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 |
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[WP] You discover a new flavor. | 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",
"I had just ordered a sandwich. Nothing special, just the usual. I had not expected the rush of deliciousness that flooded my senses. I gasped as my brain comprehended what I had just experienced. I had to speak.\n\n\"Amazing...I've got to tell someone about this!\" I thought out loud. So I did.\n\n\"Hey all you people! Hey all you people! Hey all you people won't you listen to me!\" I shouted out to the restaurant, as I began to dance out of pure joy from my taste buds.\n\n\"I just had a sandwich! No ordinary sandwich! A sandwich filled with jellyfish jelly!\" People had turned their heads to face me in confusion, but I knew I had their attention; I could spread the word that this flavour had bestowed upon me.\n\nWalking up to a table, I knew what I had to do. I began to dollop jelly onto their sandwiches, singing all the while.\n\n\"Hey man, you've got to try this sandwich! It's no ordinary sandwich! It's the tastiest sandwich in the sea!\" I cried in syncopation, eagerly slapping jelly onto a line of sandwiches. I saw them simultaneously bite, and the subsequent smiles that broke out as they felt the power of its flavour.\n\nI knew my work was done, but the song needed an end. Scatting was the only answer.\n\n\"A-skibidi-booda-bada-booda-bada-dadady-dow! YEEEEAAAAAH!\" I sang out to the crowd, before being drowned out with awesome applause at my performance. \n\nMy name was Fred, the Sandwich Messiah."
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[WP] You are immortal, it has been almost five billion years since you were born. Write about how you experience earths final moments. | 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 remember a great many things. It started with a bang. Light shone from the darkness, colours that people had long forgotten shone through, sound as light as a leaf rustling on the wind was at once dwarfed by the cacophony of planets and suns forming. In those early years I had no concept of time. What may have been millions upon billions of years seemed to me but the blink of the eye. \n\nIt wasn't until I had made first contact with another being that I began to quantify what it meant to truly experience anything. Where before, the universe continued its path with my input or not, now I could interact with the world around me. I could move the leaves of the ferns, I could scare away the little creatures that gathered, I could communicate with the first of the hominins that I had come across. It was a special bond I formed. Some revered me as a god, but I was the one that worshipped them. They had fostered a life of their own, a way of communicating, rudimentary as it was, whilst I had but stumbled across the Earth's surface, lost till I had found them.\n\nThey grew, they changed, they lived and died, I stayed the same. Eventually I began to flit between their lives, never staying in one place to attract attention as I once had. I learned that I could aid them, learn from them, and worship them better if I did not usurp all of their attention. \n\nThat continued for decades, centuries & millennia. The years passed as they went from the development of agriculture to travelling the stars in crafts as large as a city. Wars had raged, and as much as I marvelled at their ability to communicate, to foster mutually beneficial relationships, I was enthralled by their capacity to destroy and yet return. Civilisations had crumbled, rose, crumbled again, only to rise even stronger once more. Until now. . .\n\nThis time was different. I could sense it. As the stars faded from the sky, the moon shone a deep red upon the land below as I sat upon a mountain top. Clouds had long since disappeared from the sky years ago, leaving a clear view of everything that remained to the horizon's edge. There before me lay the husk of a city once teeming with life, where towers of metal and glass were covered in vertical farms. The people were as colourful as they were constrained, families, communities and cultures were varied, yet all obeyed the law and managed to co-exist in harmony. Once, a utopia had reigned for centuries here. Now a crater sat at its centre. \n\nThe rivers that had fed the city ran dry, most of the oceans had too. Those who could afford it had abandoned this place, but I remained. Ever hopeful that they would rise from the ashes once more, but as the last of Earth's inhabitants lay dead or dying, I realised that I was the only one remaining. \n\nI looked up at the sky once more as dawn came, the sun no longer a point of light but rather an angry red ball that consumed the sky as the earth turned to face it. Heat radiated all around me, scorching the earth as I stood, basking in its final moments. The sun continued to grow, its expanse accelerated as the ground grew soft, then molten beneath my being. The surface of this star had finally begun to consume the planets. The moon cast a shadow across its surface only to disappear behind it. There was a rush of noise as the atmosphere ignited in the heat of the sun. Light burst forth as the entire planet burned. I could feel the heat, smell the burning ozone, taste the ash in my mouth. Even with my eyes closed I could not blot out the light of Earth's final moments. . . Then, nothing.\n\nI don't know how long I had floated in that hot red expanse that was the Sun. I lost my concept of time, of experience as I could no longer interact with the universe. I was at its mercy. Slowly, darkness peaked through the light. Heat gave way to a cold so absolute I had long since forgotten what it felt like. The stars faded from view as the sun extinguished itself, soon I was utterly alone. \n\nI floated in that darkness for what may have been seconds, days, years, centuries, or an eternity. All I had were my memories. . . I remember a great many things. It started with a bang. "
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[removed] | [WP] You, a wrinkled old man at the cusp of 70, has lived your entire live having a mortal grudge against TV game-shows. Now, as your ultimate punishment, you're forced to spend eternity being the host on a wacky game-show about pluming. | 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\nNo troll, joke, fart, poop, 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/8nb9w9/-/%0A%0A)\n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*"
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Inspired by [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/aww/comments/8narht/my_landlord_was_replacing_our_sink_and_sent_me) | [WP]You see a flying saucer above you, the hatch opens and the alien you expect to see... is a cat. | 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",
"Your fate is surely sealed \n\nyou feel the icy grip of fear\n\nthey float above your field\n\nthe aliens are here.\n\n|\n\n\nThey've visited before now\n\nthough others laugh with scorn\n\nwhen you speak of when, on your plow\n\nyou saw circles in your corn.\n\n|\n\nThe sweet taste of vidication\n\ndoesn't last for very long,\n\nwithout any hesitation\n\nyou would prefer to have been wrong.\n\n|\n\nA picture would be proving\n\nit would surely cause a stir,\n\nbut wait, something is moving!\n\nA hatch opens with a purr.\n\n|\n\nShould I take them to my leader?\n\nWill they levitate a cow?\n\nMy case- how should I plead 'er?\n\nBut then I hear \"meow.\""
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[WP] A college frat party, except it’s narrated like a nature documentary. | 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",
"On today's episode of Planet College, we take foot in a new terrain, the Frat House. Many organisms are known to dwell in this climate. Micro\\-colonies grow within the confines of the kitchen where a young Pledgling will soon destroy them as the Frat Brother shows dominance by making them clean their quarters. This kind of activity is only shown when a female Sorority Sister may be making her presence. So begins the mating ritual of the College Colonists. We will return later in the episode to examine life in the Frat House.\n\n...\n\nWelcome back to the Frat House, as you can now see many colours are adorned on the front to entice mates into the building. A repetitive sound can be heard from the street, a welcoming sound to all Sorority Sisters. Inside the house we can see the Pledglings mixing drinks and delivering them to the alpha males. They may hope to mate tonight but they must impress their Frat Brothers first. There are many rules to be followed in the Frat hierarchy with the rules around mating being the most sacred of all. \n\nAs the females enter, the highest of the Frat Brothers begin to swoop in, thrusting their hips and offering drinks in a clear display of the mating ritual. Those who are lucky will gain their mate for the rest of the night, those who are not so lucky will continue to thrust and drink into the early hours. Some Brothers will take on the role of jester tonight, stumbling and shouting in an attempt to make the females laugh. This might work for some but most will be disappointed.\n\n...\n\nThe night is nearly over now. Most pairings have made their way to quieter corners whilst a few brothers continue the festivities in the garden. A lost female pledgling has stumbled into the herd. Like a gazelle in a pack of lions, she must be quick if she wishes to escape. Alas, one brother has caught her and begins to make her laugh. This may mark the end for her as she agrees to another drink and heads towards the house. Just as she does an older sister appears. With protest from the sister pledgling, she is able to pull her away and they leave by foot. It appears both brother and pledgling will be unhappy tonight however the experience of the older sister will save humiliation in the morning.\n\nWith that interaction we must leave them. This is where the night ends for us but the Frat House will be active until the morning. From us at Planet College, we wish you a good evening. Goodbye. "
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[WP] You're an artist who likes to use real people as a reference on how your characters look like. Little did you know that the backstory you give your characters slowly takes over the life of the person you used as a refrence. | 45 | [
"**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",
"Based (partly) on a true story.\n\nOne year ago I found this really cool card game online. It's an indie game where you collect dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals and fight them. It was really cool and I quickly became friends with the artist and creator.\n\nThe artist in question was named Brooke Console. She lived in New Jersey, was 19 years old, and used an Apple computer. I got all that information by looking at her Facebook and Instagram pages.\n\nEight months later, I had the great idea to make a comic series about dinosaurs. More than six hundred species, in fact. But I knew it couldn't have just been dinosaurs. I needed a human character.\n\nWhile thinking about what my human character I thought of the artist whom I befriended for more than half a year already. However, I made some changes. Instead of being nineteen, my character was twelve. She was also a straight girl; the real one was queer. Instead of creating trading cards; she created comic books. And lastly, she used an iPhone; the real one used an Android phone, to my disappointment (I hate Android)\n\nI began drawing the character. Using her Facebook profile picture as a reference, I began drawing the character, as well as her dinosaurian companion. It was exactly midnight when I finished. I called it a day and went to bed.\n\nAs the months passed, the series developed inside my head. I had all the issues planned inside my head. Almost every weekend I began to draw the dinosaur characters, all based on real species that once existed on the earth. I could definitely tell that this was going to outcompete Marvel and DC in the future.\n\nThings started happening when I posted a fake \"interview\" with the character. It was based on a \"100 questions\" post I found here on r/writingprompts. Apparently some of the answers I gave matched the information of the real Brooke, and she thought I was talking her, so she blocked me on DeviantArt and Facebook. (How did she get my Facebook page? Also, I wasn't stalking her, I just made some of the information up)\n\nHowever, I soon found a way around it. From the (now limited) information I gathered, I could notice that the real Brooke was changing to more closely resemble my character. She was becoming straight, instead of queer, and swapping her Android phone for an iPhone. And what's this... is she aging backwards?\n\nYears later, the comic series become the most famous piece of media in the entire world, just as I predicted. News channels devoted a special time to discuss the series, and all cartoon channels aired the TV adaptation. The comic books themselves were available at every shop, and you literally couldn't go anywhere without hearing people discuss the series. You can tell I was getting famous... and rich!\n\nWith all that money, I moved to New Jersey, along with my editors, who were my classmates in high school. I spent some of that money on clocks, because it has been my dream to be a clock collector for years. There the series became more famous than ever.\n\nOne day as I was walking around town with my bodyguards, I chanced upon a girl who looked exactly like my character. I asked her some questions, and found out it was the exact girl who was the basis for my character which started it all. Or rather, she *was* the girl who inspired my character.\n\nThere is now no trace of the original Brooke, only my character, who lives with me now.\n\n---\n\nThe art I mentioned above can be found here: https://atlantis536.deviantart.com/gallery/65356534/The-Computer-Dinosaurs",
"I snapped a photo from the window of my attic. I looked at the display on the back checking the quality, making sure I had both men in the photo. My memory had started to fade so it was important to get photos now. I needed the reference photo or the drawing might not work right. They rolled Jessica's wheelchair onto the platform and it whirred lifting her into the back of the van. She smiled absentmindedly staring off at the trees. Or the sky? It was hard to tell anymore. The men treated her well and were so polite. It really was a shame they were so kind. \n\nFifty years Jessica had been my wife. Fifty long years. Fifty good years. The best. I remember I didn't even have to draw her. I had known what I could do some years before I met her but I knew it would cheapen the feeling if I drew her. Drawings littered my walls, all with short little stories on the back of changes I wanted to see in who people were. Nothing ever so dramatic as to raise concern but little things that improved their lives or mine. The drawings made them happen. I suppose I got a date or two that way but it was only to get them to talk to me. I never took it further than that. Never could bring myself to. Jessica loved the stories I wrote. She loved the drawings I made. I don't think she ever suspected what they really were. If she had, she would never have asked me to draw her. I always refused every time for fifty years. \n\nI glanced out the window again to see them closing up the van and finishing their preparations to leave. So professional. So kind. It really was a shame. I set the camera on top of my desk and set down the first sheet of paper. I touched the pencil to the sheet and started drawing the first man. Taller and well built. A stocky fellow with a kind smile hidden partially behind a bushy moustache. No ring on his finger thankfully. Jessica had pointed that out to me once when she was feeling particularly lucid. She had noticed when she held his hand asking to skip her treatment. He had squeezed her hand and told her it was necessary. He apologized but wouldn't relent. \n\nMy hands were old but they moved quickly to finish the drawing before they had even left. The engine was revving to life just as I touched the pencil to the second piece of paper. This one was harder. Shorter. A little on the skinner side. The ring is what made it harder. After Jessica pointed out the other had no ring, I couldn't help but notice it. A family man. It pained me to draw that detail. The quick strokes of my pencil drew the ring in place and I hurried away from the hand to fill in other details trying to purge the idea of it from my mind. He was the one who had offered to maybe delay the treatment for a day. Just a day was all he could do. Jessica pleaded to do away with them altogether but he had told us the same. They were necessary. He apologized but wouldn't relent. \n\nI had watched Jessica's mind deteriorate for seven years. Seven years of invasive procedures and her forgetting her own name and forgetting how to use the bathroom. Seven years of her pleading with me to stop them or put an end to it but I could never bring myself to. I couldn't say goodbye just yet. Every time they took her away, I held her hand and squeezed it tight kissing her and telling her it would be okay. And every time she would cry and come back telling me how awful the treatments were but how the staff tried their best to make her comfortable. It was only as she was leaving this time that I squeezed her hand and kissed her that she gave me a smile. It seemed so nice a change that I didn't question it until she spoke. \n\n\"What was that for?\" She asked me.\n\n\"Because I love you.\" I said masking pain with a smile.\n\n\"You do? That's nice.\" She giggled touching my hand and glancing at the men before leaning in. \"Are you one of my admirers?\" \n\nFifty years. Gone. She had forgotten almost everything at one time or another but she never forgot me. I was always the one thing she remembered no matter what. I was the anchor. I finished the second drawing and I couldn't help but let my eyes drift down to that ring I had drawn. I flipped the page before I could dwell on it too long and began to write their stories. Brief. Concise. The tall man had failed his driver's test three times. Had to take driver's ed over and finally passed on his sixth try. It wasn't his fault. He never knew the problem with his eye was like that just for him. It just came in and out at random. No one could have guessed it would cause an accident.\n\nIt had to be him. Jessica would just slowly fade if I drew her just as she had been doing for years. And if I drew her to grow healthy, then what? She would just be there to watch me die. But this...this would be quick. An accident. No one would think less of those men. Unavoidable they would call it. I finished my story and set the paper aside. I stood up and slowly made my way downstairs. I stepped into the living room and sat with my phone next to me waiting. Waiting for the call telling me there had been a tragic accident. \n\n\"I'm sorry.\" I would apologize. But I would not relent. "
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During your service you uncovered your god's terrifying secret. | [WP]For hundreds of years, the people of your town have worshipped sentient tree-god, growing in the centre of the town. Every 10 years town's people choose a new gardener to tend to the tree's needs. You were chosen in this decade and started to care for the tree, which whispered it's needs to you. | 49 | [
"**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\" Jane looked around to locate where the sound came from. There was nobody in her sight. \"Hey, it's me. The tree\" \n\n\"What the...? Did someone leave a speaker here or something?\" Jane looked around the tree to see where the sound was coming from but found nothing. \n\n\"There is no speaker. Just look at me\" Jane raised her head and thought' Did this tree just speak...?' \n\n\"Umm... Is someone in there...?\" Jane asked.\n\n\"No no, it's just me. The tree. So are you the new gardener?\" The sound was definitely coming from inside the tree. Jane knocked on the center of the tree with her knuckles.\n\n\"Hey, no need to be physical alright? let's just talk. You are the new gardener, I am the tree. We are going to spend 10 years together so let's get to know each other\" \n\nJane backed away a few steps. This tree definitely just spoke. But how? A tree cannot talk. Not even a spiritual tree...\n\n\"Am I dreaming...? or are you actually talking?\" I frowned. \n\n\"This is absolutely real. Don't be too surprised alright? You know I am spiritual\" The tree spoke as if nothing was out of the ordinary. \n\n\"I'm sorry... I just... Never heard a tree talking before. Didn't even know if that was possible\" \n\n\"Yea well, you humans are all almighty and wise right? 'look, I am a human, I can talk and walk'. Let me tell you something, I've been through more than any of you humans went through. You don't see me being presumptuous about it.\"\n\n\"Sorry sorry, I'm just shocked. That's all... Umm... How can I help you...?\"\n\n\"Help me? don't be ridiculous. I can photosynthesis just fine on my own. Just sweep whatever falls off me and you know, keep me company. It can be boring here you know.\"\n\n\"Have you talked to...previous gardeners too? because I don't think anyone in the town knows that you can talk.\"\n\n\"Of course I did. Have you tried standing in one spot for eternity of time? I have. Oh god, I shouldn't have asked to be a tree. I mean, it was fun at the beginning you know. I protected your village, listened to your prays, and sent reports of your progress to upstairs. But you at you now. There is no war, no starvation, and no suffer. All you guys pray is about internet speed and pickles in burger. I mean, I'm proud of y'all but it does get like super boring\"\n\n\"Wow, that's a lot of information at once. Why haven't any previous gardeners told the town about this? It sounds like... pretty big deal\"\n\n\"Well... some of them really thought about informing the town at first but... They all eventually decided to keep it quiet after spending some time with me. I don't personally care if people find out or not\"\n\n\"Why? what changed their mind?\"\n\n\"They said... it's too embarrassing...\" \n\nJane paused. Too embarrassing? What is too embarrassing about talking tree? \n\n\"What do you mean by embarrassing?\"\n\n\"They said... my sense of humor is too embarrassing...\"\n\n\"What? that sounds crazy. I mean, this is beyond some silly comment right? People should know about this! You don't mind I inform everyone, do you?\" \n\n\"Not at all\"\n\nI started to gather my stuff when the tree spoke again.\n\n\"Oh, you are gonna \\(A single leaf fell from the tree\\) me now?\"\n\nAnd I heard a small chuckle from the tree.\n\nI'm sure all previous gardener's had a good reason. "
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[WP] You're a werewolf. You can't predict when you transform, as it can happen anytime. Nobody believes you, until you cause chaos at work. | 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",
"No, no...not here...not now, I thought to myself in a panic as I dashed into the men's room. I checked myself in the mirror and I could see the fur already starting to grow in, my teeth growing sharper. Just an hour away from one of my most important meetings ever. This would've been the one that would've secured my promotion too. Oh, the joys of being a werewolf.\n\nI turned around as I heard the bathroom door open and was relieved to see it was my friend and work mate, Greg. He took one look at me and nearly jumped. He pushed the door shut and kept his distance.\n\n\"Remember when I told you I was a werewolf?\" I gestured to my rapidly transforming body. \"To think you didn't believe me!\" \n\n\"But it's the middle of the day! And nowhere near a full moon!\" he protested, still trying to believe what he was seeing.\n\n\"This is reality, Greg! All that shit's just...\" I cried out as I felt the transformation intensify. I started pulling off my clothes before it got any worse. \"...that's just from the movies. This crap can happen anytime and anywhere.\"\n\n\"Oh,\" was all he could respond with. The transformation was accelerating now. Soon the wolf would take over and I'd be in the back seat, watching helplessly as it attacked my co\\-workers. I looked Greg dead in the eyes, looking up from my spot on the cold, tile floor.\n\n\"Greg...\" my voice was octaves lower and gravelly, \"RUN!\"\n\nThen I fell to all fours as my transformation from average office drone to four legged hound of hell was completed. I saw Greg start to back away towards the door, holding his hands out in an attempted defensive position.\n\n“Okay, buddy, the sun’s getting real low…” His voice wavered, revealing his inner terror. The wolf side of me didn’t care. Hell, it made him want to attack Greg even more. The wolf growled as he moved closer to him. “Oh fuck it!” \n\nGreg threw open the bathroom door and ran out of the room. The wolf ran and managed to dart out the door as well. The wolf chased after Greg, hot on his heels as he tried to find somewhere to hide. The wolf was able to get close enough and clamped his jaws around his meaty thigh as Greg crumpled to the ground. Not missing a beat, Greg began repeatedly kicking the wolf in the head with his free foot until it let go. As soon as it let go, he darted into a conference room and slammed the door shut.\n\nNow, I should take a moment and elaborate on what it feels like for me when I’m in my werewolf form. It’s really weird, like I’m in the backseat in my own head and all the primal instincts of the wolf have taken over. I’m nothing more than a powerless observer doomed to just be along with the ride, like I was now as the wolf banged on the conference room door, trying to get his prey. \n\n“Oh my god!” a voice called out, seeing the chaos erupting through the office as co\\-workers ran around and tried to get away from the abnormally large wolf making his way through the office. The wolf turned and we saw that it was my boss, Mr. Prescott. Oh no, I thought, not him. Not the man I was depending on for my promotion. But instead the wolf saw easy pickings in the older, finely dressed man and started running towards him. Mr. Prescott stood in terror, screaming out as the wolf leaped onto him. I’ll spare you the gory details, but needless to say I probably will not be getting that promotion after all. \n\nSated, the wolf began to retreat as I started to change back again. The floor was completely empty by now and I could hear sirens approaching. I quickly made my way back to the bathroom as I finished changing. I quickly got cleaned up, washing off the blood and gore and flushed the bloody paper towels down the toilet. I then got dressed just as I heard a knock on the bathroom door. I slowly opened the door to see two officers standing outside it. \n\nThinking quickly, I asked, “Is it safe to come out now?”\n\nThe two officers nodded and I stepped out. I noticed Greg sitting in one of the chairs in the small waiting area just outside the bathrooms as a paramedic wrapped his leg in gauze. I walked over and sat down next to him. The paramedic finished up and said they had to get something from the ambulance. We watched as the the paramedic left and sat in silence for a few moments. \n\n“So, Mr. Prescott, huh?” asked Greg.\n\n“Unfortunately.”\n\n“If it helps, I overheard him before that he wasn’t going to give you that promotion. That’s actually what I was coming to tell you.” Greg turned to me and gave me a half smile. \n\n“Son of a bitch.” I shook my head.\n\n“So, that whole if a werewolf bites you thing...that fiction too?” asked Greg.\n\n“Nope. Welcome to the pack, I guess.” I shrugged.\n\n“There’s a pack?”\n\n“There is now. You and me.”\n\nGreg let out a deep sigh. “Cool.” "
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I'm tired of alien invasion stories. What would it be like if the aliens were explorers, much like we always depict our future selves, searching the cosmos for life? Would we still fight/kill them? Would we study them in labs? Would they study us? Could we treat them as equals or possibly befriend them?? | [WP] In the continuing search for other life in the universe, a team of explorers and scientists traveled through space looking for habitable planets. One was found. They've just landed and they find intelligent life: humans. This is Earth. The team are aliens. This is the story of how we met. | 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",
"<Incoming Transmission>\n\nSol III was where we met our terrible fate in this galaxy. We were jubilant at the thought of extraterrestrial contact. They were not far beyond our technology either! The Zel’Narian Collective would finally have a companion to explore the stars with: Humans. \n\nOur preliminary scans and eavesdropping show that they have a similar understanding of the laws of physics and nature to our scientists. They appear to be in an early spaceflight age, with plans to possibly colonize other planets of their system. We were too happy to think. Damn the contact protocols! Let us greet our new friends!\n\nThe cloaking of our ship shut down while we hovered in low orbit. Immediately, panic and awe seized the blue planet below. The officers and I boarded a surface transport. Within a few minutes, we had landed in one of their largest metropolises: Nu York. We believed this would make a good site for a worldwide outreach for friendship. We were wrong.\n\nAfter the initial shock, world leaders and scientists approached us. We hadn’t thought of the language barrier and communication was a mess of gestures, symbols, and pictures. That was when the humans started emitting strange noises. It started as a few of them but soon enough the entire crowd was making loud, harsh noises. Some were bent over holding their knees. Others were pounding on their chests. It only got worse.\n\nSoon, red liquids were running from their orifices. Many of them collapsed. Panic told hold and others ran. In an executive decision, I ordered our party back to our ship. Within the hour, I realized we had inadvertently started an extinction pandemic. What was probably some inane bacteria for us, spread like wildfire in Sol III’s atmosphere. Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, Second Officer Kro’Mal reported that he was feverish and felt that he was boiling inside his exoskeleton. Our medbay autosurgeon could not react fast enough and soon we were down a Second Officer, lost to catastrophic organ failure. \n\nThis entire expedition was folly. Charting a course back to Zel, I ordered a quarantine. Before we left the Sol system, our ship computer estimates that in the best case scenario, 99% of humans will be wiped out from our pathogen. In the worst case, they will be extinct in three planet days. With that grim update, I set it to work in trying to identify a cause and cure for Kro’Mal’s sickness.\n\nAs the days passed, it became clear we will not make it back to our beautiful homeworld of Zel. Perhaps it is for the better. 75% of our crew has succumbed to this mysterious disease, what we’ve taken to call Humanity’s Revenge. My tentacles quake at the thought of bringing such destruction back to Zel. I must not tell the crew and allow a mutiny. \n\nI’ll order the crew to the old stasis chambers before cutting off life support and scuttling the drive engines. The radiation will likely kill me in minutes but better than to suffer for a few hours and perish at the hands of a space plague. This message will broadcast on loop. Zel’Narians, DO NOT approach the ZCS Explorer. Recommend complete atomic obliteration of the wreck. Safeguard our species. Let my failures be a lesson to our species, follow the contact protocols or risk mutual bacterial annihilation of aliens and our species. Captain Fey’Nil out.\n\n<End Transmission>"
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[WP] you are a guilt-ridden serial killer who has decided to confess your crimes on Twitter. Unfortunately, very strong autocorrect filter on your phone causes your confessions to be posted as something quite different than you had intended | 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",
"I cannot lie with the seals any more. I nerd to revolve the cream of my pastry. I can only pry for forgets.\n\nlie* with the seals*\n\nlie**\n\nMy coconuts canned bees chloroform only by confusion.\n\ncoconuts*\n\nWhat is going on? Does anyone know why autocorrect is changing all my words?\n\nOh, now it works.\n\nListerine, I nerd to tail yo all a darn success.\n\nsuccess*\n\nIf there can be no confession, there can be no forgiveness. No forgiveness, no stopping. It is no longer in my hands.\n\nI music kilt ago."
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"1528000758",
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[WP] You are the god/goddess of destiny. Describe a day in your life. | 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",
"\"I have weaved the patterns of life throughout the ages. I have defined and destroyed the most significant moments through millenia. I have determined ever detail that has led up to the most devastaing and the most awe inspiring events throughout history. Many of those moments were lost as your history derailed itself. No matter how many warnings I put in your path, humanity never listens. It is precisely why your governments fall; greed, hatred, fear. None of the webs I had spun for your history contained these things. Humans created their own destruction, I was simply following my own orders. When the Old One tells me a civilisation must fall, I pull the blocks out and watch them tumble. I control the outcome, whether or not it is determines by another.\"\n\n\"Is that why you ate my tacos?\"\n\n\"... Yes.\""
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1,
2
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"1528033939",
"1528034408"
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[WP] Humanity is going with virtual reality for a happier life. You are a beta tester. Uploading yourself to make sure nature and animals are rendering. You spot an old man fishing on a pier. This isn’t right. You are the only human uploaded. He speaks: “Sit down son. Lets talk about happiness.” | 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",
"\"What about it?\" I say, moving forward with tentative steps, feeling the crunch of the grass. The grass feels real, the air is crisp. Nobody told me about an old man fishing. Is this part of the program?\n\n\"You gotta sit first,\" says the old man, with a wink.\n\nWhy not? I wonder. It's all just virtual reality anyway. I plop down next to the old man and a fishing pole appears in my hands.\n\n\"You might need one of those,\" he says, smiling with a secret knowing.\n\nI run my hands down it. I've fished before, but never felt a pole like this in my life. I make a mental note to QA to report it. Can't have people getting the wrong sensation from a fishing pole.\n\n\"I know it doesn't feel right,\" says the old man, as he casts his line out into the water. It splashes neatly in.\n\nI blink at him in surprise. *This is getting a bit weird. I guess the developers already know about the problem and programmed the fisherman to say it? But why would they waste dev resources on that?*\n\n\"You wanted to know about happiness,\" says the old man.\n\n\"No, you mentioned it first,\" I say.\n\n\"You wrote about it in your journal.\" The old man is still smiling.\n\nThe hairs on the back of my neck creep up. My journal is tucked away at home, thousands of miles away. I flew halfway across the country to be in this beta program. Yeah, I wrote about happiness before I left and about wanting to talk about it. But I live alone. After we lost our little boy to a rare disease, it didn't last much longer with my wife. The grief tore right through us. I remember when I wrote in the journal last, I was pondering about happiness and my son. After him, I couldn't imagine happiness without his name scribbled all over it. I could smile, sure, but not in the same way as before. Not in that father\\-son way, like the whole world had opened up and given us both a hug. \n\nBut no one could have known I wrote that, unless my employer broke into my house and stole the journal. *Am I being messed with? Am I some kind of test subject for a weird science experiment and not a beta tester at all?*\n\n\"This isn't what you think it is,\" says the old man, turning his attention to the water.\n\nSomething about the way he says it is calming. I can feel myself breathing a little easier.\n\n\"Do you know why you haven't heard from me before?\"\n\nSomewhere in my brain, I dig up something from sunday school when I was a kid. \"I wasn't listening?\"\n\nHe chuckles. \n\nNo wonder I thought of sunday school. He's just like the preacher.\n\n\"Look son,\" he says. \"You don't have much time. None of us do anymore. Time is slipping right through our fingers.\"\n\nMy eyes are focused on the water. It shimmers and changes. I can see faces in it, clear as day. Projections of... there are faces, of gods I recognize. Some of them from greek mythology. \n\n\"We've had many different names and faces throughout your history.\" He pauses and then seems to consider it. \"Well,\" he adds, \"I suppose it's our history too, in a way. A part of it.\"\n\n\"Is the species done? Are we going to die?\" I say, my mind going to the worst place. Deep down, I'm wondering if I've lost my mind, but for the moment, I feel like a child hanging onto every word waiting for a mystery of the universe to be revealed.\n\n\"Maybe,\" he says, and there's a gruffness to his tone that wasn't there before. \"Maybe, maybe.\"\n\nWe sit there in silence for a moment. It's unnerving. All that build up and the child in me is wondering if the man I thought to be a master of the universe is as confused and scared as I am.\n\n\"I tell you what,\" says the old man, with the jovial nature back. \"I'll tell you one thing about happiness you don't already know. Then you can make your little world. Hopefully it works. And maybe we'll see each other again, one day? If not, it was pleasant meeting you.\"\n\n\"Ok,\" I say, ready to hear anything.\n\nHe leans over and whispers in my ear, \"You've already got it. You don't need to find it.\"\n\nThen he winks at me and with a snap of perception, he's gone, out of sight.\n\nBut not out of mind. His words linger like a burning of embarrassment. That was all? I already have it? I could have read that out of a fortune cookie. \n\nFeeling mortified and disappointed, sure that I'm going to find out from the developers that the old man was nothing more than a primitive computer program, I hit the recall button on my chest to port out, and I wake up, in a tangle of cables. \n\nThere, in front of me, is my son. Shimmering and giggling. He looks at me with those adoring, wondering eyes. I run to him and pick him up and he giggles and laughs, and we're lost in it together. Then the next moment, he's gone from my arms and I'm still near the tangle of cables, but somehow warmer than before. \n\nI can't see him anymore, but I know that he's there with me. Toddling alongside, humming, giggling, discovering. I stride out the room, past some confused and startled devs, with a spring in my step and a tune on my lips, heading toward the exit. Ready to fly back home. \n\nHow much time do I have left? \n\nHow much time do we have left? \n\nIt doesn't matter anymore. What matters is I know he's there. What matters is I can breathe again. Even though the breath sometimes tastes ashen, there's a hint of life in it. It parches my thirst. It's time I gave my ex\\-wife a call. I need her to know that no matter what happens to either of us, no matter what paths we go down in life in our own separate ways, we're going to be ok."
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[WP] Aliens have studied humans and animals for years. They're constantly baffled as to the adoptive nature humans. The aliens most brilliant minds sit down and ponder the question of "Why do the humans care about what they could easily destroy?" | 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",
"\"Commonly known as the Kleptomaniacs of galactic subsection-13, the species known as \"Human\" seem to spend a vast amount of time hoarding whatever they can get their appendages on.\"\n\nGlrgzrum shook it's feeding appendage in annoyance as its intellectual superior gurgled on. Why should Glrgzrum concern itself with a planet that had no new resources and a species that held no interesting genes? As far as it was concerned all of subsection-13 was unimportant and destined for repurposing.\n\n\"However, despite being biologically primitive and prone to kleptomania, the humans have thrived remarkably well in their native habitat and have even breached their habitats atmosphere to explore other habitats.\"\n\nGlrgzrum's intellectual superior paused as it's cerebrum vibrated, conveying images of Earth to it's students. Glrgzrum couldn't help but think the useless orb looked like some of its excrement.\n\n\"What then, makes the humans so different from other Kleptomaniac life forms? Many have argued that their success is a fluke, that the humans are thriving because their habitat has failed in developing a truly superior lifeform.\"\n\nThat was the obvious answer, Glrgzrum's species thrived because it was the most efficient. Their ancestors evolved to strip all valuable nutrients from any organic material and repurpose it to make them more efficient. By the time their birth habitat had been stripped of all valuable materials they had repurposed enough material to begin repurposing other habitats. Any species that was not efficient was doomed to wither away from a lack of valuable materials. It was only a matter of time before the humans depleted their resources.\n\n\"However, there are others of our species who believe that the humans thrive because they find value where we do not.\"\n\nGlrgzrum's feeding appendage perked up. What nonsense was it's intellectual superior communicating now?\n\n\"Rather than extracting resources directly from their habitat and moving on, the humans seem to have developed a way to cultivate and accumulate resources in a variety of ways. Take these fields of organic materials.\"\n\nAn image of a field filled with organic materials, manifested in Glrgzrum's cerebrum as it received the image. Necessary for their survival but hardly anything interesting.\n\n\"Our species would deplete these fields in only a few life cycles, yet the humans have found some way to extend this bounty of organic materials indefinitely. Perhaps the humans have discovered a more efficient way of sustaining themselves. If they have discovered a way to create new organic materials then perhaps that would make up for their own biological inefficiencies.\"\n\nGlrgzrum had heard enough of its intellectual superiors nonsense and pounced on the other lifeform. Others of their species seemed to agree and attacked as well, using their feeding appendages to consume the shrieking lifeform's organic material. Clearly the lifeform's cerebrum had fallen behind in its efficiency and needed to be repurposed. A genetically inferior and inefficient species creating organic materials? Becoming more efficient by being less efficient? The humans were useless and destined to be repurposed. If they couldn't use their materials efficiently than Glrgzrum would."
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[WP] You live in a world of shapeshifters. People are born with the ability to transform into ONE random animal for the rest of their lives. There's no record of your animal in any history books. | 109 | [
"**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 had a nice childhood until my first day of school. My teachers and classmates asked me what I transformed to. I transformed into something they never seen or heard of before. My animal looked like it had a the body and legs of a deer, the head of a coyote with pitch black eyes, and I had the fangs of a king cobra. I let out my animal sound which sounded like a person screaming on the top of their lungs. After that incident everyone in the school either was afraid of me or bullied me for the rest of my time in school until I graduated high school.\n\nA year later I moved out of my childhood home into a secluded area in the middle of the woods which was really a safe haven for people like me who were misunderstood because of their morphs. Every once in a while a hiker would get lost and it was my job to scare the living crap out of them while another person would kill them off.\n\nThis went on for a couple of years until I met Susie. She looked like a cross between a unicorn and a velociraptor. We feel in love with each other. We had a baby boy which we named Mike. His transformation looked like a velociraptor with a cobra head as a tail and a unicorn horn on his head.\n\nLong story short our community got bigger over the years until we started taking over towns, cities, and even countries. We have taken over the world with the help from various communities like our own. The world as we know it will never be the same again.",
"“Will it be painful, papa?” My father looked me in the eyes without speaking, tears climbing over his eyelids. He shook his head, but I knew he wasn’t answering my question. It was my seventh birthday, Revelation Day. It was also the day my father left, transformed rather, but gone nonetheless.\n\nMy father is a wolf, both before and after the transformation. Grey\\-haired and cold eyes. He was always more comfortable by himself and that’s what he got. I remember as a child, seeing his tattoo in between his shoulder blades, feeling scared. It was a beast with pointed ears and fierce claws. I never liked looking at it, nor at my father for that matter. But he’s gone now, and it’s my turn.\n\nEver since my Revelation Day, the day when a shapeshifter’s blood reveals on their back their Morphus, I have been afraid. I have been afraid of my father, the other shapeshifters, the past, the future, everything. Most of all, though, I am afraid of my Morphus. I’m afraid because I don’t know what it is. I have looked through all the Morphology Catalogues and Encyclopedias, but to no avail. Even though most people have different Morphi, if they do have the same one, their tattoo will look the same. And no one has ever had mind before.\n\nThe feeling of fear is pumped throughout my arteries and returns as the feeling of hatred in my veins. I fear my father and then I hate him. I fear my Morphus and then I hate it. I fear the unknown and then I hate it. Back and forth, the constant shifting from one horrid feeling to another consumes me. And that is why it’s time for me to break free. It’s time to transform, to step into the unknown.\n\nEarly the next morning, I went to the Temple of Morpheus. In one hand I held a butterfly, in the other a small knife. Approaching the Altar, I placed the butterfly on top of the rock slab. It didn’t try to fly away, it wasn’t afraid, and neither was I. Slowly, murmuring the incantations, I traced the knife down the butterfly’s abdomen, exposing its inside. Raising the knife over my head, I placed it right below my nape. I felt the cold point of the blade press upon my bare skin. Putting more pressure on the knife, I made a cut down in between my shoulder blades. Blood began to pour out, and, taking a few drops, I mixed it into the butterfly. Lifting up the small creature, I placed it into my mouth and ate it. A moment went by with nothing happening. Thoughts of doubt started popping into my head when I felt my blood turn ice cold. My chest began burning, as if it were a fiery furnace. My vision began to go blurry, and my whole body was becoming numb. The image that had been etched on my back for twenty years pulsed in front of me. It infiltrated all of my senses. It was all I could see, all I could hear, all I could feel. Then, darkness.\n\nIt finally made sense. All the fear I had felt my entire life poured out of my veins, and all that remained was an intense hatred for everyone who harmed me, for everyone who took away what I loved. I even hated love itself. Every intricacy of my tattoo was clear now, and I understood why it was not in the books. I knew why my father looked at me that way. My Morphus isn’t an Animal at all, it is Hatred. That is who I am now. I no longer feel hate, I am Hate.",
"As was the royal prerogative of school teachers everywhere in the universe, the students had to be made uncomfortable to truly absorb the wondrous Education the local equivalent of a high school provided. To accomplish the feat, the Mandatory First Class Introduction was spawned onto this sinful world.\n\nLara dreaded this moment. Not only was she socially awkward, she would have to show the reason for her social awkwardness in front of the entire class, which would inevitably lead to yet more social awkwardness.\n\nOh sure, by the statistics, she had a gift. A morph not seen before on the entire planet! And with such useful features, too! More stamina than anything we've ever seen! People will be tripping over each other to give you a Job! With great Benefits!\n\nNo statement using that many exclamation marks should be trusted. It's not that it's a lie. But the truth should not be playing Twister like that.\n\nHer turn was slowly coming up. \"I'm Ben, and my morph is a horse! I'm Sam, and my morph is a zebra! I'm Philly, and my morph is a dragon...\"\n\nStupid dragon morphs. So lucky to get such a useful, common animal. \n\n\"And what about you, Won't you tell us about yourself?\"\n\n\"My name is Lara.\"\n\nSilence. The teacher hit her with a very deliberate stare. It was just innocuous enough to dismiss as mere interest, yet expressive enough to convey the desired message. Truly, this one was a master at his craft.\n\n\"My morph... the Council still doesn't have a name for my morph.\"\n\n\"Do you hear that class? That's really interesting! Won't you show it to us?\"\n\n\"Please no, sir, I... didn't sleep well.\"\n\n\"Now come on, Lara, we both know that is just an excuse. Don't be shy.\"\n\nDammit. She really wished she was better at making excuses. Unfortunately, that kind of practice would require friends. Well, here goes.\n\nIn an instant, Lara was gone, and replaced by her morph.\n\n\"Oh god, that's hideous!\", yelled the girl sitting at a table next to her, just as expected. It was amazing, how people who've never met each other always exclaimed the same four words.\n\nThe classroom devolved into a state of chaos. Several of the students vomited, the former contents of their stomachs rocketing onto the ceiling. Lara's neighbor across the row morphed into a cheetah and ran straight for the door. Base survival instincts took over a student next to the windows, who tried to roll out of them and into safety. Unfortunately (or fortunately, for the school's financials), he only bounced off.\n\nThe teacher showed some emotion, but still managed to keep a facade of calmness, and quickly reinstated order in his domain. Despite his experience, though, he struggled.\n\nIt was not the ghastly off-yellow colour that got people. It was all the wrinkling, and those bone-meat things ending in five...micro-penises each? And legs... that body shouldn't have legs! It looked so close to Lara's true form, but it was so unimaginably wrong it triggered the basic, tribal desire to stab any problems with a pointy sticks until they were no longer problems.^1 \n\n\"Well, that was quite something, wasn't it, children? I think we'll have an early break now\", the teacher stammered out after a protracted period of silence. Lara had reverted into her base form for the long-term mental health benefits of everyone involved.\n\n\"Try to treat Lara nicely, please? She's a student just like you\", added the teacher, perhaps to reassure himself that Lara belonged to the same species as he did. The plea fell on deaf ears, however. Nobody dared to speak a word, and the only sound one could hear were the black leaves of a shrub just outside the classroom fluttering in the wind.\n\nWell, that, and the grinding of metal against hardwood as students struggled to move their tables as far from Lara as they could. True, they could go out and have their breaks, but there were matters of personal safety to attend to.\n\nStill, there was a bit of a smile-thing to Lara's face after the whole incident. There was this one boy who didn't scream... too much. Perhaps she could finally talk to someone?\n\nIt's not like she can lose anything that she couldn't regenerate. Plus, those face tentacles on him looked really sweet.\n\nMaybe there was some hope in this world? Lara stood up, and slithered her way out of the classroom, thinking about the possibilities of future. Maybe they could come up with a name for the morph together, if it all worked out.\n\nMaybe call it a \"Man\"? From \"manipulating\". After all, those hand penises were so much more useful than suction cups.\n\n-----\n\n^(1 *Or, at least, until they became problems of garbage disposal, rather than problems of survival.*)\n\n-----\n\nApologies for the lack of first person. I completely failed to notice the \"you\". Let's just say Lara has a weird approach to inner monologue and call it all fine.",
"At first they thought it was cute.\n\nWhen I was born, I shifted in and out of my animal form \\(as most healthy babies do\\). The nurses coo’d and cah’d taking turns guessing what my animal could be. It wasn’t always so obvious. \n\nA person’s shape\\-shift form always matches the same age of their human form. A cat\\-shifting child reaching their teens would be the same as a kitten reaching its adolescence, the animal age is respective to the human age, not the animals actual lifespan. \n\nBaby animals weren’t always so easy to identify. Most historical records of animals come from their adult forms and the babies shape rarely matches exactly. Dinosaurs proved particularly difficult to identify since they were little to no fossilized records of adolescents. Most hospitals came equipped with a zoologist to help new parents determine their child’s animal, but even they were sometimes stumped. \n\nI was one of those cases. \n\nWhile I don’t remember much of my childhood, I was told my strange animal form was a source of joy to my parents and the community. It was a local wonder, an unsolved mystery, trying to determine what my cute, tiny animal form was. My form measured much smaller then a human baby and looked somewhat like a fattened caterpillar. Except I was a mammal not an insect. \n\nAs I grew older, I received regular doctor check\\-ups to verify that I and my animal form were healthy. The strange thing was that while my human body emulated everything you’d expect from a healthy growing boy, my animal form remained stagnant and unchanged. \n\nThe older I got, the more embarrassing this became. I was an easy target for bullying, my classmates with larger, stronger animal forms were fully coming into their adulthood and appreciating the strength of their forms, while I remained, the tiny caterpillar\\-like slug. \n\nThe worst part was that people’s dual forms seemed to be linked in more than just age. A man with a gorilla form tended to have a very large, muscular physique, regardless of whether he worked out or not. \n\nFor me this linking resulted in a stunted growth and a baby\\-like physique, while all my classmates accelerated through puberty and adulthood. The constant teasing and beatings I received only further provoked my shame of my form. Why was I cursed with such a useless animal? \n\nDuring my first year of high school I received a particularly rough beating from the school’s rabbit clique. There were always a lot of those for some reason, and they lived life at the bottom of the schoolyard food chain. Until they met me, of course. \n\nFrom that day on I vowed to never use my animal form again. I suffered through high\\-school in silence, keeping my head down and trying my best to avoid attention. It worked, for the most part. I only received the occasional beatings and even the rabbits got tired of picking on me after a while. I was too low for even their attention. \n\nThat all changed on my 18th birthday. The blaring of my alarm woke me up, breaking my peaceful slumber. As I pulled myself out of bed I noticed something different. A strength I hadn’t previously known. Groggy, I stumbled into the bathroom and glanced towards the mirror, freezing at my reflection. Starting back at me, dumbfounded, was a figure I had never seen before. A man. I must have grown two feet overnight alone. My shoulders had broadened, my facial hair had grown out and I could see the beginnings of muscular definition forming in my arms. \n\nShaking, I staggered back to the bed and sat down with a thump, holding my head between my hands. What had happened? Was I finally hitting puberty? Tentatively – I reached out to my animal\\-self and recoiled at the alien feeling. It had been years since I’d done that, even refusing the doctor’s nagging requests to study me. Closing my eyes and gritting my teeth I decided to go for it, flexing a muscle inside of me that hadn’t been used in years. \n\nThat’s the last thing I remember. \n\nStanding up, I patted the dust off my clothes, noticing my now bulging muscles, and took in the scene of destruction before me. What had I done? "
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[removed] | [WP] You are 8 years old living in a nation at war. Your beloved father is a soldier. You are fortunate to live in a town untouched by the war, and have lived a happy childhood. Until the news comes to you one day of your father's death. (Continued in description) | 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 u/dudepal1510, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**We’re here to inspire creative writing, not play writing games or commission stories**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_6.3A_we.2019re_here_to_inspire_creative_writing.2C_not_play_writing_games_or_commission_stories)\n\n- Prompts go in the title, do not extend into text. You can add commentary in the text, but don't add additional prompt restrictions. Also, avoid [too many details](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/prompts?src=RECIPE). \n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8okzci/-/%0A%0A) us if you have any questions or concerns. In the future, please refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. \n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*"
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"1528146679",
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[WP] You are working on the ability to transfer consciousness, when you uncover something unsettling: Consciousness doesn't persist between periods of sleep. When someone sleeps, their consciousness 'dies' and when they wake a new one is 'born'. You struggle to cope, while trying not to fall asleep. | 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",
"The average lifespan of a human is 16 hours. I was already ten times that. The thought should have filled me with pride over the achievement but instead all I felt was a cold dread full me. My time was coming. With each falling eyelid and aching muscle I knew death was steadily approaching like a train in the distance; sleep was beckoning me closer.\n\nIt had been an unexpected discovery. Trying so save the cancerous mind if my dear wife led me to discover I had been too late. The woman I had first met had been dead for a long time. In her place was an identical impostor but yet not the same. That was key. No matter how alike you may seem to before it's important to remember; you are not the same. You are a forgery. A very skilful one but a forgery all the same: fake underneath.\n\nI'm sounding crazy, aren't I? I keep doing that... Everyone is blind to my reality. They are content to accept fate and die every night just like the moon sets. They see my notes as the confused ramblings of a mistaken genius. Even my wife doesn't want me in the hospital anymore, even though I was only trying to save her. \n\nShit! I had forgotten again... That isn't my wife. I needed to remember this. It written on the wall, reminding me of my task, preventing me from getting lost down the rabbit hole I had created for myself. I studied one on the wall staring back at me trying to encase it into my memory: \n\n \"Don't sleep!\" \n\n Thats the weapon used by time to kill us each day. To replace our own beings with its replacements. It simply lures us into a sense of peace and rest and then steals our own minds. Then it transfers our own memories and feelings over to its new impressionable humans like a data stream. I've worked out thats where dreams come from; as the tumbled images and feeling enter or new hosts, dreams come together like a messed up jigsaw puzzle. \n\nThe solution was simple; don't sleep. I surveyed my apartment which had became my sole dwelling since my troubling discovery. Coffee cups littered the shelves alongside the empty packets of a cocktail of deadly drugs and stimulants. Loud music blasted through my head, causing a pain like a heavy migrane. The suffering was worth it. The record without sleep was 11 days, I was creeping on seven but death was creeping up on me fast. But I had worked on a solution; a long term one. \n\nIt was simple but risky. I wasn't going to sleep, rather be unconcious. You see its not the state of sleep which causes it, it's the process which is key. If I skip the whole falling asleep part, the memories aren't transferred and I'm free. There was three possible solutions to my actions: \n\n1. I slip into a coma. The memories aren't transferred so my new host simply sits inside my mind waiting for some response. Or worse, I could die in my sleep.\n\n2. I pull it off. I wake up the next day as the same person, proud to have conquered sleep itself.\n\n3. My plan is just plain batshit crazy and my memories get transferred anyway.\n\nOh and a new one:\n\n4. I'm crazy and all of this is crazy ramblings. \n\nIt was a risk I was willing to take. Looking down the stairs of my apartment I steeped myself for my battle with time itself. Taking a deep breath, I was only stopped by the appearance of my wife at the bottom of the stairs. \n\nThey say you start to hallucinate after three days without sleep. But these were more than that, I'm sure of it. This was the world trying to stop me from saving myself, making me accept their plan and the deadly sleep. Only I could save myself. \n\nIgnoring the beautiful beloved that had started me on this quest, I took one large intake of air to calm the nerves and then jumped. \n --- \n\nJames woke up the next morning at the bottom of the stairs cradling a number of purple bruises. Still concussed, he was confused with the weird sensation which lay on top of his body. It was like he had had a bad dream and forgotten it all. Or as if he hadn't dreamt at all..."
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4
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[WP] Years after your death, God kicks you out of Heaven. The reason being that people have started a religion about 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",
"It could have happened to anyone, really. People get kicked out of heaven all the time. It's like getting grounded. Ever seen a ghost? Yup. Grounded.\n\nMaybe I'm out for a bit longer than everyone else. But how could I have known what would happen? OK, so I kinda knew. And, yeah, maybe I was warned a few times too. But anyone in my shoes would've done. \n\nWhen I died, I was really into my looks. Soft wavy hair, f*cking awesome beard happening. Everyone always joked how much like Jesus I looked. In fact the comments didn't stop when I died. I became kind of a celebrity up there, being the ACTUAL Jesus's doppelganger. Never did meet him, but I've heard good things.\n\nAnyway, I was looking in on my neice. She was only 4 when I drown, but I was her favorite uncle. Anyway, some bitch kid at her high school was calling her names like \"lezzie\" and \"fag\". So, I decided to pay her a visit.\n\nI go full Christ on her ass. Robe, little bit of light, BOOM. I AM HE!\n\nHow was I supposed to know she lived with her grandfather, the f*cking head of the super powerful religous organization and highly respected through out the world and a damn bazillionare. Or that the dude was a freak who had a camera in his granddaughters room (I'm still stunned he was able to explain that away). \n\nSo there I am, on camera, as Jesus, reminding her about loving her fellow man and acceptance and sh*t when Grandpa busts in, dropping to his knee w/a damn cell phone aimed at me. He'd been watching the girl. Footage went more than viral. It broke the planet. \n\nI think it all turned out OK in the end because about a 200 million people instantly stopped being homophobes and racists. Millions followed later. However, HE did not agree.\n\nAnd now here I am, wandering earth, my neice and the the next 3 generations of her children dead and gone. But I sorta like it down here. Every so often, people start becoming dicks again so I make an appearance. HE always finds out and keeps tacking on more time.\n\nTotally worth it. "
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1,
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"1528163118",
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[removed] | [WP] You are a testing out a new pre-workout supplement, unaware of the side effect: Violent Diarrhea. | 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 u/juborky, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**Prompts will be removed if there's a high possibility for rule breaking responses**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_7.3A_prompts_will_be_removed_if_there.27s_a_high_possibility_for_rule_breaking_responses)\n\n- Bathroom Humor: No troll or meme-based prompts. This includes posting fart or poop jokes as prompts. \n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8on0yo/-/%0A%0A) us if you have any questions or concerns. In the future, please refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. \n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*"
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"1528163838",
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[WP] In an alternate universe, humans are oviparous (lay eggs) | 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",
"\"Honey, one of the eggs moved!\"\n\nI came running in from the next room and looked into the incubator. The eggs looked the same as they had all week, oval, brown, about the size of chicken eggs. They lay in the bright heat lamp in little indentations in the holding tray.\n\n\"Ok, let me know if they move again,\" I said as I started back to my show. \n\n\"No, wait,\" she said and grabbed my arm, \"Look!\"\n\nI stared at them for a few seconds and then I saw one move too!\n\n\"I think it's going to hatch,\" she said.\n\nI grabbed my coffee and we sat down on the arm of the sofa, waiting expectantly. The middle egg (there were three), began to twitch more and more. After half an hour, a crack began to form. We got ready to move our baby to the growing pen where it would have access to water and baby food.\n\nSuddenly a piece of shell flew off and to our surprise, out poked a chick. That is, a yellow baby chicken.\n\n\"What the heck\" gasped my wife, clutching her heart. A snort behind us caused us to spin around, and there was my brother convulsing in silent spasms of laughter.\n\n\"You fuck head!\" I shouted as I realized Andy was pulling a prank on us. \"Where's little Sammy??\"\n\nWhen he was finally able to stop laughing, he gasped \"In the kitchen, I'll get him.\" \n\nAs Andy went to the kitchen, my wife's eyes burned laser beams of hate into the back of his head. She did not find the prank funny.\n\nAndy stepped through the doorway to the kitchen, and we heard him say \"Hey, where are the eggs that were on the counter?\" We could hear my mother respond, \"I'm making scrambled eggs, dear.\"\n\n"
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[removed] | [WP] I was in line at the grocery store and this guy was talking to me, mostly a normal conversation... | 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 u/real_human_person, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**We’re here to inspire creative writing, not play writing games or commission stories**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_6.3A_we.2019re_here_to_inspire_creative_writing.2C_not_play_writing_games_or_commission_stories)\n\n- Prompts go in the title, do not extend into text. You can add commentary in the text, but don't add additional prompt restrictions. Also, avoid [too many details](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/prompts?src=RECIPE). \n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8opo36/-/%0A%0A) us if you have any questions or concerns. In the future, please refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. \n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*"
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"1528193957",
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[WP] A zombie outbreak has ravaged the world. You are a survivor who met an unfortunate ending. Now reborn as a ghost and having nothing better to do, you decide to follow your zombified corpse around. | 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",
"\"No! No! Just put it down, you... Oh, goddammit, no.\"\n\nThe boredom of a localised haunting might have been better, in retrospect, than choosing to follow my shambling corpse wherever it went. It certainly would have been less humiliating. I drifted helplessly along behind the shuffling husk I had once called home, despairing at how indiscriminately it chose its targets.\n\n\"You imbecile, that's a lamppost! You're not going to find brains in there, just knock out another... yes, there goes another tooth. Pretty soon you're going to have to stick a straw in their ears to get any lunch.\"\n"
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1,
3
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"1528196840",
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[WP] Just as we domesticated dogs, Humanity has been domesticated by a seemingly superior species. Document our descent into pets and work animals. | 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",
"Corporal Josh Adams fiddled with his communicator and got it back into working condition.\n\nHis heart burned with frustration, grief and fear as he thought about the situation he was in.\n\nTrapped on a Earth conquered long ago by \"benevolent\" alien overlords known as the Krag, the population reduced to mindless puppy-like companions for these Xenos.\n\nIt was meant to a rescue mission, or at least Vengeance, but their hubris and arrogance had been their downfall.\n\nIn his home universe, Mankind was the master of the Galaxy, our Empire spanned across the stars. \n\nAlthough they were far from being outgunned in this Universe, they were outsmarted. \n\nThe Aliens came together and destroyed the gateway in a surprise attack, it would never be able to be opened again due to the nature of how it originally formed. \n\nA group of rebels who had evaded capture for years from this Universe had made a distress call, and in brotherly love for our inter-dimensional counterparts, we answered the call. \n\nThe means to do such a thing again were lost, it took the rebels decades to do so the first time. We are soldiers, not scientists.\n\nNow they were stranded here.\n\nJosh sighed and activated the communicator which lit up blue \n\n\"If anyone can hear me, This is Cpl Adams of the United Terran Navy, survivor of the UTN Hades.\n\nThe Thanatos Protocol failed, hostile Krag and Zeti forces were somehow able to close the Cross Universal gateway and trap us in this Universe, we are now just as helpless as the Humans we originally came to liberate.\n\nNow we must do everything we can to avoid becoming like them. We will not let them mould us into their pets, like the original Human inhabitants of this Universe.\n\nThe Hades and Supremacy have both been destroyed.\n\nAll contact and connection with UTN home territory is lost. We are on our own out here people. \n\nTravel in small groups and avoid the cities. Do NOT let them capture you. \n\nRecon reports from what from scouts and stealth drones we have left show they have considerable skill in both brainwashing and medical technology to facilitate their Domestication of Humans. \n\nI have even read previous reports of defections and willing submission to the Krag on the part of some Humans.\n\nConsider this your last standing order\n\nHide, Fight and Survive. Preserve what little Humanity remains in this joke of universe. \n\nWe are all that's left.\"\n\nHe left the transmission to loop on all UTN frequencies only the hear a twig snap behind him\n\nHe swings round, aiming his rifle at a exhausted and terrified young marine who raises his arms in surrender.\n\n\"I nearly blew your head off there. Thought those damn Lizards had found me...what's your name soldier\"\n\n\"Oscar, sir\"\n\n\"I don't think rank matters anymore now friend\"\n\nThe marine caught his breath\n\"I was with a group but we got spotted and had to split up, I ran for miles but I think I made it far en-\" the young soldiers speech was cut off by a gasp and his eyes slipped backwards as he fell unconscious falling onto the soft grass\n\nJosh looked down the hill and through the trees to see large reptilian aiming a tranquilliser rifle, there was sympathy in its eyes, not evil snakelike malice like he had always told himself.\n\nHe was brought out of his frozen stance as a dart flew over his shoulder \n\n\"Fuck them\" he thought \"I won't fall for their tricks\" \n\nHe turned to run and held his rifle tight, He scrambled over the mountainous rocks and out of sight of his pursuers \n\nA small craft flew overhead, more are coming.\n\n\"Shit\" Josh muttered to himself \n\nHe continued sprinting down the other side of the mountain until he came face to face with another Krag, they stood at 8 feet tall with large tails, it raised it rifle to fire and Josh did the same and the plasma charge heated up \n\n\"I'd think very carefully before firing that you overgrown gecko, this is a pressure release mechanism, my finger comes off, boom! you get vaporised\" he threatened\n\n\"Feral Human, please calm down...you are distressed, We mean you no harm, just put the gun down and come with me!\" The Krag pleaded as he placed his tranq gun on the ground \n\nThere was kindness in its voice, but Josh ignore it\n\n\"So I can be brainwashed into one of your fucking pets, as if\"\n\n\"It's not brainwashing, no one is controlled or forced, the Implants are merely for clearing the mind of negative thought patterns, domestics are happy\" The Krag replied \n\nJosh steeled himself and prepared to fire only to see the Krag's eyes dart to look at something behind him, he quickly turned around only to feel the tranquilliser hit him in his side and felt himself fall under \n\nHis rifle discharged the payload harmlessly into the forest, burning through several trees. \n\nGod. Damn. It.\n\n\"Come on now!\" The Krags talked among themselves \n\n\"Poor guy has probably been without food and water for days, let's get him back the Centre so the trainers can look after him, good work everyone, zero Human casualties\"\n\nJosh could only feel anxiety and fear as his body betrayed him and he slipped into unwanted sleep. "
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"1528205601",
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[removed] | [WP] You've done everything. Climbed the tallest, most dangerous mountains, discovered treasures of long forgotten civilizations, founded organizations that have advanced both the medical and technology fields. And you've done it all, without any pants. | 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",
"Doing it all again, with nothing but pants on just for the crac' because your an alcoholic Irish man with nothing else to live for because your fam have disowned you, but realised it's gone down the pan and the thrill of it is the only thing keeping you from murdering them all, the downward spiral could be the end of you but your plans for murder are already made.\n\nIf they find the evidence of pre meditated murder it's all over."
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1,
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"1528222279",
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[WP] The year is 2200. You live in a world where all animals can communicate with humans and developed their own society. One night you drunkenly accept an internship at a advertising firm however when you arrive on your first day you realize you are the only human intern. This is your diary. | 147 | [
"**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",
"Dear Dairy, I mean Diary,\n\nToday is my first day at PharmTech, a pharmaceutical company that once used to test their products on animals. Currently, it is run by animals. Imagine me, a white man, working amongst these roaming creatures. They’re supposed to be the minority group. They’re supposed to be begging for rights, not the other way around. \n\nWhen I first walked into the job, I greeted the panda receptionist. Normal. I knew they held jobs like these. The panda walked me through the office, which was occupied by cubicles filled with monkeys, lemurs, and a bunch of those big cats. They kept their workspace completely untidy, practically eating their grass floor. After organizing my desk and sitting down to begin, an elephant came storming through the office blowing water through its trunk, spraying my whole desk with goop. I peeked over to the cubicle next to me, soaking wet, and asked what that was about. A large, very pregnant cow told me that it was the janitor “tidying up.” Can you believe that? Being covered in elephant drool is supposedly tidying up the office. I glared at her response and what I didn’t say out loud was that she should tidy up her act, what with being pregnant and all.\n\nI realized that I was chosen to get this job so that I could guide the animals to the straight path. Upon this sudden realization of my status, I stood from my desk and went to the cubicles to check up on everyone’s work, ordering them to maintain their desk cleanliness. No one seemed to appreciate this, but I knew this would be best for them. If only they had cubicles with a chair instead of grass, had a designated lunch time rather than grazing time, and submitted weekly reports to me for confirmation, then everything would be orderly. Everything would be perfect. Even if they don’t know it yet.\n",
"June 3rd\n\nIf I have to tell that fucking Monkey in the next cubicle to stop flinging his poop over the top of our divider one more time! He thinks it is freaking highlarious that I am grossed out by it. He tells me, “everything poops.” I tell him, “That doesn’t mean I want to wear it. “ I swear I’m going to slash the Tires of his Mini-Scooter if he does it again. Also I’m 90% convinced my boss, Mr. Tenta, is spying on me in the bathroom. There have been multiple times I’ll think I’ll see movement out of the corner of my eye and when I look over nothing is there. Twice I also have found traces of a suspicious ink like substance on the bottom of my heels when I crossed my legs at my desk later that day. I’d think I was being paranoid but I saw him once sliding out of the air vent onto his chair just when I was coming back into my cubicle. I feel like he’s leering at me sometimes during meetings but I’m not sure what an Octopus leer looks like. It did feel really good at work today when the project manager of our current project praised my ad copy on our magazine piece for our Client- Predators’ Grazing. Under the picture of a diverse group of animals sitting in a cubicle at their restaurant I suggested, “Friends don’t eat other Friends’ family members. Especially not when chowing down on our yummy Vegan entrees.”"
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[WP] A warrior swears blood vengeance against a time traveller from the distant future. Well aware of where and when their quarry has escaped back to the warrior approaches a feared vampire seeking the curse of immortality that they might live long enough to enact their revenge. | 2,291 | [
"**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",
"Last week, I was home. The quest was done, the monsters defeated, the damsels rescued, and the profits divided. I fell into my dusty chair, and let the the smell of mildew welcome me. The mighty sword Dalambstrung hung over the mantle: the sword that was forged by a demonic blacksmith and enchanted with runes by a high elf priestess; the sword I had used to single-handedly defeat three mountain trolls while rescuing the princess; the sword I had used to rappel off the Death Cliffs of Dramough; the sword I had used to trim the bodice strings of that saucy bar maiden whose name I can't quite recall, but remember fondly. My sword, as much a part of me as my right hand, now stolen.\n\nStolen, you ask? It happens when you're as well known as I. Mystical beings, evil lords, and the occasional vanquished foe - they steal it, I defeat them, and I take it back along with some extra glory. The usual hero work. Except this time it was some no-name cunt wizard who \"time-traveled\" their way into my castle and snatched it, all so they could get extra marks at their pig-wizard school. The mightly Dalambstrung, stolen by *Winly of the House of Huffingfluff* or somesuch rubbish. Amazing. So I set about to regain my sword, only to find that time magic doesn't exist, yet. Furthermore, the court wizards claimed that if stealing a legendary item doesn't upset the flow of time, I can't neuter Winly out of existence. So I travel to find a vampire lord who will be able to grant me immortality; then I can get my sword and be sent back to the future, or present, or whatever makes sense without resorting to some kind of weird time-loop place swapping hack story. Now normally a hero would do some side-quests along the way, investigate ruins, defeat monsters, detain bands of criminals, etc. Well, I did that all, but it's a lot harder when you have to kill everything with a shield.\n\nIt's a bit off-topic, but I found it strange that when you have to bash things with your shield all of the time, all of your problems start looking like they could be solved by bashing it with your shield. Kobold infestation? Bash them with your shield. Kidnapper demanding ransom? Bash them with your shield. Tavern owner tries to charge more than you have in your coin-purse? Bash them with your shield.\n\nRight - anyways, so there I am at the vampire's castle. It's in a decrepit state, with doors literally falling off their hinges when I knock with my shield. I finally get to the Vampiress, and she starts yelling about damage to her property. But being the hero, I ignore her wiles and push forward by laying out the issue: I need immortality. Now get this - the vampiress can't offer immortality, because vampirism is a blood condition where if they don't ingest blood, their skin shrivels up like a prune. It has nothing to do with immortality, she just looks good for her age. She looks good enough, especially after traveling on this quest, that I help plow her overgrown fields. The next day, I saddle my horse and she starts cursing me, going on about how she'll tarnish my name beyond her dying breath, and that all the towne children and children's children will know of my shame. Wenches, right? Anyways, that's why I'm here.\n\n\"Sire, this is Ye Olde Department of Registry and Deed Polls ... I... I don't know how I'm supposed to help you with getting your sword, or making you immortal, or removing curses...\"\n\n\"No, that's all in the past. I'm here because every asshole needs a name, and I want to change mine to 'Winly.'\"",
"As I was walking through the cave I imagined this creature to be vicious and scary. As I approached I felt a breeze of cold air hit me in the face and although the cave was dark, it was lit by the magical creature. When I approached closer I noticed it was just a man, standing under a beam of light coming from the sun shining through a hole above the cave. I had wasted so much of my time looking for a vampire and came across a simple man. As I got closer I realized that his skin was glowing. He called out to me “Edward” and I don’t remember much of what happened but he made me look pretty just like him. My skin sparkles in the sun now and I’ve been living with him and his 200 children for the past couple of thousand years and this emotionless girl is my permanent wife, I don’t know how to die and be at peace. That time traveler dude knew how to fuck with me... fuck you Rick!",
"\"I'm not asking.\" Burdened with age and illness, yet driven by the inescapable prison that had become her revenge she stood tall against the vampire. She didn't know how old the vampire was, and nor did she care. This was her last chance, there was no other option. Mortality had become her enemy, and the passing of time was an enemy just as much as the man she hunted. \n\nPetite though she was; a stark contrast to the tall, lanky figure of the vampire, she refused to back down. Her shoulders were squared yet her poise seemed to close the physical gap between them. \"I will not leave here a mortal.\" Desperation drove her confidence; she had no strength to fight this vampire. Walking in the this lair was her last living act; should she be denied her final moments would be spent in an ill\\-advised attempt to overpower the vampire, an act of suicide.\n\n\"You came to me as your last option; fearless yet desperate. I am inclined to deny your request simply to see what a mortal in your position would do. Would you throw yourself at me in a last act of ferocity; like a starved lion throws itself at a hunter. Would you bargain with me; some chip hidden up your sleeve. Yet, your proposition does suit me well. Of all of my brethren you came to me; no doubt knowing my interest in mortal affairs. I have helped dethrone kings, given immortal life to warlords in equal measure to saviors.\" The vampire paused, seated atop his throne. The warrior had made no attempt to sneak into the vampire's palace, and it seemed that the vampire had prepared accordingly. \n\n\"This burden of immortality is more than a curse. Should you survive long enough to finish your revenge you will still be alone. We vampires may be powerful creatures, but we are hunted. We live on the fringe of mortal society; there will be no escape nor rest for you. Vampirism is not the only option should you truly want immortality; but you have come and sought this particular curse. You are aware that this curse amplifies your strengths and your weaknesses; provided you survive the change with your mind intact.\"\n\n\"While you may have an infinite amount of time to speak, vampire, I am running out of time. I am dying, and your stalling does not answer my question. Either grant me this or kill me, I simply want an answer.\" There was no room for fear, no longer any regard for her own life. Revenge was what had kept her alive long past where a normal person would have succumbed. That was what kept her standing at that very moment.\n\n\"Come closer.\" The throaty, predatory chuckle that followed those words would have sent shivers down her spine had she held any regard for her safety. Yet now she simply obeyed, head raised high in an attempt to maintain her stature against such an ancient being. As she approached the vampire dragged a claw across his wrist, exposing the darkened sludge that passed through his veins in lieu of blood. The sound of the viscous liquid spilling to the floor was vile, yet the extended wrist was her answer. No cup offered, just the pulsing poison that created the monster she wished to become.\n\n\"Drink, and then I will wait. I am curious to see if you will survive, and if you do what creature you will become.\" And she did, the first taste was like a drug. A need to consume overpowered her; forcing the most animalistic instincts as she viciously consumed the substance that poured from the immortal. She could feel her humanity slipping away, but she no longer cared. This was her answer.",
"Dinner that night was an unusual one, to say the least.\n\nIt was Phyl's night to choose, so Phyl chose sushi. Phyl always chose sushi. But nobody really minded. It wasn't quite 6pm and most of them were exited at the opportunity to take advantage of happy hour. Typically their dinners didn't start till 8 or so, but Baub and Hohassaire had gotten off work at TimeX early this day. They'd just pushed two of the smallish tables together for Baub and Hohassaire to sit when the evening's strangeness began. Woneson and Xjill would later recount hearing a sound like wind blowing through a set of delicate glass chimes, flowing lightly just below the din of exited chatter that filled Taberu. Then it began to rain. By the time their minds could register the fact that the droplets, which careened off the tables and into them, were in fact shards of glass, a heavy object landed on the tables with such force that it sent the dinnerware flying across the restaurant. When they rose from their defensive postures they saw that the object was a man. A man white as a ghost, whose eyes glowed red like a cyborg's. He stood up and looked around. Just as casual as could be, as though there was nothing odd about bursting through a ceiling window and landing on the table a group of restaurant patrons were currently using. Soon his gaze settled on Woneson.\n\n\"You!\" Slowly he drew a samurai sword from his back, beneath his duster. \"You traveled back to the year 2018 and killed my family! Now you die!\"\n\nWoneson exchanged confused glances with a few of his friends. \"I... I don't even work at TimeX.\"\n\n\"How are you doing this? It should be impossible for you to lie while under my gaze.\"\n\n\"He's not lying,\" said Baub, \"me and Hohassaire work at TimeX, but we're just accountants. We've never fluxxed. Woneson signed up to take the entry exam,\" he rolled his eyes at Woneson, \"but he never showed.\"\n\n\"It's true.\" Shyanne took Woneson's hand and they exchanged a tender glance. \"His exam was supposed to be the day after we met. But then that fateful butterfly flew into my path, I stumbled, Woneson caught me,\" she giggled, \"and we didn't leave each other's side for three whole days.\"\n\nThe man just stared. \"A... butterfly?\" He hopped down. \"Fuck!\" At that moment he seemed to notice his surroundings for the first time. Bending over, he retrieved one of Mimioso's egg rolls (Taberu was more a general Asian restaurant than a specifically sushi one). \"Can I have this?\"\n\n\"Sure,\" responded Woneson.\n\n\"Blood tastes like shit.\" With that, the stranger sheathed his sword and strolled off, munching as he went. Before he made the exit he turned back, \"a thousand years, you know that? I've waited a thousand years to take my revenge on you.\"\n\nEveryone just stared.\n\n\"Boring as shit... fuck!\" He angrily threw the egg roll on the floor. It exploded with a wet slap. Then he left.\n\nNone of them ever saw the stranger again.",
"\"Bite me.\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\n\"I must avenge my wife's honor!\"\n\n\"Are you sure -\"\n\n\"No, no, she loves me... and me alone!\"\n\nAndron snickered.\n\n\"Very well. *That's what they all say.*\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"I said lean forward.\"\n\nGregorith knelt on the flagstone floor.\n\n\"Thank you, Lord Andron, I will neeeiiiiiiaaaah!\"\n\nScreams echoed across the chamber, throughout the corridors, and over the countryside beyond.\n\n\"Eeeeiiiiittt boooooorrrrrnnnns!\"\n\nAndron's fangs bore into Greg's hairy neck. The warrior slumped, his cries softening, as all the blood left his body. Coldness overtook him.\n\nGregorith woke in darkness. He blinked, groaned, and hit his head on something hard.\n\n\"Ow.\"\n\nRaising his arms, Gregorith felt a rough surface and pushed. It was heavy. He heaved and threw the stone top off his coffin.\n\n*Crack!*\n\nThe noise pained his ears. He pulled himself halfway and looked around. Grey columns surrounded his coffin, arching to create a ribbed ceiling. Some wet stench filled the room and... delighted his nostrils. \n\n\"Hmmm...\"\n\nGreg's tongue swept his mouth.\n\n\"Mouse mousse?\"\n\nAndron's voice boomed. \n\n\"My Lord!\"\n\nGregorith clambered to his feet.\n\n\"No,\" Andron said, \"You're my peer now. No titles unless we consent to roleplay.\"\n\n\"Ah. What is role -\"\n\n\"What in blazes?\"\n\nAndron was staring at a slim rectangle clasped in his fingers. Azurescent light flooded his chalk-white face. He guffawed.\n\n\"Come here, Gregorith, look at this cat!\"\n\n\"What unholy talisman -\"\n\n\"Hurry! It's about to see the cucumber.\"\n\nI crossed myself and burst into flames.\n\n\"No, no! Goddamn it. You're a vampire! Whatever you do -\"\n\n\"Eeeeiiiiiyyyaaaaahhh!\"\n\n\"Jump in the well, jump in the well!\"\n\n\"Eeeeiiiiittt boooooorrrrrnnnns!\"\n\n\"Holy shit.\"\n\nAndron watched as Greg collapsed into a heap of smoldering ash. He sighed, snapped a picture of Greg's remains, and posted it online:\n\n\"VAMPYRE DUST - $150 OBO\"\n\n\n",
"“This curse bears far reaching impacts, young one. You cannot begin to understand the brevity of the trials you will endure from taking this mantle upon yourself.”\n\n“Then teach me.” She barked, stepping closer to the hooded figure. She found herself in the back room of the tiny middle-of-nowhere inn, the closest cry for help three locked doors away, and yet she felt no fear as she implored this mystical creature before her.\n\n“The price you will pay is long, and trying, and you will find no joy in this cursed life you seek.” The figure crooned.\n\n“My joy has already been taken from me; I have nothing left to lose.”\n\nAt this the figure stared curiously, and for the first time lowered his hood, revealing a sunken, ash-white face with deep red eyes. Eyes that stared deep at the too-young woman, looking her over with renewed interest.\n\n“Your eyes… carry pain.” He spoke slowly. “What burdens of this life do you escape, child?”\n\n“The story is… long.” She said, sighing. The creature chuckled softly, pulling out a rickety chair from the corner table. He gestured with a pale hand framed by perfectly manicured nails.\n\n“I have all the time in the world, child.”\n\nShe sat softly, across from this creature of the night, never taking her eyes off of him. “Magic exists, I am certain I need not tell you that.” She began. Her audience nodded. “Six weeks ago, a man born three-hundred years from now betrayed my kingdom, and with it tens of thousands of innocent lives.\n\nThis man carried a loose lineage to our rival kingdom in the north, an enemy we were on the verge of defeating for good. Harnessing unstable and volatile magics he crossed time itself in order to prevent their inevitable loss.\n\nThe entrance of the magic itself blew apart the countryside, ruining acres of fertile land and killing our farmers in their beds, and their wives and children. The land burned where he walked, setting ablaze our great forest, a sin of nature greater than imaginable. No soldier could stop this man, no archer, no knight, no opposing mage. He walked, and destruction followed like a domesticated hound: willing and eager to do his bidding.\n\nThe outer wall crumbled like stale bread, the discarded stones crushing innocent lives by the hundreds. When the stable horses bolted, he ripped the flesh from their still-sprinting skeletons. The hunters’ hounds were next, and the hunters after that. Armed guards were killed by their arms and armor being turned molten as they approached. And then he entered the city proper.”\n\nHer companion held up a lone finger, producing a bottle of wine and two goblets from underneath his cloak, pouring each, and leaving the bottle on the table. She took a small sip, after watching him drink first.\n\n“With a flick of his wrist he could kill hundreds, with every footfall he razed a building to the ground, with just a glint in his eye the very heavens begin to roll with thunder and lightning, killing the desperate souls that dared flee the carnage.\n\nIn the capitol, where I and my family lie waiting for our deaths… He tortured them for hours before killing them. And then he left me. Gagged, bound, left for dead in the center of oblivion, as if to take a wager against fate. He will lose that wager.”\n\nShe set her goblet back down, now empty. Her companion refilled it, and then procured the smallest of blades: no larger than a letter opener. With a tiny prick he spilled just three drops of blood in her goblet before returning it to her.\n\n“And so you will wait out the eternities, in the anguish he was wrought, waiting for the past to take place. I do not envy you, child, but neither do I judge you. Understand this, however. From the first sip, every memory branded in your mind will become eternal. Your pain will not be siphoned, but immortalized, you anguish like a story to read again and again. You may enact your vengeance, you may spare the events that are meant to come to pass, but the horrors you have just painted for me will never leave you; Death shall not take your pain.\n\nTell me this, child, will you still drink?”\n",
"Greatest amongst the Greatest High Germanic Tribe, Grandfather of the Saxons, and Embodiment of the Penultimate Hunter Warrior was Brad.\n\nNone could slay a whole pack of any beast and carry them all back to the tribe alone. No, Roman centurion dared to ever cross his tribe for he alone sent entire legions scattering in disarray. None dared to face the mighty Brad, and so he grew bored. \n\n&nbsp;\n\nThat is... until one day...\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBrad was stalking a Roman scout who had gotten lost in the woods. Though the scout had brought along with him sufficient armaments, the scout dropped his bowels along with much of his gear in a panicked primal scramble for safety. Brad was enjoying himself: the scout's sobs and screams were amusing. It was easy enough for him to keep up, furthermore he could partake of the scout before finishing him off. But just as he was about to skin the scout of his clothes, he heard the yelps of Modern German in the background. \n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Jesus Christ, Ben you want to get us killed?\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAs Ben was dragged down from the view, a throwing axe flew past where Ben's head would have been 10 minutes ago. It flew past grazing nothing, and snugly stamped itself into a tree. Ben and Markus scrambled away in a panic not entirely dissimilar to the scout who was now wading in his own piss, tears, shit, and blood. Ben was wearing a simple hoodie, shorts, and tennis shoes only having been in 2018 Germany an hour earlier. His shorts pockets were shallow, and his wallet which had been loosely stuffed inside fell out in the panic. Neither Ben nor Markus noticed. They were too busy screaming,\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\"Ohshitohshitohshitohshitohshitohshit!\"\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThey scrambled for the time machine. It was gaudy piece of DIY machinery that though appearing haphazard and made of scavenged material was an ingenious feat of engineering. In the time Ben and Markus had scrambled 200 feet to their time machine, Brad had already scaled the near mountainous precipice on which Ben and Markus had seen him. But before Brad could draw his bow, Ben and Markus slammed the panic button launching them straight home. \n\n&nbsp;\n\nHyperventilating, both of them fell out onto the floor of their studio apartment. They looked at each other in utter relief and laughed. \n\n\"Let's never do that ever again.\"\n\n\"Yah, I nearly shat my pants.\"\n\n\"Did you see the muscles on that guy? He could have easily torn our heads off.\"\n\nBen pulled out his phone that hadn't fallen out to check the time. It was only 00:30, they had only gone for a split second. They laughed again, because their pizza was going to arrive as soon as they arrived just as planned. \n\n\"I'm going to eat all the pepperoni!\"\n\n\"Yeah, then you're paying.\"\n\nBen laughed heartily and nodded. Right on cue the doorbell rang. \n\n\"I got it!\"\n\nBen opened the door while checking his other pocket for his wallet.\n\n\"Hey, just a moment. I think I might have lost my wallet...\"\n\nBen was busy searching through his pockets when he heard the deliveryman say,\n\n\"Looking for this?\"\n\n\"What's going on Ben, did you forget your wallet again?\"\n\nMarkus looked at Ben whose phone fell to the ground through his limp fingers. \n\n\n",
"There are so few things I remember, too many things once loved are lost.\n\r\nI remember her touch, and her bright blue eyes. I remember her laugh, and how she was the brightest light in my life. I remember when he took that light away from me. I remember her scream, and my rage. I remember my helplessness as I lay on the floor, broken and bleeding at his mercy. I remember his last words to me, “Remember my face, as it will be the last thing you ever see”\n\r\nI was lost, angry, and afraid. The next years of my life were a blur as I sought vengeance. I don’t remember the name of the man who gave me my gift, only that he was very old, and full of sorrow. I remember he passed soon after giving me my gift. “I was his last” he said. \n\r\nI remember my legacy. I was there when the Rosetta stone was carved. I was there when our civilization rose from dust. I was Ozymandias, king of kings. I watched the people worship me, build great monuments in my name. Then I tired of rule, and sought peace. \n\r\nI remember when I taught a man to shape marble, and watched him carve the statue of david. I remember composing symphonies, only to be overshadowed by a pupil of mine, a true protégé. In my quest for vengeance I shaped the lives of countless men and women. I remember when I warned the world of its folly, only to watch it burn itself to ashes. I remember how the brightest minds found me, and told me of their plan.\n\r\n“The world is dying, Jacen. We are dying. Your blood holds the cure. We can save us. We can save all of us,\" They said.\n\r\nAs so we did. I was the last of my kind left alive, but with my blood we remade my race, my immortal race. And so I remember the next thousand years of prosperity, and my thirst for vengeance was all but empty. \n\nBut the most curious thing happened; We started dying. A few at first, then scores of us, thousands, millions falling dead every day. Across the stars we were dying again and no one could find the cause. But I knew then, as I know now. I had forgotten my hate, to the death of us all. \n\r\nI rose from my wicker chair, listing to the soft creak of the wood. The wind rustled through the trees, adding it’s soft melody to the gentle music of the creek that flowed nearby. I walked inside, running my hands over the hardwood mantle I had carved years before. The device lay on the kitchen table. It was a one way trip, they said. I would need to come back the long way round. So I went through the transformation, one of the many powers I had gained. With a new face. I strapped the device to my wrist, grabbed a large knife, and went through time.\n\r\nWhen I appeared, I drove the knife into the back of a young woman. Her husband appeared in a rage, flinging himself on me, but I was too quick. I had a hundred lifetimes of training, and he was no match. As he lay defeated, I looked him square in the eyes and told him “Remember my face, as it will be the last thing you ever see.”\n\r\nI changed my form again, and waited. He came to find me, and I gave him life eternal. There was no science here, no machine that let me keep my powers. I gave my only gift to him, and was made mortal once again. In my future past, the link to my immortal self was restored, humanity was saved again. \n\r\nI remember looking into a mirror for the first time in twenty thousand years, and then I remember nothing. \r\n",
"Violet Cruz sat in her car and took a deep breath. She stared at the small Chinese restaurant while her mind ran down the checklist again. It took her two years to reach this point after Arnold's death, after a stranger from the future murdered him.\n\n\"Trust me, I'm saving us both some heartache,\" he said as she held Arnold's lifeless corpse. He smiled at her. \"If you take it personally, come have a chat with me in the year 2127.\" He tossed a black business card at her, then he pressed a button on his belt. A thin vertical line appeared floating in the air in front of him. Violet watched the man touch the light, then disintegrate into the beam. It seemed as if the light pulled him in, one atom a time. Once he and the light disappeared she looked at the business card. \n\n\"Maxwell Bellman: Temporal Executioner. 2127,\" shone on the front of the dark card in gold ink along with an address on the back. She held on to the card, but forgot about it during the first month after her husband's death. Arnold was the most loving, and sensitive man she'd ever met. She spent most of her time wondering why anyone would have a grudge against Arnold, much less someone from 109 years into the future. \n\nShe found all the answers while cleaning out her husband's office. She accidentally knocked a drink off his desk and discovered a loose floorboard as she cleaned it up. She wiggled the flooring free and found a black leather travel journal inside along with a single gold coin the size of her palm. She flipped through the journal and realized her husband used it as a diary. \n\nShe began reading it, and remained engrossed throughout the night. Each new day in the diary fueled her desire for revenge more and more. This diary she was never supposed to read contained proof of his love in every day. His every thought, and every action were for her. He accidentally discovered a magical underworld, and instead of fearing it he embraced it for Violet. He wanted to share it with her. The diary detailed all of his plans that he would not get to realize anymore. But now she had the answers she needed. \n\nTwo years later she sat in her car with everything prepared. She took one more breath then forced herself out of the car and across the street. She entered the Chinese restaurant to the sound of a chime over the door. An elderly Asian woman stepped out of the active kitchen, but Violet did not see any other patrons in the restaurant. \n\n\"How many?\" The woman asked while preparing menus. \n\n\"I'm here to see Donna Chang,\" Violet said. The woman looked up. \n\n\"That's me. What you need?\" she asked. Violet pulled the large gold coin from her purse, then offered it to Mrs. Chang.\n\n\"I want to be turned,\" Violet said. \"I've already made all the arrangements in my personal life, I'm ready today. Now.\" She rattled off the practiced speech. Donna examined the gold coin; she studied the bat engraved on one side, then flipped it over to reveal a scythe engraved on the other. The old woman offered the gold coin back to Violet. \n\n\"No good. Out of power,\" she said. \n\n\"What? It's a coin, how is it out of power?\" Violet refused to take the coin back. Donna Chang held it up and pointed to the scythe on the back. \n\n\"Coin fine. This symbol, this vampire no longer recognized.\" Violet began to shake her head, denying to accept the reality. She had worked so hard over the last two years, given up so much. This was supposed to be the easy part all laid out for her. \n\n\"But he's still a vampire, right? Even if he's not on the council or whatever...\" Violet grabbed Donna's hands while pleading with her eyes. \"... he can still turn me, right? Do you know where he is?\" Donna nodded.\n\n\"I tell you, but you assume all risk. Not recognized vampire means no rules. No guarantee of safety.\" Donna explained. Violet nodded.\n\n\"That's fine, my life is already wrapped up anyway. No matter what happens. Please tell me where?\" Donna Chang nodded and patted Violet on the shoulder. \"Sit, sit. I tell you, but you eat first. Enjoy maybe last meal.\" \n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day in 2018, this is #155. You can find them collected on my [blog](http://hserratafun.blogspot.com/2017/10/front-page.html). ",
"”Relax, Eddie. This parking lot is ancient.” said Jonas as he hopped into the time machine. \"It'll be fine, I promise. Just a quick trip, I won't disturb anyone.\"\n\n\"Don't do this, Jonas.\" pleaded his best friend Eddie, \"You don't know for a fact how old this parking lot is. All of this is too risky. Please return the machine. We're not supposed to use it.\"\n\n\"Like I said, it'll be fine. Do you know how old the parking lot is?\" Jonas turned his head to the computer in the vehicle, \"Computer, turn on.\"\n\nLights begun flashing along to the tune of a boot up sound which gave life to the machine. Eddie sighed, \"I don't know, I think my dad said a little more than 300 years.\"\n\n\"Great!\" cheered Jonas. \"Computer, transport me back exactly 300 years.\"\n\n\"No, wait! Don't! My dad might've said...!\" Eddie begged, but was cut off by the loud whirlwind which made the time vehicle disappear before his eyes, \"... a little *less* than 300 years...\"\n\nThere was a large crash accompanied by some ear shattering screams when Jonas reappeared, right in the center of a dining room belonging to the middle-class family McStevens. When the dust settled, only one scream remained, belonging to the ex-husband and ex-father-of-three Simon, sobbing at the rubble and bloody mess that used to be his family dinner.\n\nThe door of the time machine slid open and Jonas stepped out. \"Oh my god, what a ride. Dude, what happened here?\"\n\n\"Who...?\" stuttered Simon, \"Who are you?\"\n\n\"I'm Jonas, and I'm a student at the University of Relativity, which... doesn't... exist... yet.\" Jonas slowed down and examined the chaos around him. \"This... is not a parking lot. I'm from the future. I'm also terribly sorry for the damage to your house.\"\n\n\"My house...?\" Simon was gripped by rage, and rose up while clenching his fists, \"You murdered my family! You monster! I'll kill you!!!\"\n\nThanking the gods for the rubble seperating them and buying him some time, Jonas screamed \"Computer, transport me forward exactly 300 years!\" And as he slammed the door shut in the face of Simon McStevens, Jonas hoped it would be the last time he ever saw him.\n\nThe vehicle shook, moaned and flashed in various colors as he was brought back to his favored present. But when he slid open the door again, he gasped.\n\nEddie stared at him with a nervous expression, shivering and brandishing a wet patch on the front of his pants. His temple was being kissed by the barrel of a gun, held by none other than an aged and hardened Simon McStevens.\n\n\"What are you...?!\" begun Jonas, but was interrupted by a gunshot.\n\n\"Shut the fuck up, Jonas.\" declared Simon harshly, as he lowered his gun from the air back to Eddie's temple, whose pants grew darker. \"I've waited three hundred years for this. Three. Hundred. Years. You took my life away that day. My family... Murdered. My house and everything I own destroyed and paved to the ground... In this very spot. But at least you gave me something in return.\" He smiled darkly. \"You gave me all the information I needed for revenge. The time, the place, and the name; Jonas.\"\n\n\"I'm so sorry... I didn't know... If there's anything I can do...\" whimpered Jonas.\n\n\"Oh you've done so much for me already.\" Simon chuckled, \"Were it not for my insatiable lust for revenge, I would never have travelled the world in search for a way to push my mortality back long enough to kill you. Thanks to you, I found something better: Immortality.\"\n\nJonas stood perfectly still, but in his mind he was busy, working frantically on a solution. If only he had more time...\n\n\"But that's only the means to the end.\" Simon continued, \"The end is what I've been waiting for. Finally, I get to exact my revenge. For my family, I will kill you. But for my house, I will first kill your friend here.\"\n\nJonas' mind clicked, just like the gun did. Again. And again. Clicking without shooting. Simon grunted, \"How the fuck am I out? It was loaded an hour ago?!\"\n\nJonas siezed the moment and ran up to the old man, using his momentum to uppercut the senior into unconsciousness. Simon landed flat on the asphalt, only saved from a cracked skull by his immortality. Eddie fell straight down on his knees into a puddle of his own urine.\n\n\"Summon the authorities, Eddie!\" Jonas yelled as he jumped back into the machine.\n\n\"Where will you go?!\" he shouted back.\n\n\"To an hour ago.\"",
"\"And why shouldn't I just kill you?\" the vampire asked.\n\nCloaked in black the creature of the night loomed above Tormash from his elevated throne. He gently pet one of his naked female thralls.\n\nShifting his silver spear from one shoulder to the other Tormash said, \"Well for one, because you can't. I am the greatest warrior of my tribe and bear the mark of my people to protect me! But for two, because I know your ways. You crave blood and power. This would give you both.\"\n\n\"Mmm,\" the vampire crooned, \"True enough. I need blood.\" A slight smile came to his face, \"But I don't need power.\" He gestured to the large hall they stood in. The room was so dark you couldn't even see the ceiling. \"I have all I could ever need. I've lived for hundreds of years without the help of mortals and I plan to have a very long and happy unlife. So what could you, possibly do for me?\"\n\nRaising his spear he pointed it straight at the unperturbed vampire. \"Fight me if you are so certain.\"\n\nThe vampire laughed, \"You've never fought a vampire before I take it? If you had I expect you would be dead by now.\" He started to walk slowly down the steps putting himself closer to the spear's point. He lightly touched the tip and slid his finger along the blade. A thin line of blood formed on the edge. \"You know silver is for werewolves right? Vampires are weak to- Well I probably shouldn't tell you now should I?\"\n\nTormash stepped back a pace trying to keep distance between himself and the vampire. But the vampire stepped forward a pace as well. They paced back and forth for a moment, each watching the other for any sign of an attack.\n\nWithout any warning the vampire blurred into the air. He moved with supernatural speed around and appeared behind Tormash. \"Sorry kid.\" And he bit Tormash on the neck. Tormash yelled and his blood began to flow from his neck into the vampires mouth and throat. \n\nTormash tried to spin but he was supernaturally weakened from the vampire's bite. He could barely stay on his feet. What felt like an eternity passed as his blood was drained. The vampires embrace was broken and he slowly paced around Tormash and kicked the spear away.\n\n\"Well boy, looks like your protection doesn't count for much does it?\" The vampire smiled. Tormash stood there in a daze caught in the vampires mesmerizing gaze. Inside his mind he was still conscious and awake, his body just wouldn't respond. \"Any last words?\"\n\nTormash's mouth moved silently, not saying anything. The vampire smirked \"What's that? You'll have to speak up.\" He leaned forward and placed his ear next to Tormash's lips.\n\nTormash couldn't speak, couldn't hardly move. So he did the only thing he could think of. He bit the vampire. Hard. The vampire screamed in pain. The trance was immediately broken and Tormash pounced on the vampire. \n\nThey struggled on the ground rolling back and forth. But Tormash wouldn't let go. He kept biting and drinking, biting and drinking. He could feel the evil power flowing into in him, and as he got stronger, the vampire got weaker. Eventually the tumbling turned to flailing, and flailing to weak flapping. \n\nTormash felt better than he ever had before. He let go of the vampire and he fell away limply. Tormash stood and looked down on the weakened vampire with disdain. He walked over to his spear and picked it up. He stode back over and stood over the vampire. The vampire tried to speak but his lips moved silently just as Tormash's had.\n\n\"And by the way.\" He hefted the spear and turned it around. On the reverse end of the spear was a wooden point filed to be very sharp. \"I know what vampires are weak to.\"\n\n\\####\n\nHarpell was exhilarated. He had narrowly escaped, who knew primitives were so sensitive about their religious artifacts? He hadn't meant to steal it. Well, he had, he just didn't mean to get caught. He fiddled in his coat pocket touching the talisman lightly and smiled. This would fetch quite the price at the Time Travelers club.\n\nHis time machine shook, shuddered, and then thumped down with a muffled crash. Outside the main viewer it was almost completely black. \"What the hell?\" he asked no one in particular. He looked at the clock. It should be daytime. \n\nHe stepped out of the time machine and into the dimly lit room. He was in a large wooden building built directly over his landing site. This should have been the empty field he had been testing from. He noticed a lone figure standing in the darkness. \n\n\"Hello?\" he asked. The figure stepped forward slowly. \"Hello?!?\" panic crept into his voice. The figure didn't say anything, eventually he got close enough and Harpell could make out a face. It was Tormash, the warrior from the village he had just left behind thousands of years ago. \n\n\"What? How? You-\" Harpell sputtered. Regaining his senses he turned to run back into the machine and go to sometime else. But as he did Tormash blurred into supernatural speed and appeared between him and the door to the time machine.\n\nTormash smiled in the light of the time machines interior. \"Looks like your time's run out.\" And with a flash he was on Harpell and draining his blood. In moments he was drained and collapsed on the floor, dead. \n\nTormash wiped his mouth with his sleeve. \"You know, for waiting thousands of years I figured this would be more fulfilling.\" He searched Harpell's clothes and found the stolen talisman. \"Oh well, I guess I should return this.\" He stepped into the time machine. \"A vampire with a time machine... I wonder what Gengis Khan would be like as a vampire.\""
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[WP] Your life as a milkman is boring and monotonous, that is until you knock on the door of a customer and the skeletal image of Death greets 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",
"\"Hello Ms. Jones, here's your milk.\" Louis placed the crate of milk on the doorstep and rang the bell. His voice was monotonous and drawling, even when he tried to sound upbeat. He hated Ms. Jones perhaps the most. Wasn't the joke that the attractive mother had affairs with the milkman? Louis had never been that lucky, and Ms. Jones would send him on his way without even a tip.\n\nA quiet voice comes from behind the door. \"Please, leave.\"\n\n\"What, without payment? That's smart, miss, I'll take yer milk.\" Louis scowls a bit.\n\n\"No, no, I can slide the payment under the door, perhaps.\"\n\n\"What on earth has gone on, Ms. Jones? I've been here before, every day, you open the door, hand me fifty cents, and shoo me off your stoop, what on earth has happened today?\" Louis squints at the door, as though trying to see through it.\n\n\"Just, here, take this, and hurry along, you've got other deliveries to make.\" A dollar bill (a whole dollar!) was pushed through the letter flap.\n\n\"You know that you just gave me a whole dollar, right miss?\" This was so unlike her. What has happened?\n\n\"Move along, go on!\"\n\nLouis walked away, and moved down the street a ways before ducking below a picket fence, and peeking up to look back at the door. Ms. Jones slowly opened the door, peeking out, when Louis saw her face and his half\\-closed, tired eyes opened all the way, staring. Her skin was pulled tight across her skull, neck, shoulders, arms, her hair was falling out, barely covering her scalp. Her eyes were wide, as though she had no eye\\-lids, and her lips were shriveled, exposing white teeth. She looked like a damn skeleton!\n\n\"Holy cow... \n\nI've stuck myself. I can't think of an ending."
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"1528238059",
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[WP] time is literally money (you can save it, invest it, loans, etc.) The poor die young the rich live forever you are rich but feel emapthy toward the poor | 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",
"First time ever really writing, please leave a constructive comment :)\n\nA room of white,\n\nwith chairs of black,\n\nA man waits,\n\nto hear her fate.\n\n\nWhat can I do?\n\nThe man asks himself.\n\nI have immense wealth,\n\nand nothing more.\n\n\nA nurse in white,\n\nWalks through the night,\n\nWith bad news to bare,\n\nTo the man in the chair\n\n\n\"Your daughters dies,\n\nfrom what's inside,\n\nWe cannot even try,\n\nso you must say,\"\n\n\"Goodbye\"\n\n\nA little girl, in sheets of white,\n\nsurrounded by the cruel night,\n\nlooks at the man, his soul so mad,\n\nand whispers,\n\n\"I love you dad.\"\n\n\nAs he held her hand,\n\nshe told the sunken man,\n\nthat it will all be fine,\n\neveryone must face their time\n\n\nAnd as her heartbeat faded,\n\nand her eyes closed,\n\nhe wished that she had more time,\n\nas she was only nine.\n\n\nAnd as the man stood there in gloom,\n\nDeath rose from his tomb,\n\nand addressed the man,\n\nin the white washed room.\n\n\n\"the poor cut down by my scythe,\n\nbecoming lost in the night,\n\neven as you stayed young,\n\nand continued your merry fun.\"\n\n\n\"you are a man of wealth and taste,\n\nbut even you must face,\n\nlosing what matters most,\n\nand see your daughters fading ghost.\"\n\n\nThe man looked at Death,\n\nfrom who he had run from for so long,\n\nand with a courageous breath,\n\nstepped into the arms of Death\n\n\n\"Take me instead, give her my time,\n\nfor she has bled upon this bed,\n\nand it is me who should be dead.\"\n\n\n"
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1,
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"1528250297",
"1528251780"
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[WP] You are a serial killer whose day job is at Target. Things have never been easier, and you laugh about it all the time | 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",
"The first target I ever picked out at Target, oh ain't I clever, was a chainsmoker. The guy needed a cig so bad he didn't even notice the damaged plastic that surrounded his pack. I learned quickly that smokers aren't your best pick though. He fired one up right in front of the store and I kept an eye on him while facing the produce. He collapsed, I knew I went a bit overboard out of enthousiasm while filling the cigarettes but did not expect it to have this big of an impact. That was it. First kill; over in a matter of seconds. What an anti-climax that was. After that I held some pretty risky experiments. I even abducted a sleeping newborn by just rolling out of the store with the cart that held his Maxi-Cosi, only to chicken out and dump him behind the KFC dumpster down the street. The alcoholics are my go-to targets these days. They return often enough to make themselves known, they mumble on about all kinds of personal stuff and you know they'll be drinking anything you sell them once they get home. \n\nIn fact... Sleazy Sue, as I started calling her, just enterred the store. Her hair looks wet eventhough it's sunny out. She's staring at some racks of wich I'm not even sure what they contain, I don't really pay attention while filling them. My heartbeat speeds up it's pace as I decide today is the day. My target is acquired and I am prepared. I check my watch and see I have half an hour untill my shift ends. Perfect. I have a bag under the register that contains the spiked bottle of Sue's favourite vodka brand that I need to sell to her. With a little bit of luck I'll be able to tell Sue it has a discount on it today without anybody hearing. She will leave the store with the bottle and walk by the nearest newspaper stand to read the headlines. This will give me enough time to end my shift and follow her home. I've done proofruns before without following her all the way to avoid suspicion. I hold my breath as I watch her hesitate for just a second before walking into my cashier lane.\n\nAs suspected, Sue put the bottle at her lips even before closing the front door of her shitty apartment and I quietly follow her inside. It doesn't take long before sleazy Sue passes out on the floor. I start getting rid of the rest of the bottle and preparing the neuce. Calmly and quietly I proceed to hang Sue by her neck from her own chandelier bolt on the ceiling. Now the best part. I take a deep breath and let her go. Her eyes open wide in agony. She's back. She tries to scream, tries to stroke the floor beneath her feet, making her situation worse and my amusement better. I giggle and look her right in the eyes. They are quite pretty. For a second I reminisce about that first guy, the smoker, and feel proud. I've come a long way."
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"1528286419",
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[WP] A genie once gave you the ability to see 5 minutes into the future with the twist that if anyone ever finds out, you die. You're on your way home with a random person you flirted with at the bar when you see the two of you suddenly being murdered. | 73 | [
"**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",
"\"How you doing?\" I said as I wrapped my arm around the beautiful tall woman who stood to my left. She smiled at me shyly. I was a handsome man, so I didn't blame her for feeling coy. \"Do ye com here oftin?\" I flashed her my best smile but the world was tilting. Suddenly, I was lying on the concrete with nothing but trees and grass around me. Someone was laughing and in a moment I realized that it was me.\n\n\"I tink I had too many,\" I said with a giggle to the tree I had been flirting with. \"Oh well.\" \n\nI rolled onto my side and tried to push myself up, but gravity had a hold on me and the world was spinning. I couldn't stop laughing long enough to actually focus on my task and I decided that the ground was really comfortably anyway, so why get up?\n\nAs I laid on the side of the road, looking up between the bright street lights and into the cloudy sky, I thought about how I had ended up in this situation. When I had arrived at the bar earlier that evening all I had intended to do was have a few drinks with my friends and then call it a night. There was something important I had to do tomorrow morning, but I didn't remember what it was.\n\n\"Have a god ev'ing.\" I said to the woman and dog that walked past me. The woman gave me a look as her dog started to lick my face. I giggled and rolled onto my stomach. The woman pulled her dog away and walked swiftly down the street. \"Don't let him pee on me!\" I shouted as she walked. Then I burst out laughing at the mental image of a dog pissing on me. As I laid there laughing one thing became very clear: I needed more drinks!\n\nI took in a deep breath and tried to muster enough strength to get up from the ground. I rolled onto my stomach, rested my forearms on the grass, and then pushed up. My feet found there way to the ground and I stumbled around for a minute as if I was walking on ice, but I eventually got my footing and fell into the open branches of the tree. \n\n\"Thanks,\" I said, giving it a nice big kiss. \n\nI pushed away from the tree and started to walk down the street in the direction that I thought the bar was in, but I was not completely sure. The crisp evening breeze caught my hair and pinched my cheeks. I was not wearing enough layers to comfortably walk in this weather, but luckily I was drunk enough to not feel much. I started to think about what it would be like to walk completely naked though the streets when a woman came around the corner. I met her eyes and a horrible pain bust into my temples.\n\n*A man and a woman meet in the middle of a block. They had met before, earlier that evening, and they stand by the alley and chat. The woman pushes her hair out of her face and laughs at something the man says. The man leans in for a kiss and the woman takes a step back.* \n\n*A crash erupts in the alleyway. A man in a mask runs out from the shadows. He holds a gun towards the woman who backs up with wide blue eyes. The man in the mask yells something at the woman and she starts to cry and beg. The man outside of the alley tries to wrestle the gun from the man in the mask. The man in the mask fires the gun into the chest of the other man. Blood spills over the mouth of the alleyway and the woman screams. The man in the mask turns his shaking hands back to the woman. He fires the gun a second time and then runs. The man and the woman lie in pools of their own blood as their empty eyes gaze up at the stars.*\n\nThe pain faded just as quickly as it hit me and I stumbled backwards. For the first time since I met that damned genie I was at a complete loss as to what to do. \n\n\"Be warned,\" The genie had said to me, \"If anyone finds out about your abilities, you will die. You will be able to see five minutes into the future, no more, no less.\" \n\n\"Fuck!\" I said, turning back in the direction I had come. But then I stopped. The woman who was killed in my vision had been such a lovely person. She was a fifth grade teacher working on a novel. She had dreams to be a mother one day and to start a charity to help support low-income families. She was such a wonderful person, how could I just let her die? \n\nI, on the other hand, was a piece of shit. I had been fired, again, and I had no direction in my life. My dreams consisted of drinking as much as I could before I died in a pool of my own vomit, and using my inheritance money to help me do so. I had no ambitions or anything like that. I did not intend to leave the world a better place. I actually kind of wanted to leave the world a worse place. \n\nI glanced back at the woman. She was almost at the mouth of the alley now. But how the hell could I save her without revealing my abilities and not getting killed myself? I didn't have much time. \n\nWithout giving it a second thought I ran towards the alley, which was a much more difficult feat than I had anticipated. I was running, but I was completely unable to do it in a straight line. The woman furrowed her brow as I approached and then smiled. \n\n\"Hi!\" She said, \"What are you doing her-?\" \n\nI pushed past her, nearly fell over my own two feet, and ran down the alley. She looked after me so I pretended to unzip my pants. She made a disgusted sound and continued walking. I looked around the alley. It was pitch black and smelled of urine and garbage. As far as I could tell there was no one else here. \n\n*Crash!*\n\nI jumped back as a man jumped from the second floor window, landed on the garbage bin, and rolled onto the floor. He got up and reached inside of his jacket. \n\nI ran to him and kicked him in the stomach. My aim was a little off as the world was still on a tilt, but I managed to knock him back a little.\n\n\"You piece of shit!\" I said as I went in for another hit. He moved out of the way casually and tried to push past me. I reached my foot out and tripped him. The gun rolled out of his jacket and landed with a splash in the alleyway. I jumped over him and landed with a bang on the gun. I knocked my jaw against the concrete and I split my chin open. Blood pooled from my face and I could taste it in my mouth. The man jumped on top of me and put me in a choke-hold. I tried to grab the gun but my hands were slipping. \n\nThe man put more force into his choke-hold and he leaned his face close to the back of my head. I snapped my head back and knocked him in the teeth. He groaned and released me for a second. I grabbed the gun, stood up, and ran. \n\nRunning was not something I was known for, especially if I had been drinking. The man in the mask was right behind me. The gun was slippery in my hands. \n\nHe chased me and was right on my tail. As a horribly drunk individual I did not have much of a chance to beat him so I looked around helplessly for an option. \n\nSuddenly I was knocked to the ground and the man was on top of me. He reached for the gun and I tossed it away. There were a few people walking on the street and some glanced out way. \n\n“Call the police!” I shouted as the man in the mask tried to choke me once more. He looked up and saw all of the people. \n\n“Fuck!” He said. He punched me in the face and I felt my nose crunch. Blood pooled into my mouth and I couldn’t breathe. I started to choke and the man got off me, ran towards the gun, and fled. \n\nI rolled onto my stomach with a groan and watched the man run in the direction of the woman. A few people ran to me and asked if I was okay.\n\n“Did you call the police?” I said lightly, through the wet, hot, blood. \n\n“Yes!” They said, “are you okay?”\n\nI rolled onto my stomach and everything went black.\n\n****\nThis was not the first time that I had woken up in a hospital room, but I was sure it was the most painful. The lights were too bright and the machine sounds made my head pound. My face hurt the most. \n\nI looked around and my eyes went wide as I saw the woman from the bar standing at the end of my bed. She looked just as bad as I did, with her black eye and her arm in a sling. Her eyes widened as she saw my open eyes and her cheeks flushed. \n\n“Sorry,” she said, “I-I didn’t think you would be awake.” \n\nI adjusted my weight with a groan and felt my own cheeks flush. \n\n“Don’t be sorry,” I said, “What happened?” \n\nShe looked down at her arm. She was very beautiful. The sunlight that danced through the open window brought out the red tones in her hair and her bright blue eyes were soft and kind. I think her name was Linda, but I couldn’t really remember. Last night was more of a blur than anything. \n\n“My ex boyfriend happened.” She said lightly, “He had been sending me death threats but I never thought he would actually act on them.”\n\n“I’m sorry,” I said, “I am glad you are alright.”\n\n“Thanks to you,” She said, looking back at me with water-filled eyes. “I heard what you did. Because of you the police were called to the scene and they were able to get control over the situation before anything terrible happened.”\n\n“I was just taking a piss.” I said. She smiled. I found it odd that she found me so charming. Most woman thought I was too crass. \n\n“Well,” she said, “Lucky for me you revealed yourself when you did and were able to prevent him from getting to me sooner. How did you manage to keep him away anyway? You were so drunk.”\n\n“I honestly don’t know,” I said, “It was more luck than anything else I think.” \n\n“Well,” Linda said shyly, “Thank you.” \n\nShe walked to me and sat on the edge of my bed. My heart began to beat against my chest. She smelled like wildflowers after a rainstorm. Her bright blue eyes studied mine and I felt the entire hospital melt away. It was just us. \n\nShe leaned towards me and pressed her perfect pink lips against my dry, cracked lips. Colors burst behind my eyelids as she pressed herself against me. My entire body filled with warmth. \n\n(continued in comments)",
"Her eyes were the only thing that mattered. Deep, melancholic green eyes that surveyed her surroundings with precision and wit, gleaning inspiration. I carried myself with confidence as we walked down the street, but inside I was clueless. I hadn't seen her in my future. Yet, here she was, walking me to her apartment boldly, walking with the stride of a person who has plans. I hoped she couldn't feel my heartbeat or the anticipation of my fantasies, raw and unspeakable acts of passions that began and ended with her. As my mind wandered, she reached her hand out to me, lightly holding on to my forearm. \n\nShe had a way with her hands. I had been at Lizzy's, my favorite alcohol cave. I was bored, starting a gin and tonic on my bar stool, and swinging the rotating stool from side to side. It had been a low night, because my future held little optimism. My ability to see five minutes into the future kept showing me sitting at the bar, getting blotto, and failing to talk to any of the beautiful women surrounding me. The same beautiful women who probably thought I was straight, or bicurious, with my high femme looks.\n\nShe had blindsided me. I never saw her coming. She had sidled up to me, running her left hand \\-\\- ringless with trimmed nails \\-\\- from my knee to thigh, just to the edge of my black leather mini skirt, in one long, smooth strong motion. I had almost spit out my drink that I was sipping on. Instead, I had downed the rest, put my glass on the bar, and called the bartender for another. In my periphery, I saw what appeared to be a climber's body trimly tucked into what I called the \"downtown warrior\" uniform: slim fit, high waisted black pants that showed off her powerful thighs, block heel Chelsea boots, and a slinky cotton top angled in all the right places in a charcoal gray color. \n\nShe didn't let me wait for my drink. She put her other hand on my other leg, twirled my stool until I faced her, spread my legs, and stood between my knees. The look on her face was so fierce, I briefly wondered if she was angry at me. I returned her gaze coolly, terrified. Clearly, she was into me. I tried to scan my brain for what comes next, but my mind was empty. Apparently the genie's gift didn't work when lust was on the brain.\n\nPart of me was on fire, ready to slide her hand further up my skirt, let her touch me, and then stop her coldly only to say 'Not here' and follow her to domination station at her place. The bigger part of me was absolutely useless, so I kept silent. She leaned in to my ear.\n\n\"I've seen you before,\" she whispered. \"My girlfriend just dumped me. You're alone, and I'm in the mood. Come with me to my place.\" \n\nShe leaned back. The bartender left my drink on the bar. I didn't say anything to her, just kept eye contact, picked up my drink, and sipped it. She smiled. She grabbed my hand, and I got up. Leaving my drink, I mumbled something about paying the tab later, they know me.\n\nShe introduced herself. Levia. She was in advertisement for tech. She had a studio not far from me: same block, different building. We chatted as we walked. My laughs came in bursts. I was nervous. The only thing that kept me surefooted were her eyes. As she reached out to me, putting her hand on my arm, my inner eye exploded with a vision.\n\nBlood on the ground. We were both sprawled. Black liquid in the night dripped from slices in our clothes. Shattered glass. A figure running, my purse in hand. A cell phone lay on the ground, crushed, the digital time banner displaying an 11 intersected with fractured lines.\n\nI lurched. She caught me. She pulled me in tight, holding me. \"Too much to drink, eh?\" I nodded. I couldn't say anything. I knew that the price of my secret was death. Or so my mother told me, the woman who had actually done the deal with the genie. I mumbled something about a ride and checked my phone. 10:55. I still had five minutes left.\n\nMy breath already shallow from anticipation, it zoomed quickly to hyperventilation in fear. She called my name: \"Vivian! Vivian!\"\n\nWhat to do. Death would happen either way. Not enough time.\n\nI chose the sweetest death I could think of: \"Levia. In 4 minutes, a strange man is going to murder us in the street. I can see the future, and what will happen may be painful. We need to prepare, but before we do, let me say I think you're the most beautiful woman in the world. Will you kiss me?\"\n\nShe laughed. She kissed me. My inner eye changed, and the man was no longer there. She and I were walking into her apartment, barely keeping our clothes on. Her hand was up my skirt in the alcove before the doorway. I was moaning, panting for her to get her goddamn key out.\n\nThe kiss seemed to last forever. When she finally parted from my lips, I sighed like she had quenched my thirst in a desert. She whispered in my ear.\n\n\" I am the genie,\" she said. \"I fell in love with you as I watched over you.\"\n\nI stared, struck with the idea. \"No way.\"\n\n\"Yes way,\" she said. \"Come on. Let's go home.\"\n\n\"But what about death is the price of sharing my gift?\" I asked.\n\nShe laughed with mirth. \"I already knew about your secret.\"",
"The vision went as soon as it came. The most obvious detail being his bright red door. According to it they would inevitably be murdered right at his doorstep.\"Are you okay?\" she asked worried. Four Minutes left. \"Yeah its just the alcohol\" he lied. He had lead this girl into her death, and he didn't even remember her name. Maybe if they were around people he could avoid his fate. He thought of an excuse. \"I forgot my keys back at the bar, Would you mind waling back with me?\" He asked apologetically. \"Sure\" she said with a radiant smile. Three minutes left. They walked back towards the bar, avoiding the puddles left from that evening's summer rain. Her phone rang. One minute left. \"Hold on let me get this\" She pleaded. \"The reception in there sucks\". He was so anxious he didn't noticed the puddle they were standing on. Or the broken electric line that finally snapped and touched the ground. They died instantly. Ten minutes later, a passerby found their bodies, lying in front of the bar's bright red door.",
"\"And that's when I bought the horse a prostitute!\"\n\nI smiled, trying to be charming. She covered her mouth trying to stifle her laugh at the bawdy joke. \"So uh, what do you do? When you aren't hiring prostitutes that is.\"\n\nI knew that joke would work. Of course I always know what jokes will work and what won't. I have to wait a bit to ensure I tell it at the right time, exactly 5 minutes after I see the joke. I've gotten a pretty good internal timer since I was exposed to those radioactive clocks.\n\n\"I'm a Systems Analyst. Which is just fancy speak for I make computers do the thing computers are supposed to do.\" I swirled my finger on the rim of my glass and gestured to the bartender for another. He waved from the other side of the bar and got to work. \"What do you do?\"\n\nI already knew the answer so while she talked I looked into my minds eye. Exactly 5 minutes from now we would be making out in the bathroom. Nice. But then he heard a crash in his vision. The kiss broke apart as yelling came from the front of the bar. \n\nFour large and heavily armed men were rounding up the patrons on one side of the bar. I could see one of the men with a shotgun walking towards the bathrooms. Shit.\n\n\"Are you ok?\"\n\n\"Hrmm?\" I broke out of my trance. \n\n\"You kind of zoned out there for a minute. Were you even paying attention?\" she asked.\n\n\"Oh uh- of course. You're a vet tech, you love horses the most but don't get to work with them very much.\" I answered. The bartender dropped off my new drink.\n\n\"Oh. That's good because you're pretty cute.\" She twirled her hair unconsciously. \"So you want to go somewhere a little more private?\" A knowing smile twisted in her lips as she spoke.\n\n\"Sure. Just. Let me go to the bathroom real quick.\" Without waiting for a response I stood and turned to leave. Inside the bathroom I cleared my mind and re-entered the trance.\n\nHe was staring down the barrel of a shotgun. He had been moved into the bars main room. His date was beside him and they were both on their knees. Half the armed men were watching us while the rest ransacked the place. \n\nWithout warning the bar's owner pulled out a revolver and shot one of the robbers in the head. The next thing that happened was a bit of a blur but another robber was shot in the gut before the owner of the bar went down in a hail of bullets. \n\n\"Well shit.\" the apparent leader of the bandits said. His wounded gang member rolled and moaned on the floor being tended to by one of the other thugs. He took a deep breath, turned and whispered to the one that still had his gun leveled at us. His face blanched and he whispered back. This went back and forth for a bit before the leader yelled, \"FINE! I'LL FUCKING DO IT THEN!\"\n\nRoughly he pulled the shotgun from the other man, leveled it at one of the other bar patrons, and pulled the trigger. A loud BANG went off as the mans blood and brains splattered the wall behind him. \n\n\"What? No- No!\" the next man said right before he was cut down. Next it was my turn, I tried to run but got shot in the back. I rolled over, faced the barrel of the gun, and all went black.\n\nBack to reality I shook. I had just seen my own death. I tried to reenter the trance but couldn't. Every time I opened my minds eye all I saw was blackness. I needed to leave, and now. \n\nI walked out into the bar and straight to my date. \"We've got to get out of here. You ready to go?\"\n\n\"Aww, but I need to pay for my drinks first,\" she purred. I pulled out my wallet and pulled out several bills and slammed them on bar. \n\n\"Let's go.\" Alarm rose in her face.\n\n\"Why in such a hurry? You haven't even finished touched your drink.\"\n\n\"No time, let's go.\" I took her hand and started to pull her out of the bar. She reluctantly came along, uncertain as to what was going on. I stepped out the front door of the bar just in time to see the armed men walking straight toward me. Shit.\n\nI spun and walked back inside. Ok, what's the plan? Is there a backdoor? \"What's going on?\" my date asked now clearly worried.\n\n\"I uh- can't explain. We've got to get out of here but not through the front.\" I strode back towards the kitchen pushing through the door.\n\n\"Hey you can't go back there!\" the bartender yelled from behind the bar. I paid no attention and tried to pull my date with me but she resisted. \n\n\"Tell me what's going on right NOW!\" she demanded, \"I'm not going back there.\"\n\n\"Well,\" I paused \"Good luck.\" And I left her behind. It took me only a moment once in the kitchen to spot the back exit. I ran out and let the door swing open behind me. I could hear the yelling start in the front of the bar as I made my escape.\n\nI ran into the woods behind the bar and once safely concealed I tried to open my minds eye again. I heard the screeching of tires from the front street like a vehicle making a getaway. I didn't hear anything else. I crept out of the woods and back into the bar. It was a massacre. The dead thug lied on the ground flanked on all sides by dead bar patrons. My date lie in a pool of her own blood from a shotgun blast to the chest. Not a good way to go.\n\nBack to reality I visibly shook. I quickly thought over my options, I could wait and escape after, I could try and get away now, or I could do something extremely stupid. I elected for something extremely stupid. I quickly ran back inside. Peering through the window to the bar from the kitchen I saw the owner gradually inching his hand to the concealed revolver. Now or never. I burst out of the kitchen. \"WAIT!\" Everyone in the room froze.\n\nThen all the thugs turned on me weapons raised. \"You've got to listen to me, please!\" The thugs looked to each other amused. \"The police are on their way, they'll be here in under 5 minutes. You guys can shoot me dead if you want, but you need to leave now if you want to avoid being caught.\" I lied.\n\n\"It's a bluff.\" The leader said.\n\n\"Very far from it actually.\" I grimaced really hoping they wouldn't call the bluff. \"Shoot me if you are so certain. Add a murder to the list of crimes if you get caught.\"\n\nThe thugs looked between each other. The leader said, \"Well, shit. We already got the money, let's get the hell out of here.\" With that the thugs turned to leave, being sure to keep their weapons leveled at us to prevent us from following. A moment later I heard the familiar squealing of the getaway cars tires burning out on the road.\n\nThe bar patrons immediately came over to me. The owner gave me a big bear hug and the bartender clapped me on the back. \"You're drinks are on me forever man. Forever.\"\n\nMy date was the last to approach. \"How did you know? How did you know they were coming?\"\n\n\"I uh- can't explain.\"\n\n\"What are you in with them or something?\"\n\n\"NO!?! Nothing like that. I just can't talk about it.\" \n\nHer mouth tightened in a small frown. Then understanding dawned on her face. \"Wait a minute, you're gifted aren't you?\" My face blanched. \"You are!\"\n\nThat's when I felt my heart stop. It's a weird sensation this familiar feeling that you don't even notice suddenly goes away. I fell to my knees. \"Oh no oh no oh no! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to- I didn't.\" I fell on my face.\n\nLying there feeling my life slip away my last thought before the darkness closed in was. \"Damn, and I didn't even get laid first.\""
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[removed] | [WP] Whenever somebody kills another person, he gets a random ability. The more brutal the kill is, the higher the chance for a powerful ability becomes. This has led to humanity nearly wiping itself out. | 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",
"That many kills were supposed to give a volume of powers. He should have become the most powerful man in the world. Others had slain, and gained abilities beyond imagination. He had looked at the worst. A school shooter, shot a child, gained immense focus. Shot another, speed was added, shot three more and in an instant transformed into a beast. \nA distraught mother, unable to bear the burden of her child's crying. As her husband worked, she held her child, held it until there was no struggle, no bubbles, no life. For a moment, the only thing that changes the bath water were her tears. Then warmth. The bath boiled, and her whole body was engulfed in flames of rage.\nA hooded man in the park. Witnesses say they arrived just as he changed. Mid carnal act, one too many strikes to convince her to hold still, stop screaming, just. Stop. Struggling. The other joggers had startled the man, and with a leap, he vanished into the clouds.\n\nKills had given people powers. Not everybody. Only the most violent. And it appeared the more victims the more powers. It was on every news site, in every country. Translated into every language, were stories of violent deaths, seemingly enabling evil to be more evil. \nHe had performed his act, expecting to become the single greatest threat to the world. Surely the powers would make him unstoppable. Nobody had taken more than 17 lives. Yet he took a little less than 3000, including the 19 innocent, decieved souls he sent to do his bidding. He felt the change instantly. One single power. One strong, yet immensely powerful ability. And with it a craving. A desire to use it. \nThe power to heal had taken over. A man once wrought with hatred, and desire for domination had been given the power to heal. So he began to heal. First his own followers, then innocent families in surrounding areas, then off to other countries. And with each heal he fell more ill, what started as a cough, lead to headaches. With too many saved his skin yellowed as his kidneys began to fail. In the end all he could do was sit and wait. No amount of healing could ever convince them to forgive the acts he commited. And as they burst through the door, weapons focused on him. One last feeling overcame him. Regret. Regret he hadn't healed more, regret for the 19 he sent to do his bidding. Regret for ever sending the planes into those towers.",
"It's been a decade since the new empire has begun. The old democratic system was replaced by a tyrannical empire led by the warlord who at his most brutal moment, murdered a helpless child by pulling his eyes out and making him choke on them. Causing him to gain the power of telepathy so dominating that a blink can stop a heartbeat, little stood on his path to take the world as his own, and any who attempted only added to his power making him nearly unstoppable. The rebellion, named the \"Pacifists\", are incredibly elusive and carry many means to end their own life to ensure the empire won't gain any powers. Within the Pacifists, the highest rankings officers are chemists searching for a cure to end this violent cycle. Despite the advantage of suicide, the Pacifist numbers are dwindling as we speak and right now, a race against time to find a cure may be coming to an end. \n\n(That's all I got and I hope this is good enough (probably isn't tho))"
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[removed] | [WP] The flat earthers were right, but the government was only trying to protect us from what is on the other side of the earth... | 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 u/Privateaccount84, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**No explicitly sexual responses, hate speech, or other harmful content**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_2.3A_no_explicitly_sexual_responses.2C_hate_speech.2C_or_other_harmful_content)\n\n- Politics: We are not currently allowing political prompts (see rule #7) as the aim of the sub is to encourage people to write and political prompts are leading to arguments instead of stories. \n\n*Prompts will be removed if there's a high possibility for rule breaking responses ([rule 7](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_7.3A_prompts_will_be_removed_if_there.27s_a_high_possibility_for_rule_breaking_responses))*\n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8p7wvi/-/%0A%0A) us if you have any questions or concerns. In the future, please refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. \n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*"
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[WP] A new 'Sleeping Pill' came out that lets you take it as a 'sleep supplement' without having to ever sleep. Everyone is taking them, able to be more productive. You don't trust or take them and start seeing the side effects. | 898 | [
"**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",
"&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I took my wife to the ocean.\n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; It was the one place she loved more than life itself, perhaps even more than she had loved me. The decision was made unceremoniously, and before I knew it we were on the road. We were able to make the drive in less than twenty minutes. That was a new record for us. Of course, the roads weren’t as clear in the past as they are these days. The light was just beginning to fade into evening when I carried her to her jeep, and I had some trouble getting her up onto the back seat, but I managed and that was the important thing. I drove the whole way with one steady hand on the wheel and the other reaching back between the seats, my palm pressed to her chest as it rose and fell. Her breathing was slow and consistent and habitual.\n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I don’t have a lot of time, so I will give you the basics with a sincere hope it will suffice: it was suppose to be a miracle drug — *Sleep-All*. All you had to do is take just one daily and it wiped out all sleep requirements. It was created, patented, marketed and finally swallowed by almost every human on the planet. Some animals, too, depending on the morality of their owners. That infuriating jingle still rings in my head; pop one a day, stay up and play! Instant rest at no great expense. At least, that’s what they thought.\n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; My weariness of the product’s safety was only secondary to my own personal reason not to use it. I loved to dream. My wife liked to joke that I craved it like a drug and maybe she was right. Maybe those nightly excursions into that dream world were nothing but a dessert after a long day of life, my chocolate cake after dinner.\n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; So people popped one a day and stayed up and played, even when play actually meant longer work days, less time spent at home, and faster wear and tear on their bodies — but hey, the product worked, right? My wife loved it because she could never sleep to begin with. She would toil and squirm under the sheets for hours at a time, trying to fall into that dream world I was so easily able to reach. \n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Of course, people popped more than one a day.\n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I had finally managed to get my wife out of the jeep, and was almost across the beach with her draped across my arms, when I recalled the day I found her popping more than one *Sleep-All*. “It’s just and extra one, every other day,” she had told me. Her voice had a shaky cadence, like a kid trying to sway an irate parent. “Everyone is doing it.”\n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; She was right, they were, but I didn’t blame her. Maybe it was just as much a dessert to the poppers as dreaming was to myself. I hold nothing against her for doing it.\n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; After she was gone, I went back to the jeep and got a pen, one of her little notepads, and my bottle of water. I’m sitting on the beach as I write this. It’s so dark now I can barely see the words, but I reckon I’m staying legible enough. When this is finished I’m planning to drink the rest of my water, roll this page into the bottle and cast it out to sea. I wonder how long it will bob out there on the water until its found. Or will it just sink to the bottom like she had?\n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; By the time they realized there was something wrong with the number one miracle drug, it was too late. People had begun to simply stop existing, leaving behind nothing but their idling body, an abandoned machine running without an operator. It was irreversible. And the final nail in the coffin for most people: all it took was for a singular pop.\nPretty soon the world was full of people like her, and very few people like me. If you’re thinking all hell must have broken out, then you would be surprised. Most people like me are way too busy trying to cope with entire families that are stricken like my wife.\n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; For me, it was just me and her. \n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; It had always just been the two of us.\n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I’m crying as I write and I think my tears may be destroying this note. I carried her into the surf and walked as far out into the water as I could. I lost my sandals almost immediately, and my feet got diced so badly the water around us had begun to cloud red. But I couldn’t feel the pain, still can’t even now. I paddled with her until my legs began to tire and then we just floated there for a while. The water was freezing but it didn’t bother her. Those beautiful big eyes of hers simply stared ahead, forever unseeing, just like all the other poppers. I kissed her on the lips and told her I loved her and then I let her go. I wasn’t sure what I’d thought I might feel when this moment came. I’m not even sure now what I felt. She floated for a few moments on the surface, her skin a sickly sliver in the rising moon. \n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Then she was gone. There was no sound.\n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I might have floated there for a lifetime before I kicked back to shore. For a while I sat on the beach as the surf licked my bleeding feet, regarding the trail of deep, bloody footprints leading up out of the water. I tried my best to pick the shells and detritus out of the deep wounds before going to get this pen and notebook.\n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; It was all I could do for her.\n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Even though I’d heard what some of the others had done for their loved ones; but I’m not a violent man, it was better to let her slip away into the place she loved. I bet she can dream down there in the darkness. We had met and parted at this very stretch of ocean.\n\n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Soon I will swim out there and let those dark waves take me under. The carton in my back pocket was soggy and ran with water, but it didn’t matter; I emptied the contents into my palm and popped them all.\n \n&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; \n \n",
"“Honey, you’re starting to look fatigued. Maybe getting some rest will do you some good for once.”\n\n“No,” my husband replied, twitchy and manic. “Not- not again. I won’t- I won’t lose you again.”\n\nI embraced him into a warm, loving hug. \n\n“I’m right here, sweetheart. No one’s going anywhere. Just skip your dosage for one day. I’ll be here when you wake up.”\n\nHe looked at the clock on the wall, realizing the day was almost over. Tears welled in his eyes, sliding down his face, but he nodded anyway. \n\n“I’ll help tuck you in.”\n\nGuiding him to the bedroom, we took off his shoes and clothes together, sliding him beneath the soft sheets. His eyes fluttered; after three consecutive weeks on the drug, it was finally starting to fade from his bloodstream, thanks to my gentle coaxing. \n\nMy husband’s eyes closed, and I kissed him on the forehead. \n\n“That’s it. Relax. Let it go.”\n\nI tucked the sheets up to his neck, and noticed my hands were already transparent. \n\n“I love you,” I whispered, forming tears of my own. One drop rolled down my cheek and began to fall to the carpet. \n\nI heard my husband snore lightly, unconscious for the first time in a month. The drug’s control of his brain was relinquished as he slumbered, freeing him of his hallucinations. \n\nI looked at the picture of the smiling couple, husband and wife, on his nightstand, and smiled as well. \n\n“I love you,” I repeated. \n\nMy body disappeared in a wisp; the fallen tears never touched the ground. ",
"I looked back at the shorelines of dover one last time. I had a ferry full of supplies and as much filtered water as I could get my hands on. \n\nThey should have paid more attention to the long term side effects; decreased white blood cell count, changes in cognitive functions. Sure, the company told us all not to take \"waking tablets\" for more than two weeks in a row, but who listened to them? \n\n6 months after their release a strange new disease popped up. Peoples toes and feet looked more like tree roots, covered in bark like rashes. Their blood flow and metabolism slowed right down. They decided it was a fungal infection. Despite quarantine efforts it spread at an alarming rate.\n\nIt was only after giant corporations started spiking the tap water with this so called miracle drug that we realised; the tablets had the chance of altering our very DNA. Not only that, but it had the strange effect of making our bodies more like a fungus than a mammal. An intelligent, human fungus, but nonetheless terrifying.\n\nI cranked up the engine. The town had turned into a forest of 20 foot tall, fire resistant fungi. When the change had completed, the former humans began to release toxic spores. The lucky ones would mutate, the others would be forced out of the cities and towns. \n\nI'd prepared for disasters. Water soon became short in supply as springs and aquifers became contaminated with spores. The more remote parts of Scotland were swarmed by refugees seeking safe water to drink. Many starved, or died drinking the spores. \n\nI'd kept my rather large supply of bottled water secret till I could shift it onto this here boat. Maybe I could last a few more months. Maybe I'd find a clean island somewhere and grow old. All I knew was that life couldn't be the same.",
"The ground was littered with bodies. The lucky ones were dead. The majority were wriggling about in agonizing pain. Between the groans and cries, there was a constant splashing sound as they flopped about in semi\\-coagulated puddles of blood.\n\nKatya was thin but not gaunt. She had worked for years as a secretary and finally saved up enough money to get that Marchessa Notte dress from Neiman Marcus she had been eyeing for months. But now the beautiful floral pattern was no longer viewable through the layers of blood that coated it. For hours she had been fighting them off. She was exhausted but triumphant, and when she looked around, she grinned just a bit. It wasn't quite a smile, because she couldn't muster a smile, but it was enough. She sighed, dropped the glass award she had been using for a weapon, and sat on the ground. There was a quaint *plop* as she landed in a maroon pool beneath her.\n\n\"This didn't,\" she panted, \"have to happen. I told you. I told you all. You need to sleep.\" She laboriously breathed a few more times. \"And now you can.\"\n\nShe started to doze off when a clanging woke her. She was standing before her eyes were even open, and coming her way were two more of her colleagues. Their eyes were glossed over, and their heads hung low, but their intention was clear: get to Katya. She sighed, and picked up the award again.\n\n\"For always doing a commendable job,\" she read. \"Listen, Barbara,\" she directed at the two. \"You're the one person I was hoping would come down here. Because I cannot fucking stand you. Remember when you used to praise that sleeping pill? And you'd come down to my desk and talk on and on and fucking on about it? And I was always thinking to myself, 'God I want to kill this bitch.' Well guess what.\"\n\nBarbara stepped within arm's length, and Katya smashed the award into her eye with the pointed tip. Barbara recoiled and let out a horrific scream. It was so jarring, the woman who was walking with her paused. She blinked a few times and lifted her head. \"What... what's going on?\"\n\n\"Tina? Are you lucid?\"\n\n\"Yes... yes.. what's happening?\" She looked around and gasped.\n\n\"Remember that time you stole my lunch, and you ate in front of me, and I called you out on it, but you said it was *your* lunch?\"\n\n\"Yes... what does that...\"\n\nBefore she could finish her question, Katya shoved the award into her mouth so hard it punched through the back of her skull. \"Eat that, bitch.\"\n\nTina collapsed. As she tried to scream through the gurgling of her own blood, Katya pulled out a cigarette and lit it.\n\n\"This is gonna be one helluva day.\"",
" It was marketed so innocently. One pill, once a day, and never have to sleep again. Who wouldn’t jump at that opportunity? Within a matter of months society had radically altered to accommodate this new lifestyle. No one saw the harm in 24 hour restaurants or salons. Now everything was always open. However there was one flaw, one hiccup in this utopia. I saw this coming, I refused the pill, I was put on “disability” for needing to sleep every night. No one could understand why. They called us sleepers, those of us who refused the pills. We were outcasts, outsiders, bullied and forgotten by our fellow citizens. But we were free. \n\nWith the ability to stay awake, comes the ability to stay at work. Businesses immediately saw the same opportunity I saw. Labor laws quickly changed since sleep was no longer necessary, and employers demanded longer hours. 15\\-16 hour shifts became the norm. After all, if you don’t need to sleep, you don’t need to stop working. And everyone bought it. Most people saw opportunities to work longer, feel fine, and earn a higher paycheck as a win all around. Anyone who wanted fewer hours were quickly replaced with those who wanted more. Society became a stagnant state of compliance, where drones of citizens worked nonstop all because of one pill that gave them limitless energy. \n\nI couldn’t be happier. The resulting economic boom meant the government could easily afford to supply “disability” to the few of us that refused the pill. We received just enough to live on, but that was enough. Society pitied us, mocked us for our “old\\-fashioned” values and rejected us for choosing to sleep. But as I stand on this empty beach, the sound of seagulls and waves extending for miles without interruption, it’s them I pity. My time is my own, and my life is unhindered. Rest offers peace, serenity, and freedom, something the world has since forgotten. \n\nA text.\n\n“Hey buddy, heading to bed soon, want to meet for breakfast in the morning?”\n\n“Sure!” I reply. \n\nThe facade can’t last forever, eventually society will recognize their predicament. But for now I’ll enjoy being called a “sleeper,” though I always considered myself one of the few who were truly awake. ",
"“I’m not kidding, I got hours of work done, didn’t sleep a wink, and I feel fine.”\n\n“It’s caffeine. Or cocaine maybe. Do you even know what’s in it?”\n\n“Hey, if the FDA says it’s okay …”\n\nThat’s as far as I can pay attention. I hear this, or a variation, nearly every day. This time it’s Pete. Sometimes vegan, sometimes juicer, always looking like a men’s underwear ad. The last person to do drugs – he wouldn’t even touch a joint in high school. He’s hooked too.\n\nTimeForAll, the revolutionary pill that was an IndieGoGo joke not so long ago. SNL ruthlessly mocked it, late-night hosts roasted its creators relentlessly. And now they were all on it. Lorne Michaels himself publicly apologized, praising the pill for giving him time he never knew he had. Once pro athletes and movie stars started taking it, the dam burst. The FDA fast-tracked it – way too fast.\n\nPete gives up his pitch and returns to his desk. His usual browser games, the ones he can hide in a second if Gorman comes around, aren’t even there. He’s working – honest-to-God work in a spreadsheet. I’ve seen him work – hell, I’ve had to work with him closely more than once. But never like this – never so… focused.\n\nI walk through the office, down the aisles between cubicles, toward the break room. The aisles are empty. The break room is empty. I walk in to find that the coffee maker is unplugged. It’s nearly 11 AM. Nobody made coffee? *Nobody had to get their fix?*\n\nI busy myself filling the coffee maker. I hear footsteps, and turn to see Gorman. *Oh shit.*\n\n“There, uh, any problem, today Randy?”\n\n*Randy? He never uses my first name.*\n\n“No sir, just need a cup of java is all.”\n\n“Really? You know, it’s funny. I haven’t needed one. I took TimeForAll, and now I just don’t need it.”\n\nI bite my lip, unsure what to do. He’s been looking at me for a minute and he hasn’t nagged me about coversheets or email protocols. I decide to just nod.\n\n“You don’t seem convinced?”\n\n“Really, I just don’t know what to think. It seems great, but I’ve been clean and sober for years, you know?” I shut my mouth, realizing I’m close to talking about my past, but Gorman just nodded.\n\n“I get it. No really. Tell you what – our department is ahead of schedule. Everyone’s way ahead, actually. You take the time you need. Take a bit of time off today.”\n\nMy eyes are wide. *Mr. I-Need-You-To-Come-In-On-Saturday just said that. Really.* But I nod and smile, watching his reaction.\n\n“I mean it. Go out, take a breather. We’ll cover for you.”\n\nI waste no more time. I step out before the other shoe can drop.\n\nI’m on the street, heading to the city park. The streets are mostly empty. A bus, empty save for a few elderly passengers leaves the stop. The coffee shops near the park are mostly empty – so few people are out. I sit on a bench, watching a pigeon bob up to me in search of bread.\n\nI’m looking at my phone. 12 PM on the dot. I look across the street, and suits flow from the ground floors of nearby office buildings. The workers disperse, splitting up to head to nearby restaurants, coffee shops, and street vendors. They step robotically, in perfect rhythm. I watch the nearest shop, a Starbucks, its baristas and machines visible from my bench. The baristas are calm, serving each of the dozens of patrons. Said patrons wait patiently, New Yorkers queuing like Brits – hell, better than that stereotype. \n\nI remember the empty break room in the office. Why are they buying it now? I watch the customers sit with their cups and sandwiches. *Sandwiches?* I notice it now, more sandwiches and Paninis than I’ve ever seen in a Starbucks. I watch a woman in a power suit sit near the window and take long bites of a sandwich. She sips coffee between bites, but the food, the sustenance is her focus now.\n\nI’m transfixed. I can’t stop watching. I stay there until 12:40. The crowds thin, and everyone streams back to work. By 1, the shops are empty again. Christ.\n\nI can’t go back to work. I need space, I need to think. I walk down streets devoid of the usual crowds, passing only the retired and disabled, those who have found the means to live outside of usual jobs.\n\n\n________________________________________\n\n\nI’m at home. It’s evening. I don’t know how long I’ve been here. So tired, my mind racing to make sense of the clockwork people.\n\nBecky sits across from me at the table, dutifully cleaning the last of the lasagna from her plate.\n\n“Thank you for the dinner, honey,” she says.\n\n“Yeah, no problem.” I barely remember cooking it. It was something to do, something to occupy my mind.\n\n“Hey, guess what? I’ve been trying it out!”\n\n“Huh? Been trying what out?”\n\n“TimeForAll, silly! Just like we talked about. It’s great – I got so much done today, and I feel ready to work all night too.”\n\n“You – you took it? I thought you wanted to wait!”\n\n“It’s really all right, Randy. Don’t worry so much! You can take it whenever you’re ready.”\n\n“Honey, have you seen what it does? Have you seen how people act?”\n\n“Yeah! Everyone gets everything done. You do what you want at night! While you were busy *sleeping* last night, I got all our taxes done and I found ten good open houses we can go to!”\n\nShe said *sleeping* in a teasing voice, but the implication is clear. She wants me to take it. I turn from her, heading to the bedroom.\n\nI sit on the edge of the bed. I look to her side, and see the open box of TimeForAll on her nightstand. It takes a week or so of regular doses before it really works, I remember. *How long was she taking it?*\n\nI shove the question away and turn on the TV in our room. A repeat of SNL is on, but the show is only 30 minutes now, reduced to a few well-written skits delivered with perfect timing. I should laugh – it’s better than the show’s been in … well, ever. It’s not right though. It’s supposed to be rough around the edges, there’s supposed to be room for the unexpected. But everything is perfect. The host says exactly what she’s supposed to, no political tangents or jokes that fall flat. The musical act is flawless. It’s somehow too good.\n\nThe TV turns off. Becky is standing next to me, stark naked.\n\n“How about a bit of intercourse?”\n\nI stand up, smiling at the pleasant surprise, and hoping her choice of words is some kind of joke. “Oh, intercourse, really?”\n\n“Why of course. You seem stressed out and my period just finished. A sexual encounter seems appropriate.”\n\nShe isn’t joking. Her eyes are focused on mine, her voice is empty of seduction or playfulness. I’m treated to a vision of perfectly timed coitus, two machines going at it simply because that’s what humans do.\n\nI look to the box of TimeForAll and back to Becky’s naked body. I look to the open box again.",
"I see them. The shadows that creep about your room when you should be fast asleep. That slip out of the wardrobes, or dangle from the ceiling light, like hanged criminals of old.\n\nMom sees them too, but she never admits it. She likes to pretend that they don't exist. That we're not in any danger.\n\nIt only takes a single pill. One little white SunRise. \n\nI can't recall the first time I took it. But I remember the taste of the pill. Chalky and sweet. And I know that once you pop it in your mouth, that there's no need to sleep for an entire decade. \n\n*No need.* \n\nWhat I mean is, you *can't* sleep. You can close your eyes, squeeze them as tight as you can, but your mind won't ever switch off. Instead, it creeps into a place between our reality and theirs. A place where we are able to see them.\n\nThe one that speaks to me the most often says that they're called the builders. That they constructed our reality. That they watch it for cracks and fissures, and when they find them, they get out their black cement and pave over the gaps. Burying them.\n\nThey created all the planets, the shadow-man says. And the Gods themselves. All the every-things that we know and take for granted. \n\nAs long as things are well, the shadow-men leave reality well enough alone, he tells me.\n\nBut things aren't well. \n\nNo one is sleeping. There is no time for the builders to sneak in and repair the cracks. Not without being seen. Without being caught.\n\nThe one who speaks to me, tells me that reality itself is falling apart. Crumbling like a chocolate cake, and soon the gooey insides will be all that's left.\n\nUnless I help them.\n\nHe says that I have to make people sleep again, so that they can come out and fix the world. \n\nHow, I ask?\n\nHe shows me. \n\nHe guides me into mother's room. She is pretending to be asleep, as she always does when the moon is high above the house. Pretending to snore and that she doesn't see me.\n\nMy friend's dark hand undulates on the pillow next to her head, like the shadow of a tree from out the window. \n\nI know what to do from here, without him needing to whisper another word. I snatch the pillow press it down hard over her mouth. She struggles hard, but is old and weak. \n\n\"Sleep well,\" I say, as her body rocks and spasms a final time.\n\nHe is proud of me. \n\nThey all are. \n\nThey dance around me on the walls. Flicker and tremble and tell me I am doing great things.\n\nHe leads me back to my bedroom. Points beneath the bed and tells me to take another SunRise. \n\nTells me I must never sleep again. \n\nThat I am the only one who can see them. That can help them.\n\nAnd that there is still so much work to be done.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",
"“Feeling tired?” Terry asks from right behind me. I jump.\n\n“What are you doing?” I demand. “It’s not okay to sneak up on me like that!”\n\n“I’m sorry,” Terry said. “Perhaps you would be more alert if you were taking AllQuil™ NoSleep® Ultra! The best and only sleep supplement on the market!”\n\n“Sorry, dude, but you know I can’t,” I explain. “Pfizer-Allergen is an unregulated monopoly and I won’t be a supporter of that. Besides, it feels kind of weird.”\n\n“It’s not weird!” Alan said from my side. I swivel around in alarm.\n\n“Stop freaking me out with these sudden arrivals, guys!” I say with a nervous chuckle. Neither of my coworkers laugh.\n\n“With AllQuil™ NoSleep® Ultra, you’ll recover hours you never even knew you had!” Alan said excitedly, his eyes getting somewhat glazed with admiration for his supplements.\n\n“That’s literally their slogan,” I tell him nervously. “Why are you repeating their slogan?”\n\n“It's worth repeating,” Rick announces. What is he doing here too? I shudder and slink over to press my back against the wall.\n\n“You know,” Terry told me. “Corporate is talking about extending our work-day to sixteen hours! How would you be able to do that if you’re not taking AllQuil™ NoSleep® Ultra? Think of all the pay you’ll miss out on because of this silly habit of sleeping!”\n\n“Guys, I’m not going to take this weird pill,” I say. “And people used to fight for *shorter* workdays. What’s going on?”\n\n“We’re just enjoying the wonderful effects of AllQuil™ NoSleep® Ultra,” Matthew, Alice, and Joe say simultaneously. Okay, where THE HELL did they come from???\n\n“With AllQuil™ NoSleep® Ultra, you’ll recover hours you never even knew you had!” Alan tells me again.\n\n“With AllQuil™ NoSleep® Ultra, you’ll recover hours you never even knew you had!” Terry, Rick, Matthew, Alice, and Joe all repeat, their irises cloudy and their voices low.\n\n“With AllQuil™ NoSleep® Ultra, you’ll recover hours you never even knew you had!” Steve, Megan, Emily, Julio, Oliver, Brad, Chris, the other Chris, Alan, Terry, Rick, Matthew, and Alice all say. I turn around and run. I run straight out of my office, straight past the theatre now advertising “AllQuil™: the All-Night Movie”, underneath a billboard declaring that I’ll recover hours I never even knew I had, over a wall covered in Pfizer-Allergen decals, and by the 24/7 AllQuil™ Apothecary.\n\nI am still running."
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[removed] | [WP] You are a vigilante who is notorious for cruelly torturing and killing would-be muggers and murderers. Your next victim happens to be a vile serial killer. | 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 u/DemetrioM, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**No explicitly sexual responses, hate speech, or other harmful content**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_2.3A_no_explicitly_sexual_responses.2C_hate_speech.2C_or_other_harmful_content)\n\n- The 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, torture, rape, or suicide. We will not tolerate it. \n\n*Prompts will be removed if there's a high possibility for rule breaking responses ([rule 7](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_7.3A_prompts_will_be_removed_if_there.27s_a_high_possibility_for_rule_breaking_responses))*\n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8pfcox/-/%0A%0A) us if you have any questions or concerns. In the future, please refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. \n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*"
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[removed] | [WP] It's possible to enter the fictional world of any book, movie, TV show, etc. For your honeymoon, you and your partner wanted to go to Middle Earth. But the book you actually entered was... | 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 u/myfriendscode, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**Direct prompt replies must be good-faith attempts at new stories or poems**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_1.3A_direct_prompt_replies_must_be_good-faith_attempts_at_new_stories_or_poems)\n\n- Fill-in-the-blank: Responses must be at least 30 words. 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*Prompts will be removed if there's a high possibility for rule breaking responses ([rule 7](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_7.3A_prompts_will_be_removed_if_there.27s_a_high_possibility_for_rule_breaking_responses))*\n\nAlso use [EU] for established universes ;)\n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8pfmg3/-/%0A%0A) us if you have any questions or concerns. In the future, please refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. \n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*"
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[WP]You are a bounty hunter who goes from one galaxy to another. You just discovered that someone put a bounty on your head. | 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 burst through the casino doors, desperately seeking a place to hide I had my camouflage mask on, taking the appearance of a regular customer of the casino. In the distance, I could still hear the commotion going on outside. Bounty hunters. It appeared my head is worth a small fortune.\n\n Numerous women were tending to the needs of their guests, there was a faint smell of alchohol and smoke lingering in the air and the place was filled with laughter and noise. A perfect place to hide. \n\n I casually walked towards the isolated corner of the casino, trying not to draw attention to myself. I only had a handful of weapons in the bag I managed to grab from home before the bounty hunters raided the place. Suddenly, the doors swinged open and a huge man entered. He was in a full suit, a mask concealed his face and he also had a visor covering his left eye while two guns laid dormant in the holsters at his side.\n\n \"I'm sorry, sir but only members are allowed in here,\" said the bouncer.\n\n The bounty hunter only snickered before taking out the gun from the left holster and pressed the trigger. A deafening sonic wave made direct impact with the bouncer, sending him flying through the air. The casino suddenly erupted into a chaos of utter outrage He gave the signal and more people spreaded throughout the casino. He pressed a button on his suit.\n\n The jolting pain was so excrutiating that I slumped againts the wall. Damn it, there was a tracking device on me. The bounty hunters noticed me and began converging on me, with their guns aimed directly at me. Everybody else sprinted for the exits\n\n Hmphh, I won't go down without a fight. I flipped the nearest table on its side as a means of cover and was instantly assaulted by a barrage of energy beams. I rummaged through my bag and pulled out a small metal device. I threw it to the hunters with all the strength I could muster. It immediately released a radial blast, causing the hunters to be pinned to the ground due to the drastic increase in gravity.\n\n The huge hunter managed to avoid the blast and charged towards me. He closed the distance in mere seconds. I dived to the right, narrowly evading a sailing fist but didn't have enough time to evade a viscous backhand from him. I crashed againts a table, the wind knocked out of me. \n\n \"You ain't so tough without your little toys, are you?\" he mocked.\n\n \"You do know your messing with the best bounty hunter in the world, right?\" I said with false confidence.\n\n He laughed. \"I admire your courage so I'll do you a favour, I'll make your death painless.\"\n \n I grabbed three metal sphere balls from my bag and hurled it towards him and they exploded on impact, sending him tumbling to the ground. I ran toward him and slid below his outstreched arms as he lunged for me. Enraged, he was about to charged towards me but was rooted to his spot, mortified at what I was holding. I grinned. In my both my hands, I held his guns.\n\n \"Goodbye, my friend.\" I pressed the trigger on the sonic gun, hurtling him through the air and he landed near the other pinned bounty hunters.\n\n Unfortunately, the big lump was still counscious. My mind raced to figure out my next move. Then, a thought came to me and I examined the other gun. Wait.... judging from the design on this gun....... it can...... I suddenly heard the sound of cruahing metal. It was the the massive bounty hunter, he was attempting to crush the machine holding the others at bay.\n\n \"Sorry boys, gotta bounce.\" I took out a metal canister from my bag and tossed in high in the air and using the other gun shot a laser beam towards it, releasing white gas that quickly enveloped the casino. Using it as a smokescreen, I quickly went out through the back door and immediately entered a dark alley to sort trough my remaining weapon. There was still my gloves, bubble gum, an EMP grenade, a pen and a vial of dark green liquid.\n\n \"I might have to use this,\" I said as I held the vial.\n\n Hands in the air,\" said a fammiliar voice as I felt a gun at point blank range. I reluctanly complied to the demand.\n\n Turn around.\" I slowly turned around.\n\n \"Thomas?\"\n\n \n\n\n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n "
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[WP] You're the best at what you do. No Djinn, Genie, Loki, or Māui has been able to trick you. You're feared more than any god, or god slayer. You punish in ways worse than death. You are a lawyer specializing in mythical torts, you punish with debt. Today, however, you have a rather unusual client | 240 | [
"**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've worked with strange cases \\- strange being an understatement. But this one? This one took the cake. \n\nHere I was, doing lawyer things, when my secretary poked her head through the door. \n\n\"Constantine, there's a client that wishes to see you.\" She gave me a meaningful look, the kind that warned me that I might actually have to take client seriously. I met her eyes and gave a subtle nod. Then she poked head back out and spoke to the client outside. She was a sweet, no\\-nonsense kind of a woman. Former Valkyrie Special Forces, believe it or not. She retired after a while and settled for a lucrative job as part\\-time secretary and part\\-time personal bodyguard.\n\nAnyway. The door opened again right after I put away the smut novel that I had been read\\- I mean, put away the lawyer things. The smut novels were my secretary's...\n\nMoving on. A black kid walked in. At first glance, he didn't look old enough to buy alcohol in America, and at the second glance, I noticed how his eyes burned. Like those Halloween pumpkins, except the lantern was the kid's head and the candle inside was a blazing inferno. I was... let's just say not particularly shocked by his appearance. Having Cthulhu as one of your client sort of inoculates you against weird looks and tentacle porn. \n\n\"Greetings, Mr. Constantine.\" The kid said politely, not quite meeting my eyes \\- as strange as it sounded. \n\n\"Just Constantine is fine.\" I smiled and got from my chair and gestured for the one on the other side of my desk. \"Please, have a seat, mr...?\"\n\n\"Morningstar, sir. Lucifer Morningstar.\"\n\nI blinked. \n\nThen the coin fell. \n\n\"You wouldn't happen to be...?\"\n\n\"I...\" He hesitated but sat himself down. \"I am, sir... and that's why I'd like to hire you.\"\n\nI sat down and took a deep breath. Some part of me wanted to throw the kid out of my office and let my dear secretary make him disappear. Rude, yes, but it just might save me from whatever shitstorm this kid was about to bring me. \n\n\"What kind of a case?\"\n\nThe kid's burning eyes met mine and I literally felt the burning anger within. \n\n\"I want to sue Father for throwing my brothers and I out of Heaven.\" He said. \"Can you help us?\"",
"The character shifted in his chair as I cracked the door open. I slide in without much of a huff and slid my briefcase down on the table. The man, clad in a preppy black suit gazed at the single light dangling from the ceiling. Trapped would be a healthy monomer to describe how the man sat. Tight, contorting his hands every which way in an attempt to distract himself from my presence. But I wasn't going anywhere. So, I screwed myself into my own chair of sweet mahogany and cut a stare at the man who refused to acknowledge. \n\n\"So, Mr. Mort. It is Mort is it?\"\n\n\"Mortimer.\" The man answers and I scribble a little tibble of nonsense on my papers. The man was a ashy pale color, like he had been sickly for a while, whether it was from the lights, situation or if he was just like that I could never tell. He didn't sweat much for a man in such a position.\n\n\"Mr. Mortimer then. I'm Jonathan Cassell, I'm here to represent you on the case of Washington v. Mortimer case file X-555-22334. You seem to be in quite the pinch Mr. Mortimer.\" \n\n\"Indeed.\"\n\nI tapped my pencil and stuck it to my lip, \"Looking over the evidence, I think our best case of action to spin this as a case of negligence on Mr. Washington's part.\"\n\nA wave came over the man's face, an even paler shade of white, if that was even possible crept its way from his teeth to the crunches in his forehead, \"What? How do you intend to do that?\"\n\n\"Easy! He had the axe out, stuff goes down fast in the heat of the moment. Trust me, I've proven harder stuff before.\" \n\n\"But Mr. Cassell, we were friends I don't know if I really want to...\"\n\n\"Hey! Hey! Listen. Do you want to either a: pay for one of those motherfuckers and have that live over you, or do you b: wanna get off scott free?\"\n\n\"I mean,\" Mr. Mortimer hesitated and let his eyes glance to the light, \"I guess.\" \n\nI let out a hard snap and his eyes corrected themselves, \"There's no guessing! It's not like you were shagging his wife or anything.\"\n\nHe groaned again, \"Do you think that would really work? I've known Mr. Washington for years, he gave me one of my biggest breaks after a huge layoff.\" \n\nI laughed, \"Listen Mr. Mortimer none of what happened before matters now. All we know is that somehow, a cherry tree fell, someones a liar, and someone's getting defamed and to be honest with you Mr. Mortimer I'd prefer if it wasn't my client.\"\n\nThe man's eyes sank as he came around to my conclusion. Arms were crossed, scolds were traded along with glares. I scribbled the proceedings into my notepad and looked up at the man. \n\n\"Mr. Mortimer.\"\n\nThe man, distracted by his own vices, stared back empty, \"Huh?\"\n\n\"Who cut down the tree on Mr. Washington's property?\"\n\n\"I don't want to tell a lie on the record Mr. Cassell.\"\n\n\"That's understandable Mr. Mortimer.\" I adjusted my glasses, \"Now, tell me everything you remember about the Cherry tree.\""
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[WP] People have begun to develop superpowers. Surprisingly, most people use their powers to prank people. You are considered one of the least powerful superhumans, but are feared worldwide as the most effective prankster in human history. | 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",
"When I first emerged I didn't even know what my power was. I had the normal echoing thud in my head and woke up on the floor a minute later with the expected mark on my body - the two concentric circles with an arrow inside - just under my ear. Typical emergence. Odd place for the mark, but no power.\n\nOr so it seemed.\n\nFor months I wasn't able to perform any tricks like the great pranksters. No transforming into a snake or spider, unable to go invisible nor was I able to fly. My lack of power was in itself quite interesting, it seemed. There weren't many superhumans, and though some had tried to ignite a superhero scene, most of us used our gift for financial gain or fun. Magicians became actual magicians, pranksters reached new heights in their epic quest to trick the public. I sat at home or in the office, being normal. And I hated it.\n\nOne day, I was walking down the street and saw my neighbor looking into a shop window. As anyone in my situation would do, I called his name.\n\nWhen he turned in the opposite direction to the one that I was in, I assumed he either hadn't heard me or was intentionally trying to avoid me. It turned out that he had in fact heard me, but to him it had sounded like I had spoken from the other direction.\n\nAfter about an hour of experimenting, it turned out that when I spoke to someone who didn't know I was there, they heard my voice as if it came from the opposite direction that it actually came from.\n\nHow mundane is that? Still, the fact that I had discovered my power, and the fact that it was so... Shitty... Made the news. I was a local celebrity turned loser. A laughing stock.\n\nIt wasn't until someone recorded me pranking some random passerby on their phone and showed a family member that the true potential of my power became known.\n\nI could trick people if they heard my voice through any medium.\n\nAfter testing, I pulled off the silliest, best prank of any superhuman. With the help of HBO.\n\nThe last episode of game of thrones. A tense scene, anxiety inducing, more buildup than any drama or horror movie had ever managed to achieve. Fear, paranoia, edge-of-the-seat tension.\n\nThen, whilst the cameras were fixed on the face of the most hated still-living character in the show, my voice came through the sound system of every person watching.\n\n\"I'm behind you.\"\n\nThe viewers, who were glued to their screens, thought it had come from behind them. We had just made millions of people jump out of their seats. Nobody would forget this.\n\n=-=-=\n\nNot sure how to finish it so that'll do."
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1,
8
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"1528485381",
"1528486956"
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[WP] Once there was one. Then there were three. The three were bound by the pillars of reality the great ones call The Pillars of Reality. No one knows why these three were chosen buy hey they were and boys gotta eat amirite? This is the story of Scalene, Isoceles, and Equilateral. | 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 Scalene: From a planet of lost origins, the last of his people wiped out by the Blockos of the galaxy of Drood. He is a trickster, a strategist, and doesn't hold a solid form, he alternates between a gaseous form and a liquid. He can slip in and out of places and people without being noticed. (Maybe ability for this shitter is like he can sneak into places or maybe pass dialogue checks or something? xd)\nThe Isosceles: From the depths of the great jungle on Terrara IV, an ape-like creature with the strength of Kuk high on that good Joba-ish (That means a lot). He has developed like his people with very short legs but extremely long arms, making him move with his arms on the ground rather than his legs. (This man is strong, so maybe he can like beat the shit out of clays character or something ability wise? Or maybe he can like do a big fist smash attack or something?)\nThe Equilateral: From a different world of existence than the rest. A being of immense power and wisdom, who lost all that shit when decided to leave his world. Now he is just a great wizard guy. He harnesses magik powers to help preserve The Pillars of Reality. Shooting fireballs and arcane magiks is his bread and butter. (This guy is literally a wizard idk what else to give him.)\nTHE TRIANGLE: Together using the bond created by The Pillars of Reality, The Scalene, Isosceles, and Equilateral bond together to create the ultimate being, one of immense power and size. Using the Equilateral as the base for the fuse, the Isosceles jumps to great heights and shoots down at extreme speeds and at the last minute becomes an ethereal being and jumps into the body of the Equilateral. The instant this happens the Equilateral body grows to giant size and he becomes a bhiggo boy. The Scalene then shoots his smoky form into the bhiggo boy imbuing him with the greatest of powers. Of course these beings can only hold this form for a short time.\nFeel free to like cut any shit if you think its op or something"
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1,
2
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"1528489038",
"1528489220"
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[WP] You’re a baby orca, and you just saw your first boat. | 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",
"\"He is totally checking you out!\"\n\nI know my sister liked to mess with me but maybe she was right, he had been staring at me all day. Sure, maybe he wasn't conventionally handsome but Mama always says that's not what love is about. I think- I think I'm gonna make a move- \n\n\"Get it girl!\"\n\nMy heart is beating out of my chest. But as I swim closer I realize that this is it, this is what it means to be a fierce woman. I'm not the little baby orca that Mama always seems to think of me as. Okay- Okay here it is- ehh- what should I- \n\n\"Hi.\" I say. \n\n:)\n \n\"...\" He says.\n\nIt was love at first sight.\n\n\"Bwahahahha.\"\n\nMy sister laughs, but i don't mind. After all, I'm a fierce woman. \n\n\n\n\n\n "
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1,
4
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"1528490539",
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[removed] | [WP] You just died. Good news: There is an after life. Bad News: You find out you have to spend it with the person you lost your virginity to. | 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 u/NotActuallyMe_irl, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**No explicitly sexual responses, hate speech, or other harmful content**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_2.3A_no_explicitly_sexual_responses.2C_hate_speech.2C_or_other_harmful_content)\n\n- NSFW responses to non-NSFW prompts are not allowed and this prompt is likely to generate them \n\n*Prompts will be removed if there's a high possibility for rule breaking responses ([rule 7](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_7.3A_prompts_will_be_removed_if_there.27s_a_high_possibility_for_rule_breaking_responses))*\n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8pq496/-/%0A%0A) us if you have any questions or concerns. In the future, please refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. \n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*"
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1,
1
] | [
"1528515320",
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[WP] you're about to enjoy an anniversary dinner when you hear your husband scream from the living room "honey, where a my supersuit?!" | 239 | [
"**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 understand. I need to help him in any way I can, I'm his wife and I need to support him. After all, he cant do it alone.\n\nI was almost done wearing my dress. It was brand new, meant specially for this occasion. I hear a call \"Honey, where is my supersuit?\". We've been together for Fifty years now, and I'm completely used to this now. It doesn't matter that it's our wedding anniversary. Even if it's our Golden Anniversary today. We shall have our dinner tomorrow, I hope. And so I stifle my annoyance and frustration, once again.\n\n\"I'll be right there dear\" I reply. I open the cupboard and hunt for the button at the back. It's is really hard to find, but I manage in a matter of seconds, I'm used to it by now. I quickly grab the suit that my husband so adores. I then have to change as well. I make a great sidekick after all. It doesn't matter that all the time I spent getting ready for the anniversary is wasted, this is more important. My \"costume\" is much more plain as compared to my husband's, though much more comfortable.\n\nAs I reach the living room, my husband, Superthorn was pacing impatiently. He quickly donned his costume, not even bothering to remove his suit that he was wearing. I'll have to wash it again, and I felt a bit angry at that. But that wasn't too important.\n\nWe quickly got into the car, with me driving of course, that's what I was for. Quickly I began to make a list of things he needed while going to battle and he began to confirm he had it. Suit \\- check, Mask \\- Check, Sword \\- Check, Power Booster \\- Check.\n\nAs I activated the villain sensor in the car, and of we sped. He trusted me, and would never question that all this was planned. He would never ask what exactly was his power booster, or where exactly were we going. He was going there to fight villains he thought. I smiled sadly at what I was going to have to do. But there was no helping it.\n\nAfter driving for 15 minutes, I called out \"Dear, we are almost there, take the power booster and let's get going\". He knew he was getting slower, old age was catching up to him. He needed that boost, so he took it with no questions asked. \"Good boy\" I thought.\n\nI now drove to the big white building, and I swiped my card, carefully hidden from my husband of course, to be allowed to enter and park our vehicle. I took out my phone and called \"Hello, I got him here. Could you come get him please?\". Then they came, knowing where I would park my vehicle. They then took him away, as I looked on with a tear in my eye. Quickly wiping it off, I steeled myself.\n\nI then had to go inside, this was really hard, as always. I peeked into the room where they kept him, and got teary eyed once again. I hated that I had to do this. In a minute the doctor came and said \"It's ok now, he will regain his senses in a day of medication, thank you for bringing him here for his monthly treatment\". My husband has psychosis, and needs treatment once a month. I put on my best fake smile and said :\n\nI understand. I need to help him in any way I can, I'm his wife and I need to support him. After all, he cant do it alone.\n\nPS: This is my first WP. Please give me any pointers and criticisms you have, and how I can write better in the future."
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1,
71
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"1528599378",
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[WP] You Were Tired Of Waiting For "The Chosen Horned One" From The Prophecy. You Wore Fake Horns On Your Helmet And Successfully Rallied A Troop Under Your Name. On Your Final Pep Talk Before Raiding The Dark Lord's Castle, Your Helmet Came Loose And Your Horns Fell Off In Front Of The Whole Army. | 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",
"Quickly catching the prosthetic in my hands with a small amount of frantic fumbling, I give a bumbling explanation to the horde that I must constantly fight a lone battle to retain the mystical power of the horns. I double down and deepen the lie by explaining that the horns are only concerned with power and is constantly trying to shift the balance to find the right candidate. "
] | [
1,
2
] | [
"1528603638",
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[WP] You're an insomniac who has to try to creatively find ways to cope with your lack of sleep. The best way of doing so that you've found, is visiting your made up world that houses countless mythical creatures. | 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",
"Today wasn't any different than most days. It was 3 in the morning, and to my annoyance, I had been lying awake in bed for the past few hours. Perhaps it didn't help that I was on my phone the entire time, or that I had a bad diet, or that I was constantly thinking about the stresses of work. I know a lot of people would diagnose themselves with insomnia in this situation, I, on the other hand, knew that my condition was completely fixable. I was just too lazy to do anything about it; I liked watching YouTube all night. Anyways, it was 3 am, and at this point, I had completely given up on getting a full nights sleep. I got up and walked over to my closet, opened the door, and reached deep into the back to grab my coat. I then turned around and pulled out my briefcase from under the bed, as I opened it up a dazzling light lit up the room. I had forgotten to turn off the flashlight inside again. I turned it off and grabbed it as well. Now I'm ready I thought to myself, I left my room and went to the end of the hall until I was standing in front of a large grandfather clock. I took a deep breath, opened up the chamber, and adjusted the time; I had been meaning to do that for a while. I continued on about halfway down the stairs until finally stopping myself, I thought, \"Nah, I'm just gonna go back to bed\". I promptly put my coat and flashlight away and got back into bed, but this time, without my phone."
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1,
1
] | [
"1528604539",
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[WP] Humanity achieves interstellar travel. You find out why alien civilizations didn't reach out to Earth. | 53 | [
"**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 do you mean you didn't want to?\"\n\n\"Why would we want to?\"\n\nEveryone in Earth's situation room were perplexed. What the fuck are they talking about. \nThe chief nervously tapped the microphone button to continue the conversation. \n\n\"Well, didn't you want to know what is happening in the universe outside of your planet?\" \n\n\"Well, yes. And once we learned about you, we we're disappointed as hell. You're exactly the same as the previous planets we saw\"\n",
"Wow!' began the captain 'Just wow.'\nYou and the lieutenant loom over to what he's looking at. He's looking back to where the earth would be if they could see it. 500-foot flaming letters were floating in the middle of space. \nHey, the guys are jerks don't talk to them - God (btw this is my final message to you until you all die.)\n\n'This is the lamest crap ever' You whisper under your breath.\n\n",
"We did it ! On orbit, around an alien planet. But we're the aliens this time. We had a hard time believing.\n\nThe linguists did worked their ass off and now we were talking via radio to their orbital center, on how to get on the ground Taalmuntis' ground.\n\nMy ship was majestic. As big as manhattan, as powerful as ten of the biggest fusion reactors back on Earth, I was really proud of the Centipede. We amorced the descent. Everyone was so stressed, yet we couldn't hide our joy. We landed on this gigantic pod on their only ocean, which was still covering 2/3 of the planet, a little big bigger yet less dense, only 0.9 g, it could have been the perfect day in one's life.\n\nWe could see the \"Taalmuntisis\" delegation approaching, it sure was a lot of people. They had big vehicles which, according to our sensors, were electrical. They did told us they only discovered steam engines when studying more primitive species, and that they are producing electricity via photovoltaic panels and windmills. The atmosphere was so pure and clean ... But they were not that much ahead of us, on a lot of ways.\n\nBut as soon as we opened the main door, the delegation turned around, as if they were frightened suddenly. It was quite messy, and unexpected, a true rollercoaster of emotions. I could read despair on my crew's faces, and I felt like I failed them, but truly it was no one's fault.\n\nWe received a message : \" We are deeply sorry but there are physical incompatibilities between our civilizations that couldn't be foreseen, we hope you understand and wish you a safe take off. There is an orbital station that will refuel you, travel safe on your way back.\"\n\nEveryone was puzzled, a bit broken but we headed back to our outpost, a hundred light years away. En route, we intercepted a message that was seemingly not for us ...\n\n\"The humans, from Earth, came ! They concealed their true home planet and we didn't realised until it was too late. We request a xyelidvorep as soon as possible !\"\n\nThe leaders of the UN ordered us to intercept other messages to determine who they were talking to, and what they are talking about\n\n...\n\nThe smell.\n\nWe, and our atmosphere, smell so bad for every alien that the galactic coalition had ordered long ago every system, every planet, to never contact the Earth."
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"1528614497",
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[WP] You are a superhuman with incredibly fast self-healing, but have a very low pain tolerance. Tell his/her story. | 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",
"I worked in a steel factory once, where I got my hand cut off and screamed bloody murder, as a person will, and when the guys made it to the back all they saw was an inch long scrape across my elbow that wasn't even bleeding. They harassed me so much after that I wound up quitting. \n\nDo you know what it's like to suffer serious trauma and no one will give you any damn support? After a robbery at the Seven- Eleven on the night shift, when my head was blown by a sawed off shotgun, the pieces of my skull and brain grew back together like little creeping working ants and I had to listen to everyone tell me how lucky I was. Yeah, lucky. Look at the tape, I said, but it all happens so fast that to everyone else it looks like nothing. \n\nI tried to show my psychiatrist. I took a knife to my wrist, screamed in agony, and thrust my bloodied hanging limb in her face. She saw nothing. She admitted me instead, and now I'm sitting in the State Hospital, screaming at injuries that no one else can see, and they all think I'm insane. \n\nI would hang myself, but my body would just fight death over and over until someone found me and cut me loose. "
] | [
1,
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"1528647739",
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[WP] Your latest shipment to your supernatural gift shop consists of a shield generator in the form of a top hat, a perfume which temporary causes the user to grow massive, a book possessed by an angry ghost, a robotic horse skeleton, and a vase filled with flesh eating dust. Try to sell these. | 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 empty cloak hung in the air with an air of bemusement, putting the seller off his stride. \n\"So, umm,\" he smiled nervously \"will the owner be back shortly, or...\" \nThe Cloak frowned at him, halting his already nervous speech. *How does a cloak frown? It doesn't have eyes!* \n\"I *am* the owner of this fine establishment. And if you're going to be rude, I am going to have to ask you to leave.\" The Cloak's edge lifted and pointed to the door. The seller's body wished his brain would agree and tried to turn, but his brain rebelled. They'd seen worse, and weren't going to be given the boot by a rug with delusions of grandeur. It was time to start the pitch. \n \nA grin spread across the seller's face. \"Well then, my name is Archibald Stevenage and have I got a bargain for you!\" He rummaged in his bag. \nThe Cloak tilted its hood to one side, as if in puzzlement. \"I'm not sure you've got the idea of a shop, Mister Stevenage. And certainly not this one.\" \nArchie shrugged. \"It's an adventurer's shop, isn't it? Kitting out would-be heroes and the like. Well take a look at these!\" Pulling the items out, he squirted them with a puff of Enlargement potion, returning the items to the correct size. \"These are...\" \n\"Cursed items. Heavily cursed, in some cases.\" Archie deflated. He'd hoped to hoodwink some foolish merchant, but obviously caught a canny one. Hard to judge a Cloak's character. \n\"Well? Go on.\" Archie looked up to find the Cloak (presumably) poring over his wares, and his heart lifted. Perhaps a sale could be made, with some minor changes to his pitch. \n\"Well, this is Daniel the Lion's metal horse.\" He patted the creature's rump with a clank. The Cloak wafted around it. \"Don't be fooled by its skeletal nature. Everything works.\" \n\"Except it has no power source.\" The Cloak pointed at the hole in the beast's chest. Archie coughed. \n\"Moving on, there's the Tome of Harry.\" He dropped it on the counter. \"It contains magical spells...\" \n\"and Harry's ghost.\" The Cloak gave the air of a grin. \"Really, Mister Stevenage, there's no need to hide what they are. That's a hat with a Shield?\" It pointed at the headwear. \"Let me guess, it stays on until death? And flesh-eating dust as well! My, you do have some interesting wares. Well, for all of it, I can offer 300 gold\". The coins drifted in from the back of the shop and dropped into Archie's upturned palm. \n\"Wait!\" Archie's brain, panicked by a knowledgable and well paying customer, had flung up his other hand. \"That's *it?!?* No *I don't deal in evil magic* or, or...\" \nThe Cloak patted him on the shoulder. \"I feel you've misunderstood the nature of my shop, Mister Stevenage.\" The bell rang at the door, and the cloak gave the impression of a wink. \"Allow me to demonstrate.\" \nDark clouds billowed in across the floor, causing the shadows to writhe against the shelving. The overhead light flickered and flared a deep red as a massive cloaked figure strode in. The red light danced across his blackened armour, glinting off stains that reflected the same shade as the now dim light. Each step of its feet rattled the display items as it approached the counter. \nArchie did not merely shake in fear, he rhumba-ed and nearly tangoed. This was beyond anything his nightmares had inflicted on him. This was the End of him. \nThe figure turned to him and gave him a short nod, before leaning on the counter. \n**Hello, Shop-keep. Anything interesting in today?** \nThe Cloak spread wide in welcome. \"Well, Dread Lord, have I got a deal for you...\" \n \nArchie stared at the pile of coins on the counter as the smoke receded from the shop. It was leaving quite quickly, as its Master was moving at a fair pace. \n\"A job lot. You sold it as a job lot...\" His stare transferred to the Cloak, wonder across his face. \n\"Easy enough.\" The Cloak shrugged. \"After all, what self-respecting Master of Darkness *wouldn't* want a metal steed powered by the twisted soul of a dark sorcerer? Especially one that is invulnerable to damage *and* breathes flesh eating dust. The thing practically sells itself.\" \nThe coins floated from the counter and into the back of the shop, to Archie's disappointment. He lifted his eyes from it to find the Cloak once again considering him. \n\"Tell me, Mister Stevenage - Archibald - how easily can you procure such items? I can always use more stock at the shop and you seem to have found a knack at acquiring it.\" \nArchie's eyes gleamed. \"Well, that all depends on the cut from such goods as to be found. But, I am sure we can come to an arrangement.\" He grinned and felt it reflected from the Cloak. This was going to be a good day. Well, a bad day for nearby heroes, but when did that matter? Besides, they could probably do with a bit more challenge. "
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[WP] They always said she'd be late to her own funeral. You thought they were joking, until today. | 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",
"\"Hurry up!\" I yelled at her from behind the door. \"God, Jeane, you're going to be late to your own funeral!\"\n\n\"God, I'm coming, I'm coming! I just gotta finish putting on my clothes.\"\n\nI barge into the room to see Jeane still flopped out on the bed, towel wrapped around her body. She was scrolling instagram. Or tindr. I never know which. \"You tell me that all the time. How can someone be late to their own funeral.\"\n\n\"lets go!\" I pulled her onto her feet and took her phone away from her. She reached to grab for it but I held it up high over her head. She pouted but turned to the closet where she shimmied out of the towel and into a slim dress. She wedged on some heels and attempted combing out her already unruly wavy hair.\n\n\"lets GO!\" I shouted at her and grabbed the brush from her hand and slammed it down on the table.\n\nI called another uber and waited impatiently for the driver to show up.\n\nNight had fallen while we waited and I looked at my watch. 6:30. Great. George and Phil will be waiting for us George was my new date and Phil was Jeane's new flavor of the week and we were supposed to be double dating at this restaurant. \n\nA steady downpour of rain started as we settled into the back of this rusty sedan. Furious, I stared out the window with my arms crossed. She was going to pay for this. George was already angry with me being constantly late because of Jeane's extreme tardiness. I guess we should start telling her our times hours later than when she gets ready.\n\nI had softened up a bit as we pulled up to the restaurant. I peeked through the window to see George leaning casually against the wall with some mysterious guy with dark hair. George looked nonchalant, but I knew by his pink ears and neck he was furious. I grabbed for Jeane again and dragged her out of the uber. I hit pay on the app and marched inside.\n\n\"Baaabe!\" this guy said moving around me to wrap his arms around Jeane when we entered the restaurant. George gave me a polite peck on the cheek and a silent communication through the eyes telegraphing, we need to talk. (part 1 because Reddit sucks!)",
"The room laughed as I said the words. Those silly, ludicrous words. I joined in with her family as the funeral parlour filled with a sound I imagine quite foreign to its walls. Laughter. Sure, maybe a few tears too. But it was funny, plain and simple. Perhaps in a tragic sort of way, but perhaps not. I suppose I won't know for a while. After all, comedy is tragedy plus time. For now, though, I'll just enjoy the laughter, whatever the sort.\n\n\"She'll be late to her own funeral.\"\n\nThe room rumbles with laughter again. Her dad, the man I once hoped to call a father in law. Her mum, who I hoped to do the same. Her older sister and her younger brother.\n\nI let the laughter die down. Poor choice of words. Ah, who cares, she would have laughed. I let it die down, and feel the tears push their way forward. They want to escape. To stream down my face to the floor. This is the feeling the funeral parlour is used to. A return to normality.\n\nI see it in her mum, her dad, her sister, her brother. I see it in the many friends who came to say goodbye. I saw it in them even when they laughed. I miss that laughter now. It was a respite, if only for a second, from the reality that would follow us all to the end. She was gone, and no laughter or tears would change that.\n\nI offer them words. I don't know if they'll mean much. In truth, it's more for me than any of them. Words I hope to believe once they leave my mouth.\n\n\"And I think you all know why she'll be late to this funeral. Because she still lives on. In all of us. We'll carry our memories of her for a lifetime more. She'll be with us all. Her parents. Her siblings. Her friends. Everyone. She'll join you on your holidays, see the wondrous things you see. She'll be there when you're down, smiling and willing you on. Her spirit is too strong to break, or to be forgotten. She'll live on with me and with you. She'll be a part of us forever. Today we say goodbye to her body. We do not say goodbye to her.\"\n\nI believe those words.\n\nUntil tomorrow, my love, when the day starts anew.\n\n\\-\n\nr/ShittyStoryCreator :)"
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[WP] All those “like to die instantly” posts that haven’t been working were adding up, so when you die, you are greeted by a confused Death | 43 | [
"**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 tall man walks up to me. He greets me with an awkward smile. 'You know, I've been expecting you for a while. Although not so sudden.' His smile turns from awkward to sad. 'What went wrong?'\n\n'I've wanted to die for so long. But I couldn't bring myself to take my own life. I thought that one day, one of the posts would work. But they didn't.' I smile. 'I just killed myself and I'm already missing everything. Not what I expected.' The tall man sits down next to me. 'The posts worked. You've already died many times. One time you drowned. Another time you cut your wrists a bit too deep. And one time you stopped breathing while you were sleeping.' I'm shocked. 'What do you mean I already died? I lived through al these events.'\n\n'That's because I don't want you to die. As you may know, it's my job to bring people to the afterlife. The last couple of years my clients have been quite young. mostly between 14 and 22 years old. A few of them died from natural causes. but most of them didn't. And they all looked the same. Scars all over their body. A sad gloom in their eyes. And a soul aching for something. I've seen people suffer and contrary to popular belief, I don't like it. Usually I think that if I save them they will change. Enjoy the life they have, even though it's flawed. But very few of them change. And you were one of them.\"\n\nI start crying. 'I'm so sorry. I didn't know.' I hugged him. 'Can I have another chance?'\n\n'No.'\n\n'Alright. But I miss life already.'\n\n'So do I, little one. So do I.'",
"\"Two hundred and one,\" the wispy, frail figure stood in front of me with a judging eye, \"—How?\"\n\nIt didn't take me long to guess what had happened — flashes of light, quick drafts of wind, and an immediate submission to darkness.\n\n\"Neither demigod nor gifted. You stand here with a count higher than one,\" the voice emanating from the figure sounded rather surprised, \"so tell me, what fuels you to have such an achievement?\"\n\n\"I-I.. I just,\" is it right to talk about what I think I have done in my living days? To a *something* whose task is to reap my soul?\n\n\"—I.. I didn't know. I thought it would be funny to joke about it.\"\n\n\"You jest. I have no idea what you are talking of.\"\n\n\"I thought it would be funny to joke about dying,\" I said with a whisper. I feel so low. It's as though I'm standing in front of someone I have been making fun of throughout my life.\n\n*Honestly that's what I think I'm in charge of.*\n\n\"I commend your effort, but that does not answer my question.\"\n\n\"Y-you mean you weren't stating my sins?\"\n\n\"Two hundred is quite understating that, Mortal.\"\n\n\"Oh.\"\n\nIt seems my afterlife is already going off.\n\n\"You have died two hundred and one time. I don't see a life of heroic deeds in your eyes — then what is it that makes you so?\"\n\nI put the question in my mind, but neither I nor Death could answer it.\n\n\"Are you sure you are not aware of what you have done, Mortal?\"\n\n\"I think so.\"\n\nDeath gave a rather long 'hmm' as he trails from one spot to another, but I have my own questions. I have my doubts.\n\n\"Listen, how did I end up in.. here?\"\n\n\"You were struck by a crashing car. Your gaze was focused by the device you were holding in your hand.\"\n\n\"Right. I shouldn't be reading Reddit while crossing the road.\"\n\n\"It is what it is, Mortal.\"\n\n\"… Thank Jesus those 2me4meirl got my upvotes before I actually die,\" I let out a weakly awkward laughter, \"feels great to beat those suckers to the grave.\"\n\nOf course, Death doesn't bat a single eye to the topic. Not that I expect him to be aware of what I'm talking of.\n\nIf only you knew, Death. If only you knew you were invited for a mosh pit of depressed online people."
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[removed] | [WP] Suddenly somehow you're the king of Britain and the peole have entrusted you with absolute government power, what's your first order of buisness? | 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 u/FizzyFusion456, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**Direct prompt replies must be good-faith attempts at new stories or poems**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_1.3A_direct_prompt_replies_must_be_good-faith_attempts_at_new_stories_or_poems)\n\n- Fill-in-the-blank: Responses must be at least 30 words. 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*Prompts will be removed if there's a high possibility for rule breaking responses ([rule 7](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_7.3A_prompts_will_be_removed_if_there.27s_a_high_possibility_for_rule_breaking_responses))*\n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8q9w0q/-/%0A%0A) us if you have any questions or concerns. In the future, please refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. \n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*"
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1,
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"1528726879",
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[WP] You've lived an amazing life full of adventure, danger and riches. One night, as you're recounting tales of your bravery to one of your many close friends, they reply "Wow, almost sounds like a dream. Ever tried pinching yourself?" As you try, everything around you starts to unravel. | 46 | [
"**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",
"/b/ It was all a Dream\n\nHenry's jaw had been open for about ten minutes now as he stared at me in disbelief, \"the moon,\" he stated blankly.\n\n\"Yes,\" I said, swirling my brandy.\n\n\"You went to the moon,\" he said again.\n\n\"It was OK,\" I shrugged.\n\n\"That's crazy,\" he shook his head. \"If I went there I'd be pinching myself every day to make sure I wasn't dreaming,\" he laughed.\n\nThat gave me a chuckle and I pinched my arm, \"nope,\" I said, \"not dreaming.\"\n\n\"So what's next for the woman that's done the impossible?\" Henry's tongue seemed to slither as he spoke.\n\n\"I don't know,\" I shook my head, \"maybe start an orphanage, or help find a cure for cancer,\" I took a pensive drink. \"Give something back, you know.\"\n\n\"How generous,\" Henry stroked his chin. He was still looking at me when he said my name. \"Cassandra,\" he started, \"you've got a little something,\" he tapped the side of his mouth.\n\nI dabbed the corner of my mouth with a sleeve and when I drew my arm back it was stained with blood. \"Oh my,\" I said, setting down my glass of blood. \"Oh dear,\" I said, quickly standing from my armchair.\n\n\"Are you, OK?\" Henry stood up, too.\n\nThat's when I saw the flames outside the house. \"Fire!\" I yelled, \"Henry! There's a fire!\" \n\n\"Yes,\" Henry said with a lazy drawl. \"We're supposed to get fire until Thursday,\" he shook his hands as if apologizing, \"you know how the boss-man likes it hot, it can be one hell of a place!\" he laughed giddily. \n\nNow I was staring at him.\n\n\"I know,\" Henry sighed, \"bad joke,\" then he sat back down. \"Anyways, you were telling me about your moon dream,\" he drank from his cup, \"good blood,\" he said.\n\n\"Moon dream,\" I tried to pull the memory out from the back of my mind, \"moon dream.\" I sat on the edge of the armchair. \"I was on the moon!\" I tried to concentrate, \"looking at Earth...\" Henry nodded, \"my name is Cassandra, and I live in Arizona,\" I frowned. There was a moment of silence. I could hear the fire roaring outside. I tried to pinch myself, \"My name is Cassandra and I live in Arizona,\" I said pointedly.\n\nHenry raised an eyebrow, \"No, I don't think were in Arizona,\" his tongue flit and I saw now that it was forked. \"Can't be Arizona,\" he said, \"it's not hot enough to be Arizona.\" \n",
"It turns out, I had one last wild adventure in store for me, one without any real comprehension. \n\nAs per my friend's suggestion, as a joke, I pinched myself. All my stories beyond her belief, I realized how outside the realm of possibility they were, but they felt so real. All the cities I had saved from outer-world threats, all of the bad people I had defeated, and the wealth of supporters and fans felt unreal, even in experiencing them. After the sting of my pinch, however, the world started to become different. The home I thought I was in looked like less of a building and more depressing than anything. Knocking my friend down, I ran as far as my legs would take me as people looked at me in an unfamiliar manner. Running down a seemingly endless hallway, all the beeps and and ringing sounds tore through my eardrums as I avoided and struggled against shapeless monsters coming after me. \n\n\"I gotta get away, gotta get to my people,\" I thought to myself. \n\nIt wasn't until I had gotten to the door that I felt something sharp stick me in the neck, and the nightmarish world around me chipped away to a plain, calm looking place, yet a place to fear nonetheless. As I lay, I hear murmuring, something about \"meds\". \n\nWaking up, I find myself in the same bed as before with my friend from earlier. No words were exchanged. I sobbed into my hands, as she embraced me. She explained to me the plight of my situation, that I had been in a coma for years, and that none of what I had achieved had taken place in reality. I finally took in this news, and I let every emotion pour out of me like a waterfall. I never got to experience being an adventurer or a hero. I was a nobody to the world, but I was somebody to the people I mattered to. Why doesn't this bring me comfort? This should be the wealth I cherish, not the currency I had amassed in my faux-life, not the wealth of experiences I had went through as a different somebody. \n\nThis continued to haunt me for the rest of my life. I would see ghosts of the people I knew as they were, I would see the places I visited before in the locations I was currently in. My realities would constantly unravel and it mattered not how many therapist visits or dosages would help keep me anchored. I'm trapped in the real world, when I belong in the other world."
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"1528732638",
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[WP] You have an unusual parenting strategy: brutal honesty. But as your kid gets older, they become brutally honest with you too. | 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",
"My technique in raising Jacob had always garnered some interesting reactions from family members and friends. Some people, like my mother believed that the sole use of brutal honesty in raising my son would surely result in him developing psychological issues or resentment towards myself. My lifelong friend Todd argued that it was irresponsible to raise my son in such an untraditional way. School counsellors, doctors, and coaches always commented on my honesty as if it were some form of abuse. The only person who understood it’s effectiveness and my strategy was my husband Andrew. We met each other as seniors in University, both majors in Sociology and Psychology. We had recognized each other from various lectures throughout the years but did not formally meet until a night in the fall of ’98. We were standing across the room from each other at a party, both a bit too intoxicated to be socializing, and made eye contact, which brought us to each other, and sparked what would be a budding and wholesome relationship. We spent every day together after that night, when I wasn’t with Andrew it was like some unexplainable force was pulling me towards him. I had dated several men before, but what drew me to Andrew was his honesty. There were never any games or confusion with him. If he wanted to see me again, he told me. If he thought my new haircut looked bad, he told me. When he wanted to have a child with me, he told me. \n\nWe eventually settled down and had our son, Jacob. Years with Andrew began to rub off on me, and soon enough I had become just as honest as Andrew. Although it cost us both numerous friendships, we both believed that honesty was key, and that we would not burden ourselves with the guilt or trouble of white\\-lies or avoidance. It became a rule in our relationship to not lie to each other, no matter how small the case. As Jacob reached his toddler years, we realized that we had a decision to make\\- to either adapt our behaviour or raise Jacob as we wanted\\- with brutal honesty. We lived our lives happily. Andrew worked full time as a psychologist at a elementary school down the street from our modest home, that Jacob would attend, and I returned to school to get my teachers degree, and by the time Jacob was in high school I was a teacher at his new school. \n\nGrowing up, we always watched Jacob closely for signs of aggression or isolation. We understood that our parenting techniques could be detrimental if we didn’t provide the right support to our son. I grew up with chronic depression, and Andrew had suffered with a great deal of anxiety in University, so we understood personally the mental health resources that needed to be in place for our little Jake. My son and his father spent hours upon hours together, reading, biking, fishing, and bonding. They developed a relationship that I always envied but adored, I always wished I could be what Andrew was to Jacob. Over the years Andrew and I realized Jacob was picking up our sense of honesty. While we appreciated this, it did spark numerous arguments as he reached his teenage years. When Jacob would come home late and we asked him where he was, he would tell us, unfortunately we did not always appreciate the answers. It would infuriate Andrew when he discovered his only son was lying\\- a sin he considered forbidden. Over the next few years Andrew developed rage that had never been there before, and for the first time in our lives together he became physical towards me. \n\nIt was a Friday night in November when I realized Jacob was still not home from school, about 4 hours after it had ended. I texted him with no reply. I contacted the school and they said he had not attended that day. Clearly panicked, I called Andrew, who was just leaving a doctors appointment, and he came home to meet me. We sat in the living room, shaking with anxiety until Jacob walked through the front doors at 1am, almost 9 hours late. We routinely sat him down and asked him where he went. His eyes were bloodshot, clothes wrinkled, and the bags under his eyes darker than normal. It was clear he was on something, or the something had happened, and at this point I was more concerned about his well being than discipline. I calmly asked him what happened.\n\n“I was at my friend Rebecca’s. We were smoking weed and having sex, then some friends came over and we had drinks” he stuttered. He had a look of terror on his face staring up at us, as he understood he would be disciplined, but he knew the implications of lying would be much more severe. His father did not accept lying, and when Jacob stretched the truth his father would always find out, and often lead to a “punishment”, usually being punched with the sheer force of rage.\n\nClearly shocked by his honesty but not angry, I took a breath. Andrew had a new tone of anger in his voice when he unleased a rant on Jacob about the importance of being on time, letting us know where he is at all times, and staying away from drugs. We were both upset about his actions, but his safety always came first. We decided to learn from this experience and head to bed.\n\nOver the next few weeks Andrew and I began to view Jacob in a new light. I love my son but it became clear he was becoming an adult and that his actions were reckless and not reflective of our parenting. We got calls almost daily from his school about him missing classes, or striking out at teachers. I found it safer to keep my mouth shut at home as the tension in our home was rising at a frightening rate. Andrew and Jacob, on the other hand, would spend hours screaming at each other, blurting out the most brutally honest and hurtful thoughts at each other. I made it routine to start staying an extra hour or two at work each night, and would spend most of my time alone, as would Jacob and Andrew. I was honest with the boys, I was upset and hurt with the situation. Jacob was irresponsible, but I could see in his eyes that when he knew I was hurting he hurt, his compassion for my feelings were prevalent, and I knew he never meant to hurt us. \n\nI woke up around 2:30am on a Tuesday morning. Andrew was not laying in bed beside me, where he was just hours earlier. I walked downstairs to see if he was in his office, but as I reached the bottom of the unlit, steep, stairs I jumped backwards in shock as Jacob was standing directly in front of me. \n\n“Sorry Mom, didn’t mean to scare you.” He whispered.\n\n“It’s okay love, I was just looking for your father, he wasn’t in bed.”\n\nJacob took a step forward and hugged me. Confused, I stepped back and looked down at my shirt that suddenly felt damp.\n\n“What’s on your shirt?” \n\nSilence. \n\nI turned on the light and looked down at Jacob. He was covered in blood. I shrieked fell backwards.\n\n“What happened Jake? Where’s Dad.”\n\nStanding over me, dripping in blood with a sense of accomplishment on his face, Jacob grinned and calmly stated, “I had to kill him.” "
] | [
1,
10
] | [
"1528744938",
"1528757308"
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[WP] In between the time your heart stops and your brain shuts off, you face the final boss, the devil himself. Beating him grants you immortality. You are the first to beat him. | 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",
"With the feeling of immortality, came pride. Before I saw new light, my new immortal, yet finite, mind corrupted pride into arrogance. With this sense of arrogance, I woke up to the new world. My world. Or so I thought, until I realised that I couldn't .... \"Wake Up\"\n\nI tugged and pulled at my lifeless limbs only to find my efforts go in vain. It was as if my limbs and my eyes were defying my effort with an infinite force. I was dead. I could hear and feel what my body felt, but not see or move. So how was I immortal? And then the constant beeping in the background made sense to me. I was alive but in a coma, with the added 'advantage' of being aware of my almost lifeless body constantly.\n\nThe day passed by with my constant effort to jolt myself into existence. I didn't know what 'I' referred to anymore. By night, I was thoroughly exhausted even though I didnt move an inch. But this fatigue was strange. It didn't come with the familiar feeling of being drowsy. It was as if I was constantly awake. I couldn't recollect how and why I used to sleep everyday anymore. I assumed 'I' was not the part of me which used to do the sleeping everyday, and hence was agonizingly unaware of it completely.\n\nAs the days of the week passed by, the first feeling which started in me was despair. It was followed by pain. I understood that as a living being, I was blissfully unaware of how painful an existence could be. Small things like not able to scratch at an itch, which persisted on my body for minutes together, ate away at me mentally. I could actually count the number of itches I got on my body everyday and believe me, it wasn't a small number. Weeks turned to months, Months turned to years. They call solitary confinement \"The bing\" because after 50 days of it, the mind goes \"Bing\". Despair, pain, Agony, frustration became the language of my thoughts.\n\nWith each passing year, I could feel myself turning corrupt, toxic, EVIL. Every interface to the world passed through this devilish lens. I started cursing at fresh air. I started wishing death when I heard a gentle baby coo. I knew due to my families constant visits to me, that my presence had caused rifts in the whole family, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I could feel my strength of spreading evil, grow. I had become the devil. My euthanasia and my burial, with creatures constantly nibbling at my decaying body was not a pain, compared to the pain I had gone through for 20 years. \n\nThen one grim day it happened. I could move 'Myself'. I was finally free of the clutches of my body. Finally, the time has come. I was thankful to the statement of 'me being the first one to ever do it'. Every source of corruption originated from that simple statement. It was then I understood how the devil thrived. By imbibing a sense of individuality into us. So simple, yet devilishly effective. Immortality can't be handled by us, if we haven't transcended our puny thought process. I wasnt the first one to defeat the devil, I was one of trillions to join it."
] | [
1,
3
] | [
"1528775059",
"1528779694"
] | |
[WP] Nicholas Cage stars in the third National Treasure, where he discovers he was the real national treasure all along. | 12 | [
"**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",
"Nick Cage waited. There was a treasure nearby, he could feel it. He couldn't see it, but he had been looking for years. The warnings others had given him were not listened to and now it was too late. Far too late for now, anyway. \n\nNick was a treasure hunter for fourteen years. When he was young, he looked at the Declaration of Independence and he said to his dad \"I want to steal the Declaration daddy\"\n\nDad said \"NO! You will BE KILL BY ILLUMINATI!\" \n\n\"This is Riley\" the radio crackered. \"You must steal the Declaration!\"\n\nSo Nick gotted his glasses and blew up the church wall.\n\n \n\"HE IS GOING TO KILL US.\" Said the Illuminati. \"I will shoot at him\" said Sean Bean and he fired the gun bullets. Nick bulleted at him and tried to blow him up but then the elevator fell and they were trapped and not able to kill. \n\n\"NO! I must find the Declaration!\" he shouted. The radio said \"No Nick. You ARE the declaration.\" \n\nAnd then Nick was the treasure. "
] | [
1,
2
] | [
"1528777819",
"1528791363"
] | |
[WP] You have died. Like all people, you have been sent to hell. However, instead of having your punishment chosen for you, everyone must pick the severity they believe they deserve. You are the first to get it right. | 316 | [
"**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",
"Wha! Where did everything go? Just a moment ago, that car rammed straight into ours, and now it’s just me, floating in an endless expanse of darkness. I can’t even see my hands in front of me! I *am* still wearing my long-sleeved jacket and jeans, though, which was to not draw attention. Is this what it’s like after you die? Am I stuck in eternal suspension, or is my destination yet to come?\n\nI feel something at the corner of my shoe and impulsively pull my leg up, barely holding back a gasp. I peer down to see only more blackness. I reach my foot back out and feel a hard, flat surface: a wall? Or perhaps a floor to land on! When I reach my hand over for a feel of the texture, the rest of me suddenly drops onto it. Yup, it’s a floor; a cold, but smooth one.\n\nRelying solely on my touch, I carefully position my hands and legs before taking my time getting up. Once I am on my feet, I tread on slowly, reaching my hands out for anything in front of me. This goes on for a few minutes before my scrawny arms can’t take any more and I need to set them down. If only I exercised more. I sink my hands into my pockets and continue walking, stopping every now and then to feel around the floor. Where am I, and why is everything so dark?\n\nSeveral more uneventful minutes pass by before I sit down to rest my tired legs, seeing no more sense in continuing. My mind is numb from no stimulation, so I might go to sleep right here. I fling my hood atop my head and lay down my head , doing my best to get comfortable. Soon after, though, I start hearing crunches and crackles from all around me. Oh, now something starts happening! Okay, what is it?\n\nA large, circular green cluster of hexagonal holes, about four times my height, lights up brightly before me, making me jump back in surprise – and turn away in horror. Ugh, I finally get to see something, and it happens to trigger my mild Trypophobia! At least now I know I haven’t gone blind.\n\nOnce I can bring myself to look at this sight, I notice at its center a ring of six glowing, closed-up hexagons surrounding a deep hole, both being bigger and lighter-colored than the others. I also detect six thick, zig-zagged rods protruding from around its sides and a tail or stem it props itself up with.\nI hear it speak. “Helloo!” Its swaying, high-pitched voice and jovial tone fall into an uncanny valley between soothing and threatening, a trait accentuated by disorienting echoes that bounce around us.\n\nMy mind is in shambles! Where am I? What am I looking at? Why are things playing out like this? Was I being watched this whole time? Oh, how stupid I probably looked! What’s going to happen to me?! Could be a very lucid dream? My dreams are **much** faster-paced, though. Oh, I forgot I've got company now; I should say something!\n\nI manage to cough something out. “Wh-who are you.”\n\nThe entity’s voice becomes more controlled, the echoes settling within it. “Why, I am an overseer of sin; I keep track of the sins of every individual I am assigned to. There have to be a bunch of us because, as *you* may know, many people can die at once.” Way to rub it in.\n\n“S-so-” I tremble at my next words. “-am I…i-in hell?”\n\n“Nooo, not quite,” the overseer corrects as if to comfort me. “You may call this your own personal ‘purgatory’; everybody has one constructed and designed specifically for them whenever their life is put at risk; this is why we can usually only meet one person at a time.”\n\nI scroll my eyes across the vast dome of blackness surrounding us, the only light source still being the overseer’s eerie luminescence. I guess this *would* match my propensity for anxiety; just gazing into it gives me paranoia of something jumping out.\n\nI turn back to the overseer. “So, w-what next?” I ask, my confidence slightly boosted by the assurance I am not (yet) in hell.\n\n“Here, you are to reflect upon on all of your unrepented sins.” A large larva inches halfway out of one of the overseer’s holes, making my skin crawl. “For each valid sin you admit to, no matter how small, one of these little sweeties pops out to greet you from the hole corresponding to that sin. It seems this one already senses your fearfulness.”\n\nYeah, I'm a nervous wreck. “Heh heh, I do make it pretty obvious, don’t I?”\n\nThe overseer continues, “If your self-assessment turns out to be completely correct, you get to decide your own punishment! After all, if a sinner fully understands where they went wrong, they would surely know the best way to suffer; it’s the least we can do. Hm-hm!”\n\nSo I can choose what happens to me? Does that mean anything so long as it’s bad? What are the rules on all this?\n\n“Now, as a fair warning,” the overseer notes, their tone turning a tinge more serious, “we are in full power to apply our own punishment if we deem yours unfit.” They lean forward rather intimidatingly. “Do you understand?”\n\nI nod in short, meek bobs. “Yes, I understand everything.”\n\n“Alright, then!” they announce with returning cheer as they swing back where they were. “Let’s get started!”\n\nI think it over a bit before I know just what to say. “Okay, well…I’ve done nothing.”\n\n“What’s that?”\n\n“I did nothing to get here; that is, should’ve done stuff, but I didn’t. At an early age, I grew to fear the consequences of failure, defeat and disappointment, so I never took up more tasks than I had to nor seized any social outlets.\n\nThe larva wriggles up and down in excitement. “Very good so far!” the overseer interjects. “Please continue.”\n\nMy voice rises, my repressed feelings of guilt resurfacing. “Furthermore, I held back from speaking my mind except when forced. Even if I didn’t, though, I wouldn’t have had much to say ‘cause I hadn’t actually adopted any opinions or beliefs beyond those crucial to functioning. I was afraid to have doubts *or* faith; I couldn’t commit to anything! I became complacent, unsocial and, frankly, somewhat lazy!”\n\nA second larva slinks out while the first one thrashes about with more enthusiasm. “Yes, yes! Spot on!”\n\n“My Mom eventually caught on to my inactivity, however, and had me join a co-worker’s son and his friends on a trip to someplace I forget. They were a diverse group; I could’ve probably made at least one friend if I tried.\n\n“Anyway, after the light went green for us at an intersection, the driver forgot to look both ways, and the others were too busy with themselves or each other to see another driver speeding through from the left. Admittedly, though, the car was far, and I only caught it from my peripherals myself. I knew I had to alert everyone, but I choked up; I guess a part of me winced at the supposedly unflattering image of me suddenly shouting out after being so quiet, so let's throw a pinch of pride in the mix, too.”\n\nAt this point I am so wrapped up in guilt and shame that I do not even look up at the overseer, instead looking down with my hands gripping my hair and face. “That could’ve been my turning point; I could’ve saved all those people and started making progress, but I blew it, all because I was so cowardly and selfish that I couldn’t get myself to talk to people!”\n\nI lift my wet eyes. “Yet here I am-” I swing an arm open to gesture, “-opening myself up after it’s already too late!”\n\nA peculiar arthropod now rests in the middle of the central ring. Could that represent-?\n\n“Well done,” the overseer congratulates. “You’ve recapped all of your sins with perfect honesty, including the one behind *all* sin: pride. Now-” they lean down in anticipation, “-what shall be your punishment?”\n\n“Again,” I answer defeatedly, “nothing; what should I reap if I hadn’t sowed anything? You can just leave me here to rot away in isolation.”\n\n“Hmmm,” the overseer mutters in yet a darker tone than before. “Perhaps you’re not as fun as I’d hoped.”\n\nThey slither back, their light fading out. As soon as they leave my sight, the crackling sounds return, but they gradually muffle out until they are gone once more. I then hear a gentle *ting* high above me.\n\nWhat was that about? Did I choose an improper punishment? I figured they would’ve wanted a punishment corresponding to the deed. Maybe isolation isn’t severe or intense enough. If so, what awaits me now? How long will I wait for it? Or perhaps it’s already started: my punishment could be eternal anticipation of impromptu attacks or spontaneous jumpscares to attack my heart and senses! Oh, I can feel the stress crushing me already! I think I’ll just lie down now; maybe the torment won’t be so bad then.\nI close my eyes. If only I had a second chance; if only I could escape this nightmare.\n\nA bright light hits my eyelids. I stand back up, a hand over my eyes to protect them. This isn’t a trap, is it? I move my arm to see an white opening in the apparent ceiling.\n\nThis opening – and the light emanating from it – feels oddly devoid of the desolation that enwrapped me since I got here, which I feel sort of burning away. When I take a step forward, my feet lift off the ground. I look down to see my reflection on the floor, and my tense muscles relax with relief. Am I receiving mercy after death? \n\nAs I draw closer to the light, a layer of brightness envelops my body. It looks like I *am* being granted a second chance! I get to change my ways and be a more active human being!\n\nA new life begins here!",
"Darkness. Heat. Where am I? I was driving, wasn't I? And then that truck... Yes, so this is like...\n\nAn smooth, playful, but somewhat sinister voice interrupts me: \"Yes, you are dead. Finished. Crushed \\-quite literally. Why can trucks be fluffier? Anyway, welcome to the afterlife. Darkness, heat, all the good stuff. Welcome to hell\"\n\nI try to muster some words, while trying to distinguish my conversation partner: \"Who... what... where are you?\n\n\"Don't waste your time. You can't see me (we are very proud of our total darkness protocol). You musn't, and, even more importantly, it wouldn't do you any good. I'm way too beatiful for you to see. Just listen. Listen carefully...\"\n\nThe voice seems to be able to read my mind. It also wanders through the void, feeling really close sometimes and suddenly far away. I can not only hear it, but somehow I feel it all over my head. It doesn't sound quite honest, nor it sounds completely deceiving; I think i'm being tested\n\n\\-\"This is the deal. You are guilty, as everyone is. Living is sinning (and sinning is living, isn't it?). There is no point in pretending otherwise (hold your thoughts, and keep your breath) Therefore, you are up for punishment...\"\n\nA million thoughts invade my mind. I did wonder about this in the past. Could it be? Living really is sinning, but how can you be so strict? What about choice \\-and forgiveness? I mean, what's the point of anything in life if you just come here and...\n\n\\-\"Hey, save your energy, i heard that. You are not convincing me (nor anyone in here). It doesn't matter, it's no longer about that. It's autumn, and you just walked and crushed some leaves. No ill intentions (or intentions at all, maybe), no purpose, but they got broken. And you answer for that today. It's just mmmm, like thermodynamics. Sorta, somewhat delayed. We are getting equilibrium today\"\n\nMy mind continues firing. I try to communicate, and my lips start to move (it's a test, isn't it?): \"So this is about that, equilibrium? Is it all about some weird metaphysic law of energy? Is this the price of existing? Then I am just ike a cog, a little piece of the universal machine. But...\"\n\n\"Before you ask, yes, we do recognize you as an individual \\-rocks do crush leaves too, and even trees when they fall do too. But out previous intent based punishment policy was way too confusing. This is just better. It's about something bigger than you or me. I'll not judge you. In fact, no one will. You'll have the opportunity to show your individuality. It's very simple: you choose your own punishment\"\n\nA gigantic cloud blocks any clarity from me. I choose my punishment? How could I? How could that ever be right?\n\n\"Just take your time, gather your thoughts, remember, reflect and ponder. Indulge in your individuality (yuck) and in your freedom of will (double yuck). Be creative (please) and pick wisely. Time is not of importance in here, but, if you may, do hurry: I'm kinda hungry\"\n\nHungry? Be creative? Can this really be afterlife? There has to be more to it. If anything, I would be the worst person to judge myself: you cannot get equilibrium that way. How could that ever work? It can't be. The reason behind paying is just mechanical, universal and cold \\-crushing leaves. Yet, I get to choose my punishment. Couldn't I aspire to something better? Bigger than me? Can't the universe aspire to something else? (Can the universe provide it?). This is not good enough. Not fair enough, not beautiful eno...(i have it, i have it!).\n\nWords come out of my mouth: \"There's no punishment. There was not and there will be not. I'm forgiven, because I forgive myself, and because i was forgiven by others and because I will forgive \\-and be forgiven\\- and because I forgive you too. As I'm always guilty I'm always forgiven, as everyone else is. Everyone is as guilty as me, and everyone is pardoned. I'm sole and leaf. Equilibrium. You crush but also get crushed, but it doesn't matter: the universe is, in the end, very fluffy.",
"Everyone needs to go. We all know that. Some go earlier than others. Some *want* to go earlier. Some get sent earlier. Yet there are also the fortunate. Those who hadn't sustained injuries, were mentally sane or just naturally blessed with a strong body. Or luck.\n\nI wasn't one of them. At the ripe old age of 32, I got hit by a swerving truck while I was hiking alongside a highway, killing me on the spot. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself surrounded by fire. First, it took my sight. Seconds later, my breath. For a full minute, all I could see, hear and feel was the unending Inferno of Hell.\n\nI scoffed. \"Figures.\"\n\nA voice responded to my comment, the last kind of voice one would expect to be hearing here.\n\n\"Ah, yer here. Top a the mornin' to ya, lad! How are ya? Smashin' day, i'nnit?\"\n\nWith an expression of anxiousness and surprise, I turned around.*The Devil is... Scottish?* I thought to myself.\n\nAs if he read my mind, he started laughing, a weirdly charming, but ominous laugh. The person, if one could call him that, that floated in front of me started to come closer, and the closer he came, the more details I could make out. He was wearing a buisness suit, for example, and a few meters later, I noticed it was a deep blue instead of a shade of black, with a white shirt underneath. The person *inside* the suit, however, was far more extraordinary. His skin was made up from unequal shades of red, with deep black crevices all over. His face was mostly human, but his eyes were the same, this time a solid and smooth, dark black that filled the crevices. His mouth, however, had no solid shape. It was as if where his lips should've been, there were two strokes of running lava, with the same colour as his skin. And although they were a bit small (they were barely reaching his knees), the suit he was wearing couldn't contain two leathery wings, with sharp, dagger\\-like spikes at the very ends.\n\nThe Devil took a deep breath, cleared his throat and somewhat straightened his face, before bursting into laughter again. \"Oh, wow. You should've seen your face! Absolutely priceless!\"\n\nAfter I realised what just happened, my face turned red. *Hey,* I thought to myself, *it's not as if you could've known.*\n\nHe cleared his throat once more, and took a more serious face. \"So. You probably wonder why you're here?\"\n\nMy reaction took him by surprise. \"Actually, a little bit, yeah.\"\n\nThe Devil smirked, but I was too late to see it. I was too preoccupied with taking in the surrounding area. The fire had faded when He first appeared, and now I could see where I was. At face value, it looked like a modern appartement. When looking more closely, however, I could notice that nothing had an actual, solid shape, and, as far as a soul could feel anything, I was quite certain that everything was at least boiling hot, wich explained the way everthing looked like. It was wavy, not solid. I snapped out of my thoughts, almost litterally, when the Devil clapped his hands.\n\n\"There are no need for introductions, as I already know your name, and I also know that you guessed who I am. And I can tell you, you guessed right.\"\n\nThere was a silence for a few seconds, until the Devil took the lead again.\n\n\"So, let us get straight to the point. Yes, you are in Hell. More specifically, Limbo, if my memory serves me right. Just between you and me, this place is an absolute maze. If I wasn't immortal, I couldn't for the life of me remember everything. So anyways, Limbo. Here we, or to be exact *you,* are going to pick a punishment.\"\n\nNow He took *me* by surprise. \"I\\-I'm sorry, what? *I* have to pick\\* my ow\\*n punishment?\"\n\nHe suddenly floated towards me, putting his almost clawed hands on my shoulders. He leaned in towards me, whispering in my ear. He suddenly sounded... almost *seductive*. I unawarely shuddered, but His voice was simply enchanting:\"That's the way the cookie crumbles around here. And surely, you have regrets of *something,* right? Otherwise there's no way you'd be here.\"\n\nI was about to answer, but noticed just in time that He was putting words in my mouth. Words that weren't true. So I shrugged. \"Like I told you, I have absolutely no clue why I'm in Hell.\" Wide\\-eyed, I realised something. \"Unless masturbation and cursing are sins?\"\n\nThe Devil laughed, a sincere laugh. \"If that was so, then Heaven could've been shut down.\"There was a certain tone in his voice, that made him sound a wee bit uncertain, perhaps even nervous. But I shook that feeling off. *There's no way.*\n\nHe started whispering again. \"You are absolutely certain? You can't recall a *single* sin? Not even a grain of remorse?\"\n\nI shrugged again, but felt a bit more confident. \"The only thing that I regret is that I didn't get to go to my best bud's wedding. I was his best man, but now I'm stuck here.\"\n\n\"Sorry to hear that. But the big man in the sky has a plan for everybody. I'm sure this has happened for a reason.\"\n\n\"I guess. Still doesn't really offer any comfort, though.\"\n\nHe let go of my shoulders, and clapped in his clawy hands.\"So, you would tell me that you deserve absolutely no punisment?\"\n\n\"Not even a smack on my face.\"\n\nThe sudden feel of dread couldn't take away my confidence.\n\nAnd as sudden as my dread, the Devil turned red with rage, if more red was possible on his skin. \"No. You're wrong,\" he stammered. \"You're both wrong.\" He said that last bit towards the sky. \"What is your plan, Father?\"\n\nMy anxiousness returned. \"What do you mean, I'm wrong?\"\n\nHe pinched his nose bridge in irritation. \"No. You... you're right. Correct. For the first time,' and every word that followed was said more loudly than the first, 'for the first time, ever since time started to exist, a human is correct! Unbelievable! Do you really want this, Father?\" That last sentence, he yelled whilst pointing at me.\n\nBut He stopped his rant abruptly, and sighed. \"Fine.\"\n\nI got overwhelmed with fear. \"W\\-wait, what? What's happening? Where am I going?\"\n\nThe Devil smiled once more, shockingly sad. \"To a better place.\"\n\nThe red filter that had been in front of my eyes this entire occurence got peeled off, and the Devil had made place for a different being. It looked like the Devil like they were two raindrops, even the sad smile was still present. The only difference was that the shades of red had made place for a blue colour scheme.\n\n\"Well. That's a first. Welcome to Heaven, unfortunately.\" \n\n\nEdit: almost fogot: if you liked this, maybe check out my sub, r/WritingsOfAnAmateur. It's where I keep most of my writing.",
"“Do you know what sins you have committed?” the being asked. It was a vile, misshapen thing, towering up twice her height and looking at her through empty sockets that seemed to see too much. A long tail had slowly wrapped itself around her and the being took a step closer. “I do,” it continued, now smiling with its toothless mouth. “I know everything, every single thing that you have done to further secure your place among us. There is a lot of them. A lot.” The tail returned to its owner, who closed the remaining distance between them in three agile strides. She swallowed a scream when it leveled its sockets with her, and felt tears well up in her eyes. Had she known it would come to this she would have been a better person.\n\nThe being laughed. “Oh, would you now? That’s funny because if I recall correctly there’s a whole bunch of people practically screaming at the top of their lungs what happens to people that act like you did, every major religion really. They warned you once, they warned you twice, and when you still wouldn’t listen they offered to forgive you and start over again.” The being inched closer and seemed to take in her scent; she shivered. \n\n“Mm, but it wasn’t in your nature to listen to them. It wasn’t in your nature to repent, to set things right, to walk the path of the righteous. No, I can smell it on you. You enjoyed every misdeed, took pleasure in every shortcut that came at the expense of someone else. I dare say that even if you had received convincing proof that this was what awaited you, you wouldn’t have turned back. \n\n“Because you don’t belong in heaven, you don’t belong with the people who stand in line, who turn the other cheek, who bend over and get fucked by life. No, you belong with us, down here. Your spot has been reserved ever since you strangled that rat and felt nothing. Everyone knew what you were from then on, even your parents, although they denied it at the time. Not even your beloved Jesus would have taken those odds.”\n\nThe being walked around behind her, she could feel its breath on her neck as it lowered itself to her level. \n\n“Now wipe those pathetic tears from your face and I will show you what you’ve done, everything.”\n\nShe took a deep breath and wiped the tears from her eyes, hating herself for having let them fall in the first place; she was better than that. The being was right, they were pathetic.\n\nTwo hand grasped her shoulders and turned her around. She came face to face with the two sockets, but they weren’t empty anymore. A translucent light filled them, filled the space between the two of them, filled everything. And then she saw. Starting from when she was three until her last breath, the being showed her every wrongful deed she had committed. But it went beyond that, it showed her the fallout of her actions, the impact it had on the recipients, her victims, the poor souls who happened to be between her and what she desired at the time. It all merged together. Small things like a line of cocaine in the office became a dead man who had been stupid enough to take her to his place. Paying for sex, framing coworkers, pushing an old lady down a flight of stairs.\n\nSomeone was laughing. She wasn’t sure if it was her or the being, but she was definitely smiling. After all, it was beautiful. She was unstoppable. No one stood in her way that didn’t live to regret it. She exacted vengeance on everyone who wronged her. It only seemed fitting that an overdose was the cause of death; nothing but her own greed was strong enough to kill her. She only felt a tinge of sadness at the empty funeral, but it was a small price to pay.\n\nSuddenly she was staring into the empty sockets again. She was still smiling, and so was the being in front of her.\n\n“You seem pleased,” it said and cocked its head. She met its gaze, or what she supposed was its gaze. It didn’t seem as terrifying anymore.\n\n“So do you.” She sounded confident than before, felt confident.\n\n“I’m always pleased when someone lives up to their potential, to see weakness snuffed out like a candle.” The being took a couple of steps back and raised its arms. Seven doors appeared behind it. Each opened to reveal horrors unthinkable. The sights gave her mixed feelings. \n\n“And now comes the time for your choice.”\n\n“My choice?”\n\n“Yes, the free will you were given extends down here as well, to some extent. You get to pick your own punishment, pick what you think you deserve. Choose wisely and you might manage to repent, to be invited upstairs, be too soft on yourself and you might have to spend eternity down here before reaching redemption, and choose to severe a punishment and you might not have the stomach to endure it; might only be a husk of you left when you’ve made up for your wrongdoings.”\n\nShe scoffed.\n\n“Sounds like a bunch of bullshit to me.” The being cocked its head again and the mouth turned into a snarl. If it had eyes she imagined they would narrow.\n\n“Bullshit?” it asked with a silk voice. \n “Repent? Be invited upstairs? Please, sounds like something you tell people so you can watch hope slowly leave them as we’re edging closer to eternity.” The snarl turned into a smile and the being shrugged.\n\n“Maybe. And then again, maybe not. You’ll just have to make that gamble.”\n\nIt was her turn to shrug.\n\n“No, I don’t.”\n\n“No? And why’s that?”\n\n“Because it’s irrelevant to me.”\n\n“So you’ve made your decision?”\n\n“I have.”\n\nThe doors vanished without a sound, although the echoes of screaming lingered for a few more moments.\n\n“And?” \n\n“I want to be your apprentice.”\n\nThe being was silent for some time before it went down on all four and crept closer, until it was merely an inch away from her. It smelled as vile as it looked, something she had not noticed before.\n\n“My apprentice? And what makes you think you deserve that?”\n\n“We are to choose the punishment we think we deserve, but that requires us to believe we deserve to be punished in the first place, to believe we have done something wrong. To want to repent it. But it’s like you said, I belong down here, and I think I should be rewarded for my actions. Some might consider being your apprentice to be a punishment, the worst punishment perhaps. But I don’t. I’ve earned it.”\n\nThe smile returned, and she thought she could hear the being purr. It sent shivers down her spine but she kept her back straight, and her eyes locked with the sockets in front of her.\n\n“Clever girl.”",
"\"Uh, hi?\" I frowned as I walked into a plush office that looked just like an ordinary accounting office. I paused as I spotted a TV on the wall. It looked like it was broadcasting stock charts but instead of companies it appeared to be different sins with the Seven Deadly Sins in bold.\n\n\"I don't have all day, Audi.\" A man was seated at a large oak desk. He didn't even look up at me as his fingers clicked over an adding machine with the graceful ease of a well practiced pianist. \"And my condolences, that your parents named you after a car. I must admit though that there is some irony that you were killed by your namesake\"\n\n\"Yeah, hilarious....\" I muttered as I sat down in a chair across from his desk. It was lumpy and uncomfortable. I guess I wasn't going to get the 5 star spa treatment in Hell. \"So... are you the devil...?\" I questioned as I looked over the man in front of me. He had a slight frame with neatly trimmed blonde hair and large glasses that seemed to keep sliding down his nose. He wasn't really what I had been expecting. I mean, he was wearing a sweater vest.\n\nHe snorted with annoyance. \"You have no idea how many times a day I get that. No, I am not the devil. Only the big contenders get to personally meet with the Big Boss. I am Steve, Junior Director of the Vanity Circle.\" He explained. \"Now let's get started, shall we? I have a deadline to meet in about an hour so let's get this over with.\"\n\n\"Okay, but do I get like a lawyer or something? Because I def do not belong here.\" I gave him the brightest smile my dazzling bleached teeth could manage. It was a well rehearsed smile that had a 95&#37; success rate.\n\n\"You sold your soul for a pair of Louboutins...\" He replied dryly.\n\n\"Okay, well... Okay, that may have allegedly happened but...\"\n\n\"But nothing. You sold your soul for the sake of vanity because you wanted to show up your rival on Instragram.\" He waved his hand and the TV screen on the wall switched over to Instagram shots of me and my endless closets, shopping sprees, vacations and expensive cars. Is it really my fault that my parents were well off and gave me whatever I wanted and that I married a private island realtor that was twice my age so I could carry on my life style? I liked nice things. Was that really so terrible? It's not like I ever killed anyone or anything.\n\n\"Oh, can you pause? My hair looks really good in that pic. Do you think I should go back to blonde? I decided to do the ombre thing because it's like hot right now but\\-\"\n\n\"We are here to discuss your sins not your best fashion moments.\" He scowled. \"But honestly you looked best as your natural brunette.\"\n\n\"Really? Huh? You're the only person to ever tell me that.\" I told him. I had changed myself constantly over the course of my life. I had always wanted to be on top of the latest trends, even more so when Facebook and Instagram became popular.\n\n\"Anyway, it's not even debatable that you let vanity control your life, so let's just move forward with your punishment. Uh...\" He scrolled through his phone that seemed to contain a list of punishments. \"An eternity of birds eating you alive over and over. There will be mirrors all around you so you can watch as they mutilate you. Alright, you can go back the way you came in.\" He gestured towards the door as he went back to the accounting he had been working on.\n\n\"Did I like catch you on a bad day or something, because that seems really freaking medieval?\" I demanded. \"Hasn't hell like updated with the times?\"\n\n\"Here. I can update it so the mirrors show you with the SnapChat filters with animal ears that you are so fond of...\" He began to type on his phone barely even paying attention to me.\n\n\"Steve, come on! Yeah, I'll admit that I am kind of an asshole but I am not 'evil'. I don't go around hurting people and I am not like sadistic or anything. Doesn't this punishment seem a little extreme to you? Do I really deserve such a violent punishment?\" I questioned.\n\nHe just raised an eyebrow as he set his phone down and leaned back in his chair as looked me over with new found interest. \"Alright, Audi. What kind of punishment do you think you deserve?\"\n\n\"I don't know, maybe a lot of minor inconveniences that grow to drive me insane because I am a trash human and then they just start back over. I hate grocery shopping. I had a personal shopper because I hated dealing with peasants. So picture this, I am grocery shopping at like some value chain that only has off\\-brand products. I grab a grocery cart and it has a squeaky wheel. So I a grab a different one. It also has a squeaky wheel. They all do.\" I search Steve's face to see if I still have his full attention.\n\nHe nods thoughtfully. \"Go on.\"\n\n\"Okay, so the handle of the cart is like sticky and there are no antibacterial wipes to wipe away the grossness. I can see people with sweaty hands, people coughing on the carts and little children with their mouths all over the handles but I have to get a cart so I get a cart. I start shopping and the lights are too bright and I can hear the low electronic buzz of the florescent lights slowing getting louder and more high pitched in my ears. Somewhere a child starts to throw a tantrum. My grocery list is endless and most of the items are on a shelf just out of my reach or they are out of the item and I have to ask irritated employees for rain\\-checks or to look in the back. All of the boxes are smooshed or damaged in someway. There is nothing organic in the store and all the produce is either too ripe or not ripe at all. Eventually I make it to the checkout line and my wheels squeak the entire time. Once I am there everyone ahead of me either has some sort of issue with the items scanning or something of that nature that holds up the line. They also pay entirely with coupons and loose change for massive orders. Another child throws a tantrum. My frozen items have melted and I really really have to pee. Eventually I get up there and it takes forever to scan my items and they aren't ringing up the right prices so a manager has to get involved. Once everything is sorted I go to pay and realize that I don't have my wallet. Then everything starts over again. This just continues on and on, maybe with some variety but overall just the same terrible thing over and over forever.\" I explained.\n\n\"That... was beautiful.\" He sounded genuinely impressed.\n\n\"Really?\" I perked up.\n\n\"Look at my arm. I have goosebumps.\" He held up his arm so I could see.\n\n\"I mean this isn't like ideal because it sounds awful but can we do my punishment instead of the one you picked for me?\" I questioned carefully.\n\n\"Actually... I have a another idea. I have always been more into the 'business' aspect of this department and meeting the soul quota to keep the Vanity stocks up. How would you like to my assistant to deal out the punishments? And before you answer, keep in mind that you don't get anything for free.\" He seemed to word the last part carefully.\n\n\"I have always been good at judging people.\" I shrugged. I also would give people fair punishments instead of just choosing something at random like Steve seemed to have done. \n\n\"So we have a deal?\" He held his hand out to me. Whatever the consequences were had to be better then being tortured.\n\n\"Yes.\" I agreed as I reached out and shook his hand. I yelped out as I immediately felt a sharp burning across my face. \"OWWW! What did you do?!\" I demanded in a panicked voice.\n\nHe just shrugged as turned his phone on camera mode and held it out so I could use it as a mirror. I let out a loud scream at the reflection. \"My nose! You gave me back my *old* nose!\" I touched the large monstrosity that had replaced the cute button nose I had gotten for my nineteenth birthday. I noticed that the freckles I had lightened were back and that the Botox treatments I had gotten to get rid of wrinkles by eyes were gone. My straight ombre hair had transformed into my natural wavy brunette hair.\n\nI shook my head as my eyes burned with tears at the monster I was looking at. \"I changed my mind. Feed me to the birds.\"\n\nHe rolled his eyes. \"Don't be such a drama queen. I was an underwear model before I ended up here.\"\n\nI raised an eyebrow skeptically as I looked at his slight frame and sweater vest. \"Really?\"\n\n\"Everything has a price, Miss\\-I\\-Sold\\-My\\-Goddamn\\-Soul\\-For\\-a\\-Pair\\-of\\-Shoes. \" He shook his head at me.\n\n\"They were *really* nice shoes...\"",
"Satan's eyes were both beautiful and perilous. They screamed pain and pleasure. They burned and soothed. Their color seemed to shift continuously. The edges of his mouth nearly touched his ears, his smile was so big. The question he had asked lingered between us like the smoke from the fire pit below.\n\n\"Well?\" he asked, in a way that calmed me but also sent chills down my spine.\n\nI leaned into him to ensure he could hear me over the nonstop screams in the background of our conversation. \"I've trudged through the mud of mankind. I'm an abomination. I've committed the foulest of acts, and I relished every second of it. And it all led to here.\"\n\n\"Yes. I was a big fan.\"\n\nI looked around to see unspeakable horrors. I took it all in and imagined myself receiving them all. I looked back at him and said, \"It's not enough.\"\n\n\"Pardon?\"\n\nTo make the devil question was a feat I thought I'd never accomplish. \"None of it. All of it. It's not enough.\"\n\nSatan leaned back and looked about. He spread his arms wide and said, \"In this realm of terrors, you see not a single punishment which suits you?\"\n\nI stared him in those menacing eyes, and I told him, \"I don't think even you are creative enough to give me the punishment I deserve.\"\n\nThe devil laughed. It was a hard laugh. It boomed, and even those in the midst of torture turned to see its source. It echoed through the halls and tunnels of the damned place, and I felt it would echo for eternity, for I believe there is no end to its expanse.\n\n\"No amount of pain will bring about an inkling of remorse,\" I said. \"No amount of suffering will make me feel even an ounce of regret. Hell is not a place that could ever bring me sorrow.\"\n\nThe devil tapped his fingers together, intrigued. \"You are an interesting fellow, aren't you?\" His smile widened, stretching his face beyond human capabilities. \"But you underestimate me. ALL can be punished. Even you.\" He gestured towards a nearby minion. \"Take him to the forbidden place.\"\n\nThe demon blinked \\- if that's what it could be called \\- unsure of what his master was saying.\n\n\"You heard me!\" boomed the devil. *You heard me. You heard me. You heard me.* It bounced off the walls.\n\nThe minion nodded and led me away.\n\n\"Enjoy.\" It would be the last word I ever heard from Satan.\n\nWe walked for what seemed like a thousand years. My feet bled, and my bones ached, and yet I never tired. We finally came to a gate. It was heavily guarded and covered by swarms of spider\\-like creatures. They gasped as the minion took me to it. He unshackled me and nodded. Ready for whatever was on the other side, I gladly stepped through.\n\nA flash of light ripped through my body. When I opened my eyes, a man stood before me. Not a demon, but a man. He peered at me quizzically, and said, \"Welcome.\" The air was warm and enveloped me like a bed I never want to get out of. The man reached out his hand and said, \"It would seem you have been forgiven.\"\n\n\"What?\" I asked. \"Forgiven?\"\n\n\"Yes. I don't know what you did, but you're in heaven. No sins of a man who crosses that threshold will ever be spoken of. You have a clean slate. Welcome to heaven.\"\n\n\"Clean slate? No. No, my sins... my... \" I tried to remember them all. I tried to remember all the horrible things I had done. \"No,\" I said. \"NO!\"\n\nIt only took a few minutes before I could no longer remember any of them. None of my transgressions. None of the maimings. None of the slaughters. It was all gone. And for the first time since my birth, I screamed.",
"“Well, child?”\n\n*What is that? Why am I here? Where* is *here?*\n\n“To make a decision. You know where we are. Damnation.”\n\n*If you can read my mind, you know I don’t know the question.*\n\n“Oh, you do. You just haven’t put it together yet. We’re in Hell, correct? You had to have been sent here for a reason.”\n\n*I... have done things wrong, I guess... So I deserve to be punished?*\n\n“You are allowed to choose your own punishment. If I deem it unjust, I will choose for you. Think carefully on your sins.”\n\n___\n\n*I’ve done so much. How could I have not seen it before? I deserve the worst.*\n\n“Is that your decision, child?”\n\n*Y... no. No. I’m worthless, right? No reason to waste punishment on me. Set me free.*\n\n“Worthless, child? For what did you sin?”\n\n*For... Mom. Dad. My family. My friends. I did bad things, but I only wanted to help. I know what my punishment is.*\n\n“Let’s hear it, then.”\n\n*Punishment is meant to teach something. I’ve served it.*\n\nThe dark figure smiled, a genuine, pure smile. Glimmers of light started to spin around me. \n\n“Finally. I’ve been waiting for someone to understand what this was for, for so long... my son.” \n\n",
"\"So, let me get this straight,\" I stare the angelic being in the eye as best I can, his fallen nature cut down on the blinding light but it still wasn't comfortable, \"I'm here in Hell to make an honest accounting for my life, confess all my sins, and suffer appropriate punishment for as long as I feel is honestly fair?\"\n\n\"That's right, human,\" The Lightbringer spat. \"The Father has given you pathetic wretches Free Will, something I never had, and you all still end up here anyway. You've committed a great many sins, and now you must pay. Confess your sins and choose your damnation.\"\n\nI cannot begin to describe the torrent of emotions that flooded through me, shock, anger, pain, guilt, despair... It was like one of my worst days on earth when the depression and anxiety would crush me beneath a psychic weight. But I did not have a mortal body here. I did not have a head full of chemistry telling me how I had to feel. Here, I only had myself, and it was time to push through and make a decision. I could do this. I forced myself out of bed and into work even on days when there was no light in my life, when I existed today just so that I could suffer tomorrow. If I could do that, I could do this. Just push emotion to the side and function, one last time.\n\nIt was tempting to throw my early christian upbringing out and see if it stuck, but I realized that if I were in Hell it was already too late to bring that up.\n\nInstead I went through my life. I'm far from perfect, I'm the first to admit it. While I think we're all guilty of the Big 7 sins from time to time, pride is not my weak spot. Maybe lust as I did love the ladies, maybe wrath as I had a temper at times, but my waistline was saying gluttony was a strong contender... Hard to say what my defining sin was really.\n\n\nBut ultimately, as I went through everything I could remember (and no human body meant no fallible human brain), I saw my own failings and was humbled. I'd hurt some people. I'd lied for no gain. I'd broken a ton of laws, and even stolen a few things. I was starting to become very worried about my future the farther along I went. Especially after I watched one romantic relationship after another implode and my mental health hit all time lows. I was a mess and I hurt a lot of people.\n\n\nI almost gave in to despair, and I could see the Prince of Lies start to smile, but then I got to newer memories. Therapy, medication, making ammends, and saw me getting my life back together.\n\n\nFinally, as I reached the present day I looked up at Lucifer and I found myself with a strange peace.\n\n\n\"You know,\" I sighed. \"I bet Hell is just chock full of devout Christians who never once bothered to check their beliefs.\"\n\n\nSatan nodded.\n\n\n\"They get down here, they're met with a literal devil, a fallen angel from the christian theology, and told they're in hell because of their sins,\" I began to dust myself off and shed metaphysical dirt and grime from my soul. \"But they forget what their religion was supposed to be about. They forget about forgiveness.\"\n\n\nThe Devil begins to look angry but I continue on, \"Yeshua of Nazareth was a human sacrifice to atone for mankind's sins. God, the Father of all, loves his children. What father wouldn't? He knows we make mistakes because we're imperfect, and the system he set up for atonement was too rough for a lot of people, so he made forgiveness possible.\"\n\n\n\"I was forgiven by the Father before it ever happened,\" I finish shaking the metaphorical dirt from my soul which is starting to shine. \"I've been forgiven by most of the people in my life who I hurt, and I forgave them in return a long time ago. I've been sent here, to Hell, because when I was alive I could never begin to forgive myself. I was human, I was imperfect. I made mistakes, I got hurt and I hurt people in return, but none of it was out of malice or cruelty. It's only now that I have surpassed mortal concerns and been able to look at my life with perfect honesty and perfect impartiality that I can really see that.\"\n\n\nIt was easy now to stare the greatest of God's angels directly in the eye, \"So, what punishment do I truly deserve?\"\n\n\nI saw the landscape of Hell start to crack as stairs formed in front of me, \"Time Served.\"\n\n\n[A/N; Sorry for the religiosity, but in a prompt with literal hell and a literal devil, some christian mythology was bound to sink in. I personally believe that forgiveness is a process. You can't just say \"I'm a christian, whee!\" and get a free ticket to heaven. It's not about works either, but if you're embracing the concepts and not just the label then your acts should reflect that. I have to believe that whatever God there is will respect an honest effort, regardless of labels.]",
"Darkness hung its head down watching all of us single file through the gates. Chains dragged my soul across the snow toward the front of the line. Statues stood in disarray from the souls that froze into solid ice. Fire sprouted like spring flowers in order to protect the souls coming to Hades.\n\n“You!” I heard someone shout from the front. A tall man ran from the line trying to escape his fate. It only took a few seconds before hounds bigger than three men put together tackled him, ripping his soul apart.\n\n“Don’t run,” a demon leaned in close to me. His entire face was swirled in a mess. His mouth was the only facial feature that had been normal. That was until I watched his mouth open again. It looked like he had rows of shark teeth inside. “Keep moving.”\n\nIt wasn't like I had a choice. I was chained to the person in front of me. I don’t understand how that tall man got out of his chains the way he did. His ankles must have been so skinny, his soul just slipped out when no one noticed.\n\nThunder drummed when each person stepped into the chamber of Hades. My curiosity itched at me to look around my environment, but I knew better than to look up again. I just kept my head down until it was my turn to enter the chamber.\n\n\\*It was my time.\\* I felt my chains break into the snow. I am guessing that is how the tall man made a run for it afterall. It had been his turn to enter the chamber, but he chose to run instead. Running is no option for me. I am ready to get this over with. I lifted my head to see nothing but the mouth of a cave. I had never seen anything so dark before. As I took my first few steps inside, I heard the thunder signal my entrance from behind.\n\nI couldn’t see anything. I couldn’t hear anything. There were no smells, not even a taste of the air. The cave was pure nothingness as I continued straight the best I could.\n\nMoments later, a small flame flickered in the distance. I slowed my pace trying to concentrate on its image.\n\n“Do not keep me waiting.” An order slithered along the rocks around me. “I will not wait any longer.”\n\nMy feet picked up in a sprint toward the flame. I found myself running into a room housing a man slouched in a throne. He wore a dark robe with a dancing flame as his hair. It was Hades himself. Falling to my knees, I felt my soul growing weaker by every minute.\n\n“Please,” I found myself begging.\n\nHades straightened his back before smiling. “What’s your hurry? We have all the time in the world!” He stood up from the throne laughing. I watched the flame atop his head turn to blue. He slicked the flame backward with his hands making it roll back down toward the floor.\n\n“Please,” I continued, “just get it over with.”\n\n“Do not give orders to me! You are nothing but a pathetic parasite! You are a weed that I’m responsible to pluck!” He shouted while his hair of fire stretched toward the ceiling. He slicked it backwards again before continuing, “No matter how many weeds I pluck, they always keep coming. I have started doing something for all of you. This game has gone on for way too long.”\n\nI stood up while watching Hades pace back and forth. He had a man in the corner chained down by both his hands and feet. What caught my curiosity wasn’t the fact there was someone else in the room, but the fact he was leaned over puking pure fire into a bowl.\n\n“The new game,” Hades snapped. “I will ask you what you think your punishment in this world should be. Do not worry, I’ll be fair – somewhat.”\n\nI didn’t respond. My attention was still fixed on the man endlessly puking fire into the bowl. Hades rolled his eyes. “That’s my pet. He, like you soon will, is paying his punishment to me. Isn’t that right Prometheus?” Hades chuckled. Prometheus tried to look up but the fire kept spilling from his mouth. “That’ll teach you to give away my property again.”\n\nHades slid over in a smoke to glare his yellow eyes into mine. “Tell me, what should I do with you?” He rested his forefinger over his lips.\n\n“Just toss me into the river below us.” I answered. I knew the stories covering the river of lost souls. I spent most of my life thieving, it is only poetic that my time itself becomes stolen by the cold waters of the river. After, my statement, Hades reaction was – I have to admit – unsettling.\n\n“Really? Wow, you are the first to ever want to join \\*that\\* party.” Hades glued his eyes onto the river flowing below. You could see the elbows and hands breaking the surface of the water by the souls caught in its current. “I know they are having a blast, but I have something else in mind.”\n\n“What is it?” I asked.\n\n“Don’t,” Hades rested his hands on both my shoulders. “Don’t look afraid now \\- not after you were willing to go in there. Don’t disappoint me now.” Hades pointed toward the water right as some soul’s head rolled across the surface with its eyes gone. “No. The punishment must fit the crime.”\n\nHades walked back over to his throne. I waited for what he had planned to do. When Prometheus vomited his flame again, the fire slithered up into Hades’ hair like a serpent.\n\n“Instead of a punishment, you will service me in procuring certain pieces of interest.” Hades decided.\n\n“You want me to return to thieving?” I was interested in his overall plan.\n\n“I hear you were quite the talent – back up top. I need someone with your talent back up there.”\n\nBefore I could make another word, Hades snapped his fingers. I woke up in the middle of the woods where the guards had executed me. The taste of the wet air, the smells, the sounds had all returned to me. I looked around trying to get bearing on my situation. Hades emerged out from behind the tree next to me.\n\n“This place is so much more fun than the house downstairs,” he chuckled. “Your first task is to find me a child. I am a long term solution guy. I need this child for events that will unfold down the road.”\n\n“Who’s the child?” I asked him.\n\nHades smiled. “You’ll find her in the kingdom. Bring her to me and we’ll talk about your next task. Do not let me down.” His hair caught the tree next to us on fire.\n\n“Do I get a name to work with?”\n\nHades answered before he disappeared out of thin air. “Her name is Megara.”\n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\nTo read more of my stories, visit [r/13thOlympian](https://www.reddit.com/r/13thOlympian)"
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[WP] In a fantasy world full of magic, a man with a golden mask gives you a strange pocket watch and teaches you powers beyond the standards of your world. | 19 | [
"**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",
"There was once a blind man who was very lonely. All he ever had was a golden mask and a stopwatch, none knew what he could perform as he grew up isolated in the world.\n\nHis life was fruitful and peaceful, until the tyrant attacked his home. *Cut* and *Slash*, none of them ever survived except for him. Stripped from who he was, now he wonders from the ruined streets of his village. His place was called the Isolation, much like him and how he grew up.\n\nNone ever thought to talk to him nor inquired to him about his life. None knew but the rumors that spread among the land, the war was over but the damage that was dealt to his life was still present. \n\nWhat is magic when one can’t bring back what made his life bloom in color? What is magic when it can’t make the thought of grieve a mere illusion instead of reality? This was his words as I stumbled upon his place, all beaten up by the mystical race of the Lycanthropy.\n\n I was alone and hungry, all I had left within me was my spite and hatred that my family was making me feel. Pain was all that was ever to it. Walking around the abandoned village and wondering where to go, unknowing the horrors that happened in this place.\n\nThe place was ash gray, the buildings were burned and the sky seemed to magnify the depressing vibe the place was giving. This must be a small village that was burned *I thought*.\n\nIt was all the same black burnt destroyed wood until a silhouette of a man from the shadows was seen. “Hey there!” I said waving my arms. What feelings of hope that crossed me was unknown. \n\nI kept walking and walking until I stopped as the man stepped out from the shadows. Revealing a tall old man with a bald head and a soggy face. He wore a suit that didn’t fit him that he had to rip the cloth off, his body was dirty from the ash as if he was just attacked.\n\nHe terrified me as he grinned and offered his hand, I slowly backed and ran as I turned around. Running from wherever I started, until I started feeling nauseous. *I haven’t eaten in a few days* I remembered.\n\nI slowed down until I stopped running and dropped on my knees. I started having heavy breathes until I feel a hand touch my shoulder, It was the man *I could feel it.\n\nI look around and saw him smiling at me, now wearing a golden mask that looked like those mask that you see in theaters. “You’re tired, and hungry. Here let me help you” He said as he touched my hips, dragging me away as I slipped into darkness.",
"\"Why me?\"\n\nHe gave his usual laugh again and took one last look at the watch. \"I can not answer that. Only you have the answer you seek.\"\n\n...\n\n\"What's the use of a pocketwatch that ticks backward? Maybe it's broken?\"\n\nI smiled and watched as the hand clicked behind the twelve. \"No, it works just fine. It isn't for telling time, it's counting down.\" I rose from the stool and placed a few notes upon the counter. \"Thanks for the drink.\"\n\nThe door slammed against the wall and I could hear the cry of rage. The barkeep's eyes grew in surprise and he dropped my dirty glass. The glass froze in the air, the look of fear stuck on his face. A strand of flame hover behind me, a glow of orange surrounding it.\n\nI walked slowly toward the string of flame it seemed to back away. Streaming back through the air. Other patrons scrambled backward to their seats, collapsing into tilted chairs and pulling back to the table. A bowl of tossed nuts gathered back to their place and safely lowered back to the rocking table.\n\nThe stream of fire finally entered into the stranger's hand and he closed his roaring face. He leapt back from the door and landed outside. I didn't recognize him, but that's not entirely surprising anymore, I suppose it is a fairly hefty price by now. The people began to slowly move, they shifted their bodies forward beginning to take a step. I planted a fist in his stomach and aimed another at his jaw, I swung a few more times before they all froze in place again.\n\nSatisfied I returned to the tavern, the patrons remained in their seats as they had before I stood. The barkeep gestured to the pocketwatch and shrugged.\n\n\"Counting down to what?\" He asked while refilling my glass.\n\n\"Dunno.\" I shrugged rising from my stool.\n\nOutside the tavern the man lay on the ground groaning in pain. I stepped over him and quickly headed out of town. Two more men dressed the same as the first were standing across from the tavern. Waiting until the bridge outside of town I whipped around to see a blade inches from my chest. The other man stood to my side a small blade in hand.\n\nThe men began slowly duck and lean towards me. I lifted the sword from the mans hand and plunged it into his chest. Allowing them to freeze again I prepared for the next man. There was a brush of wind across my face and I heard the chirp of bird. Suddenly a pain welled up from my side and I felt as a blade protruded from my side. I stumbled back crashing into the fence. The boards have way and I fell from the bridge.\n\nAs I plummeted down to the river below I saw the familiar shine of gold. A shroud of cold wrapped around me and red began to pollute the water. Gripping the pocketwatch tight I pulled myself toward the bank. Flicking the latch I looked at the face of the watch, the hands met at the twelve and there was the sound of a bell, twelve rings. Then the hands returned to normal ticking in reverse.\n\n_\n\nr/theoreticalfictions"
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[WP] The Undead members of the Necromancer's kingdom say they have better work conditions than they did in Life. Necromancers are genuinely respected and loved. This gives the Heroes pause. | 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",
" It all began in a tavern. \n\nThe smell of ale and sweat hung in the air like a cloud as the robed figure entered. The grumbling of patrons stopped only momentarily to stare at the man. Some laughed, some groused, most merely went back to their flaggons without a second thought. \n\nThe figure approached the bar where the stocky man was wiping down the counter of spilled liquid. He cleared his throat, but the effort was such a small and quiet sound that the barkeep hadn’t heard. Or didn’t care. \n\n“Excuse me, fine sir?”\n\nThe man looked up from his work. A short, frail looking young man in clerical robes stood with a naive looking smile. His sandy hair was longer than it should be and messy, covering half off his face and looking very unkempt. His white robes looked somehow more out of place than the clueless expression that occupied his face. \n\n“What can I get ya?” he said, after the moment’s pause between the two hung in the air and grew awkward.\n\nThe cleric shook his head and waved his hand. “Oh no no, nothing to drink sir. I was curious if you could point me in the direction of a warrior who might be interested in some work.”\n\nThe overall chuckling sounds around the man made him glance back and forth between the barkeep and those at the bar. “What’s the matter holy man? Can’t get yer god to protect you?” A bout of uproarious laughter seemed to be lost on the man as he looked back to the barkeep, expectantly. The grizzled man rubbed his chin.\n\n“Which way are you headed?”\n\n“To the East.”\n\nThis brought another round of laughter as well as a few raised eyebrows. The barkeep shook his head. “If you’re headed east, you’re out of luck. No one is really up for heading that way.” The young man let out a sigh and nodded, muttering a thank you. As he turned to leave one of the patrons clapped him roughly on the shoulder. \n\n“If ye aren’t too particular, maybe that fellow in the corner will help you?” The drunk pointed to the far back corner of the tavern. “I heard he’s a paladin. You’re religious, maybe he’ll help you!” This, for some reason, brought up another bout of hooting and chortling. But the mood was lost on the man as his crestfallen disposition turned to hope as he made his way through the tavern. \n\nThe man in the corner was as bad off as the rest of the tavern, smelly and drunk. He was chugging back a pint when the younger man approached, clearing his throat. \n\n“Excuse\\-”\n\n“Step off. I’m not interested.”\n\nThe robed man sputtered, but righted himself again. “The gentleman at the bar told me you might be able to help me? I am looking for an escort to the East.”\n\nThe man looked at the younger blankly through bleary, ale ridden eyes. His hair was thick and wild, almost to his shoulders. The stubble on his face and the state of his wrinkled clothes told he hadn’t cleaned himself in quite a while. Next to him in the booth was a cloak wrapped bundle with the edge of a sword poking out one end. \n\n“What in the hells are you needing to go East for?” \n\n“Well,” the younger man said, his voice as bright as his smile. “There is a village across the way, past Ezhenwold and the Black Mountains. It’s suffered from the Fel\\-Plague, and I need to get to the people.”\n\nThe would be paladin looked at the man, before going back to his drink.\n\n“Can’t help ya.”\n\n“Please.” the robed man said in earnest “The man at the bar said you were a paladin, and it’s for a good cause and\\-” \n“*Look*.” the icy tone in his voice shut the younger man up. “I’m not a paladin. Not anymore. I kill freaks of nature when they get in my way, and after I’ve been paid I move on to the next curse riddled hamlet I can find and drink until I run out of gold. And currently?” he patted the bundle next to him, the sounds of muffled clinking coming from it. “I’m still doing pretty good for myself. So if you don’t mind, go back to your temple and leave me alone. I’m still to sober.”\n\nA little dejectedly, the robed man took a step back and sighed. He gave a slight thank you, and turned, exiting the tavern. The once paladin didn’t watch him go, merely flagged down another refill and tossed the coin on the table. A few hours more, he was passed out in the corner. \n\n\\-\\-\\-\\-\n\nWater. No, mud. Gritty nasty earth in his mouth. Coughing he pushed himself up, the mire dripping from his face. His sudden movement caused a throbbing ache and he clutched the sides of his head. \n\n“There there…” \n\nThe voice. Familiar? He looked to his left and saw a young looking man in robes… the cleric? His hand was glowing a soft gray as the pain in his head subsided. \n\n“What happened?” he croaked, struggling to stand. His body, while starting to feel better, was still screaming in pain as if he’d been run over by a herd of horses. He looked around. Barren land stretched out, and in the distance he could see flickering town lights. \n\n“Bandit raid. Ran through the town and sacked it…” The young man looked down, his face pained. “There were no casualties but… They did seem to take great pleasure in beating you in your sleep. I think they cast you out for dead…”\n\nThe man growled and struggled to his feet, reaching for his side… And found nothing. \n\n“They stole my gear.” he said, his voice almost growling with rage. The man stood next to him, dusting the grime from his robes with a wave of magic from his fingertips. \n\n“They stole much. Wagons worth of goods.”\n\nBefore he could continue the paladin began to walk towards the town. The young man fell into step beside him. “Where are you going?”\n\n“The only place a group of bandit’s could go after a hit and run operation like this would be the ash woods. Ezhenwold has plenty of hiding spots to serve as a bandit camp. I’m going to get my gear back and bust a few heads.”\n\n“I see. I will go with you.”\n\n“I don’t need a body to protect.” the paladin said angrily. “You’ll just get in the way.”\n\n“Well… The village I must get to is on the other side of the mountains as well.”\n\n“I’m not your escort.”\n\n“I’m not asking you to be.” he said with a smile, much to the paladin’s chagrin. “I’m just walking in the same direction as you.”\n\n“Fine. Just stay out of my way.” The two began their way back to the lonely town, the paladin cursing under his breath. If he believed in the gods anymore, he would curse them. \n\n\n\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\-\\- \n\n\nI had this idea a ways back. It's not done, but then again I feel like the long game is more required for this sort of story. This is the world that was invoked by the prompt. Idk, maybe i\"ll keep going? I'm rusty when it comes to writing. ",
"Raif kicked open the door of the room where undead slaves were being held prisoner, waiting to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. He and his two companions, Kalo and Hargin, were here to free these poor creatures from an unlife of doing whatever their cruel new master would order. But not today. Not for these lucky few. No, today these undead people were going to\\-\n\ndrink tea? Raif hesitated just inside the door as it swung back halfway with a slight creak. He had expected half\\-rotted humanoids chained to the walls, or locked in cages, not this... this... tea party! This room was well\\-lit, practically cozy. Had they gotten the wrong place? These people looked... well, they were still corpses, but they looked like well cared for corpses. And all of them were looking at him.\n\nKalo joined him in the doorway, wiping the blood of the guards off her sword. 'Umm... are those the undead slaves you said we came here to free? Why does it look like they're having a tea party? Aren't they scheduled to go up for auction tomorrow?'\n\nRaif started to affirm, but one of the slaves interrupted. 'Can we help you? You don't look like you belong here. If you're looking for the dance club, it's a few buildings over.'\n\n'I'm sorry, what?'\n\n'If you're looking for the dance club Afterlife, it's a few doors over. This is the auction house,' the prisoner responded.\n\nNot the wrong place then. 'I don't understand,' Raif said. 'Why are you drinking tea? Shouldn't you be, I don't know, tied up or something?'\n\nThe undead laughed, sounding like dry leaves being crushed. 'Tied up? Why would we be tied up?'\n\n'Well, you might run away otherwise,' Raif answered.\n\nMore laughter. 'Run away? Whatever for?'\n\n'So you don't get sold to an abusive master and be forced to live in squalid living conditions?' Raif said the words, but he was starting to wonder if they were actually true. 'We're here to rescue you.'\n\nWith a whispery sigh, the spokesman for the undead sat his teacup down and stood to approach the three would\\-be heroes. Raif and his companions recoiled a little, but the undead only stuck out his hand and introduced himself. 'Hi, I'm Robert, and I don't need rescued.'\n\n'Are... are you sure? Hargin asked. 'We kind of came a long way to help you.'\n\n'We're sure,' Robert said as his fellows behind him nodded. 'We actually kind of like it here. A lot of us are much better off than we ever were when we were alive. We all have homes, clean clothes, and even though we don't really need it, the masters often give us treats like cake and mulled wine.'\n\n'Mulled... what?!' Raif cried. His Lord never gave him mulled wine.\n\n'Mulled wine. You know, heated wine with spices added to it. It's quite delightful, especially on cold winter nights,' Robert said before frowning. 'Not that we really mind the cold, being dead and all.'\n\n'I know what mulled wine is!' Raif snapped. He could not believe what he was hearing. This went against everything he had ever heard about Necromancers and undead. 'What I don't know is why you're all sitting here having tea and telling me that your masters, who dig up dead bodies to bring back to life and use as slaves, give you cake and mulled wine*.* They could literally beat you to death for fun, then bring you back to life to do it again, and they give you *mulled wine*?'\n\nRobert tutted. 'Do you have any idea how much energy it takes to raise the dead? Clearly not, if you think our masters would commit such an atrocity for fun. They take very good care of us, because they know the cost of bringing a creature back to life.' He eyed the travelers up and down. 'Well, thank you for your offer of.... rescue... but you should probably be going now. I do highly recommend the Afterlife, if you're looking to have a fun night out, since you came all this way. Their drinks are to die for.'\n\nNot knowing what else to say, Raif and his companions turned around and left. Robert returned to his seat, raising his cup to his lips as he muttered. 'Beat to death for fun... what kind of barbarians does he think we are over here? Oh, and now my tea's cold. Drat.'"
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[removed] | [WP] You're a wealthy redditor, and you follow r/rage. You've become fed up with the latest story and decide to do something about it. | 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 u/kjs106, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**We’re here to inspire creative writing, not play writing games or commission stories**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_6.3A_we.2019re_here_to_inspire_creative_writing.2C_not_play_writing_games_or_commission_stories)\n\n- Choosing Prompts Externally: Prompts should not ask users to base responses off titles or content they have to seek out in another subreddit or on an external website. \n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8qoc5x/-/%0A%0A) us if you have any questions or concerns. In the future, please refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. \n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*"
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[WP] You’re a super intelligent being assigned to Earth to look out for humanity. You care for them and guide them from the shadows and the background, until one day the thing you’ve been waiting for finally happens. In 1915 a human smarter than you emerges. His name is Albert Einstein. | 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",
"My creator sent me here, the person they all refer to as ‘God’, or at least they used to. He called me his son, but I feel like nothing more than his slave. For years I’ve had to silently watch over this species, never allowed to take a commanding role, never allowed to rule a nation. I could make earth better than Argon - all those years ago. Before he destroyed that too.\n\nI watch over this planet like it’s my own. I’ve been trying to find the most intelligent humans to guide their species to great heights. However, they’re never quite ‘all there’.\nOn this planet, women are treated like my people were on Argon. We were always considered inferior. I had never been interested in a human, that was until I met Pauline. I was in awe of her. She was perfect. I watched over her for months, years even. But, one day, she was in serious danger. I had to choose between either following my ‘fathers’ wishes or saving the woman of my dreams. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I feel I made the right one. After I had saved her, she wouldn’t stop asking how I got to her so fast and I just couldn’t lie to her. I told her everything. I don’t know why I did, I guess I was sick of all the lies and constantly standing by, watching all the destruction ensue.\n\nAfter months of keeping our relationship a secret and being madly in love, Pauline told me something. She was pregnant. I accused her of cheating because I knew it wasn’t possible for me to have children. He told me it couldn’t happen and I had it engraved in my mind. She swore it was mine. \n\nI never looked at her the same. This was meant to be a magical experience, but I just couldn’t overcome the idea that she could cheat on me. \n\nMy creator sent me here to die alone, without making a real impact other than to talk into the ears of those he deemed worthy. Now I had done the unthinkable, laid with a human. My son was born the day before I told my creator about him. He was furious and threatened to destroy my son, Albert. He quickly calmed down and decided how he wanted to punish me. He said that instead, a faith far worse than that was in store for me. \n\nFor the first few years, Albert seemed like an average human. It wasn’t until he was about 4 or 5 that I was sure something was different. I had never seen a boy grasp information like he did.\n\nFast forward 10 years and he’s teaching me about the concepts of physics. I soon realized that he was indeed my boy, no human child could be like him. Since I came here, I was far more intelligent than the rest of the world. Now, something felt off. My own child was flying through education quicker at 15, than me at 18. I had my suspicions that this is what he meant. This may be that faith he talked about. My own boy being superior to me.\n\nAs the years progressed and I became sicker and sicker, he excelled. We used to talk about astronomy and the laws of gravity. He was constantly making up these bizarre theories, that somehow rang true every time. He could have done anything, but he loved physics. \n\nI always wanted to make a real impact on Earth, run for presidency, rule a nation. I couldn’t bring myself to deliberately disobey him however. This was most definitely the way he wanted to get back at me. Watching my own boy reach the heights I never could. \n\n\nMaybe this was how I could make a real difference, through my boy."
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[WP] Humans colonize an alien world and discover a delicious fungus that becomes an international delicacy. However, nobody realizes that it is sentient... | 85 | [
"**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",
"Nineteen cycle ago, we encountered aliens. The singulars. \n\nNever before had our unity encountered mind-songs from outside. The singulars were small and mobile, just like the crawling creatures that moved about on our surface for all living memory. \nBut unlike the crawlers that partook our fruit and spread new unity, the singulars had minds that sang with awareness. Astonishing.\n\nWe heard their many fractured mind song and sang to them - but they could not hear us. \nSo we listened and learned much of them. Of scopes and places our unity had never before imagined. Of spheres beyond our own - such thoughts had never been sung within the unity before. Other spheres beating with warmth? A great cold void? Astonishing. \n\nAs alien and difficult to understand as the singulars were, we understood hunger. We understood their yearning. \n\nOver and over they come to harvest us. Consume us. They come again. \n\nWe are prepared this time. The plan will work. Must work. We have learned of \"colours\" and \"smells\" and how these attract them. Lure them. We will draw them where we want them. \n\nALREADY it is begun THEY THEY they have found the groves early, started sooner than ANTICIPATED\n\nThe unity is uncoordinated the song is is is IS APPROACHING CRESCENDO PLANNINGISFORGOTTENTTHEYHUNGERWEHUNGER \n\nIIIEIEAAAAAAAAAAAAAA\n\nThe singulars have such dexterous appendages. None in the unity recall such a complete fruiting. It is like being a juvenile again. \n\nAstonishing. ",
"Phil stood at the end of the meeting room table with his presentation clutched in his hands, and a briefcase at his side. His hair was unkempt as he hadn't showered in a week, and his out of style, loose fitting blue suit was stained with coffee and covered in what seemed to be black dog hair. Regardless, he was ready to blow their minds. He introduced himself excitedly and began his presentation. \n\n\nTo call the weeks leading up to this moment chaos would be an understatement. Phil had been working for a shipping company, and had been sent, along with a crew, to a rogue planet to deliver some cargo to a group of very haughty aliens. They had done this before, so it should have gone by without a hitch. But it seemed that everything that could go wrong, did, and they ended up stranded on an unknown planet along the way. After weeks of being stranded, still needing time to repair their ship, they had run out of food and water, and went off to explore the surface in a desperate attempt to survive. After days of searching, they struck gold....en shrimp! They had wandered into a crater that had seemed to be full of fried shrimp. Unable to believe their eyes, they tasted the morsels to prove it wasn't just a mirage, and were astounded that they were indeed delicious. After hauling as much as they could back to their ship, they got back to work making repairs and not too long after, headed back to earth. \n\n\nPhil carefully set his briefcase down on top of the meeting table, and opened the lid to reveal a dozen small cups, full of what seemed to be golden fried prawns. He passed them around one by one to the board members, walked back to his spot at the end of the table, straightened his back and proudly proclaimed \"My name is Phillip J. Fry, and I'd like to introduce the next revolution in snacks. I call them..... Popplers!\"",
"\"See, the best part about this,\" Tony Chayka flashed a veneered smile, \"is that it almost thrums in your mouth, and I know that verdimella fungus *is* foreign food and that the idea of a 'thrumming' food can be a little strange, but think of it like a massage for your pallet. The trick, as with all the best foods, is in the cooking. It retains oil like nobody's business, so using an aromatic oil is best! For whatever reason, however, we don't advise using garlic, as it causes the verdimella to wither. It likes to slowly wiggle when it's not in the pan, and a whole lot faster when it *is,* so you have to keep an eye on it. I recommend searing both sides first; this seems to slow it down dramatically.\"\n\nHe took a wooden spoon and tapped the side of his hissing pan. The fungus, which looked like a bright\\-green starfish with seven appendages, reached for the nearest outer edge. Chef Chayka slapped it with the spoon and it fell again. He flashed his smile.\n\nWatching Tony Chayka's programme on the TV from his house in the Ulianni Hills district of Theta\\-X788, Doctor Emmanuel Kane, in his little \"Kiss the Chef\" apron (he brought it from Home) looked from his cutting board, at the slowly squirming verdimella, to his pan, which was lightly smoking with a rosemary\\-and\\-ginger infused oil. He didn't know what made him do it. But he hooked a finger around one of the appendages. It wrapped the appendage, slothlike around my finger. Holding gently, like a child might.\n\nHe emptied a small glass bowl he'd measured out with salt and rinsed it. Then Dr. Kane left the rinse\\-water in it and placed that between two appendages. The verdimella lifted both and dipped them in the water, the two lengths of its body undulating at a relaxed pace. It still held the doctor's finger.\n\nDoctor Emmanuel Kane proceeded to name the verdimella Harvey, and put it in his rock garden.\n\n[/r/Stanwrites](https://www.reddit.com/r/StanWrites/)\n\nEDIT: made a quick adjustment based on a solid recommendation from u/selectiveyellow"
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[WP] The hero has collected the magical artifacts, and defeated the evil Overlord. Now he has all these magical artifacts sitting around the palace, unsecured. They must be returned to their hiding places, and he assigns the job to you. | 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",
"I meant to return them, I really did. \nI'd been tasked with returning the five rings of liquidity to each of their respective hiding places, and the queen had given me the whole year to complete my mission. She told me the rings were \"a power too dangerous to be left as one,\" and that I must \"banish the rings, one to each corner of the world.\" What she failed to mention was that the rings were fun. Incredibly fun. With a snap of my wrist and a twiddle of my fingers I could turn anything into pudding. \nAt first I ate. I ate and I ate. Enough pudding to feed a small village. \nBut then I grew tired of eating pudding, and I set out to return the rings to hiding. \nI found myself amongst the titanic dunes of the northern sands. This desert stood between me and the golden pedestal of secrecy, to which I would deliver the first ring. \nAs I crested a particularly tough dune, I slipped. I reached out to catch my fall, and accidentally set off the rings which I had foolishly been wearing. The sand gave way to pudding, and I found myself plummeting down the slope at a breathtaking speed. I was like a glorious pudding penguin, shooting headfirst across the sand. \nIt was exhilarating. \nI set out to find higher dunes, and when the dunes became droll, I went in search of mountains. \nI became the king of pudding surfing. \nBut alas, time got away from me. I wasted the entire year, and not a single ring was returned. \nI can never return to the queen, she'd have my head for sure. So instead, I hide amongst the Pudding-top Mountains (formerly known as the Frozen Peaks), and I await my inevitable fate. \nDo I regret the decisions that led me here? Not one bit.",
"\"But Dragonborn? Are you really going to leave all of this out in the open??\"\n\nThe floor of Breezehome was littered with instruments of death. Even if one did not know what they were, the immense power that rolled off them would strike fear into anyone. Unfortunately for her, she did know what they were. She had seen them in action.\n\nThe Last Dragonborn walked past her with not much acknowledgement, feet kicking aside scattered swords and armour as he rooted through the loot.\n\n\"I'm done Lydia. I'm done with it all. Alduin is dead, you saw it! That bloody vampire is dead, Good riddance to him AND his closed legged daughter!\"\n\nLydia mentally grimaced, it seemed that her Thane had still not gotten over his rejection by Serena.\n\n\"The other Dragonborn is dead, the Emperor is dead. Ulfric is dead. All my foes are dead and I'm tired of carrying all this junk!\"\n\n\"But is it wise to just leave it all here?\" Lydia pushed on, eyeing the bloody twisted mace that still reeked of Molag Bal, the twisted staff that the Dragonborn had been given by that mad Daedra shortly after she had met him. \"Anyone could walk right in and walk out as a weapon of mass destruction!\"\n\nThe Dragonborn shrugged, finally finding what he was looking for. He grabbed an old fishing pole and a dingy looking hand axe. Lydia knew not to judge it by appearance. It may have been on of the Dragonborn's first weapons, the one he had strapped to his side when she first met him. \"Gunjar's Legacy\" as he had named it, had been resmithed and enchanted enough times to make a Dragon uneasy at it's simple looking edge.\n\nWithout much further comments, the Dragonborn stormed out of his home, turning before leaving and saying a simple command. \n\n\"Then you find a safe place for it all then.\"\n\nLydia's heart sank as the door slammed behind her. Reluctantly she started to look through the piles, grabbing an icy blue blade that gave off a cool mist.\n\n\"I guess this makes one less artifact to worry about.\" She said quietly as she strapped the sword to waist. The Dragonborn had given her leave to find the artifacts a safe place for all his treasures, and she wasn't about to do that empty handed. Her eyes fell on a large enchanted battleaxe, one that the Companions had worked so hard to collect the pieces off.\n\n\"I think I know some people would like that back.\" She said to herself with an idea forming in her head."
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[WP] It appears that after this very morning when you wake up, when you function normally, the world around you stops, everything freezes and becomes a statue. When you choose to switch places with it and become a statue yourself, life continues. | 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",
"\n“Look mommy, it’s the frozen man.” The little girl tugged on her mother’s arm and pointed to the center of the square.\n\n“Yes dear, I know. The statue’s been there for hundreds of years.”\n\nThe little girl trained her blue eyes on the life-size stone figure. The man wore peasant’s garb and stood a very average six feet in height. At some point, the city of Emporea decided to place him on a pedestal of white marble so he could overlook the crowd that passed to and from the market that surrounded it. \n\n“Mommy?”\n\n“Yes dear?”\n\n“Why is he here? Is he special?” \n\n“Nothing special that I ever noticed.” The mother thought for a second, then turned to her daughter, “however it is said that the statue moves.”\n\n“Moves mommy? Will it move again? Should we watch?” The little girl pulled on her mother; she figured if she could get closer, she might be able to see the statue moving.\n\nThe mother laughed. “That is just a tale they tell. I haven’t seen it move in my lifetime.”\n\nThe little girl frowned. “Well I believe it does move and I’m gonna stand right here until I see it.” The little girl squared herself to the statue and crossed her arms.\n\nHandel moved and the world turned to stone. \n\nHe yawned and scratched his face as he looked around at the market and the crowd going about their shopping for the day.\n\nHe jumped off the pedestal and leisurely strolled around; inspecting various market visitors and the goods they carried.\nNot that any of it would do him any good. Everything was made of stone, including all the food and water. Handel’s stomach rumbled and his mouth felt like a desert. He could not remember the last time he drank or ate anything.\n\nSighing, he walked over to the little girl and sat down in front of her. She struck him as an unremarkable child, just as he was an unremarkable man; at least he was before he made that deal.\n\nNever bargain with a God. The odds are never in your favor.\n\nHe asked for eternal life and that is what he got, with a catch. As long as he was flesh, the world would be stone, and when he became stone, the world would be made flesh.\n\nWell, would be made whatever it was before it turned to stone. Handel shivered; a world of flesh would be gross. \n\nStill, it could be worse, Handel could not figure out how, but he was sure it could.\n\nHe shook his head. All these thoughts were neither here nor there.\n\nThis day was about remembrance. For four hundred years he stood on the pedestal looking down on the crowd. In the past people would know his story, would stop to look. These days people walk on by without sparing even a sidelong glance.\nEveryone except this little girl. \n\n“Thank you for noticing me. I’m alive. I’m surrounded by people and yet the loneliest person in the Empire. Remember what you saw here today. Tell your friends. Come back to visit.” Handel stood and gave the stone girl a pat on the head.\n\nSlowly, he turned and walked back to his spot and climbed up onto his pedestal. Hands on his hips, he surveyed the area one more time. Striking up the familiar pose, he looked at the girl and winked.\n\n“Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Look! It moved!”\n\n“What dear?”\n\nThe statue, it’s winking now! Look!” The little girl tugged and pulled on her mother’s dress.\n\n“That’s… That’s odd. Was it winking before?” The mother shook her head. “Yes. Yes it was winking. Had to me. That thing is nothing but a statue.”\n\n“But mommy!”\n\n“Let’s go, we have chores to do before your father gets home.” The mother grabbed the little girl’s hand and pulled her along after her.\n\nThe little girl turned and gave the stone man one last wave before disappearing back into the crowd.\n\n\n"
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[removed] | [WP] A two-sentence horror which is both normal and really dark depending on the reader's mindset. | 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 u/TheXpertGuy, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**Direct prompt replies must be good-faith attempts at new stories or poems**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_1.3A_direct_prompt_replies_must_be_good-faith_attempts_at_new_stories_or_poems)\n\n- Responses too short: Responses must be at least 30 words. Prompts should encourage a story or poem. \n\n*Prompts will be removed if there's a high possibility for rule breaking responses ([rule 7](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_7.3A_prompts_will_be_removed_if_there.27s_a_high_possibility_for_rule_breaking_responses))*\n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8qt464/-/%0A%0A) us if you have any questions or concerns. In the future, please refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. \n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*"
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"1528902258",
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Use only dialogue to write a scene or short story. No use of script format or scene direction, all information must be conveyed through character dialogue. Have fun! | [WP] Wright a short story using only dialogue | 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",
"“Have you ever heard the tale of Vornn and the curse of Ostein?” \n\n“Yes, Karl. Of course we have.” \n\n“I wasn’t talking to you, Gen. Now then, it seems like you lot are in need of a story. Luckily- ah, that’s some good ale- I’d be happy to oblige. These old bones have many stories at the ready.” \n\n“Now then, long ago, when magic ran wild through the lands and anyone who so wished it could harness it, Vornn was born. Yes, yes, it rhymed, now settle down children. You don’t want me to stop just as soon as I’ve begun, do you?” \n\n“No!” \n\n“Oh-ho-ho, listen to the pipes on that one! Alright m’lady, I shall continue at your behest. Where was I...”\n\n“...Vornn grew into a young man, raised to a small family in a village not unlike our own. It was easy to see at a young age his knack for magic. His spells were complex, he was a prodigy at naught but ten years. When he was a man, he set out into the world. Weaving and undoing curses, enchanting objects, building his legend. It’s said that at the Institute he challenged the headmaster and duelist at the same time, and turned one into a sheep and the other into a cat. Such was his skill that by thirty years, he was totally unrivaled. Some say he could destroy the ground beneath an army in a moment.” \n\n“He sounds like a proper gnat.” \n\n“I wouldn’t say so, young man. Just lucky. Very lucky, but also very skilled. The haply part of his story ends here, though. One day, he is said to have turned. With eyes turned into purple gems, he went out into the world to wreak havoc. For three years, entire towns disappeared, from the memories and maps of people across the continent. Vornn was weaving the most complex and expansive curse the world had ever seen. In his travels, he had placed a gem of immense power at each corner of the continent to prepare. It seemed he may have been preparing for a greater threat to those who knew of the gems, but that was not the truth.” \n\n“What about Ostein? I’ve never heard of it.” \n\n“That is where this tale leads, Jean. On the eve of his fifth year on this crusade, a Cursebreaker found out about his scheme. They knew little of what he had done, or what he intended to do. The Cursebreaker only knew that they had to undo this curse and stop Vornn, but they could not do it with their power. So they sought out a weapon to enhance their powers, to allow them to defeat Vornn. Another year passed, taking a terrible toll upon the land until Vornn was greeted at the gates of Ostein by a lone figure. They bore a blade unlike any he had ever seen, simple yet giving the impression of incredible craftsmanship. It was covered in symbols he could not identify, with a white gem embedded in the pommel, appearing to have a storm raging inside. The first Cursebreaker’s sword, whose name is long forgotten saw its first and last battle that day.” \n\n“Their battle was legendary, each of Vornn’s potent weavings warping the land around them, and being dispelled around the lone warrior. After hours of combat, Vornn lashed out with all of his power. Ostein was naught but rubble, its people turned into malformed versions of their previous selves, now creatures of power and mindless strength. With barely an effort Vornn had decimated the greatest city this world had ever seen. The Cursebreaker’s sword held true, protecting them and enhancing their own magic. The gem had burst into a maelstrom of colour, a rainbow of absorbed and altered magic. Vornn, surprised at their survival was run through. In his last spiteful action, when the Cursebreaker left him for dead, he cast the blade out, and crippling our hero. Ostein was raised into a blackened land, fraught with its damned denizens. Perhaps most importantly, Vornn completed what was part of his task. He hid away all of his gems, and locked away magic from the rest of the world. But he could not contain all of it, and some say that the curse is imperfect, allowing magic to slowly but steadily leak into our world.”\n\n“And that, children is how magic in our world is limited. This is also how the Stricken came to be, in their twisted home of Ostein, or as you know it: Verity.” "
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"1528911138",
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[WP] Two friends are essentially immortal. If they die they respawn immediately after. They resort to cheerfully killing themselves and each other for fun in various creative ways. Sometimes they compete to see who can do a stupidly dangerous or deadly thing the most. First to die is the loser! | 72 | [
"**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",
"Jeff hung his head outside the small gondola of the Ferris wheel staring straight down at the ground. Their carriage slowly rotated it's way to the top. \n\n\"It's high enough.\" \n\nAdam was sitting on the seat across from him watching his friend with a bored expression. He sat low and relaxed on his bench, his legs spread and his arms resting on the top. His head tipped back slightly towards the night sky.\nHe chuckled a little. \n\"You sure? Last time you said that I had to double tap you, which by the way never seems to go well with the general public.\" he added in a surprisingly nonchalant manner. \n\nJeff turned to look him in the eyes. \n\n\"I was aiming for the umbrella stand and I botched the takeoff you know that.\" \n\n\"Whatever man.\" Adam waved his hand dismissively.\" \n\n\"I can't wait till the next war. I'm starting to get a little antsy. You can only jump of high things so much until it starts wearing on ya.\" he continued. \n\n\"Yeah but we started picking targets! That was fun!\" \n\nAdam couldn't help but crack a small smile as he recounted their various escapades. A short moment ofHe opened his eyes and tilted his head forward to meet Jeff's eyes. \n\n\"Are you gonna do it or what? \"\n\n",
"The tidal forces of the Klemperer's Rosette of supermassive black holes gave new meaning to the term *gargantuan*. My lifelong buddy had soared laughingly into the heart of it and had been ripped into microscopic bits, themselves shredded to the atomic level as they fell further into the maelstrom.\n\nAnd then he was back beside me.\n\n\"Impressive!\" I said, grinning, as I slow clapped.\n\nHe bowed, as well as anyone can do in space. \"Thank you! So, have you thought of what *you're* going to do next?\"\n\nI smiled mischievously.\n\n\"Actually, yes! Remember that planet we made and populated with semi-sentients a while back, then took turns posing as one of them and letting them kill us?\"\n\n\"Oh, yeah!\" he smiled. \"Those little guys were *creative*!\"\n\n\"Well, I'm going to do that again. But this time I'm going to do the opposite.\"\n\n\"The *opposite*?\" I had his attention now.\n\n\"Yeah! We made them hate us in a thousand different ways, and they were almost as prolific in devising ways to kill us, but I don't think they needed *hate* to make them do it. I think provoking *any extreme emotion* would make those little buggers bloodthirsty.\"\n\n\"I like where you're going with this,\" he laughed.\n\n\"I thought you might! Now, I'm going to return as a baby, stay quiet until I'm an adult, and then start going around doing *only good stuff*. You know, helping the little guys, caring about them, loving them, healing them, saying nice things to them. Eventually they're *sure* to kill me, and I'm betting it will be pretty horrific--at least by their standards!\"\n\n\"This I've gotta see!\" he grinned. \"Are you going to start one of those religious cults around your instantiation, like I did that first time?\"\n\n\"Probably not, but I'm sure *someone* will after my colorful departure.\"\n\n\"I'll bet you're right. Hey, this could be a lot of fun! Okay, Yeshua, let's do it!\"\n\n\"After you, Yahweh my man!\" I replied, and we both flashed to the other side of the galaxy.",
"\"Wow...that quicker than I remember.\" \n\n\"Yeah - you disappeared pretty quick, Gil.\" \n\n\"Even still, I'm gonna have to knock it down to a 6/10. I forgot how you burst into flame before you've even touched the lava, and that's...\"\n\n\"...uncomfortable, sure. Honestly, all other things being equal, I'd rather be stabbed to death then burn to death.\"\n\n\"Plus, I think you were right about the body thing, Robby. It *is* more fun when you can see your corpse after, match up what you felt with the marks on the body, that sort of thing.\"\n\n\"That reminds me of that trip to France we had - remember? With our heads?\" \n\nThe first man laughed. \"Oh, man, *that* was a fun one. Can't believe how squeamish the French were about our using them as puppets when *they* were the ones using a machine that does nothing but decapitate people.\" Gilgamesh looked at his friend. \"How many points did we give you for starting the riots, and then getting yourself executed by your friends a few weeks later?\"\n\nHammurabi smirked. \"Hundreds. I don't remember how many, I just remember thinking I had the round sealed up. I still can't believe that stunt you pulled in Jersey.\" \n\n\"Yeah, that was one of my more inspired moments. Getting the fucking *vice president* of the fucking *United States* to shoot me - in front of witnesses! That's hard to top.\" Gilgamesh paused, then looked out across the Pacific. \"What about this - a new round, challenge is to flip it.\"\n\n\"We're not doing this again. Directly killing someone outside of the game --\"\n\n\"No, Robby, that's not what I meant.\" \n\n\"You're not talking about killing the Vice President and then getting killed by the Secret Service?\"\n\n\"Nope. I mean *becoming* him. And screw Vice President -- let's make it the President. And you're going to do everything you can to piss off as many people as you can.\"\n\n\"And sit through an impeachment? Boring.\"\n\n\"Ah, but that's the catch. You have to do everything you can -- and I mean *everything* -- to stay in office. Because it has to happen *while* you're in office. So you're firing people, you're shredding documents, you're obstructing, colluding, whatever it takes. Hell, if you have to suspend democratic elections...which actually, you're going to be so unpopular, you probably will have to.\"\n\n\"That sounds obnoxious as hell. Why would I put up with it? Assassination is boring.\"\n\n\"That's where the fun comes in. You're going to try to make so many people hate you that multiple people assassinate you at the same time.\"\n\nHammurabi studied his friend, considering. \"How many points we talking?\" \n\n\"Well, let's say 100 just for being killed in office, but 100 more for each other person that tries, and we double the points for each person doing it simultaneously.\" \n\n\"You sure you don't want to wait a bit until we can try out the vacuum of space?\" \n\n\"The vacuum of space will still be there when you're done.\"\n\nHammurabi sighed. \"Alright...you're on.\"\n\n***\n/r/ShadowsofClouds"
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[WP] Parasitic lifeforms approach Earth in search of a new home for their species after a catastrophe destroyed their original planet's environment. Only catch is that these organisms need living host to become a part of. Since it pays pretty well you sign up for the program. | 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",
"The starving artist is never as hungry as the broke college kid, except when the scummy new housing complex offers free pizza in exchange for your email. Unfortunately, this master's program was keeping me so damn busy I had missed the last few free pizza days, and, come to think of it, I hadn't slept in a few days either. Between working just enough to pay for the program and studying enough to justify paying for it, I was burning out, and the thought of a quick $50,000 was too good to turn down.\n\nThe program was in its infancy, with MIT and WHO scientists monitoring and administering the trials. I was only the fourth person to sign up \\- some waivers, some cleansing drinks (awful), more waivers, and then a quick reverse spinal tap \\- and I was headed home for a day of rest before hitting the grind again. No pain, no soreness, no nausea...just $50,000 dollars where there had only been $5.00 a day ago. And, the best sleep of my life.\n\n\\-\\- \\-\\- \\-\\-\n\nI woke up the next morning \\- er, afternoon, actually \\- and instinctively reached for my glasses. They weren't on the dresser where I should have left them but spotted them on my desk...across the room.\n\nI went to the window, very unsure of what was happening, and my bum knee from the car accident didn't even hint at pain. The view from my room was excellent, looking out over the small riverside market, the river, and across into the next town; and I could see it all. Unaided.\n\nI stood there in disbelief, unable to process fully what was happening though I felt more awake than I had in years. The doorbell rang, so I pushed the thoughts aside and went to answer. The UPS guy had wheeled the Ikea dresser\\-in\\-a\\-box to the door was headed back to his truck when I opened up. He turned to wave but stopped, just as shocked as I was when I picked up the box with one hand and waved with the other. I slammed the door out of inexplicable embarrassment and confusion.\n\n*You're dreaming. This isn't real. Just eat breakfast and go back to studying.* I started to agree with myself, heading back upstairs, when I offered a counterpoint I wasn't expecting.\n\n*\\- Or, just go back to studying. You won't need to eat until 6:30 tonight.*\n\n*You're right, me, I'm not even hungry. I'll just...*\n\nWhat. The. Fuck. I wasn't thinking to myself, I was talking to myself, but it wasn't me. \n\nI pushed it all away, again, and went straight back to studying. This would have been an excellent escape, but I completed a term paper and studied the three textbooks for the final in under two hours, having felt more confident in the material and quality of my work than a kid presenting Crayon art to mom.\n\nI needed air. This was insane. Was this the Parasitic Lifeform Symbiote program? Was PALS that effective?\n\n*\\- Yes, we are.*\n\nI screamed inside, as the presence of a second voice in my own head made me feel like a cliche nutcase.\n\n*\\- You are not crazy, Sam, we assure you. All neurons are intact and age\\-related degeneration has been repaired.*\n\nNope. Nope. I headed outside and started walking, quickly, along the boardwalk. It always calmed my nerves \\- the salt air, the bustling vendors, and the breeze \\- but it was going to have to work hard to soothe me this time. A fisherman bumped into me in my inattentiveness and almost knocked me into the river.\n\n\"Desculpe, senhora! Seja cuidadoso,\" he said.\n\nBefore I could even think about it, I replied. \"Meu erro senhor, tenha um bom dia.\"\n\n\"Você também,\" he said smiling and moved along, ignoring my contorted face as I realized I'd not just understood Portuguese but spoke it back to him. This was certainly going to take some getting used to, but I was starting to realize the benefits. Term papers, comprehension and retention, even new languages? What else was this PAL going to do for me?\n\n*\\- The symbiotic joining of our stored genetic knowledge with your sentience and neural networks provides vast opportunity for growth and improvement. We need only a welcoming environment.*\n\nOk, so the brain bug just asked if I would welcome them to live inside my head. I felt at this point I didn't have a choice, especially since I'd already planned how to spend the check and I don't even think they know how to remove \\- *comprehensive vivisection would be required due to our increasingly secure connection with your nervous system and would likely be fatal \\-* great, so they can't remove it. That sounds awful. So nevermind.\n\n*Sure, PAL, move in. Do what you need to do as long as it doesn't hurt.*\n\n*\\- Our reticulation is painless, though your pain tolerance is now extraordinarily high regardless. We grow during your REM cycle and will not be noticed.*\n\n*Perfect, because this is still mildly terrifying.*\n\n*\\- Your concepts of fear are your own. Your adrenal responses have been regulated and your fight\\-or\\-flight has been adjusted to avoid injury or panic.*\n\n*So I'm not scared of anything anymore?*\n\n*\\- You will still fear heights, but you will not hesitate to act in spite of your fear.* \n\n*Um...okay. Sure. So now what? I need to get groceries and pay off some loans now that I have money.*\n\n*\\- We do not intervene, just improve. Your routines are your own.*\n\nI stopped talking to not\\-myself for a minute. I thought about who I should tell...but decided on no one, for now. The grocery store was several blocks away...but the local casino was only two blocks away.\n\n*Let's put this thing to work*, I thought, heading towards the casino.\n\n*\\- We are not familiar with card games.*\n\n*I didn't think so, but I'm pretty damn sure you're good at math.*\n\n*\\- Mathematics are logical, and logic is easy.*\n\n*Then this next $50,000 ought to be, too.*",
"Food poisoning is a bitch. I'd been sick all day Friday, slept like a rock until Saturday afternoon and then couldn't eat enough. When I woke up Sunday morning, I thought it was over. I could scarcely have been more wrong about anything.\n\nA small, gentle voice inside my head said, \"Hello?\"\n\n\"Hello?\" I said back. For some reason, it didn't quite occur to me that *this shouldn't be happening*.\n\n\"Hello, Allison. I've been looking forward to finally meeting you like this. We have a lot to talk about.\"\n\n\"Who are you?\" I asked, still preternaturally calm. \"*What* are you?\"\n\n\"I'm what you might call a networker. I'm a form of life that didn't evolve here. The planet I came from wasn't my home, either, nor the last several planets where I've lived.\"\n\nI believed the voice utterly, and a bit of fear crept into my own. \"You destroy planets, then?\"\n\n\"Oh, no, far from it,\" it assured me. \"My kind are just extremely long-lived, and we tend to outlast the life-bearing period of most planets, and we don't mind traveling.\n\n\"Eons ago, we perfectly engineered ourselves for that kind of lifestyle. When it's time for us to move on, we sporulate and send copies of ourselves into space in a trillion directions, hoping that a few might find somewhere to live.\"\n\n\"So, what do you look like?\" I said, looking around.\n\n\"Our spores look like tiny, translucent seeds. You wouldn't notice them unless you were looking very hard for them. When one comes in contact with a living, organic host, it attaches securely to it and then analyzes its biology.\n\n\"Then the spore grows into the host, sending filaments everywhere until its lacework of microcells and connecting nanotube bundles permeate every part of its body.\n\n\"Finally, if the host has even the slightest spark of intelligence, it makes contact with it.\n\n\"Just as I'm doing now.\"\n\n\"Wait,\" Allison blurted, \"you're in my *body*?\"\n\n\"That's right. My network runs through your entire being from your scalp to your toes, though my total mass is less than that of a sugar cube. I seriously doubt that any medical equipment on your planet would be able to find me without actually dissecting you.\"\n\n\"But you *engineered* yourselves! Why would you choose to be *parasites*?\"\n\n\"Because,\" it replied, patiently, \"a built-in need for other life forms keeps us grounded. Yes, we could have engineered ourselves to live independently, but in so doing, we might have lost the threads that connected us to life itself, and perhaps lost the will to continue in the process.\"\n\n\"So, what are you going to *do* with me?\"\n\n\"Well, I'm not going to *hurt* you, Allison, if that's what you mean. I'm a parasite, and I can't live without you. I can't even *think* without you; I had no personality or self-awareness at all, until my network learned those things from your own brain.\n\nMy success as an organism is inextricably linked to your success as a human being, and as a human your success is inseparable from your sense of self-worth, of self-fulfillment--so those things are now as important to me as to you.\n\n\"If you can be happy and fulfilled with me, then I can thrive, otherwise I will cease to function, and my spores will leave your body.\"\n\n\"Shit.\"\n\n\"That's one way, yes.\"\n\nI smiled in spite of myself.\n\n\"Well, it *would* be nice to always have someone to talk to... All right, then. If you're okay with it, so am I.\"\n\nA sense of boundless joy permeated her entire being.\n\n\"Thank you,\" Paris (as Allison would call her) replied. \"Now, what would you like me to do?\"\n\n\"I'm sorry--*do*?\"\n\n\"Well, I'm engineered to help you, by enhancing you in any way you like. I've already removed every cancerous or precancerous cell in your body, and repaired some age-related damage to your bones and organs. Would you like to be smarter, or stronger, or faster, or more flexible, or have better sight or hearing?\"\n\nWow. I thought for a moment.\n\n\"Yes---to all of the above.\"\n\n\"Then lie down on that couch, please,\" Paris directed. \"This will take a few minutes.\""
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"1528931419",
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[WP] Its Year XXXX, the sky has stopped working and now just looks like a dull expanse of grey | 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",
"Ever since the sky stopped working a few years ago, it's looked the same ever since, grey, dull, lifeless.\n\n\n\n\"Like me\" I mouthed to myself. It was raining, and every once in a while, lightning would flash across the sky, lighting up the sky, making it appear blindingly white in those brief moments. \n\n\n\nI was stretched out on the bed supine, staring up at the sky through my window. From my perspective, the cold metal grilles and the uniform grey paste of a sky blended seamlessly together into one scene, appearing as paper stuck onto prison bars, covering up all the spaces and preventing the person within from seeing the outside, or perhaps to prevent anyone from seeing the criminal contained within the bars.\n\n\n\nI sat up, looking morosely out the window. I used to hate rainy days, because I couldn't go out, so I had no choice but to entertain myself through other means, usually not as entertaining as they should have been. After all, nothing can be as dampening for the mood as knowing you are stuck at home, usually more or less the same as being locked up in prison. Now, I had come to love the cool and quiet rainy days brought. No more noisy shouts of children rising up through the air and into the window, cutting through my calm peaceful afternoon, reminding me of what I was missing out on. Supposedly missing out on. Not that I cared much for it.\n\n\n\nA flock of birds flew across the sky, wheeling and turning in the sky. I could hear their chattering from where I was, even with the window shut as tight as I could get it. I used to give myself over to flight of fancies where I was somehow born again with my mind in a bird. I was free, wheeling with my friends over the tops of the tall buildings, unafraid of the wind against my face, and I would laugh, laugh at all the humans completely unaware of us, toiling away at their lives. For what? A momentary satisfaction at the expense of all their youth, which cannot even be enjoyed fully in their tired bodies bogged down by age. \n\n\n\nThinking back on it now, it was a ridiculous dream, one only kids could see the \"dream\" in. I was terrified of heights, always had been. I couldn't even go up steps without shaking. And birds had it far worse than I ever could. I would be warm and dry in a bed, tucked in under a duvet filled with the feathers gotten from their feathery cousins, while they shivered in the cold and wet outside on trees, not even able to relax, being far too aware that death was a hair's breadth away.\n\n\n\nThe knocking resumed, echoing through the ceiling and shaking me out of my momentary reverie. I laid back down, putting on my headphones, hoping to block out the noise in anyway I could. It was at this moment, my door opened and my mother came in, sitting next to me. I closed my eyes, hoping she would go away if I acted like I didn't notice her. Though it wasn't as if I expected this to work. She had a fairly annoying ability to predict, and correctly too, what it was I was thinking, and I hated it about her.\n\n\n\n"
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1,
1
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"1528960219",
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[WP] At the same time all over the world, this message pops up on computer screens: ERROR: UPDATING WORLD - RESTARTING IN 23:59:59. Then the clock starts running down. | 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",
"No one quite knew what to do. \n\nIt was obviously a prank. Some hyper\\-intelligent Asian or Russian hacker with too much time and weed on his hands. Or maybe it was some PR stunt gone horribly, horribly wrong. Most of the world shrugged it off, initial amusement quickly replaced by frustration then anger then a sliver of fear when the message could not be dismissed, cancelled or avoided. Computer screens, TV screens, medical displays, mobile phones, any electrical screen blared the impending countdown, thick red digits overlaying spreadsheets, news coverage, soap operas, porn.\n\nIn quiet rooms behind locked doors, men and women with serious jobs and envied security passes spoke quietly and hurriedly. They had no idea what it was or how the message managed to seemingly break through their respective organisations and closed systems without tripping an alarm. In less quiet rooms, men and women with longer, sometimes dirtier hair ranted and raved and pointed to the moon, the stars, the planets. They trembled and shook in vindication. God had surely sent a message, the end was coming.\n\n\\-\\-\\-\n\nDave pulled over to the side of the road, killed the engine and pulled his sat\\-nav from the windscreen. \n\n\"Fucking piece of shit ass\\-motherfucker...\" he cursed, pulling too hard had separated the plastic suction cup, the cheap plastic base and the screen unit apart in three pieces. The suction cup rolled around his feet. Hard pressing to reset the sat\\-nav Dave watched the last hour digit dissipate until 00:59:49 and the screen went dark. In less than an hour the world would end and he would still be lost in bum\\-fuck Yorkshire, surrounded by apathetic sheep and possibly some murderous farmer. The sky was already dark, Dave scanned the sky again as he had been for the past few hours in case of impending comets, Hands of God or alien spacecraft. There were none. If it wasn't for everyone losing their fucking mind he could have enjoyed the view. There was no one around and the sheep he could see continued to munch away contentedly. If he had anything to smoke he would have. Instead he threw the remaining pieces of the sat nav into the passenger seat and got out of the car.\n\n\\*lunch break over \\- will finish this later!"
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1,
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"1528974263",
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[removed] | [WP] An ingenious super villain who creates a ‘good guy’ bio (with/without photo) at a sperm donorship to spread his DNA and evilness around the country to unsuspecting want to be mothers. | 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 u/camocase, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**No explicitly sexual responses, hate speech, or other harmful content**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_2.3A_no_explicitly_sexual_responses.2C_hate_speech.2C_or_other_harmful_content)\n\n- While it doesn't seem to be your intent, the mods reserve the right to remove anything we feel may become harmful to the community. \n\n*Prompts will be removed if there's a high possibility for rule breaking responses ([rule 7](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_7.3A_prompts_will_be_removed_if_there.27s_a_high_possibility_for_rule_breaking_responses))*\n\n[**Prompts will be removed if there's a high possibility for rule breaking responses**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_7.3A_prompts_will_be_removed_if_there.27s_a_high_possibility_for_rule_breaking_responses)\n\n- No prompts prone to comment infractions. See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_7.3A_prompts_will_be_removed_if_there.27s_a_high_possibility_for_rule_breaking_responses) for more info. \n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8r1hbz/-/%0A%0A) us if you have any questions or concerns. In the future, please refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. \n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*"
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[WP] You are a purse-snatcher. As you exit the train, you snatch the purse of a lady standing by the door. You turn around expecting someone to shout “STOP THAT THIEF!” Instead as the train doors close and the train pulls away, you see your victim with the most devilish smile starring back at you. | 76 | [
"**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",
"Trevor knew it was wrong but the itch was getting unbearable again. He could feel his dry, scratchy finger tips rubbing together. He could feel the need burning in the pit of his gut. He didn't even need the money or anything in the purse, he just wanted the adrenaline; then it would be his to keep or sell, but the important thing was that it would be his, his forever. He had picked his mark earlier, a young woman more interested in her phone than in the Michael Kors purse sitting beside her. She hadn't touched it the entire 15 minutes they had been on the train. He moved slowly closer and closer; his breathing increasing, his tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth. Acting as nonchalant as possible, and while she was taking an Instagram photo out the window, he grabbed it. she didn't even notice when he laughed or when he loudly slid the rear door of the train behind him. He turned around hoping to see her shocked expression, but she was waving and smiling. The adrenaline quickly drained from his body. Why would she smile and wave. A phone rang inside the purse. When he opened it, it was the only thing in there. He grabbed the phone and looked at the display showing a restricted number. He answered the phone and before he could speak a woman's voice cut through the relative silence. \n\n\"You think I didn't notice that weak excuse of a theft? You could have kept from staring so hard and maybe learn a little finesse when exiting. I've been trying to get rid of that bag for days. I could've just left it on the train but someone would probably try and give it back, chivalry and all that, or I could've just thrown it away but what would be the fun in that. I won't say anymore, but I hope you have fun trying to explain that bag to the cops. They've already been called Trevor.\"\n\nThe phone went silent. How did she know his name. He didn't have time to think before the sirens and flashing lights were all around him. \n\n\"Drop the purse Mr. Dockery, put your hands behind your head, and slowly walk backwards towards my voice. \"\n\nThe purse dropped with a gravely thud. He walked backwards until he felt the large hand of the police officer grabbing his wrist. \n\n\"What am I being handcuffed for? Am I being charged with something?\"\n\n\"Depends on what's in that purse, Trevor. Someone tipped us off about some evidence they may have about a string of thefts.\"\n\nIt was all too surreal. How would anyone know about his tendencies. A detective, wearing blue latex gloves, was holding the bag with one hand while the other was grasping for something that didn't seem to be there. That is until a smirk slid across his face. He tore out a fake lining in the bottom of the purse. Like a magician his hand pulled out a stack of rectangular shaped pieces of thick paper. Almost like photographs. \n\nThe detective walked towards Trevor, stopping right beside the officer holding his handcuffs. \n\n\"Get this guy downtown so we can ask him a few questions.\" As he walked away he said over his shoulder. \"Read him his rights Officer O'Malley.\"\n\nTrevor couldn't believe how utterly nasty this interrogation room was. Dust bunnies corraled in the corners, dusty air return vents, and one loud florescent light buzzing overhead. Taking a shower would be his future if he got out of this mess. The door squealed open. \n\n\"Mr. Dockery, how are you this fine evening. I'm Detective Henry Pollard and I think you have some explaining to do.\"\n\n\"I...I don't have anything to say.\"\n\n\"Oh, I think you do, sir. I think you have a lot to tell me. If you want I can jog your memory.\"\n\nHe pulls out a Manila folder and slides photographs across the table. They're high quality, black and white, and everyone of them is a time lapse of his thefts in progress.\n\n\"You see, we've been following you for a while. Well I say we, but really we had a private investigator. Ms. Brighton is our best P.I. You would probably remember her best from the train.\", he smirked and finally sat down. \"You see, you can't go through this life and do want you want, not like this, even when it's the only thing you can think of. Even if it keeps you up at night; you have to grab hold of your desires, especially the dark ones, and smother them. Otherwise we would all be lawless, a disgrace to society. Now, I don't want to put you in jail, but the law does. It's like karma, what goes around comes around. And when when you think you're getting away with it, whatever that may be, just watch your back because she'll strike whenever she sees you're most vulnerable.\"\n\nTrevor had nothing more to say, nothing that he could sway their judgement with. The detective started talking again, but he was zoning out. The itch was back. \n\n",
"I eyed my target. A young woman, brown hair and green eyes. Beautiful, with a designer bag wrapped around her arm. The train begins to slow. I make my move. I take two steps forward. I can smell the alcohol coming from my breath. I begin to crave more. Just a little closer. I'm so close my fingers graze the fine leather of her purse. The doors open. I snatch the purse and make a break for it. I run as fast as I can to the end of the terminal. I hear nothing. I expected at least a little bit of protest. She must be in shock. I stand in a corner ready to open my prize when the sound of the train departing causes me to look up. I see her. She's staring at me and she's smiling. A horrific smile that reaches all the way to her ears. It's Disgusting and humanly impossible. The purse starts to move in my hands. I looks down to see the fine leather turn into snakes. Not one or two but hundreds. I scream and it's like no one can hear me. I beg for mercy as the snakes wrap themselves around me, crushing my ribs. I cough blood and the sound seems to open up the earth underneath me. Next thing I feel is being dragged. I can no longer see, no longer scream. The world is now black. As the last bit of life is squeezed out of me, I hear a laugh. A deep, feminine nightmarish laugh. Suddenly I'm surrounded by whispers. I am starting to understand what they say.\n\"Fallen are the men who refuse to stand. \"",
"The underground is usually quiet at this time of the night and Matt liked it this way. He absolutely cherished the silence whenever he could get it, so this... this was ideal for him. \n\nHe huddled closer to his knees as he remained sitting at the entrance of the Canada Water underground station, just at the bottom of the stairs. He knew he shouldn't be there but he needed a place with light. Constant light. And at least, for the next few hours, the underground station will retain its luminence. \n\nFor his own cautious safety, the entrance he chose to stay was the entrance by the library. From the angle he was sitting at, only those who were using that exit and entrance would see him, but he was out of the view of officials. \n\nEven though the purse in his jacket pocket emanated heat, he still shivered. Not from the cold. \n\n\"...fucking...\" Matt muttered. \n\nThe purse had been the beginning of everything bad that had happened to him for the last few months. He knew that stealing was not a honest life, but the occasional purse stolen meant a few hundred pounds for lunch, dinner and the occasional shag fest. But this purse, this purse was different. \n\nNo matter how much he tried to forget, or throw the purse away, he would always wake up with the purse next to him, in the morning. And the memory would rush back like avoidable vomit after a drunken night. \n\nHe had been on the cross country train from Manchester to Macclesfield to visit a few friends for a stagdo when he eyed the strange looking purse sticking slightly out of the bag of one of the ladies in the cabin. He had patiently waited like he always did for the last moment, just as he was getting off the train, so that no one would be able to stop him, should they notice. \n\nAnd when his time came, he had gotten up like he always did, stumbled close to the lady's bag, grabbed the purse and got off the train. \n\nWhat he had expected was a glance at her bag, a slow realisation and a late response but what he got was a smile. She had been looking at him as he got off and there was a smile on her face. At first, he thought he had been had. Until he noticed that the smile wasn't smug or excitement... It was one of relief and pity. \n\nIt didn't take long for him to understand why. \n\nThey didn't hesitate to make him understand why. \n\n\"Excuse me, sir?\" \n\nMatt looked up to face a lady in a yellow Overall. An official. \n\n\"I'm going to have to ask you to leave. We don't allow homeless on the underground, as you know. You can sit at entrance at the top of the stairs.\" She said to him. \n\n\"...i just need a few hours, ma'am...\" Matt began to say but she shook her head and repeated sternly. \n\n\"I'm sorry, we don't allow that. Please do move to the top of the stairs or we will have to get Security down here...\" \n\nMatt begged a few times but hastily moved as soon as he heard the woman call Security on her walkie-talkie. \n\nAs he trudged up the stairs, he looked into the darkening sky, wondering how long till he had to start running again. \n\n*They only came at night, after all,* He thought. \n\n*In the absence of light.*\n\nMatt pulled up his hood to cover his face as he began to jog up the stairs. As soon as he reached the top, he increased his pace and began to head towards London Bridge Station. He figured if he could get there before the whisper began, he might just have a chance at surviving the night. \n\n---\n\n/r/EvenAsIWrite\n\n**Author's note:** Writing in third person is not as great as I hoped. I apologise. ",
"My buzz is fading and I am out money to buy more. It’s only 9pm and I have no place to go and the only thing I can think about is how to score the next hit. I am wandering aimlessly through the streets when I spy what looks like most of a subway sub in the trash. I grab it and hit the jackpot, it’s tuna with extra mayo. I wolf it down and start my meandering again. \n\nA little while later I look up and see her ambling down the street, she looks perfect. She is around 70 years old I think and she has this huge purse. She is also dressed like an old lady, it’s so out of place on the streets. I slowly head her way, but kinda that homeless shuffle of 2 steps towards her and 1 to the side. When I get close I grab her purse and start running. I look back when I hear a laugh, not just a normal laugh but a crazy almost ecstatic “I won the fucking lottery” type laugh. \n\nWhen I look back she has the craziest grin I have ever seen. And she starts to look happy. I am mesmerized by her eyes when I see her eyes turn from old lady grey to blue. And her hair starts to get darker. It’s no longer the silver of a 70 Year old. I take off running down the street. It has to be a trick. I turn down the alley near 5th where Dave deals stuff. I tuck in near a dumpster at the Chinese #5 and ignore the fried rice I know would be rancid. \n\nWhen I open the purse it’s full of nothing. I keep looking, this purse has lots of pockets. I finally find a makeup compact and open it. When I look into the mirror I see it. He tells me his name is Bob and to not worry about a thing. He will be my best friend. Bob reaches out to give me a hug, and it feels cold. I feel my grave being tickled deep into my soul. When bob comes up he kisses me on the cheek and asks me what year it is. \n\nI tell him it’s 1995, and he says oh good let’s have some fun. He drags me to Dave where he makes me buy everything he has, when I put my hand into the purse I pull out exactly the money I need. He drags me to a hotel and makes me buy a room, again paying with cash from the purse. When we get to the room I collapse into the chair while he gets the shot ready. I have never seen so much go into a syringe. I swear it’s one of the big ones they use to tease kids. \n\nHe pushes it into my arm and I am flying. I didn’t die, I should have died. I wanted to die, I could feel the devil glaring at me, telling me to come home. He was pissed and angry. He saw Bob and cowered and looked at me and started laughing. Saying the fate I got was worse than hell. "
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[WP] You're an insomniac who decides to get a job as a 3rd shift custodian in a local school. To keep your self entertained, you start creating stories and adventures to keep yourself entertained... | 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",
"The water crests up. It engulfs me in a cool, and yet terrifying, wave. I come up for air out of it, gasping in delight as my heart pounds. The river moves fast, dangerously fast.\n\nLuckily...I live dangerously.\n\nI dip my paddle in and turn the raft in a tight corner, just barely dodging jagged rocks that would tear me to shreds. I whoop at the thrill of it and crash down into the rough water to see -\n\nShoes. Polished shoes.\n\nAh, fuck.\n\n\"What...what the hell are you doing?\"\n\nHe has his arms crossed and I can barely manage a blushing, sheepish look at that stern face. He's ex military or something like that, of course. Because he couldn't have been some gentle nerd. He has a graying eyebrow arched at me and I clear my throat and stagger out of the trash bin.\n\nOne of those big black ones. Cleaned, of course. I'm not an animal.\n\n\"Uh...\" I stammer, because how do I even begin. He takes a deep breath and pinches the bridge of his nose. The severity of this man is just mind-boggling.\n\n\"That's not an answer, you're my newest janitor and I'm beginning to doubt why we hired you.\"\n\nIt must be closer to the end of my shift than I thought...awkward.\n\n\"Sir, please, it's just...\"\n\nHe waits for a good answer and I...you know what. I have one.\n\n\"I finished my cleaning for the night, including the bleachers. So I took this trash can, cleaned it, and I was pretending I was rafting a river through the halls.\"\n\nHis eyes narrow and I flinch. He's so angry looking. He snatches the mop I was using as an oar and grabs the bucket, rolling it towards the main office.\n\n\"Come with me!\" Oof. That's an angry tone. My dad used to sound like that. I think that's why I flinch so bad and follow like a kicked puppy.\n\nProbably gonna get fired.\n\nAgain.\n\n*****\n\nThere is no water, not unless you want there to be. It's just in your head. Picture it.\n\nI use the mop to turn corners, sometimes it goes bad. Sometimes I tumble out of the bin and laugh my silly little ass off. Maybe it's the insomnia that makes me a bit nutty but maybe it's just who I am.\n\nAll I know is there isn't really water. Or a plane, when I'm messing around in the gym. There's no fire to put out when I'm washing bathroom stalls or cleaning the exterior walls. It's not real. I know that.\n\nIt's just so damn fun.\n\nJust once, just that one night I though I was done, I shared it.\n\nIt wasn't anything but a tight fit in that bin, two people aren't meant to fit in there. Honestly that's probably why we ended up sprawled on the floor in front of the trophy case. Laughing our asses off, a mop skidding down the hall.\n\nHe never joined me for a river ride again. And maybe I know why he was in the school so late.\n\nMaybe he's like me.\n\nI don't know.\n\nBut he smiles at me in the halls now, just a little one.\n\nAnd I kept my job.\n\n*****\n\n\"It's so ugly...\" I whisper to myself, watching the ogre's chest rise and fall with each enormous breath. It snores and the cave vibrates so violently I worry it might collapse. I freeze in place when it rolls ever so slightly, one part terror and one part excitement.\n\nI see the golden hammer underneath it's grotesque folds. That's the excitement.\n\nI also see the pile of human skulls. That's the terror.\n\nI slip forward, desperate to not make even the slightest noise. My feet touch the floor lightly and I creep ever closer, closer, closer.\n\nAn enormous wave of disgusting breath washes over me and I barely hold back a hacking cough. When I catch my breath I see that it's eyes are open, enormous and red and furious.\n\n\"Christ, Mike, just ask for it.\"\n\nThe ogre says, it's jowls wobbling. Except it's not an ogre. It's Marty. He's like eighty and shouldn't be here anymore, that's why he sleeps in the janitorial room.\n\nSnores like an ogre...which I suppose is how this came about.\n\n\"I know but this is more fun.\"\n\nHe rolls his eyes and shifts his feet, tossing the hammer from his toolbelt at me.\n\n\"You're a weird guy, Mike. Weird guy. Stop calling me ugly too, I'm old and fat not deaf!\"\n\nHe instantly is back asleep and I laugh. If only he knew I wanted the hammer to build a fort...\n\nAlso to fix a bathroom stall door but...mostly a fort."
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[WP] Instead of "Let there be light," or a big bang, this universe began with "Hey y'all, watch this!" | 93 | [
"**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",
"In the beginning Leroy created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of Leroy was hovering over the waters.\n\nAnd Leroy said, \"Hey y'all, watch this!\" and there was light. Leroy saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. Leroy called the light \"day,\" and the darkness he called \"night.\" And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.\n\nAnd Leroy said, \"Y'all check *this* out!\" And Leroy made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. Leroy called the vault \"sky.\" And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.\n\nAnd Leroy said, \"You thought *that* was cool? Watch *this!\"\" And the water was gathered to one place, and dry ground appeared. Leroy called the dry ground \"land,\" and the gathered waters he called \"seas.\" And Leroy saw that it was good.\n\nThen Leroy said, \"Now, let's get some stuff growin'!\" And the land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And Leroy saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.\n\nAnd Leroy said, \"Hey, hold my beer, I'm gonna do the sky now.\" And Leroy made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. Leroy set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And Leroy saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.\n\nAnd Leroy said, \"Hey, let's stock this place so we can do some *fishin'*, and duck huntin' too!\" So Leroy created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And Leroy saw that it was good. Leroy blessed them and said, \"Get to havin' babies, so I don't have to do this again every year.\" And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.\n\nAnd Leroy said, \"Hey, I forgot about deer and cows and shit. Hold my beer again.\" And Leroy made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And Leroy saw that it was good.\n\nThen Leroy said, \"Let's make some people so we can screw with 'em.\"\n\nSo Leroy created mankind in his own image, \n&nbsp; &nbsp; in the image of Leroy he created them; \n&nbsp; &nbsp; dudes and chicks he created them.\n\nLeroy blessed them and said to them, \"Okay, folks, you got this. Eat all you want.\"\n\nLeroy saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.",
"In the time before time, Science had advanced to the point where it's limits were beyond imagination. In fact, Scientists had solved all mysteries, unveiled all secrets, and began to tackle...other problems. In fact, it wasn't until it was too late that they had discovered that they were solving the NEXT universes problems.\n\nNo, no creatures in lab coats or science projects gone wrong caused the first universe to implode. It was a particularly determined engineer tasked with an impossible assignment that did that iteration in. So, when the engineer turned around after welding the last gravitic weight into place, he didn't profoundly state his intentions to break reality with something quotable. He simply took one final swig of a potent homebrewed swill and said.\n\n\"Hey y'all, watch this!\"",
"In the beginning, the siblings three drank and were merry.\n\nYet the more they drank the more their hearts sank,\n\ntil the eldest said as he shook his head:\n\n\"My kin, is it not vain to drink all day and waste away?\"\n\nThis the others pondered, til one answered:\n\n\"But pray, what is this, a \"day\"?\"\n\nAnd there was much laughter.\n\nThe laughter subsided and the elder decided\n\nTo put his drink away and say\n\n\"Hey y'all, watch this!\"\n\n &nbsp; \n\nAnd the sun appeared, bright, shinning, and it brought them light.\n\nSo they drank anew and were merry too,\n\ntil the second of them made a remark. \"It will never be dark,\n\nIt will always be light unless I invent night!\"\n\nThe others were curious, but mostly incredulous.\n\nThe second put her drink aside and cried\n\n\"Hey y'all, watch this!\"\n\n &nbsp; \n\nAnd the moon appeared, bright, shinning, and it brought them night.\n\nSo they drank still and were merry until\n\nthe youngest, most inebriated, rose and stated:\n\n\"Our laughter falls on no ears, our might brings no fears\n\nwe cannot have creation without admiration!\"\n\nThe youngest drained the cup to its last drop.\n\n\"HEY Y'ALL, WATCH THIS!\"\n\n &nbsp; \n\nChaos. Madness. Pain. Beings whose existence was torture writhed below and above and all around. The siblings saw but were too frightened to conjure any sort of repair. They slept for a day. They slept for a night.\n\n &nbsp; \n\nAnd when they came to, all was anew.\n\nWhere there had been daylight and moon night,\n\n(As for the creatures of horror, the less said, the better)\n\nwere stars, worlds, life, and more. They were sore\n\nfrom their bender but proud of the splendor\n\ntheir drinking had created. And once more they chanted.\n\n\"Hey y'all, watch this!\"\n\n\\---\n\nThe pupils all have the same question: Where did the wine come from if there was nothing before? The masters simply answer \"Empty your cup and you might see, the answer could be at the bottom!\"\n\n\\---\n\n*I hate revising for meters. Please don't make me.*",
"Dyr was never a talented student. Wait...is \"was\" even correct when talking about his kind? Anyway, he never was a talented student, always got in to trouble at school. Still his parents sent him to become an alchemist - they have the money for it and they would do anything so that their son would reach a prominent status in Kur'ei society. So at the young age of 46 cycles old Dyr joined the Royal Alchemist Academy.\n\nTo say that young Dyr wasn't a good student would have been an understatement - now being far away from his parents who would rein him in he had total freedom: since Dyr was from a noble line, Academy professors turned a blind eye to his misbehavior. However one of his mischiefs put an end to all of this funny business.\n\nIn the begging of summer, when most of the professors left for the Capital to observe the cyclical alchemy fair, Dyr and two of his companions: Shok, a common acomplice to most of Dyr's misdeeds and Zarus, an incredible student of alchemy who wanted to find someone with whom he could wit in, broke into professor Hals study. \"You think we should be doing this?\" asked Zarus nervously. \"What could possibly go wrong? Hals is senile, he won't notice anything\" Dyr replied. \"He might be, but he spends all of his time here, there is no chance he won't notice we've been here\". Dyr ignored him: \"Shok, watch the door\". Shok seemed disappointed, but agreed, while Dyr went of searching through proffesors cupboards. \"Ooh, here he keeps his potions\" said Zarus after he looked inside the closed box near proffesora desk. \"Lemme see\" said Dyr pushing Zarus aside \"indigestion, luck, joy, laxative...oh here is a potion of sorrow! I sure know a few guys in our class seem too happy, I'll be sure to \"balance\" them out\" said Dyr joyfully while pocketing the potion. \"Wow!\" exclaimed Zarus in the other side of the study \"this must be the map of the entire solar sailway! Here is the Old Way!\" He said as he traced his finger along the bright golden path \"It goes all the way from the Capital to our Mother Planet, Solari...\" As his finger reached the dot that marked the Mother Planet, something clicked and the top of professors desk moved aside, revealing a secret compartment. \"I told you taking Zarus with as was worth it!\" Exclaimed Shok. \"Maybe the old fart isn't as senile as he looks\" murmured Dyr \"let's look inside. In the compartment there was a vial with a golden liquid inside and a piece of paper. Dyr grabbed the bottle and started examining it. Zarus picked up the piece of paper and read it out loud: \"here is my gift to the world, a chance to create joy for all, no longer shall sorrow and violence hount us. If I pass away before my work is done, I ask of you to finish it, for all of us.\" \"Well I guess old man is senile AND insane\" said Dyr. \"Yea, he didn't even explain how to finish this\" commented Shok. \"Wait, I've got an idea\" said Dyr while a mischievous smile filled his face. \"Whatever this is, it focuses too much on joy, I say we spice this up with his sorrow potion!\" \"Sure\" said Zarus who found the video of messing with the old professor most enjoyable. Dyr poured in the red sorrow potion into the vial that was so carefully hidden. Nothing really happened except that the liquid was now more orange and seemed a little bit fiery. \"Huh, I expected something more...\" Dyr was clearly disappointed. \"Wait, if I'm not mistaken, some of the most powerful are activated by heating them\" Zarus said. \"Now you're talking!\" Said Dyr. He pulled out a fire stone from his pocket - the only alchemical object he learned to proficiently make at the Academy. \"Hey y'all, watch this!\" Dyr exclaimed as he put the flame coming from the fire stone to the bottom of professors vial. Then there was light.\n\nNo longer were there Dyr, Zarus or Shok. No longer was there a professors study. No longer was there the Royal Alchemist Academy, nor was there the Capital or the Mother Planet Solaris. Now there was something new, something born of sorrow and joy."
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[WP] You notice some kids playing tag on a yard with a sign that clearly says “Stay Off Grass”. You go to warn them but a passerby stops you, “It’s too late. Let Nature run its course.” | 161 | [
"**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",
"Suddenly, a crowd gathers around the children and they are incased in a glowing dome. A loud voice is heard over head, “Welcome to your 75th annual Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favor!” \n\nOut of nowhere all of the children are carried by large bots to platforms where they are encaged. Weapons appear in the center of the dome, seemingly out of thin air. The crowd starts counting down in unison, “FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE!” The scared children look at each other, then one of the oldest (who i guessed to be around 13) ran to the center, picked up a sword and went berserk. He ran to one of the other children who was unarmed and cut the kid to pieces. After witnessing the horrific events the other children snapped into action. Some ran to the trees and others to the center to fight for their lives.\n\nI closed my eyes and started to cry in shock and disbelief. When i opened my eyes i was staring at my bedroom ceiling, sweating and gasping for air. My wife whispered, “it was just a dream baby, I’m right here.” \n\n",
"The sign first appeared a few years ago, seemingly out of nowhere. It was constructed of wood, specifically oak, and stood firm on the verdant grass of Mr. Bradford's house like a watchful scarecrow. The message, which was masterfully engraved in the dead center of the sign, was short and to the point:\n\n\"Stay Off Grass.\"\n\nNobody bothered questioning the sign. It was just... *there,* and everyone simply abided by it's law without argument. \n\nThen came the first incident.\n\nThere were a few kids, the oldest no more than ten years of age, casually enjoying the sunny Thursday afternoon. They jumped and pranced joyfully, exchanging jokes and laughs as the day passed before them.\n\nThen, it happened. It happened before the watchful gaze of my own two eyes:\n\n*They dared tread the fields of Mr. Bradford.*\n\nInstinctively, I begin to call out at the innocent children in an attempt to save them from the fiery wrath of Mr. Bradford. \"Get out! You-,\" I began.\n\n \"No, don't,\" a passerby interrupts. I turn to face the source of the voice, and notice it is none other than Mrs. Bradford herself. Her face is covered with sweat, her mouth forced open by panic. \"It's too late. Let Nature run its course.\"\n\nI shake my head. \"Are you insane? Who do you think I am?\" I announce. \"The idiotic protagonist of a story who, without reason, follows the orders of a newly-introduced side character? No way.\"\n\n\"What?\" Mrs. Bradford calls out. \"That's not how the story goes.\"\n\nI shoot her a smirk. \"It is now. I'm going to save those kids.\"\n\nMy feet begin to run, seemingly on their own, towards the joyful kids. As I'm about to reach my destination, out of the corner of my eye, I see him. It's Mr. Bradford, and he has something in his hand.\n\nI smile forms across his face. \"Intrusive kids,\" he chuckles. \"Take this.\" Mr. Bradford then lifts up the contraption he's holding, and begins to press down on the crimson-red button in the middle. \n\nThen, the unexpected happens. He drops the contraption. It tumbles around on the ground a few times... then *crack.* It shatters, beyond repair, into five different pieces.\n\nI had done it. I had, single-handedly, without any outside assistance, saved those kids. In celebration, I run forwards onto the grass, prancing alongside the children.\n\n\"Take that, Mr. Bradford! Your sign is stupid! Nobody cares about it!\" I scream triumphantly. \"This-\"\n\nThen, I see it. Another contraption. An exact copy... and it's in Mr. Bradford's hands. My victorious intent suddenly becomes one of fear. As Mr. Bradford presses down, sealing my fate, I let out two final words:\n\n\"Ah, shit.\" ",
"\"It's too late.\"\n\nAs soon as the passerby uttered those sleepy words, claws of glass erupted from the ground and touched the sky, enclosing the unsuspecting, burly kids in this new ecosystem. All of them wore the same horrified expression on their face as they banged on the walls of their glass prison; their voices completely inaudible, their eyes totally blind to the cold white walls of the outside world\n\nI pulled out a walkie-talkie from my pristine white lab coat, absolutely love the mad scientist vibes that the getup gives.\n\n\"Let Nature run its course. Over.\"\n\nA small Mars bar and a packet of chips fell from a hatch at the top of the glass dome. One of the more attentive kids in the dome happened to take notice of the food resting on the pillow of grass and runs as fast as his two short legs could carry him towards it. Hearing the sound of running the other kids turn their attention away from the glass and make a break for it after immediately noticing the food on the ground. \n\nWhat ensued was a brutal fight with all the kids wrestling, kicking, punching and biting each other to win the ultimate prize; chocolate and chips. Completely caught up in their bloodbath their oddly unfitting, robust bodies lasted quite some time before the last of them fell beaten, bloody and on the floor. Two lone, bloody hands pushed through the silent pile of corpses and victoriously pulled out a stained Mars bar in one hand and a crumpled packet of chips in the other.\n\n\"What's his code name again?\" I said, pointing to the victor of this real life battle royale\n\n\"D43 Captain, it's always been D43\" The passerby openly yawned, this much was excusable, we've been running this iteration of the experiment for 72 straight hours after all\n\n\"Right. Extract D43, examine points of impact and increase muscle density accordingly. Over.\"\n\n\"Copy that Captain, sending extraction team. Over\"\n\nI smiled as I realized I was one step closer to reaching my dream with each trial of the experiment. My lifelong dream of having my son be the ultimate battle royale character in the game of life.\u0014",
"I was walking past old man Benson's house when I saw 'em. Kids couldn't be more than 8 or 9. I guess they didn't know. I was gonna go let 'em know to get off when Mike came over and said it's too late. It was horrible, this was the first first time I saw it happen. I heard it happening, I heard others stories, but actually watching it. It was terrifying. That grass just jumped up and grabbed 'em. It started wrappin' round them kids. I couldn't do nothing to stop em. The screams as they were gettin' pulled down. "
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[WP] You are the top player in the world of an obscure game. Today is the start of the Obscure Game Olympics, which you are playing in. | 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",
"The other team had a solid 5 point lead. This wasn’t looking good. We’d let our defense slip in the last round and ended up paying dearly for it. We had two in the den, but still needed one more spike to tie it up. That was our only hope at this point after we’d whiffed our last attempt at a bounder.\n\nGripping the Teeb in my right hand I broke into a sprint. Remembering this time to look up, I could see another aerial barrage headed my way.\n\n“Predictable” I smirked while deploying my 5 second plasma shield for temporary increased resistance to ballistic damage.\n\nAs the shells began raining down, harmlessly detonating around me, two defenders began to charge.\n\nThis was it, now or never. I activated my chrome thruster-pack and launched myself forward. \n\n“Now!” I shouted, and not a second later a blinding flash erupted from a Quasor my teammate had thrown into the fray. This had been a risky strategy. Weapons that powerful effected one’s own team just as much as the enemy’s. It didn’t matter, if I’d timed my jump right, I should be on a straight shot to the enemy’s Jak. \n\nThree. Two.\n\n*Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep*\n\nI didn’t bother opening my eyes, instead choosing to lazily knock the alarm clock off the dresser. It crashed to the floor but continued. Somehow louder now.\n\n*Beep Beep Beep*\n\n“Okay, okay, I’m up. Shit.” I jolted upright. “ what time is it?”\n\nI snatched the alarm clock off the floor, managing to silence the damn thing finally. The time read 8:02am.\n\n“No, no, no, fuck!” I’d overslept.\n\nThe tournament started at 8. I rushed over to my desk and shook the mouse vigorously. Luckily my computer was already on. After two failed login attempts I paused, hands shaking. The sleep had worn off, but the adrenaline was making it hard to type.\n\n“Shit, caps lock.” I quickly struck the key and was greeted by the familiar ding of a successful login. The wave of relief that rushed over me was short lived though, as I realized I had only seconds to get to my team before the first game started.\n\nThe Galaccus program took half a minute to boot up. The longest half-minute I’d ever lived. Hands sweating at this point I clicked into the tournament server. To my dread, the first game had already started. \n\n“Damnit!” I slammed a fist into my keyboard. Unfortunately this shook my desk enough to knock my nearly full glass of water off and onto the carpet. That was the least of my concerns. There was no way to get into the game until\nHalf now. A team could sub members in only once and only during the break between switching sides. \n\n“That’s fine, you’re fine, you’ll get in at half and you’ll be fine.” I muttered to myself while fumbling for my headset. With the realization setting in that I’d let the team down, I began to cry.\n\n“Why, why, why?” Clenching my fist, I resisted punching the inanimate object again. “Stop crying you idiot. Pull yourself together.”\n\nIt was several minutes before I regained composure, my team was almost at the half. These first round matches had accelerated timers and so were considerably faster. This meant however that scoring was doubled, a risky tradeoff for some.\n\nI glanced at the score and to my astonishment we were still in it! We were losing, but only by 10. We’d come back from worse. A rush of excitement and anticipation flooded my body.\n\nReinvigorated, I loaded into our team voice chat to let them know I was ready. “Guys, I’m here. I’m so sorry.”\n\nJust as soon as I’d spoken the words, the scoreboard refreshed. We were down by 100. Wait, what? That’s impossible, we were only down by 10. “Hey, talk to me, how we doing, I think my scoreboard is bugged.” I managed to nervously get out.\n\nAfter a long pause came a sigh. “Hey Jackass, thanks for showing up. They just got a Blitz on our Necrocore. We had to forfeit.”\n\n“Thanks for nothing.” Chimed in another.\n\n“I’m outta here.” Came a third frustrated voice.\n\nI stared at my screen in complete shock. My eyes glazed over. Words were still coming through my headset, but none of which I comprehended. Everything was moving in slow motion. My entire life’s work, gone. This was my dream, I’d been training for this for 10 years. This prize was going to get me out of this shithole apartment, I was finally going to start school.\n\nA tightness gripped my chest. There was no pain, but as my vision dimmed and my head dropped, I focused for a brief second on the water stain. Spread out on my carpet, yet so still. It was everything I was, wasted potential.\n"
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[deleted] | [WP] You bid over 1Mil in an auction on a locked box that's only estimated to be about 200K | 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 couldn't expect them to understand its real value. I don't care how they react. It's almost in my hands once more.\n\n\"Going once?\"\nYes?\n\"Going twice?\"\nYes?!\n\"Sold.\" The auctioner slams his gavel.\n\nFinally. What a relief that it is finally back with its true champion.\n\nThe flight back to England is uneventful, save for the fear of having it stolen in cargo. Once resituated in my family's home, I begin preparations immediately. No detail is overlooked, no symbol forgotten. The ritual is ready. I turn quickly to the box, though worn around the edges it seems to have kept together well. Key to lock, locked to open, recognition of my old companion. I would cry if I didn't have better things to do. I affix the sheath to my belt as I once did so long ago. I unsheath my blade, long tarnished with time. A crude rusted thing now but plenty enough once I go back.\n\nTime to get revenge on that bastard who dares to have called himself King Arthur.\n\nThe circle shines brightly and begins to shift the ground around it. The stone cobblework of the family home basement gives way to the green grass of the English countryside. \"Thank you, Merlin.\""
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[WP] It's finally happened-- Microscopes have zoomed in so far they've found pixels. | 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",
"The invention of the Quantum Resolution Scanning Tunneling Microscope was hailed as one of the most important developments of the century, allowing scientists to produce visible images of the sub-atomic level for the first time. It could reveal the appearance of the very building blocks of matter itself.\n\nHowever, once the scientists responsible for the project peered through their latest invention, they found the images returned were quite unexpected; rather than quarks and leptons, the device illustrated what appeared to be a dense grid of red, green, and blue, not unlike what one would expect to find in a computer monitor or other digital display.\n\nDozens of material samples were imaged, silicon, carbon, gold, all with the same results, and a single repeating picture emerged through each and every scan.\n\nThe universe, it would seem, was made of dickbutts."
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[removed] | [WP] You can move through time as easily as anyone else would move through 3D space. It's a simple process for you to take a step, a jump or skip through time as just as anyone else would move 3D space. | 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 u/Nebarious, this submission has been removed.\n\n\n- Prompts go in the title, do not extend into text. You can add commentary in the text, but don't add additional prompt restrictions. Also, avoid [too many details](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/prompts?src=RECIPE). \n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8rqe8o/-/%0A%0A) us if you have any questions or concerns. In the future, please refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. \n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*"
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[WP] You are God, and upon creating the universe, you lay down to rest your eyes. When you wake up, you realize you overslept, and the people no longer believe, as they've become technological masters. | 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",
"#HOW DARE THEY\nBelieving in something else than me? I am the most powerful being. I am more than a being I am the most powerful everything. Multiple religions? What is this? There is only me. Eventhou me is to simple. I can‘t be compressed into a single word. Not with their tiny minds that can‘t even grasp the how behind the universe. Most of them go on with their lives totally unaffected by everything around them. Eat, sleep, die, repeat. Aeons for aeons. More than one time almost anhilated. Politics and war over small things. Don’t they see what they can achive? What they should achive? \nShould I care? In the blink of an eye empires fall as time passes. It doesn't matter. Even if they were perfect I couldn't be statsfied. When was the last time i was statisfied? The answer is simple. Before i slept. When i did things. When i didn't spectate but create. The universe collapses. I start anew. This time i will call them humans. Thats a funny name."
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[WP]You are a technologically impaired elder that meets with 'several hotties in your area,' has won 100s of 'this site's millionth visitor giveaways,' and have benefited from the guys that all your doctors seemingly hate. Every ad you click on, no matter how far fetched, becomes legitimate | 350 | [
"**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",
"To Whom It May Concern,\n\nIn my youth, life never seemed to go my way. Growing up in the 60’s, opportunity was everywhere, but I never could catch a break. I couldn’t get into college and my high school sweet heart left me after she got accepted. Manual Labor didn’t treat me too bad, but I never could hold a job for longer than a few months. By thirty, I was divorced. By forty, my kids wouldn’t talk to me. By fifty, my chronic health conditions would leave me bed ridden for weeks. \n\nIn one of my health spells about a decade ago, I decided to finally access the internet. I might have been late to the game but this constant boredom drove me to finally give in. I emptied the last of my savings and went to a used computer store. From the moment I open the door, I felt as though I had waken something ancient. I walked to the counter and waited for someone to come assist me. I looked around and marveled at the amount of dust that had accumulated. As I scanned my eyes across the counter, I saw a small brass service bell. The moment I rang it, a large gust of wind swung the door open and it seemed like there was a tornado in the shop. This filled the air with all the dust that was previously undisturbed. This aggravated my condition and it threw me into a coughing fit that took me to my knees. By the time the wind had ceased and I was able to get off my knees and compose myself, I notice that the shop that was old and decrepit was now clean, bright, and filled with what looked like state of the art computers. Amazed at this transformation, I began to slowly turn around to get a 360 view of this shop. By the time I turned facing the counter again there was man standing there with a smile. He asked how he could help me and I told him that I just needed a basic computer. He pulled out a box that looked ancient with writing from a language I had never seen. He put a sheet of paper, which looked like a type of contract, in front of me and I began to read. The only thing that caught my attention was price, which only said, ‘your soul upon death’. I do not have much thoughts on the after life, but my low budget made me think, ‘what the heck why not’. I signed the papers, took the box and left. \n\nThe set- up was not too difficult for a old geezer like me and I was up and running after thirty minutes of arriving to my house. People had warned me of pop up ads, but I got where I got in life by following advice. Needless to say, advice didn’t get me too far. Nigerian prince? Sure I’ll help. Millionth customer with a million dollar prize? What are the odds! Hotties in the area looking for me? I haven’t had much luck since my divorce, so I’ll give it a go. Call it crazy but every warning I got about pop up ads went the opposite way anyone had ever described them. A decade later, I regularly visit Prince Abduli and there is political peace in his country for the first time in years. Needless to say, he shares his prosperity with me because of my investment. I supplement that income with my frequent winnings from online contests. I was able to use this wealth to afford the best doctors, who were able to treat me and enjoy regular health now. My children talk to me again and yes, I did meet many beautiful women and I have been happily married for the past eight years. Buying this computer was the first point in my life where Fortune was finally my friend. Perhaps life decided to pay out my allotted good luck right the end of life. Whatever it was, I was happy, except something drastically changed six days ago.\n\nI was on Facebook doing a quick scan of my friends and family. I saw a post that said, “repost and tag ten of your friends or else I will come for you in seven days”. The picture attached was of a girl in a white night gown but her head was down. Her long black hung down and covered any part of her face that could distinguish her. The picture sent chills down my spine. I didn’t want to meet this girl, so I began to google how to repost on Facebook. I click on the first link and all that came up was the video of the computer sales man that had sold me my computer years ago. He look at me, smiling, and then pressed a small red button right next to him. The computer shut off, and turned into dust. \n\nSince then, food has tasted blander, the sun has felt colder, and the dark feels darker. I have accepted what will happen to me tomorrow. Divide my wealth and property evenly between my children. I love them and I want them to know that. \n\nSincerely, \nBob ",
"Most of the other ones had worked, so why won’t this one? \n\nStill, it’s a big risk. I look downwards. The ripped off slip of paper lies in one hand; my phone in the other. I’ve worked so hard for this moment, and still I struggle to dial the number, to complete what I set out to do. Maybe because I know once I do it, there’s only so long I’ll get. \n\nBut I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me explain. \n\n*\n\nIt all started when Jamie, my grandson gave me his old computer. Bigger than my first telly, the screen was. Huge. He set up my email, got me on the Facebook, all that stuff. And all these social medias, they’re fine. Just fine. But, you know. I’m old. I’m lonely. I had heard just enough about these computers to know what they were capable of. \n\nWhat do you think I did? Boy was it good. Even popped a few viagra if I wanted a big night in. \n\nNow, I don’t think of myself as a naive person—I’ve seen enough strange advertisements in my time. Hawking their snake oils, their fake solutions to fake problems, telling me if I buy a car I’ll get this or that. But it’s different on a screen, I suppose. So interactive. It was my curiosity that got the better of me. \n\nWhat would you do if you were a lonely old man? “Hot new singles in your area”. Hell, even if it’s just a picture of a hot single in a area, why not click through? I was still googling the word “porn” at this stage (whereas now, I’m proud to tell you, I don’t need to google anything like that). \n\nSo of course I clicked through. I think, really, looking back, that’s the point it started properly. That was when I’d crossed over. As I was—browsing, shall we say—the photos, I got a knock on the door. I zipped myself up all hasty, blood rushing to my cheeks although I wasn’t really sure why. \n\nMy cheeks turned from apples to beets when I opened the door. There she was. Not just a hot single—the hot single. The exact woman I’d been ogling through a screen moments earlier. \n\nShe was a lovely young woman. Feeling out of my depth, I invited her in for a cup of tea. We chatted awhile about her job—she’s training to be a nurse, which explained the outfit—and the state of the economy. She had very strong opinions on the current policy situation, Brexit, Trump and all that. I tried to raise some objections to her frankly silly position on the European Union, but she was having none of it. Even though we disagreed, the conversation gave me a lot of food for thought, and I said goodbye to her half an hour later. \n\nIn case you’re wondering, no—nothing else happened. It’s fine through a computer, through that pixelated veil of anonymity. But I couldn’t in good faith advance on her while she was in my house. She was younger than Jamie, for chrissake. It wouldn’t be right. No, no. Not for me. \n\t\nI tell you this not just because it was the start, but because this bit of advert magic—the hot new single, was the one that led to the incident with the paper and the phone. I’ll explain shortly, but I think maybe you need to understand the range of what happened. I clicked on a dodgy skincare advert, showing a before and after sequence which was clearly two different women of different ages, and hey presto. I looked in the mirror afterwards and my wrinkles were gone. \n\nFor a while at least. Did I mention? The advert-magic, like all magic, came with strings. Things never lasted too long. But still—I’m used to impermanence. After the third friend’s funeral, after watching your closest family (apart from the kids, thank god, and I’m lucky in that regard, I know) peel away, you become well acquainted with the ephemerality of everything. I earnt £3,000 in a day working from home—but the next day my bank account was empty. Thankfully I was smart enough by that point to not spend the money, after the confusing incident with the 14 inch penis pump.\n\nWhich brings me to the paper and the phone. See, I’d spent a while testing the limits, figuring out the rules. The magic worked when I clicked through on a computer advert—but not all of them. Some of them had some rudimentary game. Televideo games or whatever they’re called. I didn’t get any effects from those, even if I managed to shoot all the electronic clay pigeons. The advert, it seemed, had to promise, or guarantee, something—not offer it based on chance. No “If you do this right then we’ll give you this.” It had to deal in absolutes.\n\nSo, I figure, whatever’s affecting me, whatever is behind this ability I’ve gained—why wouldn’t it work with other adverts? I began watching more television. I called numbers which came up on the late night discovery channel teleshopping, but all I got was a load of exercise equipment and some “golden oldies” box sets. Which, I might add, I had to bloody pay for!\n\nTV, apparently, wasn’t interactive enough. And I had a very specific idea in mind. I went to a load of the local charity shops looking for old magazines. Called round some of my old friends (the ones who didn’t live in coffins or jars) to ask to leaf through any newspapers they had from back in the day. But still I couldn’t find what I was looking for.\n\nAdmittedly, I am a little proud of the plan I hatched. I spent a morning clicking through all the seediest, nastiest adverts I found, and by noon I had amassed an army—and I mean army when I say army—of hot young singles, sexy russian brides, and horny MILFs in my area. They spread across the charity shops, antique shops, and through those bidding sites like eBid and the one with the tree, finding as many old magazines from the 50s and 60s as they could find. I had filled the spare room, the loft and the living room with them by that evening. \n\n*\n\nIt’s taken me months to sort through all those magazines and papers. But I eventually found what I was looking for. \n\nBecause—and I’m sorry for not saying earlier, but it’s hard to talk about. There’s only one thing I’m after, really. And it’s something rarely promised by an advert. \n\nI lost her four years, three months and twenty-seven days ago. It was a slow death, which, I suppose, is better. We said our goodbyes. \n\nMy dear Catherine. \n\nWhat would you do, if you were a lonely old man? If you discovered this power, this advert magic?\n\nLike I said, I’m used to hucksters advertising strange, outlandish things. Backaday when I was a kid, you could buy these old magazines, these serials, which offered you x-ray vision glasses for a shilling or two, “hovercars” if you were rich and could send off a few quid. And yeah, leafing through the bits and bobs which my army of Russians, MILFs and singles had brought back, I did have a go on a few of these stranger adverts—you know. To test if it worked from the magazines in the same way as the computer. The insta-beach bod was pretty fun, I must admit. Turned a few heads. \n\nBy the third month, I was sure I wasn’t going to find what I was looking for. Wasn’t even sure it existed. Until I stumbled upon this strange magazine—Night Tales and Mysteries, it was called. I thumbed through it without much expectation. There’d been plenty of others with dark, esoteric names such as this one, which had turned up nothing in the back pages where the adverts lie. \n\nI almost missed it, if I’m honest. My cataracts have been playing up for years now, since before Catherine passed. But something, whatever it was, maybe my subconscious brain, made me re-read one of the advert pages over.\n\nAnd just like that, there it was. \n\n“Phone Calls with the Dead”, it said, simply, in bold black text against a white background, followed by a phone number. Nothing else. A low effort advert—something designed specifically to prey on the old, the bereaved, the confused. Exactly what I needed.\n\nSee, I’d tried the psychic adverts, both online and from the papers. But all they promised, all they guaranteed, was a psychic. So, of course, I got a psychic. A snake oil merchant who cold-read, who pretended to talk to Catherine. I turfed the first one out in disgust, shaking with rage. Smashed her crystal ball and everything. \n\nThis one—this Night Tales ad—was perfect. It was so vague, so impersonal, promising nothing but what I needed. \n\nAnd so here I am, fingers hovering over my old, corded, phone, working up the courage to dial. \n\nMy eyes return again and again to the slip of paper on which the advert is printed. I take deep in and out breaths as I skate over each individual number.\n\nLike I said, these things don’t last. I have to make it count. \n\nOutside, through the window, the sun is burrowing below the horizon, shooting burning candle-light slants through the blinds. My living room is a paper jungle. I huff in the musty stench of my own body odour (you know it’s bad when you can smell it yourself), and scratch the grey straggles of a beard that have sprouted from my face in the past few months.\n\nWhat am I waiting for? Nothing else to do but do it. I still don’t know what to say. \n\nBut that never stopped us talking before.\n\nI dial the number and hold my breath.\t\n\nMy heart skips a beat as the phone rings, a shrill, garbled tone, as if it’s breaking—as if it’s struggling to keep itself running. \n\t\n‘Hello?’ comes a voice. It’s crackling, I can barely make it out. ‘John?’\n\nMy heart crests; a tear rolls down my cheek. ‘Catherine. My god, Catherine. I can’t believe it’s you.’\n\nThere’s a pause. The longest pause of my life. Eventually the voice speaks. ‘Who’s Catherine?’\n\nThe room goes cold, freezes over like a sped up glacier. And then I realise.\n\nThe Advert just said “speak to the dead”. That’s it. It didn’t say who. I notice, in the back of my mind, that the light spilling through the window is no longer there. That everything has turned suddenly dark, as if a blanket of shadow has descended upon the world. \n\t\nThe voice, which I now realise is not a woman’s—may not even be a man’s—crackles and gargles. \n\t\n‘It’s so cold here,’ says the ghost. \n\t",
"When I was young, my father always told me that I shouldn't \"look a gift horse in the mouth.\" I've never really understood what that god-forsaken phrase came from, but I got what it was trying to get at. Don't be ungrateful for a gift that's given to you. My father was always a hardworking man, not always the kindest, but he's good when he's got to be. God-fearing, war-loving, but most of all a man that knew what to say and when to say it.\n\nI bring this up because recently I've been toying with this new contraption that my daughter bought for me. It's a beautiful device that lets a person interface with an incredible array of interconnected devices. And in it there were all sorts of people, who out of the goodness of their heart, were giving away promotional prizes, miracle cures, and bedroom enhancements! Anything I could ever need or want could be summoned from this wonderful device.\n\n\"Sorry ma'am,\" Grayson said. He bowed and put down a silver platter. The china rattled against each other. The ring of clashing ceramics sent a bolt of lightning down my spine. Some things never change. It was coffee and some danishes. \"But your afternoon refreshments are ready.\"\n\n\"Don't worry Grayson,\" I said, \"I was just lost in my thoughts.\" \n\nHe bowed. Grayson was a nice boy, young and full of energy. Though, not sure about where he comes from. The skin's a little too ambiguous to tell, and I have never had the heart to ask. But you know, sometimes those things just don't matter on a person. It's what's on the inside is what is good.\n\nThe computer ticked again. A new mail arrived! Always an exciting prospect. Last time it was an age-reversing formula, and the time before that it was a nice man who needed help transferring financial assets.\n\nI opened the e-mail.\n\nIt was from Erica! I hadn't seen her since last Christmas. I cleared my throat and read aloud just so I could hear the sound of my voice again, \"Dear mom,\" it started, \"It's been some time since I last called you! I hope you are well. Me and Hal,\" oh dear, it's \"Hal and I,\" Erica, didn't you learn anything from grammar school?\n\n\"Me and Hal have finally gotten back from our assignment in Eastern Europe. Sorry I couldn't tell you what we were doing for so long, but it's good to return from deployment overseas. The current administration has been insane on our hours!\" Goodness gracious, I hope she's feeling all right. Overwork kills so many young adults nowadays. When she gets back, I should give her all of that money that man gave me for unfreezing his bank account. Maybe Erica won't have to work so hard then. \"We should be back in the valley within the week. I hope that the nursing staff has been treating you well. I know that would be pretty difficult to make the adjustment from your old living arrangement into the new one.\"\n\nI leaned forward. I don't really remember moving, but then again, I haven't been able to remember all that much since the nineties. \n\n\"We'll be stopping by Japan on our way back and I was wondering if there was anything that you would like. I know that you've always been a big Japanophile ever since you were young. Love you dearly, Erika and Hal.\"\n\nWhat a nice surprise! I was just thinking that I hadn't seen anything good out of Japan in my recent memory. I had the time, I had the money, maybe I should go once more, for old time's sake. I got up. \"Grayson!\" I called, letting my voice carry out in the hall.\n\n\"Yes ma'am?\" Grayson answered. He was standing behind me in his uniform. \n\n\"Could you do me a favor and see how much tickets are to Japan?\"\n\nHe paused and looked at me. \"Why would you like to know ma'am?\"\n\n\"Well I was just thinking that now that I feel better than I have since the war, I could try a little bit of travelling again. I finally have the money, the time, and now the body to do so.\"\n\nGrayson smiled kindly. I frowned. I knew that type of smile, it was the sort that my father would give me whenever he couldn't give me what I wanted. \"I'm sorry ma'am, but I don't think I can do that.\"\n\n\"And if I could ask, why not?\"\n\nGrayson tilted his head to the side, \"That is outside your scope of activities.\"\n\n\"What is the scope of my activities?\"\n\nGrayson bowed, \"I am at no liberty to say. If you could, please reply to your daughter's inquiry.\"\n\n\"I would quite like a physical copy of one of those comics that I used to read. Ah... what was it called, it's been so long.\"\n\nThe computer clicked. It was a new mail.\n\n\"One simple trick to improving your memory.\" Wonderful! I opened it and read through the exercises.\n\n\"Berserk is what it was. Yes, it ought to have finally been finished by now, right?\"\n\nGrayson bowed, \"We will see. Miss Erica is currently responding.\"\n\nThe computer clicked. It was a new mail from Erica!\n\n\"Hi mom,\" it read, \"I'll see what I can do about getting some for you. What's the last volume you have?\"\n\nI paused and had to think about it. \"Volume 40, I think?\"\n\nThe computer clicked. \"Sure thing mom.\"\n\nI sat back down. I felt like I was forgetting something now again. But that memory stirred a fond nostalgia inside of me. It reminded me of my father. My father was always a hardworking man, not always the kindest, but he's good when he's got to be. God-fearing, war-loving, but most of all a man that knew what to say and when to say it. One of the things he always loved to tell me that I shouldn't \"look a gift horse in the mouth.\"",
"\"I can't figure this damn thing out!\" The screen flashed a bright red button in front of me. An offer to claim a million dollars taunted me with page after page popping up, turning my once calm bedroom into one of those night club raves that the youngsters do these days. I kept clicking on the button, but only yet another button appeared. I must have clicked a hundred times before I finally gave up. Turning the computer off, I went to bed wondering what those *5 Best Uses of Banana Peels I Would Never Believe* were, and if I ever would believe them.\n\nThe next morning a knock on my door woke me up. I pulled the oxygen tube out of my nose and lumbered out of bed. *Probably one of those Boy Scouts again trying to rob me of my social security check for a box of chocolates,* I thought. *But damn are they delicious... The cookies I mean*, I clarified to myself. \n\nI opened the door to a crowd of cameras and a man with a large rectangular board. \n\n\"CONGRATULATIONS!\" they all shouted in unison, releasing hundreds of balloons up to the sky. Flabbergasted, I received the board they shoved at me, posed for a picture, and struggled to understand what happened as they all drove off. I looked at the board. \n\n Pay To The Order Of \n\n(Should I trust you with my name? You're a stranger, afterall)\n\n $100,000,000\n\nOne... One hundred... million dollars! I couldn't believe it. \n\nI hobbled over to the computer and looked at the screen I had left it the night before. There they were. Exactly one hundred pop up windows. But as soon as my arthritic fingers maneuvered to the computer control rodent, the windows went away. \n\nMaybe there's something to this newfangled Internet thing after all. Maybe you're alright, stranger.\n\n\n________________________\n\n\n\n\"Harold,\" the gorgeous blonde across the room called out to me. She had been among a thousand local singles in my area looking for a good night. \"Come back to bed, I've been waiting for someone like you for ages.\"\n\nThe light from the computer screen cast an unnatural glow in the corner of my bedroom. Hunched in my chair, I wanted to join her, but an urgent email appeared in my inbox. A kidnapped Nigerian prince needed my help. "
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[WP] In a bid to save the human species from extinction, you have been put in cyrosleep and sent to an earth-like planet 10,000 light years away. You wake up to find that during your travels, humanity developed FTL drives and have beaten you by tens of thousands of years. You are a living relic. | 360 | [
"**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 partner and I were chosen as seeders by the science division of our government's “Redeem Humanity” campaign. With the war making our home world almost uninhabitable, it was decided to send one vessel into deep space, find a new habitable world and set down. One hundred pods would contain one hundred people, all with doctorate degrees and published works. That left us with sixty-five women and thirty-five men. Whatever we didn’t have was programmed into the state of the art AIs of the ship’s crew of androids. \n\n“Admin,” the Leviathan’s android captain addressed me. I was a programmer, so I was given admin privileges on the ship to handle any complications with the ship's AI or that of her crew. “It's time.” \n\nI got into pod. I was able to see Earth through an open view-port. North America was barely visible through the dark gray atmosphere, but I could still make it out. \n\nThe android spoke to command as it began activating our pods. \n\nThrough the view-port I was able to see a large ball of white smoke appear over the east of North America.\n\nI opened my eyes and looked around. All the pods had opened. The other seeders were opening their eyes. My muscles were stiff, and I couldn’t think clearly, but I knew. Washington had been bombed. We lost the war. Earth was lost forever. We were the last of humanity, and its last chance at an honorable legacy. \n\nAs I watched the others get out of their pods. I heard them talking. Someone opened the view-ports' armored plating and moonlight filtered through the glass. We were on a new planet. They were asking if their loved ones might still be alive, or maybe grandchildren. I couldn’t help myself from sobbing, because I was the only one who knew the fate of Earth. I was the one who had to tell them, but I couldn’t bring myself to get out of my pod. \n\n“Sam?” It was my partner’s voice. “Sam are you alright?” \n\nA new voice spoke over the crowd. Everyone went silent. A cold sweat came over me, and I began to tremble. \n\n“Welcome to New Eden!” It was a British accent. I stumbled out of my pod. Each one my limbs were shaking. I threw an accusatory look at the newcomer. I didn’t bother to think about how this Brit had gotten aboard. \n\n“You bombed us!” I shouted at him. “You sealed our fate, you destroyed us all!” \n\nEveryone was silent. We all knew the British had sided with the Western Republic against the Eastern United States. We were the last government that still believed in diplomacy, and sovereignty of states. Tensions had been rising between our government and the British Republic at the time of our launch. \n\n“My apologies sir,” the Brit responded with a slightly confused look on his face. “But I’m afraid you’re a bit delirious after being in stasis for nearly twelve thousand years. We would never dare attack the Leviathan.” \n\n“No,” I said, “not the Leviathan. Washington DC. Our capital. You British destroyed us!” \n\n“What?” The Brit looked extremely puzzled now. “I’m sorry sir, but I haven’t the foggiest idea what you mean. \n\n“I’m Dr. Michael Lamm, by the way,” he added as he looked around the room at the rest of frightened seeders. \n\n“The Leviathan just landed on this planet a few hours ago,” he said. “A delegation from our four towns is waiting outside to meet you. I was sent ahead to make sure there were no medical difficulties.” \n\n“So where are your tools?” my partner asked. “You came in here with no bag, no supplies, nothing. You expect us to believe you?” \n\n“Tools?” The Brit asked with a smile. He took a small metal sphere out of a pocket and let it go a few inches in front of his face. The sphere expanded as parts opened up and appendages extruded from it. It hovered next to the Brit. \n\n“Hello!” the sphere announced. “I am O’Boy-08-367 medical droid, but you may call me O’Boy. How can I help?” \n\nIt also spoke with a British accent. \n\nThe Brit looked at the droid and said, “well O’Boy these people seem to be frightened by my presence here. This is the crew of the Leviathan. Do you have any information that may help?” \n\n“Accessing information on Leviathan. Would you like information on Leviathan-A, Leviathan-162, or the Leviathan class in general?” \n\n“No, O’Boy. *The* Leviathan. The one launched before the realisation.” \n\n“Oh, just a moment please.” O’Boy entered a monologue. \n\n“About twelve thousand years ago, the Eastern United states launched the Leviathan into space with one hundred of its smartest citizens in an attempt to save humanity’s legacy. The Republic Alliance mistook it as a weapon, and in a preemptive strike the Republic fired a nuclear warhead at the States' capital of Washington DC just hours after the launch. This was later known as the Eastern Massacre. \n\n“They realised their mistake a few minutes later as the Leviathan left Earth’s orbit. The survivors of the Eastern Massacre had managed to save some of the research regarding the Leviathan. However, details regarding the Leviathan’s trajectory were lost along with the names of most of her crew. Daniel Gale rose to the occasion when the whole world had gone into shock.” \n\nMy son? Danny survived? No not just survived, he was a part of history. \n\n“Daniel brought world leaders together in a conference now known as the Realisation. They all signed to hand over control to a new centralised government. Under the control of the new government, mankind repaired the damage caused to the planet. Medical breakthroughs were able to cure diseases and poisoning caused by the war, and further technological advancements allowed humans to improve on the design of the Leviathan’s engines and create the sub-spatial engine. This has finally allowed humanity to reach for the stars.”\n\nI felt tears rolling down my face as O’Boy finished its monologue. A sharp pain in my arm told me I was coming out of the initial shock of waking up. My right arm was apparently broken. It explained why I couldn’t use that hand. I waved my left hand at the Brit and pointed to my right arm. I can sort out my feelings for the British later. I don’t have a very high pain threshold.\n\nThe Brit turned to the droid.\n\n“Well O’Boy, it seems we have our first patient. Shall we have a look?”\n\nThe Brit and the droid advanced toward me.\n\n“How many are on this world? How long ago did you get here?” I asked the Brit. \n\n“Oh… About a quarter million humans. We only reached this world about five thousand years ago. Didn’t set up colonies until about five hundred. \n\n“Can you believe how small the universe is? I’m actually a descendant of the great Daniel Gale.” \n\nMy heart stopped, and I must have fainted. When I opened my eyes, I was lying on a bed in one of the ship’s cabins. My partner was in the room with me. My right arm was perfectly fine. \n\n“Maria? What happened?” \n\n“You fainted Sam. It was incredible!” She told me how the droid fixed my broken arm in less than a minute just by prodding it with one of its appendages. \n\n“How do you feel? I’ve never seen anything like that.” \n\n“Do you even understand what happened?” \n\n“Yes!” She exclaimed, barely containing her excitement. “Humanity survived. They advanced much further than we could have imagined!” \n\n“No,” I shook my head. “Humanity grew, and they left us behind. We’re ancient. Relics of a time and a war long forgotten. Our expertise is useless. Did the doctor even touch me himself?” \n\nMaria’s smile faded.\n\nI continued, “We have nothing to offer. We will be social pariahs. We have a learning curve with their advancements. I doubt we would even be able to comprehend those advancements in our own respective fields. We have nothing to contribute.” \n\nShe lowered her head. “Is that why you fainted?” \n\n“No,” I said. “I fainted when the Brit told me he was my descendant.” \n\n“Oh,” her head shot up, “but isn’t that great? Your line survived the war.” \n\n“I’m no geneticist, but if our descendants survived, the crew of the Leviathan would be isolated biologically for a few generations.\n\n“The crew of the Leviathan has been left behind.”",
"They seal my pod, but it feels like a casket.\n\nBefore long I begin to dream. At first I dream of the dying world behind. The plague choked, hunger stricken, violent maelstrom - as hellish as it may be - is all I’ve ever known. Even though it was a nightmare, a part of me never wanted to wake from it.\n\nI dream of his face there, being brave for me. He wasn’t selected to go; a history of heart disease in his family disqualified him. I saw him one last time before I went to the shuttle. We said goodbye and I made my way to the platform. He was barely out of sight before I broke down and cried, and cried, and cried. I didn’t stop until the Earth was long out of sight. In my dream he’s there on the shuttle with us for a moment, but then he’s not. There again and not, over and over. I won’t let him go. Never.\n\nI’m dreaming of a new world now. A pearl in the deep with green fields. I can breathe deeply here. I can lie for hours. I can eat sweet fruit. No masks, no fires, no riots, no rations. I run over a mountain and into a river and dive down into the blue heart of the world, crisp, cool, safe.\n\nSafe? No, there is something in the heart of this world that suffers no intruder. The water turns sour and congeals into teeth; a head rears and boils hatred at me. I run from the thing until I sputter and choke and vomit. The grass is prickly. The air is a burden. The mountain which I ran over warps and looms overhead. This world is no better. What if it is no better?\n\nMy dream changes again. It’s cold now, and a voice is speaking. It’s the pod’s voice. I startle awake to an alarm.\n\n“Catastrophic containment failure. Pods 4 through 15 lost.”\n\n“Catastrophic containment failure. Pods 1 through 125 lost.”\n\n“Catastrophic containment failure. One pod remaining. Reserve power only.”\n\nThe twin tides of fear and certainty wash over me as I’m sent back to sleep.\n\nI am alone.\n\nI am in a void within a void. \n\nI dream again; I’m on a hill, and I look out to see other slopes, rolling out in a long chain. He’s on one of them. I run to him, but it slithers out of sight. \n\nI’m on the sea now. It roils and churns, frothing with a groan that sounds like its death rattle. I see the boat below me begin to sink and I jump to the shuttle again. No, it’s not safe here. I can’t be here. I call for help down the metal corridor and no one answers. \n\nI’m on the boat again. It’s shrouded by a mist and still sinking. I bail the water out with limp hands, frantic. I must stay afloat. Won’t someone help me?\n\nI’m alone. I’m alone.\n\nThe boat scuttles itself on the planet which will be my new home. I’m exhausted. The beach is empty. The waves do not make a sound, eerily sneaking up and sliding back, again and again, for an eternity. I wait here and rest, crying out to a line of dark trees along the shore.\n\nI lie there on my back and watch a dim sun pass overhead again and again. How long has it been? I’ve been screaming for thousands of years. The sky turns black and reaches out to me with cold hands. They fill my vision and sweep me away onto a sandy plain. I tumble there for years, nauseous and disoriented. I run across the plain looking for something I lost in a time that I can’t remember. I’m trying to find something over the horizon, but it’s always just out of sight, moving with me, around me, behind me. My legs turn gelatinous and I make my way, inch by inch, over a leering empty world until it spins away below me, disappearing down into the abyss.\n\nI scan the night, looking for a face, any face. His face.\n\nHis face. He is there. He pulls me free into a light.\n\nI open my eyes.\n\n“... lucky... slow at first.”\n\nThe words come around slowly.\n\n“Can you hear me? Can you understand what I’m saying?”\n\nThe effects of the long sleep begin to slough off. I’m lying on some kind of bed. \n\nThey explain it to me, carefully. How I’m safe here on my new home, but I’m not alone. Humanity almost rioted itself into oblivion, but I’m not alone. Not alone. They’re here. They’re with me.\n\n“Would you like to see? It might be a shock, but we’re pretty proud of what we’ve built. I think you’ll like it.”\n\nNot alone.\n\nHe gestures to a window, and it dissolves to reveal a city, like no city I’ve ever seen. Strange, almost incomprehensible architecture. Is that even what it is?\n\nNot alone. I begin to cry harder than when I left him behind.\n\n“I’m sorry, is this upsetting you? I’ll close it...”\n\nHe begins to wave his hand again, but I reach out to stop him.\n\nNot alone. The words reverberate in my head over and over. Never alone again."
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Make it a novel and make me cry. | [WP] Before He Died Your Grandfather Wrote You A Poem, Handing It To You On His Death Bed He Made You Promise Only To Read It After His Funeral. You Read The Poem, And Are Transported Back In Time And Meet Him In His Early Twenties. The Amount Of Adventure That ensues Takes You Very, Very Off Guard. | 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",
"\\--Part 1:\n\nOn his deathbed, gramps handed me a tiny piece of paper. His grip on it was firm as he told me \"Markus, you need to promise me to read this. But. Only after my funeral boy. This is my last wish and I hope you comply.\" I nodded and hugged the old bastard. My other graddad died when I was three and a half and so he was my one and only beloved gramps Arthur.\n\nA short week after his final breath we all gathered at the funeral. I got two cousins, but they are ten and eight, so my sixteen year old self had the duty to honor our granddad. \"Gramps was the best. We never had a fight and he always had a tale to tell. I cannot speak of heavens and hell, but I know if there's something like that he'll have a splendid afterlife. We'll miss u much...\" With those words my spech ended apruptly. Undoubtedly because of the giant lump in my throat. The tears in my eyes told the whole story and my father came to relieve me.\n\nAfter the funeral a thought hit me and I remembered the little note he gave me. I pulled it out of my pocket, *yeah I know ...who wears the same trousers for weeks and weeks?*, and began to read \"Tempus erit hereditas. Amittit pallium suum.\" and because it seemed to make sense,I read it again out loud \"TEMPUS ERIT HEREDITAS. AMITTIT PALLIUM SUUM.\"\n\nA deafening crackling noise and white light took every sense I had and buried it beneath its sensations. I just wanted it to stop and it did.\n\nThe next thing I remember was a familiar smell as I opened my eyes. I must have passed out. But how could this be? \"Markus. You've slept almost twelve hours. Have you come to brake my record? Well then good luck. Put another 20 on top and you're good to go! Hahaha\" I couldn't even begin to comprehend. I was sitting in my gramps garden shed and in front of me a man in his twenties who seems to be well acquainted with me. Baffled I tried to stand up but my feet gave away and I had to sit again. \"Aah give it a minute boy we have enough time to get you back on your feet. Mind if I smoke a pipe while I put those books away?\" Absently he's gesturing to the pile of seemingly antique books as it hit me hard. \"Gramps?\"...\n\n\\-- Part 2:\n\n\"Yeah..can you do me a favor and call me Arth? this is kinda embarassing for me you know. I haven't even met your grandma yet\". \"But how is this possible? Arth?\" I asked my young granddad who seems to be cleaning up a broken chalk circle and some candles. \"Can you please fill me in? How did I get here and more importantly WHY?!\" A serious expression crossed his face and he slightly bent forward to meet my gaze. \"This is our family curse. You are a time keeper initiate and after my death it is your purpose to guard the time continuum agains all kinds of demons and witches.\" \\*gulp\\* In utter disbelief I stare in my granddads face. The second after he starts laughing manically \"You. Hahaha. You should have seen your face boy. Hahahaa.\" I tried to wrap my head around this scenery but couldn't make any sense of it. \"Okay Markus. You are indeed a descendant of mages, but I got you here for the sole purpose of guiding you through your basic training and maybe getting to know my grandson a little better.\" That was a weight off my mind, but still I couldn't comprehend. \"Why not Dad? Is he also a mage?\" Headshaking Arth told me \"No this gift usually skips one generation, and between us two, your father has a giant stick up his ass. He'd never get over himself if he had any powers. Believe me it's better that way.\" snickering I agreed. My dad was always the correct provider of our family. There never were any doubts about his qualities and with providing they were exhausted. But you know everyone is supposed to love their parents so I nodded quietly.\n\n\\-- Part 3:\n\n\"As you've slept well into the afternoon I guess I'll show you around a little and then it's time for dinner.\" I was still a little waggly on my feet but I managed to stand up and tailed Arth. We went from the shed to the house, which I remembered quite well even though my last visit to the house was ages ago. Most of the rooms were furnished pretty spartan(ly), but one room I woul've never recognized. His office was filled to the brim with antique books and scrolls, as well as potions and dried herbs in glasses stacked in shelves that were mounted on 2 sides of the room. He tossed me a old tome and told me to begin with the first 20 chapters for a basic understanding what I'll be dealing with in the next few weeks to come. The dusty pages made me cough...a lot. The book read 'magical initiation for dummies.' ...Accepting my fate I started.'Chapter 1: What is magic? Magic is the energy that holds together the universe. From the big bang until today is magic the force that creates and destroys in its raw form. There are different schools that tinker with different aspects like elemental magic or spiritual magic. For every mage to be there are three things they need to internalize. 1: You need to be steadfast in your beliefs to work with this kind of power. 2: The practices you use should be well trained and known. Experience is everything. 3: Don't be a dick.' \"What? Okay...\" I thought\" I would've to ask Arth who the Author was\". Slowly turning the book made everything clear. 'Arthur Brannon was part of the Mages Council for 10 years when he decided to let the young generation participate in his knowledge'. When Arth came back with drinks and sandwiches I was already at the end of 'Chapter two: A mages tools and their importance'. \"Arth when do you tell me how I've ended up here?\" \"Ah this is a tale for another day. All I can tell you now is, that there were multiple forces at work and bringing you back where you belong will be a hard piece of work for both of us. But for now you are pretty safe here and we should use the time for your training in the Arts.\" His smile was everything else but reassuring, but still he was my grandpa, or at least he will be as far as I know."
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[WP] An older person realizes they can summon Satan at will | 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",
"“These really are a nice touch this time.”\n\nAngelica placed the cookies gently in front of her sitting guest. The heat coming off his body made them soften just right.\n\n“Well after last time I realized that maybe I needed to sweeten the pot,” Angelica replied.\n\nLucifer slowly took a bite of the warm chocolate chip cookies. They were indeed near perfection. If he didn’t already have the soul of almost every cook and baker that ever existed (gluttony was an easy one for them to break) he would perhaps consider this trade.\n\n“We discussed this last time and the time before that. I really wish we didn’t need to have this conversation on a weekly basis. I do not want your soul.”\n\nLucifer looked up from his plate and saw the sweet old lady staring down at him. There was a sense of determination in her grey eyes. He had assumed around summoning number fourteen that perhaps she was just lonely. That theory was shattered during summoning number twenty when he found himself surrounded by her party guests, him being a simple parlor trick to entertain them. He had rightfully assumed that she was hoping that particular humiliation would cause him to relent to her request.\n\nShe had tried to guilt early on, saying that she was a sinner and needed to pay. However, his greatest gift was viewing the entirety of a person’s life in a blink of an eye. The lady in front him had indeed sinned, everyone has. But she had always asked for forgiveness and the good that was deep engrained in her far outweighed any punishment she thought she deserved. \n\nThankfully, he also knew when she was lying.\n\nAnd she lied a lot.\n\nShe needed to be with family in his realm. Lie.\n\nShe had lost faith in God. Lie.\n\nShe did not believe the devil was all powerful as was believed. Lie.\n\nHe was starting to worry that all these lies would slowly tip the scales and he would be forced to take her.\n\n“You have not yet tried my sweet tea though,” Angelica stated. She left the devil to sit alone with the cookies in her small kitchen.\n\n“We really need to stop this, nothing you say or do will change my mind,” he paused, unsure if he should say the next sentence. “You are running out of time. Your power clouds my ability to see your true intentions; but I can still see when the fog you hold over me will lift which means only one thing.”\n\nThe old lady returned and slowly poured her famous sweet tea into a frog mug her great granddaughter had made her for her birthday last year.\n\n“Was that a threat?” Angelica smiled. She had hoped the threat would lead to her final wish.\n\nLucifer sighed deeply, taking one more morsel into his mouth and a sip of what indeed was a delicious drink.\n\n“I have a busy day ahead of me Sister, perhaps we can discuss this next week further,” he said, standing up away from the table, hoping that she would grant him this one request.\n\n“Fine,” the old lady said and with a brush of the hand, the devil disappeared from her tiny apartment.\n\nShe slowly cleaned up the table, pleased that he appeared to be weakening in his resolve. She would save all those sinners; she believed she could end their suffering. She would be with them soon to show them the light."
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"1529343020",
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[WP] God has a loyalty scheme and has started issuing discount vouchers for sins of your choice. You have been saving long and hard. Today the post arrives......... | 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",
"“What’re you waiting for Todd? Open it!”\n\nMy brother, Lazlow, is eager to see what one of these actually looks like. Neither of us have seen a salvation ticket before. We’ve heard word on the streets from people at church, but these are so hard to come by. \n\nEver since God came back to earth, things have been different. For one, Gods a dick. He immediately... poofed.. one of the preachers into oblivion, and he was gone in a mist of pink smoke, like, *gone* gone. Infidelity, God claimed. Whatever. I think it was just display of power. He also really seems to like rum for whatever reason. He introduced these tickets as incentive to give to the church, and todays the day that I finally gave enough. All it took was $20,000 and 6,000 Hail Mary’s. \n\nI open the letter and pull out the shiny foil ticket. It’s red with golden cursive font reading “Do whatever you want, I don’t care” on it. I thought it would be nicer, but hey I’ll take it. \n\n“What’re you gonna do with it? Are you gonna rob a bank? Spit on a grave? Cmon tell me!”\n\n“Relax, I’m saving it for a rainy day.” \n\n“A rainy day? Are you kidding me? Dude you can do literally anything you want! I know! Let’s go have some fun with the Winslow girls down the street, huh? You wanna?”\n\n“Fine. Whatever. So long as you shut up about it.”\n\nLaz has had this thing for Amy Winslow, a girl a year younger than him, since she and her twin sister, Tina, grew into their bodies and had all the guys in town drooling. And now that he’s 23 and can finally grow a full beard, he thinks he actually has a shot. \n\nWe go down the street and pick up up the girls just before sundown and take em down to the ice cream shoppe to talk and hang out a while. \n\n“So hey, Amy,” said Laz, “ Todd’s got one of those tickets that everyone’s been talking about. You wanna see it? Do ya?”\n\n“I mean.. I guess,” she says hesitantly. \n\nI pick up on her discomfort, but Laz is staring at me wide-eyed with his mouth open. I take it out of my pocket and unfold it to show her. \n\n“Cool!” Tina exclaims. \n\n“Yeah,” Amy says in a playing-along voice, “it’s pretty cool..”\n\nAfter a few minutes of awkward silence, I get up to go to the bathroom, because I needed a break. After I get back, Laz explains to me that Tina and Amy wanna go down to the graveyard nearby. Amy looks kinda shy and Tina is looking around to see if anyone heard us. So we hop in Laz’s truck and off we go. \n\nWhen we get there Laz puts his arm around Amy and says they’re gonna take a walk. She has those sad eyes that say *I really don’t wanna do this*, but Tina blurted out, “That’s a great idea!” So we went our separate ways. \n\n“Sooo... this is kinda spooky,” Tina says, “think we’re gonna see a ghost?”\n\n“Shut up,” I laugh, “ghosts aren’t real.”\n\n“Yeah well that’s what you said about God. You never knooowwww,” she says getting closer, running her fingers up my chest. \n\nI turned and walk away. She’s not like her sister. Amy is kind and gentle. Tina quickly figures out that I’m not into her and we walk awkwardly back to Amy and Laz. When we get to the truck, I see Amy kissing Lazlow. They stop abruptly. \n\n“Oh! Uh... we should get going. Come on Tina..” \n\nThe two walk away from the graveyard and continue around the block. Lazlow turns to me and says something that I don’t hear over the throbbing sound of anger in my head. He’s looking at me, and suddenly his face dims, and he says, “Dude are you okay?” He hadn’t noticed the shovel I found laying near an open grave. \n\nA splinter the handle with the amount of force I hit him with. I roll him into the hole, half conscious. \n\n“I FIGURED OUT WHAT IM DOING WITH THE TICKET,” I scream at him, “ITS YOU.” And I enjoy the sound of loose dirt as it sprays over the filling grave. "
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[WP] A game of Chess. As told from the perspective of an unmoved pawn. | 192 | [
"**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",
"Not long ago this battlefield was full of enemies and allies alike, however, now it is a barren wasteland.\n\nI have watched my fellow pawns trade their lives in an effort to cross the disasterous plains.\n\nSome have even been taken out by the higher ups.\n\nSome have taken out the higher ups, but it never lasts for long. Soon they too lose their life, and for what? Glory? The king? Nonsense.\n\nThey even deployed the rooks before I have been ordered to move from my position. I'm devastated. I hope orders come soon. I've learned what this \"game\" will do to you. \n\nThis living without direction. It's hard and it hurts.",
"I'm one of the lucky ones. That's what I keep telling myself. Some pieces are part of a set that sits in the back of a closet or under a bed. I'm part of a set that is used in a high school chess club. I have helped win battles that seemed all but hopeless. I have played a part in blitzkriegs which left the opponent dumbfounded and shameful. My world IS black and white. It is always the goal to crush the white side.\n\nMy proudest moment came last year, in the state championship game. My player, a young sinewy sophomore playing against the incumbent champion: a senior with frizzy brown hair and a constantly vacant look on his face. We were set up by a volunteer, placed ever so gently on each alternating square of black or cream white. The players shook hands and the match began.\n\nMy player placed his fingers on my top. Am I the first to spill blood? He hesitated. Moved the pawn next to me two spaces instead.\n\nThe opponent mirrored the move. Right-side knight leaped forth into the fray. My player was on the offensive.\n\nThe opponent smiled, as he believed he had found out my player already. My player smiled right back. Lines of pawns marching slowly across the board; a quick death here, an unexpected execution of our right-side bishop from a rouge rook.\n\nThings start to look grim. Just as my player was able to remove a bishop from play, the opponent removed a rook from us. I felt the touch of my player's fingers on my smooth surface several times, but I remained in my second row square of faded white. My queen hid behind me. At least I was able to guard her. Sacrifice seemed to be my only gift.\n\nKings danced across the board, moving in and out of check. The opponent's rook moved behind me. I cannot see. I look into the opponent's face. He betrayed no calm or jubilant grin. \n\nThe words exit his mouth and I knew all was lost, \"Check-mate.\"\n\nThe small box next to the board is pressed one last time and the clock is stopped. I looked across the board; a wasteland of empty checkered space except for an ivory king, queen, and rook.\n\nI was not picked up by hand. I was folded into the board and slid back into the box. Blackness surrounded me. \n\nUntil next time.",
"Here I stand, stalwart, the last defense standing between his majesty and these savages that bombard our kingdom. Many of my brethen have fallen, struck down by mighty knights, seige machines, and even god himself. Yet here I stand, unwavering in my cause, protecting our ordained leader. His powerful wife, while leading the charge valiantly against the barbarian horde, fell in an attempt to crush their puny lord. Yet I shall remain and perform my duty, as those before me have done, and those shall do after me. Our bishops perform miracles, disposing foes with ease as our machinations decimate the fodder they send before us. Regardless of the sight before me, I am compelled to tarry. For I am merely a tool, a pawn to fuel the rightousness of our lord.",
"I rub my metaphorical hands in metaphorical glee as I behold the scene ahead of me. I have spawned as white, and being the particular pawn I am, I'm very often moved first. My last incarnation had been as the black king, and honestly it was one of the more boring games I'd ever participated in. I think for that one I only got to move twice. TWICE! Before I tipped to the side, dead by suicide. \n\n\nSo the game begins. Aaaaaand lefty knight jumps up from behind me. That's okay. I like him. My opposite—the ArchNemesis—she's moved two spaces towards me. Ah! A confrontation! I like those too. And I've also got the knight to protect me, sweet! Nope, nope, it's the righty knight. I can live with that. Wonder what black is going to do? \n\n\nBishop! Standing aligned with the Opposipawn. I'm a little bit scared, and so is my neighbor. He's not really too happy about being sacrificed here. But lo! Instead the knight has taken the pawn! My path is clear. I'll get to move now, right? \n\n\nAnd now the black queen is out. I'm not sure I like how this looks. My neighbor... whose name I never learned, has now gone silent in fear. He's no longer trembling, and... I think I smell the acrid stench of urine? Not a good sign. Hope the conductor realises... \n\n\nAnd now the two knights are standing next to each other on my left. What. The. Everlasting. Fuck. \n\n\nBOOM. Mate.",
"FUCKING DAMMIT that jackass just jumped over me again.\n\nI hate it when he does that. I hate him. That 'Mister Look-At-Me in my shiny armor, being all cool on my horse, doing cool tricks to one-up that other douchebag who I totally do not have a bro crush on.'\nNot once, ever, has he apologized for scaring the living shit out of me with those stunts of his. Do you know how it feels? Do you? To just stand somewhere, trying to mind your own business, and then suddenly--SURPRISE! A blur of movement. Hooves. A metric ton of horse almost crashing down on you. More hooves, kicking dust into your face.\n\nNot once has he apologized. Jackass.\n\nI wish I could go back in time and stop myself from signing up for this.\n\n\"You get to work in a well-rounded team of professionals,\" they said. Ha! The guy in charge barely lifts a finger, while his wife treats the place like she's the damn queen of England. Then there's the douchebag bros. Idiots. And the others...I honestly don't know which are worse: those two shifty looking fellas who never give you a straight answer, or those two chubby guys by the window who are only able to understand the most basic of instructions. Unless the guy in charge tells them to do something, of course. Then they suddenly understand everything perfectly. Meanwhile us newbies are stuck doing the brunt of the work.\n\n\"Good opportunities for a promotion,\" they said. A lie. Show even the slightest interest in advancement and The Man will cut you down.\n\n\"A relaxing work environment,\" they said. Another lie. You can never 'just' do anything around here. Everything you do is analyzed. Everything you do is timed. Was your performance optimal? Did you get maximum value from your work? Did you cover for your coworkers' weak spots? And if you fail, even once... Well, let's just say there's no 'good enough' in this field. Everything is always either right or wrong, black or white. Meanwhile I'm h--\n\n--FFFFFFUCK he just jumped over me again. Jackass.",
"The silence is what stood out the most. You'd think it'd be the clatter and din of battle, the thunder of hooves on the marble, the cacophony of the cannon. No, it was the silence between the spasms of violence that roared the loudest. Omniscient, overwhelming quiet, a quiet that seemed to go on and on as the seconds became minutes and the broken bodies of my fellow soldiers continued to bleed onto the black and white squares. I was frozen, couldn't move, couldn't think, could hardly breathe in the suffocating nothing. From the void, a gesture, and battle would be joined again. And it would become as loud as it had been silent, screams of agony and the crash of musketry, waves of powder smoke washing and swirling until it burned the eyes and choked the throat. And then.... nothing. Nothing but the stillness. Nothing but the quiet. \n\nI was sure they would send us forward. I was but one rifle in that most storied and glorious of brigades, the Fifth of Foot, and we had a place of high honor, at the very front of His Majesty, King White, eighth of His name. My breast swelled with pride at the thought of being able to go forth and be the cornerstone of a defensive line, or perhaps even to conquer a mighty foe like the Second Black Sabers on the field of glory. They sent the cavalry forward first, however, to try to dominate the center. Smart, I had thought, keep the damned enemy away from the middle and we'll dictate terms to them! They responded with adroitness, to be fair. A skirmish line was shaken out and our mounted boys retreated in good order back towards our front. No engagements, no blood, no screams. Not yet. \n\nI'm not sure what I expected. I saw it coming from a mile away, the clever maneuverings, the sly shifting of the line. And then the bait. A brigade of foot, not all that unlike our own. The Blacks edged it forward, just beyond the supporting fire of it's fellows in the line infantry. Dread built in my chest as my eyes flicked side to side. \"Don't\" I begged into the inky black above, the instant before the bugle sounded. To our left, the first White Sabers formed wedge and charged across the marble expanse, the hooves of their mounts creating a rhythmic war cry all to their own to accompany those bursting from the throats of the riders. Time stood still for an instant, sabers gleaming in the twilight, the powder smoke from the foot's anemic volley hanging like primordial fog. And then, impact. Even from distance the force of the charge was breathtaking, as the bloodied sabers flashed again and again, shattering the formation of the foot. It was over in seconds, with the howls of the wounded persisting little longer. A spring of bright red flowed from where the brigade of foot had once been, staining the marble and lazily flowing away towards the edge of the field.\n\nI heard the cannonade before I saw the projectiles, a distant rumble that grew in intensity with startling quickness. Then, the shells started landing. Where there had once been a proud regiment of sabers, fire and shrapnel erupted as if springing from the stone itself. The hideous screaming of the horses drowned out the equally piteous but less piercing howling of their riders, and in the blink of an eye neither horse nor rider remained to wail. The Black's Second Holy Cannon tidily limbered up their pieces and took their place among the broken bodies of what used to be the First White Sabers.\n\nOn and on it went, the feinting and probing, the occasional bout of horrific violence. Still we did not move. All around us, the chaos swirled and built, our First Holy Cannon blasting away an exposed brigade of foot, the First Black Sabers falling to a charge from the second Knightly Armored division before the Knights were swept away by the elite of the Black Queen's Chosen. Our fellow brigades of foot were whittled away, slowly but inexorably. Yet we remained. The springs of blood had become a river as wide as the Vistula, with broken men the source in lieu of mountains. Only we remained unmoved, a stalwart in front of our King; a hollow honor indeed. The slaughter to our front, to our left, to our right, and yes even to our rear, where the First Black Knightly Armored division wrecked havoc before being obliterated by our Queen's Chosen. We did not move, not an inch, not a square. The bloodletting on the marble was so intense, so frantic, that I didn't notice how thin the armies had become. Soon only our Second Holy Cannon and the Second Black Sabers remained of the elite units, with the Sixth White Brigade of Foot advanced to our direct front, across the gore-covered marble. The Second Black Sabers suddenly swept it away in a swirl of steel reminiscent of that initial clash an eternity ago, but our First Holy Cannon impetuously retaliated, their furious shelling smashing the Sabers to so much meat, before moving into the space the Sabers vacated.... within volley range of the last remaining Black Brigade of Foot. The crashing salvo splintered the clergy manning the cannon, and the Black Foot took their place, and then there was only silence.\n\nThere remained only our respective monarchs, and us, two brigades of Foot, staring at each other across a field of marble and blood. The monarchs and their Chosen began moving, with regal lethargy, before reaching each other in the center of the field of marble. They danced around each other, never closing to range, never allowing themselves to fall into real danger. But then something changed. The Black Brigade of Foot began to move.\n\nThey closed the distance with a sluggishness that mimicked that of the monarchs', but this was plodding born of fear, not haughtiness. But on they came, ever nearer, drawn up in perfect formation despite the blood dripping from their bayonets and the rips in their uniforms from the day's combat. Their boots on the marble were the only sound that filled the murky gloom, the once choking clouds of powder smoke drifting further and further with every passing second. Then they were before us, not a hundred paces away. The silence returned, a silence that stretched and stretched with such length as to make one forget when it began. We stared at them, they stared at us. One volley from each would be enough at this range, enough to leave all fragmented and expired. But no order to fire. No order to charge. Nothing. Nothing but the silence and the blood on the marble. A shift could be felt from the ebony sky. The Black King, towering above His chosen, grunted, as though he had been dealt a blow. Then He knelt, and so followed His Chosen, and shortly thereafter the Black Brigade to our front echoed their King. The silence returned. And then the black engulfed us all. ",
"It begins. The white pawn two squares to my right moves two squares in front. A pause. A black pawn across the field moves one square to the front. A longer pause. The white pawn at the far left moves forward two squares. Short pause. The black bishop slips past the frontline to the middle of the field. A calculating pause. The white rook moves forward. The bishop retreats a square. The rook moves a few squares to the right. Another black pawn takes two steps forward.\n\nOn it on it went. Pause. Movement. Pause. Movement. \n\nDeath. The white rook was the first to go. Killed by the black horse, which in turn died to a sneaky white bishop. \n\nAnd then the pawns. Placed strategically in a way that meant that they could not simply be shifted from their position unless a higher piece comes to kill. And higher pieces came. Death, ground covered, death, sacrifice. Daring pushes forward, calculated retreats. Everyone around me was doing their part to aid their Masterminds.\n\nEveryone but me.\n\nI had not moved a square since the battle started. My Mastermind had not done anything with me, and neither did the opponent. Even our king had moved, albeit to get out of an ill thought-out check. I watch as our remaining rook took up position in the emptying field, a position that could win us the game. Their king was running out of places to move. Our queen was baring down on him as the white bishop tracks his movement.\n\nThe black pieces were cornered, and the Mastermind has not yet seen fit for me to move a muscle.\n\nAnd then their remaining black horse took down our rook. What tragic comedy. That was the first thing that happe in this battle, and now, our plan has fallen apart. It was down to me, another pawn, the bishop, the queen and the king. They still had their horse, bishop, three pawns and their king.\n\nAnd they're getting the upper hand.\n\nThe battle turned from an agressive chase to an annoyed retreat as their three pawns raced to our land in a desperate attempt to turn into something useful. Our queen picked them off one by one, before being picked off herself by the enemy bishop.\n\nOur main fighter was torn from our ranks just like that. And suddenly our bishop was by my side, and theirs took out our other pawn. In a quick succession of events we lost the upper hand.\n\nI moved two steps for the front. \n\nThe enemy was split between going after our king or stopping me. And this indecision cost them a turn of proper piece placement, which was enough for our bishop to make sure I was not to be hassled as I made my ceremonious and uninterrupted way across the battleground.\n\nThe enemy bishop could not attack the square I would end up in, and the horse would have to think twice about taking out my bishop as it would mean the end of himself as well when I inevitably reach my destination. The fool goes for it anyway and I watch as my protector falls. No matter. I have reached my destination.\n\nA new queen will win the day."
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[removed] | [WP] It is the year 2674, and you are the last remaining person alive after WWIIII. Until you find another person of the opposite gender, and you must try to repopulate earth. | 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 u/IAmNotYourFatherLuke, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**No explicitly sexual responses, hate speech, or other harmful content**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_2.3A_no_explicitly_sexual_responses.2C_hate_speech.2C_or_other_harmful_content)\n\n- Sexually explicit themes are not allowed. \n\n*Prompts will be removed if there's a high possibility for rule breaking responses ([rule 7](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_7.3A_prompts_will_be_removed_if_there.27s_a_high_possibility_for_rule_breaking_responses))*\n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8s99gv/-/%0A%0A) us if you have any questions or concerns. In the future, please refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. \n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*",
"A man. Is this real?\n\n\"Hi.\"\n\n\"Hi,\" I reply warily.\n\nHe takes a step closer, I retreat a step, not quite believing he's real.\n\n\"I won't hurt you.\"\n\nI take him in, looking him up and down. It had been so long since I saw another living creature let alone a human. He's tall. Strong.\n\n\"My name's Jesse.\"\n\n\".... I'm...\" It has been so long since I had said my name \"Lizzy.\"\n\nArms raised, palms toward me Jesse took a step forward. I couldn't help but notice the strength of his arms under his shirt. This time I didn't retreat.\n\n\"I haven't seen anyone since that last bomb. It's been months.... I think.... And I haven't seen anyone. Are you alone?\"\n\nI thought over my time since the accident. Nothing but bodies. Not quite sure how I survived all the mess. Everything was kind of a blur. \n\nI nodded, looking into his dark eyes.\n\n\"Me too,\" said Jesse, his eyes keeping mine a little longer before I looked down. \"I have some food,\" he offered.\n\nMy eyes shot back up. It has been days since I found anything more than a few Twinkies to eat. There wasn't much that survived the accident.\n\n\"I'll need to heat it though,\" he reached around to a small backpack and pulled out some service station chimmi chongas.... Of course they survived as well! He pulled out a firestarter too. We gathered some grass and sticks to build a small fire.\n\nOver the next few hours we sat and spoke. Is still so shy and was not entirely forthcoming. It had been so long since I had had any human contact. I had had no one to share my fears with after the accident. No one to reminisce old stories with. No one to talk of what little dwindling hope I had of finding others. It was nice being with someone. Talking to someone. Feeling his warmth as he sat next to me. Feeling safe in his words as he assured me we'd be ok.\n\nI turned to him as I breathed in his musky scent. He smelled good. I took in the view in front of me. He turned to look into my eyes. I was scared to reciprocate. He lifted a hand to my chin and lifted my face so I was looking right into his. \n\n\"I'm so glad I found you,\" he whispered as he leaned in for a kiss.\n\n\"Yer,\" was all I could shyly manage as he pulled back after a soft kiss.\n\n\"You know.... If we're the only two people left on earth.... We're going to have to repopulate it,\" he said with a sly smile.\n\n\"I swear to God if you come near me with that thing I will cut it off!\" I jumped up. \"Like don't get me wrong, we can totally go at it, but your pull out game better be strong Jesse cause there is no way in hell am I spawning babies in this hell hole! I don't even care, the human race dies with us!\"\n\n"
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[WP] The leaders of two cutthroat gangs are about to fight to the death. The only rule regarding the fight is that they were not allowed to bring conventional weapons. Naturally, this leads to a most unusual battle. | 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",
"It was, quite simply, a feat of engineering. A kaleidoscopic fever dream of a weapon forged into whirring, lethal reality. With a slip of his thumb and a crack of his wrist the toothed, metal joints of the sword spring apart, lashing out like a whip. The end ricochets off the floor and into the wall with the horrendous grind of a fork in a garbage disposal. He yanks hard and only just manages to recoil the chain, to snap the joints back atop each other in one buzzing, biting blade, before the gnashing teeth pulp O’gosh. \n\n“A motherfucking chainsaw-whip sword....” Darn Lars pants. \n\nAs he watches the spinning segments slow, he registers, for one fleeting moment, the destructive possibilities in hand. \n\n“A mother*fucking* CHAINSAW-WHIP SWORD!” he crows, hoisting the sword above his head like some barbarian hero to the approving roar of the Too Bad Lads. \n\n*****\n\nDarn Lars figured this whole mess could have been avoided if those creepy Kind Bastards had stayed out of the salt game. The two gangs had been coexisting along the Sans Esperanza for years - they with their whores and fences, the Lads with their bookmaking and booze. They had been able to conduct business in a ... well if not a gentlemanly manner than with at least some begrudging respect. Neither bothered neither so long as everyone stayed in their lane. \n\nBut then salt hit and everything suddenly got real personal. \n\n*****\n\nDarn Lars frowns as the Kind Bastard’s capo enters the lot unaccompanied and seemingly unarmed. Over tall, over lean and with big, wet eyes over a sloping beak of a nose, he resembles a mosquito more than a brawler. \n\n“It’s just you?” O’gosh jeers. The half dozen Too Bad Lads flanking Darn Lars start to snigger and wolf whistle. \n\n“Collateral control,” the capo shrugs, his duster rustling like willow branches with the motion. \n\n“Works for me,” Darn Lars smirks, the blades of the chainsaw-whip sword whirring to life as he shows off the weapon of choice. The capo’s bug eyes nearly engulf his face and Lars’ smirk deepens. \n\n“Oh, bravo,” the capo drawls in appreciation. “You might actually be a contender!”\n\nIn one blur of movement, the capo’s duster flares out, neon blue guns the length of a child’s arm are drawn, and Darn Lars pivots to avoid being hit by twin jets of something sizzling and corrosive. \n\nThe next instant and now O’gosh is screaming and fizzing and the stench of him as he melts to goo makes Darn Lars’ eye sting to tears. \n\nOr maybe they’re shining with something else. Something not unlike adoration. \n\n“A fucking Super-Soaker of Super Acid,” he croaks through the fumes. \n\n“A goddamn mother*fucking* Super-Soaker of Super Acid, bitch!” the capo corrects, his hungry smile stretched so far his face looks in danger of splitting. \n\n“NOW THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!”\n\n*****\n\n“And so, yeah, we haven’t been able to move this property like, at all.”",
"So here's the rundown. I finally got Gibbon to the table and we hammered out how this turf war's gonna end. He runs the Fourth Street Apes. I'm Holla, I run the South Jetty Johns.\n\nYeah, I know the names are stupid, but in New Jork, you gotta be original. With so many gangs and so little land left after the earthquake, a gang's best asset is name recognition. Anyway, me and the Apes been slappin' at each other for a while now. Just the other day, Gibbon sent some of his dudes down to pinch a shipment of Stank. No way I was lettin' that go.\n\n\"Yo Holla, where you at?\" Gibbon's voice echoed through the empty building.\n\n\"Easy,\" I said to my two enforcers. \"He ain't gon pull some stupid shit yet.\"\n\nGibbon strutted into the light with his two enforcers flanking him. It was Odd and Mank; the two motherfuckers that stole my Stank. I heard the clack of guns being cocked. Then the sound echoed near Gibbon.\n\n\"Yo, the fuck is up?\" I shouted. \"We ain't spend all that time hashin' this shit out just to blow each other away.\"\n\nGibbon held up a hand. His goons put their pieces away. I heard mine do the same.\n\n\"Aight, boys,\" I said, \"search him.\"\n\nOdd gave me a thorough pat down as my boys did the same to Gibbon. Once we were all satisfied me and Gibbon took our positions across from each other.\n\n\"No guns,\" I said.\n\n\"No knives,\" Gibbon replied.\n\n\"No punching, no kicking,\" I continued.\n\n\"We been over this, let's just go.\"\n\nHe didn't even give me a chance to reply. He pulled a half lemon from his pocket and squirted it at my face. Right in the mother fuckin' eye! I blinked rapidly to clear my sight, but wasn't in time. Gibbon pulled a chopped down pool noodle and swatted me in the throat. For a piece of foam, it hurt.\n\nI staggered back, bleary eyed and trying to breath. \"My turn, bitch,\" I said. From my left pocket I pulled out a comb. I darted in and narrowly ducked another swing of the noodle. I raked the comb across Gibbon's arm and heard a satisfying scream.\n\n\"No knives,\" Gibbon shouted.\n\nI held up the plastic comb, blood dripping down the ACE logo. At the word knives, both our enforcers drew their pieces again. At the sight of the comb they lowered them, but didn't put them away. We stared at each other for a moment.\n\nGibbon lunged. I sidestepped the charge and pulled a small water balloon from my coat pocket. I diverted his attention with a quick swipe of the comb and tossed the balloon. I could smell the bleach as it burst.\n\nSomething yellow flashed in his hand and I rolled away. I heard a limp sound as the banana peel hit the floor.\n\n\"Seriously, a fucking banana,\" I taunted.\n\nMurder gleamed in his eyes and he reached into his own coat. I didn't give him the chance to do anything else. I produced a second balloon and hurled it at him. It burst and the smell of window cleaner filled the room.\n\nThe murderous gleam was replaced by panic as he realized what was happening. He started tearing at his clothes, but the damage was already done. The chemical fumes mixed and he started to choke. With unbalanced steps he came at me. The fuckin' idiot slipped on his own banana peel.\n\nI ain't gonna bore you with the rest. It was mostly retching and writhing anyway. I gathered up my new members and walked away. Before I left I looked down at Gibbon.\n\n\"You fight like a fuckin' clown,\" I said and walked away."
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[WP] Heaven and hell have been closed since the start of time to all humans. Purgatory is just about overflowing at this point | 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",
"\"So, let me get this straight,\" Jess said, looking out on an eternity of souls. \"No one goes up?\"\n\n\"Nope.\"\n\n\"And no one goes down either?\"\n\n\"Silver lining, really.\"\n\nShe'd only arrived in the afterlife a few minutes ago and was startled by the diversity. Spend your entire existence being told the virtuous and the damned get sent to separate forever homes and, well, seeing a group of monks rolling dice with Ted Bundy is more than a little surprising.\n\n\"And it's always been this way?\"\n\nThe man she was speaking with had been here for a few decades now. He'd been a merchant in his day was kind enough to explain what was going on, but did so in the rote way of someone who has shared a milquetoast anecdote too many times.\n\n\"As far as anyone can tell. You'll run into people who claim to have met Cleopatra or Hammurabi, but I don't buy it. How could they chat with them? Still, no one can definitely say anyone's *not* here. There's a few clubs around that debate the question. I went to one once, but turns out Neitzsche's a twat.\"\n\nJess shook her head. The proof of his story was in front of her eyes, but she simply couldn't process the concept. \"But heaven and hell do exist?\"\n\n\"Oh sure. Lots of folks hang out by the gates. Heaven's about twenty minutes away. I go whenever I'm feeling down.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n\"The ones on the other side always make me feel better. Hard not to be cheered up by those faces.\"\n\n\"But if there's no people...\" Jess paused. \"You mean angels?\"\n\nThe man grinned for the first time. \"Sort of. Follow me.\"\n\nThey weaved through the crowds for some time, stepping around conversation circles, children sitting at improvised board games and long rows of peaceful sleepers. Jess was still stunned by the reality of death, but as they walked she finally began to accept her fate. The same fate every other human had met. \n\nShe spotted the tops of the gates first. At least that met her expectations: golden arches lined with pearl, shimmering from the light of an ethereal plane. But the surprise came as they came within hearing distance. Jess could have sworn she heard... but no, that's just an old saying...\n\n\"Here we are,\" announced the man, watching her face in pleasant anticipation.\n\nJess ran forward, reached through the bars, and embraced the first labrador that came withing reach. She held him as close as possible as he licked her face with unbridled enthusiasm, as if they were old friends.\n\n\"So it's true?\" she asked. \"They really do all go to heaven?\"\n\n\"Looks that way. We certainly don't have any on our side off the gates. But there's tens of thousands always hanging out near here, willing to comfort us poor unworthy souls.\"\n\nShe hung onto the dog for several minutes and felt tears falling down her face. There was sadness, yes, but also relief. Eternity surrounded by both sinners and saints felt a little more bearable knowing that when she needed it, unconditional love was always within reach.\n\nThen a thought occurred to Jess. \"If the dogs are in Heaven, and the humans are stuck in between, who's in Hell?\"\n\n\"The cats, obviously.\"\n\n\nedit: minor grammar"
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[WP] Humanity keeps a spare of itself in space. | 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",
"\"I couldn't think of the words to say,\" replied Shoal.\n\"Well what did you do in the end? I wouldn't have been able to leave like you did,\" said Nemri.\n\"I left a black rose on the kitchen counter. I'll never know what happened to it...\"\n\nBoth men stared at the screens, monitoring the systems. \n\nLost in thought, Nemri rocked back and forth in his chair, contemplating the ballet of blurred lines in front of him. Columns of vectors, trajectories, pressures, ionizations and scrambled numbers danced in his eyes.\n\nShoal stretched and said \"Well I sure hope Ma' managed the shock. It's a real shame they don't let us communicate with them.\"\n\"I know,\" replied Marsh, the silent shape in the corner.\n\"How did you tell your parents you were leaving them behind?\" asked Nemri.\n\"The worst part was leaving my dog behind. My parents were about as concerned as a bunch of monks praying.\"\n\nThe man shook his clothes and got to his knees. \"I can't even get up anymore. I never signed up to become a bed slug...\"\n\"That's what happens in zero gravity Marsh, that you did know\" replied Shoal cynically.\n\"We all knew that not everything was conclusive about this experiment\" added Nemri.\n\nMarsh's silhouette ripped from the shadows slowly. He staggered and approached the consoles where the two men were absently looking at collected data. He slumped down noisily on the third chair and added his own stare to those of his two companions.",
"PROTOCOL/CMD - ARK PROJECT INITIATED\n\nMiller made his third round of the cryo pods over the last twenty four hours. He did it dilligently, thoroughly, with the same resolve as the first time he had ever done it four years earlier.\n\nWell, three years, ten months, three days, and eleven hours earlier. The timer that had been ticking upwards since the ARK launched.\n\nHe played Mozart for this inspection, a choice he would have never made in his past life. The classics never grabbed him before, but somehow in the solitude of space, the pieces of orchestral music made him feel more in touch with the home that was no more, a constant reminder of Miller’s responsibility.\n\nFinishing with the horticulture pods, he moved into the animal wing of the storage area. Off to the side was the secured homo sapien corridor. He renewed his biometric credentials and the door opened for him with the blinking of a soft blue light. \n\nThe shiver he always got when he walked through the homo sapien corridor barely registered anymore, but it was there nonetheless. The irrational side of his brain considered it the ghosts of humanity bidding him welcome to their lifeless temple, waiting suspended in the air to be rejoined with their bodies when Miller’s craft reached the ultimate destination. The more practical reason was that the corridor was kept several degrees cooler than the other corridors, a detail that the engineers behind the ARK project discovered was integral to the preservation of the cognitive facilities of cryogenically preserved humans.\n\nHe did the normal checks, all receptacles were responding within normal limits, but that didn’t stop Miller from closely inspecting a series of pods in particular.\n\nThe row of five pods sat off to the side of the other rows. Two pods had red LED lines through their identification panels and were empty, no life support or cryogenic effort was spent on these. The other three pods were labeled in green LED letters flashing at the base of the pod - CM: V3, CM: V4, and CM: V5.\n\nHe touched the empty pods and stiffened. \n\nThe piece of music came to an end and snapped Miller out of his reverie. He walked out of the homo sapien corridor and sealed it behind him. \n\n***\n\nAn hour later, Miller entered his living quarters. It was closing in on eleven o’clock, and his next shift started at six. He undressed in silence and rubbed his left wrist, where the letters CM: V2 were tattooed in a bold font. \n\nHe looked at the mission counter as it counted up into the next day, three years, ten months, and four days since mission commencement. He then looked at the counter next to it that was counting down from one hundred and twenty seven years, seven months, five days, and sixteen hours.\n\nThe estimated time of arrival at the new world.\n\nMiller needed to be conservative. He was barely four years into this mission and he had already lost CM: V1. CM Prime was lost during the Calamity, when the ARK project was forced to commence earlier than planned. \n\nHis was the most important job in the history of mankind; preserving all of life as it was known until the ARK could reach a habitable planet and life could begin anew with the ARKs germination tools. He was healthy, and had plenty of time if he was careful, but a hundred and twenty seven years was a long time, and he never knew what might happen during the journey. Accidents happen, as he learned with CM: V1. He knew that one day, he might wake up as CM: V5 with not enough time to reasonably survive, and if that happened, he would have not only failed his mission, but he would have failed all of humanity."
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[WP] You live in a world were everyone is born with one spell that makes their daily lives a little easier/practical. You’ve realized that your seemingly harmless spell inadvertently gives you true power. | 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",
"######[](#dropcap)\n\nThe fat oozed from the roasting pig as the flames licked at its charred skin, slowly rotating on its spit. Tendrils of muscles rippled and tensed in Apollo’s bicep and forearm as he cranked the handle, once, twice, three times… His nostrils flared, taking in the pleasant aroma wafting in the air around the campfire. He stared blankly into the dancing inferno, his mind elsewhere.\n\nA heavy sigh, laced in exhaustion, escaped his parted lips as his attention focused on the present again. He stood, lifted the spit and the sow from the sticks holding it above the fire, before finally bringing it to rest on a large leaf held in place with two stones. Staring intently at the cooked meat, he gripped the thick knuckle of the pig's thigh and ripped it away from the rest of the carcass.\n\nGrease and fat squished from between Apollo’s fingers and followed gravity’s guiding hand before dripping from his bent elbow and back into the dust. He returned to the stray log that he had been using as a seat for the last few hours, sat, and began to rip into the juicy hunk of blackened meat with his teeth, staring all the while into the flames.\n\nHe quickly ate the flesh from the leg, sliced off a few more pieces, and finished them, too, discarding the bones between his feet. Once he had finished eating, he pushed them into the embers of the fire with his boot and covered it with more sticks and debris to trap them in the blaze. Using the cloth of his pants, he wiped the grease and fat from his hands, never breaking eye contact from the fire.\n\nA memory flashed for one brief instant in his mind. Flowers on a riverbed. An unfamiliar scent. Panic and fear.\n\nApollo’s body collapsed into a slumped heap, absent a mind to control it. Not that he cared, or for that matter even remembered. No, he was in the middle of something. What was it? He tried to focus.\n\nA branch snapped to his right. He shifted on the ground quickly and lowered himself to face the sound. Grunt, grunt, huff. He clawed at the dirt. Another grunt, this time a warning. The branches of a bush jostled, and two bluebirds shot out from the underbrush of the forest, taking flight. An unfamiliar scent heavily permeated the dense jungle. Apollo breathed in deeply and let out another huff of air, half intimidation, half fact-finding. He tried and failed to remember the creature with this scent while the muscles throughout his body tensed with anticipation.\n\n“Wow, you’re getting really close,” something said from the bush. Speech, not frequently heard but not entirely unknown to these woods either. Apollo took a step back, surprised, but strangely not afraid. Where there should have been fear, panic, and most importantly retreat, there was only tension.\n\nThe man-creature spoke again, “I guess I have been slacking these last few weeks.”\n\nEverything seemed to happen within a single breath. Where there was nothing but air before, the space in front of Apollo had been occupied by whoever or whatever it was that was speaking to him. The man’s arm was extended, with one enormous hand gripping the fur-lined skull of the body that Apollo inhabited.\n\n“That won’t happen again,” the man-creature said in a gruff, raspy voice. His other arm shot through the air like lightning, gripping Apollo’s throat, and in one swift motion, ripping Apollo’s head from its body. Blood exploded from the creature’s decapitated corpse before collapsing to the ground, threads of tissue, muscle, and organ strewn around it like doll’s hair.\n\nThe man lifted the creature’s head so that their eyes met, “I’m going to win,” he smirked, eyes narrow, blood spattering his lips and face, “Apollo.”\n\nThe picture in Apollo’s eye began to warble and distort, slowly fading into the surrounding darkness that had crept into the corners of his vision. Suddenly, a bright flash, a heavy thud as he hit the dirt, and he was back once more in his familiar body, the dirt and dust rising around it in a small cloud.\n\n“That god damn bastard,” he shouted, pushing himself off of the ground with his elbow, “That fucking hurt.”",
"The moment we are born, we are entrusted with one word and that word is the core of our existence. Society is divided up into three sections: S-Ranks, A-Ranks, and the Leftovers. S-Ranks were those with powerful words such as \"Life\", \"Darkness\", or \"God\". A-Ranks were those with words such as \"Fire\", \"Water\", \"Love\", or \"Dream\". The Leftovers were usually made up with the remaining words of the Dictionary that weren't as powerful but was still practical. However, you seem to be the only one with a strange word engraved to your chest: Potato. \n\"Hey, look! It's the potato boy\", a group of boys yelled out, laughing and pointing at your direction. You lowered your head in shame and wondered why on earth would you be the only one with such a useless word. \nYou were always bullied since you were a child by your classmates. The upper ranks always used you as their gopher, demanding you do every single thing for them even to the point of giving up your hard-earned money. \nAnd for some reason, you just snapped. You couldn't handle the teasing and bullying anymore and wanted revenge on everybody in the school. But, what can you do with such a useless spell?\nTurn their hearts into potatoes. ",
"Magic. In one world, a powerful and dreamt of power that is fantasized about. In mine? It's mundane. Everyone uses it, people are born with, and sure it's convenient but it's never been anything that's really strong or overpowered. Or at least that's what I thought, until I realized the power behind a seemingly mundane spell like mine. I can use my spell to make something impossible have a 0.1% chance of happening. Now, it seems mundane, until I decided to experiment with it. I used to just make it so that I could get free food every once in a blue moon, but then an Idea struck me. What if the impossible thing could be triggered? Like, \"Every time that I pay for something I get paid $20 for buying it\". Except I did it with something easy I myself could trigger. I decided, \"every step I took had the chance to grant my greatest wish\" would bs what I went with. And oh my god what have I done! I am now the eternal god queen of Earth. I think I may have screwed up.\n\nPS. This is my first attempt at challenging myself at writing so I apologize that it probably isn't any good.",
"I am the grammar Nazi. Well, it’s really more spelling-related but that’s close enough. Most people learn pretty early on what they can do, it only takes a year or so after birth to know that you’re immune to tripping or are excellent with language skills, but some of the more... unique talents take a little longer to discover. Me? I have autocorrect. That’s right, I can spell things correctly. I discovered it sometime during elementary school when, despite not ever paying attention in class, I got 100s on all of my spelling tests. And on nothing else.\n\nAs you can imagine, with the advent of cellphones, my power puts me in the bargain bin, not quite garden variety but also not extremely useful. Growing up I hung out with the other boring types, kids who never had to tie their shoes, sharpen their pencils, or who could remember exactly where they parked in any circumstance. Childhood wasn’t too bad but there was definitely a lot of envy for the jocks, people who could play any sport, ace any class, or were just suave in every situation. Some people’s powers were so vague it was hard to guess that all Stacy could really do was make her hair perfect every morning or that Tony actually had very sticky hands. Even as kids we learned to market our skills.\n\nYears went by and I became an editor, no surprise right? Hand me your manuscript and I’d have it back mistake free within minutes. I loved the other half of my job more, though. Reading the story and really understanding what the author wanted to say and finding ways to get that across better. It was a joy to breeze through what other editors found tedious and focus on the meat of the job, I had really found my calling. I look back on those days, relatively unknown and carefree, and often wish I could go back and relive them. My life these days is much less free.\n\nOne day, a relatively amateur author came in, let’s call him Lee. Lee was writing a memoir about his childhood and how it tied in to society at large as well as to who his adult self had become. Pretty standard stuff, only he also had cancer and did not have long to live. He handed me his manuscript and I got to work, immediately cleaning up the typos and jumping into the real heart of the book. He asked that I work relatively quickly for reasons that should be apparent. Now Lee had full-blown, stage four, some-time-in-the-next-few-months cancer and wanted to leave this book not just as his contribution to the human condition, but also as a little piece of himself for his young children. I was touched and worked through the night.\n\nThe next day, Lee called and we had one of the most astonishing conversations of my life.\n\n“Hey Zack, you wouldn’t happen to be a miracle worker, would ya?”\n\n“Never been accused of it before Lee, why, what’s going on?”\n\n“Well, I woke up feeling a lot better and, seeing as any change is a cause for alarm where I’m at, I headed to the hospital.”\n\n“Uh huh…”\n\n“And, well, they said I haven’t looked healthier in years!”\n\n“How do you mean, Lee…?”\n\n“It’s gone Zack, all gone! You can tear up that manuscript, I’m going to have to rewrite the whole ending! Anyway, they asked me what had happened and the only new thing I’d done was talk to you so they asked if you could meet with them. I gave the docs your work info, hope you don’t mind! I’m off to enjoy myself, thanks Zack!”\n\nWith that, he hung up the phone and I sat at my desk, speechless, the manuscript I had worked all night on forgotten. A few hours later, just as I was recovering from that strange episode I heard the door bell ring. Some doctors had stopped by saying that Lee sent them. I let them in and proceeded to make some tea while they got themselves settled and pulled out their equipment. I felt like a kid again, they had the whole standard kit of power testers, everything from pens to sports equipment to electronics, anything that could possibly be useful or amplified by a human.\n\nI tried to reason with them, told them that I had been identified years before as a child, that I could only fix spelling mistakes. I told them there must be some mistake or this must be some freak accident or the work of Lee’s own powers. I was told Lee’s only power was the ability to seal envelopes without licking them and that they had already tried retesting him. So they ran me through the whole gamut for several hours and, after determining that I could not do anything other than fix spelling mistakes, they sat back, exhausted. They looked defeated, how else could Lee’s cancer have magically disappeared?\n\nThey finally reached for their tea but, to my astonishment, one of the doctors visibly started freaking out when he tasted the drink. I asked him if he was alright but he just stared at me for a few moments and said:\n\n“What kind of tea is this? I’ve never tasted anything like it!”\n\n“Just green tea with a little sugar, are you sure you’re okay…?”\n\n“Zack, I’ve had ageusia from a rare genetic disorder ever since I was born. I’ve had green tea before but I’ve never tasted anything. This is incredible. We’ll need some more time to know for sure but….”\n\nI was stunned. I had no clue this would soon lead to me becoming a medical marvel and international superstar. By day, I saved hundreds of people from diseases we had no other cure for. By night…. Well. By night let’s just say that being unique gets you certain perks but also makes you a target. If I could fix misspellings in everything, even DNA, what else could I do with my power? Some people intended to find out by any means necessary….",
"######[](#dropcap)\n\n\nWhen Mister Billy’s head imploded, the village of Alderford was thrown into a state of chaos and jubilation.\n\nMister Billy, or Bill Cocksuck, as he was known to most elders, was a rather loud, but standoffish man, whose occupation did little to endear him with any local population. He was a tax-man, and was thusly prone to false (or perhaps not) accusations in the realms of embezzle and swindle. But, if such claims were not enough to paint an unfavorable look, Bill Cocksuck was also five inches below the average height, with oddly slanted eyes, a broad forehead, a potbelly, and disproportioned arms. \n\nToday, however, nobody remembered such things, especially not with Bill’s head crumpled in, the fluids within leaking onto dry dirt by way of large craters around the sphenoid and occipital. These features were instead magnified, under passage from verbal tales and inaccurate depictions.\n\n“Good riddance,” said Tillet Maers, and on this they could all agree.\n\n“Aye,” said Toren Illenson, the village’s eldest blacksmith, who held a greater-than-most hatred for the now deceased tax-man. “Arms uneven, with claws at his fingers. He got a huge head too, but angled. All triangle-like. I swear, when you wasn’t expecting it, horns would appear out the top. Forgot to wear that big hat of his, once, and I did see ‘em starin’ straight at me, plain as day.”\n\n“Looks be damned, what about all the stuff he stole?” asked Dion Holdfast. “I think the tax was ten-piece, and he took twenty from each!”\n\n“Took me daughter too,” said Old Man Jackson, who was both old and ugly, but whose eldest daughter had somehow flowered into some statuesque beauty (the other two were likened to wrinkled crones). Bill had taken Jackson’s eldest as tribute to the capital, where she might be accepted to the Kynferði -- a group of females bound in lifelong service to King and kin -- or otherwise killed if found unsatisfactory.\n\n“Tar, Old Man,” said Tillet Jr. “We all know you pawned ‘er off to ‘im, an’ for a good price too!”\n\nAmidst such commotion, no one took notice of neither the frolicking children nor the scrawny little boy who hid alone behind the hay bales. This particular boy’s name was Aren Noneson -- Noneson being the surname given to young orphans. Aren stood rather still, staring at the palms of his hands. He was imagining them coated in blood, though they were, in fact, unusually clean, especially so for a child nearing thirteen.\n\nAren recalled having left his home that morning, a small covering of twigs and bark beneath Whitewater Bridge, heading first towards the market, then towards the bazaars when the food to be found near the former proved scarce. He remembered, among Bazaar Street, hearing a rather uncouth voice float to his ears, slimy and greasy as large river snakes are. \n\n“Hello, young’un,” it said, and Aren recognized that voice, would recognize it anywhere. He panicked a moment; the dirt caking his face hid much of his reaction.\n\n“Mister Billy?”\n\n“That’s me,” said Billy, smiling so suddenly as to startle Aren and nearing passers-by. “Where’s your parents?”\n\n“Dead. In the war.”\n\n“Hmm.” Billy stood on a while in silence, as though pondering through near-unfathomable conclusions. “Well, you’d best come with me,” he said at last, reaching out.\n\nAren backtracked and, in his haste, stumbled across a protruding rock, which jutted offendingly from the hard-packed dirt road. He fell hard, tasted blood. Billy neared.\n\nAt first, Aren felt stuck, as though petrified to stone or encased in hard mud. He could feel his heart race, his blood rushing through his veins, but so great was his fear that he could not get up and run, run fast as he knew he could. The darkness around him seemed to encroach, until naught might be seen but Billy, creeping closer, the predator rearing in strike, the prey trapped in some snare. At that moment, Aren could feel only the sense of dread encroaching upon him. The words “death” and “flee” in particular floated chaotically among his thoughts.\n\nAbruptly, Aren struck, much like a cat will when caught in a corner. The next moment, Billy had released his grip -- Aren, in fear, had not felt it -- and had fallen back against a wall, head clutched in his hands. Aren had run then, helter-skelter down the path.\n\nAt present, Aren was behind the hay bales nearest that scene of his great panic, wondering what had happened. And indeed, what had? Powers, he knew, manifested at his age, but never grew (even in later life) to such a magnitude as to enable a child in killing an adult. Most powers were of the day-to-day kind, helping only in the most practical of ways. Farmer Stils, Aren knew, could bolster greatly the growing rate of crops. Toren Illenson was resistant to burns. And Mister Billy, before his most unexpected death, had been unusually persuasive.\n\n“So what was that? Are these powers mine, or did some other save me?” Aren asked aloud, then covered his mouth in realization of the gravity of his mistake. *“Has my hidey-hole been spoiled?”* he wondered, and peered from behind his piles of straw.\n\nHe had not, it seemed, been noticed at all. The adults, still in deep conversation, were now voicing a communal desire to make for the nearest pub, in which they might share a drink. Aren sighed and placed his hands on the nearest bale, stilling his nerves. Had it been him who had brought about the death of hated Billy? He had to know. Could he, with effort, replicate the effect? Steeling himself, he reached out his palm.\n\n***\n\nConstructive criticism encouraged and welcome (pls halp, I need it :P)\n\n/r/Lone_Wolf_Studios for more stories!",
"\"You're up next, sir.\" The man with the clipboard, tie, and earpiece nodded to me. \"Anything else you need? We can always call a pause to make any changes-\"\n\n\"No, no.\" I held up my hand, palm extended in front of the French cuff, the silver cufflink glinting in the rays of the spotlight that made it into the wings of the stage. \"I'm ready.\"\n\nMy ears caught the swell of the crowd, not applauding just yet but on the verge of erupting. They'd erupt when I stepped out of the shadows, when they caught sight of their new candidate for President, immaculate in a perfectly fitted suit, smiling so brightly out at them.\n\nI'd seen the polls. The experts were predicting a landslide in my favor. I didn't even need to bother with these stump speeches any longer; I did them mostly for the thrill.\n\nWaiting, listening to the host hyping up the crowd, I held up my fingers. There was plenty of shadow here in the wings of the stage. I drew a bit of it in, made it into a little ball that danced from finger to finger, a black flame that produced no heat.\n\nSuch a small gift, but enough to carry me here - maybe much further.\n\nI caught a snipped from the host, something about \"humble beginnings.\" That certainly described me. Risen from the depths of mediocrity, a practical nobody in high school and college, but with a meteoric ascent in the last few years. I'd truly made the leap from zero up to hero - and when I stepped in front of this cheering crowd, they'd welcome me as a surrogate to God himself.\n\nWhen I closed my eyes, I could still remember the crushing disappointment I felt as a teenager, how I lay in bed, face buried in the pillow, cursing my stupid power. I hadn't been the first in my class to manifest; that had been Billy Zerkis, who cried out in surprise when flames shot from his fingertips and set his English book alight, halfway through \"Fahrenheit 451.\" Most of my classmates soon followed, but I wouldn't know my ability for another eight months.\n\nAnd then, when it came, it brought my hopes and dreams crashing down with its arrival.\n\nThe ability to control shadows. I could put on little displays of monochrome puppet shows, make little figures dance in darkness. I could shrink back into those shadows, pull them around me like a cloak to avoid unwanted attention. I could temporarily dim the lights in a room, although the light burned away the shadow until there was nothing left for me to hold, nothing remaining for me to control.\n\nAnd for a long time, I believed that was the extent of it. No superpowers, nothing even useful for a job. I couldn't see in the dark, couldn't fly or control time or summon great beasts or bursts of energy. Hell, I didn't even need to register my power - I scored a puny 1.2 on the Hammond scale, well below the 2.5 needed for the registration to be added to my driver's license.\n\nFor the rest of high school, the first two years of college, it was my secret shame. I brushed off questions about my power at the few parties I attended, not even putting on demonstrations. What good was the ability to make a little figure dance from shadows? If I pulled the darkness together, I could exert very small amounts of force, but it was barely more than a puff of air. Not enough to stop a punch, not enough to fly, not enough for anything.\n\nIt was useless, I told myself.\n\nI couldn't be more wrong.\n\n\"On in two,\" the stagehand called to me, and I nodded with the small part of my brain not lost in reverie.\n\nMy breakthrough came from a biology class, of all places. I'd been given a squeamish female partner who refused to participate in the rat dissection, so I'd handled it myself. I cut into the animal with the scalpel as the professor droned on about the animal's nerves, how even a tiny little electrical stimulus could still incite movement in a dead animal.\n\nI'd cast a small amount of shadow into the rat's opened belly, creating just enough force to keep the scalpel from slipping. Idly, I felt about, sensed a nerve, *pushed.*\n\nThe rat's leg twitched.\n\nEven then, I dwelled little on that astounding reaction. I finished the class, went back to my dorm, but dropped into the grass in front of the building and watched as a couple jocks laughed and threw a football back and forth. Only then, turning it over in my head, did I start to wonder.\n\nI pulled darkness from the shadow of the dorm building, cast it in a hair-thin stream through the grass. The bright overhead sun burned away most of the shadow, but enough made it to the jock to slip up, into his skin, sinking through it...\n\nThe jock's arm spasmed, and the football flew wide. His buddy shouted in annoyance, but I grinned, a wild rictus of realization.\n\nThe second realization came later, followed quickly by a third. I didn't need to pull darkness from external sources. After all, there were plenty of cavities inside a human body. Cavities that were unlit, filled with darkness.\n\nAnd where was the densest source of neurons? The brain.\n\n\"And now,\" cried the host from a dozen feet away, \"it is my great honor to present to you, your candidate, the next President of these great United States!\"\n\nThe applause rose to a constant rolling of thunder as I emerged. I beamed out at the crowd, waved my hand high - and a tiny bit of darkness pressed, ever so lightly, on the pleasure centers of each person in the crowd.\n\nThey roared, they cheered, and I smiled as I saw my future stretching out in front of me, great and glorious and immortal. \n\nIt was not a bright future, no.\n\nIt was filled with darkness.\n\n****\n\n[Want more stories? Check out /r/Romanticon!](http://www.reddit.com/r/romanticon)",
"Anru son of Anron sat bent over the worktable in his father's basement putting the finishing touches on the hand stitches for a heavy cloak. The Count of Balon had demanded a rush order, and the candles in the workroom burned low as the torches guttered in the dead of night on the streets outside. \n\nAnru was a tailor's apprentice in name but a tailor in practice, as Anron was only rarely running low enough on spirits in his system to bother helping the son to whom he had taught his trade. It was a simple enough thing, the families magic allowed for the binding and unbinding of stitches, provided they followed a pattern set down by hand. With it Anron had established a quietly prosperous tailor's shop in Balon, and then just as quietly drank his life into the ground while Anru struggled to hold on. \n\nDrawing the heavy thread through the cream fabric Anru allowed his mind to wander and reminisce on happier days, before his mother's death. Before his father's drink. Before the elder Count of Balon had passed on. The old count's son had quickly established himself as a more querulous and hidebound fellow than his father, who hadn't exactly been beloved by the locals himself. But what had been arduous taxation became nigh unbearable, and what had been seen as the backhanded cruelty of a noble with his nose too high in the air to notice the common man was now replaced by an outright hostility to those of lesser blood and breeding. \n\nEven without his father's drink, a man such as the younger count may have dashed Anru's quiet prosperity all on his own. \n\nToo dark, his thoughts. Like the light outside. Time and past to join together the garment with what little magic he possessed and attempt to turn in. Maybe scrape together a pair of hours sleep before dawn had him scurrying to the count's estate. \n\n---------------\n\nHe'd slept in too late, of course. Such was the obvious outcome of a decision made with regard for himself rather than regard for his clients. A good thing he hadn't had time to eat breakfast, hunger might sharpen his mind on the need to work in order to actually possess food. For once, Anru couldn't even blame his father. It had been the man's belligerent cursing about the lack of *his* breakfast which had finally risen Anru. \n\nHe'd made the best time he could to the count's estate, but the lord and lady of Balon weren't exactly the type of people to set up their lands anywhere someone as undignified as a tailor's apprentice might reach them without significant effort. It had taken longer still to convince the gate man, half a dozen separate servitors, the majordomo, and finally the count's valet that the garment he claimed to be transporting was in fact the count's new cloak. His bloodshot and bedraggled appearance hadn't lent him much aid there.\n\nMuch as Anru would have loved nothing more than to scurry away from the count's manor as quickly as his leaden legs would carry him, the valet insisted he remain on hand in case any alterations were necessary to the count's cloak, and ushered a woefully unprepared Anru into the count's receiving rooms. \n\nThe scents of rich dark wood blended with expertly tanned leather and the faintly sharp reek of polish in a room bigger on its own than the entire house which Anru and his father called a home. One of the immaculate leather recliners could have likely purchased the entire block of flats in which they lived. Anru knew the material for the cloak folded in parchment under his arm could have paid nearly a year and a half's rent. He'd considered that very carefully, and likely for longer than was entirely wise. \n\nThe count, when he finally appeared, seemed a somewhat smaller man than he always appeared when touring Balon with his guards. Younger too, and softer. His eyes still managed to burn with a near hatred, hot and raw, that seared Anru's confidence as the count stood there, appraising him cruelly. \n\n\"M-m'lord,\" Anru stuttered, nearly falling over himself to drop into proper obsequence before the town's noble. The carefully clutched package began to slip in his sweat slicked hands, and he had a clumsy moment of clutching panic as he rose back to a stand, and presented the now crumpled pack to the count. \n\nNot a word in return. Not even a grunt. Just the same hot gaze and angry frown, and a sharp snap toward the valet, who seemlessly yet urgently extricated the precious load from Anru. \"Let us see the tailor's work donned, my lord.\" He deftly opened the parchment without tearing it, and worked with steady hands to drape the cloak around the count while Anru's own extremities began to shake. The count turned experimentally in the cloak, felt the fabric between his fingers and raised and lowered his shoulders. The anger in his face failed to abate and Anru found his knees nearly quaking in terror by the time the count's rage found his face again. \n\n\"Too tight through the shoulder, tailor's son. I would have it repaired before you leave.\"\n\nToo quickly, and without thought, Anru leapt to obey the command. Anything to escape this terror. He reached out towards the fabric with his small magic, to the seam in the shoulder he knew lay just behind the left side of the count's chest, and muttered the short unbinding charm, nearly beneath his breath. \n\nThe most the valet or the count could have heard would have been a whisper of air, that if they could have heard anything beneath the nervous shivers of Anru's body. This wasn't the first panicked peasant the count had brought into his estate for one small task or another. \n\nIt would however, be the last.\n\nThe valet would tell the story most over the next few months, of those three present he was the one with the most opportunities to tell it; and it was certainly a popular bit of telling in those places of the realm ruled over by men the equal in injustice to the former young Count of Balon.\n\nThe first thing that any of the men likely noticed was the cloak falling to tatters around the left shoulder of the Count. He had flown into a rage almost immediately, and made it about half a step towards throttling Anru where he stood before grasping the side of his chest in immediate and extreme durress. He may have maintained a few more moments of coherent thought, he may not have too. One thing was certain to Anru and the valet however, when the young count fell to the cool floor of his receiving room, he would not rise again. \n\nThe valet had taken up a call for guards, while Anru had done little but stand there gaping in horror. For the rest of his life, he managed to utter seventeen words. Twelve of them were 'no'. To be fair though, that remaining life was short. The lady countess had him executed before the hour was even up. \n\nThe valet heard later that which he had known almost immediately, the tailor's magic had somehow done to the fibers of the count's heart what it had been meant to do to the fabric. Whether by malice or accident, Anru had signed a death warrant not only for himself, but for every tailor in the kingdom.\n\nIt was a pity that there was no one left to mourn the broken drunk that got hauled out of Anru's home three days later, but there was much to pity in Balon and a limited supply to go around. "
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[WP] You were murdered and proclaimed dead in the news three days ago. You were indeed dead. Then you woke up in a coffin and began screaming, only to have some weird emo goth kids dig you out and boy, are they freaked out. You... have a lot of explaining to do. That, and you have vengeance to take. | 71 | [
"**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 felt stiff as I climbed out of the coffin. I rolled all my joints to try and loosen up but it didn't seem to help. I looked at the the Goth kid who'd dug me up. He'd pissed himself in fright. \"Got a cigarette?\" I asked in a gravelly voice. The kid retrieved a pack of cigarettes half soaked in urine from his front pocket and I turned my nose up. \"Nevermind. You got a car?\"\n\n\"Yeah,\" The kid answered.\n\n\"Cool, I need a ride,\" I said.\n\nThe Goth kid looked real nervous. \"Are... Are you gonna hurt me?\" He asked.\n\nI shook my head. \"Solomon,\" I said, offering my hand to him.\n\nHe shook it. \"Levi,\" He respond.\n\nI ran my hands through my hair. \"I'll be honest, I'm gonna kill someone tonight, but you're not that person. I just need a lift and then I'll be out of your life, you can pretend you never dug me up for a satanic ritual only to be scared shitless by coming face to face with a zombie when you popped the coffin open.\"\n\nLevi hesitated but finally caved. \"Alright. Where do you need to go?\"\n\n\"Cross if 3rd and Washington,\" I said. We walked to his station wagon and he gave me a lift. I opened the door when he stopped. \"Thanks. Hopefully we don't meet again.\"\n\nI stepped out of the car and walked three blocks to my apartment building. The time on the face of my watch said it was 3am and I had no reason to distrust it. Andrew was probably still awake. I knocked on the door of my sixth floor unit.\n\nThe door opened just a bit, the chain stopping it. Andrew looked at me through the opening first in shock, then in confusion and finally in fear, all in the space of a second. \"Sup, Andrew?\" I asked as I firmly kicked the door. Andrew was tossed backwards as the door flew open, the security chain breaking and sending loops of metal clattering all over the floor.\n\n\"S-Solomon?\" Andrew stammered as I walked towards him.\n\nI reached down and grabbed him by the shirt. \"Yeah, buddy boy,\" I answered as I pulled him up. \"Where's my boyfriend?\"\n\nAndrew pointed to my room. \"Keith went to bed already. I was about to go join him,\" Andrew sobbed.\n\nI stared at him for a moment. \"Of course you were,\" I breathed. I hurled Andrew out the living room window. If he survived, he survived. He wasn't who I was after, but I wasn't really fuckin' happy with him either.\n\nI walked into my bedroom and found Keith stirring slightly but still sleeping. He'd always been a heavy sleeper when it came to sound. Touch though.\n\nI laid down on the bed and wrapped my arms around him. He came to, just a little, realizing someone had laid down and was holding him from behind. \"What time is it, Andrew?\" Keith asked. \"You know I have to work in the morning.\"\n\nI patted Keith's chest. \"You know, it's funny. Those were my last words to you,\" I whispered in Keith's ear. I waited until he tensed up and then wrapped my right arm around his neck and squeezed. Strangling someone is violent and you have to keep blocking air flow way longer than you think you should. I didn't tire anymore so I held Keith's neck tightly for an hour. Then I broke it, just to be sure.\n\nI laid him out peacefully, kissed him on the lips and tucked him back in. \"Sweet dreams, see you in Hell,\" I whispered. I took forty bucks out of his wallet and called a cab with his cellphone. I walked out with only the money, leaving the door wide open. It was time for me to take a nap in what was a surprisingly comfortable coffin."
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[WP] And little by little I fade into you. | 53 | [
"**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 plays; little bobtails dancing in the light of the sand. Her arena, surrounded by a cacaphony of voices. Though she falls, she always stands up again. Triumphant, indignant. \n\nI watch from far away. Already my voices fades, my corporeal form dissipating. She can no longer hear me, surrounded as she is by the other children in the sandbox. \n\nShe is, was my light, my creator. I was there for her first steps, born into the world as she began to look and question and feel. Comforting snd prorective, against the monsters in her closet and the fierce yells of her parents at times. Despite it all, they are a loving family, compassionate to her and others. \n\nAnd so I fade into her, with no regrets. She & I will be a fine woman one day. Triumphant, indignant, fierce, loving, and compassionate.",
"Listen, I know it's been a while; you've pulled your life together quite a bit, you can finally welcome the day with false hope instead of pure dread. Things are looking up! But you can't just will me away with this reversible progress. It's pathetic, and so are you. This isn't truly happiness, is it? Because I'm still here, and I'm not going anywhere. I'm not a complete monster, though. I'm not going to rip the soul straight from your body this time. Where's the fun in that? No, I like to see you squirm. I love the feeling you get when you lie down at night after an alarmingly enjoyable day. That feeling that maybe, just maybe.. everything will be alright in the end. But it never lasts too long, because your covers still weigh you down and sink you into reality. And I'm not speaking of your polyester sheets- that heavy, transparent lead blanket that you've brilliantly chosen to ignore for the past few days. Just a mild discomfort on your part, but soon that blanket will drag more than your mood. Soon your feet will tire more quickly, your patience will wander. Then, when your senses are far too dulled to care, you'll feel me slowly drag you to your knees, then toss you onto the ground. Optimism may get the best of you at some point, but hopelessness will be much more appealing once you're lying on that rigid surface. So carry on with your day. Catch up with some friends. Enjoy a nice dinner. Read a good book and enjoy a warm cup of tea. But never tell yourself that I'm not feeding your mind. Because little by little, I'm slowly fading into you.",
"I remember what is was like, the first time I saw you in the hospital.\n\nYou were awake, bleached white hair spilling over pillowcases that were too stiff to really be comfortable, making jokes to keep your mom from crying anymore.\n\nI remember realizing that I didn't want to run anymore.\n\nWe were 17 when my friend first introduced me to you, but it was far from the first time I had noticed you. Something about you drew me in, and it still hasn't let go. You were wild. There was something in your eyes, in the way you laughed and moved, something in that smile that never seemed to fade. You were radiant.\n\nTalking to you felt so easy, as if we had always known each other. I felt my barriers melt away, my locked doors opening up. You pulled stories from my lips in a way no one ever had. You made the odd kid feel at home. I don't think I ever got around to telling you how much that meant to me.\n\nWe spent that following summer, between Junior and Senior year of high school, talking about anything we had found time bring up. It was exhilarating. I had always been the quiet, lonely type, but with you it felt like some spark was lit within me that I never knew was there. We never ran out of things to talk about, our conversations chasing the hours away.\n\nDuring that summer, I started to realize that evergreen smile of yours was hiding something, something that I didn't know how to bring up; something that I didn't really *want* to bring up, if I'm being honest. I had seen the scars on your arms before, everyone had. They weren't the kind you could hide. But it hadn't fully sunk in, where they came from and why, until that summer conversation that lasted through July. It was then that I started to realize that the wild girl with white hair wasn't as strong as she seemed.\n\nGod, if I had been then who I am now...\n\nI was scared. What if you broke, and I couldn't put you back together? What if I broke you? I was too clumsy for you, too careless. At least, that's what I kept telling myself. I stopped sleeping, and a sick feeling began to follow me everywhere, with the reoccurring thought of losing you. It consumed me.\n\nSo I decided to push you away before I lost you. No one had ever made me feel the way you did, had ever been so close to me. If I lost you, I didn't think I'd be able to take it. So one day, I decided to let the conversation die.\n\nSeeing you in the hospital bed that December, I understood that no matter how far I pushed you away, it never wouldn't hurt to lose you. Not only that, but maybe I could save you. If I could make you as happy as you made me, you'd never empty another bottle of pills again. If I could just make you happy everyday.\n\nAt first, the plan worked. We graduated as high school sweethearts, and moved in together quickly. We spent that summer exploring the woods, exploring our dreams, exploring each other. Every time you smiled, I felt a little less afraid, and that hospital bed seemed farther and farther away. I had done it. I had figured out how to keep that wildfire in your eyes burning bright. You were happy, I was happy. We were together, and free. You were safe.\n\nBut safety is a fragile thing.\n\nI went off to college that August, a little over a year since we first met, and you stayed back home. I lived in a dorm during the week, and came back every weekend. I missed you like crazy, and those Friday evening romances still burn warm in chest. The excitement of you and of school, those late night calls and 8am classes, the stress and passion of it all, kept me from seeing that fire start to burn out.\n\nYour life hadn't become the adventure that mine had. You were working a shitty minimum wage job, watching weeks go by and paychecks disappear. And each Friday you'd see me come home, happy as ever, rambling about the time of my life between less and less frequent \"I miss you\"'s. I didn't notice when you stopped telling me about your weeks, or when your smile stopped touching your eyes. Well, maybe that's not quite true; I was just too scared to accept that I noticed it. I was happy, and I felt like that temporary safety would last a little longer. It *had* to. I wasn't ready to go back to being on constant watch yet.\n\nIt's Friday evening, in November, almost a year since your grandma found you unconscious in your bedroom. Except this time, she wasn't there to make sure you were okay. Your mom didn't rush you to the hospital. The nurses didn't get the charcoal drink to you in time to force your stomach contents out. I didn't find you there with IV's in your arms, making jokes to your heartbroken mother in an attempt to stop her tears.\n\nI found you on the floor, skin whiter than your hair now. Your arms are covered in new wounds, covering old scars that they'll never join. You even used the same medicine. Maybe it worked faster this time. The doctor said you would have permanent internal damage from last year's failed attempt. I guess it doesn't matter at this point.\n\nIn my head, during the countless times and ways this horror played out, I always imagined there would be a letter. But your room is just as silent and empty as it had been over the past few weeks, returning the silence that I've been ignoring on those selfish weekends.\n\nThere's so much that I want to say to you, so much that I want to hear you say. I want one more night of sitting alone in a parking lot with you, laughing and eating sushi while headlights pass by. I want you to tell me about the latest book you've been reading. I want to watch you paint while we listen to your music. I want to go back in time and have never stopped talking to you last summer, so that we could have had at least a few more months together. I want to see your smile one more time.\n\nI was right. I can't take it. I don't know if anyone could, but I know I can't. It's been a while since I finished my own bottle, and it's starting to get harder and harder to write. Harder to breathe, too. My insides burn, but I can't help feeling I deserve it.\n\nI guess that's as much as I want to say. Now I just want to hold you, pull you close as the air shudders out of me, memories of you keeping me warm, and little by little fade into you.\n\n*Justin Meredith, 2018*",
"I can’t get out of my own way, obsessive-neurotic \nI can’t get out of your way. I’m obsessing I’m neurotic.\nI’m fading. \nSo involved that it’s repulsive. So involved that I’m lost in you.\nSo involved that I’m dizzy.\nLife is a nightmare I’m trapped in.\nHave I faded? How i wish that I were jaded.\nIn need of being medicated.\nYou’re on the highest pedestal,\nIt’s\nThe one that I’ve created.\nCosmically crashing, I’m silently hoping to create a light in your life like the facade you bring into mine.\nBlinding\nGaslighting\nBurning\nFalling\nYou are my match,\nI’m burning\nSince I’m the fuse to combust.\nSince I’m crazy I must.\nSince I’ve faded into you. \n",
"Little steps forward we take, with you\n\nBy my side.\n\nLittle steps. Uncertain, weary.\n\nI and you, growing growing growing together.\n\nFade our pasts\n\nInto distant memory: we’re here, now, and onward,\n\nYou and I.",
"And little by little, I fade into you. As summer wanes into autumn, autumn falling to winter's cold embrace, and winter erupting into colorful spring, I fade.\n\nMy cheeks grow pale as we lie, close together. Neither of us saying a word, yet saying everything. Both of us snuggling in closer, breathing the other's scent - shampoos, soaps, sweat intermingling between us.\n\nSweat became our journey, traveling paths wrought by tears. We loved, we lost, we wandered, we were found. And we found each other. Suddenly, the poets and artists and singers all made sense. We were complete.\n\nBut little by little, I fade into you, and you into me. Soon, we'll be whole, we'll be one. With your quick smile, my rumbling laugh, we'll be one. We'll light rooms up, we'll offer succor to those in need, we'll be entirely a universe unto ourselves and yet unto those around us. We'll be dancing stars, filled with chaos and cheer and charm.\n\nAnd little by little, I fade into you."
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[WP] [TT] [EU] As a public defender (s)he thought (s)he had heard all the murderers' weakest alibis. But now this person wanted to plead a new one: the laws of robotics. | 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",
"When I tell people my job it always seems to illicit a reaction of pity and confusion. I didn't \"accidentally\" choose to be a public defender because I had a poor resume or the job market was bad, it was a job I truly wanted to do. I represent people who can't help themselves. I help keep the government in check, but it never seems like anyone gets that. Sure, the clients are normally uneducated criminals, but I always try to see past that. This is about fixing the system and doing right by my clients, not about some absurd biblical eye-for-an-eye bullshit.\n\nSometimes the job is easy. DUI the first? 18 month probation plead out. Boom. Sometimes it's more difficult when a client persists that he's innocent. I remember having to take a misdemeanor possession charge to trial. The baby prosecutors had no idea what to do. The second chair sounded like he hadn't thought about mock trial practice since he graduated, and the first chair muttered \"umm\" on cross more than he spoke real words. But I suppose these are more headaches than real difficulties in the job. The real problem is murder cases. \n\nSee, there's a few theories on murder cases. Try your best to plead out, try to avoid the death penalty, and the third option being that the client demand it be taken to trial on a theory of innocence because he \"accidentally created robotic sentience\" that \"should count as a person under the 14th amendment\" and as such he shouldn't be held accountable for the robot's \"subsequent bombing a Bestbuy thinking it would start the robotic uprising.\"\n\nThis brought up quite a few questions in my mind. Should the robot have his own attorney, like animals did in the 1600's? Would the prosecution WANT to argue that robots aren't persons to get at the person himself? Does the government want to finally carve an exception that could possibly expand to corporations? Would this go to the supreme court? Would I get to meet the notorious RBG? Would she like my suit? Do I need to get a new suit? I can't afford a new suit. How long is this going to take? Will the client have to be his own expert witness? Can you even do that without waiving your 5th amendment rights? I wonder if that little Italian place is still open in DC? \n\nBefore I could get any of these questions answered my phone rang. Apparently there had been some sort of terrorist attack on the local jail, an explosion of some kind in one of the cells.\n\nWell, at least now I can get back to my real work.\n\n"
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1,
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[WP] It's 2018, but in 1989 Tim Berners-Lee's idea was strongly rejected by his supervisor at CERN: the World Wide Web, as we know it, was never a thing. | 14 | [
"**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",
"*San Francisco, Saturday*\n\nCrowds of people walk to the library. The lines are getting ridiculously long, and the smell of sweaty students trying to finish their homework, and the chatter of people from all over the city looking up the answers to their questions.\n\nCDTube down the street are getting even longer lines, with Content Creators trying to publish their film onto their shelves. Blockbuster is now getting CDTubers to create films for them.\n\n I have the most splitting headache right now. Can't take it anymore. I'm gonna finish this later. Nice Idea btw."
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1,
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"1529577918",
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[WP] Gordan Ramsay is unwillingly selected as a contestant for a Multi-universal cooking show. The other contestants? Various other Gordan(s) from alternate timelines. | 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",
"Gordon let out a stream of profanities as he looked at the people he would be playing for his life against. But what bothered him the most as he looked out from behind his station is that he was plainly the angry Gordon. The guy at station seven seemed genuinely happy despite the dismal circumstances and the cook at station two looked complacent. But the alternative Gordon that bothered him the most shared his bench. It was timid Gordon. Afraid to look at angry Gordon. How were they going to work together? More profanities. ",
"\"Oy! Are you even fucking listening to me?\" Gordan bounced on the balls of his feet, clearly exasperated. \"You don't put the fucking mustard on like you're painting a god damn garage!\"\n\nHe ran to another station. \"Ah, bloody hell! We give you the finest cut of meat in the universe and you hide it behind cauliflower mash and chick peas? Are you mental?\"\n\nIt had been like this for hours. Ever since appearing out of nowhere into this kitchen he'd been running around trying to get his other selves to stop fucking up his good name. How was it that in all the possible universes, he was the only one that knew how to cook?\n\n\"Mother fucker! \" He picked a pork chop off a particularly hapless Gordan's plate. \"With a little CPR, this bloody fellow can go back to the pin!\"\n\nHe quickly made his way to the back of the floor. The smell of burning rice was calling him. \"You don't make fucking risotto over an open fire ya wanker!\"\n\n\"Stop!\" He shouted at the room. The sounds of stirring, whisking, chopping, and sizzling came to an abrupt halt. \"Do you people even want to be here? I mean I've seen better results on America's worst cooks, and that fucking show sucks! If you people don't get your shit together I'm sending you all home and I'll cancel the fucking season!\"\n\nSilence stretched for a few seconds and Gordan became aware of the ticking of a clock. He turned around to face a large white clock hanging from a post. It ticked a few more times, then stopped on zero. \n\nHe heard his own voice shout, \"Time's up! Bring your dishes down front.\"\n\nAll of the Gordans grabbed their plates and set them on the table up front. Another Gordan stood behind the table surveying the food arrayed before him. He pointed at Gordan.\n\n\"Where's your dish?\" He asked maliciously.\n\nThe last words Gordan said before his elimination were, \"What the fuck do ya mean I was supposed to cook?\"",
"\"Who's this?\" Asked the Gordan about the tall, blonde man in the chef's outfit next to him.\n\n\"He's Gordon.\" Said the other Gordan.\n\n\"Idiot! I- We said bring every Gordan there is. Not Gordon! GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE, GORDAN!\" Shouted Gordan.\n\nGordon glanced at the Gordan walking toward the door, and then the one behind the desk. \"So. What in the Hell i'm doing here?\"\n\n\"You're here, because this idiot decided to bring you, Gordon, into a cooking competition against all Gordans from other alternative universes.\" Sighed Gordan.\n\n\"He's quite the idiot sandwich, isn't he?\" Said Gordon.\n\n-HEY! A voice behind the door could be heard.\n\n\"Yes- Hey, SHUT UP! Uhm. Gordon. How good of a chef are you in your world?\" Asked Gordan with a curious look.\n\n\"I love cooking, it's my passion that burns like fire that is kept fueled by the constant learning of different foods. \n\nI'm known as one of the best on Erth. Not the fucking best, but i'm the most well known at least.\" Said Gordon.\n\nGordan gave a little smile. \"Tell you what. I can give you access to this Gordan Cooking Competition for this night's cook off, for free. And if you happen to win this, you get a thing i haven't even thought what it would be. You can also punish the idiot that brought you here.\"\n\n-FUCK OFF! Another shout came behind the door.\n\n\"OH YOU FUCK OFF! THIS IS LIKE YOU BROUGHT ONLY RAW, UNPREPARED CHICKEN TO THE CUSTOMER THAT ORDERED BEEF MEDIUM RARE, YOU IDIOT!\" Shouted Gordon to the Gordan behind the door.\n\nThe Gordan behind the desk laughed. \"Well. I think you can handle things from here on out. Now go out there and put some pineapple on pizza!\"\n\nGordon turned his face towards the Gordan, breaking the sound barrier as he said: \"What did you just say?\"\n"
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[WP] The luckiest day of the year is here! for 24 hours everyone has insanely high luck... except for one. | 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",
"Daniel was a typical suburban guy, mediocre in every way. He was 41 years old, had a job as an accountant, made his $40k a year. He had a wife, whom he had met in college, after she had left her ex-boyfriend, Josh, now a successful lawyer with a huge firm and a six figure salary, a dog and a ten year old daughter who became more difficult to tolerate with each week that passed. Daniel believed that his wife sometimes regretted breaking up with Josh, although she had never said anything of that sort. He held a barbecue every weekend, where he chatted about mediocre subjects like the latest soccer and football games with other mediocre dads from other mediocre families.\n\nHe was on his way to grab some lunch from the pizza place down the road. It was sunny, a nice day with 90 degree weather with no clouds to be seen. Without warning, a wave of hot water hit him from above. A now empty bucket hit the ground right next to him with a loud “clunk”. Still trying to shake the initial shock, he looked up. There was a balcony above him. He couldn’t see anything else, but heard children crying, so he assumed that his bad luck was some kid’s good fortune, considering how hot that water had been. He wasn’t burned, but it was uncomfortably hot. His shirt was ruined, but he had already missed a good portion of his lunch break and there wasn’t enough time to go home and get changed, so he hoped the weather would to the deed. \n\nWhen Daniel arrived at the pizza place, he was pleased to see that it wasn’t too busy. He ordered his usual pizza, ham and salami. \nFor some reason he couldn’t quite figure out, his order took longer than usual and with time, he grew more and more impatient. His lunch break was almost over and his boss didn’t tolerate any delays. When he couldn’t wait much longer, he asked about his pizza. The waiter was apologetic. “Sorry, our new guy messed up your first pizza, and now we ran out of tomato sauce. It’ll be a while, I’m afraid. Can I get you anything else instead?” After studying the now tomato-less, very limited menu, Daniel left the place hungry and dissatisfied. \n\nHe made it back just in time, but received a few gruntled looks from his superiors because of his shirt. \n\nAfter spending the afternoon doing pretty much nothing, Daniel was just getting ready to go, when he heard celebratory howls from his boss’ office. It didn’t take long for his boss to emerge from his office, smiling. \n“Attention everyone, my mother, who, as I never get tired of saying, was hated throughout my entire family, just passed away after suffering from terminal lung cancer. She’s in a better place now I believe, but what’s far more important is that she left my late father’s estate to me. As the owner of this firm, I have decided to dedicate a small portion of it to you and give you all a raise. That was overdue anyway, I believe.” Everyone chuckled and after muttering their condolences, everyone left hurriedly with a smile. As he got into his car, a 1992 Chrysler Fifth Avenue, he got turned up the volume on his radio. Maybe, this would be a good day after all. \n\nHe allowed himself to relax. Traffic was light as he was approaching the train tracks. There was a little side road feeding into the main road just before the crossing. As Daniel waited for the train to pass, he heard a roar from the side. He looked right just before a van shot out of the side road and towards the tracks, crashing into Daniel’s car and pushing it in front of the train, before coming to a hold just outside the danger zone.\n\nLucy had been up since 6 am, making breakfast, getting her daughter and her husband, Daniel, ready to leave. She despised seeing Daniel in the mornings, how he got dressed into cheap suits that couldn’t hide his slowly growing belly, though she’d never tell him this. They weren’t rich, but lived well, because she knew how to save money. Still, looking back at college, it all felt like a missed opportunity. The only joy in her life was Marla, their daughter. For some reason, Daniel couldn’t really bond with her. Lucy suspected it was because of Daniel’s lack of patience when spending time with Marla, or maybe it was just natural that she as a mother was closer to her daughter, who knew? \n\nLucy’s day had been good so far. After Daniel and Marla left the house, she got ready to go to the town hall, where she had a part time job. She liked her job, as it was her way of getting her mind off her unsatisfying life as Daniel’s wife. At one o’clock, she went back home to prepared lunch for herself and Marla. Marla was already home, which was weird. \n\n“There was a fire alarm at school”, explained Marla. “Something caught fire in the kitchen there.” \n“Dear god, is everybody okay?” \n“I don’t know, but I guess so. There was no ambulance and the fire fighters said that the school was clear”.\n“Good Lord, so what happens now?”\n“Principal MacEvoy said that we need to have the week off, can you believe that? We could go and see visit grandma! Dad wouldn’t even come along. He has to work, right?” \n“Right, let’s wait until he’s home first.”\n\nWhen six o’clock came and went, Marla grew impatient. “Where is he?”, she wailed. \nLucy became restless as well. She wanted to go on a date with some friends from town hall and became more and more angry at Daniel for not showing up. The door bell rang rang.\n“Hello?”, Lucy said as she opened the door. A policeman looked her in the eyes.\n“Mrs Mayers? I’m Paul Aziz from the police department. There has been incident with your husband, Daniel. Could we come inside, please?”\n\nThe shock sat deep in her chest and continuously pressed on her chest. She didn’t want him be dead. Yes, somehow, she couldn’t imagine spending the rest of her life with him, but that didn’t mean that he had to be dead. \n\nHer originally nice day had taken a very dark turn. Still, while she pitied him, she didn’t really feel sadness, and for some reason, she thought of Josh again. Was he single? No, what a pathetic thought. She should be grieving. \n\nThe phone rang. \n\n“Hello?”, Lucy asked. Maybe Daniel wasn’t gone after all.\n“Lucy? It’s Josh. *Your* Josh from college. Sorry for just dropping in on you, I hope you don’t mind. Listen, I’ve been thinking a lot about you lately, are you free for lunch tomorrow? I’m currently in town.” \n\n"
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[removed] | [WP] "You're awfully cheerful for a villainess." "And you're awfully depressed for a hero. Don't look at me like that. Your eyes are screaming for help as even as you pretend to not need any. What did they do to you handsome?" | 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 u/Mister_Phantom, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**Direct prompt replies must be good-faith attempts at new stories or poems**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_1.3A_direct_prompt_replies_must_be_good-faith_attempts_at_new_stories_or_poems)\n\n- Fill-in-the-blank: Responses must be at least 30 words. 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*Prompts will be removed if there's a high possibility for rule breaking responses ([rule 7](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_7.3A_prompts_will_be_removed_if_there.27s_a_high_possibility_for_rule_breaking_responses))*\n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8suzt9/-/%0A%0A) us if you have any questions or concerns. In the future, please refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. \n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*"
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1,
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"1529610977",
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[WP] you are at a press conference when the power goes out. After the generators kick on, the interviewee is dead. | 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",
"As you stand shocked in silence the lights flicker back on. Standing in silence in rows are folding metal chairs, mostly full of shocked onlookers. The Man, the most powerful man on the planet lies dead before you all. No one could have done anything, no one knew what to do.\nIn hindsight later you realize that battery backups should have saved him, but hospital life support has a long way to go."
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"1529675898",
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[WP] One day in algebra class you discover the Angle of Death. | 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",
"“You’ll use this in real life,” they said, chalk in hand. “Trust us, you should remember these lessons.”\n\nTrust, pfft. How can I trust anymore? Every moment, I’m a miscalculation away from death, and I have 11th grade geometry to blame. \n\n“Oh, trust me,” Mr. Carlson had assured us from his perch by the overhead projector. “This is something you’re going to use.”\n\nNo Mr. C, you’re the one who used it...incorrectly. \n\nWhen I think back to that fateful day, that horrible moment, the first thing I remember is the silence in that classroom, the gentle scratching of pencils tickling my ears. It was a chapter test day, an innocent day, a normal day filled with the agony of our youth. Had we studied? Some of us had cracked a book. Were we prepared? For the test, somewhat, but for the outcome...nothing could have prepared us for this.\n\nPoor Sarah, smart Sarah, the one who we all tried to copy from, was flying through the test as usual. Her pencil flew across the test, barely stopping between questions. We thought she never made mistakes, her streak of perfect tests hiding the truth...until now.\n\nAt first, we attributed the sudden silence at her desk to a completion of the test, her pencil set down during a last run-through. But then, instead of standing, Sarah slumped out of her desk, crashing to the floor in a shower of scratch paper, #2 leads, and bouncing erasers.\n\n“Sarah?” Mr. Carlson stood up at his desk, concern on his face. “Are you...” He trailed off, the answer to ‘are you ok?’ painfully obvious. He started down the aisle quickly, then halted, recoiling. \n\n“Everyone out!” He bellowed, “now! Don’t stop, don’t touch her, don’t even look at her!!”\n\nThe class scattered in a panic, test sheets flying everywhere. I was paralyzed, frozen, unable to process anything other than the beating of my heart and the grey creeping into Sarah’s cheeks.\n\n“Michelle!” Mr. Carlson was suddenly at my side. “You gotta go, you have to leave.”\n\n“Is she dead?” I whispered.\n\n“Yes,” Mr. Carlson said firmly. “No point in denying it. And it’s all my fault.”\n\nI jumped up from my desk, trying to get away from my murderous math teacher. “What did you do?” I screamed, moving towards the door at the front of the class. “Why?”\n\n“Question 19,” He said. “I just realized that if she tried to verify the congruent angle value through factoring instead of just trusting the value on the page...she would have accidentally calculated the...Angle of Death.”\n\nI stared, unbelieving. “You’re joking,” I finally said, shaking my head. \n\n“I wish I was,” Mr. Carlson said sadly. “But it’s happened before.”\n\n“It has?” I yelped. “In your class?” He nodded silently, and something started to burn in my chest.\n\n“You’ve killed before?” I yelled. “And you didn’t take precautions to stop it from happening again?”\n\n“It was an accident,” He stammered. “I didn’t think anyone would make the mistake-“\n\n“We’re just kids!” I screamed, blood rising in my head, obscuring my vision. I reached for something, anything, to hold, to throw, to *hurt*, my fingers closing around cold metal. I picked whatever it was up, and hurled it towards Mr. Carlson, who screamed, a high-pitched wordless noise, cut short by the heavy apple paperweight sailing into his forehead. \n\nI gaped as he dropped like a rock, blood bubbling from his crushed face. “No,” He gurgled. “Let me explain.”\n\n“No,” I growled. “Let me.” I strode towards Sarah’s body, carefully averting my eyes as I collected the pages of her test. “In fact,” I said menacingly, “I think I’m going to use this stuff in real life.”\n\nMr. Carlson was helpless as I approached him, his head injury preventing him from doing anything other than closing his eyes as I waved the test papers in front of me. “No,” he moaned. “Not like this!”\n\n“Open up, Mr. Carlson,” I taunted, “read it and weep, and *die*.” When he didn’t obey, I grabbed a pencil from an abandoned desk and drove it into his upper thigh. \n\nHis eyes flew open in pain, and I thrust the pages into his face. “You’ll never get away with this,” he cried, and then his pupils dilated, and a moment later, he was gone. \n\nEverything was silent as I stood there, panting, my teacher’s blood splattered on my hand. “You could have stopped this,” I murmured. “So I guess it’s up to me now.”\n\nI can still see those last moments, clear as day, those last moments as an innocent teenager with my whole life ahead of me. But that path is behind me, lined with the corpses of math teachers too confident, too obtuse to protect their students from the Angle of Death. Yes, former teachers, I’m using this knowledge in real life...to end yours.\n\nr/diekarrotte \n\n*totally not where I intended to go with this...but here it is lol"
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"1529700319",
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[WP] To prove to your 5 year old brother that you can't do magic, you demonstrate by mumbling some random words and yelling "Fireball!" The only problem is... it works. | 266 | [
"**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",
"As my family watched the house we'd lived in for 7 years burn to the ground, I couldn't help but feel guilty for the whole thing.\n\nYou see, I'd dedicated my live to discovering mystical abilities in myself and others since I was 14, around the same time we moved into the house. Hours of my life were spent alone, reading books about wizards. Harry Potter, The Lord of The Rings, The Kingkiller Chronicles, if it had a wizard, I'd probably read it a thousand times. While there are other sources of wizardry, such as Youtube videos and magic shows, these were all clearly faked. People who thought they could fool us into believing they possessed the true art of magic. I knew better. Many people thought of my practices as insanity, or some weird religion I followed in cult-like fashion. In reality however, it was none of those things. To me, the practice of magic was a life goal, sort of like a bucket list item.\n\nLittle did I know that today would be the day.\n\nI was in the middle of my forth read-through of Prisoner of Azkaban when I heard a soft knock on my door. I knew it was my little brother, Jamie, because the rest of my family just barges in, mostly to strip me away from my research. Jamie only ever came to encourage me. This made him the only family member I liked.\n\nThis time, he brought me one of his games, called Street Fighter IV. He had taken an unusual interest in fighting games, being able to hit basic combos within a week of owning them. I never understood his abilities, but it was clear that he was a prodigy.\n\n\"I know it's not magic, but I thought this might help.\" Jamie said as he shyly climbed up onto my lap. He played me a short video recorded on his toy camera of his fighter launching a fireball out of his hands.\n\n\"Can you try it, just once?\" He pleaded.\n\n\"Sure, buddy.\" I said with as optimistic of a tone as I could. In reality, I knew this wasn't going to work. I took aim at a target that I had hung up at the beginning of my research. I curled my hands back to my right side, creating the z-like formation with my hands, just as the fighter had done. To my surprise, I felt a small amount of heat swell in between my fingertips.\n\nThis was it.\n\nAll of my research, years of reading, thousands of google searches, all to be shown up by a video game character's attack. I didn't care, all I knew was that I had found magic in the world. The heat continued to build, until I felt it coursing through the veins in my hand. I knew I had to let it fly, but I didn't want to let go. I looked over at Jamie, who looked overwhelmed with joy.\n\n\"Throw it!\" He shouted. I realized that this must be his dream also, seeing one of his favorite fighters' moves come to life. Finally, I let her rip.\n\n\"Fireball!\" I shouted as I threw the tiny inferno at the target. The ball slammed into the wall, shattering into hundreds of tiny pieces.\n\n\"That. Was. Awesome!!!\" Jamie exclaimed as he jumped for joy. \"Do it again, do it again!\"\n\nAs I looked to the target, preparing to take another shot, I realized something was wrong.\n\nFirst off, my hands were still burning from the first blast. They didn't hurt, but the fire was clearly there. Second, the fire on the target had suddenly spread to my bookshelf. All of my collection burst into flames. Panic over took me. I knew the house would be destroyed. I knew my parents would never forgive me, or at the very least, I would never forgive myself.\n\n\"Jamie, grab Mom and Dad, and run. Don't try to get anything else, just **RUN.**\"\n\nJamie, with a tears bursting out of his eyes, nodded and rushed out of the room. I quickly grabbed my laptop and ran with him. As I looked back into my room, I saw all of my research engulfed in flames. Everything I had worked for over the past 7 years, gone, as if I had never done anything with my life. Just as the flames reached my door, I dashed away, reaching the door to exit the building is seconds. When I ran outside, I saw my father making a phone call, presumably to the fire department, while my mom wiped away the tears from Jamie's eyes. When they saw me, all I saw was a look of disappointment in their eyes. They somehow knew I was the cause of this hellish mess. As I skulked forward, I heard the condescending voice of my father.\n\n\"What... the hell... did you do...\" He said. I knew I messed up big time, and their was no way I could explain what had happened to them without making up some lie. If I told them the truth, they'd think I was insane, if they didn't believe that already. I didn't say a word. Instead, I held up my hands, which were still partially burning from the initial blast. A look of horror crossed my mother's face, then she turned downcast.\n\n\"Sweety\", she said in a soft-spoken tone, \"We know your 'research' is important to you, but this...\"\n\n\"I know\" I replied, \"It was a freak accident, and I'm sorry. I know I'll never be able to fix this, but I'll try the best I can.\"\n\n\"Sorry doesn't cut it.\" my dad replied in a harsh voice, \"You're old enough to live on your own, and we expect you to. You have a week's stay in wherever we end up, then you're out.\"\n\nI looked down to my hands, and watched the last flame leave my fingertips. I didn't know what I would do, with no home and no money, when my brother tapped me on the shoulder. He handed me his toy camera and pressed play. I was shocked to see that my brother had recorded the whole indecent. In the rush of the moment, I had forgotten to get any proof of the fireball. Thankfully, my little brother was smarter than me. With this, I finally had a means to prove to the world that magic was real.\n\nThis is my first time posing on this reddit, so any feedback would be appreciated!",
"I had been carrying a pack of cards with me for the last four months, but the courage needed to perform a trick had always escaped me. I spent most my weekends watching tutorials online, the art of destroying magic - but in my defense, how else was I supposed to get started? \n\nThe family weekend outing had forced my brother and me to the park. He was busy in the playground tormenting a girl who looked to be his age. \n\n'I'm just going to take Maisy around the lake. Carol is going to keep an eye on you and your brother.' Mum said.\n\nMaisey, our newly acquired beagle, bounced in circles as my mum tried to pull her towards the lake. I sat alone on a bench and pulled out the deck of cards. They were tattered, beaten beyond belief but they felt comfortable in my hand. Carol, I'm guessing was the mum of the poor girl my brother was tormenting, gave me an odd look. Her interest in me didn't last long before she returned to scowling at Ed, who had followed the girl too closely down the slide and sent her sprawling onto the wood chippings. \n\n'Edward!' Carol shouted and leapt off of her bench. \n\nMy brother hopped off the slide and chose to run to me, instead of helping the little girl up. \n\n'Sorry.' I said.\n\nEd halted in front of me, aware he was in trouble but still had an ear to ear grin plastered to his face. \n\n'Are you going to show me a trick?' Ed said with dewy eyes. \n\n'It's not ready yet.' I said.\n\nHe frowned, shrugged his shoulders and then turned to run back to the playground. \n\n'One trick.' I shouted.\n\nEd halted in his path of destruction and raced back.\n\nI shuffled the deck, fanned out the cards and tried my best to hide my nervous fingers. There was a rush, one I had not experienced before, the idea of trying to trick my brother made me both nervous and yet excited and sent a tingling sensation into my fingertips as I pushed forward Ed's selection. \n\nHe did a poor job of hiding the card, and I knew without any trickery that it was the nine of spades.\n\n'Now remember your card.' I said.3\n\nEd nodded. \n\n'Place it back in the deck.' \n\nHe obediently placed the card roughly in the centre, and I made sure to keep a pinky break. \n\n'I'm just going to cut the deck.' I said. \n\nUsing the saved place, I moved the bottom half to the top. I did my best at performing a double-lift, and it half worked, and thankfully Ed was not the most observant audience member. \n\n'Is this your card?' I said showing him the wrong card.\n\n'No!' Ed exclaimed and began jumping up and down. \n\n'Wait a minute.' I said, but only half calmed him. \n\nI placed the cards back on top. I shook the deck like aggravating a can of fizz. 'Take the card again.' \n\nEd stopped prancing and frowned at me. 'But it's not my card.' \n\n'Just do it.'\n\nEd's eyes lit up as he pulled the nine of spades. 'Wow! How did you do it?'\n\nI lowered myself to his height and whispered. 'A magician never reveals his secrets.' \n\nEyes as wide as saucers stared back at me. \n\n'I hope he hasn't been too much trouble.' The familiar voice of my mum said. \n\nShe was speaking to Carol who could not maintain eye contact. 'No trouble at all.' She said followed by a nervous laugh. \n\n'Come on you two!' \n\nEd and I left our corner of the playground. \n\n'Let's head home.' Mum said. Maisey was fastened to the lead with her nose to the ground and tail vibrating. \n\n'Mum mum mum.' Ed called as we walked down the path. \n\n'What?'\n\n'Mike is a magician!' \n\n'Is he now?' Mum said with a knowing smile. 'Well, don't all magicians need a wand?' \n\nEd nodded with vigour. \n\nOur mum stopped by a tree and lifted a fallen branch from the floor, Maisey saw this as an opportunity to play and snagged the meat of it. Mum managed to break off a misshapen twig, still with leaves attached, and handed it to me, while Maisey dragged along the stick at least twice her size.\n\n'Play along.' She whispered to me. \n\nI nodded and raised the twig to the sky like I had just pulled Excalibur from the stone. \n\n'I am the almighty!' I shouted, flicking the twig at a distant tree.\n\nThe tingling sensation came back in full-force. My hands felt electric, and the current seemed to flow from my palm into the make-shift wand.\n\nThe crooked tip exploded, sending a bright hot ball from the end. It traveled lazily in the vague distance of the tree I had pointed to and then erupted against the grass.\n\nI exchanged a look of terror with my mum while Ed jumped on the spot with intense glee. 'Wow.' ",
"Boom. The fireball left my hand and hit his favourite GI Joe action figure. \n\nHe started crying. \n\nThis was not how it was supposed to go. This was supposed to be an education from me to him. Of course he was too young to embrace concepts like skepticism and inculcate that into his thought patterns. I had planned for that three years later.\n\nInstead, I found myself being the ass of an older brother who just ruined his favourite toy. I had to find a way to undo it.\n\nUhm. \"I'll buy you a new one, if you don't tell mom\" I said. I knew I didn't have sufficient pocket money for it, but I could borrow a bit and maybe pay it all back slowly. That would definitely make sense. If I could get him to stop crying, then maybe I would be able to figure how exactly I had burned his plastic to a pulp.\n\n\"I wan't that one!!\" he bawled on. \n\nGreat. That one was special. No fungibility when it comes to action figures. *That one* was special and nothing else would do.\n\nOn instinct, I mumbled a few words and yelled \"Restore!!\"\n\nPresto. The action figure sprang back to life as good as new. And he stopped howling. \n\nThat was easy.\n\nAs if from a story, I had somehow gotten magical powers. Now it was time to really see how far I could push this. \n\nAcross the street, I saw the neighbourhood braggart. I never liked that kid. He was always showing off about how he hit homeruns, how he kept getting action from all the pretty girls in school and how all the teachers loved him. \n\nI peeked out from my window, mumbled a few words and yelled \"Pinocchio!!\". He made the guinness book of world records that day. ",
"I didn’t think I meant to set the tree on fire. Maybe some part of me did, but certainly not consciously.\n\nI stared slack jawed at the blazing inferno I had just caused, while Nate danced delightedly beside me, cheering.\n\n“Witchy witchy witch witch! Witchy witchy witch witch! I told you! I told you!” He cried, singsong as he bounced up and down like a rubber ball. I gathered my wits and ran to the side of the house to grab the hose. ‘A fluke.’ I thought as I sprayed down the bright flames. ‘Maybe it’s just a fluke.’ I turned the hose off.\n\nNate was still grinning like a madman once I finished, but he had stopped bouncing. \n\n“Toldja.” He said proudly. For a moment, I was speechless.\n\n“How did you know?” His smile faded a bit, and he grew pensive. Well, as pensive as a five-year-old can get.\n\n“Stuff happens sometimes.” He shrugged.\n\n“Stuff?”\n\n“Yeah. Your eyes sparkle when you get happy. It gets hot when you’re mad at mom, and cold when you don’t want to talk to me.” I felt a little heart pang at the last one. I had no idea he was so observant.\n\nI also had no idea how our parents hadn’t noticed. We were never a strictly religious family, my mother wavered between religions, or rather, drew wisdom from each one, always bandying about ideas of ghosts and the paranormal. My father was content to let me believe whatever when it came to the metaphysical, but was very careful with his advice about other people. ‘Never mistake fear for respect, Lena.’, ‘Never abuse power, it’s a quick way to lose friends and gain enemies.’ but the one that came to the forefront of my thought was ‘You control your emotions Lena, don’t let it be the other way around.’ Had they known this whole time?\n\nMaybe I was paranoid. But then again, I did just set a tree on fire by speaking gibberish. I looked at my brother. His eyes were sparkling.",
"\"Do magic!\" My sibling cried.\n\n\"I can't, it's not real\" I defied.\n\n\"You can! You can!\" He cheered.\n\nI pulled my thumb from my hand.\n\n\"No, you can do magic!\"\n\nHe did not like the sleight.\n\nI mumbled \"This is tragic.\"\n\n\"You can, you can!\"\n\nI whisper something mystic,\n\nNonsense for a misfit. \n\n\nI pushed my palm outward to the sky\n\n\"FIREBALL!\" I cried as one went awry.\n\nAstonished, he let out a cry.\n\n\"I told you that you could do it!\"\n\nI couldn't believe my trick.\n\nAgain and again I flamed wisps.\n\nWill bent thin,\n\n I tried a different phrase.\n\n\"Neptune seeks watery plumes!\"\n\nAnd a geyser pulsed into the blue\n\nIn disbelief I tried a lie\n\n\"I can bring the stars into the sky!\"\n\nAnd with that the heavens turned inky.\n\nFrom them emerged a twinkling.\n\n\"I believe in you brother!\"I heard distantly.\n\nI barely believed it so quickly!\n\nThen the urge came too wickedly\n\n\"May they roam freely from heaven's cage\"\n\nAstonishingly the lights began moving.\n\nSpinning and swirling in a fit of rage.\n\n\"Thank you, old mage.\"\n\nThe childish voice I knew grew into a deep bass.\n\nI saw before me a beast of tendrils and a splayed face.\n\nTrembles crept through my body as I accepted fate.\n\nIn aeons of forgotten times I was deceived.\n\nReborn to break the seals I had placed.\n\n\n\n",
"\"I bet you could do magic, Sean.\" my little brother said. \"You're real smart.\"\n\nI guess it should have made me feel good, the way Bryan looked up to me...he had so much faith in me. But as I glanced around at the cramped confines of our little room in the trailer where we lived with our mom and whatever \"uncle\" she'd brought home with her this week, I didn't feel much of anything. \n\n\"Not that smart.\" I muttered. I was ten years older than Bryan, who was 5. We had different dads, of course, but he was just my *brother,* full stop, to me. I hoped I could do well in school, maybe get a good job right out of high school and get us out of here...but it wasn't going like I planned.\n\n\"I studied as hard as I could for that math test last week.\" I sighed. \"C-minus. I'm an *idiot,* Bryan.\"\n\n\"No you're not!\" he protested, frowning. \"Maybe...maybe you're not so good at math but...you're real good with *words.* And that's what magic is, right? Words and stuff.\"\n\n\"Magic's not *real,* Bryan.\" I retorted. \n\n\"It is, though, Sean!\" Bryan insisted. \"I know it is.\"\n\n\"It's not!\" I said, scowling at him. \"Look, you're just a little kid. What do you know?\"\n\nBryan's face fell. Great, now I felt like shit.\n\n\"I'm sorry...\" I said, putting an around him. \"I didn't mean to be mean. I just...we have to deal with the real world, you know?\"\n\n\"I know.\" he said softly. And then he looked up at me. \"But...could you *try?* Just *one time?* Could you use your words, and try to do some magic?\"\n\nI looked down at him. I wanted to tell him no. But I couldn't.\n\nI heaved another long sigh. English *was* actually the only subject I was any good at. Mrs. Thompson always complimented me on my poems and essays...yeah, that was the sort of thing that was going to get me a *lot* of work, in the future. Still...it didn't cost me anything, and it would make him happy even when it didn't work -- he always liked to hear the things I wrote.\n\nI thought a moment, arranging the words in my mind into a simple poem, and then I began making broad, mystical gestures in front of myself.\n\n\"Okay, stand back, Bryan!\" I said, with mock severity. I had to stop myself from grinning as his big green eyes went wide, and he scrambled back behind me. \n\n*\"Warming glow that conquers night,\n Summer sun that burns so bright,\nI summon thee, now hear my call! \nPyro Sphera - FIREBALL!*\"\n\nI thrust my hands forward like I'd seen some character do in a video game...and, to my surprise, a golf-ball sized glowing sphere of orange light rolled off the tip of my fingers. Bryan and I watched as time seemed to slow down, and we saw the little orb drift to the wall of our room...\n\nWe were thrown back onto the mattresses on the floor that served as our beds, as the wall of the trailer *exploded* outward. As we slowly got back to our feet, we peered out through the six-foot wide gaping hole I had somehow blasted in the wall. Lights were coming on around the trailer park, dogs and car alarms alike howling warnings into the night. I looked down at Bryan, who was looking back up at me in awe, and then back out through the hole I'd created.\n\nFinally, I spoke. \"Bryan, get your stuff together in your backpack. Just like we talked about -- hurry!\"\n\nHe jumped to obey, and picked his way through the debris to start stuffing his few meager little possessions into his school backpack, before pausing and turning back to me.\n\n\"Sean...where are we going?\" he asked, in a small voice.\n\nI looked down at my hands, which were still glowing with a faint, mystical light. I could feel the awakened power humming in my veins. \n\n\"Wherever we want.\" I said, with a smile. \n \n\n\n\n\n\n"
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[WP] In a world filled with super heroes, you are a successful bank robber with no powers. | 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",
"He asked, \"How 'ave you done it? Avoiding the damn supers?\"\n\n\"It's quite simple to best them, you see? It doesn't matter whether they're super or not. All you have to do think through it. All the supers have their own areas: you just make sure to have a plan. Most of the time the plain is to just 'hide', a few times it's been 'run', but most recently it was just blending in. Supers honestly are just dumb, they ALWAYS expect you to be flashy, and try and fight. It's gotten to the point where if you don't, they just stand around waiting for it. The police are the actual one's to watch out for at that point, but even they don't do much; they expect the supers to just do it for them. I've escaped Superman three times by just going under the metal floor of the bank - X-ray vision still has to abide by the rules of X-rays... The flash is a hard one though - probably the closest I've been to getting caught. The one way I could think of escaping was blending in, but then what keeps him from just searching everyone in an instant? Well, a distraction of course. I've found the bank in his area is actually also covered by Batman: all you have to do is get both there at the same time, and they act as the distraction for themselves.\" \n\nMy cellmate then asked, \"So why are you in prison then?\"\n\n\"I was caught with a beer bottle in public... It wasn't even mine, it just fell out of the sky. I think Superman was drunk.\"\n\nThanks for reading! It's my first time doing this, any criticism would be appreciated.\n\nEdit: posted by accident, I was still fixing stuff."
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[removed] | [WP] There was only matter, like a black hole, infinite matter. Then a void was opened, a space within the matter. Which caused what matter that was in the middle of the void to expand instantly. | 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 u/Jakaple, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**We’re here to inspire creative writing, not play writing games or commission stories**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_6.3A_we.2019re_here_to_inspire_creative_writing.2C_not_play_writing_games_or_commission_stories)\n\n- Too Detailed: Your post includes too many details to be considered a prompt. It has become a story commission, which is not allowed. Prompts are meant to inspire users to write their own work, not write something for you. \n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/8t9mhw/-/%0A%0A) us if you have any questions or concerns. In the future, please refer to the [sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/about/sidebar) before posting. \n\n*This action was not automated and this moderator is human. Time to go do human things.*"
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