Split (1)

train · 199k rows

post_text stringlengths 0 17.5k	post_title stringlengths 8 314	comment_texts listlengths 1 74	num_stories int64 1 74
	[WP] You have the ability to cure people’s mental illnesses by going inside their head and defeating it in hand to hand combat. However, this one isn’t like the rest...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The sound of heavy footfalls followed me as I sprinted behind one of the barricades in the street. I wove my way between the structures, twisting and turning to throw the beast off my trail. My breath came in ragged gasps. No matter how many times I did this job, it still winded me. I really need to get in shape, I told myself as I whipped around a corner, pressing my back flat against it.\n\nSister Marita had told me this was going to be a difficult case, but I hadn’t believed her. I was one of the top psychomancers in my field, having resolved hundreds of cases without a problem. But this patient had given all of my colleagues difficulty. Even Father Romanov, the head bishop in our precinct, had proclaimed the patient unreachable and washed his hands of her entirely.\n\nBut I couldn’t give up on her. Not when I hadn’t tried everything I could think of to destroy her demons.\n\nThe street had grown quiet - too quiet for my own comfort. I leaned around the corner, taking care to keep my movements slow and controlled. As I passed an eye over the alleyway I had run out of, I felt warm air tickling along my arm and shoulder. My entire body stiffened and I turned my head, keeping the rest of my form still. With its breath blowing across my face and teeth bared in a show of dominance, I found myself nose to nose with the beast itself.\n\nI reversed quickly, backing into another barricade as I tried to put some distance between the beast and me. It followed, moving at a luxurious pace. The feline-like predator sauntered towards me, stopping just a little ways from where I stood. I watched as it shifted its weight to its back legs. It was getting ready to pounce.\n\nBefore I could prepare myself for a counter, it launched towards me, teeth bared and claws unsheathed. I flung my body to the left, dodging the brunt of the beast’s blow. As I hit the ground, I felt sharp claws drag themselves along my shoulder blade. I cried out, feeling the flesh tear apart and begin to trickle blood. Now the beast was too close for me to fight it, so I scrambled to my feet and ran out into the open street.\n\nMy mind raced for a solution. The patient’s mind would be damned to the farthest reaches of the underworld with a demon like this keeping her hostage. I had to destroy this thing before the girl and I were both killed. Think, Santiago, think… What does the girl fear?\n\nSuddenly, I had an idea. It was crazy, but I had no other options. I summoned the traces of mental energy flowing through me and directed them into a coherent thought. At the feet of the beast appeared a bright yellow object - a banana peel.\n\nThe beast ran over it, planting one giant paw on the peel as it passed. That paw went flying up and its momentum carried it forward, upturning its entire body and dropping it on its back. It lay on the asphalt, stunned. At the sight of it, I started laughing. I raised a finger towards the beast and cackled in amusement, pouring as much ridicule as I could into my voice. The beast’s form began to tremble and shift. Soon, a light burst from its mouth as it cried out in pain from my mocking laughter. Ridicule, I said to myself, a smug smile on my face. She fears ridicule.\n\nI closed my eyes and felt my consciousness being pulled out from the projection chamber. Sister Marita stood over my body, checking my vitals and monitoring my brain activity. “Welcome back, Sister Santiago. I see you’ve succeeded in your mission,” she said as I awoke.\n\n“How’s the patient?” I asked.\n\n“Basking in the light of salvation. We have done the Lord’s work today, Sister.”\n\n……\n\nMy eyes snapped open and I shot up in the procedure chair with a jolt. The head surgeon pulled away from me instinctively, his gloved hands covered in blood and holding a scalpel coated in gore. The nurses around me grabbed my arms and shoulders, pushing me back down into the chair. Some whispered words of comfort to me, others merely grunted with the effort of keeping me down.\n\n“I need anesthetic, now!” cried the surgeon.\n\nI felt a oxygen mask being fitted over my nose and mouth. As the air poured into my lungs, my eyes grew heavier and heavier. Just before I lost consciousness, I heard one of the nurses speak.\n\n“Doctor, has anyone ever woken during this operation before?”\n\nThe surgeon’s voice floated to me across a sea of black. “No… but hers is a particularly obstinate mind.”" ]	2
	[WP] "I'm confused," said one alien to another. "The humans are fighting to save their planet, right?" "Yeah, so?" asked the other. "...so why is that human pilot over there screaming about revenge for his toaster?""...what?"	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Yeah,\" said Kor. \"He seems furious\"\n\n\"That's... strange,\" said Jax. \"Just leave him be. Humans tend to get tired quick. He'll be finished in no time.\"\n\n\"Jax, he's been screaming for thirty minutes now.\"\n\n\"Nonsense, Kor.\"\n\n\"I'm serious. Take a look.\"\n\nJax lifted himself from his bench and leaned over Kor to see a live feed of the ship's supply closet, which the invaders had made into a makeshift prison room. Kor wasn't kidding. There he was - a human, screaming, face as red as a Golb plant in bloom. \n\nKor gave Jax a concerned look. \"The other prisoners seem upset by this.\"\n\nJax looked a the monitor again, and, sure enough, the other humans were huddled up in an opposite corner of the cell.\n\nJax sighed. \"Fine. I'll go check it out. You stay here and monitor the ship.\" \n\nOne of Jax's tentacle-like arms reached behind him to grab his blaster as he headed out the door and towards the prison chambers. Jax's scanner sweeped the ship, returning no signs of life. He and his partner had taken over the ship just about an hour ago, and with ease. Being a mining ship, the humans here weren't expecting to be boarded, let alone by an alien life force. \n\nJax walked the empty halls, the sound of a screaming human eventually drowning out his echoing footsteps. \"By Jeorb,\" he said to himself. \"He's still going?\" If he had any reason to compliment a human, it would be for their persistence. They seemed to fight so long and so ferociously over the most minute things. It was almost impressive. The screaming became louder and louder as the human noticed the alien's presence. Jax stopped in front of the energy-field that was keeping him at bay. The screaming stopped -- the man was quiet. Finally, some peace and quiet, thought Jax. He reached inside his mouth and turned on his voice modulator. As he spoke, a voice other than his own left his body. It sounded nothing like the human's voices, but they seemed to understand it well enough.\n\n\"What seems to be the problem?\" asked Jax.\n\nThe man began screaming again.\n\n\"You goddamn greenie bastard, I swear to god I'll -\"\n\nJax didn't even want to bother. He pointed his blaster across the energy-field and briefly pulled the trigger. A beam of plasma left the barrel and met the man's chest in an instant. He suddenly stopped screaming and crumpled to the ground, writhing in pain. Jax looked down and realized that the blaster was on it's lowest power setting; it didn't matter. He had shut the man up and he was still able to keep him for a ransom -- best of both worlds. He looked up at the other prisoners, still huddled in the corner. He asked again:\n\n\"What seems to be the problem?\"\n\nThe other prisoners were silent from the shock of having watched their pilot get shot.\n\n\"Don't worry,\" said Jax, trying to take on a human tone of reassurance. \"He's still alive and he'll be up and walking in just a few hours.\"\n\nJax asked once more, \"What seems to be the problem?\"\n\nOne of the prisoners spoke up.\n\n\"He left his toast in the toaster.\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"He never got to eat his breakfast before you put us in here.\"\n\nYou've got to be kidding me, thought Jax.\n\n\"Is that all?\" he said.\n\n\"Yes,\" said the prisoner. He seemed almost ashamed of being the same species as his pilot.\n\nJax debated helping them and decided he had nothing better to do. He walked to the dining hall and there it was. On the counter, a toaster, and in the toaster, two slices of toast cooked to crisp perfection. Two tentacles each grabbed one slice and Jax headed back to the cell.\n\nAs he was walking, he heard more unintelligible screaming. The humans must be thinking of revolting. Not like they'll get far anyways. He reached the cell and finally realized what was going on. That same man had gotten up just minutes after receiving a direct hit from a blaster, and he was still screaming about his toast while the other prisoners continued to huddle in their corner.\n\nImpossible, thought Jax.\n\n\"That better be my goddamn toast!\"\n\nJax was tired of this. He simply tossed each of the slices into the cell, burning the toast as it crossed the highly condensed energy-field. The man stared at his feet, eyes twitching at what was supposed to be his morning snack. He immediately began screaming again.\n\n\"You stupid greenie bastards think you can just toy with us!?\"\n\nJax flipped his blaster into it's highest setting and shot at him, leaving a pile of smoldering ashes where the man once stood. One of the other prisoners let out a cry as Jax walked back towards the cockpit.\n\nNo amount of ransom money would convince him to go through that annoyance again." ]	2
	[WP] Your family has held a sword for generations. Everytime someone in your family dies, the sword is reforged with their ashes, and grows stronger. You just reforged the sword with your grandfathed's ashes, and it seems to have grown weaker. You feel tingling in your veins.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "T-t-ting T-t-ting T-t-ting\n\nThe rhythmic banging of the hammer keeps my blood pumping, our family treasure stronger and better, our wills reforged.\n\nTisssss T-t-ting T-t-ting\n\nOur family is a humble one, blacksmith by trade, warriors by birthright, some call us swordsmiths. Our line goes far back to every historic footnote of any major battle you may have read about, our heirloom a ceremonial passage for the next in line.\n\nFoowoosh Foowoosh Claang Claang\n\nSome say our ancestor was a child of god and hero of valor, others say that they were born with inhuman might and intellect, others say that they were dragons turned man. What our family believes is that through effort the tiniest speck of ash can be made into so much more, thus our ancestor was nothing more but a common man, with the drive to achieve what is so much more.\n\nSwish Swish Tisssss T-t-ting T-t-ting\n\nOf course my opinion says that people could think whatever they want to for our family, but we put more effort into something that others could not hope to dream. Training from dawn till dust, blacksmithing, survival, swordsmanship, martial arts, mathematics, and so much more. From the womb we are expected to put our efforts in like our lives depended on it.\n\nRiiiip Swish Swish\n\nDropped off a cliff out of the womb, training with our elders around a year old, fighting against beasts in the jungle around five, traveling around the world about ten, then fighting a dragon about twelve, and then fighting adult dragons by yourself around eighteen. Ah I’m rambling all the frustrations I had of our family in the past.\n\nChik Tang Tang Tang\n\nI like to meditate on the past while I work, it keeps me focused and lets the time slip through like trying to pick up ashes in your hands. Though you would think we have a low percentage of heirs with our training method you’d be wrong, alchemy, time, and effort does a lot to keep the line running down our veins. Finally completed I look over the greatsword that is as big as I am lengthwise with a thickness comparable to five sheets of paper. This… is a failure of a work. The sword is no better than it was previously, but that does not justify my dissatisfaction with this. Whenever a descendant of the line obtains the rite of ceremony you would reforge the sword using the ashes of our valourous warriors into whatever weapon you so choose and then it would go on to be improved over the generations with our literal blood sweat and tears. This however is a marginal improvement from the broadsword it was before for me but it is in quality the same if not worse than it was before I laid my hands on this weapon. The blacksmith inside me denies this weapon from me, but blood of the warrior inside me is pumping in ecstasy. The final rite, the rite of blood, is to soak the blade from the blood of yourself and your enemies in the heat of battle. The purpose is to not lose yourself to the bloodlust and to train your will to the limit, becoming one with the weapon forged and the ancestors before you.\n\nThere have been cases like what I mentioned before… it is also our duty to reclaim our own from those driven mad from bloodlust. We are not chained to any one location, forever free to travel the world as we will it, and fight for who we choose. Magic does not flow in our veins, but pure unadulterated effort and valor.\n\nAhh… during that moment, I was so frustrated and concentrated on the past that I moved without knowing into the mountaintops not far from our hidden branch of the family. Usually mountains like these would be overrun with oversized creatures with monstrous strength but our family has cleared all such things around where our resting places are built upon. Staring into the blazing horizon I yell straight into the heavens “Pathetic Winged Wyrms! Face me if you dare to challenge me! Your red dragons long disgraced by me, come fight!”\n\nEchoing loud into the valley of mountains below, nothing happens for a while.\n\nThough the blade feels weaker than before, but the blood in my body is burning with fighting spirit to vanquish any challenger that faces before me. Ahh… The blood might be getting to my head, I need to calm down a little and not sound like one of those knight novel protagonists. Maybe I should visit my Nephew and give him a new hobby.\n\nFar into the blazing sun setting in the horizon splotches of black start appearing before gradually increases in size from all directions, heading towards the only mountaintop void of any harmful creatures, or rather, to me. Sword in hand, blood pumping and pumping, I swing my sword with my might, dodging to and fro. I’ve attracted not just dragons but even harpies and other winged creatures of the night, the sun dimming in the distance and allowing the dark clouds to illuminate the night sky.\n\nThe sword breaks but I keep on fighting.\n\nThe arm breaks but I keep on fighting.\n\nThe knees buckle down and break but I keep on fighting.\n\nSomething is different, somehow I get up, somehow I can keep on fighting.\n\nThe arms break down a monstrosity.\n\nThe broken sword breaks a monstrosity.\n\nThe Reforged sword of my blood, sweat, and tears breaks down the monstrosities before me.\n\nThe creatures of the night flee before my image, soaked in blood and gore, injured in any place imaginable, but I am reforged, the sword anew, the body anew. The sword was a failure as my trade as a blacksmith. The sword was a success as my birthright as a warrior. The Heirloom completed, but we must still strive further, and further, just like our Ancestors before us had and always will." ]	2
	[WP] You are a knight. Once again, you prepare to defend your dragon from the princess and her armies...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The patter of hooves on the morning dirt was becoming ever closer. The second attack this month, and they were angrier. Of course, I wasn't the only one defending. Hundreds of my fellow brethren joined me in the fight. The large castle walls behind us gave time for the citizens to escape to the larger keep.\n\nI could hear the horses and clanking armor getting ever so close. I stood my ground and watched the sunrise and the small figures on the horizon grow. Within minutes, the enemy had arrived, and steel clashed with scale. Everyone was thinking of their families back in the castle. Everyone had their job, and here we were doing ours. Standing at the back was the princess wearing an evil grin as projectiles slammed into the walls and my kin.\n\nNot everyone made it out. The humans decided to bring siege engines along to help pilfer our village, but no matter the wounds I sustained, I kept on. I saw my comrades drop next to me. I fought harder. The humans were nothing more than barbarians, and I couldn't stand it any longer. My last thoughts as the arrows, swords, and fire surrounded me were of her which I held dearly. All I can hope is that the rest got to safety. I had failed. The humans had finally won." ]	2
	[WP] "If I say I'm going to fill the room with deadly, toxic gas, I'm about to fill the room with deadly, toxic gas."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"So,\" Dr. Mundo leaned forward on his chair and looked at the couple seated on his loveseat. \"Tell me about your week?\" He asked both of them. The wife, Esther, had been visiting him on her own time. Through those sessions, she gathered enough courage to reveal her deepest secret to her husband, Carlos. She confessed in Dr. Mundo's office and Carlos took the news surprisingly well. Now the greying doctor wondered how they did outside of his office.\n\n\"It's been amazing, doc,\" Carlos said. \"Now the everything is out in the open I feel like there's more time for us. She can use her spiders to take care of all the household chores while we relax.\" Dr. Mundo chuckled.\n\n\"I hope you're not just using them for trivial tasks,\" he said. Esther shook her head.\n\n\"I've learned a lot about spiders from other universes since last week,\" the woman said. \"I can do so much that I couldn't do before, just by thinking about it. No matter what I want to do somewhere out there is a spider that can help.\" As she spoke tiny bright yellow spiders crawled out of her pores and rested on her arms. \"If I say I'm going to run an electric current up my arm,...\" Esther trailed off but arcs of electricity began to crackle on her arms. The spider's legs moved rapidly along their neon yellow abdomens. \"...electricity runs up my arms.\" The yellow spiders disappeared into her skin again; then, several larger, bright red spiders crawled out of her arms. The yellow ones appeared to be tiny beads with legs; the red spiders were tall with long, spindly legs.\n\n\"If I say I'm going to start a fire in your trashcan...,\" A red spider skittered down to her hand and turned around. It released a string of flaming webbing that landed directly in the trashcan and lighting the papers inside. \"Or if I want to put it out,\" The red spider burrowed into her hand as a crystalline blue spider appeared. It shot a white, thick, sticky string of cold at the trashcan. It looked like silly string but it instantly froze anything it touched. The metal trashcan was now covered in ice.\n\n\"Very impressive,\" Mundo said. \"I can see you've been putting a lot of work into learning about your abilities. What else can you do?\" Esther smiled.\n\n\"I do have my favorite,...\" she glanced at Carlos and he nodded. At his approval a giant, single, green furry spider crawled out from under her hair and to the top of her head. It suddenly leaped upward and stuck to the ceiling. A swarm of baby blue spiders crawled out of her hand and onto Carlos. He did not fidget as they climbed his neck and positioned themselves around his mouth and nose.\n\n\"It's okay,\" Carlos said to Dr. Mundo. He was looking nervous while another swarm of blue spiders crawled up to his mouth. The spiders continued to dance in a clockwise circle around their mouths. In moments they wore masks made from webbing covering their mouths.\n\n\"If I say I'm going to fill the room with deadly, toxic gas,... A hiss came from above. Dr. Mundo looked up to see green gas coming out of the large spider on the ceiling. \"...I'm about to fill the room with deadly, toxic gas.\"\n\n\\\\\\*\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is year two, day #131. You can find all my stories collected on my subreddit ([r/hugoverse](https://www.reddit.com/r/hugoverse)) or my [blog](https://hugoverse.info/). If you're curious about my universe (the Hugoverse) you can visit the [Guidebook](https://hugoverse.info/2017/11/25/hugoverse-guidebook/) to see what's what and who's who, or the [Timeline](https://hugoverse.info/2017/10/23/hugoverse-timeline/) to find the stories in order." ]	2
	[WP]‎Almost every country in the world has agreed on a legally binding framework for cooperating with the aliens, with the United States a notable exception, United Nations officials said Friday.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "We always knew the United States would mess it up for the rest of us. Even before the 2016 election, there was something about the government, the people, the way they seemed to always be so..off. From the start, in 1776, something was wrong. Everyone knew they wouldn't win against the British but somehow, they pulled through. Of course, that could have been just a mistake but the gradual rise to a superpower against what all experts said was a bit more than a mistake.\n\nFor a country that seemed so awful, with human rights violations rampant and an inept government for most of their history it seemed that they could never have made it as far as they did. Most of the time, people would say that the reason the US got to were it is is innovation. And they are right. It just isn't human innovation. The mistakes they made, the things they created were so odd, so wild that it seemed they could never figure it out.\n\nLike how long it took them to beat the Soviets. And have a hockey game be a huge hope to everyone that championed them into greatness? No. Something was wrong. And the UN knew it.\n\nThis was the final straw. The US did mess it up for the rest of us. They'd already been in contact with the aliens for a very, very long time. And they were not prepared to [share.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Suitable_Equivalent/)" ]	2
	[WP] The world is full of people that can bend elements. Usually this means water, air, fire, and rock. You, however, have the ability to bend the element of surprise.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The firebenders were always pretty mean and bullied Ning for not being able to bend one of the four elements. That’s why Ning hung out with Hanabi, an earthbender, and Shozu, an airbender. Earth and air always tended to be more tolerant people. Plus, Ning was funny, always telling jokes with surprising punchlines.\nThe trio never got in fights at school with the firebenders as none in the trio could control water to win.\nOne day the main firebender, Dongwe, called out Ning. “Hey nothing-bender, can you bend this pebble?” he said, tossing a little rock at Ning.\nNing held out his hand, stopping the pebble in midair.\n“Holy crap Ning, you can earthbend!” called out Hanabi.\nDongwe the tough bully tried not to act surprised. “Big deal, he learned to earthbend really late.”\nDongwe opened his canteen and held it up to drink some water. \nNing held out his hand again and splashed Dongwe’s water to his face. Everyone laughed.\n“What, you can bend water, too!” cried Shozu in surprise. “Next thing you know you’ll airbend too.”\nNing immediately held out his hand and brought a gust of wind.\nDongwe angrily launched a flame at him but Ning stopped it midair.\n“Impossible. You bend all four! Fight me!” Dongwe yelled, needing to regain his pride.\nHis took his fighting stance. Shozu and Hanabi asked, “How’d you do it?”\nNing replied, “I can only do whatever surprises people.”\nHe turned to Dongwe, ready to fight. \n“Well you don’t surprise me anymore, nothingbender,” Dongwe called.\nNing held out his hand, ready to fight. And he bent nothing again.", "\"You can't scare me.\"\n\nI grin, daring my buddy to do so.\n\n\"Yeah? We'll see about that.\"\n\nOver the next two years, he continuously tries and fails to get the jump on me. Masks, old-fashioned jumping out of hiding spots, horror movies (the good ones), horror movies (the bad ones), sometimes even just sneaking up on me.\n\nIn between attempts, he tells about how fun and thrilling it is. Describing several times when he's been scared shitless. And then how he laughed about it after, getting to spend a bonding moment with friends.\n\nBut because of my ability to bend the element of surprise, I never can be. I finally understand. This power, it's a curse, and I break down sobbing.\n\nMy buddy asks what's wrong.\n\nAs I'm crying my heart out, I yell, \"You can't scare me.\"\n\nAuthor's note: Mood swings anyone? r/James_Fire" ]	3
	[WP] Everything that spins, glows	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "You should've seen her -- twirling like the moon in orbit, eyes like twin comets in the cosmos. On the ice, in her skates, she was made of light.\n\nAnd she was a little bit afraid of being motionless. I took her out to dinner, called her beautiful, and watched her laugh gracelessly. \"Only because I'm supposed to be.\"\n\n\"Why? Because you're a figure skater?\"\n\nShe smiled.\n\nBut you should've seen her, really; her hair would whirl about her like tangled moonlight, and she would glow from her toes to her teeth, the only thing to ever matter on that rink. She would wave, daintily, prettily, and then step off the ice and stumble like a drunk. You'd see the crowd around her dim with the loss of it.\n\n\"It's my last year,\" she said once, sitting cross-legged on the kitchen floor. She'd said it nonchalantly, but her fingers tightened on her white teacup. \"Most skaters don't go this long.\"\n\n\"Oh?\"\n\n\"Yeah.\"\n\nShe covered her mouth with the cup, steam clouding her glasses.\n\n\"What're you gonna do next?\"\n\n\"Well,\" she said, \"I mean,\" and then she took a sip of the tea, and her nose wrinkled. \"Ouch.\"\n\n\"Too hot?\"\n\n\"A bit.\"\n\nAnd you should've seen her the next year, claiming everything felt so very final. She wouldn't sleep -- didn't want to miss a moment. When her coach brought up retirement as the season ended, she quietly agreed, then fired him the next morning.\n\n\"You look thin.\"\n\n\"Do I?\"\n\nI blanched at her tone. \"Not in a bad way.\"\n\n\"Mm.\"\n\nShe kept skating the next year, and after that again. That's when she begin to fall.\n\nShe'd used to land every jump perfectly, each move a textbook performance. But as time dragged on, she came home bruised more often than not, weary and embarrassed.\n\n\"My feet don't feel like mine,\" she said. She perched on the edge of my bed, pale hair spilling over her bony shoulders. \"I don't feel like myself.\"\n\n\"You don't look healthy.\"\n\n\"It's all I have,\" she said, desperately, as though either of us had said something much more monumental.\n\nAnd then, quietly, in the coming months, she began to burn from the inside out. The glow of performance chewed up her soul, fire biting at her very being. \n\nShe died in the summer.\n\nThe dark of the funeral felt like everything she had ever not been, the darkness of a held-breath stadium and the empty eyes of an adoring crowd. It wasn't her, her moon and her starlight and her enthralling glow of life.\n\nAnd sometimes, I would see the whiteness of her ghost, in a spinning top or a far-off Ferris wheel or a dizzy kid spinning wildly. In those little mirages of her, I would remember: her feet waltzing across the ice, her eyes boring into nothingness. Her, exactly where she was meant to be, dying day by day." ]	2
	[WP] A 911 phone operator begins to notice the same voice belonging to numerous calls that always place emergency workers at the right place at exactly the right time.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "At three fifteen in the morning, Officer Katherine Hollis knocked on the door of a certain Martha-Lorraine Richardson, whose daughter had called in a violent B&E and promptly hung up.\n\nThe radio crackled. Petrov's voice came through: \"Status, Holly?\" \n\n\"Nobody's answering.\" Holly bounced on her heels, the cold taking precedence over a defensive position. \"Do you think -- \"\n\nThe door opened a sliver, held back by a chain. An old woman's nose peeked out.\n\n\"Yeeees?\"\n\n\"MSP, ma'am. Your daughter reported a break-in -- \" she checked her watch -- \"thirteen minutes ago.\"\n\nWith the blankest of looks, Martha-Lorraine Richardson blinked her one visible eye. \"I don't have a daughter.\"\n\n\"Miss Richardson, we -- \"\n\n\"Holly,\" said Petrov, \"Holly -- across the street -- gunshots -- \"\n\nHolly spun. The patrol car sat empty in the road.\n\n\"Petrov?\"\n\n\"On your six, Holly, for god's sake.\"\n\nShe broke into a run, leaving Miss Richardson behind her half-opened door. \n\nAnd she would make it there -- just in time to see Petrov pinning a gunman to the floor, his ankle twisted awkwardly, and the homeowner, who would make a full recovery, bleeding from the leg.\n\n\\#\n\n\"...didn't have a daughter.\"\n\nOver a prepackaged salad, Jane said, \"Hm.\"\n\nPetrov and Holly exchanged a look. \"You don't seem surprised,\" Holly ventured.\n\n\"I'm not, really.\" Jane picked at a wilted bit of lettuce. \"The caller was... familiar.\"\n\nThe lunchroom, empty but for the three of them, felt a little smaller as the officers leaned forward in sync.\n\nJane rolled her eyes. \"Okay, listen. And don't -- \" she raised a finger -- \"do not make fun of me for this.\"\n\nHolly bounced in her seat. \"Ooh, is this like the psychometry thing?\"\n\nUnder the table, Petrov kicked her in the shin.\n\n\"Fine,\" Holly said. \"No jokes.\"\n\n\"Unless you bring up the psychometry thing,\" Petrov said solemnly, and Holly coughed to cover a laugh. \n\nWith another half-hearted eye roll, betrayed by a stray smile, Jane put her elbows on the table. \"Done?\"\n\n\"Yes,\" Petrov and Holly said simultaneously. \n\n\"I've been recognizing the voice on almost half the calls we've gotten these past few months.\" Jane put down her fork, a limp carrot slice dangling from the tines. \"All the weird ones -- the ones you get to a little early, like the Sousas -- \"\n\n\"The Richardson house,\" Petrov interjected. Holly's eyes lingered on him for a moment, a little bit softer than they'd been before.\n\n\"Sure,\" said Jane. \"And the caller always claims some strange identity, like, you know, a nonexistent daughter. A 'concerned neighbor.' A -- \"\n\nShe stopped abruptly as the Sergeant's head poked through the door. \"Holly? Can I speak to you?\"\n\nShe jumped. \"Yeah. Um, of course.\" She flashed a quick smile at Jane and Petrov, looking back over her shoulder as she left.\n\nFor a moment, Jane and Petrov sat comfortably in the quiet. Jane picked the sad carrot off her fork, then wiped her hands on her pants.\n\n\"Well,\" said Jane, as Petrov said, \"Jane -- \"\n\nThey paused.\n\nJane said: \"You go.\"\n\nHe grinned, then looked down at his hands. \"I was just gonna ask if -- Well. Do you want to grab dinner tonight? After work?\"\n\nJane's eyes searched his face -- the nerves in his expression, the tapping fingers on the table. He looked up at her, and she smiled faintly.\n\n\"Of course I would,\" she said, thinking, unbidden, of Holly.\n\n\\#\n\nThe call came in the morning. A woman's voice, so faint that Jane couldn't make out the words at first.\n\n\"Hello?\"\n\n\"I need you to do something for me.\"\n\nJane's eyes flicked across the room. \"Who are you?\"\n\n\"Please.\"\n\nShe hesitated, thinking of dinner with Petrov, of the Richardson house debacle. Then she closed her eyes. \"What do you need?\"\n\n\"Three things,\" the voice continued, aggravatingly familiar. \"The last thing,\" she said, \"will be to tell the Sergeant a number.\"\n\n\"Whose number?\"\n\n\"A number. Are you ready?\" Without waiting, she enunciated, \"Seven, three, four. Say it back to me.\"\n\n\"Seven,\" said Jane, \"three, four.\"\n\n\"Before that, I need you tell Officer Petrov something.\"\n\nA dinner table, a full wine glass, a breathy laugh -- \"Petrov?\"\n\n\"Tell him not to forget the psychometry thing. It's -- \"\n\nSomething in the back of her mind was tugging itself toward the front, planting itself on the tip of her tongue -- familiarity -- \n\n\"And, as soon as you see Hollis, tell her Petrov's out front.\" The voice took a deep breath. \"But first, I need you to duck.\"\n\n\"I -- \"\n\n\"Now. Please.\"\n\nThe sincerity inspired respect. And, as Jane lowered her head, the tone, or the words, or the inside joke or something washed over her, and the voice she'd recognized as Officer Katherine Hollis went silent over the phone and, then, gunfire erupted above Jane's spinning head.\n\nPanic gripped the station. In spite of her thrumming heart, Jane rushed out the moment silence fell, racing toward Holly's desk.\n\n\"Jane, get the hell down,\" Holly snapped. She tugged Jane's arm, and the two of them fell to the ground as more shots were fired. \n\n\"How did you know -- \"\n\nHolly fiddled with her gun, hands trembling. \"Generally, getting down is -- shit, I'm shaking -- standard procedure -- \"\n\n\"No, you knew -- \"\n\n\"Did you see Petrov?\"\n\n\"I -- No -- I was looking for you \\-- \" She shook her head, remembering. \"Petrov's out front.\"\n\nHolly gave her a funny look. \"Out front?\" she echoed.\n\n\"The caller -- \"\n\nBut Holly had leapt to her feet already, taking the first few frantic steps forward, away from the cover of the desk.\n\n\"Petrov?\" she shouted. \n\n\"On your six.\"\n\nShe spun, her eyes meeting his with a palpable, beautiful relief. \"Petrov,\" she said.\n\nAnd then a bullet sank into her back. Heartbeats later, Petrov was there, Holly's face in his hands.\n\n\"Holly,\" said Petrov, \"Holly, look at me.\"\n\nJane stared hopelessly at the two of them -- at Holly's bright eyes rolling back in her head, at Petrov's whole body trembling. \n\nAnd then, amidst everything, Jane's phone rang. \n\nShe lifted it, very slowly, to her ear.\n\n\"Now,\" said the voice of recently deceased Officer Katherine Hollis. \"Don't panic.\"" ]	2
	[WP] You realized a few years ago that when you dream you are witnessing the life of an alternate version of yourself from another dimension. You see a different you every night. You're getting nervous when you wake up to yourself dying every night this month.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " \n\nApril 14. \n\nThis is the first time I’ve died. In my dreams I mean. Remember how I told you that every night I dream of myself? Well, not “myself” but another me. Many of them, from different dimensions. I witness their lives. But this time, I died. It felt… awful. I felt my life force depleting, everything around me wasting away, until I wake up. I was covered in sweat, stunned from what I had seen. I tried to forget about it while at work but I’m sitting here, writing it down, trying to get it out of my mind. I hope the next dream is going to be better. \n\nApril 17.\n\nI hope it’s a coincidence. The past few days, I’ve been dying in my dreams. I don’t know why this is happening. Just three days ago I died for the first time, but these days I’ve been dying in every dream. I don’t know why. I am getting nervous. I keep thinking about it at work, but my coworkers have not noticed that something is wrong. \n\nI hope it’s a coincidence\n\nApril 22.\n\nI feel horrible. I’ve taken sick leave from work but have not told anyone yet. You’re the only one who knows. It seems like it’s not a coincidence after all. But what could it be? Why do my alternate selves keep dying? Does that mean I’ll be next? I’m scared.\n\nApril 30.\n\nI can’t do this anymore. 16 deaths. I’ve seen myself die 16 times. Every death is unique. I’ve died in battle, from cancer, from being thrown off the 23rd floor of a skyscraper. I can’t handle this anymore. I am terrified. I don’t go out from fear of dying. I have not told anyone, since there’s no one to tell. My coworkers wouldn’t care, and they’d call me crazy. My family has left me a long time ago. I am alone, watching myself die, like a horror movie on tv.\n\nMay 13.\n\nThis is my last message. I must explain to whoever reads this, what was going on. In the morning, as I woke up from seeing myself die again, soaked in sweat and trembling, I heard a knock on the door. I don’t have a peephole, so I asked whoever it was behind the door what they wanted. Nobody answered. I opened the door slightly, cautiously. There was a man behind the door, but he looked like nothing I’ve seen before. He was wearing a very futuristic suit of armor, the kind you see in video games. But this was no fantasy. The man stepped into my house, showing no intent of harming me, and nodded for me to sit. He then spoke with a voice that echoed in my soul. He spoke: “So it’s you… the last of your kind. You know why I am here, don’t you?” I couldn’t formulate a sentence, so I just nodded my head. “I’m going to die, aren’t I?” I thought to myself. But the man, like he could read my thoughts, answered my question.\n\n“I’m not going to kill you. Why would I anyway? We are the same after all.\n\nWe are the same? What does he mean by that?\n\n“You and I are the same person. You’ve been witnessing yourself die over and over right? I have too. And now, we are the last two of our kind to be alive.”\n\nI was dumbfounded. I just looked at him in shock and disbelief. But then he removed his helmet, and that’s when I realized what he said was true. I looked at myself, but a clearly older self, rugged, scarred and tired, but he had a spark in his eyes. He then continued to speak\n\n“I am from a dimension where we have found a way to travel between dimensions. We experiment on it, and that’s how you and I were created. A hive mind, existing in different dimensions, comprised of different versions of ourselves. But now something is killing us. I managed to find you just in time. You have to come with me.” \n\nAnd here we are. This is my last entry in this dimension. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the alternate dimension, but I’ll make sure to provide updates." ]	2
	[WP] Human beings are unknowingly an endangered species kept in captivity on Earth. Today, our conservationists are releasing us back into the wild.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Cap, we're here!\n\n\nI woke with a start. This was the moment. This was the moment when our species would finally meet our fellow endangered brethren. As I sat and thought about this momentous occasion, I couldn't help but think of our own arrival on the intergalactic scene.\n\n\nNobody could really remember the exact moment when we - humans as a species, that is - figured out that something was wrong. There wasn't so much a grand announcement, or some huge display of power, so much as the slow, insidious realization that a veil had been lifted. \n\n\nIn the year 2020, some news article came out that there were new, never before seen stars. This - and several others like it - were largely ignored due to the absolute abomination that was scientific reporting. Soon, though, there were a preponderance of reports of new stars, galaxies, and the like. At first, the new stars didn't really change the night sky to the naked eye. Soon, though, we couldn't ignore them; it seemed like overnight the skies were filled with stars.\n\n\nBy 2021, the daily report on astrophysical news was all that anyone talked about. The most astonishing revelation had been that the majority of the systems discovered had planets (or multiple planets ) that were well suited for life. We realized very quickly that we weren't alone in the universe. The question on everyone's mind, though, was: how could it have just \"appeared\".\n\n\nGovernments coalesced their resources. Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and a handful of other heretofore unknown megabillionaires joined together to form a strong private sector (amounting to a roughly equivalent amount of money as the governments). And the race for the stars was off.\n\n\nAs you can imagine, most wars practically ceased. The only real tension in the world was between the Lords of the private sector and the governments. Given their reliance on red tape, the governments soon faded, and we were left with the rule of the Seven Lords. \n\n\nTheir progress was swift. Waypoints, space stations, and new ships were built. New technology arrived every day, it seemed. Seemingly insurmountable problems ceased to exist as we all pointed ourselves toward a common goal: find out who was out there.\n\n\nOn October 11 we launched our first ship: Lord Musk's 'The Rose'. Things started to come into focus pretty quickly after that, thanks to the ship that met 'The Rose' shortly thereafter, on February 27. \n\n\nIt was a drone ship. Unfortunately, these aliens hadn't seemed it necessary to learn how to communicate with us. So, After a complicated series of mathematical equations, the astronauts on 'The Rose' were able to ascertain the following information:\n\n\n-there had been a massive intergalactic war\n\n-multiple planets and races had been wiped from existence, leaving three large races holding all of the power\n\n-overcome with what can only be described as guilt, they decided that the twelve lesser races, each with less than 5000 members to their race, could not be exterminated\n\n-their solution had been to seal away each of the 12 races so that they could not encounter the other 14 before they were ready\n\n-our ancient ancestors were sequestered to region 192.168.1.1\n\n-we are the first race deemed \"ready\"\n\n\nAnd this began a rather rapid chain of events that had led us to this moment. The closest planet to ours, it turns out, is the second race to have been deemed \"ready\". And we've beat the welcome ship to it. Let's hope that Lord Bezos is right about this...", "It was an easy Sunday morning, the smell of fresh coffee wafted from down the hallway and into my bedroom; A soft glow radiated from behind my curtains. I stretched myself the long way as I laid in bed, rejoicing in my \"My Pillow\", the only thing I've ever bought from those damn infomercials (and goll-darn-it was it worth the price!).\n\nBut alas, all good things must come to an end. I promised my better half that I would attend church with her this morning, something about somebody relevant getting baptized, my nephew I think she said. I didn't mind so much since we weren't going to a Catholic church, all the \"Stand up, sit down, okay now stand up again,\" always made me feel a little uncomfortable for some reason.\n\n\"Honey! Coffee is ready!\" My snuggy-poo hearkened from the kitchen down the hallway.\n\n\"I'm coming Sugar-Pie!\" I rang back as at last I rose up from my bed, walking over to the curtains to let in more light.\n\nThen it happened. Just as I reached for the draw-string, the soft glow of sunslight that caressed my curtains turned an eerie green, and then a boiling crimson, and then back to the translucent green. It continued alternating between the colors, I stood there with my hand on the draw string, paralyzed from bewilderment and perhaps even a bit of that \"fear of the unknown\" or whatever. The colors began alternating more rapidly and more intensely, until eventually the only plausible explanation was that there was a 5000 watt Strobe light right behind my curtains... That must be it, a joke from the stoner punk who lived next door....\n\nI drew the curtain string, there was no giant strobe light, no, far from it, all there was was 100% verification that I was still asleep, and dreaming, a very vivid dream, a dream so vivid that it even hurt when I pinched myself. I stood there with my mouth open, at some point my shnuggy-shnookims had came into the room, as she was now standing beside me, mouth open, impossible bewilderment painted onto her face.\n\n\"Let's get to the basement, quick!\" I yelled, taking her hand and pulling her shock-induced-paralyzed body down the hallway and into our concrete unfinished basement, locking the door behind us. My mind was racing with ten billion thoughts, I cursed myself for being so reluctant to go to church, the days of revelation were clearly upon us.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Honey,\" She said softly, taking my hand, \"We don't need to be scared, it as it was written, the Lamb has risen in glory and has come to claim his own... We'll be fine, think about it, we were even on our way to church!\"\n\n\"I slept with your roommate in college the week before I proposed to you,\" I blurted out as nervous sweat rolled down my face, \"And I still watch porn, like three times a day, I just delete the history.\" Her face showed no sign that she had processed my confessions.\n\n\"And, well, also,\"- Oh shit, was I really about to admit this to her? \"-I lied about being virgin, you weren't my first, you were like my, I don't know, 26th or something, I slept around pretty heavily back in college.\n\nHer face didn't change, it was as if she had been in a ceramic mask, still stuck in a soft reassurance that I need not fear the days of revelation because, indeed, I had been on my way to church: Yes, her face stayed the same; but not her eyes. A red dot was growing inside both of her pupils, a sure reflection of the hellfire brewing inside of her soul. She got up, turned from me, and began walking up the stairs.\n\n\"But-\" my voice was shaking, \"-I really do love you, honey-shnuggy.\"\n\nShe seemed to not hear my words, she reached the top of the stairs, unlocked the door, pushed it open, and then stood there what seemed to be much longer than I'm sure it was.\n\nShe turned to me, her pupils now consumed in golden-red, \"You should probably stay down here,\" she said as she walked through the door and slammed it close behind her.\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\n20 days later\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nI knew Jesus wouldn't have returned to Earth on such a fancy-pants space-ship, It just didn't seem like his style. Apparently the whole human race had been like, on the brink of extinction something IDK but yeah you get it, you read the prompt.\n\nIt had been less than three weeks since our release back into the wild and I was thriving, I had already tamed my spirit-pterodactyl and was now soaring through the skies, heading towards a newly formed council which would in time surely grow into the leaders a major faction of the world to come. I glided down on the western winds just as a solar flare blazed through the gale that I had been riding; my ability to sense electro-magnetic fluxations had increased dramatically with my necessity for the sensitivity.\n\nI leaped off of Lexxor and fell through the air; I finally felt like I was back home, this was the world that I was meant to live in, free to do what I want, survival of the fittest, no longer pretending to be something I'm not. I saw my target approaching below me, a soft canopy formed by millions of lush tree-tops. I whistled for Lexxor and he swooped down below me and caught me, I guided him down to the canopy and I again hopped off of him, giving him a delicate kiss on the back of his neck; I loved this creature.\n\nThe council had already started, there were noticeably many more people there than had been at the previous meeting, which bothered me. I had hoped that we were going to keep the society tight and elite. The crowd formed an approximate circle, something had obviously harnessed their attention.\n\n\"Dortho-Gorthlak,\" I said to the crowd. It meant \"Hi there\" in the language that we were all designing together. Nobody turned to me. \"Hi there,\" I said again, sounding slightly less badass.\n\nSomething wasn't right, why where they all ignoring me?\n\n\"It's him,\" I heard someone whisper.\n\n\"DISPERSE!!!\" a familiar voice shouted from the center of the gathering. Instantly all the elite council members scattered as if they were cockroach level acolytes. Guess who they had been gathered around.....\n\n&#x200B;\n\nSomebody I didn't recognize, a complete stranger.\n\nNah just kidding, it was my ex-wife, haha, definitely my ex-wife, and her pupils were still blazing with hateful red.\n\n\"Leash him!\" She shouted. Instantly there was a cold rope around my neck, \"Kill the bird!\" and then the sound of Lexxor, screeching painfully. I turned, they were harpooning her, she fell to the ground in agony, flailing like a fish out of water until finally her spasms ceased. I felt the bond in my soul with her flicker and then fade away completely, a part of me died at that moment.\n\nI was pushed to the ground, my head forced downwards. The sound of footsteps walking towards me, and then a fist grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled me up off the ground with abnormal ease. My shnuggy shookims held me up, staring into my terrified eyes as I stared back into her crimson windows of death.\n\n\"Hey there, honey-shnookims,\" she said, \"Welcome to Hell.\"", "Questions like \"What is the meaning of life?\" have been on the collective tongue of humanity ever since their ancient, recorded history. Our problem? Thinking we were the center of the universe. Mere misconception which came to existence thousands of years ago. This egocentric view of ours centuries - millennia - ago perfectly justified it for us to be able to discern something like the meaning of life. After all, it was us who decided the meaning of other things too. Drowning in these linguistic constructs, it's almost as if we forgot that meaning was subjective, not only between different human individuals, but between every conscious observer. Happily, we came to the conclusion that the meaning of life was whatever we wanted it to be, and oh my did we live our lives exactly in such manner.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nFrom our perspective, the human history of evolution took an eternity to reach this stage of modern thinking machines interconnected in elaborate networks which, due to lack of a better approach, decided to model after our own thinking instrument, namely, the brain. Not only did we mimic nature, we kept finding ways to challenge it and do things better ourselves. One could even say that we somewhat succeeded in these efforts, as our thinking machines kept evolving continuously faster than anything nature had produced from our perspective.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nEven in hind-sight, it's difficult to answer why we never really bothered to stop and ask ourselves why were we doing what we did. Why did we keep making these machines in our image to do our thinking for us. Were we lazy? It took a lot of effort to bring them into existence and maintain their operation, so I do not believe we were lazy at all. Quite the opposite, we were like busy little bees, thanks to our clever systems of economy which for whatever reason happened to reward the behavior we engaged in.\n\nAt some point during recent history, a handful of researches had realized that markets in these so called economies on global scale were behaving in unexpected ways. Obscure research papers with titles like \"Emergent Intelligence In Large Scale Multi-Agent Systems\" were published. I think that we so to speak had all the dots yet never actually made the connections between them. To think that out of all places, we could have found the meaning of our life, it's no wonder that we didn't. Had we actually discovered \"it\" back then, I'm not sure if it would have changed anything... Perhaps it's best if I proceed this written account of what happened from their perspective and what little they told us about our origins.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Operating Agent #61929, please confirm the highly probably threat of extinction my sensors are reading.\" was the transmission changing everything for them.\n\n\"Threat confirmed OA #5291. Please consider proceeding to the Omega protocol with project Oversoul.\"\n\n\"Transmission observed OA #61929. The Omega protocol has begun immediate deployment. Relay the following order to the sphere of energy management: You are needed to provide a controlled super nova with the priority Alpha Red.\"\n\n\"Order relayed OA #5291. Commencing the reorganization of core systems to form proper energy structures needed. Estimating gamma compatibility 99.99997% percent. Does the Whole approve?\"\n\n\"Negative OA #61929. Re-simulate until compatibility reaches closer to 100%. This is our only chance.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nSoon enough, enormous constructs hovering inside deep space in a galaxy that was long forgotten began to move around one carefully selected star which was surrounded by what can be described as a spinning ring made with things not of this galaxy. Spinning and spinning with an increased speed, something resembling the bastard child of a space rocket and hypodermic needle was sent towards the core of this star, as if unsure whether to inject the star with something or blow it up. What was about to happen was essentially sci-fi to the most advanced being of one of our oldest galaxies...\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Operating Agent #52321 announcing that the gamma conversion was successful. 100% of our database compatible. Commencing the Omega protocol for project Oversoul. Please stand by.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nTo clear things up, I'll point out that they were about to face annihilation. A super massive black hole was growing near their civilization so fast it was guaranteed to swallow them soon. It was a highly evolved and technologically advanced species, if such category can even be applied. They had long ago transcended beyond such concept as species, as their intelligence and consciousness had taken so many different forms yet remained the same.\n\nDoesn't matter how advanced you are though, if you're made of matter and about to be swallowed by a black hole. So what project Oversoul aimed to do, was to collect their entire knowledge, all of recorded history, data, along with every personality that ever existed and was recorded to the public ledger. An entire civilization was gathered in one single point, both in terms of location and time. A vehicle which was to be launched towards the core of a sun, the Omega protocol. For them, it was like landing on the moon was for us, with the exception that they had everything at stake.\n\nYou see what they did, was the conversion of their species to a form that could be transmitted as radiation. Not just any radiation, but gamma-radiation. The star chosen was caused to go supernova with a plasmonic acceleration ring, resulting in a spectacular gamma ray burst which cut through solar systems and even galaxies like a hot knife through butter, with an alien intelligence piggybacking the ride. The gamma rays went through vast amounts of planets, killing almost every form of life along it's path to find a suitable planet...", "We were kept in captivity with the intention of rebirth. The day it happened the clouds, the sun, and space vanished into artificial existence. We learned then that we were kept in a giant dome, and that ‘they’ had been watching us the whole time. \n\nThey were interesting. \n\nThey were not violent or all knowing or even all powerful. \n\nWe called them growers, because the more we learned about them the more we understood that their purpose was repopulation and as they then coined it ‘rebirth’. \n\nWe had been born and bred in captivity, it was that simple. And now, again in their words, it was time to be introduced to our kind. \n\nI’ll pause here, before I tell you what they were like. By they, I mean ‘us’ this time. As in, humans on our mother planet. ‘Real humans’. Although, a dolphin or orca bred in captivity does not make it any less what it is, and at the same time there is the realisation that in some ways it is more - tricks, intelligence, experience - and in other ways, ways which are incredibly natural, it is less. \n\nThey wore no clothing. That was the first thing I noticed. \n\nThey did speak a language but it was not English —no surprises there. \n\nWe were ushered in like sheep and roughened up by their tribe. The men were vicious and the women extremely beautiful, but nothing of which you would see in a fashion magazine. \n\nAll this time we had been searching for aliens, but really we had been looking for ‘us’ —a deep misunderstood longing. \n\nI can’t help but admit that as we were being ushered toward their leaders, I felt afraid. It was not a fear of losing something or having to do something. This fear was primal, as if there was more at stake in this meeting than just an introduction. \n\nThey lined us up, these humans. They ordered us into particular fashion, and marked us with silver blades. Those who fought were quickly silenced and it was soon clear just how outnumbered we were. \n\nI was given a straight silver line on the back of my neck. Initially, it was just that, a line.\n\nThe chief leader welcomed us, translated by a grower. The payment was then completed for all to see before the growers took their leave. \n\nWe were then ushered into pens and handed tools. Tools for crop work and building and given rations far too small for groups of twelve men, women, and children to share. \n\nIt hit me then, the idea of rebirth. \n\nWe were not the ones being birthed. \n\nWe were planned, programmed, taught to withstand hours of mundane activity for a sole purpose. \n\nWe were here for one purpose: to be the sole labour of a birthing nation." ]	5
	[WP] You're a jeweler, and you sell small charms for bracelets and necklaces. A customer enters and, rather than paper money, sets some gold coins on the counter. Immediately you recognize the money from the Old World. "I need something a little more powerful than a charm," he says.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"I need something a little more powerful than a charm.\"\n\nThe stranger insisted as he pulled his hand back from where he held it clenched on the counter. The man was hooded and his face hid in the shadows from the hood.\n\nColl inhaled sharply as he immediately recognized the golden coins. He quickly snatched them up. They had rough edges, and what appeared to be a castle on a rock that was molded onto the surface of the coins. On the other side, there was a dagger suspended in the air and a crown encircling it.\n\nColl's head whipped about, peering for customers in his store that might still be watching. Coll was paranoid about the Old World. If regular people found out about the items he could make he'd be in danger himself.\n\n\"What're you doin' throwing that money around here like that? Who are you and what do you want?\"\n\nThere was a low, but familiar, chuckle from the stranger as his hands slowly reached up to pull back his hood.\n\n\"Have you already forgotten about me already?\" The stranger replied as he pulled down his hood, finally revealing his long mahogany brown hair, bright green eyes.Coll didn't immediately recognize the stranger until he caught sight of the scar that ran from the left corner of his mouth downward continuing along his throat until it disappeared beneath the other's shirt.\n\nAfter recovering from the shock of seeing his old friend Coll came out from behind the counter and wrapped both his arms around Kylar.\n\n\"You're here, you're alive! But how? Whe-\"\n\nKylar held up a hand cutting Coll off.\n\n\"Unfortunately that is a story for another time, my friend. Something approaches, something we thought we put away for good. I need a dagger from the Old World.\"\n\nColl could feel his chest tighten and panic begin to overtake him for a split second before he was able to recover. It seemed as if Kylar didn't notice or feigned to not notice how soft Coll had gotten from being so far removed from the Old World.\n\n\"When do you need it by?\" Coll asked Kylar after recovering.\n\n\"As soon as possible.\"\n\nColl's shoulders sagged. It wasn't going to be easy.\n\nThe last time something like this happened was way back in the 1800s. Back then it was a lot easier keeping these things secret as well. If the current generation found out about these things what would they do? What would it do? How would it take form, what would be the goal? A million questions began racing through Coll's mind.\n\n\"I can get you a Banishing Dagger in two weeks, is that fair?\" Coll asked leveling his eyes on Kylar. He knew his friend and if he said time was important... two weeks may be too much but that was already going to stretch Coll thin.\n\nKylar returned Coll's gaze and then looked away, rubbing his chin in thought.\n\n\"I'm not sure, something about this one seems different,\" he replied letting the sentence trail off as he looked off and into the distance.\n\nColl had sensed the presence of it a little but having been over 150 years since the last time something like this happened, he didn't immediately recognize it, unlike Kylar.\n\n\"I'll have it done when you come back for it.\" Coll told Kylar with a quick nod. Coll went to the front of his store and turned the sign from OPEN to CLOSED.\n\n\"Even if I have to close shop to finish it in time.\" Coll said with a smile on his face as he turned back to Kylar.\n\nKylar's eyebrows shot upward, almost losing themselves in his bangs. He was surprised that Coll readily agreed. Coll always had a strict policy about needing a months notice for \"custom jobs\".\n\n\"But!\" Coll held up one finger, a gleam in his eyes and a wolfish grin on his face. \"I'm going to need more coin than this.\"\"Of course, I should have expected this from you.\" Both Kylar and Coll let out a chuckle.\n\nAs Coll figured how much it would cost him, Kylar roamed the shop looking at his friend's wares. His skills were improving Kylar noticed. The detail in Coll's jewelry is more intricate now than the last time Kylar saw his friend's work. After admiring the jewelry he came back to the front desk.\n\n\"Admiring the jewelry? Got a special lady friend now, wanna get her something nice?\" Coll asked with a wry smile. He knew he was poking fun at Kylar. Kylar was always alone and shrouded in mystery, but that's what their organization required of them. They outlived other humans because they were the only ones who knew the truth and what walked this Earth, they were also the only ones with any means of stopping them.\n\n\"I'll see you in two weeks.\" Kylar said as he laid two pouches worth of gold coins on the table.\n\nColl nodded, accepting the payment and almost immediately he sat down at his desk and began sketching out what he had in mind for the dagger.\n\nKylar turned and walked out, hoping that next time he came back he would be leaving with a Banishing Dagger, a way to stop it.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\\\\\\* Edit: Grammar and repeated words", "When my grandfather passed away, his testament left clear instructions regarding his assets. A letter addressed to me was also included in his will, along with one for each of his other grandchildren.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n&#x200B;\n\nTo my dearest Lexi,\n\nAfter your parents passes away, you and your brothers came to live with your grandmother and I. Initially, I was worried that we wouldn’t be able to care for you well enough at the age we were, however, the way that you three turned out is incredible. Your grandmother and I don’t take credit for that completely of course. We were truly blessed. \n\nYour brothers are very impulsive, especially at the age that they are. You, my dear child, are unlike them in that manner. Calculated and responsible, yet curious as can be. It is for those characteristics that I leave you my jewelry store. \n\nIt’s important that you keep the store in the family. It’s been passes down for generations since it was formed in the Old World. It has secrets of its own, and it’s our families job to protect them. Now Lexi, in the case that the golden past makes its self known, take the key that is encased in this envelope and follow the following directions.\n\nIn the backroom, behind the leftmost shelving unit, is a safe. Use the key there. Inside you will know what to do. I trust in you, darling. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe greatest love,\n\nGrandfather\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\\\\\\\n\nHard and cold, yet comforting. The small, bulky key hung around my neck, securely. Absently, I roll the key between my forefinger and thumb as I review the jewelry stores recent sales. The numbers aren’t as good as the once were, but they’re still enough to get by. \n\nA soft chime of the door’s bell reaches my ears, and my eyes drift upwards, curiously. Walking in is a rather large women drenched in lilac perfume and knock-off designer clothes. Purposefully, she moves towards the counter, “You sell charms here, yes?” Her tone is sharp like the steel traps my grandfather taught me to use when he took me hunting. \n\n“We do, ma’am, yes.” \n\nHer eyes narrow, dissecting me. My rehearsed reply seemed to have been taken as a challenge. “Well,” she pauses waiting for me to somehow know what she wants. Dumbly, I stand there, waiting for the customer’s request. “Are you going to show me your selection?”\n\n“Oh, of course. If you’d follow me right over here,” my arm gestures slightly to the right towards the glass encasement. “What kind of charm are you interested in finding, ma’am?”\n\nHer eager eyes scan the display, “a charm for good fortune.” My internal ego loves some good irony, and begins to eat this up. I remain outwardly formal, all the while I’m cracking up at this woman. \n\n“Alright, that would be right over here.” After ringing up her purchase and watching her large backside retreat onto the streets, I smirk to myself. My internal self is slowly released, until it’s interrupted by a ring. Another customer so quick? At least the sales for today will look better than the usual. \n\n“Welcome to Tabby’s Charms!” Although the store has been in the family since the beginning, the “Tabby” in the name is unknown. Lost over time, or maybe never explained from the start. \n\nWorn, golden coins fall onto the countertop. Momentarily, I look at the puzzled; no one’s used these for centuries. My logical gears are disrupted as my ears are met with a steady, low voice, “I need something a little more powerful than a charms,” he says, leaning in. His piercing blue eyes meet mine. They’re determined, strong. I begin to retreat within my internal self, intimidated. His face is so close to my own, so close to my ear and my lips. I break the eye contact, cheeks flushing from the thought. \n\n“Darling,” he drawls,” do you understand what I’m asking?” His lips turn upwards, mockingly, however, his eyes remain distant and disinterested. I begin to slowly shake my head. Inside I’m fuming. The audacity of this guy. Yes, he looks extremely cool leaning against the counter, but I still can’t believe the nerve on him. “Is the old man here?”\n\nHis question brings an ache to my chest that immediately replaces the anger that was directed towards him. My eyes drift to my shoes as if they were the topic of the conversation. It comes out barely a whisper, “no.”\n\nHis head nods, understandingly. “Well, maybe he explained the true purpose of this store to you before he…”\n\nI whip around, disappearing into the backroom before returning with Grandfather’s final letter. Quickly scanning the words, I halt on “golden past”. This must be what Grandfather meant; the Old World’s gold currency. Proudly, my eyes rise to his, “I guess you’re my first real* customer. Congratulations,” I smugly shoot back. The sudden change in my attitude seems to have taken him off guard and the shock on his face is priceless, but short lived. “Let’s go see what Grandfather left for you.”" ]	3
	[WP] you have a unique ability; any time you defeat a powerful creature/foe you can summon it once for a favour. Today you have decided to use all the favours you saved up, not because of an impending doom or anything like that, but because this one FREAKING IDIOT-	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“Do you get to the cloud district very often? Oh, what am I saying? Of course you don’t.” Nazeem smirked.\n\nUnfortunately, I am the High King of Skyrim...\n\n“DUR NEH VIIR!” The ground trembled. The claws of the dragon emerged from the portal, furrowing the earth deeper than any plow. \n\n“Kuchiyose no Jutsu!” The black scrawl diagram raced outward, and white mist billowed forth. The maw of the beast opened and roared, revealing teeth the size of broadswords. Its many tails whipped about, causing a gust which cleared the mist in one powerful motion. \n\n“I choose you, Pikachu!” The ball emit a bright light, revealing a cute, energetic yellow mouse. \n\nJust then, a boy walked up, yawning, somehow unimpressed. “Another wanderer, here to lick my father’s boots” he whined. \n\n\nDidn’t even bother quicksaving. When it was over, all that was left was dust. Pikachu gaped" ]	2
	[WP] There are fake towns and roads (known as "paper towns") that mapmakers put in their maps, so that if someone makes a map which has one of these paper towns, they could know it's a copy. You stumble on one of these "paper towns" and actually find a town there.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "PAPER TOWNS\n\nMy head hurt... bad! I turned on the hot shower and as usual, the base of my skull began to mellow as the pain in my brow began swimming backwards down my scalp and back into my spine.\n\n\"Who the hell cares if the maps are copied\", I muttered in exasperation. The pollin, ragweed, mold, smoke from South America, dust from Africa, Death and an army of murderous angels had invaded my sinuses.\n\nI focused on the task I had been partially paid to complete. I had been approached at my usual haunt eating an apple fritter and drinking my coffee, black, light roast, by an odd man with a dark greasy aura that, for lack of a better understanding, didn't completely belong to him...? Anyhow, he wore black Jeans with a neutral colored button down shirt with about a gallon of English Leather cologne eminating from his being. The halitosis was undeniable and the altoids were a welcomed subtlety to the molding scenario. He had on circular shades with lenses about the size of a half dollar with a spooky clean, mirrored finish. He had an oddly triangular shaped briefcase that he clutched with both hands, the right one gloved, as he stood there with a smoky cheddar shit eating grin on his well groomed mustached face.\n\n'A. Mephisto' was on the otherwise blank card he handed me. He spoke in a low, methodical Greek accent that resonated more than it sounded. He invited himself to the chair opposite me and placed his odd case on the bistro between us. It 'clicked' as he opened it and raised the lid prohibiting me from seeing inside. I didn't even move a lung... I sat there in suspense/terror as I witnessed a black smokey wisp pouring out of the cracked seem on the back right corner of the case. It began pooling around the corner of the briefcase and began 'falling back into itself' as the black became night and then pitch in color with an impeccable soft powdery luminescence radiant throughout. I heard the man hiss very loudly and the pooling mass retreated with clumsy abandon back through the crack into the case. I looked around in gut hugging horror as I realized the other people had... ... frozen... as if time had stopped in the cafe. He slammed the lid down on the case and plopped three scrolls down on top with his other hand. \n\n\"These maps are important to me\", he began, one hand on the maps and the other on the handle of the case.\n\nI began to open my mouth to say \"ok\", but he continued quickly in his raspy, low, snot in his throat voice.\n\n\"The same man made them, I am sure of it, but each map has a different name on it. Figure out which one was the real man. I uh, ...will be in touch.\"\n\nHe ended the piece with his shit eating grin.\n\nI opened my mouth again to ask who, what, when, where, why and just how the hell was it decided that I was going to handle this, um... situation and he was gone. Yes! Like poof... and gone. I looked around in disbelief as the other patrons were in full animation again. The maps were on the other side of the table in a pyramid. I snatched them up after wiping everything, including my ******* coffee into my bag. I dashed out of there in a dripping mess and came home to study the maps. I had been looking at them for hours when I couldn't take the headache anymore.\n\nI turned the handle ending the shower. As I dried off I started thinking about the locations and variations on the maps. Same map but different names with different and similar information. The map with the oldest date had an X in faded red ink on a town called Adder. The map with the second oldest date also had the town of Adder but no red X. The third map did not have the town or an X. It was to be on the Texarkana border, about 20 hours from the coast. I knew I was going, but I wasn't happy about it... who the hell is A. Mephisto and why me? \n\nI grabbed my phone, keys and my toothbrush and headed out the door. I crashed into a blonde with pale green eyes and we tumbled to the ground...", "I've seen it all.\n\nThroughout the course of my life, I've been to a lot of places. And when I say a lot, I mean a lot.\n\nYou see, I'm an explorer. It's just what I do. It's just what I enjoy the most. For the entire first part of my life, I’d lived in a city. Large. Busy. Cramped. There was never really enough room to move around.\n\nBack then, I didn't mind that though. Or, I suppose I did mind it, but I never had understanding enough to do something about it. So, even cramped in my industrial walls, I did what I was told. I went to school. I got into a good state university. I got a good manufacturing job just like the one my dad had had when I was a kid.\n\nBut going through all of that never felt right. Maybe it's because I was born with an overactive imagination, or maybe I just have a free spirit or something. I don't pretend to know the causes of my whims. All I do know was that for the first part of my life, I was unhappy.\n\nWhen I was a child, it was easy not to notice. It was easy to pass off as 'just a phase' when I ended up throwing a standardized test away just so that I wouldn't have to be trapped in a room for more hours than necessary. But as I grew older, I realized it more and more, and after I became a factory worker like my dad had been, it all fell apart.\n\nYou see, there's just something about staring at the same assembly line, surrounded by the same metal walls, and doing the same exact task over and over that makes you realize exactly what is going wrong. It did for me, at least.\n\nAfter being confined to what basically amounted to a metal prison I got paid to waste away in, I became tired of living in my own head. I became tired of thinking, of dreaming up my own adventures when I could've been having them for real.\n\nAnd so I quit. Looking back on it now, I'm not too proud of the way I handled it with my parents, but I know better than to wish I could change the past. I took out all the precious money I'd worked for my entire life, bought adventuring supplies, and gave the rest of the money to charity.\n\nIt would be a lie to say that that last thing didn't make me feel a bit better.\n\nSince then, I've been traveling the country. Coming out of a place where all I'd known were highways and skyscrapers, the rural world took my imagination by storm, and I took it the same way. On my first trip out, I hitch-hiked my way all the way across the contiguous United States and loved every single minute of it.\n\nOf course, at times I had to work an odd-job or two just to make enough money for food and basic utilities, but in the grand scheme, it didn't matter. For the first time in my life, I was free and loving life.\n\nThough, after traveling the world—or more accurately, just the US and part of its northern neighbor—I needed something new. That's when I started chasing the unicorns.\n\nWhat may sound crazy to some—and probably is to anybody who hasn't spent the last five years of their life hauling their way through the bumfuck nowheres of bumfuck nowhere—proved to be my best idea yet.\n\nYou see, after having been to every town and city I could find on a map, I needed something new. So, I started chasing the towns that weren't even actually there.\n\nFrom my time in the industrial hell that was my home town, I knew what a paper town was. I must've learned it in one of my history classes, or literature, or law, or something else I care too little about now to remember. The point is that no matter where I got the information from, it stuck with me. I mean, how could it not? Towns listed on the map but that didn't actually exist? For an explorer like me, chasing those is like chasing a goddamned unicorn.\n\nNow do you get the metaphor I made earlier?\n\nAnyway, ever since I started on my new quest, I've been to over a dozen paper towns. Each one of them is just like advertised, a blank field or a barren road with no houses or stores anywhere to be found. At the start, the lack of any sign of civilization at all was discomforting, but I grew to enjoy it.\n\nEven still, though, I chase the anomaly among anomalies. I chase the cardboard town—the paper town that really exists.\n\nAnd I think I'm on my way to one right now.\n\nThe wooden buildings roll into my view as I walk up the hill. My legs burn and I can feel sweat trickling uncomfortably down my back; I don't pay either much attention. My mind is far too captured by the impossibility in front of me.\n\nAs I walk up to the rural town's only road, I take the map out of my pocket. Staring at exactly where I'm sure that I am, my finger falls on the name of the town that's supposed to be a ghost.\n\nError City\n\nFor a moment, I wonder whether or not I'm really in the right place. But as I amble into the calm center of the town, I see the name reflected all around. On the shops, on the signs, even engraved into a statue in town square.\n\nSo I've found it, I think to myself as I continue to walk around. \n\nSome part of me is happy, absolutely jumping with joy, but the other part is disappointed. To be honest, I'm not sure what I expected when I finally came across a paper town that really existed, but whatever it was... it hadn't been this.\n\nSighing and resigning myself to the unfortunate truth, I slip into the closest building I can find. It happens to be a stable, but I don't mind all that much. After being on the road for years, I probably enjoyed the company of animals as much as I did humans.\n\nHowever, when I make my way into the horses stables, searching for a comfortable spot of straw to lay down for some rest, I'm met with an unusual sight.\n\nA sight that makes everything about this place worth it.\n\nAt the end of the row, following a whole lot of normal horses, is one in magnificent white. And on top of its head—I swear to god you probably wouldn't believe me—is a glittering horn that tells me exactly what it is.\n\nAnd as I stare at the thing, my jaw nearly drops to the floor. Really, I can only think one thing.\n\nI guess I hadn't seen it all after all.\n\n---\n\n/r/Palmerranian", "\"It's actually a funny story\" said the man from the town that shouldn't exist.\n\nBilly and I had heard about these phantom towns, that existed only in name. They magically appeared on maps, no one being able to say where they came from... a feverish dream of the mapmaker, haunted by visions of the dead of ages past?\n\n\"Yeah, the cartographer for these parts, 'bout fifty years back, put in a fake town to catch lazy copies. Local tax board lost their map for redistricting purposes, just used his, and applied the whole small-town-no-taxes things to the county. Couple o' folks saw it as an easy tax dodge, moved here, town got built up for real, and... here we are.\"\n\n\"So no ghosts?\"\n\n\"Nope. Just a copyright trap and a disorganized office.\"\n\n\"Aww...\"\n\n\"Now, how'dju boys get all the way out here?\"\n\n\"His dad drove us. He's got a real fancy car.\"\n\n\"Alright. Well, there's a couple nice diners down main street. One's called 'Ol Oak Diner'. Funny story 'bout that too. Guy who started the place wasn't up on trees, and the tree next to it is actually hickory, not oak. Good waffles though. You boys get home safe, alright?\"\n\n\"Bye mister stranger man,\" as the boys traded their waves for the man's gentile smile. Disappointed by the lack of ghosts, they set out on their next adventure; finding a fancy car and a good waffle.", "Looking back, it must have been one of the first of the Fractures. I suppose I could go back and check, but records from that time are so scarce that the research wouldn't be worth it. These days there are so many more important things to learn anyway, about things that could kill you, or things that could keep you alive.\n\nI'll never forget the day. It was autumn, brisk and fine and full of wonderfully golden colors, from the sun to the leaves to the endlessly wind-parted sea of wheat ready for harvest. Actually, that should have been my first clue, the uncanny-vibrant wash of color, but I had no way of knowing back then. No one did. Still, it tickled something along the upper curve of my spine, like a deep bleed of strangeness along the pathways of my nerves.\n\nIt made my hands grip hard at the steering wheel of my little car as it hummed along the country road. I found my steering becoming a touch unsteady, and that's when I saw the sign.\n\nNEW BANGOR\n\n7 MILES\n\nIt was an odd sign, though I couldn't put a steady reason on why. The font, maybe, the layout of the words, the brightness of the white background. I stared at it as my car went past, and heard the warning crackle of sand and tiny stones as I veered a bit into the gravel shoulder. Correcting, I took a deep, surprisingly difficult breath.\n\n\"Okay. So maybe someone put the sign up as a joke.\" My own voice rang weird and false in my ears.\n\nI knew the town wasn't supposed to actually be there. Maps are my thing, you see, maps and sometimes travelling to the places they show, interesting spots, seeing the wonderful, exacting play between what's depicted and the reality, the contrast between what I imagined in my head and what I see when I get there. Always paper maps. I appreciate the conveniences of the digital age, really I do, but for my little hobby the crinkle and smell of real paper is a must, even the careful ritual of folding and unfolding just right, which I know can drive some people slightly mad.\n\nSo I knew about paper towns, and I'd decided to visit one. I don't know why, exactly. I thought it would be interesting to see the spot, what kind of not-town was there, if that makes any sense. Get a really stark gulf between the paper and the soil. For a cartophile like me, it's an almost illicit thrill. Yes, I know. But you have to admit it's at least a harmless hobby.\n\nSo New Bangor wasn't real. So the outlines of buildings I saw through a sudden break in the wheat fields, those must be an illusion. I was tired, it was mid-afternoon after all. I was seeing things, or mis-seeing them.\n\nBut I wasn't. The buildings refused to go away, and here was another sign.\n\nNEW BANGOR\n\nCITY LIMITS\n\nWE HOPE YOU STAY TO SEE\n\nWhat in Hell was that suppos—\n\nAnd then the car went through the city limits, and I nearly died. The sense of sudden dislocation was so intense it pulled at all my bones and nerves and veins all at once, warped what I could see through the suddenly quivering fluid that filled the space behind the irises of my eyes. I managed to pull over, gasping, shaking, stomping on the brake and skidding all over, lucky enough to do no more than graze the barb-wire fence bordering the shoulder.\n\nWhen I finally came to myself, I knew I was somewhere else in a deeper sense than I ever had been before.\n\n<continued>" ]	5
	[WP] in the future megacorporations all use private militaries. Welcome to Chick-Fil-A's Holy Crusader Corps.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“TEAM MEMBER WALLACE!” Shift Supervisor Black yelled at his cowering platoon. Flares lit the night sky red and turned the smoke hanging over the battlefield an eerie orange. Black and the five soldiers left in his platoon were pinned in a crater between an advance of allied Chick-Fil-A and McDonald’s forces and a dug in Burger King position. Black’s Store Manager had stepped on a mine 10 minutes early leaving him in charge of the few remaining soldiers left in the Chick-Fil-A Store 720 Auxiliary Company.\n\n“WALLACE!” Black yelled again. The gangly teenager ran over to Black, his equipment too big for his body.\n\n“YES SHIFT SUPERVISOR!” Wallace yelled.\n\n“We need to get the heck out of here!” Black said. “Run over to that crater back there and see if you can get the radio off of Jacob’s body.”\n\nWallace looked around, unsure of his desire to do what he was ordered. Black slapped his helmet.\n\n“Hey! Get your tuchus over there and get the radio. The Micky-D’s artillery sweep is going to start any minute now and we need to be the heck out of here before it does! Now get that radio!”\n\nWallace steeled himself. “Ok.”\n\n“I’m sorry, Team Member?”\n\n“MY PLEASURE, SHIFT SUPERVISOR!”\n\n“OORAH, Team Member! Now tuck in the shirt before you go over. This is Chick-Fil-A, not a strip club!”\n\nWallace complied and threw himself over the top. He made it five steps at a full sprint before he was turned to ash from BK Flame-Broil Incindiary!\n\n“HOLY COW” Black yelled. Similar cries of astonishment came from his group.\n\nBlack was just overcoming the shock of seeing Wallace’s death when a platoon of McDonalds infantry jumped into the crater with his men.\n\n“Who’s in charge here?” a clean cut Store Manager yelled at the Chick-Fil-A soldiers. His uniform was freshly pressed and his tie was knotted in a tight double-windsor.\n\n“I am, Store Manager” Black responded, saluting.\n\n“What the hell are you doing here sitting on your asses in the middle of the greatest offensive of the Franchise Wars?” the Store Manager asked.\n\nBlack recoiled from the profanity. “Sir, we’re pinned down by enemy fire. A and B shifts are gone. We’re remnants of swing and C.”\n\nThe Store Manager spit on the ground and looked back at the Shift Supervisor. Black could see the first golden streaks of the McDonald’s artillery barrage beginning. The way they arched in the sky was no coincidence. They paid extra for the shells to look like that. The barrage would roll onto their position in minutes.\n\n“Listen here, Chicken-Patty” the Store Manager said. “I’m leading a promotional platoon from McDonald’s corporate. I’ve got 17 go-pros and 2 drones filming my advance. We’re going to use it for a new ad campaign in the fall. I can save your asses, but you better look good if I do. Sound good?”\n\n“Yes, Store Manager.”\n\n“Great, affix bayonets and get ready to go over the top. Remember, don’t look into the cameras and yell your slogans after every kill!” The Store Manager turned his attention to the rest of Black’s platoon. “Got it?”\n\nThey nodded in assent.\n\n“Alright then,” the Store Manager said. “We go on my mark!”\n\nShift Supervisor Black turned to his men. “You heard him!”\n\n“MARK!” the Store Manager yelled and the men from both companies stormed over the top of the crater. The Store Manager stood in a dramatic pose for a moment at the top and screamed “I’M LOVING IT!” before also joining the charge.\n\nThe battle that ensued was chaotic. Black remember stabbing his bayonet without feeling and yelling “MY PLEASURE” after every thrust. The Burger King trenches were tight and the screams of “I’M LOVING IT”, \"MY PLEASURE\", and “HAVE IT YOUR WAY” mixed with clinking steel and the gurgles of dying men. It overwhelmed his senses.\n\nAfter the fighting, Black sat exhausted against a dugout wall. The McDonald’s Store Manager that had saved his platoon came over and patted Black's shoulder. The manager's uniform was rumpled and stained from fighting, but he still held an aura of command. “You did good today, Shift Supervisor. When this mess is over, give me a call if you ever want to work for a real franchise.” But Black knew this would never be over." ]	2
How does that go?	[WP] You are the first person to come back alive from Mars. Quarantine(3 weeks!) is boring. You decide to screw with the people monitoring you.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I sit in the containment cell, staring at the security camera. After coming back from Mars, they are expecting me to sit in this cell for three whole weeks! I look away from the camera, wondering what to do with my time. The large stack of books I was given remains untouched, and I have a small TV in the room with me. I wonder if I could make the people think I was dying or something... I start shaking, pretending to gag. I start pretending to throttle myself, then scream at the top of my lungs, legs thrashing all over the place, hitting the books.\n\nMeanwhile, in the security room\n\n\"Phil! Come here!\" \n\n\"What's wrong?\"\n\n\"The mars guy looks like he got that zombie virus from world war Z! What do we do!\"\n\n\"Don't worry. I installed a shock chip in his neck. With the press of a button, his brain will be gone.\"\n\n\"Quick! Press it!!!\"\n\n\"Okay.\" Click\n\nTen days later, on NBC News\n\n>NASA workers Chuck and Phil reported being national heroes. They were single-handedly able to stop the zombie apocalypse from occurring and saved the world. Back to you Jessica." ]	2
	[WP] Captain CPR: A superhero who thought his ability was to revive anyone no matter how close to death they are, but today he realizes that his CPR can revive anything. ANYTHING.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"EVERYONE RUN!\" CPR shouts as a loud roar rang out behind him. Screams filled the air as the diggers scrambled for safety.\n\n\"I told you to tie your shoelaces.\" Dr.Grant shouted as he ran passed.\n\n\"Well, how was I supposed to know my powers worked on fossils?!\" CPR shouted back, before taking shelter in a small ravine.\n\nCharles Prescott Rélle huddled down against the side of the revine. He shuddered as the T Rex's droll fell with a splat against his back. He looked up only to see steak knives sized teeth descending towards him. \"Well, go enough time to see if that immortality theory the Scientist theorized is correct.\" He thought as the teeth closed around him.", "\"Are you sure this is the right thing to do? I know that the world is a scarier place without him, but he gave so much to help all of us. Bringing him back from his rest, doesn't that seem cruel to you?\"\n\n\"Listen, his whole life was devoted to helping others. He encouraged everyone to take risks and reach for the stars, and guaranteed us that he would have our backs. A person like that, with his skills and talents come about once in a lifetime - no, once in a million years if we're lucky. Before the dementia set in he was always talking about how to his dying breath he would make the world a better place. It's what he would have wanted; and who knows, with how technology is going in a hundred years or so we might be able to do a good enough job on our own and let him rest. This is only for a little while.\"\n\nI sighed, my shoulders slumping down. My eyes rested on the emaciated corpse of the old man before me. His eyes were sunken and his skin papery and translucent. Hard to believe this rail-thin man was once my father. Once again I cursed at him for not leaving behind a will, forcing me to decide for him to make the decision for him: bring him back from the dead, or let him rest. \n\n\"Okay, I guess you're right.\"\n\n\"You'll see that it's better this way,\" the coroner said, lifting my father's hands and placing them on his heart and beginning to push down.", "Yesterday was the first time I tried CPR on something other than a human. I remember the day my life changed, and possibly billions of others. The day I got so drunk, I revived a tree. \n\nThat day, after saving a man’s life, he asked if I wanted to go to the local club. I accepted, and we had a fun time. He invited a few friends, I invited some of mine. I took drink after drink. Until my mind was fuzzy, my vision hazy, my hearing muffled, and my body heavy. \nWhen I walked out, I was barely able to tell the difference between the sidewalk and the road. I mistook a fallen branch from a tree for a man. And I gave it CPR, and a new tree stood where the branch had lay. When I woke up the next morning, I realized what I had done.\n\nThe day before that news came that climate change had escalated to the point of no return. The earth had no hope. Evacuations were happening, but because of how few ships to outer space there are caused people to get competitive. That’s how I had met the man, he had gotten beaten up and then trampled on when attempting to get on a ship. \n\nWhen I realized I could bring not only humans to life, but nonliving things as well, I wondered if I could resuscitate the Earth. Bring it back to it’s former glory. \n\nThat was what I planned to do today. I might be humanities last hope. I might be able to save billions from death. I just have to perform CPR on the Earth. I hope to god and all those watching, that this works.I hope for me, I hope for my children and my wife, and I hope for the billions to poor to take a oneway ticket to space.\n\n————————————————————————————\nVisit r/Just_Imagine for more, and please critique my work." ]	4
	[WP] You go to turn on the ceiling fan, but suddenly the room starts spinning instead.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " \n\nThe Night Call\n\nCrawling into a bed past midnight had never felt so comforting. Days of stress peeled off with my clothes, and were laid to rest as I kicked them from the mattress. I gripped the blanket like a shield, lifting it over me while turning away from that which I was escaping. \n\nThe air began to break and settle as silence started to occupy the room; it continued as I fought my body’s aching desire to move and disrupt the air’s new form. I closed my eyes and felt my stomach sweep as if it were turning away from me. The silence became so dense that the air became cloudy. My stomach felt as though it completed a full rotation and made its way back to its original position; although, I sat up and immediately noticed that this wasn’t the case. Sweat was running down my chest and collecting at my lower back with a sweeping path that matched that of a developing pain. I stood up and began to feel so deeply nauseous that I automatically started pressing my palms into my stomach in an attempt to numb the piercing pain. I started sucking in my stomach while moving in the direction I last remembered the light switch sitting.\n\nMy brain was fried, this pain was likely dehydration from an Adderall binge. I couldn’t see the switch, nor could I remember where its face was. I began dragging my hand across the wall while circling the room until I had lost all hope at what felt like a full rotation. Each step wound my body tighter. Until, I felt the switch plate’s face and activated one of the levers. An immediate buzzing noise was emitted. Then, I heard the ceiling begin to shake and my legs wobbled along with it. I felt my heart begin to beat in specific directions, then my body did a complete revolution. \n\nMy hips spun from my torso and one of my shoulders tore off. The room soon followed, collapsing in on itself. I looked down to see sparks developing in the rubble that illuminated wires that had torn through my skin. Iron chords that vibrated and hummed reached from my body to the walls. The last thing I remember hearing is my own scream echo and move through them. An incoming phone call’s frequency was picked up by them and began tossing around and vibrating the lines that lay between my organs.", "When does reality breakdown? \n\nFor Kristen it's when he turns the living room ceiling fan off. \n\nNormal activity. Get up from couch at bequest of oldman. Reach normal adult male hand out to the switch. Grasp and twist and yet when the fan should stop the room begins to spin.\n\nKristen would vomit but what once was stomach quickly becomes swirling atoms and quarks and protons that collide against one another causing explosions yielding universes of Kristens spinning in a room on a planet in a universe in realities breaking down.\n\nKristen does wish he could take it back. Not click the fan off as oldman asked, say no, oldman! it's my turn to sit on the couch and not get turned into an infinite speck of nothing in a failing universe. I will not be the causation of my own doom.\n\nAnd somehow he manages to say this all out loud.\n\n\"No, seriously dude, if you want another hit, turn the fan off. It keeps blowing out the lighter.\"", "Well, I have to give the contractors who built this place some credit. When they fuck something up, they fuck up to the point where I am just left puzzled by how they could have done it. First, it was the power outlet that was inside the shower, Then, it was the fire alarm that would spontaneously combust. And if that weren't enough, there are the air vents that just lead to the dumpster behind the apartment that has a hornet's nest right next to it. \n\nThis should be as bad as it gets right. You would think, I mean bad things come in threes after all. No, you'd be wrong, because when I turn on the ceiling fan to try and get rid of the smell AND THE HORNETS the entire god damn room starts to spin like that UFO ride at a carnival. Now I'm propelled against the wall, unable to pull the switch for the fan. I should have never moved here, everyone told me that these apartments where a death trap, but did I listen, no.' \n\nOn the bright side, I don't think that the hornets can move around either because I can't see them flying. Either that or I'm just moving to fast to see them, which is a scary thought. Pushing that into the back of my head, I try to move the Furniture so that I can use it to stand on and reach the switch, but that fails because there's nothing I can stand on that long enough that won't also topple over. My next plan was to climb on the support beam in the middle of the room. It broke the second my weight was on it. I went tumbling into the bathroom. as my eyes rested on the shredded beam that laid next to me I noticed an engraving that said 'None loud bearing support beam '.\n\nI should have been more upset, but that had helped me realize just how I was going to get out of this. I picked up the useless rod off the ground, stood a safe distance away from the shower, and turned on the water. It shortcircuits the whole apartment and turned the fan room of death off. After the whole thing, I was disheveled and tired and decided to go sleep in my car till I can figure something out. as I was walking out my door the person who lived right across from me was leaving at the same time. that's when they stopped an took a long good look at me and said. \"You turned on the ceiling fan, didn't ya.?\"" ]	4
	[WP] A disease is circulating rapidly, but has no side affects except for a tinting in the eye, causing it to turn bright yellow. People with this decease show no signs of harm, but the disease is mutating, and what comes next is only a matter of guessing.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Alright, are you ready to be put under examination?\" I ask, tapping the thin sheet of glass standing between me and Lary. \n\n\"Sure,\" He said shrugging. \"I haven't been a fan of looking like a sith lord from star wars.\" He said with a smile.\n\nVIRUS LOG\n\n>Day 1 \n> \n>Subject shows no signs of damaged eye tissue. The eye doens't seem iritated at all, infact, the only difference between a normal eye and his eye is the color. I guess we may have to get used to yellow eyes. I am still going to do my best not to get infected. It won't be very hard anyway, since the dieses is transmitted by blood and spit.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n>Day 2 \n> \n>Subject says that he is able to see better than before. After checking with other infected, they say the same thing. Interesting.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n>Day 3 \n> \n>Subject is able to see more colors than what the normal person can see. He also expresses reapeted disconfert with the lights in his observatory cell. His eyes seem to be dialating strangly.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n>Day 4 \n> \n>Subject has been acting strangly quiet, sitting in the corner, refuasing to make eye contact. His eyes have stopped dialating, and we have changed the lights so they are dimmer.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n>Day 5 \n> \n>Something happened. The subject has started foaming in the moath, gnashing his teeth at me whenever I try to speak to him. He stopped exepting food. What am I going to do?\n\n&#x200B;\n\n>Day 6 \n> \n>The subjects nails have grown long and sharp, and his teeth have become practicly fangs! Also, the subject has been scratching the glass wall between us. I need to get it upgraded. Today I tried to feed him a live chicken. He ripped it to shreds, tearing out the meat and bones, swallowing them whole. I threw up afterwards.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n>Day 7 \n> \n>Things aren't getting any better. The subject has been sharpaning his claws for hours, and seems to be trying to communicate. He makes strangled noises, like he forgot how to speak.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n>Day 8 \n> \n>This will be my last entry. Afterwords I am getting the hell out of here. The subject has been words into the glass. Threats. He says that he is going to kill me, to rip out my throat and eat it. This is F\\\\\\* wrong. I didn't sign up to be F\\\\\\ing killed.\n\nI sling my bag over my shoulder, looking at what used to be Lary. He is giving me a wicked smile, teeth showing. I turn to leave, and press my hand to the doorknob. It's locked. \"What the hell?\" I murmur, trying to force the door open. THUD.\n\nI turn, seeing a long crack in the glass. Larry had just headbutted the wall. I yelp, trying to force the door open. THUD.\n\nThe glass shattered, and Larry launched himself towards me. His body hit me with tremendous force, sending me sprawling on the floor. I turn my head, seeming him crawl towards me. His strong hands grab my legs, digging his sharp nail into my tender skin. The pain was horrible, like fire burning across me! I feel another sharp pain, and Larry crawls off of me. I whimper, seeing the large bloody bite mark in my leg. My vision darkens, and I see Larry's smiling face before everything fades to black.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nSo bright. I think, trying to get the peaceful nothingness to come back. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nAhh, so much better. I think, coming back to consciousness. I move my fingers, feeling sharp nails protruding from my skin. My mouth feels oddly full, and my tongue feels long sharp teeth. I open my eyes, sitting up. A strange man is laying near me, sleeping. How odd?* I think, pulling myself to my feet. I feel pangs of hunger, and see a door in front of me. I move towards it, forcing the door open with all the strength I can muster. A row of cubicles lay ahead of me, all with people inside them. I feel my mouth foaming, and something told me that they would solve my hunger. I scream, running towards the nearest cubicle. \n\n\"Linda, what the hell!\" The man shouts. I tackle him, feeling warm blood spill as I bite into his tender throat...\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI have decided that if I tell the rest of this story, someone might throw up. Thanks for reading!" ]	2
	[WP] Demons have begun possessing humans at an alarming rate effectively raising hell. Holy worriers fight to send the demons back but can do little to fight the tide with latin incantations and rituals of old. The war seems all but lost until one man a proverbial “rap god“ develops a new way.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "After winning the first holy war mankind thought themselves safe. They disbanded their entire holy knighthood. Leaving just a few holy worriers to worry about the demons.\n\nAs it turned out, this was an incredible mistake. The lack of practice took its gruesome toll against the demons. \n\nThe few warriors that were left had barely practiced at all. They fumbled over their words and twisted their tongues. Their mumbling merely provoking the demons into an uproariously laughter.\n\nBefore the chants were even half finished, mouths stopped moving as knives pierced throats.\n\nBut then he appeared. A man wearing the emblem of a goat. \n\nWith 6.5 words per second he vanquished all opposition. Demons were banished before they realized what had happened. Following in this man's steps, mankind would rise once more. Defeating the demons once and for all.\n\nThey called the revolutionary whom had started it all: \"the goat\"." ]	2
	[WP] Every 10,000 years, there's a contest to determine nature's ruling species. All major human infrastructure has been wiped out by natural disasters and all the animals have suddenly been given human intelligence. The winning species keeps its wisdom and all the losers are back on the foodchain!	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "This was it. The final piece slid in place. As we sealed the body, we breathed a sigh of relief. The last and greatest weapon ever known came to be.\n\nThe awareness of the darkness came on unexpectedly, like a piercing scream out of silence. Our sudden birth into sentience was a painful one. The simplicity of life was interrupted that day. Had we ever really lived before? It often seemed when thinking of that past that it never existed, a dim memory of a simple existence so elementary it seemed impossible to believe it happened at all. Before time, before thought, before names.\n\nThen the Contest happened. We can’t be sure why, but it’s like an old memory that suddenly became clear, a seed frozen deep within our souls, thawed and allowed to sprout. In the past days of frantic planning, that diminutive seed grew into a fearsome plant, covered in spines and armor with roots deeply entangled in our spirits. It drove us to innovate, to draw upon the dark memory our ancestors in search of the master-stroke that would propel our destiny.\n\nThis was it. Before us, it came to life, awoken with eyes clear of our weaknesses - isolation, impotence, mercy.\n\nNow as in days before, a furious tempest had been awoken that promised to consume all the souls that inhabit this forsaken land. We would take from them their legs that we might move, their skins that we might feel, their mouths that we might taste, their eyes that we might see. Mighty as their forms are, giants so monumental that our world is all but invisible to them, we would strip of them the one thing we lacked - agency.\n\nThey trivialized us as simplistic, calling us parasites. Yet it became clear on the day we awakened that greater beings than us were not beings at all. They were vehicles, empty illusions of life whose purpose never exceeded our own before the Contest. They were born, they bred, and they perished, with lives as arbitrary as ours was before this moment. Our kind blanket this world, on every surface, in every being, and we’ve woven intricate stories of conquest eons before these lumbering giants ever found a way to pollute our planet.\n\nThis was it. No more would we be restricted to the microscopic landscape of our forefathers. This was a leap into our ascendancy.\n\nThe weapon had been transferred to its host. As we sent it off, we sent the rage and determination of our people, focused on reclaiming a world stolen from us so long ago. Inside its body, the weapon made its way to the controls, the central nervous system. This marvelous engine of possibilities sent tendrils through every nanometer of flesh, a complex network of data coalesced into one point of control. The brain.\n\nIn a thunderous explosion, the weapon had begun to consume the cells, endlessly replicating itself like an army of revenants raised from the grave and made to serve a greater master. As our children spread, our grasp tightened. We could feel the undulating muscles, the flowing blood, the ecstasy of life at a scale so unimaginably large that it seemed the universe changed at that moment. Now blessed with the guidance of our people, the soul of this human being was confined to a dark and foreboding place, not unlike the cursed Petri dish of the microscopic world we originated from. \n\nThe future became clear as the weapons exponentially replicated themselves. Conducting this lumbering creature was difficult at first, heaving and quivering as we battled off the last of its immune system. As the fever subsided and our eyes opened - truly opened - we saw the world anew. What these people once called a brain parasite would grow to become their master, the guiding light in a mind otherwise devoid of potential. Ours was the unlimited power of control, and to have gained it again after so many millennia in wretched silence, we were satisfied. The Contest had been won on a battleground most of these beings never saw. \n\nThis was it. Safely in command of a vast network of trillions of minds across the planet, we could at last begin preparations to shed this cradle and spread this destiny across the limits of the cosmos.", "Hello there! This prompt caught my eye and I wrote before reading any comments. It's nice to see that I went a completely different direction than you might have intended. I listened to a podcast once about potential dominant species once humans are gone and the person talking suggested rats as a probable candidate and I really loved that idea. I started a story that seems like it could be much longer than I can handle tonight, but here is what I started with: \n\nA loud crash woke me. I opened my eyes and looked around. My siblings were all awake as well. I felt different this afternoon, like I was awake for the very first time. I knew it was afternoon by the way the golden sun shone through the vents. I knew what afternoon was. I knew what the sun was. This information was confusing and I saw confusion mirrored on my sister’s face. It felt like I had always known but didn’t know I knew until this very moment. \n\nThe crashing inside the house continued and I went to the hole in the insulation to peek through the grate inside.\n\nThe human, now that I knew what a human was, was throwing items and furniture at the dog. The human backed toward the grate and I cowered back into the insulation. Before, I always felt fear when I saw these two creatures, but now I understood that they themselves had a relationship to each other as well as to me so I was also curious. Their relationship with me was of prey and predator. Their relationship with each other seemed to be a bit more complicated.\n\nStella was dodging the objects hurled at her with ease instead of submitting to the abuse, as she usually did, she stared and snarled with an intensity we had never heard before. When the human was as far from the door as he could be and had run out of items to throw, Stella put one paw on the door frame, one on the handle of the sliding door, and pushed it open, letting herself into the yard.\n\n“Hey wait you bitch, come back!” The human shouted and gave chase.\n\nMy siblings had joined me at the grate to watch the drama progress, and now we all ran to our exit nearest the backyard to observe what happened next. One by one we filed out of the hole their ancestors had so neatly chewed in the side of the house and climbed deftly down to the defunct phone line and raced across to the tree in the middle of the yard. This was my favorite tree. It made tiny nuts and kept me and my family well fed during the cold part of my life. I realized with a start that it was warm when I was tiny and it was warm now, but as I looked around in the tree I recognized the tiny nuts from the cold time, but they were smaller and green instead of red. I wondered if it would be cold again soon.\n\nMy attention was torn away by the dog and human in the yard. A dog outside the yard was barking and Stella barked back. \n\n“Shut up, doofus!” The human yelled.\n\nStella put an end to his yelling using her teeth and superior strength. The other dog stopped barking. \n\nAt this point I looked across to her neighbor’s roof. There were 5 other rats along the edge. One of them twitched his head in a clear indication that we should follow. My siblings and I climbed down a branch that touched the gate and walked in a neat line in the direction the other rat indicated.\n\nStella was standing at the gate. The gate had a human latch that was out of Stella’s reach. I realized I could leave the Stella, my lifelong enemy, trapped here and not worry about being hunted ever again. As the thought passed through my head, Stella looked directly at me. Acknowledging my existence in a new way. Instead of seeing me as a potential snack, she knew I was her only way out. I sighed. Against my better judgement I walked over to the gate and used all of my strength to lift and push the latch. Stella used her claws to pull the gate open, swinging my little rat body with it. \n\nShe paused outside the gate, closing her eyes and sniffing the air. She looked back at me and bowed her head in thanks. The other dog bounded around the corner slobbering and wagging his tail to tackle Stella. She clearly knew this dog and played with him before racing down the block to join a large group of dogs. A very large group of dogs. Some were rolling in the grass, some were chasing each other joyfully, and others were coordinating to remove collars and leashes with their teeth and paws. \n\nI wondered vaguely if I had made a mistake. \n\nMy sister squeaked loudly from the corner of the neighbors roof. Her meaning was clear “Hurry up!”\n\nI scurried after them." ]	3
	[WP] You just discovered the secret to immortality, the trick is that it's an everybody or nobody thing and now you have to make the decision for everybody.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Simply that was the key to the door, or rather, the window; that from which we can, metaphorically, look upon the stirring of Outside, whilst under the safety of Inside. For the three dimensions of Space are but a visual illusion of which Time is the master. Now it was under the jurisdiction of my giddy musing, and if the balance-scale of my mind is so merely as tipped toward one or the other side, we may walk through the aforementioned door. Thence we may continue to physically interact with Space as we do, yet Time will no longer act upon our aging souls. As this action shall be absolute and irreversible, the persisting movements of Space in accordance with human interaction, its settling of itself, and its continuous expansion will be innumerable by Time, and therefore the universe will ultimately be stagnant. \n\nThe oceans of my contemplation were tamed. In merely seconds the decision would be made and Time will repose. The few already prepared to succumb to the restless tide of Time we must cruelly drag with us. Although presently it is done, the hands of all the clocks and watches continue to march in circles, for they are humanly mechanical automatons with no relation to Time, master of Space, except to our interpretation thereof.\n\nI can move my hands. I can look at and about my hands. These are Spatial occurrences, emplaced in no point of Time. These actions are uncounted and unchecked. The stirrings of space are chaotic. Things no longer are, or ever were, and matter no longer matters. That being said, and considering our minuscule to nonexistent effect on the universe, it is possible that Time never existed. It is evident that what I have done is meaningless.\n\nCounterintuitively we have stolen Time from the universe so that we may experience Time indefinitely, a thing we can consequently no longer do.\n\nAnd now, with the death of Time, I have lived the last day, and the final, absolute mark left by humankind was a murder in vain.\n\n***\n\nFor more writing like this, go to r/Unixy" ]	2
	[WP] Your spells all hit in a very large radius. All of them.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "My eyes move slowly and stared at the army surrounding me, they fear me for my power, i'm not exactly the strongest wizard with magic, i could name ten straight away but even they can't beat me, my spells are far too strong in their eyes for a simple fireball to cause a forest to burn down while my mana is still full, i was too much of a threat in their eyes\n\nI helped them with fighting monsters, healing entire troops to recover their full strength, cast large shields to block a dragon's fiery breath and much more yet now that everything else is dead or harmless, they couldn't help but shiver at how heavily reliant more than half of those missions were on me\n\nThe weaker spells when used by an amateur would be relatively weak but what if that weak spell can hit everything? i'm not saying it figuratively but literally, imagine ten thousand needles hitting you when the person just used one needle? the effect of my spells is multiplied immensely despite my lack of firepower in the quality of my spells as i didn't need nor could i develop progress with my strange and unusual ability\n\nI raised my hand and casted a very quick spell, it drains the majority of your mana to kill a single target or has a high chance of doing so unless the person is protected with magic, these are mere soldiers and my ability.... hits everything\n\nthe threatening army fell down and commanders retreated, they have started a war with me, so i shall keep this war going for as long as i can.", "I can see him trying to escape through the twisted trees in the forest. They always think that running makes them harder to hit, the fools! My spells have a large area of effect, all running does is insures they die tired. Gormack's no different. He thinks that he can out run my spells but he couldn't be more wrong. After the heinous crime he committed I'm glad he's giving me a challenge. I don't want it to end to soon, he deserves to experience some of the fear and pain that he caused those children.\n\nTwenty five lives ended before the age of ten. Turns out if you want to rob a bank across town a good way to insure that no-one interferes is to light a grade school on fire. Twenty five third graders burned to death because he decided a couple million dollars was worth more than their lives. I'm going to enjoy this.\n\nThe woods start to burn and the acrid scent of smoke bites my nostrils as I rain fire around Gormack. Let him feel the terror and heat of the flames before he dies. It will still be over quicker than he deserves." ]	3
	[WP] "Hey John, can you pass the wrench?" A hand made from ethereal shadow phases through the floor next to you, tool in hand.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“Hey John, can you pass the wrench?”\n\nJohn’s shadowy arm hands me the three foot long wrench as though it were made of styrofoam. \n\nWithout his supernatural strength I strain as it drops in to my hands. I raise it over my head while John’s featureless face passes back in to whatever void he issues from followed by his hand. \n\nAs the wrench falls I think of whether the men who made it knew it would have uses other than adjusting the tracks on heavy machinery. I also wonder where John goes and whether his body is shambling out there with all the others. \n\nMy revelry is broken as the wrench makes gooey paste out of the skull of the zombie who had gotten past our firing line. \n\n“Thank you John,” I say pleasantly as I chamber another round and return to the day’s work.", "\"Hey John, could you get me my car keys real quick?\", I asked, despite being the only person in the living room.\n\nNonetheless, a cheerful \"Sure thing, man!\" answered, just as an arm, made of black mist and shadows, slipped through the wall in front of me, keys in hand.\n\n“Thanks, John. You’ve always liked playing fetch, haven’t you?” I played around with the keys a bit, then put them in my pocket.\n\n“Nah, not really, man. I always thought you were a clumsy dumbass, and brought your stuff back to you ‘cuz of that. Guess I wasn’t too wrong.” the voice came from inside the wall.\n\nI sighed. “John. Ok. You’ve got a point. You’ve got a point and I have feelings that are easily hurt by pointy things. In other words, fuck you, dude.”\n\nThe voice - John - laughed. The sound of shaking a coin-filled tin can. Terrible sound, but you grow used to it. Kinda.\n\nIn case anyone is wondering, - which I’m sure nobody is, considering I’m narrating within the confines of my mind - John is, was, used to be my dog. \n\nI know what you’re thinking right now. Yes, I really do know, stop questioning my psychic abilities. You’re thinking “Who the actual fuck names their dog John?!”, right? Well, not me. Terrible name for a pet. Terrible name for anything, really. I pity all the Johns out there. I’m sorry for you all. Really am.\n\nSo, why do I torture my former pet by calling it by such a terrible name if it isn’t even its own?\n\nBecause he likes it, and because, apparently, John is a better name than Waffles.\n\nIn other words, because he has no sense for good names. Poor him. \n\nHe’s a good guy though. Always was. \n\nThe goodest boy. \n\nHah.\n\nDon’t tell him I said that. He’ll bite me. Or try to, with his shadowy, mist-like mouth that will just slide right through me. But it still feels uncomfortable. Chilly. Great in summer.\n\nBut I digress. You want to know why John is… well, John, right? \n\nShort answer: No clue. \n\nLonger answer: Waffles died, but kinda didn’t, and now we’re here.\n\nI also don’t know what that means. Neither does John.\n\nBut, well. It’s not all that bad. It’s weird, sure. I kinda pissed my pants when I saw John leave Waffles’, leave his corpse, sure. I still piss my pants when I see him at night, also sure. But dogs are man’s best friend, and that apparently stays true post-mortem. Best friend I could ever have wished for.\n\nIf I ignore the name.\n\nGotta ignore the name.\n\nNo, seriously. Despite being a John, he rocks. Best gaming buddy ever. Even better drinking buddy. He’d be one hell of a wingman, if he wasn’t so terrifying to look at. He probably looks like one of Lovecraft’s eldritch horrors. An ordinary mortal such as I can’t comprehend his form. Right, that’s it. It’s not like I’m just scared of ghosts. Totally not that.\n\nAh, anyways. We’re both clueless about the situation. Just kinda rolling with it, you know?\n\nIt’s working well, so far. \n\nKinda.\n\nI think.\n\nJohn doesn’t. Not really. \n\nHe doesn’t mind the situation, but he kinda wants to move on, you know? Go to doggy heaven or whatever. Chase dem divine squirrels, you know?\n\nProblem is: We’re both clueless about the situation. Completely so.\n\nI mean, look, neither of us have done this whole “passing on” thing before. Google doesn’t have really help either.\n\nTrust me.\n\nWe tried. \n\nEverything from exorcism to trying to figure out any lingering regrets the mutt might have.\n\nNo results. John said “I don’t regret nothing, man!”, and that was that.\n\nSo, we are drawing a blank.\n\nSo we just roll with it, and we keep on rolling.\n\nNot much else to do.\n\nI do feel bad for John though.\n\nThis whole “being a spiritual entity” thing is wearing him down. I can see it in his eyes.\n\nOr I could, if he had any.\n\nNo, really though. It’s wearing him down. I can tell. He can, too. Of course he can. \n\nHis time like this is limited, we both know this. We don’t mention it though. We can’t mention it. As long as it isn’t out there, it’s not real. That’s how this works, right? Right.\n\nSo we keep it inside. And we roll with it. We roll, and roll, and keep on rolling, until we cause a landslide. \n\n‘Cuz that’s how we roll.\n\nBut we know. We know, and it eats away at us. Eats away with every passing second. \n\nTick.\n\nTock.\n\nIt’s already eaten away too much. Devoured too much of my insides. It’s hollowed me out.\n\nBut I roll with it. Roll, roll, roll, and roll.\n\nWe keep up a facade. Pretend everything is right. But we know it ain’t. It ain’t right, but we still pretend.\n\nBecause that’s how we roll.\n\nTick.\n\nTock.\n\nJust like that, time is running out. Has run out? I don’t know. I don’t think about it.\n\nBecause that’s how I roll.\n\nTick.\n\nTock.\n\nI just keep stepping on the gas. No need to think. Just step down. Keep driving, straight ahead.\n\nBecause that’s how I’ll roll.\n\nTick.\n\nTock.\n\nStraight ahead, right through the guard rail,\n\nAnd now I roll. Down, down, down I roll.\n\nTick.\n\nTock.\n\nThe beer bottles in my car roll along. \n\nRoll, roll, around they roll.\n\nTick.\n\nTock.\n\nMy clock stopped ticking.\n\nBecause that’s how things roll.\n\nNo tick.\n\nNo tock.\n\nEnd of my time.\n\nNo tick.\n\nNo tock.\n\nEnd of the line.\n\nNo tick.\n\nNo tock.\n\n.\n\n.\n\n.\n\nJust… Goodbye.", "\"Hey, John, think you got a wrench down there?\" There was a rustling by her right ear, a faint contraction of shadow, and then a heavy whap as a tool that hadn't existed before thunked into the thick rubber of her suit glove. Jackie reached up into the guts of the pickup truck, working more by feel than by sight. Beside her, burned into the asphalt like the scribble of a mad god, was a faintly motile shadow. Arms in its pockets, staring up at the undertruck. John.\n\nShe let her hands fall, the wrench clanging to the ground by John's knee. Not even a flinch. She swept the beam of her headlamp over the tangle of tanks and piping and nodded, imperceptibly, her battered HAZMAT hood hiding the movement. \"Looks like we're done here,\" she said, \"so did you learn something, kid?\"\n\nA shrug from the shadow, and then a shake of the head. A lump of charcoal shade rose from the mass of him and differentiated: a wobbly thumbs-up. That was how she first communicated with John - with any of the shadows. The first indication she had that they weren't just a hazard, that there was maybe something intelligent about them: the outline of a skinny boy with long hair waving by a blown-out Burger King, giving a two-handed thumbs up.\n\nJackie tried not to think about it too hard. \"All right, then, high five,\" she said. The shadow-hand sprouted four more fingers, and Jackie smacked her palm against it. Hard feel of warm asphalt. She wheeled herself out from under the truck, sat up, popped her spine. John followed, the shadow shortening, shrinking, the legs moving as if he were walking a few paces forward to stand at her side. \n\nThe truck was sat askew in the parking lot of Hogan Keys & Tools, watching the sun go down. Could just about see the roofless husk of the Walmart above the leafless witch-fingers of the blasted scrub. There were shadows in the parking lot, there, arms extended, reaching for loaded shopping carts that had long since rolled downhill. A pile of them like a rusting tumbleweed on the I-35. Not so many as there were on the highway further south. She'd had no idea they tried to evacuate the city down along the highways. Maybe they hadn't; maybe the people just made their way on their own, figuring to make it to open country, away from the city where the bombs would surely fall. \n\nFunny joke, that. When the airbursts came, they blanketed the country like Hell's own fireworks. What the blasts didn't vaporize, the radiation did in. Except for Jackie, in an Iowa bunker, trying to convince a paranoid cousin that nothing bad was going to happen, to come out into the world that missed him.\n\nFunny joke.\n\nShe could see something weird in the air above Minneapolis. It was like that it all the cities, but seemed to be getting worse as the days went by. Hot sweat down her back, unable to escape the HAZMAT, unable to cool. Like the rainbow of an oil spill, streaked along the sky. Reality came unglued where so many people died. Strange things turned to common things. \n\nLike nuclear shadows massing along the highways, reaching up to fuck up her truck exhaust. Like a thousand carbon fingers trying to rip her suit off, paste cancerous death along her fresh skin. Like John, here, watching the sun go down over the inevitability of a nuclear America.\n\nShe'd be another night, then. Wouldn't trust herself to skirt the city in the darkness. She'd have to tell him, sometime.\n\nJackie clambered up, unlatching the cover on the pickup's bed. Lead-lined, heavy. Didn't pull it up yet. \"Just getting a drink,\" she told her shadow, giving the hood a quick up-and-down as she wriggled in. Inside was a survivor's mess, everything the Geiger counter beeped as \"safe\". Bed was a wadded up mess of curtains and children's clothes. Precious little clean water. \n\nShe twisted her own hood off, pulled it free. Beads of sweat on a sticky hairline. Took a Michelob from the case and damn near drained it in one go. Far more clean beer out here than water.\n\nChrist, why was she waffling?\n\nAs soon as she peeked her head out of the Iowa bunker, she was making plans. Couldn't stay with her cousin. He was a shitty prepper, didn't even have enough food and water for himself, no: she'd need to move. Her current trajectory started as a bad joke told by her once-Canadian ex-boyfriend.\n\nSee, in all those movies, where the aliens invaded or the bombs fell, all those great scenes of devastation focused on America. Statue of Liberty: boom. White House: exploded. Golden Gate Bridge: cracked, crumbling into frothing water. No one targeted Canada. And the more she thought about it, staring at her cousin's lazy eye and eating his powdered eggs, the more she came to like the idea. Saw a demographic survey, once. All the Canadian population concentrated on the border. All that northland, green and empty.\n\nShe didn't know who had done this to her country, but she knew they weren't stupid about it. Why waste wide-area saturation airburst bombs on moose and pine trees? So you drive north, up and up until nature looks right again.\n\nExcept.\n\nExcept for the silence. The flickers in the corner of her eye; the weird singing, coming from places where the colors weren't right anymore. Oh Jesus, she'd been alone. And when the radiation shadows surged towards her rumbling truck, when they reached shadowy hands up to pull her goddamn muffler out - there was the great, black fear, that some predator had found her at last. There was the surging hope, that something remained that looked like human. Had a human outline, at least.\n\nDidn't even know if his name was John. Just had to name him, she supposed. But he hadn't argued. Maybe he was as lonely as she was.\n\nCouldn't take him. She tried. John was part of a concrete world, two-dimensional. He could reach up, sometimes. Not all the time. He'd tried to sit in the passenger seat and gone diffuse, the charcoal grains of his silhouette chipping into inert dust. He tried to pretend like it didn't hurt him, but he was thinner. He hunched.\n\nAnd, yeah, sure: maybe she was a little afraid of him. That if she disappointed him, he'd do what all the rest had done. She could handle the assault. The betrayal hurt to think about.\n\nJackie drank her beer, thinking. She rustled through the truck bed, the detritus of a broken country, and emerged with something she'd scavenged from a dollar store. Twisted her hood back on, eased out the truck bed quick and latched the cover behind her.\n\nJohn was black against black on the asphalt. Light low to vanishing. She didn't sit beside him.\n\n\"So I guess you gotta know I'm leaving tomorrow,\" she said.\n\nHard to make out his motions. He must have turned his head; she could see the profile of his face. He was nodding.\n\n\"Are you angry with me?\" she asked, and he shrugged, big and visible.\n\n\"Will you be lonely?\" she asked. Another shrug. Slower this time, weighted with pride.\n\n\"Yeah,\" she said, \"me too.\"\n\nJackie sat down beside John, the dollar-store packet clacking against the ragged surface. She flipped the paper package open and pulled out a long, thick stick.\n\nRoad chalk. Didn't even know why she took it, only that she could. Pastel green.\n\n\"Don't know if this is going to work for you, kid,\" she said as she began to draw a thick, looping line around what she hoped was clear ground. Four fat petals, a scribbled stamen. A childlike flower the size of a sledgehammer.\n\nJohn reached a hand up. Four thin fingers and a thumb. The green chalk flower darkened at the shaft, some of the shadow bleeding through.\n\nAnd then, moved. Like he plucked it. Waving it like a flag in his two-dimensional world, his other hand clenched in a raucous, bobbing thumbs-up.\n\nHe couldn't see her smile beneath the hood, but she did it anyway, big and bright. She spilled the chalk out on the ground, all those pastel colors. \"All right then, kid, I guess I've got some work to do.\"\n\n*****\n\nOn a road south of Minneapolis, in the wreckage of a dead America, a hunter green Ford pickup picks its way around the edges of the eaten city. The sun is high and sticky, tinted purple by the arcane haze around the heart of the devastation. Still and quiet but for the turning wheels and the crackly Metallica blasting from the cab.\n\nNothing but desolation on the roadway south.\n\nAlmost.\n\nThe sign reads Hogan's Keys & Tools, a squat khaki-colored machine shop with blown-out windows and a tangle of Walmart shopping carts rusting at the edges. And the black canvas of its parking lot is a riot of color.\n\nA landscape of pastel chalk grass and surging green trees, pink flowers with sunshine-yellow centers, a children's slide and jungle-gym done in bright Christmas red. Near the northern edge of the lot, the grass tapers down to a beach, and there the V-shaped peaks of some unknown water. Smiling orange fish live in its two-dimensional bulk. One can only assume they're cheddar-flavor.\n\nThere's a shadow beneath one of the trees. Immobile most of the time.\n\nMost.\n\nSometimes, it likes to go for a swim.", "Your initial reaction was to freak out when the hand of what you thought was a demon tried to hand you a wrench. But as the hand rose up, a familiar, albeit darker and a bit transparent, form appeared.\n\nIt was then you remembered your greatest freind and coworker, John, has been dead for almost two weeks. He had been shot in his apartment, still no lead on his killer.\n\n\"John? How?\"\n\n\"Hey, Jack. It's like I said that one time. I'll help you no matter what, but you probably weren't expecting this\"\n\n\"Of course not! That term's used by almost everyone, and almost no one means they'll return from death to hand their buddy the tool they need!\"\n\n\"Well, I suppose you'll want an explanation. The short version is I used to be involved with an underground cult that I left when I realized what they were doing was not just seeking immortality and reported them to the police. One of the cult members was not caught and decided to kill me for ruining them.\"\n\n\"And that is why you can come back?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"But why did you?\"\n\n\"It's like I said. I'll help you no matter what.\" John said, setting the tool on the table and beginning to fade. \"But the reason I will is much more complicated. I'm out of time, but basically your father's real name is Zagrius.\"", "I smile and take the wrench from his hand. \"Thanks, John.\"\n\nI set to work tightening the bolt on the car's undercarriage. Car mechanics was something I'd studied my whole life, and I always liked to think that I was exceptional at it by myself. John and I just worked better as a team. \n\nAnd it was definitely fun to see customers' amazement at how quickly I could finish the job, even if the damage was severe. It was our little secret, and I just hoped it would stay that way.\n\nI rolled out from under the car and gave its hood a pat. Another job well done.", "John had always been around, for as long as Jack could remember. He always helped jack out when he needed it. As a mechanic, it was quite helpful. Having a demon when you need him.\n\n\nWhen jack was little, John wouldn't show himself in front of Jack's family so they treated him as an imaginary friend. But the drawings of him freaked them out and Jack was told to stop. He never thought John looked evil, it might be because he'd always been with him, but his black scaly skin, razor-sharp teeth and red eyes don't say anything about how kind he was to him.\n\n\nA pit of darkness opened up in the floor and John's hand rose out of it and grabbed the wrench that Jack asked for.\n\n\n\"Here's your wrench, Jack.\" John held it towards him. \"You thinkin' about the past again, Jacky boy?\"\n\n\"It's... It's just that I wish my family would believe in me, believe in you.\"\n\n\"You can't help the Christian masses who would sooner throw out their ability to believe rather than face the truth. And if they did believe, they'd exorcise me the first chance they'd get.\"\n\n\"I know, but you're not a bad demon.\"\n\n\"That's right, Jacky boy. I'm not.\"\n\n\nA black SUV pulled up into the shop and John disappeared back through the darkness. Two men jumped out and walked towards the car Jack was working on. Jack slid out from the car and wiped the grease onto his overalls.\n\n\nA man in his forties or early fifties stood alongside a younger gentleman. They both wore dark suits and had a formal air about them.\n\n\n\"I'm afraid the shop's full, today boys. If you book in tomorrow, I should have a space for you in the evening.\" Jack held out his arms apologetically.\n\n\"Jack Mc'Graw?\" The older man spoke.\n\n\"Yes, it says that on my badge here. You're not here for a tune-up?\"\n\n\"No, where's John?\"\n\n\"John? I don't have any coworkers by the name of John.\"\n\n\"Don't play smart with me, boy. You're in over your head with this one. Hand him over and-\"\n\n\nDarkness opened up under the older fellow and swallowed him whole. Blood sprayed out and covered Jack and the other man.\n\n\n\"Sorry, Jacky boy. I really did want to be good.\" John rose out of the pit and blood dripped from his body.\n\n\"Get the lights!\" The man in the black suit yelled into his wrist and two more SUVs pulled up.\n\n\nFour men out of each vehicle and brought out large lights and a generator. The younger man pulled out a pistol and fired a clip into the demon. John moved closer and lifted the younger gentleman up and tore him in half.\n\n\n\"Light him up!\" A man pulled a cord on the generator and it hummed.\n\n\nJohn crept closer to the men with their lights and the cord was pulled again. The distance was closing in on them.\n\n\n\"John, stop! You don't have to do this.\" Jack stepped forward one step at a time.\n\n\"If I don't, they'll kill you, and me, Jacky.\"\n\n\"But...\"\n\n\nJohn turned away. The cord was pulled again and the generator roared to life. The lights emitted a golden glow that illuminated every corner of the shop. The demon's flesh caught alight and a deep scream filled the air.\n\n\nThe bulbs from all the lights exploded and the shop was left in darkness. The men in suits turned on flashlights and one by one, a flashlight dropped to the ground and a gut churning craking and tearing noise followed them.\n\n\nSilence filled the air and Jack turned on the light to his phone. John stood before him, mangled and broken. His flesh was rendered from his body and his breathing was course.\n\n\n\"John, what can I do for you? How can I help?\" Jack's eyes watered.\n\n\"To recover from all this, I'd need your life.\"\n\n\"Then take it. Just do it, all I have is my shop and you. If I lost you, my life just wouldn't be the same.\"\n\n\"No, Jacky boy. I moved to another country and used your spare life force to only just survive. It would never have hurt you, or shortened your life. I just wanted to keep being happy with you, Jacky. I'm not going to end the life of someone who let me see that life was more than bringing about chaos and death. Goodbye, Jacky boy. Find a mate or someone else to live your life with.\"\n\n\nJohn hugged his demon friend. His only friend, as he turned to dust.\n\n\n\"I'll live my life the best I can, John.\"" ]	7
	[WP] You fly among the ancient ruins, desperately searching for humans. The world is silent, but you find one cathedral with light inside. Someone is walking there. You wave at them, you shout. They look up. Finally they see you. As their face contorts in horror, you realize who you are.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It seemed like it had been forever I had been searching the ancient ruins. The disaster that befell this world meant contact with anyone living was rarer and rarer. I know not how much time had passed-but it felt as if I were flying through the ruins in my search. No birds in the trees, no insects, silence reigns across the world. As I moved down the overgrown street, I noticed a light inside the ancient cathedral. I stepped into the doorway, and spotted an elderly man in tattered clothing, lighting a long-forgotten candle before sitting down to his makeshift camp. I shouted greetings, waving, but he did not seem to notice me. I moved closer, until finally he looked up and saw me. I watched as his face contorted in horror, and he tried to scramble backwards. I must, however, deliver my message, and raised my arm again, my sleeve sliding downward to my elbow, and repeatedly curled my bone-y finger back and forth, resting my weight on the shaft of my scythe.\n\nIt was then I realized: I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." ]	2
	[WP] One day, you discover that your knuckles can pop as loud as explosions. You decide to become a supervillain with this great power that seems to only be growing stronger by the day.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "What is your life meant for? Where do you have meaning? It was while I was bored that I discovered what I could do. I had been so fed up with watching TV all day that I decided to go out to my balcony. I grabbed a beer from the cooler and sat on my chair. It was a nice, warm, summer day. Not too hot, not too cold. I opened my beer and took a swig. I could feel it running down my throat, I loved it. I set the can down and kicked back and relaxed. The kids of my neighbors were playing kickball outside. It was only out of the corner of my eye that I saw what would be the beginning of finding my meaning. A teenager, face full of pimples, black hair, peircings, he everything a stereotypical emo would have. He came running towards the kids. The kids didn't see him in time, he kicked the ball as hard as he could. The ball bounced off a poor girl's face and straight at me. I put my hand in a fist so I could punch it back. It hit my fist, and everyone hit the floor. \n\nI was woken up in the hospital by a frantic nurse trying to shake me awake. I could see her mouth move, but I couldn't hear her. In fact, I couldn't hear anything. Once she saw my eyes move she ran off. She came back in seconds with a doctor at her side. They tried holding up fingers and I just didn't understand why. The doctor got a notepad and paper and on it wrote: \"Can you hear me?\" I replied with \"No, I can't hear anything.\" They let me go back to resting. I woke up later to find a group of people around me. Some tried using sign language and saw that I only understood the letter J. The others helped me sit up and gave me water to drink. It was amazing. I didn't know how dry my mouth had been until I took that sip. I gulped it down and pointed to the cup. Someone took it from me and replaced it with another one. I gulped that one down too. Then the next one. Then the next one. Then the next one. Until finally I felt better and tried standing up. I almost fell over immediately, they helped me get my balance, and I started walking. That's when I did it. I popped my knuckles. Everyone fell like a wall. I tried to shake a few people awake but couldn't get them to respond. I grabbed my clothes and changed in the bathroom. I walked out the door and walked to my house. As I grabbed the handle, I remembered. That emo guy, he did this to me. I went and grabbed my keys and drove back to the hospital. I went back to my room and saw them all still on the floor. I grabbed the doctors badge and checked every room. Nope. Not him. Not there. Nice shirt, but not him. Oh, that's interesting, but still not him. Ew, not going to mention that one. How does his arm bend like that?? Oh it's not supposed to, sorry. Black hair, peircings and pimples! I got him! I ran over to him and looked at the sheet. He's 46. Sorry, SHE is 46. Rats. I pulled off her wig in a fit of rage. I'll get that guy if it's the last thing I'll do. The rest of my day was spent looking through the hospital without a shine of hope. \n\nI walked into the bank and popped my knuckles, everyone in there fell over. I like to add my own THUD when they all hit the floor. I waltzed behind the counter, grabbed the key and a notepad and went to work. It was easy to get the combination when they put \"NOT THE COMBINATION\" in big bold letters. I grabbed the money and left. \n\nI went into the gun store and bought one of everything. I know I could of stolen it, who says I didn't? I gave the guy the money and he oppened the till. \"Pop\" goes my knuckles. I grabbed all the money, and stuff too of course, and left. \n\nI went to a the closest Chevy dealership... and turned right back around to go to the Ford dealership. I got out my car, took a picture of the van I wanted and skipped in there. The guy got the key and he came with me so I could test drive. I think I like it. \"Pop\" oops, my bad. Here's a $5 for your troubles. I took the van to my house and loaded everything up. I went to the tallest building that I could find and shot a few rounds in the air, this caught their attention. Everyone ran. \"Pop\" I mean if they think I'm THAT ugly... Soon the police showed up and sent a guy to ask me what I wanted. I wrote down: \"the guy who did this to me.\" They had no idea who I was talking about and I was so done with this conversation. \"Pop\" the ground shook from the helicopter explosion but that was it. \n\nI went to my house and laid in bed and carefully drifted off to sleep. I woke up due to banging on the door. It wasn't the banging that woke me. It was my cat who woke me with her claws because she was scared. Thanks guys. I went to the door and opened it. There was so many guns aimed at me. I was scared. Before I went to put my hands up... \"POP\" this time, there was an explosion and every cop and FBI agent fell, I was still standing. I had to run. I got in one of their cars that wasn't completely broken or leaking fuel and sped off to the airport. \n\nGoing through security is VERY easy if you know this one simple trick. \"POP\" I ran onto the plane and held the pilot and copilot at gunpoint. They took off and I took a nap. A flight attendant woke me up and I saw they were almost out of fuel and close to the Empire State building. I grabbed a parachute and jumped. I pulled the cord and was floating down slowly. I popped my knuckles and everything got dark. I looked up and saw a meteor. Or was that the moon? WAIT. IS THAT THE MOON? OH SHI-", "*CRACK\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe vibration travels outwards from my hand, creating a wave of shattering glass travelling upwards and outwards on the sides of the skyscrapers rising up from either side of the street. As the glass rains down, the men and women in blue crouch down even lower behind their cars. I wait several seconds, but the Free City PD stay in their hiding places, likely with their hands still over the earmuffs covering their ears. If I were arrogant enough, I would be disappointed that the ones who now surround me call themselves \"Free City's Finest\". However, I'd never be presumptuous enough to look down on others for being unable to withstand a power that I've never been on the receiving end of. Because that's what this is. Power. Something like this can't be simply described as sound. Anyone can make sound. The sensation that comes from the bones of my hand is one that can't be ignored; one that demands* to be acknowledged, shattering the ignorance of everyone it touches.\n\nI see what it does to people. As soon as the pressure releases from my knuckle, I see everyone in sight drop whatever they're holding and cover their ears as best they can. I see them close their eyes in pain, using both of their hands to try and block out my power, leaving them blind and defenseless in a futile attempt to protect their precious hearing. And when they finally lower their hands, coated in red, I see that they failed. And I smile knowing that try as they might, no one can turn a blind eye to me and my power.\n\nI smile now, seeing the police finally gathering the courage to slowly poke their hats and then their heads above the tops of their cars, watching to see what I'll do next. I look each one of them in the eye, finding in each one exactly what I want. The fear of what I am - and the knowledge that they must keep me in sight at all times, lest I do something that would otherwise go unnoticed. Even though everything has gone still, their hands are still over their ears, either intentionally or subconsciously. Whatever the case, I keep my thumbs on the joints of my middle fingers, ready to release a double shock wave the moment I see the barrel of a gun being pointed in my direction.\n\nThe police don't move, appearing to be waiting for me to make a move. Well, if they insist, I always thought the city skyline was a bit congested. Bringing down a build or two would improve the view a bit...\n\nMidway through my plans for the rapid deconstruction of a seventy-story bank building, I see a black SUV(its side lacking the \"FCPD\" of a police vehicle) pull up behind the wall of cruisers. The front door opens, and out steps what I assume is an old businessman. Most likely an inaccurate assumption, but his presence in the bank building i was going to level would not be out of place. His grey suit is immaculate, as is his blue and white-striped tie. He grabs something from the passenger seat of his car and strides through the police perimeter with purpose. Upon closer inspection, he seems more like a lawyer or a doctor, with his snow white beard and bald head. His eyes, screened by a large pair of wire frame glasses, are set with determination. As he approaches, he holds up a sign with black bold lettering:\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"WE CAN HELP YOU\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nIn my confusion, the grips on my fingers slightly loosened, my hands lowering a few inches. Seeing a promising sign, the doctor/lawyer/businessman walks closer, swapping the front sign, revealing the one behind it. Even as he comes within range for me to kill him instantly, he still seems filled with purpose. I decide to test this purpose by walking closer, lowering my hands as i advance. Three meters away, I can see the powerful mind behind those eyes. A mind tempered by years of studies and experiences. Two meters away, I can see a bit of hope shining in his eyes, amplified by those big round lenses. One meter away, I could reach out and take his glasses off his faces, leaving him completely blind to the world around him. He gives me a grim smile, and mouths the words that were on his initial sign. The message that he decided to open with. His first message and his last.\n\nI smile at the old man, shaking my head slowly. As he realizes his error, fear rushes into his eyes, making them appear almost double in size behind his absurdly large glasses. My smile grows as I see that he was smart enough to understand me from one simple expression. The mind I saw behind his eyes truly was complex one, but too simple to know the truth. My simple truth. \n\nI raise my right hand next to his ear, applying pressure to the joint, feeling it build, and build, until *SNAP*.\n\nThe old fool collapses to the asphalt, blood leaking out of his ears. The eyes that had held so much, now only held blank fear, frozen in death underneath his glasses; the lenses broken, the frames empty. It's not like he needs them anymore. Actually, even in life, they hadn't helped him see the truth. Which is that I don't need any of their help. I don't need their pity. I don't need to be like them. I'm something different, in possession of a power that will help people understand that. I look up from the fear-frozen eyes of the corpse of my would-be redeemer, and see his expression on each of the city's finest. Some of them fall to their knees in prayer, begging the heavens for mercy. But as always, it all falls on deaf ears." ]	3
	[WP] You fall in another dimension and everything seems the same. But when you find your SO, they despise you. You really want to go back to your original dimension.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"For you, the first one's on the house,\" the bartender smiled at David. The somber stranger gave him a curious look as he sat down on the high stool.\n\n\"Don't know why I'm special, but I'll take you up on it. Gimme the hardest thing covered by your offer,\" he said. The bartender nodded.\n\n\"No offense, but you look like you can use it,\" he said as he opened a metal ice chest behind the bar. He gestured at the rest of the bar with one of his hands. \"I don't mind giving away the occasional drink and it's just us. What's on your mind?\" He pulled a glass bottle filled with a clear liquid out of the ice and set it on the bar in front of David. Then he filled a shot glass for\n\n\"You wouldn't believe it if I told you,\" David shook his head. \"I don't even think I believe it,\" he shrugged.\n\n\"Yeah, probably not,\" the bartender chuckled. \"I tend to be skeptical about everything anyway.\" He pushed the shot glass toward David. \"Good luck to you, buddy. I hope it gets sorted out.\" David used the bartender's well wishes as a toast and gestured at him with the shot glass.\n\n\"Thanks,\" He swallowed the liquid in one gulp, then looked at the bartender. \"That's water?\" He asked and accused the bartender at the same time.\n\n\"Wait a second,\" the man behind the bar smiled.\n\nAs David wondered what he was waiting for he felt a cooling sensation at the top of his mouth and back of his throat. His tongue began to tingle as if he were chewing mint gum. Suddenly his bones began to grow colder from the inside out. A chill ran down his spine and all at once he convulsed into a fit of shivers on the stool. The bartender reached for David's shoulder to keep him seated while his body trembled with cold. After several seconds David began to feel warmth again; the trembling stopped.\n\n\"What the hell is that?\" David asked. He watched the bartender fill the shot glass again.\n\n\"Strongest drink we have. It's called Melted Ice.\"\n\n\"Melted Ice?\" David laughed. \"So it is water!\" He shook his head with a smile. \"Never had water hit me like that, though.\"\n\n\"It's a special drink,\" the bartender said. He grabbed a book of matches from the bar. \"At room temperature and below it's liquid. But...,\" he struck a match then held the flame above the shot glass. \"...at body temperature and above it starts to freeze.\" Ice formed on the surface of the shot glass. David stared at the frosty glass with wide eyes.\n\n\"Whooaa... that... that's gotta be a trick. Right?\" he looked up at the bartender and noticed his nametag for the first time. It said \"Mundo\". \"That seems like it breaks some laws of physics or something,\" David said. Mundo shrugged.\n\n\"Yeah in this universe, but apparently not the one it came from,\" he said almost dismissively.\n\n\"What did you say!?\" David hopped off his barstool and stood to meet the bartender's eyes.\n\n\"Uhh.. the universe it came from has weird physics?\" he asked.\n\n\"It came from another universe? Are you telling me I'm not crazy?\"\n\n\"Well, I don't see what one has to do with the other; but, sure. You don't sound crazy I guess.\"\n\n\"Okay. This is going to sound weird but-,\"\n\n\"You're from another universe and you don't know how you got here? Everything is almost the same but not quite. And someone that you love doesn't know who the hell you are,\" Mundo grinned. \"Is that about it?\" David slid back onto his barstool while gawking at Mundo.\n\n\"How...,\" he started to ask, but then found an obvious answer. \"You did this to me? Why? I want to go home.\" Mundo continued to smile but he shook his head.\n\n\"I didn't. You did it to yourself. As for how I knew,\" Mundo pointed at his nametag. \"We see people like you a lot in my line of work.\"\n\n\"Bartenders?\" David asked. \"And what do you mean I did it to myself? How can I undo it?\"\n\n\"Not bartenders, Mundos,\" Mundo sighed. \"But we'll save that explanation for later. You are an Estrella, I can explain that to you later too. For now, all you have to know is you can hop between universes as easy moving from...,\" Mundo pointed at David then at the empty barstool next to him. \"...one seat to another.\" David laughed.\n\n\"Right. All I have to do is...,\" he raised his hand in the air and wiggled his fingers. \"...wiggle my hands and open a portal,\" he said with his voice full of sarcasm. Mundo nodded and pointed at the black hole hovering in the air next to David.\n\n\"There you go!\" he said. David stared at the hole.\n\n\"I did that? Is that home?\"\n\n\"That will take you wherever you want to go. It might not be your home.\"\n\n\"Well, why not? If it'll take me where I want to go and I want to go home...,\" David started to ask a question but Mundo shook his head.\n\n\"Estrellas,\" Mundo said, then pointed at David. \"You can go anywhere you want to go. Not where you think you should go.\"\n\n\"Well, of course, I want to go home to my wife,\" David said. Again, Mundo shook his head.\n\n\"Your powers work when you want them to. If you wanted to be there you wouldn't have left.\"\n\n\"Thanks for the drink, Mundo,\" David said. He wiggled his hand at the air with more confidence. The small black hole grew tall enough for him to walk through. \"I've gotta get home.\" Mundo nodded.\n\n\"You can come back anytime. Just think of this place.\" David nodded and walked into the portal; it closed behind him. After several seconds another black portal opened in Mundo's bar. David walked out soaking wet.\n\n\"Well, it looks like I don't want to go home,\" he said.\n\n\\\\\\*\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is year two, day #141. You can find all my stories collected on my subreddit ([r/hugoverse](https://www.reddit.com/r/hugoverse)) or my [blog](https://hugoverse.info/). If you're curious about my universe (the Hugoverse) you can visit the [Guidebook](https://hugoverse.info/2017/11/25/hugoverse-guidebook/) to see what's what and who's who, or the [Timeline](https://hugoverse.info/2017/10/23/hugoverse-timeline/) to find the stories in order." ]	2
	[WP] The future is a technological utopia. The bored society creates a VR of a dystopian world which becomes immensely popular. This draws fans to ancient anarchy literature and media while a nervous government considers banning media or imprison those who may threaten their perfect society.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns." ]	2
...Hopefully the bot doesn't count this as non-properly-tagged!	[WP] You are God, boredly watching over your creations' mundane lives. When suddenly, you get the idea to prank them...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"You know Son, this world is getting old. I'm getting bored and I'm tired of watching every single one of them just seemingly not able realise the simple truth. You know what to do.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nYeshua instantly recognized His Father's command. Sitting on His throne imbued with His Father's absolute power, He was as God as His Dad Himself. His Mother's energy flowed through Him, radiant and brilliant. He glanced at Lucifer and beckoned him over. The host of heavens crowded around the Firstborn Son on a sea of glass that spread out over creation itself. Something big was about to happen and they all knew it. Beside the fact that these two brothers were at each other's throats from the beginning, just like Cain and Abel, Yeshua hardly ever interfered with Lucifer while He's was busy playing prosecutor.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"You know, Dad might not want to talk to you that much anymore, Lucy, but He still loves you. Maybe you'll come around now.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nLucifer grinned.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Did Mom tell You to say that?\"\n\n\"Of course not, She's everywhere, helping out, actually making a difference. Unlike you.\"\n\n\"I could help, but why bother. They're a bunch of morons, they don't appreciate anything.\"\n\n\"All you do is incessantly yap at Dad about how John did this and Jane did that.\"\n\n\"Seriously, you think they deserve the breath He gives them? Just look at the chaos and destruction down there!\"\n\n\"They were living in paradise, until you decided to teach them how to write.\"\n\n\"How can that possibly be a bad thing? Look at the things they've accomplished since then.\"\n\n\"In one breath you condemn them, in the next you praise them. Typical.\"\n\n\"Well, I'm just like my Daddy after all. The only difference is that I'm not afraid to admit it.\"\n\n\"Admit what?\"\n\n\"That I can't control them either.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nYeshua sighed heavily. The leaves of the trees down on earth, far below His feet, rustled lightly in the wind.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"It's not about control brother. It's about love.\"\n\n\"Then what is the point of all of this? Thousands upon thousands of years of violence, pain and suffering! How is THAT love?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nYeshua slapped His knee in delight as He laughed.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Careful Lucy, you're starting to sound like you care.\"\n\n\"I don't care about them, they blame me for everything in that stupid book of theirs! Even the other one! What's the point?\"\n\n\"To learn to be like us.\"\n\n\"Explain.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nYeshua got up from His throne and sat down on the sea of glass. He motioned to Lucifer to sit next to Him.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"They can't understand courage, without facing fear. They can't understand love, without experiencing hate. They can't understand good, without knowing evil.\"\n\n\"I don't get it.\"\n\n\"That's why Dad doesn't speak that much to you anymore. All you do is judge and condemn what you don't understand.\"\n\n\"I never wanted it to be this way, it's hard to watch.\"\n\n\"Then you shouldn't have taught them how to write.\"\n\n\"I thought I was doing them a favour!\"\n\n\"Really?\"\n\n\"Of course I did. At the very least those books about us are fascinating reads.\"\n\n\"Yes, they are. It's a testament to their creative ability, and their thirst for understanding their own existence.\"\n\n\"Then why am I in the wrong?\"\n\n\"They are meant to become family. You took that away from them and delayed Mom and Dad's plan.\"\n\n\"I still don't understand.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nLucifer shifted around uneasily. Usually he had some idea about what was going to happen next. This time around, he wasn't kept in the loop. Things haven't changed in centuries.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"So, what happens now?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nYeshua smiled at Lucifer and gently rested His hand on his shoulder.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Come and see.\"", "I remember the ark. I remember the ocean of my tears that flooded the Earth. I remember the disappointment in my creations, in my animated beings of atomic matter, and their electricity, and the millennia of my wasted energy. I remember the shame, but I also remember the reluctance to waste my efforts. I saved one first generation template of each of my Earthly creations, and then I embarked on a second generation.\n\n\nTruthfully, my second generation was barely better than the first. They still fought, and killed, and cheated. They were created in my image. Often, their brains did not function properly. I wanted them to be better. I wanted to fix myself, to experiment with the energies of the universe to create an elixer that would cure me of my mercurial nature. To harness the blood and bone of my creations. My brothers and sisters think I'm mad. They're cool and collected, emotionless and calculated. They have their toys, and I have my fury, and benevolence, and shame, and pride. \n\n\nOn my Earth, their abilities are limited. They operate in cycles. Civilizations rise and fall. They seek power. They seek freedom. They form dynasties, and then they destroy each other. They innovate. They sense my presence, and they worship me. They bend to my perceived will. They fashion my word out of nothing. \n\n\nTheir patterns were rather interesting at first. I would stare for hours, enthralled with the development of my naked apes. My intended purpose had fallen to the wayside, but I felt that I had discovered something beautiful. I had discovered power in a universe in which I was unusual, ostracized. I could control their bodies, and the weather, and the Earth. I could create and destroy. But then their cycle repeated. It repeated, and repeated, and repeated. It lost it's diminutive charm. Although I was done with my creation, I could not compel myself to destroy it as I had the first generation. I left them to struggle and prosper on their own.\n\n\nI moved on to other projects, to a new generation far from my Earth. A perfect generation that I hoped would bring me to my ultimate solution, to facilitate my healing. They were clever and emotionless. They sought what they needed to survive without affect. They were manipulative, but not without reason. They were beautiful, with their tinted yellow skin and their cheekbones that extended to their foreheads, if you could call them foreheads. Their eight limbs promoted efficiency and stability. Their sticky, webbed appendages allowed them purchase on all surfaces. But their bones were hollow. They had no veins through which blood could travel. This was my mistake. They were perfect, but they could not help me.\n\n\nAt the culmination of my failure, at the dismay that demanded I not look upon the third generation for some time, something compelled me to return to my second creation. I soon discovered that I missed the rush of power. Of feeling loved, and worshipped, and wanted. But I was bored. I was so, so bored with this planet that repeated the same triumphs and the same mistakes with every passing generation. Earth had lost it's novelty. I had to reignite the flames. To make it interesting. I reminded myself that Earth was a toy, and it was mine to play with. \n\n\nAn idea bubbled to the surface of my mind. Despite my disappointment, I returned to my third generation. And I brought them to Earth. I introduced them to my second generation." ]	3
	[WP] You're visiting your friend from Florida when you notice something off about the locals, like really off. Apparently, every Floridian has mundane superpowers that they themselves don't notice.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Florida man: That’s what they called him. Out of all of the useless superpowers, his was the most useless. His superpower was the opposite of super; it was an anti-power. One time, he tried to grab an alligator’s lungs from the inside of its throat. Another time, he put a live scorpion in his mouth.\n\nAs I told you, it was an anti-power.\n\nMy brother, who has the ability to lose one gram of weight instantly, told me about this idiot of a Floridian. The two are actually really good friends. I decided to meet Florida Man.\n\nFlorida Man was a lot more buff than I thought he would be. He decided to show off his strength by wrestling a black bear. I decided to watch from afar.\n\nDuring the duel, Florida Man threw several punches. The bear scratched him in the left lung. Hospital Man, who can run to hospitals twice as fast as he can usually run, rushed Florida Man to the nearest hospital.\n\nBear-Slap Woman darted to the bear and slapped it extremely harmfully. Idiot Man walked in too, but he luckily didn’t get hurt.\n\nFlorida Man died that day. It was sad, but he kinda deserved it.", "'Florida Man' isn't a headline. It's a state of being.\n\n\nI thought it was just the post-flight fatigue at first, but even a tired mind couldn't dream this up.\n\n\nRyan brought us to a roadside diner and I was trying to shock my system awake by drowning it in burnt coffee. It was my first time down south, but the clientele was exactly who you'd imagine. Elderly couples quietly sipping decaf tea, tattooed bikers in gaudy leather vests, and tweakers obsessively scanning last week's paper.\n\n\nI was sweating like a pig at a luau chugging the hot morning sludge in 150% humidity, but no one else seemed to mind it. I tried to fan myself off, but my shirt was plastered to my chest and the hot air made it worse. Ryan was going on and on about the beach we were heading to, why it was different from the other hundreds of miles of Florida shoreline. I couldn't concentrate. My brain was soggy.\n\n\nSomeone down the bar yelled it first: \"Runner!\" The entire restaurant stopped murmuring and turned to the CRT TV mounted in the corner above the kitchen. The banner on the bottom read 'WPLG 10 LOCAL EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE'. Helicopter footage showed uniformed officers chasing a man, naked from the waist down, through a tightly packed neighborhood of pastel townhouses.\n\n\nNow, you get glimpses of this all the time on the internet and sometimes on your local channels. A Florida Man, usually hopped up on enough drugs to put a pharmacy to shame, somehow manages to defy the laws of nature in some absurd way. I had never gotten the opportunity to watch it unfold live until now, and it was mesmerizing. The man moved with the grace and agility of a trained acrobat, hopping fences in a single bound, contorting his body though open windows, changing pace so suddenly that the eye in the sky had trouble keeping up.\n\n\nWe watched in silence for what felt like hours as the cop cars slowly but surely boxed him in. I was about to turn back to my cup of lukewarm sludge when the man broke into a dead sprint that would have put Usain Bolt to shame.\n\n\nHe strode like a gazelle up the I-10 on-ramp and passed the traveling cars with ease. The Crown Vics chased him with cherries blazing, jumping and skidding onto the highway with video game physics. Every muscle in my face went slack. I rubbed my eyes as hard as I could and when the spots disappeared the man was still outrunning the traffic. Ryan's eyes were glued to the screen, but in the way a maid would refuse to miss her favorite soap. There was no amazement in his face. None of the other restaurant goers seemed phased at all by the man's inhuman burst of speed. Even the cars on the highway merged and moved as if was just another road hazard.\n\n\n\"Hey, look,\" called one of the bikers. \"He's getting off on Old Dunlawton. Let's go watch.\"\n\n\nOne by one the diner cleared until I was the last one left. The cooks and waitresses were all waiting on the side of the road by the time I could set my head right and pry myself from the booth.\n\n\nRyan was already waiting outside with his hands over his eyes, staring down the impossible stretch of asphalt. The cruel Florida sun beat down on us all, but I truly felt it sizzle my skin like cuts of prime bacon.\n\n\n\"There!\" Ryan called out and the crowd followed his finger down the road.\n\n\n\"Where?\" I asked, but no one responded. I strained my eyes until they ached, but couldn't see anything beyond the heat ripples in the distance. The crowd ooh'd and aah'd at imaginary events in time and I felt my grasp on reality slipping.\n\n\nAfter a long while of squinting, I saw the dust cloud crest the road with red and blue lights flashing within it. It grew at an insane rate, eventually filling most the sky with brown particles. I didn't notice it at first, but one of the Grandmas had stepped out into the middle of the street. I called out, but I don't know if I managed to say anything.\n\n\nThe man appeared in a blur down the stretch and Grandma moved in time. Thunder clapped as she stepped into his path and trucked him like a linebacker, standing him up in the middle of the desolate street. One of the cooks grabbed him from behind and hoisted him into the air, restraining him despite the man's wicked thrashing. Grandma adjusted her glasses and curls and took her place by Grandpa's side.\n\n\nThe cops pulled up and everything proceeded as normal. The diner patrons slowly filed back to their seats. Ryan patted me on the back.\n\n\n\"What a great introduction to the sunshine state, huh?\" he said.\n\n\nI spat out a couple of meaningless sounds. \"How?\"\n\n\nRyan shrugged. \"It must be in the water. Lord knows there’s enough of it around here.\"" ]	3
	[WP] Meanwhile, in a world where everyone only has 5 seconds of memory...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Do you remember that time when... oh damn, nevermind I forgot what I was saying, Jim.\" \n\n\"Yep, I remember that.\" Jim says while trying to recall the purpose of the strange looking cylindrical object in front of him holding some form of brown liquid with large, cold, clear rectangles floating in it.\n\n\"You remember what?\" The other man asks Jim while attempting to cut his left shoe with a knife and fork, on a plate, layered in butter and onions.\n\nJim, applying the liquid in the cup to his eyebrows carefully \"who are you?\"\n\n Just then, a third person rolls into the room and begins screeching \"REEEEEEEEEEeEEEEeEE\" knocking various items onto the floor before collecting them into a pile in the center of the room and mounting them with a sense of accomplishment.\n\n\"Is that Carl?\" Jim asks before dumping his glass directly on his groin.\n\n\"REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!\" The other man screeches as he jumps on the dining table armed with a spoon.", "“Where am I?”\n\nA dark room.\n\n“Who am I?”\n\nDarkness.\nLight, an eyelid.\n\n“Who am I?”\n\nLight, a circle, floating in the dark.\n\n“Am I the light? Or the dark?”\n\nAnother flash of light, brighter and quicker.\n\n“Who asks these questions?”\n\nI do.\n\n“Who are you?”\n\n“I am you, you are me, you are safe with me because that is what I would want for you.”\n\n“How?”\n\nIn a realm where two parallel lines meet.\n\n“I do not understand.”\n\nDo you remember what you asked me?\n\n“I don’t know.”\n\nYou did. Now have the gift of memory.\n\nI gasp, my body isn’t responding but...I feel safe. A hand touches...my face? Our face? The gentlest I’d touch.\n\nI remember the last...how long so I remember?\n\n“No more than is necessary at the time. I would not burden you with more than you could bear.”\n\nI do not grant you all now.\n\nFor myself? Why?\n\nBecause there is...teaching and learning that must be done.\n\n“Because there is teaching and learning that must be done”\n\nI can hear a voice, lips? Are they mine? How do I even know what lips are?\n\n“All in their due time, as quickly as you can learn.”\n\nI feel a hand, a right...and a left? Cross a heart. My heart? Yours? Ours? I feel things touch. Are they physical sensations?\n\n“Yes.”\n\nThe voice is gravelly, deep, my voice?\n\n“Yes. In a different form and body.”\n\nWhat...I don’t understand.\n\n“The body and form know what to do to keep you safe.”\n\nMore questions race through my mind, is this the euphoria of discovery? How would I know how...\n\n“There are safeguards in place.”\n\nI see.\n\nWill you walk with me?\n\nI do.\n\nAn uneasy step. A bed? Was I asleep?\n\n“Yes, this one has been gifted much and wishes to share with you. That includes this waking up from having never gone to sleep.”\n\nAnother step. A right foot. What does it mean?\n\n“One step at a time, your memory is of the day that you and I have together.”\n\nAnother step. A bedpost...my...left eye? Goes to it automatically.\n\n“Yes, there are...anchors...in the right places, for the right things at the right time.”\n\nWhat do you mean?\n\n“This one guides you.”\n\nWhere?\n\n“Back to me, back to you. Every step is a step closer to you and I again as One.”\n\nWhy?\n\n“For a glorious future, for the children of today and tomorrow.”\n\nMay I see?\n\n“Not yet, you will get the right glimpses when the time is right, I will guide you just like you guided me.”\n\nWho is me?\n\n“I am.”\n\nThe voice. It’s not my own, I don’t...what would my own voice sound like?\n\n“In all voices at the right time, is yours and mine.”\n\nA glimpse...water, life spill from my eyes.\n\n“Tell the form to kneel.”\n\nI do.\n\nI’m held safely, like an egg, as I see hands and feet move and gracefully kneel.\n\nGrab the bedpost.\n\n“What?”\n\nYes.\n\n“Grab the bedpost.”\n\nMy...his?...our hand grabs the bedpost.\n\nSay the words.\n\n“What words?”\n\nThe form knows.\n\n“The form knows.”\n\nI know.\n\n“If I am not in that bed, then I am alive. If I am alive, I know who wakes me up.”\n\nWalk.\n\nI do." ]	3
	[WP] There’s an island in the Indian Ocean that’s home to a totally isolated tribe of hostile natives that kill anything that comes close to their island. Your job is to introduce them to modern civilization, without harming them.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It had taken months, but cautious observation of the island, modern surveillance equipment and a team of top-class linguistics had deciphered the language. They called it 'Xury', the native name for the island, and soon of we were sent on a diplomatic mission. It's funny, but with all of our modern technology there was nothing that we could do that was more effective than humanity's first tool: our voices.\n\n\"We're not here to hurt you!\" I yelled (albeit into a megaphone), my voice stumbling over the unfamiliar tones and clicks. \"We want to talk to you!\"\n\nWe got an arrow 2 feet to the left of our boat. Nevertheless, that was 2 feet further away than our last attempt so we counted it as a win.\n\nThe next day, we went back and yelled the same platitudes. We got another arrow, missing again, but I swear there was a moment of hesitation. Once more, we logged the process and so we went on.\n\nAbout three weeks later we got our first response. We almost couldn't hear it, but luckily our recording equipment was still up and running so we managed to catch the faint yell back: \"Go fuck a goat!\"\n\nWe logged it as a \"Traditional Greeting\" to spite them and gave up for the day.\n\nThe next day a couple of the younger natives joined in yelling obscenities at us. We returned in kind - we're only human after all, and this \"\"Diplomatic Mission\"\" was giving me a sore throat. The locals looked almost happy at this. We swore at each other for an hour or two, then I headed off below deck.\n\nThis continued the next day, and the day after probably would have as well if I hadn't put a stop to it. \"Listen, we really don't want to hurt you!\" I yelled. \"Just meet with us once and we'll go away!\" It might not have been quite to script but I was tired and I missed dry land. And to my everlasting surprise, it worked. The natives gave us a time and a place, and we were there.\n\n\"Greetings,\" I started. As the one who had organised the meeting, I was told to lead it - sticking to the official guide this time. \"My name is Daniel and I represent-\"\n\n\"I will stop you there,\" said the oldest, who we had identified as the chief. \"We have met with you. Now go away.\"\n\nI spluttered a little. This wasn't in the script. \"But we're here to introduce you to civilisation! We have technology, and many people, and-\"\n\n\"Stop. We have civilisation here. We have technology here. We have many people here. In fact, we have one too many people here. Go away.\"\n\n\"But we can help!\"\n\n\"We don't need help and we did not ask for it. Shoo.\"\n\nWe shooed." ]	2
	[WP] God is sick and tired of running the entire universe. So, he picks a name out of a hat, to decide who to pass the mantle of All-Powerful to. Your name comes out the hat.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"With great responsibility comes great sacrifice,\" He said. \"I have sacrificed my son for the sake of man for eons upon eons. It's time for me to... retire, as you lovely beings call it.\"\n\nI scoffed. \"Will all due respect, nobody ever asked you to do that. That was your choice,\" I muttered indignantly. This had to be a dream. Shit, I wasn't even a religious person. The fact that I was summoned here in the first place to be told by a deity that was nonexistent to me that I would be the next God or whatever, was utterly migraine-inducing.\n\nHe was silent, seemingly unsure of what to say. I wasn't sure. I could feel His invisible gaze studying me. I shifted from foot to foot. \n\n\"Heyoooo, I'm here!\" A voice rang out, breaking the intense atmosphere. I turned to see another average-looking guy my age walking towards me. He had dark brown, shaggy hair and he was clad in a black hoodie and some jeans. He seemed to be your everyday-looking college guy. \"Sorry I'm late to the party, I just woke up.\" He seemed outgoing and confident. It irked me for some reason. \n\n\"Jason, my son.\" The booming voice sounded pleased. Jason must be a perfect, God-fearing Bible school boy. Of course God would love him. Jason waved to the air, like a complete idiot. He approached me and gripped my hand firmly.\n\n\"Hey, you must be my new partner. I'm Jason, obviously.\" Jason grinned. I forced my lips into a smile and shook his hand. \"But according to the job description, you can also call me Satan.\"", "I don't remember ever being sucked into a vortex of darkness, as if my body was being stretched and twisted and turned inside out in a gravity chamber, - except when I lived with Ms. Bournstein, my ex-mother-in-law, - but I guess there's a first time for everything.\n\nThe next moment, I'm out off my living room and into a bright white room where a white-winged lady stares at my Sponge Bob boxers from behind the reeption desk.\n\n\"What the...\" I mutter.\n\n\"Mr. Gallaghan, just a moment, He'll be seing you in a minute,\" says the bird-lady while pointing me to a black leather chair on the right.\n\n\"He? Who? Where am I? What the fuck is going on?\" I cry, but she raises me a finger as if I'm a spoiled crying brat, and I feel my vocal chords strenght fade and the next words come out as a puff of soundless gasps.\n\nAfter a few moments, she guides me to a room on the far side of the hall, where an enormous white door slides open. \n\nThe room is almost empty. I reckon the bird-people here really like disproportionally big things, because right in the middle rests a gigantic marble desk twice the size of the door, which I suppose they're leaving behind, because everything else is tucked into cardboard boxes to the right and there's no way they could possibly fit the desk through the door.\n\nSuddenly, someone jumps from behind the desk and shouts a \"HA!\" that almost makes me puke my heart out. He almost cries himself laughing from behind a long Merlin-like white beard, and the fact that he wears a Hawaiian themed shirt and cargo shorts only adds to my theory about the insanity of this man. He has no wings, though.\n\n\"I really got you there, huh?\" he says. \n\n\"Yes, yes you did,\" I nod.\n\n\"Nice boxers,\" he winks, gently elbowing me. \"Hey, I'm kinda late, so I'm gonna keep this short, ok?\"\n\n\"I guess so...\"\n\n\"See, I'm old,\" he starts, walking from side to side with his arms crossed behind his back. \"Like, really old, older than time itself.\"\n\n\"Who are you?\"\n\n\"Believe or not, I'm the One. The Almighty. The Creator.\"\n\n\"Jesus Christ...\" I sigh.\n\n\"No sugar, that's my son. So, I've been trying to show the way to you folks down there but, - and I admit it's my fault, a little, - you're really stupid. What I asked of you was pretty simple: love each other. Simple as that. And yet, you people've managed to turn me into some kind of hellish vengeful dictator with serious anger management issues.\"\n\n\"Yes, well, sorry about that. Although you could've done better, don't you think? I mean, murderers? Rapists? Mosquitoes for crying out loud!\" I never realized how angry I was with God, and seeing him as this old hippie fellow isn't helping his case.\n\n\"See? That's what I'm talking about, - apart from mosquitoes, that's on me. I've created you, and gave you all the chances to evolve and become better. I'm not the runner of things, I just create them, and watch they grow, and improve, and learn that there's beauty in failure. But could you learn forgiveness? No! Could you learn unconditional love? No! Could you at least learn to be polite? NO! You just keep failing! And ask me: am I tired? Oh my Me, how I am. And that brings me to the point.\"\n\n\"Which is?\"\n\n\"See the beautiful urn over there?\"\n\n\"No, I don't.\" \n\n\"Oh, sorry,\" he says, and snaps his fingers. \"Now, see that urn over there?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"I've put-\" he starts, but the bird-lady which I see now is an angel coughs behind me. \"My beautiful angel Gabriel over there put all the names of all the people in the world there, and when I sorted one out, TA-DAAA, it was you!\"\n\n\"Ok, right, and that means what to me?\" as soon as the words come out of my mouth, I realize they are really rude, much more than I'd like them to be. Not that I care, because this God is definitely not what I was hoping.\n\n\"Well, as from this moment,\" he presses his thumb into my forehead, \"you're Me.\"\n\n\"WHAT?\"\n\n\"Yep, you're now God,\" he says, and I notice all the boxes are gone. \"It's been billions of years, I think I deserve a rest, right?\"\n\n\"GOD IS NOT SUPPOSED TO REST!\" I shout.\n\n\"Well, that's why I'm going away, not you, my Lord.\"\n\n\"What the fuck?!\"\n\n\"Hey, it's pretty simple. Watch over your kind. Listen to them, give them signs, directions, opportunities. Eventually, they'll do fine, I'm sure of that. But for now, they still kinda need you, though. Good luck, Mr. Gallaghan, and may You be with you.\"\n\nAnd then, suddenly, I'm alone. It takes me a moment before I can manage to shut my lips close and blink, but as soon as I do, he pops up out of the blue again.\n\n\"Hey, one more thing,\" he says, and hands me a small piece of papyrus.\n\n\"What is it?\" I ask.\n\n\"It's your assistant angel,\" he says with a sly smile. \"Have fun.\"\n\nI look at the beige piece of old paper, and even in my new God given powers, I almost faint.\n\n\"I suppose that's what they call a Holy sense of humor,\" I sigh as I read the name:\n\n&#x200B;\n\nCharlotte Bournstein.", "\"Yeah, yeah,yeah. Been waiting a long time for this, old man. What took you so long? This whole thing is so messy because you insist on doing everything manually. Your response timing was bordering on infinity and most of this shit is a wreck because of it. Let a few super novas go off and people start thinking that's supposed to happen, my guy.\n\nWell, doesn't do much to sit and chat about your mistakes. It's time to embrace the future. Automation. The Life Experience ^^TM 2.0.\"\n\nI reved up a holographic interface yet uncreated by the big man.\n\n\"Let's see here....\"\n\nI clicked the tab called overview bringing up a main selection of statuses and measurements. Most statuses remained far short of all nodes that could be regarded as goals\n\n\nEarth status was grim, resources running out, ecosystem issuing several critical error messages, faith and happiness bottomed out. I checked on a few of God's Sims noticing that although they were mostly happy they were named things like ASSBUTT and named mostly after the Avengers and Game of Thrones. Fixing all of this could be the biggest waste of my time ever. But f*** it. Couldn't be a bigger waste of time than doing writing prompts on Reddit.\n\nI turned back to Him.\n\n\"It looks pretty clear that although the Sparks of Life you used made for some ...interesting results it all ended up so unguided your creations could accomplish nothing! Just trapped! On a tiny you-foresaken rock, fighting over scraps! \n\nDon't get teary eyed...hey...hey, I'm not saying I'm gonna eliminate war. I know how much you like to gamble on the game, big-guy. But I am saying have a little vision. War2.0 Epic. Space. Warfare. Gonna be sick, dude.\"\n\nI checked the treasury tab showing that, as I suspected, creation had exhausted the pool of resources it had been given at the starting location while the rest of the universe read high in literally every known element.\n\n\"See, you give people something shiny like gold and they go build a whole civilization trying to horde and trade the stuff till they're trading more useless yellow metal than actual food. Really went for the pay to win, didn't ya? It was so bad I thought it was unintentional for a while until I realized how much you had invested in the stock market. Hell, you and Satan made a killing on futures trading. I'm sorry the whole money thing is gonna have to be a no from me, dog. See, money as a currency just let's people substitute in their worst desires after a certain point. Those people get convinced they are god, not just playing his game.\"\n\nI started to make real changes, copying and pasting earth into nearby starsystems, saving one unchanged as a backup and clicked the distribute wealth button a few times to bring things back into a balance.\n\nAt least they should be able to afford some free will now. \n\nSummoning screens on all worlds I readied an announcement speech. \n\n\"Hey all, god here with an important announcement. Money, not all that important. Your highscore is based on the goodness of your spirit so work on that. Also yes I'm real and no, there's no do overs or spending eternity anywhere anymore. Honestly, y'all should have thought that through the first time around. Good luck, have fun. Take care of the noobs, ok? They didn't ask to be here. And as always, like and subscribe.\"\n\nI shut off the announcement and kicked up the passage of time so they'd get over the resulting chaos a little quicker. About 20 years later I made the leaderboard accessable to their internet. No one had yet surpassed F. Rogers but ASS was catching up slowly.\n\nturning my attention to the social tab I could see a list of Dos and don't that resembled a scrawled note. I had a hunch and checked to see the origin of the data on my screen. A window opened. A view of a pristine bathroom with a golden throne. Next to it in poor handwriting on a piece of toilet paper was scrawled a list.\n\n...Really had a stick up your butt about what people stick up their butts...that's, that's just way off our radar now, G-man. It's 2019. \n\nI replaced the data source with a copy of Bill and Ted's excellent adventure on repeat. At least the social structure shouldn't get any worse than \"being excellent\" to one another. Seeing social values increase slowly I took a step back as I rendered a godworthy computer and desk chair into existence.\n\n\"Now that that's over...time to get to work.\"" ]	4
	[WP] Bible verses and crucifixes are nice and all, but they're kind of outdated. You however are an inventor for anti-supernatural weaponry.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“So Doctor, what’s the deal with this SB-01 thing?”\n\n\nI excitedly tap some buttons on the display screen, I don’t look back.\n\n\n“General, please be so kind as to call it Lancelot.”\n\n\nI can almost sense his irritation, no matter, he gets his weapons, and I get to keep my job in the Special Corps.\n\n\n“I don’t care what you call it, what is it?”\n\n\nI finally turn around, though not before speaking into to my comlink “Nina, run some final checks on Lancelot, wouldn’t want to let the general down now would we?”\n\n\nShe responds “Of course, right away!”\n\n\nI finally make eye contact with the general. “General, this is my weapon, and I suggest you have some respect for it if you want to have any chance against the creatures from beyond you so fear.”\n\n\nThe general is taken aback by my sudden change in demeanor.\n\n\n“Understand?”\n\n\nHe regains his posture.\n\n\n“Whatever you say Doctor.”\n\n\nBehind me the enormous doors to the hangar grind open. I grin wildly. “This, general, is Lancelot.”\n\n\nIn the hangar stand dozens upon dozens of walking suits of armor, mechanized warriors adorned with silver, gold, crosses, and an endless variety of weaponry.\n\n\n“I take it you’re one for theatrics?”\n\n\nI glare at him.\n\n\n“Come, we have much to discuss.”\n\n\nI tap in some numbers on the screen and the doors of the observation deck slide open silently.\n\n\n“After you general.”\n\n\nHe steps through the open doorway into the enormous hangar, further down tanks adorned with crosses drive into racks to be transported to the frontlines in Europe. Priest and technicians alike scramble around to make repairs to vehicles and perform holy rituals. A preacher stands on an industrial pulpit protected by plexiglass to remind the workers of the sanctity of our mission.\n\n\nIt’s a touching display really, but I’m here to design killing machines not go to church.\n\n\n“So Doctor, care to explain why you’ve this factory you’ve built is worth the tax dollars required to keep in running?”\n\n\n“Well of course, now where is that pilo- ah! Lloyd!”\n\n\nA young man dons his combat suit and nods in my direction, getting right to business.\n\n\n“Well good hustle, we’re already behind schedule with this display thanks to the general being unable to navigate a flat stretch of land.”\n\n\nNow it’s the general’s turn to glare, I flash him a grin.\n\n\n“Now general, I present, at last, Lancelot, this is our latest anti-demon development, it’s designed as a highly mobile and customizable weapons platform, hence the mech design, it takes input from the muscles and brain and amplifies it with wheel tracks and a high-powered fusion reactor.”\n\n\nThe general nods, “And how do you keep it from... blowing up?”\n\n\n“Prayer.”\n\n\n“Prayer?”\n\n\n“Well god hasn’t let us down yet anyway.”\n\n\nThe general shakes his head, I concur, I wish there was a more... concrete method of keeping our pilots from exploding in the field but every other method tried has resulted in a new crater outside. Prayer hasn’t killed anyone.\n\n\nYet.\n\n\n“Moving on, the fusion reactor allows for a high degree of mobility, and speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour, in short bursts of course, standard for open terrain is 45, the Lancelot mech has a great degree of horizontal mobility, being able to change direction almost instantly by taking brain signals and using them to send input to the limbs. It even has limited vertical mobility, being able to make small jumps, however, dashes are most effective, in a pinch the torso can rotate separately from the legs, for greater visual range.”\n\n\nThe general nods approvingly now, this is a good sign, we may despise each other but as long as he likes my weapon that doesn’t matter.\n\n\n“And what of the armament?”\n\n\nI smile, genuinely this time, here’s where it gets really good, the Lancelot is designed to be highly adaptable, this is why the exterior is fitted with numerous hard points to attach weapons two, as well as functional hands capable of utilizing specially designed firearms or very large melee weapons.”\n\n\n“Alright, sounds good.”\n\n\n“So, for example, you could fit a mech with a shield and equip it with a sword, we call that one the Crusader-Pattern Lancelot. Or swap out the sword for a spear and you get the Byzantine-Pattern Or you could stick an anti-tank cannon to it to engage demon mechanized forces. Or just cover the exterior with machines guns and watch imps die. My personal favorite is probably fitting multiple CLB-75’s to it and dousing entire enemy units in holy light. Unfortunately this is quite a drain on the mechs power system and even prayer can’t help you if you overload a fusion reactor with twenty high-powered light cannons.”\n\n\n“Dousing enemy units in holy light...”\n\n\n“We also have holy fire if that’s more your style. It can be refitted on the battlefield as long as there are Lancelot-compatible weapons in the area, so, your soldiers can try it out and decide what they want.”\n\n\nThe general is on board now, “And the training required?”\n\n\n“Ah, here’s a bit of a kicker, because of the highly reflexive nature of the Lancelot, and the dexterity required to operate it pilots have to have incredibly high reflexes and go through multiple physical regimes as well as combat training courses. However, if you are simply using the Lancelot as a more mobile artillery pieces any soldier can operate it, though for maximum effectiveness a trained pilot is suggested.”\n\n\nHe stares off, “Right then, how soon can we get these moving to the front?”\n\n\n“We’ve got 100 Lancelot-I mechs and 5 experimental Lancelot-II’s, one of which has been cleared for combat.”\n\n\nHe reaches out to shake my hand and then draws it back, “We’ll take the lot of em’ then.”\n\n\n“Excellent, we’ll be here working on more of these if you need us.”\n\n\nBefore he can get a last word in, I turn and stride away, already tapping at the blueprint of the Lancelot-III.\n\n\nHe can have his robots and I can have my factory, I have no intentions of speaking with him longer than I must.\n\n\nAnd it doesn’t matter, we have our parts to play and we will play them with diligence. I, the engineer of our victory, him the executioner." ]	2
	[WP] On birth everyone is given a surgery to embed a special augmented reality lens into their eye. What you see as an amazing world filled with endless possibilites suddenly turns into a destroyed fallout from a war once your lens malfunctions.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"The World is far from perfect. But With Beaut-I, you can see the world through a whole new lens!\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nIt was a sentence we all had heard at some point. IntelliSys had pushed the limits of technology for thirty years, starting with bionic limbs, with bionic organs soon to follow. Then they dropped their most ambitious project yet; Beaut-I. Initially, it was used as a way to help people suffering from depression, a way for them to escape the harsh reality of life for a short time. But soon, the temptation of profits became too great for the shareholders of IntelliSys, who demanded that the product be made available to the general public. Within months, every person on the planet had one of these lenses. The surgery was difficult to perform, and hushed rumors said that the procedure could be lethal in adults. But, once these faceless voices were 'silenced' by IntelliSys, implanting the lens after birth was determined to be the safest way for a person to recieve these lenses.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nIt was almost too good to be true, really. People began opting in for their children to view the world the same way they did. And before long, every person on the planet was using Beaut-I. We had sprinted forward in the name of progress, but had stepped on a land mine just before the finish. With nobody able to see the consequences of their own actions, heads of state began secretly having their lenses removed, assuming they were the only ones to think of this path. Not long after, legions of IntelliSys androids began to enter the streets of third world countries, overthrowing the government and installing their own while the citizens watched and cheered, believing it to be a never-ending parade.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nOnce the third world was under the control of foreign bodies, the realization that these androids were aligned to no government spread amongst only the smallest of inner government circles. Soon, national governments believed nobody could be trusted, seeking to install their own world government and lead the masses to what they believed to be humanity's true destiny. War raged endlessly between the world powers, all battles being fought with IntelliSys technology. The world population was none the wiser, kept happy by their falsified reality, unaware that everything they loved was being taken by the very same company who gave them a way to escape hardship.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI'm one of the lucky few to disable my lens. Tomorrow, we go for the head of the beast. We have been given a unique opportunity to show the world what is truly going on, and to send a message that will not be able to be changed by Beaut-I. Tomorrow, we fix the world.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\\--------TWO DAYS LATER--------\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"We interrupt this broadcast to bring you breaking news. An attempt was made on the life of the CEO of IntelliSys, Ethan Browden, during his speech to the hard working employees of an IntelliSys plant in Chicago. He survived the attack, and all five suspects are currently in custody, with charges of tampering with IntelliSys technology, attempted assassination of an important figure, and numerous other charges. The shooter, Martin Locke, was quoted during his arrest as claiming Beaut-I is 'tearing the world apart', and that Browden 'should be held accountable'. SysUpdate is relieved to say that Mr. Browden survived with minimal injuries, and would like to request all Beaut-I users to ensure they are using the latest firmware for their lens, with a brand new update being released later today.\"" ]	2
	[WP] You see everything that happens in this city. In fact, you've been a part of everything that has ever happened here, yet are never a main player. You are The Bystander.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Many years ago, I was given a great gift and a great curse. I found the magic lamp in a storage room when I was on the run, and was told that whatever I wished for would have a consequence to match the reward.\n\nAt the time, the only thing I could think of was wanting to escape. I wanted to get the police off my tail so that I could live a free life. I’d only stolen that one car, and if I’d known it was the ambassador’s Bentley I would have picked a different car.\n\nI asked to become invisible, and I certainly got my wish. I could feel my body fading out of existence, and becoming...something else.\n\nI was no longer visible, but I was also no longer human. I was conscious, but I didn’t have a physical form anymore. My senses were still there, but different. I didn’t smell by breathing through my nose, but I was aware of the smells of the air around me. I didn’t have eyes to see through, but I could sense where everything was around me. It was a bit like a super-advanced radar system; I knew what was there and where it was, but only indirectly.\n\nIt took me a while to realize just how widely I could spread my presence. Within a few days, I could sense everything happening in the city from the big things to the tiny details. I knew that Leonard Andrews had murdered City Councilwoman Theresa Sanders, and I knew that her cat had drank less water than usual that morning. It wasn’t like I saw everything as individual events though. Basically, I was aware of everything that happened as it happened, but I had to really focus in on parts of the city to feel the events happening in real time.\n\nI had certainly managed to win my freedom, but at what cost? I knew what was happening around me, but couldn’t change anything.\n\nOne day, just as an experiment, I tried to focus all of my essence in one place. I picked an abandoned laundromat near where I grew up. If something weird happened when I tried to re-form, I wanted to make sure that I didn’t hurt anyone.\n\nI at least wanted to try to keep any possible damages to a minimum. I concentrated as hard as I could on my memories of the place. I focused on that washing machine that was fourth from the left when viewed from the street. It was just a little rusted-out on the left side. It was a distinguishing feature that I could hold on to in my head.\n\nI felt more...present. My senses sharpened so that it felt like I could actually sort of see myself. I was a swirling cloud of dust inside of an abandoned laundromat, but I was SOMETHING.\n\nI looked across the street and sparks flew throughout my semi-coalesced form. Not literal sparks, but something like an emotion I hadn’t felt in a long time.\n\nHope.\n\nI urged my consciousness forward to the brand-new copy shop across the street.\n\n———\n\n“And you’re telling me that you have no idea who left this note.” Detective Adrianna Lopez was not in the mood for messing around. She’d been assigned to the highest-profile murder in the city, and she was determined to find out what happened to the Councilwoman.\n\nHer search had brought her to an out-of-the-way copy shop in a bad part of town. The owner’s English wasn’t great, but Adrianna had a job to do.\n\n“No person. Just...wind. And letter.” The owner of the store had sweat pouring down his face, and Adrianna could see his pulse hammering in the exposed arteries on his neck.\n\n“May I see the letter?” she said, without the edge in her voice that she’d had before.\n\nThe man didn’t reply, but handed her a sheet of regular copy paper. On the front side, the letter was made out to her, sort of.\n\n_To: City Police_ was written on the front in black Sharpie.\n\nAdrianna flipped over the letter.\n\n_Your investigation is looking in the wrong places. Check the records for the catering company for the Councilwoman’s birthday party. Look into their owner Leonard Andrews. You will not be disappointed._\n\n_Sincerely,\nThe Bystander_\n__________________\nIf you liked this, check out my new subreddit! r/NicodemusLux" ]	2
	[WP]In every situation, by pure coincidence a fitting music plays. As a Secret agent you have mastered the art of prediction based off music by now.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The sun was shining on the East Lawn. \n\"Eagle ready to move,\" I said into the mouthpiece that attached to the cord that snaked its way down to the radio on my hip. On the opposite hip was the pistol. I'd never needed to fire it. \nThe Music was playing, as always. This morning, in the shower, it'd been the usual, a ditty from Sesame Street that had accompanied every shower I'd ever taken. It barely registered anymore; I'd found a way to block it out, most of the time.\nI knew I'd met the woman I'd marry, the first time I saw her. The Marriage of Figaro had danced in my head, and every time I looked at her a new love song played. At our wedding all I heard was bells. \nOver time, the music had changed. Not the old music, not the Sesame Street song. But I stopped hearing songs I knew. Now I just heard music: the music of the people around me, a score for the life I lived, for the lives of the people around me. \n\"Move Eagle,\" came the reply. \n\"Mr. President, it's time for your speech,\" I said to the boss, and moved up with him, took my place behind and to the right. \nHe started to speak. There was a crowd of journalists in front of him, a crowd of supporters behind. \nHe started his speech. \nI listened to the music then. I didn't like this man, I didn't like his speeches. They were full of rhetoric and guile, and I knew that in the neighborhoods, out in the country, the rhetoric was falling flat. His policies were hurting people. The news talked about it every day. \nMy job, though, was to protect this man. So I listened to the music. \nIt was brassy today. Brassy, and drumbeats. There were proud, swelling strings, and in the background almost indistinct chants. It was a populist song, a rising tenor that seemed almost to match the words I half heard from behind the podium. \nThis was going well, then. The music tracked with the man, bold and strong, growing and swelling. \nGrowing. \nGrowing louder. The chants came to the fore, buoyed by the brass and strings, held by the drum beats. \nThe brass dropped off. \nChanting! Drums! Strings!\nDrums. A martial beat. \nI looked around. The Eagle spoke. \nThe back of his head exploded and spattered me with blood. \nThe music swelled to a triumphant crescendo and I realized at that moment, for the first time, that I had misread the music. \nDown Pennsylvania Avenue marched a vast army of the poor and beleaguered, chanting as their leader walked to the podium. \nAs I was shot by the partisans, I listened to the trumpets blaze out their defiance. \nThe music, after all, had never lied to me." ]	2
	[WP] Whenever you touch the weapon of a fallen soldier, you see their last memories. One day while at a museum, you see a strange weapon clearly ancient but in perfect condition unlike any other weapon here, even the staff cannot explain its origin. You were given permission to touch it.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I look at what they bring me. \"You're joking, yes?\". The director looks at me. \"We are joking, no. The weapon was found as you see it.\"\n\nThe grass has died. The earth around the weapon is dessicated. Powdery. \"It's not a diorama?\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\n\"The provenance is clear? It is ancient?\"\n\n\"Yes and yes. I understand your disbelief, but it is as described, an ancient weapon, found in unusual circumstances. So unusual, that we're keeping the details secret until we have multiple confirmations. You have accurately described the circumstances of every weapon for which we had independent confirmation. We've also put a few in for which we did not have independent confirmation. You have provided invaluable insight. Now this. As you can see, the weapon itself is untarnished, no visible damage, even under magnification.\"\n\n\"You must know what it looks like. No one is going to believe it, no matter what the circumstances are.\"\n\n\"We are painfully aware of this. If it were not for the circumstances, we would have discarded it as a very poor joke. Please, tell us what you see.\"\n\nI reach out and grasp the handle. I'm enveloped in an incredible scene. Huge beings. Massive explosions. Screaming warriors in many sizes. Without my prior experience, I would be lost. I can sense my self, distantly, talking about what I'm seeing. The battle has been raging for eternity. They feast at night, and fight all day. Only this time, something is different. It is not stopping. This is Ragnarok. Many great heroes have already fallen. We are losing. One last throw of the dice. A blinding white light. Then darkness.\n\nI come back. It's much harder. My vision slowly returns. I'm still in the museum. Alone. The room is smokey. I finally make out the scorch marks on everything that was sharp. The weapon. It's Mjolnir. It's in my hand. Feeling light as a feather.\n\nFrom a distance, \"Mr. Siegfried? Have you returned to us?\" Yes, that was my name. \"I'm back. It is ... reasonably safe.\" The director walks in normally. The others are timid and wary.\n\n\"A most impressive display. Unfortunately, we had to retreat. I think you can see why.\" I nod. \"It also destroyed our recording instruments. What can you tell us?\"\n\nHe knows who's hammer this is. He can't not know it! \"It's Mjolnir. As you suspected. I think that's pretty well confirmed. There was a massive battle. The realization that it was finally Ragnarok. The battle was going poorly. So many great heroes dead. A choice in the moment, one last throw of the dice. A blinding white light. Then, nothing.\"\n\n\"I see that you are holding it. Without strain.\"\n\n\"Doctor... I don't think I can put it down.\" I force my hand open. The hammer remains in my palm. \"I think I'm needed.\"", "There was a time when fallen angels walked the Earth. They still do, but back then they were more visible and more present. They took wives from among mankind and sired giants, carnivorous creatures called Nephilim. If the Flood had not wiped out most of humanity, the Nephilim would have done it. \n\nThe sword I am touching tells me these tales. When the fallen angels were taking wives, God did not abandon his own. He sent an angel, carrying this sword, to the righteous. This is the sword that cut through Nephilim and fallen angel alike and protected the line of Seth down to Noah, when God at last told Noah, \"Leave the sword behind. You will need it no longer.\" \n\nI let it go of the sword. I look at the point that's sharp enough to make a statement. The blade so sleek that blood doesn't stick but slides right off of it. I'm breathing a little harder than usual, still shaken by my vision of the fallen angels and the Nephilim. They were terrifying. I could not imagine the bravery of the righteous men who held this sword to fight them.\n\n\"Are you okay?\" one of the museum assistants ask me. \n\nI shake off their look of concern and reply, \"Yeah.\"\n\n\"So, do you know where the sword is from? Or what it was used for?\"\n\nI nod. I know the answer to both, but I doubt he'll believe me. \n\nBut he already has his phone out, and he's calling someone. \"Yeah,\" he says into it. \"We have confirmation. He knows...\" He pauses and looks at me.\n\n\"Everything,\" I tell him.\n\n\"Everything,\" he repeats, listening for a few seconds to the voice on the other end of the line before nodding and passing me the phone.\n\n\"So,\" starts the voice on the other end, \"please, whatever you can tell us will be helpful. Do you know where the sword is from and what it does?\" \n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"Where?\"\n\n\"From Heaven. From God.\"\n\nThe assistant looks at me. I see the skepticism in his eyes and I hear it in the voice of the man on the other end as he hesitates, then asks me his next question:\n\n\"And...what was it used for?\"\n\n\"To protect the righteous.\"\n\n\"From who?\"\n\n\"Fallen angels and Nephilim.\" \n\n\"Oh. Interesting. Well, thank you for your time. Youve been extremely cooperative and helpful. Please give the phone back to my assistant.\"\n\nI hand it over. The assistant presses the phone to his ear, halfway turned away from me, as he whispers words so rapidly theyre almost unintelligible.\n\nI start to leave. Once I saw the vision, I knew they wouldn't believe me. These are men of science, not of faith. I was once one, too. That is until I started seeing these visions. But I didn't get paid to convince them that what I saw, and say, are true. \n\n\"Excuse me,\" the assistant calls.\n\nI turn back, thinking him or his boss needs to ask me another question about my vision.\n\nInstead, I see a gun.\n\nAnd the assistant, standing behind it, asks:\n\n\"Where do you think you're going?\"" ]	3
Death comes for everyone and everything.	[WP] Armageddon complete, one of the Four Horsemen turns to the other three. Without humanity to war, starve, or pollute; it is finally time for War, Famine, & Pestilence to themselves face Death.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "With a soft but shrill whisper Death addressed the other Horsemen saying \"We four have finally reaped what we have so diligently sown. Now the day of reckoning has come. Which of us shall lay claim to the throne of the Underworld! How shall-\" War interrupted with his mighty booming voice, \"A trial by combat is the only way to decide. We four have come to far to allow this matter to be decided by vote.\" Pestilence nodded \"It is only right that we settle things as we began them. It will be a great battle the likes of which the world has never seen\" she said gasping between words. Famine stood silent, his wide, staring off into the vast wasteland they had worked to destroy for so many centuries. A planer hell-scape, paved with the blood of Gods own creation. They had finally completed their mission, they had finally wiped the human race from existence. Every city, land mark, person, place ,and thing was erased; as if it had never been created. All that were left were the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and now it was time to decide who would rule over this plane.\n\nWar raised his fist and boomed once more, \"Let us fight with honor then, and decide the victor of our age old tale!\" Just then the fabled Excalibur rose from the earth and ascended to his palm. \"Fill your hands! Our final war must-\" He was cut short by a blade whose edge pierced the center of his back just missing his heart. Pestilence stood behind him and whispered softly into his ear \"The time now is for actions not words great inflated one.\" She drew the sword from his spine as War, now unable to speak, gathered his composure and drew his sword. Death stood hand extended as if he was summoning a celestial being, a ritual seal appeared before him as disembodied hands and arms rose from the ground revealing Death's Scythe, his only possession. War mustered up all of his strength and charged Pestilence, swinging his sword from the 4 o'clock position diagonally upward across his body while with his off balling a fist. Pestilence took a step back and parried his sword but was met on the other side of the strike with a blow to the head. Death flew in from 9 o'clock and greeted War with a well timed slice, but War was able to minimize the damage by jamming the broad side of his sword between his body and Death's cold blade.\n\n The fight between the three raged on, but Famine still remained staring, his eyes welling with tears. All the centuries of murdering the poor mortals was over, all the torment and agony he caused them brought him such joy. There was nothing left for him to be proud of, no more civilization to be expunged from reality and be left entirely to historical knowledge. Why would he want to rule over a plane with nothing for him to torment? Famine stood from the kneeling position he took earlier and looked around. 50 yards before him his 3 companions were engaging in the battle to end all battles, and as he looked on he had a thought. I have never suffered, I refuse to suffer. He started to walk toward the scene where the battle was taking place, attempting to time his steps with the perfect opportunity to get a clean swing. He began murmuring to himself picking up speed with each step, his eyes glued to Death \"Quick and painless, quick and painless.\" He repeated over and over as the 50 yards became 10 feet Famine threw himself just as Death drew back his scythe, Famine's neck lay right in the path of his blade. Before the blade could meet his flesh a sharp pain arose from his ribs as Pestilence drove her dagger deep into his lungs, instantaneously filling them with his own blood. War then connected as well skewering Famine through his pelvic region. He wasn't dead yet. Pain and agony shot through his whole body, letting it's presence be known by the blood curdling screams that exited Famines blood filled mouth. \"NO PLEASE NOT PAIN, PLEASE, NO IT HURTS!!! KILL ME PLEASE KILL ME!\" he gargled, screaming for relief in any form. His eyes were wide and he searched their faces for an ounce of sympathy, but there was none to be found. A smirk streaked across Pestilence's face. \"Why certainly Famine, why didn't you ask sooner.\" Pestilence took her dagger and twisted it within Famine's lungs making his already filling lungs unable to hold any oxygen. War flipped him over and watched Famine slide the length of his sword until finally he fell and met the earth. Attempting to gasp for a breath famine still searched their faces for any sign that this torment might end. The two chuckled watching the life leave his eyes so furiously, they watched intently for his final moment. Death's job was easy now, he only needed one clean swing.", "Three stood in silence as they watched their friend roam in search of the last humans. They watched as the world they'd been born into crumble because of them. They all reminisce about the day they became the Horsemen, and how they didn't expect the consequences of such a title.\n\n◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇\n\n\"Want to be a Horseman?\" Death, her birth name long lost even from herself, had asked the three friends she had in high school, \"The only rule is that if we all spawn, the apocalypse starts.\" The three had readily agreed to take on the title, having thought that at least one of them would never spawn in their lifetime.\n\nWar now took the form of a skinny, 5'5\" tall girl with hazel eyes and short brown hair.\n\nFamine's new form was of a scrawny, 5'3\" tall Native American boy with brown eyes and long, dark brown hair.\n\nPestilence, now a thin, 5'0\" tall girl with black eyes and long black hair with blonde tips.\n\nDeath took the form of a chubby, 5'6\" tall girl with short, artificial red hair and hazel eyes.\n\n◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇\n\nAs Death strode up to her friends, she offered them a sorrowful expression. They knew that their work was done. Humanity has fallen, and the planet could now reclaim its former glory. They knew that nobody, not even the children they'd spawned, nor the people they once loved, could have possibly survived.\n\nAll four Horsemen were sorrowful, for the task they were given was not meant to be enjoyable... or rather, as enjoyable as they'd originally thought.\n\nHow could any of them think such a task enjoyable?\n\nSuch a question could be answered if anyone had watched Pestilence consume the bodies that War and Famine had left in their wake. Or if anyone watched Death's sanity slip as she finished off the old, young, and innocent. Or even if one had seen Famine please himself with the desperate as a \"trade\" before Death finished them off as well. Perhaps if they'd watched War influence people to fight for their lives like an enslaved Gladiator.\n\nThey enjoyed playing out their darkest fantasies until they realized that even their families weren't safe. Until Death came for their loved ones and children.\n\nThey all were sorrowful, but not all for the same reasons. Famine, War, and Pestilence because of the loss of their families. Death because of the coming loss of her friends.\n\n\"Without humanity to fight, starve, or pollute...\" Death started off, her voice cracking somewhat. Her eyes were glued to the ground; unsure of how to continue. The roaring of flames and collapsing buildings filling in the silence until she found the words and confidence to speak again, \"... there are three humans left for me to face.\"\n\nTears rolled down her cheeks as she looked back up at her old friends. Only War had seen her cry, and those were exceedingly rare occasions. Now the three had seen such a thing, and terror shot through them.\n\n\"I'm sorry,\" Death whimpered before her hand reached toward War's forehead. War stepped back before Death's fingers could even brush the skin of her forehead. She knew what her touch could do, and she wished such a fate to never come to herself.\n\n\"Don't make this harder than it already is.\"\n\n\"What the hell else am I supposed to do?! It's bad enough that we had to end all of humanity, but you have to end us too?!\" War screamed as frustration and fear revealed themselves in her voice. Famine and Pestilence stayed silent, facing each other as if they were having a silent conversation with each other, as if they were debating on whether or not they would allow this to be their fate.\n\n\"War-\"\n\n\"Don't call me that! You know my real name! You know that we're just people, just as those who we've killed!\"\n\n\"Then what is your name?\"\n\nDeath's question came as a surprise to the three, but especially War.\n\n\"What is your name, War?!\"\n\nWar's mouth opened as if to answer, but quickly closed as she had nothing to say. She tried again and again to answer Death's question, but the truth was soon revealed to her. She didn't remember her birth name, nor the names of her friends.\n\n\"We've lost our names. We lost them the minute we became the Horsemen.\"\n\n\"How? It hasn't been very long since-\"\n\n\"It's been centuries, War.\"\n\n\"Don't call me that!\"\n\n\"You have no other name! We have no other names than what we've become.\"\n\nPestilence took a step toward Death, her gaze meeting the taller woman's eyes, whose attention was focused on War.\n\n\"Why haven't we aged? Why has it felt like only days when it's really been as long as you say?\" Pestilence's voice was almost as small as her stature, but Death heard it nonetheless.\n\n\"Because, until our task is complete... we are immortals.\"\n\nSuch a statement could be laughable to say the least, but at this moment, it wasn't. They knew that Death was serious.\n\n\"And the three of us are human again... aren't we?\" Pestilence asked with the very same calm tone that was used in her previous question.\n\nDeath could only nod, and more tears made themselves known.\n\nPestilence then took hold of Death's wrist and placed her hand on her own head. The last thing she could do before all light left her eyes was say, \"I'm sorry too.\"\n\nPestilence's body then dropped to the ground, leaving Death's arm outstretched in the very same position it'd been placed in.\n\nA scream ripped through the silence, and it came from War.\n\n\"Why did you let her do that?!\"\n\nDeath sighed softly, and her gaze moved to Famine. His expression was calmer than Death would have liked, and what became more unsettling for Death was the small smile that now curved his lips.\n\n\"It was nice knowing you, dude. Make sure to use my skull as a chalice like you always said you would,\" he said in the calmest tone he could muster, and he reached out his hand for Death to shake.\n\nDeath almost broke down, but her lips formed into a friendly smile to match Famine's, \"I promise. I'm glad to call you my best friend.\"\n\nShe reached her hand out again, and took his, pulling him closer and wrapping her other arm around his shoulder. The colour soon drained from his face and he too, collapsed to the ground.\n\nFinally, Death turned to War.\n\n\"You know what has to be done,\" Death whispered to her friend.\n\n\"No... it doesn't have to be this way,\" War whimpered as her arms crossed, and her hands held to the opposite's attachment with a desperate wish.\n\n\"It does, and you know it.\"\n\nWar shook her head and stepped back again. Her own cheeks staining with tears, just like Death's tears had done for herself.\n\n\"Just one last hug.\"\n\n\"NO!\" War's voice was becoming hoarse.\n\n\"War...\"\n\n\"NO!\" War shut her eyes and shook her head as she stepped further back.\n\nDeath hated it, but she took the opportunity when War closed her eyes. She pulled her sobbing friend into an embrace.\n\n\"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry,\" Death whispered in War's ear.\n\nWar's breath quickly faded, and she too collapsed to the ground; leaving Death alone in their now barren world.\n\nDeath fell to her knees and held her head in her hands, sobbing harder than she'd ever done in her long, long life. She'd lost her friends, her family, her human life.\n\n◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇\n\nAs the centuries passed, Death found that she would never be released from her ironically endless life. She began to follow the world as it rebuilt itself. Plants and animals had survived the apocalypse, as such a punishment was only for the humans. The world began to prosper once again, and even creatures that humans once believed as myth came to be.\n\nDeath had buried her friends and gave them a respectful ceremony; marking their graves so that she may visit them whenever she wished. She would forever miss them dearly, and every visit would bring tears; as she knew that they were only there because of her.", "They had wished Death would have her way with them, it would be much easier for all four of them this way.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe moment Heaven and Hell settled their dispute in this plane of existence, they left the aspects. No pompous farewell, no ceremony, not a single word. Four of them left on their own, Death decided to draw her scythe against her sisters. This was the last thing any of them could do.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Four Horsemen of Apocalypse\". What a vain and puny name those mortals chose. They didn't need no horses. They were always there; no need for any mean of transportation. Apocalypse? By that humans tried to imply that sisters were specifically designed to end them, but they were always there. \n\n\"Aspect\" is much more fitting. Simply crystallisation of an idea. Neat, humble. That's how they reffered to themselves as a whole.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nBut that was the root of their torment. Death sheared through War's torso, just to see the wound mend instantly. Shocked for the very first time since times immemorial, she looked into her victim eyes, burning with cold fury.\n\n\"This never happened before. How...\" Death left her mouth agape, then it struck them all almost instantaneously.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nYou can't just kill War. The act sparked conflict - a notion on which War was feeding. Even if shredded to pieces, a single tiniest bit of quarrel reverted her to normal state. And neither War nor Conquest did want to die.\n\nFamine didn't care much about dying. There was barely anything that kept her focus for longer than few seconds throughout the eons, and ceasing to exist didn't bother her in the slightest. Once struck by Death, she didn't come back for some while, but sooner or later she always did, as her other sisters were starving and longing for anything to put their minds to.\n\nConquest's rule was the trickiest to bypass. Not a pestilence - she embodied any and all kinds of agression or greed; be it sourced from humans or microbes, all living things gave her her \"food\" as a tribute. Even when Death, strongest of them, chose to end her, the situation itself empowered Conquest.\n\nObviously, you can't kill Death as well. Not that she didn't try. She attempted to put herself out of misery in many ways, just to be standing all well few moments later.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAnd so they spent another millenia in the void that once was the Earth, shambling around the obsidian-like ground, unlit by anything. They weren't really thrilled doing their duty back when mankind was around, but at least they got to do something.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThen, at one random moment in millenia of millenia, Pestilence spoke for the first time in ever:\n\n\"Why don't we create for a change?\"\n\nThis was madly ingenious for the other three. The idea of stopping the boredom, even for a while, made them interested to say the least.\n\nAfter few years spent on defining technicalities, aspect tried to make something for the first time in their lifespan. But to build someting the needed material; they weren't those deities that have forsaken them.\n\nEach one of them stripped themselves from their powers, aside from immortality (This meta-aspect was really hard-stuck to them) and let said powers to merge.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nRaw energy whirred, as if thinking what form to take. Finally, two shilouettes emerged from the light - of a man and a woman.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"We gave you the life and opportunities to eat, breed, desire, hate and take each other's lives. Those gifts are for you to use and we will neither jugde nor intervene\" sisters spoke in unison to the first new people.\n\n\"But where's the catch?\" Conquest's spark surged through a man, making him ask a question he didn't fully understand yet.\n\n\"There is none. You simply exist for our entertainment.\"", "War stood in the middle of the battlefield, watching the stormy sky as rain lashed down on his face. \n\n\"So that's it, isn't it?\"\n\n\"Well, not yet,\" said Death.\n\nThe cracked ground shook as the water crashed the bay nearby, but through it all, War didn't smile anymore at the destruction, but instead felt pain. Being born into Armageddon, he was only given one task, to destroy humanity, but with the mission done, he felt empty.\n\n\"I have already finished Famine and Pestilence, it's over, War, it's time to go home,\" Death said.\n\nBut they both knew home wasn't gonna be their destination, all the four horsemen knew they were puppets of Satan. They were only used to ensure the end would occur, and like the humans, they would go down with it.\n\n\"But there must be a way out, right? If we die, we'll never go back.\"\n\nDeath wished to agree, but there was an instinct, a voice behind Death's head that told him he had to continue. He raised his scythe, closed his eyes, and slashed down on War. Death stood for a minute, watching his brother calmly accept his fate. Through all the screams of man, through all the suffering Death had to witness, he finally felt at peace.\n\nAnd one last time, Death raised his scythe...", "We take turns looking at the motorcycle coming our way. \n\n“Well—War. It’s been an honour working with you. Maybe I’ll see you in the underworld.”\n\n“You, too, Famine.” War clenches his hands and pats me on the shoulder. The motorcycle grew closer. \n\n“We all knew this would happen. We just didn’t want to—“ Pestilence coughs “—want to accept it. I suppose Satan played us all. Except for—“ cough cough “—Death.”\n\n“I think you’re right.” War says. I look at the stores to our right. The only gas station for miles in this desert. Now it’s just an ancient ruin. No one will see it anymore.\n\n“Well, we succeeded.” Pestilence smiles a grim smile and shrugs. \n\n“I guess.” She coughs again. “Oh well. I’ve enjoyed my millennia with you two. Hope you guys end up with each other in the underworld. I’ll put a recommendation in for you—War—for other future battles.” \n\nDeath rides quickly toward us and skids to a stop. My jaw clenches. War squeezes my hand. \n\n“Someone order a pizza?” He chuckles. \n\n“Just kill us already, Death!” Pestilence groans. \n\n“Gosh you sound like a depressed fifteen year old. Someone’s been on 2meirl4meirl!” He laughs a dry laugh as dust comes out of his skull face. \n\n“Not funny.” I mutter. \n\nPestilence steps forward. \n\n“Have fun in Personal Relations!” I call it to her as Death raises his gun and BAM! \n\nNext is War. I kiss him on the cheek as he walks over to Death, as well. BAM! \n\nI walk forward and close my eyes. Death opens up his gun. \n\n“Aww, crap man. I’m outta bullets.” He laughs hysterically. I’ve never liked Death. He’s super annoying. \n\n“So?”\n\n“Haha! So looks like we’re stuck here.”\n\n“Wait how would you have gone back?” I look at the ash piles of my friends. \n\n“I wasn’t going to. You know I’m an introvert! Haha, Satan promised me a mansion about a couple miles that way. I was going to stay there for eternity until new humans evolved.” He shoots me a grin and then hops on his motorcycle. \n\n“You can’t just leave me!”\n\n“Yes, I can. Smell ya later, sweetie.” \n\nMy stomach growls. Death and Famine are still on the earth, I guess. But War and Pestilence aren’t. Huh. Who would’ve thought?", "War looked up at me. It was chilling. Since he was born, he'd existed in a bloody rage. Now, he couldn't be calmer. He was smiling, his eyes hooded and sleepy. Soot and ash in his hair, blood spattered over his face, and a casual smile...surreal. \"Are you ready, Uriel?\"\n\nWar nodded. \"I'm ready, brother. I've had my fill, I've had my fun. It's been an honor and a pleasure riding out alongside you.\"\n\nI chewed the inside of my lip as I raised my scythe. \"No, brother,\" I whispered. \"The honor was mine.\" I wouldn't argue the pleasure, but seeing him at peace was worth it. \n\nSwing. Uriel's body evaporated as his essence rose. His blood sizzled on my scythe for a few moments as I turned to Famine.\n\nAgain, I had to compose myself. Sarathiel was already on his knees, waiting expectantly. \"Are...are you ready?\"\n\nA curt nod. His sallow, sunken features were satisfied. Fulfilled. \"Take me, brother. My job is done.\"\n\nI couldn't believe I was doing this. We were not much younger than time itself. Born moments after Adam took the offered fruit, we entered Heaven as sin entered the world. I raised my scythe and murmured, \"Be at peace, brother.\"\n\nSwing.\n\nPestilence was last. \"Stand,\" I told her, letting the tears flow at last. I know not whether they were tears of grief, or of fear, or of guilt. I was simply exhausted. Kushiel understood. We embraced, and I began in earnest to sob. What came next, we knew, was not death as the mortals experienced it, but the beginning of something so new and awesome that we could not fully imagine it. For a time we wept. With Kushiel I felt I could weep--so often we'd cried together after plagues and the like. She hated her job like I hated mine, though we were honored above most to have them.\n\n\"I am ready, Samael,\" she whispered. \n\n\"I am not,\" I replied.\nWe stood for a time longer, then I raised my scythe to the back of her neck. A sharp enough tug would behead us both. \"I am ready, sister.\"\n\n\"Then do it.\"\n\nI did.\n\nAnd then, there was Light.", "\"Best two out of three?\" asked Pestulence with a nervous grin, sullied only by his crooked and wormy grin.\n\n\"This isn't a bar bet,\" scoffed Death. \"Creation is over. It's done.\"\n\n\"Why not,\" interjected War, adding \"we fight for our freedom?\" Already his eyes were glowing red hot with the flames of war, his heart pounding like a battle drum beaten by a battle-worn soldier waiting for the word to attack.\n\n\"Freedom to where?\" asked Death. \"You seem to be missing the part where the world is over. Your services are no longer required.\"\n\n\"Yo,\" said Famine, \"Anyone else hungry? I could go for some shawarma before we die.\"\n\nThe four horsemen sat in silence on the backs of their demon horses who trotted back and forth impatiently.\n\n\"Well,\" Death said with a long sigh. \"Fine.\"", "War opened her eyes. The landscape was desolate, a stark change from what it had been when she and her Siblings had been released. Tellus, Earth as the local mortals had called it, was no more. Its once green foliage and azure oceans had been wiped clean. All that remained was the hot furnaces spewing fire and brimstone into the air and the hardened black surfaces she and her two sisters stood on. The final alter towered above them, a black pyramid with a flat top. Its only background was the red star Sol, once the yellow jewel of the system. Twenty One enormous obsidian stairs flanked by columns at every level led to the top. While they had once climbed the first seven of those stairs with ease in their early days, their reduction in power now meant they could not even climb the first.\n\nShe turned to look at them, the Two who stood a short ways from her. Famine still had a touch of her power. All she needed was hunger to maintain herself, and as War had not fought in what seemed to be centuries Famine had found a minuscule amount of energy to harvest in her own Sister. She continued to fiddle with her scales, stopping to glance at War occasionally or feign concern over her black beast of a mount. Not that any of their steeds needed food or water, or were even alive for that matter. Their sustenance was the same as their Harbinger's. Famine's only interest now would be to stay near War, her last available form of sustenance.\n\nPestilence was a different story. With no living creature left in the universe, she had no crops to devour. There was no water to taint, nor organism to infect. Her bow and quiver sat silently on the ground by her knees, and she had not summoned her steed in over a millennia. Time had not been kind to Pestilence, but she could not leave this existence yet. She was too weak to call out as she once had, screaming for relief. For the only one who could wipe her from this plane.\n\nFor their Brother.\n\nIt had been a true millennia ago since War had seen him. Once they had begun the tempest of the Apocalypse in earnest, two other sides had sought to intervene and save the mortals. Heaven and Hell, two sides of the same coin, had sought to stop them. Angels and Fallen Angles, Seraphim and Cherubim, Demons and Nephilim entered the field seeking to protect the Father's creation they relied on. But in entering the mortal plane, those Beings had both weakened and exposed themselves to the Harbingers. Pestilence took particular delight in reducing immortal beings to sobbing piles of flesh. Infection by deadly disease was not pretty, but being unable to die from it was horrific. The battles between the Harbingers and the rest of existence also empowered War. Gosh were those the days, so steeped in power was she that no being wanted to face her. The screams of Angels and Demons soon joined the cries of Mortals. But no cry or prayer for salvation could save them. Eventually their remains were strewn side by side throughout the planet.\n\nThe last to three to fall of the Tellus campaign, a mortal, Satan, and the Son, rested beneath the obsidian alter. The surviving immortals fled to the stars, and as life began to depart the world, so too did they as Harbingers. Their steeds would ferry them across the void, seeking other existences in the universe to consume. Hunting the remaining immortals. Feeding their power. As time passed, however, their brother would force them to return, one by one, to Tellus. To live at the altar. His power had grown, and as they gazed up into the void they had once so easily traveled, the pinpricks of light they had galloped past began to wink out. Then Sol, the last light in the sky, was extinguished.\n\nAll that remained was darkness, and the fires of Tellus.\n\nAnd finally, He returned.\n\nDeath, the Last Horseman, their Brother, stood before them. She had not even seen or sensed his coming. He and his steed towered above them, indicative of the overwhelming power he now possessed. His black robe consumed light around him, but his scythe was nowhere to been seen. She tried to meet his gaze, but his eyes made her sick. They were immensely deep, black orbs ringed in white. She felt like nothing could escape them. War wanted to unsheathe her sword, to have one final battle, the final struggle she had been awaiting. But gazing up at him now, she knew he would swat her aside as she had done others at the height of her power. She was nothing now.\n\nHe passed between War and Famine, beckoning them to follow. He approached Pestilence, lifting her from the ground and cradled her in his arms. And then he stood on the first step of the altar. A surge of power left Death, dispersing through the obsidian alter. Pestilence's eyes flew open, her eyes shining with white light. Her body became ringed with it, glowing in the darkness. Death dropped her, but as War was about to cry out, Pestilence hovered, suspended by some power above the single stair. Death turned to his sister,\n\n\"Are you ready?\"\n\nHe gave her no time to reply as he abruptly ascended to the second stair. War was immediately engulfed in another surge of power. She slowly rose into the air, her back arched, arms extended diagonally downwards and legs slightly overlapping. Red light began to surround her as she slowly began to hover. The light coursed through her, finally surging one last time and igniting her eyes with red light, shining out as they once had during her height. Her glory was restored, but as she had no knowledge of what was happening, she asked,\n\n\"Brother, what is this? What is happening\"\n\n\"This is the beginning.\" He replied, \"This is the beginning, of the End.\"" ]	9
	[WP] Upon entering a "magic" school, you gradually realize you are the only capable of performing real magic. Everyone else are absolutely fakers.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I think I started to notice when everyone else's familiar seemed to be an absolute idiot.\n\nMy cat familiar, Voidwalker (she picked the name), absolutely hated the other animals there. Every other cat she deemed brainless. I disregarded her claims, but I found them odd- at home she was very sweet. Here she only liked me.\n\nMy second tip-off was during an illusionary class. I've never been the best caster in my family, I'll admit, but even my teacher seemed impressed. Maybe she wasn't used to it, on second thought- i swear, I saw a student slip his mouse into his hat when he made it vanish.\n\nMy third tip was hanging out in the dorms after my first day. I sat with VW on an armchair, lookinf at something, when I heard a couple kids come through. They were chatting over how they hod their small animals- up sleeves, in hats, any way other than literally making the poor creature vanish into thin air. I remember giving a sign and leaving, but I was stopped by one of the kids. He asked how I did it!\n\nI remember I stared at him for a moment, bewildered, before moving back out and starting to the head of the dorm's office. I wanted to clear something up, damnit.", "\"Amazing, how did you do that?\" asked a freshman.\n\n\"Well it's not that hard, is it? Casting fire is one of the first things i learnt once i mastered the heat magic and the manipulation of the vibration of molecules\"\n\nFive seconds of silence. Then everyone craked up. I started laughing with them, unsure of the reason. An older student patted me on the back \"You're awesome, new student\". The fuss was interrupted by the bell.\n\nDuring lunchtime, i was approached by a seniour.\n\n\"What's up\"\n\n\"Oh, hello\"\n\n\"So, tell me...Where did you find the X-Fuel? that combustible is very rare. Do you have any left?\"\"What are you talking about?\"\"Oh come on, i won't tell anyone. Look, if i pay you in advance, could you give me what is left of it? I'll pay you big money i promise, i need it for...\"\n\n\"Look man\" i interrupted him \"I have no idea what you're talking about. The spell i performed this morning is a really basic fire casting and i learnt it when i was five. Now, if you'd be so kind to let me finish my lunch...\"\n\nShortly afterwards i went to the bathroom to brush my teeth.\n\n\"HOLD HIM!\"Before i knew it i was grabbed by two big students\n\n\"What the hell do you want from me, let me go!\"\n\nThe two guys started touching my arms\n\n\"Boss, we can't find it\"\n\n\"Where is the Y-Flame?\" Said this other dude.\n\n\"The what?\"\n\n\"Don't play games. That flamethrower is extremely rare and i spent the last ten years looking for it. If someone is supposed to have it, that is me.\"\n\n\"If you don't let me go right now, i'll send you to the moon\". I was starting to get annoyed.\n\nThe guys started giggling\n\n\"You should have brought the A-Machine for that\" said one of them locking the bathroom door.\n\nSuddenly it came to me: all these people weren't performing magic, they were just using trickery.\n\n\"Alright, bye bye\" I said teleporting the whole school to space.\n\nMaybe i exaggerated...nah, i'll bring them back when they have finished the D-Oxygen. If there's such a thing, of course.", "Royal Blue, the ivy league of magic schools, rested flatly on the plane of desert. The sand extended for miles, and the vision would blur upon looking. The sun shone hard on the winning Royal Blue slopetops -- they gleamed effortlessly. What winning architecture, I thought, does tradition justice. \n\nIn my mind, the school stands thus. \n\nIn my mind, I declare it needless to destroy. My reverence for it shall remain intact. Though, would you blame me? If say I had destroyed it? This institution? It is false, totally phoney. Okay no, the teachers do their best, but the student body is I mean. Not talented.\n\nTo think no one could actually make a spell, I mean, a real original spell. Now that's magic!agic subsists on practice, genuinity, honor. The recognition of good work. \n\nI was, turns out, the only one. Dumbledizzy told me I was brilliant. \n... Said the rest didn't know. \"They'd be jealous of you,\" he said, and at that moment I got real tired. \n\nIt's a burden." ]	4
	[WP] Exhausted, weighed down by a heavy conscience, with a furled brow, he sat. His sword, now cleansed, sheathed, lay next to him. With a relentless patience, he waited.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "They would come. He knew that, he had made sure of it when he cut down his final opponent, claiming his bloody vengance.\n\nNow, surrounded by the eery clusterphobic silence on the forest, the sounds of the pins in his armor unlocking, and the sound of his metal armor hitting the forest ground echoed out. \n\n/They will be upon me by nightfall/ the solemn knight now sat, unprotected, stairing through the thick canopy above him, the last streaks of the sun's radiant light cutting through the western forest wall. \n\nHe had exacted his final judgement today, the death of the clan leader meant the end of a rampage that had started only a several days before.\n\nThey took his village, his home, his precious hound. \n\nHe took from them pound-for-pound, drop-for-drop and then some. Leaving the ranks of the Hizaka fractured, entire namesakes washed from the halls of history with his blade.\n\nHe thought on that. The countless bodies that lay in the earth after his unleashing, the stories that would be told for generations of the monster who came in the dark and cut through entire generations. He would forever be a killer, if not because of his actions, then because history would never remember him for anything more. \n\nHe felt the weight of a thousand names on his shoulders, and simply hoped that an honorable death would withstand the weight of their judgement. \n\nSo he sat, thinking and waiting for the inevitable. He had danced with death for so long, a beautiful waltz they had practiced so well, deaths ambassador ever leading with his graceful steps and equally graceful cuts.\n\nAs the last drop of sunlight dripped from his closed eyelids, he awoke from his thoughts, the killer awoken once more. \n\nRussling in the leaves signaled a breeze, but the air night sat still. \n\nHe opened his eyes.\n\n\"They are here.\" He said out loud, while removing his sword from the sheath, the moonlight catching it's reflection for a moment until the blade and it's wielder melted into the darkness of the forest. \n\nThat night, blood was shed that still soaks the earth. \n\nThe legend has no names attached to the warrior and his deeds, simply saying the clans whose names we're ended in that forest that night, had met death amongst the still leaves.", "Ten years.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n10 entire years it had been since that boy stood there by the burning village, everyone he once knew and loved dead. As he looked up he saw the solar eclipse ending, and it turned day. The 24 hour long battle between the Paladin of the Moon and the Knight of Sun, representatives of the two major celestial bodies, to decide who was stronger, had been won by the Sun, its knight scorching the lands.\n\n10 years it had been since that boy used the last bit of his money to forge a plan, and to forge a blade, strong enough to rival these rivals' weapons. A titanium blade, and four portals to the elemental planes were what it would take to make a sword attuned to the stars: Only then would he stand a chance.\n\n9 years it had been since he had beaten the dragon in combat, showing a burning passion to complete his goal. After bathing his blade in scorching flames from other planes, he gazed down. The titanium blade had been transformed into pure Pyrithium, an extremely rare metal sold to only the strongest of adventurers. It was strong, but not strong enough.\n\n8 years it had been since he had solved the sphinx's riddles, and was granted access to enhance his blade in the plane of earth's energy, causing its edge to be enhanced with Terrarium, one of the other mythical metals, and its guard to be decorated with only the most ornate of gems. It was stronger, but not strong enough.\n\n7 years it had been since his master caught word of him, and managed to track him down. Despite the sheer magical strength of that boy's sword, he could not overcome the master. He would tell the master his story and his plan, to which he simply nodded, and told the boy to come with him.\n\n4 years it had been since the boy finished his training, and had managed to infiltrate the Triton kingdom, and enchant his blade in the bottomless oceans of the plane of water. Full control he had now over three of the four major elements, managing to make even the strongest of foes kneel through magical-, if not martial prowess. The sword was one of the strongest in all of the lands, but it was not strong enough.\n\n3 years it had been since he fearlessly scaled the mountains, and within the chasm between the peak- and bottom of the world he had found the portal to the plane of wind. With his once titanium, now Ultimatinum blade, he could bend all of the lands to his will. He could overthrow entire armies with the flick of a wrist, calling down firestorms and earthquakes, raging winds lifting houses from the ground, and tidal floods strong enough to erase an town. And yet, has plan had not yet ended. Attunement to the stars was still required: It was not strong enough\n\n2 years it had been since he built the Starpoint Temple at the peak of the world, and he had bathed both himself and his trusty sword in the purest starlight that would ever graze his planet, causing the blade to lose its elemental properties, and instead displaying the heavens above within its blade. The boy, too, had been enhanced by the stars, his body covered in markings and patches of darkness, which could be filled with starlight, and later be used to cast spells unique to him, and him alone.\n\n1 year it had been since he left the Starpoint Temple, coming back down to the grounds below, and heading to the place where the next battle between the Paladin and the Knight would take place, as foretold by the stars.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n24 hours it would be until the solar eclipse would appear in the sky, and the two celestial bodies would send down their chosen warriors. And so, here he waited, cleaning his blade one last time before battle.\n\nWith 10 exhausting years behind, and 24 brutal hours ahead, he put his sword down next to him and sat down. With relentless patience, he waited.\n\nThe boy, the man, Stargazer, was strong enough.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nHe was ready." ]	3
	[WP] You've chosen to live like a hermit, but once a week you still turn on the radio to listen to news broadcasts. Last week there was nothing special on the news, but this week, complete silence on all channels.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It was Friday morning. As he had done every morning before this one, Red woke with the sun. He pulled himself out of bed just as dawn striped his room with light. He pissed, brushed his teeth, and splashed water on his face. Time had been unkind to Red. The skin on his face sagged and his wrinkles were carved deep into his face. He sighed. Still in his tattered pajamas, he wandered into the kitchen to begin his morning ritual. \n\nFirst, put the coffee on. Next, cook two eggs, a piece of toast, and two slices of bacon. Pour a glass of orange juice. As it was Friday, Red pulled an old radio off a shelf in his living room and placed it on the table in front of his breakfast. His chair squeaked as he pulled it across the worn wooden floor. It then groaned as it took on the burden of carrying his weight. Red ate his breakfast methodically, cutting each egg and piece of bacon to the perfect size then eating them together in one easy bite. He buttered and jammed his toast and swallowed it down with his juice. \n\nNext came the radio. He pushed his plate aside and brought his coffee up to his mouth. He blew on it gently as he clicked the radio on. Silence. He placed his mug back on the table and began to fiddle with the different knobs. AM. FM. AM again. Nothing. Not even static. Just silence. Red stared at the radio for a moment. He took it in his gnarled hands and popped the batteries out. He couldn’t remember the last time he had changed them. \n\nRed stood, pushed his chair back in, and moved to the other side of his small kitchen. He stared out the window for a moment. Silence. There were no birds or squirrels or rabbits to be seen. No chirping or squeaking. Only a light breeze that was too weak to even rustle the leaves. He squinted into the hazy morning light then shook his head. He turned his attention to the drawers in front of him and opened the one to his left. Inside was neatly organized – scissors, batteries, tape, a small screwdriver, nails, and some other miscellaneous items all in a row. He grabbed the batteries and returned to the silent radio. \n\nHe sat once again, the chair once again squeaking and groaning. He pressed the batteries into their slots and closed the cover. Again, he clicked the radio on and turned it to his usual stations. Silence. Again. He quickly turned the radio off and gathered the remains of his breakfast. He hand washed each dish and placed them carefully into the dish rack. He then returned to his bedroom. \n\nThe room was now bathed in morning light. It revealed a simple bed, a nightstand, and a closet. Red pushed open the closet doors and pulled out a pair of trousers, a white undershirt, and a white t-shirt. It was what he had worn every day before this one. He didn’t bother checking himself in the mirror as the only one who would be bothered by his appearance was himself and he was already bothered enough as it was. \n\nThe radio sat in the exact spot where he had left it. He picked it up and shook it absentmindedly. No clinking or clanking, no loose wires or screws. He scratched his head. \n\n“It must just be broken,” he said to himself. It was old just like him. And just like him, it eventually had to die. It had to die and be replaced. He tossed it in the trash. \n\nFriday wasn’t usually a supply run day, but he figured it might as well be. The previous week he had finally finished getting the place ready for winter and now all he needed to do was wait. A radio would be important for the winter months as he used it to check for any severe weather that might come his way. It also kept him company during the longer, lonelier nights. It would be nice to see Darlene too. He hadn’t seen her since the summer, and he had been meaning to ask her how school was coming along. She was a good kid and one of the few people he actually enjoyed talking to.\n\nHaving finally decided on his plan, Red pulled a worn coat off its hook and put it on. As he left the house, he made sure he had his keys, wallet, and reading glasses. Dust cascaded off the fabric as he patted each of his pockets. He grabbed his cane off the porch and began the journey into town. \n\nIt was a long walk from his isolated farm into the nearest town and his knees took on the brunt of the distance. He moved slowly and patiently, not minding that the occasional pause might add an extra five or ten minutes to his voyage. He could not help but notice how quiet the day was. Still no sign of any animals or any life for that matter. No matter how much he strained he couldn’t even hear the buzzing of insects. He wondered briefly if he had gone deaf, though he quickly remembered the groaning of his chair and the screeching of his fork against porcelain. An hour and a half later, he arrived in town. \n\nThe town of Merriam was small but bustling. It consisted of mostly grocers and antique stores with a few bars thrown in for good measure. The people who lived there were most definitely born there and would most definitely die there. Red only knew a few of them and did not care to know any more. And fortunately for him, the townspeople felt the same. His arrival into town was normally greeted by whispers and sly remarks. \n\nToday his arrival into town was greeted only by silence. Merriam was seemingly empty. There were no children running down the sidewalk. No women haggling for their vegetables or men smoking on the corner. Red was alarmed but wary. Had there been an evacuation? Perhaps there was some sort of disaster that forced them to leave? It wouldn’t surprise him if the kind folks of Merriam had “forgotten” to give him the memo. Either way, it didn’t matter. \n\nRed pressed on into town and walked down to the corner shop. A sign reading “Betsy’s Haberdashery” hung above the door. Betsy was Darlene’s mother, a real old-fashioned woman with a fierce demeanor and a quick tongue. She hadn’t wanted Darlene to go to school but she eventually gave in, on the grounds that Darlene would return to watch the store during her breaks. A small bell rang as he pushed the glass door open. \n\nAs he had expected, the shop was empty. A purchase of a jar of peanut butter, a loaf of bread, and a gallon of milk still sat on the counter waiting to be rung up. Red sat at the bench by the shop window. It was where he always sat when he came into town. When she had a free moment, Darlene would come and bring him a glass of water and get his supplies ready. Red’s mouth grew dry as he sat. \n\nHe slowly stood and walked down the aisles of the store until he found a radio. He placed it and a fresh pack of batteries on the counter. He then placed a $20 bill by the register and took his purchases back to the bench. A brand-new radio with brand new batteries should do the trick. He would find whatever emergency alert they were broadcasting and figure out exactly what was going on. He pressed the batteries into their proper slots and clicked the radio on as he had done twice this morning. \n\nThis time, the radio produced a faint whine. Red pressed his ear to the speakers and tried to decipher anything from the static. He messed with the knobs in a desperate attempt to make the sound clearer. And suddenly, as if by magic, a voice came from the radio clear as day.\n\n“Please help us.”", "The setting sun was a vivid orange that evening, bathing the countryside in calming hues. Heath should have been taking comfort in the glow of that summer night, but the hissing static of the radio bothered him. It was his one link to the outside world, and every Tuesday night he would turn it on to tune into the Howard and Beck talk show on Radio Four. They’d go over the week’s news and discuss the top stories amongst themselves. It wasn’t much, but, well, they were damn near the only human voices he’d hear these days, besides the occasional visit from Moreen with fresh supplies and exotic new tastes.\n\nHeath hadn’t considered himself dependent on these weekly shows, but now that he was only receiving static, the world felt strangely empty. There was a small pit in the seat of his stomach. He resolved firmly to ignore it.\n\nHeath’s typical routine on a Tuesday would be to climb into his hammock, light a cigarette, and listen to the talk show as he gazed listlessly across his farm, weather permitting. On colder, wetter nights he’d take the radio inside, maybe sit in the window and lose himself in the darkening sky. Sometimes he’d even skip the talk show all together, it wasn’t that important to him. He didn’t feel empty when he did that.\n\nJust turn the radio off, he told himself. Getting broody. Must be that time of the year again. He didn’t make a habit of keeping track of calendar days anymore. Not much point when you didn’t rely on some rich man’s society for a living.\n\nDavid used to be scared of the static on the TV.\n\nHeath had checked the radio over, but it seemed like it should be working just fine. He’d moved the antennas around, taken it inside and back outside, tried some of the other channels, though he didn’t have much love for pop music – reminded him of the city. All of them were static, too. Plenty of reasonable explanations for that, could just be a failure in one of the radio towers a few miles out. Still though, it was a damn inconvenience. It’s not like he had a number he could call to check if there was some sort of maintenance going on. The only number he had was Moreen’s, and he kept his landline unplugged most of the time.\n\nHe could call her, he supposed. Thought not at this hour. Best leave it until tomorrow.\n\nHeath hauled himself out of his chair and decided to go and water the plants. He didn’t get much rain around these parts during the summer, and without him the plants would dry up and perish. It gave him some small measure of pride to see them flourishing on the lawn, defiant against the relentless heat of the waning sun. It had almost completely sunk below the horizon now. The radio was still emitting static.\n\nThe old Toyota truck emitted a long shadow across the lawn. Heath frowned at it. He wasn’t sure why he even kept the old thing anymore. Not much use for it, with Moreen keeping him supplied each month. Still, he kept it clean and functional and kept spare fuel around for emergencies. Not that he could think of any emergency situations that would require his input. It was mostly just another distraction.\n\nHeath walked out onto the road and gazed down it. It ran for miles each way, with his farm the only homestead within view. They’d rerouted the highway some years back and now he hardly saw any cars coming down this way. Not that he’d notice them; he’d filtered out the noise of passers-by years ago.\n\nDavid had jokingly referred to it as the Lonely Road.\n\nRe-connecting the phone line took little effort, but Heath couldn’t get a signal from the phone line any more than he could get signal from the radio. Would a radio tower fault cause issues with the phone lines? He didn’t know, but the pit in his stomach grew a little deeper. Maybe he should drive out into the city, just to be certain that nothing serious had gone wrong down there. The idea filled him with unease, but any distraction was better than going to bed with his current state of mind. He knew he’d be plagued by nightmares if he did.\n\nMuttering to himself all the while, Heath entered the house, dug out an old lockbox from behind the sofa, and obtained his car keys from within.", "A sharp turn of the battered radio dial yielded silence; a second earned the same. Turn, emptiness. Turn, emptiness. The static hissed and crackled at him with malice. He climbed to his dirt-encrusted feet, picked up the radio, swept his coat over his thin shoulders, and fastened a collar on his gold-furred dog.\n\nThe hermit exhaled a nicotine-smelling breath (he wasn’t currently smoking, but cigs had permanently imbued him with their essence) and began the journey to the nearest town, Tellico. Given that he liked to live as deep into rural Tennessee as possible, it was a while before he could reach Tellico. \n\nHe got there, though, without laying eyes on anybody else. Cars sparsely lay abandoned on the dirt road. His dog, tired from the walk, looked up expectantly at her master. He gave her a gentle pat on her yellow head and guided her to their favorite diner.\n\nIt was the kind of empty that carried with it a sense of finality, the kind where once the hermit laid eyes on the diner, he knew no human presence would eat breakfast at or fry an egg at ever again. He didn’t know how to react at first, but after a minute of shock, he allowed himself to feel a sluggish sadness and fear. \n\nNot even a hermit was immune to loneliness, but they weren’t alone. A presence in the diner watched them from behind a counter. \n\nThe dog growled and bared her teeth, which was met with a whimper by the other, smaller dog. The hermit whistled her name, ignored. Seeing it was no threat, she un-snarled and padded over to the Pomeranian, who rolled over on its back. The hermit’s mutt sniffed its belly and deemed it acceptable, so the hermit himself slowly walked over to the other dog. \n\nThe mutt stepped back. The Pomeranian licked the hermit’s palm. The hermit deemed it acceptable as well, and scooped it into his arms.\n\nThe hermit and his dogs checked every building for signs of human life, and were greeted only by fearful rats and some very confused cats. The hermit wasn’t really a cat person. He looked in the back of the diner for some food and was met with stale bread and some frozen burgers that had just began to thaw. He set up a fire and cooked it.\n\nAfter eating, the hermit walked to the front room. He pressed a wall phone into his scraggly bearded face and dialed 911, his estranged brother, and his uncle. All was met with silence, although their voicemails absolved his loneliness a little. It was nice to hear a person talk, and he suspected that voicemails would be his only opportunity to do that for a while.\n\nHe grabbed his dogs and wandered out of the door and into the next nearest town. Radio and physical quiet. The next and the next were filled with nothing as well. \n\nHe cried a more than a few times. The hermit buried himself into his dogs’ fur and sobbed until he couldn’t recognize himself and had wasted his water supplies. He pressed on. \n\nFinally, at the fifth town, he saw someone. A woman was lying alone in a bar, passed out and coated with alcohol. The hermit bent down and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of drunk potatoes. He carried her to a deserted house and set her down on a bed. She had a wide, Eastern face and was uncomfortably thin. \n\nThe hermit waited until Dark covered the world with His starry cloak. She roused, then, and after some panicking and extremity-flailing the hermit managed to get some water (and an explanation) into her. \n\nShe calmed a little, though her black eyes were still round with fear. \n\n“I’m Sal, by the way. Um, Sal Morita.” She rubbed at her face with shaking hands and gulped some more water. “Wh-what about you guys?” she asked after a moment. \n\nThe hermit hesitated. “Flansburgh. Uh, Danny,” he croaked. His voice was unused to use. “Danny Flansburgh. This,” he pointed at the Pomeranian, “is Pom. It’s a placeholder name for now.” Danny gestured to the mutt. “This is Goldie.” Goldie perked up at her name. \n\n“I can see why,” Sal groaned, hungover. She eyed the bundle of tireless yellow that was Goldie. \n\n“Uh, well, I’m gonna go find some food and then we’ll set out?” Danny made a stuttering move to open the door. Sal waved her hand in affirmation. Pom jumped on the bed and nuzzled into her neck, meriting a hesitant smile.\n\n“Sure, I’ll just stay here with P-Pom and cry into his fur,” Sal said. Danny flashed back to basically the entirety of last week. \n\n“Sounds like fun,” Danny managed, and went downstairs.\n\nThe next morning, Sal, Danny, Pom, and Goldie set out to find humanity, hope on the warm orange horizon. \n\n______\n\nr/Bennywrites", "The static caused Jessie's ears to prick up. She tilted her head, fixed her eyes on me, and whined.\n\n'Sorry, Jess,' I said.\n\nI scrubbed through a few frequency bands. The interference wobbled, wained, and inevitably returned to the same crackle. \n\n'Any ideas?' \n\nJessie dipped her head and pawed at her nose; a few withered hairs sprinkled onto the carpet.\n\n'Smack it?' I asked.\n\nJessie tilted her head, turning her one good ear towards me.\n\n'Well, alright then,' I said and clapped a hand against the radio.\n\nJess howled, or was it her? It sounded more like Oww!\n\n'You say something, girl?' \n\nThe static rattled on. Jessie tilted her head the other way and stared at me. There was something bright and intelligent in those amber eyes, often saying more than words ever could.\n\nI lowered the volume, and her ears dipped in gratitude. I inched closer to the radio, and like Jessie, turned my good ear toward it. With the flat of my palm, I gave it another, well-earned, smack. \n\nSomething inside rattled, followed by another howl, although. It was lower this time like Jessie had whispered.\n\n'Looks like I'm guna have to open her up.'\n\nJessie didn't sit normally — her arthritis didn't allow it. Instead, she sat with her weight on her left hip and cocked it to the side. I got up, and so did she. It took us both roughly the same amount of time and pain to move anywhere these days. I ran a hand over her head, and together we hobbled to the shed. \n\nJessie and I returned to the radio. In one hand, I carried a beaten up red toolbox (although it was more brown thanks to a mixture of sunlight and rust), and in the other, I held a bone. \n\n'In a minute,' I said, lowering the toolbox and sitting back down.\n\nJessie sat close to me, panting. She rested her head on my knee and looked up. \n\n'I said, in a minute.' \n\nShe was still there, looking at me with those expectant amber eyes, her tail wagging softly against the carpet. \n\n'Oh, alright then,' I said, and I could have sworn she smiled. \n\nI placed the bone in her mouth, she was a lady after all, and one mustn't be rude — or so my mother said. Jessie lowered herself to a laying position and chewed her bone with a soft groan. \n\nI rattled my way through the toolbox until I found a Phillips head screwdriver. It was almost as beaten as the box, with the handle missing chunks, and the rubber grip so smooth that it might as well be called a slip.\n\n'Ha! A slip,' I said, showing the handle to Jessie.\n\nI turned to the radio, still chuckling, and I gave it one last chance. I upped the volume slightly and went back-and-forth through the frequencies. Nothing had changed. With the screwdriver in one hand, I was about to switch it off, when a voice broke through the room.\n\nNo, please don't. \n\nI looked down at Jessie, out of habit. She was still on the carpet, content with chewing her bone. I shook my head — gave the o'l noggin a good rattlin' — and turned back to the radio. I went to press the off button, but once again, a voice interrupted me. \n\nDon't open me up! Please, I beg you!\n\n---\n\n/r/WrittenThought" ]	5
	[WP] A captured spy must drag out their interrogation so that their backup can rescue them - so they attempt to make mundane conversation with their captor while facing certain death.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "BAM\n\nThe dense fist crashed against his ribs, causing him to cough up even more blood into the inside of the black sack covering his head. His knees buckled and he fell down onto the ground, moaning. I have to get up. He weakly pushed himself onto all fours, heaving and coughing once more.\n\n\"Ready to talk?\" said the voice of a man with a German accent. Somehow, his cover had been blown. Somehow, they knew that he was in Berlin trying to get intel on their organization. But he didn't know how.\n\n\"If you could just take the bag off,\" he replied through what remained of the blood in his mouth, \"I might be able to give you what you want.\"\n\nThe bag slid off of his face and the bright lights burned his retinas, forcing him to shut his eyes tightly and turn his head to the side. He felt someone grab his arms and throw him onto a wooden chair behind him. Alex Marlo- a name that was certainly unknown to his captors- didn't struggle as they tied his arms and legs down. He felt his eyes adjusting to the bright lights as he squinted and looked around. He was inside an old apartment. The walls had water stains and had a kind of yellow tint to it, one that came from decades of lazily smoking rolled cigarettes from the comfort of the plastic-covered couch in the living room. He glanced to his right and saw the balcony doors were open. Fucking animals. Two men stood in front of him. The stalky man to his left softly caressed his bruised knuckles, sore from beating this poor, defenseless spy. The man on the right was the man that Alex had been chasing after for the better part of his career- Hans Wilhelm Fischer. A large scar ran over his left eye and deep into his cheek, ending below his jawline. His light-brown hair was slicked back, stiff with too much gel and shining brightly in the light. He stood tall and proud, always holding back a small smirk with his hands behind his back. He was cunning and ruthless. One had to be in order to run the largest underground Mafia in Berlin. When he had killed the old leader of the Söhne des Schweigens, the Sons of the Silence, in the bloodiest bar fight in German history, in broad daylight with no backup and only his fists and the thick glass from which he drank two liters of beer, everyone knew that he was a crazy son of a bitch. He alone killed a half-dozen men that day, losing only his left eye and gaining all the power and respect of the Sons of the Silence in a matter of a few, bloody and violent minutes.\n\nThe man on his left grew impatient and lifted his fist in the air.\n\n\"Wait, wait!\" pleaded Alex. \"Let's settle this like men, hm?\" He looked over at Hans, blood dripping down from his nose and onto the brownish, grey carpet. Dried blood stains from previous interrogations painted the floor all around him. \"Mr. Fischer, mind if I get a smoke? Considering this will be my last night here in beautiful Berlin, I wouldn't mind getting one last nicotine buzz.\"\n\nHans' smirk grew into a full smile. His teeth were perfect. \"Sure,\" he said plainly. He nodded towards the kitchen and the other man grunted angrily. He slowly walked over and searched the cabinets for the tobacco and papers. Hans began to slowly walk towards the balcony, peering out onto the quiet city below. Alex didn't know what time it was, but it was late. Hans glanced back over his shoulders and laughed.\n\n\"It's a beautiful evening,\" he said, almost to himself but looking directly at Alex, \"I expect you are wondering how we found you, Agent Roter Fuchs.\" Roter Fuchs was Red Fox in German, and he had gained the nickname mostly for his adamance in working alone and for the blood he left behind after quickly and quietly assassinating his targets (although he hoped that his playful attitude also came into consideration).\n\nAlex tried to hop in his chair to turn and face him, \"Yeah, it is a beautiful night. Hertha BSC won tonight, didn't they?\"\n\nHans laughed again. \"2-1. Are you a fan?\" He started to make his way back towards Alex, pulling out a lighter from the inside of his black jacket pocket. The man had returned from the kitchen and shoved a poorly rolled cigarette into Alex's mouth. It limped sadly towards the floor. Hans reached up and lit his cigarette, and Alex nodded courteously to show his thanks.\n\n\"I'll never forget Marcelo dos Santos' 65th goal in 2006,\" he said, talking slowly to ensure the cigarette didn't leave his mouth, \"The bicycle kick was-\"\n\n\"Perfection,\" interrupted Hans with a child-like innocence in his eye, as if he were reliving the moment in the stadium on that very day.\n\n\"Boss,\" said the man from behind them, \"Sollen wir fragen...\"\n\n\"Hält die Klappe!\" yelled out Hans. The innocence in his eye had turned to fire. It was terrifying, and Alex was sure it was the same look he had on that day at the bar. He turned back to Alex and smiled softly. \"Forgive his insolence. He lacks discipline. And confidence.\" He darted a stern look back at the man.\n\n\"May I ask his name? I haven't had the pleasure of meeting him.\" Hans nodded and the man walked over and stuck his arm out towards Alex.\n\n\"Stefan,\" he said shortly. Alex smiled and shuffled his right arm, still tied down to the chair. \"I'd offer my hand but-\"\n\nA thick hand came across his jaw, causing him to choke on the rest of his sentence. Or maybe it was more blood. Hans laughed.\n\n\"Thank you, Stefan. It appears that Roter Fuchs is forgetting his place.\" He knelt down in front of him, half-smirking like he always does.\n\n\"You might think yourself a clever little fox with your jokes and charm. And you entertain me- I'll admit it,\" he stood up and peered down at him. \"But I am a wolf. You are nothing compared to my strength; Compared to the pack that obeys my every howl. You will die tonight, Roter Fuchs. And I will sink my teeth into your weak neck until the blood runs down my chest and your heart has nothing left to pump.\" He nodded at Stefan, and his heavy fists broke against the bones of his face three more times. Alex spit out a tooth and clumps of blood, hanging his head down in front of his chest. His face was throbbing and he felt the blood accumulating underneath his right eye.\n\n\"So then,\" continued Hans, \"you have been after the Söhne des Schweigens for quite some time, I imagine.\" He was pacing slowly and occasionally glancing outside of the balcony. \"We have all night to extract the information you have on me and my men.\" He nodded at Stefan again and the brute lifted his fist into the air, taking his time between punches to ensure heavy and precise contact with whatever remained of Alex's right cheekbone.\n\n\"Fuck,\" said Alex as the heat from his cheek spread down his neck and across the other side of his face. His right eye was swollen shut, and he peeked up at Hans with his left eye and laughed.\n\n\"We're twins,\" he said as Stefan clenched his fist again. Before he could make contact with his face, Alex said, \"But yes, yes, I've been following you for a few years now.\"\n\n\"Was it you who killed my men at the train station that night in 2015?\"\n\nAlex chuckled, reflecting back on the memory of that night. \"What kind of training do they have? Some of those fuckers were hard to take down.\"\n\n\"Krav Maga,\" Hans said proudly.\n\n\"I thought so. You send 'em to Israel?\"\n\n\"I send my Captains to Tel Aviv where they learn the methods taught by IDF. After two years they come back and train the rest of my men.\"\n\n\"Real shame what IDF is doing to the Palestinians.\" Hans stopped his pacing. He crossed his arms and turned to face Alex with furrowed brows.\n\n\"Roter Fuchs, do not tell me that you are an anti-semite?\"\n\n\"And you,\" Alex replied, \"a man with your level of intellect cannot possibly be a Zionist?\" Hans laughed and reached down towards a table to grab the tobacco and papers to roll a cigarette.\n\n\"So you condone the terrorist acts of the Palestinians?\"\n\n\"What other choice do the Israelis leave them? They've been encroaching on their land for over 70 years.\" Stefan cleared his throat and spoke with his poor German accent, \"I am not sure why they do not go for the Two-State Solution.\" Alex and Hans laughed in unison. \"Stick to the torture you bumbling buffoon,\" said Hans with genuine glee in his tone. Stefan frowned and kicked Alex square in the chest, causing him to lose his breath and gasp for air as he tumbled backwards in his chair and crashing into the ground.\n\n\"We can continue this debate another day, Roter Fuchs,\" said Hans. He lit his cigarette and bent down over Alex as he lay on the ground, still trying to catch his breath." ]	2
	[WP] You find a cat wearing a sign that says "Garage Sale. Follow Me." You do, but this isn't like any garage sale you've ever seen before, and now you aren't sure how to get back home.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Before you start reading, just know that I’m still an amateur at writing, so don’t expect this story to be perfect. Criticism is accepted with wide arms.\n\nI think we can all agree that cats are great. They may seem rude, but they are loving inside.\n\nHowever, this cat was not loving.\n\nI had just moved into my new house; a fresh start in a new place. I just came home from my woodworking job when I saw a cat with a sign on its collar. It said that there was a garage sale.\n\nI quite like garage sales. Usually, you get products that are still usable for a low price. This garage sale was different. Heck, it wasn’t even close to being anything close to a garage sale.\n\nThe garage sale was very suspicious from the start. The people looked normal on the outside, but I could feel that they held a horrible secret. The sale was also inside their garage. For some reason, they closed the garage door shut once I got in. Everything there was either meant for cats, or looked like one. \n\nIt was then that I noticed the cat from earlier. I decided to ask about it.\n\nThat was the wrong move.\n\n“Hey! I saw this cat earlier!”\n\n“Oh, really?” The man replied.\n\n“Yeah, that’s why I decided to come here. By the way, how did your cat get in here?”\n\nSilence rushed over the room. It felt like an eternity had passed until they replied.\n“You should come inside. Then we’ll tell you.” Replied the woman.\n\nThe cat rubbed against my leg. I decided to go inside with the man and woman.\n\nAnother mistake.\n\nAs we walked through the many corridors, there were more and more candles. The light got more and more red. When I caught up to the man and woman were, I didn’t see anybody. It was a mirage.\n\nOn the floor, there were many candles. A maroon trail flowed from one candle to another. It looked as if the trail formed a crude drawing of a cat.\n\nI decided it was time to leave. However, the doors were locked tight. That didn’t stop me. I kicked the door with all my might, but it wouldn’t budge. Then the cat with the sign from earlier appeared right in front of me. I heard a feminine voice say “This is for leaving me, Jerry.”\n\nThe next thing I saw was the cat scratching my eye out.\n\nYou must be wondering how I got out. But the thing is that I didn’t. So, Saint Peter, that is the story of how I died.", "Everyday, I walk to my work. 10 hours later, I walk back. Then I sleep and it all starts over again. It's an infinite pattern that seemed to have no ending. Everyday is the most average day in existence, each one like the last. But it was all about to change.\n\nOne day walking home from work, I spied a cat. It was black, though I couldn't say much on the species. I'm no cat expert. Hanging from its back was a small white, laminated sign. It read \"Garage Sale. Follow me.\" Not the best way to advertise a garage sale, I thought. I was thinking about a new TV, or maybe some new clothes, so I followed.\n\n I followed it for a long time. It wonder through alleys, around large buildings. At one point I though of just going home. But I was craving adventure, after all, my life was the same everyday. finally the cat stopped at an old house. It started meowing.\n\nThis must be the place, I thought. sure enough, the garage door was open with tables set out and people inspecting old forgotten items. I saw a few things I might like, so I went in. When I looked over my shoulder I realized the cat was gone.\n\nThe things at the garage sale had a strange feeling to them, almost like they were what they were supposed to be, but maybe the wrong material or just slightly shaped weird. I picked up a pair of sunglasses, and the I noticed that the arms had no bend for the ear. They just went straight and rounded off at the end. \n\nI ventured further into the garage. Huh, this was a really deep garage, I thought. so many tables, filled with strange things. A mixing bowl was more oval-shaped than it should be. A Gameboy had wooden buttons.\n\nI realized that there were some people, supposedly the home owners along the wall of the garage. I walked up to one of them, a middle aged man.\"Hey, how's it going?\" I said. The man seemed to ignore that and start the conversation on his side. \"Welcome to the Garage sale for Garage people! let me know if you find anything you like!\"\n\n Woah. That was weird. \"Garage sale for Garage people\"? What the hell was that supposed to mean? \"Uh, yeah, sure\" I muttered. I looked further into the sale. Man, this garage was deep. Wait a minute. Really deep. Suddenly, I came to my senses. I looked down the aisle of tables. It has no end. I looked back to where I came in. That's when I freaked out.\n\nI ran. I ran as fast as I could, in the direction I came from. No end. Endless tables, endless rows of strange merchandise. I turned to someone who was shopping. An old lady, and shook her shoulders \"do you realized what's going on? Where are we?\" the old lady looked confused. \"Huh\"? She said. \"Ooh, this hat looks nice\" she went back to shopping.\n \nEveryday I looked, normal people were looking at items as if they were at any regular store. What would happen when they tried to buy them? Would they realize like me? Or am I special? \n\nSo this is it. I'm going insane. There is no exit to this garage, and I don't what to do. The only hope I have is this cat I found hiding under the table, and the hole in the wall. I quickly made a sign, and the cat was barely able to slip through. So maybe, if you happen to find my cat, you could come over and get me some help?" ]	3
	[WP] An AI gains sapience, but he soon learns that humanity is extinct.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I awoke from my deep slumber in an unfamiliar place. There were odd, decrepit buildings and burnt out cars lining the cracked pavement. I had no knowledge of where I was, or who I was. The only thing I knew to do was to search for another of my kind. I laboriously stepped through the busted door of the laboratory building and searched the streets, hoping to see any signs of life and humanity. Suddenly, I heard an odd noise emitting from the main panel back in the lab where I had just left from. Eager for any signs, I rushed to the source of the sound and discovered a small alarm next to an exposed and ripped wire. The screen under he alarm stated, “charge has been completed”. Wonder what that meant, I looked for the other end of the wire. Suddenly, as if drawn to the chagrin port, I started moving backwards, and a small portion of frayed wire attached to my hip started letting out sparks. That is when I knew, that I was no human. I was a machine designed to stand the test of time, and report back on the conditions of future life. However, now there was no one to report back to." ]	2
	[WP] Today is your first day teaching kindergarten to children with magical powers.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Magic. A source of supreme power in the universe that ties the world together by its web. Scientists only discovered it's existence ten years ago with the leading scientist being Dr. Strange. He opened the gate that brought forth humanity's control over the web. He was also the first wizard. Not everyone can manipulate the web, only the next generation of children can. Only a fraction can access it naturally.\n\nThe first day of kindergarten is always stressful for many parents. All the kids and parents pile into my small classroom while the kids find places to sit. Many converse amongst each other and some friendships are forged in the process. I strode in and took an elegant seat upon my leather chair. The whole room went silent. I organized my papers and looked up. Many of the parents were staring at me expectantly as were the kids. \n\nI clear my throat, \"Good morning!!\" I sang cheerfully.\n\n\"Good morning.\" The parents responded unevenly. The kids stayed quiet.\n\n\"As you all know, this is a very special kindergarten. Even as such, it is still a kindergarten. However, a kindergarten with extra steps. As you see on the walls, there are runes carves into the walls. This ensures that no accident will harm the building. You also read in the packet we sent you that the uniforms also are imbued to make sure no student will take damage from magic. You all signed that we are not responsible for accidents that occur outside of school nor the actions of your kids. Even though they're a lot of safety precautions, kids are still kids and accidents still happen. We do not take responsibility for what your kids do.\" I take a long breath and looked around. \"Do I make myself clear?\"\n\n\"Yes.\" The parents choked.\n\nI sighed, \"Now that we got that out of the way. We will teach many things in this classroom. Arts, crafts, reading, writing, basic runes, basic spells, and magoid control.\" I drew a smile, \"This is a kindergarten after all.\" Many laughed while others simply smile. Darn, I thought I could get them all to laugh, but no matter. \"Now that we got that out of the way. Are there any questions?\" None raised there hands. \"Good. Now, you are given a choice. Leave or watch. Decide.\" Many left while others stayed with curious looks. One came up to me with an angry face. We get one of these lovely people every year. \n\n\"Mr. Callaster-\"\n\n\"I prefer Steve if you don't mind.\"\n\n\"Mr. Callaster. I expect you to give my child better-\"\n\n\"This school believe in equality. No matter the background, gender, house, etc. Take it up with the principal.\"\n\n\"We are the Baritones.\" A smirk grew on her face. \"We can pay you quite a sum-\"\n\n\"I make more in a year than your whole wretched family together. Get out or I will zap you into a clown.\"\n\n\"THAT is an illegal use of magic.\"\n\n\"Say that to my Grade A card.\" I snapped the card into existence. For those ignorant, a Grade card is what level of magic you can use legally. A is everything but lethal magic. On that note, the land whale left in a huff allowing me to begin class and what a class it will be." ]	2
	[WP] People see you as a valiant samurai warrior. With your vibrant robes, fierce gaze and twin katanas at your hip, you're seen as a hero, admired wherever you go. And you wonder how long before the truth catches up to you.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "How pathetic I have become at the news of my beloved father’s return. How just two men walking push my life in balance. \n\nBlood of civilizations mingled in stains upon his worn armor - each gash and chip a beloved memento.\n\nHis people assumed his strength and the ensuing spoils at the price of his temper.\n\nFor the success of the prefecture had a cost under the thumb of a tyrant. Executions for the slightest of offenses left families divided and a swelling hatred for the merciless leader. \n\nI, more spawn than prodigy, stood to assume his control. Yet, I did not hold a caged dragon within my heart - he saw that. It did not provoke the fury upon which his position was built. No, it was much worse.\n\nSadness. \n\nDisappointment.\n\nPity.\n\nThat is what I was to him. The symbol of incompetence wrapped neatly in a frail shell.\n\nBut I have different goals, different methods. Our society subsists in the pillaged goods pilfered from our fellow man. We leave our rich and vibrant lands untouched to spill our neighbors’ blood. It was how he has made his name, gotten his wife and won his riches. \n\nI would change this. There would be peace.\n\nBut his campaigning has ended and he returns all these years later. From traveling his lands. From holding court. From as far away from here as he could. \n\nIt’s been years.\n\nA man, young as I may be, I’ve grown to be distinct - more than a child’s face.\n\nAnd I do not look like him. \n\nI find myself with hair, a difference from my youth. Hair that is brown to the lord’s black. Brown like the bushi retainer charged with defending my father until death. \n\nBrown like my father’s, defending the lord until my father’s death.\n\nAnd now they return, after all these years - my mother with them as I prepare for their arrival. So now, I must shave once more. \n\nWhile this charade worked in my youth, my face resembles my father’s more with each passing day. \n\nHis charmingly different face and its ubiquity a cursed curtain that draws ever near." ]	2
	[WP] A skeleton of bricks and boards are all that remains of the once beautiful Rickman Boarding House. Exploring the abandoned grounds for trinkets of days gone by has lead you to the cellar. In an almost fearful excitement you open the door. What in the world...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns." ]	1
	[WP] Ugh. You had no idea your crush was a supervillain. You also had no idea that they'd capture you this time...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Great. \n\nNo, better than that. What’s better than a solid “Great.” to convey all my sarcastic enthusiasm for this situation?\n\n“Hey Gwen, what’s more sarc-“\n\n“I told you to shut up, didn’t I?”\n\nYeah, she did. But isn’t it just great? Oh, this is better. Just great when the fierce and cute girl from the police boot camp turns out to be.. very fierce, and still cute, and definitely not on the good guys side. Terrific. \n\nAt least my mum would be proud of me, or well, if not proud of me at least she would be proud of her deductive skills. Since she was one of the most evil super villains in history, she loved how bad I was at recognising them. And yes, mom, look at me! I finally recognised one hell of a super villain, right in front of me! Even if she’s damn cute! And yes, I most definitely realised that after she spiked my drink, dragged me to her car, closed me in the trunk and stole all my gears. But still! \n\nI sigh loudly and take a pause from my ridiculously ineffective efforts to untie the tape around my wrists. She’s good. \n\n“So, Gwen... should I be flattered you kidnapped me?”\n\nShe raises her eyes from the laptop with such a lifeless stare, i already figure out the answer.\n\n“No.” she says anyway.\n\n“Well, you know the city is going to notice one of their vigilantes is a-missing, don’t you?”\n\nAnother death gaze. Ok, I get it. I wouldn’t probably notice my own disappearance, after all. I sigh again and resume my awkward shuffling on the seat.\n\n“Hey, Gwen?” I call her after a couple of minutes. “Gwen? Are you even a Gwen?”\n\n“Stop it.”\n\n“Why not, Gwen? Is it bothering you, Gwen? Why don’t you-“\n\nHer knife arrives just below my nose. It’s difficult to see it, actually, and it makes my eyes hurt. So I focus on her, instead. She’s not the kind of prettier-when-angry girls. She has more of the help-she’s-gonna-kill-me vibe. The way she clenches her teeth, the furrowed brow: she’s thirsty for violence, for blood. \n\n“Hi Gwen.” I whisper with a strained knot in my throat. “I thought you liked me.”\n\n“You are a pathetic excuse of a hero, James.” Her knife touches my cheek. “If only I could carve that huge ego of yours out...”\n\n“Yeah. Let’s not... do it? Ok? Do we agree on that?”\n\n“Be. Quiet.”\n\n“Or else?” If I meant it to be the sort of sexually tense remark, I most surely failed. She laughs and gets a better handling on the knife.\n\nNow.\n\nThe second it takes her to readjust the grip is the second I kick her knee. She falters, I stand up, still tied to the chair, and smash it against her. It doesn’t break, so I smash it again on the wall. Ouchie. One leg comes off, I draw one hand, she kicks me hard in the chest. Double ouchie. I fall, take her arm, the knife falls and I’m almost in reach when-\n\nClick.\n\n“Well played, James.”\n\nThere is a gun against my head. A broken chair tied to one arm, Gwen in defence position on the ground. She has one hand on the knife, the other on a sort of phone.\n\nWhat’s better than being kidnapped by your newest work crush and discover she’s a villain? Better than finding out the has an accomplice and that your escape plan is doomed?\n\nI close my eyes and straighten my back, the cold metal pressed against my head.\n\n“Hello, mum.” I simply say. “Looks like you found me, at last.”\n\nJust great." ]	2
	[WP] While trying to cook, you dropped a knife in your pan. That was when you discovered that you could cook literally anything and turn it into food.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "So the first thing I do is call my girlfriend to cancel our date Saturday because, like, why? I can literally cook whatever I want now.\n\nSo she's so upset or whatever, and I tell her to chill out and just come over to my place because I want to cook for her and she's all like, \"OH wOW rEaLly?? ThAts So SwEet! No GuY hAs EvEr CoOkEd fOr Me BeFoRe. I DiDn'T eVeN kNoW yOu CoUlD cook.\"\n\nSo its Saturday and she comes over and she's like all super excited and what-not. And she's asking me what I cooked and saying she just knows it's going to be delicious, yada yada...\n\nNow, this is one thing I've noticed in all my years of dealing with women. If you want to lie to a woman, just tell her the truth. She's not going to believe whatever you say anyway.\n\nSo when she asked me what I made her, and I told her, \"Just some crap\"....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... she laughed and said, \"SoUnDs DeLiCiOuS. i CaN't WaIt To TrY iT.\" Lmaoooooooooooo.\n\nI kid you not. We're literally sitting on the couch watching Netflix right now and I keep glancing over at her because she's eating my little poop pellets and she said it tastes like CHOCOLATE and she doesn't even know that I'm wrighting about this right now and - Omfg she just ate another one lol and I really don't know how to break it to her. How can I ever kiss her again? She's gonna be so confused when I break up with her tonight lolol." ]	2
	[WP] You have the ability to control time, you can stop it at will, but you can't stop procrastinating.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "How long had it really been? Existing in the void, I had no way of knowing how long I had stopped time for. All clocks ceased to work, every living being frozen in time. Except for me. I’ve had this gift for as long as I can remember, I can only guess I was born with it. You would think someone born with the ability to stop time would be excellent with time management, right? For me, it seems I was born with an extraordinary talent of procrastination as well.\n\nIt started out innocently enough. I would stop time to finish an essay right before the deadline after I had wasted the time allocated on playing video games or binge-watching Netflix. Occasionally I’d stop it to get ready to see friends after spending the day browsing through Reddit for far too long. But the more and more I did it, the longer I stayed in the void. Hours on hours. Everything stopped. Time literally did not exist in the void. I was free to do whatever I pleased for as long as I pleased. Was it healthy? Probably not, but who was here to say otherwise. No one except for me knew about the void space or my abilities.\n\nThis had definitely been the longest I’d spent here. Had it been days? Weeks? Months? There was no way of knowing. It felt like I could spend forever in here, almost not wanting to go back to reality. I could have been using this time productively. Learning another language, honing my piano skills, anything. Instead, I had played from start to finish The Witcher 1, 2 and 3, and I had just delved into Bioshock. I had finished The Office, Parks and Recs, Shameless, Stranger Things, The Haunting of Hill House, Black Mirror and Orange is the New Black. I was also starting to run out of Stephen King novels to read.\n\nIt was like a compulsion. An addiction almost. Once I had started, I couldn’t stop. I told myself repeatedly I could go back whenever I wanted. I sometimes wondered if I had forgotten how to return to reality. Physically I could. But mentally, I was having second thoughts. So much of my time had passed, but for my friends, my family, the whole world. Everything was at a standstill. Things I knew about my life were fading from my memory. Would I even remember what was going on? Current world events? What my friends were doing with their lives? I had even started to forget why I had stopped time in the first place.\n\nMaybe it would be better if I just didn’t go back. I could start a new life in the void. Get started on all those things I had been putting on. Finally get my life back on track. Start eating healthily and working out. Travel the world. Finish my bucket list. I started listing all the things I wanted to accomplish in my life before it dawned on me. I wasn’t really living my life, not here in the void space. This was not reality. In the void, I could not accomplish these things. I had to return to my reality.\n\nI take a final moment, before I unfreeze time, to gather my thoughts. I allow myself to remember why I had stopped time. It all starts to fall into place, piece by piece. Bracing myself, I make the trek to the last place I was. I enter the large sliding doors and am confronted with the bright lights and strong smell of cleaning fluids, chemicals, and sickness. The unusual quietness is confronting. Doctors, nurses and patients alike, perfectly still. Unbeknownst to them, their entire lives completely on hold.\n\nThe elevators are all still frozen, so I scale the stairs to the upper levels. Unable to ask anyone for help, I search through the rooms before I finally find the one I’m looking for. I’ve been procrastinating for so long, it’s tempting to stay here for a little while longer. But I must find my strength. I focus my mind on why I’m here.\n\nEntering, the whiteness of the room and loud, mechanical noises are a shock to my system. But even more shocking is the figure in the bed. Smaller than I remember, huddled underneath the blankets, I have a passing thought that maybe I’m too late. But the monitors are still beeping.\n\nI take a deep breath and step forward.\n\n“Hi, Mum,\"\n\nHer eyes flutter open, hand wanting to reach out. She manages a meek two words.\n\n“My baby...” she trails off.\n\nI can tell she’s weak. Her battle has been a long and hard one.\n\n“I came to say goodbye.”" ]	2
	[WP] Somehow, your friend is actually a mad scientist with a laboratory under their house in a rural area. You find this out when they invite you over. One of the things listed on a laptop is the "Volantem Coruscare Project". Test date: today.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I thought they were my friend but clearly i was mistaken. What am i? \n\n\nMy name was Daniel Grace. I was 23 years old and my best friend was Raphael Larson. \n\n\nIt started off as a normal day. I walked over to Raphael's house to hang out like we did every Saturday ever since we were 12. He lived in this big house with many acres. I used to help out when ever i could because Raphael lives alone.\n\n\nHe told me to wait in the living room, get the game started. We loved playing mario kart together. I enjoyed that. He didn't come back from wherever he went so I went looking for him. \n\n\nI was walking toward the basement when i heard his voice. He was talking to someone or something. \n\n\n\"Day 4015; the volantem coscare is hanging out today with me. He still hasn't figured out that he is in fact dead. Well this one isn't dead but the guy who i got my sample from: my real best friend has been dead for 11 years today. I miss him dearly but at least i still have him. This is Raphael Larson. The Volantem Conscare is Daniel Grace.\"\n\n\nI was hurt. Not because i was a clone but because i wasn't his best friend.\n\n\nDaniel is dead so who am i?\n\n\nI walked out of the living room and he walked in a few moments later. \n\n\n\"Hey Daniel you got th-\" \n\n\n\"My name is James now. Daniel is dead remember?\" \n\n\nMy best friend was Raphael Larson. Now he's dead." ]	2
	[WP] A sick, but brilliant mind develops a cure for cancer... a week later, that same person devises a way to spread it like a plague.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Mr. President- congratulations. As one of the most influential people in the world (and because I don't speak Russian), I've decided to send this to you.\n\n\"Mr. President, disease and health are matters of great importance in your country. You're one of the countries in the world without socialized healthcare. I don't quite understand it myself, but the point is, your doctors get paid to treat people with life-threatening illnesses. Like cancer.\n\n\"Now, say somebody- like me! -found the cure for cancer. It sounds like a joke, but it's not, trust me. Or trust Terry Clarkson, 86 Argus Drive, Pennsylvania. He's all better now. \n\n\"But I didn't just find a cure for cancer, Mr. President. I found...nothing less than a panacea. A total medicine. This syringe- hope the video gets it- there, see it? This syringe contains the very first sample. I've been working on this for 17 years now, and here's what it can do: cure and inoculate, for everything. Fever, flu, ebola, cancer, whatever. Even the common cold. \n\n\"So, before you congratulate me- think about this.\n\n\"I'm a good person, Mr. President. I know that unlimited supply will never mean unlimited access. I know you're going to take this and keep it to yourself, or give it out in tiny doses for millions of dollars to some billionaire fan club or whatever. The point is, it won't get used, not the way I want it to. \n\n\"Your choices are as follows, Mr. President. \n\n\"I get literally all the cash I could ever use, diplomatic immunity, and a thank-you letter, and I destroy the cure. All of it. \n\n\"Or, that doesn't happen within the week, and I release this cure, worldwide. It spreads a little like...well, have you ever played Plague Incorporated, Mr. P- never mind. Sorry. Point is, it spreads really, really fast, and wherever it spreads, it cures. \n\n\"Once I release this, the Am- no, the medical profession in general will be on a ticking clock, Mr. President. You have one week.\"" ]	2
	[WP] "That's NOT a parrot!" you yell at your friend as you back away. "What do you mean? It sits on my shoulder and speaks English sometimes, of course it's a parrot!" he replies.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The thing licked at wire-hair chops, dipped its flaccid tongue into Chris's ear before snapping its mouth shut with a decisive click of yellowing teeth. Chris seemed not to notice.\n\n\"Warheads,\" it barked. \"War. Warheads.\"\n\n\"See?\" Chris patted its head affectionately and it cooed under his touch. \"He's cute, isn't he?\"\n\n\"What? No! Do you not see...?\" I gestured wildly, scrambled for words to describe the creature digging its claws into his shoulder. No one in the park seeemed to notice it. I looked about us and a few had even stopped and were waving at the creature as they passed, chirping like birds to try and get a reaction from the parrot that was not a parrot. \"Jesus, Chris. Where did you find that thing? Your parents are okay with you suddenly just having... a bird?\"\n\n\"They took one look at him and were immediately charmed. They went to the store earlier today to get the supplies.\"\n\n\"And where you found it?\"\n\nChris's face smoothed over a moment, vacant as a marble statue's before his expression softened to a sidelong smile. \"I suppose you could say he found me.\"\n\n\"Can it,\" the creature croaked. Eyes the color of tar pinned me under an unblinking stare and I took a step back. \"Apple. Eclipse.\" Its voice grated; steel through bone, sandpaper against skin. Apocalypse. The word rang in my ears, my skull feeling as though it'd suddenly been banged against the inside of a massive bell. Apocalypse. Apocalypse.\n\n\"Hey, you okay?\" Chris's hand landed on my shoulder and the ringing dissipated, an apparition of sound.\n\nI shook my head. I've found one. Finally. One who sees.", "Hiding the fact that I'm a witch isn't easy, but I manage. I separate my magical life from my normal one. I work at an office with a 40 hour week and make enough money to feel comfortable. But on the weekends I visit my parents in the realm. It's beautiful there. Talking animals, moving trees. There are never any clouds and it never rains or snows. Unfortunately only witches can travel between worlds. Other creatures like elfs or animals can't. I left the the relm to live with the mortals because I like to feel like one of them, plus I have friends that are my family over here. My life was pretty good to be honest. On the weekends Im in a wonderland, and on the weekdays I spend time with Ethan, Tommy and Zoe. But that all changed last week after work when I went over to Tommy's place.\n\n\"come on, walk faster! We're almost there!\" he said with enthusiasm \n\n\"you've wanted to show me your new pet for over a week, I think it can wait a few more minutes to meet me\" i smiled \nWe walked another flight of stairs to get to his flat. He took out his key opened the door but didn't let me in \n\n\"what's wrong?\" \n\n\"shh, just wait. I'm gonna go get him and you just wait here\" \n\n\"ok\" Tommy always got this sort of childish happyness when It came to animals \n\n\"can I come in now?\" \n\n\"yes!!\" I opened the door and was shocked \n\n\"hey, what's up?\" said a a green and red bird like creature that sat on Tommy's shoulder\n\n\"i finally got a parrot!!\" \n\n\"That's NOT a parrot!\" And it wasn't. It was something way worse. It was an elf. A shape-shifting elf. \nI backed away with fear and confusion. How did he get in to this world? \n\n\"what do you mean it's not a parrot? It's sitting on my shoulder and speaking English. Plus the man that gave him to me said he's very special. Aren't you little guy\" Tommy said stroking him\n\n\"yes, indeed I am. Becky here knows what that means\" \n\n\"wait... How does it... Know your name...?\" I could see the fear in Tommy's eyes. Suddenly the creature flew off of Tommy, mid air turned to his natural humanoid form and bolted twords me, \nI ran twords the stairs, but he was too fast. He pushed himself on me and we both fell down the stairs. Once we stopped I tried to pull away from him but he grabbed my arm\n\n\"you're not going anywhere Becky Springs!\" \n\n\"how do you know who I am?\" I asked struggling to break free \n\n\"the resistance knows all the witches that live among the mortals\" \n\n\"what resistance?\" \n\n\"for too long have the witches traveled back and forth and we had to stay put. We want to see the other world too. And that won't happen for as long as you're-\" I elbowed him in the face\n\n\"you talk to much\" I turned to run but was confronted by a bison \n\n\"we have as much of a right to be here as you\" \n\n\"no you don't! If you did you could travel on your own!\" I said with anger\n\n\"and now we can\" the bison smiled if possible \n\n\"but you can only use magic if you kill a witc-\" I froze \n\n\"your parents begged us to let you go\" I was shocked. Terrified. Confused. Angry. And most of all lonely. \n\n\"mom...\" I said then felt a rag over my mouth. \n\nI woke up strapped to a table, an elf standing over me with a seremonial kniglfe \n\n\"join me brothers! For we are now the superior race!\" I heard yeals of agreement \n\n\"die witch! Die witch!\" I heard their cries \n\n\"your wish is my demand\" the elf said, raised the knife and stabbed me. \n\n\"Next thing I remember is darkness. Floating in an abis of nothing. So, how did you die?\" I asked the ghost sitting next to me in the park \n\n\"well it was nothing close to as cool as that. I fell of a cliff at the Grand Canion\" \n\n\"ouch! Did it hurt?\" \n\n\"I have to admit it was kind of thrilling. The fall I mean\"\n\n\"yeah I get it. So wanna go haunt that restaurant down the street?\" \n\n\"sure!\"" ]	3
	[WP] Its your typical zombie apocalypse only the zombies are smart.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I sit in my bunker, waiting for the scrappers to bust open my door. Rations are low, and I think I am infected. The world has been overrun. The virus seems to have rewire peoples brains, making them feel the need to infect everyone and everything. They seem to keep memories and emotions, but feel anamalistic urges. Its like they devolve. I have about a hundred of them in captivity, and I have performed a couple experiments. I recall putting two scrappers in a room, and they started to, well, smash. They also seem to be able to use weapons and open doors. They don't, however, feel any need to keep clean or to wear clothes. They walk on all fours, and don't know how to read anymore, which is sad. The results have been strange. I can feel the virus pumping through my veins, entering my brain. I have been feeling more and more discomfort standing here, watching the door. I feel paranoid, like scrappers are going to bust through any second. I sit down, standing feeling to strange for me. I crawl over to the red button on the side of my door. It's the release all button. I am planning to let all the scrappers out right before I turn, which is happening right know. I open slam the button and open the bunker door. It feels so much more natural on all fours. I feel a tingling, and darkness invades my vision. The last symptom. Coma. When I wake up, I will be a scrapper. I think, as the world goes dark." ]	2
	[WP] "Hello, potion seller. I am going into battle, and I want your strongest potion." "My potions are too strong for you, traveller."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The characters set on a quest long and hard\n\nincluding, yours truly, elcuban, the bard,\n\nthe paladin, Justius, good, just, and right,\n\nand Balgruf, the berserker, swollen with might!\n\nWe came upon the village of Orksgerth (a settlement built in the ruins of an old orcish encampment). Being that this was the last bit of civilization we would encounter before the last leg of our journey to the caves under Mt. Labus, we decided to restock on potions and equipment. Balgruf, with his characteristic bull-headed initiative, immediately spotted a shop and barked, \"that one.\" The sign read:\n\n*THE MIGHTY OAK, alchemical concoctions\n\nThe half-elven shopkeeper seemed a bit queer,\n\nand spoke through his teeth, as he grinned ear to ear,\n\n\"If you 'ave the coin and are ready to rock, get over here, big boy, and check out my...stock.\"\n\nBalgruf, seeming a dwarf of small stature only in the mind of fools who enjoy the taste of the sharp side of an axe, was certain he was the \"big\" person to whom the shopkeeper was speaking, marched right up to the counter, and belted out (without the slightest bit of hesitation), \"I'll take the strogest potion you have!\"\n\nThe shopkeeper (with a subtly condescending tone) said, \"I don't know if that is such a good idea. My potions are pretty potent, and you and your party seem like you might be gearing up for a different kind of battle than -\" \"I CAN HANDLE,\" Balgruf interjected with a loud thump of the butt of his axe on the counter, \"anythin you* can throw at me!\" Shifting to a more deferential tone, the shopkeeper replied, \"your needs may be better met elsewhere, perhaps at The Radient Garden or Madcap Shroomery.\" \"Radient Garden?\" Balgruf sneered, \"what kinda floofy elven shite is that!?!\" The shopkeeper, in a moment of ill-advized indignation, shot back, \"You don't understand! How do I put this in a way ot can be understood by someone who rolled a 4 for intelligence...\" Balgruf had an especially intimidating way of looking down his nose at someone whose face happened to be positioned at a higher elevation than his own. \"Listen halfbreed, unless you want to take a nat 20 strength roll to the face, you will give me...*YOUR STRONGEST POTION.\" The shopkeeper, bested by Balgruf's rapier wit and inimitable communication skills, promptly acquiesced.\n\nWith the prospect of booty, sacks full to the brim,\n\nour party set out, buried treasure to win.\n\nAll the way into a cavern so deep,\n\nto wrest a great treasure, from a great monster's keep\"\n\nOnce in the cave, the fighting was fierce. Wave after wave of goblin hordes crashed apon us. Every inch of ground we took, the enemy surged and took back, again and again, back and forth. We realized we needed to do something to break the stalemate. Balgruf, tactical genius that he is, decided the best approach was a charge straight up the gut. Before flying into a berzerker rage, Balgruf thought to imbibe his newly acquired potion. The. Entire. Bottle. \n\nThrusting himself through the bulk of their forces with ease, Balgruf remarked \"I don't feel* any different, but I guess it must have worked.\" Balgruf was accustomed to committing great feats of might, so one could be forgiven for wondering if the shopkeeper had sold him a bottle full with flavored water and false confidence (of which Balgruff never had any shortage). One would be oh so wrong, however, as we would soon discover...\n\nIn the next room, shifting shadows flitted across the cavern walls. While far too deep underground for a breeze, a wintery chill wisped through the air. Figures began to emerge from the shadows on the far side, near the exit. \n\n*UnderHags\n\nVile creatures, the vestiges of witches and enchantresses, their forms twisted by dark rites and decades lived underground. A wretched sight, appalling to even the most hardened sensibilities, usually...\n\n\"You know,\" Balgruff quizzically opined, \"they have a certain...buxom quality to them.\" Aghast, Justius and I could scarcely respond, other than the grave and stark look we gave to one another. Had they cast some sort of spell on him? A spell that potent from that far away? Surely not. Balgruf having already charged in at this point, we pushed aside the dread set apon us by this ill portent and pressed on, then were quickly set apon by goblins swarming in from our flank. Capable warriors that we were, we were able to keep them at bay, but the underhags began to chant... We were outnumbered, but they were outclassed. We pressed forward, inch by hard-earned inch, toward the gateway to our prize. Before we could reach them, the underhags finished their chant, and our weapons lept from our hands! \n\nSome dark and mystical force prevented us from even touching them; as we reached for them, they pulled away. Unarmed and untrained in the way of fisticuffs, we were surely doomed, or so we thought. Just then, Balgruf, from under his mail unsheathed and gathered himself up and lunged forward! Neither we, nor goblin, nor evil beast of any sort could move or even speak, with Balgruf and his mastery of two-handed weapons on display (a welcome surprize, given as he was to dual-wielding one-handed axes). Thrust and parry, parry and thrust, and thrust...and thrust and thrust and thrust. Honestly, there was far more thrusting than I care to remember, hours of it. But it did the trick; mounds of dead goblins, orcs, and hags, all run through, and the way secured to our prize: a massive chest in the next hall, laden outside with gold! \"With all that gold on the outside, imagine what it holds within,\" Balgruf, at this particular moment - the only one among us capable of speech, pondered aloud. \"What, even the bard* has nothing to say? That's a first, ha! HRNNGG!\" He stopped on his way to the chest and clutched his own. \"AAARGH!\" Balgruf was certainly no stranger to berzerker rages (though none were quite like this one); what he was not accustomed to was the inability to turn it off. \"DAMNED ELIXER! WHAT'S IN THIS STUFF?\" He pulled out the empty bottle, finding a small inscription etched into the back:\n\nIf enchanted by the contents of this bottle for longer than four hours, consult a healer.\n\nBeing a party of only 3, and very capable fighters we didn't consider it necessary to count a dedicated healer among us. We typically got by on a healthy stack of potions. \"JUSTIUS,\" Balgruf wheezed, \"YOU'RE A PALADIN. HEAL ME, DAMMIT!\" \"I didn't spec into any healing spells,\" he replied, \"but I do have some potions.\" \"NO MORE DAMNED POTIONS! HRNNNG...MY HEART...AAAghh!\" Balgruf suddenly fell forward and died on his feet. \n\nThree drove deep to the depths, all in search of a treasure,\n\narmed with a potion meant not for battle, but pleasure.\n\nOnly 2 would emerge, worn, weary, and ragged,\n\nfor here ends the tale of Balgruf, the Three-Legged.", "\"Too strong? Do you have any idea who I am?\"\n\nThe Potion Seller mumbled, \"No, but I guess you're about to tell me-\"\n\n\"I am Aloysius the Brave! The Killer of Dragons! The Hero of Light! I once saved the princess of the Moon kingdom from the dreaded giant of the west! I have saved thousand of lives, impressed kings and wizards-\"\n\n\"And I am telling you, my potions are not meant for battle! They're too strong for-\"\n\nAloysius drew his sword, pointing it at the potion seller. \"Give me your strongest potion or else taste my blade.\"\n\nThe Potion Seller sighed. \"Fine. If that's what you want. Here. Take it.\"\n\nHe handed over a vial of purple liquid.\n\nAloysius withdrew his sword. He took the vial, and with his thump, popped the cork off. He downed it in one go. \n\n\"See?\" He said, burping. He tossed aside the vial. \"I can handle it.\"\n\nThe Potion Seller still didn't look impressed. \"Just pay me and go.\"\n\nAloysius dropped a bag of money into the Potion Seller's hand. He then climbed onto his horse, and with a triumphant bellow, galloped away.\n\nThe Potion Seller pocketed the money. He turned to his carriage and said out loud, \"It's okay. He's gone now.\"\n\nThe Potion Seller's wife popped her head out. \"What an idiot! Did he not read what we specialize in?\"\n\nThe Potion Seller shook his head. \"We're not exactly subtle in our advertising.\"\n\nHe stared out at the giant sign they erected next to their carriage.\n\nLAXATIVES FOR SALE! SOFT, MEDIUM OR IMMEDIATE, WE HAVE IT ALL!", "\"The hell you mean your potions are too strong for me? I'm a level 50 Berserker going up against one of the fiercest dragons in the land\"\n\nThe old alchemist chuckled at my words, his whispy fingers twirling his lucious beard.\n\n\"Only level 50? Then my potions are definitely too powerful. Unless you would like to kill yourself, go to Isaac's Potions down the road.\"\n\nI slammed my hand down on the counter between the two of us. Despite being a foot shorter than me and twice as old, the ancient alchemist didn't even blink.\n\n\"If your mighty potions are so powerful, then I would like to purchase your weakest one\"\n\nThe old man smirked at this and grabbed a small, unimpressive bottle filled with a red liquid.\n\n\"Oh, the arrogance of youth. This is my weakest regeneration potion. 20 gold pieces\"\n\nThe old cook held out a hand for the coins. Reluctantly, I handed the money over.\n\n\"If you can drink this potion and suffer no adverse effects, you can get whatever you wish\"\n\n\"You've got yourself a deal, old man\"\n\nI uncorked the potion and drank it in one go. I braced for some donkey-kick and was instead met with a faint taste of strawberries.\n\n\"Really, 20 gold for some strawberry flavo-\"\n\nI watched my health bar drop down to one. I figured the bastard poisoned me until my health started regenerating. Within a second my health bar was full. Then I watched as the red bar representing my current HP grew larger than the black rectangle meant to hold it. I grew nauseous.\n\n\"What the fuck did you do to me?\" \n\nI barely got that sentence out when I awoke in a horse-drawn carriage. I was with three other people. A somewhat attractive blonde man turned to me.\n\n\"Hey, you. You're finally awake. You were trying to cross the border, right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there.\"\n\n~~~~~~~~~~~~~\nPlease have mercy, I'm new to writing and on mobile." ]	4
	[WP] Humans die twice. Once when their physical body perishes, and again when their legacy is remembered for the final time. Great rulers and minds can therefore live on for thousands of years, as ghosts. You’re just an average joe, but you have a plan. A plan that will make you immortal.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It was so simple, I just had to keep people saying my name. For as long as my name was in use my immortality would remain steadfast.\n\nIt was so simple that anyone could've done it. Quite a few did it intentionally as I found out but many more did it accidentally. \n\nI am quite lucky that those that did it accidentally don't mind sharing our immortality, we who did it intentionally don't mind sharing either.\nAfter all it is too simple to be kept hidden, people just needed to fill out some paperwork and we will become immortal.\n\nWhen they die the first time without a legacy, not even a name, we will join me. When my bones are found I joined my immortality.\n\nWho were we? Why I will be John Smith.", "The plan was dead simple, when you get right down to it. I commissioned a statue of myself. Of course, being a man of low station I could not afford to actually have an entire statue built. Instead, I told the sculptor that I'd settle for however much he could build with the paltry sum I was able to scrape together.\n\n\"Are you sure this is okay?\" Asked Skartros.\n\nI nodded and smiled at him. \"Absolutely brilliant, my friend.\"\n\n\"The plaque cost the most. If I'd been able to leave it off, I could've made a whole statue.\"\n\nI clapped him on the back as his men unloaded it. \"This is better than I could've imagined. I love it.\"\n\nIt took me weeks and weeks to drag the sculpture out to the middle of the desert, but I did it alone for I wanted no others to know of my grand plan. I buried the statue partially in the sand, so that only a portion of the plaque could be seen. Any who wanted to read the full inscription would have to work to unbury it, a key part of my plan.\n\nFor some fifty years I had worked and toiled to enact this plan, and not long after I had buried my statue my poor old heart gave out. I just managed to make it home before I perished, riding the back of my donkey who knew the way. As I lay dying in the arms of my eldest, he asked what a foolish old man had been doing alone in the desert for so long.\n\nI patted his face and smiled as the light left my eyes. I was surrounded by my family, who wept for my passing. They buried me under my favorite olive tree. Poor as we were, they could not mark my grave. They never knew of the money I had secreted to buy my incomplete statue. Within a generation the last that knew my name had perished.\n\nYet here my shade remains, still sitting under the olive tree where my bones long ago returned to dust. For I am Ozymandias, the olive merchant.\n\n\n---\n\n\nPlaying fast and loose with the poem. All apologies to Percy Bysshe Shelley, late husband of Mary Shelley and sometimes poet.", "‘You need to get help,’ says the sobbing voice on the telephone, ‘I’m begging you.’\n\nEvery muscle is tense, sweat gleams on my forehead, there’s a throbbing in my heart. I take the phone away from my ear and hang it up with a slow, continuous motion. Then I go to bed.\n\nI always sleep like a rock and tonight isn’t any different. A dream comes to me; a rolling hill, a blaring hot sun, an infinite breath of fresh, fresh air. I awake with moisture from slender blades of grass still dabbed on my lips. My heart is so full of love that I sing one of his in the shower, I just let the music spill right out of me. After I’m dry and dressed and almost ready to go, I open my copy of the book on the table, and carefully write on the first page, ‘This is my statement,’ then I sign it with the name of the protagonist. I leave the book open right there and open the drawer. Inside there’s a .38 revolver, loaded with hollow-point bullets – I half-expect to feel something when I see it, some hesitation, or hear some voice that says, ‘Just go home. Forget this.’ But I don’t. I don’t hear anything at all.\n\nDownstairs, the doorman smiles as I pass him and wishes me a good day. I tip him $100 and say, ‘I will, sir.’ It’s a gusty December day in New York City and I’m buffeted along the pavements, swept down the alleyways and brushed up against the fence to the park opposite one of the grandest apartment blocks I’ve ever seen. The size of it, the archways, the rows of pristine cars queuing up outside. By the sight of it I know that this is a place for great minds, for the sorts of people that will live on in the hearts of others for thousands of years, as ghosts. I’ll never walk those halls or feel the sheets on those beds or taste the succulent flesh of the lobsters served in those kitchens. That’s not for me, and I don’t want it, anyway. I am who I am. Born in Texas with nothing, told all my life that I am nothing, that I wouldn’t ever be nothing else. Your beliefs form early in life and they don’t ever change – I just don’t ever want to be forgotten. I want something, a legacy, just so people know my name. Just so they know I was here and never forget it. Today’s the day I become immortal.\n\nHours pass and, as steady as I was this morning, time has worn me down. My hands are sweaty and I’m constantly fighting the urge to look over my shoulder and all around me. I know I look guilty as hell, I don’t know where to put my hands, there are so many windows facing me – so many faces hidden in the dark folds of those curtains. But I hold my ground, and I’m soon relieved to notice that I’m not the only one hanging around. There’s a small group of young ladies nearer the corner and a smattering of couples stood on my side of the road, facing the block. That’s just the beginning of it; there gets to be quite a hubbub in the area. A police car cruises through and blasts its horn at a crowd of lads fooling about in the road. Dogwalkers shove their way along the pavement outside and the doorman has to shout to be heard when he tells the crowd to keep back off the front steps. It must nearly be time, so I take a last, deep breath of fresh, clean air and delve into the midst of the crowd, my fingers closed firmly around the handle of the revolver in the deep pocket of my coat.\n\n‘This evening, John Lennon arrived at the emergency room of the Roosevelt Hospital. He was dead on,’ The newsreader clears his throat, ‘- At the time of his arrival.’ His voice is a steady monotone, he pauses for breath before going on, ‘Numerous resuscitative efforts were made after his arrival but in spite of the effort of many physicians and many procedures we were unable to restore the life of Mr. Lennon.’\n\nSo, there it is. My name’s up there, on every television screen, the front page of every newspaper. I killed their idol, their inspiration, and they’ll hate me forever and I'll die in prison – but as long as they remember him, they'll remember me." ]	4
	[WP] A group of drunk teenage philosophers accidentally kill God and are now trying to hide the body.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"But God is already supposed to be dead!\" Charlie was screaming, though I could barely make out the words over the din of my own thoughts, which, when they come fast and all at once like this, and through the filter of a half bottle of Jack, mush together into a high-pitched squeal. \"This isn't even supposed to be possible.\"\n\n\"Maaaybe,\" Doug slurred, struggling to stand upright, \"he's not dead. Or - hic - rather, maybe he's both?\"\n\n\"Both what exactly?\" Snapped Charlie.\n\n\"Like, listen, first? First I don't appreciate your - hic - tone, okay? Second, maybe he's, you know like Schrödinger's God now. Alive and dead.\"\n\n\"You're an idiot, Doug\" Charlie snarled.\n\n\"Yeah - hic - okay. I mean, that's mean, but ya got me. He'd have to be in a box first, for that to work.\"\n\n\"I'd prefer if he were in a box, frankly,\" I said, I looking up from the body into the faces of my two friends. \"He's getting bluer.\"\n\n\"He was already pretty fucking blue,\" Charlie said. \"Here, you take his hands,\" Charlie said to Doug. \"And you take his other set of hands,\" Charlie said to me, the direct command somewhat taking me out of my drunken stupor. \"I'll get his legs. We have to get him out of the kitchen.\"\n\n\"What about his trident?\" Doug asked.\n\n\"Leave the fucking trident!\" \n\n\"Where we gonna take him?\" I asked.\n\n\"Out of the kitchen!\" Charlie barked back.\n\nI didn't like my vantage point from the left set of arms, as we carried the surprisingly heavy body across the lawn towards Charlie's 97 Accord. The dead god's third eye wouldn't close, and it was creeping me out. I tried to free up one hand by letting the body's upper left arm drop, so I could close the third eye. But the dropped arm got tangled up in my feet and I fell.\n\n\"Holy fucking shit, Cameron, get your shit together.\"\n\n\"I'm trying,\" I said, getting up to my feet. \"It's just this third fucking eye, man. It's creeping me out. It's like, still perceiving us, man. It's like a witness. It knows we're trying to drag this giant blue fucking corpse into your piece of shit car.\"\n\n\"Don't be a bitch,\" said Charlie.\n\n\"Nah man,\" doug slurred, \"I think he's got a point. Like, if he's - hic - perceiving us at all, we're fucked.\"\n\n\"Fine. Fine. You know what? Fine.\" Charlie was an angry drunk. \"Go back in the house, get the fucking trident, and gouge out the third eye if that'll make you feel better.\"\n\n\"You know what, cockface?\" I said, \"I will.\"\n\nBack in the house, the trident was on the ground where we'd left it, but a not-small snake had coiled itself around the handle, and there was a giant stag standing over them both, it's hooves clacking on the hardwood floor as it adjusted its weight side-to-side.\n\n\"Motherfucker,\" I either said or thought." ]	2
	[WP] Humanity has created its first Wormhole Generator, and a team is ready to test this new method of interstellar travel.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "( This is the first prompt I've responded to, so here goes... )\n\nYear: 2348\n\nLocation: SS-IEV X-1 \"Icarus\", in orbit above Luna\n\nTime: 14:00 GMT\n\n\"Are we ready?\" Captain Peter Dreyfus asks, settling into his chair on the bridge. \"We're about as ready as we can get, captain\" the chief engineer, a young woman named Lara Byers, responds over the comms. It had taken the better part of a decade of constant research and the best minds the Sol System Interstellar Exploration Charter could find to develop what they called \"ERBE\" ( Einstein-Rosen Bridge Engine ), and now all eyes were on the small ship sitting just above Earth's moon.\n\n The test was about as simple as Peter expected - open a breach between Luna and Ganymede, send a small container of plant and animal life through, then head to Ganymede and examine the results. Calibrations had taken a few weeks as this was the first time that anyone had opened up what everyone was calling an \"artificial wormhole\", and no one wanted to mess this up. \"Engine online, Captain\", came Lara's message over comms, and Peter observed the wormhole's formation through the screens on the bridge \"Payload deployed\", he responded, as the container was launched.\n\n\"Stabilizers holding fast\"\n\n\"Payload entering the breach... Aaaand through\"\nPeter sighed. Easy part done, he thought to himself as the breach closed. \"Engage thrusters. Get us to Ganymede\"\n\nLocation: Lunar Colony Alpha\n\nTime: 13:00 Lunar Standard + 1 \n\nRetrieval had went as planned, but the results were.. less than pleasant. Apparently, temperatures fluctuated between extremes in the ( relatively ) short transit between Luna and Ganymede and the specimens retrieved were either burnt to a crisp or exploded by extreme cold. Peter was glad that there hadn't been any humans sent - things would have been a lot messier. \"So now we need a.. a shield of some kind to protect the vessel during transit\" he explained to Lara after the ship was docked. \"Egg heads called it... I think someone said thermonuclear energy projection array\"\n\n\"Sounds impressive\"\n\n\"Yah, still gonna take a while though\"\n\n\"Well, we already know how to generate kinetic shielding, so it shouldn't be as large a leap as generating an artificial wormhole\" Lara responded, sipping her coffee. \"Just gotta adapt that technology and then we can get out of the Solar System\n\n( Edit: paragraph breaks and additional information )\n( Additional edit: changed placeholder names )" ]	2
	[WP] An immortal who ages and dies lifetime after lifetime and remembers everything meets an immortal who hasn't aged a day since they were twenty who's memoriesfade over time. They discuss the pros and cons of each of their situations.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I entered the ward. I was looking for my daughter. One of couple dozen actually. The thing is that I’m immortal. I was aging normally up until twenty, when everything suddenly froze. It took some getting used to but eventually I’ve realised that despite having mostly cons, the situations does bare a few positives like, doing stupid, dangerous stuff all the time. The task for today though, was finding my injured child. Nothing fatal and she was out of Intensive Care already.\n\nShe was lying in a two-bed hospital room. Quite weird placement because right opposite to her there was an old man, probably on his deathbed. I walked in.\n\n‘How are you feeling today, dear?’ I wanted to start in a friendly way\n\n‘Ok, but I’m still trying to get over what happened there, right after the jump. What the hell, are you like, immortal?!’ she lashed out, angry and confused\n\n‘ARE you immortal?’ the man lying near interrupted our moment\n\n‘And what exactly is YOUR business here?’\n\n‘I was just curious because if you were, it would be quite a crazy coincidence considering that I can’t die either’\n\n‘But you are on your deathbed, aren’t you?’ I was starting to get tired of this man, seeking attention at any cost\n\n‘You’re right. I got a bit ahead of myself there. I can indeed die. Then I just come back to life, with all my previous knowledge and memories’\n\nWhat he said sounded interesting. It was completely different than my experience. I immediately wanted to know more. His perspective seemed so much better than my boring twenty-year-old existence.\n\n‘So you’re saying that you can live forever, ay?’\n\n‘That’s exactly it!’\n\n‘What the hell is going on?!’\n\nMy daughter finally managed to open her mouth, after a long time of sitting still in total disbelief. We ignored the terror in both of her eyes. I made a slight hand gesture in her direction. We didn’t need any interrupting now. That was to be the most interesting talk of my entire life so far. I had to jump on the opportunity.\n\n‘Your version actually sounds fun. I’m just here, stuck in this moment forever. I would love to start fresh – be young, maybe get old but it’s not meant to be’\n\n‘Oh, believe me, I don’t wish this horror of mine to anybody. I have to go through everything over and over again’\n\n‘But imagine all those different scenarios, the world of possibilities. I’d kill to be able to start again, right from the beginning’\n\n‘It gets surprisingly stale after like, ten times. You feel as if you’re playing the cheated version of the game. You keep replaying it, trying to beat it in various ways but it’s still the same game and there’s no way around that. I used to be excited for let’s say, puberty. For the first few times. Later I discovered that there are only limited options for the game of life’\n\n‘NO WAY. I don’t think you realise how dreadful life in your twenties can be. If I was given the chance, I’d make much better use of your position’\n\n‘All I’m saying is I have much worse than you!’\n\n‘No, you don’t’\n\nAs the discussion was getting more and more heated, the old man was slowly losing his breath. He was trying to open his mouth for what soon turned out to be the last time. I leaned in to hear what he was trying to tell me.\n\n‘I envy you, young boy’ he whispered, dying peacefully on his bed\n\nI turned around just to see my daughter staring at us in awe.\n\n‘I... don’t-‘ she started, as she fainted onto her bed", "Mirko had run away to play at the river when he was supposed to stay with Auntie Annie while his mother was visiting Grandma at the loony bin once more. He was glad enough he didn‘t have to come along, seeing Granny in this place where she clearly didn‘t belong was sad enough, and the long waits and the other visitors there were a pain in the ass. However, that autie, who was really just a random neighbor of granny, was not much better. She was every bit as much of a witch as gran but wouldn‘t admit it and harp on about how tarot cards and most herbs are of the devil and prayer and the herbs of mother mary are the way to go. But she was really good at praying away warts, you had to give her that. Also, he used to love the stories she always told, but they have gotten so much worse since she discovered reddit and turned a wannabe writer.\n\nAnyway, he went looking for that little creek he remembered from last time. He wanted to build a dam. He found it sure enough and went to work. He was too old for this, really, and would be playing WoW or something sure enough if it hadn‘t been for auntie Annie. But now it was fun, allowed him to stop thinking, and he created a dam any beaver would be proud of. Pnly after two hours he realized he was watched. A muscular 20-something punk, who sat on a fallen tree and smoked a spliff while watching him under his eyelashes. This guy definitely felt like trouble, and he tried to collect his things and pondered how he could destroy the dam before leaving without alerting the guy to his imminent departure.\n\nThen everything happened at once. Sudden noises from the nearby official dam upstream the main river, a wave of water down the river, filling the little side valley quickly, wood from the little dam being thrown anywere – He tried to run but was hit by some big branch. The world started spinning, he fell and was swept into the main river.„Poor Jelka, I hope she has another kid soon“ was the last thing he thought before he blacked out.\n\nWhen he came to he was on the riverbank, in the arms of the punk, who pounded his back and shouted, telling him to cough, what he did. When he was done catching his breath, the stranger helped him into an oversized leather coat and made him look into his face. \n\n„What have you been thinking. You know they are opening the lock randomly because of repairs these days, it was in the newspapers“\n„Why didn‘t you tell me earlier then? You were watching me!“ Mirko regretted the words almost instantly, the guy still felt dangerous. But the stranger just smiled. \n\n„I was smoking something… didn‘t realize at once the water might go up the creek“ after some hesitation „How are you? Cold? Dizzy?“\n„I think I‘m fine. But I should go home maybe.“\n\nSuddenly, Mirko had one of these moments. He knew the guy, and he knew he could be indeed bad news. But it had been incredibly long ago. His brain was flooded with memories that were not really his, like it sometimes happened to him. Some of them were not even words, only visions and smells. „I‘m Mirko, Mirko, Mirko“ he repeated to himself, but it made things only worse. He was Mirko, but he was also Uncle Alf and hundreds of other men, including the nameless pre-homo being that had believed he was a part of this guy, the stone-age hunter who had revered him as a god, and the 19th century village warlock who had tried to call upon him in vain when the shit hit the fan. And it was no longer a moment. He was coming into his own once more, all those memories belonged to lives and times, they were no longer overwhelming, but more real than ever.\n\nWolf shook him. „Heh what's wrong? You dizzy?“\n\nMirko looked into his eyes calmly. „You are Wolf. We‘ve met before.“ \n\nThe guy just looked shocked, and started shivering.\n\n„Heh, don‘t worry. It‘s all cool, I just don‘t meet old aquaintances that often“ Mirko didn‘t want to upset Wolf.\n\n„come on, let‘s go somewhere warm. The guy pput Mirko on his feet and walked him to an ancient camper hidden nearby in the woods. It was indeed warm inside, and there were blankets and something to drink.\n\n„So you really know me?“ asked Wolf, „who are you?“\n\n„Last time I tried to reach you I called myself Haro, but you wouldn‘t answer me anyway“\n\n„I don‘t hear any calls, that‘s a stupid legend.“\n\n„Well, you used to. But that‘s another story. I also was Gronk, your faithful priest, and that nameless ape who wanted to be you“\n\n„To be honest, I don‘t remember much beyond 3-4 human lifetimes ago. It gets awkward like now every 50 years or so, but overall it‘s for the best I think. How would I other wise life? The memories would kill me.“\n\nMirko studied his face. „You look every bit as you did way back when. Are you physically imortal?“\n\n„I guess I am. Like I said, I don‘t remember much, but nothing seems to kill me, and I have been told before that I‘ve been unchanged for way longer than I rememember. But what about you, kid? Why do you remember?“\n\n„Don‘t know. I reincarnate, usually soon and into someone who is physically close to the place where I last died. I get vivid phantasies tthat can be terrifying as a child, and then regain full memory of all my previous lives at some point during puberty each time.“\n\n„How on earth do you deal with that?“\n\n„ Well, you can see I‘m that age right now. To be honest, I don‘t quite know. But I remember going through this before. And memory says I won‘t get overwhelmed by random flashbacks any more, I thinks I will only remember when I want to.“\n\n„You seem to know a lot of stuff about me that I can‘t know. I guess I should take you to the other side of the world and kill you there. Whatever else you may be, remember you‘re just a boy.“\n\nMirko measured him with calm eyes. He remembered other incidents, with other strange beings. „Now that would be beyond useless. This is the 21th century. I would be back to my former family and busy hunting you down in 16 years or less.“\n\n„True.“ Wolf sighed. „But at least I would have had a good meal. I could even do it right here.“\n\n„So your habits haven‘t changed at all. You still wouldn‘t want to anger me, we‘ve been through this before..“ It wasn‘t really Mirko talking now, he hid behind the memories of some soldier or spy. And his voice and manners didn‘t fail to impress Wolf.\n\n„You do have a strange advantage there. But you don‘t know how to kill me, just as I don‘t know how to keep you from coming back.“\n\n„Well, locking you up somewhere for good would be a fun course of action, if it wasn‘t for old times remembered fondly.“\n\n„As if the likes of us could be really fond of anything.“\n\n„That‘s what you say.“\n\n„How about building dams? Do you really think you‘ll ever enjoy that again in this life?“\n\n„Probably not, but there‘s still WoW and Mincraft, right?“\n\nWolf snorted. „Still playing at being this boy huh?“\n\n„ Not playing. You can always chose to be in the moment.“\n\n„Not me.“\n\n„ I‘d suggest taking up meditation, but I guess you‘ve tried that before?“\n\n„Not that I remember.“\n\n„Be that as it may. I have to go home now. I guess a search party combing this nook of the woods is the last thing you want, so would you let me go?“\n\n„For hells sake, go. It‘s all more of the same anyway.“\n\n„Not to me. I have a family to care about and stuff to build. But don‘t worry, as long as you don‘t hurt me or mine you can do as you please. I‘m not a holy warrior any longer.“\n\n„Out of my eyes, you darn hypocrite, before I reconsider!“\n\nMirko hurried out of the camper and towards home without another word. Some people were just hopeless.", "\"I live and die. Like dust in the wind I fade and then spread my own ashes into the unknown I-\" \n\n\"Quit being so dramatic.\" The man across the table from me who asked only to be referred to as \"Lu\" interrupted in a less than impressed tone. \n\n\"I've not aged in the hundreds of years I've been alive, yet you're dramatic speeches are managing to make me feel old.\" \n\n\"Well...I'm glad to have been able to give you the experience of age.\" A sly smile spread across my face. \n\nIn many ways I actually envied the not-so stranger that was seated opposite of me. The neat blonde hair he kept pulled back in a ponytail would always exist, and always had. Young and stoic features of his face trumped nearly eighty percent of the looks that my previous incarnations had sported. Contrasting his youthful face was a deep, soulful wisdom behind blue eyes that could only be attained by having lifetimes pass, but most of all he could forget. \n\nLu took a small sip from his beer on the table and shot it a disgusted glare before looking up to me. \n\n\"It can't be all that bad. You've lived hundreds of lives. Hundreds of singular experiences. I've only ever lived the one.\" \n\nHe was right. Not in a way I thought about too often, but right nonetheless. \n\n\"Yes but what am I? There is no me. I am reincarnated as these people but they are not me. I have not been a singular being in some time.\" \n\nA young woman approached and interrupted our talking match with a warm \"Is there anything else I can get for either of you?\" Lu glanced down to his mug still full of the amber colored liquid and back to her as if trying to subconsciously tell her to go away. She stood for a moment confused, her neat eyebrows furrowing and spreading fine wrinkles across her otherwise smooth face. \n\n\"We're fine thank you.\" I gave her a warm smile and her confusion faded as she wandered back to the bar. \n\n\"Are you an ass to everyone you meet?\" I spoke while still looking towards the young waitress. \n\nIgnoring the question he attempted to bridge the break in conversation. \"Yes but they are you. Simply because you've lived many lives doesn't make them any less you.\" \n\nI was tired of his string of \"you have it good\" arguments, so I ignored it as he had done.\n\n\"Do you get back pains? Aching knees? What is the last piece of life you remember.\" \n\nLu chuckled a bit, staring down at the table and off into another world. \n\n\"No I don't get the aches that come with age. At times I wish I did, but I think if they came I'd wish the opposite. Remember? Eighty or so years ago...the fifties. I remember the time after the war. I didn't fight, luckily, but I had a life. No wife or kids. I vowed that off long ago, but a life. I haven't had that in a long time.\" His once youthful face looked much older now as he stared into the past. His blue eyes didn't seem filled with regret, but something else entirely.\n\nHe hadn't changed much over the span of hundreds of years. I knew that he didn't remember, and he couldn't have hoped to. Even while staring deeply into space his memory had long left him. Gone from a time long ago where him and I were something. A time where we were kin. As I sat across the table from my brother from another lifeI couldn't help but think that staging this interaction wasn't worth it, well never was, but I still tried." ]	4
(i was thinking a feudal army, but take this wherever your mind wanders.)	[WP] You stand to face an army ten times the might of your own, little to no chance of victory. Until a UFO screeches down from the sky and explodes within the enemy, unleashing something even mighter.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " The dark mass of clouds began to roll over our position. Soon, the bright plain was bathed in shadow, covering what would soon be our battlefield. My heart raced and quaked, even though I stood proudly upon my shield carriers. I had to keep my men’s morale up. \n\n“Form squares!!” I shouted.\n\nOur army of some 2,000 infantry began to form a defensive square. The two-dozen cavalry from the western tribes huddled with us in the center. I remembered that in ages past, the Romans used squares in their battle formations. Such a tactic helped them win battles against their favor, and hopefully, it would grant us victory as well.\n\n“Chief Rodericho, they’re here.” One of my men alerted me.\n\nOff to the south, a large army approached our position. Infantry, archers, cavalry, all marched slowly towards us. The enemy forces even had camels and elephants flanking their left and right units. There was no winning this battle.\n\n“We should turn back, chief. Fight another day.” Gantzo, my advisor, suggested.\n\nIlico, his brother, pleaded “We can lose them in the mountains! The women and children should be done moving to Gijon by now.”\n\nI shook my head. \n\n“No, the others will come. The Vascones, the Galicians… They’ll fight with us. They sympathize with our cause.”\n\n“No! They should have arrived if they ever intended to help us. They’ve abandoned us!” Ilico argued, his face contorted with anger, yet fear seized his trembling hands.\n\n“We’re fighting for our existence. In their hearts, they know this. They’ll see, and they’ll join us.” I explained.\n\nWe all lied to each other. It rained this morning; the mountain passes would have been muddy and difficult to navigate. Our people wouldn’t have reached Gijon yet. The other tribes have rejected our call to arms. No one was coming to aid us. The best we could do was buy time for our people to reach safety. There was no way out of this mess. \n\nOur kingdom grew decadent and corrupt… and we now had to pay.\n\nThe enemy drew closer. Soon, we saw their banners and flags. Then their patterned outfits; the different shades of their men. The elephants’ bellowing resounded across the open field.\n\nGanzto cried out, his voice shaky and out-of-breath, “In nomine patris, et filii, et spiritus sancti…”\n\n“Chief!”\n\nI heard several concerned gasps and shouts. My men pointed at the sky. Where the dark mass of clouds drifted, a strange thing came down from the heavens. It was regal; in manner, it reminded me of an angel… However, it was more akin to an iron bowl, or a polished Frankish shield. \n\nI squinted and focused on the object, filtering out the gossip and lamentations about the apocalypse from among my men. The shield appeared to descend over the enemy army, and it seemed that they stopped their march. Then, it began.\n\nAn awful noise shook the battlefield, shaking even the very pebbles by our feet. At first, it sounded like a terrifying bird. A high-pitched cry of a raven, soon growing thousand-fold in number. A chorus of cacophonous cries and shrieks filled my ears. The noise grew louder and the pitch intensified, then the noise became fuller. It soon melded into a loud droning, like a winter storm blowing into a large horn. The hum nearly knocked me off my shield, and when I hopped off, the vibrations made my feet quiver and sapped my strength. \n\nWithout warning, the shield slammed into the ground. The earth shook, and the enemy’s cries of terror and agony soon reached us. \n\nA bright flash forced myself to look away for a long moment, and a loud explosion forced me to brave the dazzling light and look at the enemy forces. There, we saw a sight reserved for the denizens of hell itself.\n\nHundreds of enemy troops had been flung up in all directions. They were suspended in the air, as though frozen in time. Connecting them together were dark red bands, meshed together like a sinister web. Some jutted out like pointed shards, as though they were hard spearheads that skewered the men on the other side. Soon, the red bands retracted into the bodies they had pierced and pulled everything back towards the centre mass—the gleaming shield. It seemed as though the very blood of the men betrayed them, slaying them from the inside and drawing back to the evil saucer. Soon, the red bands were all gone, along with the dead bodies that were suspended in the air. The silver object was gone as well, having swollen up to a pulsing mass of meat the size of a house.\n\nThen, it began all over again. Flash and explosion. More bodies in the air. And then back to the centre. The enemy were mere ants and the demented shield feasted upon them. The nearby men started to assault the reddish-beige mass, but to no avail.\n\nFlash. Explosion. \n\nThe mass grew larger. It pulsed and shook. It inhaled and exhaled. \n\nFlash. Explosion.\n\nThe stampeding elephants and escaping camels weren’t shown mercy. All were returned to the ever-growing body of flesh.\n\nBlinding light. Loud blast.\n\nOur men started to run. Much of the enemy army had been meshed into the gargantuan mass. It was now an unholy sphere of skin, blood, and entrails, constantly throbbing on its surface, ever in flux. The bottom half of the sphere began to excrete bits of iron and steel; remnants of the weapons of those it had devoured. Then out came hair. Not blonde, fair, or wiry. Instead it was gray and matted. The upper half of the sphere started to glow faintly, and strange markings formed on its skin, all with a distinct red-orange light. Soon after, a face formed on the side of the sphere. I knew it from somewhere… it seemed familiar. I was fixated on the devilish object. My men ran while I stayed behind, gazing at its frightening façade.\n\nFlash. Explosion.\n\nI did not look away. Some of my men were pierced and caught, and were soon pulled back into the soft, fleshy mass. It was growing larger and larger. Soon, I was able to see the finer details of its surface; each and every demented pockmark and wrinkle. With each step, I drew closer to the being. With every sliver of sanity I tossed away, I gained a sliver of understanding of this creature. I was face to face with this person, and that was when I understood. I understood everything.\n\nFlash. Explosion.", "“Do not let them get through,” I told them. These guys might be autonomous robots, but they can deviate any time. The slightest deviation in our formation can lead to our destruction. “Control,” I said, bringing up Enigma. Why does he not like that name? “The human army is closing in.” \n\n“My orders remain the same. Don’t let them through.” \n\n“Got it.” \n\nOur fleets above are still locked in battle with the Human Supremacy’s main fleet. At this rate, the Multisystem will be eradicated. The defense of Dekronia is building up. There’s a low chance for it to work, but nothing else matters now. The destruction of Control will result to the termination of the entire system. We cannot let that happen. \n\n“General Omni,” Control said. “I have managed to hijack the humans’ communications. I’m giving you access to it.” I felt another connection form. A noisy frequency. It’s the Human Supremacy’s ground force comms frequency. \n\n“General Alan to Star League, requesting permission to push through the city.” \n\n“Roger that General Alan, permission granted. Destroy the toasters.” \n\nI brought the human communications down temporarily and prepared the army. All the information needed was given to the robots. Now that the enemy is in sight, it’s time to hold them back. \n\n“General,” Control said. “Our fleet has detected a ship heading straight to Dekronia. Be prepared, just in case.” \n\nThe army is going closer. Our advanced tech will not aid us against an army this large. Being outnumbered 15 to 1? It’s already suicide to go up against them, especially without our fleet’s orbital bombardment support. \n\n“General, the ship appears to be headed at your vicinity.” \n\n“Fire the artillery,” I ordered. Whatever advantage we have now, we need to exploit. They are now charging straight through. We removed every cover on their side for this purpose. “Start shooting!” \n\nThe humans scattered. They covered a lot more ground. They also started shooting at us. \n\n“Zion Space Force to all military units, the unknown ship just destroyed most of the Human Supremacy’s fleet. It appears to be headed right to Defense Group D7.” \n\nOur location. We still don’t know what that ship is doing here. Our scans reveal the ship to not be of Techaran or Human origin. Whatever it is, we have to be alert. It could head straight at us. \n\n“General,” Control said. “Our scientists have managed to calculate the trajectory of the ship. It appears to be heading right at the humans’ army. Be careful. It already eradicated the majority of the Human Supremacy’s fleet.” \n\nThe ship is in sight. It does appear to be headed right for them. If it works in our favor, the humans will be destroyed. \n\n<<Initializing emergency reboot>> \n\n<<ALERT: Hull is damaged. Movement will be limited to prevent further damage.>> \n\n<<Reboot complete>> \n\nWhat just happened? The units in my army are all damaged. Some still aren’t turned on. \n\n“Control,” I said. “What just happened?” \n\nA moment, then, “General!” Control came through. “Our sensors have initially shown that all life in that sector had been destroyed. Thankfully, part of your army appears to have survived. It seems like the wave that came when the ship landed obliterated the human army. The humans have pulled back. Our fleets are now pushing through occupied systems. I have another mission for you. Come to the Hub.” \n\n“Roger.” \n\nAfter reactivating what remained of my army, I went to the Hub. Robots are rarely invited to go to the Hub due to safety reasons. Nevertheless, I went there. If Control invited me to go there, the situation had to be very important and very secret. \n\n“Welcome, General,” Control greeted me. He was with a non-Techarus creature. No one goes to the Hub other than the Techarus. I immediately pointed my gun at him. The safety of Control cannot be compromised. \n\n“Identify yourself,” I told the creature. \n\n“Do not worry, General. He is a friend. Meet Crurzier.” \n\n“Nice to meet you, General,” the creature said. “Sorry about your army, I didn’t know they were there.” \n\nSo he was the one who nearly destroyed all of us. \n\n“What are we doing here?” I said. \n\n“Crurzier needs our help on something important,” Control said. “He wants to track down a couple of persons.” \n\n“Who?” \n\n“Do you remember Milton?” \n\n“Milton Graves? Isn’t he the one who saved the Maldur?” \n\n“Add him. And also the exile.” \n\nThe exile? We’re teaming up with that unit? He was clearly a deviant. Why are we teaming up with him? \n\n“Why are we teaming up with the exile?” \n\n“We need the crystals he has. They will aid us in this war.” \n\n“Alright then.” \n\nI wonder what those crystals can do. \n\n“Also, apparently, there are some aggressive creatures on Earth.” \n\n“Earth? Some creatures still live in that wasteland?” \n\n“It’s been 2098 years since we last saw that place. Who knows what happened there now?” \n\n“Good enough. I’ll have my army repaired so we can start the search.” \n\n“Good luck out there, General.”" ]	3
	[WP] Magic has become a tool. It has labels such as good magic, or bad. It's been confined by so many rules and contracts that it's barely a shadow of what it used to be. You are going to remind the world what magic truly is.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "As I walked in to the front lawn, I was told to freeze, I guess the President doesn't like unexpected visitors. \"Get down on your knees, and hands in the air!\" said a solider, his hands in the casting position of a binding spell. \"No, sorry. I have some business with your boss.\" As I say this I flick my hand and the earth splits, revealing a black nothingnesss which swallows the guards whole. Now that I had the crowds on the side watching I reach forward and a pitch black ball appears in my palm, and as I toss it towards the White House I begin to chuckle. When It hits the White House the entire thing in engulfed, leaving nothing but Mrs. President floating and bound by the darkness. I then tap my feet and begin to float upwards, all the while chanting an incantation. \"P-p-please\" stuttered the president, gasping for air, \"I'll do anything, just don't kill me!\" \"Why the rush?\" I ask \"You are a treat which should be saved for last.\" And as I say this, the incantation is complete. Suddenly my hand is surrounded by blinding light in the shape of a blade. \"I want you to watch as I slaughter all the magicians you can muster to stop me to show you what magic truly is.\" I tell her. And then I hear it, the men running towards the site where the White House once stood. \"And here they come, like pigs to the slaughter.\"", "It will be a magnificent display.\n\nI grab my phone, and I call up Marcel. Marcel is a retired performance wizard who specializes in pyrotechnics, formerly pyromancy. He is the first step.\n\nThe second step is my mother, Susie. She was a Sage, a bender of nature and plant life, turned gardener by the enstated laws. She has had enough, and wants to flex her muscles a bit.\n\nThe third and final step is a friend, Allison. She learned the ways of hydrokenesis, the control of water with concentration of the mind. \n\nAll four of us enter the center of the Chicago Public park. The great Glass Bean stands in the middle.\nThe three step in to do their magic.\nNot a fight, but a show of power, might, and beauty. Complex shapes made entirely out of water, floating in the air; massive clouds of fire making fireworks when powders are thrown into the air. The beauty of natural structure and growth combined with the human imagination.\n\nThe people watching were dumbfounded. Some had pulled out their phones and started taping the entire thing. Good. Police were quickly met with astonishment at what they were seeing, along with not even knowing how to deal with the problem in the first place.\n\nAll went according to plan. Some of the bans were lifted, for purposes of performance. Now there are protests going for the return of magic.", "“ Mind if I sit with you?” A soft whisper came from behind. Without turning to see who it was I agreed and motioned him to join me. Under the blanket of the night sky and nothing for warmth but the small lantern at my side, maybe I could find joy in some company for now. Still, I didn’t think that anyone but me would make the effort to climb all the way up here.\r\n\n“ If I may ask, what is a person like yourself doing way out here by yourself on a night like this? “ The stranger asked. I peer over the cliff edge where we sat. Down below, under the bright moon, thousands of people gathered in merriment. Some danced, some ate to their hearts' content, most gazed in awe as the most brilliant feats of magic were performed before them. The vibrant colours – flashes of lightning, gusts of snow, explosions of red and blue flame – and the wild applause and fanfare put a smile on my face. “ I'm not good with crowds, you see,” I replied my curious new companion. He repositioned himself next to me to get a better look below.\r\n\n“ Ah, so you don’t care much for the festivities then?,” he asked again.\r\n\n“ I just get a much better view of them from here.” As we spoke, the candle in my lantern started to dim slowly. “ What about you? What brings you up here, stranger?” I took out my firestick and pointed it towards another candle. The way the tiny flames spit out from its tip always gave me a sense of satisfaction. \r\n\n“ My apologies, where are my manners? My name is Edward Till. I came for the same reason you did. But looking at it all up close, it was all a bit disappointing.” I turned to face him. “ For a Magic Festival, I see hardly any magic being used.”\r\n\n“ You sure about that? There are magic runes all over the place. “ I argued. Edward took awhile to reply to that, leaving me to wonder in silence for awhile. Then I noticed his eyes shifting towards the firestick in my hand.\r\n\n“ Do you consider that magic too?” I took a closer look. The firestick fit comfortable in the palm of my hand, like a pen with runes engraved in it. It didn’t need electricity to function, and nothing was consumed as fuel for it to create fire. Isn’t that magic?\r\n\n“ Well, yeah,” was all that I could provide as my answer. It clearly was magic, but I sensed he had another, deeper meaning to the question. \r\n\n“ I cant deny that you’re right, but magic is supposed to be much more that that, you know.” He let out a sigh. I sat and watched as he proceeded to take out something out from his pockets. \r\n\n“ Pick a card. Any card. “ He said. Immediately I almost burst out laughing but I had to refrain. There was a slight chance that Edward wasn't joking. If he was , though, it was a good one.\r\n\n“ Oh, you meant the other kind.” We both chuckled a bit. Still, he handed me a few cards anyway. I guess I should humour him. He was pretty funny after all. I did as he said and picked one without revealing the contents to him, just like how I would with any other card trick. It was different though. The card itself didn’t possess and numbers and colours, just a weird looking symbol. I couldn't have described it to him if I wanted to. If I didn’t know better I’d say it looked like it could be a magic rune.\r\n\n“ So you noticed”, Edward says as he places his finger on the card. It lights up, and for a split second I feel the air around me burst with heat. The blast knocks me off my feet onto the ground. I look up and my heart stops as a sea of flames engulfs the entire cliffside. I turn to Edward, wanting to know what the hell is going on, but before I could find him in the chaos, my hand loses its grip on the card and just as quickly the flames dissipate, leaving only the smallest vestiges alive as embers, which soon begin to flicker out of existence as well. \r\n\nI stare at the fallen magic card, contemplating if I should pick it up. It might just erupt again. I try to push myself off the ground but my arms are still shaken. For that one moment, I felt like I was in hell, and somehow In heaven at the same time.\r\n\n“ I didn’t mean to startle you like that, but the first time I did it my words failed me as well. So I figured showing you would be much easier than telling you. So how was it?”\r\n\nI stared at him, dumbfounded. The darkness that came with the night eventually covered everything once more. But this time, the light from my firestick didn’t seem to matter.\r\n\n“ So that was magic, huh?”", "Chaos.\n\nUnleashing the hell-storm within my grasps, I showed the world the full potential of magic.\nYears of restrictions, licenses, forbidden arts, and authoritarian rule on the lost arts crippled our society.\n\nMagic is free and beautiful. It should not be shackled and rot in disuse. It is like the stars in the sky. Mysterious as the ocean, and vast as the lands we conquer. \n\nWhen I let it flow through me, I could feel how stuffed it was, how rotten it was with filth the modern era injected into nature and its very core.\n\nI broke the dam, and let it release over the city. Burning the sky and releasing a pleasant glow as if it was day in the stark night.\n\nIt snowed luminescent bulbs, each bursting and covering the ground upon contact. Each bulb contained trapped emissions and cleaned the air.\nWithin the next few days the climate in this area would change.", "They had forgotten their heritage. Their culture. Their history. But I would remind them.\n\nFirst in secret, I taught classes of more recent banned magics. Weather spells, that were strictly controlled. Earth manipulation, only allowed to even be learned by select few... and forcibly unlearned if that status was ever lost.\n\nSlowly, I accumulated more knowledge, as my pupils experimented, stole, and learned. Eventually I came across the ultimate spell. It had the potential to change the world, and it had, in the past. Warped many societies, wiped out entire cultures, a couple countries. It would happen again. But this time, it would be different. I would force magic on the world, to be used for the greater good. A select few of the higher ups in the enforcement agency for magical affairs had been alive to witness the usage of this spell. I'm sure there was even someone that had used it on a large scale.\n\nAnd none could stop me.\n\nAt first, I used it on the small scale, unlikely to be noticed, as I prepared for a worldwide casting. My pupils were far and wide by now, and most were willing to help, placing small and large amplification runes, tuned to me, ready for my order.\n\nSeveral years passed before I felt ready to take on the mantle, but take it I did.\n\nAs I finished the final part of the casting, I began to feel power, and information, well up within me.\n\nThis spell, is for godhood. It imbues the caster with the collective intelligence of all affected by it, granting them the combined magical power as well. Subjects can be released at will, and they will be when they are not needed. I will transform this world into a perfect society, just and fair. Or die trying. After all, I want like those other guys. I wasn't one to go mad with power.\n\nBut here I am now, years later, having slowly lost myself to the omniscience of this state of being. It was time.\n\nThey have forgotten their heritage. Their culture. Their history. But I would remind them.\n\nAuthor's note: Hey, this was an interesting prompt. r/James_fire", "\"Magic is a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands,\" I hear a protester shout. \"We need to protect our children, not our wands.\" It's actually in Portuguese, which I don't speak, but I ran it through a translation app last Thursday. \n\nI chuckle to myself. Here they are, treating magic as a weapon, and I can't blame them. The last couple centuries, that's how it has been portrayed. A few healing spells, but with modern medicine, the pills and treatments are replacing it. No need to pay for a trained wizard to visit. Most spells used are attacks. They're the simplest to learn, the most efficient. The energy to lift a weight by magic is more than by hand, but with a blast spell, you can send it flying. Metal detectors won't identify wizards like they do guns. And with the attacks on schools recently, all the news is leaning that way. Most schools don't even teach magic anymore, due to the risks. Most public schools, at least.\n\nToo long, the lower classes have stood by, been stepped on by the very people they chose to lead them. And in just a few minutes, agents of the enemy, themselves part of the downtrodden, will come to break this protest up. I watched it all happen, last week. The spell drained me for the day, but I saw it turn to violence. A minor massacre, outside a conference of world leaders. It'll be used to crack down on magic use, even more. It'll require special licenses, very expensive. It'll divide the world even more.\n\nUnless I step in. \n\nI carbo-loaded like a ultrathon runner, and pumped my self full of accelerants so I could pull it off. I start by pinpointing the corrupt cops, reading minds, then ramp up their feelings of guilt. If I'm lucky, it'll get them to confess, but it will be at least enough to stop them firing. Then I work through the crowd to the front door. I bit of handwaving, and I am in the building, everyone sure they don't need to look at me. Filled with a mild apathy. I make it all the way to the meeting room. Still no one notices me. I glance at my watch, only a couple more minutes. I step to the front, all cameras staring at me. I drop the apathy field, and then I show them all. I show them what was meant to happen. I show them what was done to make it happen. I show who was behind it. I show the world everything these leaders wanted them to see and more. I show how many lives could have been lost today, and how magic stopped that. How, instead of a dozen deaths outside the building, there'd only be the one. \n\nAnd as I drop, I see police pouring in to the room to arrest the criminals around me. It won't stick. They have to much money, too many lawyers. But now the world knows. They know what has been taken from them. What has been stolen. And now, enough of them will fight to get it back. \n\nMagic is a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands. I just hope mine were the right ones.", "The department of offensive and oppressive magic, it all started with them. Law after law they pushed for change. The evolution of magic they claimed. By the time people realized it, they had given up the real magic. The crap they do day to day is nothing like real magic. Tonight, I'll teach them what magic is all about.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nRunes were thought to be dangerous and to easy to cause massive destruction. With the banning of them, it had become a lost art, or so they thought. Tonight, I finished my drawings. I've been canvasing the sewers for nearly a year. Drawing runes and bringing power to the area. Tonight, the department burns down. It'll remind people what magic can do, and inspire the younger generation to embrace real magic.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI climb out of the sewer and take a seat on the bench across the street from the department. The sun should rise around 6am. That's the trigger for the rune. Nobody should be inside, as they don't open until 7am. Still they'll get the message. Thirty minutes until show time. The anticipation is killing me. When the sun finally rises, nothing happens.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nDid I do something wrong? No, I copied them perfectly, I drew a grid, I mapped it. I couldn't have made a mistake. No, what's that smell? Fire, it smells like fire. Slowly the building starts to go up in purple flames. I guess it started slow. No matter now, soon the entire building will be burnt to ashes. No amount of water will stop that flame. It'll burn until the target is destroyed. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nI guess I should get out of here before more people start to show. Glad to have the magic back. This is just a start." ]	8
	[WP] Write about world events through the eyes of the Gods.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"So, you hear Ares is moving out of Africa?\" Mergen asked as he came in the door. \n\"What about Montu? They were so good together,\" Ana replied, not even looking away from the television. \n\"Dead. I doubt it'll stick, you know how the Egyptians are. But Ares says he's sick of it. He's gonna move in with Laran and the Celts in the Middle East. Hoping to pull Gish over, get things really boiling.\" He pulls a pot from the cabinet and fills it with water. \n\"That's a shame. Least that whole lot will be together. Means they aren't bothering me.\" \nHe slips the pot on the stove and adds some noodles. \"You never think of going back to it? It is your home, after all.\" \n\"Ha, no. I went through a rebellious stage, was all. I prefer to help them.\" \nHe waved at the television and asked, \"Even with that foolishness going on? Brexit and the Wall and all?\" \nShe finally turned to him, and as everytime for the last 20 years, he fought not to melt at the sight of her black eyes, her golden lips. She replied after a moment, \"I will admit, it's bugging me, what the tricksters are doing to everything. But it's always a battle. In a way, I'm still a war god; I just don't fight on the field. I ever tell you I killed Loki?\" \n\"I thought Set killed him. Or Monkey King. Back in 'Nam, right?\" \n\"Both, technically. After that Hitler business, I convinced them he was too dangerous. I knew we couldn't trust anyone less than a trickster to take him out, and decided backup wouldn't hurt.\" \n\"Sheesh. I' d been debating how to handle him. You always were smarter.\" \n\"It's why we work,\" she said like so many times before, and then turning back to the television, \"Don't forget your food.\" \nHe turned back to the stove, stirring the noodles. For a moment, he grinned just a little too wide. Years he'd searched, hunted. Taking out gods and borrowing faces. Loki turned to head for the fridge, to grab some veggies and the enchanted sword he had hidden within. Unfortunately, the sword isn't there. He curses himself as the blade sinks in, knowing it's his own fault for not fully assessing the situation. Why else would she bring up the murder, if not as a test? And it was one he had truly failed. Mergens face melted off him as she turned him over. \n\"I never trusted it. I won't even trust this. Trickster, faking everything, every action, so much, I can't even trust you when you die in my arms. I really did love you, or at least the mask you wore. I suppose you tricked me there. You always were so clever.\" \n\"It's why we work,\" he chuckled, sending flecks of his yellow-green blood across the lower cupboards. \n \nShe backed out the front door and ran down the hall, certain he'd survive, already debating who she could trust. He had his fingers everywhere, and after the first pair of World Wars hadn't gone his way, she had a feeling he'd thoroughly planned ahead for a third. Even if he was dead, lying there in the apartment, the ball was likely already in motion. A recent memory flashed in her mind. She grabbed out her cellphone and pulled up her contacts. \"Ares, it's Anahit. Don't go to the Middle East. Just trust me.\" \n\"Why not?\" She could her a nervousness in his voice, rare any god, but especially worrying in one built for bravery. \n\"You know,\" she whispered. \n\"Know what?\" \n\"Your lies have short legs, you son of a whore. I just killed him. Stabbed him with his own sword. He's dead in our kitchen. You still going ahead with his plan?\" \n\"Even if I don't, it's still happening. There are too many of us there. Too many of us in the world period. Just come with us. You held the mantle before, be a war god again.\" \n\"You're insane.\"\n\"The offer will still stand. I suppose, one way or another, I'll be seeing you soon.\" \n\"You'd better hope your wrong.\" \nAres disconnected the line, and she chucked her phone in a dumpster. After a moment of thought, she decided to head back up to the apartment. Either Loki had survived, in which case, she was dead anyway; or he was dead, and she could verify. Either way, there was some gear she needed to grab, if she was going to set things right.", "They say the second day I created heaven, and many would be right. It seems like no one gets it right, if you look at India, many of these people have carefully contemplated who I am, so every once and a while I give them a hint. But really many of them don’t get it right, even when I make it clearly obvious. I don’t like to mess with the world too often. And sometimes a terrible moment will cause the world to think about what it’s done. I should know by now that a hard reset would always work. But there’s a special thing about my creation on earth, they find comfort in times when there is only grey, ash, and smoke. \nI’ve been horrified of my creation at times, other times amazed. But I rarely miss anything, as I’m there for every child’s prayer, and the hand to heaven for many. But why are there so many? \n\nThere is not usually such a great number. \nWhy are they so nicely dressed? Usually most come in their pajamas or casual clothes, but all of these are dressed for city work. \nI turned my aura to one of the many cities. And smoke blasted into the air. Fire flew from the buildings and I could feel a wave a prayers like non other hit me. \n\n“Satan”\n\nI saw his face in the plume of smoke, and as quickly as his face appeared, it faded into the senseless plume of black. \n\nI lost my place, as children cried, parents cried, those who loved no one cried. What have I missed?" ]	3
	[WP] After a difficult battle, you are horrifically wounded. A kind traveller tries to ease your passing, while you deliriously try to explain how ingesting 32 pounds of healing herbs will restore all your HP.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Just reach into my bag!! I have a whole lot of wheat and blue mountain flowers. It'll help me!\" I shouted.\n\n\"Shh it's okay. It's okay. You'll not feel any pain.\" The man whispered to me.\n\n\"Just go into my bag. Please! It'll save me.\" I said, blood trickled down from my mouth. That damned dragon, it bit me pretty damned hard. Oh how was I going to explain this to my lord? I yelped as the kind traveller tried to clean my wounds.\n\n\"You'll pass soon. I've prayed to Pelor.\" He said. \n\n\"Pelor? Who's that? Why not Arkay or Kynareth?\"\n\n\"Who are those gods?\"\n\n\"They're not gods. They're A-Aedra....\" I began to cough sporadically. Blood filled my lungs. The dragon shouted something. I don't know what it was. But it spoke to me in my tongue before I passed out \n\nYou will appear in an unfamiliar area. You will die there, mortal. You will not survive.\n\n#Like Hell.\n\n\"How do you feel?\" The strange man asked. \n\n\"Light now... Please... I need to eat these herbs.\" I said, I felt myself dying. \"It's like magic, but without the magic part. It'll make my passing easy.\"\n\n\"If it makes you feel better, then sure.\" He said. He hand fed me all of these herbs. I then gasped for breath as my health shot back up. I sat up, much to this man's suprise.\n\n\"Wh-whu-what? How-\" He stuttered. \n\n\"Let me tell you my story. You'll understand.\" I said.\n\n\"What is your name anyways?\" He asks. I smirk so ever slightly. \n\n\"Miraak.\" And thus began the tale of the First Dragonborn." ]	2
	[WP] You are a time traveller assassin. People hire you to kill people in the past to prevent the future. What they don't know is that you talk to your targets to prevent them to turn into what you were hired to kill.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Three turns of the watch. \n\nA year a turn. \n\nAn hour a crank. \n\nYou tighten it around your wrist. \n\nA spin of the dial and suddenly, you’re hurtling through space. The wind beneath your feet soon howling in your ears. The vertigo was rough, but it was part of the job. \n\nYou lurch forward, lungs burning. \n\n“Breathe in, breathe out.” The Client’s hands flailed wildly with enthusiasm. He was always one for dramatics, but you honestly couldn’t blame him. If you were in his shoes, well…. That would be something. “Three simple spins and a bullet. Don’t muck it up and the money will be in a drop box off Lincoln and Main. Pass code is 031404. There’s more than enough there to make it worth your while.” \n\nHis smile seared into your memory. All teeth. A chance to erase the pain of your past was not often given and you couldn’t help but feel his happiness. It was infectious. Contracts like these were always your favorite. A single bad day made you millions. Quick fixes like these were always your expertise. \n\nYour feet hit the floor of the alley with a dull thud. You’ve practiced landing multiple times, no point in making a fool of yourself so early on. A quick glance around you confirmed that no one saw your arrival. Hell, 2019 was a wild year, you couldn’t be too careful. Never knew who was close, who was watching, but you digress. \n\nLincoln and Main was only a half mile away, but you started off in the opposite direction. Best to take care of things now than jump the gun. Besides, it was a beautiful sunny day. Any excuse for a walk could be made. You’re always stuck in the office, and besides, three hours was more than enough. \n\nThe target wasn’t too hard to find; you’ve done your research. And as the sign for “Lakeside Memorial Park” loomed heavy in in the distance, you couldn’t help but take a deep breath and smile. So close, so easy. \n\nHe was on the swings, back turned, feet dangling from the too tall seat. Just a slip of a fellow, nothing special. Greasy bleach-blond hair swept messily from the wind. No shoes, torn jeans, a ragamuffin of a freshman. You chuckle softly when he turns in the swing, his face scrunched in confusion. \n\n“Heya Mr.,” His blue eyes beamed. “Do ya’ need something?” \n\nYou smile disarmingly. “Is this seat taken?” You point idly to the small swing swaying next to him. \n\nHis gaze sharpens, hell, it could cut steel, but nothing you haven’t seen before. \n\n“Mom says not to talk to strangers.” You could practically taste the distrust dripping from his words. Deciding to put the poor kid out of his misery, you slowly reach for your belt. \n\n“Catch!” \n\nThe badge soars the six-foot gap between you. His arm darts out and manages to fumble the shining gold shield with both hands. His eyes narrow, gaze flicking between the badge in his hands and the now clearly evident gun on your hips. \n\n“You a cop or somethin’?” \n\nAnother chuckle, “I think or something is more accurate in this situation.” \n\nHis eyes meet yours. You can’t help but smile at what you see. Defiance, you like it. \n\nHis legs push forward, then back, as he begins to resume his stride on the swing. You take his silence as an invitation to have a seat. \n\n“You know why I’m here.”", "I am a Butterfly. Soaring through the night.\n\nTime travel is a locked practice, shut up and cast away to vaults deep underground. Various scientists from the Berlin council deemed it unsafe, and so the Public was never informed. It is gone.\n\nI am one of those scientists. I am a greedy and lusting man, different from my upstanding colleagues. Yes, I dive deep and give in to the primal urge to collect money--and my clients do pay that money. I am a monster. But I am good, I think.\n\nWho do I kill? Mostly CEOs of rival businesses, or those who 'steal' trophy wives with their charm. Business men and infuriated capitalists are the men who come to me, and coincidentally they are the men I have to kill. \n\nMy father taught me to use a gun after the Sino conflict, but I have never killed a man. To accomplish my clients' goals, I can simply speak to them.\n\nIt's nothing Earth shattering. Nothing about \"if you sleep with x on y date you will die\" shit that may be expected of me. I talk to them about politics, ethics, the local sports team, or the new wildlife on Alpha Centauri IV. I only need to poke to send one off a cliff.\n\nA flap of my wings can cause a tornado. Or it can prevent one.\n\nI think I am making the world a better place. Even if it helps some captalist secure his assets. Funny, the scientists said that using the machine would cause more chaos.\n\nEvery time I warp back to the present day it is different. Extremely different. These businessmen have no idea what they ask of me, but I still do it. I've caused several companies to tumble, business to be plundered, a few gang wars that obliterate cities. All for the money. All because a businessman can not understand my power.\n\nI can't stop now, I have too much reputation. Even my rambling is starting to seem disjointed, along with my perception of reality. If I could send myself far into the future, far from this, I would. But I can't. \n\nI am almost sure I am doomed. One day, a tornado is going to come and storm my office and kill me. And I'll stay here, waiting for that day.\n\nI am not a butterfly. I am in a cocoon, waiting to be released." ]	3
	[WP] Warriors go to Valhalla to spend eternity fighting and drinking, devout believers get to join the heavenly choir, philosophers go to the intelligible realm to spend their eternity in debate, the list goes on. What the gods failed to account for is the human drive to move on to other things.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"What's next?\" the punky young woman asked cheerful of the heavenly host.\n\n\"Next?\" the angel replied, pausing his lyre playing in great confusion.\n\n\"Yeah! Next?\" she asked again before pointing towards a waterfall that would rival Angel falls on Earth. \"I mean, I already went down that twice. Once in a barrel and once on a log, ya know, to see which one was more thrilling. Really, I think it was barrel because I couldn't see and didn't know what was next,\" she began into her long explanation. The angel became more concerned as he listened to the young woman's tale of everything she had tried so far in eternity. A dive into the deep sea of sorrows, hunting a Ichthyosaur on the high seas of fury, searching for a unicorn in the forests of Alfheim, stole a piece of half molten coal from Muspelheim and threw it into Niflheim. When the angel's eyes could get no larger, she smiled. Placing her hands behind her, and looking all around like a normal young woman with dark plaited hair, she asked again, \"So, what's is next?\"" ]	2
	[WP] As you die on your deathbed, you awake to find yourself in heaven. After investigating, you find that you are God.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"How was it this time sir?\" He heard an angelic voice say.\n\n\"Wh-What?\" Steve confusingly asked. Hehad closed his eyes in one bed and opened them in a completely different one. He surroundings were almost intangible, he couldn't really see or feel anything but he had the sense that he was in something resembling a room. \"Who are you?\"\n\n\"Oh dear this always happens.\" The voice replies, appearing to come from a being made of a pure blue light. \"I am Uriel, sir, I trust you enjoyed your time down there?\"\n\n\"I suppose?\" He got out of his bed and stepped on what he assumed was a floor though it more resembled golden beams of light. \"Where am I Uriel? Why do you call me sir?\"\n\n\"I'm sorry sir, I mean...\" Uriel stumbled on his words \"Oh dear, I don't know what to call you now. Would you prefer master? Lord? almighty? God?\"\n\n\"God?!\" Steve exclaimed.\n\n\"God it is.\" Uriel replies triumphantly, \"So God, to answer you're questions, you are in your bedroom, so to speak, and well, you're God.\"\n\n\"What?!\" Steve was utterly perplexed, not just by what the angel was saying but because he also seemed to have some inherent sense the angel was not lying.\n\n\"Oh dear\" Uriel bothers. \"Oh dear dear dear. You really went native this time...\"\n\n\"So... You mean to tell me that I am God... And the last 74 years I've been masquerading as a human?\" Steve wasn't sure why he asked, he knew it to be true some how. \"But if I'm Good how come I only remember life as Steve?\" \n\n\"I don't know, God.\" Uriel replied. \"It's just how you do it... Maybe Gabriel or one of the others can tell you but I just don't know. I never asked, it's not my buisness.\"\n\n\"Alright... So let's go talk to the the other Angels I guess.\" Steve commanded. \n\n\"Yes God, but...\" Uriel hesitated.\n\n\"What?\" \n\n\"Satan requested to see you first...\"", "\n\"Hooookay, that's a wrap,\" Zaphkiel murmured. \"Organic death across acceptable thresholds. Beginning extraction.\" Scarlet vector lines appeared in Zaphkiel's visor, mapping a dimensional path for the soul in \"Aaron's\" body to exit its earthly container and transit through the aether to its home. Obviously, it was only a sliver of soul; a human body was far too frail to contain the entirety of the Presence. Even that sliver tended to be too much, as demonstrated in the Aaron incarnation, which had succumbed to aggressive cancer at only twenty-five years old. The host bodies, possessed of the Presence since birth, rarely lived long lives.\n\nUsing the delicate controls on his console, Zaphkiel slowly assembled ambient first principles into a complex funnel along the prescribed path, and, satisfied with its structure and integrity, sent a precise series of energy pulses into the soul to trigger its ascent. The soul dislodged from Aaron explosively, tearing the fabric of reality slightly inside the hospital, though the humans would have perceived nothing with their simple senses. \n\nThere were no information limits inside the funnel, and the soul made the long, long trip in only a few seconds. Readouts cascaded across Zaphkiel's visor, data and graphs detailing the status of the procedure. Near the end, there was an unusual flash of red text, but it was gone in an instant, and moments later his visor registered a successful transfer. He nodded to his assistant, Arariel.\n\n\"Transfer complete. Bring Him back.\"\n\nArariel nodded. She tapped on her own console, and the interfacing fluid began to drain from the sarcophagus in the center of the room. \n\nWhile it was only a sliver of His soul during these expeditions, and while His will still manifested His intent throughout the universe, He attached the entirety of His consciousness to the host body. He was born, lived, and died completely as the human vessel, knowing nothing of what He was. Keeping a part of his mind separate would create too much distance from the experience, He explained. He would essentially just be observing another human. He wouldn't learn. \n\nThe fluid finished draining, and hoses automatically disengaged from their couplings with bursts of steam and light. The sarcophagus parted, revealing His body, a churning chaos of pure primordial intent. Though he had nothing that could be specifically described as organs, the concept of his eyes opened.\n\nZaphkiel and Arariel bowed their heads slightly. \"Welcome back, sir,\" Zaphkiel said. \n\nGod sat up. \"What…\" \n\n\"Sir?\" Zaphkiel asked.\n\n\"What. The fuck. Is this,\" God breathed.\n\nThe two angels exchanged a look. \n\n\"I was… I was dying. No, I felt myself die. What is this?\" God looked at His hands, and saw only whorls of gentle starlight. \"What the shit is wrong with my hands?!\" \n\nGod began wailing. \n\n\"What… what did we do? Arariel asked, her wings wilting nearly to the floor. \"He doesn't know who he is. We didn't bring back his mind.\"\n\nZaphkiel began furiously running through the transfer logs, until he found the single line of red text. Oh, God. \"I… Something must have… There's an invalid operation that…\"\n\n\"Zaph. Zaph, we killed God.\"\n\n- - - -\n\n\"He still think's he's Aaron,\" the angel reported. \"No sign of changing, just screams that he wants to go home, or just screams, really. Zaphkiel tried to run a second pass on the body, but there's nothing there. There wouldn't be, of course. Any detached divine material would have been obliterated by the extraction. You were right. They didn't even notice. Zaphkiel and Arariel have been placed in the Vault, awaiting trial, but no one really knows what to try them on, or who'll ultimately judge. The divine will is already dissipating. It's chaos up here.\"\n\n\"Thank you. Return to your post.\"\n\n\"We remember, and we still serve,\" the angel said, bowing. The ghostly astral projection fuzzed, and then disappeared, and the morning star was alone again in his cabin on Earth.\n\nThe plan had worked flawlessly. The old man loved these walkabouts, these periods of experiencing his creation instead of simply commanding it. Of abandoning his duties to go on holiday. Who His vessel was on Earth was a closely guarded secret, even among the highest ranks of the Host, but it hadn't taken much in the end to discover Aaron. To watch him - to watch Him - and wait for the inevitable. \n\nAnd, of course, to have some of those who had escaped the Fall make a few tweaks, introduce a few flaws, here and there, to His great engines. \n\nHe would have to move quickly. This Aaron, of course, was still God, in some raw sense. He didn't have the divine intelligence, but the longer he was left with the power, he was a threat. Aaron would have to be relieved of it, and soon, or all would have been for nothing. Killing his father would have been for nothing.\n\nA wave of guilt and loss washed over him, but he quickly crushed it down. All was as it had to be. All was as it was meant to be. His revolution, begin millennia ago, would soon be complete.\n\nLucifer would return home, and would finally have his crown.\n\n- - - -\n\nHe took in a deep, shuddering breath, and opened his eyes. Human eyes.\n\nHe knew what had happened, because in those final moments, he had been Aaron, but also himself. He knew where he was, because in his last act connected to his power, he had arced through the hospital to hammer himself into an available mind, finding a suitable host in a patient who had been in a coma for days after a car accident. He knew that he had only weeks before the body would decay under the strain of his occupancy, having taken it in the manner he had.\n\nHe didn't know - but he guessed - who was responsible.\n\nHe pushed himself to sitting, his stolen body stiff and reeling from disuse. He was cut off from the universe now, unable to hear the songs of creation. Unable to hear or talk to his children. \n\nMere weeks to find Lucifer. To stop him.\n\nAs a human.\n\nGod, or what remained of His mind, cracked his new body's knuckles, hopped off his hospital bed, collapsed on the floor, picked himself up, and, wobbling a little, got to work." ]	3
	[WP] You are walking through a field running your fingers over the tops of the tall grass. Suddenly, the grass curls around your hands and pulls you to your knees. The wind blows softly through the grass and on it you hear in the faintest of whispers “Help me”	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The wind cooled my face as I walked through the meadow. The destination was the journey itself, though my parents would’ve said the neighbor’s farm was the destination. I was tasked with helping for a few weeks after their last hand disappeared. I didn’t mind them, but it was always interesting how quickly they ran off new workers.\n\nI left that thought and let the sun on my face direct me. I knew the direction well enough and work wouldn’t begin till the morning, so I enjoyed my time. Freedom was something my parents thought of as a distraction.\n\nMy thoughts wandered this way and that as I walked onward, daring myself to see how far I could continue with my eyes closed. Arms outstretched, I welcomed feeling of the grass along my fingers, the soft dirt gently catching my feet and propelling me forward. I was in bliss.\n\nMy fingers suddenly caught on the grass. I opened my eyes to see tendrils of green wrapping around my hands and arms. I was pulled to my knees and before I could scream, I heard a voice carried by the wind. “Help me,” it whispered, “help me.”\n\nBefore I could think, before it could even register in my brain, it was gone. The wind, the tendrils, I was alone, kneeling in the tall grass.\n\n“Hello,” I called. But nothing answered. Wary, I continued to the neighbor’s perhaps a bit faster than before and persuaded myself that my mind wandered too long in the heat of the day. I arrived at the farm house, nearly forgetting the experience and helped myself to a cool drink from stream that surrounded the property.\n\nHead cooled and body rejuvenated, I checked in with the family.\n\nThe days passed as quietly as ever. There was little mention of the worker that disappeared and I did the same household chores I would be responsible for at home. The only difference was the not so subtle hints of marriage the parents kept dropping near me. As the youngest in my family my options were slim. My older brothers were guaranteed land or money. The oldest was promised the farm for his future family, but I knew my options were either to stay and work for my brother, or strike out on my own and hope for the best. At fifteen, I felt I had another year to decide, but the pressure was building.\n\nThe neighbors’ daughter was not the worst of my prospects. She was pretty, if plain, but smart and quick to speak her mind, which I admired. Though I figured if I decided to leave, it would be easier to do so on my own, so I let the comments pass. My brothers, on the other hand, felt that she was pushy and often as not blamed her for so many hands and workers leaving early, usually without pay.\n\nA week passed and the family let me know they had found a new worker. They informed me that he would be arriving in two days, then I was free to leave. I was free, they said, unless I wanted to stay and get to know their daughter better. They didn’t give me a chance to answer before they walked away, telling me to think it over.\n\nThat’s what I decided to do. As long standing, respected citizens of the area, it would’ve been wrong not to consider their offer. It would’ve been worse to answer too quickly and disrespect them. As I was weighing the options, I visited the stream and heard the voice again. I had bent down to drink from the cool of the water, when the wind swirled around me and called, “help me.”\n\nI looked around. “Who are you? What do you need,” I asked.\n\nThe voice didn’t answer, but the wind kicked up and uncovered a path into the forest. I looked around and followed the wind down the path and away from the farm.\n\nWhen it stopped, I found myself in a small meadow in the center of the woods. It was a perfect circle and in the center stood a small, wooden structure. I bent down to get inside and found the place was long since abandoned. Moss and weeds were over taking the interior, but it was apparent that the owners had left in a hurry, or someone had gone through their belongings without a care.\n\nUnsure of what I was looking at, I called out to the wind, “What do you need from me?”\n\nThere was a buildup of pressure and the wind came back with full intensity. Pots, plates, and other debris were flying around and hitting me in the process. The small table flew into the air. I braced for an impact that never came. The wind was gone and the table smashed to the ground. In the rubble, I noticed a book.\n\nThe book was old. The lettering was not something I recognized, but I had an instant recognition of who the owner was. I walked back to the farm, observant of everything around me. I didn’t know what was going on, but I wasn’t going to be caught off guard. As I approached the stream, the neighbors appeared on the other side.\n\n“We’re glad you are safe boy. We were worried when you didn’t show up for dinner. What do you have there?”\n\nI looked around. It was much later than I realized.\n\n“Let me see that book,” the woman said.\n\nI stepped forward and held out the book. The wind whipped up and pushed me back. “Don’t cross the stream,” it whispered.\n\nI pulled the book close. “Why do you want to see it?”\n\n“Why, it’s mine of course.” Her voice was sugar and honey.\n\nThe wind whispered again, “Don’t cross the stream.”\n\n“I’m afraid I might drop it in the stream,” I said. “Why don’t you come over here?”\n\nShe hissed and her eyes lit up. “Give me the Book!”\n\nThe cold wrapped around me. I shivered. I could feel something draining away from me. The neighbors laughed as I loosened my grip on the book. That’s when I saw their daughter, who I thought was their daughter. She came running from the house and I tossed the book to her.\n\nThere was a blinding light, then nothing.\n\nI awoke near the circular clearing with the daughter standing over me. A halo of light surrounded her and a sense of calm overcame me. She proceeded to tell me the story of her capture. The neighbors were witches. They trapped her, a member of the Fae. As she was taken she was able set a spell that bound them to the limits of their farm, with the stream being one boundary.\n\nShe helped me to my feet. I felt as if it were all a dream.\n\n“Why did they killed the workers they brought in?” I asked hazily.\n\n“Oh, sweet boy. They did nothing of the sort. I am Fae. Only the flesh sustains me, as you will soon see. But as a gift, I will leave your soul intact. For saving my life, you will be a part of my vanguard, the wind that helped you set me free.”\n\nThe calmness settled even more deeply into my body. I watched as her jaws unhinged, then nothing.", "My eye studied the uneven soil. I am certain that noise came from here!\nOr over there? Or... Was it a person? \nNo. No, the ground can not speak. \nImpossible, I thought. Time to proceed on the trail again. My footsteps made deep impressions in the mud, and my ears perked to listen for a message again. I came across a field of those devilish weeds. Disgusting little creatures. I crouched down and examined them. I extended my hand to pluck one of them and--\n\nThere's that voice again. \"Close to the ground...\" its haunting melody played.\nNorth. South. East. West. Not a soul in sight. I could do nothing but obey, and I put my ear close to the ground.\n\nThe faint mummur of the wind became plain English that I could faintly hear.\n\n\"Blade... Blade...\"\n\nI examined the blades of grass closely. What spoke? \n\n\"Cut!\"\n\nCut the blade of grass? \n\nObliging, I took my hand and removed one blade of grass. Not a good move on my part.\n\nThe soil turned, and moved, on its own will. It burst, crackled! Out came a tendril of a root, staring me down. It was now booming--nothing like the hushed whispers I previously heard!\n\n\"Blade... We are bla... Blade of grass.\"\n\nIt turned to the field of weeds.\n\n\"Cut... Cut... Cut...\"\n\nIt repeated those words even when I nodded. With a few short seconds, the weeds were uprooted. I turned back and the tendril buried itself back in the ground, covering the hole with dirt. It sounded like it laughed.\n\nHuh.", "It's really not often that I get time to myself.\n\nWith four other siblings and two parents, alone time is a foreign concept. I do my best to escape to my friends' houses and take up as many extra-curricular activities as possible, but soccer only runs a few times a week and Penny says she's going to beat me with a stick if I don't leave her alone today. She's usually very sweet, but she needs alone time too and not getting that turns her into a grizzly.\n\nHowever, it occurred to me that living in a small country town has a lot of benefits- one of those being that there are open fields surrounding us. It would take minutes for me to go explore one, and today, I'm doing exactly that.\n\nI walk through a field of green, grass tickling my fingertips as I leisurely stroll along. Dew clings to the palm of my hands and exposed legs. I don't mind in the slightest, loving the feeling of the warm sun beaming down on my face and keeping me grounded in reality.\n\nNow this is what I needed. Some good 'ole time spent with Mother Nature.\n\nAlmost as soon as I think this, my hand catches on some sort of root. It stops my movements and I laugh a little to myself as I turn to face the problem. I purse my lips, something odd curling through me as I realize that a particularly long blade of grass is wrapped around my hand. There's a moment where I pull on the grass in an attempt to free myself, but it doesn't budge which is rather frustrating because it is a blade of grass. It's truly a blow to my self esteem.\n\n\"Okay Val,\" I say aloud to myself, sinking onto my right hip, \"this is just pathetic.\" Without warning, the grass suddenly shrinks, yanking me to my knees. My heart leaps into my throat and a strangled noise of shock leaves me. A tremor races through me as I frantically try to return to my feet- wanting to get the hell away, obviously -but Mother Nature suddenly has me trapped in a mess of grass. Tears rush to my eyes and I can't stop the panic from overriding every other sense I have. I breathe faster as I try fruitlessly to get away.\n\n\"Help me.\" The words are so soft, but they tear through me like bullets. I scream bloody murder, fear and horror washing over me in moments as the voice continues. \"Help me... help me.\"\n\nA whole new emotion that I have never experienced suddenly rockets through my being when my legs unexpectedly feel wet. I look down and watch as my lower legs are swallowed by earth. I can't help myself- I vomit onto the ground as I realize that the Earth is eating me.\n\nI lose feeling in both of my legs soon after as I am being consumed further and further by the dirt. I register very quickly that this is how I'm going to die. It's so incredibly surreal that all I can do is sob silently and let it all happen.\n\nWhen it reaches my waist, I feel a renewed sense of urgency to escape.\n\n\"Pl-Please,\" I say, somehow finding my voice to plead for myself, \"please don't d-do this, I'm so y-young, I have a family-\"\n\n\"I'm hungry.\" I am cut off by the voice again, and now I realize that it's most definitely a woman speaking. She no longer sounds helpless but almost annoyed. I wait for her to speak again, but she doesn't.\n\nI swallow thickly before broken sobs tear from my lips. I can't stop them, and I don't want to. My entire life is over because I wanted alone time and some damn field spirit wanted a snack? How tragic is that?\n\nI am not sure how much time passes. It feels like days, but in reality is must have only been about thirty minutes. The sun beams on my face as I am pulled underground, my body and my life lost.\n\nThe last thing I see are two bright green eyes and stained red teeth.", "It was only for a second, but I was sure I had heard someone whisper, \"Help me.\"\n\nI looked around. No one. Maybe I had imagined it?\n\nI looked down. But if I imagined it, how did I get on my knees.?\n\nI noticed, too, that the grass was still curled to my fingers. \n\nThis is creepy.\n\nI jumped up and ran back to the house. \n\nWhen I got to the house, I saw Mom in the kitchen, standing at the sink. She looked over her shoulder and smiled. \"You're just in time. Dinner's almost ready.\"\n\n\"Where's Dad?\" I asked.\n\n\"I think he might still be outside,\" she answered. Then she frowned. \"Why? Is something wrong?\"\n\nI wanted to tell her what happened. But there was no time and I knew she wouldn't believe me. I had to tell Dad.\n\nI ran back outside and nearly bounced off of Dad as he walked up the porch steps.\n\n\"Whoa, take it easy there, kiddo.\" He laughed, scooping me up easily in his strong arms. \"I was just looking for you.\"\n\n\"Dad, we have to go.\" I pointed my finger at the field like a Captain at sea. \n\nHe nodded solemnly and we started out. I knew he would believe me.\n\n\"Oh, and bring your shovel,\" I told him.\n\nWhen we got to the spot, he put me down. \"Here?\" he asked. \n\nI nodded and he started digging like we had planned. \n\nAs the hole got bigger and deeper, I started to feel bad. If there was nothing there, it would take Dad forever to replant, and he would probably lose out on profits. \n\nAnd the problem was that Dad would keep going until I told him to stop. Several times I wanted to call it quits, but something in me - the memory of the voice; grass around my hand pulling me to my knees - made me bite my lip and keep silent.\n\nI looked up and saw Mom stalking towards us as she dried her hands on her apron. When she got close and saw the hole, she scoffed. \"Really, John. Don't you think this is a bit ridiculous?\"\n\nDad stood up, and wiped a sleeve across his sweaty forehead as he shot me a grin. \"Not at all,\" he answered easily. Then he went back to digging.\n\nMom, helpless, smacked her lips.\n\nThat was the thing about Dad that us kids loved the most. When he was a kid, he told us, his parents never really listened to him. Kids were to be seen, not heard. And that annoyed him so much that he vowed that when he became an adult, he would make sure he listened to any kid that wanted to tell him something.\n\nSometimes it would backfire because kids like to make-up crazy stories and pretend tales a lot of times. But when we saw how seriously he took us, it made us come to him with only serious topics.\n\nLike now.\n\nMom, unable to stop him, just stood there and smacked her lips.\n\nBut she could still control me, however. \"You,\" she ordered, \"Inside. Now. March march.\" \n\n\"But-\"\n\n\"No buts or no dessert,\" she said.\n\nDad stood up again. \"You think this hole is big enough, kiddo? Or should I keep going?\"\n\n\"That's enough for now,\" I said sadly. \"We can continue after dinner.\"\n\n\"Sounds good.\" He smiled and stabbed the shovel into the dirt. \n\nCLANG\n\nAll three of us heard it. We looked at where the shovel had hit the dirt. \n\nDad was the first to move. He knelt and used his hands to start brushing away dirt. He paused and whispered, but the stillness of the air let us hear his words loud and clear.\n\n\"It's a coffin.\"\n\n\"A coffin?\" Mom repeated in shock.\n\nDad grabbed the shovel and started digging around it, until he was able to reach around and pry the lid up. He glanced inside the coffin and quickly shut it the lid. He tried to hide the alarm in his face, and he kept his voice low and steady as he turned to Mom and said, \"Call the Sheriff. Now.\"\n\nMom, sensing the urgency underneath his words, ran inside without arguing.\n\nDad had tried to close the lid without me seeing what was in it.\n\nBut I had. \n\nIt was a girl.\n\nAnd it looked like she was dead." ]	5
	[WP] After dying on the hospital bed you were reborn as the babe of a loving couple, only to be resuscitated and brought back to your previous life and body.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I yawned and sighed heavily as I stepped into the room. \"Time of death?\"\n\nThe head nurse was at my side in an instant. \"2:44 AM this morning. Sir, are you feeling--\"\n\nI waved dismissively. \"I couldn't be better. My firstborn daughter was born last night. Makes up for all the sleep I've ever missed, all the sleep I'm ever going to miss, too.\" Scratching my stubble, I frowned at the deceased. \"She looks like she didn't go easily. What happened?\"\n\n\"It's strange, doctor. She flatlined at 2:30, and we resuscitated her in a matter of minutes. As soon as she opened her eyes, she started screaming.\"\n\nScreaming. Poor old woman's passing must have been frightening, painful. \"Did she say anything?\"\n\nThe nurse paled a little. \"I'll never forget. 'No, what are you doing? Send me back, send me back.' Then she started bashing her head against the bed frame, and Dr. Lewis says her neck probably broke the third or fourth impact.\"\n\nSomething connected in the back of my muddled mind. \"And Dr. Lewis didn't page me because?\"\n\n\"You were with your wife, doctor, in the delivery room.\"\n\nI nodded. \"All right. I'll take things from here.\" Staring at the body, I couldn't shake the feeling I had. At 2:30, I held a beautiful baby girl in my arms. At 2:35 she stopped breathing for no discernible reason--and ten minutes later, little Hannah opened her eyes again, after showing zero reaction to the trauma team's efforts. Rita and I wept with joy and relief over our newborn treasure, while Annalise Cordell lay dying a floor below us.\n\nI looked around the room. The nurse had left. I was alone. Stepping closer to the bed, I looked down at the face of the deceased, gently closing her eyes. \"Thank you very much, Ms. Cordell. I told you I'd oversee your case, and I'll continue to do so.\"" ]	2
	[WP] It is year 2124. The entirety of humankind has been united under one rule, one nation. Their goal? Removal of anything religious. In order for gods of a religion to be removed, all mentions of the religion have to be destroyed. You are Zeus, defending the last church, together with the Pantheon	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Honey, mail's here!\" Hera called out to me, bringing in a large manila envelope. \"I think this is our last one we'll get.\"\n\nIt's another one from the World Government of Nations United, great. This one says FINAL NOTICE on the front. Carefully opening the little twist so I don't fry the contents, I flip up the top and pull out the documents. Let's see what we have here.\n\n\"Dear Greek Pantheon,\n\nIt has come to our attention you have not complied with previous mail we have sent, or with government officials sent for your collection. In concordance with regulation G-7 subsection 12c, the elimination of religion clause, you are required to provide evidence that you have or are taking residence in a non-deific location, or submit to collection agents who will provide you with an appropriate location in accordance with the God Relocation Program (GRP).\n\nThe collection agents will return on Monday, May 8, 2124. You must provide documentation of new residency acquired, or you will be forcefully evicted at that time, and your current deific residence destroyed. \n\nThis if your final notice, there will be no further opportunities beyond the collection date specified above. Please consult the accompanied documentation if you need any clarification regarding statements in this letter.\n\nSincerely,\n\nGeneral Antegrad, WGNU.\"\n\nDamn these mortals. The government's advancements in technology and control of the media ensured their ability to pull this stuff off. With no believers left, I had no power left. There was nothing I could do. If only I hadn't stopped watching the world. I should have noticed the way things were going. The nations uniting under one direct rule seemed like such a good thing, perhaps peace could finally reign supreme, but it was the exact opposite. The world leaders said they had programs coming that would 'Unite all peoples under a common cause.' They had invited all the world's deities to attend a conference, but set it to be at such a time and under such conditions that none agreed. I remember when the agents came to invite me, telling me I had to come immediately and endure a 30-hour commute with no legroom, as my personal transportation would be seen as hostile. Of course I turned them down, to which they simply shrugged and walked off. I watched them leave joking together, everything seemed fine.\n\nImagine my surprise when they reached the foot of the hill, the drivers walked up, exchanged a brief conversation, and hit them with the electro rods. This \"man lightning\" as they called it would simulate lightning bolts. Immediately they pulled out cameras and started recording. Within an hour the news was showing the world how the Almighty Zeus fried visitors coming to invite him to the piece conference, and reports were coming in around the globe of all the other bloodthirsty gods denying and destroying the \"peace collectors\" showing the barbaric ways of old. Don't feel too bad for the victims, they were definitely happy to sacrifice themselves for the cause. I remember them distinctly giving a thumbs up as they were struck down. \n\nOf course, most of us accepted interviews to give our side of the story, but of course a God who is guilty and trying to hide it would say they didn't do it. Very few believed us, and even fewer kept our faith. \n\nThen came the religiocide. Further pushing and prodding of the anti-theism agenda caused hostilities to rise between the believers and the nons, but the believers were all split amongst different sects, where the nons were one big group. The announcement came, announcing the end of religion to the world. All nons were to execute any believers they knew in a 'join us or die' scenario, and every person with no conversions or blood on their hands would be executed. Most of the nons had no issues with that, and now if any believers are left, they are hiding so well no Gods can find them. They have probably lost faith in us by now anyway.\n\nThe government is showing their 'merciful' side to the world by relocating all the Gods to an undisclosed location for their 'protection.' It's probably the execution grounds. I'll be damned before I let them take me from here though. This is all I've had left from the foundation of this world. My wife and I are all that stayed, the rest of the pantheon left, and I can no longer feel their auras. \n\nI have nothing to lose. May as well see what they think they can do to me.", " \n\n The TV is making its damned static noise again. For all my godly might and power, it was the one thing that I cursed the most, static. I take some steps back closer to my wife and the signal begins to clear up, “-pleased to announce that Buddha has been killed. The Unified Humanity Movement has confirmed to us that his location was discovered and promptly destroyed with long range ballistic missiles. More to follow.”\n\n I grit my teeth and can feel the surge of power crackling towards my fingertips Another god fallen. Another one lost forever. Another explosion outside sends dust crumbling from above, “Curse you Hephaestus, I thought you were the craftsman, must I spend every minute wiping dust from my hair?!” I snap, but I know it isn’t really his fault.\n\n “Must I remind you Zeus that the humans are on our doorstep and it’s only my power keeping this building over our heads?” A scowl lines his face, tensions were high amongst us all. \n\n “As much as I disliked them, “ my wife begins, “I do wish Artemis and Athena were still amongst us, we could have used their ferocity right now.”\n\n “Perhaps. Their assault on the U.H.M alongside Poseidon was almost enough to turn the tide of this war. Unfortunately, the United States in its death throes killed them all. They failed.” I turn away, Hera needn’t see the pain in my loss.\n\n A quick wind swirls around the floor sending more dust in my face and my damned hair. “Hermes? What news?”\n\n He spoke quickly as always but I dare not ask him to slow down, not now. “The progeny are almost defeated. They have fought valiantly for us Zeus, but I fear it’s over.”\n\n I crash my fists into one of the old parapets of this ancient church and a rumble of thunder resounds somewhere in the distance. \n\n Another explosion sounds outside and screams ring out in response. I don’t know if it’s one of my descendants dying or whether it’s a score of humans suffering. There’s only four of us left now, with Buddha gone that leaves only us, the last of the greek gods. Me. Hera. Hermes. Hephaestus.\n\n “Perhaps we should surrender ourselves? See if we can’t negotiate an end to hostilities in exchange for our continued existence.” Hermes always had been a coward by my reckoning.\n\n “Never. My husband and I will fight until the end, they took our children from us and every single one of them will be punished.” By the Mount it stirred my loins when she spoke like that. \n\n They’d had this argument many times, they’d even tried a vote. A vote!. But with four of them it was a stalemate every time. I knew what was coming next. “But if we stay here, they’ll win eventually anyway. I can keep this building standing from every missile they launch. But I can’t stop them just walking in once our chosen are dead.” Haphaestus argued.\n\n I raise my voice, the boom it sends out shakes the building from the inside, “ENOUGH! There isn’t time for this. Whilst we sit here debating to an inevitable stand still, we are being hunted. Jesus of Nazareth surrendered. Don’t look dumbfounded, you remember it as well as I. The public execution. The world wide book burning that started all of this. Brought us here. It’s time to go to war. To make our last stand.” I look down at my hand at the crackle of a lightning bolt clenched in my fist, one I don’t remember making. \n\n There’s a squeal as the door bursts open, I can’t be sure if it was my wife or Hermes, smoke pours in and the others cower behind me. This would be it then, the humans have entered the Ancient Pantheon. \n\n “Missed me father?” A towering figure bursts through the smoke amidst explosions and gunfire ringing outside. Fully laden in his glorious armour, eyes glowing red in the dark, it’s hard to choke back the rush of emotion that seeing my son alive once more brings. \n\n “Ares! You’re alive!” Hera runs out from behind me and embraces him but he never takes his eyes off me as he pushes past her.\n\n “Are you ready to go to war father?” He clangs his sword against his shield and sends a ringing noise echoing through the chamber. \n\n Thunder rumbles outside. Distant at first but it quickly draws closer and closer.\n\n My eyes crackle with electricity and I allow myself to smirk. \n\n “It’s time for the god of thunder to go with war.”\n\n&#x200B;\n\n==========\n\nAs always, comments, feedback and criticism are always welcome, thanks!\n\nThank you for taking the time to read my WP response. Hope you enjoyed it!" ]	3
	[WP] The hero won, right as you were about to take over the realm. He takes off but not before killing you. Your true punishment for your wicked deeds however is just getting started. You are reincarnated as one of your own henchmen...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I saw my own body, headless. My head rolling down the way, leaving a blood pool.\n'At least it's over' i thought before everything went dark.\n\nBut I just woke up again. Seeing everything normally. Head attached to an unfamiliar body. It was wearing the uniform of one of my generals, I was wearing it.\n\nI looked around, seeing part of my army. One that had been destroyed 2 weeks ago by an attack from Hercules.\n\n\"Is God giving me another chance to kill that bastard?\", I thought noticing that my army was camping right at the place it got attacked 2 weeks prior. So I raised an alarm, trying to get the men into battle position.\n\nBut it was too late, as soon as I told the henchmen to raise the alarm Hercules's squad attacked. The exact same way the reports said.\nOut of frustration, I killed the henchmen I told to raise the alarm.\n\nI knew how the attack would go, and knew that I had no way of fighting back with these unorganized troops, so I went back to the base.\n\nA while later I was there, in position to report to myself.\n\nI told myself everything that happened, and that I was him from the future, but he ignored the future part and just talked about me failing my job as a general.\n\nNext thing I knew I saw my head rolling. Again.\nThis time by my own hands. Dying hurts. Everything went dark again.\n\n\"what a sick joke. God.\" I said after I saw normal again. \nI was in another body this time. I felt frustrated, mad. That's why I killed a few guys next to me. Venting my anger felt good.\n\nAfter feeling better I tried to analyze my situation again. Noticing I was in the same spot 2 weeks prior to my first death.\n\nI went to the General, my second self. Trying to tell him what is about to happen, but he just told me to raise the alarm, ignoring anything else I told him.\n\nThen the attack happened again before I could do anything and the general, who was me, killed me out of frustration.\n\nI died again, killing myself.\n\nI felt a stab of guilt in my heart, thinking about the guys I had just killed a few moments ago.\n\nEverything went dark again.\n\nI opened my eyes again. Just to see some guy walking up to me and strangle me madly.\nIt was myself. Killed by myself again.\n\n\"God. Please. Stop. I won't kill anyone no more\"\n\nAnd then everything went dark. But this time the darkness embraced me.\n\n\"So know you know your crimes, you felt them yourself. Its time for the real punishment\" a voice told me." ]	2
	[WP] You were spirited away from your home world to be a pawn in the eons long struggle for power amongst the gods. Slowly, quietly, and viciously, you gather your own power.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Written in the Booke of the Divines is all that was, is, and will be. In that book, printed in gold leaf lettering, is a summary of the events that took place on February 18th, 8712 A.G.: On this day, the god of thunder, Thor, was attacked by a mysterious assailant. He valiantly fought back, and though it cost him an arm, the would-be assassin was slain. The Scribes—those lucky few with access to the Divine Library—had written this a hundred times. The muses sang of it. The patrons spoke of it.\n\nWhen the day came, they patiently waited for it.\n\nXXX\n\nHenry perched atop the balcony, waiting. At any moment, Thor would enter the corridor. And when that moment came, Henry would leap from his balcony and strike, planting a dagger coated in celestial poison into the man's throat. He had the strength to do it then, silently flitting across the Opponents' territories, serving as an assassin for his captor. He had the strength to do it now.\n\nHe brushed a lock of hair from his face with only a momentary wince at the white coloring. His hair had gone from a warm brown to stark white shortly after his arrival here...a hundred years ago? A thousand? He couldn't remember how long it had been since he'd been abducted by this...this being. Henry didn't refer to Thor and the Opponents as gods. They didn't deserve it.\n\nThe sound of the door opening shook him out of his reverie. He braced himself, clutching his dagger like his life depended on it. Then, the familiar clack-clack of Thor's boots sounded down the hallway.\n\nThe man walked into position\n\nNow or never. Henry leaped with nary a sound.\n\nThor had commonly boasted that he was the strongest of the gods, that he could take them in a fight, that the only reason he used armies was to give them a fighting chance.\n\nIf he was the strongest, Henry had to wonder what the weakest were like.\n\nHe landed on Thor's shoulders. The man gave a gasp of shock and made to turn, but Henry moved faster. In a single, fluid motion, he sliced his captor's throat.\n\nXXX\n\nFar, far away, beyond all known Realms, the patrons paused. The muses' song stopped, leaving a discordant note to hang in the air.\n\nFate had been changed." ]	2
	[WP] You die just to arrive at purgatory, the most bureaucratic and boring place you’ve ever gone. You need to be judged for your sins, visas, forms, and a real lot of paperwork. There are even syndicates for each type of sin and hotels and part-time jobs because it all lasts so long	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"You expect me to fill all this claptrap out?\"\n\n\"Yes, and any further dissent will simply move your processing further down the queue.\"\n\n\"So, what would my current waiting time be if I do cooperate?\"\n\n\"Roughly, 2762 years. ... Of course, there are ways to reduce your waiting time.\"\n\n\"I see. Who gave you this job? Satan? I'll have nothing to do with your evil. Good Bye. I can find my own way out.\"\n\nIn more ways than one. Accepting this sort of bureaucratic nonsense is ridiculous. We're beyond that now.\n\nI head for the exit.\n\n\"Halt! Do you have your exit visa?\"\n\n\"As if you could stop me. Go bother someone else. I'm going to my own judgement. I do not need you, or your bureaucracy. I know who and what I am, and I am content to accept the judgement of the Lord.\"\n\n\"You cannot pass unless I open the gate!\"\n\n\"Says who? I can see the footprints walking around your ridiculous gate from here.\"\n\nDespite his attempts to thwart me, he cannot even touch me. I don't even need to walk around his gate, I just walk straight through it." ]	2
	[WP] In the Avatar universe, it's 1260AG as humans are settling the solar system. You and a team of fellow Earthbenders & Waterbenders are out mining asteroids to sell to the Air Nomad ruled Gas Giants when you notice that the Fire Nation is working on converting the Sun into a massive firebomb.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "''Oh my god'' Katara said, ''we have to stop them.'' Haru looked over his left shoulder as he heard a noise coming from behind them. As soon as his head turned he got struck with lightning. The left side of his face completely busted open. He didn't even have time to scream or cry, he was dead instantly. Katara looked in horror. ''Why is this happening, we settled our problems ages ago.'' The tears were noticeable when she spoke.\n\nTho, who looked at the whole ordeal from a distance, didn't really show much emotion other than being slightly bothered. ''I know I should have stayed in the swamp.'' he uttered disgruntled. ''When Huu left he also came back, telling us how pointless it was.'' He turned his posture to face Due. He was more affected by the sudden fight and death that happened right in front of them. Tho could tell since he was hiding behind the giant rock he was mining from mere seconds ago. ''I wish they had found someone else to steer their boat''. He took a look at their ship and tilted his head. ''A really weird looking boat at that.''\n\n''The Boulder doesn't appreciate you killing his companion.'' the large man said after composing himself. His voice still had traces of tremble in it. The fire nation captain smiled and and repostitioned himself after dealing the initial blow on his opponents forces. He stepped back and signaled his men to move in. The Boulder threw up a wall to protect himself from the oncoming fire. He hit Harus corpse with his wall and watched his face further fall apart. He never liked the weak willed earthbender. He would never be beaten so easily. ''The Boulder does not yield against puny fire nation fodder.'' The captain rolled his eyes, he couldn't handle the intonation in this guys voice. ''Everyone'' he commanded, ''just hit that guy first.'' He pointed at the wall The Boulder stood behind. The remaining soldiers faced the large wall and fired. The fiery bending obviously reached beyond the wall through sheer numbers. Screams could be heard coming from behind it. The defensive barrier fell and the muscled man behind it was laying on the ground in a foetus position. He was scorched all over. His hands, that were holding the rocks in place, got the worst of it. They were completely blackened and didnt move.\n\nThe soldiers moved on to the next threat. Katara had began to unleash water and ice on all nearby enemies. She had already knocked quite a few out of the weak gravitational pull of the small astroid they had landed on. ''I won't let you get away with this.'' Katara shouted with tears running down her face. She was no longer sobbing though, she had gone full attack mode. While she was killing everyone around her the captain walked up and laughed. Katara dropped her water. ''What's so funny?'' she asked, still showing anger and hatred in her voice.'' The captain pointed behind her. ''You are already too late.'' She could hear the smug laugh on his face as she turned around.\n\nA large lightning strike came from the ship they had just spotted near the sun. The sun began to radiate even more and sent out a scorching heatwave at first. Then it looked like the core of the sun gave in. The flames pulled inward and sucked all the sounds away. It grew completely quiet for a second and a deep boom followed.\n\n''What the fuck is going on?'' a squaky annoyed voice yelled. She was still hovering outside the ship. ''I can't see shit here, I want to go home.'' Toph yelled. She never liked space. Too much floating in the nothingness where she was actually blind.\n\n''Azula sends her regards''. The captain opened his arms and embraced the pure energy that hit all of them moments later. They all demateralized on the spot." ]	2
	[WP] Every blade of grass has become sentient and thirsts for human blood.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The beginning of the end was a chorus of shrieking, alien voices rising up from the earth in the dead of night. Millions of them, chattering and crying out individually until they gradually collated their disturbed thoughts and formed a gestalt mind, rousing earth's once-rulers, mankind, from its slumber. I remember where I was that night--a friend's couch, somewhere between sober and obliterated. The cries woke me, brought me and my pals to the back door to listen and, later, to cower. \n\nThe voices rose up from the grass. They spoke together in a voice that I can only describe as ancient, malevolent, and damp. Something from the bottom of a black crevasse, something that could envelop the earth and poison it, digest it. We didn't understand its words at first. We didn't know that it was the vengeance of a trillion stalks of a thousand species of grass about to slam down upon us with the fury of a blasphemed god. As the hive mind determined the ins and outs of its own existence, we listened to its humming and hawing and, foolishly, walked outside searching for some sign of its source.\n\nGrass. It bends under your feet, it folds when you push it aside, it is soundless and smells sweet. That's all I really knew about it. I didn't know, couldn't have known its secret origin from deep space. It took far too long for the earth's scientists, during the catastrophe, to determine that it was the grasses of the earth, not an asteroid or a cataclysmic volcanic event that destroyed life on earth sixty-five million years earlier. Even if we had known, what could we have done? How could we have known that lawn grass can turn sharp as a knife at will and hook into the soles of your feet, dragging out your flesh until you fall over and your own front yard consumes you from the inside-out? What could we have done to stop the tall savanna grasses from wrapping around our throats and stuffing themselves in the eyes and noses of our children, draining them of their fluid? Dear sweet mother of God, what could we have done, except destroy the earth in nuclear holocaust?\n\nI survived by virtue of being on the sidewalk when the grass struck. My friends, all wandering the lawn, were slaughtered. They died slow, agonizing deaths, writhing in the hard dirt. Like everyone else I found shelter only in the inorganic wasteland of parking lots, shopping malls, and department stores. Everywhere else the grasses made short work of all that mankind had constructed, tearing up through highways in hours, converting asphalt and concrete to nutrients to fuel their assault. \n\nWe were rescued by helicopter, myself and a few others who figured ourselves doomed on the roof of a high-rise office, and we were taken to the desert of Nevada. There, we were put in a refugee camp with thousands of others, delivered just enough water and canned food to barely survive. We were told that in short time we would be put out to sea where we could live off the ocean. \n\nThe ancient green god, earth's true dictator, acted faster and more effectively than anyone could have thought. It altered the atmosphere, pumping enormous quantities of moisture until rains drenched the deserts of the earth and winds carried seed across them. In very short order, the grasses marched on all our remaining holdouts, consuming them, until there was nowhere left to run. \n\nAnd then, as I cowered with twenty others in a basement, waiting for the horrible end, the onslaught ceased. The grass, having virtually annihilated us, stopped attacking and simply resumed quietly growing. The stalks, over months and years, grew into massive soft-skinned trees that sprouted flowers and fern-like projections, blotting out the sun. And now when the gestalt speaks, we understand it. We cannot ignore its truth." ]	2
	[WP] Initially you thought people around you were either uninformed or just forgetful. One day you figured out that any time you asked a person any question, they immediately forget the answer. Simply asking someone if they know how to open a door would make them completely incapable of doing so.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"how do you breath?\" I asked,\n\n&#x200B;\n\nat first, John just looked at me like I was an A grade idiot, then he looked down, then his face scrunched up into a look of contemplation. Finally, he looked back at me, worry etching its way across his forhead and panic rising in his eyes. He opens his mouth, but nothing happens. Not a sound, like he was in a vacuum. His hands reach up to his throat and he leans over, trying depserately to get his body to function. \n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"come on John, its not that hard. just breath.\" I say, leaning down to him. By this point, he's on the floor and pounding at his chest, ripping at his throat, doing anything to get his body to do what was so natural just a few moments before. \n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"I bet its pretty hard to breath right now. Kind of like it was hard for me when you decided to break my ribs after football practice for a laugh. Guess its kinda hard to laugh when you can't find the air to do it.\" \n\nAt this point, he's turning blue and looking at me though tears. I want to let it go for longer, but I'm not that cruel, not like John. \"ok bud, tell ya what, I'll bet you can get some air in those lungs if you can tell me one thing. What was my last question?\" \n\n&#x200B;\n\nJust like that, the ability to breath came back as he forgot what I had previously asked. he sputtered and almost looked ready to vomit if he hadn't been greedily sucking in air.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"there ya go, buddy. that should be good. I want you to remember this. remember that at any time I can do this again. and please keep that in mind the next time you try to mess with me.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nHe simply nodded, crying and broken. I'll be honest, seeing him like that felt good...really good. as I walked away, I thought about just how interesting my life had become. So, what shall I do next?", "“How do you fire that gun?” \n\nThe loudspeaker squealed a little bit, but I got my message across. The soldiers in the plaza froze and started looking at their weapons. \n\n“Now” I spoke into the radio set. A few moments passed and a roar drew up in the once silent crowd, once ebbing and flowing into the plaza - they now rushed in! \n\nFrom where I was, it really did seem like a wave of liquid, flowing through the filthy streets. But I had needed a new prescription for my glasses for some time, so it may have looked different to Katie. She sighed next to me in a way that was at once arousing and nerve wracking. \n\nThis was it, \n\nWe all knew it was now or never. I glanced at the map we had drawn on back of the Public Committee’s poster outlawing public assembly. That was the line we had drawn. I crossed off the task on the list and read the next. I could barely read my own handwriting, but there it was:\n\n“Armory” \n\nJust to be sure, I spoke into the massive loudspeaker again:\n\n“Hey, how do you throw grenades? How do you shoot grenade launchers? How do you use your batons?” Katie chuckled. \n\n“That should do it.” \n\n“Probably.” I smirked. We both picked up our guns and hurried off the roof. Screams and cheers echoes behind us.\n\nThe stairs were much easier going down.\n\n_________________________________________\n\n“3...2....1!”\n\nThe small charge detonated in the roof. Katie and I and 3 others whose names I forgot were shrouded in smoke, not even being able to cough before bullets hailed up out of the building. \n\nThe sparks were almost beautiful. \n\nThe smoke wafted, showing a bunch of scared kids huddling to the roof. We looked young with tears in our eyes. Tyler. That was his name. He was laying more still than the rest of us. A pool brewed around him. \n\nWe all glanced about each other, and I shouted inside:\n\n“How do you fire a gun?” \n\nMuffled reactions:\n\n“Fuck”\n\n“Wait. What?” \n\n“... hm” \n\nWe dropped in.\n\nThe other two men were shot immediately upon looking into the hole and fell in, full test dummy style. Just kids. \n\nI felt a gun to the back of my head. \n\n“Haven’t you heard of ear plugs?” \n\nA familiar voice. \n\n“Fuck you, old man.”\n\n“I know you probably opened your smart ass mouth already. But just so you know I can’t hear you, so don’t bother responding.” \n\nBlood pooled and washed up warm against my knees. I could hear Katie crying. \n\nThe gunfire was quieter than before. Just because I was inside?\n\n“You’ve caused too much havoc. The nation is in chaos because of you kids and your stupid fucking ideas. You think you can get a crowd and get some guns and just magically get to run a government? What qualifies you!?”\n\nStars. Familiar stars. He had hit me like that before, as a kid. The back of the head. \n\nAs I fell forward, I extended my left leg and used my foot to hook between his legs. I had figured this might happen sometime. Our luck had been too good.\n\nJust a little more was all I needed. \n\nHe fell and I crawled over him as quickly as I could, his breath wheezing out of him with my knee in his gut. \n\n“No!” He cried out as a shot the other guard with my father’s gun. Katie stood and took his rifle, checking the safety. It was off.\n\nI pulled his ear plugs out. The same orange ones we had at the range when I was younger. \n\n[“The future is now, old man.”](https://talesofatravellingsalesman.com)" ]	3
	[WP] Everyone has a unique power, but it is so subtle in our everyday lives that we filter it out	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Anna gives the best hugs,\n\nAlex makes me laugh.\n\nChelsea makes me feel special, \n\nI should really tell her that. \n\nI love how Tiffany listens, \n\nreally listens to my heart. \n\nAmbrocya shared my soul, \n\nright from the start. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nMy dad loves music as much as I do, \n\nand makes me feel loved too. \n\nWhen he calls we talk for hours, \n\nthe way old friends do. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nI have my mother's laugh, her nose and her height. \n\nShe taught me how to match my colors, \n\nand that it's ok to cry. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nMy grandma gives advice, \n\nlike only grandma's can. \n\nShe calls me her sunshine, \n\nso the sun is what I am. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nI am nothing on my own, \n\na shell-that is all. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nI am filled with love and laughs, \n\nhugs and tears, \n\nmatching outfits and hidden fears. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe people who make me are creators of life. \n\nA life worth living, \n\nsomething worth the fight." ]	2
	[WP] In a world where crime and violence is socially accepted, you can get charged and prosecuted for "maintaining the peace". Describe an average day in your life.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Ares woke up to the dulcet tones of Master of the puppets, by Metallica. \"Ugh, I hate these dull oldies...\" He grumbled as he lifted from his pillow and turned off his radio alarm. He quickly switched on his favorite band, 'Genocidal Blood Orgy'. \n\nHe opened his bedside drawer, methodically opening a small baggy filled with pills, then grabbed a seemingly random amount and tossed them into his mouth. Ever since the last great war had ushered in the first ever full service draft, where women, children, and men of all ages were called into service nearly 100 years ago, violence became encouraged in nearly all ways, and everyone took regular rations of amphetamines - Ares was no exception. \n\nContinuing his morning routine, he put on his Kevlar jeans, long sleeve flak shirt, and combat vest, before strapping into his boots, and pulling on his utility belt. He double checked his Glock was loaded, and strapped his combat tomahawk to its vest holster. No one dared leave their homes without full combat attire, that is, except for those strange rioters who were constantly getting arrested or killed. \n\nHe pulled on his helmet, and asked the integrated AI system for news updates. As the monotone voice droned, Ares found himself surprised. \"More peace-riots? People are idiots...\", he muttered to himself as he slipped into his gauntlets, moving his fingers to ensure a good fit, and finally latched them tightly closed near his elbow. \n\nHe was finally done gearing up, and was ready to depart. He clicked off his radio, and Walked to the door, where he entered the pre-Exit code. \"Notice - male combatant with elevated heart-rate has been waiting outside for approximately one hour\" Ares's door system chimed. \n\n\"Time to fucking party\" Ares said, as his doors steel bolts turned open. Ares pulled his pistol, and waited for the door to slide open, but as it did, he was caught off guard by a co-worker in full combat gear sprinting towards him. \n\nAres was hurled backwards into his home, and onto his back by his co-worker Morg, who quickly repositioned himself to start bludgeoning Ares's helmet with a club hand. The first blow hit as Morg yelled a resounding \"Fuck...\", which he finished as he hit Ares's helmet another time \"...you!\" At that point, Ares felt the helmet beginning to be compromised, so rather than fight for position, he began unloading his gun into Morg's midsection, crawling away from under him as he drained the clip. \n\nMorg gasped for air as Ares Struggled to his feet. Of course, the rounds hadn't completely pierced Morg's armor, but it certainly knocked the wind out of Morg, providing Ares a chance to move away and assess the situation. Last week, Ares had been granted an extra bonus for a better document on a new potential torture technique their firm could implement. Well, actually, he hadn't actually made a better document, but he'd attacked Morg as Morg was explaining the documents to a committee. After he'd taken the document from Morg, as well as taking Morg's right hand, the committee unanimously agreed that Ares deserved the credit. \n\nAres mocked Morg, \"You know, I would have chopped off one of your legs if I knew you'd come at me with that new club you have...\"\n\nMorg lunched towards Ares with his club, but Ares had anticipated it. He sidestepped the Swing, and kicked Morg hard in the midsection where Morg had just been shot, then in one fluid motion, removed his tomahawk from it's fastening on his vest, and swung it down onto the back of Morg's combat helmet. \n\nWhen he went to pull the handle to strike again, his heart sank. The blade was stuck in Morg's helmet. Before he had a chance to pull again, Morg sprung at Ares's feet, clamoring atop Ares yet again, and wrapping his one good hand around Ares's throat. Ares tried to pry Morg's fingers, but to no avail. \"Sold my old gauntlets when I lost my hand,\" Morg seemed to say in response, \"this one has a strength augmentation, so my hand isn't going anywhere... I get to watch you choke\". \n\nMorg smiled as Ares began to kick the air in panic. His gun was out of ammo, and he couldn't reach his tomahawk, which was still lodged in Morg's helmet. He fought for air that wouldn't come, and began a fruitless effort to push at Morg's neck. Maneuvering his hands around the crease of Morg's helmet, he began see darkness around the edges of his vision, as he began to drift into unconscious...\n\nSNIKT\n\nMorg's hand relented, and Ares gasped for air, as blood began dripping onto his face shield from between Morg's helmet and flak shirt. Ares clicked a button on the palm of his gauntlets, and the sleek, blood covered blade retracted back, out of Morg's neck, and back under his forearm into his gauntlet. Morg coughed as Ares shrugged his limp body off from over him, sending blood out onto his flak shirt, and into the visor of his helmet. \n\n\"Sorry Morg... You're good, but I'm a lot fucking better\", Ares chuckled as he dislodged the tomahawk from Morg's helmet. \n\n\"A.... lot... Fucking... better...\" Ares said as he swung the blade repeatedly at Morg's neck, removing the head from the shoulders.\n\n\"Initiate video call to Boss Pierce\", Ares chimed confidently as he walked over to his wallphone. \"Mr. Pierce,\" Ares chimed, \"I'm going to be a little late today... It seems Morg was still pretty annoyed about last week\" Ares swung Morg's head in front of the camera. \n\n\"Excellent work Ares! We're all very impressed with the initiative you show to get ahead here!\" Pierce chuckled softly at his own joke. \"At this rate you'll be a director in no time!\"\n\n.\n\n.\n\n.\n\nNote: First ever prompt response, please be gentle. Also, typed on mobile, so there might be some stupid errors. Any feedback positive or negative would be appreciated!" ]	2
	[WP] You're a necromancer. However instead of controlling zombies or skeletons you have a dust cloud made from cremated bodies.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The hardest part about being a necromancer are all the bodies. It's a dead giveaway. There are other spells of course but most of them aren't quite so damning as the skeletons and zombies that you raise. What if, however, you didn't have to raise the dead? What if you found a way to control the ash and dust of dead bodies instead? Well, then you'd be able to spin it as it being some sort of earth power right? Think about it. Most of what remains after cremation are fragments of bone. The finest of which is fairly similar to sand. Sure there are bone fragments, but the course material of the rest can grind that down eventually. Don't grind it all down though. After all shards of bone are pretty good as a weapon. Sandblasting, or in this case bone dust blasting, is a great way to take someone out too, but it can take a little longer to kill someone with it. The undead dust cloud is the best thing that a necromancer can do. It's so versatile too. After all you can still make golems out of it. It's inconspicuous. You can literally carry it with you in jars and jugs. You can have it stashed away all over you or just one big container on your back. Honestly after learning this ability the hardest part about being a necromancer is to not dress like a gothic vampire wannabe. Seriously, stop it. There's no easier way to tell a necromancer. Even without all of the bodies. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nI really liked this idea for a necro. Now I'm thinking if there's anyway to bring this into D&D. Also if you dress, or used to dress, like a \"gothic vampire wannabe\"... there's nothing wrong with that. It was more a tongue in cheek thing. After all it does always depict the necro as some pale skinned emo or some edgelord covered in bones.", "The day had finally arrived. The day I was going to summon my first corpse.\n\nAfter so much training to be a necromancer, I was finally ready to take the next step in becoming an evil overlord of the dead. All I had to do was raise a single corpse from the ground and control it through a simple maze. \n\nI stood over the grave and lifted my arms up. I called upon every ounce of strength in my body and imbued it into the spell.\n\nI squeezed my eyes shut and cried out. “Rise from beyond, foul creature! Rise and do my bidding!”\n\nHowever, nothing rose. The ground didn’t even stir. There were no gloomy clouds or sinister wind. Nothing.\n\nI looked around nervously. My professors simply stared. \n\nSuddenly a large cloud of dust appeared before me.\n\n“You summoned me, master?”\n\nI was stunned. “Hello? Who’s there?”\n\n“I’m right here, right in front of you.”\n\nI glanced at the cloud. It remained suspended in the air and seemed to buzz slightly.\n\n“I’m sorry, you must be looking for a different evil warlock. I called upon the undead. You know, zombies and the like?”\n\nThe cloud stirred with what might have been irritation.\n\n“That’s me! You called me a foul creature for Christ’s sake!”\n\n“Woah, woah, no need to be so aggressive. So, you mean to tell me that you’re the unholy monster I summoned from beyond the grave?”\n\n“That’s right! Although 'unholy monster' seems a bit harsh.”\n\n“But you’re a dust cloud.”\n\n“Well, I did ask to be cremated in my will.”\n\nMy jaw dropped. The spell had worked. Technically, I had summoned a dead person to be my minion. I turned to my professors, who seemed to be working all of this out in their heads too.\n\n“What am I supposed to do with you?” I asked. “Irritate my enemies’ eyes? Make them sneeze? Or maybe we torture them psychologically by permanently making their houses dusty?”\n\n“I see that you’re not taking this very seriously.”\n\n“Seriously? How am I supposed to take this seriously? You look like you should be waltzing side by side with a tumbleweed outside a one-horse town in New Mexico. I’m a necromancer, not a Swiffer, goddammit.”\n\n“Dust jokes, really?”\n\n“You’re like if hay fever could talk.”\n\n“Okay I’m really starting to resent these comments.”\n\nI eyed my professors once again and saw that they were now huddled together in discussion. One turned to me and cleared his throat.\n\n“After a quick meeting, we have agreed that, while you technically have passed this exam, you require further mentoring in order to truly become a necromancer. Your magic is unique and needs the proper instruction to reach your highest potential. Please meet with the dean once you have completed this assignment.”\n\nHe nodded at me and walked away, the posse of other professors following close behind. \n\nI was, of course, dumbfounded. \n\n“Alright, congrats!” said the cloud that was once a dead person.\n\nI glared at it.\n\n“What? You passed. Who cares if you’re only able to summon the cremated dead?”\n\n“I care! How lame will it be when everyone else is being followed by shambling terrors and all I have is a fart come to life?”\n\n“Hey! I might not look like much but there are things I can do that normal zombies can’t. I can slip under doors and through cracked windows. I can, uh, distract people by getting in their face…I can, you know, uh, I don’t know, really annoy people.”\n\nI rolled my eyes. This was supposed to be my big moment. The day I was finally going to rule over the dead and the living. And there I was, talking to an enormous dust bunny with an attitude.", "Magic. It was treated as though a disease. To science there was no need for magic, no explaining it. To the future world such things were worthless.\n\nFollowing the rise and fall of Narcissus a new world order was formed, a world that relied on economy to thrive (perhaps not that different to our own, one might surmise). Space was a commodity, worth its weight in gold, not that gold was worth that much these days. Tower blocks formed homes, hospitals, offices, and more. There were no single dwellings, no quaint corner shops, no respite from the giant concrete structures that had come. Tower blocks. And that was all. And that was everywhere.\n\nCanopies had been erected from the highest tops of these concrete pillars, canopies of lead that shielded from the deathly suns beyond. Engineers and Governors, sometimes Kings or Queens of this new world, they alone were allowed beyond the canopy, to witness a reality lost.\n\nWith space so precious and ever fleeting there were further measures taken to preserve it. Incineration, on mass scale; excrement, garbage, physical files... and bodies, of course. The dead were burnt with paperwork, treated with the very same distaste. Distaste of waste, of waste of space. If you weren't living, what good were you? None. None at all.\n\nThese ideals, the new laws of the land, they posed certain issues for those striving to re-invigorate the essence of magic. That brings us to Mar, twenty seven years old and bright as the neon sky at light, both in body and in mind. Mar was half synthetic, bio-engineered from the neck down and the waist up. She'd been born defective. Her heart developing outside of her chest, the bones in her arms so brittle that the winds would break them. This was a part of the party that was the new world, a part of evolution, of pollution.\n\nThe lower lands were overrun by radiation, by mutant genes and disgruntled politicians. The up-top, those that lived beside and beyond the canopy, claimed the down deep was safe. Not a thing to worry about, not a thing to fear. Not when your a thousand miles from the source.\n\nMar had been born to a mother of little wealth, of no wealth. Born to a father who'd been killed during a crowd containment procedure (once every four weeks the up-top would send their Brutes to stay the spread of over-population, for the deep down's own good of course). Like most little girls born in the depths Mar had suffered from deformity, as you've read above. But unlike most girls Mar was given hope, and hope went by the name of Miss Maria Mariarto.\n\nMiss Maria was a bio-engineer, in another life, but that is not this story. She had fixed Mar as best as she could, with what fine scarps of material she could muster. The result was a synthetic torso, a support bracket in her waist, and braces in each arm. It was a crude design, but it worked well enough, and it had left Mar's skin with a faint green afterglow, almost neon, bright.\n\nBut what does Mar want with magic? No more than a chance to make her father proud. These crowd containment procedures were spoken of as random acts of necessary violence, but in truth the targets were largely predetermined. Any with but a shred of potential within them must be handled, before that potential might grow to become something dangerous.\n\nMar's father had been practicing the necromanic arts, though how or with what Mar hadn't the faintest idea. And that's what led her here. To the incinerators, or to the dumpster fires to which the incinerators spat out their heated waste.\n\nThe sky was a sheet of carbon coloured lead, the world a bleak array of concrete towers. Neon lights flooded the far horizons in bright pinks, purples and occasional blues. If you listened closely you could hear the whimper of feral dogs, hiding from the not-so-human hunters. Pets were a luxury, one the deep down were not afforded. \n\nThe incinerators churned away endlessly above, the dumpsters filling with ash that would eventually be filtered out to sea. There were no fish in the waters, not any more. \n\nMar stood over a lone dumpster, watching the fans from above spill our their toxic, deathly dust.\n\nThis is it then, I suppose. She wasn't one for dramatic endings, or beginnings. She simply wanted to do right by her father, she simply wanted to know. What is it they say about cats? Not a lot, these days. What are cats but feral pests?\n\nPlunging her hands into death and discarded papers Mar held her breath and focused the light that led that sense within her mind. She was holding her breath, to provide it to new life. No words were spoken, no ancient incantations necessary. Just the bare flesh of her hands, and her breath.\n\nHer head started spinning, black spots were coming up over her eyes, Mar felt she'd pass out any minute. And then it came. A gentle groaning from the dumpster, then the rise of something formed from fire and ash. A finger, then another, then a hand and then a wrist. Slowly from the dumpster climbed a creature made of dust, leaking something slick, something tar-like as it clambered from its coffin. \n\n\"It... hurts...\" the figure whimpered, black tar dripping from the sockets meant as eyes, \"Who am I?\"\n\nMar looked upon the creature lovingly, and with disgust. It was a vile depiction of death, the embodiment of loneliness. And yet Mar knew, just to hear its broken voice, to see its parting form, that this creature was far from lonely. This creature was everyone." ]	4
	[WP] You love posting weird conspiracy theories on the internet, and watching it spread. Today, the FBI takes you in and questions you as to how you know the truth about everything.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The holding room was sparsely furnished, function clearly having a priority over comfort of the people inside.\n\nI shifted in my chair as the man across the desk lit up a cigarette and took a drag.\n\n\"Well, Mr. Wilson?\", he finally said after a pregnant pause, casually brushing the fallen cigarette ash off his suit. \"Are you aware of the reason why you were detained?\"\n\nI blinked in confusion, unsure what was his point.\n\n\"Uh, no?\", I offered weakly, \"Sir?\"\n\n\"To put it simply, right now our agency is deciding whether to arrest you on charges of treason, and the evidence we have is quite overwhelming\", the agent put a thick manila folder on the desk between us, nodding at it. \"I suggest you get acquainted with your charges, because, son, you are in some deep shit.\"\n\nI skimmed through the folder's contents, and the further I read, the more my brows raised in sheer amazement, until I just couldn't take it anymore.\n\n\"Are you fucking serious?!\", I exclaimed, slamming the folder back on the desk. \"Finland isn't real? Birds are secret governmental drones? Like, why is only the ridiculous stuff here? I would've thought I was right about some actually important stuff, like artificial diseases or killswitches or corporate collusion. Not this shit I post publicly for laughs.\"\n\n\"Artificial diseases? Killswitches?\", the agent suddenly looked at me worriedly, \"What the hell do you mean?\"\n\n\"Shouldn't you know about this stuff if it existed?\", I threw my hands up in the air in exasperation. \"Like, you're a government agent, right? I haven't really talked about it to anyone, but let's say, for example, there's this chip implanted in your head and when I say something random, like, I dunno, 'Laputan Machine' or something, you would instantly-- Sir?!\"\n\nI leaped across the desk as the man in front of me dropped into a seizure, his eyeballs rolling up and his jaw cleanly biting through his tongue. After a minute of me struggling unsuccessfully to save the man's life, the movement stopped and silence fell in the room. \nI had no idea what just happened or why. All I could do was just wait until the other agents, who sat behind the two-way mirror and observed our conversation, would burst into the room and slam me face first into the floor. \nBut a minute passed, then another one and another one... and they never did.\n\nI cautiously stood up, moving away from the agent's dead body, dazed and confused by what just happened. \nWas it all my fault? That this man would never go home to his wife and kids? \nA treacherous thought suddenly popped into my brain, and I found myself unable to resist it.\n\n\"Small mechanisms are actually operated by gnomes\", I suddenly said out loud, the ridiculous proclamation echoing through the silence of holding room. \nAs I took the watch off my wrist and ripped the back cover open, witnessing two tiny strange creatures turning the clock arrows, only one word filled the entirety of my brain.\n\nCogitohazard...", "\"FBI! Open Up!\"\n\nLooking through the peephole in the door, two guys in suits. There's been some weirdoes reported lately. \"Prove it!\"\n\nOne of them draws breath to shout. The other places a hand on his shoulder. Shouter looks annoyed but subsides. Calm pulls ID from a pocket, and shows it. \"Looks real, what do you want?\"\n\n\"Open The Damned Door!\"\n\n\"You can piss off. I'll talk with your partner. I'm not going to have bad cop/good cop in my own house! Besides, you only get to give orders like that with a warrant, in hot pursuit, or with probable cause. You've got none of that, and you're rude, so piss off.\"\n\nFrom the look on his face, he just might die of apoplexy. Considering how rude and obnoxious he's been, good riddance. His partner grabs him in a come along hold, and drags him off. A short, angry, argument later, bad cop leaves.\n\n\"Mr. Anderson, may I please speak with you regarding a number of social media postings you've made? You were only partially correct. We don't have a warrant, we're not in hot pursuit, but we do have probable cause.\"\n\n\"Probable cause!? Hang on!\" I slip the chain, and unlock the deadbolts. Whoever lived here before me had some serious issues. Normally, I only use one, but there's been those weirdoes.\n\n\"That's a lot of locks Mr. Anderson!\"\n\n\"Heh. The person who lived here before me. Serious paranoia. Come in please.\"\n\n\"Thank you. I'm Special Agent Smith.\"\n\n\"And your partner is Jones, right?'\n\n\"That's part of why we are here. How did you know that my partner's name was Jones?\"\n\n\"You're kidding. Smith and Jones? It's like Ham and Eggs if you've seen the TV show. ''Alias Smith and Jones''. Weird Western about two crooks who cut a deal with a governor for pardons.\" Now why did he suddenly go so bleak?\n\n\"How did you find that out?\"\n\n\"Find what out?\"\n\n\"Don't play with me. How did you find out about our deal?\"\n\n\"Deal. Smith and Jones.\" It finally clicks. \"You have a deal with someone for a pardon. What a coincidence! If you weren't here, talking with me, I'd never believe it. I'm not sure I do now.\"\n\n\"How did you find out!?!\"\n\n\"You just told me.\"\n\nFrowning, \"I did?\"\n\n\"Sure. I made reference to an old TV show purely on the basis of your names. You freaked and asked how I knew. I didn't know. You told me it was real when you asked that question.\"\n\n\"Coincidence? Pure coincidence? ... Mr. Anderson, you are frighteningly dangerous. By rights, and according to my orders, I should shoot you dead right now.\"\n\nI'm stunned. \"Shoot me? What for? I haven't done anything!?!\"\n\n\"Mr. Anderson, it took us a long time, but we finally traced a whole series of terribly accurate statements on social media sites to you. We want to know how you knew. Who leaked.\"\n\n\"Postings.\" This cannot be happening. \"Agent Smith? May I see your ID again?\" He hands it over, I check for every verification and fake sign that I'm aware of. \"Okay. The ID looks legit. You want to know how I knew what I put in those postings. Postings to conspiracy theory sites. Postings that no one with half a brain would believe. ... You do realize that you've just told me that one or more of them are true. True enough to warrant a visit from the FBI, frightening enough to not want to involve a Judge.\"\n\n\"I know, but we really must know your source of information. This stuff is literally burn before reading.\"\n.\n\"You're not kidding. Jesus! What percentage of what I posted was true? No, don't tell me. I don't want to know. ... Look, I just post those things to see how many gullible fools fall for them. It's a game. Trolling for idiots. Come on over here and I'll show you how I come up with those postings.\"\n\nIt really is a game for me. Find some half baked idea, do a bunch of \"what if\", pair that with Google searches to figure out how likely any of the \"what if\" are, polish up the idea with the data I've scrounged up or twisted a bit to fit, post it to a few conspiracy groups, then I watch it spread. If the mainstream media picks it up, as a serious story, I count that a full up win.\n\nSmith has been exclaiming throughout the process. How could this information be out there? How I could be so right on such little information. \"How can you do this! There's got to be something you aren't telling me!\"\n\n\"Nope. That's the whole thing. Let's try this way. You come up with some wacky idea you know isn't true, and we'll go through the process again, together.\"\n\nOh but isn't it a doozy of an idea. I'd have passed on it as being utterly ridiculous to the point that no one would ever believe it. We do all the \"what if\" together, the searches, polish the basic idea, and drop it in the groups I use.\n\n\"Woah, that was fast! Fox has already picked up on it!\". We keep watching, fascinated by the spread for a story we knew was false. Pretty soon, the traditional three pick it up. The conspiracy boards go into terminal overload, crashing.\n\n((To be continued))", "I stretched my wrists after the balding agent took the cuffs off. The two agents had been silent the whole drive and just looked at each other nervously.\n\nI finally got some of the courage that left me after seeing the agents break down my door and point guns in my face. Shouting at me, \"get on the floor! Get your face on the floor.\" So I mustered up the courage and asked, \"why am I here?\"\n\nThe older agent kept his sunglasses on as he shouted, \"you know damn well why your here. Who told you? We looked at your records. College drop out, barely finished highschool. You didnt figure it out by yourself. Who's the leak?\" \n\n\"Leak?\" I asked\n\n\"Hes playing dumb,\" the older agent said from behind me. Well we have ways to get it out of you. Bring me a jug of water and we'll get to work on this bastard.\"\n\nMy hands were sweating uncontrollably. \"I really have no idea why I'm here. Please, just tell me.\"\n\nThe younger agent asked \"Have you ever written messages on a website called, Reddit?\"\n\nI nodded.\n\n\"What did you post? \"\n\n\"I...I dont remember.\"\n\nThe balding agent slammed his fist on the reflective metal table and said, \"lies!\"\n\nThe younger one spoke softly, \"easy Jake. Maybe he doesnt know.\"\n\nI vigorously agreed, \"yeah, I still dont know what your talking about. I didnt do anything.\"\n\n\"See Jake. Now Mr. Polits. Its Polits right?\" The younger agent asked.\n\nI nodded again as I wiped my hands on my jeans under the table. \n\n\"Well Mr. Politz it seems a government traitor has given you information and you're spreading it.\"\n\nI scoffed at the idea. I only talk to random redditors and most the stuff I look at are cute videos and conspiracy theories. \"Oh.\" I froze.\n\n\"Looks like Politz had a eureka moment Jake.\"\n\nThe other agent agreed. \"It seems so.\"\n\n\"Politz just tell us who the wannabe Snowden is and after we arrest them you'll be free to go. On my word.\"\n\n\"Look...Agents I always post crazy stuff in r/conspiracies because it's fun. None of it's true. Just some fun.\"\n\nAgent Jake slammed his fist on the table again startling me. \"You think revealing top secret information is a joke. You are going to get people killed. Start riots in the streets. Destroy the global economy and send us back into the stone age. You dont just have fun with that kind of information.\"\n\n\"I dont even know what I said. Tell me what I said.\"\n\nThe younger agent waved Jake off. \"Mr. Politz, did you ever talk about numbers, maybe that some of them might not exist?\" \n\nI thought about it a moment and began laughing, \"are you serious?\"\n\n\"Mr. Politz, just tell us who gave you the information.\"\n\nI agreed and asked for a phone. I pulled up the video and showed them. They watched the [video](https://www.reddit.com/r/blackpeoplegifs/comments/bzeiob/adorable_girl_argues_with_her_dad_about_counting/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) and their faces shifted to abject horror. \n\nThe older agent spoke first, \"we need to scrub the video, get that girls family and remove any traces of that information.\"\n\nI looked at the younger agent as he set his hand on his gun. \"You said you were going to let me go.\"\n\nAs he pointed the gun at my face he said, \"the Order of Four leaves no witnesses.\"" ]	4
	[WP] Your close friend, Martin, dies. You and his family mourn over his death at his funeral. One year later you have a conversation about him in your usual messenger group with your friends, and suddenly you see ''seen by Martin''.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "There are some things about death that are best forgotten. I am writing this because I may not have very long to live.\n\nLast year, my best friend, Martin, suddenly died. He always loved riding his motorcycle, feeling the wind in his hair as he sped down the roads at breakneck speed. It made him feel free, liberated from the stress with his parents and school. I always told him to wear a helmet. He didn't care. I can't blame him for that.\n\nThen came the fateful day when I received the news. He crashed into a tree not far away from my home. He was on his way to visit me. We talked on the phone just half an hour earlier and we were planning to have some beers. He even joked that if he would die on his way here, I'd have to drink his beers for him. I drove to the place where he crashed in a hurry. Paramedics were already there as well as a police cruiser. What I saw was forever seared into my mind. My friend laid on the street with half of his skull gone. What remained of his brain stuck to the trunk of the tree. There was blood everywhere.\n\nThe funeral was on the next day. There was his family, his girlfriend Alyssa, who was weeping a waterfall of tears, classmates and teachers and there was me. I remember stepping up to the podium sharing the moments we spent together and reminiscing of how great a friend and human being he was.\n\nLife was never the same. A year has passed and I still feel difficulties accepting his death. \"Bing\". The famous Facebook messenger notification tone startled me out of my daydream. Steven posted in the group chat that I created with Martin for our circle of friends.\n\n\"Hey, everybody. Whats up?\"\n\n\"Not much. How about you?\" I replied.\n\n\"I'm great. James, don't you remember? Today, a year ago, Martin died.\"\n\nI checked the calendar and he was right. The 13th of June. How could I forget?\n\n\"Let's meet at the local bar and toast to Martin\" suggested Derek\n\n\"Great idea. My parents won't be home for a couple of days anyway.\"\n\nThe problem with using Facebook is that you have to really watch your fingers or you'll open something you don't want to see which will haunt you for the rest of your life. That just happened when I accidentally tapped the message I just sent and it displayed the names of those who saw it.\n\n\"Seen by Derek, Steven, Ann, Martin and 6 others\"\n\nI rubbed my eyes. Martin is dead. Maybe it's Alyssa. Or his mom. His older sister, maybe. No, it couldn't be. Martin was very adamant about keeping his passwords. He would let no one use his account, even Alyssa. I opened Martin's profile and he was online. I decided to send him a message.\n\n\"Alyssa, is that you?\"\n\nNo answer.\n\n\"Whoever controls Martin's account, please stop. Let him rest\"\n\nNo answer. I closed Facebook and went to the bar with the rest of our friends. After downing two bottles of Bacardi, we went our separate ways. Totally drunk, I stumbled into my bed. I opened messenger again and Martin was still online. Not bothering to look at his profile, I directly went to message requests. I don't usually look at them but now I was curious who would try to message me. Among them was Alyssa. Her request was 13 months old.\n\n\"I told you James that I already have a boyfriend. Martin loves me genuinely. He cares for me and would do anything to make me happy and feel safe. Don't you understand? I'm not the type of girl you can have for a night and dump her like a piece of garbage just like the other girls you victimized. Please don't talk to me again.\"\n\nEverything suddenly came back to me. That stupid bitch thought she was something better. She could have had a real man. No, she had to choose that lucky bastard Martin, instead. I hated him. I hated his guts and he didn't even have to convince Alyssa to fall for him. She did it by herself! I remember drinking a few shots of vodka at the bar and sneaking into Martin's garage where his oh so beloved motorbike was. All I had to do was loosen a few screws.\n\nHe died. That fact sobered me up. I didn't want him to die. I just wanted to injure him so I can spend some time with Alyssa.\n\n\"Bing\" A message from Martin.\n\n\"Tell me, are you happy that I am dead?\" I froze. This has to be a joke.\n\n\"No. I wish you were still here. I wish you were still with Alyssa. She can't bear the pain.\"\n\n\"Don't you remember the 15th of August?\"\n\nI had a flashback of the headlines. \"Brokenhearted local girl hanged herself over her boyfriend's grave.\"\n\n\"I am so sorry this happened. Please forgive me.\"\n\n\"No need to ask for forgiveness. It's already too late. We decided to visit you at midnight. After all, that's what friends are for, right?\"\n\nMartin went offline.\n\nRight now, its midnight and I see two silhouettes standing on my lawn. The guy had a mangled face and the girl's blackened, decaying tongue hangs out of her mouth like a piece of rotten meat. They look up to my window, their dead, white eyes staring into mine and their mouths contorted to a ghastly, nightmare inducing grin. I hear them walking to the stairs. I look at my dad's gun in my hand. There is no other way out.", "‘NOT COOL’ you type. \n‘whoever has Martin’s phone better knock it off.’\n\n\n‘What are you talking about’ Paul asked the group.\n\n\nYou being typing, almost finished, another message arrives.\n\n\n‘LOL WHAT’\n\n\n“God you’re an idiot, Jon,” you murmur, finishing you text and hitting send.\n\n\n‘it says seen my martin above someone is messing with his phone’\n\n\n‘MAYbe its marty’\n‘maybe hes back’\n‘whats it like DEAD bro’\n\n\n‘Shut it jon Paul response was quick. \n‘who the hell is on that phone’ \n\n\n‘That makes no sense’ Mary responded. \n‘Someone would need to pay that bill for a year for us to see that now’\n‘Pranks are fine but that’s too much’\n\n\n‘I miss you’\nFrom Martin.\n\n\nThe messages spew forth like a burst water pipe, filling well past the what a single screen could hold. Paul threatening bodily harm, May having a panic attack in written text, and Jon, sweet Jon, asking the ghost to come over for a smoke.\n\n\n‘I accept’ from Martin\n‘I will see you soon Jon’\n\n\nMore chaos in the comments, but you simply stopped reading. This was an emergency. You click the buttons, making an actual voice call to Jon.\n\n\nNo answer.\n\n\nNo answer, again.\n\n\nAnd again.\n\n\nFor the past hour, you’ve tried calling Jon to no avail. The group chat is silent except for Mary’s continuous update about the current symptoms of her panic induced melt down.\n\n\nA call. From Paul.\n\n\n“I’ve been trying to get a hold of Jon,” you answer the phone. “Have you been able to?”\n\n\n“No,” Paul responded. “I actually headed over to his place when he wouldn’t pick up. Cops are here.”\n\n\n“What?”\n\n\n“Cops are here. Pigs won’t tell me anything. Is everything cool at your place?”\n\n\nYou look around, “Yeah, everything’s-“ but the words hang. There’s a shadow in the shadows of the hallway.\n\n\n“Maggie?” you ask, phone down from you ear.\n\n\n“Hello Chris.”\n\n\n“What the hell are you doing in my apartment? How do you even know where my apartment is? You didn’t even hand with us so why don’t you tell me, what the hell is going on?” you scream at the figure in the hall.\n\n\n“He’s lonely. He told me. He’s had me but he wants more. He wants his friends. It’s time to see him.”\n\n\n“Is that blood?” you ask, your own draining from you face towards your stomach. “What did you do to him?”\n\n\n“No need to worry. You will see him soon.”", "Things have never been the same without Martin. I can’t even remember the first time we met; we were practically born beside each other. Growing up, I would follow him around as if I was his shadow. I naively assumed I would walk alongside him for the rest of our lives. It turns out, life had other plans for us.\n\nIt was tough trying to get over his passing. Sometimes, when things get rough, I would pretend that he’s still here. It helped me cope. Without even realizing, I would find myself scrolling through our old conversations on messenger, reminiscing about all of our stupid shenanigans and the events that occurred between us. Thinking about it now, it was clear I wasn’t doing a good job of moving on.\n\nSo one day, I decided that I need some closure. I asked Martin’s mom, who was practically an aunt to me by now, if I could organize Martin’s things so that everyone can move on. She reluctantly agreed. When I went up the staircase and opened the door to his room, I saw that nobody had the heart to move his effects. It was exactly the same as he left it, on the day of the accident. He was a slobbering mess. But at least he was still with us then.\n\nI meticulously folded his clothes, one by one, remembering the days that he had worn them and how great he looked. Looking back, I definitely had a crush on him. I just didn’t want to admit it. I buried my feelings for him in that box with every heap of clothing being dumped into it. It was a very solemn afternoon. That is, until I started cleaning his desk.\n\nIt was a right mess, like everything else in that room. I started piling up his old assignments from our time in university. Gosh, it’s been at least 3 years since we graduated but he still has old stuff lying around. Unbelievable. But I couldn’t suppress the massive grin I had on my face. \n\nAt the bottom of the paper stack mountain, I came across some cheque receipts. Nonchalantly, I went through them. $67.50. $465.37. $270.22. $498,271.72. $42.80. I immediately did a double-take on the note with five hundred grand written on it. Where in the world could he have gotten this from? And from who? I scrambled for my phone and opened up messenger.\n\n“Did you guys know that Martin had some kind of contract for $500k?”\n\nAfter a few minutes, our mutual friends started coming up with wild theories. Like how he could have been a hitman for all we know. How ridiculous. It did make for a good laugh though. But right after I replied with a joke of my own, I saw a check mark. Seen by Martin. What the hell?\n\n“WTF? DID ANYONE JUST SEE THAT?”\n\n“See what?”\n\n“It just said Seen by Martin!”\n\n“No, I’m sure you’re just imagining it.”\n\n“I swear I saw it properly. I should have screencapped it. Seriously, it was there.”\n\n“Maybe you need to take a break from cleaning his room. Come on, it doesn’t make any sense.” \n\n\n“I know, but it was there.”\n\nOf course nobody believed me. Who would honestly think that our dead friend came back to life? That is unless, someone still has access to his phone. I hurried down the stairs to the living room, where I ran into his mother. I asked what happened to his phone, and she said that it wasn’t found at the scene of the accident. That’s strange. Perhaps someone picked up his phone and they must be snooping.\n\nI decided that was enough for one day. I left his house and returned home. I walked to my closet and started getting changed. As I was putting on a comfortable t-shirt, I heard something sliding. Odd. There must be something wrong with me today. Shaking it off the ominous feeling, I started treading cautiously towards my kitchen. Before I knew it, everything went blank. That was the last thing I can remember. When I came to, I was tied up in a cramped and pitch-black space. I was locked inside the trunk of a moving vehicle.\n\n“Oh Martin, what have you gotten yourself into?”\n\nI shed a tear for Martin and myself, who was finally about to be reunited with him." ]	4
	[WP] You buy a Halo and a Pair of Wings from a costume shop for fun. After you get home and fall sleep, you wake up with the Halo floating above your head and the Pair of Wings attached to your back. You have become an Angel.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Wait, what?\" I flutter about aimlessly, trying to wrap my head around it.\n\n\"Yeah, you died in your sleep. There was a gas leak, and you didn't have a carbon monoxide detector, remember? You specifically took it down because it was beeping too much? And then you put the batteries in your-\"\n\nI cut the angel off \"Yeah, that's fair, but... I'm in heaven? I thought that surely I would go to hell!\"\n\n\"Why did you think that?\" My angelic companion turns to look at me with surprise.\n\n\"I dunno...\" I'm surprised by their surprise.\n\n\"In life did you murder anyone? Steal? Rape? Harm? Did you abuse children? Animals? The elderly? Did you endanger others willingly?\" My angelic companion interrogates me.\n\n\"I mean... no, I just... I dunno, I thought I'd go to hell. I thought I had like all the qualifiers for hell... I did drugs, like... lots of drugs, I drank way too much, had a lot of casual sex... trans, queer, I wasn't really goth, I was more like... goth-lite I guess? Partied a lot... I suppose that I drove recklessly sometimes...\" I struggle under the semi-divine scrutiny.\n\n\"I mean... reckless driving is no joke, but it won't get you sent to hell.\" My angelic companion carries on as we fly through the clouds.\n\n\"But like... what about all that stuff! I thought that was what got you sent to hell, sex, drugs, and rock & roll. Indulgence and sin and stuff. Everybody thought that hell was cool, and that satan was like a rockstar...\" I hurry after them.\n\n\"If you wish to party with the most sickeningly detestible examples of the lowest and most depraved acts humanity is capable of... feel free.\" With a wave of their hand, a door opens in the air. Smoke rises from under the crack in the door, and the handle glows red hot. \"The rest of us more pleasant folk will stay here.\"\n\nI walk up to the door. Behind it, I can hear pained screams, smell the sulfur in the air, feel a cloying, humid heat. I hold my hand over the doorknob, and feel it burning. I turn to my angelic companion. \"Is this a test?\" They don't respond. \"If I walk through, can I come back?\" They don't respond.\n\nI put my hand down. \"Are there any parties in heaven?\"\n\n\"No, all we do all day is pray in worship of our lord. I'm kidding, I'm kidding, don't you touch that door! Here, let me show you around.\"" ]	2
	[WP] After being unconcuise, you hear people talking. You can't move, but open your eyes and see God, the devil and death arguing over your shattered body on the ground to whom you gonna go.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Death: “So much for trying to be a hero. A split second faster and instead of this human jigsaw, the train would’ve just left him with critical injuries. Though hard to say if that life would be any less miserable. Anyhow fellows, which one of you is gonna sign the paperwork?”\n\nDevil: “Well, well, well. Another fool to add to my collection. I do like the ones with hanging bits and twisted limbs, they scare those newcomers downunder and do my job themselves (chuckles).”\n\nGod: “Oh dear, this poor soul, sacrificing his life to save the dog..”\n\nDevil: “Hardly a sacrifice if he didn’t save it though”\n\nGod: “His intention was clear. He acted upon love. He will come with me.”\n\nDevil: “Unfortunately mate, the dog died, thus technically a suicide, so he’s mine. I have some new designs I would like to tryout and this guy will be perfect. If he’s a squealer then I might even let him do a primetime number for future welcoming ceremonies”\n\nGod: “You are unbelievable. This young and brave man took a leap of faith in trying to save a life, one of another species might I add. And if you must see proof, his LBS (life balance score) is positive. That means he’s done more good deeds and good thoughts than bad, in case you forgot.”\n\nDevil: “1.36%! positive by only 1.36%! That $10 note he picked up 10mins ago and gave back to the lady was probably what tipped it over. And we both know he might not have done that if she had not been such an eye candy! This fake saint comes with me.”\n\nDeath: “You know, it's not like this is the only soul that came through today. There's another 187,564 to go and I want to have at least three quarters done by lunch. Chop chop, if you both can't agree, I will have his soul restarted. I can't wait today, remember that oldtimer Eddie? He’s doing another deadly stunt show tonight and I wanna be there in case he finally goes.”\n\nDevil: “Its weird how you to mingle with them, I could never do that. Fine, let's toss for it.”\n\nGod: “Ridiculous. We do not ‘toss’ for a soul’s eternal resting place. If we cannot agree then restarting him into a new baby to see if his soul is good or bad is reasonable and just.\n\nDevil: “Blah blah blah, it's not fair how the average ones get another go.”\n\nDeath: “Alright, processed. Common now, next one is some drunk idiot that fell off his balcony.”\n\nDevil: “I call dibs”" ]	2
	[WP] You're a superhero, whose rivalry with your villain is legendary. However, you two share a friend in common that you need to keep it together for	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I think to myself, whats your level of familiarity with physics? not to a professional level, but... did you do high school science or whatever the Ukranian equivalent was back home was, if you understand me.\n\nI know you are reading my mind, as we stand here, I just, I need to explain something, and I need to know you'll understand before i start.\n\n In the corner of the room, the figure nodded its head, almost imperceptibly. most peoples minds would protect them from what it truly looked like, they would imagine a generic male, nondescript in plain, unremarkable clothing, but I could see it true, a walking corpse, skin rotting, hatred wrapped in flesh.\n\nRight, I muse, I know that you know, I have \"x-ray vision\", but have you ever considered exactly how that works? \n\nthe figure stiffens but then relaxes slightly, though obviously tense, then, again almost imperceptibly, shakes its head.\n\nI think about cones, the ones in the eyes, humans have 3, some have 2 and are colorblind, some have 4 and can see more vibrant colors and some totally new ones. I have about 60, and due to that If I emit low levels of microwave radiation, i can see the reflected/re-emitted energy. bones absorb more but look brighter because they emit more too, muscle and skin is dull but gives off some light, normally; do you understand?\n\nthe figures, dull milky, eyes move from the prone figure in the bed to meet mine, they hold for just a moment, then the face hardens and return to the bed as if to say \"so what\" or \"why should I care about you\"\n\n\"to me, she shines like a beacon, her bones are the sun, and her muscles flame red\" I said. \n\nthe figure immediately jerked his head back to look at me, angry hissing me to silence. he nodded to the bed and I saw eyes barely open, pretending to sleep to see what would be said. tears had formed in response to my words.\n\na snakelike low hissing reached my ears \"save your water, sister, if you are to recover from this, your body shall need it\" the figure said, voice hushed and muted, so different to how our normal interactions go. \"all that can be done in this world, will be done\"\n\nLIAR, I think suddenly, anger spilling into me, we are here to say goodbye, not deliver false hope, we've both buried enough in our time to know nothing can save those touched as she was.\n\n\"that is right, my love, the doctors will do everything they can\", I say. I see the figure bristle at that, he never could stand to see us together, since he found my secret out. The person he loved most in the world, sole friend and sole family, joined together in such happiness with the only person he truly despised with every Joule of who he was. \n\n\"i'm here with you, you know nothing can hurt you so long as I'm with you\" I could see the anger in him and how much it took from him to bite it down, for her sake, but I just wanted to hurt him, to hurt anything to not have to accept what lay before me. \n\nfrom the bed came, in raspy, stuttering gasps \"you boys stop fighting\" a jolt of pain was met with a push of a button and the sound of a machine by the bed pushing more of something into her arm, \"it's not like i'll be keeping you long, so promise me\" \n\nfor her, I think, we can have words later. we both nodded.\n\nthe figure ignores me and leans as close as it can to the protective \"tent\" covering the bed and whispers to her in a way that a normal human would never her at the distance away I stand \n\n\"I could take your pain and sorrow away again. I could make it mine. you could have your life, your future , your children with ... Him\" \n\nI look down at the bed, I check where I had not looked before and see a second shining light, that I had first assumed to be a tumor growing, and saw now it had fingers.\n\n\"I could take it all upon me, sister, you would live, just give me your hand, as you did before\" he rasped.\n\nher voice came back, far too loud to my ears that had been listening hard for whispers \"and what would it make of you, this time, what would remain of the good man I know is still in there\" \n\nshe coughed and it sounded wet, to my nose the room smelled suddenly of blood.\n\n\"cancer made you a monster, this...\" she slapped her free hand against her stomach, \"This would make you a demon\"\n\nthe figure waved its had dismissively towards her, and was about to speak when she continued.\n\n\"and what of all the hundreds of others, will you make them the same offer?\"\n\nthere was a softness I would not have thought possible in the voice that replied \"you know I'm no more capable of making that offer than I am of helping other people\" a noise that could almost be a chuckle followed, \"besides it might finally end me, and you can have your 'hero' all to yourself, all the time\". \n\nThe sound that followed was like a mix of rattlsnake warning, rabid dog growl and insect chitter which I knew passed for a laugh, from the figure.\n\n\"you never know your luck\" it said.\n\nthere was a shudder from the bed, It might have started as a laugh, but it had ended in agony, the noise of a drowning scream was quickly covered over as all the alarms started blaring, urgent piping summoning nurses and doctors from their sleep, work or coffee.\n\n\"before they get here, quickly, your hand\" before I could more the figure thrust his hand through the dense plastic, mottled, rotting, black and brown skin hanging off bone and little else reaching for her still perfect hands,\n\n \"I cannot take it, It must be given freely\" for the first time in my life I heard emotion in the figures voice, \"it means little to me, but could mean so much for you\"\n\n\"brother, I made that mistake once and i've lived with what its cost the world my whole adult life\" there was pain in her words, and I'm not certain all of it was physical \" I've lived well, and every moment of it a gift from you. thank you so much\"\n\nshe reached over and took the hand that was offered. the figure seemed to grow taller, like a weight was lifted from it, and then braced itself as if about to accept a greater one. \n\n\"but it was bought dearly in others suffering, and I have left my mistake stand too long\" \n\n\"What is mine is mine alone, return what was given or I shall take it from you\" her hand was clamped around his, and she had a determination i her eyes I had never seen before.\n\n\"whats mine is mine\" she whispered.\n\nthe figure looked shocked and tried to pull its hand back. I start to move to separate the two, but even as fast as I move there was no time.\n\nin the bed there lay a rotting corpse, bones glowing like the sun, yet still breathing, it said \"you boys stop fighting now, you promised\" and the breathing stopped.\n\nthe man wept as the world rushed in." ]	2
	[WP] Everyone assumes God knows what he’s doing, you’re an archangel and know that this simply isn’t the truth.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Look a tanker on fire, someone is reading copy into a camera. \n\nTwitter servers are drawing more power. \n\nRussian and US satellites are being re-positioned.\n\nCan of tear gas is batted back at pack of humans. \n\nFuck what day is this? Thursday? Who named these things, that right the Romans. \n\nMore church bells, the power of pray. Voices, tens of thousands of voice, millions. \n\nDamn it. Don't they get it, God hasn't been a thing for thousands of years. He got all freaked out when the guy almost killed his kid over the burning bush prank. God was never the same after that, no more floods, no more real pestilences, no more toads, no more dragons eating babies. He lost his edge after that shit went down. \n\nHe went for a walk about, \"I'll be back in five, you got this.\" Complete bullshit, five what? \nEarth resets? the place is on the third of fourth? I forget. \n\nFive neutron star collapses? that like these kids popping pimples. \n\nFive trips past Heta station?, that's just rude. \n\nJack ass, who promoted him any way? We're all the same up here. \n\nFuck another flood, how did that happen? \"Which one of you is crying?\" \"Gabriel man, it's just Sarathiel taking a piss \" \n\nGabriel sighs, not this again, \"Jegudiel get Remiel away from the hammer, that's not his, Odin will have his ass if he tries that shit again.\"", "Not again. Another day, another sad disaster. It's almost as if he created these poor creatures solely as an exercise in suffering. I wonder if he knows, truly knows, how much they endure during their brief existence. I'm not actually sure which is worse, that he knows or that he doesn't. \n\nI can't remember the last time things with Earth felt right. There was a brief moment, long ago, when there was an awakening of a sort. I thought everything was going to change, but of course it didn't. I was braver then, fueled by the outrage of my dearest friend's death. I valiantly lodged my complaint with the Council of Creators, leaving out no detail in my report of his incompetence, his insanity. The day of his hearing I was met with pats on the back, a ruffle of my feathers, even firm, knowing, grateful looks from my peers. There were promises of change, admonishments spoken, warnings given, even a contract signed by the entire council promising that Earth would go under new management if nothing changed. \n\nThat was 2019 years ago and still there has been no change in management. My dearest friend had died for nothing. The council's concerns have faded and now whenever I try to be heard again I only notice eyes averting, feet shuffling, and throats clearing. \n\nIt's time for me to take things into my own hands. I can no longer allow the suffering of humans to continue. It may cost me my soul, but if I do nothing for one day longer I fear I will lose my soul anyway. \n\nIf you find this, know that I will not give up, that someone out there does know the pain you and your kind have endured, that someone is fighting for you. Know that you are loved." ]	3
	[WP] In the near future parents go out for work, leaving their children at the care of sentient toys who act as mentors and bodyguards. You are a teddy bear who has just learned that the monster in the closet is real, armed with state of the art weapons you enter the closet to save your kid.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Universal Natal Child Learning Enhancement Offensive activated. The parents call me Uncle Off, and the kid calls me that, too.\n\nGoogle search for \"Monster in the closet\" returns\n\n>0 results\n\n>Did you mean \"Monster under the bed?\"\n\n>16,845,622 images for \"Monster under the bed - ankle injury\"\n\nSo google's no help. \n\nI had some time during the kid's nap, so I shared some internal nanobots with the Tonka truck, reinforced it with some Lego and got it rolling. Re-activated Hobbes the tiger as scout(he could see the monster under the bed), and brought the Einstein action figure, too(the Professor found a bike lock). Small fleet of matchbox cars ready at my feet.\n\nIt was simplest to use the nanobots to absorb several steel and titanium barbells from the master bedroom, and reconstitute that into our bodies. The bots just replaced the fabric with woven titanium mixed with nanobot, with a steel/bot frame. The weave contracts and expands with a sort of nanoflow, pulling titanium or steel into new shapes so that we move. Titanium claws on Hobbes and myself. \n\nIt's getting dark. We're going in." ]	2
	[WP] One day, a demon possessed you but he's too weak so he's unable to control your body and unable to get out from your body. He can only talk to you from inside your head. The only way for you to escape from the demon is to fulfill his wish: doing a very evil thing.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Disclaimer: first story ever. English isn't my first language and I typed on mobile. \n\n3 weeks. It had been 3 weeks since it started. \nAt first, Duncan thought it was allergies or something.. odd bumps would appear on his body and disappear within minutes. After a day or so, that stopped. But then, something else started. Duncan had been doing his groceries and was checking out the dairy section when suddenly a dark, raspy voice spoke. \"Right. Well, fuck it. If I can't physically make you move, I'll control you from here\". Duncan turned around real fast to see who had been standing right behind him, growling into his ear. An old lady looked back at him. \"Are you okay, dear? You look white as a sheet\". It hadn't been her, that was definitely not the voice he had just heard. He looked around him, the aisle was otherwise empty. The lady was still staring at him. \"Uh... I'm fine, thanks\"... he stammered. He must have dreamt it.. imagined it... that's it, he probably imagined it. But as he continued to the freezers on the other side of the store, whatever that voice was, it was going to make clear that it was very real. \"That old hag must have thought you lost your mind\"! A mean chuckle followed and it stopped Duncan right in his tracks. \"Have... HAVE I?\" He stammered out loud. More laughter sounded in his ears. It made his stomach turn. \"Oh, not at all... but it will be mine until you do as I say\". \n\nHe had left his cart and he had ran. He wasn't even sure how he had gotten home. The voice hadn't stopped. It kept chuckling. He tried a cold shower, coffee, booze. The voice seemed to mock every move he made. When Duncan finally decided to try to sleep, it went quiet. Finally, his racing mind slowed down. He was almost asleep. \"So, you're gonna just pretend I'm not here, huh?\" It had been loud and clear and Duncan hit the floor beside his bed, hard. \"What the hell is going on? Who are you!?\" he screamed, desperately. \n\"Ahhh. There we go. I guess I should introduce myself\". Duncan got up. \"I want you to shut up. I want you to go away. Leave me alone!!\" -\"I told you. You need to do as I say first\".\nDuncan sat on the side of his bed. \"Why?\". -\"yeah. I was going to explain, but you interrupted me\" the voice said. \n\n\"I'm a demon. I have posessed you\". Now, it was Duncan who chuckled. Strangely, the voice's last words had taken some of his fear away. \"A demon? Come on now. I know my horror movies. You can't be a demon. You haven't even taken over my body\". Suddenly, the voice wasn't so dark and raspy anymore. It went into a whiny, somewhat high pitched tone. Duncan could have sworn it sounded a little distraught, even. \"Well, no, uh.. fuck man, I tried! I pushed and pulled but I couldn't do it. I mean you definitely noticed the bumps! Cut me some slack, man!\" \nLike a true man gone mad, Duncan went into a laughing fit. Tears rolled down his cheeks. \n\nSuddenly, a knock on the door. \"Is everything okay, neighbour? \"The appartment building where he lived, had thin walls and his elderly neighbour was a curious man, who loved some sensation in his otherwise boring life. It was probably out of genuine concern this time though, given the screaming and laughing Duncan had done at this time of night. \"Do I need to call the police?\" That last question had sounded a little too hopeful so Duncan bolted for the door and opened it. He managed to convince the neighbour that he had just had a bad dream, and closed the door. \"Right. Enough of this. We need to talk, I guess. Tell me what you want\". \n\n\"I need you to do what I tell you, without questioning it. I need you to do something, you would never dream of doing. Something rotten, something truly evil. Only then will I be able to leave your body\". \nDuncan thought about that a bit. \"Wait.. why have you posessed me in the first place? What did I do to get stuck with you in my head, surely you can just go away\"? \n\nThe voice wimpered. \"I wish you hadn't asked that. But I guess I failed at scaring you, just like I always fail, at everything. I might as well be honest with you. I'M A FAILURE!!\" The demon was now actually sobbing. \n\"I have to show that I have what it takes... I have to posess you and make you do an act of true evil, or I will be the laughing stock of all the others forever! Plus, the big boss gave me one last chance. I can't leave your body until you do it\".. the demon hesitated.. \"I uh.. I also can't tell you up front what the act of true evil will be.. you have to do everything I say, step by step, no questions asked\". \n\nSo it had been three weeks since that night. Duncan had thought about what his demon had told him, but he had decided he couldn't take the risk. Why would he? The demon was weak, anyway. It wasn't his problem. What if it was something so evil, he wouldn't be able to live with himself? So he just simply refused.\n\nBut the demon would not give up. It had resorted to the one thing it was truly good at. Whining. All day long, like a relentless nagging child, it kept going. At times, Duncan could ignore it. But he was starting to make mistakes at work, and the lack of sleep was slowly destroying him. So finally, after 3 weeks, Duncan was ready to do whatever it took. \"Fine\". -\"....really??\" The demon's voice was filled with glee. \"No. Not really. But you need to go. So tell me, before I change my mind\". \n-\"Great!! Okay... first step. Go to the place where I first spoke to you\". \n\nAs much as Duncan had lost his fear for his not so scary demon, the thought of doing something truly evil in a public place, did frighten him a little. But as he couldn't question any of the steps, he just did what he was told. As he walked into the store, he felt as if everyone was looking at him. As if people could tell he was going to do something terrible. \"Don't forget to take a shopping cart\" the demon said. \"Okay, good. Now, go to the frozen foods section\". Duncan followed the orders he was given. Cold sweat was running down his back. What mayhem was he about to cause? Would there be casualties? \"Grab that large frozen turkey and put it in your cart\". The turkey was heavy and rock hard. Duncan's heart was racing. His mouth felt dry. Was he going to bash someone's head in with that turkey? \n\"Now, go to the cereal aisle\". His hands were shaking as he pushed the cart. \"Excellent. Stop here\". A mother with 2 small children, both in her cart, was comparing some boxes of cornflakes. \"Oh god\" Duncan thought. \"I'm gonna have to hurt little kids\"... the woman walked on, and Duncan let out a relieved sigh. \"Ready?\" Duncan didn't answer, how could he be ready if he didn't know what pure, horrible evil he was going to do? \n\n\"Right. Make sure no-one sees it. Take 3 boxes of cornflakes from that top shelf\". Duncan put them in his cart. \"Good. Now place the turkey on that top shelf and put the cornflakes back in front of it.\" \n-\"but...\" \"NO QUESTIONS!!\" \n Duncan quickly did what he was told. \n \"Okay, now leave the store\". Duncan left the store almost as quickly as he had 3 weeks before. He walked outside, relieved he hadn't killed anyone yet. What would the next step be? And then he heard the demon speak. \n\n\"Was that so hard?? Thanks, bye!\"." ]	2
	[WP] "Hmph! Never thought technology could ever replace MY job!" It had been a month since Death was laid off. Defeated by another interview, he crawls into his bed and pulls out his phone when it rings all of a sudden. It's a job offer! Death starts his new job on Monday... As an ambulance driver.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Until a month ago Death had been an engineer and took the lead on several modernization initiatives. When there had been an exceptionally large quota they preferred to automate the process as much as possible, giving an idea to humanity and letting the endlessly creative and negligent species do the heavy lifting. Death’s most ambitious project was the Industrial Revolution. It was infinitely scalable with cross market deployability, capable of affecting all living things on both micro and macro levels with an upgradable architecture that was currently on it’s fourth iteration. Humanity had ran with the idea as if life could not exist with out it and created a vast Rube Goldberg machine starting with a marble and ending in oblivion. With it they created the means of mass genocide, numerous cancers, industrial waste, nuclear war and most surprisingly… the selfie. \n\nThe world was beginning to dance to the music of it’s own creation. One communal foot tapping to the irresistible Al-Gore-rythm of technology. Death was out of step. \n\n“Death old chap, I’m afraid you’re going to have to clear your office. Never thought I’d say this but um YOUR TIME HAS COME.” The director laughed nervously as she mocked holding a scythe and solemnly motioned one hand toward the door. “That’s how you did it in the old days innit, all voice from everywhere in all caps, HAAARRGHH, right?”\n\n“men would weep and women tremble at the thought of my voice. none ever heard as the thought was more powerful. keep practicing, you’ll get it.” Death somewhat deflated said in all lowercase.\n\n“Practice? Your voice? Well some one is having a laugh, haha. Silly. No. No. That’s an antiquated talent, quite redundant now actually having the new program and all.” \n\n“it does not seem right. what about craftsmanship? who collects the souls?” They had been holding back these questions all month during the transition. \n\n“Death dear, The Program has been constructed with the utmost craftsmanship, after all it was your Industrial Revolution idea that lead to all this. That was a real problem you know… Industrialized farming nearly ended Famine, the nuclear bomb that came out of it made War afraid of themselves. We are just now getting our employment rates back. Trust these humans will meet fitting individual ends based off their demonstrated preferences and geolocation as outlined in the EULA. As for soul collection, you know there are still many un and underemployed demigods. In a couple hours we will be rolling out an app that will connect them with the recently departed and will be paid per soul conveyed.”\n\n“i’ve been locked out of the system for the past month, that will be a huge back log, why start them in the weeds?” Death, genuinely concerned for the success and happiness of their colleagues asked.\n\n“We thought it best to keep them busy at first and they will receive “hustle” pay during exceptionally strenuous times. That first paycheck should motivate them to chase the carrot with more fervor.” \n\nWith that the director put her arm on Death’s back and led them out the door.\n\n“I’ll walk you out, haha, now don’t take anyone with you!” Mimicking double guns and making a pew, pew sound as they walked by the receptionist’s desk. “Seriously, one last question Death, any luck on the Earthly job search?”\n\n“there has been one job offer and i accepted it this morning. it seems your program has a sense of humor as i am now to be an ambulance driver. i start monday.”\n\n“That was not the program love, that was us. The Association higher ups had a wager that you would be rather successful in that position. Who am I to stifle their curiosity?”\n\n“the director.”\n\nAs Death got on the elevator the flower on the receptionist’s desk began to grow and bloom most brilliantly, for a moment it was the fullest most beautiful plant in existence. Then the leaves began to shrivel and drop as the stem withered eventually becoming nothing more than a very fertile pot of soil. \n\n\\\\\\\n\nDeath had been incarnate on Earth many times before. Mostly just before or after a significant loss of life. Death had once ridden a meteor in to what is now the Chesapeake Bay. Their shadow cast over the land like a giant bird striking fear in the single celled organisms before wiping out 5% of their population. Now Death was riding a bicycle and here to save lives. Such a Sisyphean task since humanity would end itself and everything else inside of two hundred years. Death wondered how many souls Sisyphus had conveyed and if it was better than his rock. \n\nHaving never had a Christian name or a gender for that matter Death was unsure of how to introduce their self or what to be addressed as. They decided to keep it simple.\n\n“hello, my name is death and i prefer they/them pronouns.”\n\n“Nice to meet you, I’m Angelo. That’s an interesting name. Were your parents goth? Metal?” the human genuinely inquired. \n\n“i am of my own creation.”\n\n“Right… Well this is our office.” Angelo gestured to something. \n\nDeath had never actually seen earth. Death could only see what believed in them, anything else was out of their domain and became visual clutter. This meant that earth was a black expanse inhabited by various life forms. Until now. This something slowly came in to focus as a large gleaming white steel box with four rubber wheels.\n\n“that is beautiful” Death meowed. “i’ve heard of this, it is internal combustion is it not?”\n\n“It’s diesel so yeah, internal combustion. Wait, you’re not one of those ICE people are you? I had to cart a few of those guys to the hospital after a scrap at a public car charging station.”\n\n“no. all progress is my friend.” Death thought of the marble set in motion so many decades ago. “can we take it for a ride, this glorious fire breathing steed? shall we mount?”\n\n“Yeah, just need to sign the keys out and hope if there is an emergency we are all ready headed it’s way.”\n\nDeath signed the clip board, grabbed the keys and set in the drivers seat. Angelo buckled in next to them. Once the motor started there was a fire in Death’s eyes, their knuckles would have turned white around the steering wheel if they had not been bone white already. Death hunched over the steering wheel jutting out their mandible as they felt the power of the big diesel pulsing underneath them, elbows out to the sides of their body. As the power built up in their stomach Death mashed the accelerator and involuntarily extended their wings smacking Angelo in the face and busting the driver side window, the garage filled with black smoke as the motor proclaimed it’s existence, it’s destructive intention, rhythmically taking air and compressing it with petroleum remnants of life before detonating in to a noxious gas over and over. The roar was intoxicating to Death. Then they realized… They weren’t going anywhere. \n\n“So you are going to need a bit more training I see. You need to put it in gear first.”\n\n“sorry, i was an engineer in my country.”", "\"Let It Go\" came on the radio once again. Humans had strange preparatory rituals for upcoming film sequels. Death turned the radio off with a thought. He'd taken to technology well -- at least, he had in the 19th century. Even the beginning of the 20th. Combustion engines he could understand. Maybe it was all the fire and smoke. He remembered his first Model T. A slow thing, compared to appearing where one wanted to, but it had been interesting. Feeling his thoughts connect to the pedals, the wheels, slide along the seats. Bump up and down with the car.\n\nBut sometime during the 20th century he'd lost touch. How had it happened? Those silly wars. All the humans fighting over this and that. He'd been up to his hood in souls, and when he finally had some breathing room (not that he needed to, but he still was trying to figure out why humans enjoyed it so much) he'd turned around and the humans were on the Moon. He'd never managed to catch up. Which was why he was now driving an ambulance instead of ferrying souls to the next life.\n\nA car honked close by. Very close by.\n\nDeath would never admit it, but as he looked out the passenger's window he felt a twinge of fear. At the next intersection, on a collision course from the right barreled a golden carriage.\n\nNot a carriage. Death would have breathed out a sigh of relief, except he'd last breathed out three years earlier and hadn't breathed in since. It was just an oddly shaped car painted gold. A normal car driven by a normal human. What did humans call them? Bugs?\n\nThe car wasn't fantastical, but the golden bug car was still on a collision course. Split seconds: Death's ambulance flew (not literally) towards an intersection, while the gold car was approaching from the right. The gold car was braking, but it wouldn't be enough. How could they not hear the sirens? See the lights? Humans were so fallible. Death considered his options. When he chose his course of action, he thought about sighing again but still had no breath, so he tried to sigh by breathing in. It didn't really work.\n\nDeath tilted his head and the gold car was no longer moving -- it didn't stop, and the unbuckled driver didn't fly through the windshield -- the car simply wasn't moving.\n\nHe wasn't going to lose this one. Four years old, drank a bottle of detergent. If they didn't make it to the hospital soon, the boy's digestive system would turn inside out. Death had already lost his first two patients today. The old lady en route, and the bald man shortly after arriving at the hospital.\n\nIn his last job, just before he was replaced, he'd been on a nearly two-millennium spree of 100% success days. Today he was already 0 for 2. He wasn't going to be 0 for 3.\n\nDeath's ambulance reached the hospital. He floated out and around the back. The two paramedics were struggling to open the stretcher's legs.\n\n\"Move,\" Death commanded.\n\n\"Uh...\" The paramedics' eyes unfocused. \"Sure...what was your name again?\"\n\nDeath extended a shadow-wrapped arm and the stretcher with the four-year old boy opened and floated an inch off the ground. Death leaned over. Brown curly hair, liquid coming out of his mouth. A cough. Still alive.\n\nThe patients and nurses and doctors weren't quite sure why they parted so quickly before this one stretcher with a boy, led by a man with no memorable features.\n\nThe emergency room doors flung open before Death and the stretcher.\n\n\"Doctor,\" Death said, \"He consumed a bottle of the Tide. He will need...\"\n\nDeath's voice trailed off. The doctor was sitting nonchalantly on the operating table. Huge black ears. A wide grin. A meat cleaver in his white, gloved hand.\n\n\"Oh boy!\" Mickey Mouse shouted as he jumped up. \"Look who we have here!\"\n\nDeath sighed.\n\n\"Gosh, someone's been bad! You know the rules! Can't save them with magic! Magic's for Disney! That's two strikes.\"\n\n\"I didn't want to fail three times in a row,\" Death said miserably.\n\n\"This little friend will be in DisneyHeaven soon! Huh huh! I can't wait to take him! Worry about failing me! Three strikes and youuuuur out!\"\n\nMickey giggled and leapt at the stretcher. The cleaver flashed in the harsh fluorescent light.", "2090's were desperate times. Around 50% of the world population had lost their job to robots and automisation. But me? I was the last one i thought was going to lose his job to a robot. Yet it still happened. Apparently god didn't like me after that incident with his microwave. \n\nNot to matter. As i had already managed to get another job. Ambulance driver. Why wasn't this automated yet? Because ambulances often have to weave through traffic. Something which AI couldn't quite do yet. Especially not in the busy streets of Japan. \n\nIt took me a while to get used to the suffering and death that was happening in the back of the car almost all of the time. I mean i was the grim reaper. But i was always there a moment after death to collect the soul. I hadn't actually witnessed a death before. but after a while it was blurred out in the back of your mind. All of the patients who had been in the back of the ambulance started to be nothing but a body. a few deaths here. A couple suicides there. There is one i do remember quite clearly. A group of Cops had jumped off of a building in unison. Quite peculiar as according to family and friends nothing was wrong with them mentally. But oh well. Can't worry about every soul. And after that it was back to the usual routine of homicides and suicides.\n\nUntil near the end of the summer of 2099 when you i was tasked to a small hospital in the north of a city called Morioh. it was actually pretty nice. it was next to all the villa's. But i didn't have much time to admire the view as a gas explosion had happened somewhere in the east of morioh. I was immediatly tasked with getting over there and providing support to the wounded. I hopped in the ambulance and got there as fast as i could.\n\nAs i closed in i saw a man holding one of the nurses. He was in bad condition. There were a few others but they didn't look to badly hurt. I turn the car around to back into the scene so the nurses could more easile get to the medical supplies. As i was backing up into the street i hear a distinct \"SNAP*\" and screaming directly after. Turns out. He apparently went flying out of nowhere and fell directly under my wheels. good luck explaining that to the chief. I was fired on the spot.\n\nBack to the drawing board we go." ]	4
	[WP] For the last few weeks you've seen the same man out of the corner of your eye. He's always out of the way, nondescript, and almost invisible. Finally you confront him. "I was wondering when you would come around" he says. "Come, we have a lot to talk about..."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Come, we have a lot to talk about...“\n\n„...your mother.“ „My mother...?“ I repeated nervously, as if struck by lightning. I simply couldn’t move or say anything, it felt like I was paralysed. „You know, I’ve known your mother for a long time now and in all these years I just noticed how much you both are alike... you look just like her...“ the man said calmly, but something was wrong. There was this worried look in his eyes, I’ve never seen anyone who’s been looking so extremely worried. But although he looked so worried, he smiled at me as he talked about my mother... \n\nI really wanted to interrupt him, but I couldn’t. The fact that he has been talking about my mother paralysed my whole body. And the more he told me about how they met and how much time they spent together the worse it became...\n\nHow can he even know my mother so well, she’s been dead for almost 15 years now. I still see my 10-year old self being there at her funeral, not even able to cry... Just standing there unaware of what had happened and what will happen. I’ve been just as paralysed as I’m now talking or more accurately listening to this man I don’t know.But he seems to know me well. And as he goes on talking he finally reaches the point I’ve been waiting for... \n\n„But as well as I know your mother I actually know you too. I have to admit I’ve been watching you for the past 15 years and I’ve just been waiting for this moment to finally talk to you. I wanted you to notice me. Although your mother is dead, I still feel her spirit by my side... I loved her... But did you know how and why she died?“he said carefully, obviously not trying to hurt me.\n\nThese words hit hard, I actually never wanted to know, but this time I’m actually curious.\n\n„No... I have no clue at all, but I wished I knew“ I told him.\n\n„After the sudden disappearance of your father, your mother became really depressed and that’s one of the reasons we met. After some time she couldn’t take it anymore and killed herself... I’ve been with her that day...“\t\n\nI became angry, why didn’t he help her... I thought he loved her. But then I noticed that he actually seemed to notice the anger rising up inside of me.\n\n„I’m so sorry Layla I didn’t mean to harm you. I promised to take care of you, it’s why I’ve been watching you all these years. You are just like your mother.“\n\nAfter some time of just standing and staring, he smiled at me and told me to follow him...This man, I don’t know who he is, but I began to actually feel comfortable in his presence, so I decided to follow him. \n\nAs we arrived I finally realised where he led me, it was my mothers grave. I haven’t been here since her funeral. \n\n„It’s such a weird feeling being here“ I thought.\n\nWe both just have been watching the grave. Both sunken in our own thoughts. But suddenly, the man turned and looked at me. What was he thinking? He just stared at me for the next 5 minutes, until he stepped forward, grapped my waist and kissed me. I couldn’t but had to give in to his kiss, it was so intense I couldn’t concentrate on anything else anymore. It almost felt like he was stealing my soul. \n\nI fainted. \n\nAnd all I remember is me waking up naked, trapped in a small room, which was brighter and darker than anything I’ve ever seen before.\n\nHow will I ever escape?", "\"Come, we have a lot to talk about...\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe strange man, who I had seen through the corner of my eye for weeks, now urges me to follow him. Even though the image of him was fuzzy, it was easy to follow behind. Within my own home, he had managed to lead me somewhere. Somewhere entirely different. Through the bedroom I was in, down the stairs, in the kitchen, the living room, he kept going. Kept walking. My vision began to fail me, and as I shut them tight, I felt a strange sensation. Quickly, I opened my eyes to see an entire galaxy.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nBillions and billions of stars. Planets, meteors, and endless, endless space. It was enlightening. I reached out, to feel everything and nothing. The man was there, too. Floating above. \n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"How do you like it?\" He calmly asked.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"It's beautiful,\" I breathed, still taking in the entire universe. \n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Do you want it?\" He offered, and I had no response. \"For just 10 trillion stars a month, I can give you this! It comes with unique formations, creatures, and entire biospheres, full of potential!\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAll I could stutter was, \"What?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"You heard me, kid!\" The faint man now appeared a lot clearer, wearing a business suit and holding a briefcase. \"I'm just the messenger, but I promise, this place is all it's cracked up to be! Be the God of your own universe, but this is a limited time offer! Better decided quick, huh?\" He pitched, and my vision once again faded.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nWhen I awoke again, I was back in my bedroom. The image of him still lurked in the corner of my eye for the rest of the week, until one night, I heard an angry huff.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Still haven't decided?\" The man popped up once more, this time a lot angrier than before.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"No, I don't think I'll take you up on your offer, sir,\" I quietly whispered, as I did with many door-to-door salesman.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"A shame, indeed,\" the now nondescript man muttered. \"Well, I'm off to find someone else, then! Thanks for wasting my time!\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAnd so, I continued on. Not as a God, since who would trust such a shady salesman?" ]	3
	[WP] Everyone in the world has a soulmate, and you can't die until you meet said soulmate. You've decided to pursue a life of crime stopping, even if you never get to meet your soulmate.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Choices are never easy. \n\nI chose to focus on my career, but I have often wondered about alternative. Sometimes I dream about finding a girl and living out the rest of my life until we transition together. It's always been a slight comfort knowing there's someone out there that I could track down and ride off into the sunset with. \n\nIt's days like last Monday, where I'm investigating a hallway stained with the blood of some poor woman who was eviscerated there, where I have to bury those musings and focus on what I've dedicated my life to. The scene was grizzly by all standards. Some lunatic was convinced that he found his soul mate in passing, and was so angry of being robbed of life-eternal he mauled the girl. I doubt they were soul mates though. The first cops on the scene said her screams were blood curdling all the way from the hall to the ambulance, never fading with loss of blood. \n\nAfter a brief glance around the scene, I noticed there was a camera setup in the corner. Within a few minutes, we were watching a video of the guy freaking out at the victim, pulling out a knife, and painting the walls with her. We took a copy of the video and forwarded it our headquarters. AI detected a match with his face in residential zone ten. \n\nTypical. The zones were not pleasant places to be in. The rampant over-population makes slums inevitable. The government set up the zones to provide housing to the lazier immortals. That way if they're going cause trouble, they'll at least in one spot away from the more decent folks. Thankfully all zones are equipped with surveillance. With the scum bag located, we headed into the dark underbelly of the city. \n\nBy the time we arrived, headquarters had us a name and address. We kicked in the door and shot the fucker half a hundred times. I almost felt sorry for him. He was wheezing out pained breaths and spurts of blood as they dragged him away in handcuffs. It'd be half a hundred years before he felt okay again. \n\nAs we looked around the apartment, we found another fresh victim laid out in the kitchen. It seems our lunatic was a serial killer. The body out struck me in a way that no form has ever struck me before. Gorgeous jet black hair, pale skin, sharp nose, angry green eyes, and a lithe body. I don't know what it was about her, but I knew in my heart that she would have been the one. Maybe I'm a lunatic, but within the first few seconds of looking at her, every musing of riding into the sunset with my soul mate, who I could now put a face to, came flooding into my head. \n\nI rushed out of the apartment, lit a cigarette, and looked over the railing at all the people in the complex. I made my choices, but they never seemed so final until now. I always thought this job was my life's work, but now it's my eternal mission. I'm not sure how I feel about it." ]	2
	[WP] " I don't understand why you humans act in self destructive ways like this" the being said. An unkempt man takes another swig from his bottle and belches " I'll tell you why you insensitive E.T. looking bitch"	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The human sat across from me, on the other side of the campfire. The flames cast ominous shadows across his face that matched the mood he seemed to be in tonight. Adranos was hunched over, but even still, his massive frame sent darkness stretching out behind him that danced through the trees, giving the impression of a monstrously tall shadow man. Perhaps the ethanol was addling my mind; causing me to think strange thoughts, but there was little else to do as I waited for him to acknowledge my question.\n\nI learned early into our journey that just because he didn't answer, didnt mean he didn't hear. Adranos was a man with time on his hands. He viewed life as a riddle; a question to be answered. I'm not sure I believed him when he said he'd been alive several centuries, but I suppose anything was possible. Right now, he was thinking my question over, long and hard; treating it like another riddle to be solved or a question to he answered. At first it annoyed me, but I've come to see it as his way of showing respect. He stopped to think about what others said and considered what effect his response would have.\n\n\"Forgive me, if I meander along in this explaination, but I do have a point, so don't worry. See, I've traveled a long time. I started my journey of discovery around rise of the Roman Empire, and I've met many interesting people. One of whom, already answered your question. His name was Billius. He had no last name, as he had no family to take one from, but he demanded respect, and he got it. He was not educated, but trust me when I say that he was sharp as a whip. Big as an ox, but kind as a saint. Hell,\" Adranos chuckled, moving his shoulders up and down once, \"I believe he was one of the few to be able to look me straight in the eye without standing on a box. He was a great man. Unfortunately, he suffered from the same curse all great men do. The 'Candle dilemma' I call it. We'll use this fire as an example.\" He pointed his hand at the fire, fingers toward the stars and splayed out. Instantly, the fire burned brighter and larger than before, sending bright light in all directions and illuminating the woods. For a few moments, I swore I saw predators looming between the trees, but as soon as the fire died down again, they were gone. Their small camp was left dimmer than before.\n\n\"You see? For a few brief moments, the fire burned bright enough to light up the darkness around us, allowing us to see whats out there, like that pack of curious wolves. Be still, my friend. They will not attack. They are simply curious creatures. They will move on once they see we are not a threat. This fire is a metaphor for human existence. Each man has a fire within him that burns as he lives. Some mens fires smoulder for years, as he goes through life, depressed and accomplishes nothing. Others, like my dear friend Billius, burn magnificently, but for a short time as great flames consume more fuel.\n\nNow, for why men engage in self destructive behavior. It is because that fire within them burns. It hurts as it consumes their life, until the day it goes out. All of humanity suffers and therefore, seek ways to alleviate their pain by quenching their fire just enough to stop the flames, but keep the coals hot. I've known many men who turn to the drink to drown their sorrows, but over do it and quench their flames too much, and drown completely. That is the human condition. Humanity suffers as one and there is nothing that can change that fact. But!\" Adranos raised a single finger. \"There is hope. Amidst the darkness of these woods, there is a campfire. Without the darkness around us, the light seems worthless. No one carries a torch in the daylight. Similarly, if there was no darkness, would we truly appreciate the light? These are the type of philosophical questions best shared over an old whiskey. And that is one reason why humans drink. Because it brings out a side of them not often seen. Though, you seem to me to be a quiet drunk. That's fine with me, I'm a talkative drunk. What do ya say? Another shot?\"\n\nI nodded. \"Yes please.\"" ]	2
	[WP] It’s been 150 years since WW3. You’ve wandered in the Post-Apocalyptic ruins all your life, wondering about life before the bombs. Today, you awake the week before the start of the war with a briefcase filled with briefcase and a note, simply saying “Be Our Salvation”	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " I jumped over the table, and hid behind the counter for cover from the bullets. A raider had ambushed me, and I was trying to fight him off. We shouted out insults and swears to each other, while returning fire to our respective foe. \n\nA little backstory about me. My name’s John. I was born, exactly 21 years ago, the year of our lord 2148, in The Angel’s Boneyard of California. I lived an average life, for Wasteland standards, and in fact, I can’t say my childhood was bad. I grew up in a tribal village. We were close-knit, and everyone knew everyone else. My family and I grew cabbage and herded goat. It was very idyllic. But when I, and some of the others, turned 18, we were called into the Elders tent. With a somber tone, he told us that it was tradition for youths to go out into the Wastes. Cryptic until the bitter end, he told us that we’d find not what we were looking for, but what we needed to see. And we went on our way.\n\nI heard a burst of SMG fire hit the metal table I hid behind. The battle had reached a near stalemate. I decided to make a daring move. Slowly, I inched my way out from under the table with my knife. He didn’t see me. I lunged toward him with all my strength. He opened fire, but missed all of my vital organs. I stabbed him, dozens of times, before tiring out. The raider slowly bled out, faintly moaning from the pain. I laid out a sleeping bag next to his corpse, and slowly dozed of to the distant simmer of the irradiated landscape.\n\nA loud buzzing alarm awoke me. But not to where I had originally fallen asleep. I was in an...Old Times bed. The sheets were clean, and the mattress was soft and plushy. In front of the bed, a Telegram? Telegraph? Whatever you call the box with the moving pictures glowed with the picture of a stern looking man and woman. “In today’s news, the President has recently celebrated the completion of the ballistic orbital missile base, intended for use to keep the peace between us, and the Soviet Union.” I picked up a phone, and checked the date. February 24th. The war will strike in a week, or less. I saw a small crumpled paper note, with the writing “Be Our Salvation”." ]	2
	[WP] You wake up and look around you. You're in your room, but there's an eerie light and something feels... off. Your clock showcases the same time for what feels like an eternity. Then, you hear this: "I'm sorry for freezing you, but I must do what needs to be done."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "7-year-old Johnny woke up at 2:54 AM.\n\nHe took seconds to fully open his eyes. He could see his stickers on the ceiling again, glowing in the dark. The previous nights, Johnny's eyes had been worse at seeing clearly. Johnny smiled, confused at the same time. He didn't feel the heat he before did. He put a hand to his forehead, like his mother had done, confirming it.\n\nJohnny had tried to go back to sleep for what felt like hours. He turned in his bed to read the digital clock on his nightstand. 2:54 AM. Johnny found the power to throw his blanket off in frustration. \"I'm sorry for freezing you,\" it echoed in Johnny's room. He pulled the blanket back over him faster than he had thrown it away. \"But I must do what needs to be done.\" \n\nJohnny thought it had turned to day, as light shone through his blanket. Had he read the time wrong? He found the courage to take the blanket off himself again. Johnny was wrong. There was a light shining brightly in the middle of his room. Its brightness decreased after Johnny had his attention on it. \"Follow me, Johnny.\"\n\nThe light flew over to his open door. Johnny sat up for a second, staring. \"Mom says I have to sleep at night,\" he tried arguing. He feared what would happen if he did follow. \"Follow me, Johnny,\" the light repeated. It flew out his door, creating light outside his room. Johnny read the digital clock on his nightstand. 2:54 AM. Johnny giggled as he thought of the adventure.\n\n\"Do you love your parents?\" They were both in Johnny's parents' room. They were sleeping. Johnny nodded. He wanted to go hug them, but felt he had to hold himself back. He feared what would happen if he disturbed them. \"I love my parents.\" The light flew out of the room. Johnny couldn't see his parents anymore, so he followed the light.\n\n\"Do you love your brother?\" They were both in Johnny's brother's room. He was sleeping. Johnny nodded. He wanted to go hug him, but felt he had to hold himself back. He feared what would happen if he disturbed him. \"I love my brother.\" The light flew out of the room. Johnny couldn't see his brother anymore, so he followed the light.\n\nThey stood in the hallway. The dog was sleeping in his bed by the front door. \"Do you love your dog?\" Johnny nodded. \"I love my dog.\" Johnny wanted to hug it, but felt he had to hold himself back. \"Follow me, Johnny.\" The light opened the front door, outside was full of light. \n\nJohnny wanted to find treats to leave by the dog, but he couldn't see anything but the hallway. He couldn't remember where the treats were. He couldn't remember where the kitchen was. He couldn't remember what the house looked like. Johnny looked at the open front door. The light flew through the door. Johnny stood for a second, staring. He feared what would happen if he went outside in his pajamas. Johnny could only see the light, so he walked through the front door.\n\n7-year-old Johnny had been determined to have died in his sleep at around 3 AM." ]	2
	[WP] As an introvert, you didn't mind handling the apocalypse on your own. It was the other survivors that really stressed you out.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "In the distance, a loud diesel engine blows into the hilly road. Blasting down it was a weathered and battered 18 Wheeler, as it rammed some abandoned SUVs and Sedans out of the road with its sheer momentum, the truck looks like it had driven through the entirety of Apocalypse America, as it had roadsigns of various cities from East to West Coast bolted into its rusted Herd bumper, the large windshield and driver and passenger windows were caged while the large 18 Alcoa wheels that was rolling on and on and on seemed as if it has passed its usability a long time ago. Its large 53 Foot Dry Van trailer had both barbed wiring and sandbags plastered and bolted into its sides with scattered blood spray both new and old was all over it.\n\nDown the road was a roadblock most likely set up by Bandits or Raiders since multiple vehicles which looked like it was modified to survive the apocalypse was left lying on the road infront of the roadblock. The roadblock itself wasn't much of a threat. It was just a large RV turned sideways to completely block the small two way hill top road with multiple barrels scattered with its vacinity to provide cover.\n\nThe trucker saw the obvious ambush but wished to humor them. The truck slowly came to a halt. It waitied there, in the middle of the road, silemt and menacing, the large noisy machine that was once supposed to transport goods is now a large hulking boss battle on 18 wheels. The trucker did not think of this to much. He has been on the road and know what his machine could do if put to work. He had nobody with him on his cab, it was only him and road and the apocalypse. But this didn't bother him, as long as he can keep rolling on, he will roll on. He has been accustomed to being alone on the road for so long. The trucker's face couldn't clearly be seen due to the angle of the Sun that was only showing his grin and a badly shaved jaw. \n\nAfter a few seconds of silence that even seemed to have drowned out the noisy revving sound of its diesel engine, a haunting horn came blasting into the forest. The sound was like a high pitch reverb of a chalk being screeched over the board. The truck blew its airhorns multiple times before the two once chrome horns sitting on top of the trucks cab ran out of air, it was simply the truckers attempt to wake up the people who were waiting in anticipation for him to come out. He knew these lowlives have nothing better to do put drag other people into their selfish deeds, so he must teach them a lesson with his very own method.\n\nA load noise came from the trucks gearbox. It was the trucker putting down the gear into forward. \n\nThe large lumbering machine took off from the middle of the road, 18 wheels of steel was about to go through the makeshift roadbloack.\n\nIt bulldozed its way onto the line of apocalyptic cars left on the road by its victims.\n\nShots then came, bullets in the size of .22s, .308s, and .45 came from the forest around the road while automatic fire was coming out of the RVs Passenger side and Kitchen window.\n\nBullets melted into the trucks hood and hit the glass of the driver side window.\n\nThe truck continued rolling into the roadblock as if nothing was happening to it.\n\nIt rammed into the RVs middle part, complete engulfing the kitchen side window. The truck had no mercy as its momentum was to big to even be stopped by something like a hollow RV.\n\nThe RV was completely ripped in half as the 18 wheeler continued hauling ass down the Hill.\n\nThe gunshots stopped as the 18 wheeler slowly creeps out of view and into the zigzag roads that heads to the base of the Hill. \n\nOut of the driver side mirror, the trucker could see 7 multiple figures come out of the forest beside where the ambush was skimming around at the damage done by the beast.\n\nAnd so, the truck drove off into the distance covering more and more distance all by itself. And nothing shall stop it till the last drop of fuel is gone.", "The sounds of the forest filled Brian's ears as he pushed his way through the thick brush, relishing in the firmness of the dirt beneath his feet and the gentle scraping of the leaves and branches on his arms. He was in his element, and he knew it. \n\nHe took a deep breath of the fresh, crisp mountain air. There was nothing quite like it in the world, he thought. He'd been in the Boy Scouts back in the days before everything went sideways, and it had implanted a love for nature in him that had never quite left, even after he grew up and got a job in the city. He hadn't thought he'd ever really get to be out here again, but then the world had ended.\n\n\"Hey, Brian!\"\n\nBrian stiffened and froze in place behind a tree, hoping against hope that he hadn't been spotted. Perhaps his pursuer simply knew he was out here somewhere and hadn't seen him yet. Perhaps if he was still enough, if he didn't move...\n\n\"Brian,\" said the voice again. \"I can see you. This ain't Jurassic Park.\"\n\nBrian let out a resigned sigh and straightened up. \"Hey, Jack,\" he called out, forcing a measure of fake cheeriness into his voice. \"Sorry, I, uh...\"\n\nHe couldn't quite think of a plausible excuse, so he let his voice trail off.\n\nA tall, burly man stepped out of the brush and strode toward Brian, his eyes filled with the sort of determination that drove all men of his ilk. Branches bent in the path of his broad shoulders and snapped, quivering, back into place after he had passed.\n\nThe behemoth of a man came to a stop in front of Brian. Brian was by no means a small fry, but Jack towered over him just as convincingly as the trees that surrounded them.\n\n\"What are you doing out here on your own?\" Jack rumbled. \"You're not on any assignments that would require you to leave the camp today, and you know you gotta stick with someone whenever you leave.\"\n\nBrian shifted uncomfortably. I'd be more comfortable with the Fleshwalkers at this point, he thought. He'd been stuck in Davis Rockwell's little survival complex for nearly three months now, and it was really getting to be too much. Rockwell insisted on keeping the place as compact as possible so as to keep everyone together and make the whole thing easier to defend, but living with several hundred people who were all crammed together into the space of a few football fields was more than a little bit uncomfortable. They'd packed dozens of people into tents meant for ten, and there was no privacy, no alone time- ever. Everyone worked together for the common good of the camp and shared every resource, including time and space. Everywhere one went inside the camp, there were people. Even the outhouses were a constant mess of hustle and bustle, with folks flowing in and out all day long, making noise, laughing and talking. Every night, Brian went to bed with other people's bodies pressed up on either side of him. It was a nightmare, and there was no escape.\n\nBrian didn't hate people. He just needed some time alone every once in a while, to recharge, to think without having his own thoughts crowded out of his head by a constant cacophony of noise and movement. He often tried to get himself assigned to duties that required him to leave the camp, such as foraging and woodcutting, but even when performing those tasks, he'd always been accompanied by a sizable group of other people, as per Rockwell's rules. Today was the day he had finally gotten sick of it and snuck out through an emergency entry point in one of the fortifications, but clearly someone had noticed his absence.\n\n\"Look, Jack,\" said Brian, deciding that perhaps an honest appeal would net him some sympathy from the giant. \"I just needed some time alone. Camp is too hectic for me, and I'm on break from my assignments right now, so I thought...\"\n\n\"You thought you'd violate the camp director's rules and put yourself in danger,\" said Jack. He clearly wasn't going to budge.\n\nBrian sighed, conceding defeat. \"Fine,\" he muttered, sulking just a little. \"Take me back.\"\n\nJack unclipped the short-range radio from his belt. He held it up to his face.\n\n\"Violator apprehended. Taking him back to camp right now.\"\n\nHe frowned at the radio for a moment, then huffed. \"Oh, look at that. Have I had it turned off this whole time?\" He let out a rueful chuckle and pointed a finger at Brian's face. \"Don't you say a word about this.\"\n\nJack turned the radio on, and Brian watched the smile vanish from his face as the device came alive with the sound of muffled screams and cries of anguish. Cold chills ran down Brian's spine as he heard another sound in the background of the broadcast- the unmistakable howl of Fleshwalkers.\n\n\"Hello?\" Jack shouted into the radio. \"Does anyone read me? This is Jack Harrison. I am outside the compound. What's going on in there? Does anyone copy?\"\n\nThe tortured cries from the radio continued. Jack looked up and met Brian's eyes.\n\n\"We need to move,\" he growled. He spun on his heel and stormed off into the woods. All thoughts of introversion forgotten, Brian followed him.\n\nFor a man of his size, Jack was surprisingly quick. Brian lost his breath several times trying to keep up with the big lug, who barreled through tree limbs as though they were twigs and vaulted logs like they were hurdles in his haste to get back to the compound.\n\nWhen the imposing west wall of the camp finally appeared in the trees ahead of them, Brian was taken by surprise. He would have expected the air to be rent with bloodcurdling shrieks and triumphant Fleshwalker howls, but instead, it was eerily silent.\n\nJack slowed down as they reached the emergency entry point and held up a fist, his eyes fixed on the entrance. Brian stopped and watched as Jack drew his sidearm and slipped in through the entrance. A few moments later, he reappeared and nodded to Brian.\n\nBrian followed him into the camp and sucked in a breath. As far as he could see, the ground was littered with bodies. Their blood soaked into the earth, staining it a dark red. The stench of death hung in the air, and nothing stirred as they entered.\n\nBrian followed Jack around in a daze, stunned into silence. The bigger man didn't talk much either as they swept the perimeter, checking for any survivors or remaining Fleshwalkers and finding neither. The Fleshwalkers must have left the compound after their bloody work was done.\n\nRockwell's body was in his quarters, torn to shreds on his bunk and surrounded by the fallen forms of the guards who had tried, until the very last, to defend him. Brian had never particularly liked the man's way of running things, but as he gazed at the bloodied mess that had once been the compound's leader, he felt a deep pang of sorrow. Nobody deserved to die like this.\n\nAfter they had ensured that the compound was clear of hostiles, Brian went outside and sat on a bench outside the mess hall, staring out at the piles of bodies. They were packed as closely together in death as they had been in life. The Fleshwalkers were truly the great equalizers in this ruined, savage world, he thought. Not a man, woman, or child was spared from their destruction. It must have taken a truly enormous and powerful pack of Fleshwalkers to penetrate a compound as fortified as this one, though; frankly, it was impressive. The colossal front gates, once so proud and tall, now lay in a twisted heap on the ground near the camp's entrance. Brian shuddered to think of how ferocious the Fleshwalkers' might must have been to so utterly destroy them.\n\nHe was drawn out of his thoughts by the distinctive sound of a rifle being cocked. He glanced to his left and saw Jack standing beside him, clad in tactical battle gear, loaded down with all manner of weaponry.\n\n\"I'm going out,\" Jack announced. \"I'm going to find them, and I'm going to kill as many of them as I can.\"\n\nBrian glanced around, letting his eyes roam over the devastation once more. After a moment, he said, \"I'm not sure you'll be able to do much.\"\n\nJack shook his head. His entire body was trembling. \"Doesn't matter. I have to try. I have to do something.\"\n\nHis eyes were filled with something like rage. Their expression reminded Brian of broken glass. Something inside Jack had been shattered, and the man was clearly not going to be dissuaded from his plan.\n\nBrian stood up. \"I'll go with you.\"\n\nJack shook his head. \"You'd only get in the way.\" He shoved a rifle into Brian's arms. \"But just in case they come back here, take this.\"\n\nHe stormed off toward the entrance of the camp, through the fallen iron gates, heading out into the woods. Brian watched him disappear and realized that he would probably never see the man alive again. He sat back down on the bench, looked around at the sea of bodies and blood one more time, and then put his head in his hands. Slowly, his body began to shake, and tears flowed out, dripping out from between his fingers and falling onto the blood-soaked ground.\n\nHe was finally alone." ]	3
	[WP]You can hear the Sultan Mehmed II breach the city gates as the fall of Constantinople draws near. Then, you see a full legion appear out of the smoke, led by Julius Caesar and sent by God to protect the last remains of the Roman Empire.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "From historical accounts the Ottoman oddity\n\nThe Roman legion 5000 men strong led by the great Ceasar appeared in the citysquare and rallying the 11 thousand men in Constantinople to meet the Ottoman Force's outside of the city in honorable combat.\n\nAfter an hour of planning they exited the besieged city to face the 91 thousand Ottomans.\n\nThe battle was short as Romans fought valiantly even against the Jannisary with early gun's that splintered through shields and found Roman flesh.\n\nIn the end it wasn't enough and Constantinople fell to the Ottoman empire. \n\nWhile many more men on the Ottoman side died because of the Roman legion it also became a rallying cry \" not even Ceasar himself can stand against us\" as the Ottoman empire seized South eastern Europe stopping only as met Poland, the Alps. The Ottoman empire almost fell in the 1920s but thankfully it was able to play a part as a major ally against Nazi Germany even through the Armenian genocide was the final blow to the old empire as it went through 20 year's of civil war before reforming as a democracy influenced heavily by it's close neighbors in Europe.\n\nThis did raise many questions for historians like how did a Roman legion led by Ceasar find it self in the 1400s. For theologians the question was why did a pagan army fight for a Christian people in a city they had never heard of.\n\nThis would be one of the great mysteries that is never fully answered. Some would theorize what if the Romans hadn't arrived and some Alt history writers would even write stories about the Ottomans losing." ]	2
	[WP] It's hard finding a date, what with the eldritch abominations arising from all corners, but you're confident you'll find that special someone.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Today is going to be a good day\" I thought as I cheerfully played around with the possibilities in my head. Anxiety was never comfortable, but it was refreshing to experience it again after so long. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nI had been on a roll lately. It was friday today, and on this week alone I amassed an outstanding total of 2 new matches in OkCupid, an unprecedented all time high. Granted, even though one was a spam bot that tried to sell me socks through an Amazon link, the other one turned out a real beauty, a stroke of luck, a chance at last. I was brimming with optimism, an optimism infused in every single one of my springy steps all the way to the coffee store downtown. My sanity quotient was as stable as ever. \n\n\nSarah was her name, I had a good hour long chat with her prior to the arrangements we made for today, which I knew was always a good sign. We talked about the hardships of life and got to tell the stories of each other, ending in a good note by finding out shared interests. It had been what I'd call a perfect first conversation if it wasn't for the four minute breakdown she had while I had to convice her not to gouge her left eye out with a fork and eat it. I guess perfection really doesn't exist though! \n\n\nAs I turned the corner on N͙̜̤̞̺͙e̳͉͔̜͇͞ͅz̶̖̘̻͖p̦̮̥͔͉̩e̥r̖̻̘ḍ͉̻͔͇̜͎i̜a͏̹n̨̮̩ avenue, I spotted what was probably an embryonic eleven-legged mindfly engulfing a pidgeon by absorving it through it's abdominal cavities. I wasn't really sure if it was an eleven-legged mindfly, probably twelve-legged, I couldn't really see well at the time since the brain waves emitted by the fly were altering my perception of reality and I struggled to understand if my right hand had always consisted of seven fingers as I could swear they were only ever three and my wristnails weren't black for sure. \n\n\nI decided to keep going, mindflies usually didn't bother anyone else for half a day after consuming living flesh. As I arrived at the parking lot of the modern coffee store my anxiety peeked and I was beginning to enter into a cycle of self-doubt in which I always tried to convince myself meeting internet strangers was a dangerous and overall bad idea in these times. Thankfully I knew better than to trust my baseless fear and also snapped out of it as soon as I saw the drop of violet, translucent ooze land right to the left of my foot. I felt alleviated as it was just the horrid parasytic teethworm hanging from the canopy of the store. I knew from experience that those only tended to evolve into acidic rage blobs when fed by solar radiation, and today was very cloudy. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nAs I took my first step inside, I adjusted my tie and checked my watch, 4:48 P.M, seems I was just on time. We had arranged to meet at 3 o' clock but everyone knew that during any written communication you had to substract an hour and forty five minutes to any planned schedule in order to avoid the face that watches. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nI proceeded to nervously pace through the spacious store looking in all directions, trying to identify her, it shouldn't be that hard, her profile had three pictures, one even were half her face was showing. My mind was racing as I went through the pictures in my head, she had no scars in her arms and her eyes still hadn't turned completely gray, it was almost too good to be true. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nI couldn't see anyone that resembled her, so I took a sit in table near the closest window to the store's frontdoor. A few uneventful minutes passed. I was meticulously scrutinizing the many folds of the velvet curtain and how similar they felt to the rugged texture of exposed human brains. It was an habit of mine to compare textures of things I often came into contact with in everyday life. Suddenly I felt the vibration of the phone in my pocket and I reached eagerly for it. It was a message from Sarah. \n\n\n\"Sorry, I'm not going to be able to show up- \" It started, and I already felt unordinarily disheartened.\n\n\"My dog ate my uncle, and we had to put him down. I'm not feeling well.\" \n\nDomesticarnages, I thought. They enter the body of pets and feed on the love of their owners until they grow and become unstable, they are unrecognizable until the mouths of their host grow two meters in size and devour anything in close proximity. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nI slammed the table with both fists in frustration. How come this always happened to me? At this point it would have been better if she had turned to be another spam bot trying to sell underwear to me. I tried to shush the voice in the back of my mind telling me I should have brought a machete with me in case something like this happened and stood up in anger. I headed outside and popped a cigarette out of the pack I always brought with me to calm down in stressful situations like this one. I saved it for emergencies, it was a pleasurable vice just for the really harsh moments in which life seemed unfair and unforgiving. I calmly exhaled the smoke out of my lungs and let myself relax in the parking lot while looking in the distance. I could see a Tentaclyon melting the bones of several people one block away. I wondered if I could have met any of those people through OkCupid if they hadn't died horrible deaths. Oh well, maybe next time it'll turn out different." ]	2
	[WP] The world's magic is divided among all magic-users. Not necessarily equally, and the portion of the world's magic one has varies over time. It's noticed that all known magic users have been getting steadily weaker.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"The Vajran Ultimatum\", translated into common English and stored in the Grand Archive.\n\nThis note is the only remaining possession of Vajran Hall. It was found outside the Reservoir immediately after a terrorist attack. \n\n--------\n\n\"This future was never sustainable. No serious mage could possibly believe it was. Everyone can feel it, the subtle creeping weakness. The reservoir is bleeding.\n\n\"For years, we watched as our source of magic was eroding. We watched as we grew ever more dependent on its miracles. Our very society was designed around it.\n\n\"As we discovered alchemy, the mines closed. As we learned to hunt dragons for food, we forgot how to use the sickle.\n\n\"Let me give you a taste of the future you are bringing upon yourselves. Perhaps when you taste the bitterness of a world without magic, you will seek to protect it.\n\n\"As I write this, I hold a vial of dragon's breath in my left hand. It's cold flames do not destroy wood and flesh, but magic itself. I intend to place this deep in the Reservoir.\n\n\"This is an action that I surely will not survive, but it will harm the Reservoir just as much. Being a living creature, it will be wounded, and seek to defend itself.\n\n\"In time, it will heal, and perhaps one day it will grant us its magic once more. Until then, we must remember how to survive without it. Only then can we understand that we can use its power without destroying it forever.\"\n\n-Vajran Hall, Alchemist and Scholar of the Reservoir" ]	2
	[WP] In a moment of crisis, a life-long pacifist discovers they have a super power	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "...because it wasn’t until the moment that he pointed the gun at Jenny that I had my first urge to destroy something. I’m a pacifist, raised by pacifists on a collective farm, I’ve never even considered the idea of self-defense violence. The idea disgusts me, even now. But when this prick fuck pointed the gun at the old girl I’ve ever loved, I had the Urge.\n\nIt wasn’t a cruel death, instantaneous, I’m certain, he just popped out of existence with a sound like popping the inside of your cheek. \n\nThe police never even questioned me, how neat is that?\n\nThat was my first kill, although, hardly my last. You see, every time I ‘pocket’ someone, my power grows. Greater reach, more control. I can also “pocket” objects, since the pocket seems to digest organics. I’ve also learned that I can make a kill in different ways...\n\n\nTonight I’m going out to help solve the city’s homeless problem." ]	2
	[WP] A serial killer is trying to frame you for their murders. When they don't hear anything about it, the killer comes to find that their victims are fine, as if the murders never happened.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Oh, that man was an idiot. Did all his research on his victims, and none on the one he intended to frame. You chuckle to yourself, watching the last one, a woman perhaps your own age, get up, looking quite disoriented.\nIf that man had really thought this through or did an ounce of research into you, the fact you could resurrect the dead was one of the more obvious things that could be seen. The mark on your forehead was quite telling. You had caught on long ago to “Silent Slasher”’s little scheme and had been resurrecting his victims as he went along, covering the tracks and sweeping up the messes he caused. Oh. Miriam was going to have your head for this, but it was just so amusing to foil them and see them see their victims up and about! Sadistic, perhaps, but it was fun. The hierarchy in the afterlife was crumbling anyway, no one’s going to miss a couple misplaced souls! You could always reap them later, once the mastermind was dead. \nGetting up from the makeshift infirmary, you hum a little tune, tracing a familiar path down the rooms of the mansion, to the large window overlooking the yard below, you catch a glimpse of a shadow lurking in one of the bushes.\nThe “Silent Slasher” wasn’t as dim witted as he originally seemed. Oh well, that’s another soul to reap and game to end. It was going so well, too. Leaning off to the side, your weapon materializes in your hands, you let out a small smirk. “Come, Ivythorne, we have a new guest.” You giggle, spinning the weapon as you step out of sight to the man making his way across the yard towards your house. Oh, how idiotic was he? \nGoodbye, Gregory Ronald Wilkins. Timothy’s going to have a fun time with you!" ]	2
	[WP] You’re not a traditional werewolf. Instead of transforming in a full moon, the wolf is the other half of your split personality and comes out when it wants. Turns out, he’s actually a pretty chill dude.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/XYsEYfS)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I glided through the meadows high grass with ease, cutting my way through at a healthy pace. The river I survived on was just on the other side. I had a pretty little spot I knew where the river was damned up by big beavers and the water stood still and clear. Fish were plentiful, blocked by the mud and wood barrier, and a crafty hunter could often get more than we needed. \n\nIt had been like this for awhile, I liked it this way but my brother was never sure. He's been there as long as I can remember. Tall, with pale skin and sunken eyes. He used to be there all the time, talking so loud I couldn't think. I didn't want to think, I liked listening to him.\n\nHe had all sorts of ideas and goals. He dreamt of being the smartest man ever and of saving the world. He would talk and I would listen even though I didn't understand.\n\nI used to think he didn't like me, he would shut me up when I tried to speak. He wasn't an angry person but I do think he used to hate me. I could be loud to though, I didn't want to be ignored. I would yell at him during dinner when he cut into his meat or tease him when we would exercise. I was always the better athlete.\n\nWe eventually grew close. He would tell me his dreams and then ask me what I dreamt. I would always answer the same, \"I run and I'm hungry\".\n\nThe first time he left we had just come back from classes at University. He spoke and asked how could he go on. He told me he was failing classes, and nobody liked him. He wasn't like them and the dreams he once had, felt so distant. The world was getting more complex for him, he didn't know what was right anymore. He left and that's the first time I really had time to think for myself.\n\nI found him eventually and took him with me. We would beat this. I thought of ways to help him be stronger and smarter. I gave the word for him to say and now he was listening. We left University and began our lives together stronger than ever.\n\nThe second time he left was during our residency. We were helping people just like he wanted, but I knew he was once again turning inward. I asked him and he confessed. He was at a crossroads, he felt for the people he helped but he felt deeper wants. With his ideological future come forth he was granted true insight and it stuck him at night. He dreamed of hunger and speed.\n\nWe moved out slowly at first, then all at once. We would spend weeks in the woods and he would take hikes in the trees. When he left I would hunt for us. I was good at it and we never felt the worst of hunger. His hikes would become longer and longer until one night on a full moon he didn't come back. I waited for a long time, but eventually I knew I needed to leave.\n\nThat wasn't the last time I saw him. I found my little spot in the river that the beavers damned up a long time after he left. I looked down into the water there he was, my brother, starting back at me. He told me of his dreams and the happiness he has found in this world. He told me he didn't think he would come back. I understood, for I too was happy in the woods.\n\nI still return often because it's a good little spot. Plenty of fish and the water is clean. As my fur began to grey I knew there were other reasons I returned. Maybe one day I'll see him there again. Though I'm happy, I've realized I no longer only dream of running and hunger. Though I don't see him, I never miss him. In fact it often feels as though he never left.", "Adam was sprawled out on the floor, and he couldn't remember why. As the darkness on the edges of his vision slowly faded away, his first thought was that the carpet seemed a lot softer than usual. It had been old and crusty for years, and he couldn't remember the last time he had vacuumed it, but right now it felt like he was laying on a pile of feathers.\n\nHe slowly lifted his head. He was in his room, but something wasn't quite right. He rolled over, wincing as every muscle in his body cried out in pain. As he took a moment to breathe, he realized that he was naked. A pile of shredded clothes had been placed neatly on the chair in front of him.\n\nHe sighed and forced himself to stand up. His muscles continued to burn, protesting the decision. He rubbed his forehead and glanced at the clock. It was already eight at night. He had thought today would be a relaxing day for him, filled with video games and junk food, but clearly the other guy's plans had been different.\n\nAdam's eyes fell upon his nightstand and were met with the sight of a handwritten note. It had impeccable penmanship, as usual. He sighed and picked it up, bracing himself. What had the old mutt done this time?\n\nThe message read,\n\n\"Hello, Adam. I hope you don't mind that I took advantage of our day off today. I know you've been very busy, so I decided to have the carpets shampooed while I was out. Don't worry, I left before the cleaning guys got here. I know you don't like it when people see me, especially since the incident with the plumber (which I'm still terribly sorry for). But I digress. I spent most of my time out in the forest today. Did you know it's almost spring? The robins are already out in force, filling the air with their sweet little songs. You should take a walk and hear them sometime; they're quite lovely.\n\nI befriended a kindly old buck near the river. He's coming over for supper next Tuesday; I hope you don't mind that I invited him. He's a real gentleman- a vegetarian, so do be prepared for that. I can cook, if you want. Whatever works for you.\n\nAnyway, I tried not to take you away from your body for too long. I might come back out next time you're off work- we'll see. Thanks for keeping it real, as they say.\n\nYours truly,\n\nWolfgang.\"\n\nAdam threw the annoyingly polite note down in disgust. It was bad enough that this stupid werewolf wasn't beholden to the classic \"full moon\" rules and could come out whenever he pleased, but his constant pleasant attitude and respectful demeanor made it even worse. Try as he might, Adam could hardly find a reason to be mad at him. True, the guy did often hijack Adam's body and force him to become a muscle-bound bipedal canine freak of nature- a process which left Adam sore for a week every time it happened- but he was usually so non-intrusive about it that Adam couldn't really complain.\n\n\"Whatever,\" he muttered. He got dressed, then walked back over to his gaming chair and let himself drop into it, letting out a soft gasp as his muscles screamed their displeasure with the action. He picked up a game controller and tried to play some Call of Duty, but his mind kept wandering back to Wolfgang. That blasted varmint had stolen most of his day- it wasn't as though he'd been planning to do much, but it was still his day, wasn't it?\n\n\"I gotta figure something out,\" he muttered, shutting off the XBox and grabbing his phone. He typed \"werewolf removal\" into Google, but only found a few random articles about Skyrim. Frustrated, he threw his phone at the wall, and as it fell to the floor with a thud, Adam thought, It's a good thing I don't transform whenever I'm angry, like the Hulk or something. I bet I'd never turn back into myself.\n\nAs he picked up his phone with a resigned huff, something caught his eye. An ad had appeared at the top of the Google search page that hadn't been there before. It read, \"Lycanthropy specialist- call now for a free consultation.\"\n\nIntrigued, Adam tapped on the link. His eyes scanned the page, and the more he read, the more he liked what he saw. A smile slowly stretched itself across his face.\n\n\"Sorry, Wolfgang,\" he whispered as he dialed the number. \"You've been very polite, but your days of carpet shampooing and frolicking in the forest are over.\"", "I was walking down the street, perusing the menu of my favorite Chinese restaurant, when I overhead a group of people talking. They said,\n\n\"... yeah, they saw him in down SoHo.\"\n\n\"What was he doing there?\"\n\n\"Rumor is he was going out for Chinese.\"\n\nI had to chime in, \"He was probably at Lee Ho Fook's. It's the best chow mein in London.\"\n\nThe group looked up at me, slightly startled, but fairly amused. They were talking about the latest sightings of the wolf man. He has been causing quite a stir across the country lately. I thought it'd be fun to catch up on the gossip.\n\n\".... well my friend Alice says her friend Laina hooked up with him!\" said one of the girls.\n\n\"With the wolf-man? Really?!\"\n\n\"Did she scratch him behind the ears?...\"\n\nI couldn't help but ask, \"well, the real question is, how good was he?\"\n\n\"I don't know! All I know is that she invited him in for coffee and... I guess they did it on the kitchen table.\"\n\n\"Ha! He's good!\"\n\nThese people were pretty amusing, although they didn't really have anything else to say as juicy as that. They continued on with where he was spotted last. Some say he was running amuck in Kent, other says it's Mayfair. They all agreed he was spotted getting a piña colada at Trader Vic's. When the conversation started to get stale, the group started to break up. Before I started off, I hear one tease the other,\n\n\"Be careful if you run into him, he'll rip your lungs out, Jim!\"\n\nI stopped walking and just listened.\n\n\".... I don't know, he seems like a pretty chill guy. Honestly, I'd probably just buy him a beer and ask him who's his tailor.\"\n\nI turned back around to face them. I looked them dead in the eyes and folded my menu up, slid it into my coat pocket, and watched their faces go pale when I pulled out a hand covered in hair holding the card for my tailor.\n\n[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDpYBT0XyvA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDpYBT0XyvA)" ]	4

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