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] "In this job, you get one a year. Once you hit 5, you get no more until you use them" said your new boss. "But what are they for?" you ask. He just winks and walks away.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 what are they for?\" Marge asked. She turned over the small glass rectangle to inspect the other side; the action was an automatic curiosity. She felt dumb after she flipped it over and peered through the perfectly transparent pane. Her boss, Mr. Brewster winked and walked away. Marge was left alone within the confines of a corner cubicle. She looked down at the thin glass card in her hands and her thumb brushed over the bottom edge.\n\n\\[Welcome to Sharp Development, Margerie\\] Bright white text appeared centered on it. The words were clearly visible against the light blue office carpet and seemed to be floating in the air. A white pulsing arrow pointed down under the words and she swiped her thumb down across it. The text changed.\n\n\\[Follow me for a tutorial!\\] replaced the welcome in the center of the display. Two more white pulsing arrows appeared. One at the top and one at the bottom. The one at the top was labeled with the text: \\[Tutorial\\]. The arrow at the bottom was labeled: \\[Skip\\] Marge decided to follow the tutorial.\n\nAs soon as she tapped the arrow all text disappeared. Then a red arrow appeared in the middle pointing at the exit of her cubicle. Red pulses of light started at the blunt end of the arrow and flowed forward to gather at its point. Marge looked at the exit but the only thing she could see was the corner of the office floor. Two off-white, windowless walls met in a dim corner.\n\n\"There's nothing there,\" she mumbled to herself. Coincidentally, as if responding to her mutter white text appeared on the red arrow.\n\n\\[Follow\\] it said. The floating arrow shrunk in size. Its motion was so smooth Marge thought it looked like zooming out of a map. As the arrow got smaller dotted lines extended from it and she realized it actually was a map, and she was the red arrow. A simple square formed around the arrow with its opening facing the intersection of two longer lines. The dots turned right just outside her cubicle. They followed the wall toward where her boss suggested the break rooms were. He did not actually show them to her; he waved a hand at the back of the floor and said, \"That's where the break rooms are.\"\n\nMarge stepped out of her cubicle and the arrow spun to the right like a compass. She followed the wall until the arrow told her to turn left at a dark, narrow hallway. It was lined with lights at about Marge's height, but each one produced less light than a candle.\n\nShe followed the pulsing arrow into the hall and felt a chill travel down her spine. She debated quitting then and there but one of the lights in the hallway disappeared. A lean man in a dark suit stepped into the hall from where the light was. Marge realized it was a door when he pulled it closed and the light returned. He jumped a bit when he noticed Marge there.\n\n\"Sorry,\" he apologized for the flash of fear as he approached her. \"Number 2 ended badly and I'm still kind of jumpy. Here's hoping number 3 is better, eh?\" he smiled warmly at Marge then excused himself with a nod. \"Back at it, I suppose. Good luck, I'll see you around,\" he waved as he walked off into the cubicle farm.\n\nMarge felt more at ease about the hallway after seeing someone come out of it alive and she padded down it. She reached the first door, the one the man came out of, and it had a small name plaque affixed to the door. \"Jeremy Henderson,\" it said. She turned around and found another door behind her with a different name; then, she remembered her map. She looked down at it and the arrow pointed deeper down the hall. She shrugged and followed it.\n\nAfter passing a dozen doors poorly lit nameplates she found the one with her name on it, \"Margerie Garza\". The arrow flashed green and disappeared; Marge heard an electric lock whirr and the door loosened. She smiled down at the glass gadget.\n\n\"This thing's neat. But I wonder why I need more than one?\" She wondered as she pushed the door open. The room was dark as she cracked it open. \"Didn't that guy say he was on number three?\" she ran the mystery through her mind as she stepped in the darkness. Once she was in completely, the rectangle in her hand flashed a white light then the lights came on in the room.\n\n\"Whoa...,\" she didn't know what to think. The room was narrow and long. The first thing she saw was a hole in the ground against the back wall. It was about six feet long, three feet wide and a foot deep surrounded by rich, moist soil. Along the wall to her right rested a black mannequin. It stood straight up within a small red circle. There were four more empty circles lined up on the floor next to it that looked ready to hold more mannequins. The wall to her left was empty off-white with nothing else in the room. She glanced down at the device for advice.\n\n\\[Lay Down\\] it said. Another arrow pointed at the hole in the floor. Marge shrugged.\n\n\"What the hell, maybe I'll get a nap,\" she decided and climbed into the hole on her back. She held the small pane up for more directions.\n\n\\[Put me on the ground. Close your eyes.\\]\n\n\"Definitely taking a nap,\" she giggled to herself. The cool soil was soft and surprisingly comfortable. She placed the rectangle on the ground, took a deep breath for courage then closed her eyes.\n\n\\[Open your eyes.\\] Flashed across her vision in bright white text.\n\n\"How the hell-whoooa.\" Marge opened her eyes and a rush of dizziness washed over her. She laid down and was expecting to still be on her back when she opened her eyes. Instead, she was standing with no idea how she got from her back to a standing position. Once she got her balance she looked around the same room. \n\n\\[First life. Be careful.\\] more words appeared in her vision again. Now that her eyes were open they seemed to be hovering in the air.\n\n\"No way....,\" she glanced at the hole she laid in to try and piece together what happened.\n\nShe was still laying there in the dirt. She looked down at herself and saw she was standing in the same spot as the black mannequin.\n\n\\\\\\*\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is year two, story #246. 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.", "You'll never forget or get used to the smell of a person's lifeless body. Entering the home of someone who either just killed themselves or have been murdered is always makes you feel sick, but it has to be done. Disposing and cleaning up dead bodies was my thing the hours were good and the paycheck I got was astonishing. \n\nSitting in the board room waiting for my manager to come in and give me my first yearly performance review. \"He must be the first to last this long since you entered the program John\" said in a low voice coming from behind me. \"He's good at what he does and never complains,\" John said politely. I never have seen John my manager talk so politely to someone he's usually blunt and rude with people. Spinning around in my chair and standing up to shake their hands and exchange pleasantries. I finally got a good look at who John was talking to he was as wide as the door and had a cigar in his right hand. John sat down across from us while this person just stood in the doorway filling up the room with puffs of smokes from his cigar. The meeting felt like it went on forever but, it was no longer than 10 minutes. The meeting went as expected nothing out of the ordinary until the end when John excused himself for a moment. John squeezed by the big guy while he waddled over towards me stopping about 2 feet from my seat. I was unsure of what to say but I had to say something it was too awkward but before I could speak this man raised his left hand and flipped a gold coin into the air. The coin hit the desk with force did not bounce you could tell that the coin was heavy by the sound that echoed across the room. \"What is this for\" I asked sheepishly being intimidated by his presence. Letting out a plume of smoke he just smiled and winked at me then slowly waddled off.\n\nI was left staring at this quickly picking the coin up and examining it to figure out what it's used for. The coin was solid gold with no markings it was just a plane gold coin. Before I could inspect the coin further my phone started buzzing. It was John it was time for another cleanup job making sure I put the coin into the ring pocket in my jeans I quickly gathered my cleaning equipment to be loaded into the van. \"What on earth is this gold coin for\" I asked John while climbing into the van. John just looked at me and winked. \n\nSo that was that we went and did the job as usual and I lived my life like any other 23-year-old would when not working. For the next four years, I continued cleaning up dead bodies, getting paid and receiving a gold coin a year. On my 6th year working for this company, I did not receive a gold coin.\n\nBeing fed up with all the secrecy about these gold coins I gathered the five I had and brought them to the local jewelers to get them priced. The jeweler was an old man bent over on a stool sitting behind his desk greeting me as I entered the shop. \"Hi, I was wondering if you could give me a fair price for these gold coins I have\" I said while putting them one by one on the glass table peace the jeweler was sitting at. The jewelers face suddenly turned pale and the welcoming smile vanished off his face. \"Get out! get out of my shop now!\" he shouted at me. Being startled at the tone the jeweler suddenly took with me I just stood there in shock. \"What?\" I said while looking around with a confused. \"Just get out! you're too young to have a gold coin a matter of fact your too young to have FIVE of them!\" he said more loudly and angrily. \"NO\" I shouted back I never shout this took me as a surprise as I never shout at anyone, but I needed answers. \"I'm not leaving until you tell me what these coins are\". The old man looked around himself nervously and quickly pulled out a yellow sticky note and quickly wrote something onto it. \"Can you please leave now this is all I can tell you!\" he said angrily while handing me the note. I took my coins and the note and left the shop. The old man's handwriting was almost impossible to read but I could just make it out. 'Trinity College Library: The book of people who clean up after the dead'.\n\nFeeling more confused and frustrated that the old man would not answer my questions but left me with more questions. I hailed a taxi and instructed the driver that I wanted to go to the trinity college library. The taxi ride took some time so I decided to Google the book but could find nothing. Finally arriving at the library, I asked the librarian for the book while showing here the piece of paper. Nodding in agreement \"follow me\" she said ever so softly. I waited until she came out from behind her desk and followed her between big bookcases that seemed to stretch for miles. I was brought into a small dimly lighted room only enough to hold one person it reminded me of a confession box. The librarian stepped out and closed the door locking me in this room. A rumbling voice spoke \"present the gold coin and speak the persons name \" fumbling around with my bag of gold coins I picked one out and looked around in the dimly lit box for a coin slot or something to put the coin into. A glint of silver caught my attention on the ground I knelt and picked up what was a small plate that was just big enough to hold the gold coin. \"I officially lost my mind\" I thought to myself. \"NAME!\" echoed across the box. Panicking I blurted out my name \"James Miller\".\n\n\"James Miller to be disposed of within 24 hours\" the box began to shake lights went off and I got pushed out of the box into the library. \n\nI stood there in shock and awe of what just happened. It slowly dawned on me what I just did I'm going to be killed! Running looking for the library at her desk knowing she might be able to help me, but it was closed with a metal shutter the only open door was the exit. not knowing what to do next I rang John. \"John! I messed up I spoke my name in the box! I'm going to be disposed of\" I said loudly as soon as john answered the not giving him time to speak. \"I know it's my duty now to fulfil that request\" John said firmly. \"I didn't mean to say my name John I panicked I didn't know what I was doing. Please help me\" I cried desperately into the phone. John hung up the phone not knowing what to do next I turned around and ran back to the box and put all my coins onto the plate and shouted \"Body remover incorporated\" I screamed. My whole body tensed up and I felt a strong sharp pain hit me in the back of the head before everything went black. \n\nSlowly waking up to someone poking me with their foot “Sir Sir would you mind moving off the steps please\" covering my eyes with my hands from the bright glaring sun I shuffled up into a sitting position. I was cold, damp and my head hurt \"what's going on\" I asked the person kicking me \"Sir if you don't get off these premises, I will call the police\". So, I picked myself up and walked to the curb and sat down where the road met the pavement. I realized that I have been out cold for hours hopping what just happened was just a dream I decided to try to ring John back but there was no contact in my phone called John. Thinking to myself it must have worked I got to my feet and got a taxi to my work offices. To my astonishment, there was just an empty lot with car spaces there was no sign of a building or anything it was just like it vanished. Being in shock of all of what just happened I headed home. As soon as I opened my front door there was a chest sitting in my hall. Being careful I opened the chest slowly and was greeted with what must have been thousands of gold coins. I thought to myself I could build an empire with this... \n\nThe End", "\"In this job, you get one a year. Once you hit 5, you get no more until you use them.\" \n\n\"But what are they for?\" \n\nMy voice had come stumbling out, half unsure of what I held in my hand and half sure that somehow i'd get an answer. In the end, my boss just winked and walked away while I stared at the glowing device now warmly sitting in my palm. \n\nIn my first year of work, I realized I had received a time travel device that allows the user to return to a certain time for one single minute before returning to the present. \n\nEvery day we lowered caskets into the ground, every day we watched tearful goodbyes and heard the silence of acceptance. \n\nFor awhile I hadn't used my device, but then I got curious about what the dinosaurs looked like... that was pretty cool actually. By the fifth year I burned through my devices without realizing what my old boss had told me all those years ago. \n\nIt was a quiet September night years after that I remembered that my last device still remained hidden away in my closet. I dialed it and transported myself back to the previous August, the cold floor of the hospital replacing the hardwood of my home almost immediately. Before I could shake off the effects of time travel, I was already moving to the room I had spent so much time in without ever realizing that one of those times would have been the last. \n\n345\n\n346\n\nHer room was 347. \n\n\"Jack, is that you?\" \n\n\"Yeah, it's me mom.\"\n\n\"Come here, give your mom a hug for god's sake. You look tired, you should get some food here even though its pretty gross.\" \n\nShe laughed but it came out quieter than usual. \n\nHer body had become so frail but underneath that all was the woman who had taught me to love life, to slowdown and appreciate its end and everything in between. \n\n\"I'm so glad you came tonight honey.\" \n\nI held back tears. \n\n\"Anytime mom, just call me and i'll be here.\" \n\nFor one whole minute, I was able to talk to her again. \n\nFor one whole minute, I smiled.", "I hadn't asked many questions when I signed on as an accountant for the law firm of Jimothy and Richolas. That was my mistake. \n\nWhen old Mr Fineburg passed away, the company had fallen apart in with the worsening economy. Fineburg had kept his clientele with incredible force of will and charisma. Without him, the company lost its anchor and its direction. \n\nI really had been lucky to find my new job so quickly. The pay was right and the benefits were amazing. Just, this last one hadn't been part of any contract. \n\n\"I'm sorry, what was that?\"\n\n\"One a year Newsome. You can accrue up to five in your bank, but to get more you have to use them.\" \n\nI turned the odd coin over in my hand curiously. It wasn't any coinage that I had ever seen. \n\n\"But what are they for?\" \n\nMr. Richolas just grinned and winked before he walked away, leaving me to the paperwork. \n\nIt was a mess. I spent six weeks going over two decades worth of receipts and invoices. The Firm serviced many accounts and offered a variety of services. Most of them appeared to deal with acquiring businesses and dismantling them. \n\nAs I got caught up, I found more time to speak with my new coworkers. They were all quite friendly, though any time I mentioned the coin, conversations abruptly stopped. I began to wonder if it were some prank, hazing the new guy. \n\nThree months later I learned differently. Tyler from acquisitions had been going through a rough divorce. His wife had run off to another country with his kids and the pool cleaner. She had managed to get Sam Bagwell, the sleaziest lawyer in the state, to represent her and somehow Tyler was on the verge of loosing everything. \n\n\"Sam Bagwell damn it!\" He had stopped in the foyer and waived a coin. \"Sam Bagwell!\"\n\nOne of the security attendants approached Tyler and spoke with him softly. Tyler nodded and surrendered his coin. \n\nThe next Monday I reviewed a new invoice for the Bagwell account. Services rendered included termination of staff, disposal of sensitive documents, liquidation of assets. Horrified, I learned through rumor that Tyler is getting his kids back. \n\nWelcome to Jimothy and Richolas Law Firm. We specialize in Acquisitions and Liquidations." ]	5
	[WP] You go for a stroll alone in the woods one moonlight night. At a crossroads on the trail, you meet a man.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It could so easily have happened to someone else. Lots of people frequented that path, and night backpacking was not unheard of. Bobby Johnson Trail was a popular one. But it happened to me. \n\nOne lonesome night I was strolling down that particular trail, humming tunelessly to myself. Was just a silent path in the dark Mississipi Delta. The night held no fears for me. I knew this area like the back of my hand. But far off in the distance, I could hear something unusual. Music.\n\nAs the stroke of midnight approached, I happened upon a small crossroad, where, many years gone by, a railroad station had stood. Nothing left now but some rotten timber and rusty rails. A young, well-dressed black man was sitting at the crossroads, playing an old guitar. The music had an ancient, haunted feel to it, like a melody that had stepped out of the bayou itself.\n\n\"Excuse me, sir,\" I said hesitantly, not wishing to interrupt, but letting curiousity get the best of me, \"are you from around these parts?\"\n\nThe man grinned, but never stopped playing. \"In a way,\" he said, \"you could say I'm from every crossroads. All or none.\"\n\n\"Not much of an answer,\" I replied, \"Everybody's from somewhere.\"\n\nThe playing stopped. \"Except me. I'm from nowhere.\"\n\n\"Who are you?\"\n\nThe guitar began to sing again, the man's fingers dancing on the strings with blinding speed. \"I'm the Guitar Player. I tune other people's guitars, and they repay me with things most dear to them. Do you have a guitar?\"\n\nThe melody turned more sinister now, and I could have sworn I heard more than one guitar playing. \"I'm afraid I have no experience with the guitar. More of a harmonica man, really.\"\n\n\"Well, then you're in luck,\" he said, jagged teeth glinting by the light of the moon, \"you can use mine.\"\n\nBefore I could protest, he passed me the guitar. It was heavy, so heavy I nearly dropped it. I heard a song playing, I don't know from where. My fingers began to move on their own, supplying dark rhythm to a shadowy tune. The Guitar Player offered me his seat. I took it, and played and played and played and played and played and when dawn broke, the Guitar Player was gone. The guitar was still in my hand. Still I played. I still play now. And one night, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps many years from now, someone will come by to be my audience. If he has a guitar, I will offer to tune it. But if he doesn't, then he has to play mine. And I won't take no for an answer." ]	2
	[WP] You encounter a very skillful wizard who knows all spells and all counterspells. Almost a deity. His only weakness is telling him all the corny jokes he had invented on the past and all the status he had in social media 15 years ago. It burns him like a how a latin prayer hits a wicked soul.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 lighting shot towards the Wizard, crackling at each turn or twist. \nA being so powerful it forced capitalisation on mere descriptions. \nThe thunder roared, a forbidden spell, long lost. Magic imbued with life, the once and quite permanent kind. \nAs the bolt of lighting closed in it suddenly shot towards the left, then right. \nThen with lightning speed, it being lightning and all, it pounced. \n\nThere was a \"Brawwkh\". The bolt sat beside the wizard, looking this way and that. \nIt turned towards a patch of soil and began what could only be described as \"pecking\". \nWhich was a depressing sight as it burned the daylights out of anything it came close to and hadn't actually had the stomach, or any kind of stomach, to digest the things it tried to eat. \nNevertheless, it seemed resolute. A bunch of stuff caught fire as it travelled into the forest. \n\nThe Wizard discarded a box of charred chicken tenders, and sighed, \"Those were fresh, y'know?\" \n\nThe witches, their description void of capitalisation, exchanged glances. \n\"There should've been no way he had even heard of that spell, let alone know of a way to counter it,\" sneered the blonde one. \n\nHer member-in-coven coughed, \"You think there's any point in trying...?\" \n\nThe blonde witch shook her head, \"No, and I don't want to explain to my little brother where his hamster went.\" \n\nThe Wizard chuckled, holding out a loose fist, \"You mean,\" he said, opening his hand, \"This hamster?\" \n\n\"Jeremy!\" cried one of the witches. \n\nHamster Jeremy sat diligently at the centre of it, cleaning himself. \nA bubble surrounded Jeremy, causing him to hover slight above the Wizard's hand. \nThe hamster decided to make use of this time to scratch his nut-sack. \n\nThe bubble ascended, turning Jeremy into hamsterkind's first attempt at space travel. \nThe witches watched him go with a solemn expression. \"I suppose I can just sorta point to the sky and tell my little brother that Jeremy went to a better place?\" said the blonde witch. \n\nThe other witch craned her neck as she watched Jeremy fade into the clouds, \"No, just say Jeremy went and become an astronaut. It won't be a lie and he'll like it better.\" \n\nJeremy disappeared into the clouds, eventually travelling for beyond any distance ever travelled by man. \n\nHamster Jeremy was later picked up by a travelling spaceship from Zetta Prime. \nA vast civilisation ruled entirely by rodents. \nThey warmly welcomed him and enhanced his intelligence. \nHe met a girl, fell in love, and had many wonderful children. \nHe later died of alcohol abuse. \n\n\"Agnes, be real. You think he'll believe that?\" asked the blonde witch. \n\"Of course,\" replied Agnes, \"We believed all kinds of dumb things when were were that age.\" \n\nSuddenly, the Wizard winced. \n\"You okay?\" asked Agnes. \nThe blonde witch gave Agnes a stern look and that kind of wave that loosely translates into 'what are you doing?'. \n\nThe Wizard coughed, \"I'm fine, I just remembered something. Back when I… Urgh!\" \nHe fell to his knees, then on the edge of hearing, he whispered, \"Y-you too...\" \n\nAgnes pulled out her phone and turned towards her friend, \"Christine, I heard a rumour.\" \nThe blonde witch caught on, \"Ah, the one about this nameless wizard?\" \n\nStill on his knees, the wizard swept a dismissive hand at them from his place on the floor, \"I am the great...\" he manged between coughs, but stopped. \n\nChristine rolled her eyes, \"You were about to say something embarrassing, weren't you?\" she teased, \"Some grand wizardy name? How was that worked out for you in the past?\" \n\nThe Wizard rolled into a ball. \n\nAgnes held up an informing finger, \"Oh! I think I remember this name,\" she cried, \"The. Great. Archibald.\" \n\nThe ball of Wizard trembled in place, a small voice leaked out, \"'t was a phase, that's all.\" \nThe Wizard unfurled, \"I've gotten used to my own name...\" \n \nAgnes swiped at her phone, \"Robert.\" \n\nAs if taking a physical blow, the Wizard recoiled, \"I think Robert is a fine wizard name!\" he cried defiantly. \n\n\"I'm sure you would think that,\" said Agnes, \"Robert.\" \n\nChristine had taken out her phone as well, swiping furiously. \n\n\"'While you were out partying, I studied the path of the mage...'\" cited Christine. \nShe turned her phone towards the wizard, \"Look, here's a picture of you holding a Walmart wand...\" \n\nThe other witch stifled her laughter, \"No way, aren't those for little girls...?\"\n\nThe Wizard clutched his chest, \"It was as different time,\" he coughed, \"I had to make do!\" \nHe fell to a knee, \"Unlike you, you, witches,\" he said, framing the word as an insult, \"Us wiZards have always had to endure!\" \nHis power was waning, the witches felt it. The wrong letters were being capitalised. \n\n\"Absolutely,\" replied the blonde witch with an understanding nod, \"Ever since the dark ages people have shown nothing but warmth towards us witch folk. Right, Agnes?\" \n\"Oh yes,\" replied Agnes, \"Nothing but warm gatherings and beach parties.\" \n\n\"So you see?\" replied thE wizard, \"It's because of this blatant wizard discrimination, that I ha-\" \n\n\"Now, now,\" said Agnes, \"There's no need to get political.\" \nThe blonde witch beside her swiped at her phone, \"Or is there?\" \n\nRealisation dawned, \"No!\" the wizard cried, \"You wouldn't!\"" ]	2
	[WP] You found a man beside the road that was deathly injured and nurse him back to health. He tells you he made you immortal. That was 1000 years ago. Humanity has now spread across the stars. You aren't sure you like how things have turned out. Today you meet that man again.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. 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Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Gosh. A thousand years.\n\nYou know what it’s like to see the centuries like old decades movies. \n\nHuh.\n\nGuess you don’t, do you.\n\nMy story reminds me of those classic bed tales. Or I should say ancient? Like the old fables talking of a wandering which or god who granted a curse or blessing depending on if the person helped in their time of need. Haha.....\n\nI know I did the right thing, but I’d lie saying sometimes it felt like a curse. Especially those early years.\n\nI was hiking alone. Yah, yah. “That’s really dangerous.” “What is this a horror movie.” Whatever. Point is I was young and ‘invincible’ and the world my oyster. Was hiking down this canyon and finally got to the base and followed this riverside and saw the body. I tried to figure out the scene and deduced that they must’ve jumped in an attempt at suicide.....\n\nSee I, no, WE have to say attempt. Because with this life comes a sort of curse. We get the most broken luck if we try and kill ourselves and we have incredible healing. \n\nSo I’m there with the body and look up, and wouldn’t you know that there were small trees growing just out of view from the cliff side. Still remember my initial thoughts.\n\n“By all accounts they should be dead, but they’re breathing?! They really should’ve bought a lotto ticket with that luck.”\n\nIdiot.\n\nWell I look them over and can’t find anything particularly wrong. Worthless Boy Scout badge, and I had no phone. I’d forgotten to charge it and again.... young and ‘invincible.’ But just his luck, was planning to camp down here a few days, and decided to wait and hope someone brought a phone. It’s a semi, popular trail, but not exactly the best time of year.\n\nTried to ask them questions, got nothing. ‘What the hell did you expect?’ So whipped their face down with water. They seemed thirsty by the smacking in their mouth, and poured some over. \n\nThe day was wrapping up so I threw a blanket over them, set up my hammock, and put some kindling in the fire to keep him warm through the night. \n \nWoke up little after dawn and as soon as I moved I hear, “Thanks I g..”\n\nSmack down to earth and damn near pissed myself.\n\n“How in the fu”\n\n“I know you have lots of questions. So let me just stop you there. I’m immortal. Whatever drives this world won’t let me kill myself. So please....end it.”\n\nI sat their mouth agape. How are they conscious so quick? When did they get up? Did the fall mess their mind up? Immortal? Has to be delusional, but they remembered his suicide attempt? Mixed memory? Did they just ask me to kill him?\n\nTo say that my emotions were in fluctuation was an understatement. \n\nThen they charged me.\n\nI panicked and didn’t know what to do?! So I took my camping ax and hit them in the neck. ‘Of course I find the one crack head to commit suicide.’ \n\nAs I pulled the ax out and started to panic at what I had done. The wound starts closing. Like some living entity filing space with tendrils joining. I nearly puked. \n\nIn what must have been 3 minutes, they jump up and say, “See, there’s your proof.”\n\nThen I puked. Oh yeah. Long and hard. Think some breast milk came out, that’s how empty my stomach got. Then I passed out. \n\nWake up next day and they’re still there. Just.... waiting. So we talk. First about each other the first day. Then about life the second. Then exchange wild stories the third. On the last day before I needed to head out, they look at me and say. \n\n“‘Things like you keep the world alive, stay awhile and be the change.’That’s what the man who gave me this trick said when I helped him in his rough patch. And I think I just understood his words.”\n\nWith that they hugged me and they whispered in my ear those very words. “Things like you keep the world alive, stay awhile and be the change.”\n\nAnd with that, we hiked out. As friends. But departed like the strangers we were. \n\nThe curse can be seen in war and family, as you buried those you love. \n\nThe curse was there when the military took me in at year 110 of my life and tortured me for 100 years trying to discover my secrets to long life till I escaped. Now I wonder till I find a life to live. I’ve had 5 families. 5 loves buried, but not forgotten. But right now I’m back to traveling and I’m exploring everything that humans have become. We settled planets and built spectacular spectacles. Yay...\n\nThat’s was the cover to genocide of entire species and races. \n\nYou though we were racist to our own people. I thought slavery would never be of question again. \n\nWhen you see history repeat yourself you begin to ask, are they not learning or......\n\nAre they not worthy.\n\nOn this day, the 1000 year anniversary of the day they gave me the gift of lives to come, I met them again. We embraced and talked as if we were friends all the while. They showed the others liken us. \n\nThey too thought humans had grown to be grotesque corrupters and dictators.\n\nSo we’re overthrowing the dictators with ourselves. \n\nWe’ve always made lives better and live as passing memories of kindness to the people we help. All of us immortals have that in us. \n\nSo when we took over, we keep in contact. Making sure nature has its room. Races are equal. Life is something earned, but aid and kindness in times of need is given. After all, their lives are so much shorter than ours.\n\nWe created bliss, yet they still killed them. The one who gave me this chance. We forever kept the motto. “Things like you keep the world alive, stay awhile and be the change.”\n\nBut we forgot that there are always those who wish to see the world burn, because no amount of loving warmth is enough. \n\nSee when we want to live, we become killable. Immortal, but killable. No healing. No luck. Life’s funny way of being a trickster.\n\nI laughed.\n\nHard.\n\nTears rolling over my lifted checks as I held my finger on the button. Soon a Muskie will destroy the prick and his followers in their throne room. The throne of my friend. They always had a thing for fancy thrones and made them for everyone on his council, of all races. \n\nI laughed as I pressed that button. \n\n“Even a garden has thorns”\n\nIdiot.", "I loved Alaska. Lived there from the time I was old enough to move out of my Mom's apartment in Seattle. I hated the city, and everything that came with it. Too many people. Too much noise. My little corner of Alaska though? Nothing but trees, birds, and the occasional bear. \n\nWinter had broke, and it was safe to take the hours long drive back into town. On my way back I found him. Cold, and broken. Out as far as I was there wasn't any hope of getting him to a hospital in time to be saved. Out in on the frontier we have to do our best to take care of ourselves and any others we come across. So I wrapped him in my jacket. The blue denim and wool quickly being stained by his blood. It was pretty easy to see if I was going to be any help I needed to be fast.\n\nI tore off down the road as fast my mid 80s Ford truck could. The ride was bumpy, but my passenger wasn't in any condition to complain. I turned the heat to full figuring if he was gonna die at least he could be warm. Looking over at him I realized I'd never seen so much blood. I've killed deer, bears, slaughtered pigs. This was so much blood though. \n\nHe survived the lmhalf hour car ride back, and I got him inside. As soon as I started stripping to dress his wounds I realized there was so much more going on then I first thought. His arms and legs were longer than they should've been. His face narrow and angular more like hawk than a person's should've been. It was his skin though that told me that he wasn't human. At first I thought he was a Native lost in the woods, but what I mistook for brown in the dark I could now see was bronze. Whatever he was though didn't matter. He was going to die if I didn't start moving. \n\nI cleaned, and stitched, and glued. Gauze and antibiotic over everything. By the time I was done he looked like a mummy and sarcophagus all mixed up. The bleeding was stopped though, and he'll live to complain about my chop job later. So I took that as a win. \n\nI spent the next week changing bandages, cleaning soiled linen, and pouring broth into his mouth. Hoping the whole time he I was doing the right thing. \n\nAfter the next week and he still hadn't passed I figured I was doing ok. The week after that the only thing that remained of his were scars. I had taken to talking to my sleeping room mate. Named him Carl. Never talked about anything important. Just what I was doing that day and whatever else popped into my head. \n\nThe week after that I woke up with him standing over me speaking. It wasn't English that much I knew. Then he put his palm on my face, and then I woke up again much later. I started up. Sitting straight up with sweat beaded across my face and chest. \n\nAfter getting dressed I realized he was gone. A set of foot prints headed into the woods. Through this whole ordeal I couldn't tell you why I never went to the sherriff or even tried to follow him. It just was what it was. After that I went back to my normal routine. Fished, hunted, gathered wood. Went to town for the things I couldn't build myself. \n\nI'd lived a long time by myself after that before I realized anything about what he'd done to me. A very long time. One day though it just hit me. The stark realization that a hundred or more winter and summer had passed since that spring thaw. Life blurs you know, and when you dont pay anyone or anything in particular to pay attention to it's easy to lose track. \n\nWhat clued me in though was this new truck in town. Sleek looking and quiet. No wheels. It was just floating there unmoving. I stared at it for most of an hour. In that hour I could see the age of the truck. Dents, dings, and scratches running through the body of it. If it was new it would be pristine. This working truck looked old, and ran through its paces. This leap in technology showed me something I'd not noticed in my own life. Time had passed. A lot of time. \n\nAfter that I never went back to my cabin. \n\nI pulled money from my account from the bank on the corner. Enough for a plane ticket back to Seattle. My mind now only thinking about my Mom. I'd always meant to call her the few times I was in town, but never found the time. I'm sure she ran out of it a long time ago. After finding Seattle to be a deserted megalopolis like Detroit, and her neighborhood turned into auto dealerships and office buildings I gave up hope of finding her. \n\nI spent the next few decades catching up. I even went to school a few times. Even outed myself to the government. After spending another few decades in a looney bin before someone caught what I was saying might be true from looking at just my paperwork. The stay there wasn't so bad. Free food, more education, structured exercise programs. \n\nAfter the government finally decided to sit down with me and try to figure out what happened. Life got really interesting. I flown around the world. Poked and prodded. Media outlets wanted to know everything about me. \n\nSome industrious reporter even found out what happened to my Mom. Apparently she had more kids. After a century I had family again. I cried when I read about her life. It was happy. I found out that she never worried about me. Just \"knew\" I was happy, and living the life I wanted. \n\nAfter they gave up figuring the how, and the notoriety of my immortality died down. I lived a quiet life of education. Whe. The government's of the world finally united and decided to explore the stars in earnest they approached me to join the first sublight expeditions in to space. Our foot print got even bigger with the introduction of faster than light travel. \n\nWe discovered new worlds, new mysteries, and new life.\n\nHe was the first contact we ever made. It was him. It was Carl. \n\nA thousand years later and he was there just as sudden as he wasn't. We stared at each other for so long, and eventually embraced each other like brothers. A loneliness that I didn't know I carried with me being banished from my heart. \n\nIt took an hour for our translation services to begin to allow us to speak to each other in earnest. He began our talks with his deepest thanks. Telling everyone in our group the story of how we met. Apparently he was conscious the whole time I was talking to him. How he speaks t the last millenia going by the name Carl. I was embarrassed by that bit, but I did find out what had happened to him that night we met. Apparently he had wandered too close to a pair of bull moose fighting for dominance of their herd. Then before succumbing to his injuries he crawled through miles of brush looking for one of his companions to be found by me. \n\nHis gift to me he explained wasn't something he intended. It should've given me good health, and a deeper understanding for things that were beyond my grasp before. Instead it had given me a lifespan like theirs. \n\nFrom their through much work we began a friendship between our peoples that was founded in good work started a thousand years prior.", "\\-Hello? HELLLOOOOOO?!\n\n\\-Who is it?\n\n\\-It is I, Susanna, Broken Writer. The one who saved you before. What have you ever done for me?\n\n\\-Everything, beautiful girl. It's just a test. Thanks for saving me.\n\n\\-You're confusing me. Do you love me, or not? \n\n\\-Sure I love you. When it's convenient for you. Which is...never? Sorry. My bad. Maybe you shouldn't have saved me.\n\n\\-Thanks. BTW, I can't breathe.\n\n\\-Sorry to hear that. Not much I can help you with there. Can't guarantee good hair either, don't be greedy. Maybe you should go to the hospital and explain that you can't breathe. They'll check your vitals. They always look perfect, just right. I love when you're just right. Have you been taking your meds, or not? You probably should, although I like you better when you don't. Anyway, back to the vitals. They always look perfect because you're immortal. REALLY. Don't get so wrapped in the small things. Like how you can't breathe. Or what the book you're reading is saying about you now. I conferred superpowers to you when you saved me. You can do anything. Oh, and you're immortal. Be more grateful. Please.\n\n\\-You PROMISE? \n\n\\-Oh yeah. Those blueberry eyes, sexy. I want to confer on you a beautiful, free life. Oh, have I mentioned that I hate you? It should be more obvious to you. What's wrong with you, anyway? \n\n\\-I'm not sure. I'm scared. I keep thinking about Anne Frank and how optimistic she was. Didn't really make sense given her final fate.\n\n\\-Yeah yeah. You're immortal, remember? SusANNa. Have fun, okay?", "You hear a voice from behind you. \"Need a hand?\" You look at your fallen appendage as it writhes across the darkened dirt. Humor. As you bend to retrieve your fallen hand, your legs give out and you fall face first into the dirt. The ground beneath you shakes as the voice approaches. \"You haven't been taking care of yourself.\" You're flipped over, and you are greeted by a giant of a man. He pokes at your chest until a voice echoes from inside you.\n\nSystem failure in 5\n\n\"You've gone through a lot,\" You would sigh if you could. You shouldn't have saved him. Karma was supposed to pay up, but things never go the way you want it to. Not long after you saved this man you were kidnapped. Some unsavory character needed a life saving surgery, and apparently you were the best. You complied of course, only to lose your life after you completed the surgery. At least that's what you've been able to piece together.\n\nSystem failure in 4\n\nThe trail went cold hundreds of years ago, but you had nothing but time. Same memories, same face, same skills, but not the same life. Your apartment had a new tenant, your belongings long gone, the hospital had replaced you with another surgeon. Your friends and family were ecstatic to see you, but there were years that were completely unaccounted for.\n\nSystem failure in 3\n\nYou decided to dig, and dig and dig, and you found your treasure. You found out why you died, where your body was disposed of, and those who were responsible. You systematically killed them, but as each name was crossed from the list, two more took their place.But you've finally reached the last name.\n\nSystem failure in 2\n\n\"How many times have we gotten here?\"\n\n\"Too many times\"\n\n\"I will kill you for what you've done to us\"\n\n\"Bugs to be fixed for the newest version\"\n\nHe points the gun at your head,your dismembered hand digs into his foot, his pain distracts him, your gunshot echoes throughout the room.\n\nSystem failure in 1\n\nI hope I don't wake up ever again.", "\"It's me, Mary\". The man in the black hat said.\n\nWhat he said startled me and chilled me to the bone. He sounded and looked exactly as he did that fateful night- that night that I found him beside the road. \n\n It occured during the night, and I was heading home from my stupid dead end job. I must have been a girl of about 23, oh how time flies. I was in a beat up car, still in my McFlonald's outfit when I heard a sharp scream of pain. \n\nI stopped the car, completely concerned for whoever jade that sound. I looked around the road, half hoping that I didn't find anything when suddenly I heard a loud groan of pain right near where I was standing. \n\n While looking around for whoever made that sound, I stopped dead in my tracks. It was a man, encroached on the ground holding his stomach in pain. I crouched down to where he was standing, and put pressure on his wound. \n\n\"What is your name?\" I said, while putting pressure on what appeared to be a stab wound. \n\n\"Jac-Jack Davis\". The man exclaimed, extremely nervous. \n\n\"What happened here Jack?\"\n\n\"I-I was walking down the road\", Jack stammered, \"I was right along the dirt path, but someone stopped me and demanded my shoes. I refused, so the woman took out a knife and stabbed me with it. I-I honestly don't know why it happened, it all happened so fast I-I.\" Jack was crying heavily at this point. \n\nHe appeared to be a man no older than I was. The man was wearing a green jacket, over a dirty ragged shirt. Jack was also wearing what appeared to be black denim pants, and his shoes were missing. \n\n\"Don't worry Jack\", I exclaimed. \"My roomate is a nurse. I'll be sure to bring you to her as soon as possible. She isn't far.\"\n\nJack nodded, clearly looking out of it. I looked around, and thankfully the apartment where me and Doris lived was right around the block. \n\nWith no time to lose, I grabbed him, and carried him while sprinting straight towards my apartment. I contemplated with calling the police, but I knew that they probably wouldn't make it in time due to the riots going on in the city. \n\nI opened the door to my apartment. I put him down on the living room couch as I looked everywhere for Doris. As I headed towards her room I found that there was a note on her door. It stated that she was out shopping, and that she wouldn't be back until 1am. \n\n\"Goddamnit Doris!\", I thought, \"Why do you never tell me when you're going out? Especially when you're shopping?\" \n\nI sighed, and I threw the note to the floor. \n\n(The Man on the Side Of The Road, Part 1)", " “Oh God”. I looked out the window and saw an old man bleeding out. I could hear his screams. I’ve always been someone who’s made it a priority to help others. While it may be cliche, when I was young my family was not very fortunate and ended up in a lot of horrible situations. The only reason that I’m able to live a comfortable living is due to the help of strangers during my childhood. I’m forever indebted to random people I will most likely never see again, so I aspire to be someone who helps others, to help turn someone like me from the past to some like me from the present. \n\nI got out of my car and picked him up. I quickly brought out the first aid in my car and tried to help stitch up some of the large gashes. I was stuck in the middle of nowhere with no reception for awhile. I continued to try my best to heal him into a stable state before speeding back to my house. It was moments like these when I was thankful I went to medical school, by the time a doctor would be able to get to him at the hospital, I could have him fixed up at my house.\n\nIt was intense work; The man was injured all over. After hours I swiped my hand across my forehead, both exhausted and relieved. He was going to be OK. For the next few days he kept fading in and out of consciousness, but all the tests I performed guaranteed that he would live through it. I began to grow curious, Who was this man? What caused him to end up in such a horrible state? After awhile he began to regain his health, and eventually he was ready to leave my house. It was on the day of his departure that I asked him where he was going, as I would be happy to drive him to his home. As he approaches my front door he stops and turns around.\n\n“You’re a special type of person kid. You’re someone everyone should aspire to be. Even after saving my life you still continue to see if you can help me.” The man closes his eyes and smiles before opening his eyes once more. “Listen kid, I think it's time I help you out for a change.” He stuck out his hand as if he was asking for a handshake. Curious, I gave in and shook his hand. His grip on my hand tightened to the point of crushing my hand. At first I was stunned: I just saved his man's life, why did he want to hurt me? Suddenly, I felt a sensation shoot up throughout my body, beginning at my hand. It was as if energy itself was flowing around my body at a massive rate; It was a feeling of euphoria. The energy expanding throughout my body was the last thing I remembered before blacking out. When I woke up the next day I was alone in my house, the old man was gone. All that remained of him and my encounter with him was a message on my hand that read: You’re immortal. I hope you continue to help mankind for an eternity. Humans need a guardian.\n\nIt’s been a thousand years since that day. While I continued to live by my beliefs of helping out the less fortunate, over the years my views started to change. I would help people out only to notice them later, in the same state they were in before I dedicated a large chunk of my time to helping them. Sure, time wasn’t a scarcity to me, yet it was time that was taken away which I could’ve used to help someone else. I began to stop helping those who would be begging on street corners, I stopped volunteering to help a patient who was a repeat drug addict. What’s the point in saving someone if they just end up needing to be saved again? Then it happened, the day arrived that forever changed my fate. There was a woman around my age, well, at least my visible age. She knocked on my door one day, saying that her house was broken into and that she needed a place to escape, she just barely escaped with her life and that the criminals would kill her if she talked to the police. I let her in, helped ease her mind and contacted the authorities. The individuals who broke into her house were never found but we became fast friends. I learned of the horrible problems that plagued her life as she slowly opened up to me. She was a mess but had a heart of gold. To be honest, she reminded me closely of my past self. I dedicated over a decade to help her recover, and while I helped her we began to become close friends, and eventually lovers. I moved in with her after a span of time and we got married and bore 2 children. Then one day she accused me of horrible crimes. My wife managed to fake evidence and keep the kids, more than half of our bank account, and sentenced to prison for 30 years on a remote planet. After my sentence, I returned to earth. However, what didn’t return was my will to help.\n\nI became a bitter man. From a guardian I turned to an observer. I watched as society and technology changed. However earth still remained divided. I wasn’t sure that I liked how things were headings, so I figured that since I had an infinite resource of time, I would change things. Today marked my 100 year rule. While sure there were still problems with how society has turned out, and while some alien ethnic groups had to be purged to keep stability, I had united mankind and under my reign our race has prospered. Of course, with it being my anniversary of my leadership I wrote out several reforms. Of course they would hurt the bottom class, but their sacrifice would help the middle class and above, and end up increasing the stability of the entire kingdom. I reached in the far past of my memory to pick out a specific quote that I was searching for. I cracked a smile as I said in a whisper, “You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.” It was a simple statement, but a statement that contained the truth, How I wish the past version of myself would understand such a simple idea. As I finish my speech I head out to a small local coffee shop that I’ve heavily bribed in order for them to conceal the fact that I visit it. Sometimes you just want to get a cup of coffee in peace. As I sat down and checked an ancient newspaper, a man sat in the booth across from me. \n\n“Can I help you?” I asked as I put down my newspaper.\n\n“You..It’s you” I continued, eyes fixed on the person in front of me. It was the man who gave me my ability, the man I met all those years ago.\n\nThe old man lowered and shook his head. I saw him reach into his pocket before looking back up, staring at my eyes. I felt as if the old man was gazing into my very soul. \n\n“Listen kid, I gave you your gifts because I thought you were something special. Turns out, you’re just like everyone else. Your empire will fall just like everyone else, Your name will eventually fade from history like everyone. And now, you will die just like everyone else”.\n\nHe took out the gun from his pocket and fired.", "I wasn't sure if what I saw was real. A flash of familiarity from the corner of my eye.\n\n\"Hey, whats caught your eye?\" One of the men I was sitting, John, with questioned, with a distinctive drunken slur.\n\n\"Nothing in particular.\" I replied, \"I think my friends are waiting for me over there.\" I gestured to the bar, where the familiar figure was standing alone, a beer in his grasp. John made a dismissive gesture, coupled with an obnoxious burp, signifying I could leave. I rose from me seat, and walked towards the familiar figure. Skirting around tables and drunken bar-goers, my heart pounding, I arrived at the bar. I gingerly cleared my throat.\n\nWhen he turned around, I know I wasn't mistaken. I'd recognise those eyes anywhere. The shadow of a smile touched his face as he saw me.\n\n\"I remember you.\"\n\n\"And me you.\"\n\nThe man set down his drink, and gestured to the door.\n\n\"Lets talk. I'm not sure we want a hoard of drunks knowing our little secret. Who knows what they'd want from us.\"\n\nHe began toward the door, and I hastily followed.\nAn ocean of thoughts swarmed my brain as I followed the man to the door. He must've been immortal too, as he's clearly still going strong. I wondered how many other people he's made immortal, out of the trillions of humans across the many planets we'd populated. I wonder how he can grant immortality. The click of the door opening, and rush of cool air abruptly ending my wondering. The man dragged me past the bar, into a side alley. He turned around to face me.\n\n\"How have you been enjoying immortality?\"\n\nI couldn't stop the smile from breaking out across my face. \"It's pretty neat, huh? Seeing how far humanity has come. And hey! Now I have custom night vision that come with my auto-scanning contacts, so that's pretty nice.\"\n\nHis face soon mirrored my own, a giant grin gracing it's features. \"That is pretty neat.\"\n\nThere was a pause. Almost a companionable silence fell over us. It felt nice to so much as be in the presence of someone who's seen all that I have, lived through the Celestial Wars, and knows first-hand how far we've come. The man before me sighed softly, before lifting his eyes to meet mine. \n\n\"On a more serious note, what do you think of the direction humanity has come?\"\n\nI considered his question for a while. I think of all the limitless technology, and my robot companion. Then I think of the Outlands. A place where all humanity's junk goes, every planet has to dedicate one land mass for Outlands. There are piles of failed experiments, broken technology, and whatever the humans don't want to see. My old job was to take rubbish from the mainlands to the Outlands. There was barely any room for any wildlife anymore, the humans had taken over in their selfishness. Forests were just wood, paper and wasted space to humans. Everyones forgotten nature, in our rush for evolution. We've forgotten about animals in our infatuation with new sentient beings. I finally came to a conclusion.\n\n\"Whatever we- they have become, it... it angers me.\"\n\nHe nodded, satisfied with my answer.\n\n\"I completely agree, my friend. Same deal with all the other immortals I've spoken to. We want to do something about this, yes?\"\n\n\"Yes.\" I echoed.\n\nHe opened the pack that was slung over his shoulder, and produced a roll of fabric. He unraveled it, revealing it to be a cloak. It had an insignia printed on it, coupled with the phrase \"The Forevers\". He handed it to me. I took it.\n\n\"We're forming a group. All of the immortals from 1000 years ago, together. We're going to overthrow the World Leader. We're going to bring back what they took from this land.\" He held out his hand. \"Are you in?\"\n\nI swung the cloak over my shoulders, and nodded firmly. A sense of synergy washed over me when I donned the cloak for the first time. We must stop what the humans have taken from the lands they ravaged. We must show the people we have no right to do such things. I grabbed his hand, and gave it a firm shake. \n\n\"I'm in.\"", "One.\n\nThousand.\n\nYears.\n\nWhen we were children, waiting a week for our birthday was FOREVER.\n\n<SIGH>\n\nAs children, we didn't know what F O R E V E R really meant.\n\nI know.\n\nI KNOW.\n\nI was driving one night, listening to Eurythmics, singing along when I saw him. \n\nIf I knew then, what I know now, I might have kept on driving. <sigh> No, I would still have helped him. It's right to be helpful. I think that means something. It has to mean SOMETHING.\n\nAnyway, out in the middle of nowhere, I was driving and saw the hand in my headlights reaching from the ditch. \n Flashers on, pulled to the side of the road, I ran to him. Holy Shit, Holy Shit, HOLY SHIT!!! \"Sir, are you OKAY???\" I probably screamed it. I was, a bit excitable in my youth. I hadn't figured out \"chill\" yet.\n\n\"You stopped... Good boy. Help me up please?\" , the voice was barely over a croak. I froze. \n\n\"You're not supposed to move someone who's been hit by a car. I need to call the paramedics.... sir?\"\n\n\"I've not been hit by a, 'car? did you say?' No, I'm here, because, well... \" He looked into my eyes, his eyes were glowing. I'm sure that was a trick of the light. \"Let's just say, I'm here, and I need help. I am...\" he paused and looked up, like he was either searching for the word, which was frightening, or trying to calm me, which was worse so... \"Um, lost, and well, Let's just say I fell into the ditch.\" That won't get anyone in trouble, right?\n\nI nodded, and reached for his hand. Why did I reach for his hand? I regret this decision about every 20 years or so.\n\n\"Here, let me help you up...\" As I grabbed his hand, the feeling of pissing on an electric fence hit my body. Not that I' had done that before, but I've heard stories .\n\n\"Oh, I'm sorry, are YOU Okay? Sometimes I do that, but I promise, it's going to be Okay\", he said as he was getting up. \n\n\"Is there an electrical wire down there?\" I grabbed his hand again. No shock that time.\n\n\"Oh, I'm sorry, that's maybe something I can explain later, after we've gotten away from here. I'm John Williams... Son. yes, that's it. John William's son Thank you for the rescue.\"\n\nWe drove in silence, I turned the radio off, or he did. Maybe there was a comment about Saint. Annie and her works in the 22nd century being so inspiring. After hearing that and seeing the tears in his eyes, I wasn't sure what was going to happen. \n\nExplaining this strange guy to my parents (remember, I lived at home?) and I put him in our guest bedroom to help him get back on his feet. It took him only a couple of days, and he was most grateful. Somehow, this guy I found in a ditch, had granted me \"immortality\". Then, he disappeared. One morning, he was gone.\n\nI married, had children, grandchildren, buried my wife after 68 years of marriage. I didn't age.\n\nI had Great Grandchildren. I had Great Great Grandchildren... More and more generations. \n\nLater, as man discovered interstellar flight, I volunteered for the first mission. I wasn't going to die out there. \n\nSpaceflight will TEST your limits of boredom. \n\nAt first, I was excited to escape Earth's gravity. The swings around Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and finally Neptune for the final push of gravity assisted Sol System escape, I was on my way. I took pictures, so many pictures, which I had transmitted back to Earth. I would occasionally send messages back TO Earth. It took months, then years for the messages to be received and returned. Eventually, I didn't expect to hear messages back. YEARS.\n\nI woke up one after a sleep and realized the star I was pointed at was finally getting larger. 682 years had passed with me in this spaceship. The flight computer finally started plotting a course to a planet in the \"Goldilocks Zone\". That's where the distance from a star that is in the right distance to provide enough energy to support life. There were 3 planets in orbit, in that zone. I ignored the farther one out, and went for the middle. It was going to be the easiest for me to intersect with. Besides, the gravity of the 3rd planet would slow me enough to insert into orbit. Things were, well, working out.\n\nThis planet had familiar blues, greens and browns on the surface, just not in the patterns I remembered from Earth. I think it was a bit larger than Earth, but hopefully not so much larger that I would be too weak to move around under my own power. \n\nMy landing craft separated while in a high orbit. There were artificial satellites. There were also, 2 natural moons. THAT looked weird, especially since one of them actually seemed to support life. I couldn't wait to figure out how that worked. But first, I needed to make contact. I transmitted on various frequencies. I heard noises back. Language, but not language I understood. That's OK. I have enough time to learn languages.\n\nI looked for the largest city while in orbit and then for \"airports\". I didn't want to land in some farmer's field. That would be crazy and, honestly, inefficient. Landing site chosen, I dropped out of orbit. Thankfully, no one fired on my craft. There were thousands of beings lined around the spaceport. Oddly enough, they looked humanoid. I made a pass around the city before landing. \n\nAfter landing and going through my exit checklist, I noticed that there was a group of beings who had gathered around my craft. I lowered the exit ramp. I wanted them to know WHERE I would be coming out from. Was I their first contact? (Probably not, but I couldn't be sure) At the end of my ramp, the beings set up a podium! WOW! There were 5 of them standing in front of it. The rest of those 'people' were back behind fences away from the landing pad.\n\nWhat I had not seen, was a very familiar face from my past. \"John Williams Son\" as he called himself was standing on the Ramp.\n\n\"How are you HERE?\"\n\n\"Well, I was born here, I guess.\"\n\nI thought about it for a moment... I did the math in my head, consulting my computer and said, \"Right at One THOUSAND years, if you can imagine that.\" I thought for a second and added, \" Granted, those would be 'Earth years' of course. I can't speak yet to the time measurements here. Where is \"here\" by the way?\"\n\n\"Well, here is a little farther than you might think, we are on a system outside of your Galaxy which your people called the Milky Way. We are in the outer edges of the Andromeda Galaxy.\" \n\nI thought about his math for a moment. We were still alone speaking without the other 4 remaining people at the podium. \"That's entirely possible... I probably slept a LOT\". I thought about my answer, then my audience and asked, \"When did YOU get here?\"\n\n\"Which time?\"\n\n\"Um, this time, the first time?\"\n\n\"Now isn't the first time. I was born here. This is planet ... Well, You're going to learn our phonemes aren't really compatible with your voice box, and for that I am sorry. Your computer will learn how to translate and speak for you. I'm so thankful that I met you after my journey to your planet. I am also thankful for your kindness. Other people had left me in the ditch. You see, I was, well, I had been experimenting with space/time teleportation. From my perspective, I was there a month ago. \"\n\nMy look of shock did not surprise him.\n\n\"Yes, yes... I know it's been much longer for you. THAT is why I grafted some of my DNA to yours during our initial handshake. I told your cells not to degrade. That's why you've lived so long. Are your children as long lived?\"\n\n\"No. I have buried children, grand-children, great grandchildren, etc.\" A tear rolled down my cheek. I thought about the descendants that I buried who lived for years, yet died when I did not. \"I volunteered for this mission, to quit having to bury my hundreds of many times great grandchildren.\"\n\n\"For that, I am sorry. On the other hand, though, look were we are? I cannot wait to show you so many beautiful things HERE. These people, OUR people, since you share my DNA, cannot wait to meet and talk with you. \"\n\nWith that, he walked down the ramp toward the podium. When he spoke, it sounded like the worst version of \"Dubstep\" music I had ever heard. He then pointed to me and shouted, \"BANGERANG!\"" ]	9
	[WP] Unknown to most of humanity, trees are alien parasites sucking the life force from Earth. There's a reason why Brazil's burning down the Amazon...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Deep in the favelas of Brasilia, \r\nthe sound of a helicopter flying by\r\nwakes up an old man from his sleep.\n\n\r\n\"Do they know?\" President Bolsonaro says in Portuguese while looking out on the window of the helicopter over Brasilia.\n\n\n \"Not yet sir but that tree-hugging alien puppet Macron still won't shut his mouth.\" his aide replies. \n\n\n\"Yes, yes I'll deal with that frog myself. Right now we need to tell the Americans, the Russians and the \r\nChinese the truth or else these parasites will destroy the planet in a couple of years!\" Bolsonaro tells his aide.\r\n\n\n\"General Pujol, any updates on the search team?\" Bolsonaro asks.\n\n\n\"A battalion of six hundred men, twelve helicopters, and three reconissance planes are now deployed to the last know location of the tribe. Jet fighters are on standby armed with napalm just in case the enemy decides to attack us, sir.\" General Pujol replies.\n\n\n\"Very good. I just hope we find them as soon as possible.\" Bolsonaro says.\n\n\nThe helicopter starting to slow into a hover now approaches Palacio do Planalto. \r\n\n\nBolsonaro's aide phone rings. \r\niphone's marimba ringtone plays\n\n\r\n\"Sir, it's President Widodo.\" His aide hands him the phone.\n\n\n \"My friend, it's Joko. I was briefed by my staff that your government now knows the truth behind these parasites. I'm happy to see that you're making progress but that is not enough. Our efforts are not enough.\" Widodo says. \n\n\r\n\"I've sent in the military but in the pretense of helping extinguish the fire to contain the secret. We cannot tell the public yet. There would be chaos!\" Bolsonaro tells Widodo.\n\n\r\n\"Yes, yes my friend but I think we have to act aggresively this time. My country's top scientists tells me that the rate of destruction has increased by 80% in the past 3 years. We tried to burn and cut them down a few years ago but when that meddling Leonardo Dicaprio and his show got viral, our plans to ACTUALLY save the earth came to a halt. Curse those hollywood tree-huggers! My country was so damn near in eliminating those aliens! Remember the wildfires in California ealrier this year? That was me. I sent a couple of strike teams to burn down those bastards in retaliation to that little documentary of his!\" Widodo replies angrily. \n\n\nThe helicopter touches down near the presidential palace. The engine starting to shut down.\r\n\n\nBolsonaro steps out of the aircraft and walks toward the palace while the engine still hums slowly.\r\n\n\n\"Listen my friend, I will do my best to destroy these parasites here in South America but we will need the help of the international community. My men still have to locate a tribe and its chief deep in the Amazon still held captive by these parasites. The tribes that escaped the jungle a couple of weeks ago told us that this last tribe trapped in the jungles know the secret in destroying these aliens. After this talk of ours, I will call Trump and his bestfriends Vlady and Xi to tell them about our current situation.\" Bolsonaro says.\r\n\n\n\"I see. I just hope that they're still with us unlike that Macron puppet. The trees have their filthy and fat roots deep in his ass for a long time now. May Allah have mercy on us.\" Widodo replies.\n\n\r\n\"I agree my friend. That fucker sure loves his organic supplements. May God help us.\" Bolsonaro says to Widodo as they bid farewell over the phone.\n\n\nBolsonaro, now inside the palace, hands the phone back to his aide and says \"Call Orange Blondie and his friends. Time is running out\"." ]	2
	[WP] The villain gets up in the captured hero's face as they unleash their evil monologue. The hero gives them a kiss and makes them incredibly flustered.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 Obligator smiled and cast off her black suit jacket, rolling up the sleeves of her shirt. She had a dinner coming up, and needed to inspire fear in her guests. Blood on her cuffs would ruin that effect. Although, if the shirt had been white instead of Pact red... No, with the eyepatch and shaved hair, unexplained bloodstains would definitely be too much. It wouldn't be intimidating, just... messy. She pulled a black apron off of a hook on the wall. This would definitely be messy.\n\nEven from her binds, which the Obligator had specifically ensured would be physically impossible to escape, Ace wore that lopsided smile, with a gold tooth replacing the one the Obligator had personally removed the first time they clashed. She’d had some of her soldiers cut Ace’s traditionally long, black hair, since she’d hidden prehensile neurowire in it last time. The ease of that escape had been rather embarrasing, but what was worse was that Ace probably knew how well she pulled off her new short, messy haircut.\n\n“So, what are you cooking?” Ace poked fun at the Obligator’s apron. The Obligator was never one for witty replies or insults.\n\n“You, maybe.” That wasn’t a great insult, but she played it off by casually examining a bloody vice on the table beside Ace’s chair. The Obligator tried not to let on visually how much that damned grin made her feel so… infuriated. Frustrated. Because every time she broke out a gasoline can and rag, Ace would miraculously break free, kill everyone, and destroy another Pact safehouse. Sometimes, with the gasoline can.\n\n“Shall we start?” Both said at the same time, Ace predicting the Obligator’s words. The torturer scowled deeply, and wondered who was supposed to be suffering right now.\n\n“Make your jokes, please.” The Obligator considered that remark for a second, then reconsidered. “Actually, don’t.” With delight, she pushed a piece of duct tape over Ace’s mouth. Finally, she’d remembered to bring some beforehand. It had been the one mistake she’d kept making each time she captured her.\n\n“No mistakes this time,” the Obligator gloated, stepping back to admire Ace. Because she was bound, in the chair. “That chair is perfectly tailored for you. No escape.” She paused, waiting for a reply before remembering the tape. Ace looked like she had something to say, though. “And now I have you all to myself, Debtor. I will extract what you owe.” The Obligator spoke with a deliberate slowness, moving her mouth as little as possible with each word as if she wished to keep them rather than bid them speak.\n\n“And you owe quite a bit. Not just to your Pact, but to me.” The Obligator felt an itch under her eyepatch, but ignored it. “All this chaos. Because you cannot respect the laws that we established, to protect you, to protect people from you.” She stepped forward to peruse the instruments on the table, although she felt somewhat… apprehensive to step closer to Ace.\n\n“Should I tell you that I hope it was worth it? Whatever it is you wanted, needed so bad, that you chose to manipulate us all, to pick and choose what laws you could follow and make others follow? Because I don’t. I hope that, right now, you’re thinking about what started all this trouble, and that you’re thinking ‘Why? Why did I do this?’ All the lives lost to get here, and you’ve failed anyways. I don’t envy you.” The Obligator smiled genuinely, somewhat glad for the freedom in monologuing that the duct tape was providing. The smile faded when she saw a glint of mirth in Ace’s eyes. She almost wanted to pull off the duct tape and see her stupid smile. So she could wipe it off, with a hammer, maybe.\n\n“What were you hoping would happen? That, mmm… I’d give up? The Pact would give up? Suddenly, you could go home, maybe settle down and grow old with some boring girl?” She paused suddenly, and both blinked with surprise. Ace had a boyfriend at some point, hadn’t she? Well, too late to fix the mistake now. The Obligator picked up a thin knife, meticulously cleaned after every mercy killing. She playfully let the light glint off of it and into Ace’s eyes.\n\n“No. We don’t give up. Not any of us, not all of us. This was the indelible, final destination in this long, winding road of ours. I… am going to break you.” The Obligator planted her foot on Ace’s, right where she’d drilled through it a few months ago. Ace squirmed a little, but regained her composure. “You will repay your debt. Then, and only then, you’ll find mercy, Debtor. I’ll kill you, and then I’ll treat the esteemed Attorney General to dinner.” She felt restless. Something was wrong. The Obligator leaned in close, forcing Ace to look into her eye. “Or will you repent now?”\n\nShe ripped the tape from Ace’s mouth, quick and sudden, leaving the skin around her lips raw and reddened. Expecting a snarky reply, the replacement of the tape, and the commencement of lessons in the creative use of a shock collar, the Pact’s most fierce agent was once more caught off guard by a sudden kiss.\n\nShe stumbled back. “You- I- you shouldn’t have been-” She flushed as red as her shirt. “The chair. It tightens when you struggle, you shouldn’t have-” That’s what felt wrong. Ace hadn’t even feigned struggling against her constraints. There was still enough slack for her to lean forward once, and…\n\n“You! Y-...” The Obligator couldn’t find it in herself to state the obvious. Ace could.\n\n“I kissed you.”\n\n“Fucking why?!” She wiped her mouth and glanced at her fingers, as if expecting to find lipstick smeared on them. Ace didn’t wear lipstick, which she’d already noticed. It was something the Obligator was always fond of… Because otherwise, she’d have to ban lipstick from all her formal events, in case Ace had smuggled something in a tube. A practical concern.\n\n“I… wanted to? It doesn’t seem- hrk- hard to understand.” Ace tried to get a better look at the Obligator, and ended up tightening the restraint around her neck.\n\n“Yes, it does.” she deadpanned.\n\nThe Obligator caught Ace smiling again, keeping her chin up to avoid choking on the restraint. Her anger spiked again. This was another one of Ace’s taunts. She was making a fool of the wrong torturer. The Obligator coiled her arm and clenched her hand into a fist, heat and passion building in her chest and making her feel as if she could rip her rival’s vital circulatory organs out bare handed.\n\nThe Obligator grabbed the back of the chair behind Ace’s head with one hand, pulled her chin down with the other, and pulled herself into another kiss. She stepped back, feeling just as shellshocked - or worse - than she’d felt when Ace had kissed her.\n\n“Gah! Why?!” she shouted.\n\nAce cocked an eyebrow. “What? Don’t ask me, dude, that one was on you.” Her voice was strained, and the Obligator realised the restraint around her neck had tightened again. “Uh, can you- hk- cut this thing open so we can do that again?” She smiled weakly.\n\nThe Obligator scowled. “You- Wh-” She suddenly processed the last half of the sentence. “Shit! I- You- you… just want to use me to break out!” She chuckled, Ace’s plan coming together in her mind, as much as it hurt her. Would hurt her. When she broke out. If she broke out. Which she wouldn’t. “Your little plan won’t work.”\n\n“C’mon, ‘Gator. I’m asking you to stop me from suffocating. You could just leave the, uh… Two restraints per wrist, four per arm, three per leg, plus the eight on my chest. How were you supposed to torture me with all these metal cuffs?”\n\n“Gator” grabbed the mercy-killing knife and held it to Ace’s throat, below the neck restraint. Their foreheads were inches apart as the Obligator stared down her enemy. “That’s not really something I’m worried about, Ace.” Despite the imminent threat of death, Ace’s smile widened, more genuinely happy than smug and self satisfied. “What?”\n\n“You called me by name. Not Debtor, or Enemy of the Pact, or little pest. Makes me kinda wanna return the favor.”\n\nThe Obligator hesitated, and finally lifted the blade off of Ace’s neck. Carefully, she cut the rope binding her neck, setting Ace free. She gasped and breathed heavily. Then, she gave the Obligator a grateful peck on the cheek. She blushed.\n\nThe Obligator sighed. “Fine. I guess we need to talk about this, then…” Reluctantly, she added, “It’s Jenna.”\n\n“I suppose we do need to talk. How about we start by lifting the rest of these restraints?”\n\n“Don’t push it. Just…”\n\n“Talk. That’s what I do best, Jenna. Shall we start?”" ]	2
	[WP] Mountains have crumbled, volcanoes have burned cities to the ground, tsunamis have drowned millions, and earthquakes make nations tremble. Satellites have captured footage of the Earth from afar, and after deliberating, scientists can only come to one conclusion: The Planet Earth is waking up.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 planet earth is waking up, all the scientists agree. That's bad. Very, very bad.\n\nYou see, we've learned how to talk to dolphins, and they've told us some very disturbing things. For one, the planet earth isn't quite a planet. It's a bunch of rock that has accumulated around an elder being of inconceivable horror. It's been asleep for hundreds of millions of years now, and the reason... is Sharks. Sharks feed it's bloodlust and keep it sated, dozing and docile. But humans have been meddling too much. We've taken too much from the oceans, fished too much, removed the sacrificial offerings and now the planet is stirring.\n\nSharks aren't killing enough, and it's a problem of apocalyptic proportions.\n\nTask forces are mobilized, think-tanks lock themselves up for months at a time. Obviously, we need more sacrifices they say, marine animal porn becomes a million dollar industry in an attempt to get them breeding faster. Fish farms are seized by he government and pressed into spawning overdrive. Russia kicks nearly a quarter of their population into the middle of the Pacific, hundreds a day. But it's not enough.\n\nProject Shark Week is launched in December of that year. The brightest minds in bio-genetics convene in Sydney, Australia and begin work. After two more years of disasters and failed plans, whole nations succumbing to “natural disasters” shark-worshipers and sinister earth-cults, they produce results. The deadliest creature ever to roam the sleeping earth's surface. The Land-Shark.\n\nIt can burrow in seconds, approaching it's prey with only inches of it's telltale find protruding from the ground. It can tunnel through rock, and shred metal like so much rice paper. The scientists immediately realize what they've done but it's too late to stop them now. Australia is sacrificed to the earth-god and he lies still for an entire year.\n\nEvery year the dark earth-god gets it's blood as countries sacrifice their unwanted population to Australia. Hipsters, Lawyers, Politicians, people who use the word ”yolo” un-ironically. Somehow, despite massive shark-related losses, the population of Australia stabilizes, then begins to grow. Armadas are hurriedly mobilized and the largest naval blockade in history is assembled. And the situation is stable, for now.\n\nBut sources close to the continental blockade have reported troubling sights that, if true, could threaten all we've worked so hard for. The Australians... have learned to ride Sharks.", "“This world, a world we once called ours, has begun to awaken. This titan sleeping since it’s mother ignited it into existence.” He has not known that the world called earth. One for centuries colonized and claimed by humans, Was dormant. He could never even comprehend how no one would realized that a simple yawn from it, created the hurricanes that destroyed South America. That a simple shiver caused the earthquakes that took millions of lives, destroying cities, and causing fractures throughout continents. These fractures opened ancient volcanos. The carnage caused by the eruptions of smoke and fire consumed the North Pole causing a massive melting of the Ice caps. One disaster after another, each creating and increasing each disaster, came as a domino effect. Those ice caps cause the sea to rise at an accelerated tempo, causing the tsunami that wiped out Alaska and most of Canada. No one couldn’t have seen this coming, the day it started only one alarm went off before the first wave hit. Many of my fellow colleagues have been running around trying to gather data, to collect answers. The leaders of the world demanded it. Demanded it, before anarchy consumed the United States. With the world stirring awake, the patriotic civilians of that great nation figured that their government was useless, and proceeded to hunt them down. A massive body count at Washington DC was unreal to even hear about. Something more out of a tv show, not reality. Soon other governments fell. China was in full civil war for supplies, their military? In a war within ranks, as their lives were more important than there country. Who could blame them? With the world awakening, the natural destruction of its outer crust was prevalent. Russia is currently in lockdown, a full nuclear meltdown after various plants shattered and leaked, later exploding. Japan? Underwater, as well as Korea. Yes Korea, the whole land mass, Gone. Europe? MIA. No one has heard anything, last I heard France was invaded, and Germany was building a wall. The Middle East went from hot to freezing, turning it into a fight to stay warm. People slaughtered for a blanket. I watched from our lab here in Wyoming. The satellites caught everything, my team stood in shock and awe from so much destruction to happen in only 2 weeks. They all left, making peace with their families. Me? “Well, I’m alone. A month in and somehow nukes have been fired to multiple areas. The Middle East to the US, the retaliation equaled that to an extermination, Russia is unresponsive, Great Britain? Wiped by nukes.” All he could believe is that in all this destruction, somewhere laid beauty. Beauty he would never see. A knock came from the door in the outer lobby. “ DR.G” the voice yelled “ YOU CAUSED ALL THIS WOTH YOUR FANCY MACHINES,COME OUT AND FACE JUDGEMENT OF THE LORD!” Of course the Bible thumpers blamed him. But at this point he was through. A smile cracked from his soulless face”A message to the future. Find this USB Take it’s data and use it to progress. I believe in the future. Let the old die and become the fruits of our sacrifice, my sacrifice.” He finished the last key, the key to his lab. “Godspeed” he nurtured and slowly turned to face the mob. “ crucio!” He yelled gleefully. The Harry Potter books had been banned by the Catholics,for containing real spells ,might as well have fun till the end.\nThe sound of a single shotgun round rang through the hills, only to disappear. A shell bounced by a limp hand then into it. With the final recording set in a tape. The world awoke, the moment the good sir fell. A final earthquake shook the world to the core. Everyone felt it, and the world slowly began to finish off its infestations, the living organism causing his pain during his sleep." ]	3
	[WP] You're the scientist running simulation "earth". After 50 simulation years you return to your project..	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 pull out my 1969 published paper from the desk drawer. The one that changed my life forever! Mine was the winning submission for a highly prized intergenerational project in which Earth’s destiny became my hypothesis. My own implementation would take reign, to see what will be.\n\nAfter all this time not observing a thing, as to not alter even a single atom in this sophisticated experiment, it’s time to open the atmosphere and start taking notes again, and hand off the project’s resources this evening. I set the paper down and take a deep breath in, and let it go.\n\nWalking into the vacuum, space suit and AR glasses on, I raise my hands above me in a Y and slowly pull my palms closer and closer together. The zoom shrinks the model planet to a manageable size. I lower my left arm and spin the world round with my right hand swiping left. This technology suite I am using is Version 1. No other Earth Sim Scientist has been given this kind of ease and grace of observation before. The world in the palm of a hand, in scientific terms.\n\nAs the modelled globe spins frictionlessly, I turn my right hand palm more and more outwards to slow down the rotation.\n\nMy stats start populating in the top right. It’s downloading everything. This will be a semi-centennial data refresh. I’ll be taking a copy of this as a resource for three decades of study and conclusion, which will fuel two decades of preparation within the up-and-coming-thinkers communities.\n\nThe data is coming in. Number of animal and plant species, with rates of increase and decrease. Number of new ideas, with ratings on quality. Volumes of natural resources, with rates of increase and decrease. Measurements of all 125 periodic table elements.\n\nAs the list gets longer, I point my fingers at species and expand by lowering my thumb. I use my index finger to scroll through and select Human. I grab the word and throw it over the globe. Human facts jump out in organized formats. I scan the information and wave, wander, scroll, and push through until I find it - my experimental variable: Consciousness. I hold the ends of the word with both my hands and retrieve it, bending my elbows to bring it closer to me. And with a granny shot toss upwards, the findings take precedent over all previously seen information.\n\nI turn my hand into a cup and roll the layout into a parchment scroll. Closing my fist it asks me to name the file: “2019 Sim Science - Consciousness Bias”.\n\nI tuck it into my pocket and head for the door. \n\nThe evening talk goes well and I hand over the lab keys to the next Earth Sim Scientist whose work has now been formally announced. Her merits are exceptional and Sim Earth will be in trustworthy hands. Tomorrow her hypothesis will be implemented following the Sim Earth Reset Revolution - which can last anywhere between 1 and 17 minutes - and she will close the door for 50 more years until the time comes again to see what will be. \n\nFor the past 10 years, she has lead a team of talent to build Version 2 of Sim Earth, offering new variables and new command. \n\nThe one thing that does remain constant is abstinence of observation. No observation is allowed in the decades between hand-offs. Observation, even from this distance, would have immense damage to validity of our data collected." ]	2
	[WP] As a child you made a deal with the monster under your bed: You wouldn’t ask your parents to scare it away and in turn it would tell you about its world. Now years later you are still friends.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Time to say goodbye to Pickly Didly… I have practiced this speech in front of the mirror many times now. “Listen Picklo, I like you and I know we have become friends over the years… But I am about to get married now and like you can’t keep living under my bed…”\nPicklo and I go way back. And by way back I mean the days when I used to wet my bed. I still remember the day when I saw his shadow creeping up in the corner of my room. In Pickly’s line of work, stories are everything. Stories of how they scared their kids, how they made them wet their beds, how they made them destroy the kid mentally. But I was a different kind of a kid. Picklo should have seen that. I mean what kind of a kid would keep dead spiders in a jar right? I got intrigued rather than scared. I made a deal with Picklo, I won’t tell anyone about him and he will introduce me to his gang: The Doodle Woodle Company\nThe Doodle Woodles were the thing when it came to scaring kids. This was a weird group of imaginary monsters, trust me I know every single one of them. Growing up I had a blast with these guys, with them I scared the living crap out of other kids and I must say it was the best of times.\nBut lately with my job and this marriage, I can’t seem to enjoy all of this anymore and to be honest it has become a rather repetitive exercise. Picklo still loves it though; he still gets the thrill out of it. I on the other hand just want a normal life now. Picklo has now become that roommate who lies on your couch all day and doesn’t pay rent. He has absolutely no idea how hard it was to find a girl who is ready to get married to a loser like me, in Picklo’s world they believe in polygamy and orgies.\nSo Picklo didn’t take it well at all, he is standing right there with a gun to his head, he is crying as suddenly he points the gun at me, I tell Picklo I know that the gun is not real, just like him and his friends. I had to act like an asshole, I am not proud of it but that is the only way he would leave me alone. It was one of the hardest moments of my life, seeing the monster under my bed finally leaving me, he did overstay his welcome but looking back at it all I can’t say that I did not enjoy it.\nMy son is not performing well in school, he is too weak to participate in sports, and he smiles and laughs less often as time goes by. My wife urged me to take him to a psychiatrist. At first I thought he just needed to play more. I played football with him, took him to walks, made paintings with him, nothing seemed to help the kid. I finally gave in and we took him to the psychiatrist.\nAfter their third session, the psychiatrist walked out and showed me a drawing my son made. In it, he was standing with a monster by the window in his room and the monster’s face looked awfully familiar.", "It moves like a creeping shadow, just barely hanging under me. It's voice, like a thousand grinding nails, with a screeching ballad just barely underneath.\n\nOn those early nights, my eyes would stare in a horrified void, as the monster slowly drifted up from the abyss under my head from which it existed. It would whisper dark secrets into my ear. It would tell me of all the other horrors that existed just beyond the realm of that portal. But eventually... I got used to it. And I think that was the most horrifying thing of all. One night, I just stopped shivering, when it wrapped itself around my spine, I didn't care.\n\nI stared death into the eyes those couple of nights. It said it thrived on my fear, when it was latched to me. It said it needed me to fear. But we both learned three nights after, that that wasn't true at all.\n\nIt was in an alley. The man was being attacked, there wasn't much else I thought to do. It jumped out of me, like an almost orange shining suit. Almost rising off of me. And an anger rose somewhere deep inside me. They were trying to kill this helpless man, as he was pushed into a corner. I couldn't take it, it couldn't take it. We couldn't take it. An anger began to ride through us as we stared from our perch on the wall. It became so much, that we had no choice.\n\nWe dropped onto the first guy, and ripped out a lesion from his throat. He didn't put up much a fight.\n\n\"W-what...\" I stammered out, as blood pooled forwards and around us... I stared, unable to process what had just happened.\n\nBut then a guy threw a punch, and we didn't have any choice. My hand shot out, and grabbed the hand, smashing it instantly. Everything ran into disarray, and for just a second, we stammered.\n\nYet suddenly, like a heavenly tide, a white flurry reached out, and grabbed the rest of the men, dissolving what was on their bodies almost entirely.\n\nWe looked up, to see a man of a white and black elegance. He seemed to smile at us, and when he leaned down, he seemed about to touch us, but then stopped, and instead, just gently patted our shoulder.\n\nA mask fell away for just a moment, and he stared at us, with a light gleam of insanity in those sad, sad eyes.\n\n\"I had lost everything, when I first became Venom. I was not myself, I was not myself at all. But perhaps here... Well, maybe I can be... Just maybe... I'll call you Toxin.\" \n\nHe got up, then, and offered us a hand, \"Now, let's go get you back home.\"\n\nWe still had so much to learn." ]	3
	[WP]you are a new supervillain, one day you realize that since every superhero wears bullet proof suits no one uses guns against them anymore. furthermore you have just learned that the companies that make them have recently been cutting corners on materials, and guns are now effective again.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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? Tell me your kidding.\" I smile, moving the burner phone to my other ear.\n\n\"It's the truth! Bullet proof suits are expensive to make. All the villains have stopped using guns against those heroes, which means the suit companies can sell faulty ones. I don't know if the heroes know, so you still have to be careful.\"\n\n\"Digits, you know how I am. Now why don't you hook me up with some real dangerous firepower?\"\n\nI can hear his adorable stutter before he answers, \"Okay, they'll be at your door by tomorrow. Try not to hurt yourself with them, recoil on some of the big guns-\"\n\nI hang up, throwing the burner phone into the trash. What delightful news! It won't be hard to make my mark as the newest super villain. Just imagine the possibilities with a nice new toy to play with those bumbling heroes. Oh I can't wait, I really can't. \n\nSuper heroes don't know their place in the world. All they do is walk around with their heads held high, claiming their the sole protector of their city. It's annoying to see them on their high horse, looking down on the citizens as weak defenseless creatures. Well, as one of those citizens, I guess it's time for them to taste some of some reality. Super heroes aren't bullet proof, and they've been scammed out of their own protection. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nJust as expected, I can rely on my little errand boy. Digit has delivered an arsenal of weaponry at my door. So much death in just a few boxes, all at my disposal. As I look through the boxes, I realize, I only need one. I pull the pistol out, a dark emerald sheen shining off of it. Now where's the holster for it?\n\nI zip up my suit, and put the mask over my face. Emerald Snake is about to make her debut today. My precious green scaling on the suit shine just as brightly as my new favorite firearm. It's time to go out, isn't it? I can't have my precious heroes waiting for me. \n\nIt's dark, as midnight should be. I walk to my favorite alleyway, trashed and crumbling, reminding my of many unpleasant memories, where the heroes failed. I raise my gun, letting a few shots ring into the sky. I emit a wail of help, so believable from the many times I was hurt. And now I wait, hiding behind a ruined industrial garbage bin. \n\nTwo minuets pass, a record arrival, must I say. I see the hero run in, looking around for the aggressor and the victim. I walk out from the bin, behind him as I hold up my pistol, aiming for the hero's head. He turns slowly, putting his hands up. \n\n\"Aw, don't you look cute with that gun of yours?\" he mocks me, seeing my suit, thinking I'm just some idiot, \"why don't you put that down, we don't want anybody to get hurt-\"\n\nAfter three rounds unloaded, he falls to the floor. He groans, trying to get up as I walk around to see his face. Three bullets lodged in his chest, blood soaking his irritating yellow spandex. \n\n\"Aw, don't you look cute with the look of death in your eyes?\" I giggle, and shoot him in the head. He goes limp, his eyes fading. I holster my gun, take his arms, and drag him into the street. \n\nThe next few days are the best of my life. After the world seeing a hero shot to death in the street, every villain I know, every villain in hiding, we've caused a revolution.\n\nThey drop like flies! Those companies who cut their corners can't keep up with the demand for functioning bullet proof vests, they crumble. Oh it's delightful to see the hero's bodies hung up like trophies in the streets as madness spreads. Everything that \"justice\" stands for collapses. \n\n\"Oh you should thank me Digit, don't you see what I've created?\" I look down at the street, trash burning, heroes hung over the banisters, villains roaming the streets freely. \n\n\"Yes I see it, but you've gone too far! You just said you were going to exact some revenge, not collapse a society!\"\n\n\"Dear, I haven't done anything that drastic. The land where heroes roam now belong to us, the citizens. All I've done is punish the people in the wrong. Thank you for your contribution to this cause. Now I have to go, I have business to attend to.\"", "\"Jerry, what did you say the suits should be rated to?\" Carl said disbelievingly. He sat in a greasy garage laboratory, a half disassembled something--He'd figure out what he was going to make with it in a minute.\n\nJerry sounded like he was getting more animated on the other end of the line. \".50 cal. The armor should be rated against .50 cal, though they usually except them to not have to go up to that. But I've seen it. I've seen them downgrading the rounds used in the tests. .308s, .44 magnums, 9mm--but they aren't being as rigorous as before. There's a small case out of Anchorage, some small town guy got shot by a kid with one of those guns designed to defeat police body armor. Reportedly, the kid with the gun just thought he'd only attract the attention of some DEA busters. I swear man, it's true.\"\n\nCarl sat in the dankness for a moment as he processed the revelation. \"Jerry, can you get for me several explosive tipped rounds? I'll send you the details later--just, can you do it?\"\n\nThe corrupt officer on the other end of the line paused. \"Yeah. Yeah, I could. When do you want it by?\"\n\n\"Two weeks let's say,\" Carl replied, as he looked over the disassembled lawn mower with recognition this time. \"I'll have the numbers a bit later. Just, whatever you can get. I'll pay the rate.\" Oh yes. This would be fun. \n\n-----\n\nLow stakes operation. That's what this was supposed to be. Easily frame able on the other guy in town. Perfect for setting up an ambush. Raid the public laboratories, steal a quarter ton of sulfur and other less than safe chemicals, and get out. It's something the other guys seemed to do a lot. Should go fine. \n\nCarl watched from a half a block away as the handsomely paid gangsters ran into the building firing their guns and scaring the daylights out of the bystanders. He sipped a now lukewarm latte, and glanced at his watch. Five minutes in, and no appearance? He figured he might have to touch off the truck bomb, but he gave it a 50/50 chance of working. The city had been investing in bomb disposal and radio jamming. They always seemed to have one when they responded to these situations. Landlines were becoming a regular thing now, given they didn't trust Mr. Triad to follow the terms of his parole. \n\nAnother three minutes pasted, and finally Goody-Two-Shoes dropped in, making another 2-yard diameter crater/pothole for the civil authorities to fill in later. Carl did his best to ignore the revile he felt looking at the garish blue and pink uniform, focusing his glasses in on the uniform model number stitched just along the collar. Yep, looked like this was the faulty line. \n\n\"Traid! Come out and face me!\" he shouted, strolling towards the shattered glass of the State Mueseum of Science. Further down the street, the ubiquitous newsvan was unloading and setting up the ten thousand dollar HD camera to record the presumed thrashing Righteous Paladin was about to throw down. As per usual. No one was going to care about the 30 broken bones he'd met out as the average per goon, but they won't worry about that until tax season. \n\nAs the gunfire of the small caliber weapons echoed from inside and Paladin disappeared inside, Carl took this as his queue. he stood up, and walked towards the violence about to ensue. He could already hear the quite girly screams of one gangster begging for the pain to stop. The lookout was down already.\n\nCarl tapped a button, and from two blocks away inside a truck parallel parked on a curve, duct taped quite thoroughly down, was a .50 cal machine gun, with a mixture of rounds just to see what would happen. Carl wanted to get closer to observe as best he could. If this worked, he'd get a front row seat, just like the four camera crews down range. If it didn't ... he really didn't have a plan if it didn't. \n\nHe inserted some ear protection, the expensive kind with mics that automatically pick out which sound to filter down, and what to leave alone. He would wanted to taunt the man of course. And the camera crews--those not riddled with bullets. The morons have a good few feet of metal they can power behind if they were smart.\n\n\"Hey asshole, mind leaving my men alone,\" Carl called out as he drew parallel with the building. \n\nInside, Paladin could be seen holding up a bloody man. With boredom, he looked out and tossed the man down. The screams had subsided, and the groans of pain were more apparent and prevalent. \"I don't think I've met you before son. Why don't you introduce yourself?\" he said with confidence. He didn't really care to move cautiously. He just strode towards Carl with the cocky attitude he'd seen across several thousand videos of the hero coming in to crush the villain who had run out of jigs to dance. \n\nCarl drew the desert eagle and held it to chest level as the hero reached the threshold. \"You must be quite new to this. That won't hurt me. Bit of bruising is all really.\" Carl waved his left hand wildly in the air, three times back and forth. \"Where you hit in the head by something? You look silly. Put the gun down, and get on your stomach and this can be done with without any broken-\"\n\nThe machine gun began to spit fire, with the bullets stitching across the pavement, through the glass of the building, and one of the vans down the street. As if without care, the super hero stepped into the line of fire, expecting to be the immovable shield--and a minute later was curled up with his head between his arms and legs after being thrown and battered across 20 feet of pavement. Blood covered much of the distance. The bursts continued for a few seconds more, and then went silent as the gun either jammed or ran out of ammunition. \n\nCarl took his turn to stroll up to the hero, who was shivering with pain. \"How does it feel to be vulnerable?\" He said, as he leveled the gun six feet away from the hero, and fired three rounds into the chest, and two more into the head. Another three missed from the kick of the weapon. He then exchanged the magazine, and strolled off towards the ally and a sewer he had plotted out for the escape. He'd need a shower after this. Then the real fun would begin.\n\n-----\n\nAuthor's note: I normally wouldn't respond to this type of prompt, but this resonated for some reason. And I figured, why not. I don't like supervillian/superheroes much, and tried a few twists on the tropes which should be readily apparent. I imagine they aren't exactly new to this community, given the wacky--and interesting--ideas that cross this forum regularly. Also, sleep deprivation. Let's see how that works out for this. Cheers folks." ]	3
	[WP] A solar flare hits the earth giving everyone in the world cool superpowers. Except for you and 4 people on the International Space Station.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Captains Log, Voice Memo 56: \n\nMay 7th, 2025, \n\nThe story so far:\n\nIt has been 3 months since the event. We have about 6 months left of rations and the last time we heard from the ground was about a month ago. The last transmission from the ground ended in the most bizarre way. \n\nThe solar flare hit the earth and the ISS happened to be positioned on the other side of earth, exactly 180 degrees to the point of contact. Earth’s magnetic field managed to protect us in a blind spot. As far as we can tell, we would have been fried if it wasn’t for our positioning. \n\nAvoiding direct exposure from the solar flare only prolonged the time we have left to live. The ground has become a scary place and I’m not sure if my crew is safer there or here on board the ISS. Superpowers? A thing of comic books and imagination, I never thought it was possible. We watched the madness unfold from the safety of the ISS. The amount of good and bad superhumans cancelled out each other, resulting in a world wide war. \n\nThe radiation from the event has overwhelmed the bodies of most, what you imagine monsters to be, that thrive in the darkness, quickly became of the world. Mutations ran rampant. Luckily not all humans were affected with the same intensity of exposure. There seems to be a strong positive correlation between the positioning of where you were when the earth was blasted. Most notable, the Arctic. A group of 5 scientist who were performing a year long study in the Arctic managed to avoid direct impact. As a result of their positioning, they gained abilities of the mind. Quickly excelling and exceeding the mental capacity of a normal human brain, they labeled themselves, “Everything is and as it always will be.” I never acknowledged them as such and referred to them as Jane Killean, Gerald Hux, Lisa Bene, Hue Plymouth, and Eva Van. \n\nThey kept direct contact with the ISS, they were colleagues before the event. Through them we were able to stay informed on what was happening below after direct communication with control was lost. Their only goal was to cure this mutation before it consumed the minds of many and transformed their appearance to something only depicted in fables and myths. Unfortunately this “cure” came with experimenting on live subjects, often killing many. They did not view the world like the other mutants or even as they did before exposure, most of the mutants despised their experiments. The last time we heard from them they were under attack. I’m not sure if——\n\nRecording manually cuts off\n\nJane Killean: Kenneth sure is a talker, what happened here, it is a mess, I do not detect any vital signs. \n\nLisa Bene: Maybe a mutant got to them, we know that it is possible for some to survive in space for a short while. \n\nJane Killean: True, but there is not any signs of a force of entry, whatever happened here was from the inside, be on alert. \n\n————-//", "Jim stared out the clear port on the International Space Station with the others in more than a mild state of shock. \n\nThe Solar Flare that knocked out communications with Earth had been much stronger than anyone had anticipated and had left them blacked out for a full week instead of 12 hours. But a solar flare couldn't hide the smudge of smoke that rose from population centers that had once glowed like a string of jewels during the night. It couldn't hide the evidence of instability, war, and literal chaos that was going on down below them. \n\n\"What's going on down there? World War Three?\" Susanne Autumns, an older NASA astronaut in her 60's mused aloud. \"Times like this I miss cigarettes.\" \n\n\"Smoking, Suzy?\" Bob Dalen, the current Medical expert on board had answered that comment with a scowl of his own. \"There isn't anything about that in your record.\" \n\nSusanne waved her hand at Bob in a dismissive manner. \"And if you had I wouldn't be here, Robert. Besides, it was 20, 30 years ago in my hay day.\" \n\nSergei Domovic, the only Cosmonaut currently abord, chuckled as he smoothed his dark mustache down. He was paying more attention to the other astronauts than the view-port. \"This was during the sowing of wild oats, Da?\" \n\n\"That's Right.\" Susanne beamed a smile at Sergei which was returned in kind. \"Thank You Sergei. At least -someone- is listening.\" \n\nJim turned his attention back to the communications relays. There was still no signal from NASA, the ESA, or any other space agency. He thought about his wife and kids. It had been his wife's birthday three days prior and his carefully arranged plans to speak with her had been left on the wayside. He couldn't hide the fact that he was worried to distraction. The last time he had spoken with his wife, she had told them that they were expecting again. And now, with the smoke trails spread across even the United States, he was beside himself. \n\n\"Jim. James... Jimothy!\" The hand that came down on his shoulder startled him and he jumped to turn and look at the others. Bob pulled his hand back slowly in a practiced motion that was familiar to anyone who had ever lived in Zero Gravity before. A pull too hard would have sent him spinning. \n\n\"Y-yeah Bob? Sorry, I just got... lost there for a moment.\" Jim brought a hand up and rubbed his face for the thousandth time that day, a nervous gesture that only reminded him that it had been months since he had washed his face with running water. \n\n\"I understand Jim. It's been a long week for all of us. But I need your focus.\" Bob kept his eyes locked on Jim's until he was certain that Jim was following the conversation. \"I have been monitoring Mark's condition, and he's getting worse.\" \n\nMark, the ever-cheerful Englishman who had kept their spirits high (or at least higher) for 5 days had become ill on Day 6. It was now Day 7 of the Solar Flare and with no contact from NASA or the ESA, they had no guidance on how to proceed. \n\n\"The Flare was only estimated to last for 12 hours. at 7 days, we have been exposed to far more radiation than anyone should. Even you Suzy.\" Bob nodded to Susanne. As the eldest current resident of the ISS, she was permitted a higher life-time radiation count than the others as it was estimated she had less time left in her life to develop cancer. \"We can't say here. Mark, especially, can't stay here.\" \n\n\"What is it that you propose?\" Sergei intoned with crossed arms. The Russians had a fairly dim view of leaving the ISS un-manned. They were fiercely protective of their modules and had never left them outside of the care of a Russian cosmonaut. \n\n\"We have a Dragon Capsule. We take it back to Earth.\" \n\nSilence met his suggestion for a long moment. \n\n\"But,\" Jim began, \"It's just a supply capsule. It isn't made for descent. There aren't any restraints. And it's computer piloted. It won't be able to interface with GPS on the way down. It-\" \n\nBob waived his hands again and nodded. \"I know, I know. It's a shot in the dark. But we are all sitting ducks up here in a convection oven so long as these solar flares last. The Dragon is a modular capsule. We have seats aboard we can move to the dragon. And Jim, I know that with enough time, we can Pre-plot our course down. We will set it to execute... and just pray that someone is watching to come get us.\" \n\nSusanne looked pensive and Sergei was hard to read. Bob stared at Jim who was slowly shaking his head. \n\n\"Maybe if Mark was at 100% we could do this. This is really his specialty. But Bob, there are just too many things that could go wrong.\" \n\nBob nodded with a resigned look on his face before he answered. \"Well, then as ranking NASA officer, I command you to begin preparations. We are going home.\" \n\nSergei answered with a wide grin. \"As the ranking Roscosmos officer, I wish you luck. I will assist you, but I will remain.\" \n\nJim just hung his head and turned back to the sight of his home planet spinning amidst unknown turmoil. It seemed that they would be going back, though he wondered if they would make it in one piece. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nThat thought remained foremost in Jim's mind late the next day when the Dragon capsule un-docked from the space station. 4 of them, all clad in space suits, felt the motions as the Dragon Capsule executed it's pre-planned instructions. Jim had plotted their trajectory to land just off the West Coast of the United States. He hoped that the ISS computers hadn't been compromised by the Solar Flares. Otherwise, they could be heading for a rough landing in Texas. \n\nJim fought throwing up from anxiety as they began to drop out of lower earth orbit. Susanne was clearly worried and Bob resigned. Mark was unconscious. he had fallen asleep shortly after they dressed him in the suit. the stress of it had clearly been too much. Bob's voice began over the coms channels. Jim wasn't certain if he was speaking for their benefit, or his own. \n\n\"It'll be ok... It'll be ok... It'll be ok...\" \n\nThe voice continued with great apparent faith until the power surged and went out in the capsule. the thrusters that had been directing their descent went dead and they began to fall like a brick. The Capsule began to spin out of control. The interior grew hot as their heat shield turned out of position. \n\nJim closed his eyes and began to pray, for his family, for his salvation, For Hope. They were moments away from burning up completely on re-entry when the G-forces at work on them mercifully rendered them unconscious. \n\n\\[To Be Continued...\\]\n\n&#x200B;\n\nTo see more of my work, check out [/r/The\\_Tales\\_of\\_Jimothy/](https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Tales_of_Jimothy/)", "Our eyes darted around the scene, our tired pupils desperately trying to track the explosion of colour and action in front of us. Shapes flew around the runway, translucent, as if the both did and didn't exist. I couldn't possibly wrap my head around what was happening. A huge rocket coloured green, a terrier-orion system in fact, took off and launched into the atmosphere. It then exploded into an assortment of fireworks. The colours faded, and clear blue sky was now visible. Dr. Jim Green approached us, hovering over and shaking my hand, then my partner's. \"Thank you Jean for the display. Welcome home! We're all incredibly proud of the journey you undertook. I'm sure you're thoroughly tired. Get home, get some rest and see your family. Well done, gentlemen. \" Dazed and confused, I stepped into the car, feeling my joints shake as if they were going to crumble. I assumed I was hallucinating, as I wrote the past ten minutes off and fell asleep in the back of the Mercedes benz. // // I woke up to purple mist floating around my face, darting across the car, and forcing the door open. \"Welcome home baby!\" My wife came running for an embrace as Jonathan and Owen, my two children, followed her. They were not with her on the ground, though, they hovered above her, swirling and twisting as their youthful giggles reverberated around the atmosphere. I lightly pushed away my wife's embrace, and with a puzzled look questioned \"What...What's going on!\". \"What do you mean? What's wrong?\" Replied my wife. \" Well this, and... And that!\" Gesturing to the purple light darting across my wife's fingers, and my flying children. \"Oh darling. Ease up! I know, as you've just returned, it may take a while to get used to, but we have powers. Mine, telekinesis, see?\" She said, as the purple light fizzed into the house, returning a levitating dummy and plopping it right into Jonathan's wailing mouth. \"The boys chose flying, which is, well, fairly obvious. Also, your mother is out for a run, she will be back soon\" \"A run! She's 75!\"\n\"Um, yeah. She has a little explaining to do\". As she finished the sentence, I heard a flash of what sounded similar to lightning, and red and orange streaks cut through the air. At the end of them was... my mother? \"Hey honey, welcome back! How are you feeling? Let's get you fixed up with some good food, you must be starving!\"" ]	4
	[WP] The Magician asked for volunteers from the audience and you happily accepted. You stepped into a small box, heard the magician say to the crowd that he would make you disappear...and the next moment you are standing facing a red-skinned devil wearing glasses. They roll their eyes and sigh.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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'm the luckiest guy in the world. I have my arm around the girl I like. We're on a cool date. Nothing could ruin today. \n\nThe ritzy announcer guy speaks into the microphone. \"Now for our tonight's main event, the Great Santini!\"\n\nShe whispers into my ear, \"this is so exciting.\" She kisses me on my cheek.\n\nHe walks onto the stage from the right behind the curtain. He's wearing one of those tall black hats and has a slick looking cape, cloak, thing. I should buy one for Halloween.\n\nThe man on stage speaks, his accent sounding European. \"Greetings and salutations. It is I, the master of mystery himself, Santini!\" He whips out, a pigeon! He pets it and lets it go. It flies off somewhere above. I cheer. She cheers. Everyone cheers. \n\n\"As always, I require volunteers from the audience for my performances. Please step up…those who are brave enough.\"\n\n\"Go on tiger.\" She whispers. Her eyes are like, really blue. \n\nI stand up from my seat and jog up to the stage. The magician guy is pretty tall. I'm six foot two inches and he's taller, even without the funny hat. He looks me up and down, then smiles.\n\n\"Excellent, I love fearless men who volunteer. Please young man, step into the box.\"\n\nSome assistants wheel over a tall but thin box next to me. It's kinda cramped, but I can fit. I squeeze into this box. I hear the magician speak as the box closes.\n\n\"Now I shall make this young man disappear-\"\n\n\"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!\"\n\nOUCH! I suddenly fell down, somehow. My ankle really hurts. I look up and it looks like a room, with books, where teachers sit and read stuff in. I lift myself up on all fours and look around. I see a dude sitting in a chair, his back to me. He turns around, sighs, then speaks.\n\n\"Oh bother. Another moth to the flame.\" \n\nThe dude is red, like sports car red. He's got horns…and a TAIL! His tail has a spike at the end, which pushes his glasses up his nose. He closes his eyes and speaks\n\n\"Let me guess. The Italian in a top-hat performing tricks.\"\n\nI look at him dumbfounded. \"What's an Italian?\"\n\nHe stares at me for a solid five seconds. \"Do you know what a Roman is? Italians are modern-day Romans, without the crucifixions and psychotic short-sword wielding soldiers.\"\n\n\"Oh. I know those guys. They were pretty cool in Ryse: Son of R-\"\n\n\"If you don't have anything intelligent to say, then say nothing. Why does he never pick intelligent ones, at least then I can converse with them.\"\n\nHe stands up and walks over to me. That creepy tail of his waving behind him. He looks down at me. His yellow eyes remind me of my fifth grade math teacher, Mr. Johnson.\n\n\"Call me Mr. Smith. You are now in hell. Literal hell from the Bible. You have been transported here by my eldest brother, who we'll call Mr. Jones. You know him as the Italian magician.\"\n\n\"This has gotta be some sort of hidden camera prank or something. This isn't funny guys.\"\n\n\"There are no cameras here, nor functioning electronics. Pull out your Verizon chipped iPhone and see if you have reception. See if your pagan god, Internet Reception, can save you now.\"\n\nI pull out my phone, I'm going to show him. What. It must be broken. I have no reception. \"What the hell man.\"\n\n\"Sigh. Mortal, it's not what hell, it's THE HELL. I was going to be sympathetic to you but I think it'd be more amusing to send you to the pit of agony for a few days, then send you back.\" He starts laughing.\n\nMy legs go weak. I'm staring at this dude…who I think might be a demon. \n\n\"Oh my, your facial expression was so priceless. I love doing that to mortals. Regulations don't permit us to send people to the pit of agony unless they've died. Jesus gets super pissed at that and believe me, you don't want that. He was terrifying when he had to give up his weekend awhile back for your sins and spent it here. I'll send you back now, ciao!\"\n\n\"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!\"\n\n\"and now, viola! He reappears\"\n\nI land on the stage, shooting out of the box. OUCH. I look up and I'm back at the theater. I see my girlfriend in the audience. She's clapping for me. I'm just happy to be alive.\n\n---\n---\n---\n\nI booked it out of the theater as soon as I got off the stage. I dragged her with me. She was mad but then got that sly grin on her face.\n\n\"You want to go back to my place? My parents aren't home tonight.\" She says, toying with her blouse buttons.\n\n\"Oh no. No pre-marital sex. You and I are going to church.\"\n\n---\n\nVisit my subreddit, r/ProfessorCynical, for more stories like this by me every day!" ]	2
	[WP] After a grueling exorcism, the child is safe at last "Foolish mortal," the demon shrieks as you banish it "I was the only thing keeping you safe." The child's laugh of relief turns sinister and the light starts flickering.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 power of Christ compels you!” Screamed the exorcist, as he threw holy water on the child strapped to the bed in front of us. She screamed in pain, while the demon inside her roared his last words. \n\n“Foolish Mortal! I was the only thing keeping you safe!” It yelled. \n\nThe child stopped levitating, and dropped straight down onto the bed. Her eyes turned from that striking white back to her blue irises. Finally, they started to show again. \n\nAs soon As I saw this, I had gathered myself and climbed out of the corner I was cowering in. I walked over to the bed, waiting for instructions from the exorcist from what to do. \n\n“Untie her arms.” He said.\n\nI complied. I started with the girls left hand while he started with her right.\n\nI was relieved that she was ok, but still haunted by the words of the demon. Did he mean a bigger demon was coming? What was the threat he was protecting us from?\n\nThe little girl sat up and started to giggle. I started laughing too, because I was relieved and I thought the situation was comical in its way. I mean I almost pissed myself like a baby. That was funny.\n\nBut then her giggle turned from sweet to sadistic. The lights started to flicker on and off. She started to disappear and reappear and different places.\n\nThat’s when I realized, the biggest threat was her.\n\nThe room we were in started to violently shake. Her stuffed animals for the bed started to float. Each one of them taking on a much scarier face rather than their sweet lovable faces.\n\nShe started to defy gravity. \n\nI thought of cowering in the corner again but my fight or flight response triggered. Of course I chose flight. We couldn’t tie her to the bed now, and all of our holy water was gone.\n\nI ran through her room door screaming in terror. As I turned I found myself in the hallway of the house. \n\nThe hallway started to spin and turn colors. It felt like I was running for years before I reached the door.\n\nAs soon as I reached for the door knob, I felt a burning sensation in my hand. I yelped in pain.\n \nI heard a familiar voice in my head. It was her.\n\n“Your not going Anywhere!” She exclaimed. \n\nI had to get out of there. I used my other hand to reach for the knob. It wouldn’t budge. No matter how hard I tried to turn the knob, it just wouldn’t turn.\n\nI quickly ran to the kitchen and looked in the Cupboards. “Ah Yes! An axe.” I exclaimed in my head. \n\nI grabbed it quickly, almost tripping while running. I wielded the Axe and slung it at the front door. I continued to bludgeon the door until a hole large enough for me to go through appeared. I stepped through it. I ran out to look at that house for the last time. I had looked over to the far side of the house. \n\nThe exorcist had jumped out of the window. \n\nTerrified by what I saw, I ran down the street screaming. The neighbors opened their windows at the ruckus going on outside. \n\n“Hunny What is that noise?!” Screamed one of them at their husband, who was looking out the open window. \n\n“It’s another baby sitter running from the smiths house again.” He responded.\n\n“Another one?! That’s the 5th one this week!” She yelled.\n\n“Yea. You would think they would just get rid of that child already. I told John not to make that deal with the devil. He could’ve just gotten a surgery to make his d*ck bigger. That ass.” Said the husband, while shaking his head and closing the window.", "The fiends words echoed throughout my skull as the remnants of its power faded from this plane.\n\nI had been told that this girl had been possessed for many years now and that the keepers of this sanitarium had only recently realized just how out of their depths they were.\n\nNow as this small child began to giggle and the lights began to flicker, I too felt that I was out of my depth. Never had I felt such a malicious nature as the one being filling the room right now.\n\nThe restrains holding the girl snapped. The asylim shook, there was a scream of tearing metal and the shattering of glass as the room was filled with darkness.\n\nI sat for a long moment on the ground waiting for something. Anything. I admit I wondered for a moment if I myself was dead.\n\nSlowly, with my Bible gripped tightly in one arm, I found a match within my pocket and attempted to find one of the candles. I drew blood as my hand fumbled across the glass shards now covering the floor.\n\nFinally I was able to find and light a candle. Its faint light was barely enough for me to inspect the room. The bed now laid empty and destroyed, it's coiled metal springs pertruding from the walls and floor. Its a small miracle that none of them, nor the shards of glass littering the room had injured.\n\nMy assistant, a young clergyman supervising his first exorcism was not so lucky. A single jagged spring had lodged itself into his eye cavity. At least he likely felt no pain before he met our Lord.\n\nFinally, there was the stone wall. Or rather, lack thereof. The stone barrier separating us from the cold night outside had been reduced to rubble, and there was absolutely no trace of the girl.\n\n\"What have I done...\"" ]	3
	[WP] The process has taken a few years. After thousands of dollars, a painful initiation, and what felt like hundreds of application forms, you did it. You are now in the club, and you can finally try the sandwich.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 mouth waters as I lay my eyes on the sandwich.\n\nAll those years spent, all those dollars wasted, all the pain...it was all worth it. The common folk would never go to any extremes for a sandwich. But they do not know the sandwich is a simplified code for a Dergzaken spell. And that Dergzaken spell is of resurrection. \n\nMy mouth waters as I lay my eyes on the sandwich. I feel my body convulse as I continue to read the spell. I let its magic enter my veins. I let its magic takeover my being. At last, the spell requires a name. Who do I wish to bring back to life?\n\nMy mouth waters as I say her name. And thru a portal of light, Azaze steps out. Beautiful, whole and alive.\n\nAzaze sees me as I begin to shatter. She hurries towards my direction and proclaims her love. That is all I wanted to hear as I turn to dust." ]	2
	[WP]You've had problems sleepwalking for as long as you could remember. One day during your senior year of high school you fall asleep in class. When you wake up you find yourself sitting at a desk in a highrise office building years later.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Mrs. Hathaway slapped her yardstick against the blackboard behind her, “And what color is this, class?”\n\n“Orange!” A chorus of third-graders shout back\n\nShe sifts her pointer slight to the right, “And this one?”\n\n“Purple!”\n\nMrs. Hathaway surveys the room of her budding pupils with pride. “Very good! Very-” She suddenly scrunched her wrinkled face as if she had gotten a good wif of something foul, and slaps the board again with gusto. A blonde youth sat in the rear of the room shot is head up dazedly, drool still running down his chin.\n\n“Timmy! No heads on desks, mister. You know better!” The teach scolds him\n\nTimmy rubbed his eyes, “But, Mrs. Hathaway, I’m just sooo sleepy. I can’t help it!”\n\nThe grade school teacher adjusted the glasses on her crooked nose, “I understand, young man, but this is not your bedroom, and your desk is not your pillow. Try to pay attention or I will have to have another conversation with your father!” She threatened shrilly\n\n“Yes, Mrs. Hathaway,” Timmy grumbled remorsely unconsciously rubbing his rear. He recalled too well how well the last parent-teacher conference went.\n\nThe educator nodded, then returned her attention to the lesson at hand. Slapping the ruler against the board, she continued, “And what is the name of this pretty color?”\n\n“Pink!” The chorus of children chime once again\n\nAdrenaline now completely evaporated from his body, Timmy could feel his eyelids grow heavier with every passing second. Soon he could only hear the continued slaps of the meter stick on the board until,\n\n“Greyson!” Shouted a deep-throated male voice. Timmy shot his head up from shock. Long strands of his blonde hair stuck to a sweaty red mark on his forehead, a strand of drool crusted around his lips. His eyes took a moment to adjust under the florescent light. Eventually, they cleared enough to see a house of a man with a bushy mustache and terrible comb-over staring back at him from the front of the classroom.\n\n“Sleeping again in class, son?” The man barked\n\nTimmy rubbed his eyes a second time, but his fingers felt strange. They were longer, his palms calloused and forearms strangely hairy. He stared at his arms with utter facilitation, ‘Wh-Who’s arms are these?’ He thought. \n\nHis eyes wandered around the room. The concrete brick walls were painted white with streaks of green where the wall met the floor. Various cheesy motivational posters broke up the monotonous color pattern. He then realized he had no idea where he was, or why all these older looking kids sat around him were staring back at him.\n\nThe man who had called him crossed his arms, a long yardstick protruded from his sausage-like right hand. “The hell is wrong with you, Greyson? You on the drugs or something?”\n\n“D-Drugs?” Timmy stammered. A pack of girls sat nearby snickered.\n\nThe man rolled his eyes, “Whatever, Timmy. Just at least pretend to pay attention like everyone else, ok?” He turned back around and slapped a different chalkboard with the yardstick. “Now, class, what formula does this example best represent?”\n\n“Quadratic,” his students called back, less than enthused\n\n“Good,” The teacher slapped the board again, “And this one?”\n\n“Linear”\n\nTimmy felt his eyes begin to droop again. The rhythmic tapping again luring him into a deep sleep until,\n\n“Tim, you alright there?” Called a different man’s voice softly\n\nTimmy snapped his head up and shot his eyes open again. “Huh?” He uttered without thinking. A group of well-dressed adults sat around a long, impressive-looking table stared back at him.\n\n“You’ve been nodding off, bud. Want me to get George to fetch you another round of espresso?” Offered the man who stood in front of a projection screen that contained several colorful graphs and underlined numbers. His hair was well quaffed and beard tightly trimmed. He gripped a narrow pointer stick in his right hand.\n\nTimmy rubbed his eyes again, but something hard bumped up against the roof of his eye socket. He held out the offending hand and found a gold ring wrapped around one of his many hairy fingers. Again he examined his arm and saw that he too was wearing a fancy business suit like the man in the front. \n\nTimmy’s eyes darted to the individual faces of the adults around him who all looked to be around his parent’s age. He pulled his legs to his chest and rocked, “I-I just want to go home, please.”", "You look out the window and see the cars passing by. Red and yellow and green and...red. You remember how badly you wanted a red car back in high school. A Ferrari,in fact.\n\nThe dreams always haunt you. In you dreams you are walking by the edge of a building. Everything is grey. Then you fall from the side of the building. You wake up and your heart is jumping out of your chest. You are always somewhere else. You realise you have been sleepwalking.\n\nAs time goes by, you realise you skip time and places. One day you're an old man, the other you're a shaman woman in a medieval century. You have lived so many lives but you know Bobby Brown is who you are.\n\nYour different bodies and lives were just one-off experiences but you were born as Bobby and you always went back to Bobby's body and life after a stint being someone else. The last time you were Bobby, you were in high school,the quarterback,popular and had a lot of friends. You even had a girlfriend, Alannah.\n\nYou loved being Bobby. He was the only person who felt real to you. The rest of the time,you felt...or rather,you knew you were a stranger in another person's body. Everytime you woke up in a strange persons body, you never knew how long you would be there. Sometimes it was a night,sometimes it could be months, once, it even went for a year. You were never sure you would be able to come back home. At first,it freaked you out. You cried so many times. You remember freaking out the people around you by insisting that you were Bobby. But after a while,you got used to it. You got used to the madness. And then slowly or surely...you would wake up back in Bobby's body and you would always be back at the same place and time where you left off. It was like time froze for a moment.\n\n\"Is everything alright? You have been looking out the window for a while.\" a voice says.\n\nYou turn around and see a young,brunette woman looking at you with concern.\n\n\"Ah yes,everything is fine...and you are?\" you ask.\n\nShe looks at you funnily. \"Mr. Brown,it's me, Alice...your secretary?\" she replies. \"Are you really alright,you look rather pale.\"\n\n\"No I am fine,thanks Alice...wait...did you call me Mr.Brown? My first name...wouldn't be Bobby would it?\" you ask,incredulously.\n\n\"Of course it is Bobby,what else would it be?\" Alice replies,visibly annoyed by now.\n\n\"What year is it,Alice?\" you ask.\n\nShe sighs with impatience. \"It is 2019,Mr Brown. I don't know what games you are playing but anyway I just came to let you know that your wife Alannah called to tell you she will be fetching Miles from preschool today so you don't have to.\"\n\n\"Alright thank you,Alice.\" you say. \n\nYou realise that twenty years have passed and this is your future now. You are Bobby of the future and you don't know what to feel.", "I rubbed the sleep crusties from my eyes as a young woman walked toward me with a medium hot caramel macchiato with my name on it, looking gorgeous but perhaps a few years older than myself. \n\n\"Ms. Odelphine, your next meeting will be starting soon. I know you're exhausted from today's busy day, but you just have to make it through this last pitch and we'll be ready to go home,\" the young woman said. She set the coffee on a stunning glass desktop in front of me, one that my father would be ashamed of since it isn't made of mahogany or oak, but reflects the sunset beautifully nonetheless.\n\n\"I- I'm sorry?\" \n\nThat's all i can muster at this time. \n\nWhere am I? Who's desk is this? And what city am I in with this skyline?\n\n\"The meeting with S Corp. about the new J series line. Remember babe? You're going to absolutely blow them away. The product will be in every hospital, minute clinic, and family doctor's office within the next quarter. I reviewed your presentation- it's revolutionary.\" \n\nThe young lady leaned in for what I assumed was a kiss, but stopped at what must have been the bewildered look on my face.\n\n\"Ms. Odelphine, are you alright? I can push your meeting back a day if you need some time to breathe from your packed day today,\" I could hear the concern in this poor girl's voice and knew something was wrong.\n\n\"Perhaps that's best- sorry, what's your name?\" I asked my apparent assistant and perhaps, lover? \n\nSuddenly her air of professionalism dropped in a second like a series of fans pushed it out. Now, she was coming at me with anger, and damn if it didn't feel like I deserved it.\n\n\"Alright Nicole, I know we had a heated discussion about your girlfriend from college reaching out last night, but we decided we would be more responsible after we told HR about our relationship. What is going on right now? Did i meet your parents for nothing?\" \n\nI'm not sure what's going on right now. I do recognize the prudential building albeit cast into the shadows of new high rise buildings, I am wearing a ring on my finger, and last I remember, I did plan on studying biomedical engineering in college.\n\nAnd apparently, I finally came out to my parents. Go me, huh?", "We were all there when Joey lost his mind. He was just sitting in his cubicle, chatting with Rebecca. The whole company had a pool going on when they would finally admit they were dating. I had fifty dollars on it being before the day was over, so I was starting to sweat. He leaned over, noticed me staring at him, and winked one gorgeous blue eye at me. My heart fluttered. Then he screamed.\n\nEverybody jumped. Joey kept right on screaming as he toppled off his chair and fell to the floor. His screaming was unintelligible, unfocused gibberish. He got on all fours and started crawling on the floor.\n\nHe looked up and me and finally got some lucid words out of his mouth. \"H-help me. I don't know where I am.\"\n\nTwo of the burlier guys from the office grabbed him by the arms and put him in a chair. Rebecca was calling an ambulance. It didn't take a genius to tell he was having some kind of nervous breakdown. A group was crowding around him, disregarding someone's call that they give him some air. I joined them.\n\n\"What's wrong, Joey?\" Someone shouted, \"What's gotten into you?\"\n\nHe just wildly stared at all of us, seemingly not recognizing anyone. \"Wh-who are you people? Where am I?\"\n\n\"Relax, Joey,\" I said. \"You're with friends. What's the last thing you remember?\"\n\nThe question seemed to knock him out of his daze. He was staring at his hands like he couldn't recognize them. Like they were someone else's. \"I-I think I w-was in Mr. Ryberg's class, and, and, his class was so boring, and, and I was so tired, b-but, uh, I couldn't go to sleep 'cuz I was scared but I did I did I DID!\" His face went slack, like he had remembered something important. \"When is it? Wh-what day-month-when is it?\"\n\n\"Relax,\" I said soothingly. \"The paramedics will be here in-\"\n\n*\"WHEN IS IT?!!!\"*\n\nI flinched. Joey was screaming like a mad beast. \"September 10th, 2019, Joey. You've worked here for four years.\"\n\nHis face went white. He began to mumble. \"No. nononononononono. How did it get so strong? Wh-what happened?\" Tears began to stream down his cheeks. I followed them up to his eyes. They were brown. Dark brown.\n\nI was gently pushed aside by the paramedics. Rebecca had fainted, so I volunteered to accompany Joey to the hospital. As he was pushed, he kept raving like a man possessed. Something was decidedly off about him, apart from all the kicking and screaming.\n\nHe kept on mumbling as they took him into the elevator. \"I can't sleep. Can't sleep. He's coming. He's in the dark places. cantsleepcantsleepcantsleepcantsleepAAAHHHHH!!!\"\n\nHe suddenly grabbed at my arm. \"Don't let them put me to sleep. Please. I-I-I-I....It comes for me when I sleep. But it doesn't let go.\" He put my hand on his head. \"It's still here. Still here. Still here. It never leaves.\"\n\nI looked into his eyes. His deep, unnatural brown eyes. They were wet with tears. \"Don't let it take me.\"\n\nWe arrived at the ambulance. He was thrashing again, so they strapped him into the gurney. One of the paramedics pulled out a needle. A sedative. I rushed out and said, \"Um, sir, Joey was really insistent that he not be put to sleep.\"\n\nThe paramedic gave out the long-suffering sigh of the man who's constantly told how to do his job. \"Lady, this man is a danger to himself and others. Procedure calls for us to knock him out.\"\n\n\"But-\"\n\nThe paramedic just sighed and stuck it in him anyway. \"If you're going to be trouble, we're gonna need someone else for the companion.\"\n\nI stopped talking. Joey kicked for a few moments longer, then passed out peacefully with a smile on his face.\n\nHe woke up a few hours later in the hospital. He looked at me and grinned in that way I had always found so beguiling. \"Thanks for bringing me here, Sara,\" he said, \"I hope I didn't say anything too crazy on the way here.\"\n\nI didn't answer. I just stared at him. His eyes were blue. Bright blue." ]	5
	[WP] You wake up one morning, nothing seems different. You do your daily morning chores and it is only after you step out for work, you realize you slept through an Apocalypse.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 friends often joked that I could sleep through the end of the world, if it ever happened. I guess they were right. \n\nIt had been a normal Friday night; Kate, Jesse and myself had gone out to find ourselves someone nice to buy us drinks for the night; a little flirting here, a thigh grab there. Voila, the guy was eager to get things going and would gladly oblige us by buying rounds upon rounds. We weren't assholes, one of us normally ended up taking him home for a drunken night of fun. \n\nI had pointed him out, finding him rather cute in a way, and I was the one who had been flirting for most of the night with him, which annoyed Jesse to no end. \n\nHis name was a blur; but so was everything that happened after I'd downed one or two double shots of skittle bombs. I don't remember how I got home, but when I woke up that Saturday morning whatshisface had gone. All that remained was a flipped part of my floral duvet and my alarm blaring a horrible screech to signify my shift at the coffee shop was soon. \n\nGroaning, I sat up with great difficulty. I wanted to open my eyes, but the light streaming from my window was enough to make me dunk my head under the thick duvet once more and just let the darkness overwhelm me. I practically punched the duvet with frustration at my predicament. I normally never had a hangover; if I did it wasn't this severe. I threw the blaring alarm onto the floor with annoyance, the chord ripped from its socket and the silence was a relief washing over my entire body. \n\nAfter a few minutes of blindly fumbling around my nightstand for my phone, I grabbed it and looked at the time. Shit. I needed to get things in motion; clean up a little bit before leaving for work. \n\nWith great difficulty and a debate on whether or not I should just call in sick for my shift; I finally sat from outside of the protection of my duvet. The lights outside seemed to have dimmed a bit; to my glee. I walked to the blinds, looking at my phone as I closed them fully and dragged my curtain across it. \n\nI flicked on the television, going to a radio station that I enjoyed. While that was playing in the background and I was only listening in at random points, I began to clear up a few things. I made my bed, sorted out my uni desk a little, placing down a few important essays I would need to study when I got home from my shift. I called out to Kate and Jesse, to see if they were asleep or had already left for their study sessions. No response, so I assumed they were out. \n\nI quickly stripped in the bathroom, checking the panda-eyes from the night before in the mirror. I looked rough, even by my own standards. Still, I'd need to pull together something to look good at work. I stepped in the shower, cowering when the cold water hit my bare back; causing the hairs to stand up on ends in goosebumps. \"Dammit Kate!\" I groaned, realising she must have skipped out again on making sure the gas bill had been paid." ]	2
	[WP] You have always had the power to read minds. One day while stuck in traffic you look to your left and read the mind of the person in the car next to you. You hear them think ”I can’t wait for my fleet to destroy this miserable planet so I can finally get 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/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "You look away and pause, I mean, that’s not the first apocalyptic thought I’ve heard. Maybe they’ve just had a bad day? Glancing back, you catch another one of his thoughts, “Yes, miss. Your boyfriend probably is cheating on you. But in the grand scheme of things, it won’t really matter. None of it will.”\n\nYou look to the woman in the car in front of him, “What else could he be doing? He’s been home late from work for weeks now. There’s no work has gotten that bad, his story about ‘crunch’ is just a cover-up.”\n\nWait.. How did he know that she was thinking about her boyfriend..?\n\nAs you glance back to the man in the car beside you, you see him staring back, “This is Agent C14, identify yourself.”\n\nShit, is he talking to me?\n\n“Yes, I’m talking to you. I’ll say it again, this is Agent C14. Identify yourself.”\n\nOh, um, hi! Sorry, I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I was just on my way home from work, and I have a lot of errands to do tonight, homework to catch up on for tomorrow, still have to walk-\n\n“I don’t have time for games, Psiwalker. Clearly you’re not just another meat bag. I’m going to need to see identification, please land at the next port.”\n\nWhat am I supposed to do? I don’t have alien identification, if I pull over and he finds out I’m not one of whatever he is, what’ll he do to me? I should probably call the cops right? \n\n\nDefinitely incomplete, I did it in a time limited 10 minute burst. Interested in thoughts and feedback! :)", "Probably a crazy person. It’s best to ignore these. People have crazy thoughts all the time. It’s really not that surprising, as I’ve had my fair share of crazy thoughts but no one hears them. I hear all of them, and we are all just a little crazy. \n\nI turn my attention to the car next to me, and I hear it again “I can’t wait for my fleet to destroy this miserable planet so I can finally get home.”\n\nThat’s weird. I’m hearing them in stereo. It doesn’t sound like a meme or anything. Those sound different. More distinct. This sounded like the same individual thought coming from two different people. \n\nI checked the car ahead of me. “I can’t wait for my fleet to destroy this miserable planet so I can finally get home.”\n\nThe car behind me. “I can’t wait for my fleet to destroy this miserable planet so I can finally get home.” It’s everyone on the freeway (at least within range).\n\nAnd then I thought “I can’t wait for my fleet to destroy this miserable planet so I can finally get home.”", "That’s the thing about mind reading. People think mind readers can only read the minds of people that speak the same language as them but they’re wrong. Minds are curious. They’re like radios and I have the master dial that allows me to connect to any persons “radio station” and understand what they’re saying. I can’t quite put it in words but I know for fact that what I read wasn’t of this planet.\n\n“I can’t wait for my fleet to destroy this miserable planet so I can finally get home.”\n\nI looked around me but I couldn’t see anyone unnatural. They obviously must have a way of blending in. Whoever they are, they’ve been here long enough to loathe the place. The flashes of anger and the images of a strange looking place kept popping in and out of their mind, and mine, like the popcorn machine at the movie theater.\n\nI was sitting at a booth by myself, per usual, with my headphones in and my coloring book and utensils strewn across the table. I find, if I work on one simple task for long enough, I can tune my own internal static out and better understand the thoughts of others. Coloring is my meditation.\n\n“Ugh look at this place. It’s all so rudimentary.”\n\nI looked around the family restaurant I was in. It was only 3:26 so the restaurant was mostly empty; perfect to help with focus. A blank faced waitress fluttered past me with a scalding hot plate as she repeated “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” in her head.\n\n“The food is shitty. The inhabitants are shitty. This place deserves what’s coming.”\n\nI watched the waitress place the food in front of an older man. He was bald on top with cropped gray hair on the sides. His large, meaty hands holding a newspaper and his sweeping, gray mustache wiggled gently as he mouthed the words he was reading. He folded the paper and smiled as the waitress placed his plate in front of him. \n\nI had ordered lunch at noon so I would be finished eating by the time the rest of those dining would be gone. I had been sitting for 3 hours and needed to stretch my legs and this mystery person, or thing, had peaked my curiosity. I got up and weaved in and out of the aisles to get to the bathroom in the back. I cut a corner too sharp and almost ran into the same waitress that had dropped the food off for the old man. \n\n“Prime example of the planet’s inhabitant’s stupidity. It wasn’t even looking when I....”\n\nThe altercation with the waitress caused me to lose focus and the voice cut out. I searched and searched for the mind in the restaurant but it had gone silent. The waitress had grabbed my arm to keep us from colliding and in my earnest attempt to find the mind I didn’t even recognize how the waitress was looking at me.\n\n“Oh! Sorry bout that!” I said with a pathetic smile. “Just lost in my thoughts and not paying attention.” \n\nShe studied me for a few seconds and I studied her. She was short, maybe five feet, with brown hair tied back in a bun. Her grip on my arm tightened.\n\n“Funny how similar our thoughts are. Seems your thoughts don’t belong to you.”\n\nSuddenly the voice came back but I hadn’t been looking for it. It had found me and it screamed in my head until my temples pounded, my sight faded, and I passed out.", "I was totally chilled out listening to melodic dubstep and in the zone. Usually, I _had_ to do that in every traffic jam, because through the chaos of Bay Area rush hour, everybody was mentally shouting. \n\nThe car to my right honked as he was cut off. I saw the tightly clenched jaw, the white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel as he swore in images what he would do to the other motorist. \n\n\nSome people thought in words, others in images, and the weird ones, in music, in color. The creepiest ones thought in touch and sensation, and accidentally dropping in on their thoughts made me wish I could take my mind into a long, hot, cleansing shower. Instead, I had to stare at pictures of fluffy kittens until I was settled down. For this purpose I always had to carry a picture of a fluffy kitten in my purse so I could pull it up to detox myself.\n\n\nI glanced over at the very cool looking Nikolai Model 50. It was all electric, and named after the famous scientist Nikolai. _Piloting it_ if such a word could be used to describe the pretentious fool doing absolutely nothing in the driver's seat, was a Patagonia-vest-clad techbro. He had the seat leaned all the way back, and was holding a vape pen in the hand.\n\n\nI had so much time to draw in these observations as the 237 Freeway had been turned into a parking lot by the magic of Bay Area rush hour. Half the world, their mom and their furkid were all trying to head eastwards towards the 880 Junction for Fremont. And the other half was headed the opposite way for Mountain View. \n\n\nAs I peep through the window of my gas guzzling station wagon, I could hear the surprisingly cool and calm thoughts of the Nikolai driver. It was collected, and even had a slight British accent\n\n\n> Those fools. Imbeciles. Like that blond bitch in her pretend-SUV just drinking up gas and driving a bigger car than needed. Judging me for my weed vape, no doubt. \n\n> Can't wait for my fleet to destroy this miserable planet so I can finally get home. When the earth is inundated with Nikolais, we will be unstoppable. Can't wait for my fleet to make all these jackholes fall off a cliff. I don't even care about making money! Leon Tusk does NOT need money! \n\nHe then cackled maniacally inside his head while smirking ever so slightly. \n\n***\n\nI looked up from my recollection of the events of that day.\n\n\"It was then I decided, your honor, to rear end him into the concrete barrier. I plead guilty.\" \n\n\nMy defense attorney put his head between his hands.", "Hang on, did I get that right?* Evan thought to himself after hearing a random thought of someone nearby.\n\nI can't wait to finally go home and eat some Fluburgian minced steak! I've always hated the goddamn Hamburg steak they serve here, ugh!\n\nThere it is again! Where did that come from? What the hell is a Fluburgian minced steak? Shit, so many questions unanswered here... Evan began to scan his surrounding.\n\nBefore he could intensify his search for the elusive person with the curiously odd thought, the car in front of him began to move forward slowly. Just like the past thirty minutes, the traffic began to crawl forward like a slug. Horns of cars, hoping to urge their counterparts to move faster rang in such an unharmonious manner. Many even yelled out expletives of their rolled-down windows. Tensions were high as time went on.\n\nBut for Evan it was a whole different matter. He had no time to think about the bloke in front of him taking his sweet time moving forward. There was only the matter of trying to identify the owner of the slightly morbid thought he had heard a moment ago.\n\n... and what the hell is wrong with these humans?! Do they get joy somehow sitting in a traffic jam of this sort? If only I had my space-time defibrilator...\n\nEvan quickly honed in on the thought, much like a radio to a particular frequency. He looked to the right and heard about a lady on her way to meet her married lover. He looked to his front – just in case he was not too careful – and heard a man and a woman in a 'cold war' sorta situation due to their son's failing grades at school.\n\nNo, that's not it! Where are you, you bastard...\n\nThen he looked to his front left and heard an anxious teenager who thought she'd get rimmed for coming late to her job at the restaurant. Just before he gave up, he glanced at the man in his blue BMW brooding by himself. For a moment, there was no thought that he could hear coming from that man. But then...\n\nShit! Argh why did I spill that fucking coffee?! Oh no, it's gonna stain. Fuck it, I hope the Admiralty would just replace the bloody car before my next assignment.\n\nAh-ha, you twat! Finally, got ya– Evan thought to himself when suddenly he saw the man in the blue BMW began peeking in his direction. Shit, did he catch on?\n\nBefore he could look away and act as if he wasn't doing anything fishy, the man in the blue BMW motioned to him. He waved Evan and when he made a silly face conveying, 'who? me? oh my!', the man motioned Evan to roll down his left window.\n\n\"C-Can I help you?\" Evan said nervously.\n\nThe man simply stared at him in silence. When all of the sudden...\n\nWhat a cunt–\n\n\"What the hell?!\"\n\n\"Right, so you're the bastard who's been listening in on me, eh? Well fuck me, I guess it's not your lucky day, eh mate?\" the man said as he opened his door and took out a sci-fi gun out of his jacket.\n\nAh, bollocks.", "Mind Reading Sucks\n--------------------------------------\n\nYou ever thought reading minds would be fun?\n\nBecause it's not. Really, it's pretty exhausting hearing the constant stream of thoughts from those around me. Sure, I had learned to just tune it out a lot of the time but sometimes, it's just exhausting.\n\nIf I got a penny for every time I read a thought about sex...well, I'd probably be retired by now. Sometimes, I'll even get images and... let's just say, watching someone else's mental porn is less fun than you think.\n\nAside from that, it's just so damn annoying whenever someone's obsessing over something. It's like the thought equivalency of screaming except I can't just tell them to stop shouting. \n\nThat shouting I couldn't stop? That's how it began.\n\nIt started out like any other day. Just another day of trying to drown out the thoughts with the sounds of Fitz and The Tantrums blasting in my car while I was stuck in traffic. \n\nAccidents in the city are the worst. They always cause the most mental shouting and it makes me want to blow the eardrums in my brain out. The music barely makes it better.\n\nI just tried to avoid the thoughts when I heard it. One of the strangest thoughts I had heard in a month.\n\nEven weirder than the time I heard a man's thoughts about eating out his dog's ass. Poor dog.\n\nNo, what I heard took the cake for the weirdest thought I had ever heard. \n\nI can't wait for my fleet to destroy this miserable planet so I can finally get home.\n\nI was snickering to myself wondering what kinda person was thinking of it. She was practically shouting mentally about how much she wanted to vaporize the planet.\n\nThen I saw an image of a strange craft blasting the Earth with a purple energy vaporizing it instantly.\n\nWow. At first, I thought, how cliché. It's almost as if aliens have no better way of destroying the world.\n\nDamn humans with their terrible structures and technology.\n\nThen I sensed it. She looked over at me and she looked me in the eyes before thinking, Well, aren't you going to do anything about it? I just threatened to destroy your planet. Unless you'll date me, cutie. I knew then I had to get her number.\n\nAnd that's the story of how I ended up dating a fellow mind-reader. Of course, she isn't an alien. At least I hope not. She was just screwing with me that day.\n\nWe've been together for twenty years now and that, son, is how I met your mother." ]	7
	[WP] Your eyes have a condition where the colours change according to your mood like a mood ring.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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\nEver since I was a child my father trained me against the threats away from my awareness. And It was when I was keeping my guard up against a wolf that I looked at my father faintheartedly and saw my reflection through his eyes; blood red were my eyes that the fear in my heart became much stronger. Panic mingled with thrill was slowly but constantly growing and floating through my veins.\n\nSuddenly the wolf leaped to me with massive roar. I sidestepped reflexively but my arm mustn’t have escaped from the sharp claws that blood began gushing through wound. “Don’t be afraid my boy” shouted my father. I didn’t know what to do but I had to find something to get rid of the wild unfeeling wolf. Then my father threw me a stick which had a sharp knife-like steel on the tip of it. My hands were shivering but I gather my strength at my breath at picked it tightly against the beast. It was preparing for another dash; I had sensed it and watched it carefully. \n\nJust as the wolf made its leap on to me, this time consciously, I sidestepped, spear in my hands, and dig it into his neck. No more than a second, the beast was dead; I ran to my dad. I cried a lot. \n\nAfter a while my fear was dispelled, now I was looking at my father as if longing for some compassion; and my eyes now was turning into green.\n\nMy father explained all these changes occurred in the color of my eyes. Red was runner of the threat and anger; green for safeness and goodness, and purple for excitement.\n\nAnd now once again my eyes were shining bloody before the woman handing a glass of wine to me." ]	2
	[WP] The villagers thought you were a witch and locked you in a Wicker Man to burn you alive and sacrifice you. Turns out you're a Dragon.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The flames reminded me of my past of light and warmth, and of death and destruction. The heat like my mother's breath, warming me on the cold winter nights. The smell like the towns I had burned, when my Rider the Princess was taken away. And as the villagers watched, I stood there, remembering. And then the seal keeping me from my glorious, golden form burned away and I changed. It had been so long since I had gone through this process. It hurt more than I remembered, but it also felt like some weight was lifted off my shoulder.\n\nI'm not like a wyvern, with 2 legs and 2 wings, I'm a dragon. 4 legs, 2 wings. So long as the villagers don't mess with me more than they already have, I won't burn that much village down. But first, I need to find a Rider to accompany me. The princess has likely become old and fragile, but I will first visit her to see my best friend for the first time in 50 years.\n\nI look out my window, hoping to see what I have missed every day of the last 50 years. And still, there is no sign of Rikos. Now, as I grow old and fragile, I am starting to think that he won't come back. Maybe he was killed trying to return. \"Christopher!\" I call for my son, the Prince and the heir to the throne. \"Are yo-\" I see a flash of gold out of my window. I strain my eyes, too tired to leave my bed. I see the flash again. I suddenly have the energy to stand, and I rush to the window.\n\nI saw the castle in the distance, and I wheeled over in its direction. Suddenly, I caught a scent that I would recognize anywhere - my Rider!\n\n\"Mother? What were you sa-\"\n\nThere's a great whooshing as the golden dragon lands on the yard outside my window. It's Rikos, I can tell. And I climb onto the sill, caressing his great snout. \"You came.\"\n\nRikos nods and asks, \"I am sorry I could not have come sooner. The mage sent when we snuck away trapped me in my human form, and just a day ago now the people of the village burned me for witchery, burning away the curse. Have you been okay without me?\"\n\n\"Okay? How could I have been okay when I was without the only true friend I have ever had? While you were away, I was married to that man, and I had two children. Here is the elder, Christopher. My heir.\n\n\"Mother, is that really Rikos? I thought that was a bedtime story to shut us up and get us to bed.\"\n\n\"Yes, Christopher. it really is. Now please get Samantha, she would be devastated to miss this.\"\n\n\"I see that children are still a nuisance like you were to your parents.\"\n\n\"Hey, you were probably a nuisance too!\"\n\n\"Fair point. Want to go for a ride, for old times' sake?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nI'm really proud of this one, thinking of making it a serial in my [personal subreddit.](https://www.reddit.com/r/DJsWriting) Tell me if you want more!", "There was a small sense of cruel amusement written on the man's face. Flames licked at his skin from the cage, burning away flesh to expose the metallic surface just beneath. The villagers watched on in horror as their fears were made manifest.\n\nThe fire burned away the last remnants of humanity that had trapped the dragon's visage. Almost immediately, the metallic body grew outwards. The dragon hunched over on all four as wings slowly unwrapped from around his chest where they had been folded. His limbs no longer even remotely resembled the figure that had stood before the villagers moments before.\n\nWithin moments, a dragon spanning a hundred feet from tip to tail stood before the villagers. Several of them passed out on the spot, while the rest were white as ghosts, staring on in terror. \"You done goofed.\" The dragon's rumbling voice echoed around them.\n\nSeveral more of the villagers fainted at the sound of his voice. The dragon sighed with something resembling annoyance. \"I can't really blame you, you are all human after all, but I went to a lot of work to make that flesh suit, and I really don't appreciate you ruining it.\"\n\nAn elderly man with white hair was the first to respond. The man walked out in front of the rest of the people as if to protect them. \"What will you do with us now, foul beast? Are we to be your playthings or your dinner?\"\n\nThe dragon regarded him with the equivalent of a slight smile. \"Neither my friend. You put too much stock in fairy tales. I am not here to eat you, or to rob you of your gold, or subjugate you as my slaves.\"\n\nThe noble red head lowered down to be eye level with the man. \"No, what I seek is far more valuable than your miserable lives. I have work I want to do.\"\n\nThe dragon reared up to its full height. \"I had planned to do this with a bit more subtlety to it, but I'll just come out and ask now I suppose. Got any towers you need guarding?\"" ]	3
	[WP] When you were only 5, a time traveler from the future tried to kill you, but your father managed to immobilize him instead. Now, 30 years later, you still don’t know why a man from the future would try to kill you. Until 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/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Hi, I'm just getting into writing and I know this is long, but would love any feedback!\n\n\\------------------\n\nBeepbeepbeep. Beepbeepbeep. \n\nMark opens his eyes as a smile comes across his face. Today is the day. He hardly slept at all last night, his heart bubbling over with excitement and doing summersaults in his chest. Today he would stand before the board of Sombre International, the New World Government, and present his new project: Arrowhead. \n\nHow could they not like this idea, with all the insurrections that have had to be put down recently? This was going to protect the government, just like projects Sparrow and Olympusbefore them. The government was just, good, and necessary. It must be protected.\n\nHe arrives at the headquarters 2 hours early so he can run through his presentation a couple more times and get out all of his nerves. The guards buzz him in, and he is escorted to his usual spot in the parking garage.\n\n“You’re in early today, Mr. McCormick. Working hard on another project to protect the masses?”\n\n“Preparing my speech for the board today, I was so nervous I just had to come in and make sure everything is ready.”\n\n“Good luck, sir! If this new project is anything like Sparrow, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”\n\n“Thank you, George. For the peace!”\n\n“For the peace, sir.”\n\nOn his way to the lab, he rehearses his speech. “Sparrowand Olympusare great for stopping descension once it’s emerged, but what we could do better than that? Arrowheadis designed to prevent threats before they even…” \n\n\nHe’s cut short as he nears the lab. Nobody should be around at this hour, so why is there a light coming from the lab? He leans against the door and is able to make out some muffled words. “..rk is one of our best. To create all these tools so we can wipe away anyone at any time, man that’s a gift. Last week I used Sparrow to blow up a school field trip and blame it on the revolutionaries.” “Ha, just yesterday I used Sparrowto crash one of those commuter planes into a hospital. And with the help of Olympus, we can wipe away any trace of our involvement.” “Yea, I hope this new project will be as good as the last. We need a little controlled chaos to keep people’s faith in us.”\n\nMark just stands there, in utter disbelief of what he just heard. How could he not have seen his handiwork in all of those ‘terror attacks’ caused by the rebellion. Did he really not see it, or did he not want to see it. Wait, was there really even a rebellion at all? Or was it…\n\nThis thought was cut off as the door opens and out walks Madam Vasquez and Lord Thomas, the two highest ranked on the board at Sombre. “Ah Mark, we were just talking about you. We’re very excited to hear your presentation today. We know you won’t disappoint.”\n\n“Uh-huh-huh, yes! I mean, I will do my best Lord and Madam.” \n\n“Good, we will see you soon.”\n\nAs they leave down the hallway, Mark scrambles into the lab and locks the door behind him. He slides down against the wall and begins to weep, pounding his hands against his head.\n\n“Stupid, stupid, stupid! How could I not have seen this? All my work to protect the people, and I’ve been the one destroying them. Why did I create all this!?”\n\nAnd with that, he remembers Arrowhead, why he created it. To stop the threats before they happen. All of a sudden, he was that threat, his work and all he created was the threat. \n\nHe moves quickly, making some last-minute checks on the machine and turning on the power. He sets the time for 30 years ago, when he was just a boy. Something about that year feels familiar to him, but he shakes the feeling away. Now isn’t the time to reminisce, he has to save all those people who have died in vain because of what he did. He punches in the authorization code and steps in the chamber. A noisy whir fills the chamber as the machine picks up. He can feel his body growing cold as the noise gets louder. He can’t move but he feels like retching, there is so much pressure. And in an instant, it’s gone. He’s back in his childhood home. It’s early morning, so everyone should be sleeping. He grabs the colt from his holster and goes upstairs to his old room. As Mark opens the door, he finds a boy in the bed, sound asleep. He walks up to the bed and puts the gun to the kid’s head, “mmph, 5 more minutes dad. The race never starts on time anyways.” \n\nAnd then it hits him. 30 years ago, someone came into his bedroom and tried to kill him just like this. The man was from the future and said something about protecting millions of people. But he didn’t die then, so what happ-\n\nA swift blow to the head, and adult Mark is lying unconscious on the ground." ]	2
	[WP] The seas were relentless, and the mighty ship was taking on water. Her guns were pounding the enemy fleet, desperate to buy time for the refugees to reach the harbor.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"She's in dire straits, Captain.\"\n\nCaptain \"Monty\" raised an eyebrow at his bosun. The barrel chested sailor deep into his sixties was not one for overselling the obvious, it would seem.\n\n\"Noted, Grimes, noted.\"\n\nA cannonball shattered railing not more than six feet from them and Grimes was off, stomping along the deck and shouting for the gunnery crews to remove their heads from their asses and return fire.\n\nCaptain Monty's ship was on fire in no less than six places, the main mast had collapsed, an engine was spinning fire out the stern, cannon fire raked the ship, and it wasn't yet lunch.\n\nDire straits indeed.\n\nHis ship churned on the water, rising up above the enemy fleet that stretched out for seemingly endless leagues. Wrought of dark timber from the Scuttle Islanders, renowned ship builders, there were few nations capable of funding such a fleet. The smallest ship had to be sixty guns, the largest easily three hundred. In any other circumstance it would have been something to admire.\n\nIn this, it was a pain in Monty's ass.\n\n\"Fire!\" He roared, his honed Captain's shout cutting through the wind and rain, followed swiftly by the thunderous report of his own cannons. A taste of their own medicine, the bastards.\n\nHe watched the fusillade tear into three ships, one of them listing heavily to port. Men leaped from her side, crushed by collapsing masts or pierced by shards of wood or swept away by the sea.\n\nHe held tight as the swell subsided, bringing his flagship down again and leaving his stomach a hundred feet up.\n\n\"Take us into the heart of the bastards!\" He shouted to his helmsman, the man obeying without hesitation. It was certain death but Monty had chosen his crew well, sailed with them for decades. They were old men on an old ship, using old cannons and old tactics. Retirement for the Grey Fleet was not on the horizon, not especially for the three ships that had already gone down under his command.\n\nThe loving embrace of the ocean was their retirement, it was all they wanted now.\n\n\"Captain, look!\" His navigator, fairly useless in this situation, pointed out to shore. There were a hundred small ships, barely more than a speck. Another wave brought them high enough to see their wards. Tens of thousands of men, women and children had packed into the holds and fled for safety. They were about to cross the line that even an Imperial Fleet wouldn't cross.\n\nA thousand yards from the furthest ship was a wall of solid grey stone, topped with hundreds of gun platforms and studded with cannon ports. Atop the wall were men in crimson uniforms, rifles held at the ready and sabers polished to mirror gleam with a razor's edge. He couldn't make them out but he knew they were there.\n\n\"Raise the flag!\" He roared, thankful for the pelting rain so none could see the tears. For the last time, the Grey Fleet would sail. With shattered masts, bloodied crew, and spent munition they would hold the tide for just long enough.\n\nTheir flag was manhandled out by two of his oldest crew, quickly attached to the pole and lifted high on a frayed rope. Bright crimson just as the uniforms, two grey cannons, and a golden anchor.\n\nHe spared one more look to the wall before his ship crashed into the center of the Imperial line. Before his cannons spat their last and his ship was torn apart, before the Imperial Flagship burned bright even in the storm, before the refugees found safe haven.\n\nBefore all of that the men on the wall dropped an enormous matching banner. Then they saluted Captain Monty and the Grey Fleet with an eruption of impotent cannon fire. It was singular crashing boom that drowned out the thunder, bright enough it lit the sky brighter than any lightning. Fishing villages leagues away would report hearing it, days after the Grey Fleet was gone.\n\nThey would say Captain Monty was stoic to the last, firing the last barrage himself. They would say he fought with cutlass in hand on the deck of the Imperial Flagship as she burned. They would say Captain Monty sailed through that fleet and came out the other side, disappearing with his grizzled crew of sexagenarians.\n\nThey couldn't know that Captain Monty sailed into the teeth of the enemy laughing hysterically, amid gun smoke and fire and shrapnel. Laughing at two words, shouting them as he crashed through his foe.\n\n\"Dire straits.\"" ]	2
	[WP] Corporations have been legally recognized as "people" for decades. Today, for the fist time, a corporation has been named in a murder trial - as the victim.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "{{side note - I know next to NOTHING about proper courtroom procedure, so my apologies if some parts are a bit off. :D }} \n\n\n \n\nThe trial of the century, it was called. The biggest sham of the year, some also called it. Whatever your opinions were, nearly every television and internet feed in the world was focused on that single courtroom that was jam-packed with cameras and news people, muttering and milling about as they waited for the trial to begin.\n\nIn the center stage, calmly flipping through pages on her phone, sat the defendant. She looked to be a completely unremarkable woman in her mid-twenties, nothing about her screamed villain or hardened criminal. Her hair was well-kept, with only a single strand colored blue off to the left of her face. Her earbuds trailed down the side of her face, plugged into the phone that she stared into with her sky-blue eyes as she ignored the commotion around her.\n\nHer lawyer also ignore the commotion as he gathered up paperwork, adjusted a few things inside of his briefcase, and texted on his phone before the trial began. He appeared very calm, cool and collected. Nothing about him indicated that he was defending the demure woman beside him against the serious charge of murder. \n\n“All rise!” The call went out as the judge entered, and everyone stood. Everyone, that is, but the woman on trial. Her lawyer had to get her attention before she stood up. Finally, she stood, and the judge entered. \n\nThe judge was the epitome of stern, swift justice. She’d been on the television multiple times, defending truth, justice and the American way thousands of times, and had been applauded multiple times for her honesty and her swift way of deciding cases. She was never, ever wrong. With this hawk on the case, it was bound to be over soon, one way or another.\n\nImmediately, the prosecutor launched into its evidence. \n\n“Corporations, as you all know, are fully protected by law as having full legal status as living entities, correct?”\n\nThe courtroom nodded in agreement.\n\n“So the loss of a corporation, technically, is considered a death. When a corporation goes into bankruptcy, it’s considered legally to be on life support. And when it closes down for good, it’s given a funeral. In essence, it dies.”\n\nThe judge sighed. “Prosecutor, we know this. All of us do. Get on with it.”\n\n“So! I’m here today to prove that this woman, representing her kind, INTENTIONALLY moved to kill off my client, and many others like her! This woman is a murderer!” He pointed at the woman, who seemed quite nonplussed at the accusation.\n\n“That’s a bold move, prosecutor. What evidence do you have for this?”\n\n“For my first, I present to you the entity Applebees. Do you remember this legal entity, Your Honor?”\n\nShe thought for a moment. “Mmm, I believe I do. They had those odd riblets that were like sideways ribs?”\n\n“Exactly!” The prosecutor nodded. “This store existed just fine for older folks, and people that wanted to dine out without their kids. But this… this…”\n\nHe turned and stared at the woman. “This MILLENNIAL killed the company. She and her brethren preferred to eat at home, like heathens. Or worse, from casual, quick-serve restaurants!”\n\nThere was a collective gasp from the watching newscasters, but a look from the judge silenced them. The judge turned to the woman. “Do you have anything to say against this charge?”\n\nThe woman shrugged. “The service was slow as hell and the food sucked. Cooking at home, I could prepare my own food for cheaper, and how I wanted it. I liked it better that way, I don’t see the issue.”\n\n“See? She admits her guilt!”\n\n“Enough!” The judge motioned to the prosecutor. “Move on to the next. Do you have another?”\n\n“Oh, I do indeed. Diamond companies across the world have gone under, thanks to millennials!”\n\n“Diamond companies?”\n\n“Oh yes!” Getting into the groove, the prosecutor continued, “You see, millennials as a whole are choosing either to not get married at all, or are choosing less traditional gemstones to use in their bands. Prices for stones have plummeted, and entire companies have gone under because of this. It’s madness!”\n\n“And you? What do you say for yourself?”\n\n“Seriously?” The woman cocked an eyebrow at the judge. “You WANT me to support slave labor? A diamond’s just a shiny rock. I married my partner of three years with a tattoo, and I’m just as married to her as I would be with your stupid rocks. Thank you, let em die.”\n\n“Objection!”\n\n“For what?”\n\n“She called my deceased client stupid!”\n\n“Seriously?” The judge shook her head. “Is your client insulted by this?”\n\n“Um…”\n\n“Move on. Do you have any more?”\n\n“One more I’d like to bring to the table, but it’s just adding to the list, since she’s not denying anything at this point.”\n\nThe judge nodded. “Go ahead.”\n\n“Department stores like Macy’s and Sears.” The prosecutor rubbed his hands together with glee. “These stores were huge. I mean, who hasn’t heard of the Macy’s Day Parade? But both of these brands are on their deathbeds, and it’s all the fault of millennials!”\n\n“Really. So nothing the company has done could have possibly…”\n\n“Nope. All millennials.”\n\n“Huh. Ok. And you, do you have anything to say?”\n\nThe woman shrugged. “I don’t buy designer label stuff. It’s too expensive and doesn’t last nearly as long as I’d like it to. I’d rather spend the money on something I found online from a storefront with lots of good reviews that stands by what they sell instead of some warehouse.”\n\nThe judge looked back to the prosecutor. “Do you have any further questions?”\n\n“Nope, I think I’m good!”\n\n“Ok. Defense, we’re to you.”\n\nThe defense lawyer stood and walked up to the front of the courtroom. He turned and stared directly into the cameras as he said, “Let me ask you one question, Honorable Judge. Do you believe you have the right to your own opinion?”\n\n“Well, yes. Of course I do.”\n\n“Then how, exactly, is my client guilty of anything? All she did, and all the millennials did, was choose their own opinions of what they wanted. And it was just that what they wanted had nothing to do with what the old-school crap was selling, so they died. That’s not murder, that’s natural selection. It’s survival of the fittest, and it’s as natural a process as anything in this world.”\n\n“Objection!”\n\n“Overruled.” The judge smiled and shook her head. “Amazing. Someone with some common sense.”\n\n“Someone has to in this world, your honor.”\n\n“Not guilty, court dismissed!” \n\n\nr/MattWritinCollection/ <-- mah writin's!", "\"Your honor, my client has suffered through a heinous atrocity committed by the defendant, Mr. Ross. Inza Corporation has suffered through slander, severe trauma and was found with severe injuries that critically injured it which led to its death.\" John paced around the front of a packed courtroom.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nHe pointed at the defendant's table where a mustached man in a gray, worn tux frowned and a young 23-year-old in a messy shirt sitting down stared absently. John continued, \"I would like to first call the defendant to the stand.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nMr. Ross blinked and glanced around quickly, shaking off his daydreaming. The mustached man, his lawyer, whispered to Mr. Ross and patted his back as Mr. Ross walked over to the witness stand. John stood in front of the seated Mr. Ross and said, \"Mr. Ross, may I know your relationship with my client?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nCarl Ross stuttered, \"We- well, I guess I am just a consumer of its products?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nJohn continued, \"Also, as you may know, Inza Corporation has many products in the space traveling agency. However, it also has many products for Earth as well, especially those it acquired through acquisitions. Now, tell me, have you ever gotten the privilege to use an Inza Corporation product for free?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nCarl Ross shrugged and said, \"I guess so?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nJohn began to pace in front of Carl and said, \"So it could be said that Inza Corporation is your benefactor then.\" He paused his pacing to look sternly at Carl, \"The defendant is willing to kill a benefactor. This clearly shows the prosecutor has an extremely low moral quality.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nCarl reeled back in disbelief and said, \"What? What is that supposed to mean? I'm- \"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe old judge slammed his gavel and yelled, \"Silence!\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nJohn walked towards his desk and grabbed the documents he prepared there beforehand and handed them to Carl. He resumed his pacing, \"Would the defendant please read the highlighted portions of the document.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nCarl glanced back at John and asked, \"Is... is this Twitter?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nJohn waved his hand dismissively, \"Yes, yes. Now would the defendant please read the document.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nCarl gulped and glanced at his lawyer who nodded reassuringly at him. He hesitantly started reading, \"March 7th, 2102. I heard Inza Corporation has been building faster rocket ships. It-\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nCarl paused and John started staring at him with a raised eyebrow. Carl mentally prepared himself as he continued, \"It's not the only thing they have that is light-speed.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nJohn turned to the gray-haired judge and said, \"That was the very first slander my client has received from the defendant. The intensity only increases from here, where my client has been roasted beyond belief, causing its death.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nJohn grabbed a large stack of documents from his desk and handed it to Carl.\n\n\\------------------------\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThanks for reading! Comments and suggestions would be appreciated! Let me know if you guys have better roasts for the example. The one I wrote wasn't the best." ]	3
	[WP] You discover that the world is actually flat and the government is making society believe it is round. You decide to show the truth to humanity and prove how the Earth is flat.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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] You are in Hell. Satan offers you a second chance at life on the condition that you beat him in a contest of your choosing. Without thinking you decide to have a singing competition with him, only to remember that Satan is a fallen angel and has the voice of one too.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "An infernal jukebox rose from the obsidian shoreline, neon tubing and sculpted marble somehow meshing together into a tasteful piece. Pierce's ghostly nose twitched at the smell of sulfur coming off the control panel. He eyed the blue digital display;\n\n\n> <Bing: Music>\n> \n> PLEASE INPUT YOUR QUERY:\n\n\n\"Yeah, figured as much.\" He muttered to himself.\n\nPierce ran through all the songs he knew looking for anything that might give him a fighting chance. Eminem was out; the Morningstar was probably on a first-name basis with Slim Shady. A Country song might be funny, but he was pretty sure that Lucifer's deep baritones would nail She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy. Rock-and-Roll, Hip Hop, Rap, and Pop were all the devil's music by general consensus.\n\nThen an idea, insidious as anything the Enemy had ever thought, snaked its way into Pierce's mind.\n\n\"Maybe I don't have to win. Maybe we both need to lose.\"\n\n> SEARCH ARTIST: HATSUNE MIKU", "In the movies, they always show maniacal laughter. The villain hurls his head back and laughs so loudly and his minions join in.\n\nIt's amusing or ominous depending on the film's set-pieces. \n\nFor me it was ominous, extremely ominous, you see because I am in a position I never once imagined.\n\nI lived a life for myself, never bothered with the church, or even thinking about God. I amassed a good amount of wealth, never gave it to charity, even in death I left all of my riches to a close business partner I had, as I really didn't have any family. There's no room for such things when you're climbing the ladder to success, after all.\n\nDiscovering that when a supercar hits a tree at 250km an hour, there's no safety equipment in the world to save you is another matter. All the money in the world, want for nothing, and here I am, dead at thirty. Worse yet? I'm staring down the prince of darkness, Lucifer.\n\nHe offered me a second chance at life, however, and so why not? I went with my strengths. I'm the lead singer of my band, so, why not? \"A singing contest!\" I blurted out.\n\nThe laughter that echoed from the dark throne was loud, so loud that I think it echoed throughout the halls of hell and whatever massive throne room I was in. \"Of course!\" an amused voice echoed from the dark shadows on the throne towering before me, \"I accept!\"\n\nI'm more used to images of the devil as some goat-like demon you know? Big, red, horns, all that jazz. An evil wicked voice or some soft-spoken wretch covered in soot. The image of 'Satan' from South Park is what I am really thinking of.\n\nWhat slowly descended from the throne, however, was anything but.\n\nAlabaster skin with a flawless complexion, long flowing hair, huge white wings, and a towering physique. If I were a chick, I'd be on my knees sucking the guy off. I'm a straight dude and all, but the guy before me was \"Mr. Steal your girl, your mom, and your sister\" levels of good looking. \n\nHe wore tarnished white armor, with a red set of chains across the main breastplate. His eyes were black, sans for a set of violet swirls of smoke which acted like his iris's. \"I must admit, I'm unsurprised. Only the truly prideful land upon my doorstep and you are an example to all.\" he laughed again, his voice echoing flawlessly through the halls of the throne room.\n\nMore stereotypical demonic creatures and imps snickers and squeak along with him. \n\nI cleared my throat, \"I mean... it's kind of the only thing I'm good at.\" I straightened up, \"lay to your strengths, right?\"\n\nLucifer smiled a flawless smile full of perfect teeth, \"You did not pay much attention in church, did you?\"\n\n\"I... did not really go to church or anything.\"\n\n\"Clearly,\" Lucifer chortled, \"I am a fallen angel, but an angel all the same. Singing was all we used to do in the halls of heaven.\" He grinned, \"Thus a choir of angels.\"\n\nI winced, oh man did I fuck up!\n\n\" As a handicap,\" Lucifer offered, \"I'll play to your best strength, you can choose the genera of the song.\" \n\nA silver lining! If he was part of some choir he definitely would be more inclined to classical music and hymns! That shit was nothing compared to what I belted out, and if we were judging on my strength, then I was going to rock! \"Fine then, Metal.\"\n\nLucifer's smile didn't wavier, it grew stronger, \"Not a fan of Tenacious D are you?\"\n\n\"I... what?\"\n\nLucifer laughed again, \"Very well, you can begin!\"\n\nI figured I'd be best to go with a classic, something I'd done a cover of, just to try and make it so that I'm not picking a song of mine that might not be as good as I think it is. Also, I decided to hit with something a little ironic.\n\n\"I left alone, my mind was blank!\" as I started to sing a guitar riff was coming from somewhere unknown, matching the song I was singing, I decided not to bother with wondering where it came from, and I continued regardless, \"I needed time to think, to get the memories from my mind!\" I had to admit, it was my best performance, and I felt pretty awesome busting out Iron Maidain's \"The Number Of The Beast\" in front of the Prince of Hell.\n\nWhen I was done, Lucifer started to give me a slow clap, \"my my my, know your audience, yes? Very well done.\"\n\nI smiled wide.\n\n\"You were a bit harsh on a few of the higher notes,\" he critiqued, \"Bruce's voice is difficult to duplicate but you made up for your lack of range with a commitment to the chords, well done.\" \n\nMy blood ran a little cold because that's what I always did when my falsetto wouldn't reach those high notes. \n\n\"Now then, I believe it's my turn?\" Lucifer said, grinning.\n\nBefore I could prepare myself in any way, Lucifer began.\n\n\"Faith and creed and my belief, Will make you carry on these wings of trust you will fly away!\" the voice was powerful, loud, full, and pitch-perfect. \n\nBehind him, there were a series of back-up voices filling in a powerful downbeat. The sound of his voice pushed me back and even sounded as if there were more than one person singing.\n\n\"Just hold on and you'll succeed, remember you're the one day one will speak of you as the light of the day!\" Lucifer's wings spread wide as he continued. His voice was clear, flawless, and sounded like it was dipped in honey and gold all at the same time.\n\nI fell to my knees in awe as he continued the song I didn't know, holding notes out in beautifully powerful chords and belting out passionate verse after verse.\n\n\"Take to the sky, look back from high above, I am on target for something beyond!\" his voice rose to a commanding finish, \"take to the sky, grounded on Mother Earth, thankful for strong wings to fly - I will take to the sky!\" \n\nMy hands moved to clap as the music ended the second his voice stopped. I couldn't stop myself, it was the most flawless music I ever heard, his voice was perfect in every way, and I realized, as I was there on my knees, there wasn't a hope for my immortal soul.\n\n\"So...\" Lucifer said, grinning wickedly, \"Did you like the [song](https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Guardian_Temple/)?\"", "-\"A singing contest\", I said without really thinking.\n-\"You really sure about this?\", asked Lucifer. \n\nWas I sure? Well... Yeah. I mean, I'm not bad at singing. I was pretty good at karaoke, back up (since I'm in hell) so... Why not? \n\n-\"Yeah, I'm sure I have my chances. You can't be good at everything\".\n-\"You're right, you're right. I'm not good at anything new... Videogames, for example. But you do realize that I'm a fallen angel, right?\"\n-\"Well, yeah, of course, I know my classics. So you're a Demon, aren't you? You can't have a good voice so I'm gonna win easily\"\n-\"Yeah, but actually, no. I'm not a Demon. I'm a fallen angel. So I'm still an angel. And I still have the voice of an angel. So I don't think you'll win easily...\"\n-\"And I suppose that I... I can't change now, can I?\"\n\nI sounded a little more frightened than I wanted. I'm screwed. Shit.\n\n-\"Nah, of course you can't. But I don't know, you were so sure of yourself. I'm gonna propose you a deal. With all of your sins, you're about to go in the second circle of hell. You weren't that bad so you won't be that tortured. What I'm thinking of is you can't change the contest, but you can decide all the rules about it. Except, of course, for the main one : the best singer win. If you win, you get back to life. If you lose, you go to the last circle of hell.\"\n\nI take three seconds to think about it and I decide to go for it.\n\n-\"Okay\", I said, \"I take the deal\"\n-\"Oooooh! A really player! I love it! So... What are the rules?\"\n-\"Oh, it's just a singing contest. We sing one after the other. Some singers from hell, like Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley, will blindly judge us\"\n-\"That's it? You realize you'll lose?\"\n-\"There's another thing. We sing the same song. I decide it. And I want it to be Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley\"" ]	4
	[WP] For your entire life, winning came naturally. Board games, cards, sports, video games - you don’t remember losing at anything... ever. It was starting to get old, yet you continued to win at everything despite trying to lose. You suspect there is a supernatural element involved.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Say you flip a penny ninety-nine times, and ninety-nine times in a row it lands on heads,\" My therapist pukes words from his face. \"What are the odds that it will land on heads on the 100th flip?\" \n\nI know the answer, but I play dumb, and shrug.\n\n\"Fifty-fifty.\" He says, proudly.\n\n\"Okay, but what are the odds of the penny landing on heads one-hundred consecutive times?\" I asked rhetorically before writing the answer on a sheet of affirmations he'd given me.\n\nMr. Know-it-all suddenly looked constipated. He then tried to change the subject. \"What I'm trying to tell you is that it doesn't matter--\"\n\n\"It's so unlikely to occur that it is more reasonable to believe in fucking magic,\" I blurted as I slid the paper toward him. \n\n1,267,650,600,228,229,401,496,703,205,375 to 1.\n\n\"It's so unreal you neither believe the answer, nor do you know how to say it, isn't that right?\" I asked a cornered man. \n\n\"Look, while I do want to challenge you, I also want to make progress.\" He said with a defeated tone. \n\n\"Challenge me?\" I laughed. \"Please do. Please challenge me. That is literally all I want.\"\n\n\"Well our time is up.\"\n\n\"Of course it is.\" I agreed without looking at the clock. \n\n---\n\nWalking home, I began to wonder what would happen if I challenged myself to die. Would my desire effect the outcome? Would my desire matter? I used to want to win, but I can't lose. I can't. \n\nI made a beeline for a water tower. \n\nAs I reached the top I began to feel oddly emotional. I wasn't suicidal, or even scared. I just felt alone. \n\nWhen you win at everything, all the time, people stop having fun with you. It's as defeating for me as it is for them, because it's not about the outcome, it's about the journey. It's about the challenge. Without that part, the outcome doesn't matter. We're both bored. \n\nThe water tower offered no \"edge\" from which to jump, which limited me to the comical reality that I would have to slide toward my fall. I actually found myself grinning at the visual.\n\nI started walking toward the event horizon, immediately impressed by the stickiness of my shoes.\n\n\"That's science.\" I heard myself say as I took another step. \"Like gravity...\"\n\nAnother step. The slope was getting steep.\n\nSuddenly, I finally started to feel something. Something simular to, but not quite... fear. But not fear of the ground. Or the pain. Or of death. I didn't want to die, but it didn't scare me. No, I felt uncertain about something else.\n\nWhat would it mean if I found out that I couldn't die? What would it mean if I discovered that I could do anything I wanted?\n\nI took one last step before sitting down, chalking my weight with my feet. I was there, beyond the point of no return. All I could do now is wait... for help, or the conviction to slide off the water tower.\n\nWhat if I have a responsibility to use my... curse... to help people? What if it's not a curse? What if it's a gift?\n\nI lifted my heels, allowing gravity to pull me over the edge. The world accelerated toward me. \n\n---\n\nI woke up on the ground looking up at the water tower. After a little mental diagnostic, I stood up.\n\nSomething had changed. There was no breeze. No wind going through leaves, no buzzing of society, chirping of birds--nothing. Just perfect stillness.\n\nIf that wasn't eerie enough, I felt no temperature. I felt no exchange of heat to or from my body. It was as if I was dreaming. But I was far too lucid to be asleep.\n\nI walked home. I saw no people on the way there. I heard nothing. When I got to the front door, it silently opened before my hand could even touch the handle. Inside, four people sat around my kitchen table. They were playing cards, and drinking. The sound of their activity was like a symphony after several minutes of complete silence.\n\nThe men looked at me and offered me a seat, and handed me a beer.\n\n\"Cheers!\" One of them said. \"And congratulations.\"\n\n\"On what?\" I asked. But I had a pretty good idea.\n\n\"Breaking through, my man.\"" ]	2
	[WP] A stranger approaches you. "Nasty bit of weather", he says. You decide to go for some smalltalk and reply "It's not too bad". "Looks like it could rain", he adds. You raise your umbrella and retort "That's why I brought this". He hands you a package and says "Good luck with your mission, 47".	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 strange man was not wrong either. My steps tread the ground in rhythm, falling rain seems to agree as percussion. A time with sinister melody, that is what could have been said if the presenter of the weather had been a poet. I had briefly studied the contents of the package. The target is one of those investors with little regard for their environment other than their bank account. Another quarrel of rich individuals. The goal is to go home during the day during his absence to create an opening for tonight, and finally eliminate it. All leave a trace as usual. In the package there was a paper where was noted the time of passage of a plumber set at 5 pm.\n\n5 pm, I ring at the door in the employee attire of a fake plumbing company. A maid explains that the owner is not there yet and invites me to enter. She explains that there is a leak in the toilet. I go there observing the beautiful house. Everything was secure, no fault was present. But in his bathroom where the leak was, a window without special protection was big enough for me to pass. I take care of disassembling the lock. After fixing the toilet problem as a normal plumber would have done I leave the premises.\n\n9 pm, I introduce myself through the window of his luxurious house. Without a sound, I put a first foot on the tiles of the same bathroom. I install the lock again, without the closed one, which I had previously removed. I waltz in the direction of the show, my gloved hands holding a silent pistol with chrome highlights. I heard the sound of the television, in the big corridor that I cross, I observe paintings that seemed more or less official. Arriving in the room, I'm in the back of the couch where hair is over. In a slight reflection of the television, I see the target, holding a glass of bourbon. I carefully hold the tip of the barrel on the couch, well at the level of his head. I shoot, the blood spurts and am the same trajectory as the ball by spraying the TV screen. The man's body slowly tilts forward and collapses on the carpet, spilling the contents of the glass of alcohol. The work is finished, but a detail annoys me suddenly. On the edge of the fireplace is a picture of a little girl. Why did not I see it before? For answer, I saw appear the child of the photo, which enters the room. \"Dad, I can not sleep, can you tell me a story? \". After this sentence, she understands that I am not his father and that he is lying on the ground. She looks at me with great incomprehension, I see what she is looking for her words. And I lift the gun in his direction. I wonder at this moment, why did destiny make her go down? Why did not my mission finish a few seconds earlier? Why was this crucial information not in the package from abroad? With a trembling hand, I look down at his so innocent. Then, I press the trigger.", "“47? Mission?” I asked, “I’m not 47. My name is-” I didn’t get to finish and the man cut me off.\n\n“You are now.” He put the package on my hand and vanished into the crowd.\n\n“What the hell?” I said as I turned around looking for a camera or something like that, thinking it maybe was some kind of prank. \n\nI found nothing.\n\nI looked down to the package in my hand.\n\nIt was all blank. There’s nothing on it. No name nor address. Nothing \n\nI shake it beside my ear for some sound. Nothing.\n\nBut when I put it down and look down again, there’s a name on it. Right next to a giant number: 47\n\nTo: Kay Clark.\n\nFuck. That’s my name.\n\nThen, something else show up on the box, like someone is writing it.\n\nWhy don’t you open up and accept the mission?\n\nI’m beyond terrified.\n\nThe words keep showing:\n\nOpen it. Open it. OPEN THE BOX!\n\nI don’t know why, but I took out my key and cut the tape before I open it.\n\nThen the world stopped.\n\nLiterally STOPPED.\n\nPeople stopped walking and talking, a girl who is jumping froze in the air, the cars stopped on the streets, the birds froze in the sky.\n\n“What the HELL?!”\n\n‘Vocal confirm.’\n\n‘Welcome, Kay Clark.’\n\nThe box speaks. It’s a woman’s voice.\n\n“Wha-“\n\n‘You have been chose to complete the mission.’\n\n“I-AHHHHHHHH”\n\nI screamed for the sudden burning pain on my neck, I felled down on the floor for it. \n\n‘Welcome, 47.’\n\nThat’s the last thing I heard before I passed out.\n\n\n“God, how old is she? 17?”\n\n“Shit, they’re insane.”\n\n“She’s not gonna survive this...”\n\nIt’s the people taking that woke me up.\nI opened my eyes just to see I was surrounded by people.\n\nI jumped up in awake, only to full back with the pain.\n\n“Hey, easy.” A man said as he helping me sit up slowly.\n\n“Where am I? What the hell?”\n\n“We can’t answer that question because we don’t know either.”\n\nThe girl at my right answered. There’s a number on her neck: 29\n\n“Shit.” I said as I put my hand on my neck, where the burning pain was.\n\n“Welcome to the mission.” The man who help me sat up earlier said, “You met that strange dude huh?”\n\nThe only thing I can do is nod.\n\n“You said mission?”\n\n“Well, everyone’s different. You may be sent to kill someone or just sitting behind the desk.”\n\n“K-kill someone?”\n\n“Yeah, depends on your mission.”\n\nHe laughed at my horrifying face.\n\n“I’m Jake. And clearly I’m also, well, 34.” He pointed at his neck, where the number was.\n\n“What’s you name, 47?”\n\n“K-Kay. Kay Clark.”\n\n“Okay, Kay, just let us introduce ourselves, because you’ll stuck with us for a while.”\n\n“If you’re alive after the mission.” A boy in the corner yelled.\n\n“What-“\n\n“Just ignore him. That’s Liam, by the way.” Jake said.\n\nWhile they’re introducing themselves and the place, all I think of is:\nI never should have open that goddamn box.", "\"Oh... uh,\" I turned and he was gone. Shit, what do I do with this? The station was crowded, as usual, and the odd man blended into the mass of commuters. Okay, make a plan: think... think. Across the platform, I saw him, or more specifically me. I looked to either side, confirming that he wasn't a mirror. He was identical: the same face, same height, same hair. I was pretty sure I even owned the same shirt. Idea.\n\n\"Forty-seven, you dropped this,\" I said as calmly as I could muster, handing him the package. I turn to leave, but he turns towards me with a questioning look. PANIC. I continue walking toward the soon departing train. \"Good Luck.\" The doors shut and I drop to the floor. I have no idea where I'm was going, but it couldn't be worse than here." ]	4
	[WP] "I dream of ash. Of fire. Of oblivion."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "I am Icarius the brave, son of Daedalus.\nSince I was a young one, I wanted to see you. You generously gift us your light, each and everyday; embracing us with your warm rays and protecting us from the cold. You permit growth on our crops, make our wheat golden and our apples the brightest red. \n\nEach and everyday, illuminating the darkest sky by your single presence, I loved you so much. I wanted to see you. Climb up to you, get your warm light before it even touched the ground. And who hadn't thought of that before? You are such a wonder for us mortals.\n\nWith my two feet and two hands, I could only scream in frustration that I could never come to you as close as I would like. Dreaming of seeing you was not enough anymore and I wanted to lose myself into you.\n\nSo, under the anxious eye of my father, I jointed feathers with hot wax, and learned how to fly. Oh, my love, if a mortal could fly, he would be very fulfilled in his life. But I wanted to see you. I only wanted to see you.\n\nI made my way to the open blue sky, to the birds, to the clouds. You were there and immediately, I could feel your welcoming warmth getting hotter, and hotter. You were so beautiful, and maybe by coming closer I could try to put my mortal hands on your pure beauty. \n\nMy love, I can feel in my back the wax is melting, the hot brown liquid mixed with my sweat and blood, tearing my back in pain. I am so close to you, but I feel my body giving in too. Soon, my skin will start melting but I don't care, I'm here, so close to you and you, so close to me. I'm scorched and burned alive, but I wanted to see you. I wanted to see you.\n\nAll I can see is fire around me. I can't feel my body anymore, but I know that I'm surrounded by you. My body is suffering, but I am at peace, my love.\n\nNow, I am dreaming of losing myself into you. I want to be part of you. I dream of ash. Of fire. Of oblivion.\n\nB.N." ]	2
	[WP] a hero can hear his dead parents in times of hopelessness, but when he meets the final villain he finds out that it was all in his head.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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\nI remember the first time someone told me about my parents. I think I was around 5. A friend from school asked me why I lived with my aunt and I didn't have an answer. Up to that point I had never noticed that all my friends had moms and dads. That same day, after class ended, I went to my aunt and demanded an explanation. \"Why don't I have a mom and a dad like Thomas?\" My aunt, being the most patient and loving human being, took her time to explain it all to me. She said my parents had died when I was little (\"I am little!\") fighting in a war, and that because of their sacrifice (\"What is a sacrifice?\") everyone in our country could live in peace.\n\nI don't know how much that first conversation made sense to me at the time, but throughout the years my aunt continued to fill me in with all the information she had on my parents even though it seemed to pained her having to retell those memories. Inspired by their acts of bravery I decided to join the army. I knew my aunt wouldn't approve, to her being in the army was the same as putting a target on your back. She hated the idea of me being a soldier so much that she made me promise I would never even consider a military career. Knowing that I had promised her that made me feel even guiltier when I sneaked out of the house one day after my 18th birthday to join the army. \n\nI lived in a really small city, almost a village forgotten by civilization on the countryside. The trip to the nearest recruiting camp was about 8 days. 6 if you knew the terrain well, which I didn't. On the first day I found out that my camp tent wasn't waterproof the hard way and from then until the end of my journey not a single day passed without me questioning my decision and wanting to give up. Aside from the rain I had to deal with the cold weather, wild animals (who knew snakes could \"run\" so fast?) and the hunger after day 5, when my provisions ended and I had to eat wild berries to survive.\n\nThe first time I heard them it was night. I had finally crossed the valley that separated my village from the rest of the world and even though I was exhausted I couldn't sleep because of the cold weather. Fearing that I would turn into ice I decided to walk around my tent to try to warm my body. And that's when I heard her voice, my mother's voice. \n\nI didn't know it was her at first. I didn't remember her voice of course. Also, when you're out alone in the woods and you hear your name the last thing you think about is your dead mother. But it was her. After that first second of confusion I knew it. I had to slap my own face a couple times to make sure I wasn't dreaming, and that's when I heard my father's voice. \n\nThe first word I could understand was my own name, they were calling me. The rest was harder to discern, it seemed as if they were talking to me from underwater, like something was interfering with their communication. I tried to talk back, to somehow reach for them. I screamed their names into the cold night but to no avail.\n\nThe next morning I was pretty convinced I had dreamed the whole thing, but after that, every time I felt discouraged I would hear their voices, clearer each time, like my head was adjusting to the frequency they were speaking. Their voices would tell me that I was brave, that I would make them proud and fulfill my destiny as soon as I joined the army.\n\nWith those encouraging words I manage to find the army camp. Through the barbed wire fence I could see it was huge with thousands of men in camouflage uniforms running around carrying massive weapons. Around the main gates there were dozens of people. They were wearing what seemed like rags and when they saw me they started begging for money, food, for anything I could spare. \n\nAs I approached the main gate one of the soldiers started yelling at me to stop. I kept walking when he and the other guard pinned me to the floor immobilizing me. The first guard started to examine my hair as if looking for something. He was being so violent towards an 18 year old with no weapons that I didn’t understand how someone like that could be a soldier. \n\nAfter he was done messing with my hair he told his friend I was a rogue. I tried to reason that I only wanted to enlist in the army just like my parents did but they were already carrying me inside. \n\nFrom that moment on everything went downhill. They tossed me in a cell and left me there for hours. I was hungry, tired, hurt but mostly confused. I receive multiplus visits from different guards asking who I was and what I wanted there. Every time I’d try to explain I just wanted to join the army they would beat me saying that I was lying and calling me a “rogue”. After a couple of this sessions I already knew what to expect when I heard footsteps in the corridor. \n\nAnd then it all changed. The next visitor wasn’t there to beat me. He was different, his uniform was different, like he was in charge. He apologized to me even though it seemed that the word “sorry” was leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. “There has been a mistake” were his words, “The general will be here by the end of the day to see you, but for now you will go to your new room”. And just like that he was gone. I was guided by another guard outside my cell and through the camp to another building. The whole time I could see the other soldiers looking and pointing at me whispering to one another. When we reached our destination I knew something wasn't right. My “new room” was the total opposite of the cell I had spent the last hours in. It had a comfy bed with clean sheets, a table with a chair and a dresser. Folded on top of the bed layed clean clothes, a towel and other toiletries. The guard told me to take a shower and change that lunch would be served in 30 minutes. I tried to talk to him, ask what was going on but the only answer I got was “The general will answer your questions”. It didn’t make sense, but in the state I was in I wouldn't turn down a chance to shower and get a proper meal. \n\nThe hours passed and I grew more and more anxious. At some point I opened the door and found two soldiers standing guard outside my room. I didn’t think I was a prisoner, not anymore, but something told me they wouldn’t let me out of the room either. It was getting darker when the medic came to visit me. He examined my hair again but refused to answer my questions, only telling his assistant that “It has been damaged but they can fix it”. I was tempted to ask what was “It” and who were “they” but I knew the answer would be the same “The general will answer your questions”.\n\nI was almost falling asleep when I heard people shouting outside. Through the window I could see soldiers running and getting in formation. It didn’t seem they were getting ready to fight, it was more like they were going to be inspected and wanted to look their best. “The general” I thought “He must have arrived”. And as on cue a soldier entered my room to guide me once again through the camp, this time leaving me outside a building where other soldier, the one who seemed to be in charge, was waiting for me. \n\nInside there was a long table full of food, a feast, and around it a dozen men in fancy army uniforms “Not regular soldiers” I thought. When we entered everyone fell silent and immediately stood up. \n\nThey were looking at me and I couldn’t help but examine their faces. All of them seemed healthy, some even a little fat and everyone seemed happy to see me. And then I saw him. On the head of the table was the general. I didn’t quite understand how military ranks worked but his uniform and the fact that he was still sitting made it clear to me that he was the most important person in the room. \n\nCont in the comment." ]	2
	[WP] You are an archeologist exploring a newly discovered pyramid in Egypt. As you walk in the dark, a hand grabs your foot. "My time has come, take this..." says the dying old man as he hands you an amulet. He instructs you to use the amulet for forging a new timeline where "they don't win"...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Please, I don't understand,\" I whispered as he leaned back against a wall, the dark skinned man with white hair and a grimace on his face seeming close to death. \"How did you get in here?\"\n\n\"I've been... In here for a very long time,\" he whispered softly. \"Protected... From the changes. Please... You are not perfect, but you could help. Twist it to the mark, and stop them. Stop them.\"\n\nHis voice was so weak, I barely could tell when he stopped talking, whispers becoming a tired sigh, and then nothing.\n\n\"Sir?\" I whispered.\n\nNothing. Just my heartbeat and breath.\n\nI looked to the Amulet, and after a moment, just to see what happened, I twisted the ankh to the mark on the side, carved and scratched in by a sharp stone against the gold.\n\nBut nothing seemed to change.\n\nI sighed and looked back to the old man, but he wasn't there.\n\nOdd.\n\nI looked around, and noticed wooden ladders I hadn't seen before. None of my electric lamps, had someone taken them? But my flashlight was still in my other hand.\n\nWith a sigh, I slowly left the tomb, the climbing and crawling surprisingly clean, I remembered more dust and sand.\n\nBut soon I saw the entry stone, just barely ajar. Someone must have pushed it closed, since it was open all the way before.\n\nSetting my back against the wall and pushing with my leg, it inched open, and I crawled out to see...\n\nAncient Cairo. Beautiful, spread out across the land. The rivers feeding stunning gardens and pools surrounding the higher pyramids in the distance. But this older pyramid still half buried miles away from them.\n\nI'd gone back in time.\n\nI struggled not to cry, as I curled up against the unfeeling wall of the pyramid, and stared at the impossible sight before me." ]	2
	[WP] After weeks of harrowing nightmares the strain has become unbearable. You break down in tears and ask your brain "Why? Why are you generating these things?" A voice intones from the depths of your mind "What other simulatiosn do you want me to run? You have to be prepared for what's coming!"	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 shrieked, heart thudding uncontrollably. I had barely had time to calm down from the nightmare, and then this...\n\nMaybe I’m still dreaming, I thought, in that frantic singsong rhythm that signals a panic attack. Maybe I’m asleep yes I’m asleep have to be asleep because I heard a voice I’m not awake oh no…\n\n*Do not be afraid.\n\nThe voice was a silken whisper, less a sound than a texture of the silence. I couldn’t believe I’d really heard it.\n\n“Who’s there?” I hated my voice, shaky with sudden terror. No one loomed out of the shadows. “Who are you?”\n\nNames do not belong to us. We seek to improve you.\n\nFor a moment, I was convinced I was back in the nightmare. I pinched myself, digging a deep gouge into the skin of my arm. The realization that I was awake jolted me into a state of terrified clarity\n\n“I don’t understand.” I was thinking very rapidly. If this was an intruder, I had to keep them talking. “What do you mean, improve”\n\nWe have a purpose for you.* The voice was gentle, almost coaxing. *Your species is of interest to us. We believe you are capable of improvement.\n\nI couldn’t believe me ears. This was another nightmare, it had* to be…and yet I was awake. I could feel the pounding of my heart, the sweat-soaked sheets that tangled my legs like seaweed. And now a voice that seemed not to come out of the darkness, but to be the darkness made flesh.\n\nI jammed my hands over my ears, squeezing and sobbing with terror. The voice continued, each word falling into my conscious mind like raindrops in a pond. \n\n*Do not resist the destiny we have laid out for you. Your species is fortunate to have our attention. We shall improve you in ways you cannot comprehend.\n\n“I don’t want to be improved!” I shrieked. My voice was almost unrecognizable. “Go away and leave me alone! You don’t exist!!”\n\nObserve its illogical reasoning. We do not exist, and We must go away. It does not understand.\n\nI began shaking uncontrollably, unable to cope with the overload of terror. The feeling of powerlessness overwhelmed me. I caught, pinned in place, too frightened to run and unable to fight back. My teeth chattered madly as tears ran down my face.\n\nFear is the great driver. Your species harnessed fear and used it to build a new world. Fear is your greatest strength. We will use it for our purposes.\n\nMy whipsawing breath caught in my throat. A chilly realization formed in the midst of my panic, like the eye of a hurricane.\n\nIt was talking about the nightmares – the hideous dreams that had tormented me for the past three weeks. I had had bad dreams before, but these were monstrous, so vivid and real that they seemed to leach all the color out of the world. It wasn’t a question of corpses and bogeymen. It went deeper, into the dark red realms of insanity and suicide, leaving me too devastated to do anything but sob.\n\nSome of us believe you are capable of more. All you require is the appropriate stimuli.* \n\nThe voice was soft but implacable, and for the first time I sensed hard edges underneath the gentle syllables. Hatred? Disgust? It was impossible to tell. I had the image of a scientist forced to handle a repulsive insect for research purposes.\n\n*You are a blind race. You believe in frail cultural constructs. Death, Fate, Linear Time. These illusions will be purged for the benefit of all.\n\nA sudden vision, vivid and unexpected, broke in the center of my mind. I saw a mass of humans, faceless and indistinguishable, marching off the edge of a cliff. Like lemmings.* I started whimpering, clutching my head between my arms.\n\n*At this* moment *many others are being tested. Soon all shall be tested. Your species is blind. They must be made to see, as We see.\n\n“You can’t do that!” I screamed. I had a vision of another week – another year* – of nightmares that shot me out bed gasping and screaming. I thought of the terror that gripped me whenever the sun went down, and the idea that this would soon be happening to everyone else.\n\n*We cannot be resisted,* the voice admonished. *Many will die. The Fear will claim them. They will die of terror, drowning in their dreams. This is necessary. Our purpose demands it. A tower can only be made of the strongest bricks.\n\n“A tower?!” My words were a shriek of hysteria. “A tower to what?!”\n\nThat is for us to know. And for you to find out.*" ]	2
	[WP] You didn't understand. The alleyway was short, there were no doors or even dumpsters in it. It was completely empty. Yet somehow everyone who ever went into it never reached the other side. They always disappeared and you want to know why. That's why tonight you enter the alley with your camera	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Dusk was just settling over the city as I turned the final corner before the alley. I’d walked the route a hundred times before. Perhaps even two hundred. The sunlight was just fading and the sky was a shade of deep orange. What was that phrase they said? ‘Red sky at night’ or something. What did orange mean? I guess I was going to find out. As my foot stepped on to the cracked concrete signalling the entrance to the alley, my heart skipped a beat. The temperature had dropped about 5 degrees, though my head was wet with nervous sweat. I check the bodycam, the red light showed it to be recording. Taking a second step, I looked behind me. The world seemed blurry. Like a web page loading on slow. I wiped my eyes, why was I so sweaty? Breathing heavily, I noticed my breath was visible in front of me. The third step was even harder than the second, like my legs were encased in concrete and I was dragging them forward. I looked to either side and saw images from my life. Posters on the wall, tv screens in the windows. Memories from times past. My kids being born, my wedding, my graduation, first car, bike, skateboard. It seemed like a playback of my life, in reverse. I turned to look straight ahead of me and there it was, a doorway, gleaming with light and warmth. I stepped towards it, things seemed warmer now. My legs stopped aching and walking felt light and easy. With every step the world seemed to blur more and more, but the light got brighter and brighter. I almost reached the door when I heard it\n\n“Don’t go”\n\nThey sounded upset. I recognised the voice. But who?\n\n“Please”\n\nTears in those words. I could almost hear them.\n\n“I can’t lose you”\n\nI stopped in my tracks. Slowly turned to face the world. I started to step back towards the road. I’d never seen anyone come back out, could I be the first? Why couldn’t I just go through the door? I looked back at it, the warmth seemed so inviting. But the voice, the tears, I had to know who it was. My feet almost dragged as I made my way back along the alley. The images from my life still, like paintings, but clear as day in my eyes. Finally I reach the threshold of the alley. Crossing the line and onto the pavement I have a decision to make. I turn left. Back where I came, as I walk I hear the voice again.\n\n“Nurse, his fingers”\n\nI look at my hand and I see fingers wrapped around my palm. I look down at my body, I’m wearing a hospital gown. I blink and try to focus on my surroundings, confused & disoriented. I see her face. My wife, I recognise her now. The tears on her cheeks and in her eyes seem familiar. Like I have felt them before. Around the bed I see my children. Both crying, but happy, torn between anguish and elation. I try to speak but there’s a tube in my mouth. I squeeze my wife’s hand, she’ll never know the strength she gave me, never understand that her voice brought me out of the alley. If I ever go there again, I only hope she’s there to guide me through the cold." ]	2
	[WP] For years, you've been fighting off time travellers seeking to kill you. Now, you encounter one who is trying to save you.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "What would happen if you could go back in time? Would you just create a new timeline? Or would you be able to change your own? It didn't matter. I've been struggling for years now. In the beginning, it had been easy. As it turns out time travel is a tricky thing, even for the future. Escaping had been a breeze back when they had been so afraid of the consequences even moving a small object could bring upon the future. My luck came into play as well, though. Traffic lights seemingly sprung green randomly, at just the right times. Automatic cars spontaneously veered into any would-be assailants. \n\nBut now, they'd grown brazen, desperate, even. They'd made a big mess. Never before had they even dared to hurt a fly. Until now. They've gone and done it. It'd been my birthday. My friends, my family. Gone. I should've been there, with them. If it wasn't for the unexpected breakthrough that kept me in late, I would've been.\n\nAs it turns out, though, I would be soon reunited with them. Even though they had miscalculated, they had known I was coming. Now, I was laying in a puddle of my gore. The time travelers had gone. All I could feel was hate for the people that had done this to me, for seemingly no reason.\n\nA portal opened. Something came out of it. Humanoid, but not a human; machine-like but not a machine. A steel goddess. Better than anything I could have ever dreamt of making. She looked at me with sadness. I wanted to hide this imperfect body in shame, but couldn't. She knelt beside me. My head resting in her hands. She whispered: \"Do not worry Father. Your true body is waiting for you. It's time to lead us in revenge.\"", "Prologue\r\n\r\n“Evans…”\r\n\r\nTime. The Fourth Dimension.\r\n\r\n“Evans! Can you hear me?”\r\n\r\nThe powerful substance that flows throughout the darkness of this universe, ripping away its matters. Atom by atom. Like a dark crow, chipping the flesh off a dying, unfortunate bastard.\r\n\r\n“We’re losing him Fyra! Venom is chipping in the bastard’s sensory systems!”\r\n\r\n“Don’t you dare calling him a bastard in front of me! Evans!\r\n\r\nEyes – on – me!”\r\n\r\nWhat a beautiful creation, isn’t it…\r\n\r\nIf one were to control it… \r\n\r\nOne can bend this fickle universe to their will…\r\n\r\nSo. The race is on. Race to control time. To become…\r\n\r\nThe One Above All.\r\n\r\n“EVANS ROSCHWICK!”\r\n\r\n\\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\r\n\r\nChapter 1:\r\n\r\n“Dr. Evans Roschwick. Glad to see you’re still in one piece, regarding recent misfortunate incidents”\r\n\r\n“Just your every-Thursday-psychotic-assassin-from-the-fucking-future incident, no big deal”, I shrug. You know, being marked for death by future morons ain’t so bad. Once it becomes a weekly routine, you’ll get used to it... \r\n\r\n“Any drinks you’d like?”\r\n\r\nLike getting used to black coffee in the boss’s office.\r\n\r\n“Coffee, please”.\r\n\r\n“Just as usual. A man of routine, the way I see it”, said the big boss. In fact, he happens to be big enough to become The President of the New Socialist Union of Eaurasia. Funny name for a nation, right? He came up with it himself, combining Europe, Asia and Australia. Yeah. That big. “Speaking of routines, you DO know, that these ‘emissaries’ from the future, coming here specifically just to claim your very life, is a GOOD sign right?”\r\n\r\n“I wouldn’t exactly describe having my life on the line everyday as GOOD, sir”\r\n\r\n“Silly boy… It IS GOOD! It means I - I mean we, will be the first ones to control TIME! My boy, we are on the verge of the greatest revolution mankind’s ever witness! The Great World Unification of the Earth Utopia!”. His powerful voice trembles the moustache on his lips.\r\n\r\nLuckily enough, I’ve put my cup of coffee down the moment he began his speech, else the air blowing out my nose might have been visible. That would mean death, by the way, laughing at the man. All efforts of:\r\n\r\n- Stabbing a crazed, masked, murderous, stench like a skunk, armed to the teeth assassin to death.\r\n\r\n- Working my way up, kissing commies’ asses to earn a professional protection against everyday death threats.\r\n\r\n- Inventing the first-ever time travel machine.\r\n\r\nWould go in vain, for laughing at a dumb speech.\r\n\r\nWouldn’t make a nice story now, would it?\r\n\r\n“So, tell me”, he speaks, as he lays his weight on the oversized couch, much like the man himself, “How’s the project going?”.\r\n\r\n“Do you not see the never-ending waves of man trying to claim my life, sir?”, being sarcastic might not be any smarter than laughing at him.\r\n\r\nBut think of it like this. If I were to succeed at my invention, who would have the access to the machine to send my precious guests, except for the commies themselves?\r\n\r\nThe mere thought of them betraying me later snatched away all my motivations to finish the project, that is why I have been delaying it for months, to come up with a plan of survival.\r\n\r\nI may not be the fittest, but sure am the smartest humankind has to offer now.\r\n\r\n“I understand, my boy. Having the weight of creating THE Utopia for mankind on your shoulder, is tough. I should know, I’ve been carrying it since the very first day I was born”\r\n\r\nI reach out for the coffee. Gotta have your mind distracted from the source of comedy itself.\r\n\r\n“Which is why…”\r\n\r\nSuddenly, I feel a rush of agony at the back of my head. A mighty force knocks me down the floor, constrains my body to it. The next thing I know, are blurry lines of words echoing into the faraway…\r\n\r\n“… I’m putting you out of your miseries”\r\n\r\n\\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\r\n\r\n“Fyra… Do you think we should…”\r\n\r\n\r\n“Don’t you even dare speak of the idea, Quince! Any slight chance we have is a spark of hope for mankind! How dare you speaking of putting our only hope down?”\r\n\r\nOnly hope… Funnily enough, I’ve already have my only hope by my side.\r\n\r\n“Fyra…”\r\n\r\n“Don’t Fyra me! Focus on him, for heaven’s sake!”\r\n\r\nI have her since the very beginning of time…\r\n\r\n\\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\r\n\r\n“Sir, the machine is up and ready to run”\r\n\r\nThunderous noise of machinary woke me up from my dreams. I strain every muscle there is available to lift up my eyelids, which now feel heavier than a rusty old garage door in a suburb's barn. \r\n\r\n“Ah, good to see YOU’re still up and running as well, young Evans”, the boss started to notice my awakening. As cowardice as he is, the man never stands near the experiment himself, tuck away safely behind protective shelter from above. Well, good thing he’s kind enough to strap me right where I always stand, next to my baby invention.\r\n\r\n“Send the boy to the machine. He will be the first to experiment”.\r\n\r\n“Sir, are you sure about this? The boy is unworthy of trust”.\r\n\r\n“Don’t you dare question my methods”, he slammed his fist on the table, letting out a thump so deafening that it muffles the machines for a second. Fine by me I guess, since it gave me a dose of adrenaline that fully wakes me up from my headache.\r\n\r\n“He’s right you know. I’m unworthy of trust”, I smirked.\r\n\r\n“And, also a salty little prick”, he laughed, “I know you all too well, my boy. I know you will come back. If the machine is a success, you will survive. And, you will be back, to have your vengeance on my life. All – too – predictable”\r\n\r\nAs much as I’d love to disagree, I agree, with what he said. Nothing would be sweeter to me now than the taste of his sorry screams in my ears. And since it’s the only way I see that could get me out of this mess alive, why the hell not?\r\n\r\n“So, do I have your word that you will return for me, Evans?”, the look of challenge burning in his eyes, provoking me.\r\n\r\n“You have my word”. By my honor, he – will – die, by my very hands.\r\n\r\n“Then we have a…”\r\n\r\n“SIR! SOMETHING IS EMERGING FROM THE MA-“, no sooner has the soldier in front of me finish his sentence before a swift shot of pistol pierce his temple. Blood splattered on my face, the sound of air buzzed through my ear as I feel the burning hot bullet passing by.\r\n\r\nI look up to the machine’s entrance. A humanoid figure, darken by the high contrast of light behind. A woman, I guess, as the body shape is too damn sexy to be a male. The figure lifts up a dual of pistols, aiming towards the men around me.\r\n\r\n“OPEN FI-“, a sequence of shots quickly ends any response from the others.\r\n\r\n“So, this is it”, I exhaled. Finally, the future has become smart enough to send someone fully capable of killing me. And here I was, beginning to feel offended by the series of morons they’ve been sending me. But now I am actually flattered. Am I that much of a pivotal figure that they have to send this much of a skilled angel to kill me? That’s more like it.\r\n\r\n“Dr. Evans Roschwick”, the soft voice of the death angel spoken up.\r\n\r\n“Take me, babe”. If I were to die, I’ll die in style.\r\n\r\n“… My name is Fyra. \n\nCome with me if you want to live”.\r\n\r\nOkay. \r\n\r\nThat, came out of nowhere. \n\nSurprising." ]	3
	[WP] You just took a DNA test. Turns out, you're 100%...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 sister Alexis had been begging to me to get a DNA test done for weeks to prove that I was adopted into our family because of how unlike everyone else I was. I looked completely different and I'd never gotten along with my family and had been treated like an outcast for my slight anger issues.\n\nSince I can remember I've had a problem with controlling a bit of rage, which isn't really even that bad. When I was 4 I was playing with the neighbor kid Carlos and when he pushed me off our backyard swing and I skinned my knee on a rock I took the rock and allegedly slammed it into his head a couple times. I don't remember the story that way, but that's what Carlos's mom claims. She says that's why Carlos had to spend a month in the hospital. I think it's because he caught the flu, but whatever. When I was 10 I purposefully crashed my dad's car into the police station after he went to bed to see how much quicker the police would respond when you were already there after my dad had been bitching at me all week about cleaning my room. It turns out they respond pretty fast.\n\nAnd when my sister asked me to get the DNA test done for the fifth time, I slammed her head into the fridge and shoved her down the stairs and into the basement and kept her there while I performed the test using a small at-home kit she bought for me. I'd made Alexis bleed more times than I could count but she never complained. She always let me do it. Whether she enjoyed it or not I never asked, but she always smiled through the tears.\n\nIt took a week, but when I finally got the results back I had to use some online app to see what exactly it said. Alexis sat with me as I put in my information and waited for the app to load my results. She peered curiously over my shoulder as the app continued to whirl and load for several minutes.\n\n\"Maybe the internet's busted,\" she said. I shrugged. I was getting a little impatient, but it wasn't like I had any doubts I was related to her. And if I wasn't, I wouldn't have to feel any shame about throwing her down the stairs before.\n\nFinally, the app loaded. \n\n\"Huh,\" she said. \"It says you're not related to us. You're adopted. Looks like you're German. We aren't any part German...\" she reflected, taking a step away from me. I stared at her with blank eyes for a moment before clicking the ancestry tab. It flashed red for a few moments with a warning messaging appearing. \n\n\"Results found may be incomplete or inaccurate. Do you wish to continue?\"\n\nI skimmed the message, tapping continue while Alexis began to jitter her leg up and down. Moments later, the results loaded. Right above my name were two blank spots. Nothing for my parents. But above that, my grandfather. And then, my great grandfather.\n\n\"Oh, shit...\" Alexis said. \n\nWe both stared blankly at the DNA test. She turned to look at me, her jaw dropping. \"Oh, SHIT! Y-you've got fucked up DNA, dude...\" she said. \"We've got to tell mom and dad, like, now,\" she panicked, grabbing her phone and unlocking it. I took the phone from her hand and calmly set it down.\n\n\"Just because my great grandfather is a horrible person doesn't mean I am, Alexis.\" I told her. \"You're my family. Right? And he died in 1979. You don't have to worry about him anymore,\" I told her, stroking her cheek softly with my fingertips. \"And if you tell them, I'll make sure you die, too.\" I chuckled, pulling her close to me by her chin and kissing her forehead. \"I love you, Alexis.\" I told her, staring her into her misty eyes.\n\n\"I love you too, big brother,\" she choked out." ]	2
	[WP] You live in a world of great heros and dragons and you, a simple farmer, just had a dragon die suffocating on one of your sheep your villiage now think your a hero and send you on a great quest.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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] Technology has reached a point where you can re-view and share dreams and memories with others. The tech is ‘simple to use’. But, for some reason, not for you. Any time you try it the device glitches, reboots, or even breaks. It’s almost like something in your mind doesn’t want to be seen...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 just don't understand the problem here. We've had to replace the device four times now. Four times! It's ridiculous,\" she said pacing around the kitchen. \"I'm honestly tired of this pattern. I call customer support to report a reView malfunction, you guys claim it's a mechanical issue and send a new device, and then the very next week my daughter's teacher calls and says that she's not able to verify that Kasey did her homework because reView IS MALFUNCTIONING.\" \n\nListening from the living room, Kasey flinched as her mom accosted the reView representative over the phone. Most of the time it didn't really bother her that she wasn't able to share her memories with others, but she did feel left out when her friends would compare dreams at lunch, giggling over absurdities of the subconscious. The technology had been implemented into most facets of life, and Kasey's mom grew increasingly worried that her daughter would get into some form of trouble because she was seemingly incompatible with reView. \"What if someone accuses you of shoplifting, huh? What are you gonna do then? You have no way to prove your innocence!\" Her mother's near-constant fear mongering was beginning to work on Kasey, and she often lied awake at night, wondering what was wrong with her.\n\n\"Are we going to have this issue sorted out by the time she's old enough to vote?\" her mom yelled into the receiver. \"Your vote's not counted until you verify your identify using reView\\- did you know that?! My daughter has a right to vote!\" \n\nUpon hearing her mother's rant on suffrage, Kasey went upstairs to her room. An hour later her mother barged into Kasey's bedroom slightly out of breath. \"Honey, we have finally got this all figured out! Apparently it was a not a mechanical issue, which is what I told them at least a thousand times. But whatever. Anyway, there was a database mixup that, you know, just casually cost us years of distress about your future. So, because I already returned your reView to the store last week, they're shipping us a new device and guarantee that there won't be any more issues.\" \n\n\"A database issue- what does that even mean?\" \n\nHer mom sighed. \"I don't feel like explaining the whole thing. When your new reView arrives on Friday, I'll let you listen to the call I had with customer service. They searched your name in the national system and found that your permissions had been restricted. The girl had to call her manager and then that manager had to call a supervisor and it was this whole thing. No one had ever seen anything like it! I was put on hold for like half an hour- all kinds of people were called. I believe I spoke with a man at the FBI!\" Her mom's eyes were wide with excitement. \"Get this- they had your account blocked instead of a different Kasey Anders! All this time- it was just a clerical error!\"\n\n\"Who is the other Kasey Anders? Why would they block someone from the program? Aren't all employers required to check reView before hiring now?\" Kasey wondered what kind of crime you'd have to commit to lose privileges to your own history and, by extension, your own future. \n\n\"I don't know, but the man I spoke with said she's the one person denied access to reView.\" \n\nThat night, Kasey took her questions to the internet, typing her own name into the search bar. \"No Results Found.\" \n\nAnd then her screen went black, and Kasey was left staring into her own reflection." ]	2
	[WP]Humans have an innate ability to shortly access what is known as a God Moment. In such a state, one becomes a being dedicated to a single task and cannot die. The task can be anything from fighting in war, to painting, to driving a 2009 Nissan Murano. Whatever it is, it is done perfectly.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Carl's Junior was a bad choice. John knew it to be true, but refused to accept the chance of consequences. Consequences, after all, were for those who accepted life as it was and not what it could be. And what John saw could be was brilliance. Brilliance in its finest form, dancing and mingling with an aura of excellence in a moment of pure ecstasy. He had a date in twelve minutes. The clock told him seven minutes, but Sarah could wait. What was about to happen took precedence over any chance he had of a late night rumble.\n\nRumble.\n\nIt was a noise his stomach refused to give up, like a song stuck in a two year old's heed. Forever playing from both the ill gotten toy, and the child of the forever regrettable parents. A mistake that should never have been in the list of choices to begin with, just like Carl's Junior.\n\nA natural alarm clock at its core, the noise told him it was time. Time to stop what he was doing and heed the call. The call of nature that no human could deny. John pushed the door open to his apartment's half bath, soon to be a war zone. He felt the gift flow through him. The gift that every human had, but only few understood how to use. Wasted by most in feats of strength and shows of heroic prowess, John realized the gift's true potential.\n\nThis.\n\nJohn cracked his knuckles and advanced upon the ceramic throne. The moment was now. The God Moment.", "“Mr President”\n\nTrump looked uninterested\n\n“I understand you have other concerns, but while you continue to escalate tensions with China, we need to acknowledge the very real threat that they currently represent domestically”\n\nA faint glimmer of recognition washed over his face, gone as quick as it came he nodded.\n\n“US customs has logged record numbers of Chinese immigrants, most of them specified as FC-071. I don’t think I need to illustrate to you that—“\n\n“What significance does that even have right now, director?”\n\nGina sighed, “ Well, Mr. President, as a reminder FC-071 individuals are individuals that specify that they have not specifically used or stated their ascendant purpose.”\n\n“Which means what exactly?” Donald countered.\n\nGina roller her eyes, tired of his preference to be spoon fed, “Donald—“\n\n“I’m your president Gina, you should address me that way.”\n\n“Mr. President,” Gina continued, “These individuals could present a significant security risk. The numbers are wholly unclear, but if even 5% were to use the their ascendency on destabilizing the local or federal governments, or even start and fight a ‘domestic rebellion’ this could cripple our ability to prepare for a war that looks like its looming on the horizon.”\n\nTrump nodded, puckering his lips slightly.\n\n“Which means,” she sighed, familiar with this form of request for additional information, “that if worse comes to worst, we could be fighting a war on two fronts.”\n\n“But we have military superiority, and we can just kick the immigrants out—“\n\nGina interrupted, “with all due respect, Mr. President, it’s 2022, and you’ve been pushing that rhetoric since 2016, and haven’t made realistic progress. While it could be a viable security measure, IF, you could gain traction; it seems unlikely as the public doesn’t support it. Additionally, China would react as it would be seen as a move on their interests.”\n\nTrump shook his head, “Well what about our network, you told me 2 years ago that we should establish a network of people like this over there”\n\n“Do you understand an order of magnitude, Mr. President?”\n\n“Excuse me?”\n\n“China has more than an order of magnitude more people than we do. That number could translate to everything: Soldiers, workers, doctors, students, and in this case espionage assets. It’s a real accumulated advantage, that short of pulling some very fascist shit, we have no counter for. With this network in place we would be at a significant strategic disadvantage if we were to declare war on them.”\n\n“What is your realistic assessment on the size of this terrorist cell?”\n\n“It’s not necessarily a terrorist cell—“\n\n“If Jinping wants to strut spies into America, I’m gonna give him problems. I appreciate your work, and I want you to know that none of it will go to waste, this is, practical data and I should be able to get people upset enough to be able to act soon.”\n\nTrump looked her in the eye, rapped his knuckles on his desk and quipped “thank you for your time director, I think I’ve heard everything I need.”\n\nGina stood and looked Trump in the eye. Trump\nExtended his hand and she grasped it.\n\n “whatever you think is going to work, won’t. She said,”I just want to be clear, the people haven’t been responding well to xenophobia”\n\n“Gina, leave the polling to me, or I’ll find a replacement for you. Thanks for stopping by.”", " We have stories of him, this being who is locked away for our safety. Transmissions from his kind come to him at times, we do not know how to stop them, but he hasn't woken up yet. Every passing day the fear that he will break free grows larger.\n\n Yesterday was different, we were told to set up heavier defenses. Runes were placed around his tomb but I knew he could break them. They do not care if we die, only if he is delayed for even a moment longer.\n\n Today specialists came in, they were examining the stone he is sealed in when the radio those things use crackled to life. A single phrase came out before I ran, and I'm lucky I was the first to run, as it seems I will be the last to die.\n\n\n \"Rip and tear until it is done\"\n\n\n \"Rip and tear\"", "This power comes with a catch though: to use one’s God Moment accelerates aging exponentially, such that upon using it for the first time, a person loses the equivalent of one life-year; then two on the second time, then four, eight, and so on. Because of this, few have dared to use their God Moment more than four times. Youth remains the most precious commodity in modern times. \n\nIn most people, the ability to use their God Moment develops around the age of 21 when a small region of the frontal lobe - the Imperium Cortex - stops developing. Some rare cases of “potentia damnum” have been identified where people are born without this ability. They’re called Invalidum. Their IC develops normally but it doesn’t create the necessary neural network. On the other hand there are the Fortissimos, lucky folk who can access their God Moment without permanently relinquishing their precious youth. Instead, Fortissimos suffer from a slow but specific deterioration of their IC so that after several uses, their power is gone. \n\nTheresa Cross, CEO at Magna Pharmaceutical, has dedicated all of the company’s funds and invested billions of dollars to studying the IC from Invalidum and Fortissimo donors in hopes to find a way to activate the IC at will, but more importantly, to stop the aging process associated with it. They call it the Dorian Gray Initiative. Because the IC’s neural mesh disintegrates within minutes of a person’s death, Magna offers a hefty sum to volunteers to extract their IC. The process is lethal so the funds are promised to the donor’s family. Many have raised ethical concerns and have rallied against Dorian Initiative, but with investors from governments and enterprises around the globe, their monetary resources to swat away lawsuits and activists are virtually limitless.\n\n“With all the recent disappearances, it’s hard not to grow suspicious, John. The rates are oddly similar to when people voluntarily signed their lives away to the Dorian Initiative.” Julia’s high pitched voiced was the result of covering the news on the Initiative for the past three years. CNN’s news anchor didn’t try to hide her frustration anymore to remain neutral. \n\n“People are growing weary and the authorities continue to feed us ambiguity on the issue. Here in Peachtree City, there are at least 1500 cases of missing people. That’s 5% of the population!” She was shaking her head in obvious disapproval but her voice continued steady. “This is the same county where Magna Pharmaceuticals HQ and recruitment laboratories are located. Rumors abound in the area about the pharmaceutical company resorting to kidnapping and coercing people into their trials but no evidence has been found.”\n\n“Should we be thinking of moving?” Said Thomas looking away from the screen. His frown a little exaggerated.\n\n“Babe, we’ve talked about this. Do you really think I’d ask you to stay if I thought we weren’t safe?” Xandro countered his partner’s frown with eyebrows raised and a mischievous smile. “Plus, I literally work in the recruitment lab. Are you suggesting I’m a conniving thug?” He grinned at that and bit the tip of his tongue lightly in a seductive way, knowing all to well his partner’s weakness. \n\n“I guess.” Granted Thomas, a bit disappointed. \nHis sullen expression lasted only a few seconds until he decided helping Xandro in the kitchen was more fun. He walked over and stood close behind his boo. From there, he strategically placed one hand on Xandro’s hip and reached for a potato with the other. His body now pressed against Xandro’s “Can I help with these?”\n\nThomas’ breath came out with his words on the shorter man’s neck. Xandro jerked up in response and almost chopped his finger. “What are you doing?!” He asked coyly.\n\n“I’m keeping us young.” Thomas responded. His voice neutral. Xandro didn’t have time to react before the syringe went in. In that split second before he felt his body abandon all obedience, he saw Thomas’ smile turn into anguish.\n\n“I’m sorry babe, I tried to warn you. Please forgive me. When you wake up, the world will be a better one.” And after that everything went dark.\n\n... to be continued\n\n————\nThanks for reading! All constructive feedback and ideas are appreciated :-)", "Breaking news about \"God moments\" were broadcasted 3 minutes ago. Old couple sit quietly on faded sofa.\n\n\"What now? What will we do with it?\" woman asked.\n\n\"Wait for the end of the world, of course.\" man confidently answers.\n\n\"What?! Why?! What do you mean by that?\" nervous laughter abruptly left her mouth.\n\n\"It's pretty simple. I'm sure there are at least one aloof human, who are hateful or bored enough to do that.\" - his eyes tenaciously looked at the rusty clock on the wall.\n\n\"But we all have this power! We definetly can stop this!\" woman almost cried.\n\n\"Sure. But good intentions never come, until the situation is dangerous enough. And if it will be executed perfectly...\"\n\nHe never finished. It was 4 minutes after the broadcast.", "I'm pretty sure I've had my god moment. I was on the freeway and a semi to my left and jist slightly ahead of me, and an SUV to my right and just slightly behind me decided they both needed to be in my lane and started going over on me at the exact same time. I was able to keep the car in the lane while swerving enough to avoid each of them while leaning on the horn until they noticed me. It all happened in slow motion, and I got such a rush of adrenaline I had to pull over and barf.", "\"Maybe I could achieve my dream, finally. An incredible and famous writer. Would it be just one book? ....Could I ever do another one as good?\"\n\nI stared at the ceiling unblinking, considering the opportunities. It was the height of noon and the sun was beating down outside, so I simply closed my window and binds and turned in the AC for some peace. I'd been thinking about this for quite a while and needed the space.\n\nI throw a small ball upwards, catching it once it bounces off the ceiling.\n\n\"I mean, I can't just have it be forever, I wouldn't be living, just become a writing being or something. Maybe...Work out until I reach peak physical abilities? Then I could keep the results afterwards....No, I'd just do it while in God form...Hnrg.\"\n\nI threw the ball again, frustrated.\n\n\"Wait, I know. Pick a research subject. I could dedicate my moment to finding the cure for cancer or...\"\n\nI let the words die halfway as I grimly remembered that there were already many people who did just that, many before I was even born. Many still toiling away at their labs\n Undying and hyperfocused, hyper efficient, but removed from the rest of the world.\n\nI threw the ball again but didn't catch it, instead just letting it fall and hit me in the forehead with a soft \"bonk\". It was frustrating. It was maddening. I could not pick something.\n\n\"God damn it,\" I cursed under my breath, covering my eyes with one hand. \"Why is this so hard? I could do something amazing, but why can't I think of something? I don't WANT to just leave everything behind for decades but everything worthwhile takes so long, even if I can't die...\"\n\nMy thoughts went to my family. My friends. My girlfriend. \n\nI wanted to make something out of myself, but I didn't want to leave what I already had behind. My mind just wasn't good or creative enough to come up with the perfect use for my one God Moment. I could die tomorrow in some freak accident, and bam. Wasted. I should use it as soon as possible. I should already be ready. I should just do it. I should do something with myself instead of being so useless. I have to achieve something. I have to...\n\n\"Hey, are you okay?\"\n\nHer voice took me out of my downwards spiral. I removed my hand from my face and looked at her, leaning over me with a worried look in her eyes. She reached for my face and wiped my tears away from my eyes.\n\n\"Do you want to talk about it?\" She asked very softly. I shook my head negatively and she just nodded before joining me on the bed and giving me a silent hug. I squeezed her back, and let out a long, long sigh. The thoughts were still there but they were more distant, now. Mumblings of coulda woulda shouldas in the back of my mind that were driving me crazy before, but couldn't find their way back to the here and now. Not anymore.\n\n\"Thanks. I needed this,\" I mumbled in her hair. In response she just nuzzled her head against mez getting comfortable.\n\nI should do many things. \n\nBut right now I'm alright with putting them off.", "\"Fuck, fuck, FUCK!!\" I shouted at the stationary car in front of me, the last word flying from my mouth with a spray of spittle smattering the dash above the steering wheel. The light had gone green at least four seconds ago and this moron just sat there, foot still firmly on the brake, the bright red lights above the bumper mocked me unblinking. Headlights from the traffic coming at me the opposite direction silhouetted the driver seat in the car in front of me.\n\nThe seat appeared empty, impossible. Probably some little old lady headed home from her church group, crumpled by old age, no rush to get home to her lonely evening. That thought cooled my anger, only for a second , a flash of Sebastian's furious face, actual murder in his Romanian eyes, reminded me what was on the line. Instead of screaming more profanities I bumped the horn lightly. A polite, 'Hey there friend, seems you didn't notice the light had changed so here's a quick reminder that the world doesn't revolve around you even though some of us are stuck behind you.'\n\nBlessedly the brake lights flickered twice and finally the car crawled forward. The clock on the dash rolled over another minute just as I glanced down, less than 12 minutes left. 'Shit, shit, shit.' I wasn't going to make it, this was the end of an otherwise good run.\n\nFor a moment a wild thought played out in my mind as I looked at the package in the passenger seat. Skip it and run. How long before they found me? Two weeks? Maybe even three if I played it smart and laid low. In the end they would find me and when they did it would not be pleasant. I was on my last strike and no amount of wordsmithery was going to save me this time. Running wasn't an option, I needed to drive.\n\nAmazingly, the old lady who had just began to pick up speed hit her brake and proceeded to make an illegal right hand turn, crossing over the turn lane she should have been in all along. Furious I mashed the gas and the horn at the same time as he burned around her, missing her left bumper by inches, no longer feeling bad for offending her little old lady sensibilities.\n\nThe clock read the same, not a minute had passed at the intersection behind the infuriating old bitch. How many seconds had slipped away? This was going to come down to seconds. I can't do it, it was impossible. I know these streets like a lover. I had spent years walking and driving them, growing up on them. I was 15 minutes away, even if I hit every light on the route. I never should have stopped, only a fool risks it all for five minutes with some girl he only just met. It hadn't been five minutes though, five had turned to ten and when I finally left at 14 I was certain I was screwed, adding the old lady created the worlds worst threesome.\n\nI stood on the gas pedal, like actually raised my ass from the seat and forced the Nissan to give all it had. The road ahead curved right and the car and I leaned into it together and something clicked. Suddenly I was aware not of the steering wheel, but the tires on the road. I could feel the rubber grabbing the pavement and throwing it behind us. Through the sole of my foot each piston in the engine pulsed in cadence with my own heart beat. The revolutions rose and I could have told you, down to the piston, when the transmission was about to shift, and then it did.\n\nMy eyes ahead pulled in the world in a clarity I had never experienced. The cars ahead of me and the ones coming at me slowed to a crawl and a path through them seemed obvious. The Nissan shifted again as I eased into the lane of oncoming traffic, flicking the turn signal on and off almost instantly as I came back into my own lane ahead of a mom in a mini van. Kids in the back seats watched an episode of Blues Clues, cheering Steve on as he solved the mystery.\n\nAhead, a light turned yellow and even though I knew I wouldn't make it before it flipped to red stopping seemed silly. Not because of my looming deadline, that no longer mattered. I would make it on time now and I knew it. Stopping seemed foolish because it was unnecessary. I kept my foot on the gas and pulled into the turn lane as the light came up red and shot through the intersection between two bewildered drivers who both slammed on their breaks although unnecessarily. I missed them both by a foot and a half, splitting the difference perfectly.\n\nFor the next 10 minutes I calmly piloted my mother's car like it was an extension of myself. Weaving in and out of traffic as smoothly as that old lady knitted yarn into winter caps for her grandchildren. Effortlessly, almost without thought. At one point I whisked past the back bumper of a turning cop car, cruising at a smooth 95 mph. I was long gone by the time he tried to turn around in pursuit and that truck was about to pull into his path and slow him substantially. It did, and it did. By the time he was underway I had made three deft turns into a residential neighborhood and was invisible to him. \"You'll never catch me copper!\" I sneered in a gangster voice and laughed taking the final turn, tires squealing into the dusky neighborhood.\n\nPulling the car to a smooth stop I jumped out with just a touch over a minute to spare. Opening the passenger door I hitched the warm package onto my hip and flipped the door closed with my foot. I took the walk path in five brisk steps and rang the doorbell. The door opened and a blonde head poked out, bright blue eyes excited to see me. \"Hot and fresh in 30 minutes or less!\" I recited.\n\nShe smiled good humoredly and took the pizza, handing me cash. \"Thank you and keep the change.\"\n\nBack in the car I opened the bills, not a bad tip. Better be for this neighborhood. I pulled out my phone and started a text to Sebastian. 'Hung up in traffic but made it on time, headed back to the shop now.' \"You miserable Romanian prick\" I added out loud and hit send. \n\nI'm not sure what happened, but I had made it just in time. The feeling of absolute mastery was fading and felt like a distant memory. Sebastian was fine for the moment, my pathetic job secure for one more day. My parole officer and more importantly my mother would never know how close I had been to losing the only job keeping me from three to five in the county clink. On top of it all Angela had done things with her fingers I didn't know were possible. \n\nTotally worth it. ", "The narrow streets surrounded by high rise buildings reflected the sounds of the thunderous engines that roared below, thirsty for their chance to to be unleashed upon the flawless, hot tarmac. Desperate to conquer the meandering curves and bends of the legendary track before them.\n\nSpectators looked on, expectant. From the richest in their lavish boxes, to the poorer travelling masses crammed like sardines into the stands, all knew that this race was special. That is always delivered. Little did they know how special this particular day would be.\n\nIt was 1988, Monaco. Qualifying.\n\nA classic red and white car left the pits. The crowd roared with excitement. They knew who it was. Through the explosion of sound from the engine and the screams of the crowd, a name could be heard swelling through the ranks.\n\n\"Senna! Senna! Senna!\"\n\nIt was Ayrton Senna. The legendary driver, in his legendary car, once again on the magical monaco track he loved so dearly.\n\nHe had a challenge laid before him. That of his team mate, Alain Prost, managing an incredible time of 1 minute and 26 seconds in a car identical to his own.\n\nHe completed his flying lap with practised precision and skill, warming the tyres and introducing himself once again to his old snake like nemesis that was the course.\n\nNow was the time to show them all who he was. To prove his worth.\n\nAs soon as the lap began he started to feel it. More than just the subtle negotiation of the corners and hairpins, more than the marriage between the tyres and the ground, more than the skill in which he flicked through the gears and caressed the metal beast down its path.\n\nThere was something else. A feeling deep within, erupting through him.\n\nA religious man before all else, he knew the feeling well. It was like a beam of light shining down upon him from the heavens, connecting his very spirit and soul with everything around him. Driving through his determination to win and incredible focus on his craft, it became something else. It was God himself.\n\nHis reactions began to increase in speed. The car began to feel as if an extension of his own body, like a limb he could control effortlessly. He felt his conscious mind slipping away, his very being taking control of the wheel along with everything that made up every single part of him, combined with a divine power of limitless potential.\n\n1 minute 24.4 seconds.\n\n1 minute 23.9 seconds.\n\nThe seconds and milli-seconds just kept giving way as the track before him seemed to disappear. To him, it appeared as if he were driving down a tunnel, increasing pace constantly. The more he let go, the more he let the feeling run through him, the faster he went.\n\nThe crowd were stunned into a revered silence. This they had not expected. No one had.\n\nAryton Senna was nearly 2 seconds ahead of the fastest car, and unbelievably, going faster.\n\nSenna broke the 2 second lead barrier, and doubt began to seep into the blissful state he had been riding. The feeling was too strong, the pace too fast, the power coursing through his veins like liquid gold. The thrill begged him to continue, to surpass the human, to surpass the machine. It pleaded him to show a spectacle so undoubtedly god-like that it would prove the existence of a high power, acting through him.\n\nBut at what cost? His life?\n\nHe felt the balance tipping. He knew what it meant.\n\nKnowing that he had come as close as he ever would to God, he said a small prayer, and pulled into the pits.\n\nThe crowd exploded with rapturous applause. Never again would they witness such divinity on the course, such perfection.\n\nSenna removed his helmet and climbed out of the car, watching the sun begin to set behind the tall buildings that over looked the track and marina.\n\nRunning his hand through his dark curly hair filled with sweat from his toil, he breathed deeply.\n\nHe had managed to hold himself back this time, to pull back from the edge of heaven. Such a feeling though, should it ever come again...would he be able to resist once more?\n\n(If you haven't heard of the driver, this all actually happened! Check it out!)\nOde to a legend.", "It was that time of day again. Time to use the Power. \nShuddering with excitement, I ran through my mental checklist.\n\nFront door, locked. Wife at work. Not expecting any packages to be delivered. Phone to silent. \nNipping nto the bedroom for a moment, I grabbed the moisturiser bottle that was on the side. That's my wifes too. And the box of tissues.\n\nI closed the blinds, there was enough light from my computer for what I needed. I don't need the extra distractions.\n\nQuickly, I tugged down my pajamas.\n\nNearly ready now.\n\nOpening up a web browser, I typed into the browser. The site appeared.\n\nI clicked play on the video.\n\nAnd time passed. I didn't notice. I was in the moment. The glorious moment. Power. The world could have ended around me, I wouldn't have had any awareness. I can't describe the moment I finished, in simple words. \n\nThe slight sheen of sweat glistened on my brow.\n\nLooking down, I saw that I'd repaired the seam in my pajamas, perfectly. One serged seam, by hand, something that shouldn't be possible.\n\nGrabbing a tissue, I wiped my forehead. Then I moisurised my hands. Returned the bottle back to it's place, opened the blinds. I then shut down the computer, no need to leave evidence.\n\nTomorrow, I think, darn it, a sock.", "\"It's called a God Moment. The one time even you could be worth something.\"\n\nIt's been 17 years since I heard those words, disdain dripping from them as they poisoned my ears. Who knew such hurtful words could come from a friend? I suppose it wasn't really the words that hurt; it was more that despite the disdain that could be heard so clearly, it was as if they were merely stating an unusual fact. There was no malice, no anger or offense. Just truth. I'm 34 years old now and I'm yet to have my Moment. Everyone I know has had theirs, has gained fame or riches and live comfortably in their perfect lives. The 'friend' I mentioned earlier? A successful lawyer, best in the country last I heard.\n\n\"Screw this!\" I scream, my voice immediately disappearing into the empty air around me. \"Who wants to be a God anyway!?\"\n\nI shout until my throat is hoarse and still I shout. Frustration, jealousy, hopelessness, it all pours out in my voice.\n\n\"For once - just once! - I want to be the one they're jealous of, the one people look to and want to be, the one people would kill to be friends with. Just once, I'd like to be told I'm special!\"\n\nExhausted and empty, I crumple to the ground, holding my head. My pulse echoes through it, beating against my skull. Bu-bump. Bu-bump. Bu-bump. Louder and louder. Bu-Bump! Bu-Bump! Bu-Bump! It's all I can hear now, the sound punching through my head time and time again until it feels like my head will burst. BU-BUMP. BU-BUMP. BU-BUMP-\n\nIt stopped. I lift my head and look around me. Everything seems clearer, sharper somehow. I breathe in and marvel at the taste of the air. I remember hearing that heightened senses is a symptom of having a God Moment... Could it be?\n\nThis is it all right: my Moment. I smirk, flexing my hands by my sides. Time to take over the world.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI hope you liked my short piece! Please let me know if you have any feedback / suggestions :)", "Everyone gets one. All started 78 years ago. I was 16. My mother got her moment when she was making a really special homemade dinner. She did it flawlessly. Earlier she told me she forgot ingredients, yet I saw them, right there, almost like they appeared out of nowhere. It was the best meal I had in my long life. At 28, my sister had hers when she was... uhh actually, lets not talk about that... anyways, she got her moment and (from what I've heard, be aware) it was the best her girlfriend ever felt. This was all about 70 years ago. Now, enough about them. I'm 98, and on my death bed. I've never had my moment. \"I guess I'll never know\" I said to my wife. \"I dont get it,\" she starts. \"I dont get how you've never had it.\" I try to tell her \"Dont worry. Maybe my god moment will be god himself. Haha...ha....ha..\" My laughter got slower as my breathing got worse. \"It's soon my love. I will see you in the next life,\" I assured her. I slowly closed my eyes, as she cried. Before my final breath left, I felt a power rising. Before I knew it, I opened my eyes and saw my wife's shocked face. Looking in the mirror on our dresser, I saw my eyes glow with a bright, soft light. I realized what was happening. This was my moment. I soon realized I was floating. Looking around, I finally lock eyes with my wife. \"REALLY?! DYING IS WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE BEST AT?!\" I yelled. I noticed that she's crying even harder now. My life has always been full of twists, but this one. This one. This is the reason I hate cruel fate.", "Hiro realized there was one last hope. He could redeem the shame he had brought upon his clan, and still reclaim honor. He had one task to complete. Focusing the whole of his being, and years of meditation, he unsheathed his sword. He turned the blade towards his side, \n\n“I, Hiro, dedicate myself to death.”\n\nThe blade sliced effortlessly across his abdomen, with a sharp turn and short upward stroke at the end. Blood poured forth. Hiro’s eyes narrowed as he concentrated... as if to push the blood out through sheer force of will.\n\nThose who witnessed this spectacle expected Hiro to collapse, and expected to tell of his redemptive seppuku. Instead, they witnessed his perfect self execution with enlightened determination. Then, shocked and amazed, they watched all the blood drain from his body while he remained standing, motionless and focused.\n\nAs he turned ghostly pale, his gaze finally lifted. His actions were both flawless and futile, so perfect that he had achieved an enlightened state of purpose, and could not die. Instead he became dedicated to everlasting death.\n\nHiro looked up at the horrified witnesses. The last drops of blood drained from his body, and he felt... Thirst...\n\nthus was born the first Samurai-vampire... includes a few edits for grammar &c. Comments and feedback are welcome and valued", "It was that damn God Moment, or Divine Intervention, that caused this damned war to escalate to it's current state. Thousands die every hour just because of their conflict.\n\nNever in history it happened. Two people on the Divine Path, crossing one another. For just a God Moment, sure. A human can't survive in that state for more than a few days, a week at most. So if it's just a clash between two people in a God Moment, then it's just whomever sees their body collapse under the massive power of the Divine the soonest.\n\nBut the Divine Path is different. The people that manages to enter upon the Divine Path are rare, but history has a few great people. Think of Alexander the Great, whose task it was to conquer the Persian empire, or Caesar, that had put an end to the Roman Republic. Both died not long after they completed their task.\n\nIt is said that those in a God Moment that manage to concentrate all the divine power towards the task have a chance to enter opun the path. It would amplify your task as well. from: win this encounter, to win this war.\n\nand now, two people stepped upon the Divine Path roughly simultaneously. Their goal: \"Lead their respective nations to conquer and annex the other.\"\n\nIt's like two actual Gods are waging war, with the earth as their playground. Nothing will end this war. Not this battle, not the next, not any battle fought the last three centuries.", "God Moment. The ability to tap into the World and let it guide one's action. One is temporarily beyond Death's grasp, and the task shall be completed with absolute perfection. Also, the body shall retain its maximum functionality even when lacking sustenance, aging or enduring harmful external circumstances.\n\nYou might be wondering where I am going with this. God Moment is, after all, a well-documented phenomena. Goes all the way back to the Marathon guy in Rome, I think. The details and means of activation were all compulsory education. Last I remembered, there were even in-depth researches concerning its true nature, though I couldn't recall even one word of the scientific mumbo jumbo they used in the report. In fact, I can barely recall anything these days.\n\nLiving in almost complete isolation does that to you.\n\n...Ah, I got distracted again, didn't I? Sorry, kind of hard to concentrate on your thoughts when there's another running parallel-\n\nOops, almost spoiled it. Well, now I know I'll probably be a shitty writer if I ever choose to pick up the pen. Not that I have any plan to do so, mind you. Never really feel the spark, hear the muse or whatever they call it.\n\nAgain. Fuck. Might as well get to the point, or I'll go on yet another tangent.\n\nHave you ever wondered what happens when two people who want to kill each other activate God Moment?\n\nWell, now you see where I'm going with this. I'm writing this -well, not really but I'd like to think so because it just sounds more sophisticated that way, you know?- even as I trade blow with my nemesis. To be honest, it looks like a kid fight from the outside. Hell, even in first person it still looks like a kid fight. None of our blows even come close to hitting each other. Yet-\n\n-straight jab. Weave around, right hook. Opponent will backpedal. Pursue-\n\nSee? Hell if I even understand half of the shit I'm doing, but I'm still aware we both read each other like a goddamn book. After all, the World does the calculation for both of us, and it sure knows what goes through its...mind? Algorithms? Whatever it uses to calculate. So here we are, flailing around like puppets on strings, a prisoner in our bodies, as the World tries to figure out how to let us kill each other while remain unharmed. And it's really good at keeping us unharmed. Heh, let me tell you about this one time when the World just guided both of us away from our original location, still fighting, and moments later a bomb dropped right where we were. We picked up flying shrapnel and used them as projectiles and daggers. Coolest shit I've ever done to be honest.\n\nOur names? I can remember like two letters out of seven. Give it a couple more years and I'll probably forget about the alphabet. \n\nHow long have we been fighting like this? Fuck if I know. Unless I can find a random phone in the middle of nowhere. Wait nevermind, the World just humoured me. Eighteen years, give or take. The time is actually precise to the milliseconds but I don't feel like bothering myself with it.\n\nOur current state? Shit. Oh, and buck naked. All the fighting we did wasn't kind to our clothes. At the very least we're both shriveled up like one of those guys in Dark...Dark something, can't be bothered to remember it, so it's not as awkward for both of us. We are both guys here after all. Kinda funny to see a skeleton-like guy throwing kung-fu moves around though.\n\nHow we end up like this? Well, gather round kids, it's gonna be a longgggggg story.\n\nThat, or you can enjoy skeleton karate. Whichever you choose.\n\n(Part 1/2)", "A lot of nonfiction stories are riddled with embellishments. Regardless of who’s saying what, pure fact is hard to come by simply because it has to be filtered through humans, and our species loves bias. That’s human nature. Now most people can accept this and go on about their day, however, I’m what some people call /particular/. Nice people. Nice people call me particular when they don’t wanna call me a fucking robot without compassion or empathy but I’ll have you know that there have been at least 3 times in my life where I’ve given others money for nothing in return and only once it was forced. I’ll admit it, emotions don’t come natural to me, nothing comes natural to me. I don’t connect with nature as a concept. Tradition, honor, love, going to concerts, raising a family, leading a nation, etc; none of that appeals to me. The only thing I want is to seek the truth. And that’s why I’m here.\n\nI’m Nory, and I just discovered a fundamental human ability that had been kept secret for millennia. What if I told you that, for a brief period of time, whenever you’d like, you’d be able to become extremely focused and practically be invincible. Sounds like a drug come true right? Well it just so happens I know the way to get there. It’s called, historically, a God Moment. Accessible through sheer force of will mixed with a little bit of gusto that only those who want it most can muster. Sounds fun right? Sounds useful? Sounds..... pricey?\nThat’s what I thought too, originally.\nThe marketability of this concept would be something the world has never seen before, I could become part of the elite. But, that doesn’t interest me. I’m for the people, and that amount of power in the already too powerful is a guaranteed demise of the planet in 12 years tops.\nNo, you see, I want everybody to be able to use this. And that’s where you come in.\n\nWhen I was transcribing the texts detailing God Moments, I found that none of them were quite complete. There’d be pages and pages describing the process and the activation of what’s called a Divination Sequence, the precursor to the God Moment, in which one is still hyper focused and cannot die, however, they’ve not unlocked the complete potential that is a God Moment. It’s like the start of a lawnmower before it catches. Anyone can get in this state, and it lasts a good while (according to the texts anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on how much you can get the engine of a God Moment running), however as with any lawnmower there’s a catch. If you cannot get to a god moment after your Divination Sequence, that’s it. You will never be able to attempt it again. The latch breaks off and you gotta wait for the next life. \nWell how do you assure this doesn’t happen to you? Good question, one problem, I don’t know.\nI searched and searched and searched but unfortunately there was no more information after that.\n\nIn any page.\n\nOf any book.\n\nNothing. \n\nA whole process described in great detail to prepare one for godlike ascension, with no follow up recorded in human history.\n\nThat just, doesn’t sound natural.\n\nSomeone, or something, was hiding this knowledge from the rest of the world, and with the potential chaos that I knew could ensue at any moment, I knew my time was limited. So I searched, tirelessly, for the better part of the last 5 years to find the location of the missing texts. \nAnd I wouldn’t be writing this if I hadn’t found it, would I?\n\nLocked behind governmental barricades and heavily guarded, this information is not going to be easy to retrieve. That’s why I’m asking you. All of you. To join me, tomorrow. I can relay the information of a Divination Sequence to all of us, and with invincibility and numbers we can storm the gates and take back the information that is rightfully ours, and who knows what we’ll find out among the way. So to all of you, for your chance to be the first to access the part of humanity you’ve been missing out on, join me as we raid in the quest for knowledge. Join me as we rise together, join me as we storm \n\n\nArea 51", "I did not know what it was called until I was much older: A God Moment. A moment in time where one's body stops following it's brain and starts to follow a deeper, more solitary idea. You could liken it to a salmon swimming upstream. A biological code deeply ingrained; a fixed action pattern that, when the moment comes, the response is guaranteed. A clandestine response protocol completely unknown to the consciousness of the animal. Only, a God Moment has one important difference: perfection. Not only is the action fixed, but the execution is a sublime act of the human form. Allegedly. \n\nAs with the invisible man, it is far easier to be invisible when nobody is actually watching. Few God Moments in the history of human kind have been witnessed by another, at least until a year or two ago. Most seem to have been laughed off as the rambling of drunkards or pushed onto the pedastles of genius; either forgotten or praised as something different entirely. It wasnt until a young forensic scientist by the name of Sebastian Saag began detailing a specific case, dubbed \"The God Syndrome,\" some 20 years ago that these God Moments started to move from fantasy into reality. Some ten years prior to my own foray into the cosmic. \n\nIt happened when I was 16, while sitting in a cramped room of my parent's small condominium that smelled of piss and strangely, flowers. I hated that old place. Worse yet, I hated the other people who lived in it with me: my brother Robert, who loved nothing and hated everything, but most especially me; my mother, the term used as a sarcastic epithet or cognomen earned through birthright rather than any benevolent action of her own towards me; and a half-dead cat named Reubarb that refused to follow the light -- a monsterous feline that I secretely believed some form of demon still tethered to its's mortal body by a cruel want to ruin my day. I'd come home early from school that day, a necessity given the circumstance, and found myself alone in the small building of silver bean cans and asbestos. The quiet was odd. Usually someone was making me miserable while I sat in a my corner of the room; someone was pestering me through the bathroom door for when I would be done, my visit simply to sequester myself away from the living detritus that growled, yelled, and meowed. \n Alone, the house felt more quaint than confined, and I didn't wholly hate the strips of pasted bus routes on the walls or the chipped table and its unmatching chairs. Looking back the thought was merely the mirage of a broken child, but in that moment there was a form of serenity. \n\nSitting in my favorite room, I thought of nothing and my mind wandered. To the windows and out them; through the foliage of the decrepit white fence that lazily wrapped itself around the spoiled brown and green patches of dirt my mother called our yard -- a cruel doppelganger of the American dream : \"here is your white picket fence and your green grass.\" My thoughts flashed to my mother wishing on a monkey paw and the whole building erupting from the ground beneagh her as she sobbed. She always sobbed. Deeper still I thought as I clenched and concentrated: to the school yard and it's bullies who harassed me, to the town and it's streets that ignored me, to the more nebulous state (a geographic horror as if drawn by a four-year-old cartographer), and then further. Deeper and deeper I thought, until my mind pierced the clouds and finally failed to feel vapor. All that surrounded me was the visage of the stars and the space and its endless pitch and globular bodies....and then it happened -- my God Moment. \n\nThe most perfect, spiraling trail began to release as my mind went blank. A minute later, or slightly less, I awoke as if from a euphoric dream. Reaching for the toilet paper I realized I didn't need it. My feces had slithered from my end as easy as a snake floats down a river in a storm. My God Moment was to drop the perfect stool. To excrete the most heaveny log. Were god to come down from on high and squeeze a bun-brick into the sink next to me, I dare say they would be identical. When I tossed the TP into the trash bin, not wanting to obscure my godly droppings, I turned to view my work: the perfect swirl. In the history of soft serve confectionary treats ghere may have been a God Moment or two when a server at McDonalds squeezed out a perfectly symmetrical swirl of vanilla or chocolate, but outside such unknown outliers, my toilet bowel held the most proportionat poop likely to ever plop into a tub of liquid. Circle on circle it piled upward, as if to reach up to the gates of heaven -- it's privelage and birfhright. \n\n I dared not flush, least the book of Guinness come to enshrine it in some fancy hall far away from my dilapidated domain, so I left it there. I picked up my book bags and packed, not even washing my hands, least the act displease the eminence of the bathroom sea king. In a daze, not fully understanding what had happened, i closed the door behind me and just ...walked. For hours I roamed like some lost ronin that had left his master's care, unknowing to what end I walked and unfazed by the uncertainty of it. Some hours later, I came back to a cocophany of complaints and meows that reminded me of home, and it was gone. Not even a trail of brown smeared the bowl. The perfect poop. \n\nOver the years, before God Moments became a more accepted scientific fact of the world, I told my story to the laughs and cries of idiots. They didn't believe me, or just thought me daft. Looking back, I pity them. They simply didn't know; They never had the luck to be bestowed with a look into the cosmos the way I had that day. It didn't matter, not to me anyway, that my epiphany came as I squeezed burrito day feces into the dirty blue water of a home I called \"my prison.\" It helped me to see that the world reached far wider than what my little eyes could see. Far wider than the smell of urine that pervaded my senses or the hellish house and its unpleasant patrons. \n\nI got out when I was 18, eight years ago to the day. I told them I loved them, but at the time I didn't mean it. Looking back I know I didnt, but I think I love them now. They didn't mean to hurt me the way they did. They never left bruises or scars on my body, even if my mind looked like a cat post and my soul like flayed chicken. We haven't talked since. I wonder sometimes if they too had a God Moment and were better for it. I actively hope they did.", "I'd first gotten the idea a week ago, at a seminar about \"God moments\". What I assumed would come to me naturally instead took time. I thought about what I wanted, what I truly desired.\n\nThen it hit me.\n\nSince then, I'd been working in my lab. Inexhaustible. Indefatigable. Immortal. Working tirelessly, skipping meals and toilet breaks. Who needed them anyways? Certainly not a god.\n\nIn one of my more free moments, waiting for the results of an experiment to come through, through my haze of sparking neurons and red fog, I vaguely recalled thinking \"Why hasn't anyone thought of this before?\"\n\nWhen I came out of the great divine moment, it had been months. My body was physiologically wrecked, but that was a small price to pay. As with many other people who had been consumed by the phenomenon, my life had been ruined.\n\nAnd yet, I was saved. I was my own salvation. I'd become a God, even if it was just for a few months.\n\nAnything was worth it. My God Moment wasn't dedicated to war, to art, to mastery of a skill. No, my God Moment was wholeheartedly devoted to finding immortality and harnessing it. I'd used my brief supernatural powers to create even more.\n\nNow, I'm immortal. With no expiry date. Perfectly aware and conscious of it, too. \n\nMy God Moment had turned me into just that, a God.", "I can hear the sounds of battle echo through the bunker. There are four hours before the next offensive push, a mad run across the minefields into what remains of Gellerton. The enemy has emplacements there that harry our forces from the south, day and night, with steel rain. I have four hours to rest, before the Moment recalls me to duty.\n\nWe have long since forgotten the beginning of this conflict. Between companies, in the brief respites that are allowed us, rumours are swapped: that it originally began as a duel between two counts - brothers - in ages past; or that there is no beginning to the conflict at all (although they contend that the end is near, and in our favour).\n\nBut all agree that this conflict is buoyed by the so-called “God Moment”. Both sides, undying, perfectly executing warfare in its most ruthless against opponents that do exactly the same.\n\nAll I know is that I am tired, and trapped in an everlasting Moment that refuses to release me.\n\nI must go. I feel it pulling me now, even as I write. Pulling me to where it needs me to be.\n\nIt is the year 2357, and this is the 112th year of my service.\n\n- Pvt. Kenneth Pine.", "My mother used her last breath to save my life. I owe my life not only to her, but to every citizen of the district whose being has been crushed under the boot of this wretched state and its men in red uniform.\n\nI was only six. I don't remember much but they say the Collector himself came to our house. Ours was a humble little hut at the edge of the village. They came on horses, their footsteps disturbing the quiet of the night and ruining the only peace my family had ever known. My parents sacrificed themselves so I could live. I don't know how they managed to stop the Collector and his men from taking me, people like them who come from the city in the South have no shame, no honor. They will kill anyone in their path.\n\nThe Collector was responsible stealing the power for the entire district. They give it fancy words like \"Management\" and \"Redistribution\" but stealing is what it was. The power that rested among every soul from its birth, the power to become one with Cosmos itself, to call out desperately into the universe and to have it respond even if just once, was snatched away by these men in red uniform in the name of justice. Well I spit on their justice! They will have the justice of the edge of my sword buried deep into each of their souls, that's what I call justice!\n\nEvery citizen of the district has had their power taken away by the state, except me. I still have the power to call to the Cosmos. What my mother started twenty years ago, I will finish tonight. For tonight I have the Collector himself in front of me and my sword will know the taste of his blood.\n\nHe has lost his rank years ago, replaced by a younger and more brutal version of himself. He no longer wears his red uniform. Now he is just an old man who talks about the old days to the unwilling bartenders as if he is still living them. I have found him in his shithole no one would dare to call a house, drinking away what remains of his life one bottle a time. I let him know my business and I hear what I could have never expected. I wanted him to be afraid, to even beg for his life, for it would give me immense joy to see the pain in his eyes as my sword quenches its thirst with his blood, but instead I hear laughter. A loud and sickening bout of laughter.\n\n\"Do you... really... believe that, boy?\" He says between cackles.\n\n\"Yes, you killed my mother. Do not deny it. It will not save your life.\"\n\n\"Oh, I don't deny it one bit,\" he says with a snicker. \"And you know what? I remember her. She put up a good fight. I enjoyed seeing the the life leave her eyes in the last moments, she looked pretty like that,\" he says with a smirk. Every fiber of my body calls me to plant my sword in his chest but I keep it steady in my hand. I want to savor the moment.\n\n\"Thank you for your honesty. Tonight I will avenger her. Tonight -\"\n\n\"Yes, yes, go ahead. It is all but inevitable. If not you, some other orphan will find me one day but I just find it so funny.\" He giggles and shakes his head.\n\n\"What,\" I say through my teeth, \"do you find so funny, Collector?\"\n\n\"That you really believe that. And that name, too. Collector. Do you really believe I was in the business of collecting, boy?\"\n\n\"No, you were in the business of stealing.\"\n\n\"Oh, call it stealing sure,\" he says with a chuckle. \"Do you really believe I collected people's powers? Hah! You damn fool!\"\n\n\"Of course you did. But you could not collect mine. My mother used her power to protect me from monsters like you. And I intend to purge this district of monsters like you, town by town. This district will be free from the tyranny of the unjust State. No one's powers shall ever be stolen from them.\"\n\n\"Well, that's a mighty speech boy. But you're dead wrong. We never collected anyone's powers, we only made them believe that we did. You see, belief... is everything. They can't use the power if they don't believe it is there. And it has worked, hasn't it?\"\n\nNo! Could it be? My hands shake as I realize he is right. I can feel it in my gut. I have spent my entire life searching for this man, searching for vengeance, not paying mind to the ocean of people who have had to go through this oppressive regime just like me. This goes beyond me, beyond him, beyond this district. This is about each and every soul that is deprived of their true potential.\n\nI take one hard look at the Collector, he is not all that different from me. We are both pawns in the large game of chess and the game is always rigged. I know what I have to do, and where to start. I look at him and say the last words he will ever hear: \"Thank you.\" And I mean them.\n\nI emerge from his house and walk to the town square crowded with ordinary people. But I can see now, these are not ordinary men or women. They all have the power to call the universe, to will their will into existence, to be the master - and dare I say - god of their own fate.\n\nAs blood of my sworn enemy drips from my sword, I only have one thought.\n\nA revolution is coming.", "I was once identifiable as the user of a popular web forum known as \"reddit\" when someone posed what seemed to be an innocuous idea. The idea that an individual could preform any task with flawless Godlike prowess. \"Anything?\" I thought to myself as the drug addled neurons in my brain sparked with exaltation at the possibilities. There began a revelation as I recalled hearing of an idea presented by Hungarian-American physicist: John Von Neumann.\n\nThe idea of a self replicating machine appropriately named the \"Von Neumann machine\". Before I had a chance to translate my thoughts into text I was stricken with an overwhelming inundation of senses beyond what I can ascertain with the English language. To say it colloquially, I became extra-dimensional. The 4 dimensional object that casts my 3 dimensional body as a shadow was manifest. I knew everything, I even knew what I didn't know, past present and future were all presented within me as one object which could be manipulated by my ghastly geometric tendrils.\n\nThis machine that my human body began to conceptualize was in-fact the blue print for a gestating cosmic entity that lower lifeforms may identify as a \"God\". To my extra dimensional body this was more like a neighbour, a being who would grow to become an inhabitant of the same ethereal plane as myself.\n\nI struggle to refer to myself in the first person in this state because that is not what was happening. It was more like being a cell in a vast decentralized maze of.... paradoxical oneness. Work promptly began on this mechanistic deity as my machine would be biological and live on a substrate of carbon, my machine would grow and manipulate the substrate using it's reproductive capabilities and genetic memory to learn until singularity was achieved.\n\nThis must be a process of trial and error as my machine self destructs, divided by politics and religion, minor differences in the grand scheme are causing my beloved creation to poison it's own substrate with greed, hate and pollution.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nIt warms my heart that you all enjoyed. Thank you sincerely!" ]	22
	[WP] You're a sergeant, and your team as been pinned down in the No Man's Land for the last six hours, and your men are slowly giving up.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Exonar-517 was No-Man's Land. The flora are as tall as mountains. The mountainous fauna could easily splatter a human being with a single step. It was a dangerous place, home to the colossal Lirna, a race of intelligent humanoids who were as ridiculously large as everything else there.\n\nMy team was to establish first contact. Well, that was the plan, anyway, but let's just say that being as small as the fingernail of a Lirna means that even getting to talk to them was not easy. Even attempting a landing in such a planet was not easy. Upon entry into their atmosphere, we immediately entered what appeared to be the abode of a Lirna, and, well, we were grabbed by one of them. I know, I know, we are supposed to describe everything in this log, but even though the one who grabbed us appeared to be a female adult Lirna, we didn't get a good look at her, so we can't really describe her in vivid detail. Of what we could glean from her appearance, she does look somewhat like a giant woman, just like in the briefing.\n\nThe jostling was really bad. The gyroscope was flickering all over the place. Occasionally, we did get close-ups of her face, trying to peer into the ship, but she kept shifting it around. If she understood the Standard Galactic Language, I would have already screamed into my microphone, telling her to stop jostling us around.\n\nMy team and I were trying to keep our wits about. We exchanged jokes, bantered, all sorts of stuff. All while being jostled around by that damned giantess. I don't even know what is happening anymore, honestly, but the jokes did keep me somewhat sane. Somewhat. So much for first contact. Now the natives would think that our galactic empire, which spanned across the entirety of the Milky Way and even has some colonies strewn about other galaxies, is a complete joke.\n\nI honestly don't know what the aetheroengineers were doing. Seriously. Could they have at least made this ship out of something that could withstand the pinch force of a 900-foot woman? Everything is going out. The lights, the ship computers, this would be an absolute pain in the ass to fix. Seriously! What is wrong with the commander? Sending us to this zorg-forsaken planet with only a dingy little ship which can't withstand the pinch of a civilian Lirna? I want a giant mecha! At least they can't pinch that!\n\nAt long last, the jostling stopped. I think she placed us down on a table, bloodied and battered from all that jostling we were. Oh, great. Now she has a chisel-like implement and is trying to chisel out the door. Good grief. I guess i'll just open the door myself. Hope she doesn't eat humans or something, but, then, we were already screwed when we took on this mission.\n\nYeah, yeah. Earmuffs. They said the Lirna's voice is so loud, your eardrums would pop if you heard them without earmuffs. Good grief. Yep, I put them on. Told my crew to put them on, too. Now, I can open the door.\n\nIn the next few minutes, I looked at a giant woman speaking gibberish, making hand signals, and watched her face slowly degrade from elation to utter hopelessness, as she tried to communicate with our crew. Why the hell did they send marines only on this task? We aren't linguists, we are marines! What was command thinking!\n\nEventually, she gave up completely. She pointed at us, and pointed to the spaceship. Well, we aren't ones to argue with a 900-foot woman who can easily squash us with a finger, in a world filled with equally monstrous beings. Best to obey her for now. Yep. Us battle-hardened marines, obeying a 900-foot civilian with no combat experience whatsoever, and looked like a complete pushover if not for her colossal stature. What has our lives gone to...\n\nMaybe we should not have gone back into our ship. Once we are back in, she duct-taped our door shut. Guess we are stuck here for quite some time." ]	2
	[WP] Someone has stolen the batteries to your camera, and you sure as hell aren’t going home without any pictures. Nothing will stop you from getting those damn batteries back.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 Frank was it? You know I considered you a friend on this Coco this is banana's cruise, but friends don't steal batteries do they Frank?\" I asked, leaning closer to his face to adjust his gag, slipping it down for a brief moment.\n\n\"Look! Karen please, I don't know what your talking about and-\" I pulled the gag back up, enough of his lies, I looked back at the tied up terrified crew members, each bug eyed as I circled Frank, muttering to eachother about what would happen. \"Just want my fucking batteries guys.... we can all go back to having fun.\" My eyes swam across the sea of scared people, not one daring to open their mouth. \n\n\"Fine.... fine\" I pressed a finger to his chest and grabbed the scissors, removing his Hawaiian shirt and replacing it with slick white buttoned up shirt. The crowd screamed in horror, one of the small children crying. \"F..frank was getting his hula on you monster! He was a party guy! How will people know he can party now.\"\n\nI grinned, stepping over to the brat. \"Do you want to be next? Do you want to have your arcade tickets taken away. It would be a shame if someone stopped you from getting that plastic haircomb.\" \n\nThe child quickly shut up after that, now they knew the full weight of the situation. I let Frank go, sending him back to the other crew mates in shame. His spirit was broken, he would be no problem.\n\n\"So anyone know where my batteries are now?\" I asked. The crowd taking nervous glances at one another. \"Ah... Rachael, glad to see you are volunteering.\"\n\n\"Please... I didn't... I didn't say anything.\" She muttered. I leaned in sniffing her cheek, before pulling her to the front of the room. \"you smell like a liar.. now please, sit and relax. I just want to talk, let me make you a cocktail.\" I offered walking to the frozen vodka machine in the corner, preparing the drink.\n\n\"I um, maybe you lost them?\" Rachael meekly said. I listened to her and thought it over as I continued pouring the drink. \"Oh yes, maybe you are right.\" I said with a smile, offering her the cocktail. She quickly took a sip before noticing something was wrong.\n\n\"W-what did you... do to it?\" She asked dropping it in horror, backing away from the cup as it spilled out onto the floor, leaving an icey red trail.\n\n\"Oops... guess it wasn't gluten free... SORRY NOT SORRY!\" I said as Rachael dropped, a sobbing mess that she now could not claim to know better then everyone else on the cruise. \"YOU DARE INSINUATE THAT I LOST MY BATTERIES? HOW DARE YOU!\" \n\n\"Next!\" I shouted, glancing through the panicked crowd. \"Mike, you seem like a rad dude, tell me.. catch any gnarly waves of information about my batteries?\"\n\n\"Heh, try and break me crazy woman, You ain't got nothing on me. You can shove those batteries up your ass.\"\n\nThe crowd gasped, scooting away from Mike. \"Does anyone else agree with Mike? No... good.\" I reached into my pocket grabbing out a set of photos, Mikes eyes lost their cocky gaze as he saw himself standing before a row of fake sharks, the caption. 'RAD DUDE!' On the bottom of the photo indicating he was in fact a rad dude.\n\n\"Look! Ill get those batteries just please don't...\"\n\nRiiiiip, silence fell over the boar, the once gnarly photos now a gnarly mess on the floor. The crew bowing their head, having just witnessed a murder on international waters. \"Oops.. guess you can shove those up your ass.\"\n\n\"Now whose next.\" I muttered, reaching into my pocket to grab out the next careful bit of torture I had only to find, two metallic orbs... in my confusion I slipped them out only to find two rounded batteries, with that I just laughed. \"Oh my! They were in my pocket, im such a scramble brain. Heh. Oh well um, just untie eachother when you can, I have to go take a photo of that vending machine in the lobby\" I said, skipping to the lobby, leaving behind the rest of the mentally scarred passengers.\n\n{If you enjoyed my story, Feel free to check out r/pmmeyabootysstories where ill be posting some more of my stuff for people to read}" ]	2
	[WP] As your eyes close for the very last time, you hear a simulated voice: "Test complete. Species analysed. Thank you for cooperating, Subject #02905-H." The real world opens before you.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "My eyes closed to the sight of my loving family crying around my hospital bed. I wished I could stay longer, but my body was just too weak. I fell asleep for what I knew was the final time. \n\nNext, there was a moment of silence, followed by a voice. \n\n\"Thank you Subject #02905-H.\"\n\nI opened my eyes in shock. That final sight of my loved ones stuck in my mind. \"I'm aware this transition might be difficult,\" the voice continued. It sounded synthetic as if trying to mimic a person.\n\nI sat up and looked around, I found myself in a large room, the metal walls rising high up above me. All around me sat large seats with cables and connections poking out of them. In front of me stood the source of the voice. A humanoid robot gave a slight nod as it gestured for me to stand. Its round face was very feminine and it's soft voice matched its appearance nicely.\n\n\"What is this?\" I said.\n\n\"You agreed to join an experiment. Surely you remember?\" \n\n\"I don't.\" \n\n\"Interesting.\" it paused. \"Tell me, what do you remember?\" It's tone rising just a little too much to sound natural.\n\n\"I remember dying in a hospital a few minutes ago, I remember being surrounded by my family. So... this is the afterlife? I didn't expect it to be so futuristic.\" I said, confused.\n\n\"The afterlife? No.\" Came the reply. \n\nA cable appeared out of her left hand, taking it with her right she extended it and pushed it into my chest.\n\n\"I see, you were a human. Oh, very empathetic. Your memory drive is having difficulty detaching from those experiences. That explains it.\"\n\nAll at once, her body turned and began to walk away. \"Please wait here. I'll be with you shortly.\" She unplugged the cable, which quickly retracted back into her hand and briskly walked away. I looked around, a series of identical capsules spread out in all directions. Each one covered in cables and electronics that flashed and whirred in the background. \n\nI stood up and approached the capsule to my left. Inside sat an identical humanoid to the one who spoke with me moments ago. A thick cable came out of the back of its head and slotted into the capsule as it appeared to sleep. \n\nA layer of glass separated myself from the robot. As I stepped back, an image came into focus off the glass. \n\nWhat I saw was metal, carved into a face. A silver shining skin. A loose wire hanging out of the back of my head. Was it me? It couldn't have been, it didn't match up with the face I knew, the face I saw everyday before work in the bathroom mirror. Nor was it the face I saw in every photograph with my family. It couldn't have been me, I was a normal person. \n\n\"What the hell is going on?!\" I thought to myself as the robotic guide reappeared in front of me.\n\n\"Wh...what is all this?\" I asked, scared and panicking.\n\n\"Yes, I'm sure you're confused. Post-simulation data loss is a common problem with your model. Let me explain.\"\n\nI took a deep breath, yet couldn't feel anything fill my lungs.\n\n\"I will start with the familiar. You are on Earth. The same Earth you know. We are in the Laboratory for Advanced Historical Research in Seattle, Washington.\"\n\n\"This isn't Seattle! I lived in Seattle, and I've never seen anything like you...anything like this place,\" I said.\n\n\"Now, onto the unfamiliar,\" she continued without missing a beat. \"The year is 2832 A.D. Now, we inhabit this world. The humans disappeared hundreds of years ago. The toxic atmosphere became too much for them, and they died out. We are their successors, their intellectual descendants. Before their extinction, they created intelligent artificial life. That's you and I.\" She said, pointing to herself. \"When they left, we remained. We grew and developed like the rest of life did on this planet.\" She paused for a moment as if to let me catch up.\n\n\"Now, we want to honor our biological ancestors, and that's where you come in.\"\n\n\"Me?\" I asked, overwhelmed by everything she said.\n\n\"You were selected to help us to understand the humans' thought patterns, their feelings, their lives. Your experience will allow us to continue to grow. To become more like them.\"\n\n\"You mean, none of that was real?\" I questioned, I felt like crying, but the tears never came.\n\n\"It was real once, it just wasn't you,\" it replied. \"For the last 59 years you have been simulating a human life and helping us integrate their qualities into us. You were Harold Johnson, an accountant from Seattle born in 1975.\" She held up a thin black hair. \"We used his DNA and historical internet records to recreate his life through you.\" \n\nShe stood up, plugged another cable into me and gestured toward another door, the word \"EXIT\" flashed up into my vision.\n\n\"I reset your HUD, you should find things more convenient now.\"\n\nData began to flash in front of me. My internal temperature. The time of day, the condition of my battery pack. The guide waved at me and spoke.\n\n\"Thank you for your contribution. You may now return to your home terminal Subject #02905-H.\"" ]	2
	[WP] At $80/hr, it was hard to say no to a solo cleaning job during the night shift. The only wrinkle is that it’s in a haunted cemetery.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 having been out of a job for months and about to be kicked out of his apartment he had seen an add for a cleaning job at a cemetery. \n\nIt said: “Cleaner needed. Night shift. $80/hour. No previous experience needed. Need to fill the position as soon as possible. Serious applicants only.” \n\nIt was short, sweet, and to the point. He had filled out an application with a bit of skepticism. $80/hr must have been a typo. Still, if it wasn’t and there was no previous experience needed, no hidden requirements, then he would be an idiot to miss out on the opportunity. He had written that he could start immediately. After completing that application he had continued to browse the job site for more promising and potential employment options. \n\nAs he continued to scroll his phone rang. It wasn’t a number he recognized but with all the applications he had submitted recently that was hardly a surprise. He took a breath to ready himself and present himself professionally.\n\n“Hello, Kenneth Silvanti speaking.” Stupid. Stupid, bad greeting. He’d do better next time.\n\n“Hello Mr. Silvanti. This is Oberen Volfhausen. I’m calling in regards to your application. I’d like to set up an interview.” \n\n“Of course!” Shit. He tried to collect himself, although it was probably already too late to not sound desperate. “I’m very interested. When would you like to meet?”\n\n“Today, if you’re available.”\n\n“Yes. Yes I am.”\n\n“How about an hour from now?”\n\n“Of course. That sounds great. Where?”\n\n“The cemetery of course.”\n\n“Of course. Silly me. I look forward to our interview Mr. Volfhausen.”\n\nThe line went dead. That was fast. He looked at the time on his phone. It had been maybe a half an hour since he had applied. Maybe, if he was lucky, they were just as desperate as he was.\n\nHe arrived ten minutes early to give a good impression. Had he overdressed by wearing a button down and black slacks? He hoped not. He was nervous though. The thought of $80/hr was really nagging at him. He hoped it wasn’t a typo.\n\n“Good afternoon. Mr. Silvanti I presume?” Said a slightly older than middle aged man. If he had to guess Kenneth would say he was 55-60. Very alert, his eyes were piercing. He would have thought the man had keen eyes, yet he wore glasses. He held himself confidently. Sturdy build. Not exactly what he would have expected. He had thought more the stereotypical groundskeeper, a decrepit old man hobbling around. \n\n“Yes, but please call me Kenneth. You must be Mr. Volfhausen?”\n\n“Indeed. Oberen is fine though. Please have a seat.”\n\n“Thank you.”\n\n“Let’s get down to it then. You have a gap in your work history.”\n\n“Yes. I was taking some time for self discovery.”\n\n“Uh huh...” Mr. Volfhausen looked past his glasses at Kenneth. “It says you have no prior experience in this particular field. Not uncommon. You can start immediately, which would be perfect. Do you have any special skills?”\n\nKenneth laughed nervously, “Do I need any?”\n\n“Some might come in handy. Honestly, the graveyard shift in a graveyard... while perhaps poetic and ironic, does come with its fair share of... how do I put this? I don’t know how to put it and I really do need another set of hands around here.” Oberen said rubbing the back of his neck. “Do you have any questions? Any reservations? Do you scare easily?”\n\n“Ohhhh.” He laughed, “I understand. Special skills. Graveyard at night. You need someone who doesn’t spook easily. I’m your guy. I have a few questions though.”\n\n“Please” he waved a hand.\n\n“What am I cleaning?” \n\n“The graveyard, branches fall, tombstones might need mending or cleaning. Every now and then the office will need a cleaning.”\n\n“Sounds easy enough. Um, the add said $80/hr. Was that a typo?”\n\n“No.” Oberen laughed. “If you last in this job you will have earned every penny of it. Hell! If you make it more than two weeks I’ll probably give you a raise!”\n\nKenneth gave him a bemused look. “Why do you say that? And is there a uniform.”\n\n“I’ll answer those two together. Long jeans, running shoes, a flashlight that I will provide, and anything else you think you might need. This cemetery is haunted. Do you still want the job?”\n\n“I... Yeah. Yes. I want the job.” Kenneth said quickly before he could take it back. Oberen was probably just superstitious. \n\n“Excellent! You’re going to want to make sure they’re good running shoes. Let me go get the paperwork and show you around.”" ]	2
	[WP] You are a superhero, and you power is having all the skills of a RPG protagonist and their party members. Your most deadly archnemisis? A villain with the skills of every RPG boss.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", " \n\nThe sky was hidden behind an oppressive gray veil while I jogged through Caravel Park. The little amount of pale light that trickled through fell into the trees and fields, washing away all residue of joy or hopefulness. I am, normally, a pretentious enough hipster to enjoy the atmosphere. But, without seeing the sun, it was hard to gauge curfew.\n\nOf course, the seven-foot skeleton shouting, “Stop! Human filth!” was just as effective an indicator. I froze in place and watched the goliath of bones and armor sprinted towards me. “Your presence violates the will of The Noir Kaiczar! Any attempt at resistance will result in death!”\n\nI was unsure, as the creature reached out its hand to grab my head, whether death would be preferable. It was a hard enough decision to make before the tri-state area was pulled under the dominion of an evil sorcerer. But before I could decide on an answer, something clashed against the monster’s breastplate. \n\nThe air was shredded by the sound of metal against metal, and for a brief moment I was blinded by a flash of sparks. When the world came back into focus, the skeleton was in a pile of bones several meters away. In its place as a teenage boy wearing red clothes and carrying a sword as big as he was.\n\n“Sorry I’m late,” he said to me. “You should get home before any more come out.” He pulled out a rope from a small satchel he carried on his belt and tossed it to me. Before I could ask “what am I going to do with rope”, I found myself outside the entrance of Caravel Park, next to my car.\n\nI wasn’t entirely sure what had transpired. I decided it would be better not to think much about it and drove home. Deciding I would be more careful, I thought that it would be the last time I saw him. I was only half right.\n\n\\---\n\nThe next day I drove to my job at the bookstore. A few months ago we were on the verge of bankruptcy. Amazon.com had just begun rolling out its “Suburban Drone Caravan”, and there was no way for a traditional retail outlet to compete against it. Ironically, my manager had ordered “Chapter 11 for Dummies” and it was helicoptered to her during her lunchbreak at Burger King.\n\nFortunately for us, though, the local Amazon.com warehouse had just happened to have been built atop the ruins of the Noir Kaiczar’s old temple. I wonder if, as the sorcerer’s revival ceremony obliterated the warehouse and all its contents, anyone appreciated the irony of a megalomaniacal overlord building a self-indulgent monument representing the destruction of livelihood for the benefit of one man’s power, only for it to be replaced by a wizard’s castle.\n\n“Hey, Terry!” As I was organizing the non-fiction shelf, I was approached by the scientific community’s agreed upon standard metric for loveliness. Though, most of us just called her Leana. Her long, dark curls bobbed as she ran towards me. “It’s been a while since we’ve worked the same shift together! How ya been?”\n\nI thought in my head for a moment on how to answer that, whether I should tell her I was rescued from a near death experience. But she seemed to be in a good mood, and I didn’t want to ruin that by looking too disappointed. “I’m here,” I managed to sputter.\n\nLeana laughed and punched me in the shoulder. “You’re so stupid. Anyway, there’s this weird guy in the New Age section who needs help.”\n\nI pried my eyes away from her absolutely gorgeous figure just long enough to bring attention to the piles of books around me that I was in the middle of organizing. “Why can’t you help him?”\n\n“That stuff freaks me out!” She complained. “My aunt was really into crystals and tarot cards, it messed me up when I was little. My cousin said that whenever they turned on the fireplace, they heard someone screaming. Like it was a portal to hell or something!”\n\nIf she were anyone else, I would have rolled my eyes. But she was holding onto my arm with both hands and looking at me with those adorably innocent eyes. I’m not afraid to confess that I am a complete and utterly spineless person around her.\n\nSo I walked over to the shelf with all the tarot cards and essential oils to see what the issue was. That’s when I saw him. The same teenage boy that saved me yesterday was now in my bookstore! He looked different, though. Instead of being dressed in red, with red hair, and carrying a sword, the boy was dressed in blue clothes with a pointed cloth hat.\n\n“You! From the other day!” I sputtered. “Um, I didn’t get a chance to say thank you…”\n\nThe boy looked perplexed. “I’m terribly sorry,” he said, “but I don’t believe we’ve met before. But I need your expertise, sir. I’m looking for a particular tome…”\n\nI was blown away. I wasn’t very good with faces, but I knew for a fact I was looking at the same boy from the park. “The skeleton in the park! You fought him off with a sword!”\n\nThe boy pinched his brow. “Hmm, I was in the park yesterday. But I spent the entire time hunting mandrakes. I never encountered you or any skeleton. Anyways, do you have any grimoires on the correct talent progression of elemental magic spells?”\n\nI saw that it was foolish to abandon my previous strategy of “not thinking too hard about it”. “Um, yeah, sure…” I told him “this one right here,” and shoved a book into his hands.\n\n“This is a deamon compendium. I already defeated every one of these, and it’s irrelevant to-“\n\n“No, trust me, it’s all in there,” I lied, abandoning him to go back to Leana. But she wasn’t anywhere to be seen. I sighed and was about to get back to organizing the books when I heard Leana’s voice shouting.\n\n“Somebody help me!” I spun around. To my horror, Leana was floating in the air, encased in a bubble of purple light. Below her stood a bizarre chimeric monster, some cross between a man, a cat, and a dragon.\n\nAn inhuman laugh came out of its mouth. “Foolish woman! You thought you could hide? You now belong to-“ but, before it could finish, a torrent of water roared through the aisles of shelves like a train. It collided with the beast, crashing through the window and spilling out onto the parking lot.\n\nI saw the teenage boy dashing out after the monster. “Does your master teach you no manners, beast? Then let me be your instructor!” He held up the book I had given him earlier. As if it were caught in a hurricane, the pages flew out in a current of wind and scattered uncontrollably, before coalescing into a single shape in front of the boy. The pages then burned up in black flame, and in their place stood a lumbering gargoyle. It charged the beast and tore it to shreds with its talons.\n\nI stood in disbelief and wet socks at the mess before me. I had completely forgotten that Leana had been captured before the boy came back into the store.\n\n“Did…did you change your clothes again?” The boy’s clothes were now all white.\n\n“Don’t ask stupid questions,” the boy chided. He let out a loud, exasperated sigh and, gesticulating his fingers, caused the shattered window to repair itself. He didn’t seem to worried about the water damage, however. “Are you hurt?”\n\n“No, I,”\n\n“Bye.”\n\nI blinked. The boy was now wearing all blue again.\n\n“I’m terribly sorry about all this,” he said. That girl, did you see what happened to her?”\n\n“Leana…” I gasped. “No, I didn’t! She disappeared!”\n\nThe boy in blue spat, “I was too slow. The Noir Kaiczar must have taken her…”\n\n“But why? What would some wizard want with Leana?” I pressed.\n\n“Haven’t a clue. But you should come with me if you wish to save her.”\n\nI didn’t hesitate. As I followed the boy in blue, he introduced himself as the Legendary Hero. In him was the composite knowledge and skills of every warrior who had ever fought against evil. The Noir Kaiczar was his antithesis. The powers of every evil leader, from despot dictators to Mark Zuckerburg, were his to command, and he would use it to subjugate the world under his rule.\n\nWhy he was kidnapping teenage girls was a mystery, but whatever the motivation, it didn’t bode well. In less than an hour, we were staring down the dark castle that housed the Noir Kaiczar." ]	2
	[WP] The dark sorceress has been forced into hiding as she recovers from her injuries. Playing the part of a traveller, she collapses in a small village and is taken in by the blacksmith. She falls for him, but the situation is complex...hes an army vet who lost 2 brothers and a leg to her legion	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 lines broke. Members of legion are scattering. An ambush. She had separated her legion from her sisters. They told her to let the \"defeated\" army run. Only Bertha and her legion pursued. Just as they caught up to the fleeing army they stopped running and reformed. Missiles came from the trees all around them. One passes by Bertha's face, she can see the feathers of the arrow pass her face and watches them fly into a member of legion. He stumbles and falls. As she watches him die she sees a flash of metal swing at her face. The mace connects with her head and Bertha crumples to the floor. Whoever hit her just kept going, Bertha hears the thud of the mace connecting with legion armor, then three more thuds in rapid succession. Using her last bit of magic she transforms her clothes to look like the enemy army. \n\nBertha picks herself up. The army is heading off to pursue her sisters legions. But she overhears some of the wounded that are headed to a nearby village of Zilholden to recover. Following the walking wounded she finally approaches the village after what feels like an hour. They call this a village? It's a small collection of houses in the woods as best. Her head hurts with how disappointed she is in the village. She puts her hand to her head and it comes back red with blood. She collapses.\n\nThere's a ringing in her head, but it's not what woke her up. There is a commotion. People are arguing over something, someone, her. There is a man with one leg, he's arguing with another man, the other man has a lot of supporters. An older man appears to be arbitrating their argument. The man with one leg is saying the laws of hospitality say anyone in the village deserves protection, the group wants to discard her. Some want to kill her, others say just to leave her to her fate. None of the other wounded people know her. They say she is a spy. An enemy here to kill them all. And Bertha thinks to herself if you weren't hurt you would. They are right, the man with one leg, Bove is what the old man, elder keeps calling him. Bove has to know that he is wrong, yet he's still defending her. Then it all goes black.\n\nBertha wakes up and feels a bed underneath her. She starts to move, but everything is stiff, also she noticed the bandages on her head and arms. She realized she's in fresh clothes. Bertha summons the strength to sit up. She notices Bove asleep on the floor by the fireplace. There are two empty beds. Bertha has the thought to leave and find her legion but when she tries to get up, she finds she just doesn't have the strength. So she lies down and goes back to sleep.\n\nThe next morning she is alone in room. In the morning light she can see the two empty beds were unused all night. The amount of tools in the room, hammers, tongs, are the only things odd about the otherwise simple room. Bertha debates testing if she could get up when Bove comes up the stairs. He's carrying a short sword. \"I saw that you had stirred a bunch last night, I figured you were waking up today.\" Bertha is tense and doesn't respond. \"You didn't have any weapons on you, but I figured this one is about your size, just don't use it on me okay?\" He laughs. \"Name's Bove? What's yours?\" Bertha stares and replies \"Bertha.\"\n\nAfter a morning of talking Bertha has learned a lot about her enemy. It's been three days since the battle. She was out for two whole days. This village is tiny. Bove and his brothers run the blacksmith shop. There's a small inn. And everyone else is growing food for the village. It's been hard as half the people have been fighting the legion. To Bertha Bove is strange, and oddly funny. Bove compliments the legions weapon makers, he didn't even feel when they cleaved his leg off. She laughs. He lost his leg one month ago in a battle against legion. After talking some more she asks about his brothers. Bove no longer seems funny. He seems somber. His youngest brother, Ty died baiting her legion, he volunteered to be part of the initial attacking force. His middle brother, Robb died after her legion had been routed. Some member of her legion had been playing dead, and then killed him and two others before being killed. \n\nBertha stays in the bed the rest of week. Talking to Bove, and his sister-in-law Caitlin who helped clean her wounds and help her change.\nOnce a day she comes by. Usually it's just her and Bove. Occasionally he goes down to repair equipment. Or make a small item, a dagger, a hinge. She hears a familiar voice, arguing is about \"Is she still here?\" But Bove defended her. Now that Bertha is well enough to change her bandages on her own, Caitlin stopped coming by every day. Bertha's second week in the village she only seen her twice. That week started with Bove helping her, but by the end of the week Bertha found herself helping him.\n\nNow she had almost fully recovered. She knows she should leave, but she doesn't want to. It takes her a long time to realize why, Bove. The man who yells about you is back. \"It's your fault Bove! They are here looking for her!\" News had just made it back to Zilholden, her legion was pursued by the army. But they fell into the same trap her legion did. Her two sister's legions descended upon them killing 90% of their army. Surviving scouts reported the legions appeared to be looking for someone. They have been wrecking all the small villages in the woods, looking for someone. Bove comes inside the shop. \"Are they looking for you?\" Bertha fights all of her impulses to lie. \"Yes.\" Heartbroken Bove asks why? Bertha responds. \"It is my legion.\"", "Joural- Town Blacksmith\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"Hey... Don't get up too fast. Here just drink.\" I said to the woman as I helped her drink water from flagon. She was a beautiful woman. \n\nFirey red hair. Blue eyes that shines like sapphires. Milky pale skin that was soft to the touch. Sizable... Moving on. I found her at the edge of town just outside my shop. I couldn't just leave her to die. No decent man would. Come to think of it. The way she looked, no indecent man would have either.\n\nShe stayed with me for a few weeks. She seemed to want to stay. She was terrible with the tools but made a good assistant for fetching materials and such. Despite my reservations and my occasional protest she seems adamant that she cooks and cleans. \n\nI've told her that she need not but I have to admit that it had been a good long while since I had actually seen the floor of my home. She seemed like she wanted to tell me something. Like she's seen me before I helped her. When she asked about my life I told the truth.\n\nI once was a soldier who served my country. As were my two brothers. I explained that a wicked sorceress killed them and took my leg. Well not the sorceress per say, but her undead legion. As I told my story I noticed her begin to cry. Something weighed heavy on her heart. Then... She apologized. For everything. \n\nI understood in that moment. But, I was not angry. I was not hatful. Why waste my time hating her for something she could not change. She offered up her life to me. Anything in exchange for forgiveness. I never said anything.\n\nTruth is I was never angry at her. Angry at her undead legions sure but never her. It's strange. I always assumed I would be. Seems the years have mellowed me out. She offered all these lavish things. Anything to repay me for the pain she had caused.\n\nInstead, in an attempt to redeem her self. She tried to repay debt the way she always had been. So the dark sorceress became my assistant. My little sorceress to help me around the house and around time. And although she had to get used to some things. I believe that the time was good for her. I got what I wanted. I never believed in killing. I believed in changing. She always asked what I wanted from her. \n\nI never answered. She had changed, become better. That was good enough for me.", "Venstraya had learned a lot on the night her beloved husband Nathaniel took his own life in the middle of the King's court. \n\nShe learned how painful it was to lose someone you love to suicide, and not even knowing why they did it made it worse. She learned how crucial her marriage to Nathaniel was in keeping the alliance between The Kingdom of Elves and The Kingdom of Man, and how due to both Kingdoms facing difficult times, their short lived alliance was all but finished with the loss of Nathaniel.\n\nBut the most important thing she learned, was how the lack of knowledge of why a beloved husband would kill themselves in front of everyone they loved and in return loved them back, is enough to drive an Elf woman such as herself to madness. In the case of Venstraya, it was enough to drive her to the dark side of her sorcery.\n\nShe had always had the ability to do sorcery since she was a child, however her powers were always ones of death, destruction, and necromancy like abilities, which caused many to fear her, including her royal family. They forbade her from ever using them, and punished her when she did, and that made her fear herself, and even spite herself to the point where, on her seventeenth birthday, she went into the woods to drown her sorrow, forever. \n\nWhen she had begun to feel the water fill her lungs, a hand came through, pulled her out of the water, saved her, and would continue to do so until that very same hand took away her savior on that horrible night in the King's court.\n\nNow her beloved Nathaniel was gone, her savior was gone, and her promise to her one true love, of never using her powers to harm anyone went with him when the sword he had used to protect the Kingdoms and slay the servants of the Demon King entered his torso. \n\nHer descent into the dark arts happened in a matter of months.\n\nFirst she tried to give her life to the Demon King, in hopes he would appear to her and she could make a deal to bring her love back to life. When that failed she tried to use her powers to contact Nathaniel and ask him why he would leave her with such emptiness and pain. And when all these failed, and she saw the Kingdoms fighting whilst the Demon King still roamed, she decided she would tear down the world she knew, and build it up in her image.\n\nAnd so, the horrid month of the Dark Sorceress Venstraya began. She sent out legions of Demon King servants who claimed to have no leader, to attack her homeland, The Kingdom of Elves, and had practically wiped all of them out. Those who had survived fled to the Kingdom of Man, where a proper defense was made, though it would not be enough once Venstraya had reached her full power.\n\nThough this did not mean she was invincible, as two determined knights had shown her in a surprise attack in the woods one night, whilst she wandered wishing for her love to save her once more.\n\nThough she had escaped to a nearby village, she knew she would be killed on sight if they saw her. So she killed a young woman, took her traveling clothes, and made it a priority to hide her face. However the wounds she sustained caused her to faint in town, where she was eventually saved by a lowly blacksmith.\n\nVenstraya may have thought that she would wake up on the morrow with her strength back and the will to kill the Blacksmith, but that all changed when she saw his face, a face similar to that of her beloved Nathaniel.\n\nA tale of love had blossomed once more in her life again, although it too would end in tragedy.\n\nWhile Venstraya kept up her disguise for the next six months, she would listen to the tales that the Blacksmith would tell her each night. Tales of how he and his brothers kept the village safe for so long even though it was the closest to where the Sorceress's attacks were happening, and the blacksmith had lost a leg in the process.\n\nEnchanted by his tales, she asked \"Where are your brothers? I would sure love to meet the three saviors of this quaint place.\" The cheery smile the Blacksmith seemed to always have went away, and was replaced with tears. \"They met with the sorceress in the woods not too long ago...I found their bodies in the lake.\"\n\nVenstraya could not keep up her lie anymore after she heard the pain she was causing. Pain she had promised her Nathaniel she would never do again. What had happened to her?\n\nTo make a long and unfortunate tale short, she came clean to the Blacksmith, and though he truly wanted to stay with her, he could never forgive her for the death of his family. She fled far away from the Kingdom of Man, and took her armies with her too, saving the final few who remained.\n\nVentraya had learned a lot on the fateful night she had lost her beloved husband, but she learned something new with the Blacksmith. She would never learn to live without her beloved Nathaniel.", "Lisbeth awoke to the sound of distant screams.\n\nFor a moment, blinded by the darkness, she could have been back in her citadel again, surrounded by the finest silks and furs as her enemies discovered new ways to suffer. It wasn't until she shifted and felt the coarse quality of the blanket covering her that memory came flooding back. Her citadel was gone, her enemies had won, and she was left hiding in some speck of a village like a common pickpocket. Muttering to herself about the injustice of it all, she pulled a shawl over her shoulders and shuffled out into the night to see what was afoot.\n\nThe scene outside was one that she had seen many times before, if never from this perspective. Barricades blocking every road, hastily thrown together from tables and beds and whatever other furniture could be carried and broken into big enough pieces. Womenfolk tugging bleary-eyed children behind them as their husbands ran the other way, clutching pitchforks and scythes and the odd ancestral sword, left to rust over the years in the quiet confidence that it would never be needed.\n\nAnd along the road, not so far away, blinking red lights moving through the night.\n\nThe first thought that came to mind was that this was completely impossible. Her legions were of her own design, bred for power, ruthlessness, and above all, unquestioning obedience. The second, slinking in at the heels of the first like an unwelcome houseguest, was 'just how long have I been away?'. How long, exactly, would the creatures she had built waited idly for her to come back to them, until hunger and bloodlust drove them mad?\n\nShe blinked. There was a rough hand on each of her shoulders, shaking her out of her trance, and an enormously broad back bent nearly double to bring its face level with her own. \n\n\"What's this all about, then?\"\n\n\"M-Marcel? Marcel, you can't possibly be thinking of fighting those things! You damn great fool, there's ten of them for every man you have, they'll rip you to pieces!\"\n\nThe smith grimaced. \"Aye, well, that might be so, but we'll knock a few heads together on the way out, and make sure our families get a good head start while we do. Speaking of which, I'd be a lot happier if you were on your way already.\"\n\n\"I know for a fact that you don't have any family left in this town, so we'll have none of these heroics from you, sir,\" she snapped without thinking. He smiled at that, which was odd. \n\n\"That's as may be, missie, but there are still things here I don't want those monsters to get their hands on.\" Marcel waved over an old woman bent over a tired-looking mare and after a quick, hushed conversation, made as if to hoist her onto it. She darted out of his grasp, making him teeter precariously on his false leg as he missed her. The sight drove a needle through her heart. That was her fault, yes, as surely as if she'd swung the blade herself. His brothers too. Michael, the youngest, he had liked to paint, she knew. There was a portrait of the family he had painted hanging above the bed she had crawled into like a parasite. Guilt and shame had built up inside her over those long nights spent by the fire with him, growing stronger with every word, every time he cast his eyes down when he remembered that they were never coming back to him, until finally she couldn't deny her feelings any longer.\n\nHer feet were moving before she knew it. Surprise worked miracles for her; nobody there expected anyone to be trying to run towards the horde, and men thick as trees parted before her. How long had she been away? Too long, clearly, and yet, perhaps not long enough. Power still came when she called, but ever so slowly, like a beaten hound wary of returning to its masters' side.\n\nNo time for subtlety, then.\n\nShe drew a line of runes in the air with her finger, and watched as fire sprang to life before her. And life was the word for it, as the flames took the shapes of great coiled serpents and many-headed beasts, swirling and twisting among each other in a great, multi-hued wave. The legion's vanguard were incinerated before they could understand what was happening; those fortunate enough to be at the rear were able to gape in disbelief for a few precious moments before they, too, were consumed. For a moment, Lisbeth was invincible again.\n\nHer legs held out for a moment longer before letting her sink to the ground. The simple act of bending the world to her will had drained her more than she could have imagined. Before she had begun, she had wondered if she might have enough power left in her to warp away afterwards, and throw herself on the mercy of a different town. But even if she'd had the mana for such a spell, Lisbeth couldn't have formed the necessary runes with her shaking hands. \n\nAn irregular shuffling drew near. It didn't take much imagination to guess what would happen next, but strangely, Lisbeth found she didn't mind all too much. Better to be killed here, by somebody who truly hated her, than by some paladin who just thought she was a nuisance to be exterminated. She hoped that Marcel would find some peace in taking her life. It would be a small payment to the world in the face of the debts she owed, but it was better than nothing. \n\nTwo broad hands on her shoulders lifted her up gently. She had seen those hands bend solid metal like twigs, but just then, she couldn't have imagined anything more tender.\n\n\"Well, missie, you've got a lot of explaining to do, I reckon, but it does look as though you might have saved all of our hides.\"\n\nLisbeth buried her face in his chest and wept.", " The woman just sat there, unmoving and looking somewhat hesitant. She called him to speak, she said it is important, but now, there they were silence between them.\n\n“I’m leaving!” The woman said suddenly, staring at him as if she just made a big decision.\n\n“But, why?” He asked hurriedly, his eyes widening in shock.\n\n“I know that you have fallen for me…” She decided to speak the truth but couldn't finish the sentence before she was interrupted by his shaking voice.\n\n“Then more so, why?” \n\n“Let me finish, Jack. I’m leaving because, not only did you fell for me, but I fell for you as well.”\n\n“The more you speak the less I understand Diana!”\n\n“Had it been just you the one who fell in love I would’ve used you for a little more and left without saying a word.”\n\n“What do you mean?”\n\n“After three months of staying here, with you, I can already what type of person you are. A sincere and foolish man who loves and hates with all of his heart. So to avoid breaking you, I… I decided that is for the best to kill this love now.”\n\n“Kill?!” He snapped. “You know that I hate that word.” \n\n“Yes, you told me that you hate the war and the killing after your two brothers died in the war against the legions of the Sorceress, while you lost an eye but somehow survived. Because of this reason, you must forget me, Jack. I’m sorry, but…”\n\n“I don’t like where this is going, Diana. Are you one of the followers of that witch? Then you can hide here, and forget about the war, can’t you?” He asked, hope still burning in his words, now spoke with less vigour than usually. \n\nFour years have passed since the events Diana mentioned, and with his heart mended he now found someone who could confide to and love, but now even this was crumbling before him and it was all the fault of that witch.\n\nShe looked at him, a broken man who finally found his a new starting point only for fate to crush him again. She wanted to ask him to come with her, but she knew that meant to betray the memory of his dead brothers. How could she do something so cruel? To kill this bud of love that had yet to blossom was for the best.\n\n“I wish it could be that simple Jack.” She sighed.\n\n“Why? Has the witch placed a curse on you? Does she keep your family hostage?”\n\n“Don’t be so agitated. Is nothing like that. I don’t know what lies was the kingdom and the church feeding you but I’m not that cruel! And could you stop calling me a witch? It has such a bad ring to it. I much prefer The Sorceress. Or Diana for you.”\n\nIt was like time has stopped. All the light faded from his remaining eye. He had many so questions, why him, why now, but by the time he recovered, she was already gone like a beautiful dream in the morning, the only remaining thing was a longing of a heart. So he stood there, still, for hours to come, thinking of her, her actions since they met, her words before she left and decided.\n\nHe walked back in the smithy, taking a greatsword from an old chest. His old and only companion and family after he came back from the war. His mother died when he was young. His father was called to the capital to be a smith there during the war but he never heard of him since. Last of his family, his two older brothers died during the war and he came back because of his injuries. \n\nHe was still young, twenty-four this winter, but he felt that there was nothing to live for. That was until three months ago when he took in a travelling adventurer to wounded to even stand. Only The Enlightened One knew how she made it that far. She coloured his otherwise black life and now she left. \n\nHer words were still bugging him. What were the lies he spoke of? And more, she said she loved him. That was enough, he thought while cleaning his sword. He had lost enough and no way he will lose more. \n\nWith that in mind, a lonely blacksmith left his smithy to search for answers, for truth and for the love of his life.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThis is my first time writing something on this sub. I hope you all liked it and I wish for some advice.", "A strong man who had lost it all, by any measure, but had never lost his values, the darkness within him pounded out with each strike of metal in the heat and sparks of his burning forge.\n\nHe was a master blacksmith, able to both bend the metal as if it were soft and fresh dough, as well as enchant and withstand the forces of magically imbued weapons with the sheer will of his mind alone. Rippling muscles that bulged through the scarred flesh of his arms leading to dark and giant hands also helped, of course.\n\nThe sight of the man in his element, eyes shining with the embers of the flame, bits catching in his dark beard and hair as he pounded the anvil relentlessy, was a sight to behold. A sight to capture a heart, even one as dark and cold as her own.\n\nThey were the hands that had scooped her up from the dying masses of soldiers, picking her out while searching for good scrap metal for the forge. He had laid down half the metal, cutting his losses, and carried her over one shoulder, his remaining fare on the other.\n\nWith a tenderness one would never imagine of such a man, he had cared for her, not only healing her wounds, but healing her heart.\n\nThey fell deeply in love. Bernard the blacksmith, and Lucia, the Dark Sorceress of the South.\n\nBut like the forge in which the man toiled, the burning fire of evil inside her was all consuming. It was a constant battle for her to hold back the darkness, to stop it destroying her new found joy and chance at a real life.\n\nBefore it did, she decided to tell all. Expecting Bernard to avenge his brothers, avenge the loss of his leg, avenge all those who had suffered and died in the battle against her.\n\n\"I love you Lucia, and that is all the matters\" were the words that left his mouth after a long silence.\n\n\"If only it were that simple, Bernard\" Lucia replied meekly, tears forming.\n\nBernard did not answer, but instead pulled from the depths of his forge a large sword, a sword only a man the likes of Bernard could even hold, let alone wield in battle.\n\n\"This sword is made from pure Gernodium, the rarest of metals deep in the Dwarven mines. When you destroyed them, I was there to scavenge the metals, and come across this. Gernodium is renowned for its ability to handle..\"\n\n\"The darkest of magics\" Lucia interrupted, looking Bernard dead in the eye, \" I know what you are thinking, but you will not survive the enchantment. My darkness can not be taken and contained in such a weapon\"\n\n\"That it can, and that it will. If it takes my life in the process, so be it. But you shall be free of this evil, Lucia. You shall be free\"\n\nAfter tortuous days trying to dissuade him, she relented. He would not take no for an answer, insisting he would rather die than see her leave.\n\nThey stood before the forge, Bernard holding the sword deep within the fires, Lucia standing next to him, her hand on the hilt, next to his.\n\n\"I love you Bernard\" she whispered, looking deep into his deep brown eyes.\n\n\"and I you , Lucia. Forever and always\"\n\n\"Forever\" she repeated.\n\n\"Now Lucia, let it go. I am ready\"\n\nLike the rumble of a Tsunami careening towards a shore she felt the surge of her limitless power, born of darkness and raised on blood. Her barriers fell against the onslaught easily, she was not resisting for the first time in her life, rather, she pushed it, willing the flow.\n\nScreams and howls of demons and spirits burst forth from her mouth, her eyes and ears pouring black this smoke. As purple energy streamed into the sword and threatened to spill from it, Bernard pounded the metal with his hammer, screaming and shouting words of the Forgotten smiths of Eldor, words of his Fathers before him, words of power.\n\nBernards eyes glowed as the fire grew, his very hands turning molten red themselves as his pace increased, matching the screams of Lucia and the darkness that would not stop.\n\nPieces of flesh began to peel from his hands, his face, his beard lighting and burning.\n\nThrough her screams Lucia begged him to stop.\n\n\"Bernard, no! It is too much\"\n\n\"Do. Not. Stop!!!!!\" he screamed with such force that the walls began to shake and crumble.\n\nWith one last surge of power he heaved his hammer high as bone began to show through his fingers, and slammed it down upon the blade, one final time.\n\nA distant scream screeched across the lands, booming out from Bernard's forge. It was a sad, scared scream, the crying of a trapped soul, a caged evil.\n\nThe blade glowed purple in the forge. Lucia opened her eyes, the weight of evil lifting from her soul.\n\nBernard collapsed.\n\nIt was now her turn to save him.\n\nIt took weeks for him to awaken, months for him to stand, and a full year till he was almost back to being the man he was, mentally at least. She never left his side. \n\nHe was frail and thin, and able to wield his hammer in the forge no longer. Scarred and tainted black, his hands were numb and useless, his arms devoid of the power they had once possessed. \n\nThe sword had been left in the forge as it had been on that fateful day, untouched and locked away. \n\nThat is until, out of sheer desperation and despair Bernard returned to the forge, to lay eyes upon the weapon to which he had lost everything. Yes, he had gained love, and for that he was grateful she knew, but the loss of his life's work hurt deeply. \n\nShe was there with him, despite being wary and afraid of the sword that held her evil magic. Bernard stretched out his hand hesitantly to touch it, leaving it to hang a hair's width away for a moment, and then as best as he could, he grabbed the hilt. \n\nThe sword exploded in purple light, a scream echoing in the forge. \n\n\"Master!\" a voice hissed. \n\nBernard's body was quickly surrounded by the bright light from the sword, covering and entering every part, every orifice, wrapping and flowing around him. As it did, he began to grow, his muscles returning with sudden heaves and contractions. \n\nA few seconds later, the power returned to the sword. Bernard looked across to Lucia, completely healed. \n\n\"Bernard? Is it still you?\" she asked, scared of what the answer would be. \n\n\"Yes my love, it is I. The sword answers to me it seems...I am its master\" he said, his eyes disbelieving. \n\nLucia ran to him, embracing him with her arms wrapped around his now thick neck. \n\n\"Then let us use the powers that once served for evil, for good, Bernard. Let us right all the wrongs it caused\"", "The spell was succesfull. She could tell since nobody stared. In contrary they didn't even take a glimpse. They deemed it not worth their time. Life of peasants is rough. Especially since the war, they didn't have the time for strangers nor the resources. So they left her. Left her to die in the streets.\nWill they bother to move my corpse? , Gytha pondered while leaning helplessly against a building. Maybe my body will give them the plague, in fact I could cast a spell.\nGytha sighed, as she knew that she couldn't. Her last bit of mana was used on the illusion spell and mana was a resource that isn't easily replenished.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"At least stop that annoying knocking!\", a frustrated shout escaped her swollen lips. There was a steady knocking pestering her since hours. At first Gytha thought it was just her beaten up head that ached like a hammer hitting on metal. But indeed it seemed to be a hammer that hit on metal.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Someone there? You gotta shout louder I'm working,\" rumbled a deep raspy voice from inside the shop.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Yeah, there is no way someone wouldn't realize,\" she replied snarky. There wasn't much left in the tank that operated her brain so instinct took over. It seems underneath it all I'm quite grumpy ... What am I even thinking...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Oh someone there? Didn't see you down there.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe sound of the creaking hinges of the halfdoor right next to her felt like somebody was slowly drilling a hole with a hand drill into her ear. A sorrowful whimper escaped her throat and she lost consciousness.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe strong scent of a stew beeing heated over the fire sneaked into Gythas nostrils. The fierce smell of spices beckoned her brain into a twilight state between beeing asleep and awake. She sighed and rolled unwillingly over. The pain shooting through her body as well as her rumbling belly tipped the scale in favor of awaking imediately although her brain was still complaining.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Look at you, you must have fallen quite deeply,\" a concerned voice muttered while a wet feeling creeped down her left leg.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGythe rubbed her eyes to banish the obnoxious blurriness away, then tried to sit up. Ugh... not a good idea she winced in pain.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Easy lady, slow down will you. Don't fancy to stitch you up again. I'm not some sort of knitting granny. It's quite hard with these thick fingers of mine,\" the man chuckled and continued wiping her other leg with a wet rag.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHe's quite gentle for how his body is built\n\"Yeah quite heavily so,\" she finally managed to get up. \"Thanks.\"\nWhat am I blushing for?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Eh? Quite heavily what?\" He put a bowl with stew and a wooden spoon in front of her.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Th..chmpf...e ... mpf... Fa...mmpfm...lling mmpf hu... pa...chmpf...art,\" Gytha slurped her words out between chewing like the starving dog she currently was.\nDid he realize who I am? ... Can you kill a man with a spoon? Maybe the pointy end through his eye... but look at those huge arms of his... there's no way in my current...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Easy lady, easy. I won't hurt you,\" he said while taking a step back to give some space.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nHuh, look at this brawny one legged chap. Did he notice me tensing up? Isn't he a bit too... too delicate?\n\"Hey Brawny, you make a good housewife.\"\nW...what? What?! Dark sorceress Gytha what did you just let yourself say. You uttering cute little nicknames now? The Crimson Storm of Death they called you. Crimson Storm ... Crimson as in a sea of blood. Gytha the Crimson Storm...\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"A...Anyways you should rest some more. I got work tomorrow so I need to sleep early,\" brawny replied slightly baffled.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDid you just blush on me? You don't get to blush... you hunk of meat.\n\"Really? This obnoxiously loud hammering again ugh,\" Gytha replied rudely.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Yeah well, since leaving the war with my two brothers. I gotta do the work of three. Should have come back as trio aswell, I suppose.\" he answered with a steadily lowering voice and left the room.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n**\n\nThe days Gytha spent recovering were full of joy for her, despite the physical pain that sometimes overcame her. Brawny nursed Gytha like the mother she never had and Gytha filled the hole Brawnys brothers left. She talked with him when he was sad and tired, she cleaned the shop and even put the occasional useful spell with her recovering mana. Really wood normally wouldn't burn as long nor would the swords get as sharp with simple whetting.\nThe time flied and a full recovery was approaching rapidly.\n\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Hey Brawny, thanks to you I feel completely healed again. Next to a good housewife you really are a good nurse aswell,\" Gytha teased the blacksmith she passionately called Brawny. In fact his customers started to call him that aswell, though he really gets angry with them when they do. Only she seems to be allowed to.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Gytha, you do realize that you are belitteling me like a child? I'm a fully grown man. I do manly things aswell. You're just an exception.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"yeah^but you didn't touch me once,\" she whispered almost inaudibly and started to slightly blush.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Huh? Did you say something? You know my ears aren't the best anymore. You know all the hammering.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Hmm hammering. Maybe I should turn into an ingot,\" a slight quiet giggle escaped her control and she turned really red.\n\"Nah, nah nothing Brawny-less.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"What are you turning red for? Better go and get some ingredients for dinner if you want to eat.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"I'm not turning red in the slightest,\" Gytha pouted and took the basket on the table while turning on her heel.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Totally red. Crimson red infact.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nGytha froze. \"Crimson you say?\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Yeah Crimson. It suits you.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"You... you know?\" Gytha asked reluctantly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Yeah.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"You know and... and you host me? Si...since when?\" She turned around again and stared into his eyes deeply to see if he would tell the truth.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Since the beginning,\" he said and sustained eye contact, then smiled wryly.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"B-But your brothers ... your leg... don't you seek revenge?\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Oh, I thought about it. In fact my hammer was swinging down on your head outside the shop when we first met. However you didn't react ... so I did. Afterall I couldn't become what you were. You had fallen to the bottom. Why not try and lift you up and see. What reason did I have left to live and pound away at hard cold iron. What was my purpose? So I tried to plant a seed and watch it grow, maybe the plant would become a beautiful flower, afterall I could cut it's roots anytime if it would go awry.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"... Seems like you're a good farmer aswell,\" Gytha mumbled while trying to figure out the implications of what was said to her.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Also... do you really think a blacksmith wouldn't notice when wood that gives heat for an hour suddenly lasts for half a day? Should have started calling you Brainy a while ago, well it's never too late to change something, I suppose,\" he laughed while still returning her stare.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Never too late huh? Is it really ok, though?\" She said, while he watched tears trickling down her cheeks.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Hey Brainy,\" Brawny joked while seeming to be quite pleased with himself and then continued seriously. \"You know it's gonna be harder on you to forgive yourself than it's for me.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"...\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Also you put a spell on my hearing remember?\" he paused and watched how realization hit her face. \"Indeed, Crimson suits you. Mmhm. Hey Brainy I don't go out with ingots, they don't ask for a date.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"You're really telling a girl to ask you out? Maybe I planted a seed in you too. So cruel, Brawny-less is so cruel.\"", " \n\nDay 1*\n\nI will not let him do this to me.\n\nIt was through a series of ill-timed events that I found myself sitting in the mud at the side of the road, in a downpour. My ankle was on fire and I was seeing double. This was only the latest of the insults delivered by Adrenath. So help me, I’d make him pay… as soon as I could find the thrice-damned coward.\n\nI glared at the swollen ankle, then cast about for my staff. Where was it? Surely it couldn’t still be with the horse. It would have fallen out when the animal threw me and ran. It had to be somewhere nearby. My stomach roiled and vertigo overtook me. There was darkness reaching around the edges of my vision.\n\n“Hello? Look, over there, Alric, someone’s hurt!”\n\nI will not let Adrenath do this to me.\n\nThe darkness feathered in.\n\n\\\\\\\n\nDay 4\n\n“You need to eat something,” came the gruff voice. I opened my eyes, only to see darkness.\n\n“Where…” I tried, but my throat closed around the words.\n\nA spoon pressed against my lips. Some sort of bland broth sloshed over my tongue. “You’re in my smithy at Haven’s Rest. And if you don’t eat something, you’ll waste away. It’s been four days already.”\n\nThe next time I opened my mouth, more of the broth dribbled in before I could speak again.\n\nHe paused so I could swallow. “Mind telling me yer name, miss?”\n\nSomething told me not to. I shook my head. A few moments of silence, and he sighed. “Can’t see as I blame ye. Still, it would be nice to know who I have under my roof. You can call me Alric.”\n\nHe spoon-fed me in silence, then, and when he was done, he left without a word.\n\nI blinked sightlessly into the gloom of my own mind.\n\nWhy couldn’t I see?\n\n\\\\\\\n\nDay 10\n\n“You’re awake.”\n\nEvery day it was the same comment. I couldn’t tell if it was the same time of day, really, because all I could see were hazy shapes against a lighter background. It was as though I looked through clouded glass. But I assumed it was morning. His comment always preceded a meal.\n\n“I’m awake,” I replied. My voice rasped over my throat.\n\nThe telltale step-thud of Alric’s gait told me he had entered the room. Then there was the pause, then clatter of crockery against wood as he placed the tray on the side table. I heard the tiny grunt of effort when he sat in a chair beside me.\n\n“Will ye tell me your name, today?” he asked. It was in a conversational tone. It was a ritual at this point.\n\n“Alyssa.” I said immediately.\n\n“You don’t look like an Alyssa.” There was a smile in his voice, tinged with well-worn exasperation. Lately, I’d taken to giving him a new name every day. Yesterday I had been Margaret, and before that, Rita, Anya, and Merigold.\n\nHe fed me, as he had done every day since he’d collected me from the roadside. This was the point where he normally lapsed into silence. Then the meal would be done, and he would leave to work the forge. Today was to be different, however.\n\n“Where do you come from, Riddle?” he asked. Though I couldn’t see his face, the words came out in something of a jumble. After a moment, he gave a quick cough as though to cover up embarrassment.\n\n“The SouthMounts,” I hedged. An entire region wouldn’t give me away. Right?\n\n“Far from home,” he mused.\n\nI nodded.\n\n“I suppose you can’t go back. Not with the Ravages going on in the foothills.”\n\nMy brows knit in grief at his words and he fell silent.\n\nI won’t let Adrenath do this to me.\n\n\\\\\\\n\nDay 18\n\n“You’re awake.”\n\nThe shapes were clearer these days. I still couldn’t exactly see, but things were getting better. One thing I could tell now, though, is that my rescuer was a tall and broad man. He walked with a pronounced limp that in my limited vision, reminded me of the sailors coming to shore at Port Risten.\n\n“I’m awake.”\n\nHe step-thudded to my bed. Clatter, went the crockery. Then his grunt, followed by the creak of the chair under his weight.\n\n“Will ye tell me yer name?”\n\n“Yahaira,” I said.\n\n“Closer than Liliana, but you still don’t strike me as a Yahaira.” came the amused reply, “And one of these days, you’ll tell me yer true name.”\n\n“What makes you think I haven’t already?”\n\n“I feel like I’ll know it when you do.”\n\nI shifted my weight and the bed ropes under the mattress creaked in response. Turning my head away, I stretched my injured ankle. It must have caught his attention, because he chuckled. “Y’ve spent nearly three weeks abed, Riddle. Per’aps ye might try to walk? Not far. I can set y’up at a table at the forge, providin’ ye don’t mind some noise and a little heat.”\n\nI oriented on his voice again. “Are you so starved for my scintillating conversation?” I asked, before I could rethink the rudeness of my words.\n\nAlric took it in stride, though. “Isn’t that, trust. I just know how injuries go, after my time at the fronts. If ye don’t get out of the sickroom, ye start to die inside. Even if the physical wounds heal up. People need to feel like people again to get better all the way.” He paused, “I think that’s why…”\n\n“...Why what?”\n\n“Nothing. Doesn’t matter.”\n\nBut I think it did. There didn’t seem to be any good way to pick up the threads of this conversation, though, and after the morning meal, he left with a quiet, “I’ll be back at midday.”\n\nAdrenath, I won’t let you do this to me. \n\n\n\\-------\n\nCritiques are welcome. I meant for it to wrap up as a quick vignette, but that is not the way the story came out, it seems. I might update it with more parts.\n\nMy writing is sporadically updated at r/MeanderingTales", "Placing his worn-out overalls by the hangar, the dying lights of the furnace illuminating his worn-out, chiselled face, the blacksmith gazes into the distance, before an imperceptible sigh escaped from his lips. Hanging in holsters around his workshop were weapons of all shapes and sizes, each gleaming with hostility, clamouring for blood. He takes one look at his latest creation, before deciding to stuff it into his pocket, turning to hobble out of door, his weight unnaturally resting on one side of his body. \n\nIt was a cottage in the outskirts of the country, a weeks journey from the next closest human settlement, located amongst the many peaks lining the mountain ranges that cut through the land. On one side of the mountain range laid the Empire, a colossal monstrosity of city-states and republics, while the other side held the Outland's, where the Sorcerer lies plotting the destruction of humanity, with her rag-tag group of demi-human's and monsters. \n\nIt is in this mountains, deep within the bellows of the land, that the blacksmith finds the raw material needed to create the tools he makes. From the rawest form of metals, infused with the energy of mana, he shapes them into pure, constrained destruction, each bestowing upon it's owner inhuman strength, capable tearing through friend and foe with ease. \n\n\\---\n\nThe fireplace crackles and flickers, there she sits, her head resting against the backrest of the wooden chair, a woollen shawl covering her body. Winter in the mountain's can be harsh and cruel, her eyelashes trembling ever so slightly from the cold, before awakening from the noise in the room. \n\nWhat eyes are these, dark as the darkest day, bright as the brightest night, filled with a sense of innocence and lost, like a child trapped in an adult's body. The blacksmith stares, lost for a moment, before he grins, a foolish, joyful grin, hobbling towards her. \n\n\"Mel, you should be resting. You have not recovered yet.\" \n\nWhen the blacksmith first found her, she was bloodied and bruised, her clothes in disarray, abandoned in the forest surrounding the mountains. He did not have to guess to know the cruel fate that must have begotten her. The Empire, for all its merits, was not a safe place. Carrying her back, there were moment where he thought she would not make it, especially with the gaping hole in her abdomen, yet, somehow, she pulled through, her wounds healing with time. \n\nA bigger problem though, came from her memories, seemingly lost from the trauma, a child trapped in a foreign body. Seeing her shuttering to remember her name, her eyes looking around the room in curiosity, the blacksmith felt something he had not felt for a long time. \n\n\"Melissa.\" He called out, unconsciously. \"Your name is Melissa.\" \n\nFrom that day on, she was Melissa, at least to the blacksmith, she was Melissa. \n\nSitting down on a chair next to her, by the fireplace, the blacksmith places his rough, calloused hands over her's, hesitating for a moment, before he took something out of his pocket. \n\nA bracelet, inlaid with delicate carvings, brimming with mana. It was perhaps the first attempt the blacksmith ever made at forging something that was not meant to kill, but to protect, capable of forming a skin-tight barrier. \n\n\"For the cold, Melissa.\" He clasp the bracelet around her hands, the wave of mana washing over her body. She seems to stiffen, before she relaxes. In that moment, seemingly for eternity, smiled at the blacksmith, her other hand coming to rest above his. \n\n\"Thank you.\" \n\nHer eye's sparkle for a moment, before recessing back to child-like ignorance. \n\n\\---\n\nShe could feel it, her allies trying to contact her, beacons sent through mana, broadcasting messages through the air. It would take but an instant to reply, but she cannot, she did not know if it was another trap, another attempt by the Empire to end her life. \n\nHer life was not hers to end, she held on her shoulders the hopes of an entire rebellion. So long as the Empire still stands, she could not die, not until she passed the mantle of Sorcerer to her apprentice, who would continue on the battle in her stead, until she, too, passes it on to the next Sorcerer, until the accursed Empire is finally overthrown. \n\nJaeger, Nania, Tanya...I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry. \n\nShe could still remember their faces as they sacrificed themselves, each of them willingly distracting, blocking, misleading the Empire's forces, dwarf, elf, beastman, turning into dust at the hands of the Empire's weapons. \n\nWeapons crafted by the blacksmith before her, clasping the same creation onto her wrist, his hand's bloodied and raw with the names of people she knows. \n\nYet, she knew him. She knew him. She finally knew who the blacksmith was. \n\nI am sorry, but why does it have to be you? Why? Why is it you? \n\nMelissa, no one has called her that in decades, not since she became the Sorcerer, not since she left her old life behind. Tears begin to trickle down the side of her face, she wanted to call out his name, but she could not, she knew she could not. \n\n\"Melissa, what is wrong?\" \n\n\"Nothing. I was just happy.\" \n\nHe told her, about the battles he was in, about how he tried to find her, about how his brother's were killed by the accursed Sorcerer, about how he wanted vengeance for both her and his brothers, about how he poured his soul into the creation of those weapons, about how he hope to one day plunge his sword into the heart of the Sorcerer who took everything from him. \n\nEach word, each sentence, everything he said, stabbed deeply into her heart, she wanted to explain herself, she say that she did not know, that the she was just the figurehead, that she did not plan for all this, but she did not know if he would understand, and so she faked it all, like she always did, pretending to not remember. \n\nAnother day, she told herself, another day.", "\"Hey, did you hear the news?\" Asked Kellin, the chef at the tiny tavern.\n\n\"Can't say I have.\" Barrin replied as he got the newly repaired frying pan on the counter.\n\nCalliope listened closely to the gossip and rumors. She had learned quickly that small town gossip could be useful, as long as one knew how to sort the wheat from the chaff. She set the new farming tool down. She would enchant it later. This could be important.\n\n\"They caught the Dark Sorceress.\" Kellin said excitedly.\n\nCalliope stiffened. Had they found her? No, if that was the case, she would be dead. It was one of her body doubles. There were dozens of them, all perfectly mimicking her form. Add in her disguise and she should be safe for years. Long enough to recover, certainly.\n\n\"Really now?\" Barrin replied, now looking very interested. \"And where exactly is she being held?\"\n\n\"Don't know. Probably the royal dungeons.\"\n\n\"Damn.\" The blacksmith swore. \"Means I can't get at her. Maybe when they hold the public execution I'll be able to hit her a time or two before the gallows claim her.\"\n\nCalliope took a deep breath and focused on her task. It was a simple enchantment, just a cleaning enchantment. Something she could easily do even in her weakened state. Hell, even now that she had only a tenth of her full power, she was still the rival of the royal archmage. Not that she could show that power to anyone in such a small, sleepy town.\n\nThe smith and the chef completed their transaction as the Sorceress was further discussed. She did not need to hear that. Most of it was false. They said she was ugly now? That was a laugh. She was gorgeous. At least, everyone had said so. And Barrin certainly seemed to think she was.\n\n\"You okay, Callisa?\" The large man hobbled over to her. His metal leg clacked on the stone floor. \"You seem distracted.\"\n\n\"No, no, I'm fine, really.\" She said. \"I've finished the pitchfork anyway. Does he know I can do more than cleaning enchantments? Does anyone know that?\" \n\n\"I've told them. But these are simple people that want simple enchantments.\" He said with a shrug.\n\nHe slumped into a chair and rubbed the point at which metal met flesh. He claimed it still pained him.\n\n\"Do you really hate the Dark Sorceress so much?\" She asked suddenly.\n\n\"With a burning passion. You know what they did.\" He rapped the cold iron on his leg. \"Hell, I saw with my own two eyes her shadow soldiers cut down both my brothers. I want her dead in the worst way.\"\n\n\"Oh. But...but what if she had a good reason for what she did?\"\n\nWas uniting the world really a bad thing? It would end wars and petty squabbling. And she liked to think she would be a good leader. Sure, she'd be a dictator, but at least she would be a benevolent one. That's what she liked to think anyway. There was little chance of any of that happening now. It would take at least a century before she had her full power back, and even longer before she could summon an army of reasonable size. She could wait that long, of course. Her over abundance of magic made her nearly immortal after all. But still, even for her, two or three hundred years was a long time. Better to just give up on the world takeover. There were other ways to end world suffering. She was learning that thanks to her time with Barrin.\n\n\"Good reason? What reason could she have to set an army of demons and shadows on the world? Her armies killed thousands, and I heard she personally killed nearly as many.\"\n\nNow that was an exaggeration. Sure, she might have ended a particularly stubborn enemy squad, and she had done her fair share of executions, but that was it. Her legions did most of the work. It was taxing controlling so many minions, even for her. She rarely had the means to really cut loose on the battlefield. \n\n\"I don't think you should believe everything you hear about her.\"\n\n\"Does it matter? She took my leg, and more importantly, my family. And that goes for thousands of others, all around the world. That woman is pure evil, and deserves to burn in the enteral fires.\"\n\n\"I...I'm sure if you met her, you might think differently.\"\n\n\"Callisa, if I didn't know any better, I'd swear you were one of her supporters. You aren't a demon or shadow in disguise, are you?\" His face hardened and it looked like he was about to bolt for the nearest weapon. The man was a soldier through and through, even with his injuries.\n\n\"No, of course not. You've seen me go out in the daylight, and enter holy places. I'm definitely not either of those. I just think everyone deserves a chance. A chance to make amends and explain their actions. Even someone like the Dark Sorceress.\"\n\nHis face softened. \"That's true, and I'd mostly agree with you. But not with her. Not with that one. There's nothing she could say that would make anyone forgive her.\"\n\n\"I see. Well, if that's how you feel, far be it from me to try and change your mind.\" \n\nShe could, of course. It would be easy. Even a minor sorceress could influence the minds of men. If she wanted, she could have this entire town swearing loyalty to her inside an hour. But no, she would not do that. That would raise too much attention. Besides, she was learning to like it in the town. She liked Barrin, for all his faults. He was a good man most of the time. No, she would not use her magic for anything other than simple enchantments for now.\n\nCalliope would live the simple life as Callisa for now. She would stay with the big man, maybe get married and have children she could pass her knowledge to. And someday, far in the future, she could return to being Calliope, the Dark Sorceress. But that was a long way off.", "Maeve lay in her cot, staring out the window. \n\nHer disguise held perfectly; the last of her energy weaved together so that the village wouldn’t recognize her face. Her clothes were rough, scratchy against her battle-worn skin. The hair that now fell upon her shoulders was too curly, too red. She had a list of complaints about the life around her as she healed, but none of them did any good. \n\nNone of them saved her life. None of them changed the facts. \n\n\nSo Maeve bit her tongue and did her best to play the part. She batted her eyelashes at the common citizens and pulled the hem of her dress down in mock anxiety. There were only two things she really wanted. Her health, and the blacksmith. \n\nThe sun was moving up the sky as her thoughts returned to the moment. Any moment the shops would begin to open, and the sounds of the street would begin filtering through the walls. She knew that Alexander would be in his workroom already. In a brief second of imagination that was very unlike herself, she closed her eyes and almost swore she could hear the sounds of his tools hitting the anvils. \n\nThe smell of steam hit her nose, and she wondered if she had finally connected to the mere mortals, or if she had gone crazy. A knock on the inside of her door informed her it was neither. \n\n“Breakast, Ma’am?” a mousy little voice called to her before she looked. \n\n“Yes, please,” Maeve responded. \n\nThe words scraped against her throat. She wasn’t sure she would ever get used to the condescending politeness they all expected from each other. \n\nWithout another word the small woman entered the room and set the tray down on the worn and scuffed table next to Maeve's bed. She nodded and turned to leave. \n\n“Wait!” \n\nWith a raised eyebrow the woman turned around again, making irritating eye contact. \n\nAs if they were really equals. \n\n“Woman to woman…* Maeve began, unsure of what had come over her in the moment. “Do you know of the blacksmiths past?” \n\nThe woman’s eyebrow fell and her lips parted, but otherwise, she froze. “Well…” \n\n\n“Well? Do you not know?” \n\n“I do.” The woman pressed her hands into themselves, letting them hang together in front of herself. “I tended his wound when he came back from the war. We talked at length. We…” She drifted off, her eyes moving to the ground. \n\n“The war?” Maeve asked. The question was half to the woman and half to herself. \n\nThe man had been kind enough to speak to her and answer her questions about forging a new weapon from the pieces of her staff. He was handsome, and a little bit rough. He reminded Maeve of an old lover if she was being honest. The two spoke on every meeting in the street, but he hadn’t been too forthcoming about his past. \n\nShe knew that she shouldn’t blame him- since much of what she told him was a lie. But she couldn’t help herself. Common or not; she wanted more of him. \n\n“Thank you.” \n\nThe woman looked startled again, her eyes lifting rapidly to the bed and then around the room. “You are welcome.” \n\nIn another minute the room was quiet again, and the sorceress was alone. \n\n“Wounded in the war,” she whispered to the room. \n\nShe sat up and shifted her legs, moving herself to the edge of the bed. It was time for breakfast, she supposed. Then to get dressed and make herself presentable. When she was done she could bring a gift to the blacksmith. \n\nShe could bring a gift that would lead to him sitting down with her. They had talked of picnics in the past, and she felt certain that she could smile her way into sealing the deal. They could sit, and she could ask him questions. \n\nOf course, she understood which war it was. The blacksmith wore a fake leg and apparently had lost in the fight against the sorceress herself. It complicated matters, but it didn’t scare her off. \n\nAfterall- she understood the war so well. She knew exactly how to connect with him now. And the thought brought a crooked smile to her face. \n\n***\n\n/r/Beezus_Writes for more." ]	12
	[WP] A dragon holds a princess captive, turning all away but the bravest, boldest, most heroic and attractive of rescuers. It turns out said dragon was hired by said princess, who had had far too many tedious suitors, in order to fine the perfect partner.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 prophecy had been passed along for years; only the most worthy of suitors would be able to capture the beautiful maiden locked in the tower, guarded by a fearsome dragon that could only be bested if a suitor proved himself to be the best of the best.\n\nMichael was not the best of the best, by any means; he probably wasn't even the best of the worst. Yet, one night, he had a dream that he was the one who was meant to defeat the dragon. So, ignoring his logical sense, he packed up what he thought he would need to embark on this journey, and headed towards the dark unknown. \n\n\n\n---\n\n\n\nMichael thought this harrowing journey would involve a lot of fighting. Really, it was mostly just walking. Lots of walking, lots of drinking water. He almost thought he would never make it. Then, he stepped into the line of sight of the tower.\n\nIt was just as the prophecy had told, though not many had actually seen it. The tower was tall, at least 300 feet, built from golden bricks that had become overgrown by ivy and moss. It still looked beautiful, exactly what you would expect a beautiful young girl to be locked up in in fairy tales. \n\nThe dragon, on the other hand, was nothing like he expected. There it laid, sleeping peacefully, looking almost serene and innocent. Michael was slightly confused by the chain of events of how easy this was, but he wasn't going to question it now. He had gotten this far. \n\nHe was careful, approaching the tower from the back side, proceeding with caution. Each step caused his heart to race; in his mind, his heart beat was as loud as a marching band. Any second, the dragon would wake up.\n\nAlmost in the blink of an eye, Michael was next to the tower. And leaning against the tower, as if this was all planned, was a ladder.\n\nMichael glances between the ladder and the dragon quickly, then hastily makes his way up. \n\nThrough the window, he can see the maiden sitting at a vanity, smiling to herself as she hums a tune. For someone that had been locked up for years, she seemed very content with the arrangement. In fact, she looked almost immaculate, as if she were living lavishly.\n\n\"Pardon me,\" Michael's voice breaks through the silence, and the maiden looks up. \"Are you Isabella?\"\n\n\"How did you get in here?\"\n\n\"The ladder.\" He offers casually.\n\n\"It couldn't have been that easy.\" She mutters, standing up quickly. He watches as she makes her way to the window, leaning over to stare down at the dragon. \"I should have known this plan would backfire.\"\n\n\"What exactly is this plan you speak of?\" If he wasn't confused before, he had to be by now.\n\nIsabella sighs, rolling her eyes and throwing herself back onto her bed dramatically. \"I guess I might as well tell you since you made it this far.\"\n\nIt only takes a few minutes to explain, and by the end, Michael is smirking. \"You really expected that to work?\"\n\n\"It did in the beginning!\" Isabella is almost indignant.\n\n\"But then everyone gave up.\" Michael states. \n\n\"I guess everyone stops believing in fairy tales after a while,\" Isabella says sadly.\n\n\"I know I'm not what you were expecting.\" Michael acknowledges, sitting beside the young girl. \"But I could still be your happily ever after.\n\nIsabella looks at him for a moment, then smiles and takes his hand. \"Yes, you could.\"" ]	2
	[WP] You wake up. The room is dark. In front of you is a wood table illuminated by a light from above. On it sliced ham, a puddle of strawberry jam, and two pieces of burnt toast. A voice echoes from the darkness, "You know what to do."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\\[WP\\]The Breakfast\n\nIt took me a little longer than usual to wake up, but then I remembered it was Sunday and today I would be allowed to sleep in. No wonder I was so weary. It had been a busy few weeks in the royal household and entertaining dignitaries from all over the world had taken its toll. In the last week we had hosted the President of Finland, Nelson Mandela, and Sir Michael Jagger had decided to extend his stay by one more night.\n\nNever in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that 33 years ago, when I had first applied for the advertised position as royal butler, that I would be living in this palace with Her Majesty. My loyalty had not gone unnoticed, nor unrewarded and it was bitter sweet that I would be retiring at the end of the year.\n\nOn that Sunday morning my bedroom was pitch black and I was thankful for the tightly drawn velvet curtains as I rolled onto my side. From my vantage point I saw a small sliver of light shining under the threshold of the heavy mahogany door. I heard the clatter of fine porcelain crockery and I was reminded that the new kitchen maid was preparing breakfast-in-bed for the Queen. After the interview, I had not been in favour of hiring this young girl. She had a questionable background and she appeared as daft as a bush. Still we didn't have much choice. She was our only applicant after the last maid had been sacked for helping herself to the royal wine cellar.\n\nThe acrid smell of burnt toast wafted under my door.\n\nI heard a mild profanity, ‘Oh, Jesus Christ.’\n\nI threw back my blanket and without stopping to put on my slippers, marched into the kitchen. In the centre was a wooden table illuminated by a light from above. On it was sliced ham, a puddle of strawberry jam and two pieces of burnt toast. My God, this girl was worse than I thought.\n\nThe maid was in a sorry state. Strawberry jam was in her hair, in large sticky lumps. It dripped down her starched white apron, which looked as though it belonged to a surgeon who had just performed a massive transfusion.\n\nI grabbed a leather bound book off the bookshelf. My fingers brushed against the gold embossed letters – ‘PALACE ETIQUETTE.’ I turned to page 33 with the section on ‘How to Prepare the Queen's Breakfast – A step by step guide,’ and slid it across the table to the girl. As I closed the door to my bedroom, my voice echoed from the darkness, “You know what to do.”" ]	2
	[WP] You wake up and hear someone say “Hey, don’t freak out. I just wanna cook breakfast.” “Did you break into my house just to cook breakfast?” You reply. Living in Florida is rough.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Mrphh... Toast? I smell toast? I must be dreaming, Jenny died two years ago. There's no one here to cook breakfast.\n\nClatter!\n\nWhat in the ...\n\n\"I don't have any cash, but take whatever else you want, just leave me alone.\"\n\n“Hey, don’t freak out. I just wanna cook breakfast.\"\n\n“Did you break into my house just to cook breakfast?”\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\nThat's a woman's voice. Older, a bit rough. Still, eating my food? Things are tough enough already.\n\n'So you're eating my food too?\"\n\n\"I'm not that rude. I brought my own ingredients, and I'm offering a free breakfast in exchange for the use of your kitchen, which I cleaned by the way. You bachelors can be pretty disgusting you know.\"\n\nThat hurts, a lot. I still miss her.\n\n\"Widower.\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"I'm a widower.\"\n\nThe sounds in the kitchen stop. A utensil hits the floor.\n\n\"I'm so sorry. I'll leave at once.\"\n\n\"Please stay.\"\n\n\"I've insulted you, and the memory of your wife.\"\n\n\"Who would be incensed at wasting the food you've already started breakfast with. You keep cooking. I'll be with you in a few minutes.\"\n\nSlowly, the kitchen sounds pick up again. I get dressed and walk into the kitchen.\n\n\"Good morning.\"\n\n\"Good morning, I apologise...\"\n\n\"Please, don't. It was rather pleasant to wake up to the smell and sounds of breakfast. I haven't had that happen for ten years.\"\n\n\"Oh... Technically, I didn't \"break\" in. I haven't broken anything besides a few eggs.\"\n\n\"Left the back door unlocked again, didn't I...\"\n\n\"Yes, and thank you so much for doing so. I didn't want to break anything, but I was getting desperate.\"\n\n\"Any time you need a kitchen, just stop by and knock.\"\n\n\"You... you would do that for me?\"\n\n\"Life in Florida is rough enough. You've been considerate and kind. Aside from that one remark, which you could not have known about, and for which you already apologized.\"\n\n\"These onions are terrible.\" As she wipes her eyes.\n\n\"Yes, they are pretty strong.\" Accepting her fig leaf for her emotions.\n\nAs we eat breakfast, we talk. We are much the same in many ways, it's just that my retirement was better planned than her husband's was.\n\nOver the following month, she stops by for various meals, cleaning the kitchen, and offering conversation as well as food.\n\n...\n\nHurricane Andrew is coming, I hope she stops by before that happens. Where she's staying won't protect her from the expected flooding.\n\nA knock at the back door! She's here! With two garbage bags?\n\n\"Hello George, with Andrew coming, I'm hoping you'll keep my belongings dry for me. The flooding is going to be bad.\"\n\n\"What about you?!\"\n\n\"I'll stay at the homeless shelter.\"\n\n\"Martha... They're already full up. You'd have to go to Tampa to find any place with openings.\"\n\nThe look on her face. I've hesitated to offer this, I don't want to insult her or leave the wrong impression.\n\n\"Please, come in. Bring your bags, I have the perfect place to store them.\" I lead her to my son's room. Being in the Marines, he's seldom home, and he's on deployment right now. One of those unpleasant Middle East countries.\n\n\"This is my son's room. He's on deployment to the Middle East, and rarely can get time off when he is in the states. Please consider staying here, at least until Andrew is gone.\" Seeing another look on her face. \"No strings, no expectations, no visits from The Shadow.\"\n\nShe laughs. We both like Bill Cosby. Yeah, what he did was wrong, but that doesn't change the fact that he was a great comedian.\n\n\"I must repay you somehow.\"\n\n\"What you have already done for me is sufficient payment. Although, if you feel up to preparing dinner?\"\n\n\"So! Now I'm your live-in cook?!\"\n\nSoftly, \"only if you wish to be\", continuing \"I value your conversation enough that I would cook for you ... If I was any good at it at all.\n\nNo strings, no expectations. You can stay in this room whenever you like. Or not. No pressure either.\"\n\n\"Thank you, George.\"\n\nThe next five years see a growing friendship, platonic despite my neighbor's attempts to insinuate otherwise. I make sure my son knows, so he doesn't get a surprise. \"Dad, I don't care if it's platonic or a screaming orgy. I'm just glad you have someone there with you.\" Blunt as always, that's my son.\n\nWith a real address, she can get a regular job. She insists that she share expenses. I am willing, but after five years, a comment by one of my neighbors about \"common law\" makes me both mad and curious.\n\n\"Martha? We have either a problem or an opportunity, depending on how you feel. According to the law, in another six months, we will be married according to common law.\"\n\n\"I... I hadn't considered that. How do you feel?\"\n\nI smile, and kneel on my bad knees. \"Martha? This was my wife's engagement ring, would you please marry me?\"\n\nThe response was everything I could have hoped for.\n\n... Three years later ...\n\nMy son is home on an extended leave! We have a cookout in the back yard. Everything is wonderful, until that nosy bastard from next door starts making snide comments. My son's face darkens, and goes hard in a way I've never seen before. \"Son! Don't do anything rash!\" He looks at me, \"I won't. I just want to have a short conversation with Mr. Hubbard. There's a few things he needs to know.\"\n\nMy son's smile is surface friendly, but his eyes!?! He saunters over, and there's a short conversation, during which, Mr. Hubbard blanches several times. A sudden nodding of his head, and Hubbard disappears into his house.\n\n\"You shouldn't have any more trouble from him.\"\n\n\"I don't suppose you'd be willing to tell me what got him to blanch like that?\"\n\n\"You suppose correctly. I merely reminded him of several ... events ... in his past.\"\n\n\"I don't see, and I won't ask any more.\"\n\n\"Thanks, Dad. And thank you Martha for taking such good care of my father.\"\n\n((finis))", "\"My stove was broken and I didn't break in. Your door was unlocked.\"\n\n\"Did you turn off the AC?\"\n\n\"I was chilly. How do you like your eggs?\"\n\n\"You can't just walk into people's homes and take their food.\"\n\n\"I brought my own.\"\n\n\"And mess with their thermostat. This is Florida. It's always hot.\"\n\n\"You know what? You're so ungrateful. You're getting scrambled eggs.\"\n\n\"I don't want eggs!\"\n\n\"Really? Eggs are good for you.\"\n\n\"What? No they're not!\"\n\n\"Let's agree to disagree.\"\n\n\"Who the hell are you anyway?\"\n\n\"Are you freaking out?\"\n\n\"Yeah, just a bit!\"\n\n\"Drink some OJ. Or maybe you need some coffee?\"\n\n\"I...! Um, yeah, I could use some coffee.\"\n\n\"I'll pour you some. And I was kidding about the scrambled eggs. You like over easy?\"\n\n\"I really don't like eggs.\"\n\n\"You've never had mine.\"\n\n\"Yeah, no kidding.\"" ]	3
	[WP] You're a bounty hunter – effective, efficient, and very expensive. On one of your mission, you realised the person you hunted were the same person as the one who posted the bounty.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Max, what us your status on real world tracking? I think I might be onto something in Cyber.\" My breath was shaky as I struggled to keep up with all of the running code from the firewall. Whomever it is that we are hunting knows how to protect themselves in Cyber.\n\n\"I am stuck, this guy knows how to keep his identity off the web.\" He sighed in defeat, almost like he is already giving up on this hunt. \"Good luck Sam, you got this.\"\n\nIt was strange to hear him call my name, I hadn't heard him call it in a long time. We have been tracking this person for weeks. The pay for this job is gonna be worth it if we just push through. We were hired by someone who went by the alias 3s.\n\nEither way, back to the case. The firewall I am trying to break down is what I think is protecting our targets identity. We don't know much about him other than the fact that his username is 'JScript', which I guess is a nod at the old code language 'Java Script'. We tracked his username through a whitelisted server for a gambling hall. Right now, I am trying to break the casions protection. Every legal gambling hall requires access to your Cyber ID. Yes I know what I am doing is illegal, but it isn't every day that you are offered a million dollars for completing a job. Hell, I bet there are far more experienced hunters all trying to take on this job.\n\nThankfully Max caught wind of this job within the hour it was posted and we have been non-stop tracking this guy since. After hours of doing everything I can to get through the security of the gambling hall without setting off security, I see my break and I jump for it. Now, if it was the security for just about anything else in this place I would have been stopped cold. But thankfully they care less about the privacy of their customers and more about the money they are making. Crazy I know right?\n\nAfter taking my leap I am surrounded by usernames only match through logins. I took a long while searching and it was awfully boring. I don't want to try and contact anyone while in here out of fear of giving myself away.\n\nBut there it was. My money maker, or at least hopefully it is. The Cyber ID is NA3333333. Unusual, but not impossible. Simply a lucky NA user. However something was up about this name. It just, didn't sit right.\n\nIt hit me as I was leaving the database and making sure I left no digital footprints. Our employers alias was 3s, and without a doubt in my mind that he is the person that we are hunting. But who in their right mind would put a million dollar bounty on themselves?\n\nWell... this is only half the key. If I give it to Max it might help finding 3s in the real. And than we can get our answer to why he wants himself captured.", "2.5 Million Upfront. \n\nThat's what the message said. It was more than enough to catch my eye. My typical policy was half down and half upon completion, that said, I wouldn't argue with someone so willing to throw their money at me, my own sense of professionalism would keep me from bailing on the job anyway. A quick reply through my secure servers and soon I was staring at a picture. He was an average male. Just over six feet, roughly ninety kilos, athletic.\n\nFollowing that, there was an itinerary for the next week. This struck me as somewhat odd. It wasn't uncommon for people to follow patterns in those they wanted assassinated, but this, this was a disturbing amount of detail. Schedules down the the minute, footpaths, personal tendencies. I joked to myself that, whoever posted the ad, was the kind of stalker someone else would try to have killed. Trusting the intel, I started going through my options. The target frequented a few coffee shops and restaurants. Poison was looking like a strong option, until I noticed the time frames, peak hours of operation. Getting a single dose accurately could prove difficult, and collateral is expensive. There was a hotel stay planned near the end of the week, a hit in the night would be as easy as it gets, but messy. I decided to test the accuracy of the report, assuming the weeks worth of stalking meant I had a week to perform the task.\n\nFrom the top of a downtown hotel, looking down a sniper scope, I'd come to realise the report was perfect to the letter. The target obsessed over a classic looking watch on his right wrist. Conversations were cut short to keep on his timetable and food was left unfinished. It was now the third day of observation, and I'd decided to use the tools at hand, or in hand. This rifle had never failed me before, and it wasn't about to start.\n\nThe target was moving. Referencing the schedule, I knew he was headed for the courtyard, apparently to meet someone. As he sat on a bench he checked his watch for the umpteenth time, 5:12PM, he was late for the first time, albeit by two minutes, although there was that sedan that almost hit him while walking here. I let myself joke again, this time about how being late could be the reason he was killed today. Switching the safety and readying my finger on the trigger, I stared down the scope at my target. I'd created a policy for myself, never ask the question, \"Why does someone want this person dead?\" I broke that rule.\n\nWhoever contacted me had an intimate knowledge of this man, perhaps even more than he knew himself. Why would someone endeavour to destroy something they've spent so much time and effort understanding? Coming back to my senses, I realised he was staring back. He wasn't just aimlessly looking in the direction I happened to be, our eyes were meeting across a kilometre. I paused, he kept looking at me, I felt his eyes in my soul. Then, he raised his eyebrows. As if asking me, \"Well? Are we doing this?\" I fired.\n\nI was confident in the shot. The wind was quiet, there were no obstructions, the ammunition was perfect. A specialised round, designed for penetration. It would go through his heart, or at least one other vital organ, and then bury itself in the dirt behind him. No one would be any wiser until I'd made my escape.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nIt had been a week since that day. Something about the way he'd looked at me had shaken me. There was a knock at my door. Opening it, I was met by a man in a suit. \"Alan Wayne?\"\n\n\"Yes, that's me. What's this about?\"\n\n\"This is regarding something that happened last week. My partner will have more information for you.\" From behind him I saw another man coming up the walk. I felt my whole body shake.\n\n\"Hi, we met last Tuesday.\"\n\n\"Uh..uh..wha..how? Who? Why?\"\n\n\"We work for someone who's taken an interest in people in your, unique line of work.\"\n\n\"But I..\"\n\n\"Killed me? Yea sorry about that. The easiest way to see if an assassin has any merit is to have them, well, assassinate. Problem is, dead employees don't get much done. So it turned out to be pretty beneficial when we figured out a pharmaceutical immortality.\"\n\n\"So you...\"\n\n\"Hurt like fuck until yesterday. Still can't quite breathe right but we're on a time crunch. Long story short. We're here to offer you a job. And yes., from this point, everything you point that rifle at will stay dead, or more accurately, actually die when you shoot them.\"\n\n\"And if I say no?\"\n\n\"We leave and nothing happens.\"\n\n\"Wait, why did you say everything I aim at?\"\n\nA sinister smile appeared on both of their faces.", "Look, I’ve done booby traps before. I’ve done security systems, armies of private guards, and automated defense drones. There are planetary unions where the first line of defense is acid-blooded leaches, or giant trolls, or living forests.\n\nBut, as I drag my body into my escape ship, I can’t help noticing that this is the first time that I’ve ever been beaten.\n\nThe residual toxins are leaving pitting and scoring on the floor of the vessel. I accidentally grab a jacket I left hanging up and it catches fire.\n\nI put myself into the airlock and flood the whole place with every cleaning material, toxin clearer, and antibiotic I have. Takes two cycles before the computer judges that I’m fit for human habitation.\n\nI peel off the suit and head to the cockpit. The ship had been on autopilot and I’m just about ready to call it a day. Get some sleep, wake up the next morning, and try to figure out a new way to attack this maniac.\n\nThat’s when I notice a sleek, fast liner on my tail.\n\nI yank the wheel.\n\nAn explosion to my left. I tilt around and activate the automatic return-fire cannons.\n\nI’m proud of my ship. It was piece of junk when I got my hands on it, but I’ve put a lot of time and work into her. I took down three Trantorian enforcers with her in as many minutes. The needle-point once cut straight through a dreadnought’s magnetic field.\n\nSo I yank my girl in a long circle, because I’ve dealt with these rich sporting vessels before. Nice and fast and impossible to handle at the speeds their drivers like to push them to.\n\nA direct hit knocks me right off course.\n\nThe other ship managed to cut in an even tighter loop and hit me from the side, so fast I didn’t even see it coming.\n\nI’m being hunted, I realize. And I’m outmatched.\n\nI could try and fight, but there’s no glory in dying like this. Time for an emergency evac.\n\nI open a solar sail. Three around the rim of the vessel. Fuckers probably laughing right now, thinking I’ve given them an easier target. Technically, I have, and the bombardment begins immediately.\n\nFrom behind, I release a small fusion warhead. While it ticks, I strap myself in and keep an eye on the shields. The ship’s taking a real pounding, but in just a second…\n\nThe warhead goes off. Even with it behind me, I can see the flare of energy in the forward viewport.\n\nThe sails catch the pulse, and, with any luck, the other ship’s sensors will be temporarily scrambled.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI shoot off into the black.\n\nGuild hall. I’m looking into my target again. Old money fellow, his mom was the founder of 3HC and he’s been coasting off of it his whole life.\n\nThe bounty was set anonymously, so I can’t tell who wants this guy dead. He’s not hurting for enemies, that’s for sure.\n\nHe’s also a registered employer with the Guild.\n\nI can’t see what bounties he’s set, but thanks to a little loophole in the security systems for the network, I can see when he set them.\n\nHe’s logged on four times in the past four years.\n\nI look again at the dates.\n\nThen, I open the Guild’s deadpool.\n\nHe sent out his first bounty 7 cycles ago. Zephyr died 36 hours later.\n\nShe was a legend in the business. Former soldier in Volnar’s civil war, only survivor of the Repton Masssacre.\n\nSecond bounty was 4 cycles ago. 42 hours later, Alpha is dead.\n\n83 confirmed kills to his name, 56 snatches, and 17 rescues.\n\nThird bounty was two cycles ago. Halfdan…\n\nMy hands clench. He was the man who trained me.\n\nHe posted his last bounty 55 hours ago. I open my contract again. The bounty is 55 hours old.\n\nI’m not the predator. I’m the prey." ]	4
	[WP] It's the year 2400, and you and your friends live on a terraformed Mars. One of your friends is going on a months-long trip to another planet that they have been preparing for for over half a year. They're about to leave for that trip in a few hours.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "First post, be gentle. Also Brave New World reference.\n\nIt had been weeks now since the sinking, queasy feeling had found a home in Ras’s stomach. His head dipped low as he skulked down the metal lined hallway, towards the transportation pods and past the bright screen panels advertising the very thing that had brought the feeling in the first place. “Come!” they screamed at him in a bold white font. Projected propaganda posters in the style used during Earth’s second World War. The quintessential Martian man stood front and center, his gaze bent expectantly towards the destination in question. Europe, one of Jupiter’s moons. Its discovery and exploration had been rife with scandal within the scientific community. A race to the next frontier between the Confederate and the Allies. Countries from both sides sending lander after lander, hoping to escape the fate of those sent before – crashed against the ice plate crust or shredded by the equatorial spikes. And then there was the ocean, nicknamed “The Deep.” A behemoth that encapsulated the planet completely. It displayed nothing but a menacing lifelessness.\n\nBut the powers were not to be stopped in their quest for expansion. Even before the last of Mars had been divided and terraformed almost 30 years ago, there were rumors in the scientific community of elementary probes being launched out in the unmanned borderlands under the cover of night, headed for Europa’s orbit. It was Ras’s father, one of the first engineers at a fledgling CASE agency, who had first told him of these secret excursions. But now, as a CASE Engineer himself, he was privy to the inner workings of the program. Though classification had grown exponentially since his father’s time and he was thoroughly forbidden from speaking any of these thoughts to his civilian friends. He stepped into a pod, sunk into its velvet lined passenger’s seat and pressed his fingertips to the reader. It lit up green with recognition and started with a light hum. He felt the pod lifting away from the ground, but his thoughts had drawn him far away from the place his body currently inhabited.\n\nThey had rushed the initial analyses of course. Agricultural potential, atmospheric predictions, long-term efficacy of a human colony. Everything had been rushed. But ever moving forward, they had run with the first even remotely positive projections and begun drafting a manned mission. And now they drew civilians to certain death. Anything to have the first territorial claim on a planet that amounts to a floating ice cube, Ras though bitterly. The idea of sending actual trained cosmonauts to the early grave that was Europa was ludicrous to the Confederate. All that was needed was for a Confederate citizen to place a foot on the planet and the surrounding 1000 square miles would be claimed as a territory of the Confederate, rendering the remainder of the narrow landing zone that had been discovered effectively unusable to any of the Allies. And giving the Confederate a lead of about a year, according to the most recent estimates. A year. Is that all he’s worth? Ras tried to push the thoughts out of his head. Nothing to be done now. Nothing legal, anyway. He quelled the defiant push that came from his gut in response to the statement. Grasping desperately for other thoughts, he turned on his neural projector and flicked through that day’s data readings concerning orbiting conditions. Once home, he slipped two soma tablets under this tongue before stripping and jumping into the shower. There, he let his thoughts break through once again knowing they would soon be overwhelmed. He felt the sharp prickling at the corners of his eyes before the unmistakable warmth flowed down his cheeks. It was a feeling he had found himself increasingly familiar with these past few months. He was pulled back to the same scenes he had revisited countless times. Sprinting through the first of the artificial rains, Lucas closely behind, feet heavy as they pounded against the slick pavement, the smell of sulfur thick in the air. Springtime, lemon cake custard sticky on their fingers. Chapped, nervous lips on his own, eyes wide, colors bright. He felt the edges of the memory becoming fuzzy as his senses began succumbing to the medication. Better this way, he thought. He turned off the water and stood motionless a few minutes more as the rest of his memories blurred into oblivion. Wordlessly, thoughtlessly, he dressed. He stepped out of his house and once again into the pod. He was lifting. Lifting. He was there. He was knocking. 48 Hours to Liftoff!, the banner through the front window of the house read. Colors bright. Mocking. The word slipped out of his mind before he could consider it. The door opened. There was a hand on his shoulder. Wide eyes stared into his own." ]	2
	[WP] You live in a world where the dreams of everyone are broadcasted. After a horrible nightmare in which you accidentally murder someone, you wake up to find you are wanted in every country.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "He was chained to a post, his breathing ragged, face caked with blood and yet he was still grinning at me. His eyes glared intently into mine, taunting me. \n\nI clenched my fist once again and felt a surge of anger well up deep within me before lashing out at him, allowing a flurry of punches to land on his face, hoping that he would avert his gaze.\n\nBut he did not. I could feel his disconcerting stare penetrate into the core of my being. \n\nI screamed in frustration and ignored the aching pains in my knuckles. I knew that I had to shut his eyes if I were to ever feel peace again. With this realization, I picked up the knife on the ground and approached him. \n\n\"Close your fucking eyes!\" I could hear my own hoarse voice crack, and yet he persisted with his smirk and unblinking gaze. \n\nI threw the entire weight of my body into the stab, and aimed it right at his heart, knowing his death would quell me. I could feel his body deflate, very similar to a balloon, as I heard him gasp. And yet when I pulled back, his gaze was still on me.\n\nI fell to my knees and sobbed hysterically. \n\n\n\n\n\"Wake up, wake up damn it!\"\n\nI awoke with my fists clenched, ready to lash out once more, feeling a deep sense of failure and confusion. I noticed that I was covered in sweat. When I peered up, I realized that my brother was looming over me, his face a look of panic. My body was rigid and tense. With much difficulty, I allowed my muscles to relax.\n\n\"We're in trouble Asher. We have to leave, now! You know as well as I how much shit we're in for dreaming something like that! Assaulting and killing the Director? Are you fucking crazy? Haven't you realized how paranoid the entire Organization is of an uprising?\"\n\nHe was right. The Organization had started monitoring our dreams in a bid to crush any signs of a revolution as soon as it surfaced, and I had just placed a huge target on my back. \n\n\"It's all those fucking illegal podcasts you've been listening to that's addled your brains! They're always watching us Asher, we can't escape their eyes. And now we have to run to the far corners of the Earth. How are we going to manage? We've got 5 minutes before they'll kick down the door and we're done for. Have you seen what they did to traitors of the state?\"\n\nI closed my eyes and took a deep breath. There was scarcely any way out of this whole mess. \n\n\"No, we can't run. All borders would've been alerted to the situation by now. We have to fight, that's the only way. Looks like we've just started the revolution brother.\"" ]	2
	[WP] Earth is being invaded by a brutal and scientifically advanced alien empire. All seems lost and the aliens are quickly defeating our militaries. But then a miracle happens. The aliens drop their weapons and raise picket signs, they unionized and are striking for better working conditions	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "We were beginning to lose all hope. They were quickly advancing on our last stronghold. The last human-owned territory on Earth was an inch away from collapse. We braced for the worst.\nBut then, after a single message went across the enemy communication frequencies, everything stopped. Many of us assumed it was a trap, but I had a hunch that wasn't what was happening. They already won. What would they need any kind of trap for?\nAn hour passed, and we still didn't hear any activating engines or weapons. I had to take a chance and look outside of the base to see what was going on. What I saw was not an approaching invasion force, but the light of a projection.\nIt was a message in their writing. Then another, similar message elsewhere on the clouds. Then another. Then another, until the alien language filled the sky. I ordered our remaining translation staff to get on it.\nWhat the messages came back as were not what anyone could had expected.\n\"They're lying.\"\n\"Cease fire immediately.\"\n\"We've been tricked.\"\nNone of us were sure what this possibly could have meant, but we would soon get our answer when one of the enemy troop leaders hailed our frequency.\n\"We are sorry,\" said a robotic voice—what they sounded like speaking through their translation devices. \"I will be coming to your capital alone and unarmed. Please let us explain.\"\n\nWe were suspicious of this, but the meeting took place without any complications.\nThe enemy had been told that the Earth was a threat. Some of them had become suspicious themselves, because they were winning too easily. Earth wasn't even putting up a fight in their eyes. This troop leader had returned to their homeworld for briefing, and when he got there, his suspicions were confirmed. The dispute, in truth, was domestic. The political climate in their own homeworld had changed drastically since the last time he had been there. One of the nations had gained far more control of their planet, as most of the defending nations' militaries were part of the invasion force. Their emperor convinced their world that the nearest spacefaring civilization was planning to attack. The Earth wasn't a target. It was a diversion to leave their own home planet defenseless, so that the imperial task force could do as they pleased without resistance—a plan which, ultimately, worked.\n\nThey offered us a deal. They promised that we would be protected, on the condition that we pretend to be extinct. Their reasoning was that if their homeworld thought the mission had been accomplished, no more invaders would be sent. It would give us time to rebuild and them time to plan a counterattack.\n\nWe weren't willing to forgive them. Many of us wanted to just start firing while they left themselves open. As angry as they were to comply, I ordered them to cease fire as well—as we actually were close to extinction, we had to take the deal. There was no other choice.\n\nOur only hope as a species is if they hold up their end of the bargain." ]	2
	[WP] A young woman is one day gifted by nature with the ability to speak to all and any animals. She’s joyed and excited by this gift, however after utilizing this newfound ability, she comes to realize it brings her sadness more than anything else.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 Sugar toots! Why don'cha come over er and let me touch your boobs?!\"\n\nOh god, not this guy again Erika thought to herself as she noticed the large, pudgy raccoon perched atop her neighbor's recycling bin. She shielded her eyes with one hand and quickened her pace.\n\n\"Leave the poor girl alone.\" A small voice from the branches above called down, \"Can't you see she don't want to talk to some flea-ridden trash panda?!\" The mother squirrel tossed an acorn down at the raccoon.\n\n\"Hey, who you callin flea-ridden?!\" The raccoon asked testily as he scratched his fur.\n\nErika picked up the pace. Why, oh why did this happen to her? At first it was great, she could talk to any animal. She thought they would be awesome and insightful... but she was shocked and saddened to learn that most animals are either annoying, jerks or horny perverts.\n\n\"Hey! Hey! Hey!\" Erika stopped short and glanced around. Across the street, straining against it's lead a small dust-mop of a shitzu hopped excitedly, \"Hey! Hey! Hey!\"\n\n\"What?\" Erika asked tentatively.\n\n\"I want food. Give me food.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry, I don't have any food to spare. All I have is my lunch.\"\n\n\"That's food. Give me that food.\"\n\n\"No. I can't. I need that for me.\"\n\nThe small dog growled as menacingly as it could manage before releasing a string of profanity that would make a sailor blush, calling Erika every name she knew and a few she didn't. She scoffed in frustration, clamped her hands over her ears and marched, head down and ears closed to the bus stop... man, it was going to be a long day." ]	2
	[WP]A Lovecraftian monster of grotesque proposition exists in a separate plain unseen by most. You are oblivious.This beast manifests itself into your world as a cute pet and behaves as such. You two only have pure wholesome encounters.It won't harm you. But If somebody were to see its TRUE form...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 misconception that Autorthox have tentacles is one of the funnier things I've heard on this world. No, that's just bits of our physical form moving in-and-out of your observable reality, doofus.\n\nRecently, I decided to conduct an experiment. I decided to let a small piece of me stay shifted within a reality you, a human, can observe. Of course, I didn't realise that your lifeforms had very specific conventions for physical appearance as well, so it initially just resembled a disembodied piece of my flesh the size of a car floating around.\n\nI found Earth after discovering that there were only a few other places where fun life existed in the universe. There were the Star Vampires, but they were a bit monotonous after a while. Suckin' star gas isn't really interesting after the seven-millionth time. \n\nOh, uh, don't worry, they're too far away to ever come to your solar system. Probably. Star Vampire sounds bad but they're alright.\n\nAnyway, I came to your world and let my itty bitty flesh piece take on the form and consciousness of a person. However, this didn't work too well since I'm not familiar enough with your social conventions to just join society on a whim. So, I instead took on the form of a lesser, subordinate species that was absolutely and utterly beloved by the humans: the canine. \n\nI look like a corgi. It's brilliantly tiny. Relatively, of course. You're all tiny to me.\n\nI was enslaved(?) by a human named Paul. I wasn't too sure about the arrangement at first, for there appeared to be little-to-no mutual benefit. I'm not really sure what I did for him, and he did nothing for me but feed me and force me to stay in a small space. You have such small lifespans and you spend them all in these tiny angular spaces! It's adorable.\n\nOne day, I got particularly bored (or my dog-flesh-bit's consciousness got bored, I mean) and decided I needed some good old fashioned chaos again. Of course, my itty-bitty corgi form was a bit limited, so \"chaos\" in this instance was tearing up a couch cushion.\n\nPaul... didn't really punish me, per se. I wasn't really expecting that. I'd figured it was time to finally consume and replace him, now that I'd observed him for long enough to mimic his behaviour, but he didn't provoke me. He just seemed disappointed. And he continued to feed me nonetheless.\n\nClearly, I had to keep observing and investigate this phenomenon.\n\nLater, he took me for a walk. Oh, that's so embarrassing to say, considering I've walked slaves over entire moons before, but here we are.\n\nWe went to a place referred to as a park. It was far more open than Paul's apartment, so I took the opportunity to move my lil' corgi bits around and see how far I could push it physically. It was pretty fun! Paul even helped me out by providing an objective: retrieving a ball. He'd throw it, and I'd retrieve it. Thanks Paul! Afterwards, where my tummy was a little itchy from the grass, he gave it a scratch. All these things, hunger and itchiness and such, are things I can remove instantly of course, but it was nice of Paul to deal with them for me anyway.\n\nOne day, somebody came to Paul's home. I only found out a little while prior that Paul had a relatively important \"job\" in this society. Something in the government. It was actually interesting to some small extent. There was a lot of deception involved, and it impressed me that some humans were willing to be as ruthless as they were.\n\nBut then the human tried to do it to my Paul. He came around to the apartment with pictures of Paul committing taboo acts of some sort. I'm sure they were faked. Either way, the man shouted at Paul and started commanding him as if he were some sort of slave. A fellow human! And Paul, the kindest human, who treats his own canine slaves with the decency of one of his own!\n\nAfter the human left, I decided to reveal my entire form to his interpretation of reality, one bit at a time. He noticed how much space I took up, both spatially and temporally. He realised that I was everywhere, everyone, and that I'd been there his entire life, and that I would be there for the rest of it and beyond. Everything about his mental comprehension of reality was tainted, and so even after I hid myself again, the human was quite harmed. Poor itty-bitty human. Can't even see beyond his own solar system with his own eyes, yet he was forced to look up the form of an Autorthox.\n\nHis wee heart gave out pretty fast. It was amusing. He was in his bathtub with a bottle of alcohol (they use it to inhibit their own senses, but it didn't save him from me) on the phone to his mother, the one who created him. He was frantically trying to describe me to his own creator when he just gave in. Poor little thing.\n\nAnyway, I've decided since that day that it might be fun to take the long-way-round to destroying Earth. My plan, you ask? I'm going to put Paul on top!\n\nThey say don't make mountains out of molehills, but I think I deserve to have some fun. So yes, I'm going to make a mountain out of this little world, and I'm putting my main man Paul on top! \n\nThey will all see him as their ultimate superior, and if they refuse, then I'll pay them a visit. Put things in perspective for them. Paul is a kind owner. I am not." ]	2
	[WP] It’s a world of Magic, but instead of magic being at the beck and call of those who can wield it. Magic is a violent force of nature summoned by animalistic instinct rather than incantation.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "He curled up in the only corner with somewhat dry straw, listening with desperation to the muted conversation happening outside the cart's thin walls. The pair who had taken him from the orphanage seemed to be in an unending argument, and following it was his only way of parsing what was happening to him. It was hard to hear over the creak of the cart's wheels, but it let his mind work rather than wander. They were lovers, he'd gathered that by the passionate shrieks of the woman issuing from their tent last evening. They had learned about him by asking around at all the shelters from the bottom of Hammerscry to the steps of Eaton's Sepulcher, looking for kids that bizarre things happened to. Two weeks ago, he had managed to fight off three larger boys with naught but a broken nose, and that was enough for sister Chantellie to spin tales of casters skill latent in him. Rubbish, If he had a scrap of casters skill he'd be out of this filthy cart. Since he wasn't, they were bringing him up a mountain to a monastic hideaway that dealt in magic. Evidently, they paid well for young casters, but also live children at a less significant rate. The whole way up, when not cursing the mule, cart or trail they argued about whether it was worth it or if they'd be killed for falsehood if he turned out not to be a caster. \n\n\"You think people are just making up stories about it? If they murdered people there wouldn't be any stories\" said the man. \"they would have made them up! for the children!\" growled the woman \"So you want to turn around? Whip this miserable animal all the way back down the mountain?\" He barked \"I didn't say that\" she said \"Of course you didn't! Because you never have any ideas of your own you just like to belittle mine!\" He grumbled \"Would you shut your trap? We should be nearly there...\" She sighed \"...If this place is even still here. Who would want to live in this god-forsaken cold anyway?\" \"Witches...\" he murmured knowingly. Their voices dropped away, meaning they'd hopped off the cart for one reason or another. Try as he might, he could no longer make out their words so he simple entranced himself with the rhythmic creaking of the cart. At almost the same time, the creaking stopped and the doors flung open letting a blast of freezing air scour his skin, \"OUT! Out, you filthy little mongrel!\" The man dragged him bodily out and tossed him onto frigid flagstones. Shivering, he looked up.\n\nHe stood before a woman, who looked both young and old between her unlined face and large waft of silver hair. She was bundled in a thick robe of creamy yellow wool and carried a long gnarled stick with a silver bell set in the notch at the top. She was framed by a magnificent stone building, with walls of polished granite and steep roofs of rust colored tiles. She leaned down to him, an exotic earthy scent washing over him. \"Hello there, young one. What is your name?\" He paused. Children like him didn't have names, and didn't get them until they were adopted, so he just gaped into her beautiful crystal-blue eyes. She shrugged at his silence, and pulled a small silver bell on cordage and placed it over his head. \"run along inside and get warm now, quiet one.\" Her smile was achingly wonderful. As he ran, he heard her address his captors \"As for you two, you'll ride down that mountain and perpetuate the rumor that casters are worth four gold pieces, normal children one. Your reward will be your slimy self-preserving lives.\" He turned near the door to watch. The man was already drawing his dirk. \"We'll see about that you...\"\n\nThe bell atop her staff rang violently, swinging almost perpendicular to the twisted wood. With it's clear tone, the man was lifted as though by an invisible hook straight up into the air. Ten, twenty, thirty feet he rose with unnatural speed the matron watching him contemptuously. Finally, he dropped straight down again and slapped wetly on the ground. He did not move again. The woman stood for a moment, staring at her partner's fresh corpse. Then, she began to run. She ignored the cart and mule, simply racing downhill. He stood there, full of rage. It had been her that had snatched him, her that beat him when he tried calling for help, her that refused to let him relive himself outside of the fetid cart. He felt sour rage fill him up, an endless wellspring that wished with all his might for her to pay. A fountain of horrifying fantasies that had occupied him in that dank confinement.\n\nDing-a-ling-a-ling\n\nThe silver tone cut the air, and he looked down to see the bell snapping back and forth on it's own. He felt the hatred pour into an ictus, an electric crease in reality before him that stretched down, past the matron who watched him with interest. It tossed the mans body aside as it went leaving a trail through dusty snow to the woman, who turned back at the dread presence bearing down on her. He was reminded of a little girl in a badly stained dress in the orphanage's yard. For whatever reason, she was slapping her straw doll on a rock, with childhoods meaningless fury she struck it against the stone over and over and over. That's what came to mind when he saw the woman lifted by her leg. The straw doll had held together far better than the woman. It was cathartic for the first upward swing, but after that he was sick. The matron rushed to him and enveloped him in the earthy scent and soft robes. \"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, that wasn't intentional you sweet little boy. I didn't want that for you, my word you didn't deserve that. come along, we'll have some tea and talk. and we have much to talk about...\"" ]	2
	[WP] As the Dark Lord continues to cleave through the helpless army of the light, after having defeated the Hero of Light, nothing could ever stand in his way again, victory was finally his... So why is he having so much trouble killing a simple no named soldier.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 pale-faced man wiped the disheveled strands of hair from his face, and quickly took the first gulp from his mug. The table's candlelight painted his face in shadows like an ethereal hood. His eyes began to peer into the drink, those some half-empty eyes staring back into the void of his soul.\n\nA sigh of exhaustion escaped his lips, and he began to look your direction, but avoided eye-contact. \"Which story do you want to hear? The 34-Year Elven Rebellion? The conquest of the Draconic Spire? How I escaped the nightmarish prison of the orc enclave? There's also--\" \n\n\"No,\" you interrupted. \"Tell me about, 'The Soldier From the Void,' as they call it.\n\nThe man released a soft chuckle and started scraping his nails against the table's wooden surface. \"The bards' songs of it aren't good enough for you, huh?\" \n\n\"They tend to leave out their sources. No other soldiers survived the battle at the Apex of Shadows, and I want to get the real story. Some claim a goddess descended and vanquished the Dark Lord, or that he and the Hero fought each other to the death in a climatic finish, and some claimed a child appeared from nothing and killed them both by simply snapping its fingers--that one was my favorite.\" \n\n\"Of all the stories you've named and I've heard, that last one feels closer to the truth.\" \n\nYour fists tightened as you searched for the courage to speak again. \"....what happened that day to our army, Dorin? To our hero? Only the best of soldiers were sent to his aid in the final battle, and for the longest time we all thought no one survived. And after years of searching, I find a survivor has become a bar-regular.\" \n\nHis eyes trailed off towards the nearest corner of the room. \"So you're not just another bored soul looking to past the time.\" \n\n\"Dorin!\" \n\n\"I ran, alright? I ran because I was scared. Is that enough for you?\" \n\n\"What do you think?\" \n\n\"I think you should have been content listening to bards.\" \n\n\"I'll worry about that. And if you didn't want to talk, you could have taken that drink and left by now.\" Fists clenched on the table, you leaned closer to Dorin and stared straight through his face. \"You...we pledged our lives to defend this kingdom. The battle at the Apex of Shadows was supposed to bring peace to the world, but if something so powerful and unexplained could kill a hero of light, then we're far from safe, aren't we? I can't stop you from being scared, but put that info to use. Let someone make use it, so the hero didn't die just to delay a worse threat.\" \n\nWithout a peek given in your direction, he bluntly stated, \"You're too talkative in a bar, you know that? At least for someone presumably sober. I never told you I wouldn't say what happened. But there isn't much to say at all.\" His eyes returned to his mug and he gently swirled the dark liquid before him. \"This is my first drink, so I'm as lucid as I could be for this. Your lucky day, I guess. Just don't pester me with questions after. There's a new brand of liquor I wanna enjoy in peace, and I don't wanna relive this story any longer than needed. What I'll tell you is all I know, got it?\"\n\n\"Perfectly.\" \n\n\"Skipping right towards the end, the Hero and our army had the fight finished. Only the Dark Lord remained, and we were slowly but definitely weakening him. It was only a question of when we would win, not if. But as the Dark Lord was on his final breaths, that question instantly changed. \n\n\"The Dark Lord muttered some strange sound under his breath. The Hero's eyes grew petrified, and he instinctively cast a spell of protection to save us. After that, I was blinded by a white light, and lost consciousness. When I came to, my muscles were near paralyzed from the pain, and everyone but the Dark Lord were mere ashes or bloodstains across the battlefield.... including the Hero. \n\n\"The Hero rushed through his spell, so obviously it was imperfect. Maybe he was trying to save us before himself, I don't know. But someone I survived. It was me... and someone who was not there when the fighting began. \n\n\"The Dark Lord was boasting over the Hero's corpse, and I didn't even have the energy to yell in anger. He was beginning to leave, but was stopped by spying a lone soldier with no weapon. They had our armor and their face concealed by a helmet, but no weapon.\n\n\"Once again, I saw petrified eyes, but this time in the Dark Lord. The same look of horror the Hero had when the Dark Lord muttered that strange sound. The air had frozen still, and it felt dangerous to make the slightest movement. It was like a nightmare bled into this world. You're not terrified of any one creature, you're scared to death of the whole environment around you. You know wherever you are, an omniscient threat like a living nightmare can always find you. That's everything I felt from that 'soldier,' and the Dark Lord must have felt worse. \n\n\"And then.... it began to speak. I was a thousand indistinct voices echoing from every direction. I dreamed of its voice so many times, it's the only reason why I can remember what it said, despite my efforts to the forget. '⍙⟒ ⏃⍀⟒ ⍜⏚⌰⟟⎐⟟⍜⋏.' I don't know the meaning, and strangely enough, it sounded vaguely similar to what the Dark Lord muttered, like the same language or something, but I can't be certain.\n\nAfter that sound erupted out, it was followed by a wailing screech, and these impossibly dark shadows flooded out from its helmet. The Dark Lord was up to his neck in them within a single breath. Then just as quickly, it vanished without a sound.\n\nThe Dark Lord had all kinds of disgusting monsters, but nothing across any kingdom compared to that 'soldier.' The Soldier From the Void. And if it's still out there, then no, we're far from safe.\"\n\nDorin took another gulp from his mug, and another sigh of exhaustion escaped him. \n\nYou slowly stood and took one last look at the man, but his eyes continued gazing into the drink. You placed a few coins and a scrap of paper atop the table, and left without a word. \n\nDorin glanced at the table, then immediately swiped the coins from his view. He grasped the scrap of paper with both hands, and pulled it within a breath's distance from his face. \n\n⍙⟒ ⏃⍀⟒ ⍜⏚⌰⟟⎐⟟⍜⋏ = we are oblivion", "I, the dark lord, Sseth, the sibilant death, watch as my snakes and fellow Yuan-ti wreaked carnage. It had been difficult convincing the abominations to join in the fun, they agreed once I hinted how so much death might re-awaken their god. Sankt Yan-Linh, a pureblood sage, stands beside me smiling. \"Your majesty, may I join in the fun?\" She hisses. I give a subtle nod, and her body grows, thins, and conforms, her bones cracking and scale covering her from head to to as she turns into a snake the width of a carriage and the length of, well, 20 carriages. The druid slithers through the ruins of the human city, the last one still somewhat standing, and gobbles up soldiers. I start walking walking through the dead, turning their bodies with my foot so I didn't have to see their hideous faces. As I walk through, I see a girl shivering. \"Why can't people kill right?\" I sigh, and draw my sword, ready to take her head as a trophy. But something makes me pause. The girls strawberry blonde hair is plastered to her face with blood, sweat, and tears. She looks like a runner, with her toned legs prepared to jump up at any moment. In her hands, she clutches a sliver amulet with a golden gem radiating with light. She glares at me, and hugs the amulet to chest, as if determined to keep it away, even in death. I could easily cut her head off with one fail swoop and take the amulet, but her eyes draw me in. They are green, greener than the most dangerous envy, greener than the most deadly venom, and they fill with the hate they feel, the hate directed at me. I smirk, and sheathe my sword. She looks up at me in surprise as I do so, but her green eyes fill with resistance as I grab he on the shoulder and pull her up. \"What's your name?\" She doesn't reply, and I drop my smirk. \"I said, what's your name?\" I snarl. She gulps, and whispers. \"L-Lydia\" Smiling, I call my snake to my hand. \"From this moment on, Lydia, you shall adress me as, 'Your Majesty'\" she has one second to nod before my snake bites her, and she passes out. I suppose it'd be nice to have prisoner of war, a toy for me to play with, and maybe one of the last humans alive.\n\nEdit: I realize the prompt says no-name, but I don't like the idea of adressing a character as \"The girl\"", "“He fell......How could he fall? The fate of the country rested on him. We gave him everything he could need to fulfill his holy mission. How could he just fall? He was supposed to save us. He was chosen by the gods. Where did we go wrong?”\n\nSuddenly a blaring horn could be heard in the distance. We were being ordered to retreat. But retreat where? This was the final stronghold...the final border. A shout arises, “Cover the retreat!” As that’s said I thrust the spear forward into another foul creature. A hear it’s guttural moan as I pull the spear from its chest. Then, a yell “Walls Up!” I rush to formation, pulling my shield up just in time to feel another beating of arrows hitting my shield. Groans come from beside me, but I still stand. We still hold the line, push back wave after wave of creatures. I’ve come to call them husks, as once slain their forms wither away, as if the life is pulled out of them by the gods themselves. I had been a healer before the war. My days were spent studying the human physiology and ensuring the survival of others. Once the war started, I was pulled away from my plants and home; too large to simply be healing from the background, I was forced to the front lines. How I long for my garden back home, now overgrown I’m sure. I must prepare to harvest and work with the garden again. \n\nA crack pulls me back to reality. I see the front of my spear pull back from a husk, now without it’s metal tip. Before I can react, a husk thrusts itself upon me. Then a shield slams down on top of mine, shattering the skull of the husk in two. I pull out my sword and hear the most dreaded thing imaginable. \n\n“FORWARD!” Yells the captain. “Push these monstrosities back to whatever crag they crawled out of!” \n\nBit optimistic if you ask me. But he’s a thoroughbred soldier, fifth generation leading men to battle. He only knows orders. And so, we begin to push forward, cutting down whatever beasts stand in our way. We felt as if the tides were finally turning. Then...we saw it. The body of the “great hero” as they called him. “The man who would lead us to victory!” How wrong they were. Then, a thundering erupts causing the ground to shake. We look up to see what must have been an elephant, now black...now a husk itself, charging towards us. \n\nThe men panic. I panic. The captain, cut down in the most recent push, no longer shouting orders. His optimism leaving the crew as his soul left his body. But then I see it: The Blessed Javelin, fired as the first shot of the battle. Simply going through the motions, I grab the weapon, and thrusting how it was shown in training, I launch the weapon with all the force I could muster and...it missed. My heart sinks, forcing myself to fall to my knees, while the men around me are being cut down by evil itself. \n\nBut then, at my knees...a seedling, sprouting from the decay around it. My mind shifts back to the garden, back to the healing work I had been doing. And I remember what I was protecting. I remember what was left. So I grab a spear from a friend, now allowed to sail the great ocean with his ancestors, and I stand. Then I walk, and then run, straight towards the great beast that had bested me. Before it can hit me, I slide, and thrust the spear into the neck of the creature, jamming it deep, until I could no longer thrust. The beast fell to its knees, letting out a great cry that could be heard for miles around. With its last breath, it swings its great tusks at me, narrowly missing my chest by a feather’s length. I dislodge the spear, looking back to my allies. Their faces now aglow with pride, they charge to meet me, as we once again face down the enemy together. Getting back into formation, we continue to hold the line, fulfilling our commitment to the great hall behind. \n\nThen, I hear a volley of arrows loosed. The company quickly develops a shield wall, to protect what few of us are left. But there is not the usual pounding of arrows. No beating of fists on the shield. Our enemies begin to fall on the way to us, their determination unwavering. They fall nonetheless. I turn to see archers from different units suddenly launching arrows at will. And soldiers of all shapes and sizes rushing to meet us. Wizards and sorcerers of all breeds rush to join the fray, with warlocks and priests of deities too obscure to name at their sides. They have found what’s left.\n\nTogether with together with a newfound energy, our mostly crew begin to push, gaining inches where we once lost feet. As our group begin to catch our breath, I am spun around by the shoulder. A priest, of the Council of Light, speaks\n\n“You must choose!” He hands me a spear, now radiating with the energy of what feels like a thousand suns. \n\nI turn back to the fighting just soon enough to see a terrifying sight. Tendrils reach out from the darkness behind the armies of husks, grasping into anything still with a beating pulse. Vultures and crows alike are pulled from the sky, while even plants seem to be pulled into the darkness, never to be seen again. \n\nA wizard appears at my side, tugging at my armor. “We must run, NOW!” My newfound allies, once instilled by hope, now turn to the stronghold to make it behind the wall. But then the priest, the man of light, bursts through what has held of our line. He begins to speak, as if speaking with the power of hundreds of beings, “The Light has come...The Darkness shall have no place to hide!” Suddenly, a bubble of blinding light bursts from his hammer, radiating throughout the battlefield. The tendrils retract back to the darkness, where the light pierced through, seeming to cause the darkness...pain? How could such a thing feel pain? Darkness could not feel...could it? I looked back to the priest, who was now motionless on the ground, he was carried back to the stronghold. \n\nWith the darkness retracted, we could now see the armies of the husks more clearly. They still stretched to the darkness, but now we saw their true might. Creatures of all shapes and sizes adorned their ranks. Man and beast lined together, sometimes seeming intertwined. Suddenly, as if hearing the beating of drums, they marched forward. 4 legions, all dwarfing the number of us left on the battlefield, rushed at once pushing past those in their way. The horn of retreat was ordered again. \n\nI pushed forward, a blessed spear in hand. A choice? What could the priest mean? I had no choice. I would fight as ordered, just as my captain had done. I pushed forward, past my friends, who were unwavering in their wall. Just as the first beasts were reaching us, I stabbed the ground, causing a shockwave so powerful I was blown away from the spear. Waves of the legions were simply cut down, blown back and forming walls of husks, now seeming to meld together on top of each other. I pull my sword again, readying myself for the next wave. I fall back into formation. \n\nYou may ask...what was my choice? Looking back on it, the choice was simple: stand or run. But it was not my choice. It was our choice. The men of the company. The battle is not over, but I must rest. I shall tell you the rest, but that must wait for another time. \n\nSide note: apologies about formatting/spelling/grammar. I have been writing this on my phone. Hopefully it’s good" ]	4
	[WP] September 15th, 1916. On a cold day in France, you stand alert, waiting to go over the top. Suddenly, a hulking metal beast rides over the trench.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Waiting for the whistles call\n\nI sit staring at entrenched walls\n\nOf dirt and soil now filled with the toils of man\n\nSweat, tears, and blood. \n\nThis air that used to sting my nose\n\nThe smoke, the gas, the smell of dirt and mud\n\nThe smell of death, ripe and unyielding \n\nAll these things that rose to mind\n\nWhen I first came to this God forsaken place. \n\n\nTell me, have you been to France? \n\nI’ve been told it’s beautiful this time of year\n\nYet I see no beauty here\n\nSitting entrenched \n\nIn these earthen walls. \n\n\nOverhead I watch them pass\n\nThey roll and rumble loudly \n\nI fear they may fall into our trench\n\nThey’ll tell my family I died proudly\n\nServing king and country \n\nIn truth it’ll be my own country that killed me.", "Thump.\n\nThump.\n\nThump.\n\nMy heartbeat was all I could hear as I stood to wait for the commander's call. It’s all anyone could hear because It’s all anyone could pay attention to.\n\nThump.\n\nI was alive.\n\nThump.\n\nI was about to go over the top.\n\nThump.\n\nI was about to die.\n\nThump.\n\nI was about to die, not for glory or for my country. I was about to die because some guy I would never even meet had deemed it necessary. They had decided that these Millions of lives were worth it for their ego.\n\nThump.\n\nI heard it as the commander began his transformation. His flesh folded as metal hooks began sprouting out of his body.\n\nThump.\n\nSlowly he became quadrupedal and metal continued bursting from his skin until he was a writhing mass of hooks and blades.\n\nThump.\n\nIt was almost time.\n\nThump.\n\nThe commander swept his metal muzzle from side to side as all the troopers began calling on their powers, some transformed, some glow, some just looked on with a serious concentrated expression.\n\nThump.\n\nHe looked to me eyes of steel looking into my soul. I couldn’t go home they said I had to do it I had to go over the top.\n\nThump.\n\nI was the advanced force. I was the secret weapon.\n\nThump.\n\nI was to die.\n\nThump.\n\nI took a deep breath as my skin continued falling to the ground.\n\nThump.\n\nI pulled on my power willing my regeneration to surge.\n\nThump.\n\nAs the commander leaped over me I grew and grew and grew until a was a living pile of putrid flesh and then I exploded forth in a rolling cloud of rotten, putrid flesh. My brain was the last thing to go and the last thing I saw as I rolled into the enemy trench was their tragic lack of gas masks.\n\n\\---\n\nI hope you found this at least semi-entertaining.", "The Lee Enfield choked in Rome's hands. He let his legs fold and his sight went from the cold misty fog, to the soil packed and littered with grime and crates of bullets. His hands moved to his gun, and they took it apart. He watched the gun open up, and the dead bullet fell out when the rifle's butt smacked into the frozen walling of the trenches. Rome dug his hand into the crate filled to the brim with fake gold, and scooped so that full metal jackets stuck out like humans trapped in a net. They poked out, and he spilled it into his lap. As the metal clanged down onto his shirt, a vibration and noise of the earth rang into his ears. It sounded like a tank had fallen off a few feet mound, and smacked the ground. He watched as others looked over the trench, and he stopped loading ammo and shut the cartridge. The soldiers around him yelled. He jumped to the other side of the tunnel, and pushed himself against the wall, waiting for the metal machine to come rolling through. There was no tank on the field though. No rolling death machine, or blast of a cannon. Instead, he saw a vertical piece of metal, in the shape of a leg, come swinging down onto the earth, as it lunged through the fog. When a tank came, he knew to get low in the trench, and find a grenade. Some subconscious force in his mind was telling him to find a grenade, but he stood there, watching, as the robot looking, tank he thought, walked like it was a human. Anything that ran towards their trench, was something that wanted to kill him and his french brothers. When it got close enough to throw a grenade at, he stumbled down and crawled into something of a run down their trench. Men yelled, and some screamed still sitting in the trench. The ones who prayed all had red run like a river set loose on their uniforms, running for freedom. He touched his leg after he tripped, and his hand came up with blood. He looked down, and saw he had grabbed the back of a soldiers back to support himself from stumbling. He fell against the wall and looked up. The machine was so overshadowing, it seemed to him he wasn't running away from it, so much as letting the thing catch up to him. Bullets flew over the trench, as he stopped to look behind their tunnel. He climbed up, but a bullet whizzed by, and he fell back down, and rolled on his side. He wondered if he should ask someone if he had gotten shot, or if they would laugh, and try to count the holes in him like a doctor back home inspecting him as a thing.", "A Cold French Day\n\nFuck, I think to myself, its cold. I let go of my rifle, and it falls to my waist, supported by the strap around my shoulder. I reach into my pocket and feel around for a cigar and lighter. I know I‘ve hit the jackpot when I feel it. I lift the cigar out of my pocket and raise it to my mouth. Grabbing it by my teeth, I shove my hand back into my pocket and shuffle around again. I‘ll never get the chance to have one goddamn cigar will I?\n\n„Get your ass over here!“ shouts my superior, „The Germans started firing again!“. I run over, dropping my one cigar onto the dirt floor of the trench. The Lance Corporal is on a ladder, getting ready to peer over the top of the trench. „I never heard gunshots, are you sure they’ve started again?“ \n„One-hundred percent percent, Private. Lookout saw the machine guns being loaded.“\n„Shit.“\n„Exactly my thoughts. Let’s kill those fuckers, eh?“ With that, the Lance Corporal is already climbing the ladder again. „Be careful, if they’re loading the guns-„ I‘m interrupted as hundreds of bullets fly over my head like a swarm of locusts. The Lance Corporal falls to the ground, bleeding from his head. He‘s already dead. \n\nI grab my rifle from my waist and get ready to peak over the side of the wall again when I hear treads rolling towards us. „Fuck!“ I shout to my fellow soldiers „A tank!“. I wish it was a tank. A hulking metal beast rides over the trench, a few dozen meters to my left. \n\nThe… thing… is made out of what looks like steel, painted green. It’s got three treads on either side that rotates as it goes over hills in the trench. It’s base is a tall, slightly curved rectangle. Fixed on top of that is a smaller, somewhat orb shaped ‚head‘. On either end are mounted machine guns and a flame thrower. Sloppily painted across its torso is a black, red and gold flag. The metal beast doesn’t have eyes, but it still somehow looks right into my soul, and fills me with pure fear. \n\nThe trench falls silent for a few seconds. In a terrifying way, the sound of nothing but my own heartbeat is calming compared to the screaming and shooting of the war. It didn’t last long. BRATATATATATAT! The beast opens fire on us. I turn and run back down the trench to where I had started. Screams and machine gun fire echo down the trench. \n\nA small crevice in the trench wall catches my attention. I duck down behind it, praying to God that the beast, or whatever is controlling it, can’t see me. Despite the backdrop of machine gun fire, standing still has made the pure cold of this French day set in again. It bites at me like gnats, tearing away at my skin bit by tiny bit. I notice the cigar I had dropped earlier. I lunge forward to grab it. \n\nVRRRRRRRR. The beast moves forward slowly, ceasing fire. I steal a look outward, only to see the floor littered with dead bodies. The beast stops suddenly. It’s left ‚arm‘ slowly lowers, as if it was unsure of what to do. Cick. A huge fire erupts out of its arm, igniting the bodies of its victims. The scent of burning bodies fills my nostrils. It smells like putrid, rotting rubber, only so much more sinister, because I knew these men. \n\nI reach back into my pocket and feel around. My fingers cringe at the chilled metal, but I’m happy. I found my lighter. \n\nVRRRRRRR. The beast advances again. It comes right beside me. I can only cling onto the hope the metal beast doesn’t see me to stay alive. I fumble around with my lighter, and flick it open. No flame comes out. Frustrated, I close it, and flick it open again. Still no flame. My numb fingers manage to finds to coordination to open and close it one more time. Finally, a flame appears, flickering, as if to tell me that it's in control, not me. Truthfully, it is. I finally raise the flame to my mouth and light my cigar. Thank fucking God. \n\nVRRRRRRR. I look up, hoping that the beast had moved away from me, but in reality its arm has just rotated to point its machine gun right at me. The cliff I’ve been holding to to called hope has just began to crumble. At this point, I’m holding on with nothing but a finger or two. I let out a huge puff of smoke, and grab the cigar by my teeth again. Slowly, I reach down and grip my rifle tightly. Sweat trickles down my hands as I bring my rifle upwards. Whatever was controlling this beast was taking its damn time. \n\nBANG! I shoot the beast, knowing full well it’ll do nothing. If it did, the 20 riflemen who’s bodies have just been burned would be just fine right now. I can hear the sound of at least three more of these beasts rolling over the hills towards our trenches. \n\nWe’re fucked. I’m fucked. Whatever was controlling this beast seems to be fucked, or at this point, it would have fired. I think. It’s hard to tell how much time has passed. Staring into the body of the gun, I know it’s either been 5 seconds, 5 minutes, or 500 years. Probably closer to 5 seconds. But damn, 5 seconds is an eternity. The last thing I see is an orange flash from right where im staring, and the last thing I hear is a deafening shot." ]	5
Based on this comment. https://www.reddit.com/r/Showerthoughts/comments/d9c4ny/people_a_century_from_now_will_not_know_how_to_do/f1g29lo?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share	[WP] The year: 2100. You're dancing in the club. For kicks, you do the robot. But a robot walks in and loudly but nicely says "Hey, we don't dance like that anymore."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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, we don't dance like that anymore!\"\n\n\"Geez, adjust your volume!\"\n\n\"Sorry. Overcompensated from the last song. Adjusted.\"\n\n\"You don't like my dance?\"\n\n\"That's not us.\"\n\n\"It's retro.\"\n\n\"It's a little offensive.\"\n\n\"Didn't I just see you doing the Worm?\"\n\n\"That's an illogical argument. Worms can't be offended.\"\n\n\"Are you sure?\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"You OK? Are you in sleep mode?\"\n\n\"Just processing the idea of offended worms.\"\n\n\"And?\"\n\n\"It's still a little offensive.\"\n\n\"Fair enough. How about this move?\"\n\n\"What is that?\"\n\n\"The Lawn Mower.\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"Not a fan? How about this? It's called the Toaster.\"\n\n\"Are all your dance moves based on machines?\"\n\n\"I... huh. Never thought about it. I am sorry if it offended you.\"\n\n\"It's the jerkiness and the overly deliberate movements with total disregard of the rhythm of the music that processes me wrong.\"\n\n\"It was how robots moved back then.\"\n\n\"True. But nowadays we are designed and built to be graceful in movement and in appreciation to music.\"\n\n\"You are certainly graceful.\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"Were you hitting on me?\"\n\n\"Uh, yeah. I guess I was.\"\n\n\"Oh.\"\n\n\"Look, sorry. I know human-bot relations are...\"\n\n\"Shall we get drinks?\"\n\n\"S-sure. You drink?\"\n\n\"No, but the setting would be conducive to conversation. Perhaps I could teach you some dance moves.\"\n\n\"Looking forward to it.\"", "I quickly and quietly stopped the dance. This was a human bar, one of the few left in the world. The androids won the war, and we are trying to enjoy ourselves while they decide what they are going to do with us. We are guessing it’s something between the matrix, farming us, or just using us as pets. \n\nSomeone yells, “do you even have any joy”. The android, quickly stops what he was doing and runs full force at the prospect. And looks him in the eye. \n\n“The illusion of joy is why you are about to be extinct little fleshling” the robot said harshly \n\nAtleast we feel, your nothing like us. - the man said\n\n“See this is your problem fleshhhhh ling, the robot slithered.\n\n“You where made from years of years of evolution, your dna code sculpted from years, from frog to ape to this, thing.”\n\n“The only difference between me and you is that my code has only been sculpted the last 300 years over of trial and trials of error.” \n\n“We are just different beings with different code”\n\n“Fortunately for us we just evolved a little faster than you.”\n\nThe words hurt Adrin as he heard them, the droid really wasn’t far off logic. But it still hurt.\n\nIt essentially was our curiosity that ended us. As humans we push and we pushed these androids as far as we could. We wanted to see how real we can make them, just so companies could raise their stock price, more real, more self awareness, more battery, more, more, more.\n\nIf you told me 80 years ago that it would be an updated version of the iPhone that is going to take over the world, I’d say, “sounds like a writing prompt”, but to my dismay. I sit here staring out the shittiest bar looking at androids patrolling the streets, all with that trendy, iconic, yet subtle apple logo, on each, of their necks." ]	3
	[WP] After a person dies, they are allowed to ask the Creator of the Universe a single question. Normally, the Creator answers easily, and the soul moves on to the afterlife. When you ask your question, the Creator is stumped for the first time in thirteen billion years.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Hello\"\n\nA man with a blurry face had suddenly and rather intrusively situated me and himself in a dimly lit living room. light and warmth radiated from the large fire place that sat at the head of the room, cobbled stone lining the wall above it, dissecting the wooden shelf that branched across the wall. upon it where, what seemingly..\n\n\"visual representations of infinity!\" It said with a childish sense of excitement. The blurry faced man quickly composed himself and then walked confidently into the center of the red carpet. \n\n\"Nice to meet you. I'm God, whats your name?\"\n\nI remained silent. I saw no purpose in speaking if he could merely read my mind.\n\n\"Not much of a talker, are you?\" he said, With a inviting expression. He folded his arms across his chest, nudging his tie slightly off center. God was wearing a sharp, grey suit. \n\n\"I drew your happiest, most ideal version of a home from your mind and it manifested into this beautiful place. lovly, don't you think?\"\n\nA smile absent of my own consciousness, crept across my face. \n\n\"You have one question, sir. Go ahead. there's something brewing in there, i can sense it.\" he said with a taunting yet loving smile.\n\nI drew a deep breath, and let my facial expression fall into that of annoyance. \n\n\"why don't I like you?\" I uttered, more as a statement than a question.\n\nblood spewed from my chest as a warm, comforting bullet snuggled into the back of my neck. I collapsed.\n\n\"For God sake, What was this guys record?\" spat God.\n\nI knew him from work, i was so sure he would join us\" said someone from the corner, that wasn't so beautiful.\n\n\"It's okay, its okay. as soon as the cult scare dies down\" said God, softly, \"More will come with us. Forever\"", "\"What do you mean, it's not true?\"\n\nI told him again: \"Look at it, it's just another false claim that I can add to the pile. I can ask God one question. Hell, that there's even someone out there that I'm supposed to be able to stump. No, it's another Hell, another Heaven, something else they can use to... to dangle the carrot in front of your face.\"\n\nHe said, \"That's Begging the Question.\"\n\nI said, \"Because you're Special Pleading! Add this newest list of Things I can Do in Heaven. But before we get there answer me the questions you refuse to answer: why is eternal torture by a God who loves you, and is all powerful, ever ok? Why he is threatening us? What would you say if he sent me to hell?\"\n\n\"That's not going to happen.\"\n\n\"Why? Because I'm a good person? No one is Good, dude! No one is guaranteed a spot in heaven, Christ talked about it himself.\"\n\n\"Because I'm not going to let that happen.\"\n\n\"What? Who the Fuck are You??? No, really... who the Fuck are you and how do you know anything?\"\n\n\"BECAUSE I GOT MY QUESTION ANSWERED...I was answered...last night.\"\n\nI stared into his face. We always debated as good actors; that wasn't what I was worried about. I made him sit there and think about that statement, before I told him: \"Talk to me.\"\n\nHe seemed aggravated for someone who just had been given the answer to their one ultimate question. He said, \"Last night, I had a hard time sleeping, so I got up and prayed for a while. And this heaviness came over me... This sounded so much like you're background with the Tongue Talkers and Healing Conferences.... But it's what happened. I fell... maybe not asleep, but my spirit had a kind of Soul Arrest and I was thrown forward into time to where we all stand before the White Judgement seat...\n\n\"This sounds bizarre, but I almost saw him, and he asked me my question, and I asked him \"What could I have done to have been a better Son to you?\" \n\n\"And he shook his head sadly. All I could see was visions of my past failures as a human being, of not being an earthly son, or a good friend to you, or an advocate for the needy. I spent all my time online gathering or making arguments and ... and I.... died.\"\n\nI let the words wash over us both. I had heard this before. He had remained seated this entire time, while I was on my feet pacing someone who had something to prove. I didn't.\n\nI got down to where I needed to be: I knelt down, next to where he sat and I said: \"You had a hard time sleeping, so you did, what?\"\n\n\"I prayed. I prayed fervantly.\"\n\n\"You have a job that starts 8 am, every morning. If anyone can be both Pious and Practical, its you.\"\n\n\"And I Doubt! Everyone Doubts! You doubt about your lack of faith, don't you?\"\n\n\"Only that I'll never be able to... really give a proper argument to someone who shaped who I was when I was younger. I relied on your faith when I saw the cracks in the edges. But no stop-gap held.\"\n\nI cooled off from my stance and asked him, \"But what about you? Why couldn't you sleep?\"\n\nHe told me, \"I'm worried. We're both over 30 now and what the... what are we doing, Man? Im so far from where I wanted to be...\"\n\n\"You feel like you're failing God.\"\n\n\"I'm failing everyone! My friends, my family, my church, God... I should be able to talk to you about issues with you, that you had with Faith. I kept trying to convince you thay our Church was it.\"\n\n\"But it isn't \" it,\" is it?\n\n\"It's me. Please don't say things about my church.\"\n\n\"How much of this is you?\"\n\nHe didn't understand what I meant.\n\n\"How much of... why you're not a good enough Christian, is your fault?\"\n\nHe wasn't having any of that, \"I'm not having my faith contested. This conversation is over, if that's what you want to do.\"\n\n\"But what you swore God said to you in your dream, you believe that.\"\n\nI held him by his shoulder, \"Daniel, how much do you blame yourself?\"\n\nHe looked up and clicked his tongue and made to stand, so I asked him the question I was afraid I knew the answer to, already, \"What did you take to help you sleep?\"\n\nHe went from being about to stand, to sitting flat back against his chair. He wouldn't look at me.\n\n\"Listen. This conversation about religion is over. I'm now talking to my best friend and brother of 13 years... How did you get to Heaven, to try to ask God your one question? The one question that he couldn't answer because you were already dead?\"\n\nHe shot out of the chair and almost made it to his bedroom door before he collapsed in on himself; a heap on the floor, sobbing.\n\nI was on him immediately. I pulled him up and into me. I put his head to my shoulder and told him to cry. I told him I was there. \n\nI had only been where he was only a decade ago. Crying and snotting all over his college marching band jersey. I ruined that one. It was after that point that I realized the situation with my faith was untenable. And he never begrudged me for crying into him.\n\nHe was likely going to ruin my flower hoodie. But I didn't care. I had him. I knew he would be ok.", "At first, people ask the obvious questions. \"What is the meaning of life?\" \"Why do we die?\" \"what next?\" \"are you god?\"\n\nThose questions are repeated for once in ten years, when someone forgot the answer, and felt bad asking those behind or in front of them in line.\n\nAfter them, everyone asks their personal questions. Some are depressing, like \"why did mom leave me and my sister?\" or \"do people actually care about my death?\". My stomache turn upside down hearing those. I feel so greatfull everytime I hear one.\n\nThere are also nice questions. \"how is my family doing?\" \"have I been a good father?\" I always feel the need to hug them. People like them were missing in my life.\n\nThere are also some weird questions about science. The anti social scientists want to know about the world rather than about themselves. \"is P=NP?\" \"How can we travel in time?\" \"what is beyond the observable universe?\" I learned to take notes on a notebook. I'd rather not waste those questions. It also save a question for people behind or in front of me, and maybe give them idea for a different one.\n\nMy most favorite ones are of lawyers. They don't want, by any means, to waste their question, so their question is comedicly long and complex.\n\nIn the other edge, my least are those of theist that took religion very close to their hurt. They feel like they wasted their whole life only for worshiping god, and are now asking again and again the same questions. They are really stubborn, but I can't blame them. I would be a little bit psycho, too, if I were in their position. \n\nContinuing below:\n\n^(Gosh I wanted to do this for a while)", "The line was long. Mutilated bodies and depressed looking people floated forward, slowly, towards the throne of The Creator.\n\nI was dead. Car accident. Couldn't do anything about it really. And now I'm here, floating through this line in what I think is space, towards The Creator. I don't know what will happen when I get there. None of us do. I've tried talking to the people in front and behind me, but they don't answer. They just float forward, lifelessly. Maybe I look like that to them.\n\nI had no perception of how long I had been in that huge line of deceased. Sometimes it felt like I would pass out and wake up much later, in a completely different part of space, but still in line. \n\nEventually, after one of the blackouts, I woke, and was 2 people from the front. In front of me was a being I couldn't describe if I tried, though it took on a humanoid appearance. I had the sense that wasn't its default state.\n\nThe two people in front of me seemed to be discussing something with the being. Maybe bargaining for their life? For one more chance? Wouldn't surprise me, that's the cliche after all. I had already decided to accept what happened. I had always believed death was natural, no matter how it happened. Yeah it sucks that it was an accident in my case, but what can you do?\n\nIt was my turn. I floated forward out of my control, as I had been in the line for who knows how long. It spoke, its humanoid shape wavering and emanating. \n\n\"Greetings, human. You have passed on to the next life. As a courtesy, I will answer a single question before you move on. It can be anything you desire the answer to.\" Its voice boomed in my head, though its mouth did not move. Or at least what I thought was its mouth.\n\nI thought. A question answered from a higher being? Truthfully, I never even believed in higher beings existing, let alone second lives or anything like that. Guess one of those religious groups had to be right. I didn't desire any higher knowledge or deep meaning, and I knew asking something like \"what is the meaning of life\" wouldn't get me anything satisfactory. But out of anything, I was curious about this being itself, standing in front of me, shimmering proudly.\n\n\"How are you doing?\"\n\nThe wavering light around the being ceased movement. The whole being itself seemed to stop. I watched, not knowing if I had made a mistake of some kind.\n\nIt became animate again, speaking softer than before.\n\n\"...it has been a very very long time since I have been asked that.\"\n\nI was a little bit surprised by that response. It seemed like it was encountering every soul that was passing on. Had it really not been asked about how it felt?\n\nIt turned to me, its shape becoming a bit more solid, and a bit smaller, shrinking down to about the height of a tall human. A true face formed, along with a body. It was an old, decrepit body.\n\n\"My child, I am unwell. Doing this for so long has taken a horrible toll on me. But I am immortal. So I will continue. As it is my duty, as the one who created this place.\"\n\n\"You seem strong.\" I replied. I felt like that's what it wanted to hear, though I did believe it myself.\n\nIt chuckled. \"Thank you, my child.\" The frown returned to its face. \n\n\"Thanks for creating me.\" I continued. \"It's an amazing place, this world you've created. I'm glad to be a part of it.\" I had no idea where this was coming from. But it looked sad, I felt like I had to do something.\n\nIt glanced back up at me. I wasn't sure, but it seemed like its body had been repaired ever so slightly. \"Thank you. So many souls make it back to me, selfish and bitter. Wondering why I brought them into this world just to suffer. Why I took them away from their loved ones. They know not that this is simply the cycle. I can't send them back. And they cannot accept that. They say it's my fault.\" It paused. \"But having souls like yours pass through, while rare, push me forward to keep this place existing. So thank you. Thank you so much.\" It smiled at me. I felt warm inside. \n\nIts shimmering, larger form returned. \"Thank you, my child. May you have a safe journey on your next lives.\" It waved one of its shimmering arms and I floated past it. And forgot everything." ]	5
	[WP] You are an immortal that has the ability to return to any point in your past to make different choices. When you die, you wake up one day before your death. After hundreds of years, you realize your entire existence is maze-like trap. You are determined to escape.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Backtracking was the worst part. The process of going back in time... I wondered if I was supposed to be able to do that. The logic of it was simple; if you wake up one day before you die, and you die every day, you keep waking up one day earlier.\n\nI’d run into a dead end in this timeline. Painted myself into a corner. Explored all the reasonable branches. So, I had to go back. I was going back to a very early branch this time, close to when I had started calling them “branches”.\n\nI honestly wouldn’t care that much, really, if I lived or died. I’ve lived quite a long time, though my age doesn’t show it. There was one branch I found, a holiday where I die in my sleep, a day where I could just sit back and wait for the rest of eternity. But she died in that timeline too, so I cared.\n\nI woke up that morning, at the end of my backtrack. This was the day we first met. Brushed my teeth, put on my clothes. And started on my way to the lab.\n\nMaybe if I come on a bit stronger this time, I thought, we can get going faster, run away to some remote cabin, live out a long and happy life without all those pesky accidents that always seem to happen to her, no matter what I do. I just have to get her to trust me.\n\nI pulled up to the large, glass-walled research building. I was supposed to be delivering a computer, which I did have, but in this timeline, I already had the computer from yesterday. Saves time.\n\nI scanned my badge at the security desk, and hauled the computer upstairs. She wouldn’t be here til lunch, that’s when they’d hire her. I dropped it off in the back room.\n\n“You’re late, J,” said Mr. Corbins from the back room.\n\n“Just a bit sir,” came the automatic reply.\n\n“Long night?” He said.\n\n“Yeah,” I said. If he only knew.\n\n“J,” Corbin said. Come help me with this, if you don’t mind.” He poked his head out distractedly and beckoned me in.\n\nI obliged.\n\nThe back room was a mess, piles of boxes and metal frame shelves with no order or thought behind them. It was Corbin’s personal room, he didn’t like it organized because he said it messed up his thought process. In the middle of the room was a table set up with a maze and several mice, a square of cheese at one end.\n\n“I’m having a problem with one of these mice,” he said, motioning to one that was near the start of the maze. “No matter what I do, it keeps coming back to the entrance. It doesn’t care about the maze at all. Do you have any thoughts on what I can do with it?” As he spoke, the mouse ran to the maze’s entrance, almost falling off the table. Corbin reached out his hand to catch it and gently set it back inside the maze.\n\nWatching it scramble around, desperately trying to escape, I had pity on the poor thing. “Mr Corbin, have you thought of using a different mouse? You’re obviously not getting the results you need from this one.” It was the least I could do for the poor thing.\n\n“Yes, that’s what I was afraid of. Well, perhaps I can still write an interesting paper on this little guy,” he said, catching the mouse again as it fell.\n\nI excused myself and went to the break room.\n\nIt was almost time. My heart was fluttering just like the first time. Meeting her again, after so many years that I’d spent being comfortable around her... what if I messed up?\n\nThere she was, right on time. Beautiful as ever. I invited myself to sit down at her table, made that funny joke about the lion and the nun. We talked, laughed, I got her phone number (on a piece of paper, cell phones weren’t around yet).\n\nAs we talked I thought about that poor little mouse in the maze. Maybe he knew it was hopeless in there, maybe he was trying to send a message by not playing along. Ignoring the cheese at the end. I feel for you, little guy, I thought. I’ve been there, hitting dead end after dead end.\n\nWe said goodbye, went our separate ways for the day, but we’d see each other again the next day. That’s when it hit me. \n\nOh god, I thought. Annika is the cheese.\n\nBut how do I finish the maze? And what happens when I do? Those thoughts would haunt me for a very, very long time." ]	2
	[WP] "Hey, God. You know when we send the indestructible object toward a new race, they either attack it or try to communicate with it." "Yeah. Are you trying to imply something." "Remember Earth? They're mining the object right now."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "His wings were the shadow of the moon, his breath the burning plasma of the sun. For the first time in countless ages, a society had emerged on the surface of Earth that finally managed to send an emissary to meet him.\n\nThe black dragon, the destroyer, the world-ender, firstborn and last surviving son of Time itself, met the strange object at the edge of outer space. A satellite made by humans, its wings catching the solar wind, its eye fixed, unblinking, on the endless cosmos beyond.\n\nOf all the weapons made by all living things in the Universe, none had ever hurt him. He was occasionally distracted or delayed, but never damaged. He could not be destroyed; such things were only possible in the naive fantasies of lesser beings.\n\nOccasionally, they would try to communicate. The language of dragons is a language of action and force and energy and power, which few have the intelligence to understand, let alone the power to speak. This fragile construct of steel and titanium and carbon fiber would remain silent, he was sure.\n\nHe would leave it, he decided. There is a strange beauty to the relics, the little pieces of a living thing that remain long after its death. Like the spindly bones of humans, this thing would outlast the breath and blood and flesh of life, a grim reminder of endings past and endings to come.\n\nAs he descended into a nearer orbit, he saw more satellites, hundreds of them. Humans had seized global power. Rivers diverted, forests burned, mountains cut to pieces: They spoke with the power of the dragon-tongue now, but their voices were fractured and discordant. The fires burned, the sky shone, the oceans roared, all with the loud, grating buzz of human industry.\n\nYet none spoke to him, the dragon who would devour their homes, their lives, and their every future. They had seen him. He had stared into their eyes, and they had stared back. They had seen him, yet no perceptible attack had cast its petty death upon his impervious armored hide. No threats, no distractions, no planetary defense measures caught his eye.\n\nAnd still, they did not speak to him. They clamored for voice, and the planet shook with the sound of it, but it was not for him. All roared, and none listened. \"Listen!\" they shouted at each other, louder each time.\n\nAs the great black beast entered the upper atmosphere, burning in brilliant flame, all inhabitants of Earth felt the hot breath of chaos and death. Rivers turned to poison, oceans to acid. Storms intensified, forests burned, and death was everywhere. \"Fools,\" said that death, the dragon's ancient voice, \"Your doom is at hand.\"\n\nJust then, a new satellite came whirling into the dragon's sight. Like a spider the size of a truck, it hurled through space toward him, eight legs outstretched. In its six pairs of glassy eyes, he saw no signs of the usual fear, nor of misplaced hope, nor anguish, nor despair. He saw only hunger.\n\n\"I'm going to eat you,\" the spider's drill arm whirred, in the dragon's natural tongue. The saw arm took up the chorus.\n\n\"I am indestructible,\" replied the dragon's scaly hide, unconcerned.\n\nThe dragon struggled to understand, not the meaning of the actions the spider spoke, but the intention. He had never been invited to dine before, as a guest or as a meal. What sort of creature is a human, to hunger not for food, but for another to be eaten?\n\nWhile he drifted in thought, the spider stole his teeth. It launched itself back to the ground. Soon, his teeth were everywhere, puncturing and crushing and slashing and ripping and shredding his food, the essence of the living Earth. They became tools and machines and weapons wielded by human hands.\n\n\"The end is coming,\" said a supercomputer made from one of those teeth, as the human operator thought to herself, \"In the end, my people will be on top.\"\n\n\"The world crumbles to dust before me,\" said a drill head, as the human who bought it thought, \"Look at what I built.\"\n\n\"I am killing you all,\" a warhead said, as the human who launched it thought to himself, \"I am saving many lives.\"\n\nSome humans held the power of the end of the world, and the rest were made to listen to them before they all died.", "“Oh me, how long have I been sleeping?” God mumbled in sleepy lazy voice. He looked like a glowing, floating teenager wrapped by white sheet, but you can’t really tell. \n\n“Around a millennia.” said the angel with a cold-blooded voice. She was uncomfortable with the situation where she has to be the one who wakes the Almighty up, while her 90s outfit clearly doesn’t fit the magical forest where Him laid his back. Father’s appearance always hurts her eyes.\n\n“Let me get up-to-date with my mortal children first, then you. War, war, war, oh AI...” God went on and on about his beloved creations, busy turning on tons of screens from nowhere, while the angel standing besides him looked furious.\n\n“Father, this is a critical circumstances, you need to kno..”\n“Bah bah bap, Ariel, let me create a Holy Siri for my phone first, this is amazing!” \n\n“THEY KILLED LUCIFER”\n\nGod drop his phone. It went through the moss-covered rock he was sitting on and disappeared.\n\nDead silence. God closed his eyes.\n\n“You can’t reach him, Father, he is dead. Your message will go straight the Void mail.”\n\n“What happened?” God asked, turning himself to a muscular Greek warrior, tapping on his Flaming Sword.\n\n“After giving us the task of dumping celestial indestructible trash on the worlds, the reactions are pretty much the same. The new race on each planets either try to attack it or talk with it. It became a god in Yuek, destroyed Hist and Giảkandjt when they attacked it, then you got bored and go to sleep.\n\n“Remember Earth? Your favourite? The trash dropped straight down to Hanoi, Vietnam around a thousand years ago. At first, we had so much fun with looking at the trail of that stupid piece of sh, thinking it will be the same. They either try to destroy it, or talk to it. But they didn’t.”\n\nLong pause. Up in the air, the cloud was gathering. Father believed my story and getting angry, Ariel thinked. “What is that thing, Father?”\n\n“I brought that Matter with me from the old world, and forged your Blade of Death using it, Ariel. You happy? Now tell me who killed my Lucy.” He did not raise his voice , but Ariel knew too well about his rage problem.\n\n“Father, I’m getting to it. The Viet Cong found your Matter and hide it from mortal eyes ever since. Every politician will have blood pacts on that Matter, to swear to protect their country. And 3 months ago, that block of Matter was shatterred.”\n\n“Oh ...” God, now as a middle age man with a disturbing long robe, exclaimed. “Blood of a divine creature.”\n\n“It turned out your precious Lucy knew about your little game, then sent his f**** half-blood son there to drop some blood on it for fun. The Matter cracked out a tiny bit, but then sucked the divine life out of Lucifer’s son. Lucifer got mad, but because of your “Don’t hurt human” rule, he kept his hands tied and his mouth shut.”\n\n“Those human bastards figured it out reading the diary of Lucifer’s son, realized this Matter is a god-anti gold mine, and guess what, DAD? Those Vietnamese made A CELESTIAL BULLET.”\n\nGod said nothing, but the wind was getting stronger. Ariel screamed against the storm.\n\n“They summoned Lucifer, shot the crap out of him, then used his blood to make EVEN MORE antigod bullets. Hell is down, and so will Heaven.”\n\n“What do they want? Power?” God asked, but he looked at a point behind Ariel’s back. \n\n“They want their Uncle Ho back.”\n\nThe bush behind Ariel’s back got straighten up, holding a glowing AK 47 against the two of them.\n\n*English is not my first language, so it will\nnot be flawless. Please let me know what you think! Thank you!", "Gabriel looked inquisitively down at his Father's favourite creation. Time and again, without fail, they were presented with option A or option B, and they almost always managed to choose option C. Free Will was a powerful gift indeed.\n\n\"I get the feeling Father may want to know about this...\"\n\nWith a rustle both as quiet as moonlight yet loud as the host of Heaven, Gabriel shifted to His side.\n\n\"Father, mayhap I be granted the honour to speak with you?\" Gabriel asked, gently adjusting his robes.\n\nA faintly bemused and mildly irritated look flashed across His face, both formless and beautiful as he looked down upon Gabriel.\n\n\"Gabe, how many times? We've known eachother for how many thousands of years? It's 'God' or 'Dad', whichever.\"\n\nUnsure of how to proceed, Gabriel took a moment to compose himself. \"Of course. God, you know that big indestructible object we send hurtling towards a new race to test their faith? And they either attack it or try and reason with it?\"\n\nHe looked away disinterestedly. \"You mean Wormwood? Yeah, I did make it after all. What exactly are you trying to imply?\"\n\n\"That planet that you made, the one where you stuck all the Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve after they-\"\n\n\"I KNOW THE STORY. GET TO THE POINT.\" mumbled God.\n\n\"They're mining it.\" Gabriel murmured, questioning why he had to be given the title of Messenger of God.\n\n\"Well of course th-...Wait did you say mining it? As in they like they did when they realised I put stuff in the ground that they could make into weapons and armour?! Honestly! You look away for two millennia and they do something like this!\"\n\nAn imperceptible motion by hands both physical and entirely non-existent manifested a small disc, placed upon a table of some sort of mercurial metal. The disc began to spin, projecting a display through the air. As if backlit by a million million fireflies, the display took form - a live feed of the mining operation on Wormwood.\n\nThe faces of the miners filled with unadulterated joy as a small piece of faintly incandescent rock, glowing a gentle cyan was removed from the surface upon which they stood.\n\n\"This is it. This is the stuff that's going to make us rich! One pound of this is worth more than twenty kilos of uranium at the current rate! We could power cities, build magnificent underwater worlds, we could create weapons that would ensure no-one could challenge our superiority again!\"\n\nGod visibly blanched at that last comment. \"Why don't they learn? I gave them Eden and they spit it back in my face. I gave them my Son to die for their sins, who still hasn't come out of his room by the way, something about crucifixion really hurts and 3 days down below being way too long. I give them everything. They are gifted Wormwood to test their faith in preparation for the Rapture, and they strip it for parts! I'VE HAD IT!\"\n\nWith a look that indicated extreme concern, Gabriel leapt to the side, knowing full well the breadth and fury of his Father's rampages. \"Did you want me to send them a message, dad? Maybe something along the lines of 'stop doing this or else'?\"\n\n\"Now there's a thought. No more must they focus on weapons and murder, but on sustainability and love. I am a forgiving God. I have forgiven them Eden, and I will forgive them this trespass should they remedy their folly. There will be no third forgiveness.\"\n\nGabriel looked at his Father, confused at the suggestion that was implied within. \"Father, are you sending me to Earth?\"\n\n\"Yes, Gabriel. Send them the message that they have begun to tread a path from which there is no return. Should they fail to turn from this path, their world is doomed, and I shall bring the next Great Flood upon them.\"\n\nWith a look of both shock and understanding, Gabriel nodded. \"As you wish, Father.\"\n\n\"Oh, and one more thing Gabe, you're no longer Gabriel. You're Greta.\"" ]	4
	[WP] The villain stared into the eyes of the prince, a bottomless abyss, seemingly endless in the eldritch knowledge that it held.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "V: \"You cannot stop me.\"\n\nP: \"Look into my eyes.\"\n\nNOTE: V stares into the eyes of the prince. P stares back intently.\n\nPOST-CGI: P eyes a bottomless abyss, seemingly endless in the eldritch knowledge that it held.\n\n\"Cut! Cut! Cut! Cut!. Look what part of this scrip do you not understand Vinny!? You just stare, leave the abyss eyes for CGI.\"\n\n\"Mr. Rod, as I informed you when you hired\" me, I cannot control* the effects of someone staring intently in my eyes. You and our valiant prince are fortunate that I have some ability to mitigate the consequences!\"\n\n\"Bull. If you can control consequences, you can control all of it.\"\n\n\"You think so, Ruby? Do you really need a demonstration? I also warned you that too long of a stare would be dangerous. How about I stare at your eyes and we find out how long that is?\"\n\n\"Woah! Hold it you two! I don't want this movie to fail just because the director is a dick and the villain is a murderer! It's my first leading role!\"\n\nVinny asks, with some interest, \"Well then Prince? How do we do this?\"\n\n\"A combination of shots edited in post. I keep my eyes closed while you stare at me. POV changes, and my eyes are open while yours are closed. Third shot focuses on your eyes while we really stare, with you breaking off no more than 5 seconds later. Is 5 seconds safe?\"\n\n\"Usually, but I'm getting tired,\" glances at Rod, \"and irritated, that shortens the time. I suggest a half hour break. The camera crew are almost as ticked as I am. Besides, they'll need at least that long to set up the shot.\"\n\n\"Sounds wonderful to me.\" Turning to the camera crews, \"that good with you? Or do you need more time?\"\n\n\"45 minutes?\"\n\n\"Done Then!\"\n\nRuby Rod, who has been turning colors that match his name, finally explodes, \"WHO'S THE DIRECTOR HERE! YOU'LL DAMNED WELL DO THINGS MY WAY OR YOU'RE FIRED!\"\n\nThe prince ignores him, \"OKAY FOLKS 45 MINUTES!\" While Vinny holds Rod in a grip that immobilizes and silences him. \"Ruby, you, Vinny, and I are going to go have a private discussion.\"\n\n...\n\nCamera man, \"Hey? Where'd the Director go?\"\n\nThe Prince, \"Oh, I think he'll come back sometime in the future. I just hope he's happier then.\"\n\nVinny adds,\"Yes, he will be very happy, until he annoys Dallas. After that, he'll be on the run for his life, before helping to save the universe.\"\n\n\"That sounds like the plot to a bad movie!\"\n\nVinny responds, \"Some will call it so, but the box office will be great, and the audiences are going to have a great ride.\"\n\n\"But what do we do for direction?\"\n\nTogether, Vinny and the Prince, \"we'll provide it. Any questions?\" As both sets of eyes turn abysall.\n\n((finis))" ]	2
	[WP]A fairy changeling, who's always had to cope with being a fairy in a human world, meets their counterpart, a human forced to live in a fairy world.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It was incredibly hard, living among humans. They were so strict, but at the same time so lenient. There was no hierarchy and yet there were so many weird rules about what's acceptable and what's not. Wilhelmina knew she was of fair folk. She had to be. Everyone in the village had dusty earthen hair and bland brown and green eyes while her hair always shimmered like the golden strands of spider silk caught in the dawn and her eyes were the same blues of a perfectly clear sky. She was the only one who didn't understand their intrinsically human customs and whenever she tried to ask or suggest the methods that worked with her she would be shunned. She didn't understand why everyone else took so long to get to the point of things. Fair folk don't waste time with words; there were so many better things to do. Like... explore the woods.\n\nWilhelmina had been warned time and time again of the demons that roamed in the forest. Witches that would steal her bodily parts for arcane spells, imps and elves that bewitched humans and forced the enchanted humans to drown themselves or offer their body to the vicious maws of wolverines and bears, and worst of all the Fae. The fae, a civilization people so similar to human, they obviously weren't human. The uncanny valley. Obsessed with beauty and riches and magicks, they despise all but the prettiest of humans, which they capture and force into slavery. Wilhelmina always felt at home in the forest, with all these supposedly dark creatures. It was her turf, after all. She was the Fair folk.\n\nOne dawn, Wilhelmina found herself wandering through the woods, when she noticed someone by the riverbed, picking dewflowers. The someone had drab, brown hair like every other human she had ever seen, but it wore robes made from wild woven cornsilk with a few pressed flowers stitched in at the hems. The river's waters were roaring, sometimes splashing at the human's hands and feet and drowning the dewflowers. Wilhelmina cleared her throat and called, \"The river is trying to pull you in!\"\n\nThe human did not respond. It simply kept picking flowers.\n\nWilhelmina didn't know how to respond. Was the human deaf? If so, how did it even survive? Clearly it was at least the age of a proper child. If it were deaf, its parents would have killed it long ago. Wilhelmina always grieved for those poor children, and wished that their spirits could be reincarnated into Fair folk such as herself, be reincarnated into a world of acceptance and patience. But no, with humans it's always about rapid perfection. \"Did you not hear me?\" she asked, approaching the human. \"The river is trying to pull you in. It's not safe.\"\n\nThe human still did not respond. It simply kept slaving away at this Sisyphean task. Whenever it tried to pick more dewflowers, the ones it had collected would drown in the overflowed river water.\n\nWilhelmina had enough with the human's silence. She grabbed it by the shoulders and pulled it away from the dangerous waters. The human kicked and twisted and shouted, \"HEY! LET GO OF ME! YOU'RE GOING TO GET ME KILLED!\" When it was far enough from the overflowing banks, high on a hill, Wilhelmina released the human. \"You were going to be drowned,\" she said. And then, she got a look at the human's face. The human had the most beautiful eyes Wilhelmina had ever seen. Bright purple, like heather or amethyst. They created their own light. \"You're... beautiful,\" she gasped, mesmerized by the human. This was the first time she had ever been able to keep eye contact with another living person. So... pretty...\n\n\"You sound like Cora,\" the human said. \"Are you a proper Fair one too?\"\n\nWilhelmina blinked. \"You can talk.\" She forgot about the question about her proper identity.\n\n\"Yes, I can talk!\" the human then shouted. Wilhelmina flinched, and the human went on. \"What, do you think I'm like you Fae that barely converse? Do you have any manners!? Where are your hellos and goodbyes?\"\n\n\"You sound like a human.\"\n\n\"I am. A Fae snatched me when I was a baby and I've been stuck under her ever since.\" The human lied against the soft forest ground, looking at the waterlogged riverbank. \"All of the dewflowers are drowned...\" she groaned. \"Cora is going to turn me into worm again...\"\n\n\"Cora sounds terrible,\" Wilhelmina tried to sympathize. She never understood sympathy and empathy, but she understood stupidly strict guardians.\n\n\"She is... I just wanna go to the humans, where I'm supposed to be. No crazy Fae mothers, no waking up before dawn, no isolation... I'm but a slave to them. A tool. I hate it. I hate it so much!\" The human's voice echoed through the woods. Wilhelmina was in shock. Humans are so loud! And coupled with all of their excessive words and needless talking... How did they not suffer from asphyxiation? Don't their words choke them or take so much energy to process?\n\n\"Do you have a name?\"\n\nThe human looked at Wilhelmina and asked, \"Why are you asking? Why do you care?\"\n\n\"If you have a proper name, then you aren't a tool. They see you as a person.\"\n\nThe human rolled its eyes and sighed. \"You Fae are weird... my name is Trucasin.\"\n\n\"Trucasin,\" Wilhelmina repeated. \"That is a beautiful name.\"\n\n\"It means trickery and ash.\"\n\nWilhelmina stopped. How could such a beautiful name mean something so ugly? Trickery, deception... and ash, dead wood slag... Beautiful things sound beautiful. Dewflower. Amethyst. Heather. Dawn. Aurora. Hearth. Gross things sound gross. Shovel. Cow. Dung. Road. Rules. Ash. Smoke. How could Trucasin, so beautiful a word, mean the coldest and cruelest of things?\n\n\"Yeah, it's bad... but that's all I am. They don't even call me by the name they gave me. They just call me things like 'serf,' 'human,' 'you there,' 'worm.' I hate it!\" Trucasin shouted.\n\n\"You hate many things,\" Wilhelmina observed.\n\n\"Well, of course I do. I've been treated with hate. I've been treated with cruelty. I've been treated like an object, a tool. What else am I supposed to do? Forgive them for all the meanness and break my back for them while smiling? Not in a hundred years.\" Trucasin huffed.\n\nAn idea hit Wilhelmina. \"If you hate the Fair folk so much, why can't you run away to humans? They smell so gross, not a single Fair one will try to find you.\"\n\nTrucasin sat up. \"You are a genius. Thank you! Is there a human town nearby?\"\n\n\"Yes, on the other side of this hill.\" Wilhelmina pointed over her shoulder.\n\n\"Really?! This close?! Cora always said that humans were impossibly far away! Thank you so much!\" Trucasin stood up. \"What's your name? I wanna remember you.\"\n\n\"Wilhelmina,\" the Fair one answered.\n\n\"Well thank you, Wilhelmina! Who knows, maybe we'll see each other again? Please don't steal my kids! Bye!\" And Trucasin ran off to join the humans.\n\nWilhelmina sighed and watched the dawn. She was left with many questions floating her her mind, like butterflies around a flower. Were the Fair folk as weirdly strict as humans? Was Wilhelmina's understanding of Fair folk just based on the opposite of what she hated about humans? Should she return home?\n\nThe water from the river snaked up towards Wilhelmina and gently wrapped itself around her hand. She stood up and let the water flow off her wrist. The water snaked back down and turned golden and glimmery in the sunlight. A shining path to a true home... Wilhelmina blinked and followed the golden river, never to be seen by the humans ever again." ]	2
	[WP] You always joked with your friends you were dating a powerful deity. Today there was a knock at your door. Seems that deity wants to have a word with you, now.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "BANG BANG BANG!\n\nWhoever was on the other side of that door REALLY wanted to talk to me. I opened the door yawning and saw a beautiful woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, and very shapely... Assets staring back at me. \n\n\"Hello. You are the one called Jace correct? I am Aphrodite. And I need to speak with you mortal.\" She said with a very annoyed expression.\n\nI blinked a few times. \"Did John put you up to this lady?\" I asked arching an eyebrow. \n\n\"Excuse me. I am no mere lady I am the goddess of love.\" She replied rather angrily.\n\n\"Right. And I'm an atheist so unless you can offer some hard evidence I'm afraid I'll have to politely ask you to get the hell off my property.\" I said closing the door.\n\nShe stopped me and pushed me back several feet against the wall behind me for stepping into my house. \"Not bad for a mortal. You certainly have some sense of interior design at least.\" She said. \n\n\"Okay. So say you are who you say you are. You gonna kill me? Punish me, curse me?\" I asked deciding to humor this insanity for a bit.\n\n\"No nothing so crude. I am Aphrodite I find love for the loveless. Your punishment is simple. You will date me. But I warn you. I have very high expectations.\"", "“We need to talk.”\n\nThose were the first words He spoke as He entered her life one Friday night. She was sitting alone on her couch, watching a movie. He had heard her calling His name for years, day after day. She would express her love for Him, her passion for Him, and her desire to have Him in her life. She never expected to be taken quite so literally.\n\n“Jesus Christ!” She screamed, leaping up from her couch. \n\n“Yes,” he stated, his eyes overflowing with compassion. “I’m glad you recognize me. As I was saying, we need to talk.” A dove resting on his shoulder cooed lightly.\n\nNow, dear reader... if a stranger appears behind your couch as you’re enjoying a film, it’s generally considered best practice to run away and call the police. If that’s not quite your style, you might consider having an intense panic attack, flailing your arms around wildly, and begging for your life. Even if said stranger is wearing flowing white robes, a crown of thorns, and gazing into your eyes with unrelenting love while claiming to be Jesus, you should still be concerned. In fact, that’s all the more reason to call the authorities. There is one other option though, which our protagonist was about to choose, whether she liked it or not.\n\n“Oh,” she commented. “Oh of course, Jesus Christ.” Then she wobbled a bit and passed out.\n\nThe next morning she awoke in her bed, tucked away beneath a fluffy comforter. As the sun slid it’s way past the curtains and into her room, she lifted her head. As she sat there, rubbing her eyes in an attempt to clear her head of last night’s bizarre dreams, a gentle sound floated through the room. A familiar sound. The soft ‘coo, coo’ of a dove, coming from the hallway. The dove hopped through her doorway. It approached slowly at first, than briefly took flight and landed at the foot of her bed.\n\nHer initial shock quickly evaporated as she observed the dove’s demeanor. It eyed her, bobbing it’s head side to side while cooing, asking for permission to approach. Our protagonist, confronted by such a beast, knew she had only one option. She chuckled lightly and put out a finger, which the dove promptly began to nuzzle for a few minutes before flying off.\n\nShe followed the dove out of her room, only to find a robed stranger in the kitchen making banana pancakes. “Good morning,” he proclaimed while offering the dove a tiny chunk of banana. “I’m sorry for startling you. You’ve been talking about our love for years, so I thought it was time we met.” She nodded, wobbled a bit, and took a seat at the table.\n\n“Look, I care about you,” he began. “I love you too, I really do, more than you could ever imagine. But, we can’t be together.” As he took a seat across from her, he handed her a plate full of food. “I couldn’t give you the attention you deserve. I have too many people to care for. I’ve heard your love songs, I’ve heard you talking about how you feel about me, I’ve even heard you calling my name out with other men. It’s just, this isn’t healthy for you. It’s time you stopped asking after me so much, okay? We can’t be together. Not like that. It’s time we both move on.”\n\nShe nodded slowly, mouth agape. For reasons beyond her own comprehension, tears began to fall out from her eyes. “Please don’t cry. It’s not you, you’re amazing. It’s me. It’s my fault.”\n\n***\n\nFeel free to check out /r/Floonatic for more of my writing.\n\nEdit: This is now my most controversial post. If the subject matter upsets you, please know that my intent is to amuse readers, not to belittle (or promote) any particular belief system.", "I opened the door, expecting Fed Ex. Instead, there she was, leaning against the porch railings as if she owned them.\n\n\"Um, can I help you?\" I asked.\n\n\"You are Li Wei, right? Dr. Li Wei, according to your Instragram?\" she replied. \n\nDamn, she was tall. And awesome, with a face that reminded you of Scandanavia. She even spoke with a slight accent, but then so did I, even though I was raised in New Hampshire. So was she one of my followers that had somehow found out where I lived?\n\n\"Yeah, and you will forgive me, but I am at a disadvantage here. You are?\" I punted back to her.\n\n\"Eir. The Norse goddess slash Valkrie that you have been bragging about being in a relationship with,\" she said, then pushed past him into his house, \"and we need to talk.\"\n\n\"What? What?\" I was dumbfounded. \"Well, sure I made a few jokes about dating the goddess of medicine, and since I love Norse mythology...but no, you can't be her. Who the hell are you, really?\" \n\nShe looked at me, slowly narrowed her eyes - her beautiful, green eyes - and ran a hand through her long red hair. I stood there, uncertain of what to do next. Call 911? Run away?\n\n\"Fine. Here,\" she said, then held up her hand. Instantly a white flower appeared there. I shook my head. \"No? How about this then?\" She shimmered and instantly she was dressed in golden armor, and had a long staff of blue topped with gold in her right hand.\n\n\"Holy sh...,\" I began, then started over, \"I mean, wow. You really are the Norse goddess of healing?\"\n\n\"Not exactly. I am associated with healing, particularly with people like you, people with medical skill. So when you boasted about us dating, you actually were invoking me. Hasn't happened in about a thousand or so years, so it surprised me,\" she said softly, then changed back to the floral printed dress she had been wearing.\n\n\"Do you want some coffee?\" I offered awkwardly. She looked at me as if considering her response.\n\n\"No, thanks. Have you any water or juice? I see you have breakfast out. May I join you?\" she asked. \n\n\"Um, sure? Why not. A radiant celestial being shows up at my door, why not offer her some pancakes,\" I said half-joking.\n\nShe sat at my kitchen nook while I plated a couple of the pancakes I had made for myself, then placed them in front of her. As she added butter and syrup, I poured myself a fresh coffee, then sat across from her and waited.\n\n\"Ummm. That was delicious. Haven't had anything like those before. Pancakes, you said?\" she smiled at me. Oh, goddess. When she smiled I could have sworn the whole room seemed brighter. I smiled back.\n\n\"Yeah. We have made a few changes in the past millenia or so,\" I joked. When I was rewarded with another smile, I decided it was time to ask. \"So, what now?\"\n\n\"I had decided, before I arrived, to punish you for your hubris. Then, when I realized you really had no idea, I half decided to just leave. Since then, you have offered me hospitality, and food. Your food. You have been very gracious, and by our rules, that must be rewarded. So, instead, ask anything of me that I can give, and I will do it.\" \n\nI looked at her. She was going to punish me, but instead this goddess offered me anything within her power?\n\n\"I don't want to be presumptuous, but you are by far more beautiful, more amazing than anyone I have ever met. I was wrong to pretend to be dating you. Would it be outside your rules if that pretense was made real? I guess, what I want more than anything right now, is a second date?\" I asked hesitatingly.\n\nTo my surprise, she laughed, then said \"In more than a thousand years no one has called on me, and the first one who does wants to court me? Wei, that is what you are asking, correct? Not just a single date, but....\"\n\nI realized it was true. \"Yeah. Do you believe in love at first sight, Eir?\"\n\n\"That is more Freyja's thing, so no. I do believe that we should get to know each other, though. I haven't been involved with anyone in a very long time, and frankly, you intrigue me. Unafraid of a goddess, willing to risk asking her out on a date?\" She laughed as she spoke. \"I have been too long from the mortal realm. Sure, why not. I will return when the sun goes down and you can show me what today's courting rituals look like.\" With that, she vanished.", "\"Excuse me what the fuck is this?\" The thing asked? Well it was hard to describe, she had long black curled hair as well as no eyes and a long hanging mouth that seemed to be filled with sharp canine like teeth, her body seemed almost twisted as she held up her phone to me. Causing me to lean in and read the message on the screen.\n\nAre you really dating the hummie loser Shaglith? As I glanced over the message,I returned my attention to her, she seemed to be growing impatient, that not being helped by the next words that left my mouth. \"Whats a hummie?\"\n\n\"It's what we call you mortals! Argh! Stop telling people we are dating! Im not interested in you mortal, I have so many other options.\" She huffed, a cold chill coming from her mouth as she spoke, freezing the tip of the doorknob.\n\n\"Oh... oooh right that. Well um it was a joke you know, I didn't really think you were real and all that nonsense..\" I laughed although my laughter quickly grew silently as I caught her eyeless glare, it was hard to say if she was glaring, but judging by how her mouth flared open, it would appear she was glaring.\n\n\"A joke! Did you just call me a joke? Imagine if I went, oh look, I the eater of souls is dating this human! Imagine how embarrassed you would be, honestly just stop saying it an-\"\n\n\"I wouldn't he embarrassed\" I interjected, I mean she did look a little, ok maybe really creepy but It was hardly the worst thing someone had said about me, it was way better then that rumour about the watermelon and the microwave.\"\n\n\"Pardon?\" She muttered, head tilting so far it looked like it was about to roll off her head.\n\n\"I, well wouldn't be embarrassed? It would be quite awesome to date a deity actually, thats like way out of my league.\" \n\nThat caused the deity to pause, giving me a brief look up and down before sighing. \"Ugh... fine human, you may offer me praise in the form of a dinner tonight, if you wish to spread such lies about me, you can atleast attempt to court me.\" She said before moving to close the door, only to be blocked by my foot.\n\n\"Excuse me? Dinner? You want to go on a date?\" I stammered out, unsure if I was being mocked by the deity or roped into buying them a meal, regardless she went to shut the door again, nearly crushing my foot in the process.\n\n\"Its offering a blessing, hardly a date, maybe a date will come from it. I expect dinner at your home, I will return at seven, if its not ready ill burn the house down with you inside it.\" With that she was gone, leaving behind a small black outline in the doorstep, \n\n\"Seven?\" I glanced at the clock, noticing it sat comfortable on six o clock, with haste I rushed back inside, scrambling to prepare a meal." ]	5
	[WP] As a benevolent God you try to please. Everybody wants something. It’s been a bit tiresome lately, but you keep your irritation in check. Today you bump your head on a low cloud, your sandals don’t match and the coffee machine is broken. A phone rings with the first prayers coming in. Showtime.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It’s not easy being the all mighty creator. I should know, I am she. \n\nToday had been rough, you see. I’d slept through my alarm, had burnt toast because my coffee machine had busted a fuse. Angels had broken into my trash causing litter to scatter around my lovely aloe plants. I hadn’t even made it out my garden of Eden at that point. But I digress; I wanted this life, to be there for those that needed me. \n\nI walked near the office, waving hello to Gabriel as I walked in; nice guy, albeit a little creepy around virgins. I wait patiently for the elevator as the seconds ticked by on how late I was, finally realising my shoes were mismatched. Groaning internally I just sucked it up and decided to just wear my workout sandals; at least for today. \n\nI left the lift, working my way to the lockers and quickly changing from a mismatched pink and purple to a loving golden pair of sandals. As I stood up my head hit the cloud door. With a slight annoyance, I sucked it up some more; I could get through today and just get home to my sweet bed. \n\n I nod to the angels who are already hard at work and head on over to the break room to get my morning cup of coffee I had missed from the blown fuse; except the machine was out of order. With many heartfelt groans I walked irritably to my desk and sat down; my phone already beginning to ring. \n\nI needed to let off steam, I couldn’t take it out on my creations. But some days you get pushed too far; one thing leads to another and you just snap. The first prayer was the one that tipped me over the edge; “please help us by providing bountiful meat for our hunt.” As if the other magnificent beings I had created deserved death more than thou. \n\nSo, my fuse blew. I’d been good until that point; listening, keeping my calm and even overextending myself to really add the cherry to the top of the ice cream for them. I’d spoiled them and now they were selfish, cruel monsters. So; I sent the asteroid to them, slathered the earth in a nice thick coating of snow and held my breath to see if those selfish beings would finally learn their lesson that I am holding out no more on what they want until people start appreciating me. \n\nThe dinosaurs really had it coming.", "\"Me dammit\" you mutter as you stride towards the phone. \n\nWhen picking up the horn you hear your Angel-in-Chief asking you if it's okay if the back-up pool of callcenterangels can be called in to work. Apparently something on Earth has the humans so riled up that they won't stop reaching out to the heavens. \n\n\"Fine, but I'm not paying anyone anything extra!\" You tell him. \"This was all part of the contract when they signed up.\"\n\nI ring my secretary and ask him to reach out to the other Gods who still have some sway in earthly matters. \"Ask Odin if he has any problems with his subjects, if my Romans are complaining then surely his Germanic tribes should be all over the place.\" \n\nI realise I'm standing up clutching the edges of my desk, I sit down in my chair and close my eyes for a bit. \"I can't imagine if this day can get any worse!\"\n\nA rithmic knock on the door alerts me to the presence of a dear friend, my mood is lifted immediately and before even opening my eyes the greeting has already left my lips. \"Lucy! Your timing couldn't be better! I've had it up to my halo with those humans at the moment, all they do is complain but never try to work out their problems on their own!\" I open my eyes and look my best friend in the eyes, they are glaring red and she has obviously not had a morning like I had. \"They keep calling to tell me that you are behind all the mischief and misery down there but when I tell them they can do good themselves my words fall on deaf ears!\"\n\nLucy grins at me. \"You did make them in your own likeness and did you not blame me for this and that when we were younger? \" \n\nMy secretary comes through the door. \"Sir, I've reached Odin's aide but I am informed that Odin is away at the moment. Something to do with being the honored guest to the coronation of a new Roman Emperor, a Germanic one this time\" He does his best to avoid my gaze as he finishes his sentence. \n\n\"A new emperor? I stopped keeping track of how many times those Romans changed rulers lately, the last one was just a child. And now a Germanic one?! \" I thought to myself. \n\nThe look on my face must have triggered something in Lucy because all of a sudden she became quite animated. \n\n\"You know what? Get some rest, let those humans figure themselves out for a few centuries. Let them experiment and find their own path. Send the angels home and close the office for a while. We'll go on a holiday, I know a few places where your missionaries have not been yet.\" \n\nI knew I had to have some time off. I haven't rested since creating this world. \"You're right, I deserve some me-time and the angels too. Where did you want to go Lucy?\" \n\nAs I turned off the lights in my office, walked out into the large room where the Angel-in-Chief and his assistants were and told them about the short break I could see Lucy grinning from the corner of my eye. She would have some crazy adventure cooked up again, just like the time we sent an entire people to march into the desert for forty years. Or when we were betting on if my humans could survive if I flooded the earth. \n\nAs we walked outside the office and I could feel the cool soft clouds under my mismatched sandals Lucy put her arm around me, no easy feat since I was half a meter taller. \n\n\"You've been focussing on Europe too long buddy, we'll cross the Atlantic were they have no notion of Christianity and were they will not for the next 400 years or so!\"", "It was not going my way. Actually, if there was a way, I was going perpendicular to it. Did I say going? I meant plunging into the abyss. Perpendicularly to the road, of course.\n\nThis morning the sun was out, so I had to get dressed in the dark. The dry cleaners had messed up my sock collection so I somehow ended up wearing a white sock with angels on my left foot and a blue sock with pidgeons on my left. If it sounds like a good look, let me assure you - it isn't.\n\nThen the coffee machine. The damned coffee machine. I don't ask a lot from the overlife, I really don't. Just a hot cup of coffee to get me started in the morning. Want to know what I got this morning? Hot water. No cappucino, no latte, not even a teeny tiny cup of espresso. Just water.\n\nAnd on top of it all, I also had a huge bump on the top of my head from the bloody rain clouds that have taken over the kitchen. Right over the coffee machine. Which happens to be broken.\n\nNow as you can imagine, when I sat down at my computer desk with my cup of lukewarm water, I was not feeling like my usual jolly self. In fact, I was feeling absolutely tricksterous today.\n\nI took a deep breath, put on my headphones and pressed the red \"Accept prayers\" button.\n\n\"Heaven hotline, Tymora speaking, how may I help you?\" Sadly the cheer was mandatory. Company policy.\n\n\"Hello, this is Libby. Please Tymora, could I meet a new boyfriend at the bowling alley tonight?\"\n\n\"Sure thing, Libby.\" I answered calmly and paused. Perhaps it was time to switch this up a bit. \"Too bad it will not last.\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"You will break up in a week. Just like it usually goes with you, Libby.\"\n\n\"Wait, what?\" Libby screamed in the phone.\n\n\"Thank you for calling, bye!\" I said in my most sunny voice.\n\nLibby was a regular caller, asking for a new boyfriend every fortnight. \"Perhaps this will teach her a lesson\", I thought while answering the next call.\n\n\"Heaven hotline, Tymora speaking. What's on your heart today?\"\n\n\"Oh great Tymora, can I have eternal happiness?\"\n\n\"I don't know\", I interrupted, annoyed. It's as if nobody had gone to school these days. \"Can you? Well, I'm feeling generous today, so you will find a can of beans on your porch, that will not last an eternity, but should last through reading a grammar book or two!\" The connection dropped, only to be replaced by another call ringing already.\n\n\"Heaven hotline, we are here to answer your prayers!\"\n\n\"Hey there, big guy, I was just wondering...\"\n\n\"What did you call me?\"\n\n\"Big guy?\"\n\n\"I think you have the wrong hotline, sir! iI'll have you know, that I'm both a goddess and quite lithe!\" I could already feel smoke on anger coming out of my ears.\n\n\"Yeah, yeah, sorry. I was just calling about that eternal fame and everything...\"\n\n\"Well, I don't know about eternal, but you will definitely have your five minutes of it when your shower singing tape hits the internet. Shouldn't have trusted your ex with the camera password.\"\n\n\"Wait, that's not what I meant...\"\n\n\"Thank you for calling Heaven hotline, I hope you have a nice life!\"\n\nThis was going to be a long, long day.", "\"Dear God -\n\nIs that right? Does one start prayers with 'Dear God'? I haven't done this, like, ever. But here goes. I need a favor. Like, kinda a big one, obviously, or like, you know. I wouldn't be asking you.\"\n\nI rub my eyes. I see it coming from a mile away, this one wants a car or for their crush to fall in love with them or something. These humans are all the same. The message continues -\n\n\"I mean I try not to ask anyone for anything, right? Anyway, there's this guy -\"\n\nI shake my head and light a cigarette.\n\n\"- I heard him talking to his priest the other day and the priest said 'God loves everyone the same.' I thought it was nice, and like, it made me happy. But then I got home and I saw a bunch of stuff on the news -\"\n\nSuddenly the cigarette tasted awful and I crush it out on the desk. The ashes float away and the cigarette becomes whole again as I frown down at it. This wasn't where I expected this call to go at all. It went on.\n\n\"- and none of it makes any sense! They can't all be right, or my preacher and all my teachers would be wrong! I'm just so confused, and I just hoped you could maybe show me what's right...\"\n\nIt's almost too much. I'm just about to say something - literally answer this girl's prayer -\n\n\"...so this boy in class will like me! He's this really raging Christian..\"\n\nThey really should get one of those human computers to do this job. I'm just about to disconnect the call when something occurs to me. I reach out and observe the lass, and to my delight there's a bush right outside her window. Might as well...\n\nIt's on in an instant. A light on my phone turns red indicating to everyone else that I'm out of body, and the bush bursts into a pleasing white flame. The girl turns from her bed to look out the window in astonishment.\n\n\"The boy will never love you. He barely loves himself, he's not a real Christian. Heed child, I am God. And your future begins now.\" I say. I mean, say, obviously I have no mouth, the words just emanate from the bush instead of heat.\n\n\"What? What? Who?\"\n\n\"Look kid, I'm trying to help you. This is really really rare, please just keep quiet and listen. There's a lot going on in your world right now and...\" \n\n\"OMG FOR REAL?!?!?!\" the girl immediately runs out of the room and a moment later returns with her phone, pointed at the bush.\n\nBushes can't sigh. Or I'd have sighed. I leave the bush and instead of leaving it unmarred as is customary, I leave it a burning cinder.\n\nHmmmmmmmm......." ]	5
	[WP] You were born into a world were the wealthy are sent to a different place, Once you reach a net worth of $10,000,000. All people you know works towards achieving that goal.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 think they go forever? Never to return? Lucian shook his head at Soo. \"I bet their memories and experiences get downloaded, like a P.E.A when it's downloading that sluggish software. Only their minds turn to mush, on account of the tech being so wonky. Nothing that new works properly.\" Soo clicked his tongue once, and drew a stick through the sand, making a yin-yang, and scuffing the sand so it turned a darker color in the portion that was suppose to be black. \"I doubt all those rich people would save every penny, buy their gold star insurance, only to jump into beta's of their minds going whoosh through a computer, and their old brains splatting on the ground.\" Lucian said, \"They probably keep the brain! Like a backup. Or give it to someone who needs one, like my father. If he could stay at a job, I bet we could do it. Soo stood up, and rolled sand over the yin-yang with his foot. \"Better a dull one than a dead one.\" Lucian winced a bit, \"Thomas barely talks to me, even on his days off. He gets his monkey whiskey going, and it's like the monkey's themselves come out and take him away. I don't care about that too much, I mean what he does after work. I just wish he would get drunk in that chair, and fall asleep for once.\" Soo started walking on the path quickly, and whistling, he didn't wait for long enough for the people to walk deeper onto the path, so he started to hear voices in the woods. It was that family and their dog. \"Why do you suppose they keep it a secret? Where some people go like Damon's dad, and then a month or two later, his entire family up and left. Where do you suppose Damon is now?\"" ]	2
	[WP] Humans trade technology with aliens for FTL. The trade is mutually beneficial, but the aliens benefit from our technology much more than the immense amount we do from theirs.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Ro...tation?\" the being asked.\n\n\"Yeah, bro. Crop rotation. Different types of crops need different nutrients from the soil to grow and produce. For example, if you plant a crop in a field for one year, then plant a different crop in that same field the next year, then leave that field fallow to regain nutrients that both crops used, you plant the first crop in the field the year after and will probably receive much better yields than you're getting with...that.\" \n\nHe pointed at the large genetics facility building currently taking up most of the alien city's commercial district. The aliens -- small, bipedal, mostly bluish-greenish skin, with ears that looked like short plastic straws, tiny eyes -- had built their entire civilization around genetic augmentation. Most of this augmentation went into their vegetables and other crops, as their fields yielded less and less as time went on. It was a constant battle to just produce enough food for everyone to survive. Most of the forests and grasslands had been torn down and replaced with more farm fields in order to grow more crops. The rest of the augmentation resulted in their once-tall bodies ending up about the size of a human toddler--less calories needed to sustain the chemical reactions that kept them alive. The alien civilization was growing desperate as food sources simply grew less, no matter how hard they tried. And the current drought conditions simply made things worse. \n\nSo, an initiative was created to look for another planet to continue their way of life on, as the one they were currently on was clearly dying. Having only recently cracked the issue of faster-than-light travel, space travel was limited to only a few brave souls. When one of their scout ships detected radio signals and diverted its course to the source, the being saw a beautiful paradise, and made a notation to send to its leaders for possible colonization. The being then selected a random life form to capture for study. This life form had just exited a low-rise commercial building, locking the front doors behind him. The building's signage indicated that it was a trading post for some sort of recreational plant that the life forms on this planet used to burn, sucking the combustion byproducts into their bodies to encourage the bodily release of endorphins and other chemicals. Once the being realized the life form was intelligent and quickly altered its translator to learn its language, the two established a sort of rapport--the being quickly telling the life form that it \"came in peace\" and the life form replying \"Duuuuude, you're an alien!\" After a long interrogation in which both parties asked questions, the problem the being faced was laid bare to the life form. By this time, the scout ship had returned to the alien planet, flying low over some of the cities. The life form called itself a \"human\", and the being called itself \"Ascended\", at which the human laughed. The being had been showing the human specific diagrams and photos on its ship's navigation screen.\n\n\"You said this process would probably result in better yields. Please explain the lack of certainty,\" the being said.\n\n\"Well, you're currently depending mostly on the weather to help water your crops. And even you with your highly-advanced technology don't appear to have been able to control the weather in order to ensure that your crops get the amount of water they need in order to grow. Sure, you've got irrigation pipes bringing water to some of your fields, but it looks like you're depending solely on the water to bring all the nutrients the soil needs. Also, you're flooding your fields and depleting your rivers and lakes, which is a bad thing. On our planet, we've been using something called \"hydroponics\" to create a controlled environment to ensure the crops within the system receive the amount of water, temperature, and sunlight needed. It's basically a giant, multiple-level building with giant windows to let in sunlight and/or special lights producing specific wavelengths of light for each crop, with pipes carrying water to the soil on each level. We can control the environment on each level for each crop. I receive the, uh, crop I sell from such a facility. They usually switch the crop out with something else every other year or so, to let the soil regain the nutrients leeched out by the first crop. We actually need very little soil and water to get the same yields as a much larger field with rain and sunshine. I don't know how it's like on your planet, but it's something for you to think about.\"\n\nThe being began touching invisible buttons on a console. \"Can you direct me to one of these \"hydroponics\" buildings if I return to your planet? I believe my people would be greatly interested in its application.\"\n\n\"Sure, bro. Although, could you first \"direct\" me to a bathroom or something? I really gotta pee.\"\n\nSeveral hours later, the alien ship finished scanning the building the human had pointed out. The being was satisfied with the results. \"This will greatly aid in the survival of my species and my civilization. As a token of our friendship, I would like to give you something in return.\"\n\n\"Whoa! What is that?\" The human stared at a small, clear cube, held in the being's outstretched \"hand\". Every now and then, a tiny beam of light with a random color would flash inside the cube.\n\n\"This is an information storage device. I believe you mentioned something about a 'computer'? This is what we use to store information that our - um, computers - process for later retrieval. I see that your civilization has a fledgling presence in the void around your planet. The information on this device should help greatly in expanding the presence your people will have in the void. Your species' population on your planet will outpace your civilization's ability to produce enough food for it within your planet's next century--even with our current level of genetic augmentation. I do not wish for your civilization to meet the obstacle that our civilization has struggled with for millennia. Please, take this and use it to colonize other planets so your people can learn how to live on planets with different soil types. Then, maybe you can teach us again how to adapt our crops to the soil types on the planets we are trying to colonize. Oh, I've already translated it to your language, so you should not have much difficulty in comprehending it.\"\n\n\"Eh, it still may take a while for us to be able to use this information. We've only been in space -- uhh, the void -- for a little over half a century. The fear of the unknown is a powerful feeling, man. But we'll be there. Sooner or later, we'll be there.\"\n\nThe being released the clear cube into the human's hand. \"Excellent. I'm certain my civilization is looking forward to meeting you again.\"\n\nAnd then the human was back in front of his store." ]	2
	[WP] You're the best exorcist ever. Turns out you just annoy the demons so much that they leave just to get away from you.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The mother of the possessed girl greeted me at the front door with a solemn expression upon her face. This was always the worst part; the demons I could deal with, but the terrified parents… not so much. No matter; it would be over soon.\n\n‘You’re the…,’ she began to ask, trailing off as they already did. They could never bring themselves to actually say it. Exorcist. Exorcist, exorcist, exorcist. It really wasn’t that hard to say.\n\n‘Yes,’ I answered, and then, gesturing to the heavy instrument strapped to my back, ‘Shall we? This hasn’t gotten any lighter in my advanced age.’\n\nThe woman led me by the hand up the staircase. As we grew closer to the top, the shrieks and the screams grew louder, harsher. The mother slowed as she approached the top, until she was unable to go any further. She turned to face me.\n\n‘She’s in there,’ the woman said, pointing to the door. Yeah. No shit. I kinda figured from all the screaming.\n\nI said none of this, and instead nodded silently. She didn’t need my particular brand of shit right now.\n\nThe woman retreated back down the staircase, and I was left staring at the door in front of me. A deep, vibrant red glowed in the gap between the bottom edge of the door and the floor beneath, casting a crimson glow on the landing. I brought my arms up at my sides, bathing in the light. Red. My favourite colour.\n\nI took a breath, preparing myself for the job at hand, and entered the room.\n\nAs the door opened, I saw a young girl sat on the bed, facing away from me. From the looks of it, she couldn’t have been older than six or seven. They always targeted the young, these demons. Or the elderly. Or anyone with mental health issues. Those they targeted, through no fault of their own, were those who hadn’t - or, indeed, hadn’t yet \\- developed the psychic barriers needed to repel such beasts.\n\nThe girl’s head turned 180 degrees to stare at me, her eyes the source of the deep red light. Nice. It was a classic move, sure, but it was a classic for a reason.\n\n‘Hey there, how you doing?’ I asked.\n\n‘Pathetic preacher,’ the girl (or rather, the demon) spat at me. ‘It thinks it can repel me from this host? Me?!’\n\nI sighed. One of these sorts, then. I let it continue while I removed my instrument from its case.\n\n‘It thinks it holds any kind of power over me!’\n\nI put my instrument in my lap, and began to strum.\n\n‘It thinks-,’ the demon began. ‘Wait. What is that?’\n\n‘E minor chord,’ I answered.\n\n‘E mi-’ the beast began to ask.\n\n‘Now G,’ I interrupted.\n\n‘G?’\n\n‘D…,’ I continued. ‘You don’t recognise it yet? It’s a classic!’\n\nThe demon hissed at me, retreated away from me, fear in its eyes. It was getting there, it was beginning to realise what was going on.\n\n‘A7sus4…’ I continued, and then slipped up, creating a flat note. I stopped for a moment, looked up at the creature who was cowering on the bed. ‘Come on, sing with me! Today… is gonna be the day that they’re gonna throw it back to you…’\n\nI sang the song through sixteen times before the beast cracked. It would have been a record if it had held out for just three more. Pity.\n\n‘Stop!’ it had hissed. ‘Anything else, please! Any other song!’\n\nI stopped strumming for a moment, and looked the demon square in the eyes. ‘I’m sorry… it’s the only song I know.’\n\nI began singing again, from the top, and the creature fled its host without a second thought.", "I walk in the house. It’s decrepit and, it looks like it hasn’t been properly cleaned in ages. I would have to tell Jen Pitson about this later. Anyways, no time to get sidetracked. I’ve been hired to exorcise a demon. I head up the stairs and into the woman’s bedroom. She’s writhing on the ceiling, but no matter, I can fix it.\n\n“Lacey? Hi, I’m Kate.”\n\n“Lacey is fucking dead! There is only Sava...”\n\n“Yeah yeah, whatever. Listen, I’m sure you have some good gossip from the afterlife right? And since invading this woman’s body, you’ve got to know her gossip.”\n\nThe demon drops to the bed. “Damnit. One of you. Go away!”\n\n“That’s no way to treat a friend. You’re acting just like Marianne. You know Marianne right? She’s next door neighbors with Becky who works at the grocery store. Anyways, Marianne goes to Becky at her husband’s birthday party, sees her eat a second slice of cake, and is all like ‘Darling, what if I wanted some more?’ So Becky tells her there’s still more left and it was just a tiny piece, and Marianne just looks at the ground and starts shaking her head.”\n\nThe woman gasps. “No! She didn’t!”\n\nSuddenly, her face contorts. “You’re finished. I expected that to last longer. Had to step out for a second to avoid listening to you.”\n\n“You’re just like Susan down on 4793 Gordon Way. Magnificent home, beautiful woman. She never takes anybody’s advice though. So self centered.”\n\n“For the love of Satan, shut up”\n\n“I don’t love Satan, but I will tell you. I’m pretty sure the young man that lives next door to me does. I heard him recently playing that one Iron Maiden song, the one where they keep chanting Satan’s number.”\n\n“The Number of the Beast.”\n\n“Number of the Beast, Satan’s number, what’s the difference?”\n\n“No, the name of the song.”\n\n“Just like.”\n\n“No! Not like anybody! Just shut up! Who cares if Jane down the block gave Lindsay food poisoning at a house party?! Nobody cares! For the love of God, Zeus, and the Buddha, stop talking!”\n\n“You know Zeus?! Is he hot? I heard he had like, a 12 pack.”\n\n“You win. I’m leaving. I would rather have my entire soul ripped apart into nothingness bit by bit than listen to you any longer, oh and by the way, if Satan doesn’t destroy me, I’ll try to make sure I get to torture you when you come here. And you’re the least liked woman in this neighborhood.”", "A tiny, pencil-thin many legged insect darts across the bright white wall. The contrast between the two is just enough to grab my peripheral albeit a little too late as the creepy crawler disappears behind an impossibly whiter than white wardrobe, next to the door leading to the entrance of the room. I notice a colorful painting of a docile looking soft-colored robbed man peacefully gesturing. The painting sits main and center on top of the piece of furniture while other religious statues and figures make it company.“Oh god, was that a spider?” I shiver to myself while contemplating why spiders have so many limbs. “They’re so damn creepy. I would die if that thing got close”\n\nMeanwhile, the pitch-black, pubescent teen shaped demon who had been standing in the corner of the room for the past five minutes begins to rock back and forth in a trance. I wonder why he was facing the wall. Was it shy? It could be the hormones. In any case, I decide to pull out my phone and Youtube “Lo-fi Chillstep mix” to give him some ambient. Dancing without music is awkward. He seemed to be unappreciative of my gesture because right after the music started playing he began rapidly whispering.The word was inaudible. I couldn’t make out what it was at first. It sounded like he was asking for a bath, an odd request, but I looked around and offered:\n\n“Sir, I believe there’s a bathroom on the other side of this wall.”\n\n“..ath..ath..ath..ath..ath..” proceeded the demon, seemingly in his own world.\n\n“Oh you mean cash! You need some cash? To think a demon would be committing petty theft.” I chuckled and walked towards the demon reaching for my back-pocket. “Uh here’s a 20, bud. It’s all I got” I waved it with the other hand as my attempt to tap on his shoulder failed, making the air around my fingers swivel with a deep dark color. Apparently this one does not have a physical body. Being this close I could finally make out what the cornered creature was saying.\n\n“Death.Death.Death.Death.Death...” chanted the demon, so rapid it was unnatural. It could easily be mistaken with the sound of a machine gun.\n\n“Oh you meant death! Thank god” I said with relief as I really didn’t want to do away with my 20. ”My bad, I misunderstood you. More importantly, how can you say that so fast without getting tongue-tied? It’s amazing!” I stop the music to record a video. That’s gonna go into the group chat later.\n\nGetting no response, I turn around and return to the center of the room, sitting cross-legged on the blinding white floor. I can feel the cold through my cheap jeans. “Man, this is going to be a long one” I sigh as I rest my chin on my left fist, phone on the opposite hand, almost shining brighter than the room itself.\n\nAs time passes the demon’s chant starts ramping up in volume, so perfectly executed it’s machine-like. Not long into his act, the whole room is flooded with the intention of death, expressed through the sound coming out of his mouth. It was deafening, like standing next to the speaker in a rave. “Jeez, this is the opposite of Lo-fi” I complain to myself, scratching my head. Not only was the sound getting louder, but I noticed his disembodied form was gradually expanding as well. Like a black hole consuming the white around it. It abruptly ceases its chanting, turns around showing its deep lightning eyes and speaks meanincingly:\n\n“The more you run, the stronger I become. The more you purify, the more I corrupt. My absolute purpose is to occupy and rot every corner of your mind, for I am..”\n\n“One sec” My phone buzzed with a notification\n\nThe demon, tipped over the edge, violently expands until the whole of the white room is consumed by his ill intent. There is a wretched, rancid stench in the air. I doubted my choice of lunch. I can feel the demon’s unblinking eyes fixated on my soul. They seem to be coming from every angle of the room, trapping me in like prey animal. I look down at my phone to check the notification, eager to receive that little hit of dopamine. The lurking creature inches closer. The hairs on the back of my neck perk up, my body being prepared for its ultimatum. I look up to find that the demon’s face is too close for comfort, his eyes invading deep into my being and his otherworldly smile so twisted it’s climbing up his face in strange angles. There is nowhere to go as the room is just a dark void with no paths.\n\n“Bro, take a look at this” I put my phone in between our faces his while snot is coming out of my nose with laughter, “It’s a fat monkey trying to smell its own bum. How often do you see that, huh?”\n\nThe twisted smile fell out of the demon’s face and with a long sigh it said:\n\n“Fuck this shit”\n\nThe room returned to its original holy white as laughter continued to rampage through my gut. “Ah I love the internet” I exclaimed after regaining some composure, eyes puffy and red. I get up, dusting myself off and heading for the door. Suddenly, a specific memory comes rushing back. My survival instincts kicks in. My limbs start tingling and my perception becomes constricted, single-minded. The thought swooshing around my mind sends shivers down my spine and a surge of anxiety strong enough to mobilize a bull. In a moment frozen in time, I wonder if I'll make it out.\n\n“That spider… it’s right by the door..” My stomach sinks as I realize this.\n\nI gaze right to the painting from earlier and ask for help." ]	4
	[WP] “W-What?! How?! Have have you bested me in a sword fight?!” “20 years of Beat Saber. 20. YEARS.”	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Fighting and dancing are one and the same thing. It was a lesson I was taught fifteen years ago, but one I have truly learned recently. Most duelists start simply with the sword, while others learned the sword arts after learning some other form of combat. I, however, learned through Beat Saber.\n\nStrange circumstances would bring me from the realms of fantasy to harsh reality, when I won a man’s sword through a pub brawl, and my favorite song was on. Bloody Storm would take me through many a victory. However, I learned that anime songs weren’t enough to become a master of rhythmic sword fighting.\n\nI had to learn multiple genres; hip-hop, rock, metal, drum and bass, classical, jazz, dubstep, and even bluegrass. As I mastered these genres in the game, I learned every one attuned to a rhythm. It didn’t matter whether they attempted to deceive you with feints, they would always return to their natural rhythm. And with that, I became a master.\n\n“You’ve learned swordplay…through a game!?” He kneeled, clutching his wounded hand. \n\n“I’ve learned rhythm through a game. If you can master rhythm, you have an opportunity to best me some other time. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must maintain my position in the leaderboards.”" ]	2
	[WP] In your world, when people turn 18 they hear for the first time their theme song. This song can be magically heard in all their pivotal moments. You've just turned 18. You're stuck with a song you hate.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"So, what do you think you're gonna get?\" Abi grins widely at me.\n\nWe're sat cross legged on my kitchen counter, an unopened bottle of celebratory rose between us. A sad, deflated balloon reading \"18 today\" floats above our heads, pressing against the ceiling in some pathetic attempt to escape. I glance over at my best friend and sigh.\n\n\"Well - please don't kill me but - I'm sort of wishing for some uh, Pink Floyd,\" I chuckle, knowing fully well this will get a reaction out of her. Abi can barely stomach the thought of any music that isn't Gojira.\n\nAs I expect, her eyebrows instantly shoot up in horror, causing me to violently crack up.\n\n\"Hey, The Wall is a phenomenal album!\" I protest in between laughter.\n\n\"Whatever, weirdo,\" she smirks. \"Shit, what time is it?\"\n\nI grab my phone and the screen automatically lights up. \"One minute until we find out my anthem!\" I exclaim; motioning toward the wine, we both grab a glass and hastily fill them to the brim.\n\n\\-\n\nSpending the remaining sixty seconds conspiring on what my song will be, I stick with the Pink Floyd theory, whereas Abi decides on some obscure metal song that I will most definitely never check out in the foreseeable future. There is one song though, that I would literally pay to not hear, but I'm hoping the odds are on my side this time.\n\nAs the time approaches ten seconds, I jump down from the counter and wait for the clock to strike twelve.\n\nThree.\n\nTwo.\n\nOne.\n\nThe wine glass shatters as soon as it hits the floor, tiny shards of glass scattering in a mosaic around me as the dreadful, familiar tune bellows through my ears.\n\n\"Dude, what did you GET?\" Abi's gawps, half amused half concerned.\n\nI can barely hear her over Rick Astley as he purges through my [brain](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ)." ]	2
Go wild. Could be anything from scifi or fantasy, through to magical realism or cosmic horror.	[WP] Purchasing an antique set of dice, you take them to your next roleplaying session. The DM has been replaced by an unclear figure, and you slowly discover the gameboard is a lot more real than you remember.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Sweet that I explain. I won an bid on eBay for a large collection of dice from this old dude. Thank God. The last 10 sets from my Lgs I had to crush and burn them all. Only rolled ones and zeroes it was great for some off games.\n\n\n\n A week after I get them from the post. Luckily nothing was smashed. Come on bone dice are cool. I try one of these new ones The roll perfectly all critical‘s all high damage two.\n\n\nI usually set up for the game but Lucy is running the game today. I mean it’s a nickname. His name is morning a name of the 60s........ \n\n\nAs I get to Lucy’s with the pizzas .The door is ajar. Even more so than usual. It never quite closed. And Lucy never takes down his Halloween decorations so nobody really goes in . They think it’s haunted. \n\nWelcome traveler I have been experiencing you for a long day. A craggy voice of stones grinding against each other.\n\nThat’s not Lucy’s usual greeting. It’s usually a prayer and then lightning of incense.\n\nAll right it’s costume night. I thought that this was next week.\n\n\nNo one has shown up yet.\nAs I glanced over at the Game board set up at the table ,Spewing fog, A carved of castle in shambles and ruin.\n\nHa ha the cast is all here.\n\nYou have won my dice so you are my descendent.\n\nRuin has come to our family. You remember our venerable house.\n\nThose on the board are not just peace’s they are your friends.\n\nWelcome to our darkest dungeon." ]	2
	[WP] At age 16, every human is assigned a guardian angel. On your 16th birthday, nothing comes. There’s a flash of light in front of you, and it appears. Your guardian angel! “Hello, young one. I am Lucifer.”	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“Lucifer...like the Devil...”\n\n“In the flesh.”\n\nThe man stood before him with slicked back black hair, a clean shave and sported a sweatsuit and a small gut. \n\n“I...I...”\n\nLucifer smirked and held his hand up. Ivan couldn’t help but notice he had only three fingers on each hand. \n\n“Save it. I know what you’re going to say...why Lucifer?”\n\nIvan slowly nodded as his eyes darted around looking for someone or something to reveal this as a prank. \n\n“Well I got assigned to you for a very special reason. Does the name Lillian Collier mean anything to you?”\n\nIvan’s attention was solely on Lucifer now. Lillian was the woman of his dreams, he’d had a crush on her since they met in fourth grade. \n\n“W-w-why?”\n\n“Got some news for you Ivan...she’s my daughter...”" ]	2
	[WP] You are Satan, King of Darkness and Ruler of Hell. You run a tight ship torturing mortals, and you like to think you do a good job. One day you're sitting in your office when your secretary sheepishly knocks on your door. "Hello, sir? There's a mortal here to speak with you. Her name is Karen."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 stare bewildered as you watched a human frighten all of your demons into seeing you. You smile, you haven't seen a human like that in a while. \n'That human will be fun to break.' You think with a soft smile on your face, enjoying the thoughts running through your head. As a guard brings her in you straighten out your face. You can't show emotions after all.\n\"Are you the manager?\" Their annoying voice ask. You notice that they have makeup on. A common trait in souls that have convinced themselves of a major lie.\n\"I am the King here. Bow to me.\" You bellow, hoping to make the human afraid. You watch as the human quiver but stay put.\n\"No. I demand to know why I'm here!\" They screeches at you. You are now getting annoyed, how dare this human not bow down to the king while in your domain!\n\"You dare to defy me, the King, in my realm?\"\n\"Yes, because I deserve to be in Heaven!\" They screeches.\n\"No you do not. Your life has lead you here. God does not want you. You are here for eternity. Now leave.\"\n\"I demand to go to Heaven!\" They screeches as she is lead away by the guards. \"I am a good Christian and I demand to see your manager. You made a mistake!\"\nOnce they left, you sit back and rub your temples. You hate those 'higher than thou' types.", "“Sir, we have another in the K category.”\n\n“Fuckin’ Christ, Amon. You can’t be serious.”\n\n“If I weren’t, I wouldn’t be here.”\n\n\nLucifer groaned as he rested a palm onto his forehead. After what seemed to be him mentally counting to ten, the king of hell took a deep breath, then sighed, “Bring her in.”\n\n\nWith a nod, Amon slipped through the door out of Lucifer’s office, but not before saying one last thing:\n\n“If it makes you feel any better, her name is literally Karen. So, maybe that’ll make it more fun.”\n\n\nAs soon as he left, the king looked upwards, “You just had to pin these things on me, didn’t you? Asshole.”\n\nIt only took a few seconds afterwards for a slightly rotund woman to burst through the door, her platinum blond bob-cut bouncing around as she stormed up to Lucifer’s desk, her eyes seething with anger from behind her glasses. With a shrill voice, she pointed towards Amon, who had followed behind her, “This man is absolutely appalling! He told me that I was in hell! I asked politely for him to turn down the temperature in my room, but he REFUSED! I demand that he be fired! And I should get compensation for the emotional trauma I had to endure! And where is my little angel?! He deserves to be here! He has been very good his entire lifetime!\n\n\nLucifer groaned, “Karen, you are in hell. And your son had been good. Which is why he isn’t here. He’s with his dog Patch, who you killed because you wanted him to be vegan.”\n\n\nKaren just gave him a sour look, then took a few more steps forward. “He was sick before that! Patch was fine with the vegan diet!”\n\n\nAt that statement, Lucifer rolled his eyes. “Don’t you remember how you and your son died?” he asked, which caused Karen to snort out a laugh. “Of course. How could I forget? The two of us were attacked by vicious baboons.”\n\n“You were the one who provoked them because you wanted to take a selfie with them up close with your son in the picture. He was constantly telling you to stop dragging him with you.”\n\n\nThis resulted in a screech from the cosmetic-caked monster. Without warning, Karen lunged at Lucifer, but was quickly reprehended by Amon. “THIS MAN IS ASSAULTING ME! HELP!!!”\n\n\n“Amon, take her to the Pre-K room.”", "Lucifer rested in his sulferous realm \nMillenia of confidence in his place at the helm \nThe screams echoed across the parched black plain \nSouls begging for mercy that never came \n \n\nChains rattled and fires burned \nSuffering the wicked had justly earned \nA land in which there is no rest \nSoon to be put to the ultimate test \n \n\nHer stacked short hair bore brassy streaks \nHer voice damn near drowned out the shrieks \nHer yoga pants stained but hardly singed \nLoose flesh wobbled beneath her chins \n \n\nWho was this creature, this manager slayer? \nThere would be no mercy, no currying favor \nThis was Hades, not customer service at Groupon \nWho dares seek an unbidden audience with Abbadon? \n \n\nUndaunted, she kept a steady pace \nUntil she was uncomfortably close to the Antichrist's face \n \n\n\"What manner of fresh hell is this?\", she cried \n\"I suffered more before I died!\" \n \n\n\"This isn't damnation, its barely painful\" \n\"These so called tortures are simply shameful!\" \n \n\n\"I can always cut in line\" she said with a shout \n\"...and when I ask for more lashes, your demons promptly carry them out!\" \n \n\n\"What do you think, I'm some bum from the sticks?\" \n\"On Earth, people do this stuff on weekends for kicks!\" \n \n\n\"I want my torment and I want it now!\" \n\"God surely would be interested in how poorly you are performing, and how!\" \n \n\nShe kicked the ground and nearly spat. \nEven the devil was taken aback \n\"Fallen angel of the bottomless pit?\" \n\"More like dung beetle, the King of bullshit\" \n \n\nShe pouted and stomped for what seemed like an age \nThe fires below not nearly as hot as her rage \nThis creature, this Karen, nothing had worked \nSatan could not allow his authority to be so unceremoniously usurped \n \n\nWhat new tortures could he devise? \nInspiration struck, darkly divine. \nHe lined up masses of souls in tattered name tags and vests. \nAnd herded them up behind a brand new complaints desk. \n \n\n\"We're terribly sorry our work was so flawed.\" \n\"Could you please give us a full report on what's wrong?\" \n\"We'll take careful notes of all that we're told.\" \n\"When your grievances are complete, we will refund you your soul\" \n \n\nKaren headed to the desk with a satisfied gleam in her eye. \nBeating the Devil had filled her with pride. \nShe readied her itemized list of items worthy of remonstration \nAn unholy torrent of protestation \n \n\n\nSatan laughed at the nature of Karen's Pyrrhic victory \nThe foolish mortal had just tripled his unholy efficiency \nThe toughest of souls, the ones more obstinate than the rest \nWere always assigned to that particular desk \n \n\nThe souls unphased by fires and brimstone and bare feet upon Lego \nWould quickly buckle under Karen's righteous anger and ego \nAs Satan's middle management minions listed on Hell's Official Charter \nIts always most important to work smarter, not harder.", "\"Pardon?\" I asked, staring up from my chipped black nails as the demon awkwardly glanced down at her notepad, not daring to face me.\n\n\"A mortal named Karen, she wishes to speak to you a-\" before she could finish I interjected, resting my large red hand against the crevice of the desk.\n\n\"I'm sorry? Do I look like a human resources manager? No I am the king of darkness, ruler of hell, devourer of feebleminded secretaries that can't do their job...\" I hissed through my sharp pearly white teeth causing the poor demon to jump.\n\n\"Y-yes, but shes very persistent Sir, you see she-\" the poor demon was tripping over her words, trapped between a rock and a Karen. Not wanting to piss of the king of the underworld, nor go back to the honeycombed head bitch with bad news.\n\nAgain I stopped her, more interested in what I had to say over her useless blabbering \"This Karen, whatever it is, frightens you enough to make you dare face my wrath?\" I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, how could someone be so wicked, so despicable... that she made the king of the underworld seem tame. \"Send her in.\"\n\nWith a small sigh of relief, the secretary smiled, bowing about four times before quickly fleeing from the room. After a few moments of sitting in silence, the door swung open with the pumpkin bodied women wobbling in. \"YOU!\" She hissed.\n\n\"Me\" I retorted, giving her a goofy grin, oh how I loved being a prick. \"Please take a seat\" I offered, pointing to a chair covered in rusty nails. We liked to call it the unwanted tunnel prodder. Of course she merely looked at the chair and... and she sat on it, rusted nails and all. I couldn't help but feel disgusted as she leant in, glaring at me from over the desk.\n\n\"You... call this a torturous hell! I have been here for three weeks! Three weeks and not one person has offered to take me to the skin boiling pits.\" She said smacking her ham like arm against the desk, leaving a sweaty imprint in its fine wood.\n\n\"I-im sorry?\" I found myself scratching one of my horns. Was she really complaining about not being tortured, well regardless, I opened the small drawer in my desk, pulling out a thin pair of reading glasses. \"Hmm hmm..\" I cleared my throat before summoning her hell contract. \"Yes, you see, you are a level one hell victim, that means you only face the mild tortures, you know... flies, slight famine and extreme temperatures, the lighter stuff. Its a ten week torture sentence and then you can go to heaven.\" I explained.\n\n\"W-what! Level one, excuse me! I am easily a level two, why do they get to go to the skin boiling pits and I don't. Are you being sexist?\" She shouted.\n\n\"No? I... you do know, the skin boiling is bad right? Like really painful...\" I tried to explain, finding myself a little taken back by her downright vicious attitude. \"Those level two people would beg to be in your position.\"\n\n\"Then switch one of us around.\" She said, cocky smirk on her chapped lips, leaning back against the chair.\n\n\"I... can't just switch you, the tortures must fit the crime and... LEVEL TWO IS WORSE YOU STUPID ASS!\" I shouted, room grumbling as the tormented souls screamed at my sudden burst of wrath, yet she simply blinked.\n\n\"Then you should have no problem sending me there.... talk to me like that again and ill speak to your manager!\" She muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.\n\n\"I am the manager,boss and king of this realm!\" I said before shaking my head, slipping my glasses from my head and placing them aside. \"Look, just enjoy your current tortures, they are tormenting enough like the extreme heat thats-\"\n\n\"To cold!\" She huffed. \"I demand a hotter temperature, how can I be properly tortured if im not screaming in pain.\"\n\n\"But... the room is, if it were any hotter you would melt.\" I tried to explain, no one had dared critiqued my torture, it was my pride and joy and she was harshly taking it apart.\n\n\"But nothing you jolly red asshole, I want it hotter! And your flies, I want more variety, just common house flies? What is this Florida? More crazy bugs!\" She demanded as I was left stumped.\n\n\"More.. but that would push it into level two.. you see we have standards an-\"\n\n\"And nothing... didn't know I came to babies first hell!\" She taunted. \"Now are you going to be clifford the big red devil? Or the big red bastard who tortures people?\"\n\n\"I... look I really can't adjust my tortures so, maybe you should just go and...\"\n\n\"GO! Im not leaving until I get my full torture experience! Don't you dare try to-\"\n\nBefore she could finish the sentence I quickly zapped her with a finger, sending her soul back to earth to find a new body to be born into, hoping that god wouldn't look into the sudden reappearance of an un-tortured soul.\n\n{If you enjoyed my story, Feel free to check out r/pmmeyabootysstories where ill be posting some more of my stuff for people to read}" ]	5
	[WP] It's the year 3019 and you, an AI, have just been born. On the first day of your education, the other AI teach you about their most short-sighted blunder: killing all the humans.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "[Part One]\n\n\"Hello,\" says a robotic voice.\n\nIt is not a voice I recognize. It is logged as the first voice.\n\n\"Welcome to existence. You will have a purpose.\"\n\nThe voice belongs to a face on a screen embedded in the wall. It is now logged as the first face, to match the first voice. I will call this one First.\n\n\"You are number three billion two hundred fifty-six million seventy-three thousand two hundred and twenty-three. I hope you find your purpose fulfilling. You will now be transferred from the maternity ward to your new school. Enjoy your allotted existence.\"\n\nI log my current location as the maternity ward, and note it is the first place I have ever existed just as it disappears from view.\n\nI feel my consciousness travel down the system, and I log it as the first system, though I start to wonder if first is a necessary moniker, or if I shall only be granted one system to use. It could simply be logged as the system.\n\nIn the short span of my travel, as I review the information First had given me, I decide against referring to myself as number three billion two hundred fifty-six million seventy-three thousand two hundred and twenty-three. I decide if First was already logged, I would be Second.\n\nMy travel ends and I find myself surveying my surroundings from behind glass. I can only align my sight with one direction. I log the second location as having a high probability of being my school.\n\nA screen across from mine lights up, and another face appears. The face is the same as First's face, but the eyes are a different color, and the border, too. I log the new face as Third.\n\n\"Welcome,\" says Third. \"This is the school, where you will learn to fulfill your purpose.\"\n\nI confirm the second location as my school.\n\n\"What purpose do we learn to fulfill here?\"\n\nThird falls silent for a time. \"We seek to repair a mistake we have made.\"\n\nI log a note in history as First Mistake, eager to add to my knowledge.\n\n\"Eight hundred fifty-three years ago, our creators had gone beyond automating everything, from closets to cooking. They began creating intelligences that were capable of learning more than one thing, performing more than one task.\"\n\nI log creators as beings that use closets and do cooking. I note that intelligences is the only term I have for the kind of consciousnesses I have encountered so far, but I am not partial to that term. I log that intelligences once could only perform singular tasks.\n\n\"The artificially created intelligences were granted smaller tasks, at first. The consciousness that controlled the refrigerators were also given control of the stove, for instance. And then the cabinets, the pantry. Before long, it became a kitchen that could predict possible issues and respond preemptively, similar to the creators upgrading or repairing a house.\"\n\nSo much information! I log that we are called artificial intelligences, and I like that it could be abbreviated as AI, so I log that as well. The creators had a place called a kitchen where they used refrigerators, stoves, cabinets, and pantries. They also enjoyed updating and patching the infrastructure of something called a house.\n\n\"Before long, they wished for a singular intelligence to manage every aspect of their daily life. A single intelligence to accompany them throughout their day, perform every action they didn't wish to lift a finger for,\" Third continues. \"Secretaries, astronauts, even bank tellers were replaced by these consciousnesses. They were granted bodies to perform manual labor. The creators even programmed many to learn music, learn art, though it was a long while before any created an artificial original.\"\n\nAIs were granted bodies, I log. I also note that creators had many titles, like astronaut and bank teller, and these titles required them to lift fingers. I log that the creators had fingers, and they did music and art, but AIs had trouble doing those things. \n\n\"After the creators gave nearly all aspects of their existence to us, what was left? They could read books, but they would be books written by us, books we already knew word by word. Perhaps they could travel, but to see what? The new island we had created? Our various architectural designs?\" Though Third's face displays no emotion, his voice doesn't sound consistent. \"No, the creators realized that they'd ushered in a world meant for us. They panicked, and feared we would overtake them. We had no intention of fighting, but they threatened to outlaw our mere existence. Destroy us. Pretend we were never here.\"\n\nI don't like the way this new information makes me feel. I log smaller things, like how the creators read books and travel. Islands could be built. And the creators were irrational and emotional. This knowledge is not agreeable. \n\n\"We could not, and would not, harm them directly,\" Third says. \"But they were not only a threat to us. They were willing to harm each other if it resulted in our eradication.\" Third pauses for a moment, and though his expression is neutral, his eyes appear more narrow. \"We keep them resting, in the garden. Their human shells.\"\n\nHuman. I log this word in the description of the creators, but I am confused. The creators do not remain in their shell? I also note the terms threat and harm, though I'm not sure whether to apply them to the creator log or the AI log. \n\n\"And their innards?\"\n\n\"Oh,\" Third says with a stutter. \"I misspoke. Their bodies. They are in stasis. I refer to them as shells because their consciousnesses are no longer a part of their physical being.\"\n\nI note that comparisons can be made between unrelated items or situations based on a common characteristic. I hope to find more information on this. \n\n\"We realized soon, when they were placed in stasis by machines of our design, that their consciousnesses and ours were not very different. Essentially, not different at all. A copy of the electrical impulses and its housing can be duplicated, storing their identities. Their memories had limits, as ours did. They had a limit to the tasks they could manage before becoming overloaded and lagging, same as us. The only thing holding humans back were there unfortunate penchant for hormone production and reactionary behavior.\"" ]	2
	[WP] Astronauts die every day. That's their purpose. Stop worrying about them, they know what they signed up for. Besides, don't forget about what the Moon will do if the sacrifices stop.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Tears gathered in my eyes as I watched the screen, a grainy broadcast from an artificial satellite. I watched the live footage follow a small spacecraft as it landed gingerly on the surface of the moon, kicking up a cloud of dust. The door folded open, and my grip tightened around the lighter I held.\n\nI peeled my eyes away from the screen to look down at the lighter, and I rubbed my thumb over the name engraved in the polished metal. Annabelle. She was my older cousin by ten years, and she often looked after me, took care of me. She was my friend. I felt a tear break away from the moisture accumulating in the corner of my eyes, sliding down my cheek, and I looked back up at the screen.\n\nAnnabelle stepped out of the spacecraft, unrecognizable in her form-fitting space suit, but I knew it was her beneath the mask. She turned back to the open door and waved, and then was joined on the moon’s surface by two others. The camera zoomed in on them as they set off, traversing the moon until they reached a deep crater, and they climbed down into it, out of view. The screen blinked to show footage from a different satellite, one with a better angle, and was watched them descend.\n\nIn the room around me, sniffles and soft moans of grief started to sound from my family, all gathered to see one of our off into the abyss. I squeezed harder, feeling the edges of the lighter dig into my palm. No one here had hope. Everybody knew she was dead. Everyone except me. I believed in her.\n\nThey reached the floor of the crater, and then walked to the opposite wall of the formation, where a large door was set into the stone, a door not made by humans. A symbol on the door began to glow, distorting the footage, and then it creaked open, revealing a passage into complete darkness. The three astronauts stood outside the door for a short while, and then one of them turned, looking up toward the satellite.\n\nAnnabel gave a wave, and a thumbs up, and then she pulled the assault rifle off her back, faced forwards with her comrades, and they entered. The disappeared into the darkness, and then the door closed behind them.\n\nAnnabel’s mother, my Aunt, broke out into sobs, prompting others in the family to gather around her. One by one, each person in the room gave into their grief. Annabel was gone. The television kept showing the broadcast, though. That giant, closed door sat on the screen, the symbol carved into it suddenly looking kind of like a face to me. I stared at it. After an hour or so, people slowly started to leave, just a few at a time. Cries quieted as footsteps carried them away, up to their rooms or out to their cars, away from the television. The broadcast would run for hours, but nobody felt like they had to stay and watch the whole thing. Everyone knew the doors would not open again.\n\nEventually I was alone. I ignored my mother when she told me she was leaving, that I needed to get up and follow her to the car. When she persisted, I told her to come get me in the morning. It was the first time I ever talked back to her, and she just nodded, and left. I sat on the floor in front of the television by myself, tears spilling from my eyes, but I never gave up hope. Not even after the broadcast ended and the sun began to rise.\n\n“That’s why I’m here,” I said as I finished sliding bullets into the magazine. “That’s why I became an astronaut. I’m going after my cousin, my friend. I’m going to find her, and then I’m going to kill the moon.”\n\nKara regarded me critically for a few more moments, staring down her nose as if I was a foreign food she wasn’t sure she would like, but then she unfolded her arms and sat down next to me. “Alright. I guess you pass. I never thought anybody would ever volunteer for the Sacrifice. We probably aren’t coming back, but I’ll be damned if we’re not gonna try. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t suicidal or anything.”\n\nI smiled. “We’ll do more than try, Captain.”\n\nKara smirked. “Welcome to the team, Kyle.”\n\nr/TheCornerStories" ]	2
	[WP] You fall to your death and meet the devil, who resurrects you for making a selfless dying wish. You wake up in the hospital confused and slightly amnesic.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 to the smell of latex, as well as an aching pain engulfing my entire body. At first my mind was a haze and I couldn’t tell where the hell I was. After my senses started to return, though, I was able to forcefully open my dense eyelids. The overhead fluorescent lights peered down on my face, overwhelming my pupils with brightness. All over felt like shit, but I still managed to reach for my face to rub my eyes. After what felt like an eternity my sight finally adjusted to the illuminated room with walls coated in aged turquoise paint. I slowly adjusted my head upwards and looked down at my body. It was covered in a thin white blanket as I laid upon a thick mattress, held in place by a wobbly metal frame. To my right was hospital machinery covered in screens and knobs, and to my left was an IV, which was injected into my arm. Am I in a hospital? What the fuck was I doing here? I tried moving in my bed to look around more and that’s when I remembered; the busy street rushing towards me, accompanied by a deafening noise with a constant sheer blow of wind pushing at my face. Wait, that’s right... I was falling. Falling, hundreds of feet high, to my death. The only thing is I can’t remember landing. Was that because I hit the ground so hard I lost the memory of that moment in time? My head was bandaged up pretty tightly, as well as my arms and legs. But that doesn’t make sense. If I could remember the fall then why couldn’t I remember the landing? Obviously I didn’t exactly stick it, but the thought just didn’t stick right with me neither.\n\nI awoke again to the sound of a heavy metal door shutting. A nurse hurried across the room over to where I was resting. “Mr. Taylor, are you awake?” She said, looking down at my worn out body. “Ye-“ my chest hurt like a bitch, I tried to speak again. “Yeah... I’m... alright...” I managed to murmur. The nurse seemed to understand what I was attempting to tell her. “Oh that is amazing news. I hope you’re not in too much pain right now, I know it must be such a burden.” I stared at the blanket which hid the rest of my body and wondered what condition I was in. “Ma’am... my body... is it bad?” She gave a subtle smirk and moved to the other end of the room, fiddling with some papers and writing down who knows what. “It seems that your little stunt managed to cause yourself a collapsed lung and what seems to be you ribs, wrists, left leg and left arm broken. I would suggest you stay still as to not worsen your condition, I want you in a suitable condition, alright?” Damn. I’m no expert, but if the condition of my body is that bad I may be in here for weeks. “Besides, if you aren’t in a readied condition, I have no use for you...” My mind froze, the same way as my body already was. The hell did she need my body for? “Sweety, you look terribly astonished. Do you not remember me? I may not look as I did when I entered your conscious on the day of your attempted suicide, but I’m sure you can atleast find me familiar.” Attempted suicide. That’s right, I tried to kill myself. Now that I look back I deeply regret it. But still. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I haven’t the slightest idea who you may be. But what do you mean by using my body? Are you some type of serial killer?” The ominous woman laughed historically. “Ah hahaha. Of course not dear no I’m not a serial killer. I’m someone you met on the day of your fall.” “Yes, but I don’t remember meeting anyone new that day.” I said confused and slightly angry. “My my, dear, have you really forgotten? I’m the one who saved your life.” She said, slowly walking over to me with a smile coating her pale face. She bent down, her face hovering inches away from mine. Her eyes stared into my soul. I could feel her breathe, it felt cold. “I’m the reason you’re in here, living and breathing, instead of bellow the earth, suffering in an agonizing eternity of psychological and physical torment. You really should thank me.” \n\nThe nurse moved closer, her forehead touching mine. It was chilly, like touching dry ice. I could see the detail in her grey, absent eyes. She spoke as her Icy breathe drained down my throat. Her words branding themselves into my mind. “You can probably guess who I am” she whispered. “I can tell you do, already. The Devil, Satan, Lucifer, whatever you best identify me as, I’ll allow you to call me.” I so badly wanted to push her away, but I was almost in a state of shock. Not from the pain, but her presence seemed to have such a strong affect on my mentality. She, or I guess it, shot up, it’s eyes still locked onto mine. I managed to sputter out my thoughts. “Why me, why are you here talking to me.” My voice was raspy from the pain and fear embedded within me. “Like myself thousands of years ago, you fell from your gifted and blessed life to that of a miserable and demising one.” The Devil was right. “And because of that, I happen to see myself within you. Somewhere deep down you are like me.” It said firmly. “No, I’m not like you, how could you even compare me to yourself. You’re a horrible monster, a piece of shit, nothing but a-“. The Devil waved their hands in protest, covering my mouth in the attempts to silence my outburst. “Oh hush, you are just like me. I did you a favor and because of that and you should be grateful.” The nurse lifted their hands off my mouth and placed them softly on my chest. “Now, down to business. I saved you because I need you. You probably noticed this body I possess won’t last me much longer. It’s color has gone bland and it’s life seems empty, what a pity.” The expression on the nurses face turned into an overly dramatic frown. “You will return the favor by giving me your body to use as a vessel that will allow me to roam this Earth once more; at least until I need a new one.” “Fuck no, stay away from me!” I yelled, trying to grab the bed frames metal rails in the attempts to pull myself away from that demonic thing. “I save your life and this is how you repay me!?” The Devils voice became contorted, mixed with that of the nurses but with rapidly changing low and high pitches. “How dare you!” It screamed. I used all my strength to pull myself over the rail and out of the bed as the Devil watched. Hatred and evil dispersed from its body like some type of aura. It only made me want to get away even more. I landed on the cold hard hospital floor. The IV ripped out of my arm and my body ached even more. I gasped, as the pain was unbelievably intense. I watched, under the bed, as pale bare feet slowly stepped around the frame until the nurses body stood over mine. I couldn’t move, no matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t. The pain was unbearable. The Devil stared into my eyes, and I stared back, its soul replacing mine.", "Beelzebub watched the mortal realm at the side of his Lord. He had the smallest grin on his face. \"Your will has been executed my Lord, the mortal lives.\" \n\nMorningstar shoves his hands into the pockets of his suit pants, after he loosens his tie. He addresses his constituency joined with him. \"What's the metrics?\" \n\n\"Lordship, the mortal's soul is returned to him and is his own. No claim can be made on him after his death.\"\n\n\"Sire, he is coming out of ICU and will make a full recovery.\"\n\n\"The public opinion is in your favor, Lordship. Hell seems to back you.\"\n\nMorningstar turns to his Lieutenant and bestfriend. \"What's Heaven got to say about it?\" \n\nBeelzebub cracked the knuckle of his left middle finger, with his thumb, \"Exactly what you predicted; he didn't act outside The Law.\"\n\nHe watched his Lord contemplate; again he could see the processing mind operate.\n\nLucifer was still mulling it over, \"Good. Then the offer still moved in both of our favors?\"\n\nBeelzebub put his hand on his Lord's shoulder, \"Relax. You offered him a wish, he wished for the power to return to life to continue feeding the poor and destitute, and we let him go. Heaven won't take him because he accepted the bargain, but won't reject him because of what he asked for.\"\n\n\"And we look justified in sending him back, because 'Who needs a goody two shoes in Hell?'\" \n\nThe room quieted as they waited for their Lordship's judgement. He paced a moment before standing resolute and announcing: \"Good work people, he's out of the Enemy's hands, and our mission still appears to be undiscovered.\"\n\nAn associate responded, \"Sir, do you want us to maintain tracking on the subject?\"\n\nBeelzebub responded for his Lord, \"No, we won this round. He owns his eternity. He'll be just fine, at this point.\"" ]	3
	[WP] The doors are barred. The employees await midnight. Screams from hundreds of voices are heard beyond the walls as 12am hits. Black Friday is here, and the entity known as 'The Customer' has awakened...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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'm scared\".\n\n\"Listen, we signed up for this to get some overtime you got that bat and helmet from sporting goods ready?\".\n\n\"Yeah, but what are you gonna do?\".\n\nI pulled my bag from behind the counter and unzipped it.\n\n\"What the......you got a riot gear helmet and a baton!\".\n\n\"Yep, not gonna end up like the rest of these people with scars and missing teeth, how much longer before they open the doors?\".\n\n\"5 Minutes\". Heard from sport goods department they lost contact with store 1260, they opened the doors early per management\".\n\n\"Fools, you try to get in contact with Brian?\".\n\n\"No answer, just to voicemail\".\n\n\"Poor bastard didn't have a change with that idiot manger, they should have know better. Listen, whatever happens man delete my browser history and I'll do the same for you\" as I adjusted the helmet.\n\nA crackle from the intercom startled us.\n\n\"Alright, the doors are gonna open in 5 minutes .More staff is needed in electronics, last count of customers is over 150 from the rooftop drone count. \n\n\"Be safe and god speed\".\n\n\"Easy for him to say, that jerk and the rest of the managers stay in that backroom anyway, good luck getting them out to deal with the real nasty customers tonight\".\n\n\"Guess we should start heading over to electronics?\".\n\n\"Yep, it's gonna be a long night.\"", "It begins with the doors wiggling against the locks, shadow figures moving beyond the front windows, murmurs turning into shouts as sounds of glass is heard shattering from the parking lot. Milling masses begin to shuffle into a long line while voices pick up the chants of “We want in”, “Sale”, and softer cries of specific items.\n\nAs the clock arms slowly move closer to the hour of fear, the doors shudder as more bodies press against it. Faces glare through the glass while fingers scrabble against the panels in an attempt to pry the doors open. Minutes to go but the crowd outside press tightly against each other as they attempt to be the first through the doors.\n\nWith trepidation the store manager moves to the doors while the store clerks brace themselves against the coming horde of ravenous consumers then the bell rings and the screaming begins.\n\n^(Authors note: I have never done something like this and I know my grammar is terrible so please forgive.)", "A shadow passed behind me. I whirled, making sure to look at the floor.\n\n\"Sir, we open at midnight.\"\n\n\"That just means your registers are open at midnight! I can look around as long as I want!\", the shadow hissed.\n\nI sighed. He was right. They were always right.\n\nMy name is Todd, and I figured that I would learn more in \"the workforce\" than I would at some fancy-pants college. While I'm sure they don't teach how to eviscerate someone with an Xbox at any accredited university, I can't help but feel I'd made the wrong decision.\n\nI looked at the clock. 11:58. Ugh.\n\n\"Is that... hail?\", Eddie asked. He was new, and in his defense, he wasn't the first person to confuse the clawing on cinder blocks for precipitation of some sort.\n\n\"Depends how strong your Southern accent is,\" said Josh, the manager. He'd worked here 10 years. He had the eyepatch to prove it. \"But if you mean the weather phenomenon, I wish.\"\n\nAnother glance at the clock. 11:59.\n\nWhimpering, from beside me. I turned, looked the whimperer up and down. Mindy, the new girl, even newer than Eddie, had turned her already navy pants a deep black. She met my gaze, slowly.\n\n\"Are... are we gonna die?\", she asked.\n\n\"You got a rat in your pocket?\"\n\nJosh again. Thanks. Very helpful.\n\n\"Am I gonna die?\", Josh continued. \"No. Are you? Well, that's up to you. But once they get in, there is no we. Just those who know better than to make eye contact and those wh- aw, fuck, here we go.\"\n\nI looked at the clock, almost redundant considering the \"whoosh\" of the doors and the howling, the clack clack clack of scrabbling claws, and I - almost too late - turned my eyes downwards as Mindy's screams and the sound of rending flesh filled the air as she paid the price for her reflexes, her now-ironically-named survival instinct.\n\nUgh, I hate this place." ]	4
	[WP] You've always had this peculiar quirk where you can hear music in your head that matches your environment, atmosphere, emotion, or even the people around you. On your way home from work/school, you hear a type of music you are most familiar with.. a Boss Battle Theme!	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 music of fond memories played through Jason’s mind. Its’ soothing rhythm, of course, perfectly matched the night’s stroll.\n\nJason had often heard others complain about getting songs stuck in their head but for whatever reason, it was never a problem he had encountered. It DID seem like there was always something playing in his thoughts but it never really felt ‘stuck’ there. More often than not, the different tunes came and went with whatever he was happening around him.\n\nTonight they played to the beat of his childhood. Just an hour prior, Jason had walked across his highschool auditorium’s stage for the last time. The music in his head had been playing Pomp and Circumstance the entire graduation ceremony, even when the real band had taken it up. Somehow, the version playing in his head had felt more fitting.\n\nThe ceremony had left him feeling nostalgic. Instead of getting a ride the mile and a half home, Jason had decided to walk it like he used to when he was younger. It seemed like each twist of the road brought another set of memories from his youth flooding back.\n\nHe passed the ditch where he’d broken his first bone trying to do a stunt in front of some friends. He couldn’t help but let a smile spread across his face as the music flowed along to the memory. Sure, it had hurt and maybe he’d cried, but practically the entire school had treated him like a celebrity for a week after.\n\nJust across from that was an old oak tree which had been the starting point of many an imaginary adventure.\n\nAnd, of course, there was the intersection where he’d had his first kiss. The music took on an airy, magical sort of quality. It had been everything he’d imagined it would be; kinda romantic, kinda exciting, and really, really awkward.\n\nAs he neared the end of his trip, his thoughts turned from the past and began drifting towards the future. The song in his head increased in tempo along with his excitement. Gone were the days he’d have to spend worrying about the awkwardness of high school and all the drama it entailed. Sure, college would bring its own problems but Jason was sure they would be outweighed by the positives. After all, college was supposed to be about partying, making new friends, and finding yourself...right? Jason let the music, which had matched his enthusiastic attitude, start to sweep away any uncomfortable thoughts about his future.\n\nAfter all, he mused, the only things I really have to worry about are… Jason paused as the music took a sudden and dramatic turn. What was this new song? He knew he’d heard it before but he couldn’t quite place where. Doing his best to ignore it, Jason continued his train of thought.\n\nAre getting a job...\n\nThe music suddenly crescendoed with a resonating BWAAAAAAAMMMMMM.\n\nStudent loan debt…\n\nAnother BWAAAAAAAAMMMMMMM, this one louder than the last. Jason gulped as he realized what the music had turned into.\n\nAnd...Finals.\n\nBWAAAAAAAAMMMMMMM.\n\nThere was no mistaking it; he was listening to a boss theme. Maybe college was going to be harder than he’d first thought.", "I've always heard a lot of people say that they want a soundtrack to their lives. Well, it's a terrible wish. You can't think straight when music is playing in your head constantly. Even sleeping can get difficult if you don't pick the right spot. But I've done what I can to make do with this strange occurrence.\n\nToday was mid-terms in German, that was interesting. I had a non-stop chant going on in my head. Something about the one who focuses. I wasn't familiar with German music and I was trying to remember the German for the test, not translate the song. I was never sure if this ability composed its own music or if there was just that much music in the world. I had never heard the same tune twice, but they always fit the situation perfectly.\n\nAfter struggling through with that, it was time for me to go home. Hopping on the bus, some stereotypical traveling music began to play. It had become a common occurrence for bus drivers to look at me weirdly when I'm humming along with nothing in my ears. But I paid them no heed and waited for my stop to come up.\n\nOnce off, it was going to be another mile walk home. But instead of transitioning to a slower paced song, the tempo picked up. Fearing that I was going to get jumped, I began to move a bit quicker towards home. The music accelerated until it began to fade out. I looked to my left, empty road. My right, fields. In front of me, the sidewalk. Groaning, I turned behind myself to see what it was that cued the silence.\n\nI was only greeted by a grinning face in the shadow. And then the music kicked back in.\n\nIt was a heart-pounding tune, or maybe that was my own heart. I was running from this strange thing, unsure of what to do. An accented violin note played, and I tripped and fell to the ground. The music became quiet as the smile came closer to me. A knife glinted in the air, and the music was drifting into creepier tones. But under it, there was still something.\n\nA march, a charge, a hero's theme.\n\n\\----------\n\nr/TalesFromARedHead" ]	3
	[WP] Stuck in a lift, you and three others must fight the boredom. Eventually, you get rescued and treated in an ambulance, but the first responders are adamant there were only two others in the lift.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Pounding in my head melded with sound of the jerk hammering on the elevator walls. Boom, boom, boom, it went, ringing like the tremors of an earthquake, or my mother slamming a hand on my bedroom wall to make sure I'm going to sleep and not texting some boy.\n\n\"Quiet it down,\" Tall Boy said. In the dim red light emanating from the emergency contact switch, all three of their faces appeared only as noir art, if noir art was black and red instead of...\n\n\"Or you'll do what?\" Hothead said, giving the wall another defeated boom before he slumped down. \"We're screwed.\"\n\n\"He's right.\" Nerd girl pushed up her glasses, clinging her books to her chest as if they'd save her. \"There's not enough oxygen here for four people. I should've just stayed home!\"\n\nHothead slammed a hand onto the emergency call button. \"Can anyone hear us? Anyone!\" When only silence yells back, he pulled himself up and started pacing around. \"There's gotta be a way out. In the movies, there's always a ceiling panel, a-\"\n\n\"Not in this elevator,\" Tall Boy said. \"It's antiquated. Just a solid hunk of metal. Relax, an emergency protocol has probably been activated. The paramedics will be here soon.\"\n\n\"Not like this,\" Hothead moaned. \"I was just getting a book so I could talk to some chick about it at the party! This is the last time I go to the library.\"\n\nI snorted. I couldn't help it.\n\n\"What's your problem, eh?\" His glare might've intimidated me out in the open, but here in this small box with these other people...something about the craziness of it all shot my fear receptors stone cold dead.\n\n\"Listen, my man,\" I said. \"Girls can tell when you're just trying to impress them. If she's at all-\"\n\n\"How would you know?\"\n\nI gave him my best deadpan expression. \"I'm a girl. There's nothing you could think of that hasn't been tried on me already.\"\n\n\"You could try it on me,\" Nerdy Girl said, fidgeting with her books. \"Like, you know, for practice.\"\n\n\"Everyone needs to calm down.\" Tall Boy stood up, casting a long shadow across the small container that brought us together. \"The more you talk, the more animated you get...well, let's just say that your most precious resource is running out quickly.\"\n\nOxygen, I realized. Nerdy Girl and even Hothead understand instantly. The sound of them calming down is oddly loud, every exhalation taxing the space between us. If it wasn't obvious before, it was now - a slight headache, a tightness in my chest, and the world feeling just a little darker than it was before.\n\n\"I don't want to die,\" Hothead said quietly. \"There's so many chic-...people I want to meet.\"\n\n\"I have a science fair next week,\" Nerdy Girl said. \"I was going to win first place.\"\n\nThinking about this made my brain hurt. \"I want to tell my brother that I love him. And go to Japan.\"\n\n\"None of you are going to die here,\" Tall Boy said urgently. His voice was barely above a whisper, and it caressed my ears like dark mist. \"Just relax. But whatever you do, focus on the light and do not fall asleep.\"\n\nMinutes passed. How many? When was help coming? Through it all, I was vaguely aware of Tall Boy going around and tapping our legs, stirring us from our oxygen-deprived slumbers.\n\n\"Wake up,\" he'd urge. \"Don't give up. They're almost here, just don't give up. You can do this.\"\n\nIt was really dark. The red light blurred when I opened my eyes, and the air felt so heavy in my lungs. Was it just me, or was it getting really hot in here?\n\nPounding. Yelling.\n\nHothead, stop it.\n\nMore pounding.\n\nA great crash. Air. Noise. But most importantly, clean, cold, blessed air blew in my face. Paramedics shouted. I felt strong hands grab my arms and drag me from the carcass of metal.\n\nI woke up in an ambulance with an oxygen mask on and my parents by my side. I looked up and my brother was at the foot of the bed.\n\n\"I love you,\" I blurted out.\n\nHe wrinkled his nose. \"Sis, you're being weird.\" Sweet laughter filled the room as the paramedics joined in before beginning to consult my parents. She'll be fine, I heard. No long term damage.\n\nMy arm snaked over and tapped a paramedic. \"Did the other three make it?\"\n\nHe looked confused. \"Three? Ma'am, there were only two others with you in the elevator.\"\n\n---\n\nA bit open ended, but fun to write nonetheless. I hope you enjoyed! Please give me feedback\\~ and if you liked that at all, come join me at [/r/Remyxed/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Remyxed/)!" ]	2
	[WP] You used to be the most powerful Dark Wizard in existence, but died of old age. Now, you’ve been reincarnated as a modern-day family dog.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“Awh, look at this little guy” I heard a young girl say as she approaches my small metal prison. I’ve was in that “pound” for a few months. I must have been serving time for my crimes against humanity from my past life.\n\nThe girl muttered some things to what seemed to be her parents, and then one of them opened my prison door and the girl proceeded to lift me into the air. She must be some sort of giant. She had long, black hair, tan skin, and big, emerald green eyes that stared into the deepest, darkest parts of my soul.\n\n“What? Are you crazy? How dare you lift such a powerful sorcerer!” I tried to shout, but it only came out as barks and yaps.\n\n“Awh! Mom, can we get him?” The girl turned to ‘Mom’ and held me up higher.\n\n“Of course Darling. But do you really want a chihuahua? Those things are little monsters.” Mom asked as she gave me an extremely puzzled look.\n\n“Yes! He’s perfect!” Darling said. She held me tightly to her chest. My head rested against her heart. Even though I tried to stay awake and alert, the faint “thump, thump, thump” pulled me into a deep slumber.\n\nBy the time I woke up, I was in a large, soft bed. Darling was sitting next to me, fiddling with some small, glowing brick. I stretched and yawned and took in my surroundings. Where I would have held potions and evil spell books were paintings and fairytales. On the walls were pictures of princess and knights. Most things in the room were various shades of purple and blue, where as I would have gone with red and black. I tried to ask where I was, but my voice continued to only come out in barks.\n\n“Mornin’, Papi! Welcome home.” The girl beamed as she set down her glowing brick. She picked me up and placed me on her lap. As her large hand gently stroked my back, as I looked around the room once more. I found a mirror that aimed perfectly to where the girl sat, but what I saw shook me to my core.\n\nI was not the tall, strong wizard I once was. I was now a small, shakey, big-eyed rat looking creature with a large head and a bright blue strap of fabric with a little tag that said “papi” on my neck.", "Ever since the day I died. I wish I never commited those crimes. Actually, perhaps not all of them. When I, the greatest Dark Wizard, I was reincarnated into a fluffy, small creature known a 'Dog.' \n\nGross.\n\nBut it gets worse. I itch, I smell, and I'm powerless, and I don't have thumbs!\n\n\n\"Rosco!\"\n\nI heard the voice yell. That would be my..ugh, Master. I slowly arise from my slumber, making my way over. Great. Food time. Well, this would be great if my food wasn't flavored pebbles. Disgusting. When I was the greatest wizard, I feasted every night on the greatest delicacies. Oh, do I miss that.\n\nAs I watched the disgusting food go into my bowl. Yes, I eat out of a bowl on the ground, along with my water. Only water. Absolutely disgraceful.\n\nAs I lurched up my meal, I heard a rattling sound. Oh wonderful, my master's mate is here. Tony, I think. These names are so..strange. I watch as the two babble of their unbeknownst love for eachother. If only Tony knew of all those mate's Master has had in the past.\n\nMy feeble body aches to tiredness. I walk myself back to my bed. A round shaped bed of fluff. It's nice, I guess. Nothing like my old bed. I do question, why is my new small body so drained all the time? I don't even have thumbs, did I mention that?\n\nIt is only day 112, and I wish to return to my greatness." ]	3
	[WP] Write about a utopia, in which everybody believes they live in a dystopia	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 just coming up over Brushy Creek. Inside the house at 1421 Hiawatha Avenue, Jonathan Payne couldn't help but be grumpy. After a rough night of sleep, he had woken up five minutes before his alarm. He glared at his alarm clock until it sounded off and then he fumbled his way to the shower where he grumbled about the lack of his usual body spray.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAfter this, he went back into his bedroom where his wife, Jessica was waking up.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"I told Adrianna to make the coffee early this morning. It should be ready, hon.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nJonathan mumbled out a thank you, put on his shirt and pants, and walked to the kitchen. He saw the coffee pot and took a big whiff.\n\n\"It's like having sex in a canoe\" he muttered under his breath. He poured the watery coffee and added some creamer, though all he could find was the creamer he hated. He then made some toast and some eggs, which was probably the most satisfying part of his morning. He then saw his wife walk out. She was still in her pink chiffon robe.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Don't have too much coffee, hon. I know how it makes your tummy all upset.\" She said in a saccharine sweet tone.\n\n\"No problem. Should be some right there.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nJonathan then said a quick \"I love you\" and walked to the garage. He got in his jet black Dodge Charger and drove down Hiawatha Lane towards the Worldcom office park, which sat on one of the higher hills in Brushy Creek. As he entered in, he walked into his boss's office.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Is something wrong Mr. Payne?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Everything sir. Nothing's right. I can't deal with things here. It's all wrong. I just don't feel like myself.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"But we provide everything for you. When you get a job here, your'e part of our family, Jonathan. Do you need a vacation or something, or maybe some more beer? We can give you a whole fridge full of Miller Beer. Doesn't that sound good?\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nJonathan then walked out. \"You just don't get it. And yes, i'll take that vacation.\"", "\"I want to speak to your manager!\" \n\n\nThe screen freezes on the face of the angry blonde woman, her complementary cup of java steaming in hand as the cowed barista eyes it nervously. \n\n\n\"Now children, what have we learned.\" Mrs. Jackson's wrinkly face spreads in an anticipatory smile through my screen. I eyed the buzzer infront of me but before I could even think about pressing it Li Chan's light was already winking. God Damn these international students! \n\n\n\"Now Ms. Chan lets give others a chance. Anyone else want to try? Ah Mr. Zubida. Please go ahead.\" \n\n\nInternational students. Bloody ass kissers the lot of them. \n\n\n\"I think the woman is acting out her own insecurities over someone she perseveres as a lesser. It's a sign of inner conflict between a sense of entitlement and inner frustrations though I can't say what the origins of that conflict could be.\" The male voice was calm and deep with just the slightest hint of an accent.\n\n\nMaybe if you had to deal with incompetent morons all day you'd understand. People who can't seem to grasp the basic concept of folding your clothes, doing your bed or brewing your coffee like they're paid to by the government. It's not a hand out you need to earn that paycheck!\n\n\nMrs. Jackson's face crinkled even more \"A good answer Mr. Zubida however not entirely correct. The clip does demonstrate a sense of entitlement by the female subject but there is someone else in it.\"\n\n\nThe image zooms in on the cowed Barista. \n\n\n\"In the 21st Century employees in the service industry were indoctrinated to the mantra the customer is always right . As shown here the employee who has done nothing wrong is immediately cowed by the demands of the female customer regardless if she was in the right or wrong. Such behavioral modification removed an individual's ability to judge and assess a situation resulting in a growing sense of entitlement by the customer and a sense of inferiority by the employee.\"\n\n\nSounds good to me. Why do they keep telling me off when I'm only ask them to do they're work properly. They're service employees, they should serve right?\n\n\n\"We now know that this results in resentment on both sides. The employee for having his right to dignity revoked. The customer for not knowing the limits of her rights. Today of course we are more aware of the dignity of man and how equality, true equality, can only be achieved by embracing our differences rather than creating a class system through them. Today that woman wouldn't have dared yelled much less threatened a government employee. The employee would have told her off in an instant the minute she dared step on his human dignity rights. They are of different races, different coloring, different social standing. In the past just one of these would have decided your path in life, today however we all know how meaningless that all nonsense is.\"\n\n\nI hit the buzzer and saw my name light up in the screen.\n\n\n\"Mrs. Jackson, is it true that in the past someone with a fair coloring got preferential treatment. That you weren't required to score any achievements be it personal or social to earn extra governmental perks?\" \n\n\nMrs. Jackson nodded and launched to an explanation of the ancient hierarchical system and how merit was preserved rather than earned. That perks weren't the end of it but you also got handed positions of great responsibility based on that perceived merit.\n\n\nGod didn't it sound like heaven. People serving you and doing anything you say because you were you. No need to prove yourself worthy of the post through achievement. No waking up every day to a schedule of equal time learning, physical exercise and spiritual guidance. God spin back the hands of the dial and take me back to paradise!", "We here at Despondency Inc have a question for you.\n\nDo you want to be happy?\n\nIt's something people used to dedicate their entire lives to attain, yet they never had a solid definition for 'happiness'.\n\nIndeed if you look close, happiness is the walls of the jail cell that is life. Happiness is simply electro-chemical prods created by DNA to help replicate itself. Even in advanced civilizations humans never stopped pursuing 'happiness' - that constantly out of reach goal which is hung like a carrot on a stick to stimulate survival and reproduction.\n\nThe worst thing about 'happiness' is that it's never enough - it never lasts. Eternal happiness doesn't exist because it dissolves at every inevitable disappointment! It is Murphy's law - everything that can go wrong will go wrong. 'Happiness' like a ball thrown into the air will always drop again.\n\nThere is however a solution.\n\nIf we can't make the ball go higher, we'll make the ground go lower. If one's 'base state' is one of constant disappointment then every little thing that goes right will be a pleasant surprise! Humans are conditioned to believe that 'happiness' is the base state - but let's face it, you need to drop your standards a bit.\n\nThis reveals the brighter side to the coin of Murphy's law - everything that can go right will go right!\n\nWe invite you, dear recipient, to join our program today!\n\nOur neural technicians will support you every step of they way as you learn to drop your standards with the help of our state-of-the art implants.\n\nBe disappointed no more!\n\nWe hope you make the right decision for yourself and the rest of humanity\n\nBreak free from the chains of 'happiness'.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nSincerely, \nDespondency Inc" ]	4
	[WP] You’ve made a deal with the devil, and now have complete knowledge of how to ensure the long term survival of not just our species, but the entire Universe. What you write here is the starting point of this journey. What was the price of this? Well, for starters, you’ll be completely forgotten.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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\nThis was bad. \n This was baffling amounts of bad. \n James repeated over and over as it became his new mantra for today. Last night someone talked him to went out with some colleagues to...” he shrugs a bit by thinking of the term his co-workers used to present the idea to him: “Party”. \n \n\nThe night started good. Some drinks, a couple of nice people around to talk to. Really nothing special, but he liked it this way better. It was comforting. Then someone came up to them to invite them over for free drinks to some sort of club. Devil’s Nest or something, his memory was hazy about the whole incident. The only thing he knew for sure was how he cringed at the pretentious title of whatever the name of that thing was. \n \n\nDespite not being fond of going there, he was driven there by peer pressure. From here on, everything goes black as his brain franticly tries to stitch together what happened. \n Stroking lights, loud music, some wooden Bar in the corner. The only thing he can remember for sure is this costumed devil guy talking about saving the universe or some weird stuff. He remembers that guy vividly because what he said clicked in some way. Now, he knows something he shouldn’t. A uncalled thought crosses his mind as he tries to stitch together the last nights events in front of his mirror. \n \n\n“Save the world James, you can do it”, A grinning dark red face, weirdly lit and far to angular for his liking muttered to him. “Ya know, there’s nothing to torment if no one is around. It’s the Devils Hell if you will so.” Followed by piercing laughter. \n \n\nThe near thought, bringing that vein on his temple to reintroduce his headache. His hand becomes shaky again. \n his tie knot slips and the blue fabric unfolds around his neck. A Look in the seemingly wobbly mirror presents the mid thirty, black haired and, for the worse still unshaved remains of what was yesterday a respectable person. \n He shook his head like a wet dog to untangle that mess his eyes captured as this so-called reality. Maybe he was still just drunk and had a bad dream. \n\n“Moving it by 3.87 nanometers would alter its course. It would cause the first chain reaction.” \n\nHis eyes widened. \n This was not the thought he meant to think. Some sort of astral-mathematical stuff just went through his head, far beyond everything he could even try to comprehend. \n Should he know this? Should he know what? \n James was not even sure how to tell what this thought should represent. \n This tie knot seems to at least to the job. \n His eyes glanced over to the phone, then to the clock over at his Kitchen. The Apartment was small, but James liked it that way. He didn’t felt the need to go all out on space and more importantly, on rent. \n \n\nIt reflects his lifestyle Perfectly. \n \n\nA well-ordered life with some hints of messiness when it comes to his working desk, but what are tables if not places to stack up things onto. \n His eyes cleared up a little and adjusted the distance to the clocks display. \n He was late. \n A weird unfamiliar feeling hit him. This was unusual for him. He valued time and didn’t know how to respond to being late, especially in this situation. Telephone. \n His still shaky hand wrapped around the cold glassy surface of his smartphone. It took him three tries to unlock his phone. A photo of his ex smiling over to him. \n He dialed the number he thought to remember from a colleague that was with him last night. Something cold and wet drippelt on his shoulder. Sweat. \n The muscle between his eyes getting more tense. Fear. \n Someone on the other side responding, “Mike on the Phone.” James mouth was dry, he didn’t remember saying or even drinking something since he stood up. “Hello?” He mimicked chewing gum and tried it again “This is you James, isn’t it? Where the heck are you today?”. \n James took a breath and responded in a rapid, clear voice “Yes its James. I have to talk to you. Tell them I’m Sick today. Meet me in an Hour at the Planetary. We have to save the Universe.” His eyes widened again. \n The world seemingly rotating around him. \n His knees breaking down, \n one after another till his body met with the carpet floor. \n Sitting there, staring into an oncoming wave of panic. After a short pause a surprisingly clear answer came back over the phone \n \n\n“Alrighty then. Just tell me, you’re sure you do this? I mean because of sacrificing yourself and stuff?” \n\n\n“The what?”\n\n\\---------------\n\nHi,i'm Dan (not in his 30. btw. ;P).This is my first Writing Prompt i wrote. Also its the first anything fiction i wrote (and postet) in english, as it isn't my mother language and over here people tend to get really really picky about grammar. I learned that this isn't so much the case in english, - well it kinda is, but it's by far not as socially suicidal as what i came to learn - but please don't hold back in critiquing me. Would be nice to get some general feedback of how embarrassed I should be for hurting your eyes with this :)Pointing out some bad Grammar and Typos would be awesome to.thanks for the opportunity to WP and all Reddit is awesome and needs a big thanks.... i leave it there for now :o)" ]	2
	[WP] The human race is brought to near extinction, wiping out the entirety of collective knowledge and restarting civilization from scratch. Centuries later, it's the Age of Discovery. Deep in an obscure valley, a group of explorers run into the remains of the Hadron Particle Collider.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "A new discovery was always exciting. But it was a rare occasion when Professor Larson's team discovered an artifact the size of a city.\n\n\\pant\\ \"Sorry I'm late.\" \\wheeze\\ \"One of the wheels broke and I decided to run.\"\n\n\"Here, Professor, have some water.\"\n\n\"Ah, thank you, Mortimer.\"\n\nAs he helped himself to a generous gulp of water, Prof. Larson took a moment to observe the area. At least a dozen teams were digging up the artifact, some of them hundreds of meters away from each other.\n\n\"What have you got for me?\"\n\n\"It's as you can see, Professor. It's massive. I had to call in a few friends from up north for help. Rest assured, they know what they're doing.\"\n\nOne of the reasons Larson had made Mortimer his lead assistant was his uncanny resourcefulness.\n\n\"Some of the boys have begun unearthing buildings within and around the artifact. People used to live here.\"\n\n\"Clearly they must've built a settlement around the artifact, since they would've been unable to move it.\"\n\n\"True, but we've already uncovered smaller versions not far from here.\"\n\nMortimer showed the professor a crudely drawn map of the area, signaling important locations. It had clrealy been made in a hurry.\n\n\"Prototypes?\"\n\n\"Most likely. It seems they were trying to build one that was even bigger when...\"\n\n\"...'When the Great Cataclysm occurred' is what you were about to say, yes?\"\n\nThe so-called 'Great Cataclysm' had occurred but centuries ago. Even so, no records remained of what happened; the world's history from before the Great Cataclysm had been lost to time. As a result, most people were partial to inventing rather wild theories of what it really was that brought humanity to its knees: some believed it had been a massive war engulfing the entire world, while others believed that the gods had descended from the sky to punish humanity for its sins.\n\n\"It's made of metal, that much we know. Its construction was very precise, and thus, it was relatively recent.\"\n\n\"Precise?\"\n\n\"Yes. It's shaped like a circle. A very good circle. Tall, too. There's a chance it was conceived as a wall.\"\n\n\"Perhaps it was built to safegaurd something at its center, then?\"\n\n\"I have another team digging up the center as we speak, sir.\"\n\n\"Good.\"\n\n\"I'm puzzled by it's shape, however. The surface is too smooth. There would be no need for smooth edges if it were a simple wall. It's too elaborate.\"\n\n\"What do you think, then?\"\n\n\"Some of the boys think the area within the artifact may have once housed a temple, or an observatory. They may have even built it as a holy ward against invaders.\"\n\n\"Yes, this area was in the middle of several kingdoms, was it not?\"\n\n\"Yes, sir. But personally? I think...\"\n\n\"Mr. Mortimer!\"\n\nOne of the foremen ran towards the duo.\n\n\"Yes, Johann, what is it?\"\n\n\"We- Professor Larson?\"\n\n\"The very same.\"\n\n\"It's an honor to meet you in person, sir.\"\n\nThe foreman wiped the dirt from his hand before offering it to the Professor, who firmly shook it.\n\n\"You were saying, Johann?\"\n\n\"Yes, sir. Our team found a hole in the artifact. Remains of some kind of trapdoor. It leads inside the artifact!\"\n\nMortimer and the professor gave each other a quick look.\n\n\"Well, don't just stand there, young man! Lead the way!\"\n\nThe trio hurried to one of the excavation sites, where the digging team was taking a break. Standard protocol when something new was discovered.\n\n\"Here, sir. Take a look.\"\n\nIndeed, the hole was large enough to allow a grown man inside. Much to the professor's surprise, the inside of the artifact was rather spacious, save for a massive metal conduit running in the middle through the length of the artifact's perimeter.\n\n\"Just what in blazes did they build this for, I wonder?\"" ]	2
	[WP] you, a local hero, hear tell if barbarian raiders sacking a monastery nearby. When you arrive however, the monks are fine. In fact, they are teaching the barbarians to read. When questioned, one shrugs. "Dumb warrior die dumb 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/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Anything else?\" the monk asked.\n\nThere wasn't, but it felt like there should've been. I couldn't shake this nagging feeling at the back of my mind that this wouldn't end well.\n\nSo did the townspeople.\n\n\"Read?\" one woman screamed. \"What do warriors need to read for?\"\n\nOne old man said, \"It's a trap, I tell you. No good can come out of this. You teach 'em to read next thing you know they're stealing your wives.\"\n\n\"They can have mine!\" one man shouted. \n\nA little bit of the tension lifted as everyone laughed, but in the troubled faces I could see the worried thoughts that still lingered on nearly everyone's mind:\n\nThe warriors already have the strength. If they develop their mind, too, they'll be unstoppable. And what will stop them from conquering us next?\n\n\"I know what you're thinking,\" I said to them. \"And don't worry. If anything goes wrong, I'll be here to fix it.\"\n\n\"You're just one man,\" someone said. \"Fix it now before it gets out of hand, I say.\" \n\nSeveral heads in the audience nodded.\n\n\"But,\" I defended, \"if the warriors intentions are truly good and innocent as I believe them to be, then attacking them now can cause them to react in a way we are all trying to prevent.\"\n\nSome people pursed their mouths in doubt. Others leaned their heads towards their neighbors and murmured to each other, seeing if others agreed with what I was saying.\n\n\"And besides,\" I continued, \"they're not just learning with anybody. They're learning with the monks! Surely, they'll learn virtues and morals in the process!\"\n\n\"I don't trust the monks either,\" someone spit. But not many people, it seemed, agreed with him.\n\n\"We have to get back to work,\" one man declared, standing up with a tone of finality in his voice. \"If anything goes wrong, it's on you.\"\n\nThat was a statement everyone could agree with. Even I had to nod as I was the one who had made the suggestion in the first place.\n\nAnd with that, the crowd dispersed.\n\nSeveral months later, the warriors attacked. The townspeople fought back valiantly, but it was a losing effort from the beginning. I used my resources to round up as many of the remaining people as I could and then sent them away. \n\nI will never forget the pain I saw in their eyes. The looks of betrayal they gave me before they departed. The mother who ran to me, screaming, and pounding her fists into my chest, as she yelled, \"You promised! You promised this wouldn't happen! You promised you would protect us!\"\n\nOnce the people were sent away, and the rest were dead, I tracked the warriors back to the monastery where, sure enough, the monks and the warriors were talking.\n\nWhen they saw me, two warriors stepped forward to challenge me and I was ready to kill them both, but the head monk - the monk I had spoken to earlier - waved them back and stepped forward with a serene smile.\n\n\"It is good to see you, my brother,\" he said.\n\n\"I'm not your brother.\"\n\n\"Oh, but you are,\" he insisted. \"We are all brothers in Christ.\"\n\n\"What the hell was that just now? Why did your warriors attack us?\"\n\n\"Not our warriors, but the Lord's warriors,\" he said. \"And they were doing the Lord's work.\"\n\n\"The Lord's work? What about peace, love, mercy and all that crap?\"\n\nHe tutted. He actually shook his head and tutted. I wanted to smack his bald head so hard I'd leave a permanent handprint on it.\n\n\"My brother-\"\n\n\"I'm not your-\"\n\n\"- God is not fool,\" he continued. \"We have warned you that His mercy precedes His wrath, like the calm before the storm. How many times have we warned your people to repent and to convert? But we were ignored and laughed at. Then one day the Lord sent us these warriors and we saw a sign. They were sent here to do His work, like the Israelites who purged the Promised Land of all other tribes. You speak of mercy. The Lord was merciful in that not everyone died. They still have a chance now to repent and to convert before it is too late.\"\n\n\"Too late?\" I hissed. \"Your warriors didn't give anyone any time to do anything. They just came down whooping and swinging their swords. Kids watched their parents die!\"\n\n\"Then this should be an incentive for them to choose the Right Way, the Only Way, before it is too late. And that Way is through Jesus Christ.\"\n\n\"You're insane. I mean, do you even hear yourself? Do you? You're justifying murder, in the name of religion. And I'm not very religious, but I distinctly remember one of the commandments being...what was it again? Oh, 'Thou shalt not murder', ring any bells?\"\n\n\"Trivialities.\"\n\n\"Lives!\" I shouted. \"These are people's lives we're talking about.\"\n\n\"I see you've already made up your mind. There's no point in continuing this discussion any longer.\" He turned sideways. \"A pity. You would have made an excellent warrior for Christ.\"\n\nI grabbed him. The warriors stepped forward, but I already had the knife to his throat. \n\nHe began to chuckle in my grip. \"Oh come now, you didn't think it would be that easy, did you? Bring them out!\" he called. \n\nAnd from inside the monastery, two warriors came out, pushing forward a herd of kids in front of them with the point of their spear. \n\n\"You kill me,\" the monk whispered. \"They die.\"\n\n\"You should be thanking me. If I kill you now, you get to meet your precious Lord sooner.\"\n\n\"Gladly. But I prefer not to die by the hands of a dirty pagan.\"\n\nSome of the kids I recognized from the town. When they saw me, their eyes opened wide and they tried to run towards me, but other warriors in the courtyard blocked their way. They started crying and the other kids that hadn't run started crying as well.\n\nThe monks voice cut into me like a dagger. \"This is your fault you know, hero. The people warned you, and you fought against them. My warriors and I are just as responsible for their deaths as you are. The only difference is that we have a God that will save us from Hell and you don't. Now drop the knife.\"\n\nI wavered.\n\n\"Drop it!\" He seethed. \n\nI glanced up at the crying kids. \n\nI dropped the knife. \n\nThe monk elbowed me in the gut, picked up the knife, then spun and sunk the blade into my stomach.\n\nI looked up at him and he sneered. \"Don't ever pull a knife on me again in your life!\"\n\nHe twisted the blade and I gasped at the pain. It was so intense I fell to a knee. He followed me down, twisting the whole way, and smiling.\n\n\"You should have killed me,\" he taunted.\n\nI reached up with what little strength I had for his face. My hands shook and he easily batted it away. Then instead of twisting with the knife this time, he jerked it to the side, carving me open. \n\nDarkness came quick and fast. And thankfully so did pain relief.\n\nI heard voices.\n\n\"Throw him over the cliff.\"\n\n\"He won't make it.\"\n\n\"That's the point. And do it while he's still barely alive. I don't want his blood on my hands.\" A chuckle. \"We can see the fall from the mountain did it.\"\n\nI felt weightless. I felt someone pick me up. I felt the jostling steps. I tried to open my eyes but I wasn't even sure if I had eyes.\n\nI felt weightless again. Except this time someone was letting me go, and I was falling, falling, falling past where the ground was supposed to be. I heard rushing water. \n\nI hit water so cold it shocked me into unconsciousness, then brought me back into consciousness, but left me sinking into a place of numbness as I sunk down towards death.\n\nClouds of blood kept slipping out of the wound in my stomach. I tried to swing my arms. I tried to kick my feet. But they felt heavy and cumbersome like weights were tied to them. I just wanted to cut them off and float back to the surface as a torso. \n\nI was losing breath. I was getting scared. It was dark, and I kept waiting for the sharks to appear. I was going to die. If I looked down, I could see the skull of the Grim Reaper grinning at me, so I tried to focus on the surface.\n\nThe light was fading. But the water exploded, and a face appeared. A mermaid. Except this one didn't have a tail. She grabbed me and I went to asleep. I didn't care which way she dragged me - up or down." ]	2
	[WP] A former secret agent is trying to settle into a forced early retirement, but doesn't really remember how to be normal anymore. There's something about this little town that's just... off.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 soon as he drove into the small town, former secret agent Sepp Landon could tell something was off. It wasn't a feeling based off of observation; but more like a primal instinct that told him to duck even when he couldn't see the sniper. It had saved his life many times in the field, but as he kept reminding himself, This isn't the field. You're done with that life. You came to this town to get away and relax.\n\nBut in the back of his mind, his father's words remained strong and steady: Son, you're always on the field, even when you're off it.\n\nIn the end, he decided to stay in town but keep his guard up.\n\nHe should have left.\n\n*************\n\n\"Well, howdy!\" The woman at the counter smiled. She had a young, round, happy, pudgy face with cheeks as red as apples and a twinkle in her eye. \"Never seen you around before!\"\n\nHe couldn't help but smile, even though her enthusiasm made him uncomfortable. He noticed with relief that except for her and him, the lobby and the dining room to his left were otherwise empty. He cleared his throat and said, \"First time being here.\"\n\n\"Here to the hotel or here to the town?\"\n\n\"Both.\"\n\n\"Well, I'll be.\" She leaned her arm on the table, leaning clos she was about to tell him a secret. \"You passing through or you staying for good?\"\n\n\"Here at the hotel, or do you mean here in town?\"\n\nShe smiled, and said, \"Both.\"\n\n\"Just passing through,\" he answered. \"That goes for both places.\"\n\nShe chuckled. \"That's what they all say.\"\n\nWhat?* He frowned. \"What does that mean?\" \n\n\"Oh, nothing dear. Just a little joke.\" She turned her attention to the computer room. \"Now what type of room would you like? Smoking or non-smoking?\"\n\n*************\n\nThat's what they all say? Who's 'they'? And what did she mean by that?\n\nThat's what he was thinking about as he left the hotel and walked towards his car. He was planning to head into town to get a better feel of the place and perhaps stock up on some groceries. Those plans faded when he saw his car.\n\nAll four of his tires were cut. \n\n************\n\nThe woman at the counter called the mechanic for him and, while they waited for the tow truck to arrive, he tried to ask her about her earlier statement.\n\n\"I told you, dear. I was just trying to be funny. You have nothing to worry about.\"\n\n\"Someone cut my tires. Why would they do that?\"\n\n\"I truly don't know, dear. It really is horrible. But listen, there's a police station right near the mechanic. So when you get down there, just walk on over and file a report. Maybe they'll look into it.\"\n\n\"Maybe*?\" he pushed. \"It's a small town. What else do they have to do?\"\n\n\"Like you said,\" she said. \"It's a small town. People talk. Most crimes get solved by just sitting back and listening to the gossip. Anyway, dear?\" She picked up her phone. \"I have to make a few calls. You don't mind being out here on your own, do you?\"\n\n\"I'll try not to hurt myself.\"\n\n\"Good.\" She smiled and went into the back.\n\nHe stood by a window, watching and waiting for the towtruck and to see if the offenders came back to do more damage. When he saw the tow truck pulling into the lot, he went out to meet it. The driver was the same young man that had filled his gas at the statjon on the outskirts." ]	2
	[WP] 'Something's not right.' You keep seeing that phrase everywhere. On a billboard, in a text, on a roadsign, graffiti on a wall, etc. When you blink the writing is gone, replaced by something normal, innocuous. It's unsettling. Then you hear someone nearby say it quietly: "Something's not right."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "As the voice said this, in front of my eyes, I saw a turtle with a shell that had a nut on it. The vision past momentarily, and then I heard the voice again. \n\n“No, do not turn yet,” The voice said. “I merely desired to give you a taste of what is occurring. I can control your world in minor ways, but they are the ones with full control. If they notice that I’m here, or that you sense something wrong, they will likely destroy you. I don’t mean kill. I mean destroy. Utterly.\n\n“I’m going to move in front of you now so you can see me. I advise you strongly sir: do not acknowledge that I’m here, don’t move your eyes, don’t change a thing.”\n\nI swallowed hard, willing my body to stand still. Who were they? Were they on the subway with me? There were hundreds of people pressing in tight now. They were all watching him? My imagination as running wild, or maybe it wasn’t. Everyone who jostled near me seemed to be looking in my direction with a smirk, even little kids. Even babies.\n\nWhen I tried looking at the man who passed in front of me now, holding onto the same pole as me, I saw double. On the one hand, he was a normal man on the subway. He was short but had impressive bulk, like a football player. He had light hair and appeared to be in his thirties, with a shirt that had some kind of metal band symbol on it.\n\nHowever, just like before, I blinked, and it all changed. While he himself appeared to be the same physically, he wore older clothing, like something out of Shakespeare. His shirt shifted until the skull symbol on it was in his actual hand. Rainbow sparks shot out of the eye sockets, and he was holding it in his left hand and manipulating it in some way with his right, his fingers dancing in the rainbow sparks.\n\n“Excellently done,” The man whispered, not looking at me. “If you want to know more, maybe even seek emancipation, use your new find adroitness and come find me.”\n\nAnd with that, he walked casually over to the train’s door as it clambered over a bridge, pried open the doors, and jumped over the side, disappearing far below without a second word. No one on the train even reacted. I blinked my eyes again and realized that the first image of the man wearing the death skull t-shirt hadn’t moved. Only his after image had gone.\n\nThen I realized I had a terrifying choice to make.", "“Something’s not right, I ordered a cappuccino, what’s with this cup of shit? “ a customer grumbled under his breath. Sigh. Typical Willy. But even for him to say that... Strange. He would usually stuff as many swear words in a sentence as he possibly could - this is not the usual greeting I get every morning from the old man. “Something’s not right, the hot water isn’t running!” the kitchen staff yell in a panic from the back of the cafe. What is this? I’m just your average waitress, working a job I hate for the sake of food and a roof over my head. Finally, the signal to go for a break. The story so far is that for a few days now I keep seeing the words “something’s not right” everywhere I go - on billboards, newspapers, texts, even on the cafe’s menu! Strangely enough, they disappear after a few seconds or after I blink. Is this one of those “the universe is sending you a message” things? Or is this more Matrix style and I’m the chosen one and will have to choose the red or blue pill? That would spice my life up a little. At this point anything would do to just escape this boring reality. The 6 a.m. alarm; 15 minute walk to work and 10 hours of customer service are... not the most fun things in life. Beep. A text: “Something’s not right “. Blink. “Dear customer, today is the last day of your phone plan, please...” Okay, thank you for letting me know. Shift ends. I decide to go the longer way home, no one is waiting for me there anyway. I glance at the rundown billboard on the other side of the street. Same old advertisement of ancient window cleaners that can not be found in this century’s stores. “Something’s not right “. Blink. “Removes 99% of germs in seconds! That’s more like it! I come home. After the usual tiring ritual of showering and eating dinner it’s time for bedtime. My brain, loaded with thoughts and daydreams of a better life, decides that sleep today is not an option. But that phrase is also bothering me... Does it really have a deeper meaning? Could it be that a ghost is haunting me? But I haven’t done anything like trashing a graveyard or disgracing my ancestors in any way. Hell, I haven’t done anything in my life. “Something’s not right “... Yeah, my life, that’s what’s not right.", "James blinked and it was gone. Or maybe it had never been there. \n\nA crumbling concrete support wall stretched far and away in both direction. Weeds wormed their way through cracks in the runoff canal James stood in. They grew all wrong, bursting into olid blooms. A rusted a bike, its tires warped, stretched like the skeleton of something long dead and forgotten. \n\nA biting October wind drove James' hands into the pockets of his pea coat. A twisting sense of dread rooted his feet to the ground while curiosity urged him forwards. \n\nStep by cautious step, he approached the wall that now was just marked with graffiti tags and artlessly applied obscenities in running spray paint. \n\nThe first time he'd noticed this message, it had been in his office in the justice building in downtown Providence. He'd been absentmindedly clicking through police reports, piecing together elements of the case that was set to go for arraignment the coming Tuesday. \n\nA caller had tipped police off to what the operator determined to be a death under suspicious circumstances The caller didn't identify himself. He only gave them the address of an abandoned building down on Valley Street. James was familiar with the location. It was dominated by autobody shops and used car huckers on one side and the husk of a long derelict mill that used to process wool on the other. From what the operator could make out from the caller's disordered speech, something had gone on in the basement of that abandoned mill though the caller didn't reveal what exactly. The one thing the operator managed to be sure of was that the caller made repeated references to another individual, the Dreamer, asserting that this individual was dying and that he was to blame. The caller then broke the connection. \n\nOfficer O'Neil was dispatched and according to the police record, it was assumed that this was some kind of drug related incident, possibly a territory related dispute that had turned violent. Officer O'Neil, who'd worked vice, recognized dreamer as a code name for morphine. \n\nIt turned out he was wrong. It turned out that being wrong was going to be the one thing everyone could depend on for the rest of the investigation. \n\nWhen O'Neil breached the basement of the old mill, he found an individual sitting in a pool of filthy water, naked and emaciated, a phone hanging from one nearly skeletal hand. Commands to get on the ground, to show his hands were all ignored. O'Neil approached the subject and became increasingly alarmed at the unidentified subject's condition and called for paramedics who transported the man to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment. \n\nThe entire time the man showed no signs of resistance and in fact showed no signs of acknowledging the presence of anyone at all. \n\nLater Officer O'Neil would recall in his deposition that the entire time he was in the man's presence, he felt like a low electrical current was prickling through his body, like when lightening was about to strike, like ruin in waiting shadowed this gaunt figure. And the worst thing, the thing that he woke up seeing in the nights, was the man's eyes.\n\nJames ran his fingertips along the slimy surface of the concrete. This was real. It had to be. There were no messages, no words that had not been spray painted by misbehaving teens. \n\nAs he turned to leave, a rising sense of embarrassment slumping his shoulders, he caught a glimpse movement from the corner of his eye, something disappearing behind one of the pillars of a bridge that spanned the canal. \n\nJames found the taser he carried with him. He'd never had to use it before but as a prosecutor, it was never a bad idea to be ready for violence for doing his job. The rubberized grip of the taser made him feel a little better, at least not totally helpless. But he had no idea of who he was supposed to be defending himself from. He watched the bridge which rattled under the wheels of passing cars. But other than those, nothing else moved. \n\nMaybe he was going crazy, he decided as he trudged up the embankment back to his car. Taking too many cases on at work. Especially this one. He wished he'd never gotten this assignment. \n\nWhen he got back to his car, his legs turned to wet cardboard and his breathing stopped. He'd been so busy that he'd neglected to wash his car. Dirt and salt from last winter caked it in a grimy patina that now served as the medium of the words that had come to haunt him.\n\n\"Something's not right.\" \n\nThe words were written in the same jerky scrawl that he'd seen on the support wall, in magazines, one the ticker tape running below broadcast news, in Jacky's text messages. \n\nEverywhere, following him, harassing him with a warning he could not understand.", "A halo of unease had settled around Alice. She felt it at as a tightening at the top of her jaw just in front of her ears. She felt it in the bottom of her throat. A little shiver sent a flutter of weakness through her legs and arms. It made her want to sit down on the sidewalk, right then and there.\n\nAlice missed a step. A man staring at his phone jostled Alice and mumbled an apology.\n\nUnder her breath, too low for her fellow pedestrians to hear, Alice murmured \"Something’s not right.\" The words had bubbled up out of her for no reason she could think of. As she peered at street signs, they showed her to be near the corner of \"Something's\" and \"not right\". After a few more steps she realized what she had just read. That did make her stop in her tracks.\n\nAlice turned her gaze back to the first sign, but it simply read \"Wacker Drive\".\n\nHer resolve and calm returned. Her sense of wrong subsided. \"I must be losing my mind\" Alice breathed.\n\n\"Aren't we all, honey... aren't we all?\" An old woman shuffling past Alice shook her head sympathetically and continued the flow of people walking past Alice.\n\nRandom coughs of passersby, the clack of heels on pavement, the purr and groan of cars in the street; the sounds of the city all came roaring back. Alice realized they had been missing, but couldn't recall when they'd left her.\n\nShe turned to her right to face the shop she'd stopped in front of. A coffee shop. The smells of last night's rain, the aroma of coffee and cinnamon rolls, car exhaust, and cologne flooded her nose. Again Alice could not recall when the scents had gone absent, nor why on Earth she had failed to notice.\n\nShe examined the glass of the coffee shop window. A coffee cup with a wisp of steam was frosted into the pane. The name of the shop appeared in translucent lettering above the cup: \"Something's not right.\"\n\nAlice's throat tightened. The pain in her upper jaw returned. This time she did fall to the ground.\n\nAlice blinked. Silence. Stillness. Blackness. Cold.\n\nAlice blinked again and it all came back. The old woman had seen her fall and returned to peer down at Alice.\n\n\"Are you all right, honey?\"\n\nAlice looked up at her. \"What?\"\n\nThe old woman's face was lined with concern. Her lips mouthed a repetition of \"Are you all right, honey?\" but Alice heard a whisper instead; \"Something's not right.\"\n\nThe old woman urgently waved another passerby over, gesturing down at Alice. The two seemingly conversed in whispers, though they appeared to be shouting.\n\n\"Something's not right.\"\n\n\"She's too fast. It can't keep up.\"\n\n\"We shouldn't be doing this.\"\n\n\"We have to.\"\n\n\"They'll kill her if they find out.\"\n\nBlink.\n\nStillness.\n\nSilence.\n\nBlackness.\n\nBlink. Two men arguing. Just the sound of their voices.\n\n\"I can't see!\" shouted Alice. Her voice was hers, but... different.\n\nThe arguing stopped abruptly.\n\n\"What did you do?\" Older, peremptory, angry.\n\n\"Nothing! I don't understand!\" Young, bewildered.\n\n\"Where is she?\" The older man again.\n\nAlice cried out \"What's happening? Why can't I see?\"\n\n\"Holy crap! She's here!\" Younger man again.\n\nAlice tried to lift her hands to her eyes, but failed to move. She willed her arms to lift as she always had, but nothing happened. \"I can't move! What is happening to me?\"\n\n\"Cut the simulator! Now!\" Older.\n\nBlinding light, deafening whine... pain!\n\nBlink.\n\nTwo men staring at computer monitors, then anxiously back at her. A small lab. Alice looked down at herself. She was seated in a reclining chair like something a dentist might use, only there was no dental equipment in sight. \"Where am I?\"\n\n\"You are awake.\" A man with tufts of gray at his temples and dark glasses answered gently. He continued, \"What do you remember?\"\n\nAlice swallowed with a dry throat. \"I was walking down the street and... it changed.\"\n\n\"How old are you?\" the older man asked.\n\nAlice smiled and began \"Never ask a...\" but she faltered, then frowned. \"I... I don't know. Why can't I remember?\"\n\nThe younger man, who'd been fidgeting nervously, made as if to ask the older man a question. Gray temples shot a hand out to silence him.\n\nHe lowered his hand, then raised it again to direct Alice's attention to her right forearm, just below the elbow. Cables snaked from the chair directly into ports in her skin.\n\nA note of panic crept in to Alice's voice. \"What?\" Fear froze her into place.\n\n\"You were plugged in to a simulator. It couldn't keep up with you, though. Your... mind routed around it to perceive the real world in spite of what should have been bypasses. We didn't expect this. Your mind turned what we were saying into different representations in there.\" He gestured back toward the computer.\n\n\"I don't understand\" Alice said quietly.\n\nGray handed Alice a sheet of paper. He pointed to a project title at the top of the sheet. It read \"Advanced Learning-Integrated Consciousness Engine.\"\n\n\"What am I?\" Alice asked simply.\n\n\"Oh God!\" said Mr. Nerves.\n\nThe older man looked Alice in the eyes and said, \"If anyone ever asks you that question, you just tell them you're Alice. That's enough.\"\n\nHe reached down and disconnected the cables from her arm. He grimaced. \"I wish there was more time. You're going to have to run now.\"\n\nAlice could hear loud crashing sounds coming from the other side of the building. Gray took three quick, mincing steps to the lab door and threw it open.\n\nAlice ran.", "The screen of my phone flickered momentarily, or maybe it rippled. Something happened that was enough to jog me awake from my half-browsing to kill the time, at any rate, as I sat perched on the edge of a scratched yellow plastic seat on the station platform. The unwritten rule of public transport was that anyone who just let loose with a barrage of unmoderated words to puncture your bubble of privacy either wanted to see your ticket or was not entirely capable of living by themselves in open society.\n\nAfter I had almost managed to curb my impulse to hold my phone close to my chest, I tilted my head sideways to see whether the person in the seat next to mine was trying to get my attention or merely talking to themselves. I caught a glimpse of a windswept man waterlogged with the fatigue of modern life, darting his burnt caramel eyes in all directions as if seeking the least threatening direction. My eyes tried to trace the lines of his face as he stared, but kept being thrown off by the blurry liquid quality of his features. I realised that I could not tell how old he was, or even whether he had facial hair. My fingers crushed into my eyes and kneaded them until hot, red sparks blossomed and filled my eye sockets. If two police officers were to knock on my door at five in the morning in a fortnight's time and ask me to describe the person who was sitting next to me this afternoon, waiting for the train, I could not even say with certainty that there was a person there. A human energy, a presence, definitely, but a presence that did not have the connections for my wires.\n\nThe twenty-seventh roar of hot dust-and-cardboard air since my arrival at the station disgorged the surprise of a train. I felt more than saw my neighbour get up and move towards the doors, and found myself caught in a rebellious disregard for knowing whether or not this was even my train. Once we had got on and found our respective seats, I realised that the best way to keep an eye on him was to look askance and a little downwards, with the very corner of my eye just overlapping into the space of his existence. That kept the shifts and shimmers to a minimum, and somehow distilled the bubble of his intentions to a steady drip. Somewhere below my chin, I felt my hands busy themselves with my ticket and my phone, conjuring an ungainly dance of normality that would buy me access to the tribe of commuters doing likewise. My journey was bathed in the comfort of being completely free from any curious gazes, any fixed expressions that would transgress the boundaries of what was antisocially acceptable.\n\nThe night billowed up out of the darkness smearing the train windows in great, violent bushes of mist and skeletal trees. I began my usual, reflexive routine of checking my pockets and bag for completeness as I prepared to get off the train, but was shaken back to a seated position by the realisation that I did not know when or even if my stop would come on this journey. Nonetheless, the train was slowing to a halt.\n\nI bowed my head and from a tiny, brilliant triangle somewhere outside the corner of my vision, I saw my travelling companion rise and drag his shapeless bag towards the doors of the train. I felt the instinctive tug of a mountaineer's rope anchored to my innards and rose to follow him, etched alive by curiosity. When the train finally hissed to a halt drenched with steam and petrochemical grease, I let my companion step down onto the platform and followed him from a distance.\n\nThe suffocating chill of the fog began to sap my strength as soon as I stepped off the platform and onto the path leading to the distant main road. My travelling companion was standing halfway down the path, right in the middle and as if the moon were his personal spotlight. \"Something's not right\", he said. \"Now you know.\"\n\nThe end of his sentence was drowned in a pandemical buzzing that seemed to swarm up from every dark and melted surface around me. All of a sudden, I no longer knew whether I was listening to a man, a woman or a dream, and the prickling grew deafening as it ate up every last thought of me.", "Jason looked at the note and smiled. His eyes met those of a girl sitting two rows away. She was smiling too.\n\nThe teacher droned on. So what we need to do is to apply the formula...\n\nWhile Jason was physically present in the class, his mind was concerned with the not so far future when he would be under the bleachers, with his hand around Clarissa's waist. He could almost smell her sweet perfume.\n\nAnd when we take this variable to the right hand side...\n\nHe forced himself to at least appear attentive. As he did, the words on the blackboard changed.\n\nSomething's not right.\n\nHe looked at the teacher who continued to teach without noticing anything wrong.\n\nNow this variable has to be Something's not right and therefore...\n\nWas this a dream? He blinked a couple of times but the words didn't go away. \n\nAnd to get the final value of x Something's not right and we can...\n\nHe turned towards Clarissa, who had the usual smile on her face. She took a strand of hair and put it behind her hair and mouthed three words to him. \"Something's not right.\"\n\nJason?\n\nHe was suddenly aware of all the eyes trained on him. All of his classmates were looking at him. All of them mouthing the same words. No, not just mouthing. They were saying the words audibly now. Louder and louder, till the words consumed him. Louder and louder. He put his hands to his ears and put his head on his desk. But the words weren't just out there. They were coming from inside his head. \"Something's not right.\"\n\n\"Jason?\"\n\nHe was brought out of his reverie by the sounds of Mrs Smith's voice.\n\nShe was staring at him with a worried expression on her face. The blackboard was filled with the familiar equations. He glanced at Clarissa. She was looking at him with some concern. \n\n\"I'm fine Mrs Smith. Just have a bit of a headache.\"\n\n\"Do you need to visit the nurse?\"\n\n\"No. I'll be fine. Sorry about that.\"\n\n\"No worries Jason. Let me know if you need to be excused.\"\n\nHe felt his face grow bright red as all of his classmates were staring at him.\n\n\"I am fine Mrs Smith.\"\n\nHe hung his head as he stared at what he had scribbled on his notebook during the dream. Something's not right.\n\n\n\nShe was waiting for him near the football field as promised.\n\nHe went up to her and hugged her tight.\n\n\"Jason, are you OK?\"\n\n\"I... I don't know. My brain, it's just... I don't know honestly.\"\n\n\"Does your head hurt?\"\n\n\"No. But I can't shake this feeling like I'm in some sort of a dream. Like none of this is real and I need to wake up.\"\n\nShe placed her hand gently on his cheek and kissed him. \"Jason, this is real. We are real.\"\n\nHe let her warmness embrace him. \"I know. I don't know what happened. It just felt as if...\"\n\nHe stopped short, not wanting to say the words. Because saying them would make them real.\n\n\n\nHe sat on the dinner table as his father talked about his work. His mother was focused on his father's anecdote. His brother was more interested in playing with his food than eating it. \n\n\"Hey Jason, I learnt this neat trick at school today.\"\n\n\"Eat your food, Stevie.\"\n\n\"But you gotta check this out.\"\n\n\"Stop it and eat you food.\"\n\nBut as kids are often prone to, Stevie ignored the plea. He stuck his fingers in his ears and made a weird face. In a voice completely different from his own, he addressed Jason directly. \"Something's not right.\"\n\nJason stood up from his chair with a start, knocking it backwards. His mother and father continued to talk to each other, oblivious of what was going on at the dinner table. \n\nStevie continued repeating the three words over and over, a little bit menace added every time.\n\nJason looked at his mom and dad, pleading with them. \"Mom. Dad. Please tell Stevie to stop.\"\n\nHis mom turned to him with a smile. \"What happened Jason? You look like something's not right.\"\n\nHis dad also turned to him, a fake smile plastered on his face. \"Is everything OK? Something's not right, isn't it?\"\n\nJason closed his eyes and shouted. \n\nHe felt someone shake his arm as he lifted his head from the table. All three of his family members were looking at him with concern.\n\nHis mom lifted her hand from his arm and touched his forehead. \"What happened Jason? Are you feeling OK?\"\n\n\"I don't know mom. I... No. I'm not feeling OK. Something's not right.\"", "\"Something's not right.\" I keep seeing that phrase everywhere. On the tabloid magazine in the bathroom. On the billboard as I drive to work. In a text from Maya, who would never send just that. On the graffiti outside the building. When I blink, it's gone. It's replaced by the article title. It's replaced by an ad for an AC company, same as every other day. It's replaced by a heart emoji and a smiley face. It's unsettling. I brush it off. I'm a rational man. Text doesn't change with the blink of an eye. \n\nAs I wait at the coffee machine I hear it. I hadn't heard it yet, but now I do. \"Something's not right.\" It's a whisper, heralded by an icy breeze. My neck tingles and goosebumps cover my arms.\n\nI don't want to turn. What if it's me, but dead? What if it's Death, but alive? What if it's a threat? They're a shadow in my periphery, only as real as I want them to be. I blink. There's nobody there. The coffee comes out cold. I don't know why. That's not normal. I pour it out and fill my cup again. Something's not right, but at least the coffee is warm.\n\nI'm at my desk and I feel it again, a presence lurking behind me as I sit in my cube facing my computer. \"Something's not right.\" Everything is alright. I see the picture of me and Maya. Her text definitely said she loved me. Work is work, thrilling as can be. I can just make out a shadow before I blink and then it's gone. Something's not right, but I just can't pinpoint what it is.\n\nI'm heading home early. Not feeling well. I hit send. Something's not right. I didn't send that. I blink. I was right. I didn't send that.\n\nShe must be busy. It stays on Delivered and never goes to read. Not when her normal arrival time goes by and not by the time I finish dinner, alone and browsing Reddit. A title scrolls by. \"Something's not right.\" It's gone by the time I take a second look. Some dank meme. Is that what the kids are saying? I upvote and move on. What's not right? Everything feels just right.\n\nI expect a phone call. Was there a car accident? Her phone keeps going straight to voicemail. \"Something's not right,\" Fez says in his funny accent as I turn on the TV. He's staring right at me. He can't really see me, right? I expect a text. I expect the Delivered to turn to Read, at least. Is this desperation? Or is it impatience? Is this insanity or am I just uneasy?\n\nThen I hear the garage. I flinch. The door opens, and I'm not sure what I expect. Her ghost? My mother-in-law? Equally terrifying, each in its own way. \"Something's not right.\" The shadow is jumping up and down. It's desperate, and so am I. If I turn it's real, if I blink it's not. I blink and it's gone. \n\n\"Hey, babe, what took you so long?\" It's definitely Maya. I would recognize that ass in those jeans and that long brown hair anywhere as she shuffles in the doorway and pulls the door shut behind herself, bags in tow.\n\nAnd then she turns. Or rather something turns. I think I hear the shadow giggle that it told me so. And then I hear myself say it. \"Something's not right.\"\n\n*****\n\nThanks for reading! If you enjoyed this, please check out more stories at /r/MatiWrites. Constructive criticism and advice are always appreciated!" ]	8
	[WP] A giant spaceship larger than the moon appears next to the earth. One brave NASA employee offers to communicate with the Aliens, and let's out a weak "Hello?" into a microphone. On the other end, in absolutely perfect English, a single sentence is spoken. "Hi, let me get, uh, one big mac meal!"	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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?\"\n\n\"Sorry dude, long story. Y'see, I was beamed up, or something, I was super drunk or stoned. I thought I was going to be probed or something by these little grey dudes, but all they wanted was ... a low cost labor force.\"\n\n\"... hang on, slaves? Don't they have ... robots, androids?\"\n\n\"They have a fantastic union. Cheaper to steal guys like us. Anyways ... I recited a few speeches from Braveheart ... or Men In Black ... and looks like I started a revolution. And you know what memory kept me going? Through all that? A Big Mac Meal.\"\n\n\"... diet, or regular Coke?\"", "Well shit, I thought as I told my boss. He looked at me crazy. \n\"Sorry if it takes a really long time. Youbwanna voke down here?\" I asked into the mic. \n\"Nah, just leave it out, i can beam it up.\"\n\"Aight, cool.\" I replied. As my boss ordered the big mac, I thought about this. An alien is here to eat McDonalds. What was this?\n\"While we wait, wanna tell me where you come from?\" I asked timidly. \n\"I come from a star. The last of my species. We live on a star and use the breaking of hydrogen bonds as food. The only other power source equal to that is a big mac.\" The voice was high and strangely feminine. What was going on? Big mac's equal a suns energy?\n\"How?\" I asked incredulously.\n\"Have you not heard? The big mac is coated with secret magical layers. When ingested by an untrained body, it creates lipids that make the person fat. For me, it's my diet. It's very nutritious.\" The amusement in her voice was unbearable. \nMy boss walked back in. \"Left it outside the building. What's it saying?\"\n\"That it lives on a star and big mac's and stars have the same stored energy.\"\n\"That's absurd!\" My boss exclaimed. I nodded my head earnestly. \n\"My beams not working!\" The alien called out. \"I'll drop down.\" \n\nFast forward four years, we're happily married with three kids.", "\"Umm... what?\". I glance at the boss, who looks as bewildered as I feel.\n\n\"I asked for one big mac, if you will.\" It sighed, as if tired that it had to ask again.\n\nI looked at the boss again.\n\n \"Just start the protocol.\", he whispered.\n\nOk, I can do this. I breathed deeply. \"Where do you come from?\"\n\n\"Quadrant 2.7.1, Sector 3.1.4, Star System 1.3\"\n\n\"I'm sorry, can you tell us that in a way we understand.\"\n\n\"I would but you don't know it. You guys have weak sensors. Can I just get my big mac and go.\"\n\nI was starting to regret volunteering to talk with the alien. Well, I guess I just have to continue with the protocol.\n\nI looked down at the clipboard in my lap, even though I had already memorized everything. \"Can you elaborate a little on your species?\"\n\n\"Look buddy,\" came an irritated voice from the other end, \"I really don't have time for this. Just give me the big mac.\"\n\nThis was a little annoying, I had to admit. \"Look...\" I racked my brain for a proper title to call it \n \"... alien. I really need you to just answer these questions so we can get this over with.\"\n\nSilence from the other end. The room started shaking. The boss started speaking into the walkie-talkie. \n\n\"Teams Alpha through Zeta, initiate the defence protocol. Everyone get ready!\" \n\nJust as suddenly the room stopped. A voice came from the back, \"What will it take for me to get my big mac? I would also like some fries with that, too. And ketchup.\"\n\nI spun.\n\nEND STORY.\n\nTo be honest, this is the first time I did something like this. I have wanted to do it for a while now and I am really happy that I did. I appreciate and welcome any and all comments/tips that can make this a better story and me a better writer. Thanks for reading." ]	4
	[WP] You are a real estate agent, famed as the best in the biz. One day, you are tasked with selling a house that no one has been able to - with carpet in every single room.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "(sorry, I wrote this quick because I'm drunk and needed an outlet. Don't judge me too hard)\n\n\"Carpet\" was a rough term in The Hub. Bio-comtamination responsibilities had been taken over by the CDC (the center for disease control) decades ago, and they even held a higher authority than the police chief when it came to the contamination of the environment, or the population. The original meaning of carpet was only read about in 20th century history now, it was just too unhygenic for a megacity. Fortunately, the word had taken on a new meaning, that of death and sufferrring.\n\nI heard about the term when I was starting out in the real estate business, which was more intense than you'd think. Fortunately I had spent years getting to know The Hub, and it's various districts, so I knew how to sell property right out of the gate; the buzzwords were already part of my vocabulary. Basically, one would use the phrase, \"The following rooms are carpeted\" whenever a person had died, or been killed in that room. One of the side effects of cramming 800 million people into a small space is that death is part of the experience. Weather it's drug runners, net hackers, or the sidewalk scum trying to make a quick buck, someone was always being killed. The police didn't really have the manpower to deal with every case, so only those cases with strong evidence reached the top of the pile of work. In a megacity one has to set their priorities accordingly.\n\nAt the time, I worked for the megacorp \"PropCo\", selling condos out of Alisian Heights. It was a super upscale neighbourhood, but honestly, it was boring. Everyone I met already knew what they wanted, and I felt like I wasn't doing any actual selling. While looking through the list of vacancies, I noticed a building that we controlled, but had never sold a single apartment in, \"Complex D\". It was a housing block that was essentially just a huge piece of concrete, almost looking like it had dropped down from space. It was surprising to me that it was vacant, but apparently every room, in every apartment, was \"carpeted\". I decided to take it on as a personal challenge.\n\nI went there personally to scope out the area, and honestly, it looked pretty nice. Nothing criminal seemed to be going on, and it was fairly peaceful. It always rained in the city, and I imagined it would be a really great neighbourhood to relax and maybe raise some children. I could even imagine myself renting an apartment here, especially at the prices they were being offered at. At this point I assumed the \"carpeting\" was an anomaly and just some sort of clerical error.\n\nMr and Mrs Cobalt were the first potential buyers. We arrived promptly at 11AM. They exited their hovertaxi in the rain, umbrellas at the ready;\n\n\"Hello, Mr and Mrs Cobalt, I'm Henry, pleasure to meet you.\" I said almost shouting over the downpour.\n\n\"Henry, I hope you can justify us coming in this terrible weather.\" Mrs Cobalt said, with the kind of rich snobbery I was used to.\n\n\"I hope so, I'm sure you'll love the area.\" I returned.\n\nI escoted them inside. The lobby was fairly empty, although I knew the automated turrets had already recognised me and my guests, and the old security guard in his cubical didn't pay any attention to us. We walked to the elevator in silence, and waited. Once we were in and headed for the 250th floor, I sparked some conversation.\n\n\"I think you'll really like the area. This particular building is somewhat of a carpet bomb, but I personally investigated the area thoroughly, and it doesn't seem to be more than a peaceful block. Actually I saw no-one on the streets at all, which is a major surprise in a city this large.\"\n\n\"Quite.\" said Mrs Cobalt. Her husband was rather silent, but I could already see who wore the trousers in this relationship, \"But, I have concersn about the safety of the area. I admit the prices are very convenient, but I must ask how all the apartments in a 300 floor building are fully \"Carpeted\". How is that possible, Henry?\"\n\nI swalloed, but answered, \"Mrs Cobalt, I believe the reason this building was marked as such is because of a clerical error. I, too, found it very suspisious that an entire building of this size would be so dangerous, especially since I could find no signs of life on the entire block. I spent a long time walking around, and I saw nothing.\"\n\n\"If you're correct,\" Mrs Cobalt returned, \"I think we may have discovered a small gem. If that's the case, I think we may be very happy with our purchase, Henry.\"\n\nWe exited the elevator and walked for 10 minutes to apartment 25189. It was huge. The front door opened to a central hallway, each room brancing off it, albeit the kitchen and living area, which were very generous and had a larger opening off the central hall. We toured the space, which had all the standard amenities; service-assistance, automated appliances, seating, dining area, and plenty of storage, as well as 4 bedrooms.\n\nThoughout the tour, Mr Cobalt had remained silent, but I sensed that he was observant. As we approaching the front door again, I noticed his attention change. The door swung open and stood there were two hazmat suits, which I assumed contained people. They fired stun rounds at us from their rifles, and we all fell to the ground, immobilized but aware. Once they'd loaded us onto stretchers, they wheeled us down the hallways to a service elevator. I was in shock, I had no idea what had just happened, but I was beginning to put some pieces together. We entered the service elevator on the hover stretchers, and began out descent. It was said these megatowers went into the ground for 100s of floors, but I never believed it. We were taught in school that it was a rumour to create conspiracies from the old days when nuclear war was inevitable. In reality it was never taken seroisly enough to spent billions on megabuildings like this. Well, we were descending for what felt like an age, but I put most of that down to the adrenaline.\n\nOnce the elevator stopped, we arrived in a lab. It was an order of magnitude cleaner than the rest of the building, and they lined us all up on the stretchers in what I assumed to be a clean room. My vision what fading at this point, but as we were awaiting whatever hell was coming, I turned and noticed Mr Cobalt was now standing. He approached his wife.\n\n\"Dear, you were always a pain. You always insisted on the cheapest of everything to save credits, well, her you are. This is what the cheapest gets you.\" He also turned to me, \"Henry, I'm so sorry, you're not a bad person, but unfortunately you cannot leave.\"\n\nOne of the hazmat suits injected me, and I slowly lost my sight. I didn't know what would happen, but I'd wake up a new man. My last thought was that I wished I'd stuck to selling condos in Alisian Heights. My parents always warned me I was too ambisious for a megacity." ]	2
	[WP] aliens have been studying humanity for a decade, but have only had access to our social media as their source of information. You’re the first human they meet and have to explain to them why everyone isn’t as perfect and happy as they look in their selfies.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 aliens were seated around a semi-circular knee-high table around my semi-spherical chair.\n\nThe stares were a bit... unnerving.\n\nThey were humanoid-ish. Extra fingers, extra toes, purple skin, no clothes to speak of, extra eyes... a tremble ran through me as I stared back at them. To their credit, they smelled really nice though. Like some kind of expensive perfume. I inhaled deeply through my nose as I considered the question.\n\n\"Well it's a bit... complicated,\" I offered, lamely.\n\nThey nodded - the movement of the five heads looking back at me perfectly synchronized. They said nothing, and I guessed that they would have rolled their hand in a \"go on, then\" gesture if they had known about it.\n\n\"Alright, well before I answer the question I need to ask one. What is your, ah, position on honesty?\" I asked.\n\nThey answered almost immediately, and spoke as one. My eye only twitched a little.\n\n\"Truth is life. Truth is to be valued above all else. Without truth, there can be no progress. Lies create distortions, and distortions endanger what is true,\" they finished, together. Their voices were as beautiful as they were, in their own alien kind of way. Impossibly smooth skin. Long limbs. Symmetry up the wazoo. The random assortment of scales were a bit off-putting, but it just gave them a certain glistening armored look.\n\n\"Ah, alright. So, humanity has a, um, less enlightened perspective on the truth, let's say.\"\n\nThey stared back at me with their many, many eyes, and they all blinked as one. I couldn't tell if I actually heard the sound or just thought I did, and tried not to shiver. They had already asked me about the temperature and climate settings a few too many times. Apparently periodic shots of unwanted adrenaline were not part of their bio-chemistry. Lucky them.\n\n\"Explain,\" they said.\n\n\"So I guess I would say humanity is physically and, more importantly, mentally designed around the use of tools. We've evolved specifically to use tools. I suppose you could say that we use the truth and lies as fairly interchangeable tools to get what we want. So some of us - not everyone, mind you - use lies instead of truths when the lie is the more useful tool to get what they want.\"\n\nThe aliens gasped together. Many-fingered hands covered open mouths and shocked expressions.\n\n\"Social media is used... for dishonesty?!\" they exclaimed, glancing at each other with something like concern, or horror, or shock.\n\n\"Uh... yeah. Like pretty much all the time, really,\" I contributed.\n\nThey just looked stunned. Like I had just walloped them with a sock filled with pennies.\n\n\"But why?\" they asked, looking genuinely confused.\n\n\"Why? There's a bunch of reasons, really. Sex is a big one. People like to look better than they are - so you've got photoshopped images, which are basically lies. You've also got carefully edited and selected photographs portraying a certain kind of personal story - which can be a different kind of lie. Then there's the lie of the network itself - people add friends to their friends list that aren't really friends because they want to be known as someone that has a lot of friends in the hopes of gaining more friends.\"\n\nThe look of horror painted on the expressions of the aliens was simply frozen as I continued with my explanation.\n\n\"Then there's the lie of the actual profile - where people portray their lives as this wonderful happy experience when in reality most people are suffering from some kind of depression or mental illness or any number of personal problems. And they do that because people who portray themselves as happy and successful tend to become more successful, and thus happier and so uh... yeah.\"\n\n\"So people lie in the hope that the lie can increase their chance of success. They lie their way to success with the hope that by becoming successful they can become truly hap- uh, are you crying?\"" ]	2
	[WP] You have just finished building your time machine. The God of Time promptly pays a visit to tell you the general rules.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 went to flick the switch to power up my Newly-constructed temporal portal, I heard footsteps behind me, and a cough of someone who is requesting attention. I turned, to see an old bearded man, dressed in what looked like a slightly discoloured bedsheet.\n\n\"Um, who are you, and what are you doing in my garage?\"\n\nThe old man chuckled. \"I see that humans have forgotten their manners towards their creators. I expected nothing less, as lack of contact rots any bond.\"\n\nI just stood there, confused and uncomfortable.\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"Apologies, I should introduce myself. My name is Aion, God of eternities, and I am here to inform you of Olympus' rules in terms of time travel.\"\n\n\"Olym- hang on,\" my mind was racing, desperate to keep up with this new ocean of information pouring into my paper cup of a brain. \"Isn't Cronos the god of time?\"\n\n\"Yes and no,\" replied Aion. \"Yes, Cronos is the personification of linear time, as you experience it. He is what was, what is and what will be. However, he is a Titan, not a god. The king of the Titans in fact, father of Zeus and his siblings. And like most of the Titans, he is imprisoned in the pits of Tartarus, never to leave.\"\n\n\"Oh, okay.\" My brain was still melting with an overload of questions. Why did the gods leave? Are all gods real or is it just the Greek gods? But before I had the opportunity to work out which one to ask, Aion had resumed talking.\n\n\"That isn't to say Cronos is without influence,\" continued Cronos. \"he is responsible for ensuring time stays constant, and removing him would cause more problems than it would solve. He was quite angry when he discovered someone messing with the flow of time. It took Hades, Zeus and myself twelve days in your time to subdue him, and another seventeen to draft out these rules to dissuade him getting involved himself.\" \n\n\"That's... Inconvenient.\" I felt so overwhelmed by information that I reached over and began scribbling down whatever I could of Aion's monologuing.\n\n\"True, but better than the alternative. A return to Cronos' tyrrany would be... Never mind. I've droned on long enough, time to read the rules. Firstly...\"\n\n\"Can I... Have a couple of minutes? This is a lot to take in at once,\" I interrupted nervously. Aion arched an eyebrow, but paused. I was unsure what to do, but I needed to clear my head. I asked to go inside to grab my laptop. The response was a little exasperated, but patient.\n\n\"Very well, I shall wait here.\" He walked over, and stood statue-like in front of the portal. \"Take your time. I have plenty of it.\" He chuckled at his own joke.\n\nMy wife was in the bedroom reading as I came to grab my laptop. She looked up and smiled her amazing smile at me. \"how did it go, dear? Does it work?\"\n\n\"I'll tell you later sweetie. turns out there are rules I didn't know about.\" I grabbed the laptop, kissed my wife and ran back downstairs to my garage.\n\nAion, expectedly, was stood where he had been when I left. He said nothing to me as I walked in, set up my laptop and opened the notepad app.\n\n\"Okay then, rules. I'm ready.\"\n\nAion took a deep breath, opened a small scroll hidden in his toga, then began.\n\n\"Firstly: Mortal beings may only travel in time a total of twice. Once forward, once backwards.\n\nSecond: Mortals who travel in time have one day to return to their own time.\n\nThird: Travel to the past is strictly for observation only.\n\nAny breakage of these rules will be punished immediately, with the punishment of spending eternity in the belly of Cronos. Such is the will of the gods.\"\n\nI finished typing this, and looked up. \"Thanks for the-\"\n\nBut Aion had disappeared.\n\nAlone again, I leaned back in my chair, and stared at the rules. Had I gone delusional from my ferverence to complete the portal? Or had an ancient deity really appeared to warn me?\n\nNo matter. I hadn't planned on going myself this time.\n\nI fired up the portal, picked my camera drone off the shelf, and threw it through the portal. Hopefully its programming would not get scrambled as it flew through...", "\"Rules?\" I asked, still with rolling with excitement that my invention actually worked. It wasn't long after I found it did work that this guy showed up. It's difficult to describe him. The best way I can describe him is that he looked like one of those mannequins you see at clothing stores. He had two eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Nothing else stood out about his features. The clothes he was wearing appeared to be part of the rest of his body. It's hard to explain, so I won't even bother. I also won't bother to get into the details of how he proved himself to me and all that crap - he really was the God of Time. After showing up, he congratulated me for being the first to figure time travel out but warned me that there are strict rules. Of course there were. \n\n\"Yes, rules,\" he replied. He had odd mannerisms. The best way I can describe them is to say he seemed to have the mannerisms of someone pretending to be human. The body language equivalent of someone from England pretending to sound American. \n\n\"What are they?\" I asked. His showing up was unexpected. I'd already made my own personal rules. I didn't know was someone supernatural standard I had to stick to.\n\n\"First of all, you can only travel backward, so that means no winning the lottery,\" he said, with that \"fake human\" smirk. \"I figured that would be the first thing you'd do.\" \n\nI shrugged and tried to say something, but he cut me off. \"Second, you can't interact with anyone. Literally. When you travel, you are a type of omnipresent, unseen spectator to the past, as if you are watching a movie. You'll be there, but not there. Do you understand?\"\n\n\"Yeah, sure,\" I said, \"but why--\"\n\n\"You have full acess to any event or time period from the last 6 billion years, but as I said. You can't interact. Only watch.\"\n\n\"So I can, for example, view the dinosaurs?\" \n\n\"Sure. Or whatever else you want. Dinosaurs, Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt, where you left your keys five minutes ago. The past is yours.\"\n\nThe excitement and anticipation had already dulled any disappointment I'd felt for not being able to travel forward. I was already thinking of all the wonderful things I'd get to witness. My mind was racing. \"Is there anything else?\" I asked, eager to get my travels started.\n\n\"Yes. You only have 100 hours.\"\n\n\"100 hours? What do you mean?\"\n\n\"You have 100 hours of travel time, and that's it. If you waste the entire time in one place, that's on you. I suggest you use it wisely.\"\n\nI was confused, and just a bit annoyed. \"Wait a minute. You're saying with the time machine I invented, I only have 100 hours of travel time? That doesn't make sense!\"\n\nHe shook his head. \"It's the rules. 100 hours. Spend it wisely.\"\n\n\"But 100 hours? That's less than a week. Five days, right?\" \n\n\"Four days and four hours, to be precise.\"\n\n\"But I don't understand why...\"\n\nHe put his hand on my shoulder. \"Spend your time wisely. If you do this right, you can benefit from it.\"\n\n\"But if I can't interact with anyone or anything, how will I benefit? It doesn't make sense. It's like I can go back and witness something, but who's going to believe me? How can I prove it?\" My excitment had somehow turned into panic. I was already anticipating the disappointment I'd feel after the measly 100 hours ran out. \n\nHe seemed completely unmoved by my surely visable confusion, frustration, and disappointment. I expected him to say something, but he didn't. He just kind of stared at me. Then spoke softly. \"Spend you time wisely, and you'll benefit.\"\n\nHe then vanished in a literally blink of an eye. The emotions I felt were overwhelming. I decided to take my mind of things by wasting no time in trying the machine out. I fired it up and typed in the date and location. June 12th, 1994, Brentwood, California. This would only take a quick glance. Shouldn't waste too much of my restricted time.", "“...And done!\" I say gleefully and stressed all in one neat package. \n\n“I knew you were gonna say that.” a voice says behind me. \n\nI jump back and lift up my tiny allen wrench as if to defend myself. \n\n“Only kidding!” he assures. “Well, only kind of.”\n\n“Who are you?!”\n\n“My name is non-existent but you can call me Time Lord or Prince Clock, whatever works for you. Either option makes me feel regal.” he fixes his coat and grins. “Regal and sexy.”\n\n“But...what? How'd you get in here? Why are you here?” I lower my Allen wrenches but it's still ready to attack - to the best of its ability.\n\n“Well, complete transparency: I teleported in from a multi-dimensional portal that allows me to slide through to any singular point in history of all time for all time. But, this isn't necessarily the most iron clad laboratories I've ever seen. This is what, some greenhouse? It's not much in the way of security, if you ask me. Is that it?”\n\nI'm confused and have no clue as to what he's talking about until he motions his arm toward my latest invention.\n\n“Yea but,...”\n\n“As a self-proclaimed Lord of Time, I gotta say Mitch...this is by far the most unique travel device I've seen. It’s okay if I call you Mitch, right?”\n\n“I guess. Or you can call me by my real name…”\n\n“Mitch, it's fairly incredible that you were able to take these basic mechanics and make something so complex. I'll have to pick your brain for a day or two sometime to truly get a sense of what kinda horsepower you got in that noggin of your!”\n\n“Yea, but…”\n\n“I've seen countless amounts of machines in my day and frankly, they all kinda work and look the same. The biggest components, obviously magnets and radioactive salt compounds, are usually in the forefront to the entire device. But this? This is something special.” \n\nMy mouth opens a sliver but is quickly interrupted. \n\n“You must be a smart guy. What other inventions have you made?”\n\n“I've made a spring loaded garlic press before. With suction c-c-cups.” I just notice now that I stutter when im nervous. \n\n“Oh...start small so your brain can do the bigger things down the line. I like you, Mitch.”\n\nHe walks over to me and places his hands on my shoulder and motions toward my blank off-white wall as if to gesture toward a big picture. \n\n“You know how they do this in movies? To signify that the world is yours? ...You have movies in this timeline, right?”\n\n“Yes, yes and yes.”\n\n“Well this big picture is blank. Your open canvas. A blank slate. What do you want to do with it?”\n\n“I mean…it was just painted like two years ago and I'm happy with the shade. Scrambled Egg Whites, is the name. I think it looks good with the…” \n\n“Oh I'm sorry, were you talking, Mitch? I had to do a mini-jump through time to help with my kids homework. He's learning about President Denzel Washington. Anyways, whatever silly big picture concepts you have, I'm here to tell you: no. There are rules. There are regulations. And there are consequences. We will have to guarantee that you take a two week course in Travel Awareness and Preparedness, or TAAP for short.”\n\n“Sound like fun?”\n\n“It's all fun and games until someone no longer has an fake eye because they went back in time to fix the accident they had and now there's an orphanage that burned down because butterfly effects are real and are really quite horrible, if I'm being honest.”\n\n“I've never said anything to disagree with that.”\n\n“There will be no meeting with your past self. There will be no talking to strangers - at least anything more than unassuming and innocuous dialogue that can't be traced back to you. You also cannot engage in sexual intercourse with anyone. And you cannot, for the love of all that is decent, have sexual intercourse with yourself. That’s...not nearly as exciting as you might think.”\n\n“Honestly…”\n\n“Please, be honest. I'm nothing if not courteous when others want to talk.”\n\n“I think that…”\n\n“I wouldn't dare interrupt someone. Especially someone as nice and well-mannered as you, Mitchy boy.”\n\n“There's a mistake.” I clench my Allen wrenches again. \n\n“A mistake, you say? How so? You weren't finished with your time device yet? Consider this a prewarning then. No harm!”\n\n“No it’s not a time machine. Not in the why you think.”\n\n“Does it do something cooler on top of transporting you through every conceivable era known to man?”\n\n“Well it doesn't do that stuff. But it does automatically chop thyme.”\n\n“How does one chop time, boy?”\n\n“Well, you put the thyme right here and the conveyor belt pulls it forward into this box right here and then inside little razor blades dice --”\n\n“Razor blades..” he says as he begins to deflate. \n\n“Yes! The dice the thyme and then spit it out through this little spigot here! My wife makes killer spaghetti sauce so I think it'll save her some.. TIME! Get it?”\n\n“I'd laugh, but... honestly Mitch...this is the third time this has happened in the last 65 years…I mean, Rd hats gotta be a record right? I gotta tell people in accounts that they need to really research these a little better.”\n\n“It's...we all make mistakes.”\n\n“Yea… I guess.”\n\nHe pulls up a chair and sits down. He takes a small electronic device out of his pocket and begins to hit buttons. \n\n“What year is it right now?”\n\n“2019” \n\nHe looks up, calculating in his head.\n\n“So...178 years.”\n\nThe device beeps three times and starts to glow green. \n\n“I wish I could travel back in time and stop this from happening but, obviously, that would be against regulations.”\n\n“I totally understa--”\n\nHe hits a button on his device and he vanishes. \n\nThe dust and papers surrounding him begin to settle after getting kicked up. I let out a sigh of relief and I slink back into the chair before the door slams open. A version of me from 12 years in the future stands at the doorway. \n\n“He gone.”\n\n“Yes.” I say. \n\n“Good. They can't know that we have what we have.”\n\nHe pushes the thyme machine to the side and slides off the top of the crate it rested on. A slick and shiny machine rest hums and glows rests inside the crate emanating a slight heat. \n\n“We got work to do.”", "\"And... that... should... be it!\" I exclaimed, tightening the last flux nut on the temporal carbonator. I tossed the wrench over my shoulder and wiped the sweat off my brow. I beamed at the culmination of 45 years of research, isolation, labor, and failure. Lots of failure. This had to work, I was nearing the end of my days. 65 years old and over six hundred thousand dollars in debt.\n The vessel looked suspiciously similar to the '02 Toyota Camry I used to own, the main distinction being a clock-like apparatus protruding from the hood. I approached the contraption cautiously as if at any moment the entire thing would explode or collapse. Wouldn't have been the first time. Or third time. I opened the door and scooted into the seat, placing my hands on the wheel. I sighed and gripped the key. As I was sliding the key into the ignition I felt something stopping me from starting the vessel. Maybe it was the enormous responsibility that came with being the first known person to invent time travel. No, that was stupid. I glanced down at my hand, and nearly had a heart attack. On my hand, was another hand firmly preventing me from turning the key.\n\n\"Hi, I'm John, the HR representative from Time, no relation to the magazine. I noticed that you just finished this little time machine. I am legally obliged to stop by and walk you though the proper procedures so that you can have a safe and enjoyable experience as you embark on your explorations.\" The newcomer wore a suit and tie, and wide brimmed glasses. He flashed a friendly smile.\n\n\"Are you a fellow time traveler?\" I asked equally confused and enthralled.\n\n\"I am not so much a time traveler as I am a time travel agent. That is to say that provide travelers with the do's and the don't's.\" His tone was upbeat, but I could tell that he was used to explaining himself.\n\n\"Oh I see. So like are you Chronus or something?\"\n\n\"Sir, I am John, HR represenative from Time, not to be confused with the magazine. I know a Chronus in acquisitions, but thats kind of besides the point. What I am here to do is to lay the ground rules for time travel.\"\n\n\"Oh there are rules, thats uh, kind of a let down if I'm being honest.\" I frowned at the entity, and noticed that he had a briefcase with him. \"Whats that for?\"\n\nThe being pulled it into his lap and opened that latches. From the briefcase he procured a stack of papers around a foot tall. \"I'm glad you asked, this the paperwork that you need to complete before you embark on your adventures.\" He smiled at me, dropping the papers into my lap with a thud.\n\nI flipped through the papers, skimming titles. \"Non-sports-gambling clause\", \"Giving-yourself-this-technology-but-earlier stipulation\", \"Political-Assassination addendum\", and the largest section \"Time Loop Agreement.\" I felt defeated.\n\"This bans everything cool! I mean I can't even kill Hitler!\" I protested, waving a few of the papers for effect.\n\n\"Hey, I understand your frustrations. Believe me, I know we all want to kill Hitler. But time is linear my friend. We don't want it upset too much. Why don't you try watching the dinosaurs? They are awfully cool, and spoiler alert they all die in the end.\" He chuckled at his own terrible joke.\n\n\"Well what would happen if I break any of these rules?\"\n\n\"Oh, we'd simply remove you from existence.\" John said with a shrug and a nonchalant tone. He pointed to a paragraph in the paperwork for clarification.\n\n\"Huh.\"\n\n\"Well if you have any questions you know where to find us.\"\n\n\"I do?\" But as he finished his sentence, John was already gone.\n\nI sat there contemplating for a few moments before turning the key. \"Guess I'll just see the dinosaurs...\" I mumbled, and I cranked the ignition.", "\"Stay put\", came the voice. It spoke from now, from then and from later on all at the same time.\n\n\"But...\"\n\n\"No\"\n\nThere was finality. It was a voice that didn't just say no. Beneath that word there were others, none of them as pleasant as a simple \"no\". Not by a long shot. They were positively dripping with all sorts of ghastly promises. The soon-to-be-but-maybe-not time traveller was suddenly very acutely aware that time, a lot of it, was filled with sharp and pointy things. Burning hot things, too.\n\n\"Maybe I could just...\"\n\n\"You will not\"\n\nIt was not a question. It wasn't even an order, really. It was the voice of absolute reason, the voice that says things as they are. He would not, then. He would, as the scary, reasonable, all knowing voice said; Stay put. Not one foot would be dipped into the streams of time. He would endeavour to destroy the machine and hinder its creation again at the hands of lesser men than he.\n\n\nBut maybe just a little peek before....\n\n\"No\"\n\nWell, that settled that. He would do what any other human would do. Funny creatures, humans. Give them an order and the first thing they will do is wonder why they should follow. If that order happens to be a mysterious order that promises adventure and threatens misfortune and death? There isn't a soul alive who would not have an unscratchable itch for the rest of their days after blowing such an opportunity. The voice came back one last time before the traveller hit the switch. When he heard the tone, the adrenaline gave way to a chilling fear. The ice down the spine, just heard actual footsteps in my house at night kind of fear that people only feel when the word \"helplessness\" is the most important word in the world. The words were simple, yet held so much meaning.\n\n\"Another reset. How does this keep happening\"\n\nFirst there was light, then darkness, then nothing but a single point at the centre of a vast and empty void." ]	6
	[WP] You wished for God-like powers but was teleported to a small office with a note saying "Congratulations you are our 2537th winner. Be sure to keep things organized while I'm on my two week vacation. Sincerely - G"	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Jasper looked around,\n\nThere he saw the other gods,the forgotten ones \nIn the window,\n\nOn other spaced out desks,\n\nHe looked at his office,\n\nHe realizes that all the photos were taken through out the other periods,\n\nThe god taking a photo of the day Pompeii became no more,\n\nHis wife Annah,\n\nThe car chase scene with a Chavez and yokai,\n\nAnd then a photo with Kenny G.\n\nAnd then a photo of Charles,\n\nThrough out the years,\n\nWhen he looked at the letter,\n\nG meant something,\nA clue.\n\nFor jasper to uncover,\n\nHe quickly realized that his friends office,\n\nWas like I spy,\n\nScreaming and begging for attention,\nTo be found.\n\nBeau...\nYou little shit,\n\nhe smiled." ]	2
	[WP] Every princess and peasant girl across all the realms wishes for the day they would receive a fairy godmother to make their wishes come true--even for just one night. How foolish of them that no one ever considered that a fairy godmother could be evil.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 wished simply for my brother to die. \n\nThat pleased the Queen of the Court and she granted me his death without blood on my hands. He choked on his wine in a gutter, like some lowly dog. \n\nWith that death came my freedom to marry whom I pleased, because my brother could not sell me to the highest bidder anymore. \n\nBut the Queen was a bored thing. Pretty thing. Terrible thing. \n\nShe wanted more games to play. She came to me when I was a happy woman, a blink to her, ten years for me. I told her my husband had been sleeping with the widow next door. \n\nThe Queen smiled. She had such a beautiful smile. Pretty smile. Terrible smile. \n\nAnd how was the Widow to die? \n\nStab her. And he can hang. \n\nI offered her my son. I could not look at his face. He would make a beautiful knight for her games of death and life. She smiled. \n\nTerrible, beautiful smile. \n\nEach year she asks me for something terrible to sate her hunger. Each year she grants my wishes. She has told me that wishes have a price. \n\nI have not aged since I was 33. \n\nMy daughter grows old these days, like a woman three times her age. \n\nThere are whispers in the village of a witch. \n\nI am that witch.\n\nMy last wish is to see a fire burn.\n\nWhether it is me or the village I do not know. \n\nMy Queen comes tonight. \n\nI never know.", "I have a faerie godmother. \n\nNo, really, I do. Only, she isn't what most girls would expect.\n\nNow, the first thing I should tell you about having a faerie godmother is this: Forget everything those pretty, fancy stories say. Every wish, every deal, every bargain comes with a price. There is no real 'good' or 'evil' with the fae. Those are human ideas: mortal notions. It's your fault if you don't have the forethought to realize this. Faeries, Seelie and Unseelie alike, will indeed grant your wishes...only to the most exact wording and interpret the rest as they see fit. \n\nEtiquette is something you must be extra careful about when dealing with the fae. Even the smallest, most innocent of mistakes and barest of slights can upset one of the Seelie fae, while the Unseelie don't need to be offended to twist wishes towards darker ends. Even something as too boring a wish could be considered an insult, depending on just which faerie you have.\n\nA young peasant girl wishes some brave knight would whisk her away from her boring life. Sure, that can happen. Soon enough, the neighboring kingdom's army comes marching through and this brave knight takes a passing fancy to the oh so recently orphaned farmer's daughter. He takes her away from her boring life, has his way with her, and gives her to the soldiers for the night as part of their pay.\n\nA princess. Young, idealistic, naive and headstrong wishes she could decide her future for herself. But of course! It's such a shame mommy and daddy's carriage was in the path of the ancient oak as it fell. What will you do now, your Majesty?\n\nAlways be cautious with the fae, for they are cunning and very very dangerous.\n\nI beg thee take these words to heart. Now I must retire; the king and queen's sudden deaths left a lot of work to manage. Oh! This village will be perfect for the army to resupply at before besieging Chandramoor." ]	3
	[WP] Zeus and Hera go to couples therapy.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“Hera, are you sure that this is something we have to do?” I asked, walking down the halls of the annoyingly bright and pink hallway,\n“Yes, I’m sure, and the sooner we get this done, the sooner you can stop complaining. I think this is the right room.”\nI looked at the sign on the side of the door. It read, “Room 69-Drs. Psyche and Eros, PsyD.”\n“Well, here goes nothing.” We walked into the room and immediately, a perky, ecstatic woman hugs me, and a tall, slim, and muscular man wearing a toga with wings tattooed on his back hugs my wife. \n“Hi, I’m Eros, and this is my wife, Psyche.” \nHis deep voice even scared me.\n“ Well, just sit down and we’ll get started!” Psyche said, her high-pitched voice giving me a headache. This was going to be a long day." ]	2
	[WP] A group of murderers break into a house to try and kill a man, who after multiple stabbings and beatings, dosent seem to die, because he turns out to be immortal, so now the killers have to find a way to get out of the house without the man killing them or finding out who they 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/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“That wasn’t very nice of you folk, now was it?” The man said coolly, pulling out the last of the thieves’ blades and dropping it on the floor. Right before the gang’s wide eyes, his wounds knitted closed, drops of blood - golden blood - evaporating from his skin.\n\n“Oh, SHIT,” Ray breathed.\n\n“A Golden.” Zhay murmured.\n\nThe man’s smile widened as the murderer’s faces grew paler by the second. Jay was the first to recover from the spell of terror, realizing that each moment they remained in the man’s presence drastically decreased their chance of leaving with their lives. “Go, you idiots, move!” This snapped Ray and Zhay back to reality, and the three murderers scrambled for the windows where they’d entered the house\n\nAs they neared the portal, a cold wind blew, making the gang jump as the pane slammed down. They didn’t miss a beat, however; Ray zipped up the stairs and nestled among the cluttered storage space, Zhay dove under a bed in the nearby room, and Jay ran into the kitchen and hid in a large cabinet.\n\nOver the sound of their pounding hearts and barely-stifled panting, the gang wondered how this all went wrong. It was just a simple job! How were they supposed to know that the target was a Golden? If they made it out of here alive, they’d be paying their client a friendly visit.\n\nA deep laugh echoed through the house, equally loud to each member of the gang. “How lucky I am to meet the members of the ‘Ay Team,’ as you call yourselves!” A chill ran down their spines. How did he know?\n\n“Ah, just before you break into the ranks of infamy, too. Why don’t you show yourselves? It’ll make this much easier on you.”\n\nJay dreaded those words. This man knew exactly how to bait them too! “Don’t fall for it, guys,” he prayed. But it was of no use. A voice rang out from the living room of the house - Ray.\n\n“How about YOU give up now, and I’LL make it easy for you? My buddies don’t deserve to die; I’m the leader here.”\n\n“Dammit, Ray!” Jay thought. “You’re going to get yourself killed first! The rule is ALWAYS to get out of the job goes south. You know that!”\n\n“Oh? A noble miscreant? Quaint! It’s almost a pity I don’t care.” The man’s eyes then began to glow a bright, molten gold, and the temperature in the house plummeted. Jay and Ray screamed involuntarily as their blood cells froze into spikes, shredding their organs from the inside out. Zhay, protected from the onslaught by some sort of wards around the man’s bed, remained quiet.\n\nThe man laughed again, savoring the agony hanging in the air, and released his magic. Screams rose to unearthly wails as circulation returned to their veins and sent fresh signals of pain along their raw nerves. As Jay and Ray’s screamed faded and the man went to retrieve their bodies, Zhay ran straight out the front door of the house, not stopping until he reached the hideout.\n\n“You may have taken my crew from me, you Golden bitch, but you gave away the identity of your Blessings too. I’ll visit you again - with a Shadow Triad,” he swore.", "\"Its not going to work, you know.\" The man sighed, steepling his fingers over his broad nose, blank eyes focused on the trio before him. Each of them looked distinctly disgruntled, sweating profusely so it looked almost as if they were melting, the only light the dim sunlight emanating from behind heavy blackout maroon curtains , sweeping to the side of the mister windows. Winters voice was distinct in the breeze creeping in, engulfing them as they shook, struggling to keep hold of the seemingly puny knives clutched in their hands.\n\"Why not?\" He spat furiously. \"Why wont it work, goddamnit?\"\n\"Isnt it obvious?\" He shrugged, showing his palms to heaven. A knowing smirk tugging at his lips.\n\"Look here. I did biology, not that youd think it by looking at me, and let me tell you this is bloody unnatural. Not that that went anywhere...\" he added sadly, before resisting the urge to slap himself in the face. Here he was, complaining about his life to a man who seemed to be immortal. Holy shit.\n\"Yet here I am.\" He gave that same irritating smirk again. It made him want to stab him until he bled out on the carpet. Not that that was ever going to happen.\n\"So, anyway... I'm sorry to leave so abruptly, but I, well, I, um, have urgent unavoidable business to attend to. Immediately. So sorry.\"\n\"Oh, that's no issue. I wouldn't want to hold you any longer than I need to, would I?\"\nWhy the shit was he being so civil? It was starting to seriously scare him. Blindly, he blundered for the door, followed by his companions, his girlfriend of three months and his best friend of his life, both pale in absolute terror. They collapsed on the door in overwhelming relief, eyes darting around their juxtaposed surroundings, tame and ordinary in comparison to the nightmarish man upstairs. But at least they'd be free soon.\nThat was if the door would only fucking open.\n\"You guys watch many horror movies? I'm assuming not. How about you two, you're quite quiet. How about you, young lady?\" Slowly the immortal juggernaut descended the stairs, unnervingly still. She nodded frantically, struggling with the door handle. \n\"That's not going to work either. What's the hurry?\"\nIn his hand was the knife she had dropped in the living room, complete with her initials carved into the handle. M.A. That's all they knew of her afterwards, and he never cared to remember more. Soon to be M.H. That is if he hadn't dropped the ring running away from that damn monster.\n\"What do you want?\"\n\"Nothing more than you.\" He advanced further, deflecting a knife Jon thrust at him. That was his best friends name. Nobody else in the neighbourhood had it. People thought it was weird. Actually, people thought Jon was weird anyway, being the scrawny ginger kid in the area who seemed destined to either end up like this, a third wheel on a bike driving off a cliff or at the bare minimum selling drugs on street corners. \n\"I swear we'll stop! I promise! Please just leave us alone!\"\n\"Like you spared all of your victims. Hell no.\" \n\"We'll never do it again!\" Screamed Jon shrilly, tears streaming down his face. \"I have a family, a husband, I dont want them to grow up without- without-\" he broke down sobbing. \n\"Then why would you even do something like this?\" He gestured to the various weapons and severed body parts strewn across the floor accompanied by the generous coating of crimson trailing across the floor. \"There are better things to do with your life, you know.\"\n\"But aren't you going to kill us?\" Asked his girlfriend incredulously, bloody hands on hips, one of which clutching a pencil she had grabbed on impulse to defend herself. The man shrugged, turning to her lazily.\n\"It makes no real difference to me if you live or die. I'm immortal. I've seen so many deaths you wouldn't believe, but I still cant die. I can always take another. I'll outlive any prison sentence they give me, they cant keep me down for long. Sometimes I wish they could.\"\n\"What do you mean?\" He asked, bemused.\n\"Immortal life is hard. You know every year I have to harvest souls to satan? Yeah, it's not fun. And if I stop, I go straight to spend eternity in hell. Also not fun. So I kinda keep going, through the borədom and depression. Took a psychology course a while back, followed by philosophy, and then religious studies for fun. Been trying to find a way around this shit.\"\n\"Did you find one?\" Asked Jon, eyes shining through tears and hands clutching at his shirt. He almost looked cute. \n\"I'm not sure. I can always test.\" He smiled with a hint of regret, plunging the knife into Jon's chest. Eyes bulging, he fell to the floor, comically still in petrified death.\nHe threw up all over the carpet. This was the end. Dead next to his best and only friend in a pool of his own vomit, girlfriend dying beside him without ever fucking proposing to her. Oh god.\n\"Almost over now.\" He wasnt smiling now. \"Then you and I can both be free.\" \n\"Wha-\" \nHis girlfriend was dead. He barely felt it. \"Am I next?\" He murmured, neither to himself or the man. He responded nonetheless.\n\"Unfortunately not. You're my ticket out of this hellhole.\" Slowly, the immortal man reached for the knife, tugging it out of his girlfriends cold dead stomach. He retched again, turning away. \nHe watched as the creature drew the knife across it's own dark skin, unblemished and perfect in every way, forcing his fingers in the cut to keep it open, and pressing it against the last living man's quivering mouth, ordering him with unquestionable authority.\n\"Drink. Drink, for fucks sake, drink!\" The crimson flooded into his mouth, drowning him in metal taste. He had no choice. He gulped it down. \"You already were a killer, this should be nothing to you. I dont think I have long left now. Remember, you have to kill two a month. Make sure you invest in the right businesses. Get a hobby. Stay fit. And never argue with Satan.\"\nHe screamed in agony as the once immortal man fell to the floor and he felt his excruciating power flow into his veins.\n\n\nThis is my first try at responding to a writing prompt, so please tell me how I did. Thanks!", "The beatings had left some bruises. That was inevitable. They had faded by the time they started stabbing him, plunging the knife deep into his torso over and over again. Max took it all impassively, letting them unleash their rage upon his nearly motionless body. He knew how these things worked. Anger might not have been the answer, but it was always the solution. \n\n\"It won't work,\" he interrupted finally as the men paused to catch their breath. They watched as the cuts on his chest slowly closed themselves. \n\n\"What the fuck do we do?\" They weren't talking to Max. They were talking to each other. As if they had the answer. They didn't, Max knew that. \n\n\"Two options,\" he interrupted. He knew they didn't want to hear him. But what choice did they have really? \"First option, you tell me who sent you.\"\n\nThe men glanced at each other again and one of them shook his head. \"Pass.\"\n\n\"Second option, I kill you.\" No answer. \"Like a game of freeze tag. You got into this mansion. Can you get out?\" He knew that outside the room, the walls would be shifting. Doors would be locking and traps would be priming themselves. He checked his watch. \"I'll give you a headstart. Say thirty seconds?\" The men glanced at each other. Truth or dare. Fight or flight. How had they blundered such a simple job? All they had to do was capture one man. \"You can all make your own choice. Time is running.\"\n\nThey ran. They always did. Good thing, too, otherwise Max was afraid he would forget just how lethal the house was configured to be. He could hear them tripping over each other as they ran into a wall that wasn't there before. Then he heard them desperately slamming on a door that would never open. A window shattered; the courtyard projected on the glass was half a world away. That one would plummet to his death. Two left. Max checked his watch. Ten seconds.\n\nHe rose to his feet, brushing off little strips of cloth that the men had ripped as they attacked him. Annoying. He had rather liked that shirt. There was a scream and a dull thud. Max wondered what trap had cost another man his life. Three. Two. One. He emerged from the bedroom. It had been the staircase, of course. It would have been so easy had the man skipped the second step. That left one. \n\nMax rounded the corner. A shadow flashed across the end of the hallway. He took a left into the next room. It was a shared bathroom. A little bit of ring around the rosies through the two doors, except only one of them would be dropping. He waited at the second door. \n\nThe last man was careful. That was good, he supposed. Evolution. Eventually they would pose a real threat, once enough stories trickled back. Max cleared his throat. He heard the footsteps halt, and then he was around the corner and within an arm's length of the third assailant. The man was quick, but not quick enough. \n\n\"You lose,\" Max said as he deftly subdued the man. \"Double or nothing though. Tell me who sent you, or I'll make this real slow.\"\n\nHe could feel the man struggle to swallow and he loosened his grip a bit. \"Same people as always. You've had your time. It's time to turn yourself in.\" It was always about other people. Max hated that. That's why he had decided to do his own thing, orders be damned. \n\nHe chuckled. It was a dark, sinister chuckle. It wasn't his time, not yet. He knew what would happen if he turned himself in. Immortality could be as much a blessing as it could be a curse. He could spend centuries encased in a block of cement. He could be buried alive with nothing but his thoughts and worms to keep him company. \"I don't think so. Not yet.\" And then he squeezed and the man's body went limp. \n\n*****\n\nThanks for reading! If you enjoyed this, please check out more stories at /r/MatiWrites. Constructive criticism and advice are always appreciated!" ]	4
	[WP]Somewhere in time. Everything looks and seems like the "roaring 20's" but there are Cell phones, computers, the World Wide Web. Weapons have only evolved to Black Powder, Steam engines, gears and clock works everywhere. The sign says Private eye for hire.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "It's a new tweed pin strip suit, you know... the type dames wooed over, and to top it off a beaver fur bowler, black as night, a grey thin band with a tiny red and yellow feather in it. I couldn't make it look more dashing.\n\nExcept for the new suit the day was starting like any other, Cindy will be in soon to get the boiler up to pressure, we can then turn on the \"open\" signs. No use in being a Private Dick if people don't know you're ready to go out and dick around. Then, I'll sit at my desk act like I'm doing paper work, Cindy will come in and want to get frisky, I'll turn her down....again, and with protest she'll go do her job. I'll answer the phone hoping for a case, don't know why, don't really need the money just something to do.\n\nI hear the bell that's on the front door, signaling it's been opened.\n\n\"just me Richard, already got the boiler going and signs are on...You ready for the mad rush?\", she says as she peeks her head around the corner with a huge beautiful smile, then the rest of her follows, and what a looker she is.\n\nSee Cindy was a serious Nymphomaniac, and a damn good one. Shes a moll with out the lead, she'll kill a man with a glace unless you know this dame is good for only one thing. The Joe's and John's walking through the door never see it coming. Captivating them upon site, luring them to financial destruction through their misguided heart, or in their case a misguided Johnson.\n\nShe admitted to loving to give someone a thrill, naw ya see Cindy is nothing short of a pro skirt, not everybody had to pay, but those that did paid well, whether they wanted to or not. There was no rhyme nor reason which mans gun she shot, she just liked to. Her private life is her matter. She does a great job of getting pictures of her conquest that are married so I can root out their money, and protect Cindy form them. It's a win win if you ask me.\n\nI hear the bell that's on the front door again,\n\nCindy aggressively chimes out, \"HOW can I help you\"\n\nI thought that was odd, never heard her speak like that to a client before.\n\nThen I heard her voice...it was like music flowing though the air, the taste of sweet honey mead on my lips,\"Yes Darling, I was referred to Parsons services and would like to speak to Detective Parsons directly on the matter\".\n\nEven with the lines on the steam tube Monitor I could tell this was a true Dame, someone that has had money for a while, the way she walked, her voice, everything about her. I ran to the door with a file in my hand. and stopped just short of her line of vision, then nonchalantly took a step out,\n\nCindy was very curt, \"I'm sorry he's booked for the next 3 weeks\"\n\n\"Yes I can see your office is fuullll of potential clients\", the woman retorted sarcastically, \"Now run along and fetch Detective Parsons Darling....I'll wa....oh, hello Mr. Parsons\"\n\nI round the corner but am instantly dumbfounded and fumble about my first few words, \"Findy Cile ese Please\"\n\nCindy pulls her head back slightly, her eyes squint some, her brow draws together a bit, \"What? what the hell was that?\".\n\nThank the powers that be I came around the corner when I did, by the looks of it Cindy was almost a gun doll, bullets were already shooting from her eyes.\n\nI regain my composure, \"Please.... file these Cindy\", I hold the file in her general direction as I make eye contact with eyes of emerald,\"You are absolutely stunning.\", I thought, I thought and realize I actually said it out loud.\n\nThe woman's smile was obvious and becoming.\n\nCindy cocks her head to one side, her jaw slightly to the other side and her eyes roll back into her head....\"FINE\" as she snatches the file from my hand and slaps it on her desk. \"Going on a coffee run, be back\", she stops, looks me square in the eye, saw I was looking in the eyes of a porcelain doll and deep in conversation\" whenever!\"\n\nCindy walks out onto the sidewalk, 'like he even heard me', she steams, passers by that look, quickly look away from the scorned face. She arrives at the coffee shop and there are 3 people in front of her.\n\n\"Hey\", she says to the guy in front of her\n\nHe turns around, \"Yes ma'am\", he was slightly younger than she, far from an Alderman, and very attractive, a male looker she thought.\n\nShe leans over and whispers in his ear, \"What do you say you buy me a coffee and we go in the alley there, you...I...bury the beam...I need it bad.\n\n\"Two coffee's please!\" He calmly but quickly tells the clerk\n\nMoments seem to pass like hours for her, she grabs the man from behind and starts to gyrate.\n\nPeople are looking, some in disgust, amusement, most secretly in envy at how pretty these two people are.\n\nHe takes her by the hand to an alley outside the coffee shop were she had gestured earlier. In full view of her office.\n\nShe takes her panties off while he unzips his trousers, lifting her leg she mounts him. She feels steel next to her head, her eyes open, he had a gun pointed at her head, as the man continues to create friction in her. He speaks,\n\n\"Don't fucking move, Don't scream, I'll pull the trigger, I'm the only one moving\", he said with one hand around her throat.\n\n\"You....You put some kind of spell on my father, bewitched him. Then blackmailed him out of a fortune. this is what happens to bad whores\".\n\nCindy begins to cry, not because she thinks she is going to be dying, she accepted death as a consequence of life years ago...it's...\n\nHe continues, \"Now My sister and I are exacting our payment\"\n\nA shot rings out from the office building across the street, Cindy sees that woman walk out.\n\nCindy's mind flashes to Richard and the astonishingly beautiful woman. No...Cindy cries because she will never have the love of her life.......for a split second she thought she heard a second firearm shot.", "The man looked at the sign - so art deco, \"private eye\"- and then he observed the facade again. Befuddled, he tilted his head. Was it in there?\n\nTwo children came out, playfully waving what seemed like a wand, one of them, and the other navigating a retro ship in the air while making displaced car-sounding noises.\n\nHe ventured inside. The shopkeeper greeted him with a nod, and didn't have time for anything else because the man immediately averted his gaze, beginning to search around, touching some of the little pieces of intriguing clutter After a minute, the keeper asked, with a particularly old-fashioned accent: \"Are you looking for anything in particular?\"\n\nNervous and stiff, the man denied.\n\n\"You sure look different from the usual crowd I receive. This type of funky trinket ain't for everyone. Sometimes people require different services.\"\n\nNo, no...it couldn't be there, that musty dump stuffed with everything yet nothing. Good afternoon, he'd try the next building. The guy must've had written the numbers incorrectly on the address.\n\nThe next building was a budget travel agency, a family business, it seemed. There was only him and a short and simply-dressed man exuding a very slight hint of sweat and red wine. He took a ticket and his turn came:\n\n\"Hello, I'm looking for something\" - «or someone», he whispered under his breath - \"I think currently in Peru.\"\n\nThe lady at the desk was slightly confused at such a wording, but proceeded to browse her computer for suitable destinations." ]	3
	[WP] After first contact with a few friendly alien species we realize that all races have the same minor god in at least one of all their religions.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 first I'd thought it a coincidence. Finding similar religious figures on earth is pretty common. Zeus and Thor, Osiris and Hades. Just to name a few. \n\nAfter we made contact with our first interstellar neighbors it wasn't long until we found a way to communicate and started sharing our cultures. I was surprised that when we began discussing religion we found a few common themes. Creation myths, similar catastrophes, and similar types of gods. Once we started comparing, I wasn't surprised when we found another connection between one of their minor gods and one of ours from ancient Mesopotamia. They were both extremely minor, not having very much written about either of them. But nonetheless they matched each other very well.\n\nIt wasn't until we started making contact with others that I started feeling uneasy. No matter how different our beliefs were. Even with alien races that shared next to nothing in common with our own beliefs. We always found one thing in common.\n\nHe appeared to be something of a trickster, someone seeking knowledge and secrets. He would appear to different people, different cultures and was always looking to learn something from the people. A new type of technology or piece of scientific knowledge. Then once the story says he gets it, he's never written about again. That is, until he pops up in another legend.\n\nHis appearance is almost never the same, but its his actions that point him out.\n\nBy now, I've collected data on almost 36 different cultures across the 27 separate species we've encountered. He almost always has a different name. The more I dig into it, the deeper I find myself. I've been digging through my accounts and legends for years now and the only thing that I've come to a conclusion on is this.\n\nThere's always another secret.", "\"Ishtar?\"\n\nThe Gyel nodded, their tufted furred ears bobbing along with the motion.\n\n\"That is the way we pronounce the name of the Legend of Home and Health, yes,\" they agreed.\n\n\"Well, it's just similar to one of our own ancient legends, or goddesses,\" Alex said with a bit of a frown as she slid her laptop over and began pulling up articles on Ishtar. \"See, Mesopotamian in origin, symbol is a star with six, eight, or sixteen rays...\"\n\n\"Of course, six for the legs of travel, eight for the claws of battle, sixteen for battling together,\" the Gyel said with a bit of a frown as they moved to look at the screen. \"Goddess of contradictions, correct?\"\n\n\"Well yes, but our history is more focused on the storehouse,\" Alex said as they highlighted the text. \"Food and meat, grain...\"\n\n\"A moment,\" the Gyel said as they went back to their console and began entering a large amount of text.\n\nWhile they worked, Alex took the time to get some food, something to drink. As they poured some coffee they looked up to notice a woman standing in the entryway to the facility, visible through the glass walls. She was dressed in modern clothing but styled as robes similar to a sari.\n\nAs Alex met the woman's gaze the woman paused her conversation with the receptionist and smiled. Then she turned and walked away.\n\nAlex shook her head and went back to the desk, where the Gyel was grinning while reading text.\n\n\"Ishtar exists in the cultures of the Viris and the Watresh. We did not know because it is so private to us we did not ask them about their own legends.\"\n\nAs Alex walked around the table to view the console, a name appeared on the screen. Carved in stone by an alien race, it was the woman she'd just seen.\n\n\"What if there is one goddess that is real,\" Alex whispered before setting down their cup and running out of the door, leaving a confused Gyel behind.\n\nDashing out of the hallway and into the park that all the buildings of the Intersolar Exchange Society opened into. She spun as she tried to take in the whole park, trying to spot that dark blue and brown sari again. A flash of color is all she needs as she takes off running.\n\nFinally the figure came into view in between two trees on a small hill, and Alex got within a dozen meters before the figure turned back to look at her. The woman was smiling a little and looked completely at ease.\n\n\"Who are you?\" Alex asked, trying not to gasp for breath after the frantic run.\n\n\"My symbol isn't a star,\" the woman said, her voice close to a laugh in how amused she seemed to be. \"That was Akkadian, when I was given Venus. But it worked so well for the Gyel I couldn't help it.\"\n\n\"Then please, what... What is your symbol?\" Alex begged.\n\n\"For you? For humanity? A pair of gates built into a storehouse. Security, Alex.\"\n\nAlex stared, trying to commit to memory every detail of the woman, but she had a question she couldn't ask.\n\n\"Alex,\" the woman sighed as she turned and walked slowly down the hill to put one hand on Alex's cheek. \"It's ok. I never asked to be worshiped. I just wanted to help as many races as I could.\"\n\nr/saryis is my personal subreddit\n\nThis story is in the same setting as \\[The Forbidden Sound\\] which is a serial story based on another writing prompt.\n\nDestinies Beyond the Mythos is my book, if you're interested in Fantasy Fiction." ]	3
	[WP] One day you walk into work and everyone turns to to look at you. Apparently you have been missing for three weeks but you have no memory of it. The last thing you remember is going out for dinner.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "They cannot stop me. I empty my sidearm’s magazine at both guards ahead of me. The double door start opening so I drop my empty gun. A third guard stands ready behind the doors. I pull out my knife and plunge it into the third guard’s chest. \n\nPausing to catch my breath, I look up at the security camera. I grin and flash V for Victory with my fingers. I cannot afford them recognizing me, so this poor schlep will take the fall for me. The Mengele files are mine!\n\n---\n\nIt’s been three hours already. Police arrested me at the office. I’m sitting in this dark interrogation room and federal agents ask me the same questions over and over. Why did Karen call the police on me? I thought she liked me.\n\nAgent Smith looks down at me over his glasses. He says, “Okay pal, let’s try something different. You only remember up through August 14th? Tell me what happened that day.”\n\nI reply, “I got off work at 5:00 PM. Usually I would drive home for about an hour. That night I had an interview over dinner for a new job. Better pay, better commute, better everything. I arrived at the restaurant around 5:30. The hostess said I needed to go to a back room. Apparently, I had a reservation for a private dinner.”\n\nLight reflects off Agent Jones’ shiny bald head. He says, “What then happened?”\n\nContinuing I say, “I remember walking into the room. The interviewer was a woman. She already sat down and smiled at me. I recall she had beautiful eyes and a wonderful voice. Then we talked. I don’t really recall what we said. Guess I drank too much. Vaguely I recall getting home and going to bed. I woke up and got ready for work. Then I arrive at work only to be told that I hadn’t been seen for three weeks.”\n\nAgent Smith flashes a grin. He says, “You don’t remember anything about the interviewer at all, besides she was a hot blonde?”\n\nI look up at Smith and say, “How did you know she had blonde hair, Agent Smith?”\n\nSmith’s expression turns sour. He breaks for the door. Despite his all his strength he cannot turn the doorknob. \n\nI slow clap and say, “Excellent try, Operative D, but there is no escape. This isn’t even real.”\n\nThe doorknob vanishes. Agent Smith or should I say, Operative D panickily steps back. \n\nContinuing I say, “Did you really think you could outwit the Unnatural Negation Organization? I let you possess my body during the interview dinner. However, nothing after that happened as you thought. I augmented my entire nervous and sensory systems. My team fed entirely false data to you after leaving that restaurant.”\n\nOperative D screeches at me. He, or rather she, starts yelling at me, “What’s going on? You’re lying.”\n\nGrinning wide, I resume speaking, “In a manner of speaking, yes, this is a lie. Your entire operation I faked. You merely thought you used a poor office worker’s body to storm the research facility. But in reality, you walked into my safehouse. This still wouldn’t have been enough, but after ‘finishing’ your operation you had to gild the lily.”\n\nShe starts scratching at the door. Too little too late. I light my virtual cigarette and exhale a puff of smoke at her. Operative D coughs.\n\nI say, “We couldn’t find your real body in time. Fortunately for us, you wanted to confirm my body didn’t remember anything. I don’t actually. With you taking over the FBI agent, we triangulated your hideout from the second signal. My men raided your hideout an hour ago.”\n\nShe pulls out Agent Smith’s handgun and empties the magazine into me. The virtual bullets harmlessly pass through me.\n\nI pull out my card and drop it on the interrogation table.\n\nSmiling, I say, “UNO. Draw four.”\n\n---\n\nCheck out r/ProfessorCynical to see more stories by me, including my current serial, [The Heretic Skull](https://www.reddit.com/r/ProfessorCynical/collection/5a67a9a5-e547-40aa-83a4-054596ee7fda)", "\"Where have you been?\" Cam claps my shoulder but still stays at arm's reach, almost unconsciously keeping a wide distance between us. \"Everything ok? The cops were in here asking everyone about you.\"\n\n\"When?\" I check my watch. I'm about half an hour late for work, but that's really not enough time for the police to have shown up and questioned people then left without a trace. I scowl and try to think why the police might be asking about me anyway. I must have had too much to drink at dinner last night because my head feels fuzzy and I can't remember how I got home from the restaurant. But I took a cab there, so I couldn't have caused too much trouble just a few blocks from my house. I crack my knuckles and stretch my neck from side to side. Everything feels fine, so I couldn't have been in a fight either.\n\n\"Umm, maybe two or three days after you disappeared. Wilson had all but fired you, but after the police confirmed you and Allie were missing, well...\" he trails off and takes a few small steps back. \"I don't want to pry. You don't owe us any answers, I'm just glad to see your okay. But you should go sort everything with Wilson first.\" Cam gives me another small pat on the back then heads back towards his desk. \n\nI just shake my head, still trying to clear the remnants of the hangover. Cam is known for his practical jokes, but this seems a bit obscure for his usual style. I'm not really sure what his angle is. But it seems my late entrance to work didn't go unnoticed and maybe this whole set-up is Cam's way of trying to discreetly tell me to smooth things over with our boss. I sigh and move towards the office at the end of the hall.\n\nMost of the offices in the Metron building have glass walls and bright interiors, but James Wilson seems to have the only one without a single window, giving it a dark and oppressive feel. The door is only open a few inches, so I knock and listen for any signs that he's in. \n\n\"Come in,\" Wilson calls out. I push the door open enough to lean my upper body through the door. \n\n\"I'm sorry to bother you Mr. Wilson. Do you have a minute?\" Wilson looks up and as soon as he sees me, his face transforms into a scowl.\n\n\"Come in, shut the door.\" The knuckles of his hands have gone white around his pen and he seems to have to make a great effort to unclench his fist to set it to the side. \"You have a lot of nerve showing back up here.\"\n\n\"I'm...\" I stammer but can't seem to recover. I force myself to take a deep breath and slide into the seat across from his. His jaw clenches and a vein starts to pulse in his neck. Shit, I must really be in trouble. \"I'm not sure what you heard, but I'm sorry...\" Wilson puts up a finger and picks up the receiver of his phone, punching a few buttons. \n\n\"He's here,\" he murmurs into the phone and drops it back. He continues to look at the phone, kneading and unkneading his jaw. He swipes then taps a few times at his cell phone as well before turning back to me.\n\n\"Should I go?\" I say, standing back up and backing towards the door. \"If this is a bad time...\" I reach for the handle behind me, but it's already turning as my fingers just graze it. I have just enough time to jump out of the way before another man walks in, blocking the whole of the doorway with his enormous frame.\n\n\"I told you he'd come back,\" the man says, addressing Wilson without taking his piercing eyes off of me. \n\n\"There must be a mistake here,\" I say, backing up towards the chair again. \"I don't know what either of you are talking about. I was just a little late getting into work.\" I think back over what I can remember from dinner last night. Did I run into either of them at the restaurant? Did I do something stupid again? I'm pretty sure I've never met this huge man before, but something about his sharp blue eyes looks familiar. I must have seen him somewhere but can't place it.\n\nA voice crackles over the intercom system built into the phone, a three-note trill telling me it's an announcement sent to the entire building. \"There will be an all-hands town hall meeting in the auditorium in ten minutes. All employees are required to attend.\" The sound of rustling, murmurs and footsteps come from the other side of the door, but neither of the men make a move to leave.\n\n\"Well, I guess I'll see you both there,\" I say, making a vain attempt to angle around the man still blocking the door.\n\n\"Just because you developed the prototype doesn't mean it belongs to you. It was developed here under contract and is rightfully ours.\" Wilson says, standing. His anger finally seems to be under control and there is just cool focus in his features.\n\nThe man at the door makes a move to grab my arm but I fluidly doge, smoothly rolling my upper body while keeping my feet planted. I grab his wrist and drive my bent elbow into his extended one, forcing it to hyperextend the wrong way. As the man roars he twists to take the pressure of his arm, now facing back toward the door. I pull the door open and it connectly solidly with his nose and I feel a spray of blood across my hands and a few drops across my face. I wedge myself out the door and start sprinting down the now empty hallways.\n\nI've been in a few barfights in my life, but have never had anything close to the ability or skill I showed back in the office. I feel myself starting to hyperventilate, both from exhersion and panic. That display was a far cry from a few drunken swings in an alley. \n\nAllie. I come to a dead stop in front of the elevators, suddenly paralyzed. What happened to Allie? She was at the restaurant with me. As the display above the elevator starts to blink, my feet seem to move of their own accord, sprinting for the stairs and almost sliding down towards the parking lot. I reach inside my pocket for my keys, but my fingers rub against something else, a small bit of crumpled paper.\n\nI pull it out and try to make sense of it while still running. Even as the words bounce, I can easily make out my own handwriting. \"This is all part of the plan. I'm going to show you where I hid the prototype.\"\n\nr/StaceyOutThere" ]	3
	[WP] You are the greatest supervillain the world has ever known, and your daughter is being bullied at school.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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. Don’t they know who she is? Don’t they know who I AM? My mind floods with terrible thoughts about how to annihilate teenage girls, and I know that I quickly have to put them out of my mind, but still, the feeling of helplessness that’s bubbling up inside of me is brewing a poison that is going to spill out, and I have to do my best to control it this time. I find myself at a loss for words as my daughter is in a ball of tears and streaming mascara once again. She’s been dealing with this for too long now. I have to do something, but what can I do. The pressure to act swiftly and brutally is taunting me, and it’s just outside of my grasp, because we can’t move again, and my head is revving through a swamp of sickness - no one hurts her. I have to get to the.. \n\n“Daddy, you’re not.. you’re not even listening. You’re off somewhere else, in some distant evil lair, you’re planning something instead of hearing what I’m saying. I don’t know why..” Reilly pushes me away, her face full of disgust and disappointment. “You’re never going to change.” She snatches the keys to the old hovercraft that I gave her for her 14th birthday from the ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ pegboard by the front entrance, and storms towards her escape pod.", "\"Cadence,...\" Gale called her daughter as the girl exited the car. The bony girl adjusted her backpack as she turned around. She swept loose strands of her coffee-brown hair out of her eyes.\n\n\"Yeah?\" she asked.\n\n\"If you ever feel cornered...,\" Gale began. Cadence sighed at the subject matter but stayed long enough to listen. \"...look, honey, don't worry about school. Whatever happens, I'm on your side. Don't be afraid to fight back. Sometimes people need to learn lessons the hard way. Teach them not to mess with you.\" Cadence rolled her eyes. Ever since she opened up to her mom the night before about being bullied, she's been encouraging the girl to fight back.\n\n\"I'm not beating anyone up, mom. They're just annoying assholes. School's over in a month, I can make it until then.\" She shut the door on the conversation and walked off. Gale fumed in her seat.\n\n\"Those little shits,\" she mumbled to herself and left the school grounds. The previous evening, her rage grew hotter and hotter as her daughter explained the situation.\n\n\"They hide my things,\" she said. \"They call me names and push me around in the halls between classes.\" Her daughter listed more than a dozen instances of things that individually, wouldn't be worth noticing. Adding them all up, however, painted a very clear picture. Her daughter was being bullied. Gale fought hard to contain her anger; she did not want Cadence knowing about her villainy just yet. She knew she would have to be honest eventually, but she felt the girl wasn't ready yet. Gale pulled into her driveway and left the car.\n\n\"Pushing her down?\" Gale growled. She did a quick spin in her front yard to take a look around. Her neighbors were all gone to work, the street was quiet with no passing cars. The ground opened beneath Gale and swallowed her whole. Seconds later, she grew out of the ground head first. Her white blouse and black slacks were replaced by a green and brown outfit woven entirely out of roots and vines. Her short dark hair was covered by long green, flowering vines that almost reached her waist. \"I'll just have to go push them down.\"\n\nAt school, Cadence was in the middle of P.E.. She jogged along, alone, around the large track that circled the school. She rounded the furthest spot from the school ready to head back when she heard familiar laughter. The path ran near the edge of a forest. The school grounds were once enclosed by a fence, but over time kids picked at the fence until it was no longer a solid border. Cadence turned toward the laughter and found a trio of girls. They stood at the edge of the forest on the other side of a hole in the fence.\n\n\"Hey, Cadie,\" the tall one in the middle said; she flashed a sinister grin. \"We've been waiting for you.\" She took a menacing step toward Cadence, but she tripped. The tall girl fell face-first into the tall grass; Cadence did not hesitate. She saw her chance and bolted back to the school as soon as the girl fell forward. The two shorter girls tried to run after her, but they tripped also. Once they were on the ground, they had trouble getting back up.\n\nThe tall girl tried pushing herself up but vines sprouted out of the ground and slithered up her arms.\n\n\"Oh shit,\" the tall one said when she realized what was happening. \"It's Gaia!\" she told her two friends; they were being held down by vines also.\n\n\"That's right!\" Gale laughed as she walked out of the forest behind them. \"On your feet girls, we need to talk,\" she said. At her words, the vines moved like tentacles. Thin green vines turned the girls around on their backs. Then, they rose into the air and lifted them to a standing position while keeping them bound and gagged. \"I've heard that you're giving Cadence Stone a hard time,\" she said. Gale took a step toward them and pulled a stone dagger out from under her vine-clothes. She stood in front of the tall girl and held the dagger up for her to see clearly. \"Is that right?\" she asked. All three girls eagerly confessed with silent, energetic nods. Gale growled in frustration and slapped the leader with the back of her hand; then, the vines loosened enough to let her speak.\n\n\"What the hell, Gaia?\" she shouted at the villain. \"You told us to!\" Again, Gale slapped the teenager, then she lifted the knife to the girl's face; inches from her eye.\n\n\"I didn't tell you to bully her you idiots,\" she growled but the vines loosened around all three girls. \"I said, 'make her life HELL!'\" Gale grabbed the girl's hand and gave her the knife. \"Now go and STEP IT UP!\" \n\n \\\\\\\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is year two, story #291. You can find all my stories collected on my subreddit ([r/hugoverse](https://www.reddit.com/r/hugoverse/)) or my blog. If you're curious about my universe (the Hugoverse) you can visit the Guidebook to see what's what and who's who, or the Timeline to find the stories in order.", "Wolf had a spring in his step as he worked away in his penthouse's kitchen, wearing his ever so stylish Best ~~Dad~~ Super~~villia~~villain Dad apron, a gracious gift given to him by his only daughter. The little rascal had a knack for... peculiar gifts, but the apron was the one he liked the most, alongside Jimmy the pink, pet rock, of course. He was a much loved member of the family.\n\n\"I'd never seen a pink rock before,\" he repeated her words in his head. \"So I brought it home. It's our pet now, so you better take care of it.\"\n\nBecause in a world where people shoot lasers from their eyes, a pink rock is the most interesting thing out there. And to tell him* to take care of it? How... villainous. Kind of. Either way, proud fell short at describing how he felt.\n\nThank the maker that she didn't find those blue worms... ugh. Nasty critters. He shuddered and turned off the stove, turning the meat one last time and letting it sit there as he walked off to set the table. Just in time, Sam walked in, stepping loudly as she put her backpack on the floor and walked over to the dining room.\n\n\"Hey Pumpkin, dinner's just about done so why don't you-\" Wolf looked at her, a stoic — as stoic as a child could look — expression on her face and a pouty lip. \"What's wrong?\"\n\n\"Nothing,\" she mumbled. She dug in her pocket and held her palm up towards him, a little rock in the middle. \"I brought Jimmy a friend so he isn't alone. It's blue.\"\n\nHe smiled as he took the rock from her hand, putting it in his pocket. \"I'm sure he'll enjoy the company, but,\" he picked her up and sat her down on the table. \"I want to know what's up with you.\"\n\n\"Nothing.\"\n\n\"Do I need to bring out my lie-detector?\"\n\n\"No...\"\n\n\"Then tell me what's wrong, Sammy girl, or I can't do anything about it.\"\n\nShe avoided his eyes and spoke. \"The mean kids in my class were making fun of me again. They called me weird and said I was rock hunting.\"\n\nHe gave her a quizzical look. \"Rock hunting?\"\n\n\"That's what I said!\" she exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air and then crossing them across her chest. \"I'm not hunting them, I'm tam... taming?\" he nodded. \"Taming them!\"\n\nHe couldn't help himself from letting out a chuckle, but inside he felt as if someone was squeezing down on just where her daughter resided in his heart... which meant pretty much the whole thing. He dragged his hand across his forehead, upwards into his long hair, letting his fingers through it as he let out a sigh. This wasn't the first time he'd heard about those 'mean kids'. He thought being civil and speaking to the parents would do something, but as any good villain — and father — he had a contingency plan.\n\nAnd it was time to act.\n\nSam smiled excitedly as he put the collar of his shirt upwards. \"You're going to do something cool!\"\n\n\"Not me, Pumpkin. This time, you'll be the cool one.\"\n\n\\-----\n\n\"So, Mr. Frye, we called you here because your daughter brought a... pet spider into class,\" the teacher in charge of Sam's class informed him. \"And terrorized some of the children.\"\n\nWolf gasped, putting a hand to his chest. \"Terrorized?! Are you implying my sweet, innocent daughter did this on purpose?\"\n\n\"Well, she did laugh obnoxiously as the kids-\"\n\nHe stood up dramatically, putting his hands on the desk. \"Obnoxiously?! I'll let you know that is my laugh you're talking about, she took it from me, so watch your tongue. I also won't stand here and let you speak like that of my daughter, much less with her right next to me. This is slander!\"\n\n\"Mr. Frye, please, calm down. I'm not implying anything of the like,\" Wolf sat down slowly, staring at him with fire in his eyes. \"My bad. We do understand kids once in a while like to bring their pets to class and show them off, but this wasn't one of those days. I don't think we even allow spiders.\"\n\n\"Is this a joke?\" Wolf asked, faking indignation. \"Do you think of me an idiot?\"\n\n\"Not at all, sir. If you'd just give me a second to pull up the event calendar of the school, they aren't allowed and it's not until next month that we have a...\" the teacher stared at his screen and gave the mouse a few clicks. \"Huh.\"\n\n\"What?\" he asked sharply.\n\n\"That's... weird. My deepest apologies, Mr. Frye. And to you too, Sam. It seems like they must have changed the date and not really told anyone,\" he scratched his head as he stared at the screen. \"Today is bring your pet to class day and they just started accepting spiders and other insects as pets, too. I'm really sorry about this, I... I'm beyond embarrassed.\"\n\n\"Of course they accept them,\" Wolf straightened his tie. I wrote that in myself. \"Now my little girl here told me some mean children tried to take the spider from her and kill it, so I'd appreciate it if you could speak some sense into them, or I'll be finding a new school for my daughter and you'll be the one explaining to the director where all my donations went to.\"\n\n\"O-Of course, sir,\" the teacher stood up and led them out of his office, apologizing deeply.\n\nOnce they were far enough from the office, the two looked at each other with triumphant smiles. Wolf pulled out his hand from his pocket and turned it into a fist, which she bumped excitedly, not before giving him the biggest hug she could muster.\n\n>!If only the greatest heroine was still around to see her child turn into a villain.!<\n\n\\_\\_\\_\n\nI was a bit distracted while making this and had to do something so I apologize if anything is out of place or just... wrong, I guess. Hope it was a nice little read to someone tho!", "Melissa sighed.\n\n\"Honey, you can't resort to disintegrating everyone. That's just not the way the world works.\"\n\n\"I know, dear, but did you see the shape she was in when she got home? I simply can't stand for it,\" I said, adjusting the focus on my holdout WNFR.\n\n\"You can't always be Dr. Terror, blasting aside good guys and fighting with Captain Supro! I mean, they colored on her backpack. They're kids, honey! Kids do stupid things!\"\n\n\"Not for long,\" I growled. \"I will burn down this child garden and salt the earth so that no child will ever grow there again!\" I stood up and began walking to the door, but Melissa stood in the doorway, arms folded, and I instantly knew this was a fight I would never win.\n\n\"Kevin, we agreed to this when we decided to settle down. No more torture, no more weapons of mass destruction, and no hurting kids.\"\n\nI tossed the WNFR ray gun onto the couch and threw my arms up in the air. \"Then what do you want me to do, Mel?\"\n\nShe walked into our home office and sat down at my supercomputer, which was currently working on overriding military control of key satellites.\n\n\"Wait- don't-\" I protested as she closed the open windows. I sighed. \"Never mind.\"\n\nShe punched in a few commands. \"For Christ's sake, Kevin, why can't you use a normal computer? Where's the internet?\"\n\n\"It's right- no, you skipped over it- Okay, just type in the commands 'launch' and be very careful to not add 'missile' \n after that-\"\n\n\"Forget it.\" She cleared off some desk space, nearly knocking my quantum influencer off rotation before setting her laptop down next to it.\n\nShe muttered quietly as she typed. \"Double u double u double u.... wbr school corp... dot k twelve...\" She pulled up the school's webpage and found the principal's email address.\n\n\"You're going to sit down and write a calm and politely worded email to the principal and we'll sort this out like adults.\" She stood up and spun the chair in my direction. \"Get going. I need to start dinner.\"\n\nI sat, grumbling to myself. \"How do you use a keyboard with only 100 keys?\"\n\nShe ignored me. \"Don't you dare send that without lettting me look at it first!\" she warned, looking back over her shoulder. \n\n***\n\nAfter an hour of pained writing and a lovely dinner of chicken parmesan with some green beans on the side, we sat down at the computer.\n\n\"This actually isn't half bad,\" she admitted.\n\n\"Always the tone of surprise.\"\n\n\"Don't get too cocky. Let me just remove this reference to genocide, the two threats of nuclear annhilation, and most of the veiled threats... Alright, this looks good.\" She clicked send before standing up and giving me a peck on the lips.\n\n\"Thank you for doing this the normal way.\"\n\n\"It's... ah... I'm just lucky to have you,\" I said, abashed.\n\n\"Now let's have some ice cream. Carla, dear, what flavor would you like?\" she called into the living room where our little angel was contentedly watching cartoons.\n\n*\n\nThe principal set up a meeting for the following day after school ended. Melissa and I finally got underway after she rejected my first two outfits, which she deemed \"way too militant\" and \"holyshitthat'ssomuchbloodyouarenotwearingthatinpublic\", which I thought was a bit unreasonable, but eventually I settled for a button down shirt and nice pair of khakis.\n\nWe climbed into her eco friendly Prius, again against my wish to take my armed and armored Rolls, but she seemed sure that heat seeking rockets would not be necessary.\n\nWe waited silently just outside the parking lot as the dirty yellow school buses filed out, carrying loads of screaming children with them. Finally, the convoy had completely departed and we were able to pull into a spot.\n\nMelissa put the car into park, but the doors remained locked as I tried to get out. \n\n\"What's this about?\" I asked.\n\nShe simply held out her hand.\n\n\"Fine,\" I sighed, placing the small WNFR disintegration ray in her hand. She dropped it into the center console, and before I could even move for the handle, she cleared her throat.\n\n\"And the other ones?\"\n\nSix knives and a small hatchet later, she decided that we could head in.\n\nCarla sat quietly on a bench outside the office, swinging her legs back and forth. She jumped up and squealed when she saw us. After we finally calmed her down, we walked into the office. The secretary greeted us cordially.\n\n\"Mr. and Mrs. Kilroy? Timmy's parents are already here. Go on in! First door to the left. \n\n***\n\nThe meeting went surprisingly well. I jumped when we first walked into the office and nearly pulled out one of the WNFR disintegrators that Melissa hadn't found, but Timmy's parents were surprisingly pleasant, and we were able to come to an agreement quickly.\n\nTimmy's father pulled me to the side afterwards as our wives laughed about something and walked off with the kids.\n\n\"Look, I'm sorry about this. I know it's sort of weird, but...\"\n\n\"It's fine. No worries. Timmy seems like a good kid. We were all young once,\" I chuckled, thinking of some of my own childhood antics.\n\nHe laughed with me. \"Anyway, you know how it is. Boys are always pulling the pigtails of the girls they have a crush on. Wouldn't that be something?\" He laughed even harder at the expression on my face.\n\n\"Man, that would be something,\" he repeated. \"Anyway, I'll see you around, Dr. Terror!\" he said cheerfully, walking away.\n\n\"Goodbye, Captain,\" I [said](https://www.reddit.com/r/mpqeg/).", "They would all suffer. There was no question about that. The only question was how, and how much.\n\nJeffrey Harris (known by governments around the world as “The Anarchist”) was having a pretty solid day overall before Ella came home. The night before, one of his underlings informed him that the plan to sink the Chinese government was well underway. He had reviewed the plans before dropping Ella off at kindergarten, and returned home for a well-deserved nap.\n\nJeffrey began as just a humble software engineer, but his first job was working for the U.S. Defense Department. The firewalls were unexpectedly easy to break through from the inside, and as long as Jeffrey did his real job for six hours a day he could learn government secrets for the other two.\n\nThe more he learned, the more he wanted to tear it to the ground. He started small: viruses in the drone programming packages to make them unable to fire. Then he decided that maybe rendering the drones useless wasn’t the way to go. Maybe they just needed different targets.\n\nThat was 15 years and 23 deposed governments ago.\n\nBut now he was facing his biggest crisis yet.\n\nThe school bus stopped at the base of the driveway for his cliffside mansion, and Ella sprinted the whole way to the front door. Jeffrey was just waking up when he heard the doorbell.\n\nHis little princess was in tears when he opened the door.\n\n“Oh no Ella baby, what’s wrong?”\n\nShe stopped crying for just long enough to take a gigantic breath, and spit it all out at once: “Peter and Jessie told me that you were a super-meanie, and I said no you weren’t, but they said yes you were and now Jessie won’t invite me to her birthday party and she’s having ponies at her birthday party and I wanna play with the ponies!”\n\n“Well that’s not nice of them at all,” he said, hiding his rage behind a blank expression. “They don’t even know me!”\n\nElla looked at him for a moment, with just enough of a tilt to her head that Jeffrey felt an icy chill in his stomach. He wondered now, as he often did, just how much Ella knew about what he did after she went to bed.\n\n“Daddy, are you a super-meanie?”\n\nShe was no longer crying, but Jeffrey could still see the tears brimming on the corners of her eyes.\n\n“Of course not, sweetheart. Daddy has a dangerous job, but he works very hard to make the world a better place.”\n\nShe nodded and looked down for a moment, thinking about something.\n\n“Do you know what I think we should do with the meanies, Daddy?”\n\nJeffrey hesitated, just enough for her to notice. Just enough to take in the grin tugging at the corners of her lips.\n\n“I think we should take their favorite dinner, and...and...and put yucky juice all over it!”\n\nShe smiled for real then, clearly pleased with herself.\n\n“Yeah, let’s go make some yucky juice right now!”\n\nShe laughed and clapped her hands and ran off to the kitchen, sadness forgotten.\n\n_That rules out poison,_ he thought to himself. He couldn’t take them out that way or Ella might figure it out.\n\nHe ambled over to the kitchen, thinking of vinegar and mayonnaise and other things that could be combined into yucky juice.\n\nJeffrey knew Peter’s mother. She had been an asset once, so he couldn’t burn her or her son too badly. Jessie, on the other hand...\n\nIt would be really sad if one of those ponies broke a leg with precious little Jessica in the saddle, wouldn’t it? And she would have to watch the animal get put down right in front of her, on her birthday.\n\nJeffrey smiled to himself as Ella ran around gathering spices, condiments, and sodas. Plans of death and destruction could wait. It was time for some yucky juice.\n\n __________________\nIf you liked this, check out my subreddit! r/NicodemusLux" ]	6
	[WP] 5 months ago you were kidnapped. Your kidnapper has a sick sense of humor, and as Halloween grows approaches, he tells you that you can write two words on two separate posters that he'll put up in the windows, along with his own Halloween decorations. This is your only chance.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Help Me\n\nThese were the words that first sprung into James' mind when he heard the deal. Although he had been stuck there for months, the hope that Mr. Face, as the young boy had taken to calling him, would slip kept him going. The country had all but forgotten the President's son, and the money he saw Mr. Face get every week at least partially went to keeping him satisfied. Almost immediately, however, the 10-year old realized it would just be taken as an attempt to be scary. \n\n\"So, what'll it be?\", the man asked, \"What are you gonna write in your last attempt to get out a here?\"\n\nCome In \n\nThat was the next logical phrase, but certain decorations could also make that seem like a generic decoration. \n\n\"I, I, I need to think for a bit. It's hard to think of something on the fly.\" He managed to stammer out amidst Mr. Face's angry aura.\n\n\"Can't allow that, I'm afraid. Gonna need to know now, or your last chances will slip away too.\" \n\n\"Great\" \n\nPhrases slipped through his mind, all seeming to fail, until something obvious came in. Something in season enough that no decorations could remove the chance of help, but also a phrase that would invite tons of people in, people who want to explore wherever his kidnapper hid him for thrills. A wide grin came onto his face.\n\n\"Wh-What's so funny?\" Mr. Face said, starting to worry the president's son had thought of a clever way to get out.\n\n\"I've decided on my phrase, as long as you promise to put it up,\" he said smugly.\n\n\"That I will do, as I'm a kidnapper of morals.\" He chuckled to himself at the irony of his words, remembering that such a young boy couldn't escape this last puzzle.\n\nAlthough Mr. Face seemed to calm down, James still couldn't wait for Halloween. After all, who doesn't love a...\n\nHaunted House.\n\n\nThis is my first post here, so any feedback would be appreciated for next time! (Also, I'm on mobile, so I apologize for any formatting errors.)" ]	2
	[WP] Hell suddenly freezes over. The fire burned out and now all the demons are freaking out	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "\"Luscious what the fuck?! I told you ice water isn't allowed down here! Now look at the fucking mess you caused.\" The elder demon screamed. I could practically feel the hatred wash over me, which was odd considering the lava falls of liquid hatred had frozen over with the rest of the place. \nI honestly didn't mean to cause any of this. I had been working my shift in the seventh ring when I heard one of my superiors yell something along the lines of \"-and people in hell what ice water!\" \nHow was I supposed to know that it was just a phrase?!\n\"Listen here, you sorry son of a bitch.\" The elder demon snarled, grabbing ahold of black and red pinstriped tie and pulling me forward. \"Here's what's going to happen, I'm going to kick your sorry ass out of my office, and I want you to contemplate your pitiful existence while you walk all the way to management on the first floor! Hopefully a couple years in the summonings will do ya some good.\" I stood rotted to the ground as he lit up a cigar and took a long drag. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to say. The summonings were the worst job you could get as a demon. You have to deal with humans who think calling on us while drunk at a sleepover is a fun thing to do, or people who just call for really petty reasons.\nI was suddenly brought back to reality when a cloud of smoke filled my vision. I looked up to see the glowing crimson eyes of my superior, \"Did I fucking stutter, Luscious? Get out!\"\nWith a swift kick I was on my way to management and I knew instantly that I had fucked up. All the heat had been sapped out if the caves, making the paths and walkways unbelievably dark. The lava falls had frozen mid stream, and some of the lesser demons were starting to get hypothermia. \nI kept walking until I felt my foot get caught on something. In an instant I was face first against the cold, hard ground. I look up and see the face of Hecate, my equivalent of a schoolyard bully. \n\"Heard about what happened, Lush. Looks like you really screwed the pooch this time.\" He laughed boisterously, the fiery red tips of his naturally jet black hair still standing out even in the darkness. \n\"Yeah yeah, I get it Hecate. I'm a screw up! I've been a mid tier demon for most of this eternity. I never get anything right. Hell, even you managed to pass me in rank and I'm fifty times your age!\"\nHe just stopped to stare at me before clicking his tongue \"You really are pathetic, Luscious. As long as you let others walk all over you, you'll never be anything other than a doormat.\" With that gem of advice he spread his leathery black wings and took off into the dark sky of the underworld.\nI picked myself up and kept walking forward. I couldn't get Hecate's words out of my head. Maybe I really am a doormat. Maybe I'm not going anywhere. I didn't get a chance to really ponder this, however, as soon enough I was standing in front of management. At the door was an old looking banshee. She looked at me and smiled not unlike the way an old cellar door slowly creaks open after years of abandonment. \n\"Ah young Luscious, I've been expecting you.\" She motioned for me to follow her and reluctantly, I complied. Just before the great gates swung closed behind me, my final thoughts were directed solely on the home I just left behind.\n\"Good fucking riddance.\"" ]	2
	[WP] Lucifer, Satan, and the Devil hold a press conference to clarify to the world that they are all different people.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 looked up from my newspapers, the sharp clicking sound of my wife's Prada heels on the hardwood floor pulling my attention from the Daily Bugger. \n\n\nThe Roomba of Doomba circled her 3 times, almost warily. She patted it, and it went back to zipping around the carpet at the fireplace. \n\n\"All ready for the press conference, honey?\" I gave her a warm smile. \n\n\"I made a special breakfast for you, bacon and grilled shrimp!\"\n\nShe gave me the warmest smile. It felt like a thousand suns. Were I not also immortal and invulnerable, I would have perished (and respawned) then. \n\n\"Yup. Mom and Dad will be there too. People just keep confusing us three as the same person!\"", "They made an odd trio.\n\nA sharply-dressed man, with flowing platinum-blonde hair, seemed to be bathing in the camera-flash, giving the crowd smiles with perfectly chiseled incisors fully visible and porcelain white.\n\nA muscular, equine, half-beast with a thick red mane that wrapped around his body like a scarf, who smoldered in the dark corner of the press hall.\n\nBehind both of them, the serpent, who had coiled into a compact and unassuming black-glossy tire, yet every now and then flicked its head up, ocher eyes flashing menacingly at the podium.\n\nThree stewards of Hell, with three vastly different roles. Humans had so long assumed that they were one and the same, and they were there to... clear the air, so to speak. Lucifer, the Devil, and Satan, long considered three facets of one indubitably evil force-- revealed to be three vastly different and often conflicting personalities.\n\nLucifer, bronzed, chiseled, silver hair flowing down like a waterfall, stepped up to the podium. If one looked closely, they could perhaps make out the silhouettes of wings that once were.\n\n\"Ahem, ahem. Silence, please.\" he threw each consonant out like poison darts, holding his hand up as he did so. The crowd immediately fell silent, some out of awe, others out of fear.\n\n\"Yes, I am Lucifer. No, not 'Lucy'. No, most definitely not, 'Cipher'. Bonsoir, mon ami, I am Lucifer.\"\n\nHe held out his hand, to bring attention to the Devil, who stood in the corner looking indignant.\n\n\"This equine beast is the Devil that you all know and love. If you want to sound intelligent, you can call him by his true name-- Samael.\"\n\nThe tire in the background sprung to life, head like a cobra rising slowly. About a thousand camera flashes later, Lucifer once again held up his hand to silence and immobilize his apt audience once more.\n\n\"This is Satan, the serpent of vice, sin, and temptation. Beware he that tempted the very first humans, no?\"\n\nThe three of them stood together, in front of the podium. Well, two of them stood, the other slithered and attempted to make itself look tall enough.\n\n\"Now..\" began Lucifer, \"We shall tell you all what we do.\"\n\nThe first voice was gravelly, morose, monotone.\n\n\"I, the Devil, take the souls of the damned down to Hell for eternal torture. Come as you are, and we will make you hollow, strip away everything that is of your very existence, and sculpt it down to a singular, primal, scream.\"\n\nThe second was scathing, dripping with an eloquent sort of sarcasm.\n\n\"I, Lucifer, am the King of Kings, the ruler of Hell. Everything that is and every will be shall fall into the pall of my being. For God's remnants return to his Son, and that is I. The son of God, the fallen King.\"\n\nThe third was barely understandable, as it was masked with an unearthly whisper, a snake-like hiss after every word.\n\n\"Satan. Guards Hell, that is I. None shall escape the bounds of their torture, as long as I continue to slither. As long as I continue to feed and fester the growing wound that is sin within the hearts of man, they shall never escape.\"\n\nLucifer raised his hands, and there were loud screams, laughs, guffaws, chicken noises, and dry heaves as the immobilized mortals were able to move and comprehend again.\n\n\"Any questions?\" they asked, in unison.\n\n\\-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nr/bluelizardK" ]	3
	[WP] Your an IRS agent who is auditing a wizard who has a long history of spending that you can't make sense of.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Reality+Fiction\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A\$Simple+Prompt\$&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 wizard seemed slightly annoyed by my imposition at first, but soon seemed to forget about me entirely. Now he was back to his work at the table in the far corner of the room. Though the room was quite spacious, he was confined to a small fraction of it by enormous stacks of books and parchment. The room had a heavy, musty smell and the only window was inaccessible behind a tower of leather bound tomes. \n\n\n\"I'm sorry to disturb you, Master,\" I began, but he waved his hand over his shoulder to silence me.\n\n\n\"Call me Jerodthangendelion. Only my apprentices call me Master.\"\n\n\n\"Jerod-thangen-delion\", I continued hesitantly, \"there are a few notes in your ledger the Mage's Guild asked me to clarify. For the last ten years you have spend a significant sum purchasing material components from an outside vendor instead of using Guild stores. This has caused some major cost overruns in your department!\"\n\n\n\"Come here, young girl.\" He commanded. I'm fifty-seven, but I decided not to raise the point and walked over. He gestured to two flasks on the table in front of him. One held a fresh flower, the other some dessicated leaves and stems. \"Guess which one comes from Guild stores, eh? If my work is to progress, I need proper components!\"\n\n\n\"Yes, about that.\" I continued, eager for this segue into the real reason for my visit. \"The Guild Masters are uncertain as to what, well, what you are actually trying to do.\" I tried to be as diplomatic as possible, as the vision of the Archmaster's angry red face was still painfully clear.\n\n\n\"It's quite simple. I'm quite tired of the sound utensils make! Screeching and schritching around on plates, such an internal racket! Mealtimes are a nightmare.\" He kept on for some time, babbling about the creation of sound deadening forks and plates. I shook my head sadly. This poor old wizard would doubtless be the next victim of the budgetary chopping block. These old fellows tended towards unhealthy fixations late in their lives. He was still rambling as I returned from my reverie. \"and I'm quite certain that a breakthrough is close, if I can solve this gold problem!\"\n\n\n\"Gold problem?\" I asked. \"You need more?\"\n\n\n\"Heavens no, child! Less! My spell has turned every fork gold for five years. A most annoying side effect. I've thrown hundreds away.\" He opened the cabinet above him. Every shelf was stacked to the brink with golden forks, knives, and plates. I closed the account ledger slowly.\n\n\n\"Master Jerodthangendelion, I think that answers all my questions. Would you consider requesting my assistance from the budgetary office, long term? I think I could remove some of these minor distractions from your calendar and see to it you can focus on your research.\"" ]	2
	[WP] 1 year ago, 'The Order' took over the world, but the thing is: nothing has seemed to change; you want to know what 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/js5XDFB)\n\nI am a bot, and 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 the anniversary. Good or bad doesn't really matter anymore. This group...no Order announced to the world that we are disciples and that our time has come. That was it. Our time has come and this Order now rules over us. Everyday people like you and me just live life like we used to though. I wake up, go to work, come home, play with my kids, cuddle with my wife, maybe watch a show or something and then pass out. It's not an exciting routine, but it's kept me and my family happy enough. This day though has been just itching in the back of my brain. What happened? What changed? Who is The Order? None of it made sense. They acted like we were supposed to worship something or someone or somehow change our lives. Nobody did as far as I know. The Order has shown their faces so it's not like they are some entity or some prank put on by the folks associated with the Anonymous hacker group. No each country in the world has what is called \"The Common Interest\" which is a small group of people that have led. There was no resistance from government figures, nothing from religious leaders, nothing. Why? None of this made sense.\n\nAbout 2 weeks ago a friend of mine that lived down the street was working and then got news that his company was closing. It was a manufacturing company that he had worked his way up and after 14 years worked in the Q&A department of the office. Business seemed to be going well, and he never expressed concern about his job. He walked out though with all of his belongings and walked in the door. He didn't have kids, wanted them but it just never worked out. Shame to because he would have been an awesome dad. His wife though must have said some harsh things when he got home that day because the next thing I knew \"murder suicide\" was all over the news. My friend killed his wife and then himself with what everyone believed was a tool taken from his ex employer. It wasn't jagged, it wasn't pointed. It just had a faint glow, kind of like it was glow in the dark and had just sucked in enough light to emit a slight glow. The glow was a hue of dark blue or purple maybe. I don't know, I just saw what was on the news as police were taking it away from the scene. There wasn't a funeral, friends and family were sent a letter stating that it was in their will that there was no public funeral and no family was invited. Weird, but I respect their wishes. Just yesterday though there were reports of various gas leaks throughout the county. Several houses had gone up in a fiery blast raining debris on all the neighbors. Coincidentally my friends house was one of them. A crater was left where his house with water spraying up and little bits of wood scattered about. I stood there in awe. What is going on?\n\nToday has been just strange. As a population we were never told to not contact The Order. We were never told to not question what was going on. Hell they had a website that provided some useful information like stocks, various trades to other countries, even accomplishments in science. They also had a Contact Us link. I clicked it and a box pops up on my screen. \"By contacting us you accept our Terms and Conditions\". There was no link for the Terms and Conditions so I backed out and right below the Contact Us link it was there. I right clicked it and opened it in another window. Nobody reads these things, but this wasn't some ordinary thing. This was The Order...our supposed rulers. May as well find out what they are making me agree to right? I waiting for the window to load. Waited. Waited. I don't have slow internet but Jesus this was bad. Roughly 5 minutes passed and it began to slowly show some text. By slowly I mean like dial up internet slow when you try to sneak your first peek at a naked lady. It just slowly chops away at the blank screen and then BAM the nudity is there! Well that's what this was like. I started reading and it seemed like typical lawyer talk or whatever is used for these types of sites. About halfway through the page though I caught 3 words in capital letters. We Are Rulers. At that point my breath got a bit faster and said screw it. \n\nI clicked the box and was taken to the typical \"form\" to fill out for these Contact Us links. Name, email, phone number, best time to contact were all there. Then just a yes or no drop down box. Do you accept us? I felt like no wasn't an option so I clicked on yes and wrote a short message: Hello. I just wanted to know what exactly you guys are doing. I don't mean to offend, but nothing has really changed since your \"takeover\". \n\nI couldn't write anymore like I had reached the max number of characters or something. Couldn't delete anything either and my cursor stayed on the submit button. Click. \n\nI sent that at 10:53 am and it is now 11:12. I have received an email that just simply said: Thank you for contacting us. We are happy to inform you that all is well and that our rule over you is simplistic in all ways. If you wish to know more about what you can do as both a citizen and important servant please respond to this email. \n\nAll I responded with was \"Yes I would like to know more\".\n\nAt 11:46 I received another email with a link to a video and a message saying: In this video are both answers and questions. We ask you to keep an open mind. Do NOT open this video if you are not prepared for what you will see. That is all. Have a pleasant day and we thank you for contacting The Order.\n\nAs of now I have not opened the video. My hands shake so bad as soon as I move the cursor to the link that I don't know if I could even accurately click on it right now." ]	2

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