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[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	Day 1, First period. Frank was sitting in a classroom. It was a bit conspicuous, a 30 year old man sitting in between a bunch of 15 year old boys and girls. "Well done Clara, I can see you have been practicing over the summer holiday," the teacher, Mr. Goodspell, praised her. "Good technique, fine spell work, good wand movement. Take a seat please. Mr. Abernathy can you show us what you can do? You have lighted a candle before?" "Errr... Not exactly," Frank replied. "I know a bit of fire magic. There is this one spell I learned that..." "Just the candle spell, please. Stand here, aim your wand at the candle and cast." "I don't like using the wand, sir." "Mr. Abernathy, I explained you need the wand to focus and amplify your abilities. Wild magic will not be tolerated. Now please cast your spell." Frank held the wand with both hands like he was firing a shotgun from the hip. The rest of the class was tittering. It distracted Frank and as his concentration lapsed a bit, the tiny trickle of power he tried to squeeze out became his usual flood as his control over manna loosened a bit. Not that he noticed it with his vast reserves. His newly acquired classmates on the other hand jumped back as ungodly bright beam of energy launched from his wand towards the rack of candles and right through it. Hot pieces of wax, propelled by vaporizing parts of wax and steam flew through the room and pinged against the nuclear war grade shield spell Frank habitually used, protecting most of the class. When the spell ended and everybody came out of hiding behind their desks, they just stared at the red glowing wall that still dripped with half melted lava. "I lighted the wall, sir. Does that count?" "OUT! Class Dismissed." Day 1, Second period. The students tried to move their now very heavy golden chairs away from the golden desk, scraping over the golden floorboards. "I asked you to transfigure the flower, Mr. Abernathy. Not the rest of the class. Please undo this." "Sorry, Ma'am. I only know how to turn things to gold. And the wand, you see, it gives it a bit too much oomph." "You really have to learn to focus that wild magic of yours." Day 1, Third period. Students were flying away on their broom at high speed in a panic as the very large dragon chased them. As the dragon puffed fire, they students increased their speed. "MR. ABERNATHY GET DOWN HERE" the teacher for flying lessons boomed, using the amplifying charm. Several seconds later, the dragon dropped heavily on the ground. The shock wave lifted the teacher of the ground for a moment, but she stayed perfectly upright and landed lightly. "The broom please." As the dragon opened its front paw, a broom was visible, looking like a toothpick in its huge paw. The dragon dropped the broom in front of the teacher. "You are to fly on the broom, not carry it." In a very deep booming voice, with green and blue flames wafting around its maw the dragon responded: "SORRY I PANICKED FOR A MOMENT." Internally the teacher face palmed herself silly, but remained stoically on the outside. "From the top. What are the three rules of flying?"	I walk down the street, the same street I've walked down about 100 other times. I mess with lights a bit and laugh at the reactions of commoners as they get confused. I move around their stuff with a quick flick of the wrist, I silently giggle to myself as they try to find out what's going on. Something catches my eye as I walk. I've walked down this street so many times and know where everything is, but this was something new. No one else glanced over at it. People made strange faces at me as I stared at it. Almost as if they couldn't see it. I read over at the paper. It had a picture of a wizard on the paper. At a second glance I realized that the picture was of me in different clothes. There were words written at the bottom. New Mageton Academy. Accepting new wizards now. Could this be what I was looking for all this time? I had finally found somewhere for people like me. I glanced over my shoulder. A kind looking girl was staring at the paper as well. "You see it too?" I asked. She looked startled at the question. "Can other people not?" She questioned. I thought about what she said and remembered when I had first discovered my powers. It occurred to me that she had not yet known about her powers. I put on a soft smile. "If you want I can teach you about this all. I think you'd make a great mage." She looked confused. I could tell she somewhat believed me though. 4 years later. I wake up in bed next to my wife. I recall the time when we met 4 years ago. She had become such a great mage it seemed like she had known it all her life.
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	"All right," said the headmaster, sounding bored. Lorinna wasn't bored. She knew what she needed to do. She just wasn't sure it would be enough. She got up, nervously brushed her cloak, and stepped forward. The headmaster waved to the range. "Try to destroy the target," he said wearily. Lorinna looked at the target. It was a mockery of a human, like the straw men that were put out in fields to keep the birds away. She could do this She would do this. She might only know one spell, but she could make it work. She dropped to place both hands against the ground and shoved her power. It raced towards the target (creating a perfectly plowed furrow) and when it reached the target slashes came out of the ground slicing it to ribbons before a light burst utterly destroyed it. She looked away from the destroyed target and at the now astonished face of the headmaster. A quick glance around showed that the other candidates were also staring at her and she looked at the ground. She didn't like being stared at; it made her want to hide. "Where did you learn that spell?" demanded the headmaster. Her cheeks burned with shame. If she'd had anyone to teach her, would she be here? "I--I made it," she confessed. "You made that?" demanded the headmaster. "Well sir," she said softly, "I have to work the fields at home, and there are big rocks that fall from the mountains."	I walk down the street, the same street I've walked down about 100 other times. I mess with lights a bit and laugh at the reactions of commoners as they get confused. I move around their stuff with a quick flick of the wrist, I silently giggle to myself as they try to find out what's going on. Something catches my eye as I walk. I've walked down this street so many times and know where everything is, but this was something new. No one else glanced over at it. People made strange faces at me as I stared at it. Almost as if they couldn't see it. I read over at the paper. It had a picture of a wizard on the paper. At a second glance I realized that the picture was of me in different clothes. There were words written at the bottom. New Mageton Academy. Accepting new wizards now. Could this be what I was looking for all this time? I had finally found somewhere for people like me. I glanced over my shoulder. A kind looking girl was staring at the paper as well. "You see it too?" I asked. She looked startled at the question. "Can other people not?" She questioned. I thought about what she said and remembered when I had first discovered my powers. It occurred to me that she had not yet known about her powers. I put on a soft smile. "If you want I can teach you about this all. I think you'd make a great mage." She looked confused. I could tell she somewhat believed me though. 4 years later. I wake up in bed next to my wife. I recall the time when we met 4 years ago. She had become such a great mage it seemed like she had known it all her life.
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	"Show us what you can do, then." “Fine,” I snapped. So they didn’t believe me when I said I was one of the most powerful mages in the world. They’d set me the task of performing silly little spells, of the sort I had no idea how to do and had no use for. Things that had no power. Things that any self-righteous powerful mage would delegate to lesser magicians. Housework spells, spells for smelling weather, spells for conjuring flimsy illusions … Pffft. I mentally shook myself and got ready. As a powerful mage, intent and clarity of mind mattered. Distraction would do me no favours, especially not here, in front of these weak academic wizards. Slowly I drew the power into my body, the familiar feeling singing through my bones and muscles. I shifted my weight, drew back my fist which was wreathed in magic, shaped into a point … and drove it into the tree trunk. The tree didn’t just split, it exploded. The wizards screamed and ducked, throwing up deflective shields as the shards flew past. I, of course, did not duck. I stood proud, as the sharp wood pieces failed to penetrate my body thanks to the coat of power I had applied. “Have I demonstrated my power?” I said to the academics as I brushed the debris off my shoulders. They only gaped at the wreckage of the tree, heedless of the leaves now getting entangled in their hair. The headmaster was the first to recover. “Errr … that was impressive, I admit. But can you do anything else?” I raised an eyebrow. “Fine,” I said again. I redirected most of the power to my legs, crouched … and jumped. Higher and higher I rose into the air. Up, up. Past the tallest spire of the academic institution. For a moment I was weightless. Then I was falling. Falling! This never failed to thrill me, no matter how many times I did it. I refocused my power to be that of a softer, more absorptive nature, readying myself for the landing – #BOOOOM As the dust cleared, I looked up from the kneeling position I crouched in. Around me was an earthen wall, curving upwards and rimmed by a perfectly circular edge. For a few moments I waited for heads to start peeking over the edge, but none came. As I climbed out of the crater, I saw the pitiable fools still trying to recover from the awesome display of my power. Many had fallen to the ground; I saw one or two trying to pick themselves up. Others were just tottering around. I looked at the building of the school some distance away; many of the ground-floor windows had shattered. “Er – I can pay for the windows?” I offered. The wizards stared at me. Then they started pulling out their wands, staffs, spellbooks – Attack! They were attacking me! The cowardly wizards were shooting spells at me. I threw up a wall of power, blocking the spells, and pushed out most of the rest of my power in a diffuse globe around me, including inside the ground. I left just enough power as a thin coating on my body. I watched them, these wizards, as they tried to batter down my wall. Yawn. I could do this all day if I had to. I did so once when I brought down the Terror of Woodheim, a dark mage who’d preyed on the poor innocent villagers with his dark spells. Until he’d tired himself out on me and I put him out with a punch. There! My head whipped around as one wizard teleported behind me, hoping to catch me out. “Not so fast,” I muttered, as I clicked my fingers. The pocket of diffuse haze of power around the poor sucker solidified, becoming a barrier as immutable as my first main wall, trapping him. He could not send any spells because number one, he couldn’t speak as his jaw was clamped shut, number two, any spell he’d pull off would go nowhere except his own body as the barrier pressed against his clothes and skin, and number three, he couldn’t move. Another wizard got the bright idea to use a digging spell and catch me underneath my feet, but that didn’t work, either. I left him trapped underneath the soil and focused on my wall. It pushed outward, towards the remaining gaggle of wizards. “Time to end this,” I said. The wall curved inwards, sweeping up the sorry gaggle of wizards and throwing them against one another into a spherical prison. The barrage of spells immediately stopped as these dunces had enough sense to not damage one another through friendly fire. Pity. “Well, I came here to see if I could learn something,” I declared, looking up at them inside the globe I was floating several metres above the ground. They stared back. “Apparently not. I’d heard that this school was the best one for miles around. I suppose I’ll go look for another school …” Suddenly withdrawing my power into myself, the sphere disappeared, sending the screaming wizards tumbling back to earth. I leapt up, and fashioning my power into two planes like wings to either side of my torso, flew away.	Edit: My first language is not English so brace thou selves. The bell ring and finally all I have left was to present the un-healed blue lizard to the Hig-Elf teacher in the front seat. “That was the bell little ones, the instructions for todays period are over, verily. As always please put thou projects back the ricolla-basket and allow thou steps to come home again, we shall see each other in the next sun.”-She call fully of patience and joy between her 2 long ear. Her fully solid of a single green color making impossible to confirm that she was looking at me at the moment. Despite that, I still could feel her over me. The little children that didn’t really have even half my age, walk along the illuminated path in the floor and past beyond the curtains that separate this classroom pocket dimension from the main building of white stones. I know that for the next class, invocation, I was more than prepare for any sufficiency test in the end of the year. I didn´t fear Mr. Arrav-Na. I didn’t fear Nerta the Dragon Queen. I didn’t even fear THE END. And yet… I feel my heart rush as Mrs Toka stood right next to me, With her big pointy traditional hat and her pinky skin, she was astonishing beautiful and a testimony of her birth from a powerful magical family, form a powerful magical people. In all truth, a magical creature, that will not fall soon to the eternal slumber. Not like this fragile old body of mine… “…May thou hearth fred not Lord Tacha-ka, for if anything is easy in this world, hurting is easy and healing is not”-Chant the god Mrs. \-“It is not that I’m afraid of failing this year child, it’s just that it’s so difficult for me to be in here, learning magic like is some sort of game without consequence… Even a caged Dragon can forget how to fly once enough time has past. I never even got the change to learn how to fly in the first place…”-I explain to the elf behind a mask of security and reassurance that only accented my old face and sad eyes. \-“Lord Tacha-ka, you were a summoned slave from other worlds, bring only here to work the mines of the vile queen of dragons and her goons. When you and thou friend escaped the mines and end up in the cave of the True Description, it were the Lords all mighty the guided thou to becoming a powerful fighter. Fighter’s fight, not they heal wounded.”-She begging to explain once again, trying to hold my black hand between her fingers. I quickly move away -“I could have been more if I only have waited a little longer, could actually save her… If I have only stayed a little bit more and actually know how to save a life instead of just being good at taking them.”-I answered, now not fully in the realm of reality. More alike floating in the sea of memory. \-“¡Please don’t say such things like that¡, my village was actually saved because its was thou and the mighty 4 that saved my mother and my mother’s mother that day. I wouldn’t bee in here without thou”-She cry explaining her story, a little bit of blue tears appearing in her eyes. \-“I only ever wanted to become the most strong mage in the world; I never truly became aware that a person, a mage can be so much more. I was unstoppable by any enemy, and yet I lost a family because my short sighting. I think it’s only fair that I die from old age, maybe my story could teach others in the future to take care of themselves as well as they take care of the equipment and clothes. I join the school of Dawn because healing magic was the specialty, and even I cannot learn the most basic spells that can actually save any one. Thank you child, but I think that I need some rest now, walking the halls of this beautiful place seem to be fit for a alien of half a century like me.” – I rise from the seat hearing my back cracking again as it had done since a decade prior. I smile at her. She looks so young, yet I bet she can be nearly my age, and she will still be in here long after the earth as reclaimed my body. How much the powerfull fall the queen once pray. It hurt to be one in mind with her… Then she grabs my hand. \-“Please lord Tacha-ka, I beg thou, calm thy step and listen to me. I have teach many children in this school, but I think I have make a mistake trying to teach you from the bottom. You need another approach, but It’s not impossible. Not more difficult than to save the real of Tryria from the dragon Queen. Thou think that you have lost your family, but thou has gain so much more. I will not succed this encounter yet. I will teach you personally, not a grave but a full new beginning. Please Lord Tacha-ka. Don’t give up on this friendship yet, as I have never lost faith in thou” I smile at her –“Then Pray tell, young master of life”
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	It was casting class. Super easy, or so everyone else walking down the path to the shoreline said. I hadn't made any friends yet, and judging by the looks everyone kept giving me, I knew I wasn't going to change that any time soon. Everyone knew I was the only one in the entire school that didn't have to take the entry exam to get in, and I could tell they resented me for it. I know I'm special, but they just see a regular guy who took a spot that could have gone to someone more talented. &#x200B; Not just the students; outside of the high mage lord and a janitor, I couldn't find a soul on the entire campus that would willingly associate with me. Every single mentor in the school gave me boldfaced sneers when they saw me, and made sure to ask me the hardest questions. We're only two weeks in, how am I supposed to know how to conjure a second level djinn? As for my fellow student body? The upper class bullied me every chance they had (which was a lot, considering most teachers turned around when they saw it going on), the juniors followed the upper class, and my peers were just trying to fit in so they avoided me whenever possible. I at least had friends back home; here I was a pariah. My parents sent me here because I nearly destroyed our small town. And because I had potential, but mostly because of the black hole that sucked in half of the community. To be fair, I did return most of the people to this dimension, but they held a grudge. The subsequent earthquake I caused while trying to stop the aforementioned gravity well probably added to their ill will. &#x200B; Either way, here I am bumping into the student in front of me because I'm thinking of this, which grants me a swift kick in my shin. The mentor hears the commotion and turns IMMEDIATELY to me. "Since you want to create a commotion, maybe you should be the first to create a hydrosphere?" The mentor gestured with his skinny, jaundiced fingers to the ocean in front of us as he asked the question, then stepped back with the students and grinned his jaundiced teeth at me. It was clear I was getting no further instruction, so I stepped up to the waterline and began to concentrate. I sucked at the magic classes so far, but I was passing English with flying colors, so I knew I was supposed to be making a ball of water. &#x200B; Here's the thing though.... I have no clue what I'm supposed to be doing to get this water all balled up. My back home Black Hole? Total accident, happened because I was digging a literal hole to fill with cement (summer employment) and got distracted. I didn't do any hand wavy thing; I had nothing to channel magic power into. I breathed deeply and did my best Spirit Bomb pose (DBZ best anime ever magic battle me if you disagree) and tried to will every image of a ball into my brain. I thought of a basketball going straight through the net, I imagined fire hoses on full spray with no one manning them. I mentally watched 100,000 ice cubes melt in a time lapse on a YouView video ~~suck it copyright laws~~ and flow into a transparent watermelon. I dreamt up hot breath on my neck, telling me to move my worthless body out of the way so someone with talent could actually take this opportunity to learn something, instead of sleeping while standing. Wait wha- I open my eyes and turn to find the mentor right behind me. Now, hear me out. I. WAS. NOT. PREPARED. the sight of this man in his ragged cloak. The brief moistness of his mouth breath on my ear as I was turning. the faintest hint of homeless man, and not like I don't want to be homeless homeless. This was a whiff of comfort in despondence; a person who panhandles too fast to collect change because they know they're not worth the money. The blatant invasion of my personal space, and the fact that he was like a wizard ninja, because I did not hear him come up behind me. I say all of this to let you know when I jumped back and summoned The Lightning from the sky that touched down before I did, it was by mistake. &#x200B; To his credit, the mentor (I really should learn his name) saved his astonishment for later, and had immediately put up shield to defend himself. Can't say how he knew what to defend against when I didn't know I was throwing it, but hey; this is why he's the teacher and I'm the student right? Only his shield wasn't strong enough I guess because the lightning hit, rebounded into the sky, and redoubled its force and completely shattered the shield. I'm talking energy flecks flew everywhere. The Lightning had given up speed for its newfound strength, so it wasn't moving as quickly as it initially was. He switched from defense to not-really-offense, and summoned the sand at his feet (also gnarled and in need of a pedicure. He was wearing a pair of What Are THOSE? so i could tell) to act as some kind of conductor, and guided the lightning back up into the sky. It shook off the sand , then went for my classmates. Some of them created basic shields, which may have worked, considering the fact that they were overlapping each other. We never got to find out, because the sand beat the lightning and absorbed the blow, exploding into dust in the air. The Lightning went through an anthropomorphic phase, then stood in the air as a human shape with a sword and reared back, in ready mode but not attacking. &#x200B; Now, I'm watching this occur just like everyone else in the class, and for some reason everyone starts looking at me for this to stop. The mentor, who I'm going to call Frank the magician for clarity's sake, is breathing a little harder than he was before, and is glancing back and forth from the obvious enemy in front of him to me. "Would you bloody well do something to stop this?!!?" I look at him like he grew another face on his face that was even uglier than his original one. "I didn't really do this on purpose; not sure how to stop something I didn't know I could start. Maybe some instruction?" Frank the magician took enough time to give me his best idiotstudentwhyareyouhere glare, then created a phalanx shield out of the still whirling debris while speaking with a calmness that wasn't there a second ago. "This is what is known as a projection. It can be made of any natural element, and will serve your subconscious desires. Subconsciously, you want to kill me, so it is acting on your behalf." &#x200B; "Nah Frank, you got the wrong idea. I don't want to kill you!" There was an extremely uncomfortable silence that only grew when I realized I called Frank the magician by his given (to him by me) name. During that time, The Lightning seemed to look around at everyone, then put away his sword, shrunk to the height of my knee , and walked to stand at my side. Guess it was mine after all. &#x200B; Frank the magician got his breathing under control, then dispersed the shield . He slowly approached me, warily watching The Lightning. He came within a few feet and stopped. "You shall address me as High Caster Ieitherius. Next time your projection attacks, you must calm your will, and decide your intent. This will help with your control over it." "What do you mean next time?" At this point I'm confused again. "Doesn't it go away after a couple hours, like Ziyagra?" The disgust on his face was clear, but was mixed with a new look I had only seen in the faces of my friends back home. It's like when they believe in you, and can see you doing great things? I could see some of that in Ieieiei--Frank the magician's face. &#x200B; "You shall report to High Projectioner Thimaeus (that's Clark) for classes on control with the senior students. You cannot attend classes until you have mastered your relationship; that projection will stay with you for life, whichever one ends first. I will work out a schedule where you will take private lessons with the other mentors to continue your learning." "So wait, I'm not in trouble?" The Lightning looked up at me, then back to Frank the magician. "Your talent is apparent. As a mentor, I must teach you how to utilize your skill in a manner befitting a magician. Class is over," He said as he turned and walked back to the path leading to the campus.	Edit: My first language is not English so brace thou selves. The bell ring and finally all I have left was to present the un-healed blue lizard to the Hig-Elf teacher in the front seat. “That was the bell little ones, the instructions for todays period are over, verily. As always please put thou projects back the ricolla-basket and allow thou steps to come home again, we shall see each other in the next sun.”-She call fully of patience and joy between her 2 long ear. Her fully solid of a single green color making impossible to confirm that she was looking at me at the moment. Despite that, I still could feel her over me. The little children that didn’t really have even half my age, walk along the illuminated path in the floor and past beyond the curtains that separate this classroom pocket dimension from the main building of white stones. I know that for the next class, invocation, I was more than prepare for any sufficiency test in the end of the year. I didn´t fear Mr. Arrav-Na. I didn’t fear Nerta the Dragon Queen. I didn’t even fear THE END. And yet… I feel my heart rush as Mrs Toka stood right next to me, With her big pointy traditional hat and her pinky skin, she was astonishing beautiful and a testimony of her birth from a powerful magical family, form a powerful magical people. In all truth, a magical creature, that will not fall soon to the eternal slumber. Not like this fragile old body of mine… “…May thou hearth fred not Lord Tacha-ka, for if anything is easy in this world, hurting is easy and healing is not”-Chant the god Mrs. \-“It is not that I’m afraid of failing this year child, it’s just that it’s so difficult for me to be in here, learning magic like is some sort of game without consequence… Even a caged Dragon can forget how to fly once enough time has past. I never even got the change to learn how to fly in the first place…”-I explain to the elf behind a mask of security and reassurance that only accented my old face and sad eyes. \-“Lord Tacha-ka, you were a summoned slave from other worlds, bring only here to work the mines of the vile queen of dragons and her goons. When you and thou friend escaped the mines and end up in the cave of the True Description, it were the Lords all mighty the guided thou to becoming a powerful fighter. Fighter’s fight, not they heal wounded.”-She begging to explain once again, trying to hold my black hand between her fingers. I quickly move away -“I could have been more if I only have waited a little longer, could actually save her… If I have only stayed a little bit more and actually know how to save a life instead of just being good at taking them.”-I answered, now not fully in the realm of reality. More alike floating in the sea of memory. \-“¡Please don’t say such things like that¡, my village was actually saved because its was thou and the mighty 4 that saved my mother and my mother’s mother that day. I wouldn’t bee in here without thou”-She cry explaining her story, a little bit of blue tears appearing in her eyes. \-“I only ever wanted to become the most strong mage in the world; I never truly became aware that a person, a mage can be so much more. I was unstoppable by any enemy, and yet I lost a family because my short sighting. I think it’s only fair that I die from old age, maybe my story could teach others in the future to take care of themselves as well as they take care of the equipment and clothes. I join the school of Dawn because healing magic was the specialty, and even I cannot learn the most basic spells that can actually save any one. Thank you child, but I think that I need some rest now, walking the halls of this beautiful place seem to be fit for a alien of half a century like me.” – I rise from the seat hearing my back cracking again as it had done since a decade prior. I smile at her. She looks so young, yet I bet she can be nearly my age, and she will still be in here long after the earth as reclaimed my body. How much the powerfull fall the queen once pray. It hurt to be one in mind with her… Then she grabs my hand. \-“Please lord Tacha-ka, I beg thou, calm thy step and listen to me. I have teach many children in this school, but I think I have make a mistake trying to teach you from the bottom. You need another approach, but It’s not impossible. Not more difficult than to save the real of Tryria from the dragon Queen. Thou think that you have lost your family, but thou has gain so much more. I will not succed this encounter yet. I will teach you personally, not a grave but a full new beginning. Please Lord Tacha-ka. Don’t give up on this friendship yet, as I have never lost faith in thou” I smile at her –“Then Pray tell, young master of life”
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	"Powers the size of a Galaxy. Every spell a strategic nuclear weapon." That's me, in a nutshell. Sure, I can toast bread, for the entire country, every loaf, even when they're frozen — nice golden brown on every one. Ah, I see you remember. Sorry about that, I only wanted to toast my bread, and not all of that. If it weren't for the fact that I like people and toast, I could cast that spell all… day… long… I wouldn't even scratch the surface of my reserves. Now, I'd like you to imagine what would happen to the world we all live in, if some government got their hands on me, and found a way to coerce me. Do you want an entire country turned into burnt crunchy bits? It'll take me a map and two seconds. How do I know? I wanted to thaw some land for a friend. He was going to have to dig it up for an emergency pipe repair, using heavy equipment since the ground was too hard for hand tools. Based on the energy to bring the silica in the soil to a temperature where it wasn't quite liquid, but was still hot enough to fuse? Yeah. I did the math. Two seconds. Now he can use hand tools, and a shop vac, but he's going to need to re-sod his entire front lawn and replace the melted siding on that side of the house. It even made his windows sag. Good thing he had that infrared reflective coating. The radiance would have ignited his furniture. I can do the same damn thing to every country in the world, in less than half a day, without using more than half my mana. I'll be fully recharged in four hours. I need a way to control the amount of mana flowing into the spell. Two ways. Reduce the rate, or chop the time. I can't figure out how to reduce the rate, so I've focused on cutting the time as small as I can. It's not enough. "My Lady, I'm surprised you haven't blown the world to smithereens, or yourself for that matter." "Chancellor, who says I haven't? The world? Five times and brought it back so smoothly that no one even noticed. Myself? This is my 94,737th body. I did a lot of experiments." "Have you considered becoming a deity?" "My one attempt at creating life caused one of the world destruction events. I have to have control first. Not that I'd consider godhood anyway, worshipers are annoying… Oops… World destruction #1." "I'm not sure we can help, but I think we have to try." …—… "Who is that lady that all the instructors are so deferential to?" "Ms. Mana Pool." "What's she do?" "She powers this entire place. That chair she sits in allows her to channel her mana into the building and reservoirs of the University." "The whole school!?!" "Yes. You be polite and don't annoy her." "How much mana does she have?" "I don't know, but I heard she's turned down godhood at least 37 times." ((Finis))	Edit: My first language is not English so brace thou selves. The bell ring and finally all I have left was to present the un-healed blue lizard to the Hig-Elf teacher in the front seat. “That was the bell little ones, the instructions for todays period are over, verily. As always please put thou projects back the ricolla-basket and allow thou steps to come home again, we shall see each other in the next sun.”-She call fully of patience and joy between her 2 long ear. Her fully solid of a single green color making impossible to confirm that she was looking at me at the moment. Despite that, I still could feel her over me. The little children that didn’t really have even half my age, walk along the illuminated path in the floor and past beyond the curtains that separate this classroom pocket dimension from the main building of white stones. I know that for the next class, invocation, I was more than prepare for any sufficiency test in the end of the year. I didn´t fear Mr. Arrav-Na. I didn’t fear Nerta the Dragon Queen. I didn’t even fear THE END. And yet… I feel my heart rush as Mrs Toka stood right next to me, With her big pointy traditional hat and her pinky skin, she was astonishing beautiful and a testimony of her birth from a powerful magical family, form a powerful magical people. In all truth, a magical creature, that will not fall soon to the eternal slumber. Not like this fragile old body of mine… “…May thou hearth fred not Lord Tacha-ka, for if anything is easy in this world, hurting is easy and healing is not”-Chant the god Mrs. \-“It is not that I’m afraid of failing this year child, it’s just that it’s so difficult for me to be in here, learning magic like is some sort of game without consequence… Even a caged Dragon can forget how to fly once enough time has past. I never even got the change to learn how to fly in the first place…”-I explain to the elf behind a mask of security and reassurance that only accented my old face and sad eyes. \-“Lord Tacha-ka, you were a summoned slave from other worlds, bring only here to work the mines of the vile queen of dragons and her goons. When you and thou friend escaped the mines and end up in the cave of the True Description, it were the Lords all mighty the guided thou to becoming a powerful fighter. Fighter’s fight, not they heal wounded.”-She begging to explain once again, trying to hold my black hand between her fingers. I quickly move away -“I could have been more if I only have waited a little longer, could actually save her… If I have only stayed a little bit more and actually know how to save a life instead of just being good at taking them.”-I answered, now not fully in the realm of reality. More alike floating in the sea of memory. \-“¡Please don’t say such things like that¡, my village was actually saved because its was thou and the mighty 4 that saved my mother and my mother’s mother that day. I wouldn’t bee in here without thou”-She cry explaining her story, a little bit of blue tears appearing in her eyes. \-“I only ever wanted to become the most strong mage in the world; I never truly became aware that a person, a mage can be so much more. I was unstoppable by any enemy, and yet I lost a family because my short sighting. I think it’s only fair that I die from old age, maybe my story could teach others in the future to take care of themselves as well as they take care of the equipment and clothes. I join the school of Dawn because healing magic was the specialty, and even I cannot learn the most basic spells that can actually save any one. Thank you child, but I think that I need some rest now, walking the halls of this beautiful place seem to be fit for a alien of half a century like me.” – I rise from the seat hearing my back cracking again as it had done since a decade prior. I smile at her. She looks so young, yet I bet she can be nearly my age, and she will still be in here long after the earth as reclaimed my body. How much the powerfull fall the queen once pray. It hurt to be one in mind with her… Then she grabs my hand. \-“Please lord Tacha-ka, I beg thou, calm thy step and listen to me. I have teach many children in this school, but I think I have make a mistake trying to teach you from the bottom. You need another approach, but It’s not impossible. Not more difficult than to save the real of Tryria from the dragon Queen. Thou think that you have lost your family, but thou has gain so much more. I will not succed this encounter yet. I will teach you personally, not a grave but a full new beginning. Please Lord Tacha-ka. Don’t give up on this friendship yet, as I have never lost faith in thou” I smile at her –“Then Pray tell, young master of life”
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	The smoldering crater left every examiner stunned. A human teenager should not be capable of producing a fireball that big. Even prodigies, like Zanther, had to work their way up to a feat like that. The other examiners shared nervous glances with each other. They couldn't reach a decision. Up until the demonstration phase of the entrance exam, this girl had shown herself to be an incompetent mess. She didn't know the fundamental theorems of mana dispersal or a shred of history about the craft. Basic exercises like shaping and weaving made her look like a delusional brat. The other applicants actually laughed at her when she told them to stand back before casting her spell. They were all quiet now. This simply shouldn't be possible. Zanther kept staring at her. She looked so innocent. The examiners were still shocked at her strength, ignoring the scariest part of this whole ordeal. The girl didn't even break a sweat afterwards. She could probably throw ten more of those until feeling winded. Maybe more. Nobody else wanted to go after seeing her. She basically ended the exam for today. The examiners sat around a table behind closed doors to discuss the issue. Zanther abhorred that they even had to consider it. That kind of potential should never be ignored. Unfortunately, most of these old fools couldn't look past their egos. It was obvious they were intimidated by her. They brought up things like tradition, proper theory and respect, dancing around the fact that some of them couldn't replicate what she did. Of course, Zanther couldn't mention that, considering his... affliction. Kelvathum, a relatively young high elf, led the conversation. She came from a respected family of archmages with close ties to the monarchy. The council respected her opinion simply because of her name. Disdain was hidden by fake congeniality when she said: "Yes, it is a pity, but I'm afraid we can't help her. The girl's too... invested in her method. She'd have to take remedial lessons just to catch up to the novices. Our efforts are better spent on people with promise." The rest of the council nodded. They weren't going to challenge her. Zanther cleared his throat. "That shouldn't be a problem. We're a university; our job is to teach." "Within reason" said Kelvathum. "We wouldn't hold entrance exams if we were interested in teaching basic theory. This place is for people that are serious about the craft." "And that girl isn't?" "Of course not!" Kelvathum scoffed. "Did you see some of her answers? She couldn't even name the four applications of mana!" "And yet, she clearly demonstrated an aptitude for all of them." "Our craft isn't about flashy spells. It's about elegant problem solving and the pursuit of knowledge. She values neither." "That doesn't make her any less competent. Or dedicated." "Yes, you'd find that impressive, wouldn't you?" sneered Kelvathum. Zanther frowned. Kelvathum smirked. "Is there a problem?" "I don't appreciate your tone." "Don't be like that! I'm just saying an artificer like you might have different standards than the rest of us." "You're skirting dangerous territory." Zanther glared for a moment. "Don't let your hubris blind you." The other council members tensed up. Kelvathum raised an eyebrow. "Are you threatening me?" "What?" Zanther chuckled. "I would never. This isn't about me. Or you. I just think the council is missing an important detail." "Which is...?" "That girl is already a threat to the kingdom, and she made it this far without any tutelage." Zanther looked at everyone. "Some of you wouldn't even survive that explosion. Imagine how far she'll get in ten years. If the monarchy were to discover that we turned her away when we could still control her, well..." He shrugged. "Actually, forget it. I'm sure Kelvathum would be thrilled to explain her reasoning to the royal court. As we all know, they're very understanding over there." "W-what? Why me?" "I mean, you made a compelling argument. I think I'm starting to see your point. After all, we're too busy over here to teach her the basics..." "I never said that!" The council members started mulling over the possibilities. They couldn't afford to enrage the crown. As the leading university on the continent, the Stardust Arcanum was already on tenuous ground with the monarchy. Wizards threatened the stability of the kingdom by default. Sure, they were useful to have around, but their power was intimidating and the teaching of foreigners was always a source of tension. The crown would leap at the chance to dismantle this university if they could find a believable justification, even if it was a flimsy one. Zanther knew he had already convinced the council. The only thing bigger than their egos was their cowardice. They pretended to deliberate some more while Kelvathum stormed out of the room. The decision was finalized after thirty minutes. The girl would be admitted into the university with a full scholarship. Zanther was tasked with her remedial lessons. He didn't mind. In fact, that was probably for the best. The others might intentionally hinder her growth out of fear or jealousy. The giant crater still emitted heat when Zanther walked past it. He made a mental note to have the practice field kept that way. Teaching the girl to fix it with earth shaping would make for a good project. At the very least, she would learn to clean up her own mess. Zanther stiffened up when he entered the waiting room. The girl wasn't here. Zanther found an apprentice instructor nearby. They were supposed to keep an eye on the applicants while the council deliberated. The apprentice just shrugged. Zanther ran out of the campus after hearing him out. Apparently, the girl left with Kelvathum a while back. ------ Karla had never felt so disappointed in herself. Even after saving up money and giving it her best, the elf lady told her that she wasn't accepted. Her dreams of being an archmage were crushed. Everyone told her to not bother with Stardust. That place was for gifted people with good education. Her parents were simple farmers. They only got her an old scroll with instructions for one spell as a child. It was supposed to be a novelty to decorate her room. Karla didn't see it that way. She practiced it over and over for years until managing to create a decent explosion all on her own. Just like the legend of Megumin! Unfortunately, that wasn't good enough. Stardust Arcanum University required a lot of weird brainy stuff she didn't comprehend. The elf lady, Kel-something, gave her hope. She told Karla that she might still get accepted if she accompanied her on a dangerous quest. Karla didn't think twice about it. Hunting monsters is how she earned her money in the first place. The forest was eerily silent. Karla hesitated to go this deep into it at first. They were incredibly isolated. Nobody would hear them if something went wrong. Karla swallowed down the fear. She didn't have anything to worry about with an archmage present. The elf lady was so pretty and kind. Doing this favor for Karla was incredibly benevolent of her. She'd gotten more quiet the farther they went, though. Karla feared that she'd insulted her somehow. Nah. She shook the doubt away. The elf lady was probably sharpening her focus. She already had her dagger out and everything. Karla didn't think anything was wrong until seeing the elf lady cast a spell... on her. Energy struck the young girl's body. It froze her in place. Karla panicked. The elf lady slowly approached with the dagger, making a psychotic grin. Karla summoned as much of her mana as possible. Her body started to hurt, but she broke out of the spell when the elf lady attacked her. The elf lady blinked, astonished. "Is.. is this part of the test?" The elf lady lunged forward, thrusting her weapon. "Die!" Karla ducked and sprinted away. The elf lady ran after her. Karla shrieked. She couldn't throw a fireball. It would hit them both. The elf lady threw a ray of ice. It slowed down Karla. There wasn't any other choice. Karla threw a fireball. An explosion engulfed them. Karla had never felt this much pain. She fell on her knees, holding back her tears. When the smoke cleared, the elf lady remained standing, barely injured. Karla widened her eyes. "How?" "It's called a fire ward, honey. I did it before we left. A competent wizard would know about them." Karla stood up, but her burns made her fall again. Her body couldn't move properly. The elf lady loomed over her before stabbing at Karla's chest. A barrier protected her from the dagger. Karla squinted. What was that? A weird cube on the ground generated a force-field around her. "That's enough, Kelvathum." The voice came from a man that hovered above them. Karla recognized him as one of the examiners. He floated down until landing next to the young girl. "I'm disappointed you'd go this far." The elf lady scowled. "You said it yourself; she's a threat!" The man sighed. "You're the only threat here." "I'll kill you both, then!" "You won't." The man pulled out another cube, clicked it, and teleported away with Karla. ------ Continued below.	Edit: My first language is not English so brace thou selves. The bell ring and finally all I have left was to present the un-healed blue lizard to the Hig-Elf teacher in the front seat. “That was the bell little ones, the instructions for todays period are over, verily. As always please put thou projects back the ricolla-basket and allow thou steps to come home again, we shall see each other in the next sun.”-She call fully of patience and joy between her 2 long ear. Her fully solid of a single green color making impossible to confirm that she was looking at me at the moment. Despite that, I still could feel her over me. The little children that didn’t really have even half my age, walk along the illuminated path in the floor and past beyond the curtains that separate this classroom pocket dimension from the main building of white stones. I know that for the next class, invocation, I was more than prepare for any sufficiency test in the end of the year. I didn´t fear Mr. Arrav-Na. I didn’t fear Nerta the Dragon Queen. I didn’t even fear THE END. And yet… I feel my heart rush as Mrs Toka stood right next to me, With her big pointy traditional hat and her pinky skin, she was astonishing beautiful and a testimony of her birth from a powerful magical family, form a powerful magical people. In all truth, a magical creature, that will not fall soon to the eternal slumber. Not like this fragile old body of mine… “…May thou hearth fred not Lord Tacha-ka, for if anything is easy in this world, hurting is easy and healing is not”-Chant the god Mrs. \-“It is not that I’m afraid of failing this year child, it’s just that it’s so difficult for me to be in here, learning magic like is some sort of game without consequence… Even a caged Dragon can forget how to fly once enough time has past. I never even got the change to learn how to fly in the first place…”-I explain to the elf behind a mask of security and reassurance that only accented my old face and sad eyes. \-“Lord Tacha-ka, you were a summoned slave from other worlds, bring only here to work the mines of the vile queen of dragons and her goons. When you and thou friend escaped the mines and end up in the cave of the True Description, it were the Lords all mighty the guided thou to becoming a powerful fighter. Fighter’s fight, not they heal wounded.”-She begging to explain once again, trying to hold my black hand between her fingers. I quickly move away -“I could have been more if I only have waited a little longer, could actually save her… If I have only stayed a little bit more and actually know how to save a life instead of just being good at taking them.”-I answered, now not fully in the realm of reality. More alike floating in the sea of memory. \-“¡Please don’t say such things like that¡, my village was actually saved because its was thou and the mighty 4 that saved my mother and my mother’s mother that day. I wouldn’t bee in here without thou”-She cry explaining her story, a little bit of blue tears appearing in her eyes. \-“I only ever wanted to become the most strong mage in the world; I never truly became aware that a person, a mage can be so much more. I was unstoppable by any enemy, and yet I lost a family because my short sighting. I think it’s only fair that I die from old age, maybe my story could teach others in the future to take care of themselves as well as they take care of the equipment and clothes. I join the school of Dawn because healing magic was the specialty, and even I cannot learn the most basic spells that can actually save any one. Thank you child, but I think that I need some rest now, walking the halls of this beautiful place seem to be fit for a alien of half a century like me.” – I rise from the seat hearing my back cracking again as it had done since a decade prior. I smile at her. She looks so young, yet I bet she can be nearly my age, and she will still be in here long after the earth as reclaimed my body. How much the powerfull fall the queen once pray. It hurt to be one in mind with her… Then she grabs my hand. \-“Please lord Tacha-ka, I beg thou, calm thy step and listen to me. I have teach many children in this school, but I think I have make a mistake trying to teach you from the bottom. You need another approach, but It’s not impossible. Not more difficult than to save the real of Tryria from the dragon Queen. Thou think that you have lost your family, but thou has gain so much more. I will not succed this encounter yet. I will teach you personally, not a grave but a full new beginning. Please Lord Tacha-ka. Don’t give up on this friendship yet, as I have never lost faith in thou” I smile at her –“Then Pray tell, young master of life”
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	Day 1, First period. Frank was sitting in a classroom. It was a bit conspicuous, a 30 year old man sitting in between a bunch of 15 year old boys and girls. "Well done Clara, I can see you have been practicing over the summer holiday," the teacher, Mr. Goodspell, praised her. "Good technique, fine spell work, good wand movement. Take a seat please. Mr. Abernathy can you show us what you can do? You have lighted a candle before?" "Errr... Not exactly," Frank replied. "I know a bit of fire magic. There is this one spell I learned that..." "Just the candle spell, please. Stand here, aim your wand at the candle and cast." "I don't like using the wand, sir." "Mr. Abernathy, I explained you need the wand to focus and amplify your abilities. Wild magic will not be tolerated. Now please cast your spell." Frank held the wand with both hands like he was firing a shotgun from the hip. The rest of the class was tittering. It distracted Frank and as his concentration lapsed a bit, the tiny trickle of power he tried to squeeze out became his usual flood as his control over manna loosened a bit. Not that he noticed it with his vast reserves. His newly acquired classmates on the other hand jumped back as ungodly bright beam of energy launched from his wand towards the rack of candles and right through it. Hot pieces of wax, propelled by vaporizing parts of wax and steam flew through the room and pinged against the nuclear war grade shield spell Frank habitually used, protecting most of the class. When the spell ended and everybody came out of hiding behind their desks, they just stared at the red glowing wall that still dripped with half melted lava. "I lighted the wall, sir. Does that count?" "OUT! Class Dismissed." Day 1, Second period. The students tried to move their now very heavy golden chairs away from the golden desk, scraping over the golden floorboards. "I asked you to transfigure the flower, Mr. Abernathy. Not the rest of the class. Please undo this." "Sorry, Ma'am. I only know how to turn things to gold. And the wand, you see, it gives it a bit too much oomph." "You really have to learn to focus that wild magic of yours." Day 1, Third period. Students were flying away on their broom at high speed in a panic as the very large dragon chased them. As the dragon puffed fire, they students increased their speed. "MR. ABERNATHY GET DOWN HERE" the teacher for flying lessons boomed, using the amplifying charm. Several seconds later, the dragon dropped heavily on the ground. The shock wave lifted the teacher of the ground for a moment, but she stayed perfectly upright and landed lightly. "The broom please." As the dragon opened its front paw, a broom was visible, looking like a toothpick in its huge paw. The dragon dropped the broom in front of the teacher. "You are to fly on the broom, not carry it." In a very deep booming voice, with green and blue flames wafting around its maw the dragon responded: "SORRY I PANICKED FOR A MOMENT." Internally the teacher face palmed herself silly, but remained stoically on the outside. "From the top. What are the three rules of flying?"	Edit: My first language is not English so brace thou selves. The bell ring and finally all I have left was to present the un-healed blue lizard to the Hig-Elf teacher in the front seat. “That was the bell little ones, the instructions for todays period are over, verily. As always please put thou projects back the ricolla-basket and allow thou steps to come home again, we shall see each other in the next sun.”-She call fully of patience and joy between her 2 long ear. Her fully solid of a single green color making impossible to confirm that she was looking at me at the moment. Despite that, I still could feel her over me. The little children that didn’t really have even half my age, walk along the illuminated path in the floor and past beyond the curtains that separate this classroom pocket dimension from the main building of white stones. I know that for the next class, invocation, I was more than prepare for any sufficiency test in the end of the year. I didn´t fear Mr. Arrav-Na. I didn’t fear Nerta the Dragon Queen. I didn’t even fear THE END. And yet… I feel my heart rush as Mrs Toka stood right next to me, With her big pointy traditional hat and her pinky skin, she was astonishing beautiful and a testimony of her birth from a powerful magical family, form a powerful magical people. In all truth, a magical creature, that will not fall soon to the eternal slumber. Not like this fragile old body of mine… “…May thou hearth fred not Lord Tacha-ka, for if anything is easy in this world, hurting is easy and healing is not”-Chant the god Mrs. \-“It is not that I’m afraid of failing this year child, it’s just that it’s so difficult for me to be in here, learning magic like is some sort of game without consequence… Even a caged Dragon can forget how to fly once enough time has past. I never even got the change to learn how to fly in the first place…”-I explain to the elf behind a mask of security and reassurance that only accented my old face and sad eyes. \-“Lord Tacha-ka, you were a summoned slave from other worlds, bring only here to work the mines of the vile queen of dragons and her goons. When you and thou friend escaped the mines and end up in the cave of the True Description, it were the Lords all mighty the guided thou to becoming a powerful fighter. Fighter’s fight, not they heal wounded.”-She begging to explain once again, trying to hold my black hand between her fingers. I quickly move away -“I could have been more if I only have waited a little longer, could actually save her… If I have only stayed a little bit more and actually know how to save a life instead of just being good at taking them.”-I answered, now not fully in the realm of reality. More alike floating in the sea of memory. \-“¡Please don’t say such things like that¡, my village was actually saved because its was thou and the mighty 4 that saved my mother and my mother’s mother that day. I wouldn’t bee in here without thou”-She cry explaining her story, a little bit of blue tears appearing in her eyes. \-“I only ever wanted to become the most strong mage in the world; I never truly became aware that a person, a mage can be so much more. I was unstoppable by any enemy, and yet I lost a family because my short sighting. I think it’s only fair that I die from old age, maybe my story could teach others in the future to take care of themselves as well as they take care of the equipment and clothes. I join the school of Dawn because healing magic was the specialty, and even I cannot learn the most basic spells that can actually save any one. Thank you child, but I think that I need some rest now, walking the halls of this beautiful place seem to be fit for a alien of half a century like me.” – I rise from the seat hearing my back cracking again as it had done since a decade prior. I smile at her. She looks so young, yet I bet she can be nearly my age, and she will still be in here long after the earth as reclaimed my body. How much the powerfull fall the queen once pray. It hurt to be one in mind with her… Then she grabs my hand. \-“Please lord Tacha-ka, I beg thou, calm thy step and listen to me. I have teach many children in this school, but I think I have make a mistake trying to teach you from the bottom. You need another approach, but It’s not impossible. Not more difficult than to save the real of Tryria from the dragon Queen. Thou think that you have lost your family, but thou has gain so much more. I will not succed this encounter yet. I will teach you personally, not a grave but a full new beginning. Please Lord Tacha-ka. Don’t give up on this friendship yet, as I have never lost faith in thou” I smile at her –“Then Pray tell, young master of life”
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	"Show us what you can do, then." “Fine,” I snapped. So they didn’t believe me when I said I was one of the most powerful mages in the world. They’d set me the task of performing silly little spells, of the sort I had no idea how to do and had no use for. Things that had no power. Things that any self-righteous powerful mage would delegate to lesser magicians. Housework spells, spells for smelling weather, spells for conjuring flimsy illusions … Pffft. I mentally shook myself and got ready. As a powerful mage, intent and clarity of mind mattered. Distraction would do me no favours, especially not here, in front of these weak academic wizards. Slowly I drew the power into my body, the familiar feeling singing through my bones and muscles. I shifted my weight, drew back my fist which was wreathed in magic, shaped into a point … and drove it into the tree trunk. The tree didn’t just split, it exploded. The wizards screamed and ducked, throwing up deflective shields as the shards flew past. I, of course, did not duck. I stood proud, as the sharp wood pieces failed to penetrate my body thanks to the coat of power I had applied. “Have I demonstrated my power?” I said to the academics as I brushed the debris off my shoulders. They only gaped at the wreckage of the tree, heedless of the leaves now getting entangled in their hair. The headmaster was the first to recover. “Errr … that was impressive, I admit. But can you do anything else?” I raised an eyebrow. “Fine,” I said again. I redirected most of the power to my legs, crouched … and jumped. Higher and higher I rose into the air. Up, up. Past the tallest spire of the academic institution. For a moment I was weightless. Then I was falling. Falling! This never failed to thrill me, no matter how many times I did it. I refocused my power to be that of a softer, more absorptive nature, readying myself for the landing – #BOOOOM As the dust cleared, I looked up from the kneeling position I crouched in. Around me was an earthen wall, curving upwards and rimmed by a perfectly circular edge. For a few moments I waited for heads to start peeking over the edge, but none came. As I climbed out of the crater, I saw the pitiable fools still trying to recover from the awesome display of my power. Many had fallen to the ground; I saw one or two trying to pick themselves up. Others were just tottering around. I looked at the building of the school some distance away; many of the ground-floor windows had shattered. “Er – I can pay for the windows?” I offered. The wizards stared at me. Then they started pulling out their wands, staffs, spellbooks – Attack! They were attacking me! The cowardly wizards were shooting spells at me. I threw up a wall of power, blocking the spells, and pushed out most of the rest of my power in a diffuse globe around me, including inside the ground. I left just enough power as a thin coating on my body. I watched them, these wizards, as they tried to batter down my wall. Yawn. I could do this all day if I had to. I did so once when I brought down the Terror of Woodheim, a dark mage who’d preyed on the poor innocent villagers with his dark spells. Until he’d tired himself out on me and I put him out with a punch. There! My head whipped around as one wizard teleported behind me, hoping to catch me out. “Not so fast,” I muttered, as I clicked my fingers. The pocket of diffuse haze of power around the poor sucker solidified, becoming a barrier as immutable as my first main wall, trapping him. He could not send any spells because number one, he couldn’t speak as his jaw was clamped shut, number two, any spell he’d pull off would go nowhere except his own body as the barrier pressed against his clothes and skin, and number three, he couldn’t move. Another wizard got the bright idea to use a digging spell and catch me underneath my feet, but that didn’t work, either. I left him trapped underneath the soil and focused on my wall. It pushed outward, towards the remaining gaggle of wizards. “Time to end this,” I said. The wall curved inwards, sweeping up the sorry gaggle of wizards and throwing them against one another into a spherical prison. The barrage of spells immediately stopped as these dunces had enough sense to not damage one another through friendly fire. Pity. “Well, I came here to see if I could learn something,” I declared, looking up at them inside the globe I was floating several metres above the ground. They stared back. “Apparently not. I’d heard that this school was the best one for miles around. I suppose I’ll go look for another school …” Suddenly withdrawing my power into myself, the sphere disappeared, sending the screaming wizards tumbling back to earth. I leapt up, and fashioning my power into two planes like wings to either side of my torso, flew away.	"You..." The magistrate's eyes went wide as Neil stepped in front of him. "How did you get in here?" The man waved a hand as if to brush aside some stench. Neil looked down at the ancient chest armour he worn. "Flesh eater King's armour imbued with unimaginable power from the unfortunate adventurers. The only downside? Anyone without a sense of fashion will be assaulted by a lingering malodor." Neil could have sworn the oddly dressed loremaster wrinkled his nose as he identified the piece. As Neil stood in front of the clergyman whose impeccable silk dress was adorned with numerous gems, he can see the guy not only withdraw into himself, he had activated a cleansing spell. "You..." The man was now purple-faced, he pointed Neil to a side room without another word. Neil felt the marble floors with his bare feet, it's quite cold for a slim spell caster like him. But a ring he wore had a curse for anyone who wears shoes. Neil shuddered as he recalled the consequences. The room was small and had a blazing fireplace. His eyes travelled from the stuffed magical cats, ten of them sat on a shelf, to the oval tellurion. The bizarre thing had multiple rings rotating it in randomized ways, occasionally Neil could catch a glimpse of another plane. "Uh, " A woman patted Neil on the back then strode in front of him. Her large amber eyes peered into Neil's blue eyes. She then squeezed Neil's exposed shoulders and with a snap of a finger, a set of scales materialized and begins to measure Neil's body. She then took hold of Neil's hands and to his surprise licked them. As she savoured the taste Neil struggled free. "Hmm, you are a little bit overcooked." She jabbed a finger at Neil. Then she brushed a few whiskers on her face sideways. She sniffed the air. Her eyes lit up, "Well, don't I smell something mysterious." "I am O'Neill by the way." She stuck out her furry hand. Neil gave it a quick squeeze and let go. The lady leapt backwards and gracefully landed on a cushioned couch, her right hand disappeared for a moment and then she snatched a blue feathered bird out of thin air. Neil's dull perception barely detected a ripple in space, he stood taller and squared his shoulders. She was indeed a master, the mages Neil had...bullied with his infinite fireballs could not cast spells as casually, at least ones that bend the fabric of space. "Not again!" The bird darted out of her grasp, her eyes widened, like a feline toying with a prey. Then the ten cats jumped out of their shelf and blocked the bird's path. It stood on Neil's shoulder and made a gesture with its wings. A green swirl of energy appeared in the room and rapidly expanded, threatening to... Then a cat swallowed the spell whole. Neil's eyes twitched. That's at least a silver class spell, he had to summon about a hundred bronze level stone wall spells to counter it. Yet...a stuffed cat ate it as if it's a snack. Well, Neil cannot do it with this kind of ease. He was the type that would flood his enemies with spells, generously let his ethereal energies rush out to fill the formulas that lead to the creation of a spell. The battlefield usually becomes quite messy afterwards. "Oh, come on!" The bird hopped on a desk and dipped its tiny claw in an ink bottle. It turned its black beady eye to the woman and yelled, "What do I have to write?" She stroked one of her cats, then she switched to an old tongue. Neil raised his ears, but his education was somewhat lagging behind... But he can cast thousands of spells at one setting, he reminded himself. And he had a lot of powerful artefacts. The bird then hopped up and down the table, Neil leaned closer. Its claws were working as a typewriter, lines of intricate characters appeared. Then the feathered thing rolled up the parchment and sealed it with a blue feather. It gave a tiny yelp as it plucked the luminous plume. The bird snatched up the letter and dropped it onto Neil's head. Then with a shriek, it vanished. "I'd love to get to know a little human" the woman somehow appeared behind Neil. She massaged his shoulders, "But I'd also love to see those knuckleheads tore out their beards as they see you." "Uh...Who are they?" She put a cat on Neil's head as she circled him. Neil tried to turn his head to follow her swift movements. The cat on his head held on with outstretched nails. "Those stink boys in their towers, " she stopped and pushed Neil toward a door. "But...I..." Neil protested. "Oh, off you go!" She heaved Neil into the gateway and gave his forehead a moist kiss. Neil held his elbows close to his sides as he freefalls through various frames coming in different sizes and shapes. Then he landed unceremoniously into a thick layer of snow. As he struggled up, the cat was already leading the way. Its tail glowed in rainbow colours. It's paw prints leading to a tower that seemed to pierce the sky. (Any constructive feedback is welcomed) r/ThroughTHeDeadlocK
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	It was casting class. Super easy, or so everyone else walking down the path to the shoreline said. I hadn't made any friends yet, and judging by the looks everyone kept giving me, I knew I wasn't going to change that any time soon. Everyone knew I was the only one in the entire school that didn't have to take the entry exam to get in, and I could tell they resented me for it. I know I'm special, but they just see a regular guy who took a spot that could have gone to someone more talented. &#x200B; Not just the students; outside of the high mage lord and a janitor, I couldn't find a soul on the entire campus that would willingly associate with me. Every single mentor in the school gave me boldfaced sneers when they saw me, and made sure to ask me the hardest questions. We're only two weeks in, how am I supposed to know how to conjure a second level djinn? As for my fellow student body? The upper class bullied me every chance they had (which was a lot, considering most teachers turned around when they saw it going on), the juniors followed the upper class, and my peers were just trying to fit in so they avoided me whenever possible. I at least had friends back home; here I was a pariah. My parents sent me here because I nearly destroyed our small town. And because I had potential, but mostly because of the black hole that sucked in half of the community. To be fair, I did return most of the people to this dimension, but they held a grudge. The subsequent earthquake I caused while trying to stop the aforementioned gravity well probably added to their ill will. &#x200B; Either way, here I am bumping into the student in front of me because I'm thinking of this, which grants me a swift kick in my shin. The mentor hears the commotion and turns IMMEDIATELY to me. "Since you want to create a commotion, maybe you should be the first to create a hydrosphere?" The mentor gestured with his skinny, jaundiced fingers to the ocean in front of us as he asked the question, then stepped back with the students and grinned his jaundiced teeth at me. It was clear I was getting no further instruction, so I stepped up to the waterline and began to concentrate. I sucked at the magic classes so far, but I was passing English with flying colors, so I knew I was supposed to be making a ball of water. &#x200B; Here's the thing though.... I have no clue what I'm supposed to be doing to get this water all balled up. My back home Black Hole? Total accident, happened because I was digging a literal hole to fill with cement (summer employment) and got distracted. I didn't do any hand wavy thing; I had nothing to channel magic power into. I breathed deeply and did my best Spirit Bomb pose (DBZ best anime ever magic battle me if you disagree) and tried to will every image of a ball into my brain. I thought of a basketball going straight through the net, I imagined fire hoses on full spray with no one manning them. I mentally watched 100,000 ice cubes melt in a time lapse on a YouView video ~~suck it copyright laws~~ and flow into a transparent watermelon. I dreamt up hot breath on my neck, telling me to move my worthless body out of the way so someone with talent could actually take this opportunity to learn something, instead of sleeping while standing. Wait wha- I open my eyes and turn to find the mentor right behind me. Now, hear me out. I. WAS. NOT. PREPARED. the sight of this man in his ragged cloak. The brief moistness of his mouth breath on my ear as I was turning. the faintest hint of homeless man, and not like I don't want to be homeless homeless. This was a whiff of comfort in despondence; a person who panhandles too fast to collect change because they know they're not worth the money. The blatant invasion of my personal space, and the fact that he was like a wizard ninja, because I did not hear him come up behind me. I say all of this to let you know when I jumped back and summoned The Lightning from the sky that touched down before I did, it was by mistake. &#x200B; To his credit, the mentor (I really should learn his name) saved his astonishment for later, and had immediately put up shield to defend himself. Can't say how he knew what to defend against when I didn't know I was throwing it, but hey; this is why he's the teacher and I'm the student right? Only his shield wasn't strong enough I guess because the lightning hit, rebounded into the sky, and redoubled its force and completely shattered the shield. I'm talking energy flecks flew everywhere. The Lightning had given up speed for its newfound strength, so it wasn't moving as quickly as it initially was. He switched from defense to not-really-offense, and summoned the sand at his feet (also gnarled and in need of a pedicure. He was wearing a pair of What Are THOSE? so i could tell) to act as some kind of conductor, and guided the lightning back up into the sky. It shook off the sand , then went for my classmates. Some of them created basic shields, which may have worked, considering the fact that they were overlapping each other. We never got to find out, because the sand beat the lightning and absorbed the blow, exploding into dust in the air. The Lightning went through an anthropomorphic phase, then stood in the air as a human shape with a sword and reared back, in ready mode but not attacking. &#x200B; Now, I'm watching this occur just like everyone else in the class, and for some reason everyone starts looking at me for this to stop. The mentor, who I'm going to call Frank the magician for clarity's sake, is breathing a little harder than he was before, and is glancing back and forth from the obvious enemy in front of him to me. "Would you bloody well do something to stop this?!!?" I look at him like he grew another face on his face that was even uglier than his original one. "I didn't really do this on purpose; not sure how to stop something I didn't know I could start. Maybe some instruction?" Frank the magician took enough time to give me his best idiotstudentwhyareyouhere glare, then created a phalanx shield out of the still whirling debris while speaking with a calmness that wasn't there a second ago. "This is what is known as a projection. It can be made of any natural element, and will serve your subconscious desires. Subconsciously, you want to kill me, so it is acting on your behalf." &#x200B; "Nah Frank, you got the wrong idea. I don't want to kill you!" There was an extremely uncomfortable silence that only grew when I realized I called Frank the magician by his given (to him by me) name. During that time, The Lightning seemed to look around at everyone, then put away his sword, shrunk to the height of my knee , and walked to stand at my side. Guess it was mine after all. &#x200B; Frank the magician got his breathing under control, then dispersed the shield . He slowly approached me, warily watching The Lightning. He came within a few feet and stopped. "You shall address me as High Caster Ieitherius. Next time your projection attacks, you must calm your will, and decide your intent. This will help with your control over it." "What do you mean next time?" At this point I'm confused again. "Doesn't it go away after a couple hours, like Ziyagra?" The disgust on his face was clear, but was mixed with a new look I had only seen in the faces of my friends back home. It's like when they believe in you, and can see you doing great things? I could see some of that in Ieieiei--Frank the magician's face. &#x200B; "You shall report to High Projectioner Thimaeus (that's Clark) for classes on control with the senior students. You cannot attend classes until you have mastered your relationship; that projection will stay with you for life, whichever one ends first. I will work out a schedule where you will take private lessons with the other mentors to continue your learning." "So wait, I'm not in trouble?" The Lightning looked up at me, then back to Frank the magician. "Your talent is apparent. As a mentor, I must teach you how to utilize your skill in a manner befitting a magician. Class is over," He said as he turned and walked back to the path leading to the campus.	"You..." The magistrate's eyes went wide as Neil stepped in front of him. "How did you get in here?" The man waved a hand as if to brush aside some stench. Neil looked down at the ancient chest armour he worn. "Flesh eater King's armour imbued with unimaginable power from the unfortunate adventurers. The only downside? Anyone without a sense of fashion will be assaulted by a lingering malodor." Neil could have sworn the oddly dressed loremaster wrinkled his nose as he identified the piece. As Neil stood in front of the clergyman whose impeccable silk dress was adorned with numerous gems, he can see the guy not only withdraw into himself, he had activated a cleansing spell. "You..." The man was now purple-faced, he pointed Neil to a side room without another word. Neil felt the marble floors with his bare feet, it's quite cold for a slim spell caster like him. But a ring he wore had a curse for anyone who wears shoes. Neil shuddered as he recalled the consequences. The room was small and had a blazing fireplace. His eyes travelled from the stuffed magical cats, ten of them sat on a shelf, to the oval tellurion. The bizarre thing had multiple rings rotating it in randomized ways, occasionally Neil could catch a glimpse of another plane. "Uh, " A woman patted Neil on the back then strode in front of him. Her large amber eyes peered into Neil's blue eyes. She then squeezed Neil's exposed shoulders and with a snap of a finger, a set of scales materialized and begins to measure Neil's body. She then took hold of Neil's hands and to his surprise licked them. As she savoured the taste Neil struggled free. "Hmm, you are a little bit overcooked." She jabbed a finger at Neil. Then she brushed a few whiskers on her face sideways. She sniffed the air. Her eyes lit up, "Well, don't I smell something mysterious." "I am O'Neill by the way." She stuck out her furry hand. Neil gave it a quick squeeze and let go. The lady leapt backwards and gracefully landed on a cushioned couch, her right hand disappeared for a moment and then she snatched a blue feathered bird out of thin air. Neil's dull perception barely detected a ripple in space, he stood taller and squared his shoulders. She was indeed a master, the mages Neil had...bullied with his infinite fireballs could not cast spells as casually, at least ones that bend the fabric of space. "Not again!" The bird darted out of her grasp, her eyes widened, like a feline toying with a prey. Then the ten cats jumped out of their shelf and blocked the bird's path. It stood on Neil's shoulder and made a gesture with its wings. A green swirl of energy appeared in the room and rapidly expanded, threatening to... Then a cat swallowed the spell whole. Neil's eyes twitched. That's at least a silver class spell, he had to summon about a hundred bronze level stone wall spells to counter it. Yet...a stuffed cat ate it as if it's a snack. Well, Neil cannot do it with this kind of ease. He was the type that would flood his enemies with spells, generously let his ethereal energies rush out to fill the formulas that lead to the creation of a spell. The battlefield usually becomes quite messy afterwards. "Oh, come on!" The bird hopped on a desk and dipped its tiny claw in an ink bottle. It turned its black beady eye to the woman and yelled, "What do I have to write?" She stroked one of her cats, then she switched to an old tongue. Neil raised his ears, but his education was somewhat lagging behind... But he can cast thousands of spells at one setting, he reminded himself. And he had a lot of powerful artefacts. The bird then hopped up and down the table, Neil leaned closer. Its claws were working as a typewriter, lines of intricate characters appeared. Then the feathered thing rolled up the parchment and sealed it with a blue feather. It gave a tiny yelp as it plucked the luminous plume. The bird snatched up the letter and dropped it onto Neil's head. Then with a shriek, it vanished. "I'd love to get to know a little human" the woman somehow appeared behind Neil. She massaged his shoulders, "But I'd also love to see those knuckleheads tore out their beards as they see you." "Uh...Who are they?" She put a cat on Neil's head as she circled him. Neil tried to turn his head to follow her swift movements. The cat on his head held on with outstretched nails. "Those stink boys in their towers, " she stopped and pushed Neil toward a door. "But...I..." Neil protested. "Oh, off you go!" She heaved Neil into the gateway and gave his forehead a moist kiss. Neil held his elbows close to his sides as he freefalls through various frames coming in different sizes and shapes. Then he landed unceremoniously into a thick layer of snow. As he struggled up, the cat was already leading the way. Its tail glowed in rainbow colours. It's paw prints leading to a tower that seemed to pierce the sky. (Any constructive feedback is welcomed) r/ThroughTHeDeadlocK
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	"Powers the size of a Galaxy. Every spell a strategic nuclear weapon." That's me, in a nutshell. Sure, I can toast bread, for the entire country, every loaf, even when they're frozen — nice golden brown on every one. Ah, I see you remember. Sorry about that, I only wanted to toast my bread, and not all of that. If it weren't for the fact that I like people and toast, I could cast that spell all… day… long… I wouldn't even scratch the surface of my reserves. Now, I'd like you to imagine what would happen to the world we all live in, if some government got their hands on me, and found a way to coerce me. Do you want an entire country turned into burnt crunchy bits? It'll take me a map and two seconds. How do I know? I wanted to thaw some land for a friend. He was going to have to dig it up for an emergency pipe repair, using heavy equipment since the ground was too hard for hand tools. Based on the energy to bring the silica in the soil to a temperature where it wasn't quite liquid, but was still hot enough to fuse? Yeah. I did the math. Two seconds. Now he can use hand tools, and a shop vac, but he's going to need to re-sod his entire front lawn and replace the melted siding on that side of the house. It even made his windows sag. Good thing he had that infrared reflective coating. The radiance would have ignited his furniture. I can do the same damn thing to every country in the world, in less than half a day, without using more than half my mana. I'll be fully recharged in four hours. I need a way to control the amount of mana flowing into the spell. Two ways. Reduce the rate, or chop the time. I can't figure out how to reduce the rate, so I've focused on cutting the time as small as I can. It's not enough. "My Lady, I'm surprised you haven't blown the world to smithereens, or yourself for that matter." "Chancellor, who says I haven't? The world? Five times and brought it back so smoothly that no one even noticed. Myself? This is my 94,737th body. I did a lot of experiments." "Have you considered becoming a deity?" "My one attempt at creating life caused one of the world destruction events. I have to have control first. Not that I'd consider godhood anyway, worshipers are annoying… Oops… World destruction #1." "I'm not sure we can help, but I think we have to try." …—… "Who is that lady that all the instructors are so deferential to?" "Ms. Mana Pool." "What's she do?" "She powers this entire place. That chair she sits in allows her to channel her mana into the building and reservoirs of the University." "The whole school!?!" "Yes. You be polite and don't annoy her." "How much mana does she have?" "I don't know, but I heard she's turned down godhood at least 37 times." ((Finis))	"You..." The magistrate's eyes went wide as Neil stepped in front of him. "How did you get in here?" The man waved a hand as if to brush aside some stench. Neil looked down at the ancient chest armour he worn. "Flesh eater King's armour imbued with unimaginable power from the unfortunate adventurers. The only downside? Anyone without a sense of fashion will be assaulted by a lingering malodor." Neil could have sworn the oddly dressed loremaster wrinkled his nose as he identified the piece. As Neil stood in front of the clergyman whose impeccable silk dress was adorned with numerous gems, he can see the guy not only withdraw into himself, he had activated a cleansing spell. "You..." The man was now purple-faced, he pointed Neil to a side room without another word. Neil felt the marble floors with his bare feet, it's quite cold for a slim spell caster like him. But a ring he wore had a curse for anyone who wears shoes. Neil shuddered as he recalled the consequences. The room was small and had a blazing fireplace. His eyes travelled from the stuffed magical cats, ten of them sat on a shelf, to the oval tellurion. The bizarre thing had multiple rings rotating it in randomized ways, occasionally Neil could catch a glimpse of another plane. "Uh, " A woman patted Neil on the back then strode in front of him. Her large amber eyes peered into Neil's blue eyes. She then squeezed Neil's exposed shoulders and with a snap of a finger, a set of scales materialized and begins to measure Neil's body. She then took hold of Neil's hands and to his surprise licked them. As she savoured the taste Neil struggled free. "Hmm, you are a little bit overcooked." She jabbed a finger at Neil. Then she brushed a few whiskers on her face sideways. She sniffed the air. Her eyes lit up, "Well, don't I smell something mysterious." "I am O'Neill by the way." She stuck out her furry hand. Neil gave it a quick squeeze and let go. The lady leapt backwards and gracefully landed on a cushioned couch, her right hand disappeared for a moment and then she snatched a blue feathered bird out of thin air. Neil's dull perception barely detected a ripple in space, he stood taller and squared his shoulders. She was indeed a master, the mages Neil had...bullied with his infinite fireballs could not cast spells as casually, at least ones that bend the fabric of space. "Not again!" The bird darted out of her grasp, her eyes widened, like a feline toying with a prey. Then the ten cats jumped out of their shelf and blocked the bird's path. It stood on Neil's shoulder and made a gesture with its wings. A green swirl of energy appeared in the room and rapidly expanded, threatening to... Then a cat swallowed the spell whole. Neil's eyes twitched. That's at least a silver class spell, he had to summon about a hundred bronze level stone wall spells to counter it. Yet...a stuffed cat ate it as if it's a snack. Well, Neil cannot do it with this kind of ease. He was the type that would flood his enemies with spells, generously let his ethereal energies rush out to fill the formulas that lead to the creation of a spell. The battlefield usually becomes quite messy afterwards. "Oh, come on!" The bird hopped on a desk and dipped its tiny claw in an ink bottle. It turned its black beady eye to the woman and yelled, "What do I have to write?" She stroked one of her cats, then she switched to an old tongue. Neil raised his ears, but his education was somewhat lagging behind... But he can cast thousands of spells at one setting, he reminded himself. And he had a lot of powerful artefacts. The bird then hopped up and down the table, Neil leaned closer. Its claws were working as a typewriter, lines of intricate characters appeared. Then the feathered thing rolled up the parchment and sealed it with a blue feather. It gave a tiny yelp as it plucked the luminous plume. The bird snatched up the letter and dropped it onto Neil's head. Then with a shriek, it vanished. "I'd love to get to know a little human" the woman somehow appeared behind Neil. She massaged his shoulders, "But I'd also love to see those knuckleheads tore out their beards as they see you." "Uh...Who are they?" She put a cat on Neil's head as she circled him. Neil tried to turn his head to follow her swift movements. The cat on his head held on with outstretched nails. "Those stink boys in their towers, " she stopped and pushed Neil toward a door. "But...I..." Neil protested. "Oh, off you go!" She heaved Neil into the gateway and gave his forehead a moist kiss. Neil held his elbows close to his sides as he freefalls through various frames coming in different sizes and shapes. Then he landed unceremoniously into a thick layer of snow. As he struggled up, the cat was already leading the way. Its tail glowed in rainbow colours. It's paw prints leading to a tower that seemed to pierce the sky. (Any constructive feedback is welcomed) r/ThroughTHeDeadlocK
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	The smoldering crater left every examiner stunned. A human teenager should not be capable of producing a fireball that big. Even prodigies, like Zanther, had to work their way up to a feat like that. The other examiners shared nervous glances with each other. They couldn't reach a decision. Up until the demonstration phase of the entrance exam, this girl had shown herself to be an incompetent mess. She didn't know the fundamental theorems of mana dispersal or a shred of history about the craft. Basic exercises like shaping and weaving made her look like a delusional brat. The other applicants actually laughed at her when she told them to stand back before casting her spell. They were all quiet now. This simply shouldn't be possible. Zanther kept staring at her. She looked so innocent. The examiners were still shocked at her strength, ignoring the scariest part of this whole ordeal. The girl didn't even break a sweat afterwards. She could probably throw ten more of those until feeling winded. Maybe more. Nobody else wanted to go after seeing her. She basically ended the exam for today. The examiners sat around a table behind closed doors to discuss the issue. Zanther abhorred that they even had to consider it. That kind of potential should never be ignored. Unfortunately, most of these old fools couldn't look past their egos. It was obvious they were intimidated by her. They brought up things like tradition, proper theory and respect, dancing around the fact that some of them couldn't replicate what she did. Of course, Zanther couldn't mention that, considering his... affliction. Kelvathum, a relatively young high elf, led the conversation. She came from a respected family of archmages with close ties to the monarchy. The council respected her opinion simply because of her name. Disdain was hidden by fake congeniality when she said: "Yes, it is a pity, but I'm afraid we can't help her. The girl's too... invested in her method. She'd have to take remedial lessons just to catch up to the novices. Our efforts are better spent on people with promise." The rest of the council nodded. They weren't going to challenge her. Zanther cleared his throat. "That shouldn't be a problem. We're a university; our job is to teach." "Within reason" said Kelvathum. "We wouldn't hold entrance exams if we were interested in teaching basic theory. This place is for people that are serious about the craft." "And that girl isn't?" "Of course not!" Kelvathum scoffed. "Did you see some of her answers? She couldn't even name the four applications of mana!" "And yet, she clearly demonstrated an aptitude for all of them." "Our craft isn't about flashy spells. It's about elegant problem solving and the pursuit of knowledge. She values neither." "That doesn't make her any less competent. Or dedicated." "Yes, you'd find that impressive, wouldn't you?" sneered Kelvathum. Zanther frowned. Kelvathum smirked. "Is there a problem?" "I don't appreciate your tone." "Don't be like that! I'm just saying an artificer like you might have different standards than the rest of us." "You're skirting dangerous territory." Zanther glared for a moment. "Don't let your hubris blind you." The other council members tensed up. Kelvathum raised an eyebrow. "Are you threatening me?" "What?" Zanther chuckled. "I would never. This isn't about me. Or you. I just think the council is missing an important detail." "Which is...?" "That girl is already a threat to the kingdom, and she made it this far without any tutelage." Zanther looked at everyone. "Some of you wouldn't even survive that explosion. Imagine how far she'll get in ten years. If the monarchy were to discover that we turned her away when we could still control her, well..." He shrugged. "Actually, forget it. I'm sure Kelvathum would be thrilled to explain her reasoning to the royal court. As we all know, they're very understanding over there." "W-what? Why me?" "I mean, you made a compelling argument. I think I'm starting to see your point. After all, we're too busy over here to teach her the basics..." "I never said that!" The council members started mulling over the possibilities. They couldn't afford to enrage the crown. As the leading university on the continent, the Stardust Arcanum was already on tenuous ground with the monarchy. Wizards threatened the stability of the kingdom by default. Sure, they were useful to have around, but their power was intimidating and the teaching of foreigners was always a source of tension. The crown would leap at the chance to dismantle this university if they could find a believable justification, even if it was a flimsy one. Zanther knew he had already convinced the council. The only thing bigger than their egos was their cowardice. They pretended to deliberate some more while Kelvathum stormed out of the room. The decision was finalized after thirty minutes. The girl would be admitted into the university with a full scholarship. Zanther was tasked with her remedial lessons. He didn't mind. In fact, that was probably for the best. The others might intentionally hinder her growth out of fear or jealousy. The giant crater still emitted heat when Zanther walked past it. He made a mental note to have the practice field kept that way. Teaching the girl to fix it with earth shaping would make for a good project. At the very least, she would learn to clean up her own mess. Zanther stiffened up when he entered the waiting room. The girl wasn't here. Zanther found an apprentice instructor nearby. They were supposed to keep an eye on the applicants while the council deliberated. The apprentice just shrugged. Zanther ran out of the campus after hearing him out. Apparently, the girl left with Kelvathum a while back. ------ Karla had never felt so disappointed in herself. Even after saving up money and giving it her best, the elf lady told her that she wasn't accepted. Her dreams of being an archmage were crushed. Everyone told her to not bother with Stardust. That place was for gifted people with good education. Her parents were simple farmers. They only got her an old scroll with instructions for one spell as a child. It was supposed to be a novelty to decorate her room. Karla didn't see it that way. She practiced it over and over for years until managing to create a decent explosion all on her own. Just like the legend of Megumin! Unfortunately, that wasn't good enough. Stardust Arcanum University required a lot of weird brainy stuff she didn't comprehend. The elf lady, Kel-something, gave her hope. She told Karla that she might still get accepted if she accompanied her on a dangerous quest. Karla didn't think twice about it. Hunting monsters is how she earned her money in the first place. The forest was eerily silent. Karla hesitated to go this deep into it at first. They were incredibly isolated. Nobody would hear them if something went wrong. Karla swallowed down the fear. She didn't have anything to worry about with an archmage present. The elf lady was so pretty and kind. Doing this favor for Karla was incredibly benevolent of her. She'd gotten more quiet the farther they went, though. Karla feared that she'd insulted her somehow. Nah. She shook the doubt away. The elf lady was probably sharpening her focus. She already had her dagger out and everything. Karla didn't think anything was wrong until seeing the elf lady cast a spell... on her. Energy struck the young girl's body. It froze her in place. Karla panicked. The elf lady slowly approached with the dagger, making a psychotic grin. Karla summoned as much of her mana as possible. Her body started to hurt, but she broke out of the spell when the elf lady attacked her. The elf lady blinked, astonished. "Is.. is this part of the test?" The elf lady lunged forward, thrusting her weapon. "Die!" Karla ducked and sprinted away. The elf lady ran after her. Karla shrieked. She couldn't throw a fireball. It would hit them both. The elf lady threw a ray of ice. It slowed down Karla. There wasn't any other choice. Karla threw a fireball. An explosion engulfed them. Karla had never felt this much pain. She fell on her knees, holding back her tears. When the smoke cleared, the elf lady remained standing, barely injured. Karla widened her eyes. "How?" "It's called a fire ward, honey. I did it before we left. A competent wizard would know about them." Karla stood up, but her burns made her fall again. Her body couldn't move properly. The elf lady loomed over her before stabbing at Karla's chest. A barrier protected her from the dagger. Karla squinted. What was that? A weird cube on the ground generated a force-field around her. "That's enough, Kelvathum." The voice came from a man that hovered above them. Karla recognized him as one of the examiners. He floated down until landing next to the young girl. "I'm disappointed you'd go this far." The elf lady scowled. "You said it yourself; she's a threat!" The man sighed. "You're the only threat here." "I'll kill you both, then!" "You won't." The man pulled out another cube, clicked it, and teleported away with Karla. ------ Continued below.	"You..." The magistrate's eyes went wide as Neil stepped in front of him. "How did you get in here?" The man waved a hand as if to brush aside some stench. Neil looked down at the ancient chest armour he worn. "Flesh eater King's armour imbued with unimaginable power from the unfortunate adventurers. The only downside? Anyone without a sense of fashion will be assaulted by a lingering malodor." Neil could have sworn the oddly dressed loremaster wrinkled his nose as he identified the piece. As Neil stood in front of the clergyman whose impeccable silk dress was adorned with numerous gems, he can see the guy not only withdraw into himself, he had activated a cleansing spell. "You..." The man was now purple-faced, he pointed Neil to a side room without another word. Neil felt the marble floors with his bare feet, it's quite cold for a slim spell caster like him. But a ring he wore had a curse for anyone who wears shoes. Neil shuddered as he recalled the consequences. The room was small and had a blazing fireplace. His eyes travelled from the stuffed magical cats, ten of them sat on a shelf, to the oval tellurion. The bizarre thing had multiple rings rotating it in randomized ways, occasionally Neil could catch a glimpse of another plane. "Uh, " A woman patted Neil on the back then strode in front of him. Her large amber eyes peered into Neil's blue eyes. She then squeezed Neil's exposed shoulders and with a snap of a finger, a set of scales materialized and begins to measure Neil's body. She then took hold of Neil's hands and to his surprise licked them. As she savoured the taste Neil struggled free. "Hmm, you are a little bit overcooked." She jabbed a finger at Neil. Then she brushed a few whiskers on her face sideways. She sniffed the air. Her eyes lit up, "Well, don't I smell something mysterious." "I am O'Neill by the way." She stuck out her furry hand. Neil gave it a quick squeeze and let go. The lady leapt backwards and gracefully landed on a cushioned couch, her right hand disappeared for a moment and then she snatched a blue feathered bird out of thin air. Neil's dull perception barely detected a ripple in space, he stood taller and squared his shoulders. She was indeed a master, the mages Neil had...bullied with his infinite fireballs could not cast spells as casually, at least ones that bend the fabric of space. "Not again!" The bird darted out of her grasp, her eyes widened, like a feline toying with a prey. Then the ten cats jumped out of their shelf and blocked the bird's path. It stood on Neil's shoulder and made a gesture with its wings. A green swirl of energy appeared in the room and rapidly expanded, threatening to... Then a cat swallowed the spell whole. Neil's eyes twitched. That's at least a silver class spell, he had to summon about a hundred bronze level stone wall spells to counter it. Yet...a stuffed cat ate it as if it's a snack. Well, Neil cannot do it with this kind of ease. He was the type that would flood his enemies with spells, generously let his ethereal energies rush out to fill the formulas that lead to the creation of a spell. The battlefield usually becomes quite messy afterwards. "Oh, come on!" The bird hopped on a desk and dipped its tiny claw in an ink bottle. It turned its black beady eye to the woman and yelled, "What do I have to write?" She stroked one of her cats, then she switched to an old tongue. Neil raised his ears, but his education was somewhat lagging behind... But he can cast thousands of spells at one setting, he reminded himself. And he had a lot of powerful artefacts. The bird then hopped up and down the table, Neil leaned closer. Its claws were working as a typewriter, lines of intricate characters appeared. Then the feathered thing rolled up the parchment and sealed it with a blue feather. It gave a tiny yelp as it plucked the luminous plume. The bird snatched up the letter and dropped it onto Neil's head. Then with a shriek, it vanished. "I'd love to get to know a little human" the woman somehow appeared behind Neil. She massaged his shoulders, "But I'd also love to see those knuckleheads tore out their beards as they see you." "Uh...Who are they?" She put a cat on Neil's head as she circled him. Neil tried to turn his head to follow her swift movements. The cat on his head held on with outstretched nails. "Those stink boys in their towers, " she stopped and pushed Neil toward a door. "But...I..." Neil protested. "Oh, off you go!" She heaved Neil into the gateway and gave his forehead a moist kiss. Neil held his elbows close to his sides as he freefalls through various frames coming in different sizes and shapes. Then he landed unceremoniously into a thick layer of snow. As he struggled up, the cat was already leading the way. Its tail glowed in rainbow colours. It's paw prints leading to a tower that seemed to pierce the sky. (Any constructive feedback is welcomed) r/ThroughTHeDeadlocK
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	Day 1, First period. Frank was sitting in a classroom. It was a bit conspicuous, a 30 year old man sitting in between a bunch of 15 year old boys and girls. "Well done Clara, I can see you have been practicing over the summer holiday," the teacher, Mr. Goodspell, praised her. "Good technique, fine spell work, good wand movement. Take a seat please. Mr. Abernathy can you show us what you can do? You have lighted a candle before?" "Errr... Not exactly," Frank replied. "I know a bit of fire magic. There is this one spell I learned that..." "Just the candle spell, please. Stand here, aim your wand at the candle and cast." "I don't like using the wand, sir." "Mr. Abernathy, I explained you need the wand to focus and amplify your abilities. Wild magic will not be tolerated. Now please cast your spell." Frank held the wand with both hands like he was firing a shotgun from the hip. The rest of the class was tittering. It distracted Frank and as his concentration lapsed a bit, the tiny trickle of power he tried to squeeze out became his usual flood as his control over manna loosened a bit. Not that he noticed it with his vast reserves. His newly acquired classmates on the other hand jumped back as ungodly bright beam of energy launched from his wand towards the rack of candles and right through it. Hot pieces of wax, propelled by vaporizing parts of wax and steam flew through the room and pinged against the nuclear war grade shield spell Frank habitually used, protecting most of the class. When the spell ended and everybody came out of hiding behind their desks, they just stared at the red glowing wall that still dripped with half melted lava. "I lighted the wall, sir. Does that count?" "OUT! Class Dismissed." Day 1, Second period. The students tried to move their now very heavy golden chairs away from the golden desk, scraping over the golden floorboards. "I asked you to transfigure the flower, Mr. Abernathy. Not the rest of the class. Please undo this." "Sorry, Ma'am. I only know how to turn things to gold. And the wand, you see, it gives it a bit too much oomph." "You really have to learn to focus that wild magic of yours." Day 1, Third period. Students were flying away on their broom at high speed in a panic as the very large dragon chased them. As the dragon puffed fire, they students increased their speed. "MR. ABERNATHY GET DOWN HERE" the teacher for flying lessons boomed, using the amplifying charm. Several seconds later, the dragon dropped heavily on the ground. The shock wave lifted the teacher of the ground for a moment, but she stayed perfectly upright and landed lightly. "The broom please." As the dragon opened its front paw, a broom was visible, looking like a toothpick in its huge paw. The dragon dropped the broom in front of the teacher. "You are to fly on the broom, not carry it." In a very deep booming voice, with green and blue flames wafting around its maw the dragon responded: "SORRY I PANICKED FOR A MOMENT." Internally the teacher face palmed herself silly, but remained stoically on the outside. "From the top. What are the three rules of flying?"	"You..." The magistrate's eyes went wide as Neil stepped in front of him. "How did you get in here?" The man waved a hand as if to brush aside some stench. Neil looked down at the ancient chest armour he worn. "Flesh eater King's armour imbued with unimaginable power from the unfortunate adventurers. The only downside? Anyone without a sense of fashion will be assaulted by a lingering malodor." Neil could have sworn the oddly dressed loremaster wrinkled his nose as he identified the piece. As Neil stood in front of the clergyman whose impeccable silk dress was adorned with numerous gems, he can see the guy not only withdraw into himself, he had activated a cleansing spell. "You..." The man was now purple-faced, he pointed Neil to a side room without another word. Neil felt the marble floors with his bare feet, it's quite cold for a slim spell caster like him. But a ring he wore had a curse for anyone who wears shoes. Neil shuddered as he recalled the consequences. The room was small and had a blazing fireplace. His eyes travelled from the stuffed magical cats, ten of them sat on a shelf, to the oval tellurion. The bizarre thing had multiple rings rotating it in randomized ways, occasionally Neil could catch a glimpse of another plane. "Uh, " A woman patted Neil on the back then strode in front of him. Her large amber eyes peered into Neil's blue eyes. She then squeezed Neil's exposed shoulders and with a snap of a finger, a set of scales materialized and begins to measure Neil's body. She then took hold of Neil's hands and to his surprise licked them. As she savoured the taste Neil struggled free. "Hmm, you are a little bit overcooked." She jabbed a finger at Neil. Then she brushed a few whiskers on her face sideways. She sniffed the air. Her eyes lit up, "Well, don't I smell something mysterious." "I am O'Neill by the way." She stuck out her furry hand. Neil gave it a quick squeeze and let go. The lady leapt backwards and gracefully landed on a cushioned couch, her right hand disappeared for a moment and then she snatched a blue feathered bird out of thin air. Neil's dull perception barely detected a ripple in space, he stood taller and squared his shoulders. She was indeed a master, the mages Neil had...bullied with his infinite fireballs could not cast spells as casually, at least ones that bend the fabric of space. "Not again!" The bird darted out of her grasp, her eyes widened, like a feline toying with a prey. Then the ten cats jumped out of their shelf and blocked the bird's path. It stood on Neil's shoulder and made a gesture with its wings. A green swirl of energy appeared in the room and rapidly expanded, threatening to... Then a cat swallowed the spell whole. Neil's eyes twitched. That's at least a silver class spell, he had to summon about a hundred bronze level stone wall spells to counter it. Yet...a stuffed cat ate it as if it's a snack. Well, Neil cannot do it with this kind of ease. He was the type that would flood his enemies with spells, generously let his ethereal energies rush out to fill the formulas that lead to the creation of a spell. The battlefield usually becomes quite messy afterwards. "Oh, come on!" The bird hopped on a desk and dipped its tiny claw in an ink bottle. It turned its black beady eye to the woman and yelled, "What do I have to write?" She stroked one of her cats, then she switched to an old tongue. Neil raised his ears, but his education was somewhat lagging behind... But he can cast thousands of spells at one setting, he reminded himself. And he had a lot of powerful artefacts. The bird then hopped up and down the table, Neil leaned closer. Its claws were working as a typewriter, lines of intricate characters appeared. Then the feathered thing rolled up the parchment and sealed it with a blue feather. It gave a tiny yelp as it plucked the luminous plume. The bird snatched up the letter and dropped it onto Neil's head. Then with a shriek, it vanished. "I'd love to get to know a little human" the woman somehow appeared behind Neil. She massaged his shoulders, "But I'd also love to see those knuckleheads tore out their beards as they see you." "Uh...Who are they?" She put a cat on Neil's head as she circled him. Neil tried to turn his head to follow her swift movements. The cat on his head held on with outstretched nails. "Those stink boys in their towers, " she stopped and pushed Neil toward a door. "But...I..." Neil protested. "Oh, off you go!" She heaved Neil into the gateway and gave his forehead a moist kiss. Neil held his elbows close to his sides as he freefalls through various frames coming in different sizes and shapes. Then he landed unceremoniously into a thick layer of snow. As he struggled up, the cat was already leading the way. Its tail glowed in rainbow colours. It's paw prints leading to a tower that seemed to pierce the sky. (Any constructive feedback is welcomed) r/ThroughTHeDeadlocK
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	"All right," said the headmaster, sounding bored. Lorinna wasn't bored. She knew what she needed to do. She just wasn't sure it would be enough. She got up, nervously brushed her cloak, and stepped forward. The headmaster waved to the range. "Try to destroy the target," he said wearily. Lorinna looked at the target. It was a mockery of a human, like the straw men that were put out in fields to keep the birds away. She could do this She would do this. She might only know one spell, but she could make it work. She dropped to place both hands against the ground and shoved her power. It raced towards the target (creating a perfectly plowed furrow) and when it reached the target slashes came out of the ground slicing it to ribbons before a light burst utterly destroyed it. She looked away from the destroyed target and at the now astonished face of the headmaster. A quick glance around showed that the other candidates were also staring at her and she looked at the ground. She didn't like being stared at; it made her want to hide. "Where did you learn that spell?" demanded the headmaster. Her cheeks burned with shame. If she'd had anyone to teach her, would she be here? "I--I made it," she confessed. "You made that?" demanded the headmaster. "Well sir," she said softly, "I have to work the fields at home, and there are big rocks that fall from the mountains."	"You..." The magistrate's eyes went wide as Neil stepped in front of him. "How did you get in here?" The man waved a hand as if to brush aside some stench. Neil looked down at the ancient chest armour he worn. "Flesh eater King's armour imbued with unimaginable power from the unfortunate adventurers. The only downside? Anyone without a sense of fashion will be assaulted by a lingering malodor." Neil could have sworn the oddly dressed loremaster wrinkled his nose as he identified the piece. As Neil stood in front of the clergyman whose impeccable silk dress was adorned with numerous gems, he can see the guy not only withdraw into himself, he had activated a cleansing spell. "You..." The man was now purple-faced, he pointed Neil to a side room without another word. Neil felt the marble floors with his bare feet, it's quite cold for a slim spell caster like him. But a ring he wore had a curse for anyone who wears shoes. Neil shuddered as he recalled the consequences. The room was small and had a blazing fireplace. His eyes travelled from the stuffed magical cats, ten of them sat on a shelf, to the oval tellurion. The bizarre thing had multiple rings rotating it in randomized ways, occasionally Neil could catch a glimpse of another plane. "Uh, " A woman patted Neil on the back then strode in front of him. Her large amber eyes peered into Neil's blue eyes. She then squeezed Neil's exposed shoulders and with a snap of a finger, a set of scales materialized and begins to measure Neil's body. She then took hold of Neil's hands and to his surprise licked them. As she savoured the taste Neil struggled free. "Hmm, you are a little bit overcooked." She jabbed a finger at Neil. Then she brushed a few whiskers on her face sideways. She sniffed the air. Her eyes lit up, "Well, don't I smell something mysterious." "I am O'Neill by the way." She stuck out her furry hand. Neil gave it a quick squeeze and let go. The lady leapt backwards and gracefully landed on a cushioned couch, her right hand disappeared for a moment and then she snatched a blue feathered bird out of thin air. Neil's dull perception barely detected a ripple in space, he stood taller and squared his shoulders. She was indeed a master, the mages Neil had...bullied with his infinite fireballs could not cast spells as casually, at least ones that bend the fabric of space. "Not again!" The bird darted out of her grasp, her eyes widened, like a feline toying with a prey. Then the ten cats jumped out of their shelf and blocked the bird's path. It stood on Neil's shoulder and made a gesture with its wings. A green swirl of energy appeared in the room and rapidly expanded, threatening to... Then a cat swallowed the spell whole. Neil's eyes twitched. That's at least a silver class spell, he had to summon about a hundred bronze level stone wall spells to counter it. Yet...a stuffed cat ate it as if it's a snack. Well, Neil cannot do it with this kind of ease. He was the type that would flood his enemies with spells, generously let his ethereal energies rush out to fill the formulas that lead to the creation of a spell. The battlefield usually becomes quite messy afterwards. "Oh, come on!" The bird hopped on a desk and dipped its tiny claw in an ink bottle. It turned its black beady eye to the woman and yelled, "What do I have to write?" She stroked one of her cats, then she switched to an old tongue. Neil raised his ears, but his education was somewhat lagging behind... But he can cast thousands of spells at one setting, he reminded himself. And he had a lot of powerful artefacts. The bird then hopped up and down the table, Neil leaned closer. Its claws were working as a typewriter, lines of intricate characters appeared. Then the feathered thing rolled up the parchment and sealed it with a blue feather. It gave a tiny yelp as it plucked the luminous plume. The bird snatched up the letter and dropped it onto Neil's head. Then with a shriek, it vanished. "I'd love to get to know a little human" the woman somehow appeared behind Neil. She massaged his shoulders, "But I'd also love to see those knuckleheads tore out their beards as they see you." "Uh...Who are they?" She put a cat on Neil's head as she circled him. Neil tried to turn his head to follow her swift movements. The cat on his head held on with outstretched nails. "Those stink boys in their towers, " she stopped and pushed Neil toward a door. "But...I..." Neil protested. "Oh, off you go!" She heaved Neil into the gateway and gave his forehead a moist kiss. Neil held his elbows close to his sides as he freefalls through various frames coming in different sizes and shapes. Then he landed unceremoniously into a thick layer of snow. As he struggled up, the cat was already leading the way. Its tail glowed in rainbow colours. It's paw prints leading to a tower that seemed to pierce the sky. (Any constructive feedback is welcomed) r/ThroughTHeDeadlocK
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	"So long story short, right?" Manfred looked at the assembled Sorcerers. They sat safely behind the chancel at a high table tilled with food and drink and did not react "Right. So I'm minding my own business, at the Anchor and Dribbler, well round the back, where the staff go in their off time. They play a few dice games, a few bets, see?" A Sorcerer with a chin you could cut meat on asked "Are you going somewhere with this boy?" almost spitting that last part. Apprentices scampered around delivering foods and wines to the table. "Right, well I'm just getting to that bit. Then my mate Gammy, we call him Gammy because of his leg. He lost it when out with the boys once night. A backstreet Enchanty boy made a fair go of it, but it didn't come out right, see. So he's Gammy. Gammy says 'Look out.' and I'm like 'Whoa Gammy, calm down. You've had a bit much.' but I don't say that, I say 'Bruv?'. Gammy fell over backwards over this wall, and we all fall about laughing." Fred walked around the Altar in the middle of the area commoners were very much not allowed in. The head Wizard leaned forward, clearly interested. He motioned to the cup on front of him, and an apprentice poured wine, spilling it slightly. The wizard didn't notice. "When voomf, out of nowhere, there is this goblin. Voomf. Right in the middle of the game. I put me chips down, and said 'Are you having a laff' and I mean't it see. He got me right anger like. Like just coming into the middle of our banter like that. The barmy thing was the reason we didn't see him. He had this hat you see, with a tiny effect. If someones distracted you can't seem them. Unless they do something really stupid, like run out of energy and fall into the middle of your game, you'd never know they were there. So I'm looking at this hat, and I think 'Fred, what are you going to do with that?', so I put it on. And you don't know what happened? Everyone hung on my every word. It didn't matter in slight what I said. I have a notion it was some sort of low level hypnosis, that was just supposed to make you not notice things a wee bit, and would only work for a wee bit. The thing is, when I use to to distract people, it didn't stop working. I could just keep doing it all bloomin' day. It didn't stop, so either did I. So I got me mates Gammy and the lads, and we had the notion to come down here, have a right barmy in the College. See how far we can take this" The head Wizard nodded in agreement as an apprentice limped beside him. Gammy, wearing earmuffs, gently removed the Wizards rings and other assorted valuables. He was taking dinner and supper too. Probably breakfast. Maybe even Elevenses.	"You..." The magistrate's eyes went wide as Neil stepped in front of him. "How did you get in here?" The man waved a hand as if to brush aside some stench. Neil looked down at the ancient chest armour he worn. "Flesh eater King's armour imbued with unimaginable power from the unfortunate adventurers. The only downside? Anyone without a sense of fashion will be assaulted by a lingering malodor." Neil could have sworn the oddly dressed loremaster wrinkled his nose as he identified the piece. As Neil stood in front of the clergyman whose impeccable silk dress was adorned with numerous gems, he can see the guy not only withdraw into himself, he had activated a cleansing spell. "You..." The man was now purple-faced, he pointed Neil to a side room without another word. Neil felt the marble floors with his bare feet, it's quite cold for a slim spell caster like him. But a ring he wore had a curse for anyone who wears shoes. Neil shuddered as he recalled the consequences. The room was small and had a blazing fireplace. His eyes travelled from the stuffed magical cats, ten of them sat on a shelf, to the oval tellurion. The bizarre thing had multiple rings rotating it in randomized ways, occasionally Neil could catch a glimpse of another plane. "Uh, " A woman patted Neil on the back then strode in front of him. Her large amber eyes peered into Neil's blue eyes. She then squeezed Neil's exposed shoulders and with a snap of a finger, a set of scales materialized and begins to measure Neil's body. She then took hold of Neil's hands and to his surprise licked them. As she savoured the taste Neil struggled free. "Hmm, you are a little bit overcooked." She jabbed a finger at Neil. Then she brushed a few whiskers on her face sideways. She sniffed the air. Her eyes lit up, "Well, don't I smell something mysterious." "I am O'Neill by the way." She stuck out her furry hand. Neil gave it a quick squeeze and let go. The lady leapt backwards and gracefully landed on a cushioned couch, her right hand disappeared for a moment and then she snatched a blue feathered bird out of thin air. Neil's dull perception barely detected a ripple in space, he stood taller and squared his shoulders. She was indeed a master, the mages Neil had...bullied with his infinite fireballs could not cast spells as casually, at least ones that bend the fabric of space. "Not again!" The bird darted out of her grasp, her eyes widened, like a feline toying with a prey. Then the ten cats jumped out of their shelf and blocked the bird's path. It stood on Neil's shoulder and made a gesture with its wings. A green swirl of energy appeared in the room and rapidly expanded, threatening to... Then a cat swallowed the spell whole. Neil's eyes twitched. That's at least a silver class spell, he had to summon about a hundred bronze level stone wall spells to counter it. Yet...a stuffed cat ate it as if it's a snack. Well, Neil cannot do it with this kind of ease. He was the type that would flood his enemies with spells, generously let his ethereal energies rush out to fill the formulas that lead to the creation of a spell. The battlefield usually becomes quite messy afterwards. "Oh, come on!" The bird hopped on a desk and dipped its tiny claw in an ink bottle. It turned its black beady eye to the woman and yelled, "What do I have to write?" She stroked one of her cats, then she switched to an old tongue. Neil raised his ears, but his education was somewhat lagging behind... But he can cast thousands of spells at one setting, he reminded himself. And he had a lot of powerful artefacts. The bird then hopped up and down the table, Neil leaned closer. Its claws were working as a typewriter, lines of intricate characters appeared. Then the feathered thing rolled up the parchment and sealed it with a blue feather. It gave a tiny yelp as it plucked the luminous plume. The bird snatched up the letter and dropped it onto Neil's head. Then with a shriek, it vanished. "I'd love to get to know a little human" the woman somehow appeared behind Neil. She massaged his shoulders, "But I'd also love to see those knuckleheads tore out their beards as they see you." "Uh...Who are they?" She put a cat on Neil's head as she circled him. Neil tried to turn his head to follow her swift movements. The cat on his head held on with outstretched nails. "Those stink boys in their towers, " she stopped and pushed Neil toward a door. "But...I..." Neil protested. "Oh, off you go!" She heaved Neil into the gateway and gave his forehead a moist kiss. Neil held his elbows close to his sides as he freefalls through various frames coming in different sizes and shapes. Then he landed unceremoniously into a thick layer of snow. As he struggled up, the cat was already leading the way. Its tail glowed in rainbow colours. It's paw prints leading to a tower that seemed to pierce the sky. (Any constructive feedback is welcomed) r/ThroughTHeDeadlocK
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	It was casting class. Super easy, or so everyone else walking down the path to the shoreline said. I hadn't made any friends yet, and judging by the looks everyone kept giving me, I knew I wasn't going to change that any time soon. Everyone knew I was the only one in the entire school that didn't have to take the entry exam to get in, and I could tell they resented me for it. I know I'm special, but they just see a regular guy who took a spot that could have gone to someone more talented. &#x200B; Not just the students; outside of the high mage lord and a janitor, I couldn't find a soul on the entire campus that would willingly associate with me. Every single mentor in the school gave me boldfaced sneers when they saw me, and made sure to ask me the hardest questions. We're only two weeks in, how am I supposed to know how to conjure a second level djinn? As for my fellow student body? The upper class bullied me every chance they had (which was a lot, considering most teachers turned around when they saw it going on), the juniors followed the upper class, and my peers were just trying to fit in so they avoided me whenever possible. I at least had friends back home; here I was a pariah. My parents sent me here because I nearly destroyed our small town. And because I had potential, but mostly because of the black hole that sucked in half of the community. To be fair, I did return most of the people to this dimension, but they held a grudge. The subsequent earthquake I caused while trying to stop the aforementioned gravity well probably added to their ill will. &#x200B; Either way, here I am bumping into the student in front of me because I'm thinking of this, which grants me a swift kick in my shin. The mentor hears the commotion and turns IMMEDIATELY to me. "Since you want to create a commotion, maybe you should be the first to create a hydrosphere?" The mentor gestured with his skinny, jaundiced fingers to the ocean in front of us as he asked the question, then stepped back with the students and grinned his jaundiced teeth at me. It was clear I was getting no further instruction, so I stepped up to the waterline and began to concentrate. I sucked at the magic classes so far, but I was passing English with flying colors, so I knew I was supposed to be making a ball of water. &#x200B; Here's the thing though.... I have no clue what I'm supposed to be doing to get this water all balled up. My back home Black Hole? Total accident, happened because I was digging a literal hole to fill with cement (summer employment) and got distracted. I didn't do any hand wavy thing; I had nothing to channel magic power into. I breathed deeply and did my best Spirit Bomb pose (DBZ best anime ever magic battle me if you disagree) and tried to will every image of a ball into my brain. I thought of a basketball going straight through the net, I imagined fire hoses on full spray with no one manning them. I mentally watched 100,000 ice cubes melt in a time lapse on a YouView video ~~suck it copyright laws~~ and flow into a transparent watermelon. I dreamt up hot breath on my neck, telling me to move my worthless body out of the way so someone with talent could actually take this opportunity to learn something, instead of sleeping while standing. Wait wha- I open my eyes and turn to find the mentor right behind me. Now, hear me out. I. WAS. NOT. PREPARED. the sight of this man in his ragged cloak. The brief moistness of his mouth breath on my ear as I was turning. the faintest hint of homeless man, and not like I don't want to be homeless homeless. This was a whiff of comfort in despondence; a person who panhandles too fast to collect change because they know they're not worth the money. The blatant invasion of my personal space, and the fact that he was like a wizard ninja, because I did not hear him come up behind me. I say all of this to let you know when I jumped back and summoned The Lightning from the sky that touched down before I did, it was by mistake. &#x200B; To his credit, the mentor (I really should learn his name) saved his astonishment for later, and had immediately put up shield to defend himself. Can't say how he knew what to defend against when I didn't know I was throwing it, but hey; this is why he's the teacher and I'm the student right? Only his shield wasn't strong enough I guess because the lightning hit, rebounded into the sky, and redoubled its force and completely shattered the shield. I'm talking energy flecks flew everywhere. The Lightning had given up speed for its newfound strength, so it wasn't moving as quickly as it initially was. He switched from defense to not-really-offense, and summoned the sand at his feet (also gnarled and in need of a pedicure. He was wearing a pair of What Are THOSE? so i could tell) to act as some kind of conductor, and guided the lightning back up into the sky. It shook off the sand , then went for my classmates. Some of them created basic shields, which may have worked, considering the fact that they were overlapping each other. We never got to find out, because the sand beat the lightning and absorbed the blow, exploding into dust in the air. The Lightning went through an anthropomorphic phase, then stood in the air as a human shape with a sword and reared back, in ready mode but not attacking. &#x200B; Now, I'm watching this occur just like everyone else in the class, and for some reason everyone starts looking at me for this to stop. The mentor, who I'm going to call Frank the magician for clarity's sake, is breathing a little harder than he was before, and is glancing back and forth from the obvious enemy in front of him to me. "Would you bloody well do something to stop this?!!?" I look at him like he grew another face on his face that was even uglier than his original one. "I didn't really do this on purpose; not sure how to stop something I didn't know I could start. Maybe some instruction?" Frank the magician took enough time to give me his best idiotstudentwhyareyouhere glare, then created a phalanx shield out of the still whirling debris while speaking with a calmness that wasn't there a second ago. "This is what is known as a projection. It can be made of any natural element, and will serve your subconscious desires. Subconsciously, you want to kill me, so it is acting on your behalf." &#x200B; "Nah Frank, you got the wrong idea. I don't want to kill you!" There was an extremely uncomfortable silence that only grew when I realized I called Frank the magician by his given (to him by me) name. During that time, The Lightning seemed to look around at everyone, then put away his sword, shrunk to the height of my knee , and walked to stand at my side. Guess it was mine after all. &#x200B; Frank the magician got his breathing under control, then dispersed the shield . He slowly approached me, warily watching The Lightning. He came within a few feet and stopped. "You shall address me as High Caster Ieitherius. Next time your projection attacks, you must calm your will, and decide your intent. This will help with your control over it." "What do you mean next time?" At this point I'm confused again. "Doesn't it go away after a couple hours, like Ziyagra?" The disgust on his face was clear, but was mixed with a new look I had only seen in the faces of my friends back home. It's like when they believe in you, and can see you doing great things? I could see some of that in Ieieiei--Frank the magician's face. &#x200B; "You shall report to High Projectioner Thimaeus (that's Clark) for classes on control with the senior students. You cannot attend classes until you have mastered your relationship; that projection will stay with you for life, whichever one ends first. I will work out a schedule where you will take private lessons with the other mentors to continue your learning." "So wait, I'm not in trouble?" The Lightning looked up at me, then back to Frank the magician. "Your talent is apparent. As a mentor, I must teach you how to utilize your skill in a manner befitting a magician. Class is over," He said as he turned and walked back to the path leading to the campus.	"Show us what you can do, then." “Fine,” I snapped. So they didn’t believe me when I said I was one of the most powerful mages in the world. They’d set me the task of performing silly little spells, of the sort I had no idea how to do and had no use for. Things that had no power. Things that any self-righteous powerful mage would delegate to lesser magicians. Housework spells, spells for smelling weather, spells for conjuring flimsy illusions … Pffft. I mentally shook myself and got ready. As a powerful mage, intent and clarity of mind mattered. Distraction would do me no favours, especially not here, in front of these weak academic wizards. Slowly I drew the power into my body, the familiar feeling singing through my bones and muscles. I shifted my weight, drew back my fist which was wreathed in magic, shaped into a point … and drove it into the tree trunk. The tree didn’t just split, it exploded. The wizards screamed and ducked, throwing up deflective shields as the shards flew past. I, of course, did not duck. I stood proud, as the sharp wood pieces failed to penetrate my body thanks to the coat of power I had applied. “Have I demonstrated my power?” I said to the academics as I brushed the debris off my shoulders. They only gaped at the wreckage of the tree, heedless of the leaves now getting entangled in their hair. The headmaster was the first to recover. “Errr … that was impressive, I admit. But can you do anything else?” I raised an eyebrow. “Fine,” I said again. I redirected most of the power to my legs, crouched … and jumped. Higher and higher I rose into the air. Up, up. Past the tallest spire of the academic institution. For a moment I was weightless. Then I was falling. Falling! This never failed to thrill me, no matter how many times I did it. I refocused my power to be that of a softer, more absorptive nature, readying myself for the landing – #BOOOOM As the dust cleared, I looked up from the kneeling position I crouched in. Around me was an earthen wall, curving upwards and rimmed by a perfectly circular edge. For a few moments I waited for heads to start peeking over the edge, but none came. As I climbed out of the crater, I saw the pitiable fools still trying to recover from the awesome display of my power. Many had fallen to the ground; I saw one or two trying to pick themselves up. Others were just tottering around. I looked at the building of the school some distance away; many of the ground-floor windows had shattered. “Er – I can pay for the windows?” I offered. The wizards stared at me. Then they started pulling out their wands, staffs, spellbooks – Attack! They were attacking me! The cowardly wizards were shooting spells at me. I threw up a wall of power, blocking the spells, and pushed out most of the rest of my power in a diffuse globe around me, including inside the ground. I left just enough power as a thin coating on my body. I watched them, these wizards, as they tried to batter down my wall. Yawn. I could do this all day if I had to. I did so once when I brought down the Terror of Woodheim, a dark mage who’d preyed on the poor innocent villagers with his dark spells. Until he’d tired himself out on me and I put him out with a punch. There! My head whipped around as one wizard teleported behind me, hoping to catch me out. “Not so fast,” I muttered, as I clicked my fingers. The pocket of diffuse haze of power around the poor sucker solidified, becoming a barrier as immutable as my first main wall, trapping him. He could not send any spells because number one, he couldn’t speak as his jaw was clamped shut, number two, any spell he’d pull off would go nowhere except his own body as the barrier pressed against his clothes and skin, and number three, he couldn’t move. Another wizard got the bright idea to use a digging spell and catch me underneath my feet, but that didn’t work, either. I left him trapped underneath the soil and focused on my wall. It pushed outward, towards the remaining gaggle of wizards. “Time to end this,” I said. The wall curved inwards, sweeping up the sorry gaggle of wizards and throwing them against one another into a spherical prison. The barrage of spells immediately stopped as these dunces had enough sense to not damage one another through friendly fire. Pity. “Well, I came here to see if I could learn something,” I declared, looking up at them inside the globe I was floating several metres above the ground. They stared back. “Apparently not. I’d heard that this school was the best one for miles around. I suppose I’ll go look for another school …” Suddenly withdrawing my power into myself, the sphere disappeared, sending the screaming wizards tumbling back to earth. I leapt up, and fashioning my power into two planes like wings to either side of my torso, flew away.
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	The smoldering crater left every examiner stunned. A human teenager should not be capable of producing a fireball that big. Even prodigies, like Zanther, had to work their way up to a feat like that. The other examiners shared nervous glances with each other. They couldn't reach a decision. Up until the demonstration phase of the entrance exam, this girl had shown herself to be an incompetent mess. She didn't know the fundamental theorems of mana dispersal or a shred of history about the craft. Basic exercises like shaping and weaving made her look like a delusional brat. The other applicants actually laughed at her when she told them to stand back before casting her spell. They were all quiet now. This simply shouldn't be possible. Zanther kept staring at her. She looked so innocent. The examiners were still shocked at her strength, ignoring the scariest part of this whole ordeal. The girl didn't even break a sweat afterwards. She could probably throw ten more of those until feeling winded. Maybe more. Nobody else wanted to go after seeing her. She basically ended the exam for today. The examiners sat around a table behind closed doors to discuss the issue. Zanther abhorred that they even had to consider it. That kind of potential should never be ignored. Unfortunately, most of these old fools couldn't look past their egos. It was obvious they were intimidated by her. They brought up things like tradition, proper theory and respect, dancing around the fact that some of them couldn't replicate what she did. Of course, Zanther couldn't mention that, considering his... affliction. Kelvathum, a relatively young high elf, led the conversation. She came from a respected family of archmages with close ties to the monarchy. The council respected her opinion simply because of her name. Disdain was hidden by fake congeniality when she said: "Yes, it is a pity, but I'm afraid we can't help her. The girl's too... invested in her method. She'd have to take remedial lessons just to catch up to the novices. Our efforts are better spent on people with promise." The rest of the council nodded. They weren't going to challenge her. Zanther cleared his throat. "That shouldn't be a problem. We're a university; our job is to teach." "Within reason" said Kelvathum. "We wouldn't hold entrance exams if we were interested in teaching basic theory. This place is for people that are serious about the craft." "And that girl isn't?" "Of course not!" Kelvathum scoffed. "Did you see some of her answers? She couldn't even name the four applications of mana!" "And yet, she clearly demonstrated an aptitude for all of them." "Our craft isn't about flashy spells. It's about elegant problem solving and the pursuit of knowledge. She values neither." "That doesn't make her any less competent. Or dedicated." "Yes, you'd find that impressive, wouldn't you?" sneered Kelvathum. Zanther frowned. Kelvathum smirked. "Is there a problem?" "I don't appreciate your tone." "Don't be like that! I'm just saying an artificer like you might have different standards than the rest of us." "You're skirting dangerous territory." Zanther glared for a moment. "Don't let your hubris blind you." The other council members tensed up. Kelvathum raised an eyebrow. "Are you threatening me?" "What?" Zanther chuckled. "I would never. This isn't about me. Or you. I just think the council is missing an important detail." "Which is...?" "That girl is already a threat to the kingdom, and she made it this far without any tutelage." Zanther looked at everyone. "Some of you wouldn't even survive that explosion. Imagine how far she'll get in ten years. If the monarchy were to discover that we turned her away when we could still control her, well..." He shrugged. "Actually, forget it. I'm sure Kelvathum would be thrilled to explain her reasoning to the royal court. As we all know, they're very understanding over there." "W-what? Why me?" "I mean, you made a compelling argument. I think I'm starting to see your point. After all, we're too busy over here to teach her the basics..." "I never said that!" The council members started mulling over the possibilities. They couldn't afford to enrage the crown. As the leading university on the continent, the Stardust Arcanum was already on tenuous ground with the monarchy. Wizards threatened the stability of the kingdom by default. Sure, they were useful to have around, but their power was intimidating and the teaching of foreigners was always a source of tension. The crown would leap at the chance to dismantle this university if they could find a believable justification, even if it was a flimsy one. Zanther knew he had already convinced the council. The only thing bigger than their egos was their cowardice. They pretended to deliberate some more while Kelvathum stormed out of the room. The decision was finalized after thirty minutes. The girl would be admitted into the university with a full scholarship. Zanther was tasked with her remedial lessons. He didn't mind. In fact, that was probably for the best. The others might intentionally hinder her growth out of fear or jealousy. The giant crater still emitted heat when Zanther walked past it. He made a mental note to have the practice field kept that way. Teaching the girl to fix it with earth shaping would make for a good project. At the very least, she would learn to clean up her own mess. Zanther stiffened up when he entered the waiting room. The girl wasn't here. Zanther found an apprentice instructor nearby. They were supposed to keep an eye on the applicants while the council deliberated. The apprentice just shrugged. Zanther ran out of the campus after hearing him out. Apparently, the girl left with Kelvathum a while back. ------ Karla had never felt so disappointed in herself. Even after saving up money and giving it her best, the elf lady told her that she wasn't accepted. Her dreams of being an archmage were crushed. Everyone told her to not bother with Stardust. That place was for gifted people with good education. Her parents were simple farmers. They only got her an old scroll with instructions for one spell as a child. It was supposed to be a novelty to decorate her room. Karla didn't see it that way. She practiced it over and over for years until managing to create a decent explosion all on her own. Just like the legend of Megumin! Unfortunately, that wasn't good enough. Stardust Arcanum University required a lot of weird brainy stuff she didn't comprehend. The elf lady, Kel-something, gave her hope. She told Karla that she might still get accepted if she accompanied her on a dangerous quest. Karla didn't think twice about it. Hunting monsters is how she earned her money in the first place. The forest was eerily silent. Karla hesitated to go this deep into it at first. They were incredibly isolated. Nobody would hear them if something went wrong. Karla swallowed down the fear. She didn't have anything to worry about with an archmage present. The elf lady was so pretty and kind. Doing this favor for Karla was incredibly benevolent of her. She'd gotten more quiet the farther they went, though. Karla feared that she'd insulted her somehow. Nah. She shook the doubt away. The elf lady was probably sharpening her focus. She already had her dagger out and everything. Karla didn't think anything was wrong until seeing the elf lady cast a spell... on her. Energy struck the young girl's body. It froze her in place. Karla panicked. The elf lady slowly approached with the dagger, making a psychotic grin. Karla summoned as much of her mana as possible. Her body started to hurt, but she broke out of the spell when the elf lady attacked her. The elf lady blinked, astonished. "Is.. is this part of the test?" The elf lady lunged forward, thrusting her weapon. "Die!" Karla ducked and sprinted away. The elf lady ran after her. Karla shrieked. She couldn't throw a fireball. It would hit them both. The elf lady threw a ray of ice. It slowed down Karla. There wasn't any other choice. Karla threw a fireball. An explosion engulfed them. Karla had never felt this much pain. She fell on her knees, holding back her tears. When the smoke cleared, the elf lady remained standing, barely injured. Karla widened her eyes. "How?" "It's called a fire ward, honey. I did it before we left. A competent wizard would know about them." Karla stood up, but her burns made her fall again. Her body couldn't move properly. The elf lady loomed over her before stabbing at Karla's chest. A barrier protected her from the dagger. Karla squinted. What was that? A weird cube on the ground generated a force-field around her. "That's enough, Kelvathum." The voice came from a man that hovered above them. Karla recognized him as one of the examiners. He floated down until landing next to the young girl. "I'm disappointed you'd go this far." The elf lady scowled. "You said it yourself; she's a threat!" The man sighed. "You're the only threat here." "I'll kill you both, then!" "You won't." The man pulled out another cube, clicked it, and teleported away with Karla. ------ Continued below.	"Powers the size of a Galaxy. Every spell a strategic nuclear weapon." That's me, in a nutshell. Sure, I can toast bread, for the entire country, every loaf, even when they're frozen — nice golden brown on every one. Ah, I see you remember. Sorry about that, I only wanted to toast my bread, and not all of that. If it weren't for the fact that I like people and toast, I could cast that spell all… day… long… I wouldn't even scratch the surface of my reserves. Now, I'd like you to imagine what would happen to the world we all live in, if some government got their hands on me, and found a way to coerce me. Do you want an entire country turned into burnt crunchy bits? It'll take me a map and two seconds. How do I know? I wanted to thaw some land for a friend. He was going to have to dig it up for an emergency pipe repair, using heavy equipment since the ground was too hard for hand tools. Based on the energy to bring the silica in the soil to a temperature where it wasn't quite liquid, but was still hot enough to fuse? Yeah. I did the math. Two seconds. Now he can use hand tools, and a shop vac, but he's going to need to re-sod his entire front lawn and replace the melted siding on that side of the house. It even made his windows sag. Good thing he had that infrared reflective coating. The radiance would have ignited his furniture. I can do the same damn thing to every country in the world, in less than half a day, without using more than half my mana. I'll be fully recharged in four hours. I need a way to control the amount of mana flowing into the spell. Two ways. Reduce the rate, or chop the time. I can't figure out how to reduce the rate, so I've focused on cutting the time as small as I can. It's not enough. "My Lady, I'm surprised you haven't blown the world to smithereens, or yourself for that matter." "Chancellor, who says I haven't? The world? Five times and brought it back so smoothly that no one even noticed. Myself? This is my 94,737th body. I did a lot of experiments." "Have you considered becoming a deity?" "My one attempt at creating life caused one of the world destruction events. I have to have control first. Not that I'd consider godhood anyway, worshipers are annoying… Oops… World destruction #1." "I'm not sure we can help, but I think we have to try." …—… "Who is that lady that all the instructors are so deferential to?" "Ms. Mana Pool." "What's she do?" "She powers this entire place. That chair she sits in allows her to channel her mana into the building and reservoirs of the University." "The whole school!?!" "Yes. You be polite and don't annoy her." "How much mana does she have?" "I don't know, but I heard she's turned down godhood at least 37 times." ((Finis))
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	Day 1, First period. Frank was sitting in a classroom. It was a bit conspicuous, a 30 year old man sitting in between a bunch of 15 year old boys and girls. "Well done Clara, I can see you have been practicing over the summer holiday," the teacher, Mr. Goodspell, praised her. "Good technique, fine spell work, good wand movement. Take a seat please. Mr. Abernathy can you show us what you can do? You have lighted a candle before?" "Errr... Not exactly," Frank replied. "I know a bit of fire magic. There is this one spell I learned that..." "Just the candle spell, please. Stand here, aim your wand at the candle and cast." "I don't like using the wand, sir." "Mr. Abernathy, I explained you need the wand to focus and amplify your abilities. Wild magic will not be tolerated. Now please cast your spell." Frank held the wand with both hands like he was firing a shotgun from the hip. The rest of the class was tittering. It distracted Frank and as his concentration lapsed a bit, the tiny trickle of power he tried to squeeze out became his usual flood as his control over manna loosened a bit. Not that he noticed it with his vast reserves. His newly acquired classmates on the other hand jumped back as ungodly bright beam of energy launched from his wand towards the rack of candles and right through it. Hot pieces of wax, propelled by vaporizing parts of wax and steam flew through the room and pinged against the nuclear war grade shield spell Frank habitually used, protecting most of the class. When the spell ended and everybody came out of hiding behind their desks, they just stared at the red glowing wall that still dripped with half melted lava. "I lighted the wall, sir. Does that count?" "OUT! Class Dismissed." Day 1, Second period. The students tried to move their now very heavy golden chairs away from the golden desk, scraping over the golden floorboards. "I asked you to transfigure the flower, Mr. Abernathy. Not the rest of the class. Please undo this." "Sorry, Ma'am. I only know how to turn things to gold. And the wand, you see, it gives it a bit too much oomph." "You really have to learn to focus that wild magic of yours." Day 1, Third period. Students were flying away on their broom at high speed in a panic as the very large dragon chased them. As the dragon puffed fire, they students increased their speed. "MR. ABERNATHY GET DOWN HERE" the teacher for flying lessons boomed, using the amplifying charm. Several seconds later, the dragon dropped heavily on the ground. The shock wave lifted the teacher of the ground for a moment, but she stayed perfectly upright and landed lightly. "The broom please." As the dragon opened its front paw, a broom was visible, looking like a toothpick in its huge paw. The dragon dropped the broom in front of the teacher. "You are to fly on the broom, not carry it." In a very deep booming voice, with green and blue flames wafting around its maw the dragon responded: "SORRY I PANICKED FOR A MOMENT." Internally the teacher face palmed herself silly, but remained stoically on the outside. "From the top. What are the three rules of flying?"	"Powers the size of a Galaxy. Every spell a strategic nuclear weapon." That's me, in a nutshell. Sure, I can toast bread, for the entire country, every loaf, even when they're frozen — nice golden brown on every one. Ah, I see you remember. Sorry about that, I only wanted to toast my bread, and not all of that. If it weren't for the fact that I like people and toast, I could cast that spell all… day… long… I wouldn't even scratch the surface of my reserves. Now, I'd like you to imagine what would happen to the world we all live in, if some government got their hands on me, and found a way to coerce me. Do you want an entire country turned into burnt crunchy bits? It'll take me a map and two seconds. How do I know? I wanted to thaw some land for a friend. He was going to have to dig it up for an emergency pipe repair, using heavy equipment since the ground was too hard for hand tools. Based on the energy to bring the silica in the soil to a temperature where it wasn't quite liquid, but was still hot enough to fuse? Yeah. I did the math. Two seconds. Now he can use hand tools, and a shop vac, but he's going to need to re-sod his entire front lawn and replace the melted siding on that side of the house. It even made his windows sag. Good thing he had that infrared reflective coating. The radiance would have ignited his furniture. I can do the same damn thing to every country in the world, in less than half a day, without using more than half my mana. I'll be fully recharged in four hours. I need a way to control the amount of mana flowing into the spell. Two ways. Reduce the rate, or chop the time. I can't figure out how to reduce the rate, so I've focused on cutting the time as small as I can. It's not enough. "My Lady, I'm surprised you haven't blown the world to smithereens, or yourself for that matter." "Chancellor, who says I haven't? The world? Five times and brought it back so smoothly that no one even noticed. Myself? This is my 94,737th body. I did a lot of experiments." "Have you considered becoming a deity?" "My one attempt at creating life caused one of the world destruction events. I have to have control first. Not that I'd consider godhood anyway, worshipers are annoying… Oops… World destruction #1." "I'm not sure we can help, but I think we have to try." …—… "Who is that lady that all the instructors are so deferential to?" "Ms. Mana Pool." "What's she do?" "She powers this entire place. That chair she sits in allows her to channel her mana into the building and reservoirs of the University." "The whole school!?!" "Yes. You be polite and don't annoy her." "How much mana does she have?" "I don't know, but I heard she's turned down godhood at least 37 times." ((Finis))
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	"All right," said the headmaster, sounding bored. Lorinna wasn't bored. She knew what she needed to do. She just wasn't sure it would be enough. She got up, nervously brushed her cloak, and stepped forward. The headmaster waved to the range. "Try to destroy the target," he said wearily. Lorinna looked at the target. It was a mockery of a human, like the straw men that were put out in fields to keep the birds away. She could do this She would do this. She might only know one spell, but she could make it work. She dropped to place both hands against the ground and shoved her power. It raced towards the target (creating a perfectly plowed furrow) and when it reached the target slashes came out of the ground slicing it to ribbons before a light burst utterly destroyed it. She looked away from the destroyed target and at the now astonished face of the headmaster. A quick glance around showed that the other candidates were also staring at her and she looked at the ground. She didn't like being stared at; it made her want to hide. "Where did you learn that spell?" demanded the headmaster. Her cheeks burned with shame. If she'd had anyone to teach her, would she be here? "I--I made it," she confessed. "You made that?" demanded the headmaster. "Well sir," she said softly, "I have to work the fields at home, and there are big rocks that fall from the mountains."	I drew the kanji for snow in the air with my qi. Just letting a little of it out. I could feel the whole reserve power straining to be released, much like how a gentle slap of a horse's behind gives insight into the acceleration available. The lines of the kanji glowed faintly, then, started to fade as it dissipated its energy into the atmosphere to effect its spell. It started to snow. I channeled even more power into the word, keeping it from fading completely. The intensity of gentle flurry increased into a storm, then, giant snowballs began to fall from the sky. I turned around as Mom came out of the doorway. She bundled me into a huge coat. "Hurry up, or you'll be late for school. You enjoy learning how to read and write, don't you?" I smiled up at her. Being able to only write snow was so limiting.
[WP] You're among the most powerful mages in the world. But you're self-taught: while your reserves of mana are great, your versatility is... lacking. You decide to finally try attending a school for spellcraft to see what you can learn.	"So long story short, right?" Manfred looked at the assembled Sorcerers. They sat safely behind the chancel at a high table tilled with food and drink and did not react "Right. So I'm minding my own business, at the Anchor and Dribbler, well round the back, where the staff go in their off time. They play a few dice games, a few bets, see?" A Sorcerer with a chin you could cut meat on asked "Are you going somewhere with this boy?" almost spitting that last part. Apprentices scampered around delivering foods and wines to the table. "Right, well I'm just getting to that bit. Then my mate Gammy, we call him Gammy because of his leg. He lost it when out with the boys once night. A backstreet Enchanty boy made a fair go of it, but it didn't come out right, see. So he's Gammy. Gammy says 'Look out.' and I'm like 'Whoa Gammy, calm down. You've had a bit much.' but I don't say that, I say 'Bruv?'. Gammy fell over backwards over this wall, and we all fall about laughing." Fred walked around the Altar in the middle of the area commoners were very much not allowed in. The head Wizard leaned forward, clearly interested. He motioned to the cup on front of him, and an apprentice poured wine, spilling it slightly. The wizard didn't notice. "When voomf, out of nowhere, there is this goblin. Voomf. Right in the middle of the game. I put me chips down, and said 'Are you having a laff' and I mean't it see. He got me right anger like. Like just coming into the middle of our banter like that. The barmy thing was the reason we didn't see him. He had this hat you see, with a tiny effect. If someones distracted you can't seem them. Unless they do something really stupid, like run out of energy and fall into the middle of your game, you'd never know they were there. So I'm looking at this hat, and I think 'Fred, what are you going to do with that?', so I put it on. And you don't know what happened? Everyone hung on my every word. It didn't matter in slight what I said. I have a notion it was some sort of low level hypnosis, that was just supposed to make you not notice things a wee bit, and would only work for a wee bit. The thing is, when I use to to distract people, it didn't stop working. I could just keep doing it all bloomin' day. It didn't stop, so either did I. So I got me mates Gammy and the lads, and we had the notion to come down here, have a right barmy in the College. See how far we can take this" The head Wizard nodded in agreement as an apprentice limped beside him. Gammy, wearing earmuffs, gently removed the Wizards rings and other assorted valuables. He was taking dinner and supper too. Probably breakfast. Maybe even Elevenses.	I drew the kanji for snow in the air with my qi. Just letting a little of it out. I could feel the whole reserve power straining to be released, much like how a gentle slap of a horse's behind gives insight into the acceleration available. The lines of the kanji glowed faintly, then, started to fade as it dissipated its energy into the atmosphere to effect its spell. It started to snow. I channeled even more power into the word, keeping it from fading completely. The intensity of gentle flurry increased into a storm, then, giant snowballs began to fall from the sky. I turned around as Mom came out of the doorway. She bundled me into a huge coat. "Hurry up, or you'll be late for school. You enjoy learning how to read and write, don't you?" I smiled up at her. Being able to only write snow was so limiting.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	I pick up a book with a plain black cover off of the shelf, intrigued because of the lack of words on the spine. The cover only had two words written in a large, white font. Read Me was apparently the title. There was no author written on the front either, another interesting choice. I rub my fingers over the words, appreciating its smoothness in contrast of the cover as I turn it over, a habit I've acquired over the years for whatever reason. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. —Dr. Francis" I feel the curiosity and excitement bubbling, and I am delighted that I seemingly always have an ability to pick out interesting books. I hope the story itself won't disappoint. Just as I'm about to settle down in my favorite corner, I glance at my phone. Shoot! I have to get back to my dorm soon, it's almost time for the group project meeting. I hate being late. I hurriedly fish my library card out of my pocket and head to the counter, smiling politely at the new librarian who wordlessly does the check out. I liked Ms. Green better, but it's fine because I have no time for a chat anyways. "Thank you!" I fast walk out the library. As soon as I'm back, I gently place the book on my table. My mind is itching to start reading, but it'll have to wait. I have a group project to attend to. \--- I sit uncomfortably at a table in one of my university's study areas, anxious and annoyed. Where are my teammates? I start tapping my fingers on the desk as if I'm listening to music but there is none, only the steady ticking of the clock on the wall in front of me. I keep checking my phone every few seconds. I could have started reading my damn book. Suddenly a text pops up. Finally! I exhale in relief and unlock my phone to read it. It's from an unknown number. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. What the fuck? A chill goes down my spine, and I can feel my heart rate quickening. My shoulders tense as I look around the room, every other person in the room suddenly threatening and suspicious. I try to find any familiar faces, anyone that could have been at the library with me. How the hell does this person know what book I was reading? Am I being watched or followed? My right leg is doing that shaking thing now. Where the hell are my teammates? As much as I don't want to do the project, having anyone I know next to me to keep me distracted would be great right now. I quickly exit the message to message the group chat again, fingers quivering. My phone is being slow, probably because the sweat makes it less responsive. As I'm frantically typing my message, I get an email notification. I don't recognize the sender - someone called Francis L. ? Wait a minute... A feeling of dread rises in me, not unlike how it feels when vomit is coming up your throat. I click on the email and almost drop my phone at the now familiar message. The email address has the same name as the book too. Whoever is sending this definitely read the blurb. How is this possible? I will myself to stay seated as I shakily type out a response. Who are you? What do you want? I start gathering up my things in case I need to make a run for it. For some reason, this line of thought feels oddly familiar and instinctive, although I've never been in this kind of situation before. I think? I shake my head, whoever is behind this is getting under my skin and now I'm thinking crazy things. Another email notification jolts me from my thoughts. My fingers are so slippery. I steady my arms on the table. Holy shit, it worked! I have no idea how you can respond back but this is a good sign! Please don't be scared. I am Dr. Francis, your faithful doctor. Can you respond back again? What the actual fuck is happening? I feel lightheaded now. Should I respond back? My fingers hover over the delete button, but something stops me. A weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. Still don't know who the fuck you are and what you want. Your name doesn't mean anything to me. I try for the angry tone even though I am absolutely terrified. The response only takes a minute or two to come back. Whoa there, I apologize if I've upset you. I suppose in the world your mind has created, this must be scary and confusing and hard to believe, but it's true. Whatever you are seeing now is a simulation of your mind. Maybe hearing from a family member will help you believe? Trevor says hi and that he misses you. And Bobby says he's excited about this new development and hopes you'll wake up too. Do either of them ring a bell? This time, I do drop my phone. It makes a loud thump, disrupting the quietness. I can feel the stares but that is the last thing on my mind right now. Before I can process the email and come up with a response, my screen lights up again. Trevor: Hey Zach, so sorry for being late to the meeting. Almost there tho. Like 3 more mins. And dw, Bobby is here as well	Time. You never forget about time, but time forgets about you. I never knew how much I had, whether it was days, weeks, minutes, or even seconds. I just knew darkness. It spread forever, a vast nothing with only the half-formed thought to keep me sane. So much time. Too much time. Too much time to remember where or who or why, until death beckoned there, past that empty plane. That was until, that in a moment unknown, I made time. There, in that blank void of myself, I devoted thoughts to it, it's constructs, it's connection to space and movement and put thought, effort, will behind them, maintaining the ideas of time and space, for long enough that they were a constant. I made time, in my dreams. I made a lot of things, things that I didn't remember precisely, but things that I was familiar with. I made the stars, explosions of fire and light and noise, shaped them from thought and left them to expand, grow and change. I made the Sun, and the Earth, and Mars, with rolling oceans of green, and blue, and red, the colors of the rainbow and spectrum's unseen. The plants and beasts, the people and nations, all a sheer manifest of my willpower, my want for substance. They/I didn't know about me. I willfully severed the idea of awareness to them, a test of autonomy, to see if they/I could operate them without thinking hard about it. After losing them, I switched my attention to new horizons, building new places, but I realized something. I realized that I was tired. It was the first time I'd felt anything tangible since the void had first appeared. And with the new cosmos as my bed, I slipped away, into a deep, deep slumber.--- The monk sat still, the third day of his fast. For thousands of years, his temple and fellowship had attempted to do the impossible that The Buddha had. Achieve oneness with the universe. And today? All would succeed. Dr. Raymond leaned into his chair, the recording equipment primed, the instruments attuned to the thirty-something year old skeleton that sat in the isolated chamber. His colleagues were recording everything. He cleared his throat, and one of the operators flicked a switch. The monk doubled over. Not from hunger, but from pain. Words, like a tattooist's needle, burned deep into his mind. All across the world, the same sensation plagued humanity. And the words just kept growing. They grew across the sky, across the skin, across the brain, until the world itself began to scream from the infernal words, alien in structure. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up." The doctor looked over the scanners. "Increase in heart rate" someone spoke. He leaned back again, waiting. The monk understood. He understood, and he was scared. Enlightenment, the idea of ego being an illusion, it was all true, just as his brotherhood thought, but as he and everyone and everything attuned to the universe in the wake of the message, he screamed at knowing. That everything he knew never existed to begin with. He disappeared. "Turn it off! It's working." Dr. Raymond stood up, watching the coma-patients serene face. The monitors sped up, and there, at the corner of the figure's emaciated lips, there was a twitch. The doctor smiled. Success was at hand. Then with a slight twinge of worry, an attendant called out, "Heart rate just tripled." He snapped his head to the monitor. "Is it cut? Did you cut the message?" The attendant on the switch nodded. The Earth vanished without a sound. The stars soon followed it, and the light, and the sound, and the time all ceased, compounding into one. The creature that had once created and split itself thrashed as it's brain awoke to it's original confines. Human and small, with no space for the multi-tasking and creation it had wrought. It panicked in the darkness, until it could hear once again. Dr. Raymond watched helplessly as his patient juttered, as if a seizure was wracking it's body. The orderlies were dispatched to the chamber to subdue him before he could hurt himself. "He's awake." He spoke to his colleagues. Raymond felt a bead of sweat run down his forehead. The rest of the researchers waited with bated breath. The man wheezed. He felt the sheets on the bed, the light through his eyelids. He was held in place, but by what, he didn't know. Without opening his eyes, without moving an inch, he whispered out a single word, with a voice that hadn't spoken in two decades. "time?" Dr. Raymond saw the moment of death before he heard the instruments flat-line. The patient went limp, the orderly whispering something seconds before. He swore. Another failure. Later, Dr. Raymond would question the orderly, who went on the experimental record saying, "I thought he asked for the time, so I gave it to him. 3:47pm, right?" The cause of death was a heart attack. The body wasn't used to such strenuous a heart-rate after lying inert for so long. This would mark the failure rate for the medical trial at a 72%. Dr. Raymond walked outside the institute. He sighed. His research was hitting a brick wall. He could understand the failure cases, the dissonance with sudden awakenings, but he couldn't understand the successes. Without failure, the success cases would always behave exactly the same. Completely despondent. He lit a cigarette, checked the time, and looked up. The stars were beginning to shine in the dusky sky, and he resolved to spend more time together with his wife. After all, no one wants to be separate from what they truly love. Hey! Thanks for reading! First time doing this, but all constructive criticism is welcome.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	Twenty fucking years… twenty years that I will never get back, twenty years of me reliving memories from my childhood that, for the record, I don’t want to be remembering. Alright, that’s enough complaining. I’m not just gonna sit on my ass and let this happen to me. Thank god they got that message to me or who knows how long I would’ve been stuck in my head, literally. I wonder how they did get that message to me anyway. I guess medical technology progresses a lot in twenty years. Anyway, on to figuring out how to get out of here. Okay, well the doctor, or whoever sent that message, said that I’m in a dream. So I guess to get out of here I just have to wake up from the dream. Alright, then time to find some water. I’ve been walking around my childhood town for the past twenty years now. At least one benefit of that is that I know where to find anything I need, including water. I guess I’ll just go home for that. Wow, the kitchen is smaller than I remember. I hope the water runs in my dream. Alright, time to drink an uncomfortable amount of water. Sorry bladder. Now just to wait for a couple of hours till I have to pee. Hopefully this works, every time that I’ve peed in my dream before I’ve woken up. This isn’t any dream though. Oh god, it I can feel it. I don’t know if I’m gonna make it to the bathroom in time. I’ll just go out the window, it’s just a dream anyway. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Time to open my eyes. Please God, let me wake up. FUCK! And now I’m probably just sitting in a puddle of my own piss in the hospital too. Alright, on to plan b. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that people wake up when they have nightmares. All I need to do now is to find a dentist. Even better, my least favorite dentist, Dr. Dickens, from my childhood. Fitting name. That asshole ruined my elementary school days with those god damned braces. Anyway, he should be just a couple blocks down the road. Well here I am, about to face my fear. I'm pretty sure dentists aren’t supposed to strap you down so you can’t move your arms or legs. Oh wonderful, he’s also brought in three students who probably have no idea what they’re doing and now they’re going to play with my teeth too. Isn’t this great. Welp, that didn’t work either. I just humiliated myself by crying in front of that people younger than me and one person that I hate. Alright, forget the humiliation, I’ve got one more idea. I’ve got to head to makeout point. Damn, I had my first kiss there, this is probably going to taint that memory forever. Alright, well it’s worth it if I’m going to make it out of here. Alright, no thinking about it. Three…. Two… one... Oh wow, the ground is coming up pretty fast. What the fuck did I just do, I might actually die. No, no, no, no….. “Oh my god, he’s awake. Dale honey, do you recognize me?” Of course, I would recognize that annoying voice anywhere, “Hey, mom.” “Did you get our message?” “Yeah, how did you get that message to me anyway” “Science has come a long way” she said. “Wait Dale, you know you peed your pants a couple of minutes ago? Right.” Oh shit, yeah I forgot about that. “Yuck”. We laughed. “It’s good to have you back.” “It’s good to be back, do you think the Doctor could get me some clean clothes?” “Of course, here let me just call him back.” “Honey, I know it's too early to be asking this, but I know you and I know you’ve already thought about this, what do you plan to do now?” “Well, I actually haven’t thought about it, but off the top of my head, this makes for a pretty good story, I’ll probably sell it.” “Whatever works for you.” The doctor walked in. “Hey Dale, nice to see you’re awake.” SEEKING CRITICAL ADVICE	Time. You never forget about time, but time forgets about you. I never knew how much I had, whether it was days, weeks, minutes, or even seconds. I just knew darkness. It spread forever, a vast nothing with only the half-formed thought to keep me sane. So much time. Too much time. Too much time to remember where or who or why, until death beckoned there, past that empty plane. That was until, that in a moment unknown, I made time. There, in that blank void of myself, I devoted thoughts to it, it's constructs, it's connection to space and movement and put thought, effort, will behind them, maintaining the ideas of time and space, for long enough that they were a constant. I made time, in my dreams. I made a lot of things, things that I didn't remember precisely, but things that I was familiar with. I made the stars, explosions of fire and light and noise, shaped them from thought and left them to expand, grow and change. I made the Sun, and the Earth, and Mars, with rolling oceans of green, and blue, and red, the colors of the rainbow and spectrum's unseen. The plants and beasts, the people and nations, all a sheer manifest of my willpower, my want for substance. They/I didn't know about me. I willfully severed the idea of awareness to them, a test of autonomy, to see if they/I could operate them without thinking hard about it. After losing them, I switched my attention to new horizons, building new places, but I realized something. I realized that I was tired. It was the first time I'd felt anything tangible since the void had first appeared. And with the new cosmos as my bed, I slipped away, into a deep, deep slumber.--- The monk sat still, the third day of his fast. For thousands of years, his temple and fellowship had attempted to do the impossible that The Buddha had. Achieve oneness with the universe. And today? All would succeed. Dr. Raymond leaned into his chair, the recording equipment primed, the instruments attuned to the thirty-something year old skeleton that sat in the isolated chamber. His colleagues were recording everything. He cleared his throat, and one of the operators flicked a switch. The monk doubled over. Not from hunger, but from pain. Words, like a tattooist's needle, burned deep into his mind. All across the world, the same sensation plagued humanity. And the words just kept growing. They grew across the sky, across the skin, across the brain, until the world itself began to scream from the infernal words, alien in structure. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up." The doctor looked over the scanners. "Increase in heart rate" someone spoke. He leaned back again, waiting. The monk understood. He understood, and he was scared. Enlightenment, the idea of ego being an illusion, it was all true, just as his brotherhood thought, but as he and everyone and everything attuned to the universe in the wake of the message, he screamed at knowing. That everything he knew never existed to begin with. He disappeared. "Turn it off! It's working." Dr. Raymond stood up, watching the coma-patients serene face. The monitors sped up, and there, at the corner of the figure's emaciated lips, there was a twitch. The doctor smiled. Success was at hand. Then with a slight twinge of worry, an attendant called out, "Heart rate just tripled." He snapped his head to the monitor. "Is it cut? Did you cut the message?" The attendant on the switch nodded. The Earth vanished without a sound. The stars soon followed it, and the light, and the sound, and the time all ceased, compounding into one. The creature that had once created and split itself thrashed as it's brain awoke to it's original confines. Human and small, with no space for the multi-tasking and creation it had wrought. It panicked in the darkness, until it could hear once again. Dr. Raymond watched helplessly as his patient juttered, as if a seizure was wracking it's body. The orderlies were dispatched to the chamber to subdue him before he could hurt himself. "He's awake." He spoke to his colleagues. Raymond felt a bead of sweat run down his forehead. The rest of the researchers waited with bated breath. The man wheezed. He felt the sheets on the bed, the light through his eyelids. He was held in place, but by what, he didn't know. Without opening his eyes, without moving an inch, he whispered out a single word, with a voice that hadn't spoken in two decades. "time?" Dr. Raymond saw the moment of death before he heard the instruments flat-line. The patient went limp, the orderly whispering something seconds before. He swore. Another failure. Later, Dr. Raymond would question the orderly, who went on the experimental record saying, "I thought he asked for the time, so I gave it to him. 3:47pm, right?" The cause of death was a heart attack. The body wasn't used to such strenuous a heart-rate after lying inert for so long. This would mark the failure rate for the medical trial at a 72%. Dr. Raymond walked outside the institute. He sighed. His research was hitting a brick wall. He could understand the failure cases, the dissonance with sudden awakenings, but he couldn't understand the successes. Without failure, the success cases would always behave exactly the same. Completely despondent. He lit a cigarette, checked the time, and looked up. The stars were beginning to shine in the dusky sky, and he resolved to spend more time together with his wife. After all, no one wants to be separate from what they truly love. Hey! Thanks for reading! First time doing this, but all constructive criticism is welcome.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	“You’ve been in a coma for 20 years…” Twenty years? That’s last century. I was a newlywed. Mom was alive. My brother-in-law, too. Dad could still walk. “We don’t know where this message will end up…” If this is all true, I’ve been in a coma, probably at a hospital in fucking Montgomery, AL. I haven’t even met my best friends yet. Did I dream them, too? I’ve got a daughter, she’s 14 now. Does she exist? Fuck, does my ex still have my kids? “Please wake up.” If you can read my thoughts… fuck off, I like my dream.	Time. You never forget about time, but time forgets about you. I never knew how much I had, whether it was days, weeks, minutes, or even seconds. I just knew darkness. It spread forever, a vast nothing with only the half-formed thought to keep me sane. So much time. Too much time. Too much time to remember where or who or why, until death beckoned there, past that empty plane. That was until, that in a moment unknown, I made time. There, in that blank void of myself, I devoted thoughts to it, it's constructs, it's connection to space and movement and put thought, effort, will behind them, maintaining the ideas of time and space, for long enough that they were a constant. I made time, in my dreams. I made a lot of things, things that I didn't remember precisely, but things that I was familiar with. I made the stars, explosions of fire and light and noise, shaped them from thought and left them to expand, grow and change. I made the Sun, and the Earth, and Mars, with rolling oceans of green, and blue, and red, the colors of the rainbow and spectrum's unseen. The plants and beasts, the people and nations, all a sheer manifest of my willpower, my want for substance. They/I didn't know about me. I willfully severed the idea of awareness to them, a test of autonomy, to see if they/I could operate them without thinking hard about it. After losing them, I switched my attention to new horizons, building new places, but I realized something. I realized that I was tired. It was the first time I'd felt anything tangible since the void had first appeared. And with the new cosmos as my bed, I slipped away, into a deep, deep slumber.--- The monk sat still, the third day of his fast. For thousands of years, his temple and fellowship had attempted to do the impossible that The Buddha had. Achieve oneness with the universe. And today? All would succeed. Dr. Raymond leaned into his chair, the recording equipment primed, the instruments attuned to the thirty-something year old skeleton that sat in the isolated chamber. His colleagues were recording everything. He cleared his throat, and one of the operators flicked a switch. The monk doubled over. Not from hunger, but from pain. Words, like a tattooist's needle, burned deep into his mind. All across the world, the same sensation plagued humanity. And the words just kept growing. They grew across the sky, across the skin, across the brain, until the world itself began to scream from the infernal words, alien in structure. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up." The doctor looked over the scanners. "Increase in heart rate" someone spoke. He leaned back again, waiting. The monk understood. He understood, and he was scared. Enlightenment, the idea of ego being an illusion, it was all true, just as his brotherhood thought, but as he and everyone and everything attuned to the universe in the wake of the message, he screamed at knowing. That everything he knew never existed to begin with. He disappeared. "Turn it off! It's working." Dr. Raymond stood up, watching the coma-patients serene face. The monitors sped up, and there, at the corner of the figure's emaciated lips, there was a twitch. The doctor smiled. Success was at hand. Then with a slight twinge of worry, an attendant called out, "Heart rate just tripled." He snapped his head to the monitor. "Is it cut? Did you cut the message?" The attendant on the switch nodded. The Earth vanished without a sound. The stars soon followed it, and the light, and the sound, and the time all ceased, compounding into one. The creature that had once created and split itself thrashed as it's brain awoke to it's original confines. Human and small, with no space for the multi-tasking and creation it had wrought. It panicked in the darkness, until it could hear once again. Dr. Raymond watched helplessly as his patient juttered, as if a seizure was wracking it's body. The orderlies were dispatched to the chamber to subdue him before he could hurt himself. "He's awake." He spoke to his colleagues. Raymond felt a bead of sweat run down his forehead. The rest of the researchers waited with bated breath. The man wheezed. He felt the sheets on the bed, the light through his eyelids. He was held in place, but by what, he didn't know. Without opening his eyes, without moving an inch, he whispered out a single word, with a voice that hadn't spoken in two decades. "time?" Dr. Raymond saw the moment of death before he heard the instruments flat-line. The patient went limp, the orderly whispering something seconds before. He swore. Another failure. Later, Dr. Raymond would question the orderly, who went on the experimental record saying, "I thought he asked for the time, so I gave it to him. 3:47pm, right?" The cause of death was a heart attack. The body wasn't used to such strenuous a heart-rate after lying inert for so long. This would mark the failure rate for the medical trial at a 72%. Dr. Raymond walked outside the institute. He sighed. His research was hitting a brick wall. He could understand the failure cases, the dissonance with sudden awakenings, but he couldn't understand the successes. Without failure, the success cases would always behave exactly the same. Completely despondent. He lit a cigarette, checked the time, and looked up. The stars were beginning to shine in the dusky sky, and he resolved to spend more time together with his wife. After all, no one wants to be separate from what they truly love. Hey! Thanks for reading! First time doing this, but all constructive criticism is welcome.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	1/2 I didn’t recognize our current setting. It looked like a city of sorts. Which one? I had no clue, I had never been here before. This must have been a place she’d been to long before she met me. It didn’t help that half the world around us was left incomplete: some buildings were left unfinished, most roads curved unnaturally and oft lead to nowhere, no signs or buildings had legible words to read, and most jarring of all, most of the faces of passerby’s were a blur. It looked straight out of a nightmare and to put it bluntly, it was jarring as all hell to see. But none of that mattered to me. The only thing that was important was that I saw her. She was smiling, laughing even, skipping down the street as the malformed sun above cast down its warped rays upon her. While the rest of the world looked like a perversion of itself, she did not. Lauren Conners looked as beautiful as the day I married her over twenty years ago. I knew that approaching her now would be a bad idea because wherever this place was, whatever dream it spawned from, came from a time before Lauren and I had met. And it was never ideal to insert new variables into preexisting memories. But I was desperate and I missed her so much. I strode up to her, my body moving so slow as if I were wading through water. When I caught up, I tapped her on the shoulder and could already feel a rush of excitement building up. I was touching her. God how I missed that. “Pardon me, Miss?” I said. I tried to act as nonchalant as possible, wanting to be just another fixture in her dream. She regarded me with her hazel brown eyes. Lauren looked confused. She titled her head as she scrunched her little button nose. “Um- Can I help you?” Lauren said. Her voice sounded just as I remembered. Soft on the ears. Melodic when she spoke. Kindness in her every breath. “Oh, where are my manners. Names Jake. Jake Conners.” She smiled at me. Always was she quick to trust. “Lauren Williams. Pleasure to meet you, Jake.” Williams. My heart sank a little when I heard that. This was definitely a dream that happened before she met me. Even though I knew, it still stung me to hear her use her maiden name. “The pleasures mine, Lauren. It’s a lovely day we’re having isn’t it?” “It really is!” Her face lit up as she looked all around. Whatever lens she saw this dreamworld through must have had one helluva filter on it. But she was content and that was good enough for both of us. “I simply adore- “Bright Summer days like these.” We said in unison. How many times had she told me that? That days like this were the best of the bunch, the cream of the crop. She laughed, tilting her head back. Clearly that amused her. “Jinx, you owe me a coke!” I feigned defeat, just like I always did whenever she ‘got me’. But if it would have made her happy, I would have bought her a thousand of em and then a thousand more. “So, Jake, what can I do for you?” “You know, I’m not quite sure where I’m going right now.” “Oh no, you poor thing. You must be new around these parts.” “As a matter of fact, ma’am, yes I am. Never been to these neck of the woods.” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “Well then we’re just going to have to fix that. Why don’t you tell me where you’re headed and then we’ll see what we can do.” She was always like that. A regular bleeding heart. Didn’t matter who it was, if Lauren saw someone in need of help, she was the first one to offer it. Maybe that was why I loved her so much. Or maybe it was because she was such an amazing person. I thought about it for a second. I wasn’t lost, I was exactly where I wanted to be. But where did she want to go? What place could I suggest that would pique her interest. That was the real question. “I’m looking for a bookstore.” I said, when it finally dawned on me. She loved going to those places. In fact, that was where we first met. “Oh! Not a problem at all,” she beamed. Jackpot, I had struck a cord with her. “I know a fantastic little spot just down the corner. Let me show you!” “I don’t mean to be a bother-“ She pinched her lips and gave me a dismissing wave. “Come off it. It’s no bother at all. Come on, I’ll take you! Besides you owe me remember? In fact, consider the price doubled, you’ve been talking far too much for someone who’s been jinxed.” She gave me an impish smile, the same one she gave me when I proposed. My knees damn near buckled. I followed her, letting the world around us meld into her making. Roads began to materialize where there was none. Buildings sprouted from the ground as if they were trees. People zoomed in from the sky, but each time something odd occurred, Lauren never reacted to it. This was all so very normal to her. After all, we were trapped inside her subconscious mind. When we got to the bookstore that appeared from nowhere, I marveled at how large her mind constructed the building. It was damn near a skyscraper, a testament to how she revered such places. Lauren not only made good on her word, but she too insisted she help me sift through the endless rows until we found what I was looking for. Personally, I had already found what I wanted, she was standing arms length away from me. But for her sake, I rattled off her favorite books just so I could see the joy spark in her eyes.	Time. You never forget about time, but time forgets about you. I never knew how much I had, whether it was days, weeks, minutes, or even seconds. I just knew darkness. It spread forever, a vast nothing with only the half-formed thought to keep me sane. So much time. Too much time. Too much time to remember where or who or why, until death beckoned there, past that empty plane. That was until, that in a moment unknown, I made time. There, in that blank void of myself, I devoted thoughts to it, it's constructs, it's connection to space and movement and put thought, effort, will behind them, maintaining the ideas of time and space, for long enough that they were a constant. I made time, in my dreams. I made a lot of things, things that I didn't remember precisely, but things that I was familiar with. I made the stars, explosions of fire and light and noise, shaped them from thought and left them to expand, grow and change. I made the Sun, and the Earth, and Mars, with rolling oceans of green, and blue, and red, the colors of the rainbow and spectrum's unseen. The plants and beasts, the people and nations, all a sheer manifest of my willpower, my want for substance. They/I didn't know about me. I willfully severed the idea of awareness to them, a test of autonomy, to see if they/I could operate them without thinking hard about it. After losing them, I switched my attention to new horizons, building new places, but I realized something. I realized that I was tired. It was the first time I'd felt anything tangible since the void had first appeared. And with the new cosmos as my bed, I slipped away, into a deep, deep slumber.--- The monk sat still, the third day of his fast. For thousands of years, his temple and fellowship had attempted to do the impossible that The Buddha had. Achieve oneness with the universe. And today? All would succeed. Dr. Raymond leaned into his chair, the recording equipment primed, the instruments attuned to the thirty-something year old skeleton that sat in the isolated chamber. His colleagues were recording everything. He cleared his throat, and one of the operators flicked a switch. The monk doubled over. Not from hunger, but from pain. Words, like a tattooist's needle, burned deep into his mind. All across the world, the same sensation plagued humanity. And the words just kept growing. They grew across the sky, across the skin, across the brain, until the world itself began to scream from the infernal words, alien in structure. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up." The doctor looked over the scanners. "Increase in heart rate" someone spoke. He leaned back again, waiting. The monk understood. He understood, and he was scared. Enlightenment, the idea of ego being an illusion, it was all true, just as his brotherhood thought, but as he and everyone and everything attuned to the universe in the wake of the message, he screamed at knowing. That everything he knew never existed to begin with. He disappeared. "Turn it off! It's working." Dr. Raymond stood up, watching the coma-patients serene face. The monitors sped up, and there, at the corner of the figure's emaciated lips, there was a twitch. The doctor smiled. Success was at hand. Then with a slight twinge of worry, an attendant called out, "Heart rate just tripled." He snapped his head to the monitor. "Is it cut? Did you cut the message?" The attendant on the switch nodded. The Earth vanished without a sound. The stars soon followed it, and the light, and the sound, and the time all ceased, compounding into one. The creature that had once created and split itself thrashed as it's brain awoke to it's original confines. Human and small, with no space for the multi-tasking and creation it had wrought. It panicked in the darkness, until it could hear once again. Dr. Raymond watched helplessly as his patient juttered, as if a seizure was wracking it's body. The orderlies were dispatched to the chamber to subdue him before he could hurt himself. "He's awake." He spoke to his colleagues. Raymond felt a bead of sweat run down his forehead. The rest of the researchers waited with bated breath. The man wheezed. He felt the sheets on the bed, the light through his eyelids. He was held in place, but by what, he didn't know. Without opening his eyes, without moving an inch, he whispered out a single word, with a voice that hadn't spoken in two decades. "time?" Dr. Raymond saw the moment of death before he heard the instruments flat-line. The patient went limp, the orderly whispering something seconds before. He swore. Another failure. Later, Dr. Raymond would question the orderly, who went on the experimental record saying, "I thought he asked for the time, so I gave it to him. 3:47pm, right?" The cause of death was a heart attack. The body wasn't used to such strenuous a heart-rate after lying inert for so long. This would mark the failure rate for the medical trial at a 72%. Dr. Raymond walked outside the institute. He sighed. His research was hitting a brick wall. He could understand the failure cases, the dissonance with sudden awakenings, but he couldn't understand the successes. Without failure, the success cases would always behave exactly the same. Completely despondent. He lit a cigarette, checked the time, and looked up. The stars were beginning to shine in the dusky sky, and he resolved to spend more time together with his wife. After all, no one wants to be separate from what they truly love. Hey! Thanks for reading! First time doing this, but all constructive criticism is welcome.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	"Heh", I said out loud as I looked around. My coworkers just busily typing away, oblivious to all but their work. Yeah, that would explain why I'm just sitting here alone, staring at this stupid message. I shove myself away from my desk, preparing to get up and step away to clear my head. But the message, still flashing on my screen, strikes a nerve and I can't tear myself away. ... Well, if this is all just a dream, let's have some fun... Abruptly, my pants hit the ground in one quick motion... followed by the rest of my clothes. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!" I smirk. "Like I care what you think, Jim or whatever your name is...." Of course my asshole boss is the first to notice, maybe I'll just go piss on his desk... "DAMMIT -- Bill, get security. As for you...." My smirk is suddenly wiped from my face as "Jim" grabs me and shoves me into a side cubicle. I trip and -CRACK- right onto my face on the desktop. Stars sparkle... Wow... this is a vivid dream... Wait, can your vision even have that swirly effect in a dream? Oh, crap, what if that was just a bullshit writing prompt? "Um... Jim? I think we have a misunderstanding here...."	Time. You never forget about time, but time forgets about you. I never knew how much I had, whether it was days, weeks, minutes, or even seconds. I just knew darkness. It spread forever, a vast nothing with only the half-formed thought to keep me sane. So much time. Too much time. Too much time to remember where or who or why, until death beckoned there, past that empty plane. That was until, that in a moment unknown, I made time. There, in that blank void of myself, I devoted thoughts to it, it's constructs, it's connection to space and movement and put thought, effort, will behind them, maintaining the ideas of time and space, for long enough that they were a constant. I made time, in my dreams. I made a lot of things, things that I didn't remember precisely, but things that I was familiar with. I made the stars, explosions of fire and light and noise, shaped them from thought and left them to expand, grow and change. I made the Sun, and the Earth, and Mars, with rolling oceans of green, and blue, and red, the colors of the rainbow and spectrum's unseen. The plants and beasts, the people and nations, all a sheer manifest of my willpower, my want for substance. They/I didn't know about me. I willfully severed the idea of awareness to them, a test of autonomy, to see if they/I could operate them without thinking hard about it. After losing them, I switched my attention to new horizons, building new places, but I realized something. I realized that I was tired. It was the first time I'd felt anything tangible since the void had first appeared. And with the new cosmos as my bed, I slipped away, into a deep, deep slumber.--- The monk sat still, the third day of his fast. For thousands of years, his temple and fellowship had attempted to do the impossible that The Buddha had. Achieve oneness with the universe. And today? All would succeed. Dr. Raymond leaned into his chair, the recording equipment primed, the instruments attuned to the thirty-something year old skeleton that sat in the isolated chamber. His colleagues were recording everything. He cleared his throat, and one of the operators flicked a switch. The monk doubled over. Not from hunger, but from pain. Words, like a tattooist's needle, burned deep into his mind. All across the world, the same sensation plagued humanity. And the words just kept growing. They grew across the sky, across the skin, across the brain, until the world itself began to scream from the infernal words, alien in structure. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up." The doctor looked over the scanners. "Increase in heart rate" someone spoke. He leaned back again, waiting. The monk understood. He understood, and he was scared. Enlightenment, the idea of ego being an illusion, it was all true, just as his brotherhood thought, but as he and everyone and everything attuned to the universe in the wake of the message, he screamed at knowing. That everything he knew never existed to begin with. He disappeared. "Turn it off! It's working." Dr. Raymond stood up, watching the coma-patients serene face. The monitors sped up, and there, at the corner of the figure's emaciated lips, there was a twitch. The doctor smiled. Success was at hand. Then with a slight twinge of worry, an attendant called out, "Heart rate just tripled." He snapped his head to the monitor. "Is it cut? Did you cut the message?" The attendant on the switch nodded. The Earth vanished without a sound. The stars soon followed it, and the light, and the sound, and the time all ceased, compounding into one. The creature that had once created and split itself thrashed as it's brain awoke to it's original confines. Human and small, with no space for the multi-tasking and creation it had wrought. It panicked in the darkness, until it could hear once again. Dr. Raymond watched helplessly as his patient juttered, as if a seizure was wracking it's body. The orderlies were dispatched to the chamber to subdue him before he could hurt himself. "He's awake." He spoke to his colleagues. Raymond felt a bead of sweat run down his forehead. The rest of the researchers waited with bated breath. The man wheezed. He felt the sheets on the bed, the light through his eyelids. He was held in place, but by what, he didn't know. Without opening his eyes, without moving an inch, he whispered out a single word, with a voice that hadn't spoken in two decades. "time?" Dr. Raymond saw the moment of death before he heard the instruments flat-line. The patient went limp, the orderly whispering something seconds before. He swore. Another failure. Later, Dr. Raymond would question the orderly, who went on the experimental record saying, "I thought he asked for the time, so I gave it to him. 3:47pm, right?" The cause of death was a heart attack. The body wasn't used to such strenuous a heart-rate after lying inert for so long. This would mark the failure rate for the medical trial at a 72%. Dr. Raymond walked outside the institute. He sighed. His research was hitting a brick wall. He could understand the failure cases, the dissonance with sudden awakenings, but he couldn't understand the successes. Without failure, the success cases would always behave exactly the same. Completely despondent. He lit a cigarette, checked the time, and looked up. The stars were beginning to shine in the dusky sky, and he resolved to spend more time together with his wife. After all, no one wants to be separate from what they truly love. Hey! Thanks for reading! First time doing this, but all constructive criticism is welcome.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	Alaina sat in her car, phone in her hand. The message had come as she turned the engine off, stopping her just before she went to unbuckle and get out. Her brow furrowed, trying to figure out who among her friends and family would be cruel enough to send such a thing. There was no contact connected- just a series of numbers she didn’t recognize. Before she could take another action or even another breath, a second message came in. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. It was identical to the first one. The only thing that was different was the sender. Another series of numbers that at first glance, didn’t even look like a phone number. She didn’t even recognize the area code — it wasn’t from anywhere in her state. By the time she had unbuckled, grabbed her purse, and made it into her office building, her phone had vibrated three more times. As she sat down at her desk and turned her computer on, she had heard it vibrate in her purse three more times. It went off again as she pulled it out to try and silence the damned thing. As she glanced at the messages, her heart began to thump faster. The joke wasn’t funny the first time, and now she was at 9 identical texts. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. Every one of them was from a different number, none of which she recognized. She opened up one of them at random and shot a message back. Who is this? Who put you up to it? If they didn’t answer, she planned to go on to the next one. And then the next. Putting all notifications on silent, she slid her phone into her desk drawer and tried to focus on work. They’ll get bored, she thought, wiggling her mouse to make the screen come to life faster. It never worked, but it didn’t stop her hand from trying every morning. It did make her feel a little bit more foolish that day than normal, however. Shaking her head she stood up. Windows would start when it started, and it would move at whatever pace it wanted to. It always did. Instead of staring, and stewing, and feeling a little bit crazy, she stood up and walked to the break room. She needed coffee, and she needed to clear her head. The faces of her co-workers along the way helped to ground her. A little bit. Within five minutes she had a cup of thick coffee that was too hot to drink, and a chest full of new air, and she hoped the day would settle in. Her average, 9-5, nothing weird day. The thought was rotating around her head as she sat down, and opened up her outlook. Waiting for her was 36 new emails, all with the same subject. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. "What the fuck." The words slid out of her mouth before she could stop them. She barely even heard her own voice, with how distracted it all had made her. When a hand landed on her shoulder, a yelp rang out and she jumped half an inch off her chair. A low chuckle came from her cubicle mate as she turned to see who had snuck up on her. "You okay, Sarah?" he asked. Alaina's brain froze, wondering what exactly had happened to her world. /r/beezus_writes	Time. You never forget about time, but time forgets about you. I never knew how much I had, whether it was days, weeks, minutes, or even seconds. I just knew darkness. It spread forever, a vast nothing with only the half-formed thought to keep me sane. So much time. Too much time. Too much time to remember where or who or why, until death beckoned there, past that empty plane. That was until, that in a moment unknown, I made time. There, in that blank void of myself, I devoted thoughts to it, it's constructs, it's connection to space and movement and put thought, effort, will behind them, maintaining the ideas of time and space, for long enough that they were a constant. I made time, in my dreams. I made a lot of things, things that I didn't remember precisely, but things that I was familiar with. I made the stars, explosions of fire and light and noise, shaped them from thought and left them to expand, grow and change. I made the Sun, and the Earth, and Mars, with rolling oceans of green, and blue, and red, the colors of the rainbow and spectrum's unseen. The plants and beasts, the people and nations, all a sheer manifest of my willpower, my want for substance. They/I didn't know about me. I willfully severed the idea of awareness to them, a test of autonomy, to see if they/I could operate them without thinking hard about it. After losing them, I switched my attention to new horizons, building new places, but I realized something. I realized that I was tired. It was the first time I'd felt anything tangible since the void had first appeared. And with the new cosmos as my bed, I slipped away, into a deep, deep slumber.--- The monk sat still, the third day of his fast. For thousands of years, his temple and fellowship had attempted to do the impossible that The Buddha had. Achieve oneness with the universe. And today? All would succeed. Dr. Raymond leaned into his chair, the recording equipment primed, the instruments attuned to the thirty-something year old skeleton that sat in the isolated chamber. His colleagues were recording everything. He cleared his throat, and one of the operators flicked a switch. The monk doubled over. Not from hunger, but from pain. Words, like a tattooist's needle, burned deep into his mind. All across the world, the same sensation plagued humanity. And the words just kept growing. They grew across the sky, across the skin, across the brain, until the world itself began to scream from the infernal words, alien in structure. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up." The doctor looked over the scanners. "Increase in heart rate" someone spoke. He leaned back again, waiting. The monk understood. He understood, and he was scared. Enlightenment, the idea of ego being an illusion, it was all true, just as his brotherhood thought, but as he and everyone and everything attuned to the universe in the wake of the message, he screamed at knowing. That everything he knew never existed to begin with. He disappeared. "Turn it off! It's working." Dr. Raymond stood up, watching the coma-patients serene face. The monitors sped up, and there, at the corner of the figure's emaciated lips, there was a twitch. The doctor smiled. Success was at hand. Then with a slight twinge of worry, an attendant called out, "Heart rate just tripled." He snapped his head to the monitor. "Is it cut? Did you cut the message?" The attendant on the switch nodded. The Earth vanished without a sound. The stars soon followed it, and the light, and the sound, and the time all ceased, compounding into one. The creature that had once created and split itself thrashed as it's brain awoke to it's original confines. Human and small, with no space for the multi-tasking and creation it had wrought. It panicked in the darkness, until it could hear once again. Dr. Raymond watched helplessly as his patient juttered, as if a seizure was wracking it's body. The orderlies were dispatched to the chamber to subdue him before he could hurt himself. "He's awake." He spoke to his colleagues. Raymond felt a bead of sweat run down his forehead. The rest of the researchers waited with bated breath. The man wheezed. He felt the sheets on the bed, the light through his eyelids. He was held in place, but by what, he didn't know. Without opening his eyes, without moving an inch, he whispered out a single word, with a voice that hadn't spoken in two decades. "time?" Dr. Raymond saw the moment of death before he heard the instruments flat-line. The patient went limp, the orderly whispering something seconds before. He swore. Another failure. Later, Dr. Raymond would question the orderly, who went on the experimental record saying, "I thought he asked for the time, so I gave it to him. 3:47pm, right?" The cause of death was a heart attack. The body wasn't used to such strenuous a heart-rate after lying inert for so long. This would mark the failure rate for the medical trial at a 72%. Dr. Raymond walked outside the institute. He sighed. His research was hitting a brick wall. He could understand the failure cases, the dissonance with sudden awakenings, but he couldn't understand the successes. Without failure, the success cases would always behave exactly the same. Completely despondent. He lit a cigarette, checked the time, and looked up. The stars were beginning to shine in the dusky sky, and he resolved to spend more time together with his wife. After all, no one wants to be separate from what they truly love. Hey! Thanks for reading! First time doing this, but all constructive criticism is welcome.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	Twenty fucking years… twenty years that I will never get back, twenty years of me reliving memories from my childhood that, for the record, I don’t want to be remembering. Alright, that’s enough complaining. I’m not just gonna sit on my ass and let this happen to me. Thank god they got that message to me or who knows how long I would’ve been stuck in my head, literally. I wonder how they did get that message to me anyway. I guess medical technology progresses a lot in twenty years. Anyway, on to figuring out how to get out of here. Okay, well the doctor, or whoever sent that message, said that I’m in a dream. So I guess to get out of here I just have to wake up from the dream. Alright, then time to find some water. I’ve been walking around my childhood town for the past twenty years now. At least one benefit of that is that I know where to find anything I need, including water. I guess I’ll just go home for that. Wow, the kitchen is smaller than I remember. I hope the water runs in my dream. Alright, time to drink an uncomfortable amount of water. Sorry bladder. Now just to wait for a couple of hours till I have to pee. Hopefully this works, every time that I’ve peed in my dream before I’ve woken up. This isn’t any dream though. Oh god, it I can feel it. I don’t know if I’m gonna make it to the bathroom in time. I’ll just go out the window, it’s just a dream anyway. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Time to open my eyes. Please God, let me wake up. FUCK! And now I’m probably just sitting in a puddle of my own piss in the hospital too. Alright, on to plan b. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that people wake up when they have nightmares. All I need to do now is to find a dentist. Even better, my least favorite dentist, Dr. Dickens, from my childhood. Fitting name. That asshole ruined my elementary school days with those god damned braces. Anyway, he should be just a couple blocks down the road. Well here I am, about to face my fear. I'm pretty sure dentists aren’t supposed to strap you down so you can’t move your arms or legs. Oh wonderful, he’s also brought in three students who probably have no idea what they’re doing and now they’re going to play with my teeth too. Isn’t this great. Welp, that didn’t work either. I just humiliated myself by crying in front of that people younger than me and one person that I hate. Alright, forget the humiliation, I’ve got one more idea. I’ve got to head to makeout point. Damn, I had my first kiss there, this is probably going to taint that memory forever. Alright, well it’s worth it if I’m going to make it out of here. Alright, no thinking about it. Three…. Two… one... Oh wow, the ground is coming up pretty fast. What the fuck did I just do, I might actually die. No, no, no, no….. “Oh my god, he’s awake. Dale honey, do you recognize me?” Of course, I would recognize that annoying voice anywhere, “Hey, mom.” “Did you get our message?” “Yeah, how did you get that message to me anyway” “Science has come a long way” she said. “Wait Dale, you know you peed your pants a couple of minutes ago? Right.” Oh shit, yeah I forgot about that. “Yuck”. We laughed. “It’s good to have you back.” “It’s good to be back, do you think the Doctor could get me some clean clothes?” “Of course, here let me just call him back.” “Honey, I know it's too early to be asking this, but I know you and I know you’ve already thought about this, what do you plan to do now?” “Well, I actually haven’t thought about it, but off the top of my head, this makes for a pretty good story, I’ll probably sell it.” “Whatever works for you.” The doctor walked in. “Hey Dale, nice to see you’re awake.” SEEKING CRITICAL ADVICE	I was in the longest game of hide in seek, on the longest day in my life. When would the sun set? Every time I heard my friends, I would race around the corner only to see them exiting swiftly. Turning to find their room, I kept getting lost. I manage to get outside, the yard I don't recognize but, I see him, with some friends. "Darlin'?" I walk up to him as he continues his conversation with a friend while they smoke. I smell some pretty potent weed, as I gaze over their relaxed but cheerful expressions before I realize, he ignored me. "Hey, did you miss me?" I lean on the table causing the dominos from their forgotten game to slide. Two friends scramble to catch them before slipping off the edge, I stand up and lean over to him as he watches them pick up. "Darlin' did you miss me?" He stared off into space before taking a sip from his beer bottle. "Darlin'?" I look at the way the sun disappears into his dialated pupils. "Are you ignoring me?" Taking a step back I look around the table, where has everyone gone? Turning around, I am gazing at the front of a forest from a living room window. I hear my friends discussing their engagement, seated behind me I can see them from my peripheral. "My dress is almost finished! One more trip to the taylor, would you like to see it, baby?" Feeling my face close to the cold glass I chime in, "Noooo, it's bad luck for the groom to see it before your wedding day!" Wait. Why didn't I know about their wedding date? Did they not invite me? "Guys?" I look over my shoulder only to see two wisps disappear into the kitchen, passed a pool table set in a garage. The floor is dirty with cigarette ashes, spills, the throw down rug is matted and its color dulled. I walk around the pool table grabbing the 9 ball, rolling it to the 2, hear the soft clack, as the 2 ball bumbles a few inches closer to the corner pocket. I hear him again laughing with a friend in the kitchen, "Darling?" I make my way to the kitchen door, again I see the back of a red shirt and brown hair disappear behind a wall into the next room. I look behind me in the doorway, I see posters of vintage toys, stacked minatures in clear drawers, and seats station around a long table. The paper map is sprawled across the wood, penciled in are the mountains and trails. Monsters scattered across the map. Mr. Orange and his striking green eyes mews softly up at me as he hides under the table. I hear my roommate bumbling in the room over, calling out to his coworker to bring in the snacks as the door opens. I wave as he enters, looking up he calls out to the cat behind me. "Hey now, no kitties allowed." Following Mr. Orange I make it through our living room and towards the conputer desk. Maybe I should check my messages since I lost my phone. A tab is open featuring reddit, for the first time I am able to read a line. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up." I look back at Mr. Orange, sitting on the edge of the desk staring at me while closing his eyes slowly. "Brian?" I call out to my roommate in his game room. "Can you come here?" Mr. Orange's ear fold back as I stand up. "Brian!" Still no response. I walking into our roommate Rachael's room, Kiko her tuxedo turns her head to me from the bed, stretches and slowly pads the air looking at me. "Hey Rachael I-" Rachael had her noise cancelling headset on while she raids, I patiently wait by the door as Mr. orange slueths past me and jumps on his mama's computer headrest. Peering down into the glass terrarium I look at her tortoise Maebe as she nibbles on lettuce. Rachael still hasn't looked over. I walk closer to see her game, blurbs of color on the display, and chatter in her headset. "Rachael?" I pipe up behind her. Her hand leaves the mouse to reach back and pet Mr. Orange. "Mr. Orange, help me out here." I made eye contact with the purring feline, but there he continued to sit extended his neck for her strokes. I leave but hear Rachael call out, "I'm going to burn some sage." I walk back over to the computer at the desk. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up." Is still the only message I can read. I sit there, focused on every form and curve of letter on the screen. If this is a dream, how do I wake up? I look over at the glass door. The sun is rising again. I stand back up and walk to the opposite edge of the house with a clear path from me and the door. I take off running, I feel like I am floating every time I land a step. I press myself to go faster. The door stands firm as I slap against it. I feel no pain. I see Brian open the door from his game room staring at the sliding glass door. Rachael calls out, "What was that?" Brian answers as he walks closer, "I think a bird flew into the door!" Before turning back to his room, resuming his game. I leave the house and begin running. I am screaming like a madwoman "I am here! See me! See me!?" But no one is outside. I keep running until everything blurs colors together and I find myself falling off the top of a skyscraper. I feel light, I feel the wind whipping through my hair as the presense of the ground draws closer. My heart leaps in my chest, my stomach flutters as I feel a jerk against the cold rail touch my arm in the air conditioned hospital room. My sight is blurred without my glasses but I see wilted flowers and small potted plants surrounding me on the tables closest to my station. I am alone in here, but can see birds in a nest just on the edge of the window frame outside. My throat feels tight as the tube moves when I turn my head to the door. An older man in blue scrubs with a remote in his hand stands in the doorway. Is finger pressing down on a button emitted a soft tone. "Welcome back Sunshine!" My eyes settle on the man in the doorway, is voice familiar albeit a little hoarse. "D-darlin'?"
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	“You’ve been in a coma for 20 years…” Twenty years? That’s last century. I was a newlywed. Mom was alive. My brother-in-law, too. Dad could still walk. “We don’t know where this message will end up…” If this is all true, I’ve been in a coma, probably at a hospital in fucking Montgomery, AL. I haven’t even met my best friends yet. Did I dream them, too? I’ve got a daughter, she’s 14 now. Does she exist? Fuck, does my ex still have my kids? “Please wake up.” If you can read my thoughts… fuck off, I like my dream.	I was in the longest game of hide in seek, on the longest day in my life. When would the sun set? Every time I heard my friends, I would race around the corner only to see them exiting swiftly. Turning to find their room, I kept getting lost. I manage to get outside, the yard I don't recognize but, I see him, with some friends. "Darlin'?" I walk up to him as he continues his conversation with a friend while they smoke. I smell some pretty potent weed, as I gaze over their relaxed but cheerful expressions before I realize, he ignored me. "Hey, did you miss me?" I lean on the table causing the dominos from their forgotten game to slide. Two friends scramble to catch them before slipping off the edge, I stand up and lean over to him as he watches them pick up. "Darlin' did you miss me?" He stared off into space before taking a sip from his beer bottle. "Darlin'?" I look at the way the sun disappears into his dialated pupils. "Are you ignoring me?" Taking a step back I look around the table, where has everyone gone? Turning around, I am gazing at the front of a forest from a living room window. I hear my friends discussing their engagement, seated behind me I can see them from my peripheral. "My dress is almost finished! One more trip to the taylor, would you like to see it, baby?" Feeling my face close to the cold glass I chime in, "Noooo, it's bad luck for the groom to see it before your wedding day!" Wait. Why didn't I know about their wedding date? Did they not invite me? "Guys?" I look over my shoulder only to see two wisps disappear into the kitchen, passed a pool table set in a garage. The floor is dirty with cigarette ashes, spills, the throw down rug is matted and its color dulled. I walk around the pool table grabbing the 9 ball, rolling it to the 2, hear the soft clack, as the 2 ball bumbles a few inches closer to the corner pocket. I hear him again laughing with a friend in the kitchen, "Darling?" I make my way to the kitchen door, again I see the back of a red shirt and brown hair disappear behind a wall into the next room. I look behind me in the doorway, I see posters of vintage toys, stacked minatures in clear drawers, and seats station around a long table. The paper map is sprawled across the wood, penciled in are the mountains and trails. Monsters scattered across the map. Mr. Orange and his striking green eyes mews softly up at me as he hides under the table. I hear my roommate bumbling in the room over, calling out to his coworker to bring in the snacks as the door opens. I wave as he enters, looking up he calls out to the cat behind me. "Hey now, no kitties allowed." Following Mr. Orange I make it through our living room and towards the conputer desk. Maybe I should check my messages since I lost my phone. A tab is open featuring reddit, for the first time I am able to read a line. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up." I look back at Mr. Orange, sitting on the edge of the desk staring at me while closing his eyes slowly. "Brian?" I call out to my roommate in his game room. "Can you come here?" Mr. Orange's ear fold back as I stand up. "Brian!" Still no response. I walking into our roommate Rachael's room, Kiko her tuxedo turns her head to me from the bed, stretches and slowly pads the air looking at me. "Hey Rachael I-" Rachael had her noise cancelling headset on while she raids, I patiently wait by the door as Mr. orange slueths past me and jumps on his mama's computer headrest. Peering down into the glass terrarium I look at her tortoise Maebe as she nibbles on lettuce. Rachael still hasn't looked over. I walk closer to see her game, blurbs of color on the display, and chatter in her headset. "Rachael?" I pipe up behind her. Her hand leaves the mouse to reach back and pet Mr. Orange. "Mr. Orange, help me out here." I made eye contact with the purring feline, but there he continued to sit extended his neck for her strokes. I leave but hear Rachael call out, "I'm going to burn some sage." I walk back over to the computer at the desk. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up." Is still the only message I can read. I sit there, focused on every form and curve of letter on the screen. If this is a dream, how do I wake up? I look over at the glass door. The sun is rising again. I stand back up and walk to the opposite edge of the house with a clear path from me and the door. I take off running, I feel like I am floating every time I land a step. I press myself to go faster. The door stands firm as I slap against it. I feel no pain. I see Brian open the door from his game room staring at the sliding glass door. Rachael calls out, "What was that?" Brian answers as he walks closer, "I think a bird flew into the door!" Before turning back to his room, resuming his game. I leave the house and begin running. I am screaming like a madwoman "I am here! See me! See me!?" But no one is outside. I keep running until everything blurs colors together and I find myself falling off the top of a skyscraper. I feel light, I feel the wind whipping through my hair as the presense of the ground draws closer. My heart leaps in my chest, my stomach flutters as I feel a jerk against the cold rail touch my arm in the air conditioned hospital room. My sight is blurred without my glasses but I see wilted flowers and small potted plants surrounding me on the tables closest to my station. I am alone in here, but can see birds in a nest just on the edge of the window frame outside. My throat feels tight as the tube moves when I turn my head to the door. An older man in blue scrubs with a remote in his hand stands in the doorway. Is finger pressing down on a button emitted a soft tone. "Welcome back Sunshine!" My eyes settle on the man in the doorway, is voice familiar albeit a little hoarse. "D-darlin'?"
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	Alaina sat in her car, phone in her hand. The message had come as she turned the engine off, stopping her just before she went to unbuckle and get out. Her brow furrowed, trying to figure out who among her friends and family would be cruel enough to send such a thing. There was no contact connected- just a series of numbers she didn’t recognize. Before she could take another action or even another breath, a second message came in. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. It was identical to the first one. The only thing that was different was the sender. Another series of numbers that at first glance, didn’t even look like a phone number. She didn’t even recognize the area code — it wasn’t from anywhere in her state. By the time she had unbuckled, grabbed her purse, and made it into her office building, her phone had vibrated three more times. As she sat down at her desk and turned her computer on, she had heard it vibrate in her purse three more times. It went off again as she pulled it out to try and silence the damned thing. As she glanced at the messages, her heart began to thump faster. The joke wasn’t funny the first time, and now she was at 9 identical texts. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. Every one of them was from a different number, none of which she recognized. She opened up one of them at random and shot a message back. Who is this? Who put you up to it? If they didn’t answer, she planned to go on to the next one. And then the next. Putting all notifications on silent, she slid her phone into her desk drawer and tried to focus on work. They’ll get bored, she thought, wiggling her mouse to make the screen come to life faster. It never worked, but it didn’t stop her hand from trying every morning. It did make her feel a little bit more foolish that day than normal, however. Shaking her head she stood up. Windows would start when it started, and it would move at whatever pace it wanted to. It always did. Instead of staring, and stewing, and feeling a little bit crazy, she stood up and walked to the break room. She needed coffee, and she needed to clear her head. The faces of her co-workers along the way helped to ground her. A little bit. Within five minutes she had a cup of thick coffee that was too hot to drink, and a chest full of new air, and she hoped the day would settle in. Her average, 9-5, nothing weird day. The thought was rotating around her head as she sat down, and opened up her outlook. Waiting for her was 36 new emails, all with the same subject. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. "What the fuck." The words slid out of her mouth before she could stop them. She barely even heard her own voice, with how distracted it all had made her. When a hand landed on her shoulder, a yelp rang out and she jumped half an inch off her chair. A low chuckle came from her cubicle mate as she turned to see who had snuck up on her. "You okay, Sarah?" he asked. Alaina's brain froze, wondering what exactly had happened to her world. /r/beezus_writes	I was in the longest game of hide in seek, on the longest day in my life. When would the sun set? Every time I heard my friends, I would race around the corner only to see them exiting swiftly. Turning to find their room, I kept getting lost. I manage to get outside, the yard I don't recognize but, I see him, with some friends. "Darlin'?" I walk up to him as he continues his conversation with a friend while they smoke. I smell some pretty potent weed, as I gaze over their relaxed but cheerful expressions before I realize, he ignored me. "Hey, did you miss me?" I lean on the table causing the dominos from their forgotten game to slide. Two friends scramble to catch them before slipping off the edge, I stand up and lean over to him as he watches them pick up. "Darlin' did you miss me?" He stared off into space before taking a sip from his beer bottle. "Darlin'?" I look at the way the sun disappears into his dialated pupils. "Are you ignoring me?" Taking a step back I look around the table, where has everyone gone? Turning around, I am gazing at the front of a forest from a living room window. I hear my friends discussing their engagement, seated behind me I can see them from my peripheral. "My dress is almost finished! One more trip to the taylor, would you like to see it, baby?" Feeling my face close to the cold glass I chime in, "Noooo, it's bad luck for the groom to see it before your wedding day!" Wait. Why didn't I know about their wedding date? Did they not invite me? "Guys?" I look over my shoulder only to see two wisps disappear into the kitchen, passed a pool table set in a garage. The floor is dirty with cigarette ashes, spills, the throw down rug is matted and its color dulled. I walk around the pool table grabbing the 9 ball, rolling it to the 2, hear the soft clack, as the 2 ball bumbles a few inches closer to the corner pocket. I hear him again laughing with a friend in the kitchen, "Darling?" I make my way to the kitchen door, again I see the back of a red shirt and brown hair disappear behind a wall into the next room. I look behind me in the doorway, I see posters of vintage toys, stacked minatures in clear drawers, and seats station around a long table. The paper map is sprawled across the wood, penciled in are the mountains and trails. Monsters scattered across the map. Mr. Orange and his striking green eyes mews softly up at me as he hides under the table. I hear my roommate bumbling in the room over, calling out to his coworker to bring in the snacks as the door opens. I wave as he enters, looking up he calls out to the cat behind me. "Hey now, no kitties allowed." Following Mr. Orange I make it through our living room and towards the conputer desk. Maybe I should check my messages since I lost my phone. A tab is open featuring reddit, for the first time I am able to read a line. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up." I look back at Mr. Orange, sitting on the edge of the desk staring at me while closing his eyes slowly. "Brian?" I call out to my roommate in his game room. "Can you come here?" Mr. Orange's ear fold back as I stand up. "Brian!" Still no response. I walking into our roommate Rachael's room, Kiko her tuxedo turns her head to me from the bed, stretches and slowly pads the air looking at me. "Hey Rachael I-" Rachael had her noise cancelling headset on while she raids, I patiently wait by the door as Mr. orange slueths past me and jumps on his mama's computer headrest. Peering down into the glass terrarium I look at her tortoise Maebe as she nibbles on lettuce. Rachael still hasn't looked over. I walk closer to see her game, blurbs of color on the display, and chatter in her headset. "Rachael?" I pipe up behind her. Her hand leaves the mouse to reach back and pet Mr. Orange. "Mr. Orange, help me out here." I made eye contact with the purring feline, but there he continued to sit extended his neck for her strokes. I leave but hear Rachael call out, "I'm going to burn some sage." I walk back over to the computer at the desk. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up." Is still the only message I can read. I sit there, focused on every form and curve of letter on the screen. If this is a dream, how do I wake up? I look over at the glass door. The sun is rising again. I stand back up and walk to the opposite edge of the house with a clear path from me and the door. I take off running, I feel like I am floating every time I land a step. I press myself to go faster. The door stands firm as I slap against it. I feel no pain. I see Brian open the door from his game room staring at the sliding glass door. Rachael calls out, "What was that?" Brian answers as he walks closer, "I think a bird flew into the door!" Before turning back to his room, resuming his game. I leave the house and begin running. I am screaming like a madwoman "I am here! See me! See me!?" But no one is outside. I keep running until everything blurs colors together and I find myself falling off the top of a skyscraper. I feel light, I feel the wind whipping through my hair as the presense of the ground draws closer. My heart leaps in my chest, my stomach flutters as I feel a jerk against the cold rail touch my arm in the air conditioned hospital room. My sight is blurred without my glasses but I see wilted flowers and small potted plants surrounding me on the tables closest to my station. I am alone in here, but can see birds in a nest just on the edge of the window frame outside. My throat feels tight as the tube moves when I turn my head to the door. An older man in blue scrubs with a remote in his hand stands in the doorway. Is finger pressing down on a button emitted a soft tone. "Welcome back Sunshine!" My eyes settle on the man in the doorway, is voice familiar albeit a little hoarse. "D-darlin'?"
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	“You’ve been in a coma for 20 years…” Twenty years? That’s last century. I was a newlywed. Mom was alive. My brother-in-law, too. Dad could still walk. “We don’t know where this message will end up…” If this is all true, I’ve been in a coma, probably at a hospital in fucking Montgomery, AL. I haven’t even met my best friends yet. Did I dream them, too? I’ve got a daughter, she’s 14 now. Does she exist? Fuck, does my ex still have my kids? “Please wake up.” If you can read my thoughts… fuck off, I like my dream.	Hey. I see you. I don't know if you can say the same, but I'm here. I'm sorry; Mom, Dad, Nora. I know I should be there for you, but the sad thing is that I need to stay. I'm sorry. I'll be out of your hair soon, don't worry. I have to take care of a few things first. You must be all confused and worried sick! I've been getting your messages for a while and I decided not to respond; it was too much to bear; thankfully these words write easy. Already though I feel as if I'm writing some sort of email. It feels that way anyway. I'm sorry. I have to stay. You'll understand, maybe. I Love you. Goodbye. Edit: I don't know. I can't seem to finalize this for you. It's hard; my mind goes elsewhere and I feel like I'm pulling off the highway, taking some clover leafed turn and it turns and curves for what seems like forever and there you are pushed to the side of the driver seat door but you look ahead and your mind follows behind you that's how I feel. I'm sorry. You'll see me at the next exit I suppose. \-Nathan.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	Alaina sat in her car, phone in her hand. The message had come as she turned the engine off, stopping her just before she went to unbuckle and get out. Her brow furrowed, trying to figure out who among her friends and family would be cruel enough to send such a thing. There was no contact connected- just a series of numbers she didn’t recognize. Before she could take another action or even another breath, a second message came in. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. It was identical to the first one. The only thing that was different was the sender. Another series of numbers that at first glance, didn’t even look like a phone number. She didn’t even recognize the area code — it wasn’t from anywhere in her state. By the time she had unbuckled, grabbed her purse, and made it into her office building, her phone had vibrated three more times. As she sat down at her desk and turned her computer on, she had heard it vibrate in her purse three more times. It went off again as she pulled it out to try and silence the damned thing. As she glanced at the messages, her heart began to thump faster. The joke wasn’t funny the first time, and now she was at 9 identical texts. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. Every one of them was from a different number, none of which she recognized. She opened up one of them at random and shot a message back. Who is this? Who put you up to it? If they didn’t answer, she planned to go on to the next one. And then the next. Putting all notifications on silent, she slid her phone into her desk drawer and tried to focus on work. They’ll get bored, she thought, wiggling her mouse to make the screen come to life faster. It never worked, but it didn’t stop her hand from trying every morning. It did make her feel a little bit more foolish that day than normal, however. Shaking her head she stood up. Windows would start when it started, and it would move at whatever pace it wanted to. It always did. Instead of staring, and stewing, and feeling a little bit crazy, she stood up and walked to the break room. She needed coffee, and she needed to clear her head. The faces of her co-workers along the way helped to ground her. A little bit. Within five minutes she had a cup of thick coffee that was too hot to drink, and a chest full of new air, and she hoped the day would settle in. Her average, 9-5, nothing weird day. The thought was rotating around her head as she sat down, and opened up her outlook. Waiting for her was 36 new emails, all with the same subject. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. "What the fuck." The words slid out of her mouth before she could stop them. She barely even heard her own voice, with how distracted it all had made her. When a hand landed on her shoulder, a yelp rang out and she jumped half an inch off her chair. A low chuckle came from her cubicle mate as she turned to see who had snuck up on her. "You okay, Sarah?" he asked. Alaina's brain froze, wondering what exactly had happened to her world. /r/beezus_writes	Hey. I see you. I don't know if you can say the same, but I'm here. I'm sorry; Mom, Dad, Nora. I know I should be there for you, but the sad thing is that I need to stay. I'm sorry. I'll be out of your hair soon, don't worry. I have to take care of a few things first. You must be all confused and worried sick! I've been getting your messages for a while and I decided not to respond; it was too much to bear; thankfully these words write easy. Already though I feel as if I'm writing some sort of email. It feels that way anyway. I'm sorry. I have to stay. You'll understand, maybe. I Love you. Goodbye. Edit: I don't know. I can't seem to finalize this for you. It's hard; my mind goes elsewhere and I feel like I'm pulling off the highway, taking some clover leafed turn and it turns and curves for what seems like forever and there you are pushed to the side of the driver seat door but you look ahead and your mind follows behind you that's how I feel. I'm sorry. You'll see me at the next exit I suppose. \-Nathan.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	Alaina sat in her car, phone in her hand. The message had come as she turned the engine off, stopping her just before she went to unbuckle and get out. Her brow furrowed, trying to figure out who among her friends and family would be cruel enough to send such a thing. There was no contact connected- just a series of numbers she didn’t recognize. Before she could take another action or even another breath, a second message came in. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. It was identical to the first one. The only thing that was different was the sender. Another series of numbers that at first glance, didn’t even look like a phone number. She didn’t even recognize the area code — it wasn’t from anywhere in her state. By the time she had unbuckled, grabbed her purse, and made it into her office building, her phone had vibrated three more times. As she sat down at her desk and turned her computer on, she had heard it vibrate in her purse three more times. It went off again as she pulled it out to try and silence the damned thing. As she glanced at the messages, her heart began to thump faster. The joke wasn’t funny the first time, and now she was at 9 identical texts. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. Every one of them was from a different number, none of which she recognized. She opened up one of them at random and shot a message back. Who is this? Who put you up to it? If they didn’t answer, she planned to go on to the next one. And then the next. Putting all notifications on silent, she slid her phone into her desk drawer and tried to focus on work. They’ll get bored, she thought, wiggling her mouse to make the screen come to life faster. It never worked, but it didn’t stop her hand from trying every morning. It did make her feel a little bit more foolish that day than normal, however. Shaking her head she stood up. Windows would start when it started, and it would move at whatever pace it wanted to. It always did. Instead of staring, and stewing, and feeling a little bit crazy, she stood up and walked to the break room. She needed coffee, and she needed to clear her head. The faces of her co-workers along the way helped to ground her. A little bit. Within five minutes she had a cup of thick coffee that was too hot to drink, and a chest full of new air, and she hoped the day would settle in. Her average, 9-5, nothing weird day. The thought was rotating around her head as she sat down, and opened up her outlook. Waiting for her was 36 new emails, all with the same subject. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. "What the fuck." The words slid out of her mouth before she could stop them. She barely even heard her own voice, with how distracted it all had made her. When a hand landed on her shoulder, a yelp rang out and she jumped half an inch off her chair. A low chuckle came from her cubicle mate as she turned to see who had snuck up on her. "You okay, Sarah?" he asked. Alaina's brain froze, wondering what exactly had happened to her world. /r/beezus_writes	The Escape I hear a faint sound of an annoying alarm “BEEP BEEP BEEP” slowly getting louder, at about the same rate my eyes peal open. The noise gets no better now ringing in my head like a big brass bell. Getting More nautious with every movement, I begin to sit up and gain my vision. Questioning what happened the night before. I quickly found one of the answers in the empty bottle of jack on the floor. Dazed and confused by the hang over and the alarm, I was more thrown off by yet how seemingly quite it also was. By how my wife would have been telling me to shut the alarm off, or the dog would be gracefully telling me he was ready for breakfast. But all I was able to see in my near surroundings were old vices and new desires. Pill bottles, designer clothes on the floor and broken diamond necklesses on the floor, woman’s langere leading in a trail down the hallway. As my hearing is coming back I can notice another sound it’s constant notifications on my Phone. With my foggy eyesight I look at the screen and see likes and replies from every social media under the sun. This is also weird because I do not use social media like that, not enough to even have my notifications on. Something is very wrong. I wasn’t supposed to still be here. In 2120 Something weird happened, the world was able to figure out the connection of a soul and a body through death. It was found that when you die, your soul and consciousness is sent to your next reality in the timeline and so on in a never ending loop. After this new discovery, the world naturally tried to impose their will on this natural phenomenon. Marketing a new service where one can opt to put them selves in a coma to transfer your consciousness into a new customized world, a dream reality. But if you become too indulged in the ideas of these fantasies your soul can make full separation from your core self. The year now was 2134. I was under the impression I needed a break from all the loving people and life I had become accustomed to, for reasons I’m still trying to figure out. So, I went in for the procedure to see what all the craze was about. Fully aware of the fatal possibilities of trying this. So Hungry for the taste of something new. I instinctively signed the waiver. That clearly stated the possibility of getting stuck in this fake reality. Remembering my decision, something just didn’t feel right. I looked back at my phone to see the date and it was the 12th of August, Just like I thought I was the day I was supposed to return to my physical body and wake from the coma. But before I get another second think, one more notification comes across the screen it reads “We are very sorry to inform you, we were unable to wake you up, your family and loved ones have informed. We’re sorry for the inconvenience.........” Only If I have seen I would have gotten trapped trying to escape.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	Alaina sat in her car, phone in her hand. The message had come as she turned the engine off, stopping her just before she went to unbuckle and get out. Her brow furrowed, trying to figure out who among her friends and family would be cruel enough to send such a thing. There was no contact connected- just a series of numbers she didn’t recognize. Before she could take another action or even another breath, a second message came in. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. It was identical to the first one. The only thing that was different was the sender. Another series of numbers that at first glance, didn’t even look like a phone number. She didn’t even recognize the area code — it wasn’t from anywhere in her state. By the time she had unbuckled, grabbed her purse, and made it into her office building, her phone had vibrated three more times. As she sat down at her desk and turned her computer on, she had heard it vibrate in her purse three more times. It went off again as she pulled it out to try and silence the damned thing. As she glanced at the messages, her heart began to thump faster. The joke wasn’t funny the first time, and now she was at 9 identical texts. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. Every one of them was from a different number, none of which she recognized. She opened up one of them at random and shot a message back. Who is this? Who put you up to it? If they didn’t answer, she planned to go on to the next one. And then the next. Putting all notifications on silent, she slid her phone into her desk drawer and tried to focus on work. They’ll get bored, she thought, wiggling her mouse to make the screen come to life faster. It never worked, but it didn’t stop her hand from trying every morning. It did make her feel a little bit more foolish that day than normal, however. Shaking her head she stood up. Windows would start when it started, and it would move at whatever pace it wanted to. It always did. Instead of staring, and stewing, and feeling a little bit crazy, she stood up and walked to the break room. She needed coffee, and she needed to clear her head. The faces of her co-workers along the way helped to ground her. A little bit. Within five minutes she had a cup of thick coffee that was too hot to drink, and a chest full of new air, and she hoped the day would settle in. Her average, 9-5, nothing weird day. The thought was rotating around her head as she sat down, and opened up her outlook. Waiting for her was 36 new emails, all with the same subject. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. "What the fuck." The words slid out of her mouth before she could stop them. She barely even heard her own voice, with how distracted it all had made her. When a hand landed on her shoulder, a yelp rang out and she jumped half an inch off her chair. A low chuckle came from her cubicle mate as she turned to see who had snuck up on her. "You okay, Sarah?" he asked. Alaina's brain froze, wondering what exactly had happened to her world. /r/beezus_writes	He woke to a tickle on his face. Opening his eye just a slit, he found the cat’s big green eyes staring at him. “It’s early, bud,” he said as he rolled over. “Let me sleep a little bit more.” The cat walked over him to the other side of the bed and tickled his face with his whiskers again. “Ugh. Fine,” he groaned as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. He whipped the covers off his legs and swung them over the edge of the mattress. He put his feet in a pair of slippers and wriggled into a hoodie, pulling it closed tightly around his torso. As he walked into the hallway, his body jolted with a quick shiver. He checked the thermostat on the way to the kitchen. Its small touch screen showed it set at 64 degrees and holding at 64 degrees. Must have just been a chill from getting out from under those warm covers. Something about the screen caught his eye, though. Something that didn’t belong. Text scrolling along the bottom of the display. “Will.” Who’s Will? I am, duh. I must need coffee. Will chuckled to himself as more text scrolled along the bottom of the screen. “We are trying a new technique, Will. We don’t know where this message will end up-” The cat meowed loudly as it rubbed against his leg. “Alright,” Will said. “Impatience doesn’t look good on you, bub.” Will continued to the kitchen and picked up the cat’s bowl. He pulled the cat food from the cupboard by his knees and scooped the dry kibble out with a measuring cup. The cat frenzied like he always did in the morning. Meowing and purring as he rubbed against Will’s legs in a figure-8. “Chill, dude,” Will said. “I’m not making this for me.” He set the bowl down and the cat immediately began his morning munch fest. Finally free of his captor, Will blinked the remaining sleep from his eyes and glanced around the kitchen Coffee. He flipped the switch on the pre-loaded coffee maker and turned on the TV while he waited. The small flat screen lit up with the news. Will never changed the kitchen TV because the news is the only thing he watched on it. The 30-something blonde newscaster was halfway through a story about a young boy raising a few hundred dollars for the wildfire relief effort in Australia. Will’s eyes flicked to the stock info that scrolled along the bottom of the screen. He never played the stock market but lately, he had been thinking about it. Just watching stocks rise and fall was good enough for him in the meantime. Then the text changed. “If you are reading this, you’ve been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying something new. We don’t know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.” That’s weird. Some poor guy is in a coma and they think he’s watching the news in his head. Then the beginning of the text came around again. “Will, if you are reading this-.” I’m Will. He shook his head. It’s a common name. Must be someone else. Will yawned. So tired. Must be bedtime. He looked down. I’m already wearing my pajamas and have my slippers on. Will turned off the TV and walked out of the kitchen with the cat following at his feet. Will shuffled down the hallway and into the bedroom. He kicked off the slippers and pulled the hoodie off. He crawled into bed and pulled the blanket over him. The cat curled up beside him. Will grabbed his phone from the nightstand and opened Reddit like he always did before bed. Tapping on r/writingprompts, he began his slow scroll through the posts of the day. He stopped on one with a bunch of upvotes. “\[WP\] If you are reading this, you’ve been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don’t know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.” That seems like an interesting writing prompt. I’ll have to read the responses in the morning. Will put his phone back on the nightstand and rolled onto his side to pet the cat. His fur was so soft. Will always marveled at how well the cat maintained his coat. Then he thought that if he was a cat, his coat would probably be all mottled and disgusting. Will scratched under the cat’s collar and the cat stretched his neck out and closed his eyes. “You’re diggin’ that,” Will said. Then something caught Will’s eye. The cat’s tag was still hanging from the collar but it didn’t have his contact info on it. Instead, it had a block of tiny text squeezed onto the tiny aluminum plate. Will unbuckled the collar and rolled over to the lamp, holding the tag up to the light. “If you are reading this, you’ve been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don’t know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.” Will sat straight up. It’s me. They’re talking to me. Who? Doesn’t matter. Am I dreaming this? “Am I dreaming this?” Will asked the cat. “Yes,” the cat said. Will threw himself out of bed and stood with his back flat against the wall, staring at his cat. “Coffee,” the cat said. “Coffee?” Will asked, but the cat said nothing more. Coffee. Will lunged into the hallway without his hoodie or slippers and ran to the kitchen. A full pot waited in the coffee maker. He poured himself a cup and brought it to his mouth. The scalding liquid burned his lips and he coughed. Black coffee dribbled down his chin as he moved to the freezer. He swung the door open and dropped several ice cubes into his cup, sloshing hot coffee onto his hand. Once the cubes had melted, Will gulped the lukewarm liquid. He emptied his cup and clenched his eyes shut. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. “Wake up!” he yelled. “Wake up!” someone else yelled. Will opened his eyes to find himself in a bright room. His blurry vision struggled to make sense of it. Light blue paint on the walls. Several white boxes to his left and right. Machines. Will realized he lay in a hospital bed. He tried to move his arms, but his joints were stiff. They would not respond. “Just stay still,” a female voice told him. She sat at Will’s bedside, still a blur. Will tried to pick out her features but her blonde hair is all he knew for sure. Several more blurry figures rushed into the room. White coats, clipboards, name tags, security badges. Doctors. Nurses. They congratulated each other, shaking hands and slapping backs. The blonde woman started crying with one hand over her mouth and another holding Will’s hand tightly. Her features sharpened and Will recognized her. The newscaster. “Hello, dad,” she said in between sniffs.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	Alaina sat in her car, phone in her hand. The message had come as she turned the engine off, stopping her just before she went to unbuckle and get out. Her brow furrowed, trying to figure out who among her friends and family would be cruel enough to send such a thing. There was no contact connected- just a series of numbers she didn’t recognize. Before she could take another action or even another breath, a second message came in. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. It was identical to the first one. The only thing that was different was the sender. Another series of numbers that at first glance, didn’t even look like a phone number. She didn’t even recognize the area code — it wasn’t from anywhere in her state. By the time she had unbuckled, grabbed her purse, and made it into her office building, her phone had vibrated three more times. As she sat down at her desk and turned her computer on, she had heard it vibrate in her purse three more times. It went off again as she pulled it out to try and silence the damned thing. As she glanced at the messages, her heart began to thump faster. The joke wasn’t funny the first time, and now she was at 9 identical texts. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. Every one of them was from a different number, none of which she recognized. She opened up one of them at random and shot a message back. Who is this? Who put you up to it? If they didn’t answer, she planned to go on to the next one. And then the next. Putting all notifications on silent, she slid her phone into her desk drawer and tried to focus on work. They’ll get bored, she thought, wiggling her mouse to make the screen come to life faster. It never worked, but it didn’t stop her hand from trying every morning. It did make her feel a little bit more foolish that day than normal, however. Shaking her head she stood up. Windows would start when it started, and it would move at whatever pace it wanted to. It always did. Instead of staring, and stewing, and feeling a little bit crazy, she stood up and walked to the break room. She needed coffee, and she needed to clear her head. The faces of her co-workers along the way helped to ground her. A little bit. Within five minutes she had a cup of thick coffee that was too hot to drink, and a chest full of new air, and she hoped the day would settle in. Her average, 9-5, nothing weird day. The thought was rotating around her head as she sat down, and opened up her outlook. Waiting for her was 36 new emails, all with the same subject. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. "What the fuck." The words slid out of her mouth before she could stop them. She barely even heard her own voice, with how distracted it all had made her. When a hand landed on her shoulder, a yelp rang out and she jumped half an inch off her chair. A low chuckle came from her cubicle mate as she turned to see who had snuck up on her. "You okay, Sarah?" he asked. Alaina's brain froze, wondering what exactly had happened to her world. /r/beezus_writes	This prompt gave me all the thoughts you could imagine. Is this my real life? Is it all in my head? Is this word prompt just some prank? Could I die for real any minute? But the truth is, I don't jump to any those conclusions. The truth is, I don’t really care. In fact, if you told me I was really in a coma, and this new technique is really coming through, then you wouldn't see me panic. You probably wouldn't even see me flinch. The only response you'd get is a look of immense relief. I’ve been alone for goddamn years. If this is my real life and I slip into a real coma tomorrow, I think the only one who’d notice is my neighbor, Mad Margaret. She’s a kindly old woman, but she’s losing her mind. Margaret delivers cookies to my door every day, just because she thinks I’m her kid. I’m not. I never even met my own grandmother. But she leaves them anyway, so I’ve come to accept those cookies. The day I fall in a coma and don’t answer her damn doorbell ringing will be the day she’ll think I was just napping. A week could pass, my bowels could empty, my brain could die a slow, suffocating death, and the crazy woman would probably still think I was just napping. "Oo, this is a long one," she'd say at the door. "I better make him an extra batch." Let’s be honest; a coma today would not be as flamboyant as this alleged coma starting 20 years ago. Now I'm reading some prompt telling me it's all fake, and saying that they want me to wake up. Somebody wants me to wake up. Someone thinks I'm worth saving. Christ. What an incredible feeling. Otherwise why else would this team of hotshot researcher scientists spend an exorbitant amount of money and effort trying to get through to my unconscious ass? Am I some politician? A CEO? Or am I just so desperately loved by some poor broad that she’d pay any price to bring me back? Did my real parents actually decide to stick around this time? To be conscious and lonely, or loved and comatose? Which one, which one. ... I think I better go home, before those cookies get cold.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	1/2 I didn’t recognize our current setting. It looked like a city of sorts. Which one? I had no clue, I had never been here before. This must have been a place she’d been to long before she met me. It didn’t help that half the world around us was left incomplete: some buildings were left unfinished, most roads curved unnaturally and oft lead to nowhere, no signs or buildings had legible words to read, and most jarring of all, most of the faces of passerby’s were a blur. It looked straight out of a nightmare and to put it bluntly, it was jarring as all hell to see. But none of that mattered to me. The only thing that was important was that I saw her. She was smiling, laughing even, skipping down the street as the malformed sun above cast down its warped rays upon her. While the rest of the world looked like a perversion of itself, she did not. Lauren Conners looked as beautiful as the day I married her over twenty years ago. I knew that approaching her now would be a bad idea because wherever this place was, whatever dream it spawned from, came from a time before Lauren and I had met. And it was never ideal to insert new variables into preexisting memories. But I was desperate and I missed her so much. I strode up to her, my body moving so slow as if I were wading through water. When I caught up, I tapped her on the shoulder and could already feel a rush of excitement building up. I was touching her. God how I missed that. “Pardon me, Miss?” I said. I tried to act as nonchalant as possible, wanting to be just another fixture in her dream. She regarded me with her hazel brown eyes. Lauren looked confused. She titled her head as she scrunched her little button nose. “Um- Can I help you?” Lauren said. Her voice sounded just as I remembered. Soft on the ears. Melodic when she spoke. Kindness in her every breath. “Oh, where are my manners. Names Jake. Jake Conners.” She smiled at me. Always was she quick to trust. “Lauren Williams. Pleasure to meet you, Jake.” Williams. My heart sank a little when I heard that. This was definitely a dream that happened before she met me. Even though I knew, it still stung me to hear her use her maiden name. “The pleasures mine, Lauren. It’s a lovely day we’re having isn’t it?” “It really is!” Her face lit up as she looked all around. Whatever lens she saw this dreamworld through must have had one helluva filter on it. But she was content and that was good enough for both of us. “I simply adore- “Bright Summer days like these.” We said in unison. How many times had she told me that? That days like this were the best of the bunch, the cream of the crop. She laughed, tilting her head back. Clearly that amused her. “Jinx, you owe me a coke!” I feigned defeat, just like I always did whenever she ‘got me’. But if it would have made her happy, I would have bought her a thousand of em and then a thousand more. “So, Jake, what can I do for you?” “You know, I’m not quite sure where I’m going right now.” “Oh no, you poor thing. You must be new around these parts.” “As a matter of fact, ma’am, yes I am. Never been to these neck of the woods.” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “Well then we’re just going to have to fix that. Why don’t you tell me where you’re headed and then we’ll see what we can do.” She was always like that. A regular bleeding heart. Didn’t matter who it was, if Lauren saw someone in need of help, she was the first one to offer it. Maybe that was why I loved her so much. Or maybe it was because she was such an amazing person. I thought about it for a second. I wasn’t lost, I was exactly where I wanted to be. But where did she want to go? What place could I suggest that would pique her interest. That was the real question. “I’m looking for a bookstore.” I said, when it finally dawned on me. She loved going to those places. In fact, that was where we first met. “Oh! Not a problem at all,” she beamed. Jackpot, I had struck a cord with her. “I know a fantastic little spot just down the corner. Let me show you!” “I don’t mean to be a bother-“ She pinched her lips and gave me a dismissing wave. “Come off it. It’s no bother at all. Come on, I’ll take you! Besides you owe me remember? In fact, consider the price doubled, you’ve been talking far too much for someone who’s been jinxed.” She gave me an impish smile, the same one she gave me when I proposed. My knees damn near buckled. I followed her, letting the world around us meld into her making. Roads began to materialize where there was none. Buildings sprouted from the ground as if they were trees. People zoomed in from the sky, but each time something odd occurred, Lauren never reacted to it. This was all so very normal to her. After all, we were trapped inside her subconscious mind. When we got to the bookstore that appeared from nowhere, I marveled at how large her mind constructed the building. It was damn near a skyscraper, a testament to how she revered such places. Lauren not only made good on her word, but she too insisted she help me sift through the endless rows until we found what I was looking for. Personally, I had already found what I wanted, she was standing arms length away from me. But for her sake, I rattled off her favorite books just so I could see the joy spark in her eyes.	I pick up a book with a plain black cover off of the shelf, intrigued because of the lack of words on the spine. The cover only had two words written in a large, white font. Read Me was apparently the title. There was no author written on the front either, another interesting choice. I rub my fingers over the words, appreciating its smoothness in contrast of the cover as I turn it over, a habit I've acquired over the years for whatever reason. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. —Dr. Francis" I feel the curiosity and excitement bubbling, and I am delighted that I seemingly always have an ability to pick out interesting books. I hope the story itself won't disappoint. Just as I'm about to settle down in my favorite corner, I glance at my phone. Shoot! I have to get back to my dorm soon, it's almost time for the group project meeting. I hate being late. I hurriedly fish my library card out of my pocket and head to the counter, smiling politely at the new librarian who wordlessly does the check out. I liked Ms. Green better, but it's fine because I have no time for a chat anyways. "Thank you!" I fast walk out the library. As soon as I'm back, I gently place the book on my table. My mind is itching to start reading, but it'll have to wait. I have a group project to attend to. \--- I sit uncomfortably at a table in one of my university's study areas, anxious and annoyed. Where are my teammates? I start tapping my fingers on the desk as if I'm listening to music but there is none, only the steady ticking of the clock on the wall in front of me. I keep checking my phone every few seconds. I could have started reading my damn book. Suddenly a text pops up. Finally! I exhale in relief and unlock my phone to read it. It's from an unknown number. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. What the fuck? A chill goes down my spine, and I can feel my heart rate quickening. My shoulders tense as I look around the room, every other person in the room suddenly threatening and suspicious. I try to find any familiar faces, anyone that could have been at the library with me. How the hell does this person know what book I was reading? Am I being watched or followed? My right leg is doing that shaking thing now. Where the hell are my teammates? As much as I don't want to do the project, having anyone I know next to me to keep me distracted would be great right now. I quickly exit the message to message the group chat again, fingers quivering. My phone is being slow, probably because the sweat makes it less responsive. As I'm frantically typing my message, I get an email notification. I don't recognize the sender - someone called Francis L. ? Wait a minute... A feeling of dread rises in me, not unlike how it feels when vomit is coming up your throat. I click on the email and almost drop my phone at the now familiar message. The email address has the same name as the book too. Whoever is sending this definitely read the blurb. How is this possible? I will myself to stay seated as I shakily type out a response. Who are you? What do you want? I start gathering up my things in case I need to make a run for it. For some reason, this line of thought feels oddly familiar and instinctive, although I've never been in this kind of situation before. I think? I shake my head, whoever is behind this is getting under my skin and now I'm thinking crazy things. Another email notification jolts me from my thoughts. My fingers are so slippery. I steady my arms on the table. Holy shit, it worked! I have no idea how you can respond back but this is a good sign! Please don't be scared. I am Dr. Francis, your faithful doctor. Can you respond back again? What the actual fuck is happening? I feel lightheaded now. Should I respond back? My fingers hover over the delete button, but something stops me. A weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. Still don't know who the fuck you are and what you want. Your name doesn't mean anything to me. I try for the angry tone even though I am absolutely terrified. The response only takes a minute or two to come back. Whoa there, I apologize if I've upset you. I suppose in the world your mind has created, this must be scary and confusing and hard to believe, but it's true. Whatever you are seeing now is a simulation of your mind. Maybe hearing from a family member will help you believe? Trevor says hi and that he misses you. And Bobby says he's excited about this new development and hopes you'll wake up too. Do either of them ring a bell? This time, I do drop my phone. It makes a loud thump, disrupting the quietness. I can feel the stares but that is the last thing on my mind right now. Before I can process the email and come up with a response, my screen lights up again. Trevor: Hey Zach, so sorry for being late to the meeting. Almost there tho. Like 3 more mins. And dw, Bobby is here as well
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	"Heh", I said out loud as I looked around. My coworkers just busily typing away, oblivious to all but their work. Yeah, that would explain why I'm just sitting here alone, staring at this stupid message. I shove myself away from my desk, preparing to get up and step away to clear my head. But the message, still flashing on my screen, strikes a nerve and I can't tear myself away. ... Well, if this is all just a dream, let's have some fun... Abruptly, my pants hit the ground in one quick motion... followed by the rest of my clothes. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!" I smirk. "Like I care what you think, Jim or whatever your name is...." Of course my asshole boss is the first to notice, maybe I'll just go piss on his desk... "DAMMIT -- Bill, get security. As for you...." My smirk is suddenly wiped from my face as "Jim" grabs me and shoves me into a side cubicle. I trip and -CRACK- right onto my face on the desktop. Stars sparkle... Wow... this is a vivid dream... Wait, can your vision even have that swirly effect in a dream? Oh, crap, what if that was just a bullshit writing prompt? "Um... Jim? I think we have a misunderstanding here...."	I pick up a book with a plain black cover off of the shelf, intrigued because of the lack of words on the spine. The cover only had two words written in a large, white font. Read Me was apparently the title. There was no author written on the front either, another interesting choice. I rub my fingers over the words, appreciating its smoothness in contrast of the cover as I turn it over, a habit I've acquired over the years for whatever reason. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. —Dr. Francis" I feel the curiosity and excitement bubbling, and I am delighted that I seemingly always have an ability to pick out interesting books. I hope the story itself won't disappoint. Just as I'm about to settle down in my favorite corner, I glance at my phone. Shoot! I have to get back to my dorm soon, it's almost time for the group project meeting. I hate being late. I hurriedly fish my library card out of my pocket and head to the counter, smiling politely at the new librarian who wordlessly does the check out. I liked Ms. Green better, but it's fine because I have no time for a chat anyways. "Thank you!" I fast walk out the library. As soon as I'm back, I gently place the book on my table. My mind is itching to start reading, but it'll have to wait. I have a group project to attend to. \--- I sit uncomfortably at a table in one of my university's study areas, anxious and annoyed. Where are my teammates? I start tapping my fingers on the desk as if I'm listening to music but there is none, only the steady ticking of the clock on the wall in front of me. I keep checking my phone every few seconds. I could have started reading my damn book. Suddenly a text pops up. Finally! I exhale in relief and unlock my phone to read it. It's from an unknown number. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. What the fuck? A chill goes down my spine, and I can feel my heart rate quickening. My shoulders tense as I look around the room, every other person in the room suddenly threatening and suspicious. I try to find any familiar faces, anyone that could have been at the library with me. How the hell does this person know what book I was reading? Am I being watched or followed? My right leg is doing that shaking thing now. Where the hell are my teammates? As much as I don't want to do the project, having anyone I know next to me to keep me distracted would be great right now. I quickly exit the message to message the group chat again, fingers quivering. My phone is being slow, probably because the sweat makes it less responsive. As I'm frantically typing my message, I get an email notification. I don't recognize the sender - someone called Francis L. ? Wait a minute... A feeling of dread rises in me, not unlike how it feels when vomit is coming up your throat. I click on the email and almost drop my phone at the now familiar message. The email address has the same name as the book too. Whoever is sending this definitely read the blurb. How is this possible? I will myself to stay seated as I shakily type out a response. Who are you? What do you want? I start gathering up my things in case I need to make a run for it. For some reason, this line of thought feels oddly familiar and instinctive, although I've never been in this kind of situation before. I think? I shake my head, whoever is behind this is getting under my skin and now I'm thinking crazy things. Another email notification jolts me from my thoughts. My fingers are so slippery. I steady my arms on the table. Holy shit, it worked! I have no idea how you can respond back but this is a good sign! Please don't be scared. I am Dr. Francis, your faithful doctor. Can you respond back again? What the actual fuck is happening? I feel lightheaded now. Should I respond back? My fingers hover over the delete button, but something stops me. A weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. Still don't know who the fuck you are and what you want. Your name doesn't mean anything to me. I try for the angry tone even though I am absolutely terrified. The response only takes a minute or two to come back. Whoa there, I apologize if I've upset you. I suppose in the world your mind has created, this must be scary and confusing and hard to believe, but it's true. Whatever you are seeing now is a simulation of your mind. Maybe hearing from a family member will help you believe? Trevor says hi and that he misses you. And Bobby says he's excited about this new development and hopes you'll wake up too. Do either of them ring a bell? This time, I do drop my phone. It makes a loud thump, disrupting the quietness. I can feel the stares but that is the last thing on my mind right now. Before I can process the email and come up with a response, my screen lights up again. Trevor: Hey Zach, so sorry for being late to the meeting. Almost there tho. Like 3 more mins. And dw, Bobby is here as well
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	Alaina sat in her car, phone in her hand. The message had come as she turned the engine off, stopping her just before she went to unbuckle and get out. Her brow furrowed, trying to figure out who among her friends and family would be cruel enough to send such a thing. There was no contact connected- just a series of numbers she didn’t recognize. Before she could take another action or even another breath, a second message came in. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. It was identical to the first one. The only thing that was different was the sender. Another series of numbers that at first glance, didn’t even look like a phone number. She didn’t even recognize the area code — it wasn’t from anywhere in her state. By the time she had unbuckled, grabbed her purse, and made it into her office building, her phone had vibrated three more times. As she sat down at her desk and turned her computer on, she had heard it vibrate in her purse three more times. It went off again as she pulled it out to try and silence the damned thing. As she glanced at the messages, her heart began to thump faster. The joke wasn’t funny the first time, and now she was at 9 identical texts. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. Every one of them was from a different number, none of which she recognized. She opened up one of them at random and shot a message back. Who is this? Who put you up to it? If they didn’t answer, she planned to go on to the next one. And then the next. Putting all notifications on silent, she slid her phone into her desk drawer and tried to focus on work. They’ll get bored, she thought, wiggling her mouse to make the screen come to life faster. It never worked, but it didn’t stop her hand from trying every morning. It did make her feel a little bit more foolish that day than normal, however. Shaking her head she stood up. Windows would start when it started, and it would move at whatever pace it wanted to. It always did. Instead of staring, and stewing, and feeling a little bit crazy, she stood up and walked to the break room. She needed coffee, and she needed to clear her head. The faces of her co-workers along the way helped to ground her. A little bit. Within five minutes she had a cup of thick coffee that was too hot to drink, and a chest full of new air, and she hoped the day would settle in. Her average, 9-5, nothing weird day. The thought was rotating around her head as she sat down, and opened up her outlook. Waiting for her was 36 new emails, all with the same subject. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. "What the fuck." The words slid out of her mouth before she could stop them. She barely even heard her own voice, with how distracted it all had made her. When a hand landed on her shoulder, a yelp rang out and she jumped half an inch off her chair. A low chuckle came from her cubicle mate as she turned to see who had snuck up on her. "You okay, Sarah?" he asked. Alaina's brain froze, wondering what exactly had happened to her world. /r/beezus_writes	I pick up a book with a plain black cover off of the shelf, intrigued because of the lack of words on the spine. The cover only had two words written in a large, white font. Read Me was apparently the title. There was no author written on the front either, another interesting choice. I rub my fingers over the words, appreciating its smoothness in contrast of the cover as I turn it over, a habit I've acquired over the years for whatever reason. "If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. —Dr. Francis" I feel the curiosity and excitement bubbling, and I am delighted that I seemingly always have an ability to pick out interesting books. I hope the story itself won't disappoint. Just as I'm about to settle down in my favorite corner, I glance at my phone. Shoot! I have to get back to my dorm soon, it's almost time for the group project meeting. I hate being late. I hurriedly fish my library card out of my pocket and head to the counter, smiling politely at the new librarian who wordlessly does the check out. I liked Ms. Green better, but it's fine because I have no time for a chat anyways. "Thank you!" I fast walk out the library. As soon as I'm back, I gently place the book on my table. My mind is itching to start reading, but it'll have to wait. I have a group project to attend to. \--- I sit uncomfortably at a table in one of my university's study areas, anxious and annoyed. Where are my teammates? I start tapping my fingers on the desk as if I'm listening to music but there is none, only the steady ticking of the clock on the wall in front of me. I keep checking my phone every few seconds. I could have started reading my damn book. Suddenly a text pops up. Finally! I exhale in relief and unlock my phone to read it. It's from an unknown number. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. What the fuck? A chill goes down my spine, and I can feel my heart rate quickening. My shoulders tense as I look around the room, every other person in the room suddenly threatening and suspicious. I try to find any familiar faces, anyone that could have been at the library with me. How the hell does this person know what book I was reading? Am I being watched or followed? My right leg is doing that shaking thing now. Where the hell are my teammates? As much as I don't want to do the project, having anyone I know next to me to keep me distracted would be great right now. I quickly exit the message to message the group chat again, fingers quivering. My phone is being slow, probably because the sweat makes it less responsive. As I'm frantically typing my message, I get an email notification. I don't recognize the sender - someone called Francis L. ? Wait a minute... A feeling of dread rises in me, not unlike how it feels when vomit is coming up your throat. I click on the email and almost drop my phone at the now familiar message. The email address has the same name as the book too. Whoever is sending this definitely read the blurb. How is this possible? I will myself to stay seated as I shakily type out a response. Who are you? What do you want? I start gathering up my things in case I need to make a run for it. For some reason, this line of thought feels oddly familiar and instinctive, although I've never been in this kind of situation before. I think? I shake my head, whoever is behind this is getting under my skin and now I'm thinking crazy things. Another email notification jolts me from my thoughts. My fingers are so slippery. I steady my arms on the table. Holy shit, it worked! I have no idea how you can respond back but this is a good sign! Please don't be scared. I am Dr. Francis, your faithful doctor. Can you respond back again? What the actual fuck is happening? I feel lightheaded now. Should I respond back? My fingers hover over the delete button, but something stops me. A weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. Still don't know who the fuck you are and what you want. Your name doesn't mean anything to me. I try for the angry tone even though I am absolutely terrified. The response only takes a minute or two to come back. Whoa there, I apologize if I've upset you. I suppose in the world your mind has created, this must be scary and confusing and hard to believe, but it's true. Whatever you are seeing now is a simulation of your mind. Maybe hearing from a family member will help you believe? Trevor says hi and that he misses you. And Bobby says he's excited about this new development and hopes you'll wake up too. Do either of them ring a bell? This time, I do drop my phone. It makes a loud thump, disrupting the quietness. I can feel the stares but that is the last thing on my mind right now. Before I can process the email and come up with a response, my screen lights up again. Trevor: Hey Zach, so sorry for being late to the meeting. Almost there tho. Like 3 more mins. And dw, Bobby is here as well
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	Alaina sat in her car, phone in her hand. The message had come as she turned the engine off, stopping her just before she went to unbuckle and get out. Her brow furrowed, trying to figure out who among her friends and family would be cruel enough to send such a thing. There was no contact connected- just a series of numbers she didn’t recognize. Before she could take another action or even another breath, a second message came in. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. It was identical to the first one. The only thing that was different was the sender. Another series of numbers that at first glance, didn’t even look like a phone number. She didn’t even recognize the area code — it wasn’t from anywhere in her state. By the time she had unbuckled, grabbed her purse, and made it into her office building, her phone had vibrated three more times. As she sat down at her desk and turned her computer on, she had heard it vibrate in her purse three more times. It went off again as she pulled it out to try and silence the damned thing. As she glanced at the messages, her heart began to thump faster. The joke wasn’t funny the first time, and now she was at 9 identical texts. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. Every one of them was from a different number, none of which she recognized. She opened up one of them at random and shot a message back. Who is this? Who put you up to it? If they didn’t answer, she planned to go on to the next one. And then the next. Putting all notifications on silent, she slid her phone into her desk drawer and tried to focus on work. They’ll get bored, she thought, wiggling her mouse to make the screen come to life faster. It never worked, but it didn’t stop her hand from trying every morning. It did make her feel a little bit more foolish that day than normal, however. Shaking her head she stood up. Windows would start when it started, and it would move at whatever pace it wanted to. It always did. Instead of staring, and stewing, and feeling a little bit crazy, she stood up and walked to the break room. She needed coffee, and she needed to clear her head. The faces of her co-workers along the way helped to ground her. A little bit. Within five minutes she had a cup of thick coffee that was too hot to drink, and a chest full of new air, and she hoped the day would settle in. Her average, 9-5, nothing weird day. The thought was rotating around her head as she sat down, and opened up her outlook. Waiting for her was 36 new emails, all with the same subject. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. "What the fuck." The words slid out of her mouth before she could stop them. She barely even heard her own voice, with how distracted it all had made her. When a hand landed on her shoulder, a yelp rang out and she jumped half an inch off her chair. A low chuckle came from her cubicle mate as she turned to see who had snuck up on her. "You okay, Sarah?" he asked. Alaina's brain froze, wondering what exactly had happened to her world. /r/beezus_writes	Twenty fucking years… twenty years that I will never get back, twenty years of me reliving memories from my childhood that, for the record, I don’t want to be remembering. Alright, that’s enough complaining. I’m not just gonna sit on my ass and let this happen to me. Thank god they got that message to me or who knows how long I would’ve been stuck in my head, literally. I wonder how they did get that message to me anyway. I guess medical technology progresses a lot in twenty years. Anyway, on to figuring out how to get out of here. Okay, well the doctor, or whoever sent that message, said that I’m in a dream. So I guess to get out of here I just have to wake up from the dream. Alright, then time to find some water. I’ve been walking around my childhood town for the past twenty years now. At least one benefit of that is that I know where to find anything I need, including water. I guess I’ll just go home for that. Wow, the kitchen is smaller than I remember. I hope the water runs in my dream. Alright, time to drink an uncomfortable amount of water. Sorry bladder. Now just to wait for a couple of hours till I have to pee. Hopefully this works, every time that I’ve peed in my dream before I’ve woken up. This isn’t any dream though. Oh god, it I can feel it. I don’t know if I’m gonna make it to the bathroom in time. I’ll just go out the window, it’s just a dream anyway. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Time to open my eyes. Please God, let me wake up. FUCK! And now I’m probably just sitting in a puddle of my own piss in the hospital too. Alright, on to plan b. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that people wake up when they have nightmares. All I need to do now is to find a dentist. Even better, my least favorite dentist, Dr. Dickens, from my childhood. Fitting name. That asshole ruined my elementary school days with those god damned braces. Anyway, he should be just a couple blocks down the road. Well here I am, about to face my fear. I'm pretty sure dentists aren’t supposed to strap you down so you can’t move your arms or legs. Oh wonderful, he’s also brought in three students who probably have no idea what they’re doing and now they’re going to play with my teeth too. Isn’t this great. Welp, that didn’t work either. I just humiliated myself by crying in front of that people younger than me and one person that I hate. Alright, forget the humiliation, I’ve got one more idea. I’ve got to head to makeout point. Damn, I had my first kiss there, this is probably going to taint that memory forever. Alright, well it’s worth it if I’m going to make it out of here. Alright, no thinking about it. Three…. Two… one... Oh wow, the ground is coming up pretty fast. What the fuck did I just do, I might actually die. No, no, no, no….. “Oh my god, he’s awake. Dale honey, do you recognize me?” Of course, I would recognize that annoying voice anywhere, “Hey, mom.” “Did you get our message?” “Yeah, how did you get that message to me anyway” “Science has come a long way” she said. “Wait Dale, you know you peed your pants a couple of minutes ago? Right.” Oh shit, yeah I forgot about that. “Yuck”. We laughed. “It’s good to have you back.” “It’s good to be back, do you think the Doctor could get me some clean clothes?” “Of course, here let me just call him back.” “Honey, I know it's too early to be asking this, but I know you and I know you’ve already thought about this, what do you plan to do now?” “Well, I actually haven’t thought about it, but off the top of my head, this makes for a pretty good story, I’ll probably sell it.” “Whatever works for you.” The doctor walked in. “Hey Dale, nice to see you’re awake.” SEEKING CRITICAL ADVICE
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	Alaina sat in her car, phone in her hand. The message had come as she turned the engine off, stopping her just before she went to unbuckle and get out. Her brow furrowed, trying to figure out who among her friends and family would be cruel enough to send such a thing. There was no contact connected- just a series of numbers she didn’t recognize. Before she could take another action or even another breath, a second message came in. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. It was identical to the first one. The only thing that was different was the sender. Another series of numbers that at first glance, didn’t even look like a phone number. She didn’t even recognize the area code — it wasn’t from anywhere in her state. By the time she had unbuckled, grabbed her purse, and made it into her office building, her phone had vibrated three more times. As she sat down at her desk and turned her computer on, she had heard it vibrate in her purse three more times. It went off again as she pulled it out to try and silence the damned thing. As she glanced at the messages, her heart began to thump faster. The joke wasn’t funny the first time, and now she was at 9 identical texts. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. Every one of them was from a different number, none of which she recognized. She opened up one of them at random and shot a message back. Who is this? Who put you up to it? If they didn’t answer, she planned to go on to the next one. And then the next. Putting all notifications on silent, she slid her phone into her desk drawer and tried to focus on work. They’ll get bored, she thought, wiggling her mouse to make the screen come to life faster. It never worked, but it didn’t stop her hand from trying every morning. It did make her feel a little bit more foolish that day than normal, however. Shaking her head she stood up. Windows would start when it started, and it would move at whatever pace it wanted to. It always did. Instead of staring, and stewing, and feeling a little bit crazy, she stood up and walked to the break room. She needed coffee, and she needed to clear her head. The faces of her co-workers along the way helped to ground her. A little bit. Within five minutes she had a cup of thick coffee that was too hot to drink, and a chest full of new air, and she hoped the day would settle in. Her average, 9-5, nothing weird day. The thought was rotating around her head as she sat down, and opened up her outlook. Waiting for her was 36 new emails, all with the same subject. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. "What the fuck." The words slid out of her mouth before she could stop them. She barely even heard her own voice, with how distracted it all had made her. When a hand landed on her shoulder, a yelp rang out and she jumped half an inch off her chair. A low chuckle came from her cubicle mate as she turned to see who had snuck up on her. "You okay, Sarah?" he asked. Alaina's brain froze, wondering what exactly had happened to her world. /r/beezus_writes	“You’ve been in a coma for 20 years…” Twenty years? That’s last century. I was a newlywed. Mom was alive. My brother-in-law, too. Dad could still walk. “We don’t know where this message will end up…” If this is all true, I’ve been in a coma, probably at a hospital in fucking Montgomery, AL. I haven’t even met my best friends yet. Did I dream them, too? I’ve got a daughter, she’s 14 now. Does she exist? Fuck, does my ex still have my kids? “Please wake up.” If you can read my thoughts… fuck off, I like my dream.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	"Heh", I said out loud as I looked around. My coworkers just busily typing away, oblivious to all but their work. Yeah, that would explain why I'm just sitting here alone, staring at this stupid message. I shove myself away from my desk, preparing to get up and step away to clear my head. But the message, still flashing on my screen, strikes a nerve and I can't tear myself away. ... Well, if this is all just a dream, let's have some fun... Abruptly, my pants hit the ground in one quick motion... followed by the rest of my clothes. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!" I smirk. "Like I care what you think, Jim or whatever your name is...." Of course my asshole boss is the first to notice, maybe I'll just go piss on his desk... "DAMMIT -- Bill, get security. As for you...." My smirk is suddenly wiped from my face as "Jim" grabs me and shoves me into a side cubicle. I trip and -CRACK- right onto my face on the desktop. Stars sparkle... Wow... this is a vivid dream... Wait, can your vision even have that swirly effect in a dream? Oh, crap, what if that was just a bullshit writing prompt? "Um... Jim? I think we have a misunderstanding here...."	1/2 I didn’t recognize our current setting. It looked like a city of sorts. Which one? I had no clue, I had never been here before. This must have been a place she’d been to long before she met me. It didn’t help that half the world around us was left incomplete: some buildings were left unfinished, most roads curved unnaturally and oft lead to nowhere, no signs or buildings had legible words to read, and most jarring of all, most of the faces of passerby’s were a blur. It looked straight out of a nightmare and to put it bluntly, it was jarring as all hell to see. But none of that mattered to me. The only thing that was important was that I saw her. She was smiling, laughing even, skipping down the street as the malformed sun above cast down its warped rays upon her. While the rest of the world looked like a perversion of itself, she did not. Lauren Conners looked as beautiful as the day I married her over twenty years ago. I knew that approaching her now would be a bad idea because wherever this place was, whatever dream it spawned from, came from a time before Lauren and I had met. And it was never ideal to insert new variables into preexisting memories. But I was desperate and I missed her so much. I strode up to her, my body moving so slow as if I were wading through water. When I caught up, I tapped her on the shoulder and could already feel a rush of excitement building up. I was touching her. God how I missed that. “Pardon me, Miss?” I said. I tried to act as nonchalant as possible, wanting to be just another fixture in her dream. She regarded me with her hazel brown eyes. Lauren looked confused. She titled her head as she scrunched her little button nose. “Um- Can I help you?” Lauren said. Her voice sounded just as I remembered. Soft on the ears. Melodic when she spoke. Kindness in her every breath. “Oh, where are my manners. Names Jake. Jake Conners.” She smiled at me. Always was she quick to trust. “Lauren Williams. Pleasure to meet you, Jake.” Williams. My heart sank a little when I heard that. This was definitely a dream that happened before she met me. Even though I knew, it still stung me to hear her use her maiden name. “The pleasures mine, Lauren. It’s a lovely day we’re having isn’t it?” “It really is!” Her face lit up as she looked all around. Whatever lens she saw this dreamworld through must have had one helluva filter on it. But she was content and that was good enough for both of us. “I simply adore- “Bright Summer days like these.” We said in unison. How many times had she told me that? That days like this were the best of the bunch, the cream of the crop. She laughed, tilting her head back. Clearly that amused her. “Jinx, you owe me a coke!” I feigned defeat, just like I always did whenever she ‘got me’. But if it would have made her happy, I would have bought her a thousand of em and then a thousand more. “So, Jake, what can I do for you?” “You know, I’m not quite sure where I’m going right now.” “Oh no, you poor thing. You must be new around these parts.” “As a matter of fact, ma’am, yes I am. Never been to these neck of the woods.” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “Well then we’re just going to have to fix that. Why don’t you tell me where you’re headed and then we’ll see what we can do.” She was always like that. A regular bleeding heart. Didn’t matter who it was, if Lauren saw someone in need of help, she was the first one to offer it. Maybe that was why I loved her so much. Or maybe it was because she was such an amazing person. I thought about it for a second. I wasn’t lost, I was exactly where I wanted to be. But where did she want to go? What place could I suggest that would pique her interest. That was the real question. “I’m looking for a bookstore.” I said, when it finally dawned on me. She loved going to those places. In fact, that was where we first met. “Oh! Not a problem at all,” she beamed. Jackpot, I had struck a cord with her. “I know a fantastic little spot just down the corner. Let me show you!” “I don’t mean to be a bother-“ She pinched her lips and gave me a dismissing wave. “Come off it. It’s no bother at all. Come on, I’ll take you! Besides you owe me remember? In fact, consider the price doubled, you’ve been talking far too much for someone who’s been jinxed.” She gave me an impish smile, the same one she gave me when I proposed. My knees damn near buckled. I followed her, letting the world around us meld into her making. Roads began to materialize where there was none. Buildings sprouted from the ground as if they were trees. People zoomed in from the sky, but each time something odd occurred, Lauren never reacted to it. This was all so very normal to her. After all, we were trapped inside her subconscious mind. When we got to the bookstore that appeared from nowhere, I marveled at how large her mind constructed the building. It was damn near a skyscraper, a testament to how she revered such places. Lauren not only made good on her word, but she too insisted she help me sift through the endless rows until we found what I was looking for. Personally, I had already found what I wanted, she was standing arms length away from me. But for her sake, I rattled off her favorite books just so I could see the joy spark in her eyes.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	Alaina sat in her car, phone in her hand. The message had come as she turned the engine off, stopping her just before she went to unbuckle and get out. Her brow furrowed, trying to figure out who among her friends and family would be cruel enough to send such a thing. There was no contact connected- just a series of numbers she didn’t recognize. Before she could take another action or even another breath, a second message came in. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. It was identical to the first one. The only thing that was different was the sender. Another series of numbers that at first glance, didn’t even look like a phone number. She didn’t even recognize the area code — it wasn’t from anywhere in her state. By the time she had unbuckled, grabbed her purse, and made it into her office building, her phone had vibrated three more times. As she sat down at her desk and turned her computer on, she had heard it vibrate in her purse three more times. It went off again as she pulled it out to try and silence the damned thing. As she glanced at the messages, her heart began to thump faster. The joke wasn’t funny the first time, and now she was at 9 identical texts. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. Every one of them was from a different number, none of which she recognized. She opened up one of them at random and shot a message back. Who is this? Who put you up to it? If they didn’t answer, she planned to go on to the next one. And then the next. Putting all notifications on silent, she slid her phone into her desk drawer and tried to focus on work. They’ll get bored, she thought, wiggling her mouse to make the screen come to life faster. It never worked, but it didn’t stop her hand from trying every morning. It did make her feel a little bit more foolish that day than normal, however. Shaking her head she stood up. Windows would start when it started, and it would move at whatever pace it wanted to. It always did. Instead of staring, and stewing, and feeling a little bit crazy, she stood up and walked to the break room. She needed coffee, and she needed to clear her head. The faces of her co-workers along the way helped to ground her. A little bit. Within five minutes she had a cup of thick coffee that was too hot to drink, and a chest full of new air, and she hoped the day would settle in. Her average, 9-5, nothing weird day. The thought was rotating around her head as she sat down, and opened up her outlook. Waiting for her was 36 new emails, all with the same subject. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. "What the fuck." The words slid out of her mouth before she could stop them. She barely even heard her own voice, with how distracted it all had made her. When a hand landed on her shoulder, a yelp rang out and she jumped half an inch off her chair. A low chuckle came from her cubicle mate as she turned to see who had snuck up on her. "You okay, Sarah?" he asked. Alaina's brain froze, wondering what exactly had happened to her world. /r/beezus_writes	1/2 I didn’t recognize our current setting. It looked like a city of sorts. Which one? I had no clue, I had never been here before. This must have been a place she’d been to long before she met me. It didn’t help that half the world around us was left incomplete: some buildings were left unfinished, most roads curved unnaturally and oft lead to nowhere, no signs or buildings had legible words to read, and most jarring of all, most of the faces of passerby’s were a blur. It looked straight out of a nightmare and to put it bluntly, it was jarring as all hell to see. But none of that mattered to me. The only thing that was important was that I saw her. She was smiling, laughing even, skipping down the street as the malformed sun above cast down its warped rays upon her. While the rest of the world looked like a perversion of itself, she did not. Lauren Conners looked as beautiful as the day I married her over twenty years ago. I knew that approaching her now would be a bad idea because wherever this place was, whatever dream it spawned from, came from a time before Lauren and I had met. And it was never ideal to insert new variables into preexisting memories. But I was desperate and I missed her so much. I strode up to her, my body moving so slow as if I were wading through water. When I caught up, I tapped her on the shoulder and could already feel a rush of excitement building up. I was touching her. God how I missed that. “Pardon me, Miss?” I said. I tried to act as nonchalant as possible, wanting to be just another fixture in her dream. She regarded me with her hazel brown eyes. Lauren looked confused. She titled her head as she scrunched her little button nose. “Um- Can I help you?” Lauren said. Her voice sounded just as I remembered. Soft on the ears. Melodic when she spoke. Kindness in her every breath. “Oh, where are my manners. Names Jake. Jake Conners.” She smiled at me. Always was she quick to trust. “Lauren Williams. Pleasure to meet you, Jake.” Williams. My heart sank a little when I heard that. This was definitely a dream that happened before she met me. Even though I knew, it still stung me to hear her use her maiden name. “The pleasures mine, Lauren. It’s a lovely day we’re having isn’t it?” “It really is!” Her face lit up as she looked all around. Whatever lens she saw this dreamworld through must have had one helluva filter on it. But she was content and that was good enough for both of us. “I simply adore- “Bright Summer days like these.” We said in unison. How many times had she told me that? That days like this were the best of the bunch, the cream of the crop. She laughed, tilting her head back. Clearly that amused her. “Jinx, you owe me a coke!” I feigned defeat, just like I always did whenever she ‘got me’. But if it would have made her happy, I would have bought her a thousand of em and then a thousand more. “So, Jake, what can I do for you?” “You know, I’m not quite sure where I’m going right now.” “Oh no, you poor thing. You must be new around these parts.” “As a matter of fact, ma’am, yes I am. Never been to these neck of the woods.” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “Well then we’re just going to have to fix that. Why don’t you tell me where you’re headed and then we’ll see what we can do.” She was always like that. A regular bleeding heart. Didn’t matter who it was, if Lauren saw someone in need of help, she was the first one to offer it. Maybe that was why I loved her so much. Or maybe it was because she was such an amazing person. I thought about it for a second. I wasn’t lost, I was exactly where I wanted to be. But where did she want to go? What place could I suggest that would pique her interest. That was the real question. “I’m looking for a bookstore.” I said, when it finally dawned on me. She loved going to those places. In fact, that was where we first met. “Oh! Not a problem at all,” she beamed. Jackpot, I had struck a cord with her. “I know a fantastic little spot just down the corner. Let me show you!” “I don’t mean to be a bother-“ She pinched her lips and gave me a dismissing wave. “Come off it. It’s no bother at all. Come on, I’ll take you! Besides you owe me remember? In fact, consider the price doubled, you’ve been talking far too much for someone who’s been jinxed.” She gave me an impish smile, the same one she gave me when I proposed. My knees damn near buckled. I followed her, letting the world around us meld into her making. Roads began to materialize where there was none. Buildings sprouted from the ground as if they were trees. People zoomed in from the sky, but each time something odd occurred, Lauren never reacted to it. This was all so very normal to her. After all, we were trapped inside her subconscious mind. When we got to the bookstore that appeared from nowhere, I marveled at how large her mind constructed the building. It was damn near a skyscraper, a testament to how she revered such places. Lauren not only made good on her word, but she too insisted she help me sift through the endless rows until we found what I was looking for. Personally, I had already found what I wanted, she was standing arms length away from me. But for her sake, I rattled off her favorite books just so I could see the joy spark in her eyes.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	"Heh", I said out loud as I looked around. My coworkers just busily typing away, oblivious to all but their work. Yeah, that would explain why I'm just sitting here alone, staring at this stupid message. I shove myself away from my desk, preparing to get up and step away to clear my head. But the message, still flashing on my screen, strikes a nerve and I can't tear myself away. ... Well, if this is all just a dream, let's have some fun... Abruptly, my pants hit the ground in one quick motion... followed by the rest of my clothes. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!" I smirk. "Like I care what you think, Jim or whatever your name is...." Of course my asshole boss is the first to notice, maybe I'll just go piss on his desk... "DAMMIT -- Bill, get security. As for you...." My smirk is suddenly wiped from my face as "Jim" grabs me and shoves me into a side cubicle. I trip and -CRACK- right onto my face on the desktop. Stars sparkle... Wow... this is a vivid dream... Wait, can your vision even have that swirly effect in a dream? Oh, crap, what if that was just a bullshit writing prompt? "Um... Jim? I think we have a misunderstanding here...."	You stare at this post for a second and think to yourself, "what if it's true?" The fact that you've seen this before means that maybe, just maybe, your whole life and world is a lie, made up while you are here in a coma. But that would be stupid. Everyone wants to believe that they are the hero in their own story, but everyone is too polite to admit it. And let's be honest, you would make up any excuse just so you could be the hero. You think of that Inception movie or The Matrix and think... "That could be me," but again, you know it isn't. You're realizing, people have turned this submission from r/twosentencehorror into an actual meme and are spreading it around just to make you feel a little anxious and a little excited... all for an upvote. You do it, because you want to be that hero because you know that maybe, just maybe there is still a chance. That chance is all someone needs to take control over you. Don't give in. Don't listen. You. Are. Not. The. Hero. You are normal and everyone else is out for themselves. So, why even bother trying to wake up. Just close your eyes and take a deep breath and let everything be normal.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	There is no way for me to know if this is true or not. I hope it isn’t, because the life I’ve made for myself over the last twenty years is pretty nice. I’ve got a wife, a house, and a decent job. I even have two cats that are only jerks part of the time. I suppose there is some good news. I’m still here, or possibly “here”. Either it isn’t true, and I’m actually living this life, or your message isn’t working, so I can continue believing that I’m living this “life”. Does it really matter which is real, as long as I believe it is real? I always heard that people couldn’t read during dreams, and I’m sitting here reading your message. Maybe comas work differently than dreams. Or maybe I’m misremembering that thing about being unable to read during dreams. Okay, that’s a little confusing, but so what? There are plenty of things that I misremember all the time. It doesn’t mean that you’re telling the truth. Hold on for a second, I’m hearing voices around me again. Oh, that’s just something that has been happening from time to time, since I was in a car accident when I was a teenager. It usually stops after a minute or two, so I’ll be back with you in a moment. What are these voices saying? Something about “being patient” and “treatment has shown promise before”. Normally they talk about vital signs being normal, or that there have been no changes since the last visit. It doesn’t make much sense to me either, but I’ve just sort of learned to live with it. Hmm. The voices are still going. This is weird. Wait a minute. Something doesn’t add up. I’ve got a life. I know I do. I remember my wife, clear as day. I remember my house. I remember going into work everyday. How could you say I’m in a coma? I even told you about my two cats. Yes, the ones who are only jerks part of the time. Wait. Oh no. That’s....that’s not right. My cats are only jerks part of the time. If this were real, they would be jerks all the time. I’m starting to get light headed. My legs aren’t moving right. Why are all the lights getting so bright? I can’t see anything. Where are you going? ..... Oh, it’s beginning fade. Where am I? When did I sit on this couch? What is that on the wall? “Welcome! Everything is fine.”	You stare at this post for a second and think to yourself, "what if it's true?" The fact that you've seen this before means that maybe, just maybe, your whole life and world is a lie, made up while you are here in a coma. But that would be stupid. Everyone wants to believe that they are the hero in their own story, but everyone is too polite to admit it. And let's be honest, you would make up any excuse just so you could be the hero. You think of that Inception movie or The Matrix and think... "That could be me," but again, you know it isn't. You're realizing, people have turned this submission from r/twosentencehorror into an actual meme and are spreading it around just to make you feel a little anxious and a little excited... all for an upvote. You do it, because you want to be that hero because you know that maybe, just maybe there is still a chance. That chance is all someone needs to take control over you. Don't give in. Don't listen. You. Are. Not. The. Hero. You are normal and everyone else is out for themselves. So, why even bother trying to wake up. Just close your eyes and take a deep breath and let everything be normal.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	Alaina sat in her car, phone in her hand. The message had come as she turned the engine off, stopping her just before she went to unbuckle and get out. Her brow furrowed, trying to figure out who among her friends and family would be cruel enough to send such a thing. There was no contact connected- just a series of numbers she didn’t recognize. Before she could take another action or even another breath, a second message came in. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. It was identical to the first one. The only thing that was different was the sender. Another series of numbers that at first glance, didn’t even look like a phone number. She didn’t even recognize the area code — it wasn’t from anywhere in her state. By the time she had unbuckled, grabbed her purse, and made it into her office building, her phone had vibrated three more times. As she sat down at her desk and turned her computer on, she had heard it vibrate in her purse three more times. It went off again as she pulled it out to try and silence the damned thing. As she glanced at the messages, her heart began to thump faster. The joke wasn’t funny the first time, and now she was at 9 identical texts. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. Every one of them was from a different number, none of which she recognized. She opened up one of them at random and shot a message back. Who is this? Who put you up to it? If they didn’t answer, she planned to go on to the next one. And then the next. Putting all notifications on silent, she slid her phone into her desk drawer and tried to focus on work. They’ll get bored, she thought, wiggling her mouse to make the screen come to life faster. It never worked, but it didn’t stop her hand from trying every morning. It did make her feel a little bit more foolish that day than normal, however. Shaking her head she stood up. Windows would start when it started, and it would move at whatever pace it wanted to. It always did. Instead of staring, and stewing, and feeling a little bit crazy, she stood up and walked to the break room. She needed coffee, and she needed to clear her head. The faces of her co-workers along the way helped to ground her. A little bit. Within five minutes she had a cup of thick coffee that was too hot to drink, and a chest full of new air, and she hoped the day would settle in. Her average, 9-5, nothing weird day. The thought was rotating around her head as she sat down, and opened up her outlook. Waiting for her was 36 new emails, all with the same subject. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. "What the fuck." The words slid out of her mouth before she could stop them. She barely even heard her own voice, with how distracted it all had made her. When a hand landed on her shoulder, a yelp rang out and she jumped half an inch off her chair. A low chuckle came from her cubicle mate as she turned to see who had snuck up on her. "You okay, Sarah?" he asked. Alaina's brain froze, wondering what exactly had happened to her world. /r/beezus_writes	You stare at this post for a second and think to yourself, "what if it's true?" The fact that you've seen this before means that maybe, just maybe, your whole life and world is a lie, made up while you are here in a coma. But that would be stupid. Everyone wants to believe that they are the hero in their own story, but everyone is too polite to admit it. And let's be honest, you would make up any excuse just so you could be the hero. You think of that Inception movie or The Matrix and think... "That could be me," but again, you know it isn't. You're realizing, people have turned this submission from r/twosentencehorror into an actual meme and are spreading it around just to make you feel a little anxious and a little excited... all for an upvote. You do it, because you want to be that hero because you know that maybe, just maybe there is still a chance. That chance is all someone needs to take control over you. Don't give in. Don't listen. You. Are. Not. The. Hero. You are normal and everyone else is out for themselves. So, why even bother trying to wake up. Just close your eyes and take a deep breath and let everything be normal.
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	Alaina sat in her car, phone in her hand. The message had come as she turned the engine off, stopping her just before she went to unbuckle and get out. Her brow furrowed, trying to figure out who among her friends and family would be cruel enough to send such a thing. There was no contact connected- just a series of numbers she didn’t recognize. Before she could take another action or even another breath, a second message came in. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. It was identical to the first one. The only thing that was different was the sender. Another series of numbers that at first glance, didn’t even look like a phone number. She didn’t even recognize the area code — it wasn’t from anywhere in her state. By the time she had unbuckled, grabbed her purse, and made it into her office building, her phone had vibrated three more times. As she sat down at her desk and turned her computer on, she had heard it vibrate in her purse three more times. It went off again as she pulled it out to try and silence the damned thing. As she glanced at the messages, her heart began to thump faster. The joke wasn’t funny the first time, and now she was at 9 identical texts. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. Every one of them was from a different number, none of which she recognized. She opened up one of them at random and shot a message back. Who is this? Who put you up to it? If they didn’t answer, she planned to go on to the next one. And then the next. Putting all notifications on silent, she slid her phone into her desk drawer and tried to focus on work. They’ll get bored, she thought, wiggling her mouse to make the screen come to life faster. It never worked, but it didn’t stop her hand from trying every morning. It did make her feel a little bit more foolish that day than normal, however. Shaking her head she stood up. Windows would start when it started, and it would move at whatever pace it wanted to. It always did. Instead of staring, and stewing, and feeling a little bit crazy, she stood up and walked to the break room. She needed coffee, and she needed to clear her head. The faces of her co-workers along the way helped to ground her. A little bit. Within five minutes she had a cup of thick coffee that was too hot to drink, and a chest full of new air, and she hoped the day would settle in. Her average, 9-5, nothing weird day. The thought was rotating around her head as she sat down, and opened up her outlook. Waiting for her was 36 new emails, all with the same subject. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. "What the fuck." The words slid out of her mouth before she could stop them. She barely even heard her own voice, with how distracted it all had made her. When a hand landed on her shoulder, a yelp rang out and she jumped half an inch off her chair. A low chuckle came from her cubicle mate as she turned to see who had snuck up on her. "You okay, Sarah?" he asked. Alaina's brain froze, wondering what exactly had happened to her world. /r/beezus_writes	"Heh", I said out loud as I looked around. My coworkers just busily typing away, oblivious to all but their work. Yeah, that would explain why I'm just sitting here alone, staring at this stupid message. I shove myself away from my desk, preparing to get up and step away to clear my head. But the message, still flashing on my screen, strikes a nerve and I can't tear myself away. ... Well, if this is all just a dream, let's have some fun... Abruptly, my pants hit the ground in one quick motion... followed by the rest of my clothes. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!" I smirk. "Like I care what you think, Jim or whatever your name is...." Of course my asshole boss is the first to notice, maybe I'll just go piss on his desk... "DAMMIT -- Bill, get security. As for you...." My smirk is suddenly wiped from my face as "Jim" grabs me and shoves me into a side cubicle. I trip and -CRACK- right onto my face on the desktop. Stars sparkle... Wow... this is a vivid dream... Wait, can your vision even have that swirly effect in a dream? Oh, crap, what if that was just a bullshit writing prompt? "Um... Jim? I think we have a misunderstanding here...."
[WP] If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up.	Alaina sat in her car, phone in her hand. The message had come as she turned the engine off, stopping her just before she went to unbuckle and get out. Her brow furrowed, trying to figure out who among her friends and family would be cruel enough to send such a thing. There was no contact connected- just a series of numbers she didn’t recognize. Before she could take another action or even another breath, a second message came in. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. It was identical to the first one. The only thing that was different was the sender. Another series of numbers that at first glance, didn’t even look like a phone number. She didn’t even recognize the area code — it wasn’t from anywhere in her state. By the time she had unbuckled, grabbed her purse, and made it into her office building, her phone had vibrated three more times. As she sat down at her desk and turned her computer on, she had heard it vibrate in her purse three more times. It went off again as she pulled it out to try and silence the damned thing. As she glanced at the messages, her heart began to thump faster. The joke wasn’t funny the first time, and now she was at 9 identical texts. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. Every one of them was from a different number, none of which she recognized. She opened up one of them at random and shot a message back. Who is this? Who put you up to it? If they didn’t answer, she planned to go on to the next one. And then the next. Putting all notifications on silent, she slid her phone into her desk drawer and tried to focus on work. They’ll get bored, she thought, wiggling her mouse to make the screen come to life faster. It never worked, but it didn’t stop her hand from trying every morning. It did make her feel a little bit more foolish that day than normal, however. Shaking her head she stood up. Windows would start when it started, and it would move at whatever pace it wanted to. It always did. Instead of staring, and stewing, and feeling a little bit crazy, she stood up and walked to the break room. She needed coffee, and she needed to clear her head. The faces of her co-workers along the way helped to ground her. A little bit. Within five minutes she had a cup of thick coffee that was too hot to drink, and a chest full of new air, and she hoped the day would settle in. Her average, 9-5, nothing weird day. The thought was rotating around her head as she sat down, and opened up her outlook. Waiting for her was 36 new emails, all with the same subject. If you are reading this, you've been in a coma for 20 years. We are trying a new technique. We don't know where this message will end up in your dream, but we hope we are getting through. Please wake up. "What the fuck." The words slid out of her mouth before she could stop them. She barely even heard her own voice, with how distracted it all had made her. When a hand landed on her shoulder, a yelp rang out and she jumped half an inch off her chair. A low chuckle came from her cubicle mate as she turned to see who had snuck up on her. "You okay, Sarah?" he asked. Alaina's brain froze, wondering what exactly had happened to her world. /r/beezus_writes	There is no way for me to know if this is true or not. I hope it isn’t, because the life I’ve made for myself over the last twenty years is pretty nice. I’ve got a wife, a house, and a decent job. I even have two cats that are only jerks part of the time. I suppose there is some good news. I’m still here, or possibly “here”. Either it isn’t true, and I’m actually living this life, or your message isn’t working, so I can continue believing that I’m living this “life”. Does it really matter which is real, as long as I believe it is real? I always heard that people couldn’t read during dreams, and I’m sitting here reading your message. Maybe comas work differently than dreams. Or maybe I’m misremembering that thing about being unable to read during dreams. Okay, that’s a little confusing, but so what? There are plenty of things that I misremember all the time. It doesn’t mean that you’re telling the truth. Hold on for a second, I’m hearing voices around me again. Oh, that’s just something that has been happening from time to time, since I was in a car accident when I was a teenager. It usually stops after a minute or two, so I’ll be back with you in a moment. What are these voices saying? Something about “being patient” and “treatment has shown promise before”. Normally they talk about vital signs being normal, or that there have been no changes since the last visit. It doesn’t make much sense to me either, but I’ve just sort of learned to live with it. Hmm. The voices are still going. This is weird. Wait a minute. Something doesn’t add up. I’ve got a life. I know I do. I remember my wife, clear as day. I remember my house. I remember going into work everyday. How could you say I’m in a coma? I even told you about my two cats. Yes, the ones who are only jerks part of the time. Wait. Oh no. That’s....that’s not right. My cats are only jerks part of the time. If this were real, they would be jerks all the time. I’m starting to get light headed. My legs aren’t moving right. Why are all the lights getting so bright? I can’t see anything. Where are you going? ..... Oh, it’s beginning fade. Where am I? When did I sit on this couch? What is that on the wall? “Welcome! Everything is fine.”
[WP] Two time travelers meet in the past and end up getting in an argument about history, unaware that their conversation is being listened to.	"You've got to be shitting me. Fucking humans..." The two men, who had, up until now, been lost deep in conversation over the exact timings a senior government figure would die the following week, turned to face the drunk who was slouched over a shot of whiskey further along the bar. They stared as he downed it, before lazily motioning with his free hand to signal for another. His leather jacket seemed to shine with a greasy texture that matched his long black hair. Thick-hooped earrings dangled loosely from his ears, a short beard extending down from them that wrapped around a hard, but youthful, face. His eyes were the colour of muddy water stained with blood. "First, you fucking hunt my kind to near extinction," he said, standing dizzily from his stool, " and then, as if you haven't got enough, you start fucking the shit of of time, too? What the fuck guys?" He had reached the two men, who still wore confused and worried expressions on their rather perfect faces. A shot of whiskey slid across the bar to the man's new position. "Two more for my friends here" he slurred as he sat down next to the closest of them. They raised their arms in silent protest, moving ever so slightly as if to try and leave. "Fucking drink it. Or die. Future or not, I'd fancy my Demon power against you two any day of the week," the demon said as he raised his glass. *** The Demon stumbled out of the alleyway, fumbling in his deep coat pockets for the small device he had taken from the men. "Fucking pricks...Demon's don't exist in the future? pfft. Neither do you guys now, haha..." Hands slick with blood struggled to find purchase on its smooth surface. "Just what the fuck is this thing" he said, holding it up to the moon's light. A small light turned on from within the device, shone down to the Demon, and with a small laser gun like sound, the alleyway disappeared. He was flying through a spinning tunnel of lights, like the universe of stars had wrapped around him. At the end, was a burning light of white. The demon smiled, and rocketed towards it. r/fatdragon	“What are you doing here?” I said to the man who was crouched behind the desk. “Hey, I’m just setting up a recording device is all.” He said back as he began to remove his mask. Underneath the balaclava was Archie, a fellow time traveler and my brother. We last met back in 1148 who was wearing an aeropostale shirt and jeans. He stuck out like a sore thumb back then. “Why are you setting up a recording device? What would possibly be beneficial about putting one here?” I said to Archie. He got up and stretched his legs before leaning back and stretching his arms. “Ugh, can’t stay crouched forever. I want to hear what really happened here. Look at this place, I mean nobody will notice a little tape recorder here would they Frank?” he said back to me as he placed his recorder down. “Archie, you’ve gotten yourself into so much trouble before for trying to record conversations. First it was in ancient Egypt, then you tried recording King Henry the fourth, then it was JFK when he went by in Texas before his assassination. Each time you tried to get out of there, you get captured and sent to death. And each time, I have to bail you out. You can’t always make the summoning circle in time to avoid death, now can you?” I said to Archie as I approached him. He looked down at the circle he had made, the key to time travel. Its intricate shape and symbols were something he knew he wouldn’t be able to consistently make on the fly. “Listen Frank, I know you’re worried about me but look at us. We get to travel throughout history, do you remember the last time we went exploring together? The Berlin Wall falling, Mao Zedong during his burial in ’76. We saw the World Trade Center fall in 2001. We saw the Ottomans fighting in the crusades. History unraveling before us! Now I know we can’t go back and change history. Butterfly effect, alters the universe to an irreversible state, paradoxical situations, blah blah blah. But what harm will it do if we record it?” he said back to me. “This is just as bad as trying to change history, what if someone saw you? How would you explain this all to them? Explain this to them! Two guys in an office building in the middle of the night at the height of the cold war. Think you can convince any security guard that you aren’t working for the Reds?” I said in a loud whisper. I put a hand on his shoulder as I continued “You know I love you big bro, but you can’t keep acting so reckless. Yes we can go in the past, but that doesn’t mean we need to record every word we can. History is pretty good at keeping tabs on everything.” He looked up from the ground at me and smiled. His smile disappeared as he started to look around. “You hear that? Like a feedback from a microphone.” He said to me as he started to look around. “What do you mean, I don’t hear anything.” I said as I turned around to start looking. Archie went to his recorder and began walking around from desk to desk. He eventually started to hear more feedback as he approached a desk towards the rear of the room. “Frank, over here.” He said to me as he pointed to the desk. We made our way to the desk and noticed a small recorder resting on the desk. I picked it up and inspected it. “This isn’t from this time. Its modern…” I said to Archie. Suddenly, a man appeared from a desk nearby and began running towards us. He was able to push me down to the ground and grabbed the recorder we found out of my hand. Archie tried his best to grab him but was kicked in his private area before he could land a punch in. I got up and began chasing the man as Archie was doubled over on the floor, rolling about. “I’ll come back for you in a bit, Frank.” I screamed out as I kept chasing the thief. He made his way to an odd symbol on the floor. A time travel circle. He knew who we were and what we did. He got into the circle and in a flash of fire, the man along with the recorder and symbol disappeared. I began walking back to Archie, who was now sitting in a chair trying to catch his breath. “Archie, I got a bad feeling. The guy was a time traveler like us, symbol and everything.” I said to him as I kneeled down to begin drawing our symbol. “Security! Hands up now!” we heard as a security guard began running towards us. I was able to finish the circle as Archie and I got in and left. We ended up back home in our dad’s office. I turned to Archie to see if he was ok. “Archie look it up, Watergate Scandal.” I said to him as he began to hop online. “No results, Frank…” r/Nywarpath
[WP] You work in The Vault, a secret facility that exists solely to house the extremely dangerous Subject: a man who instantly learns everything there is to know about a person just by meeting them. It's finally your turn to bring him dinner.	"Evening Edgar." I said as the floor changed from linoleum to plush carpet. "Evening Joe. What do we have for dinner tonight?" Replied Edgar. He was a small man, intensely pale, made all the moreso by the fire light and red glow of enameled lamp shades. "Can't remember the name frankly," I confessed, setting the tray down on the coffee table, "but I'm supposed to swipe off the melted layer of cheese onto just about all of it." "Ah yes," said the man, "I know what it is but I can't remember the name either." He stubbed out his cigar and crossed the room to watch me cut the white sheets of cheese over the greens, meat, and potatoes on the plate. My technique was sloppy and we laughed at how unwieldly it felt. "Bon Appetit. Anything else you need Edgar?" "No Joe I think I'm alright. How's Jack's knee?" "I still think it's sprained, but my wife is certain there's a hairline fracture. We'll have a trip to the doctor's in the morning. Thanks for asking. Any new and interesting subjects lately?" Edgar shrugged and brought steaming tray to his dining room table. "Three classifieds and Colonel Myers needed to know where he left his wallet. It had fallen under his car seat. Nothing special." "Alright, well I'll be your man for the evening. If you need anything you now to contact me." "Indeed I do, have a good evening Joe. Give my best to Tammy." I left the warmth and softness of Edgar's domain and closed the titanium security door behind me. His report had mentioned how polite Edgar was, Joe was happy to learn it wasn't an exaggeration.	I tried to switch my shift, or fake an illness, but it was in vain. As I walked slowly towards the cell of Subject 01-S, I imagined everything he could tell me about me. I know I did some horrible things, but I swear up and down, I've changed. I couldn't be hired two months ago, just to be fired now! I stood in front of the cell for what seemed to me like decades. I couldn't bring myself to go there. Not yet. I quickly turned around, but a voice cut me off swiftly: "Inari, it's not like you have anything to hide." She didn't know about... it. I never told her, because I was selfish and wanted her as a friend. My friend. I shook my head, but stayed silent. "I'll go with you, scaredy-cat, does that make it any better?" I looked up in horror and blurted out: "No! No, no I'll go, it's good. Don't worry." She surprisingly let me go. I walked in, and walked right over to the table, not daring to look at the figure in bed. "Ah, hello there. I've been wanting to meet you for a while now." I tensed up, and ignored him on my way out. "Isn't it a little rude to ignore someone, 'Inari'?" I couldn't help it. I froze and looked him in the eye. No one even knew she called me Inari. Had she told this thing? She better not. "No, no, she didn't tell me about you intentionally. She just happens to think a lot about you. But you haven't told her everything about you, right?" "Don't you dare say it out loud", I snarled. I gave him my best glare, but he only looked amused. "We both know what you did, and it wasn't good, was it now? Either you say it, or I'll tell Boss and her in one go." I ran. I just bolted for the door. I couldn't stand to be in one room with this dude. She was waiting outside, together with Boss. They looked terrified, but of what? I surely couldn't be it... right? I didn't... I wouldn't... &#x200B; "Inari, what have you done?"
[WP] You work in The Vault, a secret facility that exists solely to house the extremely dangerous Subject: a man who instantly learns everything there is to know about a person just by meeting them. It's finally your turn to bring him dinner.	I quietly stepped though the door carrying the meal tray, catching my first glimpse of the Subject. They were bound in their chair, facing the opposite wall, incapable of even turning their head more than a millimeter in either direction. The lights were perfectly arranged so that one would cast no shadows, the floors and walls padded so that one would give no sound. All of it was futile. The Subject could still intuit you through all that. They didn't know it, but I did. I stopped 3 feet inside the chamber, balancing the tray on one hand. By this point, the Subject would realize that I had stopped. The Vault ran on an almost inhumanly regular Schedule. Mistakes didn't happen here. If they did, they were removed. Brutally. Surgically. Precisely. The Subject's head moved their one allowed millimeter to the right. "Come on in. I don't... bite, lad." they rasped out, their voice smoky and broken from the earlier "testing" of their abilities, before the Subject was deemed "too dangerous" to expose to "important" personnel. I didn't move. "Don't be shy, now. You must.... realize you're 12 seconds behind schedule at this... point. If you move now, I'll make sure to eat... faster so you don't get in trouble with the Higher-Ups," they hissed in their snake's voice. "Don't be... afraid. You're new, I can... tell I haven't had you here before, I... never tear anyone apart on their first visit, lad. Surely you... know that?" I slowly squatted down, and placed the meal tray noiselessly on the floor. At this point, the cameras had swiveled from the Subject to point at me. The door swung silently closed. The Vault had noticed the break in Schedule. It didn't matter. It wouldn't make a difference. I rose from the ground, and slowly began to circle around to the front of the chair. From the left, why not. Throw them off a bit. They would be confused, so confused. Such a deviation from Schedule had never happened in all their time in the Vault. This would imply a change in the schedule (but no, then the cameras wouldn't have moved), or a person not belonging to the Vault entering their containment area. A mistake simply wouldn't happen. No, it wouldn't, the Vault would ensure it wouldn't. But most confusing of all, I hadn't yet done anything that would allow them to intuit me specifically. That was because I wanted to see their face when that happened. I stopped just outside their peripheral vision, waiting for their head to turn in my direction. As soon as I stopped, they turned their head, a lopsided grimace stretched between the scars and gashes that were their face. "What... is... this?" they forced out of their ruined vocal cords. I reached into my pocket, and took out the coin. I'd kept it on me every day. Every day since the one I'd taken it off his body. Careful to not make a sound, I took a deep breath, and flipped it off my thumb to land in front of the Subject. I saw their face slacken as they rewound what their eyes had seen, focused on the relevant details, cross-referenced them with their impeccable memories, and realized. Realized. Realized who I was, and exactly why I was here. Their mouth opened, perhaps to speak. I didn't give them a chance. "This is for James!" I spat out, moving into their field of vision. In that moment, the Subject began to try to understand me. In the next, they screamed. Their pain. It was, ohhh, it was music to my ears. I could see the agony and fear and pure yawning incomprehension screaming behind their eyes, as their mind tried to do what it did best and slowly tore itself apart trying. They tried to close their eyes, but their eyelids had been cut from their skull years ago. They tried to turn their head, but could move it no more than 2 millimeters, not nearly enough when I was standing right in front of them. They tried to stop, to cease, to abort what they were made to do. Unsurprisingly, they couldn't. They'd never had to do that before. "What are you?" the Subject choked out, their face twitching in pain and surprise and terror and fear and horror and agony and shock. I stared at them, this pitiful, scarred wretch that had torn the one thing, the only thing, I ever cared about apart. For fun. For sport. Because it was bored. I leaned down, bringing my face down to the mutilated oval that was the closest thing it had to one. "A bigger fish. You didn't really think you were alone, did you? That you were the only thing in this fucking world that was more than human? You thought you were at the top of the food chain, the biggest fucking baddie around. You weren't. If anything, you're on the bottom. I think you can guess where I am." A spark of comprehension caught behind it's increasingly crazed eyes. It was beginning to see. Good. I wanted it to understand before it went blind. "You took James from me. He was everything. EVERYTHING! So I'm going to do something worse than taking everything from you. I'm going to leave you like this. Forever. Trying to understand something that you never, ever, will be able to, in pain, in agony, trying to understand, even though you fucking can't. I might even visit from time to time." I turned around, flicking my wrist towards the coin. It lifted itself off the ground slowly, floating up to sit right in front of the Subject's eyes, slowly spinning. I walked towards the shut and heavily fortified door. "No. No. NO! Stop! Please, we'll -- AUGH! We can...." I walked through the door, leaving the Subject to suffer it's punishment. I stopped to place my hand on the sealed portal, and bind it with my own power. I ignored the frightened men in fatigues firing their weapons towards me. None of it would do anything. I waved my hand, and I was elsewhere, away from the cell, away from that damned Vault and it's damned Schedule. I began to walk home. It was done. James was avenged. The Subject had been given their punishment. &#x200B; &#x200B; &#x200B; I felt so empty. James was still gone. \-- \~bE Feedback very much appreciated	I tried to switch my shift, or fake an illness, but it was in vain. As I walked slowly towards the cell of Subject 01-S, I imagined everything he could tell me about me. I know I did some horrible things, but I swear up and down, I've changed. I couldn't be hired two months ago, just to be fired now! I stood in front of the cell for what seemed to me like decades. I couldn't bring myself to go there. Not yet. I quickly turned around, but a voice cut me off swiftly: "Inari, it's not like you have anything to hide." She didn't know about... it. I never told her, because I was selfish and wanted her as a friend. My friend. I shook my head, but stayed silent. "I'll go with you, scaredy-cat, does that make it any better?" I looked up in horror and blurted out: "No! No, no I'll go, it's good. Don't worry." She surprisingly let me go. I walked in, and walked right over to the table, not daring to look at the figure in bed. "Ah, hello there. I've been wanting to meet you for a while now." I tensed up, and ignored him on my way out. "Isn't it a little rude to ignore someone, 'Inari'?" I couldn't help it. I froze and looked him in the eye. No one even knew she called me Inari. Had she told this thing? She better not. "No, no, she didn't tell me about you intentionally. She just happens to think a lot about you. But you haven't told her everything about you, right?" "Don't you dare say it out loud", I snarled. I gave him my best glare, but he only looked amused. "We both know what you did, and it wasn't good, was it now? Either you say it, or I'll tell Boss and her in one go." I ran. I just bolted for the door. I couldn't stand to be in one room with this dude. She was waiting outside, together with Boss. They looked terrified, but of what? I surely couldn't be it... right? I didn't... I wouldn't... &#x200B; "Inari, what have you done?"
[WP] You work in The Vault, a secret facility that exists solely to house the extremely dangerous Subject: a man who instantly learns everything there is to know about a person just by meeting them. It's finally your turn to bring him dinner.	I took a deep breath. I don’t have anything to hide, at least I don’t I do. It strange to think someone could know things about me that I’ve buried deep in my subconscious. I grabbed the platter. It looked like a bland meal. I turned the doorknob. I was greeted by a formal looking man sitting on a couch staring at the wall. As soon as I stepped into the room his head turned to me. “You’ve got the gift!” “What? I’m just hear to give you your dinner,” “I know that. I’m telling you. You have the gift Lexi, you can be like me.” He stretched out his hand. “Let me show you.” I set his dinner on a nearby table. Should I trust him? There’s not much he can do, he can’t leave his room. But there must be a reason he is doing this. “There is a reason.” He said now staring at me. “How did you know what I was thinking.” “I know everything about everyone I meet, even their thoughts.” “Well that’s really creepy!” “I know you want to know what I mean, I’ve got nothing to hide. I’ve got no motive, like you thought, I’m trapped. I told you earlier and I’ll tell you again. You. Have. The. Gift. You are like me, you just haven’t realized it yet.” I stared at him in stunned silence, trying to not think. As hard as I tried I couldn’t suppress one thought. What if he is right? “I am. Do you want to be able to understand everyone? Of course you do. I know you do. So just reach into your mind. Look at me. What is my name?” I reached deep into my mind, thoroughly convinced that I could find it. I took a deep breath and something clicked. His name is Owen, he’s 27, his favorite colour is blue, he like Earl Grey tea and he is a dog person. “Go deeper.” I go deeper. I look into his soul. I know all I can about him. I can see his entire life until now. I can hear in my mind his thoughts. “Go now, I may be trapped here but you aren’t. Don’t let people,e know your like me, with this power you can change the world. I’ve seen you and I know I can trust you.” He doesn’t say this but I can hear it. Yes, I’m going to change the world for the better. “Goodbye. The world is ready for you.” I shut the door. I know Owen is smiling, happy that I am free to do what he can’t.	After a nasty string of breakups, I final hit my rock bottom. After getting a text from a (former) girlfriend informing me of our breakup while at work, I was fired for crying in the bathroom while the cash register, and most of the contents of the shop itself, was stolen. Two weeks later, down on my luck, feeling sorry for myself, my mother barged into my bedroom, the one I was temporarily staying in while in my parent's house. She had news. My father had found a new job posting. So the next day I found myself in an office, wearing a suit too loose in the shoulders and too short in the sleeves. The older gentlemen, with the dull suit and bright pocket square sitting behind the desk, asked me a few, general (boring) questions before sending me to a laboratory. The scientists with their pressed, sterile, white, lab coats poked and prodded at me. They asked me unending questions, until at last they said they were done. In my left arm I felt a sudden pain. I looked over to find one of the lab-coated scientists jabbing a needle into me. "Oww" I exclaimed out of surprise. "I thought we were done." "Oh that was really nothing, just a little something to prepare you for your meeting" One of the scientists said. "Well I guess it's fine then" I said snidely. Before I knew it, I was led to a small room, the door already open. Sitting serenely behind a small wooden desk in the middle of a barren room, sat a small man in a navy blue, pinstripe suit. He sat with one leg over the other, gingerly resting a book in his hands. I took a step forward, towards the chair on my side of the desk. An arrow shot through my head. It stopped me in my tracks. Pain. Just pain. It shot through my head like an arrow. I knew this man. I knew him like I know the taste of lemon, sour, acidic, bitter. I knew him like I know the lyrics to that song stuck in my head, bothersome but unable to be forgotten. When I sat across from him, I knew his response would be to casually lay the book down. I knew he wasn't really reading it, just putting on a show of elegance. I knew he would take his time uncrossing his legs. I knew his father died when he was four. I knew his brother, Jakob, ran away from home to scape their mother's alcoholism. I knew this man joined Jakob when he was fourteen. I knew he was a good student, until his favorite teacher was killed by a drunk driver. I knew he used his charm and brilliant smile to befriend anyone. I knew he was a kind man, who saw the good in everyone. "That was when it started. When I started having some sort of telepathy. I just, I knew things. To this day I'm unsure how I know these things, how I've come to this ability. They wont let anyone come to see me. No one. None of the scientists from before. Until now." "So I've told you my story. And I know you know that I know your story. So I'll tell you something. You're not sure why they sent you here. Before now, they've just slid food under the door. But now, they've sent you. Oh yes, they sent some in the beginning, to test me. But I could read it in their minds when they left. They had one thought on their mind when they left. One permeating. All consuming thought. Suicide." "When you know someone as well as I do, you grow to hate them. You understand all the choice they made. You understand the cruelty, and evil nature of man, and you can't help but exploit it. When you're trapped in a room, all day, how else do you entertain yourself by finding the necessary words for someone to give up?" "Ah, meatloaf tonight? My favorite."
[WP] You work in The Vault, a secret facility that exists solely to house the extremely dangerous Subject: a man who instantly learns everything there is to know about a person just by meeting them. It's finally your turn to bring him dinner.	"Evening Edgar." I said as the floor changed from linoleum to plush carpet. "Evening Joe. What do we have for dinner tonight?" Replied Edgar. He was a small man, intensely pale, made all the moreso by the fire light and red glow of enameled lamp shades. "Can't remember the name frankly," I confessed, setting the tray down on the coffee table, "but I'm supposed to swipe off the melted layer of cheese onto just about all of it." "Ah yes," said the man, "I know what it is but I can't remember the name either." He stubbed out his cigar and crossed the room to watch me cut the white sheets of cheese over the greens, meat, and potatoes on the plate. My technique was sloppy and we laughed at how unwieldly it felt. "Bon Appetit. Anything else you need Edgar?" "No Joe I think I'm alright. How's Jack's knee?" "I still think it's sprained, but my wife is certain there's a hairline fracture. We'll have a trip to the doctor's in the morning. Thanks for asking. Any new and interesting subjects lately?" Edgar shrugged and brought steaming tray to his dining room table. "Three classifieds and Colonel Myers needed to know where he left his wallet. It had fallen under his car seat. Nothing special." "Alright, well I'll be your man for the evening. If you need anything you now to contact me." "Indeed I do, have a good evening Joe. Give my best to Tammy." I left the warmth and softness of Edgar's domain and closed the titanium security door behind me. His report had mentioned how polite Edgar was, Joe was happy to learn it wasn't an exaggeration.	After a nasty string of breakups, I final hit my rock bottom. After getting a text from a (former) girlfriend informing me of our breakup while at work, I was fired for crying in the bathroom while the cash register, and most of the contents of the shop itself, was stolen. Two weeks later, down on my luck, feeling sorry for myself, my mother barged into my bedroom, the one I was temporarily staying in while in my parent's house. She had news. My father had found a new job posting. So the next day I found myself in an office, wearing a suit too loose in the shoulders and too short in the sleeves. The older gentlemen, with the dull suit and bright pocket square sitting behind the desk, asked me a few, general (boring) questions before sending me to a laboratory. The scientists with their pressed, sterile, white, lab coats poked and prodded at me. They asked me unending questions, until at last they said they were done. In my left arm I felt a sudden pain. I looked over to find one of the lab-coated scientists jabbing a needle into me. "Oww" I exclaimed out of surprise. "I thought we were done." "Oh that was really nothing, just a little something to prepare you for your meeting" One of the scientists said. "Well I guess it's fine then" I said snidely. Before I knew it, I was led to a small room, the door already open. Sitting serenely behind a small wooden desk in the middle of a barren room, sat a small man in a navy blue, pinstripe suit. He sat with one leg over the other, gingerly resting a book in his hands. I took a step forward, towards the chair on my side of the desk. An arrow shot through my head. It stopped me in my tracks. Pain. Just pain. It shot through my head like an arrow. I knew this man. I knew him like I know the taste of lemon, sour, acidic, bitter. I knew him like I know the lyrics to that song stuck in my head, bothersome but unable to be forgotten. When I sat across from him, I knew his response would be to casually lay the book down. I knew he wasn't really reading it, just putting on a show of elegance. I knew he would take his time uncrossing his legs. I knew his father died when he was four. I knew his brother, Jakob, ran away from home to scape their mother's alcoholism. I knew this man joined Jakob when he was fourteen. I knew he was a good student, until his favorite teacher was killed by a drunk driver. I knew he used his charm and brilliant smile to befriend anyone. I knew he was a kind man, who saw the good in everyone. "That was when it started. When I started having some sort of telepathy. I just, I knew things. To this day I'm unsure how I know these things, how I've come to this ability. They wont let anyone come to see me. No one. None of the scientists from before. Until now." "So I've told you my story. And I know you know that I know your story. So I'll tell you something. You're not sure why they sent you here. Before now, they've just slid food under the door. But now, they've sent you. Oh yes, they sent some in the beginning, to test me. But I could read it in their minds when they left. They had one thought on their mind when they left. One permeating. All consuming thought. Suicide." "When you know someone as well as I do, you grow to hate them. You understand all the choice they made. You understand the cruelty, and evil nature of man, and you can't help but exploit it. When you're trapped in a room, all day, how else do you entertain yourself by finding the necessary words for someone to give up?" "Ah, meatloaf tonight? My favorite."
[WP] You work in The Vault, a secret facility that exists solely to house the extremely dangerous Subject: a man who instantly learns everything there is to know about a person just by meeting them. It's finally your turn to bring him dinner.	I quietly stepped though the door carrying the meal tray, catching my first glimpse of the Subject. They were bound in their chair, facing the opposite wall, incapable of even turning their head more than a millimeter in either direction. The lights were perfectly arranged so that one would cast no shadows, the floors and walls padded so that one would give no sound. All of it was futile. The Subject could still intuit you through all that. They didn't know it, but I did. I stopped 3 feet inside the chamber, balancing the tray on one hand. By this point, the Subject would realize that I had stopped. The Vault ran on an almost inhumanly regular Schedule. Mistakes didn't happen here. If they did, they were removed. Brutally. Surgically. Precisely. The Subject's head moved their one allowed millimeter to the right. "Come on in. I don't... bite, lad." they rasped out, their voice smoky and broken from the earlier "testing" of their abilities, before the Subject was deemed "too dangerous" to expose to "important" personnel. I didn't move. "Don't be shy, now. You must.... realize you're 12 seconds behind schedule at this... point. If you move now, I'll make sure to eat... faster so you don't get in trouble with the Higher-Ups," they hissed in their snake's voice. "Don't be... afraid. You're new, I can... tell I haven't had you here before, I... never tear anyone apart on their first visit, lad. Surely you... know that?" I slowly squatted down, and placed the meal tray noiselessly on the floor. At this point, the cameras had swiveled from the Subject to point at me. The door swung silently closed. The Vault had noticed the break in Schedule. It didn't matter. It wouldn't make a difference. I rose from the ground, and slowly began to circle around to the front of the chair. From the left, why not. Throw them off a bit. They would be confused, so confused. Such a deviation from Schedule had never happened in all their time in the Vault. This would imply a change in the schedule (but no, then the cameras wouldn't have moved), or a person not belonging to the Vault entering their containment area. A mistake simply wouldn't happen. No, it wouldn't, the Vault would ensure it wouldn't. But most confusing of all, I hadn't yet done anything that would allow them to intuit me specifically. That was because I wanted to see their face when that happened. I stopped just outside their peripheral vision, waiting for their head to turn in my direction. As soon as I stopped, they turned their head, a lopsided grimace stretched between the scars and gashes that were their face. "What... is... this?" they forced out of their ruined vocal cords. I reached into my pocket, and took out the coin. I'd kept it on me every day. Every day since the one I'd taken it off his body. Careful to not make a sound, I took a deep breath, and flipped it off my thumb to land in front of the Subject. I saw their face slacken as they rewound what their eyes had seen, focused on the relevant details, cross-referenced them with their impeccable memories, and realized. Realized. Realized who I was, and exactly why I was here. Their mouth opened, perhaps to speak. I didn't give them a chance. "This is for James!" I spat out, moving into their field of vision. In that moment, the Subject began to try to understand me. In the next, they screamed. Their pain. It was, ohhh, it was music to my ears. I could see the agony and fear and pure yawning incomprehension screaming behind their eyes, as their mind tried to do what it did best and slowly tore itself apart trying. They tried to close their eyes, but their eyelids had been cut from their skull years ago. They tried to turn their head, but could move it no more than 2 millimeters, not nearly enough when I was standing right in front of them. They tried to stop, to cease, to abort what they were made to do. Unsurprisingly, they couldn't. They'd never had to do that before. "What are you?" the Subject choked out, their face twitching in pain and surprise and terror and fear and horror and agony and shock. I stared at them, this pitiful, scarred wretch that had torn the one thing, the only thing, I ever cared about apart. For fun. For sport. Because it was bored. I leaned down, bringing my face down to the mutilated oval that was the closest thing it had to one. "A bigger fish. You didn't really think you were alone, did you? That you were the only thing in this fucking world that was more than human? You thought you were at the top of the food chain, the biggest fucking baddie around. You weren't. If anything, you're on the bottom. I think you can guess where I am." A spark of comprehension caught behind it's increasingly crazed eyes. It was beginning to see. Good. I wanted it to understand before it went blind. "You took James from me. He was everything. EVERYTHING! So I'm going to do something worse than taking everything from you. I'm going to leave you like this. Forever. Trying to understand something that you never, ever, will be able to, in pain, in agony, trying to understand, even though you fucking can't. I might even visit from time to time." I turned around, flicking my wrist towards the coin. It lifted itself off the ground slowly, floating up to sit right in front of the Subject's eyes, slowly spinning. I walked towards the shut and heavily fortified door. "No. No. NO! Stop! Please, we'll -- AUGH! We can...." I walked through the door, leaving the Subject to suffer it's punishment. I stopped to place my hand on the sealed portal, and bind it with my own power. I ignored the frightened men in fatigues firing their weapons towards me. None of it would do anything. I waved my hand, and I was elsewhere, away from the cell, away from that damned Vault and it's damned Schedule. I began to walk home. It was done. James was avenged. The Subject had been given their punishment. &#x200B; &#x200B; &#x200B; I felt so empty. James was still gone. \-- \~bE Feedback very much appreciated	After a nasty string of breakups, I final hit my rock bottom. After getting a text from a (former) girlfriend informing me of our breakup while at work, I was fired for crying in the bathroom while the cash register, and most of the contents of the shop itself, was stolen. Two weeks later, down on my luck, feeling sorry for myself, my mother barged into my bedroom, the one I was temporarily staying in while in my parent's house. She had news. My father had found a new job posting. So the next day I found myself in an office, wearing a suit too loose in the shoulders and too short in the sleeves. The older gentlemen, with the dull suit and bright pocket square sitting behind the desk, asked me a few, general (boring) questions before sending me to a laboratory. The scientists with their pressed, sterile, white, lab coats poked and prodded at me. They asked me unending questions, until at last they said they were done. In my left arm I felt a sudden pain. I looked over to find one of the lab-coated scientists jabbing a needle into me. "Oww" I exclaimed out of surprise. "I thought we were done." "Oh that was really nothing, just a little something to prepare you for your meeting" One of the scientists said. "Well I guess it's fine then" I said snidely. Before I knew it, I was led to a small room, the door already open. Sitting serenely behind a small wooden desk in the middle of a barren room, sat a small man in a navy blue, pinstripe suit. He sat with one leg over the other, gingerly resting a book in his hands. I took a step forward, towards the chair on my side of the desk. An arrow shot through my head. It stopped me in my tracks. Pain. Just pain. It shot through my head like an arrow. I knew this man. I knew him like I know the taste of lemon, sour, acidic, bitter. I knew him like I know the lyrics to that song stuck in my head, bothersome but unable to be forgotten. When I sat across from him, I knew his response would be to casually lay the book down. I knew he wasn't really reading it, just putting on a show of elegance. I knew he would take his time uncrossing his legs. I knew his father died when he was four. I knew his brother, Jakob, ran away from home to scape their mother's alcoholism. I knew this man joined Jakob when he was fourteen. I knew he was a good student, until his favorite teacher was killed by a drunk driver. I knew he used his charm and brilliant smile to befriend anyone. I knew he was a kind man, who saw the good in everyone. "That was when it started. When I started having some sort of telepathy. I just, I knew things. To this day I'm unsure how I know these things, how I've come to this ability. They wont let anyone come to see me. No one. None of the scientists from before. Until now." "So I've told you my story. And I know you know that I know your story. So I'll tell you something. You're not sure why they sent you here. Before now, they've just slid food under the door. But now, they've sent you. Oh yes, they sent some in the beginning, to test me. But I could read it in their minds when they left. They had one thought on their mind when they left. One permeating. All consuming thought. Suicide." "When you know someone as well as I do, you grow to hate them. You understand all the choice they made. You understand the cruelty, and evil nature of man, and you can't help but exploit it. When you're trapped in a room, all day, how else do you entertain yourself by finding the necessary words for someone to give up?" "Ah, meatloaf tonight? My favorite."
[WP] You work in The Vault, a secret facility that exists solely to house the extremely dangerous Subject: a man who instantly learns everything there is to know about a person just by meeting them. It's finally your turn to bring him dinner.	"Evening Edgar." I said as the floor changed from linoleum to plush carpet. "Evening Joe. What do we have for dinner tonight?" Replied Edgar. He was a small man, intensely pale, made all the moreso by the fire light and red glow of enameled lamp shades. "Can't remember the name frankly," I confessed, setting the tray down on the coffee table, "but I'm supposed to swipe off the melted layer of cheese onto just about all of it." "Ah yes," said the man, "I know what it is but I can't remember the name either." He stubbed out his cigar and crossed the room to watch me cut the white sheets of cheese over the greens, meat, and potatoes on the plate. My technique was sloppy and we laughed at how unwieldly it felt. "Bon Appetit. Anything else you need Edgar?" "No Joe I think I'm alright. How's Jack's knee?" "I still think it's sprained, but my wife is certain there's a hairline fracture. We'll have a trip to the doctor's in the morning. Thanks for asking. Any new and interesting subjects lately?" Edgar shrugged and brought steaming tray to his dining room table. "Three classifieds and Colonel Myers needed to know where he left his wallet. It had fallen under his car seat. Nothing special." "Alright, well I'll be your man for the evening. If you need anything you now to contact me." "Indeed I do, have a good evening Joe. Give my best to Tammy." I left the warmth and softness of Edgar's domain and closed the titanium security door behind me. His report had mentioned how polite Edgar was, Joe was happy to learn it wasn't an exaggeration.	I took a deep breath. I don’t have anything to hide, at least I don’t I do. It strange to think someone could know things about me that I’ve buried deep in my subconscious. I grabbed the platter. It looked like a bland meal. I turned the doorknob. I was greeted by a formal looking man sitting on a couch staring at the wall. As soon as I stepped into the room his head turned to me. “You’ve got the gift!” “What? I’m just hear to give you your dinner,” “I know that. I’m telling you. You have the gift Lexi, you can be like me.” He stretched out his hand. “Let me show you.” I set his dinner on a nearby table. Should I trust him? There’s not much he can do, he can’t leave his room. But there must be a reason he is doing this. “There is a reason.” He said now staring at me. “How did you know what I was thinking.” “I know everything about everyone I meet, even their thoughts.” “Well that’s really creepy!” “I know you want to know what I mean, I’ve got nothing to hide. I’ve got no motive, like you thought, I’m trapped. I told you earlier and I’ll tell you again. You. Have. The. Gift. You are like me, you just haven’t realized it yet.” I stared at him in stunned silence, trying to not think. As hard as I tried I couldn’t suppress one thought. What if he is right? “I am. Do you want to be able to understand everyone? Of course you do. I know you do. So just reach into your mind. Look at me. What is my name?” I reached deep into my mind, thoroughly convinced that I could find it. I took a deep breath and something clicked. His name is Owen, he’s 27, his favorite colour is blue, he like Earl Grey tea and he is a dog person. “Go deeper.” I go deeper. I look into his soul. I know all I can about him. I can see his entire life until now. I can hear in my mind his thoughts. “Go now, I may be trapped here but you aren’t. Don’t let people,e know your like me, with this power you can change the world. I’ve seen you and I know I can trust you.” He doesn’t say this but I can hear it. Yes, I’m going to change the world for the better. “Goodbye. The world is ready for you.” I shut the door. I know Owen is smiling, happy that I am free to do what he can’t.
[WP] You work in The Vault, a secret facility that exists solely to house the extremely dangerous Subject: a man who instantly learns everything there is to know about a person just by meeting them. It's finally your turn to bring him dinner.	I quietly stepped though the door carrying the meal tray, catching my first glimpse of the Subject. They were bound in their chair, facing the opposite wall, incapable of even turning their head more than a millimeter in either direction. The lights were perfectly arranged so that one would cast no shadows, the floors and walls padded so that one would give no sound. All of it was futile. The Subject could still intuit you through all that. They didn't know it, but I did. I stopped 3 feet inside the chamber, balancing the tray on one hand. By this point, the Subject would realize that I had stopped. The Vault ran on an almost inhumanly regular Schedule. Mistakes didn't happen here. If they did, they were removed. Brutally. Surgically. Precisely. The Subject's head moved their one allowed millimeter to the right. "Come on in. I don't... bite, lad." they rasped out, their voice smoky and broken from the earlier "testing" of their abilities, before the Subject was deemed "too dangerous" to expose to "important" personnel. I didn't move. "Don't be shy, now. You must.... realize you're 12 seconds behind schedule at this... point. If you move now, I'll make sure to eat... faster so you don't get in trouble with the Higher-Ups," they hissed in their snake's voice. "Don't be... afraid. You're new, I can... tell I haven't had you here before, I... never tear anyone apart on their first visit, lad. Surely you... know that?" I slowly squatted down, and placed the meal tray noiselessly on the floor. At this point, the cameras had swiveled from the Subject to point at me. The door swung silently closed. The Vault had noticed the break in Schedule. It didn't matter. It wouldn't make a difference. I rose from the ground, and slowly began to circle around to the front of the chair. From the left, why not. Throw them off a bit. They would be confused, so confused. Such a deviation from Schedule had never happened in all their time in the Vault. This would imply a change in the schedule (but no, then the cameras wouldn't have moved), or a person not belonging to the Vault entering their containment area. A mistake simply wouldn't happen. No, it wouldn't, the Vault would ensure it wouldn't. But most confusing of all, I hadn't yet done anything that would allow them to intuit me specifically. That was because I wanted to see their face when that happened. I stopped just outside their peripheral vision, waiting for their head to turn in my direction. As soon as I stopped, they turned their head, a lopsided grimace stretched between the scars and gashes that were their face. "What... is... this?" they forced out of their ruined vocal cords. I reached into my pocket, and took out the coin. I'd kept it on me every day. Every day since the one I'd taken it off his body. Careful to not make a sound, I took a deep breath, and flipped it off my thumb to land in front of the Subject. I saw their face slacken as they rewound what their eyes had seen, focused on the relevant details, cross-referenced them with their impeccable memories, and realized. Realized. Realized who I was, and exactly why I was here. Their mouth opened, perhaps to speak. I didn't give them a chance. "This is for James!" I spat out, moving into their field of vision. In that moment, the Subject began to try to understand me. In the next, they screamed. Their pain. It was, ohhh, it was music to my ears. I could see the agony and fear and pure yawning incomprehension screaming behind their eyes, as their mind tried to do what it did best and slowly tore itself apart trying. They tried to close their eyes, but their eyelids had been cut from their skull years ago. They tried to turn their head, but could move it no more than 2 millimeters, not nearly enough when I was standing right in front of them. They tried to stop, to cease, to abort what they were made to do. Unsurprisingly, they couldn't. They'd never had to do that before. "What are you?" the Subject choked out, their face twitching in pain and surprise and terror and fear and horror and agony and shock. I stared at them, this pitiful, scarred wretch that had torn the one thing, the only thing, I ever cared about apart. For fun. For sport. Because it was bored. I leaned down, bringing my face down to the mutilated oval that was the closest thing it had to one. "A bigger fish. You didn't really think you were alone, did you? That you were the only thing in this fucking world that was more than human? You thought you were at the top of the food chain, the biggest fucking baddie around. You weren't. If anything, you're on the bottom. I think you can guess where I am." A spark of comprehension caught behind it's increasingly crazed eyes. It was beginning to see. Good. I wanted it to understand before it went blind. "You took James from me. He was everything. EVERYTHING! So I'm going to do something worse than taking everything from you. I'm going to leave you like this. Forever. Trying to understand something that you never, ever, will be able to, in pain, in agony, trying to understand, even though you fucking can't. I might even visit from time to time." I turned around, flicking my wrist towards the coin. It lifted itself off the ground slowly, floating up to sit right in front of the Subject's eyes, slowly spinning. I walked towards the shut and heavily fortified door. "No. No. NO! Stop! Please, we'll -- AUGH! We can...." I walked through the door, leaving the Subject to suffer it's punishment. I stopped to place my hand on the sealed portal, and bind it with my own power. I ignored the frightened men in fatigues firing their weapons towards me. None of it would do anything. I waved my hand, and I was elsewhere, away from the cell, away from that damned Vault and it's damned Schedule. I began to walk home. It was done. James was avenged. The Subject had been given their punishment. &#x200B; &#x200B; &#x200B; I felt so empty. James was still gone. \-- \~bE Feedback very much appreciated	I took a deep breath. I don’t have anything to hide, at least I don’t I do. It strange to think someone could know things about me that I’ve buried deep in my subconscious. I grabbed the platter. It looked like a bland meal. I turned the doorknob. I was greeted by a formal looking man sitting on a couch staring at the wall. As soon as I stepped into the room his head turned to me. “You’ve got the gift!” “What? I’m just hear to give you your dinner,” “I know that. I’m telling you. You have the gift Lexi, you can be like me.” He stretched out his hand. “Let me show you.” I set his dinner on a nearby table. Should I trust him? There’s not much he can do, he can’t leave his room. But there must be a reason he is doing this. “There is a reason.” He said now staring at me. “How did you know what I was thinking.” “I know everything about everyone I meet, even their thoughts.” “Well that’s really creepy!” “I know you want to know what I mean, I’ve got nothing to hide. I’ve got no motive, like you thought, I’m trapped. I told you earlier and I’ll tell you again. You. Have. The. Gift. You are like me, you just haven’t realized it yet.” I stared at him in stunned silence, trying to not think. As hard as I tried I couldn’t suppress one thought. What if he is right? “I am. Do you want to be able to understand everyone? Of course you do. I know you do. So just reach into your mind. Look at me. What is my name?” I reached deep into my mind, thoroughly convinced that I could find it. I took a deep breath and something clicked. His name is Owen, he’s 27, his favorite colour is blue, he like Earl Grey tea and he is a dog person. “Go deeper.” I go deeper. I look into his soul. I know all I can about him. I can see his entire life until now. I can hear in my mind his thoughts. “Go now, I may be trapped here but you aren’t. Don’t let people,e know your like me, with this power you can change the world. I’ve seen you and I know I can trust you.” He doesn’t say this but I can hear it. Yes, I’m going to change the world for the better. “Goodbye. The world is ready for you.” I shut the door. I know Owen is smiling, happy that I am free to do what he can’t.
[WP] You work in The Vault, a secret facility that exists solely to house the extremely dangerous Subject: a man who instantly learns everything there is to know about a person just by meeting them. It's finally your turn to bring him dinner.	I wasn't worried, I had no fear of the man bringing up any dirty laundry of mine, in fact I was quite at peace with the decisions that I had made in life. I was not a perfect person but who was? For lack of a better word, I was only human.. Unlike the man I was serving dinner. The long winding hallways often disorientated even those that worked here. They were sterile, filled with no life or in fact nothing of substance at all, just metallic grey doors, each with rows of bolted on screws, ensuring whatever was inside, would stay inside. I had heard rumours of some of the people they kept here. One woman could apparently burst your eye if you made direct eye contact. The worst part was, this apparently worked through camera's meaning her room was pitch black, with no camera in sight. The rumour always did have differing details though. One stated that it was only one eye, some said both.. In fairness, I hardly think that detail mattered. Any superiors I asked would also respond with. "It's outside of your rank" or "Stop listening to rumours" So I often dropped the topic, yet now as I passed a pitch grey door with no light under it, I wondered if perhaps it was true... Still the plate was getting cold, so I had to pick up my pace. My white slippers seemed to do little to stop the cold from reaching my feet, this place was always cold, most likely to slow movements, cold weather did tend to stop people from getting agitated. Finally, I could see his room. There wasn't much to identify the rooms by, except a small colour coating and a number. He had a green dot with the number four. Unlocking his door, I stepped in with a smile. "Evening sir." The man was middle aged, his face showing signs of malnutrition and lack of sleep, the skin almost seeming to pull at his flesh, making him look almost skeletal. "Have you been eating enough?" I questioned. Placing the plate before him. He didn't move at first, stroking a frail hand through his white fluff of hair, pupiless eyes staring directly at me. after a few moments, he reached for a paper cup on his table, taking a long sip, swirling the water in his cheeks before gulping it down. "Maybe, it's hard to say what's enough anymore, I honestly forget what a decent sized meal is meant to look like. Some men that come in eat triple this, where you seem to eat less. so to determine what is decent.. that's rather hard. Good evening though, it’s strange to see someone that isn't scared of me." He said as he began cutting up the rubbery steak before him, taking a few careful bites, despite the fact his teeth seemed rather loose. His body hardly seemed healthy, yet the man showed no signs internally of illness, it was like his body was just giving in rather than his mind or organs. "A man that can learn everything about me? heh... yeah so scary. I'm rather boring, but feel free to prod through my memories and feelings. Tell me if you find something redeeming about me, I would like to know as well." I said with a little more sarcasm then intended. "Sorry." I quickly apologised. "No need, you are still politer then most here. You know.. you misunderstand my ability. I can see your past, but I also know your future." He said simply as he struggled to chew on the steak. "Any sauce?" he asked. "No sorry... They don't issue that, maybe if I get assigned to you again, I can bring you one next time?" I offered. I didn't like treating the people here like criminals, some were disturbed and dangerous, but some were merely unfortunate. It wasn't the man’s fault he was dangerous and a threat to people.. "Awfully kind of you, but we won't be meeting again unfortunately." He placed the piece of meat down, poking the mushy potatoes. "Futures change constantly but based on what I have learned, you won't be here long." "And whys that?" I decided to humour the man, leaning against the wall, arms crossed defensively over my chest, as if that might protect me from his gaze. "No particular reason, they will just move you onto another department. Based on what I have seen through others, they see you as a liability, the type that might do something 'heroic' or stupid. Something stupid like freeing one of us. You will be simply told to look after the humans with mental illnesses and the special cases like us will be closed away from you." "But I would never-" I tried to explain that to the man, he simply held a finger up telling me to be silent. "You know that, I know that.. but they don't. Yet I will offer you a parting gift, I hope this sates your curiosity and doesn't encourage any reckless behaviour. That woman that you were thinking about, she’s very much real... and she isn't even the strangest case." He said with a smirk before the room buzzed. "NUMBER 004021, PLEASE REPORT TO THE OVERSEERERS OFFICE FOR A MEETING" The staticky machine hissed as the old man gave me a nod. "Move on with your life lad.. Don't stay here and live an unfulfilled life." That was the last comment he said to me as I turned to leave. As I headed to see the overseer, I tried to convince myself that it was merely a general discussion, perhaps about a new person being introduced to the vault.. but deep down, I could feel the man was right and this would be my reassignment. {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}	It was only my first week. I guess the new guy always brings him his dinner, but I got lucky and I was hired with two others. It was the beginning of my third night when I got stopped on my way to the break room by my boss. "Your turn, rookie." I knew it was coming, but I still wasn't ready. I heard horror stories of people being driven to insanity by him. All of my training told me he was only human, just with a special ability. Whatever, insanity or not he still needed his dinner. I took the tray down to the basement where they said he was being held. All I had to do was put the tray into the slot and if he was awake ask him for the lunch tray, but the closer I got the heavier my feet felt. I stood in front of the slot and took a deep breath. I let it out with more force than I meant it to be. "Ah, dinner already?" The old man came to the door and opened the slot. I handed him his dinner. "Oh... a fresh face... fresh meat. You won't last a month." "E-evening, sir. Here's your dinner. May I have your last tray?" "Here. So? Do you want to test me? See what I really know?" "No, sir." "Scared?" "Very. Have a good night." I quickly made an about face and took my first step out. "Wait! Hey! Come on! I know you're scared, and I know you're curious." I stopped. "I'll admit I'm curious, but they say you know everything about me now. I'd rather not feel embarrassed on only my third night here." I hoped a joke would mask how nervous I was to talk to such a dangerous man. "Just humor me. It gets lonely down here, and I promise I won't ask about the time you got rejected by your 7th grade crush. See? Your most embarrassing moment is already out in the open, so what do you have to lose?" I sighed. I did want to know more about this man. "Okay, okay. I'll be back in a bit. Let me bring my food down and we'll eat together." "Thank you. I'll be waiting. And, hey, you're a very polite young man, so I'll give you another tip: don't get comfy. I wasn't exaggerating when I said you wouldn't last a month."
[WP] You work in The Vault, a secret facility that exists solely to house the extremely dangerous Subject: a man who instantly learns everything there is to know about a person just by meeting them. It's finally your turn to bring him dinner.	"I'm having trouble understanding, Smith. Why have you resigned from your post?" The Vault Director asked me. How do I answer that? More importantly, what would be the point? I made my decision, before I had even exited the room with the Subject. "Smith, you're being groomed to one day be the director of this entire organization. You can have your pick of any role in The Vault you choose. I watched the tape of you dropping off food to the Subject. Nothing happened." His last two words made me perk up. I wanted to laugh and burst into tears at the same time. I just shook my head. "What is my name, Sir?" "I'm not sure I understand, Son." "What is my name, sir?" "John Smith." "John Smith the fourth. Not only is it a boring and forgettable name but it's the fourth in a series. Shit if I had been John Smith the fifth at least it would fucking rhyme." "Son..." "I didn't even earn a place here. The first John Smith co-founded The Vault. His descendants all the way down served as director. I'm being groomed for director because of nepotism." "You earned everything you've ever been given." "But it was given." "All this from your interaction with the Subject?" "I studied every interaction he's ever had with someone. When Agent Cole brought him dinner the Subject called him Mr. President, he quit his job and now he's front runner to win the election." "Okay but -" "When it was Blake's turn the Subject told Blake to call her brother. She did, made him stay on the phone for an hour. He ended up missing his flight which later crashed into the Pacific. Johns was told his wife was having an affair." "We don't discuss Agent Johns." "After murdering his wife and her lover he was sent to Prison. The prisoners rioted and he saved every single nurse in the ward from the inmates." "But your interaction with him wasn't notable. Sometimes he doesn't say anything important the first time you meet." "You said you watched it?" "Yes, Smith." "Then what did he say?" "He just got spooked." "No, sir. I walked into the room and stood there for two minutes with his food. Two minutes with the most observant being in history. When I cleared my throat he jumped, and screamed 'who the fuck are you?' It shook me sir." "Smith, please reconsider." "It shook me because I've been asking myself that question my whole life. If the closest thing we have to the all knowing doesn't know, then maybe I am no one." I placed my badge on the table and walked off into a future as uncertain as I was.	It was only my first week. I guess the new guy always brings him his dinner, but I got lucky and I was hired with two others. It was the beginning of my third night when I got stopped on my way to the break room by my boss. "Your turn, rookie." I knew it was coming, but I still wasn't ready. I heard horror stories of people being driven to insanity by him. All of my training told me he was only human, just with a special ability. Whatever, insanity or not he still needed his dinner. I took the tray down to the basement where they said he was being held. All I had to do was put the tray into the slot and if he was awake ask him for the lunch tray, but the closer I got the heavier my feet felt. I stood in front of the slot and took a deep breath. I let it out with more force than I meant it to be. "Ah, dinner already?" The old man came to the door and opened the slot. I handed him his dinner. "Oh... a fresh face... fresh meat. You won't last a month." "E-evening, sir. Here's your dinner. May I have your last tray?" "Here. So? Do you want to test me? See what I really know?" "No, sir." "Scared?" "Very. Have a good night." I quickly made an about face and took my first step out. "Wait! Hey! Come on! I know you're scared, and I know you're curious." I stopped. "I'll admit I'm curious, but they say you know everything about me now. I'd rather not feel embarrassed on only my third night here." I hoped a joke would mask how nervous I was to talk to such a dangerous man. "Just humor me. It gets lonely down here, and I promise I won't ask about the time you got rejected by your 7th grade crush. See? Your most embarrassing moment is already out in the open, so what do you have to lose?" I sighed. I did want to know more about this man. "Okay, okay. I'll be back in a bit. Let me bring my food down and we'll eat together." "Thank you. I'll be waiting. And, hey, you're a very polite young man, so I'll give you another tip: don't get comfy. I wasn't exaggerating when I said you wouldn't last a month."
[WP] You work in The Vault, a secret facility that exists solely to house the extremely dangerous Subject: a man who instantly learns everything there is to know about a person just by meeting them. It's finally your turn to bring him dinner.	"I'm having trouble understanding, Smith. Why have you resigned from your post?" The Vault Director asked me. How do I answer that? More importantly, what would be the point? I made my decision, before I had even exited the room with the Subject. "Smith, you're being groomed to one day be the director of this entire organization. You can have your pick of any role in The Vault you choose. I watched the tape of you dropping off food to the Subject. Nothing happened." His last two words made me perk up. I wanted to laugh and burst into tears at the same time. I just shook my head. "What is my name, Sir?" "I'm not sure I understand, Son." "What is my name, sir?" "John Smith." "John Smith the fourth. Not only is it a boring and forgettable name but it's the fourth in a series. Shit if I had been John Smith the fifth at least it would fucking rhyme." "Son..." "I didn't even earn a place here. The first John Smith co-founded The Vault. His descendants all the way down served as director. I'm being groomed for director because of nepotism." "You earned everything you've ever been given." "But it was given." "All this from your interaction with the Subject?" "I studied every interaction he's ever had with someone. When Agent Cole brought him dinner the Subject called him Mr. President, he quit his job and now he's front runner to win the election." "Okay but -" "When it was Blake's turn the Subject told Blake to call her brother. She did, made him stay on the phone for an hour. He ended up missing his flight which later crashed into the Pacific. Johns was told his wife was having an affair." "We don't discuss Agent Johns." "After murdering his wife and her lover he was sent to Prison. The prisoners rioted and he saved every single nurse in the ward from the inmates." "But your interaction with him wasn't notable. Sometimes he doesn't say anything important the first time you meet." "You said you watched it?" "Yes, Smith." "Then what did he say?" "He just got spooked." "No, sir. I walked into the room and stood there for two minutes with his food. Two minutes with the most observant being in history. When I cleared my throat he jumped, and screamed 'who the fuck are you?' It shook me sir." "Smith, please reconsider." "It shook me because I've been asking myself that question my whole life. If the closest thing we have to the all knowing doesn't know, then maybe I am no one." I placed my badge on the table and walked off into a future as uncertain as I was.	I wasn't worried, I had no fear of the man bringing up any dirty laundry of mine, in fact I was quite at peace with the decisions that I had made in life. I was not a perfect person but who was? For lack of a better word, I was only human.. Unlike the man I was serving dinner. The long winding hallways often disorientated even those that worked here. They were sterile, filled with no life or in fact nothing of substance at all, just metallic grey doors, each with rows of bolted on screws, ensuring whatever was inside, would stay inside. I had heard rumours of some of the people they kept here. One woman could apparently burst your eye if you made direct eye contact. The worst part was, this apparently worked through camera's meaning her room was pitch black, with no camera in sight. The rumour always did have differing details though. One stated that it was only one eye, some said both.. In fairness, I hardly think that detail mattered. Any superiors I asked would also respond with. "It's outside of your rank" or "Stop listening to rumours" So I often dropped the topic, yet now as I passed a pitch grey door with no light under it, I wondered if perhaps it was true... Still the plate was getting cold, so I had to pick up my pace. My white slippers seemed to do little to stop the cold from reaching my feet, this place was always cold, most likely to slow movements, cold weather did tend to stop people from getting agitated. Finally, I could see his room. There wasn't much to identify the rooms by, except a small colour coating and a number. He had a green dot with the number four. Unlocking his door, I stepped in with a smile. "Evening sir." The man was middle aged, his face showing signs of malnutrition and lack of sleep, the skin almost seeming to pull at his flesh, making him look almost skeletal. "Have you been eating enough?" I questioned. Placing the plate before him. He didn't move at first, stroking a frail hand through his white fluff of hair, pupiless eyes staring directly at me. after a few moments, he reached for a paper cup on his table, taking a long sip, swirling the water in his cheeks before gulping it down. "Maybe, it's hard to say what's enough anymore, I honestly forget what a decent sized meal is meant to look like. Some men that come in eat triple this, where you seem to eat less. so to determine what is decent.. that's rather hard. Good evening though, it’s strange to see someone that isn't scared of me." He said as he began cutting up the rubbery steak before him, taking a few careful bites, despite the fact his teeth seemed rather loose. His body hardly seemed healthy, yet the man showed no signs internally of illness, it was like his body was just giving in rather than his mind or organs. "A man that can learn everything about me? heh... yeah so scary. I'm rather boring, but feel free to prod through my memories and feelings. Tell me if you find something redeeming about me, I would like to know as well." I said with a little more sarcasm then intended. "Sorry." I quickly apologised. "No need, you are still politer then most here. You know.. you misunderstand my ability. I can see your past, but I also know your future." He said simply as he struggled to chew on the steak. "Any sauce?" he asked. "No sorry... They don't issue that, maybe if I get assigned to you again, I can bring you one next time?" I offered. I didn't like treating the people here like criminals, some were disturbed and dangerous, but some were merely unfortunate. It wasn't the man’s fault he was dangerous and a threat to people.. "Awfully kind of you, but we won't be meeting again unfortunately." He placed the piece of meat down, poking the mushy potatoes. "Futures change constantly but based on what I have learned, you won't be here long." "And whys that?" I decided to humour the man, leaning against the wall, arms crossed defensively over my chest, as if that might protect me from his gaze. "No particular reason, they will just move you onto another department. Based on what I have seen through others, they see you as a liability, the type that might do something 'heroic' or stupid. Something stupid like freeing one of us. You will be simply told to look after the humans with mental illnesses and the special cases like us will be closed away from you." "But I would never-" I tried to explain that to the man, he simply held a finger up telling me to be silent. "You know that, I know that.. but they don't. Yet I will offer you a parting gift, I hope this sates your curiosity and doesn't encourage any reckless behaviour. That woman that you were thinking about, she’s very much real... and she isn't even the strangest case." He said with a smirk before the room buzzed. "NUMBER 004021, PLEASE REPORT TO THE OVERSEERERS OFFICE FOR A MEETING" The staticky machine hissed as the old man gave me a nod. "Move on with your life lad.. Don't stay here and live an unfulfilled life." That was the last comment he said to me as I turned to leave. As I headed to see the overseer, I tried to convince myself that it was merely a general discussion, perhaps about a new person being introduced to the vault.. but deep down, I could feel the man was right and this would be my reassignment. {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}
[WP] The hero stared at the boy who was supposed to be his wise old master. "Word of advice. If you ever achieve immortality then wait till you're at least 20", he said in a high pitched voice.	Kennan thought he had seen all that magic had to offer. He was born and raised in the High Kingdom, where magic was as abundant as there were stars in the sky. He himself had a knack for elemental magic, but he knew fellow soldiers with the gift of mind-reading, shape-shifting, and a cornucopia of other talents. One man had even claimed to be skilled in the art of necromancy, but Kennan had never seen any proof. When the priests came to him one night, claiming that they had seen his destiny, Kennan wanted to spit at their feet. Future-tellers were a slippery bunch, sending perfectly good warriors on goose hunts that got them killed in the name of this “destiny.” But orders were orders, and Kennan wasn’t going to disobey. By morning, he had packed up his bags and was off on his journey to “save the world”, as the priests claimed. In accordance with the priests’ directions, Kennan found himself at the base of the White Mountain, the peak so tall it was shrouded in a veil of fog. Supposedly, it was the home of the wise old man who was going to teach Kennan what he needed to know to save the world. Kennan followed the winding trail that snaked up the side of the mountain. His armor, stifling as it was in the heat of summer, did little to shield him from the biting cold. It wasn’t long before he came across a small hut, and Kennan praised magic that he would at least have a short reprieve from the cold if this wasn’t the master’s home. Before he could even knock on the door, it swung open with a creak. Standing in the doorway was a young boy who couldn’t have been older than ten years. “Hello,” Kennan said to the boy. “I’m looking for the Mage of the White Mountain. Have you seen him?” The boy let out an exasperated sigh. “You’re looking at him,” he said in a high, sweet voice. Kennan’s face must have shown his shock, because the boy let out a bitter laugh. “Word of advice,” he said in his high-pitched voice, “if you ever achieve immortality, wait until you’re at least twenty.” “You’re my master?” Kennan asked incredulously. Then, “Wait. You’re immortal?” The boy smiled wryly, shrugging his shoulders. “Guilty as charged.” “But that’s impossible.” “Lesson number one, boy. Forget your idea of what’s impossible. If I’ve learned anything from my centuries of life, it’s that very few things are truly impossible with enough determination and enough magic.”	“Hello,” said a squeaky voice from afar. In the distance a small boy clothed in a wizards gown approached. I stared at him quizzically. “Word of advice. If you want immortality, wait till your at least 20” he said gazing up at me. He turned around and motioned for me to follow. I stood still, frozen by shock. “Come along brave hero, there is much to do in order to prepare you for your adventure at hand.” He said annoyed. I ran to catch up to him, despite looking like a small child he was faster than me. With that we walked on till we ultimately came across his home.
[WP] The hero stared at the boy who was supposed to be his wise old master. "Word of advice. If you ever achieve immortality then wait till you're at least 20", he said in a high pitched voice.	The boy reclined in one of the swamp pools that formed at the base of the tree of ancients. His proportions seemed alien to the hero, long gangly limbs, slender fingers longer than the hero's arms. His face a porous mess of craters upon craters. "You're to be my master" said the Hero. " I am," cracked the voice of the boy. "And what am I to learn from you? Surely you won't teach me to fight, they say you can't even stand anymore." Said the Hero. "You're right. I will not teach you to fight. Though I was once a great warrior, many lifetimes ago." Squawked the Master. "Then what use could I have of you, if you will show me no new paths to power? A dark cloud draws across the land, and it is my destiny to defeat it. So says my father God of Gods, and all the Oracle herself." "Do not be so quick to seek your destiny child. Though fortune favors the bold, fate is fickle and cruel." A finger lifted from the muck besides the Hero. It lists through the air and settles upon the the Heroes shoulder. The muck of the swamp is warm, but the finger feels cold and lifeless. "They call me master because I am wise, but I was not always. Wisdom is learned in suffering, and it is wisdom I will teach you." The Hero is incensed, "you will do no such thing, I have no time nor patience for your foolishness!" "The Gods are unkind to such arrogance, some would see your very existence as an affront. Look and see what future your path holds. Your arrogance will be your undoing without my aid."	“Hello,” said a squeaky voice from afar. In the distance a small boy clothed in a wizards gown approached. I stared at him quizzically. “Word of advice. If you want immortality, wait till your at least 20” he said gazing up at me. He turned around and motioned for me to follow. I stood still, frozen by shock. “Come along brave hero, there is much to do in order to prepare you for your adventure at hand.” He said annoyed. I ran to catch up to him, despite looking like a small child he was faster than me. With that we walked on till we ultimately came across his home.
[WP] The hero stared at the boy who was supposed to be his wise old master. "Word of advice. If you ever achieve immortality then wait till you're at least 20", he said in a high pitched voice.	Grant looked at the boy with confusion. He couldn't have been more than ten years old. "Wait, you're immortal, and you're my master who's going to train me? The voice in the fire told me to come here. This is all a bit overwhelming." "I'm Kaimon, or just Kai. Yes, I'm immortal and yes I'm your master. I'm here to train you to defend the mortal world from supernatural danger. Welcome to the other side, Grant." "But you're just a kid. How are you gonna defeat anything?" With lightning speed Grant was flat on his back and Kai held a dagger to his throat. "I have centuries of experience," replied Kai and he helped Grant to his feet. "I will teach you to master the sword, dagger, crossbow..." "Are you old enough to drive?" interrupted Grant. "Old enough, yes, but I get lots of looks and the police are difficult. Ride shares have become convenient. Back to the point. I will train you in stealth and thievery so that.." "Do you get carded for alcohol or what about the movies?" interjected Grant. "Well, I uh, don't drink too often, but my wine cellars are full of the oldest vintages. As for the movies, I prefer to stream at home. Stop interrupting, you will master simple spells and wards. Hero magic isn't as strong as a wizard's but it will come in handy in case...." "Am I immortal? Will I become a kid too?" "Ack..these trivial questions. Would that I could cast a silence spell. You are most certainly not immortal. There are many paths to immortality: godhood, vampires, nature binding, celestial bodies, etc." "Are you a vampire?!?" "No. Vampires are nothing like in the movies. They are rare and reclusive. They haven't killed anyone in centuries. My father was a hero. I accompanied him on a quest. He slayed a mad dragon. The fresh dragon's blood and the Medusan mirror I was hiding behind combined to make me an immortal child. I'll teach you the weaknesses of all supernatural creatures like dragons, demons, demigods, and....." "So have you ever uh...are you able to...well...." "No, I've never had sex. I'm a four hundred year old virgin. I never developed that way nor do I have the desires of adult males. I am uniquely immune to succubi and inccubi." "Dude." "Please call me, Master. You training begins immediately. Defend yourself!" said Kai as he drew a second dagger.	“Hello,” said a squeaky voice from afar. In the distance a small boy clothed in a wizards gown approached. I stared at him quizzically. “Word of advice. If you want immortality, wait till your at least 20” he said gazing up at me. He turned around and motioned for me to follow. I stood still, frozen by shock. “Come along brave hero, there is much to do in order to prepare you for your adventure at hand.” He said annoyed. I ran to catch up to him, despite looking like a small child he was faster than me. With that we walked on till we ultimately came across his home.
[WP] The hero stared at the boy who was supposed to be his wise old master. "Word of advice. If you ever achieve immortality then wait till you're at least 20", he said in a high pitched voice.	“How old are you?” I asked skeptically. The boy sighed deeply. “I know I look 12 but I am well over 200. I can’t even get a drink unless I stay in a town for a decade.” His voice cracked on the last word. It’s like his body was eternally stuck in puberty. “That sucks,” I sympathize. He shrugs in acknowledgement. “It is what it is. Which is why I won’t help you on your quest until you’re older.” “But I’m 16! I don’t have much time-“ “Time?” He interrupts. “What does time matter when seeking immortality? This isn’t something for the fright of heart. Many adventurers before you have sought the secret of living forever and regretted the consequences. Which is why you must be at least 20. Good day.” He dismissed me just like that. This small boy went back into his meditative pose with crossed legs and closed eyes. Was there really nothing I could do to convince him? “It’s not for me!” I shout. I did feel sort of bad for yelling at a kid. But I had to try. He cracked one eye open. Enough to tell me he was listening. I continued. “My sister is dying. She was always the adventurous one until she got sick. Now she can’t even get out of bed. It was always her dream to find the Fountain. I need to give her some of that water before it’s too late.” The boy cocks his head to one side like a bird. “Is your sister at least 20?” “Yes,” I lied. In truth, she looked this boys age. But I had to help her, at any cost. The boy sprang up and smiled with a glint of mischief only boys his age posses. “Follow me,” he squeaked. Clearing his throat, he repeated the command in a false low tone before rushing past me to lead the way. I’m not sure if he believed my lie or just didn’t care. My sister was counting on me to get the water. I just hope I put my trust in the right person. It would be terrible if this small boy was a liar like me. [r/bluestarsshatter](https://www.reddit.com/r/bluestarsshatter/)	“Hello,” said a squeaky voice from afar. In the distance a small boy clothed in a wizards gown approached. I stared at him quizzically. “Word of advice. If you want immortality, wait till your at least 20” he said gazing up at me. He turned around and motioned for me to follow. I stood still, frozen by shock. “Come along brave hero, there is much to do in order to prepare you for your adventure at hand.” He said annoyed. I ran to catch up to him, despite looking like a small child he was faster than me. With that we walked on till we ultimately came across his home.
[WP] The hero stared at the boy who was supposed to be his wise old master. "Word of advice. If you ever achieve immortality then wait till you're at least 20", he said in a high pitched voice.	"...that way, you'll have an easier time getting laid." The hero gaped his mouth as the realization dawned upon him. The young boy, who looked barely twelve, wasn't a false appearance. "I'm still perplexed by the morality of using illusion magic to look older during sex." The master grimaced. "Then again, it's never really stopped me in the past, so it doesn't bother me as much as I think it should." "That's nice... I guess. So, how about training me to defeat the demon king?" "I mean, women wear makeup. That's sort of masking your appearance too, right?" "A-are you listening to me?" "And, most of the time, the women I meet are centuries younger than me. What the hell am I supposed to do? Stay celibate?" "Who cares!" "Exactly!" The hero facepalmed. "I didn't mean it that way. Don't you think we have other matters to discuss?" "You mean how you broke into my home and discovered my secret?" The hero glanced away. The master frowned. "That's what I thought." He walked into the kitchen and started brewing tea. "If you're gonna invade my privacy, be prepared to hear about my sexual frustrations! Also, another tip. If anyone ever shows interest in you specifically because of how young you look... run." He buttered some bread with a dull knife. "It's never worth it." The hero wrinkled his face, disgusted. "You know," said the master, "I never expected you to be such a stick in the mud." "This is a joke." "You're the joke here, kid." "Kid? You're a child!" "Yeah! Kid! There's an obvious age difference here! Are you deaf or an idiot?" The hero frowned. "I'll kick your ass!" "A deaf-idiot! How lovely!" The hero lunged at him with his sword in a fraction of a second. The master parried his attack with the butter-knife and slapped him away with a casual backhand. The hero fell on the other side of the living room. His world spun around him as he recovered from the pain. The master sauntered towards him with a cheeky grin. The hero stood up. His fighting spirit urged him to retaliate with all he had, but his brain kicked in before he committed to it. Memories of his burnt village flashed in his head. The screams, the smells of ash, the blazing inferno. They reminded him why he went this far. If he truly wanted enough strength to save others, now was time to let go the childish concerns of his ego. The situation was clear. He wasn't strong enough to beat the master. The appearance of a kid hid the fact that his technique had centuries of practice. The hero fell on his knees and said: "Please, teach me." The master smirked. "Looks like you're not that much of an idiot." He rolled up his sleeves. "But that doesn't mean I won't beat your ass for waking me up in the middle of the night." The hero blinked. "W-what?" The master started stretching his arms. "Training begins now! You won't get food until you land a hit on me." The hero got punched in the face before he could process the information. It took him a week to eat lunch again. ----- >If you enjoyed this, you can check out my other stories over at /r/WeirdEmoKidStories. Thanks for reading!	“Hello,” said a squeaky voice from afar. In the distance a small boy clothed in a wizards gown approached. I stared at him quizzically. “Word of advice. If you want immortality, wait till your at least 20” he said gazing up at me. He turned around and motioned for me to follow. I stood still, frozen by shock. “Come along brave hero, there is much to do in order to prepare you for your adventure at hand.” He said annoyed. I ran to catch up to him, despite looking like a small child he was faster than me. With that we walked on till we ultimately came across his home.
[WP] The hero stared at the boy who was supposed to be his wise old master. "Word of advice. If you ever achieve immortality then wait till you're at least 20", he said in a high pitched voice.	Grant looked at the boy with confusion. He couldn't have been more than ten years old. "Wait, you're immortal, and you're my master who's going to train me? The voice in the fire told me to come here. This is all a bit overwhelming." "I'm Kaimon, or just Kai. Yes, I'm immortal and yes I'm your master. I'm here to train you to defend the mortal world from supernatural danger. Welcome to the other side, Grant." "But you're just a kid. How are you gonna defeat anything?" With lightning speed Grant was flat on his back and Kai held a dagger to his throat. "I have centuries of experience," replied Kai and he helped Grant to his feet. "I will teach you to master the sword, dagger, crossbow..." "Are you old enough to drive?" interrupted Grant. "Old enough, yes, but I get lots of looks and the police are difficult. Ride shares have become convenient. Back to the point. I will train you in stealth and thievery so that.." "Do you get carded for alcohol or what about the movies?" interjected Grant. "Well, I uh, don't drink too often, but my wine cellars are full of the oldest vintages. As for the movies, I prefer to stream at home. Stop interrupting, you will master simple spells and wards. Hero magic isn't as strong as a wizard's but it will come in handy in case...." "Am I immortal? Will I become a kid too?" "Ack..these trivial questions. Would that I could cast a silence spell. You are most certainly not immortal. There are many paths to immortality: godhood, vampires, nature binding, celestial bodies, etc." "Are you a vampire?!?" "No. Vampires are nothing like in the movies. They are rare and reclusive. They haven't killed anyone in centuries. My father was a hero. I accompanied him on a quest. He slayed a mad dragon. The fresh dragon's blood and the Medusan mirror I was hiding behind combined to make me an immortal child. I'll teach you the weaknesses of all supernatural creatures like dragons, demons, demigods, and....." "So have you ever uh...are you able to...well...." "No, I've never had sex. I'm a four hundred year old virgin. I never developed that way nor do I have the desires of adult males. I am uniquely immune to succubi and inccubi." "Dude." "Please call me, Master. You training begins immediately. Defend yourself!" said Kai as he drew a second dagger.	The boy reclined in one of the swamp pools that formed at the base of the tree of ancients. His proportions seemed alien to the hero, long gangly limbs, slender fingers longer than the hero's arms. His face a porous mess of craters upon craters. "You're to be my master" said the Hero. " I am," cracked the voice of the boy. "And what am I to learn from you? Surely you won't teach me to fight, they say you can't even stand anymore." Said the Hero. "You're right. I will not teach you to fight. Though I was once a great warrior, many lifetimes ago." Squawked the Master. "Then what use could I have of you, if you will show me no new paths to power? A dark cloud draws across the land, and it is my destiny to defeat it. So says my father God of Gods, and all the Oracle herself." "Do not be so quick to seek your destiny child. Though fortune favors the bold, fate is fickle and cruel." A finger lifted from the muck besides the Hero. It lists through the air and settles upon the the Heroes shoulder. The muck of the swamp is warm, but the finger feels cold and lifeless. "They call me master because I am wise, but I was not always. Wisdom is learned in suffering, and it is wisdom I will teach you." The Hero is incensed, "you will do no such thing, I have no time nor patience for your foolishness!" "The Gods are unkind to such arrogance, some would see your very existence as an affront. Look and see what future your path holds. Your arrogance will be your undoing without my aid."
[WP] The hero stared at the boy who was supposed to be his wise old master. "Word of advice. If you ever achieve immortality then wait till you're at least 20", he said in a high pitched voice.	“How old are you?” I asked skeptically. The boy sighed deeply. “I know I look 12 but I am well over 200. I can’t even get a drink unless I stay in a town for a decade.” His voice cracked on the last word. It’s like his body was eternally stuck in puberty. “That sucks,” I sympathize. He shrugs in acknowledgement. “It is what it is. Which is why I won’t help you on your quest until you’re older.” “But I’m 16! I don’t have much time-“ “Time?” He interrupts. “What does time matter when seeking immortality? This isn’t something for the fright of heart. Many adventurers before you have sought the secret of living forever and regretted the consequences. Which is why you must be at least 20. Good day.” He dismissed me just like that. This small boy went back into his meditative pose with crossed legs and closed eyes. Was there really nothing I could do to convince him? “It’s not for me!” I shout. I did feel sort of bad for yelling at a kid. But I had to try. He cracked one eye open. Enough to tell me he was listening. I continued. “My sister is dying. She was always the adventurous one until she got sick. Now she can’t even get out of bed. It was always her dream to find the Fountain. I need to give her some of that water before it’s too late.” The boy cocks his head to one side like a bird. “Is your sister at least 20?” “Yes,” I lied. In truth, she looked this boys age. But I had to help her, at any cost. The boy sprang up and smiled with a glint of mischief only boys his age posses. “Follow me,” he squeaked. Clearing his throat, he repeated the command in a false low tone before rushing past me to lead the way. I’m not sure if he believed my lie or just didn’t care. My sister was counting on me to get the water. I just hope I put my trust in the right person. It would be terrible if this small boy was a liar like me. [r/bluestarsshatter](https://www.reddit.com/r/bluestarsshatter/)	'Frederik, are you sure he is the one?' 'However outrageous it may sound, he is the one we are searching for princess.' Princess Caroline was in shamble, the one standing in front of her was a child, 9 or 10 from the look of it, and even smaller than her little brother. And yet, he give off a weird aura that she can't explain eventhough she know the way of magic. She look to the hero, Kaska and see that he have the same disbelief look in his eye. Only Frederik, the captain of the guard remain composed, but clearly have some awkwardness about the entire situation. 'Sir Frederik, perhaps this is a joke of some sort? Surely Vinton the Great Sage can't be a kid?' 'See, that's where you are wrong kiddo.' The kid raise his hand with a gesture before Frederik could even reply to the hero question. Suddenly the entire scenery around them change, Caroline can see the fabric of time and reality undone itself and mend back together right before her eye while Frederik and Kaska have a serious case of headache because of their weaker magic atunement. By the time it's over, the four wasn't standing on the flower field of Morlian anymore, but they were in the garden of Longtower castle. But they weren't the only one there. As soon as Kaska were able to open his eye and see that the scenery have change, he found the four are now surrounded by the Queen's Guard, all with their blade drawn and pointed at the three who are still standing, while princess Caroline have fainted from watching thing that she shouldn't during the teleportation. 'What have you done to the princess? Why are you here in the garden of the Queen?' - the Queen Guard commander shout, unsure of what just happened. 'Not bad, she actually try to read and see what the spell do, albeit a little bit idiotic because she didn't put a mind empower spell on herself first. I don't remember that my teaching was that bad, am I right my dear Josephine?' - the kid speak with his high pitched voice, surprising the guard. 'Insolence, how dare you speak of her majesty name with no honorific!' 'Stand down. You are in presence of the Great Sage. Sheath your weapon immediately!' As the queen order, the guard slowly back down and put away their weapon. Kaska still haven't figure out what the hell just happened, and Frederik was still trying to pick himself up. Vinton made another gesture and the princess float up and slowly fly over to Kaska while the hero fumble to catch her. 'Hold on to the girl for a while would you. Now, that's that. Let's get down to business shall we?'
[WP] The hero stared at the boy who was supposed to be his wise old master. "Word of advice. If you ever achieve immortality then wait till you're at least 20", he said in a high pitched voice.	John stared hard at this young boy who stood in front of him. ‘’Wha... where’s the master? I journeyed hard to reach here, to seek knowledge and power, and this is what I’m greeted by?’’ John tried to get past the boy, to continue his search for the almighty one, but was stopped. ‘’I am the master, the one with the power to rid the world of evil’’ , squeaked the boy. John could barely contain his laughter, and scoffed at the boy. He continued laughing for a few minutes, before glaring at the him. ‘Please do not get in my way, I have to save my city from the demons that invaded a while back. I do not have time to waste, everyone is depending on me.’ John shoved past the boy, and continued walking. All of a sudden, the walls in the cave he was in started violently shaking. John looked back and saw the boy, floating in mid air with his arms outstretched, being surrounded by rocks of various sizes. John jumped in shock. ‘What is the meaning of this. Who are you!’ The boy laughed, ‘ I am Conviux, the master of earth, with the ability to control all forms of matter. You say you come here to seek knowledge? Power? Well, I think you should learn some manners first.’ John stuttered, ‘Bu...but how?’ The boy looked down sheepishly at him, ‘Here’s an advice, if you ever achieve immortality, wait till you’re at least 20. I was able to find the path to immortality at the age of 10, and trust me, I should have waited. ‘	'Frederik, are you sure he is the one?' 'However outrageous it may sound, he is the one we are searching for princess.' Princess Caroline was in shamble, the one standing in front of her was a child, 9 or 10 from the look of it, and even smaller than her little brother. And yet, he give off a weird aura that she can't explain eventhough she know the way of magic. She look to the hero, Kaska and see that he have the same disbelief look in his eye. Only Frederik, the captain of the guard remain composed, but clearly have some awkwardness about the entire situation. 'Sir Frederik, perhaps this is a joke of some sort? Surely Vinton the Great Sage can't be a kid?' 'See, that's where you are wrong kiddo.' The kid raise his hand with a gesture before Frederik could even reply to the hero question. Suddenly the entire scenery around them change, Caroline can see the fabric of time and reality undone itself and mend back together right before her eye while Frederik and Kaska have a serious case of headache because of their weaker magic atunement. By the time it's over, the four wasn't standing on the flower field of Morlian anymore, but they were in the garden of Longtower castle. But they weren't the only one there. As soon as Kaska were able to open his eye and see that the scenery have change, he found the four are now surrounded by the Queen's Guard, all with their blade drawn and pointed at the three who are still standing, while princess Caroline have fainted from watching thing that she shouldn't during the teleportation. 'What have you done to the princess? Why are you here in the garden of the Queen?' - the Queen Guard commander shout, unsure of what just happened. 'Not bad, she actually try to read and see what the spell do, albeit a little bit idiotic because she didn't put a mind empower spell on herself first. I don't remember that my teaching was that bad, am I right my dear Josephine?' - the kid speak with his high pitched voice, surprising the guard. 'Insolence, how dare you speak of her majesty name with no honorific!' 'Stand down. You are in presence of the Great Sage. Sheath your weapon immediately!' As the queen order, the guard slowly back down and put away their weapon. Kaska still haven't figure out what the hell just happened, and Frederik was still trying to pick himself up. Vinton made another gesture and the princess float up and slowly fly over to Kaska while the hero fumble to catch her. 'Hold on to the girl for a while would you. Now, that's that. Let's get down to business shall we?'
[WP] The hero stared at the boy who was supposed to be his wise old master. "Word of advice. If you ever achieve immortality then wait till you're at least 20", he said in a high pitched voice.	The warrior had seen many things in battle that kept him up at night: the bodies of man and beast twisted together in corpse lattices, blood pooled to his ankles, bubbling and putrid, men stronger than he—weeping as they searched for their own missing limbs. So, when he looked upon the boy, the master he had ascended the world's tallest peak to find, all he could manage was laughter. "Does something amuse you, traveler?" the boy inquired, not opening his eyes or rising from his position of meditation, the falling snow outlining his legs on the rock. "I was told this mountain was home to a great master, one who has found enlightenment," the warrior tossed his pack to the ground, disrupting the fresh layer of snow into a cloud that rose and fell. The boy opened his eyes and watched with an arched brow, observing the man as he grunted and discarded his gear so carelessly. "The person who told you this tale is no liar." The man let his shield down, sitting on the broad metal like a chair, unbuckling the leather straps and laying his sword down in the snow, "Nay, if you're the only person atop this peak, then she truly was nothing but a liar." "I am the only one here," his voice was soft as the snowflakes that touched down around them. "and I am the master you seek." Another laugh echoed from the warrior's gut as he stretched his aching legs, not bothering with another glance in the boys direction. "No, you're not." A blade was at the man's throat before his next breath had escaped his lungs. The child perched atop the rear of his shield like a feather, one hand behind his back, the other pressing the knife firmly to the warrior's neck. The few meters of snow that had been between them remained completely undisturbed—the outline of the boy's legs still on the rock. Instinctively, the warrior grabbed his weapon, attempting to retract the sword from its sheath. It stuck as he pulled, as if snagged inside. "The frost, my friend," the boy said. "causes the blade to stick." "How—" the words struggled to move past the dagger at his throat." How did you do that?" The boy smiled, catching a snowflake on his tongue before answering, "I am the master you seek, and this is your first lesson." _____ Thanks for reading! Sub to /r/BeagleTales for daily prepubescent wisdom.	'Frederik, are you sure he is the one?' 'However outrageous it may sound, he is the one we are searching for princess.' Princess Caroline was in shamble, the one standing in front of her was a child, 9 or 10 from the look of it, and even smaller than her little brother. And yet, he give off a weird aura that she can't explain eventhough she know the way of magic. She look to the hero, Kaska and see that he have the same disbelief look in his eye. Only Frederik, the captain of the guard remain composed, but clearly have some awkwardness about the entire situation. 'Sir Frederik, perhaps this is a joke of some sort? Surely Vinton the Great Sage can't be a kid?' 'See, that's where you are wrong kiddo.' The kid raise his hand with a gesture before Frederik could even reply to the hero question. Suddenly the entire scenery around them change, Caroline can see the fabric of time and reality undone itself and mend back together right before her eye while Frederik and Kaska have a serious case of headache because of their weaker magic atunement. By the time it's over, the four wasn't standing on the flower field of Morlian anymore, but they were in the garden of Longtower castle. But they weren't the only one there. As soon as Kaska were able to open his eye and see that the scenery have change, he found the four are now surrounded by the Queen's Guard, all with their blade drawn and pointed at the three who are still standing, while princess Caroline have fainted from watching thing that she shouldn't during the teleportation. 'What have you done to the princess? Why are you here in the garden of the Queen?' - the Queen Guard commander shout, unsure of what just happened. 'Not bad, she actually try to read and see what the spell do, albeit a little bit idiotic because she didn't put a mind empower spell on herself first. I don't remember that my teaching was that bad, am I right my dear Josephine?' - the kid speak with his high pitched voice, surprising the guard. 'Insolence, how dare you speak of her majesty name with no honorific!' 'Stand down. You are in presence of the Great Sage. Sheath your weapon immediately!' As the queen order, the guard slowly back down and put away their weapon. Kaska still haven't figure out what the hell just happened, and Frederik was still trying to pick himself up. Vinton made another gesture and the princess float up and slowly fly over to Kaska while the hero fumble to catch her. 'Hold on to the girl for a while would you. Now, that's that. Let's get down to business shall we?'
[WP] The hero stared at the boy who was supposed to be his wise old master. "Word of advice. If you ever achieve immortality then wait till you're at least 20", he said in a high pitched voice.	"...that way, you'll have an easier time getting laid." The hero gaped his mouth as the realization dawned upon him. The young boy, who looked barely twelve, wasn't a false appearance. "I'm still perplexed by the morality of using illusion magic to look older during sex." The master grimaced. "Then again, it's never really stopped me in the past, so it doesn't bother me as much as I think it should." "That's nice... I guess. So, how about training me to defeat the demon king?" "I mean, women wear makeup. That's sort of masking your appearance too, right?" "A-are you listening to me?" "And, most of the time, the women I meet are centuries younger than me. What the hell am I supposed to do? Stay celibate?" "Who cares!" "Exactly!" The hero facepalmed. "I didn't mean it that way. Don't you think we have other matters to discuss?" "You mean how you broke into my home and discovered my secret?" The hero glanced away. The master frowned. "That's what I thought." He walked into the kitchen and started brewing tea. "If you're gonna invade my privacy, be prepared to hear about my sexual frustrations! Also, another tip. If anyone ever shows interest in you specifically because of how young you look... run." He buttered some bread with a dull knife. "It's never worth it." The hero wrinkled his face, disgusted. "You know," said the master, "I never expected you to be such a stick in the mud." "This is a joke." "You're the joke here, kid." "Kid? You're a child!" "Yeah! Kid! There's an obvious age difference here! Are you deaf or an idiot?" The hero frowned. "I'll kick your ass!" "A deaf-idiot! How lovely!" The hero lunged at him with his sword in a fraction of a second. The master parried his attack with the butter-knife and slapped him away with a casual backhand. The hero fell on the other side of the living room. His world spun around him as he recovered from the pain. The master sauntered towards him with a cheeky grin. The hero stood up. His fighting spirit urged him to retaliate with all he had, but his brain kicked in before he committed to it. Memories of his burnt village flashed in his head. The screams, the smells of ash, the blazing inferno. They reminded him why he went this far. If he truly wanted enough strength to save others, now was time to let go the childish concerns of his ego. The situation was clear. He wasn't strong enough to beat the master. The appearance of a kid hid the fact that his technique had centuries of practice. The hero fell on his knees and said: "Please, teach me." The master smirked. "Looks like you're not that much of an idiot." He rolled up his sleeves. "But that doesn't mean I won't beat your ass for waking me up in the middle of the night." The hero blinked. "W-what?" The master started stretching his arms. "Training begins now! You won't get food until you land a hit on me." The hero got punched in the face before he could process the information. It took him a week to eat lunch again. ----- >If you enjoyed this, you can check out my other stories over at /r/WeirdEmoKidStories. Thanks for reading!	'Frederik, are you sure he is the one?' 'However outrageous it may sound, he is the one we are searching for princess.' Princess Caroline was in shamble, the one standing in front of her was a child, 9 or 10 from the look of it, and even smaller than her little brother. And yet, he give off a weird aura that she can't explain eventhough she know the way of magic. She look to the hero, Kaska and see that he have the same disbelief look in his eye. Only Frederik, the captain of the guard remain composed, but clearly have some awkwardness about the entire situation. 'Sir Frederik, perhaps this is a joke of some sort? Surely Vinton the Great Sage can't be a kid?' 'See, that's where you are wrong kiddo.' The kid raise his hand with a gesture before Frederik could even reply to the hero question. Suddenly the entire scenery around them change, Caroline can see the fabric of time and reality undone itself and mend back together right before her eye while Frederik and Kaska have a serious case of headache because of their weaker magic atunement. By the time it's over, the four wasn't standing on the flower field of Morlian anymore, but they were in the garden of Longtower castle. But they weren't the only one there. As soon as Kaska were able to open his eye and see that the scenery have change, he found the four are now surrounded by the Queen's Guard, all with their blade drawn and pointed at the three who are still standing, while princess Caroline have fainted from watching thing that she shouldn't during the teleportation. 'What have you done to the princess? Why are you here in the garden of the Queen?' - the Queen Guard commander shout, unsure of what just happened. 'Not bad, she actually try to read and see what the spell do, albeit a little bit idiotic because she didn't put a mind empower spell on herself first. I don't remember that my teaching was that bad, am I right my dear Josephine?' - the kid speak with his high pitched voice, surprising the guard. 'Insolence, how dare you speak of her majesty name with no honorific!' 'Stand down. You are in presence of the Great Sage. Sheath your weapon immediately!' As the queen order, the guard slowly back down and put away their weapon. Kaska still haven't figure out what the hell just happened, and Frederik was still trying to pick himself up. Vinton made another gesture and the princess float up and slowly fly over to Kaska while the hero fumble to catch her. 'Hold on to the girl for a while would you. Now, that's that. Let's get down to business shall we?'
[WP] The hero stared at the boy who was supposed to be his wise old master. "Word of advice. If you ever achieve immortality then wait till you're at least 20", he said in a high pitched voice.	"...that way, you'll have an easier time getting laid." The hero gaped his mouth as the realization dawned upon him. The young boy, who looked barely twelve, wasn't a false appearance. "I'm still perplexed by the morality of using illusion magic to look older during sex." The master grimaced. "Then again, it's never really stopped me in the past, so it doesn't bother me as much as I think it should." "That's nice... I guess. So, how about training me to defeat the demon king?" "I mean, women wear makeup. That's sort of masking your appearance too, right?" "A-are you listening to me?" "And, most of the time, the women I meet are centuries younger than me. What the hell am I supposed to do? Stay celibate?" "Who cares!" "Exactly!" The hero facepalmed. "I didn't mean it that way. Don't you think we have other matters to discuss?" "You mean how you broke into my home and discovered my secret?" The hero glanced away. The master frowned. "That's what I thought." He walked into the kitchen and started brewing tea. "If you're gonna invade my privacy, be prepared to hear about my sexual frustrations! Also, another tip. If anyone ever shows interest in you specifically because of how young you look... run." He buttered some bread with a dull knife. "It's never worth it." The hero wrinkled his face, disgusted. "You know," said the master, "I never expected you to be such a stick in the mud." "This is a joke." "You're the joke here, kid." "Kid? You're a child!" "Yeah! Kid! There's an obvious age difference here! Are you deaf or an idiot?" The hero frowned. "I'll kick your ass!" "A deaf-idiot! How lovely!" The hero lunged at him with his sword in a fraction of a second. The master parried his attack with the butter-knife and slapped him away with a casual backhand. The hero fell on the other side of the living room. His world spun around him as he recovered from the pain. The master sauntered towards him with a cheeky grin. The hero stood up. His fighting spirit urged him to retaliate with all he had, but his brain kicked in before he committed to it. Memories of his burnt village flashed in his head. The screams, the smells of ash, the blazing inferno. They reminded him why he went this far. If he truly wanted enough strength to save others, now was time to let go the childish concerns of his ego. The situation was clear. He wasn't strong enough to beat the master. The appearance of a kid hid the fact that his technique had centuries of practice. The hero fell on his knees and said: "Please, teach me." The master smirked. "Looks like you're not that much of an idiot." He rolled up his sleeves. "But that doesn't mean I won't beat your ass for waking me up in the middle of the night." The hero blinked. "W-what?" The master started stretching his arms. "Training begins now! You won't get food until you land a hit on me." The hero got punched in the face before he could process the information. It took him a week to eat lunch again. ----- >If you enjoyed this, you can check out my other stories over at /r/WeirdEmoKidStories. Thanks for reading!	“How old are you?” I asked skeptically. The boy sighed deeply. “I know I look 12 but I am well over 200. I can’t even get a drink unless I stay in a town for a decade.” His voice cracked on the last word. It’s like his body was eternally stuck in puberty. “That sucks,” I sympathize. He shrugs in acknowledgement. “It is what it is. Which is why I won’t help you on your quest until you’re older.” “But I’m 16! I don’t have much time-“ “Time?” He interrupts. “What does time matter when seeking immortality? This isn’t something for the fright of heart. Many adventurers before you have sought the secret of living forever and regretted the consequences. Which is why you must be at least 20. Good day.” He dismissed me just like that. This small boy went back into his meditative pose with crossed legs and closed eyes. Was there really nothing I could do to convince him? “It’s not for me!” I shout. I did feel sort of bad for yelling at a kid. But I had to try. He cracked one eye open. Enough to tell me he was listening. I continued. “My sister is dying. She was always the adventurous one until she got sick. Now she can’t even get out of bed. It was always her dream to find the Fountain. I need to give her some of that water before it’s too late.” The boy cocks his head to one side like a bird. “Is your sister at least 20?” “Yes,” I lied. In truth, she looked this boys age. But I had to help her, at any cost. The boy sprang up and smiled with a glint of mischief only boys his age posses. “Follow me,” he squeaked. Clearing his throat, he repeated the command in a false low tone before rushing past me to lead the way. I’m not sure if he believed my lie or just didn’t care. My sister was counting on me to get the water. I just hope I put my trust in the right person. It would be terrible if this small boy was a liar like me. [r/bluestarsshatter](https://www.reddit.com/r/bluestarsshatter/)
[WP] The hero stared at the boy who was supposed to be his wise old master. "Word of advice. If you ever achieve immortality then wait till you're at least 20", he said in a high pitched voice.	The warrior had seen many things in battle that kept him up at night: the bodies of man and beast twisted together in corpse lattices, blood pooled to his ankles, bubbling and putrid, men stronger than he—weeping as they searched for their own missing limbs. So, when he looked upon the boy, the master he had ascended the world's tallest peak to find, all he could manage was laughter. "Does something amuse you, traveler?" the boy inquired, not opening his eyes or rising from his position of meditation, the falling snow outlining his legs on the rock. "I was told this mountain was home to a great master, one who has found enlightenment," the warrior tossed his pack to the ground, disrupting the fresh layer of snow into a cloud that rose and fell. The boy opened his eyes and watched with an arched brow, observing the man as he grunted and discarded his gear so carelessly. "The person who told you this tale is no liar." The man let his shield down, sitting on the broad metal like a chair, unbuckling the leather straps and laying his sword down in the snow, "Nay, if you're the only person atop this peak, then she truly was nothing but a liar." "I am the only one here," his voice was soft as the snowflakes that touched down around them. "and I am the master you seek." Another laugh echoed from the warrior's gut as he stretched his aching legs, not bothering with another glance in the boys direction. "No, you're not." A blade was at the man's throat before his next breath had escaped his lungs. The child perched atop the rear of his shield like a feather, one hand behind his back, the other pressing the knife firmly to the warrior's neck. The few meters of snow that had been between them remained completely undisturbed—the outline of the boy's legs still on the rock. Instinctively, the warrior grabbed his weapon, attempting to retract the sword from its sheath. It stuck as he pulled, as if snagged inside. "The frost, my friend," the boy said. "causes the blade to stick." "How—" the words struggled to move past the dagger at his throat." How did you do that?" The boy smiled, catching a snowflake on his tongue before answering, "I am the master you seek, and this is your first lesson." _____ Thanks for reading! Sub to /r/BeagleTales for daily prepubescent wisdom.	John stared hard at this young boy who stood in front of him. ‘’Wha... where’s the master? I journeyed hard to reach here, to seek knowledge and power, and this is what I’m greeted by?’’ John tried to get past the boy, to continue his search for the almighty one, but was stopped. ‘’I am the master, the one with the power to rid the world of evil’’ , squeaked the boy. John could barely contain his laughter, and scoffed at the boy. He continued laughing for a few minutes, before glaring at the him. ‘Please do not get in my way, I have to save my city from the demons that invaded a while back. I do not have time to waste, everyone is depending on me.’ John shoved past the boy, and continued walking. All of a sudden, the walls in the cave he was in started violently shaking. John looked back and saw the boy, floating in mid air with his arms outstretched, being surrounded by rocks of various sizes. John jumped in shock. ‘What is the meaning of this. Who are you!’ The boy laughed, ‘ I am Conviux, the master of earth, with the ability to control all forms of matter. You say you come here to seek knowledge? Power? Well, I think you should learn some manners first.’ John stuttered, ‘Bu...but how?’ The boy looked down sheepishly at him, ‘Here’s an advice, if you ever achieve immortality, wait till you’re at least 20. I was able to find the path to immortality at the age of 10, and trust me, I should have waited. ‘
[WP] The hero stared at the boy who was supposed to be his wise old master. "Word of advice. If you ever achieve immortality then wait till you're at least 20", he said in a high pitched voice.	"...that way, you'll have an easier time getting laid." The hero gaped his mouth as the realization dawned upon him. The young boy, who looked barely twelve, wasn't a false appearance. "I'm still perplexed by the morality of using illusion magic to look older during sex." The master grimaced. "Then again, it's never really stopped me in the past, so it doesn't bother me as much as I think it should." "That's nice... I guess. So, how about training me to defeat the demon king?" "I mean, women wear makeup. That's sort of masking your appearance too, right?" "A-are you listening to me?" "And, most of the time, the women I meet are centuries younger than me. What the hell am I supposed to do? Stay celibate?" "Who cares!" "Exactly!" The hero facepalmed. "I didn't mean it that way. Don't you think we have other matters to discuss?" "You mean how you broke into my home and discovered my secret?" The hero glanced away. The master frowned. "That's what I thought." He walked into the kitchen and started brewing tea. "If you're gonna invade my privacy, be prepared to hear about my sexual frustrations! Also, another tip. If anyone ever shows interest in you specifically because of how young you look... run." He buttered some bread with a dull knife. "It's never worth it." The hero wrinkled his face, disgusted. "You know," said the master, "I never expected you to be such a stick in the mud." "This is a joke." "You're the joke here, kid." "Kid? You're a child!" "Yeah! Kid! There's an obvious age difference here! Are you deaf or an idiot?" The hero frowned. "I'll kick your ass!" "A deaf-idiot! How lovely!" The hero lunged at him with his sword in a fraction of a second. The master parried his attack with the butter-knife and slapped him away with a casual backhand. The hero fell on the other side of the living room. His world spun around him as he recovered from the pain. The master sauntered towards him with a cheeky grin. The hero stood up. His fighting spirit urged him to retaliate with all he had, but his brain kicked in before he committed to it. Memories of his burnt village flashed in his head. The screams, the smells of ash, the blazing inferno. They reminded him why he went this far. If he truly wanted enough strength to save others, now was time to let go the childish concerns of his ego. The situation was clear. He wasn't strong enough to beat the master. The appearance of a kid hid the fact that his technique had centuries of practice. The hero fell on his knees and said: "Please, teach me." The master smirked. "Looks like you're not that much of an idiot." He rolled up his sleeves. "But that doesn't mean I won't beat your ass for waking me up in the middle of the night." The hero blinked. "W-what?" The master started stretching his arms. "Training begins now! You won't get food until you land a hit on me." The hero got punched in the face before he could process the information. It took him a week to eat lunch again. ----- >If you enjoyed this, you can check out my other stories over at /r/WeirdEmoKidStories. Thanks for reading!	John stared hard at this young boy who stood in front of him. ‘’Wha... where’s the master? I journeyed hard to reach here, to seek knowledge and power, and this is what I’m greeted by?’’ John tried to get past the boy, to continue his search for the almighty one, but was stopped. ‘’I am the master, the one with the power to rid the world of evil’’ , squeaked the boy. John could barely contain his laughter, and scoffed at the boy. He continued laughing for a few minutes, before glaring at the him. ‘Please do not get in my way, I have to save my city from the demons that invaded a while back. I do not have time to waste, everyone is depending on me.’ John shoved past the boy, and continued walking. All of a sudden, the walls in the cave he was in started violently shaking. John looked back and saw the boy, floating in mid air with his arms outstretched, being surrounded by rocks of various sizes. John jumped in shock. ‘What is the meaning of this. Who are you!’ The boy laughed, ‘ I am Conviux, the master of earth, with the ability to control all forms of matter. You say you come here to seek knowledge? Power? Well, I think you should learn some manners first.’ John stuttered, ‘Bu...but how?’ The boy looked down sheepishly at him, ‘Here’s an advice, if you ever achieve immortality, wait till you’re at least 20. I was able to find the path to immortality at the age of 10, and trust me, I should have waited. ‘
[WP] The hero stared at the boy who was supposed to be his wise old master. "Word of advice. If you ever achieve immortality then wait till you're at least 20", he said in a high pitched voice.	"...that way, you'll have an easier time getting laid." The hero gaped his mouth as the realization dawned upon him. The young boy, who looked barely twelve, wasn't a false appearance. "I'm still perplexed by the morality of using illusion magic to look older during sex." The master grimaced. "Then again, it's never really stopped me in the past, so it doesn't bother me as much as I think it should." "That's nice... I guess. So, how about training me to defeat the demon king?" "I mean, women wear makeup. That's sort of masking your appearance too, right?" "A-are you listening to me?" "And, most of the time, the women I meet are centuries younger than me. What the hell am I supposed to do? Stay celibate?" "Who cares!" "Exactly!" The hero facepalmed. "I didn't mean it that way. Don't you think we have other matters to discuss?" "You mean how you broke into my home and discovered my secret?" The hero glanced away. The master frowned. "That's what I thought." He walked into the kitchen and started brewing tea. "If you're gonna invade my privacy, be prepared to hear about my sexual frustrations! Also, another tip. If anyone ever shows interest in you specifically because of how young you look... run." He buttered some bread with a dull knife. "It's never worth it." The hero wrinkled his face, disgusted. "You know," said the master, "I never expected you to be such a stick in the mud." "This is a joke." "You're the joke here, kid." "Kid? You're a child!" "Yeah! Kid! There's an obvious age difference here! Are you deaf or an idiot?" The hero frowned. "I'll kick your ass!" "A deaf-idiot! How lovely!" The hero lunged at him with his sword in a fraction of a second. The master parried his attack with the butter-knife and slapped him away with a casual backhand. The hero fell on the other side of the living room. His world spun around him as he recovered from the pain. The master sauntered towards him with a cheeky grin. The hero stood up. His fighting spirit urged him to retaliate with all he had, but his brain kicked in before he committed to it. Memories of his burnt village flashed in his head. The screams, the smells of ash, the blazing inferno. They reminded him why he went this far. If he truly wanted enough strength to save others, now was time to let go the childish concerns of his ego. The situation was clear. He wasn't strong enough to beat the master. The appearance of a kid hid the fact that his technique had centuries of practice. The hero fell on his knees and said: "Please, teach me." The master smirked. "Looks like you're not that much of an idiot." He rolled up his sleeves. "But that doesn't mean I won't beat your ass for waking me up in the middle of the night." The hero blinked. "W-what?" The master started stretching his arms. "Training begins now! You won't get food until you land a hit on me." The hero got punched in the face before he could process the information. It took him a week to eat lunch again. ----- >If you enjoyed this, you can check out my other stories over at /r/WeirdEmoKidStories. Thanks for reading!	The warrior had seen many things in battle that kept him up at night: the bodies of man and beast twisted together in corpse lattices, blood pooled to his ankles, bubbling and putrid, men stronger than he—weeping as they searched for their own missing limbs. So, when he looked upon the boy, the master he had ascended the world's tallest peak to find, all he could manage was laughter. "Does something amuse you, traveler?" the boy inquired, not opening his eyes or rising from his position of meditation, the falling snow outlining his legs on the rock. "I was told this mountain was home to a great master, one who has found enlightenment," the warrior tossed his pack to the ground, disrupting the fresh layer of snow into a cloud that rose and fell. The boy opened his eyes and watched with an arched brow, observing the man as he grunted and discarded his gear so carelessly. "The person who told you this tale is no liar." The man let his shield down, sitting on the broad metal like a chair, unbuckling the leather straps and laying his sword down in the snow, "Nay, if you're the only person atop this peak, then she truly was nothing but a liar." "I am the only one here," his voice was soft as the snowflakes that touched down around them. "and I am the master you seek." Another laugh echoed from the warrior's gut as he stretched his aching legs, not bothering with another glance in the boys direction. "No, you're not." A blade was at the man's throat before his next breath had escaped his lungs. The child perched atop the rear of his shield like a feather, one hand behind his back, the other pressing the knife firmly to the warrior's neck. The few meters of snow that had been between them remained completely undisturbed—the outline of the boy's legs still on the rock. Instinctively, the warrior grabbed his weapon, attempting to retract the sword from its sheath. It stuck as he pulled, as if snagged inside. "The frost, my friend," the boy said. "causes the blade to stick." "How—" the words struggled to move past the dagger at his throat." How did you do that?" The boy smiled, catching a snowflake on his tongue before answering, "I am the master you seek, and this is your first lesson." _____ Thanks for reading! Sub to /r/BeagleTales for daily prepubescent wisdom.
[WP] The creature stands before you, holding a blackened journal. Only one entry is legible. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I could save the beast, but not its memories. I gave it life, but it is you who must give it a story. Do not be afraid of it. You are its master now."	The beam of my flashlight magnified how shaky my hands were being. In front of me was an amorphous beast, form ever-changing. The only recognizable thing it had was a journal covered in soot held in its jaw? Its claw? I couldn't tell. It didn't seem to be threatening, but that didn't quell the terror in my heart. I had just been wanting a quiet forest jog. The beast came closer and I tried to back up, but I tripped over a tree root in my haste. A whimper escaped my lips as the beast came over me and dropped the journal in my lap. It must want me to read it. Keeping the creature in the corner of my eye, I cracked open the journal. There was only one entry: "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I could save the beast, but not its memories. I gave it life, but not form or a story. Do not be afraid of it, for you are its master now. This journal is how you can communicate with it. At least until you find some other way to do so." "Well, I'm guessing this means you. You sure you want me to be your 'Master'?" I wasn't quite sure, but the shape seemed to gesture back towards the journal. I glanced down to see an additional word underneath the one entry, "Yes". I could've sworn that wasn't there before. "Ok, let's get us both somewhere safe. Do you mind keeping yourself invisible while following me?" Without a word, the creature formed itself into a nice bracelet around my wrist. It didn't really go with my tank top and track pants, but this wasn't an outfit meant for style anyways. Still perplexed by the situation I ended up in, I made my way home \-------------------- I shut the door behind me and made sure to lock and deadbolt it. I really didn't want anyone walking in, though I was the only one with a key. Sighing my relief about not having any roommates, I spoke to my bracelet. "Alright, we should be safe now." The dark being turned back into a cloud-like shape. "Ok, I'm going to shower and change. If you can talk through this book," I waved the book in the air and then placed it on the coffee table in the living room, "Then write down everything that you do know about yourself." I went to shower, expecting that book to be pretty empty when I got back. That wasn't what I was worried about though as hot water rained down my body. I was more worried about where this thing came from and if there was going to be something after me because of it. That beast probably didn't singe the journal, and there was no fire nearby. Maybe it would know? Probably me hoping too much. I turned off the water, dried off, and changed into something casual. The black blob was sitting? Lounging? Existing on the couch. I really should give it some sort of name. Though a name wasn't the only part of itself that wasn't defined. Sitting next to it, I opened the journal to see what information I could get from it. What I saw wasn't the best English. It seemed knowledgeable in the language, though I suppose losing all of ones memory would effect their ability to form words as well. "I walked long before finding you. I can reform when needed. Limit not known. I listen to you, you seem kind. You were not the first I saw." "Well, I'm flattered that you chose me. Though I'm not sure what to do with you." It crept a bit closer to me, probably trying to garner some amount of pity. "Before we can do anything, we ought to give you a name." It grew a bit warmer, seemingly agreeing with me. "Let's see, you change at will. That's like mutating, so how about Muta?" The warmth continued, but I checked the journal just to make sure. There, I saw one more word: "Muta" \--------------------	Wolof the Wizard, was kind of sick being a wizard , people expected a lot from him. Get rid of this curse, get rid of death spectre in town square, can you reduce the swelling in my cursed balls. Wolof also was not as smart as other people thought wizards were. Sure, Wolof went to wizard school, but does that mean he was a good wizard? No, he graduated at the bottom of his class, which got him in this shit kickin' town in the first place. So Wolof constructed a plan, a big plan, the biggest plan he's been planning for years, to live his utmost fantasy till they day he died. That fantasy was to dress up as a helpless monster and have some gullible person take care of him as they would their own child. Wolof made his way to a neighboring city Korten where no one would recognise him accidentally and began the highly perfected transformation process. He then just put on some pointy ears and gave himself a monobrow. Magically changing himself into a real creature would be taxing on his mana, so this was the next best thing for Wolof. Wolof then made his way to an especially gullible mans house, clutching a journal that he prepared earlier to hand to the the man which read. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I could save the beast, but not its memories. I gave it life, but it is you who must give it a story. Do not be afraid of it. You are its master now."
[WP] The creature stands before you, holding a blackened journal. Only one entry is legible. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I could save the beast, but not its memories. I gave it life, but it is you who must give it a story. Do not be afraid of it. You are its master now."	The beam of my flashlight magnified how shaky my hands were being. In front of me was an amorphous beast, form ever-changing. The only recognizable thing it had was a journal covered in soot held in its jaw? Its claw? I couldn't tell. It didn't seem to be threatening, but that didn't quell the terror in my heart. I had just been wanting a quiet forest jog. The beast came closer and I tried to back up, but I tripped over a tree root in my haste. A whimper escaped my lips as the beast came over me and dropped the journal in my lap. It must want me to read it. Keeping the creature in the corner of my eye, I cracked open the journal. There was only one entry: "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I could save the beast, but not its memories. I gave it life, but not form or a story. Do not be afraid of it, for you are its master now. This journal is how you can communicate with it. At least until you find some other way to do so." "Well, I'm guessing this means you. You sure you want me to be your 'Master'?" I wasn't quite sure, but the shape seemed to gesture back towards the journal. I glanced down to see an additional word underneath the one entry, "Yes". I could've sworn that wasn't there before. "Ok, let's get us both somewhere safe. Do you mind keeping yourself invisible while following me?" Without a word, the creature formed itself into a nice bracelet around my wrist. It didn't really go with my tank top and track pants, but this wasn't an outfit meant for style anyways. Still perplexed by the situation I ended up in, I made my way home \-------------------- I shut the door behind me and made sure to lock and deadbolt it. I really didn't want anyone walking in, though I was the only one with a key. Sighing my relief about not having any roommates, I spoke to my bracelet. "Alright, we should be safe now." The dark being turned back into a cloud-like shape. "Ok, I'm going to shower and change. If you can talk through this book," I waved the book in the air and then placed it on the coffee table in the living room, "Then write down everything that you do know about yourself." I went to shower, expecting that book to be pretty empty when I got back. That wasn't what I was worried about though as hot water rained down my body. I was more worried about where this thing came from and if there was going to be something after me because of it. That beast probably didn't singe the journal, and there was no fire nearby. Maybe it would know? Probably me hoping too much. I turned off the water, dried off, and changed into something casual. The black blob was sitting? Lounging? Existing on the couch. I really should give it some sort of name. Though a name wasn't the only part of itself that wasn't defined. Sitting next to it, I opened the journal to see what information I could get from it. What I saw wasn't the best English. It seemed knowledgeable in the language, though I suppose losing all of ones memory would effect their ability to form words as well. "I walked long before finding you. I can reform when needed. Limit not known. I listen to you, you seem kind. You were not the first I saw." "Well, I'm flattered that you chose me. Though I'm not sure what to do with you." It crept a bit closer to me, probably trying to garner some amount of pity. "Before we can do anything, we ought to give you a name." It grew a bit warmer, seemingly agreeing with me. "Let's see, you change at will. That's like mutating, so how about Muta?" The warmth continued, but I checked the journal just to make sure. There, I saw one more word: "Muta" \--------------------	Satcha is a poor city in the middle of the northwest. It's always been that way because of a famous scandal our mayor pulled 35 years ago that made our city built on money laundering. I've never liked living here, especially after my parent's death. But for a city to be a city, people must live there, and I am not 18 yet; only 17. As I'm on my way home from my job, strolling down the sidewalk besides my convenience store, I step on a giant mush. My fight or flight response ticks in as I was too busy on my phone typing a story for strangers on the internet to look where I was going, and I walked straight into this pile of shit. Wait. Why is it pink? The opaque blob turns it's blackened eyes toward me, as I look through it onto the cracked and dirty sidewalk; a small slate-colored booklet in mouth. As I release my foot from the slimy mass, I go—Is that a blobfish? It's definitely a blobfish. It's mouth curls into some crooked, makeshift smile (probably crooked because I stepped on it) and releases the booklet. I opened it, keeping my secondary eye watching over it if it attempts anything too non-blobfishy. I read the first entry. 'I'm Sorry. I could save the beast, but not it's memories.' Beast? My eyes drift back towards the blobfish, with the same smile it'd always been giving. It was actually kinda cute, to be honest. 'Do not be afraid of it. You are it's master now.' Whatever. I shove the slate booklet into my pocket and step over the blobfish, continuing my stroll. Starting with a right foot, and a moist left foot, I continue on my way. What kind of nerd would write an entire booklet on taking care of a blobfish in such a D&Desque way? People have too much time on their hands. As I get turn to get the house key out of my backpack, I step unto the front porch and notice that this little booger followed me, leaving a noticable trail of residue behind. "Get outta here! Go!" I shout to the blobfish. It grins yet again, this time a drop of slime falling out of the opening on the mouth. Jesus christ. Fine, whatever, stay there if you want. I turn to unlock my front door and notice that the door does not need unlocking as it's on the floor, right off the hinges. I hear a crashing sound from the upstairs vicinity. My hand reaches into my bag as I grab my flip knife. They don't let you bring these into the campus, but since I walk home, I should have it for protection. Plus, the Goners and I are not very friendly with each other. Ever since that stupid gang killed my parents for an initiation, I've always sworn to leave this place and not deal with it anymore. I step over the door, heading inside. As I step past the doorframe, and both of my feet are settled, I looked up after checking to be sure I wouldn't trip, and found myself face to face with a middle-aged man in all black, twice my size. He had practically no hair and brown eyes. I saw in my peripheral vision a stainless steel make pointed towards my stomach. Without hesitating, I lunge towards him and he disarms me with his superior strength. He pins me to the ground, where there were wood splinters from the door. I can feel the gun's cool metal against my temple. "Michael! I found him!" The man exlaimed, projecting his voice towards the stairs. His brooding smoker voice made it hard to understand emotion in his voice. I see a slender main with combed back hair, also in black, descend from the stairs. He smirks after he enters my vision completely. He turns and tilts his head. "What is that?" His voice was almost the polar opposite from the other guys'. I dart my eyes toward the blobfish, who has a poker face you'd see on a poorly drawn cartoon. "Dunno." Big man said, promptly popping a cap into blob. Shush, I can name him if I want. Blob didn't even move, and fixated his black eyes on the big man. Before my very eyes, Blob produced a spike out of goo, and projected it into the Big Man's chest, just like a bee sting but twenty times larger. After his grip becomes noticeably weaker, I turn my head to see what happened to his chest, only that I didn't see a chest. There was a giant gaping hole where his solar plexus had been. He dropped to the ground like a sand bag. No sound, nothing. Just gone. "Hey, what the fuc—" Michael screamed before promptly being given the same treatment. The spike was the same size, and I know this because the hole was larger on the thin man than the larger one. I raise my head and brace myself for the worst, but I see the smile again. I'd had wished it was the goo that came out, but this time it was the maroon color of blood. I waited for about 30 seconds, and at that point two police cruisers showed up at my house to ask about the gunshot. With the way the house is angled, they couldn't see the undone door. "Is anything wrong son? We got reports of a gunshot around here, thought we'd check it out." The first officer out of his car says. I look at Blob, and look back at the officer. "Nothing's wrong! I heard the gunshot was over there in a house a few blocks over." He looked at me to guess my bluff, but then went to go back into his car. "Alright then, I guess you have a good day then, son." He closed the car door at the same time I let out my sigh of a relief. I look back at blob after processing what just happened, to see that the Big man's body is gone, replaced by air puddle of blood that had been there. Blob was already on Michaels' body, expanded to be ontop of his body all at once. I could see him decaying before me and being melted inside of Blob. Christ. I stand there in shock, even after everything had just happened, thinking. I could use this. I reach into my pocket to see the semi-folded booklet (probably due to my fall by earlier) and flip it open. I go to the second page, 'Training'. Blob is definitely an interesting piece of the puzzle for my new life. :: This was definitely lengthier than my other responses, but I enjoyed writing it nontheless. Thanks OP. Criticism is also welcome as I'm looking to improve :)
[WP] The creature stands before you, holding a blackened journal. Only one entry is legible. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I could save the beast, but not its memories. I gave it life, but it is you who must give it a story. Do not be afraid of it. You are its master now."	I looked up from the journal at the strange creature on my stoop. It had knees that bent the wrong way, a thick layer of short fur covered its whole body, and there weren't any visible ears on its elongated head. It looked frightened, nervous, like a lost little kid. I slowly stretched out my hand. "Hey there, buddy. Come with me, it's gonna be all right." I cooed. The creature shrank a little, not shrank away, just seemed to get smaller. I gently touched its shoulder and started to lead it inside with me. Quietly, I closed the door and swapped the journal for a blanket which I put around its shoulders while I sat it down on the couch. "We're going to need to give you a name," I said," Any ideas?" The creature stared blankly at me. "Nothing? That's a terrible name, you can't shout nothing. It's too quiet!" I said, exaggerating my arm movements and inflection. The creature smiled, I think. There was also a wheezy snort that I took as a laugh. "I'm going to make some tea and grab a snack. Want some?" A nod. "Meat?" I raised one hand. "Fruit?" I raised the other. The creature leaned towards the meat hand. No surprise there. I popped into the kitchen, returning with tea for each of us and a bag of jerky. "Really though, on the name. I'm thinking Atticus or Finch might be good on account of the classy noises you make. Thoughts?" I said. He, I've decided my new friend is a he, cocked his head for a moment like he was considering something. Then, he started nodding and grabbed a handful of jerky to eat. I did the hand thing, Atticus for one side and Finch for the other. He picked Finch. We sat there for a little while, sipping tea and listening to me talk nonsense or read aloud. Eventually, he fell asleep. I slipped a pillow under his head and covered him with another blanket. It would be hard for him if he woke up alone, so I headed upstairs to get ready for bed and grab some sleep stuff for me. On the way to the stairs, I passed the table I'd set the notebook on and noticed it was different, cleaner. After setting up my bed on the recliner across from the couch, I went back and tried to see if the journal had anything else to tell me about my new friend. Flicking on a light, and flipping to the page with words, I saw something new. "I'm scared," it said, "but there's a man in front of me making nice sounds. He's invited me in and put a … blanket? on me. He's given me tea and food and talked to me. He makes me feel not scared anymore. He even helped me get a name. That name means a lot to him, I hope I can live up to it." The entry continued, but I remembered that it had seemed cleaner, so I looked at the cover again, "The Fantastic Feats of Finch" and I set it aside. I didn't need to read what he was thinking and feeling, I could tell. Tomorrow, we'll work on some words and learn to take a bath. I guess my life is a book too, filled with stories of my adventures and more importantly, my friends and family. If I had a copy, I'm sure Finch would be the start of a new, long chapter and I'm looking forward to it.	Satcha is a poor city in the middle of the northwest. It's always been that way because of a famous scandal our mayor pulled 35 years ago that made our city built on money laundering. I've never liked living here, especially after my parent's death. But for a city to be a city, people must live there, and I am not 18 yet; only 17. As I'm on my way home from my job, strolling down the sidewalk besides my convenience store, I step on a giant mush. My fight or flight response ticks in as I was too busy on my phone typing a story for strangers on the internet to look where I was going, and I walked straight into this pile of shit. Wait. Why is it pink? The opaque blob turns it's blackened eyes toward me, as I look through it onto the cracked and dirty sidewalk; a small slate-colored booklet in mouth. As I release my foot from the slimy mass, I go—Is that a blobfish? It's definitely a blobfish. It's mouth curls into some crooked, makeshift smile (probably crooked because I stepped on it) and releases the booklet. I opened it, keeping my secondary eye watching over it if it attempts anything too non-blobfishy. I read the first entry. 'I'm Sorry. I could save the beast, but not it's memories.' Beast? My eyes drift back towards the blobfish, with the same smile it'd always been giving. It was actually kinda cute, to be honest. 'Do not be afraid of it. You are it's master now.' Whatever. I shove the slate booklet into my pocket and step over the blobfish, continuing my stroll. Starting with a right foot, and a moist left foot, I continue on my way. What kind of nerd would write an entire booklet on taking care of a blobfish in such a D&Desque way? People have too much time on their hands. As I get turn to get the house key out of my backpack, I step unto the front porch and notice that this little booger followed me, leaving a noticable trail of residue behind. "Get outta here! Go!" I shout to the blobfish. It grins yet again, this time a drop of slime falling out of the opening on the mouth. Jesus christ. Fine, whatever, stay there if you want. I turn to unlock my front door and notice that the door does not need unlocking as it's on the floor, right off the hinges. I hear a crashing sound from the upstairs vicinity. My hand reaches into my bag as I grab my flip knife. They don't let you bring these into the campus, but since I walk home, I should have it for protection. Plus, the Goners and I are not very friendly with each other. Ever since that stupid gang killed my parents for an initiation, I've always sworn to leave this place and not deal with it anymore. I step over the door, heading inside. As I step past the doorframe, and both of my feet are settled, I looked up after checking to be sure I wouldn't trip, and found myself face to face with a middle-aged man in all black, twice my size. He had practically no hair and brown eyes. I saw in my peripheral vision a stainless steel make pointed towards my stomach. Without hesitating, I lunge towards him and he disarms me with his superior strength. He pins me to the ground, where there were wood splinters from the door. I can feel the gun's cool metal against my temple. "Michael! I found him!" The man exlaimed, projecting his voice towards the stairs. His brooding smoker voice made it hard to understand emotion in his voice. I see a slender main with combed back hair, also in black, descend from the stairs. He smirks after he enters my vision completely. He turns and tilts his head. "What is that?" His voice was almost the polar opposite from the other guys'. I dart my eyes toward the blobfish, who has a poker face you'd see on a poorly drawn cartoon. "Dunno." Big man said, promptly popping a cap into blob. Shush, I can name him if I want. Blob didn't even move, and fixated his black eyes on the big man. Before my very eyes, Blob produced a spike out of goo, and projected it into the Big Man's chest, just like a bee sting but twenty times larger. After his grip becomes noticeably weaker, I turn my head to see what happened to his chest, only that I didn't see a chest. There was a giant gaping hole where his solar plexus had been. He dropped to the ground like a sand bag. No sound, nothing. Just gone. "Hey, what the fuc—" Michael screamed before promptly being given the same treatment. The spike was the same size, and I know this because the hole was larger on the thin man than the larger one. I raise my head and brace myself for the worst, but I see the smile again. I'd had wished it was the goo that came out, but this time it was the maroon color of blood. I waited for about 30 seconds, and at that point two police cruisers showed up at my house to ask about the gunshot. With the way the house is angled, they couldn't see the undone door. "Is anything wrong son? We got reports of a gunshot around here, thought we'd check it out." The first officer out of his car says. I look at Blob, and look back at the officer. "Nothing's wrong! I heard the gunshot was over there in a house a few blocks over." He looked at me to guess my bluff, but then went to go back into his car. "Alright then, I guess you have a good day then, son." He closed the car door at the same time I let out my sigh of a relief. I look back at blob after processing what just happened, to see that the Big man's body is gone, replaced by air puddle of blood that had been there. Blob was already on Michaels' body, expanded to be ontop of his body all at once. I could see him decaying before me and being melted inside of Blob. Christ. I stand there in shock, even after everything had just happened, thinking. I could use this. I reach into my pocket to see the semi-folded booklet (probably due to my fall by earlier) and flip it open. I go to the second page, 'Training'. Blob is definitely an interesting piece of the puzzle for my new life. :: This was definitely lengthier than my other responses, but I enjoyed writing it nontheless. Thanks OP. Criticism is also welcome as I'm looking to improve :)
[WP] You're at an intergalactic, black market auction, where leaders from all over known space go to buy the right to conquer planets. The planet up for sale right now is one of the most dangerous known planets; Earth.	"Three hundred hyions for Earth, going Once. Going twii-." "Ten Thousand hyions," a loud voice shouted from the back. Immediately the entire room was filled with a deafening silence. Ten Thousand hyions? No one has ever bet that much on a galaxy before- let alone a planet like earth. You turned towards the direction of the voice to see an old man looking at the auctioneer. He had a long red beard and long red hair. He had his sign board up which had the numbers 42 on them. He didn't seem like a rich man from his clothing. You wonder how he could afford to shell out ten thousand hyions. He looked like he hadn't cut his hair for several years and it was all over the place- uncombed and curly- almost covering the entirety of his forehead. You could see the look of surprise on the face of the auctioneer. Even he, the man doing this since forever, looked like he never expected someone to bet that much on a single planet, let alone a planet like Earth. You see the auctioneer gulping down and repeating the bid. "Ten thousand hyions for Earth- going once." "Ten Thousand hyions Earth- going twice." "Sold to Mr. Luk Cikfek Rk." The old man, or Mr. Luk seemed rather happy with the announcement. He didn't stay for the rest of the auction. As soon as the conquer card appeared, he left his seat and walked towards the stage. You are curious about this. Why spend so much on Earth? That's one of the most dangerous planets in the universe. More than half of it is water which is considered a lethal poison for half of the Hetronus Galaxy. Why would someone buy the right to conquer Earth? You see the old man leaving the stage with his conquer card. Your thirst for answers is too much. You decide to leave the intergalactic auction and follow the old man. You know you have to do this discreetly, since knowing his intention is the main reason why you're following him. If he gets to know he's being followed, he might not do what he intends to. You carefully cover yourself in neo-invisibility spray to mask your presence senses. As he starts flying through galaxies, you follow his trail. He has no idea he's being followed. Right? That's what you think until you see him stopping at the Milky Way galaxy and staring down at Earth. "I know you're following me, child. Turn off your spray," he says without even turning back at you. You're embarrassed. You quietly turn off the spray and watch him as he waits an observes the planet he bought the right to conquer. You see him swiping the card and activating it. He's looking at a specific continent- Asia. You walk towards him to take a closer look. None of you speak because you don't know whether it is right to speak or not. Conquering a planet is supposed to be an intimate task done in the darkness when no one is watching. Being a bystander could result in losing your cred licences or even worse- forced galactic celibacy. You are quiet and decide not to disturb his peace. You see him sprinkle something on China. Then he turns around. "I'm all done here. Why have you followed me, child?" "You came all the way here to sprinkle something on a continent?" "That is not an answer, child. I'm sure we don't want any trouble, do we?" Mr. Luk said and you could understand the polite threat underneath his question. You immediately apologise. "I'm sorry, sir. I was just curious as to why you paid so much for a planet like Earth. I wanted to know what you wanted to do with it," you said. "We both know water planets aren't very fun to conquer. But I do this every hundred earth years. I got obsessed when I first wiped out the large lizards, but over the years, I've tried to make more fun," "I know. You used an asteroid for the dinosaurs. But why not do that again? What did you sprinkle on China?" "You see- over the years, I've gotten used to watching the humans come up with unique ways to deal with such worldly threats. Last time, I did it with the plague and they soon found a cure for that. This time, it's a similar disease, but I have dropped it in a country where any news about it will be covered up by the government. It'll be fun to see how they cope with this new one. I'm sure most of the world will be unable to intervene- let alone work together till the disease truly takes hold. But the population of humans- a truly conscious species is more than ever before. There are enlightened minds as well as people who are ignorant. This is going to be fun and I know I'll be enjoying each second of this." You think about his genius plan and even you are intrigued now. You want to ask to sit beside him and observe. You want to know how the humans will figure this out, or if they will even be able to. But you don't. That is too much, and he paid what he paid for, to sit in silence. You shouldn't take advantage of his kindness. "Okay, Mr. Luk Cikfek Rk. I'll leave you now to enjoy your conquer." "Yes, that would be the right course of action. And before you leave- I need to say one last thing, child." "Yes?" "I didn't corect the auctioneer because I didn't have much time. The Ks in my name and surname are silent." \----------- /r/abhisek	"Now here's a real beauty, a water-bound majestic planet circling the Sun at 1,609 kph while relying on its energy to sustain all living life forms currently inhabiting on its surface. The dominant species of the planet number at roughly 7.5 billion and are at the brink of being defined as intelligent. Do I hear 300 luples?" The paddles flew in the air without hesitation. Earth was being auctioned at a bargain. "I hear 300. Do I hear 500?" "500." "500 for the young man sitting in the back, do I hear 700." The dialogue continued for minutes, their voices growing more and more eager as the paddles flew up, eventually smaller in number, but not in speed. "I hear 3,500 luples, do I hear 4,000?" Now only a few more paddles lifted in competition. Evil eyes glared at one another as competitors fought to keep each other down, but soon the price was raised to a solid 6,000 luples, and the bidding finally came to a close. "Going once. Going twice. Closed, to the little girl in the front row who's clearly too young to be here." "Yay," a little girl bounced on her mommy's lap. "We got it! We got it!" "We certainly did, honey," her mother answered. "Now just you wait. Soon you'll have all the pets you'll ever want." \-- Stopping here for now. Thanks for reading!
[WP] Teleportation booths have been installed in every major city across the globe and are all turning on tonight. You helped design them. Only you know the truth. We haven’t discovered teleportation yet.	I struggle to sleep at night, i feel an awful amount of shame. All the people lost, yet still here. I tend to talk to a friend of mine when things get too much for me to handle alone, but he is gone now too. They did not like me talking with him. I still wonder how they have not tracked down and killed me yet, considering i was the one who made these machines possible. Probably wont be long though, i can feel them closing in on me. I sit in despair on my bed for another 10 minutes before i finally get up to make some coffee. I carefully walk over to the kitchen, it is not that far since i live in a small apartment but there is clothes and electric components scattered all over the floor. I reach the kitchen and hope i have some coffee left. All these long nights really do crave a lot of it. As i start pouring my coffee i hear someone knocking on my front door. I immediately know who it is, or rather, what agency it is. Now there is no time to waste. I rush over to my bed where my clothes lay, no need to care about the damage i cause to my feet as i'm stepping on the sharp components laying on the floor. I put on a pair of blue jeans and a black t-shirt along with some sneakers, and then a thick jacket. "Yep, a jacket", i think to myself, feels weird to even consider it since the temperature never reaches below 25c here but i know i will need it soon. I really did not want to use the machine, but i have no choice now. They have not come here to argue with me. I take out a suitcase from a secret compartment i have under my very messy bed. And as i open it and pull out the machine and put it on the bed i feel my hands shake. I have never used it before but i have to now. I need to stay alive to tell the world that these things cant actually teleport anything. Using it is suicide, not that anyone would know that when they activate it. Not that anyone would know that when they come out on the other side. What it was meant to do was to create new organs for transplant. Although it is at least used for it. But then one company came up with the "oh so ingenious plan" when they found out that it can have other uses. And so with my help they figured they could use it for travelling, i can feel nothing but resentment for whomever figured that was a good idea. To copy a persons DNA with his or hers personality and memory and then send that information to a receiver on the other side. With the great precision and an immensely low chance of the process accidentally going wrong, it is a very clever use for it, but not that ethical. So they call it teleportation. No one will every know that it isn't, how could they? It isn't technically murder, but if you value consciousness and life as much as i do you would know that this is wrong. And those who stole my invention knew that. But they do not care, all they want to do is revolutionize the way we travel and the people that is really paying the price is it's users. So i must stop this madness, that no one else knows is happening and i will have to sacrifice myself a lot of times before this is over. The knocking is getting louder and more aggressive until it eventually stops and i know exactly what is going to happen next. I take a deep inhale and I press the button on the machine that initiates the teleportation and i'm gone.	"What do you mean you don't know how teleportation works? How the hell do I set up a teleportation booth if you don't know how teleportation works? Is this some sort of weird joke? you know people will be pissed off when they put twenty dollars into a machine that does little more than vibrate and show them a picture of the location with the words. 'TELEPORTATION ARRIVING IN THE NOT TO DISTANT FUTURE, THANK YOU FOR THE DONATION.' If I was one of the people using it, I would be rightfully pissed off." "Well, uh yes we see your concern Mr Faller, but you are an idea man, right? We just thought you would figure out a plan, plus isn't it more important to fund research into the future? Think how happy they will be when they can finally teleport, they will be like, oh gee! are hard earned taxpayer dollars really went to work, didn't they?" The weaselly councilman muttered, turning to the women beside him, who was disinterestedly glancing at her pen. "Oh right, progress and all that stuff." She confirmed, finally pulling her gaze away from the pen to look at me. "Plus, look, we did them in the design of Doctor Pho! People love that show." "You mean Doctor Who?" Faller questioned, glancing back at the Red phonebooth which seemed suspiciously close to the other popular one. "Legally speaking, this is a Doctor Pho branded teleportation booth, we have nothing to do with Doctor Who, in fact if you asked me about it, I would respond by going Doctor Who?" The lady said, covering her mouth to stifle a chuckle. "Oh, that was a very clever joke Sarah, this is why you are our public relations woman! Isn't she just the spitting image of brains and comedy? I really do think she is quite amazing." Before Sarah could respond to the man's gushing, Faller spoke up, tapping the edge of the booth. "Look, I really just don't see this working out, I can't put my name behind a product that doesn't work, no one will ever hire me again." "Not even for ten million?" The man asked, doubling the already enticing offer that he had quoted Faller early, now Faller was a man with self-respect, but ten million was ten million. "Maybe... I can work something out.." He didn't feel proud about accepting the money but if it wasn't him accepting the offer, it would be some no named dickhead who would probably put the money into buying another yacht for his left bullock. At least Faller would spend the money a little better. "Oh great, then we will leave you to it, well Sarah shall we go pop the champagne for a incoming successful launch? I have a good feeling about this!" "Indeed sir, a toast to the future" Sarah cheered, the pair happily walking off, leaving Faller to stare at the mess of a booth, it was just a booth with a cheap led screen and a few buttons with the word. 'FRACNE,GERMANY AND AUSTRAILIA' god who was in charge of the spelling? and why were the buttons sticky? Even Faller couldn't fix this mess, well perhaps there was one strategy, yet this might be his only plan. He started up his work, preparing to have the machine ready for their return. It had been a few hours until the pair finally returned, their jaws dropping as they staggered over to the machine, the man pressing his fingers against the booth. "You did it... you did it you crazy bastard, it's better than I could have expected." Sarah even dropped her pen as she circled the booth, seeming to share the same enthusiasm as the man. "How... brilliant, thank you Faller, thank you so much." Faller stepped back, letting out an exhausted sigh as he stared over the booth, even he had to admire his quick thinking, carefully he had placed the an OUT OF ORDER sign over the booth, buying them all a few years to work out teleportation before they finally opened the machine up. It truly was a genius idea. {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}
[WP] Humans have landed on Mars for the first time, and are surprised to find thriving, advanced Martian life with towering cities. This whole time they’d chosen to remain hidden by projecting a holographic image around the planet, and had built a realistic movie-style stage for our mars rovers.	Not following the prompt to the letter. This is going to be from the mars rover perspective. The dry red dirt covered everything on that planet, even the once shiny metal of Opportunity. Oppy was moving with a purpose like she always did. Recording everything around her, taking reading, basking in the light, and beeping on her merry way. There were occasionally bumps in the road, like when she almost got stuck in the canyon that would have ended her mission prematurely. But she was persevered through it all. She had information to get to her humans and she refused to fail them. She didn’t always understand why they wanted information or what specifics they were looking for, although she imagines they were pretty excited to find out that there was once water on this planet. She continues driving around slowly and methodically. She took a few more pictures of the different rock strata as she went. He engines may be slowing down, but at least her camera still worked. Hopefully she could send it back to her humans and they could do something with the information. Oppy could fee her power starting to drain so she stopped and scanned for a better area of light. The moved to the ideal spot and waited, but her battery did not charge from the bright sunlight. Oppy would have sighed if she had lungs. This had been coming on for a while ever since that bad dust storm. She knew that she wouldn’t last forever on this beautiful, but desolate planet, but she had hopped to be able to find more information before her end. Oppy continued to move, hoping for one more spark of information that she could send back, but her wheels were slowing and the light from the day was starting to drain away. If Oppy could fee sadness then she would have cried, she had no more information to send to her humans. She was shutting down, she was dying. Oppy drove a few more meters before she had to stop. The light was fading and she was almost out of time. She suddenly stopped, not enough energy in her to continue her journey, she looked at the sky and took one more picture. She had not been programmed to identify what was beautiful and what wasn’t, but she hoped this picture of the star filled sky of space would be appreciated by her humans. She mentally sighed, somehow exhausted despite not being alive. “My battery is low and it’s getting dark.” She said while the last of her battery fell to the breaking point. She only had enough energy to be able to see around her, but not transmit it back. Suddenly, she could register movement around her. It must be another dust storm. But oddly enough, she was gently picked up, not by the wind of the storm, but by hands similar to her humans back home. She saw people, but not people like her humans. These had greenish skin that glistened in the sun, and they spoke a language she did not know, but they still reminded her of her humans. She could feel herself being pet like an earth pet and could hear the beings saying words: “Good job little robot, you performed admirably. Your work is done and now you may rest until the humans are able to come here themselves.” They suddenly went through a cave that Oppy had never ventured into and came out the other side where she saw trees not unlike the ones on earth. She saw saw a rushing river snaking around on the ground and large, glistening buildings similar to what she k ew earth had. How she wished she could transmit this to her humans so they could see what she saw. As the final vestiges of her battery drained she said only one more message allowed: “We are not alone, and it is beautiful.”	Landing Shuttle: Mission control this Mars shuttle 1 from the transport ship EVE, upon our approach we are getting odd readings from the planet, which include multiple radio frequencies and irregular bio readings. We keep updating as we approach our landing sight. Landing Shuttle: My God we have been wrong, all wrong for hundreds maybe thousands of years. Their cities are vast and gorgeous. Mission Control… Mars is already colonized. As we broke through the lower atmosphere, we must have passed through some sort of visual impairment field, but it must be more then that as it blocks all sig…
[WP] You gambled your soul against the devil and won, you are now the confused owner of Satan's soul	"You serious?" I mused playfully, my winning cards sitting on the table. "As serious as your new-fangled video game characters take themselves, kid." I laughed loudly, I had actually, somehow, beaten Satan himself in what I expected to be the world's most rigged card game. Then the shock set in, I was now, somehow, the owner of Satan himself's soul... how the hell did that happen? I know the bet had to be of equal value and all, but I thought Satan would bet some rando from hell's soul or maybe a dead family member and not be so cocky as to bet his own, extremely powerful, soul against me, some random from California with a love of the paranormal and a death wish or two. Half a minute or so passed in silence, even the clock had ceased to make a sound. "So.... what now?" I asked, half confused half intrigued. "Whatever you want kid, the world, hell, the entire dimension is now your oyster, you're literally the second most powerful being in existence" His response was quick, witty as ever though almost... benign... weird, for a being whose sole purpose was to be evil incarnate. I felt a slight shock, it felt like no more than mere static but it made me look down at my hands. On the back of my right hand was a dark crimson mark, not dissimilar to the mark of the beast but with an entirely different symbol, a ten pointed pentagram like star with a runic fire symbol in the middle. The game had ended, but I think my life had just truly started.	"Dammit!" the devil shouted, as I laid down my poker hand that proved to be the game winning dagger. "Well, a bet's a bet, and hell, I'll honor it... but you sure you don't want anything like, immense wealth? Or guitar playing fame? You really want my soul?" "Yeah that's right," I said with a shrug. "I at least know how to utilize a soul for my benefit and pleasure. You humans don't do anything with other souls, you wouldn't know how to use it or what to do with it." "You're right, that's true. I'm a novice when it comes to owning souls," I scratched my chin, deep in thought, "but I'm sure there's a YouTube video out there where they can explain all of that." "God dammit," the devil said. r/randallcooper I might add to this later, I really like this prompt.
[WP] Normally heroes would retire to become kings, marry the princess, became rich beyond imagination, etc. But this hero just wanted to open up a bakery and be incognito.	"Hey can I get two dozen donuts please." The guy's in a hurry. That's for sure. He's definitely got somewhere to be. Probably an office party or something. We get these guys a lot in the morning. Button down shirt. Heavy jacket. Worn out look on their face. The snow is bad this time of year, and it definitely makes the morning commute a lot tougher. "Sure man. What kind of donuts do you want." I gesture to the array of pastries that line the back wall behind the counter. "Let me get six glazed, six chocolate glazed, three jelly and wait a second..." He pauses, studying my eyes. "You look so familiar." "Must be one of those faces. You still get nine more donuts man. What will it be? Have you tried our red velvet before? It's a little outside the box but I promise it's worth a shot." "No man I know you from somewhere before. I never forget a face. You know what it is. You look exactly like Drake Xeno. Well, a little older at least." "Thanks man. I don't really think I look like much of a hero type." I don't get recognized as much now. I moved out here to get away from everything. I left that life behind after Tess died. The monster she became. Those were fun years but, I can't relive them anymore. "Just making pastries dude. Come on man finish up that order we got customers waiting." "Alright fine. Give me three custard filled, three chocolate and sprinkles, and why not, three red velvet." His eyes lit up now. This guy was different. "Forgive me it's just... the League of Heroes were my idols growing up. It was always so sad to me when they disbanded. Drake saved my life once." I reached over to grab the rest of his donuts and put them all in the boxes. "You're total is $22.48. You can insert the card there." I really did not want to talk about this. However, he was still on it. His eyes locked in on my scar. He had me made. "Please man, I'm not Drake Xeno." "Hey look man whatever you want. All I know is he's the reason I'm standing here today. When Malphus and his army rode down Wisconsin Avenue my sister and I were there. We ran and hid in one of the alleyways, paralyzed by fear. One of those godforsaken hell creatures turned the corner and I thought we were done. I told my sister I was going to distract it, and she would run one way and I'd run the other. So I ran straight at that thing, knowing it would be her only chance at survival. Then Drake Xeno swooped in, although on that day we only knew him as Galaxy. He blew that monster to smithereens, but my sister was still running. Guess who was on the street other than Malphus himself. When he shot one of his razor blades at her, The Phantom stuck out his arm and blocked it, despite having no armor there. He swooped her back over and looked at me fighting immense pain and said, 'You're a brave little dude! Keep it up! Don't forget..'" I looked at him "Anyone can be a hero." we said in unison. He smiled and put $100 and a card on the counter. "I don't know why you quit buddy, but people could still use you. This is a dangerous world and threats that many can not comprehend are on their way." "Sir, That's not me. Not anymore." "Well I hope you find him. Because the world needs Galaxy to rise again."	Thurrin had grown from a nobody, to a small town hero, to the leader of a newfound adventurer's guild, with him in charge of running it all. At times he thought of the irony of it all. Escaping your own clan, roaming the planet as a nobody until he found the perfect little village, a mere speck on the map. But, fate would not have it this way. Nay, for there slept a hideous beast beneath the local swamp. A hydra, which he had managed to slay-- he still remembered a thing or two of his fighting days. But, people once again looked up to him, that wasn't a part of the promise that he made to himself! So, in the middle of the night he wrote a scroll to his friends, left it on the dining table in the clan hall and took off without saying another word. He remembered his words clearly when he stood up against his father. 'I don't care for glory of our clan! We all know that you merely do this to stroke your own ego!'. The words seemingly made an impact on both of them, judging by his charred scales. It took a while before they shed. 'I'll give up everything just to be nothing for once.' With that he took off. Perhaps the world around him had changed. Fallen from grace by willingly taking the leap, then climbing back up to protect the weak. He took one final glance at the clan hall, a monument of his actions, built with blood, sweat and tears. But his mind was made up. The world will always change, yet he stayed true to himself. He'd give up everything just to be nothing.
[WP] you were always a step above everyone and when humanity reached for the stars you were one of the first to lead into the abyss. when first contact is made, the aliens seem terrified of you and none of your crew. turns out you're the last of a lost Apex species. Earth was meant to be your grave.	All my life, I had memories I shouldn't have had. Memories I couldn't have had. Half-forgotten fragments of other times, other places, other creatures. When I was a child, found on the street next to the orphanage, they called it an "over-active imagination". Because of course I couldn't remember being an old woman planning for when her mind and body would become young again. Of course I couldn't remember raising up queens and emperors and toppling them for my amusement, or teaching a dumb young species how to use fire. Of course I couldn't remember being sentenced to a planet marred by war with species that didn't seem to exist, or the bioweapons meant to kill me which ironically evolved into the worldwide ecosystem that sustained me. And yes, of course I couldn't remember the tests and science, our bodies learning to survive near anything and reboot themselves as they died. They said it must have all just been in my head. It was only logical. For a while, I believed them. But that changed when the world's top scientists announced that they had solved travel beyond our little yellow dwarf. I knew my calling, to be on that first ship into the unknown. Deep in my heart, I felt it. And now, looking at you all here, seeing alien and non-alien alike trembling before me, I know why. Our thrones have been empty for so long, calling to me, the last of my kind. It is time they are filled. And it is time my vengeance finally come, to those who always hated me for my imagination and ingenuity- both those misdiagnosing fools of this lifetime and those spacefaring fools so very long ago. You, however, shall live, as shall your family. You were always kind to me, even when I was young and vulnerable. You shall be spared as my old empire rises, much as my body itself reforms as it lies dying. You get to witness the return of a queen. You get to witness the return of the Humans.	Suez, at least that’s what we called the alien planet for the native name wasn’t even audible for human years. I looked down the planet and I didn’t know what I expected, maybe an ocean world because the native “Suezians” kinda/sorta looked like squids. Furry Squids... They looked creepy in my opinion but all indications seemed to say that they were a very nice and helpful race, not so helpful that they would give us any technology, they made that abundantly clear in the past 20 years since we established contact. But helpful in that they were willing to open the “Galactic highway” to our newly unified planet once we proved ourselves mature in a technological and cultural sense. “So what are they like?” I asked Marie our ‘Xenologist’ although she hated that term. She was looking amazed at the planet we’re approaching but now looked irritated “What are they like!?” She mocked by Cyber-English accent! “What if I asked you what are quarks like!?” She looked down on me despite being almost two feet shorter than me. “Quarks!?” I asked puzzled, it took me a moment “oooh because I am Via-physicist” “Via what?” She asked “Road physicist... look, we discovered the road via quarks but that was 50 years ago, my speciality is entirely different, aren’t you a scientist!?” She huffed “well your question wasn’t precise for a scientists either!” I took a deep breath and sighed “I am sorry, I meant for a very advanced and peaceful species they seem highly militarized and very into tradition” “Well..” she looked at the planet again with its militaristic orbital stations surroundings it “well they ARE the guardians of this section of the galaxy, so they have to be at least a little bit martial.” She pointed at the million or so gates on the edge of the Suez solar system connecting our sector of the galaxy to everywhere else “as for their current customs, they’re very old, as old or just a little older than human civilization! Since the galactic war at least.” “I am not completely ignorant, mrs. quarks” I know there was an ancient war, but didn’t they completely win?” “Well yeah,” she sounded unsure “but I had private conversations with some of their scientists, and the cautious programing is deep within their technology and even psyche, the galactic government apparently made...” She stopped and looked behind me mouth ajar. I looked back and even though I met the man dozen of times throughout the trip to Suez I was still in awe of the living legend who just wheeled into our conversations “Lord Oldinglod” I said stammering The 150 year old looked good for his age, which meant he looked about to die at any moment. “Evening ladies” he bowed his head as much as his frail neck would allow him. “And please Just Eldin is fine, or Professor if you feel formal,” he coughed “although my teaching days are long behind me.” He said wistfully. “We.. were just discussing Suizian culture” I managed to mumble “Fascinating creatures!” He said “Who knew that me and a few graduates messing around with the quark reactor on Europa would lead to this 80 years later!” Marie nudged me in my hip as if to say “see I did say something about quarks” I ignored her and spoke to him “Professor, it’s an honor to have you on first contact, none of..” He waved at me or at least tried to before another coughing fit seized him “Are you OK professor?” Marie managed to say His coughing fit finally under control he said “I am fine, but I didn’t do anything, really” I wanted to tell him that’s nonsense and that he shouldn’t be so humble but he continued “and beside the real contact was years ago, we’re just visiting their world for the first time.” He looked at the beautiful planet before us “I am just glad secretary Chi granted a dying man his wish.” I wasn’t very knowledgeable with politics but even I knew that the head of the UN wouldn’t be able to refuse the wish of the first person into space, the one who started the first out of world colony, the creator of the first out of world university, the man who discovered the theoretical basis for the Galactic highway, Lord Odinglod was eve. essential in bringing world peace after we discovered alien life. And although he did ALL that it saddened and angered me that most humans today didn’t know who he is because of his stupid humility and shyness. “We just been granted access” the Captain’s voice said on the intercom “we’re about to breach atmosphere in 2 hours” A cheer went up the ship! “See you on the surface” the old man said as his electric wheelchair took him away. ... On the surface we were met by two Suizians, and although the atmosphere was hospitable to us and we were scrubbed throughly from any bacteria or microbe, the Suizian protocol dictated that we must wear our suits at all time. Which wasn’t a bad idea per-se since our helmets made their language and even their body language intelligible to us. The Suizians were huge, at least 4 meters high, and unlike the projections we saw these two actually walked on two tentacles and used the other 4 as hands. “And this is Marie the Suizian specialist whom I am sure you know very well” The captain introduced Mary “Aha Maree” The bigger Suizian said “it’s so good to finally to meet you in the flesh! You’re much tinier in person!” I stifled a laugh knowing how much Mary hated people mentioning her height. “Guardian Xklobx” she bowed forward and extended both her arms forward “it brings me and my people great joy and serenity to finally meet you” The Suzian clapped two tentacles in a very human like gesture “Oh Markon isn’t she adorable!” The smaller Suizian whom I started to call Grumpy just sighed behind the screen s/he was holding and said “yes, yes, let’s get this over with, she’s clear to take her suit but keep the glasses” The captain went to me “And this is Elese, she is our lead scientist whom we hope to station here at your planet for further research” The Nicer Suizian shook his ...head?, sadly “I am afraid we cannot allow anyone to stay for long, we’ll gladly let Elese talk and see the highway control room” “She’s fi-“ Grumpy was about to say when the device s/he was holding focused now on the wheelchair being lowered from the ship. “Mr Odinglod!” The captain said in surprise and anger “I told you, you’ll be with the next batch...” I ignored the captain’s yammering and went to Mary who had quite a puzzled look on her face as she watched the Suizians talk quietly behind their screen. “I guess they’re awed by our resident legend too!” I said to Mary “I don’t feel so bad for stuttering in front of the old man now, look! They’re even sweating! I didn’t Suizian could sweat!” “They can’t” she said squinting her eyes and adjusting her glasses “they’re peeing!” “What!?” I stared at them disgusted “I honestly hope they don’t expect us to-“ before I could finish the sentence I was shocked to see Lord Odinglod stand up from his wheelchair! He took off his sweat and then his helmet and on his face was the creepiest, toothiest, and nastiest smile I’ve ever seen on a human face “Hello Guardians” he... no, IT said The Suizian started running back to large door behind them but the thing that was Odinglod was faster it ripped the nicer Suizian in seconds sawing him in halves, and the grabbed grumpy with one hand and pushed the second deep into the Suzian large eyes. Killing the bigger Suizian took seconds but the second alien was somehow still struggling under the iron grip of Odinglod it was long enough for us humans to regain our senses and start running, we didn’t have any weapons but we could see the agony and pain the alien was in and we had to stop it. A force stopped us from going too close as Odinglod looked at us now his smile less wild and a little more sad now “I am sorry you had to see this little Humans” he said as he threw the Suizian to his side and headed toward the door, in front of him some sort of energy started glowing and the door opened “This is the last thing I teach your species, Run, run and hide little monkeys, for war is coming” he said as he walked out of the door into a Suizian army that was waiting outside.
[WP] you were always a step above everyone and when humanity reached for the stars you were one of the first to lead into the abyss. when first contact is made, the aliens seem terrified of you and none of your crew. turns out you're the last of a lost Apex species. Earth was meant to be your grave.	All my life, I had memories I shouldn't have had. Memories I couldn't have had. Half-forgotten fragments of other times, other places, other creatures. When I was a child, found on the street next to the orphanage, they called it an "over-active imagination". Because of course I couldn't remember being an old woman planning for when her mind and body would become young again. Of course I couldn't remember raising up queens and emperors and toppling them for my amusement, or teaching a dumb young species how to use fire. Of course I couldn't remember being sentenced to a planet marred by war with species that didn't seem to exist, or the bioweapons meant to kill me which ironically evolved into the worldwide ecosystem that sustained me. And yes, of course I couldn't remember the tests and science, our bodies learning to survive near anything and reboot themselves as they died. They said it must have all just been in my head. It was only logical. For a while, I believed them. But that changed when the world's top scientists announced that they had solved travel beyond our little yellow dwarf. I knew my calling, to be on that first ship into the unknown. Deep in my heart, I felt it. And now, looking at you all here, seeing alien and non-alien alike trembling before me, I know why. Our thrones have been empty for so long, calling to me, the last of my kind. It is time they are filled. And it is time my vengeance finally come, to those who always hated me for my imagination and ingenuity- both those misdiagnosing fools of this lifetime and those spacefaring fools so very long ago. You, however, shall live, as shall your family. You were always kind to me, even when I was young and vulnerable. You shall be spared as my old empire rises, much as my body itself reforms as it lies dying. You get to witness the return of a queen. You get to witness the return of the Humans.	We didn't belong here. Down in the dirt, crawling in the muck and filth of this stupid blue ball of a vermin-invested planet. It had always been in the back of our minds. Oh, as time passed, the thoughts faded from the forefront. We didn't quite forget, but we... didn't really remember, either. For what seemed like eons, we devolved into our primitive ways. We roamed aimlessly. We fought amongst each other. For food, for land. For sex. But there was always something there, driving us--pushing us toward the memory. Toward the stars we had been banished from. It wasn't until humanity began to reach for those stars--our stars!--that we started to wake up from the lamentation of our nightmarish pathos. When those rockets first burned in '69, with each G pressing down on me, crushing me against the bottom of that small, cramped, tiny little capsule they had locked me into, I remembered who we were! All of us remembered the war. The trillions of lives it had cost. The planets that had been obliterated. The shame of losing my empire, and being banished to this god-forsaken hellhole they called Earth. "Earth." Because it was to be the final resting place of the handful of our species that survived the atrocities and genocide. Get it? O, how we had been great once! Those stars that so many of us stared up at when we dared to venture out into the cold and dangerous night? Those belonged to us! This whole galaxy had belonged to us! Our birthright, stolen. It took years to get back into a space ship. Decades, really. And then decades more. Nearly two centuries later, and everyone who knew of me have forgotten, or is dead. My history is relegated to an interesting footnote lurking on some darknet in one country or another's national Intranet. Docking with the alien ship went smoothly. The crew was tense, but their curiosity outweighed their fear. After a brief tour of the ship, a small collection of samples of Earth lifeforms that were brought as part of a cultural exchange. Some plants, a pair of mice, a colony of ants, and some other insects. It was during this... showoff-and-tell... that the alien turned to me. It paused and took a closer look. The panic on its face was unmistakable to any species. Today is the day that these ungrateful aliens learn the one thing that the rest of humanity had already figured out. You can drown us in floods and burn us with fire. You can blow us away in a hurricane. You can smother us in chemicals, unleash biological horrors, or drop a nuclear bombs on us. You can even crush us beneath the heel of your boot. But no matter what you do... you can't kill a @#$%ing cockroach.
[WP] you were always a step above everyone and when humanity reached for the stars you were one of the first to lead into the abyss. when first contact is made, the aliens seem terrified of you and none of your crew. turns out you're the last of a lost Apex species. Earth was meant to be your grave.	I had always stood taller than my colleagues. Accuracy, speed, strength, intelligence? In all of which, I surpassed even those selected to teach me. I grasped difficult concepts with ease and placed first in every contest, no matter the competition or subject. However, I was always different. As I grew older, my metabolism quickened. I grew more muscle-bound and much, much taller than others my age. My skin always had small sections on my elbows and knees that were covered in scales, all of which were much sharper than most blades. By the time I hit middle school, I was selected for government placement. They gave me an environment to grow on my own. They selected me to become an apex predator. Trained for stealth in any situation, and a trained pilot and strategist by 18. I began missions on my 18th birthday, being given a crew and vessel to start expeditions, and handling dangerous missions against armed mercenaries and the like. When they noticed I could handle these with ease, they gave me a....promotion. They began our training for the abyss. Starship battles, protocols for being outnumbered, proper action in case of alien contact, and training for if we're boarded. By the end of a month we were fully prepared for our next and most likely final mission. No ship had done what we were about to do and survived. Fleets of 20 or more ships had disappeared without a trace. Fatalities were considered inevitable for any expedition into this inky blackness. When I told my crew, they were dismayed, but understood. "What are they sending us in?" My second in command, the aptly nicknamed "Chief" asked "Nothing but our speeder. It's a reconnaissance mission, not a war. They're taking a different approach with our squad." I replied Chief let out a groan as he walked with me to our ship. The others followed closely behind, their heads downcast. A mission out to the abyss was considered suicide, we all knew that. We launched the ship. "Vega, set a route for the eastern edge of the abyss." "Yes, sir." Vega's robotic voice rang through the ship. Our course was set. We had 2 days to prepare, at least mentally, for our arrival. We spent the days eating and socializing, generally trying to avoid thinking about the mission. But alas, the dark void soon stood before us. "Alright, team. Prepare for a quick entry and possibly a quick exit." I said through the intercom. My team sat in the common room, prepared for a call to repair or run down to the targeting systems of the mounted guns under the ship. We slide through the veil, our communications cutting off as the ship passed through the illusory barrier. Three ships drifted through the space in front of us. They had been expecting our arrival, and sent what seemed to be a ship holding a high-ranking civilian, flanked by gunships much more advanced than our own. A video feed appeared in the corner of the deck screen. "Greetings, humanoids." A greasy, purple blob of a creature said. "We request you activate your communications port for audio and video conference." I rolled up my sleeves before turning on the camera, being sure to show that I wasn't human, in case that bought us time. "Hello, sir." I gave the camera a smile, my abnormally large canines glinting in the artificial light overhead. The glob's face seemed to fill with fear. "I...I was unaware that you had survived. Those humans were considered...powerful. A graveyard for species and individuals considered a threat to the lord emperor. Please, come aboard, along with the human crew members you would appear to have tamed." We docked our ship, chief and the others preparing guns in case of a trap. I brought my knife, a solid 8" light titanium-carbon alloy blade. It was all I would need. The doors opened to two lightly armed guards, no apparent armor covering their stocky, cyan bodies. "Our leader diplomat is awaiting you upstairs. Please follow us." The guard had an insignia on his shoulder, most likely indicating a higher position compared to the others. We followed them into a room, expecting the blob to be sitting at a desk waiting for us. The guards disappeared. The doors slammed behind us. The lights shut off. I let out a sigh. "Night vision on, men. Watch the door. Chief, take one of the techies and check the air for pollutants. We'll cover you in case they attack us." Chief and the techie activated a reader for the air around us. "Readings say we're clear, sir." Chief announced. "Alright, guys. Stack up on me. Watch every wall. Be ready for anything." I said, joining in formation in the middle of the room. The doors opened. The lights down the hall had been shut off, too. The intercom activated. "Well, Predator. If you really are the last one of your kind, you'll either die here or prove your worth. Let's see." The glob said before shutting the intercom back off. "Techie, put a drone on me. Start recording. I want something to show the guys at home. Chief, you and the other infantry cover the techies. I'll handle whatever they put in here with us." I commanded calmly. They shuffled around in preparation as I left. I stalked along the hallways, the guards barely making a noise as I executed them procedurally, slowly making my way through every room of the ship. Eventually I ended up on the deck after clearing out the rest of the ship. I looked outside. Over 50 ships were stationed outside of this one, each ship armed to the teeth. I motioned to the drone, which still followed me through the ship. "Run to the deck. We'll plan from here. Get here quick, though. These guys seem to be getting kinda restless." Another dozen ships warped in as my squad marched through the entrance to the deck. This fight wasn't going to be easy, but I knew for a fact I wasn't going to lose.	I'd never had trouble climbing through the ranks. I was always top of my game, above every other damn person in my group. I was the best. And so, they thought, I was the best to be captain of the journey into the great unknown. The abyss. Turns out space is pretty boring. For the most part, anyway. Barren rocks floating in the vacuum warmed by shining stars twinkling in the void. But when we got foreign signals our computers couldn't even begin to understand, we knew we'd found something. A massive ship came to meet us. It came from a smaller planet with about a third the gravity of Earth, and a sun just a little bit older. After about 24 hours, our experts managed to establish limited visual-based communication - thank goodness they had eyes - we allowed them to dock. And so they did. These monstrous creatures with slightly sagging skin under elaborate titanium armor, wielding weapons we could only marvel at. They took a glance over the crowd in the hangar, and they found me. "You," one growled. We'd taught them a little English, and they'd taught us a little Kroldskon. The Kroldskonic that seemed to be the leader, the one that addressed me, pulled out a small golden crystal. I pointed at my chest. "Me? What's that thing?" I pointed at the crystal. It lumbered towards me with the caution and care of a peasant approaching a king. "Hold," it told me, shoving the crystal towards me. I turned my head, keeping my eyes trained on it. I reached my hand towards the crystal. "Hold?" The alien growled, "Yes," and lowered it's head. I slowly moved my hand towards the crystal, almost hoping someone else would stop me. One of the researchers piped up. "Hey, maybe-" But it was too late. My hand was pulled around the crystal by a force no one could see, and it lit up. The golden light shot through my arm, and the only way I could describe the sensation is burning sweeter than caramel and hotter than winter. I felt the energy race through my body, all the way through my legs and up into my head. My thoughts ran faster. I could see everything. The Power flowed through me once again. The Kroldskonics began chanting in Kroldskon. "Mor-dadak-kun! Mor-dadak-kun! Mor-dadak-kun!" By now, most of the people in the hangar had either fled or backed away behind things. Our General and his squadron arrived, their rifles (more like glorified laser pointers) ready. The General, first to enter, lowered his gun almost immediately. "What the fuck?"
[WP] Due to the similarities of their professions, doctors now talk the same way about a patients health as mechanics do with cars.	The double doors swing open, crashing into the white walls of the long, brightly lit hallway. “Coming through!”, Jet shouts as he sails down the corridor, riding the stretcher like you used to do your mums shopping cart as a kid. Hanging from the back handle and with the front wheels just barely touching the ground. After shooting a wide grin and a quick “Hello ladies.” at several young nurses pressed against the wall for fear of being run over, Jet and the stretcher finally skitter to a halt outside my office door. “Hey Doc.”, Jet bursts through the door, as always, without knocking, “Got yourself another oldtimer. This one broke down right in the middle of city centre. Was a real hassle getting him over here. We had to jump start him twice on the way.” I look up from the manual I had been brooding over to find him grinning at me waiting for my response. As if he had done me a favour or something. Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy working on an oldtimer as much as anyone. Who wouldn’t, with all the modern nick-nack they stick in them nowadays. Insulin pumps and cochlear implants, why one needs a degree in electrical engineering to make sense of any of that. No, no, they certainly don’t make them like they used to. “Did you drop of the insurance information at the front desk?”, I ask as I close the book and get up. “Yeah, yeah, don’t worry about it. He’s got full CC and all.”, Jet replies, “Oh, and his wife’s in the waiting room. She wants to know how long it will take you to get him back up and running again. Apparently she needs him back in time for some function tomorrow night.” With a sigh I drop back into my office chair. Through the open door I hear Jet making his way back down the corridor chatting up the female staff. I straighten up, reach over and grab the telephone. “Sonja, Dr. Stevens here. Listen we have an oldie here in the hallway. I want you to prepare the workshop for the repair. And call Jason over at the scrapyard. See if he has any used parts we can salvage." I hang up the phone and turn my attention to the man still waiting on the stretcher outside my office. "So, let’s have a look under this guys hood.”	[Poem] Good afternoon Mrs ireling As you can see her cylinders weren't firing So thanks to quick thinking From my mate Heminator We Kick-started her with a defibrillator So I'll give her a lick of clothes And she'll be good to go
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	“I’ll die if you kill me.” It was just a joke. It was only meant to bring a few laughs. It wasn’t supposed to be true, things weren’t meant to turn out this way. It all started with me and you, we’ve been friends for as long as I can remember. It was just the two of us. Two children against the world, the universe. We grew together, we learned and we laughed, we rose and we fell. We might as well have been one for how close we were. Thinking back, that was your plan wasn’t it? I’d never hurt you, and you couldn’t hurt me. To think I cared for you, to think I still do. Even when you’re.... you. An immortal being hell bent on the destruction of everything and the one holding the trigger. You and me forever. Only I could kill you, and I could not die so long as you were alive. I still don’t know how things got to be this way. I never wanted to hurt you, I never wanted to hurt anyone. But you are the target, and I am the gun. A single bullet is all it would take. Yet, when the time came I couldn’t fire. I couldn’t say the six words that would’ve prevented all of this. I couldn’t.... couldn’t.... You know I’d never hurt you, right? Never on purpose. But then, at that time... I don’t know what came over me. It was already far too late anyway! What was it going to change? Everything was already gone, it was just you and me. Nothing changed since the day we met. So I said those words. I watched as you died with ash in my mouth and betrayal in your eyes. I choked while you screamed. From ashes you cane and to ashes you went again. But I didn’t die. I couldn’t. Instead of following after so much pain, I took your place. And somebody... somebody took mine. Or I suppose somebody should’ve. No one’s alive out there anyway. There’s no one left but me and what remained of you. Me and you till the day you died. But now it’s just me, alone in the universe. Not a soul around to let me followed you to the world you left me for. My wrists burn, nothing can be solved. There’s nothing left to destroy. The inevitable has come and I am no longer needed. But I can’t die. My punishment for letting you live. My punishment for living a lie. If anyone out there is still alive to read this, it’s your turn now..... . . . . . .I’m sorry.	The setting sun couldn't shine its glow by the think clad of smoke that enveloped the city of remnants and ashes. Flames were still burning at a great height, spreading by the minute. Blood spilt amongst the dirt and the corpses. Corpses... Corpses that were caused by me. Corpses that I promised to save, to avoid. And yet here I was, staring at the destruction caused by my own best friend. I crouched down next to a person. Even if his blond hair had dyed to the coarsest shade of grey, and his face heavily bruised and cut, I slipped two fingers to the side of his neck. "Dale," I whispered, tears clouding my eyesight before rolling down my damp and sooty face. "C'mon Dale," I begged. "Wake up. Please." Nothing. No pulse. I wrapped my arms around his lifeless body, hugging him tightly to my chest as I wailed dishearteningly in a moment of grave defeat. I was too late. "I told you he'd break your heart eventually." I looked over my shoulder. A shaggy man hovers above the ground, black veins visible in his face. The darkest shade of black surrounded him as his black scarred wings flapped in a rhythm. I laid Dale down carefully. "You should have stayed with me." I whipped my head. "You?!" I stood up exasperatedly. "A killer?! A murder?!" I marched forward. Fury blinding my vision and seeping through my veins. "You killed this whole city! You killed everyone around me. My parents, my friends, Dale–and you think I'm going to even consider being with you?! That's preposterous, Evans. That's never going to happen." Glaring at him with my pent up anger, I stood a foot away from him. Wrong move. His arm shot up and his hand grasp my neck in a tight grip, bringing me upwards. I gasped audibly, thrashing around with all my might. He threw me a malicious smile. "Ah, my little bird–," "Don't...c-call me...t–that," I croaked out. "Fine." He dropped me to the ground, then crouched down staring directly at me. I looked away, loathing the way he smiled sweetly. Unfortunately, he held my chin firmly, forcing me to stare at him. "Do you really think it's worth it? Sacrificing this," he gestured to everything around us, "for your life?" "You can do so much yet you choose to oppose me? To defend this city? From me?" He laughed. "How in the world to you think you're going to do that?" I kept my mouth shut. Unconsciously, my hand went to the smoothly moulded festoon of my bracelet, tugging it. Suddenly, I felt his hand on my bracelet. "Na-ah-ah," He singsonged. "If you're not going to come with me willingly, I'm forcing you." I spat at his face. "You're mean, you know that?" He brought out a handkerchief and wiped his face. He didn't show a trace of annoyance even after what I did. "We're wasting time, don't you think my Rhea?" With no heads up, he dragged me down to the portal below us as we teleported to a different place. I grimaced, knowing exactly where we were. Looking around, I noticed stained blood on the walls of the uneven surface of the cave as Cronus stared at the meeting, sitting comfortably in his own rock. I shuffled on my seat, a tall rock in the middle of the water, as a bright light shined upon me from above. In a second, he appeared right in front of me with a puff of smoke. Again, a hand was on her throat. Quickly, he muttered a spell. My breath was becoming shallow as he drained my essence. I hollered out in pain. Inch by inch, I felt like my blood was being drained, pressuring the life I had in me. Faintly, a white glow appeared from my cheat being vacuumed to his hand. I could feel the agony catching up as my eyelids slowly shut. Memories started flooding my mind like a flashback. Memories I spent with my family, friends, Cronus, his family, Dale... Dale... Then I snapped. The thought that we could spend a much better life than the present infuriated me. I could have saved him. I could have stopped him from dying along with the hundreds of citizens that laid lifeless on the streets. All because I was blinded by the years of friendship we have built. Cronus and I built. I felt a surge in my veins. Crying out loud, I snapped my eyes open as a pure shone of white blinded my vision. Then a wave of power flushed all around me, pushing Cronus back a few feet away from me. In an instant, I held him up against the wall. "Converte hoc potentiam, et potentia in tenuit. Tuo viribus et non revelare verum recedere. Supergreditur, et non supplantabuntur gressus ejus. Me forum!" As I spoke, my own voice faltered, overpowered by another void tone but after I finished, I sucked a great black orb out of him, gaining his own essence. Another surge crept through my blood. A stronger one than before. Unconsciously, I was lifted in the air by the wind. Accepting the power that sat upon my palm, I screamed as a black element blasted around me. I tugged the festoon of my bracelet from its chain. The festoon resting at my hand. Clenching my fist, I pictured a sharpened end of a thin pole. I glanced at the object in my hand, seeing it to transform to what I had envisioned. Shooting him a diabolically grin, I tossed the weapon In the air before aiming it straight to his heart. A roar erupted from his throat as he dissolved into small particles that mixed with the wind. As he disintegrated, whatever essence of life that he had transferred to me, feeding my soul. I hummed in satisfaction and pleasure. Another wasp of power appeared on my palm. I shot it in the sky, embracing the dark matters that swirled around me. Concentrating, I centralized my essence to my palm, smiling triumphantly. I raised my arm high ready to fire when I felt an object stabbed my back. I glanced down. A pointed dagger protruding the upper right of my stomach. Before I could knock my head to the rock below me, someone caught me, wrapping his arms around me. "I am sorry Rhea." A voice whispered near my ear. "Dale," I croaked out, coughing a spit of blood. "This will help you remember." He placed his hand over my head. A flood of memories washed through me. The reason I was the only one I could kill Cronus. We were created, experiments. Test subjects that went wrong when the gods had created us. I was his equal in every sense. Though we didn't die together, we both had the power to overthrow the other by taking the other's essence to sustain your life. Either that or we both live to maintain the balance. That wasn't all, as his equal, I was an epitome of him. An epitome of what he can do, his powers. An epitome of destruction. An epitome of agony. "I'm sorry Rhea but you are him and he is you and in every way possible, you both must be killed. That is the prophecy." I felt a drop on my face before I faded into the darkness.
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	The pillar of fire filled the sky with embers, cackling; horrifying; blood-thirsty. Just as she. What remained of my best friend had perished a long time ago, but the voice of she-witch past was running through my mind. “I’ll die if you kill me” The look on her face then, told me everything I need to know now. It had to be me. Why did it have to be me? None of this was her fault, but there’s no other way. I step forward, through the blazing, crumbling urban landscape. Closer. The steps turn to a jog, into a sprint. Closer. Her head snaps to look at me, and her eyes widen. Closer. Flaming tendrils caress my face as I glide, dodge and weave. Closer. A tackle. An embrace. A knife to the back. Tears vaporise in the heat, and I cradle the girl I once knew. Closer. The flames spiralled around us, seeping back into her, and just as my tears had vaporised in the heat, so did we.	The setting sun couldn't shine its glow by the think clad of smoke that enveloped the city of remnants and ashes. Flames were still burning at a great height, spreading by the minute. Blood spilt amongst the dirt and the corpses. Corpses... Corpses that were caused by me. Corpses that I promised to save, to avoid. And yet here I was, staring at the destruction caused by my own best friend. I crouched down next to a person. Even if his blond hair had dyed to the coarsest shade of grey, and his face heavily bruised and cut, I slipped two fingers to the side of his neck. "Dale," I whispered, tears clouding my eyesight before rolling down my damp and sooty face. "C'mon Dale," I begged. "Wake up. Please." Nothing. No pulse. I wrapped my arms around his lifeless body, hugging him tightly to my chest as I wailed dishearteningly in a moment of grave defeat. I was too late. "I told you he'd break your heart eventually." I looked over my shoulder. A shaggy man hovers above the ground, black veins visible in his face. The darkest shade of black surrounded him as his black scarred wings flapped in a rhythm. I laid Dale down carefully. "You should have stayed with me." I whipped my head. "You?!" I stood up exasperatedly. "A killer?! A murder?!" I marched forward. Fury blinding my vision and seeping through my veins. "You killed this whole city! You killed everyone around me. My parents, my friends, Dale–and you think I'm going to even consider being with you?! That's preposterous, Evans. That's never going to happen." Glaring at him with my pent up anger, I stood a foot away from him. Wrong move. His arm shot up and his hand grasp my neck in a tight grip, bringing me upwards. I gasped audibly, thrashing around with all my might. He threw me a malicious smile. "Ah, my little bird–," "Don't...c-call me...t–that," I croaked out. "Fine." He dropped me to the ground, then crouched down staring directly at me. I looked away, loathing the way he smiled sweetly. Unfortunately, he held my chin firmly, forcing me to stare at him. "Do you really think it's worth it? Sacrificing this," he gestured to everything around us, "for your life?" "You can do so much yet you choose to oppose me? To defend this city? From me?" He laughed. "How in the world to you think you're going to do that?" I kept my mouth shut. Unconsciously, my hand went to the smoothly moulded festoon of my bracelet, tugging it. Suddenly, I felt his hand on my bracelet. "Na-ah-ah," He singsonged. "If you're not going to come with me willingly, I'm forcing you." I spat at his face. "You're mean, you know that?" He brought out a handkerchief and wiped his face. He didn't show a trace of annoyance even after what I did. "We're wasting time, don't you think my Rhea?" With no heads up, he dragged me down to the portal below us as we teleported to a different place. I grimaced, knowing exactly where we were. Looking around, I noticed stained blood on the walls of the uneven surface of the cave as Cronus stared at the meeting, sitting comfortably in his own rock. I shuffled on my seat, a tall rock in the middle of the water, as a bright light shined upon me from above. In a second, he appeared right in front of me with a puff of smoke. Again, a hand was on her throat. Quickly, he muttered a spell. My breath was becoming shallow as he drained my essence. I hollered out in pain. Inch by inch, I felt like my blood was being drained, pressuring the life I had in me. Faintly, a white glow appeared from my cheat being vacuumed to his hand. I could feel the agony catching up as my eyelids slowly shut. Memories started flooding my mind like a flashback. Memories I spent with my family, friends, Cronus, his family, Dale... Dale... Then I snapped. The thought that we could spend a much better life than the present infuriated me. I could have saved him. I could have stopped him from dying along with the hundreds of citizens that laid lifeless on the streets. All because I was blinded by the years of friendship we have built. Cronus and I built. I felt a surge in my veins. Crying out loud, I snapped my eyes open as a pure shone of white blinded my vision. Then a wave of power flushed all around me, pushing Cronus back a few feet away from me. In an instant, I held him up against the wall. "Converte hoc potentiam, et potentia in tenuit. Tuo viribus et non revelare verum recedere. Supergreditur, et non supplantabuntur gressus ejus. Me forum!" As I spoke, my own voice faltered, overpowered by another void tone but after I finished, I sucked a great black orb out of him, gaining his own essence. Another surge crept through my blood. A stronger one than before. Unconsciously, I was lifted in the air by the wind. Accepting the power that sat upon my palm, I screamed as a black element blasted around me. I tugged the festoon of my bracelet from its chain. The festoon resting at my hand. Clenching my fist, I pictured a sharpened end of a thin pole. I glanced at the object in my hand, seeing it to transform to what I had envisioned. Shooting him a diabolically grin, I tossed the weapon In the air before aiming it straight to his heart. A roar erupted from his throat as he dissolved into small particles that mixed with the wind. As he disintegrated, whatever essence of life that he had transferred to me, feeding my soul. I hummed in satisfaction and pleasure. Another wasp of power appeared on my palm. I shot it in the sky, embracing the dark matters that swirled around me. Concentrating, I centralized my essence to my palm, smiling triumphantly. I raised my arm high ready to fire when I felt an object stabbed my back. I glanced down. A pointed dagger protruding the upper right of my stomach. Before I could knock my head to the rock below me, someone caught me, wrapping his arms around me. "I am sorry Rhea." A voice whispered near my ear. "Dale," I croaked out, coughing a spit of blood. "This will help you remember." He placed his hand over my head. A flood of memories washed through me. The reason I was the only one I could kill Cronus. We were created, experiments. Test subjects that went wrong when the gods had created us. I was his equal in every sense. Though we didn't die together, we both had the power to overthrow the other by taking the other's essence to sustain your life. Either that or we both live to maintain the balance. That wasn't all, as his equal, I was an epitome of him. An epitome of what he can do, his powers. An epitome of destruction. An epitome of agony. "I'm sorry Rhea but you are him and he is you and in every way possible, you both must be killed. That is the prophecy." I felt a drop on my face before I faded into the darkness.
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	"Go on!" The beaten and defeated man kneeling before me shouted as he stared up into my eyes. "Do it!" He grabbed the barrel of my gun and pointed it square in his face. "Pull the trigger!" But, I just couldn't. Tears fell from my eyes as the winds whipped around the two of us. The distant sounds of explosions and people screaming rang deafly in my ears. My hand shook as I slowly lowered the gun barrel. "No!" The man shouted as he reaimed the barrel to his face. "It's easy! Just twitch your finger and pull!" His eyes were swelled with tears and centuries of emotions and memories. "You killed others with me plenty! Now, finish the job!" I stared at the man before I couldn't anymore. I turned my head and covered my mouth to hold back my gasps of pain. "I can't do it." "You have to, Travis," the man said, his soft fingers reaching up and caressing mine. "If you don't, it will be too late for you. For everyone here." I turned back to him as my breathing got heavier and shakier. "Why!?" I shouted in the meekest voice I could. "I've told you before, Travis. You know why." The man spoke, not with anger anymore or fear, but sadness and the pain of a thousand years of suffering. "Prove to me that love is stronger than anything. If you don't, then I'll move on to the next country. If you don't kill me now, then countless others will suffer." "What about my suffering!?" I could barely hold back my tears and I could feel my throat tightening. I still couldn't look him in the eyes. Those rich deep green eyes that held years of joy and pain. "What about Jonas, or Sarah, or Paulo?" The man took a deep sigh as the wind from a distant explosion stroked its fingers through his hair. "They are some of my best friends, but only you, Travis, are my BEST friend. You are-" "More than just my best friend. I know," I said, finishing his sentence as we had done many times before. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I put my finger on the trigger and waited there before finally taking it off. "I still can't do it." "Travis, you must." I could hear him stand up as he held my cheeks in the palm of his hand. "I'll die if you kill me." He turned my head to look deep in his eyes, and he in mine. "Only my most trusted friend can. Think about Jonas." "Don't you do this to me." My voice cracked as I shifted my eyes away from him. I gasped a few times, still holding back the flood of emotions. "I know you've liked him before I even stepped foot into you life," the man said, and I saw that gentle smile of his out of the corner of my eye. "Think about him. If you don't do this, then everything for you, for him, for them, is all over." He leaned in and gently kissed my cheek. "I love you, Travis." Slowly, he knelt back on the ground and aimed my gun towards him. Shakily, I forced myself to look at his handsome eyes one last time as the flood of tears bursts from mine. With the last of my strength, I managed to find my voice. "I love you too." The sound of a gunshot echoed in the empty office, followed by the sound of a body hitting the floor, then a distant explosion, some people screaming, and one person clutching a body and shouting in pain from the top of their lungs as tears fell like lead balloons from their eyes. ~~~~ Hey, thanks for reading! Hopefully I'll be making more short stories! r/YottaVolte	The setting sun couldn't shine its glow by the think clad of smoke that enveloped the city of remnants and ashes. Flames were still burning at a great height, spreading by the minute. Blood spilt amongst the dirt and the corpses. Corpses... Corpses that were caused by me. Corpses that I promised to save, to avoid. And yet here I was, staring at the destruction caused by my own best friend. I crouched down next to a person. Even if his blond hair had dyed to the coarsest shade of grey, and his face heavily bruised and cut, I slipped two fingers to the side of his neck. "Dale," I whispered, tears clouding my eyesight before rolling down my damp and sooty face. "C'mon Dale," I begged. "Wake up. Please." Nothing. No pulse. I wrapped my arms around his lifeless body, hugging him tightly to my chest as I wailed dishearteningly in a moment of grave defeat. I was too late. "I told you he'd break your heart eventually." I looked over my shoulder. A shaggy man hovers above the ground, black veins visible in his face. The darkest shade of black surrounded him as his black scarred wings flapped in a rhythm. I laid Dale down carefully. "You should have stayed with me." I whipped my head. "You?!" I stood up exasperatedly. "A killer?! A murder?!" I marched forward. Fury blinding my vision and seeping through my veins. "You killed this whole city! You killed everyone around me. My parents, my friends, Dale–and you think I'm going to even consider being with you?! That's preposterous, Evans. That's never going to happen." Glaring at him with my pent up anger, I stood a foot away from him. Wrong move. His arm shot up and his hand grasp my neck in a tight grip, bringing me upwards. I gasped audibly, thrashing around with all my might. He threw me a malicious smile. "Ah, my little bird–," "Don't...c-call me...t–that," I croaked out. "Fine." He dropped me to the ground, then crouched down staring directly at me. I looked away, loathing the way he smiled sweetly. Unfortunately, he held my chin firmly, forcing me to stare at him. "Do you really think it's worth it? Sacrificing this," he gestured to everything around us, "for your life?" "You can do so much yet you choose to oppose me? To defend this city? From me?" He laughed. "How in the world to you think you're going to do that?" I kept my mouth shut. Unconsciously, my hand went to the smoothly moulded festoon of my bracelet, tugging it. Suddenly, I felt his hand on my bracelet. "Na-ah-ah," He singsonged. "If you're not going to come with me willingly, I'm forcing you." I spat at his face. "You're mean, you know that?" He brought out a handkerchief and wiped his face. He didn't show a trace of annoyance even after what I did. "We're wasting time, don't you think my Rhea?" With no heads up, he dragged me down to the portal below us as we teleported to a different place. I grimaced, knowing exactly where we were. Looking around, I noticed stained blood on the walls of the uneven surface of the cave as Cronus stared at the meeting, sitting comfortably in his own rock. I shuffled on my seat, a tall rock in the middle of the water, as a bright light shined upon me from above. In a second, he appeared right in front of me with a puff of smoke. Again, a hand was on her throat. Quickly, he muttered a spell. My breath was becoming shallow as he drained my essence. I hollered out in pain. Inch by inch, I felt like my blood was being drained, pressuring the life I had in me. Faintly, a white glow appeared from my cheat being vacuumed to his hand. I could feel the agony catching up as my eyelids slowly shut. Memories started flooding my mind like a flashback. Memories I spent with my family, friends, Cronus, his family, Dale... Dale... Then I snapped. The thought that we could spend a much better life than the present infuriated me. I could have saved him. I could have stopped him from dying along with the hundreds of citizens that laid lifeless on the streets. All because I was blinded by the years of friendship we have built. Cronus and I built. I felt a surge in my veins. Crying out loud, I snapped my eyes open as a pure shone of white blinded my vision. Then a wave of power flushed all around me, pushing Cronus back a few feet away from me. In an instant, I held him up against the wall. "Converte hoc potentiam, et potentia in tenuit. Tuo viribus et non revelare verum recedere. Supergreditur, et non supplantabuntur gressus ejus. Me forum!" As I spoke, my own voice faltered, overpowered by another void tone but after I finished, I sucked a great black orb out of him, gaining his own essence. Another surge crept through my blood. A stronger one than before. Unconsciously, I was lifted in the air by the wind. Accepting the power that sat upon my palm, I screamed as a black element blasted around me. I tugged the festoon of my bracelet from its chain. The festoon resting at my hand. Clenching my fist, I pictured a sharpened end of a thin pole. I glanced at the object in my hand, seeing it to transform to what I had envisioned. Shooting him a diabolically grin, I tossed the weapon In the air before aiming it straight to his heart. A roar erupted from his throat as he dissolved into small particles that mixed with the wind. As he disintegrated, whatever essence of life that he had transferred to me, feeding my soul. I hummed in satisfaction and pleasure. Another wasp of power appeared on my palm. I shot it in the sky, embracing the dark matters that swirled around me. Concentrating, I centralized my essence to my palm, smiling triumphantly. I raised my arm high ready to fire when I felt an object stabbed my back. I glanced down. A pointed dagger protruding the upper right of my stomach. Before I could knock my head to the rock below me, someone caught me, wrapping his arms around me. "I am sorry Rhea." A voice whispered near my ear. "Dale," I croaked out, coughing a spit of blood. "This will help you remember." He placed his hand over my head. A flood of memories washed through me. The reason I was the only one I could kill Cronus. We were created, experiments. Test subjects that went wrong when the gods had created us. I was his equal in every sense. Though we didn't die together, we both had the power to overthrow the other by taking the other's essence to sustain your life. Either that or we both live to maintain the balance. That wasn't all, as his equal, I was an epitome of him. An epitome of what he can do, his powers. An epitome of destruction. An epitome of agony. "I'm sorry Rhea but you are him and he is you and in every way possible, you both must be killed. That is the prophecy." I felt a drop on my face before I faded into the darkness.
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	My friend had died a few times. But every time, a day or two later, he always came back, to the point where I didn't even flinch the last time when I watched him get stabbed in the chest. Eventually, once I'd become accustomed to his immortality, we'd make jokes about it occasionally. One day, he'd made a casual remark. "Hey, I'll die if you kill me." I thought it was for a laugh. So I chuckled. I didn't actually find it very funny, but I didn't want to let him down on his joke. Now, today, I stood here, at the edge of a cliff, the perfect spot to watch the two armies fire at each other. He'd made us invisible to them. I turned to him. "Why?" "Because," he told me, "Humans were part of an experiment. We didn't want to get this far." "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He waved his hand in front of us, bringing up a holographic display by his sheer will. "Us, the eternals, created life," he began. The display was a full-color rendering of some algae floating on water's surface. "Over millennia, over eons, we carefully crafted different types of life, trying to create something with a will of its own." The display zoomed in on a single cell. "Many eternals didn't participate for a long time. They thought we were crazy, trying to create sentience from only matter and energy." The cell divided repeatedly, and the display zoomed out to match its growth. When fully zoomed out, the display now showed an ant instead of algae. "Now it's gotten out of hand," he said, gesturing at the display as it zoomed out further to encompass hundreds, thousands of species. A human was displayed the largest. "Some of the other eternals would disagree with me, saying you deserve to live as well. And in my time here, you're the only one I'd make that exception for. My only friend. And the rest of it?" He gestured out to the battlefield, bringing up a display of the death toll in the battle, rising and rising. "You can't. You won't. I won't let you," I told him firmly, and he raised his eyebrows. Then I remembered what he told me. "It's your choice," he said as if reading my thoughts. What I said next, I wanted to be bold and strong, but it came out as a whisper. "I'll kill you." He stepped towards me, wiping away the tear I didn't even know I'd shed. "If you kill me," he said, his voice uncharacteristically low now, "I'll stay dead." Just as the people out on the field were fighting a war that he'd pulled the strings to start, I was fighting my own war internally, also one of his design. Do I kill him? He conjured up a knife. "When I die, I'm not really destroyed. I simply return to my home, a place most humans would call the heavens..." He handed the knife to me, closing my hand around it. "But I will be gone. You won't see me again." My knuckles went white as I tightly gripped the knife, shaking. I grabbed his shoulder with one hand, and plunged the knife into his stomach with the other. He smiled, falling to the ground. I wept, setting him down. I let go of the knife, and in seconds, the body disintegrated, dust in the wind, the knife along with it. I looked to the battle below, half expecting it to end immediately. But it didn't. "Of course," I heard his voice from behind me. I spun around to see him, the eternal, standing by a tree. "The selfish decision. You've... Proven me right." I gave him the most blank stare as humanly possible. He'd befriended me. Deceived me. Betrayed me. And now he voided my actions. He smiled, and after I blinked, he was gone.	The setting sun couldn't shine its glow by the think clad of smoke that enveloped the city of remnants and ashes. Flames were still burning at a great height, spreading by the minute. Blood spilt amongst the dirt and the corpses. Corpses... Corpses that were caused by me. Corpses that I promised to save, to avoid. And yet here I was, staring at the destruction caused by my own best friend. I crouched down next to a person. Even if his blond hair had dyed to the coarsest shade of grey, and his face heavily bruised and cut, I slipped two fingers to the side of his neck. "Dale," I whispered, tears clouding my eyesight before rolling down my damp and sooty face. "C'mon Dale," I begged. "Wake up. Please." Nothing. No pulse. I wrapped my arms around his lifeless body, hugging him tightly to my chest as I wailed dishearteningly in a moment of grave defeat. I was too late. "I told you he'd break your heart eventually." I looked over my shoulder. A shaggy man hovers above the ground, black veins visible in his face. The darkest shade of black surrounded him as his black scarred wings flapped in a rhythm. I laid Dale down carefully. "You should have stayed with me." I whipped my head. "You?!" I stood up exasperatedly. "A killer?! A murder?!" I marched forward. Fury blinding my vision and seeping through my veins. "You killed this whole city! You killed everyone around me. My parents, my friends, Dale–and you think I'm going to even consider being with you?! That's preposterous, Evans. That's never going to happen." Glaring at him with my pent up anger, I stood a foot away from him. Wrong move. His arm shot up and his hand grasp my neck in a tight grip, bringing me upwards. I gasped audibly, thrashing around with all my might. He threw me a malicious smile. "Ah, my little bird–," "Don't...c-call me...t–that," I croaked out. "Fine." He dropped me to the ground, then crouched down staring directly at me. I looked away, loathing the way he smiled sweetly. Unfortunately, he held my chin firmly, forcing me to stare at him. "Do you really think it's worth it? Sacrificing this," he gestured to everything around us, "for your life?" "You can do so much yet you choose to oppose me? To defend this city? From me?" He laughed. "How in the world to you think you're going to do that?" I kept my mouth shut. Unconsciously, my hand went to the smoothly moulded festoon of my bracelet, tugging it. Suddenly, I felt his hand on my bracelet. "Na-ah-ah," He singsonged. "If you're not going to come with me willingly, I'm forcing you." I spat at his face. "You're mean, you know that?" He brought out a handkerchief and wiped his face. He didn't show a trace of annoyance even after what I did. "We're wasting time, don't you think my Rhea?" With no heads up, he dragged me down to the portal below us as we teleported to a different place. I grimaced, knowing exactly where we were. Looking around, I noticed stained blood on the walls of the uneven surface of the cave as Cronus stared at the meeting, sitting comfortably in his own rock. I shuffled on my seat, a tall rock in the middle of the water, as a bright light shined upon me from above. In a second, he appeared right in front of me with a puff of smoke. Again, a hand was on her throat. Quickly, he muttered a spell. My breath was becoming shallow as he drained my essence. I hollered out in pain. Inch by inch, I felt like my blood was being drained, pressuring the life I had in me. Faintly, a white glow appeared from my cheat being vacuumed to his hand. I could feel the agony catching up as my eyelids slowly shut. Memories started flooding my mind like a flashback. Memories I spent with my family, friends, Cronus, his family, Dale... Dale... Then I snapped. The thought that we could spend a much better life than the present infuriated me. I could have saved him. I could have stopped him from dying along with the hundreds of citizens that laid lifeless on the streets. All because I was blinded by the years of friendship we have built. Cronus and I built. I felt a surge in my veins. Crying out loud, I snapped my eyes open as a pure shone of white blinded my vision. Then a wave of power flushed all around me, pushing Cronus back a few feet away from me. In an instant, I held him up against the wall. "Converte hoc potentiam, et potentia in tenuit. Tuo viribus et non revelare verum recedere. Supergreditur, et non supplantabuntur gressus ejus. Me forum!" As I spoke, my own voice faltered, overpowered by another void tone but after I finished, I sucked a great black orb out of him, gaining his own essence. Another surge crept through my blood. A stronger one than before. Unconsciously, I was lifted in the air by the wind. Accepting the power that sat upon my palm, I screamed as a black element blasted around me. I tugged the festoon of my bracelet from its chain. The festoon resting at my hand. Clenching my fist, I pictured a sharpened end of a thin pole. I glanced at the object in my hand, seeing it to transform to what I had envisioned. Shooting him a diabolically grin, I tossed the weapon In the air before aiming it straight to his heart. A roar erupted from his throat as he dissolved into small particles that mixed with the wind. As he disintegrated, whatever essence of life that he had transferred to me, feeding my soul. I hummed in satisfaction and pleasure. Another wasp of power appeared on my palm. I shot it in the sky, embracing the dark matters that swirled around me. Concentrating, I centralized my essence to my palm, smiling triumphantly. I raised my arm high ready to fire when I felt an object stabbed my back. I glanced down. A pointed dagger protruding the upper right of my stomach. Before I could knock my head to the rock below me, someone caught me, wrapping his arms around me. "I am sorry Rhea." A voice whispered near my ear. "Dale," I croaked out, coughing a spit of blood. "This will help you remember." He placed his hand over my head. A flood of memories washed through me. The reason I was the only one I could kill Cronus. We were created, experiments. Test subjects that went wrong when the gods had created us. I was his equal in every sense. Though we didn't die together, we both had the power to overthrow the other by taking the other's essence to sustain your life. Either that or we both live to maintain the balance. That wasn't all, as his equal, I was an epitome of him. An epitome of what he can do, his powers. An epitome of destruction. An epitome of agony. "I'm sorry Rhea but you are him and he is you and in every way possible, you both must be killed. That is the prophecy." I felt a drop on my face before I faded into the darkness.
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	I still think back to that day. The day I killed my best friend. I wonder why she told me, I was the only one who could match her in combat, with magic or blade. She could have killed me in my sleep or hired assassins, perhaps she wanted to die? or she enjoyed the challenge of besting me in a fight to the death? Maybe she knew she had to be stopped or her subconscious did anyway? I don't remember the fight just waking in a healer's house, It must have been intense or my left arm would still work without hurting. What were her final moments like? Did she look up at me in shock as I stabbed her? Was she remorseful before I crushed her throat with magic? Maybe I electrocuted her to death too quickly for her to react. Did I draw it out? Break every bone in her body when she lay defeated? Torment her mind with dark magic? Did I rape her? Do things so horrific i purged them from my mind? Ill never know. I just wish I wasn't so goddamn alone.	The setting sun couldn't shine its glow by the think clad of smoke that enveloped the city of remnants and ashes. Flames were still burning at a great height, spreading by the minute. Blood spilt amongst the dirt and the corpses. Corpses... Corpses that were caused by me. Corpses that I promised to save, to avoid. And yet here I was, staring at the destruction caused by my own best friend. I crouched down next to a person. Even if his blond hair had dyed to the coarsest shade of grey, and his face heavily bruised and cut, I slipped two fingers to the side of his neck. "Dale," I whispered, tears clouding my eyesight before rolling down my damp and sooty face. "C'mon Dale," I begged. "Wake up. Please." Nothing. No pulse. I wrapped my arms around his lifeless body, hugging him tightly to my chest as I wailed dishearteningly in a moment of grave defeat. I was too late. "I told you he'd break your heart eventually." I looked over my shoulder. A shaggy man hovers above the ground, black veins visible in his face. The darkest shade of black surrounded him as his black scarred wings flapped in a rhythm. I laid Dale down carefully. "You should have stayed with me." I whipped my head. "You?!" I stood up exasperatedly. "A killer?! A murder?!" I marched forward. Fury blinding my vision and seeping through my veins. "You killed this whole city! You killed everyone around me. My parents, my friends, Dale–and you think I'm going to even consider being with you?! That's preposterous, Evans. That's never going to happen." Glaring at him with my pent up anger, I stood a foot away from him. Wrong move. His arm shot up and his hand grasp my neck in a tight grip, bringing me upwards. I gasped audibly, thrashing around with all my might. He threw me a malicious smile. "Ah, my little bird–," "Don't...c-call me...t–that," I croaked out. "Fine." He dropped me to the ground, then crouched down staring directly at me. I looked away, loathing the way he smiled sweetly. Unfortunately, he held my chin firmly, forcing me to stare at him. "Do you really think it's worth it? Sacrificing this," he gestured to everything around us, "for your life?" "You can do so much yet you choose to oppose me? To defend this city? From me?" He laughed. "How in the world to you think you're going to do that?" I kept my mouth shut. Unconsciously, my hand went to the smoothly moulded festoon of my bracelet, tugging it. Suddenly, I felt his hand on my bracelet. "Na-ah-ah," He singsonged. "If you're not going to come with me willingly, I'm forcing you." I spat at his face. "You're mean, you know that?" He brought out a handkerchief and wiped his face. He didn't show a trace of annoyance even after what I did. "We're wasting time, don't you think my Rhea?" With no heads up, he dragged me down to the portal below us as we teleported to a different place. I grimaced, knowing exactly where we were. Looking around, I noticed stained blood on the walls of the uneven surface of the cave as Cronus stared at the meeting, sitting comfortably in his own rock. I shuffled on my seat, a tall rock in the middle of the water, as a bright light shined upon me from above. In a second, he appeared right in front of me with a puff of smoke. Again, a hand was on her throat. Quickly, he muttered a spell. My breath was becoming shallow as he drained my essence. I hollered out in pain. Inch by inch, I felt like my blood was being drained, pressuring the life I had in me. Faintly, a white glow appeared from my cheat being vacuumed to his hand. I could feel the agony catching up as my eyelids slowly shut. Memories started flooding my mind like a flashback. Memories I spent with my family, friends, Cronus, his family, Dale... Dale... Then I snapped. The thought that we could spend a much better life than the present infuriated me. I could have saved him. I could have stopped him from dying along with the hundreds of citizens that laid lifeless on the streets. All because I was blinded by the years of friendship we have built. Cronus and I built. I felt a surge in my veins. Crying out loud, I snapped my eyes open as a pure shone of white blinded my vision. Then a wave of power flushed all around me, pushing Cronus back a few feet away from me. In an instant, I held him up against the wall. "Converte hoc potentiam, et potentia in tenuit. Tuo viribus et non revelare verum recedere. Supergreditur, et non supplantabuntur gressus ejus. Me forum!" As I spoke, my own voice faltered, overpowered by another void tone but after I finished, I sucked a great black orb out of him, gaining his own essence. Another surge crept through my blood. A stronger one than before. Unconsciously, I was lifted in the air by the wind. Accepting the power that sat upon my palm, I screamed as a black element blasted around me. I tugged the festoon of my bracelet from its chain. The festoon resting at my hand. Clenching my fist, I pictured a sharpened end of a thin pole. I glanced at the object in my hand, seeing it to transform to what I had envisioned. Shooting him a diabolically grin, I tossed the weapon In the air before aiming it straight to his heart. A roar erupted from his throat as he dissolved into small particles that mixed with the wind. As he disintegrated, whatever essence of life that he had transferred to me, feeding my soul. I hummed in satisfaction and pleasure. Another wasp of power appeared on my palm. I shot it in the sky, embracing the dark matters that swirled around me. Concentrating, I centralized my essence to my palm, smiling triumphantly. I raised my arm high ready to fire when I felt an object stabbed my back. I glanced down. A pointed dagger protruding the upper right of my stomach. Before I could knock my head to the rock below me, someone caught me, wrapping his arms around me. "I am sorry Rhea." A voice whispered near my ear. "Dale," I croaked out, coughing a spit of blood. "This will help you remember." He placed his hand over my head. A flood of memories washed through me. The reason I was the only one I could kill Cronus. We were created, experiments. Test subjects that went wrong when the gods had created us. I was his equal in every sense. Though we didn't die together, we both had the power to overthrow the other by taking the other's essence to sustain your life. Either that or we both live to maintain the balance. That wasn't all, as his equal, I was an epitome of him. An epitome of what he can do, his powers. An epitome of destruction. An epitome of agony. "I'm sorry Rhea but you are him and he is you and in every way possible, you both must be killed. That is the prophecy." I felt a drop on my face before I faded into the darkness.
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	I didn't want to believe them. The rumors. The hushed whispers. The cutting words. The scared murmurings. There was no way she would even think of doing something like this. There was no way. Gideon was a good person. She was always there for me and my family. She always took care of us, looked after me, and made sure we were okay. She volunteered at soup kitchens and animal shelters. She participated in beach cleanups and recycling campaigns. She signed petitions that actually helped people. She was a good person. But after her brother died, something seemed to change in her. She grew quiet, more reserved. She was selective in how she spent her time. Normally, she spent it with me. It was a nice change of pace to actually get to spend my free time with her, so I didn't notice it at first. But then I realized she had no stories about the shelter or the soup kitchen or the group of homeless people she brought sandwiches to in Ethel Park anymore. She mainly only wanted to spend our time just sitting together. Either reading or watching a show or simply just cuddling on the couch. "I'll die if you kill me," she had said one day as we did just that. To say it took me by surprise was an understatement. I had to lift my head to look at her. I scrunched up my face at her, a chuckle escaped my lips. "What?" She'd run her fingers through my hair, staring absentmindedly at the ceiling. Her gaze fell to me and there was a soft, serene smile. "Nothing. It was stupid." I pushed myself off of her a bit to give her a quizzical look. "Are you telling me that you'll only die if I'm the one to kill you?" She looked off to the side. There was a pink dusting on her cheeks now. "I dunno... but if someone were to kill me... I'd rather it be you." I laughed before nestling myself against her once more. "You're so weird, Gideon." I didn't think much of our conversation then. Nor did I think much of the rumors that began to swirl around Gideon after that. Not even when Gideon disappeared for a day did I get concerned. But now, standing here on this beach, I realize I should've payed closer attention. I should've let myself get concerned. Gideon stands in front of me, the only source of light and color on this lifeless beach. Brilliant gold veins stretch over her skin in a gilded latticework that made her look as terrifying as possible. Her eyes shine gold, casting stark shadows around us. Her hair stretches out behind her, the loose strands compelled to move by a non-existent wind. She hovers a few inches off the ground, so low she might look like she was just standing there from any other angle. Her right hand is lifted to the side, golden light swirling in her palm. It sounds like some aircraft breaking the sound barrier multiple times over. The light keeps building and building as it swirls around her hand, growing in brilliance and size as the seconds slide by. "Please, Gideon," I say, my voice straining. "Don't do this!" I can feel the eyes of the soldiers at my back. They dragged me out here to stop her. Somehow it got out that I'm the only one who can. They're hoping I can bring an end to this before she kills us all. I'm hoping to save her before they shoot. I take a step forward. Even this close to her, I can't feel the energy swirling in her hand. But I feel the wind coming off of it. The force of that alone nearly knocks me back. "You don't have to do this!" I shout at her. Golden tears stream from her eyes. They hit the sands with an audible hiss. Steam rising around her. "I don't want to," she admits with a shake of her head. "So don't!" She shakes her head again, her gaze dropping from mine. "I can't..." her voice caught in the back of her throat. "I can't do this without him!" I know what she means. She can't live without her brother. He's the only one who was ever there for her. The only person that knew what she'd gone through. No matter what we had, I would never be enough. I would never know enough. To spend eternity completely and wholly alone was something she was terrified of doing. And until he died, she never thought she'd have to. "Please." My voice shakes as I force the word out. "Don't make me do this." Her eyes connect with mine again, or at least I think they do. It's hard to be sure without her pupils there to guide me. "I want to die, Kara." The swirling ball at her side surges slightly, a bit more power being thrust into it, but even still I can't feel her signature power in it. I can hear the soldiers at my back shifting. They're getting ready to shoot. To try and take her out. Even though they know I'm the only one who can do it. They're getting prepared for any and all outcomes. I take another step forward. I still can't feel the energy in her hand. But I can feel her. Her warmth radiating in the air between us. "Don't condemn the world," I say. My voice is hushed now so that the soldiers can't hear us. "It's not fair." The light flickers in her eyes and I can see, for certain now, that she's definitely staring at me. "The world will end either way. With me or with something else later on." I can see her lip quivering now, her shoulders shaking. She fights between anger and grief and remorse with every passing second. "It doesn't have to be with you, though," I plead. The light falls away from her eyes. Her normal brown irises are glossy. Golden tears still streak her face. "Please..."Her voice shakes so much I can feel it break my heart. "Just kill me." I grit my teeth together. My fingers grip the sword hilt she'd given me years ago. I say my name aloud, and the blade comes to life. Gilded light shoots out of the hilt until the sword is at full length. Warm liquid spills over my hand. Gideon stops hovering. She drops to the ground, but stays on her feet a few moments longer. Golden light flickers over her features before all the power and light she was generating disappears in its entirety. Her cold hands reach up to my face. Her fingers wipe away the tears on my cheeks. A soft smile comes to her lips. "Thank you," she breathes. And then she tips forward. Her full weight falls against me. My legs don't bother holding either of us up. We collapse to the ground in a heap. The sword in my hand solidifies, light dissipating into the darkness. Blood covers my clothes and tears cover my face. By the time the soldiers reach us, she's gone. And the threat she pretended to pose left with her.	The setting sun couldn't shine its glow by the think clad of smoke that enveloped the city of remnants and ashes. Flames were still burning at a great height, spreading by the minute. Blood spilt amongst the dirt and the corpses. Corpses... Corpses that were caused by me. Corpses that I promised to save, to avoid. And yet here I was, staring at the destruction caused by my own best friend. I crouched down next to a person. Even if his blond hair had dyed to the coarsest shade of grey, and his face heavily bruised and cut, I slipped two fingers to the side of his neck. "Dale," I whispered, tears clouding my eyesight before rolling down my damp and sooty face. "C'mon Dale," I begged. "Wake up. Please." Nothing. No pulse. I wrapped my arms around his lifeless body, hugging him tightly to my chest as I wailed dishearteningly in a moment of grave defeat. I was too late. "I told you he'd break your heart eventually." I looked over my shoulder. A shaggy man hovers above the ground, black veins visible in his face. The darkest shade of black surrounded him as his black scarred wings flapped in a rhythm. I laid Dale down carefully. "You should have stayed with me." I whipped my head. "You?!" I stood up exasperatedly. "A killer?! A murder?!" I marched forward. Fury blinding my vision and seeping through my veins. "You killed this whole city! You killed everyone around me. My parents, my friends, Dale–and you think I'm going to even consider being with you?! That's preposterous, Evans. That's never going to happen." Glaring at him with my pent up anger, I stood a foot away from him. Wrong move. His arm shot up and his hand grasp my neck in a tight grip, bringing me upwards. I gasped audibly, thrashing around with all my might. He threw me a malicious smile. "Ah, my little bird–," "Don't...c-call me...t–that," I croaked out. "Fine." He dropped me to the ground, then crouched down staring directly at me. I looked away, loathing the way he smiled sweetly. Unfortunately, he held my chin firmly, forcing me to stare at him. "Do you really think it's worth it? Sacrificing this," he gestured to everything around us, "for your life?" "You can do so much yet you choose to oppose me? To defend this city? From me?" He laughed. "How in the world to you think you're going to do that?" I kept my mouth shut. Unconsciously, my hand went to the smoothly moulded festoon of my bracelet, tugging it. Suddenly, I felt his hand on my bracelet. "Na-ah-ah," He singsonged. "If you're not going to come with me willingly, I'm forcing you." I spat at his face. "You're mean, you know that?" He brought out a handkerchief and wiped his face. He didn't show a trace of annoyance even after what I did. "We're wasting time, don't you think my Rhea?" With no heads up, he dragged me down to the portal below us as we teleported to a different place. I grimaced, knowing exactly where we were. Looking around, I noticed stained blood on the walls of the uneven surface of the cave as Cronus stared at the meeting, sitting comfortably in his own rock. I shuffled on my seat, a tall rock in the middle of the water, as a bright light shined upon me from above. In a second, he appeared right in front of me with a puff of smoke. Again, a hand was on her throat. Quickly, he muttered a spell. My breath was becoming shallow as he drained my essence. I hollered out in pain. Inch by inch, I felt like my blood was being drained, pressuring the life I had in me. Faintly, a white glow appeared from my cheat being vacuumed to his hand. I could feel the agony catching up as my eyelids slowly shut. Memories started flooding my mind like a flashback. Memories I spent with my family, friends, Cronus, his family, Dale... Dale... Then I snapped. The thought that we could spend a much better life than the present infuriated me. I could have saved him. I could have stopped him from dying along with the hundreds of citizens that laid lifeless on the streets. All because I was blinded by the years of friendship we have built. Cronus and I built. I felt a surge in my veins. Crying out loud, I snapped my eyes open as a pure shone of white blinded my vision. Then a wave of power flushed all around me, pushing Cronus back a few feet away from me. In an instant, I held him up against the wall. "Converte hoc potentiam, et potentia in tenuit. Tuo viribus et non revelare verum recedere. Supergreditur, et non supplantabuntur gressus ejus. Me forum!" As I spoke, my own voice faltered, overpowered by another void tone but after I finished, I sucked a great black orb out of him, gaining his own essence. Another surge crept through my blood. A stronger one than before. Unconsciously, I was lifted in the air by the wind. Accepting the power that sat upon my palm, I screamed as a black element blasted around me. I tugged the festoon of my bracelet from its chain. The festoon resting at my hand. Clenching my fist, I pictured a sharpened end of a thin pole. I glanced at the object in my hand, seeing it to transform to what I had envisioned. Shooting him a diabolically grin, I tossed the weapon In the air before aiming it straight to his heart. A roar erupted from his throat as he dissolved into small particles that mixed with the wind. As he disintegrated, whatever essence of life that he had transferred to me, feeding my soul. I hummed in satisfaction and pleasure. Another wasp of power appeared on my palm. I shot it in the sky, embracing the dark matters that swirled around me. Concentrating, I centralized my essence to my palm, smiling triumphantly. I raised my arm high ready to fire when I felt an object stabbed my back. I glanced down. A pointed dagger protruding the upper right of my stomach. Before I could knock my head to the rock below me, someone caught me, wrapping his arms around me. "I am sorry Rhea." A voice whispered near my ear. "Dale," I croaked out, coughing a spit of blood. "This will help you remember." He placed his hand over my head. A flood of memories washed through me. The reason I was the only one I could kill Cronus. We were created, experiments. Test subjects that went wrong when the gods had created us. I was his equal in every sense. Though we didn't die together, we both had the power to overthrow the other by taking the other's essence to sustain your life. Either that or we both live to maintain the balance. That wasn't all, as his equal, I was an epitome of him. An epitome of what he can do, his powers. An epitome of destruction. An epitome of agony. "I'm sorry Rhea but you are him and he is you and in every way possible, you both must be killed. That is the prophecy." I felt a drop on my face before I faded into the darkness.
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	I stare him down, the monster that I once thought as my best friend. He has a small, painfully hopeful smile on his lips, as if there is a way to talk his way back into my heart. “Why,” I growl out, soft and low, “Did you destroy EVERYTHING that I ever worked for?” The red-eyed man smiles, “Jakobi, I didn’t want to hurt you. This world... don’t you see that it needs to be reset? The humans have taken it so far—“ “You say human like I’m not one, Dakota.” I answer, my eyes drawn to the only scar that he has, “Maybe you’re too inhuman, but let me remind you something. Mankind has massacred this world and destroyed the original thing, but we’ve all known that it will stop. You don’t need to do it, none of us need to do it. Humans are selfish creatures, but they can be very selfless at times. We will all, those who don’t have the same attitude that you do, chose this world over our happiness or our lives.” Dakota laughs like this is just another of the small arguments we had as kids, “What if I say you weren’t born human, Jake, we can rewrite this world and you can finally remember what you are. We can fix the Earth!” I close my eyes, lowering my head. I speak as resigned as I feel, “Do you remember what you told me? Do you remember when I laughed at you when you said that I could kill you? That you’d truly die? I may have been born like you, or I may not have, but I am not like you. I’m human, or as human as I can be.” I open my eyes, my vision sharper. I walk forward has he backs into the wall. I feel a very sharp pain in my hand and look at it, finding claws in place of my nails. When he looks for an escape, I lunge to him. Like I’m faster than I ever was before, I cross over 5 feet in the blink of an eye. Still, we’re silent in a sort of battle of fear and necessity. I lock eyes with him, smiling slightly, “I just wanted a normal life with a normal family and you killed them. Best friends, huh? The only ones that can kill each other, destined for one to die at the other’s claw.” I dodge his frantic hit and land one of my own, nails piercing through his chest and crushing bone, pulling his heart out. I watch him slowly collapse to the ground and squeeze his heart in my hand, sighing. “No two things can change the world. You could have killed everything else and I would have been fine, but you took the ones I loved first. Burn in Hell, where we both belong.”	The setting sun couldn't shine its glow by the think clad of smoke that enveloped the city of remnants and ashes. Flames were still burning at a great height, spreading by the minute. Blood spilt amongst the dirt and the corpses. Corpses... Corpses that were caused by me. Corpses that I promised to save, to avoid. And yet here I was, staring at the destruction caused by my own best friend. I crouched down next to a person. Even if his blond hair had dyed to the coarsest shade of grey, and his face heavily bruised and cut, I slipped two fingers to the side of his neck. "Dale," I whispered, tears clouding my eyesight before rolling down my damp and sooty face. "C'mon Dale," I begged. "Wake up. Please." Nothing. No pulse. I wrapped my arms around his lifeless body, hugging him tightly to my chest as I wailed dishearteningly in a moment of grave defeat. I was too late. "I told you he'd break your heart eventually." I looked over my shoulder. A shaggy man hovers above the ground, black veins visible in his face. The darkest shade of black surrounded him as his black scarred wings flapped in a rhythm. I laid Dale down carefully. "You should have stayed with me." I whipped my head. "You?!" I stood up exasperatedly. "A killer?! A murder?!" I marched forward. Fury blinding my vision and seeping through my veins. "You killed this whole city! You killed everyone around me. My parents, my friends, Dale–and you think I'm going to even consider being with you?! That's preposterous, Evans. That's never going to happen." Glaring at him with my pent up anger, I stood a foot away from him. Wrong move. His arm shot up and his hand grasp my neck in a tight grip, bringing me upwards. I gasped audibly, thrashing around with all my might. He threw me a malicious smile. "Ah, my little bird–," "Don't...c-call me...t–that," I croaked out. "Fine." He dropped me to the ground, then crouched down staring directly at me. I looked away, loathing the way he smiled sweetly. Unfortunately, he held my chin firmly, forcing me to stare at him. "Do you really think it's worth it? Sacrificing this," he gestured to everything around us, "for your life?" "You can do so much yet you choose to oppose me? To defend this city? From me?" He laughed. "How in the world to you think you're going to do that?" I kept my mouth shut. Unconsciously, my hand went to the smoothly moulded festoon of my bracelet, tugging it. Suddenly, I felt his hand on my bracelet. "Na-ah-ah," He singsonged. "If you're not going to come with me willingly, I'm forcing you." I spat at his face. "You're mean, you know that?" He brought out a handkerchief and wiped his face. He didn't show a trace of annoyance even after what I did. "We're wasting time, don't you think my Rhea?" With no heads up, he dragged me down to the portal below us as we teleported to a different place. I grimaced, knowing exactly where we were. Looking around, I noticed stained blood on the walls of the uneven surface of the cave as Cronus stared at the meeting, sitting comfortably in his own rock. I shuffled on my seat, a tall rock in the middle of the water, as a bright light shined upon me from above. In a second, he appeared right in front of me with a puff of smoke. Again, a hand was on her throat. Quickly, he muttered a spell. My breath was becoming shallow as he drained my essence. I hollered out in pain. Inch by inch, I felt like my blood was being drained, pressuring the life I had in me. Faintly, a white glow appeared from my cheat being vacuumed to his hand. I could feel the agony catching up as my eyelids slowly shut. Memories started flooding my mind like a flashback. Memories I spent with my family, friends, Cronus, his family, Dale... Dale... Then I snapped. The thought that we could spend a much better life than the present infuriated me. I could have saved him. I could have stopped him from dying along with the hundreds of citizens that laid lifeless on the streets. All because I was blinded by the years of friendship we have built. Cronus and I built. I felt a surge in my veins. Crying out loud, I snapped my eyes open as a pure shone of white blinded my vision. Then a wave of power flushed all around me, pushing Cronus back a few feet away from me. In an instant, I held him up against the wall. "Converte hoc potentiam, et potentia in tenuit. Tuo viribus et non revelare verum recedere. Supergreditur, et non supplantabuntur gressus ejus. Me forum!" As I spoke, my own voice faltered, overpowered by another void tone but after I finished, I sucked a great black orb out of him, gaining his own essence. Another surge crept through my blood. A stronger one than before. Unconsciously, I was lifted in the air by the wind. Accepting the power that sat upon my palm, I screamed as a black element blasted around me. I tugged the festoon of my bracelet from its chain. The festoon resting at my hand. Clenching my fist, I pictured a sharpened end of a thin pole. I glanced at the object in my hand, seeing it to transform to what I had envisioned. Shooting him a diabolically grin, I tossed the weapon In the air before aiming it straight to his heart. A roar erupted from his throat as he dissolved into small particles that mixed with the wind. As he disintegrated, whatever essence of life that he had transferred to me, feeding my soul. I hummed in satisfaction and pleasure. Another wasp of power appeared on my palm. I shot it in the sky, embracing the dark matters that swirled around me. Concentrating, I centralized my essence to my palm, smiling triumphantly. I raised my arm high ready to fire when I felt an object stabbed my back. I glanced down. A pointed dagger protruding the upper right of my stomach. Before I could knock my head to the rock below me, someone caught me, wrapping his arms around me. "I am sorry Rhea." A voice whispered near my ear. "Dale," I croaked out, coughing a spit of blood. "This will help you remember." He placed his hand over my head. A flood of memories washed through me. The reason I was the only one I could kill Cronus. We were created, experiments. Test subjects that went wrong when the gods had created us. I was his equal in every sense. Though we didn't die together, we both had the power to overthrow the other by taking the other's essence to sustain your life. Either that or we both live to maintain the balance. That wasn't all, as his equal, I was an epitome of him. An epitome of what he can do, his powers. An epitome of destruction. An epitome of agony. "I'm sorry Rhea but you are him and he is you and in every way possible, you both must be killed. That is the prophecy." I felt a drop on my face before I faded into the darkness.
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	"I didn't want this!" I scream. "I never wanted this!" "You think I did?" Damian scoffs. "You think I wanted this?" He gestures to the destroyed landscape around us. What was once New York City is now little more than a crater. He didn't mean to do it. I know that. I've known Damian my whole life. He's always had anger issues, but he's always had a good heart too. Sometimes that isn't enough. Damian isn't a human, you see. Not totally. Neither of us are really sure what he is. What we do know is that he can't die. Not really. He's been stabbed, shot, poisoned, drowned, electrocuted, and beheaded. Every time, he came back. Everytime he came back, he was a little more apathetic. A little more powerful. This time, he'd been killed trying to save a girl from sex traffickers. When he came back, it was like a nuke had been detonated. I don't know how I survived. He and I aren't the same. I can't come back from death. At least, I don't think I can. Not something I'm really willing to try. That's when I realize something. Damian has never hurt me. Not on purpose or on accident. Not when his first Emergence caught our apartment on fire. Not when he lost his temper in a bar fight and struck me. Nothing has ever done has left so much as a scratch on me. Then I remember those words he told me so long ago. We were children. I don't know why he said them or how he knew. "I'll die if YOU kill me." I look up at my friend. "I don't want to do this," hot tears stream down my face. "It's the only way to- AAAARRRGH!" His skin glows red and a shockwave of heat and energy explodes out of him. It feels like a warm breeze to me, but turns the already blackened earth to glass. "You're the only one..." "Damian, you're my best friend!" "I know. I'm... so sorry." I look at the knife he gave me for my sixteenth birthday. Six inches long. Titanium with a tanto tip. He gave it to me right before our first camping trip with a wink saying "Just in case." A decade later and I've never been more than ten feet from it. I take a step forward. Memories flash through my mind. Pillow forts in my living room. Then real forts in the forest when we grew older. Summers by the bonfire. He was there at my mother's funeral. He was the best man at my wedding. He was the first person to hold my daughter after me and my wife. Another step. We joined the army together. Joined the Rangers together. Fought terrorists trying to occupy the Philippines together. Bled together. Cried together. I'm running now. We came home together. He never married. Never even dated. But he was always there for me. I never understood, but now I do. He knew what he was. Even back when we were children. He knew what he would do. He knew what any children he had would do. History will mark him as a villain. A monster that destroyed a city and killed millions. But I know what he is. He's more than a hero. More than my best friend. I plunge the knife into his chest as another explosion nearly rattles even me. Suddenly, the breathe goes out of him and he falls. I hold Damian in my arms. He's crying, but not out of pain. He hasn't felt pain in years. No. That's not true. He's felt a pain nobody will ever know. The pain of knowing what he was and what he would do. But these aren't tears of pain or fear or anger. They're tears of joy. "You're finally free," I tell him. "I... can see... your mom." His breathing is raspy and labored. I want to tell him to save his strength, but... for what? These are his final, truly final, moments. "We'll save you... and your dad... a seat at the... table. Take your... take your time." He puts a hand on my cheek and looks me in the eye. "Thank you." The breath goes out of him and he's still. His skin and muscles and bones all turn to ash and blow away in the wind. I don't know how long I sit there holding a handful of my best friend'sashes. Helicopters eventually fly over. I'm taken away. Brought to a hospital. There are questions. Endless questions. A small funeral is held for Damian. Not many show up. He didn't have many friends. Most of our old unit is gone. A few of the people he saved are there. They cry with me. Life goes on for the rest of us. I hold my daughter and my wife tighter from then on. The police or FBI or CIA took the knife. I never see it again, but that's fine. I don't think I'll need it anymore.	The setting sun couldn't shine its glow by the think clad of smoke that enveloped the city of remnants and ashes. Flames were still burning at a great height, spreading by the minute. Blood spilt amongst the dirt and the corpses. Corpses... Corpses that were caused by me. Corpses that I promised to save, to avoid. And yet here I was, staring at the destruction caused by my own best friend. I crouched down next to a person. Even if his blond hair had dyed to the coarsest shade of grey, and his face heavily bruised and cut, I slipped two fingers to the side of his neck. "Dale," I whispered, tears clouding my eyesight before rolling down my damp and sooty face. "C'mon Dale," I begged. "Wake up. Please." Nothing. No pulse. I wrapped my arms around his lifeless body, hugging him tightly to my chest as I wailed dishearteningly in a moment of grave defeat. I was too late. "I told you he'd break your heart eventually." I looked over my shoulder. A shaggy man hovers above the ground, black veins visible in his face. The darkest shade of black surrounded him as his black scarred wings flapped in a rhythm. I laid Dale down carefully. "You should have stayed with me." I whipped my head. "You?!" I stood up exasperatedly. "A killer?! A murder?!" I marched forward. Fury blinding my vision and seeping through my veins. "You killed this whole city! You killed everyone around me. My parents, my friends, Dale–and you think I'm going to even consider being with you?! That's preposterous, Evans. That's never going to happen." Glaring at him with my pent up anger, I stood a foot away from him. Wrong move. His arm shot up and his hand grasp my neck in a tight grip, bringing me upwards. I gasped audibly, thrashing around with all my might. He threw me a malicious smile. "Ah, my little bird–," "Don't...c-call me...t–that," I croaked out. "Fine." He dropped me to the ground, then crouched down staring directly at me. I looked away, loathing the way he smiled sweetly. Unfortunately, he held my chin firmly, forcing me to stare at him. "Do you really think it's worth it? Sacrificing this," he gestured to everything around us, "for your life?" "You can do so much yet you choose to oppose me? To defend this city? From me?" He laughed. "How in the world to you think you're going to do that?" I kept my mouth shut. Unconsciously, my hand went to the smoothly moulded festoon of my bracelet, tugging it. Suddenly, I felt his hand on my bracelet. "Na-ah-ah," He singsonged. "If you're not going to come with me willingly, I'm forcing you." I spat at his face. "You're mean, you know that?" He brought out a handkerchief and wiped his face. He didn't show a trace of annoyance even after what I did. "We're wasting time, don't you think my Rhea?" With no heads up, he dragged me down to the portal below us as we teleported to a different place. I grimaced, knowing exactly where we were. Looking around, I noticed stained blood on the walls of the uneven surface of the cave as Cronus stared at the meeting, sitting comfortably in his own rock. I shuffled on my seat, a tall rock in the middle of the water, as a bright light shined upon me from above. In a second, he appeared right in front of me with a puff of smoke. Again, a hand was on her throat. Quickly, he muttered a spell. My breath was becoming shallow as he drained my essence. I hollered out in pain. Inch by inch, I felt like my blood was being drained, pressuring the life I had in me. Faintly, a white glow appeared from my cheat being vacuumed to his hand. I could feel the agony catching up as my eyelids slowly shut. Memories started flooding my mind like a flashback. Memories I spent with my family, friends, Cronus, his family, Dale... Dale... Then I snapped. The thought that we could spend a much better life than the present infuriated me. I could have saved him. I could have stopped him from dying along with the hundreds of citizens that laid lifeless on the streets. All because I was blinded by the years of friendship we have built. Cronus and I built. I felt a surge in my veins. Crying out loud, I snapped my eyes open as a pure shone of white blinded my vision. Then a wave of power flushed all around me, pushing Cronus back a few feet away from me. In an instant, I held him up against the wall. "Converte hoc potentiam, et potentia in tenuit. Tuo viribus et non revelare verum recedere. Supergreditur, et non supplantabuntur gressus ejus. Me forum!" As I spoke, my own voice faltered, overpowered by another void tone but after I finished, I sucked a great black orb out of him, gaining his own essence. Another surge crept through my blood. A stronger one than before. Unconsciously, I was lifted in the air by the wind. Accepting the power that sat upon my palm, I screamed as a black element blasted around me. I tugged the festoon of my bracelet from its chain. The festoon resting at my hand. Clenching my fist, I pictured a sharpened end of a thin pole. I glanced at the object in my hand, seeing it to transform to what I had envisioned. Shooting him a diabolically grin, I tossed the weapon In the air before aiming it straight to his heart. A roar erupted from his throat as he dissolved into small particles that mixed with the wind. As he disintegrated, whatever essence of life that he had transferred to me, feeding my soul. I hummed in satisfaction and pleasure. Another wasp of power appeared on my palm. I shot it in the sky, embracing the dark matters that swirled around me. Concentrating, I centralized my essence to my palm, smiling triumphantly. I raised my arm high ready to fire when I felt an object stabbed my back. I glanced down. A pointed dagger protruding the upper right of my stomach. Before I could knock my head to the rock below me, someone caught me, wrapping his arms around me. "I am sorry Rhea." A voice whispered near my ear. "Dale," I croaked out, coughing a spit of blood. "This will help you remember." He placed his hand over my head. A flood of memories washed through me. The reason I was the only one I could kill Cronus. We were created, experiments. Test subjects that went wrong when the gods had created us. I was his equal in every sense. Though we didn't die together, we both had the power to overthrow the other by taking the other's essence to sustain your life. Either that or we both live to maintain the balance. That wasn't all, as his equal, I was an epitome of him. An epitome of what he can do, his powers. An epitome of destruction. An epitome of agony. "I'm sorry Rhea but you are him and he is you and in every way possible, you both must be killed. That is the prophecy." I felt a drop on my face before I faded into the darkness.
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	My friend had died a few times. But every time, a day or two later, he always came back, to the point where I didn't even flinch the last time when I watched him get stabbed in the chest. Eventually, once I'd become accustomed to his immortality, we'd make jokes about it occasionally. One day, he'd made a casual remark. "Hey, I'll die if you kill me." I thought it was for a laugh. So I chuckled. I didn't actually find it very funny, but I didn't want to let him down on his joke. Now, today, I stood here, at the edge of a cliff, the perfect spot to watch the two armies fire at each other. He'd made us invisible to them. I turned to him. "Why?" "Because," he told me, "Humans were part of an experiment. We didn't want to get this far." "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He waved his hand in front of us, bringing up a holographic display by his sheer will. "Us, the eternals, created life," he began. The display was a full-color rendering of some algae floating on water's surface. "Over millennia, over eons, we carefully crafted different types of life, trying to create something with a will of its own." The display zoomed in on a single cell. "Many eternals didn't participate for a long time. They thought we were crazy, trying to create sentience from only matter and energy." The cell divided repeatedly, and the display zoomed out to match its growth. When fully zoomed out, the display now showed an ant instead of algae. "Now it's gotten out of hand," he said, gesturing at the display as it zoomed out further to encompass hundreds, thousands of species. A human was displayed the largest. "Some of the other eternals would disagree with me, saying you deserve to live as well. And in my time here, you're the only one I'd make that exception for. My only friend. And the rest of it?" He gestured out to the battlefield, bringing up a display of the death toll in the battle, rising and rising. "You can't. You won't. I won't let you," I told him firmly, and he raised his eyebrows. Then I remembered what he told me. "It's your choice," he said as if reading my thoughts. What I said next, I wanted to be bold and strong, but it came out as a whisper. "I'll kill you." He stepped towards me, wiping away the tear I didn't even know I'd shed. "If you kill me," he said, his voice uncharacteristically low now, "I'll stay dead." Just as the people out on the field were fighting a war that he'd pulled the strings to start, I was fighting my own war internally, also one of his design. Do I kill him? He conjured up a knife. "When I die, I'm not really destroyed. I simply return to my home, a place most humans would call the heavens..." He handed the knife to me, closing my hand around it. "But I will be gone. You won't see me again." My knuckles went white as I tightly gripped the knife, shaking. I grabbed his shoulder with one hand, and plunged the knife into his stomach with the other. He smiled, falling to the ground. I wept, setting him down. I let go of the knife, and in seconds, the body disintegrated, dust in the wind, the knife along with it. I looked to the battle below, half expecting it to end immediately. But it didn't. "Of course," I heard his voice from behind me. I spun around to see him, the eternal, standing by a tree. "The selfish decision. You've... Proven me right." I gave him the most blank stare as humanly possible. He'd befriended me. Deceived me. Betrayed me. And now he voided my actions. He smiled, and after I blinked, he was gone.	“I’ll die if you kill me.” It was just a joke. It was only meant to bring a few laughs. It wasn’t supposed to be true, things weren’t meant to turn out this way. It all started with me and you, we’ve been friends for as long as I can remember. It was just the two of us. Two children against the world, the universe. We grew together, we learned and we laughed, we rose and we fell. We might as well have been one for how close we were. Thinking back, that was your plan wasn’t it? I’d never hurt you, and you couldn’t hurt me. To think I cared for you, to think I still do. Even when you’re.... you. An immortal being hell bent on the destruction of everything and the one holding the trigger. You and me forever. Only I could kill you, and I could not die so long as you were alive. I still don’t know how things got to be this way. I never wanted to hurt you, I never wanted to hurt anyone. But you are the target, and I am the gun. A single bullet is all it would take. Yet, when the time came I couldn’t fire. I couldn’t say the six words that would’ve prevented all of this. I couldn’t.... couldn’t.... You know I’d never hurt you, right? Never on purpose. But then, at that time... I don’t know what came over me. It was already far too late anyway! What was it going to change? Everything was already gone, it was just you and me. Nothing changed since the day we met. So I said those words. I watched as you died with ash in my mouth and betrayal in your eyes. I choked while you screamed. From ashes you cane and to ashes you went again. But I didn’t die. I couldn’t. Instead of following after so much pain, I took your place. And somebody... somebody took mine. Or I suppose somebody should’ve. No one’s alive out there anyway. There’s no one left but me and what remained of you. Me and you till the day you died. But now it’s just me, alone in the universe. Not a soul around to let me followed you to the world you left me for. My wrists burn, nothing can be solved. There’s nothing left to destroy. The inevitable has come and I am no longer needed. But I can’t die. My punishment for letting you live. My punishment for living a lie. If anyone out there is still alive to read this, it’s your turn now..... . . . . . .I’m sorry.
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	I didn't want to believe them. The rumors. The hushed whispers. The cutting words. The scared murmurings. There was no way she would even think of doing something like this. There was no way. Gideon was a good person. She was always there for me and my family. She always took care of us, looked after me, and made sure we were okay. She volunteered at soup kitchens and animal shelters. She participated in beach cleanups and recycling campaigns. She signed petitions that actually helped people. She was a good person. But after her brother died, something seemed to change in her. She grew quiet, more reserved. She was selective in how she spent her time. Normally, she spent it with me. It was a nice change of pace to actually get to spend my free time with her, so I didn't notice it at first. But then I realized she had no stories about the shelter or the soup kitchen or the group of homeless people she brought sandwiches to in Ethel Park anymore. She mainly only wanted to spend our time just sitting together. Either reading or watching a show or simply just cuddling on the couch. "I'll die if you kill me," she had said one day as we did just that. To say it took me by surprise was an understatement. I had to lift my head to look at her. I scrunched up my face at her, a chuckle escaped my lips. "What?" She'd run her fingers through my hair, staring absentmindedly at the ceiling. Her gaze fell to me and there was a soft, serene smile. "Nothing. It was stupid." I pushed myself off of her a bit to give her a quizzical look. "Are you telling me that you'll only die if I'm the one to kill you?" She looked off to the side. There was a pink dusting on her cheeks now. "I dunno... but if someone were to kill me... I'd rather it be you." I laughed before nestling myself against her once more. "You're so weird, Gideon." I didn't think much of our conversation then. Nor did I think much of the rumors that began to swirl around Gideon after that. Not even when Gideon disappeared for a day did I get concerned. But now, standing here on this beach, I realize I should've payed closer attention. I should've let myself get concerned. Gideon stands in front of me, the only source of light and color on this lifeless beach. Brilliant gold veins stretch over her skin in a gilded latticework that made her look as terrifying as possible. Her eyes shine gold, casting stark shadows around us. Her hair stretches out behind her, the loose strands compelled to move by a non-existent wind. She hovers a few inches off the ground, so low she might look like she was just standing there from any other angle. Her right hand is lifted to the side, golden light swirling in her palm. It sounds like some aircraft breaking the sound barrier multiple times over. The light keeps building and building as it swirls around her hand, growing in brilliance and size as the seconds slide by. "Please, Gideon," I say, my voice straining. "Don't do this!" I can feel the eyes of the soldiers at my back. They dragged me out here to stop her. Somehow it got out that I'm the only one who can. They're hoping I can bring an end to this before she kills us all. I'm hoping to save her before they shoot. I take a step forward. Even this close to her, I can't feel the energy swirling in her hand. But I feel the wind coming off of it. The force of that alone nearly knocks me back. "You don't have to do this!" I shout at her. Golden tears stream from her eyes. They hit the sands with an audible hiss. Steam rising around her. "I don't want to," she admits with a shake of her head. "So don't!" She shakes her head again, her gaze dropping from mine. "I can't..." her voice caught in the back of her throat. "I can't do this without him!" I know what she means. She can't live without her brother. He's the only one who was ever there for her. The only person that knew what she'd gone through. No matter what we had, I would never be enough. I would never know enough. To spend eternity completely and wholly alone was something she was terrified of doing. And until he died, she never thought she'd have to. "Please." My voice shakes as I force the word out. "Don't make me do this." Her eyes connect with mine again, or at least I think they do. It's hard to be sure without her pupils there to guide me. "I want to die, Kara." The swirling ball at her side surges slightly, a bit more power being thrust into it, but even still I can't feel her signature power in it. I can hear the soldiers at my back shifting. They're getting ready to shoot. To try and take her out. Even though they know I'm the only one who can do it. They're getting prepared for any and all outcomes. I take another step forward. I still can't feel the energy in her hand. But I can feel her. Her warmth radiating in the air between us. "Don't condemn the world," I say. My voice is hushed now so that the soldiers can't hear us. "It's not fair." The light flickers in her eyes and I can see, for certain now, that she's definitely staring at me. "The world will end either way. With me or with something else later on." I can see her lip quivering now, her shoulders shaking. She fights between anger and grief and remorse with every passing second. "It doesn't have to be with you, though," I plead. The light falls away from her eyes. Her normal brown irises are glossy. Golden tears still streak her face. "Please..."Her voice shakes so much I can feel it break my heart. "Just kill me." I grit my teeth together. My fingers grip the sword hilt she'd given me years ago. I say my name aloud, and the blade comes to life. Gilded light shoots out of the hilt until the sword is at full length. Warm liquid spills over my hand. Gideon stops hovering. She drops to the ground, but stays on her feet a few moments longer. Golden light flickers over her features before all the power and light she was generating disappears in its entirety. Her cold hands reach up to my face. Her fingers wipe away the tears on my cheeks. A soft smile comes to her lips. "Thank you," she breathes. And then she tips forward. Her full weight falls against me. My legs don't bother holding either of us up. We collapse to the ground in a heap. The sword in my hand solidifies, light dissipating into the darkness. Blood covers my clothes and tears cover my face. By the time the soldiers reach us, she's gone. And the threat she pretended to pose left with her.	“I’ll die if you kill me.” It was just a joke. It was only meant to bring a few laughs. It wasn’t supposed to be true, things weren’t meant to turn out this way. It all started with me and you, we’ve been friends for as long as I can remember. It was just the two of us. Two children against the world, the universe. We grew together, we learned and we laughed, we rose and we fell. We might as well have been one for how close we were. Thinking back, that was your plan wasn’t it? I’d never hurt you, and you couldn’t hurt me. To think I cared for you, to think I still do. Even when you’re.... you. An immortal being hell bent on the destruction of everything and the one holding the trigger. You and me forever. Only I could kill you, and I could not die so long as you were alive. I still don’t know how things got to be this way. I never wanted to hurt you, I never wanted to hurt anyone. But you are the target, and I am the gun. A single bullet is all it would take. Yet, when the time came I couldn’t fire. I couldn’t say the six words that would’ve prevented all of this. I couldn’t.... couldn’t.... You know I’d never hurt you, right? Never on purpose. But then, at that time... I don’t know what came over me. It was already far too late anyway! What was it going to change? Everything was already gone, it was just you and me. Nothing changed since the day we met. So I said those words. I watched as you died with ash in my mouth and betrayal in your eyes. I choked while you screamed. From ashes you cane and to ashes you went again. But I didn’t die. I couldn’t. Instead of following after so much pain, I took your place. And somebody... somebody took mine. Or I suppose somebody should’ve. No one’s alive out there anyway. There’s no one left but me and what remained of you. Me and you till the day you died. But now it’s just me, alone in the universe. Not a soul around to let me followed you to the world you left me for. My wrists burn, nothing can be solved. There’s nothing left to destroy. The inevitable has come and I am no longer needed. But I can’t die. My punishment for letting you live. My punishment for living a lie. If anyone out there is still alive to read this, it’s your turn now..... . . . . . .I’m sorry.
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	I stare him down, the monster that I once thought as my best friend. He has a small, painfully hopeful smile on his lips, as if there is a way to talk his way back into my heart. “Why,” I growl out, soft and low, “Did you destroy EVERYTHING that I ever worked for?” The red-eyed man smiles, “Jakobi, I didn’t want to hurt you. This world... don’t you see that it needs to be reset? The humans have taken it so far—“ “You say human like I’m not one, Dakota.” I answer, my eyes drawn to the only scar that he has, “Maybe you’re too inhuman, but let me remind you something. Mankind has massacred this world and destroyed the original thing, but we’ve all known that it will stop. You don’t need to do it, none of us need to do it. Humans are selfish creatures, but they can be very selfless at times. We will all, those who don’t have the same attitude that you do, chose this world over our happiness or our lives.” Dakota laughs like this is just another of the small arguments we had as kids, “What if I say you weren’t born human, Jake, we can rewrite this world and you can finally remember what you are. We can fix the Earth!” I close my eyes, lowering my head. I speak as resigned as I feel, “Do you remember what you told me? Do you remember when I laughed at you when you said that I could kill you? That you’d truly die? I may have been born like you, or I may not have, but I am not like you. I’m human, or as human as I can be.” I open my eyes, my vision sharper. I walk forward has he backs into the wall. I feel a very sharp pain in my hand and look at it, finding claws in place of my nails. When he looks for an escape, I lunge to him. Like I’m faster than I ever was before, I cross over 5 feet in the blink of an eye. Still, we’re silent in a sort of battle of fear and necessity. I lock eyes with him, smiling slightly, “I just wanted a normal life with a normal family and you killed them. Best friends, huh? The only ones that can kill each other, destined for one to die at the other’s claw.” I dodge his frantic hit and land one of my own, nails piercing through his chest and crushing bone, pulling his heart out. I watch him slowly collapse to the ground and squeeze his heart in my hand, sighing. “No two things can change the world. You could have killed everything else and I would have been fine, but you took the ones I loved first. Burn in Hell, where we both belong.”	“I’ll die if you kill me.” It was just a joke. It was only meant to bring a few laughs. It wasn’t supposed to be true, things weren’t meant to turn out this way. It all started with me and you, we’ve been friends for as long as I can remember. It was just the two of us. Two children against the world, the universe. We grew together, we learned and we laughed, we rose and we fell. We might as well have been one for how close we were. Thinking back, that was your plan wasn’t it? I’d never hurt you, and you couldn’t hurt me. To think I cared for you, to think I still do. Even when you’re.... you. An immortal being hell bent on the destruction of everything and the one holding the trigger. You and me forever. Only I could kill you, and I could not die so long as you were alive. I still don’t know how things got to be this way. I never wanted to hurt you, I never wanted to hurt anyone. But you are the target, and I am the gun. A single bullet is all it would take. Yet, when the time came I couldn’t fire. I couldn’t say the six words that would’ve prevented all of this. I couldn’t.... couldn’t.... You know I’d never hurt you, right? Never on purpose. But then, at that time... I don’t know what came over me. It was already far too late anyway! What was it going to change? Everything was already gone, it was just you and me. Nothing changed since the day we met. So I said those words. I watched as you died with ash in my mouth and betrayal in your eyes. I choked while you screamed. From ashes you cane and to ashes you went again. But I didn’t die. I couldn’t. Instead of following after so much pain, I took your place. And somebody... somebody took mine. Or I suppose somebody should’ve. No one’s alive out there anyway. There’s no one left but me and what remained of you. Me and you till the day you died. But now it’s just me, alone in the universe. Not a soul around to let me followed you to the world you left me for. My wrists burn, nothing can be solved. There’s nothing left to destroy. The inevitable has come and I am no longer needed. But I can’t die. My punishment for letting you live. My punishment for living a lie. If anyone out there is still alive to read this, it’s your turn now..... . . . . . .I’m sorry.
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	"I didn't want this!" I scream. "I never wanted this!" "You think I did?" Damian scoffs. "You think I wanted this?" He gestures to the destroyed landscape around us. What was once New York City is now little more than a crater. He didn't mean to do it. I know that. I've known Damian my whole life. He's always had anger issues, but he's always had a good heart too. Sometimes that isn't enough. Damian isn't a human, you see. Not totally. Neither of us are really sure what he is. What we do know is that he can't die. Not really. He's been stabbed, shot, poisoned, drowned, electrocuted, and beheaded. Every time, he came back. Everytime he came back, he was a little more apathetic. A little more powerful. This time, he'd been killed trying to save a girl from sex traffickers. When he came back, it was like a nuke had been detonated. I don't know how I survived. He and I aren't the same. I can't come back from death. At least, I don't think I can. Not something I'm really willing to try. That's when I realize something. Damian has never hurt me. Not on purpose or on accident. Not when his first Emergence caught our apartment on fire. Not when he lost his temper in a bar fight and struck me. Nothing has ever done has left so much as a scratch on me. Then I remember those words he told me so long ago. We were children. I don't know why he said them or how he knew. "I'll die if YOU kill me." I look up at my friend. "I don't want to do this," hot tears stream down my face. "It's the only way to- AAAARRRGH!" His skin glows red and a shockwave of heat and energy explodes out of him. It feels like a warm breeze to me, but turns the already blackened earth to glass. "You're the only one..." "Damian, you're my best friend!" "I know. I'm... so sorry." I look at the knife he gave me for my sixteenth birthday. Six inches long. Titanium with a tanto tip. He gave it to me right before our first camping trip with a wink saying "Just in case." A decade later and I've never been more than ten feet from it. I take a step forward. Memories flash through my mind. Pillow forts in my living room. Then real forts in the forest when we grew older. Summers by the bonfire. He was there at my mother's funeral. He was the best man at my wedding. He was the first person to hold my daughter after me and my wife. Another step. We joined the army together. Joined the Rangers together. Fought terrorists trying to occupy the Philippines together. Bled together. Cried together. I'm running now. We came home together. He never married. Never even dated. But he was always there for me. I never understood, but now I do. He knew what he was. Even back when we were children. He knew what he would do. He knew what any children he had would do. History will mark him as a villain. A monster that destroyed a city and killed millions. But I know what he is. He's more than a hero. More than my best friend. I plunge the knife into his chest as another explosion nearly rattles even me. Suddenly, the breathe goes out of him and he falls. I hold Damian in my arms. He's crying, but not out of pain. He hasn't felt pain in years. No. That's not true. He's felt a pain nobody will ever know. The pain of knowing what he was and what he would do. But these aren't tears of pain or fear or anger. They're tears of joy. "You're finally free," I tell him. "I... can see... your mom." His breathing is raspy and labored. I want to tell him to save his strength, but... for what? These are his final, truly final, moments. "We'll save you... and your dad... a seat at the... table. Take your... take your time." He puts a hand on my cheek and looks me in the eye. "Thank you." The breath goes out of him and he's still. His skin and muscles and bones all turn to ash and blow away in the wind. I don't know how long I sit there holding a handful of my best friend'sashes. Helicopters eventually fly over. I'm taken away. Brought to a hospital. There are questions. Endless questions. A small funeral is held for Damian. Not many show up. He didn't have many friends. Most of our old unit is gone. A few of the people he saved are there. They cry with me. Life goes on for the rest of us. I hold my daughter and my wife tighter from then on. The police or FBI or CIA took the knife. I never see it again, but that's fine. I don't think I'll need it anymore.	“I’ll die if you kill me.” It was just a joke. It was only meant to bring a few laughs. It wasn’t supposed to be true, things weren’t meant to turn out this way. It all started with me and you, we’ve been friends for as long as I can remember. It was just the two of us. Two children against the world, the universe. We grew together, we learned and we laughed, we rose and we fell. We might as well have been one for how close we were. Thinking back, that was your plan wasn’t it? I’d never hurt you, and you couldn’t hurt me. To think I cared for you, to think I still do. Even when you’re.... you. An immortal being hell bent on the destruction of everything and the one holding the trigger. You and me forever. Only I could kill you, and I could not die so long as you were alive. I still don’t know how things got to be this way. I never wanted to hurt you, I never wanted to hurt anyone. But you are the target, and I am the gun. A single bullet is all it would take. Yet, when the time came I couldn’t fire. I couldn’t say the six words that would’ve prevented all of this. I couldn’t.... couldn’t.... You know I’d never hurt you, right? Never on purpose. But then, at that time... I don’t know what came over me. It was already far too late anyway! What was it going to change? Everything was already gone, it was just you and me. Nothing changed since the day we met. So I said those words. I watched as you died with ash in my mouth and betrayal in your eyes. I choked while you screamed. From ashes you cane and to ashes you went again. But I didn’t die. I couldn’t. Instead of following after so much pain, I took your place. And somebody... somebody took mine. Or I suppose somebody should’ve. No one’s alive out there anyway. There’s no one left but me and what remained of you. Me and you till the day you died. But now it’s just me, alone in the universe. Not a soul around to let me followed you to the world you left me for. My wrists burn, nothing can be solved. There’s nothing left to destroy. The inevitable has come and I am no longer needed. But I can’t die. My punishment for letting you live. My punishment for living a lie. If anyone out there is still alive to read this, it’s your turn now..... . . . . . .I’m sorry.
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	I stare him down, the monster that I once thought as my best friend. He has a small, painfully hopeful smile on his lips, as if there is a way to talk his way back into my heart. “Why,” I growl out, soft and low, “Did you destroy EVERYTHING that I ever worked for?” The red-eyed man smiles, “Jakobi, I didn’t want to hurt you. This world... don’t you see that it needs to be reset? The humans have taken it so far—“ “You say human like I’m not one, Dakota.” I answer, my eyes drawn to the only scar that he has, “Maybe you’re too inhuman, but let me remind you something. Mankind has massacred this world and destroyed the original thing, but we’ve all known that it will stop. You don’t need to do it, none of us need to do it. Humans are selfish creatures, but they can be very selfless at times. We will all, those who don’t have the same attitude that you do, chose this world over our happiness or our lives.” Dakota laughs like this is just another of the small arguments we had as kids, “What if I say you weren’t born human, Jake, we can rewrite this world and you can finally remember what you are. We can fix the Earth!” I close my eyes, lowering my head. I speak as resigned as I feel, “Do you remember what you told me? Do you remember when I laughed at you when you said that I could kill you? That you’d truly die? I may have been born like you, or I may not have, but I am not like you. I’m human, or as human as I can be.” I open my eyes, my vision sharper. I walk forward has he backs into the wall. I feel a very sharp pain in my hand and look at it, finding claws in place of my nails. When he looks for an escape, I lunge to him. Like I’m faster than I ever was before, I cross over 5 feet in the blink of an eye. Still, we’re silent in a sort of battle of fear and necessity. I lock eyes with him, smiling slightly, “I just wanted a normal life with a normal family and you killed them. Best friends, huh? The only ones that can kill each other, destined for one to die at the other’s claw.” I dodge his frantic hit and land one of my own, nails piercing through his chest and crushing bone, pulling his heart out. I watch him slowly collapse to the ground and squeeze his heart in my hand, sighing. “No two things can change the world. You could have killed everything else and I would have been fine, but you took the ones I loved first. Burn in Hell, where we both belong.”	The pillar of fire filled the sky with embers, cackling; horrifying; blood-thirsty. Just as she. What remained of my best friend had perished a long time ago, but the voice of she-witch past was running through my mind. “I’ll die if you kill me” The look on her face then, told me everything I need to know now. It had to be me. Why did it have to be me? None of this was her fault, but there’s no other way. I step forward, through the blazing, crumbling urban landscape. Closer. The steps turn to a jog, into a sprint. Closer. Her head snaps to look at me, and her eyes widen. Closer. Flaming tendrils caress my face as I glide, dodge and weave. Closer. A tackle. An embrace. A knife to the back. Tears vaporise in the heat, and I cradle the girl I once knew. Closer. The flames spiralled around us, seeping back into her, and just as my tears had vaporised in the heat, so did we.
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	I didn't want to believe them. The rumors. The hushed whispers. The cutting words. The scared murmurings. There was no way she would even think of doing something like this. There was no way. Gideon was a good person. She was always there for me and my family. She always took care of us, looked after me, and made sure we were okay. She volunteered at soup kitchens and animal shelters. She participated in beach cleanups and recycling campaigns. She signed petitions that actually helped people. She was a good person. But after her brother died, something seemed to change in her. She grew quiet, more reserved. She was selective in how she spent her time. Normally, she spent it with me. It was a nice change of pace to actually get to spend my free time with her, so I didn't notice it at first. But then I realized she had no stories about the shelter or the soup kitchen or the group of homeless people she brought sandwiches to in Ethel Park anymore. She mainly only wanted to spend our time just sitting together. Either reading or watching a show or simply just cuddling on the couch. "I'll die if you kill me," she had said one day as we did just that. To say it took me by surprise was an understatement. I had to lift my head to look at her. I scrunched up my face at her, a chuckle escaped my lips. "What?" She'd run her fingers through my hair, staring absentmindedly at the ceiling. Her gaze fell to me and there was a soft, serene smile. "Nothing. It was stupid." I pushed myself off of her a bit to give her a quizzical look. "Are you telling me that you'll only die if I'm the one to kill you?" She looked off to the side. There was a pink dusting on her cheeks now. "I dunno... but if someone were to kill me... I'd rather it be you." I laughed before nestling myself against her once more. "You're so weird, Gideon." I didn't think much of our conversation then. Nor did I think much of the rumors that began to swirl around Gideon after that. Not even when Gideon disappeared for a day did I get concerned. But now, standing here on this beach, I realize I should've payed closer attention. I should've let myself get concerned. Gideon stands in front of me, the only source of light and color on this lifeless beach. Brilliant gold veins stretch over her skin in a gilded latticework that made her look as terrifying as possible. Her eyes shine gold, casting stark shadows around us. Her hair stretches out behind her, the loose strands compelled to move by a non-existent wind. She hovers a few inches off the ground, so low she might look like she was just standing there from any other angle. Her right hand is lifted to the side, golden light swirling in her palm. It sounds like some aircraft breaking the sound barrier multiple times over. The light keeps building and building as it swirls around her hand, growing in brilliance and size as the seconds slide by. "Please, Gideon," I say, my voice straining. "Don't do this!" I can feel the eyes of the soldiers at my back. They dragged me out here to stop her. Somehow it got out that I'm the only one who can. They're hoping I can bring an end to this before she kills us all. I'm hoping to save her before they shoot. I take a step forward. Even this close to her, I can't feel the energy swirling in her hand. But I feel the wind coming off of it. The force of that alone nearly knocks me back. "You don't have to do this!" I shout at her. Golden tears stream from her eyes. They hit the sands with an audible hiss. Steam rising around her. "I don't want to," she admits with a shake of her head. "So don't!" She shakes her head again, her gaze dropping from mine. "I can't..." her voice caught in the back of her throat. "I can't do this without him!" I know what she means. She can't live without her brother. He's the only one who was ever there for her. The only person that knew what she'd gone through. No matter what we had, I would never be enough. I would never know enough. To spend eternity completely and wholly alone was something she was terrified of doing. And until he died, she never thought she'd have to. "Please." My voice shakes as I force the word out. "Don't make me do this." Her eyes connect with mine again, or at least I think they do. It's hard to be sure without her pupils there to guide me. "I want to die, Kara." The swirling ball at her side surges slightly, a bit more power being thrust into it, but even still I can't feel her signature power in it. I can hear the soldiers at my back shifting. They're getting ready to shoot. To try and take her out. Even though they know I'm the only one who can do it. They're getting prepared for any and all outcomes. I take another step forward. I still can't feel the energy in her hand. But I can feel her. Her warmth radiating in the air between us. "Don't condemn the world," I say. My voice is hushed now so that the soldiers can't hear us. "It's not fair." The light flickers in her eyes and I can see, for certain now, that she's definitely staring at me. "The world will end either way. With me or with something else later on." I can see her lip quivering now, her shoulders shaking. She fights between anger and grief and remorse with every passing second. "It doesn't have to be with you, though," I plead. The light falls away from her eyes. Her normal brown irises are glossy. Golden tears still streak her face. "Please..."Her voice shakes so much I can feel it break my heart. "Just kill me." I grit my teeth together. My fingers grip the sword hilt she'd given me years ago. I say my name aloud, and the blade comes to life. Gilded light shoots out of the hilt until the sword is at full length. Warm liquid spills over my hand. Gideon stops hovering. She drops to the ground, but stays on her feet a few moments longer. Golden light flickers over her features before all the power and light she was generating disappears in its entirety. Her cold hands reach up to my face. Her fingers wipe away the tears on my cheeks. A soft smile comes to her lips. "Thank you," she breathes. And then she tips forward. Her full weight falls against me. My legs don't bother holding either of us up. We collapse to the ground in a heap. The sword in my hand solidifies, light dissipating into the darkness. Blood covers my clothes and tears cover my face. By the time the soldiers reach us, she's gone. And the threat she pretended to pose left with her.	"Go on!" The beaten and defeated man kneeling before me shouted as he stared up into my eyes. "Do it!" He grabbed the barrel of my gun and pointed it square in his face. "Pull the trigger!" But, I just couldn't. Tears fell from my eyes as the winds whipped around the two of us. The distant sounds of explosions and people screaming rang deafly in my ears. My hand shook as I slowly lowered the gun barrel. "No!" The man shouted as he reaimed the barrel to his face. "It's easy! Just twitch your finger and pull!" His eyes were swelled with tears and centuries of emotions and memories. "You killed others with me plenty! Now, finish the job!" I stared at the man before I couldn't anymore. I turned my head and covered my mouth to hold back my gasps of pain. "I can't do it." "You have to, Travis," the man said, his soft fingers reaching up and caressing mine. "If you don't, it will be too late for you. For everyone here." I turned back to him as my breathing got heavier and shakier. "Why!?" I shouted in the meekest voice I could. "I've told you before, Travis. You know why." The man spoke, not with anger anymore or fear, but sadness and the pain of a thousand years of suffering. "Prove to me that love is stronger than anything. If you don't, then I'll move on to the next country. If you don't kill me now, then countless others will suffer." "What about my suffering!?" I could barely hold back my tears and I could feel my throat tightening. I still couldn't look him in the eyes. Those rich deep green eyes that held years of joy and pain. "What about Jonas, or Sarah, or Paulo?" The man took a deep sigh as the wind from a distant explosion stroked its fingers through his hair. "They are some of my best friends, but only you, Travis, are my BEST friend. You are-" "More than just my best friend. I know," I said, finishing his sentence as we had done many times before. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I put my finger on the trigger and waited there before finally taking it off. "I still can't do it." "Travis, you must." I could hear him stand up as he held my cheeks in the palm of his hand. "I'll die if you kill me." He turned my head to look deep in his eyes, and he in mine. "Only my most trusted friend can. Think about Jonas." "Don't you do this to me." My voice cracked as I shifted my eyes away from him. I gasped a few times, still holding back the flood of emotions. "I know you've liked him before I even stepped foot into you life," the man said, and I saw that gentle smile of his out of the corner of my eye. "Think about him. If you don't do this, then everything for you, for him, for them, is all over." He leaned in and gently kissed my cheek. "I love you, Travis." Slowly, he knelt back on the ground and aimed my gun towards him. Shakily, I forced myself to look at his handsome eyes one last time as the flood of tears bursts from mine. With the last of my strength, I managed to find my voice. "I love you too." The sound of a gunshot echoed in the empty office, followed by the sound of a body hitting the floor, then a distant explosion, some people screaming, and one person clutching a body and shouting in pain from the top of their lungs as tears fell like lead balloons from their eyes. ~~~~ Hey, thanks for reading! Hopefully I'll be making more short stories! r/YottaVolte
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	I stare him down, the monster that I once thought as my best friend. He has a small, painfully hopeful smile on his lips, as if there is a way to talk his way back into my heart. “Why,” I growl out, soft and low, “Did you destroy EVERYTHING that I ever worked for?” The red-eyed man smiles, “Jakobi, I didn’t want to hurt you. This world... don’t you see that it needs to be reset? The humans have taken it so far—“ “You say human like I’m not one, Dakota.” I answer, my eyes drawn to the only scar that he has, “Maybe you’re too inhuman, but let me remind you something. Mankind has massacred this world and destroyed the original thing, but we’ve all known that it will stop. You don’t need to do it, none of us need to do it. Humans are selfish creatures, but they can be very selfless at times. We will all, those who don’t have the same attitude that you do, chose this world over our happiness or our lives.” Dakota laughs like this is just another of the small arguments we had as kids, “What if I say you weren’t born human, Jake, we can rewrite this world and you can finally remember what you are. We can fix the Earth!” I close my eyes, lowering my head. I speak as resigned as I feel, “Do you remember what you told me? Do you remember when I laughed at you when you said that I could kill you? That you’d truly die? I may have been born like you, or I may not have, but I am not like you. I’m human, or as human as I can be.” I open my eyes, my vision sharper. I walk forward has he backs into the wall. I feel a very sharp pain in my hand and look at it, finding claws in place of my nails. When he looks for an escape, I lunge to him. Like I’m faster than I ever was before, I cross over 5 feet in the blink of an eye. Still, we’re silent in a sort of battle of fear and necessity. I lock eyes with him, smiling slightly, “I just wanted a normal life with a normal family and you killed them. Best friends, huh? The only ones that can kill each other, destined for one to die at the other’s claw.” I dodge his frantic hit and land one of my own, nails piercing through his chest and crushing bone, pulling his heart out. I watch him slowly collapse to the ground and squeeze his heart in my hand, sighing. “No two things can change the world. You could have killed everything else and I would have been fine, but you took the ones I loved first. Burn in Hell, where we both belong.”	"Go on!" The beaten and defeated man kneeling before me shouted as he stared up into my eyes. "Do it!" He grabbed the barrel of my gun and pointed it square in his face. "Pull the trigger!" But, I just couldn't. Tears fell from my eyes as the winds whipped around the two of us. The distant sounds of explosions and people screaming rang deafly in my ears. My hand shook as I slowly lowered the gun barrel. "No!" The man shouted as he reaimed the barrel to his face. "It's easy! Just twitch your finger and pull!" His eyes were swelled with tears and centuries of emotions and memories. "You killed others with me plenty! Now, finish the job!" I stared at the man before I couldn't anymore. I turned my head and covered my mouth to hold back my gasps of pain. "I can't do it." "You have to, Travis," the man said, his soft fingers reaching up and caressing mine. "If you don't, it will be too late for you. For everyone here." I turned back to him as my breathing got heavier and shakier. "Why!?" I shouted in the meekest voice I could. "I've told you before, Travis. You know why." The man spoke, not with anger anymore or fear, but sadness and the pain of a thousand years of suffering. "Prove to me that love is stronger than anything. If you don't, then I'll move on to the next country. If you don't kill me now, then countless others will suffer." "What about my suffering!?" I could barely hold back my tears and I could feel my throat tightening. I still couldn't look him in the eyes. Those rich deep green eyes that held years of joy and pain. "What about Jonas, or Sarah, or Paulo?" The man took a deep sigh as the wind from a distant explosion stroked its fingers through his hair. "They are some of my best friends, but only you, Travis, are my BEST friend. You are-" "More than just my best friend. I know," I said, finishing his sentence as we had done many times before. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I put my finger on the trigger and waited there before finally taking it off. "I still can't do it." "Travis, you must." I could hear him stand up as he held my cheeks in the palm of his hand. "I'll die if you kill me." He turned my head to look deep in his eyes, and he in mine. "Only my most trusted friend can. Think about Jonas." "Don't you do this to me." My voice cracked as I shifted my eyes away from him. I gasped a few times, still holding back the flood of emotions. "I know you've liked him before I even stepped foot into you life," the man said, and I saw that gentle smile of his out of the corner of my eye. "Think about him. If you don't do this, then everything for you, for him, for them, is all over." He leaned in and gently kissed my cheek. "I love you, Travis." Slowly, he knelt back on the ground and aimed my gun towards him. Shakily, I forced myself to look at his handsome eyes one last time as the flood of tears bursts from mine. With the last of my strength, I managed to find my voice. "I love you too." The sound of a gunshot echoed in the empty office, followed by the sound of a body hitting the floor, then a distant explosion, some people screaming, and one person clutching a body and shouting in pain from the top of their lungs as tears fell like lead balloons from their eyes. ~~~~ Hey, thanks for reading! Hopefully I'll be making more short stories! r/YottaVolte
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	"I didn't want this!" I scream. "I never wanted this!" "You think I did?" Damian scoffs. "You think I wanted this?" He gestures to the destroyed landscape around us. What was once New York City is now little more than a crater. He didn't mean to do it. I know that. I've known Damian my whole life. He's always had anger issues, but he's always had a good heart too. Sometimes that isn't enough. Damian isn't a human, you see. Not totally. Neither of us are really sure what he is. What we do know is that he can't die. Not really. He's been stabbed, shot, poisoned, drowned, electrocuted, and beheaded. Every time, he came back. Everytime he came back, he was a little more apathetic. A little more powerful. This time, he'd been killed trying to save a girl from sex traffickers. When he came back, it was like a nuke had been detonated. I don't know how I survived. He and I aren't the same. I can't come back from death. At least, I don't think I can. Not something I'm really willing to try. That's when I realize something. Damian has never hurt me. Not on purpose or on accident. Not when his first Emergence caught our apartment on fire. Not when he lost his temper in a bar fight and struck me. Nothing has ever done has left so much as a scratch on me. Then I remember those words he told me so long ago. We were children. I don't know why he said them or how he knew. "I'll die if YOU kill me." I look up at my friend. "I don't want to do this," hot tears stream down my face. "It's the only way to- AAAARRRGH!" His skin glows red and a shockwave of heat and energy explodes out of him. It feels like a warm breeze to me, but turns the already blackened earth to glass. "You're the only one..." "Damian, you're my best friend!" "I know. I'm... so sorry." I look at the knife he gave me for my sixteenth birthday. Six inches long. Titanium with a tanto tip. He gave it to me right before our first camping trip with a wink saying "Just in case." A decade later and I've never been more than ten feet from it. I take a step forward. Memories flash through my mind. Pillow forts in my living room. Then real forts in the forest when we grew older. Summers by the bonfire. He was there at my mother's funeral. He was the best man at my wedding. He was the first person to hold my daughter after me and my wife. Another step. We joined the army together. Joined the Rangers together. Fought terrorists trying to occupy the Philippines together. Bled together. Cried together. I'm running now. We came home together. He never married. Never even dated. But he was always there for me. I never understood, but now I do. He knew what he was. Even back when we were children. He knew what he would do. He knew what any children he had would do. History will mark him as a villain. A monster that destroyed a city and killed millions. But I know what he is. He's more than a hero. More than my best friend. I plunge the knife into his chest as another explosion nearly rattles even me. Suddenly, the breathe goes out of him and he falls. I hold Damian in my arms. He's crying, but not out of pain. He hasn't felt pain in years. No. That's not true. He's felt a pain nobody will ever know. The pain of knowing what he was and what he would do. But these aren't tears of pain or fear or anger. They're tears of joy. "You're finally free," I tell him. "I... can see... your mom." His breathing is raspy and labored. I want to tell him to save his strength, but... for what? These are his final, truly final, moments. "We'll save you... and your dad... a seat at the... table. Take your... take your time." He puts a hand on my cheek and looks me in the eye. "Thank you." The breath goes out of him and he's still. His skin and muscles and bones all turn to ash and blow away in the wind. I don't know how long I sit there holding a handful of my best friend'sashes. Helicopters eventually fly over. I'm taken away. Brought to a hospital. There are questions. Endless questions. A small funeral is held for Damian. Not many show up. He didn't have many friends. Most of our old unit is gone. A few of the people he saved are there. They cry with me. Life goes on for the rest of us. I hold my daughter and my wife tighter from then on. The police or FBI or CIA took the knife. I never see it again, but that's fine. I don't think I'll need it anymore.	"Go on!" The beaten and defeated man kneeling before me shouted as he stared up into my eyes. "Do it!" He grabbed the barrel of my gun and pointed it square in his face. "Pull the trigger!" But, I just couldn't. Tears fell from my eyes as the winds whipped around the two of us. The distant sounds of explosions and people screaming rang deafly in my ears. My hand shook as I slowly lowered the gun barrel. "No!" The man shouted as he reaimed the barrel to his face. "It's easy! Just twitch your finger and pull!" His eyes were swelled with tears and centuries of emotions and memories. "You killed others with me plenty! Now, finish the job!" I stared at the man before I couldn't anymore. I turned my head and covered my mouth to hold back my gasps of pain. "I can't do it." "You have to, Travis," the man said, his soft fingers reaching up and caressing mine. "If you don't, it will be too late for you. For everyone here." I turned back to him as my breathing got heavier and shakier. "Why!?" I shouted in the meekest voice I could. "I've told you before, Travis. You know why." The man spoke, not with anger anymore or fear, but sadness and the pain of a thousand years of suffering. "Prove to me that love is stronger than anything. If you don't, then I'll move on to the next country. If you don't kill me now, then countless others will suffer." "What about my suffering!?" I could barely hold back my tears and I could feel my throat tightening. I still couldn't look him in the eyes. Those rich deep green eyes that held years of joy and pain. "What about Jonas, or Sarah, or Paulo?" The man took a deep sigh as the wind from a distant explosion stroked its fingers through his hair. "They are some of my best friends, but only you, Travis, are my BEST friend. You are-" "More than just my best friend. I know," I said, finishing his sentence as we had done many times before. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I put my finger on the trigger and waited there before finally taking it off. "I still can't do it." "Travis, you must." I could hear him stand up as he held my cheeks in the palm of his hand. "I'll die if you kill me." He turned my head to look deep in his eyes, and he in mine. "Only my most trusted friend can. Think about Jonas." "Don't you do this to me." My voice cracked as I shifted my eyes away from him. I gasped a few times, still holding back the flood of emotions. "I know you've liked him before I even stepped foot into you life," the man said, and I saw that gentle smile of his out of the corner of my eye. "Think about him. If you don't do this, then everything for you, for him, for them, is all over." He leaned in and gently kissed my cheek. "I love you, Travis." Slowly, he knelt back on the ground and aimed my gun towards him. Shakily, I forced myself to look at his handsome eyes one last time as the flood of tears bursts from mine. With the last of my strength, I managed to find my voice. "I love you too." The sound of a gunshot echoed in the empty office, followed by the sound of a body hitting the floor, then a distant explosion, some people screaming, and one person clutching a body and shouting in pain from the top of their lungs as tears fell like lead balloons from their eyes. ~~~~ Hey, thanks for reading! Hopefully I'll be making more short stories! r/YottaVolte
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	I stare him down, the monster that I once thought as my best friend. He has a small, painfully hopeful smile on his lips, as if there is a way to talk his way back into my heart. “Why,” I growl out, soft and low, “Did you destroy EVERYTHING that I ever worked for?” The red-eyed man smiles, “Jakobi, I didn’t want to hurt you. This world... don’t you see that it needs to be reset? The humans have taken it so far—“ “You say human like I’m not one, Dakota.” I answer, my eyes drawn to the only scar that he has, “Maybe you’re too inhuman, but let me remind you something. Mankind has massacred this world and destroyed the original thing, but we’ve all known that it will stop. You don’t need to do it, none of us need to do it. Humans are selfish creatures, but they can be very selfless at times. We will all, those who don’t have the same attitude that you do, chose this world over our happiness or our lives.” Dakota laughs like this is just another of the small arguments we had as kids, “What if I say you weren’t born human, Jake, we can rewrite this world and you can finally remember what you are. We can fix the Earth!” I close my eyes, lowering my head. I speak as resigned as I feel, “Do you remember what you told me? Do you remember when I laughed at you when you said that I could kill you? That you’d truly die? I may have been born like you, or I may not have, but I am not like you. I’m human, or as human as I can be.” I open my eyes, my vision sharper. I walk forward has he backs into the wall. I feel a very sharp pain in my hand and look at it, finding claws in place of my nails. When he looks for an escape, I lunge to him. Like I’m faster than I ever was before, I cross over 5 feet in the blink of an eye. Still, we’re silent in a sort of battle of fear and necessity. I lock eyes with him, smiling slightly, “I just wanted a normal life with a normal family and you killed them. Best friends, huh? The only ones that can kill each other, destined for one to die at the other’s claw.” I dodge his frantic hit and land one of my own, nails piercing through his chest and crushing bone, pulling his heart out. I watch him slowly collapse to the ground and squeeze his heart in my hand, sighing. “No two things can change the world. You could have killed everything else and I would have been fine, but you took the ones I loved first. Burn in Hell, where we both belong.”	My friend had died a few times. But every time, a day or two later, he always came back, to the point where I didn't even flinch the last time when I watched him get stabbed in the chest. Eventually, once I'd become accustomed to his immortality, we'd make jokes about it occasionally. One day, he'd made a casual remark. "Hey, I'll die if you kill me." I thought it was for a laugh. So I chuckled. I didn't actually find it very funny, but I didn't want to let him down on his joke. Now, today, I stood here, at the edge of a cliff, the perfect spot to watch the two armies fire at each other. He'd made us invisible to them. I turned to him. "Why?" "Because," he told me, "Humans were part of an experiment. We didn't want to get this far." "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He waved his hand in front of us, bringing up a holographic display by his sheer will. "Us, the eternals, created life," he began. The display was a full-color rendering of some algae floating on water's surface. "Over millennia, over eons, we carefully crafted different types of life, trying to create something with a will of its own." The display zoomed in on a single cell. "Many eternals didn't participate for a long time. They thought we were crazy, trying to create sentience from only matter and energy." The cell divided repeatedly, and the display zoomed out to match its growth. When fully zoomed out, the display now showed an ant instead of algae. "Now it's gotten out of hand," he said, gesturing at the display as it zoomed out further to encompass hundreds, thousands of species. A human was displayed the largest. "Some of the other eternals would disagree with me, saying you deserve to live as well. And in my time here, you're the only one I'd make that exception for. My only friend. And the rest of it?" He gestured out to the battlefield, bringing up a display of the death toll in the battle, rising and rising. "You can't. You won't. I won't let you," I told him firmly, and he raised his eyebrows. Then I remembered what he told me. "It's your choice," he said as if reading my thoughts. What I said next, I wanted to be bold and strong, but it came out as a whisper. "I'll kill you." He stepped towards me, wiping away the tear I didn't even know I'd shed. "If you kill me," he said, his voice uncharacteristically low now, "I'll stay dead." Just as the people out on the field were fighting a war that he'd pulled the strings to start, I was fighting my own war internally, also one of his design. Do I kill him? He conjured up a knife. "When I die, I'm not really destroyed. I simply return to my home, a place most humans would call the heavens..." He handed the knife to me, closing my hand around it. "But I will be gone. You won't see me again." My knuckles went white as I tightly gripped the knife, shaking. I grabbed his shoulder with one hand, and plunged the knife into his stomach with the other. He smiled, falling to the ground. I wept, setting him down. I let go of the knife, and in seconds, the body disintegrated, dust in the wind, the knife along with it. I looked to the battle below, half expecting it to end immediately. But it didn't. "Of course," I heard his voice from behind me. I spun around to see him, the eternal, standing by a tree. "The selfish decision. You've... Proven me right." I gave him the most blank stare as humanly possible. He'd befriended me. Deceived me. Betrayed me. And now he voided my actions. He smiled, and after I blinked, he was gone.
[WP] "I'll die if you kill me", your best friend once tells you. You laugh at it at the time, but when they turn out to be an immortal bent on destroying everything, you remember their words.	"I didn't want this!" I scream. "I never wanted this!" "You think I did?" Damian scoffs. "You think I wanted this?" He gestures to the destroyed landscape around us. What was once New York City is now little more than a crater. He didn't mean to do it. I know that. I've known Damian my whole life. He's always had anger issues, but he's always had a good heart too. Sometimes that isn't enough. Damian isn't a human, you see. Not totally. Neither of us are really sure what he is. What we do know is that he can't die. Not really. He's been stabbed, shot, poisoned, drowned, electrocuted, and beheaded. Every time, he came back. Everytime he came back, he was a little more apathetic. A little more powerful. This time, he'd been killed trying to save a girl from sex traffickers. When he came back, it was like a nuke had been detonated. I don't know how I survived. He and I aren't the same. I can't come back from death. At least, I don't think I can. Not something I'm really willing to try. That's when I realize something. Damian has never hurt me. Not on purpose or on accident. Not when his first Emergence caught our apartment on fire. Not when he lost his temper in a bar fight and struck me. Nothing has ever done has left so much as a scratch on me. Then I remember those words he told me so long ago. We were children. I don't know why he said them or how he knew. "I'll die if YOU kill me." I look up at my friend. "I don't want to do this," hot tears stream down my face. "It's the only way to- AAAARRRGH!" His skin glows red and a shockwave of heat and energy explodes out of him. It feels like a warm breeze to me, but turns the already blackened earth to glass. "You're the only one..." "Damian, you're my best friend!" "I know. I'm... so sorry." I look at the knife he gave me for my sixteenth birthday. Six inches long. Titanium with a tanto tip. He gave it to me right before our first camping trip with a wink saying "Just in case." A decade later and I've never been more than ten feet from it. I take a step forward. Memories flash through my mind. Pillow forts in my living room. Then real forts in the forest when we grew older. Summers by the bonfire. He was there at my mother's funeral. He was the best man at my wedding. He was the first person to hold my daughter after me and my wife. Another step. We joined the army together. Joined the Rangers together. Fought terrorists trying to occupy the Philippines together. Bled together. Cried together. I'm running now. We came home together. He never married. Never even dated. But he was always there for me. I never understood, but now I do. He knew what he was. Even back when we were children. He knew what he would do. He knew what any children he had would do. History will mark him as a villain. A monster that destroyed a city and killed millions. But I know what he is. He's more than a hero. More than my best friend. I plunge the knife into his chest as another explosion nearly rattles even me. Suddenly, the breathe goes out of him and he falls. I hold Damian in my arms. He's crying, but not out of pain. He hasn't felt pain in years. No. That's not true. He's felt a pain nobody will ever know. The pain of knowing what he was and what he would do. But these aren't tears of pain or fear or anger. They're tears of joy. "You're finally free," I tell him. "I... can see... your mom." His breathing is raspy and labored. I want to tell him to save his strength, but... for what? These are his final, truly final, moments. "We'll save you... and your dad... a seat at the... table. Take your... take your time." He puts a hand on my cheek and looks me in the eye. "Thank you." The breath goes out of him and he's still. His skin and muscles and bones all turn to ash and blow away in the wind. I don't know how long I sit there holding a handful of my best friend'sashes. Helicopters eventually fly over. I'm taken away. Brought to a hospital. There are questions. Endless questions. A small funeral is held for Damian. Not many show up. He didn't have many friends. Most of our old unit is gone. A few of the people he saved are there. They cry with me. Life goes on for the rest of us. I hold my daughter and my wife tighter from then on. The police or FBI or CIA took the knife. I never see it again, but that's fine. I don't think I'll need it anymore.	I still think back to that day. The day I killed my best friend. I wonder why she told me, I was the only one who could match her in combat, with magic or blade. She could have killed me in my sleep or hired assassins, perhaps she wanted to die? or she enjoyed the challenge of besting me in a fight to the death? Maybe she knew she had to be stopped or her subconscious did anyway? I don't remember the fight just waking in a healer's house, It must have been intense or my left arm would still work without hurting. What were her final moments like? Did she look up at me in shock as I stabbed her? Was she remorseful before I crushed her throat with magic? Maybe I electrocuted her to death too quickly for her to react. Did I draw it out? Break every bone in her body when she lay defeated? Torment her mind with dark magic? Did I rape her? Do things so horrific i purged them from my mind? Ill never know. I just wish I wasn't so goddamn alone.

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