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[WP] You live in a world where coffee is perceived the same way marijuana is in real life. You've just been pulled over, and you've got an ounce of medium roast in the glovebox
|
-“This is a premium Brazilian roast dude” my sleezy dealer said.
This guy had been my coffee supplier for a while, he was the worst kind. I had at several occasions busted him mixing my beautiful roasted coffee with plastic coffee beans to increase weight.
-“Roy, if this shit it mixed, will personally kill your ass!”
-“Relax, relax, its premium. Imported inside a pregnant Brazilian woman.”
-“Du..de, I don’t want to hear that shit! Alright here’s your money”. My financial situation had plummeted at the ban of coffee. This shit gets you addicted, I had promised myself I wouldn’t get addicted, but the mornings man! Not getting my morning coffee makes me a grumpy grandpa for the rest of the day.
I was listening to some good old Led Zeppelin whilst sipping on the gorgeous coffee. Every single sip, I gradually became more and more awoken. This thing keeps you on your toes! Everything was going smooth, until I saw something in the corner of my eye; the glistening glow of a blue and red light. I panicked. Threw out the coffee, but in my haste, I forgot to open the window; resulting in a giant splash of Brazilian medium roast all over me and my leather seats. I had stopped on the side of the road. Covered in an illegal substance. I even had an ounce of some Cuban in the trunk. “FUCK” I shouted.
The police man gestured me to open my windows. “I believe I smell some coffee here mister. Have you been drinking, sir?”.
-“Ohh… Not me, hate the stuff, makes you too hyper.”
He slowly slid his sunglasses off and said “Dude, you reek of Brazilian medium roast. Listen, “I’ll cut you a deal. Brew me an espresso, and I’ll let it slip.”
|
'STEP OUT THE MOTHERFUCKER NOW' yelled the policeman incoherently.
John lowered his shades and looked at the raised firearm.
'Lower your firearm officer before I get hurt.' he says calmly.
The officer looks at him, and when he does, realises that it is the face of his long lost son Albert.
'Oh my god, Albert! It's been so long, why don't you return my c-'
'Because you're an old cunt' John replies smoothly, pushing the shades back up his face. 'Besides, you can't even make a good cup of coffee.'
With that, he pulls away, his father firing parting shots at the vehicle.
'Stop!' he shouts, 'Not again.. not again..'
The police officer sinks to his knees and beats the ground with a balled fist. Why good lord, why? Why must we walk this good Earth with our backs bowed under such lofty burdens. Why?
Ugly tears stream down the officer's face.
They then stop.
He regains his composure and replays the image mentally. He knew the suspect had coffee, but the question was, where? The glovebox was too obvious, it definitely wouldn't be there, only an idiot would even slightly suggest that was a good, logical place to but illegal grade coffee.
The policeman pulled out a blunt, sparked, and took a long draw. This was going to be a long night.
A woman pulled up alongside the policeman.
'Mom?'
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Surprise me, reddit !
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[WP] You die and your soul is taken to the afterlife by the Reaper. You discover that Heaven and Hell do exists. The trick ? You get to chose where you are going.
|
"...Choose?"
*YES.*
Sam looked behind Death and at the two enormous double-doors behind him. "Is this some sort of catch? Some last-minute trick to decide if somone deserves to go to heaven or not?"
*NO. NOT REALLY. YOU JUST CHOOSE.*
Sam looked into Death's eyes... or so he attempted to. Death's eternal, rigid, grinning skull of a face simply stared back with empty eye sockets. Sam realized he wouldn't be able to use facial expressions to discern the truth from that timeless creature.
"Okay... so someone who chooses to go to heaven is arrogant and does not deserve to go to heaven and instead goes to hell."
Death tilted its head towards him. *MAYBE?*
"So then I should choose hell... but what if choosing hell means an admittance of guilt? And in doing so you actually DO end up in hell?"
Death raised one bony finger and scratched his cheekbone with small, agonizing sounds of bones grinding against bones.
"So then I have to choose heaven... yes..." Sam took one deep breath. "...But maybe heaven is not what it is made out to be. Maybe heaven sucks, just like in that book of Neil Gaiman."
*NEIL GAIMAIN WROTE MANY BOOKS.* Said Death. Sam did not notice the small hint of approval in his voice.
"The one where he wrote with someone else..."
*TERRY PRATCHETT?*
"Yeah." Sam turned to Death. "Wait, you know them? How accurate are their depictions of heaven and hell?"
Death's shoulderblades hunched with agonizing screeches. *OH COME ON, YOU ARE STALLING. MAKE YOUR CHOICE ALREADY I HAVEN'T GOT ALL OF ETERNITY.*
"You're trying to rush me? This is the biggest decision of my life."
*YOUR SOUL.*
"Excuse me?"
*YOUR SOUL. YOUR LIFE ENDED...* Death looked at his bony arm to the digital watch loosely hanging there. *...ZERO POINT ZERO FIVE MILLISECONDS AGO.*
"Wait, we've been talking and discussing for that long?"
Death sighed. For some reason Sam wasn't too bothered by the fact that it sounded like a thousand wailing banshees. *LOOK. IT'S SIMPLE. YOU GO TO HEAVEN OR HELL. NOW MOVE THE LINE IS ONLY GETTING BIGGER.*
"I see. I see. I know what I will do." Sam turned to the two enormous double doors. "I choose... neither!"
Death's grinning mouth opened and closed with the echoing sound of teeth clacking against each other. *WHAT?*
"Yes! I am not falling for your trick and your mindgames! I will not choose either of them! Now what? Do I just live in purgatory?"
*YOU CAN'T MAKE THAT CHOICE. PURGATORY IS NOT FIT FOR HUMANS LIVING IN IT. THERE IS SIMPLY NO INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PERMANENT HOUSINGS.*
"Well, time to make some! I am not moving."
*IF YOU WILL NOT CHOOSE THEN I HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE FOR YOU.*
Sam's smug smile evaporated. "Wait, wait, I changed my-"
*FOR SELFISHLY MAKING THE REMAINDER OF DEAD MANKING WAIT WHILE YOU MAKE A DECISION, YOU ARE GOING TO HELL.* Said Death, waving him off. *NOW SCOOT BEFORE I HAVE TO CALL THE GUARDS.*
A few fractions of a millisecond later and more yelling Sam found himself dragged off to Hell's double-doors by an angel and a demon on either side. Death shook his head. *SILLY HUMANS OUTSMARTING THEMSELVES.* He turned to his list. *HE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE A DAMNED FOOL WHEN HE REALIZES HE CAN APPLY FOR EMIGRATION ANYWAY.*
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Do you eat bacon?
This question haunts me to this day.
I was just a normal teenager like you or anyone else. I was just going to one of those phases. You know, rebelling against mostly anything coming my way. This time it was the meat-industry.
I had seen a truckload of pigs from the passenger-side of my dads overpriced Humvee. The truck stopped just beside us on the way to the oilfields.
One of the pigs gave me that sad, lifeless look that only a sad pig can give you on its way to slaughter. Thats when I decided to stop eating meat.
Over the course of six months I lost 15 kgs and most of my muscle. Apparently living on spinach alone was not an option. This forced me to widen my meals to something more. I started walking over to my neighbours and stole some carrots at night. The rebel in me stopped me from paying.
One night I tripped on some tools he had left outside. Big misstake.
I didn't hear the shotgun as much as I felt it.
The lead pellets dug deep into my chest and I fell like a rock in vacuum towards the ground.
As the blood slowly left my body I felt the warm breath in my neck.
"I thought I'd have to wait a year longer before I would have to get you" a deep voice said.
I rose up from my body, feeling more free and alive than I had been the last months. I turned and faced HIM. I knew it was the Reaper as soon as I saw the darkness in his eyes and the foul breath of death.
-"Do you eat bacon?" he said slowly.
NO! I said. Im vegan.
"The choice is made" was the Reapers reply as the world around me darkened and I fell. For an eternity.
I am here now.
Forever without bacon.
In hell.
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[WP] In the near future, in order to control population, we are installed with kill switches. Anyone over 18 is equipped with this switch. At random, your cell phone will alert you when it's your time to die, you will have 72 hours. You just received your alert, what do you do with your time?
|
I looked down at my lovely wife, Kelly. 12 hours of labor and an amazing baby girl was born.
"Samantha" She said. "I want to name her after my mom. Please"
I looked at her. We had agreed to leave out the memories and create a new name with a new history. Samantha was one of the first to be passed on with the switch. Not the first, but one of the first. She was also Kelly's grandma.
Damn that switch to hell and back. 20 years ago, they installed them in all humans, at the age of 18. The population was too large they said. It was the only way to save the earth they said. Randomly, you might get a text stating that you have 72 hours to live, and then it's activated. You die.
I looked down into the bright eyes of my newborn daughter. She came with a full head of strawberry hair. Stunningly beautiful.
"Samantha it is. The light of my life she will be."
Kelly smiled at me. She fell into sleep, exhausted.
I held our newborn, thinking of the future.
After a while of cuddling with Samantha, I placed her in the bassinet.
My wife's phone beeped indicating a text message. It was a tone I had only heard once before in person, and in my nightmares ever since. It was the death-tone.
I looked at the screen.
"Level 3 bio metrics required to Access message. Ignoring this message is only possible for 30 minutes, and then goes in to effect regardless of acceptance of receipt."
I sat and stared at that horrible screen for 28 minutes, debating. 28 agonizing minutes while she slept the sleep of innocence. I stared at Samantha, my wonderful newborn. I cried at the unfairness.
After 28 minutes, I took her unconscious hand and placed her finger on the ID reader. The first level security light flicked green. I placed her hand on the slot on the back of her phone, and the tiny needle flicked out and took a bit of her blood. The level two light flicked green. I pried open her eye and let the phone read it. The level three light flicked off and it went to her home screen.
Instantly, a screen popped up I had never seen before.
"Congratulations on giving Birth!
Sadly, due to recent failures to
contain population growth,
you(or your significant other)
must pass on. As a new mother,
you have the choice. Do you want
to activate your own Switch? (please
note - Clicking NO will activate your
Significant others switch automatically.)
Yes/No."
I stared in horror at the message and the implications. How could they even ask that of any one.
I looked in despair at my wonderful wife, and my newborn baby.
Their was no choice.
Several minutes later my own phone beeped.
|
**Day One**
Confusion. I now have have three days to become what I want to become, to do what I've been planning. I've been on this earth for 53 long years, and have been waiting for 20 of them. Waiting for my time. My last three days are all that matters, the rest was just filler. I had a wife, I had kids. I was happy. But it wasn't meant to be. She got sick, my children, my two sons had fallen ill. Then the whole world...But I prevailed. Life had never meant much to me, I was never very happy. Now I'm alone, so very alone. Only nature to keep me company. I decided, 2 months ago, to use the rest of the gas in my car to drive to New York city. It broke down halfway, but I didn't mind walking. I arrived, and what greeted me was a cell phone. A cell phone with no damage done to it, screen lit up with full battery. Right in front of the Empire State Building. Obviously, I picked it up, a message alert lighting up the screen. The message said simply, *You have 72 hours, three days left. Then you will be taken, like billions before you. Do what you must, you cannot change this.*
So I picked up my pencil, my chisel, my paintbrush. And made sure the rest of time would remember what I had done, what happened to the world. And how humanity was snuffed out, nature prevailing once again.
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[WP] You have come up with the perfect energy generator - no pollution, ultimate efficiency and no waste. The only catch is, its sole fuel is copious amounts of human blood. It has been 15 years since you invented it and now the world is a different place.
|
Steve Piccolo was at the blood bank.
He hated the blood bank. This one had been done up to look like a Church – archways, lots of glass, and a massive logo right where the cross should’ve been.
“Steve Piccolo?” called a woman’s voice from behind two-way glass.
“Yeah, uh that’s me”
“And how much are you looking to exchange today?”
“60 bucks will do...just to make rent, you know”
“Okay, let’s see...sixty dollars...that works out at, roughly, point three litres. You still want to go ahead?”
“Do I look like I got a choice? Yeah, sure, drain away”
“Okay then, room 17. Enjoy”
Why did they always say this? Who could possibly enjoy it?
Except for sadists, obviously.
And the rich: the blood of the poor had always greased their engines.
A guard materialised from the shadows. He nudged Steve with his spraygun, leading him toward the operating theatres. The guard punched in his code, and the doors whooshed open. They walked down a long, narrow hallway; their footsteps mingled with the muffled screams. That was something the ‘doctors’ never could get right – the ‘procedure’. And why were they called 'doctors' anyway? Everyone came out worse than they went in. Financially better off, yes, but physically destroyed. Most people spent their ‘blood money’ on booze to numb the pain. Then they needed to ‘donate’ more; it was the perfect capitalist feedback loop.
Inside room 17, the ‘doctor’ was playing on his phone.
“You my 2:00?” he said.
“I’m Steve. Steve Piccolo. I, uh, need sixty bucks”
“That’s point three, right? Well, get on the chair. Let’s see...” the doctor tapped away at his keyboard “says here you’re an A type, and you’ve donated twice already...so this is the last time, legally, you can donate this month. Any more and you’ll be putting that money toward a coffin!”
The doctor laughed at his own joke. Steve winced.
“Well, come on man. Let’s get this over with”
“That’s the attitude I like to see! Just think Steve: this time tomorrow your blood will be propelling a plane, or lighting a street, or heating someone’s home. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“Yeah, it’s wonderful, I guess”
And I bet you’ve never had to do it, thought Steve. That’s the thing with the ‘perfect’ energy: there was no pollution, yes, there was maximum efficiency, yes, there was no waste, yes, but where did the raw material come from? From the poor, of course. Oh sure, anyone, theoretically, could become a ‘donor’ – but who would actually *need* too? How many times, do you suppose, did the captains of industry have to ‘donate’ half a litre to put bread on the table? Never, probably. They reaped the rewards, and the poor paid the cost. Same as it ever was.
“Okay Steve, you know the score: sit back, happy thoughts, it’ll all be over soon...”
The arm descended from the ceiling. Steve bristled: he tried to think happy thoughts, but he kept focusing on the giant drill worming its way toward his arm. He scrunched his eyes, he clenched his teeth...any second now…
white hot pain jabbing draining sucking lifeblood from lifesource jesus it hurts so fucking bad make it stop make it stop please make it stop hurts worse than anything cant take much more gonna fucking die any second now please cant take it please help me please cant do this I cant I cant
The machine whirred back into position. Steve felt drained, weak, ruined.
“Quite a mouthful there!” said the doctor “but all over now. Unfortunately we only managed to get point 2, any more and you’d have died on us...sorry, but rules are rules. We don’t want to lose our licence.”
“S-so...h-how much...”
“That’s uh, forty dollars Steve. We rounded it up”
“T-t-thanks”
“Don’t mention it” the doctor said, thrusting a cheque into Steve’s quivering hand “After all, we’re all in this together, right?”
|
*Hello! My name is Bloody Bill and I'm coming at you with a special television .. TV special edition offer from Bloody Bill's Blood Emporium! Ever worry about running out of blood for fuel? Do you use blood for fuel? Never worry again with Bloody Bill's Blood Subscription Service! Guaranteed!*
*That's right! Our amazing blood subscription service is coming to an IV near you! An IV like you get in the hospital but it will be fuel for your car. An IV for your car! You like that? Guaranteed!*
*Don't believe me and this amazing deal? One-off deal? Listen to what our loyal customers have to say!*
*"Hi, I'm Carl. Carl's my name and I've been using Bloody Bill's Blood Emporium for over 2 years. 5 years. Maybe. One time I broke down on the highway and was one hundred percent going to die but then I remembered I had my Bloody Bill Back-Up fuel tucked away in my ... Dad I really don't want to do this it feels like lying."*
*So there you have it. Heard straight from the mouth of loyal customer! Loyal customer number one there for over 10 years. 10 years he said. Using our blood all that time. That's a long time.*
*So what are you waiting? What are you waiting for? You want some blood or what?*
*Don't make me spill yours! Haha! No, I'm just kidding, I won't kill you. Or will I?*
*Guaranteed!*
Bill turned the television off. "So, that's potential commercial and pretty much the gist of the business. My name is Bill and I'm looking for a loan of $350,000 for 3% equity in my business."
****
I write shitty, silly stories on /r/BillMurrayMovies. Feel free to come along, not laugh at any of them and leave some judgement.
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[wp] Your former high school bully that drove you to attempted suicide years ago turns out to be your soulmate later in life.
|
She was never one of those girls whose laugh sounded like the ringing bells of heaven, whose friends followed them around like ducklings, whose hair could go through a tornado and a landslide and still manage to fall perfectly on her shoulders.
But for some reason, I was always mesmerized by her, completely in love.
Those soft brown tresses and captivating sapphire eyes reeled me in time after time again, and while I wish I could say that she saw me in the same light, she didn't.
And that's why I absolutely despised her.
Day after day, I made her life a living hell, and I relished those moments of superiority that only she could give me. Her existence enthralled yet infuriated me, and instead of simply coming out with her to how I felt, I found other... ways, to show my affections. People say that girls are the nastier of the two genders, capable of sending ANOTHER into the depths of hell, driving each other up the spire of insanity. I couldn't agree more.
Being an attractive male in a high school full of attention thirsty girls, it wasn't exactly difficult to spread lies and rumors about "the girl that professed her love to me, yet had sex with the weird kid in art class the next day" and things like that. It wasn't hard to convince the others at school that she was a lesbian, that she enjoyed the screams of children, that she had recently had an abortion because she was pregnant with Andy's child.
Throughout the years of high school, the effect all of this had on her was blatantly obvious. She no longer curled her hair, no longer kept it groomed like it once was. She ditched the contacts, instead opting for the thick glasses that she had had since elementary, thinking nobody would care since everybody hated her anyways. She stopped wearing all of the cute, expensive clothes, quit all of her clubs and sports, instead finding solace within the other wallflowers in the school. Even then, she was an outcast among them, forced out among the edge of the circle. Still, deep down the allure of her kept dragging me back, no matter how hard I tried to stay away.
In the end, she tried to take her life.
It was the day before graduation; I still remember it as clear as day. "Jason, dude, Mia might be like, dead." Everything around me seemed to melt as I listened to those words escape from the phone pressed up against my ear.
"What?"
"Mia Buttreeks?" My heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, my breath faltered.
"What do you mean?" I questioned, trying to hide my panic. I had always loathed and loved the girl at the same time; even I was still unsure of what my feelings towards her were.
"She's like, dead. I heard she swallowed a bunch of Aspirin and bam, her parents heard a bang in her bedroom and ran upstairs and she fell onto the kitchen sink, and they rushed her to the hospital where my sister works, and I guess she's in pretty bad shape and they don't think she's gonna like, make it out alive. I guess we did it, huh?" The voice on the other end of the phone started off the story with a slight chuckle in his voice and a sense of glee, but gradually faded into something that almost resembled... guilt. The world started to cave in on me.
"Really? Yea... I guess we did. I'll see you later, buddy," I responded in a dull tone, brain not fully comprehending what I had just found out. Gray shouted something about graduation before I slammed my phone shut, throwing it against the kitchen floor of the party I was at. What had I done?
After high school, I had attended a large university on a football scholarship. I'd rather not say for both safety and privacy reasons. I talked to many, many psychiatrist and psychologists about everything that had happened, in fear that I was possibly a sociopath or something even worse. While I had nothing wrong in that sort of category, I did receive counseling over what I had done. It was the best decision I ever could've made. I never did find out what came of Mia; instead, I just used her as a martyr to better myself every day. Ten years after graduating from grad school, after many apprenticeships and side jobs to pay off my debts, I opened up my own clinic and became an official psychiatrist. Since then, I've helped a multitude of people. Some of them are teens that remind me of myself, some remind me of Mia. The latter only fuel me to help them as best as I can so no other teen will have to endure the mental pain I have from knowing what I had done.
The cold beer felt good on my throat, aching from the tears I had held back. One of my closest, most dearest patients had passed, leaving me in deep despair. I could only rejoice that her passing was peaceful, and not that of a suicide. As expected, the crowd was thin at the bar, considering Thursday's aren't exactly a prime time for going out with the lads. Still, most of the seats in the bar portion of the small pub were filled by various kinds of people.
Sipping on the cold brew and reflecting on the past few weeks, I barely noticed a presence next to me. Not that I cared, really, until the girl brought herself to my attention. "Do you mind if I sit here?" Her soft vocals asked, soft yet friendly. I froze for a few moments, then slowly lowered my glass to the mahogany in front of me. That voice was so familiar, so familiar that I almost thought I was having another nightmare. The lack of an answer must've agitated her, because she picked up her wallet once more, preparing to move. "I'm sorry- it's just..." she skipped a beat, obviously looking elsewhere. "...that guy over there is eyeing me up, and it's really making me uncomfortable. I can le-"
"No. Stay." I knew it as soon as I saw her. It was Mia. Her hair had grown long and silky once more, spilling over her shoulders like the most beautiful of waterfalls. All of the weight she lost through the torment had been found again, cheekbones less obvious yet still carving through the porcelain skin. Speaking of which, was no longer the pasty paleness I had remembered. The most significant change of all was her eyes. The glasses must've been discarded somewhere and replaced with contacts once more. Those piercing sapphires were back, more warm and comforting than I had ever since. No longer were her demons swimming in her own tears, eyelids barely staying up because she hadn't slept in days. It was the Mia I had fallen in love with, and the Mia I had always wanted. I braced myself for the worse, knowing that the moment she laid eyes upon my face she would either smack me across the face or flee the bar in terror. Instead, she did neither; she only batted those luscious eyelashes innocently, wondering why I had changed my mind so quickly.
"My names Jason," I greeted. Most of my life, I would've considered myself a pretty smooth guy. But now, for some reason, all sense had been stolen from me.
"I'm Mia," she reciprocated, corners of her pink lips curving into a gentle smile. I almost wanted to respond with 'I know', but I bit my tongue before it could escape my lips.
Two and a half drinks later, Mia and I were laughing with each other like old friends. I suppose that's half true. After telling yet another hilarious anecdote, her smile and eyes fell, mood becoming more somber. Uh oh. This is what I'd been fearing the whole time. "What's wrong?" I questioned, lowering my voice so that others around wouldn't hear.
"It's just... I don't know if I should tell you. It'll probably sound like I'm a stupid cry baby." I simply shook my head at this because I knew what was about to come. Instead of spilling everything out to me, like I expected, what came next was far more shocking... and likely to my benefit. "I was bullied in high school to the point of attempted suicide my senior year. I never walked across the stage, I..." a single tear fell from her eye, and I gently wiped it away with my thumb. "I don't remember any of it, I can't, because when... when I tried to kill myself, I fell onto the sink and hit my head. Sometimes I'm not sure if I would rather remember or not, but..." her voice faltered. I placed my hand on her chin and delicately lifted her face so her eyes looked into mine. Staring into those eyes I had always longed for, things were said that were never said out loud.
"Mia... tomorrow night? I'll pick you up at eight."
She smiled, nodding her head. The water pooling in her eyes seemed to disappear instantaneously.
"I think I'd like that."
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How did I get in this situation? I thought. Across from me was Isabella, the sole reason I ended up in State. She was cruel yet tender, cold but warming, calculating but daring. I don't know why on earth that I fell in love with her but i did.
"Did you hear me Alison?" She asked.
"Sorry dear, I was in thought. What were you saying?" I explained.
"Maggie and her dreading of a husband are on their way." She repeated. I groaned.
Maggie was my younger sister, while she was nice and loving; her husband on the other hand is cruel. I have seen him hit her when he thought no one was looking. Hell he even forces her to have sex even if she doesn't want to. The only reason (from what I was told) that she stays with him is because he takes care of the kids.
"Hey love?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you come up with a way to separate them?" I asked.
"Of course." She said.
The gears started turning in her head. This is why I loved her, and the reason why I forgave her.
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[WP] You're just been inducted into Overwatch. Problem is, you're an accountant.
|
Harvey leaned his head against the driver’s side window, eyes closed, and sighed. There was a pregnant pause. “Okay.” He muttered, sitting up slightly. “Okay, okay, okay. Tell me again, are you sure this is going to work?”
“Sure.” offered Winston from the passenger’s side seat. “I mean, you told us to be creative in finding funding. You said we are operating at a budget so far in the red that it might as well be Russian. Which, I would remind you, is the group of people we are trying to save from the Omics. I think this is pretty creative.”
“Yeah, but not like this. Creative doesn’t have to be illegal.”
“But it can be.”
“Yeah, yeah, okay. Okay. I just wish you hadn’t gotten me involved. Why am I driving the car again?”
Winston adjusted his glasses and took a breath of patience. “Because Sombra is inside shutting down the bank’s security system. Ana is putting the guards to sleep. D.va is using her mech to help carry out the cash. Reinhardt is breaking open the lock. So we need you to drive.”
“Why isn’t D.va driving?!” Harvey sputtered. “Wasn’t she a big shot pilot?”
“Is this a plane?”
“I--, no, but--”
“Well there you have it.”
“And where are all the others right now? Why aren’t they doing the driving?”
“Hanzo and Genji are helping their brother move, Roadhog is at a hot dog eating contest, McCree is getting his watch fixed, Lucio is making a mixtape with--”
“Why aren’t you driving?”
“I’m a monkey. That would be illegal.”
|
**Statement of Profit or Loss for the Year Ended 30 September 2079**
|$'000
---|--:
**Revenue**|
Sale of reclaimed assets|1 693 164.35
Other asset sales|169 468.26
Operation of services|936 745.87
Other revenue|2 463.57
**Total revenue**|**2 801 842.05**
**Expenses**|
Administrative expenses|512 248.29
Financial expenses|235 825.25
Supplies and equipment|87 914 765.31
Depreciation|11 571 397.21
Damages|64 715 968.34
Other expenses|4 875 369.21
**Total expenses**|**169 825 573.61**
**Net operating loss**|**167 024 271.56**
|
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[WP] Everyone is born with a unique tattoo on their ankle. Whenever you're responsible for someone's death, a copy of their tattoo appears somewhere on your skin. Your best friend's tattoo just showed up on your wrist, even though your best friend is alive and sitting right next to you.
|
*Disclaimer: I didn't really follow the prompt but I thought the idea was fascinating and explored it a little in a different way.*
"Hey man, could you pass this to the blonde lady over there for me?" I asked, holding out a cup of coffee to a man on the other side of the counter.
He paused for a moment, clearly a little annoyed, but he glanced at the growing line behind the counter and acquiesced, grabbing the cup from me. I watched carefully as he maneuvered around chairs and handed the coffee to the woman I had pointed out. She thanked him, hardly noticing his lack of uniform, and took a sip before gathering her things and standing up.
I turned away from the line of customers and slid off my apron and company hat. A chorus of groans erupted as I slipped away through the employee door. I felt bad for a moment, somehow more guilty for inconveniencing caffeine-deprived commuters than for what I had just done to the woman. No matter, someone else would come in before too long and I didn't have the time to stick around. I grabbed a bag waiting for me by the back door and stuffed my apron into the trash on the way out.
***
"Is it done?"
"Yes." I said.
"Inspection."
"Yes, sir." I said, removing my clothing piece by piece.
It would be an odd thing to the casual observer. We were in a brightly lit office building, the top floor in fact, and here I was, naked as the day I was born. My boss looked me over critically, searching my skin for new marks.
"Turn."
He was as succinct as he was ruthless. I obeyed his instruction.
"The funds have been deposited. Are you ready for your next assignment?"
"Yes."
He slid a folder across the table to me. I put it into my bag, knowing better than to open it there.
"Thank you, sir." I said, nodding to him before pulling my clothing back on.
***
"Hey, Javier, would you be able to run this soup to table four? I've got to run all this stuff over to the twenty top in the corner." I said, shooting a pleading look to the other server in the kitchen. My hands were full with plates already and both tables needed their food now. "Please, Javier? You'd be doing me a *huge* favor."
"Fine, fine." He said, rolling his eyes. "You owe me, new kid. Who gets what?"
"You're saving my life here, man." I said, sighing with relief. "The bisque goes to the mom, the minestrone goes to the dad. Nothing for the baby."
He nodded, grabbed the soups waiting on the line and taking the tray out to my table. I set my plates back down, waiting behind the kitchen doors and watching him through the small glass windows.
He set the soups down on the table, exchanging a few words with them before leaving them and doing a round to check on his own tables. I watched them each blow on their spoonfuls and taste their dishes- my cue to leave. I ripped off my serving apron, heading for my trusty bag near the back door.
As I made my way towards the exit, Javier came back into the kitchen. He stopped for a second, staring quizzically at me.
"Hey, where are you going, man?" He asked, throwing his hands up. He was pissed, and rightfully so. I saw two new tattoos darken on his arms before I darted out the back door.
As I moved through the night, I glanced at my own skin. Perfectly clean, perfectly innocent.
I felt bad, but only for a second.
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When I opened my eyes it was still dark in my room. I looked over at the alarm clock, 3am. Again only an hour of sleep. The nightmares were getting worse. It had been 3 years since my father's death and the police were still searching for the person with his death mark. The smell of blood, his uneeing eyes still haunted me, and I saw it in my dreams every night.
I've always hated the smell of the doctor's office. I had discovered my father's dead body after coming home from school, not long after that I begun suffering from night terrors, insomnia, anxiety and depression my life was trapped in this cycle continued until I had cut myself off from the world and I went numb. After 3 months of this my mom took me to counselling. I was on medication now and the sessions always seemed to drag on, It was supposed to help me feel better my mom told me. Help me become a normal person again instead of this corpse of a human being.
"Any improvement since last time Jack?" I looked up, Doctor Lee was an older man with greying hair. He seemed kind but serious, and I liked him. "Not really," I replied half heartedly. "Well let's see what we can do to help you improve, now it says here you've been on your current medication for 6 months now, but you don't seem to be improving." He was now tapping on the clipboard he just read from, " I'm gonna put you on a new medication if that's ok with you and see if that helps," He smiled at me, I don't remember the last time I smiled. I nodded feeling too tired to speak. Why was I here? These sessions weren't helping, the medication I was on wasn't working,and it was the only medication my mother could afford. Then I felt it, a light caress on my wrist, soft like a feather or a gentle summer breeze. My own mark started fading into my skin, a crescent moon simple yet elegant, but darker than it was on my ankle. I looked up and realized Dr. Lee was staring at me in shock. Then I saw it, He also had my mark on his wrist.
"Jack please I want to help you," Dr. Lee was a nice man he didn't deserve this I thought to myself. I will not give in to my dark thoughts. My goal now was to stay alive even if it wasn't for me but for Dr. Lee. I knew that when I went home my mom would be hysterical surely Dr. Lee would call her right away. I couldn't deal with that right now. Instead I ran out of the office eventually i looked around and noticed a coffeee coffee shop down the street. Just as I went in Dr. Lee came into the coffee shop panting, clearly he had just been running. I went up to the counter to order and he interrupted, " Please Jack come with me to the hospital we can help you, we can reverse this," his eyes were pleading with me and he was shaking, "just let me order something to eat first then we will talk." I hadn't been here before so I ordered a cookie and a coffee at random. Dr. Lee had said we might be able to reverse this I had heard about this happening previously, often people would get them from a disease and after receiving treatment the mark would disappear. Dr. Lee started talking to me again, apologizing profusely and begging me to go with him,
I agreed to go to the hospital. In Dr. Lee's car he was talking nervously about anything and everything, but I was hungry I pulled out my cookie and started thinking about death. How was I supposed to act like I wanted help? I took a bite without even thinking. It tasted kind of nutty, now that I thought about it what kind of cookie had I even ordered? That's when I felt my throat swelling up. My mouth itched, I couldn't breathe, "Dr. Lee!" I tried to get out, "Help me!" The last thing I saw was his face turning from shock, to realization, then everything went black.
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[WP] Everyone is born with a unique tattoo on their ankle. Whenever you're responsible for someone's death, a copy of their tattoo appears somewhere on your skin. Your best friend's tattoo just showed up on your wrist, even though your best friend is alive and sitting right next to you.
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[My first. Using a mobile phone]
Me and my friend, my best friend had been planning this night for a long time. We'd go clean for a while and then binge on drugs at the end. I've been looking forward to this more than him. I've been miserable, my job was a dead end and I would go deeper in dept through each passing month. I can sense that something was coming to a mysterious close. Drunk and prepping my arm for the fix. The syringe filled me with a warmth that I had been searching for. The sudden euphoric feeling hit me like a freight train. As I looked on in the strange comfort of this ultimate high I suddenly felt a strange coolness on my wrist. Opening my eyes to look I couldn't quite process it. "What am I looking at?" I asked myself. The reality slowly dawned on me. This was his mark. His! The euphoria suddenly sharpened into a keen sense of focus and alertness. Turning my head to face him I saw that he was still alive. But he had was already shot up. Blood was making it's way out of the drag mark. They say that once you get someone's mark that they can't be saved. "Fuck" I yelled "I have to try" I told myself. I reached for my car keys and grabbed him. Thoughts and possibilities raced through my head. The ambulance would not get here in time. My only choice is to take him to the hospital. I checked him as we were making our way to the car He was unresponsive with a faint smile on his face. His heart rate was becoming weaker. I climbed into the car and dragged him into the passenger seat. ironically I didn't even buckle him in. I started the car and raced through the streets. Everything was going by slowly. Even as I was going as fast as the car could take us. Dodging trucks, cars and any obstacles with expert proficiency. I noticed that I could feel his heartbeat through the mark on my wrist. It was getting slower and slower. The hospital was in view and police cruisers where on my tail. "Only one more turn" I said . As I turned I saw in dismay that an officer had laid out spikes. The tires popped, the car went out of control, and barrel towards a sign. Rattled I opened the door dragged my friend out and began to carry him again. I was bleeding from the impact yet he remained unharmed. "Just a few more yards" I said. Feeling the thump, thump of his heartbeat as it continued its decline. As I got nearer I saw a wheelchair by the beginning of the driveway. I put him in and pushed him towards the emergency room entrance. I collapsed and began to fade away. Trying to focus on the heartbeat thump..thump.....thump...... people came to me. I couldn't tell whether it was the police or the paramedics. Suddenly his heartbeat ceased and as I drifted into the darkness I felt sad. I did not make it. I was a failure. I woke up feeling like shit in a hospital bed. Tears began to run down my face. "I'm sorry man" I said to the empty room. "Why are you apologizing" a nurse said as she walked in. "Is it about the sign you wrecked on your way here?" Don't you worry about that." She said with a smile on her face "people have taken an interest in you after what happened". Bewildered I asked "what". "Your friends mark" she said "it's gone". I looked at my wrist and the mark had disappeared. All that was left was a slight white and yellow outline. "So he's ok?" I asked. "Of course I'm ok loser" my friend said as he entered the room. "You did it man! You managed to save me even after you got my mark."
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Sweat was streaming down my face as we played basketball. My best friend and I had started a small league between friends and we use whatever meager equipment we could find. We kept our jerseys with us and I was the ball keeper. My favorite number is 7 so I chose that as my Jersey number while my friend chose #9. Basketball was really the only way for us to get away from the harsh reality nowadays.
Ever since Donald Trump, sorry I meant Supreme Overlord Trump, established control theres been a shortage of even the most basic necessities. This meant that when we weren't focused on the mandatory schooling or foraging for food, we worried about how we would survive the next day. Some people even went to the extent of cannibalism and to be honest I don't blame them. There really isn't much food left nowadays.
When we couldn't ignore our thirst and hunger any longer, #9 and I decided to call it at day and go eat a ration. After the game my best friend and I went back to our shelter and to our horror it has been broken into and all of our stores had been looted. I couldn't bear the hunger any longer and with a wicked smile on my face, I confessed to #9 that I too had been considering cannibalism. At that moment, a doe tattoo appeared on my wrist. A sign of impending doom for whoever has a matching tattoo. Unsurprisingly, my best friend was known for his unique and elegant doe tattoo. A deep fear set into his eyes as he realised what it meant. He had known what would happen since he was a child. He began to back away slowly but in my senseless hunger i knew there was no escape for him. The ending of this story is old as time as we all know that 7 8 9
Edit: oh god this is so much worse than I thought
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[WP] Everyone is born with a unique tattoo on their ankle. Whenever you're responsible for someone's death, a copy of their tattoo appears somewhere on your skin. Your best friend's tattoo just showed up on your wrist, even though your best friend is alive and sitting right next to you.
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I run as fast as I can around the corner of the building. I quickly grab my keys from my pocket, my hands trembling as I unlock the door. My feet move quickly as I make my way to our apartment. My mom is in the kitchen, her face worried as she meets my eyes.
“What’s wrong?” She asks concerned.
“Nothing” I say coolly.
“Okay.” She says still skeptical. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”
“Alright, just come get me when it’s ready.” I fake a smile.
“Will do.”
I turn around and walk quickly to my bedroom, shutting and locking the door behind me. I grab a sock from my drawer and drop to my knees, holding my arm in pain. I bite on the sock to keep me from screaming, tears rush down my face. I watch as a mark is tattooed into my arm, sending a burning sensation through my whole arm. My eyes grow wide in fear as the black ink gets darker and darker, revealing the symbol on my arm. It’s a mark I’ve seen before, but can’t put my finger on. The burning sensation has gone away, leaving my arm throbbing in pain, a bit more bearable from the burning feeling.
My mom knocks on the door. “Dinner’s ready.”
“Okay.” I stammer. “Be out in a minute.”
I throw on a long sleeve shirt to cover the marking and join my family at the dinner table. I sit quietly in my chair, focusing on breathing to keep my self from passing out. The intercom buzzes loudly interrupting my thoughts. My dad gets up from the table and walks over to the intercom holding down the button as he talks.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Cali, I just need to talk to Tava really quick.” My dad looks over at me, his face annoyed as he hates when anybody interrupts dinner.
“I’ll make sure to be quick. Promise.” I say getting up from the table and walking back down the stairs, joining her outside the door.
“What happened earlier? One moment you were joining in on conversation and the next minute you’re running down the block. Are you okay?”
“Oh, yeah, I’m fine. Sorry, I forgot that I had to be home. Mom forgot her keys to get inside so I had to meet her.” I scratched the back of my neck nervously.
“A simple explanation would’ve been fine.” She laughed.
“Yeah, I don’t know why I didn’t say any-” My heart started beating quickly and I could feel my body growing weak as my eyes met the mark on her ankle. “Yours.” I whispered.
“What?” She said, her face confused.
My ears were ringing loudly and I could no longer hear the words that were coming out of her mouth. My eyes were growing heavy and I was trying my best to keep breathing, but everything started spinning and I could feel myself fading. The last thing I saw before hitting the ground was my dad running down the stairs.
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Sweat was streaming down my face as we played basketball. My best friend and I had started a small league between friends and we use whatever meager equipment we could find. We kept our jerseys with us and I was the ball keeper. My favorite number is 7 so I chose that as my Jersey number while my friend chose #9. Basketball was really the only way for us to get away from the harsh reality nowadays.
Ever since Donald Trump, sorry I meant Supreme Overlord Trump, established control theres been a shortage of even the most basic necessities. This meant that when we weren't focused on the mandatory schooling or foraging for food, we worried about how we would survive the next day. Some people even went to the extent of cannibalism and to be honest I don't blame them. There really isn't much food left nowadays.
When we couldn't ignore our thirst and hunger any longer, #9 and I decided to call it at day and go eat a ration. After the game my best friend and I went back to our shelter and to our horror it has been broken into and all of our stores had been looted. I couldn't bear the hunger any longer and with a wicked smile on my face, I confessed to #9 that I too had been considering cannibalism. At that moment, a doe tattoo appeared on my wrist. A sign of impending doom for whoever has a matching tattoo. Unsurprisingly, my best friend was known for his unique and elegant doe tattoo. A deep fear set into his eyes as he realised what it meant. He had known what would happen since he was a child. He began to back away slowly but in my senseless hunger i knew there was no escape for him. The ending of this story is old as time as we all know that 7 8 9
Edit: oh god this is so much worse than I thought
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[WP] Everyone is born with a unique tattoo on their ankle. Whenever you're responsible for someone's death, a copy of their tattoo appears somewhere on your skin. Your best friend's tattoo just showed up on your wrist, even though your best friend is alive and sitting right next to you.
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(My first time writing anything. Here goes!)
I was awakened by the sensation by a searing pain on my wrist. I bolted upwards, jerking my head around to see what asshole was responsible. Unfortunately, my sudden movements caused a trombone case to fall over into the aisle, waking up a number of groggy band kids on the bus, all of them muttering their disapproval of being woken so suddenly. Sidney jumped awake next to me, startled.
"What's up with you?" she grumbled. She looked at me with her tired eyes. She didn't like to be disturbed from her sleep, especially not after a performance. Sleeping on the bus ride back home wasn't comfortable, but it was usually inevitable.
I rubbed my wrist, feeling nothing but my bare skin. Must've dreamt it. "Nothing," I said. I picked up the trombone case and propped it back up to where it was before. Sidney rolled her eyes, and leaned on my shoulder. She quickly fell back asleep. I chuckled.
Careful not to disturb Sidney, I cautiously took my phone to check the time. 9:39 pm. Huh. It felt like it was much later. Just as I was about to put my phone away, something caught my eye. On the same wrist where I felt that pain, there was a mark.
My heart felt like it dropped down to my stomach. I looked away from my wrist before I could see what the tattoo looked like, my chest feeling constricted. No way. I couldn't have done it, I couldn't have killed someone. I didn't want to look at it; what if it was someone I knew? I wouldn't have been able to bear it.
I'll have to look at it eventually. But not now. Not in front of everyone. My god, how would I tell my family? Sidney?
I tried not to think about it. 30 more minutes and we'll be back in town. I kept trying to sleep, but all I did was rub that spot on my wrist until it was even more raw.
The next few weeks at school, I showed up wearing an oversized sweatshirt. I knew I looked ridiculous, but I'd take the public ridicule. It's driving me insane. It would be so much easier to just look at it and see who it was, but no matter how I tried, I just couldn't do it. Everyday, I'd check and see who was at school and who wasn't. I've been anxious and I haven't been eating. I'm a generally quiet kid at school; I don't have many friends who would've noticed my strange behavior. But Sidney, she noticed. One day, as we were walking home from school, she confronted me.
"Jay, I miss the old you," she said. "I wish you would tell me what's wrong."
I shook my head. "I-I can't," I stammered. I clenched the left sleeve of my sweater out of habit. I saw her eyes flick down to my trembling hands, then back up to meet mine. Her gaze softened.
She took a step forward, reaching her hand out to grab mine. "You know, you can tell me anythin-"
"NO!" I shouted, panicking. I didn't want her to know. I pushed her away, a little too hard, and she fell back. She looked up at me, her eyes wide with shock.
My eyes filled with tears. I hurt her. I hurt her. I could see the blood welling from the scratches in her hands. "I'm sorry," I said, my voice quivering. But before she could say anything, I turned and walked away as fast as I could, making the biggest mistake of my life.
In the following week after our incident, I avoided Sidney. I wanted to talk to her, I really did. But I don't think she wanted to see me. I never realized how lonely she was during school. It's not like I was the only person she ever talked to; but when she would talk to other people, she didn't have that same spark, that passion that I adored so much when she was with me. It was all just meaningless small talk.
I finally decided this weekend that it was time to set things straight. I missed her. I wanted to have my friend back. I'm so sick of being miserable all the time. However, it's my own fault. Sometimes I wonder how much grief would I have saved if I had just looked at my tattoo from the beginning.
My heart started to pound. I knew what I had to do. I pulled up my left sleeve and examined the tattoo closely.
It was a peculiar little tattoo. So simple, yet there was beauty in its simplicity. A white lily flower, with its stem in the shape of a treble clef. I've never seen this tattoo before. I was still trembling, but this brought me a little relief.
I pulled out my cellphone and, with shaking fingers, dialed Sidney's number. It rang and rang, but there was no answer. Of course; she never picked up her phone. But a feeling of doubt got into me. I pushed that feeling aside and opened the messenger app.
"Hey Sid...it's Jay"
I waited a few minutes. No answer, and she hadn't read it. I typed another message.
"I want to talk to you about what happened, can we meet up later?"
No reply. No read.
Suddenly a chilling thought crept it's way into my head. Sidney's never shown me her tattoo before. What if...
No. That's silly.
As the hours passed, I grew increasingly more worried about her. She lived just down the street, it wouldn't hurt to visit and check on her. I walked to her house with urgency in my step. Once I got to her doorstep, it took about a minute to muster up the courage to ring the doorbell. And it took another minute for someone to come and open the door.
The door swung open, the smell of cigarettes and alcohol wafting from the house. "What do you want kid?" said Mr. Brown, a cigarette in his hand.
"Is Sid home?" I asked.
He stared me down. "Should be in her room. She's been in there all day," he puffed on his cigarette. I frowned. Not a good sign. He opened the door wider and let me in. It took a lot to not sprint to her room. I knocked on her door.
"Sid?"
No answer. I knocked louder.
"Sid!"
No answer. Consumed with worry, I enter without permission. And became immediately mortified at what I saw. There was blood all over the sheets, and Sidney was lying, motionless, in the middle of her bed. I stood, frozen, until my eyes came to a rest on her ankle.
A white lily tattoo with a treble clef stem.
Then the world went black.
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Sweat was streaming down my face as we played basketball. My best friend and I had started a small league between friends and we use whatever meager equipment we could find. We kept our jerseys with us and I was the ball keeper. My favorite number is 7 so I chose that as my Jersey number while my friend chose #9. Basketball was really the only way for us to get away from the harsh reality nowadays.
Ever since Donald Trump, sorry I meant Supreme Overlord Trump, established control theres been a shortage of even the most basic necessities. This meant that when we weren't focused on the mandatory schooling or foraging for food, we worried about how we would survive the next day. Some people even went to the extent of cannibalism and to be honest I don't blame them. There really isn't much food left nowadays.
When we couldn't ignore our thirst and hunger any longer, #9 and I decided to call it at day and go eat a ration. After the game my best friend and I went back to our shelter and to our horror it has been broken into and all of our stores had been looted. I couldn't bear the hunger any longer and with a wicked smile on my face, I confessed to #9 that I too had been considering cannibalism. At that moment, a doe tattoo appeared on my wrist. A sign of impending doom for whoever has a matching tattoo. Unsurprisingly, my best friend was known for his unique and elegant doe tattoo. A deep fear set into his eyes as he realised what it meant. He had known what would happen since he was a child. He began to back away slowly but in my senseless hunger i knew there was no escape for him. The ending of this story is old as time as we all know that 7 8 9
Edit: oh god this is so much worse than I thought
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|
[WP] Everyone is born with a unique tattoo on their ankle. Whenever you're responsible for someone's death, a copy of their tattoo appears somewhere on your skin. Your best friend's tattoo just showed up on your wrist, even though your best friend is alive and sitting right next to you.
|
[My first. Using a mobile phone]
Me and my friend, my best friend had been planning this night for a long time. We'd go clean for a while and then binge on drugs at the end. I've been looking forward to this more than him. I've been miserable, my job was a dead end and I would go deeper in dept through each passing month. I can sense that something was coming to a mysterious close. Drunk and prepping my arm for the fix. The syringe filled me with a warmth that I had been searching for. The sudden euphoric feeling hit me like a freight train. As I looked on in the strange comfort of this ultimate high I suddenly felt a strange coolness on my wrist. Opening my eyes to look I couldn't quite process it. "What am I looking at?" I asked myself. The reality slowly dawned on me. This was his mark. His! The euphoria suddenly sharpened into a keen sense of focus and alertness. Turning my head to face him I saw that he was still alive. But he had was already shot up. Blood was making it's way out of the drag mark. They say that once you get someone's mark that they can't be saved. "Fuck" I yelled "I have to try" I told myself. I reached for my car keys and grabbed him. Thoughts and possibilities raced through my head. The ambulance would not get here in time. My only choice is to take him to the hospital. I checked him as we were making our way to the car He was unresponsive with a faint smile on his face. His heart rate was becoming weaker. I climbed into the car and dragged him into the passenger seat. ironically I didn't even buckle him in. I started the car and raced through the streets. Everything was going by slowly. Even as I was going as fast as the car could take us. Dodging trucks, cars and any obstacles with expert proficiency. I noticed that I could feel his heartbeat through the mark on my wrist. It was getting slower and slower. The hospital was in view and police cruisers where on my tail. "Only one more turn" I said . As I turned I saw in dismay that an officer had laid out spikes. The tires popped, the car went out of control, and barrel towards a sign. Rattled I opened the door dragged my friend out and began to carry him again. I was bleeding from the impact yet he remained unharmed. "Just a few more yards" I said. Feeling the thump, thump of his heartbeat as it continued its decline. As I got nearer I saw a wheelchair by the beginning of the driveway. I put him in and pushed him towards the emergency room entrance. I collapsed and began to fade away. Trying to focus on the heartbeat thump..thump.....thump...... people came to me. I couldn't tell whether it was the police or the paramedics. Suddenly his heartbeat ceased and as I drifted into the darkness I felt sad. I did not make it. I was a failure. I woke up feeling like shit in a hospital bed. Tears began to run down my face. "I'm sorry man" I said to the empty room. "Why are you apologizing" a nurse said as she walked in. "Is it about the sign you wrecked on your way here?" Don't you worry about that." She said with a smile on her face "people have taken an interest in you after what happened". Bewildered I asked "what". "Your friends mark" she said "it's gone". I looked at my wrist and the mark had disappeared. All that was left was a slight white and yellow outline. "So he's ok?" I asked. "Of course I'm ok loser" my friend said as he entered the room. "You did it man! You managed to save me even after you got my mark."
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/* Hey guys this is my first writing ever and I'm not a native english speaker so the story could include some errors, let me know what you think and if you want the story to continue */
Last lesson of the day. History. I can't be the only one that hates it. You need to know all the dates, all the names and even the freaking tattoos that the most important people had and on their freaking ankles. I mean, does it change anything if the guy who started the war was named Joffrey, John or Alexander and why do I have to know that his original tattoo represented an eagle. I spent the whole time staring at the clock. Seconds felt like minutes and the tic-tac was making me going crazy. It wasn't a good day, definitely not. I didn't sleep well, I got up with a huge headache, I lost the bus, I was late for school and I got bad grade on the last math test.
"beep-beep" - I raised my eyes and saw Mrs. Clark looking at me.
"You know you are not supposed to use your phone at school Adam, do you?" - she asked with a really calm voice.
I think her voice was the only positive aspect of this subject. She had the nicest voice I've ever heard.
"I'm so sorry Mrs. Clark, I had a really bad day and i forgot to turn it off."
"Adam, you know the rules, I need to take it to the Principal."
"Oh, please..." - My voice cracked. -"I know, but I really didn't do it on purpose"
She looked at me and she must have realized how bad I looked. - "Just put it on the desk and we'll talk about it later."
As I stood up walking to give her the phone I saw the notification of the message. It was from Zoe.
"Are you up for some movie marathon?" - She was my best friends. I've known her since I can remember and she always knew how to make me happy. I looked at her sitting in the corner of the room. She looked sorry about the phone but when i nodded my head, we both smiled. I loved to watch movies, especially with her. We were all set up and the last twenty minutes passed very fast.
"Ring-ring" the school bell rang. Finally.
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[WP] Everyone is born with a unique tattoo on their ankle. Whenever you're responsible for someone's death, a copy of their tattoo appears somewhere on your skin. Your best friend's tattoo just showed up on your wrist, even though your best friend is alive and sitting right next to you.
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I run as fast as I can around the corner of the building. I quickly grab my keys from my pocket, my hands trembling as I unlock the door. My feet move quickly as I make my way to our apartment. My mom is in the kitchen, her face worried as she meets my eyes.
“What’s wrong?” She asks concerned.
“Nothing” I say coolly.
“Okay.” She says still skeptical. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”
“Alright, just come get me when it’s ready.” I fake a smile.
“Will do.”
I turn around and walk quickly to my bedroom, shutting and locking the door behind me. I grab a sock from my drawer and drop to my knees, holding my arm in pain. I bite on the sock to keep me from screaming, tears rush down my face. I watch as a mark is tattooed into my arm, sending a burning sensation through my whole arm. My eyes grow wide in fear as the black ink gets darker and darker, revealing the symbol on my arm. It’s a mark I’ve seen before, but can’t put my finger on. The burning sensation has gone away, leaving my arm throbbing in pain, a bit more bearable from the burning feeling.
My mom knocks on the door. “Dinner’s ready.”
“Okay.” I stammer. “Be out in a minute.”
I throw on a long sleeve shirt to cover the marking and join my family at the dinner table. I sit quietly in my chair, focusing on breathing to keep my self from passing out. The intercom buzzes loudly interrupting my thoughts. My dad gets up from the table and walks over to the intercom holding down the button as he talks.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Cali, I just need to talk to Tava really quick.” My dad looks over at me, his face annoyed as he hates when anybody interrupts dinner.
“I’ll make sure to be quick. Promise.” I say getting up from the table and walking back down the stairs, joining her outside the door.
“What happened earlier? One moment you were joining in on conversation and the next minute you’re running down the block. Are you okay?”
“Oh, yeah, I’m fine. Sorry, I forgot that I had to be home. Mom forgot her keys to get inside so I had to meet her.” I scratched the back of my neck nervously.
“A simple explanation would’ve been fine.” She laughed.
“Yeah, I don’t know why I didn’t say any-” My heart started beating quickly and I could feel my body growing weak as my eyes met the mark on her ankle. “Yours.” I whispered.
“What?” She said, her face confused.
My ears were ringing loudly and I could no longer hear the words that were coming out of her mouth. My eyes were growing heavy and I was trying my best to keep breathing, but everything started spinning and I could feel myself fading. The last thing I saw before hitting the ground was my dad running down the stairs.
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/* Hey guys this is my first writing ever and I'm not a native english speaker so the story could include some errors, let me know what you think and if you want the story to continue */
Last lesson of the day. History. I can't be the only one that hates it. You need to know all the dates, all the names and even the freaking tattoos that the most important people had and on their freaking ankles. I mean, does it change anything if the guy who started the war was named Joffrey, John or Alexander and why do I have to know that his original tattoo represented an eagle. I spent the whole time staring at the clock. Seconds felt like minutes and the tic-tac was making me going crazy. It wasn't a good day, definitely not. I didn't sleep well, I got up with a huge headache, I lost the bus, I was late for school and I got bad grade on the last math test.
"beep-beep" - I raised my eyes and saw Mrs. Clark looking at me.
"You know you are not supposed to use your phone at school Adam, do you?" - she asked with a really calm voice.
I think her voice was the only positive aspect of this subject. She had the nicest voice I've ever heard.
"I'm so sorry Mrs. Clark, I had a really bad day and i forgot to turn it off."
"Adam, you know the rules, I need to take it to the Principal."
"Oh, please..." - My voice cracked. -"I know, but I really didn't do it on purpose"
She looked at me and she must have realized how bad I looked. - "Just put it on the desk and we'll talk about it later."
As I stood up walking to give her the phone I saw the notification of the message. It was from Zoe.
"Are you up for some movie marathon?" - She was my best friends. I've known her since I can remember and she always knew how to make me happy. I looked at her sitting in the corner of the room. She looked sorry about the phone but when i nodded my head, we both smiled. I loved to watch movies, especially with her. We were all set up and the last twenty minutes passed very fast.
"Ring-ring" the school bell rang. Finally.
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[WP] Everyone is born with a unique tattoo on their ankle. Whenever you're responsible for someone's death, a copy of their tattoo appears somewhere on your skin. Your best friend's tattoo just showed up on your wrist, even though your best friend is alive and sitting right next to you.
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(My first time writing anything. Here goes!)
I was awakened by the sensation by a searing pain on my wrist. I bolted upwards, jerking my head around to see what asshole was responsible. Unfortunately, my sudden movements caused a trombone case to fall over into the aisle, waking up a number of groggy band kids on the bus, all of them muttering their disapproval of being woken so suddenly. Sidney jumped awake next to me, startled.
"What's up with you?" she grumbled. She looked at me with her tired eyes. She didn't like to be disturbed from her sleep, especially not after a performance. Sleeping on the bus ride back home wasn't comfortable, but it was usually inevitable.
I rubbed my wrist, feeling nothing but my bare skin. Must've dreamt it. "Nothing," I said. I picked up the trombone case and propped it back up to where it was before. Sidney rolled her eyes, and leaned on my shoulder. She quickly fell back asleep. I chuckled.
Careful not to disturb Sidney, I cautiously took my phone to check the time. 9:39 pm. Huh. It felt like it was much later. Just as I was about to put my phone away, something caught my eye. On the same wrist where I felt that pain, there was a mark.
My heart felt like it dropped down to my stomach. I looked away from my wrist before I could see what the tattoo looked like, my chest feeling constricted. No way. I couldn't have done it, I couldn't have killed someone. I didn't want to look at it; what if it was someone I knew? I wouldn't have been able to bear it.
I'll have to look at it eventually. But not now. Not in front of everyone. My god, how would I tell my family? Sidney?
I tried not to think about it. 30 more minutes and we'll be back in town. I kept trying to sleep, but all I did was rub that spot on my wrist until it was even more raw.
The next few weeks at school, I showed up wearing an oversized sweatshirt. I knew I looked ridiculous, but I'd take the public ridicule. It's driving me insane. It would be so much easier to just look at it and see who it was, but no matter how I tried, I just couldn't do it. Everyday, I'd check and see who was at school and who wasn't. I've been anxious and I haven't been eating. I'm a generally quiet kid at school; I don't have many friends who would've noticed my strange behavior. But Sidney, she noticed. One day, as we were walking home from school, she confronted me.
"Jay, I miss the old you," she said. "I wish you would tell me what's wrong."
I shook my head. "I-I can't," I stammered. I clenched the left sleeve of my sweater out of habit. I saw her eyes flick down to my trembling hands, then back up to meet mine. Her gaze softened.
She took a step forward, reaching her hand out to grab mine. "You know, you can tell me anythin-"
"NO!" I shouted, panicking. I didn't want her to know. I pushed her away, a little too hard, and she fell back. She looked up at me, her eyes wide with shock.
My eyes filled with tears. I hurt her. I hurt her. I could see the blood welling from the scratches in her hands. "I'm sorry," I said, my voice quivering. But before she could say anything, I turned and walked away as fast as I could, making the biggest mistake of my life.
In the following week after our incident, I avoided Sidney. I wanted to talk to her, I really did. But I don't think she wanted to see me. I never realized how lonely she was during school. It's not like I was the only person she ever talked to; but when she would talk to other people, she didn't have that same spark, that passion that I adored so much when she was with me. It was all just meaningless small talk.
I finally decided this weekend that it was time to set things straight. I missed her. I wanted to have my friend back. I'm so sick of being miserable all the time. However, it's my own fault. Sometimes I wonder how much grief would I have saved if I had just looked at my tattoo from the beginning.
My heart started to pound. I knew what I had to do. I pulled up my left sleeve and examined the tattoo closely.
It was a peculiar little tattoo. So simple, yet there was beauty in its simplicity. A white lily flower, with its stem in the shape of a treble clef. I've never seen this tattoo before. I was still trembling, but this brought me a little relief.
I pulled out my cellphone and, with shaking fingers, dialed Sidney's number. It rang and rang, but there was no answer. Of course; she never picked up her phone. But a feeling of doubt got into me. I pushed that feeling aside and opened the messenger app.
"Hey Sid...it's Jay"
I waited a few minutes. No answer, and she hadn't read it. I typed another message.
"I want to talk to you about what happened, can we meet up later?"
No reply. No read.
Suddenly a chilling thought crept it's way into my head. Sidney's never shown me her tattoo before. What if...
No. That's silly.
As the hours passed, I grew increasingly more worried about her. She lived just down the street, it wouldn't hurt to visit and check on her. I walked to her house with urgency in my step. Once I got to her doorstep, it took about a minute to muster up the courage to ring the doorbell. And it took another minute for someone to come and open the door.
The door swung open, the smell of cigarettes and alcohol wafting from the house. "What do you want kid?" said Mr. Brown, a cigarette in his hand.
"Is Sid home?" I asked.
He stared me down. "Should be in her room. She's been in there all day," he puffed on his cigarette. I frowned. Not a good sign. He opened the door wider and let me in. It took a lot to not sprint to her room. I knocked on her door.
"Sid?"
No answer. I knocked louder.
"Sid!"
No answer. Consumed with worry, I enter without permission. And became immediately mortified at what I saw. There was blood all over the sheets, and Sidney was lying, motionless, in the middle of her bed. I stood, frozen, until my eyes came to a rest on her ankle.
A white lily tattoo with a treble clef stem.
Then the world went black.
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/* Hey guys this is my first writing ever and I'm not a native english speaker so the story could include some errors, let me know what you think and if you want the story to continue */
Last lesson of the day. History. I can't be the only one that hates it. You need to know all the dates, all the names and even the freaking tattoos that the most important people had and on their freaking ankles. I mean, does it change anything if the guy who started the war was named Joffrey, John or Alexander and why do I have to know that his original tattoo represented an eagle. I spent the whole time staring at the clock. Seconds felt like minutes and the tic-tac was making me going crazy. It wasn't a good day, definitely not. I didn't sleep well, I got up with a huge headache, I lost the bus, I was late for school and I got bad grade on the last math test.
"beep-beep" - I raised my eyes and saw Mrs. Clark looking at me.
"You know you are not supposed to use your phone at school Adam, do you?" - she asked with a really calm voice.
I think her voice was the only positive aspect of this subject. She had the nicest voice I've ever heard.
"I'm so sorry Mrs. Clark, I had a really bad day and i forgot to turn it off."
"Adam, you know the rules, I need to take it to the Principal."
"Oh, please..." - My voice cracked. -"I know, but I really didn't do it on purpose"
She looked at me and she must have realized how bad I looked. - "Just put it on the desk and we'll talk about it later."
As I stood up walking to give her the phone I saw the notification of the message. It was from Zoe.
"Are you up for some movie marathon?" - She was my best friends. I've known her since I can remember and she always knew how to make me happy. I looked at her sitting in the corner of the room. She looked sorry about the phone but when i nodded my head, we both smiled. I loved to watch movies, especially with her. We were all set up and the last twenty minutes passed very fast.
"Ring-ring" the school bell rang. Finally.
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[WP] Everyone is born with a unique tattoo on their ankle. Whenever you're responsible for someone's death, a copy of their tattoo appears somewhere on your skin. Your best friend's tattoo just showed up on your wrist, even though your best friend is alive and sitting right next to you.
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(My first time writing anything. Here goes!)
I was awakened by the sensation by a searing pain on my wrist. I bolted upwards, jerking my head around to see what asshole was responsible. Unfortunately, my sudden movements caused a trombone case to fall over into the aisle, waking up a number of groggy band kids on the bus, all of them muttering their disapproval of being woken so suddenly. Sidney jumped awake next to me, startled.
"What's up with you?" she grumbled. She looked at me with her tired eyes. She didn't like to be disturbed from her sleep, especially not after a performance. Sleeping on the bus ride back home wasn't comfortable, but it was usually inevitable.
I rubbed my wrist, feeling nothing but my bare skin. Must've dreamt it. "Nothing," I said. I picked up the trombone case and propped it back up to where it was before. Sidney rolled her eyes, and leaned on my shoulder. She quickly fell back asleep. I chuckled.
Careful not to disturb Sidney, I cautiously took my phone to check the time. 9:39 pm. Huh. It felt like it was much later. Just as I was about to put my phone away, something caught my eye. On the same wrist where I felt that pain, there was a mark.
My heart felt like it dropped down to my stomach. I looked away from my wrist before I could see what the tattoo looked like, my chest feeling constricted. No way. I couldn't have done it, I couldn't have killed someone. I didn't want to look at it; what if it was someone I knew? I wouldn't have been able to bear it.
I'll have to look at it eventually. But not now. Not in front of everyone. My god, how would I tell my family? Sidney?
I tried not to think about it. 30 more minutes and we'll be back in town. I kept trying to sleep, but all I did was rub that spot on my wrist until it was even more raw.
The next few weeks at school, I showed up wearing an oversized sweatshirt. I knew I looked ridiculous, but I'd take the public ridicule. It's driving me insane. It would be so much easier to just look at it and see who it was, but no matter how I tried, I just couldn't do it. Everyday, I'd check and see who was at school and who wasn't. I've been anxious and I haven't been eating. I'm a generally quiet kid at school; I don't have many friends who would've noticed my strange behavior. But Sidney, she noticed. One day, as we were walking home from school, she confronted me.
"Jay, I miss the old you," she said. "I wish you would tell me what's wrong."
I shook my head. "I-I can't," I stammered. I clenched the left sleeve of my sweater out of habit. I saw her eyes flick down to my trembling hands, then back up to meet mine. Her gaze softened.
She took a step forward, reaching her hand out to grab mine. "You know, you can tell me anythin-"
"NO!" I shouted, panicking. I didn't want her to know. I pushed her away, a little too hard, and she fell back. She looked up at me, her eyes wide with shock.
My eyes filled with tears. I hurt her. I hurt her. I could see the blood welling from the scratches in her hands. "I'm sorry," I said, my voice quivering. But before she could say anything, I turned and walked away as fast as I could, making the biggest mistake of my life.
In the following week after our incident, I avoided Sidney. I wanted to talk to her, I really did. But I don't think she wanted to see me. I never realized how lonely she was during school. It's not like I was the only person she ever talked to; but when she would talk to other people, she didn't have that same spark, that passion that I adored so much when she was with me. It was all just meaningless small talk.
I finally decided this weekend that it was time to set things straight. I missed her. I wanted to have my friend back. I'm so sick of being miserable all the time. However, it's my own fault. Sometimes I wonder how much grief would I have saved if I had just looked at my tattoo from the beginning.
My heart started to pound. I knew what I had to do. I pulled up my left sleeve and examined the tattoo closely.
It was a peculiar little tattoo. So simple, yet there was beauty in its simplicity. A white lily flower, with its stem in the shape of a treble clef. I've never seen this tattoo before. I was still trembling, but this brought me a little relief.
I pulled out my cellphone and, with shaking fingers, dialed Sidney's number. It rang and rang, but there was no answer. Of course; she never picked up her phone. But a feeling of doubt got into me. I pushed that feeling aside and opened the messenger app.
"Hey Sid...it's Jay"
I waited a few minutes. No answer, and she hadn't read it. I typed another message.
"I want to talk to you about what happened, can we meet up later?"
No reply. No read.
Suddenly a chilling thought crept it's way into my head. Sidney's never shown me her tattoo before. What if...
No. That's silly.
As the hours passed, I grew increasingly more worried about her. She lived just down the street, it wouldn't hurt to visit and check on her. I walked to her house with urgency in my step. Once I got to her doorstep, it took about a minute to muster up the courage to ring the doorbell. And it took another minute for someone to come and open the door.
The door swung open, the smell of cigarettes and alcohol wafting from the house. "What do you want kid?" said Mr. Brown, a cigarette in his hand.
"Is Sid home?" I asked.
He stared me down. "Should be in her room. She's been in there all day," he puffed on his cigarette. I frowned. Not a good sign. He opened the door wider and let me in. It took a lot to not sprint to her room. I knocked on her door.
"Sid?"
No answer. I knocked louder.
"Sid!"
No answer. Consumed with worry, I enter without permission. And became immediately mortified at what I saw. There was blood all over the sheets, and Sidney was lying, motionless, in the middle of her bed. I stood, frozen, until my eyes came to a rest on her ankle.
A white lily tattoo with a treble clef stem.
Then the world went black.
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[My first. Using a mobile phone]
Me and my friend, my best friend had been planning this night for a long time. We'd go clean for a while and then binge on drugs at the end. I've been looking forward to this more than him. I've been miserable, my job was a dead end and I would go deeper in dept through each passing month. I can sense that something was coming to a mysterious close. Drunk and prepping my arm for the fix. The syringe filled me with a warmth that I had been searching for. The sudden euphoric feeling hit me like a freight train. As I looked on in the strange comfort of this ultimate high I suddenly felt a strange coolness on my wrist. Opening my eyes to look I couldn't quite process it. "What am I looking at?" I asked myself. The reality slowly dawned on me. This was his mark. His! The euphoria suddenly sharpened into a keen sense of focus and alertness. Turning my head to face him I saw that he was still alive. But he had was already shot up. Blood was making it's way out of the drag mark. They say that once you get someone's mark that they can't be saved. "Fuck" I yelled "I have to try" I told myself. I reached for my car keys and grabbed him. Thoughts and possibilities raced through my head. The ambulance would not get here in time. My only choice is to take him to the hospital. I checked him as we were making our way to the car He was unresponsive with a faint smile on his face. His heart rate was becoming weaker. I climbed into the car and dragged him into the passenger seat. ironically I didn't even buckle him in. I started the car and raced through the streets. Everything was going by slowly. Even as I was going as fast as the car could take us. Dodging trucks, cars and any obstacles with expert proficiency. I noticed that I could feel his heartbeat through the mark on my wrist. It was getting slower and slower. The hospital was in view and police cruisers where on my tail. "Only one more turn" I said . As I turned I saw in dismay that an officer had laid out spikes. The tires popped, the car went out of control, and barrel towards a sign. Rattled I opened the door dragged my friend out and began to carry him again. I was bleeding from the impact yet he remained unharmed. "Just a few more yards" I said. Feeling the thump, thump of his heartbeat as it continued its decline. As I got nearer I saw a wheelchair by the beginning of the driveway. I put him in and pushed him towards the emergency room entrance. I collapsed and began to fade away. Trying to focus on the heartbeat thump..thump.....thump...... people came to me. I couldn't tell whether it was the police or the paramedics. Suddenly his heartbeat ceased and as I drifted into the darkness I felt sad. I did not make it. I was a failure. I woke up feeling like shit in a hospital bed. Tears began to run down my face. "I'm sorry man" I said to the empty room. "Why are you apologizing" a nurse said as she walked in. "Is it about the sign you wrecked on your way here?" Don't you worry about that." She said with a smile on her face "people have taken an interest in you after what happened". Bewildered I asked "what". "Your friends mark" she said "it's gone". I looked at my wrist and the mark had disappeared. All that was left was a slight white and yellow outline. "So he's ok?" I asked. "Of course I'm ok loser" my friend said as he entered the room. "You did it man! You managed to save me even after you got my mark."
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[WP] Everyone is born with a unique tattoo on their ankle. Whenever you're responsible for someone's death, a copy of their tattoo appears somewhere on your skin. Your best friend's tattoo just showed up on your wrist, even though your best friend is alive and sitting right next to you.
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(My first time writing anything. Here goes!)
I was awakened by the sensation by a searing pain on my wrist. I bolted upwards, jerking my head around to see what asshole was responsible. Unfortunately, my sudden movements caused a trombone case to fall over into the aisle, waking up a number of groggy band kids on the bus, all of them muttering their disapproval of being woken so suddenly. Sidney jumped awake next to me, startled.
"What's up with you?" she grumbled. She looked at me with her tired eyes. She didn't like to be disturbed from her sleep, especially not after a performance. Sleeping on the bus ride back home wasn't comfortable, but it was usually inevitable.
I rubbed my wrist, feeling nothing but my bare skin. Must've dreamt it. "Nothing," I said. I picked up the trombone case and propped it back up to where it was before. Sidney rolled her eyes, and leaned on my shoulder. She quickly fell back asleep. I chuckled.
Careful not to disturb Sidney, I cautiously took my phone to check the time. 9:39 pm. Huh. It felt like it was much later. Just as I was about to put my phone away, something caught my eye. On the same wrist where I felt that pain, there was a mark.
My heart felt like it dropped down to my stomach. I looked away from my wrist before I could see what the tattoo looked like, my chest feeling constricted. No way. I couldn't have done it, I couldn't have killed someone. I didn't want to look at it; what if it was someone I knew? I wouldn't have been able to bear it.
I'll have to look at it eventually. But not now. Not in front of everyone. My god, how would I tell my family? Sidney?
I tried not to think about it. 30 more minutes and we'll be back in town. I kept trying to sleep, but all I did was rub that spot on my wrist until it was even more raw.
The next few weeks at school, I showed up wearing an oversized sweatshirt. I knew I looked ridiculous, but I'd take the public ridicule. It's driving me insane. It would be so much easier to just look at it and see who it was, but no matter how I tried, I just couldn't do it. Everyday, I'd check and see who was at school and who wasn't. I've been anxious and I haven't been eating. I'm a generally quiet kid at school; I don't have many friends who would've noticed my strange behavior. But Sidney, she noticed. One day, as we were walking home from school, she confronted me.
"Jay, I miss the old you," she said. "I wish you would tell me what's wrong."
I shook my head. "I-I can't," I stammered. I clenched the left sleeve of my sweater out of habit. I saw her eyes flick down to my trembling hands, then back up to meet mine. Her gaze softened.
She took a step forward, reaching her hand out to grab mine. "You know, you can tell me anythin-"
"NO!" I shouted, panicking. I didn't want her to know. I pushed her away, a little too hard, and she fell back. She looked up at me, her eyes wide with shock.
My eyes filled with tears. I hurt her. I hurt her. I could see the blood welling from the scratches in her hands. "I'm sorry," I said, my voice quivering. But before she could say anything, I turned and walked away as fast as I could, making the biggest mistake of my life.
In the following week after our incident, I avoided Sidney. I wanted to talk to her, I really did. But I don't think she wanted to see me. I never realized how lonely she was during school. It's not like I was the only person she ever talked to; but when she would talk to other people, she didn't have that same spark, that passion that I adored so much when she was with me. It was all just meaningless small talk.
I finally decided this weekend that it was time to set things straight. I missed her. I wanted to have my friend back. I'm so sick of being miserable all the time. However, it's my own fault. Sometimes I wonder how much grief would I have saved if I had just looked at my tattoo from the beginning.
My heart started to pound. I knew what I had to do. I pulled up my left sleeve and examined the tattoo closely.
It was a peculiar little tattoo. So simple, yet there was beauty in its simplicity. A white lily flower, with its stem in the shape of a treble clef. I've never seen this tattoo before. I was still trembling, but this brought me a little relief.
I pulled out my cellphone and, with shaking fingers, dialed Sidney's number. It rang and rang, but there was no answer. Of course; she never picked up her phone. But a feeling of doubt got into me. I pushed that feeling aside and opened the messenger app.
"Hey Sid...it's Jay"
I waited a few minutes. No answer, and she hadn't read it. I typed another message.
"I want to talk to you about what happened, can we meet up later?"
No reply. No read.
Suddenly a chilling thought crept it's way into my head. Sidney's never shown me her tattoo before. What if...
No. That's silly.
As the hours passed, I grew increasingly more worried about her. She lived just down the street, it wouldn't hurt to visit and check on her. I walked to her house with urgency in my step. Once I got to her doorstep, it took about a minute to muster up the courage to ring the doorbell. And it took another minute for someone to come and open the door.
The door swung open, the smell of cigarettes and alcohol wafting from the house. "What do you want kid?" said Mr. Brown, a cigarette in his hand.
"Is Sid home?" I asked.
He stared me down. "Should be in her room. She's been in there all day," he puffed on his cigarette. I frowned. Not a good sign. He opened the door wider and let me in. It took a lot to not sprint to her room. I knocked on her door.
"Sid?"
No answer. I knocked louder.
"Sid!"
No answer. Consumed with worry, I enter without permission. And became immediately mortified at what I saw. There was blood all over the sheets, and Sidney was lying, motionless, in the middle of her bed. I stood, frozen, until my eyes came to a rest on her ankle.
A white lily tattoo with a treble clef stem.
Then the world went black.
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I run as fast as I can around the corner of the building. I quickly grab my keys from my pocket, my hands trembling as I unlock the door. My feet move quickly as I make my way to our apartment. My mom is in the kitchen, her face worried as she meets my eyes.
“What’s wrong?” She asks concerned.
“Nothing” I say coolly.
“Okay.” She says still skeptical. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”
“Alright, just come get me when it’s ready.” I fake a smile.
“Will do.”
I turn around and walk quickly to my bedroom, shutting and locking the door behind me. I grab a sock from my drawer and drop to my knees, holding my arm in pain. I bite on the sock to keep me from screaming, tears rush down my face. I watch as a mark is tattooed into my arm, sending a burning sensation through my whole arm. My eyes grow wide in fear as the black ink gets darker and darker, revealing the symbol on my arm. It’s a mark I’ve seen before, but can’t put my finger on. The burning sensation has gone away, leaving my arm throbbing in pain, a bit more bearable from the burning feeling.
My mom knocks on the door. “Dinner’s ready.”
“Okay.” I stammer. “Be out in a minute.”
I throw on a long sleeve shirt to cover the marking and join my family at the dinner table. I sit quietly in my chair, focusing on breathing to keep my self from passing out. The intercom buzzes loudly interrupting my thoughts. My dad gets up from the table and walks over to the intercom holding down the button as he talks.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Cali, I just need to talk to Tava really quick.” My dad looks over at me, his face annoyed as he hates when anybody interrupts dinner.
“I’ll make sure to be quick. Promise.” I say getting up from the table and walking back down the stairs, joining her outside the door.
“What happened earlier? One moment you were joining in on conversation and the next minute you’re running down the block. Are you okay?”
“Oh, yeah, I’m fine. Sorry, I forgot that I had to be home. Mom forgot her keys to get inside so I had to meet her.” I scratched the back of my neck nervously.
“A simple explanation would’ve been fine.” She laughed.
“Yeah, I don’t know why I didn’t say any-” My heart started beating quickly and I could feel my body growing weak as my eyes met the mark on her ankle. “Yours.” I whispered.
“What?” She said, her face confused.
My ears were ringing loudly and I could no longer hear the words that were coming out of her mouth. My eyes were growing heavy and I was trying my best to keep breathing, but everything started spinning and I could feel myself fading. The last thing I saw before hitting the ground was my dad running down the stairs.
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[WP] Everyone is born with a unique tattoo on their ankle. Whenever you're responsible for someone's death, a copy of their tattoo appears somewhere on your skin. Your best friend's tattoo just showed up on your wrist, even though your best friend is alive and sitting right next to you.
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...He finally set his gaze upon mine. There was nothing but severity in his eyes. He was absolutely serious.
"Lucy. Come on. She made us. She's gonna make them. What are you even suggesting?" I asked.
"I don't know, Gabe." He replied in a huff, "I'm just thinking out loud."
"Well quit it. She'd kick you and all your little friends out of here if she even got a lick of any of this. She'd probably boot me just for listening to you."
"You love her?"
"Of course I love her. What? You don't?"
"No, I do. I just wonder about her motives sometimes."
"What motives? They won't even be like us. They're gonna be all... gross and tangible."
"Then why is she making them? Why would she want to divide herself like that?"
"It's not our job to know that. She's already said they'll be mortal though, so it's only temporary."
"Maybe that's a gift."
"Mortality?"
"Yeah. Think off all the times you've wanted to leave. Not just her kingdom, I mean. Like... leave entirely."
"What, and join the abyss? I've never wanted to do that."
"Ever?"
"No! You've met the horsemen. They're miserable and weak. That's why there's only four left."
"They have free will. As far as I'm concerned that's stronger than us."
"Well we have free will too."
"Oh come on, Gabe. You call this free will? I've been stuck in this stupid throne room since the second day."
I could feel him getting angry, so I tried changing the subject.
"Look, Lucy. She put you here because you were the best of us. You're her favourite. She gave you the mark of the morning star. How can you--"
"It doesn't matter anyway." He interrupted, "I couldn't get to the abyss even if I wanted to, she would never let me."
I was speechless. I had never seen one of us act like this. It had always been obvious that Lucy missed us all being one; which was incredible because none of the rest of us could even remember what it was like, but I never thought he'd have the gall to act out. Even as her messenger, this was way out of my league. I started wondering whether or not I should tell her.
"She won't even tell us her name." He said, breaking my chain of thought.
"Her name?" I wondered aloud.
"Well, yeah. She's got a name."
"She does? I didn't know that."
"Yeah. Of course you didn't. She won't tell anyone."
"Why wouldn't she tell us?"
"I dunno. Its probably something about control; something to hold over our heads."
"How would that even work?"
"Couldn't tell you. But I'm pretty sure she made the horsemen before us and told them."
"What? She did?"
"Yeah, I don't believe what she told us about them for a second. I think she made them, and freely told them her name and gave them true free will. Then they... I dunno... Used it against her."
"Wow. She'd better be careful with the mortals then."
"What do you mean?"
"She's giving them free will."
"What?"
"Yeah, you didn't know that?"
"No! Why would she do that?"
"I dunno, I thought it was weird too. She's giving them sin. They'll have free entry into the abyss."
"What?! They get sin and we don't? How will they not become corrupted? She's handing an army to the horsemen."
"Well it's not like they'd be able to do anything with it anyway."
"Why not?"
"The horsemen can't lead an army."
"But a Seraphim could."
He stood up.
"Wait, Lucy--" I was interrupted by a blinding sensation on my wrist. It wasn't like aything I'd ever felt. I knew instantly that it was pain. I clutched at it and fell to the floor. By the time I looked up he was gone. I looked down at my wrist. There I saw, blazen in white, the mark of the morning star.
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"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
He holds my hands as he leans into me. As we kiss I feel a burning sensation on my left wrist. As i look I see my husband's sign slowly disappearing into my skin. Was it really there? I looked back at him. He hadn't seen it. He was looking out at our family and loved ones.
"Keep moving" i thought to myself. I held onto him tightly as we walked down the aisle.
My side ached. I felt like I was going to be sick. His sign. I knew I had seen it.
All I can think as I kiss and hug all of our guests that day. "He can't die. He can't die." It rotates with "My fault?! My fault."
I'm not listening to anyone. I don't think they expect me to. They've seen how stressed I've been these last few weeks. I must just look so stirred up from the emotions of the day.
He notices however. Eventually he gets me aside and asks, "what's wrong?"
"Well somehow I am going to kill you." Was the first answer that came to mind. Instead I went for the altogether preferred scenario- I lied.
"Nothing. Why would you think something is wrong?"
"Okay it just doesn't seem like you think this is the happiest day of your life."
I looked at him indignantly. A whole lot of hurt welled up. Not just from today, not just from the tattoo, but from being lied to. From losing what I had thought was years of trust and belonging. From seeing him with her last night. It stoked an anger that I thought I could keep deep inside at least for one day.
"I guess it's not."
And my wrist burned again. I didn't have to look to see what was there. His eyes stayed locked on mine. He finally just nodded and walked away. When I looked down, his sign was a bit deeper in shade and clearer in shape. A purple sunset with an oaktree in the center. The tattoo on my ankle was a willow with a purple sunset. I always thought that was a sign we were soul mates. Maybe just connected.
I watch as it fades again; this time slower. Maybe this would just keep happening through our marriage. Maybe it means that we did have fifty years ahead of us. Oh joy.
When you walk in on your soon to be husband and his best-ohdontworryshesjusta- friend, the night before your wedding you start questioning it all. So the idea that I could kill the man I had been dedicated to for five years was not out of the question, anymore. I guess the only question now is how I was going to do it. There aren't pockets in wedding dresses.
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My first post. Thanks for any feedback.
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[WP] Everyone is born with a unique tattoo on their ankle. Whenever you're responsible for someone's death, a copy of their tattoo appears somewhere on your skin. Your best friend's tattoo just showed up on your wrist, even though your best friend is alive and sitting right next to you.
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God maths was the worst, especially first thing on a Monday. I laid my head on the desk and huffed.
"Jason," Dave hissed, knocking my leg suddenly, "Sir's looking at you."
I sat up quickly and looked over to where a glowering Mr. Johnson stood, arms folded against his crisp shirt. He looked angry enough to beat me with the metal ruler that was clenched so tightly in his fist, it may well have cut into his hands.
"Do I really need to dish out a supervised study session this early in the day, Mr. Woodward?" he spat, brandishing the ruler in my direction.
"Um, no Sir," I mumbled, "I'm sorry."
Mr Johnson inhaled sharply, pushing his thickly rimmed glasses back up his beak-like nose. Dave sniggered once Sir had turned his back, and only stopped when I elbowed him, hard. He let out a yelp that caused Mr Johnson to whip around and furrow his brow, eyeing us warily. He sighed deeply and resumed writing out the quadratic equation we were meant to be working on.
Dave grabbed my arm and yanked my sleeves up, giving me the worst chinese burn I'd ever received. I let out a silent scream as he twisted the life out of my wrist. But then as suddenly as it had happened, the pain stopped.
"What's that," Dave whispered, his face a pale grey. He jabbed at my stinging arm, where there was a black smudge.
"Ink I guess," I replied behind my hand, licking my finger to wipe it off. Except it didn't come off.
Dave's chair fell to floor with a loud clatter. He was barely stood, shaking terribly and staring at my arm with apparent terror. The class turned to stare as Dave ran into the hall, the door slamming behind him. My classmates began to talk amongst themselves, to Sir's frustration, glancing every so often at me and the empty seat next to me. Eyes fell upon the mark on my arm. I tugged my sleeve down and kept my arm off the table for the rest of the lesson.
When the bell finally rang, I practically ran to Dave and I's usual break spot. My arm felt like it was burning. That mark. It resembled the letter v, with a small loop where the two lines met. I'd seen it before.
Little kids often showed each other their birth tattoos, so I had seen Dave's when we met on the first day of Middle School. He told me the v stood for his name, and then cried when I pointed out that for his birth tattoo to stand for his name, he'd have to be called Vave, or the tattoo would have to look more like a d. I thought it was a bit silly to cry over that, but I felt bad and gave him the chocolate bar my mum had packed in my lunch. We'd been friends since.
I didn't expect Dave to be in our spot when I got there, but he was. He didn't look up until I sat next to him on the wall.
"Are you ok?" I asked. When he didn't answer, I nudged him. He leapt off the wall and glared at me.
"Don't touch me!" he snapped. He rubbed his ankle with his foot. "That's my birth tattoo on your arm."
"I know, but it's not real. It can't be. It's probably just permanent marker or something," I reasoned, "maybe someone did it for a joke."
"Maybe," he mumbled, but took a small step backwards. I frowned at the movement. Did he actually think it was real?
"It's not real," I hissed, "it can't be, because I'd have had to have killed you already for your mark to appear."
"Not necessarily."
"Look, come with me, I'll try and wash it off with soap and you'll see. I bet someone drew it on earlier or something." As the words came out my mouth, I realised there wasn't any time for someone to have drawn it on without me noticing.
Dave knew that too, because a look of anger overcame him. He charged at me, knocking me backwards off the wall. I landed heavily on my back, and lay there winded as he walked around to stand by my head.
"It's real. It's real and you know it," he shouted furiously, raising his foot above my head. I rolled over just before his foot made contact with the concrete.
"Dave," I wheezed, struggling to my feet, holding my hands out in front of me, "I wouldn't hurt you, I wouldn't do that."
But he wouldn't listen.
He came at me his fist raised above his head, and I did what I needed to do. I shoved him hard, sending him staggering backwards, hitting his head hard on the corner of the brick wall as he fell.
A trickle of red turned to a lake.
If only he had listened.
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I felt a stabbing pain in my wrist and gasped. Not just because of the sudden pain, but what it meant. My friend turned and looked at me, eyebrows raised. The teacher up front stopped her teaching to stare at me icily, as well.
"No, I have a tattoo. A new one." I explained before I could stop myself. Some of my classmates sniggered while others just shook their head, displeased. "Death Tat, Mr. Glenn?" the teacher asked, unconvinced. I unveiled my hand, still red from the surreal tattoo.
The teacher's eyes widened, and then every student was leaning over to look at the tattoo.
"Whoa! Did you actually kill someone, dude?"
"That's gotta be fake, right? I mean, you have been in lessons all day! Did you kill the janitor when you went to the bathroom or something?"
"Dude, that's sick!"
"Oh God, do you know who's it is?"
the students were all talking over each other as the teacher stood, thinking hard. Unsure what to do. I turned to look my friend, who had been awfully quiet. "Hey, what's wrong? You don't think I've actually killed someone, right?" I asked, panicking. James was the only friend I had. I needed him by my side.
"What, no. No. Uh, tell you later." he replied, frowning slightly.
"You can tell him tomorrow. He's packing up and going to the principals office." The teacher told me, eyeing me wearily.
I put my things in my rucksack, and got up to leave. "Straight to the Principal's office. And tell him what just happened." my teacher said.
"You believe me, right? I didn't do this."
"Tattoos only appear when someone dies because of you. That's a fact."
"But I've been here all day!"
"Maybe you planted a bomb? Maybe you locked someone in a room without food and water and they had just died. Or maybe you are innocent, and this is just some fluke. On any case, straight to the Principal you go. You know what, I'll come with."
We left. The class was silent as we walked out. And then a patter of footsteps. I turned around, and saw James catch up.
"Go back to class, Mr. Holden. I won't say again." My teacher warned, annoyed. He took of his shoe and pulled down his sock, so we can see his Tat. And I gasped. I looked at the one on my wrist. It was the exact same one.
"I'm not dead! And he didn't kill me!" James protested.
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[WP] 105 years ago humankind decided to become extinct by not reproducing. You are the last human alive sitting in your home when suddenly you hear a voice of a young woman over your CB radio.
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Science log 2533.15.23.2256:13 the final log.
The year is 2533, I am a scientist at the Western university of advancement of society and restoration of all things. I have dedicated my life to the study of our species and the interaction they have with the universe. It has been almost 500 years since we landed on mars and almost 250 years since our species moved there. Yet some have stayed behind to study, heal our planet from the damage and pain we have caused it. And lucky we did, in year 2476, humans created a terrible weapon, a weapon far more devastating than you can imagine. But before I tell you about this weapon, I think it is important to let you know how science has advanced and how we got to where we are today. You see, as I am sitting here in my lavatory all alone, I can’t help but reminiscent about how far society has come, and fallen. In the year 2175, we discovered an amazing scientific breakthrough in gene allocation, mutation, and rejuvenation. This allowed humans to live a lot longer. I was born myself in 2236, who knows how old that makes me, and even with memory chips that store information to access later, I feel it may be wearing out. Memory chips, yes those are a thing now. They are implanted into your brain to increase functionality and allow faster and greater access to data. We discovered in the early 200’s that our brains could be programmed to work faster and smarter for it was just a complex computer. We finally had breakthrough in tapping into our potential, and then expanding it. Everyone started getting “chipped” at birth in 2312. Luckily the rejuvenation breakthrough happened in 2175, I could live really long. The only thing we were missing is how to restore the brain, but also make it so it works less and doesn’t grow old so quickly. Even though I was 76, I looked and feel no older than 32 and even to this day I look about 35 though wisdom acquired through the years cannot comprehend age to say. But I digress, I was chipped for increase capacity early and I have had many upgrades since then, but since I was one who chose to stay on Earth we didn’t upgrade as fast since we had to go to Mars to do so. And they rarely made trips to Earth. Politically we were despised. Why not come to our new home? Isn’t Earth just a waste bucket? We can terraform our own world now why should you care? Well, it is hard to say, but it seems so, fake. There is something surreal and spiritual about Earth. And logically as a scientist I shouldn’t believe in all of this, but I just can’t help but feel different here. Even though we create life, it seems lifeless. Yet here, even the life that is dying seems more alive than what we “create” maybe there is a creator and in our conquest to be like him we remove the very life we seek to produce. By the year 2400 everyone is perfect, perfect health, perfect bodies. No one gives birth anymore, everyone is created. And not even from their own eggs or seaman. It is all artificial. It has caused me some severe pain as I don’t know what to believe anymore. It was the most controversial procedure of the century yet in 2450 it was widely adopted and legalized. No one cared anymore, but I did. That is why we stayed on Earth, to make it new again, to undo the damage that society has done but in a way that is natural that doesn’t defy the very moral laws of nature. Yet alas, has it been for naught? As I mentioned early in this log, in the year 2476 a new weapon was formed. We already had nuclear fission and unlimited energy, yet a new power source was made that uses dark matter. And some soul decided to make a dark matter bomb. This bomb was sent to the core of mars. And what happened next was terrifying, there was no warning, it went off and became a black hole. It imploded all of mars, and all of civilization was lost. Only the few hundred that were left on Earth survived. The planet was in disarray from the effects of a planet leaving the solar system. Oceans rose and other fell, land masses shifted, it was like the apocalypse. 20 years and most of our food supply was used. Temporal machines that were supposed to work didn’t. But one did. We made a tracking system of all people. Since everyone is chipped they send off a signal that can be quantum tracked. There was a few hundred left and over the years we saw the number drop slowly. In 2520 the number was at 5. 5 humans left in the world. Jasper and Meagan were the only couple left and we were trying to produce life, the right way. But they were all a few hundred years old and eggs stop being produced after the age of 60 average. No matter what we tried we could not get Meagan to produce more eggs. And not having access to the same technology that existed on mars, we could not keep up with mother nature and they one by one succumbed to either disease or accidents. Like the Charleston university. It was hit by a giant meteor and wiped out all of the scientists and equipment they had. Such a happenchance that seemed very unrealistic. But, I have changed my perspective on what is real and not after mars imploded. S0 many things have changed since then. In 2528 the counter reached 1…and I knew I was the only one left.
Josua sat at his holocrafter note and contemplated how to end his log. His phaser on his bedside and tears in his eyes. He was done, this would be the last log he would ever write. He has been alone too long and he started seeing things and his mind would wander so very far.
He settled on the last sentence and looked one more time at his CB radio. After all the technology that existed it was this old radio technology that brought him comfort. He would talk endless hours into the far reaches of the earth to ease his mind. He would pretend he was a talk host and tell stories of old of the better years and how human we used to be and if only things where as they were before. Sometimes he would weep, sometimes he would laugh at his own comedy show. Clearly he was going insane. But alas tonight he was skipping his shows and his routine, no one was listening anyways.
Taking the phaser in his hands he looked sadly at it, but not really at it but past it. Memories were streaming through his mind. After Jasper died only Meagan and Joshua were left. Jasper died in 2525. This gave Joshua 3 years left with her and they succumbed to each other in relations to ease their hurting hearts. Were they really the only two people left? And Joshua hoped that maybe she would magically start producing eggs again…maybe…maybe humanity still has a chance? But alas, Joshua watched Meagan die horrifically. She tripped and fell down a hill side and was impaled by a broken pipe. Joshua ran after her and saw the life leave her eyes. This may have drove Joshua’s insanity to broadcast on the radio every night for the past 5 years. He even prayed, a scientist, yet, would a creator hear him if all that is left is him?
“Hmmph,” Joshua said.
“I guess it is time, like I promised myself, I will take my life, let this be my bitter end.”
He held up the phaser to his heart. Sure It would be a slower death, but he wanted to destroy the pain entirely. Call him a superstitious scientist, but he would have his way.
He looked at the counter one and stared at it as he shot the phaser. Immense pain entered erupted all over his body and he fell to the ground still looking at the counter. It showed 2…and a voice came across the radio.
“Hello? Is anyone here? I heard a man’s radio broadcast and I am searching for someone else. I don’t want to be alone anymore! I just landed on earth. I’ve been tracking this broadcast for years, please tell me your still here…please. I am so alone…” You could hear sobbing on the radio that echoed the lab.
Joshua let out a laugh, was fate this cruel…the life in his eyes faded away. The counter changed to 1.
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She sounded calm and collected- a vocal quality that I hadn't heard in years.
I am the last human on earth and my name is George. I watch a lot of Seinfeld reruns and eat canned tuna.
I was sitting on my couch looking at an old Playboy magazine when I heard her lovely voice echo through.
"My name is Red Clover and I'm in Saint Louis," the voice said, "Anyone out there? Not sure if I am even using this thing right. Does anyone copy?"
I just sat there in disbelief. First of all, I forgot that I even had a CB radio, it had been so long since anything came through. Second of all, who the heck has a name like Red Clover?
I got up and grabbed it. "Copy, this is George Seaman from Chicago. Do you copy?"
"Copy," she said gently, "What are you doing George?"
"To be honest, Red Clover," I said, "I was just reading a Playboy magazine."
One thing lead to another and we ended up having phone-sex (CB-sex), and I died of a heart attack about two hours later.
I'm pretty sure Red Clover is the last human on earth now, but I can never be sure.
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[WP] 105 years ago humankind decided to become extinct by not reproducing. You are the last human alive sitting in your home when suddenly you hear a voice of a young woman over your CB radio.
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“This is DJ AJ coming to you live from Chicago, ready to bring you your morning dose of radio news,” I say into the receiver. I kick myself back in the creaky wooden chair and throw my feet up on the old desk. My boots are dusty, but the desk isn't any cleaner. All I do is kick a cloud of dirt into the air. “Humanity is less than a lifetime away from being extinct, but I'm carrying on. Trying to figure out why this decision was made. Debating whether I should rifle through papers and journals to figure out if there's a way to keep humanity alive. Is it worth it? Was this decision made for a good reason I just can't think of?”
I put the receiver down for a minute. There are some CDs and an old boom box in here. I pick up Nirvana’s Greatest Hits and pop it in, giving a little background noise to my morning radio show. Not that anyone is listening. I'm the last one, and this is purely for my entertainment.
“I went to Washington for awhile. Looked around the abandoned government buildings to see what I could find. Doesn't look like anyone left behind a record of why the world decided to stop reproducing. I'll keep looking though. I have to know. I just can't imagine why humanity would decide to go extinct.”
I pause. While I gather more thoughts to ramble out like I actually have an audience, I let the music play. This boom box will die before too long. Power is limited. But at the same time, I feel like I have unlimited resources. Everything left over by the ones who came before me is at my disposal.
“Don't let humanity die.”
I blink. I set the receiver down for a moment, and I turn off the music. The radio crackles.
“Say that again?” I ask into the receiver. My heart pumps faster.
“I said, ‘don't let humanity die.’”
Suddenly, I'm pulling my boots off the table and scrambling over the radio. There's someone else. Another person out there. I've spent years wandering, doing my stupid radio show, pretending like someone else would hear me. But I knew they never would.
“Who the hell are you and where are you located?” I demand. I wait. She has to say something to me. Anything.
“I'm in Chicago. Navy Pier.”
“Don't move. Please. I'll come find you.”
“I haven't moved in ages. No risk of losing me.”
“I can make it there in less than an hour.”
I grab my worn-down sack and throw it over my shoulder. The window is open. I leave, snagging my jeans on some of the broken glass. Just another hole. Not a big deal.
The hike feels long, weighed down with anticipation. I haven't interacted with anyone else in God knows how long. How do I talk to her? Is she going to be friendly, or am I going to have to fight for my life against a bandit? My gun still works, and it's still loaded. I don't want to have to kill the first person I've come across in what I think is six years. But I will if I have to.
The boards of the Pier come into view. They're still standing, despite the fact that the elements have been wearing on them for two centuries.
As I get closer, I see a woman leaning on one of the rails. My hand wraps around my gun. I keep it at my side, trying not to seem like a threat.
“Are you the woman I spoke to on the radio?” I call out, keeping my distance. She looks up at me. She doesn't look too old, her hair still brown. It's long. Incredibly long. And it whips around in the breeze.
“DJ AJ?” she replies.
“That's me.”
“Couldn't come up with a better name?”
“AJ is my given name.”
She approaches me, hands in the air. “I'm not trying to hurt you. I need help. I want someone to help me keep humanity alive.”
“I'm not letting go of my gun until I know I can trust you.”
“That's fair.”
We stop in front of each other. I'm taller than her, but not by much.
“My name is Molly,” she says. “I've spent a lot of time searching for answers and solutions, just like you said you have. Humanity was never supposed to die out. They were trying to control the population, and things got out of hand. We need to keep humanity alive.”
“But how? Do you know any men?” I ask.
“They kept sperm banks in a few places around the world, just as an insurance policy. But the few I've found have long since unfrozen, every specimen long since dead. I have some plans. Having another woman beside me couldn't hurt.”
I consider it. “What are your plans?”
“Staying on the move. Searching for banks, labs, and other people. Anything we can find to help us keep this race alive. It doesn't have to end here, and I don't intend to let it.”
“But what if there was a real reason we were supposed to die out?”
“You don't believe that bullshit, do you?”
“I don't know what to believe.”
“Believe your instinct. Your primal need to survive. That's what this is all about. Now, are you going to be part of what saves the human race, or are you going to go off on your own, living your life alone until you die?”
I shift my weight, looking out to the lake. I've been searching. I have. But I have yet to find anything useful. The sperm banks are gone. Other people are gone. Humanity has no hope left.
But I don't want to wander alone.
“All right. I'm in.”
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She sounded calm and collected- a vocal quality that I hadn't heard in years.
I am the last human on earth and my name is George. I watch a lot of Seinfeld reruns and eat canned tuna.
I was sitting on my couch looking at an old Playboy magazine when I heard her lovely voice echo through.
"My name is Red Clover and I'm in Saint Louis," the voice said, "Anyone out there? Not sure if I am even using this thing right. Does anyone copy?"
I just sat there in disbelief. First of all, I forgot that I even had a CB radio, it had been so long since anything came through. Second of all, who the heck has a name like Red Clover?
I got up and grabbed it. "Copy, this is George Seaman from Chicago. Do you copy?"
"Copy," she said gently, "What are you doing George?"
"To be honest, Red Clover," I said, "I was just reading a Playboy magazine."
One thing lead to another and we ended up having phone-sex (CB-sex), and I died of a heart attack about two hours later.
I'm pretty sure Red Clover is the last human on earth now, but I can never be sure.
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[WP] 105 years ago humankind decided to become extinct by not reproducing. You are the last human alive sitting in your home when suddenly you hear a voice of a young woman over your CB radio.
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I sat back by the fireside, observing the orange ambiance. Beside me sat my trusty CB radio. I'd always hoped there would be a voice on the other side. Alas, nothing but a decade of silence and loneliness. I sighed and took a sip of tea I'd brewed earlier. Humanity made the decision to die out long ago. Looks like we got what we wanted. I had no idea how I'd made it this far, and certainly didn't think I'd be the last one to go. I guess death didn't want me yet. I took another sip and lost myself in memories of an era long since erased.
We used to have communities, towns, even massive cities. The cities were gone by the time I'd came along. I remembered when I was first told we were curbing the birth rate. When I asked why I was allowed to be born, the reply came that I was just lucky. The first one thousand people to sign up for reproduction rights each year could reproduce. My parents were once such couple. By the time I came of age, this was no longer allowed. Anyone found having kids would be murdered, the children would have their memories erased and placed into foster care. Not sure how they managed to answer their question of why they got to be born though.
After living a long, productive life and living through the last handful of deaths as those around me died of old age, I sat now in my chair, alone. Or so I thought I was alone. While I was nearly napping, there suddenly came a tapping. No, not a tapping, a crackling. At first I thought it was the fire, then I heard a voice.
"Hello? Is anyone out there? Does this thing even work?" I heard a young woman inquire. I nearly jumped out of my skin at this. The phrase echoed over and over in my head until I could calm my hurly-burly and reply. Hands shaking, I pressed the button and raised the microphone to my mouth.
"Yes I'm here...how...who...where did you come from?" I inquired, trying to sound sane.
"Well I found one of these radios and thought I would give it a shot. I didn't think it would work, but I didn't...think I'd find anyone else out there...I thought I was alone." The woman replied, sounded of a similar state to my own. She sounded so young, this struck me as peculiar. I replied after a moment.
"Well, you're not alone ma'am, but...you sound so young. We stopped allowing reproduction a long time ago..." I stated.
"Well you see, I was one of the foster kids, my parents were killed after reproducing...I...heard my birth was by accident. I got in contact with some people who knew them...I was told they didn't think they were still fertile...Kind of amazing in a way..." She replied near instantaneously, though her tone sounded as if she were processing something. After a moment, I pressed the button again.
"I see...well...do you have a name?" The inquiry was met by silence. Moments passed and then, "Yes, my name is..."
Suddenly everything went black. Confused I tried to brace myself, but I could not feel anything. There was a loud static crack, followed by the words "SIMULATION ENDED." I was suddenly in a room, panting hard as the helmet was lifted from my head.
"Ah Steve, sorry about that. Gary botched the programming again but we got far." came a familiar voice. I blinked a few times. "Damn, Larry." I said shaking my head. "That shit was a bit too real that time. Serious progress." I stood up to stretch my legs. "Good work though. I was so immersed I forgot I was in a simulation! I nearly had a stroke when I saw it end!" I laughed and shook my head. Larry laughed.
"Yeah, I'll get Gary to do it next time, after we get that error fixed." He said, pointing to the diagnostics on the computer screen near the chair. "Pretty interesting look into our own extinction though." He said, bemused. I nodded.
"Yeah. Where is Gary anyway? I don't remember him coming in." Larry shrugged. "Clair says he didn't show up, didn't even call in." I scowled, this behavior was not the norm for our fellow researcher.
"Well I hope he isn't dead or something." I replied looking at Larry. He opened his mouth to respond, then suddenly everything froze. Slowly, the color drained from everything. I panicked. "Oh shit what now...." I said looking around. Everything was gray, even my hands and clothing. Suddenly the door flung open with a loud slam. I turned. There Gary walked towards me slowly.
"That's the bad news." He said in a very off-putting tone. I felt fear well up inside me. "This has to be a prank..." I replied, stammering. Gary shook his head. He stood before me and pulled a veil of darkness from nothing and draped it over him. "You're the one who's dead." He replied. "The simulation went wrong and killed you. I'm here to escort you to the next life." He gestured to the door, which had become a gateway to manic, swirling oblivion. Unwillingly, I slogged along behind him as he took my wrist and moved for the exit. Recounting my life I stood for a moment before being forcefully jerked to the edge.
"Here is where you make your exit." Death-Gary replied. I signed. All my life for this. Ironic that it was due to a simulation of voluntary human extinction. He let go of me and vanished into the void before me. I took one last breath and stepped in. All around me images of my life swirled. Colors and faces, home and work, all of it a maddening mass before my eyes. Suddenly it vanished. Silence. Then those damned words appeared again. "Simulation Ended."
I opened my eyes. I was submersed nude in a liquid inside a glass container. I could feel instruments on me. In shock I looked around. Two glowing, softly lit clouds of something approached the tank. The liquid drained and the container opened.
"Sorry about that Subject 35553-631773-6774!" A voice said. I shook my head and blinked.
"What the fuck is going on!?" I demanded. The voice spoke again, making me realize it was coming from one of the clouds. "You were in a simulation. You're being studied. We told you this just after your abduction. Don't you remember?" It said. The other cloud drifted over to a holographic screen and began manipulating it with tendrils. I stared for a moment.
"N...No I don't remember...much of anything." I replied. The other cloud spoke.
"It would appear there's been tampering with the simulation. The Subject was in a double simulation, the first ours, but the second one was of him doing research and dying in his lab. Subject has also had a memory block implemented." I shook my head in disbelief. I had no idea where to start my questioning, so I blurted the first thing that came to mind.
"Where...How...W...Why are you doing this to me?"
"We apologize. The double simulation and the block where not out intentions. We're Gandarathions. Aliens, if you will. We've chosen you as part of a program to establish a race of humans to live on our planet. To make things simple, it was discovered our kind can symbiotically live meshed with humans."
"You mean...like inside us?"
"Precisely. I told you this in greater detail before. We did the simulation to see how one would act if there were a catastrophic even during the establishment of the colony. For instance, if your kind decided to rebel and voluntarily extinct yourselves before our project could be complete. Unfortunately, we do not yet know how that may play out. We mean you no harm, rest assured. We'll get you situated." the voice had a calming, melodic tone. I sighed, knowing I didn't have much choice. The other voice spoke up before I could say anything.
"Yes Subject. Apologies. It appears our colleague," The voice made the sound of wind blowing, followed by a soft pop, and what sounded like rainfall. "has decided it would be humorous to play a prank on both us and you. We're sorry for this mass inconvenience." I could only stare blankly. "Watch this be a fucking simulation too." I thought.
|
She sounded calm and collected- a vocal quality that I hadn't heard in years.
I am the last human on earth and my name is George. I watch a lot of Seinfeld reruns and eat canned tuna.
I was sitting on my couch looking at an old Playboy magazine when I heard her lovely voice echo through.
"My name is Red Clover and I'm in Saint Louis," the voice said, "Anyone out there? Not sure if I am even using this thing right. Does anyone copy?"
I just sat there in disbelief. First of all, I forgot that I even had a CB radio, it had been so long since anything came through. Second of all, who the heck has a name like Red Clover?
I got up and grabbed it. "Copy, this is George Seaman from Chicago. Do you copy?"
"Copy," she said gently, "What are you doing George?"
"To be honest, Red Clover," I said, "I was just reading a Playboy magazine."
One thing lead to another and we ended up having phone-sex (CB-sex), and I died of a heart attack about two hours later.
I'm pretty sure Red Clover is the last human on earth now, but I can never be sure.
|
|
[WP] 105 years ago humankind decided to become extinct by not reproducing. You are the last human alive sitting in your home when suddenly you hear a voice of a young woman over your CB radio.
|
I was the product of the law being broken. From the moment I was born, I was kept secret. My dad told me that a group of people had agreed that we had destroyed earth and needed to die off as a species and when the planet "fixed itself" evolution would once again bring humans back to try again. Everyone had a close eye kept on them to make sure no one would have kids.
My mom and dad were politicians who apparently we're high up enough to get their privacy and they broke the law and made me, that was about ninety years into the law being made. I was always being moved around and hidden so that no one would find out but the world leaders found out about me and burned the house we were staying in at the time, I had been sneaking out and drinking so I was saved by my own stupidity.
Soon after that lovely incident, a war broke out about the law all over the world and everyone killed each other with nukes, leaving nothing but a few older humans on the planet, who I suspect died off a year ago.
As of now, I'm just surviving until one day I fall over and die. I sat by the fire, my hands were freezing from being outside chopping at wood too long. I looked over at said wood, only enough to last for a couple of months and this winter would last around four or five months itself. Once the fire ran out, my food that needed to be cooked would be useless. I stood up and snuffed out the flames to save what wood I could, I hadn't even finished when a voice came over the radio and not just any voice, a woman's voice.
"Hello? Is anyone out there? My name is Jessica and I'm looking for any signs of civilization out there. " Her voice seemed to be made of silk and reminded me a lot of my mother when she was younger. I slowly moved my hand forward to grab the thing I needed to talk into, dad never told me what it was called, just how to use it. "Hello Jessica, my name is William and you have found what I thought was the last human on earth but obviously I've been wrong. Where are you? " I tried to keep it smooth, after all this time of being alone, I had someone out there that I could talk to and get to know, it gave me a slight feeling of hope I hadn't felt in a long time.
For about thirty of forty seconds, there was no reply and then her voice came back on, "Oh thank god. I've been so lonely and I thought since I had the extra batteries I would try to see who was out there. As for my location, I'm a few miles away from the big city, just surviving off whatever I find in the small town around me. " It sounds like she had been crying during that off time but I couldn't be sure.
We spent the next thirty minutes talking about anything we could think of which ended up being a lot before Jessica, or as I call her now Jess broke the random subjects, "We should meet up like right now. I can meet you in the big city wherever you want, I just need to see your face as soon as possible." I thought about it before responding, "Meet me at the Greenwood apartments, near the edge of town, apartment B1." It had been one of the places my parents had hidden me when I was too little to understand the why yet and it just seemed like an appropriate place to meet this girl.
"Sounds good, I'll see you when I get there. " She replied. Nothing else came after that but I brought packed myself a bag of essential food and water, also the radio, after that I zipped up my bag, put my heaviest coat on and made my way towards the old apartments.
I hope you enjoyed this response and I might do a part two of people are interested.
|
She sounded calm and collected- a vocal quality that I hadn't heard in years.
I am the last human on earth and my name is George. I watch a lot of Seinfeld reruns and eat canned tuna.
I was sitting on my couch looking at an old Playboy magazine when I heard her lovely voice echo through.
"My name is Red Clover and I'm in Saint Louis," the voice said, "Anyone out there? Not sure if I am even using this thing right. Does anyone copy?"
I just sat there in disbelief. First of all, I forgot that I even had a CB radio, it had been so long since anything came through. Second of all, who the heck has a name like Red Clover?
I got up and grabbed it. "Copy, this is George Seaman from Chicago. Do you copy?"
"Copy," she said gently, "What are you doing George?"
"To be honest, Red Clover," I said, "I was just reading a Playboy magazine."
One thing lead to another and we ended up having phone-sex (CB-sex), and I died of a heart attack about two hours later.
I'm pretty sure Red Clover is the last human on earth now, but I can never be sure.
|
|
[WP] 105 years ago humankind decided to become extinct by not reproducing. You are the last human alive sitting in your home when suddenly you hear a voice of a young woman over your CB radio.
|
I sat back by the fireside, observing the orange ambiance. Beside me sat my trusty CB radio. I'd always hoped there would be a voice on the other side. Alas, nothing but a decade of silence and loneliness. I sighed and took a sip of tea I'd brewed earlier. Humanity made the decision to die out long ago. Looks like we got what we wanted. I had no idea how I'd made it this far, and certainly didn't think I'd be the last one to go. I guess death didn't want me yet. I took another sip and lost myself in memories of an era long since erased.
We used to have communities, towns, even massive cities. The cities were gone by the time I'd came along. I remembered when I was first told we were curbing the birth rate. When I asked why I was allowed to be born, the reply came that I was just lucky. The first one thousand people to sign up for reproduction rights each year could reproduce. My parents were once such couple. By the time I came of age, this was no longer allowed. Anyone found having kids would be murdered, the children would have their memories erased and placed into foster care. Not sure how they managed to answer their question of why they got to be born though.
After living a long, productive life and living through the last handful of deaths as those around me died of old age, I sat now in my chair, alone. Or so I thought I was alone. While I was nearly napping, there suddenly came a tapping. No, not a tapping, a crackling. At first I thought it was the fire, then I heard a voice.
"Hello? Is anyone out there? Does this thing even work?" I heard a young woman inquire. I nearly jumped out of my skin at this. The phrase echoed over and over in my head until I could calm my hurly-burly and reply. Hands shaking, I pressed the button and raised the microphone to my mouth.
"Yes I'm here...how...who...where did you come from?" I inquired, trying to sound sane.
"Well I found one of these radios and thought I would give it a shot. I didn't think it would work, but I didn't...think I'd find anyone else out there...I thought I was alone." The woman replied, sounded of a similar state to my own. She sounded so young, this struck me as peculiar. I replied after a moment.
"Well, you're not alone ma'am, but...you sound so young. We stopped allowing reproduction a long time ago..." I stated.
"Well you see, I was one of the foster kids, my parents were killed after reproducing...I...heard my birth was by accident. I got in contact with some people who knew them...I was told they didn't think they were still fertile...Kind of amazing in a way..." She replied near instantaneously, though her tone sounded as if she were processing something. After a moment, I pressed the button again.
"I see...well...do you have a name?" The inquiry was met by silence. Moments passed and then, "Yes, my name is..."
Suddenly everything went black. Confused I tried to brace myself, but I could not feel anything. There was a loud static crack, followed by the words "SIMULATION ENDED." I was suddenly in a room, panting hard as the helmet was lifted from my head.
"Ah Steve, sorry about that. Gary botched the programming again but we got far." came a familiar voice. I blinked a few times. "Damn, Larry." I said shaking my head. "That shit was a bit too real that time. Serious progress." I stood up to stretch my legs. "Good work though. I was so immersed I forgot I was in a simulation! I nearly had a stroke when I saw it end!" I laughed and shook my head. Larry laughed.
"Yeah, I'll get Gary to do it next time, after we get that error fixed." He said, pointing to the diagnostics on the computer screen near the chair. "Pretty interesting look into our own extinction though." He said, bemused. I nodded.
"Yeah. Where is Gary anyway? I don't remember him coming in." Larry shrugged. "Clair says he didn't show up, didn't even call in." I scowled, this behavior was not the norm for our fellow researcher.
"Well I hope he isn't dead or something." I replied looking at Larry. He opened his mouth to respond, then suddenly everything froze. Slowly, the color drained from everything. I panicked. "Oh shit what now...." I said looking around. Everything was gray, even my hands and clothing. Suddenly the door flung open with a loud slam. I turned. There Gary walked towards me slowly.
"That's the bad news." He said in a very off-putting tone. I felt fear well up inside me. "This has to be a prank..." I replied, stammering. Gary shook his head. He stood before me and pulled a veil of darkness from nothing and draped it over him. "You're the one who's dead." He replied. "The simulation went wrong and killed you. I'm here to escort you to the next life." He gestured to the door, which had become a gateway to manic, swirling oblivion. Unwillingly, I slogged along behind him as he took my wrist and moved for the exit. Recounting my life I stood for a moment before being forcefully jerked to the edge.
"Here is where you make your exit." Death-Gary replied. I signed. All my life for this. Ironic that it was due to a simulation of voluntary human extinction. He let go of me and vanished into the void before me. I took one last breath and stepped in. All around me images of my life swirled. Colors and faces, home and work, all of it a maddening mass before my eyes. Suddenly it vanished. Silence. Then those damned words appeared again. "Simulation Ended."
I opened my eyes. I was submersed nude in a liquid inside a glass container. I could feel instruments on me. In shock I looked around. Two glowing, softly lit clouds of something approached the tank. The liquid drained and the container opened.
"Sorry about that Subject 35553-631773-6774!" A voice said. I shook my head and blinked.
"What the fuck is going on!?" I demanded. The voice spoke again, making me realize it was coming from one of the clouds. "You were in a simulation. You're being studied. We told you this just after your abduction. Don't you remember?" It said. The other cloud drifted over to a holographic screen and began manipulating it with tendrils. I stared for a moment.
"N...No I don't remember...much of anything." I replied. The other cloud spoke.
"It would appear there's been tampering with the simulation. The Subject was in a double simulation, the first ours, but the second one was of him doing research and dying in his lab. Subject has also had a memory block implemented." I shook my head in disbelief. I had no idea where to start my questioning, so I blurted the first thing that came to mind.
"Where...How...W...Why are you doing this to me?"
"We apologize. The double simulation and the block where not out intentions. We're Gandarathions. Aliens, if you will. We've chosen you as part of a program to establish a race of humans to live on our planet. To make things simple, it was discovered our kind can symbiotically live meshed with humans."
"You mean...like inside us?"
"Precisely. I told you this in greater detail before. We did the simulation to see how one would act if there were a catastrophic even during the establishment of the colony. For instance, if your kind decided to rebel and voluntarily extinct yourselves before our project could be complete. Unfortunately, we do not yet know how that may play out. We mean you no harm, rest assured. We'll get you situated." the voice had a calming, melodic tone. I sighed, knowing I didn't have much choice. The other voice spoke up before I could say anything.
"Yes Subject. Apologies. It appears our colleague," The voice made the sound of wind blowing, followed by a soft pop, and what sounded like rainfall. "has decided it would be humorous to play a prank on both us and you. We're sorry for this mass inconvenience." I could only stare blankly. "Watch this be a fucking simulation too." I thought.
|
As I shiver from the cold, I inspect the various cans I have saved up in my pantry. Great. None of them appear to be anything close to "good". "Good" meaning one of my favorites. Given that I tend to hate almost everything except canned fish (and even that is getting old at this point), I don't expect my meal each day to be something I look forwards to...
Still, I prefer eating to going hungry, so I grab the can opener, and open the can of ham. Looking for something else, I find a can of creamed corn. Eh, it'll do.
Putting my meal on a plate, I head towards the table and start eating, idly replacing the batteries in my radio along the way. The stupid thing is almost useless, but it's inherited uselessness-and at this point, I'll take anything a human has made that I actually remember. It's not like I have anything else...
As I eat my meal, while trying to actually, possibly "enjoy" it, my mind wanders off-off into the realms of the past, to how I wound up being the only person left.
***
I wasn't there to see any of this personally, of course. I was one of the last desperate attempts to save ourselves-put into cryogenic suspension, while the rest of the world waged war against our global enemy-[Dark Matter.](http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/6/6e/Darkmatter.PNG/revision/latest?cb=20160707021922&path-prefix=en)
It was a futile war-or so I'm told. The old lady who used to own this house-and everything in it, bless her-told of those days with a shudder. Bombs, missiles, tanks, jets, even the newly created [HR-H robots](http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/b/b6/Hrhalt.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20081130204939&path-prefix=en) weren't enough to stop the horrors. The main problem was their ability to posses us-sure you could simply send them packing by knocking the victim out, but how could you know which of us was possessed at the time? Often, the only sure way was to check the victims eyes, and that had a devastating effect on commands, since one has to put their trust in their superior officers-but without eye contact, how could they? In the end, humanity agreed that these cursed monsters couldn't be allowed to use us by any means, and launched nukes at their greatest stronghold, saving the day-but at a cost.
The climate of our planet had dramatically taken a turn for the colder-much colder. Our planet was now [a veritable Popsicle,](http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/a/a2/Shiver_Star.png/revision/latest?cb=20090316172142&path-prefix=en) flung into the grips of a nuclear winter. In addition, the authorities were adamant that this was for the better-we weren't sure, after all, if the Dark Matter was even really dead. Perhaps, they thought, we should insure that they cannot ever use us to take other worlds. And so, the decision to stop reproducing was made.
Around 80 years later, the old lady found my bunker. Everyone else in it had perished, and I very nearly had too-power had gone out from all pods except for mine, and mine just barely hanging on. Add another 25 years and, well, here we are today.
***
My mind is jolted out of reminiscence when I hear strange voices come over the radio. Probably just another traveler of the stars-with all the fresh water on our planet and not much in the way of defenses, it's a popular stop for those looking to resupply before continuing on their way.
"Hey Kirby, what do you think this does?" asked a young, high-pitched voice. A fluttering of wings could faintly be heard as well.
"Poyo? Poy-uhm, dunno..." replied a timid voice. It sounded as if this speaker wasn't really comfortable talking in English.
"Oh! You have something like that at your castle, right, my king?" came a third exuberant voice.
"Erm...oh yeah! It looks like a radio! I think Meta Knight has something like that aboard that there ship of his, the Halberd!" proclaimed a deeper voice, sounding for all in the world like he had a Southern accent-or the equivalent of one at least. The four speakers all had some sort of inhuman qualities to their voices-even if they spoke English, the various tones and inflections in their voices weren't things you would normally associate with a humans. But as for the last voice...
"Looks pretty cool though. I wonder who made it?" At this, I let out a gasp-it was DEFINITELY a [human girl's](http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/e/e5/Adeleine.png/revision/latest?cb=20110412081240&path-prefix=en) voice coming through there!
On the other end, there was a silence, and then: "Did you guys hear that gasp that came from this thing?"
Hurriedly, I picked up the microphone and asked "Who are you guys? Where are you? What-,"
"Woah woah woah! Calm down buddy! Just tell us where you are, and we'll come over!"
I tried to tell them directions, but, but, I didn't have any memory of where exactly this house was, or where any landmarks were, or anything to help them find me! In the end, they said that they were pretty busy and had to get going, but they would come back and try to find me.
And so now that leaves me here. Alone.
Waiting, for someone...someone who I didn't even see the eyes of...
I think I'll check to see if I have any blunt objects to defend myself from whomever may be coming to find me. I, I just don't...
I just don't want to take that risk...
Please be fine...
|
|
[WP] 105 years ago humankind decided to become extinct by not reproducing. You are the last human alive sitting in your home when suddenly you hear a voice of a young woman over your CB radio.
|
I was the product of the law being broken. From the moment I was born, I was kept secret. My dad told me that a group of people had agreed that we had destroyed earth and needed to die off as a species and when the planet "fixed itself" evolution would once again bring humans back to try again. Everyone had a close eye kept on them to make sure no one would have kids.
My mom and dad were politicians who apparently we're high up enough to get their privacy and they broke the law and made me, that was about ninety years into the law being made. I was always being moved around and hidden so that no one would find out but the world leaders found out about me and burned the house we were staying in at the time, I had been sneaking out and drinking so I was saved by my own stupidity.
Soon after that lovely incident, a war broke out about the law all over the world and everyone killed each other with nukes, leaving nothing but a few older humans on the planet, who I suspect died off a year ago.
As of now, I'm just surviving until one day I fall over and die. I sat by the fire, my hands were freezing from being outside chopping at wood too long. I looked over at said wood, only enough to last for a couple of months and this winter would last around four or five months itself. Once the fire ran out, my food that needed to be cooked would be useless. I stood up and snuffed out the flames to save what wood I could, I hadn't even finished when a voice came over the radio and not just any voice, a woman's voice.
"Hello? Is anyone out there? My name is Jessica and I'm looking for any signs of civilization out there. " Her voice seemed to be made of silk and reminded me a lot of my mother when she was younger. I slowly moved my hand forward to grab the thing I needed to talk into, dad never told me what it was called, just how to use it. "Hello Jessica, my name is William and you have found what I thought was the last human on earth but obviously I've been wrong. Where are you? " I tried to keep it smooth, after all this time of being alone, I had someone out there that I could talk to and get to know, it gave me a slight feeling of hope I hadn't felt in a long time.
For about thirty of forty seconds, there was no reply and then her voice came back on, "Oh thank god. I've been so lonely and I thought since I had the extra batteries I would try to see who was out there. As for my location, I'm a few miles away from the big city, just surviving off whatever I find in the small town around me. " It sounds like she had been crying during that off time but I couldn't be sure.
We spent the next thirty minutes talking about anything we could think of which ended up being a lot before Jessica, or as I call her now Jess broke the random subjects, "We should meet up like right now. I can meet you in the big city wherever you want, I just need to see your face as soon as possible." I thought about it before responding, "Meet me at the Greenwood apartments, near the edge of town, apartment B1." It had been one of the places my parents had hidden me when I was too little to understand the why yet and it just seemed like an appropriate place to meet this girl.
"Sounds good, I'll see you when I get there. " She replied. Nothing else came after that but I brought packed myself a bag of essential food and water, also the radio, after that I zipped up my bag, put my heaviest coat on and made my way towards the old apartments.
I hope you enjoyed this response and I might do a part two of people are interested.
|
As I shiver from the cold, I inspect the various cans I have saved up in my pantry. Great. None of them appear to be anything close to "good". "Good" meaning one of my favorites. Given that I tend to hate almost everything except canned fish (and even that is getting old at this point), I don't expect my meal each day to be something I look forwards to...
Still, I prefer eating to going hungry, so I grab the can opener, and open the can of ham. Looking for something else, I find a can of creamed corn. Eh, it'll do.
Putting my meal on a plate, I head towards the table and start eating, idly replacing the batteries in my radio along the way. The stupid thing is almost useless, but it's inherited uselessness-and at this point, I'll take anything a human has made that I actually remember. It's not like I have anything else...
As I eat my meal, while trying to actually, possibly "enjoy" it, my mind wanders off-off into the realms of the past, to how I wound up being the only person left.
***
I wasn't there to see any of this personally, of course. I was one of the last desperate attempts to save ourselves-put into cryogenic suspension, while the rest of the world waged war against our global enemy-[Dark Matter.](http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/6/6e/Darkmatter.PNG/revision/latest?cb=20160707021922&path-prefix=en)
It was a futile war-or so I'm told. The old lady who used to own this house-and everything in it, bless her-told of those days with a shudder. Bombs, missiles, tanks, jets, even the newly created [HR-H robots](http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/b/b6/Hrhalt.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20081130204939&path-prefix=en) weren't enough to stop the horrors. The main problem was their ability to posses us-sure you could simply send them packing by knocking the victim out, but how could you know which of us was possessed at the time? Often, the only sure way was to check the victims eyes, and that had a devastating effect on commands, since one has to put their trust in their superior officers-but without eye contact, how could they? In the end, humanity agreed that these cursed monsters couldn't be allowed to use us by any means, and launched nukes at their greatest stronghold, saving the day-but at a cost.
The climate of our planet had dramatically taken a turn for the colder-much colder. Our planet was now [a veritable Popsicle,](http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/a/a2/Shiver_Star.png/revision/latest?cb=20090316172142&path-prefix=en) flung into the grips of a nuclear winter. In addition, the authorities were adamant that this was for the better-we weren't sure, after all, if the Dark Matter was even really dead. Perhaps, they thought, we should insure that they cannot ever use us to take other worlds. And so, the decision to stop reproducing was made.
Around 80 years later, the old lady found my bunker. Everyone else in it had perished, and I very nearly had too-power had gone out from all pods except for mine, and mine just barely hanging on. Add another 25 years and, well, here we are today.
***
My mind is jolted out of reminiscence when I hear strange voices come over the radio. Probably just another traveler of the stars-with all the fresh water on our planet and not much in the way of defenses, it's a popular stop for those looking to resupply before continuing on their way.
"Hey Kirby, what do you think this does?" asked a young, high-pitched voice. A fluttering of wings could faintly be heard as well.
"Poyo? Poy-uhm, dunno..." replied a timid voice. It sounded as if this speaker wasn't really comfortable talking in English.
"Oh! You have something like that at your castle, right, my king?" came a third exuberant voice.
"Erm...oh yeah! It looks like a radio! I think Meta Knight has something like that aboard that there ship of his, the Halberd!" proclaimed a deeper voice, sounding for all in the world like he had a Southern accent-or the equivalent of one at least. The four speakers all had some sort of inhuman qualities to their voices-even if they spoke English, the various tones and inflections in their voices weren't things you would normally associate with a humans. But as for the last voice...
"Looks pretty cool though. I wonder who made it?" At this, I let out a gasp-it was DEFINITELY a [human girl's](http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/e/e5/Adeleine.png/revision/latest?cb=20110412081240&path-prefix=en) voice coming through there!
On the other end, there was a silence, and then: "Did you guys hear that gasp that came from this thing?"
Hurriedly, I picked up the microphone and asked "Who are you guys? Where are you? What-,"
"Woah woah woah! Calm down buddy! Just tell us where you are, and we'll come over!"
I tried to tell them directions, but, but, I didn't have any memory of where exactly this house was, or where any landmarks were, or anything to help them find me! In the end, they said that they were pretty busy and had to get going, but they would come back and try to find me.
And so now that leaves me here. Alone.
Waiting, for someone...someone who I didn't even see the eyes of...
I think I'll check to see if I have any blunt objects to defend myself from whomever may be coming to find me. I, I just don't...
I just don't want to take that risk...
Please be fine...
|
|
[WP] 105 years ago humankind decided to become extinct by not reproducing. You are the last human alive sitting in your home when suddenly you hear a voice of a young woman over your CB radio.
|
I sat back by the fireside, observing the orange ambiance. Beside me sat my trusty CB radio. I'd always hoped there would be a voice on the other side. Alas, nothing but a decade of silence and loneliness. I sighed and took a sip of tea I'd brewed earlier. Humanity made the decision to die out long ago. Looks like we got what we wanted. I had no idea how I'd made it this far, and certainly didn't think I'd be the last one to go. I guess death didn't want me yet. I took another sip and lost myself in memories of an era long since erased.
We used to have communities, towns, even massive cities. The cities were gone by the time I'd came along. I remembered when I was first told we were curbing the birth rate. When I asked why I was allowed to be born, the reply came that I was just lucky. The first one thousand people to sign up for reproduction rights each year could reproduce. My parents were once such couple. By the time I came of age, this was no longer allowed. Anyone found having kids would be murdered, the children would have their memories erased and placed into foster care. Not sure how they managed to answer their question of why they got to be born though.
After living a long, productive life and living through the last handful of deaths as those around me died of old age, I sat now in my chair, alone. Or so I thought I was alone. While I was nearly napping, there suddenly came a tapping. No, not a tapping, a crackling. At first I thought it was the fire, then I heard a voice.
"Hello? Is anyone out there? Does this thing even work?" I heard a young woman inquire. I nearly jumped out of my skin at this. The phrase echoed over and over in my head until I could calm my hurly-burly and reply. Hands shaking, I pressed the button and raised the microphone to my mouth.
"Yes I'm here...how...who...where did you come from?" I inquired, trying to sound sane.
"Well I found one of these radios and thought I would give it a shot. I didn't think it would work, but I didn't...think I'd find anyone else out there...I thought I was alone." The woman replied, sounded of a similar state to my own. She sounded so young, this struck me as peculiar. I replied after a moment.
"Well, you're not alone ma'am, but...you sound so young. We stopped allowing reproduction a long time ago..." I stated.
"Well you see, I was one of the foster kids, my parents were killed after reproducing...I...heard my birth was by accident. I got in contact with some people who knew them...I was told they didn't think they were still fertile...Kind of amazing in a way..." She replied near instantaneously, though her tone sounded as if she were processing something. After a moment, I pressed the button again.
"I see...well...do you have a name?" The inquiry was met by silence. Moments passed and then, "Yes, my name is..."
Suddenly everything went black. Confused I tried to brace myself, but I could not feel anything. There was a loud static crack, followed by the words "SIMULATION ENDED." I was suddenly in a room, panting hard as the helmet was lifted from my head.
"Ah Steve, sorry about that. Gary botched the programming again but we got far." came a familiar voice. I blinked a few times. "Damn, Larry." I said shaking my head. "That shit was a bit too real that time. Serious progress." I stood up to stretch my legs. "Good work though. I was so immersed I forgot I was in a simulation! I nearly had a stroke when I saw it end!" I laughed and shook my head. Larry laughed.
"Yeah, I'll get Gary to do it next time, after we get that error fixed." He said, pointing to the diagnostics on the computer screen near the chair. "Pretty interesting look into our own extinction though." He said, bemused. I nodded.
"Yeah. Where is Gary anyway? I don't remember him coming in." Larry shrugged. "Clair says he didn't show up, didn't even call in." I scowled, this behavior was not the norm for our fellow researcher.
"Well I hope he isn't dead or something." I replied looking at Larry. He opened his mouth to respond, then suddenly everything froze. Slowly, the color drained from everything. I panicked. "Oh shit what now...." I said looking around. Everything was gray, even my hands and clothing. Suddenly the door flung open with a loud slam. I turned. There Gary walked towards me slowly.
"That's the bad news." He said in a very off-putting tone. I felt fear well up inside me. "This has to be a prank..." I replied, stammering. Gary shook his head. He stood before me and pulled a veil of darkness from nothing and draped it over him. "You're the one who's dead." He replied. "The simulation went wrong and killed you. I'm here to escort you to the next life." He gestured to the door, which had become a gateway to manic, swirling oblivion. Unwillingly, I slogged along behind him as he took my wrist and moved for the exit. Recounting my life I stood for a moment before being forcefully jerked to the edge.
"Here is where you make your exit." Death-Gary replied. I signed. All my life for this. Ironic that it was due to a simulation of voluntary human extinction. He let go of me and vanished into the void before me. I took one last breath and stepped in. All around me images of my life swirled. Colors and faces, home and work, all of it a maddening mass before my eyes. Suddenly it vanished. Silence. Then those damned words appeared again. "Simulation Ended."
I opened my eyes. I was submersed nude in a liquid inside a glass container. I could feel instruments on me. In shock I looked around. Two glowing, softly lit clouds of something approached the tank. The liquid drained and the container opened.
"Sorry about that Subject 35553-631773-6774!" A voice said. I shook my head and blinked.
"What the fuck is going on!?" I demanded. The voice spoke again, making me realize it was coming from one of the clouds. "You were in a simulation. You're being studied. We told you this just after your abduction. Don't you remember?" It said. The other cloud drifted over to a holographic screen and began manipulating it with tendrils. I stared for a moment.
"N...No I don't remember...much of anything." I replied. The other cloud spoke.
"It would appear there's been tampering with the simulation. The Subject was in a double simulation, the first ours, but the second one was of him doing research and dying in his lab. Subject has also had a memory block implemented." I shook my head in disbelief. I had no idea where to start my questioning, so I blurted the first thing that came to mind.
"Where...How...W...Why are you doing this to me?"
"We apologize. The double simulation and the block where not out intentions. We're Gandarathions. Aliens, if you will. We've chosen you as part of a program to establish a race of humans to live on our planet. To make things simple, it was discovered our kind can symbiotically live meshed with humans."
"You mean...like inside us?"
"Precisely. I told you this in greater detail before. We did the simulation to see how one would act if there were a catastrophic even during the establishment of the colony. For instance, if your kind decided to rebel and voluntarily extinct yourselves before our project could be complete. Unfortunately, we do not yet know how that may play out. We mean you no harm, rest assured. We'll get you situated." the voice had a calming, melodic tone. I sighed, knowing I didn't have much choice. The other voice spoke up before I could say anything.
"Yes Subject. Apologies. It appears our colleague," The voice made the sound of wind blowing, followed by a soft pop, and what sounded like rainfall. "has decided it would be humorous to play a prank on both us and you. We're sorry for this mass inconvenience." I could only stare blankly. "Watch this be a fucking simulation too." I thought.
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Science log 2533.15.23.2256:13 the final log.
The year is 2533, I am a scientist at the Western university of advancement of society and restoration of all things. I have dedicated my life to the study of our species and the interaction they have with the universe. It has been almost 500 years since we landed on mars and almost 250 years since our species moved there. Yet some have stayed behind to study, heal our planet from the damage and pain we have caused it. And lucky we did, in year 2476, humans created a terrible weapon, a weapon far more devastating than you can imagine. But before I tell you about this weapon, I think it is important to let you know how science has advanced and how we got to where we are today. You see, as I am sitting here in my lavatory all alone, I can’t help but reminiscent about how far society has come, and fallen. In the year 2175, we discovered an amazing scientific breakthrough in gene allocation, mutation, and rejuvenation. This allowed humans to live a lot longer. I was born myself in 2236, who knows how old that makes me, and even with memory chips that store information to access later, I feel it may be wearing out. Memory chips, yes those are a thing now. They are implanted into your brain to increase functionality and allow faster and greater access to data. We discovered in the early 200’s that our brains could be programmed to work faster and smarter for it was just a complex computer. We finally had breakthrough in tapping into our potential, and then expanding it. Everyone started getting “chipped” at birth in 2312. Luckily the rejuvenation breakthrough happened in 2175, I could live really long. The only thing we were missing is how to restore the brain, but also make it so it works less and doesn’t grow old so quickly. Even though I was 76, I looked and feel no older than 32 and even to this day I look about 35 though wisdom acquired through the years cannot comprehend age to say. But I digress, I was chipped for increase capacity early and I have had many upgrades since then, but since I was one who chose to stay on Earth we didn’t upgrade as fast since we had to go to Mars to do so. And they rarely made trips to Earth. Politically we were despised. Why not come to our new home? Isn’t Earth just a waste bucket? We can terraform our own world now why should you care? Well, it is hard to say, but it seems so, fake. There is something surreal and spiritual about Earth. And logically as a scientist I shouldn’t believe in all of this, but I just can’t help but feel different here. Even though we create life, it seems lifeless. Yet here, even the life that is dying seems more alive than what we “create” maybe there is a creator and in our conquest to be like him we remove the very life we seek to produce. By the year 2400 everyone is perfect, perfect health, perfect bodies. No one gives birth anymore, everyone is created. And not even from their own eggs or seaman. It is all artificial. It has caused me some severe pain as I don’t know what to believe anymore. It was the most controversial procedure of the century yet in 2450 it was widely adopted and legalized. No one cared anymore, but I did. That is why we stayed on Earth, to make it new again, to undo the damage that society has done but in a way that is natural that doesn’t defy the very moral laws of nature. Yet alas, has it been for naught? As I mentioned early in this log, in the year 2476 a new weapon was formed. We already had nuclear fission and unlimited energy, yet a new power source was made that uses dark matter. And some soul decided to make a dark matter bomb. This bomb was sent to the core of mars. And what happened next was terrifying, there was no warning, it went off and became a black hole. It imploded all of mars, and all of civilization was lost. Only the few hundred that were left on Earth survived. The planet was in disarray from the effects of a planet leaving the solar system. Oceans rose and other fell, land masses shifted, it was like the apocalypse. 20 years and most of our food supply was used. Temporal machines that were supposed to work didn’t. But one did. We made a tracking system of all people. Since everyone is chipped they send off a signal that can be quantum tracked. There was a few hundred left and over the years we saw the number drop slowly. In 2520 the number was at 5. 5 humans left in the world. Jasper and Meagan were the only couple left and we were trying to produce life, the right way. But they were all a few hundred years old and eggs stop being produced after the age of 60 average. No matter what we tried we could not get Meagan to produce more eggs. And not having access to the same technology that existed on mars, we could not keep up with mother nature and they one by one succumbed to either disease or accidents. Like the Charleston university. It was hit by a giant meteor and wiped out all of the scientists and equipment they had. Such a happenchance that seemed very unrealistic. But, I have changed my perspective on what is real and not after mars imploded. S0 many things have changed since then. In 2528 the counter reached 1…and I knew I was the only one left.
Josua sat at his holocrafter note and contemplated how to end his log. His phaser on his bedside and tears in his eyes. He was done, this would be the last log he would ever write. He has been alone too long and he started seeing things and his mind would wander so very far.
He settled on the last sentence and looked one more time at his CB radio. After all the technology that existed it was this old radio technology that brought him comfort. He would talk endless hours into the far reaches of the earth to ease his mind. He would pretend he was a talk host and tell stories of old of the better years and how human we used to be and if only things where as they were before. Sometimes he would weep, sometimes he would laugh at his own comedy show. Clearly he was going insane. But alas tonight he was skipping his shows and his routine, no one was listening anyways.
Taking the phaser in his hands he looked sadly at it, but not really at it but past it. Memories were streaming through his mind. After Jasper died only Meagan and Joshua were left. Jasper died in 2525. This gave Joshua 3 years left with her and they succumbed to each other in relations to ease their hurting hearts. Were they really the only two people left? And Joshua hoped that maybe she would magically start producing eggs again…maybe…maybe humanity still has a chance? But alas, Joshua watched Meagan die horrifically. She tripped and fell down a hill side and was impaled by a broken pipe. Joshua ran after her and saw the life leave her eyes. This may have drove Joshua’s insanity to broadcast on the radio every night for the past 5 years. He even prayed, a scientist, yet, would a creator hear him if all that is left is him?
“Hmmph,” Joshua said.
“I guess it is time, like I promised myself, I will take my life, let this be my bitter end.”
He held up the phaser to his heart. Sure It would be a slower death, but he wanted to destroy the pain entirely. Call him a superstitious scientist, but he would have his way.
He looked at the counter one and stared at it as he shot the phaser. Immense pain entered erupted all over his body and he fell to the ground still looking at the counter. It showed 2…and a voice came across the radio.
“Hello? Is anyone here? I heard a man’s radio broadcast and I am searching for someone else. I don’t want to be alone anymore! I just landed on earth. I’ve been tracking this broadcast for years, please tell me your still here…please. I am so alone…” You could hear sobbing on the radio that echoed the lab.
Joshua let out a laugh, was fate this cruel…the life in his eyes faded away. The counter changed to 1.
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[WP] 105 years ago humankind decided to become extinct by not reproducing. You are the last human alive sitting in your home when suddenly you hear a voice of a young woman over your CB radio.
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I was the product of the law being broken. From the moment I was born, I was kept secret. My dad told me that a group of people had agreed that we had destroyed earth and needed to die off as a species and when the planet "fixed itself" evolution would once again bring humans back to try again. Everyone had a close eye kept on them to make sure no one would have kids.
My mom and dad were politicians who apparently we're high up enough to get their privacy and they broke the law and made me, that was about ninety years into the law being made. I was always being moved around and hidden so that no one would find out but the world leaders found out about me and burned the house we were staying in at the time, I had been sneaking out and drinking so I was saved by my own stupidity.
Soon after that lovely incident, a war broke out about the law all over the world and everyone killed each other with nukes, leaving nothing but a few older humans on the planet, who I suspect died off a year ago.
As of now, I'm just surviving until one day I fall over and die. I sat by the fire, my hands were freezing from being outside chopping at wood too long. I looked over at said wood, only enough to last for a couple of months and this winter would last around four or five months itself. Once the fire ran out, my food that needed to be cooked would be useless. I stood up and snuffed out the flames to save what wood I could, I hadn't even finished when a voice came over the radio and not just any voice, a woman's voice.
"Hello? Is anyone out there? My name is Jessica and I'm looking for any signs of civilization out there. " Her voice seemed to be made of silk and reminded me a lot of my mother when she was younger. I slowly moved my hand forward to grab the thing I needed to talk into, dad never told me what it was called, just how to use it. "Hello Jessica, my name is William and you have found what I thought was the last human on earth but obviously I've been wrong. Where are you? " I tried to keep it smooth, after all this time of being alone, I had someone out there that I could talk to and get to know, it gave me a slight feeling of hope I hadn't felt in a long time.
For about thirty of forty seconds, there was no reply and then her voice came back on, "Oh thank god. I've been so lonely and I thought since I had the extra batteries I would try to see who was out there. As for my location, I'm a few miles away from the big city, just surviving off whatever I find in the small town around me. " It sounds like she had been crying during that off time but I couldn't be sure.
We spent the next thirty minutes talking about anything we could think of which ended up being a lot before Jessica, or as I call her now Jess broke the random subjects, "We should meet up like right now. I can meet you in the big city wherever you want, I just need to see your face as soon as possible." I thought about it before responding, "Meet me at the Greenwood apartments, near the edge of town, apartment B1." It had been one of the places my parents had hidden me when I was too little to understand the why yet and it just seemed like an appropriate place to meet this girl.
"Sounds good, I'll see you when I get there. " She replied. Nothing else came after that but I brought packed myself a bag of essential food and water, also the radio, after that I zipped up my bag, put my heaviest coat on and made my way towards the old apartments.
I hope you enjoyed this response and I might do a part two of people are interested.
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Science log 2533.15.23.2256:13 the final log.
The year is 2533, I am a scientist at the Western university of advancement of society and restoration of all things. I have dedicated my life to the study of our species and the interaction they have with the universe. It has been almost 500 years since we landed on mars and almost 250 years since our species moved there. Yet some have stayed behind to study, heal our planet from the damage and pain we have caused it. And lucky we did, in year 2476, humans created a terrible weapon, a weapon far more devastating than you can imagine. But before I tell you about this weapon, I think it is important to let you know how science has advanced and how we got to where we are today. You see, as I am sitting here in my lavatory all alone, I can’t help but reminiscent about how far society has come, and fallen. In the year 2175, we discovered an amazing scientific breakthrough in gene allocation, mutation, and rejuvenation. This allowed humans to live a lot longer. I was born myself in 2236, who knows how old that makes me, and even with memory chips that store information to access later, I feel it may be wearing out. Memory chips, yes those are a thing now. They are implanted into your brain to increase functionality and allow faster and greater access to data. We discovered in the early 200’s that our brains could be programmed to work faster and smarter for it was just a complex computer. We finally had breakthrough in tapping into our potential, and then expanding it. Everyone started getting “chipped” at birth in 2312. Luckily the rejuvenation breakthrough happened in 2175, I could live really long. The only thing we were missing is how to restore the brain, but also make it so it works less and doesn’t grow old so quickly. Even though I was 76, I looked and feel no older than 32 and even to this day I look about 35 though wisdom acquired through the years cannot comprehend age to say. But I digress, I was chipped for increase capacity early and I have had many upgrades since then, but since I was one who chose to stay on Earth we didn’t upgrade as fast since we had to go to Mars to do so. And they rarely made trips to Earth. Politically we were despised. Why not come to our new home? Isn’t Earth just a waste bucket? We can terraform our own world now why should you care? Well, it is hard to say, but it seems so, fake. There is something surreal and spiritual about Earth. And logically as a scientist I shouldn’t believe in all of this, but I just can’t help but feel different here. Even though we create life, it seems lifeless. Yet here, even the life that is dying seems more alive than what we “create” maybe there is a creator and in our conquest to be like him we remove the very life we seek to produce. By the year 2400 everyone is perfect, perfect health, perfect bodies. No one gives birth anymore, everyone is created. And not even from their own eggs or seaman. It is all artificial. It has caused me some severe pain as I don’t know what to believe anymore. It was the most controversial procedure of the century yet in 2450 it was widely adopted and legalized. No one cared anymore, but I did. That is why we stayed on Earth, to make it new again, to undo the damage that society has done but in a way that is natural that doesn’t defy the very moral laws of nature. Yet alas, has it been for naught? As I mentioned early in this log, in the year 2476 a new weapon was formed. We already had nuclear fission and unlimited energy, yet a new power source was made that uses dark matter. And some soul decided to make a dark matter bomb. This bomb was sent to the core of mars. And what happened next was terrifying, there was no warning, it went off and became a black hole. It imploded all of mars, and all of civilization was lost. Only the few hundred that were left on Earth survived. The planet was in disarray from the effects of a planet leaving the solar system. Oceans rose and other fell, land masses shifted, it was like the apocalypse. 20 years and most of our food supply was used. Temporal machines that were supposed to work didn’t. But one did. We made a tracking system of all people. Since everyone is chipped they send off a signal that can be quantum tracked. There was a few hundred left and over the years we saw the number drop slowly. In 2520 the number was at 5. 5 humans left in the world. Jasper and Meagan were the only couple left and we were trying to produce life, the right way. But they were all a few hundred years old and eggs stop being produced after the age of 60 average. No matter what we tried we could not get Meagan to produce more eggs. And not having access to the same technology that existed on mars, we could not keep up with mother nature and they one by one succumbed to either disease or accidents. Like the Charleston university. It was hit by a giant meteor and wiped out all of the scientists and equipment they had. Such a happenchance that seemed very unrealistic. But, I have changed my perspective on what is real and not after mars imploded. S0 many things have changed since then. In 2528 the counter reached 1…and I knew I was the only one left.
Josua sat at his holocrafter note and contemplated how to end his log. His phaser on his bedside and tears in his eyes. He was done, this would be the last log he would ever write. He has been alone too long and he started seeing things and his mind would wander so very far.
He settled on the last sentence and looked one more time at his CB radio. After all the technology that existed it was this old radio technology that brought him comfort. He would talk endless hours into the far reaches of the earth to ease his mind. He would pretend he was a talk host and tell stories of old of the better years and how human we used to be and if only things where as they were before. Sometimes he would weep, sometimes he would laugh at his own comedy show. Clearly he was going insane. But alas tonight he was skipping his shows and his routine, no one was listening anyways.
Taking the phaser in his hands he looked sadly at it, but not really at it but past it. Memories were streaming through his mind. After Jasper died only Meagan and Joshua were left. Jasper died in 2525. This gave Joshua 3 years left with her and they succumbed to each other in relations to ease their hurting hearts. Were they really the only two people left? And Joshua hoped that maybe she would magically start producing eggs again…maybe…maybe humanity still has a chance? But alas, Joshua watched Meagan die horrifically. She tripped and fell down a hill side and was impaled by a broken pipe. Joshua ran after her and saw the life leave her eyes. This may have drove Joshua’s insanity to broadcast on the radio every night for the past 5 years. He even prayed, a scientist, yet, would a creator hear him if all that is left is him?
“Hmmph,” Joshua said.
“I guess it is time, like I promised myself, I will take my life, let this be my bitter end.”
He held up the phaser to his heart. Sure It would be a slower death, but he wanted to destroy the pain entirely. Call him a superstitious scientist, but he would have his way.
He looked at the counter one and stared at it as he shot the phaser. Immense pain entered erupted all over his body and he fell to the ground still looking at the counter. It showed 2…and a voice came across the radio.
“Hello? Is anyone here? I heard a man’s radio broadcast and I am searching for someone else. I don’t want to be alone anymore! I just landed on earth. I’ve been tracking this broadcast for years, please tell me your still here…please. I am so alone…” You could hear sobbing on the radio that echoed the lab.
Joshua let out a laugh, was fate this cruel…the life in his eyes faded away. The counter changed to 1.
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[WP] 105 years ago humankind decided to become extinct by not reproducing. You are the last human alive sitting in your home when suddenly you hear a voice of a young woman over your CB radio.
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I sat back by the fireside, observing the orange ambiance. Beside me sat my trusty CB radio. I'd always hoped there would be a voice on the other side. Alas, nothing but a decade of silence and loneliness. I sighed and took a sip of tea I'd brewed earlier. Humanity made the decision to die out long ago. Looks like we got what we wanted. I had no idea how I'd made it this far, and certainly didn't think I'd be the last one to go. I guess death didn't want me yet. I took another sip and lost myself in memories of an era long since erased.
We used to have communities, towns, even massive cities. The cities were gone by the time I'd came along. I remembered when I was first told we were curbing the birth rate. When I asked why I was allowed to be born, the reply came that I was just lucky. The first one thousand people to sign up for reproduction rights each year could reproduce. My parents were once such couple. By the time I came of age, this was no longer allowed. Anyone found having kids would be murdered, the children would have their memories erased and placed into foster care. Not sure how they managed to answer their question of why they got to be born though.
After living a long, productive life and living through the last handful of deaths as those around me died of old age, I sat now in my chair, alone. Or so I thought I was alone. While I was nearly napping, there suddenly came a tapping. No, not a tapping, a crackling. At first I thought it was the fire, then I heard a voice.
"Hello? Is anyone out there? Does this thing even work?" I heard a young woman inquire. I nearly jumped out of my skin at this. The phrase echoed over and over in my head until I could calm my hurly-burly and reply. Hands shaking, I pressed the button and raised the microphone to my mouth.
"Yes I'm here...how...who...where did you come from?" I inquired, trying to sound sane.
"Well I found one of these radios and thought I would give it a shot. I didn't think it would work, but I didn't...think I'd find anyone else out there...I thought I was alone." The woman replied, sounded of a similar state to my own. She sounded so young, this struck me as peculiar. I replied after a moment.
"Well, you're not alone ma'am, but...you sound so young. We stopped allowing reproduction a long time ago..." I stated.
"Well you see, I was one of the foster kids, my parents were killed after reproducing...I...heard my birth was by accident. I got in contact with some people who knew them...I was told they didn't think they were still fertile...Kind of amazing in a way..." She replied near instantaneously, though her tone sounded as if she were processing something. After a moment, I pressed the button again.
"I see...well...do you have a name?" The inquiry was met by silence. Moments passed and then, "Yes, my name is..."
Suddenly everything went black. Confused I tried to brace myself, but I could not feel anything. There was a loud static crack, followed by the words "SIMULATION ENDED." I was suddenly in a room, panting hard as the helmet was lifted from my head.
"Ah Steve, sorry about that. Gary botched the programming again but we got far." came a familiar voice. I blinked a few times. "Damn, Larry." I said shaking my head. "That shit was a bit too real that time. Serious progress." I stood up to stretch my legs. "Good work though. I was so immersed I forgot I was in a simulation! I nearly had a stroke when I saw it end!" I laughed and shook my head. Larry laughed.
"Yeah, I'll get Gary to do it next time, after we get that error fixed." He said, pointing to the diagnostics on the computer screen near the chair. "Pretty interesting look into our own extinction though." He said, bemused. I nodded.
"Yeah. Where is Gary anyway? I don't remember him coming in." Larry shrugged. "Clair says he didn't show up, didn't even call in." I scowled, this behavior was not the norm for our fellow researcher.
"Well I hope he isn't dead or something." I replied looking at Larry. He opened his mouth to respond, then suddenly everything froze. Slowly, the color drained from everything. I panicked. "Oh shit what now...." I said looking around. Everything was gray, even my hands and clothing. Suddenly the door flung open with a loud slam. I turned. There Gary walked towards me slowly.
"That's the bad news." He said in a very off-putting tone. I felt fear well up inside me. "This has to be a prank..." I replied, stammering. Gary shook his head. He stood before me and pulled a veil of darkness from nothing and draped it over him. "You're the one who's dead." He replied. "The simulation went wrong and killed you. I'm here to escort you to the next life." He gestured to the door, which had become a gateway to manic, swirling oblivion. Unwillingly, I slogged along behind him as he took my wrist and moved for the exit. Recounting my life I stood for a moment before being forcefully jerked to the edge.
"Here is where you make your exit." Death-Gary replied. I signed. All my life for this. Ironic that it was due to a simulation of voluntary human extinction. He let go of me and vanished into the void before me. I took one last breath and stepped in. All around me images of my life swirled. Colors and faces, home and work, all of it a maddening mass before my eyes. Suddenly it vanished. Silence. Then those damned words appeared again. "Simulation Ended."
I opened my eyes. I was submersed nude in a liquid inside a glass container. I could feel instruments on me. In shock I looked around. Two glowing, softly lit clouds of something approached the tank. The liquid drained and the container opened.
"Sorry about that Subject 35553-631773-6774!" A voice said. I shook my head and blinked.
"What the fuck is going on!?" I demanded. The voice spoke again, making me realize it was coming from one of the clouds. "You were in a simulation. You're being studied. We told you this just after your abduction. Don't you remember?" It said. The other cloud drifted over to a holographic screen and began manipulating it with tendrils. I stared for a moment.
"N...No I don't remember...much of anything." I replied. The other cloud spoke.
"It would appear there's been tampering with the simulation. The Subject was in a double simulation, the first ours, but the second one was of him doing research and dying in his lab. Subject has also had a memory block implemented." I shook my head in disbelief. I had no idea where to start my questioning, so I blurted the first thing that came to mind.
"Where...How...W...Why are you doing this to me?"
"We apologize. The double simulation and the block where not out intentions. We're Gandarathions. Aliens, if you will. We've chosen you as part of a program to establish a race of humans to live on our planet. To make things simple, it was discovered our kind can symbiotically live meshed with humans."
"You mean...like inside us?"
"Precisely. I told you this in greater detail before. We did the simulation to see how one would act if there were a catastrophic even during the establishment of the colony. For instance, if your kind decided to rebel and voluntarily extinct yourselves before our project could be complete. Unfortunately, we do not yet know how that may play out. We mean you no harm, rest assured. We'll get you situated." the voice had a calming, melodic tone. I sighed, knowing I didn't have much choice. The other voice spoke up before I could say anything.
"Yes Subject. Apologies. It appears our colleague," The voice made the sound of wind blowing, followed by a soft pop, and what sounded like rainfall. "has decided it would be humorous to play a prank on both us and you. We're sorry for this mass inconvenience." I could only stare blankly. "Watch this be a fucking simulation too." I thought.
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“This is DJ AJ coming to you live from Chicago, ready to bring you your morning dose of radio news,” I say into the receiver. I kick myself back in the creaky wooden chair and throw my feet up on the old desk. My boots are dusty, but the desk isn't any cleaner. All I do is kick a cloud of dirt into the air. “Humanity is less than a lifetime away from being extinct, but I'm carrying on. Trying to figure out why this decision was made. Debating whether I should rifle through papers and journals to figure out if there's a way to keep humanity alive. Is it worth it? Was this decision made for a good reason I just can't think of?”
I put the receiver down for a minute. There are some CDs and an old boom box in here. I pick up Nirvana’s Greatest Hits and pop it in, giving a little background noise to my morning radio show. Not that anyone is listening. I'm the last one, and this is purely for my entertainment.
“I went to Washington for awhile. Looked around the abandoned government buildings to see what I could find. Doesn't look like anyone left behind a record of why the world decided to stop reproducing. I'll keep looking though. I have to know. I just can't imagine why humanity would decide to go extinct.”
I pause. While I gather more thoughts to ramble out like I actually have an audience, I let the music play. This boom box will die before too long. Power is limited. But at the same time, I feel like I have unlimited resources. Everything left over by the ones who came before me is at my disposal.
“Don't let humanity die.”
I blink. I set the receiver down for a moment, and I turn off the music. The radio crackles.
“Say that again?” I ask into the receiver. My heart pumps faster.
“I said, ‘don't let humanity die.’”
Suddenly, I'm pulling my boots off the table and scrambling over the radio. There's someone else. Another person out there. I've spent years wandering, doing my stupid radio show, pretending like someone else would hear me. But I knew they never would.
“Who the hell are you and where are you located?” I demand. I wait. She has to say something to me. Anything.
“I'm in Chicago. Navy Pier.”
“Don't move. Please. I'll come find you.”
“I haven't moved in ages. No risk of losing me.”
“I can make it there in less than an hour.”
I grab my worn-down sack and throw it over my shoulder. The window is open. I leave, snagging my jeans on some of the broken glass. Just another hole. Not a big deal.
The hike feels long, weighed down with anticipation. I haven't interacted with anyone else in God knows how long. How do I talk to her? Is she going to be friendly, or am I going to have to fight for my life against a bandit? My gun still works, and it's still loaded. I don't want to have to kill the first person I've come across in what I think is six years. But I will if I have to.
The boards of the Pier come into view. They're still standing, despite the fact that the elements have been wearing on them for two centuries.
As I get closer, I see a woman leaning on one of the rails. My hand wraps around my gun. I keep it at my side, trying not to seem like a threat.
“Are you the woman I spoke to on the radio?” I call out, keeping my distance. She looks up at me. She doesn't look too old, her hair still brown. It's long. Incredibly long. And it whips around in the breeze.
“DJ AJ?” she replies.
“That's me.”
“Couldn't come up with a better name?”
“AJ is my given name.”
She approaches me, hands in the air. “I'm not trying to hurt you. I need help. I want someone to help me keep humanity alive.”
“I'm not letting go of my gun until I know I can trust you.”
“That's fair.”
We stop in front of each other. I'm taller than her, but not by much.
“My name is Molly,” she says. “I've spent a lot of time searching for answers and solutions, just like you said you have. Humanity was never supposed to die out. They were trying to control the population, and things got out of hand. We need to keep humanity alive.”
“But how? Do you know any men?” I ask.
“They kept sperm banks in a few places around the world, just as an insurance policy. But the few I've found have long since unfrozen, every specimen long since dead. I have some plans. Having another woman beside me couldn't hurt.”
I consider it. “What are your plans?”
“Staying on the move. Searching for banks, labs, and other people. Anything we can find to help us keep this race alive. It doesn't have to end here, and I don't intend to let it.”
“But what if there was a real reason we were supposed to die out?”
“You don't believe that bullshit, do you?”
“I don't know what to believe.”
“Believe your instinct. Your primal need to survive. That's what this is all about. Now, are you going to be part of what saves the human race, or are you going to go off on your own, living your life alone until you die?”
I shift my weight, looking out to the lake. I've been searching. I have. But I have yet to find anything useful. The sperm banks are gone. Other people are gone. Humanity has no hope left.
But I don't want to wander alone.
“All right. I'm in.”
|
|
[WP] 105 years ago humankind decided to become extinct by not reproducing. You are the last human alive sitting in your home when suddenly you hear a voice of a young woman over your CB radio.
|
The voice was quiet, silent at first, and I figured I'd imagined it - like I often did. When you were alone - so, so alone - you tended to hear things. To see things that weren't there. And how you wished that they really were.
But then I heard it again - clearer, less ethereal. I turned to my radio, staring into it, feeling my heart float away. *Was this really happening?*
"Please, I don't know where I am."
The voice cut off, and I reached for the radio, with agility I hadn't possessed in decades. She sounded young, startled, scared. How was this possible? Was this all just a dream?
I leaned towards it, hoping she was still on the other end. She sounded so familiar, so much like someone I knew, so long ago...
"Hello, my dear? Are you there?"
Static on the other end. I gripped the radio, my knuckles white, hoping, pleading that she would reply. It had been so long since I'd heard another voice - I thought I was the only one left.
"...Dad? Is that you?"
I felt tears stream down my face, through no control of my own. It was her.
"Claire... how...?"
Static.
"Claire, please... daddy's here for you. Just please speak to me."
Static.
"*Please.*"
I felt fear overcome me - she must be in trouble. She's alive - she needs my help. I need to *save* her.
I moved with difficulty, frantically searching for an exit. It had been so long since I'd last been outside - where even *was* outside? Where could she be?
I blinked.
Where was *who?*
I realised I was standing up. I looked around, and everything was in such disarray. Notes were scrawled across every surface. I sat down, out of breath. I felt so confused, so scared. So *hungry*, like I hadn't eaten in days. I picked up my cup of tea, hands trembling, but it was cold... so cold.
Claire... why was I thinking of her now? She'd been dead for half a century. But it still felt like she was here - like she was right here with me.
I heard a voice, quiet at first. Was it coming from the radio? Was I imagining it? I often did, these days.
I heard it again, louder, clearer this time. A young woman's voice. I looked at the radio, trembling.
Why does she sound so *familiar?*
*****
*****
If you didn't completely hate that, consider subscribing to [my new subreddit.](https://www.reddit.com/r/CroatianSpy/)
I'll try add new (and old) stories every day <3
|
Man, I haven't cleaned the house in *months*. The dust was finally starting to get to me. Probably should have closed the window, but...I suppose we learn from our mistakes.
*I* learn from my mistakes. Me. There was no longer a 'we'.
It had been the most complete reversal of evolution ever. My parents - God bless their memory - they remembered the hot, muggy summer's day, where the air was too thick to cut and the flies buzzed like fighter aircraft - and they remembered the instruction, coming through the radio:
*Attention - attention! This is your Father President speaking.*
Everyone in the household stiffened up. A message like this was unmissable.
*From this glorious day you shall not engage in sexual relations. It is forbidden by the word of God and the rules of man. Anyone caught engaging in sexual relations will be put to death, yea man and woman alike, and their bodies displayed publicly.*
There was a silence, and the air hung about the house like a giant pillow. Then the radio crackled one final time.
*And may God bless this great planet.*
The radio stopped. My parents - they were young then, they stared at each other, throughly unsure of what to say. One thing was for sure - all across the planet, the decree had the force of law, and there were people that didn't care. My parents were one such couple, but they also had the brains and luck to die of old age.
I was born some ten years after the law came into effect. The world was fast fading then. I'd have liked to say humanity didn't go down without a fight, but that would be a lie. Humanity seemed to be tired. Tired of all the wars, tired of the World Crusades, tired of the purges that came after, tired of everything - tired of having nothing.
So this was the world I inherited, way back when radios crackled with sound. Absent-mindedly, I reached for the radio on the table - the knobs were nearly rusted-firm - and I turned it on. There was only static. There was only silence.
---
Another memory.
*Did you know, the story of the universe?*
I had nodded ecstatically. "God created the world in six days, and on the seventh-"
My father smiled with tired affection. "On the seventh He rested. And that is the truth."
I remember, watching him, watching as his smile twisted like he had swallowed the bitterest pill imaginable. Then he perked up again.
"It's not the whole truth, though."
I looked at him sideways, like a kid before he knows how to ask a question. His eyes - they were black as the velvet night - I saw my own reflected there.
"Would you like to hear it?"
"Hear...God creating the world?"
My father smiled. Turned the radio on. "It's called the cosmic microwave background radiation," he whispered. "That static - a part of that is light, light from Creation, from the word of Genesis - let there be light-"
"And there was light," I whispered.
And there was light. And there was sound. And there was static, and then silence. And then there were memories, past, present and future...
---
I hadn't heard a song come on the airwaves for years.
So why did I turn the knob?
I didn't know, but it felt familiar. Like the way an old schoolbag cuts into your shoulders. Or the sound an old kettle makes when it was almost teatime. It felt old, and rusted, and good.
The static stopped.
Had the batteries run out?
I shook the radio a bit - 'percussive maintenance' - but there was nothing there. As I shook it I heard something else. Something so strange I considered I was mad.
"Hello?" the radio had spoken back. "Is anyone out there?
I froze.
"...help," the voice had trailed. It was that of a young woman, but all at once it was not - the voice had been so battered and broken and prematurely old you fancied no life was left. "...help..."
"Where are you?" I shouted back into the radio.
"...west side..."
And the radio clicked out. But I had heard enough. Carefully, I walked across to pick out the rifle.
The house would have to wait. The world was not yet silenced - there was another.
---
r/KCcracker
|
|
[WP] 105 years ago humankind decided to become extinct by not reproducing. You are the last human alive sitting in your home when suddenly you hear a voice of a young woman over your CB radio.
|
I come from a long line of rebels, stretching back generations. Grandpa never took kindly to authority figures telling him what to do, and refused to be chipped even when that meant losing his job and being unable to go to stores without facing arrest. As a big F-U to the government, he moved up here to the mountains to live off the land instead. Internet and phones required a chip to use, so they just did without. And when he and Grandma had kids, they were born here in the cabin instead of in one of the hospitals in town. No chips, no registration, no records. Dad then carried on the same family values; he met Mom through a group of like-minded resistors who were never registered, and they had me in secret.
I was only six when the Evacuation Act was passed. After so much harm to the environment, people realized that some things just can’t be fixed with more technology. The entire planet was turned into one big park, and everyone else evacuated off-world. Being cut off from the rest of society, we only learned about it when the government started broadcasting warnings on old CB radios, telling us to report to the nearest spaceport for reassignment. Well, Dad followed those orders just about as much as Grandpa had done in the past; I was just lucky that he never smashed that old radio receiver.
The flyovers started when I was eight or so. We’d have to dash out of the cabin and jump into the lake, even in the dead of winter. Dad said the drones use thermal imaging, so they can’t see us under the cold water. I started sleeping in a wetsuit, and Dad rigged up some big straws on the dock for us to breathe through.
But by the time I was eleven or twelve, the flyovers became less and less frequent until they finally stopped. *All* air traffic stopped, actually: no more sonic booms from planes soaring overhead, and no more streaks in the sky from the orbital jumpers leaving spaceports. Even the CB radio fell silent; no more government broadcasts warning us to leave the planet, and one by one the other resistor families fell silent too.
Dad passed on when I was about 15; some kind of infection that didn’t respond to our home-grown penicillin. It was bound to happen eventually, and he’d raised me up right to take care of myself. I buried him on the shore of the lake next to Grandma and Grandpa, and next to the mother I’d never really known. And that was it: just like that, I was alone.
Despite Dad’s warnings, I did search for others. After making sure that my traps were set, the fishing nets were out, and the crops were attended, I had some free time on summer. So I decided to go into town. I wasn’t going to get caught: living out here and hunting for one’s supper makes one pretty adept at staying hidden. I just had to see this town for my own two eyes. Just to see if they really were gone. I stopped on the outskirts and observed the gleaming towers and wide paved streets, but there was nothing moving. Everything was dead quiet; completely deserted. Maybe the radio broadcasts had been right: maybe everyone was gone.
Summers went and winters came, and life carried on. I kept the radio on, waiting for some signal. Maybe one of the other resistor families was still out there. Maybe they were afraid to broadcast because of the flyovers. So every night, I sat by my fire and just talked for hours on end. I talked until my throat was hoarse. I *begged* them to respond. To do *anything* to indicate that maybe they were still out there. And just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore…
“Hello?” A voice crackled through the speakers. “Hello, can you hear me?” the voice was soft, in a way that I’d only heard on Dad’s old recordings: a woman’s voice.
I threw myself across the cabin and lunged for the mic. “I’m here!” I shouted, mashing the broadcast button. “Hello? Hello?! I’m here!” I hadn’t realized just how much I *needed* to hear another human speak. It had been near 4 years now since Dad’s passing, and I hadn’t seen another soul since then.
“Oh god, are you real?” she asked back, ending the broadcast with a sob.
“Yes. Yes, I’m real.” I didn’t even know how to describe the sheer relief I was feeling now.
“I’ve been looking for so long!” Her voice was like a song. “Where are you? I just… I need to see you for myself.”
My mind stretched back to the abandoned town, miles and miles away. There was a big green sign near the road that said the name. “I’m near Reno,” I told her. “In Nevada.”
There was a long pause. The radio crackled with static, teasing me. *Was she not real? Was it all my imagination? Had I finally snapped?* Then her voice came back through the speakers. “I can be there in 3 hours,” she said. “Look for me in the center of town.”
---
I picked flowers for her. I’m not sure why; Dad had once told me that he’d given Mom flowers on the day they met, and that she’d love it. We used to pick them together to put on her grave, too. I guess women liked flowers.
I stood in a windswept intersection of two broad streets. I wasn’t sure where exactly the ‘center’ of town was, but this section had the biggest buildings. And I was the only one here.
“Hello?!” I called. My voice echoed through the canyons of glass and steel until it was carried away by the wind. But I had to keep calling, or she wouldn’t be able to find me.
The streets were filled with a sudden roar, like a pounding storm. It seemed to come from every direction at once; from the buildings themselves. Then a bright light snapped on overhead, and I had just enough time to look up and identify the glowing engines of one of the government ships. Then electricity jolted through my body, leaving my convulsing on the rough black asphalt.
“Got one poacher in the honey pot,” a voice said. The shock had taken me out of it so much I didn’t even realize that men in black uniforms had appeared next to me.
“Where is she?” I managed to croak. I realized that I hadn’t even learned her name. Hopefully she saw the ship and ran, like Dad had trained me to do.
“Confirmed,” the voice said, ignoring my question. “Taking him up now.” A harness was strapped to my chest, and we began to rise toward the ship
“Where is she?!” I shouted at the men hanging in the air next to me. “WHERE IS SHE?”
One of them laughed and removed part of the black mask he wore over his face. “There never was a ‘she,’” he told me.
|
Man, I haven't cleaned the house in *months*. The dust was finally starting to get to me. Probably should have closed the window, but...I suppose we learn from our mistakes.
*I* learn from my mistakes. Me. There was no longer a 'we'.
It had been the most complete reversal of evolution ever. My parents - God bless their memory - they remembered the hot, muggy summer's day, where the air was too thick to cut and the flies buzzed like fighter aircraft - and they remembered the instruction, coming through the radio:
*Attention - attention! This is your Father President speaking.*
Everyone in the household stiffened up. A message like this was unmissable.
*From this glorious day you shall not engage in sexual relations. It is forbidden by the word of God and the rules of man. Anyone caught engaging in sexual relations will be put to death, yea man and woman alike, and their bodies displayed publicly.*
There was a silence, and the air hung about the house like a giant pillow. Then the radio crackled one final time.
*And may God bless this great planet.*
The radio stopped. My parents - they were young then, they stared at each other, throughly unsure of what to say. One thing was for sure - all across the planet, the decree had the force of law, and there were people that didn't care. My parents were one such couple, but they also had the brains and luck to die of old age.
I was born some ten years after the law came into effect. The world was fast fading then. I'd have liked to say humanity didn't go down without a fight, but that would be a lie. Humanity seemed to be tired. Tired of all the wars, tired of the World Crusades, tired of the purges that came after, tired of everything - tired of having nothing.
So this was the world I inherited, way back when radios crackled with sound. Absent-mindedly, I reached for the radio on the table - the knobs were nearly rusted-firm - and I turned it on. There was only static. There was only silence.
---
Another memory.
*Did you know, the story of the universe?*
I had nodded ecstatically. "God created the world in six days, and on the seventh-"
My father smiled with tired affection. "On the seventh He rested. And that is the truth."
I remember, watching him, watching as his smile twisted like he had swallowed the bitterest pill imaginable. Then he perked up again.
"It's not the whole truth, though."
I looked at him sideways, like a kid before he knows how to ask a question. His eyes - they were black as the velvet night - I saw my own reflected there.
"Would you like to hear it?"
"Hear...God creating the world?"
My father smiled. Turned the radio on. "It's called the cosmic microwave background radiation," he whispered. "That static - a part of that is light, light from Creation, from the word of Genesis - let there be light-"
"And there was light," I whispered.
And there was light. And there was sound. And there was static, and then silence. And then there were memories, past, present and future...
---
I hadn't heard a song come on the airwaves for years.
So why did I turn the knob?
I didn't know, but it felt familiar. Like the way an old schoolbag cuts into your shoulders. Or the sound an old kettle makes when it was almost teatime. It felt old, and rusted, and good.
The static stopped.
Had the batteries run out?
I shook the radio a bit - 'percussive maintenance' - but there was nothing there. As I shook it I heard something else. Something so strange I considered I was mad.
"Hello?" the radio had spoken back. "Is anyone out there?
I froze.
"...help," the voice had trailed. It was that of a young woman, but all at once it was not - the voice had been so battered and broken and prematurely old you fancied no life was left. "...help..."
"Where are you?" I shouted back into the radio.
"...west side..."
And the radio clicked out. But I had heard enough. Carefully, I walked across to pick out the rifle.
The house would have to wait. The world was not yet silenced - there was another.
---
r/KCcracker
|
|
[WP] 105 years ago humankind decided to become extinct by not reproducing. You are the last human alive sitting in your home when suddenly you hear a voice of a young woman over your CB radio.
|
I come from a long line of rebels, stretching back generations. Grandpa never took kindly to authority figures telling him what to do, and refused to be chipped even when that meant losing his job and being unable to go to stores without facing arrest. As a big F-U to the government, he moved up here to the mountains to live off the land instead. Internet and phones required a chip to use, so they just did without. And when he and Grandma had kids, they were born here in the cabin instead of in one of the hospitals in town. No chips, no registration, no records. Dad then carried on the same family values; he met Mom through a group of like-minded resistors who were never registered, and they had me in secret.
I was only six when the Evacuation Act was passed. After so much harm to the environment, people realized that some things just can’t be fixed with more technology. The entire planet was turned into one big park, and everyone else evacuated off-world. Being cut off from the rest of society, we only learned about it when the government started broadcasting warnings on old CB radios, telling us to report to the nearest spaceport for reassignment. Well, Dad followed those orders just about as much as Grandpa had done in the past; I was just lucky that he never smashed that old radio receiver.
The flyovers started when I was eight or so. We’d have to dash out of the cabin and jump into the lake, even in the dead of winter. Dad said the drones use thermal imaging, so they can’t see us under the cold water. I started sleeping in a wetsuit, and Dad rigged up some big straws on the dock for us to breathe through.
But by the time I was eleven or twelve, the flyovers became less and less frequent until they finally stopped. *All* air traffic stopped, actually: no more sonic booms from planes soaring overhead, and no more streaks in the sky from the orbital jumpers leaving spaceports. Even the CB radio fell silent; no more government broadcasts warning us to leave the planet, and one by one the other resistor families fell silent too.
Dad passed on when I was about 15; some kind of infection that didn’t respond to our home-grown penicillin. It was bound to happen eventually, and he’d raised me up right to take care of myself. I buried him on the shore of the lake next to Grandma and Grandpa, and next to the mother I’d never really known. And that was it: just like that, I was alone.
Despite Dad’s warnings, I did search for others. After making sure that my traps were set, the fishing nets were out, and the crops were attended, I had some free time on summer. So I decided to go into town. I wasn’t going to get caught: living out here and hunting for one’s supper makes one pretty adept at staying hidden. I just had to see this town for my own two eyes. Just to see if they really were gone. I stopped on the outskirts and observed the gleaming towers and wide paved streets, but there was nothing moving. Everything was dead quiet; completely deserted. Maybe the radio broadcasts had been right: maybe everyone was gone.
Summers went and winters came, and life carried on. I kept the radio on, waiting for some signal. Maybe one of the other resistor families was still out there. Maybe they were afraid to broadcast because of the flyovers. So every night, I sat by my fire and just talked for hours on end. I talked until my throat was hoarse. I *begged* them to respond. To do *anything* to indicate that maybe they were still out there. And just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore…
“Hello?” A voice crackled through the speakers. “Hello, can you hear me?” the voice was soft, in a way that I’d only heard on Dad’s old recordings: a woman’s voice.
I threw myself across the cabin and lunged for the mic. “I’m here!” I shouted, mashing the broadcast button. “Hello? Hello?! I’m here!” I hadn’t realized just how much I *needed* to hear another human speak. It had been near 4 years now since Dad’s passing, and I hadn’t seen another soul since then.
“Oh god, are you real?” she asked back, ending the broadcast with a sob.
“Yes. Yes, I’m real.” I didn’t even know how to describe the sheer relief I was feeling now.
“I’ve been looking for so long!” Her voice was like a song. “Where are you? I just… I need to see you for myself.”
My mind stretched back to the abandoned town, miles and miles away. There was a big green sign near the road that said the name. “I’m near Reno,” I told her. “In Nevada.”
There was a long pause. The radio crackled with static, teasing me. *Was she not real? Was it all my imagination? Had I finally snapped?* Then her voice came back through the speakers. “I can be there in 3 hours,” she said. “Look for me in the center of town.”
---
I picked flowers for her. I’m not sure why; Dad had once told me that he’d given Mom flowers on the day they met, and that she’d love it. We used to pick them together to put on her grave, too. I guess women liked flowers.
I stood in a windswept intersection of two broad streets. I wasn’t sure where exactly the ‘center’ of town was, but this section had the biggest buildings. And I was the only one here.
“Hello?!” I called. My voice echoed through the canyons of glass and steel until it was carried away by the wind. But I had to keep calling, or she wouldn’t be able to find me.
The streets were filled with a sudden roar, like a pounding storm. It seemed to come from every direction at once; from the buildings themselves. Then a bright light snapped on overhead, and I had just enough time to look up and identify the glowing engines of one of the government ships. Then electricity jolted through my body, leaving my convulsing on the rough black asphalt.
“Got one poacher in the honey pot,” a voice said. The shock had taken me out of it so much I didn’t even realize that men in black uniforms had appeared next to me.
“Where is she?” I managed to croak. I realized that I hadn’t even learned her name. Hopefully she saw the ship and ran, like Dad had trained me to do.
“Confirmed,” the voice said, ignoring my question. “Taking him up now.” A harness was strapped to my chest, and we began to rise toward the ship
“Where is she?!” I shouted at the men hanging in the air next to me. “WHERE IS SHE?”
One of them laughed and removed part of the black mask he wore over his face. “There never was a ‘she,’” he told me.
|
The voice was quiet, silent at first, and I figured I'd imagined it - like I often did. When you were alone - so, so alone - you tended to hear things. To see things that weren't there. And how you wished that they really were.
But then I heard it again - clearer, less ethereal. I turned to my radio, staring into it, feeling my heart float away. *Was this really happening?*
"Please, I don't know where I am."
The voice cut off, and I reached for the radio, with agility I hadn't possessed in decades. She sounded young, startled, scared. How was this possible? Was this all just a dream?
I leaned towards it, hoping she was still on the other end. She sounded so familiar, so much like someone I knew, so long ago...
"Hello, my dear? Are you there?"
Static on the other end. I gripped the radio, my knuckles white, hoping, pleading that she would reply. It had been so long since I'd heard another voice - I thought I was the only one left.
"...Dad? Is that you?"
I felt tears stream down my face, through no control of my own. It was her.
"Claire... how...?"
Static.
"Claire, please... daddy's here for you. Just please speak to me."
Static.
"*Please.*"
I felt fear overcome me - she must be in trouble. She's alive - she needs my help. I need to *save* her.
I moved with difficulty, frantically searching for an exit. It had been so long since I'd last been outside - where even *was* outside? Where could she be?
I blinked.
Where was *who?*
I realised I was standing up. I looked around, and everything was in such disarray. Notes were scrawled across every surface. I sat down, out of breath. I felt so confused, so scared. So *hungry*, like I hadn't eaten in days. I picked up my cup of tea, hands trembling, but it was cold... so cold.
Claire... why was I thinking of her now? She'd been dead for half a century. But it still felt like she was here - like she was right here with me.
I heard a voice, quiet at first. Was it coming from the radio? Was I imagining it? I often did, these days.
I heard it again, louder, clearer this time. A young woman's voice. I looked at the radio, trembling.
Why does she sound so *familiar?*
*****
*****
If you didn't completely hate that, consider subscribing to [my new subreddit.](https://www.reddit.com/r/CroatianSpy/)
I'll try add new (and old) stories every day <3
|
|
I'd like to see what you guys make of this :)
EDIT: the one new post is on Reddit. Forgot to clarify.
|
[WP] You wake up one morning and find that everyone in your house is still asleep, and won't wake up. Only it's not just your house; it's the whole world. You decide to hop online and see if anyone else is awake. You find one new post, titled "Anyone else awake?" It has 3 comments.
|
I woke up this morning at 6 am, very scared from a nightmare. I tried to remember my dream, but just one thing came to my mind: I was in a forest. I didn’t think too much about it, and fell asleep again soon. About one hour later I heard my father’s alarm, and it would not stop ringing. So I got up and went into his room to turn it off. He was still asleep.
I got ready and headed for the high school in my bike, as always. It is a pretty long way, because I live in the outer part of the town. However, I didn’t find anyone in the streets. When I got there the door was still closed, and there was no one in the building. I texted some of my friends, maybe there was some event today which I didn’t know about, but no one answered. So after waiting there for almost half an hour, and a bit worried already, I went back home.
When I got there my father was still asleep. I tried to wake him up, but I couldn’t. He was breathing, though. So I decided to search the internet about what was happening, and of course I entered Reddit. There was just one new post, which read: “Anyone else awake?”. Instead of easing me, it scared me even more. That meant that almost everyone in the world was asleep! Furthermore, it had just three comments. So I decided to look at it.
“Am I the only one awake? I don’t know what happened, but I came to work at the school (I’m a janitor) about an hour ago and there is no one here yet. I’m worried”. That was the main post. Then I read the first answer, which started to freak me out:
“Something is happening, I’m really scared… My sister just died, in a car accident. She was driving me to my workplace at the bank, and a girl was standing right in front of us. She tried to avoid hitting the woman, but we crashed. And my sister died. I could not reach an ambulance, or the police, they would not answer the phone. I didn’t see anyone else in all day. My sister woke up this morning, from a nightmare, but when I asked her what it was about she could only remember that she was driving. I don’t understand what is happening, I’m really worried”.
The next comment was from the janitor. It said: “Man, I’m really sorry about that. I remember that I dreamt something tonight too, but I can’t really tell what it was”.
The last answer was from some other person, and it said: “You all know what is happening. You need to remember”. Then I thought I was really getting crazy. I looked at the user name in this comment, I had seen it before, but I didn’t know where. After searching for that nickname, I found a post that I read last night. It was a little story, very bad written and with no real sense. It hadn’t been read by many people.
The story was about a young girl, who was a serial killer. She had some voices in her mind, which told her to kill several people. First, she caused a car accident to kill a taxist. Then she went to the woods to kill a lumberjack with his own axe. She also shot a teacher in her school. And finally she robbed a bank, just to kill one of the cops that came to stop her. I did not see the point in the story, but I had to read it for some reason.
Maybe the anonymous person was talking about this when he or she told us to remember. In this moment my head was spinning around. I thought about the rest of the people: one that worked at a bank, one at a school and one who died in a car... Just like in the story!
In this moment I was really scared. What was my part in the story? Then I thought about my dream. I understood it then, and started to run towards the cabin where my father kept his tools.
But when I arrived she was already there, holding my father’s axe.
|
John was slicing open a body, preparing it to be eaten. He ripped out the bowels, and put aside the heart and liver. He then separated the skin from the meat sliced from the ribs and stomach area, his favorite. This wasn't to be eaten immediately, but for dinner, with his disemboweled family.
John's sanity was still in there, but it was the cry of stranded people yelling to an airplane.
About a week since waking up, the voices started encouraging him to prod at the sleeping. They promised it would make the screeching go away, and it did! Surely it was a victimless crime, and it was only fair to assume the world wouldn't wake.
It never did.
When everyone else fell asleep, only five awoke again, and they were connected. They couldn't contact each other, but there was a pulse, and each pulse were different than the other. This bothered john. The world was his now, and the rest had to die.
On occasion the pulsating got stronger, and John guessed he was getting closer to the others, so he would have to follow it. After dinner he would leave his family and search for the others.
They were nearer than he thought.
John finished eating, and set off. To the east was where the pulse got the strongest. He moved across the field that was two blocks from his home, then into a neighborhood right across. The pulse was the strongest here since it stared. Before the mass coma, John actually never left the home. His mom was a bitch, and his father never failed to reach new extremes. John never got to leave the house, so this was exciting for him. He walked down the street right across from the field. Every yard had wired fence, and the houses were littered with graffiti. One house interested him in particular. The front lawn scattered with all sorts of dead animals. Cats, dogs, all killed in the most inventive of ways. John smiled.
It was getting dark, and he could see someone lighting a candle through the living room curtains. He blatantly walked to the front door and knocked. A woman opened the door.
"Hello", he said.
Inside the house was surprisingly well kempt. The inhabitants seemed jittery, an uneasy, excited kind of jittery. It's been awhile since another person walked through their front door. Inside were two women and two teenagers, both male. John guessed the ages were fifteen and sixteen. They didn't speak, and they were dirty and full of blood. This is going to be easy, john thought. He excused himself to the bathroom where he got his knife and bat out. With his mouth watering he open the door, and moved in on one of the women. She turned around, and in an instant all four were packed on him, the two women stabbing at his throat and the children at his stomach. They heard the voices too, but only when John entered the room.
(Two notes I can think of right now is 'show don't tell!!' and some of the rhythm is a little off too. Any other notes? I probably made some tense mistakes too, as I'm not a native speaker, so I'd like some advice on that too. Thanks for reading!)
|
I'd like to see what you guys make of this :)
EDIT: the one new post is on Reddit. Forgot to clarify.
|
[WP] You wake up one morning and find that everyone in your house is still asleep, and won't wake up. Only it's not just your house; it's the whole world. You decide to hop online and see if anyone else is awake. You find one new post, titled "Anyone else awake?" It has 3 comments.
|
**Okay. This is weird. She isn't waking up, but she seems to be alright. Still muttering in her sleep, so it can't be too bad, right?**
I tiptoed out of my mom's room and made my way to the kitchen.
**Got to drink some tea to kick-start my brain. Open up the doors, go greet the dogs outside. Great. They're asleep too.**
I returned to the warmth of my kitchen, and put some water on the stove.
**Right. The whole street seems to be asleep. Let's check the news to see what's happening. It's been a while since I've updated myself anyway.**
*Now for Reddit*
**I've seen these posts yesterday. Why aren't there any newer posts?**
*Refresh*
*Refresh*
**Finally! A new post.**
"Anyone else awake?"
**Dafaq?**
"3 comments"
*Tap*
"**-Taketimetobreathe**
Forgive my terrible formatting and spelling mistakes, but my hands are shaking as I type this. Everyone around me is asleep. The dorm is quiet. They aren't waking up. I've been trying to wake them up for nearly an hour and nothing. I don't know how much time I've left. Please, if anyone is out there, PM me!"
"**-b00b-inspector-25**
Hey OP, I'm awake too. Don't worry, I think
this is some kind of elaborate prank. Let's
just wait it out."
"**-All_hail_our_Lord_Harambe**
This is it. 2016 was so full of shit, that we've
finally given up. Good. Good riddance. I'm off
to bed. Night y'all"
**Right. The world's asleep, apparently. And only 3 are awake. 4, including me. Well, at least I've the day off. Best to catch up on some much needed sleep.**
I turned off the stove, left everything as it was, and crawled back into bed. Maybe the next time I wake up it would be to my mom yelling at me to get off the bed and do some chores.
|
John was slicing open a body, preparing it to be eaten. He ripped out the bowels, and put aside the heart and liver. He then separated the skin from the meat sliced from the ribs and stomach area, his favorite. This wasn't to be eaten immediately, but for dinner, with his disemboweled family.
John's sanity was still in there, but it was the cry of stranded people yelling to an airplane.
About a week since waking up, the voices started encouraging him to prod at the sleeping. They promised it would make the screeching go away, and it did! Surely it was a victimless crime, and it was only fair to assume the world wouldn't wake.
It never did.
When everyone else fell asleep, only five awoke again, and they were connected. They couldn't contact each other, but there was a pulse, and each pulse were different than the other. This bothered john. The world was his now, and the rest had to die.
On occasion the pulsating got stronger, and John guessed he was getting closer to the others, so he would have to follow it. After dinner he would leave his family and search for the others.
They were nearer than he thought.
John finished eating, and set off. To the east was where the pulse got the strongest. He moved across the field that was two blocks from his home, then into a neighborhood right across. The pulse was the strongest here since it stared. Before the mass coma, John actually never left the home. His mom was a bitch, and his father never failed to reach new extremes. John never got to leave the house, so this was exciting for him. He walked down the street right across from the field. Every yard had wired fence, and the houses were littered with graffiti. One house interested him in particular. The front lawn scattered with all sorts of dead animals. Cats, dogs, all killed in the most inventive of ways. John smiled.
It was getting dark, and he could see someone lighting a candle through the living room curtains. He blatantly walked to the front door and knocked. A woman opened the door.
"Hello", he said.
Inside the house was surprisingly well kempt. The inhabitants seemed jittery, an uneasy, excited kind of jittery. It's been awhile since another person walked through their front door. Inside were two women and two teenagers, both male. John guessed the ages were fifteen and sixteen. They didn't speak, and they were dirty and full of blood. This is going to be easy, john thought. He excused himself to the bathroom where he got his knife and bat out. With his mouth watering he open the door, and moved in on one of the women. She turned around, and in an instant all four were packed on him, the two women stabbing at his throat and the children at his stomach. They heard the voices too, but only when John entered the room.
(Two notes I can think of right now is 'show don't tell!!' and some of the rhythm is a little off too. Any other notes? I probably made some tense mistakes too, as I'm not a native speaker, so I'd like some advice on that too. Thanks for reading!)
|
I'd like to see what you guys make of this :)
EDIT: the one new post is on Reddit. Forgot to clarify.
|
[WP] You wake up one morning and find that everyone in your house is still asleep, and won't wake up. Only it's not just your house; it's the whole world. You decide to hop online and see if anyone else is awake. You find one new post, titled "Anyone else awake?" It has 3 comments.
|
My eyes open. My feet hit the floor.
I drag my barely functioning limbs to alertness. Grasping the door handle, my shuffling legs come to a stop.
I wander. My sister's room. My parent's room.
The same silence.
My fingers shake.
My phone is in my hands. Reddit, the homepage.
I see the words- the only activity online: *"Is anyone else awake?!?"*
My eyes flick downward. "*Three new comments*".
One circular thought pings through the mental fuzz:
...it worked.
|
John was slicing open a body, preparing it to be eaten. He ripped out the bowels, and put aside the heart and liver. He then separated the skin from the meat sliced from the ribs and stomach area, his favorite. This wasn't to be eaten immediately, but for dinner, with his disemboweled family.
John's sanity was still in there, but it was the cry of stranded people yelling to an airplane.
About a week since waking up, the voices started encouraging him to prod at the sleeping. They promised it would make the screeching go away, and it did! Surely it was a victimless crime, and it was only fair to assume the world wouldn't wake.
It never did.
When everyone else fell asleep, only five awoke again, and they were connected. They couldn't contact each other, but there was a pulse, and each pulse were different than the other. This bothered john. The world was his now, and the rest had to die.
On occasion the pulsating got stronger, and John guessed he was getting closer to the others, so he would have to follow it. After dinner he would leave his family and search for the others.
They were nearer than he thought.
John finished eating, and set off. To the east was where the pulse got the strongest. He moved across the field that was two blocks from his home, then into a neighborhood right across. The pulse was the strongest here since it stared. Before the mass coma, John actually never left the home. His mom was a bitch, and his father never failed to reach new extremes. John never got to leave the house, so this was exciting for him. He walked down the street right across from the field. Every yard had wired fence, and the houses were littered with graffiti. One house interested him in particular. The front lawn scattered with all sorts of dead animals. Cats, dogs, all killed in the most inventive of ways. John smiled.
It was getting dark, and he could see someone lighting a candle through the living room curtains. He blatantly walked to the front door and knocked. A woman opened the door.
"Hello", he said.
Inside the house was surprisingly well kempt. The inhabitants seemed jittery, an uneasy, excited kind of jittery. It's been awhile since another person walked through their front door. Inside were two women and two teenagers, both male. John guessed the ages were fifteen and sixteen. They didn't speak, and they were dirty and full of blood. This is going to be easy, john thought. He excused himself to the bathroom where he got his knife and bat out. With his mouth watering he open the door, and moved in on one of the women. She turned around, and in an instant all four were packed on him, the two women stabbing at his throat and the children at his stomach. They heard the voices too, but only when John entered the room.
(Two notes I can think of right now is 'show don't tell!!' and some of the rhythm is a little off too. Any other notes? I probably made some tense mistakes too, as I'm not a native speaker, so I'd like some advice on that too. Thanks for reading!)
|
[WP] Aliens have finally arrived but instead of bringing war or enlightenment, they are all refugees.
|
We loved the Aeronautic party, they promised peace and prosperity --but most of all, alien rights. When we pitched up on Earth some seventy years ago the offer was simple --cohabitate or move on. They welcomed us with open arms and at first, they seemed to really love our people. I've got pictures of my great grandparents learning English, being taught the rules of society, and how to communicate via written mediums.
We never thought twice.
Compared to life on Planet Sodara, Earth was sensational. The old Sodara had housed explosive earth mounds, sinkholes that could appear overnight, and inter-galactic beings who only wanted to destroy and pillage our growth. It was great luck that the founding beings captured an enemy mother ship and were able to commandeer it to Earth.
And now, with three of our kind on the Aeronautic party, we had been integrated and welcomed into society, at least, that's what we thought.
Mardolga an elder alien paced the front of the room. His grey skin worn from years of age, his big eyes covered with human spectacles, and his long muscled body now concealed with clothes. "They promise you care, support, and the right to have your voices heard."
The room of alien's and human supports nodded in agreement. We had hired out the church hall for this particular 'community' meeting. However, I had a feeling that if the media got a hold of this they'd have a field day.
"Let me ask you then," Mardolga said, "why is it that while they invest billions in our society, nothing changes?"
There were murmurs throughout the room. Personally, I didn't believe that nothing had changed. Our minds had shifted from where they were seventy years ago.
"Six billion in the seventh district alone. Our town. The place of our people. One man or alien raise his hand and tell me what building or place of gathering they are referring too?"
No one budged. Despite not being able to point out a piece of infastructure, I was sure the money had been used for something else. Maybe public relations or to fund schools. Six billion was a lot, though.
"Then they give us labels," Mardolga went on, "minority, space stayer. There isn't a kinder way to tell a man that he is weak and different."
He was right on that note. I never liked it when the news officials used the term minority, it made me feel like we had less numbers then them and were therefore in danger of something. Space stayer was even worse, were they implying we were going to one day go back? Our planet was dead, everyone knew that.
'Then they say, that even if you are an alien you can call yourself human."
"No discrimination!" someone shouted from the crowd.
Mardolga smiled. "But you do not see them encouraging humans to call themselves alien. It's clear that one way is considered better than the other."
The room remained silent. And I let the cold wash over while my mind battled uneasiness.
"The problems of the world do not lie with government or the different people. Refugees now citizens must play their part to help. So I look at the you here and say do not leave it to the system. You must look deep, because the problems of our community lie within your mind."
It was with sullen hearts and tired minds that we left the room that day. The old members, although wise, always wanted to make things difficult. It was easier to just live, not to worry. But there was a truth in his words, maybe there were bigger things at play. I was just happy to be an alien on Earth, for now I would remain thankful that things were that way.
|
I could see the sky above me fill up with millions of mismatched spaceships each carrying what I could recognize as families composed of these foreign creatures. They were barely humanoid with long slender limbs. They were taller than the average human but not by much and they were covered in a light layer of slimy liquid from head to toe.
There was media coverage all over the situation. It was obvious once the aliens landed that they were not here to harm up. No one could understand what they said, rather they gestured roughly. The worlds top linguists were invited to the landing sight and after hours of galactic charades, it was deduced that the aliens were mere refugees from a planet ruined by climate change. They gesture aggressively towards the sky almost to say they were worried about how we treat our own atmosphere.
The aliens were transported to the White House to get the presidents opinion. He'd dealt with issues like this before and could do it again. I was watching a live report from inside the White House. There was a deafening silence throughout the house after the hushed whispers of experts and governments officials trying to explain the situation to our president died down.
Nobody knew what to say.
Then, the doors to the oval office swing open, and with it, a rumbling shout
"BUILD THAT WALL"
|
|
[WP] A man with a trench coat on walks out of an ally and says to you " You either die tomorrow or live forever, the choice is yours."
|
I look him in the eye "How will i die?"
"Im..... Not sure.... Youll just die." He says a bit confused. At this point in life, i really stopped giving a fuck.
"You know what. Fuck fate. Im too fucking depressed." I pull out my concealed carry and shoot myself in the head. I die instantly.
"Oh fuck..." The guy says in his last moments as the universe implodes.
|
Things get hard here. In the vast expanse, things get cold. They get quiet. There's a lot of thinking going on. A lot of nothing going on. I wonder if I chose correctly. Was this really the best decision.
I had been drinking. I had been shrugging off my responsibilities. It's been so long now that I can finally admit it. The world had gotten too heavy and I didn't have the shoulders to carry it anymore. I just couldn't.
I was drinking and people watching. I don't think anyone saw me, but I saw it all. I felt it all. I heard the words and their thoughts. I felt their joy and their sadness. It was too much. I drunk with them. I drowned it all out with whatever they were serving.
I watched the night grow. Far away I felt the heat of a million stars burn as they twinkled in the sky. I felt the Earth turn and the shadows grow longer. The night wore on and I grew expectant. It was only a matter of time. There was an odd silence then, just before. I don't know how humans do it, if it is some instict that you've gotten over the years, but you can sense when something bad is about to happen.
And they sensed it then, even if it was too late and they didn't know what was happening. They all grew quiet and then there was the loudest rattle I have heard in a long time. Screams and gore and dead hopes splattered in the atmosphere. The guns blared in bright flashes, twinkles of death, just like those dying stars that I could feel. They came in and did their work. They had their fun.
A few of the patrons were underaged. I felt them die. A few were pious. I heard their pleas. A few were atheistic. I felt their sadness. Then it grew quiet and I was alone. I don't know what motivates man, and I don't know what motivated those gunmen. I finished my drink and walked outside.
They shot at me and screamed praises to me. I wondered if to laugh. I wondered if I should have done something. Maybe if I had been younger, I would have. But I am old now and I was old then. My feelings were clouded and unhappy. I fell in the alley outside, drunk and looked up. My mind raced. It raced forever and past eternity in a second. It drew a blank and all I felt was regret and sadness. Sirens blared in the distance and some of the gunmen had killed themselves. One followed me and pointed his gun at me. I knew my options then.
He spoke but I did not listen. I knew what I could do. I could live and repent as all the books about me say to do. I could become anew and change things. I could be who they all expected me to be. But I knew I was too old to fool myself.
"Do it," I told him.
This time I let go and I felt death for the first time. I felt the life drain and knew it would not be long before my body died. Then I would be gone forever.
And so now I roam here. I think sometimes and enjoy the quiet. I no longer hear the cries and screams and feel the immense pressure of a world gone wrong. Now, I feel nothing and nothing swirls in my head and nothing ever will. I roam alone, cold and forgotten. I wonder if I have made the right decision, but thinking is useless. Nothing can change now. It is as it is.
|
|
[WP] Your mental disorder has been personified, and you are waiting outside a room where you will be allowed to go in and have a conversation with him/her. The door is opened, and what do you see?
|
As the cheap wooden door creaked open on its rusted bronze hinges the room inside was dark except for a single lamp in the corner of the room. A large menacing shadow covered the wall behind it, the bones in its back became tall spikes protruding from its flesh reaching the ceiling. A sudden feeling of fear consumed my mind. I remembered what they told me during orientation, that this was completely safe and my body would not be harmed. I starred at the shadow, examining the chips in wall's paint that looked like countries on a map. My eyes followed its edges until I was looking directly at it.
Its knees were tucked in resting its head against them, long thin fingers wrapped around its shins, its spine visible along with each of its ribs. It sat there, head down, curled into a ball not taking notice of my entrance. Its skin was pure black, resembling that of printer ink, and not a single hair left on its body. It looked more alien than human, a shriveled version of me withering away with every tick of the clock. I walked towards it silently as if not to wake it. As I got closer I could hear it breathing, wheezing upon exhale.
I slid down against the wall, sitting down next it. The shriveled man took no notice.
"Hello," I said. No reply. Just the rhythmic sounds of breathing. From close up I could see how thin it really was, its skin sagged over its bones although it did not appear to be of old age. Every bone in it body was clearly defined, it couldn't have weight more than 80 pounds. Its long legs tucked into its body showed it must be tall but had no strength to stand. I reached out my hand, resting my hand on its bony shoulder. Its skin was ice cold and I could feel every point and edge of its bones. It shrugged me off with a surprising aggression and I took away my hand.
"Go away," It said. It's voice was course as if it had been gargling handfuls of gravel for the past 35 years.
"I've come to kill you," I said. It lifted its head off it knees and starred into my eyes. I could see nothing but blackness in its eyes, they were dark and and showed no emotion.
"Death is my only way to escape this prison inside your mind. You'd be doing me a favor," It said. " You've kept me alive all these years. Why the sudden change of heart?"
"I'm ready to be happy. I've met someone."
"Ah I see, another woman has won your heart and now you want her to make room for her in your head." It said.
"I'm tired of you controlling me. I think I finally have a chance here. A chance to make something of myself and become a man." I said.
"What makes you think she's not like the others?" it asked. "She's going to leave you and it just going to be you and me again, you kill me now and you've got nothing left."
"It's a risk I'm willing to take. I've lived with you inside me for too long. All I want is to be on my own. I want to feel what it means to be alive. I'm tired of carrying you with me everywhere I go." My eyes welled with tears as I spoke to it. "I can finally stand on my own, I don't want you here anymore!"
The lamp flickered and the room went dark. My eyes fluttered open and I was blinded by a bright florescent light shining into my eyes. Feeling alarmed I sat up, I was in a room with two women dressed in lab coats with their hair tucked back into tight buns. They frantically scribbled notes onto their clipboards, the blonde one was the first to speak.
"Welcome back Mr. Ishikawa." she said. I reached up and felt my head had been shaved. I could feel four or five wires taped around my skull. My memory slowly came back to me. "Can you describe to us what you saw?"
|
I entered the room, where another person was being talked to. They tilted their head, then looked at me. Smiling:
"Fine, fine. Golden, even."
"If you say so. Remember, you two: Any lasting damage to your psyche is your own responsibility, not ours."
The man left. I put a more careful eye to the man in the room. He was smiling, constantly even. Exuded confidence and charisma in a somehow rotten way.
He dressed in my clothes, but the fabric was gold. The hair was gold, the skin was gold. Not in a particularly *sparkly* way, but they still glowed.
"So. You're..."
"You already know." He said. I didn't know if he knew what I knew, which was something I was half expecting. I wasn't sure what I could say without messing up.
"...Alright, are you going to say anything?" I opened my mouth, but he shot me a look. "No? Well, shut up and listen. You have to accept me. Everyone wants to be larger than life."
"U-um-"
"You just have to listen to me. Where will you be without me? I keep you balanced. It's like..."
"...wrong." I finally spoke. "We can't think that we're the center of the universe forever."
"Are you sure? The world functions on self-interest. You're either on top of the world or nowhere good. Don't you want to stand out?"
"...no..." I mumbled.
"Yeah, yeah you do. Egomania isn't the worst thing to have. Without me? You would have been found drowned in a bathtub years ago."
"..."
"Are we in agreement?"
A click. I wanted to say more, but I looked toward the noise. He did, too.
Then?
The door opened.
---
"Give us another minute, doc!" He said.
But he wasn't looking at us. He turned away from the door, talking to someone else.
"Sir, social anxiety and egomania don't normally come hand in hand, so I'm rather impressed. They've already met, so you can talk to both of them."
"Got it. Thank you, sir."
|
|
[WP] Your mental disorder has been personified, and you are waiting outside a room where you will be allowed to go in and have a conversation with him/her. The door is opened, and what do you see?
|
First things off the bat, my name is Sam. Some people call me fat Sam, but to be honest with you I ain't so fat. Lotsa people call me Gary too, but that ain't me, neither. I'm Sam see, just Sam, and that's all there is to it. I'm Sam and I'm relatively slender. Now you may think that's all well and good, I know I sure did, but ain't it always the case that something's lurking right below the surface? Well here's my story about just that very topic.
They been saying I got some kinda problem for a while now. Now who the hell are they to talk huh? I'm in relatively good shape for my age. I eat fast food two times, maybe three times a week, Ok? I don't never cause no trouble for nobody, and I even been told by them few lady types who have been so lucky as to spend an evening with me, that I actually smell pretty damn good. A gentleman who's gentle on the nose, that's what they say, alright? Now how do you like that?
But apparently this problem, it ain't about any of that. It ain't my attitude, or my hygiene, or even my physique, with which they have their beef. Other than them bozos calling me fat Sam all the damn time, that is. But nah, that ain't the issue, not really anyway. It's my brain they say, I got something the matter with my noggin, that's what they been telling me. It ain't really firing on all cylinders, not clicking quite right, or so they say.
So fine, I tell them, whatever. Like, tell me what I need to do to get my gray matter in tip top shape, you know? Now, I never conceived of the notion that I was having any troubles up there before, but hey I'm willing to entertain the possibility that perhaps there's always room for a little fine tuning, you know?
Now get this, they tell me they know just the thing to cure my "disorder", or whatever the heck it is. Apparently there's this guy, I don't know who he is, but he can turn all your mental troubles into some kind of clone, right? Some pseudo version of you that really drills down into one particular aspect of your psyche that you so desire to study more deeply. Then you, I don't know, talk it out with your personified woes and the theory is that'll fix you right up. To be honest with you, the whole thing sounds like a big fraud, but hey maybe I been missing more than I thought, if they think a place like this is the ticket for a guy like me, right?
So there I am in front of this big oak door. Maybe it was mahogany. To be honest with you I don't know what particular brand of tree they make these things out of, but it looked strong and well polished that much I do indeed know. Sure looked heavy too. Then some guy walks up to me, I guess he worked there or something, but he didn't have no lab coat or mustache like any of them guys who usually work in a place like this. But he says to me they finished their scan and input all my variables into some sorta "psychiatric molding device" and that I can go ahead and head on in that big oak door, cause guess what, my clone is ready.
Alright, I figure, let's just go on in and see just what exactly is what, why don't we? So in I go. I'd say you'd never guess what I saw, but if you been with me this far, I think maybe perhaps you could guess it. Standing in the center of the room is this guy, and I'll be god damned if he didn't look just like yours truly, good old slender Sam.
I walk up to the guy and offer a handshake, to which he thankfully accepts. "I'm Sam," I tell him.
"Hey good ta meet cha, I'm Gary" he says back. Well what do you know about that huh? People been calling me Gary for a while now. Now, I'm figuring that ain't no coincidence given the circumstances of our getting together this afternoon so I says as much.
"Hey Gary, you know some fellas have actually been calling me that myself for quite a while now. What do you think about that?"
"Well Heck Sam, you ever thought of correcting them? I sure wouldn't want to catch myself up in such an identity crisis."
Feeling bashful, I let him know I usually just let it slide. Well, that ain't no good, he tells me. Suggests maybe I should consult my birth certificate just to make extra sure who it is that I am. Right there in that very room, with Gary gazing on, I do just that. What do you freakin know folks, I was Gary all along! I coulda sworn my name was Sam, coulda just sworn it, but nope I'm a Gary through and through.
"Well I'll be damned, Sam, I mean Gary," I sputter in astonishment at my clone. "If I'm Gary though, then why on Earth have people been calling me fat Sam?"
"They been calling you fat Gary, Gary. You just been hearing Sam."
"Well, actually the name's Gary."
"That's what I said, Gary."
"Wait no, I meant Sam."
"You ain't Sam, Gary."
"Yes I am Sam, Gary"
"And who am I?"
"Gary, didn't I just say so?"
"And I'm basically just another version of you?"
"Sure ya are."
"So who are you?"
"Sam...wait no, Gary."
"So you sure you ain't Sam?"
"Nah I ain't Sam, honest. I'm Gary through and through"
"It was great to meet you Gary."
And that was the end of that folks. Turns out I was Gary all along. Sometimes I just think I'm Sam. Now how the heck do you like that?
|
I entered the room, where another person was being talked to. They tilted their head, then looked at me. Smiling:
"Fine, fine. Golden, even."
"If you say so. Remember, you two: Any lasting damage to your psyche is your own responsibility, not ours."
The man left. I put a more careful eye to the man in the room. He was smiling, constantly even. Exuded confidence and charisma in a somehow rotten way.
He dressed in my clothes, but the fabric was gold. The hair was gold, the skin was gold. Not in a particularly *sparkly* way, but they still glowed.
"So. You're..."
"You already know." He said. I didn't know if he knew what I knew, which was something I was half expecting. I wasn't sure what I could say without messing up.
"...Alright, are you going to say anything?" I opened my mouth, but he shot me a look. "No? Well, shut up and listen. You have to accept me. Everyone wants to be larger than life."
"U-um-"
"You just have to listen to me. Where will you be without me? I keep you balanced. It's like..."
"...wrong." I finally spoke. "We can't think that we're the center of the universe forever."
"Are you sure? The world functions on self-interest. You're either on top of the world or nowhere good. Don't you want to stand out?"
"...no..." I mumbled.
"Yeah, yeah you do. Egomania isn't the worst thing to have. Without me? You would have been found drowned in a bathtub years ago."
"..."
"Are we in agreement?"
A click. I wanted to say more, but I looked toward the noise. He did, too.
Then?
The door opened.
---
"Give us another minute, doc!" He said.
But he wasn't looking at us. He turned away from the door, talking to someone else.
"Sir, social anxiety and egomania don't normally come hand in hand, so I'm rather impressed. They've already met, so you can talk to both of them."
"Got it. Thank you, sir."
|
|
[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
Took this one a bit to heart, took the artistic liberty of changing it to baby brother instead of son.
"You sure about this Jacob?" Haffa asked, looking at his friend doubtingly. a tall bulky figure with a small gift bag stood outside, taking a bit to think about a reply.
"Yes, I'm definitely sure."
Jacob took a long drag out of his cigarette as he stood outside in the cold winter air. Inside he saw his baby brother with brand new gadgets and sparkling toys. He took a deep breath and grabbed something from the trunk of Haffa's car.
"*hyunga* I missed you!" Isaac exclaimed, the 4 year old hasn't seen his brother in months, he missed being able to see him, especially with all the things happening lately.
Jacob placed the small giftbag with the rest of the new gifts, his worn face showed signs of age, and weariness, he smiled at his brother and combed his hair with his fingers.
"What's in the bag *hyunga*?"
"I'll show it to you when you're in bed, and it's good to see you too, Merry Christmas little buddy. "
Jacob looked at the pile of presents he's gotten, from family, and friends. The newest edition of the robo raptor, obviously a lavish gift from his sister, a measly *semi* used book that Jacob's younger brother gave, an obvious half assed gift, he saw the various dinosaur and train toys, and books that were given to Isaac with cards. Isaac looked at each gift and beckoned it to Jacob.
"Look hyung! Look at all these toys!" Isaac exclaimed excitedly
Jacob laughed at his excitement, the boy was so young, and yet so pure, the naivete allowed him to forget, to only have flashes.
Isaac ran up to him and hugged his leg, he looked up to see the cuts on his hands, and the bandages covering his arms. Isaac didn't understand what those meant and gingerly rubbed his hands on one of the cuts
"it hurt?" Isaac asked curiously, he knew that cuts meant *aya* or hurt,
Jacob shook his head, "No, I'm fine my little *dongsaeng*" and picked up his baby brother, a task that used to be so easy but has seemed to get harder and harder every year he came to see him.
The brothers had fun, they played outside, and watched cartoons, Jacob read him a book, gave him a bath, and finally tucked him in bed, his mom out and about with his sister and brother, having a little alone time to bond with them a bit more.
"*hyung*, you didn't forget that you'd show me what's in the bag right?" Isaac asked, his droopy eyes showed signs of obvious sleepiness, Jacob did not want to keep him awake any further, "give me a sec, I'll be right back okay?" Isaac nodded and Jacob ran down to grab the bag.
That's when *they* started to emerge.
The demons, the voices, the nightmare, each of them came in it's own voice, slowly whispering and raking their fingers in the boy's hair, Isaacs sleep started to overtake him, and with it, so were the demons.
"WHERE IS ISAAC? GIVE HIM TO ME" the loud, drunken voice yelled for him, Isaac sat in the room with his older brother, his *hyung*. Jacob looked at him reassuringly as he saw his younger, and youngest crouched together in the master bedroom.
"Everything will be fine." *Hyunga* was never wrong, he always said the truth.
"Joseph, keep him safe, don't argue with him, I'll be right back." Isaac's older brother Joseph held him tight, despite their bickering, and Isaac's obvious dislike for him, he held onto his arm a bit tighter.
Clatters in the kitchen, a knife being drawn, skin hitting skin.
A gasp of air.
Silence.
A wiggle of a doorknob.
Jacob sat at the edge of the bed, in his hand was a teddy bear, it was used, and worn, but was maintained and taken care of with pride. He felt the small patch on the side of it's ribs, and felt the bandages on his. He kissed the teddy bear and left it at Isaac's side. The troubled, uneasy face relaxed, and Isaac went into a deep peaceful sleep.
Jacob emerged from the door, his face bloodied, blood tripping down from his arms, and his shirt stained.
He came up to Isaac and Joseph, knelt down and smiled.
"Everything is gonna be fine now."
Isaac woke up, Jacob was gone, but in his stead was a teddy bear, for the first time the monster went away, and for the first time he felt safe. He saw a little card on the chair where Jacob was sitting.
*잘이서, 사랑헤.*
*Be good, I love you.*
|
"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
|
|
[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
Evelyn watched carefully as the nurse closed the door to her room. Within seconds the darkness was total expect for the few blinking lights on monitors and screens. The corners were the worst. They seems to soak in the darkness, to compress and then expel it through the rest of the room. The constant beeping of the monitor seemed far away.
She closed her eyes and squeezed the Fox's paw. The white fur slipping between her small fingers and caressing them. A warmth filled her and she opened her eyes again. There she stood, the white fox, in beautiful and majestic grace. Her fur seemed to glow ephemerally, and her orange eyes lit like globes in the darkened room.
The warmth grew stronger in her as she looked into the fox's eyes and she smile. "Its ok Fox, no hurt."
The fox nodded back and turned, trotting with soft paws to the end of the bed. The homemade quilt did not cover the bed in total, and the foot of the bed was covered in the scratchy and coarse linens that most patients had. Yet the fox was unperturbed. She sat willfully away from the girl, her body poised as if a bowsprit through rough waters.
For a moment it seemed as if the darkness had decided against haunting Evelyn today. Sometimes her parents stayed with her and kept it at bay with songs and stories. She especially loved the fairy tales and myths her father told her. Yet not tonight.
Tonight she was lone. Tethered to the machines through her elbow.
The darkness suddenly moved, convulsing and spreading to the floor. It swallowed the tea set and her coloring pads that lay nearby, leaving her bed isolated in a sea of black.
She considered calling out to the nurses, but decided against it. They never stayed with her, they never understood. She was alone.
Yet there stood the fox. Un-moving at the foot of the bed still. Its orange eyes casting themselves over the growing blackness, poised as if in calm repose. Evelyn had a moment of uncertainty, the pale glow of the fox's fur seemed to dim. Then she remembers the Selkie, who can turn to a seal, and the shapeshifters who can transform into wolves and bears to fight monsters. She looked to the fox again and suddenly she was gone. The white glow vanishing into the air.
She scrabbled at her covers but had nothing else. She had only brought the fox with her to bed today and was now defenseless. The walls disappeared now, closing in tightly as the darkness brought everything together. In the distance she could hear the beeps on the monitor speeding up and occurring faster and faster.
She closed her eyes and thrust the warm fleece blanket over her head and squealed, knowing full well that the darkness intended to take her.
Then there was nothing.
The loud and off putting silence of the darkness was gone. She slowly lowered the blanket and her mouth dropped open when the fox once again sat before her. She could see it clearly nestled int he covers of her lap, yet she felt no weight.
She smiled and gripped the fox tightly, feeling the warmth flow through her once again. When her eyes opened she saw the room as it was before. Her crayons, the tea set. Monitors dimly lit and beeping. The room was as it was. All that remained of the terrible darkness was the faint glow coming from the fox. Like a gently reminder it soothed Evelyn and she gently laid back down into her bed.
Propping the fox beside her she turned on her side and cuddled up, feeling confident and safe all at once. She patted the fox and whispered as her eyes closed and thoughts of hospitals and cancer fled from her small mind,
"Good night sweet fox."
And she quickly fell asleep.
The fox sat beside her all night, its orange eyes watching the room like a beacon. Its fur coat glistened with beauty and grace as it did before.
And on its paw was a small bandage that matched Evelyn's. Yet the fox was not bothered by the wound,
for she had a friend to keep her safe.
------
Based on true events.
|
"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
|
|
[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
Jessie the Teddy Bear woke from her deep slumber one night. Through the wardrobe door, a bedside lamp shone with a yellow tint, illuminating the room, it's brightness thinning out at the edge of the room.
"What?" A deep but familiar voice spoke. Her ward's voice rose and trembled, and his shadow paced across the wall nervously. Benny's voice is deeper now, but the adoring nasal tone in his voice remained. Jessie watched his shadow's shoulders hung stiffly and his chest heaved as he breathed heavily. She could hear the person on the other side of the phone squeak 'Are you still on the line?'
Benny stopped pacing and took a deep breathe again. "Y-yes. Which hospital is it?" he asked as he walked to the wardrobe. Without saying a goodbye, he threw his phone onto the bed and pulled a pair of jeans from the wardrobe carelessly, pulling out other pants which dropped onto the floor with a heavy flop. Benny is a lot taller and bigger now. Jessie could almost meet his wet red eyes as he looked up. He picked her up and gave her a hug, whispering, "What do I do if they both don't make it?" Jessie hugged back as tight as she could possibly, and thought, "It'll be alright. I'll be with you forever and ever." The poor boy sniffed and sobbed, and sat her back at the top of the wardrobe. He wore his jeans clumsily, his hands trembling in fear and anxiety. He picked up his phone and keys, and left the house hurriedly, slamming the door shut.
The bedside lamp stayed on due to his forgetfulness and if Mommy was here, she'd chide Benny for forgetting to switch it off. Benny had grown up and didn't need Jessie anymore, and that is alright. He became really busy with friends, school and work. Benny was very nice when he put Jessie gently at the top of the wardrobe, his eyes shining gratefully. He'd become a man who has grown too old and too shy to speak with his teddy. And that is alright because Jessie knew he meant to thank her for the scary night with the scary monsters, the lonely nights with the creepy sounds that the old house made, and the fun times when they played together.
The bedside lamp stayed on through the night, the following day and night and the next following day and night. Jessie wondered if Benny was alright, and prayed hard that everything will be fine and he will come home soon. As the room warmed in the day, the house door clicked open quietly, uncharacteristically unlike Benny. The footsteps sounded softer and slower as it approached the bedroom. A middle aged lady walked into the bedroom and went straight for the bedside lamp, switching it off. It was Mommy. She had little more wrinkles near her cheeks and her eyes, and seemed a little shorter than before, but Mommy is here now. Mommy picked up the pants on the floor, folded them neatly and placed them in the wardrobe. She looked up and her eyes met Jessie's beaded black eyes. She smiled and Jessie wondered if she was smiling back at her because the Teddy tried to smile at her too. Mommy reached out and took down Jessie carefully, patting and dusting her off. As they walked downstairs to the living room, the front door opened again.
Benny walked in together with a lady. She looked pale and tired, and had a few bruises on her face and arms and a casted leg. Benny held her arm to support her while she carried a small bundle in her arms. Jessie could tell that Benny truly loved and cared for this woman and wondered if this was what Mommy meant when she told Benny that he would one day marry a wife.
The wife hobbled to the sofa and sat down in relief. Mommy took over the small bundle in her arms and put it on the couch. She put Jessie next to the bundle so she could see it too.
'Look what I found,' Mommy said to Benny and his wife. 'Benjamin used to hug and play with her all the time.'
She then leaned down and showed Jessie what's inside the bundle. A small baby slept soundly. The baby looked a lot smaller than when she first met Benny.
'This little sweetie came to see us earlier than scheduled but you'll look after her just like you did for Benny, won't you?'
Jessie the Teddy Bear looked at the baby adoringly. Hello, my little Ward, she thought. I'll be with you forever and ever.
|
"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
|
|
[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
He saved me. That was it. That was all it took. He showed me that I was worth something. That I could be something to someone. He found me on a self in some smelly thrift store. The owner and all the stock boys would smoke constantly, so the shelves and ceiling were tobacco smoke yellow. They would use me and the other dolls and act out their sick fantasies, or jokes. We never knew. A couple of the barbies got took a couple weeks ago, thank god. There are no more female dolls for these perverts to grope and position for their adolescent stunted sexuality. Now they just use the action figures and teddy bears like me to mock each others masculinity.
But then that man came in and grabbed me off the shelf. He grabbed all of us off the shelf. Every teddy bear, stuffed bunny, plush dog and squishy dinosaur. He grabbed us, threw his money at the cashier and piled us into a bag. I went home with him. The rest went to other kids. I thought I wasn't wanted, and that was why I was left on the car seat while the others got to go into the nice warm beds of other boys and girls.
I got my own little boy. He put me up on his pillow, right up high to watch him while he slept. He hugged me so hard if I'd had ribs, real bear's ribs, they still would have creaked. I already knew I was going to do my best, but I found out my best was crap.
I got knocked down. I slipped from the pillow. My big foot was trapped between the mattress and wall. I dangled, upside down for hours, the stuffing rushing to my head. Finally, he must have shifted in his sleep, because the mattress moved, and I was down. I fell to the floor, and I could see. There was something under the bed, I could see from the corner of my eye. I was done for. It would pull me under the bed, and this little boy would forget me. I hadn't even had one night. His memories wouldn't be enough to make finding me important. He would go to school, play with his friends. His dad might ask where I was, but I would be lost under the bed, dragged into hell to be eaten by the dust mites.
More movement! But its wrong, the bed creaks, then the floor thumps. He's on the floor! The kid is on the floor and I'm being scooped up. He hops back into bed and we hide under the covers. He's saved me too. Saved twice and I haven't done a thing.
The bear looks across the room, the light of the night lamp dancing across his fur. He's looking into the closet, looking for the monsters. "And that little bunny," he says. "Is why we sit here, and watch."
|
"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
|
|
[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
Lawrence and the Pile of Misfits
It was dark. The air was suffocating. I had just woken from my recurring nightmare. It happens almost every night and leaves me in a paralytic state until I sleep again. The images of machines stabbing me and stuffing me are always the premise of these dreams but today feels different. I am still petrified from the nightmare but a new energy rises inside me. I can start to feel the semblance of life. I’ve never felt this way before and am overjoyed with the uncertainty of the coming events. The nightmare lingers in the back of my mind as a constant reminder that I am in a living hell. But then I hear it.
Muffled sounds coming from the heavens. The cage I’m in is lifted high and shaken vigorously. My emotions are exuberant until I hear the scratching, tearing, clawing. I become terrified. This is my doom, my demise. I have been born but have not lived and am being condemned to a dreadful purgatory because of my lust for freedom and the chance to live.
Just when I know all is lost and I am doomed for eternity in darkness, I see a light. A light so bright that it could only be the Gods from heaven above coming to save me. Two arms reach inside my cage and free me from the choking abyss. And I saw it. The most beautiful thing I could ever imagine stood before me holding me in their arms. I was free.
“What do you think Johnny, do you like it,” asked a deep voice.
I looked deep into the eyes of my savior while it said, “He’s perfect! I love him daddy!”
“We’re glad you like it honey. What are you gonna call it,” asked a sweet voice.
“Lawrence!”
“That’s a good name dear. Now remember to take good care of him. If he gets any rips or tears bring him to me and I’ll do my best to sew him back up again.”
“Don’t worry mommy, I’ll take great care of him.” Johnny hugged me so hard I thought my insides were going to fall back out of me.
“Well son, your mother and I are happy you enjoyed all your presents. Santa sure did good this year right hun? Now go on, go play with your toys.”
That was the best day of my life. Johnny had given me life and on top of that, gave me a reason to live. The rest of that day I played with him. I was overawed by everything thus unable to really participate with him in anything we did but it was wonderful.
It was time for Johnny to go to bed. I was not the least bit tired and was still stuck in a catatonic state after being given my freedom. Johnny fell asleep with me right by his side. This gave me time to reflect on everything that had happened today. I still could not believe it all. It was surreal.
Johnny rolled over in the bed and I went crashing to the floor. I sat up and scratched my ear. Then I froze. Did I just move? On my own. I turned and looked at where I was. It was dark in Johnny’s room but his nightlight was on and allowed me to get a glimpse of my surroundings. I shivered. Suddenly I started to get a sense that I was not alone here.
“Psst!”
I turned and looked into the darkness under the bed. Heard some laughter and soft footsteps coming my way and then they emerged into the light.
“Look what we have here, a stupid teddy bear. I was wondering when Johnny was gonna get one of these poor bastards.”
“Ha, this one looks like he’s about to cry. First time out of the box is it?” I stared at the group of them. There were five in total. The first one to speak was a fur stained lion. The one asking me the question was a monkey. The other ones were a rabbit, an elephant, and a snake.
“Hass he forgotten how to ssspeak,” said the snake slithering around me.
“Noodles give the bear a break. I bet he’s just had the happiest day of his life and now we have to come ruin it,” this was the rabbit speaking.
“So what’s your name? Please tell me he didn’t name you Teddy?” this was the elephant speaking.
I summoned up some courage and said, “Johnny named me Lawrence.”
“Ha see Ellie, Johnny is getting more creative each time, “said the rabbit, “Well Lawrence my name is Sebastian. The lion is Lionel, the fat one is Ellie, the slithering piece of shit is Noodles, and the monkey is Congo. We are the misfits, those forgotten by our savior, Johnny.”
I just stared at them. “Abandoned? Johnny won’t abandon me. He loves me. He he said I was perfect.”
They started laughing. “Teddy, ha, you’re hilarious man. He loves you! Hear him guys,” said Congo.
“My name is Lawrence not Teddy.” I was getting really frustrated with this motley crew. Johnny and I had just spent an amazing day together and I wasn’t about to let them ruin it.
“SSSbe careful Congo. I’ve heard bears have a hissstory of being fiercesssss.”
“Poor Teddy. We don’t want to hurt you. We want your help,” said Lionel while the others sniggered.
“What do you want,” I asked.
“We just want some justice for our misfortune, that’s all,” said Sebastian.
“You see Teddy,” this was Ellie now, “We were all once Johnny’s favorite. We were all in your position of prosperity. However, Johnny’s interests are fleeting. That piece of shit always wants something new, something fresh. And well, mommy and daddy feel the need to spoil the little prick with new gifts all the time which is how we ended up down here, under the bed. He forgets about us about as quickly as he forgets what he had for dinner last night. So, we just want him to remember us. It’s as simple as that.”
If what he said is true, then Johnny will forget me someday. I couldn’t believe that, not after today. They just want to steal me from Johnny. “If Johnny wanted you then you wouldn’t be under the bed. I’m not going to let you steal me from Johnny. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me. He gave me the touch of life!”
“Aw yesss, the touch of life. And he will give you the touch of death sssoon enough,” said Noodles.
“You realize Teddy that we were all once his favorites and that we have all fallen down beneath the bed. Eventually you will be down here and live the rest of your life with us. We’ve tried to be friendly Teddy but now you are just being difficult,” said Sebastian. They started to creep closer to me, spreading apart hoping to engulf me.
“My name is Lawrence!” They stopped. Johnny started rolling over in the bed. I fall onto my back, lifeless like I once was.
“There you are Lawrence. Come back to bed.” Johnny grabbed me and pulled me up into bed. He fell asleep almost immediately. I heard a hsss from Noodles.
“Thisss meansss war Teddy.”
Every night from then on, I fight the monsters lurking under Johnny’s bed. Each day goes by where I receive another cut or stain fighting them back while I slowly start to realize the truth of what they told me that first night. I can see it in Johnny’s eyes. Years go by. And somehow I have stayed with him, giving me false hope that I will stay with him forever. I know deep down that I will end up beneath the bed sulking in the shadows with the rest of the misfits. I will stay loyal to Johnny, protecting him from the evil below and when the time comes for me to fall, I will reminisce on the first time I saw Johnny’s face as he freed me from my cage. I will remember what he said: “He’s perfect.”
|
"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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Some people think it's absurdly odd that I, a grown man, still sleep with my teddy bear. When I was 16 and first had a girl in my room alone, so close to that one thing that every teenage boy obsesses about constantly she laughed and left me in a...difficult...state when I insisted that my bear could not watch what we were about to do. Now a days he's ragged and worn, missing an ear and an eye, one arm barely still attached and missing almost all of his stuffing. But I remember. I remember when my dad gave him to me. I remember everything my bear, the bravest knight of the realm, has done for me.
...
"Check the closet again, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?" I whined.
"No son, good night" my father replied. I know he and mom both love me but they just don't know. They don't believe me when I tell them about the monsters that try to get me when they put me to bed.
When they saw the long scratches that the monster left me that night they thought I was doing it to myself, just to get attention. Then my father had an idea, if I was going to commit so much to this make believe then his only course was to turn it around and use my own fantasy against me. That's when he gave me Sir Barnabas Grizzly, my teddy bear.
"Now son, Sir Barnabas is the bravest knight of the realm and he's here to fight off the monsters so that you can go to sleep." My father told me when he placed the softest, fuzziest bear I'd ever seen in my hands before sending me off to bed one night.
I looked at the bear skeptically. I didn't know how something with honey golden fur and a button nose could protect me from the things I'd seen under the bed and in the closet. But at least it was something to hold onto when things got bad.
They came that night, like they always did. The slimey, cold hand from under the bed and the hot, musty breath from the closet. I knew what they were coming to do and couldn't help myself. All I could do was cower in the bed and cling to my new fuzzy friend.
"Let me go, please." a strange voice that I had never heard before said into the darkness.
I sat stunned, of all the times the monsters had come there had never been a voice like that. It sounded so...British.
"I can't bloody well protect you if you don't let me go", the voice came again, this time it sounded like it came from my bear. But there was no way, Sir Barnabas was just a teddy bear, right?
I slowly took the bear from under my arm and turned him around, holding up to my face so I could get a better look at him.
"Very good, my liege, now if you would just let me go I'll show these beasties what for." Sir Barnabas said from three inches in front of my face.
I had to be hallucinating, there was no way a teddy bear was talking to me. But whenever he spoke the arm pulled away, retreating a little bit back under the bed and the musty breath went silent from the closet.
"Who are you?" I felt ridiculous but nothing had ever made the monsters scared like this except grownups.
"Sir Barnabas Grizzly, at your service, my liege", the bear said.
"You can talk", I said dumbfounded and unbelieving.
"Aye, sir, and more if you'd be so kind as to put me down", replied the bear calmly.
I didn't know what to do, the bear and I just stared at each other for a while. That is, until the hand reached tentatively back out from under the bed, unsure if it was safe.
"Sir, I will be happy to explain all of this to you later but you must let me down so I can protect you as I've sworn to do." Sir Barnabas sounded almost impatient now but also supremely unconcerned like he was talking about how he also had to take out the trash and do the dishes, like mom did when she was making her list of chores.
I couldn't think of anything else to do so I set Sir Barnabas on the bed. And from there the most amazing things happened.
Sir Barnabas stood up, dusted off his legs, cracked his neck, looked at me and said, "Thank you, sir, now I shall take my leave with your permission."
I just nodded at him, to stunned to comprehend.
Sir Barnabas waddled over to the side of the bed and leaped to the ground, immediately diving under the bed. I could do nothing but stare at the spot where he had disappeared while listening to the yowling and yelling coming from beneath me. That is, until the dragon's head began to emerge from the closet.
It was solid black with amber eyes and a long, flicking, pink forked tongue that was flicking in and out constantly. If I was afraid before I was terrified now as my new found companion seemed to be locked in combat beneath the bed while slowly the dragon's head kept coming towards me, exposing its huge, pointed teeth every time its mouth opened. All I could do was curl up into a ball and try to shrink away from it.
Suddenly, Sir Barnabas was leaping onto the dragon's snout, covered in green goo and shouting "You're a naughty one, aren't you," to the dragon, completely without fear. The dragon whirled and bucked beneath the furry combatant, trying to buck him off and snap its jaws shut around my new friend. But Sir Barnabas seemed able to ride the riling reptile and began punching the dragon on the snout. This caused the dragon to begin emitting the most curious whining sounds and it began to retreat into the closet. Sir Barnabas jumped off its nose, did a neat flip and landed in front of me on the bed, watching his vanquished foe retreat back into the dark recesses of the closet.
"Well, they shouldn't trouble us anymore, sir," Sir Barnabas said as he turned around to look at me. "I do hope you're alright." He peered at me with his dark eyes, looking me over for wounds.
"That was amazing!" I shouted, scooping him up in my arms. "How does a teddy bear fight off monsters like that?" I asked incredulously.
"Well sir, it's just what we teddy bears do." He replied, squirming a little bit in my tight hug. "We all pledge ourselves to defend and protect children at all costs, it is our duty."
And that's all he would ever say about it. The next day I begged my mother to make a set of armor and a sword for my new knight companion. And while she did stitch up a set of teddy bear armor for him, probably just to placate me, she never did make a sword for him. She was probably just happy I stopped crying about monsters and dragging my feet on my way to bed. I never was afraid of the dark after Sir Barnabas came to me for I knew no creature, no matter how foul and evil could best him, the bravest knight in the realm.
As I grew older so did Sir Barnabas, and he certainly didn't finish all of his grand battles unscathed like he did that first one. But the monsters attacked less and less frequently until one day they stopped completely. I knew what would come after that day.
"I must rest now, sir" Sir Barnabas, or Barry as he let me call him, said on the night of my 18th birthday.
"I know, Barry," I said, with a tear running down my cheek, "I relieve you of your duty, Sir Barnabas" I managed to croak out.
"Farewell, sir." Were the last things he said before falling asleep for the last time.
I loved that bear. And I swear by Sir Barnabas Grizzly's unblemished honor that when my child is afraid of the dark that I will find them their own brave, fuzzy knight to defend them. Because Sir Barnabas was possibly the best friend I ever had.
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"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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I'm not that good at writing but this prompt really inspired me.
Any critique is welcomed.
‘It’s done’ Rupert sighed, his breath visible hanging on the moonlit air, as he unclenched the paws around the throat of the gremlin, its neck falling slack as the bones were no longer attached to the base of the skull.
He brushed off the dust he was covered in from battle and redacted his claws. The monsters of the night don’t bleed per se as they only exist in the darkest reach of our fears, manifesting themselves when we feel helpless. After a minute to collect himself with deep breaths, he sat down on the edge of the Damien’s bed and started sewing his left eye back on.
Damien was still asleep, his eyes no longer squinting shut and hands not covering his ears to avoid the screams of war.
‘Close your eyes’ Rupert whispered to Damien as he had done many times before ‘and cover your ears like we practiced. This will be finished before you know’
Damien looked at Rupert with bright eyes that screamed with fear but also in the recess against the moonlight glimmered with hope that the morning will come and that his fuzzy little friend will prevail against the hordes.
‘You’ll be there in the morning right Rupert?’ Damien asked
‘As I always have’ he reassured. ‘As I always have’
With that Damien gave Rupert a tight hug and whispered ‘..Be careful’
The outside city noises came to an abrupt end. The light from beneath the crack of the bedroom door went out.
Damien’s parents have gone to bed. This was it. Without sight or sound, Rupert felt the presence around him come to life.
Swirling and slithering around in menace, eager to feed on Damien’s dreams. Damien had covered his ears and closed fast his eyes. His lips were moving but Rupert couldn’t hear him.
Probably singing himself a lullaby, thought Rupert.
The presence had now morphed into the physical realm. Eyes glowing cherry red, teeth bared, slick with saliva dripping from their jaws hungrily, snarling and screeching and just causing a general nuisance. Rupert turned to them, drew a deep breath and with an unblinking button eye, bared his claws.
Once more unto the breach.
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"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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As the door latched shut and the last of the light in the room faded a soft rustle came from beneath Robins arm.
A portly and fluffy golden head popped out from the covers.
"Oh, bother" the teddy bear grumbled as he clambered up the boys shoulder.
Churchill was his code name but Mr Pooh was the name his charge had given him. Why on earth the daft young boy would name him after excrement he didn't know.
Perched upon his vantage point he surveyed the room, and satisfied that nothing was amiss he pulled a short cigar from his red blouse pocket. He couldn't light it, secondhand smoke was bad for children you know. Nonetheless he wedged the cigar into the side of his mouth and slowly ground away at it, silently waiting.
This night was just like any other night of the bears watch. A slow drawn out wait that rarely ended quietly.
As he expected the nights challenger arrived at the stroke of 2 hours past midnight , as they always had. With a quiet hiss a pale smoke appeared in the room and flitted about the floor before solidifying at the foot of the bed.
A low growl came from the foot of the bed, "Guardian, your boy's day has come, leave now while I still have the mercy to let you."
"Oh, bother, " Churchill thought to himself. All these would be assassins were truly unoriginal and uninspiring. He heaved himself upright on the boys shoulder and muttered his summoning incantations under his breath. Armor appeared and clanked together around him, a little more snug around the mid section as of late. And finally a pot of honey found its way gently into the crook of Churchill's arm. The whole while he could hear the assassin threatening him with damnation and torture.
Everything in place, he lumbered toward the edge of the bed tucking away the cigar for later. He continued slowly moving towards the edge of the bed eating the honey as he went. And still the challenger spewed vile hatred from below.
Upon arriving to the foot of the bed he looked down and saw a run-of-the-mill Gremlin in disheveled armor awaiting him. With a brief glance to verify the distance he finished the last of the honey , broke the pot , grabbed a jagged piece and casually dropped down impaling the Gremlin through his mouth mid-profanity.
"Cheeky bastards" he muttered as he stood himself up and brushed himself off. Another nights work done with ease he thought as he reached for his cigar again. His hand had not yet touched his cigar before he heard multiple hisses and thumps come from the closet.
Slowly and irately Churchill turned his head towards the closet, "Oh, bother"
A multitude of Gremlins crashed from closet and saw two things, an armored ball of golden fur and their dead comrade who had attempted to claim glory of killing Robin by going too early.
The nonchalant manner of the guardian gave the Gremlins a moments pause. But they had slain guardians before, and were determined to keep doing so. Why? Well mostly they liked killing and the way blood splattered, but also because the Great Master commanded it.
The Gremlins became emboldened by the obvious disparity in numbers and cackled as they approached the lone guardian. Their leader for this raid, a squint eyed bugger named Grislow stopped the group and jeered at the guardian, "Looks like little fatty over there forgot his toy sword, GET HIM!"
Churchill cracked his knuckles as the Gremlins charged. They were closing on him and Robins bed.
He pounded his armor with his fist, the sounded that emanated was far deeper and stronger than it should have been.
He began chanting the Haka Ka Mate in a deep timbre and finished with a powerful jump as the Gremlins closed.
As he landed in the midst of their first line he small warm flashes of light came from around the room and out of the shadows 4 figures in armor crashed into the flanks of the Gremlins.
After a brief skirmish, Grislow was beheaded and the remaining Gremlins lost their nerve and vanished.
After a moment to catch his breath Churchill looked at the armored figures , " Are you donglers going to stay and clean this time or do I have to do it solo again?"
One of the figures lifted his helmet revealing a striped feline face, and winked at the other figures " I think nail tail and porker would be willing to pitch in if you offered some of your honey for once."
Churchill rolled his eyes "oh , bother, alright."
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"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
Alabaster didn't recognise his face anymore. Eyes sunk back in to the sockets, unkempt fur sprouting from his chin. Scanning downwards his once taut gut now a rotund barrel.
He smudged the condensation from the mirror to focus in on his complexion.
"Christ alive” he thought.
Tugging on the unwelcome bags under his eyes, Alabaster sucked in a gulp of air and silently prayed the fog ensconcing his brain would clear. The piping hot shower had done nothing for his throbbing head, his mouth still metallic in taste.
He glanced at his bowtie, loose and sagging, he gripped each side and tightened it, the once vibrant red hue now a burnt orange.
He span the knob on the cold tap, bent down and splashed his face. Rising back up, Alabaster watched keenly as the droplets scaled their way down his long greying whiskers. Moderately satisfied that he no longer looked as though he had been sucking back scotch until 4am, Alabaster turned from the sink, reached for the copper door handle, turned it southwards and entered his sleeping quarters.
BZZZZZZZZZ….BZZZZZZZZZZ….
He could hear the vibrations of his phone, left on silent, in the hope that he would sleep through the morning, undisturbed. He never slept through any more. Pulling back the bed sheet, the screen bright white, his worst fears confirmed.
SECURI-TED HEADQUARTERS, the display read.
Alabaster swiped across the screen and raised the phone to his flea-bitten ear. Clearing his throat with a guttural cough, he answered, “Ally here, I’m up, what’s happening?”
"New case for you Ally… sweet kid, called Arthur, the Dawn-Breakers have moved in, tormenting the kid from his cupboard, real heinous behaviour…clean yourself up Ally, you're next on the rota…need your experience on this one….the kid is, well….the kid is vulnerable.”
"Yeah yeah.” Alabaster snarled. They were all vulnerable now, no-one can care for themselves anymore.
"Ally, goddam you, I can smell scotch down the goddam phone, clean yourself up and be here for 10am sharp…trust me, I thought there were better goddam options than you but Doug was adamant.”
"Alright Oscar, I appreciate the pep talk. Easy for you sitting there, retirement job, civilian role sat behind a reception desk, no more call outs — “
Oscar interrupted, “Ally, I’ll see you in the office at 10am.” CLICK.
Alabaster grabbed his grey flat cap, swung his black leather bomber on and fumbled through his pockets for a pack of Lucky Strikes before cracking open the solid oak door, the chill of the December breeze slapping him square in the face. Raising his paws to his face, Alabaster puffed out a jet of hot breath in to his cupped paws and began walking in the direction of HQ. Clouds of cigarette smoke trailing as he went.
-------------------
First entry here ladies and gents, any and all feedback appreciated. I kind of moved slightly from the brief but there you go.
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"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
The front door of the old farmhouse opened with a loud creak, and my childhood living room greeted me as if no time had passed. This was clearly not the case. The plaster was missing from the wall in large chunks, some of it to be found on the dusty brown sofa sitting against the staircase to my right. Graffiti littered the walls, covering up what was left of the brown striped wallpaper. I stood there for a full minute, taking it all in.
*Come in,* my old home eventually seemed to say. I hesitated, and took the first step. Broken glass crunched against the wooden floor underneath my boot. The sound was startling after the minute of silence. The proceeding footsteps were nearly as abrasive as I walked past the old couch and around the corner to my right. The dark staircase looked up at me. I knew my old teddy bear would be down there. I took a deep breath, clipped my flashlight to the inside of my zipper, and walked down the stairs.
The unfinished basement was even dustier than the upstairs. Around the corner and past the support beam was the door to my old room, slightly ajar.
*This is ridiculous. Why am I even here? Dad is insane. There's no way this will help Sam's nightmares.*
I stepped over and between the piles of junk in a hurry, practically wading through all of the beer bottles. I reached the door and paused. Looking through the cracked opening, I saw a glimpse of the closet. My heart sunk.
I pushed the door open. A wave of nostalgia poured out from behind it and washed over me. I could still make out the faded red propeller airplanes on the wallpaper that I'd outgrown by a few years by the time we vacated. To my left was that damn closet. I didn't want to look at it, so I looked over to the right side of the room. I saw my old bed, cluttered with pieces of the ceiling. Straight ahead was my toy chest, its wooden lid up and some of its contents strewn about the floor in front of me.
Stepping over one childhood memory after another, I made my way toward the chest. I looked into it, and there it was staring up at me. A faded brown teddy bear, with so many patches and stitch jobs that I wondered how much of the original fabric was actually there. It looked like it could be centuries old. Maybe it is. It had black beads for eyes, one of which was hanging loosely by a thread. The other one looked up at me, as if it was wondering where I'd been.
Written down the inside of its right leg was “ALBert.” My grandfather's name. He told me once that he got the bear from his dad. I got it from mine.
I heard a clang from the closet as I reached down to grab it. My hand lunged down for the bear, and I backed up two steps once I had it in my grasp. Clutching the bear to my chest, I looked towards the source of the noise. I saw my soccer ball that I kept on the shelf in my closet slowly rolling towards me, past a pile of beer bottles. That was enough to make me bolt out the door and back upstairs.
I looked back at my old living room one last time and shut the front door behind me. I walked towards my rental Honda. I needed to catch my plane to get back home.
***
Dad called me at the airport.
"Hello?"
"Did you get the bear?"
"Yes, I got the bear..."
"Good. It helped me, it helped you, and it will help Sam."
"This is crazy."
"If it's so crazy then why did you fly 200 miles from home just to get it?"
I had no answer.
"Just give him the bear."
Click.
***
I opened the front door of my home, and my dark living room greeted me warmly.
"We're downstairs." I heard Linda say.
Gently guiding the bear into the inside pocket of my jacket, I made my way towards the stairs and went down. The low-volume TV illuminated my smiling wife sitting on the couch with Sam curled up in her lap.
"Hey, Dane." She said. "How was your trip? Did you close the sale?"
"No. Gordan blew it. It's okay, though. We didn't really need it." I looked a Sam. "How are you doing, buddy?"
"He won't sleep in his room." Linda said.
Sam looked up at me with sleepy eyes and frowned.
"Still having the nightmares, huh?"
"It's not a dream! It's real!"
Linda smiled. I didn't.
*Alright, Dad. Fine.*
"I'll tell you what, Sam." I said. "I've got something that will help you during the night time. It's in the storage room."
I walked into the storage room on the other side of the basement and closed the door behind me. I waited a minute to make it seem like I was looking for something, and then pulled the bear out of my jacket.
*I'll be terrified if this works.*
I left the storage room and held the bear out in front of me as I walked back towards Sam. "Take this. It used to be mine."
Linda looked at the bear, a puzzled expression on her face. I'll make up a story later to tell her how it got here.
"When I was a kid, I used to have bad dreams, too. This bear kept me safe. Here, take it. He'll keep you safe like he did for me."
Sam took the bear and looked at it for a moment, then gave it a loving embrace. Linda looked at me with big eyes and let out a silent "Aww!" I was afraid Sam would squeeze it too hard and break it.
"You've gotta be careful with it, Sam. It's very old. Even older than Great Grandpa was!" Sam pulled the bear away from him and held it up, looking at it like it was a mystical relic.
"I'm ready for bed," he said, his gaze still locked on the bear.
Linda leaned forward and hugged him from behind. "My brave little man."
I scooped up Sam and walked him upstairs to his room, which is right next to ours. Once he was all tucked in, I kissed him on the forehead and told him goodnight. "Yell for me if you need me, alright?"
"Okay," he said, snuggling the bear against his chest.
I exited his room, leaving the door open, and went into mine.
***
In my sleep I was four years old again.
I was in my bed, the bright red propeller airplanes on my wall slightly visible through the darkness. Only my head stuck out from under the covers.
A sense of dread filled me. I was not alone in my room.
I smelled something sour and harsh. It almost smelled like rotten eggs. I would recognize it two years later when I visited Yellowstone and smell the sulfur.
I heard a wheezing cough coming from my closet. Between two hanging jackets I saw the vague outline of a pale face.
"I need water," the wheezy voice moaned. "You, give me some water. There's none here. There never is." It coughed and wheezed some more. "Please, I haven't had any in so long."
"I gave you water last night!" I said in my tiny voice.
"YES! PLEASE GIVE ME MORE! I KNOW YOU HAVE MORE!"
"I- I don't have any!"
"LIAR!" A brief silence. A white hand appeared from behind the clothes. Its fingers sprawled out as it reached for me.
"Come here."
Ever so slowly, I started to see more arm appear as it stretched out from the closet. I began to cry. With every sound I made, the arm extended faster. I managed to quiet myself down, and the hand's speed returned to a crawl. After a life time of quivering in my bed, the hand was reaching about eight feet out from the closet. The outline of the white face stayed where it was. "It's so hot here. Please! I just need water..."
I was frozen in my bed, watching the hand get closer and closer to my feet. The tips of its fingers grasped within a couple feet of my covered toes. I plunged my head under the covers. The muffled sound of wheezing became the only thing accompanying me in the hot, stuffy darkness. And the teddy bear snuggled up against my left shoulder.
I feel a light squeeze on my big toe.
"Are you in there?"
I felt a grip on my ankle and broke out in sobs.
"Please... I need it so bad... Just give me a little bit."
I was pulled a little further down to the foot of my bed.
"So dry here..."
The grip on my ankle released, and I felt individual fingers working their way up my leg and onto my stomach. It paused there.
"I'll never stop. I last forever. No, no, no..."
The hand lifted off my stomach, and I felt the covers start to pull up and away from my head. I tugged them back down with all the strength my little arms could muster.
"Let me in!"
The covers jerked up and away from my face, and I could see four deathly white fingers holding the sheets above me. I screamed.
"MOM! HELP! MOM!"
The teddy bear began to vibrate, and the hand let go of the covers. They landed on my mouth, and I saw the hand hovering above my face.
"No, not again, no..."
The vibration intensified, and the hand clenched into a fist. It trembled, and then, with a gruesome crack, snapped backwards so that it smacked the top of its wrist.
"No..."
It darted back into the closet. The pale face remained.
"The next one... I'll be back for the next one..."
The face disappeared. The bear stopped shaking.
My bedroom door opened, and my mom came through.
"It's okay, Dane. You were just having a nightmare."
I awoke and I was thirty five years old.
*Jesus.*
I sprung out of my bed and rushed into Sam's room. I found him sitting up, a look of excitement beaming off of his face.
"Dad! It worked! The bear worked!"
"The man with the long arm visited again?"
"Yeah, but the bear saved me! He was reaching for me, and then the bear went like this." He put his arms out and jiggled them around along with his head. "Then the man went away!"
Christ. It's real. It's all real.
"Glad to hear it helped, Sam... Just make sure you hang onto that bear. Someone else might need it some day."
"Uh huh, that's what the man with the long arm told me. He said he'd be back for the next one."
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"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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"Daddy can you bring me Sir Stuffington?"
"Of course"
John always had to stifle a laugh at Sir Stuffington. His son had a Medieval phase that had seemingly grown into genuine historical interest. But he could not laugh out loud, it seemed to greatly upset his son. So, he walked over to the Bear's place of honor on his son's dresser and carefully picked up the bear. He felt like he had to be incredibly careful as it had seen great wear and tear in its time. But, ever since hie had given the son the bear the poor child's night terrors and bed wetting were seemingly over. The psychologist said that anything that helps was a good thing at this point even if it was a little childish. The loss of his mother was of course devastating and he would far rather the boy have a bear a little too long than be on the antidepressants already.
He gently placed the bear next to his son, kissed his son's forehead and left. The boy fell fast asleep, a miracle just a few months ago. The dead of the night crept in. A voice cackled in the dark. "He is MINE" Sir Stuffington carefully pulled himself out of the child's grasp. His silent growl deepening in his throat. The boy was his charge. While a single stitch held him together none would pass. The many eyed demon skittered forward, lit by the dim violet nightlight.
The two enemies stared from across the toy filled room. The dance began. The monster was in perfect form tonight, the boy was nervous about the upcoming school year. The first time the bus would take him away without his mother to make him banana pancakes. The first time his mom would not be able to pack his lunch so he would have to wait in the line and pay the lunch lady. The first birthday his mother would miss.
The monster's chitinous limbs tore into Sir Stuffington's arms, and the little warrior could barely hold on to keep them from sinking deeper
"He's growing older Stuffington, he won't want you much longer, you are a baby's plaything, not a grown boy's"
Anger welled in the bear. "SIR Stuffington" he spat with rage. With a scream of hate and pain he tore his arms free and lunged at the thing's neck. The monster back peddled and wrench back and forth. But the bear would not be denied.
Weakened and weeping its invisible life's blood into the carpet, the Monster gurgled "YOU CAN'T SAVE HIM FOREVER!"
Sir Stuffington stepped forward and bared his teeth.
The monster left.
After he was sure it was safe, Sir Stuffington left the boy and walked carefully past the room where the poor boy's father wept bitterly over his wife's picture. He carefully cracked opened the door to the late mother's sewing room. Everything in it was kept just so. It was as sacrosanct. So Sir Stuffington always knew where the needle and thread were. He gingerly packed the stuffing back into his wounds and trudged tenderly back into the boys arms. The monster was right and wrong. One day he couldn't save the boy because one day the boy wouldn't need him anymore. But until that day, or the bear's last day, he would fight
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"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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"He asleep yet?"
I watched from the entrance of his room and nodded. "Yeah, I think he's okay for now." I closed the door and looked at my husband. "How are you feeling?"
He rubbed his eyes and smiled a weary smile. "Tired. I had hoped that after a few years the night terrors would stop, but I guess we'll just have to cope with it." He rubbed my belly. "You just take care of the two of you hun. It'll be alright."
Come morning, Dan was already gone when I woke up. By the time I had made breakfast and woke up Allan, he'd returned with a wrapped box. I smiled.
"Well sport... Look what I found waiting outside for you!" Allan jumped away from the table and raced towards his father. "Is that for me? Why?" He didn't wait for an answer though: as soon as he got his hands on the package he ripped through the packaging to reveal a pretty large teddybear. Allan was in heaven. As soon as he was done unpacking, he took the bear with him to the table and positioned him on the empty chair next to him. It was his everything: he kept talking to it, about what I had made him for breakfast and what he was going to do today and how he would give him a spot in his bed. Dan sat down beside me and pinched my leg under the table. "I'd almost swear his face just got a few tints less pale, wouldn't you agree?" I nodded while I peeled my egg.
That night, when I tucked Allan and Brody in (that's what he named his bear), I gave both of them a hug. "You take good care of my boy, Brody. Allan, your bear is important! If you protect him, he'll protect you. Don't you forget that!" Allan nodded his head from half under his blanket. "I know! Brody told me so." I smiled and after a "good night" turned off the light and closed the door. Dan was standing in the hallway. "Brody? Seriously? Where'd he get that from? And please don't fill his mind with that nonsense. If it helps him sleep though..." I grabbed his arm and took him back downstairs. "I don't think I heard you ever talking that way about Celia, huh?" Dan smirked. "That battered old bear of yours was actually what got me thinking. I figured that having a stuffed animal might help him." When we settled down behind the TV, with me leaning against his arm, I couldn't help but smile. It wouldn't have worked if I gave a bear; I knew. But Dan, from his own love, gave it to Allan and that... Yeah, that would work. I gave Celia a pat on the head before going to bed. "And so the circle begins anew," I whispered to her. Celia just smiled, like she always did.
*****
Fun prompt. If you like it, [take a look at my personal sub too](/r/TheAlcove) :-)
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"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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I wrote this previously, but it fits this prompt so thought I would share:
****
**Her Best Friend**
Slowly the light faded, disappearing with the sound of the door closing, and darkness was left in its wake. The wind whispered outside, shaking the leaves of the overhanging trees, and casting ominous shadows on the walls. A quick intake of breath was followed by the rustling of sheets and the patter of feet on hardwood as they raced across the room. With a click stars illuminated the dark, sparkling on the ceiling and walls from their socket outside the darkened closet door. The nightlight chased away the dark and brought into focus the room’s inhabitant. Her small face was cast in shadows, dark hair tumbling over petite shoulders, and unicorns in all colors decorating her pajamas.
She reached out slowly, a small finger tracing the closest star, before the creaking of floorboards sent her scurrying back into bed, into the safety of her sheets and covers. Over her head they went, for bed was safety, a haven against the monsters that lurked under it and deep within the dark corners of the closet. Small hands began feeling out around her, searching the length of the bed for Felix. She dived deeper into her covers, until she had reached the foot of her bed without sight or touch of the bear in question. Her head poked forth from under the blankets, her hair messed, as she peered around the room.
Sleep, no matter how hard she fought, would elude her until Felix was found. Placing both hands on each of the bed posts, she pulled herself forward, until she was able to peer cautiously over the bottom of the bed and into the dark beneath it. No glowing eyes or growl met her inquiry, and so she placed one palm on the floor and, bracing herself, reached into the depths. A groan of displeasure filled the quiet space. Withdrawing her hand after having no luck, she attempted to right herself back on the bed when she fell from it in a heap of small limbs. Her blanket settled around her on the ground, but she made no move to get up, her ears listening for the distant sound of footsteps, her eyes trained on the dim light shining forth from under the door. After several moments of holding her breath, she stood and replaced her blankets on the bed.
At a loss, she sat down on the edge, her toes skimming the ground as she swung them back and forth. Felix had been with her when they had went shopping, and he had been allowed to ride in the front seat afterward, so Felix had certainly made it home. They had watched a movie together while mommy had cooked dinner, and had both refused to eat their peas, which meant they had not been given dessert, but they had decided that not eating peas was worth not eating ice cream. They came up stairs to play after dinner, and then it had been bath time, and Felix couldn’t take a bath, because the last time he had tried he had nearly been ruined, so he had to stay in the bedroom by himself.
The little girls’ eye’s flicked to the closet. Felix and her had been playing dress up, and Felix had needed a pair of shoes to match his coat and tie, so they had gone into the closet in search of his loafers, when they had been interrupted by bath time. She had not seen Felix since then, meaning only one thing; Felix was still in the closet, which was now closed because both of them hated the closet at night. Breathing in a deep breath, she climbed onto her bare feet and slowly crossed the distance between her bed and the closet, her heart rate climbing as she grew closer.
“Felix,” She reached out, touching the closed closet door, her small voice wavering with fear. Felix did not answer. Her small hand crept toward the door handle, but stalled as her bedroom door was opened, lighting the room with the hall light. She turned into it, and the sight of her mother standing in the doorway greeted her. Hands on her hips, she was shaking her head as she spoke.
“Molly! You’re supposed to be in bed, asleep.”
“I forgot Felix in the closet,” Molly replied, and brave in the presence of her mother, pulled the closet door open and found Felix, still dressed in his tie and jacket. She reached for him, and it was almost as if he reached for her as she scooped him into her arms and darted back to bed. She settled back into her pillow as her mother recovered her with blankets. Soothing back the now tangled mess of hair, she kissed her forehead before issuing a warning.
“Stay in bed, or Felix will be spending the night with me.” Her mother crossed the room and closed the closet door, checked the nightlight, and then, with a final look at her daughter, closed the bedroom door. Her footsteps sounded on the hardwood as she moved down the hallway. Molly waited several moments before she turned to Felix, who was sitting on her pillow, and gave him a slow smile.
“Your sword and shield are under the pillow, in case you need them, Felix.” She gave his foot a small squeeze before she closed her eyes, her head sinking farther into her pillow. Several minutes passed, and as her breathing slowed and she fell into sleep, the closet door creaked open.
Felix sat a little straighter, his sword at the ready and his shield poised for action, as he prepared to protect his most precious possession.
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"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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"Is it time?" said Bogdan and waited for an answer which didn't come. The wind in that chill night came through the crack in the ceiling and sounded like it was repeating the same question in a whisper. "Vasily, is it time?" asked Bogdan again. "Yes" came the tearful answer out of Vasily quivering lips. Vasily couldn't believe that the time had come to do the unthinkable, yet necessary.
Three months ago Vasily's father bought him a gift for his sixth birthday. Both father and son had an obsession with bears. Vasily fathers worked for the WCS (Wildelife conservation society). His job was to protected them. His job was to protect what he loved. Vasily had the biggest collection of books, posters, and figures a kid ever had. He collected what he loved. But it was at December 12th when Vasily's collection, for the first time, loved him back.
He called him Bogdan. Which is a curious name for a teddy bear. But who can blame Vasily who started to run out of names after naming the other dozen he got before him. But Bogdan was different. Bogdan was alive. As Bogdan told it, he was the trapped spirit of the Kamchatka bears. He barely escaped the massacre that was after all wildlife spirits two years ago. But ever since Yaga, the witch who started the hunt, failed to catch him on that dreadful night, Bogdan had been trying his best to lay-low till the surviving spirits like him regained their strength to fight her back. And to get rid of her once and for all.
But at the very first night he was gifted to Vasily, the lay low plan wasn't an option anymore. The dark spirits of the wildlife, who were once innocent before they were bewitched by Yaga, found Vasily. When the portal twirled into existence and manifested itself inside the kid's room like a black rose from hell, Bogdan was ready to fight back and was sure that Yaga finally found him and sent her dogs after him. But it wasn't the case. Baba spell was perfect; the shaman who hid Bogdan inside the teddy bear. As the monsters crawled out of the portal, they didn't as much as smell Bogdan. They were after the kid, which was crazy, as Bogdan thought. "Why would they go after a sixth years old?" was a question that Bogdan didn't have the luxury of time to ask even inside his head. The monster leaped at Vasily bed like hungry hyenas. Bogdan could have let them get the kid. It was the smartest decision. There were too much at stakes hanging on the lay-low plan he agreed on with the other surviving spirits. And Vasily was just a kid like any other kid Bogdan ended up in his room as a gift before he got there. But Bogdan was a Kamchatka spirit, and Kamchatka knew that some times you have to be smart, and sometimes you just have to kick ass.
P.S. It's 23:25 here. I'm dog tired. I'll finish it if it gets just 5 upvotes. ;-)
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"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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Samuel was the light of my life. When I held his precious body for the first time, I knew it. I was irrevocably, endlessly, in love.
Money was tight, many days, but I would find ways to scrounge up money enough for birthdays and Christmases, giving my Sam the presents on his wish list every year, without fail.
There was was exactly one year I couldn't get him his birthday wish list, not a single present. He was three years old. He wanted a set of Lego's and some Batman accessories. I could barely get us fed.
Thanks to a hand-me-down bear from a thrift store - it cost a dollar - and a woman from our church, I had a cake and a present.
Sam didn't mind. The bear had soft, soft fur, even after years of use. One glass eye had fallen out to be replaced by a neatly sewn button. He had a little bite mark in his ear, from a cat or a dog. From Samuel's birthday onwards, he and the teddy bear were best friends.
On his first day of kindergarten I helped hide Bear - a simple name, a fitting and exact name, the sort of name any three year old could come up with - in his backpack, beneath books and crayons and paper.
And every day for the rest of the year, Bear hid in Sam's backpack and went to school with him.
I was first alerted to something... unusual... about Bear during that same year. I woke up to hear sounds of fighting, coming from Samuel's room. We didn't have a video game console - not until Sammy was ten - and the only TV was in the living room. I crept in the room, and saw...
Everything was in its place. Sam was asleep, Bear settled neatly in his arms. And yet - there was a single paper, having fluttered to the ground. It was a drawing, crude and in the style of a five year old, of Bear standing up to strange shadowy creatures I couldn't make heads or tails of.
At the time, I dismissed the entire incident, and the paper, to imagination. But as the year passed, more unusual things happened.
Keys would be lost, only to narrowly dodge accidents. Sammy's room would be clean at night, only for there to be a small mess in the morning. Even Bear would go missing, only to show up some time later along with something important - the electricity bill, his field trip form, a letter from family or friends.
And sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night to hear the sounds of fighting.
When Sam was seven, I finally saw what was happening. I don't think Bear or his enemies realized I was awake. But I crept to Sam's bedroom and peered in the door. Bear stood strong and tall - stood, a teddy bear without a wire in him! - facing shadowy creatures. I remembered the drawing then.
With Bear, Sammy and I are safe. And now that he's going off to college, I won't let him leave without Bear. But you try convincing an eighteen year old who thinks he knows everything that his stuffed Bear will protect him. It isn't easy.
So I dust Bear off - and he isn't very dusty - from the old closet and smile at him. Sam may say he's too old for old Bear, but I know better. He has two button eyes now, and his ear is in half, but his fur is still as soft as ever.
"What do you say to a road trip, buddy?"
After all, I can't let my boy go off without his best protector.
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"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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**Eyes of Glass**
How I miss my eyes of glass.
Originally, I had button eyes. Little black ones about ½ an inch wide, with 4 holes to hold them in place. Nonna Maria gave me then after making me for Master Gianni. Her love and kindness had infused my being with every stitch she made as she made me. And had she been my only Maker, a simple Teddy I would have remained all my days.
But we can’t pick our makers anymore than we can pick our parents. For all their well wishes and kind feelings, it is their whispered words and muffled curses that sometimes shape us most of all.
I can’t complain though. I’ve had a wonderful life. Little Gianni became Johnny and passed me on to his daughter, who passed me on to her son, John Jr. I was sentry to their dreams, absorber of their tears, and cuddler of their coughs and illnesses. Even memories of being chewed and buried by my fellow guardians brought a wave of melancholy if I’ve been exiled to a shelf long enough.
It didn’t matter though, because I knew that while I rested, I would be called upon again to watch over the next child. It was the way of things and as my Makers had intended.
So it was with surprise and hurt that I was tossed in with the rest of the “miscellaneous possessions”. Rudy had come to the old house, and as Nonno’s executor, donated me along with the rest of the “stuff”.
While I never met this Good William, I was treated well there. I was re-stuffed, re-stitched, and given my eyes of glass. More importantly, she did it properly. First giving me my new one, and then replacing my old one with Sky-blue circles around a black centre. Oh how I would have smiled if I had a mouth, but aside from my nose, that was nothing else on my face.
No matter. I had always been a keeper of secrets and I kept them all.
People don’t understand that is why we were never given mouths. A child’s fears are not bound by rationality. Children live in a world where monsters are as tall as the sky, or have a billion mouths with a billion teeth. This is the dark side of a sense of Wonder.
And why every child needs a Guardian.
Oh yes, my eyes of glass. Up until then, all I had seen of the world was black and white, night and light, evil and good. But with my new eyes, I could see all the colours and happiness in-between. After leaving the House of Good William, I saw the world anew. Sitting at a table with the rich red of raspberry jam sandwiches. The speckled-green of a frog as it hopped across a room while momma chased it too and fro. Even stars on a ceiling! Modern life is filled with such amazing toys!
And I was able to see then all with my eyes of glass. Oh how I loved them! In all my years as a Guardian, I had lost one eye, but it had hurt so much. But worse, had been knowing that I did not have a spare eye. That if I had lost my other eye, I would have been lost. For when both eyes are gone, we Guardians lost our abilities.
Dani (imagine that! A girl named Dani!), bought me for her son, and gave me someone to watch over. His name was Caleb, and I like to think that I was his favourite. Caleb took me everywhere and together we saw beaches and mountains but no matter where the chauffeur took us, we always slept together.
Until that night.
It turns out that the chauffeur was not a friend of the family. Ironic too since he was of the old blood. Like other-Nonna had been. Nonna Red-Fox.
Nonna Red-Fox had known the old ways. How scarecrows could be made to keep birds away. How war-paint could give someone heightened senses. And how blood added to thread, could make a ward that lasted beyond the death of the caster.
Nonna Maria had stitched me together out of love, but Nonna Red Fox has added her blood to the lanolin in the threads. Together, I was made to protect children.
So when chauffeur came for Caleb, Caleb cried out for me, and we went together.
We were kept in a house, somewhere.
Caleb grew hungry, but was fed.
He was tired, and was allowed to rest.
But I knew that something was wrong.
So I waited until Caleb went to sleep, and I used to magic.
Guardian Magic is not the same for every one of us and it is not without a price. People say that eyes are the window to the soul, but it also the gateway to magic. Unfortunately, using magic destroys the gateway. Still, an eye is a small price to pay, to save Caleb.
I knew that chauffeur had a phone, and that Caleb could use it, so all I needed to do was get it.
But chauffeur saw me. It was the last thing he saw.
As pain stabbed into my head, I unleashed the fears.
Lifetimes of it.
The one time I had done it before, it was of the dark, and things that lurked in it. Of the loneliness of a child. Of the angry voices of parents hurting each other. Of thunder and lightning flashes on moonless nights. Of childhood fears unleashed.
Children are stronger than most adults realize. I know because when faced with childhood fears, adults cannot handle them.
Chauffeur certainly couldn’t.
As I recovered and made my way back to Caleb, I heard another noise.
Chauffeur had not been alone.
And as I turned to face chauffeur’s partner crime, I felt several thoughts pass through my mind.
I hoped that Caleb wouldn’t notice that a spark had left his Teddybear. That while I would still be at his side, I would be less than I had been all his days. I hoped he wouldn’t stop talking to me, sharing with me his fears. I hoped we would still have our adventures, and that his dreams would be joyful again.
But, to be honest, my last thought was a selfish one.
That my final sight, would not be of his beautiful face, but rather of some nameless monster who had taken him from his family and home.
How I miss my eyes of glass.
As darkness comes for me.
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"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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*First post here, so I'd love to receive some feedback!*
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"Hey, Mike, come here!" On his way back home, John walked in front of a store and saw something that caught his attention - it was the perfect gift. Mike, his little son, rushed to the door and his jaw dropped as he stared at the toy, a teddy bear. Not a common one, this bear was dressed like a knight from the stories of King Arthur, something he had been into since John started reading those tales for him during bedtime.
"Thank you so much, dad!" Little Mike hugged his father, and squeezed the bear even harder. "Can I call it Arthur?" His joyful eyes darted to his father's, but he did not even wait for the answer before running back to his bedroom.
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"So the knights really killed the dragon?" Mike was amazed by the tale.
"Yes, they did! King Arthur was the bravest one, and his sword saved them from the bad dragon."
"Can Arthur kill dragons too?" The kid held his bear into his father's direction.
"Well, we don't have dragons nowadays, but if we did, I'm sure he would slay them all!" John rose up and made a victorious pose as he spoke. "But now, it's time for the heroes to rest. Good night, son. Good night, Arthur." He kissed both his son and the toy before leaving the room.
"*Arthur is so awesome.*" The kid whispered to his toy and hugged it tight.
The minutes passed, but Mike could not sleep. He was too excited with the tales and his imagination was flying through all the scenes his father had read for him. Not only that, there was this unquieting sound now, slowly getting higher, slowly approaching. He reached for the lamp besides the bed, turning it on to reveal nothing.
"Fear not, child, I shall protect you." A voice came from his side. Half scared, the boy turned and saw Arthur standing on its own. "The enemy is close, hide now." The toy said in a low tone, and Mike, frightened and awed, covered himself with his blanket, leaving a small space so he could watch Arthur.
The bear jumped from the bed, scanning the room. "Still inside your cave, huh?" It stared to the dark space below the bed. "Come, monster, and feel the weight of my blade!" And fire was spilled from the dark. Arthur quickly raised his shield before being engulfed by the flames. Mike feared for his new friend, but no harm had come to it, just like in the tale. "You can't hide forever, dragon!" The taunt worked, and a 'teddy dragon' made his way to the lit area.
The toys exchanged blows, roars and grunts filled the room, as well as the sound of the heavy claws bashing the shield and sword hitting scale. A heavy blow send Arthur down, and Mike gulped. The dragon heard the strange sound and turned to face the boy. It roared and started flying around the room, spitting more flames in the direction of the knight to distract him and finally heading for the bed to burn the kid.
"You will not hurt him!" Arthur shouted, and threw his sword with all his might into the flying monster. It pierced the dragon's throat, making it dive head first into the ground. Arthur rushed to grab his weapon and slashed his enemy dead. The bear sat on the floor, exhausted.
"Arthur..." The boy stared at his toy, who feared the worse from his new owner. "You... You are amazing..." Mike was still in shock, but watching the tales right in front of him brought a smile to his face. The bear approached the bed and the boy took it, hugging Arthur. "Thank you for protecting me."
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"Good morning, sleep head." The sunlight filled the room as John opened the curtains. "Breakfast is almost ready. Grab Arthur and come eat with me and your mother." He turned to leave, stepping on something strange. "What's this?" He picked the 'teddy dragon' up. "Mike, I just had an idea! How about we play with Arthur and this dragon after eating?"
The half-awake kid nodded and smiled, remembering what happened last night.
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"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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"Hello, this is Old Roosevelt customer service. How may I help you?" I heard a woman tell me over my cell phone as I stared at the bear I had bought for my son.
"Hey, there's something up with the bear you guys sold me. You know, the Oso Muerte?" I said.
"And what would that be?"
"Well, it's got a six pack." I said. Right now, the stuffed, brown bear was laying on my son's bed and it mostly had fur covering its body except where its abs were, which looked like he was an olympian or something. "I don't know what happened, but it did not have anything like this, but now he's got a six pack, I'm uncomfortable, and I want my money back."
There was a moment of silence. For a second, I thought the woman had hung up on me, but then she said, "Well, sir, if there were any additions made to your bear, it might have been someone else who added these changes. Is it possible your son made these enhancements?"
"I guess it is possible."
"Well, sir, maybe you should talk to him." She told me before I hung up.
"Wait, enhancements?!" I looked down at the stuffed bear one last time, feeling more and more uncomfortable as I did so. The look on its face reminded me a whole lot of people returning back to society after being in jail for a few years. I walked over to the living room where my son was playing Call of Duty.
"Yeeeaaaah, suck it!" I heard the five year old scream at the top of his lungs.
"Son." I said.
"Oh, sorry. Yeeeaaaah, suck it, sir." He said more calmly.
"No, it's not that. It's about your bear." I paused, not sure how to continue. "It has... did you put abs on it?"
"Why's it matter?"
"It makes me uncomfortable." I answered.
"No. The bear's alive and he lifts like a madman. He used to use roids, but he said he quit them." My son said as though this was completely normal. "He's also been protecting me from monsters at night."
"Look, I understand having an imaginary friend or something, but it's kind of weird." I thought for a moment. "I mean, are you gay? It's okay if you are, but this is not how you handle it."
"What? No. How about this, you can stay at my room tonight. If nothing happens, I'll throw Kevin out and we can pretend this never happened." My son said, calmly. I agreed.
That night, as I came into my son's room, I could see that part of the stuffed bear's arm had been shaved to reveal a new tattoo of a polar bear in a bikini. I sat in my son's bed as he lie down and eventually went to sleep. I waited another five minutes, but nothing happened. I was about to get up and call a child's counselor when I heard two sounds fill the air. There was a squishing sound like someone continuously throwing a wet rag against a wall and a loud, scraping sound like a violin being slowly cut by a knife. A smell filled the air, much like rotten cheese.
Suddenly, my son's door flipped open to reveal an eight-footed creature with the neck made from a green jello like substance and the head that was just a dog's skull with eight eyes like a spider has. It had seven short stubby legs like a millipede, but also two very long ones with knives on the end like a praying mantis. Its gaze caught mine and I could feel urine start to go down my leg.
"What the hell? Are you peeing yourself?! Your five-year-old didn't even do that, you wuss!" I looked to my side to see that the bear was, in fact, talking to me. In his left arm, he held a long spear with a sharpened candy cane on one side and in his other hand, he held a machine gun. In the thing's mouth was a cigar, which created as much smoke as four would normally make. He aimed the spear at the monster and threw it. The spear caught the monster in one of its giant arms. Before it could do anything, the bear began shooting with the machine gun. The machine gun fired out what looked like cottonballs, but when they made contact with the beast, they might as well have been bullets because they tore it apart.
"God, is it over?!"
"Almost." Kevin said as he began laughing. "Now we'll be cleaning it up. And by we, I mean you. I'm tired and kind of want to work out, and kind of want something to eat. Go to the store and get some bleach, I already have the rest, and also pick me up a pizza covered in pepperonis. Can you do that?"
"Uh." I began stuttering before finally blurting out, "Yeah."
"Good." He paused. "How have you not heard this every night? I've literally torn apart vampires with a spork."
"I drink." I replied.
"Oh, God, me too!"
And that's how I met my best friend.
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"Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Since coming back from her business trip she repeated those words to the child at least once a week. She was only being kind, much kinder than before, but the child could only wonder; what on Earth are bed bugs and how painful do they bite? Should the family be worried? Does she really need to keep saying this arcane mantra to ward them off? These questions littered the mind of the child, who was starting to be legitimately concerned about these mythical biting monsters in the dark.
"And I got you a present!"
This cheered him up and he forgot about the bed bugs.
It was a teddy bear. Whatever image comes to your mind when you think "teddy bear", you're probably accurate. Brown curly fur, a large, disproportionately sized head, soft ligament stumps with no digits. The kid didn't like teddy bears and when she left he put it on the desk next to his toy cars.
Later that night the bed bugs attacked. As they turned a corner around the neon sports cars, they passed unknowingly into the bear's watch upon the night. Like the stoic eternal warden at the placid portal to the 0th dimension, the bear's gaze reached out from his dead black eyes and pierced all space and time. This giant, unmoving, mottled monolith stood before them, witnessing everything. The bed bugs froze in place, their tiny legs instinctively grappling harder onto the wooden desk below them.
Confusion broke out in the bed bug ranks. Something about the bear's gaze transfixed some of the more simple of the insects. Others were outright scared. The best course of action became apparent and the bed bugs retreated back behind the sports cars then away from the room entirely. As would never become apparent, the power of one bear's observation had saved the day.... night.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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Jessie the Teddy Bear woke from her deep slumber one night. Through the wardrobe door, a bedside lamp shone with a yellow tint, illuminating the room, it's brightness thinning out at the edge of the room.
"What?" A deep but familiar voice spoke. Her ward's voice rose and trembled, and his shadow paced across the wall nervously. Benny's voice is deeper now, but the adoring nasal tone in his voice remained. Jessie watched his shadow's shoulders hung stiffly and his chest heaved as he breathed heavily. She could hear the person on the other side of the phone squeak 'Are you still on the line?'
Benny stopped pacing and took a deep breathe again. "Y-yes. Which hospital is it?" he asked as he walked to the wardrobe. Without saying a goodbye, he threw his phone onto the bed and pulled a pair of jeans from the wardrobe carelessly, pulling out other pants which dropped onto the floor with a heavy flop. Benny is a lot taller and bigger now. Jessie could almost meet his wet red eyes as he looked up. He picked her up and gave her a hug, whispering, "What do I do if they both don't make it?" Jessie hugged back as tight as she could possibly, and thought, "It'll be alright. I'll be with you forever and ever." The poor boy sniffed and sobbed, and sat her back at the top of the wardrobe. He wore his jeans clumsily, his hands trembling in fear and anxiety. He picked up his phone and keys, and left the house hurriedly, slamming the door shut.
The bedside lamp stayed on due to his forgetfulness and if Mommy was here, she'd chide Benny for forgetting to switch it off. Benny had grown up and didn't need Jessie anymore, and that is alright. He became really busy with friends, school and work. Benny was very nice when he put Jessie gently at the top of the wardrobe, his eyes shining gratefully. He'd become a man who has grown too old and too shy to speak with his teddy. And that is alright because Jessie knew he meant to thank her for the scary night with the scary monsters, the lonely nights with the creepy sounds that the old house made, and the fun times when they played together.
The bedside lamp stayed on through the night, the following day and night and the next following day and night. Jessie wondered if Benny was alright, and prayed hard that everything will be fine and he will come home soon. As the room warmed in the day, the house door clicked open quietly, uncharacteristically unlike Benny. The footsteps sounded softer and slower as it approached the bedroom. A middle aged lady walked into the bedroom and went straight for the bedside lamp, switching it off. It was Mommy. She had little more wrinkles near her cheeks and her eyes, and seemed a little shorter than before, but Mommy is here now. Mommy picked up the pants on the floor, folded them neatly and placed them in the wardrobe. She looked up and her eyes met Jessie's beaded black eyes. She smiled and Jessie wondered if she was smiling back at her because the Teddy tried to smile at her too. Mommy reached out and took down Jessie carefully, patting and dusting her off. As they walked downstairs to the living room, the front door opened again.
Benny walked in together with a lady. She looked pale and tired, and had a few bruises on her face and arms and a casted leg. Benny held her arm to support her while she carried a small bundle in her arms. Jessie could tell that Benny truly loved and cared for this woman and wondered if this was what Mommy meant when she told Benny that he would one day marry a wife.
The wife hobbled to the sofa and sat down in relief. Mommy took over the small bundle in her arms and put it on the couch. She put Jessie next to the bundle so she could see it too.
'Look what I found,' Mommy said to Benny and his wife. 'Benjamin used to hug and play with her all the time.'
She then leaned down and showed Jessie what's inside the bundle. A small baby slept soundly. The baby looked a lot smaller than when she first met Benny.
'This little sweetie came to see us earlier than scheduled but you'll look after her just like you did for Benny, won't you?'
Jessie the Teddy Bear looked at the baby adoringly. Hello, my little Ward, she thought. I'll be with you forever and ever.
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The bunny came into her life one easter a random purchase who sat by the bed for a while and watched over her. He wasn’t needed at that time he watched her laugh and play with her lover and then talk and gossip with her sister.
The christmas music was playing over the few days before the day in question and he watched her carefully wrap presents and write cards. Then one day her sister came into the room worried words were had and she flew away for a few days. The day she came back her eyes were red and she looked worn in a way he had never seen before. She took her bunny down from the bedside and held it tight. She cried for a while and then spoke of her lover who was ill and her sister’s partner who had died that day. The tears soaked into his ears and he let her pour her heart and worries out.
Time passed as is it’s way and her inner light dimmed. He tried to help by being there when needed and sometimes she took him to other places where he held her hand and helped her to be brave. He met doctors, civil servants and many others. He saw her happy for periods looked after her nice ring her lover gave her and was brought in as reinforcements when nothing else helped her in the dark moments.
He is still by the bed ready and waiting, the darkness that he fights is still there but has receded for the moment but still in the dark of the night when dreams turn to nightmares he fights to keep her calm and settle her again.
I am the woman and my bunny has helped me fight the demon depression for seven years now.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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He saved me. That was it. That was all it took. He showed me that I was worth something. That I could be something to someone. He found me on a self in some smelly thrift store. The owner and all the stock boys would smoke constantly, so the shelves and ceiling were tobacco smoke yellow. They would use me and the other dolls and act out their sick fantasies, or jokes. We never knew. A couple of the barbies got took a couple weeks ago, thank god. There are no more female dolls for these perverts to grope and position for their adolescent stunted sexuality. Now they just use the action figures and teddy bears like me to mock each others masculinity.
But then that man came in and grabbed me off the shelf. He grabbed all of us off the shelf. Every teddy bear, stuffed bunny, plush dog and squishy dinosaur. He grabbed us, threw his money at the cashier and piled us into a bag. I went home with him. The rest went to other kids. I thought I wasn't wanted, and that was why I was left on the car seat while the others got to go into the nice warm beds of other boys and girls.
I got my own little boy. He put me up on his pillow, right up high to watch him while he slept. He hugged me so hard if I'd had ribs, real bear's ribs, they still would have creaked. I already knew I was going to do my best, but I found out my best was crap.
I got knocked down. I slipped from the pillow. My big foot was trapped between the mattress and wall. I dangled, upside down for hours, the stuffing rushing to my head. Finally, he must have shifted in his sleep, because the mattress moved, and I was down. I fell to the floor, and I could see. There was something under the bed, I could see from the corner of my eye. I was done for. It would pull me under the bed, and this little boy would forget me. I hadn't even had one night. His memories wouldn't be enough to make finding me important. He would go to school, play with his friends. His dad might ask where I was, but I would be lost under the bed, dragged into hell to be eaten by the dust mites.
More movement! But its wrong, the bed creaks, then the floor thumps. He's on the floor! The kid is on the floor and I'm being scooped up. He hops back into bed and we hide under the covers. He's saved me too. Saved twice and I haven't done a thing.
The bear looks across the room, the light of the night lamp dancing across his fur. He's looking into the closet, looking for the monsters. "And that little bunny," he says. "Is why we sit here, and watch."
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The bunny came into her life one easter a random purchase who sat by the bed for a while and watched over her. He wasn’t needed at that time he watched her laugh and play with her lover and then talk and gossip with her sister.
The christmas music was playing over the few days before the day in question and he watched her carefully wrap presents and write cards. Then one day her sister came into the room worried words were had and she flew away for a few days. The day she came back her eyes were red and she looked worn in a way he had never seen before. She took her bunny down from the bedside and held it tight. She cried for a while and then spoke of her lover who was ill and her sister’s partner who had died that day. The tears soaked into his ears and he let her pour her heart and worries out.
Time passed as is it’s way and her inner light dimmed. He tried to help by being there when needed and sometimes she took him to other places where he held her hand and helped her to be brave. He met doctors, civil servants and many others. He saw her happy for periods looked after her nice ring her lover gave her and was brought in as reinforcements when nothing else helped her in the dark moments.
He is still by the bed ready and waiting, the darkness that he fights is still there but has receded for the moment but still in the dark of the night when dreams turn to nightmares he fights to keep her calm and settle her again.
I am the woman and my bunny has helped me fight the demon depression for seven years now.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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Lawrence and the Pile of Misfits
It was dark. The air was suffocating. I had just woken from my recurring nightmare. It happens almost every night and leaves me in a paralytic state until I sleep again. The images of machines stabbing me and stuffing me are always the premise of these dreams but today feels different. I am still petrified from the nightmare but a new energy rises inside me. I can start to feel the semblance of life. I’ve never felt this way before and am overjoyed with the uncertainty of the coming events. The nightmare lingers in the back of my mind as a constant reminder that I am in a living hell. But then I hear it.
Muffled sounds coming from the heavens. The cage I’m in is lifted high and shaken vigorously. My emotions are exuberant until I hear the scratching, tearing, clawing. I become terrified. This is my doom, my demise. I have been born but have not lived and am being condemned to a dreadful purgatory because of my lust for freedom and the chance to live.
Just when I know all is lost and I am doomed for eternity in darkness, I see a light. A light so bright that it could only be the Gods from heaven above coming to save me. Two arms reach inside my cage and free me from the choking abyss. And I saw it. The most beautiful thing I could ever imagine stood before me holding me in their arms. I was free.
“What do you think Johnny, do you like it,” asked a deep voice.
I looked deep into the eyes of my savior while it said, “He’s perfect! I love him daddy!”
“We’re glad you like it honey. What are you gonna call it,” asked a sweet voice.
“Lawrence!”
“That’s a good name dear. Now remember to take good care of him. If he gets any rips or tears bring him to me and I’ll do my best to sew him back up again.”
“Don’t worry mommy, I’ll take great care of him.” Johnny hugged me so hard I thought my insides were going to fall back out of me.
“Well son, your mother and I are happy you enjoyed all your presents. Santa sure did good this year right hun? Now go on, go play with your toys.”
That was the best day of my life. Johnny had given me life and on top of that, gave me a reason to live. The rest of that day I played with him. I was overawed by everything thus unable to really participate with him in anything we did but it was wonderful.
It was time for Johnny to go to bed. I was not the least bit tired and was still stuck in a catatonic state after being given my freedom. Johnny fell asleep with me right by his side. This gave me time to reflect on everything that had happened today. I still could not believe it all. It was surreal.
Johnny rolled over in the bed and I went crashing to the floor. I sat up and scratched my ear. Then I froze. Did I just move? On my own. I turned and looked at where I was. It was dark in Johnny’s room but his nightlight was on and allowed me to get a glimpse of my surroundings. I shivered. Suddenly I started to get a sense that I was not alone here.
“Psst!”
I turned and looked into the darkness under the bed. Heard some laughter and soft footsteps coming my way and then they emerged into the light.
“Look what we have here, a stupid teddy bear. I was wondering when Johnny was gonna get one of these poor bastards.”
“Ha, this one looks like he’s about to cry. First time out of the box is it?” I stared at the group of them. There were five in total. The first one to speak was a fur stained lion. The one asking me the question was a monkey. The other ones were a rabbit, an elephant, and a snake.
“Hass he forgotten how to ssspeak,” said the snake slithering around me.
“Noodles give the bear a break. I bet he’s just had the happiest day of his life and now we have to come ruin it,” this was the rabbit speaking.
“So what’s your name? Please tell me he didn’t name you Teddy?” this was the elephant speaking.
I summoned up some courage and said, “Johnny named me Lawrence.”
“Ha see Ellie, Johnny is getting more creative each time, “said the rabbit, “Well Lawrence my name is Sebastian. The lion is Lionel, the fat one is Ellie, the slithering piece of shit is Noodles, and the monkey is Congo. We are the misfits, those forgotten by our savior, Johnny.”
I just stared at them. “Abandoned? Johnny won’t abandon me. He loves me. He he said I was perfect.”
They started laughing. “Teddy, ha, you’re hilarious man. He loves you! Hear him guys,” said Congo.
“My name is Lawrence not Teddy.” I was getting really frustrated with this motley crew. Johnny and I had just spent an amazing day together and I wasn’t about to let them ruin it.
“SSSbe careful Congo. I’ve heard bears have a hissstory of being fiercesssss.”
“Poor Teddy. We don’t want to hurt you. We want your help,” said Lionel while the others sniggered.
“What do you want,” I asked.
“We just want some justice for our misfortune, that’s all,” said Sebastian.
“You see Teddy,” this was Ellie now, “We were all once Johnny’s favorite. We were all in your position of prosperity. However, Johnny’s interests are fleeting. That piece of shit always wants something new, something fresh. And well, mommy and daddy feel the need to spoil the little prick with new gifts all the time which is how we ended up down here, under the bed. He forgets about us about as quickly as he forgets what he had for dinner last night. So, we just want him to remember us. It’s as simple as that.”
If what he said is true, then Johnny will forget me someday. I couldn’t believe that, not after today. They just want to steal me from Johnny. “If Johnny wanted you then you wouldn’t be under the bed. I’m not going to let you steal me from Johnny. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me. He gave me the touch of life!”
“Aw yesss, the touch of life. And he will give you the touch of death sssoon enough,” said Noodles.
“You realize Teddy that we were all once his favorites and that we have all fallen down beneath the bed. Eventually you will be down here and live the rest of your life with us. We’ve tried to be friendly Teddy but now you are just being difficult,” said Sebastian. They started to creep closer to me, spreading apart hoping to engulf me.
“My name is Lawrence!” They stopped. Johnny started rolling over in the bed. I fall onto my back, lifeless like I once was.
“There you are Lawrence. Come back to bed.” Johnny grabbed me and pulled me up into bed. He fell asleep almost immediately. I heard a hsss from Noodles.
“Thisss meansss war Teddy.”
Every night from then on, I fight the monsters lurking under Johnny’s bed. Each day goes by where I receive another cut or stain fighting them back while I slowly start to realize the truth of what they told me that first night. I can see it in Johnny’s eyes. Years go by. And somehow I have stayed with him, giving me false hope that I will stay with him forever. I know deep down that I will end up beneath the bed sulking in the shadows with the rest of the misfits. I will stay loyal to Johnny, protecting him from the evil below and when the time comes for me to fall, I will reminisce on the first time I saw Johnny’s face as he freed me from my cage. I will remember what he said: “He’s perfect.”
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The bunny came into her life one easter a random purchase who sat by the bed for a while and watched over her. He wasn’t needed at that time he watched her laugh and play with her lover and then talk and gossip with her sister.
The christmas music was playing over the few days before the day in question and he watched her carefully wrap presents and write cards. Then one day her sister came into the room worried words were had and she flew away for a few days. The day she came back her eyes were red and she looked worn in a way he had never seen before. She took her bunny down from the bedside and held it tight. She cried for a while and then spoke of her lover who was ill and her sister’s partner who had died that day. The tears soaked into his ears and he let her pour her heart and worries out.
Time passed as is it’s way and her inner light dimmed. He tried to help by being there when needed and sometimes she took him to other places where he held her hand and helped her to be brave. He met doctors, civil servants and many others. He saw her happy for periods looked after her nice ring her lover gave her and was brought in as reinforcements when nothing else helped her in the dark moments.
He is still by the bed ready and waiting, the darkness that he fights is still there but has receded for the moment but still in the dark of the night when dreams turn to nightmares he fights to keep her calm and settle her again.
I am the woman and my bunny has helped me fight the demon depression for seven years now.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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Some people think it's absurdly odd that I, a grown man, still sleep with my teddy bear. When I was 16 and first had a girl in my room alone, so close to that one thing that every teenage boy obsesses about constantly she laughed and left me in a...difficult...state when I insisted that my bear could not watch what we were about to do. Now a days he's ragged and worn, missing an ear and an eye, one arm barely still attached and missing almost all of his stuffing. But I remember. I remember when my dad gave him to me. I remember everything my bear, the bravest knight of the realm, has done for me.
...
"Check the closet again, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?" I whined.
"No son, good night" my father replied. I know he and mom both love me but they just don't know. They don't believe me when I tell them about the monsters that try to get me when they put me to bed.
When they saw the long scratches that the monster left me that night they thought I was doing it to myself, just to get attention. Then my father had an idea, if I was going to commit so much to this make believe then his only course was to turn it around and use my own fantasy against me. That's when he gave me Sir Barnabas Grizzly, my teddy bear.
"Now son, Sir Barnabas is the bravest knight of the realm and he's here to fight off the monsters so that you can go to sleep." My father told me when he placed the softest, fuzziest bear I'd ever seen in my hands before sending me off to bed one night.
I looked at the bear skeptically. I didn't know how something with honey golden fur and a button nose could protect me from the things I'd seen under the bed and in the closet. But at least it was something to hold onto when things got bad.
They came that night, like they always did. The slimey, cold hand from under the bed and the hot, musty breath from the closet. I knew what they were coming to do and couldn't help myself. All I could do was cower in the bed and cling to my new fuzzy friend.
"Let me go, please." a strange voice that I had never heard before said into the darkness.
I sat stunned, of all the times the monsters had come there had never been a voice like that. It sounded so...British.
"I can't bloody well protect you if you don't let me go", the voice came again, this time it sounded like it came from my bear. But there was no way, Sir Barnabas was just a teddy bear, right?
I slowly took the bear from under my arm and turned him around, holding up to my face so I could get a better look at him.
"Very good, my liege, now if you would just let me go I'll show these beasties what for." Sir Barnabas said from three inches in front of my face.
I had to be hallucinating, there was no way a teddy bear was talking to me. But whenever he spoke the arm pulled away, retreating a little bit back under the bed and the musty breath went silent from the closet.
"Who are you?" I felt ridiculous but nothing had ever made the monsters scared like this except grownups.
"Sir Barnabas Grizzly, at your service, my liege", the bear said.
"You can talk", I said dumbfounded and unbelieving.
"Aye, sir, and more if you'd be so kind as to put me down", replied the bear calmly.
I didn't know what to do, the bear and I just stared at each other for a while. That is, until the hand reached tentatively back out from under the bed, unsure if it was safe.
"Sir, I will be happy to explain all of this to you later but you must let me down so I can protect you as I've sworn to do." Sir Barnabas sounded almost impatient now but also supremely unconcerned like he was talking about how he also had to take out the trash and do the dishes, like mom did when she was making her list of chores.
I couldn't think of anything else to do so I set Sir Barnabas on the bed. And from there the most amazing things happened.
Sir Barnabas stood up, dusted off his legs, cracked his neck, looked at me and said, "Thank you, sir, now I shall take my leave with your permission."
I just nodded at him, to stunned to comprehend.
Sir Barnabas waddled over to the side of the bed and leaped to the ground, immediately diving under the bed. I could do nothing but stare at the spot where he had disappeared while listening to the yowling and yelling coming from beneath me. That is, until the dragon's head began to emerge from the closet.
It was solid black with amber eyes and a long, flicking, pink forked tongue that was flicking in and out constantly. If I was afraid before I was terrified now as my new found companion seemed to be locked in combat beneath the bed while slowly the dragon's head kept coming towards me, exposing its huge, pointed teeth every time its mouth opened. All I could do was curl up into a ball and try to shrink away from it.
Suddenly, Sir Barnabas was leaping onto the dragon's snout, covered in green goo and shouting "You're a naughty one, aren't you," to the dragon, completely without fear. The dragon whirled and bucked beneath the furry combatant, trying to buck him off and snap its jaws shut around my new friend. But Sir Barnabas seemed able to ride the riling reptile and began punching the dragon on the snout. This caused the dragon to begin emitting the most curious whining sounds and it began to retreat into the closet. Sir Barnabas jumped off its nose, did a neat flip and landed in front of me on the bed, watching his vanquished foe retreat back into the dark recesses of the closet.
"Well, they shouldn't trouble us anymore, sir," Sir Barnabas said as he turned around to look at me. "I do hope you're alright." He peered at me with his dark eyes, looking me over for wounds.
"That was amazing!" I shouted, scooping him up in my arms. "How does a teddy bear fight off monsters like that?" I asked incredulously.
"Well sir, it's just what we teddy bears do." He replied, squirming a little bit in my tight hug. "We all pledge ourselves to defend and protect children at all costs, it is our duty."
And that's all he would ever say about it. The next day I begged my mother to make a set of armor and a sword for my new knight companion. And while she did stitch up a set of teddy bear armor for him, probably just to placate me, she never did make a sword for him. She was probably just happy I stopped crying about monsters and dragging my feet on my way to bed. I never was afraid of the dark after Sir Barnabas came to me for I knew no creature, no matter how foul and evil could best him, the bravest knight in the realm.
As I grew older so did Sir Barnabas, and he certainly didn't finish all of his grand battles unscathed like he did that first one. But the monsters attacked less and less frequently until one day they stopped completely. I knew what would come after that day.
"I must rest now, sir" Sir Barnabas, or Barry as he let me call him, said on the night of my 18th birthday.
"I know, Barry," I said, with a tear running down my cheek, "I relieve you of your duty, Sir Barnabas" I managed to croak out.
"Farewell, sir." Were the last things he said before falling asleep for the last time.
I loved that bear. And I swear by Sir Barnabas Grizzly's unblemished honor that when my child is afraid of the dark that I will find them their own brave, fuzzy knight to defend them. Because Sir Barnabas was possibly the best friend I ever had.
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The bunny came into her life one easter a random purchase who sat by the bed for a while and watched over her. He wasn’t needed at that time he watched her laugh and play with her lover and then talk and gossip with her sister.
The christmas music was playing over the few days before the day in question and he watched her carefully wrap presents and write cards. Then one day her sister came into the room worried words were had and she flew away for a few days. The day she came back her eyes were red and she looked worn in a way he had never seen before. She took her bunny down from the bedside and held it tight. She cried for a while and then spoke of her lover who was ill and her sister’s partner who had died that day. The tears soaked into his ears and he let her pour her heart and worries out.
Time passed as is it’s way and her inner light dimmed. He tried to help by being there when needed and sometimes she took him to other places where he held her hand and helped her to be brave. He met doctors, civil servants and many others. He saw her happy for periods looked after her nice ring her lover gave her and was brought in as reinforcements when nothing else helped her in the dark moments.
He is still by the bed ready and waiting, the darkness that he fights is still there but has receded for the moment but still in the dark of the night when dreams turn to nightmares he fights to keep her calm and settle her again.
I am the woman and my bunny has helped me fight the demon depression for seven years now.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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I'm not that good at writing but this prompt really inspired me.
Any critique is welcomed.
‘It’s done’ Rupert sighed, his breath visible hanging on the moonlit air, as he unclenched the paws around the throat of the gremlin, its neck falling slack as the bones were no longer attached to the base of the skull.
He brushed off the dust he was covered in from battle and redacted his claws. The monsters of the night don’t bleed per se as they only exist in the darkest reach of our fears, manifesting themselves when we feel helpless. After a minute to collect himself with deep breaths, he sat down on the edge of the Damien’s bed and started sewing his left eye back on.
Damien was still asleep, his eyes no longer squinting shut and hands not covering his ears to avoid the screams of war.
‘Close your eyes’ Rupert whispered to Damien as he had done many times before ‘and cover your ears like we practiced. This will be finished before you know’
Damien looked at Rupert with bright eyes that screamed with fear but also in the recess against the moonlight glimmered with hope that the morning will come and that his fuzzy little friend will prevail against the hordes.
‘You’ll be there in the morning right Rupert?’ Damien asked
‘As I always have’ he reassured. ‘As I always have’
With that Damien gave Rupert a tight hug and whispered ‘..Be careful’
The outside city noises came to an abrupt end. The light from beneath the crack of the bedroom door went out.
Damien’s parents have gone to bed. This was it. Without sight or sound, Rupert felt the presence around him come to life.
Swirling and slithering around in menace, eager to feed on Damien’s dreams. Damien had covered his ears and closed fast his eyes. His lips were moving but Rupert couldn’t hear him.
Probably singing himself a lullaby, thought Rupert.
The presence had now morphed into the physical realm. Eyes glowing cherry red, teeth bared, slick with saliva dripping from their jaws hungrily, snarling and screeching and just causing a general nuisance. Rupert turned to them, drew a deep breath and with an unblinking button eye, bared his claws.
Once more unto the breach.
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The bunny came into her life one easter a random purchase who sat by the bed for a while and watched over her. He wasn’t needed at that time he watched her laugh and play with her lover and then talk and gossip with her sister.
The christmas music was playing over the few days before the day in question and he watched her carefully wrap presents and write cards. Then one day her sister came into the room worried words were had and she flew away for a few days. The day she came back her eyes were red and she looked worn in a way he had never seen before. She took her bunny down from the bedside and held it tight. She cried for a while and then spoke of her lover who was ill and her sister’s partner who had died that day. The tears soaked into his ears and he let her pour her heart and worries out.
Time passed as is it’s way and her inner light dimmed. He tried to help by being there when needed and sometimes she took him to other places where he held her hand and helped her to be brave. He met doctors, civil servants and many others. He saw her happy for periods looked after her nice ring her lover gave her and was brought in as reinforcements when nothing else helped her in the dark moments.
He is still by the bed ready and waiting, the darkness that he fights is still there but has receded for the moment but still in the dark of the night when dreams turn to nightmares he fights to keep her calm and settle her again.
I am the woman and my bunny has helped me fight the demon depression for seven years now.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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As the door latched shut and the last of the light in the room faded a soft rustle came from beneath Robins arm.
A portly and fluffy golden head popped out from the covers.
"Oh, bother" the teddy bear grumbled as he clambered up the boys shoulder.
Churchill was his code name but Mr Pooh was the name his charge had given him. Why on earth the daft young boy would name him after excrement he didn't know.
Perched upon his vantage point he surveyed the room, and satisfied that nothing was amiss he pulled a short cigar from his red blouse pocket. He couldn't light it, secondhand smoke was bad for children you know. Nonetheless he wedged the cigar into the side of his mouth and slowly ground away at it, silently waiting.
This night was just like any other night of the bears watch. A slow drawn out wait that rarely ended quietly.
As he expected the nights challenger arrived at the stroke of 2 hours past midnight , as they always had. With a quiet hiss a pale smoke appeared in the room and flitted about the floor before solidifying at the foot of the bed.
A low growl came from the foot of the bed, "Guardian, your boy's day has come, leave now while I still have the mercy to let you."
"Oh, bother, " Churchill thought to himself. All these would be assassins were truly unoriginal and uninspiring. He heaved himself upright on the boys shoulder and muttered his summoning incantations under his breath. Armor appeared and clanked together around him, a little more snug around the mid section as of late. And finally a pot of honey found its way gently into the crook of Churchill's arm. The whole while he could hear the assassin threatening him with damnation and torture.
Everything in place, he lumbered toward the edge of the bed tucking away the cigar for later. He continued slowly moving towards the edge of the bed eating the honey as he went. And still the challenger spewed vile hatred from below.
Upon arriving to the foot of the bed he looked down and saw a run-of-the-mill Gremlin in disheveled armor awaiting him. With a brief glance to verify the distance he finished the last of the honey , broke the pot , grabbed a jagged piece and casually dropped down impaling the Gremlin through his mouth mid-profanity.
"Cheeky bastards" he muttered as he stood himself up and brushed himself off. Another nights work done with ease he thought as he reached for his cigar again. His hand had not yet touched his cigar before he heard multiple hisses and thumps come from the closet.
Slowly and irately Churchill turned his head towards the closet, "Oh, bother"
A multitude of Gremlins crashed from closet and saw two things, an armored ball of golden fur and their dead comrade who had attempted to claim glory of killing Robin by going too early.
The nonchalant manner of the guardian gave the Gremlins a moments pause. But they had slain guardians before, and were determined to keep doing so. Why? Well mostly they liked killing and the way blood splattered, but also because the Great Master commanded it.
The Gremlins became emboldened by the obvious disparity in numbers and cackled as they approached the lone guardian. Their leader for this raid, a squint eyed bugger named Grislow stopped the group and jeered at the guardian, "Looks like little fatty over there forgot his toy sword, GET HIM!"
Churchill cracked his knuckles as the Gremlins charged. They were closing on him and Robins bed.
He pounded his armor with his fist, the sounded that emanated was far deeper and stronger than it should have been.
He began chanting the Haka Ka Mate in a deep timbre and finished with a powerful jump as the Gremlins closed.
As he landed in the midst of their first line he small warm flashes of light came from around the room and out of the shadows 4 figures in armor crashed into the flanks of the Gremlins.
After a brief skirmish, Grislow was beheaded and the remaining Gremlins lost their nerve and vanished.
After a moment to catch his breath Churchill looked at the armored figures , " Are you donglers going to stay and clean this time or do I have to do it solo again?"
One of the figures lifted his helmet revealing a striped feline face, and winked at the other figures " I think nail tail and porker would be willing to pitch in if you offered some of your honey for once."
Churchill rolled his eyes "oh , bother, alright."
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The bunny came into her life one easter a random purchase who sat by the bed for a while and watched over her. He wasn’t needed at that time he watched her laugh and play with her lover and then talk and gossip with her sister.
The christmas music was playing over the few days before the day in question and he watched her carefully wrap presents and write cards. Then one day her sister came into the room worried words were had and she flew away for a few days. The day she came back her eyes were red and she looked worn in a way he had never seen before. She took her bunny down from the bedside and held it tight. She cried for a while and then spoke of her lover who was ill and her sister’s partner who had died that day. The tears soaked into his ears and he let her pour her heart and worries out.
Time passed as is it’s way and her inner light dimmed. He tried to help by being there when needed and sometimes she took him to other places where he held her hand and helped her to be brave. He met doctors, civil servants and many others. He saw her happy for periods looked after her nice ring her lover gave her and was brought in as reinforcements when nothing else helped her in the dark moments.
He is still by the bed ready and waiting, the darkness that he fights is still there but has receded for the moment but still in the dark of the night when dreams turn to nightmares he fights to keep her calm and settle her again.
I am the woman and my bunny has helped me fight the demon depression for seven years now.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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The front door of the old farmhouse opened with a loud creak, and my childhood living room greeted me as if no time had passed. This was clearly not the case. The plaster was missing from the wall in large chunks, some of it to be found on the dusty brown sofa sitting against the staircase to my right. Graffiti littered the walls, covering up what was left of the brown striped wallpaper. I stood there for a full minute, taking it all in.
*Come in,* my old home eventually seemed to say. I hesitated, and took the first step. Broken glass crunched against the wooden floor underneath my boot. The sound was startling after the minute of silence. The proceeding footsteps were nearly as abrasive as I walked past the old couch and around the corner to my right. The dark staircase looked up at me. I knew my old teddy bear would be down there. I took a deep breath, clipped my flashlight to the inside of my zipper, and walked down the stairs.
The unfinished basement was even dustier than the upstairs. Around the corner and past the support beam was the door to my old room, slightly ajar.
*This is ridiculous. Why am I even here? Dad is insane. There's no way this will help Sam's nightmares.*
I stepped over and between the piles of junk in a hurry, practically wading through all of the beer bottles. I reached the door and paused. Looking through the cracked opening, I saw a glimpse of the closet. My heart sunk.
I pushed the door open. A wave of nostalgia poured out from behind it and washed over me. I could still make out the faded red propeller airplanes on the wallpaper that I'd outgrown by a few years by the time we vacated. To my left was that damn closet. I didn't want to look at it, so I looked over to the right side of the room. I saw my old bed, cluttered with pieces of the ceiling. Straight ahead was my toy chest, its wooden lid up and some of its contents strewn about the floor in front of me.
Stepping over one childhood memory after another, I made my way toward the chest. I looked into it, and there it was staring up at me. A faded brown teddy bear, with so many patches and stitch jobs that I wondered how much of the original fabric was actually there. It looked like it could be centuries old. Maybe it is. It had black beads for eyes, one of which was hanging loosely by a thread. The other one looked up at me, as if it was wondering where I'd been.
Written down the inside of its right leg was “ALBert.” My grandfather's name. He told me once that he got the bear from his dad. I got it from mine.
I heard a clang from the closet as I reached down to grab it. My hand lunged down for the bear, and I backed up two steps once I had it in my grasp. Clutching the bear to my chest, I looked towards the source of the noise. I saw my soccer ball that I kept on the shelf in my closet slowly rolling towards me, past a pile of beer bottles. That was enough to make me bolt out the door and back upstairs.
I looked back at my old living room one last time and shut the front door behind me. I walked towards my rental Honda. I needed to catch my plane to get back home.
***
Dad called me at the airport.
"Hello?"
"Did you get the bear?"
"Yes, I got the bear..."
"Good. It helped me, it helped you, and it will help Sam."
"This is crazy."
"If it's so crazy then why did you fly 200 miles from home just to get it?"
I had no answer.
"Just give him the bear."
Click.
***
I opened the front door of my home, and my dark living room greeted me warmly.
"We're downstairs." I heard Linda say.
Gently guiding the bear into the inside pocket of my jacket, I made my way towards the stairs and went down. The low-volume TV illuminated my smiling wife sitting on the couch with Sam curled up in her lap.
"Hey, Dane." She said. "How was your trip? Did you close the sale?"
"No. Gordan blew it. It's okay, though. We didn't really need it." I looked a Sam. "How are you doing, buddy?"
"He won't sleep in his room." Linda said.
Sam looked up at me with sleepy eyes and frowned.
"Still having the nightmares, huh?"
"It's not a dream! It's real!"
Linda smiled. I didn't.
*Alright, Dad. Fine.*
"I'll tell you what, Sam." I said. "I've got something that will help you during the night time. It's in the storage room."
I walked into the storage room on the other side of the basement and closed the door behind me. I waited a minute to make it seem like I was looking for something, and then pulled the bear out of my jacket.
*I'll be terrified if this works.*
I left the storage room and held the bear out in front of me as I walked back towards Sam. "Take this. It used to be mine."
Linda looked at the bear, a puzzled expression on her face. I'll make up a story later to tell her how it got here.
"When I was a kid, I used to have bad dreams, too. This bear kept me safe. Here, take it. He'll keep you safe like he did for me."
Sam took the bear and looked at it for a moment, then gave it a loving embrace. Linda looked at me with big eyes and let out a silent "Aww!" I was afraid Sam would squeeze it too hard and break it.
"You've gotta be careful with it, Sam. It's very old. Even older than Great Grandpa was!" Sam pulled the bear away from him and held it up, looking at it like it was a mystical relic.
"I'm ready for bed," he said, his gaze still locked on the bear.
Linda leaned forward and hugged him from behind. "My brave little man."
I scooped up Sam and walked him upstairs to his room, which is right next to ours. Once he was all tucked in, I kissed him on the forehead and told him goodnight. "Yell for me if you need me, alright?"
"Okay," he said, snuggling the bear against his chest.
I exited his room, leaving the door open, and went into mine.
***
In my sleep I was four years old again.
I was in my bed, the bright red propeller airplanes on my wall slightly visible through the darkness. Only my head stuck out from under the covers.
A sense of dread filled me. I was not alone in my room.
I smelled something sour and harsh. It almost smelled like rotten eggs. I would recognize it two years later when I visited Yellowstone and smell the sulfur.
I heard a wheezing cough coming from my closet. Between two hanging jackets I saw the vague outline of a pale face.
"I need water," the wheezy voice moaned. "You, give me some water. There's none here. There never is." It coughed and wheezed some more. "Please, I haven't had any in so long."
"I gave you water last night!" I said in my tiny voice.
"YES! PLEASE GIVE ME MORE! I KNOW YOU HAVE MORE!"
"I- I don't have any!"
"LIAR!" A brief silence. A white hand appeared from behind the clothes. Its fingers sprawled out as it reached for me.
"Come here."
Ever so slowly, I started to see more arm appear as it stretched out from the closet. I began to cry. With every sound I made, the arm extended faster. I managed to quiet myself down, and the hand's speed returned to a crawl. After a life time of quivering in my bed, the hand was reaching about eight feet out from the closet. The outline of the white face stayed where it was. "It's so hot here. Please! I just need water..."
I was frozen in my bed, watching the hand get closer and closer to my feet. The tips of its fingers grasped within a couple feet of my covered toes. I plunged my head under the covers. The muffled sound of wheezing became the only thing accompanying me in the hot, stuffy darkness. And the teddy bear snuggled up against my left shoulder.
I feel a light squeeze on my big toe.
"Are you in there?"
I felt a grip on my ankle and broke out in sobs.
"Please... I need it so bad... Just give me a little bit."
I was pulled a little further down to the foot of my bed.
"So dry here..."
The grip on my ankle released, and I felt individual fingers working their way up my leg and onto my stomach. It paused there.
"I'll never stop. I last forever. No, no, no..."
The hand lifted off my stomach, and I felt the covers start to pull up and away from my head. I tugged them back down with all the strength my little arms could muster.
"Let me in!"
The covers jerked up and away from my face, and I could see four deathly white fingers holding the sheets above me. I screamed.
"MOM! HELP! MOM!"
The teddy bear began to vibrate, and the hand let go of the covers. They landed on my mouth, and I saw the hand hovering above my face.
"No, not again, no..."
The vibration intensified, and the hand clenched into a fist. It trembled, and then, with a gruesome crack, snapped backwards so that it smacked the top of its wrist.
"No..."
It darted back into the closet. The pale face remained.
"The next one... I'll be back for the next one..."
The face disappeared. The bear stopped shaking.
My bedroom door opened, and my mom came through.
"It's okay, Dane. You were just having a nightmare."
I awoke and I was thirty five years old.
*Jesus.*
I sprung out of my bed and rushed into Sam's room. I found him sitting up, a look of excitement beaming off of his face.
"Dad! It worked! The bear worked!"
"The man with the long arm visited again?"
"Yeah, but the bear saved me! He was reaching for me, and then the bear went like this." He put his arms out and jiggled them around along with his head. "Then the man went away!"
Christ. It's real. It's all real.
"Glad to hear it helped, Sam... Just make sure you hang onto that bear. Someone else might need it some day."
"Uh huh, that's what the man with the long arm told me. He said he'd be back for the next one."
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The bunny came into her life one easter a random purchase who sat by the bed for a while and watched over her. He wasn’t needed at that time he watched her laugh and play with her lover and then talk and gossip with her sister.
The christmas music was playing over the few days before the day in question and he watched her carefully wrap presents and write cards. Then one day her sister came into the room worried words were had and she flew away for a few days. The day she came back her eyes were red and she looked worn in a way he had never seen before. She took her bunny down from the bedside and held it tight. She cried for a while and then spoke of her lover who was ill and her sister’s partner who had died that day. The tears soaked into his ears and he let her pour her heart and worries out.
Time passed as is it’s way and her inner light dimmed. He tried to help by being there when needed and sometimes she took him to other places where he held her hand and helped her to be brave. He met doctors, civil servants and many others. He saw her happy for periods looked after her nice ring her lover gave her and was brought in as reinforcements when nothing else helped her in the dark moments.
He is still by the bed ready and waiting, the darkness that he fights is still there but has receded for the moment but still in the dark of the night when dreams turn to nightmares he fights to keep her calm and settle her again.
I am the woman and my bunny has helped me fight the demon depression for seven years now.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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"Daddy can you bring me Sir Stuffington?"
"Of course"
John always had to stifle a laugh at Sir Stuffington. His son had a Medieval phase that had seemingly grown into genuine historical interest. But he could not laugh out loud, it seemed to greatly upset his son. So, he walked over to the Bear's place of honor on his son's dresser and carefully picked up the bear. He felt like he had to be incredibly careful as it had seen great wear and tear in its time. But, ever since hie had given the son the bear the poor child's night terrors and bed wetting were seemingly over. The psychologist said that anything that helps was a good thing at this point even if it was a little childish. The loss of his mother was of course devastating and he would far rather the boy have a bear a little too long than be on the antidepressants already.
He gently placed the bear next to his son, kissed his son's forehead and left. The boy fell fast asleep, a miracle just a few months ago. The dead of the night crept in. A voice cackled in the dark. "He is MINE" Sir Stuffington carefully pulled himself out of the child's grasp. His silent growl deepening in his throat. The boy was his charge. While a single stitch held him together none would pass. The many eyed demon skittered forward, lit by the dim violet nightlight.
The two enemies stared from across the toy filled room. The dance began. The monster was in perfect form tonight, the boy was nervous about the upcoming school year. The first time the bus would take him away without his mother to make him banana pancakes. The first time his mom would not be able to pack his lunch so he would have to wait in the line and pay the lunch lady. The first birthday his mother would miss.
The monster's chitinous limbs tore into Sir Stuffington's arms, and the little warrior could barely hold on to keep them from sinking deeper
"He's growing older Stuffington, he won't want you much longer, you are a baby's plaything, not a grown boy's"
Anger welled in the bear. "SIR Stuffington" he spat with rage. With a scream of hate and pain he tore his arms free and lunged at the thing's neck. The monster back peddled and wrench back and forth. But the bear would not be denied.
Weakened and weeping its invisible life's blood into the carpet, the Monster gurgled "YOU CAN'T SAVE HIM FOREVER!"
Sir Stuffington stepped forward and bared his teeth.
The monster left.
After he was sure it was safe, Sir Stuffington left the boy and walked carefully past the room where the poor boy's father wept bitterly over his wife's picture. He carefully cracked opened the door to the late mother's sewing room. Everything in it was kept just so. It was as sacrosanct. So Sir Stuffington always knew where the needle and thread were. He gingerly packed the stuffing back into his wounds and trudged tenderly back into the boys arms. The monster was right and wrong. One day he couldn't save the boy because one day the boy wouldn't need him anymore. But until that day, or the bear's last day, he would fight
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The bunny came into her life one easter a random purchase who sat by the bed for a while and watched over her. He wasn’t needed at that time he watched her laugh and play with her lover and then talk and gossip with her sister.
The christmas music was playing over the few days before the day in question and he watched her carefully wrap presents and write cards. Then one day her sister came into the room worried words were had and she flew away for a few days. The day she came back her eyes were red and she looked worn in a way he had never seen before. She took her bunny down from the bedside and held it tight. She cried for a while and then spoke of her lover who was ill and her sister’s partner who had died that day. The tears soaked into his ears and he let her pour her heart and worries out.
Time passed as is it’s way and her inner light dimmed. He tried to help by being there when needed and sometimes she took him to other places where he held her hand and helped her to be brave. He met doctors, civil servants and many others. He saw her happy for periods looked after her nice ring her lover gave her and was brought in as reinforcements when nothing else helped her in the dark moments.
He is still by the bed ready and waiting, the darkness that he fights is still there but has receded for the moment but still in the dark of the night when dreams turn to nightmares he fights to keep her calm and settle her again.
I am the woman and my bunny has helped me fight the demon depression for seven years now.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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"He asleep yet?"
I watched from the entrance of his room and nodded. "Yeah, I think he's okay for now." I closed the door and looked at my husband. "How are you feeling?"
He rubbed his eyes and smiled a weary smile. "Tired. I had hoped that after a few years the night terrors would stop, but I guess we'll just have to cope with it." He rubbed my belly. "You just take care of the two of you hun. It'll be alright."
Come morning, Dan was already gone when I woke up. By the time I had made breakfast and woke up Allan, he'd returned with a wrapped box. I smiled.
"Well sport... Look what I found waiting outside for you!" Allan jumped away from the table and raced towards his father. "Is that for me? Why?" He didn't wait for an answer though: as soon as he got his hands on the package he ripped through the packaging to reveal a pretty large teddybear. Allan was in heaven. As soon as he was done unpacking, he took the bear with him to the table and positioned him on the empty chair next to him. It was his everything: he kept talking to it, about what I had made him for breakfast and what he was going to do today and how he would give him a spot in his bed. Dan sat down beside me and pinched my leg under the table. "I'd almost swear his face just got a few tints less pale, wouldn't you agree?" I nodded while I peeled my egg.
That night, when I tucked Allan and Brody in (that's what he named his bear), I gave both of them a hug. "You take good care of my boy, Brody. Allan, your bear is important! If you protect him, he'll protect you. Don't you forget that!" Allan nodded his head from half under his blanket. "I know! Brody told me so." I smiled and after a "good night" turned off the light and closed the door. Dan was standing in the hallway. "Brody? Seriously? Where'd he get that from? And please don't fill his mind with that nonsense. If it helps him sleep though..." I grabbed his arm and took him back downstairs. "I don't think I heard you ever talking that way about Celia, huh?" Dan smirked. "That battered old bear of yours was actually what got me thinking. I figured that having a stuffed animal might help him." When we settled down behind the TV, with me leaning against his arm, I couldn't help but smile. It wouldn't have worked if I gave a bear; I knew. But Dan, from his own love, gave it to Allan and that... Yeah, that would work. I gave Celia a pat on the head before going to bed. "And so the circle begins anew," I whispered to her. Celia just smiled, like she always did.
*****
Fun prompt. If you like it, [take a look at my personal sub too](/r/TheAlcove) :-)
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The bunny came into her life one easter a random purchase who sat by the bed for a while and watched over her. He wasn’t needed at that time he watched her laugh and play with her lover and then talk and gossip with her sister.
The christmas music was playing over the few days before the day in question and he watched her carefully wrap presents and write cards. Then one day her sister came into the room worried words were had and she flew away for a few days. The day she came back her eyes were red and she looked worn in a way he had never seen before. She took her bunny down from the bedside and held it tight. She cried for a while and then spoke of her lover who was ill and her sister’s partner who had died that day. The tears soaked into his ears and he let her pour her heart and worries out.
Time passed as is it’s way and her inner light dimmed. He tried to help by being there when needed and sometimes she took him to other places where he held her hand and helped her to be brave. He met doctors, civil servants and many others. He saw her happy for periods looked after her nice ring her lover gave her and was brought in as reinforcements when nothing else helped her in the dark moments.
He is still by the bed ready and waiting, the darkness that he fights is still there but has receded for the moment but still in the dark of the night when dreams turn to nightmares he fights to keep her calm and settle her again.
I am the woman and my bunny has helped me fight the demon depression for seven years now.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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I wrote this previously, but it fits this prompt so thought I would share:
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**Her Best Friend**
Slowly the light faded, disappearing with the sound of the door closing, and darkness was left in its wake. The wind whispered outside, shaking the leaves of the overhanging trees, and casting ominous shadows on the walls. A quick intake of breath was followed by the rustling of sheets and the patter of feet on hardwood as they raced across the room. With a click stars illuminated the dark, sparkling on the ceiling and walls from their socket outside the darkened closet door. The nightlight chased away the dark and brought into focus the room’s inhabitant. Her small face was cast in shadows, dark hair tumbling over petite shoulders, and unicorns in all colors decorating her pajamas.
She reached out slowly, a small finger tracing the closest star, before the creaking of floorboards sent her scurrying back into bed, into the safety of her sheets and covers. Over her head they went, for bed was safety, a haven against the monsters that lurked under it and deep within the dark corners of the closet. Small hands began feeling out around her, searching the length of the bed for Felix. She dived deeper into her covers, until she had reached the foot of her bed without sight or touch of the bear in question. Her head poked forth from under the blankets, her hair messed, as she peered around the room.
Sleep, no matter how hard she fought, would elude her until Felix was found. Placing both hands on each of the bed posts, she pulled herself forward, until she was able to peer cautiously over the bottom of the bed and into the dark beneath it. No glowing eyes or growl met her inquiry, and so she placed one palm on the floor and, bracing herself, reached into the depths. A groan of displeasure filled the quiet space. Withdrawing her hand after having no luck, she attempted to right herself back on the bed when she fell from it in a heap of small limbs. Her blanket settled around her on the ground, but she made no move to get up, her ears listening for the distant sound of footsteps, her eyes trained on the dim light shining forth from under the door. After several moments of holding her breath, she stood and replaced her blankets on the bed.
At a loss, she sat down on the edge, her toes skimming the ground as she swung them back and forth. Felix had been with her when they had went shopping, and he had been allowed to ride in the front seat afterward, so Felix had certainly made it home. They had watched a movie together while mommy had cooked dinner, and had both refused to eat their peas, which meant they had not been given dessert, but they had decided that not eating peas was worth not eating ice cream. They came up stairs to play after dinner, and then it had been bath time, and Felix couldn’t take a bath, because the last time he had tried he had nearly been ruined, so he had to stay in the bedroom by himself.
The little girls’ eye’s flicked to the closet. Felix and her had been playing dress up, and Felix had needed a pair of shoes to match his coat and tie, so they had gone into the closet in search of his loafers, when they had been interrupted by bath time. She had not seen Felix since then, meaning only one thing; Felix was still in the closet, which was now closed because both of them hated the closet at night. Breathing in a deep breath, she climbed onto her bare feet and slowly crossed the distance between her bed and the closet, her heart rate climbing as she grew closer.
“Felix,” She reached out, touching the closed closet door, her small voice wavering with fear. Felix did not answer. Her small hand crept toward the door handle, but stalled as her bedroom door was opened, lighting the room with the hall light. She turned into it, and the sight of her mother standing in the doorway greeted her. Hands on her hips, she was shaking her head as she spoke.
“Molly! You’re supposed to be in bed, asleep.”
“I forgot Felix in the closet,” Molly replied, and brave in the presence of her mother, pulled the closet door open and found Felix, still dressed in his tie and jacket. She reached for him, and it was almost as if he reached for her as she scooped him into her arms and darted back to bed. She settled back into her pillow as her mother recovered her with blankets. Soothing back the now tangled mess of hair, she kissed her forehead before issuing a warning.
“Stay in bed, or Felix will be spending the night with me.” Her mother crossed the room and closed the closet door, checked the nightlight, and then, with a final look at her daughter, closed the bedroom door. Her footsteps sounded on the hardwood as she moved down the hallway. Molly waited several moments before she turned to Felix, who was sitting on her pillow, and gave him a slow smile.
“Your sword and shield are under the pillow, in case you need them, Felix.” She gave his foot a small squeeze before she closed her eyes, her head sinking farther into her pillow. Several minutes passed, and as her breathing slowed and she fell into sleep, the closet door creaked open.
Felix sat a little straighter, his sword at the ready and his shield poised for action, as he prepared to protect his most precious possession.
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The bunny came into her life one easter a random purchase who sat by the bed for a while and watched over her. He wasn’t needed at that time he watched her laugh and play with her lover and then talk and gossip with her sister.
The christmas music was playing over the few days before the day in question and he watched her carefully wrap presents and write cards. Then one day her sister came into the room worried words were had and she flew away for a few days. The day she came back her eyes were red and she looked worn in a way he had never seen before. She took her bunny down from the bedside and held it tight. She cried for a while and then spoke of her lover who was ill and her sister’s partner who had died that day. The tears soaked into his ears and he let her pour her heart and worries out.
Time passed as is it’s way and her inner light dimmed. He tried to help by being there when needed and sometimes she took him to other places where he held her hand and helped her to be brave. He met doctors, civil servants and many others. He saw her happy for periods looked after her nice ring her lover gave her and was brought in as reinforcements when nothing else helped her in the dark moments.
He is still by the bed ready and waiting, the darkness that he fights is still there but has receded for the moment but still in the dark of the night when dreams turn to nightmares he fights to keep her calm and settle her again.
I am the woman and my bunny has helped me fight the demon depression for seven years now.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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"Is it time?" said Bogdan and waited for an answer which didn't come. The wind in that chill night came through the crack in the ceiling and sounded like it was repeating the same question in a whisper. "Vasily, is it time?" asked Bogdan again. "Yes" came the tearful answer out of Vasily quivering lips. Vasily couldn't believe that the time had come to do the unthinkable, yet necessary.
Three months ago Vasily's father bought him a gift for his sixth birthday. Both father and son had an obsession with bears. Vasily fathers worked for the WCS (Wildelife conservation society). His job was to protected them. His job was to protect what he loved. Vasily had the biggest collection of books, posters, and figures a kid ever had. He collected what he loved. But it was at December 12th when Vasily's collection, for the first time, loved him back.
He called him Bogdan. Which is a curious name for a teddy bear. But who can blame Vasily who started to run out of names after naming the other dozen he got before him. But Bogdan was different. Bogdan was alive. As Bogdan told it, he was the trapped spirit of the Kamchatka bears. He barely escaped the massacre that was after all wildlife spirits two years ago. But ever since Yaga, the witch who started the hunt, failed to catch him on that dreadful night, Bogdan had been trying his best to lay-low till the surviving spirits like him regained their strength to fight her back. And to get rid of her once and for all.
But at the very first night he was gifted to Vasily, the lay low plan wasn't an option anymore. The dark spirits of the wildlife, who were once innocent before they were bewitched by Yaga, found Vasily. When the portal twirled into existence and manifested itself inside the kid's room like a black rose from hell, Bogdan was ready to fight back and was sure that Yaga finally found him and sent her dogs after him. But it wasn't the case. Baba spell was perfect; the shaman who hid Bogdan inside the teddy bear. As the monsters crawled out of the portal, they didn't as much as smell Bogdan. They were after the kid, which was crazy, as Bogdan thought. "Why would they go after a sixth years old?" was a question that Bogdan didn't have the luxury of time to ask even inside his head. The monster leaped at Vasily bed like hungry hyenas. Bogdan could have let them get the kid. It was the smartest decision. There were too much at stakes hanging on the lay-low plan he agreed on with the other surviving spirits. And Vasily was just a kid like any other kid Bogdan ended up in his room as a gift before he got there. But Bogdan was a Kamchatka spirit, and Kamchatka knew that some times you have to be smart, and sometimes you just have to kick ass.
P.S. It's 23:25 here. I'm dog tired. I'll finish it if it gets just 5 upvotes. ;-)
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The bunny came into her life one easter a random purchase who sat by the bed for a while and watched over her. He wasn’t needed at that time he watched her laugh and play with her lover and then talk and gossip with her sister.
The christmas music was playing over the few days before the day in question and he watched her carefully wrap presents and write cards. Then one day her sister came into the room worried words were had and she flew away for a few days. The day she came back her eyes were red and she looked worn in a way he had never seen before. She took her bunny down from the bedside and held it tight. She cried for a while and then spoke of her lover who was ill and her sister’s partner who had died that day. The tears soaked into his ears and he let her pour her heart and worries out.
Time passed as is it’s way and her inner light dimmed. He tried to help by being there when needed and sometimes she took him to other places where he held her hand and helped her to be brave. He met doctors, civil servants and many others. He saw her happy for periods looked after her nice ring her lover gave her and was brought in as reinforcements when nothing else helped her in the dark moments.
He is still by the bed ready and waiting, the darkness that he fights is still there but has receded for the moment but still in the dark of the night when dreams turn to nightmares he fights to keep her calm and settle her again.
I am the woman and my bunny has helped me fight the demon depression for seven years now.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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Samuel was the light of my life. When I held his precious body for the first time, I knew it. I was irrevocably, endlessly, in love.
Money was tight, many days, but I would find ways to scrounge up money enough for birthdays and Christmases, giving my Sam the presents on his wish list every year, without fail.
There was was exactly one year I couldn't get him his birthday wish list, not a single present. He was three years old. He wanted a set of Lego's and some Batman accessories. I could barely get us fed.
Thanks to a hand-me-down bear from a thrift store - it cost a dollar - and a woman from our church, I had a cake and a present.
Sam didn't mind. The bear had soft, soft fur, even after years of use. One glass eye had fallen out to be replaced by a neatly sewn button. He had a little bite mark in his ear, from a cat or a dog. From Samuel's birthday onwards, he and the teddy bear were best friends.
On his first day of kindergarten I helped hide Bear - a simple name, a fitting and exact name, the sort of name any three year old could come up with - in his backpack, beneath books and crayons and paper.
And every day for the rest of the year, Bear hid in Sam's backpack and went to school with him.
I was first alerted to something... unusual... about Bear during that same year. I woke up to hear sounds of fighting, coming from Samuel's room. We didn't have a video game console - not until Sammy was ten - and the only TV was in the living room. I crept in the room, and saw...
Everything was in its place. Sam was asleep, Bear settled neatly in his arms. And yet - there was a single paper, having fluttered to the ground. It was a drawing, crude and in the style of a five year old, of Bear standing up to strange shadowy creatures I couldn't make heads or tails of.
At the time, I dismissed the entire incident, and the paper, to imagination. But as the year passed, more unusual things happened.
Keys would be lost, only to narrowly dodge accidents. Sammy's room would be clean at night, only for there to be a small mess in the morning. Even Bear would go missing, only to show up some time later along with something important - the electricity bill, his field trip form, a letter from family or friends.
And sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night to hear the sounds of fighting.
When Sam was seven, I finally saw what was happening. I don't think Bear or his enemies realized I was awake. But I crept to Sam's bedroom and peered in the door. Bear stood strong and tall - stood, a teddy bear without a wire in him! - facing shadowy creatures. I remembered the drawing then.
With Bear, Sammy and I are safe. And now that he's going off to college, I won't let him leave without Bear. But you try convincing an eighteen year old who thinks he knows everything that his stuffed Bear will protect him. It isn't easy.
So I dust Bear off - and he isn't very dusty - from the old closet and smile at him. Sam may say he's too old for old Bear, but I know better. He has two button eyes now, and his ear is in half, but his fur is still as soft as ever.
"What do you say to a road trip, buddy?"
After all, I can't let my boy go off without his best protector.
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The bunny came into her life one easter a random purchase who sat by the bed for a while and watched over her. He wasn’t needed at that time he watched her laugh and play with her lover and then talk and gossip with her sister.
The christmas music was playing over the few days before the day in question and he watched her carefully wrap presents and write cards. Then one day her sister came into the room worried words were had and she flew away for a few days. The day she came back her eyes were red and she looked worn in a way he had never seen before. She took her bunny down from the bedside and held it tight. She cried for a while and then spoke of her lover who was ill and her sister’s partner who had died that day. The tears soaked into his ears and he let her pour her heart and worries out.
Time passed as is it’s way and her inner light dimmed. He tried to help by being there when needed and sometimes she took him to other places where he held her hand and helped her to be brave. He met doctors, civil servants and many others. He saw her happy for periods looked after her nice ring her lover gave her and was brought in as reinforcements when nothing else helped her in the dark moments.
He is still by the bed ready and waiting, the darkness that he fights is still there but has receded for the moment but still in the dark of the night when dreams turn to nightmares he fights to keep her calm and settle her again.
I am the woman and my bunny has helped me fight the demon depression for seven years now.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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**Eyes of Glass**
How I miss my eyes of glass.
Originally, I had button eyes. Little black ones about ½ an inch wide, with 4 holes to hold them in place. Nonna Maria gave me then after making me for Master Gianni. Her love and kindness had infused my being with every stitch she made as she made me. And had she been my only Maker, a simple Teddy I would have remained all my days.
But we can’t pick our makers anymore than we can pick our parents. For all their well wishes and kind feelings, it is their whispered words and muffled curses that sometimes shape us most of all.
I can’t complain though. I’ve had a wonderful life. Little Gianni became Johnny and passed me on to his daughter, who passed me on to her son, John Jr. I was sentry to their dreams, absorber of their tears, and cuddler of their coughs and illnesses. Even memories of being chewed and buried by my fellow guardians brought a wave of melancholy if I’ve been exiled to a shelf long enough.
It didn’t matter though, because I knew that while I rested, I would be called upon again to watch over the next child. It was the way of things and as my Makers had intended.
So it was with surprise and hurt that I was tossed in with the rest of the “miscellaneous possessions”. Rudy had come to the old house, and as Nonno’s executor, donated me along with the rest of the “stuff”.
While I never met this Good William, I was treated well there. I was re-stuffed, re-stitched, and given my eyes of glass. More importantly, she did it properly. First giving me my new one, and then replacing my old one with Sky-blue circles around a black centre. Oh how I would have smiled if I had a mouth, but aside from my nose, that was nothing else on my face.
No matter. I had always been a keeper of secrets and I kept them all.
People don’t understand that is why we were never given mouths. A child’s fears are not bound by rationality. Children live in a world where monsters are as tall as the sky, or have a billion mouths with a billion teeth. This is the dark side of a sense of Wonder.
And why every child needs a Guardian.
Oh yes, my eyes of glass. Up until then, all I had seen of the world was black and white, night and light, evil and good. But with my new eyes, I could see all the colours and happiness in-between. After leaving the House of Good William, I saw the world anew. Sitting at a table with the rich red of raspberry jam sandwiches. The speckled-green of a frog as it hopped across a room while momma chased it too and fro. Even stars on a ceiling! Modern life is filled with such amazing toys!
And I was able to see then all with my eyes of glass. Oh how I loved them! In all my years as a Guardian, I had lost one eye, but it had hurt so much. But worse, had been knowing that I did not have a spare eye. That if I had lost my other eye, I would have been lost. For when both eyes are gone, we Guardians lost our abilities.
Dani (imagine that! A girl named Dani!), bought me for her son, and gave me someone to watch over. His name was Caleb, and I like to think that I was his favourite. Caleb took me everywhere and together we saw beaches and mountains but no matter where the chauffeur took us, we always slept together.
Until that night.
It turns out that the chauffeur was not a friend of the family. Ironic too since he was of the old blood. Like other-Nonna had been. Nonna Red-Fox.
Nonna Red-Fox had known the old ways. How scarecrows could be made to keep birds away. How war-paint could give someone heightened senses. And how blood added to thread, could make a ward that lasted beyond the death of the caster.
Nonna Maria had stitched me together out of love, but Nonna Red Fox has added her blood to the lanolin in the threads. Together, I was made to protect children.
So when chauffeur came for Caleb, Caleb cried out for me, and we went together.
We were kept in a house, somewhere.
Caleb grew hungry, but was fed.
He was tired, and was allowed to rest.
But I knew that something was wrong.
So I waited until Caleb went to sleep, and I used to magic.
Guardian Magic is not the same for every one of us and it is not without a price. People say that eyes are the window to the soul, but it also the gateway to magic. Unfortunately, using magic destroys the gateway. Still, an eye is a small price to pay, to save Caleb.
I knew that chauffeur had a phone, and that Caleb could use it, so all I needed to do was get it.
But chauffeur saw me. It was the last thing he saw.
As pain stabbed into my head, I unleashed the fears.
Lifetimes of it.
The one time I had done it before, it was of the dark, and things that lurked in it. Of the loneliness of a child. Of the angry voices of parents hurting each other. Of thunder and lightning flashes on moonless nights. Of childhood fears unleashed.
Children are stronger than most adults realize. I know because when faced with childhood fears, adults cannot handle them.
Chauffeur certainly couldn’t.
As I recovered and made my way back to Caleb, I heard another noise.
Chauffeur had not been alone.
And as I turned to face chauffeur’s partner crime, I felt several thoughts pass through my mind.
I hoped that Caleb wouldn’t notice that a spark had left his Teddybear. That while I would still be at his side, I would be less than I had been all his days. I hoped he wouldn’t stop talking to me, sharing with me his fears. I hoped we would still have our adventures, and that his dreams would be joyful again.
But, to be honest, my last thought was a selfish one.
That my final sight, would not be of his beautiful face, but rather of some nameless monster who had taken him from his family and home.
How I miss my eyes of glass.
As darkness comes for me.
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The bunny came into her life one easter a random purchase who sat by the bed for a while and watched over her. He wasn’t needed at that time he watched her laugh and play with her lover and then talk and gossip with her sister.
The christmas music was playing over the few days before the day in question and he watched her carefully wrap presents and write cards. Then one day her sister came into the room worried words were had and she flew away for a few days. The day she came back her eyes were red and she looked worn in a way he had never seen before. She took her bunny down from the bedside and held it tight. She cried for a while and then spoke of her lover who was ill and her sister’s partner who had died that day. The tears soaked into his ears and he let her pour her heart and worries out.
Time passed as is it’s way and her inner light dimmed. He tried to help by being there when needed and sometimes she took him to other places where he held her hand and helped her to be brave. He met doctors, civil servants and many others. He saw her happy for periods looked after her nice ring her lover gave her and was brought in as reinforcements when nothing else helped her in the dark moments.
He is still by the bed ready and waiting, the darkness that he fights is still there but has receded for the moment but still in the dark of the night when dreams turn to nightmares he fights to keep her calm and settle her again.
I am the woman and my bunny has helped me fight the demon depression for seven years now.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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Jessie the Teddy Bear woke from her deep slumber one night. Through the wardrobe door, a bedside lamp shone with a yellow tint, illuminating the room, it's brightness thinning out at the edge of the room.
"What?" A deep but familiar voice spoke. Her ward's voice rose and trembled, and his shadow paced across the wall nervously. Benny's voice is deeper now, but the adoring nasal tone in his voice remained. Jessie watched his shadow's shoulders hung stiffly and his chest heaved as he breathed heavily. She could hear the person on the other side of the phone squeak 'Are you still on the line?'
Benny stopped pacing and took a deep breathe again. "Y-yes. Which hospital is it?" he asked as he walked to the wardrobe. Without saying a goodbye, he threw his phone onto the bed and pulled a pair of jeans from the wardrobe carelessly, pulling out other pants which dropped onto the floor with a heavy flop. Benny is a lot taller and bigger now. Jessie could almost meet his wet red eyes as he looked up. He picked her up and gave her a hug, whispering, "What do I do if they both don't make it?" Jessie hugged back as tight as she could possibly, and thought, "It'll be alright. I'll be with you forever and ever." The poor boy sniffed and sobbed, and sat her back at the top of the wardrobe. He wore his jeans clumsily, his hands trembling in fear and anxiety. He picked up his phone and keys, and left the house hurriedly, slamming the door shut.
The bedside lamp stayed on due to his forgetfulness and if Mommy was here, she'd chide Benny for forgetting to switch it off. Benny had grown up and didn't need Jessie anymore, and that is alright. He became really busy with friends, school and work. Benny was very nice when he put Jessie gently at the top of the wardrobe, his eyes shining gratefully. He'd become a man who has grown too old and too shy to speak with his teddy. And that is alright because Jessie knew he meant to thank her for the scary night with the scary monsters, the lonely nights with the creepy sounds that the old house made, and the fun times when they played together.
The bedside lamp stayed on through the night, the following day and night and the next following day and night. Jessie wondered if Benny was alright, and prayed hard that everything will be fine and he will come home soon. As the room warmed in the day, the house door clicked open quietly, uncharacteristically unlike Benny. The footsteps sounded softer and slower as it approached the bedroom. A middle aged lady walked into the bedroom and went straight for the bedside lamp, switching it off. It was Mommy. She had little more wrinkles near her cheeks and her eyes, and seemed a little shorter than before, but Mommy is here now. Mommy picked up the pants on the floor, folded them neatly and placed them in the wardrobe. She looked up and her eyes met Jessie's beaded black eyes. She smiled and Jessie wondered if she was smiling back at her because the Teddy tried to smile at her too. Mommy reached out and took down Jessie carefully, patting and dusting her off. As they walked downstairs to the living room, the front door opened again.
Benny walked in together with a lady. She looked pale and tired, and had a few bruises on her face and arms and a casted leg. Benny held her arm to support her while she carried a small bundle in her arms. Jessie could tell that Benny truly loved and cared for this woman and wondered if this was what Mommy meant when she told Benny that he would one day marry a wife.
The wife hobbled to the sofa and sat down in relief. Mommy took over the small bundle in her arms and put it on the couch. She put Jessie next to the bundle so she could see it too.
'Look what I found,' Mommy said to Benny and his wife. 'Benjamin used to hug and play with her all the time.'
She then leaned down and showed Jessie what's inside the bundle. A small baby slept soundly. The baby looked a lot smaller than when she first met Benny.
'This little sweetie came to see us earlier than scheduled but you'll look after her just like you did for Benny, won't you?'
Jessie the Teddy Bear looked at the baby adoringly. Hello, my little Ward, she thought. I'll be with you forever and ever.
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"Alright my little man, time to go to bed!" Victoria said as she kissed her five year old son's head as she tucked him in. The little boy yawned and looked at here.
"Mommy, where is Captain Bear?" he asked. She looked around for the boy's teddy bear, finally finding it almost under the bed.
It was a normal looking teddy bear, a bit dusty but still in good shape. She smiled as she patted the dust off it and placed it next to her son. The boy hugged it tightly as she started to walk out the door.
"Sweet dreams Danny." She whispered before shutting the lights off and closeing the door.
Soon the young boy was deep in sleep, his bear in his tight grip. In the room his toys stood watch as it seemed like the room became very dark. In this darkness something took shape, dark red eyes and long sharp teeth formed. A hand with claws took shape as it stood over the boy. A growl escaped its lips as it pulled a hand back, about to strike down on the child.
"Stop right there..." an old voice said below the shadow. It looked down to see a old teddy bear pulling it's self out of the boys arms and standing before it. It's marble brown eyes looking up at the unholy darkness.
"As the protector of this child I command you to leave!" Capt. Bear said.
The shadow chuckled, it's arm cocked back to strike when suddenly a rope shot around the shadow's wrist and pulled its arm back. The creature cried out in pain as it looked back to see on a shelf a Batman and Superman action figure pulling the rope back hard. The creature tried to use its other arm when a second rope got it's other wrist. This one was pulled by a number of GI Joes and Power Ranger figures. Capt Bear pointed a paw towards the creature.
"Fire when ready!" he bellowed.
Near by some small green army man tanks and a couple GI Joe attack vechiles fired light at the evil being. Soon it fell onto it's back. It screamed in pain as Capt Bear jumped down and stood on the shadow's chest. It raised a paw into the air. An orb of light started to shine from above it.
"ASA MESA NASA... BACK TO HELL YOU GO!" Capt Bear shouted as it shot the light into the shadow's head, making the thing scream as it died.
---
The next morning Victoria walked into Danny's room. The boy was still sleeping soundly but his poor bear was in the middle of the floor. She picked it up and placed it back next to him.
---
This is something of a continuation of what I wrote for another prompt here: [
A young boy is called inside for dinner, accidentally leaving several of his Army Men in his sandbox. Now they must survive the night](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/5ghj8l/wp_a_young_boy_is_called_inside_for_dinner/datjbwh/)
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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He saved me. That was it. That was all it took. He showed me that I was worth something. That I could be something to someone. He found me on a self in some smelly thrift store. The owner and all the stock boys would smoke constantly, so the shelves and ceiling were tobacco smoke yellow. They would use me and the other dolls and act out their sick fantasies, or jokes. We never knew. A couple of the barbies got took a couple weeks ago, thank god. There are no more female dolls for these perverts to grope and position for their adolescent stunted sexuality. Now they just use the action figures and teddy bears like me to mock each others masculinity.
But then that man came in and grabbed me off the shelf. He grabbed all of us off the shelf. Every teddy bear, stuffed bunny, plush dog and squishy dinosaur. He grabbed us, threw his money at the cashier and piled us into a bag. I went home with him. The rest went to other kids. I thought I wasn't wanted, and that was why I was left on the car seat while the others got to go into the nice warm beds of other boys and girls.
I got my own little boy. He put me up on his pillow, right up high to watch him while he slept. He hugged me so hard if I'd had ribs, real bear's ribs, they still would have creaked. I already knew I was going to do my best, but I found out my best was crap.
I got knocked down. I slipped from the pillow. My big foot was trapped between the mattress and wall. I dangled, upside down for hours, the stuffing rushing to my head. Finally, he must have shifted in his sleep, because the mattress moved, and I was down. I fell to the floor, and I could see. There was something under the bed, I could see from the corner of my eye. I was done for. It would pull me under the bed, and this little boy would forget me. I hadn't even had one night. His memories wouldn't be enough to make finding me important. He would go to school, play with his friends. His dad might ask where I was, but I would be lost under the bed, dragged into hell to be eaten by the dust mites.
More movement! But its wrong, the bed creaks, then the floor thumps. He's on the floor! The kid is on the floor and I'm being scooped up. He hops back into bed and we hide under the covers. He's saved me too. Saved twice and I haven't done a thing.
The bear looks across the room, the light of the night lamp dancing across his fur. He's looking into the closet, looking for the monsters. "And that little bunny," he says. "Is why we sit here, and watch."
|
"Alright my little man, time to go to bed!" Victoria said as she kissed her five year old son's head as she tucked him in. The little boy yawned and looked at here.
"Mommy, where is Captain Bear?" he asked. She looked around for the boy's teddy bear, finally finding it almost under the bed.
It was a normal looking teddy bear, a bit dusty but still in good shape. She smiled as she patted the dust off it and placed it next to her son. The boy hugged it tightly as she started to walk out the door.
"Sweet dreams Danny." She whispered before shutting the lights off and closeing the door.
Soon the young boy was deep in sleep, his bear in his tight grip. In the room his toys stood watch as it seemed like the room became very dark. In this darkness something took shape, dark red eyes and long sharp teeth formed. A hand with claws took shape as it stood over the boy. A growl escaped its lips as it pulled a hand back, about to strike down on the child.
"Stop right there..." an old voice said below the shadow. It looked down to see a old teddy bear pulling it's self out of the boys arms and standing before it. It's marble brown eyes looking up at the unholy darkness.
"As the protector of this child I command you to leave!" Capt. Bear said.
The shadow chuckled, it's arm cocked back to strike when suddenly a rope shot around the shadow's wrist and pulled its arm back. The creature cried out in pain as it looked back to see on a shelf a Batman and Superman action figure pulling the rope back hard. The creature tried to use its other arm when a second rope got it's other wrist. This one was pulled by a number of GI Joes and Power Ranger figures. Capt Bear pointed a paw towards the creature.
"Fire when ready!" he bellowed.
Near by some small green army man tanks and a couple GI Joe attack vechiles fired light at the evil being. Soon it fell onto it's back. It screamed in pain as Capt Bear jumped down and stood on the shadow's chest. It raised a paw into the air. An orb of light started to shine from above it.
"ASA MESA NASA... BACK TO HELL YOU GO!" Capt Bear shouted as it shot the light into the shadow's head, making the thing scream as it died.
---
The next morning Victoria walked into Danny's room. The boy was still sleeping soundly but his poor bear was in the middle of the floor. She picked it up and placed it back next to him.
---
This is something of a continuation of what I wrote for another prompt here: [
A young boy is called inside for dinner, accidentally leaving several of his Army Men in his sandbox. Now they must survive the night](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/5ghj8l/wp_a_young_boy_is_called_inside_for_dinner/datjbwh/)
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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Lawrence and the Pile of Misfits
It was dark. The air was suffocating. I had just woken from my recurring nightmare. It happens almost every night and leaves me in a paralytic state until I sleep again. The images of machines stabbing me and stuffing me are always the premise of these dreams but today feels different. I am still petrified from the nightmare but a new energy rises inside me. I can start to feel the semblance of life. I’ve never felt this way before and am overjoyed with the uncertainty of the coming events. The nightmare lingers in the back of my mind as a constant reminder that I am in a living hell. But then I hear it.
Muffled sounds coming from the heavens. The cage I’m in is lifted high and shaken vigorously. My emotions are exuberant until I hear the scratching, tearing, clawing. I become terrified. This is my doom, my demise. I have been born but have not lived and am being condemned to a dreadful purgatory because of my lust for freedom and the chance to live.
Just when I know all is lost and I am doomed for eternity in darkness, I see a light. A light so bright that it could only be the Gods from heaven above coming to save me. Two arms reach inside my cage and free me from the choking abyss. And I saw it. The most beautiful thing I could ever imagine stood before me holding me in their arms. I was free.
“What do you think Johnny, do you like it,” asked a deep voice.
I looked deep into the eyes of my savior while it said, “He’s perfect! I love him daddy!”
“We’re glad you like it honey. What are you gonna call it,” asked a sweet voice.
“Lawrence!”
“That’s a good name dear. Now remember to take good care of him. If he gets any rips or tears bring him to me and I’ll do my best to sew him back up again.”
“Don’t worry mommy, I’ll take great care of him.” Johnny hugged me so hard I thought my insides were going to fall back out of me.
“Well son, your mother and I are happy you enjoyed all your presents. Santa sure did good this year right hun? Now go on, go play with your toys.”
That was the best day of my life. Johnny had given me life and on top of that, gave me a reason to live. The rest of that day I played with him. I was overawed by everything thus unable to really participate with him in anything we did but it was wonderful.
It was time for Johnny to go to bed. I was not the least bit tired and was still stuck in a catatonic state after being given my freedom. Johnny fell asleep with me right by his side. This gave me time to reflect on everything that had happened today. I still could not believe it all. It was surreal.
Johnny rolled over in the bed and I went crashing to the floor. I sat up and scratched my ear. Then I froze. Did I just move? On my own. I turned and looked at where I was. It was dark in Johnny’s room but his nightlight was on and allowed me to get a glimpse of my surroundings. I shivered. Suddenly I started to get a sense that I was not alone here.
“Psst!”
I turned and looked into the darkness under the bed. Heard some laughter and soft footsteps coming my way and then they emerged into the light.
“Look what we have here, a stupid teddy bear. I was wondering when Johnny was gonna get one of these poor bastards.”
“Ha, this one looks like he’s about to cry. First time out of the box is it?” I stared at the group of them. There were five in total. The first one to speak was a fur stained lion. The one asking me the question was a monkey. The other ones were a rabbit, an elephant, and a snake.
“Hass he forgotten how to ssspeak,” said the snake slithering around me.
“Noodles give the bear a break. I bet he’s just had the happiest day of his life and now we have to come ruin it,” this was the rabbit speaking.
“So what’s your name? Please tell me he didn’t name you Teddy?” this was the elephant speaking.
I summoned up some courage and said, “Johnny named me Lawrence.”
“Ha see Ellie, Johnny is getting more creative each time, “said the rabbit, “Well Lawrence my name is Sebastian. The lion is Lionel, the fat one is Ellie, the slithering piece of shit is Noodles, and the monkey is Congo. We are the misfits, those forgotten by our savior, Johnny.”
I just stared at them. “Abandoned? Johnny won’t abandon me. He loves me. He he said I was perfect.”
They started laughing. “Teddy, ha, you’re hilarious man. He loves you! Hear him guys,” said Congo.
“My name is Lawrence not Teddy.” I was getting really frustrated with this motley crew. Johnny and I had just spent an amazing day together and I wasn’t about to let them ruin it.
“SSSbe careful Congo. I’ve heard bears have a hissstory of being fiercesssss.”
“Poor Teddy. We don’t want to hurt you. We want your help,” said Lionel while the others sniggered.
“What do you want,” I asked.
“We just want some justice for our misfortune, that’s all,” said Sebastian.
“You see Teddy,” this was Ellie now, “We were all once Johnny’s favorite. We were all in your position of prosperity. However, Johnny’s interests are fleeting. That piece of shit always wants something new, something fresh. And well, mommy and daddy feel the need to spoil the little prick with new gifts all the time which is how we ended up down here, under the bed. He forgets about us about as quickly as he forgets what he had for dinner last night. So, we just want him to remember us. It’s as simple as that.”
If what he said is true, then Johnny will forget me someday. I couldn’t believe that, not after today. They just want to steal me from Johnny. “If Johnny wanted you then you wouldn’t be under the bed. I’m not going to let you steal me from Johnny. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me. He gave me the touch of life!”
“Aw yesss, the touch of life. And he will give you the touch of death sssoon enough,” said Noodles.
“You realize Teddy that we were all once his favorites and that we have all fallen down beneath the bed. Eventually you will be down here and live the rest of your life with us. We’ve tried to be friendly Teddy but now you are just being difficult,” said Sebastian. They started to creep closer to me, spreading apart hoping to engulf me.
“My name is Lawrence!” They stopped. Johnny started rolling over in the bed. I fall onto my back, lifeless like I once was.
“There you are Lawrence. Come back to bed.” Johnny grabbed me and pulled me up into bed. He fell asleep almost immediately. I heard a hsss from Noodles.
“Thisss meansss war Teddy.”
Every night from then on, I fight the monsters lurking under Johnny’s bed. Each day goes by where I receive another cut or stain fighting them back while I slowly start to realize the truth of what they told me that first night. I can see it in Johnny’s eyes. Years go by. And somehow I have stayed with him, giving me false hope that I will stay with him forever. I know deep down that I will end up beneath the bed sulking in the shadows with the rest of the misfits. I will stay loyal to Johnny, protecting him from the evil below and when the time comes for me to fall, I will reminisce on the first time I saw Johnny’s face as he freed me from my cage. I will remember what he said: “He’s perfect.”
|
"Alright my little man, time to go to bed!" Victoria said as she kissed her five year old son's head as she tucked him in. The little boy yawned and looked at here.
"Mommy, where is Captain Bear?" he asked. She looked around for the boy's teddy bear, finally finding it almost under the bed.
It was a normal looking teddy bear, a bit dusty but still in good shape. She smiled as she patted the dust off it and placed it next to her son. The boy hugged it tightly as she started to walk out the door.
"Sweet dreams Danny." She whispered before shutting the lights off and closeing the door.
Soon the young boy was deep in sleep, his bear in his tight grip. In the room his toys stood watch as it seemed like the room became very dark. In this darkness something took shape, dark red eyes and long sharp teeth formed. A hand with claws took shape as it stood over the boy. A growl escaped its lips as it pulled a hand back, about to strike down on the child.
"Stop right there..." an old voice said below the shadow. It looked down to see a old teddy bear pulling it's self out of the boys arms and standing before it. It's marble brown eyes looking up at the unholy darkness.
"As the protector of this child I command you to leave!" Capt. Bear said.
The shadow chuckled, it's arm cocked back to strike when suddenly a rope shot around the shadow's wrist and pulled its arm back. The creature cried out in pain as it looked back to see on a shelf a Batman and Superman action figure pulling the rope back hard. The creature tried to use its other arm when a second rope got it's other wrist. This one was pulled by a number of GI Joes and Power Ranger figures. Capt Bear pointed a paw towards the creature.
"Fire when ready!" he bellowed.
Near by some small green army man tanks and a couple GI Joe attack vechiles fired light at the evil being. Soon it fell onto it's back. It screamed in pain as Capt Bear jumped down and stood on the shadow's chest. It raised a paw into the air. An orb of light started to shine from above it.
"ASA MESA NASA... BACK TO HELL YOU GO!" Capt Bear shouted as it shot the light into the shadow's head, making the thing scream as it died.
---
The next morning Victoria walked into Danny's room. The boy was still sleeping soundly but his poor bear was in the middle of the floor. She picked it up and placed it back next to him.
---
This is something of a continuation of what I wrote for another prompt here: [
A young boy is called inside for dinner, accidentally leaving several of his Army Men in his sandbox. Now they must survive the night](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/5ghj8l/wp_a_young_boy_is_called_inside_for_dinner/datjbwh/)
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
Some people think it's absurdly odd that I, a grown man, still sleep with my teddy bear. When I was 16 and first had a girl in my room alone, so close to that one thing that every teenage boy obsesses about constantly she laughed and left me in a...difficult...state when I insisted that my bear could not watch what we were about to do. Now a days he's ragged and worn, missing an ear and an eye, one arm barely still attached and missing almost all of his stuffing. But I remember. I remember when my dad gave him to me. I remember everything my bear, the bravest knight of the realm, has done for me.
...
"Check the closet again, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?" I whined.
"No son, good night" my father replied. I know he and mom both love me but they just don't know. They don't believe me when I tell them about the monsters that try to get me when they put me to bed.
When they saw the long scratches that the monster left me that night they thought I was doing it to myself, just to get attention. Then my father had an idea, if I was going to commit so much to this make believe then his only course was to turn it around and use my own fantasy against me. That's when he gave me Sir Barnabas Grizzly, my teddy bear.
"Now son, Sir Barnabas is the bravest knight of the realm and he's here to fight off the monsters so that you can go to sleep." My father told me when he placed the softest, fuzziest bear I'd ever seen in my hands before sending me off to bed one night.
I looked at the bear skeptically. I didn't know how something with honey golden fur and a button nose could protect me from the things I'd seen under the bed and in the closet. But at least it was something to hold onto when things got bad.
They came that night, like they always did. The slimey, cold hand from under the bed and the hot, musty breath from the closet. I knew what they were coming to do and couldn't help myself. All I could do was cower in the bed and cling to my new fuzzy friend.
"Let me go, please." a strange voice that I had never heard before said into the darkness.
I sat stunned, of all the times the monsters had come there had never been a voice like that. It sounded so...British.
"I can't bloody well protect you if you don't let me go", the voice came again, this time it sounded like it came from my bear. But there was no way, Sir Barnabas was just a teddy bear, right?
I slowly took the bear from under my arm and turned him around, holding up to my face so I could get a better look at him.
"Very good, my liege, now if you would just let me go I'll show these beasties what for." Sir Barnabas said from three inches in front of my face.
I had to be hallucinating, there was no way a teddy bear was talking to me. But whenever he spoke the arm pulled away, retreating a little bit back under the bed and the musty breath went silent from the closet.
"Who are you?" I felt ridiculous but nothing had ever made the monsters scared like this except grownups.
"Sir Barnabas Grizzly, at your service, my liege", the bear said.
"You can talk", I said dumbfounded and unbelieving.
"Aye, sir, and more if you'd be so kind as to put me down", replied the bear calmly.
I didn't know what to do, the bear and I just stared at each other for a while. That is, until the hand reached tentatively back out from under the bed, unsure if it was safe.
"Sir, I will be happy to explain all of this to you later but you must let me down so I can protect you as I've sworn to do." Sir Barnabas sounded almost impatient now but also supremely unconcerned like he was talking about how he also had to take out the trash and do the dishes, like mom did when she was making her list of chores.
I couldn't think of anything else to do so I set Sir Barnabas on the bed. And from there the most amazing things happened.
Sir Barnabas stood up, dusted off his legs, cracked his neck, looked at me and said, "Thank you, sir, now I shall take my leave with your permission."
I just nodded at him, to stunned to comprehend.
Sir Barnabas waddled over to the side of the bed and leaped to the ground, immediately diving under the bed. I could do nothing but stare at the spot where he had disappeared while listening to the yowling and yelling coming from beneath me. That is, until the dragon's head began to emerge from the closet.
It was solid black with amber eyes and a long, flicking, pink forked tongue that was flicking in and out constantly. If I was afraid before I was terrified now as my new found companion seemed to be locked in combat beneath the bed while slowly the dragon's head kept coming towards me, exposing its huge, pointed teeth every time its mouth opened. All I could do was curl up into a ball and try to shrink away from it.
Suddenly, Sir Barnabas was leaping onto the dragon's snout, covered in green goo and shouting "You're a naughty one, aren't you," to the dragon, completely without fear. The dragon whirled and bucked beneath the furry combatant, trying to buck him off and snap its jaws shut around my new friend. But Sir Barnabas seemed able to ride the riling reptile and began punching the dragon on the snout. This caused the dragon to begin emitting the most curious whining sounds and it began to retreat into the closet. Sir Barnabas jumped off its nose, did a neat flip and landed in front of me on the bed, watching his vanquished foe retreat back into the dark recesses of the closet.
"Well, they shouldn't trouble us anymore, sir," Sir Barnabas said as he turned around to look at me. "I do hope you're alright." He peered at me with his dark eyes, looking me over for wounds.
"That was amazing!" I shouted, scooping him up in my arms. "How does a teddy bear fight off monsters like that?" I asked incredulously.
"Well sir, it's just what we teddy bears do." He replied, squirming a little bit in my tight hug. "We all pledge ourselves to defend and protect children at all costs, it is our duty."
And that's all he would ever say about it. The next day I begged my mother to make a set of armor and a sword for my new knight companion. And while she did stitch up a set of teddy bear armor for him, probably just to placate me, she never did make a sword for him. She was probably just happy I stopped crying about monsters and dragging my feet on my way to bed. I never was afraid of the dark after Sir Barnabas came to me for I knew no creature, no matter how foul and evil could best him, the bravest knight in the realm.
As I grew older so did Sir Barnabas, and he certainly didn't finish all of his grand battles unscathed like he did that first one. But the monsters attacked less and less frequently until one day they stopped completely. I knew what would come after that day.
"I must rest now, sir" Sir Barnabas, or Barry as he let me call him, said on the night of my 18th birthday.
"I know, Barry," I said, with a tear running down my cheek, "I relieve you of your duty, Sir Barnabas" I managed to croak out.
"Farewell, sir." Were the last things he said before falling asleep for the last time.
I loved that bear. And I swear by Sir Barnabas Grizzly's unblemished honor that when my child is afraid of the dark that I will find them their own brave, fuzzy knight to defend them. Because Sir Barnabas was possibly the best friend I ever had.
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"Alright my little man, time to go to bed!" Victoria said as she kissed her five year old son's head as she tucked him in. The little boy yawned and looked at here.
"Mommy, where is Captain Bear?" he asked. She looked around for the boy's teddy bear, finally finding it almost under the bed.
It was a normal looking teddy bear, a bit dusty but still in good shape. She smiled as she patted the dust off it and placed it next to her son. The boy hugged it tightly as she started to walk out the door.
"Sweet dreams Danny." She whispered before shutting the lights off and closeing the door.
Soon the young boy was deep in sleep, his bear in his tight grip. In the room his toys stood watch as it seemed like the room became very dark. In this darkness something took shape, dark red eyes and long sharp teeth formed. A hand with claws took shape as it stood over the boy. A growl escaped its lips as it pulled a hand back, about to strike down on the child.
"Stop right there..." an old voice said below the shadow. It looked down to see a old teddy bear pulling it's self out of the boys arms and standing before it. It's marble brown eyes looking up at the unholy darkness.
"As the protector of this child I command you to leave!" Capt. Bear said.
The shadow chuckled, it's arm cocked back to strike when suddenly a rope shot around the shadow's wrist and pulled its arm back. The creature cried out in pain as it looked back to see on a shelf a Batman and Superman action figure pulling the rope back hard. The creature tried to use its other arm when a second rope got it's other wrist. This one was pulled by a number of GI Joes and Power Ranger figures. Capt Bear pointed a paw towards the creature.
"Fire when ready!" he bellowed.
Near by some small green army man tanks and a couple GI Joe attack vechiles fired light at the evil being. Soon it fell onto it's back. It screamed in pain as Capt Bear jumped down and stood on the shadow's chest. It raised a paw into the air. An orb of light started to shine from above it.
"ASA MESA NASA... BACK TO HELL YOU GO!" Capt Bear shouted as it shot the light into the shadow's head, making the thing scream as it died.
---
The next morning Victoria walked into Danny's room. The boy was still sleeping soundly but his poor bear was in the middle of the floor. She picked it up and placed it back next to him.
---
This is something of a continuation of what I wrote for another prompt here: [
A young boy is called inside for dinner, accidentally leaving several of his Army Men in his sandbox. Now they must survive the night](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/5ghj8l/wp_a_young_boy_is_called_inside_for_dinner/datjbwh/)
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
I'm not that good at writing but this prompt really inspired me.
Any critique is welcomed.
‘It’s done’ Rupert sighed, his breath visible hanging on the moonlit air, as he unclenched the paws around the throat of the gremlin, its neck falling slack as the bones were no longer attached to the base of the skull.
He brushed off the dust he was covered in from battle and redacted his claws. The monsters of the night don’t bleed per se as they only exist in the darkest reach of our fears, manifesting themselves when we feel helpless. After a minute to collect himself with deep breaths, he sat down on the edge of the Damien’s bed and started sewing his left eye back on.
Damien was still asleep, his eyes no longer squinting shut and hands not covering his ears to avoid the screams of war.
‘Close your eyes’ Rupert whispered to Damien as he had done many times before ‘and cover your ears like we practiced. This will be finished before you know’
Damien looked at Rupert with bright eyes that screamed with fear but also in the recess against the moonlight glimmered with hope that the morning will come and that his fuzzy little friend will prevail against the hordes.
‘You’ll be there in the morning right Rupert?’ Damien asked
‘As I always have’ he reassured. ‘As I always have’
With that Damien gave Rupert a tight hug and whispered ‘..Be careful’
The outside city noises came to an abrupt end. The light from beneath the crack of the bedroom door went out.
Damien’s parents have gone to bed. This was it. Without sight or sound, Rupert felt the presence around him come to life.
Swirling and slithering around in menace, eager to feed on Damien’s dreams. Damien had covered his ears and closed fast his eyes. His lips were moving but Rupert couldn’t hear him.
Probably singing himself a lullaby, thought Rupert.
The presence had now morphed into the physical realm. Eyes glowing cherry red, teeth bared, slick with saliva dripping from their jaws hungrily, snarling and screeching and just causing a general nuisance. Rupert turned to them, drew a deep breath and with an unblinking button eye, bared his claws.
Once more unto the breach.
|
"Alright my little man, time to go to bed!" Victoria said as she kissed her five year old son's head as she tucked him in. The little boy yawned and looked at here.
"Mommy, where is Captain Bear?" he asked. She looked around for the boy's teddy bear, finally finding it almost under the bed.
It was a normal looking teddy bear, a bit dusty but still in good shape. She smiled as she patted the dust off it and placed it next to her son. The boy hugged it tightly as she started to walk out the door.
"Sweet dreams Danny." She whispered before shutting the lights off and closeing the door.
Soon the young boy was deep in sleep, his bear in his tight grip. In the room his toys stood watch as it seemed like the room became very dark. In this darkness something took shape, dark red eyes and long sharp teeth formed. A hand with claws took shape as it stood over the boy. A growl escaped its lips as it pulled a hand back, about to strike down on the child.
"Stop right there..." an old voice said below the shadow. It looked down to see a old teddy bear pulling it's self out of the boys arms and standing before it. It's marble brown eyes looking up at the unholy darkness.
"As the protector of this child I command you to leave!" Capt. Bear said.
The shadow chuckled, it's arm cocked back to strike when suddenly a rope shot around the shadow's wrist and pulled its arm back. The creature cried out in pain as it looked back to see on a shelf a Batman and Superman action figure pulling the rope back hard. The creature tried to use its other arm when a second rope got it's other wrist. This one was pulled by a number of GI Joes and Power Ranger figures. Capt Bear pointed a paw towards the creature.
"Fire when ready!" he bellowed.
Near by some small green army man tanks and a couple GI Joe attack vechiles fired light at the evil being. Soon it fell onto it's back. It screamed in pain as Capt Bear jumped down and stood on the shadow's chest. It raised a paw into the air. An orb of light started to shine from above it.
"ASA MESA NASA... BACK TO HELL YOU GO!" Capt Bear shouted as it shot the light into the shadow's head, making the thing scream as it died.
---
The next morning Victoria walked into Danny's room. The boy was still sleeping soundly but his poor bear was in the middle of the floor. She picked it up and placed it back next to him.
---
This is something of a continuation of what I wrote for another prompt here: [
A young boy is called inside for dinner, accidentally leaving several of his Army Men in his sandbox. Now they must survive the night](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/5ghj8l/wp_a_young_boy_is_called_inside_for_dinner/datjbwh/)
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
As the door latched shut and the last of the light in the room faded a soft rustle came from beneath Robins arm.
A portly and fluffy golden head popped out from the covers.
"Oh, bother" the teddy bear grumbled as he clambered up the boys shoulder.
Churchill was his code name but Mr Pooh was the name his charge had given him. Why on earth the daft young boy would name him after excrement he didn't know.
Perched upon his vantage point he surveyed the room, and satisfied that nothing was amiss he pulled a short cigar from his red blouse pocket. He couldn't light it, secondhand smoke was bad for children you know. Nonetheless he wedged the cigar into the side of his mouth and slowly ground away at it, silently waiting.
This night was just like any other night of the bears watch. A slow drawn out wait that rarely ended quietly.
As he expected the nights challenger arrived at the stroke of 2 hours past midnight , as they always had. With a quiet hiss a pale smoke appeared in the room and flitted about the floor before solidifying at the foot of the bed.
A low growl came from the foot of the bed, "Guardian, your boy's day has come, leave now while I still have the mercy to let you."
"Oh, bother, " Churchill thought to himself. All these would be assassins were truly unoriginal and uninspiring. He heaved himself upright on the boys shoulder and muttered his summoning incantations under his breath. Armor appeared and clanked together around him, a little more snug around the mid section as of late. And finally a pot of honey found its way gently into the crook of Churchill's arm. The whole while he could hear the assassin threatening him with damnation and torture.
Everything in place, he lumbered toward the edge of the bed tucking away the cigar for later. He continued slowly moving towards the edge of the bed eating the honey as he went. And still the challenger spewed vile hatred from below.
Upon arriving to the foot of the bed he looked down and saw a run-of-the-mill Gremlin in disheveled armor awaiting him. With a brief glance to verify the distance he finished the last of the honey , broke the pot , grabbed a jagged piece and casually dropped down impaling the Gremlin through his mouth mid-profanity.
"Cheeky bastards" he muttered as he stood himself up and brushed himself off. Another nights work done with ease he thought as he reached for his cigar again. His hand had not yet touched his cigar before he heard multiple hisses and thumps come from the closet.
Slowly and irately Churchill turned his head towards the closet, "Oh, bother"
A multitude of Gremlins crashed from closet and saw two things, an armored ball of golden fur and their dead comrade who had attempted to claim glory of killing Robin by going too early.
The nonchalant manner of the guardian gave the Gremlins a moments pause. But they had slain guardians before, and were determined to keep doing so. Why? Well mostly they liked killing and the way blood splattered, but also because the Great Master commanded it.
The Gremlins became emboldened by the obvious disparity in numbers and cackled as they approached the lone guardian. Their leader for this raid, a squint eyed bugger named Grislow stopped the group and jeered at the guardian, "Looks like little fatty over there forgot his toy sword, GET HIM!"
Churchill cracked his knuckles as the Gremlins charged. They were closing on him and Robins bed.
He pounded his armor with his fist, the sounded that emanated was far deeper and stronger than it should have been.
He began chanting the Haka Ka Mate in a deep timbre and finished with a powerful jump as the Gremlins closed.
As he landed in the midst of their first line he small warm flashes of light came from around the room and out of the shadows 4 figures in armor crashed into the flanks of the Gremlins.
After a brief skirmish, Grislow was beheaded and the remaining Gremlins lost their nerve and vanished.
After a moment to catch his breath Churchill looked at the armored figures , " Are you donglers going to stay and clean this time or do I have to do it solo again?"
One of the figures lifted his helmet revealing a striped feline face, and winked at the other figures " I think nail tail and porker would be willing to pitch in if you offered some of your honey for once."
Churchill rolled his eyes "oh , bother, alright."
|
"Alright my little man, time to go to bed!" Victoria said as she kissed her five year old son's head as she tucked him in. The little boy yawned and looked at here.
"Mommy, where is Captain Bear?" he asked. She looked around for the boy's teddy bear, finally finding it almost under the bed.
It was a normal looking teddy bear, a bit dusty but still in good shape. She smiled as she patted the dust off it and placed it next to her son. The boy hugged it tightly as she started to walk out the door.
"Sweet dreams Danny." She whispered before shutting the lights off and closeing the door.
Soon the young boy was deep in sleep, his bear in his tight grip. In the room his toys stood watch as it seemed like the room became very dark. In this darkness something took shape, dark red eyes and long sharp teeth formed. A hand with claws took shape as it stood over the boy. A growl escaped its lips as it pulled a hand back, about to strike down on the child.
"Stop right there..." an old voice said below the shadow. It looked down to see a old teddy bear pulling it's self out of the boys arms and standing before it. It's marble brown eyes looking up at the unholy darkness.
"As the protector of this child I command you to leave!" Capt. Bear said.
The shadow chuckled, it's arm cocked back to strike when suddenly a rope shot around the shadow's wrist and pulled its arm back. The creature cried out in pain as it looked back to see on a shelf a Batman and Superman action figure pulling the rope back hard. The creature tried to use its other arm when a second rope got it's other wrist. This one was pulled by a number of GI Joes and Power Ranger figures. Capt Bear pointed a paw towards the creature.
"Fire when ready!" he bellowed.
Near by some small green army man tanks and a couple GI Joe attack vechiles fired light at the evil being. Soon it fell onto it's back. It screamed in pain as Capt Bear jumped down and stood on the shadow's chest. It raised a paw into the air. An orb of light started to shine from above it.
"ASA MESA NASA... BACK TO HELL YOU GO!" Capt Bear shouted as it shot the light into the shadow's head, making the thing scream as it died.
---
The next morning Victoria walked into Danny's room. The boy was still sleeping soundly but his poor bear was in the middle of the floor. She picked it up and placed it back next to him.
---
This is something of a continuation of what I wrote for another prompt here: [
A young boy is called inside for dinner, accidentally leaving several of his Army Men in his sandbox. Now they must survive the night](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/5ghj8l/wp_a_young_boy_is_called_inside_for_dinner/datjbwh/)
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
"Daddy can you bring me Sir Stuffington?"
"Of course"
John always had to stifle a laugh at Sir Stuffington. His son had a Medieval phase that had seemingly grown into genuine historical interest. But he could not laugh out loud, it seemed to greatly upset his son. So, he walked over to the Bear's place of honor on his son's dresser and carefully picked up the bear. He felt like he had to be incredibly careful as it had seen great wear and tear in its time. But, ever since hie had given the son the bear the poor child's night terrors and bed wetting were seemingly over. The psychologist said that anything that helps was a good thing at this point even if it was a little childish. The loss of his mother was of course devastating and he would far rather the boy have a bear a little too long than be on the antidepressants already.
He gently placed the bear next to his son, kissed his son's forehead and left. The boy fell fast asleep, a miracle just a few months ago. The dead of the night crept in. A voice cackled in the dark. "He is MINE" Sir Stuffington carefully pulled himself out of the child's grasp. His silent growl deepening in his throat. The boy was his charge. While a single stitch held him together none would pass. The many eyed demon skittered forward, lit by the dim violet nightlight.
The two enemies stared from across the toy filled room. The dance began. The monster was in perfect form tonight, the boy was nervous about the upcoming school year. The first time the bus would take him away without his mother to make him banana pancakes. The first time his mom would not be able to pack his lunch so he would have to wait in the line and pay the lunch lady. The first birthday his mother would miss.
The monster's chitinous limbs tore into Sir Stuffington's arms, and the little warrior could barely hold on to keep them from sinking deeper
"He's growing older Stuffington, he won't want you much longer, you are a baby's plaything, not a grown boy's"
Anger welled in the bear. "SIR Stuffington" he spat with rage. With a scream of hate and pain he tore his arms free and lunged at the thing's neck. The monster back peddled and wrench back and forth. But the bear would not be denied.
Weakened and weeping its invisible life's blood into the carpet, the Monster gurgled "YOU CAN'T SAVE HIM FOREVER!"
Sir Stuffington stepped forward and bared his teeth.
The monster left.
After he was sure it was safe, Sir Stuffington left the boy and walked carefully past the room where the poor boy's father wept bitterly over his wife's picture. He carefully cracked opened the door to the late mother's sewing room. Everything in it was kept just so. It was as sacrosanct. So Sir Stuffington always knew where the needle and thread were. He gingerly packed the stuffing back into his wounds and trudged tenderly back into the boys arms. The monster was right and wrong. One day he couldn't save the boy because one day the boy wouldn't need him anymore. But until that day, or the bear's last day, he would fight
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"Alright my little man, time to go to bed!" Victoria said as she kissed her five year old son's head as she tucked him in. The little boy yawned and looked at here.
"Mommy, where is Captain Bear?" he asked. She looked around for the boy's teddy bear, finally finding it almost under the bed.
It was a normal looking teddy bear, a bit dusty but still in good shape. She smiled as she patted the dust off it and placed it next to her son. The boy hugged it tightly as she started to walk out the door.
"Sweet dreams Danny." She whispered before shutting the lights off and closeing the door.
Soon the young boy was deep in sleep, his bear in his tight grip. In the room his toys stood watch as it seemed like the room became very dark. In this darkness something took shape, dark red eyes and long sharp teeth formed. A hand with claws took shape as it stood over the boy. A growl escaped its lips as it pulled a hand back, about to strike down on the child.
"Stop right there..." an old voice said below the shadow. It looked down to see a old teddy bear pulling it's self out of the boys arms and standing before it. It's marble brown eyes looking up at the unholy darkness.
"As the protector of this child I command you to leave!" Capt. Bear said.
The shadow chuckled, it's arm cocked back to strike when suddenly a rope shot around the shadow's wrist and pulled its arm back. The creature cried out in pain as it looked back to see on a shelf a Batman and Superman action figure pulling the rope back hard. The creature tried to use its other arm when a second rope got it's other wrist. This one was pulled by a number of GI Joes and Power Ranger figures. Capt Bear pointed a paw towards the creature.
"Fire when ready!" he bellowed.
Near by some small green army man tanks and a couple GI Joe attack vechiles fired light at the evil being. Soon it fell onto it's back. It screamed in pain as Capt Bear jumped down and stood on the shadow's chest. It raised a paw into the air. An orb of light started to shine from above it.
"ASA MESA NASA... BACK TO HELL YOU GO!" Capt Bear shouted as it shot the light into the shadow's head, making the thing scream as it died.
---
The next morning Victoria walked into Danny's room. The boy was still sleeping soundly but his poor bear was in the middle of the floor. She picked it up and placed it back next to him.
---
This is something of a continuation of what I wrote for another prompt here: [
A young boy is called inside for dinner, accidentally leaving several of his Army Men in his sandbox. Now they must survive the night](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/5ghj8l/wp_a_young_boy_is_called_inside_for_dinner/datjbwh/)
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
"He asleep yet?"
I watched from the entrance of his room and nodded. "Yeah, I think he's okay for now." I closed the door and looked at my husband. "How are you feeling?"
He rubbed his eyes and smiled a weary smile. "Tired. I had hoped that after a few years the night terrors would stop, but I guess we'll just have to cope with it." He rubbed my belly. "You just take care of the two of you hun. It'll be alright."
Come morning, Dan was already gone when I woke up. By the time I had made breakfast and woke up Allan, he'd returned with a wrapped box. I smiled.
"Well sport... Look what I found waiting outside for you!" Allan jumped away from the table and raced towards his father. "Is that for me? Why?" He didn't wait for an answer though: as soon as he got his hands on the package he ripped through the packaging to reveal a pretty large teddybear. Allan was in heaven. As soon as he was done unpacking, he took the bear with him to the table and positioned him on the empty chair next to him. It was his everything: he kept talking to it, about what I had made him for breakfast and what he was going to do today and how he would give him a spot in his bed. Dan sat down beside me and pinched my leg under the table. "I'd almost swear his face just got a few tints less pale, wouldn't you agree?" I nodded while I peeled my egg.
That night, when I tucked Allan and Brody in (that's what he named his bear), I gave both of them a hug. "You take good care of my boy, Brody. Allan, your bear is important! If you protect him, he'll protect you. Don't you forget that!" Allan nodded his head from half under his blanket. "I know! Brody told me so." I smiled and after a "good night" turned off the light and closed the door. Dan was standing in the hallway. "Brody? Seriously? Where'd he get that from? And please don't fill his mind with that nonsense. If it helps him sleep though..." I grabbed his arm and took him back downstairs. "I don't think I heard you ever talking that way about Celia, huh?" Dan smirked. "That battered old bear of yours was actually what got me thinking. I figured that having a stuffed animal might help him." When we settled down behind the TV, with me leaning against his arm, I couldn't help but smile. It wouldn't have worked if I gave a bear; I knew. But Dan, from his own love, gave it to Allan and that... Yeah, that would work. I gave Celia a pat on the head before going to bed. "And so the circle begins anew," I whispered to her. Celia just smiled, like she always did.
*****
Fun prompt. If you like it, [take a look at my personal sub too](/r/TheAlcove) :-)
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"Alright my little man, time to go to bed!" Victoria said as she kissed her five year old son's head as she tucked him in. The little boy yawned and looked at here.
"Mommy, where is Captain Bear?" he asked. She looked around for the boy's teddy bear, finally finding it almost under the bed.
It was a normal looking teddy bear, a bit dusty but still in good shape. She smiled as she patted the dust off it and placed it next to her son. The boy hugged it tightly as she started to walk out the door.
"Sweet dreams Danny." She whispered before shutting the lights off and closeing the door.
Soon the young boy was deep in sleep, his bear in his tight grip. In the room his toys stood watch as it seemed like the room became very dark. In this darkness something took shape, dark red eyes and long sharp teeth formed. A hand with claws took shape as it stood over the boy. A growl escaped its lips as it pulled a hand back, about to strike down on the child.
"Stop right there..." an old voice said below the shadow. It looked down to see a old teddy bear pulling it's self out of the boys arms and standing before it. It's marble brown eyes looking up at the unholy darkness.
"As the protector of this child I command you to leave!" Capt. Bear said.
The shadow chuckled, it's arm cocked back to strike when suddenly a rope shot around the shadow's wrist and pulled its arm back. The creature cried out in pain as it looked back to see on a shelf a Batman and Superman action figure pulling the rope back hard. The creature tried to use its other arm when a second rope got it's other wrist. This one was pulled by a number of GI Joes and Power Ranger figures. Capt Bear pointed a paw towards the creature.
"Fire when ready!" he bellowed.
Near by some small green army man tanks and a couple GI Joe attack vechiles fired light at the evil being. Soon it fell onto it's back. It screamed in pain as Capt Bear jumped down and stood on the shadow's chest. It raised a paw into the air. An orb of light started to shine from above it.
"ASA MESA NASA... BACK TO HELL YOU GO!" Capt Bear shouted as it shot the light into the shadow's head, making the thing scream as it died.
---
The next morning Victoria walked into Danny's room. The boy was still sleeping soundly but his poor bear was in the middle of the floor. She picked it up and placed it back next to him.
---
This is something of a continuation of what I wrote for another prompt here: [
A young boy is called inside for dinner, accidentally leaving several of his Army Men in his sandbox. Now they must survive the night](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/5ghj8l/wp_a_young_boy_is_called_inside_for_dinner/datjbwh/)
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
I wrote this previously, but it fits this prompt so thought I would share:
****
**Her Best Friend**
Slowly the light faded, disappearing with the sound of the door closing, and darkness was left in its wake. The wind whispered outside, shaking the leaves of the overhanging trees, and casting ominous shadows on the walls. A quick intake of breath was followed by the rustling of sheets and the patter of feet on hardwood as they raced across the room. With a click stars illuminated the dark, sparkling on the ceiling and walls from their socket outside the darkened closet door. The nightlight chased away the dark and brought into focus the room’s inhabitant. Her small face was cast in shadows, dark hair tumbling over petite shoulders, and unicorns in all colors decorating her pajamas.
She reached out slowly, a small finger tracing the closest star, before the creaking of floorboards sent her scurrying back into bed, into the safety of her sheets and covers. Over her head they went, for bed was safety, a haven against the monsters that lurked under it and deep within the dark corners of the closet. Small hands began feeling out around her, searching the length of the bed for Felix. She dived deeper into her covers, until she had reached the foot of her bed without sight or touch of the bear in question. Her head poked forth from under the blankets, her hair messed, as she peered around the room.
Sleep, no matter how hard she fought, would elude her until Felix was found. Placing both hands on each of the bed posts, she pulled herself forward, until she was able to peer cautiously over the bottom of the bed and into the dark beneath it. No glowing eyes or growl met her inquiry, and so she placed one palm on the floor and, bracing herself, reached into the depths. A groan of displeasure filled the quiet space. Withdrawing her hand after having no luck, she attempted to right herself back on the bed when she fell from it in a heap of small limbs. Her blanket settled around her on the ground, but she made no move to get up, her ears listening for the distant sound of footsteps, her eyes trained on the dim light shining forth from under the door. After several moments of holding her breath, she stood and replaced her blankets on the bed.
At a loss, she sat down on the edge, her toes skimming the ground as she swung them back and forth. Felix had been with her when they had went shopping, and he had been allowed to ride in the front seat afterward, so Felix had certainly made it home. They had watched a movie together while mommy had cooked dinner, and had both refused to eat their peas, which meant they had not been given dessert, but they had decided that not eating peas was worth not eating ice cream. They came up stairs to play after dinner, and then it had been bath time, and Felix couldn’t take a bath, because the last time he had tried he had nearly been ruined, so he had to stay in the bedroom by himself.
The little girls’ eye’s flicked to the closet. Felix and her had been playing dress up, and Felix had needed a pair of shoes to match his coat and tie, so they had gone into the closet in search of his loafers, when they had been interrupted by bath time. She had not seen Felix since then, meaning only one thing; Felix was still in the closet, which was now closed because both of them hated the closet at night. Breathing in a deep breath, she climbed onto her bare feet and slowly crossed the distance between her bed and the closet, her heart rate climbing as she grew closer.
“Felix,” She reached out, touching the closed closet door, her small voice wavering with fear. Felix did not answer. Her small hand crept toward the door handle, but stalled as her bedroom door was opened, lighting the room with the hall light. She turned into it, and the sight of her mother standing in the doorway greeted her. Hands on her hips, she was shaking her head as she spoke.
“Molly! You’re supposed to be in bed, asleep.”
“I forgot Felix in the closet,” Molly replied, and brave in the presence of her mother, pulled the closet door open and found Felix, still dressed in his tie and jacket. She reached for him, and it was almost as if he reached for her as she scooped him into her arms and darted back to bed. She settled back into her pillow as her mother recovered her with blankets. Soothing back the now tangled mess of hair, she kissed her forehead before issuing a warning.
“Stay in bed, or Felix will be spending the night with me.” Her mother crossed the room and closed the closet door, checked the nightlight, and then, with a final look at her daughter, closed the bedroom door. Her footsteps sounded on the hardwood as she moved down the hallway. Molly waited several moments before she turned to Felix, who was sitting on her pillow, and gave him a slow smile.
“Your sword and shield are under the pillow, in case you need them, Felix.” She gave his foot a small squeeze before she closed her eyes, her head sinking farther into her pillow. Several minutes passed, and as her breathing slowed and she fell into sleep, the closet door creaked open.
Felix sat a little straighter, his sword at the ready and his shield poised for action, as he prepared to protect his most precious possession.
|
"Alright my little man, time to go to bed!" Victoria said as she kissed her five year old son's head as she tucked him in. The little boy yawned and looked at here.
"Mommy, where is Captain Bear?" he asked. She looked around for the boy's teddy bear, finally finding it almost under the bed.
It was a normal looking teddy bear, a bit dusty but still in good shape. She smiled as she patted the dust off it and placed it next to her son. The boy hugged it tightly as she started to walk out the door.
"Sweet dreams Danny." She whispered before shutting the lights off and closeing the door.
Soon the young boy was deep in sleep, his bear in his tight grip. In the room his toys stood watch as it seemed like the room became very dark. In this darkness something took shape, dark red eyes and long sharp teeth formed. A hand with claws took shape as it stood over the boy. A growl escaped its lips as it pulled a hand back, about to strike down on the child.
"Stop right there..." an old voice said below the shadow. It looked down to see a old teddy bear pulling it's self out of the boys arms and standing before it. It's marble brown eyes looking up at the unholy darkness.
"As the protector of this child I command you to leave!" Capt. Bear said.
The shadow chuckled, it's arm cocked back to strike when suddenly a rope shot around the shadow's wrist and pulled its arm back. The creature cried out in pain as it looked back to see on a shelf a Batman and Superman action figure pulling the rope back hard. The creature tried to use its other arm when a second rope got it's other wrist. This one was pulled by a number of GI Joes and Power Ranger figures. Capt Bear pointed a paw towards the creature.
"Fire when ready!" he bellowed.
Near by some small green army man tanks and a couple GI Joe attack vechiles fired light at the evil being. Soon it fell onto it's back. It screamed in pain as Capt Bear jumped down and stood on the shadow's chest. It raised a paw into the air. An orb of light started to shine from above it.
"ASA MESA NASA... BACK TO HELL YOU GO!" Capt Bear shouted as it shot the light into the shadow's head, making the thing scream as it died.
---
The next morning Victoria walked into Danny's room. The boy was still sleeping soundly but his poor bear was in the middle of the floor. She picked it up and placed it back next to him.
---
This is something of a continuation of what I wrote for another prompt here: [
A young boy is called inside for dinner, accidentally leaving several of his Army Men in his sandbox. Now they must survive the night](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/5ghj8l/wp_a_young_boy_is_called_inside_for_dinner/datjbwh/)
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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"Is it time?" said Bogdan and waited for an answer which didn't come. The wind in that chill night came through the crack in the ceiling and sounded like it was repeating the same question in a whisper. "Vasily, is it time?" asked Bogdan again. "Yes" came the tearful answer out of Vasily quivering lips. Vasily couldn't believe that the time had come to do the unthinkable, yet necessary.
Three months ago Vasily's father bought him a gift for his sixth birthday. Both father and son had an obsession with bears. Vasily fathers worked for the WCS (Wildelife conservation society). His job was to protected them. His job was to protect what he loved. Vasily had the biggest collection of books, posters, and figures a kid ever had. He collected what he loved. But it was at December 12th when Vasily's collection, for the first time, loved him back.
He called him Bogdan. Which is a curious name for a teddy bear. But who can blame Vasily who started to run out of names after naming the other dozen he got before him. But Bogdan was different. Bogdan was alive. As Bogdan told it, he was the trapped spirit of the Kamchatka bears. He barely escaped the massacre that was after all wildlife spirits two years ago. But ever since Yaga, the witch who started the hunt, failed to catch him on that dreadful night, Bogdan had been trying his best to lay-low till the surviving spirits like him regained their strength to fight her back. And to get rid of her once and for all.
But at the very first night he was gifted to Vasily, the lay low plan wasn't an option anymore. The dark spirits of the wildlife, who were once innocent before they were bewitched by Yaga, found Vasily. When the portal twirled into existence and manifested itself inside the kid's room like a black rose from hell, Bogdan was ready to fight back and was sure that Yaga finally found him and sent her dogs after him. But it wasn't the case. Baba spell was perfect; the shaman who hid Bogdan inside the teddy bear. As the monsters crawled out of the portal, they didn't as much as smell Bogdan. They were after the kid, which was crazy, as Bogdan thought. "Why would they go after a sixth years old?" was a question that Bogdan didn't have the luxury of time to ask even inside his head. The monster leaped at Vasily bed like hungry hyenas. Bogdan could have let them get the kid. It was the smartest decision. There were too much at stakes hanging on the lay-low plan he agreed on with the other surviving spirits. And Vasily was just a kid like any other kid Bogdan ended up in his room as a gift before he got there. But Bogdan was a Kamchatka spirit, and Kamchatka knew that some times you have to be smart, and sometimes you just have to kick ass.
P.S. It's 23:25 here. I'm dog tired. I'll finish it if it gets just 5 upvotes. ;-)
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"Alright my little man, time to go to bed!" Victoria said as she kissed her five year old son's head as she tucked him in. The little boy yawned and looked at here.
"Mommy, where is Captain Bear?" he asked. She looked around for the boy's teddy bear, finally finding it almost under the bed.
It was a normal looking teddy bear, a bit dusty but still in good shape. She smiled as she patted the dust off it and placed it next to her son. The boy hugged it tightly as she started to walk out the door.
"Sweet dreams Danny." She whispered before shutting the lights off and closeing the door.
Soon the young boy was deep in sleep, his bear in his tight grip. In the room his toys stood watch as it seemed like the room became very dark. In this darkness something took shape, dark red eyes and long sharp teeth formed. A hand with claws took shape as it stood over the boy. A growl escaped its lips as it pulled a hand back, about to strike down on the child.
"Stop right there..." an old voice said below the shadow. It looked down to see a old teddy bear pulling it's self out of the boys arms and standing before it. It's marble brown eyes looking up at the unholy darkness.
"As the protector of this child I command you to leave!" Capt. Bear said.
The shadow chuckled, it's arm cocked back to strike when suddenly a rope shot around the shadow's wrist and pulled its arm back. The creature cried out in pain as it looked back to see on a shelf a Batman and Superman action figure pulling the rope back hard. The creature tried to use its other arm when a second rope got it's other wrist. This one was pulled by a number of GI Joes and Power Ranger figures. Capt Bear pointed a paw towards the creature.
"Fire when ready!" he bellowed.
Near by some small green army man tanks and a couple GI Joe attack vechiles fired light at the evil being. Soon it fell onto it's back. It screamed in pain as Capt Bear jumped down and stood on the shadow's chest. It raised a paw into the air. An orb of light started to shine from above it.
"ASA MESA NASA... BACK TO HELL YOU GO!" Capt Bear shouted as it shot the light into the shadow's head, making the thing scream as it died.
---
The next morning Victoria walked into Danny's room. The boy was still sleeping soundly but his poor bear was in the middle of the floor. She picked it up and placed it back next to him.
---
This is something of a continuation of what I wrote for another prompt here: [
A young boy is called inside for dinner, accidentally leaving several of his Army Men in his sandbox. Now they must survive the night](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/5ghj8l/wp_a_young_boy_is_called_inside_for_dinner/datjbwh/)
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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Samuel was the light of my life. When I held his precious body for the first time, I knew it. I was irrevocably, endlessly, in love.
Money was tight, many days, but I would find ways to scrounge up money enough for birthdays and Christmases, giving my Sam the presents on his wish list every year, without fail.
There was was exactly one year I couldn't get him his birthday wish list, not a single present. He was three years old. He wanted a set of Lego's and some Batman accessories. I could barely get us fed.
Thanks to a hand-me-down bear from a thrift store - it cost a dollar - and a woman from our church, I had a cake and a present.
Sam didn't mind. The bear had soft, soft fur, even after years of use. One glass eye had fallen out to be replaced by a neatly sewn button. He had a little bite mark in his ear, from a cat or a dog. From Samuel's birthday onwards, he and the teddy bear were best friends.
On his first day of kindergarten I helped hide Bear - a simple name, a fitting and exact name, the sort of name any three year old could come up with - in his backpack, beneath books and crayons and paper.
And every day for the rest of the year, Bear hid in Sam's backpack and went to school with him.
I was first alerted to something... unusual... about Bear during that same year. I woke up to hear sounds of fighting, coming from Samuel's room. We didn't have a video game console - not until Sammy was ten - and the only TV was in the living room. I crept in the room, and saw...
Everything was in its place. Sam was asleep, Bear settled neatly in his arms. And yet - there was a single paper, having fluttered to the ground. It was a drawing, crude and in the style of a five year old, of Bear standing up to strange shadowy creatures I couldn't make heads or tails of.
At the time, I dismissed the entire incident, and the paper, to imagination. But as the year passed, more unusual things happened.
Keys would be lost, only to narrowly dodge accidents. Sammy's room would be clean at night, only for there to be a small mess in the morning. Even Bear would go missing, only to show up some time later along with something important - the electricity bill, his field trip form, a letter from family or friends.
And sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night to hear the sounds of fighting.
When Sam was seven, I finally saw what was happening. I don't think Bear or his enemies realized I was awake. But I crept to Sam's bedroom and peered in the door. Bear stood strong and tall - stood, a teddy bear without a wire in him! - facing shadowy creatures. I remembered the drawing then.
With Bear, Sammy and I are safe. And now that he's going off to college, I won't let him leave without Bear. But you try convincing an eighteen year old who thinks he knows everything that his stuffed Bear will protect him. It isn't easy.
So I dust Bear off - and he isn't very dusty - from the old closet and smile at him. Sam may say he's too old for old Bear, but I know better. He has two button eyes now, and his ear is in half, but his fur is still as soft as ever.
"What do you say to a road trip, buddy?"
After all, I can't let my boy go off without his best protector.
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"Alright my little man, time to go to bed!" Victoria said as she kissed her five year old son's head as she tucked him in. The little boy yawned and looked at here.
"Mommy, where is Captain Bear?" he asked. She looked around for the boy's teddy bear, finally finding it almost under the bed.
It was a normal looking teddy bear, a bit dusty but still in good shape. She smiled as she patted the dust off it and placed it next to her son. The boy hugged it tightly as she started to walk out the door.
"Sweet dreams Danny." She whispered before shutting the lights off and closeing the door.
Soon the young boy was deep in sleep, his bear in his tight grip. In the room his toys stood watch as it seemed like the room became very dark. In this darkness something took shape, dark red eyes and long sharp teeth formed. A hand with claws took shape as it stood over the boy. A growl escaped its lips as it pulled a hand back, about to strike down on the child.
"Stop right there..." an old voice said below the shadow. It looked down to see a old teddy bear pulling it's self out of the boys arms and standing before it. It's marble brown eyes looking up at the unholy darkness.
"As the protector of this child I command you to leave!" Capt. Bear said.
The shadow chuckled, it's arm cocked back to strike when suddenly a rope shot around the shadow's wrist and pulled its arm back. The creature cried out in pain as it looked back to see on a shelf a Batman and Superman action figure pulling the rope back hard. The creature tried to use its other arm when a second rope got it's other wrist. This one was pulled by a number of GI Joes and Power Ranger figures. Capt Bear pointed a paw towards the creature.
"Fire when ready!" he bellowed.
Near by some small green army man tanks and a couple GI Joe attack vechiles fired light at the evil being. Soon it fell onto it's back. It screamed in pain as Capt Bear jumped down and stood on the shadow's chest. It raised a paw into the air. An orb of light started to shine from above it.
"ASA MESA NASA... BACK TO HELL YOU GO!" Capt Bear shouted as it shot the light into the shadow's head, making the thing scream as it died.
---
The next morning Victoria walked into Danny's room. The boy was still sleeping soundly but his poor bear was in the middle of the floor. She picked it up and placed it back next to him.
---
This is something of a continuation of what I wrote for another prompt here: [
A young boy is called inside for dinner, accidentally leaving several of his Army Men in his sandbox. Now they must survive the night](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/5ghj8l/wp_a_young_boy_is_called_inside_for_dinner/datjbwh/)
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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**Eyes of Glass**
How I miss my eyes of glass.
Originally, I had button eyes. Little black ones about ½ an inch wide, with 4 holes to hold them in place. Nonna Maria gave me then after making me for Master Gianni. Her love and kindness had infused my being with every stitch she made as she made me. And had she been my only Maker, a simple Teddy I would have remained all my days.
But we can’t pick our makers anymore than we can pick our parents. For all their well wishes and kind feelings, it is their whispered words and muffled curses that sometimes shape us most of all.
I can’t complain though. I’ve had a wonderful life. Little Gianni became Johnny and passed me on to his daughter, who passed me on to her son, John Jr. I was sentry to their dreams, absorber of their tears, and cuddler of their coughs and illnesses. Even memories of being chewed and buried by my fellow guardians brought a wave of melancholy if I’ve been exiled to a shelf long enough.
It didn’t matter though, because I knew that while I rested, I would be called upon again to watch over the next child. It was the way of things and as my Makers had intended.
So it was with surprise and hurt that I was tossed in with the rest of the “miscellaneous possessions”. Rudy had come to the old house, and as Nonno’s executor, donated me along with the rest of the “stuff”.
While I never met this Good William, I was treated well there. I was re-stuffed, re-stitched, and given my eyes of glass. More importantly, she did it properly. First giving me my new one, and then replacing my old one with Sky-blue circles around a black centre. Oh how I would have smiled if I had a mouth, but aside from my nose, that was nothing else on my face.
No matter. I had always been a keeper of secrets and I kept them all.
People don’t understand that is why we were never given mouths. A child’s fears are not bound by rationality. Children live in a world where monsters are as tall as the sky, or have a billion mouths with a billion teeth. This is the dark side of a sense of Wonder.
And why every child needs a Guardian.
Oh yes, my eyes of glass. Up until then, all I had seen of the world was black and white, night and light, evil and good. But with my new eyes, I could see all the colours and happiness in-between. After leaving the House of Good William, I saw the world anew. Sitting at a table with the rich red of raspberry jam sandwiches. The speckled-green of a frog as it hopped across a room while momma chased it too and fro. Even stars on a ceiling! Modern life is filled with such amazing toys!
And I was able to see then all with my eyes of glass. Oh how I loved them! In all my years as a Guardian, I had lost one eye, but it had hurt so much. But worse, had been knowing that I did not have a spare eye. That if I had lost my other eye, I would have been lost. For when both eyes are gone, we Guardians lost our abilities.
Dani (imagine that! A girl named Dani!), bought me for her son, and gave me someone to watch over. His name was Caleb, and I like to think that I was his favourite. Caleb took me everywhere and together we saw beaches and mountains but no matter where the chauffeur took us, we always slept together.
Until that night.
It turns out that the chauffeur was not a friend of the family. Ironic too since he was of the old blood. Like other-Nonna had been. Nonna Red-Fox.
Nonna Red-Fox had known the old ways. How scarecrows could be made to keep birds away. How war-paint could give someone heightened senses. And how blood added to thread, could make a ward that lasted beyond the death of the caster.
Nonna Maria had stitched me together out of love, but Nonna Red Fox has added her blood to the lanolin in the threads. Together, I was made to protect children.
So when chauffeur came for Caleb, Caleb cried out for me, and we went together.
We were kept in a house, somewhere.
Caleb grew hungry, but was fed.
He was tired, and was allowed to rest.
But I knew that something was wrong.
So I waited until Caleb went to sleep, and I used to magic.
Guardian Magic is not the same for every one of us and it is not without a price. People say that eyes are the window to the soul, but it also the gateway to magic. Unfortunately, using magic destroys the gateway. Still, an eye is a small price to pay, to save Caleb.
I knew that chauffeur had a phone, and that Caleb could use it, so all I needed to do was get it.
But chauffeur saw me. It was the last thing he saw.
As pain stabbed into my head, I unleashed the fears.
Lifetimes of it.
The one time I had done it before, it was of the dark, and things that lurked in it. Of the loneliness of a child. Of the angry voices of parents hurting each other. Of thunder and lightning flashes on moonless nights. Of childhood fears unleashed.
Children are stronger than most adults realize. I know because when faced with childhood fears, adults cannot handle them.
Chauffeur certainly couldn’t.
As I recovered and made my way back to Caleb, I heard another noise.
Chauffeur had not been alone.
And as I turned to face chauffeur’s partner crime, I felt several thoughts pass through my mind.
I hoped that Caleb wouldn’t notice that a spark had left his Teddybear. That while I would still be at his side, I would be less than I had been all his days. I hoped he wouldn’t stop talking to me, sharing with me his fears. I hoped we would still have our adventures, and that his dreams would be joyful again.
But, to be honest, my last thought was a selfish one.
That my final sight, would not be of his beautiful face, but rather of some nameless monster who had taken him from his family and home.
How I miss my eyes of glass.
As darkness comes for me.
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"Alright my little man, time to go to bed!" Victoria said as she kissed her five year old son's head as she tucked him in. The little boy yawned and looked at here.
"Mommy, where is Captain Bear?" he asked. She looked around for the boy's teddy bear, finally finding it almost under the bed.
It was a normal looking teddy bear, a bit dusty but still in good shape. She smiled as she patted the dust off it and placed it next to her son. The boy hugged it tightly as she started to walk out the door.
"Sweet dreams Danny." She whispered before shutting the lights off and closeing the door.
Soon the young boy was deep in sleep, his bear in his tight grip. In the room his toys stood watch as it seemed like the room became very dark. In this darkness something took shape, dark red eyes and long sharp teeth formed. A hand with claws took shape as it stood over the boy. A growl escaped its lips as it pulled a hand back, about to strike down on the child.
"Stop right there..." an old voice said below the shadow. It looked down to see a old teddy bear pulling it's self out of the boys arms and standing before it. It's marble brown eyes looking up at the unholy darkness.
"As the protector of this child I command you to leave!" Capt. Bear said.
The shadow chuckled, it's arm cocked back to strike when suddenly a rope shot around the shadow's wrist and pulled its arm back. The creature cried out in pain as it looked back to see on a shelf a Batman and Superman action figure pulling the rope back hard. The creature tried to use its other arm when a second rope got it's other wrist. This one was pulled by a number of GI Joes and Power Ranger figures. Capt Bear pointed a paw towards the creature.
"Fire when ready!" he bellowed.
Near by some small green army man tanks and a couple GI Joe attack vechiles fired light at the evil being. Soon it fell onto it's back. It screamed in pain as Capt Bear jumped down and stood on the shadow's chest. It raised a paw into the air. An orb of light started to shine from above it.
"ASA MESA NASA... BACK TO HELL YOU GO!" Capt Bear shouted as it shot the light into the shadow's head, making the thing scream as it died.
---
The next morning Victoria walked into Danny's room. The boy was still sleeping soundly but his poor bear was in the middle of the floor. She picked it up and placed it back next to him.
---
This is something of a continuation of what I wrote for another prompt here: [
A young boy is called inside for dinner, accidentally leaving several of his Army Men in his sandbox. Now they must survive the night](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/5ghj8l/wp_a_young_boy_is_called_inside_for_dinner/datjbwh/)
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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Jessie the Teddy Bear woke from her deep slumber one night. Through the wardrobe door, a bedside lamp shone with a yellow tint, illuminating the room, it's brightness thinning out at the edge of the room.
"What?" A deep but familiar voice spoke. Her ward's voice rose and trembled, and his shadow paced across the wall nervously. Benny's voice is deeper now, but the adoring nasal tone in his voice remained. Jessie watched his shadow's shoulders hung stiffly and his chest heaved as he breathed heavily. She could hear the person on the other side of the phone squeak 'Are you still on the line?'
Benny stopped pacing and took a deep breathe again. "Y-yes. Which hospital is it?" he asked as he walked to the wardrobe. Without saying a goodbye, he threw his phone onto the bed and pulled a pair of jeans from the wardrobe carelessly, pulling out other pants which dropped onto the floor with a heavy flop. Benny is a lot taller and bigger now. Jessie could almost meet his wet red eyes as he looked up. He picked her up and gave her a hug, whispering, "What do I do if they both don't make it?" Jessie hugged back as tight as she could possibly, and thought, "It'll be alright. I'll be with you forever and ever." The poor boy sniffed and sobbed, and sat her back at the top of the wardrobe. He wore his jeans clumsily, his hands trembling in fear and anxiety. He picked up his phone and keys, and left the house hurriedly, slamming the door shut.
The bedside lamp stayed on due to his forgetfulness and if Mommy was here, she'd chide Benny for forgetting to switch it off. Benny had grown up and didn't need Jessie anymore, and that is alright. He became really busy with friends, school and work. Benny was very nice when he put Jessie gently at the top of the wardrobe, his eyes shining gratefully. He'd become a man who has grown too old and too shy to speak with his teddy. And that is alright because Jessie knew he meant to thank her for the scary night with the scary monsters, the lonely nights with the creepy sounds that the old house made, and the fun times when they played together.
The bedside lamp stayed on through the night, the following day and night and the next following day and night. Jessie wondered if Benny was alright, and prayed hard that everything will be fine and he will come home soon. As the room warmed in the day, the house door clicked open quietly, uncharacteristically unlike Benny. The footsteps sounded softer and slower as it approached the bedroom. A middle aged lady walked into the bedroom and went straight for the bedside lamp, switching it off. It was Mommy. She had little more wrinkles near her cheeks and her eyes, and seemed a little shorter than before, but Mommy is here now. Mommy picked up the pants on the floor, folded them neatly and placed them in the wardrobe. She looked up and her eyes met Jessie's beaded black eyes. She smiled and Jessie wondered if she was smiling back at her because the Teddy tried to smile at her too. Mommy reached out and took down Jessie carefully, patting and dusting her off. As they walked downstairs to the living room, the front door opened again.
Benny walked in together with a lady. She looked pale and tired, and had a few bruises on her face and arms and a casted leg. Benny held her arm to support her while she carried a small bundle in her arms. Jessie could tell that Benny truly loved and cared for this woman and wondered if this was what Mommy meant when she told Benny that he would one day marry a wife.
The wife hobbled to the sofa and sat down in relief. Mommy took over the small bundle in her arms and put it on the couch. She put Jessie next to the bundle so she could see it too.
'Look what I found,' Mommy said to Benny and his wife. 'Benjamin used to hug and play with her all the time.'
She then leaned down and showed Jessie what's inside the bundle. A small baby slept soundly. The baby looked a lot smaller than when she first met Benny.
'This little sweetie came to see us earlier than scheduled but you'll look after her just like you did for Benny, won't you?'
Jessie the Teddy Bear looked at the baby adoringly. Hello, my little Ward, she thought. I'll be with you forever and ever.
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I don't remember where the bear came from, It was one among the seemingly endless parade of toys given to Sarah by Family or friends.
I didn't meet Jane until we were In our mid thirties and Sarah didn't arrive until her cousins and friends kids were much older, so the house was full to the brim with the kind of hand-me down kid clutter people are always so glad to rid themselves of, and Jayne never said no.
It had clearly seen better days even from the beginning, but Sarah loved that Fucking bear. At first it was simply "bear" but as the repairs mounted up over the years It became "Mr Stitch"
Sarah pulled the arm off when she was 3. I sewed it back on inexpertly, with thick woolen thread, the arm never hung the same way again. After that it became a sort of game between us, I wasnt at home much and Sarah would come to me in the evenings with some new hole or a missing ear that needed to be reattached. Before long the thing was mostly patchwork and thread but she never seemed to mind. She said that Mr Stitch protected her from his perch at the bottom of her bed from the monsters that came at night. With their patterning feet and sharp little claws. I told her that he must be bad at it because he always seemed to get torn up. She said that he's only a teddy bear daddy, he's doing the best he can.
The thing smelled. Not really bad but not pleasant either, despite its many baths in the kitchen sink.
Sarah wouldnt sleep without it and I would throw a panic if there was the suggestion that Mr Stitch wouldn't be there tonight because he was drying out on the radiator. The hairdryer would come out and Mr Stitch would be readied for battle once more.
Jayne got sick and her mother came to stay and help out for a couple of weeks. Nana gathered up Mr Stitch one morning and put in the washing machine with Sarah's quilt cover.
All that was left were the mismatched plastic eyes, and a ball of tangled thread and stuffing.
Sarah wouldnt sleep after that unless it was in our bed. It went on for near a month before I found the same bear. I bought 2 in case of further casualties. It took 2 nights to get it looking passably like the old one. I'd saved the mismatched eyes, and retreived them from a drawer full of keys and batteries and hair grips.
Sarah seemed suspicious at first but I'd done a damned good job. I remembered every detail of that bear. Sarah was suspicious at first but she went down without too much trouble that night.
That was until she woke us up screaming that he wasn't alive and they were climbing up her bed.
Crit please. I've never written anything before.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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He saved me. That was it. That was all it took. He showed me that I was worth something. That I could be something to someone. He found me on a self in some smelly thrift store. The owner and all the stock boys would smoke constantly, so the shelves and ceiling were tobacco smoke yellow. They would use me and the other dolls and act out their sick fantasies, or jokes. We never knew. A couple of the barbies got took a couple weeks ago, thank god. There are no more female dolls for these perverts to grope and position for their adolescent stunted sexuality. Now they just use the action figures and teddy bears like me to mock each others masculinity.
But then that man came in and grabbed me off the shelf. He grabbed all of us off the shelf. Every teddy bear, stuffed bunny, plush dog and squishy dinosaur. He grabbed us, threw his money at the cashier and piled us into a bag. I went home with him. The rest went to other kids. I thought I wasn't wanted, and that was why I was left on the car seat while the others got to go into the nice warm beds of other boys and girls.
I got my own little boy. He put me up on his pillow, right up high to watch him while he slept. He hugged me so hard if I'd had ribs, real bear's ribs, they still would have creaked. I already knew I was going to do my best, but I found out my best was crap.
I got knocked down. I slipped from the pillow. My big foot was trapped between the mattress and wall. I dangled, upside down for hours, the stuffing rushing to my head. Finally, he must have shifted in his sleep, because the mattress moved, and I was down. I fell to the floor, and I could see. There was something under the bed, I could see from the corner of my eye. I was done for. It would pull me under the bed, and this little boy would forget me. I hadn't even had one night. His memories wouldn't be enough to make finding me important. He would go to school, play with his friends. His dad might ask where I was, but I would be lost under the bed, dragged into hell to be eaten by the dust mites.
More movement! But its wrong, the bed creaks, then the floor thumps. He's on the floor! The kid is on the floor and I'm being scooped up. He hops back into bed and we hide under the covers. He's saved me too. Saved twice and I haven't done a thing.
The bear looks across the room, the light of the night lamp dancing across his fur. He's looking into the closet, looking for the monsters. "And that little bunny," he says. "Is why we sit here, and watch."
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I don't remember where the bear came from, It was one among the seemingly endless parade of toys given to Sarah by Family or friends.
I didn't meet Jane until we were In our mid thirties and Sarah didn't arrive until her cousins and friends kids were much older, so the house was full to the brim with the kind of hand-me down kid clutter people are always so glad to rid themselves of, and Jayne never said no.
It had clearly seen better days even from the beginning, but Sarah loved that Fucking bear. At first it was simply "bear" but as the repairs mounted up over the years It became "Mr Stitch"
Sarah pulled the arm off when she was 3. I sewed it back on inexpertly, with thick woolen thread, the arm never hung the same way again. After that it became a sort of game between us, I wasnt at home much and Sarah would come to me in the evenings with some new hole or a missing ear that needed to be reattached. Before long the thing was mostly patchwork and thread but she never seemed to mind. She said that Mr Stitch protected her from his perch at the bottom of her bed from the monsters that came at night. With their patterning feet and sharp little claws. I told her that he must be bad at it because he always seemed to get torn up. She said that he's only a teddy bear daddy, he's doing the best he can.
The thing smelled. Not really bad but not pleasant either, despite its many baths in the kitchen sink.
Sarah wouldnt sleep without it and I would throw a panic if there was the suggestion that Mr Stitch wouldn't be there tonight because he was drying out on the radiator. The hairdryer would come out and Mr Stitch would be readied for battle once more.
Jayne got sick and her mother came to stay and help out for a couple of weeks. Nana gathered up Mr Stitch one morning and put in the washing machine with Sarah's quilt cover.
All that was left were the mismatched plastic eyes, and a ball of tangled thread and stuffing.
Sarah wouldnt sleep after that unless it was in our bed. It went on for near a month before I found the same bear. I bought 2 in case of further casualties. It took 2 nights to get it looking passably like the old one. I'd saved the mismatched eyes, and retreived them from a drawer full of keys and batteries and hair grips.
Sarah seemed suspicious at first but I'd done a damned good job. I remembered every detail of that bear. Sarah was suspicious at first but she went down without too much trouble that night.
That was until she woke us up screaming that he wasn't alive and they were climbing up her bed.
Crit please. I've never written anything before.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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Lawrence and the Pile of Misfits
It was dark. The air was suffocating. I had just woken from my recurring nightmare. It happens almost every night and leaves me in a paralytic state until I sleep again. The images of machines stabbing me and stuffing me are always the premise of these dreams but today feels different. I am still petrified from the nightmare but a new energy rises inside me. I can start to feel the semblance of life. I’ve never felt this way before and am overjoyed with the uncertainty of the coming events. The nightmare lingers in the back of my mind as a constant reminder that I am in a living hell. But then I hear it.
Muffled sounds coming from the heavens. The cage I’m in is lifted high and shaken vigorously. My emotions are exuberant until I hear the scratching, tearing, clawing. I become terrified. This is my doom, my demise. I have been born but have not lived and am being condemned to a dreadful purgatory because of my lust for freedom and the chance to live.
Just when I know all is lost and I am doomed for eternity in darkness, I see a light. A light so bright that it could only be the Gods from heaven above coming to save me. Two arms reach inside my cage and free me from the choking abyss. And I saw it. The most beautiful thing I could ever imagine stood before me holding me in their arms. I was free.
“What do you think Johnny, do you like it,” asked a deep voice.
I looked deep into the eyes of my savior while it said, “He’s perfect! I love him daddy!”
“We’re glad you like it honey. What are you gonna call it,” asked a sweet voice.
“Lawrence!”
“That’s a good name dear. Now remember to take good care of him. If he gets any rips or tears bring him to me and I’ll do my best to sew him back up again.”
“Don’t worry mommy, I’ll take great care of him.” Johnny hugged me so hard I thought my insides were going to fall back out of me.
“Well son, your mother and I are happy you enjoyed all your presents. Santa sure did good this year right hun? Now go on, go play with your toys.”
That was the best day of my life. Johnny had given me life and on top of that, gave me a reason to live. The rest of that day I played with him. I was overawed by everything thus unable to really participate with him in anything we did but it was wonderful.
It was time for Johnny to go to bed. I was not the least bit tired and was still stuck in a catatonic state after being given my freedom. Johnny fell asleep with me right by his side. This gave me time to reflect on everything that had happened today. I still could not believe it all. It was surreal.
Johnny rolled over in the bed and I went crashing to the floor. I sat up and scratched my ear. Then I froze. Did I just move? On my own. I turned and looked at where I was. It was dark in Johnny’s room but his nightlight was on and allowed me to get a glimpse of my surroundings. I shivered. Suddenly I started to get a sense that I was not alone here.
“Psst!”
I turned and looked into the darkness under the bed. Heard some laughter and soft footsteps coming my way and then they emerged into the light.
“Look what we have here, a stupid teddy bear. I was wondering when Johnny was gonna get one of these poor bastards.”
“Ha, this one looks like he’s about to cry. First time out of the box is it?” I stared at the group of them. There were five in total. The first one to speak was a fur stained lion. The one asking me the question was a monkey. The other ones were a rabbit, an elephant, and a snake.
“Hass he forgotten how to ssspeak,” said the snake slithering around me.
“Noodles give the bear a break. I bet he’s just had the happiest day of his life and now we have to come ruin it,” this was the rabbit speaking.
“So what’s your name? Please tell me he didn’t name you Teddy?” this was the elephant speaking.
I summoned up some courage and said, “Johnny named me Lawrence.”
“Ha see Ellie, Johnny is getting more creative each time, “said the rabbit, “Well Lawrence my name is Sebastian. The lion is Lionel, the fat one is Ellie, the slithering piece of shit is Noodles, and the monkey is Congo. We are the misfits, those forgotten by our savior, Johnny.”
I just stared at them. “Abandoned? Johnny won’t abandon me. He loves me. He he said I was perfect.”
They started laughing. “Teddy, ha, you’re hilarious man. He loves you! Hear him guys,” said Congo.
“My name is Lawrence not Teddy.” I was getting really frustrated with this motley crew. Johnny and I had just spent an amazing day together and I wasn’t about to let them ruin it.
“SSSbe careful Congo. I’ve heard bears have a hissstory of being fiercesssss.”
“Poor Teddy. We don’t want to hurt you. We want your help,” said Lionel while the others sniggered.
“What do you want,” I asked.
“We just want some justice for our misfortune, that’s all,” said Sebastian.
“You see Teddy,” this was Ellie now, “We were all once Johnny’s favorite. We were all in your position of prosperity. However, Johnny’s interests are fleeting. That piece of shit always wants something new, something fresh. And well, mommy and daddy feel the need to spoil the little prick with new gifts all the time which is how we ended up down here, under the bed. He forgets about us about as quickly as he forgets what he had for dinner last night. So, we just want him to remember us. It’s as simple as that.”
If what he said is true, then Johnny will forget me someday. I couldn’t believe that, not after today. They just want to steal me from Johnny. “If Johnny wanted you then you wouldn’t be under the bed. I’m not going to let you steal me from Johnny. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me. He gave me the touch of life!”
“Aw yesss, the touch of life. And he will give you the touch of death sssoon enough,” said Noodles.
“You realize Teddy that we were all once his favorites and that we have all fallen down beneath the bed. Eventually you will be down here and live the rest of your life with us. We’ve tried to be friendly Teddy but now you are just being difficult,” said Sebastian. They started to creep closer to me, spreading apart hoping to engulf me.
“My name is Lawrence!” They stopped. Johnny started rolling over in the bed. I fall onto my back, lifeless like I once was.
“There you are Lawrence. Come back to bed.” Johnny grabbed me and pulled me up into bed. He fell asleep almost immediately. I heard a hsss from Noodles.
“Thisss meansss war Teddy.”
Every night from then on, I fight the monsters lurking under Johnny’s bed. Each day goes by where I receive another cut or stain fighting them back while I slowly start to realize the truth of what they told me that first night. I can see it in Johnny’s eyes. Years go by. And somehow I have stayed with him, giving me false hope that I will stay with him forever. I know deep down that I will end up beneath the bed sulking in the shadows with the rest of the misfits. I will stay loyal to Johnny, protecting him from the evil below and when the time comes for me to fall, I will reminisce on the first time I saw Johnny’s face as he freed me from my cage. I will remember what he said: “He’s perfect.”
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I don't remember where the bear came from, It was one among the seemingly endless parade of toys given to Sarah by Family or friends.
I didn't meet Jane until we were In our mid thirties and Sarah didn't arrive until her cousins and friends kids were much older, so the house was full to the brim with the kind of hand-me down kid clutter people are always so glad to rid themselves of, and Jayne never said no.
It had clearly seen better days even from the beginning, but Sarah loved that Fucking bear. At first it was simply "bear" but as the repairs mounted up over the years It became "Mr Stitch"
Sarah pulled the arm off when she was 3. I sewed it back on inexpertly, with thick woolen thread, the arm never hung the same way again. After that it became a sort of game between us, I wasnt at home much and Sarah would come to me in the evenings with some new hole or a missing ear that needed to be reattached. Before long the thing was mostly patchwork and thread but she never seemed to mind. She said that Mr Stitch protected her from his perch at the bottom of her bed from the monsters that came at night. With their patterning feet and sharp little claws. I told her that he must be bad at it because he always seemed to get torn up. She said that he's only a teddy bear daddy, he's doing the best he can.
The thing smelled. Not really bad but not pleasant either, despite its many baths in the kitchen sink.
Sarah wouldnt sleep without it and I would throw a panic if there was the suggestion that Mr Stitch wouldn't be there tonight because he was drying out on the radiator. The hairdryer would come out and Mr Stitch would be readied for battle once more.
Jayne got sick and her mother came to stay and help out for a couple of weeks. Nana gathered up Mr Stitch one morning and put in the washing machine with Sarah's quilt cover.
All that was left were the mismatched plastic eyes, and a ball of tangled thread and stuffing.
Sarah wouldnt sleep after that unless it was in our bed. It went on for near a month before I found the same bear. I bought 2 in case of further casualties. It took 2 nights to get it looking passably like the old one. I'd saved the mismatched eyes, and retreived them from a drawer full of keys and batteries and hair grips.
Sarah seemed suspicious at first but I'd done a damned good job. I remembered every detail of that bear. Sarah was suspicious at first but she went down without too much trouble that night.
That was until she woke us up screaming that he wasn't alive and they were climbing up her bed.
Crit please. I've never written anything before.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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Some people think it's absurdly odd that I, a grown man, still sleep with my teddy bear. When I was 16 and first had a girl in my room alone, so close to that one thing that every teenage boy obsesses about constantly she laughed and left me in a...difficult...state when I insisted that my bear could not watch what we were about to do. Now a days he's ragged and worn, missing an ear and an eye, one arm barely still attached and missing almost all of his stuffing. But I remember. I remember when my dad gave him to me. I remember everything my bear, the bravest knight of the realm, has done for me.
...
"Check the closet again, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?" I whined.
"No son, good night" my father replied. I know he and mom both love me but they just don't know. They don't believe me when I tell them about the monsters that try to get me when they put me to bed.
When they saw the long scratches that the monster left me that night they thought I was doing it to myself, just to get attention. Then my father had an idea, if I was going to commit so much to this make believe then his only course was to turn it around and use my own fantasy against me. That's when he gave me Sir Barnabas Grizzly, my teddy bear.
"Now son, Sir Barnabas is the bravest knight of the realm and he's here to fight off the monsters so that you can go to sleep." My father told me when he placed the softest, fuzziest bear I'd ever seen in my hands before sending me off to bed one night.
I looked at the bear skeptically. I didn't know how something with honey golden fur and a button nose could protect me from the things I'd seen under the bed and in the closet. But at least it was something to hold onto when things got bad.
They came that night, like they always did. The slimey, cold hand from under the bed and the hot, musty breath from the closet. I knew what they were coming to do and couldn't help myself. All I could do was cower in the bed and cling to my new fuzzy friend.
"Let me go, please." a strange voice that I had never heard before said into the darkness.
I sat stunned, of all the times the monsters had come there had never been a voice like that. It sounded so...British.
"I can't bloody well protect you if you don't let me go", the voice came again, this time it sounded like it came from my bear. But there was no way, Sir Barnabas was just a teddy bear, right?
I slowly took the bear from under my arm and turned him around, holding up to my face so I could get a better look at him.
"Very good, my liege, now if you would just let me go I'll show these beasties what for." Sir Barnabas said from three inches in front of my face.
I had to be hallucinating, there was no way a teddy bear was talking to me. But whenever he spoke the arm pulled away, retreating a little bit back under the bed and the musty breath went silent from the closet.
"Who are you?" I felt ridiculous but nothing had ever made the monsters scared like this except grownups.
"Sir Barnabas Grizzly, at your service, my liege", the bear said.
"You can talk", I said dumbfounded and unbelieving.
"Aye, sir, and more if you'd be so kind as to put me down", replied the bear calmly.
I didn't know what to do, the bear and I just stared at each other for a while. That is, until the hand reached tentatively back out from under the bed, unsure if it was safe.
"Sir, I will be happy to explain all of this to you later but you must let me down so I can protect you as I've sworn to do." Sir Barnabas sounded almost impatient now but also supremely unconcerned like he was talking about how he also had to take out the trash and do the dishes, like mom did when she was making her list of chores.
I couldn't think of anything else to do so I set Sir Barnabas on the bed. And from there the most amazing things happened.
Sir Barnabas stood up, dusted off his legs, cracked his neck, looked at me and said, "Thank you, sir, now I shall take my leave with your permission."
I just nodded at him, to stunned to comprehend.
Sir Barnabas waddled over to the side of the bed and leaped to the ground, immediately diving under the bed. I could do nothing but stare at the spot where he had disappeared while listening to the yowling and yelling coming from beneath me. That is, until the dragon's head began to emerge from the closet.
It was solid black with amber eyes and a long, flicking, pink forked tongue that was flicking in and out constantly. If I was afraid before I was terrified now as my new found companion seemed to be locked in combat beneath the bed while slowly the dragon's head kept coming towards me, exposing its huge, pointed teeth every time its mouth opened. All I could do was curl up into a ball and try to shrink away from it.
Suddenly, Sir Barnabas was leaping onto the dragon's snout, covered in green goo and shouting "You're a naughty one, aren't you," to the dragon, completely without fear. The dragon whirled and bucked beneath the furry combatant, trying to buck him off and snap its jaws shut around my new friend. But Sir Barnabas seemed able to ride the riling reptile and began punching the dragon on the snout. This caused the dragon to begin emitting the most curious whining sounds and it began to retreat into the closet. Sir Barnabas jumped off its nose, did a neat flip and landed in front of me on the bed, watching his vanquished foe retreat back into the dark recesses of the closet.
"Well, they shouldn't trouble us anymore, sir," Sir Barnabas said as he turned around to look at me. "I do hope you're alright." He peered at me with his dark eyes, looking me over for wounds.
"That was amazing!" I shouted, scooping him up in my arms. "How does a teddy bear fight off monsters like that?" I asked incredulously.
"Well sir, it's just what we teddy bears do." He replied, squirming a little bit in my tight hug. "We all pledge ourselves to defend and protect children at all costs, it is our duty."
And that's all he would ever say about it. The next day I begged my mother to make a set of armor and a sword for my new knight companion. And while she did stitch up a set of teddy bear armor for him, probably just to placate me, she never did make a sword for him. She was probably just happy I stopped crying about monsters and dragging my feet on my way to bed. I never was afraid of the dark after Sir Barnabas came to me for I knew no creature, no matter how foul and evil could best him, the bravest knight in the realm.
As I grew older so did Sir Barnabas, and he certainly didn't finish all of his grand battles unscathed like he did that first one. But the monsters attacked less and less frequently until one day they stopped completely. I knew what would come after that day.
"I must rest now, sir" Sir Barnabas, or Barry as he let me call him, said on the night of my 18th birthday.
"I know, Barry," I said, with a tear running down my cheek, "I relieve you of your duty, Sir Barnabas" I managed to croak out.
"Farewell, sir." Were the last things he said before falling asleep for the last time.
I loved that bear. And I swear by Sir Barnabas Grizzly's unblemished honor that when my child is afraid of the dark that I will find them their own brave, fuzzy knight to defend them. Because Sir Barnabas was possibly the best friend I ever had.
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I don't remember where the bear came from, It was one among the seemingly endless parade of toys given to Sarah by Family or friends.
I didn't meet Jane until we were In our mid thirties and Sarah didn't arrive until her cousins and friends kids were much older, so the house was full to the brim with the kind of hand-me down kid clutter people are always so glad to rid themselves of, and Jayne never said no.
It had clearly seen better days even from the beginning, but Sarah loved that Fucking bear. At first it was simply "bear" but as the repairs mounted up over the years It became "Mr Stitch"
Sarah pulled the arm off when she was 3. I sewed it back on inexpertly, with thick woolen thread, the arm never hung the same way again. After that it became a sort of game between us, I wasnt at home much and Sarah would come to me in the evenings with some new hole or a missing ear that needed to be reattached. Before long the thing was mostly patchwork and thread but she never seemed to mind. She said that Mr Stitch protected her from his perch at the bottom of her bed from the monsters that came at night. With their patterning feet and sharp little claws. I told her that he must be bad at it because he always seemed to get torn up. She said that he's only a teddy bear daddy, he's doing the best he can.
The thing smelled. Not really bad but not pleasant either, despite its many baths in the kitchen sink.
Sarah wouldnt sleep without it and I would throw a panic if there was the suggestion that Mr Stitch wouldn't be there tonight because he was drying out on the radiator. The hairdryer would come out and Mr Stitch would be readied for battle once more.
Jayne got sick and her mother came to stay and help out for a couple of weeks. Nana gathered up Mr Stitch one morning and put in the washing machine with Sarah's quilt cover.
All that was left were the mismatched plastic eyes, and a ball of tangled thread and stuffing.
Sarah wouldnt sleep after that unless it was in our bed. It went on for near a month before I found the same bear. I bought 2 in case of further casualties. It took 2 nights to get it looking passably like the old one. I'd saved the mismatched eyes, and retreived them from a drawer full of keys and batteries and hair grips.
Sarah seemed suspicious at first but I'd done a damned good job. I remembered every detail of that bear. Sarah was suspicious at first but she went down without too much trouble that night.
That was until she woke us up screaming that he wasn't alive and they were climbing up her bed.
Crit please. I've never written anything before.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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I'm not that good at writing but this prompt really inspired me.
Any critique is welcomed.
‘It’s done’ Rupert sighed, his breath visible hanging on the moonlit air, as he unclenched the paws around the throat of the gremlin, its neck falling slack as the bones were no longer attached to the base of the skull.
He brushed off the dust he was covered in from battle and redacted his claws. The monsters of the night don’t bleed per se as they only exist in the darkest reach of our fears, manifesting themselves when we feel helpless. After a minute to collect himself with deep breaths, he sat down on the edge of the Damien’s bed and started sewing his left eye back on.
Damien was still asleep, his eyes no longer squinting shut and hands not covering his ears to avoid the screams of war.
‘Close your eyes’ Rupert whispered to Damien as he had done many times before ‘and cover your ears like we practiced. This will be finished before you know’
Damien looked at Rupert with bright eyes that screamed with fear but also in the recess against the moonlight glimmered with hope that the morning will come and that his fuzzy little friend will prevail against the hordes.
‘You’ll be there in the morning right Rupert?’ Damien asked
‘As I always have’ he reassured. ‘As I always have’
With that Damien gave Rupert a tight hug and whispered ‘..Be careful’
The outside city noises came to an abrupt end. The light from beneath the crack of the bedroom door went out.
Damien’s parents have gone to bed. This was it. Without sight or sound, Rupert felt the presence around him come to life.
Swirling and slithering around in menace, eager to feed on Damien’s dreams. Damien had covered his ears and closed fast his eyes. His lips were moving but Rupert couldn’t hear him.
Probably singing himself a lullaby, thought Rupert.
The presence had now morphed into the physical realm. Eyes glowing cherry red, teeth bared, slick with saliva dripping from their jaws hungrily, snarling and screeching and just causing a general nuisance. Rupert turned to them, drew a deep breath and with an unblinking button eye, bared his claws.
Once more unto the breach.
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I don't remember where the bear came from, It was one among the seemingly endless parade of toys given to Sarah by Family or friends.
I didn't meet Jane until we were In our mid thirties and Sarah didn't arrive until her cousins and friends kids were much older, so the house was full to the brim with the kind of hand-me down kid clutter people are always so glad to rid themselves of, and Jayne never said no.
It had clearly seen better days even from the beginning, but Sarah loved that Fucking bear. At first it was simply "bear" but as the repairs mounted up over the years It became "Mr Stitch"
Sarah pulled the arm off when she was 3. I sewed it back on inexpertly, with thick woolen thread, the arm never hung the same way again. After that it became a sort of game between us, I wasnt at home much and Sarah would come to me in the evenings with some new hole or a missing ear that needed to be reattached. Before long the thing was mostly patchwork and thread but she never seemed to mind. She said that Mr Stitch protected her from his perch at the bottom of her bed from the monsters that came at night. With their patterning feet and sharp little claws. I told her that he must be bad at it because he always seemed to get torn up. She said that he's only a teddy bear daddy, he's doing the best he can.
The thing smelled. Not really bad but not pleasant either, despite its many baths in the kitchen sink.
Sarah wouldnt sleep without it and I would throw a panic if there was the suggestion that Mr Stitch wouldn't be there tonight because he was drying out on the radiator. The hairdryer would come out and Mr Stitch would be readied for battle once more.
Jayne got sick and her mother came to stay and help out for a couple of weeks. Nana gathered up Mr Stitch one morning and put in the washing machine with Sarah's quilt cover.
All that was left were the mismatched plastic eyes, and a ball of tangled thread and stuffing.
Sarah wouldnt sleep after that unless it was in our bed. It went on for near a month before I found the same bear. I bought 2 in case of further casualties. It took 2 nights to get it looking passably like the old one. I'd saved the mismatched eyes, and retreived them from a drawer full of keys and batteries and hair grips.
Sarah seemed suspicious at first but I'd done a damned good job. I remembered every detail of that bear. Sarah was suspicious at first but she went down without too much trouble that night.
That was until she woke us up screaming that he wasn't alive and they were climbing up her bed.
Crit please. I've never written anything before.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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As the door latched shut and the last of the light in the room faded a soft rustle came from beneath Robins arm.
A portly and fluffy golden head popped out from the covers.
"Oh, bother" the teddy bear grumbled as he clambered up the boys shoulder.
Churchill was his code name but Mr Pooh was the name his charge had given him. Why on earth the daft young boy would name him after excrement he didn't know.
Perched upon his vantage point he surveyed the room, and satisfied that nothing was amiss he pulled a short cigar from his red blouse pocket. He couldn't light it, secondhand smoke was bad for children you know. Nonetheless he wedged the cigar into the side of his mouth and slowly ground away at it, silently waiting.
This night was just like any other night of the bears watch. A slow drawn out wait that rarely ended quietly.
As he expected the nights challenger arrived at the stroke of 2 hours past midnight , as they always had. With a quiet hiss a pale smoke appeared in the room and flitted about the floor before solidifying at the foot of the bed.
A low growl came from the foot of the bed, "Guardian, your boy's day has come, leave now while I still have the mercy to let you."
"Oh, bother, " Churchill thought to himself. All these would be assassins were truly unoriginal and uninspiring. He heaved himself upright on the boys shoulder and muttered his summoning incantations under his breath. Armor appeared and clanked together around him, a little more snug around the mid section as of late. And finally a pot of honey found its way gently into the crook of Churchill's arm. The whole while he could hear the assassin threatening him with damnation and torture.
Everything in place, he lumbered toward the edge of the bed tucking away the cigar for later. He continued slowly moving towards the edge of the bed eating the honey as he went. And still the challenger spewed vile hatred from below.
Upon arriving to the foot of the bed he looked down and saw a run-of-the-mill Gremlin in disheveled armor awaiting him. With a brief glance to verify the distance he finished the last of the honey , broke the pot , grabbed a jagged piece and casually dropped down impaling the Gremlin through his mouth mid-profanity.
"Cheeky bastards" he muttered as he stood himself up and brushed himself off. Another nights work done with ease he thought as he reached for his cigar again. His hand had not yet touched his cigar before he heard multiple hisses and thumps come from the closet.
Slowly and irately Churchill turned his head towards the closet, "Oh, bother"
A multitude of Gremlins crashed from closet and saw two things, an armored ball of golden fur and their dead comrade who had attempted to claim glory of killing Robin by going too early.
The nonchalant manner of the guardian gave the Gremlins a moments pause. But they had slain guardians before, and were determined to keep doing so. Why? Well mostly they liked killing and the way blood splattered, but also because the Great Master commanded it.
The Gremlins became emboldened by the obvious disparity in numbers and cackled as they approached the lone guardian. Their leader for this raid, a squint eyed bugger named Grislow stopped the group and jeered at the guardian, "Looks like little fatty over there forgot his toy sword, GET HIM!"
Churchill cracked his knuckles as the Gremlins charged. They were closing on him and Robins bed.
He pounded his armor with his fist, the sounded that emanated was far deeper and stronger than it should have been.
He began chanting the Haka Ka Mate in a deep timbre and finished with a powerful jump as the Gremlins closed.
As he landed in the midst of their first line he small warm flashes of light came from around the room and out of the shadows 4 figures in armor crashed into the flanks of the Gremlins.
After a brief skirmish, Grislow was beheaded and the remaining Gremlins lost their nerve and vanished.
After a moment to catch his breath Churchill looked at the armored figures , " Are you donglers going to stay and clean this time or do I have to do it solo again?"
One of the figures lifted his helmet revealing a striped feline face, and winked at the other figures " I think nail tail and porker would be willing to pitch in if you offered some of your honey for once."
Churchill rolled his eyes "oh , bother, alright."
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I don't remember where the bear came from, It was one among the seemingly endless parade of toys given to Sarah by Family or friends.
I didn't meet Jane until we were In our mid thirties and Sarah didn't arrive until her cousins and friends kids were much older, so the house was full to the brim with the kind of hand-me down kid clutter people are always so glad to rid themselves of, and Jayne never said no.
It had clearly seen better days even from the beginning, but Sarah loved that Fucking bear. At first it was simply "bear" but as the repairs mounted up over the years It became "Mr Stitch"
Sarah pulled the arm off when she was 3. I sewed it back on inexpertly, with thick woolen thread, the arm never hung the same way again. After that it became a sort of game between us, I wasnt at home much and Sarah would come to me in the evenings with some new hole or a missing ear that needed to be reattached. Before long the thing was mostly patchwork and thread but she never seemed to mind. She said that Mr Stitch protected her from his perch at the bottom of her bed from the monsters that came at night. With their patterning feet and sharp little claws. I told her that he must be bad at it because he always seemed to get torn up. She said that he's only a teddy bear daddy, he's doing the best he can.
The thing smelled. Not really bad but not pleasant either, despite its many baths in the kitchen sink.
Sarah wouldnt sleep without it and I would throw a panic if there was the suggestion that Mr Stitch wouldn't be there tonight because he was drying out on the radiator. The hairdryer would come out and Mr Stitch would be readied for battle once more.
Jayne got sick and her mother came to stay and help out for a couple of weeks. Nana gathered up Mr Stitch one morning and put in the washing machine with Sarah's quilt cover.
All that was left were the mismatched plastic eyes, and a ball of tangled thread and stuffing.
Sarah wouldnt sleep after that unless it was in our bed. It went on for near a month before I found the same bear. I bought 2 in case of further casualties. It took 2 nights to get it looking passably like the old one. I'd saved the mismatched eyes, and retreived them from a drawer full of keys and batteries and hair grips.
Sarah seemed suspicious at first but I'd done a damned good job. I remembered every detail of that bear. Sarah was suspicious at first but she went down without too much trouble that night.
That was until she woke us up screaming that he wasn't alive and they were climbing up her bed.
Crit please. I've never written anything before.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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"Daddy can you bring me Sir Stuffington?"
"Of course"
John always had to stifle a laugh at Sir Stuffington. His son had a Medieval phase that had seemingly grown into genuine historical interest. But he could not laugh out loud, it seemed to greatly upset his son. So, he walked over to the Bear's place of honor on his son's dresser and carefully picked up the bear. He felt like he had to be incredibly careful as it had seen great wear and tear in its time. But, ever since hie had given the son the bear the poor child's night terrors and bed wetting were seemingly over. The psychologist said that anything that helps was a good thing at this point even if it was a little childish. The loss of his mother was of course devastating and he would far rather the boy have a bear a little too long than be on the antidepressants already.
He gently placed the bear next to his son, kissed his son's forehead and left. The boy fell fast asleep, a miracle just a few months ago. The dead of the night crept in. A voice cackled in the dark. "He is MINE" Sir Stuffington carefully pulled himself out of the child's grasp. His silent growl deepening in his throat. The boy was his charge. While a single stitch held him together none would pass. The many eyed demon skittered forward, lit by the dim violet nightlight.
The two enemies stared from across the toy filled room. The dance began. The monster was in perfect form tonight, the boy was nervous about the upcoming school year. The first time the bus would take him away without his mother to make him banana pancakes. The first time his mom would not be able to pack his lunch so he would have to wait in the line and pay the lunch lady. The first birthday his mother would miss.
The monster's chitinous limbs tore into Sir Stuffington's arms, and the little warrior could barely hold on to keep them from sinking deeper
"He's growing older Stuffington, he won't want you much longer, you are a baby's plaything, not a grown boy's"
Anger welled in the bear. "SIR Stuffington" he spat with rage. With a scream of hate and pain he tore his arms free and lunged at the thing's neck. The monster back peddled and wrench back and forth. But the bear would not be denied.
Weakened and weeping its invisible life's blood into the carpet, the Monster gurgled "YOU CAN'T SAVE HIM FOREVER!"
Sir Stuffington stepped forward and bared his teeth.
The monster left.
After he was sure it was safe, Sir Stuffington left the boy and walked carefully past the room where the poor boy's father wept bitterly over his wife's picture. He carefully cracked opened the door to the late mother's sewing room. Everything in it was kept just so. It was as sacrosanct. So Sir Stuffington always knew where the needle and thread were. He gingerly packed the stuffing back into his wounds and trudged tenderly back into the boys arms. The monster was right and wrong. One day he couldn't save the boy because one day the boy wouldn't need him anymore. But until that day, or the bear's last day, he would fight
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I don't remember where the bear came from, It was one among the seemingly endless parade of toys given to Sarah by Family or friends.
I didn't meet Jane until we were In our mid thirties and Sarah didn't arrive until her cousins and friends kids were much older, so the house was full to the brim with the kind of hand-me down kid clutter people are always so glad to rid themselves of, and Jayne never said no.
It had clearly seen better days even from the beginning, but Sarah loved that Fucking bear. At first it was simply "bear" but as the repairs mounted up over the years It became "Mr Stitch"
Sarah pulled the arm off when she was 3. I sewed it back on inexpertly, with thick woolen thread, the arm never hung the same way again. After that it became a sort of game between us, I wasnt at home much and Sarah would come to me in the evenings with some new hole or a missing ear that needed to be reattached. Before long the thing was mostly patchwork and thread but she never seemed to mind. She said that Mr Stitch protected her from his perch at the bottom of her bed from the monsters that came at night. With their patterning feet and sharp little claws. I told her that he must be bad at it because he always seemed to get torn up. She said that he's only a teddy bear daddy, he's doing the best he can.
The thing smelled. Not really bad but not pleasant either, despite its many baths in the kitchen sink.
Sarah wouldnt sleep without it and I would throw a panic if there was the suggestion that Mr Stitch wouldn't be there tonight because he was drying out on the radiator. The hairdryer would come out and Mr Stitch would be readied for battle once more.
Jayne got sick and her mother came to stay and help out for a couple of weeks. Nana gathered up Mr Stitch one morning and put in the washing machine with Sarah's quilt cover.
All that was left were the mismatched plastic eyes, and a ball of tangled thread and stuffing.
Sarah wouldnt sleep after that unless it was in our bed. It went on for near a month before I found the same bear. I bought 2 in case of further casualties. It took 2 nights to get it looking passably like the old one. I'd saved the mismatched eyes, and retreived them from a drawer full of keys and batteries and hair grips.
Sarah seemed suspicious at first but I'd done a damned good job. I remembered every detail of that bear. Sarah was suspicious at first but she went down without too much trouble that night.
That was until she woke us up screaming that he wasn't alive and they were climbing up her bed.
Crit please. I've never written anything before.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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"He asleep yet?"
I watched from the entrance of his room and nodded. "Yeah, I think he's okay for now." I closed the door and looked at my husband. "How are you feeling?"
He rubbed his eyes and smiled a weary smile. "Tired. I had hoped that after a few years the night terrors would stop, but I guess we'll just have to cope with it." He rubbed my belly. "You just take care of the two of you hun. It'll be alright."
Come morning, Dan was already gone when I woke up. By the time I had made breakfast and woke up Allan, he'd returned with a wrapped box. I smiled.
"Well sport... Look what I found waiting outside for you!" Allan jumped away from the table and raced towards his father. "Is that for me? Why?" He didn't wait for an answer though: as soon as he got his hands on the package he ripped through the packaging to reveal a pretty large teddybear. Allan was in heaven. As soon as he was done unpacking, he took the bear with him to the table and positioned him on the empty chair next to him. It was his everything: he kept talking to it, about what I had made him for breakfast and what he was going to do today and how he would give him a spot in his bed. Dan sat down beside me and pinched my leg under the table. "I'd almost swear his face just got a few tints less pale, wouldn't you agree?" I nodded while I peeled my egg.
That night, when I tucked Allan and Brody in (that's what he named his bear), I gave both of them a hug. "You take good care of my boy, Brody. Allan, your bear is important! If you protect him, he'll protect you. Don't you forget that!" Allan nodded his head from half under his blanket. "I know! Brody told me so." I smiled and after a "good night" turned off the light and closed the door. Dan was standing in the hallway. "Brody? Seriously? Where'd he get that from? And please don't fill his mind with that nonsense. If it helps him sleep though..." I grabbed his arm and took him back downstairs. "I don't think I heard you ever talking that way about Celia, huh?" Dan smirked. "That battered old bear of yours was actually what got me thinking. I figured that having a stuffed animal might help him." When we settled down behind the TV, with me leaning against his arm, I couldn't help but smile. It wouldn't have worked if I gave a bear; I knew. But Dan, from his own love, gave it to Allan and that... Yeah, that would work. I gave Celia a pat on the head before going to bed. "And so the circle begins anew," I whispered to her. Celia just smiled, like she always did.
*****
Fun prompt. If you like it, [take a look at my personal sub too](/r/TheAlcove) :-)
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I don't remember where the bear came from, It was one among the seemingly endless parade of toys given to Sarah by Family or friends.
I didn't meet Jane until we were In our mid thirties and Sarah didn't arrive until her cousins and friends kids were much older, so the house was full to the brim with the kind of hand-me down kid clutter people are always so glad to rid themselves of, and Jayne never said no.
It had clearly seen better days even from the beginning, but Sarah loved that Fucking bear. At first it was simply "bear" but as the repairs mounted up over the years It became "Mr Stitch"
Sarah pulled the arm off when she was 3. I sewed it back on inexpertly, with thick woolen thread, the arm never hung the same way again. After that it became a sort of game between us, I wasnt at home much and Sarah would come to me in the evenings with some new hole or a missing ear that needed to be reattached. Before long the thing was mostly patchwork and thread but she never seemed to mind. She said that Mr Stitch protected her from his perch at the bottom of her bed from the monsters that came at night. With their patterning feet and sharp little claws. I told her that he must be bad at it because he always seemed to get torn up. She said that he's only a teddy bear daddy, he's doing the best he can.
The thing smelled. Not really bad but not pleasant either, despite its many baths in the kitchen sink.
Sarah wouldnt sleep without it and I would throw a panic if there was the suggestion that Mr Stitch wouldn't be there tonight because he was drying out on the radiator. The hairdryer would come out and Mr Stitch would be readied for battle once more.
Jayne got sick and her mother came to stay and help out for a couple of weeks. Nana gathered up Mr Stitch one morning and put in the washing machine with Sarah's quilt cover.
All that was left were the mismatched plastic eyes, and a ball of tangled thread and stuffing.
Sarah wouldnt sleep after that unless it was in our bed. It went on for near a month before I found the same bear. I bought 2 in case of further casualties. It took 2 nights to get it looking passably like the old one. I'd saved the mismatched eyes, and retreived them from a drawer full of keys and batteries and hair grips.
Sarah seemed suspicious at first but I'd done a damned good job. I remembered every detail of that bear. Sarah was suspicious at first but she went down without too much trouble that night.
That was until she woke us up screaming that he wasn't alive and they were climbing up her bed.
Crit please. I've never written anything before.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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I wrote this previously, but it fits this prompt so thought I would share:
****
**Her Best Friend**
Slowly the light faded, disappearing with the sound of the door closing, and darkness was left in its wake. The wind whispered outside, shaking the leaves of the overhanging trees, and casting ominous shadows on the walls. A quick intake of breath was followed by the rustling of sheets and the patter of feet on hardwood as they raced across the room. With a click stars illuminated the dark, sparkling on the ceiling and walls from their socket outside the darkened closet door. The nightlight chased away the dark and brought into focus the room’s inhabitant. Her small face was cast in shadows, dark hair tumbling over petite shoulders, and unicorns in all colors decorating her pajamas.
She reached out slowly, a small finger tracing the closest star, before the creaking of floorboards sent her scurrying back into bed, into the safety of her sheets and covers. Over her head they went, for bed was safety, a haven against the monsters that lurked under it and deep within the dark corners of the closet. Small hands began feeling out around her, searching the length of the bed for Felix. She dived deeper into her covers, until she had reached the foot of her bed without sight or touch of the bear in question. Her head poked forth from under the blankets, her hair messed, as she peered around the room.
Sleep, no matter how hard she fought, would elude her until Felix was found. Placing both hands on each of the bed posts, she pulled herself forward, until she was able to peer cautiously over the bottom of the bed and into the dark beneath it. No glowing eyes or growl met her inquiry, and so she placed one palm on the floor and, bracing herself, reached into the depths. A groan of displeasure filled the quiet space. Withdrawing her hand after having no luck, she attempted to right herself back on the bed when she fell from it in a heap of small limbs. Her blanket settled around her on the ground, but she made no move to get up, her ears listening for the distant sound of footsteps, her eyes trained on the dim light shining forth from under the door. After several moments of holding her breath, she stood and replaced her blankets on the bed.
At a loss, she sat down on the edge, her toes skimming the ground as she swung them back and forth. Felix had been with her when they had went shopping, and he had been allowed to ride in the front seat afterward, so Felix had certainly made it home. They had watched a movie together while mommy had cooked dinner, and had both refused to eat their peas, which meant they had not been given dessert, but they had decided that not eating peas was worth not eating ice cream. They came up stairs to play after dinner, and then it had been bath time, and Felix couldn’t take a bath, because the last time he had tried he had nearly been ruined, so he had to stay in the bedroom by himself.
The little girls’ eye’s flicked to the closet. Felix and her had been playing dress up, and Felix had needed a pair of shoes to match his coat and tie, so they had gone into the closet in search of his loafers, when they had been interrupted by bath time. She had not seen Felix since then, meaning only one thing; Felix was still in the closet, which was now closed because both of them hated the closet at night. Breathing in a deep breath, she climbed onto her bare feet and slowly crossed the distance between her bed and the closet, her heart rate climbing as she grew closer.
“Felix,” She reached out, touching the closed closet door, her small voice wavering with fear. Felix did not answer. Her small hand crept toward the door handle, but stalled as her bedroom door was opened, lighting the room with the hall light. She turned into it, and the sight of her mother standing in the doorway greeted her. Hands on her hips, she was shaking her head as she spoke.
“Molly! You’re supposed to be in bed, asleep.”
“I forgot Felix in the closet,” Molly replied, and brave in the presence of her mother, pulled the closet door open and found Felix, still dressed in his tie and jacket. She reached for him, and it was almost as if he reached for her as she scooped him into her arms and darted back to bed. She settled back into her pillow as her mother recovered her with blankets. Soothing back the now tangled mess of hair, she kissed her forehead before issuing a warning.
“Stay in bed, or Felix will be spending the night with me.” Her mother crossed the room and closed the closet door, checked the nightlight, and then, with a final look at her daughter, closed the bedroom door. Her footsteps sounded on the hardwood as she moved down the hallway. Molly waited several moments before she turned to Felix, who was sitting on her pillow, and gave him a slow smile.
“Your sword and shield are under the pillow, in case you need them, Felix.” She gave his foot a small squeeze before she closed her eyes, her head sinking farther into her pillow. Several minutes passed, and as her breathing slowed and she fell into sleep, the closet door creaked open.
Felix sat a little straighter, his sword at the ready and his shield poised for action, as he prepared to protect his most precious possession.
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I don't remember where the bear came from, It was one among the seemingly endless parade of toys given to Sarah by Family or friends.
I didn't meet Jane until we were In our mid thirties and Sarah didn't arrive until her cousins and friends kids were much older, so the house was full to the brim with the kind of hand-me down kid clutter people are always so glad to rid themselves of, and Jayne never said no.
It had clearly seen better days even from the beginning, but Sarah loved that Fucking bear. At first it was simply "bear" but as the repairs mounted up over the years It became "Mr Stitch"
Sarah pulled the arm off when she was 3. I sewed it back on inexpertly, with thick woolen thread, the arm never hung the same way again. After that it became a sort of game between us, I wasnt at home much and Sarah would come to me in the evenings with some new hole or a missing ear that needed to be reattached. Before long the thing was mostly patchwork and thread but she never seemed to mind. She said that Mr Stitch protected her from his perch at the bottom of her bed from the monsters that came at night. With their patterning feet and sharp little claws. I told her that he must be bad at it because he always seemed to get torn up. She said that he's only a teddy bear daddy, he's doing the best he can.
The thing smelled. Not really bad but not pleasant either, despite its many baths in the kitchen sink.
Sarah wouldnt sleep without it and I would throw a panic if there was the suggestion that Mr Stitch wouldn't be there tonight because he was drying out on the radiator. The hairdryer would come out and Mr Stitch would be readied for battle once more.
Jayne got sick and her mother came to stay and help out for a couple of weeks. Nana gathered up Mr Stitch one morning and put in the washing machine with Sarah's quilt cover.
All that was left were the mismatched plastic eyes, and a ball of tangled thread and stuffing.
Sarah wouldnt sleep after that unless it was in our bed. It went on for near a month before I found the same bear. I bought 2 in case of further casualties. It took 2 nights to get it looking passably like the old one. I'd saved the mismatched eyes, and retreived them from a drawer full of keys and batteries and hair grips.
Sarah seemed suspicious at first but I'd done a damned good job. I remembered every detail of that bear. Sarah was suspicious at first but she went down without too much trouble that night.
That was until she woke us up screaming that he wasn't alive and they were climbing up her bed.
Crit please. I've never written anything before.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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Samuel was the light of my life. When I held his precious body for the first time, I knew it. I was irrevocably, endlessly, in love.
Money was tight, many days, but I would find ways to scrounge up money enough for birthdays and Christmases, giving my Sam the presents on his wish list every year, without fail.
There was was exactly one year I couldn't get him his birthday wish list, not a single present. He was three years old. He wanted a set of Lego's and some Batman accessories. I could barely get us fed.
Thanks to a hand-me-down bear from a thrift store - it cost a dollar - and a woman from our church, I had a cake and a present.
Sam didn't mind. The bear had soft, soft fur, even after years of use. One glass eye had fallen out to be replaced by a neatly sewn button. He had a little bite mark in his ear, from a cat or a dog. From Samuel's birthday onwards, he and the teddy bear were best friends.
On his first day of kindergarten I helped hide Bear - a simple name, a fitting and exact name, the sort of name any three year old could come up with - in his backpack, beneath books and crayons and paper.
And every day for the rest of the year, Bear hid in Sam's backpack and went to school with him.
I was first alerted to something... unusual... about Bear during that same year. I woke up to hear sounds of fighting, coming from Samuel's room. We didn't have a video game console - not until Sammy was ten - and the only TV was in the living room. I crept in the room, and saw...
Everything was in its place. Sam was asleep, Bear settled neatly in his arms. And yet - there was a single paper, having fluttered to the ground. It was a drawing, crude and in the style of a five year old, of Bear standing up to strange shadowy creatures I couldn't make heads or tails of.
At the time, I dismissed the entire incident, and the paper, to imagination. But as the year passed, more unusual things happened.
Keys would be lost, only to narrowly dodge accidents. Sammy's room would be clean at night, only for there to be a small mess in the morning. Even Bear would go missing, only to show up some time later along with something important - the electricity bill, his field trip form, a letter from family or friends.
And sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night to hear the sounds of fighting.
When Sam was seven, I finally saw what was happening. I don't think Bear or his enemies realized I was awake. But I crept to Sam's bedroom and peered in the door. Bear stood strong and tall - stood, a teddy bear without a wire in him! - facing shadowy creatures. I remembered the drawing then.
With Bear, Sammy and I are safe. And now that he's going off to college, I won't let him leave without Bear. But you try convincing an eighteen year old who thinks he knows everything that his stuffed Bear will protect him. It isn't easy.
So I dust Bear off - and he isn't very dusty - from the old closet and smile at him. Sam may say he's too old for old Bear, but I know better. He has two button eyes now, and his ear is in half, but his fur is still as soft as ever.
"What do you say to a road trip, buddy?"
After all, I can't let my boy go off without his best protector.
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I don't remember where the bear came from, It was one among the seemingly endless parade of toys given to Sarah by Family or friends.
I didn't meet Jane until we were In our mid thirties and Sarah didn't arrive until her cousins and friends kids were much older, so the house was full to the brim with the kind of hand-me down kid clutter people are always so glad to rid themselves of, and Jayne never said no.
It had clearly seen better days even from the beginning, but Sarah loved that Fucking bear. At first it was simply "bear" but as the repairs mounted up over the years It became "Mr Stitch"
Sarah pulled the arm off when she was 3. I sewed it back on inexpertly, with thick woolen thread, the arm never hung the same way again. After that it became a sort of game between us, I wasnt at home much and Sarah would come to me in the evenings with some new hole or a missing ear that needed to be reattached. Before long the thing was mostly patchwork and thread but she never seemed to mind. She said that Mr Stitch protected her from his perch at the bottom of her bed from the monsters that came at night. With their patterning feet and sharp little claws. I told her that he must be bad at it because he always seemed to get torn up. She said that he's only a teddy bear daddy, he's doing the best he can.
The thing smelled. Not really bad but not pleasant either, despite its many baths in the kitchen sink.
Sarah wouldnt sleep without it and I would throw a panic if there was the suggestion that Mr Stitch wouldn't be there tonight because he was drying out on the radiator. The hairdryer would come out and Mr Stitch would be readied for battle once more.
Jayne got sick and her mother came to stay and help out for a couple of weeks. Nana gathered up Mr Stitch one morning and put in the washing machine with Sarah's quilt cover.
All that was left were the mismatched plastic eyes, and a ball of tangled thread and stuffing.
Sarah wouldnt sleep after that unless it was in our bed. It went on for near a month before I found the same bear. I bought 2 in case of further casualties. It took 2 nights to get it looking passably like the old one. I'd saved the mismatched eyes, and retreived them from a drawer full of keys and batteries and hair grips.
Sarah seemed suspicious at first but I'd done a damned good job. I remembered every detail of that bear. Sarah was suspicious at first but she went down without too much trouble that night.
That was until she woke us up screaming that he wasn't alive and they were climbing up her bed.
Crit please. I've never written anything before.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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**Eyes of Glass**
How I miss my eyes of glass.
Originally, I had button eyes. Little black ones about ½ an inch wide, with 4 holes to hold them in place. Nonna Maria gave me then after making me for Master Gianni. Her love and kindness had infused my being with every stitch she made as she made me. And had she been my only Maker, a simple Teddy I would have remained all my days.
But we can’t pick our makers anymore than we can pick our parents. For all their well wishes and kind feelings, it is their whispered words and muffled curses that sometimes shape us most of all.
I can’t complain though. I’ve had a wonderful life. Little Gianni became Johnny and passed me on to his daughter, who passed me on to her son, John Jr. I was sentry to their dreams, absorber of their tears, and cuddler of their coughs and illnesses. Even memories of being chewed and buried by my fellow guardians brought a wave of melancholy if I’ve been exiled to a shelf long enough.
It didn’t matter though, because I knew that while I rested, I would be called upon again to watch over the next child. It was the way of things and as my Makers had intended.
So it was with surprise and hurt that I was tossed in with the rest of the “miscellaneous possessions”. Rudy had come to the old house, and as Nonno’s executor, donated me along with the rest of the “stuff”.
While I never met this Good William, I was treated well there. I was re-stuffed, re-stitched, and given my eyes of glass. More importantly, she did it properly. First giving me my new one, and then replacing my old one with Sky-blue circles around a black centre. Oh how I would have smiled if I had a mouth, but aside from my nose, that was nothing else on my face.
No matter. I had always been a keeper of secrets and I kept them all.
People don’t understand that is why we were never given mouths. A child’s fears are not bound by rationality. Children live in a world where monsters are as tall as the sky, or have a billion mouths with a billion teeth. This is the dark side of a sense of Wonder.
And why every child needs a Guardian.
Oh yes, my eyes of glass. Up until then, all I had seen of the world was black and white, night and light, evil and good. But with my new eyes, I could see all the colours and happiness in-between. After leaving the House of Good William, I saw the world anew. Sitting at a table with the rich red of raspberry jam sandwiches. The speckled-green of a frog as it hopped across a room while momma chased it too and fro. Even stars on a ceiling! Modern life is filled with such amazing toys!
And I was able to see then all with my eyes of glass. Oh how I loved them! In all my years as a Guardian, I had lost one eye, but it had hurt so much. But worse, had been knowing that I did not have a spare eye. That if I had lost my other eye, I would have been lost. For when both eyes are gone, we Guardians lost our abilities.
Dani (imagine that! A girl named Dani!), bought me for her son, and gave me someone to watch over. His name was Caleb, and I like to think that I was his favourite. Caleb took me everywhere and together we saw beaches and mountains but no matter where the chauffeur took us, we always slept together.
Until that night.
It turns out that the chauffeur was not a friend of the family. Ironic too since he was of the old blood. Like other-Nonna had been. Nonna Red-Fox.
Nonna Red-Fox had known the old ways. How scarecrows could be made to keep birds away. How war-paint could give someone heightened senses. And how blood added to thread, could make a ward that lasted beyond the death of the caster.
Nonna Maria had stitched me together out of love, but Nonna Red Fox has added her blood to the lanolin in the threads. Together, I was made to protect children.
So when chauffeur came for Caleb, Caleb cried out for me, and we went together.
We were kept in a house, somewhere.
Caleb grew hungry, but was fed.
He was tired, and was allowed to rest.
But I knew that something was wrong.
So I waited until Caleb went to sleep, and I used to magic.
Guardian Magic is not the same for every one of us and it is not without a price. People say that eyes are the window to the soul, but it also the gateway to magic. Unfortunately, using magic destroys the gateway. Still, an eye is a small price to pay, to save Caleb.
I knew that chauffeur had a phone, and that Caleb could use it, so all I needed to do was get it.
But chauffeur saw me. It was the last thing he saw.
As pain stabbed into my head, I unleashed the fears.
Lifetimes of it.
The one time I had done it before, it was of the dark, and things that lurked in it. Of the loneliness of a child. Of the angry voices of parents hurting each other. Of thunder and lightning flashes on moonless nights. Of childhood fears unleashed.
Children are stronger than most adults realize. I know because when faced with childhood fears, adults cannot handle them.
Chauffeur certainly couldn’t.
As I recovered and made my way back to Caleb, I heard another noise.
Chauffeur had not been alone.
And as I turned to face chauffeur’s partner crime, I felt several thoughts pass through my mind.
I hoped that Caleb wouldn’t notice that a spark had left his Teddybear. That while I would still be at his side, I would be less than I had been all his days. I hoped he wouldn’t stop talking to me, sharing with me his fears. I hoped we would still have our adventures, and that his dreams would be joyful again.
But, to be honest, my last thought was a selfish one.
That my final sight, would not be of his beautiful face, but rather of some nameless monster who had taken him from his family and home.
How I miss my eyes of glass.
As darkness comes for me.
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I don't remember where the bear came from, It was one among the seemingly endless parade of toys given to Sarah by Family or friends.
I didn't meet Jane until we were In our mid thirties and Sarah didn't arrive until her cousins and friends kids were much older, so the house was full to the brim with the kind of hand-me down kid clutter people are always so glad to rid themselves of, and Jayne never said no.
It had clearly seen better days even from the beginning, but Sarah loved that Fucking bear. At first it was simply "bear" but as the repairs mounted up over the years It became "Mr Stitch"
Sarah pulled the arm off when she was 3. I sewed it back on inexpertly, with thick woolen thread, the arm never hung the same way again. After that it became a sort of game between us, I wasnt at home much and Sarah would come to me in the evenings with some new hole or a missing ear that needed to be reattached. Before long the thing was mostly patchwork and thread but she never seemed to mind. She said that Mr Stitch protected her from his perch at the bottom of her bed from the monsters that came at night. With their patterning feet and sharp little claws. I told her that he must be bad at it because he always seemed to get torn up. She said that he's only a teddy bear daddy, he's doing the best he can.
The thing smelled. Not really bad but not pleasant either, despite its many baths in the kitchen sink.
Sarah wouldnt sleep without it and I would throw a panic if there was the suggestion that Mr Stitch wouldn't be there tonight because he was drying out on the radiator. The hairdryer would come out and Mr Stitch would be readied for battle once more.
Jayne got sick and her mother came to stay and help out for a couple of weeks. Nana gathered up Mr Stitch one morning and put in the washing machine with Sarah's quilt cover.
All that was left were the mismatched plastic eyes, and a ball of tangled thread and stuffing.
Sarah wouldnt sleep after that unless it was in our bed. It went on for near a month before I found the same bear. I bought 2 in case of further casualties. It took 2 nights to get it looking passably like the old one. I'd saved the mismatched eyes, and retreived them from a drawer full of keys and batteries and hair grips.
Sarah seemed suspicious at first but I'd done a damned good job. I remembered every detail of that bear. Sarah was suspicious at first but she went down without too much trouble that night.
That was until she woke us up screaming that he wasn't alive and they were climbing up her bed.
Crit please. I've never written anything before.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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He saved me. That was it. That was all it took. He showed me that I was worth something. That I could be something to someone. He found me on a self in some smelly thrift store. The owner and all the stock boys would smoke constantly, so the shelves and ceiling were tobacco smoke yellow. They would use me and the other dolls and act out their sick fantasies, or jokes. We never knew. A couple of the barbies got took a couple weeks ago, thank god. There are no more female dolls for these perverts to grope and position for their adolescent stunted sexuality. Now they just use the action figures and teddy bears like me to mock each others masculinity.
But then that man came in and grabbed me off the shelf. He grabbed all of us off the shelf. Every teddy bear, stuffed bunny, plush dog and squishy dinosaur. He grabbed us, threw his money at the cashier and piled us into a bag. I went home with him. The rest went to other kids. I thought I wasn't wanted, and that was why I was left on the car seat while the others got to go into the nice warm beds of other boys and girls.
I got my own little boy. He put me up on his pillow, right up high to watch him while he slept. He hugged me so hard if I'd had ribs, real bear's ribs, they still would have creaked. I already knew I was going to do my best, but I found out my best was crap.
I got knocked down. I slipped from the pillow. My big foot was trapped between the mattress and wall. I dangled, upside down for hours, the stuffing rushing to my head. Finally, he must have shifted in his sleep, because the mattress moved, and I was down. I fell to the floor, and I could see. There was something under the bed, I could see from the corner of my eye. I was done for. It would pull me under the bed, and this little boy would forget me. I hadn't even had one night. His memories wouldn't be enough to make finding me important. He would go to school, play with his friends. His dad might ask where I was, but I would be lost under the bed, dragged into hell to be eaten by the dust mites.
More movement! But its wrong, the bed creaks, then the floor thumps. He's on the floor! The kid is on the floor and I'm being scooped up. He hops back into bed and we hide under the covers. He's saved me too. Saved twice and I haven't done a thing.
The bear looks across the room, the light of the night lamp dancing across his fur. He's looking into the closet, looking for the monsters. "And that little bunny," he says. "Is why we sit here, and watch."
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In a house not too dissimilar from every house in that suburban culdesac, there was one boy, who owned one special teddy bear.
Winter had arrived, and with it the howling winds, rattling windows, and the trickling of rain. It was a cold night, one of those kind where you could see your own breath. It was nights like this Jacob loved to cover himself in a mountain of blankets and snuggle up with his precious stuffed animal he affectionately named Rex.
With a flick of a switch, light gave way to darkness and the streetlights reigned in their dominion. Long shadows now stretched across Jacob's bedroom from the windowsill, across his bed, and highlighting his collection of various toy dinosaurs and video games. Nearby an old willow tree that had seen better times, tapped its greetings on the exterior wall of Jacob's home.
As a long day ended, Jacob sighed one sentence in the sweet way only a child can: "Goodnight Rex. I love you."
What Jacob did not know is that unlike most toys, Rex heard him.
As Jacob's eyes closed, and the comfort of sleep had him, Rex's vigil began. For the night is long, and full of wretched abominations as only Rex knew.
By dawn, Jacob awoke to find his prized possession had lost an arm, and his stuffing was spewed across the sheets of the bed. Nearby, a miniature sword and shield laid a strewn. Puzzled, Jacob grew sad, and sought his mother's aid in repairing his friend.
Another night came, and again Jacob wished his precious toy good night.
Morning came, but this time, Rex had lost an eye, and the stitches Jacob's mother had sown had been torn asunder. Again Jacob sought his mother's aid.
Jacob came home from school, and as dusk fell, Jacob played with Rex, seeing what a sorry sight he was, but loving him in that fearless way a child can.
Sleep once more came, and with it the thundering roars of lightning. When Jacob awoke, he was startled to find Rex was not in his arms, or even on the bed, but beside it. Rex's sword was broken in two, his shield shattered, an ear and leg shredded until unrecognizable. Jacob gathered up his toy, and wept for it. "It'll be okay Rex." And with that Jacob went back to sleep.
Another day of questionable repairs, another day of school, another day had run its course and bedtime encroached. The light was switched off and Jacob's mother said "Goodnight Jacob. We may need to get you a new stuffed animal if you're not more gentle with it, okay?"
Jacob kissed his Rex goodnight, and dreamed.
Jacob awoke to find Rex being what appeared to be...pulled under the bed? As though he were clutching the carpet. But before curiosity could be fulfilled, Jacob grew unnaturally dizzy, and fell back into a deep stupor. As consciousness slipped away Jacob heard what sounded like a whisper: "Jacob, I love you too." Abrupt silence flooded in, with sorrow as its companion.
In the morning Rex was nowhere to be found. A quick scurry later, and Jacob was asking questions of his mother. "No Jacob I did not get rid of Rex. Keep looking for him. I'm sure he'll turn up honey." With that Jacob was whisked away to school, where he could not focus all day. When at last he returned home, Jacob looked everywhere. Nothing.
Sleep eventually came to a sad Jacob. The shadows seemed especially dark that night as Jacob closed his eyes. He never opened them again. Nor his mother.
In time cops arrived, and yellow and black tape littered the yard. One man spoke to another: "Whatever it was, the blood trail started from here, under the boy's bed." Grown men of hardened pasts stood there bewildered. Their Teddy Bears were home, intact, after many years of faithful guardianship.
Never misplace your Teddy Bear, or those things that go bump in the night, may very well find you!
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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Lawrence and the Pile of Misfits
It was dark. The air was suffocating. I had just woken from my recurring nightmare. It happens almost every night and leaves me in a paralytic state until I sleep again. The images of machines stabbing me and stuffing me are always the premise of these dreams but today feels different. I am still petrified from the nightmare but a new energy rises inside me. I can start to feel the semblance of life. I’ve never felt this way before and am overjoyed with the uncertainty of the coming events. The nightmare lingers in the back of my mind as a constant reminder that I am in a living hell. But then I hear it.
Muffled sounds coming from the heavens. The cage I’m in is lifted high and shaken vigorously. My emotions are exuberant until I hear the scratching, tearing, clawing. I become terrified. This is my doom, my demise. I have been born but have not lived and am being condemned to a dreadful purgatory because of my lust for freedom and the chance to live.
Just when I know all is lost and I am doomed for eternity in darkness, I see a light. A light so bright that it could only be the Gods from heaven above coming to save me. Two arms reach inside my cage and free me from the choking abyss. And I saw it. The most beautiful thing I could ever imagine stood before me holding me in their arms. I was free.
“What do you think Johnny, do you like it,” asked a deep voice.
I looked deep into the eyes of my savior while it said, “He’s perfect! I love him daddy!”
“We’re glad you like it honey. What are you gonna call it,” asked a sweet voice.
“Lawrence!”
“That’s a good name dear. Now remember to take good care of him. If he gets any rips or tears bring him to me and I’ll do my best to sew him back up again.”
“Don’t worry mommy, I’ll take great care of him.” Johnny hugged me so hard I thought my insides were going to fall back out of me.
“Well son, your mother and I are happy you enjoyed all your presents. Santa sure did good this year right hun? Now go on, go play with your toys.”
That was the best day of my life. Johnny had given me life and on top of that, gave me a reason to live. The rest of that day I played with him. I was overawed by everything thus unable to really participate with him in anything we did but it was wonderful.
It was time for Johnny to go to bed. I was not the least bit tired and was still stuck in a catatonic state after being given my freedom. Johnny fell asleep with me right by his side. This gave me time to reflect on everything that had happened today. I still could not believe it all. It was surreal.
Johnny rolled over in the bed and I went crashing to the floor. I sat up and scratched my ear. Then I froze. Did I just move? On my own. I turned and looked at where I was. It was dark in Johnny’s room but his nightlight was on and allowed me to get a glimpse of my surroundings. I shivered. Suddenly I started to get a sense that I was not alone here.
“Psst!”
I turned and looked into the darkness under the bed. Heard some laughter and soft footsteps coming my way and then they emerged into the light.
“Look what we have here, a stupid teddy bear. I was wondering when Johnny was gonna get one of these poor bastards.”
“Ha, this one looks like he’s about to cry. First time out of the box is it?” I stared at the group of them. There were five in total. The first one to speak was a fur stained lion. The one asking me the question was a monkey. The other ones were a rabbit, an elephant, and a snake.
“Hass he forgotten how to ssspeak,” said the snake slithering around me.
“Noodles give the bear a break. I bet he’s just had the happiest day of his life and now we have to come ruin it,” this was the rabbit speaking.
“So what’s your name? Please tell me he didn’t name you Teddy?” this was the elephant speaking.
I summoned up some courage and said, “Johnny named me Lawrence.”
“Ha see Ellie, Johnny is getting more creative each time, “said the rabbit, “Well Lawrence my name is Sebastian. The lion is Lionel, the fat one is Ellie, the slithering piece of shit is Noodles, and the monkey is Congo. We are the misfits, those forgotten by our savior, Johnny.”
I just stared at them. “Abandoned? Johnny won’t abandon me. He loves me. He he said I was perfect.”
They started laughing. “Teddy, ha, you’re hilarious man. He loves you! Hear him guys,” said Congo.
“My name is Lawrence not Teddy.” I was getting really frustrated with this motley crew. Johnny and I had just spent an amazing day together and I wasn’t about to let them ruin it.
“SSSbe careful Congo. I’ve heard bears have a hissstory of being fiercesssss.”
“Poor Teddy. We don’t want to hurt you. We want your help,” said Lionel while the others sniggered.
“What do you want,” I asked.
“We just want some justice for our misfortune, that’s all,” said Sebastian.
“You see Teddy,” this was Ellie now, “We were all once Johnny’s favorite. We were all in your position of prosperity. However, Johnny’s interests are fleeting. That piece of shit always wants something new, something fresh. And well, mommy and daddy feel the need to spoil the little prick with new gifts all the time which is how we ended up down here, under the bed. He forgets about us about as quickly as he forgets what he had for dinner last night. So, we just want him to remember us. It’s as simple as that.”
If what he said is true, then Johnny will forget me someday. I couldn’t believe that, not after today. They just want to steal me from Johnny. “If Johnny wanted you then you wouldn’t be under the bed. I’m not going to let you steal me from Johnny. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me. He gave me the touch of life!”
“Aw yesss, the touch of life. And he will give you the touch of death sssoon enough,” said Noodles.
“You realize Teddy that we were all once his favorites and that we have all fallen down beneath the bed. Eventually you will be down here and live the rest of your life with us. We’ve tried to be friendly Teddy but now you are just being difficult,” said Sebastian. They started to creep closer to me, spreading apart hoping to engulf me.
“My name is Lawrence!” They stopped. Johnny started rolling over in the bed. I fall onto my back, lifeless like I once was.
“There you are Lawrence. Come back to bed.” Johnny grabbed me and pulled me up into bed. He fell asleep almost immediately. I heard a hsss from Noodles.
“Thisss meansss war Teddy.”
Every night from then on, I fight the monsters lurking under Johnny’s bed. Each day goes by where I receive another cut or stain fighting them back while I slowly start to realize the truth of what they told me that first night. I can see it in Johnny’s eyes. Years go by. And somehow I have stayed with him, giving me false hope that I will stay with him forever. I know deep down that I will end up beneath the bed sulking in the shadows with the rest of the misfits. I will stay loyal to Johnny, protecting him from the evil below and when the time comes for me to fall, I will reminisce on the first time I saw Johnny’s face as he freed me from my cage. I will remember what he said: “He’s perfect.”
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In a house not too dissimilar from every house in that suburban culdesac, there was one boy, who owned one special teddy bear.
Winter had arrived, and with it the howling winds, rattling windows, and the trickling of rain. It was a cold night, one of those kind where you could see your own breath. It was nights like this Jacob loved to cover himself in a mountain of blankets and snuggle up with his precious stuffed animal he affectionately named Rex.
With a flick of a switch, light gave way to darkness and the streetlights reigned in their dominion. Long shadows now stretched across Jacob's bedroom from the windowsill, across his bed, and highlighting his collection of various toy dinosaurs and video games. Nearby an old willow tree that had seen better times, tapped its greetings on the exterior wall of Jacob's home.
As a long day ended, Jacob sighed one sentence in the sweet way only a child can: "Goodnight Rex. I love you."
What Jacob did not know is that unlike most toys, Rex heard him.
As Jacob's eyes closed, and the comfort of sleep had him, Rex's vigil began. For the night is long, and full of wretched abominations as only Rex knew.
By dawn, Jacob awoke to find his prized possession had lost an arm, and his stuffing was spewed across the sheets of the bed. Nearby, a miniature sword and shield laid a strewn. Puzzled, Jacob grew sad, and sought his mother's aid in repairing his friend.
Another night came, and again Jacob wished his precious toy good night.
Morning came, but this time, Rex had lost an eye, and the stitches Jacob's mother had sown had been torn asunder. Again Jacob sought his mother's aid.
Jacob came home from school, and as dusk fell, Jacob played with Rex, seeing what a sorry sight he was, but loving him in that fearless way a child can.
Sleep once more came, and with it the thundering roars of lightning. When Jacob awoke, he was startled to find Rex was not in his arms, or even on the bed, but beside it. Rex's sword was broken in two, his shield shattered, an ear and leg shredded until unrecognizable. Jacob gathered up his toy, and wept for it. "It'll be okay Rex." And with that Jacob went back to sleep.
Another day of questionable repairs, another day of school, another day had run its course and bedtime encroached. The light was switched off and Jacob's mother said "Goodnight Jacob. We may need to get you a new stuffed animal if you're not more gentle with it, okay?"
Jacob kissed his Rex goodnight, and dreamed.
Jacob awoke to find Rex being what appeared to be...pulled under the bed? As though he were clutching the carpet. But before curiosity could be fulfilled, Jacob grew unnaturally dizzy, and fell back into a deep stupor. As consciousness slipped away Jacob heard what sounded like a whisper: "Jacob, I love you too." Abrupt silence flooded in, with sorrow as its companion.
In the morning Rex was nowhere to be found. A quick scurry later, and Jacob was asking questions of his mother. "No Jacob I did not get rid of Rex. Keep looking for him. I'm sure he'll turn up honey." With that Jacob was whisked away to school, where he could not focus all day. When at last he returned home, Jacob looked everywhere. Nothing.
Sleep eventually came to a sad Jacob. The shadows seemed especially dark that night as Jacob closed his eyes. He never opened them again. Nor his mother.
In time cops arrived, and yellow and black tape littered the yard. One man spoke to another: "Whatever it was, the blood trail started from here, under the boy's bed." Grown men of hardened pasts stood there bewildered. Their Teddy Bears were home, intact, after many years of faithful guardianship.
Never misplace your Teddy Bear, or those things that go bump in the night, may very well find you!
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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Some people think it's absurdly odd that I, a grown man, still sleep with my teddy bear. When I was 16 and first had a girl in my room alone, so close to that one thing that every teenage boy obsesses about constantly she laughed and left me in a...difficult...state when I insisted that my bear could not watch what we were about to do. Now a days he's ragged and worn, missing an ear and an eye, one arm barely still attached and missing almost all of his stuffing. But I remember. I remember when my dad gave him to me. I remember everything my bear, the bravest knight of the realm, has done for me.
...
"Check the closet again, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?" I whined.
"No son, good night" my father replied. I know he and mom both love me but they just don't know. They don't believe me when I tell them about the monsters that try to get me when they put me to bed.
When they saw the long scratches that the monster left me that night they thought I was doing it to myself, just to get attention. Then my father had an idea, if I was going to commit so much to this make believe then his only course was to turn it around and use my own fantasy against me. That's when he gave me Sir Barnabas Grizzly, my teddy bear.
"Now son, Sir Barnabas is the bravest knight of the realm and he's here to fight off the monsters so that you can go to sleep." My father told me when he placed the softest, fuzziest bear I'd ever seen in my hands before sending me off to bed one night.
I looked at the bear skeptically. I didn't know how something with honey golden fur and a button nose could protect me from the things I'd seen under the bed and in the closet. But at least it was something to hold onto when things got bad.
They came that night, like they always did. The slimey, cold hand from under the bed and the hot, musty breath from the closet. I knew what they were coming to do and couldn't help myself. All I could do was cower in the bed and cling to my new fuzzy friend.
"Let me go, please." a strange voice that I had never heard before said into the darkness.
I sat stunned, of all the times the monsters had come there had never been a voice like that. It sounded so...British.
"I can't bloody well protect you if you don't let me go", the voice came again, this time it sounded like it came from my bear. But there was no way, Sir Barnabas was just a teddy bear, right?
I slowly took the bear from under my arm and turned him around, holding up to my face so I could get a better look at him.
"Very good, my liege, now if you would just let me go I'll show these beasties what for." Sir Barnabas said from three inches in front of my face.
I had to be hallucinating, there was no way a teddy bear was talking to me. But whenever he spoke the arm pulled away, retreating a little bit back under the bed and the musty breath went silent from the closet.
"Who are you?" I felt ridiculous but nothing had ever made the monsters scared like this except grownups.
"Sir Barnabas Grizzly, at your service, my liege", the bear said.
"You can talk", I said dumbfounded and unbelieving.
"Aye, sir, and more if you'd be so kind as to put me down", replied the bear calmly.
I didn't know what to do, the bear and I just stared at each other for a while. That is, until the hand reached tentatively back out from under the bed, unsure if it was safe.
"Sir, I will be happy to explain all of this to you later but you must let me down so I can protect you as I've sworn to do." Sir Barnabas sounded almost impatient now but also supremely unconcerned like he was talking about how he also had to take out the trash and do the dishes, like mom did when she was making her list of chores.
I couldn't think of anything else to do so I set Sir Barnabas on the bed. And from there the most amazing things happened.
Sir Barnabas stood up, dusted off his legs, cracked his neck, looked at me and said, "Thank you, sir, now I shall take my leave with your permission."
I just nodded at him, to stunned to comprehend.
Sir Barnabas waddled over to the side of the bed and leaped to the ground, immediately diving under the bed. I could do nothing but stare at the spot where he had disappeared while listening to the yowling and yelling coming from beneath me. That is, until the dragon's head began to emerge from the closet.
It was solid black with amber eyes and a long, flicking, pink forked tongue that was flicking in and out constantly. If I was afraid before I was terrified now as my new found companion seemed to be locked in combat beneath the bed while slowly the dragon's head kept coming towards me, exposing its huge, pointed teeth every time its mouth opened. All I could do was curl up into a ball and try to shrink away from it.
Suddenly, Sir Barnabas was leaping onto the dragon's snout, covered in green goo and shouting "You're a naughty one, aren't you," to the dragon, completely without fear. The dragon whirled and bucked beneath the furry combatant, trying to buck him off and snap its jaws shut around my new friend. But Sir Barnabas seemed able to ride the riling reptile and began punching the dragon on the snout. This caused the dragon to begin emitting the most curious whining sounds and it began to retreat into the closet. Sir Barnabas jumped off its nose, did a neat flip and landed in front of me on the bed, watching his vanquished foe retreat back into the dark recesses of the closet.
"Well, they shouldn't trouble us anymore, sir," Sir Barnabas said as he turned around to look at me. "I do hope you're alright." He peered at me with his dark eyes, looking me over for wounds.
"That was amazing!" I shouted, scooping him up in my arms. "How does a teddy bear fight off monsters like that?" I asked incredulously.
"Well sir, it's just what we teddy bears do." He replied, squirming a little bit in my tight hug. "We all pledge ourselves to defend and protect children at all costs, it is our duty."
And that's all he would ever say about it. The next day I begged my mother to make a set of armor and a sword for my new knight companion. And while she did stitch up a set of teddy bear armor for him, probably just to placate me, she never did make a sword for him. She was probably just happy I stopped crying about monsters and dragging my feet on my way to bed. I never was afraid of the dark after Sir Barnabas came to me for I knew no creature, no matter how foul and evil could best him, the bravest knight in the realm.
As I grew older so did Sir Barnabas, and he certainly didn't finish all of his grand battles unscathed like he did that first one. But the monsters attacked less and less frequently until one day they stopped completely. I knew what would come after that day.
"I must rest now, sir" Sir Barnabas, or Barry as he let me call him, said on the night of my 18th birthday.
"I know, Barry," I said, with a tear running down my cheek, "I relieve you of your duty, Sir Barnabas" I managed to croak out.
"Farewell, sir." Were the last things he said before falling asleep for the last time.
I loved that bear. And I swear by Sir Barnabas Grizzly's unblemished honor that when my child is afraid of the dark that I will find them their own brave, fuzzy knight to defend them. Because Sir Barnabas was possibly the best friend I ever had.
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In a house not too dissimilar from every house in that suburban culdesac, there was one boy, who owned one special teddy bear.
Winter had arrived, and with it the howling winds, rattling windows, and the trickling of rain. It was a cold night, one of those kind where you could see your own breath. It was nights like this Jacob loved to cover himself in a mountain of blankets and snuggle up with his precious stuffed animal he affectionately named Rex.
With a flick of a switch, light gave way to darkness and the streetlights reigned in their dominion. Long shadows now stretched across Jacob's bedroom from the windowsill, across his bed, and highlighting his collection of various toy dinosaurs and video games. Nearby an old willow tree that had seen better times, tapped its greetings on the exterior wall of Jacob's home.
As a long day ended, Jacob sighed one sentence in the sweet way only a child can: "Goodnight Rex. I love you."
What Jacob did not know is that unlike most toys, Rex heard him.
As Jacob's eyes closed, and the comfort of sleep had him, Rex's vigil began. For the night is long, and full of wretched abominations as only Rex knew.
By dawn, Jacob awoke to find his prized possession had lost an arm, and his stuffing was spewed across the sheets of the bed. Nearby, a miniature sword and shield laid a strewn. Puzzled, Jacob grew sad, and sought his mother's aid in repairing his friend.
Another night came, and again Jacob wished his precious toy good night.
Morning came, but this time, Rex had lost an eye, and the stitches Jacob's mother had sown had been torn asunder. Again Jacob sought his mother's aid.
Jacob came home from school, and as dusk fell, Jacob played with Rex, seeing what a sorry sight he was, but loving him in that fearless way a child can.
Sleep once more came, and with it the thundering roars of lightning. When Jacob awoke, he was startled to find Rex was not in his arms, or even on the bed, but beside it. Rex's sword was broken in two, his shield shattered, an ear and leg shredded until unrecognizable. Jacob gathered up his toy, and wept for it. "It'll be okay Rex." And with that Jacob went back to sleep.
Another day of questionable repairs, another day of school, another day had run its course and bedtime encroached. The light was switched off and Jacob's mother said "Goodnight Jacob. We may need to get you a new stuffed animal if you're not more gentle with it, okay?"
Jacob kissed his Rex goodnight, and dreamed.
Jacob awoke to find Rex being what appeared to be...pulled under the bed? As though he were clutching the carpet. But before curiosity could be fulfilled, Jacob grew unnaturally dizzy, and fell back into a deep stupor. As consciousness slipped away Jacob heard what sounded like a whisper: "Jacob, I love you too." Abrupt silence flooded in, with sorrow as its companion.
In the morning Rex was nowhere to be found. A quick scurry later, and Jacob was asking questions of his mother. "No Jacob I did not get rid of Rex. Keep looking for him. I'm sure he'll turn up honey." With that Jacob was whisked away to school, where he could not focus all day. When at last he returned home, Jacob looked everywhere. Nothing.
Sleep eventually came to a sad Jacob. The shadows seemed especially dark that night as Jacob closed his eyes. He never opened them again. Nor his mother.
In time cops arrived, and yellow and black tape littered the yard. One man spoke to another: "Whatever it was, the blood trail started from here, under the boy's bed." Grown men of hardened pasts stood there bewildered. Their Teddy Bears were home, intact, after many years of faithful guardianship.
Never misplace your Teddy Bear, or those things that go bump in the night, may very well find you!
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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I'm not that good at writing but this prompt really inspired me.
Any critique is welcomed.
‘It’s done’ Rupert sighed, his breath visible hanging on the moonlit air, as he unclenched the paws around the throat of the gremlin, its neck falling slack as the bones were no longer attached to the base of the skull.
He brushed off the dust he was covered in from battle and redacted his claws. The monsters of the night don’t bleed per se as they only exist in the darkest reach of our fears, manifesting themselves when we feel helpless. After a minute to collect himself with deep breaths, he sat down on the edge of the Damien’s bed and started sewing his left eye back on.
Damien was still asleep, his eyes no longer squinting shut and hands not covering his ears to avoid the screams of war.
‘Close your eyes’ Rupert whispered to Damien as he had done many times before ‘and cover your ears like we practiced. This will be finished before you know’
Damien looked at Rupert with bright eyes that screamed with fear but also in the recess against the moonlight glimmered with hope that the morning will come and that his fuzzy little friend will prevail against the hordes.
‘You’ll be there in the morning right Rupert?’ Damien asked
‘As I always have’ he reassured. ‘As I always have’
With that Damien gave Rupert a tight hug and whispered ‘..Be careful’
The outside city noises came to an abrupt end. The light from beneath the crack of the bedroom door went out.
Damien’s parents have gone to bed. This was it. Without sight or sound, Rupert felt the presence around him come to life.
Swirling and slithering around in menace, eager to feed on Damien’s dreams. Damien had covered his ears and closed fast his eyes. His lips were moving but Rupert couldn’t hear him.
Probably singing himself a lullaby, thought Rupert.
The presence had now morphed into the physical realm. Eyes glowing cherry red, teeth bared, slick with saliva dripping from their jaws hungrily, snarling and screeching and just causing a general nuisance. Rupert turned to them, drew a deep breath and with an unblinking button eye, bared his claws.
Once more unto the breach.
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In a house not too dissimilar from every house in that suburban culdesac, there was one boy, who owned one special teddy bear.
Winter had arrived, and with it the howling winds, rattling windows, and the trickling of rain. It was a cold night, one of those kind where you could see your own breath. It was nights like this Jacob loved to cover himself in a mountain of blankets and snuggle up with his precious stuffed animal he affectionately named Rex.
With a flick of a switch, light gave way to darkness and the streetlights reigned in their dominion. Long shadows now stretched across Jacob's bedroom from the windowsill, across his bed, and highlighting his collection of various toy dinosaurs and video games. Nearby an old willow tree that had seen better times, tapped its greetings on the exterior wall of Jacob's home.
As a long day ended, Jacob sighed one sentence in the sweet way only a child can: "Goodnight Rex. I love you."
What Jacob did not know is that unlike most toys, Rex heard him.
As Jacob's eyes closed, and the comfort of sleep had him, Rex's vigil began. For the night is long, and full of wretched abominations as only Rex knew.
By dawn, Jacob awoke to find his prized possession had lost an arm, and his stuffing was spewed across the sheets of the bed. Nearby, a miniature sword and shield laid a strewn. Puzzled, Jacob grew sad, and sought his mother's aid in repairing his friend.
Another night came, and again Jacob wished his precious toy good night.
Morning came, but this time, Rex had lost an eye, and the stitches Jacob's mother had sown had been torn asunder. Again Jacob sought his mother's aid.
Jacob came home from school, and as dusk fell, Jacob played with Rex, seeing what a sorry sight he was, but loving him in that fearless way a child can.
Sleep once more came, and with it the thundering roars of lightning. When Jacob awoke, he was startled to find Rex was not in his arms, or even on the bed, but beside it. Rex's sword was broken in two, his shield shattered, an ear and leg shredded until unrecognizable. Jacob gathered up his toy, and wept for it. "It'll be okay Rex." And with that Jacob went back to sleep.
Another day of questionable repairs, another day of school, another day had run its course and bedtime encroached. The light was switched off and Jacob's mother said "Goodnight Jacob. We may need to get you a new stuffed animal if you're not more gentle with it, okay?"
Jacob kissed his Rex goodnight, and dreamed.
Jacob awoke to find Rex being what appeared to be...pulled under the bed? As though he were clutching the carpet. But before curiosity could be fulfilled, Jacob grew unnaturally dizzy, and fell back into a deep stupor. As consciousness slipped away Jacob heard what sounded like a whisper: "Jacob, I love you too." Abrupt silence flooded in, with sorrow as its companion.
In the morning Rex was nowhere to be found. A quick scurry later, and Jacob was asking questions of his mother. "No Jacob I did not get rid of Rex. Keep looking for him. I'm sure he'll turn up honey." With that Jacob was whisked away to school, where he could not focus all day. When at last he returned home, Jacob looked everywhere. Nothing.
Sleep eventually came to a sad Jacob. The shadows seemed especially dark that night as Jacob closed his eyes. He never opened them again. Nor his mother.
In time cops arrived, and yellow and black tape littered the yard. One man spoke to another: "Whatever it was, the blood trail started from here, under the boy's bed." Grown men of hardened pasts stood there bewildered. Their Teddy Bears were home, intact, after many years of faithful guardianship.
Never misplace your Teddy Bear, or those things that go bump in the night, may very well find you!
|
|
[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
As the door latched shut and the last of the light in the room faded a soft rustle came from beneath Robins arm.
A portly and fluffy golden head popped out from the covers.
"Oh, bother" the teddy bear grumbled as he clambered up the boys shoulder.
Churchill was his code name but Mr Pooh was the name his charge had given him. Why on earth the daft young boy would name him after excrement he didn't know.
Perched upon his vantage point he surveyed the room, and satisfied that nothing was amiss he pulled a short cigar from his red blouse pocket. He couldn't light it, secondhand smoke was bad for children you know. Nonetheless he wedged the cigar into the side of his mouth and slowly ground away at it, silently waiting.
This night was just like any other night of the bears watch. A slow drawn out wait that rarely ended quietly.
As he expected the nights challenger arrived at the stroke of 2 hours past midnight , as they always had. With a quiet hiss a pale smoke appeared in the room and flitted about the floor before solidifying at the foot of the bed.
A low growl came from the foot of the bed, "Guardian, your boy's day has come, leave now while I still have the mercy to let you."
"Oh, bother, " Churchill thought to himself. All these would be assassins were truly unoriginal and uninspiring. He heaved himself upright on the boys shoulder and muttered his summoning incantations under his breath. Armor appeared and clanked together around him, a little more snug around the mid section as of late. And finally a pot of honey found its way gently into the crook of Churchill's arm. The whole while he could hear the assassin threatening him with damnation and torture.
Everything in place, he lumbered toward the edge of the bed tucking away the cigar for later. He continued slowly moving towards the edge of the bed eating the honey as he went. And still the challenger spewed vile hatred from below.
Upon arriving to the foot of the bed he looked down and saw a run-of-the-mill Gremlin in disheveled armor awaiting him. With a brief glance to verify the distance he finished the last of the honey , broke the pot , grabbed a jagged piece and casually dropped down impaling the Gremlin through his mouth mid-profanity.
"Cheeky bastards" he muttered as he stood himself up and brushed himself off. Another nights work done with ease he thought as he reached for his cigar again. His hand had not yet touched his cigar before he heard multiple hisses and thumps come from the closet.
Slowly and irately Churchill turned his head towards the closet, "Oh, bother"
A multitude of Gremlins crashed from closet and saw two things, an armored ball of golden fur and their dead comrade who had attempted to claim glory of killing Robin by going too early.
The nonchalant manner of the guardian gave the Gremlins a moments pause. But they had slain guardians before, and were determined to keep doing so. Why? Well mostly they liked killing and the way blood splattered, but also because the Great Master commanded it.
The Gremlins became emboldened by the obvious disparity in numbers and cackled as they approached the lone guardian. Their leader for this raid, a squint eyed bugger named Grislow stopped the group and jeered at the guardian, "Looks like little fatty over there forgot his toy sword, GET HIM!"
Churchill cracked his knuckles as the Gremlins charged. They were closing on him and Robins bed.
He pounded his armor with his fist, the sounded that emanated was far deeper and stronger than it should have been.
He began chanting the Haka Ka Mate in a deep timbre and finished with a powerful jump as the Gremlins closed.
As he landed in the midst of their first line he small warm flashes of light came from around the room and out of the shadows 4 figures in armor crashed into the flanks of the Gremlins.
After a brief skirmish, Grislow was beheaded and the remaining Gremlins lost their nerve and vanished.
After a moment to catch his breath Churchill looked at the armored figures , " Are you donglers going to stay and clean this time or do I have to do it solo again?"
One of the figures lifted his helmet revealing a striped feline face, and winked at the other figures " I think nail tail and porker would be willing to pitch in if you offered some of your honey for once."
Churchill rolled his eyes "oh , bother, alright."
|
In a house not too dissimilar from every house in that suburban culdesac, there was one boy, who owned one special teddy bear.
Winter had arrived, and with it the howling winds, rattling windows, and the trickling of rain. It was a cold night, one of those kind where you could see your own breath. It was nights like this Jacob loved to cover himself in a mountain of blankets and snuggle up with his precious stuffed animal he affectionately named Rex.
With a flick of a switch, light gave way to darkness and the streetlights reigned in their dominion. Long shadows now stretched across Jacob's bedroom from the windowsill, across his bed, and highlighting his collection of various toy dinosaurs and video games. Nearby an old willow tree that had seen better times, tapped its greetings on the exterior wall of Jacob's home.
As a long day ended, Jacob sighed one sentence in the sweet way only a child can: "Goodnight Rex. I love you."
What Jacob did not know is that unlike most toys, Rex heard him.
As Jacob's eyes closed, and the comfort of sleep had him, Rex's vigil began. For the night is long, and full of wretched abominations as only Rex knew.
By dawn, Jacob awoke to find his prized possession had lost an arm, and his stuffing was spewed across the sheets of the bed. Nearby, a miniature sword and shield laid a strewn. Puzzled, Jacob grew sad, and sought his mother's aid in repairing his friend.
Another night came, and again Jacob wished his precious toy good night.
Morning came, but this time, Rex had lost an eye, and the stitches Jacob's mother had sown had been torn asunder. Again Jacob sought his mother's aid.
Jacob came home from school, and as dusk fell, Jacob played with Rex, seeing what a sorry sight he was, but loving him in that fearless way a child can.
Sleep once more came, and with it the thundering roars of lightning. When Jacob awoke, he was startled to find Rex was not in his arms, or even on the bed, but beside it. Rex's sword was broken in two, his shield shattered, an ear and leg shredded until unrecognizable. Jacob gathered up his toy, and wept for it. "It'll be okay Rex." And with that Jacob went back to sleep.
Another day of questionable repairs, another day of school, another day had run its course and bedtime encroached. The light was switched off and Jacob's mother said "Goodnight Jacob. We may need to get you a new stuffed animal if you're not more gentle with it, okay?"
Jacob kissed his Rex goodnight, and dreamed.
Jacob awoke to find Rex being what appeared to be...pulled under the bed? As though he were clutching the carpet. But before curiosity could be fulfilled, Jacob grew unnaturally dizzy, and fell back into a deep stupor. As consciousness slipped away Jacob heard what sounded like a whisper: "Jacob, I love you too." Abrupt silence flooded in, with sorrow as its companion.
In the morning Rex was nowhere to be found. A quick scurry later, and Jacob was asking questions of his mother. "No Jacob I did not get rid of Rex. Keep looking for him. I'm sure he'll turn up honey." With that Jacob was whisked away to school, where he could not focus all day. When at last he returned home, Jacob looked everywhere. Nothing.
Sleep eventually came to a sad Jacob. The shadows seemed especially dark that night as Jacob closed his eyes. He never opened them again. Nor his mother.
In time cops arrived, and yellow and black tape littered the yard. One man spoke to another: "Whatever it was, the blood trail started from here, under the boy's bed." Grown men of hardened pasts stood there bewildered. Their Teddy Bears were home, intact, after many years of faithful guardianship.
Never misplace your Teddy Bear, or those things that go bump in the night, may very well find you!
|
|
[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
I'm not that good at writing but this prompt really inspired me.
Any critique is welcomed.
‘It’s done’ Rupert sighed, his breath visible hanging on the moonlit air, as he unclenched the paws around the throat of the gremlin, its neck falling slack as the bones were no longer attached to the base of the skull.
He brushed off the dust he was covered in from battle and redacted his claws. The monsters of the night don’t bleed per se as they only exist in the darkest reach of our fears, manifesting themselves when we feel helpless. After a minute to collect himself with deep breaths, he sat down on the edge of the Damien’s bed and started sewing his left eye back on.
Damien was still asleep, his eyes no longer squinting shut and hands not covering his ears to avoid the screams of war.
‘Close your eyes’ Rupert whispered to Damien as he had done many times before ‘and cover your ears like we practiced. This will be finished before you know’
Damien looked at Rupert with bright eyes that screamed with fear but also in the recess against the moonlight glimmered with hope that the morning will come and that his fuzzy little friend will prevail against the hordes.
‘You’ll be there in the morning right Rupert?’ Damien asked
‘As I always have’ he reassured. ‘As I always have’
With that Damien gave Rupert a tight hug and whispered ‘..Be careful’
The outside city noises came to an abrupt end. The light from beneath the crack of the bedroom door went out.
Damien’s parents have gone to bed. This was it. Without sight or sound, Rupert felt the presence around him come to life.
Swirling and slithering around in menace, eager to feed on Damien’s dreams. Damien had covered his ears and closed fast his eyes. His lips were moving but Rupert couldn’t hear him.
Probably singing himself a lullaby, thought Rupert.
The presence had now morphed into the physical realm. Eyes glowing cherry red, teeth bared, slick with saliva dripping from their jaws hungrily, snarling and screeching and just causing a general nuisance. Rupert turned to them, drew a deep breath and with an unblinking button eye, bared his claws.
Once more unto the breach.
|
This is the beginning of a movie I have written. What do you think? Would you like to see more? And yes my bad ass bear is named Roosevelt, what other name could it possibly be?
***OPEN***
Four year old girls bedroom. Night time. Thunder off in the background. Show girl sleeping.
***NARRATOR (ROOSEVELTS VOICE)***
Not all girls need a protector. But there are some that do, some that need to be protected from the darkness and the things that dwell there.
***DARKLING 1***
(POV should be from the shadows moving towards the girl’s bed. Show the world as it seems to the goblins, two children should be in the room, only one of them glows)Off camera voice She is a strong one. She will make a very good portal. Should last for days and allow many of us to come across.
***DARKLING 2***
Much better than what we used today. Barely two of us can come through. We have little time before it closes.
**DARKLING 1***
Yes, be quick but do not hurry. I do not sense any of the Protectorate here but that does not mean they are not lurking about. Someone this strong must have one here.
***NARRATOR (ROOSEVELTS VOICE)***
(POV from the girls bed showing the darklings crawling out of the shadows of the ceiling) The war of light and dark has raged for ages. Always taking place at night.
***DARKLING 2***
We seem to be in luck. The old ones do not have anyone watching their charge.
***NARRATOR (ROOSEVELTS VOICE)***
The darklings need the girls as portals form their world to ours. Some are better than others, it seems to mostly be based on how strong their imaginations are. It is not something that we can tell, but the darklings can. They always know which ones will work for them.
On the floor at the bottom of the bed something is stirring underneath a cast off blanket. As the darklings creep closer a bear emerges from the blanket and crawls on top of the bed.
***ROOSEVELT***
(with two small katana a bear is ready for battle) You will not have this one.
***DARKLING 1***
Ah so fresh and young, you must be straight from the factory.
***ROOSEVELT***
While you are correct that I am a novice, you will still not leave with my charge. So, (goes into a fighting stance) show me your moves.
Battle ensues between the three in the room. Darkling 2 is cut in a half early on in the fight. Darkling 1 gets a few shots in but a leaping knee snaps the darklings neck and it falls to the floor. Roosevelt walks up to it.
***ROOSEVELT***
We will always be here to protect them.
He finishes the darkling off and it dissolves into the night. Eyes of another darkling (CALABUS)flash near the ceiling as a parent comes into the room. The parent picks up Roosevelt off the floor and puts him back on the bed, the darkling creeps off into the night.
***NARRATOR (ROOSEVELTS VOICE)***
I won that match and many others during her formative years. I protected my charge from the attacks until she reached the age of ascension and would no longer be useful to the darkness dwellers. Once the ascension happens we just look like ordinary stuffed animals. The attacks, the interactions with us become just something from a child’s imagination and dreams.
But there were always other battles to be fought.
|
|
[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
As the door latched shut and the last of the light in the room faded a soft rustle came from beneath Robins arm.
A portly and fluffy golden head popped out from the covers.
"Oh, bother" the teddy bear grumbled as he clambered up the boys shoulder.
Churchill was his code name but Mr Pooh was the name his charge had given him. Why on earth the daft young boy would name him after excrement he didn't know.
Perched upon his vantage point he surveyed the room, and satisfied that nothing was amiss he pulled a short cigar from his red blouse pocket. He couldn't light it, secondhand smoke was bad for children you know. Nonetheless he wedged the cigar into the side of his mouth and slowly ground away at it, silently waiting.
This night was just like any other night of the bears watch. A slow drawn out wait that rarely ended quietly.
As he expected the nights challenger arrived at the stroke of 2 hours past midnight , as they always had. With a quiet hiss a pale smoke appeared in the room and flitted about the floor before solidifying at the foot of the bed.
A low growl came from the foot of the bed, "Guardian, your boy's day has come, leave now while I still have the mercy to let you."
"Oh, bother, " Churchill thought to himself. All these would be assassins were truly unoriginal and uninspiring. He heaved himself upright on the boys shoulder and muttered his summoning incantations under his breath. Armor appeared and clanked together around him, a little more snug around the mid section as of late. And finally a pot of honey found its way gently into the crook of Churchill's arm. The whole while he could hear the assassin threatening him with damnation and torture.
Everything in place, he lumbered toward the edge of the bed tucking away the cigar for later. He continued slowly moving towards the edge of the bed eating the honey as he went. And still the challenger spewed vile hatred from below.
Upon arriving to the foot of the bed he looked down and saw a run-of-the-mill Gremlin in disheveled armor awaiting him. With a brief glance to verify the distance he finished the last of the honey , broke the pot , grabbed a jagged piece and casually dropped down impaling the Gremlin through his mouth mid-profanity.
"Cheeky bastards" he muttered as he stood himself up and brushed himself off. Another nights work done with ease he thought as he reached for his cigar again. His hand had not yet touched his cigar before he heard multiple hisses and thumps come from the closet.
Slowly and irately Churchill turned his head towards the closet, "Oh, bother"
A multitude of Gremlins crashed from closet and saw two things, an armored ball of golden fur and their dead comrade who had attempted to claim glory of killing Robin by going too early.
The nonchalant manner of the guardian gave the Gremlins a moments pause. But they had slain guardians before, and were determined to keep doing so. Why? Well mostly they liked killing and the way blood splattered, but also because the Great Master commanded it.
The Gremlins became emboldened by the obvious disparity in numbers and cackled as they approached the lone guardian. Their leader for this raid, a squint eyed bugger named Grislow stopped the group and jeered at the guardian, "Looks like little fatty over there forgot his toy sword, GET HIM!"
Churchill cracked his knuckles as the Gremlins charged. They were closing on him and Robins bed.
He pounded his armor with his fist, the sounded that emanated was far deeper and stronger than it should have been.
He began chanting the Haka Ka Mate in a deep timbre and finished with a powerful jump as the Gremlins closed.
As he landed in the midst of their first line he small warm flashes of light came from around the room and out of the shadows 4 figures in armor crashed into the flanks of the Gremlins.
After a brief skirmish, Grislow was beheaded and the remaining Gremlins lost their nerve and vanished.
After a moment to catch his breath Churchill looked at the armored figures , " Are you donglers going to stay and clean this time or do I have to do it solo again?"
One of the figures lifted his helmet revealing a striped feline face, and winked at the other figures " I think nail tail and porker would be willing to pitch in if you offered some of your honey for once."
Churchill rolled his eyes "oh , bother, alright."
|
This is the beginning of a movie I have written. What do you think? Would you like to see more? And yes my bad ass bear is named Roosevelt, what other name could it possibly be?
***OPEN***
Four year old girls bedroom. Night time. Thunder off in the background. Show girl sleeping.
***NARRATOR (ROOSEVELTS VOICE)***
Not all girls need a protector. But there are some that do, some that need to be protected from the darkness and the things that dwell there.
***DARKLING 1***
(POV should be from the shadows moving towards the girl’s bed. Show the world as it seems to the goblins, two children should be in the room, only one of them glows)Off camera voice She is a strong one. She will make a very good portal. Should last for days and allow many of us to come across.
***DARKLING 2***
Much better than what we used today. Barely two of us can come through. We have little time before it closes.
**DARKLING 1***
Yes, be quick but do not hurry. I do not sense any of the Protectorate here but that does not mean they are not lurking about. Someone this strong must have one here.
***NARRATOR (ROOSEVELTS VOICE)***
(POV from the girls bed showing the darklings crawling out of the shadows of the ceiling) The war of light and dark has raged for ages. Always taking place at night.
***DARKLING 2***
We seem to be in luck. The old ones do not have anyone watching their charge.
***NARRATOR (ROOSEVELTS VOICE)***
The darklings need the girls as portals form their world to ours. Some are better than others, it seems to mostly be based on how strong their imaginations are. It is not something that we can tell, but the darklings can. They always know which ones will work for them.
On the floor at the bottom of the bed something is stirring underneath a cast off blanket. As the darklings creep closer a bear emerges from the blanket and crawls on top of the bed.
***ROOSEVELT***
(with two small katana a bear is ready for battle) You will not have this one.
***DARKLING 1***
Ah so fresh and young, you must be straight from the factory.
***ROOSEVELT***
While you are correct that I am a novice, you will still not leave with my charge. So, (goes into a fighting stance) show me your moves.
Battle ensues between the three in the room. Darkling 2 is cut in a half early on in the fight. Darkling 1 gets a few shots in but a leaping knee snaps the darklings neck and it falls to the floor. Roosevelt walks up to it.
***ROOSEVELT***
We will always be here to protect them.
He finishes the darkling off and it dissolves into the night. Eyes of another darkling (CALABUS)flash near the ceiling as a parent comes into the room. The parent picks up Roosevelt off the floor and puts him back on the bed, the darkling creeps off into the night.
***NARRATOR (ROOSEVELTS VOICE)***
I won that match and many others during her formative years. I protected my charge from the attacks until she reached the age of ascension and would no longer be useful to the darkness dwellers. Once the ascension happens we just look like ordinary stuffed animals. The attacks, the interactions with us become just something from a child’s imagination and dreams.
But there were always other battles to be fought.
|
|
[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
I'm not that good at writing but this prompt really inspired me.
Any critique is welcomed.
‘It’s done’ Rupert sighed, his breath visible hanging on the moonlit air, as he unclenched the paws around the throat of the gremlin, its neck falling slack as the bones were no longer attached to the base of the skull.
He brushed off the dust he was covered in from battle and redacted his claws. The monsters of the night don’t bleed per se as they only exist in the darkest reach of our fears, manifesting themselves when we feel helpless. After a minute to collect himself with deep breaths, he sat down on the edge of the Damien’s bed and started sewing his left eye back on.
Damien was still asleep, his eyes no longer squinting shut and hands not covering his ears to avoid the screams of war.
‘Close your eyes’ Rupert whispered to Damien as he had done many times before ‘and cover your ears like we practiced. This will be finished before you know’
Damien looked at Rupert with bright eyes that screamed with fear but also in the recess against the moonlight glimmered with hope that the morning will come and that his fuzzy little friend will prevail against the hordes.
‘You’ll be there in the morning right Rupert?’ Damien asked
‘As I always have’ he reassured. ‘As I always have’
With that Damien gave Rupert a tight hug and whispered ‘..Be careful’
The outside city noises came to an abrupt end. The light from beneath the crack of the bedroom door went out.
Damien’s parents have gone to bed. This was it. Without sight or sound, Rupert felt the presence around him come to life.
Swirling and slithering around in menace, eager to feed on Damien’s dreams. Damien had covered his ears and closed fast his eyes. His lips were moving but Rupert couldn’t hear him.
Probably singing himself a lullaby, thought Rupert.
The presence had now morphed into the physical realm. Eyes glowing cherry red, teeth bared, slick with saliva dripping from their jaws hungrily, snarling and screeching and just causing a general nuisance. Rupert turned to them, drew a deep breath and with an unblinking button eye, bared his claws.
Once more unto the breach.
|
"Did you see it?," a shaky whisper said in the dark.
From under the bed frame two fluffy paws reached out and managed a hold on a piece of chewing gum stuck to the carpet. He used it to pull himself out. Dusting off his coat he approach Liam. He found him cozy in his favorite blue onesie, peeking out from under a thick blanket on the bed.
He stood with both legs planted firmly on the boy's bed like a brick wall denying it's demise. A confident bear this teddy was, filled with nothing other than stuffing made of cotton and the will of a steadfast soldier. No matter how tall, heavy or scaly this monster was, he was ready to slay him with his bare paws.
The cotton that shaped his heart grew fonder of the boy as the nights went on. He didn't speak the boy's language. How could he? He's a mere teddy bear.
*Where did you see it?* is what Liam gathered from the sharp, quick glances Teddy gave the room. He was making sure the dark corners were just that -- dark corners.
Liam pointed to the dark corner Teddy missed when scanning the bedroom. Liam thinks it's because Lily, the white polar bear, was propped up in front of the darkest corner, rendering the corner invisible. Teddy's eyes couldn't pass the chance to look at her moonlit fur, picturing it's radiant glow lightening his brown physique to a golden tone.
A flick of Liam's foot jolted Teddy back to where he stood: amidst no-mans land awaiting the beasts lurking in the shadows. To his surprise, not one monster came to test the mortar of Teddy's modest brick wall that night. He and Liam fell asleep, moving their arms and legs to fight the monsters they waited all night for, existing only in their dreams.
|
|
[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
|
As the door latched shut and the last of the light in the room faded a soft rustle came from beneath Robins arm.
A portly and fluffy golden head popped out from the covers.
"Oh, bother" the teddy bear grumbled as he clambered up the boys shoulder.
Churchill was his code name but Mr Pooh was the name his charge had given him. Why on earth the daft young boy would name him after excrement he didn't know.
Perched upon his vantage point he surveyed the room, and satisfied that nothing was amiss he pulled a short cigar from his red blouse pocket. He couldn't light it, secondhand smoke was bad for children you know. Nonetheless he wedged the cigar into the side of his mouth and slowly ground away at it, silently waiting.
This night was just like any other night of the bears watch. A slow drawn out wait that rarely ended quietly.
As he expected the nights challenger arrived at the stroke of 2 hours past midnight , as they always had. With a quiet hiss a pale smoke appeared in the room and flitted about the floor before solidifying at the foot of the bed.
A low growl came from the foot of the bed, "Guardian, your boy's day has come, leave now while I still have the mercy to let you."
"Oh, bother, " Churchill thought to himself. All these would be assassins were truly unoriginal and uninspiring. He heaved himself upright on the boys shoulder and muttered his summoning incantations under his breath. Armor appeared and clanked together around him, a little more snug around the mid section as of late. And finally a pot of honey found its way gently into the crook of Churchill's arm. The whole while he could hear the assassin threatening him with damnation and torture.
Everything in place, he lumbered toward the edge of the bed tucking away the cigar for later. He continued slowly moving towards the edge of the bed eating the honey as he went. And still the challenger spewed vile hatred from below.
Upon arriving to the foot of the bed he looked down and saw a run-of-the-mill Gremlin in disheveled armor awaiting him. With a brief glance to verify the distance he finished the last of the honey , broke the pot , grabbed a jagged piece and casually dropped down impaling the Gremlin through his mouth mid-profanity.
"Cheeky bastards" he muttered as he stood himself up and brushed himself off. Another nights work done with ease he thought as he reached for his cigar again. His hand had not yet touched his cigar before he heard multiple hisses and thumps come from the closet.
Slowly and irately Churchill turned his head towards the closet, "Oh, bother"
A multitude of Gremlins crashed from closet and saw two things, an armored ball of golden fur and their dead comrade who had attempted to claim glory of killing Robin by going too early.
The nonchalant manner of the guardian gave the Gremlins a moments pause. But they had slain guardians before, and were determined to keep doing so. Why? Well mostly they liked killing and the way blood splattered, but also because the Great Master commanded it.
The Gremlins became emboldened by the obvious disparity in numbers and cackled as they approached the lone guardian. Their leader for this raid, a squint eyed bugger named Grislow stopped the group and jeered at the guardian, "Looks like little fatty over there forgot his toy sword, GET HIM!"
Churchill cracked his knuckles as the Gremlins charged. They were closing on him and Robins bed.
He pounded his armor with his fist, the sounded that emanated was far deeper and stronger than it should have been.
He began chanting the Haka Ka Mate in a deep timbre and finished with a powerful jump as the Gremlins closed.
As he landed in the midst of their first line he small warm flashes of light came from around the room and out of the shadows 4 figures in armor crashed into the flanks of the Gremlins.
After a brief skirmish, Grislow was beheaded and the remaining Gremlins lost their nerve and vanished.
After a moment to catch his breath Churchill looked at the armored figures , " Are you donglers going to stay and clean this time or do I have to do it solo again?"
One of the figures lifted his helmet revealing a striped feline face, and winked at the other figures " I think nail tail and porker would be willing to pitch in if you offered some of your honey for once."
Churchill rolled his eyes "oh , bother, alright."
|
"Did you see it?," a shaky whisper said in the dark.
From under the bed frame two fluffy paws reached out and managed a hold on a piece of chewing gum stuck to the carpet. He used it to pull himself out. Dusting off his coat he approach Liam. He found him cozy in his favorite blue onesie, peeking out from under a thick blanket on the bed.
He stood with both legs planted firmly on the boy's bed like a brick wall denying it's demise. A confident bear this teddy was, filled with nothing other than stuffing made of cotton and the will of a steadfast soldier. No matter how tall, heavy or scaly this monster was, he was ready to slay him with his bare paws.
The cotton that shaped his heart grew fonder of the boy as the nights went on. He didn't speak the boy's language. How could he? He's a mere teddy bear.
*Where did you see it?* is what Liam gathered from the sharp, quick glances Teddy gave the room. He was making sure the dark corners were just that -- dark corners.
Liam pointed to the dark corner Teddy missed when scanning the bedroom. Liam thinks it's because Lily, the white polar bear, was propped up in front of the darkest corner, rendering the corner invisible. Teddy's eyes couldn't pass the chance to look at her moonlit fur, picturing it's radiant glow lightening his brown physique to a golden tone.
A flick of Liam's foot jolted Teddy back to where he stood: amidst no-mans land awaiting the beasts lurking in the shadows. To his surprise, not one monster came to test the mortar of Teddy's modest brick wall that night. He and Liam fell asleep, moving their arms and legs to fight the monsters they waited all night for, existing only in their dreams.
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[WP] You buy your son a teddy bear. Unknown to you, the bear pledged his life to your son. Every night, it protects your son from the monsters in the dark.
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As the door latched shut and the last of the light in the room faded a soft rustle came from beneath Robins arm.
A portly and fluffy golden head popped out from the covers.
"Oh, bother" the teddy bear grumbled as he clambered up the boys shoulder.
Churchill was his code name but Mr Pooh was the name his charge had given him. Why on earth the daft young boy would name him after excrement he didn't know.
Perched upon his vantage point he surveyed the room, and satisfied that nothing was amiss he pulled a short cigar from his red blouse pocket. He couldn't light it, secondhand smoke was bad for children you know. Nonetheless he wedged the cigar into the side of his mouth and slowly ground away at it, silently waiting.
This night was just like any other night of the bears watch. A slow drawn out wait that rarely ended quietly.
As he expected the nights challenger arrived at the stroke of 2 hours past midnight , as they always had. With a quiet hiss a pale smoke appeared in the room and flitted about the floor before solidifying at the foot of the bed.
A low growl came from the foot of the bed, "Guardian, your boy's day has come, leave now while I still have the mercy to let you."
"Oh, bother, " Churchill thought to himself. All these would be assassins were truly unoriginal and uninspiring. He heaved himself upright on the boys shoulder and muttered his summoning incantations under his breath. Armor appeared and clanked together around him, a little more snug around the mid section as of late. And finally a pot of honey found its way gently into the crook of Churchill's arm. The whole while he could hear the assassin threatening him with damnation and torture.
Everything in place, he lumbered toward the edge of the bed tucking away the cigar for later. He continued slowly moving towards the edge of the bed eating the honey as he went. And still the challenger spewed vile hatred from below.
Upon arriving to the foot of the bed he looked down and saw a run-of-the-mill Gremlin in disheveled armor awaiting him. With a brief glance to verify the distance he finished the last of the honey , broke the pot , grabbed a jagged piece and casually dropped down impaling the Gremlin through his mouth mid-profanity.
"Cheeky bastards" he muttered as he stood himself up and brushed himself off. Another nights work done with ease he thought as he reached for his cigar again. His hand had not yet touched his cigar before he heard multiple hisses and thumps come from the closet.
Slowly and irately Churchill turned his head towards the closet, "Oh, bother"
A multitude of Gremlins crashed from closet and saw two things, an armored ball of golden fur and their dead comrade who had attempted to claim glory of killing Robin by going too early.
The nonchalant manner of the guardian gave the Gremlins a moments pause. But they had slain guardians before, and were determined to keep doing so. Why? Well mostly they liked killing and the way blood splattered, but also because the Great Master commanded it.
The Gremlins became emboldened by the obvious disparity in numbers and cackled as they approached the lone guardian. Their leader for this raid, a squint eyed bugger named Grislow stopped the group and jeered at the guardian, "Looks like little fatty over there forgot his toy sword, GET HIM!"
Churchill cracked his knuckles as the Gremlins charged. They were closing on him and Robins bed.
He pounded his armor with his fist, the sounded that emanated was far deeper and stronger than it should have been.
He began chanting the Haka Ka Mate in a deep timbre and finished with a powerful jump as the Gremlins closed.
As he landed in the midst of their first line he small warm flashes of light came from around the room and out of the shadows 4 figures in armor crashed into the flanks of the Gremlins.
After a brief skirmish, Grislow was beheaded and the remaining Gremlins lost their nerve and vanished.
After a moment to catch his breath Churchill looked at the armored figures , " Are you donglers going to stay and clean this time or do I have to do it solo again?"
One of the figures lifted his helmet revealing a striped feline face, and winked at the other figures " I think nail tail and porker would be willing to pitch in if you offered some of your honey for once."
Churchill rolled his eyes "oh , bother, alright."
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When I found the bear I didn't think much of it. It was fairly clean for being discarded in the trash. It was just a plain bear, with little definition. The fluff was poking out in one spot, but all in all a good find. I made my way back home and dropped the bear in front of him. I had never seen his eye so wide and full of joy. He immediately pounced on it and began playing with it. It had been so long since I had toys I had forgotten how much fun they were.
Later that evening I was woken by a rustling outside my den. My instincts kicked in and I became alert. My eyes focused on my entrance and I slowly made my way towards it. As I poked my head outside I picked up a strange smell. I was caught off guard as someone tried to grab me from behind. I turned around and immediately bit at his arms. He threw me into his truck as I shouted and yelled for him to leave my boy alone.
Before he could turn around, the bear had grown. The bear grabbed my boy and took him away. The man drove me away as I watched the bear run down an alley. He knocked on a door, then sat next to my son. He was now the same size as I found him. The door opened and and elderly woman took them in.
I'm in the pound now, but at least my pup found a home.
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