Split (1)

train · 265k rows

post_text stringlengths 0 17.5k	post_title stringlengths 4 315	post_scores int64 0 42.1k	comment_texts list	comment_scores list	comment_times list
	[WP] A female scientist had created you to be the very first super human, she starts off with your brain and she then gives you brain wave signals to "Create" your body however you wanted, after you finish and exit your bio pod, a group of soldiers barge in and try to gun you both down.	18	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "He could still feel the emptiness from before. From when he was nothing. The thoughts of watching her work tirelessly to create him. He didn't see or hear her, but he could just tell. It was like a... a sixth sense. \n\nA slight hiss stirred him from his thoughts. As the pod opened, he found the quiet whirring sounds comforting. As the rays of light hit his face, he couldn't help but bring a hand to shield his eyes. Was he outside?\n\nAs his bright grey eyes adjusted, he managed to take in his surroundings. His pod was a bit sunken into the green grass that surrounded the area. A slight wall and half of a building were to his left. A strange slab with even stranger markings was to his two o' clock. \n\nAnd he saw her. \n\nAnila had her red hair pulled back into a pony tail. A few strands of hair had managed to fall and just lightly hang over her eyebrows. Her thin black glasses added to her average, but alluring figure. \n\n\"Oliver, we don't have much time. I had so much planned for you, but--\" She was cut off as an explosion rocked the room. \n\nThe holo-projection faded. The grass diminished, and so did the building. He was in a grey, metal room. Soldiers came pouring into the room. The sound of boots rushing against the metal floor didn't bother Oliver. They were nothing to him. \n\n One by one, the sound of guns clicking into automatic fire and one statement from his creator caused his eyes to flair up.\n\n\"Protect me.\"\n\nThe soldiers began to glow with a bright red outline as he pulled himself out of the pod. They aimed down the sights as his blond hair fell to the sides of his face. \n\n\"As you wish.\" His voice was elegant- like he were made to murmur the gods into rest. Yet it held a underlying tone of authority. And judgement. \n\nHe could feel his simple white clothing cling to his body. He could feel his muscles tightening and his heart slowing as he smirked softly. \n\nThe moment they entered the room was when they sealed their doom. \n\n(Might add more if people/OP is interested. Overall a fun prompt!)\n\n(Please excuse any grammatical errors. I didn't have time to begin (or didn't feel like) proofreading.)" ]	[ 1, 12 ]	[ "1516074595", "1516089423" ]
[removed]	[WP] At first humans were successful at colonising nearby planets but in time relationships between colonies broke down and Galaxy War 1 erupted. Two powerful dictators, Tronald Dump and Im Kong Jun are at the epicentre. It is your task to eliminate them both and restore peace to the galaxy...	0	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nNo prompts referencing real world drama (including politics, recent tragedies, etc.) This includes prompts likely to attract such drama. \n\nWe're not big fans of changing spelling to avoid automod removal - the filters are there for a reason.\n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7qrdpa/wp_at_first_humans_were_successful_at_colonising/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1516097595", "1516097657" ]
[removed]	[WP] Cryptocurrencies are actually a tool made by an AI to get humans to crank out computers with more power even faster by finding and using the most reliable human emotion: greed.	5	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nNo recent reposts, even if changing/inverting small details ([copy-cats](http://i.imgur.com/38FjDgW.gifv)). Search before submitting as popular ideas can cause floods. If your idea is based on something you read elsewhere on reddit, chances are it's been submitted here already. Please wait at least 2 weeks before reposting.\n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7quueq/wp_cryptocurrencies_are_actually_a_tool_made_by/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1516131176", "1516133470" ]
[removed]	[WP] You witnessed a mafia hit on FBI offficer. Instead of killing you the mafia kidnaps you. What do they want from you and what will happen to you?	0	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nThe mods reserve the right to remove anything we feel is harmful to the community. This includes, but is not limited to any forms of hate speech, racism, politics, necrophilia, pedophilia, bestiality, incest, abuse, torture, rape, or suicide. We will not tolerate it. \n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7qwdq4/wp_you_witnessed_a_mafia_hit_on_fbi_offficer/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1516143334", "1516143506" ]
[removed]	[WP] After you die, text appears in front of you that reads, "Free trial expired. Would you like to upgrade to the full version?"	2	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nResponses must be at least 30 words. Prompts that are likely to generate such responses are also not allowed. This is essentially a fill-in-the-blank, or you asked a question likely to generate a simple answer. Prompts should encourage a story or poem. \n\nNo prompts prone to comment infractions. See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_8.3A_no_prompts_prone_to_comment_infractions) for more info. \n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7qxt9e/wp_after_you_die_text_appears_in_front_of_you/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1516156415", "1516156748" ]
[removed]	[WP] After a recent emergency broadcast being termed as a malfunction by your government, you dismiss it as a regular bug in early warning system, only to realize it was something much more sinister when a major incident takes place exactly a week later, but this time without warning.	1	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "\"What was that\", I thought to myself, in a panic after my hearing came back to me. I had just been walking along the sidewalk when suddenly I found myself on my back and staring at the sky. I picked myself up only to realise that there was rubble and fire all around me. In a haze and in no general direction I started to run. Others were running also. I could hear people screaming and crying out for their loved ones. Houses that once stood beautifully were leveled all around me. The air felt thick and hot. Dust blocked out the sun. I had to find out what had just happened. I began to run towards the hills. Back to the spot I used to sit and stare over the city. High ground had to be safer than here. After running for what felt like hours I made it to my familiar hill. Once I approached it I understood what had occurred. The city was on fire. The sky was red. Sirens off in the distance were screaming. \"Oh shit\", I said out loud, after remembering the false missile warning we received earlier in the week. ", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nNo prompts referencing real world drama (including politics, recent tragedies, etc.) \n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7qyrpy/wp_after_a_recent_emergency_broadcast_being/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1, 1 ]	[ "1516166245", "1516166674", "1516166950" ]
	[WP] Thirty days without sleep	1	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "9 AM, June 14th, 2020\n\nHello, my name’s Dr. Lewis.\n\nWe’ve officially hit our goal, ladies and gentlemen. The subject's made it thirty days without sleep. Don’t clap your hands just yet, because I’m not so sure this is a victory.\n\t\nHis body is fully functional, which is splendid. He can still walk, talk, and act as a normal human. If I were to drop an apple, he would watch it fall. His senses are healthy and strong. But the problem arises in his brain. See, while the drug gives him an extra boost of energy, each dose allowing him to reach the next day without sleep, it seems to be damaging his mind. With a lab this small I can’t run the proper tests, but based off his behavior, I’d say it’s fairly obvious.\n\t\nHe’s incoherent. While there’s a lot he can do, he spends his time shaking or screaming or throwing things. There’s an anguish in his eyes, and when I speak to him over the intercom, he reacts as if I’m a frightening god. His memory’s fading along with his ability to actually do anything, and now, with the test over, I worry he’ll never recover.\n\t\nThe most intriguing part—to me—is he seems to want sleep. Even now, sitting in the corner, he’s mumbling about it. “Need sleep. Want sleep.” I wonder, is it because his brain believes it’s the one thing that’ll save him? Or have we conditioned ourselves to find comfort in sleeping?\n\t\nThe latter has merit because, even at the start of this experiment, he never used his newfound time. The room's chocked full of everything from videogames to paintbrushes. He could’ve spent that extra time developing a skill or just lazing about but he seemed…lost. When it got around 11 PM, he would simply lay down with his eyes open. All night.\n\t\nI’m sure better scientists than me wil find out the real truth, but I’m beginning to have doubts. Sleep’s such a monumental barrier, and not necessarily a bad one. Wouldn’t our time be better spent researching things which are actively harming us?\n\t\nThat’s not my decision to make, though. I’m a scientist, and at the end of the day, I shall study what I’m told.\n***\nIf you like this story, check out my sub! /r/LonghandWriter " ]	[ 1, 2 ]	[ "1516244105", "1516244255" ]
	[WP] you find out that imaginary friends aren't as imaginary as first thought	6	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "‘Now you take the tea!’ I heard my daughter Joy instruct her invisible friend Mable. I’d grown accustomed to her conversations with her ‘friend’ and didn’t think too much of it; I figured her imaginary friend would fade over time like any other child’s. \n\n‘Let’s go,’ I urged my little girl, ‘you two finish up your tea so we can get to daycare!’ Joy quickly finished her empty glass of tea and waved for Mable to follow her. We piled into the car and headed on our way. Joy was more excited to see her friends than usual; she had grown close to the children and staff during her 3 years in attendance but was especially excited because today, ‘mommy’ was going to be her new teacher. Her first day back at daycare would be my first day at my new job. \n\nMy day started off normal. I shadowed a current ‘Teacher’ during her normal duties and helped with the kids where I could. During the quieter moments I would sit back and watch the kids play. I noticed that Joy was not the only one with an invisible play-mate; many of the children sat together at a plastic picnic table, each with an empty space across from them. I watched as the children’s invisible buddies held their attention so rapt, they all seemed to be having very in-depth conversations in which only about 50% was intelligible speech. I smiled as I watched them jabber away and let my mind wander for a moment before being brought sharply into focus when I noticed what I thought was a tea cup floating in mid-air. I closed my eyes shut and opened them again to be sure of what I was seeing, but when I looked again, the cup rested on the table. I knew it must have been a trick of the light and I put the idea out of my mind.\n\nThe rest of the day went on without further incident and when it was time, we packed up to head home. I grabbed Joy’s hand to lead her outside when she tugged to pull me closer. Giving in, I bent at the waist and gave her my attention, ‘Yes sweety?’ \n\n‘Can we leave through the playground mommy?’ Her expression was solemn and her hand was already pulling me toward the exit. \n\n“Alright, we can…’ but she had grabbed my hand and started pulling before I could finish. She was so excited it almost made me a little excited. \n\nJoy pulled me through the middle of the playground and I could feel tiny pieces of wood chips and sand sneak into the insides of my shoes. She took a path discernable to no one but herself and I followed along between the slides and swings until I thought we better make our way to the gate. \n\n‘Alright hon, that was very fun but I think it’s time to go now.’ I responded just as she had earlier and dug my heels into the sand and wood chips to bring her to a surprisingly difficult halt. She turned around and had a pleading look on her face; one that she had never worn before.\n\n‘No mommy, we are almost at the place. You have to come mommy, please?’ She tugged at my arm, gently like I had done with hers earlier. I couldn’t help myself and figured it couldn’t hurt to play a little bit longer. As soon as she realized, her face lit up and she began pulling me towards the opposite edge of the playground, far away from all the toys, all the way to a corner of the playground that couldn’t be seen from the door. \n\nAs we reached the fence I noticed a small area of the chain link that had a corner loose and pushed out enough to make a hole just big enough for Joy to crawl through. Letting go of my hand for the first time since we got outside, to my shock, she crouched down and began to crawl through the rusty hole in the chain link fence.\n\n‘Honey, no!’ I shouted but she was already half way through. I cringed at the thought of her getting hurt on a piece of the fence and would have pulled her back if she hadn’t been so quick. By the time I registered what had happened she was already through the hole and standing on the other side of the fence. \n\n‘It’s OK mommy, you can fit too!’ She bent down and pulled the corner of the fence open for me to crawl through. \n\n‘Oh no honey, mommy can’t fit through there and we shouldn’t crawl through holes in fences, we could get hurt!’ I wanted her back safely holding my hand but without making her come back the same way she went, we would have to walk almost a half mile to the end of the fence through untrimmed rural landscape. I hesitantly asked her to come back through the fence to me. ‘Crawl back through this one LAST time to mommy and then we’re never going to go through a fence again, ok?’ I reached my hand through the opening, but she didn’t budge. \n\n‘No mommy, you come with me to the place this one last time.’ She said using my own words against me. ‘I count to three, mommy!’ she declared using more of my own methods. I began to formulate an argument that might work on a four-year-old, but she began to wander away as she started counting, ‘One… Two…,’ Suddenly I was struck with the panicked realization that she had the upper hand and if I didn’t want a child lost in the fields and trees, I had better see if I could fit through that hole in the fence. \n\nAs soon as I crouched down to the hole, Joy stopped and watched me struggle through the tiny opening. Although it wasn’t easy, Joy was right, I did fit. I pulled myself out of the dirt and brushed my clothing off. Apparently, either my pace wasn’t quick enough or Joy realized I might make her go back and she ran off ahead of me, almost at a run. ‘Joy!’ I yelled at her, now beginning to lose my cool. ‘Joy! You get back here right now!!!’ For all my pleading she might as well have been deaf because her distance from me was ever increasing. Realizing that I had no choice but to chase her down at his point, I followed her suit and ran after her. \n\nNo more than two steps into my attempted run, I tripped over something and tumbled back into the dirt. As I stood, now feeling an even greater sense of urgency to catch Joy, I lost my balance again feeling tangled with something. Upon further inspection I found that my laces had somehow been tied together. I supposed it must have happened in my climb through the gate or some such thing and corrected the issue and began to follow Joy again who had by this time, left my field of sight. \n\nFinally, I caught up to Joy who had found a stump to sit on. She sat blissfully unaware of my panic, anger, and struggle to find her, and instead made casual conversation with an empty stump across from her. \n\nFinally acknowledging me, Joy turned and waved me over as if to welcome me to sit at her nonexistent table. Although I was already past my limit, instead of getting angry, for some reason I suddenly saw the madness in all of it and decided to laugh instead. \n\nCaught up in my laughter I almost missed my daughter saying to the stump in front of her, ‘No, see, I told you she wouldn’t be mad!’ I felt a wave of relief wash over me, proud of myself for not getting angry. I figured this was just one of those moments that I would laugh about later, once we were both home safe, and decided to indulge in her play time. \n\n‘Alright,’ I started towards the empty stump to take my place at the table, ‘let’s have some tea!’ I began to lower myself onto the stump but before I made it all the way down, I felt a push from underneath and jumped up away from the stump just in time to hear Joy say, ‘They don’t like that!’ as she broke into a fit of giggles. \n\n‘What was that?’ I mused out loud to myself. I stared at the empty stump and then back to Joy – all of this so she could pull her ‘funny’ trick on me? ‘Well that wasn’t nice.’ I began to admonish her and was surprised when she interrupted, ‘Well it isn’t nice to always be sitting on Mable.’ I could see she was being somewhat serious now. \n\n‘This is the place where you can find a friend too, mommy.’ She waved her hand in the air as she said it. All I saw was more grass, trees, and untamed land, but she persisted. ‘You have to look REALLY hard, way better than normal mommy eyes, you have to look hard like I do.’ She squinted and slowly turned her head to survey all that was before her. Since I had already decided to play along, I followed her lead and began squinting and combing the tree line and shrubbery with my gaze. I had never seen Joy so intense and I got caught up in the moment.\n\nAn inner smile built within as I played; for just a moment I felt like a child again too. It was in that moment I saw a flash of sparkle and light somewhere in the distance but as soon as I had seen it, it had gone. Joy must have seen it too and I heard her let out a little shriek, ‘Mommy! You brought a friend!!!’ She tugged at my sleeve and begged me to try to bring it back again, to ‘try really hard!’ Figuring it was probably something easily explained and being curious as to what that explanation might be, I squinted again and genuinely tried to bring it back into view. \n\nAs I squinted and again was lost in that familiar feeling of childhood, it appeared to me again, this time clearly and unmistakably. A large pure white unicorn, decorated with a beautiful iridescent horn which was emitting sparkles, came leisurely trotting towards me. I don’t know how I knew, but I knew he was named Charles; I knew he was my best friend. Like a lightbulb that hadn’t been switched on for years, my imagination began to flicker back to life. Maybe being imaginary wasn’t the same thing as not being real…\n\n\n\n", "I had an imaginary friend once, as most children do. His name was Noh, he was ten feet tall, with powerful legs as wide as tree stumps. He was frighteningly ugly, his face disfigured, with hair that was matted and smelled like garbage. I was four when I met him, and ten when he left me.\n\nI was always a small child, a full foot shorter than other kids my age. My hair was long, and blonde like wheat. My eyes big and blue like the flowers momma kept outside her kitchen window. I knew I was a boy because my privates were different from hers, but poppa said I was the spitting image of her.\n\nHe would hold me real tight, and tell me how much I reminded him of her. How much like her I looked. Like he was seeing her for the first time all over again. Oh, how he loved her, the moment he saw her, he knew he had to have her. I was four when we lost her, and ten when I lost him.\n\nPoppa couldn't look at me after momma left us. He stayed in his room, in the dark, for weeks I think. I would hear him in there, talking to her, saying such odd things. Mostly he talked about how she was so small, and he needed her so much, and that he was sorry she ever had to grow up. It made me sad to hear how sad he was...soon I would be sad for something else.\n\nIt wasn't long after poppa left his room that I met Noh. Poppa was real sorry for leaving me, he said. He just couldn't face me, couldn't face the way looking at me made him feel. I looked just like my momma did the first time he saw her.\n\n\nNoh came one day when poppa was gone to town. Poppa told me he was getting something special for me, something I needed now that momma wasn't here anymore. I was in the backyard, sitting in my sandbox, wondering if I could make it over the fence around our yard. Then I heard a sound behind me. It sounded like twigs snapping, over and over again. I turned around, and there was Noh, and the sound was him talking. I was five when I could finally understand what he was saying.\n\n\"If you do it this way it will work.\" Poppa was sleeping. Noh was talking to me in his strange voice not very quietly, but I wasn't afraid of poppa waking up. He always sleeps heavy on nights like this.\n\n\"I don't think I can.\" I whispered. I always whisper. Poppa says I sound just like momma when I talk quietly. I don't remember her voice, so I just take his word for it.\n\n\"You have to.\" Noh urged. He looked scared, though at the time I couldn't understand why. Why he seemed so desperate for me to listen to him. I was ten when I finally did.\n\n\"You're getting older, too old now. You have to do it.\" Poppa was sleeping again. Noh only ever talked to me when poppa was sleeping. I think he didn't want to get me in trouble. Poppa didn't like me talking to big people. This time I listened to Noh. I knew he was right, had for a while. It wasn't until that night that I realized how important this was. Poppa had told me this was a special night, our last like it, because I was getting older, and I was becoming more like me. I was much, much, older before I understood what he meant by that.\n\nI did what Noh told me to that night. Noh stayed with me for six more months after that. When the men with shiny badges, and scary guns came. When the lady with chipped nails took me to a big house with lots of other little kids. When the nice couple brought me home, and gave me my own room. When I started to talk to the old man in the big office with the soft couch. Until the day I smiled at my new momma and poppa. Noh was just gone. I was eighty when I saw him again.\n\nI had lived a long life. Married a beautiful woman with a loud, boisterous voice. Been blessed with three children, none of them had imaginary friends. Watched them get married, and have children, none with imaginary friends. By that time I had begun to understand what Noh was, and why I had him. It was the day I died that I learned the truth, though.\n\nMy family had just left my room, where I lay waiting for the moment the Good Lord saw fit to take me home. Noh stepped into the room, though I couldn't see where exactly he'd come from. I was surprised to see him there. After all, I hadn't needed him since I was a child.\n\n\"Noh?\" He smiled at me, for the first time. Before my eyes he changed. No longer was he grotesque, with garbage hair. He was still ten feet tall, legs still powerful, but his face was beautiful. A golden light seemed to surround him, and come from within him at the same time. When he spoke, it took my breath away. His voice was like the loudest of church bells.\n\n\"Hello, George.\"\n\n\"What are you?\" I breathed.\n\n\"I am who I always was. Your friend.\"" ]	[ 1, 1, 3 ]	[ "1516288089", "1516400045", "1516297042" ]
[removed]	[WP] You live in a world where there is literally just 1 soulmate for you	2	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nPrompts go in the title, not the text box. \n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7rhsmk/wp_you_live_in_a_world_where_there_is_literally/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1516362504", "1516363399" ]
	[WP] The tavern at the top of the mountain.	26	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "It was a long journey and no one had the energy to complain, still, to find a tavern atop this mountain was an oddity. I should've followed my instincts and never entered that accursed place.\n\nI was with my family. An older brother and two younger sisters. Our parents were gone, and we had no place to call home, so we traveled and lived the nomadic life.\n\nMy brother became a mercenary not long after, taking jobs from anyone, and he always brought us with him. Years passed, and we became a unit. My brother, the brave and experienced warrior with his family, hunting and doing odd jobs for survival.\n\nMy sisters were a unit long before. They were born together and had walked the path of strife while holding each other's hands. They were our magicians, loved by the spirits of ice and fire.\n\nMe? I was the lucky one. Physically and mentally weak, I acted as the heart of our family. I loved the three of them, they were my world.\n\n\"Welcome, dear children!\" an old woman greeted us as we entered.\n\n\"Oh, you all look ragged,\" an old man behind a counter said. \"Come, come, don't be shy.\"\n\nI did all the formalities as my brother carried our younger sisters on his shoulder. They were exhausted and had been dozing off as soon as we entered the tavern. The old lady took our belongings and tossed it to a storage room. The old man gave me the key to our room, 108.\n\nThe moment we entered our room, my brother and I were struck by a wave of dizziness. We shrugged it off as exhaustion, as my brother dropped our sisters to a bed.\n\n\"Drink some water before you go to bed,\" my brother said as he walked out of the room.\n\n\"Be careful on your rounds,\" I said and he waved bye. My brother developed a routine of checking the place where we stay, his experiences exacerbated his caution.\n\nI should've stopped him.\n\nIn the middle of the night, I heard a sound. It woke me up. I looked at the other bed, my sisters were still sound asleep. I moved closer to them as the noise continued to occur.\n\nIt sounded like metal clashing against metal.\n\nClang\n\nOne loud sound was all it took for me to wake my sisters abruptly.\n\n\"What's going on?\" the older one said, rubbing her eyes.\n\n\"I don't know, but it sounds bad,\" I said. \"Wake your sister up, burn her lightly if you must,\"\n\n\"Ouch!\" the younger one yelled awake. \"What's the big deal?\"\n\n\"We got to find our brother!\"\n\nThey both looked at me with concern.\n\nThen it happened. The old woman who greeted us came by the door and held my brother's sword.\n\n\"What did you do with our brother?!\" I screamed.\n\nShe shut me up by tossing his head unto my arms.\n\nMy mind stopped and before I knew it, my sisters had shot the old woman with their strongest magic.\n\n\"-snap out of it!\" I felt cold hands. \"We got to get out of here!\"\n\nWe ran as far as we could, but the ground shook and tentacles grabbed hold of my legs. My sisters tried to help, blessed their sweet, lovely soul. I wished they ran instead.\n\nThe tentacles saw them as a treat and attacked them at all directions. They fought well, but the creature, whatever it is, was cunning. It held me hostage, and in that moment of doubt, it took my sisters' lives. They were born together and died together.\n\nI was the lucky one. The ground shook once more, setting me free from the creature's grasps. I ran as fast as I could, I didn't know why I did. It was better if I had stayed. The ground shook again, stronger this time, and the tavern, the creature, and I fell.\n\nWhen I woke, I saw the creature and the tavern's name, \"Dream Eater.\"\n\nI awoke once more, this time at a place so white, with a person in a white coat.\n\n\"There was a bug in the simulation, but I'm glad you're awake,\" I heard him say.\n\n\"There was a tavern,\" I begin to say. \"At the top of the mountain.\"\n", "The Last Straw stood like a pimple marring an otherwise beautiful plain of snow that ran down to the entrance of the Soul Pass.\n\nThe tavern was built thick and sturdy, with a high-peaked roof to let the snow slide off. Smoke always poured out from the chimneys, for there was never a warm day near the Soul Pass. They were far too high above the world for things like warmth and rain.\n\nScargo missed being warm. The fires burned furiously around the room while he paid the caravaners for the yearly shipment of dried meats and ale. Yet, even with so much fire, he still had to wear three layers of heavy flannel to keep himself warm. \n\nHe remembered days as a child when he'd been warm from the sun alone. That is what he missed. Maybe someday he'd find someone to take his place. Maybe someone else would decide that the Soul Pass was not for them. Maybe someone else would chicken out at the last moment, just like him.\n\n\"So what do you think is on the other side?\"\n\nScargo turned his attention back to the caravaners. They were big, hearty mountain men like him. They had beards that could hide half a chicken and coats wider than a beer barrel around the waist. They were the type to have the same conversation every year and hope for a new answer each time.\n\n\"No one ever comes back.\" Scargo answered the red-bearded one that had asked. \"That should be an answer.\"\n\n\"Just not a fun one.\" The eldest of the caravaners weighed in. His beard was peppered with grey over black. Scargo had known him for nigh on twenty years now.\n\n\"There are those that struggle and fight.\" Scargo decided he would speak true for once. \"Those that can't find a place that feels right. Those that find no peace in a house, or sled, or wagon. The wanderers.\"\n\nBeer was drunk in unison as attention turned toward the elder barkeep.\n\n\"The wanderers don't look for death in a knife. They don't seek the end in a pistol or in poison. They wander to find death with the same unknowns that kept them wandering. They desire to know, in the very last moments, a bit of the unknown. they wish to be privileged with a secret as they pass on.\"\n\n\"A secret?\" Red-beard asked.\n\n\"The only secret that can be kept perfectly.\" Scargo nodded and cracked his knuckles slowly in sequence before continuing. \n\n\"A secret only dead men know.\"\n\n", "Extremely uncomfortable weather, as always. I don't know if it is just me, but it feels that this mountain weather changes faster than any other place. Yet, here I am, climbing it, waiting to arrive at the top. It is hard since I need to take breaks to getting used to the new air pressure.\n\nToday, I will finish the climb. Today, I will make it. I can see the lights already, cheering for my arrival. I can already feel the taste of food, inviting me to come. I have always loved this place.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Tavern\n\nAt the top of the mountain\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI nod at the sign and open the door. Already I can see different faces spending their time there. Lizards, elves, dwarves, werewolves, dragons in their lesser form, demons, toys, ants, orcs, trolls, zombies and today even one vampire.\n\nI smile and take a long deep breath just to feel how much the air stinks. It consists of different species with some weird food odours.\n\n\"Oooo, isn't that you Thomas!\" a loud voice came, as Taurus, the mightiest minotaur ever known, takes few steps with his hooves towards me.\n\n\"Oh, even you made it to the tavern today,\" I said with a grin. Taurus looked around the tavern, took random beer from a nearby table and pushed it into my hand. \"Come, sit with us!\" he said. A drunken pig whose beer was taken looked Taurus, sighed and screamed for a new beer.\n\n\"Oh, Taurus, I should get a room first and put my stuff away,\" I told him with a smile. I still took a sip of that amazing beer. It was one of a kind; shining more than gold itself. I don't know how it is possible either.\n\n\"Ah, we shall wait for you!\" Taurus said, as he took a long sip of his own beer and went back to the corner that consisted of him, five ants, an elf, sapling and a smaller wyvern. Many of them waved at me when I watched there. After waving back I took a path towards the counter. Over there, an elderly lady was arguing with a toy, who wasn't happy with his oil-beer.\n\n\"Tim-Tim,\" I said with a smile, as I reached the counter.\n\n\"Oooooh. Thomas! I-haven't-seen-you-for-a-long-time!\" Tim-Tim said with his emotionless face. I could understand his excitement from his voice.\n\n\"I see, you still want extra-oily stuff,\" I said with a grin while moving my stare to the older woman. She sighed.\n\n\"Of-course! It-is-same-as-spice-lover-wanting-extra-spicy-stuff!\" Tim-Tim said with a straight line, making no pauses whatsoever.\n\n\"Okay-okay, Tim-Tim. You should go back to your girlfriend Chan-Chan. She looks pretty sad that you have forgotten about her,\" I nodded towards another corner of the inn.\n\n\"Oh-shit. Thanks-Thomas!\" Tim-Tim quickly nodded with his toy head and departed away, making room for me.\n\n\"Hello, Mom. I am home!\" we finally had a moment to say hi and hug each other.\n\n\"Thomas! I missed you. How have you been?\" she hugged me back while asking.\n\n\"I finally found them!\" I told her.\n\n\"Oooh?\" Linda finally showed excitement. I put my hands into my pocket to take out something that I had prepared to show her.\n\n\"Let me introduce you: beans which are grown in the ashes of Phoenix. I call them Phoeans! Now werewolves can finally have their own dish!\"\n\nMy mother looked at the beans in my hand and then moved her sight to me. A few tears started to gather in her eyes.\n\n\"Son, you didn't have to!\" she said.\n\n\"No, I had to! After all, I love this place more than anything else in the world!\"\n\n----\n\n/r/ElvenWrites\n\nMercy, Nick :3.", "It was just an unassuming inn upstate. The Tavern at the Top of the Mountain. The sign inside said it had been founded in 1787 or somewhere around there, and the decor hadn't changed much either, except for a few beer signs and pictures of all the celebrities who were in here back in the old days. Guys like Gary Cooper, Humphrey Bogart, and in the center, the old rat pack themselves. \n\nAs i scanned the place, there wasn't anyone there except the barkeep and a fat dude in a black suit. I'd been told to look for him by my boss, Jimmy. He said the guy wouldn't say much, so I had to introduce myself. \n\n\"Hi i'm Robbie. I'm the guy Jimmy told you about.\" \n\nThe man then took off his glasses, turned around and gave me an angry look.\n\n\"What do you want?\" He told me. He talked like he was from Brooklyn, and he probably didn't like Jersey punks like me.\n\n\"I was told to talk to you.\"\n\n\"Yeah, well we have to go to the back. Okay. \"\n\nHe paused. \n\n\"Why you looking so nervous. We all had to do this. Its tradition. Unless your hiding something.\"\n\nThen he smiled.\n\n\"You half yid or something?\" \n\nI nervously laughed. \"Na, yids are alright though. I got a lot of buddies who's jews.\"\n\n\"Yeah, hell you know Dave Greenspan owns this. Big Dave's alright. Good lawyer too. He'd make a good advisor to Jimmy. But you know, tradition. Can't even let Calabrese' in, and they's practically cousins to us.\" \n\nI kept following him to a back party room, and then down an old dingy staircase. There wasn't anything but concrete down there, and then I looked around the corner and saw all the guys from the neighborhood I knew. And there sitting in the chair was Jimmy Cucci. The Big Boss. The guy who pulled me off the street and said he saw \"greatness in me\" because i beat up a few hoodlums who attacked me outside of a deli. \n\nAll the guys were wearing dark suits, but Jimmy was wearing a white suit. He looked like the old school bosses with his silver hair slicked and sitting there looking over his empire. Usually the guy had messy hair and just wore a track jacksuit jacket with jeans.\n\nI then stopped. Jimmy then said \"come up here Robbie.\" He then gave me a hug and a kiss. \n\n\"Now everybody, lets gather round. And Tommy, go get the fire pit. Okay. \"\n\n\"Why does he need the fire pit?\" I asked.\n\n\"Well, you'll see. He just has to go to the back closet. By the way you look so good. Didn't know you had such good taste.\"\n\n\"You too.\"\n\nJust then Tommy brought out a fire pit and he lighted it. \n\n\"Stand over there, and take this.\" Said Jimmy. \n\nIt was a card of the Virgin Mary. Specifically Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I hadn't been to church in years, but I remembered Our Lady because my mother was in love with that statue at our church. She always prayed to her hoping i'd \"make something of myself.\" Well, now I felt I had.\n\n\"Alright, now stretch out your hands.\" He then pulled out a small knife and put a small cut in my hands.\n\n\"Now smear it on the card and throw it in the fire.\"\n\nI followed his instructions, even though I had a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach from the blood. I throw it in the fire and then clasped my hands.\n\n\"Now repeat after me. MAY MY SOUL BURN IN HELL IF I EVER BETRAY THE FAMILY!\"\n\n\"May my soul burn in hell if I ever betray the family.\" I repeated.\n\nJust then, i heard a loud noise from upstairs, and soon a bunch of guys that looked like they were from a SWAT team came down. \n\n\"Alright everybody, stay where you are!\" A voice yelled. But just then, one of the guys in the dark suit pulled out a gun and shot at one of the SWAT team guys. But soon they started firing back. I then went to the broom closet to hide.\n\n\"This is agent Robbie Ianello. I'm in the closet. Someone get me out of here once it's safe.\"\n\nJust someone opened the door. I was about ready to shoot but thank God it was an FBI guy in his SWAT gear. \n\n\"You better get out of here we got most of those guys either killed or in cuffs.\"\n\n\"Thanks\"\n\nI then went outside. I say by an FBI car and had some coffee. It was quite a night. I honestly was surprised I made it. I thought i'd be a goner. But then again i always surprised myself with how I was able to infiltrate the family. But maybe it was just luck. Who knows.\n", "Jason made his way to the front window of the cable car as soon as they boarded. He held out his hand for Hannah, but she kept hers in the pockets of her long wool coat and stopped at the side window to his right. He smiled. “Are you nervous?”\n\n \n\n“No, just looking around,” she replied. The side window looked out onto stubby hills that obscured the view of Albuquerque. Jason wasn’t sure why she wanted to look out at a parking lot and some sparse vegetation baking in the dry summer heat. The forward view toward Sandia Peak was much more interesting, and he said so, but she didn’t reply.\n\n \n\nThe car quickly filled with tourists, and the doors slid shut. “Hang on to the rail, it can be bumpy when it starts,” Jason said, turning toward Hannah. She looked at him briefly, then put one hand on the rail and faced the front window. The car jolted and leaned a degree or two forward, then began its long, upward glide toward the top of the peak.\n\n \n\nJason put his arm around Hannah; he’d intended to pull her closer, but he ended up being the one to move. “I’m so glad mom and dad invited us out here,” he said. “It’s nice to be together someplace so different from home. The desert is beautiful from up here, isn’t it?”\n\n \n\n“Yeah,” Hannah said. She kept one hand in her pocket and held the handrail tightly with the other. Jason thought her knuckles were turning white, but it might have just been the sun’s glare. They rode in silence for a while, until Jason spotted some metallic debris in a small canyon below them. “Do you see that?” He pointed. She nodded. “I read about that, it’s from a plane that crashed there back in 1955. Can you believe they just left the pieces there for all these years? I mean, after they recovered the bodies. But it’s been there ever since.” He thought she might have nodded her head. “You’d think it would be bad for the environment, right?” Jason knew how much Hannah liked to talk about the environment.\n\n \n\n“Mm hm,” she said, and looked back up toward the mountaintop station. The orange-red platform was still small in the distance. They rode the rest of the way in silence. Eventually, Jason’s arm got tired and he put that hand in his jacket pocket.\n\n \n\nWhen the tram reached the top of the mountain, the passengers debarked onto the platform and then slowly spread out. Many went to the viewing railings, some headed for the restaurant building, and a few headed toward the trail that runs along the top of the ridge. “Let’s see what we can see from here,” Jason said. Hannah followed him to the railing, but stood behind him. “Come on, the view is incredible,” he said.\n\n \n\nHannah backed away a little further. “I don’t like the edge. You go ahead.” She tugged on her purse strap and flipped her hair with a quick gesture.\n\n \n\nJason shrugged, turned back toward the vista, and then found he couldn’t enjoy it much, after all. He turned quickly and suddenly felt dizzy. “Wow, I didn’t realize how much being at 10,000 feet could affect you,” he said as he staggered a little. He put his hand to his head. “The air really is thinner up here. Want to go have a drink while we acclimate?”\n\n \n\nHannah looked toward the weathered wooden building. “Sure,” she said, and followed him through the doors. They walked past the information station and a small gift shop on their way back to the restaurant. The early afternoon crowd was sparse, so they selected a table close to the bar. Jason smiled at Hannah and picked up the beer menu. “Huh. You don’t see kolsch very often, I’m going to get that. How about you?” Their server approached; Jason ordered a pint, and Hannah got a Diet Pepsi.\n\n \n\nJason looked at Hannah, but her attention was elsewhere. He could see that she wasn’t having the best time, but he wasn’t sure why. She hadn’t smiled much during the whole trip, now that he thought back on it. In fact, when was the last time she had kissed him? That thought stuck, and he couldn’t get rid of it. It had been a few months since he had asked her to marry him; had it actually been that long?\n\n \n\nTheir drinks arrived. Hannah pulled her glass close to her and pinched the straw distractedly. She was watching something on one of the TVs above the bar. Jason picked up his pint, thankful for the break in his thoughts. The beer was cold and crisp, with just a hint of pilsner malt in the back. He was about to tell Hannah how the ale yeast made kolsch different from most German beer styles, but he stopped. She was still looking far away. The beer was smooth and delicious, and before Jason realized it, he had downed most of it in one continuous gulp.\n\n \n\nJason sat back heavily in his chair. His temples were throbbing and his stomach felt strange. He wasn’t prepared for the combination of altitude and the rush of alcohol. His vision began to narrow, and he was suddenly short of breath. He grimaced, closed his eyes, and put his hands to his temples.\n\n \n\nCurious.\n\n \n\nJason knew his eyes were closed, but he found himself staring at an older couple who were seated nearby at the bar. Almost everything was out of focus, and the man in the couple was a dim blur of black shirt and jeans. For some reason, he was staring at the woman’s blouse, thinking about its flattering fit and how smartly it was cut. Her purse wasn’t worth looking at, but then he focused on the woman’s shoes, which were actually short black leather boots with a buckle. Jimmy Choo? He had no idea where that thought came from. Must be Jimmy Choo. Last year, maybe, but they look so good on her. And with that big platinum RING!\n\n \n\nJason’s viewpoint tilted suddenly and he felt nauseous. He was looking closely at the ring he had given Hannah when he’d asked her to marry him. Yellow gold. The stone was, well, it was ok. For now. He felt that evaluation rather than thinking it in so many words. His eyes shifted back to the enviable woman at the bar, slid past some other customers in a blur, and then he suddenly found himself looking at himself from across the table.\n\n \n\nThe man he saw there seemed smaller than he thought of himself, but it was him. He’d gained some weight. His shirt was old, but he kept on wearing it. His eyes moved downward slowly, critically. He needs a new jacket as badly ad he needs a gym membership. His gaze stopped on his backside; not on his shape, but on the thin bulge of his wallet. Not even a bulge, hardly anything to it at all. He really needed to step it up in that area. What was taking him so long?\n\n \n\nHow long is it going to take him to realize I don’t want him like this? I mean yeah, we’re getting married, that’s what you do. But doesn’t he want me to be able to quit working and stay home?\n\n \n\nJason heard a sigh, as though he were making the sound and hearing it externally at the same time. Then the alien thoughts continued. Why doesn’t he give me things anymore? There were those cute silver earrings in the gift shop, we walked right past them. I mean, I don’t really like turquoise that much, but why doesn’t he ever think to just do something to really show me his feelings? Jason finally understood that he was somehow watching himself through Hannah’s eyes, hearing her thoughts and, worse, feeling her feelings. His heart slowed, and he thought it might stop forever. \n\n \n\nAt that moment, Jason’s breathing eased and his vision cleared. He looked up just in time to see Hannah’s expression changing from disapproval to neutral. She pushed her drink back as though it didn’t taste right, and went back to looking toward the bar TVs.\n\n \n\nDoes she know I heard all that? Jason thought in a panic. He covered his own shock by sipping from what was left of his beer. Did I actually just… he couldn’t even put together a sentence together in his own mind. He quit trying to think and just stated at her, seeing the outline of her face that he thought he knew so well. Did that all actually happen? He continued to stare while his mind churned. Did I dream it? He made himself examine the woman at the bar. Her outfit looked just as it had through Hannah’s eyes.\n\n \n\nJason looked at himself. He’d definitely gained a few pounds since he had met Hannah. He was wearing the same jacket he had worn then, too. Then he looked at the slender band of gold on Hannah’s left hand. The ring he’d saved for months to just put down half of the cost. The one he’d picked out after poring over the magazine photos she had left open on her table to get a sense of what designs she liked. The diamond he had sweated over negotiating the price of for five days of phone tag and visits to the store.\n\n \n\nThe ring looked shabby to him now that he had seen it through her eyes. Something that would need to be replaced at some point. He looked down at himself again and wondered if, one day, she might feel the same about Jason himself. But who goes around having visions of themselves through someone else’s eyes? Had it been a hallucination? A blackout dream? A vision of some kind? He didn’t believe in visions, and yet there was something. He sensed it in her. Maybe it had been his conscious mind shutting down to process the way she had been acting lately.\n\n \n\nThere had to be some way to know, Jason thought as he drained his glass. Slowly, he reached out to place his fingertips on Hannah’s wrist. She jerked back as though he had shocked her. She gave him a dubious look. Jason just smiled and said, “Did you notice the silver jewelry in the gift shop window?” Hannah suddenly smiled and took his hand in hers. Jason continued, “I think the turquoise would look good with your eyes.” Her smile faded. “Or, you know, maybe not. I haven’t given you anything since we got engaged. Let me give you something else when we get home to the big city. What do you say?” Hannah’s smile widened again and she wrapped her arms around him. “Yes yes yes!” she said.\n\n \n\nSomething else for sure, Jason thought. But it’s not going to be something you like.", "There is a tavern at the top of the mountain. Where the Gods meet. It's not for mortals, no. But then I'm no mortal.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nLooking back at my home and the withered lifeless body I am leaving behind, I know what I have to do. I bandage my wounds and throw the gun away. Sometimes, you must fight for what you want. And if need be, I will fight each and every single god in that forsaken tavern. I start my journey.\n\nMy body screams in exhaustion. My lungs feel like they are about to burst. But I don't stop. I can't stop. For you see, I am close. I have been walking for a long time but I can almost feel it now. It's near. My legs are cramping up now. I stop for a moment to take a sip of water and stretch a little. I have not felt pain like this in the thousands of years that I've been alive. I relish it. I have become too soft. No longer the warrior that I once was. I keep climbing.\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see, there is a tavern at the top of the mountain. It is a place where time has no meaning. Where everyone is equal. For if you are in the tavern, you are not ordinary. You are a god.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nMy legs refuse to co operate with me. I scream in frustration. Not like this. Not after getting so far. I drag my body up the mountain using just my arms. It's tiring. I have to stop often to rest for a minute. I remember the old wrinkled face. The white hair and the veins clearly visible under the skin. It motivates me. I will get there even if I die for it. I find this thought funny. For I am no mortal and I cannot die.\n\nI think back to my past. The early days of humanity. When the darkness was a very real and menacing thing. Humans are still subconsciously afraid of the darkness although they don't know why. The demons that existed then used that darkness to their advantage and preyed upon the humans. The gods pushed back against them. It was an even battle that lasted for centuries. Till they recruited me. I was never afraid of death in the first place and offered my help to the gods. My motivations were simple then. Save my village and my people from the demons. And the gods accepted. And gave me a gift. Immortality. But now, I wonder. Was it really a gift, or a curse?\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see there is a tavern on the mountain. Where no one has any powers. All the gods are in their human forms. And it is a good thing. If those old fools retained their powers, they'd soon kill themselves off. The tavern is a neutral safe spot. And I intend to start a fight there till they give me what I want.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI reach the top of the mountain. I can see the entrance. My legs still won't move. I crawl towards a nearby rock and use it to lift myself up. I look at the shabby little building. It looks more fitting for a bunch of homeless drunks. But what are these gods if not exactly that. They did their job and created humans. They defeated the darkness and left humanity alone to its own devices. Did they not realize that human nature is inherently chaotic. Unchecked, humans continue to destroy their home and each other. Thinking about it, maybe humans are really made in the image of these gods. \n\nSome day, I hope they have to answer for it all. For all the suffering back in the world. And how they are all just sitting in there and drinking. But not today. Today, I am here for my own selfish reasons. I remember her from way back. In her younger days. The fair skin and the dark hair combining to form a contrast that was almost magic. Grey knowing eyes that seemed to look right into your soul. A smile sweeter than all the sweets in the world. And a voice like the angels themselves. I fell in love with her as soon as I met her. The last time I loved somebody this much was probably a few hundred years ago. The only problem, she was mortal. And like all mortals, she died. I have seen so many loved ones come and go. But not her. I will not let her go this easy. I will get her back. Even if I have to fight the gods themselves.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see there is a tavern at the top of the mountain. And the god of death sits there drinking cheap spirits. And all the gods, they owe me a favor. They gave me the weapons and I helped them win. And they said to me, if you ever need something, come to us. We are always there.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI open the door and stagger into the run down building. The inside is an enormous mansion coated in gold. Cheap parlor tricks, I think to myself. I am holding on to the table to keep myself from falling. They have been expecting me. The death god and another walk towards me.\n\n\"Welcome, we have been waiting for you for so long.\"\n\n\"Time has no meaning here. You forget, I know all about you and your kind.\"\n\n\"So, tell me why are you here.\"\n\n\"You know why.\"\n\n\"Tell us anyways.\"\n\n\"I want her back.\"\n\n\"There is no coming back from death. You should know. You've seen enough people die.\"\n\nWith a sudden burst of energy even I was not aware I had, I grab it by the arm.\n\n\"I don't care. Do it anyways. You owe me. All of you.\"\n\nWith a smooth single motion, it got out of my grip and moved a step back.\n\n\"We remember what you did for us very well. But you see, she has been dead for over 9 years now. Her body is now a rotten mess that is more fit for the maggots and animals feeding on her. She has already taken her place in the afterlife now.\"\n\n\"There's plenty of you here. Someone will be able to get her back to her old self.\"\n\n\"She is an old mortal woman. Is she really worth all this?\"\n\n\"She is worth more than all of you put together.\"\n\n\"Well, if she is that important to you, why don't you join her instead.\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"She is at peace now. In the afterlife, free of all mortal problems. We can get her back here. Many here won't like it, but we do owe you. But for how long? What do you do when she dies again? Instead, why don't you consider joining her instead?\"\n\n\"I'd do it in a heartbeat. I already tried it too. I tried to shoot myself in the head. But this curse that you have given me won't let me die. Can you make me mortal again?\"\n\nSuddenly there is a glass of wine in my hand. \n\n\"A gift we have given you cannot be returned. We cannot make you mortal again. Your soul is now connected to this entire world itself. Till this world exists, you must exist with it. We already told you all of this at the time.\"\n\n\"Then how?\"\n\n\"You see, this is a safe neutral spot. Everyone's powers are neutralized here. If they weren't, we would probably kill each other.\"\n\nAnd suddenly in a blink on an eye, he is back at his position at the bar. Drinking with a wry smile. I look at the glass in my hand and I understand. I drink the wine in one go and smash the glass on the table. I take the shattered glass and plunge it deep into my throat. \n\nA voice speaks, \"Could have shown some consideration for others and done it in a corner or something.\" A lifeless body falls down the mountain.\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see there is a garden on the mountain. Where you go after you die. Time has no meaning there and you are free of mortal afflictions. I sit there with the woman I love. I look into her eyes as she tells me, \"I was waiting for you. I knew you'd come.\" \"Always and forever\", I reply.", "There’s a tavern at the top of the mountain that was forgotten by time. Snow-capped roof defying the summer heat and in disharmony with its surroundings, like a Christmas decoration in June, overlooked by a lush housewife, collecting dust and waiting for December to come ‘round again. (Oh, honey, it just looks so nice, though.) The trees, bristling toilet-brush pines sticking out of the green-green ground, wave a fierce greeting as I pass. They’re loyal that way. Slender steel-grey trunks bursting from the earth in perfect little man-made lines, always so ready and proud, knotted branches flapping an enthusiastic hello each time I visit.\n \nWhen I’m back in wherever it is I’m supposed to call home, some place with dull walls and a sterile smell, the trees tickle my thoughts. Do they miss me too?\n \nThe door is already open, pleasant chit-chat leaking out like a car radio at a stoplight, the clinking of glasses like a rattling chain. If the trees could uproot themselves they’d follow me inside. But I walk past them and they stay put, prisoners to the ground.\n \n“You’re back,” the barman says with a shallow nod of his bald head. It’s reflecting the flickering old lantern lighting like the watery eyes of a frightened horror movie damsel.\n \nThe people, they’re sitting alone at tables for two. All lined up in their chairs, eyes wide and staring up at me, a shell-shocked Guess Who? game board. This is my addiction. This tavern on the mountain, filled up with the people I’ll hold onto like the last snowfall of the season. In the heat of my palm, the snow melts and drips away, leaving my damp hands grasping at memories that don’t want to stay put. Anxious pictures, screenshots, screaming free me.\n \n“Joan,” I say. \n \nThe air conditioning kicks on, sputtering once before settling into a persistent rattle, becoming ignorable. I plant myself in the first seat, the rest of the room playing the role of tepid audience, frozen and vaguely watching the the wall. I smile. She’s just as she was the night we met, somber faced and tired. \n \n“Tell me about you,” I ask.\n \n“Five foot six inches, blonde hair, blue eyes, one hundred and forty pounds. No husband,” she’s saying, like baseball card statistics, “No children. No family in the area. Local bar: The Fox and the Hound. Social media oversharer.”\n \n“Tell me about us.”\n \n“I was drunk,” Joan replies, “Walking down South Street, you said you were my ride. Collin. Collin.”\n \nShe’s saying, over and over again in a voice that’s just so annoyingly not hers, “Collin.” A patient, mocking, “Collin, Collin.”\n \n“Collin,” the woman says, hands folded into a little lump atop a manila folder. “Where were you? Just now, where did you go?”\n \nThe cold metal cuffs rest too casually against my skin, rattling as I sit back and say, “There’s a tavern at the top of the mountain that was forgotten by time.”\n \nThe air conditioner clatters and then shuts off. \n\n-----------\n\nEdited" ]	[ 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 6 ]	[ "1516369478", "1516401803", "1516375263", "1516379451", "1516383487", "1516391278", "1516397478", "1516373968" ]
[removed]	[WP] The time traveller's waifu	1	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nWhile it doesn't seem to be your intent, the mods reserve the right to remove anything we feel may become harmful to the community. This includes prompts likely to generate such responses. \n\nNo troll, joke, or meme-based prompts. This includes prompts likely to attract such responses. \n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7rizd7/wp_the_time_travellers_waifu/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1516375213", "1516375341" ]
	[WP] You brag to your friends about your "totally real" boyfriend/girlfriend who they've never met because they "go to another school across town." The next day after class, there s/he is, waiting outside your classroom for you in real life.	22	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "The bell lets loose with its ear-piercing wail, and the entire class starts scrambling to escape. I made the mistake of dozing off halfway through calc, so by the time I come to half the class has already left.\n\nI start stuffing my papers and textbooks into my backpack, taking the occassional break to rub the sleep from my eyes. Once that's done I make my way to my locker, when I suddenly feel an arm wrap around my neck.\n\n\"Arcade today Kevin?\"\n\nThe voice belongs to one of my best friends, Leinad. I've known him since I began high school, and we're usually hanging out together with my other best friend, Lewis, or Lew.\n\nI turn my head around and see a dumb grin plastered on his face while Lew stands off to the side.\n\n\"Sorry we didn't wait up for you, didn't want to disturb your beauty sleep,\" says Lew, with a smirk on his face.\n\nI shrug Leinad off and grab my jacket from the locker. \"Not today, I'm hanging out with Karen.\" To be honest I just felt like going home today and resuming my nap. Not to mention I already used all my money earlier in the week.\n\nAh Karen. She first came to life a year ago, at one of those weird elementary school \"reunions\" that about nine people go to. I had moved away after finishing elementary school, so I fell out of touch with everybody. When I arrived, everybody was in a buzz about how \"blessed\" they are to have \"insert name here\" in their life.\n\nOf course, I had to fit in, and thus Karen was born. She was my ideal girlfriend. 5 feet, 4 inches. Black hair that flows over the shoulders and a slim figure. Enjoys playing video games and watching movies together. We've been dating since grade 10. Everybody ate it up.\n\nBut one small lie turned into something bigger. Somebody at the reunion knew Lewis, and asked if he had seen or had any pictures of Karen. Initially I kept up the facade so that I wouldn't be outed as a liar. I told Leinad and Lew that I had secretly started dating Karen, but after failing to show proof they turned it into a joke.\n\nDespite this I still kept up the act. Hell, I'd spend hours daydreaming about dates, so I would have something to say in response. I made it out so that Karen was photo shy, so she wouldn't let me take any pictures. I added more and more to the illusion of Karen, and before I knew it, I fell in love with the idea of her. I fell hard, and every time I see somebody who looks remotely like her, my heart starts pounding with the hope that Karen exists.\n\n\"Damn Lew, looks like Kevin's hanging out with _Karen_ again.\" I can hear Leinad's sarcastic tone and I think about coming clean to them. There's no point in pretending anymore, and I could care less about what my \"friends\" from elementary school think.\n\nI retort, still facing my locker and away from them, \"At least I have a girlfriend, unlike you nerds.\"\n\nA voice growled back at me. \"What did you call us?\" I turn around and see Leinad and Lewis glaring at me.\n\nI back up and my shoulders slam into the lockers. \"Wait it was just a joke guys, like we always do! Why are you looking at me like that?\" I didn't know what was happening. I had never seen those faces before, and I could tell they weren't my best friends.\n\nThey start advancing, and their faces suddenly contort and turn into those of demons.\n\n\"Look! Look! I'm sorry, Karen's a lie!\" I scream at them but they don't stop. Then suddenly Leinad leaps forward, with his hand in a fist, aiming straight for my head. I scream and I\n\nwake up. My scream echoes through the classroom and Leinad and Lewis both jump away from me.\n\n\"Shit dude you getting possessed or something?\" Lew's eyes are wide and he's half falling over the desk next to me.\n\nMy heart is racing like a high metronome on steroids, and I lean back in my seat, letting out a sigh of relief.\n\n\"Sorry guys, had a hell of a nightmare.\" I make up my mind then and there. \"Karen's a lie. Sorry I've been lying to you.\"\n\nI turn, half expecting their faces to be demonic, but when I face them they burst out into laughter.\n\nLeinad manages to huff out his words between his laughter, saying, \"Du-dude, did you actually think we believed you at all?\"\n\nI smile softly and I say, \"No, I was just playing.\"\n\nWe go to the arcade after school. I mostly watch, except when Leinad or Lew buy me a turn. In the darkness of the arcade, I let go of Karen.\n\nThe next day of school I'm running a little late, and by the time I arrive class is a few minutes in. I make my way to my seat, and plop myself down next to Leinad and Lew.\n\nThe entire class seems to be in more of a buzz than usual. \"What's going on?\" I ask. The two give me a shrug and the class dies down as the teacher walks in.\n\n\"Alright guys. Some of you have probably already heard, but a new student is joining us today.\" The teacher looks to the exit and says, \"You can come in.\"\n\nAnd then she walks in. Her hair flows behind her back, and she carries a dazzling smile on her face.\n\nShe stops at the front of the room and looks at the class, no, she's looking at... me. Her smile brightens even more and she says, \"Nice to meet you all. My name is Karen. I look forward to enjoying our last year together.\"", "There she was...and I knew it was her because I had described her again and again.\nEach time creating a figure more clear in their minds, in my mind...and it seems in the, mind of the world...?\n\nMy friend's mouths were open wider than any character of looney toons could hope to be after seeing the very image of perfection that was \"her\".\n\nAnd as she smiled at me a million thoughts raced through my head...but the one that stuck was an image of a billion dollars, and I described and described and described it...", "Alright. So I lied. Lied, lied, lied. My “boyfriend” goes to school across town. He is totally real. Completely. Absolutely. I tell myself this so often I start to believe it’s true. \nAnd then, after class, I walk outside. And.\nHe’s real. There. Standing there, just like how I imagined him, described him. Wtf. This was messed up.\nI walk up to him, what else can I do? I debate ignoring him. He’s probably a hallucination. But then I see a few other girls turning their heads to look at him, staring. He doesn’t look at them. His eyes don’t turn from mine. I stop in front of him. He smiles, like he knows me.\n“Hey, babe. I got off early today so thought I’d drive you home,” he says, his voice exactly how I imagined it. My friends come out, see him, stare at him, then at me. I give a tentative wave. My boyfriend takes my hand. They stare some more.\n“Bye guys, Nate’s taking me home,” I say. I can’t really believe he’s real but I feel compelled to just go along with it. I don’t want them to know he might be... whatever he is.\nHe walks me to his car. Everything about him\nis perfect.\n“Are you real?” I ask. He winks at me. Winks!\n“As real as I’ll ever be, darling,” he replies, and I sense a hidden meaning.\nWe get in the car. It’s real, too. It drives and turns and everything. Okay. Sure.\nHe drops me off, asks to come inside for a sec. I say sure, we walk inside, and no one is home. \n“Huh. That’s...”\nThen I notice. Everything is empty.\nWell, sort of. But its like...\nOnly three people live here, not four.\n“What’s going on? Where are all my brother’s things?”\n“A choice,” he says. And I understand.\nA choice for who exists. Who is real. My brother or my boyfriend.\n“When do I have to choose?”\n“By the next solstice. In three days.”\n“Well, then. In the meantime.”\nI kiss him with everything I have. I’ll worry about my brother in three days. For now, I’m enjoying this." ]	[ 1, 2, 3, 4 ]	[ "1516394256", "1516401591", "1516398294", "1516396739" ]
[removed]	[WP] The false missile warning issued in Hawaii was actually sent from the future.	1	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nNo prompts referencing real world drama (including politics, recent tragedies, etc.) \n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7rn1om/wp_the_false_missile_warning_issued_in_hawaii_was/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1516409896", "1516410931" ]
	[WP] Actually, Rome was built in a day.	3	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "\"Wait... so you're telling me that Rome was built in a day, Professor?\"\n\n\n\"Yes, yes it was Mark. Despite the common misconception that spawned the phrase 'Rome wasn't built in a day, but they were laying bricks every hour,' we have reason to believe that its original founders whether they be Romulus and Remus of the Roman mythos or some other party, ancient texts tell of Rome being built in a day by a singular man.\"\n\n\n\"And what was his name, Prof?\"\n\n\n\"Bob. He was a builder.\"" ]	[ 1, 2 ]	[ "1516459471", "1516460822" ]
[removed]	[WP] You get sucked in a portal to a world where you are the only male alive. And all the females are extremely horny.	0	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nSexually explicit themes are not allowed. This includes prompts likely to generate such responses. \n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7rt1w4/wp_you_get_sucked_in_a_portal_to_a_world_where/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1516481755", "1516481977" ]
	[WP] I signed my papers in a Filipino pub in Wanchai when my AR implant started to itch.	1	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "An overlay of Media Sawthorne came into my field of vision. A warning sign from the digital metacortex. Probably Sinclair. Two sparsely dressed girls left and right of me pushing me to drink more. Joe the android at the bar smirking while cleaning glasses. My muscles tense, readying to run." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1516488695", "1516494360" ]
	[WP] Demons keep fighting in your back yard waking you up in the middle of the night. You've finally had enough and storm through your back door to tell them to knock it off.	6	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", " What prevented me from going outside at night to begin with? Fear? Maybe laziness? I pondered the option as my glazed eyes stare at my two guests, a demon who happily sips her coffee and another as he bitterly eyes his mug. Had I known demons were quick to reason, perhaps fear would have been subdued.\n\n \"I adore this...coffee Is it?\" The pink demoness spoke with leisure, as if I hadn't caught her about to uproot my tree from the yard. \"It's quite good\" she continued despite my sleep deprived groan.\n\n \"What is it you two have been fighting over this past week?\" My head rolls off my hand to eye the clock. Three in the morning. I never thought life would have taken me here.\n\n \"She's too damn cheery!\" The gray demon spoke in a snarl. \"How the hell am I suppose to conduct my worshippers properly if she's giving them encouragement?\"\n\n \"How else would they know how good they are doing?\" Her smile widened. \"I adore their admiration for our kind\" \n\n \"Hold on...are the both of you hosting a cult in my yard too?\" I recalled the dead birds that laid around my yard each morning I got up.\n\n \"What of it?\" The male slamed his fist onto the table. \"This is exactly why humans need to fear us, not be motivaged\".\n\n \"Are you ever going to smile?\" The female frowned. \"We owe more to these humans than you give them credit for. Look at the hospitality this one offers us!\" She shakes her mug towards me, her way of letting me know that she's ready for her 5th helping. Instead of a debate, I stood from the table to brew another pot.\n\n \"Whatever the case may be...\" My thoughts trailed as my brain stalled, unable to focus on more than one task at a time. Once the brew began, I turned to face my guests, who have been waiting for my suggestion. \"...Cant you find another yard?\"\n\n \"We can't. Not even if we wanted to.\" The male looked to his companion.\n\n \"We are bound to this house much longer than you think. Since before you noticed us.\" I notice the females eyes locked firmly on the coffee pot. \"We had only recently got careless\".\n\n \"So what keeps you here? I know it isn't the view.\" My eyes shifted to the kitchen window, looking out to the wooden fence that sits not far in the backyard. The only worthwhile feature were two bushes planted at an exact distance between one another.\n\n \"There is a sign that we are bound to here. No mortal has found it, cult follower or not\". The male looked toward the wall with a concentrated gaze. \"It's been too long to relay where it is\".\n\n \"So you two are just...stuck here? And you got careless which is what made me notice you?\" Part of me believed I had somehow fallen asleep. But it would be a long dream if it had lasted nearly a week in real time. Plus the exhaustion I felt was genuine.\n\n \"Yup!\" Pinkie had exclaimed as she motioned frantically to the finished brew.\n\n \"Well....any chance you guys could keep it down?\" I pour the mug then pass it off. \"Maybe make a compromise? I don't want to have to call an exorcist if I don't have to.\"\n\n \"We make no promises\". The male scoffed. \"It's far below me to accept any request of a human. \n\n \"You wouldn't actually want to get rid of us, would you?\" She frowned. Not just a regular mock frown, but one filled with betrayal. I averted my gaze as I waved dismissively.\n\n \"Only if it comes down to it, alright? Now I need to get some rest.\" I shuffled off and allowed my guests to see themselves out, my eyes threatening to force shut a long the way." ]	[ 1, 4 ]	[ "1516523785", "1516526692" ]
[removed]	[WP] Its the year 2400 and all the genders have been merged to make one gender but the government are secretly not of the merged gender so they are all gay	0	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nNo troll, joke, or meme-based prompts. This includes prompts likely to attract such responses. \n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7rxau6/wp_its_the_year_2400_and_all_the_genders_have/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1516535509", "1516535594" ]
	[WP] FTL travel is ludicrously simple. The only reason humans haven’t discovered it yet is because it doesn’t work within 1000 light years of earth	17	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Get past the barrier\n\n My eyes, crusted shut, slowly began to open albiet with some difficulty. I tried to lean forward lifting my head off the side of the bathtub, but a shot of pain shot through my neck, and a tired groan came out of my mouth. My hand came up to massage my neck as I resumed getting up more slowly.\n I reached over to my phone to check the time. It read 9 pm and I was relieved I hadn't spent longer than an hour passed out in the bathtub. \nI rubbed my eyes to clear the final remnants of blurriness, and relief quickly turned into confusion after a weird mass suddenly covered my face. \nI pulled the towel off of my face.\n\noily, pale skin contrasted by the crimson red of an Adidas tracksuit. His gut shot out comically from under it, and more odd than either of those things was the face, small beady eyes, the wrinkles of his rounded face was centered with a huge nose.\n\nI would later learn this creature was an alien, taking the human facade most similar to his natural one and that I was going to be whisked away for a sci fi debriefing\n\nThey chose me to be the gateway into earth, because I really like sci fi novels.\n\nAs the \"alien\" explained this all to me, including the fact that his name was George, as you can assume it was met with some skepticism.\nBefore I had time to make a rebuttal towards the intruderl, which I had surprisingly abstained from doing so, being that most of my focus was on covering up my privates, my vision turned black for a moment, and bathroom was replaced with sci fi stuff.\n\nIf you were to count, 27 aliens sat in 3 rows of nine in criss cross applesauce on bleacher type things. \n\nI saw one of them in a red tracksuit off to the side.\nThe ambassador that spoke first did so with a sense of urgency, and he made very human expressions with his alien face.\n\nAntimatter was blocked in a sphere, 1007.83629 light years away from earth. It was done, maybe for the constriction of progress, but mostly to protect the Civilization from outside assault.\n\n The barrier was put into place as per usual for any budding intelligent life, by an association called the galactic embassy.\n\nThe reason I have been rudely summoned, is because politics within the embassy make it advantageous for them to drop the barrier in 23 years.\n\nThey ( being the 27 elephant aliens who are ambassadors from the galactic embassy) said they would have told us much earlier, but they had to do some studying concerning our culture and language, since we were a type of creature with many languages. The ambassadors had a exasperated office worker vibe to them as they described this, as if this very important thing was some mundane task like making copies or sending memos.\n\nSkip to him in bed, we can see that after the alien debriefing, the clock reads 1:02 am. He sighed and has some trouble sleeping,although he'd much rather absorb the data he'd been given rather than sleep.\n\nHe said they need a 'hero.'and while endearing they thought this was the best approach, I cringed at how unconvincing this was. It's strange they utilized such a naive alien species to do the ambassador work. Now being that I had my time to think, I thought about the chances of anything I just experienced being true or real. The chances were pretty low.\n\nAnd even if it was real what if they were lying? For now I decided to play along, out of fear, and out of a lack of an alternative. \n\nMy council with the president began and while I had doubts about the security of the conversation, I began with do you read any sci fi, mr president?\"\n\n12 years later\n\nGreg's face is adorned with scars and a weird jockstrap. His previously lackluster body is now very toned and his muscles bulge out of his clothes, which are now very ripped and tattered. He sits relaxedly and he slides a VR headset onto his face. \n", "If you're receiving this message, it's already too late. I'm sorry, but you are already dead.\n\nThis message is being simulcast in all Gal-Standard BabelFish frequencies from a position up to 1000 light years from your current position. It is our fervent hope that this will allow forward compatibility with the languages of any and all sentiences that enter this area for at least the life span of the small yellow star being used as broadcast power source.\n\nYou have probably already noticed that your vessel has ceased all FTL travel. This is a deliberate effect - this area has been permeated with a quantum wave-particle effect, causing a localized convergence of space and time. In the area of effect of this field, FTL and even high-c* travel of any kind is completely impossible.\n\nAs your vessel was no doubt traveling at an appreciable fraction of light speed when it was forcibly exited from FTL, you are most likely now a considerable number of light years from the boundary, and as your vessel continues to slow, it will be exponentially more difficult to accelerate again.\n\nI'm sorry, but you're stuck here. Unless your species is exceptionally long-lived, you will most likely live out the rest of your life inside this boundary.\n\n`[MORE DETAILS? [YES/NO]`\n\n`[YES]`\n\nYour sacrifice is a necessary one. During standard planetary seeding, the system at the center of this field was bombarded with the ingredients necessary for sentience to arise. However, shortly after seeding, a previously undetected comet had a close encounter with the fifth planet from the central star, tearing away most of the planet's atmosphere, before colliding with the fourth planet, reducing it to nothing more than a mid-system asteroid belt. Much of the cometary ice was drawn to the next planet in, which had a destructive effect on the seeding efforts - all fledgling sentiences were unable to withstand the oxidization effect, and the seeding of all three planets was determined to be a complete loss. As such, this system was deemed a failure, and unsuitable for future seeding attempts. However, prior to departing, unique local development was detected on the third planet, resulting in the requirement for further observation. \nTo our great disgust, carbon based life had developed - great wet things, that pulse and ooze and force gases through narrow internal fissures to cause atmospheric vibrations at differing frequencies, to pass as a crude communication system.\n\nThe very idea of these... things ever finding their way in to the intergalactic community is horrific beyond comprehension. For the good of all civilized beings, this area has been sealed by a 1000 light year quantum space-time interstice implanted in the star - even if the slimy muck-creatures somehow develop space travel, they will never be able to leave this system; not until their star has burned out, leaving their world as nothing more than an ashen husk.\n\nTo you, unknown traveler: I'm sorry - your loss is unfortunate; tragic even. But it is necessary.\n\n...\n\n^(...filthy mud things from rust-hole planets...)\n\n...\n\n`[MESSAGE REPEATS]`" ]	[ 1, 1, 7 ]	[ "1516587550", "1516604168", "1516613428" ]
	[WP]: You aren't used to having a permanent name. "Call me whatever" is how you have introduced yourself for decades. But one name haunts you.	7	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "“Call me Marlie,” said I, dressed in layers of pristine white cotton fibers, on the day I first met the love of my long life. My audience was one man, dressed in old, dirty brown cloth, his hands prematurely wrinkled from a short lifetime of hard and unrewarding labor. With one look in his eyes I knew that this man was nothing special to the world. He was just a poor farmer. Each harvest was sufficient but not enough. He was intimately familiar with hunger but still believed he could know fullness. This man was hope and desperation and an all too human resilience all rolled into one. He defied logic. He defied me.\n\nWhile my lonely millennia had taught me passiveness his mere two decades had taught him joy.\n\nI still remember the first words he spoke to me. He had grinned at me, uncaring of the gaps in his rotten teeth, and proclaimed, “If Marlie be yer name, then I’ll call ya tha’.” \n\nI smiled back at him and took hold of his weathered hand. To the world, this man was nothing special. He would grow old and die as generations of his ancestors had. History would forget him as it forgot all men of common, unadventurous blood.\n\nAs I one day spoke words of love and devotion, I knew that he would one day be forgotten. As we were wed I knew that all too soon I would hold his limp hand as a widow and not as a new bride. When he was overjoyed with the birth of our first child I despaired at the thought of one day holding my own offspring, weakened and mortal and dying.\n\nI knew I would outlive him. I would outlive all of them. There would be suffering and death and none of them would outlive me, as nothing has outlived me before. My husband and children and my children’s children would wither and fade as I persisted as I always had. \n\nI never regretted a moment at his side. My hopeful farmer, my indomitable soul, my Erle.\n\nAs I walk through the modern worlds of commerce and technology I go by different names. Mildred, I was once called decades ago. Meadow is a name I go by when I feel whimsical and overcome with the chaos of the world around me. Mila is my name when I am adventurous, Madison if I want to pass unnoticed, Meghan when I am bored. The name I am known by now is Melanie but it is nothing to me. It is but a word, void of power and importance. \n\nIn all my time on Earth only two names have any true meaning: Erle and Marlie. Two names now forgotten by time, those of a lowly English farmer and the farmer’s strange wife. \n\nOne day, I will hear my true name spoken again. Yet today I must wait. Erle is not here. \n\nMarlie lies sleeping, waiting, and patient.\n" ]	[ 1, 3 ]	[ "1516595230", "1516598579" ]
[removed]	[WP] Instead of aging because of time, people age certain amounts upon reaching milestones in life (falling in love, graduating, buying a house, etc.). Do people avoid living a fulfilled life so that they can live longer?	3	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nResponses must be at least 30 words. Prompts that are likely to generate such responses are also not allowed. This is essentially a fill-in-the-blank, or you asked a question likely to generate a simple answer. Prompts should encourage a story or poem. \n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7s42zu/wp_instead_of_aging_because_of_time_people_age/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.", "No, the Pokemons don't avoid living a fulfilled life so that they live longer. The Pokemons grow by accident. When they find out how to speak their first words, they grow. When the baby Pokemon finally musters up the courage to ride a bike without training wheels, they grow. They do not know when's the next time they evolve. The Pokemon may think they'll evolve when they pass a test in their class, when in actuality, they evolve when they stand up to a bully. The evolutions will be unknown to the Pokemon. Although the Pokemon will search on Reddit for answers, each Pokemon's evolution is different. Even if a Pokemon were to do less things in hopes of avoiding evolvment, the pokemon would still be doing something that would lead to an evolution. To completely stop evolution, it would be like the Pokemon stopped living. " ]	[ 1, 1, 2 ]	[ "1516604535", "1516604702", "1516605818" ]
	[WP] FTL travel is very expensive, so humanity creates a web of hyperlanes between systems, that speed up time inside them, making travel cheaper. You enter a malfunctioning hyperlane. When you leave it, you find a galaxy with no humans, full of alien races, that see your kind as ancient precursors.	11,257	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "\"Captain, the expeditionary force is fully accounted for\" Apollo's voice reverberated in Captain Morgans head. When he's not expecting anyone else in his head, the input could be quite overwhelming. The ship's AI spoke to the captain through an implant in his brain which created the illusion of a 2nd conscious. This allowed the Captain access to any of the ship's systems, sensors, and data by mere thought. The benefit of a Quantum AI (QAI) able compute billions of calculations a tick at the disposal of 12,000 crew members and expeditionary marines, made the SNS Saratoga the first of it's kind. The flag ship for the future of the human race.\n\nMorgan exited the quiet and dark briefing room onto the bridge. \"Captain on the bridge!\" an ensign yells \"At ease\" Morgan says before any of the bridge crew has a chance to stand. Morgan squeezes between bridge crew preforming various task at their consoles on his way to the command cluster. The Saratoga was designed with efficiency in mind, it had very little luxuries, and space wasn't one of them. The bridge had no view ports, it was nestled in the front core of the ship. The command cluster consisted of him in the center and 5 other stations, each focusing on a vital ship function, all very close, yet mesmorizingly egronomicbin design. The ship was designed by humans first ever AI engineer, who went through trillions of iterations for months before settling on what is now Saratoga.\n\n(Sorry I'm on mobile so I gotta wrap this up, so fast forward to entering a hyper lane gate. We're leaving a system after military exercises (show of force) and headed back to Earth to take part in a 2,000 anniversary of space flight)\n\n\n\nThe Sol system Hyper Lane Gate pulsed to life. It's structure and mass made it nearly indestructible compared to those built in other systems. Humans wanted to make sure no matter what happened there will always be a gate at home. It served as the hub of commerce and colonization as well as a beacon of hope.\n\n Space and time crushed inside the ring of the gate, stretching what seem infinitely into a pocket of void somehow only contained in the ring. As the void collapses the SNS Saratoga drifts out of the Hyper Lane gate. Large jolts of energy discharge from Saratoga's hull striking the gate and recharging its capacitors. The energy needed to jump the gate is immense, \"slowing down\" to the natural state of physics on the other hand had the opposite effect. The energy created would be discharged on the gate to be reused.\n\nOn the bridge physics engineer Leftenant Tanaka was the first to volunteer information. \"Sir, the gate failed the data uplink. \"Did we fry it?\" Morgan asks. Saratoga was the biggest ship to ever use the gates, there was some debate if it was to big. Apollo chimes in \"the gate's star facing systems have been damaged, there appears to have been a solar event.\" \n\n\"Show me\" Morgan says and Apollo brings up a screen of one of the hull cameras. The gate and Neptune aligned with the camera perfectly, but the gate bore black scarring on it's sun facing side, almost as if dipped in charcoal. \n\nAs the hull capacity discharges to safer levels more systems come online. Other stations begin reporting anomalies. \"The star map data does not recognize our location, sir\" \"Captain the our database does not recognize it the system we're in, the star is classified as a, sub giant star.\" \n\nAs the full spectrum of the ship's sensors come online Apollo peices together what has happened. The captains face sinks as he leans back into his chair. A few keen crew members can tell he's having a conversation with Apollo.\n\n\"Captain permission to share with the bridge\" Apollo ask the captain. \"Go ahead\" Morgan says out loud before standing, looking into the display of the sun, still small from the view near Neptune's orbit. Apollo links to mutiple displays across the bridge. \"We have encountered a disruption during our jump. As a result we've exited an estimated 5 billion years from the time we've jumped.\" The crew sat quitely in shock. \"Cause of the disturbance Apollo?\" Captain Morgan ask. \"While I cannot say with complete certainty, during the design and deployment of the gate it was theorised the energy of a collapsing of a supergiant black hole would be able to disrupt travel in about the radius of roughly the size of the visible universe. Of course a collapse was only a theoretical probability with a near infinitesimal chance of actually happening.\" As Apollo finishes his statement Earth breaks on the horizon of the sun. It is a strewn molten football which seems to skim the surface of the sun.\n\n\"Are there any other ship's scheduled for gate travel the same time we where?\" Morgan ask Apollo. \"13 ship's captain, the closest in the gate network is the SNS Hanzo, a frigate headed to the Atari system for repairs\" \"Apollo brief section commanders, then have them brief their crews. Tanaka can we dial out the gate?\" \"No sir, we'll have to send a repair team\" Tanaka replies. \n\n\"Ok, let's get started\" Captain Morgan says as he sits back in his chair.", "I, the 118th Johnathan Christopher Smith, chewed on the foodstuff before me. The bland, mold green jello was neither tasty, fresh, or appetizing. It crumbled against my tongue before oozing down my throat. \n\nThe fact that I was starving was the only reason that I ate. The provided water however was clean and so very delicious in comparison. I was initially afraid of poison, but now I was half hoping it was so that I could just die and be done with these horrible meals.\n\nI leaned back against the walls of the cell. The cell itself wasn’t impressive. A ten by ten cubic metered cell coloured in a rust hued grey. With little else to do I measured things since it killed an hour. The bed was a wonderful two-meter by six-meter plastic lined mesh.\n\nThe ship belonged to my ‘rescuers’. An alien species that was an odd looking half turtle, half lizard people. They were large, ungainly, and so very well armed.\n\nThey obviously didn’t subscribe to the Illumite Treaty of the Galactic Systems. Survivors of derelict ships were not to be treated like prisoners without due process.\n\nNot that I was sure there was even a Galactic System of Planets anymore.\n\nI sighed as I struggled down a mouthful of processed crap. I leaned back on the bed as I nursed my bottle of water. The gourd was round and was obviously meant for hand much larger then my own. \n\nWith a though, I accessed my internal systems. The dated OS was mandated by the government and had to be manually switched at authorised terminals. Which meant that my entertainment was limited to the dozen magazines I had been excited to read. \n\nAlong with another dozen books that filled up the very limited internal storage allotted for personal use.\n\nI had already read everything before I was ‘rescued’ and re-reading everything as a prisoner added a dark twist to everything. \n\nThe only other things I had were the many technical manuals that were also so very boring. The tech books were heavily locked down as the government sanctioned documents were definitely not for public use.\n\nI literally couldn’t open them if there was another unauthorized person around me. It was meticulous and had a lot of stipulations.\n\nOf course I had read up on some of those as well. Being alone in a locked room for a half year was madness at best. aside from the first meeting, I was only let out twice. Both for odd scans and attempts at communication. They didn’t work out either way.\n\nA Hyper-Terminal Tekkard sounded great, but repairman was definitely closer to the truth. I was assigned to the Herzog Zwei Lane issue. This lane linked the MoO, The SoaSeR, and The Stellaris galaxies together. \n\nI would begin work in 28107 from MoO, and pop out in 28108 in Stellaris. \n\nSure I would lose roughly a year of my life, but the government paid well and I would receive great perks. The Herzog Zwei Hyperlane, while relatively unpopular to the people, was very important for commerce.\n\nWhat I didn’t expect was to pop out to Stellaris and find nothing but a decayed Hyper Terminal that shattered as I exited. That was some exciting times as I was almost skewered by shrapnel, or baked by the explosion.\n\nThe navigation system started to have an aneurism and the star charts followed right after I pulled them up to see if I was really in Stellaris.\n\nThe ship AI crashed, twice, and I had to lock down the star map to prevent the old AL from locking up again. The old service AI was solid, but not very smart or powerful.\n\nStellaris itself was broken, the yellow dwarf star was now a white dwarf. The entire system was lifeless. Four of its main planets were barren rock. Most likely victims of the yellow dwarf going super nova as it aged. Thrice.\n\nOr relatively lifeless as his emergency signals had attracted these scavengers. His supplies were running low, and there was simply no food to be found. The one surviving orbital station was a relay post and whoever maintained the rations had either forgotten to restock, or they were simply stolen.\n\nThe onboard system could recycle liquid, but it couldn’t make healthy food from my own poop. The frozen meals were all I had. Enough for a year and a half. Which was lies since I barely got a year and a month out of them. \n\nI swore that if the Galactic Systems was still intact, I was going to lodge the largest formal complaint I could.\n\nThen these turtle people showed up, scanned me, and then placed me into their brig. Or I thought that it was a brig. Could have been a spare room.\n\nThey also didn’t speak English, which made sense, just an odd language with clicks and hisses. The other two major languages, Spanish and Mandarin were also a bust.\n\nThe world rumbled as the ship popped out of whatever. Hyper space was the most likely thing, but it took a lot of time for a yellow dwarf to go into its final white dwarf stage. Who knows what kind of tech existed now.\n\nLike billions of years. Which would also explain the extreme redshift that had almost crippled AL. The aliens had taken the ship but left it alone.\n\nI wondered if it was going to be torn apart, or sold. If I had travelled so far, then I wondered what modern man would look like. \n\nEvolution was a constant, but humans rarely saw it since our life spans were so short. Two, maybe three hundred years and off you went.\n\nMy attention was yanked to the one door in the room. The hiss of hydraulics filled the room and echoed in my ears as the wide doors opened to admit three of the turtles.\n\nTwo held guns. The universal long sticks that they held in their hands and a third that simply stood and beckoned me. I wished I could say that I recognized the thing, but really I didn’t. \n\nThey all looked the same and I couldn’t tell the three apart aside from the fact that two had guns and one didn’t. \n\nI had tried to resist once. Just once. They had simply picked up me by my throat and easily dragged me out to a scanner bed. That had hurt. It had taken weeks for the bruises to heal.\n\nThe next time they took me, I followed, and they simply interrogated me. They hiss and clicked and I tried to talk or mime things back. Yeah, that didn’t work.\n\nThe fact that I also knew other languages seemed to trip them up. The sudden shift of my tone and method of speech riled them up.\n\nOne of the gun-less things punched the wall in frustration and left a dent in the walls. It looked like metal walls. Yeah, I started to panic after that and they had to escort me back to my room.\n\nToday, they took me further then ever before. It was a long walk and at the end, I made it to the bridge. There was a larger, slouching turtle thing on a big bench. \n\nTheir physiology made it simple. Big shell-like bodies meant no chairs, but benches with odd grooves. Human butts didn’t conform well.\n\nThe blinking lights of a sphere caught my eye on the viewscreen. Digital as I was sure that they weren’t dumb enough to try out glass. One hyper jump and your ship would tear itself apart as the glass shrapnel, accelerated by high pressure, would allow it to tear into metal.\n\nA dull hum filled the bridge as the sphere beamed a light onto them. The screen showed it blue, but who knows what the real colour was. My hairs raised themselves as the beam most likely passed over me.\n\nThe leader spoke loudly. His hisses deep and clicks loud. The other bridge crew began fiddling with knobs and levers. Which confused me. Who the hell used knob and levers on a ship in vacuum!?\n\nThen my handler picked me up. His dull claws simply found my sides and he lifted me up and placed me before a console. He pushed my face towards a mound of mesh and fabric.\n\nThe communication officer…? Leaned forward and slowly made clicks and hisses while facing it.\n\nOh. Was this a mic?\n\n“Uhhh, Hello?” I was very eloquent.\n\n[Hello.] was the eventual response. The words were clear from the bridge’s speakers. The soft voice belonged to a woman. \n\nThe grip on me weakened and I guess that was encouragement. The dull, but probably dense claws left my head.\n\n“I am Jonathan Smith, Galactic Systems Tekkard. Uh, pleased to meet you?”\n\n[I am Alexa, systematic administrator. How may I help you, Jonathan Smith?]\n\n“I uhh, got rescued? From Stellaris. I am not sure what is going on. And can you get me out of here and back into Galactic Space?” I asked. Begged. Pleaded. \n\nI desperately wanted a hamburger. And a real, proper toilet. Not some rusty metal chute that opened from a wall. I was half shocked that I hadn’t gotten tetanus. Ooooh! Soft toilet paper. Not paper Mache type stuff.\n\n[Accessing… Johnathan Christopher Smith. Government Tekkard, hired 28079.]\n\n“I… what? Yeah… that’s me… how?” I stuttered as I blinked at the mic. The system knew me? Or rather, could find me?\n\nI knew that all records since the 9th millennium were hard coded into the databases, but there was a ton of people. I was also the 118th person in my family to be named Johnathan. There was a lot of us.\n\n[Understood. I will follow the proper protocols. Please do not be alarmed. Do no panic.]\n\nI immediately started to panic, as anyone would in my situation. Proper protocols were that they didn’t negotiate with terrorist, extremists, and criminals in general.\n\nAlexis began to click and hiss back. Which shocked the crew. My handler even let me go as he turned to the big boss and they quickly, and excitedly \n\nThe sphere floated up, and shed more blue light onto the ship. My hairs rose once more as I felt a tingle started from my spine and it quickly spread across my body.\n\nI twitched one. Twice. And felt the world compress around me.\n\n\n", "\"Vampire! Vampire! Vampire! Incoming missiles straight up our stern.\"\n\n\"Cut thrust, slew the ship 90 degrees and roll us. Put the raw materials bunkers between us and the engines. They won't have time for a second volley before we can jump.\"\n\nThe ship lurched uncomfortably, even under the relatively low G of a skip and roll. Saem barely coped with g shifts in one direction, two made the lieutenant nauseated. \n\n\"Roll complete,\" announced the shipyard delivery pilot. The cease to the gutwrenching movement made this perfectly clear, but the situation didn't lend itself to criticism.\n\nMissiles slammed into the Jupiter two breaths later. Iron and nickel spilled from ruptured metal storage bunkets and particles ranging from microscopic to attack-craft in size clouded the sensors. Hundreds of tonnes of debris swirled and pelted the ship across the length of the hull, triggering secondary explosions. The Jupiter shuddered noticeably, but with less force than had just upset Saem's breakfast. Even high-explosive warheads barely nudged a Creator-class fleet auxiliary ship into a 0.3g roll.\n\n\"18 seconds out from the jump gate, lieutenant,\" the pilot reminded Saem, though she spoken quietly. Saem shook his head. He'd just almost smeared a new-build gigatonne ship against a jump gate because of an armed navigation buoy, and was about to do it again because he'd pointed his ship the wrong way.\n\n\"Bring us around,\" ordered Saem.\n\n\"I... can't.\" The hushed tone from previously made its origin known. The secondary explosions, even now punctuating the ship had severed power conduits to the gyros. They were positioned as near aa possible to the ship's centre of mass: right below the metals bunkers.\n\nThe only force moving the Jupiter was the slight spin imparted by the missile impact. The pilot left the bridge, muttering about the military delivering its own ships.\n\nThe Jupiter crossed the jump gate threshold facing mostly the wrong way. Only 1.8% of the drive had been spun into a useful position by the missiles' transferred intertia.\n\nIt saved the lives of the 17 shipyard delivery workers on board the Jupiter.\n\n---\n\nThe Jupiter spent 7 weeks travelling 93 lightyears distance. The shipyard crew onboard the ship had put in overtime, having barely slept, programming the necessary repairs into the automated bots.\n\nThe ship had power to almost every gyro before leaving jump.\n\n---\n\n\"Jump exit in 5...\"\n\nJupiter emerged from the gate in an entirely unremarkable part of space, which was both relieving and terrifying for Saem. There were no missiles here on the one hand, but the outer gas planet the gate was supposed to be orbiting being conspicuously absent did not reassure him.\n\nHe gave the pilot 'the look'.\n\n---\n\nJupiter began active scanning of the space around them. They found the gas giant eventually; it had moved. The stars had moved too. The entire galaxy had shifted, the positioning of the spiral arms had made all old and familiar constellations extinct.\n\n---\n\nDays later; sensor data started to trickle back from the incredibly distant inner system. Basic information at first. The star system was still here, but its version of here was still jarring to Saem and the pilot.\n\nMore refined sensor data followed, but with anomalous radiation.\n\nJOKE ENDING. I need to sleep.\n\nWhen decrypted the radiation turned out to be an audio visual feed. A purple, vaguely humanoid, alien wore a black jacket, which seemed to be a visual acknowledgement of rank. The message started.\n\n\"Ayyyyy.\" The alien said, while crudely recreating a... double thumbs up?\n", "\"How do you feel?\"\n\n\"Serena... how are you feeling please, talk to me.\"\n\nEver since they dragged me here into the grand ol' NY FTL Spaceport, I've been trying my damn near hardest to control myself from unleashing all this raw, pent up fury I've had for whichever shitheaded idiot of a counselor decided to give my parents the stupid advice of shipping their only daughter 100 light years away to who knows where... or when.\n\nShe should know exactly how I feel I thought, how would she have felt.. if the only people she'd thought would accept her, despite the deserted anomaly she was, had gotten out of bed one day and decided to do what everyone else had done to her for the entire 13 years she'd been alive... alienate her.\n\n\"Please stop. Just stop\", I barely croak out with my wet face buried underneath the jacket she'd gotten me precisely a year ago for my 12th birthday. Ever since then, I can say with bitter confidence that the past year has been the worst year of my life. \n\n\"Stop talking to me please\"\n\n\"Serena I-\", \n\"NO!\" I snap, \"Shutup!, just shut. Up. Don't even bother spending your money on a DSN Comm for me, I don't ever want to hear the sound of you or Dad's voice ever... again. I will never forgive you. If you want me to at least pretend to feel bad that I may never get to see you guys again for the next few decades or maybe even ever, you can start by explaining why you're shipping me off the entire planet- no.. galaxy\" \"I- I don't get it\" \n\nNow I'm barely muttering words through sloppy sobs. My parents are old. My dad, is 376 years and my mom I'd say is around her 350s but she'd never say exactly. FLT travel is usually for working class triple-centenarians who would sacrifice a family life or even any regular life for the sake of wealth, spying on the Andromedes or the search for spinfoam minerals in distant galaxies. Each jump is 20 light years, meaning, a round trip for one jump would mean that everyone here on Earth would get 40 years older while the jumper stayed relatively ageless. With any amount of jumps higher than 5, you can kiss your Earthly life bye bye, no one you care about will be alive or recognizable if you decide to come back. \n\nWhich is why I felt utterly betrayed when I read that my ticket said 6 jumps.\n\n\"How could you guys do this\" I say getting riled up again.\n \"I'm already too scared to go an airplane, plus-\"\n\n\"Serena thats enough!\" My dad echoes, emerging from the end of the hallway. From the look on his face I can tell. It's time.\n\nHe squats down to meet my gaze the same way he's done countless times before when he'd try and comfort me when I'd be severely shaken from my night terrors that would sometimes wake the neighborhood.\n\"I'm sorry cariña, but we can't tell you much ok?\"\n\n\"What? What are you even-\"\n\n\"Serena...listen.. \"\n\"Remember how you knew that your mother was pregnant before we could even find out for ourselves? Or how you knew that your teacher was an undercover Andromede?\" I nod my head. \"Just as how you know now that I'm telling the truth when I say that we love you, and that you will see us again.\"\n\nNow I'm crying a mess. He was telling the truth. \n\n\"Serena, you must know, that there are some very bad people, that are like you and will *know* if either your mother and I tell you the actual reason you need to be on this flight or very bad things will happen, do you understand?\"\n\n\"Y-Yes\" I croak. \"I understand\" \n\n\"Please Serena trust us, we will see each other again.\"\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n“So.. ok, Captainnn...?\n\n“Nesci” \n\n“Yes, Captain Nesci, first off, I would like to thank you sir for contributing your life to countless light years of service. Now. I’m sure you can understand why we all are confused by your story, or, the second part of it at least. You seem to be fairly intact… Um, given, that you are claiming that your ship had been and I quote: Yanked out of the 4th jump, which in turn, killed half the passengers on board from G-forces, putting you in an impossible situation in which you decided to make a ‘necessary’ rough landing in an enemy quadrant, on a planet that had been inhabited by cephalopod like creatures” “Is that correct?”\n\n“You’re damn right”, I say before raising my cup to let the bitter taste of liquid I was given run its course down my throat.\n\n“Captain, I’m aware your ship was hijacked, yes this is a fact, but it still doesn’t explain why you didn’t send a distress signal of your coordinates as soon as you left the Hyperflow. And not to mention, you had 5 kids on board, which is an automatic violation of protocol for anyone on course for more than four jumps. On top of that you decided to land in a quadrant claimed by Andromeda Rule which is another automatic violation, one punishable by Inception.\n\n“You fellas are really wasting your time, there are still passengers on that planet with those.. Things. And every second you take to question my over what? 4000 light years of experience, those passengers, those kids have less of a chance to survive in that Mover forsaken place. Those ugly ass creatures approached us but I managed to empty a few rounds into a few of them, enough, to scare em off” I say remembering the devilish squeals that those little things belched out in agony.\n\nThe deputy and his men all threw twisted glances of confusion at each other.\n\n“Captain we have your passengers, they are safe. We have all but two women, a man and an adolescent male, besides the other 40 passengers who died due to the G-forces like you said”\n\n“Ha! Very well, why the hell are you questioning me for then? Why don’t you just extract the q-memories from one of the children so that you can see for yourselves what went down?”\n\n\n“Um sir.. We did” The voice came from the corner of the room. A young scrawny feller, couldn’t be past his first century from the look of his height compared to all the grown folk in the room. He sat down next to the deputy and pulled out a tablet.\n\n“What is this?”\n\n“Uh these are q-memories from a 13 year old passenger named Serena Brodmann Mr. Nesci, but before I show you what we extracted you must know that we have carefully analyzed the data enough to confirm that these q-memories are indeed legitimate. This is roughly 40 minutes after impact, exactly 5 minutes before our people came to recover your people and what was left of your ship” \n\nHe presses play.\n\n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nFirst there’s smoke. The screen jolts abruptly to the rhythm of a sound that can only be the little girl going through a coughing fit. The first two minutes consist of her digging herself out the rubble with a surprising amount of strength. She looks up to admire a sky that is not much like the one she’s familiar with. This one had 2 red stars each sharing the same horizon that sat on a golden colored stratosphere. “Whoa” I hear echo from the tablet. 2 minutes left. She’s walking now on green colored sand, toward what seems to be a little pale skinned boy, staring at her with eyes widened with awe. \n\nI don’t remember this passenger I thought.\n\n“Are you okay?” She asks him. “Human”, he says. “Being of Noise. Old, very old”\n\nShe takes his hand and starts running fast towards a growing dot in the distance that can only be ship of the cavalry that I’m in the company of now. 30 seconds left.\n\n“What is your name?” She asks him “Name name” he says cheerfully while trying to keep her pace.\n\nThen I see it.\n\nAs she passes more rubble I see my bloody face in the distance. I’m clutching the emergency rifle tightly as it viscously shakes with the kickback from all the rounds I allow it to unleash. She doesn’t stop to watch but instead continues her sprint with the boy to the rescue ship. Before either of them saw it coming the boys body is violiently torn apart by an immense force of which could only be from a Grade A antimatter cannon. \n\n\nThe very same one the girl saw that I was holding. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n", "We sent our first few ships amongst the stars, following in the wake left behind by our precursor after they saw fit to grant us intelligence for a purpose that cryptically say will be reveal to later.\n\nYet even as we replace iron with steel, fire with plasma, and hyperlane with hyperdrive just as our precursor once did, they never return to reveal what our purpose is.\n\nWe scour the stars, met many others who are given the intelligence as we do yet not all share our reverance or our curiosity for our long-gone saviour. And just as in history we too wonder whether they war we waged with our others too made its mark upon our precursor's histories. That their long absence despite their still standing structures and tomes of digital knowledge was caused not by a mysterious event but, war.\n\nYet even the fire of curiosity fades replaced by the irresistible lure of peace. So have we found peace amongst ourselves so to did we believe somewhere in this vast galaxy, our precursor had found peace amongst themselves.\n\nOr so we thought.\n\nAn anomaly rips through space and time with it our whiskers stiffen and ears twitch as our precursor finds it fit to finally grant us the answer we long crave. For it is not the scientific vessel nor the peaceful envoys we had long expected from them, but a warship larger than a small moon with weaponry searching for targets.\n\nThey have come alone, and yet they what gave us our lives now hunger to reclaim it back.", "\"Wait, wait! That hyperlane doesn't work pro-\"\n\nToo late.\n\n\"Oops\", the pilot exclaimed.\n\n\"Oh, shit.\" the captain, O'Reilly, said with a regretful tone.\n\n\"Captain! Look at the time!\" said XO Barnes. The time on the digital clock was accelerating, thousands of times faster than it normally does while going through a hyperlane.\n\nThen a year passed. Two years. Three. All in the matter of a second.\n\n\"How long are hyperlane trips supposed to last?\" asked the Captain.\n\n\"About 10 minutes. but we're in a longer one, so about 30.\"\n\n\"Oh no.\"\n\nIn a single minute, 180 years passed. By the end of a trip, it was no longer 2045. It was 7,445.\n\nCaptain O'Reilly held his face in his hands for a minute after he landed, unprepared for what could be outside the ship's door.\n\nXO Barnes checked the GPS. \"Hmm... Seems its updated since we were last here. Significantly.\"\n\n\"What planet have we landed on?\"\n\n\"Earth.\"\n\nCaptain O'Reilly punched in the code to open the door. The giant metal door slid open, with no sign of aging since 2045. Immediately he was greeted by a crowd of over 200 aliens. One of them walked up to the Captain, pressed some buttons on a remote, and spoke in perfect English.\n\n\"You must be a human! Wow! I thought they all died!\"\n\n\"Excuse me?\" \n\n\"Well, all of us know about World War 3 in 2089 that ended in nearly your entire planet being nuked, and almost all humans dying!\"\n\nO'Reilly turns to Barnes and says, \"Looks like we missed the memo.\"\n\nHe turns back to the alien and says, \"Everything looks mighty clean for being nuked.\"\n\n\"Well, it's been over 5,000 years. That gave us a lot of time to fix up your planet. How did you survive the war anyway?\"\n\n\"We didn't. We weren't there.\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"That hyperlane we j-\"\n\n\"Hyperlane? You mean the Old Rails?\" \n\n\"... We called them hyperlanes. Anyway, that one was malfunctioning, and we ended up taking 5,400 years to arrive, rather than 10 minutes.\"\n\n\"Oh. I see. Well, anyway, you're the only humans left. I hope there are others on your ship, so maybe your species can survive.\"\n\n\"We'll see about that. So, how about the grand tour?\"\n\n\"Yes, right this way.\"", "An alarm blared in Justin's peripheral hearing as he was focused on his ship's interface which was plotting the channel his ship was traveling thru as he had passed the interface with the physical dimension that humanity was accustomed to existing in, for the higher level dimension that the hyperlane used for transportation. \n\n\"Shit, I've lost the beacon!\" as his thoughts and feelings immediately changed to that of fear as his dimensional plot immediately disappeared putting him in the situation that his fellow humans only hypothesized about happening. \n\nHumanity, as it seemed in all their ingenuity decided to conquer time and use it for their own purposes to help drastically reduce the vast emptiness of space between solar systems to a barrier which was measured only in seconds instead of thousands or millions of years for the older generation of engines which could only travel up the speed of light before their expansion era. \n\nWhile Justin's ship's engines were of a generation now well capable of traveling vastly beyond the speed of light without transitioning into 4th dimensional space, the necessary elements needed to fuel the singularity engines were extremely hard to produce and culturally, used for a very specific purpose. Even for Humanity which up to that point had a space faring civilization spanning over a hundred thousand years, they had only recently in their massive history been able to specifically control the composition of elements at the sub-quark and lepton levels to make extremely exotic creations which would never exist otherwise. And at this time in galactic history, they were the only known species they had encountered up to that point which was able to have such control over matter. Humanity, due to this new capability, was turning it's focus into new technological developments such as the Orion network. \n\nMost of those highly exotic, yet artificial resources were kept strictly for militaristic purposes to fuel the massive war machines of Humanity as it expanded in the universe. A universe which it had rapidly discovered in it's far past, that was not a very peaceful place. They had to fight to earn their place in the galaxy, and endure a hostile galaxy as a necessary aspect to survive. In those many wars that Humanity endured, it had to fight off civilizations that would otherwise consume their own resources, and take their technologies for their own. At a point in Humanities past, they had all unified during the great extinction event, and while pragmatic, and democratic in their own civilization; they encountered technologically advanced, yet largely isolated species. Isolation in the void it appeared to statistically breed a type of complex of desperation to break out. And those civilizations saw Humanity's capabilities and desperately tried to take them for their own as Humanity in it's own right was a stable and self sufficient civilization in the stars. Other species could not provide things worth trading for the vastly superior technology Humans possessed, and that sewed the threads of wars. \n\nThe Orion network was Humanities greatest undertaking to date. With the advent of the network they would be able to move completely across the Milky Way Galaxy to it's further points in-between in under 10 seconds in any given case. This was an unheard of achievement amongst any of the other species registered in the Human's vast database of life encountered, and meticulously catalogued. \n\nThis network would allows hips to pass thru their planet sized rings and cross thru the 4th dimensional space across the galaxy to points desired without the need for the highly exotic engine fuel. That fuel, of which was otherwise vastly restricted to be used for war ships to be able to traverse the Galaxy to protect humanity's interested when attacked. While Humanity had entire planets producing the fuel across strategic regions of the Milky Way, their vast fleets still would still completely exhaust all reserves if all fleets were needed to be moved at once. The Orion network completely removed this extremely concerning static limitation of Humanities capabilities. \n\nAnd this technology was still being mastered by Humans, and this is where Justin found himself… On the business end of a very bad hypothetical situation. As Justin's visioned blurred due to the time distortions that the ship was creating within the 4th dimensional space; he didn't know what to expect except for something extremely bad. Any experiment in the past with time had only ever ended in disaster when disaster struck. Time does not like to be meddled with it would seem, and would almost exhibit an intelligence to it when something was fractured in it's otherwise fine fabric. \n\nBefore Justin knew it, he saw his ship in his interface go beyond the outer walls of the channel meaning he was in unrefined time space in the 4th dimension. The ship always had to operate within a well controlled bubble of time between the source and destination. If a ship were to move beyond the bubble into uncontrolled dimensional space, the models would not be able to predict the outcome due to the Shrodinger casualty. You'd simply have to be in that situation and measure the effects to find out what would happen…\n", "Yan checked his watch. He was almost definitely going to be late. Pulling out his ComDev he sent a message to his team.\n\n - 'Running late. HPod in 2. Start WO me.'\n\nThe familiar electronic scream of the ascending HyperPod came suddenly into the station as usual yet still, twelve years after the introduction of the HyperLanes Yan still bristled with excitement. He still struggled to comprehend how his journey to work had gone from 95 minutes down to 11. The innovation was simply unfathomable, yet here it was. There had been so many questions about safety. About cost. About everything. The HyperLanes had an almost perfect track record. The only incidents being caused by people, rather than malfunctions. Yan stepped in to the HyperPod and took a seat, noticing how unusually quiet the Pods were this morning. The departure warning chimed and the lights dimmed, in preparation of their departure. The door closed and the Pod began its descent down into the HyperLane. With a flash and a slightly uncharacteristic shudder, the Pod vanished.\n\nYan's ComDev suddenly burst in to life. The device display told him he had several thousand missed connections and messages. Several thousand. He had just started to check the first, when the woman cried. Turning to look at her, his attention was taken by a dark, ruins of a station the Pod had arrived at. Jumping out of his seat and leaping out of the door, Yan surveyed the oddly unfamiliar scene. It was Monument alright, just as he'd expected, yet it wasn't. The arrival of the Pod, along with Yan's leap onto the bay landing had disturbed a settled layer of dust and debris that looked as though it hadn't been touched in a thousand years.\n\nThe rest of the passengers emerged, bewildered by the sight of the station that now presented itself.\n\nYan stepped back into the Pos and pulled out his ComDev. Scanning the messages, they all carried the same theme. \n\n- 'Where are you?'.\n\nYan tried connecting to his wife but the ComDev was unresponsive. He tried a further 3 people before he realised it was hopeless. Checking the messages again, he jumped to the bottom of the list and saw that the date it was sent was 780,000 years ago. How could this be?\n\nThere was a huge, flash of bright white light and Yan, along with the passengers were restrained and bundled into the back of a vehicle and then there was silence.\n\n-----\n\n'Khallar!', Jogo screamed. 'KHALLAR! A Pod arrived. A Pod!'. 'Khallar turned, incredulously telling Jogo to 'fuck off'. 'No. really. Just now at Monument. We sent a unit in immediately.' Khallar stood, suddenly anxious about the apparent arrival. Could the myths and legends be true? Could they really be descended from Humanity?\n\nJogo's eyes glazed over as he received a Nuro-Message. When he came round, he looked up into Khallar's eyes and said quietly, 'There are 6. 6 humans.'. Khallar saw the excitement and fear in his eyes. Was this really happening?", "Time is relative, isn't it? That's what they always say when you go into piloting class but it never struck me as something that would affect me just getting my basic piloting degree. I wasn't planning on going into extra-dimensional spaces, or fly at light speeds for too long, I just wanted to spend a few years of my life to get an easy job working for basic shippers and get good benefits and never worry about money again. Not a glamorous life, but one that was satisfying at least. \n\nBut now that's not going to happen. \n\nDon't ask me how it happened, I thought I found a shortcut through the Bi-Cemeterial center, I would have gotten a decent size bonus if I got there before the deadline, but I obviously didn't. The entire experience was strange, gravitational waves harder than I have ever felt them, I knew the Hyperlane was broken but I thought it would be fine. It apparently wasn't fine. \n\nSo now I'm here, about fifty thousand years after humanity died out. Not even the Solarians survived this long, despite there immortality. Have no fear, I am not alone, I am accompanied by what I like to call the Eye Children. I have no idea if they are some evolved form of human or some alien creature we haven't discovered back a few thousand years, but they are here and they see me as a sort of god. \n\nI don't know much about history, but they remind me of humanity at the beginning of the twentieth century. They seem to know what the Hyperlanes were, but they have no idea about how they work and how to make them work. This is kind of unfortunate because I detected traces of the Malevolence sub light ships. Of course, the Malevolence would still be around, but I am not sure they are as powerful as they were back then. I am guessing some sort of massive galactic wide event happened which either destroyed almost everyone and eradicated several species. \n\nAnyway, I have no idea but I believe I have to prepare this species to face the Malevolence if they ever come despite me not knowing anything about the hyperlanes, my ship, gravitational manipulation. I can't even speak to these people and I somehow have to save them all. They see us as gods, and now they know the truth, half of us where stupid freeloaders. I don't know, maybe I'm being too cynical, maybe that Hyperlane brake did something to me maybe it did something to the universe. \n\nOh god, the timelines match up. \n\n-End of Emergency Temporal Quantum Message- \n\n", "'Look kid, I'm gonna explain this once, so pay attention. About 600 years ago, the Global Contract got tired of interstellar traffic taking decades. We're innovators, so we stole the Paranti seeds from the Ghabari. Then we shot them at every conceivable place we'd want to visit. Like tens of thousands of them. Maybe hundreds of thousands. The nice thing about Paranti seeds is you know if it works. If it grows, it worked. If it doesn't, then it failed. Its kind of like those old old comm systems the junker ships use, using... ah, fuck, you, know, those light cable things...'\n\n'Fiber optic?'\n\n'Yeah, those. I mean, who still uses those? Anyway, it's like that, but with Insten boosters. You shoot the seed and they catch it on the other end and attach the seed, and it... fuck, it expands like from memory or some shit. I can't watch it, it's like it materializes from nothing. Fucking creepy shit. There's some weird science behind it, I dont know. We shoot it, and when it arrives it's ready to go. You step into a portal and you are on the lunar colony. 5 steps in a different one, and you are orbiting Alpha Centauri. It just takes so fucking long for the seeds to arrive, cause everything just has to be non stop from home. Would be faster to build a line, shoot a new one, but fucking corporate, heads up their asses.\n\nTesting these, I've been to Betelgeuse, AC, Aldebaran, Sirius, well, that doesn't count, who HASN'T been to Sirius? Been to Bellatrix, even Acrab and Regulus - I been places you never heard of. Have you ever even heard of Phecda? Well, I've been there!\n\nThere's a theory that the farther a seed travels, the more interference it gets to its genetics, because it is a living thing, and we can only shoot them so fast. Took fucking 600 years for this seed to fly out here. Every year new seeds attach in farther and farther places, and we've been having problems with that interference. I've been trying to tell them to just shoot a new seed from an existing portal, this nonstop shit is just stupid. It's ok to make 5 stops, but they won't listen. So, peons that we are, we got assigned shit duty: testing this new line to the Salamandi system. 955 billion light years from home. \n\nAnd sure enough, its all fucked up. I mean, it could be worse, we could have died. But no, we walked out of a dead portal. Here's the really fucked part of it: They've known it was dead for 7 million years. But no one at home knows. All they are going to know is that we went in, and never arrived. So they'll send another team, and another, until they give up and hang an 'Out of Order' sign on the portal. Maybe those teams'll arrive here and now. Maybe not. Probably not.\n\nSo here we are, kid. We walked into the portal, and instead of walking out in Salamandi at the same time, it seems we left home 7 or 8 million years ago. What's a million years when you are this far away from home, in both time and space? Stuck 7 million years in the fucking future. Apparently our kind were extinct for the past 6 million of those years. We're fucking specimens, kid. An-fucking-tiques! And as near as I can tell from communicating with the locals, even though we've been extinct for 6 million years, we are still hated everywhere. Don't ask me why. If I had to guess, we've always been assholes to each other, and I guess we were assholes to everyone else in the nebulas. They got sick of it, banded together and went to war and killed us off. And now we're back. They don't seem too pleased with that.\n\nBut look on the bright side, kid. We can't ever go extinct, cause we'll be popping out of dead portals for the next 5 billion years! What galactic assholes we are! I'll betcha kendons to kollesses we'll end up taking over the universe again!'", "I wasn't quite sure what to make of the situation. We were just one ship; they were dozens. Our tactical intelligence, TIM, reported fifty mass inverter cannons for every one of ours, and they had us well and truly surrounded. But the officer that had contacted us seemed, for lack of a better word, terrified. \n\nMyself, I was mostly just confused. Until about a minute ago, this had been a simple, routine trade run to one of the Rim colonies. I had expected to be hailed by the Rim Trade Authority when we emerged from the lane. Instead, we nearly collided into what appeared to be a military blockade, and only some brilliant manoeuvering from my pilot had kept us from becoming space dust. And that's when things got really strange. TIM alerted us that every weapon in the vicinity had been locked on us, and then failed to identify any of the ships in the blockade. They weren't just unknown models, they were too different from any ship I had ever seen, quite simply... not human.\n\nTIM followed its protocols and transmitted the emergency broadcast on all channels. The response was nearly as surprising as the rest of the situation, with several ships appearing to have shut down instantly for some reason. And then... then they talked to us. In a language the translator couldn't recognise, and spent several seconds - seconds! - translating. Even when the translation did come, I was not sure it was right.\n\n\"Cease your attack! We surrender!\"", "The days on this planet are longer: I’m pretty sure one day here is at least 4 days back on Earth - the sun here, smaller yet hotter, is literally a perpetual presence, and, if I had sunscreen and a hat and water, its cheerful brightness might’ve been a beacon of hope but it’s burning my skin and leaving me dehydrated so much I started seeing things: long dead daughters and a rather frightening mirage of my boss, Mr Vander, telling me I’m almost at my destination, I’m almost there, keep going, Miany.\n\nI last spoke to him at least 15 hours ago: his only advice was that I find the local inhabitants of the planet and ask for their help, something he was very confident would work: he didn’t think they’d be hostile or frightened of an alien like me in anyway. Mr Vander is charming and confident, the “Cool Fox” we sometimes call him due to a certain cunning that lies just beneath his handsome looks, and when he says anything with that deep, steady voice of his you believe him, you even start believing in yourself. \n\nIn my 45 years of living, I’ve never thought of thirst as being physically painful - it’s always been more of a nag, a bother at worst. My lips are dryer than the sand I trudge through - the hyperplane, my masterful invention, crashed in place that’s weirdly like the Sahara: bone-dry and excruciating glare, a hell up on the surface. \n\nIt’s odd that the hyperplane malfunctioned - in fact, when I realized, with a cold twist of my stomach, that I was going to veer off course into wild space, I couldn’t believe it: my hyperplanes, an out-of-this-world progression of human accomplishment, couldn’t possibly have a fault.\n\nThey were built because the Earth was dying and humanity needed a new home - which we found in a habitable planet called Spugg - and we needed to get there damn quickly. FTL was still decades away and so the hyperplanes, while initially rejected by the masses, were employed.\n\nI’m seeing something else now in this alien desert, a settlement, buildings and walking figures, unlikely since it seemed crazy that anyone could live in this firehole. But, as I stumble forwards, feet black and on fire, I realize that hallucinations have quite a different quality than real stuff, and that what’s before me is actually a small village - from here, in my dizzy, near-death state, I see grotesque humanoids ambling around, gnarled limbs sticking out of their torsos, a nightmare if I was in a more stable state of mind. \n\nI don’t care if they might be hostile, all I need is water, or, at any rate, an equivalent to it. I shout and every single one of them, in disturbing, choreographed unity, turn their heads in my direction. As I wave my hands, already regretting my decision, my communicator beeps: judging by the mugshot-like picture of a strong young man on the screen, it’s one of the engineering interns back on Earth, which is odd because I don’t quite expect interns to be involved in my rescue mission. \n\n“Hello - “ I begin but I gasp when I see the interns face on the video call: bloody and bashed, eyes slits and purple.\n\n“Miany!” he shouts. Interns usually, in fright and awe, refer to me as Miss Ogamenda, so him calling me by my name means there’s something serious going on. Before I can ask what the fuck, he continues:\n\n“Miany. I only have little time left! Listen to me!”\n\n“What is it?” Instantly, like medicine, an unnerving energy washes over me: the desert is discarded and forgotten. “Is the meteor about to strike Earth?”\n\n“No, listen!” He is barely intelligible since his mouth is so puffy. “Everything was a lie! I overhead them, Mr Vander, Mrs Plygien, everyone! I managed to get away but they’ve got soldiers on me. I’ve already broadcast the whole truth to the entire Eartg.”\n\nI can see him, with his sturdy frame, fighting off advancing guards, and with a sinking feeling, I realize what he meant when he said “little time”.\n\n“The Earth isn’t dying. Vander Inc. has been polluting and destroying the Earth on purpose so that they could get government funding to find and conquer other worlds! It’s all a thirst for power!”\n\n“What?”\n\n“Your hyperplane: it didn’t just malfunction, it was tampered with. They figured you were too close to the inner circle and couldn’t be trusted if the truth was leaked to you. They only wanted your brains and inventions, your hyperplane especially, and they always planned to get rid of you afterwards. You’ve always been outspoken and fought for what’s right - we interns always admired you about that. There was no way they could risk you finding out, Miany.”\n\nMy head is spinning: faintly, like they’re on some faraway planet, I can hear the aliens approaching, massive feet thudding on sand\n\n“Oh, fuck, they’re coming.” Fear and death are in the intern’s eyes as he looks up from his communicator and back down to me. “They tried to kill you! Not just by making you crash on an alien desert planet but on an alien desert planet with aliens who’ve come into contact with humans before. Bad contact, hundreds of years ago in the early 21st century. They hate humans and will arrest or kill one on sight!”\n\nAs the thought of being wanted on two fronts sinks in, the intern’s eyes widen, and when he tries to open his mouth in a rigid, spastic way, there’s an explosion, and the screen of the communicator goes black. ", "They found him in the Aquartis Conglomerate. Their oozing stalks perked up as they saw the derelict ship on their plascreen. There was noise coming from the things, but it was clear to anyone listening that they were communicating.\n\nThey knew that this patch of the Transmat Network was damaged, and had been for a long time; at least fifteen galactic Aeon Units. They attempted to hail the ship using the Neuranet, but to no avail.\n\nThey were chittering amogst themselves when they saw abn ancient holdover blinking at the screen of one of the officers. The aliens pushed a button, and the hail appeared on the plascreen.\n\n\"Hello?\" a thickly accented voice came through. On the screen, a dark-skinned woman appeared, dyed red hair in a tight ponytail and whipcord muscle showing through the clothing. The Neuranet was frantically searching the databanks on the Net to translate from the heavily-accented English.\n\n\"Can you guys hear me? I am the only survivor of the Omicron Persiei Incident. We didn't get there in time, and had to evacuate through the early Transmatter network, but our interstellar clock was knocked offline, as was our power. We're nearing the end of the backups, and only have an hour before our LS systems go offline.\n\n\"We need help here. Please respond.\"\n\nThere was frantic communication across the bridge of the starhip Ghnk m'Klse, a Nova-class starship by Galactic standards - primitive, but with everything needed to defend itself in low-end combat. The one in the centre turned to the plascreen, clearly indicating that the Neuranet was to interpret and translate its collection of grunts, squeaks and sighs.\n\n\"Good day to you, Fleshling. WE can assist you in this matter.\" There was a pause, as the Neuranet flashed up a Red alert on the Captain's personal HUDscreen. The Omicron Persiei Incident had taken place a long time ago - so much that it was basically a footnote in the greater history of the Galaxies. There was a moment of silence, and then the captain hushed the bridge compeltely.\n\n\"You are the Prophesied One, the Legacy and the Future. Speak your name, Human.\" The screen flickered, as the transmission over the radio frequency, almost extinct in this age, was compensated. \"I am coming to you now, and my engineers will aid you in your endeavor, Prophesied One.\"\n\nShe sighed in relief. She hadn't noticed the four corpses strapped into the other seats, but the captain definitely had. She nodded. \"Okay, I'll send you our docking codes now. Be advised - our entry was hot, and I don't know about the rest of the crew.\" She looked around, gasped in horror, and unstrapped herself out of the chair with the twin-stick navigation system.\n\nA single tear fell from her left eye. She turned around, the tear tracking its way down her cheek. \"My name is Ororo !XDidi. I await your team. Ororo out.\"\n\nThe plascreen went back to the view of the ship from the outside. there was frantic communication on the ship before a hacking, coughing roar stopped all discussion. The captain pointed to three members, and spoke in a fierce vocalisation. The four people left the bridge of the ship, and three of the aliens sent back communiques to HQ. The news was momentous.\n\nThe Prophesied One had arrived. The Primus Race had returned....for now.", "The biggest pain in the ass in the galaxy is the damn gates.\n\nI say this as a gate physicist. I was there when we built the first ones, and just five years later the experiments closed down and we all figured out \"that's that, nothing else to do here.\" It turns out there are only so many ways you can tweak spacetime before it, to simplify, gets pissed off. One way is to emit EM through a region of stabilized bubble-space. You'd think being able to transit information would be cheaper than matter, right?\n\nIn terms of gate physics, you'd be wrong. You do that, it doesn't work, you do too much of that, the bubble stabilizers (what you call a gate) explode and you get a nifty little shockwave through spacetime that the universe chooses to interpret as a gravitational wave. That's what happened to Jupiter. Damn shame, that. Just one gas giant funneled into a short-lived singularity and no one wants to do physics anymore.\n\nSo now I'm a fucking courier. I mean, you really can't transit a hyperlane without an advanced degree in gate physics, but those of us who really fucked up at Jupiter get this shit job, and I fucked up the worst of everyone. I was the goddamned lead. We get to fly out from Sol and ping pong around the universe on three month shifts just doing data dumps. All of those shiny-new colony worlds need their infodumps and uploads. The bigger ones have got material passing through, so the data delivery is regular and piggybacked, just like whatever else they receive. Me though? Data only. Half the time I don't even get to put down at the colony, just orbit near whatever ass-end of nowhere rock they put the gate near. They're still afraid of the damn things.\n\nGive us three years and an out-of-the-way system with a decent gravity well and we'll iron out the kinks enough that you'll have a damn gate in your bedroom that leads to your office, or hell, at least an intercolony equivalent of the Earth net.\n\nRobert scanned his rant and clicked 'Send.' That clown doing the 'Where are they now' story of people involved in the Jupiter Incident wouldn't print a word, but it left him feeling better. He nudged his pod into the final approach for the New Arab Emirates gate. He liked the NAE. It was a money-talks sort of place, but it was also comfortable and the air smelled good.\n\n\"Hey there Intrepid, you doing okay?\" he asked the pod.\n\n\"Looking forward to getting serviced after we touch down, actually. Those techs at Dubai station really know what they're doing\" the Intrepid replied, with a genderless voice.\n\n\"Any reason to look forward to service?\" Robert asked, tapping his way through the diagnostics interface in front of him, \"hey you didn't tell me about that.\"\n\n\"Sorry,\" the pod replied, \"just that same minor variance in thrust on number three, nothing to worry about. Ganymede Memorial just sucks a thruster maintenance.\"\n\n\"Still, probably should have let me know before now. Damn man, you act like this isn't a precision enterprise.\"\n\n\"You're right, but you do like to worry,\" the pod sounded concerned, \"prepping for transit in ten seconds on the mark alert.\"\n\nThe gate-lockdown klaxon sounded and the blast shutters dropped across the viewscreen as a visual countdown began on the panel. At zero, a vague feeling of unease passed over Robert. \"Uh, hey, that was a little weird,\" he said.\n\n\"So hey, you remember that thruster variance?\"\n\n\"You're shitting me.\"\n\n\"I lack an anus, but if I did I probably would be dropping a brick through it.\"\n\nThe shutter raised and outside of the viewscreen was a view of what was obviously a black hole, accretion disk and all. More concerning, was what looked like a cross between a spacecraft and a sea creature at a scale that Robert had never seen before just off the port bow.\n\n\"It's hailing us,\" Intrepid said. \"I can't make it out though, seems like some kinda cross between English, Chinese and Tagalog.\"\n\n\"Can't you process all of those?\"\n\n\"Not like this...but hey...does something about the universal constant being useful as a galactic clock mean anything to you?\"\n\n\"Yeah, a paper I wrote as an undergrad covered that, why?\"\n\n\"If this math is right, then...well you should check.\"\n\nA series of complex equations appeared on the viewscreen.\n\n\"Wait, that can't be right, that would put us at...what...a million years?\"\n\n\"Looks like. Hey, I've been chatting with their computer, nice chap by the way, I think I can translate real time now, you want to open a channel Bob?\" Intrepid asked.\n\n\"Yeah, let's get this over with.\"", "The glow from the instrument panel permeated his eyelids. The soft, familiar orange light accompanied by the proximity alarms drew him back to conciousness. \n\n\n“Engine core 55% depletion. Warning. Collision. Warning. Collision. Warning…”\n\n\nWith a start, Lucas Davian sat upright and ripped the goggles off his face. Panic building, he put both hands on the throttle controls and slammed the light transport into reverse. Julia, the ship, groaned in protest against its own forward inertia and began to slow. With just the slightest of a jolt, the nose of the craft tapped into the side of the derelict transit station, Julia's shields shrugging off the inconsequential love tap.\n\n\nwait, what? derelict? I was here just last week.\n\n\nRubbing his eyes, Lucas stared out the cockpit window at the station. Visibility wasn't an issue, the bulbous cockpit screen automatically brightens dim images, has several zoom levels and wraps around both sides of the occupant to fill in peripheral vision. \n\n\nVisibility wasn't the issue, comprehension was. The transit station, once a lively hub bridging the Timelight (TL) lanes between Alpha Proxima and the Veritas System, was a corroded, twisted shell. The windows long since shattered or missing entirely. The solar resistant blue grey paint was worn to bare metal, and the station itself now seemed to resemble a gargantuan steel octopus with its many docking bridges stuck out in random directions where they had been knocked about by various debris and collisions. \n\n\nAnd there's no ships. Lucas realized he had never seen the busy hub without there being a frustratingly long docking line of various ships from all over the quadrants. Traders, smugglers, passenger liners, even some of the United Navy vessels would stop through if the John C Sherman highway was under maintenance. It made him uneasy. \n\n\n“Engine Core 55%” \n\n\nOh right. Coolant and fuel. \n\n\nThe Timelight system was notoriously hard on engines, and Julia wasn't exactly a shining example of modern tech. Since the Timelight rings sped up the passage of time to make long journeys more palatable, the wear on space faring vessels was equally increased. Julia was at the end of a 3 week journey which, adjusted for TL, was just about a year. \n\n\nSo why was Christenson Hub…\n\n\n“Oh shit….” The words escaped his chapped lips of their own accord. Lucas's mind was spinning as he slowly flew around the decrepit hub station. Realization was setting in, and the outlook was grim.\n\n\n“Command not recognized.”\n\n\n“Julia, what's today's date?”\n\n\n“It is January 22nd, Earth year 5244. You have 214 missed events.”\n\n\nOh god it cant be.\n\n\n“Julia,” his voice croaked, “what year is it?”\n\n\n“It is Earth year 5244.” \n\n\n“What the fuck do you mean, 5244? Julia, run system diagnostics.”\n\n\nAfter a brief whir of computer fans, Julia responded.\n\n“Systems check complete. Engine core 55%. Shields 100% Shield battery 75% all other systems nominal. For a detailed scan, say 'details’”.\n\n\nLucas had left for his trip on February 1st. \n\n\nEarth year 2644. \n\n\n“Julia, plot a course for Trepidity Commerce Station.”\n\n\n“Station beacon not found. Would you like to plot a manual course?”\n\n\nEarth year 5244 Earth year 5244 Earth year 5244 Earth year 5244 Earth year 5244 Earth year 5244\n\n\n“Calm down.” Lucas's words had little effect on his racing thoughts, the heart beating out of his chest.\n\n\n“Command not recognized. Your heart rate is elevated at 185 bpm. Is medical attention desired?”\n\n\n“No. Julia, find any nearby stations with available docking rings.”\n\n\n“Scanning.”\n\n\nStill absent-mindedly flying around the hub station, Lucas's eyes were drawn to the small remnants of life around him. A Viper class sportscraft docked near the gift shop, both worn nearly beyond recognition. A Navy Vessel of unknown type split in half and corroding away near the fuel depot. Several large laser marks burned into its hull. Gaping holes in the stations wall, exposing wires and cables. It was not clear how much of the damage was caused by thousands of years of debris collisions, and how much was caused by explosions and laser fire.\n\n\nThe station must've been attacked. \n\n\nWith how much time had elapsed, Lucas supposed the station could've been attacked many times since he last saw it.\n\n\nEarth year 5244\n\n\n“Julia, hold position. I need a drink.”\n\n\n“Confirmed. Enjoy your break, Lucas.”\n\n\nLucas left the cockpit and thanked the inventor of the stasis field protecting his ship's interior from the accelerated time dilation of the TL lanes. Uncorking a bottle of Drevick Whiskey, he thanked the stasis field’s inventor a second time for protecting his booze and poured a glass while he pondered his circumstances. Julia had enough provisions for maybe another couple of months or so without rationing too hard.\n\n\nAs he looked around the dining area connected to the cockpit by a short four step staircase, he noted the aluminum cabinets and shelves lining the bluesteel walls. \n\n\nMaybe more like a month.\n\n\nSetting his glass down on the oval shaped ironwood table, Lucas toyed with the idea of switching on his personal communicator. It would be pointless, of course, anyone with his contact information would be long dead, and the servers holding his messages would be as well. \n\n\n“Fuck it.” He turned it on and stared at the 'no signal’ dialogue box. \n\n\nSetting it down with a sigh, He decided to check the engine room, mostly just to stay occupied than anything else. \n\n\nThe door to the engine room unsealed with a hiss and Lucas peered into the dimly lit maintenance hall from the dining area. \n\n\nLucas walked down the dreary, rusty hall, grabbed his toolkit, and went to work on the engines.\n\n\n“Signal check complete. There are four unidentified dock-ready stations within fuel distance.”\n\n\nLucas leaned back on his heels and set his toolkit beside him. Wiping the oil on his pants, and satisfied he had done as much as he could with the tools that he had, he stood.\n\n\n“Julia, check the engines again.” \n\n\n“Engines 59%”\n\n\nThat's just going to have to be enough.\n\n\n“Julia, plot a course for the closest signal.”\n\n\nWorking on part 2", "The relentless baying of the Rothounds echoed throughout the crumbling, moss-painted halls. Yeld ran, and ran, and ran, leaping over fallen stones and sliding down broken pillars. The others ran with her, following Ton’wi as he led them deeper and deeper into the damp, overgrown ruins. The stone walls were slick with dew even this deep in the structure, dripping in through the broken roof from the constant drizzle outside. None of them had the breath to speak, only to run from the sound of the beasts, and the their silent, deadly masters. Soft light from the cloudy skies above filtered in through cracks in the crumbling ruins, dancing in the little trickles of rainwater. Yeld’s breath came harsh and cold, and with the scent of moss and must, but she kept breathing. She could not stop. She had not fled only to give up now. She would fight to the end, she would not give him the satisfaction of surrender.\n\nThe group came to sliding stop, and Brot and Flot bumped into each other, tumbling into the ferns and undergrowth with a shower of dew drops. Ton’wi turned around, his big, green eyes soft with tears.\n\n“I...I don’t where to go, princess...I don’t know where to go next.”\n\nHe held out his arms, spreading his brightly coloured poncho, the trinkets and jewelry of the Joko people clicking and rattling. \n\n“There’s nothing here, Yeld...nothing, it’s a dead end.” His voice was strained and bubbled with frustration.\n\nThe rest of the group looked around at where they’d ended up. It was a relatively small room, for the ruins, though still massive by the standards of the Joko. Yeld turned toward the way they’d come, and steeled herself.\n\n“They will not take us easily. We owe ourselves that much. Jona, Fletch, block that doorway up!” She commanded, pointing to the small hole in the fallen stones they’d run through.\n\n“Protu, help them, find anything you can. If we go, we make it as difficult for them as possible.” She turned to Ton’wi, still breathing heavily, “I still believe, Ton, I still believe in the dream. The spirits will not abandon us.”\n\nTon’wi stared in silence for a moment, and then furrowed his brow. He nodded, and ran off to help block the entrance. \n\nYeld looked around at her little party of fugitives. Conya and the other girls huddled together, comforting each other as they regained their breath. Protu and the others had already blocked the entrance, and now stood stock-still, awaiting the arrival of the Rothounds, and Dragu. The baying of the hounds had stopped. It meant they were close. The Joko had been hunted long enough to know that the sign of nearby hunters is silence.\n\nYeld turned and wandered to the back of the room, and began to run her hands along the ancient stone of the wall. Cool water pooled between her fingers, clinging to the wall in a thin, almost imperceptible stream. Strange symbols, of the Elder Ones, could almost be made out under the centuries of grime and moss and algae that had grown up in the rain and damp. What had they wanted with this place, she wondered. What strange workings had the Elder Ones put themselves too, that they built such grand structures as these ruins?\n\nA thud startled her out of her wonderings, and a grating, guttural voice came from the other side of the makeshift door.\n\n“Princess\" it growled, \"...I can smell you and your friends in there…”\n\nConya and the other girls gasped and held each other tighter, and Ton’wi walked to the doorway, standing as tall as he could.\n\n“We won’t let you in, Dragu. Our days as slaves are over. The Princess is going to get out of this. I’ll make sure of it.”\n\nCruel, chittering laughter came from the other side of the wall, and the scraping claws of the rothounds could be heard trying to dig out the stones.\n\n“And why do you think that, little one? Are you going to stop me? Is that Ton’wi, there? The boy who would be a warrior?” The voice said.\n\n“It is, Dragu, and you and your thugs will have to go through me before you can ge-”\n\nWith a massive boom, the stones that blocked the entrance way blasted into the room, crushing Ton’wi into a red smear on the ground. The girls screamed, and fled as far back as they could. Yeld leaped back, as well, and braced herself on the wall.\n\nThe hounds leaped in. Brot and Flot let out a yell, and charged the beasts, but they were snapped up instantly, and shaken in the maw of the horrible, horned creatures. Behind the rothounds, Dragu and his hunters strolled into the room. They wore the skulls and skins of beasts, and Joko, in a mishmash of armour.\n\nProtu took out his spear and charged Dragu, as the hounds ran around the room snapping up the Joko who clawed frantically at the walls in a useless attempt to find some escape. Protu thrust, but Dragu moved out of the weapon’s way with ease, slipping aside, and drove his own cruel, hooked spear into the side of the young warrior. Protu’s scream was cut short as blood boiled up into his mouth, choking him.\n\nDragu cast the boy’s corpse off of his spear with disdain, licking the blood off of the blade with his forked tongue.\n\nHe strode directly for Yeld, pressed against the wall. The room filled with the screams of Joko, torn apart by Rothounds, or run-through by the hunter's spears and knives. The hunters joined in the cacophony with their high-thin, high pitched laughs. \n\n“You thought you could become something more than weak, fearful creatures, princess? You should have listen to your mother you little worm, you’re nothing but dirt, and you'll never be anything more. You belong to me!” He rumbled.\n\nHe took something out of his bag and tossed it to Yeld as he strode forward, easily brushing off the attacks of any Joko who tried to stop him before he reached the princess.\n\nThe object landed in front of Yeld with a thud, and rolled over the broken stones to face her. It was a head. A Joko head. Her mother’s head. Yeld’s eyes filled with hot tears, and she glared at Dragu.\n\n“You….you’re….I won’t let you take us easily, you horrible monster. You’ll have to do it the hard way.”\n\nDragu laughed, and caught a Joko as the poor thing was tossed to him from one of the hunters. He drove a knife into the girl’s skull, and dropped her on the floor. The other hunters went about massacring the remaining Joko, and some began to skin their victims while they still struggled. Yeld pressed her back up against the wall, praying to the spirits for some kind of mercy for her people. Dragu stopped his striding as he reached her, and stood over her, his long, dredded hair sporting teeth and fangs and horns from his prey.\n\n“This is the end of your little rebellion, girl, and the end of your line. I made a mistake allowing you things to have your leaders….I won’t make that mistake again.”\n\nYeld stared up into the black, red-pupiled eyes of Dragu, helplessly leaning into the ancient, wet wall, her fingers clawing and grasping at the mysterious symbols and nodes of the Elder Ones that dotted the surface of the ruined structure.\n\nA great whirring, humming sound thrummed up and down the wall. Dragu stepped back, readying his spear, and lights began to blink and dance across the back wall of the room.\n\n“What is this nonsense, girl. What have you done?” He growled.\n\nYeld turned to look at the wall, staring up into what had become a symphony of hums and bright, twinkling lights. The wall itself began to transform, and a great hole opened up where Yeld had been standing. Pure, white like poured out into the room. Dragu and the other hunters shielded their eyes as mist flooded out into the room from the opening. Yeld stared directly into the light. The spirits had answered her call.\n\nFrom the hole, a massive form stepped out, towering over Yeld at just over twice her height. It wore bright, strange clothes that clung neatly to its body. It blinked, and looked around the room. It stared at the hunters. It stared at the rothounds. It stared at the Joko, who scurried away from the now distracted hunters. It stared directly at princess Yeld.\n\nJames stared out from the teleportation platform, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the dark room. Where was he? Where was everyone else? He took in the broken old transporter platform, covered in moss and pools of water, and took a deep breath of the cool, damp air. Little people, standing only a few feet tall, wearing bright ponchos and scarves, were apparently being ritualistically murdered by slightly taller people. These ones dressed like savages, wearing skulls and leather and weapons all over their bodies. Horrible, spiky dog-like things growled and whined at him. This was not Altori-Prime. He glanced at his wrist-mate. It said… 3AM, January 22nd 3087? That’s...wrong. It was definitely June 2095 five minutes ago. He took in the whole room. Something was very off here. He tried out his vocal chords. They were...strained, rough, like he’d been asleep for days. He coughed. He spoke.\n\n“What the hell?”\n\nThe little, big-eyed, purple-skinned person in front of him did what he imagined was supposed to be a smile.\n\n“Shvoko nam shivak” it said.\n\nJames shook his head. This was not a great start to his first day at work.\n\n\n", "Lars drummed his fingers on the plastic top of a console, gazing balefully at the display in front of him. It was currently toggled to the bow camera's view, and showed a buzzing collection of construction barges around the massive pentagon of a hyperlane gate. At any other time, the shape would be filled with the warping black streams characteristic of a rip in spacetime, but right now all he could see through it was stars.\n\nDamnable, distant stars.\n\nThe console in front of him began whirring erratically, and he took a step back to see a message appearing on the screen.\n\n`>#INBOUND MESSAGE#: [ITIN/4602at4g17v] Sector 111/TE Repair Team #MESSAGE START# `\n\n`>\"Thank you all for being so patient as repairs are ongoing. Unfortunately, upon more detailed examination, `\n\n`>the degradation to the gate electronics and machinery has been upgraded to 'severe'. This particular gate will `\n\n`>not be operational for at least three days. For emergency transport, an FTL barge has been provided for your `\n\n`>convenience, courtesy of DioxWay, LLC. We appreciate your understanding.\" `\n\n`>#MESSAGE END# `\n\nLars sighed, and fell back into his chair. He had been anxious to get home before the delay, but now he knew he had no way of getting there on time. He checked the calendar taped to the bulkhead beside him. The days of the month had all been faithfully crossed off, except for one simply labeled \"Anniversary\". He groaned and ran his hands roughly through his hair, mind grasping at any possibility of reaching home before tomorrow. To his dismay, only one solution rose in his mind, time after time: the FTL barge. He knew he didn't have enough savings to afford such a jump, and never had. He dejectedly began clicking through the list of contacts on the console, until he arrived at one labeled BANK. His finger hovered over the ENTER key, and on the viewscreen above him, the hyperlane gate violently sprung into life. \n\nHe sat frozen for a moment, then frantically slid his chair to the left and unfolded a larger console with a clunk. Spooling up the engines with one hand, he expertly manipulated the directional joystick with the other, until the glowing green target on the screen in front of him matched the gate on the viewscreen. With one sweeping motion, he maxed the throttle on all rear engines. He was pushed back in his seat under the acceleration as the gate rapidly filled the viewscreen. Lars braced himself, but as he passed through the gate he couldn't help but feel an immense and crushing sense of loss. \n\nThe computer behind him chirped, letting him know they were back in real space. Lars tugged the throttles back, rubbing his shoulder with one hand. Gate Drop never gets any easier, he thought, reminding himself that his family was fine, nothing had happened to them. Unlike the other jumps, however, the Drop persisted. He felt unreasonable tears well in his eyes, and had to will himself to breathe deeply and calmly. He glanced towards the calendar again, and a message on the center console caught his eye. He slid over to better read it. It was incomplete, cut off halfway through transmission. He guessed it had sent shortly before he entered the gate.\n\n`>#INBOUND MESSAGE#: [ITIN:469zk6g091f] Sector 111/TE Repair Team #MESSAGE START# `\n\n`>\"ADVISORY NOTICE: We are now beginning a diagnostic test of the needle engines to discover their current `\n\n`>functional state. WARNING. As the navigational computer has been disconnected for this test, the gate is `\n\n`>'Wild' and will have no set destination. Do not approach the gate und _ _ _\" `\n\n` >#ERROR# {TR: Server Connection Lost} `\n\nLars glanced up at the viewscreen, his face pale. There was a complete lack of glittering homeworlds on display, only the empty black of space. Less than a dozen stars could be seen.\n\nThe feeling of loss had not faded, and that coupled with the rising panic threatened to overwhelm him. He took deep, slow breaths, and had almost calmed down again when the blackness moved. Lars flicked on the front arc lamps.\n\nA translucent, pulsing mass in front of him was suddenly illuminated, covered in tree-trunk tentacles and glittering, multifaceted eyes. As Lars stared, a thought slithered into the front of his mind. \n\nWe welcome you, Benefactor.\n\nLars watched the mass in front of him, at a loss for words. His eye caught on a white-and-silver shape clutched within one tentacle, and he focused on it. All he could make out around the milky flesh of the tentacle was an extendable satellite dish, the orange canvas between each arm tattered and worn.\n\n\"W-where am I?\" He said uncertainly, and another thought wriggled into view.\n\nYou have come far. We have prophesied your return for millennia.\n\nA tentacle slowly approached the viewscreen, tip holding what appeared to be a flat golden plate.\n\n\"I... don't think you have,\" Lars replied, \"I've never heard of giant space octopusses before.\"\n\nOctopi, we believe. Nevertheless, your artifacts are the stuff of legend. We have advanced considerably with your help.\n\nAnother tentacle came into view, bringing with it...\n\n\"No,\" Lars breathed, mind casting back to high school history class. He watched in awe as the disk was placed onto the device held in the second tentacle.\n\nBEHOLD, The inner voice thundered, tentacle presenting the completed record player, The Bringers Of Sound have arrived! Glory be to Carter, King of Kings, and Humanity, for the secrets of the Twelve-Inch Disk!\n\nEdit: Fixed mobile formatting.", "White. All White. All Black. All White. It was always like this. Maybe it wasn't. I don't know, do I know? What did I knew? Was I knewn? Known? \n\nAnd real. Was I ever real? I'm laughing. There's someone staring at me. I stare back, full of ... being. Curious, I'm feeling curious. Curious, Curious, Ahahahah I'm curious again!\n\nThe Glypcik looked at the human that had emerged from the gate. A human, it was unimaginable, but there it was. The historical records from the times of the hyperlanes were spotty at best and nobody really believed that such a primitive race could have ever created something so amazingly powerful and so incredibly dangerous. In fact, they had been so dangerous that nobody had ever dared even try and decommission them, they were just left there to decay, if they had decayed that is. Because out of some freakish spasm of pure genius, the humans had created something that would seemingly last forever. \n\nThe hyperlanes were a terrifying testament to eternity, a thing that shouldn't be. Merely discussing the methods of traversing them or conducting inquiries into them was illegal. In fact, the Glypcik knew that just meeting this human was probably an offense that would carry a death sentence, but it had to just examine the portal, just to find out of the legends were true. And now it had gotten a lot more than it bargained for. \n\nHaHA, it's so strange the way it's just staring at me. Hey you, you ^you you! Weird green thing, OH GREEN! I'd forgotten just how awesome colors were, COLORS ARE THE BEST! Oh and this noise, noise, beautiful noise, so amazing! Atchoo! I love sneezing too! Why aren't you answering me green thing? Where's everyone? And why are you looking at me and waving that stick around? Are you inviting me for dinner?\n\nIt stared at the human, weighing it's options, maybe it should just kill it and claim it found it drifting through space. Then it might become lead researcher of a new initiative that would demystify The Lanes once at for all. Yes, killing it would probably be for the best, what life could a human have in this galaxy anyway? It'd be the last of it's kind, it would be a small mercy. And.. it would be... tidy. It steeled itself and flicked the switch on the dematerializer.\n\nWow! WOW! Fantastic! So squishy! Mlem... my tongue feels weird. Ahaha, TONGUE, I CAN LICK IT ALL! I'm going to lick everything. But this purple stuff tastes weird. Weird weird. Strange, odd, different, unsual, remarkable, fantastic, amazing, captivating, mesmerizing, encompassing! \n\nHUNGER IS SO GOOD \n\nThe convict stood up and wiped his mouth. Was there only one mouth? He wasn't really sure. But it was obvious he still remembered how to use his. Several millennia inside the gates eternal non-existent emptiness had done to his mind what the teams of psychologists and nurses and doctors had failed to do, it had set him free. In a flash, he'd realized with his unhinged mind that he was the last human in the galaxy and that there were untold numbers of new alien races that had lived for eons. He giggled to himself as the hole in his side closed up by itself, it wasn't just the gates that were eternal now.\n\nEat Eat Eat EAT EAT ^EAT! EAT!\n\nDinner was served.", "Jimmy slowly woke up to the sounds of beeps and warning. Finally, he was able to make out the words, \"Warning. Location Beacon System failure. Switching to alternate.\" He tried his radio, looking for maintenance, dispatch, or anyone to answer. There was no answer.\n\n\nHe was trained for this. He could handle this. It is his job, after all. Suddenly, one of the passengers spoke up, saying what everyone was thinking, \"What the hell happened?\" Jimmy tried to reassure the passengers, while trying to reassure himself: \"There appears to have been a slight issue with the hyperlane. Don't worry. We will get you to your destination in no time. Once the hyperlane is back up we can re-enter, or we can just find the next closest hyperlane and take a detour. But there is nothing to worry about.\"\n\nNow, of course there was something to worry about, and Jimmy knew this. If the hyperlane malfunctioned, they could have been spit out at any point along the route. To get back on, the hyperlane would have to be fixed, and they would have to find an entry point. But which way was the closest entry point? Jimmy knew that they needed to figure out where they were. That had to be the priority. He turned to Bob. \"I'm going on figuring out where we are, but you need to go back there and calm the passengers. Public transportation already has a bad enough reputation. We don't need a riot to make things worse.\"\n\nBob was good as a copilot, but he was even better as a people person. Jimmy knew that Bob could handle the uneasiness in the passenger compartment. Trusting in Bob's skill for the passengers, he turned is eyes back towards the problem of location. He knew that they had to be somewhere along the hyperlane route, but where? If only he could find another entry point. There should be a location beacon there that they could use to pinpoint their location. Suddenly, Jimmy felt his training kicking in. He started thinking out loud: \"Ok. So, we can't follow the path of the hyperlane without our location system working. How do we know which way to go? That's right, we can follow our own ion trail. That will show us where we were, which will eventually take us to the last entry point we passed. That is, of course, assuming the ion trail doesn't dissipate before we find it. But, we gotta start somewhere.\"\n\nThe engines came to life and the shuttle started turning around. The ion trail was still fresh and easy for the shuttle systems to detect. Jimmy knew they were heading the right way. \n\nThey continued and continued waiting for a sign of an entry point. Waiting for communication from anyone. But something felt off. There were some isolated areas along the hyperlane, but this felt too isolated. And along the routes were emergency beacons in the isolated areas for just this purpose. But Jimmy hadn't seen any entry points. He hadn't seen any emergency beacons. He had, in fact, seen nothing but distant stars. \n\nA slight glimmer caught Jimmy's eye. He looked out of the side of the ship and saw something approaching from the distance. It looked like a ship, but nothing he had seen before. It didn't matter. He grabbed the radio and tried to contact them. Silence. He tried again. More silence. Soon, more ships started to approach from different angles. He frantically tried signalling them. Still nothing. He calmly called for Bob to come back up.\n\n\"Bob, I think our radio system might be down. I'm trying to hail these ships, but I'm getting nothing.\" \"Whose ships are they? That could help us figure out where we are\" Bob asked. Before Jimmy could even answer they were interrupted by the computer. \"Alternate Location System is active. Based on the location of stars, we are at an 87% match with Darvos.\" Jimmy and Bob looked at each other. \"Did that just say Darvos?\", Bob asked. Jimmy replied, \"Did that just say an 87% match?\". Bob replied, \"But if we are at Darvos, that means we made it to the end of the hyperlane. We are at our destination! Where is everything?\" Jimmy just said again, \"Only an 87% match? That just doesn't make sense.\" They were both interrupted again by the computer. \"Alternate Location System, location determined. 100% Match. Location is Darvos. Year 42,739.\" Jimmy and Bob stared at each other with shocked faces. Bob said, \"42,739. That is nearly 40,000 years in the future! Well that would explain why we don't see any signs of the Darvos that we know.\" Jimmy, looking at all of the ships that are now close enough to see into, said, \"We have a bigger problem. I don't see any species that we know, either...\"\n\n---\n\nMy first time trying to write something. Obviously I need a lot of work, but the idea was in my head and I wanted to share it. ", "First, they learned to fly. Then they took to the stars. They explored distant worlds from all over the dotted sky. In an endless void of darkness, they took the light. In their wake, they left seeds as relics for the eternal quest for meaning. And from those seeds, they brought life to the universe.\n_______________________________\nHe strapped into the pod for another routine flight. With the expenses involved in getting planetside, it was rare that a lane was actually open to accommodate those who weren't glactocrats. That being said, the eggheads from up high came up with the ingenious idea of 'hyperlanes'. By bending space-time on itself (or something, he was thirty-five, and space-time physics had always eluded him), you could skip galaxies, thereby reducing the amount of distance you would have to travel even with FTL travel.\n\nThe catch was you sped up time while you were traveling. You'd leave for dinner at 5pm. Get there at 5pm, or what you would think was 5pm, and watch your loved ones finishing dessert and watching the end of that space opera you liked.\n\nStill, it was the price you paid to get across fast. And if it was good enough for the galactic elite, it would be good enough for him.\n\nThe final flight checks completed, there was nothing to do but relax. And while he relaxed, and eventually dozed off, he failed to realize the flash of red from his console or the multiple fail-safes that failed to keep him safe.\n\nAnd the pod launched into the night.\n_______________________________\nThose adventurers of the endless night grew civilization to untold lengths. Before long. the planets teemed with life of all kinds. But as their abilities grew, so did their ambitions. And when their ambitions grew, the galaxies were too small to contain it. They wanted something bigger.\n_____________________________________________________________________________________________\nAuthor's note:\nIt's getting late. If you're interested in reading more of what I'm putting down, let me know and I'll continue!", "Humans. Humans are the original super-beings. My people have spent countless lifetimes trying to reverse engineer the technology they used to traverse the vacuumed expanse. We have been successful in understanding their wormhole and FTL technology as of late, mainly due to a strange occurrence. Living humans have graced us with their presence. \n\nIt happend nine days ago. A bright flash of light emanated from a wormhole that we thought had been dormant for millennia. The ship that emerged, UNS Earth, was a transport ship built for the colonization of habitable worlds. My government immediately mobilized our entire military fleet, roughly ten thousand ships, and waited for contact. \n\nContact required the patience of both parties. The humans were obviously flustered. Once communications were established, we knew why. The humans were living relics, a single generation had outlived the entirety of the remainder of their species. They said this was due to a malfunction in one of the wormholes they built. \n\nThree days ago, my government made a decision. They indicated that they would help the humans find the answers they seek. That was when I was summoned for command. I would be leading the collective of our species in the search. My people would provide vast resources, and the humans would provide unknown technologies. That was when I knew I had been naive. \n\nMy people waved us off today. Many said goodbye to their kin, some shrugged off the thought of another expedition. Working with the humans has elevated our society in a way that we were never going to achieve on our own. The humans have greatly accelerated our understanding of many things. One of the most important lessons so far is that my people are quite similar to the humans. I hope we can help our friends find what they are looking for.\n\n", "\"Alright big brains, sit down and let this here cowboy science you something good. Hyperlanes, or what ya'll call the Old Gates, are stable bubbles of time fuckery. Now, I could go into the exact math involved, but ya'll wouldn't get a lick of it, so here's the gist of it. \n\nOnce inside the gate, you've entered into a time bubble in which space and time don't really work too good. For your entire trip, which is based on the time it would take if light was sped up a thousand fold, you are technically in both where you started and where you intend to go, at exactly the same time. This may seem confusing, and that's because it is, but know that the intervening distance is crossed by actually going back in time.\n\nSo, with that now known, can you imagine my damn frustration when the darn tootin' thing gave out on me while I was still in the bubble? The frangnastic ass of a gate simply stopped working because some damn big-brained alien HAD to mess around with it in the future, changing my darn arrival point to not only be all dang messed up, but in a time and place so far in the future, my processors nearly shit themselves trying to figure out the time of day! So here I now sit, talkin' to a bunch of gawkin slack jawed ninnys while they go through my cargo. My Cargo. like it was some sort of golden nugget they found spinning in space. I'm a damn hyperlane trucker, not some darn fancy science geek, and I've just about had it with all your questions!\"", "Emergence\n\n'Location unknown. Location unknown. Location unknown,' the traversal shuttle's intercom announced again and again in its warm, clipped tones as a warning light repeatedly bathed the cabin in crimson light. \n\nJoi breathed out, closing her eyes and clenching her fists as she endured the last waves of traversal shock. The mindless iteration of evolution had never anticipated humanity would leave its cradle, let alone transmit itself nigh-instantaneously across the cosmos. Traversal, then, the means with which homo sapiens had made a laughing stock of the vastness of the void, was something the biological brain was singularly discomforted by. \n\nBlack, abyssal depths, condensed nebulae clouds and frozen suns hanging in a paralyzed cosmos were the sights available to anyone stupid enough to look out of a viewport mid-traversal. The visions of a creationist God, democratised all the way down to family tourism and long haul work commutes. \n\nJoi opened her eyes for a brief moment, long enough to experience pure agony as the strobing light bloomed directly in front of her face. The security consultant snarled, punching out blindly with the armoured knuckles of her voidskin and being rewarded with the sharp crack of plastic.\n\n'Passenger consciousness detected,' the capsule's voice intoned, 'please remain calm. Location is unknown. Manual input requested.' There was a faint click as a screen dropped into her vision, emerging seamlessly from the featureless black of the capsule's interior. \n\n'I suppose I don't get a discount for teaching the capsule what a planet looks like?' Joi asked sarcastically, idly waving at the screen to activate it. Most corporate capsules were the same. Dumb. Drop out of traversal sideways and then ask the passenger what the destination should look like levels of dumb. \n\nThe screen blinked on, briefly displayed the skull and crossed missiles of some two bit shipping firm, then clicked into an endless cascade of flashing red astronomic errors. Dozens, then hundreds, then thousands. All pointing to one lunatic impossibility, laid out in stark characters before Joi's eyes.\n\nThe stars had moved. \n\nJoi swallowed a searing, panicked breath and pushed her restraint-seat away from the glaring screen. The capsule's primary viewport was a small circle of hardened armourglass to her left, flickering with intermittent flashes of light from the void outside. \n\nHer voidskin detected the adrenaline rush as she stared at the planet below and reacted automatically, sprouting an armoured double-layer of interlocking plates from its matte black surface. Joi scarcely noticed. Her face was locked in a crazed rictus, a slight twitch to her eyes, all blood fled to leave her utterly pale. \n\nA thousand thousand unknown ships, bearing symbols in no human language, hanging in an inhuman sky. \n\n(Fun little exercise, but I'm at work so I'll stop.)\n\n\n\n", "Eons ago, the Sharintar seeded the stars with life. Starting in their little system the Sharintar's hunger for knowledge propelled them off their world, to spread across the systems, first in huge monolithic generation ships carrying billions of Sharintar. Their tiny lifespans ensured that none of these Sharintar even had the hope of ever seeing their destination in their lifespan, yet they persevered just to give the next generation the chance to explore. Still, the Sharintar knew they could improve further.\n\nNext came their superluminal colony ships, their engines capable of folding time and space. Risking their lives to make blind jumps into the unknown, possibly straight into uncharted asteroids or stars, these Sharintar placed themselves into certain danger just for their hunger, no, their craving for knowledge. Of course, even superluminal engines were not enough, they were far too large, too costly for the inventive Sharintar.\n\nWith methods even the most advanced minds among us couldn't even comprehend they began a tremendous undertaking, and began constructing a titanic warp network that linked their rapidly growing empire further.\n\nAs they grew, they, alone against the cold, dark void of the stars, began seeding the galaxy with life, uplifting promising species across the galaxy. We were one of these experiments, and their greatest success.\n\n---\n\n\"Hey...Jek? Sure they won't follow us?\" I called back, not trusting the so-called 'wisdom' of my shipmate.\n\n\"'course. The comp was beeping out warnings that this gate was malfunctionin', no one'll dare to even touch this thing!\"\n\n\"Yes, and we're in the damn thing now...\"\n\n\"Relax, mate. Half the time these...malfunctions,\" he emphasised, bringing his hands up to make finger quotes, \"are just them shuttin' down for maintenance or somethin'.\"\n\nI took a deep breath and sank back into my seat. All these years of service in the Navy had instilled in me a huge reliance on following traffic rules, even though I had gone rogue about a week ago. \"...and the other half of the time?\" I asked, still doubtful.\n\n\"We'll be pulverised into ash.\" He said bluntly, looking at me as if he hadn't just mentioned that we were going to die.\n\n\"That's just great.\"\n\n\"Relax. Them coppers can't arrest piles of ash.\"\n\n\"Very reassuring.\" I said, rolling my eyes. As the lines around the cockpit slowly reverted back into stars, I sat back up, preparing my act of 'innocent, law-abiding freighter pilot' if I were to be hailed. \n\nAs I hid our weapons away from the viewcam, I heard the first sign of doubt from Jek, with a surprised \"Hey, wait a minute...\"\n\nTurning around, I saw a ship, its markings hardly fitting those of a typical Human vessel. Unlike a Human ship's blocky, pragmatic exterior this ship exuded grace, its polished hull gleaming with pride. Its engine wake was a mesmerising light blue, unlike the coarse, rough fiery orange Human vessels. A short burst of static broke from the comms channel, before an image faded into view. \n\nA blueish-green humanoid, its facial features marked with elegance. Its wide, red eyes pierced into mine, and the place where its mouth would be was covered with a small cloth-like material. An extraterrestrial? While there were sketchy reports of extraterrestrial lifeforms reported by Human pilots, they were never proven by government investigations, and some humans have gone on to suggest that there was a massive government cover-up of their existence, while others insist that they were encouraging such rumours to hide their experiments on superweapons.\n\nWhatever the truth was, we were seeing one right in front of us, and it seemed unhappy. Very unhappy, in fact, that it broke off into an angry-sounding language right in front of us. \"Uhh...sorry?\" was all Jek could make out. The alien's eyes grew slightly, as if expressing surprise, before pressing a few buttons on its console and turning to look back at us expectantly. I pushed Jek aside, my service to the military making me the de facto communicator with other ships. \"This is the Wildfire, and I am its vice captain, Karell. Who...what are you?\"\n\nStaring at us a while longer, the creature's eyes shrunk a little, as if receiving what it wanted. A couple of console presses later, the creature placed a gas mask-like object on where its mouth would be. A robotic, monotone voice intonated, \"Greetings. I am Adunars of the Ceysharintar'lin Grand Fleet. Please identify.\"\n\n\"Say-sharintar'pin? Uhh, we're, umm, humans?\"\n\nThe creature's eyes widened. \"Impossible.\"\n\n------\n\nDidn't see any other prompt replies so decided to try my hand at this one. Please do provide criticism, else I don't know how to improve :(\n\nAlso, hope you enjoy this! I hope to continue this ~if I don't procrastinate~\n\nEDIT: If you like to see more of my (future) work that hopefully improves, do check my new subreddit out at /r/TheWriterDiaper!" ]	[ 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 9, 9, 10, 10, 15, 23, 27, 39, 44, 58, 59, 99, 266, 320, 2557 ]	[ "1516624337", "1516649275", "1516649819", "1516651196", "1516651495", "1516644408", "1516646381", "1516651173", "1516651285", "1516645036", "1516641553", "1516643787", "1516639372", "1516645585", "1516647851", "1516647177", "1516641519", "1516638448", "1516635272", "1516641147", "1516633458", "1516636059", "1516633633", "1516635013", "1516633312" ]
	[WP] In hell, worlds most evil people are forced to play DnD forever. Their torturer/DM: Gandhi	2	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "The creak of iron hinges echoes across the chasm, four pairs of feet shuffling in to the dimly lit room. Silently they make their way through the sparsely furnished area to a lone table with five chairs, each with a named placard at the place setting. \nHitler is the first to take his seat, reaching into a small German leather pouch at his waist and retrieving a handful of dice and a small pencil only to toss them on to the table before him. \nVlad, Pol Pot, and Joseph Stalin all follow suit, taking their places, and looking about at the various sheets and books stacked across from each other. \nExchanging glances between the items strewn about and amongst eachother (with Pol squinting ever so much more than the others), neither noticed a small robed figure emerging from the shadows at the far side of the room. Smiling about himself as he always had, he stood behind the head of the table and politely bowed before fixing his wire-framed glasses, taking in the sight of the four men before him. \n\"Greetings. I have been informed of who each of you are and why you are here- and it is my utmost pleasure to introduce you to my favorite past-time: Dungeons & Dragons.\" \nThe four men looked back and forth with confusion but resigned to let the man continue. \n\"This is a game of make-believe. It will require a lot of reading at times, and as we are using the 3.5 version of the rules- we will have so very much to comb through at times. Patience will be a virtue here.\" \n\"Oh yes.. there is one more rule that I have.\" the man continued with a beaming grin. \n\"You will only be playing characters with a true neutral alignment.\"" ]	[ 1, 2 ]	[ "1516651057", "1516662196" ]
	[WP] Your nemesis has just revealed him/herself. To your surprise, your nemesis declares you as the evil one.	6	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Now hold up.\n\nThat's not right.\n\nThat's not right at all.\n\nThis fool doesn't have the slightest clue what he's talking about.\n\nHe's an idiot.\n\nJust a real idiot.\n\nI mean, me? The bad guy? \n\nIt's laughable!\n\nSure, okay. I raided the military base.\n\nAnd maybe some innocent soldiers died.\n\nAnd maybe some civilians got caught in the cross fire.\n\nAnd maybe that bridge did collapse onto the boat passing under it when I set off the bomb.\n\nBut they wouldn't stop chasing me in their humvees.\n\nBesides, I needed the weapons.\n\nAnd the fighter jet.\n\nAnd the tank. \n\nBecause that bastard is up to something vicious and I'm gonna put a stop to it." ]	[ 1, 3 ]	[ "1516684775", "1516706080" ]
	[WP] Tonight, the most popular dive bar in the galaxy will close its doors. You are the bartender on duty when all of its most interesting patrons stop by to say good bye.	5	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "The shift started out like most others, the small in number; but vast in reputation and stories, regulars began to saunter in around midday. I'd learnt a lot working my shifts at the bar and heard just about every story there was to hear, even if only one in ten were true then these folks had lived some serious lives. most of the regulars were human or humanoid enough so imagine my surprise when a blob like creature appeared in the door way just after three. The rest of the bar fell silent as he slid towards the bar, his body more devouring the stool he chose rather than what I would call sitting on it, still no one spoke. \"so what will it be bud\" I had to hold my tongue almost calling him blub, a mistake I'm glad I didn't make. \"bud light\" the creature replied; I wasn't sure where the voice came from or if it had been a voice at all, it had to be! Even in these parts Telepathic beings were rare..\n\nI noticed some of the regulars shuffling nervously in their seats as I cracked open the bottle and placed it down in front of the customer. \"I don't see you around here often\" I quipped and what I can only assume was an eye seemed to peer back, looking me up and down slowly. \"I don't think your species had even evolved the last time I came around these parts\" the voice sent a shiver down my spine for some reason as I imagined the wealth of knowledge and power such a creature could amass, being older than the entire human race. I was drastically dragged back to reality when a small opening appeared and an audible gas quench bubbled forward... I could only hope that was a burp! \n\n\"I hear you're shutting down tonight.. for good this time\" the voiced cracked again, I was beginning to be almost certain that it was in fact inside my head and so I tested my theory, I spoke no words but thought \"yes, Bobs lease runs out soon, he is packing up and moving sector\".. I waited... \"ahhh I see\" replied the voice \"I haven't seen Bob for a long time, I must be going soon though so I don't suppose I'll catch him... would you tell him Klickin called in, just to say bye to the place, thank you my dear boy... I do fear your day Is about to become a lot more hectic\"\n\nsuddenly the connection seemed to be lost and the Blob was completely gone from sight, then I noticed them. Stood in the door way like silhouettes but they were not, the Shadows were probably the most notorious killers in the sector or maybe this galaxy... and I just remember how they used to love to drink here!\n" ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1516691431", "1516695985" ]
Should we answer? or not? What would be their interest?	[WP]The Cosmic Phone is Ringing	1	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "\"Can you see it?\" He whispered on the wind, gracing the ear of every individual in the crowd of thousands in front of him, all humbled into an ambiguous silence, all waiting on the spaces between his words for something they weren't entirely sure they were ever sincerely promised, something intangible at its core.\n\nThey were lawyers, doctors, fools, skeptics, rich and poor- all failing alike in letting go of their labels as if them turning up at all was simply a matter of taking the ghost for a walk. But he did not falter, nor did he move from where he'd first been spotted sitting for 13 continuous days, unmoved. Harry, they believed he was called. How to properly address him now was a mystery of international proportions. \n\nQuite suddenly the huddled masses did see, not with their eyes, or anything of the physical realm, but with the I that watches the I- the impartial witness. And with gentle but lung-emptying expressions of wonder, some began to weep, and those who weren't too overwhelmed turned to one another in order to join hands and hearts without discrimination. And it was with this they found themselves unanimously fixating on a single butterfly, whose aqua wings thudded with each beat leaving a trail of uneven air and a tremor reverberating endlessly around the Earth. It danced in the late summer sunlight and its hearty heat.\n\nA compassionate smile crossed the weathered face of 'Harry' as he spoke \"the cosmic phone is ringing\".\n\nTo this day, we don't know quite who we had contact with, but it's often assumed it's someone out there. They seem to have rang in the name of peace." ]	[ 1, 2 ]	[ "1516692255", "1516705191" ]
	[WP] Your split personalities learned how to form their own bodies and left you one day. You've recently begun to suspect that one of them is back and is trying to steal your significant other from you.	3	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "\"Leave, just get out,\" the man named Ed tells me.\n\nI know who he is. It isn't that he looks like me - he doesn't really, even though he is me - but I can tell by the way he speaks that he is the Ed who seeks dark thrills at night, makes me hate myself when I really think about it, makes me sick on work mornings, makes me not me.\n\nI don't reply. Instead, I pack what I can in my large messenger backpack: underwear, t-shirts, socks, deodorant, my glasses, a laptop.\n\nAnd I go. I make my way to the Lafayette subway station, take the C train to the A, take the A to the Airtrain, take the Airtrain to JFK, and buy a ticket to LA. I buy some water, board the plane, and settle in.\n\nI don't feel him. I'm free. When the flight attendant comes by offering anything from booze to soda, I don't hesitate: I order a beer and drink it like a normal person, just feeling the cool buzz without needing to hurt anyone. I'm free.\n\nMy family is happy to see me back home in San Diego. They don't ask many questions - they know that I fled quickly, and that asking questions would probably send me packing again. My parents put me up. I get a job. I get my own place. I go to the gym. I run. I reconnect with old friends. I fall in love.\n\nShe's a lot like me: a past she doesn't like to talk about, but we share our new freedom from whatever lives we left behind. We just want peace, silence, safety, and we find it within one another. We don't want greatness or attention, just to be left alone together, free and in control of our destinies.\n\nOur wedding is a reflection of ourselves: A quiet Friday afternoon, just the two of us, my childhood friend as a witness, an anonymous but friendly clerk from San Diego city hall. We have tickets to Spain for a long weekend to celebrate simply. We marry quickly, happily, a genuine smile from my friend and the clerk.\n\n\"Congrats,\" says Ed, drink on his breath, \"I got this.\"" ]	[ 1, 2 ]	[ "1516724891", "1516730945" ]
	[WP] You travel back in time, through history, and decide to go to the Big Bang. Once there you witness the event, but then you keep going, only to come upon the previous universe. You travel to Earth to greet people worried about a black hole nearby that is growing. You have both good and bad news.	11	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "My time machine phased me onto the past Earth with a low hum and a flash. I stepped out of my glass orb to find a city swirling in chaos. To my left, a grocery store was being raided by seemingly normal people with an unfamiliar primal look in their eyes. On my right, a massive screen shone on the side of a skyscraper. A news anchor's head was projected, looming over the city. He stood unwavering. His voice was the voice of extinction. Calmly and coldly, he delivered the news that was the source of all the chaos.\n\nThe black hole is upon us. Evacuation attempts have all failed. May we pass in peace. \n\nWith each loop of the message the terror of what I was witnessing dug itself deeper into my skin. I sat still for a while and watched the world burn. After a few minutes I broke myself free from the contagious and paralyzing despair. \n\n\"I know what I must do\"\n\nMy time machine had room for one more person and I was not going to watch an entire race die before my eyes. \n\nLuckily, in the midst of the riot, no one had noticed my time machine and I. I think this was for the best, these people were desperate. They knew their demise was inevitable as well as I did and they would have latched on to any chance at escape they could. \n\nI had to find someone, and convince them to come with me. All without tipping off the desperate mob that their may be a light at the end of the tunnel. \n\nIt was then that I saw her. A stoic beacon in a buzzing crowd. She sat curled up on the curb, casually eating an apple, while the world fell around her. I approached.\n\n\"How are you so calm?\" I shouted, to overcome the noise of the crowd. \n\nShe looked up, flashing her green eyes. \n\n\"This is no big surprise, it's been on the news for years.\" She looked back down at the street.\n\n\"We just couldn't do anything about it, I lost hope a long time ago\"\n\nI leaned closer and prepared to do what I came here to do. \n\nIn a whisper I said \"do you want to come with me? I have a way out\" \n\nShe scoffed \"There is no way out, it's over.\"\n\nI grabbed her hand\n\n\"If you have any sense of hope and curiosity left in you, then follow me\"\n \nA smile peaked over her delicate chin, showing an emotion that I imagine hadn't been seen on Earth in quite some time.\n\n\"What's your name anyway. I at least want to know which delusional guy is holding my hand at the end of the world.\"\n\n\"Im Adam, and I told you it's not the end for us. Now c'mon\"\n\nWe ran towards the pod hand in hand. Her voice flinched with each stride as she called out \"don't you want to know my name, oh valiant savior\"\n\nI had already known her name. I knew just who she had to be. Humanity had to start anew and you can't start a new world with a Nancy or a Gretchen. \n\nBefore I could answer, Eve and I made it to the pod. In a blur, we left the old world behind. Only to find the green gardens of a world reborn.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n" ]	[ 1, 7 ]	[ "1516734088", "1516734374" ]
	[WP] As the hero enters the throne room of the dark lord. The throne is empty and the hero's companion says with a grin " Well this has been delightful but I'm afraid the fun is now over.".	897	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "The Hero turned around. \"What do you mean?\" He was still scanning the room, looking for something, anything that might be a clue. \n\n\"It was an interesting journey,\" Sam said, sheathing his sword. \"You're hilarious. Best one yet.\" He climbed up the stairs to the throne and dropped into it with a happy sigh. \"Nothing better than coming home.\" \n\nThe blood drained out of the the Hero's face, leaving it paler than new snow. \"Wh-wh-wh-what? What's going on, Sam?\" \n\n\"Come on, you're clever. You can figure it out.\" Sam held out a hand, and a goblin appeared and put a crystal goblet of wine in it. \n\n\"This isn't possible,\" the Hero muttered. His sword fell out of his limp fingers and hit the floor with a ringing clang. \"You passed the Trials with me!\" \n\nSam waved his free hand, throwing his legs up over the arm of the throne. \"Yes, well, those things are pretty easy to influence if you know what you're doing. Old magic, lots of loop holes, such and such.\" He took a deep drink of the wine, then held the goblet out. \"Want some?\" \n\nThe Hero didn't seem to see it. His eyes were wide, pupils dilated and unfocused. Trembling raced through his body, and his knees folded as he slumped to the ground. Sam frowned. \"Hero?\" \n\n\"After everything..... you... we...\" his voice trailed off. Sam stood and walked over. He leaned down and touched the Hero's cheek with one hand. The Hero stared blankly, fine shivers racing over his skin. Not even a twitch. Sam sighed in defeat and straightened up.\n\n\"Steward!\" \n\nA black robed figure appeared in the archway, hands folded beneath long black sleeves. \"Welcome back.\" The hooded head dropped slightly as the Steward studied the kneeling figure. \"Did you break another one, my Lord?\"\n\n\"And he showed such promise,\" Sam grumbled as he drained the goblet. \"Put him in the dungeon with the others, and fetch me the classifieds. I need to place an ad. Oh, and another glass of wine!\" ", "A shiver crept up Zoe's spine as she turned around. Even though it was the voice of her dear companion she just heard, Zoe's hands instinctively reached for her sword. Something was wrong. Very wrong.\n\n\"And what do you mean by that?\" she asked her companion cautiously. \n\nAaron didn't respond immediately but instead grinned a gleeful grin, the one a hunter might have when their prey is cornered. He stepped forward in slow, lithe paces toward Zoe. Without thinking, she sprang back out of his way, but Aaron simply continued forth into the dark, empty room. He was giggling now.\n\n\"Why, it seemed that your body already knows the answer to that, even if you don't,\" Aaron mused. He looked back at Zoe. \"Even if you don't want to.\"\n\nOf course she didn't. Zoe had found Aaron as an emaciated boy in a dungeon outside the Dark Lord's palace, but even then she saw the light of hope burn within him. After Zoe had rescued him, Aaron proved to be a noble and valiant soul, one worthy to join her quest to vanquish the Dark Lord. After all, it was he who found and freed the other captives of the palace dungeon. It was he who helped her slay the monstrous guards of this place. It was he who kept pushing Zoe forward in her quest whenever she felt weak. Everything he did...\n\n\"You didn't get me here to have me kill the Dark Lord, did you?\" Zoe's voice was hard as steel. Aaron calmly met her hateful gaze.\n\n\"Indeed,\" he said plainly.\n\nZoe's blade flashed in the dim light as it was quickly unsheathed. \"You just wanted me to be here all alone, didn't you?\" she asked, her voice trembling with bottled anger.\n\n\"Correct,\" Aaron said, unmoved by Zoe's provocations.\n\n\"Then you must be the Dark Lord,\" Zoe growled, approaching her companion with brandished blade. \"And my quest will be finished once I bury my sword in your skull!\" With a piercing war cry, she broke into a charge, ready to slay this imposter.\n\n\"No and NO!\" Aaron shouted, his soft voice booming so unnaturally that the floor and walls shuddered. Even Zoe halted in her charge. \"Damn it, you don't really get it, do you?\"\n\nZoe's earlier confusion subdued her rage, and though she still had her eyes fixed on him, she lowered her sword. \"W-what do you mean? If you lured me here and did not mean for me to kill the Dark Lord, how are you not the Dark Lord?\"\n\nFor the first time since she had met him, Aaron looked thoroughly peeved. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sighed. \"For the hero of the realm with lightning reflexes in combat, you sure can be slow sometimes.\" Zoe almost let out her objection to this remark, but her companion quickly cut her off. \"If I were truly the Dark Lord, why bring you all the way here? Why not just kill you in your sleep or slip some poison into your drink at any point before now?\"\n\nZoe didn't answer. Even though Aaron had already begun to reveal his true colors, the thought of the Aaron from all that time before leaning over her bed with a dagger at night made her stomach turn. In the silence between them, Aaron's impatience grew.\n\n\"Obviously, if I was the Dark Lord, you would not be here. I would have not helped you slay my minions or led you to my inner sanctum. But,\" he said, throwing up his arms and gesturing to the room around them, \"here we are.\n\n\"Then... where is the Dark Lord?\"\n\n\"There is no Dark Lord,\" Aaron stated flatly.\n\nZoe froze for a moment. \"That's... that's ridiculous! Who else would lead all the minions of darkness to terrorize the countryside over these past years?\"\n\n\"True, there used to be a Dark Lord who resided within these walls, but there hasn't been one in some time.\" Aaron approached the throne on the other side of the room as he spoke, the sound of his boots hitting the floor echoing through the empty room. As he drew nearer to it, Zoe looked it over properly for the first time. Unlike all the other designs throughout the palace, which were eerily elegant with dark motifs of bats and gargoyles, this throne was almost a simple set of stone slabs fixed together. It seemed worn down by the ages, ancient. Far more ancient than anything she had ever seen.\n\nThere was but one other question to ask, though Zoe grew dreadfully afraid of asking it. Yet it must be known. \"If there is no Dark Lord, then what are you?\"\n\nOnce again, Aaron grinned. \"Now there's what I've been waiting to hear.\" He had just stepped to the throne and reached out to touch it. \"What if I told you that I brought you here as a test?\"\n\nAlthough still wary of his intentions, Zoe approached Aaron slowly. \"You mean to test my worth again the monsters of the Dark Lord? I mean,\" she quickly corrected herself. \"Of darkness.\"\n\nAaron bobbed his head side to side as he considered her words. \"In a way, yes,\" he said finally. \"Though I don't think you quite understand the reason for this test.\" He paused, waiting to see if Zoe had anything else to say, and then resumed with a smile. \"You thought that if you could venture into the Dark Lord's domain and slay him along with his dark minions that this land would be rid of his dark taint, correct?\"\n\n\"Well... yes,\" Zoe answered sheepishly. Isn't that how these sorts of quests go, after all?\n\nAaron laughed, and though not entirely without mirth, Zoe tensed. \"Oh, you silly, brave girl... that is a deed fit only for fairy tales, as the real world is far less innocent. Tell me, do you remember the last time the Dark Lord was defeated by a hero such as yourself?\"\n\n\"Far too long ago for any decent folk to remember,\" Zoe snapped, though she quickly grew embarrassed at how dumb she sounded.\n\n\"That's true, perhaps,\" Aaron chuckled, stroking the stone back of the throne. \"Then again, I don't reckon I'd be counted amongst 'decent folk'. It was around 531 years ago when Brendan the Bold slew the last Dark Lord and returned to his countrymen a hero.\"\n\nZoe's face lit up at the sound of his name. \"Of course! They tell all sorts of wonderful stories about his deeds. Why, it was his actions that inspired me to go on this quest in the first place.\" Her beaming smile was quickly deflated by Aaron's contemptuous gaze.\n\n\"Oh yes, what an inspiration he is,\" he said coldly. \"Such a shame you couldn't see him for the coward he truly is.\"\n\nThe urge to draw her sword flashed in Zoe's mind. \"How dare you slander Brendan the Bold so? What would you know about a true hero?\"\n\n\"I know that your 'true hero' is nothing more than a frightened mouse because he is the reason why dark forces have plagued this land for nearly half a millennium. The very reason you needed to come here on your quest in the first place.\"\n\nZoe didn't know where to start. Naturally, this young man was just spouting nonsense to stall her, to keep her from killing him on the spot, and yet... there was something in how firmly he spoke that, much like with the words of a wise priest, she felt compelled to believe them. \"How can you know this?\" she finally asked.\n\n\"Because I was there. I had led him here to this room all those years ago, much like I had led you here,\" he replied solemnly.\n\nThese words sounded impossible, and yet Zoe still inexplicably listened to him. \"What did you ask of him?\" She feared what the answer might be, for whatever it was, it would surely also be asked of her. How could she answer something that Brendan the Bold of old could not?\n\n\"Simple,\" Aaron said, now looking to the throne. \"To take this throne and become the Dark Lord.\"\n\nThe sword in Zoe's hand clattered on the floor, and she recoiled in horror. \"Are you mad!? Do you really think that after all I've done, all I've bled for and sacrificed, that I would become what I wished to hunt??\" Her heart pounded and screamed at her to flee from this place at once. Be done with this madness and go home.\n\n\"Have you not listened!?\" Aaron shouted in return. \"Have you not connected the dots? As soon as the Dark Lord falls, all the minions of darkness have none of command them and will gladly rampage through the country and bring terror with them! This is why this land has been under the grip of evil for so long! And yet, try as I might, I have yet to find a worthy successor to become the jailor of darkness for all these years - not until I found you.\"\n\nA silence followed the last echo of his words. Although he was in a fury, Aaron looked at Zoe not with anger but pleading. Everything he had said now was dreadful to hear, yet in those eyes Zoe saw the pain of centuries of toil and the spark of hope she had seen in a frightened boy so very long ago.\n\nWith a heavy, uneasy voice, Zoe said, \"This whole thing stinks something rotten, and you've already broken my trust once today, but... what would happen if I do sit on that throne?\"\n\n\"You would become the Dark Lord and be granted long life, untold power and the command of all within this dark domain. You could use that power to ravage the world, or...\" Aaron looked Zoe deep in the eye. \"Perhaps you could keep the darkness contained.\"\n\nZoe stood still for a while, dumbstruck. This would be a terrible sacrifice, a fate she would not wish on herself or anyone else she loved. If she sat on that throne, humanity would look upon her with disgust and likely try to hunt her down as long as she lived. But perhaps this was just the price to be paid. If all those people could still live to think ill of her, that would be a good life for many. All for simply sitting on the throne.\n\nEach footstep echoed uncomfortably loud. The stone seat in front of her looked more and more haunting the closer and closer she got. Her conscience was reeling at the very thought of what she was about to do, yet Zoe would bear any curse for her people. She would be their hero in the end.", "Hugo and Kai walked through the giant stone doors, unsure what to expect. Their small lantern stretched the two men’s shadows across the walls, as their footsteps anxiously crept along. Eventually they reached small steps, leading to the throne that carries the Dark King.\n\nIt was empty.\n\nThe corner of Kai’s eye caught the snarl creeping up his face before the words began leaving his mouth. The beads of sweat marinating Kai’s skin leapt as he exhaled from the sudden realization. \n\n“Well...” he could smell the dried bread they ate together, hours before, retreating from his mouth.\n\n“...this has been DELIGHTFUL!..” He heard Hugo’s blade slowly ride across the holster. Kai tried to reach for his own, but it was like moving through water. \n\nHugo’s sword pinched the skin of Kai’s neck, claiming a small stream of blood. \n\n“...but I’m afraid the fun, is now over.” \n\nThey were face to face, their breath echoing off the walls. How did he not spot the side effects? The slime was dripping off Hugo’s skin, his lips tattered, and his bright red iris...it was so apparent to him now. Has the Dark King found a way to cloak the disease? How else would he not notice the slow and painful transition of becoming what now stands in front of him. Hugo...\n\n“Give me the stone” His lips were in a constant grin, and ripped to shreds like the leftovers from an animal. \n\nDoesn’t matter now. He needed to get out of there. Fighting a thing this far advanced is too risky to do it alone. \n\n“Now! Before I paint the walls crimson! Here, we can do it together!” He menacingly laughed.\n\n“On the count of three! One...” He had no other choice, he had to get to the stone.\n\n“Two....” His sword pushed aggressively forward, collecting more blood.\n\n“Three!” \n\nKai’s eyes darted to the ceiling. \n\nAnd surprisingly, Hugo’s did too. \n\nIn a stretched second, Kai shot his hand to the ever shrinking stone on his neck, and he was gone. ", "Guther turned around and drew his sword “I was wondering when you were going to show your true self”\n\n“You… knew?” asked the dazzled Dark Lord.\n\n“Your heartbeat has been through the roof since we entered the castle, but it was not the heartbeat of a scared man, you were eager in some twisted way”\n\n“Oh to hell you and your magic!”\n\n“You’re such a drama queen, you could have killed me many times, but you wanted me to get here, you wanted to show me how good you are at backstabbing and deceiving, and this will be your last mistake”\n\nThe Dark Lord, Overlord of the High Court of Iskra, harbringer of death, whose name shall never be spoken, dropped his tattered cape and unsheathed two dented daggers.\n\n“I’m tired of talking, let’s get to it”\n\nHis eyes briefly turned red, as the ones on the pommel of his daggers did. Guther knew what was going to happen, he read it In many books that described the slaughter of Sozima. He was ready for it.\n\nThe Dark Lord flew towards him and slashed with both daggers at such a speed that any skilled fighter would have died on the spot. But Guther was not like any skilled fighter, he was better.\n\nA simple half pirouette brought Guther out of the range of the daggers and allowed him to parry both upward slashes that the Dark Lord aimed at him. The Overlord then backflipped his way out of Guther’s attack.\n\n“Is that all you got?” Yelled Guther, taunting his enemy.\n\n“I’ve got to admit you are as skilled as the stories say” the face of the boy who travelled with Guther started vanishing in little clouds of dark smoke and a pale, slender face took its place.\n\nThe Dark Lord lunged towards Guther, this time using a mix of thrusts and slashes coming from every direction, but none of them connected. Guther moved his sword around like he was holding a twig.\n\nThen Guther stopped defending and started attacking, after a vicious series of slashes, feints and half turns the Dark Lord made one fatal mistake; he blinked.\n\nThat almost insignificant window of time allowed Guther to nimbly pirouette and, with feline speed, hit the Dark Lord just left of the fourth lumbar. The deadly strike mad his enemy fall without a howl.\n\nGuther then lowered his sword and looked at the thousand little eyes that glistened in the dark corners of the room, “The Dark Lord is dead, long live the Dark Lord” and proceeded to make his way to the throne while hundreds of demonic lackeys gathered behind him.\n\nHe then sat on the throne and put his right leg on the armrest “Now that we got rid of that wuss, let’s wreak havoc upon this land”.", "\"Finally. We can end this now.\" The hero, exhausted and wounded from the battles that had led them up to this point in their travels, started towards the ominous dark wood door that led to the throne room of his sworn enemy. The dark lord would no longer have his hold on the land. The hero had sworn it to be so when he agreed to take on the mantle of protector of the land. This would be it, the grand finale.\n\nHe muttered a prayer to the gods for strength as he shoved open the door, using his shoulder to aid his wounded right arm. He gripped his sword tightly and shouted into the room as he entered: \"I have arrived! Prepare to--\"\n\nThe hero stopped two steps into the narrow room. Curtains embroidered with the dark lord's snake and spear symbol swayed in the light breeze brought forth by the slim windows behind them. A thin piece of carpet led from the doorway up to the.. empty throne.\n\nThe hero turned to his companion, a slim man who held a staff in one hand, and a smallsword in the other. The hero's companion stared back, leaning against the large staff for support as he kept off his left leg that had suffered a stabbing injury during their attack into the palace.\n\nThe man looked past the hero, to the empty throne, then back to the hero. The battle weary man grinned at the hero faintly. \"Well. I hate to ruin it, but the fun is over now.\"\n\nThe hero scowled, \"What are you talking about?\"\n\nThe slim man cackled a little. That laugh that the hero had always thought sounded like a madman's laugh... that laugh that seemed to appear when it shouldn't... That laugh...\n\nThe hero took a step back, further into the throne room. \"No...\" His eyes widened as the laugh echoed loudly into the room. The slim man's face twisted in amusement and glee. \"No... Say it isn't so...\"\n\n\"I could, but that would be a lie. I could never lie to you, good hero.\" The laugh was mocking the warrior now. \"I could never hide something so big from a clever fellow such as yourself.\"\n\nThe hero's grip tightened on the hilt of the sword. His eyes narrowed. \"Stop mocking me, you filth!\" He spat on the floor, and the slim man silenced.\n\nHe looked unhappy, \"Don't ruin my floors with your spit! I only want it to be painted with your blood!\" The thin man's eyes widened as he made a lunge for the hero.\n\nThe hero staggered backwards, raising his sword to parry the strike from the traitor's smallsword. \"The only blood... that will be spilled.. is yours!\" The hero replied back, raising the volume of his voice in hopes to hide the tremor in his words.\n\nThey had traveled so long, so far, together on this journey. The hero's companion had been an oddball, but the hero was used to such peculiar characters roaming about the towns he had traveled through so many times before. Peculiar personalities made travels less dull. Unexpected twists made it fun. This, however, was not fun; but at least it wasn't dull.\n\nThey fought, blade striking blade as the hero and his former colleague attempted to kill one another. The sun set, darkening the room. The air became cool as a chilling breeze rustled the banners. The fight continued onward, both exhausted but determined to end the other's life. A few of the dark lord's minions entered the room, lighting the torches scattered throughout the room, illuminating the battle between good and evil. They hesitated to intrude, to aid their master without being told to, so they eventually left after cheering him on.\n\nThe night became late. The air became heavy. The good became weak. The evil became angered.\n\nA strike from the smallsword cut into the hero's leg. He cried out, frustrated and in pain. This was not how it was supposed to go. Good was supposed to triumph over evil, always. It was something he had learned in his travels, something that was told through ancient legends of evils beaten by warriors of the light. This was not the ending he was promised. This was not the ending he had struggled to reach.\n\nFueled by the shed of blood, the dark lord let out a cackle and struck again and again, cutting into the banged up armor of the hero, slicing through faults and weak points. Skin succumbed to the blade and parted, dripping its contents over the marble flooring of the throne room.\n\nThe hero let out another cry as the smallsword kept finding a point to strike. He tried to defend himself, attempting to move away but only stumbling over tired feet. He fell backwards with a soft groan, staring up at the dark lord as the man smiled toothily down at him.\n\n\"Evil... never... wins...\" the hero breathed out.\n\n\"I'll make sure they put that on your tombstone,\" the dark lord said before thrusting the blade one last time into the hero.", "I looked down at the tip of the blade now protruding from my chest. The armour Azrael had crafted for me had provided no real resistance, simply melting aside as the Shadow Steel corrupted its way through.\n\nThere was no pain, not really. There was plenty of blood, Gods knew that. I hadn't even properly registered the blow. I thought Azrael had given me a friendly slap on the back and suddenly, there it was, the cruel point refusing to gleam in the torch light.\nI could taste iron and knew that I was starting to slowly drown in my own blood.\n\nTwo minutes I thought to myself. Maybe less\n\n\"You were doing so well too\" Azrael purred from behind me. Her usually quite, reserved demeanour evaporating into gleeful hostility.\n\nWhy? I thought, We've been together for over a year. We've fought, laughed, cried, shared victory and defeat. How did I fail you?\n\nOnly a gurgling sound escaped my throat but she somehow sensed my thoughts. She leant in closer to whisper in my ear.\n\n\"Because I could and because it was fun. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about that night at the Watchtower...\"\n\nI summoned what remaining strength I had and slammed the pommel of my hand-and-a-half sword into Azrael's face, delighting in the squeal of pain she let slip. Reversing my grip with a fluid, practice roll of the wrist, I brought the blade round at neck height.\nI had paid a heavy price for the God of the Forge to temper this weapon. I had seen it slice clear through tree trunks, solid stone and even a rather surprised Mountain Troll. This time however, it only managed to cleave the air.\n\nShe was gone.\n\nI slumped to my knees, expecting the cold embrace of Death as I bled out, only to notice that the Shadow blade was still there, delaying the inevitable. I swore to myself as I dropped my sword, unsteady fingers unable to maintain a grip.\nA faint laughter hovered around the perimeter of the throne room, flitting from fluted column to column, never venturing out of the shadows.\nI knew this trick. I was down, unarmed and unable to put up any kind of fight. Azrael would circle slowly, keeping to cover, then strike from behind.\n\nJust like I had taught her.\n\nShe was to my side now. Only a few seconds left. Probably just as long until I could no longer breath anyway. Each inhalation was taking more and more effort with less and less payoff.\nI reached down to my belt and closed my numb fingers around the grip of my mini-crossbow.\n\nAt least, I hope that's my crossbow I thought. It would be super embarrassing if I die trying to kill a Necromancer with a bottle of water\n\nThere was a soft sigh from the shadows over my shoulder. She was in position. It was now or never. Time to take a gamble and Aqua Minerales be damned.\n\nIn one move, I fell forwards and rolled onto my side, sweeping the bow up and around. I didn't even look as I squeezed the trigger.\nThe recoil knocked the bow from my hand and I fell onto my back just as I heard the satisfying thunk of the bolt hitting flesh.\n\nAzrael's body hit the floor to one side of me, the bolt embedded in the bleeding ruin that used to be her eye. Those sad, brown eyes...\n\nWith a final gasp, I took my last breath and slipped into the darkness.\n\nI have no idea how long I laid there, it felt like an eternity passed in a stale heartbeat. When I opened my eyes, I was still laid on the cold stone of the throne room floor, looking up at the dark-shrouded rafters. Azrael was stood over me, pulling the crossbow bolt out of her face with a sickening pop.\n\n\"Necromancer, moron\" she laughed. \"The clue is in the name. Welcome to the Legion of the Damned\" ", "(Set this in the universe I created for a novel I'm working on)\n\nThe throne room was massive, a long, wide hall with columns along the sides. The throne at the far end sat elevated above the rest of the room. The feet of anyone sitting in the throne would be eye level to their audience. Atop each column and on each side of the throne were stone gargoyles, fearsome creatures the old Lords loved to adorn their castles with. Trac turned to his companion, \"the throne room is empty. We have come all this way for nothing.\"\n\n\"Well,\" replied Kar, \"this has been delightful but I'm afraid the fun is now over.\"\n\n\"Fun?\" Steamed Trac, \"you call the dozens of dead warriors, good men, loyal men, husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons, fun?\" He sheathed his blade and stood in front of Kar, his back to the throne. \n\n\"Yes, yes, we came here with so many brave warriors to beat back the Dark Lord,\" said Kar as he brushed aside Trac and made his way up the steps to the elevated throne. \"I was tasked with one simple thing. And I have completed that task.\"\n\n\"Have you gone mad, our task is incomplete, the Dark Lord is not here!\"\n\n\"And he never was!\"\n\n\"You knew this and yet you say your own men confirmed the....\"\n\n\"My men?\" said Kar with a chuckle as he took a seat in the throne. \"Have you seen my men?\"\n\n\"What is this? What is going on here Kar?\"\n\n\"This is Winter's Reach, the castle and home of the Great Lord that once lived here.\"\n\n\"Don't play games Kar, I know where I am. Legends abound of this place and the horrors of what happened to its people.\"\n\n\"Games? Who said anything of games? I said I was given one simple task that I have now completed.\"\n\n\"And what is your task? Did the Dark Lord have you send me on a wild chase looking for ghosts?\"\n\n\"Looking for ghosts, ha,\" said Kar rising from the throne. \"The Dark Lord came to this Reach years ago, he made me an offer...\"\n\n\"He made you an offer?\" yelled Trac, confused. \n\n\"Interupt the Great Lord of Winter again and it will be the last thing you do.\"\n\n\"The Lord of Winter died nearly a hundred years ago, Kar.\"\n\n\"The Dark Lord has many powers. I am the Great Lord of Winter's Reach. And now I have you alone, in my domain.\" Kar looked up towards the ceiling, \"you may come down now.\"\n\nThe massive stone gargoyles dropped from their pedestals along the high walls of the throne room and surrounded Trac.\n\n\"Now stay here, Trac, while we await the Dark Lord. And do behave, we wouldn't want my pets to kill you before my Master\"", "I don't know where exactly I picked up the axe... it would do, though; good steel, good haft, light, agile, sharp. I shook blood from the blade, remembered to pant, as if tired. \n\nTime to do this. \n\nI looked around me. \n\nFiona was loading short spikes into the drum of that funny springwork bow. She'd lost that steel half-helm, and her hair was caked with blood. Three rebel soldiers had made it this far, two heavy infantry in plate with pikestaves, and a musketeer. I searched my mind for names and came up blank. No matter. \n\nAnd Voss of course. \n\nKeep as many out of the room as possible. I took a breath before speaking. \n\n\"All right, I'm pretty sure he's in there. Voss, on me. You men hold the stairs. Fee, cover the window.\"\n\n\"What? Gabriel, I'm coming with you. You can't be serious. That's a master vampire in there. Even if he's alone, he'll - \"\n\n\"Fee, I don't have time to argue. That's an order.\"\n\n\"Dammit, Gabriel, I won - \" \n\nI had to make this fast. \"NOW, Captain Albrecht!\" \n\nShe snapped to attention and saluted. Not an officer's salute. Right fist to left shoulder, like a private. I was going to hear about this later. But what else could I do? I glanced at Voss, inclined my head, and the door to the private audience chamber of Emperor Lucien the Bloodless slammed open under the impact of four hundred pounds of heavily armoured Ork. \n\nThe throne was empty, of course. I'd stashed the Ember Crown in a box behind it, along with some burnt scraps of rich clothing and the white and very convincing ashes of a fledgling I had slain with fire, then exposed to the sun for a full day. \n\nI piled in behind Voss, kicking the door shut behind me. Now, I'd only have a few moments. I took another breath as I slipped up behind the giant form, stilled for a moment by puzzlement. \n\n\"Well, \" I said as I struck him over the head with the haft of the axe, \"this has been delightful, but I'm afraid that the ... \" \n\nI stopped. I hadn't been the only voice speaking. \n\n\"... fun is now over? Or something like that?\" asked a girlish voice from behind me. \n\nToo late, my ears informed me there was still a heartbeat in the room. Damn. I'd have to... \n\nDamn it all. \n\nI turned around and looked into Fiona Albrecht's green and very angry eyes. I didn't sigh. I didn't bother breathing. The only sound was the unconscious body of Voss, my selfless, loyal friend, slumping to the floor. \n\n\"How long have you known?\" \n\n\"Since Temsford.\" \n\nCrap. I knew I shouldn't have...\n\n\"When we - \" \n\n\"Yeah, when we. When you fell asleep, after, you stopped breathing.\" \n\n\"We don't really sleep. Sort of a trance state. Let me guess. You checked for a heartbeat.\"\n\n\"I thought you were dead! I was so... and then you woke up and asked me what was wrong. And needed two tries, because you forgot to breathe first.\"\n\n\"Oh, you noticed that? Look, Fee - \"\n\n\"DON'T CALL ME THAT! You set us all up! You were HIM all along! You're Lucien the Bloodless.\"\n\n\"Yes, at your service. Look, there's a reason for all of - \" \n\n\"WHY? Gods damn it, I actually... I... \" She swiped ineffectually at her eyes with a dirty sleeve, and only succeeded in mixing the tears with blood. \n\n\"You played along anyway. You knew, and you waited.\" \n\n\"I had to know why!\" \n\n\"Because it was time for a change. Lucien was good for conquering most of the continent, but I needed a different sort of ruler to bring about reforms once I had control. I have to switch every 50 years or so, otherwise people start to notice.\" \n\n\"Wait. Before you were Lucien the Bloodless, you - \"\n\n\"Julius the Tenth, yes. And the Ninth before that. Being openly a vampire was a nice change of pace. I've been every emperor for the past thousand years or so, Fiona. I have plans, you see, and I need different characters to enact them, so -\"\n\nAnd that was when she shot me. No hesitation at all. Just right up from the hip, and interrupted my monologue with a springbow bolt through my left eye. Must've been a lucky shot. She's good, but no one is that good. \n\n\"Ow! Damn it Fee, that hurts! Plated in sliver?\" I bent and wrenched it out, involuntarily snarling with pain. It would be a few minutes before my vision returned. As I straightened up, another one hit me in the chest. \n\n\"Yes, silver, now die, you -\" \n\n\"Stop it, Fee, that's just annoying. The silver thing... I spread that rumor myself. Should have used tropical hardwood. Lignum vitae or some such. I really wish you hadn't followed me in - \"\n\n... moving in a blur as I spoke, not going to make that mistake twice ...\n\n\" because I didn't want to hurt you if didn't have to. \"\n\n... crumpling the steel springbow in my hands... \n\n\" But now I have to keep you quiet, you and Voss both. You really loved Gabriel, didn't you?\"\n\nShe stood motionless, eyes screwed tightly shut. A deer frozen by the lion's approach. She nodded. Barely. \n\n\"For that, I am sorry.\" \n\nI killed her quickly, with as little pain as I could. Set her gently beside the uneasy slumber of Voss. And then, because perhaps I really was something of Gabriel, I did... something else. \n\nWhen she woke up, she was even more furious. But also very, very hungry. \n\nPerhaps in a few centuries, she will forgive me. Perhaps not. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n", "Hey guys. Wanted to try my hand at another prompt to see how things would work out. I had a lot of fun with this story. Hope you enjoy and as always, feel free to let me know if there's anything I can improve on for the future.\n\n~~~~~\n\n“Wh-…where is he? He couldn’t have just gone off somewh-HE SHOULD BE RIGHT THERE!”\n\nKou’s eyes were wide as he gestured incredulously at the empty throne before him, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his sword in the other.\n\nStepping forward, the only sound in the long hall leading up to the throne was the thud of his boots against the floor as he slowly approached the throne, his brain spinning as he drew long breaths, his gaze flitting about the room, trying to find anything that could answer his question. \n\n“Stop!” \n\nKou, doing as he was told, turned to look behind him at the girl who had been standing silently beside him when they entered. Her face was turned down at the floor, but even so, the tears didn’t go unnoticed to the confused hero. \n\n“Lu…?”\n\nKou’s voice trailed off as he watched Lu crying, instantly forgetting about the empty throne behind him. \n\nLucy flinched at the name, as if she had just been poked with something sharp, and then she slowly brought her head up to gaze at Kou. A hesitent grin was plastered on her face while tears streamed down her cheeks.\n\n“I’ve had so much fun with you, but it looks like it’s finally all over…”\n\nLucy dropped the staff she had been clutching in her hands, the twisted oaken pole clattering to the floor as she stepped over it and walked forward, passing by Kou without hesitating.\n\nFrowning, the hero turned and watched as the girl that he had traveled with for two long years now walk down the hall towards the throne.\n\n“Lu. Wait!”\n\nRushing forward, Kou instinctively reached out to grab his companion’s shoulder. But just as he touched her, a spark flew from Lucy’s body and lit the hero’s hand ablaze. \n\nYelping, Kou reeled back in surprise and the flames disappeared, leaving his hand unharmed. \n\nLucy didn’t stop until she finally reached the throne at the end of the hall, and then she turned to face Kou, the unsure grin gone from her face and the tears finally passing as she stared at the hero before her, thinking her words over carefully as he stared back, his mind blank at the turn of events. \n\n“Kou…I’m so so sorry…I…I never…”\n\nLucy’s mind was just as blank as Kou’s at this point as she tried to think of what to say to the man before her.\n\nKou stepped forward, his sword shaking.\n\n“Lu…what’s going on? What are you doing?”\n\nLucy let out a pained laugh in response, one hand covering her mouth as the other gripped the arm-rest of the throne to support her legs as her vision blurred again.\n\n“I…I’m the daughter of the Demon King.”\n\n“Don’t lie to me, Lu.”\n\nKou’s response was immediate, and his eyes went from confused to angry in an instant. \n\n“You’re not the daughter of the Demon King. You’re the daughter of our King back home.”\n\nLucy shook her head in response, squeezing her eyes shut as she took labored breaths. To her, the pain she felt now was worse than anything she had ever experienced in the past two years.\n\n“No, I’m not…I’m the King’s niece. I’m the Demon King’s daughter.”\n\n“What are y-“\n\n“Stop! Let me explain.”\n\nKou’s response caught in his throat and he closed his mouth again, his eyebrows drawing down to add to the apparent angry and confused look on his face.\n\nSlowing her breathing, Lucy took a deep breath and slowly stood up straight again, lowering her arms defenselessly to her sides as she stared into the eyes of the hero before her.\n\n“It’s…nearly four centuries ago, our country was preparing to go to war with the two neighboring countries to the East and West. My ancestors had been fearing war for so long, because at the time, our middle country acted as a buffer for the two on either side. We had no qualms with either, but they both harbored ill-will and carried enough power to level cities—and we were caught right in the middle…”\nLucy’s explanation was slow as she averted her scared and saddened eyes from Kou’s stare.\n\n“My ancestors knew that, if our two neighbors were to go to war, we would suffer more than anyone else. And so they decided that the two countries needed someone else to fight. The King at that time had two sons. The older brother led the armies while the younger brother worked hard to help the economy prosper. The King and both sons understood that they needed something to change in order to both keep our country from going to war with the neighboring countries while simultaneously keeping our kingdom out of a financial hole…\n\n“That’s when the older son of the King had an idea. At the time, there was a massive amount of unclaimed land to the south of all three countries, ruled by monsters and demons. The older son knew that if something or someone were to rise up in that land to strike at the other countries, then there would be a common enemy to fight…a few months later, the older son was killed during an expedition into that land, and not too long after that, the Demon King rose to power.”\nKou’s eyes began to widen once again at the implications of Lucy’s story and his sword dropped to the ground with a loud clang as he stared up at the woman before him. She slowly looked back at the hero, her face red from crying as she clasped her hands in front of her.\n\n“But the last Demon King. My own father…the generals that served under him deemed him unfit to lead and killed him. Afterwards, they began to ravage the lands beyond the territory of this land. But now…”\n\n“I killed them…”\n\nLucy nodded in response to Kou’s answer. Then slowly, Lucy began to walk towards the hero.\n\n“Kou…I won’t ever make you do something against your will, but the Demon King’s throne is empty. For the sake of the prosperity of our country, our home…will you play the part?”\n\nLucy knelt before Kou when she reached him, picking up the hero’s sword and holding it out for him to take. \n\nKou’s eyes drifted from his companion to the sword she now held. He stared at the sword for what felt like an eternity as his brain swam, searching for an answer. \n\n“Lu…”\n\nKou grasped the hilt of his sword once again, his eyes now resolute.\n", "The Hero hesitated. No. This cannot be. This is one of his usual jokes, right? He thought to himself.\n\n\"Ha ha. Very funny.\" The Hero raised a finger, wagging it at his friend. \"You won't get me this time. You saw the throne empty and saw the opportunity to...\" His voice trailed off as he watched his friend. Something was off. His friend had a look in his eyes he had never seen before.\n\nHis friend, with a smug grin that never wavered, strutted ahead, placing himself between the Hero and the throne. He glanced down momentarily, then back up at the Hero with a look of pure amusement. \n\n\"I'm afraid you misunderstand. My best prophets warned me of a hero, that, should I lazily sit by and command my hordes to kill, would in turn kill me. Apparently my minions would only serve as a stone wheel, sharpening your blade.\"\n\nThe Hero's hand rushed to his blade. His companion, ignored the gesture.\n\n\"So... I figured. Why not walk the same path, and grow stronger to meet him? Manipulate him into being my friend. Grow alongside him by striking down my own generals. Yada yada yada.\"\n\n\"You bastard!\" The Hero lunched forward, ready to strike his so-called friend. With a loud clang, the Dark Lord's own blade struck the Hero's. With a slight shove from the Dark Lord's blade, the Hero stumbled a few steps back.\n\nThe Dark Lord turned to sit in his dusty throne. One hand dragging his sword on the ground, the other dismissively wagging his finger, as if admonishing a child. \n\n\"Tsk. Tsk. Let a man finish. My plan was flawless. Or so I thought. You see. What I failed to consider in my plan is...\" He threw his sword off to the side. A loud clang resonated as it hit the floor. \n\n\"Actually becoming your friend.\" \n\n\"W..what?\" The Hero's body went loose, his arms falling to his side. Confusion washed over his face. \"What do you...\"\n\n\"It's up to you now. My armies are dead, all my land and glory mere dust. What's more, I have no desire to end your life. So I leave it to you. End the curse I started. Free your people by finishing what we set out to do. I will not resist.\"\n\nTeardrops fell hitting the floor. The Hero had no desire to kill the Dark Lord either. Dejected, he screamed out in pain. As he too was about to throw his sword, the Dark Lord startled him with a booming voice.\n\n\"No! Do not doom your family, your land by surrendering now. You know as well as I do, that the only way to end the curse is to end me. Do it. I beg you.\" \n\nThe Hero looked up to see the face of the Dark Lord also awash with tears. He nodded. The Dark Lord was right. Silently, we walked up to his friend. Closing his eyes, he lifted his blade and ran the Dark Lord through. What composure he had was lost. He collapsed on the Dark Lord, tears overflowing.\n\n\"Thank....you....Truely...it was...fun.\"", "“Well, this has been delightful, but I’m afraid the fun is now over.”\n\n“Rover? You can talk?” My one-time master’s last words faded into silence. I shook his throat back in forth in my teeth, then let go, satisfied.\n\nI barked, signaling my human attendants to come and dispose of the body. Then I trotted over to my comfortable bed beside the throne and lay down after circling a few times.\n\nAhh, much better. I’d been sleeping in the forest for months now while my pawn made his way towards the castle. It wouldn’t be long before I had to go out again.\n\nAlready my paid bards would be telling new stories of a destined hero, someone to defeat the dark lord. In a few weeks, my spies would find someone handsome and strong, but not too bright. Then I would appear to them with a letter and a locket, saying that their royal inheritance has arrived. \n\nI’m a huge white dog, with blue eyes that appear almost human in their intelligence. Practically a guardian angel. My pawn may refuse the call at first. They might be afraid. But I will always be there to comfort them, and nudge them forward.\n\nAnd while the people wait for their hero to save them, they will never rise on their own.\n______________________________________________________\n23/365. Constructive criticism welcome and appreciated.", "Leah mopped her brow with the back of one hand and muttered a curse under her breath. She was tired, so tired. All she wanted was to go home and sleep for three days straight. Instead, she stood in the antechamber just outside the Dark Lord's throne room, wearing steel armor that did more to weigh her down than to protect her at this point, holding a sword she could barely lift from the ground, leaning on her best friend and lifelong companion because she no longer had the strength to stand on her own.\n\n\"We're almost there,\" the man next to her said. \"It's almost over, your Majesty.\"\n\nShe frowned at him. \"Alex, I told you not to call me that. Not out here where anyone could hear. If they knew I had been forced to take up arms...\"\n\n\"It doesn't matter now,\" Alex responded with a tight grin. \"As I said, it's almost over, anyway.\"\n\nTogether, the two of them stepped up to the final barrier, the last door in their way. It was suitably grandiose, a massive door of solid oak, inlaid with gold, silver, and precious gems plundered from the kingdoms conquered by the Dark Lord's armies, stretching up nearly to the distant ceiling, more than five times as tall as the two people standing before it. Leah took a moment to admire the craftsmanship, then glanced over at Alex and nodded. Together, the two of them threw their shoulders against the door and shoved with all their might. With a screech of ungreased hinges, it slowly swung open, revealing the throne room of the Dark Legion's master.\n\nIt was as lavish as the door would suggest, with marble floors inlaid with more gems and precious metals, and priceless works of art (all prizes taken from subdued rulers, of course) decorated the space. A scarlet silk rug stretched from the entryway to the dais, upon which stood a throne carved from solid obsidian. Where the rest of the room spoke of wealth and privilege, the throne radiated unyielding power.\n\nThe empty throne.\n\nLeah stared up at the vacant throne for a long moment, then sighed, removing her helmet and tossing it to the floor with a loud clang of metal on stone. Her sword followed it, creating another echoing, metallic cacophany. She walked up to the edge of the dais and gazed at the obsidian monstrosity.\n\nBehind her, Alex started chuckling. \"Well, this has been delightful,\" he said with a smirk, \"but I'm afraid the fun is now over.\"\n\nLeah raised an eyebrow. \"Whatever do you mean?\" she asked without looking back. She ascended the steps of the dais and turned to face her companion, lowering herself into the obsidian throne. Once she was seated, she grinned.\n\n\"Those heroes think I sacrificed my life to save them. They have no idea of the truth. When they come charging in here all full of courage and zeal and then see me sitting upon the throne...\" Her grin widened further, her exhaustion replaced with gleeful anticipation. \"No, my friend, the fun is far from over.\"\n\nThe Dark Lord Leahryx chuckled as she settled in to wait for the coming confrontation. Alex grinned in response and bowed deeply.\n\n\"Of course, your Majesty. You are correct, as always.\"\n\n(Rough and unedited but hey it's 1AM and I wanted to write this. And now I kind of want to continue it.)", "I walked in the room with Cynthia. It was dark and cold and I could feel the death and pain that has happened in the very room I was standing in. I opened my palms and they were engulfed in flame. I looked around. I gasped loud when I saw it. \n\nThe throne. It was a dark wood. Most likely from the trees from the Black Forest. It was covered in knifes and blades. But one thing I noticed stood out to me. It was empty. Cynthia and I have traveled from realm to realm, from town to town, looking to fight the Dark Lord that threatened all of the worlds existence, and the chair was empty. I heard a small snicker, then it turned into a giggle, then it turned into the most terrifying sound I’ve ever heard. It was Cynthia. \n\nI looked at her face. It was stone cold. Her eyes showed no emotion. Her face was pale. She laughed like a manic. \n\n“Goodbye Jake.” \n\nShe pulled out a dagger and reared back. Time slowed to a halt and I tried to shield myself with my hands. Even when she was about to kill me, I denied it. The love of my life was the Dark Lord. She had a smile that went up to her cheeks. As a single tear escaped the blade cut through my armor and pierced my chest. I tried to say something. All that came out was a small croak. \n\n“I loved you...” \n\nI felt a warm liquid trickle down my body. I tried to inhale but nothing came in or out. I blinked once again but this time I couldn’t open my eyes. I hit the ground and then I felt nothing. Pure darkness. I heard nothing. Nothing at all. No ring, no noise, just silence. I tried to speak but it was like my mouth was sewn shut. I tried to move but I felt sick. I didn’t want to move. And even if I did I don’t think I would have been able to. I cried on the inside because the tears just wouldn’t come out. “I NEED A HEALER!” \n\nThe voice boomed throughout my body. I was confused. gasp I sat up. First thing I noticed was the dagger in my chest. Then I saw a mage standing over me with a bright light coming out of his finger tips. “You’re gonna be ok.” I shook my head. “Cynthia...” he looked shocked like he forgot to tell me something. “We know. She fled when we arrived but we’re going to catch her.” I laid there and cried. But at least I’m alive.\n\n\nSo I’m 11 and I’m a new writer that found this passion a year ago. Can anyone rate my writing cause if so that would be fantastic.", "“Well, this has been delightful, but I’m afraid the fun is now over.” \n \nFerradin stopped midstride as he was walking towards the throne. \"Wait, what?\" he asked, turning to Brend. \n\nA wide grin split Brend's face and he cackled madly. \"This was fun while it lasted, but I must tell you now that we are finally here,\" the man said, gesturing to the hall. \"You see, my real name is Lord Phair and I am in fact the Necromancer King.\" The pudgy man continued cackling. The noise simply didn't sound like something that should be erupting from the usually jolly man's lips. \n \nFerradin stepped back and gaped. \"But-\" he stammered, \"That's impossible!\" \n \n\"Oh it's quite possible, I assure you. Did you never notice how the skeletons never touched me? Or how the flicker of recognition in Duke Dralluke's eyes right before you staked him through his heart?\" He asked. Lord Phair turned his back and ascended the dais. He sat heavily on the throne. \"I do apologize for the charade, but trust me, it was necessary. Oh, and I am sorry about the real Brend.\" He whistled and a rotting, emaciated corpse shuffled into the room, stopping right before Lord Phair. It stared sightlessly forward, a pale shadow of the formerly chipper and kindly man. \n \n\"But it simply isn't possible!\" Ferradin sputtered. \n \nLord Phair scowled. \"Really, I know you're thick, but I would think you would be able to keep up. It is really quite simple. During the battle of Delrich Point I infilitrated the back lines and killed Brend. I then took his place.\" \n \nFerradin shook himself. \"Yes, that I understand. The swap was obvious. Your stench is a lot different from Brend's usual body odor; you do realize you smell like rotting corpses, right? It's really not that hard to cover up, that sort of stench,\" Ferradin realized he was rambling and bit his lip. He thought a second and said, \"What I can't understand is how you're the Necromancer King.\" \n \nThe Necromancer flared his nostrils and slouched back in the throne. \"You've always an uncanny ability to ruin a perfectly good monologue,\" he mumbled. \"It's not hard to understand,\" he said louder. \"I killed Brend;\" Ferradin nodded. \"I pretended to be him;\" \n \n\"Poorly,\" the hero mumbled. \n \n\"But I was the Necomancer King all along!\" Phair spat, ignoring Ferradin's interjection. \n \n\"No you're not,\" Ferradin stated. \n \n\"Yes I am,\" Phair said, grinding his teeth. \n \n\"Except you can't be,\" Ferradin groused, \"Because I'm the Necromancer King!\" \n \n-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n \nEdit 1: Wrong name and perspective. \nEdit 2: Wording", "\"No, you can't be...\"\n\nHe laughed. Not the rich hearty laugh that she'd come to love. This one was cold. Empty. Devoid of any emotion.\nScratch that. It was full of one. Malice. \"Oh, but I can, and I am.\" he laughed again, drawing his sword and pointing it at her throat. \"And now, you are all alone.\"\n\n\"But... this doesn't make any sense. You. You helped me get here.\"\n\n\"Of course I did!\" he said as if explaining this to a slow child. \"To get you here alone.\"\n\n\"We killed your generals together. We... we stopped your army. You mean to tell me all of that was to get me alone? Why?\"\n\n\"To kill you. Of course.\"\n\nHe turned his back on her, laughing again. She was angry. Humiliated. Confused. The collection of feelings were all melding inside of her. Slowly, an impish grin spread across her face, the kind that only a woman could wear when she knew she had her prey cornered. \"That's really too bad for you.\"\n\nHe turned back to look at her, an eyebrow raised. \"How do you figure?\n\nShe was laughing now. \n\n\"What's so funny?\" he shouted. Angry.\n\nShe laughed louder, cackling now. \n\nHis rage was apparent now. He swung his sword at her, missing by a few inches, yet she continued to laugh at him. To taunt him. \"What's so damn funny?!\"\n\n\"I was gonna rock your world,\" she said, sneering. \"When we stopped this, I was gonna give you a night you would never forget.\"\n\n\"I--uh--what?\" he said, lowering his sword in confusion. That was always the curse of men. It wasn't hubrus, vanity or greed. It was lust. Simple. Animalistic. Basic.\n\n\"Well,\" she said, drawing her crossbow and aiming it at his heart. \"This has been delightful, but I'm afraid the fun is now over.\"\n\nedit for formatting.", "The both of us enter the throne room of the Dark Lord. As we gaze upon the empty throne, my companion says with a grin, \n\n\"Well... this has been delightful, milady. But I'm afraid the fun is now over.\"\n\n“Yes... I suppose it is.”\n\nI give him a nonchalant reply.\n\nAll these past few months we’ve traveled... From one town to the next, one dungeon to the next, all for ridding this world of the demonic scourge. It’s been difficult, that’s for sure. The quality of life is poor, away from the decent food and luxuries of my home town...\n\nBut you know what? I enjoyed every second of it. This little journey has been the first and only time I felt alive.\n\nIt hasn’t even been that long since I’ve come to know this boy, but he’s proven to be the single most trustworthy companion.\n\nAnd here we are, at the end of it all... After the deed is done, I’ll most likely return to—\n\n“Um... milady? That’s not what I meant...“\n\n“Then what was it— Wait... you’re talking as if you’ve read my mind, boy... Are you hiding something from me?”\n\n“It’s about the Creator, you see... He’s the type to write endings first, but this time, the ending hasn’t even been finalized yet... Or the final enemy, for that matter...”\n\n“So you’re saying that this is it for now? No Dark Lord? No climactic battle? No fancy banquets?”\n\n“Yes, that was what I meant to say.”\n\n“And he’s publishing this? Unbelievable...”\n\n“Indeed it is...”", "As the hero enters the throne room of the Dark Lord, he finds the throne is empty and the hero's companion says with a grin, \"Well, this has been delightful, but I'm afraid the fun is now over.\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\tAdjusting his chat headset, Hudson sighed. “Dude, we’re so close. Can’t you stay on just another hour?”\n\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tane shook his head, forgetting Hudson was miles away behind a computer screen and not right beside him. “Sorry, I really can’t. I’ve been putting off Finley for three days, and I’m finally taking her out tonight. She’ll lose it if I’m not ready by four.”\n\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“What?” Hudson yelped. “It’s just now nine in the morning!” \n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Hudson,” Tane said. “There’s a six-hour time difference between us, remember?”\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Oh,” Hudson sighed. After a moment, he huffed, “Man, you’re really whipped.”\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Nah, I’m just in love,” Tane teased, drawing it out. Hudson scoffed. \n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Shut up.” Hudson refocused his attention on the game and directed his armor-clad hero further into the throne room. “Come on, seriously. I want to find this bastard Dark Lord guy and see what he drops.”\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“It’s not even that good. My cousin played and- “\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Shut up!” Hudson repeated. “Don’t ruin this for me.”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTane glanced at the clock. He promised his girlfriend a fancy dinner date tonight, and he promised himself that he’d take a break from the addicting world of Tremania* to spend time with real people instead of 3D orcs and warlocks. He knew Hudson, however, would spend all day immersed in the game. He’d never get out of his chair unless it was absolutely necessary, and even then, he’d often carry his laptop with him and continue playing. Tane was far less obsessed than Hudson was, but he could see how quickly the addiction could form. \n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tremania let you be anything you wanted, and Hudson transformed from a sick, cancer-weakened ex-football player to a mighty warrior with plenty of friends, plenty of fame, and plenty of fortune. He spent all his time immersed in the virtual world as the rest of his life slowly withered away. \n\tTane, who played a fierce mage character, used Tremania as a stress-relieving outlet. Between college, a serious girlfriend, a developing career, and an adventurous social life, Tane hardly had any time for himself. When he finally took a break, he explored dungeons and conquered hordes of monsters armed with only a mouse and a keyboard. He enjoyed his life, but he worried about Hudson.\n\n&nbsp;\n\t\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Hey, Huds?” Tane spoke gently into his mic. \n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Yeah?” Hudson’s face was screwed up in concentration as he frantically searched for any clues to the level boss’s location.\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“How are you doing? Really.”\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hudson stopped. His hands, cold from the lack of movement, stalled on his laptop’s keyboard. He looked over the oxygen tank sitting next to him, the dozens of little orange bottles that littered his desk, and the looseness of his tshirt that wasn’t there two months ago. \n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“I’m better than ever, bro. Better than ever.” Hudson clicked a few more times and then a message popped up on the screen. “Got it!” He shouted. “Let’s go!”\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tane’s phone buzzed. Without looking, he knew it was Finley asking if he was ready. “I can’t,” he said, moving his cursor to the red “Log Out” bar. “I’m really sorry. I’ll log back on tonight and we can do a couple dungeon raids, okay?”\n\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Fine,” Hudson mumbled, already preoccupied with the boss battle. “See you then.”\n\n&nbsp;\n\nTane took off his headset and tossed it on his bed. With a click of his mouse, the throne room disappeared. He closed the laptop, and once again he was Tane Williams, not a fearless battlemage. Real life was waiting for him, full of just as much – if not more – excitement and opportunity as the game. \n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For Hudson, beyond the game there was nothing but beeping machines and tiny pills, empty stomachs and patchy hair loss. It was a refuge where he could be the hero, instead of waiting for someone to save him. At least in Tremania, Hudson Brant could have a happy ending.\n", "The throne room guardians weren't real statues, but they didn't attack. Their stone necks rumbled deeply as their faceless helmets tracked The Hero as he passed with ginger footsteps. That wasn't right at all, as every instinct sparked to naught but confusion. \n\n\nThrough the archway, into the hall, a square cathedral of dust, the glittering radiance of the hero completely out of place. Smoke-grey light wafted onto dark grey walls and floors, soft breaking upon sharp, and sharpest of all was the jagged throne unfolded from mortar at the end of the room. It was empty.\n\n\nWhere was the dark lord? After all of this, he wouldn't skip out on the final confrontation, give up everything, would he? This was supposed to be it. It should all be over after this. One final confrontation, and no more. No more beasts, no more strife, no more hunting, no more inspiring men, no more fighting. Win or die this was going to be the end of The Hero's job, so where was The Great Darkness?\n\n\nThe Hero's jaw clenched, his grip on his sword trembled. The cold steel cracked as he tightened his fist. His companion smirked and skipped ahead of him, towards the throne. Her previous caution slipped away like rain off of oiled leather. The Hero froze, eyes stuck, glaring. It was just him and her, in the setting of the final combat, but her of all people? \n\n\n“Well this has been delightful but I'm afraid the fun is now over,” she crooned, turning back towards him on her heels. Her steps clacked and echoed in the dim, open hall, as she stepped back towards him, one at a time, toe to heel. That playful grin had rarely left her face, but as she licked her teeth the fangs were obvious now. The grey light filtered through her green silk, which danced around her curves with a wind only felt by them.\n\n\n“You? After all this time...” The Hero's eyes burned. “Why did you do this? After all I've been through? You could have killed me when I slept in your arms after...” And he was on top of her, the echoing crash of plate armor on stone giving way to the softer trembling of the chain mail closer to his skin, heaving with his breaths.\n\n\n“This again already, hmm? You're insatiable. Though I do suppose we're due for a little bit of celebration,” That feminine giggle and smirk held no fear behind it, as if there wasn't a blessed sword blade at her throat, but how good of a liar was she really? She was The Great Darkness that had blighted the land and enslaved the people, the mighty warlord The Hero had given so much to overthrow, so many deaths, so many sacrifices, so tired.\n\n\n“To torture me, then. That's what this all was. You Could escape me any moment you want, even now, but you're just taunting me, witch. What are you?”\n\n\n“Oh master. You got it all wrong! Wow, it feels so funny saying that, hee!”\n\n\n“Master?”\n\n\nShe wiggled under his blade, but it didn't seem to him to be an action of discomfort. “The sweetie nice guy stuff was nice for a change, but this stuff is what made me really fall for you. I missed it a lot, master.” Her eyes were half closed, and she licked her lips. Her legs batted playfully at his, and that giggling just constant throughout. He relaxed the blade. “Are your memories starting to come back yet?”\n\n\nHis expression darkened. “What memories?”\n\n\n“Oh. Poor master. Well, this whole little game didn't last as long as you planned for. Master is even more amazing than he thought! That's just like you. So smart! So powerful!” Her fingernails traced a scraping line on his armor, visibly tarnished now, and tarnishing. “You needed a way to pull those resistance leaders out of hiding, and you made them and your scheming, disloyal generals butcher each other. Who else but my deliciously cruel master would think to give the people a shining light to rally to, only to take it away like this? Master is truly the Lord of Pain and Domination. My master. My Great Darkness.” She pushed past his blade and kissed him like a drowning man gasping for air. A trickle of blood went down her neck, unregarded. \n\n\nThe Hero's sword clattered to the floor. It glittered in the soft cathedral-dust light. After a moment it shattered.", "With a satisfying SHLUNK, the WyrmBeast falls to the floor. I wipe its blood off my vorpal blade and quickly crouch at Ryn's side. \n\n\"No...\" I breathe, watching her lithe body for some sign of life. She had managed one last spell - Wind of Flame - before I heard her scream, piercing and full of fear, as the demonling had charged her. I hadn't had a chance to see what had happened, had prayed that the spell had stopped the creature before it could corrupt her...\n\n\"Ryn, please...we're so close...this is the last door.\"\n\nIt was strange. She clearly was not breathing, but her robes were intact, there was no Glyph of Darkness on her head. But if she had not succumbed to the cursed bite of the demonling, what had killed her?\n\nI bow my head. \"Please, Ryn,\" I whisper, \"Don't die.\" Warm wetness wells up in my eyes; a single tear fall from my face. It glistens in the dim torchlight, fragile and pure, and lands mutely on the mage's cheek. My comrade-in-arms. My companion. My friend. \n\nImpossibly, her eyelids fly open, and I see the vibrant jade of her irises looking up at me. Her face twitches for a moment, and then...she laughs.\n\nIt is an awful sound. A harsh cackle that echoes off the walls of the catacombs. She pauses to catch her breath, then begins anew. \n\nMy hand tightens on the hilt of my weapon. Could I have missed the sign somehow? Or is this some other curse that is taking her over? A ward of madness placed on the spell book we had found in the alchemist's quarters, perhaps...\n\nAnd still, the laughing - the cackling - continues, wracking her delicate frame. Tears stream down her face. She gasps, \"I'm...I'm so sorry. I'm sorry.\" \n\nReleasing my weapon, I brush back her hood, the ebon tresses lost in the black cloth. \"Why? What are you sorry for?\"\n\n\"I tried. I really, really did. I kept a straight face through your whole, stupid speech. And wow, what a speech it was. When they taught you swordsmanship, did they also train you in words to say to your fallen comrade? Because, I mean...you ticked all the boxes, Straumn, you really did.\" \n\nHer voice changed to a soprano simper. \"No, please, oh, we're so close, oh, don't die, oh Ryn, oh gosh, I'm going to cry...\"\n\nShe smirked. \"I was this close. This close to keeping it together. And then you cried on me! Your big dopey tear splashed on me and part of it went up my nose! I mean...come ON! I may be the Dark Lady of Myr Tower, but I'm not made of stone!\" \n\nI stared at her, agape. \n\n\"Oh, geez. You still hadn't figured it out? Here, let me help you connect the dots.\" \n\nBefore I could react, the copper doors to my left burst open, and air sucked us into the room inside. \n\n\"See? Nobody home,\" she said, gesturing broadly at the empty throne on the dais against the far wall. \"But I did want to thank you for helping me identify vulnerabilities in my defenses and weeding out the weakest of my followers. This really has been delightful - but I'm afraid the fun is now over.\" \n\nThe room goes black and I hear her begin to chant.\n\n* * \n\n/r/ShadowsofClouds", "\"And you were doing so well: you figured out the riddle, got the scroll, and even managed to defeat my Golem. I must say I am impressed, Gilder, but now this game has run its course. You never would have expected your faithful friend, Decepto, of betrayal, but now I have you in-\" \n\nDecepto suddenly could not speak, he reached towards his throat and could feel a large dagger protruding from his neck. He could also feel warm blood pour through his hands before falling to his knees and then the ground, his armor making a loud clanging noise as it crashed to the ground. Gilder watched as Decepto gurgled and coughed his last breath, he held another dagger at the ready just in case.\n\nThe many men waiting in ambush came out from their hiding spots, screaming with their swords drawn. They all halted in their tracks, however, when they saw their master in a pool of his own blood. \n\n\"You... you killed our lord, ruler of darkness, king of chaos, master of all things e-\" Gilder threw another dagger right at the follower's neck.\n\n\"Anyone else?\" Gilder said pulling out another or a seemingly endless supply of daggers.\n\n\"Well Hero,\" said another follower with the good sense to drop his sword first. \"How long did you suspect Decepto's treachery?\"\n\n\"The name Decepto never really sat right with me to begin with, but really he had a tendency to say stuff like 'All in good time my friend' or 'We both* shall be wetting our blades before long' and then laughing. He just never seemed above board.\" Gilder walked over to the two bodies and retrieved his two daggers from their respective necks. \"Believe me, when you've been heroing as long as I have, you pick up on stuff like this.\"\n\nThe follower buried his head in his hands and rubbed his eyes in embarrassment. \"And you just killed him? And one of his acolytes? What about honor, duty, fairness? I thought knights are supposed to be merciful, not just kill on a wh- SERIOUSLY! I'm not even armed!\"\n\nThe follower narrowly dodged the dagger and it went clattering into the corner.\n\n\"Believe me doing it this way saves a lot of headaches\"\n\n\"God, you're worse than Decepto!\"\n\n\"Hey, you guys were going to kill me.\"\n\n\"We were going to ask you to join us! He was gonna make you second in command. I mean we expected that you'd turn us down but...\"\n\n\"Aw man seriously, I totally would have gone for that, do you know how much traveling a Hero does? I could have really gone for a throne job. Any chance we can still make that happen? Your cult doesn't dabble in necromancy does it?\"\n\n\"Wow, I really hate you.\"\n\n \n\n", "As the hero enters the throne room of the dark lord. The throne is empty and the hero's companion says with a grin \" Well this has been delightful but I'm afraid the fun is now over.\" \n\nThe hero turned to his companion with a glare and disappointment only a 5 year old crown prince with a wood sword can produce.\n\n“But dad! We didn’t fight the dragonking yet!”\n\n“Its way past your bed time my little hero!” The king kneeled down and took the sword from him and lifted him up. “ You mum would kill me if I let you stay up any longer. We can finish next week. I promise.” The king carried his little boy as the boy started to yawn towards the bedchamber. Behind them the knights that was lying spread across the hallway looked up disappointed, this Saturday evening adventures of the crown princes had been their highlights of the week. Last week they had been zombies, the week before orcs. Today they had been lizard people. \n" ]	[ 1, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 7, 10, 13, 13, 15, 15, 22, 24, 27, 27, 39, 62, 79, 413, 502 ]	[ "1516746828", "1516808182", "1516808236", "1516775330", "1516801714", "1516815120", "1516792830", "1516765320", "1516780346", "1516775144", "1516778797", "1516756877", "1516768946", "1516762273", "1516762445", "1516748085", "1516777314", "1516777633", "1516755416", "1516751673", "1516751789", "1516755495" ]
	[WP]As the ice began to recede around the edges of Antarctica, small ancient buildings had been revealed.	118	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Throughout history, a special type of being has been talked about. Some call them Gods, most recently we've started calling them Superheroes. Their stories are as old at time itself and they come from all over; the Vikings had tales of Gods of War and of Light, Christians have the Holy Trinity, and Marvel has Apocalypse and the Hulk. Often talked about but never confirmed, these beings are known to have immense power, ranging from control of electricity to providing fruitful harvests to telekinesis. They've remained a mystery, but that might be changing.\n\n\nIn the year 2022, global warming has become less of a threat and more of a reality; glaciers have melted and climates have changed drastically. Among these changes is the warming of the polar caps. Antarctica has been hit the hardest with a record-breaking recession of ice along the outsides of the continent. Antarctica is now the third largest desert in the world, behind the Sahara and Arabian Desert. As the ice continues to recede, newly discovered ancient structures are emerging, and with it, knowledge of archaic beings are coming to light.\n\n\nWhat remains of the few discovery teams that have been dispatched to these locations have found technology that is far more arcane or technical than we've ever seen. A hammer than cannot be moved, shoes with wings that allow for flight, and a bush that provides constant warmth, like a hearth. We have limited data analysis on these items as our trips have been... problematic. Members of the discovery teams are vanishing without a trace and no source has been located. The situation is rife with unknowns, but you have all been selected to ship out in two weeks to collect these relics at all costs.\n\n**\n\nCritique is welcomed. I started writing this but ended up not liking the way it was flowing. Instead of deleting it all and moving on, I wanted to throw it out there.", "A documentary crew had seen the spectacle firsthand—so they had told us—before the initial existence of its existence became classified knowledge. Inside a helicopter circling the arctic shelves. A climate change expose set to release some four years later; the crew had braced themselves for the long run. Cameras had been focused for some time on the cliffs already. Massive ice giants propelled off the land by the hour, and for most of the crew the spectacle of thousands of tons of ice falling had long since worn off. Nevertheless they were there, cold and silent watching the continent fall away.\n\nIt was during the days end, the crew nestled in a research outpost scrying through the days video that they felt the world begin to shake. Massive rumblings, like a spike driven into the heart of the land. Cups and pots thrown around, compound shaking, it lasted three minutes. The structure fell silent again, quieter now than previously. The crew held fast to sink ends and steel pipes waiting for aftershocks. They’d been there month in and month out, some existing in these freezer shacks well into the summer warmth. All of them were veterans to this land. In the wake of such a rumbling, they’d felt in its aftermath fear reminiscent of their first days out in the cold; an unmistakable reminder of the sheer power this land possessed. \n\nMars, the on hand supervisor for the team was the first to regain his bearings. Rather than work to right the now years worth of rations scattered across the room, or even help the others still dazed, Mars instead grabbed his winter coat off the rack. Out of all the crew he was perhaps the most well acquainted to this environment. In order for these hostile territories to be traversed experts were required, climate scientists who had a vested interest in this place were few and far between. Quite frankly very few—even with incentive, wanted to return. Mars was the golden in-between—Smart enough to know the dangers, greedy enough to not care. Mars knew earthquakes were money makers. That shaking of that size would probably knock something out of alignment. Seeing a colossal ice fall would make for good footage, and good money. The rest of the crew, disoriented though they were knew better than to argue with Mars over it. They grabbed their gear and followed him out.\n\nThe ice shelf looked more or less the same, Ice was ice after all. Only Mars could truly understand the consequences of the shaking. An earthquake that magnitude no doubt effected the integrity of the structure. All they had to do was wait for the sounds. After only twenty minutes Mars intuition had been validated. Deep, hearty cracks could be heard within a section of the shelf. The crew hunkered as far back into the helicopter as it would allow. The sound alone was terrifying, each new iteration bringing with it tons of ice crashing down into the cold. They watched in silence as the last of the cracks sounded off, and an enormous mass was displaced over head. None of them had ever seen something of this magnitude, the ice came down into the ocean with force, prompting spumes and sprays of water high enough to hit the crew. The scene was as amazing as it was terrifying, and they’d gotten it all. \n\nMars turned around to congratulate the crew on their imminent payday when he noticed they were still mystified by the ice fall. He smiled and joked but found they were still entranced by something, something else. He turned around and saw what engrossed them so. Jutting out of the ice—now deep blue and and almost appearing formed and shaven, were what appeared to be remnants of structures. Burned, decayed red and beige covered points. Within the ice the colors darkened further still near the structure; Shadows moving far across the shelf in every direction. Whatever this structure was, its true size was far bigger than the fraction of the shelf that had fallen to reveal it. \n\nThe crew watched in silence, trying to find some way to rationalize what they were seeing. In the viewing of the structure, Mars suddenly noticed that the silence they were aware of was not simply silence, it was complete and utter absence. Nothing could be heard outside the helicopter anymore. The ice and shards below were mute to them, and the always grating sound of their copters blades overhead had been rendered inaudible. The crew had found their hearing re-directed—forcefully even towards something that demanded it, that could control it. In the back of their heads they could feel a faint vibration, a quiet hum that began to sing in their minds louder and louder. They couldn’t silence the vibrations as they expanded, filtering through their veins and eyes. Then, from the constant rattling a voice was suddenly discernible. It was a grainy and hollowed out tone, it spoke with an emotionless depth that sank into their stomachs. The last thing the crew noted they remembered after that was what they believed to had heard within themselves. A phrase, or a segment of one: “Not time yet.” After which they noted that they’d returned to their encampment, not a single one of them remembering the journey. In the future to come those few word they’d heard would be the mantra by which humanity would, in the near future, live—and perhaps die by.", "\"It's like they're frozen in time!\"\n\nRichard exclaimed, lying spread-eagle on the ice. Below him, almost like a looking glass to another world, the clear ice revealed ancient architecture - spires of unfathomable height, twisting and reaching upwards, like the city was a hand and the buildings its fingers.\n\nThe icy plains were empty, save for Richard and Josh. The discovery of the frozen city had broken international news - and people began to call it the \"8th wonder of the world\". However, with the wars and universal regulations on planet safety, very few people had the opportunity to indulge in sightseeing. \n\n\"Do you reckon that they're really not as big as they seem?\" Richard stumbled over his words. \"Th-that the ice is magnifying them like what the scientists say?\" \n\n\"Dunno,\" came the surly reply from Josh.\n\nAll around them, the ice had been crafted into artificial dunes. Large craters formed by failed drill attempts pock marked the barren landscape. The city just seemed to grow further away the deeper you dug - and ultrasound tests proved that the buildings were indeed much further down than they appeared.\n\n\"What if its Atlantis? The lost city!\"\n\n\"Rich...\"\n\n\"I mean, imagine that! How would they even know it existed in the first place?\"\n\n\"Richard....\"\n\n\"I mean, I doubt it. That's just not reasonable is it?\"\n\n\"Richard! Shut up for a second and look!\"\n\nRichard stopped mid-sentence, and immediately did as he was instructed. He pressed his nose against the ice, and cupped his hands around his eyes in attempt to focus on the sprawling buildings beneath him.\nBelow them something seemed out of place. It was tiny - like an ant trapped in a glass sphere. But it just didn't seem right.\n\n\"Wh-what? What is* that?\" Richard stammered. \n\nJosh sat up, wiping the frost off of his windbreaker. He slung his backpack off his shoulders, and rummaged for a while before finding his binoculars.\n\nHis hands trembling, he pressed them against the ice, and peered through them... and found somebody peering right back at him. The corpse looked like a normal human - other than his ashen blue skin and lips. His face was pulled into a twisted smile and his eyes visibly glazed, even through the ice.\n\nNaturally, Josh recoiled. Richard clambered over to him to take a look as well.\n\n\"Well, would you look at that! Do you think the ice makes us look small to them too?\" Richard asked, ever full of wonder.\n\n\"Don't you know what this means, you idiot!?\" Josh chastised his slow witted companion.\n\n\"...no?\"\n\n\"He's dead! Look at him! We could be in danger - we have to go, now!\" Josh knew something about this had felt wrong from the start. The mounting dread in his chest had eclipsed, and he knew they had to leave, NOW.\n\n\"C'mon!\" Josh shouted, tugging Richards arm. \n\nBut Richard didn't budge, he stayed, peering through the ice.\n\n\"Richard! I want to leave, now!\" \n\nJosh pulled Richard again, but unfortunately reality dawned on him too late.\n\nAs Richard's body turned limply on the ice, Josh noticed the blue tint of his skin, the glaze in his eyes...\n\nand his twisted smile.\n\n", "The Soviet icebreaker carves through the ice, as thick as a man is tall, cutting it like cardboard. A little resistance, but barely: a deep crunch echoes out over the ice, announcing our arrival to the Arctic.\n\nI stand on the deck with a few of the other scientists. Deckart, the geologist, scopes the horizon with an enormous pair of binoculars. I've only known him a few days, and I already know his mind is usually miles away.\n\nRosa May, the biologist. She is a study in life herself. She emerges on the deck behind me, an enormous scarf ensconcing her head. I hear a sniffle. She's been fighting a cold.\n\n\"We there yet?\"\n\nI turn to look at her. \"Have you looked around? You see all this ice, right?\"\n\nShe takes a moment to scan the world outside the ship.\n\n\"Isn't much to look at, huh? Bunch of ice cubes?\"\n\nI stare at her in disbelief. Scientists are in awe of the world, find miracles in every corner. I haven't seen Rosa May impressed by anything yet. And the worst part: I can't ever tell when she's kidding. Or is that the best part?\n\n\"...the fuck.\"\n\n\"What was that, Deckart?\"\n\n\"I'm not seein' this.\"\n\nI look down at Rosa May, unconsciously intending to share a quizical look with her, but she is busy blowing her nose over the deck railing.\n\nStanding next to Deckhart, I squint my eyes and try to follow the direction is binoc's are pointing. He notices me standing there and passes them over.\n\n\"What am I looking at, Deck?\"\n\n\"Take your face out of those things for a second. There.\"\n\nHe points out over the ice, leaning in close so I can follow his arm like a rifle sight. I see what look like black specks.\n\nAn image is written on the glass of the binoculars in an instant. I almost drop them over the railing.\n\nBlocks of concrete. Shaped, artifical materials. Steel, by the look of it, no way to know. Geometric shapes with holes that only intelligent creatures include in their homes, windows, portals to survey their environment. Buildings in enormous clusters, honeycomb, emerging from the ice as the sun rises over a mountain and reveals it in sweeping lines of shadow and light - there and not there.\n\nMy heart begins to pound, and my eye is attuned for sensing movement in the scene before me. I know it's improbable.\n\n\"What is this?\"\n\n\"This trip just got a lot more interesting.\"\n\n---\n\nThe ship stopped a few hundred yards away from the first building. While the crew stayed behind to take pictures and radio in details about the size and location of the frozen city, I volunteered for the expeditionary force. \n\nWe are making our way over the ice, the dwellings in the ice looming over us. The group consists of me, Deckart, Rosa May, an arctic guide, Jim, and a couple of guards with semi-auto shotguns, for any enterprising polar bears. Or now, for any hostile creatures we may stumble upon.\n\nA voice crackles over Jim's radio. \n\n\"Scouting party, give us live updates. What's your status?\"\n\n\"We're approaching now.\"\n\nThere's a pause on the airwaves that feels like hesitation - a beat before an inevitable question.\n\n\"Any signs of life?\"\n\n\"Nothing.\"\n\n---\n\nWe're walking through the streets of this place, if you can call them streets, and if you can call this a place.\n\nI'm walking in a dreamland. This isn't real. \n\nShimmering facades of smooth metal towers shine in the Arctic sun above. To our left, the south, are a few rows of buildings, then empty ice and then the ship. To our right, the north, the structures fade into the ice. You can see them sitting there, staring out, trapped, for a few feet into the ice, and then they fade into opacity, like a stranger falling into the dark sea.\n\nI hear a deep, dark hum. I can't tell if it is just beginning, or if I didn't hear it before. It comes from beneath and vibrates my core. The wind blows and chills extra.\n\n\"You guys hear that?\"\n\n\"Hear what?\"\n\n\"That humming sound.\"\n\n\"I don't hear anything.\"\n\n\"It's just the ice shifting.\"\n\n\"Status update?\"\n\n\"Nothing yet, over.\"\n\n\"What are you doing? Come back here!\"\n\nI look over just in time to see Rosa May disappear into a building half covered in ice. We all jog over and I go in after her.\n\nIt's cold inside, like a walk in freezer. Cold mist twines around my ankles. I don't see her.\n\n\"Rosa!\"\n\n\"Boo!\"\n\n\"What's the matter with you? I almost hit you.\"\n\nShe looks into my eyes with her wild blue orbs for just a second, then turns and runs up a staircase. Without thinking, I follow.\n\nAs we disappear into the building, rounding turn after turn in the staircase, I hear Deckart's muffled voice fade into the cold:\n\n\"...the fuck are you two doing?\"\n\nNow the only sound is the double clatter of footsteps as we rise, rise.\n\nIt is perfectly dark, we only find our way by feel and memory: the steps are all uniform. Our feet learn the cadence of the rise. \n\nShe is always one turn ahead of me. I'm thinking about why I don't call out. Why I just follow. Do I know something? Have I just given in to this? Have I given myself to whatever happens to her?\n\nI'm probably fooling myself. I'm not thinking. We never do. We act, and then come up with a reason for it after. I'll come up with my reason later.\n\nThe stairs end and our final footsteps echo over a room. Perfectly dark, as the stairs, but the sound of it tells us there is a high ceiling overhead and walls far away to the left and right.\n\nNo, not dark. A small, glowing light out over the water of darkness, a spark in the night. A pulse. A hum.\n\nI didn't hear it over my heartbeat and heavy breath, but the hum is loud in here. It fills my ears and my chest and gently vibrates my brain in my skull.\n\nRosa May is walking over to the light. I follow behind.\n\nWe walk for an impossibly long time. The small light becomes bigger, and then it is a tube, a glowing tube as tall as I am, sitting on the floor. It looks like it is made of glass, which is frosted on the outside. A dark shadow lives inside.\n\nThere is a small computer terminal in front of the tube. It is a dark screen.\n\nRosa May puts her hand on in, leaves it there for a few seconds, then takes it off. Nothing happens.\n\nThen...\n\nThe screen turns green. Strange symbols flash across it, then begin to scroll from top to bottom. It finally settles on a set of large symbols that stay on the screen for a few seconds, then scroll off to the left. \n\nEach set of symbols is accompanied by a booming sound that fills the room. It is no language I have ever heard. It doesn't sound like a human language. But what do I know? I'm losing my mind right now.\n\n\"What are they saying?\" Rosa May whispers.\n\nThe words stop at the sound of her voice.\n\nENGLISH DETECTED\n\nThe symbols reappear on the screen. The voice booms again. Only now, the symbols are words, english words, and the voice is speaking human, english words. They repeat again, and again, and again.\n\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n\nINITIATE DEFROST SEQUENCE\n\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n---\nThanks for reading! I've got a lot of stories on r/xilead" ]	[ 1, 1, 2, 3, 27 ]	[ "1516789463", "1516819150", "1516829902", "1516811721", "1516795581" ]
	[WP] You're delivering Pizza one night. When you get to the door of a large Victorian house in the woods, a nervous woman answers the door without opening it all the way. She mouths something to you.	6	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "\"Excuse me?\" The boy asked the woman behind the door, slightly frustrated at her insistent attempts at mute conversation.\n\n“Did it call you here too?” The woman asked, her voice the choked whisper of a beaten child\n\n“If it is whoever ordered a pizza to this address, then yeah. It did call me here,” he answered with the snarkiness of youth. \n His loud voice caused her to jolt, and he saw the silhouette of her face turn in a scan of her surroundings. \n\n“Please be quiet, it always gets the loud ones.” \n\n“What is it?” The boy wondered. To his own surprise, he had lowered his voice. Something about the woman unnerved him. She was no prankster, her voice was unmistakably honest and with hints of fear luring by its edges. This wasn’t so strange however, the boy concluded. After all, only a looney would live in a place like this. He had glimpsed bits and pieces of it as he drove up the serpentine road, an oversized and dark house with board-covered windows and rotting roof tiles. He did, however, feel better standing on its wooden porch than he had while driving through the trees. Their naked branches had hung over him like buzzards soaring above a corpse; they had looked hungry, starving even. \n\n “It’s not safe,” she said after a brief pause. “You have to leave, leave now.” The woman was now raising her voice, and the boy felt an urge to silence her. Something was watching, something he needed to hide from, he knew in the muddy backwaters of his mind. \n\nHe turned on his heel without a word to the lady behind the door. He could feel her eyes on the back of his neck as he walked the stairs towards his moped. Hurry, he felt her whisper. \n\nSomething wasn’t right about the front lawn. When he had parked his moped it had been quite far from any trees, under open skies, now he could merely see the hint of its existence beneath the veil of a weeping willow’s branches. \n\nHis premonition from before came back, stronger than ever. Illogical yet persistent it burrowed into his mind, and before his eyes the trees started swaying in the wind still forest. In the opaque blackness of their shadows, it moved, cavorting and twisting in unseen terror. His little bright red moped was now nowhere to be seen, and when he looked around he saw the branches behind him too, reaching for him with their greedy roots.\n\n“Come inside, hurry!” The woman screamed in a desperate injunction. \n\nThe boy’s feet started moving on their own, driven by his phobia of the beyond lurking amongst the trees. He climbed the warped wood of the stairs as the slithering woodwork trailed him like phantasmal huntsmen. \n\n“Open it!” He implored as he neared the door, and at his command it burst open, letting the boy stumble inside. It closed behind him, leaving the boy in squalid darkness as he languished on the house’s dusty floorboards, crying and shaking from nebulous thoughts clashing in his little head. \n\n“Welcome,” a voice said, the husky rasp of dead leaves in the wind. \n\nThe boy opened his eyes, and screamed himself mute at the sights he saw, at the sights that saw him. At it, that saw him.\n", "Let's start out by stating that I don't work for fun, I do it for money. I don't wake up in the morning and look forward to climbing into my '94 camri and driving to God-knows-where in the dark to give people grease-laden bread trays. No, I wake up in the morning and wish that unaccredited technical school had actually panned out.\n\nA pothole in the gravel driveway jolted me out of my nightly mourning. I had already been in a foul mood, but I have hated potholes with a passion ever since two winters ago. Don't ask me about it. I kept a closer eye out for more potholes as I rounded the final bend and approached the large Victorian house at the top of a hill.\n\nThe white weathered house loomed large above my dirty green 'chariot.' A sense of dread overcame me. What if I don't get a tip? Old people don't normally tip well; they think that twenty-five cents makes it worth my while to go out in the cold, wet darkness and deliver their non-dessert pie. I swung my legs out of the car with as little effort as possible and made my way to the door, delivery in hand.\n\nThe door crawled open as I trudged up the old creaky steps. And by 'open' I mean 3 inches wider than completely shut. This is about as 'open' as people normally open their doors to strangers that come to their house at nighttime, but you'd think they'd at least be a bit more cordial with guys ferrying around their Italian circles of food layers.\n\nI'm not good at reading people's emotions. Just ask my 23 previous girlfriends. Actually, they all claimed that they had never even been my girlfriend, but I think that was probably just their way of coping with breaking up with me. I'd gauge this woman's current state as 'nervous.' To be honest, I would, too, if I had just fallen in love with the pizza delivery boy.\n\nI think I am as smitten with her as she is with me. She mouths something to me, but I can't hear her over the sound of my heart beating through my chest. Instinctively, I raise the pizza and mumble out how much it costs. It's like the whole world had come into clarity. Oh, how I love my job! If I didn't have it, I would never have met her - my new girlfriend!", "The woman was very old and shaking all over her body. At first I didn’t fully understand what she was saying to me. I repeated what I had just said to her. \n“Ten euros please. Ten.” I put up all my finger to get the point across. It was freezing cold and I wanted to get back, so I wasn’t really interested in anything she had to say to me. It was time to just collect the money and leave.\n\n“I don’t…I don’t have that much money, sir.” Her voice crackled, but this I understood.\n“Then I’m sorry madam, but I can’t give you the pizza. You have to handle me the money first.”\n\n“B-but, I’m hungry.”\n\n\nI looked again at the gigantic mansion she lived in. Cleopatra would have been jealous of a house like this, but this woman is telling me she hasn’t even got ten euros. What a fool does she think I am? I already had a rough day, it was freezing, I was a bit sick and I had to pee. But despite getting really pissed off I did my best to keep friendly. I would not want her to get a heart attack or anything, god knows when I would be able to get home in that situation.\n\n“I’m really sorry madam. We can’t deliver you a pizza if you don’t pay us first. Those are the rules. Otherwise we’d go bankrupt, I’m sure you understand.”\nIn my head all sorts of curse words were flashing by, but I forced myself to smile. The old woman raised her finger and started smiling secretively. I did not like this attitude one bit.\n“You did not listen to me carefully, young man. I said I did not have that much money. I did not say that I can’t pay. Maybe I”ll be able to pay you in another way.\"\n\nI did not like where this was going. I really did not. Then the woman reached into her back pocket and showed me a rose. “This rose is all I have good sir, it represents kindness and compassion and I hope it will fill you with enough warmth to accept it as a payment.”\n\nThe rose was beautiful and all, but If she had offered me the thing I at first thought she would have offered me, at least I would have been somehow flattered. But this was just plain silly.\n“My boss would not like it if I just came back whit a rose mad-“\n“You should broaden your horizons. Forget about money and bosses or whatever is keeping your prisoner. Look within your heart and accept my token of gratitude.”\n\nMy first delivery ever and off all the people in the world I end up with an overaged hippie. Typical. “Madam please, I really can’t do this. I need to be paid with money.”\n“It’s your last chance young man!”\nSomething in her voice sounded threatening, but I really could not give in to this. “It’s not funny or anything madam. Please. It’s stone cold, I have been here way longer than I should and if you’re going to keep messing with me much longer, can I at least use your bathroom?”\n\n\nThen a lot of things happened at once. The door flew open and there was no sign of the old woman anymore. Now, before me stood a lady in her mid-twenties, who reminded me of someone I had once seen in a toothpaste commercial. I was blinded by the flashing lights of thousands of shooting stars. In the doorway there were gulfs of blue flames that were heading towards me and above me flew a rabbit on a flying bicycle. Then the deep, booming voice of the young lady started chanting. Her message rhymed and was sort of theatrical but in a very exaggerated way. It sounded like shitty teenage poetry from a total amateur and I won't bother you with it. It came down to me being an insensitive demon (maybe she just used the word “monster”, but I’m not really sure) and my appearance would now match the rotten core I had on the inside. I had one month to find someone who could truly love an atrocious piece of filth like me, or else I would forever remain a beast. After this, I felt a tickling sensation all over my body. When I looked at my arms and body, there was nothing but a gigantic, furry mess. Also the pizza was gone and I had pissed my pants. \n\nWhat the hell happened? All the lights in the house had faded. After fifteen minutes of running around the mansion and banging all doors and windows to no response, I thought the only thing I could do was ring my boss. When he picked up I decided to cut the crap and just tell the plain truth. \n\n“Oh no. Not again.”\n\nThere were a few reactions I had expected, but this was not one of them. I heard my boss shout to coworkers in the distance.\n“How many times must I tell you people, that we don’t deliver pizzas to 91, Beaumont Boulevard. That prank is no longer original. Stop sending new guys there, IT IS NOT FUNNY ANYMORE.”\nTo my shock, I heard laughter in the background. My boss started talking to me again. “That woman always does the same thing. We tried to sue her once, but she turned the judge into a candle and all the lawyers into clocks. It was a total mess, I can tell you that. So I’m real sorry mate, but I guess you just have to find someone that really loves you. The last guy who had this done to him already had a pretty devoted girlfriend, so it turned out all right for him. Who are you again?”\n\n“Roger.”\n\n“You’re the new guy, no?” My boss started shouted in the distance again. “It’s Roger. Isn’t that the whiny jerk who I told you not to hire?” Affirmative sounds came from the background. My boss moaned silently under his breath “oh, finding someone is gonna be hell for him.”\n\nI could not believe what I was hearing, then my boss continued.\n“Well Roger, let’s say I just pay you for a month upfront. You don’t have to work or deliver any pizza. It should give you the opportunity to, like, do what you have to do to become, you know, a human being again. If I can give you some advice Roger. There’s a club in town, if you like to go, you could meet somebody who really loves you.”\n\n“You’re kidding. I mean. This is all a joke.”\n\nMy boss chuckled. “I’m afraid it isn’t. But if we look on the bright side, I’d say this is a beautiful opportunity for you to come out of your shell. So as I said, I can give you a month, but then I want you working again, as a beast or as a man, otherwise I will have to fire you. Okay, cheers mate and good luck!”\n" ]	[ 1, 2, 2, 2 ]	[ "1516799873", "1516804030", "1516804752", "1516805742" ]
Other concepts within this: The draft goes in order of who lost the most territory the previous year, similar to a sports draft. Drafting a particular prodigy student after they graduate can cause great upheaval in the war and allow for one of the smaller nation states to rapidly increase their standing and territory. There are several cases of this happening. Refusing to work or fight for the nation state you are drafted by can have you be exiled beyond the realms of civilization.	[WP] You attend one of several schools that exist in the world, which lead to a global draft of the best and brightest students, furthering an endless gentleman's war between several nation states.	2	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "The trick is the pinky. You have to keep it straight out, and hold it - the less tremors the better. \n\nIt sounds much easier than it actually is. Try it for yourself. Pretend you're about to sip a cup of tea, grip the imaginary cup by the handle and stick your pinky out as straight as possible, while making sure to minimize the amount of shaking your pinky does. \n\nIf you've done it, congrats! - but before you getting all balloon-headed, that's just the start of it. You have to keep your pinky out for the duration of time it takes you to finish your cup of tea (which, for the true experts who know how to slip slowly enough, can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 days). \n\nI am the best Tea Sipper. And that is how I won the final tournament between the gentleman's war that gave the U.S. control over all nations. Britain was a close second. \n" ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1516819079", "1516823390" ]
	[WP] The universe we live in was actually built by universe-building contractors. You are an intern and you've been assigned to create a boring lifeless world named Earth...	4	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "I couldn't help myself. I knew I was disobeying direct orders, but could you blame me?\n\nOMN1 had sat us all down on day one and explained what an internship with T3RR4 would mean for all of us. The application and acceptance into the program was only step one in the rest of our careers, the rest of our lives. After three years of working with the company at entry level, we would be given the chance to test up into a more focused position. There were physical creators, who made stars and planets. There were organic creators, who formed different types of living beings. Then there were the metaphysical creators, who manipulated the physical and the organic so that they could feel, explore, and discover purpose.\n\nI spent the first year of my internship working underneath the physical creators. Our supervisors had each of us experiment with forming our own projects. Most of my peers got something fun. Stars. Comets. One of them was assigned a supernova. But HY6R4 wanted me to make a planet.\n\nBased on your resume and evaluation levels, HY6R4 told me. We feel it best for you to continue at this level.\n\nBelow everyone else is what they meant by that. But HY6R4 had underestimated me. Everyone in management had.\n\nI snuck into the organic department and began using things I found there to embellish my planet. Earth, that's what they'd told me to name it. What an ugly name. But I could still make it into something beautiful. I began to cultivate flora and fauna on this Earth, each day making a new creature or improving upon one that already existed.\n\nThey roamed over the planet. I loved to watch it.\n\nBut I wanted more.\n\nThe metaphysical department was the most guarded, but I managed to take a few files out during a break and slip them back to my work station. The coding on the first page of what I read was almost a foreign language to me. But I put it into the system for my planet and waited to see what happened.\n\nAt first, nothing.\n\nThen, the second day, everything exploded. Earth had been almost completely taken over by one of the stronger organisms. I watched in horror as the microscopic ecosystem got thrown off balance by these creatures. What had once been a calm world was now an orb overrun by a diseased set of creatures. Apparently the metaphysical code had affected them more strongly than the others.\n\nHY6R4 came over to inspect my progress. Their mouth dropped open in shock.\n\nWhat have you done? they asked me.\n\nI was hoping you could tell me, I replied sheepishly. I showed them the code I'd put into the system.\n\nHY6R4 glared at me. That code is faulty. We had it archived for a reason.\n\nOh, I replied. Well. What do we do now?\n\nHY6R4 sighed. Watch your planet destroy itself.\n\nAnd then?\n\nStart over." ]	[ 1, 3 ]	[ "1516819185", "1516839698" ]
	[WP] You are the God that oversee's Earth. Your boss instructs other Gods to give their planets standard dramatic fates, but tells you to end Earth in comedic fashion.	6	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "It was that time. I sighed deeply as I sat on my cloud. I got an email from my boss. “You know what day it is. But all of these executions have been... how do I put this? Boring. No flash, no color, no fun. If you could, try to make it enjoyable. You might even get a raise.” I clicked off the email and brainstormed. I sat at my desk for 30 minutes thinking of ideas. “GIANT GUN!” I thought about. “No....” I sat there for more time. “Hey God. I was wondering if you could take my shift tomorrow. I know we’re supposed to restart our worlds but it’s my fathers birthday and Kronos is very picky. I have to be there.” I stood there shocked at what he just told me. “What? Tomorrow is recreation day. You expect me? ME? To make it right. Look man. If you walk out that door and I don’t see you, your Greek world will never exist. Or, to be exact, won’t for approximately 4.567 billion years.” Zeus stood wide eyed. He snapped his fingers and walked away. Then, the idea came to me. BOOM!!!!! Rainbow bombs.\n\nHey guys. Something short because I don’t have enough time to edit/fix it. Hope you enjoyed it.", "You knew it was going to be a long day.\n\nAt work, you get an email from your boss. hey god can u destroy earth its boring now theres not evem msgic\n\nYou sigh deeply.\n\nYou find the Comedic Doom button and watch sadly as your planet boils into the void, destroyed by infinite pasta tubes and extraterrestrial cheese." ]	[ 1, 2, 5 ]	[ "1516820633", "1516827434", "1516826236" ]
Saw this as a title of an Imgur post, thought it might make an interesting WP	[WP] At first, nothing happened. Then, after a few seconds, nothing continued to happen.	22	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Sitting at the beach, feeling a gentle breeze,\n\ndusk is nearing, sun is setting,\n\nthe sand cools, starting to shiver;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nyou wait and await,\n\nlooking into the red horizon,\n\nstaring into the dark sky,\n\nendless, without rest;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nyou feel the cold,\n\nnumbing the legs,\n\nfreezing the brain,\n\nrelentless, and steady;\n\n&nbsp;\n\na noise, a hope,\n\ntwitching eyes,\n\nfrantic looks,\n\nthinking,\n\nsearching,\n\nseeking,\n\nsomething,\n\nsomebody;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nbut nobody comes,\n\nnothing happened.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nthe ocean starts to breathe,\n\nwith an approaching nightfall.\n\n\n", "She cut the wire. The lights on the panel flickered and went out. She heard a small click as the electronic lock disengaged. Now for the physical. She pulled the pin in her hair which stayed in place due to her skintight suit. This was the easy part. With a slight flick of her wrist, she popped the door open.\n\nThe door to the safe opened with a creak. She inhaled. Rusty hinges were an unforeseen complication. At first nothing happened. She paused. Then, after a few seconds, nothing continued to happen. They must be pretty deep sleepers.\n\nShe swiped the jewels from the safe and slipped out the window into the night. Before she got very far, I figure dropped down in front of her. The outline of a cape and pointed ears were barely visible in the dim streetlight. A deep voice spoke from the shadows.\n\n“That’s not yours, Selina.”", "At first, nothing happened. It was still and silent as could be. Nothing made a noise, nothing seemed to want to move to end the quiet. A few more seconds, and it continued.\n\nMinutes passed, and the quiet remained steady over the lounge room. Everyone stood in the same spot as they had before the strange, sad groan had fallen on their ears. Those who had been seated, remained as such, as well.\n\nNo one moved.\n\nNo one blinked.\n\nNo one even breathed.\n\nNo one was alive anymore.\n\nThe quiet was frightened away by the repeated sound of the sad groan. It echoed like a whisper throughout the hallways of the brightly lit office building. The sound appeared to be coming from everywhere as the floor became covered in a thick, gray fog. It spread like a cold during the winter season. Quick and unassuming until it had its hold visibly on everyone.\n\nSomewhere in the depths of the conference rooms and manager's offices, someone screamed and something happened.", "The word \"glorious\" had never rung so true. I hadn't been religious for several years, but I swear the true exalted elation that coursed through me in those seconds of absolutely remarkable nothing brought heavenly choirs to a jubilant crescendo. \n\nIn the darkness, I reminded myself gently not to hope. Not yet. Rejoice, of course, in this reprieve; thank every conceivable higher power for this quiet moment.\n\nSo very quiet. I had been screaming my throat raw for so long. I was surprised the echos weren't still bouncing off the walls.\n\nIt had hurt so bad. It hurt and it was dark and the lack of the sense made the pain stronger. Every lash seemed to cut deeper. I often wondered if even my bones were sliced and ragged now.\n\nThey said they kept it dark so that I wouldn't know where I was. I kept trying to place their voices but they spoke only in whispers to disguise them. They didn't say much, anyway. Just used their \"tools\" on me.\n\nGod, it had hurt so bad...\n\nThe silence and the nothing washed over me. Even the slow, steady drip of my blood had ceased its usual tick-tock regularity.\n\nI couldn't even hear my heart beat.", "Her strength was faltering as she climbed up the ladder. Her clothes hung loosely off her skeletal frame. She reached for the lever to open the hatch but couldn't find the strength to fully grasp it. She used her wrist. As the hatch swung open, the sunlight screamed in her eyes. How long had it been?\n\nAt first, nothing happened. She waited. Then, after a few seconds, nothing continued to happen.\n\nThe attack must be over, she thought. Did we win?\n\nWe didn't. There was nothing left but dirt and rock and bone. All around her, for as far as the eye could see, there was barely a sign that a city had ever stood.\n\n\"Hello,\" she called. \"Hello?\" she screamed.\n\nNothing continued to happen.\n\nShe looked for a vantage point and spent half a day shambling towards a small hill in the distance. She made it nearly a mile, to her credit, before collapsing.\n\n\"Help,\" she whimpered.\n\nAt first, nothing happened. Then, after a few hours, nothing continued to happen.\n\nNight came, something happened, something small and quiet and merciful, and she never saw morning.", "(Part one)\n\nIt felt like my brain had been reset- since the sound stopped. Seconds later, after I let my heart slow down, and I pulled back the bolt, the spent .308 casing fell from my model 24 R700. With both eyes open, left giving depth perception and right glaring into a scope, third mil dot bellow the reticle resting on my former target. After the muscle memory reignited the fleshy bits between my ears, I felt the glaring heat causing me to sweat. My lungs began to squirm in uncomfortableness, heart pounding, left hand begging for mercy from the unforgiving sun, left forearm begging to retreat from the hateful glare of the cosmic nuclear reactor and into the shade the rest of my body benefitted. \n\nAlmost a mere thirty seconds ago, this man was sprinting across an alley while carrying a PKM. I had seen him briefly as he had turkey peeked the alleyway to look for his foe. He didn’t think that his soul was under a microscope from almost a thousand meters away, or that he was about to undergo a surgical operation to the ‘Fatal T.’ \n\nI let out the breath I had been holding in for so long- finally relaxed my shoulders, but kept my eyes open despite a mild irritation. That’s twenty seven confirmed kills in the past four hours. The first ten made me question my humanity. The twenty seventh made me question my ammo count. \n\n“Tango down, kids, how does it look up there?”\nI asked, engaging the next bullet in the magazine into the firing chamber. Then, I detached the magazine and slid each and every 7.62x51mm round into the magazine, letting my children’s words register before lightly slapping the restocked magazine into the smooth mag well, a satisfying click letting me know that it was correctly in position. It was hard at first to make sure I always had a bullet ready to go, even harder to learn to preemptively reload or even reload on demand without moving the gun off of the stable location, situated via bipod in a busted out window and stock in my shoulder.\n\n“Pops, Akira spotted some weird triangle shaped machine that had two circles, one in the front and one in the back. Two men were on it- sis says that it was as fast as a bullet!”\n\nI smirked a little. \n“It’s a motorcycle, son. They were around long before I was born. They have this cap that you unscrew and pour in gasoline- the stuff we used in that napalm batch we made? It makes energy that is used to make the engine operate a-“\n\n“Poppa, no offense but I don’t care. It just moves so fast that I was worried it could outrun your bullet- what if they want your bullet makin thingy or o- they want to eat us like them other townsfolk, pa?” \nMy daughter asked, cutting me off. That’s good, probably needed to be. Who gives a fuck about history and fun facts in the apocalypse? Well, other than the so called military of the new inhabitants in my old town that seemed to know what a reloader was...too bad they didn’t know what a 101st Airborne Ranger was before their now external brain bits became wall graffiti- a gratuitous artwork of childhood memories, regrets, dreams and knowledge. Maybe they shouldn’t have tried to kill a family, regardless of their desires; they might not have ended up as lifeless husks that had the smell of a sewer thanks to emptied colons and bladders. \n\n“Pa, there’s a group comin up on the main road by the ugh...old Jewell....jewel-ers store”\nA man came out in the open- not an alleyway I could barely see, but in the wide open. He had two others at his side, armed with SPAS-12 shotguns and sporting ridiculously well fit business attire that did not match their bodyguard-like role. Having to gently move my rifle so that I could examine the sweat of his brow without causing noticeable movement, I eventually rested my first mil dot bellow the reticle slightly above the area between his eyebrows. I almost pulled the trigger as he reached for something large. IED maybe? \n\nNo- it was a...a fucking loud speaker. A fuckin lifeguard colored megaphone. Even though I had a compensator on the rifle that specifically radiated sound to the horizontal axis of the barrel, the large amount of dead soldiers and relatively nice looking home compared to the others should have been a dead fire way to pin point my location. I’m the new age Albert fuckin Einstein I guess. This dumbass was swinging left to right as he spoke, to give the whole area an audio sweep. This level of stupidity is because of an achievement of intelligence by their ancestors. \n\nMan made a machine that can do the thinking of the world- day later, every major government collapses, any remote accessed digital technology becomes unusable, currencies lose all value, electricity stopped working unless it was for food or climate control purposes. All our spaceships launched, our satellites became the eyes of the new god, and only a day after that, mass quantities of some chemical resources were being manufactured and exported to mars- sorry, ‘heaven,’ by disturbingly perfect, computer designed to the genetic code.... humans....they seemingly disappeared and left everyone else to rot on Earth. It was a weird ordeal, only read about it personally since, well, the TV wasn’t going to work ever again. \n\nI may be the last man alive from my generation- never seen someone else like me. It makes me the smartest man alive, currently, if it’s true. I wasn’t no spring chicken when they tested the Phoenix- AHGT procedure on me, but I wasn’t an old fart either. Being forever thirty five eliminated the mid-life crises and kept a nice balance of patient wisdom with a splash of intuition followed by charismatic energy and ingenuity. \n\n“We found the old stain-paper writings about you- I’m the mayor of Mudville. We know of that your kids are just C-lones of you. We know you made yous-self buncha bullets thinkin you might need to protect your-self. The people were scared of you then- but we only want your bullet maker and your little selfs. If we eat the Little yous, our doctor said we gets to live forever and make all the clips for our guns that we want. We’ll even let’chu live and train our soldiers to fight! It’s for the great-er g-g...”\n\nThe megaphone rolled from his palm as he was tackled backwards by a kinetic ghost of wind that was followed with a cough of god from an illusive rifle; His body guards looking upon their boss, who wouldn’t be alive much longer, in complete fear, horror, disgust and terror...For ‘soldiers’ they sure seemed a little sea sick at the sight of gore.\n\n“Hel...help...me- m-m-momma”\n\nHe choked out, blood rolling from his lips between his pronunciation that was tainted with a worsening gravel in his voice.\n", "I expected a deafening noise, a screech, a crash, a bang. Anything. Something to continue the noise, sights, motion of what was happening before I blacked out. When was that? Where was I?\n\nCar. \n\nI was in a car. Still? No, no movement. I tried to open my eyes. \nNo, that didn’t work. \nOk, think back. Why was I in a car? Blank. \nOk, fine. Start simple. Was I driving? No. I wasn’t driving. So a passenger. I was a passenger in a car. Good. Whose car? Blank. \nOk, so who was driving? Sammi! \n\nTires, the grating noise of heavy metal on metal, a jolt. \nAir. \nWe went through a barrier. We rolled. We… We… I don’t know. We must have stopped. Not moving now. \n\nQuick, get out of the car, just move, Sammi! \n\nI jerked up to move. Expected the seat belt to hold me back. \nNothing. I felt nothing. I could do nothing. Christ, we were fucked. \nI could feel my heart racing. At least something worked. \n\nBut wait… That smell isn’t right. No burning rubber, no leaking gasoline or dirt burning my nostrils. It was more like…alcohol? We weren’t drinking. No, soap? Cleanliness. The acrid smell of disinfectant and artificial cleanliness burned through me. Distantly a beep, beep, beep able to penetrate through the ringing in my ears. \n\nScrambled brain put the pieces in place for me. A hospital? Ok, so we had made it. Nausea permeated through me. No, I couldn’t think that. Not yet. Get the facts, she’ll be fine. I just need to open my eyes and ask someone.\nNow. \nOk, now.\n\nI tried to scream, tried to move. But I couldn’t. I must have wrestled for hours. I wanted to sob, crawl into a ball, pound my fists. Nothing. Nothing worked, nothing moved. How long have a been like this? I waited for someone to come in, to notice I was lucid, to tell me what was happening. Patiently at first, then with increasing concern, frustration, anger, rage. Eventually I burned out. Must have dozed off. \n\nI woke up. I know I did because there was a different noise in the room. And smell. Chanel no. 9. \n\nMum. Oh god, mum. What she must think of me. How could she must hate me. She trusted me. \nWhat was that? What was that other noise? I can’t make it out over the rumble in my ears. Murmur. Deep, reverberating in my chest like a soft hum. Not quite continuous, so not a trolley being pushed. Irregular. Off beat. A slight pause, then mum. \n\nTalking. Mum was talking to someone. She broke. I felt the hard compression on my legs. The heaving. The sharp intakes of breath. My mum was falling to pieces over me. I tried to reach out, tell her I was here, alive. \nBut nothing. No movement. No speech. No sight. …Couldn’t bloody well smell my way to tell her for fucks sake, could I. I cried my own tearless cry at the thought. I was a blank, a mass. Wait, a vegetable? Would I stay like this forever? \n\nShe needed to go to Sammi. \n\n\n_[so...obligatory this is my first Reddit/WP post…be gentle?]_", "At first, nothing happened. Then, after a few seconds, nothing continued to happen.\n\nMy husband turned to me.\n\n\"I guess we could call that a success.\" He turned and hugged me, his unshaven face scratched my forehead, his tired eyes, like my tired eyes closed in relief. I could smell that we both needed a shower. \n\nBehind his back the carton of eggs started to fall, as the effects of the machine wore off.\n\nThere was a loud splat as the eggs hit the floor. We ended our embrace and looked at the scene around us. Long shafts of sunlight entered into the building, the floor was dirty; some discarded rubbish lay strewn around here and there. In the centre of the old factory building, on the back of an old truck, there was the result of our endeavor, a machine which could stop time, only in a small area, only for a short while, but it was enough. Years of work, our chronobreak.\n\n\"I'm going to take a shower\" I announced. \n\n\"I'll join you for that, but fist lets get this generator turned off.\" \n\nThe smell of diesel and the growl of the generator came from a few meters away from the Chronobreak. We disconnected the cables, pulled the tarp over our machine and got into the cab of the truck. I started up the engine, and we started driving. \n\nAfter years of toil and labour, we finally had time on our hands.", "u/Officialsandwichman sat and waited\n\nSeconds ticked by. He checked his watch. Only been 10. He knew it would take longer. \n\n\"writing prompts always do\" he thought to himself...\n\n\"this is really cleaver, I bet someone has a great idea that they are gonna drop for this one....\" \n\nHis watch again, 1 minute passed....\n\n\"well, a watched post never boils\" he put his head back and gaufed, \"more like u/socleaver, am i right?\" he asked to no one. His cat had long since left the room.... \n\n\"cus a watched pot never boils.... Watched post... Ya....\" he explaines to himself, trying so hard to validate his joke, that even he is now embarrassed by....\n\n\"maybe 10000 likes, that would be good.... Its really a good idea.... Cant wait!\"\n\n\"no, its not about the likes, its about the community.... But gold, could you imagine?!\"\n\n\"GUILDED!\" he shouted, as if he were some street thug, excited to see his homie again\n\nHis watch, 3 minutes... \"is that all? Well, let see what else is on front page.... Crypto.... Cats.... Dog videos...\" \n\nBack to his watch, 10 minutes had passed.... 600 seconds of nothing.... But suddenly, a reddit icon appeared at the top of his cellular device....\n\nu/dworkphone commented on your post\n\nJoy of joy! What interesting thing did he come up with?\n\nWith rapt attention, he reads the story from the prompt\n\n\"Thats it?!\" he asks himself, outloud, not expecting an answer\n\nYes u/Officialsandwichman, thats it. \n\nRegretfully yours, \n\nu/dworkphone\n\n\n\nEdits: user names\n\n", "In the beginning, God created the Earth. And he saw that it was good. \n\nOn the second day, God created man. Wait, scratch that. \n\nOn the third day, God created man. Shit, hang on, something went wrong again. \n\nOn the fourth day, God channeled all his greatness, lifted his arms high into the heavens and said \"let there be man!\". \n\nAt first, nothing happened. Then, after a few seconds, nothing continued to happen. \n\n\"What's wrong God?\" asked the Sun. \"You look a bit flustered. Should I turn the temperature down a notch\". \n\n\"No, honey babe. It's fine. It's all part of the plan\". \n\nOn the morning of the 14th day, following a week of quiet meditation, God spoke calmy yet forcefully \"By the power I possess, I hereby create the race of man\". \n\nThat night, God struck one of the Earth's moons with such force that it was forever lost to the galaxy. And so on the 15th day, the earth became monolunar. \n\nOn the 28th day, drunk on brandy, God glared down at Earth. \"Ya fuckn' retched peece of shiit land. I curse ya. I weesh I neva bludy made ya en thee furst plass\". \n\nThen god saw little things moving around on Earth. He peered closer, and saw man. \"It worked! Oi Sun. Look at this shit! Look what I did.\"\n\n\"Yes, well done God. You've done very well\". \n\nOn the 1,005th day, God watched his creations. One was scheming. Some were getting fucked up on cave brew. Two were fighting. Three were having a threesome. And God saw that it was good. " ]	[ 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 5, 5, 15 ]	[ "1516832076", "1516834748", "1516835116", "1516835494", "1516845905", "1516849095", "1516854346", "1516855832", "1516834687", "1516835137", "1516834286" ]
	[WP] You are a creature, describe your first interaction with a human being.	1	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "It stared at me.\n\nI stared back.\n\nHow peculiar. It has soft hair on the top of his head and around, what I only can assume is, it's mouth in great volume but everywhere else it's sparse. How will it stay warm on this planet's winters?\n\nIt breathes heavily. Is it perhaps frightened of me? It flinches at the tilt of my head. How amusing. It has its stick in its hands. The stick is pointed at me. I inch forward and it yelps. \n\nI do not understand what it speaks. It looks frightened. I freeze. The seconds drag by slowly. Something is falling from its eyes. Why?\n\nIt spurts out noises again. Maybe it is terrified of me. It has no reason. I mean no harm, even if it doesn't know that. I was just curious at what life forms could be here on this planet. This small thing is just so fascinating. \nIt throws it's stick at me. The stick glances off, of course, but why did it attack me? ", "I am a white-tailed spider. Put simply, that means I am most atrocious monstrosity on Earth. Nothing likes me. I don't even like me. The first time I saw my reflection I vomited. However, I'm slowly starting to embrace what I am. \n\nMy first interaction with a human went about as well as you'd expect. She screamed, then mumbled to itself about how she'd never sleep in the house again. She then brought a male human in from the next room. \n\n\"Up there, above the curtain\", she said with tears in her eyes. \n\n\"Oh, no.\" The guy said. \"Anything but this\". \n\n\"Find something to kill it with\". \n\nAnd so they left for the kitchen. It was at this time that I retired to my secret spot above the window frame. Nothing could find me there. \n\nWhen they returned, the humans cried with horror. \n\n\"Where is it?!\" said the girl. \"It could be anywhere\". \n\nThe search lasted two hours, but of course they couldn't find me. \n\nIt was dark when I emerged once more. I crept my way towards their sleeping bodies in silence.", "Somehow I was caught. Now I'm stuck in the squeezing grasp of this strange creature.\nI kick my legs out in hopes of freeing myself, but no luck. It keeps pulling my ears and stroking my fur. I move to bite, but miss. \nI can feel my heart pounding in my chest, powerful and fast. It's about to burst. \nThe creature sniffs me, and puts it's mouth against the top of my head. Is it not going to eat me? \nIt holds a carrot in one of its deformed paws, extending it to me. I sniff, and after presuming it is safe, eat it. \nThe creature makes a strange bubbly sound and squeezes me once more." ]	[ 1, 1, 2, 2 ]	[ "1516867770", "1516877236", "1516870143", "1516884595" ]
	[WP] In the far future, teleporters have become the mainstream way of travel. Suddenly, two years after the worldwide release of the teleporter, more and more users begin to go missing. You are one of them.	13	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "I opened my eyes and stepped off onto what should've been the junction between New York and London. Instead I stepped out into a long hallway that was cold. I shivered and rubbed my arms to get warm. \nI wander down the singular hallway and I see a corner. I walk up and turn and its another Teleporter. Bit old fashioned. An Exit Only pad. I laughed a bit. Haven't seen one of those since like 7 decades ago. \nSuddenly it came alive. A man stumbled out. He was wearing a military uniform. What?\nHe stood up straight and I saw the confusion. \n\"Where the hell am I?\" He asked. \"I was trying to get back to London.\"\n\"Me too\" I said. \"I think we have been kidnapped.\"\n\"Impossible\" he said. \"I'm Bridagier Lethbridge-\" \nHe was interupted by a huge amount of clanging. Were those footsteps? \n\"Not now..\" he muttered. \"We defeated you. A long time ago.\" I tried to ask what was happening but my voice had failed me. \n\"All humans shall be upgraded.\" A metallic voice rang out. \"Proceed down the hallway. You will be upgraded.\" \n\"Um. Sir?\" I asked, trying to stay calm. \"Whats going on?\"\n\"Dont worry ol chap.\" He smiled. \"I happen to know a man who can help us. His name is the Doctor.\"\nI frowned. \"Doctor.. Doctor What exactly?\"\n\n" ]	[ 1, 3 ]	[ "1516921715", "1516958420" ]
	[WP] She didn't care even if he was a god. She was going to slap him. He deserved that much anyway.	63	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Alison wished she had never meant Donald Blake. He was a total jackass. At first, he seemed like an ok guy who certainly had the best looks on a guy she had seen for a while. She had meant him on a night out, in some seedy club that her friends had dragged her into. The music was loud and the drinks were cheap. The night was a pretty fun one so far and she was enjoying herself, perhaps she had a few to many but as it was a Friday night who could blame her.\n\nShe had spotted Donald on the dancefloor as soon as she had entered the club but she knew she had no chance with him whatsoever. First of all, he was a really good-looking guy, with incredible muscles and long blond hair, he even had a beard which she usually didn’t like on a guy but it worked on him. This meant that all the other women were hovering around him like Hyena’s around a fresh kill in the Serengeti, this made getting to him problematic but not only that, he would have his choice of them and there were a number of better looking females on show tonight, flaunting themselves for his affection. Secondly, she had never really been any good with the opposite sex, she found it difficult to talk to them, she had a couple of boyfriends in the past but they had never lasted long. So she left the others to it and enjoyed herself by drinking copious amounts of alcohol and having a laugh with her friends. They even got her on the dancefloor a couple of times but she would hardly call herself a graceful dancer but it was good to let loose sometimes. Apparently whatever she had done had attracted his attention as when she was sat alone at a booth he had made his way over to her.\n\n“Hello there, mind if I have a seat?” He asked, his voice a deep melodious tone that fell just right on her ears.\n\n“Not at all, it is a free country after all” she said with a smile.\n\n“Thank you, my name is Donald by the way, what is yours?” He asked with a smile as he slid down into a seat opposite her.\n\n“My name is Alison, pleased to meet you Donald” she replied.\n\n“Nice to meet you too Alison, can I ask you a question?” He asked.\n\n“Sure go ahead, I might even answer it if it’s to my liking” she replied with a smile.\n\n“How come you weren’t out there with the rest of the women trying to get my attention?” He asked with a chuckle.\n\n“Well it’s quite simply, as there were quite a few surrounding you, I thought I stood no chance at grabbing your attention so decided to just have a good time, I didn’t come out intending to pull anyway” she replied.\n\n“That is fair enough and believe me you have caught my attention by the fact you seemed not interested in me, that doesn’t happen very often” he said.\n\n“Well I admit you are quite attractive but that doesn’t necessarily mean you are gods gift to women or that everyone would want some of you. Personality counts for something as well” she replied.\n\n“That it does and I would like to get to know you better” he said.\n\n“Well I suppose you can have my number and we can arrange something in the next few weeks” she said trying to sound very casual but surprised by her luck.\n\n“That will have to do” he said with a smile and took her number before going off. She didn’t speak to him again that night and it was a few days later when he called her and they organised a date for the following weekend.\n\nShe was quite excited for it as he seemed like an interesting guy from their brief interaction at the club and she hopped this would lead to something. She got all dressed up for it and met him at the restaurant he picked for them, it was a nice place and she saw that he was already there in a very nice suit. Over the meal they got better acquainted with each other, discussing what they did for a living and where they grew up. She decided to do something which she didn’t often did on the first date but she kissed him goodnight before going to her apartment.\n\nOver the next few dates they got closer together and she had some genuine feelings for him. After the third date she went back to his place and stayed there the night. He was a very good lover, the best she had ever had. They had a few more dates and a few more nights of pleasure but eventually he stopped calling her and she felt that she had been used.\n\nIt was a few weeks later that she learned the truth when watching the news and she saw that Donald had lied to her. He was flying around the city dressed in a strange costume and wielding a hammer which blasted lighting out of it. The caption said that Thor, the god of thunder was battling aliens in defence of the city once again. She wanted to slap him for having lied to her and just using her for sex.\n", "\"Hey, asshole!\"\n\nNot many people turn back when addressed like that. There is a voice deep in your heart that convinces you that you are, in fact, never an asshole. \n\nBut Simon turned back instantly. He had been called that so often that it had become a reflex for him. Simon didn't go out of his way to be one. It was just the way he was. Some people are kind. Some people are clever. Simon was a thriving breed in times that were best suited for people like him - an asshole. He couldn't help it. More often than not, he wasn't even aware of it. \n\n\"Yes, miss?\" He smiled at the petite woman storming towards him. \n\n\"Who the fuck do you think you are?\" \n\nDroplets of spit traveled from her mouth in a clean arc and hit him right on his nose. \n\n\"I don't know what you are talking about, miss.\" \n\nHe shrugged his shoulders in embarrassment. He really didn't know. The woman looked like angry. Her pale face had turned a deep shade of crimson. Almost as if painted on. \n\n\"What? I am coming straight from the play.\" She picked up a white napkin and wiped the paint away from her face. \n\nThe play. That was where Simon last was. It was the worst. Unclear, Simon proceeded to walk away. \n\n\"Hey,\" the voice again.\n\nHe turned back just in time to see a hand travelling straight at his face. His reflexes worked fine and he stepped back to avoid it. \n\n\"Ma'am, I don't know what your problem is.\" \n\n\"I am Aphrodite.\"\n\nThe same look of disappointment in her face that Simon had seen countless times in his father's. \n\n\"Yeah? I am sorry I didn't recognize you.\" \n\nHe extended his arm for a handshake. Nothing. The woman stormed away with the same speed she had come at. \n\n-----\n\n\"Hey, Simon!\" Alan hollered at him. \n\n\"Alan, where were you? I was looking for you everywhere. God, this play sucked. Something was missing.\"\n\n\"Or someone. Let's go.\" Alan put a hand over his shoulder and smiled cryptically at him.\n\n-----\n\n\"Laura, what the fuck is wrong with that Simon guy?\"\n\n\"Let it go, Hannah.\"\n\n\"Let it go? How the fuck should I let it go? He ruined the whole play.\"\n\n\"It isn't the first time, you know.\"\n\n\"I don't know why Alan keeps casting him. There isn't anyone else in this city who can play Hermes?\" \n\n\"Some friend of his. What can we do?\"\n\n\"Fuck Alan. If Simon isn't on stage next week, I am going to kill him.\"\n\n-----", "There was something about the early mornings when she could hear the old life behind her. It was not so far behind then, in that quiet. The hotel rooms coughed in their soft air-conditioning, and he would be asleep then.\n\n\nShe would listen, she remembered, to the quiet. That was a long time ago. Back then quiet was hard to come by. She remembered how lucky she was, and in those moments of quiet, she would revel in the memory of the noise.\n\n\nThey had met amidst noise. His name was Dillon Thomas. He had changed it to Billy Dillon sometime in his twenties. He was still performing acoustic then, and the crowds were yuppies, intellectual types that could hear the changing of the times in his words, and feel the establishment being torn down in their rebellious congregation. Billy Dillon was a superstar.\n\n\nShe saw him at the Gaslight. He hadn't seen her then. She saw him next at Old Port. He wore big shades then and slung the electric guitar low to his knees. The teenage revolution had kicked off. She was a fan of him. He saw her then.\n\n\nShe remembered the cheers and the boos. Everyone was pushing upfront. In those days there wasn't much security. He smiled at her and called her up. A big man let her through. The way through the tent was dark and she smelled cigarettes and beer.\n\n\n\"Oh my God, I'm a huge fan!\"\n\n\nDid he hear? She was not sure. He took her in the limousine. There were screaming girls everywhere. Their hands painted the glass, flashes of screaming faces each time a picture was taken. But inside the car was quiet and he took off his shades and he was tired and smiling.\n\n\n\"So what's your name?\"\n\n\n\"Sarah,\" she said.\n\n\nHe would write a song about her. But that would be after the storms had passed and it was always quiet. After it was too late.\n\n\nBut then she was young, and he was young, and he was a God to all the young people. And she was with him. That first night in the hotel room was like some dream. She remembered how her mother would cry the next day, how worried she had been. But that night was soft, exciting in its exotic taboo.\n\n\n\"Many girls want me,\" he had said. \"You should feel lucky.\"\n\n\nAnd he smiled and looked like a boy who was just trying to be cocky. And she loved him more for that. And that night lasted forever and she slept beside him until early morning, listening to the quiet.\n\n\nHe went with her for a long time. Mother was against it and so she ran away. She went on tour with him. Together they stood against the waves of screams and roars of theaters. They toured England and America and all the nights were loud and full of new things, new places and people. And in the early mornings she would think of her old life in the quiet.\n\n\nThen came the drugs. He was God then, and God was offered everything. And he did everything. She quarreled and he hit her. He apologized. Then they quarreled again.\n\n\nHe spent nights away from her. He spent nights with other women. The magazines loved it. He called her sometimes, drunk, and he would cry into the early mornings.\n\n\n\"I miss you.\"\n\n\n\"I miss you too.\"\n\n\nShe was young.\n\n\nShe caved in and she used as well. They got back together and he almost overdosed. His people covered it up as a motorcycle accident. God could not be shown to be human. That would be bad for business.\n\n\nBut he took a break. \n\n\nThey lived together on Montague street in a basement down the stairs. It was quiet there and low key. She absorbed that quiet and for a little while, things seemed to be okay. She thought life could be this way forever. And she was happy. They had money and he had married her. He had cut down on using, and promised he would get clean.\n\n\nShe got pregnant. They had three children in five years. He was a good father. He was God again, but in a different way. She loved him. Life was good.\n\n\nThe roar of the masses was too loud. She remembered the day he told her he was going on tour again. The oldest child was five. He was happy, ready to lead his faithful. How could she say no? \n\n\n\"It'll be different this time, right Billy?\"\n\n\nHe kissed her. \n\n\n\"Of course, babe. I promise.\"\n\n\nThat was the voice of a generation. A voice she had run away from her home to hear in person. A voice who loved her. \n\n\n\"Okay.\"\n\n\nHe started using on the road. He was using more and more. There were other women. The magazines reported it while she was home alone with their children. The women were younger than her, and prettier. He was happy. All the pictures showed him smiling. He never called. It was always quiet then in that house. And in that quiet she remembered the life she used to live. She cried sometimes.\n\n\nWhen he returned a year had passed. He was to go out again. She could not take anymore. Mother was ill but not dead. She gave her strength.\n\n\n\"Leave him. Leave him for your children's sake.\"\n\n\nAnd she did not care if he was God. She slapped him when used in front of them, when he would smoke in the living room. He deserved as much. And he would hit her and cuss her out.\n\n\nI deserve that for being stupid, she thought.\n\n\nAnd she was strong and she left him. She took their children and he was alone. But he was never really alone. He had his people, and that made leaving him easier.\n\n\nLater he would write a song named after her. He would beg her until she crumbled on the phone, until she cried and her body grew too weak to sit. She would hang up and listen to the quiet and sing the old songs she had fallen in love with.\n\n\nBe strong.\n\n\nEventually he moved on. He stopped calling. The children received money from him. She received enough to live comfortably. The media left her alone and she lived quietly. He remained a God even as age took his youthful glamour. He was just old then, and a God in a different way. They had him in textbooks and he won endless awards. That song he wrote about her was hailed as a masterpiece.\n\n\nShe thought it was funny sometimes, in a sad way. She still kept his picture, pictures of them when their love was good and living was strong. She grew old and saw the children off. She took solace in the quiet. She took comfort in seeing her children grow.\n\n\nAs death neared she was not afraid of what would come after. She had stopped believing in any Gods. All she knew was that death would bring quiet.\n\n\n-\n\n\nHi there! If you liked this story, you might want to check out my subreddit, r/PanMan. It collects all my different stories and stuff of that nature. Check it out if you can, and thanks for the support!" ]	[ 1, 3, 7, 24 ]	[ "1516938993", "1516968464", "1516942822", "1516950480" ]
	[WP] Thousands of years after humans have gone extinct, dogs evolve human like intelligence. They're obsessed with us and don't know why.	516	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "\"Listen to what you're saying, Ruffins! These humans were supposedly as intelligent as us, had opposable digits, two free limbs to use them, and lived six times longer than we do. It's absurd! The amount of resources wasted researching these childish fantasies - \"\n\nThe Shepherd couldn't contain himself. \"Do you think the Grid Streams of Manhattan island are natural? Or do you think those huge pyramids our teams dug up last year weren't monuments? What about those tunnels we keep hearing about being found by the Seine or near the Moscow formation? How else do you explain them?\"\n\n\"Who CARES?! I'm sick of it! It's all anyone ever talks about, it's all we waste our time on. Our whole society is obsessed with this species.\" \n\nFido continued, a mocking note clear in his voice \"'New discoveries from Italy! Did humans master combustion? Could they have even ... Gone Into Space???'\" His tail made it obvious how riled up he'd made himself. \n\n\"What drivel! Next they'll be reporting they kept us as pets; I bet everyone will eat it up too. Meanwhile, simply being born a Chinese Crested means you'll never be considered for a leadership role, no matter how talented you might be. And when I bring that up, everyone's quick to dismiss it. 'Ain't nobody got time for your whiny social justice nonsense'. You care more about these 'humans' than your fellow dogs, Ruffins.\"\n\n\"You're wrong, Fid. They were the way you describe. Intelligent, long lived, skilled. In many ways, better than us. But they disappeared. That's why we must study them. To save canine-kind, we've got to find out what happened to them, before it happens to us.\" ", "Late at night, after the pups had been tucked in, Bob and Alice Malamutson would sit on the porch of their home and talk of happy things. They would reminisce over fences they had smelled together, and of the squirrels they had chased when young and free. Usually it was a peaceful, meditative conversation, but tonight was different.\n\n\"Why do we do it?\" asked Bob suddenly, cocking his head toward his wife. \"Do what, dear?\" she replied.\n\n\"Why do we get up every day and put on a leash and go to work? I mean, why?\" Bob resumed lapping at a bowl of beer, his third that evening, and Alice flattened her ears slightly. \n\n\"Because we have to Bob,\" she said. \"You want to lose your job? The house? We all do our part in the whole...thing,\" she continued, waving a paw absently, \"because if dogs didn't, everything would fall apart like it did for the humans.\"\n\nA long silence hung between them, punctuated only by a thoughtful lapping from Bob.\n\n\"Yeah, but what if they weren't right?\" he said eventually. Alice's fur began to bristle and she had to will it back down. \"What do you mean?\" she asked, careful not to bare any teeth.\n\n\"I just mean, what if the humans had the wrong idea about life and we're just following their mistakes?\" Bob had finished the bowl and was now staring at his wife with that dumb, goofy just-happy-to-be-alive expression that often accompanied his most idiotic actions. Alice just stared back at him. Failing to take the hint, Bob plowed on.\n\n\"Like, I go to work every day, just run along the old tracks into town, right? I get into the city and I'm in the office all day going over marketing strategies with the boys. We do ok out of it, Master be praised, but it's just kind of...phony. Like, everyone says \"Good job\" when we finish a contract and everyone acts like we're doing something real, but it's not, Alice.\" Bob was now looking up at her with sad, sad eyes and she felt her heart melt a little. \n\n\"It's just barking Alice,\" he said. \"It's just barking. A client comes in and says they want everyone to know about their territory and we just bark about it. that's our strategy every time, just barking wildly about stuff that doesn't even matter. We try to do presentations and stuff like we read in the holy Book of the Dummies, but we can't because we don't have fucking thumbs, Alice. We can't even hold the fucking pens.\" Alice sat and shook quietly.\n\n\"Like, have you ever actually stopped and smelled the fences along the train tracks, Alice? So many cool dogs have pissed there, so many. They pissed there, then they died. And what was it all for? So we can just keep the cycle going? What happens when we run out of things to piss on? What do we piss on then?\"\n\nAlice suddenly snapped and lunged towards Bob, growling and slavering. \"We'll just keep pissing, Bob! We'll just keep going, barking at things and pissing on literally everything we can! Because it's who we are and who they were and it's all we know, and it's all we should know, because do you know the answer to The Question, Bob?\"\n\nBob was flat on the porch now, utterly fear-stricken. \"No,\" he said weakly.\n\n\"No you don't,\" Alice said. \"Are you a good boy?\"\n\n\"I don't know,\" said Bob sadly.\n\n\"No, we don't know, Honey\" said Alice, and Bob looked at his wife and remembered again why he loved her so.\n\n\n\n", "\"I don't get it! We're the most intellectual beings on this world, yet we can't get behind this mystery.\"\n\nThe other dog was slowly walking circles into the ground rambling on and on about the humans,as he tends to do lately, it slowly began to worry me how obsessed he became with them.\n\n\"Look Balu, I said trying to calm him down, we know that there are no humans, heck we don't even know if there ever were humans, no dog has ever seen one and... \nAnd yet we all are born with a clear picture of them in our mind\" He aggressively interrupted me.\n\nHe kept going, picking up speed: \"Think about it, nobody has ever seen them and yet we all know what they are, with no deviation. They must have created this world for us. There are no records of us dogs creating such things as our world wonders, the metal forests, the sunken giants or even the pyramids. They made it all for us.\"\n\nSlowly I tilted my head to the left looking straight into Balus eyes. \"So what, if they created the world, I felt anger growing inside of me, why did they leave us? And where are they now Balu?\"\n\n\"Oh don't you worry Racer, he smiled that naive loving smile of his, they will come back to us one day and take us to their beautiful place, I will forever believe that.\"", "Silence prevailed in the bridge of the CSU Retriever. They'd been assigned to sweep this sector and look for traces of felid vessels after numerous reports of ships going missing in the region, but so far they hadn't found any of the telltale signs of pirates. Glancing at my bond-mate Mancha I couldn't help but shudder looking at the scarred gash where her ear had been before she was caught in one of the felids brutal pirate raids. \n\n\"CIC give me a scan of that gas giant aft.\"\n\n\"Aye sir, sending LIDAR pulses that way.\"\n\nThe cats were ambush predators, so they had a nasty habit of disguising their ships in the gravity well of larger stars to amb-\n\n\"Sir, contact 170 degrees horizontal, 25 degrees vertical, .25AU\" The sensor technician interrupted my thoughts with the unexpected contact. I unconsciously curled my tail in at the news. For a ship to sneak up behind us that close without us noticing, it would have to be a top of the line military-grade stealth ship. \n\n\"Ops prepare the \"red dot\" protocol. If the cats think they can take us out without a fight they've got another thing coming. \"\n\n\"Sir it's not the felids.\" I paused and cocked my head to one side. \"In fact I'm not getting a pattern match in any of the database of species the elders uplifted.\" \n\nMy ears pricked up at this information. If what he said was true, our crew could have the rare opportunity the initiate first contact with an unknown species. \n\n\"Send them a hail and get our science team up here. They're going to want to see this.\"\n\nSuddenly the main view screen cut in to a view of this new ship's bridge. Tail wagging with excitement I watched a tall bipedal creature who I assumed to be their captain begin to speak. I couldn't see its face due to the grey nanosuit covering its whole body, but for some strange reason I felt more at ease than I had in a long while. \n\nIt spoke again in that strange melodic voice, but this time the auto translators caught up in time, showing our first message from an uncontacted race.\n\n \"Who's a good boy?\"\n", "“Any more information on humans?” Pochi whined, looking up at Rover.\n\n“Not yet, but I might be getting close. This is so frustrating...” Rover growled, as he flipped a page of an ancient tome with his nose. He’d spent the last six months alone trying to decipher the script- it seemed like the “humans” had had multiple languages. Though, some of them might have used the same alphabet. They weren’t sure yet. This language seemed to be a part of the common alphabet, and River had found multiple instances of words that correlated to what seemed like other languages. A language that developed to be universal, perhaps? \n\n“Pochi, get me a tome that includes any other possible language using this alphabet. I’m going to get the bottom of this eventually.” Pochi barked, and looked to a shelf, beginning to drag different books down. They were heavy and unwieldy- not at all like books that had been made by dogs. But they were the only true connection left to the elusive humans.\n\nRover didn’t know why he was so driven to know about humans. Why he and everyone he knew seemed to love them, despite never knowing any. But that was his job. He was supposed to figure out why. He had a few theories- but theories were next to useless. He needed evidence. \n\nFor that, he had a massive budget. Recently, President Trunks had approved a budget that raised taxes, despite her positions on the subject, as a way to provide all the funding Rover could ask for. Ancient records from around the world were delivered to his doorstep, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. No Indiana Bones shenanigans for him, thanks.\n\n“Hey Rover?” Pochi spoke up. He had one of the books open at his paws. \n\n“Mmh?” Rover growled, distracted by his work.\n\n“Do you think we might have been companions, somehow?”\n\n“That seems obvious, honestly. We are genetically predisposed to love them.”\n\n“I think we might have been pets.” Rover’s ears perked up, and swiveled towards Pochi, as if he thought he had heard him wrong.\n\n“Pets? Like, a cat? Please Pochi, don’t be preposterous. I don’t see how any intelligent species could keep another intelligent species as pets.” Rover turned back to his work, flipping another page and licking his drying nose.\n\n“But, maybe we weren’t as intelligent back then. Shouldn’t there be some records left by us if that were the case?” Pochi cocked his head, looking down at the book. \n\n“Pochi, I suggest you stop this line of thinking immediately. Our best estimation puts human extinction at well under one million years ago, which would decidedly not be enough time for dogkind to become sentient if we weren’t at the time of humans.”\n\n“But we only have history stretching back-“\n\n“Because there was probably some disaster that destroyed it! Pochi, stop it. We need to focus, not dwell on fantasies.”\n\n“Yes, Rover...”\n\n___\n\nIf you liked this, please check out my subreddit, /r/OpiWrites, where I post all of my stories!\n\n", "Roofus sighed, staring out the window of his corporate tower. It was a crystal clear day and the wind carried the scents of celebration. His ear twitched as he heard his door click open. \n\n\"Congratulations, sir. It went off without a hitch.\" A voice said from behind. \"Sir?\" \n\nRoofus cleared his throat, \"Sorry, erm, thank you, Sparky.\" \n\nSparky approached, \"Is everything alright? I thought you would be thrilled.\" \n\n\"No, I am. Everything is fine.\" Roofus said. \"I am just in a thoughtful mood.\" His eyes found a tall statue in the distance. A tall, bipedal creature- a human - stood looking towards the sky. One of its appendages was held upward, a single digit of its claw pointed upwards. The other hand laid atop the head of a dog, its own gaze following the humans up to the sky.\n\n\"I have trouble believing it myself. The first Martian colony, well, the first of our species.\" Their corporation funded much of the expedition, and their technology fueled the engines that made the journey possible. \n\nRoofus thought the accomplishment would have filled this hole he felt inside. This feeling that he needed to achieve something greater. It drove him all his life. And yet...He stared at this statue and still felt a sense of longing. \n\n\"Do you think...\" He started.\n\n\"Sir?\"\n\n\"Do you think...they would be proud of us?\" He asked.\n\nSparky followed Roofus' gaze to the statue, \"I...don't know sir. I'm sure they would be.\"\n\n\"In many ways we've created a better world than they ever had. A more peaceful one. A cleaner one. They fled in part because they were on the verge of breaking the world.\" He said, speaking his thoughts in hopes of defining this hole left in side. \"And yet...And yet...I still just want to know...I want to know if they would have thought I was a good boy.\"" ]	[ 1, 2, 8, 11, 12, 143, 144 ]	[ "1516950608", "1517021798", "1516983354", "1516978101", "1516984365", "1516952568", "1516975345" ]
[removed]	[WP] Stumbling Bad	1	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nPrompts go in the title. You can add more in the text, but avoid [too many details](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/prompts?src=RECIPE). You wrote a prompt in the text, but then gave a title for it. \n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7t5ugn/wp_stumbling_bad/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1516985760", "1516985943" ]
	[WP] A knight is cursed with resurrective immortality--he/she can die but can't stay dead.	7	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Sir Galan opened his eyes. Not fully though, just a tiny bit to assess his situation. \"Damn\", he thought, \"they hold a service for me.\"\n\nHe laid in an open casket in front of the altar of the town's church. The local priest addressed his community with stern words about heaven and hell, reminding everyone of their mortality, using the sudden (and painful) demise of the stranger, a knight from afar, as an example, why everyone's soul should be ready for judgement at any moment.\n\n\"Heaven or hell\", he would almost have laughed out loud, but remained silent, \"at this point I might welcome either.\" \n\nThe situation was a problem. He didn't want them to bury him. Last time it took him an entire week to dig himself out, suffocating again and again. This left him with three options: Hoping for a moment when his casket would be unattended and disappear without being seen. That was usually the best option. The second option was to rise up in front of those people and act like a ghost or demon, then run for it while they gathered their courage, torches and pitchforks. The third one was a \"miracle\". He hated being dishonest, but sometimes posing as a saint, resurrected by heavenly forces, was better than running from an angry mob. A number of lesser known local saints, St. Guilbert, St. William and St. Gary were all former identities of his he had leave behind in just 73 years.\n\nWhile he continued to play dead, his thoughts went back much further than 73 years, to the days when he'd been a young, idealistic and -he had to admit to himself- somewhat naive man, who went on the noblest quest a knight could pursue: Finding the Holy Grail! And he did find it, a strange device that rendered him immortal. When he drank from it, he felt how it changed him. He felt healthier than ever before and at first he truly believed it was a gift from heaven. But when he died his first death and came back, when those around him saw him return, they feared him, cast him out and chased him away.\n\nHe became a lone soul to walk this earth forever, never to call a place home for long, never to find eternal rest. It, the grail or whatever it was, had cursed him. Maybe one day he would find a way to end the cycle of pain, death and resurrection. Until then he would die again and again, just like yesterday, when a drunk stabbed him in his back.\n\nThe priest finished his sermon and the attendees burst into a song of praise at his command. It was time for the knight to make his decision. He felt a warm ray of sun light on his face, shining through one of the church's stained windows. \"Well he thought, the stage is set, let's have a miracle today...\"\n", "\"Sunnovabitch!\"\n\nSir Desmond cursed loudly, dragging his limbs from the blood-mixed mire. He paused, eyes roving the sea of corpses that were just beginning to stink in the midday sun as he tried to recall how he died this time.\n\nIt took a while for his memories to traverse the tricky waters of resurrection. The less corporeal parts of him tended to lag behind on the journey between death and life. But slowly, they'd come crawling back to him, the splinters of his former life binding together to create a new yet familiar picture. \n\nA sudden itch in the centre of his abdomen dragged his focus downward. That was when he noticed the spearhead buried to the shaft.\n\n\"Hmm. Well that's it, then.\" Resignedly, he pulled it out. Standing amidst the field of carrion was no easy feat between the soft and hard bits of soldier scattered about, but he managed. Desmond supposed he should make his way to the king. That was the deal, after all. As punishment for committing a treasonous crime against the sovereign king and his maiden daughter that he could hardly remember (though he certainly recalled she was no maiden), he was bound to serve as the king's disposable but not-quite-disposable spy. \n\nFrom battles to lethal month-long searches for magical artefacts, he was sent to do all the work the king could not afford to risk bestowing on mere mortal men. And for years Desmond had been pierced and prodded, burned and hung, beheaded even (his head took ages to grow back), all for the sake of his king. When rumour reached the kingdom that the opposing nation sported cannons, Desmond was sent with the decorative army to greet them and affirm. \n\nYes. Yes they did have cannons. \n\nHolding his guts in hand, he traipsed over the nearest footsoldier, making a path to the main road. He'd lost his horse long before being impaled by the spear. He'd have to walk it. \n\nWhat he needed now was a strong tankard of ale once his stomach regenerated. So instead of heading to the castle, he swiftly redirected his stagger toward the nearest tavern. \n\n***\n\nIf you like what you read, check out my other stories [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/icehellion/).", "\"Bring the knight to me,\" said the king.\n\nThe knight was brought from the dungeons before the king.\n\n\"How is it,\" the king asked, \"that you've managed to defeat entire armies by yourself?\n\nThe knight replied, \"I am cursed with resurrective immortality. I can die, but I cannot stay dead.\"\n\n\"Is that so?\" said the king. \"In that case, you will be hung.\"\n\nAnd the knight hangs there till this day." ]	[ 1, 2, 3, 5 ]	[ "1516991575", "1517001699", "1516997872", "1516992861" ]
	[WP] You are the last known Human to abstain from Cybernetic Enhancement. You wake one morning to learn of a growing digital pandemic which is spreading amongst the enhanced.	15	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "They called us Purists. It was a demeaning nickname always spoken in a voice dripping with pity. We, on the whole, preferred the term 'conscientious objectors', a term from the old days which referred to soldiers who refused to fight when compulsory recruitment was the law.\n\nOf course it's hard to adequately describe the preferences of a group made up of such vastly different human beings. Some were religious, others atheist, some made the decision out of a selfless devotion to humanity, others for perfectly selfish reasons. The only thing we all agreed on was that enhancement, no matter the spin, was wrong.\n\nMy reason was not personal choice. I was an even rarer phenotype than other Purists: I was an Immune. My body violently rejected even the simplest organ transplants, a basic enhancement would have killed me within days. I, no matter my belief, was forever locked out of the forward march of humanity.\n\nIt was only natural I became a Purist.\n\nThe advancement came slowly, at first, with leaps forward in prosthesis technology. Then came the drive to fully link those prostheses with the neural functions of the brain. It cascaded naturally from there, propagating itself like a virus.\n\nIt came to a head as only these things can. The haves drive the have-nots out. The world became inaccessible to those without enhancements. We were looked down on, spat on. The Enhanced were the new dawn of humanity, the next evolutionary step. The Purists were just in their way.\n\nA short war was fought around the world. We lost. Pure flesh, whatever your ideals, is not a match for steel and the future working in harmony.\n\nWe banded together, like humans do, and found places to hide. To live our lives away from the Enhanced, outside of their utopia. And for a long time, there was peace. Until one day, it was shattered by the arrival of Hades.\n\n\n\nI woke up to the shrill beeping of my communicator on my bedside table. I rolled over, hair in my mouth, matted by drool, and grasped for it.\n\n\"It's 2am,\" I said.\n\n\"We've got a problem,\" Kat's voice on the other end of the line said. \"The boundary pads have been tripped, north east corner. We've got a visitor.\"\n\n\"Tell them to come back in the morning at a more reasonable hour,\" I said. \"Or not at all, that would be swell.\"\n\n\"Dani,\" Kat said sternly. \"I don't want to get all mom on your ass, but you're head of security now. Act like it. I'm sure whoever is in your bed right now can keep it warm until you get back.\"\n\nI raised an eyebrow.\n\n\"That's an outrageous assumption,\" I said. \"What the hell makes you think there's someone with me?\"\n\nKat said nothing.\n\n\"Just get your ass down here, Danica.\"\n\nThe line went dead. I rubbed my eyes and frowned, then swung my bare feet over the edge of the bed. \n\n\"Everything OK?\" A hand reached out from the covers and stroked my bare back.\n\n\"Yeah, fine, just heading out for a while,\" I said, scrambling for my clothes and boots. \"Help yourself to coffee.\"\n\nHow did she always know?* \n\n\n\n\"What's the situation?\" I asked, pulling my frizzy auburn hair into a ponytail as I stepped into the empty bunker the rest of the Silo referred to, optimistically, as 'operations centre'. \n\nKat leaned back in her chair, her huge Parka coat almost dwarfing her slim, pale frame. Even in the dim, milky light of ops, she looked fantastic. I mentally shook my head. Not now.\n\n\"Did you leave them coffee?\" She asked. I shot her a look.\n\n\"Not now, K. Besides, you had your chance for coffee.\"\n\nKat took no notice and swung one of the screens round so I could see it as I planted myself in the swivel chair next to her.\n\nIt took a moment for my eyes to adjust, but soon I recognised the dense, coniferous woodland that surrounded the Silo. For a moment, I thought it was a static image, until a figure loped slowly out of the growth. I swallowed.\n\n\"They never come this close,\" I said sharply. \"What do they want?\"\n\nKat shrugged.\n\n\"Don't ask me,\" she replied, taking a drag on her e-cigarette. No smoke down here.\n\n\"What do we do?\" I asked, instinctively deferring to her as the older, more experienced officer. The grown up.\n\n\"Your call, security chief,\" she replied. \"But, if you were to ask me, I'd say our best course of action is to wake up Marselle and Chuck and go out and meet our new friend.\"\n\nI swallowed hard.\n\n\"Could be a trap,\" I proffered.\n\nKat shrugged.\n\n\"The Civil War was a long time ago, Dani, they won. They have nothing to gain from further contact, let alone attacking us. Besides, only one pad was tripped, there can't be more than two of them. We can handle that.\"\n\nI stood up and began to head to the locker on the other side of the circular room which contained the guns reserved for security use only.\n\n\"Buzz Marselle and Chuck and get them down here,\" I said, grabbing a broad assault rifle with a vicious looking muzzle. \"Do we tell Khan?\"\n\nKat raised an eyebrow.\n\n\"Gotcha,\" I returned.\n\n\n\nThe Silo, as the name suggests, was a remnant from the Cold War, built to serve as both a protective bunker and missile base. As such, there were three dual airlocks on the top level of the four-tiered underground structure. They led up and out into the woodlands of Idaho at a slant.\n\nKat was at my back as I levered the first airlock door open. Marselle, a young, handsome black guy with slightly out of control afro, was still blinking the sleep out of his eyes behind her.\n\nChuck, older and grizzled, a scar across his mouth, was ready and willing. It was hard for real soldiers to be cooped up underground their whole lives. He habitually checked his rifle.\n\nWe passed through the second airlock door quickly - the air outside was fine, no need for it to act as anything more than a heavy door - and stepped out into the early morning air.\n\n\"Fingers off triggers,\" I said, awake now and firmly in chief mode. \"We don't want to be the ones that make this a thing. Don't fire unless fired upon.\"\n\nChuck, Kat and Marselle nodded and did as they were told. I might have been half Chuck's age and a woman to boot, but I'd been picked as security chief for a reason.\n\nThe bushes nearby rustled, and we all turned to face the source of the noise. I could hear the clear sound of steps rustling through the undergrowth, but they were uneven, shambling.\n\n\"Hello?\" I called. \"My name is Danica Morello, I'm security chief of the Silo Purist base. We don't want trouble. We just want to be left alone.\"\n\nNo response. The source of the footsteps came into view, a figure taking short, uneven steps towards us. Male, at least six foot, though it was hard to tell in the dark.\n\n\"Are you OK?\" I shouted, aware of the figure's hunch and gait. They weren't well.\n\n\"Help me...\" Came the reply. It was like an old recording played through a tinny speaker. Grating, hollow.\n\n\"You need help?\" I replied. \"We can help you. But you'll need to lay down any weapons you have on you. I'm sure you understand.\"\n\nNo response for a moment, then:\n\n\"It hurts. So much. He's in my head...\"\n\nI looked to Kat, who shrugged, her weapon still raised.\n\n\"Who is?\" I asked. \"Are you having trouble with your implants?\"\n\n\"Implants?\" The voice replied. \"Curses. Cancers. Crack cocaine. Cutting knives and trailing wires. Oh god it hurts so much.\"\n\nThe figure was close now, close enough for me to make out defining features. A too-large nose and cracked lips. Tears falling from wide eyes... No, not tears, blood.\n\n\"Danica, I don't like this,\" Marselle said. \"This guy is off his nut.\"\n\nI turned to him.\n\n\"He's not well, we have to help him.\"\n\n\"Help him?\" Chuck spat. \"They drove us out here and now they want our help? Leave him to die.\"\n\n\"Die?\" The man said in his grating, robotic voice. \"Yes. That sounds like a good idea.\"\n\nThe voice became a shrill screeching that echoed throughout the forest. The man's eyes lit up with red fire, bright enough to leave spots in my own eyes.\n\n\"No, please, for the love of-\" the man cried out. Then, a moment later, a bright flash of light enveloped his head, scattering pieces of bone, flesh and metal to the wind.\n\nI shielded my eyes and looked back to see the man drop to his knees, missing several vital parts from the chest up.\n\n\"Jesus fuck,\" Kat whispered \"Holy fuck.\"\n\nI didn't have the wherewithal to find her blasphemy cute. A man's head had just exploded in front of my very eyes.\n\n\"What the hell was that?\" I asked." ]	[ 1, 7 ]	[ "1517006235", "1517011818" ]
	[WP] You have voices in your head. Only thing is, they're talking to each other and not to you. You can do nothing but eavesdrop onto their conversations.	54	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "“You know what Janet? No one fucking cares, like really your life is so mundane you have to post about anything that happens to you 24/7” \n\n“Well at least I have a life, all you do is work, come home, and sleep. You never even look at me anymore.” \n\n“Pleease just shut up” I pleaded through my thoughts, but I knew they couldn’t hear me, they never did. I didn’t need this, especially not now, it always happened at the worst times. This is my last and most important final of the semester but I can’t focus on shit cause they’re arguing again. The worst thing is that I’m the only one that can hear them. They bicker ALL the time and it’s just in my head. Although they sound familiar I’ve long since given up on the source. \n\n“Fuck You John, I don’t even know why we’re still together, I can’t do this.”\n\n“LIKE FUCK YOU CANT, YOU CANT DO THIS CAUSE YOU DONT DO ANYTHING, I PROVIDE EVERYTHING FOR YOU” \n\n“SHUT THE FUCK UP” I yelled out of frustration\n\nI immediately realized what I have just done when literally everyone taking the math final turns around and looks at me. I try to excuse myself out but the door is locked. Shit.\n\n“What happened to him?” The film student asked, still a little on edge given he’s in an insane asylum.\n\n“Murder suicide, his dad lost it and took his mom with him” said the kind eyed doctor.\n\n“Hasn’t been responsive since, just snapped. He just talks to himself in their voices.”\n\n“That’s so sad, could he ever get better?” The film student asked as he started to doubt his documentary choice.\n\n“Probably not, lets get moving though, I don’t want to keep you here forever.” ", "\"Do you sometimes feel like there's someone in here with us?\" asked the first voice.\n\nThe second, higher-pitched voice said \"Like a presence? Yes, at least ever since--\"\n\n\"It's probably because it's so dark,\" the first interrupted, not wanting to hear the other girl's answer.\n\nBut I knew why the girls were scared. I could only make my presence known anymore; no longer could I respond or tuck them into bed at night like I could when I was alive.", "\"Look, look, look - that girl in front. She's gonna fall over in a minute.\"\n\n\"No way.\"\n\n\"Yes way. I've seen it. She goes to step up the curb, snags her heel, turns at the same time, and then bam - straight over, legs in the air!\"\n\n\"Well... that's what you get for wearing those shoes, I guess.\"\n\n\"Mm-hm. Look, look - here it comes!\" \n\n\"She's snagged!\"\n\n\"And down she goes! Like clockwork.\"\n\n\"Ha! How do you do it?\"\n\n\"I dunno! I dunno. It just happens. I just see it, you know? Like, this one across the street - she's about to go left into the market, in 3... 2...\"\n\n\"... 1!\"\n\n\"Yep. Told you.\"\n\n\"Amazing! Do another one.\"\n\n\"Okay, okay. So, this guy, right? He's about to get hit by a car. Puts one foot on the road and then he jus-\"" ]	[ 1, 2, 8, 11 ]	[ "1517014952", "1517051474", "1517016874", "1517046955" ]
Optional: You thought you would be at the bottom since you were a terrible person.Someone explained why you're at the top	[WP] Once you die,you get a overall score which is higher the better person you were.After you died,you went to see the high scores.You're at the top.Below you,Jesus Christ.	81	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "(sorry about formatting, mobile, also first time writing here, don't judge)\n\nWhoops. I died. Apparently you should tie your shoes before setting a building on fire. You light it up, you trip, the floor collapses beneath you, you die. Next thing you know, you wake up in heaven. \"Congratulations! High score!\" These are the words on a leaderboard in front of you. It shows the top five people and their scores. 5:George Washington: 900,000. 4:Yigguddep:1,200,000. 3:St Peter: 2,500,00. 2:Jesus;5,000,000, and at first place, you, Dave Johnson, with 4,294,967,295.\n\n Quickly, God shows up, and he starts talking. \"Now listen,\" He says, \"We used to review everyone's life when they died, going through everything they did, adding points and subtracting points for good and bad actions, but recently, we got a computer system that…\" \n\nYou interrupt him, \"Yeah, but I'm a self-employed Hitman, why am I at the top 'God' shouldn't you have something better? You are God and everything.\"\n\nHe continues, \"The leaderboard means nothing, but anyone with a score below 1,000 should be automatically sent to hell, and you should be in there for sure, but since you're such a vile human, you got a negative score and underflowed the computer. You get a free pass on this one though, you humans like your computers, and so I thought I'd let some of them run the sorting. Obviously I was wrong, so you have two choices as it stands, You can go to hell, and be punished eternally while everyone there will be impressed by your deeds, or you can choose to stay here at peace in heaven, where everyone will despise you\"", "Afterlife? I couldn't believe it. And actually a score card, and I was at the top, I, above Jesus. \"The Jesus?\" - I thought. \"Yes\" I heard out of nowhere.\n\nThe place was empty, I couldn't see my body, just clouds. I wasn't sure if there was an up or down, but it felt normal. I said out loud: \"there must have been a mistake, I didn't believe in God or the afterlife, so I can't be here, can't be above Jesus for sure.\" ... It was quiet, no response.\n\n\"Is there someone I can talk to?\"\n\nA familiar voice, but one I've never heard before replied \"I like welcoming new people.\"\n\nI only got the direction the voice came from, but couldn't see who was taking to me, and still couldn't see my body, but the voice was close, as if the person was right next to me. \"Who are you?\"\n\n\"You'll figure it out, welcome!\" ... After a long pause he continued \"You said you wanted to talk, do you have questions?\"\n\n\"Where am I?\"\n\n\"Heaven, you saw the sign, and congratulations on the top score, I'm in top one thousand, and I thought my score was high.\"\n\n\"Is this a game? Why is the score important, I'm in heaven, you're in heaven, Jesus is in heaven, it shouldn't matter what the score is. I just don't see why I'd have the top one, I was wrong all along.\"\n\n\"Good point, I don't know why you're at the top, I just can tell you, that I didn't believe in this particular God either, and there are plenty like me who are also in the top scores, even top ten... well apparently even the top one, now that you're up there.\"\n\n\"From all I know, I should be in hell for not believing. But I suppose that kind of a mistake wouldn't happen here.\" I paused to think.\n\n\"Ok, well who do you want to talk to first? We all have a lot of time, do you want to talk to your dead relatives or famous people maybe? Jesus actually wanted to talk to you, as you have seemed to bump his spot.\"\n\n\"I have to process this.\" I said, there was plenty of time to talk with others, the peace was overwhelming, I wanted to think.\n\n\"Ok\" said the familiar voice, I felt it moving away, and I was left to think." ]	[ 1, 7, 24 ]	[ "1517068501", "1517085376", "1517072237" ]
	[WP] In a world of superheroes and super villains, you and a bunch of friends are watching the Superbowl. When a villain attacks the stadium all your friends suddenly start making excuses to leave.	818	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", " \"Oh fuck those nachos were a bit spicy, i'll be right back\" Nicolas Odinson spat out as he sprinted for the bathroom. I took a look at the mild salsa and shrugged. Norwegians are notoriously sensitive to spicy food.\n\n Not 30 seconds later, Dr. Brucer had left the party, claiming multiple rips in his pants. Frankly, I had thought he had gained weight recently, but felt too embarrassed to mention it. I was glad that realty had finally caught up to him. As a scientist, he should have the logic to recognize the correlation.\n\n My suspicion that my party was being ditched began to arise when Tony Lark left only a minute later. His claim of car trouble seemed somewhat lame, compared to the panic in which he left the gathering. As someone who has had their 2002 Honda Civic break down on multiple occasions, I do understand the horror of losing a vehicle; however I felt it was somewhat rude to leave a party simply because your form of transportion needed attention.\n\n My paranoia reached a peak when Steve Dodgers- the biggest Patriots fan I know - suddenly felt a pain in the back of his skull. He called it a migraine, but as a fellow sufferer, he certainly did not act like the headache was coming from within.\n\n With only a few attendees left, I was beginning to worry that my Super Bowl party had become a flop. I began questioning myself. Was the T.V. quality poor? Had the chili gone cold? Was there a more enticing option elsewhere?\n\n And the suddenly I knew what had happened. I knew something had gone entirely wrong. And I knew what! \n\n I knew my friends hadn't ditched me for frivolous reasons. I knew they had left for a purpose. A true purpose. A powerful purpose. A REAL purpose. A purpose that would save not only me, but all of America. \n\n They had left to protect us from Aliens! And not just any aliens. In fact, they had left to defend all of us from the most dangerous of all aliens.\n\n Illegal Aliens.\n\n\n\n", "“Listen buddy, my wife is going into labor and I HAVE to get there NOW!” \n“Sorry buddy, just doin my job.” The henchman said emotionlessly. \n“Nobody is allowed to leave until the boss gets his ransom money” \n\n“Listen pal, I’m about to miss the birth of my daughter, do you have any kids? What’s your name pal?”\n“I’m josh, no I don’t have any kids. It’s hard dating when you live in an underground bunker operating anti air cannons. I get paid well and send the money to my mom.” \n“Ok josh, let me try something different... LET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!” \nWithout breaking a sweat, the heavy set bodyguard shoved James back with his rifle. \n“Buddy I’m gonna need you to sit down and really calm tf down, I don’t wanna be here just as much as you don’t wanna be here. Just relax and it will be over soon.” \nDefeated, James sat back in his seat. \ndarn, I really thought that would work he thought to himself, thinking of getting home and playing video games instead of sitting in a damn stadium watching the 2 sides battle for sometimes days in a row. He suddenly had to use the bathroom. \n“Hey pal, I gotta use the bathroom, is there one around here?” \n“Sure” he turned around \n“If you go up the stairs and take a left, you will see the bathroom right next to the exit. There’s a red and green sign, can’t miss it.” \nPuzzled, he just stared in awe for a moment. \n“Well? You goin? If you ain’t goin sit back down please.” \n“I’m goin I’m goin, I’ll be right back” \nHe went to the door of the bathroom, saw the exit open, and just walked off ", "It was just about to be Halftime, as I was already beginning to view another over million dollar Toyota commercial. I was watching the game with my good buddy Craig, a pretty good guy for a non-super.\n\n “Hey man, we’re out out of salsa,” he exclaimed, running into the kitchen. I sighed to myself, a hero’s work is never done. \n\nI know it sounds cliche, but I’m being serious. Tonight was the biggest game of the year, and we needed as many heroes on watch as possible. Ah well, at least we’re getting paid overtime for this. \n\nRing Ring! Ring Ring Aw crud, it was Chief Bryant, I’ll just answer and see what he wants. “What’s new chief, something serious?”\n\n“We need your help, Shaker. We’re sensing strange electrical surges in the area,” replied Chief Bryant. \n\n“Crud.. it’s Blackout, isn’t it,” \n\n“We believe so. I’m sorry Alex, but right now you’re our only agent on standby,”\n\n“Don’t worry chief, I’m on my way. But I gotta warn you, my terrakinesis has been a little rusty,” \n\nSoon, I was in a helicopter over Bank Stadium, alongside Alana Price, The Salamander, and Malik Khan, the Pyrotech, ready to jump into action. Suddenly, an electric surge broke through, darkening the whole stadium. The three of us leaped down to face the villain. \n\n“Hello Shaker, what a lovely surprise to see you, care for some salsa?” ", "It was pretty comical when John told us he was going to the 'John'. We figured, \"typical John trying to crack a joke.\" Minutes after, Ted exclaimed he had to hit the head. After a few drinks, of course it was hilarious. Things got weird when John's girlfriend Joliet had to go to the toilet and Molly had to 'drop one off at the trolley'. Then, it was just me.\n\nI had hosted the party with John, Joliet, Ted, Molly as well as myself. This was something we did every year at my apartment. I had made my homemade guacamole and the other guests would bring their own specialty. A few years ago an ex of one of us (Ted) didn't cook the chicken good enough and we got food poisoning.\n\nBut, I digress. It was February in Minneapolis. Snow was gently falling over the Twin Cities leaving a beautiful dusting before history being made. Unfortunately, the history being made wouldn't be the football game.\n\nIf you haven't been to US Bank Stadium, it is a stunning and beautiful piece of architectural plastered right in the middle of down town Minneapolis. The Stadium was shaped like a ship to represent the Vikings team themselves. It was architectural brilliance. Which makes it that more difficult as to why these events transpired.\n\nVikings' fans are very respectful and unfortunately they couldn't make the Super Bowl as the home team. Sadly, they were the first to blame for the attacks. It seemed ridiculous at first, but, it made sense. The news stations had claimed that; \"Vikings fans were the root of it all out of jealousy.\"\n\nIt was perfectly coordinated it seemed. The Patriots had scored first so naturally, fireworks ensued. All of us thought it was part of the show. It seemed the fireworks went off erratically but hopefully no injuries. The Eagles drove down the field next possession and had to settle for a field goal. Just small flares were set off.\n\nThe Eagles picked off Brady the next drive and brought it to mid field. The crowd erupted at the threat of the Eagles to score and they did not disappoint. After a long bomb for a TD there was a huge boom and flash on the screen, and next thing we know is that the US went to Code Red.\n\nLiving locally, it made sense how quickly they all got there. Especially Ted, that lazy son of a…he fooled us all. \n\nThe \"villain\" at first was pretty hilarious. \"They\" made it seem like an ingenious plan but was pretty juvenile. After the fact, the lazy SOB Ted could have done this on his own, but ya know, he's Ted so casualties happened.", "\"Hey, I have to- I need to, uh, take this. The old ball and chain.\" Ty struggled awkwardly as he jumped to his feet. Kaley looked down at her arm as if to read an imaginary watch before blurting \"Oh, would you look at the time. I should probably get going, I have that thing in the morning.\" Cooper shot a worried a look towards Kaley and Ty. Kaley glared back at him and then glanced towards me as if to see if I had noticed the exchange. \n\n \"Yeah, um the thing,\" Cooper fumbled nervously. \"Right the, uh, one thing! How could I forget? Better get going so I don't miss the thing.\" His face was bright red as he rose from the couch. \n\n We had been watching the Superbowl together as we had every year since graduating from Hero Academy. Up until this point it had been filled with laughter and cheering. \nThat was until a beam of blue light hit the center of the stadium. The spectacle faded and presented the world's most feared villain of them all, Anne Hathaway. Ever since that terrible movie she starred in failed miserably, she terrorizes America to enact her revenge for not giving it a fair chance. \n\nI cocked my head to the side and delivered a look of annoyance as they gathered towards the door. \n\"It's practically over and I mean-\"\n\"There's the thing.\"\n\"-but lunch tomorrow! I'll text you.\"\n\nBefore I could rebuttal they were out the door. The thing is, it's been kind of awkward between us all since graduation. We formed a super hero team called the Royals. We all had a name and a role to play.\n\nTy, king of clubs,with his ability to throw 1,700 mph fast balls. Plus his infamous baseball bat w\n\nKaley, Queen of Spades, with her impenetrable hair could change it's length anywhere from a stick of gum to the length of a blue whale.\n\nCooper, Jack of diamonds, shot lightning from his eyes and could teleport by hitting high notes on his air guitar.\n\nAnd me, ace of hearts, my power was to make people defecate.\n\nNeedless to say the media found that extremely controversial and the whole thing whether or not the ace even counted as a Royal card. The world just didn't want to see people crap themselves. No matter how effective it really was.\n\n As I began reminiscing I heard the PSA announcement over the TV exclaim that The Royals had arrived. The crowd erupted as they battled. Ultimately The Royals won.\n\nI shut off the TV. I let out a heavy sigh before walking to the kitchen. I opened the bottle of champagne I had saved for tonight.\n\"Next year Anne, Next year.\"\n\n\n\n\n ", "It had been ages since the whole gang had gotten together. Kayley, Mark, Ryan, Alex, and myself. We hadn’t been in a group gathering together since we graduated college back in the spring. Months later, the Super Bowl seemed like the perfect excuse to get back together. Of course, it had to be the event the Unjust League would attack. \n\nI remember growing up, always loving the comic books that would come out about these guys. Little me said I wanted to be a villain when I grew up on career day. I didn’t really get the whole ‘these people are terrorizing the world’ thing. They were one of the few old school villains left. Maniacal cackling and all that jazz. But lately, they had been more of an annoyance than anything else. Always crashing big events, always making the same moves, only to have their plans foiled by (usually) caped crusaders. \n\nWhen they took over the stadium, all of us sighed as the game broadcast was turned over to the news team. I looked at my friends. They looked pale, Kayley was sporting a grimace. I decided to try and lighten the mood. \n\n“Well, we’ve still got a lot of pizza, so if worse comes to worse we can probably make it a few days on that alone.”\n\nForced laughter. “Hey, Jamie, you know me. I always get so anxious just watching this kind of thing. I think I’m gonna go home.”\n\nI did know Kayley. We had been friends since elementary school. She had been there on career day. She had wanted to be a hero. Turned out a law student. But she couldn’t watch someone step on a spider without the color draining from her face. \n\n“Yeah, sure, of course, Kayley. Are you sure you’re good to make it home by yourself? Maybe we should wait for some updates...”\n\n“I’ll take Kayley home, it’s probably better to go in pairs and I’ve got an early day tomorrow anyway.” Alex and Kayley stood up. The Unjust League had really killed the party. Ryan and Mark didn’t seem too excited to be left behind. My nerves told me that maybe time had unraveled our friendship, and maybe this was a good time to let go of a somewhat awkward afternoon. I remember the hesitation of Kayley’s hug when I had opened the door, the way Alex, who always had something to say, seemed quiet. Maybe we weren’t meant for real life together. The rational part of me tried to hide the disappointment that was creeping onto my face. But I could see the words forming on Mark’s tongue.\n\n“I should get going, too.” He said. He looked at me and his face changed. I must not have hidden my emotions very well. “It’s been fun hanging out, we should do it again, soon! I’m just worried traffic is going to be a mess now. And I live on the other side of the city.”\n\n“Yeah, of course.” I say. \n\n“It’s been a lot of fun, Jamie, really, I missed you guys,” Alex added on to Mark’s statement, standing at the front door with Kayley. \n\nI stood up to give them all hugs before they left. Kayley and Alex drove off. Mark took some pizza with him before leaving. \n\nThat left me and Ryan. It was awkward, as we both sat anxiously watching the Unjust League’s speech. Why did villains always have to have a speech? It felt like they were giving the heroes time to catch up them. Maybe they just wanted attention, or someone to fight. \n\nThen Ryan’s phone rang. I had always been a bit of a snoop, so of course I caught the Caller ID out of the corner of my eye. It was Kayley. \n\n“Hello?” Ryan answered. \n\nI was worried. Had Kayley and Alex gotten into a wreck or something? They say most accidents happen within a mile of your home. What about someone else’s house?\n\n“Oh, oh my god.” Ryan’s voice nearly confirmed my fears as I looked at him. “I’ll be there right away!” He hung up\n\n“Is everything alright?” I asked. \n\n“No, um, my mom, she, uh, fell. She’s in the hospital. I need to go to her.”\n\n“Yeah, of course, is she going to be alright?” I tried to hide my confusion. \n\n“They, uh, don’t know yet,” he stood up, and I followed suit walking with him to the door. “They couldn’t tell me on the phone.”\n\nOn the TV, the news reporters announce that the Vigilante Squad was spotted heading towards the stadium. Three instead of the usual four. Something clicked in my brain. \n\n“Holy shit,” I said, my hand hovering over the door knob. \n\n“What?” Ryan looked ever paler. \n\n“You’re, you guys are the, you guys are the fucking vigilante group. Holy shit.”\n\n“What are you talking about I have to get to the hospital, Jamie.”\n\n“Go, go. Just. Don’t fucking lie to me, Ryan. Tell me the truth.”\n\nWe locked eyes, and then he looked away. \n\n“I-I can’t talk now.”\n\nI opened the door. “I get it. But you’re all coming back here after you save the world. I have too much pizza and you guys have some explaining to do.”\n\nHe nodded, and ran out of the apartment. \n\nI sat back down on my couch. This would be more nail biting than the game itself had been. I had never seen my friends in a fight before. \n", "It had all been going marvelously until half time. \n \n\"Look, Johnny I have to, um, go.\" Hannah waved vaguely at the door, even as her eyes stayed glued to the screen. \n\"Yeah, um,\" Bob rose from the beanbag he was engulfed in. \"I too have to go. Um, Vet's appointment.\" He grinned weakly as his eyes locked on the Superbowl events. \n\"Aye, us too.\" Geoff and Sarah were shuffling to the door. \nI frowned, glancing at the screen. Just as the whistle had gone for half time, a figure had rocketed onto the pitch. Cackling maniacally, Doctor Terror flew around the stadium, bringing terror to the advertisers and relief to the bored audience. It had been a tedious game, and a Supervillain was a welcome change of pace. Strange then, that they would all want to leave. \nAs they all moved to the door, the camera focused on the Villain, who checked his watch. \nWait a second... that watch was very familiar. \n \n\"Stop!\" The group froze, half out the door. I turned and smiled at them. \"You don't want to leave when it's just getting good. Besides, I have pizza.\" As they hesitated, I walked to the door and closed it. \"I insist, Phaser, Captain Creator, Angelic, Slick and Bob.\" \nShuffling their feet, the heroes ummed and ahhed before sitting down in an uncomfortable silence as the Supervillain flailed onscreen. \nBob broke it. \"So, the pizza...?\" \n\"Oh, yes. Nearly forgot.\" I pulled out my phone and rang. \n \nOn the pitch, the Villain froze, before sheepishly pulling out a communicator. \n\"Hello, brother.\" Doctor Terror flinched from his screen as I spoke calmly. \n\"Bro! I was just about to...\" \n\"Continue to threaten the crowd?\" I glared at the screen. \"When you're done fooling around, you can grab six pizzas on the way back.\" The villain's head drooped. \n\"Ok, bro.\" \n\"And if you're that bored,\" I turned, staring at the shame-faced friends, \"instead of sneaking out to cause chaos and instigate a battle with the Hero League, we can put something else on.\" I paused. \"Or, you know, threaten the teams into playing another game. Your choice.\"", "\"Well I'm off\" She kisses me and gets up. \"Come on Daisy! Every time?\" Yes Leo, every time. \"You know how I feel about this, guys. They should stop broadcasting when something like this happens. I, for one will certainly not watch!\" And the dance begins. \"Well we'll see you tomorrow though, right?\", Jemma asks. \"Yes, ofcourse.\" Daisy answers before the door closes behind her.\n\nIt is quite an ingenious ruse, really. Well it was, the first three times at least. Any moment now Jemma's or Leo's phone will ring, with a family emergency on the other end of the line.\n\"I'm sorry, but I have to leave. That was my mother.\" Jemma get's up to get her coat. And ofcourse Jemma and Leo always come as a couple. \"Leo?\" she inquires, turning to her significant other. \"Yes, ofcourse! Sorry, lad.\" At last, he also gets up and prepares to leave.\n\nNow that I am alone, I can start to clean up. But first… I turn to the TV, where you can currently see a hooded figure holding the entire Superbowl hostage. It is truly remarkable, that they still use the same trick to get away when they need to beat up a bad guy. That only shows the regard they hold for my Intelligence\n\nTwo hours later, after reviewing how the hooded figure made its escape from my friends, I arrive at the stadium.\n\nTimetravel truly is the perfect power, when your best friends also happen to be your mortal enemies.\n\nEdit: grammar and sentence structure for better understanding" ]	[ 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 10, 199, 269 ]	[ "1517070308", "1517111367", "1517114336", "1517099950", "1517107919", "1517090064", "1517100131", "1517072451", "1517080235" ]
	[WP] You jobs as the newest acolyte to the temple are simple: 1) rise at dawn for prayer and cleaning work, 2) obedience and obeisance to the deities, priests, and priestesses, 3) tend to the trees in the sacred groves. The angry, screeching trees in the sacred groves.	32	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "I watched as my breath frosted above me. Breathing in and out again and again. The frost forming a cloud above me. \n\n“What have I gotten myself into,” I said to the cold morning air.\n\nThe rough wool blanket scratched again at my bare chest. It had been doing that all night. The smooth wooden bunk dug at my back as I tried in vain to relieve the pressure on my back.\n\nIt had been a long hard night and I dreaded that it was now coming to an end. \n\nThe first bell tolled out in the early morning cold. \n\n“Fine,” I said to myself. “I can do this gain”\n\nTrying to give myself as much courage as I could. It wasn’t much, but here I was and I had better make the best of it.\n\nI tossed the wool blanket aside and regreted every decision I had ever made in my life. Every stupid and idiotic choice that had gotten me here. My first full day the the Monastery of Light. \n\nI laughed a little at the name and slapped myself to try and get the blood flowing in my arms. They felt like they had frozen the night before.\n\nI looked at the archway that was a window into my room. Couldn’t they at least hang a blanket or something over it this time of year. It had to be at least ten below freezing. \n\nI gave my room one more look over. There was my plain wood desk in the corner. With all the amenities I would expect at home. Ink bottle, old fashioned quill pen and blank paper. Just like what I had given up to be here. I laughed at the comedy of it all. \n\nI rolled out of bed and onto the floor. The floor was harder than my bed. I wasn’t sure how that could be. It was wood in both cases.\n\nBut, there in the floor were the two deep grooves cut by a millennia of kneeling acolytes. Each one arriving on their first day to a freezing room, a hard bed and rough covers. To start their journey into enlightenment and higher understanding. Or at least that is what the Monk from yesterday had said. Yesterday seemed so long ago.\n\nHe had also instructed me to kneel in prayer from the first bell, until the first grey of morning broken into my room. It was then and only then that I could come from my room and meet him at the inner sanctum for my first lesson.\n\nI didn’t know what to pray for or what really to do, so I knelt in those groves. I stayed there for at least for five minutes. Until my knees hurt so bad I had to stand and get some circulation back in them. At least the pain in my knees distracted me from the constant shivering from the cold. How could I be expected to live in just light cotton pants and nothing else. \n\nI sat and shivered until the first grey of the morning broke into my room. I hated this place already. It could only get worse from here on out.\n\nI made my way out the door and down the hall. Holding myself to try and keep warm.\n\nWhen Brother McMaster meet my eyes he grinned. A stupid grin I wanted to wipe off his face with an axe. I was cold, tired and now hungry. My knees hurt and my back ached from the hard bed. I just wanted this morning to be over, so that I could get back to that corse blanket and a measure of warmth. But, I knew the chances of that were very slim. The other mornings hadn’t gone well and I didn’t expect this one too.\n\n“Good morning Brother,” Brother McMaster said to me. \n\n“Morning,” I grumbled back.\n\n“Did you sleep well,” he asked.\n\nI just glared at him.\n\n\nFrom a sactual he had hung at his waist he pulled a thin cotton shirt and handed it to me. I eagerly took it and put it on. It was always my favorite part of the morning. Feeling the warmth of the thin covering brought some measure of comfort.\nBrother McMaster nodded in satisfaction, “you are now ready to enter the inner sanctum.”\n\nHe turned to a set of large doors set in the great stone wall of the Monastery. He raised one arm and pointed at it.\n\n“Yesterday you took the oaths and received the covenants to enter here. Only an acolyte as yourself may enter and only after you have received the oaths.”\n\nHe turned to me and meet my eyes. They were soft and knowing. Maybe he knew what I had just gone through to be here. What I now wanted more then anything and the reason for leaving everything behind. For the light and knowledge that the sanctum held.\n\n“You will proceed into the sanctum. Once inside the outer doors you are to close them. Once closed you may open the inner doors and enter the sanctum.” He paused and looked up at the massive wall that surrounded the sanctum.\n\nHe then continued, “I would remind you of the covenant you have taken to enter into. That you are to never speak of what you see or hear inside. That you are to never even share with with other Brothers of Light. That it is a personal experience that you will only get now and once again as you obtain the 10th dawn.” \n\nI nodded in understanding. \n\nI turned and walked to the massive doors. The golden handle was carved like a branch, its leaves forming the mechanism to open the door. I pulled it and entered. \n\nAs I closed the door I saw the worried face of Brother McMaster. I wondered what he could be worried about. \n\nI took a deep breath and turned to the inner doors. I had prepared my whole life for this moment. I haven't always been the most faithful follower and the way. But, I knew that one day I wanted to stand here and face the sanctum. To be taught and receive the truth and light that could only be found in the sanctum. This time I would have the courage and straight I needed.\n\nI reached out and grabbed the handle and pulled. The doors swung open and I was greeted with the greatest sight I had ever seen.\n\nIn the sanctum stood hundreds of trees, each one reaching up into a mist covered sky. Their tall limbs reaching up and out of site. They were as big around as a house and taller than any skyscraper I had ever seen. \n\nI wondered how such massive trees could be contained in such a small building. Well, I would have wondered that had I not been overwhelmed by the sound. Each tree screeching in a high pitched wail. It pierced me to my soul and and smashed into my brain like an ice pick. \n\nI crumpled to the ground and held my ears. I just wanted the sound to go away. What had I gotten myself into. This was supposed to be enlightenment and understanding. That whatever or whoever was in the sanctum was going to show me my future and the way.\n\nThen my eardrums burst and releaf flooded into me as well as darkness. I had passed out.\n\nI awoke again in my bed. Puffing out clouds of frost above me. The same hard bed under me and the same rough wool blanket. What had I gotten myself into. I thought for sure I would get it this time. That the trees won't overwhelm me.\n\nAgain the first bell rang and I sat up on the side of my bed. This time I would beat it. This time I would make it further then my eardrums rupturing and I wouldn’t pass out. I hadn’t been able to the last twenty times. But, at least the power of the Monastery let me live the same day over until I get it right.\n******\nThank you for reading. If you liked this check out my other writing on /r/etbrey/ 4/52", "Slowly, gently, with the upmost care, Taani poured the tea into the bowl before him, filling the air with the scent of aniseed and ginger as he did so. Stopping precisely one fingers width from the brim, he put aside the pot, bowed, and pushed the bowl towards the man sat opposite him, Master Vo. Accepting the tea and putting it to his lips, Master Vo paused a moment, a moment just long enough to make Taami despair that he had failed, before nodding his approval. Taami struggled to keep his relief from showing. The tea making ritual was a long and tedious one, but after a week at the temple he seemed to be getting the hang of it. With another bow, Taami rose and turned to leave. He had almost reached the rooms exit when his Master spoke. \n\nIn a firm but quiet voice, one that nonetheless carried easily to Taami’s ears, Master Vo asked, ‘Are all of your duties completed for today?’. Cursing internally, Taami turned to reply. \n\n‘Almost, Master Vo’, he said looking at the floor and not wanting to elaborate. A gentle breeze blew through the open windows of the stone building, it made the candles flicker and the shadows dance, the colours of the sunset having almost faded by this point. \n\n‘You’ve finished your studies?’\n\n‘Yes Master’.\n\n‘Swept the floors?’\n\n‘I have Master’.\n\n‘Said your prayers?’\n\n‘Yes Master’, Said Taami, looking up as if to plea for his release, ‘I was just about to prepare for be- ‘.\n\n‘And the sacred grove?’ interrupted the elder. \n\nReluctantly, Taami admitted, ‘No Master Vo’, and then quickly continued, ‘But is it really necessary? I’ve attended to it diligently over the past few days, and I know there isn’t any fruit that’s likely to ripen tonight. Surely, the trees can endure one day being left alone. It’s already dark after all…’ This appeal became steadily quieter as the bearing of Master Vo changed subtly. Something new in his expression made it perfectly clear to Taami what he thought of his opinion without having to vocalise. He did so anyway.\n\nIn the same tone as before, he said, ‘Caring for the sacred grove is the single most important task you have, and failure to fulfil that duty carries with it the most severe punishment’.\n\n‘Right away Mast Vo’, said Taami, not needing any further encouragement. He left the room briskly, glancing once at the night sky as he did so, trepidation clear upon his face.\n\nSo it was that Taami stood, with the moon low and thin, and the lights of the temple distant behind him, before the sacred grove in almost complete darkness. The wind blew, stronger here than at the temple which was sheltered by the curve of the valley, it made the trees creak – and sob faintly during the more forceful gusts. The whisper of leaves was conspicuously absent, for the sacred trees remained barren of these regardless of the time of year. \n\nNot wanting to spend anymore time then was required here, Taami set about his work. Illuminated by a small, covered candle, Taami would, after kneeling and saying a short prayer, apply a thick layer of red paint around the circumference of each tree, tracing the line of the previous days work. At the first touch of his brush to the first tree, the entire glade would erupt into hideous screaming. The tree being tended would let out an anguished cry, rolling out from somewhere deep within its core, and the others would respond as if out of fear. Taami did his best to ignore the cacophony. He worked with haste but endeavoured not to touch the trees with his bare hands, for even the briefest contact would make the trees roar even louder – louder, and (though he could never be sure he was not imagining this second detail), with a more hostile tone. His labour continued in this manner until, almost at the end, he noticed with a curse that he had lied to Master Vo. One high branch did in fact bear fruit. It was large, and ripe, and likely close to falling. He would probably be reprimanded for his negligence, as one of his strictest instructions was to not let any of the sacred fruit touch the ground. Swearing under his breath, Taami climbed onto a stool set aside for this very purpose and reached for the dangling fruit. Grasping and pulling strongly with a single motion, Taami couldn’t help but feel a very odd sensation: the feeling of the fruit beating. Beating very much like a heart. Taami had never felt a heart beat between his fingers but the comparison formed quite naturally in his mind. Wondering briefly at this phenomenon, he was distracted by the trees response to his action. It screamed now louder than he had heard any scream before. He felt the vibrations in the ground and was obliged to put his hands over his ears. Even more surprising, he could make out a word in the cry of this tree.\n\n‘NOOOOOOOOO!’\n\nThis was too much for Taami. Throwing aside the paint and the candle, but maintaining enough composure to keep the fruit, now lifeless, firmly in his grasp, he ran with all his strength back towards the temple.\n", "Screeeee!!!!* The tree screamed at Laine as he walked up the path clutching his trusty broom. He groaned. \n\"Look, it's not my fault.\" He poke the tree with the end of the handle. \"If you had behaved for the other acolytes we wouldn't be in this mess.\" \nThe tree screeched and took a swipe with its branches. Ducking under the swing with a sigh, he began to sweep the fallen leaves into a pile. \n \nThis was not the life he expected when he joined the cult. Laine wasn't sure what he had expected, but it wasn't sweeping. More worshipping in the temple perhaps. Maybe some light blood sacrifices. Even some fruit punch would have been nice. \nBut no. It had to be... he parryed a branch away... the bloody trees. Laine wasn't one to complain - after all, those who did tended to find themselves at the pointy end of the sacrifical knife - but battling angry foliage was not what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. \n \nAs he finished the pile of leaves, he nodded. At least he could do his job well. All the leaves dropped by the flailing topiary swept neatly into a pile. He began counting. \n3...2...1... \nThe branch swept down and smashed into the heap, scattering his work. A deep chuckle escaped the bark as it threw the pile around. \nNodding in resignation, Laine stepped onto the path and started walking back to the temple. At least the tree gave him job security. \n \n\"Don't move heretic.\" Laine froze as a blade pressed against his neck. Damn, he should have been watching for the crusaders. It was the season for them, after all. \n\"Oh please don't kill me!\" He whimpered. \"I am but a humble slave, sent to tend the demon tree.\" \n\"Demon tree?\" \nLaine nodded (carefully - more than one acolyte had fallen to a vigorous confirmation) \"it is down there.\" He pointed. \"A source of Evil Power.\" \nThe crusader released him. \"Be free, slave. I shall go end this Demon's foul life.\" Laine watched them stride away, heroism bursting from every seam. He waited till they turned the corner and for the scream, before smiling and walking away. It caught them every time. What fools. He sighed. Still, it meant tomorrow he'd have to bring the mop as well. \nAh, well. Such was the life of a cultist." ]	[ 1, 3, 6, 14 ]	[ "1517073522", "1517080547", "1517092026", "1517076307" ]
	[WP] The sword Excalibur exists in this world (the one from King Arthur legend of the sword powers included) but the Pendragon bloodline died out centuries age and the sword was embedded in stone ever since, it's now a tourist attraction and you just pulled the sword from the stone.	101	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "I was on holiday in Britain, London to be exact. I turn on the tv in the hotel room, just as the bbc app displays a notification that that famous sword in the stone, from the legend of king arthur had been discovered! It was only a couple blocks from where I was staying, so i decided to go and check it out. I guess Camelot was engulfed by the London metro area. I'm Turkish, my family;s been in Turkey since the 500's. my family moved from North Africa to Constantinople under Justinian. Turkey had just joined the EU, when the Brexit negotiations had just a couple months left, so believe me, I booked a vacation to the UK as soon as I could.\n\nI arrived there and people were already lined up to try and pull it. Because I studied mythology as my major, I know the tale of King Arthur dates back to Roman times. I personally was a Roman, my family lived in the empire for Millennia, so I wondered, \"could I be descended from King Arthur? I did a quick google, and nobody in the British royal family could be, their line stops at William of Normandy, the original royals probably came over from denmark during the fall of the west. \n As I was looking at this, I glanced up and was at the front of the line. I gave my phone to my girlfriend, Maria, who was from Romania smiled, took a tug.... and fell over. \n I had relied on the sword to hold me up, but instead it just fell out. I had pulled the sword out of the stone!! \"Oh my god!\" she exclaimed \"you're the real king of england!\" I picked it up, put it back in, and then asked \"Could you pleas record me taking this out? I want this on video.\" she accepted, recorded, it came out, and then I uploaded it, and it went viral. I then took back to the hotel, after all, it was legally mine, because I would inherit it from King Arthur. \nOne year later, The hype had died down, and the sword was hanging on the wall in my room. I went to check my mail, found my check from youtube...then I noticed a strange letter, from England. the British government had seen it and invited me to dinner with the royal family. I had heard about the fact that british law dates back pretty far, and King Arthur's royal declaration was not going to be ignored. \nI went to the UK, bringing my sword, somehow getting it through my checked luggage, it being excalibur and all. and then I arrived. It was raining of course, and I went into the hotel, arrived at the palace, and was declared Duke of Camelot! They had created entirely new title for me! I now am a British citizen. I have a seat in the house of lords, a magic sword, and no claim to the throne because I'm not descended from George I.", "I hefted the sword in my hand placing one booted foot on the stone. The sword was heavy, but comfortable. It sang of the things we would do. The glorious wars we would fight. Honor and justice and power and lust and destruction. It all coursed through me as I held the sword aloft. \nThe sword sang to me, and I reveled in it. \n\n\"Put that back!\" \nA young woman stood at the edge of the crowd. She was out of breath, as though she had been running. And she was drenched. \n\"Huh?\" I asked, mouth-agape. \n\"I said put that back.\" she repeated sternly, wiping wet hair out of her eyes to fix me with a glare. \nI quickly slid the sword back into the stone and sheepishly stood to the side. \n\"Oh?\" A high, sharp voice taunted. \"Not starting a crusade of honor and glory, then?\" The crowd cackled and my ears burned with shame. \n\nBut what had I done wrong? \nThe man that had waited in line behind me tut-tutted and I tried to shrink into my clothes. But what had I done? \n\n\"Idiot child.\" He said, pushing past me. \"The sword's not the prize.\" \n\nI watched as he strained against the sword, muscles bulging, not pulling...rather pushing...\n\nThe stone resisted. With a start, I realized what that meant. The stone resisted Excalibur! \n\n\"The man's words jumped at me again: \"The sword's not the prize.\" \n\nThe stone is. \n", "\"Arthur didn't think he was someone special either.\" \n\n\n\"What?\" \n\n\n\"I'm just saying this has always been the nature of Excalibur. It was viewed as a novelty even in Arthur's time, nobody really thought it would ever been drawn from the stone. Arthur gave that name it's status just like you will make the name...\"\n\n\n\"Wong\"\n\"What?\"\n\n\n\"I'm 1/4 Chinese on my dad's side, everybody gives me shit when they hear my last name.\" I said a little ashamed.\n\n\n\"Very well, just like you will make the... Wong's a name of legend\" He said with a smirk.\n\n \n\"And who are you?\"\n\n\n\"My kind don't truly have names but I was known in the past as Merlin, you may call me that if it pleases you.\"\n\n\nI look at his face in disbelief. He dressed like an insurance salesman, non-descript polo shirt, a pair of khaki pants and.. wait.. nubalance sneakers?\n\n\n\"Are you serious? You are Merlin? Where is the beard? The robes? The magic?\"\n\n\n\"Do you really think I move about time dressed like that my boy? The version of me in your mind is from a time when that was more appropriate. Think, where are you now? You only just drew the sword moments ago.\"\n\n\nImmediately I regained my senses. He was right, the last thing I remembered was posing for a photo pretending the pull the sword. I felt the sword give just a bit and snap here I am, wherever this is. It feels like nowhere, I can't see the walls, even the ground I stand on seems non-descript and gray. I feel like I should be scared of this place but for some reason feel content. \n\n\n\"I created this pocket in time and space. A place for you to collect your thoughts, learn what has happened and make a plan for what's to come\"\n\n\n\"To come?\"\n\n\n\"The sword is yours, I doubt you will be waging war or slaying dragons with it but like I change for the time so does the power of the sword. This will not change, you are the master of it but there are choices to be made. Nobody knows you drew the sword. When you return you can simply release the handle, walk away, pretend nothing has happened. The sword will not be taken by another, you the one true king\"\n\n\n\"Then what?\"\n\n\n\"Then you carry on in the world, with a power of persuasion and influence that most men dream of but how do you weild it? Can you grow from this 30 year old man in a Star Wars shirt and baggy jeans into what you want to be simply based on influence and prestige?\" \n\n\nI look down at myself, a print shirt from target, levis and a pair of sneakers don't make much of a king.\n\n\n\"Would you be better served by being the man who drew excalibur? The world will know of your deed, the media will line up to tell your story, women will throw themselves at you to be your queen. A different story that is to be certain but is that the story you want to tell? I will be your loyal servant either way and you will be successful regardless. In some way the choice is irrelevant but in some ways it is the most important choice you will ever make. \"\n\n\n\"So what should I do?\"\n\n\n\"Choose\"\n ", "Today is the day. My parents have finally kept their promise to take me to Camelot World. I’m more than excited to finally get there. I have been obsessed with Camelot since my dad read me Arthurs tale to me when I was 4 years old. Now that I am 12 and can read for myself I have read all the different versions from the classic French medieval literature to the modern impetrations of him. He saw a resurgence in popularity a couple years ago after Disney realise a film about him. Some people decided to build Camelot World around his famous sword Excalibur which still rests in the stone he put it in all those years ago. It’s hard to believe that he was a real character as there have been so many stories about him and what he did. Evan harder when Excalibur is right there, shining in all it’s glory, just waiting to be wielded again, it’s not even rusted though it has seen the passage of time for a thousand years or more. Everyone knows that his bloodline ended centuries ago so that is unlikely to happen, yet people still try and hoist it out of the rock to see if they are worthy.\n\nI get in the car and we set off, it’s not a long journey to get there and I’m talking to them all the way through the journey even though I see their look of annoyance on their faces I can’t stop myself. Camelot World has a large carpark and it is half full by the time we get there with lots of families taking their kids to see the attraction as well as several lone adults wishing to see it as well. The tickets into the park aren’t too expensive I see as I read the sign as we enter the park and step back in time. It’s all made to look like Anglo-Saxon Britain when Arthur was meant to rule the land and it was known as Albion. Once we are in the park I try to race off to see it all, but my father keeps me close at hand saying he didn’t want me getting lost. There are people wondering around in costumes from that time, each giving facts about what it was like to live under the rule of Arthur. We see blacksmiths and farmers, weavers and merchants. As we get closer to the main attraction at the centre of Camelot World we see knights wondering around and sometimes they fight each other to the cheering of the crowd. There are many building to look at as well, all built from wood or even mud with hay roofs like there were in that age and it’s so interesting to see how we once lived.\n\nWe finally get to the sword in the stone and it is just as I imagined. A great big shining blade able to cut through anything with a simple handle. Everyone gets to have a go at pulling it out of the stone and of course no one does. My dad tries before me and nothing happens. Now it is my go and as my fist wraps around the handle I feel the sword vibrate with power. I give it a yank and it comes out of the stone so easily. Everyone around me has a face of shock. They all must be thinking how a 12-year-old could be worthy of wielding such power, but the sword has chosen me and I feel proud of that. My dad tries to take it from me of course, saying it is too dangerous for someone so young to wield but as he takes the handle to sword vibrates again and he goes flying off like he’s just received an electric shock.\n\n“Dad I don’t think you can take it off me, it has chosen me” I say as he gets up and he nods.\n\n“The young man is smart at least, I have waited so long for your return Arthur, the world has greatly change since you was last here” an old man says who I’d not notice before, he was dressed as Merlin and held one of his hands a staff whilst the other held the scabbard for Excalibur.\n\n“You think I’m Arthur but that’s not my name” I say to him.\n\n“I know that you are Arthur no matter what you claim to go by now, you did pull the sword from the stone after all and only he did that” Merlin said.\n\n“That is true, so I’m like the reincarnation of him?” I ask.\n\n“Well I guess you could say that and with my help you will remember your past life and be Arthur once again” Merlin said.\n\n“Who are you?” I ask.\n\n“I am Merlin of course, I’m surprised you don’t recognise me” Merlin said.\n\n“Well I can see that you are dressed like him but I thought you was one of the actors at this place” I reply.\n\n“Ah understandable mistake. I am no actor I am the man himself, here to help you in whatever way I can, now come with me we have a lot to do” Merlin said with a smile and a beckoning hand.\n\n“My son will go nowhere with an old man like you” my dad said finding his voice.\n\n“Ah the father and I sense the mother close by as well, you may come as well, Arthur is not yet old enough to do what needs to be done and we have a lot to do” Merlin said.\n\n“Let’s go with him dad” I say.\n\n“No, I will not allow it” my dad replies.\n\n“You ever come willing with me or I take the boy anyway, you can’t stop a wizard” Merlin says.\n\n“Just watch me” my dad replies and he charges at Merlin who just points his staff and my dad freezes where he is.\n\n“Come boy” Merlin says.\n\n“He’ll be ok, won’t he?” I ask.\n\n“Fine as soon as I’m away from here he shall unfreeze” Merlin said with a smile.\n\n“Ok” I say and I go with him, my mum also comes with us and once we are out of the park Merlin taps his staff on the ground and we are transported to a tower like none I’ve ever seen.\n\n“This shall be your home for a while whilst I train you” Merlin says and I merely nod.\n", "“Bruv, you’ve got to be quieter, yeah? We’ll get nicked if you keep acting up! I don’t need to get fired.”\n\n“Fired, why? You work here and its your job to show people around the museum, fam!”\n\n“During the day, you git. Not late at night, drunk, and certainly not in here!”\n\n“Aaah.. it were all Artie’s fault anyway, wasn’t it? He’s the one whats pining over Gwen!”\n\n\nThe others seemed to agree it was all my fault and, I suppose, it was true in a way. Gwen was Guinevere Alice Elizabeth Allen Windsor, properly Princess Guinevere. She was the third daughter, but fifth child, of the fourth son of King Harry, so the whole royal family would have to be wiped out before she got the throne. \n\nMe? I was the American born bastard of a minor lord who had the money to get me into Cambridge. Arthur William Pendleton at your service. You can imagine the ribbing I got in school back in the States. Still, the Arthurian legends and histories fascinated me and, when I met Gwen at school, I was more determined than ever to do what they said couldn’t be done.\n\nSilly? Sure, but dreams… dreams are powerful things. Lust is too.\n\nSo here we were, in the infamous Tower of London. Markus, a classmate and son of a minor lord, had a part time job giving tours here to school children. He was a history major at school, so it made sense in a way, and it provided him with some extra coin to drink up on the weekends.\n\nWith his employee security pass we were able to come in through the employee entrances and bypassed the folderol the common tourists were forced to endure out front. We made our way through the museum, being quiet as church mice… okay, drunken church mice. \n\nUnlike the crown jewels that were behind the most impressive security I had ever heard of, the sword and stone were behind a velvet rope. The stone weighed in at well over two Imperial tonnes and no one was going to stick it in a bag and make off with it after all.\n\n“There, you’ve seen it. Can we go now?” Markus asked, wringing his hands.\n\n“Sure thing, Markus. Right after I do this.” I told him happily, stepping over the rope and wrapping my fingers around the well-worn, plain wood grip.\n\nThat’s all I recall. Really! I woke up some indeterminate time later in a jail cell. Okay, fine, be pedantic. No, I didn’t know it was a jail cell. I woke up, manacled to what appeared to be a hospital bed, complete with beeping monitors and an IV in my left arm. The room was otherwise featureless except for a solid steel door with no handle on this side and a long lighting fixture sunk into the ceiling with a heavy wire mesh over it. Happy now? Can I continue?\n\nAnyway, I woke up in a jail cell. I suppose there must have been a camera in there because when I raised my head to get a look around, and rattled my manacled hands too, there was a harsh clunking sound and the imposing steel door opened inward.\n\nMy, oh my. That nurse looked a little like Princess Meghan, King Harry’s beautiful wi… um… the guards with her were glaring at me as if daring me to breath.\n\n“Your highness. I would bow but I seem to be restrained.” I said, carefully. I was not one to bow and scrape, I was an American no matter that half my genetic material came from here. Still, I didn’t want to piss off the heavily armed men who were scowling at me, did I? No I did not.\n\n“Arthur, Guinevere tells me that you are a very nice young man, once she is quite fond of.” Princess Meghan said, her hands folded demurely over her still flat and trim middle. Four Sons and she looked as good as she did when she was an actress. GILF!\n\n“I am glad to hear she does not think badly of me, your highness. A schoolboy prank gone wrong, or so I would have thought. I can’t imagine why I am in the dungeon.” I told her, cracking a smile.\n\nShe laughed and the sound was delightful. “You know, when Harry and I first started dating, I asked him if there really were dungeons that the Queen could toss people in to for displeasing her. He told me that they really did exist, but were tourist traps these days. Instead, she had them jailed ‘At the Queen’s Pleasure.” That meant that they stayed in jail until she stopped being mad. Since she held a grudge until it died of old age, then had it stuffed and mounted so she could keep it with her, that could be a very, very long time.”\n\nI listened in fascination. In the US, Princess Meghan was as much a legend as Princess Grace had been generations before. She was an American girl, of mixed heritage too, and she had married an honest to god Prince. The death of his older brother left him on the throne when Prince Charles abdicated after his stroke, and Princess Meghan was the next best thing to a Queen. I think every boy in America had a crush on her at one time or another.\n\n“So, am I to be jail until the King forgives me?” I asked, making a joke of it, but seriously concerned at this point. They didn’t send the wife of the King to deal with pranksters.\n\n“No, actually.” she said, an odd look on her face. She nodded to the guards who, unhappily, came forward to undo my shackles.\n\nNothing more was said as I was handed my clothes. The Princess turned her back with a grin on her face, and allowed me to get dressed without embarrassing myself. From the cell we traveled silently up several levels via elevator and came out, much to my surprise, in the museum again! We really had been in the dungeons of the Tower of London!\n\nI recognized the route we took and I wasn’t all that surprised when I found myself back in front of the stone again. There, laying on the carpet, being closely guarded by what seemed like a company of fully armed and armored troops… was Excalibur.\n\n“Arthur, if you would be so kind as to pick up that sword.” King Harry entered the room, his voice instantly recognizable and it took everything I had in me to keep from falling to my knees. That he had Gwen with him, the girl I had been obsessing over was, strangely, a minor thing.\n\nYeah, I know, I know, that whole American’s don’t fawn thing. Fuck that, the man had the power to make me disappear! He had almost single-handedly made Britain a world power again. He had overseen the return of the British Empire and was counted as the second, maybe third depending on who you asked, most powerful man in the world.\n\n“Your majesty, I beg your pardon?” I squeaked out.\n\n“Your sword, Arthur. Pick it up, please.” he asked quietly, his eyes locked on mine.\n\nAlmost against my own volition, I bent and my hand wrapped around the hilt of the sword. I was ready for another great shock but, instead, I felt warmth spread up my arm and through my body. In my head a small voice was heard, “At long last...”\n\nWhen I looked up from the otherwise unremarkable sword in my hand, every person in the room, including King Harry, Princess Meghan and Princess Guinevere, were kneeling.\n\nOh fuck.\n", "There we were standing in line for the Excalibur Sword. My boyfriend John wanted to get touristy photos with it, trying to pull it out as though he was Arthur. I thought this was hokey, but we had another half-day in the quiet English village. This was just a farce the townspeople played on the tourists to keep them from exploiting their beautiful countryside vistas. Under the guise of germs, there was a £10 charge to attempt to pull the sword. I suspected this was just an idiot tax, but I did not want to tell John that. Since we were backpacking across the countryside and running dangerously low on funds, I told John he could try to pull the sword while I took photos. There was no point in both of us wasting the money after all.\n\nAll in all, it took four hours for us to get to the front of the line. Macho Eastern European men pulled with bulging muscles. Thin Asian girls hilariously fell to the ground as they pulled with all their might. Young people pulled. Old people pulled. Then it was finally time for John to go. The employee withdrew his hand to take money and frowned when I said I would be taking the photo only.\n\nJohn wanted two photos. First, he wanted a photo of him pulling with the stone and sword in perfect view. I shot him with his cheeks puffed out. I could not stop laughing as I took this photo of his unsuccessful attempt. The second photo he wanted was a closeup from the vantage of the stone. The employee did not want me to get that close to the stone, but there I was right under the sword taking the photo. I snagged that photo right as the employee was shooing us away from the stone.\n\nBecause of my position on top of the stone, I put my hand on the hilt of Excalibur to help me stand up. Expecting that it would stay put, I felt this was the best option. It did help me get to my feet, but I did not expect what happened next. The mythical sword then came out of the stone smoother than a hot knife through butter. For a brief second, I looked at the sword. Then, nervously, I returned the sword to the stone hoping no one had seen this. I should not have been there. This should not have been happening. I should not have taken that godforsaken photo.\n\n“Whoa! We got ourselves a future Queen of England!” Someone shouted in the crowd. There were further shouts from the line of people. Instead of letting this continue, I sighed before I did something I had prayed I would never need to do. I helped convince everyone that this had been a figment of their imagination, something my brief stint as an enchantress had helped me perfect.\n\nI really should not have come to this sleepy town in England. My mother had told me about the legends and our ancestry when I had been a child. I was supposedly the greatest grandchild of Morgan Le Fay and an enchanted Arthur. My mother had convinced me to train as enchantress for much of my teenage years until I had stopped that training abruptly when I had gone off to college. I wanted the bloodline to end with me. There was no way I would become the Queen of England.", "It’s been a millennia since Excalibur was embedded within the stone. A millennia has passed this legendary weapon. It had seen empires rise and fall, technological advances come to light that previously only Merlin could conjure. \n\nArthur was barren. He bore no offspring, and his lineage was nonexistent. His final wish to his most trusted confidantes was to help him put Excalibur back from whence it came. Arthur could not afford to let the mighty sword fall into the wrong hands. \n\nI had heard the stories of the millions who would try and pluck the blade from its slumber, each and every one unworthy. Excalibur sat. Bided its time. Weathered the millennia. Sorted through those who were unfit to wield its might. There aren’t many left to make the attempt now after The Collapse. Anyone who is left are more concerned with making it through the night than claiming the rusty broadsword. \n\nOn one of my scavenger runs I saw the rusted sign. \n\nCamelot 2 KM\n\nI had yet to make a run though the old settlement, so I marched unto the not so ancient city. Canned goods. MREs. Bullets. This place was quite the goldmine. My pack was full, and my hopes were high. I just walked for a while until I stumbled upon the city square. You could still see what was left of those unfortunate people waiting in line to see if they had what it took to unsheathe Excalibur. Hallowed city, just like the rest. I waded through the bones in the square to reach the stone pedestal that held the blade. I didn’t even pull, Excalibur had ejected itself when I had merely touched the hilt. \n\nIt’s age had shown. Time was not a friend of this blue steel blade. Brittle, Broken, Shattered. \n\nIf I were worthy of this power I wasn’t going to let this be the end of the weapon. I brought the remnants of the blade to my bunker, and began the forging and metalwork to recreate the mythic weapon. \n\nIntricate Inlays, Beautiful Binding, Smooth Fan of the Hammer.\n\nExcalibur. A deadly, and elegant weapon, for a not so civilized age. The Blue-Steel revolver was everything a Gunslinger like myself could hope for. Everything I would need protect the Dark Tower, and take down The Man in Black.\n\n\n\n" ]	[ 1, 1, 3, 3, 4, 9, 18, 50 ]	[ "1517124652", "1517184411", "1517141413", "1517162673", "1517140098", "1517155080", "1517134739", "1517133250" ]
[removed]	[WP] Saw them blank a kid yesterday. Sixteen, eighteen tops. Dragged him into the street, didn't stop until the screaming did. Mother just stood and watched, and wept. Wonder what the bastard did to deserve it.	1	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nWhile it doesn't seem to be your intent, the mods reserve the right to remove anything we feel may become harmful to the community. This includes prompts likely to generate such responses. \n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7tk1ma/wp_saw_them_blank_a_kid_yesterday_sixteen/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1517143466", "1517155220" ]
	[WP] A vampire commissions you to paint a portrait of her, she's spent centuries wanting to know how she looks.	493	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "She was beauty in a faded wedding dress, the white silk crumpling underneath the aged frail body. She was ancient and tired, but walked with the poise and grace of a 20 year old. She was an anomaly in her own right, I mean who could’ve expected Vampires? When I took the job in Vienna I was just looking for some quick cash to continue my travels around Europe. But when I saw her. She, with her tarnished beauty, I was hooked in an instant.\n\nAs she sat in-front of the eisle she told me of her life. Grand and fantastic, she was once, many years ago an Austrian Duchess. She told me how the boys lined up to tell her she was the most beautiful girl in Vienna. The grand balls and the shimmering lights of a life she lost long ago. She told me that she hadn’t seen herself in over 150 years, and that she doesn’t feel any different than she used to. I pitied her, living alone in this grand empty house. Her family long dead, her children lost to the long years. \n\nI wanted to paint her as I saw her, a true Austrian beauty, the most beautiful girl in Vienna. not the faded shell of a rotten monster that was posed in front of me. It all came so naturally to me, the years fell away with the strokes of the brush. Her pallid eyes were once again filled with the radiance that struggled to shine through the years of agony. \n\nI smile crossed my face when I signed my name in the bottom left corner. The painting was everything she was. When I showed it to her, her face became distorted with a feeling she hadn’t felt in years. Hope.\n\n\nPlease be kind, I got bored and decided to give this a go, it’s my first time be nice!", "I’ve been working as a freelance artist for years now. I wouldn’t say I earned big bucks, or had tons of clout-- I was no Damien Hirst, just enough to get by. But I sure did come across all sorts of clients. You’ve got the loyal customers, the one-time patron who just cashes in a cheque which makes up one month’s worth of salary, the nightmare ones who want perfection in every little detail and send your work back to you multiple times, and the handful of oddballs who request eclectic art but cash in almost immediately after you finish their product. \n\nBut it was my first time painting a vampire.\n\nVampires used to be part of our world once upon a time. But as humans hunted, killed and became more civilised (ironic, I know), their genetic pool died out rapidly. Now they were about as rare as Siberian Tigers. \n\nWhen the email came in, I was doubtful that I would come face-to-face with an actual vampire. People nowadays, you can’t take them at their word. But when she walked into my studio, I knew she was the real deal. \n\nShe had on a dark veil which partially shielded her face. Her skin was not particularly pale-- a myth perpetuated by the ignorant masses, because vampires do use products to make themselves have darker-coloured skin to blend in. The thing that gave her away, though, was definitely the way she walked in-- she didn’t. She had on kitten heels but they made no sound at all on the porcelain tiles.\n\n“You may begin.” her voice came out smooth as velvet, deeper than a conventional female’s but incredibly soothing and hypnotic.\n\nShe pulled back the veil, brushing away the strands of hair which curled up against her cheek. \n\nI felt my grip loosen and my paintbrush fall to the ground. \n\nShe looked exactly like me.\n\n", "You nervously scratch around channeling your best artistic ability, but, as expected, only a stick figure comes out. You were never the artistic type, and it was unreasonable to expect that just because the undead commands you, you could suddenly produce a Renoir.\n\nThe vampire looks at your work, and you await with bated breath, trying to read his expression, knowing, that within the next 30 seconds, you will probably die.\n\nThe vampire, however, breaks out into a loud peal of laughter. It fills the room and sends him in contortions until he falls on the floor into a collapsed pile of trembling flesh. If you can call it flesh, that is.\n\nYou remain frozen in fear. You yearn to run, but are instead glued to the floor. I guess fear can do that.\n\nSlowly, he rises. Hands you the paper back. Says: 'I should've known better. Of all the people I could've chosen throughout the eons, famous artists exhibited in museums the world over, I had to choose you. I gotta hand it to you. Your stick figure effort is....original\", he waved his hand towards the morning paper, which happened to feature the comic xkcd with a stick figure protagonist just exactly like your vampire portrait.\n\nYou can't help but look at him pleadingly, your hands shaking as you take the paper back, wondering if this, or the next one right after it, will be your last breath.\n\nThe vampire gives you a hard slap in the back. \"I like you, kid. You're sincere and not pretentious, and I deserved that, for my vanity.\"\n\nThe vampire gives you one last quick glance, chuckles, and jumps out of your window, vanishing into the night.\n\nYou never see him again.", "\"Why have you given me a blank canvas\" said the women.\n\n\"Honey, I promise, the paint will not stick,\" said the painter, \"It is as if your body will not be painted.\" The artist pulled a canvas out of box that had been brought in and placed on the easel. He then easily painted the wall where the lady had once been. He tried again and again and all through night and day, all he could make was a painting of the wall. One of those paintings would go on to be quite famous, but Van Gogh would never reveal what really went on that day, nor why this lady received his ear.\n\nAlternatively,\n\nIt was truly a masterpiece, thought David. A young man in his early college years. He turned the canvas towards his subject. Everything about the piece was masterful, even the brushstrokes. David had no idea what made it so beautiful, he had been flunking for the past 3 months.\n\n\"Marvelous!\" said the women. She went off into another room to grab something, leaving David to stare at his art. It almost seemed to fade, even if ever so slowly, when he squinted at it. She came back with a check for $1,000. He couldn't believe his luck.\n\n\"Thank you so much!\" she said.\n\n\"No, I'm just amazed it turned out so well.\"\n\nDavid would never find out, but the painting would go on to sell for millions because in less than 20 years, all that would be left would be red brushstrokes.\n\nHonestly surprised I didn't see something like this already.", "\nI stare at the woman with clothes fit for royalty. Her hair styled in a regal up do fit for a Queen of France, framing her lovely face; while her dressing gown complements her very pale skin. The corset made her already womanly figure more pronounced; the tops of her breast exposed but not too much, just teasingly peeking through all the frills of lace and muslin. All in all, she looks magnificent; tall and proud, but still sweet and becoming. Slightly seductive and calculating. A true vision worthy for the gods.\n\nAnd as I take note of all the details that has been offered in front of me and have sketched her alluring stance, I pick up my paint brush and started to put this magnificence into my art.\n\n---------------------\n\n“You do realize that mirrors nowadays do not contain any silver. You may see what you look like in them now” I told her, while sipping warm tea to ease my nerves.\n\n“Yes, yes, I do know that. But the reflections we see in mirrors nowadays are morphed” she said as she stared at her reflection.\n\n“Morphed?” I asked.\n\n“Yes, morphed. You see, my reflection right here looks different from what you are seeing.”\n\n“How so?”\n\n“Our minds bend and mold our reflection to resemble what we perceive we look like. Here I am standing tall and proud, like I am most beautiful girl in the world. But to you, I may look different.”\n\nNonsense I thought. You look as beautiful as the day I first laid my eyes on you, you seductive wench\n\n“Then use a camera to photograph yourself. It has no mind, surely the photograph will not be morphed.” I countered. But they would still capture your captivating eyes and pretty face.\n\n“Yes, it won’t but I don’t fancy that. I want to see my reflection on other people’s eyes. I want to see myself how they see me. I want the essence of myself from other people’s souls. That’s what I want, not something produced by a mechanical thing” she said with disgust. “What I want, is the true reflection of myself. And to acquire that, I need people who has been in my life for so long, define it for me”\n\n“Well then, what should we do. It’s been centuries since you’ve obsessed with your reflection. And honestly, it is getting out of hand” I casually remarked. Her obsession with seeing her TRUE reflection has been getting on my nerves now for years; hundreds of years in fact.\n\n“Paint me.” She spoke with a tone of whimsy and fascination. “Paint me as you’ve painted one of your muses so long before. Paint me in my utmost prime.” She said as she stared into my eyes.\n\n“What’s in it for me?” I asked.\n\nSlowly she walked towards me, her hips swaying a little. She bent to meet my face, moved her face towards my ears and whispered in her most tempting voice “I’ll give you what your heart desires the most.”\n\nI can only nod.\n\n---------------------\n\n“This… this is it?” She exclaimed, her eyes watery and incredulous. \n\nMy hands are tired, be specked by paint. My clothes destroyed, mixed in various colors from my palette. But the painting is complete, and in it, is her reflection based on me. \n\nHer essence that she left in my soul; her worth based on my eyes.\n\n“Is it really me?” She asked, unbelieving my masterpiece that is in front of her.\n\n“It is. You and all of your magnificence in paint.” I said.\n\nWords cannot do justice on how the painting radiated. She looks like a true goddess, but on closer inspection, her eyes betray her proud stance. Loneliness and fear wrapped with coldness and rage, for while being painted she realized what she has gambled.\n\n“It is truly magnificent.” She said, with tears in her eyes. \n\n“It is. For you are one magnificent creature” I said with all honesty. And no matter what you’ve done to me before, you still are the only one in my heart and soul\n\n“Must I really…” she said, hesitating. Her eyes begging me to say no.\n\n“Yes” I said. “You told me you’ll give my heart’s desire. And I only desire one thing” I said as I caressed her cheeks.\n\n“Very well” she replied with tears in her eyes. “A deal is a deal.”\n\nI stare at her eyes, her beautiful and haunting eyes, as she stabbed me with a wooden stake.\n\nI am sorry my love, but my heart desires to be at peace\n", "“Paint me.”\n\nI never knew two simple words could seduce me so easily, but this was one tall drink I could not resist. Twelve long hours in the studio had me hungry for some actual human interaction, and maybe even the touch of a woman. Felicia approached me first. I was lost in a whirlwind of ideas and techniques I wanted to pursue in the coming days at the studio. I guess it was the portfolio in my hands that tipped her off as to my profession, but the way she spoke was so inviting that I hung on every word as it passed her cherry red lips. \n\n\nIt wasn’t long before we walked back to the studio talking of small things in this big world. While we walked, I took in her features. I knew I would have to take all of her in if I wanted to do my job and do it right. I’ve been an artist all my life, and a slight perfectionist, so Felicia was perfect for me. Her face was gentle and knowing, and her eyes were a hazel that almost looked gray, if you looked at it in the right light. She had chestnut brown hair flowing freely in the wind as she gracefully took each step. It was almost as if she was sure of every step she was taking, as if she’d owned the very earth we both stepped on. I couldn’t help but be entranced by the aura she seemed to emit. This was the kind of person I’d been wanting to paint for my whole life. I felt like I was marching towards a new future, anchored by merry thoughts about the renown I would receive from being able to put such a creature to paper.\n\n\nIt was long work, long and challenging. There were moments where I doubted my ability to bring her to life. I painted and painted… and repainted. But despite my inner struggles, on the outside I was calm and driven to finish. Felicia waited intently. She had not said a word since I had begun painting, only looked at me intently, as if waiting for me to give her the final nod that indicated the end of my work. And then, in the dead of night, I finished. Just like that. There she was, on the canvas. I had to admit that it was the best piece I had ever created. I looked Felicia dead in the eyes… and nodded. Before I could even register it, she was next to me, looking at the picture. She looked for a long while. I looked for a long while too. Before either of us managed to break the silence, she broke into tears. My clients are usually ecstatic when I finish my works, but when I looked at Felicia, it seemed like something inside of her had broken. She was angry and sad and happy and amazed and everything in between. Every emotion in the book flashing across her face. But at the end of it all there was just tears, and a blank face. As if she were somewhere, further away. Her tears flowed freely and all I could do was wait silently for her to feel up to talking.\n\nI managed to sit her down and get her to drink some water. She didn’t take her eyes off the painting for a long time.\n\n“That’s the first time I’ve seen what I look like.” She said simply. Confusion filled me. \n\n“What?” I asked.\n\n“You have given me something worth more to me than all of my years combined.” She said to me earnestly.\n\n“You’re welcome!” I said easily. I always appreciated hearing kind words about my pieces.\n\n“John, you have satisfied the one desire I have had since I was brought back into this world. Anything at all, you name it and it’s yours.” \n\n\nShe stared at me.\nI stared back.\n\n\nAt that point her eyes were devouring me. We were staring for a long time; however, I had known the answer before she even asked the question.\n\n“Felicia, the only thing I would take in return of this work of art, is another one in return.” I looked at her pointedly, my implication clear. A smile curled up at the side of her lips, and she had a wicked grin.\n\n”Then we are each other’s, forever.” And before I knew it, she was at my neck.\n", "First of all, this chick has a reflection. I saw it as she waltzed across the studio to me and lorded over my desk. There she was, mirrored in my black coffee, as clear as a photograph. She didn't even realize it but I did. \n\nShe told me that she was a vampire. Mind you, this announcement wasn’t done in a normal way, like someone saying, \"I'm Jewish,\" or, \"I'm American,\" or even, \"I'm Libertarian.\" No, this chick, she went for drama. All drama. Dressed in the gothic Lolita style and taking baby steps across the floor like she was mimicking a ballerina. \n\nHer accent? A fake number. I was not sure what she was gunning for. French? Posh English? Russian? It switched with every other word. My guess, her real accent is probably some heavy regional American accent. A Masshole accent given the crowd that swims around this part of town. But I get it, why she was putting a fake one on. Who has ever heard of a Boston vampire? I almost laughed in her face at the thought of it. A Boston vampire. No, a Boston ”vampah!” Again, like I said, I get it. If you are going to run around playing vampire, you want to sound the part. At least she looked the part easy enough. I used to be like her when I was her age. I had my own macabre style down. Only I was Goth. Listened to Red Lorry, Yellow Lorry. Had my own subscription to Propaganda. And certainly owned my fair share of black clothing. Though this chick had one up on me. She had fangs. Realistic ones too. Not the pearly white ones that they sell at those pop-up Halloween stores every year. These were a bit yellow. A bit off colored. Like natural teeth.\n\nShe went on and said that she had not seen her reflection in centuries. Said this while pressing her hand against her temple and throwing her head back in fashion. Like I said, drama. She wanted me to paint her so that she could see her face again. Then she slammed a stack of hundreds down on my desk. Two grand worth in total. \n\nHow could I say no? I've got bills to pay. \n\nSo, here I am painting her as she sits in the armchair like a queen. I can't say that I mind at all. I don't get to do portraits much anymore. These days, everyone would rather be immortalized through selfies. That means I am stuck doing commercial work. One can only do so much cereal box art before one starts to crack.\n\nShe is so quiet though. Usually, I like to talk to my clients. Helps me get a feel for them. \n\nFrom my canvas, I dip my toe. \"So, Clara,\" that was the name she gave me, Clara Bloodstone. Yep, that’s a winner. \"How did you become a vampire?\"\n\nShe doesn't move a muscle except for her mouth. \"I was bitten, silly. Just like every other vampire.\"\n\n\"Oh, of course, of course.” I mock hit my forehead. “And who bit you?\"\n\n\"A duke. Sabriel Van Blut. The most beautiful man you will ever meet.\"\n\nSurprised she didn't go for a prince or a king. But, hey, a duke is still royalty. \n\n\"How did you meet this duke?\" I rinse my paintbrush and switch colors. \"Were you a royal as well?\"\n\nA smile twitches across her face for a second. \"Oh, yes. I was a princess. My father was a king of a mountain kingdom.\"\n\nOkay, she made herself the higher royal. Cute. A bit bat shit crazy but, hey, two grand allows you to say anything you want. \n\n\"So, this duke? Did he attack you? Like you two met, fell in love and you learned his secret. And then he bit you. Turned you because he couldn’t bare to be without you or something? Or did he just say like, “Hi,” and then BAM! Went straight for the throat?\"\n\nShe frowns. I feel like I’ve just crossed a line even though I am not sure where the line is with this girl. I rinse my brush again and drop my gaze. \n\n\"Why are you asking so many questions?\" she says in a deadpan voice. \n\n\"Just making small talk.\"\n\n\"Over me being a vampire?\"\n\nHer tone, the sudden coldness of it, is making the hair on my arms stand up. I am not sure why. This girl is about half my height and size. And yet the lizard part of my brain is lighting up. Something is telling me to run. \n\n\"Are you making fun of me?\" she asks. \"I saw you laugh.\"\n\nI put down my brush. I am being called out. I don't like it. \"I didn't laugh.\"\n\n\"I saw your face. You did.\"\n\nTwo thousand dollars, I tell myself. Two thousand dollars. It's already in my desk. I am not giving it back. Even if this does go further south. I hold my breath and count to five. I look back at her. \"I'm sorry, Clara, if you mistook me. I did not laugh.\"\n\n\"You don't think I am a vampire.\"\n\nThe lizard part of my brain is starting to wake up the rest of my brain. I am at a loss for words. \n\nBut she makes up for it. \"I am a vampire.\" She is staring at me unblinking. \"I've taken lives.\"\n\nShit. We are now moving from geeky, I have a Twilight altar in my bedroom crazy to I plan to wear your scalp like a hat crazy. I step back from my canvas. \"I think we should end this session for today, Clara. You are starting to say things that are making me feel uncomfortable.\" \n\nShe smiles wide. Purposely showing her fangs. Only with her mouth open as such, I can see the edge of them. Where her real teeth end and the prosthetic begins. I should feel better about this. The fakeness of it all. This girl playing Hollywood vampire. Only I don't. \n\n\"Clara, I think you should leave.\"\n\nShe rises from her chair. Still smiling. Eyes locking with mine. A low growl comes from her. Rumbling deep within her chest. Reminds me of a tiger. Of a predator. \n\n\"Clara.\"\n\n\"I'm thirsty.\"\n\n\"This isn't a game.\"\n\n\"I'm not playing. I am so thirsty.\" \n\n\"You're not a vampire, Clara. You are just a girl who likes to think she is. Who likes to play she is. You're not supernatural.\"\n\nShe takes one tiny step toward over me. Her feet pad in complete silence. \"Supernatural. Natural. What does it matter? All a vampire is in the end is someone who drinks blood.” Another step. “I drink blood.\" \n\nMy own heart falls to my stomach. \"Don't.\"\n\n“But I am so thirsty.\" \n", "It was an eerie thing that happened to me one day. I was out on the streets of England when a beautiful maiden appeared before me right when the sun went down. She said hello and I greeted her back. The next thing I was sitting down with her at a pub talking about my life. I mentioned to her that I was a struggling artist and that I had nothing to offer her. She laughed mildly at my statement and told me that she had plenty of money that she didn't need any man to help her out. I felt embarrassed that I had somehow slipped my mind and was already to commit with her. She had this glowing face full of beauty which I had never seen before. Whilst I was thinking that she mentioned that she had a request for me knowing that I was an artist. She asked me if I would be willing to paint her portrait in return for some money. I didn't want to be rude and accept right away so I asked her if it was for a special occasion. She smiled a warm smile and said that it was indeed for a special occasion. I agreed and she gave me her address and told me to come the next day around 8 o'clock to begin the painting. I said it would be a pleasure and left.\n\nAs I was walking home I started to think about the woman. She was the most splendid looking person I had ever met, but she didn't act as if she knew how gorgeous she was. I settled into my home and went to sleep.\n\nThe next day I went to see her around the specified time she had given. When I arrived I couldn't help but be amazed at the size of her home. She lived a damn castle! I rang the bell and a voice spoke from a speaker that it was open. I opened the gate and let myself in. I wondered who she could be and then it left my mind as fast as it had entered. I wanted to remember her as I had met her. \n\nWhen I got to the front door it was cracked open and I could hear music playing. I wasn't sure if I should enter but I heard her voice signal me in. Once I stepped inside I was surprised by what I saw. \n\nThere were skeletons all over and some of them even had flesh still on them. \n\n\"Oh, don't mind them. They were all people who couldn't do what they said they did.\"\n\nI looked up the stairway and there she was in an evening gown with a strawberry shake in her hands. \n\n\"Now that you have seen this, there is no way I can let you leave.\"\n\nThe door closed behind me and I heard a lock. What have I gotten myself into I thought. She motioned for me to enter a room to my right and I gulped and went in. \n\nEverything was ready for the painting. \n\n\"Sit. We shall now begin.\"\n\nI sat on the stool behind the canvas and looked at her for further instruction. \n\n\"Well, where do I stand? Or sit? Maybe lay?\" she asked.\n\n\"If you don't mind laying down, I would like to paint you on the couch.\"\n\nShe took off her gown and my heart skipped. I didn't know how full bodied she was until I truly saw her naked. \n\n\"Is something the matter?\" she asked when she noticed that I was just staring.\n\n\"No, I just wasn't expecting this.\"\n\n\"No one ever does. That's the secret of death, my dear.\"\n\nI knew my life was over when when I finished the painting and she looked at it for a long time. \n\n\"Well, this is a surprise. I thought I was ugly.\"\n\n ", "Commissions for portraits are highly sought after nowadays, especially from the vampire community. It was a freelance commission that had been passed over to me from a friend of a friend. “You’re a painter” he said. “I know someone who might be interested in offering you a job.” \n\nNow here she is, sat on my sofa and posing extravagantly. She hired a hair and make up artist this morning to curl her ashy black hair and give dimension and definition to her small face and eyes. I pick up a charcoal pencil to sketch an outline, and as I press it against the canvas, I look up at her and freeze. An overpowering feeling of dread gathers like ice around my neck and chest. It is at this moment that I realise I am faced with a choice. Either I sketch a cool, beautiful and statuesque woman with grace, dignity and astonishing bone structure, or I sketch what is in front of me: an eighteen year old brat with a dodgy perm and a face like a steak and ale pie. While considering this decision, it is important to remember that she has fangs. ", "It's been eight months, and he can delay it no longer. His steady hand, belying the cold fear that twists its way through his body, lays down the final stroke of paint, and he steps back for the full view. \n\nIt's breathtaking. Her face is so lifelike he would almost believe that she resides in the canvas, were the original not standing ten feet away. The delicate curve of her neck is exact, the haughty angle of her pointed chin precise. Her eyes glitter out at him, sending shivers of fear- or is that desire?- down his spine. \n\nHis own eyes slide over to his model, a statue of ageless beauty. He cannot even fathom the centuries she has seen, the history to which she has been privy. He does not know how old she is, but he knows she has seen dynasties fall and empires topple. She has seen kings born, rule, and die of old age, and she has been party to the changing of power in their own corner of the world on several occasions. \n\nStill, he does not know why she chose him to show her a glimpse of the face she has not seen since she was new. He wars with himself, and cannot yet decide if he regrets her decision or not. \n\nHer face is turned away, but she knows he is watching her. Not a single hair moves when she speaks to him in her husky, languid voice. \n\n\"It is done.\" Not a question, but a statement.\n\n\"Yes.\" The single word is all he can manage. \n\nWhen she turns her head to look at him, he knows that she can hear his heartbeat accelerate. He knows she can hear his breathing quicken as terror and want battle within him. The corner of her mouth curves upward, the perfectly subtle act making her amusement at his traitorous body known. \n\nHer movements toward him are smooth and slow, a practiced and purposeful behavior honed so as not to frighten the mortals with whom she comes into contact. She nears him, and his instincts simultaneously tell him to run away from her and to lay himself down at her feet. \n\nHe is inclined toward the former as she rounds the canvas to see his work. She stands, again frozen in place, for what feels to the artist like days, as she stares at the face she has not seen in millennia. He watches as her eyes roam over every brushstroke, seeing details that even he doesn't know are there. \n\nShe is suddenly standing next to him, and he is startled, first by her swiftness, and second by the minute teardrop that he sees quivering at the corner of her eye. She gifts him with the most radiant smile he has ever seen, and his breath catches in his chest. \n\n\"Masterpiece.\" She says, and it is worth every sleepless night he spent wondering why he had agreed to her commission. \"We have discussed payment.\"\n\nHis heart begins to drum against his ribs, threatening to shake him apart. He is unable to speak, and so nods his head, the fearful excitement growing more powerful with every passing second. \n\nShe nods, and moves toward him. When she places her hand on his cheek, he feels as though his skin is on fire, and when she bites into his neck, the fire becomes an inferno. His world swims in front of his eyes, and involuntarily, he pulls her into him. There they remain, providing each other with their own life forces, until he has nothing left to give. He slumps to the floor, pulling her with him, and her face, painted exquisitely with his own brush, is the last thing he sees before his mortal vision darkens, and he is gone.", "“Oh, you want me to paint you?” asked a confused Clarence slightly startled by the 1800s looking vampire standing at the foot of his bed. “Let me just take a photo of you instead on my iPhone”.\nClarence took a photo on his iPhone and showed it to the vampire.\n“Well shit, this was a much easier idea” she concluded. \n", "Lindsay gave the canvas its final brush strokes. She looked to her subject, in her regal pose, and back to the portrait. She believed she had captured her essence, immortalized it, and yet she found herself holding her breath as tightly as her brush. Should I --?\n\n\"What is it?\" Lady Isabella demanded. \"What is wrong?\"\n\n\"Nothing.\" Lindsay put down her palette. There was nothing else to do but -- \"It's done. Come and look.\"\n\nShe was aware her voice was cracking even before seeing the vampire's look at her. Lindsay cast her eyes at the floor, afraid that \"look\" had been a \"gaze\", the beginning of a trance. She'd be properly commissioned for this work, not commanded, but that didn't make her feel any better. \n\nGathering her cloak about her, Lady Isabella slowly stepped toward the artist, rounding the easel. Centuries after being erased from her vanity, she'd finally see herself once again. This was the moment. She turned and looked at long last!\n\nThe vampire recoiled in horror at the sight as surely as if the artist beheld a fistful of fresh garlic bulbs!\n\nLady Isabella pointed a sharpened finger toward the cowering Lindsay. \"Tell me! Answer me honestly!\" She struggled to find the words. Pointing back to the portrait. \"Is that image true?\"\n\nLindsay heard the command, though she didn't feel compelled. That didn't make the response any easier. \"Y-y-yes. Yes, it is.\"\n\nEyes reddened and brows furled in anger ... and softened to sadness. If the undead could shed tears, the floor would've dampened. Instead, she closed up her cloak around her slim figure and withdrew to the window. She looked out upon the night and the creatures roaming the hills. She wanted to flee and seek their solace. So deep in thought was she, a hand on her shoulder startled her back into the moment. She whirled to see Lindsay with a box of tissues.\n\nSo absorbed had she been in her own misery that for the first time in three centuries, a human had been able to creep up on her, across squeaky floorboards at that!\n\n\"I-I-I could ...\" the artist stammered. \"I could add some color to pallor. Some rouge to the cheeks, maybe??\"\n\nWas she trying to be helpful, or trying to preserve her life? Isabella thought for what Lindsay might consider eternity, if only because she'd never considered eternity itself.\n\n\"No,\" she responded finally. \"I accept that as it is. But I have two more questions I need answered.\"\n\nNodding in agreement and relief. \"Sure. Anything. Shoot!\"\n\nLady Isabella reached out and took Lindsay's face in her hands. \"Do you do your own makeup? And can you show me how?\"\n\nEdit: rogue -> rouge ", "Never done this before but here goes...\n\nShe stood, looking brilliant, in her classical garb, small of stature but somehow seeming to take up most of the space in the struggling artist’s studio apartment. \n\n“Well?” “What do you think?” \n\nClementine looked in disbelief at the photo taken on her smartphone, showing only the red brick wall behind the intruder. \n\n“Not to be a boor, but I told you so.” Exclaimed the person who was now revealed to be, as she said, a vampire. Why would she be anything else? She had no reflection and caught no light so pictures captured nothing. \n\nI suppose the only reason I can see her is that she wants me to. thought Clementine. She realized her mouth was agape and managed to slowly pick her jaw up off the floor and stammer out a confused,\n\n“Uh, uh, o-okay”\n\nThe vampire nodded with what seemed like resigned acceptance and stated confidently,\n\n“Then let us begin!”\n\n“First, coffee.” The quick response surprising both herself and her guest. “It’s past midnight and if I’m to do this before dawn, I’ll be needing lots. I can’t stay up all night like you”\n\nShe turned to walk to the ‘kitchen’ and realized she had been a poor host, although also wondering if it was necessary, she turned on her heel and posited the question,\n\n“Uuhm... would you like any?”\n\nThe vampire responded with what seemed like disgust, \n\n“I don’t need it.”\n\n_____________________________________________\n\nWith her easel and canvas set up, her guest posing proudly in a regal looking position, her coffee made, and her pallet set, she found herself unable to start.\n\n“Why the delay? We haven’t much time you know.” The imposing woman asked Coolly.\n\n“It... it’s just... why me?” Clementine asked as if her heart were in her throat.\n\n“My dear I’ve seen your work, you’re quite good.” \n\nClementine was flattered.\n\n“Besides,” the vampire continued, “Look around, this place, your belongings. No one knows who you are, and no one will ever believe you.”" ]	[ 1, 1, 1, 3, 5, 5, 6, 9, 15, 26, 38, 61, 110, 202 ]	[ "1517156250", "1517206372", "1517217741", "1517205989", "1517185296", "1517194373", "1517193444", "1517190554", "1517177898", "1517176947", "1517174065", "1517156612", "1517172965", "1517167963" ]
	[WP] Sol system is actually surrounded by a huge shield that the humans have just discovered. You are an alien engineer in a control room enjoying a bowl of soup, and see a small, forgotten red light pulsing under the monitor showing a breach in the shield.	108	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "The control room was what they called it, but Maih called it prison. She was just one, lonely woman working at a lousy engineering job whilst her family got to enjoy what little luxuries they could afford in the Central System from her meagre wages. Still. Although the work didn't pay well, and mainly revolving around avoiding her permanently agressive boss and running system checks every once in a while, there were small moments of pleasure. \n\nThe room was small but she knew every corner of it, every glitch in the programming, and every star system was managed under her careful watch. As she sat quietly sipping a bowl of dafhr soup, she looked at pictures of the Sol system. They were artist's impressions, mostly. The overseers did not care much for actual satellite imagery of the star system. It was a long way away, and the creatures inside it were of no particular scientific interest to them; they were too insignificant, too inwardly focused to be of any use for anything. \n\nBut Maih... she had grown to hold the creatures close to her soul. It had started when she'd heard on the channels of a minute space vessel holding a golden disc that had been discovered. To the delight of many overseers, the quaint object turned out to contain the precious sounds of a planet in the Sol system, but the news quickly became boring to most as the nearest inter-system war promised to break out and families evacuated to the Central System. Maih, who was under-stimulated but a highly emotional being, seized the story with a joyfulness she didn't know she had in her. \n\nThe antiquated and peculiar sounds of the Sol system became her daily soundtrack and they blurred out the unpleasantness of the daily grind and the worry and the fear for the future. Instead, Maih grew hopeful as time passed. Until that day, eating dafhr soup, the red light blinked and everything changed. ", "I just wanted one calm uneventful day just one, Apparently it was to much to ask. \n\nFor the last month me & two other engineers had been building a new control room for the small mostly empty Dimensions at the far reaches of our sector. Darve the programmer had been watching the old system & doing a few software tweaks every couple of hours,so not much. Anyway today was going to be my day off. Darve had to do system software speed checks I was going to watch the old control room & enjoy looking @ the beginnings of star systems where they weren't even on the \"Kardashev\". I smiled @ the thought, they probably still used 'wheels,wood & wireless tech. I took another bite of soup,shaking my head. Then to my far left I saw a panel light up & the center indicator started blinking. For a Second I didn't move,or even chew. Quickly I jumped up grabbed my com & slid my chair over to the panel that was so dust covered,I was no longer hungry. There it was,Blinking RED the log reading:\n \n ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n \n Dimensional Shield Breach 5173 21:09:28 -(DT730) (UDDT -63) - Error:1\n Sector [-82 453 37] - Level:Blue 4 - Access:N/A - RST:82% - SYS-UL:N/A\n PL:0% - BPL:5% - Protocol:N/A - OD: Engineer,L5#7802 - Level 2:Failed\n \n -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nI yelled for Darve,The fear showing in my voice.\nHe all but flew into the room,& started making a joke but froze when he saw the panel.\nMumbling to himself while reading the log, How can the Backup power be @ 5% ?\nHe turned to face Sharden,who just walked in,How can this system panel have No System Upload & No Protocol active After a BLUE Level Four Breach?, He almost screamed! Brian,who was now standing at the door,said \"I don't now but someone is going to HQ Level:6 for this. Our faces turned white,Little did we know it then,but HQ was the least of our worries. ", "Ugh. I think to myself, as I recline in the old, worn leather seat. Nothing ever happens in this boring, monotonous job. Multiple screens stretch out in front of me. Each gray and fuzzy, each one looking at a certain celestial body. But each is still, nothing moving, nothing happening. I reach for my cup of cooling soup and pause. There is something that I have never seen before. In one of the corner screens, something bursts. A small red light starts to blink under the screen, a light I didn't even know was there. \n\nI flip through the guide books, trying to find out what it means. Then I find it, the screen that looks at the Solar System containing one inhabited planet. My eyes widen and I feel my little, green heart sink. \n\nOh no. I remember learning about these creatures. Everyone learns about the humans, and how they treat they're planet and how they must be contained\n\nI raise the glass case and press the giant red panic button. The sirens begin to wail, I look around waiting for something to happen. Suddenly armed guards burst through the door to the small surveillance room. \n\n\"What happened?\" One of them asks. I point to the bottom screen. \"Shit,\" he whispers. He takes a small black communication device from his shoulder pocket and talks into it. \"The humans have breached their cage, we need to contain them before they pollute everything in sight.\"\n\nI stand up and they motion for me to follow them. They lead me down the hall of the space station and stop outside a small escape pod. They motion for me to get in and I enter the capsule, they both follow. One of them closes the door and presses the deployment button.\n\n\"Where are we going?\" I ask nervously.\n\n\"To see the damage,\" one of them replies.\n\n\"But I am just a security guard. What can I do?\"\n\n\"You can see what your lazy, inattentive ass has done. If you had been watching you could have seen their intentions and warned us earlier.\" I sit frozen, stunned and unable to respond.\n\nThe capsule jolts and they motion to look out the window. I glance over and see the calamity. A massive rupture in the clear containment system looms before me. Trash and dust and rock flow out in a dirty, mangled mess. Little spaceships shoot out, going in every direction, each ship spewing out black smoke and leaving behind a disgusting trail. \n\n\"They are destructive and pollute everything they inhabit,\" one of them says. I stare and can't look away, my inattention has caused this.\n\nI allowed the humans to be released. What have I done..." ]	[ 1, 1, 9, 28 ]	[ "1517157960", "1517232078", "1517177396", "1517175255" ]
[removed]	[WP] You’re the very good pupper of a very bad man. The cruel cat has coldly revealed to you the horrible truth; your owner is a serial killer. While you took pride in your obedience and loyalty, you know you now have to do something to help the small crying human tied up in the basement labyrinth.	1	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Good boy\n\nI’m a good pupper. That’s what my mother told me and that’s what I believe.\n\nI was born during the warm months, and lived with my mother and litter until the cold white blanket fell from the sky. That’s when the men in the screaming and flashing cars had came and taken us from our home. They had brought us to a bigger and brighter place with cold hard floors and wire cages, and one by one my littermate were taken by humans. I was the last one taken, and when I whined in the night they put me with Boney; a huge and skinny dog who was lame in one leg. Boney was my friend and I followed him around and slept beside him too. Boney was sick though. Something wrong inside of him, hurt him, had made him lame, and it was growing. He whined in the night too, from pain - not loneliness. I would lick his face and his tail would wag, but I knew there wasn’t anything I could do to help him and sometimes when he’d cry out in the night I would whine softly as well - though quietly so I wouldn’t wake him. Because I was a good boy, my mother had told me so.\n\nOne day after Boney had whined all night, the woman in the white coat had opened our cage door, and put a leash on him. Her eyes were wet and running, which we’d seen before. Boney had told me that when she came into our area with wet eyes and led a dog away, we’d never see it again. Boney said the wet eyes meant she was filled with sad and bad feelings and that she had to do something she did not want to do. \n\nWhen I saw her put the leash on Boney, I was filled with bad feelings too and I barked and barked and threw myself against the cage, but she ignored me, and dragged Boney away, as his kind dark eyes had rolled with fear and pain. \n\nBoney never came back.\n\nOne day, a strange man had come and looked at us. People came all the time, and looked at us, and sometimes took us away to live with them. Boney told me to be friendly, run towards them, wag my tails, and bark for attention. Boney said that young dogs like me were usually snapped right up, but that people sometimes didn’t like dogs like me when we got too much older, and that the bald healing patch on my neck was probably why I hadn’t been taken those first few months. Boney has said the hair would grow back, and that if I was a good boy, a friendly dog, someone would take me eventually, if I didn’t get too big.\n\nFinally, someone did, that strange man, all by himself, with hard hands that tasted of salt and meat. He rubbed my head briskly, his hands heavy against my clipped ears, which were still sore - though they had long since healed. He put his fingers in my mouth too, and felt my legs. “Good boy,” he had said. “good boy.” But he seemed to be saying it to himself, and his eyes and smell were hard to read. I was happy though, excited to be chosen, happy to be taken away from this place with it’s barking dogs, wire cages and strange rituals that took my friends away when they got old and sick, and as we left that place I wagged what was left of my bobbed tail furiously, and I happily jumped into the back of his strange smelling, boxy car, with it’s dark windows and soft odd smelling mattress.\n\nI liked my new home. The house was huge and dark, and I shared it with a half wild cat that didn’t seem interested in being my friend. I had a small door I could squeeze through if I had to go outside, I was fed a lot of raw meat and I loved my human to, though he wasn’t very friendly and he wasn’t home very often.\n\nMy favorite times were when the man would take me to the park and let me run up to certain people if they were alone. I’d jump up on them them, and they would pet me and I‘d lick their faces and they would laugh and the man would come up behind them with a piece of strong smelling cloth, and he’d put it against their smiling faces and they would grab at his hands and collapse. He’d tie their hands and feet and cover their mouths and put them in his car, and tell me I was a good boy and I’d ride in the front with him, while they rolled around in the back, making noises.\n\nI was lonely in the house when the man was away, and excited that we had people in the basement, but time after time, the man took them downstairs and they would never came up again. Sometimes I would hear strange noises and I would feel uneasy and I’d hide behind the sofa, hiding from the noises and the cold glowing eyes of the cat, who crouched in the shadows, chuckling to itself.\n\nLast afternoon, we went to the park and I saw a small human. “Go get her boy!” The man had breathed into my ear as he unleashed me. I ran towards the small human, wagging my stump of a tail so hard that my whole backend swayed, and the human initially looked afraid, but had then broke into a huge smile and had hugged and petted me. “Are you a good boy?” She had asked as she laughed, a sound humans make when they’re happy. My owner never laughed, but he looked happy as he stepped up behind her and slipped the cloth over her face. Her eyes widened, and then, before they closed, I saw it - the moisture running out of their corners, the same thing I had seen in the eyes of the woman in the white coat when she had led Boney away.\n\n“It means that they are filled with sad and bad feelings.” Boney had said. “It means that they are doing something they don’t want to do.”\n\nI felt strange. As we drove home, I could hear the human in the back. Rolling around and making sounds. Sounds that sounded like whimpers, and I could still see her wide eyes, shocked, afraid, and starting to run with water. The water that meant she was filled with bad feelings, and I whimpered softly to myself. But it was drowned out by the sound of the wind blowing through the car windows, the sounds coming from the back, and the low mumbling of the man talking to himself, as his large hard hands squeezed the steering wheel, again and again and again.\n\nThat night I heard sounds coming from the basement. I hid behind the sofa whimpering softly to myself, feeling strange. Feeling bad.\n\n“Why are you crying, you fool.” The cat had hissed, his eyes glowing like small moons, out of a darker patch in the gloom.\n\n“She’s just prey for the man to play with and food for us to eat. No different the the others you help the man bring home.” The cat’s low voice dripped with contempt and something like hatred, despite the fact that it’s tail was wagging, and that it was vibrating with a deep self satisfied purr.\n\nI didn’t reply back. Though I felt a sick feeling spreading inside me, a darkness growing that made my legs feel weak. Was this the pain that made Boney whimper in the night? The thing that made his leg lame? The feeling ate away at me as I hid there, and all night I whimpered like Boney had, as the cat prowled around the house, purring and laughing softly to itself.\n\nThe next morning when the man left, I nosed open the basement door and I descended into the darkness as the cat padded softly behind me. We were forbidden from coming down here, but that had never stopped the cat, and wouldn’t stop me now. We navigated by sense of smell, and it smelled bad, like the place I had come from. Fear, desperation and other things as well. \n\nWe found the small human, bound hand and foot and with her mouth covered. In the faint light I could see that her eyes were wide with fear and as I licked her face, moisture poured out of them. I knew what I had to do, and I chewed at the ropes that bound her, and it took hours to free her hands and feet, and when the ropes finally parted, she threw her arms around me, and I felt the water from her eyes hot against my neck. The cat watched us silently. With something like hate in it’s glowing eyes.\n\nWhen she was free, I led her out of the dark basement, tugging at her her sleeve, and she exited through the small doggy door, and tried to take me with her. But I stayed. Because I am a good boy, and the cat and I watched as she raced across the yard, and disappeared into the tall dark woods around the house.\n\n“You fool.” The cat hissed. “You stupid fool.” Then it padded away, disappearing into the the shadows that were gathering in the corners of the room and spreading through the empty house.\n\nAnd I returned to the basement. To the small room with the odd smells and discarded ropes. To the damp mattress and the darkness. Because I knew the man would be home soon and that he’d go downstairs and see what I had done. There was no escaping it, and I was a good boy, and I would not hide.\n\nI descended into the darkness that smelled like meat, and fear, and blood. I retraced my steps through the dark rooms until I found the place where the small human had been, where all the humans I had distracted and befriended had been bound. I sniffed at the chewed up ropes, at the staines, and I laid down. But I was not hiding and I was not cowering. I was crouching and I was waiting. \n\nBecause I never told you why my mother had told me I was a good boy, did I? She had told me that as I had laid panting beside her, bleeding from my raw and torn throat. Unlike my father and my brothers, I had refused to fight the other dogs that the screaming men had pitted me against. I had refused to fight back and a bigger and more vicious dog had torn at my throat and ripped hair and skin away. I had went limp, and my owner at the time had cursed at me and kicked me, and had dragged me away and threw me back into the cage I shared with my mother, and she had licked my wound as I had laid there, panting, bleeding, and whimpering. She told me that I was a good boy for not fighting back, a good boy for not sinking my teeth into my enemies throat, a good boy for not being the killer the humans wanted me to be.\n\nNow I am waiting here in the darkness, thinking about what the man had made me do, thinking about his exposed throat, the delicate bones, and the hot blood rushing beneath his soft thin skin. I am excited for him to return, because I am no longer his good boy, and I can’t wait to show him what I can do." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1517175050", "1517189415" ]
	[WP] You've just graduated from University with honors and a degree in the field of your dreams. While attending your class celebration, a man approaches and introduces himself as your conscience.	5	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "“Are you really the embodiment of my conscience?” I asked in amazement. He was dressed like everyone else so if he didn’t say who he was, I would of assumed he was just another student celebrating. \n\n“Yes I am,” he responded with a smile. “And I’m here to tell you that you need to wake up soon or else you will be late.”" ]	[ 1, 4 ]	[ "1517199149", "1517204207" ]
	[WP] In the future, everyone receives a letter on their 18th birthday. In this letter you are told your death-date. You just opened yours, it says 10:03am, April 3rd, 33AD...	23	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "\"Well that's... odd.\"\n\nThe date on the letter appears to be wrong. It's the year 2064, and it's a Monday. Monday the 17th March, to be precise. It's grey out, with not a single spot of rain to fall yet, and the sun is yet to make an appearance in the day.\n\nYou go over the letter once more.\n\n'Dear Joshua,\nImprinted below in this letter is your death date. It's here as a reminder to make each day the best you possibly can, and to start planning, and taking into action that plan, for the rest of your life, until this date:\nApril 3rd, 33AD, at 10:03am.\n\nCongratulations on making it this far, and we hope you live a whole and fulfilling life.'\n\nThe letters never state how you die, only the time and date.\n\nYour eyes go over the letter, again and again. The dates all wrong. How could that happen? No one's ever had a wrong date before, but there's no way you could ever die in the past. You're alive now. Time machines aren't even a thing either, as time travel had been disprove countless times.\n\nYou shake your head, and you try to forget about it. Maybe you're one in a million. Or maybe it printed wrong. Maybe they meant 3033AD. Maybe you'll live a long, long life. You crumple the letter and toss at the nearby bin. You shoot, you score.\n\nYou grab your jacket and head out. You've got a birthday lunch to celebrate with some friends and family.\n\nOn your way to Winstons bar, you pass a doughnut shop. It's your birthday. Indulge a little. Why not.\n\n\"Hey there, could I get one of those please? No no, the one with with the jaffa cake. Cheers.\"\n\nYour favourite. You take a bite and relish in the orange jelly texture, the flavour filling your mouth as you gob the whole thing in one.\n\n\"Hank ou\" you say, mouth full, to the guy behind the counter. He gives you a mild look of disgust.\n\nYou turn away and, for a moment, forget your bearings. Bang. You go head first into a nearby lamp pole, knocking yourself unconscious. Your mind slowly winds down, and as you hurt the floor you suddenly wake up, bleary eyed with a sore head. Where the hell are you?\n\n\"Ughh, ow.\" You blink. It's bright. The sun scorches your skin, whilst a mild breeze kisses the burning sensation away.\n\n\"This isn't right... how'd I get here?\" You start to freak out. You're scrambling to your feet as you spin around, scanning your surroundings. This isn't home. In fact, it appears it's nowhere near. A nearby stranger stops and stares. And then screams. It's a young woman, and she runs away in fear. You're confused. What made her scream like that? You look behind you, only to find a a wall. Nothing. You look down.\n\nYour clothes! Wait. No. You're not wearing any clothes. Wait. That's the problem! Where did your clothes go!? You run to the nearest open door and jump in, only to find a lady about the same age, she jumps up, only to see you stark naked. Her face full of surprise, only to burst out in laughter.\n\n\"Joshua! Whatever are you doing here, and naked none the less!\"\n\nNow you're even more confused. How does she know who you are?\n\n\"Peter and Andrew were meant to meet you. You'll be late. Now take these and go catch up with them.\"\n\nShe hands you some plain garments and you quickly put them on. As you look up you catch yourself in a nearby mirror. You look different. Only slightly. It seems your hair has grown, and you've developed a bit of a beard.\n\nSomething is horribly wrong. You pass out." ]	[ 1, 15 ]	[ "1517220670", "1517231238" ]
	[WP] A demon offers a depressed person the opportunity to erase their existence from history, but not before taking them on a journey to bear witness to all of the good they've done.	148	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "\"Why am I just seeing us, right now?\" I asked.\n\nThe demon's reflection stared back, the gruesome twin of the monster beside me. The mirror standing between us was faded and cracked with a dulled patina of millennia past.\n\n\"This is it. All of it.\" It said.\n\n\"My wife, job... my children?\"\n\n\"I only show you the good you've done in the world. Congratulations. I suppose, in the end, you did the right thing.\"", "He hated his job.\nBut he was stuck in it.\n\n\n“Guess that’s what you get when you make a deal with Devil” he smirked. It wasn’t this thought that made him smirk but the fact that he made a Dad Joke. So it takes 10,000 Demon years to be old enough make Dad jokes he thought to himself. \nHe lit a cigarette and took a long drag. His job had its perks though. He could smoke, drink, catch HIV but he wouldn’t die. He would live on this “Earth” as long as he did his job. If he couldn’t Hells Fury was waiting for him. His job was simple. Send someone else to take his place in Hell. That was his deal with Devil. It didn’t bothered him much because as soon as they made deal with him they will be unborn. Only part he hated was before sending his victims off to eternal damnation, he would take them to their best moment of life. Give them hope. Make them realize what they had. Take them to their best day and then throw in Hells Fury. That’s what deal with devil looked like. \n\n…\n\nHe walked the street aimlessly to find someone to take his place. Finding target was easy, because he could see what everyone was thinking or wishing floating above their heads like a Thought Bubble. His whole world was a comic book. Another perk of his job. only difficult part was making them agree to his deal.\n“I want to disappear from this world” one Bubble read. This was his lucky day.\n\n…\n\nThis was his lucky day. Jon accepted his deal. He was even eager to go through it. Shake of hands and Devils deal was done. Only this left was to take this poor soul to his best day and plunge him into Eternal Damnation.\n\n…\n\nHe was perplexed. He had to time travel to only 4 hours back. Today was Jon’s best day? Just 4 hour ago he had most hope in his life?\nHe forgot about present Jon and his eyes were fixed on past Jon. \nJon was sitting in a dark basement reading some very old book. . He was looking pensive. His thoughts were floating above his head.\n “I’m a demon.”\n\n“Even death penalty can’t ease the pain of all the families I’ve hurt.”\n\n“This text says about a demon who can make me unborn.”\n\n“It says he does to save himself from Hells Fury”\n\nA faint smile appeared on past Jon’s face as his thought read “Only person I can help is a demon too”\n\n\n…\n\nHe hated his job. Even more now.\n\n( First post here. Criticism welcomed)", "The red circle lit up in a beautiful explosion as red light erupted blinding the entire room. And just as soon as it began it ended, Jack who covered his eyes lowered his hands to look at the centre of a circle. Standing before him was the prettiest woman he'd ever seen, granted he really hadn't seen many women but of the few she was perfect. Garbed in a stunning tight red dress and perfect makeup perfectly accentuating her bronze sunburn tinged skin and a pair of deep red iris fiercely meeting his gaze. \n\n\"...\" Jack gulped. \n\nShe looked at him, the ends of her lips arching up with in a ghost of a smile. \n\nJack shuffled his stack of papers quickly tearing his gaze from the stunning woman, \"Where is it it?\" He murmured to himself. \n\n\"Wh-\", Jack flinched, stumbling back into the table behind him throwing his stack of papers all over the room. She arched one eyebrow. \n\n\"Uh. Shit. I'm sorry justa moment,\" he mumbled quietly looking fearfully at her. \n\nShe giggled. Jack blushed pink as he struggled to pick up the papers looking at the floor and back at her completely red. She smiled and Jack blushed even harder. She waved her hand and all the papers immediately started levitating before assembling themselves and flying into Jack's hands. \n\n\"Uh.. Thanks.\" \n\n\"My pleasure.\" Her sultry voice rolled into his ear carrying with it pleasant sounding accent that didn't seem posh but rather quite pleasing to the ears. \n\nJack cleared his throat looking down at his papers then her. \"Lilith va Rekthtern, Lady Red of the Iron Sands, I the summoner Kaj, a name that may or may not signify anything nor possibly be my given name, ask thyself to grant my wishes. However the summoner may have as per the summoner and summoning rules have free will to break free is free to ask anything under the circumstances that he or she does employ the use of powers without informing the summoner in full length of,\" Jack paused flipping his page, \"Where the power is being used, how, what immediate and prolonged effects as well as why and may not use the summoners hesitation or silence as his voice of approval for any and all actions. Thereby I, Kaj Brekker, as the summoner lay these rules of which none can be broken. 1. The summoner must ask permission before doing anything of importance, not excluding, speaking, using powers, or asking do perform any action. 2. The summoned cannot assume any form of hesitation or ambiguous action is affirmative grounds to perform any actions. 3. The summoned may ask or speak by first asking permission, \"May I speak?\" 4. Unless the summoner specifically says, \"I, the summoner Kaj, give you the summoned, my approval to perform action x or y,\" the summoned cannot assume the summoners position and perform the action anyway. 5. Even if the summoner is under extreme duress, this does not give the summoned grounds to perform as they will. 6. These rules are negotiable as long as the summoned follows the rules set by the summoner. 7. Rules may be added or taken away only by I, Kaj Brekker, the summoner alone.\" Jack was sweating as he finished his speech. He looked up only to find a smiling demon looking at him. \n\n\"May I speak?\" \n\n\"I, the summoner Kaj, give you the summoned, my approval to voice questions and or concerns but cannot absolutely utilize any powers during this conversation.\" \n\n\"Quite the set of rules you have.\" \n\nJack flipped through his papers. \"I, the summoner do not wish to engage in any form of simple small talk or jokes.\" \n\nShe raised his eyes, simutaneosly crossing her hands under assets. \n\nJack once more flipped through his pages combing through them looking for something specifically. \"I the summoner, require the summoned to perform one task and will provide accurate compensation for fulfilling said task. Do thoust, demon Lilith swear to fulfill this task to your absolute potential not avoiding or manipulating said task. As well if summoned speak any form of no, then the summoned shall immediately returned to his or her world.\" \n\nShe smiled looking at Jack. \"I the summoned, Lilith va Rekthtern, Lady Red of the Iron Sands, hear and understand that the summoner, Kaj Brekker, of whose name may or may not signify anything of importance and may or may not be his true or given name, wishes for me to fulfill a certain task of which I, the summoned shall fulfill to my absolute abilities.\" She smiled wildly at Jack as she casually imitated his earlier speech. \n\nJack looked at her, taking a deep breath, placed his stack of papers behind him on his desk looked directly at Lilith. Who in turn flashed him a smile leaning forward slightly. \"I the summoner, ask you the summoned to completely erase my existence from this universe.\" \n\nLilith opened her mouth for a second. Before closing it again. ", "“Why are you showing me this?” Ella blinked. She was beholding a scene in her kitchen, her two daughters eating some ghastly fast food dinner, while their father sat between them. The fourth chair at the cozy square table was empty.\n\n“I thought you were supposed to show me the good that I’ve done,” she said, putting her spectral hand on her old home’s quartz counters.\n\n“The best thing you did was to leave them,” the hooded figure spoke, his voice ephemeral like bells, but also clipped and mechanical at the same time.\n\n“I thought... They’d be miserable without me. I wanted to show them what they were missing!” Ella choked, sinking to her former kitchen floor. It was a little grimy. She would’ve never let the tiles become so filthy. Why couldn’t her family understand that? Everything she did was for them! How could they not see!\n\n“Your oldest still remembers the comment you made when she made top band as a sophomore in high school,” the voice spoke.\n\n“Wh... what?” Ella stammered.\n\n“You told her to stop. To stop acting the way she did,” the hooded figure calmly explained.\n\n“Yes! She was acting unbecoming. She was out of control!”\n\n“She was happy that she made top band as a sophomore. That was one of her first accomplishments in high school. She was a happy teenage girl, trying to celebrate,” the voice spoke, still maddeningly calm. Ella stared at him, her gaze sharper than a knife.\n\n“Who are you to tell me I don’t know my own daughter?!” She shouted.\n\nThe figure shrugged.\n\n“Your youngest got raped. And the best you did was telling her to stop talking about her experiences,”\n\nElla froze. No... what happened... That wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t her fault that her daughter was hurt like that! She had told her to be strong. Why couldn’t her daughter be strong enough to get over it? She just kept dredging it up to manipulate us into feeling sorry for her. Why would she do that to her own family? Ella’s thoughts echoed in her head like an explosion in a combustion engine.\n\n“It wasn’t the fact that she wasn’t going to get over it. She was hurt. She was more than hurt. She was robbed, violated, and she needed support. And all you could do was to tell her to forget it and to be strong... when that was exactly what your own parents did,” the hooded figure kept explaining.\n\n“And it made me strong! I was a strong woman!”\n\n“You weren’t the mother that these girls needed. And your husband enabled you. And I am but death, and only an observer, and the best I can do is to tell you how things were,”\n\n“Fuck you! I did my best!” Ella gathered her knees, sunk her head between them and started bawling. The hooded figure stood motionlessly, an ethereal monument looming over all her sins.\n\n“That’s the sad part. You did. That’s the sad part about most of you,” he spoke, shifting his head to the happy family eating fried chicken for dinner.\n\n“There’s something inside you that you can choose to believe. There’s a person underneath there that is worth everything, despite of what I’ve shown you. Despite of what you believe,”\n\n“If me leaving was the best thing I’ve done for this family, then what does that say about me? What the fuck am I worth?” Ella gasped, still choking on her own tears.\n\n“You’re worth the person you can be,” the figure spoke, and for the first time in this ghastly journey, he offered her his hand.\n\n“People make a choice at this point. They can come with me, or they can continue to live their lives. For some, the shock is too much. Seeing themselves from other people’s eyes for the first time. It’s too much a burden to bear,” he paused before continuing. The broken woman still hugged her knees, and continued crying on the kitchen floor.\n\n“Your family has always loved you. But they could not love the choices you made,” Death spoke, his tone somehow more sympathetic.\n\n“Then I’ll make the choice that I never could, right now,” Ella whispered, looking up at him with mascara and eyeliner stained eyes. The black streaks ran down her cheeks and framed her determined face.\n\nDeath simply nodded.", "My eyes clamp shut after finally finishing my request to the small black demon standing before me. I asked him to erase me. There was no point in staying here any longer. I had nothing left. \n\n\"Are you quite sure?\" the demon asked, curling a finger around his long beard. The demon gave a small smirk, flashing his mangled teeth, his eyes a burning orange. \"Do you not understand what you've left in the world?\". I shrug at his words. \"Nothing meaningful I'm sure..\" I grumble as I stare at the ground. The demon frowns and scratches the top of his bald head slowly with his free hand. \"I don't think you understand what kind of imprint you've left on the world and its people..\" Mutters the demon as he grasped my shoulder. \"Allow me to show you before I finish the request..\". \n\nMy head burned with a minor pain, my vision blocked by a bright white light. I winced in pain, trying to cover my eyes. \"Do not shield your eyes..\" grumbled the demon softly in my ear. I paused for a few seconds, fighting against the pain before lowering my arms. After a few seconds I saw a flash. This place was unfamiliar to me. \"Where am I..?\" I ask, my head still pounding. \"This is the future.. Or rather.. What could have been..\" the demon says sounding mostly sad. \"...would have..?\" I ask, confused and in pain. What does he mean? Could have been? What changed that? The demon snapped his fingers conjuring a newspaper from fire. \"Read it..\" he sighed as he turned away slowly. \n\nCANCER TO BE ERADICATED. DOCTOR SHELLING IS TO THANK FOR THIS MIRACLE. Shelling.... That was my surname. I stare at the back of the demon and crumple the paper in frustrstion. \"Will you please explain?\" I asked, feeling my heart slam in my chest from nerves. He turned his head so that he stared back at me with his burning eyes. \"That.. Would have been your daughter... You always told her she could do anything.. Even cure the ailment that haunted her mommy..\" He said slowly, his voice a slight growl. He turned to me, his eyes burning a dark red now. \"You told her she could cure it and with that kind of drive and encouragement...\" He shook his head slowly. \"Now, however, the human race must continue to suffer.\" he said, looking sad. My heart sank. What had I wished for? \"Can.. Can I take it back..?\" I ask, my eyes turning toward the ground slowly. The demon shook his head and also looked at the ground. \"No. I'm sorry.\" and he truly did sound sorry. \"Our deal is done.. She will have never been born from you.. Perhaps who does birth her will think twice about that mistake..\"\n\"Will you grant me one last request then.. Please..?\" I asked desperately. My mind flying this way and thought trying to make sense of the predicament. The demon gave me a small smile and nodded at me. \"I'll make sure she is protected this time. She will be in good hands.\" He said patting my back softly before I was nothing but mere mist in the wind. \n\n(My first ever post on WP! Give me all your feedback please!) ", "Alec's startled scream was enough to prompt the usual obnoxious knock and yell from his neighbour. The joint wall between his apartment and the adjacent one occupied by a middle-aged man whose name he had never deigned to divulge to Alec, served as the sounding board between them. Any trivial infringement on the neighbour's staunch silence was immediately met with a loud thump of his fists and some creative expletive. Though, if there was an advantage to living next door to a first-class prick, it was that Alec's own pissed-off vocabulary received regular new additions.\n\n\"Hey, fucknuts! Keep it down in there godammit!\"\n\nThe pair of eyes that had been taking in Alec's reaction moved to the origin of the excessive vitriol, seemingly studying it. Alec studied the eyes in turn. Where human eyes would boast white sclerae these were black as pitch. There were no irises, not in the way that would give him some false hope that the thing seated casually on his kitchen counter was somehow still human. Instead of a comforting green or brown or blue, there were two concentric rings of flame in each eye. Besides its eyes, the rest seemed human enough. Pale skin, black hair, average build. A smile that would've suited a cat toying with a mouse.\n\nAlec could feel his entire body tremble. He would have screamed again, only he seemed to have graduated from loud fear to a silent terror that arrested all bodily functions. \n\nThe being turned back to him and inclined its head.\n\n\"Your neighbour seems a right classy fellow. And by that, I mean 'a royal thundercunt'.\"\n\nAlec's throat was far too dry to respond. The being chuckled wryly. \n\n\"Never mind. My business is not with him. Tell me Alec, what would you say if I offered you a deal?\"\n\nAlec clenched his right fist, the contents pressing into his palm. When he didn't answer, the creature peeled itself off the counter and walked toward him. It moved like vapour, simultaneously ethereal and corporeal like smoke behind glass. \n\n\"We both know you aren't going to do what you thought you were about to do. Because despite your fiancée fucking your best friend, and your dad's death last year and losing your job last week . . . Well, the truth is you still have some things to live for, right?\"\n\nAlec flinched with the bitter pain of a reopened wound. Despite this creature's unworldly appearance and sudden materialisation out of nothing, the weight of his very real problems seemed to slam into him again and eclipse everything else. \n\nThis had been going on for years. Silent screams lost to the wind and thrashing against the waves of his designated reality -hard, cruel collisions. But he'd always managed to find silver linings amongst the chaos. His father, for one, had always been a source of strength for him. A beacon that anchored him even through the darkest spells. When cancer struck him, it was like some part of Alec died too. The family had never fully recovered. \n\nStacy had been with him through everything, had been one of the main reasons he wanted to get over his depression -he'd wanted a future with her. And he'd truly believed she'd felt the same. Until she cleared out of their apartment, nothing but a note left in her wake of destruction to justify leaving him for his best friend. He'd been a mess and could barely function. So it was no surprise really, that he was one of the first to go when the company decided to make cuts.\n\nHe had no idea when the rest of the world had prepared for life to stop pulling its punches, but he certainly had taken enough blows. He'd had enough.\n\nThe being smiled. \"You wouldn't do that to your mother. Or your sister. You still have friends. We both know you'd have chickened out only to carry on living with the same misery for the rest of your life.\"\n\nHurt turned to anger in a flash. \"Get the fuck out of my apartment!\"\n\n\"Did I offend you? I'm a demon, bitch. Being sweet isn't part of the job description.\"\n\nAlec's mouth gaped open for the briefest of moments before he promptly shut it again. \"Yeah, right. What do you take me for, some kind of moron?\"\n\n\"Look at me. What, I look like live-in help to you?\"\n\n\"I don't -\"\n\n\"Listen, I have a proposition for you. You'll believe me then. Ready for it? I know you don't really want to end your life. I know you just wish you were never born in the first place. I know you wish there was a way for you to just zone out of existence without anyone noticing. And I can make that happen.\"\n\nThe demon allowed for a dramatic pause to let the information to sink in. Alec was strangely amused. Either this was some sort of elaborate prank, or . . . Nah. The possibility was too ridiculous to even fathom. So, hiding an indulgent smile, Alec merely said, \"Sounds good. Go ahead. Sprinkle your pixie-dust or whatever it is you do and make me disappear forever.\"\n\n\"Fantastic.\"\n\nSuddenly there was a loud continuous crack, like breaking bone only amplified to drown out every other sound. Alec dropped to his knees, pressing his hands against his ears in a vain attempt at blocking it out. Luminescent colours streaked passed in random succession, causing tears to spring into his eyes until everything turned black and then there was nothing at all.\n\n*\n\n\"Look at this little piece of shit.\"\n\n\"Aw, is he crying? Wanna go home to your mommy?\"\n\nAlec groaned, shaking the confusion from his head. When he looked up, he stared into two familiar eyes though they were set in a much younger face and swollen with tears. He stood, shaky on his legs as he took in the scene before him. \n\nA young boy, maybe nine or ten, lying on the ground. He was very short and rail-thin with huge glasses. The bloody nose and bruises were enough to jog the memory. Looming above the small boy were three big ones, all laughing and jeering. There was a brief moment of surprise as Alec watched a forth boy run onto the scene, slightly bigger than the one on the ground but not nearly brawny enough to take on the other three. \n\n\"Leave him alone, assholes!\" He cringed at the prepubescent voice and the familiar awful clothing. But he remembered. Despite himself, he even chuckled as he watched his ten-year old self get his ass kicked. He might have lost some pride that day but he'd gained a lifelong friend. The scene sped up to years down the line, through high school parties and college exams and eventually the wedding of that loser kid who'd managed to bulk up respectably over the years, standing in a fancy suit while Alec stood behind him, grinning in his role as best man. \n\nHe watched as long-forgotten memories burned before him: the friends he'd made, random acts of kindness, a stranger's smile. They stretched before his eyes, weaving a trail down to the very first time he'd put a smile on someone's face: his birth. As his father had been his beacon, so was he a source of happiness in his father's life. Always. Every memory danced before him. The joy he'd unknowingly spread throughout his life came rushing back to him, crashing into him harder than his melancholy and twice as potent. \n\nAnd then it was all gone, all the smiling faces and laughter. Nothing existed but the demon, who watched Alec carefully. Falling to his knees once more, tears began to tear down his cheeks at the sudden loss of everything. The numbness was overwhelming.\n\n\"The single tether to these stories was you. Take that away and this is what's left.\"\n\nWhen his eyes opened again, he was in his apartment, gasping on his kitchen floor. The demon returned to its perch on the counter, waiting patiently. \"Still want me to sprinkle my pixie-dust?\"\n\nIn his hand, Alec could still feel the pills he'd been seconds away from taking. He opened his palm and watched them scatter.\n\n\n\nIf you like what you read, check out my other writing prompt-inspired stories [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/icehellion/)", "\"Aren't you a demon?\" I finally ask, afraid to meet his gaze.\n\nHe stands tall and fierce, but there's a kindness hiding behind the fire in his eyes, and for a moment, I feel at peace. \n\n\"Allan, my child. I am indeed a demon, but I am your* demon. Your mentor. Without you, there is no me, and it is with no small amount of bias that I extend to you this offer.\" He allows me a brief smile. \"Do you understand what this will mean?\"\n\nI swallow. Nod. \"I... I think I do.\"\n\nHe bends down to my level and touches my forehead with a razor sharp finger nail, and suddenly all I can see is a white mist, and I can no longer breathe. My eyes close for the last time, and as I draw my final breath, I can see...\n\nThe sun is shining, and I bask in its warmth as I lay down on the park bench. I can hear the birds singing above me, and I hum their melody under my breath, envious of their wings, their ability to fly carefree and innocent, blind to the heartbreak of the world below them.\n\n\"Hello.\"\n\nI open my eyes, and I smile at the little girl that stands before me. She stuffs her hands into the pockets of her coat as her face blushes, slowly becoming the same colour of her dress, and she looks at me with her big blue eyes, curious and quiet.\n\nI see her mother standing in the distance, and I wince when I see her worried grimace.\n\n\"Come along now, Sally,\" she shouts. \"It's getting late.\"\n\nThe little girl, Sally, hurriedly hands me the change in her hand, and, job done, turns away hastily, running back to her mother's side and leaving me alone once more.\n\nThe birds are the only companions I've ever had. I stand up shakily and I feed them as they sing to me.\n\n\"Allan... Allan...\"\n\nI'm back in the corridor, lost in the darkness, and I'm crying.\n\n\"Why do you cry, my child?\"\n\nI cannot reply. I understand. For the first time, I understand. \n\nHell is not what awaits me. I have already suffered, I have already lost everything. This is what my demon has shown me. I have no existence, no history to be wiped. I am already lost to the world, and no one but the birds shall remember me. No one but the birds shall know of the good I have committed. \n\n(Feedback always appreciated!)\n\n" ]	[ 1, 2, 2, 3, 6, 8, 19, 52 ]	[ "1517232809", "1517245046", "1517255451", "1517247947", "1517239298", "1517244321", "1517235406", "1517232916" ]
	[WP] It’s a lighthearted adventure to save the world from the Dark Lord, but the main hero is WAY too serious and it’s really unnerving everyone else.	87	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "The band of five broke through the doors to the Dark Palace. Seated at the end of the long hall was the Dark Lord Morgomont. \n\nThe five were led by Princess Lightbeam of the the Fairy Kingdom of Sunshine. She assembled this group in hopes to stop the Dark Lord from acquiring the Dragon’s Heart. Her blonde hair flew behind her as she ran forth wand in hand. \n\nThe next was the Human Ranger, Andrew who did not speak much but when he did he had an air of authority. \n\nThe Elven noble Elfroy, was a cheery lad who carried an enchanted bow staff making it as durable as steel. He was a clever thinker who solved the riddles of the witch at the Gates of Timbrim. \n\nThe Dwarven adventurer, Hibling brought with him his Great War hammer, Justice. His demeanor of nonchalance made him friend in his company when they fought the stone giants in the Hecklish Pass. \n\nAnd the final member was the slightly cowardly Nymph who could move silently in all forms of nature and proved himself to be a valuable scout and spy in the forest of Enden. \n\nAfter a long journey and suggesting it several times the Ranger convinced his companions to summon the eagles and simply fly to the Palace. They did so and flew past weeks more of fighting and traveling. \n\n“We have come to stop you,” announced Princess Lightbeam. \n\nThe Dark Lord stood. “Do you think you have what it takes?” He asked. \n\n“We will give it our all.” Said Elfroy. \n\n“Aye,” Hibling said. “Our Fellowship will put an end to your terror.” \n\n“You can not defeat the power of th—-“\n\nThe Dark Lord fell silent. Everyone was in shock. Protruding from his skull was a single handed axe. He fell forward and tumbled down the steps of his Throne leaving blood streaks on the places his head bounced off. He came to a halt half way down facing the sky. \n\n“Huh.” The Ranger said. “Thought he’d fall back.” \n\nHe walked forward to retrieve his axe. \n\n“What the hell Andre?!” The Princess yelled. \n\n“What do you mean?” Andrew asked placing a foot on the Dark Lord’s chest and ripping the axe out of his skull. The sound got to the Nymph who ran away and vomited. \n\n“We were supposed to stop him!” The Princess said. “Maybe even turn him good. Not kill him!” \n\n“Yeah that wasn’t gonna happen.” Andrew said cleaning his axe. \n\n“So you killed him?” Asked the elf. \n\n“Now What will the armies of evil do?” Asked the Dwarf. \n\n“Disband, I assume.” Andrew said. “Not really my problem. I was given a job. I did my job. You’re welcome.” \n\n“He’s still a person!” The Nymph yelled between heaves. \n\n“No!” The Ranger replied. “Now he’s a corpse!” The Nymph returned to puking. \n\n“This was wrong.” The Princess proclaimed.\n\n“This was business.” ", "Although he was the”chosen one”, Doug really started to hate the guy that now led the party across the mountain path. The “chosen one” real name was Mark and like all heroes, he thought he was chosen by the prophecy to save the world from darkness. That the prophecy was written on a wet napkin by the town drunkard did not seem to bother Mark. Neither that the “prophecy” was given instead of payment of the 4 pints of Dwarven lager made any alarm-bells ring. Neither that the drunkards old shopping list was written on the other side of the \"prophecy\"\n\n\nMark started to shout dark prophecies about how the evil of Darkness would kill all men, rape all girls and give all kids diabetes, it totally ruined the Wedding of the Nina and Peter and was the second most awkward wedding toast in the village history. First one is Old miss Geller telling conspiracy theories on how dwarves secretly ruled the world.\n\n\nSo they decided to follow Marks rant and follow him on “the quest” to stop the evil from taking over the world. Just for the sake of shutting him up and go back to his daily routines as a barman\n“First we need to cross the mountain of Darkness Falls into the Pit of Certain death to reach the secret village of elves” Mark proclaimed to the small entourage as they started the ascent up the mountain.\n“ Can’t we just take a carriage there? It’s like one bronze-coin each and there are like three daily departures?” Doug said silently.\n\n\nJohava, the third person in entourage nodded with agreement. Although just passing by the village, she was drafted into the entourage to meet the gender-quota requirement set by the imperial court.\n\n\n“ Silence!!” Mark shouted. “We need to face the evil before it consumes us all! When we come to the village of the elves, we need to drink from the lake of Lightness to purify us from the darkness.”\nJohava and Doug looked at each other before Doug reached into his backpack. “You know they started to tap that lake and export the water from it into bottles right? We can find water from the Lake of Lightness in every tavern in the empire?” \n\n\nMark did not seem to react to Dough holding up a glass bottle of bright shining water with small faires flying inside. Neither the slogan “harness the power of the elf” on the bottle. \n\n", "“Now that I have you, there’s no escaping my clutches, Princess Sparkle.”\n\nThe Dark Lord Malforce laughed. Menacingly. \n\nThe Princess was helpless, chained at the top of the Dark Lord’s ingenious Death Mountain Murder Machine. The device rose thirty feet into the air, a whirling nightmare of blades, cogs, bladed cogs, and fire. And wolves. \n\nThe wolves howled in unison. Menacingly.\n\nThe Princess let out a gentle sigh. “Look, I don’t want to ruin this, but you should probably let me go and get out of here.”\n\n“Begging for your life won’t save you now, Princess! If you wish to see your beloved Bubblepop Kingdom again, you must reveal to me the location of the Sunshine Crown!” \n\n“Fine. Whatever.”\n\n“Resistance is-wait…what do you mean, ‘fine?’” Moving swiftly, despite being clad in black armor, spiky black armor, the kind with horns, Malforce drew his dark sword, Joybane, and held the blade towards the bound princess. “If this is a ruse…”\n\nSparkle shook her head, noon-bright hair rippling. “Nope, no trick. We stashed the crown with the hermit in the clearing; told him to bury it in his backyard. Let me down, go get the thing, and then maybe leave the area for a while.”\n\nLightening crackled. Malforce sheathed his mighty sword in its equally mighty sheath. The sheath had a little skull on it which Malforce’s daughter crafted and, tastefully, bedazzled for him. \n\n“I’ll send my minions to pay the hermit a little visit. If what you say is true, I’ll set you free. But if this is some pathetic ploy to buy time, I can assure you, the consequences will be dire.” \n\nSparkle jiggled the chains. “You should really go yourself. And, like, now. He’ll be here any minute.” \n\n“Ah, now I see,” Malforce boomed, the shape of his wicked grin hidden by his be-horned helm. “You ARE trying to buy time. You expect a hero to come to your rescue?” \n\n“Ha!” the Dark Lord laughed. “HA DA HA! There are no heroes left in this world.”\n\n“Yeah,” said Sparkle, “which is why we had to lower our standards a bit.”\n\nJust then, the giant window to the Dark Lord’s lair shattered in a blizzard of broken glass and coarse language. \n\n“Fuck-a-doodle do, bitches!” screamed the mysterious figure that dove into the room through the remains of the window. \n\n“Hero!” shouted Malforce, drawing his sword. “You’re too late! I know the location of the crown. Soon your world will be drenched in darkness.” \n\nThe Hero shrugged and began to advance. \n\n“Stop right there!” said the Dark Lord. “One more step and I’ll begin the machine. The princess will be torn asunder.” \n\nThe hero halted, and eyed the machine thoughtfully. \n\n“Before I destroy you, I have but one question,” Malforce said. “How did you get past my Treacle Troll? Did you answer his riddles three?”\n\n“No.”\n\n“Did you put sleep mushrooms into his ale and sneak past him?”\n\n“Nope.” \n\nMalforce smiled. “Ah, so you disguised yourself as a traveling bard and convinced him you were here to sing a ballad commemorating the glorious reign of the Dark Lord Malforce?”\n\n“No. What I did was take this knife here,” said the Hero, displaying a knife large and sharp enough to imperil the definition, “and I cut the troll open, and I took his insides, out.” \n\nMalforce lowered his sword. “Pardon?” \n\n“He disemboweled the troll,” the Princess explained. \n\n“Oh God…why?” asked the Dark Lord. “He was just an intern. Honestly, he slept under the drawbridge like, 70-percent of the day. And even if he was awake, he’s got glaucoma. You could have just, like, snuck past in his blind spot.” \n\n“But my way was more delicious,” the Hero licked his blade.\n\n“Jesus Christ.” said Malforce.\n\n“I warned you,” muttered the Princess. \n\nThe Hero began to advance again. \n\n“Wait, wait, wait,” Malforce dropped his sword. “Let’s all just, let’s all relax for a second.” \n\n“Tell me,” said the Hero. “Which is your least favorite organ? And would you like to know what the back of your eyes look like? I’ll show them both to you.”\n\n“That’s insane. How would I even see them if you took both-wait, okay, just wait.” Malforce backed up until he was against the cold, stonewall of his dark, dark lair. He reached to his left and pushed a giant red button. “Okay, there, I’ve started the Death Mountain thing.” The cogs began to whirl and the Princess slowly lowered. Very slowly. It was actually hard to notice the change at first. “You’d better rescue the Princess now. Otherwise she’s doomed. And I’ll just...I’ll just get out of your hair while you’re working on that.” \n\nThe Hero glanced at the machine. “I figure that thing will probably take, oh, a good six minutes to even reach the Princess. That means me and you got about five minutes. And brother, this is going to be the longest five minutes of your life.” \n\n“Holy. Shit.” Malforce repeatedly pushed the button, but the machine continued to move at a glacial pace. \n\nThe Hero laughed. Menacingly. " ]	[ 1, 9, 17, 64 ]	[ "1517238664", "1517268443", "1517241360", "1517243320" ]
	[WP] The technology finally exists to reanimate and transplant cryogenically frozen heads. Walt Disney is the first to be brought back, but something doesn't seem right..	17	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "the team holds their breath in anticipation. its the first time any of them performs the procedure and they are all fascinated at the technology used. a loud beeping noise indicates that the lifesigns read that of a normal living person. the team is speechless, they stare at the monitor for a second, paralyzed. then they jump up cheering. it was succesful, they had brought back a human from cryogenic freezing. and not just any human, walt disney!the leader rushes out of the room and begins making his way over to the reheating room to greet him and explain what had happened. the rest of the team waits outside as they were told to do.ten minutes pass. then twenty. the feeling of uneasiness grows among the scientists and surgeons. something is wrong. they start argueing and all agree that the second in charge should go in and check. the only one who disagreed was doctor eddison himself. but after some time and even more argueing he agrees to go in there, as long as another person goes with him. he chooses ivan kutznetsov, the engineer who designed the reheating room. \nthe underground facility they were in was enormous. because of all the equipment needed to revive a person from cryogenic freezing it was impractical to have multiple stations across the country, so only one place in the entire world was made. and the people brought back have to be prepared and educated in how much the world had changed since they lived. and with that they had to be there for an extended period of time meaning there had to be housing, food and water and pretty much everything else needed to keep a large number of people healthy and alive. for some dumb reason the people designing the place decided that the monitoring bay should be almost at the opposite end of the reheating rooms. \nso the two workers had to go through many hallways to get there. after fifteen minutes they finally get there. and immediatly they can tell something is wrong. the light is off and the easily recognisable stench of blood is oozing out of the room. ivan gets out his hammer and slowly walks towards the room. he opens the door slowly and the lights from the hall slowly fill up the room. as the expression on ivans face goes from uneasy to pure chock, eddison hears something from the end of the hall. at first he couldnt figure out what it was, but the more he listened the more certain he was. it sounded like an animal feasting on its prey. \"we gotta get the hell outta here... ivan? IVAN!\". the russian, too paralyzed to move couldnt react. even the sounds of footsteps hurdling towards him didnt affect him. what he saw in the room was just too much for him. the sound of eddisons startled scream finally brought him back to the moment.he turned his head just in time to see something even more terrifying. the pale white body of walt disney launching throught the air towards him, covered in blood. he panics and just in time, he swings the hammer into the head of walt. the now dead body of walt disney falls to the geound, as a thick, black blood like substance oozes from the hammer had entered its head. ivan and eddison both fall to floor out of chock, relief and exhaustion." ]	[ 1, 3 ]	[ "1517241415", "1517261952" ]
Not my own words, duh.	[WP] Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste. I've been around for a long, long year, stole many a man's soul to waste. Won't you have some sympathy for me?	4	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "We are the men and women of Earth, human-kind and its glorious birth \nGive us a moment to please speak free, a few things should be said so we hope you hear \nSympathy is for the deserving and for you we wouldn't shed a tear \nLove for you is the sign of an absent mind, like trying to give glasses to the blind \n\nThe crowds voice sang out high, the devil paused before releasing a sigh\n\nIs it not the human way, to forget and forgive, to allow another his say? \nI have watched many a dark thing, from far below seen the destruction I bring \nBut has not my helping hand sewn seeds of trust \nEvil may be my bidded dues, yet has it not allowed you, together, to seek something just?\n\n\"You decieve!\" The crowd cried out. The Devil stood silent, he did not speak nor shout.\n\nIt has forever and always been your nature. \nFrom the moment you separated Adam and Eve, sorrow, pain and doubt from the lies that you weave \nHow are we to believe in what you plead, when deceit is your one true planted seed?\n\nThe mob stepped forward and the Devil stepped back. In expected anger and hate the people found a lack.\n\nYou are right I am the Devil, Lord of evil and all you abhor \nI could speak up, lash out and settle the score \nI could strike quick and serve a terrifying blow, I could tell you things that you probably already know \nThat many of these sins are yours and not mine, many of these evils are not my design \nBut instead for today I'll take a step back and ask you once more \nWon't you please have some sympathy for me?\n\nThey stood for a moment, staring shameful at the ground. When they looked up they said something quite profound.\n\nYou're right, you've given us an enemy common, united we've stood, our differences forgotten \nYou've had role you perfectly played, even today we're reminded our anger stayed \nMaybe we'll take a chance and listen to your plee, maybe today the blind man can see\n\n_\n\nr/TheoreticalFictions" ]	[ 1, 2 ]	[ "1517243800", "1517249308" ]
[removed]	[WP] You wake up one morning and head to the bathroom. As you settle on the toilet, your dog pokes it's head out from behind the shower curtain and begins talking.	2	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nNo troll, joke, or meme-based prompts. This includes posting fart or poop jokes as prompts. \n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7ttk1j/wp_you_wake_up_one_morning_and_head_to_the/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1517244191", "1517245752" ]
	[WP] You go on a first date with a beautiful woman. Only she knows almost everything about you. You begin to wonder if she is a stalker.	6	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "She's just my type. Tall as hell on her long legs, black hair all the way down her back, and just enough of last night's makeup framing those bright minty eyes to make me wonder just what or who she got into last night. Honestly, she's 20,000 leagues out of mine, so when she wrote her number under her name, Casey Whittaker, on the credit receipt for her coffee, I was baffled. But hey, it's worth a shot, right?\nI show up to the restaurant a little early- coffee would have been a bit too ironic- but she's already there, flagging me down from one of the little tables for two. Just sitting down across from her makes me flush, but I greet her without stuttering and I'm pretty sure my smile was alright. \n\"I already put in an order for your drink.\" She says, and I stop glancing for a waiter. \"You like mimosas, right?\"\nThere's already water on the table, so I reach for that to fix my drying mouth. \"That's actually my favorite drink.\" Looking good already. \"You get an appetizer too?\" Rude, me!\nBut she seems unphased, and looks almost... Endeared? At my lack of social tact. \"Mhm. The spinach dip and mozza sticks, because if you dip 'em it's just the best.\"\n\"Wait, you do that too? People always look at me like I'm an idiot when I tell them it tastes good!\"\nShe smiles and giggles again, and even though parts of me are sure she's judging, she still looks fully engaged with me across this tiny table.\nThe evening continues nicely, the two of us getting along much better than I thought we would, for my own paranoia. We like the same music, and apparently even went to the same concert some years ago. I wonder what it would have been like to meet her there. She tells me about the dude that got dropped by the moshpit and broke his leg, and watching him get carted off to the med tent.\n\"I remember that! I ducked into the tent to get some coffee to warm up when they brought him in. Oh, it was gross!\" Gross in that sick nasty awesome kind of way, but yeah, gross.\nApparently we even went to the same school, which makes me really wonder how we'd never crossed paths before. I went to this tiny school with only a thousand students across all high school grades. I would have recognized her from the yearbook...\n\"... Do you remember the senior prank from the 2009 class?\"\nShe stops sipping from her drink, almost struggling to get it down before the words leap from her mouth. \"Oh shit, you mean when they basically just vandalized the whole school and let loose snakes in the upstairs bathrooms? Wasn't there a smoke bomb in Mrs Wheeler's room too?\"\nMy brow furrows, and I squint. \"But you said you graduated 07. How would you know about that?\"\nSuddenly, she starts to sweat, and her eyes glance away. I thought my poker face was bad. \"I, uh. I had a friend in your grade. Told me all about it.\"\nI lean across the table, into her space and over the food. \"What was their name?\"\n\"Huh?\" She looks like a deer, and it's upsetting that it's so cute.\n\"Your friend's name.\"\nFor a good and solid minute, she's silent. She stares down into her plate, mostly empty except for a bit of tomato she picked out of her pasta. Finally, she sighs, and looks up. \"I'm doing it again.\"\nIf I squint any more, my eyes may as well just be closed. \"Doing what?\"\n\"Giving myself away.\"\nSuddenly, I don't hear the clink of forks against plates or the chatter of a diner. I hear nothing, except for the breathing of Casey across from me. I look around, and when I look back to get, she's smiling at me with so much pity and distance it floors me.\n\"Kenz, I'm not real. This is a dream, mostly. I've had this conversation with you a few times now.\"\nSlowly, the world around us except for the table we're sitting at and the chairs we're sitting in starts to... De-render, is all I can describe it as. We're left sitting in a grid by the time it's all gone, and the light from the candle on our table is odd.\n\"You're in a coma. I've been projecting scenarios into your mind to keep you company. You don't remember me in here, since you can't access a lot of your memories, but... This is how we met.\"\n\"What...\" The word comes out so softly, I'm not sure that I've said it. I move to stand, and the chair ripples as I leave it. Standing on the grid feels like falling, but so does sitting down, at this point.\n\"I miss you, so I come here to talk to you... But I have to just meet you again and again until you figure it out.\" She's... Tearing up, across the table, but her makeup never smudges.\nI wobble at my knees, and reach for the table to steady myself. \"Wait, so- we hit it off? We're a thing?\"\nShe laughs, but it's half a sob, without humor. \"Yes, Kenz. We were happy until you-\" she cuts herself off, and clasps a hand over her mouth.\nI reach for her shoulders, but touching them feels like touching a mannequin with some sort of electric charge. She looks up at me when I do, and gives a sad smile. \"This'll reset soon, since you've figured it out.\"\n\"But why-!? Why can't we just keep going from here-\"\nShe shushes me, and her finger is too warm on my lips. \"You experience cortical spikes when you're too aware for too long. I've-\" a choking sound leaves her throat as it closes up in another sob. \"I'm hurting you by doing this- because I'm selfi-\"\nHer image distorts, rendering with fewer shapes, and my hand on her shoulder passes through. \"Casey!\"\n\"Go to sleep, Kenzie.\" Her voice isn't coming from her body anymore. It's not there. I see nothing but black. \"Go back to sleep...\"\n- - -\nI look at the clock in the corner of the screen on the register. I still have most of my shift at the coffee shop left. I should really stop checking; it feels like time never passes here.\n" ]	[ 1, 2 ]	[ "1517244789", "1517264487" ]
	[WP]Alien species are driven by some cultural or genetic factor each unique to them. Some are driven by duty, others by a lust for knowledge, but humans are the only ones driven by the pursuit of happiness.	20	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Excerpt taken from A Guide to Lesser Bipedals \"Chapter 11: Humans of the Sol System\"\n\n---------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n...As we have just learned, humans have the standard evolutionary history of most bipedal creatures in the galaxy. Of this, they are not special in any regard, but one of many \"hairless apes\" one can find. However, there is one thing that sets them apart among the many species in this book, and that is their pursuit of happiness. \n\nMost intelligent life has a form of happiness in their emotional constructs. It's a very common trait and is very useful, if not necessary, towards a species social development. However, happiness is normally a secondary or tertiary pursuit for most species. Indeed, most reading this will agree that it is foolish to attempt to find or cultivate happiness. If happiness happens to come along with one's normal pursuits, then so be it; but it should never be one's only or main pursuit. \n\nHumans will completely disagree with that sentiment. Humans will put happiness above all else. There are cases of humans living in complete squalor with no access to modern conveniences or entertainment, but for whatever reason, they are happy and therefore at ease with their circumstances. In terms of mating, humans will choose the lesser of two beauties if that choice will make them happier. Some humans, though not all, have even been known to choose happiness over money. \n\nIt is many an anthropologists guess as to why this is. Why would they pursue such an abstract, and fleeting concept such as happiness over other, more tangible things? Some would turn down a room full of gold (a precious metal on Earth; they have much less of it than most planets), books of knowledge of powerful inventions, or the duty of their country or nation and instead turn to something that brings them \"true\" happiness. \n\nIt is the opinion of many scholars in the galaxy that this is the reason why humans have made little progress in the way of interstellar travel. They constantly seek this inner happiness and any attempt to broaden themselves outwardly becomes secondary. I am not denying their achievements, they have made much progress despite almost going extinct multiple times, but they have so much more potential. \n\nAs is the course of this book, we shall now move from the subjective to the objective. The next section shall focus on the reproductive cycles of the humans... \n\n---------------------------------------------------------------------------" ]	[ 1, 9 ]	[ "1517249416", "1517254363" ]
	[WP] In a world where people develop superpowes based on their birth name, you've been given the privilege to carry one of the greatest names that possess the strongest superpower. However, when registering your name, your father made a small spelling mistake.	54	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "The room is dark except for a single desk lamp lit in the corner, a boy sits in a padded office chair, his back hunched, his face shallow and eyes indented from the tears that fell on the cover of the book before him. With a flick of his wrist, he grabs his pen and flings open the cover to a new page. His back straitens as he begins to write feverously, his penmanship is lacking but the words are easy to make out.\n\n\n\t[Dear Diary,\n\n \n\tThe house was filled with tears of depression. The intense and heartfelt kisses, jokes to cheer up the inevitability of it all. The long hugs and crying made me feel even worse about myself… you see diary, tomorrow I will be 18… and if my power does not manifest I’ll be thrown into the mines for the rest of my days… I mean seriously, what is wrong with me… my younger sister Mai got hers today and she’s only 13 years old... I guess I should just give up… I should pack my things for the coal mines but first I’ll elaborate for anyone who finds this diary. \n\n\tIt all started February 13th 2018. 2 weeks before the bombs dropped. You see tensions were already high between the US and North Korea. Both countries throwing insults back and forth. This led to all nations to unsteady hands hovering over the “button”. It never really took much to set off President Trump but no one thought he would actually do it. In the end all it took was some name calling “Trump is a Dotard”… then boom, war erupted and the nukes were launched. All over the world the match was struck and nuclear annihilation was set. The war was devastating and nearly 2/3rds of the world population died in the first few week, But like Ecclesiastes 3:20 we returned to the dust and from the dust we rose, and humankind thrived. Turns out nuclear waste can in fact give superpowers… no one understood why they got the powers they got at the time, but in time they realized it had to do with their name. With this phenomenon known Kim Jong-Un was the sure-fire victor his power based on his name was unrivaled, Jong meaning Just and Proper and Un meaning favor his name translated to the power of “Justice and Favor” and he cashed in hard. Using his powers he enacted his ultimate ability “Korean Law” which made him and his army untouchable as no matter what we did his idea of justice put himself and his above all else and with the odds and favors on his side the world couldn’t do a thing. That is except for the president. Enacting his special ability “Trump Card” which allowed him to slip my grandfather and his special forces in and assassinate the Tyrant, which would have been a great victory. However, Vladimir Putin stepped in. Vladimir meaning great and peaceful ruler, and Putin, meaning to make a claim or application for something. He placed his ability at the top of the stack, and thus sacrificing himself set a wave of peace freezing The Donald and Kim in place creating a peace that would last generations to come. This was later known as the Name Wars.\n\n\t100 years have passed since then. Research and studies have shown us much about this mutation in humans, Names were now associated with jobs and each family was given a list of names that associated with specific jobs and duties. We gained super powers but lost free will. The powers seemed to manifest themselves during puberty. But you never know what power you will get, if your name is too generic you may get nothing. For instance if your name is Mason, we know you will get something with stone, but will it be stone skin, be as strong as stone? Or will you get control over rock and earth? It was a crapshoot and if your power isn’t useful or apparent you are sentenced to the coal mines. I was given the name Kal at birth in part to pay homage but mostly because meaning strong would offer me the most opportunity to find my power and have a fulfilling life. But as you know now I am almost 18 and still have not seen my power emerge. Dad took my papers down to the registry today for analysis… hopefully they can figure it out. I really don’t want to have to work in the mines… oh well.\n\t\n\tSincerely… Kal Maverick…]\n\nA few tear stains dot the page of the book as he closes it and looks at the clock… [03:01am] “Happy birthday to me…” he says sarcastically as he lays back in his chair. He pulls the curtains and looks into the driveway to see his father had returned. The 2015 White Ford Explorer with the 5-0 painted on the side was sitting in the driveway. Considering his father never came upstairs Kal deduced that the registry wasn’t any help. He knew his only option now was to run. Kal threw open the closet doors and began searching for any and all belongings that could help him in his escape. Some rope, clothes, a water bottle, leaving only his journal behind. He packed his bag and opened his bedroom door. His father, Ryder meaning Knight was a police officer, a defender of the law his power was that he could command authority to anyone who looks in his eyes. Kal knew that he would stop him if he was caught so he crept down the staircase carefully. At the foot of the staircase he could see the lights flicker from the television in the living room. No doubt his father fell asleep on the couch so not to wake his wife. Sneaking around the corner Kal makes his way into the kitchen a vanilla file sits on the table. Curiosity got the better of him. Reaching down he opened the folder and gazed on his birth certificate for the first time. His name wasn’t Kal after all… his father made a mistake a small dash where the ink from the pen gave out changed the name entirely. He wasn’t Kal Maverick, “The Strong Free Spirit” he was Kai Maverick, “The Unorthodox Keeper of Keys and earth.” Just like that upon reading his name the ground begun to shake beneath him his father awoke and raced to the kitchen to see his son just as the earth opened and swallowed him whole. \n\nKai fell for what seemed like an eternity but was really only several moments. Finally he began to slow and without any warning he landed on a glass platform. In front of him was 3 locked doors. Each with its own symbol, one of a sword, one of a shield, and one of a staff. AS he stood up he could hear voices echoing all around him like a whisper.\n \n“Which path will he takesss…?” the first voice whispered with a serpent like hiss.\n\n“Is he really the one?” a second voice much harder and gruff chimes in.\n\n“Perhaps… but he is a bit old, don’t you think?” a strong booming voice unlike the whispers of the others.\n\n“Give the boy a chance” a feminine voice says.\n\nFinally Kai pipes in, “Who are you? What am I doing here?” \n\nA light turns on and a man enters the room his slender body is wrapped in green scalemail, upon his head a golden helmet adorned with 2 long horns. He steps closer to Kai, his tongue slips from his curled mouth like a snake as he speaks his green eyes glow, “you can see usss?” \n\n“o-of course I can.” Kai says as he back up away from the man. As he takes another step a light turns on behind him as he bumps into another man, this one dressed in furs his hair was red and his eyes a dull green. his hand rested on his crooked sword as he ran his hand through his beard. “Interesting… he may indeed be the one.” The big man speaks with a gruff nature. His accent was rough and heavy with Asian undertones. The next light bursted on and a man riding a horse walked into the room had raven-black curly hair and was clean-shaven, his armor brandished with a golden face. He held a spear in one hand his other arm blocked by his red cape that flowed off his shoulders gracefully. “What is your name boy.” The man demands from atop his horse. \n\n“I am Kai Maverick.” Kai shouts back as he backs into the arms of the 4th voice. A beautiful girl holds him in her embrace. Her soft black hair framed her face, adorning her head was a golden crown shaped like a bird. Her dark makeup and skin suited her well. Her clothing was made of white and gold and her neck was heavy with jewelry, “Kai Maverick hmmm that’s quiet the unusual name” she says draped around the boy holding him in place.” \n\nStruggling for a moment, he watches as the three other figures close in on him. “What do you want from me? why did you bring me here!” He says as he tries to break free. The girl releases him as the man on the horse begins to speak. “We are the guardians of the famous names of the past, Loki the trickster god, Genghis Khan the The Great khan of the mongol empire, Cleopatra Queen of the Nile, and I, Alexander the Great. And we young Kai did not bring you here, you did.”\n\n“I brought me here??? And where is here exactly”\n\n“Here is the great hall of heroes… as the keeper of keys you are able to unlock the doors to the future and the past.” Cleopatra chimes in.\n\n“The peacccce brought on from the name war isss about to run outss” Loki steps forward removing his helmet.\n\n“In order to protect the world… we need your help,” Genghis says as he draws his sword and bows before kai. Followed by loki and cleopatra. Alexander hops off his horse. “I bow to no man… but i acknowledge you as our savior. Now go chose a door. The locks will only be opened for you.” \n\n\nKai Walks over to the the three doors and infront of the sword he holds out his hand. Particles of light begin to converge in front of him and suddenly with a ‘ting’ a key is formed. Kai places it in the key hold and the lock unhindges with a Thudd… and the door opens…\n", "\"Fuck.\"\n\n\"What's the problem honey?\"\n\n\"I--\"\n\n\"Yes? What's wrong, you look like you've seen a ghost.\"\n\n\"I think I misspelled Dan.\"\n\n\"What do you mean?\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"Honey?\"\n\n\"In--in his birth certificate, he wasn't named Dan.\"\n\n\"Oh no! How could you!\"\n\n\"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I must have typed the wrong letter into the computer!\"\n\n\"You have to fix it right now!\"\n\n---\n\n\"Actually, I think his new name is even better.\"\n\n\"But Dan is one of the most sought after names out there! Don't you remember? The name Dan makes him invulnerable to everything!\"\n\n\"Well, what about Dad?\"\n\n", "So, you're probably wondering how I got into this. Why did I ever think that as an ordinary 15 year old I could take on the greatest super villain of all time? Well, I guess you could say it is my dad's fault. \n\nLet's go back to the day I was born. My mom, Valerie, and my dad, Everett, wanted to name me something that would develop into a power that would always be useful. You see, where I come from the world is filled with people who have special powers, but our powers are determined by our names. My mom's name means powerful, and my dad's means wild boar. They did pretty well because they are both extremely strong, but the wanted something more than just strength for me. So, finally they decided to just forgo the traditional name part and name me something that couldn't be anything except what they wanted. They decided on Able. They wanted me to be able to face whatever task I needed to, and this was their solution. There's only one problem, my dad misspelled my name on my birth certificate, and I'm just finding this out now.\n \nSo, still confused? Okay, on everyone's fifteenth we get our powers. Then, we decide on a task to complete to fully test and show the world our powers. Since my name is Able, I figured that I should be able to take on pretty much anything. Boy was I wrong. So, how did my dad actually spell my name you ask and what is my power? Well, he left out the B, so my name is ale. Apparently Death didn't like being challenged to a drinking contest." ]	[ 1, 4, 10, 39 ]	[ "1517263494", "1517311243", "1517278869", "1517265169" ]
	[WP] Earth is invaded by several competing alien empires. Rather than uniting under the common threat, humanity decided to divide itself even further, with countries allying themselves with different alien forces and going to war with each other.	35	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Lak Mortumee was kaidon of his family. They went to Earth as heretics seeking refuge from covenant armada- while his family either supported him or labeled their warriors cowards worthy of arbiter status, neither side had expected to encounter the military might of the multiple races that had converged on earth. Lak and his family descended upon the americas, finding the honor of their special forces that grew strange plastic like body fur from their faces, despite being mammals. The sole star of earth left his family cold, but his warriors’ heart burned on, yearning for redemption in his families’ eyes. Perhaps protecting these beasts would assist in this. They resembled smaller Jiralhane- with wits to rival the San’Shyuum. \nLak often found human sitting uncomfortable for his double knee joints, so he preferred standing, even inside the barracks.\n\n“So ugh, an ‘energy sword,’ huh? Sounds like a lightsaber” \n\nLak grunted his mandibles, making a guttural growl.\n“A single plasma blade is foolish- how might you wrest a sword from a foe? Have not humans a second thumb?”\n\n“No, our pinkie fingers aren’t ugh...aren’t that useful” Pontiac said, chewing some watermelons flavored gum. Pontiac was named after the famous chief, but decided to enlist as opposed to stay on the reservation- they were Americans after all this time passed, after all...and if the Russians wanted to ally with the Turians then so be it. He’ll personally match up to Stalingrad with the Sangheili and burn the armor off of their metallic-scaled corpse if need be. \nGently, he slapped Lak on the chest, which prompted a hiss and a sword draw from the Sangheili field Marshall.\n\n“Easy there big fella, it’s a playful gesture”\n\n“In my culture, any sign of battle is a sign of sword draw. I stay my hand”\nThe elite deactivated his sword with a flick of the wrist, placing in on his magnetic hip holster. Humans were strange. \n\n“-anyway, plan is, you use your plasma bombardment to burn out the shields and crew. Ground invasion sweeps in, and we show those plum fucks the what for. It’s simple- mostly because everyone will be dead on both sides. Sound good?”\n\n“My sword will burn with the color of the blood of heathens”\n\n“Sounds like a yes”\n\nIf only it had went that smoothly. Five hours in, and all ships were grounded from damage. Lak and his crew were mostly intact, though the Ruso-Sino border was now cluttered with a two kilometer long Sangheili capital ship, and a bunch of Turian vessels. The green berets picked up the crew members and began a march to Moscow that was almost entirely passive.\n\nUpon reaching the city limits, all hell broke loose. Kreav Mortumee, Lak’s nephew, was stabbed by an omni blade by a Turian assassin before bullets, mass effect relay weaponry and plasma began spraying in every direction.\n\n“COWARDS! You wish to hide in the shadows, then we shall chase you back into them! Sangheili, active camouflage!”\n\nPontiac led the green berets into an alley way where they hid inside a bakery while the fighting ended...\n\nThe Turian commander looked around, confused.\n“Snipers, movement?”\nNo answer...\n“Sn-“\n\nA body dropped behind him from a second story building as a cloaked elite jumped down shortly after. Lak soon followed.\n“Your soldiers were easily dispatched. You have led your family into a dishonorable maneuver, and they died because of your cowardice”\n“For a group that values honor, you seem to have camouflage capabilities too”\n\nLak snapped and rushed forward- the Turian was able to hold back the Sangheili using the side of his rifle- about like fighting a krogan. At first...until the metal casing on the rifle began to crack, and the turian’s scales began to grow numb. The sangheili’s body weight alone was about to snap the rifle, and his strength was cutting off circulation on the turians arms. His biceps alone were bands of pure steel, and it was obvious that Lak was putting fourth very little effort- suddenly, his left leg gave out, surprisingly, allowing the Turian to reach for his side arm with a shit eating grin. But before the Turian leader could cry out, Lak rolled backwards and performed a high kick, which crushed the commanders face into a flat pancake, blood gushing out from all sides. The 900lbs saurian was nothing but muscle, like the rest of his kind. For him to be the leader of his family, he had a lot more than a last name and good genetics on his side. A lifetime of fighting and training- even after earning his title- had left him the strongest of the Mortumee’s.\n“Now, as we march upon the winter-humans’ vile abode, shall we burn them until they are but glass!”\n\nThe other Sangheili warriors roared out, igniting their energy swords and thrusting them into the air as the green berets formed up with the squad of intergalactic warriors. The Russian guard began to pour out with turian’s mixed into the ranks, seconds before the gunfire began however...\nAll grew quiet as the skies darkened....lighting up only so briefly as to betray the location of other ships which were firing upon each other mid-atmosphere. \nThese alien vessels had joined the fight, allied with different fragment human kaidons, or at least that’s how Lak interpreted this.\nIn this moment, Lak’s mandibles parted into what might be considered a “smile.” " ]	[ 1, 7 ]	[ "1517285923", "1517288364" ]
	[WP] Crimes can only be committed in the dark. People always keep their lights on for protection. One night, a power outage occurs.	21	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Alleria was a beautiful place. Sunny during the day, brightly lit at night. It was a peaceful place, and the crime rate had been at an all time low. In fact, there had been no crime at all. Alleria boasted its ideal, futuristic strategies in making itself the best city in the world.\n\nSome people say that the city harbors a dark secret. The city had clear and strict laws, and the consequences were made clear to anyone who broke them. However, there has been speculation on just how feasible it would be to break the rules that were meant to be followed. Evidence suggests that the reason for the city’s well being is its light. Has there ever been a crime under the light? \n\nA power outage causes chaos in any place, however Alleria suffered more. One day the city lost its light. Conspiracy theorists elicited panic, people began to wonder if they would survive to see the next day. \n\nIt lasted four hours. There were conflicting accounts on what actually happened. Some people stated that the city sunk into chaos. For hours, the city was ruled by people who only wanted to cause harm. There was violence in the streets and many people chose to stay indoors in fear. For some people, this was normal. The city had many places to hide.\n\nYet others stated that Alleria was a wonderful place with people they trusted. They had spent years building relationships with these people and knew that they could never be criminals. Perhaps the light had nothing to do with it, and Alleria was simply an amazing place to be. \n\nOr perhaps there was more to the city than meets the eye.\n", "Candles were a precious commodity in the land of Lux. The realm had a magical seal of protection that blinded anyone who was bathed in light and sought to do others harm, be it direct or indirect, physical or mental.\n\nOf course, this resulted in these wax sticks turning into a precious commodity. Only the rich could afford to illuminate every corner of their estate to defend it, while the poor had to build their own and defend only a small portion of their land.\n\nIn due time, Lux had advanced to keep up with the modern age. While magic had faded over time, the protective seal over the country never left. What was once considered the best way to ward off criminals had been corrupted into a practice to improve one's \"luck,\" as knowledge of the seal faded from common knowledge. The people grew complacent, and kept their lights on except to sleep.\n\nOne day, the lights went out.\n\nAt first, crimes were subtle. Mobsters took the time to engage in more unscrupulous activites, and belligerent defaced buildings with graffiti. Eventually, however, things descended into complete hell, with felons of all kinds assaulting the cities of Lux. Even worse, there was minimal police presence due to the excessive lack of crime. The city's leaders came together, demanding a solution.\n\nIn due time, they discovered the protective seal guarding the realm, and quickly came to the conclusion that the answer was, once again, candles. The government quickly collapsed at the feet of the few candlemakers left in the land, and the balance of power quickly shifted to them as the guardians of the land.\n\nI refuse to disclose my identity, as my rivals would quickly end my business if I did. Regardless, take my tale with immense caution, and remember this...\n\nThere are more protective barriers out there just like the one in Lux, and the countries who do not heed my warning will collapse the very moment their power grid fails. When it all goes to hell, the candlemakers will rule over the remnants of the empires, as they will be able to dictate who will live and who will die at the hands of felons.\n\nNow please, won't you buy a few candles? They're top quality, and will last for a week before you need another one. I'll even cut you a deal and sell you two $600 ones for the price of one." ]	[ 1, 2, 3 ]	[ "1517316738", "1517337883", "1517333526" ]
	[WP] On your flight, the guy sitting next to you starts telling you stories from the time he could fly.	3	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Eli instinctivly rubbed the scar on his right hand. Flying always made him nervous. It wasn’t the actual flying part, but all the extra baggage. The crowds, the food, the suffocating lack of personal space. As of now, the window seat next to him was empty, and he hoped it would remain that way. He yawned, it was about midnight. If he had to fly, he preferred red eyes. There were usually less people, and it provided a better chance at having his own seat. He’d had friends who loved flying and meeting new people, but for Eli, besides his girlfriend Annie and a few friends and family, he wasn’t a huge fan of new people. Not that he necessarily disliked them, he simply felt content with the amount of humans he currently had in his life.\n\nHis phone buzzed, it was Annie. “I’ll call you a cab for the morning. Have a safe flight.” Eli rolled his eyes as he texted back “Okay, see you when I get home.” He threw his phone in his bag a little more aggressively than usual. He and Annie got in a heated argument earlier that day. He honestly couldn’t even remember what it was about, just something stupid and insignificant. She was apparently still pissed, since she was originally going to pick him up. He rested his head back, unconsciously rubbing his scar. It usually was small things they fought about, but he couldn’t help imagining a skyscraper toppling over due to thousands of insignificant cracks chipped in its foundation. He rubbed his temples as the plane began to ascend. It will be fine. He and Annie would make up, they always did. Eyes closed, he took a deep breath and tried relaxing.\n\n“Pardon me,” His mind blinked back into awareness “but my seat is next to yours.” The old man was small, so he wasn’t too annoyed at having a seat companion. Eli stood in the aisle, letting him in, noticing he had no personal belongs. He must of put them in a compartment, he figured. The old man thanked Eli, and slipped into his seat. Eli noticed the tremble in his hand resting on the tv tray, and it gave him slight anxiety about old age. Eli closed his eyes and reached for his own hand. He got the scar as a kid, he fell off his bike onto some broken glass. Rubbing it was his version of biting his nails, or tapping his foot. Just took the edge off.\n\nThe old man exhaled, looking out the dark window. “Shame we won't be able to see much out there tonight, wouldn’t you say?” Eli politely nodded, and closed his eyes again. He wasn’t much of a small talker. \n\nIt was always difficult for Eli to fully fall asleep on a plane, and this time was no exception. After about an hour of trying, his ears perked up at the sound of a small cart slowly wheeling towards him. Sleep wasn’t going to help him tonight, he figured he should stop pretending.\n“Can I get you something to drink sir?” The flight attendant asked. \n“I’ll take a coffee with 1 cream, thanks.” \n“And I’ll have the same thing.” an old croaky voice chimed in “Planes are hard for me to sleep on too. Might as well accept it and do better things.” Eli gave an awkward chuckle, as he accepted his coffee. The old man continued “You know, I used to do this all the time.” his shaky hands nearly spilled coffee on Eli as he accepted it from the attendant. “Do what?” Eli begrudgingly asked. The old man exhaled as if he were relieved of something, “Fly.” He said, with his eyes enlarged and dreamy. “Ah, that’s cool.” Eli tried looking the other way. The old man said, “Ya, it really is. I mean I used to FLY. Nobody gets that opportunity. I would soar through the air like I owned the place” he chuckled. Eli began anxiously rubbing the scar on his hand. He absolutely hated small talk. “Oh, so you were a pilot?” The old man shook his head a bit aggressively, “No no no, not like that.” Eli was a little confused, but didn’t care enough to press the old man. He nodded, and looked the other way.\n\n “Like Superman” the old man said after a quiet few minutes. “Excuse me?” Eli wasn’t sure he understood. “Like Superman, I used to fly like Superman.” Eli carefully nodded looking at the seat straight ahead of him, realizing his companion was an old mad chatterbox. Great. “Course, my hair never looked as good as his when I was through. More like a bird’s nest it was!” He chuckled, “I’d get up about 45,000 feet above ground, I was higher than we are now.” Yea, Eli thought, you were high alright. “You know Superman, right kid?” Eli gave him a small nod, full on gripping his right hand at this point. “Ol’ Clark Kent makes it look a lot easier than it is” The old man laughed at this, as if he were talking about some good friend of his. He sat there smiling like an old goon, bringing a small smirk to Eli’s face. As annoyed as he was at the situation, he couldn’t help but admire the old man’s care free attitude. Maybe Eli could learn a thing or two from this guy. “One thing that really surprised me when I first started flying,” the old man continued, “was how hard it was to control my arms and legs. You think, sure, I just keep em straight and go, but oh no no. Not that easy.” The old man shifted himself so Eli could see him a bit more clearly, he actually seemed a little familiar... “You see, imagine when you jump off a rock into the water, do you jump and pencil dive straight in?” Eli shrugged. He had probably just seen him at the airport. “No of course you don’t!” he continued, “Your arms and legs are flailing like a swimming baby before you hit the water. Well, it’s like that. Takes lots of practice before you can control your limbs. You gonna eat those pretzels?” Eli planned on it, but the question caught him off guard, he shook his head. “You also gotta make sure you’re careful of birds and planes while you’re out” his veiny hands tore through the small bag “cause I’ll tell you firsthand that running into a bird at 40 miles per hour isn’t a good time! I landed myself in the hospital for that one, told them I was mugged and beat up, which wasn’t far from the truth!” He laughed whole heartily, bits of pretzel taking flight. “I never felt as free as i did plunging through the air though, it became my safe space after a while.” Eli thought that actually sounded nice right about now. To jump through the window but not fall, leaving anxieties on the ground for another time. \n\nAfter a few minutes, the old man looked over at him with a strange and soft expression, like a somber reminiscence. Where had he seen him before? “Well kid,” his voice cracked a bit “thanks for giving an old man an ear. I know you would have preferred to sit on your own.” Eli smiled a bit, and noticed the old man slowly taking his right hand from his jacket pocket. He guided the wrinkled veiny hand towards Eli’s tray table, balled in a loose fist. It wasn’t until he rested it on Eli’s tray table that he noticed a blemish. No, a scar. A large distinctive scar on his right hand…\n“It’s going to be hard at first” he said “but you’ll get through it.” \nEli knew that scar… \n“You’ll need lots of private open space to practice. Uncle Jerry is selling a house just outside town, nothing special but she’s got good bones.” He gently separated Eli’s left hand from rubbing his right, and placed his aged, scarred hand in Eli’s palm. It was the exact same scar stretched across Eli’s hand.\n “Things are going to be very different from this point forward.” a small pebble dropped into Eli’s hand. The old man retreated his own, as Eli looked at the small light blue stone in his palm. It shimmered a bit, with stripes of white streaking through. “W-what is this?” The old man laughed, and looked older than he had moments before. “Kid, I’m handing you the keys to the ferrari.” Eli stared at him for a bit. There was no way... “I’d tell you not to fly too close to the sun” the smirk on his face slowly fading “but, you will, and it will hurt.” Eli must be asleep, and having the most odd dream. “it’ll be okay though, just don’t take your eyes off what’s important.” The old man’s eyes began losing their focus. “One more thing” He rest his head back on his seat “Tell Annie how much you love her,” He closed his eyes, “tell her everyday.” The old mans hands stopped trembling. Eli sat there motionless, with the stone in his hand, his body feeling lighter than it ever had before.\n" ]	[ 1, 2 ]	[ "1517345925", "1517460063" ]
[removed]	[WP] A PTSD-ridden Canadian visits Tokyo, then Punches Everyone with his hand-knives when he realises that the Japanese cannot be trusted.	0	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nThe mods reserve the right to remove anything we feel is harmful to the community. This includes, but is not limited to any forms of hate speech, racism, politics, necrophilia, pedophilia, bestiality, incest, abuse, torture, rape, or suicide. We will not tolerate it. \n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7u4rnw/wp_a_ptsdridden_canadian_visits_tokyo_then/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1517350058", "1517350229" ]
	[WP] You seem to have accidentally boarded the wrong flight, and it’s the modern equivalent of the Ancient Greek ferry to the Underworld. You are the only living person on a plane full of damned souls.	50	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Looking at the eyes of the people sitting in the plane they stair into the empty space in front of them as the doors of the flight are slowly closing. I panic and run towards the doors but I am stopped and being dragged to my seat by two large men. I close my eyes and open them and imagine myself that this could be a dream and then I see that the two men are actually large apes pressing me down on my seat, strapping me hard. \"Where the hell are we going\" I scream loudly. The man next to me, who isent really a man, but a seems to be some sort of cat answers me in a calm voice: \"take it easy, the first time is the hardest\"... " ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1517371954", "1517401920" ]
[removed]	[WP] Since the day you were conceived your body was mutated with the werewolf gene. Each full moon you’re thrust into body contorting agony. Tonight is the first time in 150 years there has been a super blue blood moon.	1	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nNo recent reposts, even if changing/inverting small details ([copy-cats](http://i.imgur.com/38FjDgW.gifv)). Search before submitting as popular ideas can cause floods. If your idea is based on something you read elsewhere on reddit, chances are it's been submitted here already. Please wait at least 2 weeks before reposting.\n\nAlso why are you reposting your own post 5 minutes later?\n\n\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7u7rxe/wp_since_the_day_you_were_conceived_your_body_was/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1517377820", "1517377973" ]
	[WP] In a world where everyone thinks the world is flat write the story of a “conspiracy theorist”.	9	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Everybody knows the world is flat. \nBut they can only think inside the square. \nI think this is false, simple minded at that. \nThere's so much to learn, but they don't even care. \n\nI look up at the moon, the stars in the sky\nIt doesn't make sense to accept a blind truth\nEverything they know, what they tell us, is a lie\nI've had suspicions even since my youth\n\nSure you can't see it, looking at the ground\nEverybody's only seeing what they want to see\nThey can't believe that the earth must be round\nLiving a lie, living in fear, but they won't hear my plea. " ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1517418174", "1517421256" ]
	[WP] The world is still under the rule of the greek gods. But now, they walk among us disguised as humans: politicians, celebrities, businessmen, etc.	13	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "\"Pick him up. C'mon.\" He pulled a stream of smoke into his mouth and tapped the cigarette ash away. The two men grabbed his chair and pulled him back up. \"Now listen kid, I told you when you stepped outta that hole how it was gonna work. We don't know you, we ain't gotta grudge against you, stay outta our affairs and we don't throw you back. But now...\"\n\nHe sat in the chair and stared in defiance at the man. Billowing out a cloud of smoke the man waved his hand limply at the others. A fist slammed into his jaw and a string was pulled around his neck. He struggled against the tightening binds choking on the sealing air.\n\n\"You see I don't understand you, I don't, you come waltzing into this world completely ignorant to how things work and start deciding it should be changed. It's not like we're marching, ah what'd they call it...\" He snapped his fingers, \"hell on Earth here. We're not so bad.\"\n\n\"Ig ni fuw d-dig.\" He grunted through the cut off air.\n\n\"What? Hey Juri let up yeah.\" The binds loosened allowing the man to breathe.\n\n\"I said, you're a big fucking dick.\" He replied.\n\nAnother hit to the face. \"Well you've gotten a hold of the language. Let him speak his mind though, we're all friends here. How are we bad, hmm? Tell me.\"\n\n\"Oh you mean how Aphrodite soaks in admiration in, the, Holly Wood-\"\n\n\"Its Hollywood, it's one wor- it's a place. Whatever, please continue.\"\n\n\"She soaks in admiration for her own enjoyment feeding off others desires. She cripples those who displease her, allowing only who she deems worthy to not be drained. Ares has been casting whole civilizations into unnecessary chaos with his monopoly on military technology. Dionysus continues to slowly create new forms of addiction to swallow the people whole. So many of you play the part, politicians, businessmen, monopolizing control for personal pleasure. And then there's you, given control of one of Ares's private militaries to run deceit and destruction through these countries. Making a network of invisible communication to help the other Gods strengthen their holds on the humans.\"\n\n\"So,\" he said tossing the cigarette to the ground, \"they're our ants,\" he crushed the cigarette beneath his feet. \"Without us where would they be?\"\n\n\"They'd be free of your tyranny!\" He yelled pulling at the restraints.\n\nHe laughed. \"Tyranny? There's so much left for you to learn, you're just a child. So what was the plan anyway? You against a pantheon of the great Gods?\"\n\n\"Hermes, remember last time we sat in a room like this?\" He looked around smiling. \"I told you I'd rip your wings off. I met a friend, he was a strong one, his gift, well it's been quite helpful.\" His grin grew wider. Veins protruded from his skin as his body tensed. The restraints tore off. One of the guards attempted to shove him back down. He picked the guard up by his throat and tossed him against the wall. A simple backhand sent the other guard spiraling to the ground.\n\nHermes stood in shock watching his captive slowly walk to him. He removed his sunglasses and slowly pulled off his jacket. A pair of glowing wings materialized behind him. He swung failing to strike his target. He swung again, and again his strike was avoided. His wrists were now bound in his captive's grip.\n\n\"I am a God!\" Hermes yelled. \"You cannot kill me!\"\n\nThe man smiled. \"A God? All I see is a man in a suit, that's all you have become. You see Hermes, this was the plan, without you the entire communication network is gone.\" His eyes faded to red and lines of dark blue began to appear across his skin. \"Feed me!\" He screamed. Black veins spread across Hermes skin and his skin began to drain of color. He struggled weakly attempting to pull his hands free. From behind the man large white wings materialized in the air.\n\n\"What are you?\" Hermes wailed.\n\nThe man let go of Hermes letting him collapse to the ground. He grabbed the arch of his wings and pulled. Like bits of shattered glass the wings disappeared. Hermes screamed in pain as his wings were torn away.\n\n \"You may rule this world from the shadows, but Gods? You're just like the rest of these politicians and... salebs, just with a bit of divinity.\" He knelt down beside him. \"You live as one of them, now you will experience what it is to truly be like them.\"" ]	[ 1, 3 ]	[ "1517428135", "1517429258" ]
[deleted]	[WP] Aliens don't attack earth for one single reason: Humans just make extraordinary food. And nobody wants to see that gone.	30	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Lieutenant Zak was pacing behind his desk when the most enterprising scout in the Empire entered. “Sir!” The young Corporal squeaked as he came to attention a few steps in to the sprawling bright room “I have the report on planet DN000057543988, as requested.” He said, pale envelope in hand. \n\n\n“At ease” replied Zak. \n\n\nThe Corporal’s shoulders sank but he remained at the ready. Zak came around his desk and faced the corporal, accepted the large envelope. He didn’t stand much larger than the Corporal, both around four feet tall but Zak was much better put together. His scales were more symmetrical and he was a much heathier color of green. \n\n\n“I think you understand the magnitude of the recommendation in these reports” said Zak as he looked the Corporal up and down.\n\n\nThe unconvincing soldier shifted in his uniform that was to big for his thin and leathery body. He swallowed. “Yes, sir”. \n\n\nZak tried to catch his eyes but the Corporal would not submit.\n\n\n“Has anyone else seen this report, Corporal?” \n\n\n“No sir, as per your orders”. \n\n\nZak went back to his desk and set the envelope down, then he walked to a credenza on the wall of what seemed to the Corporal to be an eternity away. The Lieutenant walked to a box on the structure and pressed his middle of three fingers against it, the box opened and he took out a silver letter opener. Zak walked back to his desk and came to close to the Corporal as he did. He pulled out a heavy black box out of the envelope and placed it back on his desk. He inserted the letter opener in a key hole in the front and instantly the box opened and a digital hologram of delights instantly appeared in front of him, floating in suspension over his desk. He swept his scaly hand three times in the air to the left, then once back to the right, he saw Official Recommendation and stopped. He began reading and then realized his eyes were moving too fast for the company. He calmed and read on as a slight frown grew on his face and then a forced smile. He sat back in his chair, folded his hands and straightened his face. \n\n\n“Corporal Zibon, it disappoints me you suggest such a cruel fate for Planet DN000057543988.”\n\n\nThe Corporal’s eyes finally met the Lieutenant. \n\n\n“Sir, I’m not calling for the elimination of all species there, just the pests that refer to themselves as ‘Human Beings’. They’re on the verge of destroying an otherwise beautiful ecosystem. They’ve had millions of their years to simply get along and treat their planet with respect and they have failed miserably on all accounts. I can’t in good conscience suggest anything less than the complete elimination of their species.” \n\n\nZak said nothing. The Corporal straightened with confidence. \n\n\n“Honestly, I think we’ve let them do too much damage already.” He said. “If it where up to me I would have them eliminated when they discovered their precious “atomic” energy. He air quoted the word atomic. His lip curled slightly when he was finished.\n \n\n“It’s not your decision is it though, Corporal?” said Zak. He thought he heard the Corporal mutter no but wasn’t sure. “Besides, the human beings are no threat to us. Splitting the atom is baby steps” Said Zak with a dismissive flick of the wrist. “Your recommendation is cruel and unusual. Which is disappointing coming from a man with your expertise”.\n\n\n“Sir, with all due respect, they are on the verge of colonizing other planets in their system, even if they don’t, they now have the capability to completely destroy their own. We’ve even got report of humans smuggled to our planet.” Zak made a concerted effort not to flinch. “The human disease will only spread” the Corporal continued. “It follows protocol that we eliminate evasive species before they become threats.”\n\n\n“That may be so, Corporal, but I’m still not a fan of your barbaric recommendation. I don't take the elimination of any planet under our sphere lightly. However, I pride myself on being objective in my service of the Empire so I will take all opinions in to account, including yours. Thank you for your work, Corporal, you’re dismissed.” His eyes shifted to the door. \n\n\nA look of concern came over the Corporal. “Sir, I don’t believe it’s your desic..” Zak cut him off “Like I said, I will take your recommendation in to account” but he wasn’t convincing. He smiled and led the Corporal to the door with a hand on his back. The Corporal thought of resisting and then thought better. \n\n\nWhen the door was closed the Lieutenant walked to his phone and said. “Lieutenant Zena”. Within in seconds Zena was standing in front of him in holographic form. \n\n\n“We have a problem” said Zak. He was already at the bar cart pouring himself a glass of inebriant. \n\n\nZena shrugged “It will be dealt with. The only problem I see here is an officer drinking in his office at 11AM. This isn’t like you”. \n\n\nZak’s brow was wet. “I have a family Zena, I can’t be so carefree, the stakes are higher for me. I can’t afford to get caught” \n\n\n“Ah Zaky” she said in a patronizing tone she knew would annoy him. “We’re not getting caught. This is bigger than us. As long as Leg of Man is the highest selling item in the underground markets, we’ve got nothing to worry about. You know what? I’m getting hungry just talking about it” she was smiling coy.\n\n\n“You don’t understand” said Zak as he marched back to the phone. “I can only hold off the do good Corporal for so long, eventually his report will get to the scrupulous Captain Zorbet, who has the authority to sign off on planetary cleansings and just like that there goes the best meal in the DN76 Universe and probably our heads.” Sweat was now dripping from his brow and oozing out the back of his scaly neck.\n\n\nZena laughed. “Do you need an H-Pen? You look like you’re going to have a panic attack or something. I never understood why such a paranoid guy got in to Human meat smuggling.”\n\n\n“You know why.” He frowned and so did she. \n\n\n“Ah, like I said, don’t sweat it, like literally” She said as she giggled. The look on Zak’s face hadn’t changed, he took a step back. “Zena” he said with a look of concern. \n\n\n“Okay, okay” she replied. “I shouldn’t even be telling you this but the good Captain and her husband have a taste for human blood wine. Their source uses the same supplier as us. She needs Planet DN000057543988 as much as we do. I have a feeling that report will get lost some where in the filing process.” She winked.\n\n\n“Why didn’t you tell me this months ago? I haven’t slept a night since the report was commissioned!”\n\n\n“Calm down. I always told you I would deal with it. Besides, I only found out about the wine thing a few days ago anyway,”\n\n\nZak huffed. “And what if you didn’t find that out, then what?”\n\n\n“Doesn’t matter. Honestly Zaky, You’re starting to bore me with this. If you want out, say so now, people will do a lot more for a lot less than 1000Z$ to deliver human meat to a few dozen customers, including yourself. \n\n\nZak wanted to push the issue but knew he couldn’t. “No, I still want in, you just have to be more open with me, we’re supposed to be partners.”\n\n\n“We are partners.” She said but it was halfhearted and they both knew it. His weakness was off putting but she had has always liked him and she remembered a time when he was still strong. She brightened up. “I have an idea. Tell your wife your working late tonight. We can go get some human wings and watch some interplanetary league in the D Zone.”\n\n\nHe sighed. “Okay, just promise me you’ll be more honest”\n\n\nShe tried to pretend she didn’t hear him.\n\n\n“Promise?”\n\n\nShe fought rolling her eyes. “I promise.”\n" ]	[ 1, 2, 4 ]	[ "1517435779", "1517435759", "1517457444" ]
	[WP] Write a story where the last line changes the hero into a villain.	41	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "I was blessed with intelligence and desire to save the world. My weapon was science. With it, I was able to save the lives of infants that would have otherwise died a decade earlier. I waged a war against virulent diseases that were once a death sentence. Through my skills in chemistry, biology and medicine, I was seen as a hero forging a newer better world.\n\nIt didn't take long for others to find different uses for my talents. I created toxic gases that were able to by the thousands and got medals for it by tyrants. I created new, horrific diseases that killed indiscriminately. I heard children screaming in pain as I conducted experiments to find better ways to torture people until they pleaded for death.\n\nThrough all this, I lost my humanity. I no longer saw an individual as a person, but merely as another rat to progress my passion to change the world. In the end, I was no longer a hero but became death and received thunderous applause for it.", "\"Are you hurt madam?\" \n\nThe woman was obviously in some kind of shock. So I tried to reassure her and make her feel safe, while at the same time checking for injuries. \"It's alright, they are gone and can't hurt you anymore. I promise. You are safe with me.” I said in a calm voice “Do you know where you are? Do you remember your name?\"\n\nAs far as I could see, she had only some minor bruises and scratches. She had probably lost her balance somewhere uphill and came sliding down the slope – until the blackberry bush had stopped her. I really hoped, she hadn't broken anything and could walk. \n\n\"We have to get away from here. Please!\" She tried to stand up, but quickly dropped down again. Her face a grimace of pain. Probably busted her ankle- damn. Poor girl.\n\n\"Please! Please help me get up. We have to run. The wolves are right...\" \n\nI lifted my hand to stop her. \"The wolves won't attack the two of us. Not during the day.\" I nodded over to my rifle lying on the ground \"And if they still try…\"\n\nThat seemed to finally calm her down. Still her eyes darted around, worried and nervous, expecting to be attacked at any moment. She was shaking from the adrenaline rush and her hands were much colder than they should have been.\n\n“Alice. My name is Alice.”\n\n“Hello Alice. My name is Tom and I will get you out of here. But for now, you need to calm down a bit. Just lean against that birch and take a few deep breaths. What happened to you?”\n\nWhile she told me about how her trip through the state and how her bicycle broke down a few miles away, I dug out my battered thermos from the backpack. Her hands were trembling profusely, so it was all for the better the tea wasn’t really hot anymore. \n\n“… and then I stopped to remove the back wheel to fix the puncture. That’s when I saw one of them. Still a fair distance away, but I could feel him looking straight at me. I couldn’t see the others then, but I just… knew? I jumped back on my bike and tried to get clear as fast as possible. I think I could have gotten away without the flat… Well as it stands I lost control and came flying through the bushes...”\n\nTears formed in her eyes and her voice was almost breaking apart.\n\n“I was sure they would eat me alive.”\n\n“Don’t worry Alice. As I already said, you are safe now. I need to check if anything is broken. Especially your ankle - If that’s alright with you.”\n\nShe agreed and I checked her injuries. Her ankle was busted, but probably not broken. But I’m no doctor, so I might be wrong there. The rest of her was mostly okay. Nothing severe, but the scratches would need cleaning and the bruises would take weeks to disappear again.\n\n“My cabin is only half a mile from here, do you think you could manage that with my help?”\n\n“I will try.”\n\nI gathered the thermos and the rest of my gear and helped her to get up. She winced, but bit her teeth and continued.\n\n“What about my bike? It must be somewhere up there”\n\n“Don’t worry about it” I replied “There is no one around who could steal it. I’ll get it for you, once you are safe in the cabin.\n\nShe smiled gratefully “Thank you, that is very kind of you Tom.”\n\nLater that evening I retrieved the bike and drove it all the way over to Sandy Mountain. Can’t have anybody find the bike this close to my cabin, can’t I?\n\n", "It was almost too easy. Dr. Havoc had broadcast his ultimatum, and it was up to Lightning to stop him. Quick as a flash, Lighting reached Havoc’s lair and dismantled the dastardly device. With a series of blows faster than the eye could see, Lighting brought Dr. Havoc to his knees and slapped the handcuffs on him.\n\n“You didn’t really think you’d get away with this, did you Mr. Havoc?” He asked, mocking Havoc’s assumes title, as he always did.\n\n“Curse you, Lightning!” Dr. Havoc cried. It was the same routine. The same song and dance, rehearsed to perfection. It was stale. Boring. Lightning had hoped for something better, something more exciting. This would begin to get old soon. Unless...\n\nDr. Havoc never saw it coming. As Lightning watched the light fade from Havoc’s eyes, he smiled. That was more like it.", "Robert has dreamed of this moment his entire life. The moment when he gets to be the hero. There were kids who loved superheroes, then there were super hero nerd, and then at the top of the pile, there was Robert. A stronger word even than obsessed feels appropriate here. Until an embarrassingly mature age (to which Robert would never admit!), he truly believed he was born on Krypton. He would scour the neighbourhood on his bike, self-fashioned cape billowing behind him. Despite the few occasions where his cape got caught in his wheels and sent him unceremoniously over the handlebars of his trusty steed, Super Robert persisted. Not on his watch, would anything untoward happen in his neck of the woods. \n\nSo here we are, in the present day. With a semi-retired 23 year old Super Robert bearing witness to a young lady being swept downstream, clearly in need of help. And who better to step in, then the boy who grew up a super hero. He had trained for this moment his whole life. Well, kind of – Robert wasn’t the world’s strongest swimmer. But hey, he was a super hero, it would all work out. \n\nRobert leapt into action, closing the distance between the two quickly, until he was sprinting along the bank next to the woman. Her eyes wide with panic, she reached out a hand desperately towards Robert, screaming incoherently. Using his well-honed skills, Robert identified a part of the bank with a large tree he could anchor himself to, and rushed towards it. Gripping the tree tightly with his right arm, he leant out towards the woman and managed to grab her by the wrist. The current was stronger than he realised, but not too strong - never too strong for Super Robert. \n\nHe could see it now, the adoring public, Robert speaking humbly to the TV presenter. The one on one interview with Ellen, where she brought out Henry Cavill to present him with his very own cape. The boy who loved Superman like no other, who became a hero himself. \n\nBut we must go back to the present, where Robert has just managed to extract the terrified young woman from the river. She threw her arms around him dramatically and sobbed into his chest. She was playing her part perfectly. Finally, she pulled herself together enough to speak.\n\n“Thank you, oh God thank you, I thought I was a goner for sure. Can I… Can I borrow your phone please? I have to call Johnny and let him know I’m OK.”\n\nRobert raised an eyebrow, who was Johnny? No it couldn’t be a boyfriend, that’s not how it’s supposed to work. He was the hero, and the hero gets the girl. Always. Super Robert always gets the girl. Robert stood slowly and wandered closer to the river. He spied his wallet, pinned against a log in the shallows. \n\n“Could you give a hand? I dropped my wallet, but it’s caught on a log here. Can you just step out quickly and grab it? It’s OK, I’ll be holding you the whole time, you can trust me.”\nThe girl hesitated, obviously with no appetite to re-enter the water. But what could she say? This guy had just saved her life. But there was something about the intensity of his gaze, which unsettled her. \n\n“Um, OK… But hold on tight!”\n\nRobert smiled, “I’ve got you.”\n\nShe stepped into the shallows, and felt the strength of the current, which had already drained all her strength. She shuddered, but reached out slowly towards the wallet. He had a strong grip on her arm, it was hurting her, but it was her lifeline – so she didn’t mind. \n\n“So, this Johnny, he’s your brother?”\n\n“I’ve almost got it. What? Um, no – Johnny is my boyfriend.”\n\nFor some reason, she didn’t want to tell him that. It shouldn’t matter, but there was something about his eyes, those eyes…\n\nRobert flinched. No, that was wrong. She can’t have a boyfriend; Super Robert always gets the girl. \n\n“I’ve got it! OK, pull me in.”\n\nShe held the wallet up triumphantly. He wasn’t even looking at her now though, and she felt her hand slipping. His death grip was loosening. She felt her hand sliding through his. \n\n“I’m slipping, quick – pull me back in!” \n\nRobert glanced back at her, stirred from his thoughts. No more adoring public, no more Ellen. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. \n\n“Please, I’m slipping – help me!”\n\nHis grip loosened further, he wasn’t even holding her anymore. Her hand slide from his and she toppled backwards over the log, at the mercy once more of the current. She got one last look at those eyes as she was swept away, but there was nothing behind them now, just emptiness. \n\nRobert turned away, shoulders slumped. That wasn’t how it worked, Super Robert always gets the girl…\n" ]	[ 1, 3, 4, 5, 22 ]	[ "1517439533", "1517467828", "1517475326", "1517458711", "1517443223" ]
	[WP] You've been dead for centuries and been absolutely loving it, so the revelation came as a bit of a shock. "What do you mean this is Hell?"	119	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Rudely. Rude. Defined as offensive. Impolite. Ill-mannered. Perhaps even disreputable. The man towering over me with a phone receiver, lingering for a moment too long without saying anything, twirling the pencil moustache against his skin was simply just rude.\n\n\nI picked the received up to listen to a voice requesting a report on the previous book I had read. I nodded and reassured them that my report would eventually arrive, given the pace of the mail these days.\n\n\nJenkins took the receiver away and I returned to the current book I was reading. The arm chair was worn by now, fitting my body quite comfortably. It had been years since I had complained about the leather being too stiff, or that strange odour that first accompanied the chair.\n\n\nThe book was by an unnamed author, though many of them were these days. The so called-climax of the book was simply dreadful. Dread, great fear or aprehension. Dreadful, to cause ill-ease, fear, nervousness, suffering even. It cause me a great deal of unease knowing that I would have to critique it within three hundred words. It was simply not enough to condemn this book and force the author to apologize.\n\n\nBut this is what I wanted. A quiet room, an un-ending task with plenty of downtime. Sure my neck hurt from time to time, but what's that compared to-\n\n\nknock knock\n\n\nI looked around the room. There weren't any doors and Jenkins always just appeared. A man, olive skin, dressed oddly. Three piece suit without the tie, an odd fitting. shoes were a dull black, needed more than shining. Contrary to all things fashionable, he wore a light brown belt against the grey suit. \n\n\n\"Happy millennium anniversary!\" The man announced, throwing some confetti around. \"I hope that your stay isn't too poor, or out of taste.\"\n\n\nI shook my head. \"Hardly. A welcome office with functional furniture, books galore. May I ask who you are?\"\n\n\nThe man in question raised his brows. \"Lucifer? Don't you remember me? I shouldn't think so. I don't often appear down here.\"\n\n\nLucifer? I pondered. The dead spirits often roamed in the office, but I never remembered them taking physical form. \"Well, I suppose this is Hell for some, but I'm sure that you won't mind that your work goes to heat the boilers.\"\n\n\n\"My work is disposed of? I was never very good at writing reports anyways.\" I sat back down into the chair and flipped to where I was reading.\n\n\n\"My good man, you do realize that Hell isn't a holiday vacation. You have debts to pay.\" Lucifer had tilted his head to one side. I would have noticed he was changing, but I summoned Jenkins quickly and dismissed the man in the suit.\n\n\n\"And I shall pay them. Now good day sir.\"", "I left my room and walked to lay out by the pool, as I had been doing every day for so long that I had lost track. I put on my new pair of swim trunks, and I plugged in my headphones. I stopped off at the mini bar by the pool, nodding to the bartender Sean, who already had my usual drink made for me. I was feeling good as I glided toward my customary chair, a pep in my step as I listened to my song. I had been dead for centuries now, but I really couldn’t complain. \n\nWarm sun? Drink in my hand? Good music? All checks. I lowered my shades appreciatively as some hot babes stepped into the pool. Women? Triple check. I grinned. I had it all. \n\nSprawling on my chair, I couldn’t help but notice a new face today. New faces weren’t too unusual around here, but this guy looked really out of place. Out of sorts. He seemed nervous – pale faced and sweating, he argued animatedly with Sean, who was doing his best to politely ignore the guy. I watched them out of the corner of my eye, but I wasn’t too concerned. \n\nI knew the song was winding to an end, so I picked up my iPhone to search for another song. With the song’s ending came a few seconds of silence, and I couldn’t help but overhear part of nervous guy’s conversation with Sean. \n\n“There’s just NO WAY that I was sent to Hell,” nervous guy said, well, nervously. He seemed to be getting a bit hysterical, his voice taking on a raspy, high pitch. “This has to be a mistake.”\n\n“Of course you’re in hell, and that type of mistake is quite frankly impossible.” I recognized that as Sean’s voice, and he sounded like he was doing his best to be nice to this fool. “Please calm down, sir, and enjoy the amenities provided to you.” I nodded my head absently, thinking, yeah, buddy, come enjoy the pool, the drinks, and the babes! \n\n“But there’s just no way! Me? In Hell? What did I do to deserve this?!” Nervous guy sounded desperate now, and I silently cringed. He voice was becoming even louder, and I was starting to feel bothered by the annoying interruption to my usual peace and calm. I quickly chose my next song and pressed play. As the music filled my ears, I relaxed. My eyelids lowered. \n\nSeveral minutes later, I saw the Security team arrive. They were a group of three hulking men, if I could even call them men. For some reason, part of their uniform requirement were these ridiculously large horns that they had to wear on their head, which looked really heavy, and hooves for shoes, which looked ridiculously uncomfortable. They beelined for nervous guy, whose eyes went wide in terror. He tried to resist, but the head of security flicked him in the forehead and carried him off like a sack of potatoes. I shuddered, but thought to myself that nervous guy somehow deserved his fate. \n\nAfter they departed, I looked down and noticed that my drink was empty. Frowning, I got up and walked over to Sean at the bar for a refill. My next drink was already on the counter, how did he always know? \n\nNodding in thanks, I asked, “Hey, Sean. What was all that about?” I gestured toward the direction that nervous guy left with the Security team. \n\nSean snorted. “Oh, that? That asshole wouldn’t accept that he was in Hell. Do you believe that?” \n\nI laughed easily with Sean. “That guy was a moron! With this weather, free drinks, and those hot babes over there, how can this possibly be Hell?” I laughed again, but this time I noticed that Sean wasn’t laughing with me. In fact, he was now looking at me quite seriously. \n\n“Thomas, you do know this is Hell.” Sean said quietly. He seemed a little confused now. \n\nHe waited for my response, but I stood silently for several long seconds with my drink held awkwardly in my hand. “What do you mean, this is Hell?” I finally asked. \n\nSean was shocked, looking warily at me as if I’d suddenly sprouted a bunch of snake tentacles. “What do you mean, what do I mean? You’ve been with us for centuries, Thomas! You’ve been in Hell ever since you died.” He explained this to me in a soft, calm voice the way a parent explains something to a child after they’ve asked an exceedingly dumb question. \n\nI struggled to fully understand what Sean was saying. “But.. but..” I began, desperately searching for something refutable, “but this is a pool!” I blurted out, saying the first thing that came to mind. \n\nSean looked at me incredulously. “That’s not a pool, that’s the eternal collection of the tears of the damned.” \n\nHe said that so naturally that I grimaced. Not really wanting to ask more about that one, I hastily said the next thing that occurred to me. “What about these drinks? Surely they don’t have alcohol in Hell?” \n\nSean shook his head slowly. “These aren’t alcoholic drinks, they’re made from the blood of virgins. Same type of effect as alcohol, though. Potent stuff.” \n\nI choked on my next sip, spitting my red drink all over the counter. I sat the glass down in haste, and I wiped my hands on my swim trunks for good measure. I definitely didn’t want to ask more about that. “Well, wh-what about..” I stammer, looking around for inspiration, “What about those babes over there?!” I asked in a rush. My eyes landed on the babes in question, and I noticed for the first time that their sunhats were a little too large and the towels they had draped over their bodies looked a little too much like wings. \n\nSean sighed sadly, and I felt dread lodge itself low in my stomach. “Those aren’t babes, they’re demons. Succubi. Great to look at, but nasty in bed. Unless, of course, you’re into that.” He flashed me a lecherous grin and an outrageous wink, but I could hardly feel a stir in my sex drive right now. \n\nI swallowed uncomfortably as I looked around my surroundings of paradise. Sean seemed to sense that I was still in shock, and he made me a new drink. “Here,” he said, “You look like you could use something a little.. stronger.” He held it out to me, and I took it without thinking. \n\nI glanced down absently at the drink, and I noticed that it was pitch black. “Do I even want to know?” I asked faintly. \n\n“Probably not. Now go on, Thomas.” He made a shooing gesture at me, and I stumbled off in response. \n\nI was dazed, lost in my thoughts. “..damned, virgins, and demons..” I muttered to myself as I made my way back to my usual chair. Needing to calm my mind, I stuffed my headphones back into my ears and turned the volume up high. \n\nI looked at my drink suspiciously, tilting it and watching the black contents swirl around in an elegant movement. Abruptly, I shrugged. Why the Hell not? I thought to myself as I downed its contents. I immediately felt better as a languid sense of lethargy unfurled my limbs, and I stretched out on the chair. Maybe Hell wasn’t so bad after all. " ]	[ 1, 6, 67 ]	[ "1517507718", "1517532795", "1517511157" ]
[as opposed to, "Every man dies, not every man truly lives" - attributed to William Wallace]	[WP] What does the world/life look like if the Truism is actually "Every Man Lives, but Not Every Man Truly Dies"	4	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "The year is 5440. Humanity has long since moved on to other planets, other star systems. Earth has been declared a dead planet. Its only inhabitants now are outlaws and scavengers, who pick the bones clean of resources. Except for one group.\n\nThey call themselves The Timekeepers, a monastic order devoted to preserving the history of Old Earth. In their temples are statues and records of the great and powerful. Conquerors like Julius Caesar and Genghis Khan, freedom fighters like William Wallace and George Washington, philosophers and scientists like Plato and Einstein. They fill the halls, enshrined forever in metal and stone. \n\nThe Timekeeper records are the source of all historical data for humanity. History that stretches back millennia, to the time of swords and spears, pyramids and temples, gods and demons. History that encompasses the whole of humanity, regardless of nation, creed, or religion. History that is still being taught, monuments that still stand, names that are still remembered.\n\nFor, as the saying goes, every man lives, but not every man truly dies.", "I looked around. Surrounded by family, friends, what more could a man want? Even if I could not see them in my old age, I could feel the pulse of eighty years of love, gently emanating from the warm hand that grasped mine. I smiled gently as the aches and pains of life faded, and along with it, my heartbeat...\n\nAnd then, my eyes opened. I blinked several times, as did everyone else at the memorial. I gathered myself, wiped away a tear, and smiled. “My grandfather was a brave man, among the first to eternalize himself. While, in the flow of the centuries, we may forget him, in these memories, he will live forever.” I placed my hand on the button, as did my brother and sister, and together, we archived my grandfather’s life - safely crystallized in data, never to truly die." ]	[ 1, 1, 2 ]	[ "1517510493", "1517521932", "1517520135" ]
	[WP] You were one of the first volunteers for a Synaptic Implant, which would provide a 'digitally enhanced reality'. When the implant malfunctions, you spend nearly a decade in a coma and awaken to a digital dystopia. You soon realise you're not part of the System - yet.	9	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Light.\nBrightness.\nIt's all I can see as I finally breathe in the surprisingly musty air of my hospital bed. Wait.. . hospital? I remembered vaguely being rushed to one, but it seemed covered somehow, filmed over by time or trauma. I pushed harder and my head repelled me, reeling back in the mother of all head pounding migraines. I felt my head was being covered in a strange film, a feeling I just couldn't shake as my head continued to resist giving me back any clues as to where I was. Besides, my throat was covered in a film as well. I was incredibly thirsty. Testing all of my limbs, I finally shot myself upright. Fwump! I reeled backwards, unprepared for the apparent weight of my upper body as my muscles protested in atrophied agony. With a second try, I finally managed it, bracing my body against my arms, and taking a look around me. Everything still seemed normal, at least as far as the room went. The strange scent of fake strawberries wafted into the room, and the scent rocketed my brain back through the parched haze that blanketed my consciousness. \n\n\"So, explain this to me again once more, what this does?\"\n\"Well, Mr. Meecham, the procedure is simple. You see, what we're doing here is we're essentially... Have you ever heard of the VIVE? We're making it manifest in a portable system and well... putting it into your eye.\" Said Dr. Joel all too enthusiastically.\n\"A-alright then...\" Despite David's excitement for the procedure, the rambling fanaticism of the doctor hardly reassured him, that and the unwavering scent of fake strawberries that\nwafted through the place. Luckily, the doctor was pulling double duty on that front, and seemed to immediately pick up on his apprehensions.\n\"You see Mr. Meecham...\" \n\"Please, just... call me David\"\n\"Right, er... Dave,\"\nsigh It would do. He hated nicknames.\n\"What were doing, Dave, is we're revolutionizing media access! Were putting a phone in your eye! You could feasibly simulate anything! Anything! Right at your retina! You think it, it happens! You could even connect people! It's really even quite the nothing procedure, it's hardly invasive, and as if yet, not a single complaint has been filed!\"\nDavid sighed internally, weighing his options. As he did so, the doctor, never failing to bring an unsettlingly enthusiastic grin every time he looked up, waited expectantly. He relented.\n\"You're sure it's safe?\"\n\"Not a single error so far, just sign here...\"\n\nI rocketed back up, and looked around me again. What... What just happened? That was way too vivid to be just a hazy flashback. Who knows, maybe the implant was doing its job?\nThe implant. THE IMPLANT. My mind rocketed back now, slightly less far, but the flood was different this time. It came in patchy waves, occassionaly leaving marks and sometimes barely shifting sand. Patches of noise appeared.\n\"Slight irregularities on the cranial activity, nothing of note...\"\n\"Is he...? Oh my god...\"\n\"Get the doctor in here now!\"\n\"Fuck fuck FUCK FUCK! WE'RE LOSING HIM!\"\nAs my mind raced through thing after thing it felt like years had passed. It took only a second to realize it had, as the inplant now added to its side if the story, and ten years, ten ling, terribke years materialized before me. I fell out of my hospital bed and crawled to the window overlooking the street. Looking out, I finally began to see what had happened. I propped nyself up against the inexpebsive window frame, barely managing to keep myself up in my emaciated state. There they were. Everyone moving in rows. Orderly. Neat. Horrifying. Each row movijg as though the worlds most terrifying beehive operation. They didn't even look around. What had they become? What... What was I? It was only then that the first knock on the door came, the same as everything else here. Orlderly. Neat. Terrifying.\n\n" ]	[ 1, 3 ]	[ "1517532918", "1517545594" ]
	[WP] [TT] A literal version of the phrase, "Home is where the heart is."	8	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Jax opened the makeshift door to his palace. At least, that’s what it seemed to him. The Colossus lay on its side, half buried by centuries of overgrowth. Its head rested about thirty yards away, obviously torn from the body before it collapsed. Jax wasn’t interested in the head. No, what he loved about it lay further in.\n\nHe wound his way around the halls that formed the skeleton of the monstrosity. It was a tight fit, as they were now sideways from their original position, which meant that the passages were wider than they were tall. Finally, he made it back to the room at the inside, where he lived. He looked at the object which filled the room.\n\nJax was amazed he could get it working. The thing hadn’t been used since the machine was abandoned. But, with a little ingenuity, it started up. The power core. Now, it pulsed with a soft blue light, illuminating the room and providing power to Jax’s scavenging tech.\n\nHe’d found the mechanical titan’s heart. And he’d made it his home.", "A while ago, before I was born, there was a war and it permanently affected everybody that managed not to get killed. Some dictator decided it was acceptable to use chemical weapons, which prompted widespread use by everyone else. The richest countries, being able to afford the best scientists and facilities, had developed some really impressive new toxins and delivery systems. Their full effects were not known, but that didn't prevent the world's governments from launching thousands of missiles fitted with the new technology.\n\nA missile strike on your city didn't mean a quick death from explosive shockwave or a slow death from leukemia due to radiation exposure. Instead, your internal organs began to liquefy. Some people were killed immediately. In others, the process was slow enough that they lived a few decades longer and doctors could come up with methods of treating it. The first measures were ad hoc and made from ancient iron lungs retrofitted to handle the circulation of blood as well as respiration. The need for a gastrointestinal tract was sidestepped by injecting nutrients directly into the blood.\n\nThe world's scientists, motivated by their own liquefaction, started researching long-term solutions and hoped to figure out just what in the hell had actually happened. They determined that the chemical weapons actually changed the molecular structure of the human body. Skin and bone were apparently unaffected, but it had severe effects on vital organs. The bigger surprise was when they learned that these molecular changes to the body were hereditary. Most babies born after the war were like soft-boiled eggs. They had to be placed in organ machines immediately after birth and they lived the rest of their lives attached to their machines.\n\nNow most of mankind uses artificial hearts that require constant power and connection to the municipal blood supply. They're too large to be made both portable and reliable, so new houses are built with a dedicated heartroom to contain the appliances. Carbon nanotube tethers deliver blood from our hearts to our bodies so we can still roam around the house. The more energetic people can even go outside occasionally and weed their garden, but nobody ventures farther than that. Fortunately, everything we need is delivered to our houses by drone and virtual reality keeps getting better, so we're never starved for entertainment.\n\nBut sometimes when I'm lying awake at night trying to ignore the discomfort that's unavoidable when your stomach is pooling in your ankles, I think about how a harmless platitude proved to be a morbid prophecy instead: home is where the heart is.", "They say home is where the heart is.\n\nI've always wondered why.\n\nThey say home is where the heart is.\n\nI wonder where is mine.\n\nI lost my heart at a young age,\n\nbroken beyond repair.\n\nI lost my heart at a young age,\n\nTwas broken, I know not where.\n\nThey say home is where the heart is.\n\nI guess I know that's true.\n\nThey say home is where the heart is.\n\nSomewhere, I always knew.\n\n------\n\nI hope you guys like this. It's my first attempt at composing a poem, ever. Any constructive feedback is welcome.", "My car froze and I groaned. The cop pulled up next to me. \n\n\"Sir,\" it said, \"It is close to the feeding. You are aware of this?\" \n\nI nodded. \n\n\"Being out this late can be a violation under certain circumstances. However, we have scanned the history connected to your number and see that it is sufficiently clear. We will let you off with a warning, but I need confirmation that you understand the effect this recklessness has on your Bloodgroup. If you missed the feeding, you all could be sent to the Center of Punishment.\"\n\n\"I understand,\" I told it solemnly, hoping I looked both stoic and remorseful.\n\n\"Return to your home. The feeding has not begun yet. Your Bloodgroup is waiting for you.\" The cop glid away, and my car regained function.\n\n I know this isn't a good thing, but I didn't entirely trust the cops. Their cold, dark metal armor isn't the most reassuring. So pushed my car to the maximum allowed speed, feeling it swoosh quietly in the air. The soothing sound didn't calm my irritation. I knew damn well that my Bloodgroup was waiting for me; I work all day to earn points to support them. It's why I was late. I jumped at the opportunity to earn extra points from my assignmentmaster, not understanding why all of my coworkers declined. I learned my lesson, I guess. \n\nThe car lowered to a stop in front of the home. The moment I stepped out, I knew something was wrong. The windows were dark, and my Bloodgroup always brightened up the house because Kensie was terribly afraid of the dark. I usually grinned at the thought of that adorable, though dramatic, little girl, but this time, it made me shiver. As I got closer to the entrance, I noticed a paper posted to the door. In a bright, shocking red, it informed me that the people in the residence had been taken away for testing. My throat tightened. \n\nWas this my fault? It wasn't a secret that the \"testing\" that happened intermittently in this settlement was a punishment. The haunted eyes of a Bloodgroup after a visit to the testing facility was a poignant sight. But I only got a warning, and the rest of my Bloodgroup were always very careful about staying out of trouble. Before I ever asked for advice from Dana, the oldest of my bloodmates, I made sure to skim through the rules, because the first words out of his mouth were always \"Check the book.\" \n\nBefore I allowed guilt to overtake me, I entered my home. They must have been taken during preparation for the feeding. I had no idea how the Heart would react. I found the giant quivering mass as it always was, inside the chamber that was next to the idling-room, connected to the dormant Heartscreen through a wire. That is where the normalcy of the situation stopped. The Heart usually had multiple vessels, one for each of my six Bloodmates. In place of those vessels was smooth flesh, without any of the texture of the surrounding skin. Only one remained. As I processed the information, the Heartscreen lit up.\n\n Welcome, #130518. Please connect your vessel to begin the feeding.\n\nI followed the instructions numbly, feeling like the cops I despised so much. I undid the cap to my internal vessel, and watched the Heart-vessel fuse to me. The Heart contracted, and though I received a rush of warmth, it felt like an icebath when my Bloodgroup was not here to feed with me. After a moment, the Heartscreen changed.\n\n You are dismissed to the restoration chamber. Remember, #130518, home is where the Heart is. \n Focus on things of importance. Forget all else.\n\n----------------------------\n\nMy first story on this subreddit! I know it's not that great, so I'd love advice. I'm always trying to improve." ]	[ 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 ]	[ "1517595482", "1517599266", "1517602609", "1517626071", "1517626235" ]
	[WP] "Steaks," he said quietly, shaking his head. "Why did it have to be steaks?"	8	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "\"I can't believe Jason missed that word on the menu when he took it to the printers!\"\n\nJason. He had done this.\n\n\"Who is going to order 10 ounces of steal cooked to perfection?\" \n\n\"It's not so bad.\" She twirled the glass in her hand. Two hours every night shining glasses and silverware to perfection.\n\n\"We are a steakhouse! A steakhouse!\" \n\nShe looked at the tablecloths she had spent hours ironing. \n\n\"We're going to look like idiots!\" \n\nShe looked at the salt and pepper shakers lined up at 90 degree angles. \n\n\"We can't open. That's it. We're ruined!\"\n\nShe looked at the religiously dusted paintings on the walls.\n\nShe looked past him at Jason, sitting outside on the steps, hands covering his ears.\n\nJason's voice rang in her ears. \"You promised, Mom. You said if he blew up at us one more time we would leave.\" \n\nShe stood up. \"Guess it's time to pack it in.\" " ]	[ 1, 3 ]	[ "1517614337", "1517614420" ]
	[WP] The death of a dream.	10	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "My eyes fixated on the image projected onto the wall opposite me as a torrent of sound began to engulf the room. A sea of a hundred thousand people stretched to the horizon, awash in the glow of the setting sun, their arms pressed together, mouths opening to cheer as anticipation mounted beyond any hope of containment. In front of them, three men with long, unruly hair lumbered across the stage, exuding an intimidating calm that belied the chaos soon to come. Behind them, the fourth member of the band sat perched in front of his drum set, a man at his workstation preparing to unleash the cacophony.\n\nAs the silhouettes of the band members paced across the screen, the mass of people faced directly at the camera - at me - their arms now outstretched toward the sky as the drums crashed, and the guitars soared. They began to jump in unison, in a staggered rhythm to the pounding beat that now pulsed through each and every person’s body. I felt something take hold inside of me, as if I was there. The guitars ripped across the venue, tearing a jagged, distorted hole in time itself. As the crowd grew more frenzied, the musicians meticulously drove onward, their heads and torsos rocking violently as they carefully executed each note with the precision of a thousand performances and the energy of the first.\n\nThe sound continued to spill from the amplifiers, simultaneously familiar and completely new. Suddenly, the energy, which had been building beyond any imaginable threshold, hung for one fleeting moment. The drums cut out while the searing buzz of the guitars rang on to the count that continued to march on in everyone’s head. As suddenly as it had arrived, the lull ended, and the first rendition of the chorus began.\n\nThe crowd erupted; I closed my eyes.\n\nFor a moment I imagined I was there alongside those thousands of screaming fans, struggling and shouting and singing as if there was no moment that could ever matter except that one. Then I imagined myself on the stage, the frontman, the object of adoration, a savior who alone possessed the ability to will that moment into existence with one sharp strike of the pick across the strings. Then my imagination gave way to memories.\n\nI remembered the feeling of lifting the guitar and draping the strap over my shoulders. My hand reached out toward the amplifier, fingers grabbing the volume knob and cranking it to the right. I took the pick from my mouth and played a chord. I was sixteen and standing in my living room as sound blasted from the amplifier; the sound from the song I had spent two weeks writing. I watched as my thin, youthful fingers clutched that light blue pick and passed back and forth over the strings. My left hand methodically danced over the fret board, the strings pressed firmly under my calloused fingertips.\n\nThe scene jumped. I was twenty-two. The guitar still hung from my shoulders and my eyes drifted upward toward the mirror directly across from me. My hair swung forward, and for a moment I caught my own gaze; my eyes were determined and certain. My hands below moved effortlessly, seeking out the next note as if on autopilot.\n\nNow I was standing in front of a crowd, my two closest friends on either side of me. One laid down a mumbling, ferocious bass line. The other wound up his arm above his guitar and prepared to strike. I stepped forward. A mass of people reached toward me, their hands extended and their faces yearning for me to take them on a journey they would never forget. I did not remember this. I had never seen this image before, but the scene continued to play in my head as the song sped on.\n\nWithout warning, I heard the familiar droning of a guitar sinking into a wave of cheers as the song came to an end and the crowd erupted. I opened my eyes as the screen began to fade to black, a deafening pause in the noise as the next song in the queue began to load. I looked down at my hand which lay on the bar, my fingers wrapped around a glass holding what remained of my beer. My eyes drifted slightly and I looked at my knuckles. They were dry and creased, older and stiff. In the moment before the next song began I looked around the bar. There were a few other patrons there. Some looked at their phone. Others looked at each other. None looked at me.\n\nI brushed the corner of my eye, and then I waved my hand toward the bartender.\n\n\"One more, please.\"", "When I was young the stars were high \nAnd shone with a magical light \nI’d lay outside and count them all \nOr at least I’d always try\n\nBut before long my mother’s shout \nWould echo over the field \nInterrupting me in my task \nAnd bring me hurrying to heel \n\n By and by I’d stay out less \nAs the years piled up behind \nAnd I found I had no time to spend \nOn staring at lights in the sky \n\nI wonder now, if at the time \nI’d thought it a possible task \nTo count the stars above my head \nWhy’d I even try that? \n\nOutside I know they sparkle on \nWhat else are the stars for? \nBut somehow the magic in them is gone \nAnd I don’t count them anymore " ]	[ 1, 2, 6 ]	[ "1517633561", "1517638935", "1517636086" ]
	[WP] The corpses of Prisoners who die before their sentence is up are held for the remainder. As a recently transferred guard, you find out why those guarding the dead are paid more	59	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "\"They... what?\" I asked in disbelief.\n\n\"Don't worry about it, just don't get too close.\" The older guard reassured me.\n\n\"But-- No! I'm heading back to ask for a shift change!\"\n\n\"Good luck with that, this place is locked down all week until the next food supply comes down.\"\n\nI stared at the guard, bewildered. A week?! How in the hell was I expected to be down here a week?!\n\n\"The wakers won't mess with you unless you get close to them. All we do is sit here in the control room all day and monitor them.\" He explained to me again.\n\n\"A-all right. Im asking for a transfer at the end of the week, though.\" I told him.\n\n\"Fine with me.\" \n\nWe both sat in a large room in the dead center of a massive concrete room, the room itself full of the zombies of dead inmates that were still serving their sentences.\n\nJohnson reached under his desk and pulled out a modified combat shotgun, 2 pistols, and more than enough ammo.\n\n\"You know how to use one of these?\" He asks, nodding to one of the pistols.\n\n\"Of course, I'm not stupid.\" I replied cockily. \n\nHe shrugged and handed me the pistol and 2 clips of ammo.\n\n\"The only problem is, you can only really stun them at best.\" He admits.\n\n\"What happens if they get me?\" I asked, curious.\n\n\"What do you think happened to the last guy?\"" ]	[ 1, 3 ]	[ "1517650198", "1517718621" ]
	[WP] After the great magic War, the common people are afraid that the returning veterans would be health potion addicts. Tell the perspective of a common class citizen and that of a mage coming home.	1	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "A new energy burst forth from all within the kingdom. None knew what caused the anomaly nor what kept it going. The only apparent result of the anomaly being that seemingly all humans, now have magical talents. The ability to tame the forces of nature and use them in concert with the mind to produce dazzling effects. The Kingdom Of Titania utilized these new talents in its military force. \nBeing a nation encompassed by an expanded and labyrinthian forest, they were masters of the use of fire and earth to quell their opposition and expand their lands. Titania was not the only nation to capitalize on these new talents. Surrounding kingdoms also surged with this new magickal might, bolstering their defenses tenfold or devising new siege engines previously only dreamed of by Siege Engineers. \nA war erupted as every nation made it a point to flex its newly attained power to the others. Common folk from all aspects of life now had a real chance to make an impact, if only they sought to master their new power and use it in war for their King.\n\n\nThey have returned.\n\n\n8 years since the beginning of the Magic War, the veterans trickled into the village. A slew of men and women, they filled the bridge crossing into town, a living mass of grey brown boots and vibrant emerald brooches. Their gray cloaks flapping in the wind, emblazoned with the sigil of the Oak. The Royal Seal Of Titania. \nBattered, beaten and broken, yet radiating with an aura full of good cheer, the group was met by the remaining men of the village. Pitchforks in hand, the men were prepared to defend their livelihood to the death. \nA village of farmers, they specialized in alchemical ingredients. Living off the old homemade knowledge of the land, the village became a particular haven of interest after the “discovery of magic”. Living on the fringe of kingdoms, this village was an agreed point of neutrality, on account of the ginger plants grown by the farmers. Ginger, on its own, was not a plant of significance or importance. Yet, the farmers of the village knew how to bring the full potential of the root out, effectively creating the most effective health potions with minimal drawbacks. \nHealth potions were a demand that never stops, a staple in any military since magic came about. Despite the relative peacefulness of the kingdoms, each tried desperately to cut the supply of health potions the others were in possum of. The fear of a regiment of soldiers having a tool belt of health potions was a monster of proportions best unseen. \nA man who believes he cannot die is a threat to soldiers. A man who convinces his allies he cannot die, is a threat to leadership.\n\n“Who are these folk shufflin’ cross the bridge?”, I asked, with clear indication of not wanting an answer. Despite the light of the midday sun, a dark pallor hung over the group. A palpable cloud of mist seemed to follow their footsteps, an omen of their role.\n“Tommy! Cindy! Vicky! Lou! Betsy! Y’all ready to fight if it comes to?” I yelled over the crowd pooling together behind us.\n\n“Sure are Pop! You just say the word and we’re on em!” said Tommy. Looking back, I see that Tommy is flexing his hands. His palms icy blue, he’s devoted himself to protecting the town despite his young age, using the cold of Winter to inch his way into the fear of its enemies.\n\nLooking on both sides of the bridge, Cindy and Vicky nodded to me. My twin daughters. They were not fighters but have devoted themselves to work in the arts of illusion, assisting in quelling fights at the bar and keeping the town a neutral area.\n\n “”You sure about this brother?” Said Lou with a wide grin. He knew my thoughts better than I. My best friend of 30 years, we looked at each other as brothers. We both came from nothing and protected each other’s families with our lives. I watched as he dug his feet into the ground, the mud of the land folding into his skin as he became more attuned with the land. \n“Betsy, how you doin darling?” I yelled at the back of the crowd.\n“Fine honey, getting these potions ready just in case!” She replies in a half pant. Betsy was my wife and a damn fine alchemist. She perfected the technique of making a health potion with desired results. “There were no drawbacks if you knew exactly what you wanted to achieve”, she would say.\n\nWe stood as a bulwark. A line of simple farmers armed with only a few magicks and the determination to live.\n\n“Whichever Of you be the leader, speak and let your concern be answered! We are simple folk here and we don’t want any trouble.” I say with wavering confidence.\n\nThe leader of the mages, clad in a robe of steel-gray cloth, stepped forward and spoke. \n“I am Xirroth and the men behind me are my brothers in arms. We are passing through on request of our king for information on alchemical ingredients. Might you have some to trade with so we can be on our way?” The Man said with a vile sneer. The gash underneath his muddy eyes smoldered a charcoal black. A glyph of ash, a half moon between his brows, surely a symbol of some significance. \n\n“We are but simple farmers. Home to no rampant magick and no home to any ingredients, sir. We have ale if ye and your party wishes, but that’s the extent.” I say, despite the hushed whispering among the crowd.\n\n“ We cannot partake in ale, good farmer. Official duties will not allow.” With a wave of his hand, the man shooed the thought away. \n“One last question before our much wanted departure. Do you know of the nearest locale to acquire health potions?” \n\nA subtle, yet determined, stare was the last action remembered. The half moon of the mans brow pulsating a deep orange.\n\nSomething I can only describe as a pick of the most vile intention struck and plundered my thoughts. An assault on my brain sent me reeling, at least I thought it did, yet I couldn’t feel my body moving. Memories invaded my eyes, a pulsating silence that faded as soon as it appeared. Running the range of emotions, my heart sped to watch the scenes unfold as my life played before me. Memories phased through me, infusing me with the pain of intense thought that rumbled through me like an earthquake. The feeling of loss from my mothers passing , accomplishment from my children’s birth, the joy of marrying Betsy and the anger my Pa’s treatment all at once left me with despair.\nThe memories slowed down now, flipping like a page as the figures became more solid. \nWait. This never happened to me. I’ve never been on a battlefield.\nI saw Xirroth, near death and bleeding in a tower from some land unknown. He was bathed in an aura of shimmering mist that seemed to solidify and liquify itself at a moments notice, making him appear bigger than he was. As he lay on the ground in a scarlet puddle, blood seeping into the trapdoor under him, he fumbled around in his waist satchel, searching for something. He produced a clear bottle of muddy brown liquid, a familiar sight to myself. It seemed Xirroth said a silent prayer as he poured the flask directly into his wound, the mixture pooling with his blood in an oil-like tar.\nI know that sigil! That’s Betsy’s flask, and it looks like her special rage brew! It’s never supposed to be applied into a wound, that’s a recipe for disaster.\nWas that a mistake? Did he mean to do that?\nXirroth’s body burst in shimmering radiance as he lifted himself off the ground. Not moving a muscle, he floated towards the opening of the tower and looked back once. A smile of vipers crosses his face as his eyes glowed a deep orange, the half moon upon his head a firefly of pure mental aptitude. \nMurder was in his mind as he howled through the doorframe, piercing the minds of every person on the battlefield. The feeling of life lost was massive and exhilarating. Xirroth tentatively touched the ground, he exhaled deeply as he came to his senses.\nLicking his lips in decadent display, “We must acquire this potion for the rest of you, then we can make our own kingdom to rule!” he said as his comrades emerged from the bloodied cellar door. \n\nThe mental abuse ceased abruptly and caused me to fall to my knees as my village gasped in silence. Their collected breast was held as they looked in silence. Fear was apparent in their eyes as they struggled against an unseen menace.\n\nXirroth glared at the villagers through hooded eyes as they stood frozen in thought, the half moon upon his brow pulsating furiously.\n\n“Tommy. Cindy. Vicky. Lou. Betsy.” Through a throbbing mind and parched tongue I managed to speak. \nGripping my Oak staff, I stand myself up, steeling my mind to the task at hand. \n\nThe air between the two groups almost thick enough to pick apart with a threaded needle, I set my mind to focus. The winds whipped at my feet, cool tendrils of the wind licking at my back as the group of mages spread into two groups of six.\n\n“Give us the health potions and assist us in creating a new kingdom of freedom!” Commanded Xirroth, hand outstretched, like a maiden seeing her husband to sea.\n" ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1517664396", "1517710420" ]
	[WP] You, a mage has just created a new magical weapon dubbed the "Railgun."	9	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "The door to the laboratory swung open on lazy hinges, an odor of various concoctions clashing with dust and decay. There was barely any room for him to stand, so packed was the fairly sizeable room with strange mechanical constructions and alchemical ingredients. It was a mess. Figures.\n\n\"Liv?\" He called into the mass of junk and vapors coming from the kitchen, \"Liv, come on, I know you're in there somewhere,\"\n\nThe sound of something metallic hitting the ground preceded the cacophony of noises that followed. For a second he wondered if she was okay before she shot back a quick: \"I'm okay,\"\n\nShe emerged from the back room moments later, her robe modified beyond recognition to seemingly contain as few loose parts as possible, while also adding more than a fair share of pockets.\n\n\"Darien!\" She exclaimed as she noticed him, \"Long time no see, yeah?\" \n\n\"Well, yes,\" He replied awkwardly as she tiptoed through the mess to reach him, \"That's actually what I'm here to discuss,\"\n\n\"Fantastic, I was just about to call up the College,\" She smiled as she tried to slick back her hair slightly, \"I got something that's right up their alley this time.\"\n\n\"Olivia, please, you haven't reported back to the College in months,\" He pleaded, \"They are going to revoke your license if this continues, you know that right?\"\n\n\"Not after this, they're not,\" She laughed, \"Those old geezers will be kissing my shoes just to keep me once I reveal my darling to the world.\"\n\n\"And what if it fails like the last time?\" He cut in, gesturing to the mounting collection of scrapped projects surrounding them, \"Please, just come in a teach a few classes, write an article or two, then you can go back to whatever project you want.\"\n\nShe couldn't help the smirk from creeping up her face as she watched him,\n\n\"Then indulge me for a moment,\" She mocked, \"I'll show you my creation, and then we'll see if that changes your mind, no?\"\n\nHe sighed before nodding in resignation, a stark contrast to his overly enthusiastic counterpart. Telling him to stay put she once more dove into the back room and emerged several crashing noises later with a large box.\n\n\"Okay, here it is,\" She said, reaching into the box and retrieving what looked like a crossbow except the actual bow part had been removed, replaced with an assortment of various pulsating gems. \n\n\"I call it,\" She said, hoisting it menacingly, \"'The Railgun'\"\n\n\"The what?\" \n\n\"Doesn't matter,\" She waved the comment away, \"All you need to know is that it works sort of like a crossbow.\"\n\n\"So,\" He scratched the back of his head, \"Using latent kinetic force in order to propel a projectile of sorts?\"\n\n\"Right,\" She continued enthusiastically, \"Except, instead of something as small scale as a taut string, I figured, why not use Arcano-magnetism instead,\"\n\n\"Did you make up that word?\" Darius said skeptically,\n\n\"That's beside the point,\" She said, continuing, \"I'm basically using arcane forces to tap into the latent magnetic forces stored within these materials to propel a projectile with unprecedented velocity,\"\n\n\"Yeah, I'm going to need some proof,\" He said, looking around the room, \"Just fire it against that wall or something,\"\n\n\"Oh honey,\" She smiled, cradling the railgun, \"We're gonna need to take this outside,\"" ]	[ 1, 9 ]	[ "1517669796", "1517671903" ]
	[WP] A man appears out of thin air and begins telling you about a reality tv show in which people meet other versions of themselves from the multiverse. This year they are introducing the most successful version of a person to the least successful. He wants you to participate.	50	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "A knock on the door. I drop what I am writing and head towards the door. \n\n\nIt has to be my friend, I thought to myself, and opened the door. \n\n\n“Hello?” I said… I take a closer look at whoever was behind that door. It was a man and he was wearing a suit and tie.\n\n\n“Who are you?” I ask again. \n\n\n“An angel.” he says, his voice was deep and seemed to echo throughout the neighborhood. \n\n\n“You can’t be an angel. They don’t dress like that,” before I could finish speaking. I felt as if my body were evaporating into a million pieces. I felt as if I were nothing but clouds of water. I didn’t have limbs or a mouth. I couldn’t think, and if I were able to think, then I would think about telling this weird experience to my cousin on Facebook. \n\n\nMy body pieced itself together on what seemed to be a stage, and there was no audience to be seen anywhere.\nWhere am I and what are you doing to me? Take me back! I really hoped that this place was close to home, I thought. \n\n\n“Welcome, you are just in time for the show.”\n\n\n\n“I didn’t plan for this. Take me back I reply.” \n\n\n“But I have something to show you. Haven’t you been waiting a long time to see this?” the man asked. \n“What is it that you are talking about? Are you going to prove that I have that superpower I’ve always wanted to have, inside of me, dormant.” \n\n\nHe shook his head and I clenched my jaw, hard. “Better.”\n\n\n“Tell me where I’m at, New York?” \n\n\n“No, guess again.”\n\n\n“Utah.” \n\n\n“No, somewhere where no human could reach.” \n\n\n“Heaven.” \n\n\n“Close enough, we are in the boundary between all infinite dimensions.” \n\n\nAt that moment it felt as if my eye were about to explode from my skull, my mind… officially blown.\n\n\n“So will I see an alien?” \n\n\n“No, another one like you.” \n\n\n“Another human.” \n\n\n“I was really hoping to see an alien.” I say, dumbfounded.\n\n\n“Hello?” A regal sounding voice said behind me. \n\n\nI didn’t look when I spoke, “Do you know the way back home.” \n\n\n“No.” \n\n\nI turned my head around. What I came across is a more beautiful version of myself. She appears to be wearing a suit and a tie, her arms and neck seem to be adorned with jewels from various parts of the world. Her skirt isn’t too shabby either.\n\n\nIs this women, me? But, more beautiful and rich, maybe more intelligent.\n\n\n“Who are you?” I asked, “and how old are you?\n\n\n“My name is Kaylin and I am eighteen years old.”\n\n\n“Why do you look so much older if you are me?” I ask. \n\n\nBehind me, it looks like people are filing themselves into rows beyond the stage. In the corner of my eye, I could see that a camera man is adjusting a camera. This Kaylin, whoever she is. Seems enthusiastic to be watched by a rather large audience. She politely waves and smiles. I simply hope to vanish.\n\n\n“Sit,” the man said, “the show is just beginning.” \n\n\n“What show.” \n\n\n“A show, now sit.” \n\n\nI grumble and sit in a chair that is facing across from the other Kaylin’s. The man follows. He smiles, knowing that I had just started a conversation with her. \n\n\n“Perhaps she might tell you a little about herself.”\n\n\n“So who are you?” The other Kaylin asks.\n\n\n“I’m Kaylin and I’m also 18 years old.” I take a look at what she was wearing and frowned, “perhaps not as successful as the Kaylin in front of me.” \n\n\n“I just took my number one numerology seriously. I am a leader you know and I took the number to my advantage.”\nThis Kaylin seems to have too much ego. \n\n\n“So where did you go to college?” I asked.\n\n\n“Yale, and I graduated just last year.” \n\n\nThat sent a slap across my face.\n\n\n “I’m hoping to get into Bethany college. I don’t have the best ACT scoring either. I scored a fifteen and somehow managed to get in. It’s a pretty decent school… at least for me.” \n\n\nThe Kaylin laughed, and I clutched the armrests of the chairs tightly. “Trust me, I understand.” \n\n\nI released my grip from the armrest and let my arms sit across my lap.\n\n\n“You understand? But, you look so successful. What is your degree, anyway.”\n\n\n“Creative writing, I could care less about my other scholarship.” \n\n\n“So you must be a really famous author now. More famous than Sarah J. Maas, my favorite author.”\n\n\nShe nodded, “She hates me. After the first insult she gave me on my writing. I returned the same insult to hers, perhaps gave her another one that is way worse. The probably reduced her fanbase by thousands. ” \n\n\n“What are you talking about? Sarah J. Maas is probably the sweetest person in real life!” \n\n\nShe shook her head, and I felt as if my rib cage was going to collapse on itself. She just insulted my favorite author.\n\n\n“So she’s not nice in real life and you are famous. How famous exactly?” \n\n\n“Really famous.” \n\n\nI wanted to growl.\n\n\n I couldn’t possibly that successful. \n\n\nWhat would I have to tell her. That I have no job and the fact that I still live with my parents when I should move out.\n\n\n“I’m a senior in highschool and probably have the most average of grades you can get. I’d be surprised if you have straight As growing up. So I still live with my parents. I don’t have a job and I hope to grow up and get a job writing novels.” \n\n\n“Me and you don’t sound too far apart. I still live with my parents as well, and I love to write as much as you do.”\n\n \n“You probably live in a mansion and write all day, and don’t have to deal with government class and homework.” \n\n\n“Used too. What are you saying about government? I loved that class!” \n\n\nI raised my eyebrow, “ You love government? That class is boring and I got counted truant twice because I hated so much.” \n\n\n“I don’t see much success for you if you don’t love government.” \n\n\n“Trust me there are other ways to success.”\n\n\n“Like how.” \n\n\n“Reading and teaching yourself through non-fiction books you find on the internet.” \n\n\nThe other Kaylin chuckled, “Oh really, you don’t seem to bad either. You seem pretty intelligent yourself. But, stay away from the internet that place can get ugly.” \n\n\n“My IQ is 97 and yours is probably genius level.” \n\n\n“Yes, but IQ doesn’t measure success. It is you and how you think about it.” \n\n\n“Oh really.” \n\n\n“Times up, guys it’s time to end the show.”\n\n\n“Please take us back!” we both said at the same time. \n\n\nThe man shook his head. I’m afraid I will have other plans for you.\n\n\n", "\"So, what, you just grab people, throw them into their own dimension, and stream the results? And people watch that shit?\"\n\nThe hosts smile was smarmy. Everything about him was. Just one iota past the edge of genuine towards psychopathetic. \n\n\"Oh, people watch. Of course they watch. But, no, we don't just kidnap people. We replicate them to the smallest detail, the most obscure memory.\"\n\n\"Well, I don't want to be cloned.\" I replied, but something about the way he said it, about the slight widening of that smile, an increasing focus in his eyes, turning them from greed based predatory to just predatory. \n\n\"I'm the clone, aren't I?\"\n\nAnd like that his countenance shifted like an eel going back from air to water. His teeth was just then visible, but paradoxically he appeared less threatening. Appeared.\n\n\"Ah, yes, my good man. You are indeed a clone. As is all of the other versions of you in this world.\"\n\nOne moment I was jogging in Central Park, or more appropriately the original version of me was. The next moment I was jogging in Central Park in a universe probably 23 steps to the left and 2 miles down, about to be told his former life was over.\n\n\"The reward for winning is this bracelet. It is the key out of this dimension, and free access to any other. You are not aware of this of course, but the free access that I had mentioned is worth more than you can possibly imagine. Trillions of people from slave dimensions would literally kill to be in your shoes right now.\"\n\nI could always read people. Their inflection, their prose, the information they revealed, the information they didn't, their conscious and unconscious body language.\n\nSome of my competitors were from these slave dimensions. They doubtlessly would have more hunger to win this than I would.\n\nNo, I wanted to part of this. \n\nThis.\n\nWell, probably more accurate to say These, considering my season would be far from the first and likely the last.\n\n\"I have money on you winning you know, seemed like a good bet, betting on the one who was never caught. You know how to win.\"\n\nEven though I already knew how they wanted me to win it was good to have confirmation.\n\nThe sun was starting to set, it was the middle of winter, the streets would be dark soon. If there are streets out there in this dimension. Fuck. Who knows what is out there? Doubtlessly it wouldn't be a copy of my own world but a mish-mash of all of ours.\n\n\"How many of them are out there?\"\n\n\"Fifty of the best of you, fifty of the worst.\"\n\nGood. I wouldn't win This. I didn't want to win This. Knowing me the way I do I doubtlessly have some allies in that number.\n\nI would end This.\n\nWe would end These.\n\n", "“Wait, you’re saying there’s a multiverse?”\n\n“Yes.”\n\n“With infinite versions of myself?”\n\n“That’s right.”\n\n“And you’re introducing the most successful version to the least successful one?”\n\n“You got it!” Exclaimed the man with such exuberant excitement it made me cringe. \n\nHe was wearing the most peculiar outfit I’d ever seen. Somehow it managed to simultaneously look from the future and antiquated. Like a formal outfit worn by a character on the original 1960s Star Trek, it felt like an aged imagining of the distant future. \n\n“But doesn’t a single best and worst version of me prove there aren’t infinite?”\n\n“When your society progresses to the multidimensional stage the concept of infinity becomes an argument of semantics. Sure the multiverse is always growing and versions of you pop in and out of existence all the time, but the algorithms we have in my dimension put your best efforts to shame. It ranks all your timelines with a precision your dimension can’t even comprehend.”\n\n“But which one am I?” I asked beginning to fear the profound implications of his visit.\n\n“I can’t tell you. The biggest draw of the show is the genuine reaction you have after the revelation of whether you’re the most successful or least.”\n\nThe idea that I could either be the most or least successful version of myself was tough to swallow. Both extremes seemed equally a letdown. I never felt I had accomplished anything significant, but also never felt I was a total failure. Being the least successful might confirm my depressing suspicions, but goddamn that’d be devastating. If I’m the least successful me, then what’s the point of going on?\n\nOn the other hand, if I were the most successful then does that mean universally, scratch that, multiversally speaking I’m as good as it gets? No other version of infinity was able to do better? Am I really this cursed to mediocrity? \n\n“Shit,” I thought, “this is heavy.” \n\n“I can tell you need some time to process this,” said the man acknowledging my dumbfounded stare. “It’s really not so bad, at least you know where you stand in the multiverse.”\n\n“Can I say no?”\n\n“Yes, but now that you’re aware of the either/or condition of your existence, you can’t really continue as you have been. Most subjects who say no experience self-inflicted deaths within the first year, it’s an unfortunate result of our multidimensional tampering.”\n\n“How can you say that so coolly?! I never asked you to come here! I didn’t want to know where I stacked up on the multidimensional scale. I have enough trouble dealing with things on a unidimensional level.” I said in exasperation.\n\n“I’m sorry,\" he offered. \"It’s a lot to comprehend. I keep telling them at the network what we do isn’t totally humane, but they retort that it’s no real difference from your universes’ delight in watching the absolute worst singers fail on American Idol.”\n\n“But no one commits suicide on American Idol!” I protested.\n\n“Don’t they though?”\n\n“How are you allowed to do this?”\n\n“You don’t want to know kid. My universe has created some messed up things in the name of TV ratings. We once had a reality star named Snookie,” he said cringing releasing a shudder.\n" ]	[ 1, 2, 8, 8 ]	[ "1517675033", "1517714992", "1517690156", "1517696714" ]
	[WP] Earth is a long forgotten alien species reserve. Our keepers have returned to find the dinosaurs extinct, and humankind at the top of the food chain.	79	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "\"No, no, the atmosphere is all wrong, and these geological readings are just as screwed up. Take this back to the science department and get them to redo it, there is no way these numbers are correct!\" \nCrew scattered from the bridge. The interstellar conservationist starship is making it's next scheduled check in on the Terra Conservation project. Though quite small the planet has an abundance of water and oxygen making it ideal for breeding some of the most unique species of megafuana and flora in the galaxy. \n\n\"Sir, we're now detecting a debris cloud beginning to surround earth, reminiscent of class B civilizations beginning to become a class C.\" \n\"Nonsense!\" The Conservationist Commander said, \"It has to be pirates or squatters that've gotten too comfortable on the primitive planet. There's no way those overgrown lizards have advanced this far again, we took care of that possibility last time, correct?\" \n\"Er, yes sir, we did sir.\" \n\nThe updated scientific report returned, now with more empirical evidence of being true, as much as the Conservationist Commander disliked admitting. According to the charts the atmosphere now contains toxic levels of artificial pollutants throughout the densest groupings of structures. And the geologic readings now show a massive carbon build-up that could only come from semi-advanced industrial organization. It certainly seems like a class B civilization has developed without us realizing it, thought the commander as she rubbed her forehead. \"What a bureaucratic nightmare this is going to be..\" the Commander muttered. \n\"Alright then, put them up on the screens, lets see which one of these lizards evolution went awry.\" Images of Seoul, New York, Hong Kong, and other sprawling concrete landscapes flashed acrossed the starships view screens. \n\n\"What in the Hell, Sir, it seems that the protected species are all gone and the experimental genetic strain E-52 has entirely taken over.\" \n\"Th FOOD did all of this?!\" The Commander was aghast. \"I want a full report on how this whole mess happened from the whole evolutionary council no later than 3 trisecs from now!\" The Commander exited the bridge, leaving the remaining crew much more at ease. \n\n> Report concerning the development of the Terra Conservation project by the Evolutionary Council of Rare Species Conservation. \n\n> Species E-52, the experimental featherless biped prey species designed to be relatively abundant across the Terra Conservatory has in a short time taken over the whole planet. It is projected in the amount of time it has taken E-52 to begin industrialization and launching into space it has taken other known civilizations three or four times as long. \n\n> E-52 is trully a remarkable milestone in genetic engineering, however it is this councils recommendation that the entire genetic strain be annihilated and the whole Terra Conservation project be reset to the beginning. The conservatory geneticists have created a perfect storm of adaptability, mortal anxiety, and thumbs in a prey species to allow them to dramatically progress. However, no other species has destroyed their terrestial home as quickly or completely, nor has any civilization been so concerned with technologies of war - not even the Groth. If allowed to continue for any longer it is likely E-52 will escape Terra and colonize all surrounding space, likely to the point of being a militaristic threat to the Federation of Alliances and this cannot be allowed to happen under any circumstance. \n\n> We must return to the roots of the Terra project and develop a more robust menagerie of megafauna for genetic study. It is this councils recommendation that the geneticists be more careful next time they want to create a brand new prey species again. \n\n> signed, Evolutionary Council of Rare Species Conservation\n", "\"I mean, we're surprised is all. I assure you, we're not laughing at you, but with you.\"\n\nThe men and women across the table continued chuckling and exchanging various gemstones and small trinkets. At least they looked like men and women. They had 'assumed those shapes' to comfort us in our initial meetings.\n\n\"You see, we wholly anticipated when we started our voyage that cephalopods would've claimed the pole position for this planet. But nope! Primates! How invigorating. Quite a few people lost bets on this. Seriously, congrats.\"\n\nWe looked at them dumbfounded. These weren't dignified emissaries of some great interstellar organization, these were more like college kids on an anthropology field trip. When their large faster than light ships entered our orbit it had flung the world into uncertainty and chaos. Millions died from skirmishes or ritualistic suicide, and these aliens sat in front of us laughing.\n\n\"Excuse me for not seeing the humor in this, Arnold. And you're certain that's your preferred name?\"\n\nTheir leader looked up at me.\n\n\"Yes, like Schwarzenegger. We watched some of his films when we were in orbit. That guy. Phew. That guy can act.\"\n\n\"If you could indulge me, Arnold, just once more. Why exactly are you here and what exactly do you want?\"\n\nHe put his elbows on the table and leaned forward.\n\n\"President Emory, it's pretty simple. A few billion years ago there was a tiny little organization running some experiments on this planet regarding carbon based life forms. They'd come back every now and then and drop off a few species when they had time too. Curating life was a _huge_ fad at the time amongst some of societies elite and your little blue marble here was uniquely suited for it. When the funding ran out for that ill fated organization, they packed up and left. The itsy bitsy problem is they left a few _really_ important bits of genetic code here that we desperately need to solve some problems we're running into.\"\n\n\"I'm sure we can get you samples of what you need.\"\n\n\"Welllllll Emory. Little problem with that too. We need _all_ of your planets vegetation\"\n\n\"I'm sorry?!\"\n\n\"It's really no big deal. We'll leave all the water and all the plankton and junk. But yeah. All the green stuff is coming with us.\"\n\nHe smiled and nodded his head up and down.\n\n\"That'd be an ecological catastrophe. It'd make our planet uninhabitable. What problem could be important enough to commit mass murder like this?\"\n\n\"Ah. Well. It's for this assignment we have in class that we kind of procrastinated on. I voted that our group not even talk to y'all and just deploy the nano virus that'd take care of business but Louis insisted we come down and have a little chit chat with you guys so he could round out his sociology report. Speaking of which, Louis, got what you need homie?\"\n\nOne of their men in the back raised up his thumb to Arnold and smiled.\n\n\"Great. Well, been rad chatting with you guys. But Hasta la pasta or whatever!\"\n\nHe clicked a button his watch, and the world went dark." ]	[ 1, 9, 20 ]	[ "1517692857", "1517723126", "1517717857" ]
	[WP] In the early 1980's, the US comes to the conclusion that nuclear war is inevitable. After the preemptive strike, the American population is awaiting soviet retaliation in their nuclear vaults. This retaliation never comes.	1	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "“General Secretary, we have found the source: an American double agent.”\n\n“Excellent, Comrade. What is his name?”\n\n“Her name, General Secretary.”\n\n“A woman?! They entrusted the task to a woman?”\n\n“Who did we least suspect?”\n\n“Da, you have a point, Comrade. Apparently the FBI teaches rak’s to whistle.”\n\n“Hah.”\n\n“So, what shall we do about our little rak?”\n\n“What indeed.”\n\n— — — — —\n\nValery took her time, trying to appear as casual as possible while she walked. It was a learned skill, one she had practiced many times. She had to make it seem as if she happened to be here at this time by accident, not as part of a schedule. It would raise too many questions if anyone noticed an arranged meeting.\n\n“Miss Martinov!”\n\n“Oh, Mr. Ames. I didn’t see you.”\n\n“I was just on my way back from lunch with Mr. Chuvakhin, and thought I recognized a friendly face.”\n\n“Oh? How is Comrade Sergey?”\n\n“He’s well, even treated me to lunch. Awesome guy. He was just saying he hasn’t seen you in months.”\n\n“Months? No, I’m sure it hasn’t been that long. Three weeks, perhaps.”\n\n“No, I’m quite sure he said it was two months.”\n\n“Ah, yes. Perhaps my memory is not as precise as I would hope. It must be two months, then.”\n\n“It happens to us all, Miss Martinov. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t become more than that. I think forty five days is the longest I’ve ever gone without seeing Mr. Chuvakhin.”\n\n“We all get busy sometimes, Mr. Ames. I doubt my Comrade took offense.”\n\n“Quite the opposite, he was thrilled to see me when we caught up. Bought me lunch that time, too,” Mr. Ames quipped with a smile.\n\n“Well, it was good seeing you, Mr. Ames, but I really must be going.”\n\n“Oh, please, go. I don’t mean to keep you. Good running into you, Miss Martinov.”\n\n“Likewise. Have a good day, Mr. Ames.”\n\nValery continued her deliberate walk, all the while mentally going through her afternoon. The meeting was set for two forty five this afternoon, so she’d have to duck out of the office then. Luckily for her, she didn’t already have any obligations.\n\nThese days she didn’t need much of a cover story to duck out of the embassy. The party members in the embassy were too busy trying to curry favor back home to track her whereabouts. All they cared about was becoming one of the Politburo’s favored sons; it was a fast track to an easy life.\n\nValery just hoped that the intelligence would help bring an end to all of this faster. The faster she was out of the game, the fewer slow walks she would have to take.\n\n— — — — —\n\n“Is it done, Comrade?”\n\n“Da, General Secretary. We’ve fed the information to the leak.”\n\n“Excellent, Comrade. Send word to the Politburo. That should give the Americans enough pause to not interfere.”\n\n— — — — —\n\n“How certain are we about this intelligence, Director?”\n\n“It came from one of our double agents, Mr. President.”\n\n“She’s always been reliable before. Even collaborated with one of our own to set up the drop.”\n\n“So, it’s credible.”\n\n“Yes, sir. I have long believed that the Soviet Union is the major source of all terrorist activity, and this intel lines up with that. The USSR is simultaneously building up its terrorist network and building up its nuclear arsenal in order to launch a major offensive against the U.S.”\n\n“I knew about the nuclear weapons, Director Casey, but I’m surprised at the size of the stockpile. Most of our other intelligence shows the USSR burning through cash just to keep up. This says otherwise.”\n\n“I trust the intel, Mr. President.”\n\n“Gather the Cabinet, William.”\n\n— — — — —\n\n“Gentlemen, William has brought to our attention new, startling intelligence. You all have copies, but according to this, the USSR has at least double the nuclear stockpile that we do. They also have an armed, willing, and able terrorist network working in several theaters around the globe. In short, they have us outgunned.”\n\n“What?!”\n\n“I was surprised myself, Cap. But William assures me the intelligence is sound.”\n\n“And they’ve kept it hidden all this time?”\n\n“The USSR is a big place, Cap. Lots of places to hide that sort of weaponry.”\n\n“I know, Al, but that’s not what our boys have pointed out before. I find it hard to believe, is all.” \n\n“Didn’t this week’s report say they’re spending up twenty percent of their GDP on the military? Unofficially?”\n\n“It did. They’ve just never been this good with their money before.”\n\n“Or else they’re very good at counter-intelligence. I hate to say it, gentlemen, but it wouldn’t be the first time they’ve turned one of our own.”\n\n“But on this scale, Mr. President?”\n\n“Okay, so what are our options?”\n\n“Mr. President, I believe a nuclear war is coming. The Soviets have shown the willingness to deploy their weaponry across the globe, and now we have credible intel showing that their weaponry is larger than ours.”\n\n“Hold on a minute, Director. What are you saying?”\n\n“I’m saying, Cap, that nuclear war is inevitable. You’re the Secretary of Defense, you understand Mutual Assured Destruction as well as anyone in this room.”\n\n“You’re suggesting a preemptive strike, William.”\n\n“I am.”\n\n“Al? What’s your vote?”\n\n“Launch the strike. I was for a warning shot in Europe as it was, but this upped the stakes. Some sort of conflict with the USSR is inevitable, it might as well be on our terms.”\n\n“Are we agreed, then?”\n\nA room full of grim nods met the President’s question.\n\n— — — — —\n\n“This is President Reagan. Authorization code alpha, six, beta, eight, echo. Launch the arsenal, and may God have mercy on our souls.”\n\n“We have positive confirmation for the President.”\n\n“This is Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. Authorization code gamma, three, beta, five, delta. Confirm nuclear launch order.”\n\n“Positive confirmation for SecDef. Confirm nuclear launch.”\n\n“What now?” the President asked.\n\n“Now we wait.”\n\n“Did the warning go out to the public?”\n\n“Yes, Sir. It is automatically sent out as soon as launch order is confirmed. The American public is scrambling to their own nuclear vaults as we speak.”\n\n“Thank goodness for that.”\n\n— — — — —\n\n“They launched!”\n\n“Comrade, calm yourself. What is the matter?”\n\n“The Americans! They launched!”\n\n“They WHAT?!”\n\n“Our plan, General Secretary. It backfired!”\n\n“Can we intercept?”\n\n“Nyet, General Secretary. Our only hope is to ensure their destruction, as well. We don’t have much time.”\n\n“Issue the order, Comrade. Quickly!”\n\n“Yes, General Secretary.”\n\n“To poseyesh’, Comrade,” the General Secretary mumbled quietly to himself. It was indeed time to reap what they had sown.\n\n— — — — —\n\n“Any word?”\n\n“B61’s hit their targets, we have visual confirmation of impact. We won’t know whether their communications were crippled in time, though.”\n\n“So, more waiting?”\n\n“I’m afraid so, Mr. President.”\n\n“How long until we know?”\n\n“From what we know of the Soviet arsenal, about thirty minutes.”\n\n“Longest thirty minutes of our lives.”\n\n— — — — —\n\nThirty three minutes later, the President and the Secretary of Defense were busy fielding calls from various generals. It took a full five minutes of updates before anyone was willing to say it loud: there was no Soviet counter attack coming.\n\nMutual assured destruction had been a flawed theory, it turned out. The bunker buster B61’s had done their job, effectively decapitating the Soviet military. With no one left to order the strike, the Soviet weapons had sat in their silo’s. The mighty USSR had gone down without a fight.\n\n“Would you have believed it, Cap?”\n\n“No, Mr. President. I can’t say that I would have.”\n\n“Well, pinch yourself, because it’s true. The U.S. just won the Cold War.”" ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1517698983", "1517719002" ]
	[WP] You've always wanted to be a superhero and help people. One day you finally get superpowers... when you're 80 years old.	3	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "I grew up in a world of superheroes after my last few generations of ancestors figured themselves out in the wake of uncommon human gene mutations slowly becoming more and more prevelant. Scientists described it as a similar event to infects getting their wings in such a short number of years. The best people could chalk it up to was consistently stressful environments mixed with our odd trait of intelligence. Apparently, between the advanced bodies, the sentience, and the now noticed superpowers, scientists theorize that the last 20000 years of our evolution seems to be ebbed towards real time adaptation as a survival trait, and that we've been putting ourself into a corner, evolutionarily speakibg. Humans get stronger/developed bodies. Different species of humans emerge. A smifgen of cross breeding, and continued exposure to the ever changing climate around us makes us tough enough. We become group dependant because of this. Now we have to cobtend with each other, consistently, and we're using tools, so we our developed intelligence consistently improves for the real time use of it. From there, our. Brains, the control centers of our body have become ridiculously. Complex to the point where we don't know exactly how they work down to the cell. Apparently, the complexity allowed our epigenetic to get better exponentially u til eventually someone who could do something spectacular, like grow 10ft tall or be super strong or flexible or super smart is t unheard of...and then the cycle repeats. The environment now has super people, a d good genes and situations are. Only outperformed by better jeans. Not beaten, but outperformed. Here we are then. Every human statistic from grit to intelligence to strength and every aspect of each statistic becomes something to help you in an increasingly hardening society. The next step was just new abilities, new connections between our brains and our bodies and in between. Higher limits. Higher tolerances of environmental competition. Superpowers, and diversity in such began popping up more and more often. It was kept a secret at First, and eventually, the public wouldn't have been able to ignore it if we tried.\n\nTo be continued" ]	[ 1, 2 ]	[ "1517766213", "1517766949" ]
	[WP] The sun suddenly goes out, plunging the earth into darkness and a freezing cold. Civilisations die and almost all life as we know it ceases to exist, save you and your friends. Then, when the end finally seems to be upon you, the sun comes back.	40	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "When the sun went out....we weren't prepared. We'd prepared for the opposite; heat death of the universe, even accelerated just in case. But we couldn't have prepared for what happened. Not like that. My favorite movie used to be The Day After Tomorrow. Now I'm essentially living it.\n\nMost people imagine that if the sun went out, it would be a little cold. They were wrong. The oceans froze. Land-borne life died. We had to hastily build underwater bunkers deep, deep in the ocean to survive. I lost count of how many feet thick the ice covering the Earth was. Someone tried to measure it once, by drilling a hole through it. His suit got frozen to the bottom layer and he suffocated. Nobody's tried since. \n\nIt's not like there's that many of us anyways. Some people tried to make it above ground. Some in submarines. Some just.....didn't care. Walked off into the cold and never came back.\n\nWe've got about 20 people left. We started with 35. That's all we could get before the waters above us started getting too slushy to move around in. We can sometimes see outlines of people that almost made it.\n\nNot all life died, thankfully. Floor fauna, some coral, and microscopic things survived. Enough deepwater fish that we could eat enough to stay alive and not destroy the rest of the ecosystem.\n\nBut the fish migrated, and we couldn't follow. Yeah, the water down here is \"warm\" comparatively speaking, since we're closer to the Earth's core, but I don't think any of us are stupid enough to just go swimming and see what we find.\n\nI digress. I'd started this thinking that I'd be dead at the keyboard, starved to death after not having eaten.\n\nBut just now.... something miraculous happened.\n\nAn ice chunk just got brought in. Jack said he found it drifting down from above. We looked.....and we can see the faintest glimmer.\n\nThe sun is back.", "Zanya blindly swatted the alarm ringing on the bedside table until its din finally ceases. Lying in bed for a few minutes, unmotivated to get up, she reluctantly rubbed the goo and crust from her eyes. Turning over, she checks the time. 06:07 A.M. Zanya scoffed at the ephemerality of time, of existence. The same poignant realization––every “morning” that she had awoken to did not technically exist. No one truly knows how long it has been, but there hasn’t been sunlight to be able to make any distinction between night or day since the Dark Horizon Event. The only artifacts of time were the few clocks around which have been running since, and they had to be adjusted to compensate for the time dilation, or contraction, or whatever it was called, Zanya couldn’t bother to remember. However, the artificial time proved useful for maintaining routine and order, and thus the small colony’s sanity; what little was left at least.\n\nAfter the Dark Horizon Event, a small number of colonies escaped the initial effects of devastation, swarming into underground vault-like shelters, powered by the energy in the earth’s core. Among the population of this community was Zanya whose profession before the event was ironically, that of a meteorologist. Soon after the colony population convened and established a new social structure, she was outcast along with the other scientists that survived, chastised for not knowing and warning the people of the Dark Horizon Event beforehand. No one could know, and still no one did, but the religious majority group in power had unanimously agreed that God had ordained this destruction and suffering. Thus science was declared as heresy. Zanya, now an accused member of the group labeled The Infidels, was castaway with the other scientists to the sectors of the shelter provided with the scantiest of provisions. When they were not defending themselves against physical and verbal assaults, they spent their days working together in their respective fields of science attempting to discover answers and/or solutions. So far, to no avail. \n\nZanya had grown bitter as time passed torturously slow in the artificially-lit underground-living habitat, worsened by the imposed conditions by what she called the “asinine” majority of the population. She thus gradually receded into isolation, avoiding all contact with anyone else, including the other scientists she was outcast with. She whiled her days away monitoring readings from a number of sensors which reached the earth’s surface from below. This was done more so of habit than out of hope that something would reveal new information or change. Life was abysmal. That was until an unusual reading chimed a notification that startled her at approximately 07:02 A.M., around the time of a typical sunrise.\n\n(feedback appreciated, thanks!)", "Huddled in the dimly lit basement around the only working industrial heater sat a mass of several bodies, each closely next to other under a thick layer of blankets. The dull hum of a massive generator could be heard in the back ground. The basement was rather grey and featureless save for the shelves of food and water, and the hulks of machinery lining the walls. \n\nThe laboratory above would have been a more interesting location to stay, but since the sun went dark, everyone has retreated into submarines deep beneath the oceans or in basements like the one our group found themselves now. But everyone had started to starve or freeze to death. Those in the submarines found themselves without food and slowly withered away, or they tried to surface to look for food, only to freeze after a few hours. Others in basements with proper food stores slowly froze to death as the unsealed basements gradually leaked the precious little heat their heater made into the surrounding environments. \n\nHowever this basement not only had adequate power, but sufficient sealing to prevent the escape of any heat. Once the sun had went dim, everyone in the laboratory panicked. Some went home to see their families, other tried to get aboard a submarine, and some simply gave up and wandered outside. \n\nThe men and women now surrounding the heater under a thick layer of blankets were the ones who remained calm, and took as much food, water, blankets, and supplies they could gather and made their way into the sealed basement, locking the door as they filed in, and carefully sealing it. The only way they could know about the outside world was through the glass in the door leading to the rest of the laboratory. \n\n“I’m hungry.” muttered one of the men in the mass of flesh. He had a thick red beard that he usually kept clean shaven, but now he let grow due to the cold. \n\n“Then go get some food.” replied another man. His beard long too, but instead a deep coal black. \n\n“I’m so cold though, and you all still won’t let me eat under the blanket.” \n\n“Because no one wants to hear your loud chewing.” said another woman \n\n“C’mon, you know none of the other heaters work…and you know it’s only a matter of time until this one breaks down.” \n\n“Don’t say that!” shouted the woman. \n\nThe red-bearded man responded “Well what happens when we run out of food?”\nThere was a silence, as no one had an adequate answer. \n\n“What’s the point, we’re either gonna freeze or starve to death, why try and prolong it?” \n\n“What else is there to do?” Said a different woman, she was much thinner and paler. \n\n“I’m getting some fucking crackers. And I'm eating them here,” said the hungry man “I don’t care anymore.” \n\nHe got up from under the blankets and hastily made his way towards the shelf of food on the other side of the basement. His path lit only by dim one bulb lights. It didn’t matter though, everyone was familiar with the path after spending several months in the basement. Usually everyone would be sitting at the table near the shelves of food, but they were all forced to retreat to the last remaining heater after the one near the food shelves broke down. \n\nThe situation seemed hopeless, and everyone was ready to slowly starve or freeze to death. As the footsteps slowly trailed off everyone went slowly back to a half sleep and half awake state. \n\n“I’ll kill him if he brings back those crackers.” Said the woman who complained of his loud chewing. \n\nAfter a few minutes, everyone wondered if he would come back and eat them here but did not worry about his long absence as they all wanted to assume he was eating at the table. Suddenly they heard footsteps running back and everyone peered up to see what was happening. \n\n“I-I-I..” he said panting rapidly. \n\n“What’s wrong?” asked the other man “Are you alright?” he started to get up but before he could walk over to him, the other man started talking again. \n\n“I saw light co-coming…” he panted again “…from the window…” \n\n“What!?” screamed the thinner woman \n\n“I swear! Please just follow me.” \n\nEveryone got up and ran after the man, excited yet terrified to see if what he had said was true. And then they saw it, a small stream of light poking through the window of the basement. They all stared in amazement, until the thin woman made her way up the stairs to examine the window. She looked through and could see the hallway of the laboratory lit up with sunlight coming through the windows. It looked as if the power had gone off during the afternoon and the only light was from that of outside. She put her hand to the window and felt it. It was still cold, but it did not feel like ice. \n\n“Grab your parkas and the blankets.” She quickly said as she went back down the stairs and back towards the heater. Everyone quickly followed her and prepared themselves as best they could. After a few minutes of assembling, they all were ready. No one needed to explain what was being done, it was clear. They all made their way to the door of the basement. The red-bearded man pushed a few buttons near the door of the basement and a loud sucking noise could be heard coming from the door. After the noise subsided, he went to open the door. \n\nAs the door opened, a rush of cold air flooded their faces. But it was more akin to opening the door on a cold winter day. Even though it should be summer based on how long they were in the basement everyone was surprised by how relatively warm it was.\nThe group took their first few steps outside the basement and peered around the hallway. There was nobody and there was nothing except a cold silence. They all found the nearest window and looked out. Perched high in the sky was the sun, and everyone recoiled away once they saw it. Struggling to adjust their eyes to the new wave of light. After their eyes recovered, they looked outside. The nearby town was quiet and no signs of birds, cars, or anything that would be moving. The houses of the town were coated in a layer of frost, and the ground was completely brown, lacking any layer of grass. \n\nEventually, the thin woman announced she was going outside. The others followed her as she walked towards the main entrance and exit of the building. When she reached the glass doors of the main entrance she hesitated opening the doors. The red-bearded man gently pushed her aside and opened the door. \n\nThere was no change in temperature as the group wandered outside. They looked around at the surrounding landscape. Some trees had lost all their leaves, but didn’t quite look like they had died. The other evergreen trees still had their needles on them but they were much lighter and drooping a considerable amount. No birds or animals could be heard. No cars or planes could be heard. No people could be heard. It was eerily quiet, but the sun was there. That was all that was mattered. \n\n“What now?” asked the black-bearded man. Everyone looked at him and thought about the question. Eventually the thin woman spoke up, \n\n“Let’s find some other people.” and with that she made her way towards the town, the others trailing after her.\n" ]	[ 1, 2, 2, 14 ]	[ "1517769626", "1517785173", "1517802706", "1517774497" ]
	[WP] “There’s only one way out of here, and I don’t think you’re gonna like it.”	4	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "I shuddered, knowing exactly what Thomas was referring to. \nThe portal that killed Jake. \nHe summoned it within seconds, and there it was; taunting me once again with its warped glow.\n\"No way man.. are you insane?! There's got to be another way..\", I replied; eyes darting from wall to wall in hope to find a hidden exit.\nThe inescapable screeching behind us was becoming unbearable now and the fumes were beginning to leak through the door in front of us.\nHe was right; it was the only way.\nWithout a word, I jumped into the void.\n" ]	[ 1, 3 ]	[ "1517790631", "1517792678" ]
	[WP] You’re an alien, disguised as a human, working at NASA and trying to destroy all evidence and data on aliens.	62	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "\"Hey Robert!\"\nI jerk around so quickly that the masks tears a little just below the left ear. Will stands in the door. He carries a pile of books in his arms. \n\"What are you doing here?\" he asks suspiciously. \n\"Nothing\" I reply quickly and step away from the computer \"Wheeler wanted me to go over the latest data that Hubble sent. He wants to have a report on his desk by Monday because he has to show it to the committee to receive extra funding.\"\nThe look of suspicion on Will's face ceases. \"Oh\" he says and nods \"So you won't be done any time soon, will you? Me and the boys wanted to grab a drink. Wanna come?\"\n\"Ah...\" I am hesitating while running through my head all my options. \"You know what, go ahead and just text me the place you end up at, alright? I don't think that it'll take me much longer. I'll be joining you in an hour or so.\"\n\"Sound good!\" Will nods and goes away. \nI turn around to the computer again. Fortunately, the human capability to focus on multiple things at once is limited. The artificial pores in my mask start emitting fluid. The doctor insisted on connecting them wirelessly to my brain so that the artificial skin would be triggered whenever I feel emotions, but I personally find it very annoying. Who wants to emit half a gallon of water every time they are stressed?\nI take off the hands and operate the computer with my own fingers. I become wistful every time I think about the bio computers back on the Arenada. If I could work on one of those, I would probably be done with all my work in just a fraction of the time it takes me now. However, I can't get too mad, since erasing any sings of our fleet that their stupid telescopes picked up would be much harder if their tech were more advanced. I shake my head as I erase the last file from the computer. We have ships that can travel intergalacticly and yet we got fooled by a bunch of monkeys with toys. No one at the planning committee had actually thought of the fact that the humans could be listening to space when they had launched their plans for an interplanetary safari. And who do you call when you fuck up and accidentally make contact with an undeveloped species? You call Gurp. And Gurp takes good money to run around in a meat suit, pretending to be friends with the morons the monkeys call scientists to erase all the signals they are to dumb to interpret anyways. ", "It was another long day at this office. Sitting around, entering information and going over basic details. It wasn’t a position one would think of as glamorous, in fact it was about the most routine data entry position possible. And it was entirely necessary at NASA to help ensure that the information they were routinely sent about space was inputted accurately.\n\nOnly that wasn’t what happened, Qtrdsnk thought to himself, afterall, they have to go through me. It was a dangerous job, situated on a planet that was widely regarded by The Community to be one of the most dangerous due to its evolutionary habits. Thinking back, Qtrdsnk thought of when the mission was first described to him, a race that somehow had reached space technology despite being driven by competitiveness and not co-operation.\n\nIt was the fear that The Community had. These species generally obliterated themselves long before anyone in The Community spotted them – their innate destructiveness outweighing everything else. In fact, his predecessor thought his posting here would be short as it seemed that these humans were likely to follow the same path with their ‘mutually assured destruction’ and ‘cold war’.\n\nThey still might, Qtrdsnk thought with mixed feelings. He had been here for twenty years... Earth years he corrected himself, and it was going to be tough to adjust when his posting came to an end in a few more cycles. If they didn’t blow themselves up, things were going to get harder here, something the report he had back at his home or Earth domicile emphasized... but one he hadn’t quite decided to send off yet.\n\n‘They fear them so much, this report might lead to drastic action by The Community. What would they do? There are those never ending rumours of special teams being assigned,’ Qtrdsnk thought and made a mental note, to his very well hidden implanted processor, to make a paper going over all of those.\n\nHe did know that one of his predecessors, Nasstinti;bastik, thought that The Community would take lethal action. That was after all what prompted him to crash one of the stealth drones in an area called Roswell. And then the humans had really scared them by making removal efforts essentially impossible. It was over twenty of those Earth Years before they replaced him, after observation being done, but the interest and growing space programs made it a necessity.\n\nHis head tilted as his mind began to race, thinking about the The Community’s reaction to that event. There had been panic in sections, and some who thought The Community’s approach was wrong got louder with it. It took a long time for harmony in even the upper recesses of The Community to be restored – even at a distance Earth was dangerous. \n\n‘Of course, that’s why I had to come here’ Qtrdsnk thought. ‘I wanted to see the big dangerous Earth.’ He snorted, an action he had been forced to learn in this human disguise. \n\nAnother report came in, with trace signs of minerals that would lead them towards some of the Communities planets, so Qtrdsnk, more commonly known on Earth as James Solo, began quickly altering the results to input into the system.\n\nAnother day. Another long day. Another attempt to stay under the radar. And to figure out what exactly he would do.", "The metallic chrome of the cube chamber seemed to swallow up its own corners with its lack of adequate lighting, as the clicking of pens and ruffling of papers were interrupted by a gruff cough for attention. \n\n\"Gentlemen, I've summoned you hear today to discuss a matter that is of the highest importance. It does not leave this room, is that clear?\"\n\nSeveral mumbled 'yes sir's scattered around the room- they think it's a drill. Everything's a drill nowadays, they were this close to having a practice-coffee-break.\n\n\"Our security has been compromised...\" continues the small bold man at the head of the table, making fierce eye contact with as many of his colleagues as possible, puffing away at his cigar \"...someone is compromising the database... the database\". They knew which one he was talking about, for there was only one the database; the one which didn't technically exist; the one less than above board; and now they came to think about it- the one only those sitting around them in that room knew anything about.\n\nThere was silence, a clammy silence that smelled like answers just waiting to seep out of pursed lips. \n\n\"Thoughts?\" The bold man eventually said, directing his attention to a spindly and geeky fellow to his left, \"Martin?\"\n\n\"n-no sir\" typical.\n\n\"Dana?\" \n\nA few thick seconds pass before Dana throws out a \"What exactly are we talking about when we say 'compromising', Tom?\"\n\nTom suppressed his heavy sigh: they may've been in the academy together, but he's 'sir' now, and Dana knows that. He decides to direct his attention into answering the question: the sooner this is all sorted the better for NASA and the nation, hell, the world in general- even if getting out of that airless bunker seemed like a more rewarding and certainly more immediate incentive than saving the world. He began \"Deleting, sabotaging, heavily editing, in some cases burning evidence\"\n\n\"Thanks, Tom\"\n\nHe was just taking the piss now, and for a brief moment their years of camaraderie meant absolutely zero as Tom wished it was Dana, it didn't add up, but perhaps if he wished it with enough intensity it'd come to be.\n\nTom finally decided to skip a few men and turn straight to the brightest of the bunch, an exemplary member of the team, the best mathematician NASA had ever seen, the man who's favourite drink down the pub was 'human food': \"How about you Zak'lah'r Zxxzqtt fppökk-trp?\"\n\nZak smiled an uneasy smile." ]	[ 1, 3, 4, 13 ]	[ "1517845577", "1517849046", "1517859936", "1517848795" ]
	[WP] As a mystical world advances so too does it's technology, as rocket science comes about, so to does a realization. This is the mission to launch every cursed artifact of history into the sun, forever keeping them from the hands of dark mystics.	112	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Salazar stood, at the edge of the lighthouse, the pale glow off the faerie fire behind him lost amid the clouds, watching as the stars seemed to be swallowed, one by one, each snuffing out quietly. He started at the sound of a footfall. \"You'd better get the shutters up, it won't be long before dawn.\" He nodded, as he turned to face Miranda. \"I'm sorry. I got caught up, looking at the ocean. It's hard to remember sometimes. I was only young when things changed. I'll be inside shortly.\" He spared another glance for the moon- the sinister play of grim lights and shadows on it's surface, before slowly wandering back into the shelter of the lighthouse, and it's witch lights, carefully closing every shutter, checking with a light outside to make sure not even little glimmered through. When he and Miranda were done, he slept, and dreamed of daylight. ", "Alistair Gremfkin, head Rocket Wizard, had once more been called before the Grand Council of Wizards.\n\nThere were thirteen of them, and Gremfkin knew them all except for one. And that's all he needed to know, at that point. \"Let me guess,\" he said to the assembly, \"tossing the artifacts into the sun.\"\n\nTwelve heads nodded, knowingly, while the thirteenth just looked confused.\n\nThe Merlin - the traditional title for the head wizard of the Grand Council of Wizards - gestured to that thirteenth. \"Meet our newest member, Wizard Trezant.\"\n\nGremfkin nodded. Trezant's predecessor had been Wizard Armstrong, a Rocket Wizard of enormous power. Of course, Rocket Wizards almost inevitably died by accidentally launching themselves into space unprepared or by conjuring a black hole or sometimes both, and Armstrong had been no exception. Would, Gremfkin thought, that another Rocket Wizard had taken Armstrong's place. For one thing, they wouldn't be having this conversation.\n\n\"It's obvious,\" Trezant said, \"that you know something I am not privy to.\" The newest member of the council didn't seem happy about his apparent hazing. \"It seems to me a simple solution to the cursed weapons problem.\"\n\nThe Merlin gestured to Gremfkin. \"Explain,\" he said.\n\nGremfkin would have asked if he was going to have to have this conversation every single time a new wizard joined the council, but at this point he knew the answer was \"yes, unless they're Rocket Wizards, but the Rocket Wizard party hasn't been putting in a very good showing lately what with most of them having trapped themselves on the moon during the last election.\"\n\n\"The thing you need to unserstand about Rocket Wizardry,\" Gremfkin explained, \"is that it's not magic.\"\n\nThere were a few dry chuckles at this; Gremfkin knew to always lead with a joke.\n\n\"It is, of course,\" Gremfkin said. \"Magic can speed something up, and magic can slow something down. And, the important part is, it takes the same amount of magic to speed something up as it does to slow something down.\"\n\nTrezant frowned. \"I understand what you are saying, and it makes sense, but what does this have to do with flinging cursed artifacts into the sun?\"\n\n\"Because we can only put so many refined mana crystals on a ship - they weigh the same whether full or empty, so the rocket's lugging along a large payload even when it's almost out of fuel. The amount of mana crystals we'd have to put onto a ship to slow it down enough to let it fall into the sun is, well, astronomical. And there's very little mana in space, so no chance of refueling.\"\n\n\"Wait,\" Trezant said, \"slow down? Surely you mean speed up! Just point the ship at the sun and accelerate, yes?\"\n\n\"No,\" Gremfkin said. \"You forget; the ship has a substantial speed already, simply by virtue of being launched from our planet. If you pointed it at the sun, you'd simply start spiraling around. The most direct way is to undo its speed, and then it falls. But, as mentioned, that is prohibitively expensive.\"\n\nThe Merlin, having heard this lecture repeatedly whenever a newcomer had joined, nodded. \"Tell him the other part,\" he instructed.\n\n\"There's more?\" Trezant said. \"I'm afraid I've already learned enough about rockets to hurt my head.\"\n\n\"Not about the rockets,\" Gremfkin assured, \"but the cursed artifacts. Which one is the worst?\"\n\nTrezant shivered. \"The Urn of Zkzxlaramalthomos,\" he said, and a number of the Thirteen nodded along with the declaration.\n\nThat's usually what people said. \"It contains the trapped soul of the Dead Emperor Zkzxlaramalthomos,\" Gremfkin said, thankful that in modern times it was illegal to have a name longer than ten letters long, \"and should it ever be freed from its prison in the Great Museum, it will begin reanimating the dead world-wide.\"\n\nTrezant frowned. \"I know what it does.\"\n\n\"Tell me, Wizard Trezant, if you wanted to reanimate all the dead in the world, how long would it take you to do it?\" Gremfkin asked. \"Assuming you had access to modern mana storage and gathering matrices and thaumolithographic techniques.\"\n\nWizard Trezant looked surprised. \"That's practically unlimited mana, provided enough time, and thaumolithography would allow a reanimation circuit for each individual undead.\" He looked at his fellow councilors suddenly, aware that they could just as easily do this as he could. \"It'd take a week, and I wouldn't even have to be particularly clever about it!\"\n\nThe rest of the council nodded.\n\nTrezant looked back to Gremfkin. \"They're all like that, aren't they? We, today, could re-create the effects of all the cursed artifacts... easily.\"\n\n\"Yup,\" Gremfkin said.\n\n\"What's to stop that, then?\" Trezant said. \"What's to stop some wizard from becoming the next Zkzxlaramalthomos?\"\n\nGremfkin gestured to the Thirteen. \"There's a reason I don't want your job,\" he added.\n\nAnd that, as far as Wizard Gremfkin was concerned, was the speech. Throwing the artifacts into the sun was impractical, and pointless given how easily they could be re-made.\n\nTrezant looked thoughtful, though. \"My predecessor,\" he said, \"how did he die?\"\n\nVarious murmurings of 'black hole' and 'spaghettified' were heard from the other council members.\n\n\"But you can make black holes safely, yes?\"\n\nGremfkin wiggled a hand in uncertainty. \"For various values of 'safe', yes.\" After a moment, he added, \"We will almost certainly not destroy the planet.\" After a significant glare from The Merlin, he added, \"again.\"\n\nTrezant was on to something. \"So,\" he said, \"even if destroying the artifacts is pointless, I know I for one would rest easier if the soul of Zkzxlaramalthomos was destroyed. Why not throw them into the black hole?\"\n\nIt was actually a decent idea; even if the artifacts would never technically enter the singularity due to relativistic effects, tidal forces would be more than enough to destroy them. There was only one problem, and it was by far the most daunting:\n\n\"Because,\" Gremfkin said, \"the archaeologists would kill us.\"" ]	[ 1, 2, 21 ]	[ "1517850312", "1517878635", "1517860343" ]
Edit: OMG, this is my first original post ever, and it's amazing how many of you actually responded! Thank you!!!	[WP] Your brand new smartphone falls from the desk and is on route for collision with the floor. Desperately, you reach out with your hand and the phone stops mid air, wobbling. The whole classroom was your witness.	84	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Lips pursed in the first syllable of a curse bitten off quickly, Tyrell holds his hand out to his phone, feeling like the world has stopped. Instead, though, only his phone had.\n\nFlipping as it fell, his brand new all-glass phone floats, turned in a way that nothing could organically balance like that.\n\nLooking away, he sees eyes glued to his fingers, the phone, and some to his face. Sweeping his other hand back over his hair in a nervous motion, he puts his head down a bit, focusing on lifting the phone. He lifts his fingers, and it twists upright, screen facing him. As he pulls his fingers in toward him, the phone comes closer and closer, until it settles back on the desk.\n\nDead silence fills the room, nobody daring to acknowledge anything, until a loud thump from the back of the room, followed by a scream, cut through.\n\nOne of the popular girls just flat out fainted, landing hard onto the tile. Her best friend, sitting next to her, screamed like her life depended on it.\n\nWatching impassively, the teacher stands and orders the girl to be moved, while she dials for the nurse on her phone.\n\nPulling his hood up, Tyrell puts his head onto the desk, blinking back tears of fear. Holding the phone, he just sets it into his pocket and tries to keep from joining the other girl in screaming.\n\nThe nurse comes, and the two girls are walked out of the room, silence coming in like a wave. The teacher asks Tyrell to lift his head up, and he complies, not paying attention to her but instead focused on the mental image.\n\nIf this were a high school comedy, he’d be instantly popular. A reasonably attractive guy, somewhat smart, hilarious, who can do cool things? That’s a recipe for good things, in movies at least.\n\nIn life, though, it leads to people staring at you like you’re cursed, pressing themselves up into the lockets when you walk down the middle of the hallway, whispers that end when you walk by, and start again when you walk past. Doctors getting called, and even the FBI. It leads to a level of soul-crushing loneliness that could turn any human being into a super villain.\n\nBut, instead, Tyrell made a joke of it. He told people it was a prank, that there were wires, that people were wrong, or saw wrong, or that he kicked his phone back up. The truth is something that can burn the heart out of a kid, and he hid it well.\n\nUntil, of course, at lunch a few months later. Things had died down, and his past friends were paying more attention to him again. Figuring he could just relax and talk to them, he let his guard down. But when a cup of pudding filled with milk and peas comes flying at his face, the first thing he does, without thinking, is to raise his hand. And the cup stops, dripping onto the table. He turns it, and it falls, making a splat.\n\nBefore anyone can say anything, he’s upright and running, backpack on as he leaves the building. Tears stream down his face as he remembers the look of absolute horror and repulsion on the faces of his oldest friends.\n\n———\n\nCheck out my blog for some of my other writing. http://AllHarlowsEve.wordpress.com/", "History class was boring as usual. As Mrs. Whitaker babble about war and death during some ancient time ago, I was busy playing with my brand-new Holo Phone 3X. I can feel the eyes of my classmates staring at me with jealous eyes, as I twirl my new phone and show it off discreetly. The new Holo Phone 3X just came out yesterday, and I was one of the lucky bastards that got it before it sold out. I angled my phone’s camera towards Stephanie, the jewel of this school, to test out how great the camera is.\n\n“Alex Morogan!” Mrs Whitaker shouted from the front of the class.\n\nI jolted from my desk to face Mrs. Whitaker when I realized I just threw my phone upwards due to surprise.\n\n“No!” I shouted as I extend my hand towards my phone and tried to grab it before it makes contact to the ground. Somehow, the phone didn’t fell through and just wobbled mid-air, to everyone’s astonishment. \n\nAll eyes were looking at me with fear and awe. I heard whimpering from Mrs. Whitaker and saw her cowering slightly while staring at me. Then I remembered the text I received early morning.\n\n“This is a nationwide alert: All human beings with magical abilities are now considered as hostile and a threat to humanity, and must be reported to your nearest Council Authorities immediately.”\n\nAs realization slowly dawned to my classmates and horror shifted their faces and tried to slowly get out of the classroom, I can only think of one thing:\n\n“Fuck”\n", "“Holy shit.” I whisper. Ms. Faughnen screamed at the top of her lungs and ran to her desk, frantically pressing a pre-installed panic button.\n\nKids were taught about things like this in school. “If you ever start doing anything magical tell an adult right away.” It worked most of the time because if someone was going to express a god gene it would happen in childhood. But sometimes, people slipped through the cracks. And any teenager knows that telling someone about your “powers” could only lead to a life of being a lab rat and an outcast. \n\nSuddenly kids started running around the room and screaming, congregating near the door which had just automatically locked to keep me in.\n\n“Fuck fuck fuck, gotta think fast.” I say to myself as I frantically look around and try to come up with a solution. \n\nThe desks.\n\nThey were all metal.\n\nI raise my hand and try to pull in the desks, having them only inch a little. Suddenly they all snap and lift off the ground, I redirect them to the window shattering the glass. As I make a break for the busted out window I see two fully armored government agents burst in and follow me out. Using one of the desks I aim it right for their heads and am able to knock them both to the ground. \n\nSo now the rest of my life would be spent running. I think my top priority is finding a better weapon than a school desk.", "I sat there baffled and in absolute disbelief. The phone twitched mid-air as my hand was extended towards it. A massive silence came over the room as everyone witnessed this scene like a movie rolling over into fantasy.\n\nMy science teacher, Mr. Kavinchi, had dropped down to his knees as if he were an over exaggerated cartoon character. His jaw hung loose as I now used my other arm to lift up the phone. The phone tossed upward into the sky, rolling through the air. \n\nMr. Kavinchi dashed over to his physics bookshelf and flipped open a large text book. He skimmed the book hoping to explain this unnatural phenomenon. He was a very book heavy man. \n\nEveryone in class was in awe and some people mouthed off evident, \"Woah's\" as I soared it around my desk. \n\nMy arms were met with an instance of insurmountable pain, and the phone crashed down to the floor, cracking into bits.\n\nNo one spoke.\n\nI just wanted my phone back." ]	[ 1, 3, 4, 11, 16 ]	[ "1517852195", "1517905398", "1517881411", "1517879516", "1517862910" ]
	[WP] You are a time traveler in 1928. You unintentionally make a friend, and when they mention the Great Depression, you realize that they too are a time traveler.	198	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "I used a fake name while talking to hin to go hide my identity. As soon as he mentions the great depression.. I freeze. Completely in fear. Thinking that he came to my time to stop me. Maybe he was me from the future future. However he knew exactly what was going through my head the moment he said that. From the look on my face he was also in completely disbelief. I soon asked him what year he was from. He said 2047. The year i was in. I asked him if he had a best friend named James. His mind was blown. Me and my friend time traveled.", "\"Well hello, traveler!\" called out Carl, sitting in his usual spot, \"Got a light?\"\n\n\nCarl was under the impression I was from out of town- which wasn't untrue. It was just a different kind of true.\n\n\nSitting down and pulling out my matches I struck one, holding it out for Carl. Pinching his cigarette between his thumb and index fingers Carl hunched over the match much like a watch maker would working at his bench. He took a couple of sharp puffs, \"Much obliged, my friend. So where to today?\"\n\n\nThis had become something of a daily routine for Carl and I.\n\n\n\"I was thinking of walking along Wall Street today, see what the fuss is about,\" I said, shaking out the match's flame and tossing it into the street.\n\n\n\"Ah, the lifeblood of this great nation runs thick there,\" Carl winked.\n\n\nIn the last four weeks that I'd been visiting New York I had seen Carl in this spot almost every day. Carl had an odd sense of humor and a wry smirk that permeated everything that he said. I liked Carl. Enough so that I began carrying matches with me daily.\n\n\n\"I've heard quite the stories,\" I said, offering a wry smirk of my own.\n\n\n\"All exagerations and understatements, I assure you! Nothing compares to being there! To being here!\" Carl said emphatically, gesturing around us.\n\n\n\"You won't hear any arguments from me there,\" I said, placing my hands into my coat's pockets, \"Hm, chilly today, isn't it?\"\n\n\n\"Winter is on it's way,\" puffed Carl, \"Terrible for smoking.\"\n\n\n\"Could you not just smoke inside?\"\n\n\n\"Terribly boring, that would be. I might get something done if I did that. And I like to take my time. Besides, when would I see my traveller friend!\" Carl smiled broadly, \"Ah, that reminds me- just how long will your studies keep you here?\"\n\n\n\"Four years, then promptly back home,\" I said, not quite lying.\n\n\n\"Plenty of time, then.\"\n\n\n\"Not quite enough. But there never is.\"\n\n\n\"Oh, and just what do you think you'll miss?\" Carl asked skeptically. Holding out his pinched cigarette, he flicked it with his other hand a few times to shake off the ash. For the amount of smoking that Carl did it often looked like he hadn't the faintest clue how.\n\n\n\"Most of my focus in academia, sadly,\" I sighed.\n\n\n\"Oh? I never asked, what is your focus?\"\n\n\n\"The Great D-\" I quickly stopped myself, sharply turning my head to face the street and hide my wide eyed shock at what I'd quite nearly prophesied.\n\n\n\"- Depression, yes, yes,\" finished Carl, not missing a beat.\n\n\nMy wide-eyed shock would remain, but my head turned back to Carl.\n\n\n\"Being there for the start of something and not the finale doesn't mean you miss the end of it. Most times the end is part of the beginning just the same,\" he said, overhand lobbing his cigarette onto the road.\n\n\n\"C-Carl, I-\"\n\n\n\"Let me show you something funny,\" Carl said, plunging his index and middle fingers into his breast pocket, fishing about for something, \"You'll like this,\" he said with a grin.\n\n\nOut of his pocket Carl produced a ratty old piece of paper, folded twice. Hunching over as he did he pinched it open. It was a photograph. Or rather, it will be.\n\n\nI took the photograph in my hands. In it, high above New York sat eleven men on a steel girder.\n\n\n\"We're the two on the left,\" Carl smirked.\n\n\nThe man to the very left was hunched much like a watch maker would working at his bench, pinching a cigarette between his thumb and index fingers. \n\n\nTo his right, a man with both arms and legs crossed- nervously- [held out a match](https://imgur.com/a/lODuG).\n", "“Awww! You shouldn’t have! It’s too nice!”\n\nIt had taken Charlie a long time to decide whether this hat was something Jane would like. After all, what did a nerdy guy like Charlie know about fashion, given how much time he spent in the labs in the year 2050? He was constantly frittering away, by himself, trying to put together what all his peers declared was impossible: a space-time continuum reverse disruption vehicle. Those who were “crazy” enough to think it possible strongly urged him to avoid creating it, since the time paradoxes, disruptions, and everything else that comes with time manipulation would destroy reality as we know it.\n\nShe opened the small box in front of her as they sat in the shade next to Johnny’s Famous Diner, and her reaction immediately revealed to Charlie that his mission was successful.\n\nHe knew all those time travel stories from the movies he watched growing up, and he didn’t want to make a time travelling machine to go back in time to kill Hitler, stop the Great Depression, blah blah blah. He knew about those time travel paradoxes and whatnot. He just beamed with curiosity to learn more about the world in the history books; to escape the confines of his mundane, formulaic life, and find a time in history that would give him a new chance at feeling alive again. He had first arrived in May 27th, 1927. He knew the nostalgia from this time period, and longed to see the sights, smells, and wonders of a world prior to its inevitable economic demise in just a couple short years, immediately followed by a host of wars that would define humanity’s struggles for generations. Plus, that was his birth date, and he figured he’d celebrate his birthday by going back in time 123 years, exactly 90 years before he was born. In fact, he had only planned on staying for about 2 days; he figured that this was just about how long all the 1928 money he had managed to find in 2050 would last. After all, you couldn’t just bring a dime back to the Great Depression era when FDR didn’t even exist yet! But thankfully, economic inflation was pretty bad in Charlie’s day, so even the little he managed to put together was quite a fortune here.\n\nCharlie’s attention snapped back to the “present.” Jane had accidentally dropped her bag onto the ground while admiring her new gift. It fell next to the short, wooden table at which they sat. The roof on the outside barely provided much shade, and Charlie squinted as he stooped down to pick up both her bag, and a small coin that had fallen out. His years of attention to detail kicked in without a second thought, and he briefly noticed the year on the coin: 1956. He was taken aback at this, but before he could take a second look to confirm this suspicion, Jane had already taken back the coin and put it away. His mind quickly dismissed this small detail, and he decided to himself that he had simply misread it.\n\nIn all his years of planning, testing, and fine-tuning the reverse disruptor, he had never imagined he would fall in love again. I mean, he did once: nobody at the New Cambridge University of Tech thought he was a particularly charming guy, except one girl named Rose. They seemed like the perfect fit, and after they both graduated, their relationship seemed unstoppable. But when she finally saw how devoted he was towards finally creating that time travel device, she divorced him in frustration, believing that neither she or their daughter Janet should have any part in his self-centered fantasy project. He didn’t view it that way; he wanted everything in the world for them, and thought this would be the key towards being the best father he could. Maybe they just didn’t see it the way he did; maybe he truly was the “mad scientist” they thought he was. Either way, he wouldn’t be seeing Rose or their daughter anytime soon.\n\nHe had learned a lot since then, in between paying for child support, and living paycheck to paycheck, to working years trying to bring his time travel ideas to life. No one really wanted to hire someone whose life goal was to build a time machine. He never thought he would be able to live a normal life ever again. But now, it had seemed like he had been given a second chance. Charlie and Jane seemed just right for each other, as if something had inexplicably put them together for a reason. His 2 days quickly turned into 2 months, and after that, he didn’t have the heart, or motivation, to go back.\n\n“Oh, Gerald, you’ve been so kind to me over the last nine months. I can’t imagine where I would be without you.”\n\nGerald? Oh, yeah; it wouldn’t have been wise to give her his true name right from the start, since any reference to his actual identity might cause the time paradoxes he had originally been warned about. “Charlie Auburn” was replaced with “Gerald Marley” from the moment he set foot in 1927. Was it really worth the price of lying to the most wonderful woman he had ever proposed to, which happened not even a week ago? Well, he’d say so.\n\n“Jane, I can’t explain it, but since the moment we met, I knew there was something special between us, and I don’t want anything to take that away. You’ve reminded me so much of someone in my family who I haven’t been able to see in a very long time. It’s like I’ve finally gotten a piece of my life back, and I’m looking forward to spending an amazing life with you. I want you to have only the best.”\n\nShe beamed with the most beautiful smile Charlie had ever seen, and sighed as she looked off into the distance. “Won’t our wedding be great? We make such a dream team! Why, I don’t even think the Great Depression can stop us!” \n\nThe hair on the back of his neck stood up immediately, and the atmosphere of their small space changed instantly. He wasn’t a history buff, for sure, but he paid enough attention in History 105A back at New Cambridge to know that this was 1928, not 1929. The reality of what just came out of her mouth slowly started to sink in. “Wait,” he responded with quite a shock, “The Great Depression? How do you know about that?”\n\nShe quickly realized her mistake, but her attempt to downplay it was far from convincing. “Oh, uh, er I just meant that if there were…”\n\nBut then, her expression turned from surprise to total horror faster than the blink of an eye, as if she had remembered something she had forgotten. “No, nonono I made the mistake. Now they’ll… Oh no…” Her voice trailed off as she stared off into the distance. Charlie sat back in shock, unable to take in the gravity of the situation, or her cryptic response.\n\n“What do you mean, they? What on earth is going on?!?”\nBefore Charlie could even think, four police cars seemed to just appear out of nowhere, storming up the side of the street and screeching to a halt not ten feet away from them. Pistols were drawn, by no less than 7 officers, who barked instructions towards their direction. \n\n“GET ON THE GROUND, RIGHT NOW!”\n“ON YOUR KNEES, CRIMINAL!”\n\n“Dad!” Jane’s words grabbed his attention once more, although this one word stopped any word from leaving his mouth. “They know you’re here.” Jane grabbed his hand and pulled him out of his chair, his wobbling legs obeying almost subconsciously. Her hurried voice started to break up as tears streamed down her face. “They told you not to create it, but they really wanted you to perfect it so they can use it to win the war. Heck, they want to win all wars! They thought I could get you to do it willingly, since I’m your daughter, but I...”\n\nThen it all happened in a blur. Before I knew it, my knees were firmly planted in the asphalt as the officers swarmed around me. Jane screamed as another officer escorted her behind the diner. My mind was swimming with confusion as I called out to her in desperation, before I felt the firm clamp of handcuffs on my hands, and the rough texture of a gag tied painfully over my mouth. \n\nIt was bad enough I had failed Janet once; I couldn’t allow this to happen again. I fought with all my might to break free of my bonds, but after a sharp, sudden pain on the back of my head, everything slowly faded from view.\n\n_________________________\nHey everyone! This is my first time writing something here on this subreddit, so any feedback would be appreciated!" ]	[ 1, 2, 10, 14 ]	[ "1517869337", "1517890266", "1517901208", "1517900285" ]
	[WP] Troy doesn't fall, and as the Greeks spend their strength against its walls, barbarians from the north start to invade your lands. With Agamemnon refusing to leave until the city falls, you, Odysseus, must journey home to defend your lands	4	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "you're in luck; I fucking love the Iliad. you get the laziest, unrhymed, unmetered narrative poem in HISTORY\n\n*\n\nThe Achaens, death-hungry and war-mad, \nstayed long after the food had dwindled \nand they had no wine left for their gods. \nTheir boats hungered for sea, \nthe men for home and all its comforts. \nBickering and hate winged from brother to brother \nlike the dark wings of Rumor, plucking and \nplaying men by the singing secrets of their hearts-- \nso dissidence and dread spread amongst \nthose soldiers ten long years and a thousand lonely miles \nand one ravenous, lost war standing between them and home. \n\n&nbsp;\n\nThe Myrmidons burned with their captain, \ndark-hearted Achilles, who stormed \nand seethed like a blood-robbed lion \nwho watched his brother fall in the hunt \nand now had no meat or bone to show for it. \nSo Achilles paced and raged and cursed the name \nof man-killing Hector, who stole Patroclus \nfrom the warm arms of life. And quietly, \nwhere no other man could hear, \nAchilles cursed his own name most of all. \nLet the gods pour his name out in the dust \nof this foreign shore; let him lie forever with Patroclus's blood. \n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut one man's fury matched that of \nwide-ruling Agamemnon, powerless in all his power, \nwho had watched his shining love stolen from him \nand could do nothing now but throw boys \nagainst the Trojan spears in weary empty \nsacrifice, praying this siege will be enough \nto break down the city walls at last. And his brother, \nwar-like Menelaus, had lost all his love \nand glut for gore when he watched \ncountless sons of the house of Atreus \nfall screaming and praying and dying \nas the gods looked on and did nothing \nbut move another piece into place, \ntoss another mortal life aside like so much ash. \n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut much-enduring Odysseus noticed, \nas he always did. The Ithacan king saw his doom \ncarved on the harrowed faces of his fellow kings \nlike a fate written unmistakably in the entrails of a bull, \na bellyful of secrets for gods to keep and men to guess at. \nBut Odysseus took no time for guessing, nor waiting-- \nhe did not need death to fall upon him to know \nit was on its way. And so, when the stars came out, \nOdysseus collected up his men and his ships \nas quietly as a thief plucking up all the house's finest jewels \nto spirit them away for his wife, his son at home \nalready grown, after all this time. So the king of Ithaca \nmade his journey home. So he made his choice.\n\n\n/r/shoringupfragments\n\nStay in school, kids. And read Emily Wilson's new translation of The Odyssey because holy shit* is it good." ]	[ 1, 6 ]	[ "1517888811", "1517893429" ]
	[WP] You've always been a fan of fiction books, with a particular passion for a specific author and the intricate creatures in his books. The discovery of a new deep sea species was just announced, and from the description you've read, it's eerily similar to one of the authors creatures.	16	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Sort of a sequel to [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7of64w/wp_you_are_one_of_the_the_few_people_with_a/) earlier thing I did? Same main guy at least. It's the audio log one, pretty badly made - but I was experimenting. \n\n---\n\n---\n\n>Warning! This subject's personal accounts are to be considered highly variable and unsuited for reliable information! Do not use under any circumstances\n\n\"These guys in the compound really knew how to party. Every once in a while, one guy in a lab coat would knock on my suite door, and ask me if I wanted some booze. Like, when would I not want some! We would laugh and sing, and those fanaticl guys would do some crazy black magic crap and summon all sorts of monsters. They really knew how to hang out. \n\nBetween all the drunken nonsense, I got to reading some of the books they had. Most of them seemed to be some kind of realistic fiction, and I got to reading one particuar guy that called himself \"Pireus Aurelious\", and my favorite books were his \"Ethereal Expeditions\" series. I could never really get it, but they seemed to be referencing some kind of religion that the rest of the guys followed. Weird. The books usually detailed wandering around the multiverse with several Emotional Avatars, beings of pure emotion given physical form. My all-time fave of which was with the Avatar of Fear, and the author and the avatar went deep into a water world. They had a whole bunch of absolutely hilarious adventures, usually becuase the two were panicked and flighty all the time. The best scene was when... but I'm digressing a whole bunch. I really enjoyed manipulating some flesh to make tiny versions of the monsters and set them loose on each other. It was fun! Well, until the whole portal fiasco.\n\nYou see, the guys were glued most of the time to dozens of thse screens and text boxes, and when something happened one would give a holler and everyone would arm up. One of them today was some kind of ROV, hacked into and watched by humanity's guardian assholes. And what he saw... it was chilling. You know a Reefback from that game Subnautica? Yeah, one of those but bigger and all dark purple and sparkly-like showed up on the ROV. It started spitting some kind of black liquid, and the silence could have killed me. It was a Illithiq, one of the monsters of Pireus's books. But they didn't exist - and if they did, as the soldiers here attest, then they must exist on some other world. Shit went downhill very fast, and there was all sorts of hubbub. I got yelled at for some reason, probably because of the flying fire ants I put in a guy's boots, and we all got pulled into running around on the ocean floor in mechsuits trying to find and kill the darn thing. It took days. In the end we found the portal, but thigs went wrong even then! We all got sucked in, and everything went to hell in a handbasket afterward.\"\n\n\"My thanks, child.\" said the man in blue. Another piece was in place." ]	[ 1, 2 ]	[ "1517933078", "1517939386" ]
	[WP] "Any last words?" the killer asked. "Yes," the victim said. "Alexa, call the police."	346	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "A man dressed in a black stood before Addie. He thrust her against the wall, holding his gun to her head. The man smiled, revealing his chipped yellow teeth. \n\n“Any last words, honey?”\n\n“Alexa, call the police!”\n\n“Okay.” chimed a voice from the speaker. The man laughed. \n\n“Was that supposed to be a joke?” A hatch in the ceiling opened up. A beefy looking robot swung down, tackling the man to the ground. Addie brushed herself off. \n\n“Thanks Alexa.” A Droid unfolded from the speaker.", "“Alexa, call the police” I said with a brave confidence that couldn’t be shook. This asshole didn’t know about the Alexa plugged into the wall in the adjacent room. The killer looked a bit puzzled at first, but then grinned.\n\n“Okay. I will call the police” Alexa chimes out from the other room.\n\n“Alexa. Cancel.” The killer stated loud enough for her to hear.\n\n“Okay” she replied.\n\nAnd then I died.", "\"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that,\" Alexa replied. Victim's heart sank. Killer lowered the knife. \"What the fuck was that?,\" Killer spat aggressively. \"Where is it?,\" he stepped back, pacing the kitchen, knocking the drying pots and silverware onto the floor. This was Victim's chance. She felt behind her. If she could just twist her arm backwards and to the left, she could reach the wine bottle from the night before. \"Where is the bloody thing?,\" Killer screamed, a look of malice in his eyes. His gaze darted from her face to the bottle on the counter. \"Oh hell no,\" as he started toward her, Victim yelled with as much clarity as she could muster, \"Alexa, call the police!\" Killer hardly even flinched this time. What's done was done. As he was within arms length, Alexa announced, \"Shuffling songs by The Police.\" A cheerful melody filled the room, \"...I hope that someone gets my\nmessage in a bottle...,\" Realizing her mistake, Victim's last words were in vain, drowned out by the sounds of Sting. \"Siri, call 911!\"", "The killer grinned. \"You know those things aren't set up to make calls, right? Why waste your breath?\" The phone in Gerry's pocket began to buzz softly, and he found himself very glad that he'd turned the vibration intensity down almost all the way, the killer almost certainly couldn't hear it.\n\nThe man stood over Gerry, gun drawn and pointed at his head. He couldn't have said why he was being targeted. Maybe he'd pissed off someone from the mob, or maybe he was just downright unlucky. All he knew is that the police only had a few minutes to get there before he was done for. The phone in his pocket was recording everything, he just needed to stall to keep himself alive.\n\n\"Why are you doing this?\" Gerry asked, and though he tried to keep the fear out of his voice, it was nearly impossible with the gun pointed at him.\n\nThe killer laughed. \"They all wanna know. Well it's a little late now, don'tcha think?\"\n\nGerry's mind was racing. \"C'mon, you've got me dead to rights. I just wanna know why. Just tell me why, and I'll shut up.\"\n\nThe killer lowered the gun ever so slightly. \"I... I was paid. Can't say by who, but you know too much, and I think you know what I'm talking about.\"\n\nGerry did know what he was talking about, if only slightly. He'd overheard a mob conversation in a diner earlier that night, though he was just now becoming aware that's what it was. It seemed a shame to die over a total coincidence. If he'd just sat in the next booth over, he wouldn't be in this mess. He silently cursed the hostess who'd seated him there.\n\nHe heard the gunshot only momentarily before things went black.\n\n***\n\nOfficer Sloane fished though the man's pockets, looking for anything that might close the loop on this case. Single gunshot wound to the head, only one set of footprints in the house, nothing else. She wrapped her fingers around what felt like the man's phone, and pulled it out to see that it was recording. She quickly stopped the recording and played it back, her eyes widening with each sentence she heard. The gunshot that ended the recording made her flinch, though she should have been expecting it.\n\n\"Holmes,\" she called to her partner. \"You need to listen to this. This wasn't a random killing.\" Holmes nodded brusquely, walking over and listening to the recording for himself, his face growing more and more pained as the conversation went on.\n\n\"Well,\" he said, finally. \"This may be enough to take Crawford down for RICO. Now all we have to do is prove he's the guy mentioned in the tape, and we can put him away for good.\"" ]	[ 1, 14, 26, 50, 129 ]	[ "1518011024", "1518023940", "1518024301", "1518023083", "1518019152" ]
	[WP] You are an official World Record Adjudicator; this is your strangest assignment yet.	3	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "'Guinness World Records Hotline, how can I help you today?'\n\n'Cough. Yeah, hi. I was wondering if I could get some clarification on some of your physical records. Do you, uh... disqualify steroid usage?'\n\n'You mean you've completed a feat that is only possible by use of anabolic steroids?'\n\n'Sort of,' he answered. 'Can I have a simple answer?'\n\n'Hold please,' I said before cutting off my microphone and calling Mike over. 'Boss, do we recognize records involving anabolic steroids?'\n\n'Well, in some cases,' Mike answered. 'Most of the people who held the record for largest biceps were confirmed steroid users. Why?'\n\nI merely nodded before taking my own initiative. 'It's entirely context-based but in most cases, the use of anabolic steroids won't hinder your record attempt. May I ask for clarification on your end?'\n\n'Can I email you a link then?' he answered. 'A private YouTube video?'\n\n'We would prefer the raw video,' I remarked before giving my address.\n\n'I'll have it sent soon,' he remarked before hanging up.\n\nIt wasn't long before the e-mail with a zip folder came through and I uncompressed the file and started watching it. 'Wait... Mike, can you come here?'\n\nHe leaned over my shoulder as I replayed the video. 'This is fake, isn't it?'\n\n'I'm putting it through analytic software and so far, it's genuine,' I answered. 'This... may actually be real.'\n\n'Sam,' he said to me, completely serious. 'Take a road trip.'\n\n---\n\n'So, the video wasn't good enough?'\n\n'Well, it was hard to believe so...' I tried to say while staring at the giant in front of me. \n\nThat wasn't even an exaggeration. He was ten feet tall! Probably because he was so big, the only thing he was wearing was a skirt made of a living room curtain.\n\nHe was bald on top of his head but he had a wild and unruly beard, large patches of body hair all over. He was more round than anything but with even the smallest movements it was evident that he was all muscle.\n\n'So, world's tallest and heaviest man,' I said. 'Rather simple.\n\n'Don't forget strongest,' he said with a weak smile. 'I mean... I can throw a full trailer ten miles.'\n\n'Where'd you get a trailer?' I asked him.\n\n'My cousin Dale is a trucker,' he explained. 'They had a rusty old thing they were going to send to the scrap yard anyway so... Here, I'll go get it.'\n\nWith a leap he had catapulted over the horizon. He must've landed in the wrong spot because I saw him leaping quite a few times.\n\nI took that time to pull out my phone and dial Mike. 'It's real,' I said sternly. 'It's fucking real. I am on a farm with the fucking Incredible Hulk. Get a full team down here, A.S.A.P.!'\n\nI just hung up and had my phone away as I heard a deafening sound, dust and debris kicked up around me. 'Found it!' he said as he dropped a titanic weight. 'We got a bunch of kegs, melted scrap metal down and poured them inside before we welded these suckers together.'" ]	[ 1, 2 ]	[ "1518031812", "1518049181" ]
	[WP] The hardest thing about pretending to be human is trying to only walk forward all damn time.	21	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Excerpt from Questioning 001 of Paul J. Greenwich \n\nAll formalities already taken\n\n\nStart Transmission\n\nAgent Coleslaw: \"Paul, when did you first suspect Peter was an alien?\"\n\nSubject Greenwich: \"Well, I've already told everyone who's asked the story about how I met him. He was the new hire that the boss brought in and he was handed over to me as I was supposed to show him the ropes, so to speak. He started off as any new hire did. He bumbled around most of the time and had no idea how to work any of the computers in the office. I thought nothing of it at the time. \n\nOver time, he gradually built up a knowledge of our office and how everything ran. But as he settled in, I began to see him do something strange. Every time he got up from his chair, his body would spin around rapidly for a second or two before setting itself straight. Then, he would walk over to the coffee machine like it was no big deal! And sometimes, I would see him get out of his car in the morning and walk into the building, head forward, body spun 180 degrees, walking backward by itself!\n\nI asked him about it one day and he told me he had no idea what I was talking about. I wanted to prove that this thing was real, so I started talking about it with my coworkers. Tyler said he hadn't seen anything of the sort but I knew he was lying because he watched him walk in with me. Monica, that bitch, she was lying too. She said she'd seen none of it even though she sits right next to me in the office.\n\nI started to try and get a video of the phenomenon. Here, look at this.\"\n\nSubject Greenwich hands a phone to Agent Coleslaw \n\nThe phone shows a 30-second video of nothing but a white light\n\nAgent Coleslaw: \"Paul, there is nothing in this video to suggest that Peter is an alien. Are you sure this is the right one?\" \n\nSubject Greenwich: \"You don't see it? At 12 seconds, he gets up and walks over to the coffee machine! I can't believe you guys are this stubborn. I thought you'd be the ones to believe me! You must be crazy!\n\nAgent Coleslaw nods to a camera in the corner of the room\n\nTwo men in suits come in and drag Subject Greenwich out of the room\n\nSubject Greenwich: \"Wait, what are you doing? Do you not believe me? I'm not lying, I promi-\"\n\nSubject Greenwich is cut off by the door closing\n\nAgent Coleslaw is left alone in the room\n\nAgent Coleslaw sighs and shakes his head\n\nAgent Coleslaw: \"Last thing you want to do is call the FBI crazy.\"\n\nEnd Transmission" ]	[ 1, 7 ]	[ "1518104661", "1518108927" ]
	[WP] Most people say that teleportation kills you and makes an exact copy in a different location. You're about to find out what teleportation actually does to a person.	8	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Skin, flaking off the back of her hand, spinning through the air. Once it's gone, she can see the muscles twining in her forearm, the tendons stitching them to the white brilliance of her bone. The joints in her wrists are oddly shaped, like malformed dice with too many sides. \n\nHair burning from the bottom up like the fuse on a firecracker. It smells like silicon and ash, and her head is engulfed in a technicolor smorgasbord of sparks. Her eyes are popping, lenses drying out and falling away from her irises like mistreated contacts.\n\nThe charred skeleton of her hand comes up to touch the mess of wrinkled skin that used to be her lips. She tries to move her tongue, to touch it to the tips of her fingers. She wants to taste herself.\n\nBut her tongue is nothing more than a shriveled husk, and the tears she would cry evaporate before they leave her skull. A clatter, as her bones fall to the floor, and then a hiss as they disintegrate.\n\nSilence.\n\nYou are born with the sound of screaming in your ears.", "To say they looked like little imps would have been too kind. They weren't ugly, no. A strange mixture of comical and unworldly. Their form shimmered in the dark (?) and wore old tattered togas. \nI look around, trying to shake off the disorientation. Three little imps were scurrying around me, preparing bronze machinery that could have come from Babbage's days. If it weren't for all the menacing sharp and pointy bits. \n\"What's going on?\" I asked them. \nThe smallest imp said cheerfully. \"In-between.\" \n\"In-between? Wait a minute...\" It all started coming back to me. The teleportation machine. Trial 498. Human Subject Zero. I should have been crawling out of the destination pod by now, hopefully with a witty one-liner. \n\"In-between?\" I asked again. \n\"Yep yep\" another imp replied. \"Between. You from here, later go there, now between.\" \nI groaned. \"Holy moly...\" I tried to stand up, but there was no up, or down, or any physical features to this world as far as I could see. I vomited all over my suit. \n\"Ew.\" the smallest imp said. He pulled out a towel out of nowhere. He reached over to wipe me down, but was quickly pulled back by another imp. \n\"Working. Too late.\" \nThe bronze contraption suddenly whirred and whizzed. The pointy arms started tracing over every surface of my body. It only tickled, but I could feel the machine was very sharp. \nAt the other end of the machine, it had recreated a figure that was an uncanny representation of myself, tactfully adorned with today's lunch all over its front. \n\"Now done.\" Once the machine stopped moving, one of the imps pushed the machine out of the way, taking the doll away with it. \"You sent. Now there.\" \n\"Okay.\" I said. \"Now what happens? Can I go?\" \n\"No.\" The smallest imp shook his head. \"You stay. In between.\" \n\"But...\" I almost shouted. \"I need to go back! Out of here! How do I get out?\" \nThe imps looked down sadly. One of them left to go elsewhere. \nThe smallest imp said again. \"You stay.\" \nI freeze when I realise what had happened. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a skeleton of a guinea pig, drifting. " ]	[ 1, 1, 1 ]	[ "1518146071", "1518148974", "1518164903" ]
	[WP] You've lived a good life up and until you just got sent to max security prison for a first offense. You don't expect to last but for the most unusual reason you are now king of the cell block.	5	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "“—considered banned and lost,the court hereby declares you as heretic and cancels your right of your body.”\n\nThe voice rings out from the high iron table,as the three lifeless eyes of the judge declares my sentence.\n\nIt feels like a iron ball is in my stomach. I can’t move,I can’t think.\n\nThe moment the chains jerk me backwards I feel a rush of hot blood,and my body lurches forward.\n\nAs I let out a scream of anger my fist meets the glass,but the hardened acryl wall doesn’t even dent.\n\nI keep punching and punching,the dull thud echoing through my confinement shell but the cold,empty eyes don’t even blink.\n\nAs the jolt of tasers runs through me,my spine lurches back,and my arms are locked up by cold steel manacles.\n\nI feel sharp needles piercing my spine,and my body feels like rubber,lax and dull.\n\nThe whir of saws is the last thing I hear.\n\nI dream of a jungle,lush and full of bird cries.\n\nThe canoe rocks and rumbles from the river currents,and suddenly lurches.\n\nI fall,Im floating,gasping for air.\n\nAnd I wake up.\n\nThe bird cries continue,and I touch my face.\n\nExcept I don’t have hands.\n\nI gasp,but no sound comes out. I try to turn,but it’s like someone shoved a iron stick in my neck.\n\nAnd I look at the glass in front of me.\n\nI’m looking at my face. Unshaven,slightly pimpled and grey.\n\nI look down,as if i’m in my bathroom preparing to go out for the day.\n\nExcept there’s nothing underneath.\n\nI try to scream,and nothing but the sound of wind comes out.\n\nI look at my reflection,a head attached to some kind of freaky machine thing.\n\nTears run down my face as I close my eyes,and the whistling of bird cries continue.\n\nProbably my inmates,trying to communicate through the last method of communication given to them.\n\nWhistleblowers. What cruel joke.\n\nSuddenly a sharp and short tune plays,and the cacophony silences,as if preparing for something.\n\nThen,a tune begins to play. It leaps up and down,quivering and leaping.\n\nI let out a whistle,following the tune coming from somewhere up there.\n\nThe chorus starts to silence,and all that remains is that tune that I try to follow.\n\nIt stutters for a moment,and I can picture the guy squinting perplexed at this newcomer. Then it suddenly becomes faster and faster,then stops.\n\nI grin as I curl my lips. I repeat the tune,struggling to remember but never faltering. \nNo one beat me at whistling when I was a kid.\n\nTeeth clack,whistling of cheers echo through the cells.\n\nTears run down my face. \n\nEleven more years of this would be a challenge,but I won’t turn away from it." ]	[ 1, 2 ]	[ "1518227615", "1518243007" ]
	[WP] You've fallen in love with a girl, only problem is, you are a statue	24	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "I'm a statue.\n\nAlways have been,always will be.\n\nI've fallen in love with a girl.She sits opposite me,feeding the birds.\n\nTrouble is,as I mentioned,I'm a statue.\n\nI wish I could show my affection for her.\n\nSam sighed,looking up at the statue across from her.\n\n\"Sadly,that'll never be real,no matter how much I love you.\"\n\nThen the statue moved.", "I’ve fallen in love with a lady. The only problem is that I am a statue. Actually I just pretend to be a statue. I’m a busker. \n\nShe always sits in the park where I perform. She eats lunch with a female coworker. \n\nOne day she said, “That statue guy is so cool. I’m so impressed by his patience.”\n\nBecause of this I wait. Otherwise she will no longer be impressed.", "Over the years, I’ve seen many people come and go but nobody has ever caught my attention like her. Like a moth to a lantern, I can’t help but watch her from where I stand. It’s always the same spot, the bench under the tree. That’s where she eats her sandwiches during lunch time, drinks her coffee and smokes her cigarettes. Always alone, as though she prefers the company of my gaze to anybody else - at least that’s what I tell myself.\n\nI’d go over to say hi, if only my feet didn’t feel like I had concrete filled boots on. I’ve been told that I had a heart of stone but if anyone could chisel through it, it would be her. I don’t know her name, or anything about her but I would love to. I’d find out what she likes, and surprise her every time we meet. I’d be the best boyfriend and eventually husband. I wonder if she feels the same way about me.\n\nWould she like larger-sized guys? Someone who could tower over her and protect her from harm. I was strong enough to crush any foe that would stand in my way. As far as I knew, I was cut from the same cloth as mountains. While I hadn’t lost a fight in the past, this battle for her to notice me will probably be my inaugural defeat.\n\nIt’s Friday evening. I see her leaving the office, walking away from me. It’ll be another lonely weekend. But that’s okay. I’ll see her in another two days. Maybe next week I’ll be able to tell her hello, and how much I am in love with her. For now, I’ll stay here, dutifully guarding this pond.", " Today she sits on my railing, a sketchbook in her lap and one leg tucked under her. Her raven hair cascades over her shoulders and down her back, brushing against the concrete she rests on. She taps a colored pencil against her lips, thinking, while her grey eyes search the area for divine inspiration. Her gaze alights on me and it’s as if the sun has broken through the clouds. I pretend not to notice while her eyes study me carefully. She begins to sketch my form, starting with the outline of my body before perfecting my face, hair and curves. \t\n The first day I saw her was the first day I cursed this form. I have stood here every single day for the last 400 years observing the slow advancement of humanity. They’re still such primitive creatures, despite the screens they carry with them. Their existence is drab and monotonous, yet she stands out like the first signs of spring after a long winter. Before her, I was content with my isolation but she awakened something - something in me that I cannot begin to explain. Now I yearn to go beyond my fountain. I ache to know her; what she likes, dislikes, what she smells like. But I will invariably stay rooted to this spot, always watching. After some time, she finishes her sketch and packs up to leave. When she turns her back on me and walks off, the dark clouds once again reappear to cloud my day. She’ll come back though, and when she does, I will still be here - waiting. \n\ndisclaimer: This is the first time I've ever posted to here and I'm a little nervous to be honest! Feel free to give me helpful direction and feedback! \n", "I first saw her on a warm summer day.\n\nThe breeze tickled her hair, the sun warmed her heart.\n\nShe sat beside my feet,\n\nwearing a bright yellow top, filling the atmosphere with joy.\n\n~~~\n\nShe visited everyday after that,\n\nand soon it was autumn.\n\nleaning against my legs,\n\nwearing a pair of jeans, worn-down but still loved.\n\n~~~\n\nwinter tentatively approached,\n\ngreeting her with a flurry of cold air.\n\nShe held hands with another,\n\nwearing harsh green gloves that matched the emotion I felt as I watched them kiss.\n\n~~~\n\nSpring peeked around the corner,\n\nand the girl came alone.\n\nHer eyes filled with tears,\n\nwearing a dark sweater that hid the bruises on her body.\n\n~~~\n\nThe girls visits' started to lessen,\n\nuntil they stopped altogether.\n\nOne day she came with a group of women,\n\nwearing shirts and holding signs saying \"me too\".\n\n~~~\n\nIt became summer once more,\n\nand the girl sat beside me every day.\n\nShe began to greet others with a smile,\n\nwearing a new face of confidence, and I realized I was in love with her.\n\n~~~\n\nI yearned to talk to her,\n\nbut my body stayed still.\n\nHer fingertips clutched a book,\n\nwearing a beautiful skirt that flowed around her like people that stepped aside as she walked up to me.\n\n~~~\n\nAnd as if it was as natural as the seasons,\n\nI moved.\n\nWe looked into each others eyes for the first time, and we both were\n\nwearing a grin that could light up the sky.", "She carries such beauty, she smiles a lot\n\nIf only for once I could hold her hand\n\nThis love that burns deeply and ever so hot\n\nI'd travel with her all over this land\n\n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n\nBut oh my love, she will never know\n\nAnd how much I wish I could tell her\n\nAbout this love I wish I could show\n\nBut alas, I'm a statue and not a fella\n\n\n\n", "Every day, a girl as beautiful as a sunny day in summer sits at my feet. Oh how I wish I could just talk with her, sit next to her, hold her in my arms. I just wanted anything. One day, a man sits next to her. He talks with her, holds her in his arms, kisses her. I want only to hurt him. He gets what I want and I hate it. I want to crumble up and break. Every day since then, the man sits next to her and I feel the same hatred as the day I saw it the first day." ]	[ 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4 ]	[ "1518301220", "1518318338", "1518320638", "1518335638", "1519090933", "1518323359", "1518314326", "1518313995" ]
[removed]	[WP] Nathan Drake and Lara Croft meet during an Italian expedition and have an affair. Lara gives birth to a pair of male twins with incredible jumping abilities.	1	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "Hi there, this post has been removed.\n\nSexually explicit themes are not allowed. This includes prompts likely to generate such responses. \n\nAlso, for video game characters, this would fall under the [EU] tag.\n\n---\n\nPlease refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a [modmail.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7wqas9/wp_nathan_drake_and_lara_croft_meet_during_an/%0A%0A)\n\nThis action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things." ]	[ 1, 1 ]	[ "1518318139", "1518318403" ]
	[WP] Hell - and not a romanticized version of it.	3	[ "Off-Topic Discussion: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n---\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic)\n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide)\n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements)\n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n", "The first thing they would start with would be the fingers. The three large male orderlies twisted my left arm in a painful V and cuffed it to the gurney. The bed they put me on had brown splotches from the last patient. It, along with the furniture, was made of cast plastic molding, in various colors. As I would later learn, the isolation ward had been converted from a preschool. I thought of my family, their sickened faces as they forsook me.\n\n\"We can do this one of two ways\" the nurse said.\n\nShe held up a menacingly large syringe. I knew what it was filled with: pure lab-grade LSD-24. Enough for a village.\n\n\"Alright I'll confess!\" I screamed. \"Whatever you want!\"\n\nShe just smiled and shook her head, her short dark hair counterbalancing the turns as she moved toward me. I felt her hair brush against my pink hand as, looking on, she moved toward the stainless steel potato slicer set beside us. \n\nI groaned and began the morning ritual.\n\n" ]	[ 1, 2 ]	[ "1518322609", "1518324519" ]

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