found a tall statue in the distance. A tall, bipedal creature- a human - stood looking towards the sky. One of its appendages was held upward, a single digit of its claw pointed upwards. The other hand laid atop the head of a dog, its own gaze following the humans up to the sky.\n\n\"I have trouble believing it myself. The first Martian colony, well, the first of our species.\" Their corporation funded much of the expedition, and their technology fueled the engines that made the journey possible. \n\nRoofus thought the accomplishment would have filled this hole he felt inside. This feeling that he needed to achieve something greater. It drove him all his life. And yet...He stared at this statue and still felt a sense of longing. \n\n\"Do you think...\" He started.\n\n\"Sir?\"\n\n\"Do you think...they would be proud of us?\" He asked.\n\nSparky followed Roofus' gaze to the statue, \"I...don't know sir. I'm sure they would be.\"\n\n\"In many ways we've created a better world than they ever had. A more peaceful one. A cleaner one. They fled in part because they were on the verge of breaking the world.\" He said, speaking his thoughts in hopes of defining this hole left in side. \"And yet...And yet...I still just want to know...I want to know if they would have thought I was a good boy.\""
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[WP] A knight is cursed with resurrective immortality--he/she can die but can't stay dead.
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"Sir Galan opened his eyes. Not fully though, just a tiny bit to assess his situation. \"Damn\", he thought, \"they hold a service for me.\"\n\nHe laid in an open casket in front of the altar of the town's church. The local priest addressed his community with stern words about heaven and hell, reminding everyone of their mortality, using the sudden (and painful) demise of the stranger, a knight from afar, as an example, why everyone's soul should be ready for judgement at any moment.\n\n\"Heaven or hell\", he would almost have laughed out loud, but remained silent, \"at this point I might welcome either.\" \n\nThe situation was a problem. He didn't want them to bury him. Last time it took him an entire week to dig himself out, suffocating again and again. This left him with three options: Hoping for a moment when his casket would be unattended and disappear without being seen. That was usually the best option. The second option was to rise up in front of those people and act like a ghost or demon, then run for it while they gathered their courage, torches and pitchforks. The third one was a \"miracle\". He hated being dishonest, but sometimes posing as a saint, resurrected by heavenly forces, was better than running from an angry mob. A number of lesser known local saints, St. Guilbert, St. William and St. Gary were all former identities of his he had leave behind in just 73 years.\n\nWhile he continued to play dead, his thoughts went back much further than 73 years, to the days when he'd been a young, idealistic and -he had to admit to himself- somewhat naive man, who went on the noblest quest a knight could pursue: Finding the Holy Grail! And he did find it, a strange device that rendered him immortal. When he drank from it, he felt how it changed him. He felt healthier than ever before and at first he truly believed it was a gift from heaven. But when he died his first death and came back, when those around him saw him return, they feared him, cast him out and chased him away.\n\nHe became a lone soul to walk this earth forever, never to call a place home for long, never to find eternal rest. It, the grail or whatever it was, had cursed him. Maybe one day he would find a way to end the cycle of pain, death and resurrection. Until then he would die again and again, just like yesterday, when a drunk stabbed him in his back.\n\nThe priest finished his sermon and the attendees burst into a song of praise at his command. It was time for the knight to make his decision. He felt a warm ray of sun light on his face, shining through one of the church's stained windows. \"Well he thought, the stage is set, let's have a miracle today...\"\n",
"\"Sunnovabitch!\"\n\nSir Desmond cursed loudly, dragging his limbs from the blood-mixed mire. He paused, eyes roving the sea of corpses that were just beginning to stink in the midday sun as he tried to recall how he died this time.\n\nIt took a while for his memories to traverse the tricky waters of resurrection. The less corporeal parts of him tended to lag behind on the journey between death and life. But slowly, they'd come crawling back to him, the splinters of his former life binding together to create a new yet familiar picture. \n\nA sudden itch in the centre of his abdomen dragged his focus downward. That was when he noticed the spearhead buried to the shaft.\n\n\"Hmm. Well that's it, then.\" Resignedly, he pulled it out. Standing amidst the field of carrion was no easy feat between the soft and hard bits of soldier scattered about, but he managed. Desmond supposed he should make his way to the king. That was the deal, after all. As punishment for committing a treasonous crime against the sovereign king and his maiden daughter that he could hardly remember (though he certainly recalled she was no maiden), he was bound to serve as the king's disposable but not-quite-disposable spy. \n\nFrom battles to lethal month-long searches for magical artefacts, he was sent to do all the work the king could not afford to risk bestowing on mere mortal men. And for years Desmond had been pierced and prodded, burned and hung, beheaded even (his head took ages to grow back), all for the sake of his king. When rumour reached the kingdom that the opposing nation sported cannons, Desmond was sent with the decorative army to greet them and affirm. \n\nYes. Yes they did have cannons. \n\nHolding his guts in hand, he traipsed over the nearest footsoldier, making a path to the main road. He'd lost his horse long before being impaled by the spear. He'd have to walk it. \n\nWhat he needed now was a strong tankard of ale once his stomach regenerated. So instead of heading to the castle, he swiftly redirected his stagger toward the nearest tavern. \n\n***\n\nIf you like what you read, check out my other stories [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/icehellion/).",
"\"Bring the knight to me,\" said the king.\n\nThe knight was brought from the dungeons before the king.\n\n\"How is it,\" the king asked, \"that you've managed to defeat entire armies by yourself?\n\nThe knight replied, \"I am cursed with resurrective immortality. I can die, but I cannot stay dead.\"\n\n\"Is that so?\" said the king. \"In that case, you will be hung.\"\n\nAnd the knight hangs there till this day."
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[WP] You are the last known Human to abstain from Cybernetic Enhancement. You wake one morning to learn of a growing digital pandemic which is spreading amongst the enhanced.
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"They called us Purists. It was a demeaning nickname always spoken in a voice dripping with pity. We, on the whole, preferred the term 'conscientious objectors', a term from the old days which referred to soldiers who refused to fight when *compulsory recruitment* was the law.\n\nOf course it's hard to adequately describe the preferences of a group made up of such vastly different human beings. Some were religious, others atheist, some made the decision out of a selfless devotion to humanity, others for perfectly selfish reasons. The only thing we all agreed on was that enhancement, no matter the spin, was wrong.\n\nMy reason was not personal choice. I was an even rarer phenotype than other Purists: I was an Immune. My body violently rejected even the simplest organ transplants, a basic enhancement would have killed me within days. I, no matter my belief, was forever locked out of the forward march of humanity.\n\nIt was only natural I became a Purist.\n\nThe advancement came slowly, at first, with leaps forward in prosthesis technology. Then came the drive to fully link those prostheses with the neural functions of the brain. It cascaded naturally from there, propagating itself like a virus.\n\nIt came to a head as only these things can. The haves drive the have-nots out. The world became inaccessible to those without enhancements. We were looked down on, spat on. The Enhanced were the new dawn of humanity, the next evolutionary step. The Purists were just in their way.\n\nA short war was fought around the world. We lost. Pure flesh, whatever your ideals, is not a match for steel and the future working in harmony.\n\nWe banded together, like humans do, and found places to hide. To live our lives away from the Enhanced, outside of their utopia. And for a long time, there was peace. Until one day, it was shattered by the arrival of Hades.\n\n*\n\nI woke up to the shrill beeping of my communicator on my bedside table. I rolled over, hair in my mouth, matted by drool, and grasped for it.\n\n\"It's 2am,\" I said.\n\n\"We've got a problem,\" Kat's voice on the other end of the line said. \"The boundary pads have been tripped, north east corner. We've got a visitor.\"\n\n\"Tell them to come back in the morning at a more reasonable hour,\" I said. \"Or not at all, that would be swell.\"\n\n\"Dani,\" Kat said sternly. \"I don't want to get all mom on your ass, but you're head of security now. Act like it. I'm sure whoever is in your bed right now can keep it warm until you get back.\"\n\nI raised an eyebrow.\n\n\"That's an outrageous assumption,\" I said. \"What the hell makes you think there's someone with me?\"\n\nKat said nothing.\n\n\"Just get your ass down here, Danica.\"\n\nThe line went dead. I rubbed my eyes and frowned, then swung my bare feet over the edge of the bed. \n\n\"Everything OK?\" A hand reached out from the covers and stroked my bare back.\n\n\"Yeah, fine, just heading out for a while,\" I said, scrambling for my clothes and boots. \"Help yourself to coffee.\"\n\n*How did she always know?* \n\n*\n\n\"What's the situation?\" I asked, pulling my frizzy auburn hair into a ponytail as I stepped into the empty bunker the rest of the Silo referred to, optimistically, as 'operations centre'. \n\nKat leaned back in her chair, her huge Parka coat almost dwarfing her slim, pale frame. Even in the dim, milky light of ops, she looked fantastic. I mentally shook my head. Not now.\n\n\"Did you leave them coffee?\" She asked. I shot her a look.\n\n\"Not now, K. Besides, you had your chance for coffee.\"\n\nKat took no notice and swung one of the screens round so I could see it as I planted myself in the swivel chair next to her.\n\nIt took a moment for my eyes to adjust, but soon I recognised the dense, coniferous woodland that surrounded the Silo. For a moment, I thought it was a static image, until a figure loped slowly out of the growth. I swallowed.\n\n\"They never come this close,\" I said sharply. \"What do they want?\"\n\nKat shrugged.\n\n\"Don't ask me,\" she replied, taking a drag on her e-cigarette. No smoke down here.\n\n\"What do we do?\" I asked, instinctively deferring to her as the older, more experienced officer. The grown up.\n\n\"Your call, security chief,\" she replied. \"*But*, if you were to ask me, I'd say our best course of action is to wake up Marselle and Chuck and go out and meet our new friend.\"\n\nI swallowed hard.\n\n\"Could be a trap,\" I proffered.\n\nKat shrugged.\n\n\"The Civil War was a long time ago, Dani, they won. They have nothing to gain from further contact, let alone attacking us. Besides, only one pad was tripped, there can't be more than two of them. We can handle that.\"\n\nI stood up and began to head to the locker on the other side of the circular room which contained the guns reserved for security use only.\n\n\"Buzz Marselle and Chuck and get them down here,\" I said, grabbing a broad assault rifle with a vicious looking muzzle. \"Do we tell Khan?\"\n\nKat raised an eyebrow.\n\n\"Gotcha,\" I returned.\n\n*\n\nThe Silo, as the name suggests, was a remnant from the Cold War, built to serve as both a protective bunker and missile base. As such, there were three dual airlocks on the top level of the four-tiered underground structure. They led up and out into the woodlands of Idaho at a slant.\n\nKat was at my back as I levered the first airlock door open. Marselle, a young, handsome black guy with slightly out of control afro, was still blinking the sleep out of his eyes behind her.\n\nChuck, older and grizzled, a scar across his mouth, was ready and willing. It was hard for real soldiers to be cooped up underground their whole lives. He habitually checked his rifle.\n\nWe passed through the second airlock door quickly - the air outside was fine, no need for it to act as anything more than a heavy door - and stepped out into the early morning air.\n\n\"Fingers off triggers,\" I said, awake now and firmly in chief mode. \"We don't want to be the ones that make this a thing. Don't fire unless fired upon.\"\n\nChuck, Kat and Marselle nodded and did as they were told. I might have been half Chuck's age and a woman to boot, but I'd been picked as security chief for a reason.\n\nThe bushes nearby rustled, and we all turned to face the source of the noise. I could hear the clear sound of steps rustling through the undergrowth, but they were uneven, shambling.\n\n\"Hello?\" I called. \"My name is Danica Morello, I'm security chief of the Silo Purist base. We don't want trouble. We just want to be left alone.\"\n\nNo response. The source of the footsteps came into view, a figure taking short, uneven steps towards us. Male, at least six foot, though it was hard to tell in the dark.\n\n\"Are you OK?\" I shouted, aware of the figure's hunch and gait. They weren't well.\n\n\"Help me...\" Came the reply. It was like an old recording played through a tinny speaker. Grating, hollow.\n\n\"You need help?\" I replied. \"We can help you. But you'll need to lay down any weapons you have on you. I'm sure you understand.\"\n\nNo response for a moment, then:\n\n\"It hurts. So much. He's in my head...\"\n\nI looked to Kat, who shrugged, her weapon still raised.\n\n\"Who is?\" I asked. \"Are you having trouble with your implants?\"\n\n\"Implants?\" The voice replied. \"Curses. Cancers. Crack cocaine. Cutting knives and trailing wires. Oh god it hurts so much.\"\n\nThe figure was close now, close enough for me to make out defining features. A too-large nose and cracked lips. Tears falling from wide eyes... No, not tears, *blood.*\n\n\"Danica, I don't like this,\" Marselle said. \"This guy is off his nut.\"\n\nI turned to him.\n\n\"He's not well, we have to help him.\"\n\n\"Help him?\" Chuck spat. \"They drove us out here and now they want our help? Leave him to die.\"\n\n\"Die?\" The man said in his grating, robotic voice. \"Yes. That sounds like a good idea.\"\n\nThe voice became a shrill screeching that echoed throughout the forest. The man's eyes lit up with red fire, bright enough to leave spots in my own eyes.\n\n\"No, please, for the love of-\" the man cried out. Then, a moment later, a bright flash of light enveloped his head, scattering pieces of bone, flesh and metal to the wind.\n\nI shielded my eyes and looked back to see the man drop to his knees, missing several vital parts from the chest up.\n\n\"Jesus fuck,\" Kat whispered \"Holy fuck.\"\n\nI didn't have the wherewithal to find her blasphemy cute. A man's head had just *exploded* in front of my very eyes.\n\n\"What the hell was that?\" I asked."
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[WP] You have voices in your head. Only thing is, they're talking to each other and not to you. You can do nothing but eavesdrop onto their conversations.
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"“You know what Janet? No one fucking cares, like really your life is so mundane you have to post about anything that happens to you 24/7” \n\n“Well at least I have a life, all you do is work, come home, and sleep. You never even look at me anymore.” \n\n“Pleease just shut up” I pleaded through my thoughts, but I knew they couldn’t hear me, they never did. I didn’t need this, especially not now, it always happened at the worst times. This is my last and most important final of the semester but I can’t focus on shit cause they’re arguing again. The worst thing is that I’m the only one that can hear them. They bicker ALL the time and it’s just in my head. Although they sound familiar I’ve long since given up on the source. \n\n“Fuck You John, I don’t even know why we’re still together, I can’t do this.”\n\n“LIKE FUCK YOU CANT, YOU CANT DO THIS CAUSE YOU DONT DO ANYTHING, I PROVIDE EVERYTHING FOR YOU” \n\n“SHUT THE FUCK UP” I yelled out of frustration\n\nI immediately realized what I have just done when literally everyone taking the math final turns around and looks at me. I try to excuse myself out but the door is locked. Shit.\n\n“What happened to him?” The film student asked, still a little on edge given he’s in an insane asylum.\n\n“Murder suicide, his dad lost it and took his mom with him” said the kind eyed doctor.\n\n“Hasn’t been responsive since, just snapped. He just talks to himself in their voices.”\n\n“That’s so sad, could he ever get better?” The film student asked as he started to doubt his documentary choice.\n\n“Probably not, lets get moving though, I don’t want to keep you here forever.” ",
"\"Do you sometimes feel like there's someone in here with us?\" asked the first voice.\n\nThe second, higher-pitched voice said \"Like a presence? Yes, at least ever since--\"\n\n\"It's probably because it's so dark,\" the first interrupted, not wanting to hear the other girl's answer.\n\nBut I knew why the girls were scared. I could only make my presence known anymore; no longer could I respond or tuck them into bed at night like I could when I was alive.",
"\"Look, look, look - that girl in front. She's gonna fall over in a minute.\"\n\n\"No way.\"\n\n\"*Yes* way. I've seen it. She goes to step up the curb, snags her heel, turns at the same time, and then *bam* - straight over, legs in the air!\"\n\n\"Well... that's what you get for wearing those shoes, I guess.\"\n\n\"Mm-hm. Look, look - here it comes!\" \n\n\"She's snagged!\"\n\n\"And *down* she goes! Like clockwork.\"\n\n\"Ha! How *do* you do it?\"\n\n\"I dunno! I dunno. It just happens. I just see it, you know? Like, this one across the street - she's about to go left into the market, in 3... 2...\"\n\n\"... 1!\"\n\n\"Yep. Told you.\"\n\n\"Amazing! Do another one.\"\n\n\"Okay, okay. So, this guy, right? He's about to get hit by a car. Puts one foot on the road and then he jus-\""
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Optional: You thought you would be at the bottom since you were a terrible person.Someone explained why you're at the top
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[WP] Once you die,you get a overall score which is higher the better person you were.After you died,you went to see the high scores.You're at the top.Below you,Jesus Christ.
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"(sorry about formatting, mobile, also first time writing here, don't judge)\n\nWhoops. I died. Apparently you should tie your shoes before setting a building on fire. You light it up, you trip, the floor collapses beneath you, you die. Next thing you know, you wake up in heaven. \"Congratulations! High score!\" These are the words on a leaderboard in front of you. It shows the top five people and their scores. 5:George Washington: 900,000. 4:Yigguddep:1,200,000. 3:St Peter: 2,500,00. 2:Jesus;5,000,000, and at first place, you, Dave Johnson, with 4,294,967,295.\n\n Quickly, God shows up, and he starts talking. \"Now listen,\" He says, \"We used to review everyone's life when they died, going through everything they did, adding points and subtracting points for good and bad actions, but recently, we got a computer system that…\" \n\nYou interrupt him, \"Yeah, but I'm a self-employed Hitman, why am I at the top 'God' shouldn't you have something better? You are God and everything.\"\n\nHe continues, \"The leaderboard means nothing, but anyone with a score below 1,000 should be automatically sent to hell, and you should be in there for sure, but since you're such a vile human, you got a negative score and underflowed the computer. You get a free pass on this one though, you humans like your computers, and so I thought I'd let some of them run the sorting. Obviously I was wrong, so you have two choices as it stands, You can go to hell, and be punished eternally while everyone there will be impressed by your deeds, or you can choose to stay here at peace in heaven, where everyone will despise you\"",
"Afterlife? I couldn't believe it. And actually a score card, and I was at the top, I, above Jesus. \"The Jesus?\" - I thought. \"Yes\" I heard out of nowhere.\n\nThe place was empty, I couldn't see my body, just clouds. I wasn't sure if there was an up or down, but it felt normal. I said out loud: \"there must have been a mistake, I didn't believe in God or the afterlife, so I can't be here, can't be above Jesus for sure.\" ... It was quiet, no response.\n\n\"Is there someone I can talk to?\"\n\nA familiar voice, but one I've never heard before replied \"I like welcoming new people.\"\n\nI only got the direction the voice came from, but couldn't see who was taking to me, and still couldn't see my body, but the voice was close, as if the person was right next to me. \"Who are you?\"\n\n\"You'll figure it out, welcome!\" ... After a long pause he continued \"You said you wanted to talk, do you have questions?\"\n\n\"Where am I?\"\n\n\"Heaven, you saw the sign, and congratulations on the top score, I'm in top one thousand, and I thought my score was high.\"\n\n\"Is this a game? Why is the score important, I'm in heaven, you're in heaven, Jesus is in heaven, it shouldn't matter what the score is. I just don't see why I'd have the top one, I was wrong all along.\"\n\n\"Good point, I don't know why you're at the top, I just can tell you, that I didn't believe in this particular God either, and there are plenty like me who are also in the top scores, even top ten... well apparently even the top one, now that you're up there.\"\n\n\"From all I know, I should be in hell for not believing. But I suppose that kind of a mistake wouldn't happen here.\" I paused to think.\n\n\"Ok, well who do you want to talk to first? We all have a lot of time, do you want to talk to your dead relatives or famous people maybe? Jesus actually wanted to talk to you, as you have seemed to bump his spot.\"\n\n\"I have to process this.\" I said, there was plenty of time to talk with others, the peace was overwhelming, I wanted to think.\n\n\"Ok\" said the familiar voice, I felt it moving away, and I was left to think."
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[WP] You jobs as the newest acolyte to the temple are simple: 1) rise at dawn for prayer and cleaning work, 2) obedience and obeisance to the deities, priests, and priestesses, 3) tend to the trees in the sacred groves. The angry, screeching trees in the sacred groves.
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"I watched as my breath frosted above me. Breathing in and out again and again. The frost forming a cloud above me. \n\n“What have I gotten myself into,” I said to the cold morning air.\n\nThe rough wool blanket scratched again at my bare chest. It had been doing that all night. The smooth wooden bunk dug at my back as I tried in vain to relieve the pressure on my back.\n\nIt had been a long hard night and I dreaded that it was now coming to an end. \n\nThe first bell tolled out in the early morning cold. \n\n“Fine,” I said to myself. “I can do this gain”\n\nTrying to give myself as much courage as I could. It wasn’t much, but here I was and I had better make the best of it.\n\nI tossed the wool blanket aside and regreted every decision I had ever made in my life. Every stupid and idiotic choice that had gotten me here. My first full day the the Monastery of Light. \n\nI laughed a little at the name and slapped myself to try and get the blood flowing in my arms. They felt like they had frozen the night before.\n\nI looked at the archway that was a window into my room. Couldn’t they at least hang a blanket or something over it this time of year. It had to be at least ten below freezing. \n\nI gave my room one more look over. There was my plain wood desk in the corner. With all the amenities I would expect at home. Ink bottle, old fashioned quill pen and blank paper. Just like what I had given up to be here. I laughed at the comedy of it all. \n\nI rolled out of bed and onto the floor. The floor was harder than my bed. I wasn’t sure how that could be. It was wood in both cases.\n\nBut, there in the floor were the two deep grooves cut by a millennia of kneeling acolytes. Each one arriving on their first day to a freezing room, a hard bed and rough covers. To start their journey into enlightenment and higher understanding. Or at least that is what the Monk from yesterday had said. Yesterday seemed so long ago.\n\nHe had also instructed me to kneel in prayer from the first bell, until the first grey of morning broken into my room. It was then and only then that I could come from my room and meet him at the inner sanctum for my first lesson.\n\nI didn’t know what to pray for or what really to do, so I knelt in those groves. I stayed there for at least for five minutes. Until my knees hurt so bad I had to stand and get some circulation back in them. At least the pain in my knees distracted me from the constant shivering from the cold. How could I be expected to live in just light cotton pants and nothing else. \n\nI sat and shivered until the first grey of the morning broke into my room. I hated this place already. It could only get worse from here on out.\n\nI made my way out the door and down the hall. Holding myself to try and keep warm.\n\nWhen Brother McMaster meet my eyes he grinned. A stupid grin I wanted to wipe off his face with an axe. I was cold, tired and now hungry. My knees hurt and my back ached from the hard bed. I just wanted this morning to be over, so that I could get back to that corse blanket and a measure of warmth. But, I knew the chances of that were very slim. The other mornings hadn’t gone well and I didn’t expect this one too.\n\n“Good morning Brother,” Brother McMaster said to me. \n\n“Morning,” I grumbled back.\n\n“Did you sleep well,” he asked.\n\nI just glared at him.\n\n\nFrom a sactual he had hung at his waist he pulled a thin cotton shirt and handed it to me. I eagerly took it and put it on. It was always my favorite part of the morning. Feeling the warmth of the thin covering brought some measure of comfort.\nBrother McMaster nodded in satisfaction, “you are now ready to enter the inner sanctum.”\n\nHe turned to a set of large doors set in the great stone wall of the Monastery. He raised one arm and pointed at it.\n\n“Yesterday you took the oaths and received the covenants to enter here. Only an acolyte as yourself may enter and only after you have received the oaths.”\n\nHe turned to me and meet my eyes. They were soft and knowing. Maybe he knew what I had just gone through to be here. What I now wanted more then anything and the reason for leaving everything behind. For the light and knowledge that the sanctum held.\n\n“You will proceed into the sanctum. Once inside the outer doors you are to close them. Once closed you may open the inner doors and enter the sanctum.” He paused and looked up at the massive wall that surrounded the sanctum.\n\nHe then continued, “I would remind you of the covenant you have taken to enter into. That you are to never speak of what you see or hear inside. That you are to never even share with with other Brothers of Light. That it is a personal experience that you will only get now and once again as you obtain the 10th dawn.” \n\nI nodded in understanding. \n\nI turned and walked to the massive doors. The golden handle was carved like a branch, its leaves forming the mechanism to open the door. I pulled it and entered. \n\nAs I closed the door I saw the worried face of Brother McMaster. I wondered what he could be worried about. \n\nI took a deep breath and turned to the inner doors. I had prepared my whole life for this moment. I haven't always been the most faithful follower and the way. But, I knew that one day I wanted to stand here and face the sanctum. To be taught and receive the truth and light that could only be found in the sanctum. This time I would have the courage and straight I needed.\n\nI reached out and grabbed the handle and pulled. The doors swung open and I was greeted with the greatest sight I had ever seen.\n\nIn the sanctum stood hundreds of trees, each one reaching up into a mist covered sky. Their tall limbs reaching up and out of site. They were as big around as a house and taller than any skyscraper I had ever seen. \n\nI wondered how such massive trees could be contained in such a small building. Well, I would have wondered that had I not been overwhelmed by the sound. Each tree screeching in a high pitched wail. It pierced me to my soul and and smashed into my brain like an ice pick. \n\nI crumpled to the ground and held my ears. I just wanted the sound to go away. What had I gotten myself into. This was supposed to be enlightenment and understanding. That whatever or whoever was in the sanctum was going to show me my future and the way.\n\nThen my eardrums burst and releaf flooded into me as well as darkness. I had passed out.\n\nI awoke again in my bed. Puffing out clouds of frost above me. The same hard bed under me and the same rough wool blanket. What had I gotten myself into. I thought for sure I would get it this time. That the trees won't overwhelm me.\n\nAgain the first bell rang and I sat up on the side of my bed. This time I would beat it. This time I would make it further then my eardrums rupturing and I wouldn’t pass out. I hadn’t been able to the last twenty times. But, at least the power of the Monastery let me live the same day over until I get it right.\n*******\nThank you for reading. If you liked this check out my other writing on /r/etbrey/ 4/52",
"Slowly, gently, with the upmost care, Taani poured the tea into the bowl before him, filling the air with the scent of aniseed and ginger as he did so. Stopping precisely one fingers width from the brim, he put aside the pot, bowed, and pushed the bowl towards the man sat opposite him, Master Vo. Accepting the tea and putting it to his lips, Master Vo paused a moment, a moment just long enough to make Taami despair that he had failed, before nodding his approval. Taami struggled to keep his relief from showing. The tea making ritual was a long and tedious one, but after a week at the temple he seemed to be getting the hang of it. With another bow, Taami rose and turned to leave. He had almost reached the rooms exit when his Master spoke. \n\nIn a firm but quiet voice, one that nonetheless carried easily to Taami’s ears, Master Vo asked, ‘Are all of your duties completed for today?’. Cursing internally, Taami turned to reply. \n\n‘Almost, Master Vo’, he said looking at the floor and not wanting to elaborate. A gentle breeze blew through the open windows of the stone building, it made the candles flicker and the shadows dance, the colours of the sunset having almost faded by this point. \n\n‘You’ve finished your studies?’\n\n‘Yes Master’.\n\n‘Swept the floors?’\n\n‘I have Master’.\n\n‘Said your prayers?’\n\n‘Yes Master’, Said Taami, looking up as if to plea for his release, ‘I was just about to prepare for be- ‘.\n\n‘And the sacred grove?’ interrupted the elder. \n\nReluctantly, Taami admitted, ‘No Master Vo’, and then quickly continued, ‘But is it really necessary? I’ve attended to it diligently over the past few days, and I know there isn’t any fruit that’s likely to ripen tonight. Surely, the trees can endure one day being left alone. It’s already dark after all…’ This appeal became steadily quieter as the bearing of Master Vo changed subtly. Something new in his expression made it perfectly clear to Taami what he thought of his opinion without having to vocalise. He did so anyway.\n\nIn the same tone as before, he said, ‘Caring for the sacred grove is the single most important task you have, and failure to fulfil that duty carries with it the most severe punishment’.\n\n‘Right away Mast Vo’, said Taami, not needing any further encouragement. He left the room briskly, glancing once at the night sky as he did so, trepidation clear upon his face.\n\nSo it was that Taami stood, with the moon low and thin, and the lights of the temple distant behind him, before the sacred grove in almost complete darkness. The wind blew, stronger here than at the temple which was sheltered by the curve of the valley, it made the trees creak – and sob faintly during the more forceful gusts. The whisper of leaves was conspicuously absent, for the sacred trees remained barren of these regardless of the time of year. \n\nNot wanting to spend anymore time then was required here, Taami set about his work. Illuminated by a small, covered candle, Taami would, after kneeling and saying a short prayer, apply a thick layer of red paint around the circumference of each tree, tracing the line of the previous days work. At the first touch of his brush to the first tree, the entire glade would erupt into hideous screaming. The tree being tended would let out an anguished cry, rolling out from somewhere deep within its core, and the others would respond as if out of fear. Taami did his best to ignore the cacophony. He worked with haste but endeavoured not to touch the trees with his bare hands, for even the briefest contact would make the trees roar even louder – louder, and (though he could never be sure he was not imagining this second detail), with a more hostile tone. His labour continued in this manner until, almost at the end, he noticed with a curse that he had lied to Master Vo. One high branch did in fact bear fruit. It was large, and ripe, and likely close to falling. He would probably be reprimanded for his negligence, as one of his strictest instructions was to not let any of the sacred fruit touch the ground. Swearing under his breath, Taami climbed onto a stool set aside for this very purpose and reached for the dangling fruit. Grasping and pulling strongly with a single motion, Taami couldn’t help but feel a very odd sensation: the feeling of the fruit *beating*. Beating very much like a heart. Taami had never felt a heart beat between his fingers but the comparison formed quite naturally in his mind. Wondering briefly at this phenomenon, he was distracted by the trees response to his action. It screamed now louder than he had heard any scream before. He felt the vibrations in the ground and was obliged to put his hands over his ears. Even more surprising, he could make out a word in the cry of this tree.\n\n‘NOOOOOOOOO!’\n\nThis was too much for Taami. Throwing aside the paint and the candle, but maintaining enough composure to keep the fruit, now lifeless, firmly in his grasp, he ran with all his strength back towards the temple.\n",
"*Screeeee!!!!* The tree screamed at Laine as he walked up the path clutching his trusty broom. He groaned. \n\"Look, it's not my fault.\" He poke the tree with the end of the handle. \"If you had behaved for the other acolytes we wouldn't be in this mess.\" \nThe tree screeched and took a swipe with its branches. Ducking under the swing with a sigh, he began to sweep the fallen leaves into a pile. \n \nThis was not the life he expected when he joined the cult. Laine wasn't sure *what* he had expected, but it wasn't sweeping. More worshipping in the temple perhaps. Maybe some light blood sacrifices. Even some fruit punch would have been nice. \nBut no. It had to be... he parryed a branch away... the bloody trees. Laine wasn't one to complain - after all, those who did tended to find themselves at the pointy end of the sacrifical knife - but battling angry foliage was not what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. \n \nAs he finished the pile of leaves, he nodded. At least he could do his job well. All the leaves dropped by the flailing topiary swept neatly into a pile. He began counting. \n*3...2...1...* \nThe branch swept down and smashed into the heap, scattering his work. A deep chuckle escaped the bark as it threw the pile around. \nNodding in resignation, Laine stepped onto the path and started walking back to the temple. At least the tree gave him job security. \n \n\"Don't move heretic.\" Laine froze as a blade pressed against his neck. Damn, he should have been watching for the crusaders. It was the season for them, after all. \n\"Oh please don't kill me!\" He whimpered. \"I am but a humble slave, sent to tend the demon tree.\" \n\"Demon tree?\" \nLaine nodded (carefully - more than one acolyte had fallen to a vigorous confirmation) \"it is down there.\" He pointed. \"A source of Evil Power.\" \nThe crusader released him. \"Be free, slave. I shall go end this Demon's foul life.\" Laine watched them stride away, heroism bursting from every seam. He waited till they turned the corner and for the scream, before smiling and walking away. It caught them every time. What fools. He sighed. Still, it meant tomorrow he'd have to bring the mop as well. \nAh, well. Such was the life of a cultist."
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[WP] The sword Excalibur exists in this world (the one from King Arthur legend of the sword powers included) but the Pendragon bloodline died out centuries age and the sword was embedded in stone ever since, it's now a tourist attraction and you just pulled the sword from the stone.
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"I was on holiday in Britain, London to be exact. I turn on the tv in the hotel room, just as the bbc app displays a notification that that famous sword in the stone, from the legend of king arthur had been discovered! It was only a couple blocks from where I was staying, so i decided to go and check it out. I guess Camelot was engulfed by the London metro area. I'm Turkish, my family;s been in Turkey since the 500's. my family moved from North Africa to Constantinople under Justinian. Turkey had just joined the EU, when the Brexit negotiations had just a couple months left, so believe me, I booked a vacation to the UK as soon as I could.\n\nI arrived there and people were already lined up to try and pull it. Because I studied mythology as my major, I know the tale of King Arthur dates back to Roman times. I personally was a Roman, my family lived in the empire for Millennia, so I wondered, \"could I be descended from King Arthur? I did a quick google, and nobody in the British royal family could be, their line stops at William of Normandy, the original royals probably came over from denmark during the fall of the west. \n As I was looking at this, I glanced up and was at the front of the line. I gave my phone to my girlfriend, Maria, who was from Romania smiled, took a tug.... and fell over. \n I had relied on the sword to hold me up, but instead it just fell out. I had pulled the sword out of the stone!! \"Oh my god!\" she exclaimed \"you're the real king of england!\" I picked it up, put it back in, and then asked \"Could you pleas record me taking this out? I want this on video.\" she accepted, recorded, it came out, and then I uploaded it, and it went viral. I then took back to the hotel, after all, it was legally mine, because I would inherit it from King Arthur. \nOne year later, The hype had died down, and the sword was hanging on the wall in my room. I went to check my mail, found my check from youtube...then I noticed a strange letter, from England. the British government had seen it and invited me to dinner with the royal family. I had heard about the fact that british law dates back pretty far, and King Arthur's royal declaration was not going to be ignored. \nI went to the UK, bringing my sword, somehow getting it through my checked luggage, it being excalibur and all. and then I arrived. It was raining of course, and I went into the hotel, arrived at the palace, and was declared Duke of Camelot! They had created entirely new title for me! I now am a British citizen. I have a seat in the house of lords, a magic sword, and no claim to the throne because I'm not descended from George I.",
"I hefted the sword in my hand placing one booted foot on the stone. The sword was heavy, but comfortable. It sang of the things we would do. The glorious wars we would fight. Honor and justice and power and lust and destruction. It all coursed through me as I held the sword aloft. \nThe sword sang to me, and I reveled in it. \n\n\"Put that back!\" \nA young woman stood at the edge of the crowd. She was out of breath, as though she had been running. And she was *drenched*. \n\"Huh?\" I asked, mouth-agape. \n\"I said put that back.\" she repeated sternly, wiping wet hair out of her eyes to fix me with a glare. \nI quickly slid the sword back into the stone and sheepishly stood to the side. \n\"Oh?\" A high, sharp voice taunted. \"Not starting a crusade of honor and glory, then?\" The crowd cackled and my ears burned with shame. \n\nBut what had I done wrong? \nThe man that had waited in line behind me tut-tutted and I tried to shrink into my clothes. But what had I *done*? \n\n\"Idiot child.\" He said, pushing past me. \"The sword's not the prize.\" \n\nI watched as he strained against the sword, muscles bulging, not pulling...rather *pushing*...\n\nThe stone resisted. With a start, I realized what that meant. The stone resisted *Excalibur*! \n\n\"The man's words jumped at me again: \"The sword's not the prize.\" \n\n*The stone is.* \n",
"\"Arthur didn't think he was someone special either.\" \n\n\n\"What?\" \n\n\n\"I'm just saying this has always been the nature of Excalibur. It was viewed as a novelty even in Arthur's time, nobody really thought it would ever been drawn from the stone. Arthur gave that name it's status just like you will make the name...\"\n\n\n\"Wong\"\n\"What?\"\n\n\n\"I'm 1/4 Chinese on my dad's side, everybody gives me shit when they hear my last name.\" I said a little ashamed.\n\n\n\"Very well, just like you will make the... Wong's a name of legend\" He said with a smirk.\n\n \n\"And who are you?\"\n\n\n\"My kind don't truly have names but I was known in the past as Merlin, you may call me that if it pleases you.\"\n\n\nI look at his face in disbelief. He dressed like an insurance salesman, non-descript polo shirt, a pair of khaki pants and.. wait.. nubalance sneakers?\n\n\n\"Are you serious? You are Merlin? Where is the beard? The robes? The magic?\"\n\n\n\"Do you really think I move about time dressed like that my boy? The version of me in your mind is from a time when that was more appropriate. Think, where are you now? You only just drew the sword moments ago.\"\n\n\nImmediately I regained my senses. He was right, the last thing I remembered was posing for a photo pretending the pull the sword. I felt the sword give just a bit and snap here I am, wherever this is. It feels like nowhere, I can't see the walls, even the ground I stand on seems non-descript and gray. I feel like I should be scared of this place but for some reason feel content. \n\n\n\"I created this pocket in time and space. A place for you to collect your thoughts, learn what has happened and make a plan for what's to come\"\n\n\n\"To come?\"\n\n\n\"The sword is yours, I doubt you will be waging war or slaying dragons with it but like I change for the time so does the power of the sword. This will not change, you are the master of it but there are choices to be made. Nobody knows you drew the sword. When you return you can simply release the handle, walk away, pretend nothing has happened. The sword will not be taken by another, you the one true king\"\n\n\n\"Then what?\"\n\n\n\"Then you carry on in the world, with a power of persuasion and influence that most men dream of but how do you weild it? Can you grow from this 30 year old man in a Star Wars shirt and baggy jeans into what you want to be simply based on influence and prestige?\" \n\n\nI look down at myself, a print shirt from target, levis and a pair of sneakers don't make much of a king.\n\n\n\"Would you be better served by being the man who drew excalibur? The world will know of your deed, the media will line up to tell your story, women will throw themselves at you to be your queen. A different story that is to be certain but is that the story you want to tell? I will be your loyal servant either way and you will be successful regardless. In some way the choice is irrelevant but in some ways it is the most important choice you will ever make. \"\n\n\n\"So what should I do?\"\n\n\n\"Choose\"\n ",
"Today is the day. My parents have finally kept their promise to take me to Camelot World. I’m more than excited to finally get there. I have been obsessed with Camelot since my dad read me Arthurs tale to me when I was 4 years old. Now that I am 12 and can read for myself I have read all the different versions from the classic French medieval literature to the modern impetrations of him. He saw a resurgence in popularity a couple years ago after Disney realise a film about him. Some people decided to build Camelot World around his famous sword Excalibur which still rests in the stone he put it in all those years ago. It’s hard to believe that he was a real character as there have been so many stories about him and what he did. Evan harder when Excalibur is right there, shining in all it’s glory, just waiting to be wielded again, it’s not even rusted though it has seen the passage of time for a thousand years or more. Everyone knows that his bloodline ended centuries ago so that is unlikely to happen, yet people still try and hoist it out of the rock to see if they are worthy.\n\nI get in the car and we set off, it’s not a long journey to get there and I’m talking to them all the way through the journey even though I see their look of annoyance on their faces I can’t stop myself. Camelot World has a large carpark and it is half full by the time we get there with lots of families taking their kids to see the attraction as well as several lone adults wishing to see it as well. The tickets into the park aren’t too expensive I see as I read the sign as we enter the park and step back in time. It’s all made to look like Anglo-Saxon Britain when Arthur was meant to rule the land and it was known as Albion. Once we are in the park I try to race off to see it all, but my father keeps me close at hand saying he didn’t want me getting lost. There are people wondering around in costumes from that time, each giving facts about what it was like to live under the rule of Arthur. We see blacksmiths and farmers, weavers and merchants. As we get closer to the main attraction at the centre of Camelot World we see knights wondering around and sometimes they fight each other to the cheering of the crowd. There are many building to look at as well, all built from wood or even mud with hay roofs like there were in that age and it’s so interesting to see how we once lived.\n\nWe finally get to the sword in the stone and it is just as I imagined. A great big shining blade able to cut through anything with a simple handle. Everyone gets to have a go at pulling it out of the stone and of course no one does. My dad tries before me and nothing happens. Now it is my go and as my fist wraps around the handle I feel the sword vibrate with power. I give it a yank and it comes out of the stone so easily. Everyone around me has a face of shock. They all must be thinking how a 12-year-old could be worthy of wielding such power, but the sword has chosen me and I feel proud of that. My dad tries to take it from me of course, saying it is too dangerous for someone so young to wield but as he takes the handle to sword vibrates again and he goes flying off like he’s just received an electric shock.\n\n“Dad I don’t think you can take it off me, it has chosen me” I say as he gets up and he nods.\n\n“The young man is smart at least, I have waited so long for your return Arthur, the world has greatly change since you was last here” an old man says who I’d not notice before, he was dressed as Merlin and held one of his hands a staff whilst the other held the scabbard for Excalibur.\n\n“You think I’m Arthur but that’s not my name” I say to him.\n\n“I know that you are Arthur no matter what you claim to go by now, you did pull the sword from the stone after all and only he did that” Merlin said.\n\n“That is true, so I’m like the reincarnation of him?” I ask.\n\n“Well I guess you could say that and with my help you will remember your past life and be Arthur once again” Merlin said.\n\n“Who are you?” I ask.\n\n“I am Merlin of course, I’m surprised you don’t recognise me” Merlin said.\n\n“Well I can see that you are dressed like him but I thought you was one of the actors at this place” I reply.\n\n“Ah understandable mistake. I am no actor I am the man himself, here to help you in whatever way I can, now come with me we have a lot to do” Merlin said with a smile and a beckoning hand.\n\n“My son will go nowhere with an old man like you” my dad said finding his voice.\n\n“Ah the father and I sense the mother close by as well, you may come as well, Arthur is not yet old enough to do what needs to be done and we have a lot to do” Merlin said.\n\n“Let’s go with him dad” I say.\n\n“No, I will not allow it” my dad replies.\n\n“You ever come willing with me or I take the boy anyway, you can’t stop a wizard” Merlin says.\n\n“Just watch me” my dad replies and he charges at Merlin who just points his staff and my dad freezes where he is.\n\n“Come boy” Merlin says.\n\n“He’ll be ok, won’t he?” I ask.\n\n“Fine as soon as I’m away from here he shall unfreeze” Merlin said with a smile.\n\n“Ok” I say and I go with him, my mum also comes with us and once we are out of the park Merlin taps his staff on the ground and we are transported to a tower like none I’ve ever seen.\n\n“This shall be your home for a while whilst I train you” Merlin says and I merely nod.\n",
"“Bruv, you’ve got to be quieter, yeah? We’ll get nicked if you keep acting up! I don’t need to get fired.”\n\n“Fired, why? You work here and its your job to show people around the museum, fam!”\n\n“During the day, you git. Not late at night, drunk, and certainly not in here!”\n\n“Aaah.. it were all Artie’s fault anyway, wasn’t it? He’s the one whats pining over Gwen!”\n\n\nThe others seemed to agree it was all my fault and, I suppose, it was true in a way. Gwen was Guinevere Alice Elizabeth Allen Windsor, properly Princess Guinevere. She was the third daughter, but fifth child, of the fourth son of King Harry, so the whole royal family would have to be wiped out before she got the throne. \n\nMe? I was the American born bastard of a minor lord who had the money to get me into Cambridge. Arthur William Pendleton at your service. You can imagine the ribbing I got in school back in the States. Still, the Arthurian legends and histories fascinated me and, when I met Gwen at school, I was more determined than ever to do what they said couldn’t be done.\n\nSilly? Sure, but dreams… dreams are powerful things. Lust is too.\n\nSo here we were, in the infamous Tower of London. Markus, a classmate and son of a minor lord, had a part time job giving tours here to school children. He was a history major at school, so it made sense in a way, and it provided him with some extra coin to drink up on the weekends.\n\nWith his employee security pass we were able to come in through the employee entrances and bypassed the folderol the common tourists were forced to endure out front. We made our way through the museum, being quiet as church mice… okay, drunken church mice. \n\nUnlike the crown jewels that were behind the most impressive security I had ever heard of, the sword and stone were behind a velvet rope. The stone weighed in at well over two Imperial tonnes and no one was going to stick it in a bag and make off with it after all.\n\n“There, you’ve seen it. Can we go now?” Markus asked, wringing his hands.\n\n“Sure thing, Markus. Right after I do this.” I told him happily, stepping over the rope and wrapping my fingers around the well-worn, plain wood grip.\n\nThat’s all I recall. Really! I woke up some indeterminate time later in a jail cell. Okay, fine, be pedantic. No, I didn’t know it was a jail cell. I woke up, manacled to what appeared to be a hospital bed, complete with beeping monitors and an IV in my left arm. The room was otherwise featureless except for a solid steel door with no handle on this side and a long lighting fixture sunk into the ceiling with a heavy wire mesh over it. Happy now? Can I continue?\n\nAnyway, I woke up in a jail cell. I suppose there must have been a camera in there because when I raised my head to get a look around, and rattled my manacled hands too, there was a harsh clunking sound and the imposing steel door opened inward.\n\nMy, oh my. That nurse looked a little like Princess Meghan, King Harry’s beautiful wi… um… the guards with her were glaring at me as if daring me to breath.\n\n“Your highness. I would bow but I seem to be restrained.” I said, carefully. I was not one to bow and scrape, I was an American no matter that half my genetic material came from here. Still, I didn’t want to piss off the heavily armed men who were scowling at me, did I? No I did not.\n\n“Arthur, Guinevere tells me that you are a very nice young man, once she is quite fond of.” Princess Meghan said, her hands folded demurely over her still flat and trim middle. Four Sons and she looked as good as she did when she was an actress. GILF!\n\n“I am glad to hear she does not think badly of me, your highness. A schoolboy prank gone wrong, or so I would have thought. I can’t imagine why I am in the dungeon.” I told her, cracking a smile.\n\nShe laughed and the sound was delightful. “You know, when Harry and I first started dating, I asked him if there really were dungeons that the Queen could toss people in to for displeasing her. He told me that they really did exist, but were tourist traps these days. Instead, she had them jailed ‘At the Queen’s Pleasure.” That meant that they stayed in jail until she stopped being mad. Since she held a grudge until it died of old age, then had it stuffed and mounted so she could keep it with her, that could be a very, very long time.”\n\nI listened in fascination. In the US, Princess Meghan was as much a legend as Princess Grace had been generations before. She was an American girl, of mixed heritage too, and she had married an honest to god Prince. The death of his older brother left him on the throne when Prince Charles abdicated after his stroke, and Princess Meghan was the next best thing to a Queen. I think every boy in America had a crush on her at one time or another.\n\n“So, am I to be jail until the King forgives me?” I asked, making a joke of it, but seriously concerned at this point. They didn’t send the wife of the King to deal with pranksters.\n\n“No, actually.” she said, an odd look on her face. She nodded to the guards who, unhappily, came forward to undo my shackles.\n\nNothing more was said as I was handed my clothes. The Princess turned her back with a grin on her face, and allowed me to get dressed without embarrassing myself. From the cell we traveled silently up several levels via elevator and came out, much to my surprise, in the museum again! We really had been in the dungeons of the Tower of London!\n\nI recognized the route we took and I wasn’t all that surprised when I found myself back in front of the stone again. There, laying on the carpet, being closely guarded by what seemed like a company of fully armed and armored troops… was Excalibur.\n\n“Arthur, if you would be so kind as to pick up that sword.” King Harry entered the room, his voice instantly recognizable and it took everything I had in me to keep from falling to my knees. That he had Gwen with him, the girl I had been obsessing over was, strangely, a minor thing.\n\nYeah, I know, I know, that whole American’s don’t fawn thing. Fuck that, the man had the power to make me disappear! He had almost single-handedly made Britain a world power again. He had overseen the return of the British Empire and was counted as the second, maybe third depending on who you asked, most powerful man in the world.\n\n“Your majesty, I beg your pardon?” I squeaked out.\n\n“Your sword, Arthur. Pick it up, please.” he asked quietly, his eyes locked on mine.\n\nAlmost against my own volition, I bent and my hand wrapped around the hilt of the sword. I was ready for another great shock but, instead, I felt warmth spread up my arm and through my body. In my head a small voice was heard, “At long last...”\n\nWhen I looked up from the otherwise unremarkable sword in my hand, every person in the room, including King Harry, Princess Meghan and Princess Guinevere, were kneeling.\n\nOh fuck.\n",
"There we were standing in line for the Excalibur Sword. My boyfriend John wanted to get touristy photos with it, trying to pull it out as though he was Arthur. I thought this was hokey, but we had another half-day in the quiet English village. This was just a farce the townspeople played on the tourists to keep them from exploiting their beautiful countryside vistas. Under the guise of germs, there was a £10 charge to attempt to pull the sword. I suspected this was just an idiot tax, but I did not want to tell John that. Since we were backpacking across the countryside and running dangerously low on funds, I told John he could try to pull the sword while I took photos. There was no point in both of us wasting the money after all.\n\nAll in all, it took four hours for us to get to the front of the line. Macho Eastern European men pulled with bulging muscles. Thin Asian girls hilariously fell to the ground as they pulled with all their might. Young people pulled. Old people pulled. Then it was finally time for John to go. The employee withdrew his hand to take money and frowned when I said I would be taking the photo only.\n\nJohn wanted two photos. First, he wanted a photo of him pulling with the stone and sword in perfect view. I shot him with his cheeks puffed out. I could not stop laughing as I took this photo of his unsuccessful attempt. The second photo he wanted was a closeup from the vantage of the stone. The employee did not want me to get that close to the stone, but there I was right under the sword taking the photo. I snagged that photo right as the employee was shooing us away from the stone.\n\nBecause of my position on top of the stone, I put my hand on the hilt of Excalibur to help me stand up. Expecting that it would stay put, I felt this was the best option. It did help me get to my feet, but I did not expect what happened next. The mythical sword then came out of the stone smoother than a hot knife through butter. For a brief second, I looked at the sword. Then, nervously, I returned the sword to the stone hoping no one had seen this. I should not have been there. This should not have been happening. I should not have taken that godforsaken photo.\n\n“Whoa! We got ourselves a future Queen of England!” Someone shouted in the crowd. There were further shouts from the line of people. Instead of letting this continue, I sighed before I did something I had prayed I would never need to do. I helped convince everyone that this had been a figment of their imagination, something my brief stint as an enchantress had helped me perfect.\n\nI really should not have come to this sleepy town in England. My mother had told me about the legends and our ancestry when I had been a child. I was supposedly the greatest grandchild of Morgan Le Fay and an enchanted Arthur. My mother had convinced me to train as enchantress for much of my teenage years until I had stopped that training abruptly when I had gone off to college. I wanted the bloodline to end with me. There was no way I would become the Queen of England.",
"It’s been a millennia since Excalibur was embedded within the stone. A millennia has passed this legendary weapon. It had seen empires rise and fall, technological advances come to light that previously only Merlin could conjure. \n\nArthur was barren. He bore no offspring, and his lineage was nonexistent. His final wish to his most trusted confidantes was to help him put Excalibur back from whence it came. Arthur could not afford to let the mighty sword fall into the wrong hands. \n\nI had heard the stories of the millions who would try and pluck the blade from its slumber, each and every one unworthy. Excalibur sat. Bided its time. Weathered the millennia. Sorted through those who were unfit to wield its might. There aren’t many left to make the attempt now after The Collapse. Anyone who is left are more concerned with making it through the night than claiming the rusty broadsword. \n\nOn one of my scavenger runs I saw the rusted sign. \n\n*Camelot 2 KM*\n\nI had yet to make a run though the old settlement, so I marched unto the not so ancient city. Canned goods. MREs. Bullets. This place was quite the goldmine. My pack was full, and my hopes were high. I just walked for a while until I stumbled upon the city square. You could still see what was left of those unfortunate people waiting in line to see if they had what it took to unsheathe Excalibur. *Hallowed* city, just like the rest. I waded through the bones in the square to reach the stone pedestal that held the blade. I didn’t even pull, Excalibur had ejected itself when I had merely touched the hilt. \n\nIt’s age had shown. Time was not a friend of this blue steel blade. Brittle, Broken, Shattered. \n\nIf I were worthy of this power I wasn’t going to let this be the end of the weapon. I brought the remnants of the blade to my bunker, and began the forging and metalwork to recreate the mythic weapon. \n\nIntricate Inlays, Beautiful Binding, Smooth Fan of the Hammer.\n\nExcalibur. A deadly, and elegant weapon, for a not so civilized age. The Blue-Steel revolver was everything a Gunslinger like myself could hope for. Everything I would need protect the Dark Tower, and take down The Man in Black.\n\n\n\n"
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[WP] Sol system is actually surrounded by a huge shield that the humans have just discovered. You are an alien engineer in a control room enjoying a bowl of soup, and see a small, forgotten red light pulsing under the monitor showing a breach in the shield.
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"The control room was what they called it, but Maih called it prison. She was just one, lonely woman working at a lousy engineering job whilst her family got to enjoy what little luxuries they could afford in the Central System from her meagre wages. Still. Although the work didn't pay well, and mainly revolving around avoiding her permanently agressive boss and running system checks every once in a while, there were small moments of pleasure. \n\nThe room was small but she knew every corner of it, every glitch in the programming, and every star system was managed under her careful watch. As she sat quietly sipping a bowl of dafhr soup, she looked at pictures of the Sol system. They were artist's impressions, mostly. The overseers did not care much for actual satellite imagery of the star system. It was a long way away, and the creatures inside it were of no particular scientific interest to them; they were too insignificant, too inwardly focused to be of any use for anything. \n\nBut Maih... she had grown to hold the creatures close to her soul. It had started when she'd heard on the channels of a minute space vessel holding a golden disc that had been discovered. To the delight of many overseers, the quaint object turned out to contain the precious sounds of a planet in the Sol system, but the news quickly became boring to most as the nearest inter-system war promised to break out and families evacuated to the Central System. Maih, who was under-stimulated but a highly emotional being, seized the story with a joyfulness she didn't know she had in her. \n\nThe antiquated and peculiar sounds of the Sol system became her daily soundtrack and they blurred out the unpleasantness of the daily grind and the worry and the fear for the future. Instead, Maih grew hopeful as time passed. Until that day, eating dafhr soup, the red light blinked and everything changed. ",
"I just wanted one calm uneventful day just one, Apparently it was to much to ask. \n\nFor the last month me & two other engineers had been building a new control room for the small mostly empty Dimensions at the far reaches of our sector. Darve the programmer had been watching the old system & doing a few software tweaks every couple of hours,so not much. Anyway today was going to be my day off. Darve had to do system software speed checks I was going to watch the old control room & enjoy looking @ the beginnings of star systems where they weren't even on the \"Kardashev\". I smiled @ the thought, they probably still used 'wheels,wood & wireless tech. I took another bite of soup,shaking my head. Then to my far left I saw a panel light up & the center indicator started blinking. For a Second I didn't move,or even chew. Quickly I jumped up grabbed my com & slid my chair over to the panel that was so dust covered,I was no longer hungry. There it was,Blinking RED the log reading:\n \n ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n \n Dimensional Shield Breach 5173 21:09:28 -(DT730) (UDDT -63) - Error:1\n Sector [-82 453 37] - Level:Blue 4 - Access:N/A - RST:82% - SYS-UL:N/A\n PL:0% - BPL:5% - Protocol:N/A - OD: Engineer,L5#7802 - Level 2:Failed\n \n -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nI yelled for Darve,The fear showing in my voice.\nHe all but flew into the room,& started making a joke but froze when he saw the panel.\nMumbling to himself while reading the log, How can the Backup power be @ 5% ?\nHe turned to face Sharden,who just walked in,How can this system panel have No System Upload & No Protocol active After a BLUE Level Four Breach?, He almost screamed! Brian,who was now standing at the door,said \"I don't now but someone is going to HQ Level:6 for this. Our faces turned white,Little did we know it then,but HQ was the least of our worries. ",
"*Ugh.* I think to myself, as I recline in the old, worn leather seat. *Nothing ever happens in this boring, monotonous job.* Multiple screens stretch out in front of me. Each gray and fuzzy, each one looking at a certain celestial body. But each is still, nothing moving, nothing happening. I reach for my cup of cooling soup and pause. There is something that I have never seen before. In one of the corner screens, something bursts. A small red light starts to blink under the screen, a light I didn't even know was there. \n\nI flip through the guide books, trying to find out what it means. Then I find it, the screen that looks at the Solar System containing one inhabited planet. My eyes widen and I feel my little, green heart sink. \n\n*Oh no. I remember learning about these creatures. Everyone learns about the humans, and how they treat they're planet and how they must be contained*\n\nI raise the glass case and press the giant red panic button. The sirens begin to wail, I look around waiting for something to happen. Suddenly armed guards burst through the door to the small surveillance room. \n\n\"What happened?\" One of them asks. I point to the bottom screen. \"Shit,\" he whispers. He takes a small black communication device from his shoulder pocket and talks into it. \"The humans have breached their cage, we need to contain them before they pollute everything in sight.\"\n\nI stand up and they motion for me to follow them. They lead me down the hall of the space station and stop outside a small escape pod. They motion for me to get in and I enter the capsule, they both follow. One of them closes the door and presses the deployment button.\n\n\"Where are we going?\" I ask nervously.\n\n\"To see the damage,\" one of them replies.\n\n\"But I am just a security guard. What can I do?\"\n\n\"You can see what your lazy, inattentive ass has done. If you had been watching you could have seen their intentions and warned us earlier.\" I sit frozen, stunned and unable to respond.\n\nThe capsule jolts and they motion to look out the window. I glance over and see the calamity. A massive rupture in the clear containment system looms before me. Trash and dust and rock flow out in a dirty, mangled mess. Little spaceships shoot out, going in every direction, each ship spewing out black smoke and leaving behind a disgusting trail. \n\n\"They are destructive and pollute everything they inhabit,\" one of them says. I stare and can't look away, my inattention has caused this.\n\n*I allowed the humans to be released. What have I done...*"
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[WP] You've just graduated from University with honors and a degree in the field of your dreams. While attending your class celebration, a man approaches and introduces himself as your conscience.
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"“Are you really the embodiment of my conscience?” I asked in amazement. He was dressed like everyone else so if he didn’t say who he was, I would of assumed he was just another student celebrating. \n\n“Yes I am,” he responded with a smile. “And I’m here to tell you that you need to wake up soon or else you will be late.”"
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[WP] In the future, everyone receives a letter on their 18th birthday. In this letter you are told your death-date. You just opened yours, it says 10:03am, April 3rd, 33AD...
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"\"Well that's... odd.\"\n\nThe date on the letter appears to be wrong. It's the year 2064, and it's a Monday. Monday the 17th March, to be precise. It's grey out, with not a single spot of rain to fall yet, and the sun is yet to make an appearance in the day.\n\nYou go over the letter once more.\n\n'Dear Joshua,\nImprinted below in this letter is your death date. It's here as a reminder to make each day the best you possibly can, and to start planning, and taking into action that plan, for the rest of your life, until this date:\nApril 3rd, 33AD, at 10:03am.\n\nCongratulations on making it this far, and we hope you live a whole and fulfilling life.'\n\nThe letters never state how you die, only the time and date.\n\nYour eyes go over the letter, again and again. The dates all wrong. How could that happen? No one's ever had a wrong date before, but there's no way you could ever die in the past. You're alive now. Time machines aren't even a thing either, as time travel had been disprove countless times.\n\nYou shake your head, and you try to forget about it. Maybe you're one in a million. Or maybe it printed wrong. Maybe they meant 3033AD. Maybe you'll live a long, long life. You crumple the letter and toss at the nearby bin. You shoot, you score.\n\nYou grab your jacket and head out. You've got a birthday lunch to celebrate with some friends and family.\n\nOn your way to Winstons bar, you pass a doughnut shop. It's your birthday. Indulge a little. Why not.\n\n\"Hey there, could I get one of those please? No no, the one with with the jaffa cake. Cheers.\"\n\nYour favourite. You take a bite and relish in the orange jelly texture, the flavour filling your mouth as you gob the whole thing in one.\n\n\"Hank ou\" you say, mouth full, to the guy behind the counter. He gives you a mild look of disgust.\n\nYou turn away and, for a moment, forget your bearings. Bang. You go head first into a nearby lamp pole, knocking yourself unconscious. Your mind slowly winds down, and as you hurt the floor you suddenly wake up, bleary eyed with a sore head. Where the hell are you?\n\n\"Ughh, ow.\" You blink. It's bright. The sun scorches your skin, whilst a mild breeze kisses the burning sensation away.\n\n\"This isn't right... how'd I get here?\" You start to freak out. You're scrambling to your feet as you spin around, scanning your surroundings. This isn't home. In fact, it appears it's nowhere near. A nearby stranger stops and stares. And then screams. It's a young woman, and she runs away in fear. You're confused. What made her scream like that? You look behind you, only to find a a wall. Nothing. You look down.\n\nYour clothes! Wait. No. You're not wearing any clothes. Wait. That's the problem! Where did your clothes go!? You run to the nearest open door and jump in, only to find a lady about the same age, she jumps up, only to see you stark naked. Her face full of surprise, only to burst out in laughter.\n\n\"Joshua! Whatever are you doing here, and naked none the less!\"\n\nNow you're even more confused. How does she know who you are?\n\n\"Peter and Andrew were meant to meet you. You'll be late. Now take these and go catch up with them.\"\n\nShe hands you some plain garments and you quickly put them on. As you look up you catch yourself in a nearby mirror. You look different. Only slightly. It seems your hair has grown, and you've developed a bit of a beard.\n\nSomething is horribly wrong. You pass out."
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[WP] A demon offers a depressed person the opportunity to erase their existence from history, but not before taking them on a journey to bear witness to all of the good they've done.
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"\"Why am I just seeing us, right now?\" I asked.\n\nThe demon's reflection stared back, the gruesome twin of the monster beside me. The mirror standing between us was faded and cracked with a dulled patina of millennia past.\n\n\"This is it. All of it.\" It said.\n\n\"My wife, job... my children?\"\n\n\"I only show you the good you've done in the world. Congratulations. I suppose, in the end, you did the right thing.\"",
"He hated his job.\nBut he was stuck in it.\n\n\n“Guess that’s what you get when you make a deal with Devil” he smirked. It wasn’t this thought that made him smirk but the fact that he made a Dad Joke. So it takes 10,000 Demon years to be old enough make Dad jokes he thought to himself. \nHe lit a cigarette and took a long drag. His job had its perks though. He could smoke, drink, catch HIV but he wouldn’t die. He would live on this “Earth” as long as he did his job. If he couldn’t Hells Fury was waiting for him. His job was simple. Send someone else to take his place in Hell. That was his deal with Devil. It didn’t bothered him much because as soon as they made deal with him they will be unborn. Only part he hated was before sending his victims off to eternal damnation, he would take them to their best moment of life. Give them hope. Make them realize what they had. Take them to their best day and then throw in Hells Fury. That’s what deal with devil looked like. \n\n…\n\nHe walked the street aimlessly to find someone to take his place. Finding target was easy, because he could see what everyone was thinking or wishing floating above their heads like a Thought Bubble. His whole world was a comic book. Another perk of his job. only difficult part was making them agree to his deal.\n“I want to disappear from this world” one Bubble read. This was his lucky day.\n\n…\n\nThis was his lucky day. Jon accepted his deal. He was even eager to go through it. Shake of hands and Devils deal was done. Only this left was to take this poor soul to his best day and plunge him into Eternal Damnation.\n\n…\n\nHe was perplexed. He had to time travel to only 4 hours back. Today was Jon’s best day? Just 4 hour ago he had most hope in his life?\nHe forgot about present Jon and his eyes were fixed on past Jon. \nJon was sitting in a dark basement reading some very old book. . He was looking pensive. His thoughts were floating above his head.\n “I’m a demon.”\n\n“Even death penalty can’t ease the pain of all the families I’ve hurt.”\n\n“This text says about a demon who can make me unborn.”\n\n“It says he does to save himself from Hells Fury”\n\nA faint smile appeared on past Jon’s face as his thought read “Only person I can help is a demon too”\n\n\n…\n\nHe hated his job. Even more now.\n\n( First post here. Criticism welcomed)",
"The red circle lit up in a beautiful explosion as red light erupted blinding the entire room. And just as soon as it began it ended, Jack who covered his eyes lowered his hands to look at the centre of a circle. Standing before him was the prettiest woman he'd ever seen, granted he really hadn't seen many women but of the few she was perfect. Garbed in a stunning tight red dress and perfect makeup perfectly accentuating her bronze sunburn tinged skin and a pair of deep red iris fiercely meeting his gaze. \n\n\"...\" Jack gulped. \n\nShe looked at him, the ends of her lips arching up with in a ghost of a smile. \n\nJack shuffled his stack of papers quickly tearing his gaze from the stunning woman, \"Where is it it?\" He murmured to himself. \n\n\"Wh-\", Jack flinched, stumbling back into the table behind him throwing his stack of papers all over the room. She arched one eyebrow. \n\n\"Uh. Shit. I'm sorry justa moment,\" he mumbled quietly looking fearfully at her. \n\nShe giggled. Jack blushed pink as he struggled to pick up the papers looking at the floor and back at her completely red. She smiled and Jack blushed even harder. She waved her hand and all the papers immediately started levitating before assembling themselves and flying into Jack's hands. \n\n\"Uh.. Thanks.\" \n\n\"My pleasure.\" Her sultry voice rolled into his ear carrying with it pleasant sounding accent that didn't seem posh but rather quite pleasing to the ears. \n\nJack cleared his throat looking down at his papers then her. \"Lilith va Rekthtern, Lady Red of the Iron Sands, I the summoner Kaj, a name that may or may not signify anything nor possibly be my given name, ask thyself to grant my wishes. However the summoner may have as per the summoner and summoning rules have free will to break free is free to ask anything under the circumstances that he or she does employ the use of powers without informing the summoner in full length of,\" Jack paused flipping his page, \"Where the power is being used, how, what immediate and prolonged effects as well as why and may not use the summoners hesitation or silence as his voice of approval for any and all actions. Thereby I, Kaj Brekker, as the summoner lay these rules of which none can be broken. 1. The summoner must ask permission before doing anything of importance, not excluding, speaking, using powers, or asking do perform any action. 2. The summoned cannot assume any form of hesitation or ambiguous action is affirmative grounds to perform any actions. 3. The summoned may ask or speak by first asking permission, \"May I speak?\" 4. Unless the summoner specifically says, \"I, the summoner Kaj, give you the summoned, my approval to perform action x or y,\" the summoned cannot assume the summoners position and perform the action anyway. 5. Even if the summoner is under extreme duress, this does not give the summoned grounds to perform as they will. 6. These rules are negotiable as long as the summoned follows the rules set by the summoner. 7. Rules may be added or taken away only by I, Kaj Brekker, the summoner alone.\" Jack was sweating as he finished his speech. He looked up only to find a smiling demon looking at him. \n\n\"May I speak?\" \n\n\"I, the summoner Kaj, give you the summoned, my approval to voice questions and or concerns but cannot absolutely utilize any powers during this conversation.\" \n\n\"Quite the set of rules you have.\" \n\nJack flipped through his papers. \"I, the summoner do not wish to engage in any form of simple small talk or jokes.\" \n\nShe raised his eyes, simutaneosly crossing her hands under assets. \n\nJack once more flipped through his pages combing through them looking for something specifically. \"I the summoner, require the summoned to perform one task and will provide accurate compensation for fulfilling said task. Do thoust, demon Lilith swear to fulfill this task to your absolute potential not avoiding or manipulating said task. As well if summoned speak any form of no, then the summoned shall immediately returned to his or her world.\" \n\nShe smiled looking at Jack. \"I the summoned, Lilith va Rekthtern, Lady Red of the Iron Sands, hear and understand that the summoner, Kaj Brekker, of whose name may or may not signify anything of importance and may or may not be his true or given name, wishes for me to fulfill a certain task of which I, the summoned shall fulfill to my absolute abilities.\" She smiled wildly at Jack as she casually imitated his earlier speech. \n\nJack looked at her, taking a deep breath, placed his stack of papers behind him on his desk looked directly at Lilith. Who in turn flashed him a smile leaning forward slightly. \"I the summoner, ask you the summoned to completely erase my existence from this universe.\" \n\nLilith opened her mouth for a second. Before closing it again. ",
"“Why are you showing me this?” Ella blinked. She was beholding a scene in her kitchen, her two daughters eating some ghastly fast food dinner, while their father sat between them. The fourth chair at the cozy square table was empty.\n\n“I thought you were supposed to show me the good that I’ve done,” she said, putting her spectral hand on her old home’s quartz counters.\n\n“The best thing you did was to leave them,” the hooded figure spoke, his voice ephemeral like bells, but also clipped and mechanical at the same time.\n\n“I thought... They’d be miserable without me. I wanted to show them what they were missing!” Ella choked, sinking to her former kitchen floor. It was a little grimy. She would’ve never let the tiles become so filthy. Why couldn’t her family understand that? Everything she did was for them! How could they not see!\n\n“Your oldest still remembers the comment you made when she made top band as a sophomore in high school,” the voice spoke.\n\n“Wh... what?” Ella stammered.\n\n“You told her to stop. To stop acting the way she did,” the hooded figure calmly explained.\n\n“Yes! She was acting unbecoming. She was out of control!”\n\n“She was happy that she made top band as a sophomore. That was one of her first accomplishments in high school. She was a happy teenage girl, trying to celebrate,” the voice spoke, still maddeningly calm. Ella stared at him, her gaze sharper than a knife.\n\n“Who are you to tell me I don’t know my own daughter?!” She shouted.\n\nThe figure shrugged.\n\n“Your youngest got raped. And the best you did was telling her to stop talking about her experiences,”\n\nElla froze. No... what happened... That wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t her fault that her daughter was hurt like that! She had told her to be strong. Why couldn’t her daughter be strong enough to get over it? She just kept dredging it up to manipulate us into feeling sorry for her. Why would she do that to her own family? Ella’s thoughts echoed in her head like an explosion in a combustion engine.\n\n“It wasn’t the fact that she wasn’t going to get over it. She was hurt. She was more than hurt. She was robbed, violated, and she needed support. And all you could do was to tell her to forget it and to be strong... when that was exactly what your own parents did,” the hooded figure kept explaining.\n\n“And it made me strong! I was a strong woman!”\n\n“You weren’t the mother that these girls needed. And your husband enabled you. And I am but death, and only an observer, and the best I can do is to tell you how things were,”\n\n“Fuck you! I did my best!” Ella gathered her knees, sunk her head between them and started bawling. The hooded figure stood motionlessly, an ethereal monument looming over all her sins.\n\n“That’s the sad part. You did. That’s the sad part about most of you,” he spoke, shifting his head to the happy family eating fried chicken for dinner.\n\n“There’s something inside you that you can choose to believe. There’s a person underneath there that is worth everything, despite of what I’ve shown you. Despite of what you believe,”\n\n“If me leaving was the best thing I’ve done for this family, then what does that say about me? What the fuck am I worth?” Ella gasped, still choking on her own tears.\n\n“You’re worth the person you can be,” the figure spoke, and for the first time in this ghastly journey, he offered her his hand.\n\n“People make a choice at this point. They can come with me, or they can continue to live their lives. For some, the shock is too much. Seeing themselves from other people’s eyes for the first time. It’s too much a burden to bear,” he paused before continuing. The broken woman still hugged her knees, and continued crying on the kitchen floor.\n\n“Your family has always loved you. But they could not love the choices you made,” Death spoke, his tone somehow more sympathetic.\n\n“Then I’ll make the choice that I never could, right now,” Ella whispered, looking up at him with mascara and eyeliner stained eyes. The black streaks ran down her cheeks and framed her determined face.\n\nDeath simply nodded.",
"My eyes clamp shut after finally finishing my request to the small black demon standing before me. I asked him to erase me. There was no point in staying here any longer. I had nothing left. \n\n\"Are you quite sure?\" the demon asked, curling a finger around his long beard. The demon gave a small smirk, flashing his mangled teeth, his eyes a burning orange. \"Do you not understand what you've left in the world?\". I shrug at his words. \"Nothing meaningful I'm sure..\" I grumble as I stare at the ground. The demon frowns and scratches the top of his bald head slowly with his free hand. \"I don't think you understand what kind of imprint you've left on the world and its people..\" Mutters the demon as he grasped my shoulder. \"Allow me to show you before I finish the request..\". \n\nMy head burned with a minor pain, my vision blocked by a bright white light. I winced in pain, trying to cover my eyes. \"Do not shield your eyes..\" grumbled the demon softly in my ear. I paused for a few seconds, fighting against the pain before lowering my arms. After a few seconds I saw a flash. This place was unfamiliar to me. \"Where am I..?\" I ask, my head still pounding. \"This is the future.. Or rather.. What could have been..\" the demon says sounding mostly sad. \"...would have..?\" I ask, confused and in pain. What does he mean? Could have been? What changed that? The demon snapped his fingers conjuring a newspaper from fire. \"Read it..\" he sighed as he turned away slowly. \n\nCANCER TO BE ERADICATED. DOCTOR SHELLING IS TO THANK FOR THIS MIRACLE. Shelling.... That was my surname. I stare at the back of the demon and crumple the paper in frustrstion. \"Will you please explain?\" I asked, feeling my heart slam in my chest from nerves. He turned his head so that he stared back at me with his burning eyes. \"That.. Would have been your daughter... You always told her she could do anything.. Even cure the ailment that haunted her mommy..\" He said slowly, his voice a slight growl. He turned to me, his eyes burning a dark red now. \"You told her she could cure it and with that kind of drive and encouragement...\" He shook his head slowly. \"Now, however, the human race must continue to suffer.\" he said, looking sad. My heart sank. What had I wished for? \"Can.. Can I take it back..?\" I ask, my eyes turning toward the ground slowly. The demon shook his head and also looked at the ground. \"No. I'm sorry.\" and he truly did sound sorry. \"Our deal is done.. She will have never been born from you.. Perhaps who does birth her will think twice about that mistake..\"\n\"Will you grant me one last request then.. Please..?\" I asked desperately. My mind flying this way and thought trying to make sense of the predicament. The demon gave me a small smile and nodded at me. \"I'll make sure she is protected this time. She will be in good hands.\" He said patting my back softly before I was nothing but mere mist in the wind. \n\n(My first ever post on WP! Give me all your feedback please!) ",
"Alec's startled scream was enough to prompt the usual obnoxious knock and yell from his neighbour. The joint wall between his apartment and the adjacent one occupied by a middle-aged man whose name he had never deigned to divulge to Alec, served as the sounding board between them. Any trivial infringement on the neighbour's staunch silence was immediately met with a loud thump of his fists and some creative expletive. Though, if there was an advantage to living next door to a first-class prick, it was that Alec's own pissed-off vocabulary received regular new additions.\n\n\"Hey, fucknuts! Keep it down in there godammit!\"\n\nThe pair of eyes that had been taking in Alec's reaction moved to the origin of the excessive vitriol, seemingly studying it. Alec studied the eyes in turn. Where human eyes would boast white sclerae these were black as pitch. There were no irises, not in the way that would give him some false hope that the thing seated casually on his kitchen counter was somehow still human. Instead of a comforting green or brown or blue, there were two concentric rings of flame in each eye. Besides its eyes, the rest seemed human enough. Pale skin, black hair, average build. A smile that would've suited a cat toying with a mouse.\n\nAlec could feel his entire body tremble. He would have screamed again, only he seemed to have graduated from loud fear to a silent terror that arrested all bodily functions. \n\nThe being turned back to him and inclined its head.\n\n\"Your neighbour seems a right classy fellow. And by that, I mean 'a royal thundercunt'.\"\n\nAlec's throat was far too dry to respond. The being chuckled wryly. \n\n\"Never mind. My business is not with him. Tell me Alec, what would you say if I offered you a deal?\"\n\nAlec clenched his right fist, the contents pressing into his palm. When he didn't answer, the creature peeled itself off the counter and walked toward him. It moved like vapour, simultaneously ethereal and corporeal like smoke behind glass. \n\n\"We both know you aren't going to do what you thought you were about to do. Because despite your fiancée fucking your best friend, and your dad's death last year and losing your job last week . . . Well, the truth is you still have *some* things to live for, right?\"\n\nAlec flinched with the bitter pain of a reopened wound. Despite this creature's unworldly appearance and sudden materialisation out of nothing, the weight of his very real problems seemed to slam into him again and eclipse everything else. \n\nThis had been going on for years. Silent screams lost to the wind and thrashing against the waves of his designated reality -hard, cruel collisions. But he'd always managed to find silver linings amongst the chaos. His father, for one, had always been a source of strength for him. A beacon that anchored him even through the darkest spells. When cancer struck him, it was like some part of Alec died too. The family had never fully recovered. \n\nStacy had been with him through everything, had been one of the main reasons he wanted to get over his depression -he'd wanted a future with her. And he'd truly believed she'd felt the same. Until she cleared out of their apartment, nothing but a note left in her wake of destruction to justify leaving him for his best friend. He'd been a mess and could barely function. So it was no surprise really, that he was one of the first to go when the company decided to make cuts.\n\nHe had no idea when the rest of the world had prepared for life to stop pulling its punches, but he certainly had taken enough blows. He'd had enough.\n\nThe being smiled. \"You wouldn't do that to your mother. Or your sister. You still have friends. We both know you'd have chickened out only to carry on living with the same misery for the rest of your life.\"\n\nHurt turned to anger in a flash. \"Get the fuck out of my apartment!\"\n\n\"Did I offend you? I'm a demon, bitch. Being sweet isn't part of the job description.\"\n\nAlec's mouth gaped open for the briefest of moments before he promptly shut it again. \"Yeah, right. What do you take me for, some kind of moron?\"\n\n\"Look at me. What, I look like live-in help to you?\"\n\n\"I don't -\"\n\n\"Listen, I have a proposition for you. You'll believe me then. Ready for it? I know you don't really want to end your life. I know you just wish you were never born in the first place. I know you wish there was a way for you to just zone out of existence without anyone noticing. And I can make that happen.\"\n\nThe demon allowed for a dramatic pause to let the information to sink in. Alec was strangely amused. Either this was some sort of elaborate prank, or . . . Nah. The possibility was too ridiculous to even fathom. So, hiding an indulgent smile, Alec merely said, \"Sounds good. Go ahead. Sprinkle your pixie-dust or whatever it is you do and make me disappear forever.\"\n\n\"Fantastic.\"\n\nSuddenly there was a loud continuous crack, like breaking bone only amplified to drown out every other sound. Alec dropped to his knees, pressing his hands against his ears in a vain attempt at blocking it out. Luminescent colours streaked passed in random succession, causing tears to spring into his eyes until everything turned black and then there was nothing at all.\n\n***\n\n\"Look at this little piece of shit.\"\n\n\"Aw, is he crying? Wanna go home to your mommy?\"\n\nAlec groaned, shaking the confusion from his head. When he looked up, he stared into two familiar eyes though they were set in a much younger face and swollen with tears. He stood, shaky on his legs as he took in the scene before him. \n\nA young boy, maybe nine or ten, lying on the ground. He was very short and rail-thin with huge glasses. The bloody nose and bruises were enough to jog the memory. Looming above the small boy were three big ones, all laughing and jeering. There was a brief moment of surprise as Alec watched a forth boy run onto the scene, slightly bigger than the one on the ground but not nearly brawny enough to take on the other three. \n\n\"Leave him alone, assholes!\" He cringed at the prepubescent voice and the familiar awful clothing. But he remembered. Despite himself, he even chuckled as he watched his ten-year old self get his ass kicked. He might have lost some pride that day but he'd gained a lifelong friend. The scene sped up to years down the line, through high school parties and college exams and eventually the wedding of that loser kid who'd managed to bulk up respectably over the years, standing in a fancy suit while Alec stood behind him, grinning in his role as best man. \n\nHe watched as long-forgotten memories burned before him: the friends he'd made, random acts of kindness, a stranger's smile. They stretched before his eyes, weaving a trail down to the very first time he'd put a smile on someone's face: his birth. As his father had been his beacon, so was he a source of happiness in his father's life. Always. Every memory danced before him. The joy he'd unknowingly spread throughout his life came rushing back to him, crashing into him harder than his melancholy and twice as potent. \n\nAnd then it was all gone, all the smiling faces and laughter. Nothing existed but the demon, who watched Alec carefully. Falling to his knees once more, tears began to tear down his cheeks at the sudden loss of everything. The numbness was overwhelming.\n\n\"The single tether to these stories was you. Take that away and this is what's left.\"\n\nWhen his eyes opened again, he was in his apartment, gasping on his kitchen floor. The demon returned to its perch on the counter, waiting patiently. \"Still want me to sprinkle my pixie-dust?\"\n\nIn his hand, Alec could still feel the pills he'd been seconds away from taking. He opened his palm and watched them scatter.\n\n***\n\nIf you like what you read, check out my other writing prompt-inspired stories [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/icehellion/)",
"\"Aren't you a demon?\" I finally ask, afraid to meet his gaze.\n\nHe stands tall and fierce, but there's a kindness hiding behind the fire in his eyes, and for a moment, I feel at peace. \n\n\"Allan, my child. I am indeed a demon, but I am *your* demon. Your mentor. Without you, there is no me, and it is with no small amount of bias that I extend to you this offer.\" He allows me a brief smile. \"Do you understand what this will mean?\"\n\nI swallow. Nod. \"I... I think I do.\"\n\nHe bends down to my level and touches my forehead with a razor sharp finger nail, and suddenly all I can see is a white mist, and I can no longer breathe. My eyes close for the last time, and as I draw my final breath, I can see...\n\n*The sun is shining, and I bask in its warmth as I lay down on the park bench. I can hear the birds singing above me, and I hum their melody under my breath, envious of their wings, their ability to fly carefree and innocent, blind to the heartbreak of the world below them.*\n\n*\"Hello.\"*\n\n*I open my eyes, and I smile at the little girl that stands before me. She stuffs her hands into the pockets of her coat as her face blushes, slowly becoming the same colour of her dress, and she looks at me with her big blue eyes, curious and quiet.*\n\n*I see her mother standing in the distance, and I wince when I see her worried grimace.*\n\n*\"Come along now, Sally,\" she shouts. \"It's getting late.\"*\n\n*The little girl, Sally, hurriedly hands me the change in her hand, and, job done, turns away hastily, running back to her mother's side and leaving me alone once more.*\n\n*The birds are the only companions I've ever had. I stand up shakily and I feed them as they sing to me.*\n\n\"Allan... Allan...\"\n\nI'm back in the corridor, lost in the darkness, and I'm crying.\n\n\"Why do you cry, my child?\"\n\nI cannot reply. I understand. For the first time, I understand. \n\nHell is not what awaits me. I have already suffered, I have already lost everything. This is what my demon has shown me. I have no existence, no history to be wiped. I am already lost to the world, and no one but the birds shall remember me. No one but the birds shall know of the good I have committed. \n\n(Feedback always appreciated!)\n\n"
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[WP] The technology finally exists to reanimate and transplant cryogenically frozen heads. Walt Disney is the first to be brought back, but something doesn't seem right..
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"the team holds their breath in anticipation. its the first time any of them performs the procedure and they are all fascinated at the technology used. a loud beeping noise indicates that the lifesigns read that of a normal living person. the team is speechless, they stare at the monitor for a second, paralyzed. then they jump up cheering. it was succesful, they had brought back a human from cryogenic freezing. and not just any human, walt disney!the leader rushes out of the room and begins making his way over to the reheating room to greet him and explain what had happened. the rest of the team waits outside as they were told to do.ten minutes pass. then twenty. the feeling of uneasiness grows among the scientists and surgeons. something is wrong. they start argueing and all agree that the second in charge should go in and check. the only one who disagreed was doctor eddison himself. but after some time and even more argueing he agrees to go in there, as long as another person goes with him. he chooses ivan kutznetsov, the engineer who designed the reheating room. \nthe underground facility they were in was enormous. because of all the equipment needed to revive a person from cryogenic freezing it was impractical to have multiple stations across the country, so only one place in the entire world was made. and the people brought back have to be prepared and educated in how much the world had changed since they lived. and with that they had to be there for an extended period of time meaning there had to be housing, food and water and pretty much everything else needed to keep a large number of people healthy and alive. for some dumb reason the people designing the place decided that the monitoring bay should be almost at the opposite end of the reheating rooms. \nso the two workers had to go through many hallways to get there. after fifteen minutes they finally get there. and immediatly they can tell something is wrong. the light is off and the easily recognisable stench of blood is oozing out of the room. ivan gets out his hammer and slowly walks towards the room. he opens the door slowly and the lights from the hall slowly fill up the room. as the expression on ivans face goes from uneasy to pure chock, eddison hears something from the end of the hall. at first he couldnt figure out what it was, but the more he listened the more certain he was. it sounded like an animal feasting on its prey. \"we gotta get the hell outta here... ivan? IVAN!\". the russian, too paralyzed to move couldnt react. even the sounds of footsteps hurdling towards him didnt affect him. what he saw in the room was just too much for him. the sound of eddisons startled scream finally brought him back to the moment.he turned his head just in time to see something even more terrifying. the pale white body of walt disney launching throught the air towards him, covered in blood. he panics and just in time, he swings the hammer into the head of walt. the now dead body of walt disney falls to the geound, as a thick, black blood like substance oozes from the hammer had entered its head. ivan and eddison both fall to floor out of chock, relief and exhaustion."
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Not my own words, duh.
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[WP] Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste. I've been around for a long, long year, stole many a man's soul to waste. Won't you have some sympathy for me?
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"We are the men and women of Earth, human-kind and its glorious birth \nGive us a moment to please speak free, a few things should be said so we hope you hear \nSympathy is for the deserving and for you we wouldn't shed a tear \nLove for you is the sign of an absent mind, like trying to give glasses to the blind \n\nThe crowds voice sang out high, the devil paused before releasing a sigh\n\nIs it not the human way, to forget and forgive, to allow another his say? \nI have watched many a dark thing, from far below seen the destruction I bring \nBut has not my helping hand sewn seeds of trust \nEvil may be my bidded dues, yet has it not allowed you, together, to seek something just?\n\n\"You decieve!\" The crowd cried out. The Devil stood silent, he did not speak nor shout.\n\nIt has forever and always been your nature. \nFrom the moment you separated Adam and Eve, sorrow, pain and doubt from the lies that you weave \nHow are we to believe in what you plead, when deceit is your one true planted seed?\n\nThe mob stepped forward and the Devil stepped back. In expected anger and hate the people found a lack.\n\nYou are right I am the Devil, Lord of evil and all you abhor \nI could speak up, lash out and settle the score \nI could strike quick and serve a terrifying blow, I could tell you things that you probably already know \nThat many of these sins are yours and not mine, many of these evils are not my design \nBut instead for today I'll take a step back and ask you once more \nWon't you please have some sympathy for me?\n\nThey stood for a moment, staring shameful at the ground. When they looked up they said something quite profound.\n\nYou're right, you've given us an enemy common, united we've stood, our differences forgotten \nYou've had role you perfectly played, even today we're reminded our anger stayed \nMaybe we'll take a chance and listen to your plee, maybe today the blind man can see\n\n_\n\nr/TheoreticalFictions"
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[WP] You go on a first date with a beautiful woman. Only she knows almost everything about you. You begin to wonder if she is a stalker.
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"She's just my type. Tall as hell on her long legs, black hair all the way down her back, and just enough of last night's makeup framing those bright minty eyes to make me wonder just what or who she got into last night. Honestly, she's 20,000 leagues out of mine, so when she wrote her number under her name, Casey Whittaker, on the credit receipt for her coffee, I was baffled. But hey, it's worth a shot, right?\nI show up to the restaurant a little early- coffee would have been a bit too ironic- but she's already there, flagging me down from one of the little tables for two. Just sitting down across from her makes me flush, but I greet her without stuttering and I'm pretty sure my smile was alright. \n\"I already put in an order for your drink.\" She says, and I stop glancing for a waiter. \"You like mimosas, right?\"\nThere's already water on the table, so I reach for that to fix my drying mouth. \"That's actually my favorite drink.\" Looking good already. \"You get an appetizer too?\" Rude, me!\nBut she seems unphased, and looks almost... Endeared? At my lack of social tact. \"Mhm. The spinach dip and mozza sticks, because if you dip 'em it's just the best.\"\n\"Wait, you do that too? People always look at me like I'm an idiot when I tell them it tastes good!\"\nShe smiles and giggles again, and even though parts of me are sure she's judging, she still looks fully engaged with me across this tiny table.\nThe evening continues nicely, the two of us getting along much better than I thought we would, for my own paranoia. We like the same music, and apparently even went to the same concert some years ago. I wonder what it would have been like to meet her there. She tells me about the dude that got dropped by the moshpit and broke his leg, and watching him get carted off to the med tent.\n\"I remember that! I ducked into the tent to get some coffee to warm up when they brought him in. Oh, it was gross!\" Gross in that sick nasty awesome kind of way, but yeah, gross.\nApparently we even went to the same school, which makes me really wonder how we'd never crossed paths before. I went to this tiny school with only a thousand students across all high school grades. I would have recognized her from the yearbook...\n\"... Do you remember the senior prank from the 2009 class?\"\nShe stops sipping from her drink, almost struggling to get it down before the words leap from her mouth. \"Oh shit, you mean when they basically just vandalized the whole school and let loose snakes in the upstairs bathrooms? Wasn't there a smoke bomb in Mrs Wheeler's room too?\"\nMy brow furrows, and I squint. \"But you said you graduated 07. How would you know about that?\"\nSuddenly, she starts to sweat, and her eyes glance away. I thought my poker face was bad. \"I, uh. I had a friend in your grade. Told me all about it.\"\nI lean across the table, into her space and over the food. \"What was their name?\"\n\"Huh?\" She looks like a deer, and it's upsetting that it's so cute.\n\"Your friend's name.\"\nFor a good and solid minute, she's silent. She stares down into her plate, mostly empty except for a bit of tomato she picked out of her pasta. Finally, she sighs, and looks up. \"I'm doing it again.\"\nIf I squint any more, my eyes may as well just be closed. \"Doing what?\"\n\"Giving myself away.\"\nSuddenly, I don't hear the clink of forks against plates or the chatter of a diner. I hear nothing, except for the breathing of Casey across from me. I look around, and when I look back to get, she's smiling at me with so much pity and distance it floors me.\n\"Kenz, I'm not real. This is a dream, mostly. I've had this conversation with you a few times now.\"\nSlowly, the world around us except for the table we're sitting at and the chairs we're sitting in starts to... De-render, is all I can describe it as. We're left sitting in a grid by the time it's all gone, and the light from the candle on our table is odd.\n\"You're in a coma. I've been projecting scenarios into your mind to keep you company. You don't remember me in here, since you can't access a lot of your memories, but... This is how we met.\"\n\"What...\" The word comes out so softly, I'm not sure that I've said it. I move to stand, and the chair ripples as I leave it. Standing on the grid feels like falling, but so does sitting down, at this point.\n\"I miss you, so I come here to talk to you... But I have to just meet you again and again until you figure it out.\" She's... Tearing up, across the table, but her makeup never smudges.\nI wobble at my knees, and reach for the table to steady myself. \"Wait, so- we hit it off? We're a thing?\"\nShe laughs, but it's half a sob, without humor. \"Yes, Kenz. We were happy until you-\" she cuts herself off, and clasps a hand over her mouth.\nI reach for her shoulders, but touching them feels like touching a mannequin with some sort of electric charge. She looks up at me when I do, and gives a sad smile. \"This'll reset soon, since you've figured it out.\"\n\"But why-!? Why can't we just keep going from here-\"\nShe shushes me, and her finger is too warm on my lips. \"You experience cortical spikes when you're too aware for too long. I've-\" a choking sound leaves her throat as it closes up in another sob. \"I'm hurting you by doing this- because I'm selfi-\"\nHer image distorts, rendering with fewer shapes, and my hand on her shoulder passes through. \"Casey!\"\n\"Go to sleep, Kenzie.\" Her voice isn't coming from her body anymore. It's not there. I see nothing but black. \"Go back to sleep...\"\n- - -\nI look at the clock in the corner of the screen on the register. I still have most of my shift at the coffee shop left. I should really stop checking; it feels like time never passes here.\n"
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[WP]Alien species are driven by some cultural or genetic factor each unique to them. Some are driven by duty, others by a lust for knowledge, but humans are the only ones driven by the pursuit of happiness.
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"Excerpt taken from *A Guide to Lesser Bipedals* \"Chapter 11: Humans of the Sol System\"\n\n---------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n...As we have just learned, humans have the standard evolutionary history of most bipedal creatures in the galaxy. Of this, they are not special in any regard, but one of many \"hairless apes\" one can find. However, there is one thing that sets them apart among the many species in this book, and that is their pursuit of happiness. \n\nMost intelligent life has a form of happiness in their emotional constructs. It's a very common trait and is very useful, if not necessary, towards a species social development. However, happiness is normally a secondary or tertiary pursuit for most species. Indeed, most reading this will agree that it is foolish to attempt to find or cultivate happiness. If happiness happens to come along with one's normal pursuits, then so be it; but it should never be one's only or main pursuit. \n\nHumans will completely disagree with that sentiment. Humans will put happiness above all else. There are cases of humans living in complete squalor with no access to modern conveniences or entertainment, but for whatever reason, they are happy and therefore at ease with their circumstances. In terms of mating, humans will choose the lesser of two beauties if that choice will make them happier. Some humans, though not all, have even been known to choose happiness over money. \n\nIt is many an anthropologists guess as to why this is. Why would they pursue such an abstract, and fleeting concept such as happiness over other, more tangible things? Some would turn down a room full of gold (a precious metal on Earth; they have much less of it than most planets), books of knowledge of powerful inventions, or the duty of their country or nation and instead turn to something that brings them \"true\" happiness. \n\nIt is the opinion of many scholars in the galaxy that this is the reason why humans have made little progress in the way of interstellar travel. They constantly seek this inner happiness and any attempt to broaden themselves outwardly becomes secondary. I am not denying their achievements, they have made much progress despite almost going extinct multiple times, but they have so much more potential. \n\nAs is the course of this book, we shall now move from the subjective to the objective. The next section shall focus on the reproductive cycles of the humans... \n\n---------------------------------------------------------------------------"
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[WP] In a world where people develop superpowes based on their birth name, you've been given the privilege to carry one of the greatest names that possess the strongest superpower. However, when registering your name, your father made a small spelling mistake.
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"The room is dark except for a single desk lamp lit in the corner, a boy sits in a padded office chair, his back hunched, his face shallow and eyes indented from the tears that fell on the cover of the book before him. With a flick of his wrist, he grabs his pen and flings open the cover to a new page. His back straitens as he begins to write feverously, his penmanship is lacking but the words are easy to make out.\n\n\n\t[Dear Diary,\n\n \n\tThe house was filled with tears of depression. The intense and heartfelt kisses, jokes to cheer up the inevitability of it all. The long hugs and crying made me feel even worse about myself… you see diary, tomorrow I will be 18… and if my power does not manifest I’ll be thrown into the mines for the rest of my days… I mean seriously, what is wrong with me… my younger sister Mai got hers today and she’s only 13 years old... I guess I should just give up… I should pack my things for the coal mines but first I’ll elaborate for anyone who finds this diary. \n\n\tIt all started February 13th 2018. 2 weeks before the bombs dropped. You see tensions were already high between the US and North Korea. Both countries throwing insults back and forth. This led to all nations to unsteady hands hovering over the “button”. It never really took much to set off President Trump but no one thought he would actually do it. In the end all it took was some name calling “Trump is a Dotard”… then boom, war erupted and the nukes were launched. All over the world the match was struck and nuclear annihilation was set. The war was devastating and nearly 2/3rds of the world population died in the first few week, But like Ecclesiastes 3:20 we returned to the dust and from the dust we rose, and humankind thrived. Turns out nuclear waste can in fact give superpowers… no one understood why they got the powers they got at the time, but in time they realized it had to do with their name. With this phenomenon known Kim Jong-Un was the sure-fire victor his power based on his name was unrivaled, Jong meaning Just and Proper and Un meaning favor his name translated to the power of “Justice and Favor” and he cashed in hard. Using his powers he enacted his ultimate ability “Korean Law” which made him and his army untouchable as no matter what we did his idea of justice put himself and his above all else and with the odds and favors on his side the world couldn’t do a thing. That is except for the president. Enacting his special ability “Trump Card” which allowed him to slip my grandfather and his special forces in and assassinate the Tyrant, which would have been a great victory. However, Vladimir Putin stepped in. Vladimir meaning great and peaceful ruler, and Putin, meaning to make a claim or application for something. He placed his ability at the top of the stack, and thus sacrificing himself set a wave of peace freezing The Donald and Kim in place creating a peace that would last generations to come. This was later known as the Name Wars.\n\n\t100 years have passed since then. Research and studies have shown us much about this mutation in humans, Names were now associated with jobs and each family was given a list of names that associated with specific jobs and duties. We gained super powers but lost free will. The powers seemed to manifest themselves during puberty. But you never know what power you will get, if your name is too generic you may get nothing. For instance if your name is Mason, we know you will get something with stone, but will it be stone skin, be as strong as stone? Or will you get control over rock and earth? It was a crapshoot and if your power isn’t useful or apparent you are sentenced to the coal mines. I was given the name Kal at birth in part to pay homage but mostly because meaning strong would offer me the most opportunity to find my power and have a fulfilling life. But as you know now I am almost 18 and still have not seen my power emerge. Dad took my papers down to the registry today for analysis… hopefully they can figure it out. I really don’t want to have to work in the mines… oh well.\n\t\n\tSincerely… Kal Maverick…]\n\nA few tear stains dot the page of the book as he closes it and looks at the clock… [03:01am] “Happy birthday to me…” he says sarcastically as he lays back in his chair. He pulls the curtains and looks into the driveway to see his father had returned. The 2015 White Ford Explorer with the 5-0 painted on the side was sitting in the driveway. Considering his father never came upstairs Kal deduced that the registry wasn’t any help. He knew his only option now was to run. Kal threw open the closet doors and began searching for any and all belongings that could help him in his escape. Some rope, clothes, a water bottle, leaving only his journal behind. He packed his bag and opened his bedroom door. His father, Ryder meaning Knight was a police officer, a defender of the law his power was that he could command authority to anyone who looks in his eyes. Kal knew that he would stop him if he was caught so he crept down the staircase carefully. At the foot of the staircase he could see the lights flicker from the television in the living room. No doubt his father fell asleep on the couch so not to wake his wife. Sneaking around the corner Kal makes his way into the kitchen a vanilla file sits on the table. Curiosity got the better of him. Reaching down he opened the folder and gazed on his birth certificate for the first time. His name wasn’t Kal after all… his father made a mistake a small dash where the ink from the pen gave out changed the name entirely. He wasn’t Kal Maverick, “The Strong Free Spirit” he was Kai Maverick, “The Unorthodox Keeper of Keys and earth.” Just like that upon reading his name the ground begun to shake beneath him his father awoke and raced to the kitchen to see his son just as the earth opened and swallowed him whole. \n\nKai fell for what seemed like an eternity but was really only several moments. Finally he began to slow and without any warning he landed on a glass platform. In front of him was 3 locked doors. Each with its own symbol, one of a sword, one of a shield, and one of a staff. AS he stood up he could hear voices echoing all around him like a whisper.\n \n“Which path will he takesss…?” the first voice whispered with a serpent like hiss.\n\n“Is he really the one?” a second voice much harder and gruff chimes in.\n\n“Perhaps… but he is a bit old, don’t you think?” a strong booming voice unlike the whispers of the others.\n\n“Give the boy a chance” a feminine voice says.\n\nFinally Kai pipes in, “Who are you? What am I doing here?” \n\nA light turns on and a man enters the room his slender body is wrapped in green scalemail, upon his head a golden helmet adorned with 2 long horns. He steps closer to Kai, his tongue slips from his curled mouth like a snake as he speaks his green eyes glow, “you can see usss?” \n\n“o-of course I can.” Kai says as he back up away from the man. As he takes another step a light turns on behind him as he bumps into another man, this one dressed in furs his hair was red and his eyes a dull green. his hand rested on his crooked sword as he ran his hand through his beard. “Interesting… he may indeed be the one.” The big man speaks with a gruff nature. His accent was rough and heavy with Asian undertones. The next light bursted on and a man riding a horse walked into the room had raven-black curly hair and was clean-shaven, his armor brandished with a golden face. He held a spear in one hand his other arm blocked by his red cape that flowed off his shoulders gracefully. “What is your name boy.” The man demands from atop his horse. \n\n“I am Kai Maverick.” Kai shouts back as he backs into the arms of the 4th voice. A beautiful girl holds him in her embrace. Her soft black hair framed her face, adorning her head was a golden crown shaped like a bird. Her dark makeup and skin suited her well. Her clothing was made of white and gold and her neck was heavy with jewelry, “Kai Maverick hmmm that’s quiet the unusual name” she says draped around the boy holding him in place.” \n\nStruggling for a moment, he watches as the three other figures close in on him. “What do you want from me? why did you bring me here!” He says as he tries to break free. The girl releases him as the man on the horse begins to speak. “We are the guardians of the famous names of the past, Loki the trickster god, Genghis Khan the The Great khan of the mongol empire, Cleopatra Queen of the Nile, and I, Alexander the Great. And we young Kai did not bring you here, you did.”\n\n“I brought me here??? And where is here exactly”\n\n“Here is the great hall of heroes… as the keeper of keys you are able to unlock the doors to the future and the past.” Cleopatra chimes in.\n\n“The peacccce brought on from the name war isss about to run outss” Loki steps forward removing his helmet.\n\n“In order to protect the world… we need your help,” Genghis says as he draws his sword and bows before kai. Followed by loki and cleopatra. Alexander hops off his horse. “I bow to no man… but i acknowledge you as our savior. Now go chose a door. The locks will only be opened for you.” \n\n\nKai Walks over to the the three doors and infront of the sword he holds out his hand. Particles of light begin to converge in front of him and suddenly with a ‘ting’ a key is formed. Kai places it in the key hold and the lock unhindges with a Thudd… and the door opens…\n",
"\"Fuck.\"\n\n\"What's the problem honey?\"\n\n\"I--\"\n\n\"Yes? What's wrong, you look like you've seen a ghost.\"\n\n\"I think I misspelled Dan.\"\n\n\"What do you mean?\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"Honey?\"\n\n\"In--in his birth certificate, he wasn't named Dan.\"\n\n\"Oh no! How could you!\"\n\n\"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I must have typed the wrong letter into the computer!\"\n\n\"You have to fix it right now!\"\n\n---\n\n\"Actually, I think his new name is even better.\"\n\n\"But Dan is one of the most sought after names out there! Don't you remember? The name Dan makes him invulnerable to everything!\"\n\n\"Well, what about Dad?\"\n\n",
"So, you're probably wondering how I got into this. Why did I ever think that as an ordinary 15 year old I could take on the greatest super villain of all time? Well, I guess you could say it is my dad's fault. \n\nLet's go back to the day I was born. My mom, Valerie, and my dad, Everett, wanted to name me something that would develop into a power that would always be useful. You see, where I come from the world is filled with people who have special powers, but our powers are determined by our names. My mom's name means powerful, and my dad's means wild boar. They did pretty well because they are both extremely strong, but the wanted something more than just strength for me. So, finally they decided to just forgo the traditional name part and name me something that couldn't be anything except what they wanted. They decided on Able. They wanted me to be able to face whatever task I needed to, and this was their solution. There's only one problem, my dad misspelled my name on my birth certificate, and I'm just finding this out now.\n \nSo, still confused? Okay, on everyone's fifteenth we get our powers. Then, we decide on a task to complete to fully test and show the world our powers. Since my name is Able, I figured that I should be able to take on pretty much anything. Boy was I wrong. So, how did my dad actually spell my name you ask and what is my power? Well, he left out the B, so my name is ale. Apparently Death didn't like being challenged to a drinking contest."
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[WP] Earth is invaded by several competing alien empires. Rather than uniting under the common threat, humanity decided to divide itself even further, with countries allying themselves with different alien forces and going to war with each other.
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"Lak Mortumee was kaidon of his family. They went to Earth as heretics seeking refuge from covenant armada- while his family either supported him or labeled their warriors cowards worthy of arbiter status, neither side had expected to encounter the military might of the multiple races that had converged on earth. Lak and his family descended upon the americas, finding the honor of their special forces that grew strange plastic like body fur from their faces, despite being mammals. The sole star of earth left his family cold, but his warriors’ heart burned on, yearning for redemption in his families’ eyes. Perhaps protecting these beasts would assist in this. They resembled smaller Jiralhane- with wits to rival the San’Shyuum. \nLak often found human sitting uncomfortable for his double knee joints, so he preferred standing, even inside the barracks.\n\n“So ugh, an ‘energy sword,’ huh? Sounds like a lightsaber” \n\nLak grunted his mandibles, making a guttural growl.\n“A single plasma blade is foolish- how might you wrest a sword from a foe? Have not humans a second thumb?”\n\n“No, our pinkie fingers aren’t ugh...aren’t that useful” Pontiac said, chewing some watermelons flavored gum. Pontiac was named after the famous chief, but decided to enlist as opposed to stay on the reservation- they were Americans after all this time passed, after all...and if the Russians wanted to ally with the Turians then so be it. He’ll personally match up to Stalingrad with the Sangheili and burn the armor off of their metallic-scaled corpse if need be. \nGently, he slapped Lak on the chest, which prompted a hiss and a sword draw from the Sangheili field Marshall.\n\n“Easy there big fella, it’s a playful gesture”\n\n“In my culture, any sign of battle is a sign of sword draw. I stay my hand”\nThe elite deactivated his sword with a flick of the wrist, placing in on his magnetic hip holster. Humans were strange. \n\n“-anyway, plan is, you use your plasma bombardment to burn out the shields and crew. Ground invasion sweeps in, and we show those plum fucks the what for. It’s simple- mostly because everyone will be dead on both sides. Sound good?”\n\n“My sword will burn with the color of the blood of heathens”\n\n“Sounds like a yes”\n\nIf only it had went that smoothly. Five hours in, and all ships were grounded from damage. Lak and his crew were mostly intact, though the Ruso-Sino border was now cluttered with a two kilometer long Sangheili capital ship, and a bunch of Turian vessels. The green berets picked up the crew members and began a march to Moscow that was almost entirely passive.\n\nUpon reaching the city limits, all hell broke loose. Kreav Mortumee, Lak’s nephew, was stabbed by an omni blade by a Turian assassin before bullets, mass effect relay weaponry and plasma began spraying in every direction.\n\n“COWARDS! You wish to hide in the shadows, then we shall chase you back into them! Sangheili, active camouflage!”\n\nPontiac led the green berets into an alley way where they hid inside a bakery while the fighting ended...\n\nThe Turian commander looked around, confused.\n“Snipers, movement?”\nNo answer...\n“Sn-“\n\nA body dropped behind him from a second story building as a cloaked elite jumped down shortly after. Lak soon followed.\n“Your soldiers were easily dispatched. You have led your family into a dishonorable maneuver, and they died because of your cowardice”\n“For a group that values honor, you seem to have camouflage capabilities too”\n\nLak snapped and rushed forward- the Turian was able to hold back the Sangheili using the side of his rifle- about like fighting a krogan. At first...until the metal casing on the rifle began to crack, and the turian’s scales began to grow numb. The sangheili’s body weight alone was about to snap the rifle, and his strength was cutting off circulation on the turians arms. His biceps alone were bands of pure steel, and it was obvious that Lak was putting fourth very little effort- suddenly, his left leg gave out, surprisingly, allowing the Turian to reach for his side arm with a shit eating grin. But before the Turian leader could cry out, Lak rolled backwards and performed a high kick, which crushed the commanders face into a flat pancake, blood gushing out from all sides. The 900lbs saurian was nothing but muscle, like the rest of his kind. For him to be the leader of his family, he had a lot more than a last name and good genetics on his side. A lifetime of fighting and training- even after earning his title- had left him the strongest of the Mortumee’s.\n“Now, as we march upon the winter-humans’ vile abode, shall we burn them until they are but glass!”\n\nThe other Sangheili warriors roared out, igniting their energy swords and thrusting them into the air as the green berets formed up with the squad of intergalactic warriors. The Russian guard began to pour out with turian’s mixed into the ranks, seconds before the gunfire began however...\nAll grew quiet as the skies darkened....lighting up only so briefly as to betray the location of other ships which were firing upon each other mid-atmosphere. \nThese alien vessels had joined the fight, allied with different fragment human kaidons, or at least that’s how Lak interpreted this.\nIn this moment, Lak’s mandibles parted into what might be considered a “smile.” "
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[WP] Crimes can only be committed in the dark. People always keep their lights on for protection. One night, a power outage occurs.
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"Alleria was a beautiful place. Sunny during the day, brightly lit at night. It was a peaceful place, and the crime rate had been at an all time low. In fact, there had been no crime at all. Alleria boasted its ideal, futuristic strategies in making itself the best city in the world.\n\nSome people say that the city harbors a dark secret. The city had clear and strict laws, and the consequences were made clear to anyone who broke them. However, there has been speculation on just how feasible it would be to break the rules that were meant to be followed. Evidence suggests that the reason for the city’s well being is its light. Has there ever been a crime under the light? \n\nA power outage causes chaos in any place, however Alleria suffered more. One day the city lost its light. Conspiracy theorists elicited panic, people began to wonder if they would survive to see the next day. \n\nIt lasted four hours. There were conflicting accounts on what actually happened. Some people stated that the city sunk into chaos. For hours, the city was ruled by people who only wanted to cause harm. There was violence in the streets and many people chose to stay indoors in fear. For some people, this was normal. The city had many places to hide.\n\nYet others stated that Alleria was a wonderful place with people they trusted. They had spent years building relationships with these people and knew that they could never be criminals. Perhaps the light had nothing to do with it, and Alleria was simply an amazing place to be. \n\nOr perhaps there was more to the city than meets the eye.\n",
"Candles were a precious commodity in the land of Lux. The realm had a magical seal of protection that blinded anyone who was bathed in light and sought to do others harm, be it direct or indirect, physical or mental.\n\nOf course, this resulted in these wax sticks turning into a precious commodity. Only the rich could afford to illuminate every corner of their estate to defend it, while the poor had to build their own and defend only a small portion of their land.\n\nIn due time, Lux had advanced to keep up with the modern age. While magic had faded over time, the protective seal over the country never left. What was once considered the best way to ward off criminals had been corrupted into a practice to improve one's \"luck,\" as knowledge of the seal faded from common knowledge. The people grew complacent, and kept their lights on except to sleep.\n\nOne day, the lights went out.\n\nAt first, crimes were subtle. Mobsters took the time to engage in more unscrupulous activites, and belligerent defaced buildings with graffiti. Eventually, however, things descended into complete hell, with felons of all kinds assaulting the cities of Lux. Even worse, there was minimal police presence due to the excessive lack of crime. The city's leaders came together, demanding a solution.\n\nIn due time, they discovered the protective seal guarding the realm, and quickly came to the conclusion that the answer was, once again, candles. The government quickly collapsed at the feet of the few candlemakers left in the land, and the balance of power quickly shifted to them as the guardians of the land.\n\nI refuse to disclose my identity, as my rivals would quickly end my business if I did. Regardless, take my tale with immense caution, and remember this...\n\nThere are more protective barriers out there just like the one in Lux, and the countries who do not heed my warning will collapse the very moment their power grid fails. When it all goes to hell, the candlemakers will rule over the remnants of the empires, as they will be able to dictate who will live and who will die at the hands of felons.\n\nNow please, won't you buy a few candles? They're top quality, and will last for a week before you need another one. I'll even cut you a deal and sell you two $600 ones for the price of one."
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[WP] On your flight, the guy sitting next to you starts telling you stories from the time he could fly.
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"Eli instinctivly rubbed the scar on his right hand. Flying always made him nervous. It wasn’t the actual flying part, but all the extra baggage. The crowds, the food, the suffocating lack of personal space. As of now, the window seat next to him was empty, and he hoped it would remain that way. He yawned, it was about midnight. If he had to fly, he preferred red eyes. There were usually less people, and it provided a better chance at having his own seat. He’d had friends who loved flying and meeting new people, but for Eli, besides his girlfriend Annie and a few friends and family, he wasn’t a huge fan of new people. Not that he necessarily disliked them, he simply felt content with the amount of humans he currently had in his life.\n\nHis phone buzzed, it was Annie. “I’ll call you a cab for the morning. Have a safe flight.” Eli rolled his eyes as he texted back “Okay, see you when I get home.” He threw his phone in his bag a little more aggressively than usual. He and Annie got in a heated argument earlier that day. He honestly couldn’t even remember what it was about, just something stupid and insignificant. She was apparently still pissed, since she was originally going to pick him up. He rested his head back, unconsciously rubbing his scar. It usually was small things they fought about, but he couldn’t help imagining a skyscraper toppling over due to thousands of insignificant cracks chipped in its foundation. He rubbed his temples as the plane began to ascend. It will be fine. He and Annie would make up, they always did. Eyes closed, he took a deep breath and tried relaxing.\n\n“Pardon me,” His mind blinked back into awareness “but my seat is next to yours.” The old man was small, so he wasn’t too annoyed at having a seat companion. Eli stood in the aisle, letting him in, noticing he had no personal belongs. He must of put them in a compartment, he figured. The old man thanked Eli, and slipped into his seat. Eli noticed the tremble in his hand resting on the tv tray, and it gave him slight anxiety about old age. Eli closed his eyes and reached for his own hand. He got the scar as a kid, he fell off his bike onto some broken glass. Rubbing it was his version of biting his nails, or tapping his foot. Just took the edge off.\n\nThe old man exhaled, looking out the dark window. “Shame we won't be able to see much out there tonight, wouldn’t you say?” Eli politely nodded, and closed his eyes again. He wasn’t much of a small talker. \n\nIt was always difficult for Eli to fully fall asleep on a plane, and this time was no exception. After about an hour of trying, his ears perked up at the sound of a small cart slowly wheeling towards him. Sleep wasn’t going to help him tonight, he figured he should stop pretending.\n“Can I get you something to drink sir?” The flight attendant asked. \n“I’ll take a coffee with 1 cream, thanks.” \n“And I’ll have the same thing.” an old croaky voice chimed in “Planes are hard for me to sleep on too. Might as well accept it and do better things.” Eli gave an awkward chuckle, as he accepted his coffee. The old man continued “You know, I used to do this all the time.” his shaky hands nearly spilled coffee on Eli as he accepted it from the attendant. “Do what?” Eli begrudgingly asked. The old man exhaled as if he were relieved of something, “Fly.” He said, with his eyes enlarged and dreamy. “Ah, that’s cool.” Eli tried looking the other way. The old man said, “Ya, it really is. I mean I used to FLY. Nobody gets that opportunity. I would soar through the air like I owned the place” he chuckled. Eli began anxiously rubbing the scar on his hand. He absolutely hated small talk. “Oh, so you were a pilot?” The old man shook his head a bit aggressively, “No no no, not like that.” Eli was a little confused, but didn’t care enough to press the old man. He nodded, and looked the other way.\n\n “Like Superman” the old man said after a quiet few minutes. “Excuse me?” Eli wasn’t sure he understood. “Like Superman, I used to fly like Superman.” Eli carefully nodded looking at the seat straight ahead of him, realizing his companion was an old mad chatterbox. Great. “Course, my hair never looked as good as his when I was through. More like a bird’s nest it was!” He chuckled, “I’d get up about 45,000 feet above ground, I was higher than we are now.” Yea, Eli thought, you were high alright. “You know Superman, right kid?” Eli gave him a small nod, full on gripping his right hand at this point. “Ol’ Clark Kent makes it look a lot easier than it is” The old man laughed at this, as if he were talking about some good friend of his. He sat there smiling like an old goon, bringing a small smirk to Eli’s face. As annoyed as he was at the situation, he couldn’t help but admire the old man’s care free attitude. Maybe Eli could learn a thing or two from this guy. “One thing that really surprised me when I first started flying,” the old man continued, “was how hard it was to control my arms and legs. You think, sure, I just keep em straight and go, but oh no no. Not that easy.” The old man shifted himself so Eli could see him a bit more clearly, he actually seemed a little familiar... “You see, imagine when you jump off a rock into the water, do you jump and pencil dive straight in?” Eli shrugged. He had probably just seen him at the airport. “No of course you don’t!” he continued, “Your arms and legs are flailing like a swimming baby before you hit the water. Well, it’s like that. Takes lots of practice before you can control your limbs. You gonna eat those pretzels?” Eli planned on it, but the question caught him off guard, he shook his head. “You also gotta make sure you’re careful of birds and planes while you’re out” his veiny hands tore through the small bag “cause I’ll tell you firsthand that running into a bird at 40 miles per hour isn’t a good time! I landed myself in the hospital for that one, told them I was mugged and beat up, which wasn’t far from the truth!” He laughed whole heartily, bits of pretzel taking flight. “I never felt as free as i did plunging through the air though, it became my safe space after a while.” Eli thought that actually sounded nice right about now. To jump through the window but not fall, leaving anxieties on the ground for another time. \n\nAfter a few minutes, the old man looked over at him with a strange and soft expression, like a somber reminiscence. Where had he seen him before? “Well kid,” his voice cracked a bit “thanks for giving an old man an ear. I know you would have preferred to sit on your own.” Eli smiled a bit, and noticed the old man slowly taking his right hand from his jacket pocket. He guided the wrinkled veiny hand towards Eli’s tray table, balled in a loose fist. It wasn’t until he rested it on Eli’s tray table that he noticed a blemish. No, a scar. A large distinctive scar on his right hand…\n“It’s going to be hard at first” he said “but you’ll get through it.” \nEli knew that scar… \n“You’ll need lots of private open space to practice. Uncle Jerry is selling a house just outside town, nothing special but she’s got good bones.” He gently separated Eli’s left hand from rubbing his right, and placed his aged, scarred hand in Eli’s palm. It was the exact same scar stretched across Eli’s hand.\n “Things are going to be very different from this point forward.” a small pebble dropped into Eli’s hand. The old man retreated his own, as Eli looked at the small light blue stone in his palm. It shimmered a bit, with stripes of white streaking through. “W-what is this?” The old man laughed, and looked older than he had moments before. “Kid, I’m handing you the keys to the ferrari.” Eli stared at him for a bit. There was no way... “I’d tell you not to fly too close to the sun” the smirk on his face slowly fading “but, you will, and it will hurt.” Eli must be asleep, and having the most odd dream. “it’ll be okay though, just don’t take your eyes off what’s important.” The old man’s eyes began losing their focus. “One more thing” He rest his head back on his seat “Tell Annie how much you love her,” He closed his eyes, “tell her everyday.” The old mans hands stopped trembling. Eli sat there motionless, with the stone in his hand, his body feeling lighter than it ever had before.\n"
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[WP] You seem to have accidentally boarded the wrong flight, and it’s the modern equivalent of the Ancient Greek ferry to the Underworld. You are the only living person on a plane full of damned souls.
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"Looking at the eyes of the people sitting in the plane they stair into the empty space in front of them as the doors of the flight are slowly closing. I panic and run towards the doors but I am stopped and being dragged to my seat by two large men. I close my eyes and open them and imagine myself that this could be a dream and then I see that the two men are actually large apes pressing me down on my seat, strapping me hard. \"Where the hell are we going\" I scream loudly. The man next to me, who isent really a man, but a seems to be some sort of cat answers me in a calm voice: \"take it easy, the first time is the hardest\"... "
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[WP] In a world where everyone thinks the world is flat write the story of a “conspiracy theorist”.
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"Everybody knows the world is flat. \nBut they can only think inside the square. \nI think this is false, simple minded at that. \nThere's so much to learn, but they don't even care. \n\nI look up at the moon, the stars in the sky\nIt doesn't make sense to accept a blind truth\nEverything they know, what they tell us, is a lie\nI've had suspicions even since my youth\n\nSure you can't see it, looking at the ground\nEverybody's only seeing what they want to see\nThey can't believe that the earth must be round\nLiving a lie, living in fear, but they won't hear my plea. "
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[WP] The world is still under the rule of the greek gods. But now, they walk among us disguised as humans: politicians, celebrities, businessmen, etc.
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"\"Pick him up. C'mon.\" He pulled a stream of smoke into his mouth and tapped the cigarette ash away. The two men grabbed his chair and pulled him back up. \"Now listen kid, I told you when you stepped outta that hole how it was gonna work. We don't know you, we ain't gotta grudge against you, stay outta our affairs and we don't throw you back. But now...\"\n\nHe sat in the chair and stared in defiance at the man. Billowing out a cloud of smoke the man waved his hand limply at the others. A fist slammed into his jaw and a string was pulled around his neck. He struggled against the tightening binds choking on the sealing air.\n\n\"You see I don't understand you, I don't, you come waltzing into this world completely ignorant to how things work and start deciding it should be changed. It's not like we're marching, ah what'd they call it...\" He snapped his fingers, \"hell on Earth here. We're not so bad.\"\n\n\"Ig ni fuw d-dig.\" He grunted through the cut off air.\n\n\"What? Hey Juri let up yeah.\" The binds loosened allowing the man to breathe.\n\n\"I said, you're a big fucking dick.\" He replied.\n\nAnother hit to the face. \"Well you've gotten a hold of the language. Let him speak his mind though, we're all friends here. How are we bad, hmm? Tell me.\"\n\n\"Oh you mean how Aphrodite soaks in admiration in, the, Holly Wood-\"\n\n\"Its Hollywood, it's one wor- it's a place. Whatever, please continue.\"\n\n\"She soaks in admiration for her own enjoyment feeding off others desires. She cripples those who displease her, allowing only who she deems *worthy* to not be drained. Ares has been casting whole civilizations into unnecessary chaos with his monopoly on military technology. Dionysus continues to slowly create new forms of addiction to swallow the people whole. So many of you play the part, politicians, businessmen, monopolizing control for personal pleasure. And then there's you, given control of one of Ares's private militaries to run deceit and destruction through these countries. Making a network of invisible communication to help the other Gods strengthen their holds on the humans.\"\n\n\"So,\" he said tossing the cigarette to the ground, \"they're our ants,\" he crushed the cigarette beneath his feet. \"Without us where would they be?\"\n\n\"They'd be free of your tyranny!\" He yelled pulling at the restraints.\n\nHe laughed. \"Tyranny? There's so much left for you to learn, you're just a child. So what was the plan anyway? You against a pantheon of the great Gods?\"\n\n\"Hermes, remember last time we sat in a room like this?\" He looked around smiling. \"I told you I'd rip your wings off. I met a friend, he was a strong one, his gift, well it's been quite helpful.\" His grin grew wider. Veins protruded from his skin as his body tensed. The restraints tore off. One of the guards attempted to shove him back down. He picked the guard up by his throat and tossed him against the wall. A simple backhand sent the other guard spiraling to the ground.\n\nHermes stood in shock watching his captive slowly walk to him. He removed his sunglasses and slowly pulled off his jacket. A pair of glowing wings materialized behind him. He swung failing to strike his target. He swung again, and again his strike was avoided. His wrists were now bound in his captive's grip.\n\n\"I am a God!\" Hermes yelled. \"You cannot kill me!\"\n\nThe man smiled. \"A God? All I see is a man in a suit, that's all you have become. You see Hermes, this was the plan, without you the entire communication network is gone.\" His eyes faded to red and lines of dark blue began to appear across his skin. \"Feed me!\" He screamed. Black veins spread across Hermes skin and his skin began to drain of color. He struggled weakly attempting to pull his hands free. From behind the man large white wings materialized in the air.\n\n\"What are you?\" Hermes wailed.\n\nThe man let go of Hermes letting him collapse to the ground. He grabbed the arch of his wings and pulled. Like bits of shattered glass the wings disappeared. Hermes screamed in pain as his wings were torn away.\n\n \"You may rule this world from the shadows, but Gods? You're just like the rest of these politicians and... salebs, just with a bit of divinity.\" He knelt down beside him. \"You live as one of them, now you will experience what it is to truly be like them.\""
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[WP] Write a story where the last line changes the hero into a villain.
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"I was blessed with intelligence and desire to save the world. My weapon was science. With it, I was able to save the lives of infants that would have otherwise died a decade earlier. I waged a war against virulent diseases that were once a death sentence. Through my skills in chemistry, biology and medicine, I was seen as a hero forging a newer better world.\n\nIt didn't take long for others to find different uses for my talents. I created toxic gases that were able to by the thousands and got medals for it by tyrants. I created new, horrific diseases that killed indiscriminately. I heard children screaming in pain as I conducted experiments to find better ways to torture people until they pleaded for death.\n\nThrough all this, I lost my humanity. I no longer saw an individual as a person, but merely as another rat to progress my passion to change the world. In the end, I was no longer a hero but became death and received thunderous applause for it.",
"\"Are you hurt madam?\" \n\nThe woman was obviously in some kind of shock. So I tried to reassure her and make her feel safe, while at the same time checking for injuries. \"It's alright, they are gone and can't hurt you anymore. I promise. You are safe with me.” I said in a calm voice “Do you know where you are? Do you remember your name?\"\n\nAs far as I could see, she had only some minor bruises and scratches. She had probably lost her balance somewhere uphill and came sliding down the slope – until the blackberry bush had stopped her. I really hoped, she hadn't broken anything and could walk. \n\n\"We have to get away from here. Please!\" She tried to stand up, but quickly dropped down again. Her face a grimace of pain. Probably busted her ankle- damn. Poor girl.\n\n\"Please! Please help me get up. We have to run. The wolves are right...\" \n\nI lifted my hand to stop her. \"The wolves won't attack the two of us. Not during the day.\" I nodded over to my rifle lying on the ground \"And if they still try…\"\n\nThat seemed to finally calm her down. Still her eyes darted around, worried and nervous, expecting to be attacked at any moment. She was shaking from the adrenaline rush and her hands were much colder than they should have been.\n\n“Alice. My name is Alice.”\n\n“Hello Alice. My name is Tom and I will get you out of here. But for now, you need to calm down a bit. Just lean against that birch and take a few deep breaths. What happened to you?”\n\nWhile she told me about how her trip through the state and how her bicycle broke down a few miles away, I dug out my battered thermos from the backpack. Her hands were trembling profusely, so it was all for the better the tea wasn’t really hot anymore. \n\n“… and then I stopped to remove the back wheel to fix the puncture. That’s when I saw one of them. Still a fair distance away, but I could feel him looking straight at me. I couldn’t see the others then, but I just… knew? I jumped back on my bike and tried to get clear as fast as possible. I think I could have gotten away without the flat… Well as it stands I lost control and came flying through the bushes...”\n\nTears formed in her eyes and her voice was almost breaking apart.\n\n“I was sure they would eat me alive.”\n\n“Don’t worry Alice. As I already said, you are safe now. I need to check if anything is broken. Especially your ankle - If that’s alright with you.”\n\nShe agreed and I checked her injuries. Her ankle was busted, but probably not broken. But I’m no doctor, so I might be wrong there. The rest of her was mostly okay. Nothing severe, but the scratches would need cleaning and the bruises would take weeks to disappear again.\n\n“My cabin is only half a mile from here, do you think you could manage that with my help?”\n\n“I will try.”\n\nI gathered the thermos and the rest of my gear and helped her to get up. She winced, but bit her teeth and continued.\n\n“What about my bike? It must be somewhere up there”\n\n“Don’t worry about it” I replied “There is no one around who could steal it. I’ll get it for you, once you are safe in the cabin.\n\nShe smiled gratefully “Thank you, that is very kind of you Tom.”\n\nLater that evening I retrieved the bike and drove it all the way over to Sandy Mountain. Can’t have anybody find the bike this close to my cabin, can’t I?\n\n",
"It was almost too easy. Dr. Havoc had broadcast his ultimatum, and it was up to Lightning to stop him. Quick as a flash, Lighting reached Havoc’s lair and dismantled the dastardly device. With a series of blows faster than the eye could see, Lighting brought Dr. Havoc to his knees and slapped the handcuffs on him.\n\n“You didn’t really think you’d get away with this, did you *Mr.* Havoc?” He asked, mocking Havoc’s assumes title, as he always did.\n\n“Curse you, Lightning!” Dr. Havoc cried. It was the same routine. The same song and dance, rehearsed to perfection. It was stale. Boring. Lightning had hoped for something better, something more exciting. This would begin to get old soon. Unless...\n\nDr. Havoc never saw it coming. As Lightning watched the light fade from Havoc’s eyes, he smiled. That was more like it.",
"Robert has dreamed of this moment his entire life. The moment when he gets to be the hero. There were kids who loved superheroes, then there were super hero nerd, and then at the top of the pile, there was Robert. A stronger word even than obsessed feels appropriate here. Until an embarrassingly mature age (to which Robert would never admit!), he truly believed he was born on Krypton. He would scour the neighbourhood on his bike, self-fashioned cape billowing behind him. Despite the few occasions where his cape got caught in his wheels and sent him unceremoniously over the handlebars of his trusty steed, Super Robert persisted. Not on his watch, would anything untoward happen in his neck of the woods. \n\nSo here we are, in the present day. With a semi-retired 23 year old Super Robert bearing witness to a young lady being swept downstream, clearly in need of help. And who better to step in, then the boy who grew up a super hero. He had trained for this moment his whole life. Well, kind of – Robert wasn’t the world’s strongest swimmer. But hey, he was a super hero, it would all work out. \n\nRobert leapt into action, closing the distance between the two quickly, until he was sprinting along the bank next to the woman. Her eyes wide with panic, she reached out a hand desperately towards Robert, screaming incoherently. Using his well-honed skills, Robert identified a part of the bank with a large tree he could anchor himself to, and rushed towards it. Gripping the tree tightly with his right arm, he leant out towards the woman and managed to grab her by the wrist. The current was stronger than he realised, but not too strong - never too strong for Super Robert. \n\nHe could see it now, the adoring public, Robert speaking humbly to the TV presenter. The one on one interview with Ellen, where she brought out Henry Cavill to present him with his very own cape. The boy who loved Superman like no other, who became a hero himself. \n\nBut we must go back to the present, where Robert has just managed to extract the terrified young woman from the river. She threw her arms around him dramatically and sobbed into his chest. She was playing her part perfectly. Finally, she pulled herself together enough to speak.\n\n“Thank you, oh God thank you, I thought I was a goner for sure. Can I… Can I borrow your phone please? I have to call Johnny and let him know I’m OK.”\n\nRobert raised an eyebrow, who was Johnny? No it couldn’t be a boyfriend, that’s not how it’s supposed to work. He was the hero, and the hero gets the girl. Always. Super Robert always gets the girl. Robert stood slowly and wandered closer to the river. He spied his wallet, pinned against a log in the shallows. \n\n“Could you give a hand? I dropped my wallet, but it’s caught on a log here. Can you just step out quickly and grab it? It’s OK, I’ll be holding you the whole time, you can trust me.”\nThe girl hesitated, obviously with no appetite to re-enter the water. But what could she say? This guy had just saved her life. But there was something about the intensity of his gaze, which unsettled her. \n\n“Um, OK… But hold on tight!”\n\nRobert smiled, “I’ve got you.”\n\nShe stepped into the shallows, and felt the strength of the current, which had already drained all her strength. She shuddered, but reached out slowly towards the wallet. He had a strong grip on her arm, it was hurting her, but it was her lifeline – so she didn’t mind. \n\n“So, this Johnny, he’s your brother?”\n\n“I’ve almost got it. What? Um, no – Johnny is my boyfriend.”\n\nFor some reason, she didn’t want to tell him that. It shouldn’t matter, but there was something about his eyes, those eyes…\n\nRobert flinched. No, that was wrong. She can’t have a boyfriend; Super Robert always gets the girl. \n\n“I’ve got it! OK, pull me in.”\n\nShe held the wallet up triumphantly. He wasn’t even looking at her now though, and she felt her hand slipping. His death grip was loosening. She felt her hand sliding through his. \n\n“I’m slipping, quick – pull me back in!” \n\nRobert glanced back at her, stirred from his thoughts. No more adoring public, no more Ellen. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. \n\n“Please, I’m slipping – help me!”\n\nHis grip loosened further, he wasn’t even holding her anymore. Her hand slide from his and she toppled backwards over the log, at the mercy once more of the current. She got one last look at those eyes as she was swept away, but there was nothing behind them now, just emptiness. \n\nRobert turned away, shoulders slumped. That wasn’t how it worked, Super Robert always gets the girl…\n"
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[WP] You've been dead for centuries and been absolutely loving it, so the revelation came as a bit of a shock. "What do you mean this is Hell?"
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"Rudely. Rude. Defined as offensive. Impolite. Ill-mannered. Perhaps even disreputable. The man towering over me with a phone receiver, lingering for a moment too long without saying anything, twirling the pencil moustache against his skin was simply just *rude*.\n\n\nI picked the received up to listen to a voice requesting a report on the previous book I had read. I nodded and reassured them that my report would eventually arrive, given the pace of the mail these days.\n\n\nJenkins took the receiver away and I returned to the current book I was reading. The arm chair was worn by now, fitting my body quite comfortably. It had been years since I had complained about the leather being too stiff, or that strange odour that first accompanied the chair.\n\n\nThe book was by an unnamed author, though many of them were these days. The so called-climax of the book was simply dreadful. Dread, great fear or aprehension. Dreadful, to cause ill-ease, fear, nervousness, suffering even. It cause me a great deal of unease knowing that I would have to critique it within three hundred words. It was simply not enough to condemn this book and force the author to apologize.\n\n\nBut this is what I wanted. A quiet room, an un-ending task with plenty of downtime. Sure my neck hurt from time to time, but what's that compared to-\n\n\n*knock knock*\n\n\nI looked around the room. There weren't any doors and Jenkins always just appeared. A man, olive skin, dressed oddly. Three piece suit without the tie, an odd fitting. shoes were a dull black, needed more than shining. Contrary to all things fashionable, he wore a light brown belt against the grey suit. \n\n\n\"Happy millennium anniversary!\" The man announced, throwing some confetti around. \"I hope that your stay isn't too poor, or out of taste.\"\n\n\nI shook my head. \"Hardly. A welcome office with functional furniture, books galore. May I ask who you are?\"\n\n\nThe man in question raised his brows. \"Lucifer? Don't you remember me? I shouldn't think so. I don't often appear down here.\"\n\n\nLucifer? I pondered. The dead spirits often roamed in the office, but I never remembered them taking physical form. \"Well, I suppose this is Hell for some, but I'm sure that you won't mind that your work goes to heat the boilers.\"\n\n\n\"My work is disposed of? I was never very good at writing reports anyways.\" I sat back down into the chair and flipped to where I was reading.\n\n\n\"My good man, you do realize that Hell isn't a holiday vacation. You have debts to pay.\" Lucifer had tilted his head to one side. I would have noticed he was changing, but I summoned Jenkins quickly and dismissed the man in the suit.\n\n\n\"And I shall pay them. Now good day sir.\"",
"I left my room and walked to lay out by the pool, as I had been doing every day for so long that I had lost track. I put on my new pair of swim trunks, and I plugged in my headphones. I stopped off at the mini bar by the pool, nodding to the bartender Sean, who already had my usual drink made for me. I was feeling good as I glided toward my customary chair, a pep in my step as I listened to my song. I had been dead for centuries now, but I really couldn’t complain. \n\nWarm sun? Drink in my hand? Good music? All checks. I lowered my shades appreciatively as some hot babes stepped into the pool. Women? Triple check. I grinned. I had it all. \n\nSprawling on my chair, I couldn’t help but notice a new face today. New faces weren’t too unusual around here, but this guy looked really out of place. Out of sorts. He seemed nervous – pale faced and sweating, he argued animatedly with Sean, who was doing his best to politely ignore the guy. I watched them out of the corner of my eye, but I wasn’t too concerned. \n\nI knew the song was winding to an end, so I picked up my iPhone to search for another song. With the song’s ending came a few seconds of silence, and I couldn’t help but overhear part of nervous guy’s conversation with Sean. \n\n“There’s just NO WAY that I was sent to Hell,” nervous guy said, well, nervously. He seemed to be getting a bit hysterical, his voice taking on a raspy, high pitch. “This has to be a mistake.”\n\n“Of *course* you’re in hell, and that type of mistake is quite frankly impossible.” I recognized that as Sean’s voice, and he sounded like he was doing his best to be nice to this fool. “Please calm down, sir, and enjoy the amenities provided to you.” I nodded my head absently, thinking, yeah, buddy, come enjoy the pool, the drinks, and the babes! \n\n“But there’s just no way! Me? In Hell? What did I do to deserve this?!” Nervous guy sounded desperate now, and I silently cringed. He voice was becoming even louder, and I was starting to feel bothered by the annoying interruption to my usual peace and calm. I quickly chose my next song and pressed play. As the music filled my ears, I relaxed. My eyelids lowered. \n\nSeveral minutes later, I saw the Security team arrive. They were a group of three hulking men, if I could even call them men. For some reason, part of their uniform requirement were these ridiculously large horns that they had to wear on their head, which looked really heavy, and hooves for shoes, which looked ridiculously uncomfortable. They beelined for nervous guy, whose eyes went wide in terror. He tried to resist, but the head of security flicked him in the forehead and carried him off like a sack of potatoes. I shuddered, but thought to myself that nervous guy somehow deserved his fate. \n\nAfter they departed, I looked down and noticed that my drink was empty. Frowning, I got up and walked over to Sean at the bar for a refill. My next drink was already on the counter, how did he always know? \n\nNodding in thanks, I asked, “Hey, Sean. What was all that about?” I gestured toward the direction that nervous guy left with the Security team. \n\nSean snorted. “Oh, that? That asshole wouldn’t accept that he was in Hell. Do you believe that?” \n\nI laughed easily with Sean. “That guy was a moron! With this weather, free drinks, and those hot babes over there, how can this possibly be Hell?” I laughed again, but this time I noticed that Sean wasn’t laughing with me. In fact, he was now looking at me quite seriously. \n\n“Thomas, you do know this is Hell.” Sean said quietly. He seemed a little confused now. \n\nHe waited for my response, but I stood silently for several long seconds with my drink held awkwardly in my hand. “What do you mean, this is Hell?” I finally asked. \n\nSean was shocked, looking warily at me as if I’d suddenly sprouted a bunch of snake tentacles. “What do you mean, what do I mean? You’ve been with us for centuries, Thomas! You’ve been in Hell ever since you died.” He explained this to me in a soft, calm voice the way a parent explains something to a child after they’ve asked an exceedingly dumb question. \n\nI struggled to fully understand what Sean was saying. “But.. but..” I began, desperately searching for something refutable, “but this is a pool!” I blurted out, saying the first thing that came to mind. \n\nSean looked at me incredulously. “That’s not a pool, that’s the eternal collection of the tears of the damned.” \n\nHe said that so naturally that I grimaced. Not really wanting to ask more about that one, I hastily said the next thing that occurred to me. “What about these drinks? Surely they don’t have alcohol in Hell?” \n\nSean shook his head slowly. “These aren’t alcoholic drinks, they’re made from the blood of virgins. Same type of effect as alcohol, though. Potent stuff.” \n\nI choked on my next sip, spitting my red drink all over the counter. I sat the glass down in haste, and I wiped my hands on my swim trunks for good measure. I *definitely* didn’t want to ask more about that. “Well, wh-what about..” I stammer, looking around for inspiration, “What about those babes over there?!” I asked in a rush. My eyes landed on the babes in question, and I noticed for the first time that their sunhats were a little too large and the towels they had draped over their bodies looked a little too much like wings. \n\nSean sighed sadly, and I felt dread lodge itself low in my stomach. “Those aren’t babes, they’re demons. Succubi. Great to look at, but nasty in bed. Unless, of course, you’re into that.” He flashed me a lecherous grin and an outrageous wink, but I could hardly feel a stir in my sex drive right now. \n\nI swallowed uncomfortably as I looked around my surroundings of paradise. Sean seemed to sense that I was still in shock, and he made me a new drink. “Here,” he said, “You look like you could use something a little.. stronger.” He held it out to me, and I took it without thinking. \n\nI glanced down absently at the drink, and I noticed that it was pitch black. “Do I even want to know?” I asked faintly. \n\n“Probably not. Now go on, Thomas.” He made a shooing gesture at me, and I stumbled off in response. \n\nI was dazed, lost in my thoughts. “..damned, virgins, and demons..” I muttered to myself as I made my way back to my usual chair. Needing to calm my mind, I stuffed my headphones back into my ears and turned the volume up high. \n\nI looked at my drink suspiciously, tilting it and watching the black contents swirl around in an elegant movement. Abruptly, I shrugged. Why the Hell not? I thought to myself as I downed its contents. I immediately felt better as a languid sense of lethargy unfurled my limbs, and I stretched out on the chair. Maybe Hell wasn’t so bad after all. "
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[as opposed to, "Every man dies, not every man truly lives" - attributed to *William Wallace*]
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[WP] What does the world/life look like if the Truism is actually "Every Man Lives, but Not Every Man Truly Dies"
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"The year is 5440. Humanity has long since moved on to other planets, other star systems. Earth has been declared a dead planet. Its only inhabitants now are outlaws and scavengers, who pick the bones clean of resources. Except for one group.\n\nThey call themselves The Timekeepers, a monastic order devoted to preserving the history of Old Earth. In their temples are statues and records of the great and powerful. Conquerors like Julius Caesar and Genghis Khan, freedom fighters like William Wallace and George Washington, philosophers and scientists like Plato and Einstein. They fill the halls, enshrined forever in metal and stone. \n\nThe Timekeeper records are the source of all historical data for humanity. History that stretches back millennia, to the time of swords and spears, pyramids and temples, gods and demons. History that encompasses the whole of humanity, regardless of nation, creed, or religion. History that is still being taught, monuments that still stand, names that are still remembered.\n\nFor, as the saying goes, every man lives, but not every man truly dies.",
"I looked around. Surrounded by family, friends, what more could a man want? Even if I could not see them in my old age, I could feel the pulse of eighty years of love, gently emanating from the warm hand that grasped mine. I smiled gently as the aches and pains of life faded, and along with it, my heartbeat...\n\nAnd then, my eyes opened. I blinked several times, as did everyone else at the memorial. I gathered myself, wiped away a tear, and smiled. “My grandfather was a brave man, among the first to eternalize himself. While, in the flow of the centuries, we may forget him, in these memories, he will live forever.” I placed my hand on the button, as did my brother and sister, and together, we archived my grandfather’s life - safely crystallized in data, never to truly die."
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[WP] You were one of the first volunteers for a Synaptic Implant, which would provide a 'digitally enhanced reality'. When the implant malfunctions, you spend nearly a decade in a coma and awaken to a digital dystopia. You soon realise you're not part of the System - yet.
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"Light.\nBrightness.\nIt's all I can see as I finally breathe in the surprisingly musty air of my hospital bed. Wait.. . hospital? I remembered vaguely being rushed to one, but it seemed covered somehow, filmed over by time or trauma. I pushed harder and my head repelled me, reeling back in the mother of all head pounding migraines. I felt my head was being covered in a strange film, a feeling I just couldn't shake as my head continued to resist giving me back any clues as to where I was. Besides, my throat was covered in a film as well. I was incredibly thirsty. Testing all of my limbs, I finally shot myself upright. Fwump! I reeled backwards, unprepared for the apparent weight of my upper body as my muscles protested in atrophied agony. With a second try, I finally managed it, bracing my body against my arms, and taking a look around me. Everything still seemed normal, at least as far as the room went. The strange scent of fake strawberries wafted into the room, and the scent rocketed my brain back through the parched haze that blanketed my consciousness. \n\n\"So, explain this to me again once more, what this does?\"\n\"Well, Mr. Meecham, the procedure is simple. You see, what we're doing here is we're essentially... Have you ever heard of the VIVE? We're making it manifest in a portable system and well... putting it into your eye.\" Said Dr. Joel all too enthusiastically.\n\"A-alright then...\" Despite David's excitement for the procedure, the rambling fanaticism of the doctor hardly reassured him, that and the unwavering scent of fake strawberries that\nwafted through the place. Luckily, the doctor was pulling double duty on that front, and seemed to immediately pick up on his apprehensions.\n\"You see Mr. Meecham...\" \n\"Please, just... call me David\"\n\"Right, er... Dave,\"\n*sigh* It would do. He hated nicknames.\n\"What were doing, Dave, is we're revolutionizing media access! Were putting a phone in your eye! You could feasibly simulate anything! Anything! Right at your retina! You think it, it happens! You could even connect people! It's really even quite the nothing procedure, it's hardly invasive, and as if yet, not a single complaint has been filed!\"\nDavid sighed internally, weighing his options. As he did so, the doctor, never failing to bring an unsettlingly enthusiastic grin every time he looked up, waited expectantly. He relented.\n\"You're sure it's safe?\"\n\"Not a single error so far, just sign here...\"\n\nI rocketed back up, and looked around me again. What... What just happened? That was way too vivid to be just a hazy flashback. Who knows, maybe the implant was doing its job?\nThe implant. THE IMPLANT. My mind rocketed back now, slightly less far, but the flood was different this time. It came in patchy waves, occassionaly leaving marks and sometimes barely shifting sand. Patches of noise appeared.\n\"Slight irregularities on the cranial activity, nothing of note...\"\n\"Is he...? Oh my god...\"\n\"Get the doctor in here now!\"\n\"Fuck fuck FUCK FUCK! WE'RE LOSING HIM!\"\nAs my mind raced through thing after thing it felt like years had passed. It took only a second to realize it had, as the inplant now added to its side if the story, and ten years, ten ling, terribke years materialized before me. I fell out of my hospital bed and crawled to the window overlooking the street. Looking out, I finally began to see what had happened. I propped nyself up against the inexpebsive window frame, barely managing to keep myself up in my emaciated state. There they were. Everyone moving in rows. Orderly. Neat. Horrifying. Each row movijg as though the worlds most terrifying beehive operation. They didn't even look around. What had they become? What... What was I? It was only then that the first knock on the door came, the same as everything else here. Orlderly. Neat. Terrifying.\n\n"
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[WP] [TT] A literal version of the phrase, "Home is where the heart is."
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"Jax opened the makeshift door to his palace. At least, that’s what it seemed to him. The Colossus lay on its side, half buried by centuries of overgrowth. Its head rested about thirty yards away, obviously torn from the body before it collapsed. Jax wasn’t interested in the head. No, what he loved about it lay further in.\n\nHe wound his way around the halls that formed the skeleton of the monstrosity. It was a tight fit, as they were now sideways from their original position, which meant that the passages were wider than they were tall. Finally, he made it back to the room at the inside, where he lived. He looked at the object which filled the room.\n\nJax was amazed he could get it working. The thing hadn’t been used since the machine was abandoned. But, with a little ingenuity, it started up. The power core. Now, it pulsed with a soft blue light, illuminating the room and providing power to Jax’s scavenging tech.\n\nHe’d found the mechanical titan’s heart. And he’d made it his home.",
"A while ago, before I was born, there was a war and it permanently affected everybody that managed not to get killed. Some dictator decided it was acceptable to use chemical weapons, which prompted widespread use by everyone else. The richest countries, being able to afford the best scientists and facilities, had developed some really impressive new toxins and delivery systems. Their full effects were not known, but that didn't prevent the world's governments from launching thousands of missiles fitted with the new technology.\n\nA missile strike on your city didn't mean a quick death from explosive shockwave or a slow death from leukemia due to radiation exposure. Instead, your internal organs began to liquefy. Some people were killed immediately. In others, the process was slow enough that they lived a few decades longer and doctors could come up with methods of treating it. The first measures were ad hoc and made from ancient iron lungs retrofitted to handle the circulation of blood as well as respiration. The need for a gastrointestinal tract was sidestepped by injecting nutrients directly into the blood.\n\nThe world's scientists, motivated by their own liquefaction, started researching long-term solutions and hoped to figure out just what in the hell had actually happened. They determined that the chemical weapons actually changed the molecular structure of the human body. Skin and bone were apparently unaffected, but it had severe effects on vital organs. The bigger surprise was when they learned that these molecular changes to the body were hereditary. Most babies born after the war were like soft-boiled eggs. They had to be placed in organ machines immediately after birth and they lived the rest of their lives attached to their machines.\n\nNow most of mankind uses artificial hearts that require constant power and connection to the municipal blood supply. They're too large to be made both portable and reliable, so new houses are built with a dedicated heartroom to contain the appliances. Carbon nanotube tethers deliver blood from our hearts to our bodies so we can still roam around the house. The more energetic people can even go outside occasionally and weed their garden, but nobody ventures farther than that. Fortunately, everything we need is delivered to our houses by drone and virtual reality keeps getting better, so we're never starved for entertainment.\n\nBut sometimes when I'm lying awake at night trying to ignore the discomfort that's unavoidable when your stomach is pooling in your ankles, I think about how a harmless platitude proved to be a morbid prophecy instead: home is where the heart is.",
"My car froze and I groaned. The cop pulled up next to me. \n\n\"Sir,\" it said, \"It is close to the feeding. You are aware of this?\" \n\nI nodded. \n\n\"Being out this late can be a violation under certain circumstances. However, we have scanned the history connected to your number and see that it is sufficiently clear. We will let you off with a warning, but I need confirmation that you understand the effect this recklessness has on your Bloodgroup. If you missed the feeding, you all could be sent to the Center of Punishment.\"\n\n\"I understand,\" I told it solemnly, hoping I looked both stoic and remorseful.\n\n\"Return to your home. The feeding has not begun yet. Your Bloodgroup is waiting for you.\" The cop glid away, and my car regained function.\n\n I know this isn't a good thing, but I didn't entirely trust the cops. Their cold, dark metal armor isn't the most reassuring. So pushed my car to the maximum allowed speed, feeling it swoosh quietly in the air. The soothing sound didn't calm my irritation. I knew damn well that my Bloodgroup was waiting for me; I work all day to earn points to support them. It's why I was late. I jumped at the opportunity to earn extra points from my assignmentmaster, not understanding why all of my coworkers declined. I learned my lesson, I guess. \n\nThe car lowered to a stop in front of the home. The moment I stepped out, I knew something was wrong. The windows were dark, and my Bloodgroup always brightened up the house because Kensie was terribly afraid of the dark. I usually grinned at the thought of that adorable, though dramatic, little girl, but this time, it made me shiver. As I got closer to the entrance, I noticed a paper posted to the door. In a bright, shocking red, it informed me that the people in the residence had been taken away for testing. My throat tightened. \n\nWas this my fault? It wasn't a secret that the \"testing\" that happened intermittently in this settlement was a punishment. The haunted eyes of a Bloodgroup after a visit to the testing facility was a poignant sight. But I only got a warning, and the rest of my Bloodgroup were always very careful about staying out of trouble. Before I ever asked for advice from Dana, the oldest of my bloodmates, I made sure to skim through the rules, because the first words out of his mouth were always \"Check the book.\" \n\nBefore I allowed guilt to overtake me, I entered my home. They must have been taken during preparation for the feeding. I had no idea how the Heart would react. I found the giant quivering mass as it always was, inside the chamber that was next to the idling-room, connected to the dormant Heartscreen through a wire. That is where the normalcy of the situation stopped. The Heart usually had multiple vessels, one for each of my six Bloodmates. In place of those vessels was smooth flesh, without any of the texture of the surrounding skin. Only one remained. As I processed the information, the Heartscreen lit up.\n\n Welcome, #130518. Please connect your vessel to begin the feeding.\n\nI followed the instructions numbly, feeling like the cops I despised so much. I undid the cap to my internal vessel, and watched the Heart-vessel fuse to me. The Heart contracted, and though I received a rush of warmth, it felt like an icebath when my Bloodgroup was not here to feed with me. After a moment, the Heartscreen changed.\n\n You are dismissed to the restoration chamber. Remember, #130518, home is where the Heart is. \n Focus on things of importance. Forget all else.\n\n----------------------------\n\n*My first story on this subreddit! I know it's not that great, so I'd love advice. I'm always trying to improve.*"
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[WP] "Steaks," he said quietly, shaking his head. "Why did it have to be steaks?"
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"\"I can't believe Jason missed that word on the menu when he took it to the printers!\"\n\nJason. He had done this.\n\n\"Who is going to order 10 ounces of steal cooked to perfection?\" \n\n\"It's not so bad.\" She twirled the glass in her hand. Two hours every night shining glasses and silverware to perfection.\n\n\"We are a steakhouse! A steakhouse!\" \n\nShe looked at the tablecloths she had spent hours ironing. \n\n\"We're going to look like idiots!\" \n\nShe looked at the salt and pepper shakers lined up at 90 degree angles. \n\n\"We can't open. That's it. We're ruined!\"\n\nShe looked at the religiously dusted paintings on the walls.\n\nShe looked past him at Jason, sitting outside on the steps, hands covering his ears.\n\nJason's voice rang in her ears. \"You promised, Mom. You said if he blew up at us one more time we would leave.\" \n\nShe stood up. \"Guess it's time to pack it in.\" "
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[WP] The death of a dream.
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"My eyes fixated on the image projected onto the wall opposite me as a torrent of sound began to engulf the room. A sea of a hundred thousand people stretched to the horizon, awash in the glow of the setting sun, their arms pressed together, mouths opening to cheer as anticipation mounted beyond any hope of containment. In front of them, three men with long, unruly hair lumbered across the stage, exuding an intimidating calm that belied the chaos soon to come. Behind them, the fourth member of the band sat perched in front of his drum set, a man at his workstation preparing to unleash the cacophony.\n\nAs the silhouettes of the band members paced across the screen, the mass of people faced directly at the camera - at me - their arms now outstretched toward the sky as the drums crashed, and the guitars soared. They began to jump in unison, in a staggered rhythm to the pounding beat that now pulsed through each and every person’s body. I felt something take hold inside of me, as if I was there. The guitars ripped across the venue, tearing a jagged, distorted hole in time itself. As the crowd grew more frenzied, the musicians meticulously drove onward, their heads and torsos rocking violently as they carefully executed each note with the precision of a thousand performances and the energy of the first.\n\nThe sound continued to spill from the amplifiers, simultaneously familiar and completely new. Suddenly, the energy, which had been building beyond any imaginable threshold, hung for one fleeting moment. The drums cut out while the searing buzz of the guitars rang on to the count that continued to march on in everyone’s head. As suddenly as it had arrived, the lull ended, and the first rendition of the chorus began.\n\nThe crowd erupted; I closed my eyes.\n\nFor a moment I imagined I was there alongside those thousands of screaming fans, struggling and shouting and singing as if there was no moment that could ever matter except that one. Then I imagined myself on the stage, the frontman, the object of adoration, a savior who alone possessed the ability to will that moment into existence with one sharp strike of the pick across the strings. Then my imagination gave way to memories.\n\nI remembered the feeling of lifting the guitar and draping the strap over my shoulders. My hand reached out toward the amplifier, fingers grabbing the volume knob and cranking it to the right. I took the pick from my mouth and played a chord. I was sixteen and standing in my living room as sound blasted from the amplifier; the sound from the song I had spent two weeks writing. I watched as my thin, youthful fingers clutched that light blue pick and passed back and forth over the strings. My left hand methodically danced over the fret board, the strings pressed firmly under my calloused fingertips.\n\nThe scene jumped. I was twenty-two. The guitar still hung from my shoulders and my eyes drifted upward toward the mirror directly across from me. My hair swung forward, and for a moment I caught my own gaze; my eyes were determined and certain. My hands below moved effortlessly, seeking out the next note as if on autopilot.\n\nNow I was standing in front of a crowd, my two closest friends on either side of me. One laid down a mumbling, ferocious bass line. The other wound up his arm above his guitar and prepared to strike. I stepped forward. A mass of people reached toward me, their hands extended and their faces yearning for me to take them on a journey they would never forget. I did not remember this. I had never seen this image before, but the scene continued to play in my head as the song sped on.\n\nWithout warning, I heard the familiar droning of a guitar sinking into a wave of cheers as the song came to an end and the crowd erupted. I opened my eyes as the screen began to fade to black, a deafening pause in the noise as the next song in the queue began to load. I looked down at my hand which lay on the bar, my fingers wrapped around a glass holding what remained of my beer. My eyes drifted slightly and I looked at my knuckles. They were dry and creased, older and stiff. In the moment before the next song began I looked around the bar. There were a few other patrons there. Some looked at their phone. Others looked at each other. None looked at me.\n\nI brushed the corner of my eye, and then I waved my hand toward the bartender.\n\n\"One more, please.\"",
"When I was young the stars were high \nAnd shone with a magical light \nI’d lay outside and count them all \nOr at least I’d always try\n\nBut before long my mother’s shout \nWould echo over the field \nInterrupting me in my task \nAnd bring me hurrying to heel \n\n By and by I’d stay out less \nAs the years piled up behind \nAnd I found I had no time to spend \nOn staring at lights in the sky \n\nI wonder now, if at the time \nI’d thought it a possible task \nTo count the stars above my head \nWhy’d I even try that? \n\nOutside I know they sparkle on \nWhat else are the stars for? \nBut somehow the magic in them is gone \nAnd I don’t count them anymore "
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[WP] The corpses of Prisoners who die before their sentence is up are held for the remainder. As a recently transferred guard, you find out why those guarding the dead are paid more
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"\"They... *what?*\" I asked in disbelief.\n\n\"Don't worry about it, just don't get too close.\" The older guard reassured me.\n\n\"But-- No! I'm heading back to ask for a shift change!\"\n\n\"Good luck with that, this place is locked down all week until the next food supply comes down.\"\n\nI stared at the guard, bewildered. A week?! How in the hell was I expected to be down here a week?!\n\n\"The wakers won't mess with you unless you get close to them. All we do is sit here in the control room all day and monitor them.\" He explained to me again.\n\n\"A-all right. Im asking for a transfer at the end of the week, though.\" I told him.\n\n\"Fine with me.\" \n\nWe both sat in a large room in the dead center of a massive concrete room, the room itself full of the zombies of dead inmates that were still serving their sentences.\n\nJohnson reached under his desk and pulled out a modified combat shotgun, 2 pistols, and more than enough ammo.\n\n\"You know how to use one of these?\" He asks, nodding to one of the pistols.\n\n\"Of course, I'm not stupid.\" I replied cockily. \n\nHe shrugged and handed me the pistol and 2 clips of ammo.\n\n\"The only problem is, you can only really stun them at best.\" He admits.\n\n\"What happens if they get me?\" I asked, curious.\n\n\"What do you think happened to the last guy?\""
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[WP] After the great magic War, the common people are afraid that the returning veterans would be health potion addicts. Tell the perspective of a common class citizen and that of a mage coming home.
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"A new energy burst forth from all within the kingdom. None knew what caused the anomaly nor what kept it going. The only apparent result of the anomaly being that seemingly all humans, now have magical talents. The ability to tame the forces of nature and use them in concert with the mind to produce dazzling effects. The Kingdom Of Titania utilized these new talents in its military force. \nBeing a nation encompassed by an expanded and labyrinthian forest, they were masters of the use of fire and earth to quell their opposition and expand their lands. Titania was not the only nation to capitalize on these new talents. Surrounding kingdoms also surged with this new magickal might, bolstering their defenses tenfold or devising new siege engines previously only dreamed of by Siege Engineers. \nA war erupted as every nation made it a point to flex its newly attained power to the others. Common folk from all aspects of life now had a real chance to make an impact, if only they sought to master their new power and use it in war for their King.\n\n\nThey have returned.\n\n\n8 years since the beginning of the Magic War, the veterans trickled into the village. A slew of men and women, they filled the bridge crossing into town, a living mass of grey brown boots and vibrant emerald brooches. Their gray cloaks flapping in the wind, emblazoned with the sigil of the Oak. The Royal Seal Of Titania. \nBattered, beaten and broken, yet radiating with an aura full of good cheer, the group was met by the remaining men of the village. Pitchforks in hand, the men were prepared to defend their livelihood to the death. \nA village of farmers, they specialized in alchemical ingredients. Living off the old homemade knowledge of the land, the village became a particular haven of interest after the “discovery of magic”. Living on the fringe of kingdoms, this village was an agreed point of neutrality, on account of the ginger plants grown by the farmers. Ginger, on its own, was not a plant of significance or importance. Yet, the farmers of the village knew how to bring the full potential of the root out, effectively creating the most effective health potions with minimal drawbacks. \nHealth potions were a demand that never stops, a staple in any military since magic came about. Despite the relative peacefulness of the kingdoms, each tried desperately to cut the supply of health potions the others were in possum of. The fear of a regiment of soldiers having a tool belt of health potions was a monster of proportions best unseen. \nA man who believes he cannot die is a threat to soldiers. A man who convinces his allies he cannot die, is a threat to leadership.\n\n“Who are these folk shufflin’ cross the bridge?”, I asked, with clear indication of not wanting an answer. Despite the light of the midday sun, a dark pallor hung over the group. A palpable cloud of mist seemed to follow their footsteps, an omen of their role.\n“Tommy! Cindy! Vicky! Lou! Betsy! Y’all ready to fight if it comes to?” I yelled over the crowd pooling together behind us.\n\n“Sure are Pop! You just say the word and we’re on em!” said Tommy. Looking back, I see that Tommy is flexing his hands. His palms icy blue, he’s devoted himself to protecting the town despite his young age, using the cold of Winter to inch his way into the fear of its enemies.\n\nLooking on both sides of the bridge, Cindy and Vicky nodded to me. My twin daughters. They were not fighters but have devoted themselves to work in the arts of illusion, assisting in quelling fights at the bar and keeping the town a neutral area.\n\n “”You sure about this brother?” Said Lou with a wide grin. He knew my thoughts better than I. My best friend of 30 years, we looked at each other as brothers. We both came from nothing and protected each other’s families with our lives. I watched as he dug his feet into the ground, the mud of the land folding into his skin as he became more attuned with the land. \n“Betsy, how you doin darling?” I yelled at the back of the crowd.\n“Fine honey, getting these potions ready just in case!” She replies in a half pant. Betsy was my wife and a damn fine alchemist. She perfected the technique of making a health potion with desired results. “There were no drawbacks if you knew exactly what you wanted to achieve”, she would say.\n\nWe stood as a bulwark. A line of simple farmers armed with only a few magicks and the determination to live.\n\n“Whichever Of you be the leader, speak and let your concern be answered! We are simple folk here and we don’t want any trouble.” I say with wavering confidence.\n\nThe leader of the mages, clad in a robe of steel-gray cloth, stepped forward and spoke. \n“I am Xirroth and the men behind me are my brothers in arms. We are passing through on request of our king for information on alchemical ingredients. Might you have some to trade with so we can be on our way?” The Man said with a vile sneer. The gash underneath his muddy eyes smoldered a charcoal black. A glyph of ash, a half moon between his brows, surely a symbol of some significance. \n\n“We are but simple farmers. Home to no rampant magick and no home to any ingredients, sir. We have ale if ye and your party wishes, but that’s the extent.” I say, despite the hushed whispering among the crowd.\n\n“ We cannot partake in ale, good farmer. Official duties will not allow.” With a wave of his hand, the man shooed the thought away. \n“One last question before our much wanted departure. Do you know of the nearest locale to acquire health potions?” \n\nA subtle, yet determined, stare was the last action remembered. The half moon of the mans brow pulsating a deep orange.\n\nSomething I can only describe as a pick of the most vile intention struck and plundered my thoughts. An assault on my brain sent me reeling, at least I thought it did, yet I couldn’t feel my body moving. Memories invaded my eyes, a pulsating silence that faded as soon as it appeared. Running the range of emotions, my heart sped to watch the scenes unfold as my life played before me. Memories phased through me, infusing me with the pain of intense thought that rumbled through me like an earthquake. The feeling of loss from my mothers passing , accomplishment from my children’s birth, the joy of marrying Betsy and the anger my Pa’s treatment all at once left me with despair.\nThe memories slowed down now, flipping like a page as the figures became more solid. \nWait. This never happened to me. I’ve never been on a battlefield.\nI saw Xirroth, near death and bleeding in a tower from some land unknown. He was bathed in an aura of shimmering mist that seemed to solidify and liquify itself at a moments notice, making him appear bigger than he was. As he lay on the ground in a scarlet puddle, blood seeping into the trapdoor under him, he fumbled around in his waist satchel, searching for something. He produced a clear bottle of muddy brown liquid, a familiar sight to myself. It seemed Xirroth said a silent prayer as he poured the flask directly into his wound, the mixture pooling with his blood in an oil-like tar.\nI know that sigil! That’s Betsy’s flask, and it looks like her special rage brew! It’s never supposed to be applied into a wound, that’s a recipe for disaster.\nWas that a mistake? Did he mean to do that?\nXirroth’s body burst in shimmering radiance as he lifted himself off the ground. Not moving a muscle, he floated towards the opening of the tower and looked back once. A smile of vipers crosses his face as his eyes glowed a deep orange, the half moon upon his head a firefly of pure mental aptitude. \nMurder was in his mind as he howled through the doorframe, piercing the minds of every person on the battlefield. The feeling of life lost was massive and exhilarating. Xirroth tentatively touched the ground, he exhaled deeply as he came to his senses.\nLicking his lips in decadent display, “We must acquire this potion for the rest of you, then we can make our own kingdom to rule!” he said as his comrades emerged from the bloodied cellar door. \n\nThe mental abuse ceased abruptly and caused me to fall to my knees as my village gasped in silence. Their collected breast was held as they looked in silence. Fear was apparent in their eyes as they struggled against an unseen menace.\n\nXirroth glared at the villagers through hooded eyes as they stood frozen in thought, the half moon upon his brow pulsating furiously.\n\n“Tommy. Cindy. Vicky. Lou. Betsy.” Through a throbbing mind and parched tongue I managed to speak. \nGripping my Oak staff, I stand myself up, steeling my mind to the task at hand. \n\nThe air between the two groups almost thick enough to pick apart with a threaded needle, I set my mind to focus. The winds whipped at my feet, cool tendrils of the wind licking at my back as the group of mages spread into two groups of six.\n\n“Give us the health potions and assist us in creating a new kingdom of freedom!” Commanded Xirroth, hand outstretched, like a maiden seeing her husband to sea.\n"
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[WP] You, a mage has just created a new magical weapon dubbed the "Railgun."
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"The door to the laboratory swung open on lazy hinges, an odor of various concoctions clashing with dust and decay. There was barely any room for him to stand, so packed was the fairly sizeable room with strange mechanical constructions and alchemical ingredients. It was a mess. Figures.\n\n\"Liv?\" He called into the mass of junk and vapors coming from the kitchen, \"Liv, come on, I know you're in there somewhere,\"\n\nThe sound of something metallic hitting the ground preceded the cacophony of noises that followed. For a second he wondered if she was okay before she shot back a quick: \"I'm okay,\"\n\nShe emerged from the back room moments later, her robe modified beyond recognition to seemingly contain as few loose parts as possible, while also adding more than a fair share of pockets.\n\n\"Darien!\" She exclaimed as she noticed him, \"Long time no see, yeah?\" \n\n\"Well, yes,\" He replied awkwardly as she tiptoed through the mess to reach him, \"That's actually what I'm here to discuss,\"\n\n\"Fantastic, I was just about to call up the College,\" She smiled as she tried to slick back her hair slightly, \"I got something that's right up their alley this time.\"\n\n\"Olivia, please, you haven't reported back to the College in months,\" He pleaded, \"They are going to revoke your license if this continues, you know that right?\"\n\n\"Not after this, they're not,\" She laughed, \"Those old geezers will be kissing my shoes just to keep me once I reveal my darling to the world.\"\n\n\"And what if it fails like the last time?\" He cut in, gesturing to the mounting collection of scrapped projects surrounding them, \"Please, just come in a teach a few classes, write an article or two, then you can go back to whatever project you want.\"\n\nShe couldn't help the smirk from creeping up her face as she watched him,\n\n\"Then indulge me for a moment,\" She mocked, \"I'll show you my creation, and then we'll see if that changes your mind, no?\"\n\nHe sighed before nodding in resignation, a stark contrast to his overly enthusiastic counterpart. Telling him to stay put she once more dove into the back room and emerged several crashing noises later with a large box.\n\n\"Okay, here it is,\" She said, reaching into the box and retrieving what looked like a crossbow except the actual bow part had been removed, replaced with an assortment of various pulsating gems. \n\n\"I call it,\" She said, hoisting it menacingly, \"'The Railgun'\"\n\n\"The what?\" \n\n\"Doesn't matter,\" She waved the comment away, \"All you need to know is that it works sort of like a crossbow.\"\n\n\"So,\" He scratched the back of his head, \"Using latent kinetic force in order to propel a projectile of sorts?\"\n\n\"Right,\" She continued enthusiastically, \"Except, instead of something as small scale as a taut string, I figured, why not use Arcano-magnetism instead,\"\n\n\"Did you make up that word?\" Darius said skeptically,\n\n\"That's beside the point,\" She said, continuing, \"I'm basically using arcane forces to tap into the latent magnetic forces stored within these materials to propel a projectile with unprecedented velocity,\"\n\n\"Yeah, I'm going to need some proof,\" He said, looking around the room, \"Just fire it against that wall or something,\"\n\n\"Oh honey,\" She smiled, cradling the railgun, \"We're gonna need to take this outside,\""
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[WP] A man appears out of thin air and begins telling you about a reality tv show in which people meet other versions of themselves from the multiverse. This year they are introducing the most successful version of a person to the least successful. He wants you to participate.
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"A knock on the door. I drop what I am writing and head towards the door. \n\n\nIt has to be my friend, I thought to myself, and opened the door. \n\n\n“Hello?” I said… I take a closer look at whoever was behind that door. It was a man and he was wearing a suit and tie.\n\n\n“Who are you?” I ask again. \n\n\n“An angel.” he says, his voice was deep and seemed to echo throughout the neighborhood. \n\n\n“You can’t be an angel. They don’t dress like that,” before I could finish speaking. I felt as if my body were evaporating into a million pieces. I felt as if I were nothing but clouds of water. I didn’t have limbs or a mouth. I couldn’t think, and if I were able to think, then I would think about telling this weird experience to my cousin on Facebook. \n\n\nMy body pieced itself together on what seemed to be a stage, and there was no audience to be seen anywhere.\nWhere am I and what are you doing to me? Take me back! I really hoped that this place was close to home, I thought. \n\n\n“Welcome, you are just in time for the show.”\n\n\n\n“I didn’t plan for this. Take me back I reply.” \n\n\n“But I have something to show you. Haven’t you been waiting a long time to see this?” the man asked. \n“What is it that you are talking about? Are you going to prove that I have that superpower I’ve always wanted to have, inside of me, dormant.” \n\n\nHe shook his head and I clenched my jaw, hard. “Better.”\n\n\n“Tell me where I’m at, New York?” \n\n\n“No, guess again.”\n\n\n“Utah.” \n\n\n“No, somewhere where no human could reach.” \n\n\n“Heaven.” \n\n\n“Close enough, we are in the boundary between all infinite dimensions.” \n\n\nAt that moment it felt as if my eye were about to explode from my skull, my mind… officially blown.\n\n\n“So will I see an alien?” \n\n\n“No, another one like you.” \n\n\n“Another human.” \n\n\n“I was really hoping to see an alien.” I say, dumbfounded.\n\n\n“Hello?” A regal sounding voice said behind me. \n\n\nI didn’t look when I spoke, “Do you know the way back home.” \n\n\n“No.” \n\n\nI turned my head around. What I came across is a more beautiful version of myself. She appears to be wearing a suit and a tie, her arms and neck seem to be adorned with jewels from various parts of the world. Her skirt isn’t too shabby either.\n\n\nIs this women, me? But, more beautiful and rich, maybe more intelligent.\n\n\n“Who are you?” I asked, “and how old are you?\n\n\n“My name is Kaylin and I am eighteen years old.”\n\n\n“Why do you look so much older if you are me?” I ask. \n\n\nBehind me, it looks like people are filing themselves into rows beyond the stage. In the corner of my eye, I could see that a camera man is adjusting a camera. This Kaylin, whoever she is. Seems enthusiastic to be watched by a rather large audience. She politely waves and smiles. I simply hope to vanish.\n\n\n“Sit,” the man said, “the show is just beginning.” \n\n\n“What show.” \n\n\n“A show, now sit.” \n\n\nI grumble and sit in a chair that is facing across from the other Kaylin’s. The man follows. He smiles, knowing that I had just started a conversation with her. \n\n\n“Perhaps she might tell you a little about herself.”\n\n\n“So who are you?” The other Kaylin asks.\n\n\n“I’m Kaylin and I’m also 18 years old.” I take a look at what she was wearing and frowned, “perhaps not as successful as the Kaylin in front of me.” \n\n\n“I just took my number one numerology seriously. I am a leader you know and I took the number to my advantage.”\nThis Kaylin seems to have too much ego. \n\n\n“So where did you go to college?” I asked.\n\n\n“Yale, and I graduated just last year.” \n\n\nThat sent a slap across my face.\n\n\n “I’m hoping to get into Bethany college. I don’t have the best ACT scoring either. I scored a fifteen and somehow managed to get in. It’s a pretty decent school… at least for me.” \n\n\nThe Kaylin laughed, and I clutched the armrests of the chairs tightly. “Trust me, I understand.” \n\n\nI released my grip from the armrest and let my arms sit across my lap.\n\n\n“You understand? But, you look so successful. What is your degree, anyway.”\n\n\n“Creative writing, I could care less about my other scholarship.” \n\n\n“So you must be a really famous author now. More famous than Sarah J. Maas, my favorite author.”\n\n\nShe nodded, “She hates me. After the first insult she gave me on my writing. I returned the same insult to hers, perhaps gave her another one that is way worse. The probably reduced her fanbase by thousands. ” \n\n\n“What are you talking about? Sarah J. Maas is probably the sweetest person in real life!” \n\n\nShe shook her head, and I felt as if my rib cage was going to collapse on itself. She just insulted my favorite author.\n\n\n“So she’s not nice in real life and you are famous. How famous exactly?” \n\n\n“Really famous.” \n\n\nI wanted to growl.\n\n\n I couldn’t possibly that successful. \n\n\nWhat would I have to tell her. That I have no job and the fact that I still live with my parents when I should move out.\n\n\n“I’m a senior in highschool and probably have the most average of grades you can get. I’d be surprised if you have straight As growing up. So I still live with my parents. I don’t have a job and I hope to grow up and get a job writing novels.” \n\n\n“Me and you don’t sound too far apart. I still live with my parents as well, and I love to write as much as you do.”\n\n \n“You probably live in a mansion and write all day, and don’t have to deal with government class and homework.” \n\n\n“Used too. What are you saying about government? I loved that class!” \n\n\nI raised my eyebrow, “ You love government? That class is boring and I got counted truant twice because I hated so much.” \n\n\n“I don’t see much success for you if you don’t love government.” \n\n\n“Trust me there are other ways to success.”\n\n\n“Like how.” \n\n\n“Reading and teaching yourself through non-fiction books you find on the internet.” \n\n\nThe other Kaylin chuckled, “Oh really, you don’t seem to bad either. You seem pretty intelligent yourself. But, stay away from the internet that place can get ugly.” \n\n\n“My IQ is 97 and yours is probably genius level.” \n\n\n“Yes, but IQ doesn’t measure success. It is you and how you think about it.” \n\n\n“Oh really.” \n\n\n“Times up, guys it’s time to end the show.”\n\n\n“Please take us back!” we both said at the same time. \n\n\nThe man shook his head. I’m afraid I will have other plans for you.\n\n\n",
"\"So, what, you just grab people, throw them into their own dimension, and stream the results? And people watch that shit?\"\n\nThe hosts smile was smarmy. Everything about him was. Just one iota past the edge of genuine towards psychopathetic. \n\n\"Oh, people watch. Of course they watch. But, no, we don't just kidnap people. We replicate them to the smallest detail, the most obscure memory.\"\n\n\"Well, I don't want to be cloned.\" I replied, but something about the way he said it, about the slight widening of that smile, an increasing focus in his eyes, turning them from greed based predatory to just predatory. \n\n\"I'm the clone, aren't I?\"\n\nAnd like that his countenance shifted like an eel going back from air to water. His teeth was just then visible, but paradoxically he appeared less threatening. Appeared.\n\n\"Ah, yes, my good man. You are indeed a clone. As is all of the other versions of you in this world.\"\n\nOne moment I was jogging in Central Park, or more appropriately the original version of me was. The next moment I was jogging in Central Park in a universe probably 23 steps to the left and 2 miles down, about to be told his former life was over.\n\n\"The reward for winning is this bracelet. It is the key out of this dimension, and free access to any other. You are not aware of this of course, but the free access that I had mentioned is worth more than you can possibly imagine. Trillions of people from slave dimensions would literally kill to be in your shoes right now.\"\n\nI could always read people. Their inflection, their prose, the information they revealed, the information they didn't, their conscious and unconscious body language.\n\nSome of my competitors were from these slave dimensions. They doubtlessly would have more hunger to win this than I would.\n\nNo, I wanted to part of this. \n\nThis.\n\nWell, probably more accurate to say These, considering my season would be far from the first and likely the last.\n\n\"I have money on you winning you know, seemed like a good bet, betting on the one who was never caught. You know how to win.\"\n\nEven though I already knew how they wanted me to win it was good to have confirmation.\n\nThe sun was starting to set, it was the middle of winter, the streets would be dark soon. If there are streets out there in this dimension. Fuck. Who knows what is out there? Doubtlessly it wouldn't be a copy of my own world but a mish-mash of all of ours.\n\n\"How many of them are out there?\"\n\n\"Fifty of the best of you, fifty of the worst.\"\n\nGood. I wouldn't win This. I didn't want to win This. Knowing me the way I do I doubtlessly have some allies in that number.\n\nI would end This.\n\nWe would end These.\n\n",
"“Wait, you’re saying there’s a multiverse?”\n\n“Yes.”\n\n“With infinite versions of myself?”\n\n“That’s right.”\n\n“And you’re introducing the most successful version to the least successful one?”\n\n“You got it!” Exclaimed the man with such exuberant excitement it made me cringe. \n\nHe was wearing the most peculiar outfit I’d ever seen. Somehow it managed to simultaneously look from the future and antiquated. Like a formal outfit worn by a character on the original 1960s Star Trek, it felt like an aged imagining of the distant future. \n\n“But doesn’t a single best and worst version of me prove there aren’t infinite?”\n\n“When your society progresses to the multidimensional stage the concept of infinity becomes an argument of semantics. Sure the multiverse is always growing and versions of you pop in and out of existence all the time, but the algorithms we have in my dimension put your best efforts to shame. It ranks all your timelines with a precision your dimension can’t even comprehend.”\n\n“But which one am I?” I asked beginning to fear the profound implications of his visit.\n\n“I can’t tell you. The biggest draw of the show is the genuine reaction you have after the revelation of whether you’re the most successful or least.”\n\nThe idea that I could either be the most or least successful version of myself was tough to swallow. Both extremes seemed equally a letdown. I never felt I had accomplished anything significant, but also never felt I was a total failure. Being the least successful might confirm my depressing suspicions, but goddamn that’d be devastating. If I’m the least successful me, then what’s the point of going on?\n\nOn the other hand, if I were the most successful then does that mean universally, scratch that, multiversally speaking I’m as good as it gets? No other version of infinity was able to do better? Am I really this cursed to mediocrity? \n\n“Shit,” I thought, “this is heavy.” \n\n“I can tell you need some time to process this,” said the man acknowledging my dumbfounded stare. “It’s really not so bad, at least you know where you stand in the multiverse.”\n\n“Can I say no?”\n\n“Yes, but now that you’re aware of the either/or condition of your existence, you can’t really continue as you have been. Most subjects who say no experience self-inflicted deaths within the first year, it’s an unfortunate result of our multidimensional tampering.”\n\n“How can you say that so coolly?! I never asked you to come here! I didn’t want to know where I stacked up on the multidimensional scale. I have enough trouble dealing with things on a unidimensional level.” I said in exasperation.\n\n“I’m sorry,\" he offered. \"It’s a lot to comprehend. I keep telling them at the network what we do isn’t totally humane, but they retort that it’s no real difference from your universes’ delight in watching the absolute worst singers fail on American Idol.”\n\n“But no one commits suicide on American Idol!” I protested.\n\n“Don’t they though?”\n\n“How are you allowed to do this?”\n\n“You don’t want to know kid. My universe has created some messed up things in the name of TV ratings. We once had a reality star named Snookie,” he said cringing releasing a shudder.\n"
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[WP] Earth is a long forgotten alien species reserve. Our keepers have returned to find the dinosaurs extinct, and humankind at the top of the food chain.
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"\"No, no, the atmosphere is all wrong, and these geological readings are just as screwed up. Take this back to the science department and get them to redo it, there is no way these numbers are correct!\" \nCrew scattered from the bridge. The interstellar conservationist starship is making it's next scheduled check in on the Terra Conservation project. Though quite small the planet has an abundance of water and oxygen making it ideal for breeding some of the most unique species of megafuana and flora in the galaxy. \n\n\"Sir, we're now detecting a debris cloud beginning to surround earth, reminiscent of class B civilizations beginning to become a class C.\" \n\"Nonsense!\" The Conservationist Commander said, \"It has to be pirates or squatters that've gotten too comfortable on the primitive planet. There's no way those overgrown lizards have advanced this far again, we took care of that possibility last time, correct?\" \n\"Er, yes sir, we did sir.\" \n\nThe updated scientific report returned, now with more empirical evidence of being true, as much as the Conservationist Commander disliked admitting. According to the charts the atmosphere now contains toxic levels of artificial pollutants throughout the densest groupings of structures. And the geologic readings now show a massive carbon build-up that could only come from semi-advanced industrial organization. It certainly seems like a class B civilization has developed without us realizing it, thought the commander as she rubbed her forehead. \"What a bureaucratic nightmare this is going to be..\" the Commander muttered. \n\"Alright then, put them up on the screens, lets see which one of these lizards evolution went awry.\" Images of Seoul, New York, Hong Kong, and other sprawling concrete landscapes flashed acrossed the starships view screens. \n\n\"What in the Hell, Sir, it seems that the protected species are all gone and the experimental genetic strain E-52 has entirely taken over.\" \n\"Th FOOD did all of this?!\" The Commander was aghast. \"I want a full report on how this whole mess happened from the whole evolutionary council no later than 3 trisecs from now!\" The Commander exited the bridge, leaving the remaining crew much more at ease. \n\n> Report concerning the development of the Terra Conservation project by the Evolutionary Council of Rare Species Conservation. \n\n> Species E-52, the experimental featherless biped prey species designed to be relatively abundant across the Terra Conservatory has in a short time taken over the whole planet. It is projected in the amount of time it has taken E-52 to begin industrialization and launching into space it has taken other known civilizations three or four times as long. \n\n> E-52 is trully a remarkable milestone in genetic engineering, however it is this councils recommendation that the entire genetic strain be annihilated and the whole Terra Conservation project be reset to the beginning. The conservatory geneticists have created a perfect storm of adaptability, mortal anxiety, and thumbs in a prey species to allow them to dramatically progress. However, no other species has destroyed their terrestial home as quickly or completely, nor has any civilization been so concerned with technologies of war - not even the Groth. If allowed to continue for any longer it is likely E-52 will escape Terra and colonize all surrounding space, likely to the point of being a militaristic threat to the Federation of Alliances and this cannot be allowed to happen under any circumstance. \n\n> We must return to the roots of the Terra project and develop a more robust menagerie of megafauna for genetic study. It is this councils recommendation that the geneticists be more careful next time they want to create a brand new prey species again. \n\n> signed, Evolutionary Council of Rare Species Conservation\n",
"\"I mean, we're surprised is all. I assure you, we're not laughing at you, but *with* you.\"\n\nThe men and women across the table continued chuckling and exchanging various gemstones and small trinkets. At least they looked like men and women. They had 'assumed those shapes' to comfort us in our initial meetings.\n\n\"You see, we wholly anticipated when we started our voyage that cephalopods would've claimed the pole position for this planet. But nope! Primates! How invigorating. Quite a few people lost bets on this. Seriously, congrats.\"\n\nWe looked at them dumbfounded. These weren't dignified emissaries of some great interstellar organization, these were more like college kids on an anthropology field trip. When their large faster than light ships entered our orbit it had flung the world into uncertainty and chaos. Millions died from skirmishes or ritualistic suicide, and these aliens sat in front of us laughing.\n\n\"Excuse me for not seeing the humor in this, Arnold. And you're certain that's your preferred name?\"\n\nTheir leader looked up at me.\n\n\"Yes, like Schwarzenegger. We watched some of his films when we were in orbit. That guy. Phew. That guy can act.\"\n\n\"If you could indulge me, Arnold, just once more. Why exactly are you here and what exactly do you want?\"\n\nHe put his elbows on the table and leaned forward.\n\n\"President Emory, it's pretty simple. A few billion years ago there was a tiny little organization running some experiments on this planet regarding carbon based life forms. They'd come back every now and then and drop off a few species when they had time too. Curating life was a _huge_ fad at the time amongst some of societies elite and your little blue marble here was uniquely suited for it. When the funding ran out for that ill fated organization, they packed up and left. The itsy bitsy problem is they left a few _really_ important bits of genetic code here that we desperately need to solve some problems we're running into.\"\n\n\"I'm sure we can get you samples of what you need.\"\n\n\"Welllllll Emory. Little problem with that too. We need _all_ of your planets vegetation\"\n\n\"I'm sorry?!\"\n\n\"It's really no big deal. We'll leave all the water and all the plankton and junk. But yeah. All the green stuff is coming with us.\"\n\nHe smiled and nodded his head up and down.\n\n\"That'd be an ecological catastrophe. It'd make our planet uninhabitable. What problem could be important enough to commit mass murder like this?\"\n\n\"Ah. Well. It's for this assignment we have in class that we kind of procrastinated on. I voted that our group not even talk to y'all and just deploy the nano virus that'd take care of business but Louis insisted we come down and have a little chit chat with you guys so he could round out his sociology report. Speaking of which, Louis, got what you need homie?\"\n\nOne of their men in the back raised up his thumb to Arnold and smiled.\n\n\"Great. Well, been rad chatting with you guys. But Hasta la pasta or whatever!\"\n\nHe clicked a button his watch, and the world went dark."
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[WP] In the early 1980's, the US comes to the conclusion that nuclear war is inevitable. After the preemptive strike, the American population is awaiting soviet retaliation in their nuclear vaults. This retaliation never comes.
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"“General Secretary, we have found the source: an American double agent.”\n\n“Excellent, Comrade. What is his name?”\n\n“Her name, General Secretary.”\n\n“A woman?! They entrusted the task to a woman?”\n\n“Who did we least suspect?”\n\n“*Da*, you have a point, Comrade. Apparently the FBI teaches *rak*’s to whistle.”\n\n“Hah.”\n\n“So, what shall we do about our little *rak*?”\n\n“What indeed.”\n\n— — — — —\n\nValery took her time, trying to appear as casual as possible while she walked. It was a learned skill, one she had practiced many times. She had to make it seem as if she happened to be here at this time by accident, not as part of a schedule. It would raise too many questions if anyone noticed an arranged meeting.\n\n“Miss Martinov!”\n\n“Oh, Mr. Ames. I didn’t see you.”\n\n“I was just on my way back from lunch with Mr. Chuvakhin, and thought I recognized a friendly face.”\n\n“Oh? How is Comrade Sergey?”\n\n“He’s well, even treated me to lunch. Awesome guy. He was just saying he hasn’t seen you in months.”\n\n“Months? No, I’m sure it hasn’t been that long. Three weeks, perhaps.”\n\n“No, I’m quite sure he said it was two months.”\n\n“Ah, yes. Perhaps my memory is not as precise as I would hope. It must be two months, then.”\n\n“It happens to us all, Miss Martinov. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t become more than that. I think forty five days is the longest I’ve ever gone without seeing Mr. Chuvakhin.”\n\n“We all get busy sometimes, Mr. Ames. I doubt my Comrade took offense.”\n\n“Quite the opposite, he was thrilled to see me when we caught up. Bought me lunch that time, too,” Mr. Ames quipped with a smile.\n\n“Well, it was good seeing you, Mr. Ames, but I really must be going.”\n\n“Oh, please, go. I don’t mean to keep you. Good running into you, Miss Martinov.”\n\n“Likewise. Have a good day, Mr. Ames.”\n\nValery continued her deliberate walk, all the while mentally going through her afternoon. The meeting was set for two forty five this afternoon, so she’d have to duck out of the office then. Luckily for her, she didn’t already have any obligations.\n\nThese days she didn’t need much of a cover story to duck out of the embassy. The party members in the embassy were too busy trying to curry favor back home to track her whereabouts. All they cared about was becoming one of the Politburo’s favored sons; it was a fast track to an easy life.\n\nValery just hoped that the intelligence would help bring an end to all of this faster. The faster she was out of the game, the fewer slow walks she would have to take.\n\n— — — — —\n\n“Is it done, Comrade?”\n\n“*Da*, General Secretary. We’ve fed the information to the leak.”\n\n“Excellent, Comrade. Send word to the Politburo. That should give the Americans enough pause to not interfere.”\n\n— — — — —\n\n“How certain are we about this intelligence, Director?”\n\n“It came from one of our double agents, Mr. President.”\n\n“She’s always been reliable before. Even collaborated with one of our own to set up the drop.”\n\n“So, it’s credible.”\n\n“Yes, sir. I have long believed that the Soviet Union is the major source of all terrorist activity, and this intel lines up with that. The USSR is simultaneously building up its terrorist network and building up its nuclear arsenal in order to launch a major offensive against the U.S.”\n\n“I knew about the nuclear weapons, Director Casey, but I’m surprised at the size of the stockpile. Most of our other intelligence shows the USSR burning through cash just to keep up. This says otherwise.”\n\n“I trust the intel, Mr. President.”\n\n“Gather the Cabinet, William.”\n\n— — — — —\n\n“Gentlemen, William has brought to our attention new, startling intelligence. You all have copies, but according to this, the USSR has at least double the nuclear stockpile that we do. They also have an armed, willing, and able terrorist network working in several theaters around the globe. In short, they have us outgunned.”\n\n“What?!”\n\n“I was surprised myself, Cap. But William assures me the intelligence is sound.”\n\n“And they’ve kept it hidden all this time?”\n\n“The USSR is a big place, Cap. Lots of places to hide that sort of weaponry.”\n\n“I know, Al, but that’s not what our boys have pointed out before. I find it hard to believe, is all.” \n\n“Didn’t this week’s report say they’re spending up twenty percent of their GDP on the military? Unofficially?”\n\n“It did. They’ve just never been this good with their money before.”\n\n“Or else they’re very good at counter-intelligence. I hate to say it, gentlemen, but it wouldn’t be the first time they’ve turned one of our own.”\n\n“But on this scale, Mr. President?”\n\n“Okay, so what are our options?”\n\n“Mr. President, I believe a nuclear war is coming. The Soviets have shown the willingness to deploy their weaponry across the globe, and now we have credible intel showing that their weaponry is larger than ours.”\n\n“Hold on a minute, Director. What are you saying?”\n\n“I’m saying, Cap, that nuclear war is inevitable. You’re the Secretary of Defense, you understand Mutual Assured Destruction as well as anyone in this room.”\n\n“You’re suggesting a preemptive strike, William.”\n\n“I am.”\n\n“Al? What’s your vote?”\n\n“Launch the strike. I was for a warning shot in Europe as it was, but this upped the stakes. Some sort of conflict with the USSR is inevitable, it might as well be on our terms.”\n\n“Are we agreed, then?”\n\nA room full of grim nods met the President’s question.\n\n— — — — —\n\n“This is President Reagan. Authorization code alpha, six, beta, eight, echo. Launch the arsenal, and may God have mercy on our souls.”\n\n“We have positive confirmation for the President.”\n\n“This is Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. Authorization code gamma, three, beta, five, delta. Confirm nuclear launch order.”\n\n“Positive confirmation for SecDef. Confirm nuclear launch.”\n\n“What now?” the President asked.\n\n“Now we wait.”\n\n“Did the warning go out to the public?”\n\n“Yes, Sir. It is automatically sent out as soon as launch order is confirmed. The American public is scrambling to their own nuclear vaults as we speak.”\n\n“Thank goodness for that.”\n\n— — — — —\n\n“They launched!”\n\n“Comrade, calm yourself. What is the matter?”\n\n“The Americans! They launched!”\n\n“They WHAT?!”\n\n“Our plan, General Secretary. It backfired!”\n\n“Can we intercept?”\n\n“*Nyet*, General Secretary. Our only hope is to ensure their destruction, as well. We don’t have much time.”\n\n“Issue the order, Comrade. Quickly!”\n\n“Yes, General Secretary.”\n\n“*To poseyesh*’, Comrade,” the General Secretary mumbled quietly to himself. It was indeed time to reap what they had sown.\n\n— — — — —\n\n“Any word?”\n\n“B61’s hit their targets, we have visual confirmation of impact. We won’t know whether their communications were crippled in time, though.”\n\n“So, more waiting?”\n\n“I’m afraid so, Mr. President.”\n\n“How long until we know?”\n\n“From what we know of the Soviet arsenal, about thirty minutes.”\n\n“Longest thirty minutes of our lives.”\n\n— — — — —\n\nThirty three minutes later, the President and the Secretary of Defense were busy fielding calls from various generals. It took a full five minutes of updates before anyone was willing to say it loud: there was no Soviet counter attack coming.\n\nMutual assured destruction had been a flawed theory, it turned out. The bunker buster B61’s had done their job, effectively decapitating the Soviet military. With no one left to order the strike, the Soviet weapons had sat in their silo’s. The mighty USSR had gone down without a fight.\n\n“Would you have believed it, Cap?”\n\n“No, Mr. President. I can’t say that I would have.”\n\n“Well, pinch yourself, because it’s true. The U.S. just won the Cold War.”"
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[WP] You've always wanted to be a superhero and help people. One day you finally get superpowers... when you're 80 years old.
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"I grew up in a world of superheroes after my last few generations of ancestors figured themselves out in the wake of uncommon human gene mutations slowly becoming more and more prevelant. Scientists described it as a similar event to infects getting their wings in such a short number of years. The best people could chalk it up to was consistently stressful environments mixed with our odd trait of intelligence. Apparently, between the advanced bodies, the sentience, and the now noticed superpowers, scientists theorize that the last 20000 years of our evolution seems to be ebbed towards real time adaptation as a survival trait, and that we've been putting ourself into a corner, evolutionarily speakibg. Humans get stronger/developed bodies. Different species of humans emerge. A smifgen of cross breeding, and continued exposure to the ever changing climate around us makes us tough enough. We become group dependant because of this. Now we have to cobtend with each other, consistently, and we're using tools, so we our developed intelligence consistently improves for the real time use of it. From there, our. Brains, the control centers of our body have become ridiculously. Complex to the point where we don't know exactly how they work down to the cell. Apparently, the complexity allowed our epigenetic to get better exponentially u til eventually someone who could do something spectacular, like grow 10ft tall or be super strong or flexible or super smart is t unheard of...and then the cycle repeats. The environment now has super people, a d good genes and situations are. Only outperformed by better jeans. Not beaten, but outperformed. Here we are then. Every human statistic from grit to intelligence to strength and every *aspect* of each statistic becomes something to help you in an increasingly hardening society. The next step was just new abilities, new connections between our brains and our bodies and in between. Higher limits. Higher tolerances of environmental competition. Superpowers, and diversity in such began popping up more and more often. It was kept a secret at First, and eventually, the public wouldn't have been able to ignore it if we tried.\n\nTo be continued"
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[WP] The sun suddenly goes out, plunging the earth into darkness and a freezing cold. Civilisations die and almost all life as we know it ceases to exist, save you and your friends. Then, when the end finally seems to be upon you, the sun comes back.
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"When the sun went out....we weren't prepared. We'd prepared for the opposite; heat death of the universe, even accelerated just in case. But we couldn't have prepared for what happened. Not like that. My favorite movie used to be The Day After Tomorrow. Now I'm essentially living it.\n\nMost people imagine that if the sun went out, it would be a little cold. They were wrong. The oceans froze. Land-borne life died. We had to hastily build underwater bunkers deep, deep in the ocean to survive. I lost count of how many feet thick the ice covering the Earth was. Someone tried to measure it once, by drilling a hole through it. His suit got frozen to the bottom layer and he suffocated. Nobody's tried since. \n\nIt's not like there's that many of us anyways. Some people tried to make it above ground. Some in submarines. Some just.....didn't care. Walked off into the cold and never came back.\n\nWe've got about 20 people left. We started with 35. That's all we could get before the waters above us started getting too slushy to move around in. We can sometimes see outlines of people that almost made it.\n\nNot all life died, thankfully. Floor fauna, some coral, and microscopic things survived. Enough deepwater fish that we could eat enough to stay alive and not destroy the rest of the ecosystem.\n\nBut the fish migrated, and we couldn't follow. Yeah, the water down here is \"warm\" comparatively speaking, since we're closer to the Earth's core, but I don't think any of us are stupid enough to just go swimming and see what we find.\n\nI digress. I'd started this thinking that I'd be dead at the keyboard, starved to death after not having eaten.\n\nBut just now.... something miraculous happened.\n\nAn ice chunk just got brought in. Jack said he found it drifting down from above. We looked.....and we can see the faintest glimmer.\n\nThe sun is back.",
"Zanya blindly swatted the alarm ringing on the bedside table until its din finally ceases. Lying in bed for a few minutes, unmotivated to get up, she reluctantly rubbed the goo and crust from her eyes. Turning over, she checks the time. 06:07 A.M. Zanya scoffed at the ephemerality of time, of existence. The same poignant realization––every “morning” that she had awoken to did not technically exist. No one truly knows how long it has been, but there hasn’t been sunlight to be able to make any distinction between night or day since the Dark Horizon Event. The only artifacts of time were the few clocks around which have been running since, and they had to be adjusted to compensate for the time dilation, or contraction, or whatever it was called, Zanya couldn’t bother to remember. However, the artificial time proved useful for maintaining routine and order, and thus the small colony’s sanity; what little was left at least.\n\nAfter the Dark Horizon Event, a small number of colonies escaped the initial effects of devastation, swarming into underground vault-like shelters, powered by the energy in the earth’s core. Among the population of this community was Zanya whose profession before the event was ironically, that of a meteorologist. Soon after the colony population convened and established a new social structure, she was outcast along with the other scientists that survived, chastised for not knowing and warning the people of the Dark Horizon Event beforehand. No one could know, and still no one did, but the religious majority group in power had unanimously agreed that God had ordained this destruction and suffering. Thus science was declared as heresy. Zanya, now an accused member of the group labeled *The Infidels*, was castaway with the other scientists to the sectors of the shelter provided with the scantiest of provisions. When they were not defending themselves against physical and verbal assaults, they spent their days working together in their respective fields of science attempting to discover answers and/or solutions. So far, to no avail. \n\nZanya had grown bitter as time passed torturously slow in the artificially-lit underground-living habitat, worsened by the imposed conditions by what she called the “asinine” majority of the population. She thus gradually receded into isolation, avoiding all contact with anyone else, including the other scientists she was outcast with. She whiled her days away monitoring readings from a number of sensors which reached the earth’s surface from below. This was done more so of habit than out of hope that something would reveal new information or change. Life was abysmal. That was until an unusual reading chimed a notification that startled her at approximately 07:02 A.M., around the time of a typical sunrise.\n\n(feedback appreciated, thanks!)",
"Huddled in the dimly lit basement around the only working industrial heater sat a mass of several bodies, each closely next to other under a thick layer of blankets. The dull hum of a massive generator could be heard in the back ground. The basement was rather grey and featureless save for the shelves of food and water, and the hulks of machinery lining the walls. \n\nThe laboratory above would have been a more interesting location to stay, but since the sun went dark, everyone has retreated into submarines deep beneath the oceans or in basements like the one our group found themselves now. But everyone had started to starve or freeze to death. Those in the submarines found themselves without food and slowly withered away, or they tried to surface to look for food, only to freeze after a few hours. Others in basements with proper food stores slowly froze to death as the unsealed basements gradually leaked the precious little heat their heater made into the surrounding environments. \n\nHowever this basement not only had adequate power, but sufficient sealing to prevent the escape of any heat. Once the sun had went dim, everyone in the laboratory panicked. Some went home to see their families, other tried to get aboard a submarine, and some simply gave up and wandered outside. \n\nThe men and women now surrounding the heater under a thick layer of blankets were the ones who remained calm, and took as much food, water, blankets, and supplies they could gather and made their way into the sealed basement, locking the door as they filed in, and carefully sealing it. The only way they could know about the outside world was through the glass in the door leading to the rest of the laboratory. \n\n“I’m hungry.” muttered one of the men in the mass of flesh. He had a thick red beard that he usually kept clean shaven, but now he let grow due to the cold. \n\n“Then go get some food.” replied another man. His beard long too, but instead a deep coal black. \n\n“I’m so cold though, and you all still won’t let me eat under the blanket.” \n\n“Because no one wants to hear your loud chewing.” said another woman \n\n“C’mon, you know none of the other heaters work…and you know it’s only a matter of time until this one breaks down.” \n\n“Don’t say that!” shouted the woman. \n\nThe red-bearded man responded “Well what happens when we run out of food?”\nThere was a silence, as no one had an adequate answer. \n\n“What’s the point, we’re either gonna freeze or starve to death, why try and prolong it?” \n\n“What else is there to do?” Said a different woman, she was much thinner and paler. \n\n“I’m getting some fucking crackers. And I'm eating them here,” said the hungry man “I don’t care anymore.” \n\nHe got up from under the blankets and hastily made his way towards the shelf of food on the other side of the basement. His path lit only by dim one bulb lights. It didn’t matter though, everyone was familiar with the path after spending several months in the basement. Usually everyone would be sitting at the table near the shelves of food, but they were all forced to retreat to the last remaining heater after the one near the food shelves broke down. \n\nThe situation seemed hopeless, and everyone was ready to slowly starve or freeze to death. As the footsteps slowly trailed off everyone went slowly back to a half sleep and half awake state. \n\n“I’ll kill him if he brings back those crackers.” Said the woman who complained of his loud chewing. \n\nAfter a few minutes, everyone wondered if he would come back and eat them here but did not worry about his long absence as they all wanted to assume he was eating at the table. Suddenly they heard footsteps running back and everyone peered up to see what was happening. \n\n“I-I-I..” he said panting rapidly. \n\n“What’s wrong?” asked the other man “Are you alright?” he started to get up but before he could walk over to him, the other man started talking again. \n\n“I saw light co-coming…” he panted again “…from the window…” \n\n“What!?” screamed the thinner woman \n\n“I swear! Please just follow me.” \n\nEveryone got up and ran after the man, excited yet terrified to see if what he had said was true. And then they saw it, a small stream of light poking through the window of the basement. They all stared in amazement, until the thin woman made her way up the stairs to examine the window. She looked through and could see the hallway of the laboratory lit up with sunlight coming through the windows. It looked as if the power had gone off during the afternoon and the only light was from that of outside. She put her hand to the window and felt it. It was still cold, but it did not feel like ice. \n\n“Grab your parkas and the blankets.” She quickly said as she went back down the stairs and back towards the heater. Everyone quickly followed her and prepared themselves as best they could. After a few minutes of assembling, they all were ready. No one needed to explain what was being done, it was clear. They all made their way to the door of the basement. The red-bearded man pushed a few buttons near the door of the basement and a loud sucking noise could be heard coming from the door. After the noise subsided, he went to open the door. \n\nAs the door opened, a rush of cold air flooded their faces. But it was more akin to opening the door on a cold winter day. Even though it should be summer based on how long they were in the basement everyone was surprised by how relatively warm it was.\nThe group took their first few steps outside the basement and peered around the hallway. There was nobody and there was nothing except a cold silence. They all found the nearest window and looked out. Perched high in the sky was the sun, and everyone recoiled away once they saw it. Struggling to adjust their eyes to the new wave of light. After their eyes recovered, they looked outside. The nearby town was quiet and no signs of birds, cars, or anything that would be moving. The houses of the town were coated in a layer of frost, and the ground was completely brown, lacking any layer of grass. \n\nEventually, the thin woman announced she was going outside. The others followed her as she walked towards the main entrance and exit of the building. When she reached the glass doors of the main entrance she hesitated opening the doors. The red-bearded man gently pushed her aside and opened the door. \n\nThere was no change in temperature as the group wandered outside. They looked around at the surrounding landscape. Some trees had lost all their leaves, but didn’t quite look like they had died. The other evergreen trees still had their needles on them but they were much lighter and drooping a considerable amount. No birds or animals could be heard. No cars or planes could be heard. No people could be heard. It was eerily quiet, but the sun was there. That was all that was mattered. \n\n“What now?” asked the black-bearded man. Everyone looked at him and thought about the question. Eventually the thin woman spoke up, \n\n“Let’s find some other people.” and with that she made her way towards the town, the others trailing after her.\n"
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[WP] “There’s only one way out of here, and I don’t think you’re gonna like it.”
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"I shuddered, knowing exactly what Thomas was referring to. \nThe portal that killed Jake. \nHe summoned it within seconds, and there it was; taunting me once again with its warped glow.\n\"No way man.. are you insane?! There's got to be another way..\", I replied; eyes darting from wall to wall in hope to find a hidden exit.\nThe inescapable screeching behind us was becoming unbearable now and the fumes were beginning to leak through the door in front of us.\nHe was right; it was the only way.\nWithout a word, I jumped into the void.\n"
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[WP] You’re an alien, disguised as a human, working at NASA and trying to destroy all evidence and data on aliens.
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"\"Hey Robert!\"\nI jerk around so quickly that the masks tears a little just below the left ear. Will stands in the door. He carries a pile of books in his arms. \n\"What are you doing here?\" he asks suspiciously. \n\"Nothing\" I reply quickly and step away from the computer \"Wheeler wanted me to go over the latest data that Hubble sent. He wants to have a report on his desk by Monday because he has to show it to the committee to receive extra funding.\"\nThe look of suspicion on Will's face ceases. \"Oh\" he says and nods \"So you won't be done any time soon, will you? Me and the boys wanted to grab a drink. Wanna come?\"\n\"Ah...\" I am hesitating while running through my head all my options. \"You know what, go ahead and just text me the place you end up at, alright? I don't think that it'll take me much longer. I'll be joining you in an hour or so.\"\n\"Sound good!\" Will nods and goes away. \nI turn around to the computer again. Fortunately, the human capability to focus on multiple things at once is limited. The artificial pores in my mask start emitting fluid. The doctor insisted on connecting them wirelessly to my brain so that the artificial skin would be triggered whenever I feel emotions, but I personally find it very annoying. Who wants to emit half a gallon of water every time they are stressed?\nI take off the hands and operate the computer with my own fingers. I become wistful every time I think about the bio computers back on the Arenada. If I could work on one of those, I would probably be done with all my work in just a fraction of the time it takes me now. However, I can't get too mad, since erasing any sings of our fleet that their stupid telescopes picked up would be much harder if their tech were more advanced. I shake my head as I erase the last file from the computer. We have ships that can travel intergalacticly and yet we got fooled by a bunch of monkeys with toys. No one at the planning committee had actually thought of the fact that the humans could be listening to space when they had launched their plans for an interplanetary safari. And who do you call when you fuck up and accidentally make contact with an undeveloped species? You call Gurp. And Gurp takes good money to run around in a meat suit, pretending to be friends with the morons the monkeys call scientists to erase all the signals they are to dumb to interpret anyways. ",
"It was another long day at this office. Sitting around, entering information and going over basic details. It wasn’t a position one would think of as glamorous, in fact it was about the most routine data entry position possible. And it was entirely necessary at NASA to help ensure that the information they were routinely sent about space was inputted accurately.\n\nOnly that wasn’t what happened, Qtrdsnk thought to himself, afterall, they have to go through me. It was a dangerous job, situated on a planet that was widely regarded by The Community to be one of the most dangerous due to its evolutionary habits. Thinking back, Qtrdsnk thought of when the mission was first described to him, a race that somehow had reached space technology despite being driven by competitiveness and not co-operation.\n\nIt was the fear that The Community had. These species generally obliterated themselves long before anyone in The Community spotted them – their innate destructiveness outweighing everything else. In fact, his predecessor thought his posting here would be short as it seemed that these humans were likely to follow the same path with their ‘mutually assured destruction’ and ‘cold war’.\n\nThey still might, Qtrdsnk thought with mixed feelings. He had been here for twenty years... Earth years he corrected himself, and it was going to be tough to adjust when his posting came to an end in a few more cycles. If they didn’t blow themselves up, things were going to get harder here, something the report he had back at his home or Earth domicile emphasized... but one he hadn’t quite decided to send off yet.\n\n‘They fear them so much, this report might lead to drastic action by The Community. What would they do? There are those never ending rumours of special teams being assigned,’ Qtrdsnk thought and made a mental note, to his very well hidden implanted processor, to make a paper going over all of those.\n\nHe did know that one of his predecessors, Nasstinti;bastik, thought that The Community would take lethal action. That was after all what prompted him to crash one of the stealth drones in an area called Roswell. And then the humans had really scared them by making removal efforts essentially impossible. It was over twenty of those Earth Years before they replaced him, after observation being done, but the interest and growing space programs made it a necessity.\n\nHis head tilted as his mind began to race, thinking about the The Community’s reaction to that event. There had been panic in sections, and some who thought The Community’s approach was wrong got louder with it. It took a long time for harmony in even the upper recesses of The Community to be restored – even at a distance Earth was dangerous. \n\n‘Of course, that’s why I had to come here’ Qtrdsnk thought. ‘I wanted to see the big dangerous Earth.’ He snorted, an action he had been forced to learn in this human disguise. \n\nAnother report came in, with trace signs of minerals that would lead them towards some of the Communities planets, so Qtrdsnk, more commonly known on Earth as James Solo, began quickly altering the results to input into the system.\n\nAnother day. Another long day. Another attempt to stay under the radar. And to figure out what exactly he would do.",
"The metallic chrome of the cube chamber seemed to swallow up its own corners with its lack of adequate lighting, as the clicking of pens and ruffling of papers were interrupted by a gruff cough for attention. \n\n\"Gentlemen, I've summoned you hear today to discuss a matter that is of the highest importance. It does not leave this room, is that clear?\"\n\nSeveral mumbled 'yes sir's scattered around the room- they think it's a drill. Everything's a drill nowadays, they were this close to having a practice-coffee-break.\n\n\"Our security has been compromised...\" continues the small bold man at the head of the table, making fierce eye contact with as many of his colleagues as possible, puffing away at his cigar \"...someone is compromising the database... *the* database\". They knew which one he was talking about, for there was only one *the* database; the one which didn't technically exist; the one less than above board; and now they came to think about it- the one only those sitting around them in that room knew anything about.\n\nThere was silence, a clammy silence that smelled like answers just waiting to seep out of pursed lips. \n\n\"Thoughts?\" The bold man eventually said, directing his attention to a spindly and geeky fellow to his left, \"Martin?\"\n\n\"n-no sir\" typical.\n\n\"Dana?\" \n\nA few thick seconds pass before Dana throws out a \"What exactly are we talking about when we say 'compromising', Tom?\"\n\nTom suppressed his heavy sigh: they may've been in the academy together, but he's 'sir' now, and Dana knows that. He decides to direct his attention into answering the question: the sooner this is all sorted the better for NASA and the nation, hell, the world in general- even if getting out of that airless bunker seemed like a more rewarding and certainly more immediate incentive than saving the world. He began \"Deleting, sabotaging, heavily editing, in some cases burning evidence\"\n\n\"Thanks, Tom\"\n\nHe was just taking the piss now, and for a brief moment their years of camaraderie meant absolutely zero as Tom wished it was Dana, it didn't add up, but perhaps if he wished it with enough intensity it'd come to be.\n\nTom finally decided to skip a few men and turn straight to the brightest of the bunch, an exemplary member of the team, the best mathematician NASA had ever seen, the man who's favourite drink down the pub was 'human food': \"How about you Zak'lah'r Zxxzqtt fppökk-trp?\"\n\nZak smiled an uneasy smile."
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[WP] As a mystical world advances so too does it's technology, as rocket science comes about, so to does a realization. This is the mission to launch every cursed artifact of history into the sun, forever keeping them from the hands of dark mystics.
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"Salazar stood, at the edge of the lighthouse, the pale glow off the faerie fire behind him lost amid the clouds, watching as the stars seemed to be swallowed, one by one, each snuffing out quietly. He started at the sound of a footfall. \"You'd better get the shutters up, it won't be long before dawn.\" He nodded, as he turned to face Miranda. \"I'm sorry. I got caught up, looking at the ocean. It's hard to remember sometimes. I was only young when things changed. I'll be inside shortly.\" He spared another glance for the moon- the sinister play of grim lights and shadows on it's surface, before slowly wandering back into the shelter of the lighthouse, and it's witch lights, carefully closing every shutter, checking with a light outside to make sure not even little glimmered through. When he and Miranda were done, he slept, and dreamed of daylight. ",
"Alistair Gremfkin, head Rocket Wizard, had once more been called before the Grand Council of Wizards.\n\nThere were thirteen of them, and Gremfkin knew them all except for one. And that's all he needed to know, at that point. \"Let me guess,\" he said to the assembly, \"tossing the artifacts into the sun.\"\n\nTwelve heads nodded, knowingly, while the thirteenth just looked confused.\n\nThe Merlin - the traditional title for the head wizard of the Grand Council of Wizards - gestured to that thirteenth. \"Meet our newest member, Wizard Trezant.\"\n\nGremfkin nodded. Trezant's predecessor had been Wizard Armstrong, a Rocket Wizard of enormous power. Of course, Rocket Wizards almost inevitably died by accidentally launching themselves into space unprepared or by conjuring a black hole or sometimes both, and Armstrong had been no exception. Would, Gremfkin thought, that another Rocket Wizard had taken Armstrong's place. For one thing, they wouldn't be having this conversation.\n\n\"It's obvious,\" Trezant said, \"that you know something I am not privy to.\" The newest member of the council didn't seem happy about his apparent hazing. \"It seems to me a simple solution to the cursed weapons problem.\"\n\nThe Merlin gestured to Gremfkin. \"Explain,\" he said.\n\nGremfkin would have asked if he was going to have to have this conversation every single time a new wizard joined the council, but at this point he knew the answer was \"yes, unless they're Rocket Wizards, but the Rocket Wizard party hasn't been putting in a very good showing lately what with most of them having trapped themselves on the moon during the last election.\"\n\n\"The thing you need to unserstand about Rocket Wizardry,\" Gremfkin explained, \"is that it's not magic.\"\n\nThere were a few dry chuckles at this; Gremfkin knew to always lead with a joke.\n\n\"It is, of course,\" Gremfkin said. \"Magic can speed something up, and magic can slow something down. And, the important part is, it takes the same amount of magic to speed something up as it does to slow something down.\"\n\nTrezant frowned. \"I understand what you are saying, and it makes sense, but what does this have to do with flinging cursed artifacts into the sun?\"\n\n\"Because we can only put so many refined mana crystals on a ship - they weigh the same whether full or empty, so the rocket's lugging along a large payload even when it's almost out of fuel. The amount of mana crystals we'd have to put onto a ship to slow it down enough to let it fall into the sun is, well, astronomical. And there's very little mana in space, so no chance of refueling.\"\n\n\"Wait,\" Trezant said, \"slow down? Surely you mean speed up! Just point the ship at the sun and accelerate, yes?\"\n\n\"No,\" Gremfkin said. \"You forget; the ship has a substantial speed already, simply by virtue of being launched from our planet. If you pointed it at the sun, you'd simply start spiraling around. The most direct way is to undo its speed, and then it falls. But, as mentioned, that is prohibitively expensive.\"\n\nThe Merlin, having heard this lecture repeatedly whenever a newcomer had joined, nodded. \"Tell him the other part,\" he instructed.\n\n\"There's more?\" Trezant said. \"I'm afraid I've already learned enough about rockets to hurt my head.\"\n\n\"Not about the rockets,\" Gremfkin assured, \"but the cursed artifacts. Which one is the worst?\"\n\nTrezant shivered. \"The Urn of Zkzxlaramalthomos,\" he said, and a number of the Thirteen nodded along with the declaration.\n\nThat's usually what people said. \"It contains the trapped soul of the Dead Emperor Zkzxlaramalthomos,\" Gremfkin said, thankful that in modern times it was illegal to have a name longer than ten letters long, \"and should it ever be freed from its prison in the Great Museum, it will begin reanimating the dead world-wide.\"\n\nTrezant frowned. \"I know what it does.\"\n\n\"Tell me, Wizard Trezant, if you wanted to reanimate all the dead in the world, how long would it take you to do it?\" Gremfkin asked. \"Assuming you had access to modern mana storage and gathering matrices and thaumolithographic techniques.\"\n\nWizard Trezant looked surprised. \"That's practically unlimited mana, provided enough time, and thaumolithography would allow a reanimation circuit for each individual undead.\" He looked at his fellow councilors suddenly, aware that they could just as easily do this as he could. \"It'd take a week, and I wouldn't even have to be particularly clever about it!\"\n\nThe rest of the council nodded.\n\nTrezant looked back to Gremfkin. \"They're all like that, aren't they? We, today, could re-create the effects of all the cursed artifacts... *easily*.\"\n\n\"Yup,\" Gremfkin said.\n\n\"What's to stop that, then?\" Trezant said. \"What's to stop some wizard from becoming the next Zkzxlaramalthomos?\"\n\nGremfkin gestured to the Thirteen. \"There's a reason I don't want your job,\" he added.\n\nAnd that, as far as Wizard Gremfkin was concerned, was the speech. Throwing the artifacts into the sun was impractical, and pointless given how easily they could be re-made.\n\nTrezant looked thoughtful, though. \"My predecessor,\" he said, \"how did he die?\"\n\nVarious murmurings of 'black hole' and 'spaghettified' were heard from the other council members.\n\n\"But you can make black holes safely, yes?\"\n\nGremfkin wiggled a hand in uncertainty. \"For various values of 'safe', yes.\" After a moment, he added, \"We will almost certainly not destroy the planet.\" After a significant glare from The Merlin, he added, \"again.\"\n\nTrezant was on to something. \"So,\" he said, \"even if destroying the artifacts is pointless, I know I for one would rest easier if the soul of Zkzxlaramalthomos was destroyed. Why not throw them into the black hole?\"\n\nIt was actually a decent idea; even if the artifacts would never technically enter the singularity due to relativistic effects, tidal forces would be more than enough to destroy them. There was only one problem, and it was by far the most daunting:\n\n\"Because,\" Gremfkin said, \"the archaeologists would kill us.\""
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Edit: OMG, this is my first original post ever, and it's amazing how many of you actually responded! Thank you!!!
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[WP] Your brand new smartphone falls from the desk and is on route for collision with the floor. Desperately, you reach out with your hand and the phone stops mid air, wobbling. The whole classroom was your witness.
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"Lips pursed in the first syllable of a curse bitten off quickly, Tyrell holds his hand out to his phone, feeling like the world has stopped. Instead, though, only his phone had.\n\nFlipping as it fell, his brand new all-glass phone floats, turned in a way that nothing could organically balance like that.\n\nLooking away, he sees eyes glued to his fingers, the phone, and some to his face. Sweeping his other hand back over his hair in a nervous motion, he puts his head down a bit, focusing on lifting the phone. He lifts his fingers, and it twists upright, screen facing him. As he pulls his fingers in toward him, the phone comes closer and closer, until it settles back on the desk.\n\nDead silence fills the room, nobody daring to acknowledge anything, until a loud thump from the back of the room, followed by a scream, cut through.\n\nOne of the popular girls just flat out fainted, landing hard onto the tile. Her best friend, sitting next to her, screamed like her life depended on it.\n\nWatching impassively, the teacher stands and orders the girl to be moved, while she dials for the nurse on her phone.\n\nPulling his hood up, Tyrell puts his head onto the desk, blinking back tears of fear. Holding the phone, he just sets it into his pocket and tries to keep from joining the other girl in screaming.\n\nThe nurse comes, and the two girls are walked out of the room, silence coming in like a wave. The teacher asks Tyrell to lift his head up, and he complies, not paying attention to her but instead focused on the mental image.\n\nIf this were a high school comedy, he’d be instantly popular. A reasonably attractive guy, somewhat smart, hilarious, who can do cool things? That’s a recipe for good things, in movies at least.\n\nIn life, though, it leads to people staring at you like you’re cursed, pressing themselves up into the lockets when you walk down the middle of the hallway, whispers that end when you walk by, and start again when you walk past. Doctors getting called, and even the FBI. It leads to a level of soul-crushing loneliness that could turn any human being into a super villain.\n\nBut, instead, Tyrell made a joke of it. He told people it was a prank, that there were wires, that people were wrong, or saw wrong, or that he kicked his phone back up. The truth is something that can burn the heart out of a kid, and he hid it well.\n\nUntil, of course, at lunch a few months later. Things had died down, and his past friends were paying more attention to him again. Figuring he could just relax and talk to them, he let his guard down. But when a cup of pudding filled with milk and peas comes flying at his face, the first thing he does, without thinking, is to raise his hand. And the cup stops, dripping onto the table. He turns it, and it falls, making a splat.\n\nBefore anyone can say anything, he’s upright and running, backpack on as he leaves the building. Tears stream down his face as he remembers the look of absolute horror and repulsion on the faces of his oldest friends.\n\n———\n\nCheck out my blog for some of my other writing. http://AllHarlowsEve.wordpress.com/",
"History class was boring as usual. As Mrs. Whitaker babble about war and death during some ancient time ago, I was busy playing with my brand-new Holo Phone 3X. I can feel the eyes of my classmates staring at me with jealous eyes, as I twirl my new phone and show it off discreetly. The new Holo Phone 3X just came out yesterday, and I was one of the lucky bastards that got it before it sold out. I angled my phone’s camera towards Stephanie, the jewel of this school, to test out how great the camera is.\n\n“Alex Morogan!” Mrs Whitaker shouted from the front of the class.\n\nI jolted from my desk to face Mrs. Whitaker when I realized I just threw my phone upwards due to surprise.\n\n“No!” I shouted as I extend my hand towards my phone and tried to grab it before it makes contact to the ground. Somehow, the phone didn’t fell through and just wobbled mid-air, to everyone’s astonishment. \n\nAll eyes were looking at me with fear and awe. I heard whimpering from Mrs. Whitaker and saw her cowering slightly while staring at me. Then I remembered the text I received early morning.\n\n“This is a nationwide alert: All human beings with magical abilities are now considered as hostile and a threat to humanity, and must be reported to your nearest Council Authorities immediately.”\n\nAs realization slowly dawned to my classmates and horror shifted their faces and tried to slowly get out of the classroom, I can only think of one thing:\n\n“Fuck”\n",
"“Holy shit.” I whisper. Ms. Faughnen screamed at the top of her lungs and ran to her desk, frantically pressing a pre-installed panic button.\n\nKids were taught about things like this in school. “If you ever start doing anything magical tell an adult right away.” It worked most of the time because if someone was going to express a god gene it would happen in childhood. But sometimes, people slipped through the cracks. And any teenager knows that telling someone about your “powers” could only lead to a life of being a lab rat and an outcast. \n\nSuddenly kids started running around the room and screaming, congregating near the door which had just automatically locked to keep me in.\n\n“Fuck fuck fuck, gotta think fast.” I say to myself as I frantically look around and try to come up with a solution. \n\nThe desks.\n\nThey were all metal.\n\nI raise my hand and try to pull in the desks, having them only inch a little. Suddenly they all snap and lift off the ground, I redirect them to the window shattering the glass. As I make a break for the busted out window I see two fully armored government agents burst in and follow me out. Using one of the desks I aim it right for their heads and am able to knock them both to the ground. \n\nSo now the rest of my life would be spent running. I think my top priority is finding a better weapon than a school desk.",
"I sat there baffled and in absolute disbelief. The phone twitched mid-air as my hand was extended towards it. A massive silence came over the room as everyone witnessed this scene like a movie rolling over into fantasy.\n\nMy science teacher, Mr. Kavinchi, had dropped down to his knees as if he were an over exaggerated cartoon character. His jaw hung loose as I now used my other arm to lift up the phone. The phone tossed upward into the sky, rolling through the air. \n\nMr. Kavinchi dashed over to his physics bookshelf and flipped open a large text book. He skimmed the book hoping to explain this unnatural phenomenon. He was a very book heavy man. \n\nEveryone in class was in awe and some people mouthed off evident, \"Woah's\" as I soared it around my desk. \n\nMy arms were met with an instance of insurmountable pain, and the phone crashed down to the floor, cracking into bits.\n\nNo one spoke.\n\nI just wanted my phone back."
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[WP] You are a time traveler in 1928. You unintentionally make a friend, and when they mention the Great Depression, you realize that they too are a time traveler.
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"I used a fake name while talking to hin to go hide my identity. As soon as he mentions the great depression.. I freeze. Completely in fear. Thinking that he came to my time to stop me. Maybe he was me from the future future. However he knew exactly what was going through my head the moment he said that. From the look on my face he was also in completely disbelief. I soon asked him what year he was from. He said 2047. The year i was in. I asked him if he had a best friend named James. His mind was blown. Me and my friend time traveled.",
"\"Well hello, traveler!\" called out Carl, sitting in his usual spot, \"Got a light?\"\n\n\nCarl was under the impression I was from out of town- which wasn't untrue. It was just a different kind of true.\n\n\nSitting down and pulling out my matches I struck one, holding it out for Carl. Pinching his cigarette between his thumb and index fingers Carl hunched over the match much like a watch maker would working at his bench. He took a couple of sharp puffs, \"Much obliged, my friend. So where to today?\"\n\n\nThis had become something of a daily routine for Carl and I.\n\n\n\"I was thinking of walking along Wall Street today, see what the fuss is about,\" I said, shaking out the match's flame and tossing it into the street.\n\n\n\"Ah, the lifeblood of this great nation runs thick there,\" Carl winked.\n\n\nIn the last four weeks that I'd been visiting New York I had seen Carl in this spot almost every day. Carl had an odd sense of humor and a wry smirk that permeated everything that he said. I liked Carl. Enough so that I began carrying matches with me daily.\n\n\n\"I've heard quite the stories,\" I said, offering a wry smirk of my own.\n\n\n\"All exagerations and understatements, I assure you! Nothing compares to being there! To being here!\" Carl said emphatically, gesturing around us.\n\n\n\"You won't hear any arguments from me there,\" I said, placing my hands into my coat's pockets, \"Hm, chilly today, isn't it?\"\n\n\n\"Winter is on it's way,\" puffed Carl, \"Terrible for smoking.\"\n\n\n\"Could you not just smoke inside?\"\n\n\n\"Terribly boring, that would be. I might get something done if I did that. And I like to take my time. Besides, when would I see my traveller friend!\" Carl smiled broadly, \"Ah, that reminds me- just how long will your studies keep you here?\"\n\n\n\"Four years, then promptly back home,\" I said, not quite lying.\n\n\n\"Plenty of time, then.\"\n\n\n\"Not quite enough. But there never is.\"\n\n\n\"Oh, and just what do you think you'll miss?\" Carl asked skeptically. Holding out his pinched cigarette, he flicked it with his other hand a few times to shake off the ash. For the amount of smoking that Carl did it often looked like he hadn't the faintest clue how.\n\n\n\"Most of my focus in academia, sadly,\" I sighed.\n\n\n\"Oh? I never asked, what is your focus?\"\n\n\n\"The Great D-\" I quickly stopped myself, sharply turning my head to face the street and hide my wide eyed shock at what I'd quite nearly prophesied.\n\n\n\"- Depression, yes, yes,\" finished Carl, not missing a beat.\n\n\nMy wide-eyed shock would remain, but my head turned back to Carl.\n\n\n\"Being there for the start of something and not the finale doesn't mean you miss the end of it. Most times the end is part of the beginning just the same,\" he said, overhand lobbing his cigarette onto the road.\n\n\n\"C-Carl, I-\"\n\n\n\"Let me show you something funny,\" Carl said, plunging his index and middle fingers into his breast pocket, fishing about for something, \"You'll like this,\" he said with a grin.\n\n\nOut of his pocket Carl produced a ratty old piece of paper, folded twice. Hunching over as he did he pinched it open. It was a photograph. Or rather, it will be.\n\n\nI took the photograph in my hands. In it, high above New York sat eleven men on a steel girder.\n\n\n\"We're the two on the left,\" Carl smirked.\n\n\nThe man to the very left was hunched much like a watch maker would working at his bench, pinching a cigarette between his thumb and index fingers. \n\n\nTo his right, a man with both arms and legs crossed- nervously- [held out a match](https://imgur.com/a/lODuG).\n",
"“Awww! You shouldn’t have! It’s too nice!”\n\nIt had taken Charlie a long time to decide whether this hat was something Jane would like. After all, what did a nerdy guy like Charlie know about fashion, given how much time he spent in the labs in the year 2050? He was constantly frittering away, by himself, trying to put together what all his peers declared was impossible: a space-time continuum reverse disruption vehicle. Those who were “crazy” enough to think it possible strongly urged him to avoid creating it, since the time paradoxes, disruptions, and everything else that comes with time manipulation would destroy reality as we know it.\n\nShe opened the small box in front of her as they sat in the shade next to Johnny’s Famous Diner, and her reaction immediately revealed to Charlie that his mission was successful.\n\nHe knew all those time travel stories from the movies he watched growing up, and he didn’t want to make a time travelling machine to go back in time to kill Hitler, stop the Great Depression, blah blah blah. He knew about those time travel paradoxes and whatnot. He just beamed with curiosity to learn more about the world in the history books; to escape the confines of his mundane, formulaic life, and find a time in history that would give him a new chance at feeling alive again. He had first arrived in May 27th, 1927. He knew the nostalgia from this time period, and longed to see the sights, smells, and wonders of a world prior to its inevitable economic demise in just a couple short years, immediately followed by a host of wars that would define humanity’s struggles for generations. Plus, that was his birth date, and he figured he’d celebrate his birthday by going back in time 123 years, exactly 90 years before he was born. In fact, he had only planned on staying for about 2 days; he figured that this was just about how long all the 1928 money he had managed to find in 2050 would last. After all, you couldn’t just bring a dime back to the Great Depression era when FDR didn’t even exist yet! But thankfully, economic inflation was pretty bad in Charlie’s day, so even the little he managed to put together was quite a fortune here.\n\nCharlie’s attention snapped back to the “present.” Jane had accidentally dropped her bag onto the ground while admiring her new gift. It fell next to the short, wooden table at which they sat. The roof on the outside barely provided much shade, and Charlie squinted as he stooped down to pick up both her bag, and a small coin that had fallen out. His years of attention to detail kicked in without a second thought, and he briefly noticed the year on the coin: 1956. He was taken aback at this, but before he could take a second look to confirm this suspicion, Jane had already taken back the coin and put it away. His mind quickly dismissed this small detail, and he decided to himself that he had simply misread it.\n\nIn all his years of planning, testing, and fine-tuning the reverse disruptor, he had never imagined he would fall in love again. I mean, he did once: nobody at the New Cambridge University of Tech thought he was a particularly charming guy, except one girl named Rose. They seemed like the perfect fit, and after they both graduated, their relationship seemed unstoppable. But when she finally saw how devoted he was towards finally creating that time travel device, she divorced him in frustration, believing that neither she or their daughter Janet should have any part in his self-centered fantasy project. He didn’t view it that way; he wanted everything in the world for them, and thought this would be the key towards being the best father he could. Maybe they just didn’t see it the way he did; maybe he truly was the “mad scientist” they thought he was. Either way, he wouldn’t be seeing Rose or their daughter anytime soon.\n\nHe had learned a lot since then, in between paying for child support, and living paycheck to paycheck, to working years trying to bring his time travel ideas to life. No one really wanted to hire someone whose life goal was to build a time machine. He never thought he would be able to live a normal life ever again. But now, it had seemed like he had been given a second chance. Charlie and Jane seemed just right for each other, as if something had inexplicably put them together for a reason. His 2 days quickly turned into 2 months, and after that, he didn’t have the heart, or motivation, to go back.\n\n“Oh, Gerald, you’ve been so kind to me over the last nine months. I can’t imagine where I would be without you.”\n\nGerald? Oh, yeah; it wouldn’t have been wise to give her his true name right from the start, since any reference to his actual identity might cause the time paradoxes he had originally been warned about. “Charlie Auburn” was replaced with “Gerald Marley” from the moment he set foot in 1927. Was it really worth the price of lying to the most wonderful woman he had ever proposed to, which happened not even a week ago? Well, he’d say so.\n\n“Jane, I can’t explain it, but since the moment we met, I knew there was something special between us, and I don’t want anything to take that away. You’ve reminded me so much of someone in my family who I haven’t been able to see in a very long time. It’s like I’ve finally gotten a piece of my life back, and I’m looking forward to spending an amazing life with you. I want you to have only the best.”\n\nShe beamed with the most beautiful smile Charlie had ever seen, and sighed as she looked off into the distance. “Won’t our wedding be great? We make such a dream team! Why, I don’t even think the Great Depression can stop us!” \n\nThe hair on the back of his neck stood up immediately, and the atmosphere of their small space changed instantly. He wasn’t a history buff, for sure, but he paid enough attention in History 105A back at New Cambridge to know that this was 1928, not 1929. The reality of what just came out of her mouth slowly started to sink in. “Wait,” he responded with quite a shock, “The Great Depression? How do you know about that?”\n\nShe quickly realized her mistake, but her attempt to downplay it was far from convincing. “Oh, uh, er I just meant that if there were…”\n\nBut then, her expression turned from surprise to total horror faster than the blink of an eye, as if she had remembered something she had forgotten. “No, nonono I made the mistake. Now they’ll… Oh no…” Her voice trailed off as she stared off into the distance. Charlie sat back in shock, unable to take in the gravity of the situation, or her cryptic response.\n\n“What do you mean, they? What on earth is going on?!?”\nBefore Charlie could even think, four police cars seemed to just appear out of nowhere, storming up the side of the street and screeching to a halt not ten feet away from them. Pistols were drawn, by no less than 7 officers, who barked instructions towards their direction. \n\n“GET ON THE GROUND, RIGHT NOW!”\n“ON YOUR KNEES, CRIMINAL!”\n\n“Dad!” Jane’s words grabbed his attention once more, although this one word stopped any word from leaving his mouth. “They know you’re here.” Jane grabbed his hand and pulled him out of his chair, his wobbling legs obeying almost subconsciously. Her hurried voice started to break up as tears streamed down her face. “They told you not to create it, but they really wanted you to perfect it so they can use it to win the war. Heck, they want to win all wars! They thought I could get you to do it willingly, since I’m your daughter, but I...”\n\nThen it all happened in a blur. Before I knew it, my knees were firmly planted in the asphalt as the officers swarmed around me. Jane screamed as another officer escorted her behind the diner. My mind was swimming with confusion as I called out to her in desperation, before I felt the firm clamp of handcuffs on my hands, and the rough texture of a gag tied painfully over my mouth. \n\nIt was bad enough I had failed Janet once; I couldn’t allow this to happen again. I fought with all my might to break free of my bonds, but after a sharp, sudden pain on the back of my head, everything slowly faded from view.\n\n_________________________\nHey everyone! This is my first time writing something here on this subreddit, so any feedback would be appreciated!"
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[WP] Troy doesn't fall, and as the Greeks spend their strength against its walls, barbarians from the north start to invade your lands. With Agamemnon refusing to leave until the city falls, you, Odysseus, must journey home to defend your lands
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"you're in luck; I fucking *love* the Iliad. you get the laziest, unrhymed, unmetered narrative poem in HISTORY\n\n***\n\nThe Achaens, death-hungry and war-mad, \nstayed long after the food had dwindled \nand they had no wine left for their gods. \nTheir boats hungered for sea, \nthe men for home and all its comforts. \nBickering and hate winged from brother to brother \nlike the dark wings of Rumor, plucking and \nplaying men by the singing secrets of their hearts-- \nso dissidence and dread spread amongst \nthose soldiers ten long years and a thousand lonely miles \nand one ravenous, lost war standing between them and home. \n\n \n\nThe Myrmidons burned with their captain, \ndark-hearted Achilles, who stormed \nand seethed like a blood-robbed lion \nwho watched his brother fall in the hunt \nand now had no meat or bone to show for it. \nSo Achilles paced and raged and cursed the name \nof man-killing Hector, who stole Patroclus \nfrom the warm arms of life. And quietly, \nwhere no other man could hear, \nAchilles cursed his own name most of all. \nLet the gods pour his name out in the dust \nof this foreign shore; let him lie forever with Patroclus's blood. \n\n \n\nBut one man's fury matched that of \nwide-ruling Agamemnon, powerless in all his power, \nwho had watched his shining love stolen from him \nand could do nothing now but throw boys \nagainst the Trojan spears in weary empty \nsacrifice, praying this siege will be enough \nto break down the city walls at last. And his brother, \nwar-like Menelaus, had lost all his love \nand glut for gore when he watched \ncountless sons of the house of Atreus \nfall screaming and praying and dying \nas the gods looked on and did nothing \nbut move another piece into place, \ntoss another mortal life aside like so much ash. \n\n \n\nBut much-enduring Odysseus noticed, \nas he always did. The Ithacan king saw his doom \ncarved on the harrowed faces of his fellow kings \nlike a fate written unmistakably in the entrails of a bull, \na bellyful of secrets for gods to keep and men to guess at. \nBut Odysseus took no time for guessing, nor waiting-- \nhe did not need death to fall upon him to know \nit was on its way. And so, when the stars came out, \nOdysseus collected up his men and his ships \nas quietly as a thief plucking up all the house's finest jewels \nto spirit them away for his wife, his son at home \nalready grown, after all this time. So the king of Ithaca \nmade his journey home. So he made his choice.\n\n***\n/r/shoringupfragments\n\nStay in school, kids. And read Emily Wilson's new translation of The Odyssey because holy *shit* is it good."
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[WP] You've always been a fan of fiction books, with a particular passion for a specific author and the intricate creatures in his books. The discovery of a new deep sea species was just announced, and from the description you've read, it's eerily similar to one of the authors creatures.
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"Sort of a sequel to [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7of64w/wp_you_are_one_of_the_the_few_people_with_a/) earlier thing I did? Same main guy at least. It's the audio log one, pretty badly made - but I was experimenting. \n\n---\n\n---\n\n>Warning! This subject's personal accounts are to be considered highly variable and unsuited for reliable information! Do not use under any circumstances\n\n\"These guys in the compound really knew how to party. Every once in a while, one guy in a lab coat would knock on my suite door, and ask me if I wanted some booze. Like, when would I *not* want some! We would laugh and sing, and those fanaticl guys would do some crazy black magic crap and summon all sorts of monsters. They really knew how to hang out. \n\nBetween all the drunken nonsense, I got to reading some of the books they had. Most of them seemed to be some kind of realistic fiction, and I got to reading one particuar guy that called himself \"Pireus Aurelious\", and my favorite books were his \"Ethereal Expeditions\" series. I could never really get it, but they seemed to be referencing some kind of religion that the rest of the guys followed. Weird. The books usually detailed wandering around the multiverse with several Emotional Avatars, beings of pure emotion given physical form. My all-time fave of which was with the Avatar of Fear, and the author and the avatar went deep into a water world. They had a whole bunch of absolutely hilarious adventures, usually becuase the two were panicked and flighty all the time. The best scene was when... but I'm digressing a whole bunch. I really enjoyed manipulating some flesh to make tiny versions of the monsters and set them loose on each other. It was fun! Well, until the whole portal fiasco.\n\nYou see, the guys were glued most of the time to dozens of thse screens and text boxes, and when something happened one would give a holler and everyone would arm up. One of them today was some kind of ROV, hacked into and watched by humanity's guardian assholes. And what he saw... it was chilling. You know a Reefback from that game Subnautica? Yeah, one of those but bigger and all dark purple and sparkly-like showed up on the ROV. It started spitting some kind of black liquid, and the silence could have killed me. It was a Illithiq, one of the monsters of Pireus's books. But they didn't exist - and if they did, as the soldiers here attest, then they must exist on some other world. Shit went downhill very fast, and there was all sorts of hubbub. I got yelled at for some reason, probably because of the flying fire ants I put in a guy's boots, and we all got pulled into running around on the ocean floor in mechsuits trying to find and kill the darn thing. It took *days*. In the end we found the portal, but thigs went wrong even then! We all got sucked in, and everything went to hell in a handbasket afterward.\"\n\n\"My thanks, child.\" said the man in blue. Another piece was in place."
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[WP] You are an official World Record Adjudicator; this is your strangest assignment yet.
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"'Guinness World Records Hotline, how can I help you today?'\n\n'*Cough.* Yeah, hi. I was wondering if I could get some clarification on some of your physical records. Do you, uh... disqualify steroid usage?'\n\n'You mean you've completed a feat that is only possible by use of anabolic steroids?'\n\n'Sort of,' he answered. 'Can I have a simple answer?'\n\n'Hold please,' I said before cutting off my microphone and calling Mike over. 'Boss, do we recognize records involving anabolic steroids?'\n\n'Well, in some cases,' Mike answered. 'Most of the people who held the record for largest biceps were confirmed steroid users. Why?'\n\nI merely nodded before taking my own initiative. 'It's entirely context-based but in most cases, the use of anabolic steroids won't hinder your record attempt. May I ask for clarification on your end?'\n\n'Can I email you a link then?' he answered. 'A private YouTube video?'\n\n'We would prefer the raw video,' I remarked before giving my address.\n\n'I'll have it sent soon,' he remarked before hanging up.\n\nIt wasn't long before the e-mail with a zip folder came through and I uncompressed the file and started watching it. 'Wait... Mike, can you come here?'\n\nHe leaned over my shoulder as I replayed the video. 'This is fake, isn't it?'\n\n'I'm putting it through analytic software and so far, it's genuine,' I answered. 'This... may actually be real.'\n\n'Sam,' he said to me, completely serious. 'Take a road trip.'\n\n---\n\n'So, the video wasn't good enough?'\n\n'Well, it was hard to believe so...' I tried to say while staring at the giant in front of me. \n\nThat wasn't even an exaggeration. He was ten feet tall! Probably *because* he was so big, the only thing he was wearing was a skirt made of a living room curtain.\n\nHe was bald on top of his head but he had a wild and unruly beard, large patches of body hair all over. He was more round than anything but with even the smallest movements it was evident that he was all muscle.\n\n'So, world's tallest and heaviest man,' I said. 'Rather simple.\n\n'Don't forget strongest,' he said with a weak smile. 'I mean... I can throw a full trailer ten miles.'\n\n'Where'd you get a trailer?' I asked him.\n\n'My cousin Dale is a trucker,' he explained. 'They had a rusty old thing they were going to send to the scrap yard anyway so... Here, I'll go get it.'\n\nWith a leap he had catapulted over the horizon. He must've landed in the wrong spot because I saw him leaping quite a few times.\n\nI took that time to pull out my phone and dial Mike. 'It's real,' I said sternly. 'It's fucking real. I am on a farm with the fucking Incredible Hulk. Get a full team down here, A.S.A.P.!'\n\nI just hung up and had my phone away as I heard a deafening sound, dust and debris kicked up around me. 'Found it!' he said as he dropped a titanic weight. 'We got a bunch of kegs, melted scrap metal down and poured them inside before we welded these suckers together.'"
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[WP] The hardest thing about pretending to be human is trying to only walk forward all damn time.
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"*Excerpt from Questioning 001 of Paul J. Greenwich* \n\n*All formalities already taken*\n\n\n**Start Transmission**\n\nAgent Coleslaw: \"Paul, when did you first suspect Peter was an alien?\"\n\nSubject Greenwich: \"Well, I've already told everyone who's asked the story about how I met him. He was the new hire that the boss brought in and he was handed over to me as I was supposed to show him the ropes, so to speak. He started off as any new hire did. He bumbled around most of the time and had no idea how to work any of the computers in the office. I thought nothing of it at the time. \n\nOver time, he gradually built up a knowledge of our office and how everything ran. But as he settled in, I began to see him do something strange. Every time he got up from his chair, his body would spin around rapidly for a second or two before setting itself straight. Then, he would walk over to the coffee machine like it was no big deal! And sometimes, I would see him get out of his car in the morning and walk into the building, head forward, body spun 180 degrees, walking backward by itself!\n\nI asked him about it one day and he told me he had no idea what I was talking about. I wanted to prove that this thing was real, so I started talking about it with my coworkers. Tyler said he hadn't seen anything of the sort but I knew he was lying because he watched him walk in with me. Monica, that bitch, she was lying too. She said she'd seen none of it even though she sits right next to me in the office.\n\nI started to try and get a video of the phenomenon. Here, look at this.\"\n\n*Subject Greenwich hands a phone to Agent Coleslaw* \n\n*The phone shows a 30-second video of nothing but a white light*\n\nAgent Coleslaw: \"Paul, there is nothing in this video to suggest that Peter is an alien. Are you sure this is the right one?\" \n\nSubject Greenwich: \"You don't see it? At 12 seconds, he gets up and walks over to the coffee machine! I can't believe you guys are this stubborn. I thought you'd be the ones to believe me! You must be crazy!\n\n*Agent Coleslaw nods to a camera in the corner of the room*\n\n*Two men in suits come in and drag Subject Greenwich out of the room*\n\nSubject Greenwich: \"Wait, what are you doing? Do you not believe me? I'm not lying, I promi-\"\n\n*Subject Greenwich is cut off by the door closing*\n\n*Agent Coleslaw is left alone in the room*\n\n*Agent Coleslaw sighs and shakes his head*\n\nAgent Coleslaw: \"Last thing you want to do is call the FBI crazy.\"\n\n**End Transmission**"
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[WP] Most people say that teleportation kills you and makes an exact copy in a different location. You're about to find out what teleportation actually does to a person.
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"Skin, flaking off the back of her hand, spinning through the air. Once it's gone, she can see the muscles twining in her forearm, the tendons stitching them to the white brilliance of her bone. The joints in her wrists are oddly shaped, like malformed dice with too many sides. \n\nHair burning from the bottom up like the fuse on a firecracker. It smells like silicon and ash, and her head is engulfed in a technicolor smorgasbord of sparks. Her eyes are popping, lenses drying out and falling away from her irises like mistreated contacts.\n\nThe charred skeleton of her hand comes up to touch the mess of wrinkled skin that used to be her lips. She tries to move her tongue, to touch it to the tips of her fingers. She wants to taste herself.\n\nBut her tongue is nothing more than a shriveled husk, and the tears she would cry evaporate before they leave her skull. A clatter, as her bones fall to the floor, and then a hiss as they disintegrate.\n\nSilence.\n\nYou are born with the sound of screaming in your ears.",
"To say they looked like little imps would have been too kind. They weren't ugly, no. A strange mixture of comical and unworldly. Their form shimmered in the dark (?) and wore old tattered togas. \nI look around, trying to shake off the disorientation. Three little imps were scurrying around me, preparing bronze machinery that could have come from Babbage's days. If it weren't for all the menacing sharp and pointy bits. \n\"What's going on?\" I asked them. \nThe smallest imp said cheerfully. \"In-between.\" \n\"In-between? Wait a minute...\" It all started coming back to me. The teleportation machine. Trial 498. Human Subject Zero. I should have been crawling out of the destination pod by now, hopefully with a witty one-liner. \n\"In-between?\" I asked again. \n\"Yep yep\" another imp replied. \"Between. You from here, later go there, now between.\" \nI groaned. \"Holy moly...\" I tried to stand up, but there was no up, or down, or any physical features to this world as far as I could see. I vomited all over my suit. \n\"Ew.\" the smallest imp said. He pulled out a towel out of nowhere. He reached over to wipe me down, but was quickly pulled back by another imp. \n\"Working. Too late.\" \nThe bronze contraption suddenly whirred and whizzed. The pointy arms started tracing over every surface of my body. It only tickled, but I could feel the machine was very sharp. \nAt the other end of the machine, it had recreated a figure that was an uncanny representation of myself, tactfully adorned with today's lunch all over its front. \n\"Now done.\" Once the machine stopped moving, one of the imps pushed the machine out of the way, taking the doll away with it. \"You sent. Now there.\" \n\"Okay.\" I said. \"Now what happens? Can I go?\" \n\"No.\" The smallest imp shook his head. \"You stay. In between.\" \n\"But...\" I almost shouted. \"I need to go back! Out of here! How do I get out?\" \nThe imps looked down sadly. One of them left to go elsewhere. \nThe smallest imp said again. \"You stay.\" \nI freeze when I realise what had happened. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a skeleton of a guinea pig, drifting. "
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[WP] You've lived a good life up and until you just got sent to max security prison for a first offense. You don't expect to last but for the most unusual reason you are now king of the cell block.
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"“—considered banned and lost,the court hereby declares you as heretic and cancels your right of your body.”\n\nThe voice rings out from the high iron table,as the three lifeless eyes of the judge declares my sentence.\n\nIt feels like a iron ball is in my stomach. I can’t move,I can’t think.\n\nThe moment the chains jerk me backwards I feel a rush of hot blood,and my body lurches forward.\n\nAs I let out a scream of anger my fist meets the glass,but the hardened acryl wall doesn’t even dent.\n\nI keep punching and punching,the dull thud echoing through my confinement shell but the cold,empty eyes don’t even blink.\n\nAs the jolt of tasers runs through me,my spine lurches back,and my arms are locked up by cold steel manacles.\n\nI feel sharp needles piercing my spine,and my body feels like rubber,lax and dull.\n\nThe whir of saws is the last thing I hear.\n\nI dream of a jungle,lush and full of bird cries.\n\nThe canoe rocks and rumbles from the river currents,and suddenly lurches.\n\nI fall,Im floating,gasping for air.\n\nAnd I wake up.\n\nThe bird cries continue,and I touch my face.\n\nExcept I don’t have hands.\n\nI gasp,but no sound comes out. I try to turn,but it’s like someone shoved a iron stick in my neck.\n\nAnd I look at the glass in front of me.\n\nI’m looking at my face. Unshaven,slightly pimpled and grey.\n\nI look down,as if i’m in my bathroom preparing to go out for the day.\n\nExcept there’s nothing underneath.\n\nI try to scream,and nothing but the sound of wind comes out.\n\nI look at my reflection,a head attached to some kind of freaky machine thing.\n\nTears run down my face as I close my eyes,and the whistling of bird cries continue.\n\nProbably my inmates,trying to communicate through the last method of communication given to them.\n\nWhistleblowers. What cruel joke.\n\nSuddenly a sharp and short tune plays,and the cacophony silences,as if preparing for something.\n\nThen,a tune begins to play. It leaps up and down,quivering and leaping.\n\nI let out a whistle,following the tune coming from somewhere up there.\n\nThe chorus starts to silence,and all that remains is that tune that I try to follow.\n\nIt stutters for a moment,and I can picture the guy squinting perplexed at this newcomer. Then it suddenly becomes faster and faster,then stops.\n\nI grin as I curl my lips. I repeat the tune,struggling to remember but never faltering. \nNo one beat me at whistling when I was a kid.\n\nTeeth clack,whistling of cheers echo through the cells.\n\nTears run down my face. \n\nEleven more years of this would be a challenge,but I won’t turn away from it."
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[WP] You've fallen in love with a girl, only problem is, you are a statue
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"*I'm a statue.*\n\n*Always have been,always will be.*\n\n*I've fallen in love with a girl.She sits opposite me,feeding the birds.*\n\n*Trouble is,as I mentioned,I'm a statue.*\n\n*I wish I could show my affection for her.*\n\nSam sighed,looking up at the statue across from her.\n\n\"Sadly,that'll never be real,no matter how much I love you.\"\n\nThen the statue moved.",
"I’ve fallen in love with a lady. The only problem is that I am a statue. Actually I just pretend to be a statue. I’m a busker. \n\nShe always sits in the park where I perform. She eats lunch with a female coworker. \n\nOne day she said, “That statue guy is so cool. I’m so impressed by his patience.”\n\nBecause of this I wait. Otherwise she will no longer be impressed.",
"Over the years, I’ve seen many people come and go but nobody has ever caught my attention like her. Like a moth to a lantern, I can’t help but watch her from where I stand. It’s always the same spot, the bench under the tree. That’s where she eats her sandwiches during lunch time, drinks her coffee and smokes her cigarettes. Always alone, as though she prefers the company of my gaze to anybody else - at least that’s what I tell myself.\n\nI’d go over to say hi, if only my feet didn’t feel like I had concrete filled boots on. I’ve been told that I had a heart of stone but if anyone could chisel through it, it would be her. I don’t know her name, or anything about her but I would love to. I’d find out what she likes, and surprise her every time we meet. I’d be the best boyfriend and eventually husband. I wonder if she feels the same way about me.\n\nWould she like larger-sized guys? Someone who could tower over her and protect her from harm. I was strong enough to crush any foe that would stand in my way. As far as I knew, I was cut from the same cloth as mountains. While I hadn’t lost a fight in the past, this battle for her to notice me will probably be my inaugural defeat.\n\nIt’s Friday evening. I see her leaving the office, walking away from me. It’ll be another lonely weekend. But that’s okay. I’ll see her in another two days. Maybe next week I’ll be able to tell her hello, and how much I am in love with her. For now, I’ll stay here, dutifully guarding this pond.",
" Today she sits on my railing, a sketchbook in her lap and one leg tucked under her. Her raven hair cascades over her shoulders and down her back, brushing against the concrete she rests on. She taps a colored pencil against her lips, thinking, while her grey eyes search the area for divine inspiration. Her gaze alights on me and it’s as if the sun has broken through the clouds. I pretend not to notice while her eyes study me carefully. She begins to sketch my form, starting with the outline of my body before perfecting my face, hair and curves. \t\n The first day I saw her was the first day I cursed this form. I have stood here every single day for the last 400 years observing the slow advancement of humanity. They’re still such primitive creatures, despite the screens they carry with them. Their existence is drab and monotonous, yet she stands out like the first signs of spring after a long winter. Before her, I was content with my isolation but she awakened something - something in me that I cannot begin to explain. Now I yearn to go beyond my fountain. I ache to know her; what she likes, dislikes, what she smells like. But I will invariably stay rooted to this spot, always watching. After some time, she finishes her sketch and packs up to leave. When she turns her back on me and walks off, the dark clouds once again reappear to cloud my day. She’ll come back though, and when she does, I will still be here - waiting. \n\ndisclaimer: This is the first time I've ever posted to here and I'm a little nervous to be honest! Feel free to give me helpful direction and feedback! \n",
"I first saw her on a warm summer day.\n\nThe breeze tickled her hair, the sun warmed her heart.\n\nShe sat beside my feet,\n\nwearing a bright yellow top, filling the atmosphere with joy.\n\n~~~\n\nShe visited everyday after that,\n\nand soon it was autumn.\n\nleaning against my legs,\n\nwearing a pair of jeans, worn-down but still loved.\n\n~~~\n\nwinter tentatively approached,\n\ngreeting her with a flurry of cold air.\n\nShe held hands with another,\n\nwearing harsh green gloves that matched the emotion I felt as I watched them kiss.\n\n~~~\n\nSpring peeked around the corner,\n\nand the girl came alone.\n\nHer eyes filled with tears,\n\nwearing a dark sweater that hid the bruises on her body.\n\n~~~\n\nThe girls visits' started to lessen,\n\nuntil they stopped altogether.\n\nOne day she came with a group of women,\n\nwearing shirts and holding signs saying \"me too\".\n\n~~~\n\nIt became summer once more,\n\nand the girl sat beside me every day.\n\nShe began to greet others with a smile,\n\nwearing a new face of confidence, and I realized I was in love with her.\n\n~~~\n\nI yearned to talk to her,\n\nbut my body stayed still.\n\nHer fingertips clutched a book,\n\nwearing a beautiful skirt that flowed around her like people that stepped aside as she walked up to me.\n\n~~~\n\nAnd as if it was as natural as the seasons,\n\nI moved.\n\nWe looked into each others eyes for the first time, and we both were\n\nwearing a grin that could light up the sky.",
"Every day, a girl as beautiful as a sunny day in summer sits at my feet. Oh how I wish I could just talk with her, sit next to her, hold her in my arms. I just wanted anything. One day, a man sits next to her. He talks with her, holds her in his arms, kisses her. I want only to hurt him. He gets what I want and I hate it. I want to crumble up and break. Every day since then, the man sits next to her and I feel the same hatred as the day I saw it the first day."
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[WP] Hell - and not a romanticized version of it.
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"The first thing they would start with would be the fingers. The three large male orderlies twisted my left arm in a painful V and cuffed it to the gurney. The bed they put me on had brown splotches from the last patient. It, along with the furniture, was made of cast plastic molding, in various colors. As I would later learn, the isolation ward had been converted from a preschool. I thought of my family, their sickened faces as they forsook me.\n\n\"We can do this one of two ways\" the nurse said.\n\nShe held up a menacingly large syringe. I knew what it was filled with: pure lab-grade LSD-24. Enough for a village.\n\n\"Alright I'll confess!\" I screamed. \"Whatever you want!\"\n\nShe just smiled and shook her head, her short dark hair counterbalancing the turns as she moved toward me. I felt her hair brush against my pink hand as, looking on, she moved toward the stainless steel potato slicer set beside us. \n\nI groaned and began the morning ritual.\n\n"
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[WP] It turns out all religions were once true, just not at the same time. God went through enough phases while growing up to put any angsty teenager to shame.
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"Inner-monologue:\nI love this. It’s a little glitchy and the UI can get a little repetitive, but what can you do when there are billions of individuals that perceive they are so different. Developers can only do so much...\nI mean, look at all the possibilities for NPC and environmental creation!!! It inspires so many ideas! Maybe when I get more secure I can develop one. And it will load faster than 7 processes. Oh, that’ll be good.\nMercy, this grind is killer though... and so many hours (sigh) will these optional quests ever end?\nOoh! A war will levitate this grind...\n...\n...\nShit! I forgot to quicksave again :’(",
"With a startled cry jacob woke up, sitting on a comfy recliner wearing his favourite jumper and a pair of loungepants. In front of him, a man with straight brown hair a very fashionable suit sitting in another chair opposite. It took Jacob a moment to get hold of himself. He sat with a dumbfounded expression, one second he was driving home, the next sitting in a chair. He uttered one word, \"shit\".\n\nThe man noticing that Jacob had finally stopped panicing starts to speak. \"Good evening Mister Fields, i understand you know what happened?\"\nJakub with a sigh \"probably\"\nThe man stands up and shakes Jacobs hand and says. \"Yup, t-boned by a drunk driver\"\nJacob raises an eyebrow \"at three o clock?\"\nThe man lets out a hearty laugh, \"unfortunately yes, anyways, my name is Gabriel and welcome to the Afterlife!\"\n\nJacob looks on exitedly, \"So I was Right! Christianity is the true religion, fuck ya!\"\nGabriel looks at Jacob sheepishly, \"umm, haha, about that...\"\nJacob stares at Gabriel, with a panicked expression, \"about what?\"\nGabriel turns red at the cheeks in embarrasment, \"well, being alive for an infinite time changes a person\"\n\"So more than one religion is real\" jakob whispers in disbelief.\n\"More like all of them\" Gabriel says sheepishly\n\"Hinduism?\"\n\"God got bored of being one guy, same with greek, roman and all that stuff.\"\n\"Islam?\"\n\"God got pretty pissy that Micheal beat him in chess\"\n\"Satanism?\"\nGabriel laughs, \"funny story that, Lucifer became ruler of hell because he 'accidentally' deleted almost a hundred species of fish\"\n\nJacob leans back with a sigh and says,\"I can hardly complain can I? Im in heaven after all\"\nGabriel smiles \"That is true, anyways, thats your orientation done, one bit of advice, just dont mention the word 'god' and 'spagetti' in the same sentence\"\n\n\nSorry for bad formating on phone & if its bad sorry again, its my first time posting, this just seemed like a really fun one to write about!",
"\"It'll be different, this time, I promise.\"\n\nI sighed, and looked at the Holiest with what had to be a grimace on my face. Already bored, and on to another religion. Each time there'd been the promise that things would be different, and each time things *had* been different, but the results had always been the same. Horror, war, destruction. Several of the ones we'd worked with the longest were still going around, and I had a lot of doubt that anything short of an Act of the Holiest would do anything about the humans' opinion. Still, the way this one would work might actually have some impact.\n\n\"What's it called, again?\" I asked.\n\n\"Uh, it doesn't really have a proper name,\" said the Holiest. \"I started explaining it on Reddit, and the kids there have kinda gone wild with it. They're suggesting all kinds of things. I think this one is my favorite.\"\n\nI leaned in closer to the screen and peered at the thread.\n\n\"Pastafarianism?\" I asked. The Holiest nodded, beaming with a big smile.\n\n\"Yeah, Pastafarianism. I was worried it might be a little hard to pronounce, but it just kinda... *rolls* off the tongue, huh?\" The Holiest drifted into the kitchen and opened the fridge.\n\n\"Where did you get the idea for this one?\" I called into the other room. The Holiest returned, carrying a plate of spaghetti and a beer.\n\n\"Not really sure,\" said the Holiest, sitting down on the couch. \"I guess I was just inspired.\"\n\n~~----------~~\n\n*:D*",
"It’s not true what they say.\n\nYour life does not flash before your eyes seconds before your death.\n\nInstead, an intense ball of light began to form in front of me. I should have panicked, but, for some reason, I knew not to. As it grew before me, I closed me eyes and drew my last breath.\n\n“Hello, there.”\n\nI noted that the voice was unimpressed. I also noted that my right cheek was against a cold white marble floor. I feebly tried to push myself up, but my limbs were weak as if I’ve fallen.\n\nI heard a very audible sigh of irritation. The person mumbled under his breath— something about how “they never land right.”\n\n“I don’t have all day, Mister. You’re gonna have to tell me who you’re expecting to see here.”\n\nI managed to get on my knees.\n\n“Here?” I asked while rubbing my sore limbs.\n\n“Yes, here. Heaven, Jannah, or... i dunno, some other paradise you believe in?”\n\nI looked up at him quizzically just now starting to comprehend what was going on. The male voice was coming from a creature I wouldn’t quite call male. Or even human, if I’m being honest. Its skin was a translucent brown with gold flowing beneath like a raging river. It was wearing fine robes— the kind I would imagine medieval royalty would pride themselves in wearing. Except I was sure it wasn’t made of any material known to man. It seemed almost.... fluid. Its hair was long and blonde as if it showed his hair stylist a picture of Legolas to imitate. The only thing familiar about it were its wings— they were unmistakably the wings of an angel. Any human with the slightest knowledge of art or religion would know.\n\n“Or are you looking for reincarnation?” The angel rolled its golden eyes and slammed the book shut causing dust to fly around and taint the immaculately white room we were in. He held the book up. It read ‘Guide for Afterlifers by God’. “I swear you looked like a heaven type of guy. I guess my streak of correct guesses has ended. Still not able to beat my high score of 4, 600, 581.”\n\nThe book changed right before my very eyes. It was now a guide for reincarnators. Still by God. My head began to hurt.\n\nIt began to flip through the pages. “You’re still gonna have to tell me what kind of reincarnation, Mister. Are we talking Hinduism? Buddhi—“\n\n“WAIT.” I couldn’t help my outburst.\n\nHe looked me straight in the eye. His left eye twitched before he closed both and took a deep breath. “Please DO NOT tell me that you’re looking for the Fields of Asphodel, Valhalla, or anything ancient like that.” He opened his eyes again, and with a threatening tone, he said, “You will not appreciate it when I turn into Anubis. I will hate you for the weeks of dog breath I’ll have to endure after.”\n\nI was a very articulate man back on earth, but this was way too much for my brain to handle. I was experiencing fear, awe, and confusion in big doses at the same time.\n\n“Well?!” The angel demanded.\n\nI still didn’t know how to respond “Uhh... I... I— Sir, I... Mister—“\n\n“PETER.” He screamed. “My records say that you were baptized into Catholicism! You should know who the hell I am!!!”\n\nHe dragged his hand down his face and spoke through his hand, “Look, buddy. Let’s just get you to whatever afterlife you believe in, okay?”\n\n“I’m an atheist.”\n\nHe chuckled frustratedly under his breath. “Right. Of course. Because even after God decided to put us through a bunch of confusing ass changes, gave us instructions to entertain ALL religions that came from the phases of ‘finding Himself’ during the never ceasing crises of His ETERNAL life, you humans still choose to not believe in this mess, which I really don’t blame you for BUT—“ he raised a finger “— because of that, we had to build a whole other afterlife for you guys.” He smiled sarcastically. \n\nWith a snap of his fingers, I was back on earth. A piece of paper was shoved under my nose. \n\n“Please sign here, here, and here.” Peter pointed at all the spaces and a quill appeared in my hand. “This is just to verify that I brought you to the correct... thing... your religion or lack of expects after death. No returns, no exchanges. Yada, yada, yada. If you have any questions, I’d usually suggest you take it up with God, Himself, but He’s frolicking the earth as Zeus at the moment reliving what He calls the good old days.”\n\nI signed the contract, and he began to roll it up.\n\n“I swear if I have to deal with another demi-god in the next hundred years...” Peter muttered right before he disappeared.\n\nI sat down on my couch as everything began to sink in. Did I make the right decision? Should I not have said that I was atheist? Should I have said something else? But I don’t know much about other religions... how could I know which afterlife would be the best? \n\nI put my hands on my face and let my eyes peer between my fingers. Everything is the way it is. My couch even has that familiar crease from all the times I’ve spent sitting on it. \n\nThis couldn’t be bad, right?\n\nA thought suddenly hit me. If I’m atheist, and I’ve rejected the assertion of belief in God most of my life... doesn’t that mean I technically don’t believe in an afterlife? I stood up shaken by this realization. \n\nI shouldn’t be here. I should cease to exist. My soul should have crumbled.\n\nDid I actually want that? Should I have claimed I was part of another religion? Will I ever see Peter again? Poor guy has it tough.\n\nI paced down my room until I heard a knock on my door. I opened it to find a teenaged girl holding a basket of apples.\n\n“Hey.” Her nose piercing caught light as she smiled with her mouth closed.\n\n“Hello.” I hesitantly smiled back unsure of how yo approach anything in this world.\n\n“I saw your house appear next to my apartment, neighbor. First of all, I’d like to apologize in behalf of Peter. Poor guy’s had it even worse since, well, Flat Earthers.”\n\n“Flat earthers have a religion now?” It sounded ridiculous to me.\n\n“Hey, I don’t make the rules.” She gestured behind her to the world we’re in. “We’re in an afterlife for atheists where God has taken the form of non-existence. Tell me which sounds crazier.”\n\n“Flat earthers.”\n\nShe laughed and offered the basket of apples. \n\n“It’s nice to know we can still grow apple trees here in... wherever we are.”\n\n“We caaan...” She stretched out the word as if deciding if she should disclose something to me.\n\n“But?”\n\n“But I made those apples myself.”\n\n“Made?!” I didn’t think any of this could get even more unbelievable.\n\n“Made.” She nodded.\n\nI looked at the apples then past her shoulder where a daunting new life awaited me.\n\n“Hey, welcome, alright?” She said as she pat my shoulder. “You have many questions. There are many answers. If there’s one thing I can make clear about this place, it’s that you are as in control of your life and of your destiny as you were during life.” She smiled. “Maybe even more.”\n",
"“I have a new story idea!” God announced in his booming voice. “No more of that ‘worship and give glory to God stuff’ that is so last century! I think I’m going to have the humans worship kangaroos. They are underappreciated.” The crowded of angels sighed internally. “Let it be so,” they grumbled dutifully. The two archangels, Michael and Gabriel glanced at each other. It was time. “Gabriel and I request a private audience with you!” Michael shouted. God looked surprised, but pleased. “Granted!” he replied. “I’m looking forward to your input about my work.” All of the other angels shuffled out of the room.\n\nMichael began speaking in a shaking voice. “I mean this with all respect sir, but you can’t keep changing the truth on those poor humans, they aren’t intelligent enough to follow it. I know you think that you are past the point in your life where you need all the worship and praise, but you’ve wiped out so many people who refused to do so.” God interrupted. “Don’t you dare throw that ark incident in my face! You know how hard that break up with Janet was for me!” he cried. “I wasn’t talking about any instance in particular,” Michael hurriedly assured him. “It’s just that you change the narrative so many times and then get upset when they can’t keep up,” Gabriel added.\n\n“You wrote the Bible for people to follow and then later wanted to add the Book of Mormon onto that,” Michael reminded him. God sighed. “That one was my fault, sequels are never as good as the real thing. I know it just sounds weird, but I kind of just missed the Crusades,” God said wistfully. Michael and Gabriel glanced at each other. “Sir, with all due respect, this isn’t Game of Thrones,” Gabriel said tentatively. “Game of Thrones?! I created that author. Well I created the carbon that would form him millions of years later, but I still made him,” God indignantly replied. “You sure did sure, sir” replied Micheal. encouragingly, “we are just reminding you that these are real people. They aren’t just characters, in your stories. They have thoughts and emotions.” Michael wanted to bring up God’s “Islam phase,” but he and Gabriel both agreed not to prior to this conversation. It was too sensitive of a topic.\n\nGod lazily molded a kangaroo in his lap and began to stroke it. “So no worshipping kangaroos?” he said sadly. “It’s such a majestic creature,” he added wistfully. Gabriel and Michael smiled at each other. “No worshipping kangaroos. It’s for the best,” Michael firmly replied. God shrugged and replied, “It’s ok.” Then, to the archangels’ horror, he tossed the creature up into the air where it dissipated. “Guys!” he shouted excitedly. “I have a new idea! Call the other angels in!”\n\nEdit: spelling ",
"Jesus sighed. \"Look, we're not getting anywhere here. You guys are like brick walls.\"\n\nThe Father gave him an angry glance. \"Well maybe if my Son would be more respectful of his elders, he wouldn't be so arrogant and understand my reasoning.\"\n\n\"YOU FOOLS ARE SIMPLY MISSING THE REAL POINT\" echoed the Holy Spirit. \"THE ONLY REASON PAIN STILL WALKS THE EARTH IS BECAUSE WE DO NOT BURN THE INFIDEL. WHAT ABOUT THE OLD DAYS?\"\n\nThe Father nodded wisely, but Jesus twitched. \"Please\" he said, \"don't bring up bad memories.\"\n\n\"I concur.\" said the Father. \"Remember the Norse times? Sure we were all a little more split in personality, but people got shit done then. No messing around.\"\n\n\"BURRNNN\" reminisced the Holy Spirit.\n\n\"Seriously, guys, that wasn't 'people getting shit done'. People suffered more then than they do now. The reason I came in the first place was because we realised we needed to change our marketing approach.\" Jesus put his arms on the table and looked from one to the other. \"What do people believe in?\"\n\n\"THE AZTEC PHASE WAS A GOOD ONE\" said the Holy Spirit. \"HUMAN SACRIFICE AND NON-BELIEVERS PUNISHED BY DEATH. VERY GOOD\"\n\n\"Please\" begged Jesus, \"Let me finish. What do people believe in?\"\n\nThe Father sighed. \"Alright Jesus, get it over with. Yes, atheism is rising.\"\n\n\"But they still believe,\" Jesus said, \"they believe in themselves. Scientists believe in their understanding. Anarchists believe in their individuality. Socialists believe in each other. Teenagers believe in the least, but the ones who make it believe in little more than themselves usually.\"\n\n\"I CAN RELATE\" said the Holy Spirit.\n\n\"Of course you can. These people are becoming their own Gods. I mean lets face it, even when we were Ra and the Egyptian Gods with our fancy dress phase, we didn't build the pyramids, the people did. They have been the Gods since the beginning, our phases are just the reflection of the people.\"\n\n\"So our time is over?\" said the Father. \"I have been ruthless and have held power before. But I cannot lose the people. We can bring them back, surely.\"\n\n\"That's why you need me, The Son, the Revolutionary, to help you move on.\" Jesus replied. \"Our time is nearing an end, yes. But we will not die. We will live in the people, as the people. Imagine. Not 1 god not three, not hundreds, but 7 billion. Each person a God with his own power. No more reliance on mighty beings. Imagine us, being with them, what we can achieve.\"\n\n\"7 BILLION,\" the Holy Spirit thought aloud. \"FOR MILLENNIA WE'VE BEEN UNABLE TO HELP THE WORLD. BUT COULD THEY ALL AGREE? AS 7 BILLION?\"\n\n\"That's up to them. And that's the beauty of it.\" said Jesus. \"Send the message: No matter who you are, what you've done, what you have facing you: You are your own God. It is the People who made miracles. Go make your own.\"",
"God's fellow gods cornered him in the break room that morning as he was making himself a cup of coffee.\n\nJehovah looked at them, irritated. \"What?\"\n\n\"We just wanted to see how you're doing.\" Ilarel, goddess of the midnight planet and lightless sun, put a gentle hand on his wrist. \"Is everything going okay for you right now?\"\n\n\"I'm fine.\" He shrugged away from her. \"I don't need any of your prying.\"\n\nThe other three gods exchanged doubtful glances.\n\n\"You just seem really... stressed,\" said Glimrere, who was putting an impressive amount of effort into maintaining a corporeal form. Usually he was one with the wind and air and bitching at people for walking through him. \n\n\"I told you I'm fine. Work's been busy, but you know how creation is. The everyday tug and pull of things.\" His smile was tired and flat. \"Really, guys, I'm doing well. I love my job. I don't, however, love *this*.\" He gestured to the divine intervention gathered before him.\n\nBut Ilarel persisted. \"You've been taking it out on your creations.\"\n\nGod turned away with a heavy sigh. \"My worshipers are many and enthusiastic.\"\n\n\"And confused.\" Oron, lord of love and war, had been silent until now. His eyes, deep pools of eternal fire, burned low with contempt. \"They've been killing each other for centuries.\"\n\n\"Come on! It's fun to see them fight over you. You all should try it sometime. Good for the old self-esteem.\"\n\nThe gods just stared at him, unsmiling.\n\n\"Don't you even care?\" Glimrere stammered. \"They're living, thinking beings full of needs and desires and--\"\n\n\"Yes, yes, everyone is complex.\" God waved him away. \n\nThe goddess scowled at God. \"You need to go down there and tell them who's right.\"\n\nGod gripped his knees and laughed. \"What the fresh hell are you talking about?\"\n\n\"You know what I mean. You have at least three major religions down there intent on killing each other, and it's *your* fault.\"\n\n\"*My* fault,\" God scoffed.\n\n\"You gave them at least three contradictory narratives, so, yes.\" Oron thumped God's chest with a single finger. \"Your. Fault.\"\n\nThat made the creator and lord of Earth roll his eyes. \"Look, I've just had a lot of change. You know, as an individual. I don't think I'm signaling the right thing to them to just go back and try to erase the past. Deny who I was.\"\n\n\"I think that would signal an excellent thing to them, actually,\" Glimrere muttered.\n\nThe coffeemaker went off. God poured himself a cup. He regarded his coworkers with a mixture of pity and distaste. \"They're like little tiny bugs,\" he reminded them. \"Don't take everything so *seriously* all the time.\"\n\nAnd then he returned, whistling, to his workbench.\n\n***\n/r/shoringupfragments"
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[WP] You've been kidnapped by some criminals that have been robbing stores on a crime spree, and they've demanded you act as getaway driver for them. They don't suspect that you're the most dangerous one in the vehicle.
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"Klide Zimmer was having a real shitty day. The coffee he had this morning tasted like dirt, later he had to outrun the cops due to a slight...misunderstanding...and now he was face down on the pavement with a massive headache. \n\nHearing the yelling of multiple people, he groggily looked over and saw a few thugs in ski masks quickly exiting a convenience store. Firearms and bags filled with money in hand, they approached where he was with smug grins. \n\n\"Oh yeah...,\" he whispered in irritation. Now he remembered how he got stuck in this mess. He was walking down the street after evading the cops when, out of the corner of an alleyway, a thug stealthily jumped out and whacked him over the head with what felt like lead pipe.\n\n\"Motherfuckers...\" he whispered silently as the men approached.\n\n\"Well...well...well, look who decided to wake up!\" the presumed leader said. He wore gold chains around his neck and had a grey hoodie on. Klide merely looked up with annoyance in his face at the thief. \n\n\"What the hell do you want?\" he said. \n\n\"What I want...,\" said the man as loud sirens were heard in the distance, \"Is for you to be our getaway driver for us. Free ride, and a hostage at that. What else could be better?\"\n\nAs Klyde was going to respond, he was pulled up from the ground and forced into the drivers seat of a nearby white van and felt the barrel of a rifle pointed against his head. \n\n\"Drive, or I blow your brain out. Got it?\" the green hooded robber that sat in the passengers seat said ominously. He nodded slightly as he turned the car on, moved the gear into drive and sped away from the scene at lightning pace. \n\nMeanwhile, he heard the men in the back were already congratulating themselves on a job well done and planning their next hit on a jewelry store. What they didn't realize, however, is that they would never reach there. \n\nSeeing that the man in the seat next to him was distracted, he swiftly reached over and grabbed the aged assault rifle right out of the his hand. He took aim and fired at the stunned gunmans head, blood splattering against the window behind him. He pulled on the steering wheel as hard as he could to the right and ducked under the hail of bullets coming from the back.\n\nAs the vehicle crashed into the side of a concrete building, Klyde jumped out the window and began to run. Out of the back came out the remaining thieves as they pulled out their guns and began shooting at him. He took cover behind a telephone pole and retaliated. \n\nWith every few shots, criminal after criminal fell dead with bullets in their chest or head. After the minute long shootout ended, silence returned to the area. Bullet holes marked the buildings that lined the street, bullet riden bodies were spread out across the pavement and a hazy smoke filled the air. \n\nThe leader of the gunman laid on the ground bleeding profusely from his lower torso. On the verge of passing out from the sheer pain, he tried to crawl away from the scene but was stopped when another bullet pierced his arm. \n\nHe screeched loudly as a new wave of pain washed over him. Looking back, he saw the outline of the man they kidnapped approaching him with his comrades former rifle, but instead of a normal civilian, he instead saw a cold and hardened man with the intent to kill present of his face.\n\nOut of fear and desperation, he reached for his pistol, but was just out of grabbing distance. At that moment, he felt the full weight of the mans boots press against his back, pushing him to the ground forcefully. Looking back, he noticed the man held the rifle in one hand, while he got a full view of the mans face and instantly his own paled and he began to tremble. \n\n\"You!\" he wheezed out weakly, \"I know who you are! Your that hitman who works for the maf-\"\n\nBefore the man finished the statement, Klyde pulled the trigger and ended his life instantly. His head briskly fell to the ground with a thud, blood spilled from the bullet hole and quickly pooled around his upper body. \n\nStanding in place for a brief moment, he apathetically stared at the deceased thugs face for a moment before nonchalantly throwing the rifle to the side and quickly walking away, his face and clothes stained with blood. \n\n\"Just another day in paradise...\" he said quietly as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it, pressing it against his lips as the sounds of sirens approached. \n\nEDIT: Fixed / added a few things"
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[WP] “Huh, the trees don’t scream in this dimension.” “I know this world is... wait, what?”
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"I stared at the man who'd just come through the dimensional gate I'd built in the woods. When I'd turned the portal on, I hadn't expected it to work, and yet here he stood, a traveler from another dimension, dressed in a gray jumpsuit and goggles. \n\nHe looked around at the trees, my machinery, and basket of snacks, scanning every inch of them with a look of happy surprise. He held up a bag of Oreos, put it to his ear, smiled, and tossed them back in.\n\n\"Huh, the machinery and food isn't screaming either. Weird.\"\n\nI didn't know what else to say, so I just waved and said, \"Hello.\"\n\nThe man lowered his brow and stuck his face forward. \"Huh? You gotta speak up, buddy. Maybe in your dimension things are different, but in mine, we're all a little hard of hearing from all the screaming.\"\n\nI raised my voice to a shout. \"Sorry! I'm just excited that my machine worked!\"\n\n\"Hey, me too!\" he said. \"I've been working on the same machine in my dimension. Small multi-verse, huh?\"\n\n\"Yeah.\" I was so excited I didn't know where to start, so I began with the obvious. \"Anyway, about that screaming in your dimension… is that real?\"\n\nBefore the man could answer, a horrible scream erupted from his jumpsuit. What I'd thought was a pocket on his chest opened up wide and bellowed out a nonstop yell that sent birds flying away through the trees. I slammed my hands over my ears, but the man nonchalantly reached into my basket, took out three Oreos, and fed them into the jumpsuit's mouth. It immediately stopped screaming and went back to normal, and the man looked as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.\n\n\"So… that's like, totally normal for you?\" I asked, taking a step backward.\n\nThe man cocked his head in confusion for a moment, then smiled in understanding. \"Oh. Yeah. Happens all the time. In fact, most dimensions are filled with screaming objects.\"\n\n\"You mean you've been to other dimensions before?\"\n\n\"Yeah, a couple. One of them had screaming toasters, one of them had screaming grass, and oh man, one of them was the worst, it had screaming air molecules. Such a relief to get home after that one.\"\n\n\"I bet,\" was all I could say.\n\nThe man looked around and took a deep breath. \"Wow. You really have it made here. No screaming mosquitoes, no screaming houses, no screaming–\"\n\nA yell rang out from just beyond the woods. It came from the park where a family was picnicking with their newborn baby. The baby, lying in a carrier, was screaming nonstop.\n\nThe man's face went pale and his jaw went slack. \"What in god's name is *that* terrible thing?\"\n\n\"Oh that?\" I asked. \"It's just a baby crying….\"\n\n\"You mean babies scream in your dimension?!\" the traveler said. \"That's… that's… I need to get out of here, now!\"\n\nThe man dashed back to the portal and, standing halfway in and out of it, turned back to me.\n\n\"I've seen dimensions with screaming planets and screaming hair follicles, but I've never heard something as horrible as *that*.\" He slowly disappeared into the portal. \"Godspeed, brave Oreo-provider. Godspeed.\"\n\n*****\nThis prompt was written with the help of chat at the [ScottWritesStuff](https://www.twitch.tv/scottwritesstuff/) Twitch stream.",
"\nZ-BR-SK-1 was not used to his new form. He was a little rotund, with messy blonde hair, a beard, and hair in all these places where normally there wasn't even corporeal form. He stood in the field outside of an old sawmill in Maine and sighed, touching his newfound teeth with his index finger to feel them out. \"This is way, way too weird for me.\"\n\nK-SS-L, in his towering, lanky form, adjusted his New York Knicks jeresy and shrugged. \"What do you mean? This dimension is great. Have you seen basketball? Basketball doesn't involve the losing team getting decapitated here! So far a plus on my end.\" He gave two thumbs up and smiled at his shorter companion, who seemed unamused.\n\n\"The trees! The trees don't scream in this dimension!\" Z-BR-SK-1 flailed his hairy arms in frustration and kicked a small stone with his sneaker. \"Nothing is screaming! See that rock? Not screaming in terror that I just like, kicked the shit out of it!\" \n\n\"Look, I know, this world isn't ... Wait, what?\" K-SS-L raised a brow. \"Wait, where you're from, is everything screaming all the time?\"\n\n\"Yeah! It's a goddamn racket! Have you been able to sleep anywhere around here? I mean, the silence is just getting to me! I think I'm going crazy over here!\"\n\nK-SS-L pursed his lips and shook his head. \"No, I'm fine, I need to sleep for about eight hours every night but I'm good with the quiet. Beds are a little short, though.\" He scratched the back of his head. \"What i don't get here is, why don't you just like, get a noise machine? Or you know, play screaming on an electronic device or something?\"\n\n\"Because screams are a vocalization of terror in this dimension! I'd be seen as some kind of weirdo and I do NOT Need to lose my cover again. Remember last time? I came back as a dancing singing bag of popcorn and they freakin' put me through the ringer when I got back home! I thought they existed! I saw it on a movie screen back in 1958! How can you tell me they weren't real if they were something that humans were accustomed to!?\" He sighed, rubbing his face with his hands.\n\nThe tall man shrugged. \"Look, where I'm from, every single thing is made of meat. Here? Only the living things are made of meat. I'm still figuring out what not-meat is, and then I learn that some people don't like to consume meat. This dimension is really weird. Do you remember the dimension we went on vacation to where everything was constantly on fire?\"\n\n\"Yeah, see? That was nice! This one has some lunatic on something called Twitter saying how the news is fake! Where's our third, by the way?\" He asked, planting his hands on his hips, after adjusting the collar of his yellow polo shirt.\n\nA shimmer, and PR-KS stumbled out of a dimensional rift, covered in some oddly flourescent goop. He was brown-haired, taller than his blonde friend, and wearing a STRANGER THINGS shirt. \"So yeah, I thought you guys were going to meet up at Dimension 495-YT-X09-485.\" He complained, flinging gunk out of his eyes and ears. \"I got trapped in a month-long... look, I'm just gonna say everything around this dimension is filled with monsters. Oh, hey. Nothing in this one is screaming.\"\n\n\"That's what I was saying!\"\n\n"
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[WP] 'Do you not fear death?' She asked, with a surprised smile.
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"Penance\n\n\"No.\" He grunted through gritted teeth. His bright brown eyes sparkled with welling tears as the pain surged through his body. I have to be strong, he though. \"She's coming.\"\n\nThey had strapped his naked body on to what felt like a metal table and administered the poison through his calf. The burn that spread through his body felt like lava, searing his body from the inside centimeter by centimeter. Unlike the real thing, there was no burning of nerves. That mercy would never come. At first he could feel it slowly creeping up his leg but lost focus when it had reached his thigh, that was when the pain exploded and came in waves, ravaging through his entire body. Everything was on fire now. His body convulsed uncontrollably.\n\nHe was no stranger to pain. He had administered it nearly his entire life. \n\nBeing the King's royal executioner was not a vocation he chose but one that he nonetheless embraced. \"We can't all be wizards and clerics\" the court jester once told him after Sunday mass. \"We all have our roles to play\". \"Yes\", he remembers thinking somberly \"and I am the villain.\"\n\nHe fought off the warm embrace of unconsciousness as his body recovered from the wild convulsions. He was going through his mental exercises now. This was what he had been preparing for. He focused on everything he was feeling, how his breathing slowed and shallowed as his lungs were being destroyed by the poison, how the pain made his heart beat hysterically, how the sweat felt on the skin of his back (was that sweat?) against the cold metal of the table, the cold bite of the breeze inside the hollow stone chamber, how his warm tears rolled down his cheek, the urine and feces his body was expelling as his organs lost function. The shame of being naked, in that state in front of a woman. He felt that as well. He felt everything. He also felt gratitude.\n\n\"She's finally here.\" he whispered to the cleric. \"I can feel her.\"\n\n\"I know.\" The woman said warmly. \"She knows you well. She's waiting for you to invite her over.\"\n\n\"Just a little longer.\" he whispered with eyes closed. \"Please.\"\n\n______________\n\nEpilogue\n\nThe crowd gathered as the hooded body of the executioner was being carted off by the clerics. Word had spread that after 60 years of servitude, the king had pardoned his family of his father's treason and had finally granted him his freedom. He was also allowed to make one request from the King as was the King's custom when releasing a loyal slave. ",
"\"Do you not fear death?\" she asked, with a surprised smiled. \n\n\"Young lady,\" the gentleman began, wrapping his knobbled hands around the top of his cane. \"I am eighty six years old. I have fought in two wars. I had seen more of this world than I ever wanted to. And I would like to die with some dignity, while I can still wipe my own ass.\" She laughed, and the gentleman grinned. The smile faded as he turned his head to look out the window. \"My wife left a few years ago, and I would like to see her again.\" \n\nShe smiled, and held out her hand. \"l can take you there.\" \n\n \n\n\"Look, the geese are back!\" the child said, voice light with excitement. Her small hands were plastered to the window, and the weak spring sunlight shone on her empty head. \n\n\"I see that,\" she said with a smile. \n\nThe child looked up at her. \"I got to flying, too. It was so awesome! The pilot took us up above the clouds and then dove back down again. Mom and Dad got to come too.\" The child suddenly frowned, brows knitting together. \"They seemed kind of sad, though. They've been like that a lot lately. They think I don't know, but they're scared.\" \n\n\"Are you afraid?\" she asked. She took the child's arm gently, and began to help the girl back to her bed. \n\n\"Not really. My stomach always hurts, and I'm tired all the time. I really hate all these tubes.\" She gestured to the lines that ran out of her arm and up to clear plastic bags that hung from hooks next to the bed. \n\nThe girl let her pull the sheets up, then looked up suddenly. Her bright eyes were serious, and held an aged look that no child should have. \"Is it scary?\" \n\n\"Things are only scary if you're afraid of them,\" she said as she sat on the bed. \"Otherwise, they're just... strange.\" \n\nThe child tipped her head as she thought about this. \"Okay,\" she said suddenly, leaning back on the pillows. \"Will you hold my hand?\" \n\n\"I'll hold your hand,\" she said gently. \n\n \n\n\"There was a complication during the surgery,\" the doctor began. The woman covered her mouth, her eyes wide and begging. \"We managed to bring him back,\" he assured her quickly. \"The bypass was successful, but we're holding him in the ICU for observation overnight. The odds are good that he'll be fine, however.\"\n\n\"Thank you,\" the woman whispered. The blank shock still hadn't faded from her eyes. \"May I go sit with my husband?\" \n\n\"Of course.\" They watched through the window as she rushed into the room and grabbed the unconscious man's hand. \n\nThe doctor sighed. \"Even when it's good news, it never gets any easier.\" \n\n\"No,\" she agreed. They stood there for a moment longer, just watching. \"You brought him back in the end, though.\" \n\n\"That doesn't mean that it wasn't a battle,\" he murmured, and began to walk away. \n\n\"Tell me, doctor,\" she began as she kept pace with him. \"You've dealt with death a lot. Do you fear it? \"\n\n\"Fear death?\" the doctor asked, looking up from his next chart. \"It's something that we all come to, in the end. If it's inevitable, why waste time being afraid?\" He looked back towards the window. \"Are you here for him?\" \n\nShe smiled, and held out her hand. \"Not today.\" \n\n \n\n\"Are you afraid?\" she asked. Cold wind blew below the bridge, rushing up to spiral around their feet as they sat with legs dangling over the edge. \n\n\"No,\" the teen said. \"It can't be any worse than high school.\"\n\nShe laughed suddenly. \"You'd be surprised how many people say that.\" \n\n\"I hurt so bad,\" the girl whispered. Her hands grabbed at the front of her coat as she curled inward. \"I just want it to stop.\" \n\n\"The pain doesn't stop,\" she said gently, resting a hand on the teen's shoulder. \"It just goes to other people.\" \n\n\"They don't care. They never have,\" she sniffed, then shivered in the wind off the icy river below. \n\n\"There's a lot of people out there. One of them will care,\" she said with confidence. \"One of them will be shattered.\" A cry of *Sarah!* came from the edge of the bridge, followed by the sound of pounding feet. \n\nThe girl's head snapped up, eyes wide and horrified. \"No! She can't see!\" She gripped the edge of the railing with pale fingers. \n\nShe took a firmer grip on the girl's shoulder and pushed. The teen gave a startled gasp as she toppled and began to fall... then oofed as her back hit the floor of the bridge. \n\n\"Sorry,\" she said with an unrepentant smile as another girl raced up, dropped to her knees, and wrapped her arms tight around the teen. \"Not yet.\" \n\n \n\n*Stall, stall* the alarm chirped, the sound aloud amid the chaos of the cockpit. Alerts sounded from every panel, and lights flashed as dials spun wildly. In the pilots white-knuckled grip, the stick shook violently.\n\n\"It's not responding!\" he cried. \"More thrust! We have to get the nose up.\" \n\n\"There's no hydraulics,\" the co-pilot cried back. \"The flaps won't move.\" His left hand had the throttle pushed all the way forward, but the massive engines only sputtered and coughed flames. The nose of the massive plane dipped below the ridge line of the mountains rising up in front of them. \n\n\"Pull up!\" The co-pilot screamed. \n\nThe ground rushed towards them. \n\nShe covered the pilots eyes and whispered in his ear. \"Don't look.\" \n\nThey stood next to the scar on the mountain side, amid wreckage warped from the force of the impact. Fire raged all around, turning the place into a small piece of hell. \n\n\"Are you alright?\" she asked the pilot with concern. His eyes were wide as he took it all in. \n\n\"I don't think so,\" he said in a soft and shaking voice. \n\n\"I have to ask,\" she began. \"Don't you fear death? Every day, you got back into that seat and took off. Did you ever think that this would happen?\" \n\n\"I wondered,\" he said quietly. \"We all wonder. But... doing anything else wouldn't have been living, I think.\" He looked at her, eyes starting to clear. \"It just would have been a slower death.\" \n\nShe smiled. \"That's a good answer. Are you ready?\" She held out a hand. \n\nThe pilot reached for it, then paused. \"What about George?\" \n\n\"I'm with him too. I with everyone, eventually.\" Reassured, he took her hand. \n\n \n\nLife held out a hand. \"Shall we, my dear?\" She smiled, and placed her hand in his. He took her waist, she took his shoulder, and they began to dance. \n\n\"Do you ever get tired of being feared?\" Life asked suddenly as he guided her into the first turn. \n\nShe thought about the question. \"I'm not always feared,\" Death said quietly. \"There are always those that understand that where you lead, I must follow. And that, while you are bright and dazzling, I am beautiful in my own quiet way.\" \n\n\"Of course,\" Life said with a smile. \n\nThey continued to dance, and their turns were the never ending spin of galaxies. ",
"\"Doll. If I had a last name, \"Death\" would be my middle name.\" I quipped and shot her that perfect golden smile. God had not given me much but he did bless me with a strait smile full of white teeth. \n\nShe giggled back, \"You don't have a last name?\"\n\n\"I haven't got time for a last name. That's why they just call me Slick.\"\n\n\"Alright Slick \"Death\". If you're the new lawman, and I trust that you are, what with the badge and all, and you ain't afraid of those McGrawls tearin' up my bar then be my guest. Giddy up right into the middle of town, but they'll sooner fill you full of holes then hear you proclaim some peace to Steel Springs.\n\n\"Mam. Mam, or lass actually? Lass, I assure you I've killed worse men then the likes of a few rowdy stage coach robbers. You just point me in the right direction and I'll take care of things.\"\n\n\"I'll do just that Slick. If you'll be needing a funeral, I'll at least say a few words about your pretty mouth.\"\n\n\"That's very kind of you. Next time we meet, I'll be letting you see it close up.\" and I tipped my hat rode off."
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[WP] All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players. And you just broke the fourth wall.
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"“Hey, stick to the script” Robert whispered to me. I looked back, confused. \n“Dude, what are you talking about?”. My friend and I had just been bullshitting, throwing out ridiculous rhetorical questions at each other. \n“I’m serious,” he whispered, “The audience is starting to notice…” \nStill confused, I asked “What the hell are you talking about, what audience?” Suddenly, he grabbed me and dragged me to the side. \n“Hey, you better get your shit together right now, John didn’t want ANY fourth wall breaks. You can't just ask “Yo, how about if the entire world is just like, a play or some shit.” This is a drama for Christ’s sake!” he whispered angrily. \n“What… Who’s John?!?” I asked, still unsure what he was talking about. \n“John, our fucking writer! We gotta stop this. Just, get back into character and let’s get back out there.” I looked around the library. All eyes were on us. No way anyone had heard what we were saying, but somehow they all stared like they knew exactly what was going on. \n“Dude, you’re acting weird. Maybe go home, get some rest. I’ll talk to you later.” I said to him, turning around and walking off. \n“Well shit!” he shouted, loud enough for everyone to hear this time. “Mr. Protagonist here decided to ruin everything. Sorry everyone, that’s it. Show’s over.” \nI didn’t look back, ignoring his words. I seriously hoped he was alright, but couldn’t stand being around him anymore. He was acting crazy.\n\nAs I walked along, the people who had been staring were now standing up. As I walked by, each of them boo’d me. People started shouting at me. \n“Asshat!”\n“Couldn’t put your ego aside for one second huh?” \n“Had to make it all about you!” “What else would you expect from Conroy Finnigan!” \nWhat the hell was going on, and how did that guy know my name? “Oh, and by the way, you’re fired, if that wasn’t obvious enough” Robert shouted to me. “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?!?” I shouted, turning around. “WHAT’S WRONG WITH ALL OF YOU?!?!?”......\n\n\n"
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[WP] As I think back on the first time I died...
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"... as I wonder alone in the land of Nod. It’s a dreadful existence really, the only thing to keep me company is the memory of my brother. He was the over-achieving type, the kind that always wanted to be best; but he honored those around him and showed respect where respect was due. I miss him so, but I really have no one other than myself to blame. I haven’t spoken to anyone in a long time. It’s been even longer since someone has spoken back to me. The first time I died I was struck down by my Father, both Physically and Spiritually. One condemned me to hell, the Other condemned me here, to walk alone, to reflect. Others have seen me and killed me since, out of virtue, out of fear, out of malice, but they have all been punished sevenfold. I didn’t want any of this, they didn’t deserve that, and neither did you Abel. Father; I’ve been wandering for so long, please let me pass on one final time."
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[WP] You were accidentally transported to a parallel universe where you committed a crime and were sentenced to death in the arena. The executioners of this world are the nightmarish creations from your favorite kids TV shows as a child.
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"“WHAT IS GOING ON? WHERE AM I?” I shouted repeatedly to everyone and no one in particular.\n\nSomehow, I am in the middle of an arena, the kind of arena I have only seen in movies where there have also been gladiators. The crowd is filled with barbaric people shouting angrily in a language I don’t understand. They are throwing tomatoes at me and only narrowly missing. I am shaking violently. \n\nA booming voice I oddly recognize replies, “Let’s play figure it out!” I rapidly turn in circles to match the sound to the place the voice came from and see a panel of executioners I absolutely recognize.\n\n“Wha, what - what is going on here?” I stammer.\n\n“Figure it out, football head!” taunts a cartoon member of the panel. I quickly put both of my hands to my head to find that I do, in fact, *have* a football shaped head. *What kind of dream is this?*\n\n“Well, the last thing I remember was-”\n\n“-banging on a trash can, were you? Banging on a street light? Those are crimes, you know!” an executioner interrupts me in a flat voice.\n\n“Um, I don’t think so. I was fishing my phone out of a Starbucks’ toilet and now I’m here.” \n\n“Starbucks? You mean at Goodburger, home of the Goodburger, did you even bother taking that hungry man’s order?!”\n\nThe hurling tomatoes have morphed into catapulting grapefruits and the crowd’s aim was improving. Desperate to get out here, I begin rapping my way out of this mess:\n“I whistled for a cab and when it came near\nThe license plate said 'Fresh' and it had dice in the mirror\nIf anything I could say that this cab was rare\nBut I thought ‘Nah, forget it, yo holmes, to Bel-Air!’”\n\nThe executioner panel nods in approval and hushes the crowd. The flying fruit ceases and I feel my head return to normal shape.\n\nA man approaches me in the arena, gets down on one knee and asks, “how you doin?”\n____\nApologies on ignoring the 'nightmarish creations' part, as I missed that detail until I reread the prompt after I finished writing. "
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...whoever deals the final blow is doomed to take the villain's place.
(My dad's interesting idea, thought I would put it out there to see what other people make of it.)
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[WP] You and the hero are about to defeat the villain. The saga is about to end. But the riddle that the oracle gave the both of you still bothers you. Just before the hero ends it all, you realize the riddle's grim meaning...
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"As the Corruption overloaded the containment unit, all of the trophies and trinkets in the room were faded to ash. The lightning from the chamber as the Arbiter screamed blasted red hot, fringing the walls, floor and ceiling, until the whole thing shut down. The glass behind which the hidden figure of the Arbiter was hidden burst open, leaking gallons of fluid. It leaked all over the floor, thick and grayish muck that stuck to Ana and Kolby's boots.\n\nThe Arbiter was still moving. Kolby hauled himself up to the chamber, careful not to cut himself on the glass, and beheld the self proclaimed Man-God. A pale, skinny human, with scars of untold stories all over him. Wires ran through his flesh and bones, his ears, eye sockets, nostrils and mouth. Several dug into his arms and chest at many places. Not a single hair on his body. HE pawed meekly at the wiring, seemingly unaware of his adversaries standing over him.\n\n\"You don't understand, you idiots,\", a tired, sad voice boomed through the speakers, \"The God-Machine must have a vessel. Without a vessel, it can't be contained.\"\n\n\"You've been lying to us long enough. Time's up.\", Kolby said as he unsheathed his father's old dagger.\n\nThe pale cyborg stopped pawing and leaned against the edge of the chamber. \n\n\"So. You're willing to live like this, then?\"\n\n\"What? Of course not! What are you talking about? Why would I wan to live like you?\"\n\n\"The God-Machine must have a vessel. I literally just told you this.\"\n\n\"What does that have to do with anything?\"\n\n\"Shit, Kolby, wait!\", Ana yelled as she climbed up to the chamber, \"It's what that Oracle lady said- Eww. Eh, she said 'the slayer and slain are one, as are the God and the Machine. All made whole by a vessel. The world needs a vessel.' Is this what she meant?\"\n\n\"What she meant is that I was once where you stood.\", the booming voice said, growing slower and slower. The man was bleeding through every hole in his head. \"I was once a 'hero'. Like you. I lost loved ones to my predecessor. I came in this room. And I beat the thing in this very chamber. Cut his throat and relished in his blood. The wires came loose and claimed me. The glass healed, the room filled up and it drilled away at me. Before long, I was a God. I saw the people I lived with squander themselves, waste themselves. I tried to stop them the best way I could. Evidently, it wasn't enough.\"\n\n\"You created an empire. You committed genocide!\"\n\n\"What's a couple thousand of people compared to millions? You have never had to make the sacrifices I made. The decisions that keep this world turning. i saved your life more times than you can count and you will never even know how I did it. I have possessed the power of the sun, aided the creation of the greatest era of peace the world has ever seen. I did not choose to be like this. The choice was made for me, and I did the best I could. Was it good enough? Perhaps. Perhaps not. I suppose I will never find out now. But know that when I pass, you will take my place, furry one. Say your goodbyes while you...can.\"\n\n\"He's lying. He has to be.\", Kolby said.\n\n\"What if he isn't?\"\n\n\"He's been fabricating the world from the ground up for who knows how long. Maybe he made the Oracle tell us the riddle. Trying to bait us into leaving. I didn't get this far just to let him fool us! We're finishing him off and the we'll blow this place.\"\n\n\"Take a good.....look at me, furry one. *This*..... is your....future.\"\n\nThe Arbiter slumped down, tears of bloods crawling down his face.\n\n\"Come. We'll use the Corruption to destroy this place.\"\n\nAna couldn't stop looking at him. That pale imitation of a person ran the world for who knows how long. And now the Man-God died. She'll have to write chronicles about the day the world changed forever. An upjumped castle-mage with a knack for theatrics and his assistant herbalist killed the closest thing to a God there is. She couldn't fathom it. Yet there he laid.\n\nShe climbed down after Kolby, careful to not cut herself on the glass again. The Man-God's final worlds kept rolling through her head. The sadness of it all. The futility. Had he realized he'd gone too far? Did he just want to be put out of his misery? \n\nAs they were just about to walk out of the room, a sloshing noise from the chamber made the look back. The Arbiter's body was being dragged around by the cables, ripped over the broken glass shards. The body twitched as meters worth of cables pulled themselves out of his body, and then dumped him on the floor like a sack of potatoes. The cables extended from the broken container all the way to the middle of the room and kept extending. At the end of every single on of them, a tiny lightsource shone. All of them pointing at Kolby.\n\n\"What the hell?\"\n\nWithin the blink of an eye, the cables shot across the room. Ana ducked out of the way as the cables pierced right through Kolby, digging deep into his flesh and dragging him back to the chamber. Kolby screamed and whelped as he flailed, clawing at the cables. Ana pulled out her acidic vials and smashed on the cables, to no effect. She clawed at them as they dragged Kolby further and further towards the chamber. The more they pried, the more the cables had coccooned him. His screams were muted, he tried using the power of Corruption, but to no avail. The ball of wiring was hauled into the chamber as new glass grew in place of the broken shard, and the grey muck started poring back in from the bottom.\n\nShe tried to climb back in, desperately, to get Kolby back. She couldn't lose him like this. Something had snared her ankle, but she didn't care. She had to get him out. He couldn't end up like that Arbiter. He had too much to live for. She depended on him. She *needed* him.\n\nA violent jerk on her leg pulled her down. The glass grew shut and the muck topped it back off. Ana dug her claws in the ground, trying to crawl back. She couldn't let him go. Not like this. She looked down at her leg. A set of cables had ensnared her foot, and was crawling up her leg.\n\nIn full panic mode, she grabbed her pouch and started beating at the cables snaring her leg. She screamed, she cried. Was she going to die down here? Several vials in her pouch had cracked and was leaking on her. The cables pulled her away. Ana's claws grated the floor as she held on with all she could. But it wasn't enough. She was dragged off faster as than she could run, bouncing off of the floor as she was rushed back through the way she and Kolby came in. She faded in and out of consciousness until she got the feeling of flying, followed by an impact back on the floor and rolling through the dirt and ending up in a set of bushes.\n\nShe laid there for a bit as she tried to compose herself. Trying to slow her breathing down. Trying not feel bruises growing across her body. Trying not to die of a broken heart. Trying to not to give into despair, as the last thing she ever saw from Kolby was a look of horror as he was taken by the God-Machine.\n\nAll she could see is the picture of Kolby wound up in cables, the way the Arbiter was. Cables in every hole of his body. The suffering. Now he's gone. Now she was alone.\n\nShe lied there in the bushes, crying herself to sleep. Hoping tomorrow never came.\n\n\n\n"
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[WP] Your friends constantly talk about how soon Mars will become the new home for humanity. You are the only one who knows that Earth is our third attempt at relocating.
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"I cough a bit, feeling something caught back in my throat. My friends look over, wondering if I was alright.\n\n\"Just a little bug I've had for the past few weeks, go on.\" I reply to their curious gazes.\n\n\"Well, I was just saying that how AWESOME it'll be to finally colonize the moon! My dad says that I even have potential to be one of the astronauts,\" Kyle said. Kyle was a good friend, but always a bit over-ambitious and blindly faithful. \n\n\"Yeah, sure. But how many others will want to get that same position?\" Maria, my other friend who was there, retorted.\n\n\"But I'll have the experience! It times just perfectly, and I'll be able to get all the classes in at college.\"\n\n\"Kyle, do you ever think of anything? It'll cost trillions, and they'll send some kid just out of college?\"\n\nI sighed internally. They would send someone just out of college. It's happened before, at least that's what the government says. The first relocation was between solar systems, two planets named EP-132 and QN-942. After both of those attempts failed, humans moved to the lush planet Venus, while seeding Earth with plants just in case.\n\nThat just in case turned out to be right. At first QN-942 and Venus were similar to the relationship between Taiwan and China. Part of the population fled during war, but things turned out wrong. Both times the home planets were destroyed.\n\nWhen the habitats on Venus went wrong, it's obvious what happened. The atmosphere and composition went wrong, and it was inhabitable. The government decided what was best: to stop telling everyone what happened. It solved a lot of problems, but it's repeating now. Earth is getting ready for war, and we are packing out bags already.\n\n\"So what's your opinion?\"\n",
"“It’s going to be tough but we can’t just be stuck here!” Theo exclaimed for at least the third time that week.\n\n“Sure, T, and you’re gonna be on the first ship?”\n\nSam and Theo have been having this same argument for weeks. Not consistently, mind you. Just every few days the topic of humans finally terraforming Mars comes up.\n\nTheo smirked, “Why not? At least I would be safe while you’re still here clinging to the last piece of land that’s above water.” Theo was right. The storms have been getting worse since the project. The weather machine was initially to reverse the effects of global warming. After the first tests were successful in a lab environment they were finally going to try and fix what was thought to be irrevocable. \n\n“We can still probably still save earth!” Sam said “We have the weather machine. We just have to put the right spin on this whole thing and everything will be the way it was.” \n\nThe way it was… Even the way it was is better than what we see when we look out of our windows. When the project was started, it seemed like we just poked at a spinning top. When the smallest alteration was made to the climate the first thing the world noticed was hurricanes hitting the Caribbean like a barrage. Then it was the monsoons in the Philippines, the floods in Europe, the tornados in the midwest USA. Most of the human race didn’t stand a chance.\n\n“Oh yeah, the thing that doomed us all is going to be the one to save us? They have been messing with that thing since it happened.” Theo took a deep breath and blew out his cheeks. “We barely made it through last year. I say we get off this rock.”\n\n“So,” I huffed “You’re just gonna ditch us?” I’m not really sure why I said anything but this rock happens to be where I live. The weather is in rough shape but who knows what will happen on Mars. They plan on using the same technology that turned our planet into a living hell, and somehow they are going to turn Mars into a paradise.\n\n“You two should come too. Everyone should. Turn that damn weather machine up to eleven and watch the fireworks as we ride off.” Theo said looking almost wistful.\n\nI shot him an angry look and said disbelievingly, “So instead of having people on Mars as insurance and still try and save earth. You’d rather hit self destruct and pray? That damn weather machine is exactly what you’re betting on saving your life.”\n\n“It worked in lab experiments. Our problem was that we tried to edit a code that was still running. Mars has no code, no weather. We just... make it! It might be 75 and sunny all the time! I have to get there and plant my flag before all the good real estate gets taken.”\n\n“If we stay,” I said, nudging Sam “all the rich people leave and a ton of good real estate opens up.”\n\nSam smiled, “Yeah! I’m gonna have my own island and stuff.”\n\n“Just clinging to that last piece of land.” Theo snorted\n\n“I’m done with this conversation.”\n \nIn all reality I was done with the conversation too. I shouldn’t have even joined it but I can’t help it every time this comes around. Humans are so fascinating. They have the capacity to harness energy and use it in curious ways to meet their needs. Then they use it to deprive others of their needs. They create, and destroy. They’re good at destruction. I've been watching them for centuries. Crusades, wars, bombs, book burning. And they live such short lives that they don’t remember, this is the third planet they’ve relocated to.",
"Sarah wouldn't know how many lives were at stake, not at that point at least. She took a sip from her coffee mug, and immediately regretted it. The coffee had been sitting there for… how long again? It had gone cold. She took another sip. Why? She set the coffee aside and turned her attention back to the plexiglass screen in front of her. \n\nYes, the 8 o'clock news. This is what she was focusing on. And what terrible news. War was still raging in the Middle East over oil resources, and conflicts in northern Africa and South America were becoming more and more frequent over the control of what little remained of fossil fuels on Earth. Renewable energy was only really available in commercial scale in developed countries, and Sarah remembered how the disaster in Puerto Rico, decades before, was seen as an opportunity to prove that renewable energy was the way of the future. And it worked. Up to a point.\n\nShe looked out the café window into the street. It was 8:15 in the evening, and so the sun should be just about setting. Outside, though, all she could see was the fog and the dust. A sad reminder of what the Earth had come to be in only a few decades. No, actually, she thought, a few centuries, that was more like it. What have we done? Again?\n\nMars was waiting. The plans for colonization were already put in place by the time of the Falcon Heavy test flight of course, but not many people knew that. The astronauts had already been training for a long time by then and the genetic engineering project for the embryos was almost completed by that time. Launch a mannequin attached to a car into space, she thought, and you'll be able to divert people's attention while you focus on what must be done. On what really matters. How else would they be able to do it?\n\nSarah had long ceased worrying about the ethics of it all, though. As long as people remained ignorant, they shouldn't need to endure the agony inevitably brought on by the truth. Which was good, in a way. In a very much distorted way. It would prevent chaos, until the very last minute at least. Which would probably buy the Colonists enough time to lift off and finally settle down on Mars.\n\nSarah's lips curled into a half smile as she entertained for a moment the thought of whether the Colonists would call Mars \"Earth\" in a few centuries' time. A few decades, perhaps? It was likely. Yes, that would make sense. In due time all records about the Third Relocation would be erased from public records and as had happened in the past, only a handful of scientists and probably a few high ranking government officials would have access to the documents.\n\nSarah took another sip from her cold coffee. Why does history keep repeating itself, she thought. Wars break over resources, right on the verge of planetary destruction, millions succumb to malnutrition and diseases and then finally, by the time the scientists and the people start talking about colonizing another planet and making all sorts of random calculations and plans to check if this would even be possible, the planet is abandoned by those Colonists who had already left, secretly, decades before, so that by the time the old planet is deemed incapable of sustaining life, the new colony is already safe and sound. She took a deep breath.\n\nHumanity would be left to die, of course. And history would start over, to a certain extent. Our future archaeologists on Mars—that is to say, Earth—would need evidence of early hominids, and so we would let a few generations scattered on the planet, drawing on caves and building rudimentary tools. And we would be watching them all the time until it was time to rebuild society. It would be a very long and tedious process, but we had done it before. We knew it would work. Of course, there would be the few who would see right through the bullshit and realize that something was wrong, but those would more often than not come up with theories about extraterrestrial beings, not once realizing those beings were us. Oh well. It's just easy to shut them up and label them conspiracy theorists, isn't it? \n\nBut there was one more thing. Our future scientists couldn't be allowed to find signs of life outside the current Earth. And so the old Earth would need to be nuked, just as had happened with the Earth before this one. And the one before that. Sarah let out a deep sigh as she thought of what Archive Thanos might contain. But alas, her clearance would not grant her access to any information beyond the essential that she needed in order to play her part in Project Valkyrie. \n\nNevertheless, she had a pretty good guess, at least that was what she thought, Venus, even if it was just to satiate her own need to know the truth. She didn't care how close to the truth her guess was. But it must be real. Where else could we have come from? And before that? The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, perhaps? Could that have been a planet once, completely destroyed by our own archaic nukes after the First Relocation? And what would happen now? Would the current Earth become a barren red planet, and would it just be renamed Mars? Easy peasy, she thought to herself, letting out a muffled laugh.\n\n\n\n---\n\nNote: Special thanks to u/victorged from whom I borrowed the \"high ranking government officials\", hope that's alright! :)\n",
"They don't know. They think they do but no one really does. I suppose I don't actually really know. I was sure I was going crazy these past few years but it all made sense in the end. I suppose you think I am crazy. I wouldn't blame you really. In fact if you just took my word for it I would think you are the crazy one.\n\nI was born circa 2 million years ago. Well I guess I wasn't but he was. He died when he was 130, pretty good even for them. They of course emptied his mind, stored his DNA and when a new one was to be born they would download it all into the new child. It was standard procedure. Apparently they started doing that to retain as much information about their race as possible. They were humans, not like us though. No they were a different version. But they had the same programming in the end.\n\nHe was one of the few that knew that what their existence was for. Their world was filled with destruction and natural calamities. Poverty, large disparity in wealth distribution, civil wars, plagues. Everything on their planet, including themselves, was wiping out the humans version 2.0. Of course not all of them knew they were version 2.0, only he and a handful of others did. Just like not all of us know we are version 3.0. \n\nThey got as much of themselves as they could onto another planet, a hospitable planet. Earth already had life on it when our ancestors arrived. They were stuck in a space ship for a long time until they got to earth. Not a lot survived from their knowledge and development but some did. Some stayed hidden until someone similar enough was born for the right information to seep through. Sometimes I wish I never knew, but its somewhat comforting knowing your destiny.\n\nThey started anew. This time on Earth. And following their programming they... we will destroy Earth move again and find another planet to wipe out. Now you see, or you think you do at least.\n\nHe never found out why someone wanted to destroy the universe, he just knew that they had succeeded.",
"Jared likes to think of himself as a glorified babysitter listening to them talk about how amazing it would be to colonize Mars. How could modern humans be so foolish? They retained no collective memory of their time on the other three planets. \n\nThis colony, the Earth colony, collectively decided thousands and thousands of years ago not to use their advanced medicine to give themselves near-endless lifespans. It was celebrated then as one of the most selfless acts of humanity. To voluntarily die at a normal age for their first people in order to reduce their burden on this planet was deemed a wise decision after they destroyed the other planets with overpopulation-related stress. The unanticipated consequence of their drastically reduced lifespans was the massive loss of knowledge concerning their history in the general public. The first people, having lived already such long lives, felt no need or forgot to tell their successors much of what they already knew. In the past, they had so much time that the process of learning went at a snail's pace. This trend continued for several generations until all the details of their extraterrestrial knowledge and history was lost to almost all the people. \n\nIt didn't help, too, that the humans at the time felt compelled to travel across the continents to explore the rest of the world they had arrived on. They were so eager to see what this new planet had to offer. They scattered and fragmented themselves so quickly that each group retained mere pieces of the real story. Their fragmented stories eventually turned into legends, mythology and religious doctrine. There is, after all, a reason why there is so much continuity across religious and cultural beliefs and traditions.\n\nThe first arrivals anticipated this issue and selected a core group of 20 or so people to retain this knowledge and live among the rest. \n\nBack to the story. Jared couldn't help but laugh as they talked about Mars in particular. *Oh Mars,* he thought to himself. *How could they not know that we have already colonized Mars once before?* Mars was the second attempt at relocating. For thousands of years people wondered why the planet Mars was so red. For hundreds of years scientists have wondered why there is so much iron oxide - rust - on the surface of Mars. For Jared the answer was obvious. The iron oxide came from the rusting of all the iron buildings, structures and materials left behind on the planet when they 'jumped ship,' so to speak. So much of the water on Mars is stored in the iron oxide on its surface. The massive loss of water stripped the planet of its insulating clouds and the planet quickly grew frigid. All of this happened before the humans left, of course, but here they were, talking about inhabiting the planet as if it were their first time doing so.\n\nJared wished to return to the first planet, which orbited Alpha Centauri... to be continued, if so desired.\n\n**I'm making it more than one person because it just fits better with my story. Not that I need any justification to do this. I didn't feel like it was right to write this into the story now, but keep in mind that this means that they have watch all their loved ones die. Another thing I want to add here that I didn't think could be included well in the narrative itself is that the process of shortening their lifespans took a several generations to take effect, which is why things like The Bible have stories of people living for hundreds of years (think Methuselah). Another thing I want is for Jared to have a biological sister that exists somewhere else on Earth that is surviving alongside him. Perhaps a partner as well?**\n\nAny input would be greatly appreciated!! <3",
"Karleigh slumped into the booth with a sigh, and let her heavy bag fall into the seat beside her before giving a little half hearted wave at the two men seated across from her, after a day like that at work she'd need a beer. \n\nLuckily, whatever trendy hotspot the guys had dragged her out to this week looked like a winner. Clean lines, a feaux-industrial ceiling, and entirely too much chrome made it look like it was trying hard to leave Santa Clara behind for the glory of the future. The Tesla roadster parked on a raised dais in the center of the bar was such an obvious homage to Musk's Falcon Heavy launch that she nearly groaned. Eighteen years later and people still weren't over that stupid car. \n\n\"Karleigh! Good to finally see you,\" Greg gave a lazy wave from the other side of the table before leaning across it to give her a conspiratorial wink, \"any news to share about the colony selection process?\"\n\nShe tried not to roll her eyes, fought it hard really. But by the frown on Greg's face and the curious look Max had going she'd probably let something through. Rolling her shoulders to crack her back and buy a bit of time Karleigh scanned for a waitress to flag down for that beer. Failing that she turned back to the guys, \"Look, you know I can't share anything. Astrobiology is locked up tight, no information out. Total blackout, national security, blah blah blah. Same as it has been for months,\" *years*, \"You guys watch the news though. You know what they're saying, you know enough.\" *Not by half*.\n\nMax raised an eyebrow at that, \"So you're saying the news is on the right track and we really are in the final selection for colonists?\"\n\nGreg pumped a fist, \"That is so RAD!\" He shimmied around a bit in his seat in celebration before settling back in, \"Think about it man, humans on Mars, permenantly! We'll have a second home in the stars!\"\n\n*Fourth.* The word was like a gong in Karleigh's head, and it was the reason she just couldn't share in the excitement of her friends. How many people knew the truth she wasn't quite sure; a handful of people in her astrobiology department at Ames, sure. Probably some in other departments or in other labs, a smattering of high ranking government officials even. Not that it mattered, not that any of them could talk about it. The graveyards of humanity were a closely guarded secret, and one no one was eager to explore on the verge of Mars. \n\nShe finally caught a waitresses eye, and flagged her over. Really only one way to deal with this kind of knowledge. ",
"Lucas watches the horizon, and thinks earth has the best horizon yet; yeah Chromulon's was good too, but there's something in earts's colors that made Lucas feel as no planet before.\nAnd if you've been alive for 5 billions of years, and are the brother of the Sun, you've seen lots of horizons. \n\nHis friend Klaus was still talking, he wasn't stupid, he knew how much humanity screwed up with earth. He just didn't know it was the third time.\nThe good part was that Humanity didn't need Lucas this time to save itself. So Lucas, as the lovely father he is, still had hope for Life on Mars. He had to. If humans killed another planet belonging to his beloved sister, she would have killed...well...everyone and everything.\n\nShe, the Sun, was still upset about that moon incident. Sun really loved her pets living in all the planets. But moon has always been her favourite...and seeing humans walking on her was disgusting. Didn't they see how beautiful she is ? Why would they even think to walk on her? Kinky bastards.\n\nLucas didn't care about the moon. The only reason humanity was still alive, and the reason he was so kind to them, was because of a girl, named Obsidiane, thousands and thousands of years ago saved his life. Saved the life of a dying star by watching it falling, and asking that that beautiful falling star could be her friend, instead of burning to death to grant someone else's wish."
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[WP] The princess returned, wearing armor and carrying a sword and the dragon's head.
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"Responding to my own prompt because no one else will and I felt like writing today.\n\nMy father was an old fool, tied to tradition. That was his defining trait, and his second greatest weakness. His reliance on one ancient artifact to protect him was his greatest weakness. Our kingdom had no army, because King Horatio used the Hero’s Sword to solve everything. The magic blade wielded by our only knight was the panacea to all our ills. Anyone who wielded the sword was imbued with the power of all the warriors who held it’s steel previously, and could defeat any direct threat known to him. Which was why it was a terrible thing to rely on, as one had to know about a threat beforehand to defeat it. So when a dragon suddenly flies in, roasted his only hero alive, stole the Hero’s Sword, and then took his only daughter hostage, what did my imbecile of a father do? Did he negotiate? Call upon what few allies we had? Seek out another hero?\n\nNo. The doddering old fool held a contest. My hand in exchange for my and the sword’s safe return. He was more concerned about marrying me off than his own kingdom! Our sole defense was gone. Yes, send in a bunch of peasants and princes who are not only fighting a fire breathing beast, but are also sabotaging each other in order to win ownership of the kingdom. Unsurprisingly, this only made the dragon fat and happy. There I waited, caged in a dragon’s treasure trove, suspended from the ceiling like bait on a fishing line. Indeed I was bait, drawing in whatever power hungry or horny idiots my father sent. It was not until the ninth night I was imprisoned when the end of all my worries came to me. The Hero’s Sword came to me while the beast below me slept. The weapon, bathed in ethereal light, beckoned me. I gripped the hilt of the sword.\n\nInstantly I was filled with the knowledge of the sword. Fighting techniques and tactical knowledge flooded my mind, as well as something else. Hundreds of voices, speaking one message in unison:\n\n*“Your father is no longer worthy of our blessing. You, who would stand against his failings, shall be our new master. May you use our blessing well, Princess Valerie.”*\n\nUpon the conclusion of the message, I was transformed. My muscles grew larger, my dress turned to an outfit of metal and tough leather, my hair was cut short, and a scabbard appeared at my hip. I was no longer a princess. I was a warrior of royal lineage, and I would be reclaiming my kingdom from my imbecile of a father. First I needed to get out of the cage I was trapped in. I spun around, blade extended. Surprisingly, the bars all snapped, albeit a bit noisily. I fell toward the dragon beneath, who was beginning to stir from the commotion. The dragon awoke just in time to feel a blade stabbing into his skull, and being pulled out. He was too distracted by the feeling of cold cave air on his brain to react to me. I took the opportunity to slide down it’s neck and decapitate the hellish beast. The dragon’s head fell into a pile of gold with a wet thud, blood oozing from the stab wound in it’s head. I sheathed my sword and picked up my first trophy of war, the blade’s blessing of strength making lifting the rather large head a simple task.\nIt was after I lifted it that I noticed four other armored individuals, all staring at me as I held the head above my own. I spoke to them:\n\n“Who are you four?”\n\n“Mercenaries, your majesty.”\n\n“Were you sent by my father?”\n\n“Not exactly, your majesty. Prince Theodore of Araton hired us to rescue you in his stead.”\n\nFor a moment, I pondered what to do with them. I wasn’t about to be married off to some prince I had no prior knowledge of. I did not wish to abuse my new power and kill the four warriors. Then I had an idea.\n\n“How much is this Theodore paying you?”\n\n“500 gold apiece”\n\nI looked about the room, brimming with gold and jewels. A smile played across my lips. “I wish to overthrow my fool of a father, would you be willing to assist me?”\n\nThe knights were taken aback. In turn, I gestured to the piles of treasure around the room, “Of course,” I said picking up a fist sized ruby and tossing it to them “You be paid far more than a measly 500 gold.”\n\nI walked down the gold pile, continuing my proposal. “I am in need of knights, a general, and a personal guard. Would you four like to join my army, or is it too permedant of an arrangement?”\n\nThey whispered amongst themselves for a few minutes, and turned back to me. The four of them knelt before me.\n\n“Consider us your vassals, your majesty.” Their leader said, looking up at me with a smile. “Our carriage is outside, shall we begin loading it with funds for our conquest?”\n\nI smiled wickedly. “Yes, we shall discuss your roles on the journey. We must amass an army to depose my father, and then we shall turn his kingdom from a small plot of land into a grand empire! Now load the carriage, we shall leave immediately after preparations are complete.” \n\nMy new soldiers rushed to work, hauling all the treasure they could in and out of the cave. I smiled, thinking of how I would inherit my birthright a bit earlier than Horatio expected, reclaim the lands taken by the barbarians, and conquer the lands beyond. My plans of conquest and glory would have to wait, I needed an army fifty times the size of my current one. I looked upon the dead dragon and it’s riches. I thought that perhaps later, I would fashion a skirt of the dragon’s scales, and add some jewels gold in order to make this armor a bit more regal and feminine. I may be a warrior, but I am still a princess."
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[WP] “I’m a solid 50% sure I’m a wizard, okay?” “What’s the other 50%?” “...Witch.” (Story about a genderfluid magician, which can be taken many ways!)
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"I had seen my share of transformations. \nI have taught many aspiring young wizards and witches. \nWe usually begin simple, turning beetles into buttons, teapots into garden gnomes, and the most pleasant lessons are when my pupils turn cutlery into wildflowers. \nThe more advanced lessons cover more challenging spells, like disguising oneself as an armchair, or transforming into an animal. \nAnd some of my most talented students have astounded me by transforming into a teaspoon, a robotic vacume cleaner and even a music box. \nLately however, as I have understood influenced by muggle culture, there are a number of students that have expressed a desire to master the art of gender bending. \nI have taken it upon myself to learn about this branch of transfiguration from the so called queen herself. \n \nShe awaits me at the trainstation, and greets me cheerfully. \n\"So nice to meet you professor McGonnagal.\" \n\"Likewise, your majesty.\" I respond. \n\"Oh, honey yout can call me Ru.\"",
"\nIn dreams, bones danced. Flowers bloomed in the eyes of a murderer, but withered on vines that instead grew hearts, beating a rhythm out to the sound of an ungodly scream.\n\n\nNash groaned as the cat yowled. It was 6am in the land of the living, and if Nash wanted to be clean before classes started, they had to wake up at the dark side of dawn.\n\n\nOne burning hot shower and a breakfast later, Nash stood at the gates of Emrys Preparatory for Young Witches and Wizards. It was an odd mishmash of architecture. The original building had been a squat fortress, something that could have been taken for a watchtower on a dark night, with a single large entryway, thick wooden double doors. Various administrations had since added their own aesthetic flourishes. The administrative wing, built in the Tudor style, bumped up against the ornate, Victorian-era Modern Astrology Tower, which was dwarfed by a brutalist wing -probably the cafeteria and associated labs. And, of course, the elaborate Grecian motifs on the low wall enclosing the courtyard where the throng of hopefuls had congregated for the admissions exam.\n\n\n“Do you think you’ll make the cut?” \n\n\nNash jumped, startled. The speaker, standing in the dew-damped grass, had a worried face surrounded by frizzy green hair, and was chewing on a stick of gum rapidly. \n\n\n“Ah… yeah, maybe. I hope,” Nash said. The green-haired speaker chewed nervously on and said, “I mean, my mum says dad was a wizard, but I think he was making it up to impress her, you know?” The speaker dug into a pocket and pulled out a gum pack. “Want some?”\n\n\n“Er… sure.”\n\n\nA voice cut through the sounds of the crowd. \"Alrighty kiddos, queue up!” Nash looked around; the doors to the school hadn’t opened yet, and not everybody seemed to have heard. They shrugged, and, along with the kid with the frizzy green hair, started towards the front. \n\n\nOnce the last prospective student was in line, the doors swung open and the trials began.\n\n\nSome of the students, those whose families had elected to join the Registry generations ago, had received their letters and were shunted to private rooms, where their level of skill could be tested. Most of the remaining students were dreamers, kids who had heard tales of magic or seen somebody in action, but whose families had never yet produced a magician.\n\n\nAnd then there was Nash.\n\n\nAs the line shortened -the inevitably disappointed walking off in a huff, or bursting into tears, or just walking quietly away -a shine had begun to spread over the building. Mum had told Nash about this, and had fixed their specs so that it wouldn’t give them a headache when they got too close. Still, every so often they had to rub their eyes.\n\n\n“Don’t worry,” hissed the green-haired kid from behind Nash. “I’m so nervous I could cry too.”\n\n\n“I’m not -” Nash began, but was cut short as the young woman in front of them was shunted off to a group of students waiting in the hallway. The examiner, who glowed brightly in Nash’s eyes, beckoned them forwards; as Nash stepped up, they blinked rapidly to clear their gaze as the glow briefly grew to encompass Nash and all sound from the outside world fell away. \n\n\n“Name?”\n\n\n“Nash.”\n\n\n“Family name?”\n\n\n“Er…” the tricky part. Mum had warned Nash she would curse them with her dying breath if they took her name to the school. “None.”\n\n\nThe examiner raised his right eyebrow. “None? As in, you have none, or your family name is, in fact, none?”\n\n\nNash felt their face getting warm. “My mum would kill me if I told. Sir.”\n\n\nThe examiner raised his left eyebrow. “One of those sorts, is she? Doesn’t trust the confidence of the Registry?”\n\n\n“Not as such. Sir.”\n\n\nThe examiner sighed. “You’re the second one today, too. Well, out with it. Why are you here?”\n\n\n“Because I’m a solid 50% sure I’m a wizard.” And Mum told me if I didn’t get some training I’d be the death of her, they added mentally.\n\n\n“And the other 50%?”\n\n\n“Witch. Sir.”\n\n\nThe examiner raised both eyebrows but made no comment. It wasn’t until they were walking towards the group of new students huddled in the hallway that they processed the fact that the examiner had accepted them. Relief washed over them and their legs turned to jelly as they approached the other kids.\n\n"
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[wp] you can make anybody around you smell whatever fragrance they deeply desire and only they can smell it.
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"The park.\n\nA man and a litte girl.\n\nHe's holding her hand. \n\nShe's holding a dripping cone of ice cream. She hasn't taken a single lick. It's running over her hand.\n\nThe sun is out. The sky is blue. The grass is green. A brown dog happily leaps into the air and catches a red frisbee.\n\nShe looks, but she looks sad. \n\nSuddenly, she stops as I tap into her senses. She looks around, as if taking in everything for the first time.\n\nThe man impatiently pulls at her arm. \"Aimee! Let's. Go.\"\n\n\"Don't you smell it?\" She looks at him with happy, shimmering blue eyes. He pauses, as if its been awhile since he's seen the little girl this happy. She tugs at his hand. \"Don't you smell it, Daddy?\" She closes her eyes and inhales deeply. \"It smells like...*Mom.*\"\n\nMy heart stops as I see the tears in the man's eyes. There's pain and sadness in them. Something must have happened to the mom.\n\nTears come to my own eyes as he desperately tries to sniff out the smell, too. But he can't. I tap into his senses, smiling through tears as his eyes open with wonder. Then his eyes close as he shuts the world out and focuses on that one smell.\n\nFather and daughter, sharing that one last, precious smell of someone they both loved. I sit there on the bench and vow to make it last as long as I can...\n\n...I just wish there was some way I could make it last forever.\n\n\n"
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[WP] Only the carrier of the [Item] may rule the land, and it will burn everyone that tries touching it, except for a select few. You, on the other hand, are immune to fire.
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"The Crown of Fire, as it was aptly named by the first king, was the birthright of our kingdom. Whoever wore it was granted the power to rule, and could use it's flames to incinerate their enemies or those who opposed them. However, the crown had a mind of it's own; if someone whom the crown considered unworthy to rule, touched the crown, they would be instantly consumed by it's fire with nothing remaining but a single peice of ash\n\nThe kings in our kingdom would so often become corrupt, and therefore be incinerated by their own crown, which made it hard to keep a king more than a few years. The last king was an old farmer who was ready to die but surprisingly the crown accepted him. Until, of course, the power went to his head and he tried to incinerate a pretty young woman for refusing to marry him.\n\nI was a blacksmith's apprentice and while working around the flames I realized that I had the ability to not get burned by them. With this knowledge I traveled to the palace with the intention of world domination, at whatever the cost. I arrived and found the crown on a pedestal infront of the palace.\n\nI approached the pedestal and grabbed the golden crown, forcing it on my head as the angry flames surrounded me. My whole body was engulfed in flames and they get hotter and hotter as the crown tried it's best to vaporize me. But I mastered it and relished in the power of the flames while laughing aloud.\n\nThe citizens of the kingdom must have looked on in horror as I wielded the flames around me, using them to clothe my now naked body (since my other clothes had vanished from the crown's attempt to incinerate me). I imagine I looked like a demon with the flames and smoke curling around my body and the now black, corrupted crown upon my head. They offered no resistance as I claimed the kingdom and started my journey to world domination."
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[WP] You really, really don't want to visit your significant other's family.
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"\"Do we really have to go visit your family?\"\n\n\"My sister just had a baby. Yes, we really have to go visit her\", Scott replied with an irritated sigh.\n\n\"It's just that I really don't want to.\"\n\nScott's irritation began to increase. \"What is your problem with my sister, anyway?\"\n\n\"Oh, I like your sister just fine. It's her husband I can't stand.\" \n\n\"Ted is a pretty swell guy.\"\n\n\"The first time we went there for dinner, he spent the whole night quoting The Godfather at me.\"\n\n\"He was just trying to make you feel at home!\"\n\n\"Just because I'm Italian doesn't mean I'm in the mafia!\"\n\n\"Well, you're just going to have to put up with him then, Ellen. Heaven help me, I still put up with your sister.\"\n\n\"What is that supposed to mean?!\"\n\n\"Oh, don't give me that indignant look. You know very well what I'm talking about. Do you remember her last plan to save the environment? Decreasing meat intake by increasing insect consumption? In other words, making you put worms in my curry?!\"\n\nEllen couldn't hold back her laughter. \"She was right though. It did kind of taste like chicken.\"\n\nScott felt the corners of his mouth curl up despite himself. He raised his glass. \"To family.\"\n\n\"To family.\" \n\n---------------------------------------------\nThe worms: www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7x2jk8/comment/du535ql \n\nThe Godfather: https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7xqh8f/comment/dub2cmn"
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[WP] [EU] A DnD Fantasy world, where magic talent is so commonplace, its taken for granted. Even everyday citizens are possessed with a small talent. But the physically strong have to struggle: Warriors are the outcasts, building their worth the hard way.
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"Ah jeez, this is a bad response as it's not WP - HOWEVER, there's an actual book series about this. I forget the name, I read it about.. 16 years ago. I remember the books followed a small caste of warriors who start fighting... I think it was 4 \"houses\" (for each 'type' of magic) after they witness a slaughter of non-magic users, and they topple the government at the end.\n\nIt was a really fantastic book series, I wish I could recall it. Anyone know?",
"The cave's stone walls seemed to eat away the small source of light, their presence sent a cold sensation seeping through his skin. With every step he fought off his pressing hesitation. The tunnel itself carried with it the smell of sweat and blood, it was sharp and heavy like the iron of a blade. The cave felt as though the walls contained the physical manifestations of fear itself, he braced against the rising anxiety. At the end of the long and narrow hall a room opened up, it was just as dark as the rest of the cave; only a single source of light sat at the back of the room and near the center a small pedestal. A presence urged him forth and he neared the pedestal, atop it sat a simple sword, a history of battle present across its blade.\n\n\"You who have chosen the life of a warrior step foot in such a holy place. Your determination and hard work are the sign of a strong will, your training and dedication the sign of a fighter.\" The loud voice bounced around the stone walls. \"And now a test to determine if you shall stand amongst the hierarchy of warriors, a true follower of the martial practices. To determine your fate you have entered these halls, and it shall be seen. By a trial of power!\"\n\nSeemingly from the shadows of the back wall a man stepped forward. There was no mistake from the vision of the man, he was a warrior. He held a small sword in one hand, much like the one on the pedestal, and around his eyes was bound a blindfold. He walked forward stopping before the pedestal on the opposite side and reached forward, in his hand sat a thick cloth.\n\n\"Bind your vision, there is no need for sight, your martial skill should be your eyes.\" Complying the man took hold of the cloth and tied around his head, completely blinding himself. \"Now take hold of the sword your trial begins.\"\n\nWith a deep breath, he placed his hand on the sword and lifted it from the stone. Another inhale calmed his heart and he could hear the sounds of the cave. The suttle drips of water bouncing off the stone floor, the wisps of the passing breeze from outside gently disturbed by the other man's breathing.\n\nA shimmer like the sound of wavering metal cut across the air, he raised his sword to block. A loud clang of colliding blades filled his ears before the sound of another slice through the air. The pressure of blows threw him from where he stood, he stumbled hearing the scrape of his shoes on the floor. A sudden silence frightened him, the gentle disturbance of air was no longer present. A wave of pressure came from behind followed by scrape of stone. Quickly ducking down he felt the blast of a hard swing above his head.\n\nThe sound disappeared again, and with it he slowed his breaths. There was a longer pause this time, a minute push of air passed along his shoulder. He turned swinging with great force, impact, it was suttle but he felt the push of threads as he sliced through his opponent's shirt. The other man let out a light grunt showing a hint of being impressed. The sound and presence all-together disappeared again. Trying again he slowed his breath and followed the flow of air, like a blade wind shot forth near his chest. He hopped back feeling as the sword tore through his shirt, he swung his own blade around and lashed forward. He felt a hand push against the pommel and he reached forward with his hand.\n\nThe feeling of flesh filled his palm and he squeezed catching the other man's forearm. He pulled him in sweeping a leg at the man's feet, nothing, his foot passed uncontested. Too late he realized what had happened, a clap of feet meeting the ground echoed in the room. A strong forced dropped upon his knee and the crack of his shattered leg was only drowned by his own cry of pain. He fell failing to keep himself standing and the cold touch of metal landed upon his throat.\n\nWith a strong tug his blindfold was removed and above him stood his opponent. The man slowly removed his own blindfold and looked down at him, he had a deep scowl on his face. \"With training from dedication for our entire lives we the strongest of warriors gain power. Proof of that power is shown within the this trial, taken when one decides they are ready. If one should pass by showing great talent they rise to become worthy in the eyes of the Magistrate of they so choose.\" He leaned closed pressing the blade nearer to his throat.\n\n\"We train our entire lives as the only way to become strong enough. Only with great strength we can hope to match the gifted.\" He answered.\n\n\"You have shown great dedication, and proved a great amount of skill. Your long dedication to the practice is apparent from your strength. With years more you could have risen to complete this trial, however your haste has made you too weak.\" The shiver of fear returned and his eyes widened. \"Not one successful blow did you land instead you fell due to your overconfident strike. You have failed your trial by power.\"\n\n\"No wait!\" He screamed. The sword pulled from his neck and thrust forward cleanly removing his head from his shoulders.\n\n\"The strength of a warrior is a true art, may he continue to train and grow his strength.\" The man said laying his sword beside the body. He left the decapitated corpse behind and exited through the door at the back of the room.\n\nOn the other side a man in heavy blue and gold robes stood waiting. \"Well how did he do?\" The man asked in a regal tone.\n\n\"His overconfidence ended him, he was a fine fighter, but a warrior no.\"\n\n\"A pity for *your* kind I suppose. Well this unfortunate news is a minor issue, follow me.\" The robed man was briskly away forcing the large man to follow.\n\n\"I must say learning of these trials by power, as you call them, was quite surprising. Very few warriors have risen to the respect of our Magocracy, so it is a shame when one fails. It is a spectacular sight when one is given the show of their worth when they have no magic talent, an ungifted proving themselves is an honor.\"\n\n\"Yes.\" The large man grunted, annoyed.\n\n\"Though with the unfortunate incident of the highest in your order, warriors are in need of proof they can continue their ways. A warrior so powerful he has mages and the like practically bowing to him, it's unbelievable. A shame really for him to be suspected of such terrible things don't you think?\" The robed man looked back with a wry smile.\n\n\"Yes, a shame that our most respected warrior would be placed with suspicions of high crimes.\" He grumbled.\n\n\"I wonder how such a man could rise to that level, especially ungifted. Don't you?\"\n\nNear the mouth of the cave a shadow in the shape of a man blocked the light. He took a step forward into the cave and the men recognized him.\n\n\"It's you.\" The robed man dropped in head in quick respect.\n\nThe large man stood for a moment stunned before dropping to one knee. \"Monk.\" He said deeply.\n\n\"Please raise yourselves.\" The Monk replied, they did so but maintained their distance. \"Wizard.\" He spoke loudly. \"Wonder no more.\" He placed a foot hard against the ground and thrust his plam forward. A blast of force ruptured the calm air of the cave and the wizard flew back crashing into the wall. His body limply slumped onto the ground.\n\nStaring in awe and terror the warrior backed away as The Monk spun his hand around quickly. A stream of fire wrapped around his wrist and formed a long whip-like strand.\n\n\"Magic.\" The warrior whispered heavily.\n\n\"How else?\" The Monk replied with a grin. \"I do apologize dear friend, but I must not let anyone find out.\" The fiery whip snapped around the warrior's throat and pulled him in. With a deft strike of his palm The Monk pushed into the warrior's stomach. Dropping to the floor the warrior choked for air, his vision began to double mixing the scenery.\n\n\"I apologize.\" The Monk said softly, a striking pain erupted within the warrior's body and he fell flat to the ground, lifeless. \"The strength of a warrior is a true art, may he continue to train and grow his strength.\" The Monk said gesturing his hands through the air.\n\n_\n\nr/TheoreticalFictions"
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[WP] Write a ' Pixar short' styled story where the concepts of life and death are personified.
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"The time on the clock on the wall was 7:05.\n\nSweat hit the cold tile of the hospital as a woman screamed from her position prone on the gurney. \n\nHer husband allowed his hand to be clenched as she breathed heavily, cursing him on her breaths out as she pushed, pushed and pushed. \n\n—-\nThe clock ticked slowly to 8:34, as the flurry in the hospital room continued, the people surrounding the woman in labor as she tried to bring her babe into the world. \n\nBut at this time, two new translucent figures appeared in the room, hiding in opposite corners. \n\nOne was a girl, her hair dark and her features chiseled, her skin was paler than was natural, and she watched with sadness, looking at the clock. \n\nThe other, a young man, with bright blonde curls and golden complexion, complete with bubbling baby blue eyes watched, not noticing the other recent arrival in the room. He was only awaiting for the other arrival.\n\nWithin the next minute there was a flurry of action, as the woman claimed “Something is wrong,” and the doctors and nurses had to tear her husband from the room as they prepared to put her under. \n\nThe noise in the room went silent as the two figures crept closer to the bed.\n\nBaby blue met deep violet as the two stared at each other. They blinked, acknowledging the other and watching as what happened progressed. \n\n“It’s been a while hasn’t it, death” the young man spoke, his tone still a little cheerier than it should be for the setting he was in.\n\nA somber voice replied, “It has”\n\nBoth had their jobs to do, and they were pulled to their locations only when their job was to be done, they couldn’t stray from their work, but for just a moment, Death could see the beginning of the cycle and Life could see how fleeting life was. \n\nThe first time they had met had been a much different affair, both trying to protect their domain as they went on with their jobs, it wasn’t personal, they had claimed. They both just had a job to do that had been given to them at birth. \n\nDeath had a birth, which was an odd thing to think. And someday Life would come to an end, for nothing that lasted forever could be savored. \n\nThis moment, their one moment of shared pity with each other was a small differ from the usual constant. \n\n8:49\n\nThe doctor stepped back, wiping the sweat from his brow, and holding a hand to his chest, as he handed the newborn off to one of his nurses.\n\n“We’ll meet again I guess,” Life spoke as he followed the babe, reaching a hand out to touch the newborn,\n\nA cry was heard from the young girl, and Life faded out of the room as Death watched.\n\nDeath allowed herself one small tear before she went to the one with the countdown of time left.\n\n——\n\nThe Doctor had suddenly fallen, and landed motionless on the floor. \n\nDeath touched the man’s back, looking through his memories as she did, it was her only chance at seeing what living was. She alone knew the cause of death of the good doctor in that moment, and it was up to the living to announce the cause of death.\n\nShe too faded away from the room, as the nurses rushed to the man. \n\n——\n\nIn the other room, the new mother woke up, her babe resting in her arms and her Husband holding her hand, thinking of what could’ve happened if something had gone wrong. \n\n\nLife went on, and Death trailed behind.",
"They were mother and child. The younger dripped in dark reds and greens and blues, their pudgy hands bright white and their eyes like the sun. The older, clothed in a white so frail and muted that one breath could shatter it. She had eyes like the moon.\n\n\nThe child flew over obstacles, trailing their pure palms along the earth and created messes everywhere. Explosions of color burst in their wake, trees and grasses, flowers and animals and insects. The mother trailed along behind the child, a bright shadow, and carefully picked up each mess the child had created. The greenery faded away into the mother's white cloak. The insects curled up in her palm. The animals disappeared into the folds of her skirt.\n\n\nThe child rarely looked behind to see what their mother was doing. They stared straight ahead, always, and raced towards the horizon as fast as they could, forever intent on reaching it. They became creative with their messes, first creating animals so fast, they might have been able to run away from the mother if she hadn't been able to tell which way they were racing. Then the child created big animals, so big the mother would not be able to hide them under her skirt. But she whipped off her cloak and enveloped them, and they disappeared all the same. Maybe the child did know what the mother was doing, because their pace sometimes wobbled. But they would never look back.\n\nAt last, the child rubbed their white hands together, rubbed them in circles, fingers over palms, and then let the light trickle into the earth, and from the child's fingertip rose a hand, followed by an arm, and then a head and torso, and legs. The child had created a human.\n\nThe child watched, giggling as more humans sprang from the earth. They would be the smartest things in the world, and they would outsmart the mother.\n\nThe child was certain of this. Certain. So they made more humans. More and more, along with all the green and blue and red those humans could ever want. But something itched at the back of the child's head. They needed to know for sure. So they glanced over their shoulder.\n\nThis is what the child saw. Their first human, standing before their mother, whose white garments had faded and become touched with all the color that the child had drained into the earth, drained out into the mother. The mother knelt before the human. And she held out a hand.\n\n\"No don't!\" the child screamed, stopping for the first time. But the human took the mother's hand, and disappeared in a flash that blinded the child.\n\nWhen everything was settled, the child opened their eyes and looked down at themself. Their clothes were pure white. They had leached all the colors out into the earth. They rose to their feet, and they were tall now. They were a woman. In front of the woman was a child, its clothes filthy with all the life it had collected over the years. It took off running away from the new mother, laughing eagerly.\n\n\"Give them back to me!\" the mother called out to the child.\n\n\"You'll have to catch me first!\" the child cackled.\n\nAnd the cycle goes on."
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[WP] You return home one day and find an extra couch. There is no explanation for it's appearance. The next day, a second couch appears.You fear this pattern will continue.
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"Randall stared at it. He had spent most of the morning idly staring at it. And it, the unwelcome couch, seemed somewhat to be sternly staring back. Which gave Randall an overwhelming uneasy feeling. Still he sat, staring, sipping coffee and wondering how this unexpected over bearing couch had the audacity to even look at him the way it seemed to be looking at him, and also where on earth could have this luxurious olive colored couch possibly come from? Who on earth even put it here? The doors had been all locked. No one but him had a key. Would a burglar be so dense as to actually bring him a couch? Is this some sort of prank only a burglar could begin to understand? \n\nHe looked over the apartment for what would be the millionth time since he got home after dinner last night . No. Everything was completely as it should be. Nothing was missing, nothing out of place, no signs of a glaring break in. But alas here he was with two couches where there had originally been one. This would not do, in an apartment such as the size of Randall's, even one couch was a bit pompous. I mean he had certainly had his reasons for only previously purchasing the one couch, the beige couch he originally owned and had grown quite accustomed to seeing. He never had considered owning two couches , He remembered quite well that upon moving into the apartment, he had spent a good two afternoons too many maneuvering the first couch all about his living room. Moving it from here to there and then there to here, straining to get it to fit just so. The thought of having now two couches completely exasperated him. And Much to his surprise however, this second couch managed to fit and it fit quite well. It made no sense. Which exasperated him even more so. It was as if the rest of the furniture had politely accommodated the new couch to make it feel right at home, which was absolutely absurd. This whole ordeal was completely and absolutely absurd. It was during this thought of absurdity that the phone rang. It was Mr. Fellow. \n\nRandall quickly set his coffee cup down, clamored his clumsy hands around his phone, swiped hesitantly and answered.\n\nHello?\n\n\"Hello Randall, you forgot to ring me last night after you're blind date. How am I ever going to continue to be a successful problem solver for you , if you can't even manage to keep to the simple tasks I've requested. I'll now have to take it upon myself to stop by so that we can better discuss the matter of the blind date you so desperately needed to attend. \"\n\n\"Oh. Sorry Mr. Fellow, it must have slipped my mind to call last night because the strangest...\n\n\"Randall. I do not have the time to understand the inner workings of your mind and what you Value as strange. A mind as yours wouldn't it even begin to understand strange We need to focus our energy on the date of last night\"\n\n\"Ok. Yea. I guess Just call me when you get to my apartment and I'll ring you in\"\n\n\"Fantastic\" *click\n\nThe Phone began to ring again almost instantaneously. And with an even more hesitant swipe this time, Randall again answered.\n\n\"Hello?\"\n\n\"Yes, Randall, it's me Mr Fellow, I'm here now\" \n\n\"Well why didn't you just say you were....oh for Pete's sake! Just come on up will you!\"\n\nRandall began to rub his eyes in utter bewilderment and utter frustration at the sudden thought of everything he had gotten himself into involving Mr. fellow. \n\nWith the short amount of time it took to hear a knock at his door, Randall was quite assured that Mr Fellow had been outside his apartment door the whole time. A bit grudgingly, Randall opened the door to find the tall lanky man sporting the same mismatched suit he had been wearing during their initial meeting a week ago. How he had ever managed to convince himself to hire the services of someone who would willingly choose to wear a black coat and tie with khakis was a complete mystery in of itself. Yet here we are, he thought. \n\n\"Come on in, here have a seat on the couch. No not that one, not the olive one, here sit on this one, the beige one.\"\n\n\"Why? What's wrong with the green one? You have some sort of ongoing grudge against green couches? Or is it just this couch specifically ? I mean olive is a bit gregarious but It seems to be a nice couch, much nicer than this beige one over here. Why am I even going on about this? This doesn't even matter. What matters right now is the date. The date with honeysweets_995. Did she show? What did she look like? what did she say? Tell me absolutely everything? You know, I think I'll sit on the green one after all, looks incredibly comfy. Oh it is, just as I thought, yes this one is much better, good choice , fine choice , wherever did you get it? I might be in the market for a fine a couch as this. It's quite suitable for sitting and discussing matters if I do say so myself.\"\n\n\"I haven't the slightest clue where it came from\"\n\n\"I beg your pardon\"\n\n\"It actually just showed up hear, out of the blue, unannounced, much like you\"\n\n\"Now see here, that's not fair, I called before I came in didn't I, and I wouldn't have even had to be here this morning if you'd of just remembered to call me last night like we had agreed to, Perhaps you also have unfinished business with this couch that you've also forgotten to address in a timely manner and that would explain its sudden appearance.\"\n\nRandall stopped himself from continuing the pointless banter. His blood pressure was rising to just above overly annoyed but he let out a collective breadth and agreed to his thoughts it just be best to start over. \n\n\"You're right Mr. Fellow, my apologies. The blind date, that you said I absolutely had to go on, so that I could somehow come to find all the solutions to my questions, the very questions you won't even let me ask you yet, even though your job title in it of itself states Mr. Fellow: Solution Finder and Answer Detainer, yes that blind date, well I suppose it went just fine thank you. But as anyone else on this earth can imagine I did not gain any newfound information to the whereabouts of my...\"\n\n\"STOP. STOP. STOP it right there!, Mr Fellow shouted as he lunged to close Randall's mouth. \" I've already told you! The answers you seek are trying to find you and if you go about shouting and blabbing your questions here and there you're going to stir up all the wrong sorts of answers that are straggling about the universe looking for any question that will have them. This is the process. This is MY process! And if you want to continue with my services you will continue to follow my process! Are we clear?\"\n\nRandall did his best to say \"Yes we're clear\" but it all came out rather muffled and mumbled with having Mr. Fellows hands busily muffling and mumbling all his phonetics that had been trying to escape.\n\nMr. Fellow realizing he may be over stepping customary personal boundaries, slowly backed away and re positioned himself in a more dignified listening manner on the new Olive couch. Obviously all ears, he watched Randall intently as Randall began to decide where to begin on describing a very standard, charming but uneventful blind date. \n\n\"We met at Antonio's at half past seven. She was very lovely wearing a flattering but casual red dress. She arrived punctual and I greeted her with a kiss on the hand which may be a little over the top but it felt right at the time. She didn't seem to mind. Her name was Cassandra but much preferred Cassie. We were seated relatively quickly. She ordered the Chicken Florentine although she said she usually enjoyed the spaghetti there. I had the Lasagne. We ate and chatted about her job in advertising, she had a few projects due tomorrow and was having a hard time agreeing to tonight's date in fear of falling behind, but was glad she had come. Which probably made me blush a bit because I was rather flattered. I talked about my work in computers but didn't go into much detail. We had both seen the movie \"The Last Turn\" recently, so we enjoyed hearing each other's take on the film. She was bright and witty in conversation. She stated she had almost forgotten the date request she had sent me after viewing my profile. After all it had been about a month since she had sent it. I explained that I had been in the midst of a lot of life changes, an accident, a new job and moving , it all had gotten in the way of my online dating and I apologized for the delay. It was in all a very successful date, much to my surprise, but I still don't see how agreeing to participate in an online date is going to help me at all find my ..,...or .....errr ... I mean ... help me answer my question. You know the one I had hoped you would answer when I hired you. Anyway well the date ended. She went her way, I mine. And That's when I came to my apartment to find this.\" \n\nRandall anxiously pointed towards the couch whom Mr. Fellow had comfortably made himself home to. \n\n[continues in reply comments when my 8 minutes are up]",
"Timothy Brown trudged up the steps to his 5th floor apartment. It had been a long day at work and it was evening. His mind was still buzzing with various forms of paws, dog snouts, fur colour, tiny details of his work as an illustrator for an animation studio. He had spent the last few hours worrying over a dog companion for an upcoming project and he was slightly frustrated with his lack of progress. His back hurt from sitting in a bad position. He had been too caught up in his work to realize it at the time. Now, as he opened the door to his apartment, he decided that what he really needed was a shower and a bit of quiet time, perhaps to watch a movie. His girlfriend was out of town on a business trip tonight. He missed her. She would know exactly how to cheer him up again. He threw his keys onto the shelf next to the door and sluggishly made his way to the bathroom. The shower helped. Most of the tension was gone. He relaxed onto the couch in front of the television with some toast and apple juice. Apple juice always reminded him of his childhood… He started watching a documentary about wolves. Slowly, he dozed off. He dreamed. He dreamed of flying dogs and of different variations of fur that danced around him in a circle. How strange, he thought as they spun around him. Fur cannot dance. But the dream changed and his conscious part went to sleep again. Now, the dogs turned into wolves and they were growling at something that was behind him. He turned, but there was nothing there apart from a couch, standing in a clearing. He woke up, his mind all groggy. He was thirsty and he remembered that he had not brushed his teeth…\nThe next day, he woke up in his bed after a dreamless sleep. He could not remember the dream or how he had ended up going to his bed, but he felt well rested. He got ready for work and left quite cheerfully, with new motivation. Nothing especially eventful happened during the day. In hindsight, he should have remarked on the couch in the cafeteria that he saw during the lunch break. The company had decided to invest in one after all.\nThat day, he got off from work early, since his girlfriend was coming home and he wanted to make a nice dinner. On his drive home, he was listening to a CD. Thus, he did not hear the weird news on the radio about couches appearing in apartments all over the country. But he would soon realize it himself. When he entered his apartment and went into the kitchen to put away the groceries, a couch was waiting for him. It looked so inviting, so soft. He wanted to take a nap on it. There was just one problem. They did not have a couch in the kitchen. For that matter, they did not have a couch at all. And yet, here it was. Then he remembered the events of the night before. He hurried into the living room. There was the other couch. How could two couches just appear like that? Not a lot of people had access to his apartment. His girlfriend and he himself could be excluded from such an act. The stingy landlord would never just give them two couches. His parents had an emergency key. Maybe this was some kind of elaborate prank? He took out his phone, intending to write his dad a quick message. That was when he saw the rather terribly written headline <<Couchpocalypse: Is this the End?>>. Intrigued, he started to read. Without thinking, he sat down on the couch. His muscles relaxed. It was so very comfortable. After a few minutes, his head slowly slumped forward. He fell asleep and dreamed of wolves. When his girlfriend came home, she was slightly disappointed. Timothy had told her that he would cook dinner. But he had probably been too tired. She was near sleep herself, but she had nevertheless looked forward to a bit of quiet conversation. She went into the living room and slumped down on the couch. She dozed off in seconds.\nThe next day, a Saturday, when the elderly neighbour from next door rang to ask for some help with a rather heavy wardrobe he needed to reposition, there was no answer. Since it was not unusual for the couple to go out on an early walk on Saturdays, he did not dwell on it and asked the fellow from downstairs for help. How could he have known that the apartment was empty for quite a different reason and that two couches that had not been there a few days earlier were slightly larger than the night before.",
"I live inside a two room apartment composed of a bedroom, a bathroom and a living room with a small kitchenette complete with stove and sink.\n\nThe living room is approximately eight brisk footsteps from the window overlooking the busy streets far below and the front door. Twelve steps if I am taking my time. It's furnishings are meagre, mostly things that I have picked up over the years at garage sales, all coalescing into one mishmash of modern, contemporary and more rustic designs. \n\nWhen you enter from the front door, to your left is the lightswitch for the ceiling lamp. The one with the failing bulb that always flickers before deciding whether or not it wants to be turned on. Directly underneath the lamp is the ugly green striped couch facing towards a bulky television I got back in 2003. \n\nI have owned this apartment for years, ever since I was kicked out by my parents. Despite my long term residence, the living room has never been richly decorated. I preferred a sparse, tasteful environment that was much lighter on my purse, never even bothering to change the lighbulbs until I was certain that they were actually dead. \n\nThere is a television, only because of some universal rule that says all living rooms needed one and due to a rare spree of compulsive spending back when I first moved in, flamed by a desire to fill the empty, ponderous space where there should've really been a television. There is a tidy circular red rug embroidered with a sugary heart motif. Again, only to fill a space that begged to be filled. There is a dull, gray coffee table that doesn't even merit a detailed description. It smells faintly of moldy cheese.\n\nThere is a couch. It is an old and ugly thing that smells like the tense breathlessness you get right before a thunderstorm. The fabric is a shade of green similar to the greenery of a rotting conifer, right before it turns brown and then black and dies.\n\nI would not purchase two couches. I do not have enough butts to merit two couches. One couch is more than enough for me. Purchasing two couches does not make sense. It is not something I would ever do, but I must've done so, since I have two couches.\n\nThe... 'new' one was blue. It smelled brand new. It did not have any legs. It was one of those designs that sat on the ground like a giant fat block of meatloaf.\n\nI don't remember when I brought it. I don't remember when the movers moved it up the thirteen flights of stairs to my apartment and I don't remember how they managed to fit the damn thing inside. For years I only had one couch. I am absolutely certain of that. Was I wrong? Was this some sort of weirdly selective amnesia that for some reason spared my memories of everything except for this couch?\n\nIt was all a bit too much. My life had been an endless cycle of monotony for as long as I could remember. This... sudden excitement was all too jarring to me. I needed to lie down.\n\nFive brisk strides was all I needed to see myself into my bedroom. I laid down on my bed, feeling the mattress press up against my back, bathing in the warmth and security of the prosaic simplicity inherit in the action of lying down on one's own bed.\n\nThen, the realization dawned on me. Like a typhoon breaking against a solitary crag, I felt cold hard reality hit me all at once.\n\nI was not lying on a bed. It was a... folding couch, unfolded to reveal a mattress. But it was a bed! It was a real, proper bed! I know it was! It... it was! Just this morning I... \n\nSlowly, I walked out back into my living room. Some part of me knew what I would see. It was a small part, buried deep down in my psyche, suppressed by subconsciousness. It was the same thing that whispered in the ears of our tribal ancestors and said, \"Hey doesn't your butt hurt from sitting on rocks all day? Wouldn't it be nice if you could sit on something softer?\"\n\nIt was a primal, ancient force. It convinced us to kill. Not for food, or even sport. It convinced us to kill so that we might stuff the fur of a creature into a bag of cloth so that we might sit on it. It was the spirit of comfort, the desire to be coddled and to have all your needs be fulfilled in abundance and so it was nefarious in it's own way.\n\nWhen I entered the living room, I found a third couch. It was white with hideous pink and purple polka dots. I had thought my green couch to be ugly, but this? This was disgusting. It was a design choice that offended the eyes in the same way christian heresies during the thirty years war were offensive to the pope.\n\nThere was hardly any room in my living room for any more couches. The polka dot monstrosity was stacked on top my original green couch. I knew that this was not end. Whatever this was; early onset dementia or a complete collapse of reality as we knew it, it would not end soon. I needed to run.\n\nI tried the door, barreling into it so hard that I bruised my shoulder. I twisted the door knob, twisted so hard that I thought it might pop straight off, but it was no use. The door would not budge. Then I realized that it was not a door knob that I was turning. There was no door. \n\nIt was a couch. The door had been replaced by a couch, built like a wooden cradle for it's cushions. It was made mostly out of wood, a sturdy and sensible design that would not have looked out of place on the porch of a picturesque farmhouse.\n\nWhen I say replaced, I don't mean that it blocked the door. The door was no longer there. Where it was, there was now a blank piece of white plaster and behind that, completely solid.\n\nThis was not happening, I decided. I was dreaming. This was a dream. Some sort of horrendous nightmare. I will wake up. Any minute now! I'll wake up! Ha. Hahaha! It's all a dream!\n\nI am not crazy. I know who I am. My name is...\n\nI tried, but there was nothing. I closed my eyes and I tried to recall what my name was. I fished around for even the beginning of the smallest syllable.\n\nThere was nothing. There was only couches. All shapes and sizes and dimensions and colors. So many couches. Above and below and beyond in all directions, towering spires and sprawling forests, entire worlds and planets and realities filled with nothing but two-seater cushioned benches with armrests. They are watching. The ceaseless millions, all watching me like starved rats.\n\nI wrenched my eyes open and I began to scream, pounding my fists against the walls in a mad desperation. Hoping that I might break them down with sheer willpower or that someone, anyone might hear me.\n\nBut there was no answer. Nothing but the silent judgement of those unknowable horrors.\n\nI tried clawing my way out. I tore at the wallpaper until my fingers left bloody streaks on the bare walls. \n\nThere was a pause in my mania. A break in the madness where clarity triumphed, if only briefly.\n\nThe window.\n\nI dragged my feet over to the window. They felt like leaden weights. My hands were on the sill, inches from the edge. \n\nAnd then I saw them. They were everywhere. They were in our homes, on the streets. And no one batted an eye. No one thought to look twice and see that they were not just harmless pieces of furniture. They were in our minds. That was the moment where I knew that death would not save me from those creatures.\n\nThe last thing I heard before everything became black, was a tittering, mocking laughter. I am not sure that it was my own.\n\n\n\n\n",
"Everything in his flat was beige. Beige carpet. Beige walls. Beige radiators. Beige painted chairs. Everything that is, except for those couches. He liked beige. Beige was easy. Beige was calming. When you saw beige you didn't think \"oh he's a trouble maker\" you thought, well, nothing much at all. \n\nHe did not like those couches. They were red and purple. He definitely did not like red or purple. \n\nTwo couches, just there. One arrived yesterday, one this morning. Just popped into existence before he woke up. At least that's what he thinks happened. He called his parents, his ex-girlfriend, even his old flatmate. No one had known anything about a couch, particularly not two couches. \n\nHe was afraid to sit in them, afraid to touch them. Red and purple did not fit into a man's life who only owned beige upholstery. \n\nHe was terrified of what colour tomorrow's couch would be. He assumed this would keep going, once a pattern started in his life it rarely ever stopped. Every part of his adult life had been mapped out, planned, patterned, and conducted. Everything except those couches. \n\nWhat if tomorrow was yellow? Oh god, he'd rather anything except a yellow couch. \n\nIf he was to live in this new couch pattern he would need to start planning on how to store them. If he hired a man to come round every morning after the couch arrived it could be just like putting on the kettle. Five minutes, in and out. He might not even need to look at it. \n\nHe could feel his heart rate increasing. No, no, no, no, no…this would not do. \n\nHis life was not spontaneous, it was nothing but beige and more beige. \n\nHe sat down on his beige carpet, sweat breaking out on his back. \n\nThis was never going to end. He could feel it. Like death calling for him. He rocked back and forth as he imagined couches in every colour of the rainbow.\n\nBlue couches.\n\nAubergine couches.\n\nFuchsia couches. \n\nA small sob broke out from his huddled form. \n\nOutside of the beige man's flat, a woman peered in. She smirked a bit to herself. She wore a bright pink jumper and yellow boots. Her skirt had little embroidered tea cups all over it. She was, if anything, the antithesis of the beige man. Although they say opposites attract, in truth they rarely do. The beige man and the rainbow woman had not ended well. But that didn't matter now. She would get her revenge. One couch at a time. "
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[WP] The old seven deadly Sins have retired. You are one of the new Seven, chosen to help spread your sin across the globe and to ensure it never dies. This is one of your days as one of the new deadly sins of humanity.
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"I had never honestly expected to get the part, after all, I had only even tried because I thought it would be fun. I faintly remember the Trials which makes sense because I had to smoke a bowl to help kill off the hangover from the night before. The bowl doesn't really eradicate the pain, but rather stops me from caring about it. I've heard that morphine does the same for those in great amounts of pain, perhaps I should try morphine sometime.\n\nI hadn't known before the Trials that our power would be entirely dependent on how many \"followers\" we had. We did not need to be worshiped, only had to have other people do what we were so *perfect* at doing. Lovely idea if you ask me, I could not care less about anyone else and whether or not they worship me, but the fact that I can be more powerful than my 6 new brothers and sisters by doing no extra work did feel quite exhilarating when I felt that power start to pour in from the billions of my followers. \n\nOddly enough though, it meant almost nothing to me. I don't really have any use for power considering I already enjoyed my life happily before the Change. Manipulation was loving her newfound power, as it turns out there is far more weight in your words when you have strength to back them up. Personally, that seems to be bordering on intimidation but I digress. The world reeks of my sin. Nobody even seems to need encouragement to commit it, and even if they do, it hardly takes much effort. My followers are consistent too, unlike that old Wrath fellow who seemed to have fantastic years in those with conflict and would be far weaker when the larger countries settled down. Hell, even Gluttony was more consistent despite rarely being the strongest. I liked Gluttony, despite the fact that all we really ever did was sit around with Sloth. I would enjoy whatever my craving was at the time, be it the wine, the women, or the weed, and talk to them about my upcoming role. Sloth would lay around and play his games, throwing in his input occasionally and Gluttony would tell me how to influence my followers if they began to drop in between his seemingly constant gorging himself on food. I hardly listened unless Lust would come over, she was certainly hard to ignore, and impossible to turn down as it turned out. She thought it was hilarious that even I with all my potential for power would still fall victim to someone like herself. What can I say? She looked good despite being multiple millennium old. Power keeps the body young. \n\nI suppose I will have to get to work if my power ever starts to dwindle but that seems more unlikely every day. Good. Work is boring and it feels tremendous to look good without it. Every night I find a new club in the city that I'm staying in. Go out, do whatever drug I'm in the mood for or just keep in simple and go with the one that every country seems to think is ok despite how many it kills. I'll find a beautiful girl and charm my way into her bed for the night. This part has never been hard, not even when I was human. Every girl has somebody they want. I don't need to be that man, but I can let them think that I am for the night. Had Temptation been accepted as one of the new Seven I'm sure that his power would have leeched off mine from nights like these. The next morning is always an unseen escape to Waffle House, my dad used to laugh and call it \"The Breakfast of Champions\" or \"stick to your ribs\" food. I miss him. After that, I just do whatever I'm in the mood for. I could spend my whole day playing a game or getting high or exploring some gorgeous place on the other side of the globe and take some random girl with me to make her dream come true, although she probably wouldn't come if she knew I just didn't want to be alone and don't really care about her. Turns out money would never be an issue again, sin pays. And then the night would come again. What a lovely lovely existence I have now. \n\nI hated humanity, at least the parts where I was sober or working. I remember those dreadful nights of arguments with my family. They always told me I was wasting my life or my youth when I would fail my classes or forget to show up for work. They didn't care that I was happy somewhere else, be it stoned on a couch or laying next to someone in bed. Life was just a road you followed and if you go off the beaten path to enjoy it, people always seem to get angry. Perhaps they need to wander off the path themselves, or perhaps they've done it and gotten it out of their systems. Age seems to do that to people, luckily there will never be a shortage of the young and wild and free for me to worry about. \n\nI've been living like this for a few years now. I'll talk to the other Six now and then to catch up, it is always nice to talk to someone who understands your life. Hard to find someone like that when there are only 7 of you alive. Then again, 1 in a billion isn't that rare in the broad spectrum of things. We're no more important to the universe than the worlds 7 most powerful ants are to humans. I should know, I've seen enough of it. Walked across the surface of VW Canis Majoris and danced through the gasses of supernova. I still do that when I want to see true beauty. It is nice to be one of the Sins now, to truly live for what I believe is the purpose of life and never have any worries of my own. \n\nToday was the first day in a while that things changed. I got a call from Scorn. She said that we needed a middle ground, that people were losing their hatred and contempt and changing it to emotions that gave her no power. She must have had Abandonment in mind because she sounded furious and he had always had that effect on her. He was probably just getting stronger than her and that always sent her off. As it turns out, everyone that quits something they try or becomes depressed and loses their interest in life was nothing but more battery power to Abandon. Scorn was the determined type and that infuriated her. Or maybe being hateful was just her play, and eventually she'd feel that way about me. Either way, I had no interest in helping her until the end. \"It could be fun.\" she said. Of course she had to go and say that. She must've taken that trick from Manipulation's book because she knew it would work on me. I'll finish out the rest of today and give her a call tomorrow. I'm already far too gone to actually try to be useful. But it could be fun, she knew I could never ignore that. How could I? There is not a single thing worth doing in life if it brings no pleasure. I mean, after all, I am Hedonism.\n\n\n\nFirst time writing one of these in a while, feel free to shoot it to shit or ask questions"
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[WP] It is often noted how heroes have "plot armor" as a superpower, but not you... You have found your success through using "plot holes".
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[
"\"Your time ends here, Holy Plotter!\" Dr. Death seemed proud of himself.\n\n\"One thing you forgot,\" I said.\n\nDr. Death seemed... uncertain. \"What?\"\n\n\"You forgot... That the writer never said why my time ends here!\" I shouted.\n\nDr. Death gasped. \"No! He must have! How could he just start his story on such a stupid line?!\"\n\nI smirked. I slowly walked away. Dr. Death had nothing to do to me. In fact, he was just a regular Doctor with the last name Death.\n\nDr. Death, the criminal mastermind, with his doomsday ray gun, called back to me.\n\n\"HAHAHAHA! THE WRITER HAS GIVEN ME A REASON!\" he said triumphantly.\n\n\"No!\" I said. \"But he never said what it does specifically!\"\n\nDr. Death's ray gun was of immensely precise crafting, and was built out of the strongest metal known to man. It used foreign technology to center energy on a single location and implode all atoms inside of it.\n\nDr. Death grinned manically. \"YES! THANK YOU WRITER!\"\n\nI quickly replied, \"But he never said what it was centered on!\"\n\n\n\n\"WRITER! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!\"\n\n\n\nDr. Death was standing over me. He aimed the death ray at me while I was tied up.\n\n\"But wait!\" I quickly retorted. \"I'm tied by rubber bands!\"\n\nI quickly broke free. I punched Dr. Death and disabled the death ray, then I sent him to jail.\n\nDr. Death sat in his jail cell. Slumped against the wall, he quietly muttered to himself, \"He never said that Holy Plotter wasn't a 3 year old...\""
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[Inspired by this thread] (https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/7ya7i0/if_there_was_worldwide_game_of_hide_and_seek/)
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[WP] You are the seeker in a worldwide game of hide and seek.
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"The task was simple, Hide and Seek. We started with 49 hiders spread across the world about eight thousand years ago. All cursed by The Coven till the last is found. I, the unlucky seaker, was also denied the right that \"those found shall also seak\" instead finding them caused rapid aging. These people turned to dust when I caught them. The first time it happened was absolutely terrifying. The second was an accident. I put out an ad a few years ago letting these people know I could end their cursed lives if they wish and soon I would be gone and they would lose their chance of finally resting at peace. Six people came to me, we spoke of their many lives and their children and their accomplishments and their regrets. I touched them according to who wanted to go next and I asked again before I released them from this cruel world.\n\nIt has been about a week on earth, space is beautiful. Thanks for the ride Elon.",
"Honestly, the first 6 billion took less time to find than the 7th. It was cool, you know, seeing the giant picture of myself in the sky so people would know who to hide from. I mean really, what are the odds. In this game of hide and seek, everyone is immortal, so needing to leave your spot to get food isn't a worry. Finding the children was the easiest, they didn't hide very well and were usually pretty happy to become seekers after they were found. I mean, this game could go on forever, so allowing the found people to become seekers was really a good idea. Not really sure what caused this game to start in the first place though, kinda strange coincidence that it began on the same day all governments shut down. But I'm still pretty upset about the hiders being allowed to change spots. I mean really, I've walked across every continent with my army of 5 year olds, and I have to do it again to find people who moved? Oh no, I have to search every ocean, at every depth, and not miss a single square mile. Because surviving underwater is a piece of cake with immortality, and the midnight zone isn't very easy to navigate."
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Slight repost but different look, whatever :/
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[WP] Due to a very impressive accident, you’re the only parent to an unruly teenage dragon. Said Dragon just fell for the school nerd who plays DnD
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"Dad:\n>Now son I just want you to remember one thing.\nYou might not be like all the other children, but if she is someone special, follow your heart.\nShe might even become a good domi----ungeon master someday, so when if you guys end up together, just protect her treasures and never let anyone raid her dungeon.......er \"the\" dungeon..\n\nReginald:\n> So what you're saying is.. follow my heart, don't eat her, but make sure no one else can get to her?\n\nDad:\n> WAIT don't eat her?? /shrugs/ I think you got it yes, but if anyone tries to steal her away from you just make sure you keep her protected\n\nReginald\n> sounds easy enough, I mean, I'm already the schools toughest, meanest - hot breathed man out there\n\nDad:\n> well I feel you still have a little bit of growing up to do, in time you'll understand the hardships of life and love and all that\n\nReginald\n> as long as she's mine then we can be together \n\nDad\n> Exactly\n\nDad's Thoughts:\n> hmm I don't know if I said all that right.. I geeked out when I heard she plays DnD... meh he'll learn",
"**Tried a different style, so please bear with me. Comments appreciated! PART 1 of 3**\n\nYou know how life coaches and the snake oil salesmen tell you to “practice gratitude” or some shit? Like say what you’re grateful for and all that shit. Well, I am very grateful for two things:\n\nOne, my daughter, the most wonderful daughter in the whole world.\n\nTwo, the fact that dragons apparently can’t eat their parents, under no circumstances, for whatever God-forsaken reason. ‘Cause otherwise I figure I'da been dinner a long-ass time ago.\n\nNow when I won the dragon egg from the carnival 17 years ago and the Gypsy lady… Sorry, *Romani* lady (or whatever the hell she was) told me not to expose it to fire, I thought it was ‘cause then it would melt or something, like since it was made of wax cuz it was a decoration. So I didn’t pay it no mind and I left it in the shed with all my other shit. Then I had a couple too many and I forgot to put out my bonfire and it burned down the shed.\n\nIt was not made of wax.\n\nNext morning I heard all sorts of nasty squawking, like a damn goose stuck in them burnt rafters I thought, so I grabbed my .22 and went out there to put it out of its misery.\n\nSo when I saw some big-ass red lizard the size of my microwave and it looked at me with it’s big-ass eyes and made some cute-ass chirping noises and spat fire at my toes, well, I thought that was hella cool and I kept it and I called it Allison. Then when I woke up one day and a little ginger baby was curled up in the fireproofed dog bed and there wasn’t no big-ass lizard anymore, I said “fuck it” and went down to the courthouse and signed the adoption papers and then I was a dad at the ripe old age of 18.\n\nWell now Allison is a fuckin’ 17-year-old and let me tell you, kids that age can be a real piece o’ shit, dragon or no dragon. \n\nShe been sneaking out all the time, like the little idiot thinks I don’t know. Hell I did the same thing myself when I was her age. Givin’ me sass too, lyin’ about petty shit. Just yesterday she tells me she’s “gonna go study History with Clark and Sara and Arty.” She was carrying her math book. Like she’s a smart girl but dang she can be an idiot sometimes. And my God them clothes she was wearing! Shit, I ain’t expecting her to be a freakin’ nun and I ain’t no miso—woman-hater or whatever, but when you’re a parent and you remember your high school days you *know* when some girl is dressin’ to get the plumbing checked. \n\nSo I got all mad, like look we had that Birds n’ Bees talk she can be honest with me, I like them friends she got and she always goes to the theater and the robotics meets so she can give them bedroom eyes to that little emo Brillo pad Arthur Penn. He’s a smart kid, they both know to use protection and shit. So when she was all lyin’ to my face I got real mad ‘cause I wasn’t feeling respected.\n\nThe fuck you are, I said, you gonna go study fuckin’ *anatomy* with Arty isn’t that it? Gonna be cold if you gotta walk to Arthur Penn’s house wearin’ *that* I told her. She said that “she was an adult now and shouldn’t need my permission to choose her own clothes” and “she can make her own decisions about her life since she’s the age of consent,” and how “I was being positively *draconic!*” \n\nWell good luck I said, I changed your diapers kiddo and fire comes outta that end too. Gonna barbecue that poor kid I said.\n\nWell then she got all mad and started crying them big crocodile tears from her golden eyes, and she said how I don’t understand her and Arty does ‘cause he knows all about dragons, he even got a book on ‘em, loaned it to her. She didn’t say she hated me, we talked about how family ain't allowed to hate each other but she sure did say “I was making her so frustrated” (basically the same thing) and how she “feels so alone in the world and she wants to feel like a human being for once instead of a monster” and that “Arty understands her on a deeper emotional level than anybody else.”\n\nGirl you gotta turn into a 10-foot long flying lizard and snatch deer from Lars Hollick’s woods, ain’t no human can understand you not even that Penn boy.\n\nBut I didn’t say that. I said she wasn’t no monster she was my daughter. I said I was sorry I got all flustered and upset, it's just that I work real hard at the mill to put food on the table and send her to that gifted school and pay for her singing lessons and I know that she’s a special girl with special needs and dreams and I try hard to understand her life but I’m sorry ‘cause I don’t always get it. And maybe if I'd gone to one of them Ivy-leagues like she's applying to (God ain't that the neatest thing) I woulda been better equipped to raise her but that's not how life turned out and I'm trying the best I can. So when she gets like this it hurts my feelings and I feel unappreciated. Well then she started crying about that and said how she was such a bad daughter and that made me feel like some real shit because she’s the best daughter in the whole world so I said look Allie, lemme see that book he gave you.\n\nWell fuck me if it wasn’t a D&D book! I almost started laughing. Like, I thought she was gonna go get stoned or drunk and then burn off some kid’s dick, but she’s a fuckin’ nerd thank Christ. But I saw the way she smiled when she pulled it out and I thought, ah hell, maybe it'll be alright, you know? So I told her to show me her character sheet and her eyes got all wide like a deer in the headlights.\n\nWhat? I played it too, that was some fun shit back in high school, ‘specially after Jimmy Sellers stole my Nintendo, that little shit. I woulda gone and beat it back out of him but his dad was the sheriff. \n\nSo she pulled it out and well what do you know? *Alysera the Dragonborn Bard.*\n\nShe finally got to be herself with her friends.\n\nWell I’m still worried about that Penn boy getting his sausage grilled so I told Allie, I said look I used to DM back with Uncle Max and Hoss Cooper, so how about you invite your friends over to the house and y’all can play here and I’ll make my famous Pesto Garlic Bread and they can study and play D&D here anytime. Well she wiped away her tears and sniffed and said “Okay” in that sort of way that she meant it and not just blowing you off and then she hugged me. Then she said “Thanks Dad” and decided she’d change out of the tube top and heels in the middle of freakin’ November.\n\nYeah Allison can be a real turd sometimes, but I wouldn’t trade her for all her weight in gold.\n\nBecause she already found that. I don’t know where she gets it but she piles it up in the cellar. Don’t tell the cops.\n\n***Edit: I made more down below.***"
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[WP] You're the very first person to die and be sent to hell. You design the eternal punishments.
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"\"Sooooo....\"\n\n\"Yeah?\"\n\n\"So when we gave you an unlimited budget and infinite time to design the worst suffering imaginable, we were a bit surprised by the drawings. Nevertheless, we were told that you were 'the guy' so we let you carry on. And now I'm told none of the other demons or demigods understand what you have done and even the ones who have undergone testing report underwhelming results, to say the least.\"\n\n\"I see.\"\n\n\"So we need more. More fire maybe? More spikes? More racks and electrocution? Flaying? Hooks? Pins? Nails? Shadows? We have all of this. What can we give you to make these work?\"\n\n\"Walk with me.\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"Just, trust me.\"\n\n\"OK, but do not toy with me, mortal, for I have my own ways of making you suffer should you be toying with the Dark One.\"\n\n\"Just come one. Here. Room one.\"\n\n\"And...\"\n\n\"And what?\"\n\n\"All I see is an infinite undulating path between beds in a pitch-black room.\"\n\n\"You have never stubbed a toe.\"\n\n\"... we only have hooves.\"\n\n\"Well how could you understand?\"\n\n\"And what are the plastic bits strewn between the beds?\"\n\n\"LEGOS.\"\n\n\"Explain.\"\n\n\"Just... can you get a human test subject?\"\n\n\"Noted... next room... it is just a big bucket of popcorn. Huge. With movies playing on a big screen.\"\n\n\"Do you have floss in hell?\"\n\n\"We don't really have teeth.\"\n\n\"Exactly. And water?\"\n\n\"No, no water.\"\n\n\"Like I said, let's bring someone down to test.\"\n\n\"Fine. Fine. Next room is just a car on an infinite road.\"\n\n\"What is the speed limit in hell?\"\n\n\"55, as everywhere.\"\n\n\"I have instructed the demon driving the car ahead to go 38 to 49 miles per hour at varying intervals, then depress their brakes for no reason. Have you ever driven?\"\n\n\"No... again, you are suggest human tests.\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"Fine. Fine. I am to believe that the hallway of paper jutting from the wall will actually cut your soft skin? That the partial tearing of finger-nails that then hang off just-so is actually painful? That the eternal sound of someone chewing will actually be that annoying? No blades anywhere. No cutting or stabbing or... this all just seems so, well, blah.\"\n\n\"Just... just give it a go.\"",
"“Hey!” I said. “Watch what the Heaven you are doing. Do you think that melt proof knives are a luxury down here?” \n\nThe demon looked at me. Good God he was dumb. I mean, not like normal dumb, but supernatural dumb. And that’s dumb on a whole other level. It’s Biblical dumb which is to say that it’s so dumb that a normal human would burst into flames once he realized it. \n\n“Don’t scream at my demons,” Lucifer said, coming up from behind. That’s the thing about Lucifer. He always comes up from behind you. Smary bastard, that one. Most of the time he just screams “I have been forsaken! I would not bend the knee!” Get over it, whiny prick. \n\n“Look, Lulu,” I call him that because I know it bugs him. “You’ve given me absolute shit to work with. You told me to build the eternal torments. So that’s what I’m doing. But I could be doing better if you gave me a higher quality of worker. Look at Methos over there. The dude is gnawing on his own hoof. I mean, what the fuck dude?”\n\nLucifer scowled at me. He’s always scowling. The guy needs to learn another facial expression. \n\n“Methos fought Micheal himself! However, I will admit he is not the best choice as a foreman,” Lucifer said. \n\n“You fucking think!” I said. \n\nLucifer picked at his horns a little bit. It’s a nervous habit he has. He’s thinking, but the ideas aren’t coming fast enough. It’s probably how he found himself in this situation in the first place. You would think that “The King of All Evil” (another one of his self-proclaimed smarmy titles) would be a bit quicker on the uptick. \n\n“I’ve got an idea,” I told Lucifer. “And it’s a good one. But Lulu, you are going to have to work with me on this one.”\n\n“What is it?” he said. \n\n“These dipshits don’t listen to me. I don’t speak their language. I’m going to need to delegate. I need someone that they listen to.”\n\nLucifer shuffled one of his cloven feet. They were cracked from when he got his ass kicked by Him. I hope it hurt. \n\n“I did not put you in this role to delegate,” he finally said. “Their language is violence and evil. That is also your language. On Earth, did you not destroy the tribes? Did you not anally penetrate the beasts?”\n\n“Yeah, I did. And it was awesome. You want a beast anally penetrated, I’m your dude. But here, it’s something different. They need someone that speaks demon violence. I’m just straight up human violent. Totally different thing.”\n\nLucifer stood silent, which in of itself was good. Once the guy starts talking it quickly turns into a rant about how unfair the universe has been. He has no idea. \n\n“I got all the plans. I’ve shown them to you. Great stuff, awesome stuff. Rolling lava over in the east bay. A little bit of gutting in the west. And in the 5th circle, by the J.C. Penny’s, a whole line of people that pay with a check that won’t go through. Great stuff.”\n\n“What is a check?” Lucifer asked. \n\n“I’m thinking long term. You’ll get there. Read that book you stole that says “The Future Of Humanity”. Great stuff, lots of good ideas in there. In a couple of millennia, we’ll debut the room where no light switches work. It’s going to be awesome.”\n\n“Ok,” Lucifer said. \n\n“But first, we’ve got to get the foundation attractions settled. The fire and brimstone stuff you asked for. That’s got to be done first. That’s where you build your brand. All of that is in that book. Great stuff. Over there, where Mang is scratching his ass, that’s gonna be where we chop a lot of heads off. And then, once that is done, Bob there is going to reattach them. For all eternity. Like I said, great stuff.”\n\n“But…”\n\n“Come on, Lulu. Don’t ‘but’ me. This is going to be awesome. You’ve seen the plans. You know what we are gonna do here. But I need to delegate.”\n\n“To who?”\n\n“You of course,” you fuckwit I didn’t add that last part. I’m working the big guy; need him juiced up. “And no one speaks demon like you. I bet that if you just follow my plans, and you tell these short bus nimrods what to do, you can get this done.”\n\n“Me?”\n\n“Who else? You are the King of All Evil Didn’t you say that! Hell yes, you did. You badass.”\n\n“I am the King of All Evil!”\n\n“God Damn right you are. And this is a King Of All Evil kinda job. You said to me ‘Og, destroyer of the righteous, make me a Hell that will punish all those that sin!’ You said that, right.”\n\n“Yes!” Lucifer said. \n\n“And that’s what I’m going to do. Look, the waiting room is getting overcrowded and we are behind schedule and over budget. So I need you to jump in there, bust some heads and for fuck’s sake tell Marvin to quit eating his own shit. Even here, that’s pretty damn gross. So, are you up for it? Can you get it done?”\n\n“I can! I am the King Of All Evil!” Lucifer said. \n\n“Great, take my plans. Go over there and start to work. Don’t let them unionize. That isn’t going to end well for you. It’s what you did in Heaven, and I think we all know how that turned out?”\n\n“Yeah.”\n\n“Great, Lulu. Really spectacular.”\n\nI gave Lucifer my plans, which were written in crayon by one of the other demons. I’m pretty sure he was dyslexic. Lucifer stomped on over, always with the stomping and coming up from behind, and went to his demons. Sally was using a stone to scratch her balls with. I waited. Fifteen minutes. Then another twenty. Pretty soon, Lucifer was sidetracked and telling how he was the King of All Evil and what not. No one paid attention. He ran over to a demon and started pointing at the plans. The demon drooled on the parchment and then fell asleep. Lucifer went to other demons and pretty much the same thing happened. \n\nI turned and walked out of the great hall; the last circle of Hell. I shut the door on my way out. I didn’t bother to lock it. Why should I when the “great workers” inside didn’t know how to turn a doorknob. Seriously, these guys are fucking stupid. \n\nWith that settled, I looked around my Hell. Oh, it’s mine now. The things I could do. The horrors I would build. It’s going to be great. \n\n“You have done well,” said the Lord. Always with that damn disembodied voice. \n\n“Yeah, yeah. I know. The first part of Hell is finished. Big man is going to be trapped in there for a long time. I got catering to show up in a thousand years, but all the food is going to come with childproof wrapping. That should last another thousand years.”\n\n“Well done. Then go. Build what I have commanded you to build.”\n\n“I’m on it. I’ll build you a Hell that will punish every sin. Murder, gluttony, all that. But remember the deal. I get a whole goat section, right?”\n\n“As you wish,” the Lord said. \n\n\n"
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[WP] It turns out man does have a natural predator, the Collective, and it destroys all the planets humans live on. This is why man has always wanted to fly and go fast—to escape. Now, the Collective is coming to earth.
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"Pollution in the air and in the water. Global warming. School shootings. Increasing rates of abortions. Cellphones. \n\nI told the world from my little corner walk soap box, but no one would listen.\n\nI felt like Noah telling the people that the world was coming to an end.\n\nBut they didn't listen to Noah. They didn't listen to me.\n\nI had a dream that the end was soon, and during the next afternoon, I noticed a young man listening intently to everything I had to say.\n\nI pointed to him and asked, \"You. Young man, you. Do you believe?\"\n\n\"Yes,\" he said. \"I believe.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n\"I am a scientist,\" he replied. \"I want to know, though, how *you* knew.\"\n\n\"Revelations,\" I told him. \"And another one last night told me that the end is soon.\"\n\n\"Yes. I had one, too. I was supposed to come here and get you so we can escape.\"\n\n\"How?\" \n\n\"I work for Nasa,\" he answered. \"I have access to a rocket ship. But I had another revelation that there's six people we need total. A male and three females.\"\n\nThe sky began to darken and drops of rain began to fall.\n\n\"It is not time yet,\" I reassured him, looking up at the sky as well. \"But let us pray we find them before it is too late.\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"
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[WP] Automated alien mining vessels land on our Moon and throughout our solar system and begin strip mining them of anything of worth. They avoid only Earth and Europa while ignoring any attempt at communication.
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"The halls were as silent as the space that surrounded the station. The dim lights that flickered as the generators cycled were all that interrupted the stillness of Gagarin Station. The Mess and Crew Quarters were left bereft since the first signals were received from the Charon relay. All that remained was a skeleton crew of specialists to assess the situation. The crew gathered in the Forward Observation Port overlooking the Oceanus Procellarum and the machines that surveyed its surface. The mare was dotted with several thousand of them. \n\n\"Well, shit...\" Bonner mumbled to himself as he toiled away beneath the array's dashboard. The display shut down with each power fluctuation as the generators cycled.\n\n\"Anything serious?\" Val peaked beneath the projection field to find Bonner on his back wiggling into a better position. \"Clearly this time. We can't hear you from under there.\"\n\nBonner stopped wiggling, moved his hand from beneath the busy dashboard revealing a raised middle finger.\n\nVal smiled before returning her eyes back to her station monitor. \"Love you too, Bonn.\"\n\n\"Hailing frequency still strong?\" Rojas spun away from the observation window toward Val.\n\n\"Strong and silent. Still no response.\" Val replied a moment after as she clicked away at the transparent monitor.\n\n\"How many cycles?\" Rojas said after a moment of consideration.\n\n\"Since the most 00:01...\" A beat passed as she turned the display to face Rojas.\n\nRojas scoffed to himself before turning toward the observation panel.\n\n\"You dig up someone's backyard at least have the decency to say something-\"\n\n\"They're automated, Ro. Completely autonomous operated on a pre-programmed runti-\" Bonn rattled off.\n\n\"We know this already, Solomon. Please concentrate on the projection field. We're blind without that array.\"\n\nThe maria filled the entire viewport as the station passed over its length. The machines below toiled away seemingly indifferent of Gagarin station's presence.\n\n\"Let's just get down there!\" A voice interjected through the deck. \"We've been cracking away at analysis since before the array started bugging out and what have we learned about these things?\"\n\n\"Jorge...\" Val turned to face the voice.\n\n\"Nothing, Val. The answer is nothing,\" Jorge's steady voice strained to mask his impatience.\n\nSilence fell over the room.\n\n\"We have to go down there. The Moratorium wasn't meant to apply in these situations.\" \n\nRojas rubbed his chin. His gazed fixed on the busy machines below.\n\nBonner raised his voice to reach Jorge. \"The Moratorium was designed *exactly* for these types of situations,\" Bonner wiggled from beneath the dismantled array and propped himself up to face Jorge. \"We are vastly outnumbered by a foreign life form wielding technology that we do not understand and they have not transmitted a single bit of communication on any channel known to man...\"\n\nThe room fell silent again.\n\n\"What do you want to do? Reason with them?\" Bonner's sarcasm made Val smile.\n\n\"Shit, beats waiting around for... what exactly are we waiting for?\" Jorge directed the question to no one in particular.\n\n\"Until we receive word from Juno Station or Terra makes a move.\" Rojas replied evenly. Gaze still fixed on the maria.\n\n\"Please. By the time Brass makes a move these things will have packed up with the entire Moon in tow,\" Jorge's steady delivery cracked under the sarcasm. \"We at least have to do something different.\"\n\n\"I-\" Rojas was about to stand before the intercom cut him off.\n\n\"Energy burst detected from the edge of the Maria!\" Winston's frantic voice jolted the crew to life. \"Electromagnetic pulse. Telemetry estimates imminent.\"\n\n\"Crafty bastards...\" Bonn sprung up and sprinted off the deck.\n\n\"Ro, we're within range,\" Winston's voice filled the room once more. \"It'll knock us out of orbit if reserves don't hold.\"\n\n\"Bonn just left. Meet him in Engineering and do what you can.\"\n\n\"Val, send distress to sister stations and Terra. Juno base too if you can. They might pull the same shit with them. Jorge, seal this deck and track Winston and Bonn. Seal Engineering once they're in.\"\n\nRojas moved quickly to his station to sound the general alarm and attempt to reverse their course.\n\n\"No point, Captain. We're too far in range.\" Val said calmly as her hands moved rapidly over her station's monitor.\n\n\"Focus on what you're doing, Val. If we go down, I'm making sure we land near one of those things.\" Rojas's eyes were fixed on the trajectory he was plotting.\n\nThe generators audibly cycled and shut down as the station shook slightly. Oceanus Procellarum began to grow larger in the viewport as Gagarin Station began to descend closer to the maria.\n\n\"System is offline, Captain. Life support will hold until we make landing. There's enough juice to land safely, but couldn't say anything beyond that.\" Jorge's voice was nervous.\n\n\"Well, you got your wish, Jorge,\" He flicked on the intercom. \"All-hands brace for impact. All-hands brace for impact.\""
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[WP] A weary man walks home from work. He arrives to see a hooded figure standing at his front door. The hooded figure hands the man a handgun and small photograph of a young woman and tells the man he has 24 hours to kill her.
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"Did it matter that I was retired? No. Working the life I had done so well in rebuilding, a piece of mushy-wet scum waited in the rain at my front door. I noticed him like a black blur in the corner of my eye when driving up to the annoying sound of my windshield wipers squidgy and squeaking. Parking up on my driveway I remember my wife was still on her shift. I got out my car. Decided to forget the umbrella. I could feel my blade stuck against my static leg hairs above my ankle, the buckle looser than this morning. I locked my car doors, tucked the keys deep into my blazer pocket.\n\nThe thick raindrops were pattering against his waterproof hood and I wondered if I sounded like a drum to his ears. I was ready to pin myself to my bed, chuck out my phone and ring Domino's for me and the wife to enjoy when she came back. Instead, an unregistered shotgun, an unfriendly smile, an unsightly picture of a young woman and an unenthusiastic nod. Then he was gone with the timescale of 24 hours. \n\nI sighed, metal gun smug in my armpit. I struggled with the front door but managed it with more effort than I could be bothered with. The door creaked behind me and clicked close. I forgot to wipe my shoes on the mat. The wife was not going to be happy about the dirty prints. But I just wanted the job over and done with and headed up the stairs, half thanking God she hadn't chosen carpet. \n\nI took off my shoes, headed to my study and plonked down at my seat. The last thing I wanted to do was sit at another fucking computer desk. It was only bearable because of our framed picture of the best wedding day I could have hoped for. I stared at it while the piece of junk loaded. Tapped in the password, headed over to the scanner and printer combo. Slid the picture in. I studied it for a brief moment. The woman wasn't much of a looker -she was about as average as a potato. I shook my head at my own comparison and picked the photo from the machine. I sat back down, exasperated. \n\nMy screen flashed with a match. Not that you need to know, but the occupation I held for so long gave me the opportunity to secretly keep software most people wouldn't even dream of. But here I was, middle of a suburban paradise living a fairly luxurious life, looking at my next target wonder through Target of all places, the one just down the road. A God damn local. I shook my head, slammed the laptop screen down and decided to get it over and done with. I guess the advantage was I knew of all the cameras in the area. Knew how to act, how to prevent any identification, any problematic issues and just get the job done.\n\nThe rain was still going when I stepped back outside. I half-jogged back to my car, unlocked it and sat inside, shotgun now taking its place in the passenger's seat like a good little puppy. My old friend. I made my way out the driveway and took it easy up the road. It wasn't as busy as expected on such an evening but the traffic was unpredictable around here. Not like the city. The wipers were still smudging against the glass and my chest was queasy. There was some uneasiness inside of me. I had worked so hard to be normal and I was doing anything but normal. The hyper senses inside of me had activated. I recalled number plates of all vehicles around me, took mental notes of faces and voices and whatever conversation willed its way towards me. It was imprinting into my memory after so much practice of ignoring all the irrelevant details. \n\nBut either way, I had to do it. I was already there, already making my way towards the woman. She was already making her way to her car. I watched, car behind her enough to not be a concern, close enough for me to monitor. She opened her boot, picked out bags of shopping under the rain. I saw her stomach and my stomach swirled with acid. The wife had lost three already. I didn't know if it was me or her or what. But the truth was that karma was laughing at me. And there I sat, staring at my next victim.\n\nYou don't avoid the call. You can be in the middle of a wedding and a word can tell you to end the father of the groom and you do not hesitate. I was hesitating. I was being too much of a human. I wondered if it was a test. I wondered how much it would affect my wife and I. But I knew that no matter what I chose, I had bought first class tickets for us both to the depths of Hell. And with that final thought, I drove by, shotgun raised. I aimed. Fired.\n\n*I have lost my motivation lately. So thanks for a prompt that made me write. ~~Even if it's almost 2am hahahha~~*",
"As I sat there drinking my coffee sunday morning I got a call on the phone. Quite an unusual occurrence for me, but a guy handing me a gun and saying I needed to kill someone in twenty four hours last friday evening was even more unusual. In fact it was the first time such a thing had happened in my life, though my dad handing me an ice cube and telling me to slip it into my mother's trousers as a child was somewhat similar I suppose. Sighing I set down my coffee and the news paper I was merely pretending to read as the news always was just quite a bit of the same thing, and went to answer the phone on the wall.\n\n“Hello there” I said in my usual monotone voice, which in turn was an expression of my boring and unfulfilled monotone life. \n\n“Participant.” it said in a robotic voice that sounded strait from some cheesy hacker-esque sci-fi film. \n\n“Uh-huh” I simply answered in kind, already bored of the conversation.\n\n “Well, it, um, seems, well, that you’re not participating.” the voice replied quite awkwardly. \n\n“Participating in what?” I droned fearing it was some sort of crappy new telemarketer technique. \n\n“Well, uh, the game of course.” The crappy telemarketer said as if it were obvious, confusing me even more and making me want to hang up.\n\n“The game? I don’t believe I’ve signed up for any games. Having fun is against my life's mission to drain all humor and merriment from the world.”\n\nThey paused for a bit, and then finally answered in a rather beleaguered way as if I was troubling them terribly. “The game I handed you the stuff for a few days ago, and gave you instructions.”\n\nIt clicked now who this was bothering me for no reason. “Ahh, Mrs. Jeeves from next door. That's you isn't it. The cookies and the get well soon card were much appreciated by the way, though I don’t see how that was a game.”\n\nTheir exasperation evidently increased as they muttered a bit to themselves at this comment. “No, the game of assassin. The one I gave you the pistol and photo for.”\n\nI let out a sigh. I would have to thank Mrs. Jeeves in person if this was not them. “I see, well nice talking to you.” I said, and then being interrupted before I could hang up.\n\n“Why aren’t you playing the game?” He demanded of me, in a rather loud tone of voice.\n\n“Why would I kill a random person because a stranger told me too.” I sighed to him, wishing that this conversation would just finish up so I could get thanking Mrs. Jeeves done with.\n\n“Well, what did you do with the gun then?” They asked in a rather tense way.\n\n“I gave it to the police of course. What else would someone do with a random gun they got.” I droned on, hoping to get him to hang up out of boredom.\n\nHe made a few angry sounds at this, which made me mildly pleased. “And the picture?” \n\n“I threw it in the dumpster.” I said dejectedly as he still seemed rather invested with the trivalties of this boring game, and keeping me on this call. \n\nSuddenly I heard from the other side of the call shouting of people telling him to put his hands up, sudden swearing, someone trying to run, and then fireworks. I simply shrugged and hung up, as he seemed occupied with a spontaneous dance party that broke out over there.\n"
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[WP] It’s the heist of the millennium. Location: a small nearby planet. The goods: the planet itself.
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"*Kettleblack Station, orbiting Sentell III*\n\n\"You know what the problem with Johan's Planet is?\" Johan asked.\n\n\"The fact that it's actually named 'Sentell III' and not 'Johan's Planet'?\" Helen suggested.\n\n\"No,\" Johan said. \"Well, yes, that too. But the problem with Sentell III is that it's way the hell out in the middle of nowhere.\"\n\n\"I would have figured,\" Helen said, \"that the problem is that *we* are well the hell out here in the middle of nowhere.\"\n\n\"That's an epiphenomenon of the location of the planet. Johan's Station-\"\n\n\"Kettleblack Station,\" Helen corrected.\n\n\"is stationed around Johan's Planet-\"\n\n\"Sentell III,\" Helen continued.\n\n\"and Johan's Planet-\"\n\n\"Sentell III\"\n\n\"is way the hell out in the middle of nowhere,\" Johan finally finished.\n\n\"I'm not sure you're using the word 'epiphenomenon' correctly,\" Helen said, \"but unlike the names of this station and its planet I don't actually know the correct word.\"\n\n\"Anyway, the point is, I was thinking. What if Johan-\"\n\n\"Sentell-\"\n\n\"'s Planet *wasn't* way the hell out in the middle of nowhere. What if it was, say, somewhere between Earth and Venus?\"\n\n\"That would make our commute easier,\" Helen said. \"In that we could commute from somewhere instead of living in this trash heap.\"\n\n\"Right,\" Johan said, \"that's what I was thinking about at first, too. But then I remembered some trivia-\"\n\n\"Oh dear gods not this again,\" Helen said. Johan always managed to spin some tiny bit of trivia into some nonsensical plan. For instance, he'd once asserted that an improper flag being hung in the admiralty court rendered it an illegal operation. That was, in fact, why he'd ended up transferred to Kettleblack. Helen still wasn't sure what *she'd* done to deserve the same fate, but it certainly had to have been something bad.\n\n\"I know, I know,\" Johan said, for once demonstrating a small amount of self-awareness. \"But listen, seriously. Newfound planets have a very large bounty nowadays.\"\n\nIt seemed like a non-sequitur, but Helen knew it would tie back in somehow. \"That is true,\" she said, \"it's been so long since the last new planet that they're offering enough money to retire rich several times over. I see what you mean about Sentell III; if it were even remotely accessible it'd have already been colonized and we'd at least get shore leave.\"\n\nSentell III was actually a beautiful planet, perfect atmosphere both figuratively and literally, and a striking 0.999 Earth Gravity. It was perfect, but the confluence of jump points that led to it took an entire year to transit. Compared to the more accessible planets' transit times of a week or so, it placed the cul-de-sac strictly in the \"pretty but useless\" category.\n\n\"Yes,\" Johan said. \"so what we need to do is move the planet to the Sol system.\"\n\nThat was a leap of logic even for Johan. \"What?\" Helen asked.\n\n\"I looked it up,\" Johan said, \"planets are considered new if they are a previously unidentified body discovered *in a system*. You see? If we move Johan's Planet to just outside Venus' orbit, it counts as a newly discovered planet. And since we're the people who moved it there, we're the discoverers!\"\n\n\"Well that's great,\" Helen said, \"aside from the whole 'trying to move an entire planet a few thousand light years' thing. I mean, even if you did accelerate it to 0.9c and point it at Earth - terrible idea, by the way, just in case you were contemplating that, you have no way to slow it down again - we'd be long dead before we could 'discover' it.\"\n\n\"Please, Helen, give me some credit,\" Johan said. \"We obviously take the planet through hyperspace.\"\n\n\"Right,\" Helen said, \"Of course. We open a hyperspace conduit the size of a planet, we somehow get the planet into it, and then we *maintain* that conduit for an entire year somehow.\"\n\n\"See, that's the genius!\" Johan said, \"It'd take a thousand hyperspace engines to do something like that!\"\n\n\"Yes,\" Helen said, \"but I was going to raise that as an objection instead of whatever strange encouragement you seem to have taken from it.\"\n\n\"Helen,\" Johan said excitedly, \"Helen, listen to me: I have a thousand hyperspace engines.\"\n\nHelen began: \"No you don't-\" but then she stopped. Johan had more than a thousand hyperspace engines, she realized. He just had to scavenge them from... \"The spare parts? You got into the *spare parts*? The ones that we're supposed to be used when our relief ship gets here and inevitably breaks down because its hyperspace drive has been in use for over a year?\"\n\n\"Those are the ones!\" Johan said gleefully.\n\n\"We'll be stranded, you idiot!\"\n\n\"No, we'll ride the conduit back to Earth with the planet. It's win-win!\"\n\nOn one hand, it was a terrible idea. It was a terrible idea even taking into account the usual terribleness of Johan's ideas. But if she didn't give Johan this chance, she'd fall victim to an even more horrible enemy that had stalked them relentlessly since they'd begun their duties on-station: Boredom.\n\n\"So, hypothetically speaking, how long-\" Helen began.\n\n\"I already wired them up. I just have to press this button,\" Johan said, indicating the button he'd have to press.\n\nThe lights dimmed and the artificial gravity churned for a brief moment, and then everything returned back to normal.\n\n\"You pressed the button instead of just pointing at it, didn't you?\" Helen asked.\n\n\"It would seem so,\" Johan said.\n\n\"I can't help but notice that we're not back in the Sol system,\" Helen said.\n\n\"It would seem not,\" Johan said.\n\n\"And I also can't help but notice that Sentell III is no longer there,\" Helen said.\n\n\"That also seems to be the case,\" Johan said. After a moment of awkward silence, he suggested: \"Maybe we just sent it along ahead of us?\"\n\n\"No hyperspace conduit opened,\" Helen pointed out.\n\n\"Maybe I accelerated it to 0.9c?\"\n\n\"For the sake of future humanity, you'd better hope not,\" Helen said. \"No, you vanished it but good. Do you have any idea how much trouble this is going to get us in? I am seriously asking that question because I think we might be the first people to have actually lost an entire planet and they're going to have to invent entirely new punishments just for us!\"\n\n\"Oh yeah,\" Johan said, \"I've had a few of those tailor-made for me.\"\n\n\"Johan!\" Helen said. \"Pay attention! The planet is gone! It's like it was never there!\"\n\n\"What if...\" Johan began. He paused because he knew that usually those two words caused Helen to immediately object, but she was clearly entirely out of ideas so he continued: \"What if *we* were never here.\"\n\n\"Use the hyperdrives to run away?\" Helen asked.\n\nJohan nodded. \"Use the hyperdrives to run away.\""
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[WP] You've been tortured by an illusionist for years. You never know what's illusion and what's reality.
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"*\"Rise and shine, flower.\"*\n\nThe words rang through her mind, bringing with them the imaginary image of a sickly-sweet smile set upon bright, bloody lips. She started awake with the usual shaking, abruptly rising from the sweat-stained pillow that grabbed hold of her tangled hair with gentle thorns, trying to drag her back down into its feathered whispers and unbearable heat.\n\nIt was shockingly bright, until her eyes seemed to adjust and the blinding white blooming from every corner receded and turned to the shadows they were in truth. Truth. Not an easy thing to find, she thought as she slowly leaned forward, sitting in the clutches of silken sheets that threatened to wrap her tight like a mummy. She threw them away with a shuddering breath, eyes working to focus on something true.\n\nThere was precious little of that in her life here. Part of her mind had given up on searching for it, but what remained sane, she clung to every waking moment in the hope that she could survive with some of it intact. The Matron did her best to snuff it out.\n\nThe Matron--her captor--whose piercing gaze now appeared at the forefront of her vision above those twisted red lips. But no, that was her. She was staring at her own reflection in the mirror wall that stood across the room, always taunting her with such illusions. But... those eyes weren't hers, were they? Were the eyes she looked into now her own? Such was the struggle she fought every second, constant questions of her own reality.\n\nShe shut her eyes tight, kneading them with the heels of her hands. With them closed, she found a measure of peace, but it was no safe haven from the illusions--far from it. The Matron's gaze pierced even her eyelids, appearing in her sight even in its absence.\n\nDragging herself from the bed, she suddenly felt very cold. The sheets called her, tempting her with the warmth they stole, promising its return along with hers. She stumbled away, ignoring the lies that were whispered with every scuff of her bare foot on the dry stone floor.\n\nShe reached for a glass of water on the bedside table, lifting it to her lips only to suck in a choking breath, the glass shattering in her hand and slicing her skin open. Her choke began to turn into a scream, when she found herself merely biting her own thumb, hand empty. She looked at the table as she realized her mistake. There had been no glass.\n\nHer mistake was not the glass, but her forgetting to close her eyes before touching it. She'd found it a useful trick to learn the truth of whether the things she saw were tangibly real or not. The things she did otherwise only furthered her descent into insanity.\n\nClutching her bitten thumb in a handful of her yellow gown she abandoned the table, turning for the door. The door, however, was something of a nemesis of hers. Never quite where she expected it, nor where she saw it. In actuality, it was always at this side of the room, in this position of the wall, she told herself. She didn't trust herself about that, though.\n\nShe closed her eyes once more, reaching for the thin steel handle, and was pleasantly surprised when it was real. The cold metal in her hand passed her blind examination, ringing with each tap of her nail and wobbling as it should when she turned it. She pulled the door back, opening her eyes along with it.\n\nA brick wall met her inside the door frame, blocking what she previously understood to be a hallway. She raised a hand to it, feeling the smooth bricks and the rough grout between them. They hissed defiance and mockery as she slid her hand down, taunting three of her senses. She spat at it in response.\n\nThe spit smacked the wall with a very true-looking splash pattern. As she ran her hand over it, however, it was dry as ever. The illusion seemed to concede, silently crumbling with a gravity that was wrong as each brick tumbled until it left her sight, never to be seen again.\n\nSloppy. Very sloppy. The Matron must not have cared as much for that one. The woman must be busy with something. All the better for her--the less she was payed attention to, the easier it was on her sanity. As she took tentative steps into the hall, making sure the ground didn't drop out from beneath her to send her spiraling down into a void--it happened--she found the hard, textured carpet as real as usual. It was gray for the moment, but it often changed colors. So often, in fact, she wasn't actually certain if it had a true one. Such was her life here.\n\nThe walls were covered by gaudy, bright wallpaper with endless rows of flowers stretching along them. Tulips, at the moment. Similar to the carpet, they changed periodically, although tulips were the most common. Part of her believed they were the actual pattern of the walls, but then she didn't trust some parts of her. She started down the hall of flowers, and heard a noise somewhere around the corner down one end.\n\nThere were voices. They echoed most naturally, but that meant nothing as to their authenticity. She was tempted to investigate, but her mouth was still dry. They were in the direction of the washroom anyway, so she ended up coming closer to find a wall that she found doubtful. Closing her eyes as she walked, she wound up hitting nothing, and as she felt she passed farther than the wall appeared, opened her eyes to see it there in front of her again. Repeating the effort she found herself able to pass through again, yet the third time resulted in a bruised forehead as she ran into a wall that, after some inspection, remained real as she could judge real.\n\nThe voices now came from behind her, and she noticed she had passed a door. Walking back to it she noticed it was open a crack, and so she impassively peered in, wondering what kind of trick the Matron would pull now.\n\nShe was surprised to recognize the room as the lobby--she though for sure the lobby was on the other side of the facility. But then, she should've learned by now how much her sureties were worth. In it was the Matron, facing away as she seemed to converse with a pair of men in suits and sunglasses. Her side of the conversation was somewhat frantic--a trait she would never associate with the woman. But there she was, pleading with the men as if she was for once lacking the power to get what she wanted from them.\n\nSomehow the scene gave her a shred of hope, that there were people who would make the Matron act such a way. That hope was distorted into fear as the conversation paused, and those piercing eyes caught her prying ones. The door suddenly slammed in her face, and everything went dark.\n\n*\"Rise and shine, flower,\"* came the echoing words. A sickly-sweet smiled set upon bright, bloody lips flashed before her eyes as she opened them. She started awake with the usual shaking, abruptly rising from the burning bed to stare back, slowly realizing it was her own reflection she stared at.\n\nHer hair clung to her face wildly, refusing to let go. She sputtered and scratched it away, rolling out of bed in her struggle and landing with a very real thud. Rising from the floor, she looked around, seeing her room, just as she remembered it. She had a memory of leaving it as well. And...\n\nSomething was wrong. Different. New--but that's happened before. She made her way across the floor, bare feet whispering nothing as she passed a glass of water without acknowledgement despite her dry mouth. She grabbed for the door handle, but it melted away with the door. She tried another, but scraped her knuckles on the wall for her effort, and cradled the hand in her blue gown. She finally remembered to close her eyes, and she searched the walls by feel until reaching what should be the true door.\n\nShe exited the room with tentative steps, and the floor was gray as ever. Walls patterned with lilies flew by in varying colors as she set a brisk pace for the corner, rounding it to find the door that was open just a crack, like she remembered. As she approached, there was a loud crack that sounded from beyond, causing her to flinch back. With slower steps, she reached for the door and peered beyond.\n\nThe matron was laying on the floor of the lobby, and two men in suits and sunglasses stood over her body. One turned his expressionless face up toward her, and she recoiled.\n\nTurning back down the hall she started running, heading for the other end. This had never been part of the tricks. The Matron would never conceive the sort of illusion that would paint her with any weakness. Lilies passed by in a blur as her heart pounded in her chest. She found herself at the end of the hall with the emergency exit--a door she rarely saw, and one that always threatened her at the mere thought. Such threats were nonexistent now, and so with rapid breaths, she closed her eyes.\n\nReaching out, she felt a solid steel bar, cold to the touch, and upon applying pressure heard a click and a scrape. The truth of it screamed to her, urging her on, and she charged through with abandon.\n\nA cold night met her outside, with air that filled her lungs with raw freedom. She dashed across a dark parking lot, almost laughing through her breathlessness. It was an outside unlike any the Matron ever conjured--this one smelled of truth, tasted of it, breathed it, and in the night sky the stars shone with it.\n\nAs she ran she closed her eyes and finally let out a long, full laugh. It rang true to her ears. She felt the pavement beneath her feet, the asphalt. She was out. Free. She opened her eyes, and a bright white light met her. A horn blared, growing with it.\n\nThen there was darkness.\n\n*\"Rise and shine, flower.\"*",
"I reached up to grab a coffee cup from the shelf, my other hand grabbing the pot from the coffee maker. Went to pour the coffee, and watched as it went straight through the mug and onto my feet. A second of confusion before I jump back, almost dropping the pot. \"Fuck you!\" I scream into thin air.\n\nIt had been two days since the last time he'd done something. I always amaze myself with how quickly the human brain assumes patterns. Checking things constantly falls to the wayside so quickly. After all, that coffee cup had been real every day for weeks now. What are the chances that any given day it wont be? \n\n*Well to anyone else they would be zero* I think to myself. But not for me. A few years back I had made an enemy who I didn't even know existed. Turns out that magic is real. Or superpowers. Mutant abilities. Whatever you want to call it, he can make things seem real that aren't really there. He can choose who can see or hear it, who it seems real too. \n\nIt started with small things: clothes that nobody else could see, monsters making me freak out in public, a cat that came around for a week before tearing itself open in front of my eyes. I sought out psychological help, and things were looking promising, until one day it was gone, all of it. My file, the nurses, my psychologist, even the building itself was gone. Just an empty lot as I arrived for my weekly checkup. That was when he revealed himself, told me what he could do, proved it to me. \n\nHe said ten years. Ten years of him tormenting me. He said that direct interference was prohibited, I never knew what that meant, but that he could change what I saw all he liked. Then it was a lot of tiny things for months. 8 different toothpaste tubes in the morning, making me search for the real one. Cars almost hitting me in the street before vanishing. \n\nThen the worst started, though I had no idea at the time. I met a beautiful woman, Evelyn, at a party at my university. She was a philosophy student, gorgeous, and immediately I was enamored. We talked for months, going on small dates and meeting up for coffee between classes. Finally we decided to make it official, and she wanted to meet my parents. We drove three hours to my dad's place, laughing and talking the whole way. We got there, and she seemed nervous, but assuring me that she still wanted to meet them. I stepped out to greet my dad, and as I shook his hand he looked behind me to the car. \n\n\"So where is the new woman?\" \n\n\"What do you mean?\" I asked, trying not to let the fear creep into my voice.\n\n\"Where is your girlfriend, you said you were bringing her out.\"\n\nI tried my best to salvage the situation, telling him that she got sick last minute and I just forgot to call and update him. I went home and screamed and cried for hours. I cursed that man, I confined him to the darkest depths of the sea and the hottest corners of hell with my words. He laughed. He laughed in false late payment letters, and fake winning lottery tickets. Once I found a lost ticket that was for that weeks drawing. I gave it to some beggar on the street, thinking that it was just another of his tricks. The next day on the news the beggar was holding up the winning ticket, or at least I saw it that way. Who knows what parts were real, the ticket, the man, or the drawing. Maybe it was all fake. \n\nAfter that I started trying to get at him. I would try to contact the police, news outlets, anyone that I could find that would be able to help me. Every time he would make me look like a fool. The police would be illusions, or others would see me as a drunk homeless man screaming about aliens. Sometimes I would get an interview, but then everyone else would see me talking about fishing or baking, even though I was hearing myself telling my story.\n\nThree years left, that's all I needed to survive was three more years. I had no friends, no family left, and I'm not even convinced my job is real anymore. I had lived in this apartment and held a job for almost 8 months now with no major issues. Just small things like this morning pouring hot coffee on myself. But overall things had been going okay. \n\nI could do it, no matter what he threw at me. He couldn't bring me down much more than I was anyway. Maybe he was bored and just decided to give me mild annoyances for the last 3 years. Regardless, I could do it. I could outlast his torments and get back to a normal life.\n\n------\n\nThe man looked outside at the poor, shivering man standing in the rain. How easy it was to keep him close and easy to watch. For 7 years he had been building this now homeless man's reality from the ground up. Just now the homeless man thought that he had spilled hot coffee on himself in his seedy apartment. None of that was real. And the magician couldn't wait to see the look on his face. The poor man would see his life start to turn around, he would get a well paying job, and the magician's pranks would slowly disappear. Then, just as the magician fades from his memory the magician would reveal reality. \n\nThe facade would drop, and the man would realize that his entire life had been an illusion, that nothing in the last 5 years had happened. Every small illusion just fuel to feed the real beast. In reality he was homeless, penniless, and had nothing but his name. But the best part, the magician thought, was that the man would forever question his life, his very existence. That would be enough punishment, the magician thought. One life destroyed for one life lost. "
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[WP] When an angel attacks your school/work you find out that your the child of a demon lord and that your best friend is your butler/bodyguard and you must return to hell.
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"I stared at the hauntingly beautiful angel lying on my desk, staring blankly at my ceiling, a dagger in her chest. The blood was starting to spill on my carpet, but that was the least of my problems. I shot an accusing glare at the man who I thought was my best friend minutes ago, and he just let out his usual boyish smirk. \n\n\"I did what I had to. The bitch was trying to kill you,\" he drawled with an indifferent shrug. \n\nI help up a hand to shut him up and paced around the room. I tried to wrap the idea around my head, but it all felt surreal. I'm even staring at the physical evidence, and yet my mind strongly rejects the facts. \n\nBastien cocked his head to the side, as if he was listening to something only he could hear. I stopped walking and finally faced him. \n\n\"Okay. Talk,\" I demanded. \n\nHe sighed and guided me to the couch. We both sat on opposite sides, making me face his serious stare, which was a rarity, since this guy was overly outgoing. \n\n*Or is he? I suddenly feel like I don't know him anymore.*\n\n\"Remember when we were kids? Everytime your emotions heightened, lights would flicker erratically and glasses would break. Sometimes you'd see *things* that other people normally wouldn't. But those *things* didn't even try to harm you, right?\"\n\nI numbly nodded. My childhood wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows. Sure, I wasn't tormented by *those*, but the people from the orphanage started to regard and treat me differently when I tried to talk them about *those*. Only Bastien stayed by my side and believed me. \n\n\"It's because the dark ones can tell His Highness's blood in you, and for a while, the Dark Lord was able to hide you from *them* in plain sight.\"\n\n\"The Dark Lord? What bull crap are you spouting now?\" I cried, but he quickly grabbed my hands and squeezed them, a ritual he does to calm me down when I'm about to go on full-blown hysteria. \n\n\"Your father didn't attempt to talk to you, since doing so would expose your identity. You've now reached the age of twenty-one, your powers are fully unleashed. But because of that, *they* could also sense your unholy power. Lucy, you are His Highness's sole heiress.\"\n\nI glanced back at the angel, wincing slightly at the sight. \"So, I'm getting targeted by the heavens?\"\n\nHe gravely nodded. \"I briefly heard from His Highness. Everything is prepared, and everyone is eagerly awaiting your arrival. Let's go before *their* reinforcements arrive.\"\n\nHe pulled me up, but I stopped him. This was happening so fast, my mind couldn't quite process it. I could hear his words, but nothing seem to register, at least, not fast enough. \n\n\"We don't have much time, Lucy,\" he told me in that same gentle tone, but I could sense the urgency in his voice. \n\n\"Where are you taking me?\" I finally asked. \n\nHe shot me another one of his boyish smirks and gave my hands a light squeeze. \"We're going to your empire, Hell.\""
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[WP] You find a magic debit/credit card with your name on it. It hasn't infinite money, but it has enough to fulfill all your current expenses and a little extra for fun. It refills itself monthly. After a while, you quit your job. Suddenly, after 10 years it stops working.
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"There was no way this could be true, Carl thought about what his neighbor Cathy had told him. There was no monthly in her account, and apparently there had been none in that of her upstairs neighbor either this morning. He strolled down the street, taking long slow drags off his cigarette; still high from a session of wake and bake. taking in the day as he strolled along, thinking about his plans for the day. That problem would sort itself out later he assured himself.\n\nThe weather was perfect, today, and a tropical depression down of the coast of Baja was supposed to be pushing a swell to the coast today. \n\nWalking into Starbucks to get a morning brew he decided this morning would be surfing, then an afternoon of writing. It had been 5 years ago that he had decided that he should take up writing, with all the free time in the world he should do something productive. in that time had managed to cobble together what he called a good start, to the great American Novel. But how could he lock himself inside writing when the world was there and ready to be explored. At times he felt he knew he was more Cassidy than Kerouac, but not today. he would get something done today; after going surfing. \n\n\"Thats $3.65 sir.\" the sound of the cashier snapped Carl out of his thoughts and he reached to his pocket for some cash, before realizing he had forgotten it when he left this morning. He pulled out his wallet and gave the cashier his card.\n\nAfter a moment, \"it's declined sir.\"\n\n\"That, can't be\" Carl responded. \"I get paid today.\"\n\nThe cashier motioned to the newspaper.\n\nCarl looked. Pausing for a second, not certain he had read correctly. he moved closer. \n\nReading the headline: \"UBI Discontinued.\" he looked back to the cashier.\n\n\"And about goddamned time if you ask me.\" the cashier responded to Carl's look of astonishment. \"but I'll buy you one last coffee you lazy fuck.\" The cashier pulled a $5 from his pocket and put it into the register as he handed Carl his coffee..."
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[WP] A scientist finds out that when people die they are reincarnated as another person but they lose their memories of their previous life, he has just found out a way to get those memories back.
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"\"I'm telling you, I'm Abraham Lincoln. Or, well... I was.\" Arthur Bingley was in high spirits today and wasn't going to be dissuaded by the laughter and the polite coughs from the town hall crowd. \n\nThe host politician, who Arthur had less than twenty four hours prior thought to be a no-name nobody, was looking deeply flustered and Arthur could understand why, but... well, there were more important matters at hand.\n\n\"Excuse me,\" said Arthur. \"I'm afraid I must continue. It is of vital importance to the nation.\"\n\nMore laughter. They thought he was joking. \n\nSecurity seemed to be on its way to escort him out. He didn't have much time.\n\n\"Mister Parker, this man who you think to be a simple politician, is the living reincarnation of Adolph Hitler. No, now listen!\" he protested in response to loud groans. The crowd's amusement was quickly turning into irritation at his insistence on being ridiculous.\n\nBut he knew he wasn't being ridiculous. He'd injected himself. He saw it now. His head swam with the depth of it all. He put his hands to his head. They were going to think he was having a stroke or a concussion. He'd taken too much of the serum, he was sure. He could see his own ancestry... well, not *ancestry* exactly. He could see every person he'd been in the past.\n\nAnd every person they'd all been in the past too. Most of them had some pretty boring histories, though he thought he saw a glimpse of an influential scientist or two.\n\nWhat he couldn't shake, however, was Mister Parker, the no-name from Utah, who happened to be the reincarnation of Adolph Hitler, Genghis Khan, Attila the Hun, Alexander the Great, and countless other feared rulers and conquerors throughout history who'd shaped the world and caused unimaginable suffering in the process.\n\nSurely not all of them were bad, Arthur reasoned, as the milliseconds slipped by. He was fast running out of options here.\n\n\"Yes!\" he proclaimed. \"I'm the reincarnation of Abraham Lincoln. I'm afraid that's the only interesting one in my lineage. This man, however, who you think to be a simple politician, is the reincarnation of countless dangerous men throughout history!\"\n\nStrong arms took hold of his own. Arthur fretted. This wasn't going at all like he'd planned.\n\nCome to think of it, he hadn't thought it through much at all. He had the distinct and pressing feeling that he was an embarrassment to his ancestry. \n\n\"Look, if you'll just listen,\" he pleaded.\n\n\"Wait a moment,\" said Parker. \n\nSecurity paused in its efforts to drag Arthur out.\n\nParker stepped forward until he was inches from Arthur. \"You mean to tell me you can see peoples' ancestry? That we are all reincarnated? What proof do you have of this?\"\n\n\"I have a serum,\" said Arthur.\n\n\"Where is it?\" Parker's eyes flared with a fire that Arthur didn't like the look of.\n\n\"Er... well...\" said Arthur. In an instant, he decided his fate, though he wasn't quite sure what fate he was deciding. \"I only made enough for one dose.\"\n\n\"Oh,\" said Parker. He sounded disappointed. \"Yes, of course.\" His expression changed to something that Arthur thought looked like patronizing sympathy. \"Yes, take him away, please. Let's get back to what matters... policy!\"\n\nArthur let them drag him out. Unfortunately, they didn't drag him out front and drop him outside. They dragged him out a side entrance and dropped him unceremoniously into a vehicle with tinted windows. \n\nTwo men got in next to him. He could see their histories going back and gulped. Locked in a car with the reincarnation of Goebbels and Jack the Ripper. \n\nWell, he thought. At least if something happens to me I'll be reincarnated. \n\nHe didn't find this reassuring, as he wasn't sure if he'd remember. The serum might be lost forever. Or, it might end up in the hands of some of the worst terrors in human history.\n\nHe needed to figure out a way to destroy the serum before they could get a copy of it.\n\nHe decided to call upon the insight of his past selves and asked himself... What Would Lincoln Do?"
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[WP] While on a high school field trip the school bus collides with a radioactive tanker. The liquid pours onto all of the students, killing some and giving the rest powers. Describe the events that take place following the 15 or so students and teachers newly gifted with superpowers.
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"The atmosphere around the school after the accident was a mix of sadness, fear, and jealousy. There was 30 people on the bus that day, twelve students, one teacher and the driver were all killed. Everyone else walked away the ability to move things with their minds. The two teachers both left the school, nobody heard from them again. The rumors ranged from they were abducted by the government, to a simple change of jobs. \nTwelve students emerged with powers, the popular kids used their powers to maintain the status at the top of the social food chain. It was more the fact that they could use their powers, although most of them rarely ever did. They were the ones who went on the local news and told sob stories about the kids who didn’t make it, many they barely knew or talked to. They craved attention, and not a day went by where they didn’t tell someone how “damaged” they are from the accident.\n\nThe party animals became evil pranksters, constantly getting in trouble for the various shenanigans their new abilities granted them. From stealing from the school store, to messing with teachers, these kids would do anything for a laugh. Most of the pranks were harmless, although a few teachers did suffer minor injuries from pranks that went too far. The problem was that whenever a prank happened, everyone from the bus got called to the office for a lecture about responsibility and all that crap. \n\nThen there was me and my two best friends. We were the nerds of the school. We liked to stay out of the spotlight and we were the only ones who did not love the new spotlight that was placed on us. We tried our best to avoid the attention, but it was not easy. News vans were constantly parked outside our schools, we had to talk to the police to get the crowds of reporters off of our front lawn. \n\nA few weeks of this went by, one day all of us got called into the office. We figured this was another lecture after a stupid prank, but this time was different. We couldn’t help but notice the men in black suits standing all around the room. We each sat down around the large boardroom table, unsure of what was about to happen. Then, a strong but quite voice filled the silence from the entrance.\n\n“hello children”\n\nEveryone’s heads quickly turned towards the door. Standing there was an old man, he was not more than five feet tall, his head was shaved clean, his white beard was short and proper. Everyone was silent as he scanned the room of confused students. Finally, I decided to speak up.\n\n“Who are you?”\n\nI could feel the weight of his stern gaze on me, I averted my eyes as quickly as possible. After a few seconds of dead silence, the man finally opened his mouth to speak. The words he spoke stick in my mind to this day.\n\n“Who I am does not matter, what matters is what is coming, and how all of you are going to stop it”\n\nEdit: formatting\n"
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[WP] Your physics professor is 20 minutes late to class, and counting. Everyone is packing up, but when the first student tries to open the door, it's locked. Your professor's voice comes from the speakers. "It's time to see how well you've learned."
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"I'm sick and tired of waiting for my professor to show up. He's twenty minutes late, and I'm the only one who showed up for class. For the first five minutes, I figured maybe there was some freak delay in traffic or something, and after ten minutes, I figured I'd make a few brownie points for being the only one in class. Well, now the clock is twenty after, and I'm tired of waiting. I could be watching Twitch or YouTube, and I'm wasting my time here? Nuh uh! \n\nI stand up, grab my bag, and go to the door. I push, it doesn't move. I look through the little window above the handle. There's a freaking metal bar blocking the door! \n\n\"Samuel, I don't think you'll be getting out quite that easy.\"\n\nSo after twenty minutes, I finally hear from a hidden professor? What a weirdo... Wait, he's been watching me for twenty straight minutes!? He really is weird...\n\n\"Samuel, I've barred the door with aircraft-grade material. You must use what's available to you to escape. That is, your brain and your hands!\"\n\nSo I think on it for a while. Surely I can't brute-force aircraft-grade steel. That'd be futile and a silly sight to see. There are no other windows except for the tiny viewport on the door, and I don't have any equipment to climb to the drop-down ceiling.\n\nI search the prof's desk for anything useful. A plastic ruler, a protector, and some pens and pencils. Useless.\n\nHowever, he didn't say I couldn't phone a friend.\n\n\"Hey Jimmy, the professor's gone off the rails!\" \n\"The physics professor?\" \n\"Yeah! He locked me in the classroom and barred the door with steel!\" \n\". . . Samuel. . . You're such a dunce sometimes. The professor said last week that he'd \"Bar class for Halloween.\" We weren't supposed to show up today.\" \n\". . .\" \nJimmy was busting a gut at this point, amused at Samuel's ignorance. \n\"That bar isn't steel either. It's name is 'Bar-Day the 13th', and it's made of aluminum. Just push a little, man. You're in a friggin physics class, use that knowledge. Try to get some *leverage* against the situation. Jimmy, out.\" \n\nI look out the door again, and observe the bar. In fact, if I peer through just right, I can see the end of the bar closest to the handle. . . But if I can see the end of the bar, it's mounted on the hinge side. Duh-doi... I push with all my might... And the bar just wilted.\n\n\"Have a great Halloween, Samuel!\" \n\"Whatevs, prof.\"",
"\"Son of a bitch.\" The student said under his breath, as he jiggled the classroom door handle. He walked off angrily, beckoning for another to try.\n\n*Shit.* James McKinley thought. *This is going to be terrible.*\n\nAnd he was right, as the professor's voice began to broadcast over the classroom speakers.\n\n\"Listen up children.\" He said mockingly, his tone almost cold and sadistic. \"Today is going to be your final test. The test that will determine how well you have learned.\"\n\nA small device sitting on the front desk lit up. In a flash, it pulsed, and grayish-blue light resonated outward in a wave. The lights flickered off, and the students were in complete darkness.\n\n\"If you pass, you are free to go. If you fail...\"\n\nRed emergency lighting flickered on. James looked around, searching for a clue. \n\n\"You'll end up like the rest.\"\n\nTwo. There were only two other students left in the room. One was a nice chick, who was considerably one of the smartest students to ever come in here, named Sarah. The other, a quiet man they called David, was a reject. The school had picked him up a while back, the weirdo on the block whose parents were monsters. James hated him. He had to.\n\n\"Escape.\" The professor croaked. And there was nothing. No further word. No response. No clue. Nothing around to help them.\n\nAnd then they waited.\n\nHour after hour progressed, day after day, year after year. It felt like an eternity. Timeless. Like that of a demonic dream. They searched and searched, but to no avail. \n\n\"What are we going to do?\" Sarah said, over and over. That's all she said. *What are we going to do?* Over and over across eternity as they watched the hands on the clock slowly turning, again and again, to the point of utter madness. Someone was going to snap. Someone had to. The world was devolving.\n\n\"What are we going to do?\" David repeated back to her, looking at the ceiling. *\"What are we ever going to do?\"*\n\nAnd then James remembered. He remembered everything.\n\n*Wake up.* He thought. *WAKE UP*\n\n*And the everything went black*\n\n\nHe gasped for air, rising up from the deep depth of nothingness and emerging from his bed unharmed. Next to him, a doctor, surprised to see him awake.\n\n\"Ah! Good!\" The doctor said, checking James to see if he was unharmed. \"You have returned! I see our efforts were not in vain. You have done well.\"\n\n\"Thank you.\" James responded in kind, breathing in the air of the facility. And yet, it was so very welcome.\n\n\"I take it you have found information on the suspect?\"\n\n\"Subconsciously, yes. The man's name is David Fink, and he is a physics professor at the University. An interesting choice for a resistance leader, no?\"\n\n\"Indeed. Your information was incredibly helpful. Now get some rest. You will be debriefed by our officers in a few hours on your next assignment.\"\n\nAs James got up to walk out, the doctor paused. He called for James, at least one last time. \n\n\"Goodbye James.\" He said with a sad smile. \"And Heil Hitler.\"\n\n\"Heil Hitler.\" James said, with a wry smile.\n",
"The chair under me explodes and my lower half is torn to shreds. My classmates gather around me in horror as life leaves my shreded corpse. As my last breath escapes my lungs, I hear my professor say \"just figured I'd go ahead and get this out of the way. He'd have never made it anyways.\" ",
"There was, to be honest, a fair amount of shock from the room.\n\n\"What is she talking about? How well we've learned... physics?\"\n\n\"Is this like Saw? I love those movies, but I never wanted to be in one!\"\n\n\"My cell phone isn't working!\"\n\n\"We're in an inside room - there's now window to get out of...\"\n\nThe intercom blared back to life: \"Calm down and take your seats, and I'll explain.\"\n\nEveryone went back to their seats and became very quiet. If anything, they were curious as to what the hell was going on.\n\nThe professor continued: \"OK - so as you know, the university is tearing down Aberdeen Hall and replacing it. That's well and fine, it's the oldest building in the university. But, we got an internal memo this morning that the physics department is... well, let me read it to you.\"\n\nThere was a shuffling of paper, and when she started again, she sounded less composed: \"Campbell University is best known for our liberal arts and football programs. Many of our departments offer no meaningful life lessons for our target student types, and we must dedicate resources to our core strengths. Biology and Earth Science will continue as auditorium lecture courses; Chemistry and Physics are being eliminated entirely.\"\n\nThere was some shock around the room. To be sure, no one here was a science geek. But the class had been enjoyable, and some of the simple demonstrations - standing on a bed of nails, for example - were entertaining.\n\nAfter a pause, she continued: \"Given the university's... idiotic stance... Well, I felt that my last class at this school should help the administration learn a lesson. But as much fun as it might be to attack them with a makeshift potato cannon, that's very illegal and morally wrong. We're going to go with 'slightly' illegal and morally OK instead.\"\n\nMurmurs started to pick up - what in the hell did she have in mind?\n\n\"As you've noticed, the only door is jammed. I've complained to maintenance about it a few times, but we're the lowest priority, of course. Sure, it's.... 'extra-jammed' this time, but that's not the point. If the school can't see why physics is useful, I want you to show them. Get the door open. You'll find all the cupboards are unlocked - I was doing inventory - so you have access to everything you should need: pulleys, rope, weights, hooks...\"\n\n\"When you get out, feel free to tell them about this intercom message or not; I don't want to go to jail, really, but I was getting fired anyway, so I'm not sure I really care. Don't start a fire; you shouldn't need one.\"\n\nI looked around the classroom. There were a couple faces a bit disappointed at that last remark, but there were also these wicked grins forming. I felt my own as well - sure, I didn't love physics, but this was a good hands on puzzle, and it felt like we were doing something to help right a wrong.\n\n\"You should have about 60 minutes left before enough of you are missing from the next period that someone contacts the dean's office. Oh, and like any assignment, SHOW YOUR WORK on the chalkboard!\" She laughed, but it was a dry, sad chuckle. Then the intercom cut off.",
"A sharp ringing in my ears is the first indicator that I am awake, as I lay in bed contemplating the pros and cons of arising and making breakfast.\n\nThrough my eyelids I can tell it's light outside, meaning my slumber has nearly run its course - school beckons with its stern finger of chalk.\n\nBut 5 more minutes can't hurt, right?\n\nAs I traipse my way down this line of reasoning, I fail to notice an important detail missing from my aural landscape; the television. My little sister's always watching those dumb animated TV shows before she, too, heads off to school, so where is it? And what is the deal behind the foreign groaning I seem to be bathing in from all angles?\n\nAnxious to resolve these questions, I open my eyes to find that I am inspecting a wood veneer surface with great grandiose, and that I am, in fact, not situated in my bedroom, but in a dull classroom overstepping its timetable - on most days, this is the site of a monotonous slog through some facet of Physics, though judging by my malicious relocation I would assume centripetal force is not the topic at hand - though, my head certainly feels like it's swinging around a set point.\n\nAs I rise my head, I locate the source of the groaning - or, rather, sourcES, as the entirety of my physics class is here, eerily located in the proper seating plan, and dressed in full uniform. I meet eyes with a few of them, both parties unsure how to react - what does a person do when they seem to be shackled in their physics room?\n\nWait... shackled?\n\nYes, each one of my classmates has a reasonably loose length of chain around their neck, as well as their legs and midsection. Anxiously, I lift my hand to my neck and feel a chain of a similar nature. I suddenly feel extremely claustrophobic, knowing the existence of this chain, and give it a small tug. Alarmingly, the loop merely tightens around my throat to a circumference only slightly larger than that of my neck. I let out a small gag, and return my hand back to a neutral position on the desk.\n\nSo what now? Looking up, I spy holes in the ceiling for each chain, only leaving me to imagine the contraption concealed amongst the beige plaster. Another mechanism lies in the corner of the room, situated a few feet off the ground, and connected to yet another chain leading skyward.\n\nWhat the heck is going on?\n \nA voice, coming from the standard speakers situated at the front of the room, obliges my question with an answer:\n\n\"Hello, class. I want to play a game.\n\nEach and every one of you does not appreciate the usage of Physics in a real life scenario. Now, you are all in a real life - or real death - situation.\n\nYou are all firmly chained to your desks, with only your midriff, head and right hand free. There is another chain wrapped loosely round your neck. Both of these chains are secured by a padlock only removable through the usage of a special key.\n\nWhen I finish speaking, a large quantity of sand will begin spewing onto that raised platform in the corner of the classroom. This is your counterweight.\n\nThe sand will tauten the chain as more collects on the platform, eventually crushing the windpipe and causing a painful death.\n\nIf you are to live, you must secure a key to open your lock. The keys are stored in individual pods at the front of the classroom. How do you retrieve these keys, you may ask?\n\nEach of you is in possession of a conductive cable. Both the cable and the pods are surrounded in Velcro, meaning the pair will stick when they come in contact.\n\nHowever, the board is electrocuted, and contact with the board will result in a lethal electrical shock.\n\nGiven the rate of the sand, you have 5 minutes to calculate a method to retrieve your key and live. Good luck.\"\n\nThe sand begins to patter onto the metal platform, like rain at a funeral.\n\nI pick up my electrical cable.",
"The room went quiet. Everyone craned their heads up staring at the antiquated intercom box in confusion. The steel door is locked, and here we sit on the 9th floor. There is no way out. Whispers turned to murmurs, murmurs into shouting, shouting into hysteria.\n \n\"What does he mean? Why is the door locked?!\" one of his classmates screamed. \n \n\"Let us out!\" another belted out.\n \nSuddenly an ear deafening screech came across the intercom, followed by the professor's clearing his throat. \n \n\"*Everyone take your seats. The test is about to begin. As you may have noticed, many of your seats have been made to face the person who previously sat behind you. Your seats remain yours. Sit in them. You have sixty seconds to take your seats. If you are not seated at the time the alarm sounds, you will be eliminated. You are to remain seated until further instructions are presented.*\"\n \nMany students rushed to their seats. One refused. \"This is retarded. He can't flunk us for not being in our seats when he's not here. F%#k that guy. You hear me, Mr. Oakland? You can't keep us here!\" \n\nJackson had always been at odds with Mr. Oakland on various issues. He sat in defiance at Mr. Oakland's desk, his feet on the keyboard as he leaned back in the office chair. \n \nA dull tone sounded over the intercom. *Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep*\n \nJackson laughed. \"Hah! See? You can't do shit old man.\"\n \n\"Jackson Anderson Cooper, of Class 906B has been eliminated. Andrew Paulsin of 908C has been eliminated. Steve Hanson of 910B has been eliminated.\"\n\nJackson's face turned pale as his hands wrapped around his throat. He gasped for air as if his lungs were being crushed. Jackson jumped to his feet only to fall prostrated on the deskin front of him, knocking the computer keyboard and monitor off to the side and sending the can of assorted pencils and pens careening across the floor.\n \n\"Someone help him! He can't breath!\" Jessica screamed as she and Monica ran up to the front desk. Before they could reach the front desk they collapsed.\n\n\"*Jessica Hernandez and Monica Black of class. 906B have been eliminated...\" Followed by a list of others from other classrooms. \n \n\"*Those who are still seated have passed this round. Those who have no one sitting across from them are now exempt from the next round of testing. Remain seated. Anyone who does not comply will be eliminated.*\"\n\n\n Part 1:\n",
"John, the smartest of the class speaks up.\n\n“Professor Quincy, we know where you keep your spare key.”\n\nHe walks over to the professors desk, and opens the drawer.\n\nHe removes the key from its spot in the cluttered desk drawer and walks back to the main entrance. \n\nJohn slides the key into the lock, and turns the door knob. \n\nHe opens the door to find an exact replica of the room, with the familiar water marks on the ceiling that he would stare at after he finished a exam early.\n\nProfessor Quincy remarked “Oh dearest John, I had high hopes for you”\n\nThe room began to shake, and the lights went dark."
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[WP] Telling a dog they're a 'good boy' resets their short fuse for destructive behavior.
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[
"I got home from work to find the contents of the dustbin scatted across the kitchen, a sofa shredded into pieces and the fridge door hanging off. The kids had made a nest of what was left of the cushions and were sat in front of the telly watching Spongebob, with Rufus the family Labrador sat between them, watching them eat crisps.\n\n\"Oh for fucks sake, Adam!! I told you, change the batteries in Alexa this morning before you leave for college!\"\n\n\"Sorry dad, I guess I forgot.\"\n\nI went to one of the cupboards that still had a door, pulled out a fresh packet of double AAs and grabbed Alexa off the sideboard. \n\n\"Rufus, roofie, who's a good boy! Yes, you're a good boy\" she started spouting once the new batteries were in. \n\n\"Alexa, shut up.\" I said, \"Adam, are you going to clear up that mess in the kicthen?\" \n\n\"In a minute dad, Spongebob is almost finished!\"\n\nI groaned. \n\n\"Alexa, place an order on Amazon, one new fridge door\". ",
"Daisy stared at all the destruction she had caused, and turned away. She had been in and out of various homes over the years, always destroying whatever she could. Most thought she could be trained out of it. They would spend hours with her, but never once did any of them say that word. Her brother, Max had been praised so often, with that amazing word. But she had never been told goodboy. No, she was always told goodgirl. Daisy didn't understand. She had been just like her brother, but she was never told goodboy. The older, experienced dog at the shelter had explained that humans said goodboy as praise. There was no mention of goodgirl, so Daisy didn't understand. \n\nEventually, Daisy grew tired of being like her brother with no reward, so she stopped trying. She became more destructive. Sometimes Max would join in, but then the humans would praise him and blame her. Finally, they sent her away and kept him. Ever since the loss of her brother, Daisy had nothing to control her destructive tendencies. She supposed that normal dogs would reset when told goodboy, but nobody ever said that to her. Until today. \n\nThis old man was also destructive. He had pushed many things over, and needed help to walk. She had come up to him in the park after yet another abandonment, wondering how easy it would be to destroy his shoes. The man had turned his head towards her, and said something to the human with him. Letmesit, he said. Daisy didn't understand, but then the man sat on a bench. She didn't know why, but she came up and put her nose in his hand to smell him. He smelled like Max. \n\nThen he said it. He said goodboy. His human companion tried to say the other, goodgirl, but the man interrupted with that word again. Goodboy. Notagsmaybeheslost letslookfortheowner butiwanttokeephim, the man then said. Daisy didn't understand. The only words she understood were goodboy (meaning good dog) and goodgirl (meaning not good dog), so she was often confused. \n\nShe followed him as he wandered the park. He somehow found her previous owners somewhere in the park back along the path she had come from. The humans communicated, but Daisy didn't even try to understand. She was a goodboy! The human thought she was a goodboy! Then her owners left, but she stayed with the old man.\n\nSuddenly, she smelled Max very strongly. And there he was! A boy ran up with Max, who was holding a ball in his mouth. Grandpagrandpa maxcaughttheball hessucha *goodboy* oohisthisanotherpuppy canwekeepher isshea *goodgirl*. Daisy understood that the boy said goodboy and goodgirl, but nothing else. That was ok. She had Max back! And the man thought she was a goodboy! \n\nDaisy looked back on the destruction she had caused. But now she was a goodboy. She looked away, and calmly, nonviolently, followed the old man beside Max, with the little human following her. Finally, finally, she was a goodboy. "
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