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[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | "Citizen 32754, it has come to the Ministry of Correction's attention that you have exhausted your use to the state. Please proceed to your left to be dealt with accordingly." | The time for war had come. Once like them, Demetrius knew the refugees only wanted only to be left alone. A citizen now, Demetrius had his orders: kill the refugees. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | I always thought it would be the cockroaches or the cats. Our machines even, I would say, had you asked me 20 years ago. Then the raccoons took Reykjavik.
edit: changed that second sentence to better reflect the dependent clause. | The time for war had come. Once like them, Demetrius knew the refugees only wanted only to be left alone. A citizen now, Demetrius had his orders: kill the refugees. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | In, re-educated, out. In, re-educated, out. No repeat offenders. Tuesday, in, catastrophic failure. | The time for war had come. Once like them, Demetrius knew the refugees only wanted only to be left alone. A citizen now, Demetrius had his orders: kill the refugees. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | A young girl, mesmerized by the carnival, walks up to a game booth. "Bullseye!" she exclaims, gun in hand. Passersby cheer as blood flows down the elderly man's forehead. | The time for war had come. Once like them, Demetrius knew the refugees only wanted only to be left alone. A citizen now, Demetrius had his orders: kill the refugees. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | He was two days shy of his 40th birthday, and still a virgin. As a white man, he couldn't afford the 500% tax for a sex license. In fact, as a white man, he couldn't afford much of anything. | The time for war had come. Once like them, Demetrius knew the refugees only wanted only to be left alone. A citizen now, Demetrius had his orders: kill the refugees. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | The time for war had come. Once like them, Demetrius knew the refugees only wanted only to be left alone. A citizen now, Demetrius had his orders: kill the refugees. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | If only mother was here to enjoy the moonlight for the last time. Before the migration we would sit for hours under the stars. | I ran out of cash bribing the medic for Jim Kaiser’s eyes. I tried talking her down on his heart but she won’t budge. Dad will have to wait. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | Time there was, once; upon it the world turned. 'Evenfall' they called it - such a beautiful name for the end - where time just unravelled like a severed piece of string. | I ran out of cash bribing the medic for Jim Kaiser’s eyes. I tried talking her down on his heart but she won’t budge. Dad will have to wait. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | "Citizen 32754, it has come to the Ministry of Correction's attention that you have exhausted your use to the state. Please proceed to your left to be dealt with accordingly." | I ran out of cash bribing the medic for Jim Kaiser’s eyes. I tried talking her down on his heart but she won’t budge. Dad will have to wait. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | I always thought it would be the cockroaches or the cats. Our machines even, I would say, had you asked me 20 years ago. Then the raccoons took Reykjavik.
edit: changed that second sentence to better reflect the dependent clause. | I ran out of cash bribing the medic for Jim Kaiser’s eyes. I tried talking her down on his heart but she won’t budge. Dad will have to wait. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | A young girl, mesmerized by the carnival, walks up to a game booth. "Bullseye!" she exclaims, gun in hand. Passersby cheer as blood flows down the elderly man's forehead. | I ran out of cash bribing the medic for Jim Kaiser’s eyes. I tried talking her down on his heart but she won’t budge. Dad will have to wait. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | He was two days shy of his 40th birthday, and still a virgin. As a white man, he couldn't afford the 500% tax for a sex license. In fact, as a white man, he couldn't afford much of anything. | I ran out of cash bribing the medic for Jim Kaiser’s eyes. I tried talking her down on his heart but she won’t budge. Dad will have to wait. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | I ran out of cash bribing the medic for Jim Kaiser’s eyes. I tried talking her down on his heart but she won’t budge. Dad will have to wait. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | Time there was, once; upon it the world turned. 'Evenfall' they called it - such a beautiful name for the end - where time just unravelled like a severed piece of string. | 10-12-2024: Hunger pains for whole group now. Four days since the farmhouse. Josh is infected. Still no signs of wildlife. I miss hearing birdsongs. Four bullets left, only three after Josh. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | "Citizen 32754, it has come to the Ministry of Correction's attention that you have exhausted your use to the state. Please proceed to your left to be dealt with accordingly." | 10-12-2024: Hunger pains for whole group now. Four days since the farmhouse. Josh is infected. Still no signs of wildlife. I miss hearing birdsongs. Four bullets left, only three after Josh. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | I always thought it would be the cockroaches or the cats. Our machines even, I would say, had you asked me 20 years ago. Then the raccoons took Reykjavik.
edit: changed that second sentence to better reflect the dependent clause. | 10-12-2024: Hunger pains for whole group now. Four days since the farmhouse. Josh is infected. Still no signs of wildlife. I miss hearing birdsongs. Four bullets left, only three after Josh. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | A young girl, mesmerized by the carnival, walks up to a game booth. "Bullseye!" she exclaims, gun in hand. Passersby cheer as blood flows down the elderly man's forehead. | 10-12-2024: Hunger pains for whole group now. Four days since the farmhouse. Josh is infected. Still no signs of wildlife. I miss hearing birdsongs. Four bullets left, only three after Josh. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | He was two days shy of his 40th birthday, and still a virgin. As a white man, he couldn't afford the 500% tax for a sex license. In fact, as a white man, he couldn't afford much of anything. | 10-12-2024: Hunger pains for whole group now. Four days since the farmhouse. Josh is infected. Still no signs of wildlife. I miss hearing birdsongs. Four bullets left, only three after Josh. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | 10-12-2024: Hunger pains for whole group now. Four days since the farmhouse. Josh is infected. Still no signs of wildlife. I miss hearing birdsongs. Four bullets left, only three after Josh. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | "Citizen 32754, it has come to the Ministry of Correction's attention that you have exhausted your use to the state. Please proceed to your left to be dealt with accordingly." | We had congress again today. An alarm woke us when it was still dark out, weapons were shoved into our small hands, and the debate began with a loud bang. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | I always thought it would be the cockroaches or the cats. Our machines even, I would say, had you asked me 20 years ago. Then the raccoons took Reykjavik.
edit: changed that second sentence to better reflect the dependent clause. | We had congress again today. An alarm woke us when it was still dark out, weapons were shoved into our small hands, and the debate began with a loud bang. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | A young girl, mesmerized by the carnival, walks up to a game booth. "Bullseye!" she exclaims, gun in hand. Passersby cheer as blood flows down the elderly man's forehead. | We had congress again today. An alarm woke us when it was still dark out, weapons were shoved into our small hands, and the debate began with a loud bang. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | He was two days shy of his 40th birthday, and still a virgin. As a white man, he couldn't afford the 500% tax for a sex license. In fact, as a white man, he couldn't afford much of anything. | We had congress again today. An alarm woke us when it was still dark out, weapons were shoved into our small hands, and the debate began with a loud bang. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | We had congress again today. An alarm woke us when it was still dark out, weapons were shoved into our small hands, and the debate began with a loud bang. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | You woke up. You went to work. You kissed your wife. You did everything just like you always do. That was always going to be the plan. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | I guess I adjusted to the changes as well as anyone. The big things really didn’t matter – life goes on. But I miss the days when tap water was *cold.* | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | Time there was, once; upon it the world turned. 'Evenfall' they called it - such a beautiful name for the end - where time just unravelled like a severed piece of string. | If only mother was here to enjoy the moonlight for the last time. Before the migration we would sit for hours under the stars. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | "Citizen 32754, it has come to the Ministry of Correction's attention that you have exhausted your use to the state. Please proceed to your left to be dealt with accordingly." | If only mother was here to enjoy the moonlight for the last time. Before the migration we would sit for hours under the stars. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | I always thought it would be the cockroaches or the cats. Our machines even, I would say, had you asked me 20 years ago. Then the raccoons took Reykjavik.
edit: changed that second sentence to better reflect the dependent clause. | If only mother was here to enjoy the moonlight for the last time. Before the migration we would sit for hours under the stars. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | A young girl, mesmerized by the carnival, walks up to a game booth. "Bullseye!" she exclaims, gun in hand. Passersby cheer as blood flows down the elderly man's forehead. | If only mother was here to enjoy the moonlight for the last time. Before the migration we would sit for hours under the stars. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | He was two days shy of his 40th birthday, and still a virgin. As a white man, he couldn't afford the 500% tax for a sex license. In fact, as a white man, he couldn't afford much of anything. | If only mother was here to enjoy the moonlight for the last time. Before the migration we would sit for hours under the stars. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | If only mother was here to enjoy the moonlight for the last time. Before the migration we would sit for hours under the stars. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | I always thought it would be the cockroaches or the cats. Our machines even, I would say, had you asked me 20 years ago. Then the raccoons took Reykjavik.
edit: changed that second sentence to better reflect the dependent clause. | Time there was, once; upon it the world turned. 'Evenfall' they called it - such a beautiful name for the end - where time just unravelled like a severed piece of string. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | A young girl, mesmerized by the carnival, walks up to a game booth. "Bullseye!" she exclaims, gun in hand. Passersby cheer as blood flows down the elderly man's forehead. | Time there was, once; upon it the world turned. 'Evenfall' they called it - such a beautiful name for the end - where time just unravelled like a severed piece of string. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | He was two days shy of his 40th birthday, and still a virgin. As a white man, he couldn't afford the 500% tax for a sex license. In fact, as a white man, he couldn't afford much of anything. | Time there was, once; upon it the world turned. 'Evenfall' they called it - such a beautiful name for the end - where time just unravelled like a severed piece of string. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | Time there was, once; upon it the world turned. 'Evenfall' they called it - such a beautiful name for the end - where time just unravelled like a severed piece of string. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | "Citizen 32754, it has come to the Ministry of Correction's attention that you have exhausted your use to the state. Please proceed to your left to be dealt with accordingly." | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | In, re-educated, out. In, re-educated, out. No repeat offenders. Tuesday, in, catastrophic failure. | As I step out into the morning air, my instinct tells me "it's good to be alive."
Yet... I know for a fact that it isn't.
EDITED: Because I'm tired and part of it didn't make sense :P | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | A young girl, mesmerized by the carnival, walks up to a game booth. "Bullseye!" she exclaims, gun in hand. Passersby cheer as blood flows down the elderly man's forehead. | As I step out into the morning air, my instinct tells me "it's good to be alive."
Yet... I know for a fact that it isn't.
EDITED: Because I'm tired and part of it didn't make sense :P | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | The street outside didn't know where I was and neither did my house.
A Google social engineer would be here to address the problem in the next 10 minutes. | As I step out into the morning air, my instinct tells me "it's good to be alive."
Yet... I know for a fact that it isn't.
EDITED: Because I'm tired and part of it didn't make sense :P | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | He was two days shy of his 40th birthday, and still a virgin. As a white man, he couldn't afford the 500% tax for a sex license. In fact, as a white man, he couldn't afford much of anything. | As I step out into the morning air, my instinct tells me "it's good to be alive."
Yet... I know for a fact that it isn't.
EDITED: Because I'm tired and part of it didn't make sense :P | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | As I step out into the morning air, my instinct tells me "it's good to be alive."
Yet... I know for a fact that it isn't.
EDITED: Because I'm tired and part of it didn't make sense :P | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | A young girl, mesmerized by the carnival, walks up to a game booth. "Bullseye!" she exclaims, gun in hand. Passersby cheer as blood flows down the elderly man's forehead. | I always thought it would be the cockroaches or the cats. Our machines even, I would say, had you asked me 20 years ago. Then the raccoons took Reykjavik.
edit: changed that second sentence to better reflect the dependent clause. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | I always thought it would be the cockroaches or the cats. Our machines even, I would say, had you asked me 20 years ago. Then the raccoons took Reykjavik.
edit: changed that second sentence to better reflect the dependent clause. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | A young girl, mesmerized by the carnival, walks up to a game booth. "Bullseye!" she exclaims, gun in hand. Passersby cheer as blood flows down the elderly man's forehead. | "What does my inner voice tell me?" Oswald smiled slightly, repeating back the counselor's question.
"Yes," he continued. "There is a 'something' in my head. But it doesn't talk." | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | Morrison walked down into the subway, boarded the train, heading for his nine to five. He passed by an old woman, moaning in pain on the ground. Wasn't his problem. | "What does my inner voice tell me?" Oswald smiled slightly, repeating back the counselor's question.
"Yes," he continued. "There is a 'something' in my head. But it doesn't talk." | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | You know what I noticed about the apocalypse? Same as Vincent Vega noticed about Europe. The little things. It didn’t come all at once. The apocalypse was super gradual. | "What does my inner voice tell me?" Oswald smiled slightly, repeating back the counselor's question.
"Yes," he continued. "There is a 'something' in my head. But it doesn't talk." | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | The street outside didn't know where I was and neither did my house.
A Google social engineer would be here to address the problem in the next 10 minutes. | "What does my inner voice tell me?" Oswald smiled slightly, repeating back the counselor's question.
"Yes," he continued. "There is a 'something' in my head. But it doesn't talk." | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | He was two days shy of his 40th birthday, and still a virgin. As a white man, he couldn't afford the 500% tax for a sex license. In fact, as a white man, he couldn't afford much of anything. | "What does my inner voice tell me?" Oswald smiled slightly, repeating back the counselor's question.
"Yes," he continued. "There is a 'something' in my head. But it doesn't talk." | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | "What does my inner voice tell me?" Oswald smiled slightly, repeating back the counselor's question.
"Yes," he continued. "There is a 'something' in my head. But it doesn't talk." | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | A young girl, mesmerized by the carnival, walks up to a game booth. "Bullseye!" she exclaims, gun in hand. Passersby cheer as blood flows down the elderly man's forehead. | In, re-educated, out. In, re-educated, out. No repeat offenders. Tuesday, in, catastrophic failure. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | He was two days shy of his 40th birthday, and still a virgin. As a white man, he couldn't afford the 500% tax for a sex license. In fact, as a white man, he couldn't afford much of anything. | In, re-educated, out. In, re-educated, out. No repeat offenders. Tuesday, in, catastrophic failure. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | In, re-educated, out. In, re-educated, out. No repeat offenders. Tuesday, in, catastrophic failure. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | A young girl, mesmerized by the carnival, walks up to a game booth. "Bullseye!" she exclaims, gun in hand. Passersby cheer as blood flows down the elderly man's forehead. | A part of my brain is telling me it's been too long since I last went outside. The clock on my monitor is telling me it's only been twenty minutes. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | Morrison walked down into the subway, boarded the train, heading for his nine to five. He passed by an old woman, moaning in pain on the ground. Wasn't his problem. | A part of my brain is telling me it's been too long since I last went outside. The clock on my monitor is telling me it's only been twenty minutes. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | You know what I noticed about the apocalypse? Same as Vincent Vega noticed about Europe. The little things. It didn’t come all at once. The apocalypse was super gradual. | A part of my brain is telling me it's been too long since I last went outside. The clock on my monitor is telling me it's only been twenty minutes. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | The street outside didn't know where I was and neither did my house.
A Google social engineer would be here to address the problem in the next 10 minutes. | A part of my brain is telling me it's been too long since I last went outside. The clock on my monitor is telling me it's only been twenty minutes. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | He was two days shy of his 40th birthday, and still a virgin. As a white man, he couldn't afford the 500% tax for a sex license. In fact, as a white man, he couldn't afford much of anything. | A part of my brain is telling me it's been too long since I last went outside. The clock on my monitor is telling me it's only been twenty minutes. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | I was beginning to suspect. We all were, ever since the lights went out. They came back, but our trust didn't. They never told us why. That was their mistake. | A part of my brain is telling me it's been too long since I last went outside. The clock on my monitor is telling me it's only been twenty minutes. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | A part of my brain is telling me it's been too long since I last went outside. The clock on my monitor is telling me it's only been twenty minutes. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | The raindrops crash against my windowpane. Yet when I look outside the fire is still burning. | A part of my brain is telling me it's been too long since I last went outside. The clock on my monitor is telling me it's only been twenty minutes. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | A young girl, mesmerized by the carnival, walks up to a game booth. "Bullseye!" she exclaims, gun in hand. Passersby cheer as blood flows down the elderly man's forehead. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | You know what I noticed about the apocalypse? Same as Vincent Vega noticed about Europe. The little things. It didn’t come all at once. The apocalypse was super gradual. | Morrison walked down into the subway, boarded the train, heading for his nine to five. He passed by an old woman, moaning in pain on the ground. Wasn't his problem. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | The street outside didn't know where I was and neither did my house.
A Google social engineer would be here to address the problem in the next 10 minutes. | Morrison walked down into the subway, boarded the train, heading for his nine to five. He passed by an old woman, moaning in pain on the ground. Wasn't his problem. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | He was two days shy of his 40th birthday, and still a virgin. As a white man, he couldn't afford the 500% tax for a sex license. In fact, as a white man, he couldn't afford much of anything. | Morrison walked down into the subway, boarded the train, heading for his nine to five. He passed by an old woman, moaning in pain on the ground. Wasn't his problem. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | Morrison walked down into the subway, boarded the train, heading for his nine to five. He passed by an old woman, moaning in pain on the ground. Wasn't his problem. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | The street outside didn't know where I was and neither did my house.
A Google social engineer would be here to address the problem in the next 10 minutes. | You know what I noticed about the apocalypse? Same as Vincent Vega noticed about Europe. The little things. It didn’t come all at once. The apocalypse was super gradual. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | He was two days shy of his 40th birthday, and still a virgin. As a white man, he couldn't afford the 500% tax for a sex license. In fact, as a white man, he couldn't afford much of anything. | You know what I noticed about the apocalypse? Same as Vincent Vega noticed about Europe. The little things. It didn’t come all at once. The apocalypse was super gradual. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | You know what I noticed about the apocalypse? Same as Vincent Vega noticed about Europe. The little things. It didn’t come all at once. The apocalypse was super gradual. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | He was two days shy of his 40th birthday, and still a virgin. As a white man, he couldn't afford the 500% tax for a sex license. In fact, as a white man, he couldn't afford much of anything. | The street outside didn't know where I was and neither did my house.
A Google social engineer would be here to address the problem in the next 10 minutes. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | The street outside didn't know where I was and neither did my house.
A Google social engineer would be here to address the problem in the next 10 minutes. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | He was two days shy of his 40th birthday, and still a virgin. As a white man, he couldn't afford the 500% tax for a sex license. In fact, as a white man, he couldn't afford much of anything. | |
[FF] In under 30 words, write an enticing start to a novel establishing a dystopian society | *Everyone* smiled and merrily went about their way. Streets were clean. No violence. No illness. Everyone *always* smiled.
I rubbed my eyes. *Something... something's—*.
A twitch.
I smiled. | I was beginning to suspect. We all were, ever since the lights went out. They came back, but our trust didn't. They never told us why. That was their mistake. | |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | Thomas' glazed, crazed eyes stared intently at the glowing oven.
He enjoyed the way it glowed; the warmth it offered.
More notably, he enjoyed watching the small, panicked figure scramble from within on the searing oven rack.
The audio of a burning kitten sounded throughout the messy kitchen, causing Thomas to smile drunkenly. | Leon wasn't a racist.
He was just tired of political correctness.
They were just going to hire him for diversity, anyways.
So it was justified enough for him to lose a bit of the paperwork. |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | "Karen..."
His nasally voice smacked with all the sweet molasses of a worn out vinyl record playing through a downspout full of diarrhea.
Karen gritted her teeth, smoothed back her bangs, and turned to face the bloated assistant manager with lips that reminded her of a prolapsed asshole.
"Bend over again, you know how much I enjoy peeking up your skirt." | Leon wasn't a racist.
He was just tired of political correctness.
They were just going to hire him for diversity, anyways.
So it was justified enough for him to lose a bit of the paperwork. |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | Paul found the formula online.
He mixed the chemicals in his dorm-room.
Laying in bed that night, he was so excited he could hardly sleep.
The next morning her beautiful smile would be ruined forever. | Leon wasn't a racist.
He was just tired of political correctness.
They were just going to hire him for diversity, anyways.
So it was justified enough for him to lose a bit of the paperwork. |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | "Darling," she spoke down her nose to me as always, "I told you thousand times if I told you the once, there are no pets allowed in this building."
"I know, Mrs Lloyd, I just had to look after my sister's dog for a week while she's in hospital. Where did you leave him?"
"I didn't leave him anywhere, my boy; he was *against the rules*, so he went in the furnace, and you can thank me for not taking it any further." | Leon wasn't a racist.
He was just tired of political correctness.
They were just going to hire him for diversity, anyways.
So it was justified enough for him to lose a bit of the paperwork. |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | Nathan was finishing up his normal routine.
He looked down at the girl, no older than 19, trying to struggle for the last breath that will never come.
"Thanks, I really enjoyed myself", he said, as he casually picked up the money he previously left on the table and gingerly walked out the door.
With a spring in his step, he knew that today was shaping up to be a good day. | Leon wasn't a racist.
He was just tired of political correctness.
They were just going to hire him for diversity, anyways.
So it was justified enough for him to lose a bit of the paperwork. |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | "Hi, I'm a tumblr feminist." | Leon wasn't a racist.
He was just tired of political correctness.
They were just going to hire him for diversity, anyways.
So it was justified enough for him to lose a bit of the paperwork. |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | Thomas' glazed, crazed eyes stared intently at the glowing oven.
He enjoyed the way it glowed; the warmth it offered.
More notably, he enjoyed watching the small, panicked figure scramble from within on the searing oven rack.
The audio of a burning kitten sounded throughout the messy kitchen, causing Thomas to smile drunkenly. | Grand Prophet Michael could not understand the peoples’ aversion to him. Did they not see that he was here to save them, even from themselves? Sighing, he buries his disappointment and nods to his soldiers, which have their rifles pointing at a crowd of men, women, and children. “Open fire.” |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | "Karen..."
His nasally voice smacked with all the sweet molasses of a worn out vinyl record playing through a downspout full of diarrhea.
Karen gritted her teeth, smoothed back her bangs, and turned to face the bloated assistant manager with lips that reminded her of a prolapsed asshole.
"Bend over again, you know how much I enjoy peeking up your skirt." | Grand Prophet Michael could not understand the peoples’ aversion to him. Did they not see that he was here to save them, even from themselves? Sighing, he buries his disappointment and nods to his soldiers, which have their rifles pointing at a crowd of men, women, and children. “Open fire.” |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | Paul found the formula online.
He mixed the chemicals in his dorm-room.
Laying in bed that night, he was so excited he could hardly sleep.
The next morning her beautiful smile would be ruined forever. | Grand Prophet Michael could not understand the peoples’ aversion to him. Did they not see that he was here to save them, even from themselves? Sighing, he buries his disappointment and nods to his soldiers, which have their rifles pointing at a crowd of men, women, and children. “Open fire.” |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | "Darling," she spoke down her nose to me as always, "I told you thousand times if I told you the once, there are no pets allowed in this building."
"I know, Mrs Lloyd, I just had to look after my sister's dog for a week while she's in hospital. Where did you leave him?"
"I didn't leave him anywhere, my boy; he was *against the rules*, so he went in the furnace, and you can thank me for not taking it any further." | Grand Prophet Michael could not understand the peoples’ aversion to him. Did they not see that he was here to save them, even from themselves? Sighing, he buries his disappointment and nods to his soldiers, which have their rifles pointing at a crowd of men, women, and children. “Open fire.” |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | Nathan was finishing up his normal routine.
He looked down at the girl, no older than 19, trying to struggle for the last breath that will never come.
"Thanks, I really enjoyed myself", he said, as he casually picked up the money he previously left on the table and gingerly walked out the door.
With a spring in his step, he knew that today was shaping up to be a good day. | Grand Prophet Michael could not understand the peoples’ aversion to him. Did they not see that he was here to save them, even from themselves? Sighing, he buries his disappointment and nods to his soldiers, which have their rifles pointing at a crowd of men, women, and children. “Open fire.” |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | Thomas' glazed, crazed eyes stared intently at the glowing oven.
He enjoyed the way it glowed; the warmth it offered.
More notably, he enjoyed watching the small, panicked figure scramble from within on the searing oven rack.
The audio of a burning kitten sounded throughout the messy kitchen, causing Thomas to smile drunkenly. | "...so you really are just a two pump chump."
Maxwell rolled off the club-girl like toppings off of a clumsily made [taco.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vQVLM7BUwQ) "I could have done it in three," he said, [smacking his lips](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeicjDR5sPE) with the voice of a [scaled fish writhing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2StagKqy0M) in a bag of suction cups.
As she rolled away in disgust, he admired her shoulder blades, and nearly came again thinking of how her [lungs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_eagle) would look flopping uselessly below them. |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | "Karen..."
His nasally voice smacked with all the sweet molasses of a worn out vinyl record playing through a downspout full of diarrhea.
Karen gritted her teeth, smoothed back her bangs, and turned to face the bloated assistant manager with lips that reminded her of a prolapsed asshole.
"Bend over again, you know how much I enjoy peeking up your skirt." | "...so you really are just a two pump chump."
Maxwell rolled off the club-girl like toppings off of a clumsily made [taco.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vQVLM7BUwQ) "I could have done it in three," he said, [smacking his lips](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeicjDR5sPE) with the voice of a [scaled fish writhing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2StagKqy0M) in a bag of suction cups.
As she rolled away in disgust, he admired her shoulder blades, and nearly came again thinking of how her [lungs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_eagle) would look flopping uselessly below them. |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | Thomas' glazed, crazed eyes stared intently at the glowing oven.
He enjoyed the way it glowed; the warmth it offered.
More notably, he enjoyed watching the small, panicked figure scramble from within on the searing oven rack.
The audio of a burning kitten sounded throughout the messy kitchen, causing Thomas to smile drunkenly. | "Why do I kill?" I ask myself every morning, staring blankly into the mirror.
It's not for the money, I make plenty as a computer scientist.
It's not for revenge, or some great cause.
I kill because.... It's fun. |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | "Karen..."
His nasally voice smacked with all the sweet molasses of a worn out vinyl record playing through a downspout full of diarrhea.
Karen gritted her teeth, smoothed back her bangs, and turned to face the bloated assistant manager with lips that reminded her of a prolapsed asshole.
"Bend over again, you know how much I enjoy peeking up your skirt." | "Why do I kill?" I ask myself every morning, staring blankly into the mirror.
It's not for the money, I make plenty as a computer scientist.
It's not for revenge, or some great cause.
I kill because.... It's fun. |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | "Karen..."
His nasally voice smacked with all the sweet molasses of a worn out vinyl record playing through a downspout full of diarrhea.
Karen gritted her teeth, smoothed back her bangs, and turned to face the bloated assistant manager with lips that reminded her of a prolapsed asshole.
"Bend over again, you know how much I enjoy peeking up your skirt." | My seething rage boiled over the duct-tape in my mouth tied so tightly it turned my forehead a bright red.
My screams were muffled and inaudible, yet I persisted with every breath I had.
He finally turned around, the smug little smile I'd had seen like the back of my hand had never looked so sinister.
"No one will ever believe you, not even your family; everything is over and the only one to blame is yourself." |
The sentences can be in any format you choose. All up to you. go wild. | [FF] Create an antagonist, and make me hate that antagonist in 4 sentences or less. | "Darling," she spoke down her nose to me as always, "I told you thousand times if I told you the once, there are no pets allowed in this building."
"I know, Mrs Lloyd, I just had to look after my sister's dog for a week while she's in hospital. Where did you leave him?"
"I didn't leave him anywhere, my boy; he was *against the rules*, so he went in the furnace, and you can thank me for not taking it any further." | Paul found the formula online.
He mixed the chemicals in his dorm-room.
Laying in bed that night, he was so excited he could hardly sleep.
The next morning her beautiful smile would be ruined forever. |
[WP] Aliens have begun to invade Earth, but they aren't at all as intelligent as they are chalked up to be. | "General, the feed is up. Colonel James is live from Nevada."
"Thank you, Private."
It was 02:04 in Washington DC, and despite being roused from sleep only twenty minutes ago, General Henley was as wide and alert as could be.
What was happening in Nevada had been a long time coming. NASA had been tracking the capsule's trajectory for 19 months now, and there was no doubt in anyone's - anyone who was in the know - mind that intelligent life forms were inside. It was being *steered*, and strange radio signals had been detected coming from its coordinates.
It had been mostly gibberish, so far as any human could understand, but they had heard… *laughter*. Laughter, and a few select *English words.* So far, they had heard things like *wet, shake, slimy,* and, the most unsettling, *destroy.*
Henley had been contacted as soon as that final word had come through.
Now it was time. Finally, it was time to learn whether this first of alien encounters was to be the beginning of interstellar peace, or war.
He was a soldier, and it was his job to prepare for the latter.
"James, talk to me."
"Good morning, General. I'll skip today's niceties. They are extremely hostile."
"Hostile!? Goddam it, James talk to me. Casualties? Damage Report! Have you initiated DEFCON?"
"There is no need for DEPCON, sir. I think we'll be okay. One casualty, non-critical."
Something was wrong. James was a professional, like himself. Why the casual style? Could it be..?
Henley let himself appear bewildered, and took the opportunity to blink, in Morse: "Compulsion?"
In reply, James laughed. "No, no, nothing like that, General. I'm - *ha, ha, ha, ha!*" He started laughing, as if someone had started to tickle him.
Losing patience, Henley boomed into the telecom speaker: "Need I remind you of the officer's rank to whom you speak, James! I'll have you court-marshalled if you don't smarten the f-"
"Sorry! Sorry, General. It's just, *ha, ha!*, it's just you won't *believe* this! Look, I have one of them right here. He's "attacking" me," James adjusted the camera on his end, angling it up.
If Henley had had a cigar in his mouth, it would have tumbled out. On top of Colonel James' head was a strange… furry… *thing.* It was growling and yelling in a squeaky, guttural voice. It seemed to be laughing, too.
Held high above its head was a…
"James, is that… is that thing sprinkling salt on you?"
"Yes! Listen to him!" James looked up at the strange creature dancing on his head, who was shaking out a very average-looking salt shaker with a warrior's zeal and triumph. James pointed at the camera, and said "GENERAL," to the creature.
It stopped it's attack, looked into the camera and asked James, "In charrrrge?!"
James nodded. With a whoop, the furry thing shouldered its weapon and began to crawl down James' face. It missed it's footing at about his nose, and clung to the Colonel's nostrils as it kicked, searching for a foothold. James protruded his own lips, helping the creature out.
It reacted to the help: "Ohhh! Thanku! Killeeoo Last, Slimy weak one!"
The thing ran up the the camera, looking right into it. It reminded Henley of an Ewok from Star Wars.
"Ohhh! We cam for yooo, weak slime! More than haff water?? We will keel you DEDD! SALTY DRY YOO UPP, WEEK SLIMES!!!"
They thing proceeded to whoop, dance and laugh in a strange dance. It gestured threateningly with its salt shaker into the camera at intervals, throughout.
"Okay buddy, I need to talk with the General again," Colonel James picked up his foe and set him down again upon his head. Henley faintly heard the warrior cry out: *"Tamed this TOOPID wet human! Hahaha! Slave of me!!"*
Henley sat there watching the dancing creature for another few seconds before saying, "James, that was the absolute darndest thing I have ever seen in my life. What the hell is going on over there?"
"Apparently they learned that we are, as we are - let's give them some credit - composed of primarily water. They really ran with this, and concluded that they could salt us to death." The Colonel pursed his lips.
Henley just nodded numbly, "Wow."
"Yeah, it's not the most thorough analysis of an enemy's weakness. No need for DEFCON, I'd say."
"No, Colonel, no need at all. You said there was one casualty?"
"One of our staff wears contact lenses, some salt got in there."
"Ouch."
"Yeah, he'll be fine, though."
General Henley pointed up at the growing pile of salt on James' head, "Don't let him push you around, Colonel."
"Yessir, I don't know how much longer I can withstand this *aSALT*."
There was silence on the feed for a few seconds.
"That was terrible." | The first unusual thing about the day was the smoke, a light fog with a burning smell. My curiosity defeated my laziness and I went outside, where I saw desperate people running and screaming, sirens, ambulances, police and fire trucks. I began to sweat and I felt the adrenaline. People that lived in New York know this feeling. ''Did we get attacked again?'' I thought. The police instructed us to go back. I returned home with a sick feeling in my stomach, and turned on the t.v.
BREAKING NEWS: A U.F.O HAS CRASHED UPSTATE NEW YORK
The unidentified object does not seem to be from earth
No human casualties
Remains found on board of the ship
Remains do NOT seems to be from human origin
2.5 billion in damages
Public outraged
Riots in New York
Space ship seemed to have crashed as soon as it passed our ozone layers
Scientists speculate the aliens did not foresee gravity
Obama stated there is no further security risk and advices people to go back to their normal routine
| |
[WP] Every Tuesday an old, slightly crazed man runs into your shop and asks for the year, before walking out in disappointment. This has been going on for years, until yesterday. | My father used to tell me stories about my great-grandfather opening this deli. 1926, he immigrated from Germany to open Eckheart's Deli. Since then it's become something of a fixture in the neighborhood, due in no small part to the generations of Huber's staffing it, a straight line from my great grandfather to me.
We make sandwiches, sell meat, butchery and coffee. We're not famous by any stretch, but we do have our regulars from around the neighborhood. Carol comes in for beef roast and pork tenderloin on wednesdays, usually about 2 pounds each, and a cup of coffee to drink while she tells anyone who will listen stories of her children. Jerry comes in around lunchtime once a week for a date with his wife, roast beef with mayo and a side of comments about his blood pressure. The oddest, though, is Ben. Ben's a good guy, always comes in on Tuesday and orders the house Reuben. Only thing we dont make ourselves for that, by the by, is the bread, and only because we got a deal with Tommy down the road. His bakery supplies all our breads, and you won't find better.
Anyways. Ben comes in every teusday and, like clockwork, asks what year it is. I tell him, every Tuesday for all 23 years I worked here, I've told him. Every time, he just looks a bit down when I do, orders his reuben and a coffee and eats it while he writes in this notebook he carries around. Sometimes people try to chat with him, but it doesn't last. Usually after a few sentences he starts to get kinda distracted, starts writing in his notebook again pretty soon after. My wife says it's probably OCD, but she also thinks she has whatever the new disease the people on the news talk about, even if seven people in the world have the damn thing.
Yesterday Ben comes in, middle of August, and asks me what year it is, same as last week. I tell him, and he does a kind of double-take. I ask him, "You gonna try somethin' new today, buddy?" I tell him, our sausage rolls are the best in town, great graddad's recipe and all, and he sort of looks at me for a second, then just says "Sure, and a coffee, please." I make his sandwich, he takes it and he sits down and just watches the door while he eats.
He's about halfway through his sausage roll when this lady walks through the door. Business type, wearing a pantsuit, has a leather purse, glasses, bun, the whole nine yards. She comes over and asks me for a roast turkey on rye, cheddar cheese and extra hot mustard, so I know she's got good taste. I get her sandwich ready, and when I finish, I see she's sitting with Ben. Just talking with him. I don't think I've ever seen Ben carry on a conversation past about five sentences. I give her the sandwich, and I see Ben's face, and I remember realizing that I'd never seen him smile before. After that, they stay for a good while. Three, four hours easy. I didn't really listen to anything they were saying, I don't eavesdrop, but after while, after Gary's wife Amelia (she doesn't like it when you call her Amy, something about one of her husband's exes) came to get some stew bones, I saw this lady holding Ben's hand, and he has the saddest smile I've ever seen.
This lady, she starts crying real quietly, and I hear her say something about not being there for him, and Ben just shakes his head. "You're here now, I don't want to lose you again." he says. I tried to ignore 'em, but you know how it is. I wasn't gonna leave the counter, and I'll admit, I was curious. She says to him "Ben, I'm sorry it took me so long. I'm not going to go back this time--" and Ben just smiles and says to her "I decided a long time ago." I notice his cheeks are damp too, and he's squeezing her hand. He says "I want to go with you. I should have agreed when you asked me 30 years ago, but I...well, I didn't realize that I was in love. By the time I did, you'd already left, and I didn't know how to reach you and...I read up on what you are. I tried to find you, to get some kind of message to you, but it didn't go through. I was missing something, but I can't remember what, and ever since I've been waiting and trying to keep everything straight while I waited. I've never lost faith in you, though, I knew you'd come back, the books all said every thirty years, when Saturn is--" She put a finger on his lips. She was smiling again, and she says "You'll really come with me?" Ben just nods. She stands up and says "Then follow me, I'll take you home," and she starts walking out the door.
Ben scribbles something on a napkin before he gets up and he goes out after her. I watch them walk off to the right, and a few seconds after I lose sight of them, I see a flash of blue light. By the time I get out from behind the counter and out the door they're gone. Not in the alleyway, not in any of the stores nearby, just gone. I go back inside, over to their table and see that napkin Ben was scribbling on. He wrote 'Thanks for the sandwiches. Thanks for keeping my dates in line. -Ben' | “Nick get over here and mop up the mess Mr. Jackson made in aisle 4.”
“I don’t get it, he comes in here every single day for a gallon of milk, and today just decides to throw it on the ground. What does he need an entire gallon for every day, anyway? He has no wife, or kids, lives alone… What does he do, drink nothing but White Russians all day every day?”
“I don’t know, nor do I care. He pays your paycheck by coming in here and doing that, so quit your griping and go grab the mop before the nutjob comes in here and slips. If he sues, it’ll be your ass that’s paying him, not mine.”
“Alright, Joe, calm your tits…”
“What did you say?!”
“Nothing! Just trying to remember where I put the mop!”
Joe went back to restocking the cereal aisle, just waiting. Aside from the old coots dropped milk, today was going just like any other day. Mark had come in first for his 12 pack and smokes, then Jane and Sandy their morning coffee, followed by Mr. Jackson in all his milky glory. Sure, the old guys addiction of the lactose persuasion was strange, but it had nothing on the crazy raver that comes in next.
The guy showed up at 9:43 AM every day. Every. Single. Day. Not a minute late, or a minute early too. No matter what, the hands on the clock always read 9:43. He’d come flying through the doors, run straight to the register, hair all catawampus with sweat rolling down his face. Sometimes his glasses would go sliding across the floor as he pushed through the door, I’d actually seen them go crunch underneath his shoes a few times. The guy was always dressed in a lab coat, with some kind of funky tie loosely wrapped reaching nearly his knees. The guy was a shining example of your storybook mad scientist.
He’d been coming by for close to 6 years now, and had not once bought anything. He’d just make this huge commotion, running in, making a mad dash for the register, where he would spit out the same question every day.
“What year is it?!”
Just like Robin Williams in Jumanji; replace the jungle leaves attire with a dirty stained lab coat and you’ve got this nutjob.
Joe glanced at the clock to see if he should start moving towards the front of the store. The guy was mostly harmless, but it was best to get his little scene finished as quickly as possible. Weirdo’s tend to scare away customers.
It was now 9:44.
Nothing. Joe was a more than slightly perplexed. The guy was NEVER late. And with all of his typical commotion, the guy was hard to miss. No way he’d already come and gone, he’d never left before without asking his weird ass question.
“Hey Nick, you see the Doctor yet?”
“Is it that time already? Naw man, I haven’t seen him yet.”
“Well I’ll be damned. He’s a no-show today. Never happened before.”
“Maybe he did it finally, pulled a Doc Brown and vamoosed. He was always so disappointed whenever we’d answer him. It’d be a fitting end to find out the old coot actually pulled it off.”
“Keep your daydreams to yourself, Nicky boy. Probably wound up getting committed or something. Quit your yammering and get that mess cleaned up before some sane person winds up slipping and cracking their head.”
"...fine, ya prick."
"What was that?"
"Nothing!"
| |
[WP] Every Tuesday an old, slightly crazed man runs into your shop and asks for the year, before walking out in disappointment. This has been going on for years, until yesterday. | It's Tuesday. I'm craving nicotine. Usually I take a smoke after ''Doc'' comes in at 12:25 asking for the god damn year. It's 12:48 and he still hasn't shown up. Every day for almost 3 years this has happened, and the pathetic thing is, I still work here. I know he lives only 2 houses down the street from the store. 'Should I visit him?' I thought. 'Nah, I'll only embarrass myself visiting a crazy old man'.
It's Tuesday. It has been 2 weeks since I last saw ''Doc''. I decided to quit my job 4 days ago, I can't work in retail my entire life, I think I have a little more potential than that, trying to find a job, but no luck. Get a degree, kids.
It's Tuesday. I'm sweating and nervous, I look like a fucking idiot standing here. 'One more drag and I'll knock' I told myself, finally knowing what going on with this old clown.
*knock*
Nothing...
*knock*
I try to open the door handle just in case, and to my complete lack of surprise, it's closed. It's 19:30, maybe he is just asleep, or maybe he is asking what year it is around town, since it's Tuesday.
It's Wednesday. I smile as I walk up the last steps of ''Docs'' apartment building because I see his door is open. As I come closer and closer, I see there is nothing inside, nothing, no chairs, no tables, no power outlets. The whole room is white and shiny, unreal shiny, it's not even possible for it to be so shiny, I can even see some sort of reflection of me in the walls. Now I have to go in, I don't care, I must see it. So shiny, I just see shiny, SHINY, **SHINY**.
Bright light wakes me up, it takes me around 30 seconds to be able to see a little, and the only thing I see is white shiny walls. Is this the future? What years is it? I run to the closest store and ask what year it is.
| **Clocks**
Around the corner from the old tailor,
In that walkway hung with vines,
There nestles a small store, and through that old door,
You'll find my clocks and I.
Not many customers find me,
But my memory never goes amiss.
I recall one old fellow, all greyed and mellowed,
And his story goes like this:
On a distant autumn evening,
Just before the close of day,
He burst in, eyes alight with panic and fright,
Feathery hair all blown astray.
"What year is it?" he pleaded;
Wordlessly I showed him the date.
And as his happiness went, a voice rose in lament:
"It doesn't matter, I'm going to be late."
Then he disappeared in the the blink of an eye,
Like a blustery storm gone by.
"Tick tock" went the clocks, as, frozen in shock,
I stood there, my clocks and I.
He visited every week from then,
Always asking for the date.
Eventually I made my choice, and raised my voice:
"But for what is it that you're late?"
"She's waiting for me," he whispered,
"She said she'd tell me why"
And then he was gone, like a half-finished yawn,
Leaving my clocks and I.
For a long time I pondered who she was,
And what she wanted to say,
Maybe she was long gone, like smoke in the dawn,
Or like a dream wandered astray.
Yet the world spins on, flying ever faster,
As does the future of all mankind.
Maybe, though he tried, in the end he realized-
He just couldn't leave her behind.
And now he's gone, but still my clocks tick on;
Still the sun continues to shine.
And in my restless slumber, sometimes I wonder,
If anybody remembers him,
*But I.* | |
[WP] You bend over on a crowded street to tie your shoelace. Upon standing up, you realized that everybody is now gone. | Halloween. New Orleans. Jack stepped out of the strip club and onto Bourbon St. His prudish friends said they'd be in the bar across the street. He strolled through the mass of people: zombies, pirates, dolls, skeletons, slutty superheroes and even a fellow devil. He smiled at the she-devil, grabbed her hand, kissed it, and lost her in the crowd.
He stood at the center of the crowded street, taking in the sights and sounds. There was nothing like this back at his suburban Nebraska home. He closed his eyes a moment and inhaled the smells: alcohol, sweat, make-up, urine, perfume, leather, and something sickeningly sweet he couldn't place.
He continued across the street. A black woman with a python around her neck beckoned him. He leaned towards her.
"Your shoe is untied," she told him with a thick accent.
He looked down, indeed it was. He looked up to say thanks but the woman was gone. He stepped to the side of the street and bent over to tie his laces. He felt a wave of dizziness as he straightened back up.
Everyone was gone.
The streets were completely empty. Jack spun around. There were no people, no litter, nothing. He sprinted to the bar where his friends said they'd be and ran inside. The lights were on, but it was empty and silent. Had someone slipped something in his drink?
He walked back outside. He ran up and down the street. As far as he could see, there was nothing. He must be going crazy. He walked back into the strip club. It was empty. He sat down in a chair and closed his eyes. *This isn't real* he repeated to himself and opened his eyes. Nothing. *This isn't real, this isn't real, this isn't real*. Still nothing.
He looked around the empty strip club. He found it odd that there was still something arousing about the place even with out topless girls in g-strings. It was probably the distinctive perfume that filled the air. Perfume. The smell...he still smelled things!
He ran back out into the street. The smells were there: something spicy, a man's cologne, cigarette smoke. He laid down in the middle of the street, closed his tearing eyes and took in the odors. *Jack?* He felt himself begin to sob uncontrollably. *Jack?* Then he heard something. *Jack?* Like a shout from a long tunnel.
"Jack!" It was his friend Eddy, "What the fuck are you doing?"
Jack looked around, the streets were once again filled with Halloween revelers.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Jack said, "can you help me up?"
Eddy extended his mummified hand and smiled, "Jesus Jack, we can't take you anywhere!"
| 7:29 am, I read, as I looked down at my watch, monogrammed with Alan in hold letters. Looking past it, I noticed that my shoe was untied. I stopped, and knelt down to untie it. Something felt off, I realized, as I finished tieing my shoe. I looked up and realized it was dead silent, and not a soul was tk be seen. I looked at my watch again. 730. I mean, yeah, its 730 am, but usually in the city you would expect at least a car or someone on the sidewalk. Perplexed, I kept walking to the office. Looking down alleys, sidestreets, and through the windows of buildings, there was still noone to be seen. Very odd, I thought, as I got more confused and slightly scared. I finally reached my office and walked in.
"Morning everyone".
No response.
"GOOD MORNING EVERYONE" I said, in a strained, slightly desperate voice. What the hell? What had I missed? Panicked thoughts raced through my brain as I tried to figure out what was wrong. I raced back to my apartment, and slammed the door, panting. After I had calmed down. I went back to bed. This must all be some crazy dream, I figured.
I woke up a few hours later, and looked out my apartment window. Nothing. Not a car, not a pedestrian, biker, skateboarder, airplane, anything to indicate that humans were active in any way. I decided to go to my neighbors.
"Mr Adams, are you home?"
I only recieved silence, same with all of the other doors in my building. And the next one. Dejected and defeated. I plopped down onto my couch. Nobody was around... then again... nobody was around, I thought excitedly. I can do whatever I want. And there was one thing I had always wanted to do. I ran out and pulled the fire alarm, and of course noone came. Getting more excited, i ran back to the office and took a shit on Steve's desk. Fucking Steve.
That night I had only myself to think about. I made myself a steak from the highest quality meat at O'Malloreys, sipped on the most expensive brandy from the cellar, and did the whole thing naked.
"This is the LIFE!" I yelled. Who cared. Nobody was around. I looked at my watch. 730. I heard the sound of bus brakes, and I peered out the windows. Buses were lined up up and down the road, as far as I could see, and people were filing out. I saw my boss, and I grabbed some pants and ran outside.
"Where have you been!" I yelled at him.
"Didn't you know? Its National No Alan Day!" | |
[WP] You bend over on a crowded street to tie your shoelace. Upon standing up, you realized that everybody is now gone. | Halloween. New Orleans. Jack stepped out of the strip club and onto Bourbon St. His prudish friends said they'd be in the bar across the street. He strolled through the mass of people: zombies, pirates, dolls, skeletons, slutty superheroes and even a fellow devil. He smiled at the she-devil, grabbed her hand, kissed it, and lost her in the crowd.
He stood at the center of the crowded street, taking in the sights and sounds. There was nothing like this back at his suburban Nebraska home. He closed his eyes a moment and inhaled the smells: alcohol, sweat, make-up, urine, perfume, leather, and something sickeningly sweet he couldn't place.
He continued across the street. A black woman with a python around her neck beckoned him. He leaned towards her.
"Your shoe is untied," she told him with a thick accent.
He looked down, indeed it was. He looked up to say thanks but the woman was gone. He stepped to the side of the street and bent over to tie his laces. He felt a wave of dizziness as he straightened back up.
Everyone was gone.
The streets were completely empty. Jack spun around. There were no people, no litter, nothing. He sprinted to the bar where his friends said they'd be and ran inside. The lights were on, but it was empty and silent. Had someone slipped something in his drink?
He walked back outside. He ran up and down the street. As far as he could see, there was nothing. He must be going crazy. He walked back into the strip club. It was empty. He sat down in a chair and closed his eyes. *This isn't real* he repeated to himself and opened his eyes. Nothing. *This isn't real, this isn't real, this isn't real*. Still nothing.
He looked around the empty strip club. He found it odd that there was still something arousing about the place even with out topless girls in g-strings. It was probably the distinctive perfume that filled the air. Perfume. The smell...he still smelled things!
He ran back out into the street. The smells were there: something spicy, a man's cologne, cigarette smoke. He laid down in the middle of the street, closed his tearing eyes and took in the odors. *Jack?* He felt himself begin to sob uncontrollably. *Jack?* Then he heard something. *Jack?* Like a shout from a long tunnel.
"Jack!" It was his friend Eddy, "What the fuck are you doing?"
Jack looked around, the streets were once again filled with Halloween revelers.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Jack said, "can you help me up?"
Eddy extended his mummified hand and smiled, "Jesus Jack, we can't take you anywhere!"
| I was running late for work.
Sidewalks at around half past seven in the city are a place you do not want to be if you're in a hurry. Of course, I was in a hurry that morning.
There's almost no point in trying to avoid other walkers in such a densely packed mass. If you do move aside, you'll only get in someone else's way.
I had a bagel in my mouth as I walked. The part in my mouth was soggy, but I didn't even have time to chew or and grab the bagel since I was still tucking in, buttoning my shirt, or some other stupid thing that I should have done twenty minute ago in my apartment.
I felt like a mess.
The clouds were exceptionally dark that morning. I remember feeling surprised that it was not raining. But I was late, and did not think about it any more than that.
I'm waiting at a crosswalk. I finally get a chance to eat my soggy bite of bagel.
The light turns green and we start walking. And by We, I mean everyone except me. Some jerk had stepped on a lace that I had forgotten to tie that morning. Despite the packed crowd, I fell straight down to the asphalt. My bagel went flying out of my hand, and I may have cursed or yelled, but no one heard.
I felt people moving against me. It was like I was being pushed over.
I got up into a quick crouching position and began to tie my damn shoe lace. People kept kicking my elbows as I worked and yelling above me because I was in their way, I guess.
I even yelled up at them, "Just *relax* for a sec! Freaking robots!"
More yelling and screaming above me.
Finally got my shoe tied. I saw my bagel lying on the other side of the road, like it had been kicked along.
*Another hungry morning at…*
It was weird that I could see my bagel.
Then I looked up, and around. I stood up, turning around slowly. The sky was *so* dark. It was weird that I hadn't thought about that as much as I should have.
Everyone around me was gone. But, the buildings were gone. At least, most of the buildings. The one next to me was still there, but only the first four feet of it. The rest was just… disappeared. Gone. Sliced out of time.
"Hey!"
I turned around. A short fellow was running towards me. He was about three and a half feet tall, wearing a baseball cap. His eyes were round as no doubt mine were.
"Did you see that?"
"No, I… was tying my shoes."
"Man. I saw. I saw them come, and…"
"And?"
"And man," tears began to well up in the short man's eyes, "You're lucky. You're lucky you didn't see…"
I could now hear the cries of children, and barking dogs.
| |
[WP] You bend over on a crowded street to tie your shoelace. Upon standing up, you realized that everybody is now gone. | Halloween. New Orleans. Jack stepped out of the strip club and onto Bourbon St. His prudish friends said they'd be in the bar across the street. He strolled through the mass of people: zombies, pirates, dolls, skeletons, slutty superheroes and even a fellow devil. He smiled at the she-devil, grabbed her hand, kissed it, and lost her in the crowd.
He stood at the center of the crowded street, taking in the sights and sounds. There was nothing like this back at his suburban Nebraska home. He closed his eyes a moment and inhaled the smells: alcohol, sweat, make-up, urine, perfume, leather, and something sickeningly sweet he couldn't place.
He continued across the street. A black woman with a python around her neck beckoned him. He leaned towards her.
"Your shoe is untied," she told him with a thick accent.
He looked down, indeed it was. He looked up to say thanks but the woman was gone. He stepped to the side of the street and bent over to tie his laces. He felt a wave of dizziness as he straightened back up.
Everyone was gone.
The streets were completely empty. Jack spun around. There were no people, no litter, nothing. He sprinted to the bar where his friends said they'd be and ran inside. The lights were on, but it was empty and silent. Had someone slipped something in his drink?
He walked back outside. He ran up and down the street. As far as he could see, there was nothing. He must be going crazy. He walked back into the strip club. It was empty. He sat down in a chair and closed his eyes. *This isn't real* he repeated to himself and opened his eyes. Nothing. *This isn't real, this isn't real, this isn't real*. Still nothing.
He looked around the empty strip club. He found it odd that there was still something arousing about the place even with out topless girls in g-strings. It was probably the distinctive perfume that filled the air. Perfume. The smell...he still smelled things!
He ran back out into the street. The smells were there: something spicy, a man's cologne, cigarette smoke. He laid down in the middle of the street, closed his tearing eyes and took in the odors. *Jack?* He felt himself begin to sob uncontrollably. *Jack?* Then he heard something. *Jack?* Like a shout from a long tunnel.
"Jack!" It was his friend Eddy, "What the fuck are you doing?"
Jack looked around, the streets were once again filled with Halloween revelers.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Jack said, "can you help me up?"
Eddy extended his mummified hand and smiled, "Jesus Jack, we can't take you anywhere!"
| Damn, I should have learned to double knot. My teachers and parents always tried to teach me but I just didn't think my shoe would really come untied. But it happened today. Should I just keep walking and see if I trip? Maybe that is what I'll do. I could probably walk another 3 blocks to home and just throw these shoes out instead of bending over to actually tie it. I have those velcro ones, and the sandals. I have plenty of shoes. These won't be missed in the slightest. But there were so many people, one of them was too close, he would step on my shoe lace and I'd trip. I would rather bend over and tie my shoe lace than trip.
I bent over and grabbed the laces on my right shoe. I was going to try the double knot. It wasn't a big deal, everyone else can do it. I wrapped the laces around each other for the first knot, I started the second, but pain shot through my stomach. I screamed hunched over never having felt a pain shoot from my ass to my stomach like this. What just happened to me? Who cares, double knots are overrated anyway, they suck.
I never even finished the second knot when I looked up and realized everyone was gone. But the pain remained. | |
[WP] You bend over on a crowded street to tie your shoelace. Upon standing up, you realized that everybody is now gone. | It was just a typical Tuesday morning. I hate Tuesdays. You see, Mondays are bad, sure, but they are busy and time goes by fast when you’re busy. Tuesdays are just boring. The bulk of the work that piled up over the weekend has been taken care of and you settle into a snail’s pace of monotony that will continue for the next four long days so far from the weekend. And then, if you’re like me, you have public transportation to contend with. There must be thirty people waiting for the number six bus. No one looks at anyone, let alone talks to each other. I’m no different. I don’t know these people, and I don’t want to know them. I shake my head and look down at my feet to further avoid these people, these cattle. My shoe is untied. Yet another thing to be bitter about. I might need to talk to someone. I’m angry more and more every day. I bend down and begin tying my shoe. The person to my right steps off.
*The bus must have arrived,* I think, as this person must be moving towards the front of the line. And then my ears began ringing. I finish tying my shoe and stand up sticking my finger in my ear, trying to *unring* it. I turn to my right to move with the line and to board the bus, but there is no one in front of me. I look at the bus, but there is no bus. It hasn’t come yet. I turn to look at the line of people waiting for the bus but they are gone. I look around and see no one at all. There are cars on the road and the traffic lights are on, but there is not a soul in sight. I realize that my ears aren’t ringing; it’s the sudden lack of sound that has made my ears feel strange. I pulled my phone out of my breast pocket and read the date and time: October 20, 2014, 7:35am. I have a solid signal, but when I dial my office, the call never connects. I check the web, but web pages never load.
…
For the first month, I reveled in the silence. I thrived in the lack of humanity. I had my own paradise of a world without the throngs of people I hated so much. Then I got lonely. I started to travel, to search for others. I must have visited a dozen cities, only to be greeted by the same sight: perfectly normal cities without a single person inhabiting them. Each city is bathed in the morning light of October 20th. I estimate that four months have passed and I haven’t seen a single person. My phone still reads October 20, 2014, 7:35am, and the battery never drains. Time has stopped and outside, it is perpetually morning, and I’m losing my mind. I can’t stand the loneliness anymore. I don’t even know what to do. I hate reading books, nothing is on TV and the internet never loads. Walking and exploring has lost its luster. I head back to the bus stop where this all started for me. I stand in the same spot I stood four months ago and just look around.
That’s when I finally saw someone. He was a perfectly ordinary man. He was dressed in a plain black suit and tie, a timeless picture of your average businessman. His features were non-descript and if you had asked me later to describe him, I could not. He was standing in the middle of the street looking right at me. I gaped at him stupidly. He pointed to my foot and spoke four simple words.
“You shoe is untied,” he said.
I glanced down. It was. The same shoe was untied just as it had been four months ago. Impulsively, I knelt down to tie it. After it was half tied, I glanced up to find the man missing, but everyone else had returned. I was back in the line with the throngs of people surrounding me and the beautiful noises of the living city filled my ears. Still bent over, my phone slipped out of my breast pocket and bounced into the street. It landed face up and I watched the time change from 7:35am to 7:36am. Without thinking, I stepped into the street to retrieve it when my bus pulled up to the bus top and hit me. The right headlight struck my left temple and I crumpled to the street where the front tire rolled up my body to my chest. I could feel the organs inside of me turning to pulp as I took my last breath. A crowd of people quickly formed around me. My last thought before I died was that I was glad there were people here with me, finally.
| Damn, I should have learned to double knot. My teachers and parents always tried to teach me but I just didn't think my shoe would really come untied. But it happened today. Should I just keep walking and see if I trip? Maybe that is what I'll do. I could probably walk another 3 blocks to home and just throw these shoes out instead of bending over to actually tie it. I have those velcro ones, and the sandals. I have plenty of shoes. These won't be missed in the slightest. But there were so many people, one of them was too close, he would step on my shoe lace and I'd trip. I would rather bend over and tie my shoe lace than trip.
I bent over and grabbed the laces on my right shoe. I was going to try the double knot. It wasn't a big deal, everyone else can do it. I wrapped the laces around each other for the first knot, I started the second, but pain shot through my stomach. I screamed hunched over never having felt a pain shoot from my ass to my stomach like this. What just happened to me? Who cares, double knots are overrated anyway, they suck.
I never even finished the second knot when I looked up and realized everyone was gone. But the pain remained. | |
[WP] Any feel-good story. Write me a story with a happy ending, that reaffirms my belief in the innate goodness of humanity, but without being blase, cliche or childish. | A stranger asked me to tell them- simply put, in layman's terms "why is life is worth living?"
I thought for a while, in my self imposed exile. Another lonely night spent reminding myself to stay sober.
For just one more day.
You hear that a lot in those circles there "24 hours at a time"
a race against the clock- counting days spent sober
Why count at all.
I walk outside, into the chilly autumn night. Alone again, this time cloaked in darkness, swallowed by silence. I stand drawing breath slowly, steadily.
After my face and hands go numb, I venture back inside;
I still need to think some more. I have not found the answer, what is the answer?
It occurs to me, the possibility of an existence purposeless and pure.
We are born into this world, no real requirements. The world will not end with your death, the stars will not rain down from the sky and the sky itself will not tumble earthwards to crash in a great spectacular flame- only your world will end.
So life is to learn, as it is to shape, as it is to define, to create and to grow.
In a spectacular and splendid pattern, that only you can ever fully know.
Some talk of god, and I understand that on one level or another.
But the beauty of the concept is that God is that little voice, within us all, that wants something.
Anything.
That we want to change the world as we found it- to leave something, as if to say "I was here, I mattered!"
Yet all that ever mattered, was the peace you found, or didn't, in your own little world and special time.
For you are a universe within yourself, and you are beautiful in your own way.
Every precipice, every rut, every mezzanine, every gutter, depression and mania, love and loss, they reflect each other.
In those spaces in between, there lies polarizing beauty. The steady constant ebb of desire, and it is in that desire, that there lies the secret of life.
A flame without fuel, A world of its own.
A miracle in of itself, existence is bliss.
Everything is serenity. | The stones were immeasurably old, around eight times the height of a man and standing firmly, immovably in a circle of taller stones that looked worn and ancient like the faces of those who spent their lives gazing into them, wondering just what they meant, why they were here. Painstakingly chiselled into the outer ring were [triple spirals](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/2975879562_d8bd61e82e.jpg), great maps of the stars and bizarre diagrams of concentric circles, the third one raised above the others. This wasn't the greatest wonder of the ancient stones however, even more unbelievable was the carefully calculated mathematical arrangement; at the dawn of Summer Solstice each year for a mere quarter of an hour a beam of light from the small red sun above will illuminate the centre stone and show a series of undecipherable lines:
THIS WORLD IS YOURS AND EVERYTHING IN IT
WE WILL PROTECT YOU AND NURTURE YOU
IN THE HEAVENS AS IT IS ON EARTH
WE ARE YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS
Nobody knows what they mean or who carved them there. Perhaps an ancient race put them there as a monument to our life-giving star? Perhaps it's an old hoax? Maybe, just maybe it was put here by somebody who lived on a third circle from their star, a message to let us know they were here once upon a time. A local scientist has just invented a tool for making things look much closer, he says if you point it at the sky in line with the southernmost stone on the night of the solstice you can just about see something metal with fire streaming behind it but my village thinks he's a bit of a crackpot. I guess we'll never know. | |
[WP] Any feel-good story. Write me a story with a happy ending, that reaffirms my belief in the innate goodness of humanity, but without being blase, cliche or childish. | I wake up, walk outside, and smell the fresh, beautiful smell of a warm spring day. I go for my daily run and meet up with a friend of mine that I usually run with. We're having a great time, laughing and smelling the smells and seeing the sights and tasting the air. We split up and I head back home.
My master gives me a bone for keeping up with him today. He's amazing. I can sleep on him, play with him, run with him. He's given me everything. The food in the morning, the car rides to the scary guy who pokes me. And you know what, he is always there to hold me; always there while I am freaking out. He's always there when I am hungry or need to go outside. I love him. He throws me a ball or a stick and I go get it only to show him how happy I am to bring it back to him. He brings home the nicest people and I always see him laughing and having a good time. His people give me lots of love and call me cute names and give me all the attention I want. This can never get old. My master is amazing. My life is amazing; all because of him. | The stones were immeasurably old, around eight times the height of a man and standing firmly, immovably in a circle of taller stones that looked worn and ancient like the faces of those who spent their lives gazing into them, wondering just what they meant, why they were here. Painstakingly chiselled into the outer ring were [triple spirals](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/2975879562_d8bd61e82e.jpg), great maps of the stars and bizarre diagrams of concentric circles, the third one raised above the others. This wasn't the greatest wonder of the ancient stones however, even more unbelievable was the carefully calculated mathematical arrangement; at the dawn of Summer Solstice each year for a mere quarter of an hour a beam of light from the small red sun above will illuminate the centre stone and show a series of undecipherable lines:
THIS WORLD IS YOURS AND EVERYTHING IN IT
WE WILL PROTECT YOU AND NURTURE YOU
IN THE HEAVENS AS IT IS ON EARTH
WE ARE YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS
Nobody knows what they mean or who carved them there. Perhaps an ancient race put them there as a monument to our life-giving star? Perhaps it's an old hoax? Maybe, just maybe it was put here by somebody who lived on a third circle from their star, a message to let us know they were here once upon a time. A local scientist has just invented a tool for making things look much closer, he says if you point it at the sky in line with the southernmost stone on the night of the solstice you can just about see something metal with fire streaming behind it but my village thinks he's a bit of a crackpot. I guess we'll never know. | |
[WP] Any feel-good story. Write me a story with a happy ending, that reaffirms my belief in the innate goodness of humanity, but without being blase, cliche or childish. | I note, with slight surprise, that I'm nervous more than anything.
There are any number of emotions I thought might have taken the lead. Guilt, sorrow, possibly even anger, but nervousness is the only one that registers.
I hadn't wanted to do it, but all the love in my heart couldn't feed her, and I knew that. I was nothing, just a stupid teen with too much drink, a family about to disown her and not enough luck.
A lot of people like to talk to me about sorrow, about sacrifice and regret. People are always sacrificing it seems; gaming time for their job, or a festival to study. I know they're only kids really, and under the circumstances I should probably go easy, but nothing annoys me more than people talking about sacrifice. How was I to tell them though, a 30-something woman working in a bar wasn't expected to be annoyed, especially not at the customer's droll conversations.
17 hours and 27 minutes after childbirth I sacrificed a soul so precious I ache just thinking about her. Sacrifice, true sacrifice, was doing what was right despite yourself. Helping another life whilst crushing your own.
She'll be 18 now, an adult. I've read the letters and emails a thousand times, and whilst I'm here a little early I can't help but look up every time the door opens.
I hope she can forgive me, for trying to do what little I could for her. I hope she is clever, pretty and confident. I hope she likes me, and maybe in time calls me mum.
For the first time in years, I hope. | The stones were immeasurably old, around eight times the height of a man and standing firmly, immovably in a circle of taller stones that looked worn and ancient like the faces of those who spent their lives gazing into them, wondering just what they meant, why they were here. Painstakingly chiselled into the outer ring were [triple spirals](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/2975879562_d8bd61e82e.jpg), great maps of the stars and bizarre diagrams of concentric circles, the third one raised above the others. This wasn't the greatest wonder of the ancient stones however, even more unbelievable was the carefully calculated mathematical arrangement; at the dawn of Summer Solstice each year for a mere quarter of an hour a beam of light from the small red sun above will illuminate the centre stone and show a series of undecipherable lines:
THIS WORLD IS YOURS AND EVERYTHING IN IT
WE WILL PROTECT YOU AND NURTURE YOU
IN THE HEAVENS AS IT IS ON EARTH
WE ARE YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS
Nobody knows what they mean or who carved them there. Perhaps an ancient race put them there as a monument to our life-giving star? Perhaps it's an old hoax? Maybe, just maybe it was put here by somebody who lived on a third circle from their star, a message to let us know they were here once upon a time. A local scientist has just invented a tool for making things look much closer, he says if you point it at the sky in line with the southernmost stone on the night of the solstice you can just about see something metal with fire streaming behind it but my village thinks he's a bit of a crackpot. I guess we'll never know. |
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