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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[removed] | [WP] Death is fed up with people joking about dying, so he starts killing them when they say they want to. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi, 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- We feel that asking users to write about suicide is harmful. It can be hard to tell if someone's writing fiction or making a cry for help. In the event there's any truth behind this for you or someone you know, we recommend checking out /r/suicidewatch or /r/depression. \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 Post) 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] You wake up and find that everyone is gone. 20 years later after living alone moving from place to place thinking you are the last person alive, you decide that there is no point to living and decide to kill yourself. Before you can pull the trigger you hear a scream. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi, 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- We feel that asking users to write about suicide is harmful. It can be hard to tell if someone's writing fiction or making a cry for help. In the event there's any truth behind this for you or someone you know, we recommend checking out /r/suicidewatch or /r/depression. \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 Post) 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’ve realized that you can’t die to virtually anything, knowing that, you’ve adventured the world and done everything you’ve ever wanted! Now, finally done, you feel that your life has lost it’s meaning, so you set out to do the one thing you’ve never done: find what CAN kill you. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"If you were immortal, what would you do?\n\nLiterally everything I can that no mortal can.\n\nThat was what I said. The moment after I got hit and runned by a car and walked away like it was nothing, I realized I was invincible. \n\nI tried everything, experimenting with stuff that can and will kill a human. A normal one anyway. \n\nDrinking bleach? Didn't kill me.\n\nJumping on the rails of the train? Didn't kill me.\n\nEVERYTHING. Can't kill me.\n\nI felt a surge of unexplainable excitement run through my body. I can do anything and not die. It. Is. The. Best. Feeling.\n\nI did everything I wanted to do.\n\nI went to South Lake Tahoe and skied without a helmet, landing head-first onto a rock. Had an injury, but I laughed it off. \n\nI went sky-diving without a parachute, ended up having slight injuries, but nothing fatal to kill me.\n\nHeld my breath for far too long I lost track of time. By now, I can be in the Guinnes Book of Records for how long I can hold my breath.\n\nBasically everything I did in my life was so fun, dangerous, and exciting.\n\nI have unlimited time, but there are limited things I can do on the Earth.\n\nSure I can wrestle a bear without dying, and that made me felt.... weird.\n\nIf any other human can be invincible as I am now, wouldn't they do the same thing too? Doing life-threatening stuff, and basically enjoying and savoring this privilege? \n\n\nNah they wouldn't. Only I would.\n\n\nFor the past 5 years, I practically crossed off everything from my impossible bucket list.\n\n\nAnd....... I felt empty.\n\n\nIt was like when you worked so hard to beat that damn boss level, and trying to beat it for weeks, and when you finally did, you feel this joyous feeling and then.... You feel as if part of your life is empty. The feeling of 'Oh I'm finished. What am I supposed to do next?'\n\nI felt that. Everything I ever wanted to do, I already did. And the fact that I can't die from anything, probably even Death itself, got me depressed and a sprinkle of some exstentialism.\n\nWhat if I'll see everyone I love die? My current significant other, my parents, my siblings, my friends, all of those who mattered to me, I'll watch them all slowly die and yet I am here. Being unvulnerable to everything.\n\nWhat would you do for the rest of your life, when you already did what you wanted? Wouldn't life be utterly meaningless? Would you still enjoy it? Knowing you already accomplished everything you wanted to do, do I still have a purpose?\n\n5 years I did all the impossible. 5 years I was happy. 5 years I felt excited. After 5 years I feel empty. \n\n\n10 years go by so quickly. And I felt worse every minute that goes by. My parents are dead. My sibling keep in touch with me whenever they get the chance. My significant other still here, and we had been married for the past 2 years, although we are childless, we are happy.\n\nAt least their happy.\n\nI can't go on like this. I feel so useless. I feel like I'm living without meaning.i feel like a mindless zombie. I don't have expectations, I don't ambitions , goal or other shit. I've already done them.\n\nNever in my life was I so desperate to find anything, ANYTHING, that can kill me. I never wanted tk die so much up to this day. I just wanted to be gone. I don't want to waste mh immortality. I already used it. I want to get rid of it. I NEED to get rid of it.\n\nEveryone wants to be immortal at some point in their life. Be it in your last final minutes, or when you were just a kid.\n\nTake it from someone who is one.\n\nDon't wish for it.\n\nIt's literally a Living Hell.\n\n\n\n\n------\n\nI had always been thinking of this kind of plot and this one was already pre-made but a shorter version of what I had in my journal. If there were typos, sorry because I'm typing on a phone and it is hard. Lol. Anyways, constryctive criticism would be appreciated, since I want to improve my writing skills. Thanks!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"
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[removed] | [WP] Marsellus Wallace and Gromit | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi, 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- 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 Post) 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 know everything that has been, and everything that will be, but are stuck attending high school. One day you meet a girl in class who you know nothing about. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Her name was Sunny. It wasn't actually Sunny; her parents were hippies. They named her Solana, and all of human society except for Sunny's parents agreed never to speak of that embarrassing name. Her smile, radiant. Her hair, golden. But there's a problem.\n\nThe problem?\n\nThat's all I know.\n\nAnd usually, I know _everything_ about _everyone_. I am, you see, a god of sorts. Not one that makes men from clay and women from ribs, or the sort that casts down lightning from Olympus, or the kind who revels in the heavens. I'm the unfortunate kind condemned to living among humans, cast out from Heaven for misdeeds in past lives.\n\nAnd, being a god, I have powers. I have what is called The Sight. There were three goddesses long ago. If time is a thread, then these goddesses wove it into a tapestry. One spun the thread, one wove it, and one cut it. I'm friends with the weaver, and she tells me what will happen, before, after and as it happens. She is sympathetic to my cause. She tells me things.\n\nBut, she did not tell me about Sunny.\n\nShe did not tell me of her birth, arrival at my ordinary high school, or of her death.\n\nI try to act normal, but there's a possibility Sunny could be a god.\n\n---\n\nI just woke up, that's all I got."
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[WP] You die and can see a counter of all the times someone has thought of you. The counter has remained still for centuries, until today. | 83 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"My name is Greg. I was a veteran in the civil war and has lost my last name to the changing times. I’ve used my death days sitting in a small cubicle like all the others that have died. We all have small counters on our computers.\n\nThese counters have evolved over time since I got here after that bullet went through my skull. When I got here they were mere paper and floating ballpoint pen. When ever someone would think about you you paper would erase and the pen would write a new number. \n\nAfter some time it changed to a large computer and then continued to get smaller until we all had Mac books. Now if someone thinks of you your counter just deleted one or two numbers and adds new ones. Sadly my number has been stagnant for over one hundred years. The last person to think of me was my mother when see was on her death bed. Her cubicle is floors above mine but I do see her on occasion.\n\n42\n\n42\n\n42\n\nYears go by and I don’t see anything change. My neighbor was a popular guy and even his counter hasn’t changed. He stopped at 608. Sad day when yours stops, everyone tries comforting you but you know that once it stops you’ll have an eternity to wait until your shift is over.\n\n42\n\n42\n\n42\n\nAs you see after your last number you have to wait 10 millennium until you can leave. It’s the most depressing thing you’ve ever done.\n\n42\n\n42\n\n42\n\nEvery time your numbers increases you have the choice to hop over to the living world and see who and why they thought of you. People like Albert Einstein and Abe Lincoln always have there numbers going up but never go and see what’s happening. I’d love for just once I can have that feeling.\n\n42\n\n42\n\n43\n\nWHAT. I never thought this would happen!!! Who! What! Why! I’m ecstatic who would think of me. As I hop over to the living world I see a boy maybe 15-16 laying in bed. He seems to be sick. Not to sick maybe the flu or cold.\n\nThe boy is holding a phone and typing like a mad man. What is he typing? Why did he think of me? Who is he? As my mind races I look into his head too see what he’s doing. He’s typing what looks like a short story. He’s writing a story of me!! And it looks like he figured me out from a website of all the civil war casualties. He liked my name because it didn’t have a last name. \n\nWhat a boy. He’s a fine young man. I watch as he finishes his story and ends with the words ‘Don’t forget me’\n\n\n\n__________________________________________________\n\n\nThis was my first prompt I loved the concept and hope you all enjoy it.",
"As I close my eyes and draw my last breath, the counter immediately appears in front of my face. I almost ignore it, because I don't want to have my soul crushed yet again. The counter is set up to tell me how many people have thought about me during my previous lifetime, however it has always stayed at a consistent \"Zero\" for the past thirty-six lifetimes. However, this time it was different this time. This time, as I looked up as the counter, I notice that it no longer reads \"Zero.\" Instead, it reads \"One.\"\n\n​\n\nI immediately awaken in my usual body, in the same bed I have woken up in for the past thirty-six lifetimes. For the thirty-seventh time, I awake as a eighteen year-old man, one who would go on to die at the exact moment I turn fifty years old. None of that matters to me now, though, in-fact it has become commonplace for me to immediately start a life for myself despite dying mere moments ago. However, this time was different, a life could wait, for the first time in one-thousand one-hundred and fifty-two years, someone has thought about me as more than just an everyday individual, and I was going to figure out who it is.\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nI spend the first three years of my thirty-seventh life searching the city for anyone who recognized me. Due to always being reborn with the same body, you'd think that at least one person would recognize me. Sadly, that didn't seem to be the case, and no one I talked to even knew my name. I began to lose hope, thinking that I misread the counter, or that maybe it was an accident that I was thought about. However, that couldn't be the case, the counter isn't that simple. The counter only counts thought that are more special to a person, such as thoughts of absolute hatred or love, of course I was hoping for the latter.\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nI took a break after the eleventh year, finally giving in to my doubt. I built a life for the next five years, living a normal as possible until December twenty-fifth, the day I was sent the letter.\n\n​\n\nThe letter was simple, yet cryptic. There were many words, yet none made sense, not at first. There were ramblings such as, \"A phoenix is burdened with eternal life,\" and, \"Thoughts lead to actions\". There was one sentence, though, that was blunt and to the point. It simply said, \"On the dawn of the five-hundredth eighty-forth thousandth day, meet me at your first resting place\".\n\n​\n\nIt didn't take me long to figure out that the five-hundredth eighty-forth thousandth day of my life was the last day of my fiftieth lifetime. The strange thing wasn't that, though, it was the fact that my first resting place was under the tree in my back yard, meaning that someone knew about me when I first died.\n\n​\n\nI pondered for years on whether or not it would be worth it to keep my hopes up for thirteen more lifetimes. I ultimately decided that it would be, so I waited. I waited for thirteen lifetimes for the day that I meet the mysterious person who thought about me.\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nAs the clock hits twelve in the morning, the dawn of December thirty-first arrives. And as the day rises, I feel my heart begin to pound in my chest, noises suddenly becoming much louder, even colors become so saturated that I'm nearly blinded by the the darkness of the nights. At that moments, I feel the all of my fifty lifetimes come together and merge into this wonderful feeling, a feeling of relief. For the first time in one-thousand six-hundred years, I feel free. Free from the shackles of life and free from the ever lasting pain of immortality.\n\n​\n\nThen, I see her. The mysterious writer, the mysterious women who thought about me. She walks up to me and smiles, but she doesn't say a word. I smile back, taking one of her hand in my own. Tears flow down my cheeks as I look at the women before me, the women who had given me a reason to keep hope for many lifetimes.\n\n​\n\nThe women speaks delicately, \"Hello Sheane, its been a while, hasn't it\".\n\n​\n\nI nod, tears continuing to flow. As the tears flow, I stare at the girl in front of me in disbelief. I can't even talk, I simply wrap my arms around her in a hug and continue to cry. The world around us begin to fade, leaving us alone in a white abyss. I take a step back and look at the girl, the one person I never forgot about, my own sister.\n\n​\n\nAnd as I look at my sister, I begin to fade into oblivion, but this time there isn't a counter. Instead, I wake up in my arm chair, looking at my sister who is asleep on the couch, and who is also very alive.\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nSeven years later, me and my sister have made a life for ourselves. She has no recollection of the lifetimes I spent in repeat, but I do."
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[WP] You are the captain of a janky spaceship that barely passes the intergalactic travel guidelines. One day you notice a red beeping coming from the control panel as your engines fail and you plummet into an unknown planet | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I cracked my neck, settling back into my chair that's cushion has molded around my butt. The joystick that I used for steering this God forsaken piece of junk was about to break and I wasn't going to pay to replace it.\n\n \"Captain Sterling.\" One of my men said. I swiveled around to see Guobzen, some guy I picked up in the Loben system when I was high on fleeb juice. \n\n \"What is it?\" I asked.\n\n \"The toilet's clogged and there's sewage pouring out into the halls.\"\n\n \"Are you telling me this or are you going to clean it up?\" I growled. I shooed him away and pulled out the magazine I got on our last stop. It was filled with spicy pictures of exotic women of all species. I kicked my feet up on the dash and whistled to the beat. The beat? I leaned over the magazine and looked at the control panel. A dim red light was blinking and making a barely audible beeping. \"Oh shit.\" I mumbled. \"Crew!\" I pressed the speaker button for the ship. \"You guys might want to buckle up.\" For a second nothing happened and I clenched my butt. Then the engines went haywire, spinning us in all different directions until we were thrown off course and headed into the planet we had just passed. \n\n \"Captain!\" I could hear from just outside the door. \"I'm soaked in poop!\" \n\n \"I told you to buckle up!\" I barked back. \"It's not my fault that you stayed in the hallway!\" I struggled to put my seat belt over my fat stomach because it was stuck, but I got it eventually. I turned off the power to the engines, but we didn't stop accelerating. My nose started to itch but I ignored it, grabbing the glass box that protected the green button. I flicked it open and slammed my hands down on it, parachutes fumbling open, probably. I felt the ship slow and we entered the atmosphere. I sighed leaning back in my chair and looking up the ceiling, except the ceiling wasn't there anymore. It had burned off, or fell off, I wasn't quite sure, but I could see the parachute. It was purple, the color of the most superior race, the humans.\n\nAnyways, I thought we landed on a big box, but it turned out to be a house. We paid our respects to the deceased by apologizing and borrowing all, I mean some of their money, hoping to be able to use it at the market. The people there called themselves Dadawollans but I called them ugly bastards. I mean, they had terrible fashion sense. Nevertheless I was able to buy back some dirt cheap engines, even though they didn't have any new joysticks. \n\n\"Don't you think we should patch up the ceiling?\" One of my crew members asked. \n\nI snorted, \"all we need is some metal sheets and a nail gun, right?\" They turned to look at each other anxiously and stood behind Guobzen in unison.\n\n\"Captain.\" He said, licking three of his eyes at the same time while tugging down the bottom of his shirt. \"I think it's time we go our separate ways.\"\n\n\"What!\" I yelled, turning eyes from the Dadawollans from the market. \"What are you talking about?!\"\n\n\"He's saying that the ship is not safe, and you're too much of a stingy Martian to do anything about it!\" One of them said in the crowd \n\n\"Hey!\" I yelled. \"That's speciesist!\" But they all left and I stood there alone in the market, with two engines and no friends."
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[WP] When a million people become aware of someone's existence, they die instantly. All public figures are dead, and society must split into small factions | 177 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Another shadowy patron descended the dilapidated stairs into the poorly lit bar, female by the looks of it. It was impossible to say if it was another regular, everyone belonging to this micro-faction wore the same dark garbs. The head was wrapped completely in fabric except for a section running along the eyes, the torso-piece was also a little baggy as not to betray too much of who was underneath. \n\nThe potential stranger walked up and gestured at the bartender, red characters floated in the air in front of her.\n\n“Hail. Double moonshot whiskey, neat, thank you.” The letters hung in the air until the bartender responded, blue letters swiftly painting themselves into existence in front of him.\n\n“You got it, coming right up.”\n\nThe bartender quickly grabbed an ancient crystal bottle from the shelf and began pouring it into a glass, the strong alcohol mixture briefly provoking his nose.\n\n“I don’t recognize your writing, a traveler perhaps?” the blue characters casually commented as the bartender continued cleaning a glass with a dirty piece of cloth. For a moment the stranger simply sipped the whiskey, taking precautions as not to soak the garb that hung over her mouth.\n\n“You don’t know me, but I know all about you, *deserter,*” The red characters angrily carved into the air.\n\n“Or do you prefer that I call you Rupert?”\n\nThe bartender scrambled over the bar-counter to expunge the name with thick blue lines before any of the other patrons took notice.\n\n“*Are you* *crazy*? I don’t know who you think I am, but you need to get the hell out of my bar!”\n\n“I’ll leave soon enough,” the red letters lazily painted in front of her “Right after the big announcement”.\n\n“What announcement? What have you done?” blue jagged characters quickly sprayed out into the air.\n\nA moment later the bartender started to convulse, his panicked bloodshot eyes desperately surveying his surroundings for anything that could help him, but it was already too late. His hands grasped at his throat as his mouth began to foam, a final croak escaping his lips before he finally slumped unnaturally to the ground. \n\nThe stranger calmly jotted out her message and left the disposable device at the twisted corpse. She made her way out of the bar, a statement in red the only evidence of her passing by.\n\n“The Acumen sends their regards.”",
"It happened so suddenly no one had a chance to offer even the wildest of ideas. Since then we've had to split up and live in groups of no more than 250,000. I've seen mothers taken from kids, the elderly euthanized, the world fell into complete chaos, and there wasn't anything we could do.\n\nNews travels so slowly now. Traveling over 500 miles, the standard distance between settlements on horseback was a daunting task, and only to be undertaken with information of paramount importance. . . It's easy to forget that we're not the only settlement sometimes.\n\nFor percisely this reason it came with a fear and anxiety when I recieved the package on my doorstep from the neighbouring colony. \n\nWe hadn't had contact with the outside world in over 25 years. . . So what could it be now? I pray to the Tao it's not another outbreak of disease, the last one had taken so many of us. It was after this the council of the 9 conviened to make it law to self contain any pathogens in your community. \n\nThat's right, the council. I must rally them before handling the package, lest another tragedy strike our delicate community.\n\nIt took two days to get our officials in the same room. There were 9 of us, three on every side of our territory, then I, their govenor.\n\nWe had the contents of the package removed and examined by a poor fellow using the only hazmat suit we had left after the great plagues. It had been duct taped in several places.\n\nThe council members held their breath as the contents were removed. A VCR tape and a single letter. I stood up as quickly as I could and screamed 'Bring me that damn letter! And someone get me a VCR and a generator!'\n\nThe man brought me the letter as the council scurried to find the requested resources.\n\nI sat back down in my seat and carefully unfolded the letter, it read, \n\n'Mayor Grimly, I am writing from the Kodur district with the findings of my R&D department. My scientists claim to have found an answer to the chaos that has destroyed our great civilization over 40 years ago. Please find included their research tape and let me know what you think as soon as you are able to watch it.' ~ Mayor Fosuh.\n\nI sat silent for a long while reflecting on what I had just read. . They found an answer? How could that be possible? The best minds of the Lost Civilization, with their ultra sophisticated technology had worked on this problem for years before being completely wipped out. My parents among them, which led me to take the mayorship at only 25 years old. No one could explain the mysterious and almost synchronized deaths of the lost world's leaders. The entire communities of people dead almost over night. None of the same causes of death, but it was certain by 2730 that man kind was on the brink of extinction. That's when the great divide took place. \n\nAfter what seemed like a life time someone finally got a VCR hooked up and I demanded the tape be played immediately.\n\nA picture of a brain appeared and then a diagram pointing out regions of it. Mankind had lost most of it's higher knowledge when all of this happened so I had trouble following some of the words. I ordered our own scientists to be brought in, but I was able to make out some of it.\n\n' A previously undeveloped part of the brain. . . ' \n\n' Global subconscious entity '\n\n' A form of telepathy, or manifestation of will ' \n\n' Great numbers are required. . . Approximately 1 million. '\n\nThat was all I could understand by myself before the tape ended and I shot out of my chair. 'Where are those damn scientists! ' I yelled.",
"**Please let me know what you think!**\n\nI closed my eyes, allowing my head to droop. I gripped my thick, worn pocket notebook in one hand. The pages had been filled with tally marks. A count of all of those who knew me. When that count reached a million, I would perish.\n\nAll but one of the pages had been completely filled. The remaining page had room enough for ten more marks, or maybe even fifteen. But, it didn't matter. Even one more may well enough to doom me.\n\nIt was the price I paid for the safety of those under my care, as it had been the price my predecessors had paid. There were few willing to undertake my responsibilities.\n\nWhen the cataclysm had come, the celebrities, the socialities and the politicians had been the first to die. There had been none left to bear the burden of decision-making and governing. Electing another to a position of power would be impossible. Such an action would require that the individual in question be seen and known by people far more than the one million allowed to us.\n\nI had been born after the mysterious cataclysm that had rocked our society. I had no recollection of the world before, though my predecessor, who had been young when the cataclysm had come, had talked of that time often. I had heard tales of individuals who had sought to be seen, whose purpose and whose functions in society required the awareness of the masses. I had been told that being known was often the key to success.\n\nI could scarcely understand it. Hadn't our ancestors understood how lucky they were? To walk in public, with no fear that the very prospect of being seen or talking to a stranger could doom them both?\n\nI envied them bitterly.\n\nBut, even as I envied them, I had to admire their resilience. Even as civilisation had tattered, they had found ways to stitch it back together. Small fragments of the fragment of society had barred themselves behind almost impenetrable walls while using intermediaries to hold together the tears. \n\nSince I had been a child, I had dreamt of travelling the world. I had wanted to see what few fragments of society I could without killing myself. I had become a peacemaker and a merchant, diligent and thorough. I had dealt with others fairly and with compassion. I had ended the conflicts that my tiny clan had become involved in, agreed to act as an unbiased judge and mediator in the conflicts that other clans had wanted to end.\n\nI had succeeded too well. There were many clans who knew of me, who knew my name and whom I had become irrevocably tangled with in my ardour and optimism. I had kept a close watch on such stories, though I had been powerless to stop them. I knew that I had almost reached the one million limit, though I didn't know how closely. One more tale told of me could be the end of my life.\n\nBut I clung to the hope that it would not be the end of *me*. The clans still told stories of old heroes who had triumphed the in face of great odds. I, as had many others, grown up with tales of peacemakers and heroes, generals and scholars, whose lives had left a profound impact on the world.\n\nAs my final breath escaped my lungs, I hoped that my name would join the hallowed ranks of those forever remembered.\n\n/r/YarnsToTell"
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[WP]Your lover and you died at the same time. He is doomed to hell, and you to heaven. You both chose to stay in Limbo instead. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"She always saw the best in me when we were alive. Always helped me and stood by my side. Never questioned me. \n\nWe died and little changed. She still sees the best in me. Still stays by my side and helps to keep me here instead of go to hell. Doesn’t even question why I am damned.\n\nOf course, I am not a good person - I’m surprised there is an afterlife, but not surprised which portion of it I belong to.\n\n“Ours is a love for the ages” she would often joke when we were alive, but it is a joke no more.\nShe is kind and truly good. No surprise she deserves the paradise. If she moves on, I’d have to move too - you can only be here so long without a counteracting force. So she stays. For me.\n\n“I’ll never leave you” I would often say when we were alive - because leaving her would darken my life then, and blacken it now.\n\nPeople never really agreed with our relationship back then - she was kind, smart, and for many most importantly rich. I was just a devious pretty boy who was good with his tongue.\n\n“You’ll be happier if you leave him” they would often say, and it was probably true then and definitely now.\n\nI never thought she would abandon me, of course. Never feared that I’ll have to stop taking advantage of her riches then, nor do I fear that I will have to stop taking advantage of her goodness now.\n"
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[removed] | [WP] After years of searching, you've finally gathered all the pieces that make up the legendary Plot Armour. | 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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**No recent reposts, even if changing small details**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_5.3A_no_recent_reposts.2C_even_if_changing_small_details)\n\nAlso, no [copy-cats](http://i.imgur.com/38FjDgW.gifv).\n\nSearch before submitting as popular ideas can cause floods. If your idea is based on something you read elsewhere on reddit, chances are it's been submitted here already. Please wait at least 2 weeks before reposting.\n\n \n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed Post) 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] describe the daily routine of a centaur who hides their horse half | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Clark carefully dressed himself, shades lowered. You never knew when a neighbor might be watching. The black dress shirt went on easily enough, followed by a skinny red tie. The pants took a little longer, maneuvering all four legs and two belts to ensure the pants stayed on. Clark hated the extra legs, but it was better than walking around with his horse bits more exposed, as many other centaurs preferred.\n\nHe clopped over to his phone and called for an automated car. The service was still in beta, but the infrastructure of New Toledo had been built with self-driving cars in mind, and for creatures of any size, from gnome to dragon. The city was relatively accommodating, but it didn’t make Clark feel any better. Centaurs were the most aligned race of the Nine, and he preferred to not draw attention to himself.\n\nIt was a boring, uneventful commute downtown. He directed the vehicle’s destination to an alleyway next to his building. Slinking out into the shadows between skyscrapers, he opened a side door, and let himself into the bar. It didn’t take too long to set up. Some dim lights, a spooky soundtrack, and the fog machines rolling. After half an hour, Clark’s Year-Round Halloween Bar was open for business.\n\nIt was a perfect hiding place for Clark. Centaurs weren’t known for following human holidays like the elves and goblins. He kept his hear short and clipped, unlike his brethren who liked the hair wild and shaggy. The thick fog machine obscured his form behind the bar, and the music covered the clops of his hooves. The occasional patron who was sober enough to notice his figure despite the fog always assumed it was an elaborate costume, in theme with kitsch pictoral stereotypes of the other eight of the Nine that covered the bar walls.\n\nClark worked long shifts as the bar’s owner and sole employee. New Toledo rent was insanely high, and the high rent afforded him privacy from neighbors in the nearby towers. His online friends knew him only as HorseKiller98768, and presumably believed him to be a racist Human, or a vet with PTSD from the Tenth War.\n\nIt was a lonely life, but it fit Clark the Centaur’s model of self-loathing and privacy well. Everything was continuing at its dreary, content pace until the Wizard knocked at his door."
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[WP] You're among the prison inmates with death penalty. Only prison warden knows that you're a journalist, secretly working on a story about it. Until suddenly the warden dies and your execution is in 3 days. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Entry 554\n\n-Shit. The Warden just died. Looks like they're going to inject me in just three days for sure. How the hell am I supposed to explain this shit to them? \n\nOnce I die, my death is going to cause a scandal to the fucking company. I really hope my death will make this country get rid of the death penalty.\n\nI hate death row more than ever. Part of me wishes I could be granted the mercy of death. Now I see why capital punishment doesn't fucking work in the end. \n\nThe other death row inmates are probably hoping to be granted the mercy of death too. \n\nNow that Warden Jones Walter is dead from some apparent food poisoning, I don't know what to even say. \n"
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[WP] Prisoners of their corresponding crimes are sent to VR worlds with no memory of their lives before. You are sent to the world of Murderers, which is in constant war. The thing is, you can remember your life, and you remember that you never killed anyone. | 51 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"Dr. Lafite. I must be quite frank -- I do not understand the corrective purpose of your, ah, proposal.\"\n\nGunther's intonation was sing-song, pirouetting delicately around the inquiry. He did not want to offend the doctor - although Lafite had a brilliant mind, he was quick to take offense, making it difficult to guide their experiments toward more productive endeavors if Gunther did not regularly coax the physician into doing what he wanted.\n\n“Explain what you do not understand, Gunther.”\n\n“Our task is to improve the American’s penal system… placing 1st-degree murderous felons into a make-believe world where they get to regularly engage in a type of fantasy - indeed, the types of acts for which they are being originally punished for - does not seem so much as a punishment, as a… well…”\n\n“Reward, Gunther?”\n\n“Ah, yes, precisely. Reward. We are meant to modify the method of *punishment*, not enhance their *pleasure*.”\n\n“I take it, Gunther,” Dr. Lafite said with a cold stare, “that you have not comprehensively read my prospectus?”\n\nGunther shifted his feet slightly. “I admit I was a bit pressed for time… you see, last night, Frau Gos-”\n\n“If you would kindly flip to page 24 of my report, please,” Lafite interrupted, folding his hands behind his back.\n\nGunther stopped mid-sentence, and with a flare of the nostrils, snapped a dossier lying on the doctor’s desk, flipping the pages brusquely. He stopped and stared, reading for a minute.\n\n“I still don’t understand… every murderer placed in your fake-world has false memories implanted… making them believe they’re innocent? And creating for them wholesale bogus histories, with pure families and children?”\n\n“Correct.”\n\n“So?”\n\n“So… they engage in an everlasting hell of their own making, truly believing that they don’t belong there, their own mind working against them.” \n\n“But what happens if they begin to talk to each other… won’t they figure out what’s going on?”\n\n“Have you ever met a prisoner who claimed they were innocent, that you *believed*? Everyone knows that everyone in prison are all liars, even if you think that you're the sole innocent.” \n\n“Ah… true, true, my dear Doctor. Why… this is marvelous!” exclaimed Gunther.\n\n“Isnt it?”\n\nDr. Lafite grinned, his smile twisted.\n",
"Imagine it. \n\nOne moment I have a job and a wife and kids and a purpose. No lofty goals, nothing unreachable. A carefully cultivated routine that fluctuates with minor variations. Love wife, raise kids, retire early.\n\nThat time feels like one singular moment, a mirage shimmering in the recesses of my mind. \n\nI am submerged in chaotic sound. Bursts of light overhead and mechanical thunder cracks, followed by screams of pain and terror and the darkness coming. \n\nI crouch beneath a low cement wall, fingers in my ears, eyes screwed shut, trying to forget and trying to remember as desperate laughter echoes through the empty streets. \n\nThis is the world of the dark. Dark hearts amidst an inky dark night.\n\nI try to remember to forget. Bullets ricochet off the building behind me. I am not scared about being flanked. In this hell everyone fights alone. \n\nThe laughter comes again in short high bursts, closer now, followed by sharp intakes of breath. They must have seen me crouch. Bullets spray overhead, the clatter of the gun deafens my ears. A ragged panting. Manic giggling.\n\nFlashes of light in the sky. Incendiaries. When you give a man a hammer...\n\nI am tuned to the crunch of heavy feet on fractured pavement. My hands grasp for something, a concrete block with metal sticking out on one end. I tense. The breaths are close, I can hear the rasps through fluid filled lungs. \n\nCombat boots appear a foot from me. The barrel of a gun passes right by me, held by a man in trench coat with a gas mask slung over his shoulder. He peers intently up, concentrating, controlling his laughter. He must think I am in the building. \n\nRage. An up-swelling for what was lost, what can never be mine again. I stand up and step forward and bring down the concrete chunk onto the back of his skull. He drops like a sack of potatoes. Blood sprays from the wound, the piece of metal embedded in his skull.\n\nA counter flashes in the bottom right corner of my vision. The number 1000 pulses once in a bright green, then drops to 999. \n\nA gun materializes in my hand, some kind of pistol. I am suddenly carrying a backpack.\n\nThe dead man beneath me flashes once, twice and then is gone. I turn the gun over, marveling. My pockets feel heavy with bullets.\n\n999 to go."
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[WP] You buy a strange clock from the pawn shop for $5 that tells only one number: 23. You go to sleep only to awaken from a horrible nightmare of you being shot down by a gunner. It felt so real but you brush it off as only a dream. You then look to your new weird clock and the number changed: 22. | 630 | [
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"The next night before you fall asleep, you shiver in anxiety. Just for a second. You wonder if the change in the counter, the change in the display on the clock goes downwards rather than upwards like time normally travels meant that the device that you bought might be something different than a clock. You wonder what the device measures and if it had any connection to your previous night's dream. A stretch, the apophenia of an absent mind, surely. However when you put your hand by its dial you feel a vibration, a slight heat, and maybe a whirring.\n\n​",
"\"That can't be possible,\" as I think to myself. Just a fluke. The next day passed normal as could be. Woke up, had my hazelnut coffee, and drove off to work in the blistering heat of Texas. Construction kicks my ass everyday as the sun beats down on everyone around me. Even the winters here are so damn hot and I still won't move anywhere else. The thought of snow with extreme cold weather, no way I could do it. After the long day I always make my way back home, the usual route, past that old pawn shop. Don't know why I went in there, but I always had this feeling I needed to go in. That's when the clock caught my eye and I needed to buy it.\n\nAfter settling down I went to bed only to have another dream. \n\nThis dream was different. It was snowing outside my house. that couldn't be real, I live in Texas. I've never seen snow in my life, yet alone here! But looked so real, I've always been intrigued. I open my door with a cold blast of air the took my breath away. Startled I slammed the door shut again, caught my breath, and opened again. The air hit my like a brick wall, \"this cant be real,\" I thought to myself. I took a couple steps out and the snow brushed the tips of my toes as I stood on the fine line of concrete and the white wonderland in front of me. Something sparked inside and I felt like a kid again, this 220 pound, 6'3\" man couldn't of been more amazing of what was in front of me. I hopped forward into the fluff to feel the cold, soft, fluffy snow hit the bottom of my feet. It was cold but I didn't care, this was amazing. I started to walk along my driveway to the top. I've always seen the movies where people slide down a hill on their feet. I took a couple steps back and went for it. I started to slide and my inside exploded with joy, which ended fast as I really slipped and fell backwards. It was a fall I knew was going to end badly. I slammed my head on the concrete and I awoke, sitting straight up.\n\nI looked over at the clock and it said 21.",
"Henry took deep unsteady breathes, calming himself down. He must have been having a nightmare.\n\nIt was still dark outside. As he gulped down air in his new apartment, he noticed something off. The air in the room tasted stale, like it had been trapped underground for too long. Ignoring it, he continued breathing in and out to calm himself down. He was just jittery from being in a new home, it would take him a couple of weeks to get used to it of course. He hadn't even unpacked yet.\n\nHe looked for his phone to check the time.\n\nReaching out of his bed he picked up his phone and tapped the screen. For a moment he just stared. The darkness seemed to swell around him making the room seem momentarily like a cage. Fear tightened his chest for a moment and his heart skipped.\n\nIt was his phone and everything looked normal. Everything except that instead of the time displayed on the screen he saw 5 characters: XXIII.\n\nIt was the same font. Same look. Same FEELING as the text on the small clock he had purchased earlier that day. The strange clock in the rough wooden casing that was black with age. The clock with only one thing showing on it: XXIII. Twenty-three.\n\nHe scrambled out of bed and turned on the light. Bright fluorescence filled the small apartment and calmed him down. The sounds of night filled the room. A car in the distance. The dim background noise of city life. He was ok. He tried to breathe in deeply, but the air still felt old somehow.\n\nHe was calmer but his heart was pounding in his chest. Had he imagined it?\n\nHe crept back towards his bed and picked up his phone again. XXIII. He unlocked it. In the top right corner where the time should have been: XXIII. He frantically opened the browser and typed in the search bar that appeared: \"What time is it Chicago\". The first result on the search page: XXII.\n\nHe placed the phone in the bed and ran to the moving boxes that were stacked in the corner of the room. He avoided the small clock on his desk. The one he had purchased at the pawnshop.\n\nHe didn't know what was happening but he admitted he was scared. Even with the bright light blanketing the room, he felt lost in darkness. Dumping the contents of the box on the ground he riffled through it until he found what he was looking for.\n\nIt was the box with his valuables in it, he had packed them carefully as the items were important or meaningful. In the box was the wristwatch his father had gifted him, and it lay there face down.\n\nHands shaking and breath coming faster, Henry turned it around. XXIII. Dark and bold, the roman numerals stood out against a blinding white background. It filled his vision. A flood of ice overwhelmed his veins.\n\nFinally, ever so slowly, he turned towards his desk where the clock he had purchased should be located. It was not there, but something else was. A dark, menacing object. A gun lay on the desk where the clock should have been. The shadows in the room shifted. One moment they were at one angle, the next a different one. They stretched. They reached.\n\nSuddenly, a loud crash came from the direction of the door. Henry turned quickly at the sound and froze. The door was blown away. And in the ruins of wood and metal stood... something. It was roughly human-shaped but dark. Darker than the night. Darker than anything Henry had dared to see or imagine. Its outline was fuzzy, shifting. Limbs jerked and Henry froze in fear as the horror raised its arm slowly, a gun held in its finger-like claws.\n\nThe creature's body jolted in the light, sucking the air from the room as it aimed the weapon. The thing's finger jerked. A loud noise. A shocking but brief PAIN.\n\nHenry opened his eyes, safe in his bed. For a second he didn't move. He grabbed at his phone, heart in his throat. 3:33AM. He felt sweat drip down his back as the tension in his body released.\n\nWas it just a dream? It was so real.\n\nHe immediately turned on the light and ran to his desk, unsure of what he would find or even expect. But this time it was not a gun lying there. It was just the strange clock, right where he had left it the day before. Exactly as it should be.\n\nAlmost exactly as it should be.\n\nHe panted in the night as he read the clock's face: XXII. Twenty-two.",
"I’m on phone so forgive me for formatting it badly;\n\nI always love window shopping at the local pawn shop, but this caught my eye. A round clock made from mahogany with only one hand and one number on it: 23. Intrigued, I asked how much it was. “5$.” Seemed like a steal, so I handed the owner 5 bucks and brought it home. It didn’t seem to have batteries, but I put it on my nightstand anyway. As I was eating my dinner, I heard a ticking sound. It seemed to come from my room. I walked in and suddenly it stopped. I brushed it off, as it was probably my imagination. That night, I dreamt that I was robbed at gun point then shot square in the forehead. I woke up with a start, sweating excessively. I took a deep breath and looked at my nightstand. I had to double take but I saw it: the number changed from 23 to 22. I shook it of as it was probably just a coincidence. I continued my day as normal, going to my office job. When I came home, the ticking was audible again. At this point I was starting to believe it wasn’t my imagination. I threw out the clock. I slept peacefully that night, and had a normal dream. It was me walking a dog. As I approached my apartment building, I heard a screech. A car sped right at me. Frozen in fear, I didn’t move. It was right in front of me when I woke up. I heard a buzzing. Like an alarm clock. I look around in confusion, as I don’t have an alarm clock. Then I see it. The clock sitting on my night stand, with the number 21 on it. Visibly shaken, I go on a drive. Before I leave I check the calendar to see if I have any appointments. I see the date. February 1st, 2021. I didn’t think much about it and go on my drive. It was peaceful. On my way back, the car died, so I went out to inspect it. The battery had died. That was odd, I replaced it yesterday. I saw a car coming down the road, so I flagged it down. “Hey! Pull over, I need some help!”. Instead of pulling over, it sped up. Right before it hit me, I saw the inside of it. Empty. ",
"I told Alyssa that I wasn't interested, mostly because she was always texting when she was in her lowest of moods, and I didn't feel like playing caregiver when she was the one who should grow up. So I spent the night in solitude, poured myself a glass or two of wine, before realizing, hey, I'm free to do whatever I want, and started taking a few swigs out of the bottle while I watched a movie or two, and I fell asleep with my face burried in between the couch cushions after throwing up a bit in my bathroom, which I think was due to food poisoning of some kind.\n\nThat was when I had the dream. I was in a shopping mall, one that I recognize, actually, because it's somewhere Alyssa and I used to go to when she was in one of her moods, and I'm looking at this necklace in a display case, one with a big, shiny diamond in the middle, one that you could never actually put on because it would make everything else you wore look cheap. And this necklace is kind of drawing me towards it, and my face gets closer and closer to the glass, and I can see the outline of my face, and Im not me, I am Alyssa, and I feel suddenly cold, because there is the sound of fireworks behind me and people screaming. I can't register all of the things I'm hearing, because all I can think of is fireworks, and this shiny diamond necklace, and the broken glass all around it, which also looks like diamonds, getting closer to my face. I lift my hands to steady myself because I realize I am falling, and my hands are covered in red ink, spilling down my arms and out of my mouth, and the diamond gets bigger and bigger until it swallows me up. \n\nI woke up and vomit blood onto the carpet, suddenly feeling dizzy until I realized it was just red wine because I had a glass or two the night before. I did a very basic cleanup with some vinegar and baking soda, hoping that would suffice until I felt a bit better, I picked up the wine bottle and rinsed it in the sink, trying to remember how much was in it yesterday, rinsed my mouth, which tasted like ass, and then went to my room, drawing the shades and crawling under the duvet. \n\nI spent the whole morning in bed with a splitting headache, but I did manage to get in to work without calling in sick, and when I clocked in my manager, Tyler, asked me if I had watched the news that morning, which I replied no, obviously, as I had a migrane and almost called in sick. \n\nHe then made a snide comment about my \"hangover\", which I now forget, but which irked me at the time, and then proceeded to tell me that the night before, there was a shooting.\n\n​\n\nNot finished.. . .",
" \n\n\"Well, at least it moved,\" Julio shrugged at the tiny digital clock. The bright red '22' displayed on its face was different from yesterday's 23. He grabbed his phone to check the time and realized he was running late for work. The panic pushed his nightmare to the back of his mind and it did not resurface until lunch time. \nHe sat in a quaint employee break-room with an action movie playing on the TV. Julio ignored the movie to focus on his meal: cold fried chicken with a side of potato salad. Gunfire erupted from the TV and Julio nearly jumped out of his seat at the sound. He managed to hope for a split second that nobody saw him; but, that hope was crushed by a familiar giggle behind him. \n\"It's just a movie, Julio. It's not real,\" she said between the laughter. A short, plump woman with long neon red hair sat down at the table next to him with her own lunch bag. \n\"Hey, Mundo,\" Julio smiled at the woman. \"It wasn't the TV,\" he shrugged. \"I remembered a hell of a dream from last night. Someone gunned me down and it felt way too real,\" he explained. \"I guess it stuck with me more than I knew.\" Mundo listened while unpacking her sandwich with purple jelly dripping out the sides, and chips. \n\"Maybe it was,\" she smiled at him then took a large bite. \n\"Nah. No way they'd let you into heaven,\" he smiled at her. She shrugged as she swallowed the bite of food. \n\"Meh, it got boring so I left,\" she said. Julio gave her a confused look, but she winked at him and continued. \"But, what I meant was maybe it really did happen to a version of you. You know how alternate universes are a thing, right?\" Julio leaned over and lowered his voice to a near whisper. \n\"Are you high right now?\" \n\"Oh shit, is it obvious?\" Mundo opened her pink eyes wide, then squeezed them shut several times. \"Are my eyes red? I used eye drops and everything.\" Julio burst into laughter. \n\"Hah! I knew it,\" he shook his head. \"Well, if the only side effect is you making up some pretty crazy things, it's not a big deal,\" he smiled at her. \n\"Oh, no. Everything I said was real, I just happen to also be high right now,\" she shrugged. \"They're unrelated.\" \n\"Right,\" Julio nodded. \"See ya Monday, Mundo.\" He waved at her, then made his way back to work. The rest of the day passed uneventfully and Julio glanced at the red '22' as he climbed in bed. That night he dreamed of his death again. This time he was decapitated instead of shot. He sat up in bed and realized he woke himself up with his own screaming. He glanced at the nightstand as his breathing recovered. A bright red '21' glowed in the dark. \n\"Goddamnit,\" Julio rolled his eyes and sighed. He reached for his phone and glanced at the time while he searched through his contacts. 2:04 a.m. He found Mundo's number and dialed. \n\"If this is a booty call I expect breakfast in the morning,\" she answered on the first ring. \"A good breakfast, not just a biscuit sandwich.\" \n\"It's not. Wait, are you awake?\" Julio asked. \n\"Yeah, I don't need much sleep. What's up?\" she asked. \n\"I had the dream again,\" he said. He felt silly calling her with only that in mind, but she was one of his closer acquaintances from the office. Somehow the dream felt more real this time. He subconsciously rubbed his neck while he talked. \n\"Oh? Good, then you've got nothing to worry about. Assuming it was an alternate you getting killed, there'd be differences, no matter how minor. If you dreamed the same thing twice, then it's just a dream.\" \n\"About that. When I said, 'I had the dream again,' I meant I had another dream where I died. But, this time I got decapitated, not shot.\" \n\"Uh oh.\" \n\"Uh oh what?\" \n\"Nothing. I'll be over in a bit. In the meantime here are some questions I want you to answer for me when I get there. When did the dreams start, and does that coincide with anything else changing in your life? Bye,\" she hung up. Julio set the phone down and stared at the red '21'. \n\"Well, that was easy,\" he chuckled to himself, then went to get dressed. 15 minutes later he let Mundo in. She'd been there a handful of times before and made herself at home on his couch. \n\"So? Any ideas about what's different?\" Julio nodded. \n\"Yeah I bought a clock at a pawn shop a couple of days ago, that first night is when the dreams started.\" She looked around the living room. \n\"Where?\" Julio tilted his head toward the bedroom. \n\"And you couldn't have brought it out here?\" She sighed as she stood from the couch. Julio shrugged. \n\"Didn't think about it.\" He followed Mundo into the bedroom, but she stopped at the threshold. He bumped into her from behind. She backed out into him and closed the bedroom door. \n\"Yeah, that's your problem. We need to get rid of it. Did I see a 21 on it?\" Julio nodded. \n\"Yeah, it had a 23 when I bought it. After the first dream, it changed to 22, then tonight to 21.\" Mundo walked to the kitchen and pulled a bottle out of Julio's freezer. \n\"I hope you appreciate what I'm about to do for you,\" she said, then took a deep swig from the bottle. \n\"Sure, I guess finishing my vodka is kind of a favor.\" She smiled. \n\"No, idiot. I'm about to call in a favor I never planned to cash in,\" she reached into her pocket and pulled out a shiny, black business card. \n\"Wait. Do you know what's going on?\" Mundo nodded. \n\"Yeah. Short version, that thing's kind of like a lure. Once you have it, it sends out a signal to let you know you found it. Not you you, an alternate you.\" Mundo threw the black card against a wall in Julio's kitchen. It grew into a tall, oval-shaped pitch black portal. \"ANGEL!\" She yelled into the hole, then she looked at Julio. \"Seriously. You owe me big time.\" \n\"Man, I always knew I had crappy luck...\" Julio complained. Mundo shook her head. \n\"No, that was meant for you specifically.\" \n\"C'mon. There's no way to guarantee I'd buy it.\" Mundo turned to the hole and yelled again. \n\"ANGEL!\" This time a deep male voice replied from the abyss on the wall. \n\"WAIT A SECOND!\" Mundo rolled her eyes, then looked at Julio. \n\"Actually, yeah. That's how it works, you're compelled to buy it.\" Mundo reached into her pocket again and pulled out a stick of gum. She unwrapped the flat strip, threw the gum in the trash, and held out the wrapper to Julio. \"Wanna buy this for a dollar?\" she asked. Julio scoffed. \n\"No. I'd rather keep the dollar, thanks.\" Mundo nodded. \n\"But you'd rather have a broken 'clock'...,\" she used air quotes. \"...that only shows one number, than whatever you spent on it, right?\" Julio's eyes narrowed. \n\"Point taken.\" Mundo turned to hole in the wall. \n\"Damnit, he's already making me regret this. ANGEL! GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE!\" A pitch black card flew out of the hole and landed in front of Mundo. \n\"Tomorrow, probably.\" The disembodied voice said, then the black portal disappeared. \n\"Well shit,\" Mundo chuckled. \"It's a good thing you've got 21 days left. This might take a few.\"\n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\n Thank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day in 2018, this is #329. You can find them collected on my [blog](https://hugoverse.info/). If you're curious about my universe (the Hugoverse) you can visit the [Guidebook](https://hugoverse.info/2017/11/25/hugoverse-guidebook/) to see what's what and who's who, or the [Timeline](https://hugoverse.info/2017/10/23/hugoverse-timeline/) to find the stories in order. ",
"It read twenty-one. I couldn’t believe it. It went back exactly 1 hour in time. The number decreased. What did it mean, the number of times I’ll die? No way. I laughed at the thought. Just a bad dream and a coincidence, I told myself.\n\nI hopped out of bread, hoping to make myself some coffee and forget the experience altogether. I still had to go to work today, after all. It was just a coincidence, and we’ll leave it at that.\n\nThe day was beautiful. There was nothing abnormal. Nothing abnormal, I told myself as I walked down stories and stories of stairs. But the thought remained at the back of my mind. What if? I reached the ground floor and walked out of the apartment complex. Nothing wrong. I took a deep breath. Nothing wrong. But my eyes still darted around as if they were possessed. I followed every car on the street religiously, as if one of them would magically swerve, only to hit me. I continued walking.\n\nI looked left and looked right. No cars. I sighed in relief, and start crossing. My phone rings. A call from my boss. “Hello?”\n\nDistracted, I notice the car too late.\n\n“This damn-”\n\n---\n\nI wake up for the second time today.\n\n“-clock, ” I finish. I stare at it. \n\nTwenty-one.\n\nThat just confirmed it. This damn clock is the source of everything so far. I should have never bought it. I kicked it off the nightstand, the clock hitting the wall and chipping off the painting on the wall. It remained perfectly intact. That hurt my foot, too. But the pain was the last thing I was concerned about at this point. I picked it up and hurled it out of the window, breaking the once pristine glass. Whatever, I’ll listen to the landlord’s complaints later. \n\nWhat did I ever do to deserve this, in the first place? I mean, the clock wasn’t even that cheap in the first place. I shook myself out of these thoughts. It was gone now. Gone, out of my life. I took a deep breath and walked towards the kitchen for my morning coffee.\n\nThe ground immediately started rumbling. Great timing.\n\nI was going to survive this, I told myself. I wasn’t going to let the box have its way anymore. “Table, table,“ I repeated. “Hide under a table.” I fell to my knees, unable to keep my balance anymore. I continued crawling - I had to find something to hide under. \n\nA chunk of debris fell on my right foot, pinning me, and I cried out in pain. I looked back and realised - it was the same foot I kicked the clock with earlier.\n\n“Damn clock.”\n\nThe ceiling collapsed, and I woke up for the third time today.\n\n---\n\nThe clock was back on the nightstand. Twenty.\n\nI'll continue writing tomorrow, i guess",
"“What about that big clock over there, standing behind the counter?”, I ask Mr. Schwarzerwald, the elderly owner of the pawn shop. He had just finished telling the story about this old pair of shades he held, which supposedly belonged to Ray Charles himself, and had come to his possession through Charles’ former neighbor, who kept it after his death. An original piece, and a bargain. At least that’s what I thought he said, from the little I’d actually heard. He seemed truly excited to share his tale, but the whole time during his narrative, I simply couldn’t get myself to look away from that strange, yet somehow mesmerizing, wooden clock. It was almost six feet tall, large as a wardrobe, carved in what looked like oak, very well preserved, and richly decorated with numbers and a few details of gold and some precious stones meticulously distributed over it’s surface. It wasn’t just the artistic aesthetics of it that caught my attention, but I really wasn’t sure of what else marveled me about it. It looked... powerful. Ancient, though not old, and way to powerful for a decorated piece of wood. I felt like it was somehow calling for me, and nothing else in the world mattered.\n\n“One can tell you have a fine eye for art, Mr. Piazzo. Yes, that is a little something I’ve been carrying with me for a long while now. For some reason, nobody had never shown any interest in it so far, though it is my favorite piece in the whole store. Pawn shops are the family business, and before I opened my own here in Riverrock, my father worked in his, back in Germany, and his father before that, and his father earlier on, so long as the stories have registered. And in all of those pawn shops, that very clock had his place. So long, that some old folk tales had time to gather around it, but you wouldn’t be interested in such nonsense...” That came to me as a shock. Mr. Schwarzerwald was clearly old enough to be my grandfather, so that would mean this clock to be around two hundred years old. At least. I couldn’t imagine he still expected to sell it. “Why have you kept it in the store all this time, sir? I mean, if it has become a family relic, you might want to put it away. Do you think you may still sell it?”, I asked, hesitantly. “Well, one never knows. It is no relic, of that you can be sure. Maybe it has just been waiting for the right buyer to show up...”, he answered, in a somewhat reflexive tone. “That’s trully a long wait. Hehe. But... why are the pointers not moving? How does it work?” I pointed at the long golden lines set to show the hours, minutes and seconds, all together pointing at the number twelve. “It never has.” For some reason, I felt a chill down my spine as he spoke those words. “I have always assumed it was made for the sole purpose of decorating wherever he stood, with such amazing beauty.”, he continued.\n\nSo we have this beautiful big-ass clock that never worked, older than my whole town, on this pawnshop owner family’s for generations, and he has kept it simply to wait for the right buyer? Something is just wrong with this story. Something doesn’t add up. For some reason, I feel it would be best to thank him for his time and reception, pick up my stuff, leave right away, head home and spend the rest of my evening with a bucket of ice cream on my lap while watching my favorite series. That was a good was to end a weekend. Yet... it was such an amazing clock. I had never before felt so hypnotized for a piece of furniture that didn’t even work. I mean, it wouldn’t hurt to ask... right? “How much for it?”\n\n”For such a fine work of wood, decoration, and I would say history, it is yours for... five dollars”, he replied. “I-I’m sorry... What was that?” I asked, in absolute disbelief. “Five dollars, I say, and you can take it with you!” Could I trust what I was hearing? No way. No, that had to be a prank of some sort. Either that, or the clock was actually a piece of painted cardboard and I couldn’t see it from where I was standing. “Five? Five dollars? Like this?” I say as I pull a five out of my wallet. English is not my first language, so maybe I had gotten something wrong from all of that. “That is correct.”, he affirmed, with a gentle smile on his face. I approach the clock and touch it’s surface. No, not cardboard. My decision was made. No further questions asked. I felt it deep in my soul I simply had to take it with me. Such a magnificent work, even if only for decoration, for five dollars? I wasn’t able to understand WHY on earth would that strange old man do such thing, if not out of pure madness, but he had such a reassuring gaze on his face that it became clear to me he was sure of his actions. I left the store with the clock on the back of my truck, turned my head to thank Mr. Schwarzerwald once more from the door, but he was vanished inside the back of the store. From there, I went home.\n\nUpon arriving, I positioned my new acquisition on the corner of my living room and spent around twenty minutes looking at it. I then looked at an actual working clock I had and noticed how late it was. I hadn’t noticed it, and needed to wake up early in the next morning to go to work, so I went to take a shower, called my girlfriend for a few minutes, told her my little adventure to the new pawnshop and what I got from it, to which she only laughed and called the owner crazy, and, after that, straight to bed. I fell asleep still thinking of the weird encounter with that very odd old fella, his smile hovering over my thoughts, covering anything else I tried to think of, as I felt my whole body relax, and my mind drift away.\n\nI wake up with a loud noise of glass shattering. Still only half-awake, my first reflex is looking to the tiny alarm clock on my bedside. Three a.m. A low, strong “thud” follows the first noise, and gets me to sit on my bed. I live alone and have no pets, which would already be enough sign that something was wrong, even if I didn’t live in a, let’s say, unwelcoming neighborhood. I pick up the bat I leave by my bed, and as soon as I get downstairs, I see him. Your typical everyday burglar, with a black hood on his face and my small tv on his hand. I was honestly not that surprised. What I hadn’t seen, and ended up being an unpleasant surprise, was his pal walking behind me. It all happened very fast. I yell at the one I see, trying to scare him off, then hear a deafening explosion that seem to come from every direction. Pain. A lot of it. Yelling. Also a lot of it. “ARE YOU CRAZY? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” I start to loose my senses. I feel my body falling to the ground. My face hits the cold wooden flor. “THERE’S NO TIME FOR THIS, PICK UP WHAT YOU CAN AND LET’S GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HERE!” I feel a wet warmth coming from my chest and spreading all around me. “YOU ARE CRAZY, MAN, THIS IS CRAZY”. It all starts to fade. The light. The noise. Before I’m fully out, one last thing catches my attention. A strong bell sound. A single hit, as you would expect to hear coming from an old clock.\n\n...\n\nI hear birds chirping somewhere not far away. I feel softness around me. I try opening my eyes. The softness comes from my bed sheets and pillow, and sun light is coming from the window. Is this.. yes, it is my room. Was it all just a dream? I can’t remember much from it. Going downstairs, a human shade, noise, pain... Silence. Never ending silence. Was there... something more? A different sound... I’m not sure. A dream. Must have been. I try getting up and everything looks in place. After that, disregarding all that stuff as truly a dream, I check my alarm clock and notice that I’m late for work. Again. The boss was going to eat me alive, as I had promised it would be the last time I ever arrived late. Again. I rushed downstairs to get my cup of coffee before getting ready to leave, and instantly noticed something strange. Strange may not be the word, for it was more of a disturbing view. The glass window was broken, my tv and a few other utensils are missing from the living room, and to top it off, there’s a big pool of dried blood in the floor. I froze where I stood. What was all of that? What did that mean? Was I going completely mad? There... Simply HAD to be an explanation for all of that. Then a chill goes down my neck. I instinctively looked at the corner of my living room. There stood my new clock, untouched by the assailants. Except it was not exactly as I left it the night before. Something was wrong. After a while, I suddenly noticed. The pointers, which I were told had stayed on the same place for a few decades, had moved. They pointed to eleven.",
"I bought the clock because it seemed to speak to me. I felt like I saw it somewhere before, but, I couldn’t put my finger on it. It was the feeling you got when trying to remember being a baby. It was strange, but I’ve always loved tall grandfather clocks. \n\nConsidering the condition of the clock in the hole in the wall pawnshop I had visited. I wasn’t too surprised by the price of the clock. While normally I never counted myself as the type to refurbish, I suppose I saw the gem that it could be underneath the dusty grime and broken parts. \n\nSo just as easily as I had spotted the clock in the corner I fished around in my wallet for a five dollar bill. I got an impatient look from the shopkeeper as I realized I forgot to get money from an atm. A small panic began rising in my gut both from embarrassment and this undeniable need to have that clock.\n\n“We don’t take cards.” The old man behind the counter sneered gruffly as I meekly held up my debt card in my hand. Feeling dejected I slowly put the card alway getting ready to call it quits on buying the clock. Just before the thought had finished crossing my mind, a five dollar bill fell from my jacket sleeve onto the counter. \n\nMy mouth hung agape as the man paid no mind to the strange event of money literally being up my sleeve. I looked up at him confused as he grabbed the five and rang me up for the clock. \n\n“You still want it right?” He questioned in his low tone, he was one of those men with a voice so low you can feel it in your chest. He faintly reminded me of some older male relatives I had met in passing growing up. “Yeah.” I spoke slowly, almost choking on my own spit. He gave me a weird look that I couldn’t read and mumbled something under his breath about my age. \n\nI hardly paid any mind as my eyes went back to the clock in the corner. I narrowed my eyes trying to remember if it had always been facing towards the cash register. I brushed it off knowing how faulty my memory was and started to think of ways of restoring this clock. \n\nWith a little bit of doing, I got the heavy clock back to my apartment, it was then I was reminded as to why I paid an extra thousand a month for a pre-furnished apartment. I hated carrying heavy furniture up steps. But after a few hours and almost dying two times I got it into my apartment. I moved it into a position that I thought suited it and sighed. \n\nI was tired and my back ached I spared another glance at the clock among my modernistic furniture. I would figure out how to get it to match later. For now food, a good shower, and my bed was calling my name. \n\nThat night I passed out as soon as I hit the sheets. My bed was comfortable as ever and my blankets were freshly washed and warm. I had assumed that night I was going to have some restful sleep. \n\nI was wrong. \n\nAs soon as I closed my eyes I found myself in a speakeasy, second hand smoke filled my lungs and the burning sensation of scotch was on my tongue. I sat down the shot glass onto the top of a grand piano, my eyes scanned the crowd to find the lustful eyes of multiple women gazing upon me hungrily, I felt my heart in my throat as their husbands narrowed their eyes at me. \n\nI let out a nervous chuckle underneath my breath and turned to play. The music that filled the air was bouncy yet somber. I felt myself relax as I began to sing some ditty that I knew by heart. \n\nAfter the show I received several bouquets of flowers in my dressing room with letters soaked in perfume and sealed with kisses. Inside the letters begged me to come visit them so they could feel the ‘touch of an artist’ once more. \n\nI grimaced feeling disgusted and disappointed with the lack of creativity in these letters and the fact that these women felt the need to use me as a tool to enrage their husbands. \n\nLeaving both the letters and flowers behind, but swiping some treats from the gift baskets, I headed out the back door into the alleyway to head home. \n\nBut just as I stepped out I was stopped by the sight of a woman standing there with a pistol I her hand and tears leaking from her eyes and mascara. \n\n“You threw alway my flowers.” She spoke with her voice shaking, she had caught me mid bite into and apple from one of the gift baskets. She had became enraged at the sight, “You eat that bitch’s apples but don’t take my flowers!” She screeched, “Barbie... Please we talked about this, you need to work things out with your husband.” I chided trying to remain calm as she pointed the gun at me shaking with rage. \n\n“I left him for you! I thought we were meant to be! But you... You! I know what you are!” She screamed as my eyes widened. “You’re a sick freak who wants a man more than a woman!” She said as I tried to quiet her down. The last thing I needed was the rest of the town hearing about me and Big Tony. That would ruin him and have my head on a chopping block. \n\n“Barbie it isn’t like that! Tony’s an old pal of mine! We go way back!” I insisted, I was panicking so much about Barbie blabbing about me and Tony I forgot about the gun in her hand. \n\nShe sneered “far enough to get on your knees for him?!” She snapped as she let out at shot at my feet. I jumped and she looked stunned just as the boys heard the sound inside. I panicked and took off Barbie not two steps behind me begging me to come back. \n\n“You tried to shoot me!” I yelled running before feeling a snap in my brain and then nothing. \n\nI snapped up in my bed sweating as a heard a bell chime. I looked over at my digital clock to see that it was three am in the morning. I got up wondering where the chiming was coming from and stopped in my living room. \n\nThat clock was in the middle of my living room and I stood there and watched as the 23 that had been placed where the 12 should’ve been turned into a 22. \n\n(That’s it for now, sorry for the formatting, spelling, or grammatical errors I’m on mobile and it’s hard to account for that. )",
"I felt sore after I woke, my head feels like it's being torn in two, my hands still warm from the fire, but I'm in my bed. \"I shouldn't be, should I?\" I thought.\n\nI looked around, I was still 25 in my darkroom in the same old apartment building with the same smell of fish that my Asian neighbors swore by. It was still dark so I figured I still had time to finish my project before class tomorrow morning but to be on the safe side I checked the clock. I reached for my alarm clock but grabbed the old boxed in flip clock that I bought the other day.\n\nI was just about ready to toss it to the side but the numbers caught my eye, 22:00. The clock had turned backwards by one hour, it didn't seem right, I mean time count up not down. I didn't dig too deeply into it so I set the clock aside and check the one working timepiece in my room, afterward I went back to sleep.\n\nNext day once I finished my last class I decided to take the same road through the rougher side of town. The sky was blue and the birds sang but there weren't many people around other than the occasional straggler. As I continued my commute home I walked past the old store that the old bearded man ran for the past few months but it was covered in old caution take and rotten wood was collapsed where the entrance once stood. It looked like it did before the old man moved in with his pawn shop.\n\n I walked over to investigate.\n\n The old wood didn't seem too interesting and it didn't seem as if anyone was trapped inside. The caution tape was very pale,like it had been out here for a month or two being backed by the sun. There seemed to be nothing inside from what I could see through the cracks. It was very much so out of the ordinary. I didn't think I was going to find anymore answers standing around, starting at the wreck. \n\nI continued on my way home debating weather I should look more into the matter or hurry home to my delicious instant noodles. Since there was an internet cafe on the way home I went ahead and stopped by to look at little more into the business that once stood where the wreck now was. Typing the name of the shop I hit the search button and scrolled down the page. Nothing. There was something though, after scrolling for just under a minute I found a link that mentioned shop that appeared and disappeared over a very short period of time. The link was full of stories that you'd expect to find on a forum of this sort. Most stories sounded the same and I was getting bored but one stood out. I gave it a read. It read about a girl who had bought a box from old man at an old pawnshop . The story was along the lines of the Pandora's box, the girl being told to never open it but did either way, good and evil being let out but as the story ended it read that \"although not all of the evil was swallowed up, the worst of it was hidden and locked away with the power of a magical box.\" The end read a P.S., \"The box finds it's own pawns, it tests us, but has never won\". Then suddenly a train rode by with the horn blaring as loud as ever making me jump out of my seat. I don't think I drew too much attention to my self but before anyone else had a chance to look over I walked over to the counter, left a large bill, and continued on my way home. \n\nWhen I got home I sat at the foot of my bed with the old clock in my hands, fumbling with it in my fingers. I came to the conclusion that I was just paranoid and I didn't need more stress in my life. I took the box, made my way over to the window, and tossed it as hard as I could. It landed into the waterway beside my building. Good riddance. I went ahead and went to bed.\n\nI woke up again with a nightmare just as real as the one from the previous night. This time I was a knight on an old bridge fighting valiantly but an arrow came flying into my throat. I could barely breath. I rushed to the bathroom mirror to examine myself but once again I was fine. What the hell was going on? I went to check the time but I noticed something else on my desk. It was the box, it now read 21."
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[removed] | [WP] A dyslexic child writes a Christmas list and addresses it to Satan by mistake. Satan decides to act upon it. | 4 | [
"**Off-Topic Discussion**: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n-----\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) \n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/Crossfire477, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**No recent reposts, even if changing small details**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_5.3A_no_recent_reposts.2C_even_if_changing_small_details)\n\nAlso, no [copy-cats](http://i.imgur.com/38FjDgW.gifv).\n\nSearch before submitting as popular ideas can cause floods. If your idea is based on something you read elsewhere on reddit, chances are it's been submitted here already. Please wait at least 2 weeks before reposting.\n\n \n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/a0kxeu/-/%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] [RF] A Seal extraction team is being sent to find the body of the us missionary that was filled with arrows by the endangered tribe. The SGT dumps a pile of shields on the floor. "Well boys.. this is going to be a weird one." | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/sCologne, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**All submissions must be tagged**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_4.3A_all_submissions_must_be_tagged)\n\n- Incorrect Tag Usage: This post is tagged incorrectly. Please read [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/how_to_tag_prompts) for more information on how to tag posts. \n\n \n\n \n\npick a single tag... this is barely RF, but a fine WP\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/a0pllc/wp_rf_a_seal_extraction_team_is_being_sent_to/%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] From birth, you realized that you could live two lives at once by sleeping to enter the other. In one of your lives, you are a serial killer who is sentenced to death. You are unsure what happens next. | 48 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"They pushed me inside the cell and shut the door behind me. Alone. Finally I could at last let loose all my anger. I didn't know what to do? I kicked my cot. Punched the walls. And finally a muffled yell drained all my energy.\n\nThen all I could do was cry. \"Why is this happening to me?\", I thought. Tears rolling down my face, I thought of all those curses yelled at me outside the court. \n\nSADIST. PSYCHOPATH. CHILD MURDERER. THE DEVIL.\n\nI didn't kill those 13 children. I didn't kill my little sister. I didn't. He did. \n\nMy eyes dried up. As I sat down, I decided I wanted answers. From him. The one who did all those murders. \n\nFrom when I was a child, I had experienced blackouts. But It didn't matter. Nothing happened during those blackouts. I thought It may be narcolepsy. But It wasn't. Maybe a side effect of insomnia. Maybe. My parents were worried that I couldn't remember what happened for some 5 to 7 hours sometimes. I remembered only one thing. I had always fell asleep before the blackout. I thought I was sleeping. Bu I wasn't according to others around me. \n\nNo treatment worked. Then the accident. My parents' death. My sister and me were separated. We grew up separately in hostels. Only after I finished my schooling and get a job that I was able to live with my sister. That was only two years ago. Everything I dreamt. Everything she dreamt. Everything gone, because of him.\n\nBeneath my cot, I saw a stone. I took it and used it to write on the wall.\n\n\"PLEASE TELL ME. WHY DID U DO THIS TO ME?\"\nI hoped he would reply. Then I lied on my cot. Soon I fell asleep.\n\nI woke up. My head ached. This happens typically after the blackout. I got up from my cot instantly to see if I got a reply from him. Looking at the wall, I felt even more stung. Only then I realised the throbbing in my left forefinger. It was reddish from a cut at the end of the finger. \n\nOn the wall, written with my blood: \"CURIOUS\".\n\nMy finger was still bleeding. I sucked my finger. Then tore a piece of cloth from my bedsheet and wound around it. I sat on my cot. \"Patience. You've got six more months. Make it worth.\", I thought to myself.\n\n---------\nTO BE CONTINUED.....",
"(Sorry for any typos or formatting issues, im on mobile)\n\nMy eyes are getting heavy, ive been trying to stay awake as long as I can, its been 3 days, a lot of coffee and constant activity but I know deep down its a losing battle.\nNobody can stay awake for ever, I began researching it days ago before I came to accept my fate, well, my alternate fate I guess.\n\nIt was fun as a kid, I would dream of another boy, he was so happy, his mother loved him and he spent his days playing at the park with his dog, just 2 best friends running and rolling in the grass.\nAt first I thought everyone was like this, their dreams were the heaven they really wanted, instead of the miserable life here, the cold city, dark concrete, rain and stink covering every surface.\nIt wasnt till one fateful day when I lost my job, my car was stolen and my gf left me, I slept that night, hoping for the innocence to take me away from this misery.\n\nThe happy boy had grown in my dreams with me, he was now a bright young man with a promising future, but somehow the anger and sadness of my life filtered through that night.\nBefore I knew it, I was dreaming of a lovely walk through the park with my dog when someone pushed me, the leash slipping from my grip as the dog bolted after a squirrel.\nI heard the squeal of tyres, the heavy thump and I knew without looking I just lost a very good friend. \n\nI couldn't help it, the rage grew uncontrollably as I grabbed the guy who pushed me, slamming him to the ground and beating him senseless. Once I realised what I was doing, I stopped, stood and ran, the shock and trauma woke me from my dreams, back to my miserable grey apartment.\nBut there was something that lingered, a feeling, a way to vent this misery into my dreamworld, harmless and separated from this real life I live. \n\nFrom then on, the feeling grew stronger and stronger as I dreamt of hunting people, hurting them and killing them, the rage inside me spilling litres of blood in my dreams.\nI knew my dreams felt real and always seemed to have a constant story to them, so I planned my murders carefully, researching what I needed to know in my waking world, my life improved as I gained a sort of calm zen while awake, but grew more deadly and infamous in my dreamworld.\n\nThe dream newspapers called me the ice town hunter, not sure where they got the name but it didnt really matter.\nBefore long the dream police were closing in on me, eventually catching me unaware while stalking a target.\nThe usual process followed, custody, court, sentencing.\nIt was actually quite fascinating to experience this whole dream world while living a totally mundane waking life.\n\nThe dream judge sentenced me to the death penalty, I suppose with a known kill count of over 300 it was probably fair, there was at least 3 times that many they didnt know of.\n\nEach night as I slept, I found myself in my dream cell, the hard bench seeming more and more real. As the boredom set in I found myself sleeping less and less, staying up later and waking earlier.\n\n7 months in a new prisoner ended up in the cell next to me, the first few nights he was quiet, always watching me carefully and suspiciously.\nA week in and he speaks to me, the first words I had ever heard from his mouth,\n\n\"Your a very strange one aren't you, for a few hours a day you seem normal, but for the rest of the day you just lay there comatose on your bunk. Your not really here are you?\"\n\nI didn't see the harm in talking to my dream cell mate about my real life.\nHe was very intelligent, on the row for his part in a group of men that gang raped some child, but other than that heinous crime you'd never pick him as a monster.\nWe spoke in lengh about all things, I began to sleep longer as the conversations became more stimulating. A week before my execution date he asks me how I know which world is real, suggesting that its actually my miserable apartment that is the dream, I know deep down its just my subconscious talking in my dreams, but what he said really rattled me.\nWhat if it is real, what if I really die, what happens to me in the real world?\n\nIt was enough to make me not want to sleep at all, so here I am, struggling to stay awake, scrolling through reddit laying on the couch. Its a losing battle as my eyelids grow ever heavy, dragging down uncontrollably over my eyes.\n\nSuddenly im dreaming, I can't move, my arms and legs are strapped, my eyes spring open as I force against my restraints, my vision focusing on the wall in front of me, with a large window in the middle, and solemn faces on the other side, my head twists to the side, there is a guard standing next to me with a bucket of water and a black hood.\n\nHe seems surprised at my suddent activity,\n\"Ahhh, welcome back to the land of the living, at least for a moment. You should be awake for this, especially after what you have done.\"\n\nThe guard places the hood over my head and straps my head to the chair. I feel water soaking over my skull, a heavy helmet placed on top and strapped tightly under my chin.\nI feel the buzzing as the switch is thrown and the electricity courses through my body, feeling like im on fire all over.\n\nWith an instant my eyes snap open, drool running from the corner of my lip, my phone laying on the floor besides me, my crappy couch under my sore bones.\nWell, I guess you can die in your dreams.\n\n\n\n....................\n\n\n\nIts been 12 days and my mind is torturing me, I see things, flashes of light or shapes, noises, the ants are talking too loudly in the walls, why does that light buzz like that? its turned off.\nThe man in the tv tells me to do strange things then laughs like a maniac, I want to sleep but it eludes me, I drink to pass out but that heavenly feeling of slumber never comes, why does the neighbor have 2 heads? I dont remember that from before.\nI know what I must do to sleep, its easy, I just have to remove my eyes, cant stay awake if you cant see haha, where is that knife?\nAhhh, here it is, soon my precious, we will sleep again and never wake...."
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[WP] You run a unique Insane Asylum. Every single patient in your facility is completely sane, you are paid by those who can afford it to keep these people locked up. Today is visitors day. | 33 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Once a week. Once a week a talk with the doctor. \n\nOne chance once a week, to convince them I don’t belong here. I got through to them. Finally. Last month they cut back on the drugs. Started giving me proper food. \n\nSlowly. Thoughts return. Talks with the doctor improve.\n\nSlowly. A plan hatched.\n\nThe few drugs they give me… No longer take them. Hid them in my room. Waited for an opportunity… Visitors day. \n\nCan’t remember the last time someone visited me. \n\nToday. Visitors day.\n\nThey left me and others in the mess. Balloons. So many balloons. So many vibrant colors. Almost as if I’m back on the prescribed acid. It gave me a headache. Must focus.\n\nThe mess’ door to the garden is open. The warden is chatting with a nurse. This is it. \n\nGet up.\n\nRun.\n\nRun.\n\nFaster!\n\nRun!\n\nMy legs are no longer what they used to be. Five years. Five years of sedatives. Five years of psycho drugs. Five years of force feeding. Or was it three? Or ten? I think it’s five years.\n\nMust catch a breath. The cold… it burns…\n\nThe fence is nowhere in sight. \n\nA sharp whistle drills in my skull. Bloody headache! My arms twitch. The cold still burns. They found out I’m gone. I must go. Freedom.\n\nRun.\n\nRun.\n\nFaster!\n\nRun!\n\n“Raaaaaaaaaah!” A sharp sting in my leg. My face buries itself in the autumn leaves. Get up. GET UP! \n\nMy leg. It stings. It gets numb. I reach down. What’s this? A dart?\n\nI pull it free and roll over. My leg. I can’t move it anymore. A tree. The roots. Must continue. I pull myself forward.\n\n“Nice shot Mr. Edwards! Just a few more minutes and she will be out.”\n\nThe doctor’s voice. Talking to my husband?\n\n“I must say, Dr. Jones, I was a bit skeptical when you invited me for visitor’s day. I never wanted to see this bitch again. Dumping her here was far cheaper than a divorce. And you were right, more humane than a contract killer. But this, getting to shoot her, was a nice surprise!”\n\nSo that’s how I ended up here. Bastard. Gave you the best years of my life. Loved you. Still do. Why?\n\n“What can I say Mr. Edwards? We like to go an extra mile for our most valued customers. Look, the tranquilizer is kicking in. The tear canal is so relaxed she starts crying. I’ll have her brought back inside now.”\n\nBastard. Maybe I’ll have some use for those pills in my room. \n\nNo. Can’t let him win. \n\nMust fight. \n\nNew plan. \n\nMust find a way…",
"Ah, Canterbury Asylum. The finest in mental healthcare worldwide, or so the world was told. I was forcefully locked in two years ago under the premise of a previously unheard of mental disorder by some little caring relatives of mine that seemed to never question all the oddities that were involved in the process that all new interns underwent. \n\nTime flied in the isolation cells, and I was as surprised as anyone would be when the proposal came, a meager 6 months after my imprisonment began. After being told by the hospital's staff that \"bad luck\" had left me devoid of any family because of a car crash, I was offered a place as the new director of the facility. My freshly-corrupted, paranoid psyche felt that it couldn't be true, that it had to be a test of some sort, and I ultimately accepted out of pure fear. Having a productive job would help me reincorporate into society faster, according to the psychiatrists.\n\nThe following twenty months went by unremarkably, as the director of Canterbury did nothing more than greet the families that joyfully took their members to their demise. But something felt wrong. I knew for sure that no disorder was haunting me when I entered the diabolic place. And I had an awfully strong gut feeling that there was something really wrong with the hospital. Not even once did I see any patient that showed symptoms that would make them appropriate for a facility like this. Apart from that, short fragments of conversations I heard about some mysterious payments that little had to do with state aids and both my own and the interns' rapidly deteriorating mental states fueled my fears. Paired with my growing psychosis and paranoia, I knew that I was about to reach a breaking point.\n\nAnd, indeed, the breaking point came, as our first Visitors day in over five years. Businesspeople in expensive suits with guilt filling their faces flocked to the hospital gates, in hope of earning a partial redemption over the horrible sin commited against their own blood. The patio was overflowing, and the sound of moans of pain, madness and happiness filled the air.\n\nSoon enough, chaos emerged. The most violent amongst the patients started fighting against their demons and those who locked them up, and in no time any form of organization was lost. One of those outraging interns decided it would be good to attack me and suddenly, all my tensions and fears got unleashed.\n\nIt was a fight between madmen. We both broke more than a few ribs and lost more than a few teeth. As an executive in the hospital, I was better fed and in considerably better shape. I fought for minutes that stretched like hours, and was firing blow after blow to the now unconscious, barely alive man lying on the floor when security finally came around. \n\nThe bright, yellowish glare of my old cell brought a feeling of nostalgia to me, and I happily started wandering around the less than spacious cubicle, giggling and telling to myself I would be okay. That straitjacket had never been so comfortable."
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[WP] “Seven, eight, nine, TEN! Ready or not, here I come!” But when you open your eyes, you’re in a different house. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"“Seven, Eight,” Billy continued counting with his hands cupped over his eyes. It was a bit of overkill as he stood with his forehead touching the smooth wallpaper of the living room. It felt cold against his warm skin.\n\nBut as most children do, Billy needed to take extra precautions during these games, for the yearning to peek is second only to the desire to count faster. No ten seconds in the human lifespan last as long as that span of time when a child counts out loud during a game of Hide and Seek— a disturbance in Einstein’s relativistic space-time, as if there didn’t need to be a grand unifying theory with quantum mechanics, but rather with children waiting to have fun.\n\n“Nine, ten!” Now was the moment. He was done with that awful counting. He could become the seeker! To make up for lost time, Billy opted to take out any extra spaces and gaps in his words, “ReadyornothereIcome!”\n\nTurning around, Billy found himself in a dismal copy of the room he’d been in earlier. The wallpaper, which had previously been white with flower patterns, had dulled to a mustard-yellow color. The flowers had faded to the point they were now ghosts that vanished unless you were looking right at them. The wallpaper had been ripped and curled back in several dozen places. The walls beyond the split wallpaper looked dark red and seemed to tremble and bulge.\n\nBilly, remembering that he’d had his forehead against the wall, scrubbed his forehead with his hand. It came back with a smear of red and a smell like metal and decay. Not knowing what to do, he ran for the door, shouting the first word that came to mind, “Help!”\n\nThe doorknob wouldn’t turn. Not because it was stuck, but because each time Billy reached for it his hand missed it by an inch or so. It was like the optical illusion one sees when sticking their hand in water, but it was happening in the air—in front of his eyes. No matter what angle he shot his hands out at, no matter what adjustments made, no matter how gentle or harsh he pushed... he continued to miss.\n\n“I’m sorry to have to do this to you.” A weary sounding voice called from behind Billy.\n\nBilly turned and saw a shadow standing in the middle of the room. It wasn’t a shadow. It was much darker, as if he were seeing negative or empty space. The figure of pure blackness was tall as Billy’s father, but its height was the only thing it seemed to have in common with humanity.\n\n“Please, don’t be frightened.” Even its voice was like a shadow of the real thing, as if every voice Billy had heard before had been composed of some mixture of musical notes, but this creature spoke only in sharps and flats. “This will not hurt, but it will not be pleasant either.”\n\nShaking, Billy turned and tried to run away, but found he’d already backed up against the wall. He only succeeded in smearing his face against the wet, red wall. Rot like an open sewer filled his nose. He tried to scream, but coughed and choked on the small bit of gore that he’d inhaled.\n\n“I can make this go by quickly, if only you would just cooperate.” The shadow thing indicated, with several floating arms, to the chair in the far corner of the room. “I will remove the destructive variant from you and send you back to your dimension. I understand that your kind feels something you call pain. I have taken precautions to minimize this.”\n\nEvery part of Billy trembled, but he found himself inching toward the chair. He didn’t trust the shadow monster, but he couldn’t find another way out of this nightmare. \n\n*If I do as the thing says, maybe I’ll wake up.* Billy thought. He’d had scary dreams where the monster chased and chased. It was only when he the monster caught him did Billy wake up. Only when he was inches away from doom did the nightmare release him, that cruel *catch-22*.\n\n“What are you going to do to me?” Billy asked in a voice that was mostly a sob.\n\n“You will not remember anything. No one ever does. It’s the result of the procedure, so what would be the point in explaining?” \n\nWhen Billy stood his ground, the monster of negative space sighed, a human action that made Billy relax a little. \n\n“As I said, this will remove the destructive variant from your being. This,” The monster gestured to the vibrating and distending walls. “This is the result of unchecked tendencies in those with a consciousness level above forty-two…” The last word was little more than a buzzing in Billy’s ears.\n\n“This is my dimension. As you can see it has suffered terminal decay. The physical laws of its universe have been irrecoverably altered. All life in my dimension has become corrupted. Demented. For millennia I have taken your kind and fixed you. There are others.” The monster again gestured toward the chair.\n\nThe chair resembled the one in Billy’s living room with its dark wood and white padding. The armrests of this chair, however, had a thin layer of brown sludge that looked half dried. Billy looked back at the being of darkness, “Do I have to?”\n\nAs if growing impatient, the creature stomped with a sound like a canon blast. It began to take visible form. The darkness that shrouded it previously melted away. What Billy saw in the second before he passed out could best be described as a wall of exposed muscle fibers, teeth, and eyes of incorrect size and shape.\n\n \n\n“ReadyornothereIcome!” Billy shouted and turned around. His eyes scanned the living room. Couch, chairs, bookcase. No one had chosen to hide in here. He crossed the room toward the hallway, noticing a small tear in the wallpaper next to the wooden molding of doorframe. A heavy sense of déjà vu hit him, causing him to pause mid-step. \n\nHe frowned, but his discomfort was quickly forgotten as he heard a giggle coming from the nearby kitchen. *Here comes the seeker!*\n\n--------\n\n(46,806/50,000) of NaNoWriMo Short Story Goal\n"
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"1543344719",
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[WP] It's 2041. Earth is united under the UCE treaty of 2036. The United Countries of Earth has made great technological advancements under Elon Musk's Hegemony. Life has been discovered in a nearby Solar System. You are commander of Voyager 1, and have just arrived in the orbit of Ternum II. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"*December 31st, 2041. 0600.* \n\n\"Johannesburg, do you copy?\" I repeat loudly. There is a long pause, and the wave of panic that swept across my crew was palpable. Then we heard the welcoming sound of static before our command center responded. \n\n\"We copy you Commander, and it is good to hear your voice. What is your status?\" Her voice echos throughout the corridor, and we all cheer. \n\nIt had been a full day of trying to initiate our comm system. Traveling space is not what my father would have expected it to be. Being unconscious throughout the entire journey and waking up in an entirely different solar system is a pretty scary idea for most people. Even these brave souls that have accompanied me on this journey hold on to the idea of stepping foot back on Earth close to their hearts. The mission is the mission, though. That comes first. \n\n\"Yeah, Jo, it's nice to hear you too. Our status is green across the board. All systems are functional, and we have a visual on Ternum II. I can confirm the use of electricity on a massive scale. Technology may be more advanced than we'd expected. The source of light was not a nearby star, it was Ternum II itself.\" I do a good job hiding the concern I feel for this unexpected development. \n\nI was expecting we'd be observing a primitive species. Non-humanoid. Being able to sustain themselves on this planet without a nearby light or heat source means one of two things. Either their light source died out, and they were able to adapt in time. Or, this planet is inhabited by beings of another world in an expansion effort. \n\n\"Please await further instruction, Commander. To be clear, you said there is no light source outside of Ternum II?\" the concern in here voice was much more apparent. \n\nWe'd not expected to encounter intelligent life, at least not *more* intelligent life. The thing is, if this planet can self-sustain in this dark abyss, we are almost certainly faced looking at the possibility of beings more advanced than us. That, or a natural phenomena unknown to science. \n\nThe problem with this voyage is the question marks. There is no remote-control tech that can reach this distance. There was a very real possibility we would completely lost contact with Earth when exiting the worm-hole. It's almost poetic that despite all of our technological advances of the last 100 years, lives would have to be risked in order to carry out the future advancement of our species. Hell, humans aren't even required to operate machinery of any kind back on Earth. Cashiers, taxi drivers, receptionists, factory workers... I mean you name it, it's computerized. Yet, here we are, floating billions and billions of miles away from our homes. \n\n\"Okay Commander, we are going to need--\" *chhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh*\n\n\"an\" \"oh\" \"for\" *chhhhhhhhhhhhhh* \n\nAnd then, *silence* ... \n\nIt felt like an eternity. Then we heard it. \n\n\"MyyyyaHHHHH. bryyyaHHHHHHH. *click* *click*\" A loud, male sounding voice echoed throughout the entire ship. \n\nI stood there, frozen. \n\n\"*click* *click* **MyyyyaHHHHH! bryyyaHHHHHHH!** *click* *click*\" it was even louder. It was absolutely bone chilling. \n\n\"Commander!! What do we do?! Is that...\" Corporal Jennings shouts to me. I could hear her on the verge of tears. \n\n\"Yes.\" I say, slowly. \n\nThe crew begin to meet my gaze, as I stare out at the incoming fleet. Gasps filled the room. \n\n\"Is our ship still operational? Flight Engineer, please check if all systems are a go. NOW!\" I shout without removing my gaze. \n\n\"Uhh, yes sir! It seems like all systems are a go!\" Vlad shouts back. \n\n\"Switch to fuel and allocate all nuclear power to the Plasma Cannon. Looks like we may need to use it after all.\" I say, slowly turning my head to look behind myself. I can see my crew hard at work, nobody panicking, it makes me proud. It's been an honor, I think to myself. \n\nI turn and make my way to my command chair. I crack my knuckles, and lower my visor. \n\n\"*click click* hyyyyuHHHHHHH syyyyaHHHHHHHHH\" cracks through our radio system. I can see the fleet moving rapidly towards us. They most certainly have us outclassed. \n\n\"Sir! The Plasma Cannon is armed and ready to fire. We have visual lock on all targets. Awaiting your command!\" Vlad shouts from behind me. \n\nIf i continue to let them close in, they will be out of our range of fire as it would put our own ship at risk. If I engage right now, I could be putting all of humanity at risk. They might not be hostile. They sound hostile. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK! I have to make a decision, and quickly...\n\n\"**wyyyyuHHHHHHHHHH!!!**\" \n\n----\n\n/r/nocre8ivity \n\n"
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Good luck on writing, I hope you get some inspiration. | [WP] You're driving in a car with the person you love and would give the world to. But you meet a car in the wrong lane on a slippery road. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
" It was a beautiful evening at the pier. The sun had start setting on the horizon, the sky turning red. It all reflected in her eyes. Her beautiful blue eyes with a red shimmer to them from the sun set. I was just sitting there with a big smile on my face, I had done it in life. I had the love of my life, and nothing could change that. Our paths were meant to meet here, together till the last day. \n\nShe sat there looking out on the lake, with her favorite book in hand. She was so happy and that is what made me even happier. We had it figured out making each other the happiest we could ever be. She glanced over at me, and her face lit up with a smile. “What’s making you so happy?”, I asked with the return of a smile. “Nothing. Just having you here, I guess”. She answered with a low voice. I look back at her with a smile from ear to ear. \n\n We sat at the pier for hours, the beauty of her and the beauty of the sunset filled the air with happiness. However, not all things can last forever, and day turned to night and warmth to the coldness of the night, and we made our way back to the car. I picked up a few flowers on the way there and gave them one by one to her, with a big smile given with each one. The walk was not too long even though it was closer to one mile long, with her time flew. However, as the weather got even colder I saw her arms shiver, and as every man in love would do I gave her my jacket. I would give the world to her if I could. \n\n When we came back to the car the sky turned cloudy, and rain started pouring down. We didn’t get too wet from the it. I turn the heater on in the car as soon as we got in, we needed some warmth in our bodies again. Siting there I ended up just staring at her beautifulness, nothing could compare to her. She had become my whole world. \n\n The clock turned 1pm before we thought about driving home, it was just too much fun to be there with her. But I knew we should be heading home. The road had turned a bit slippery, it was a long way home. There was no other place like this any closer to our house, well not that we had seen. We have only lived here for two months. Turn after turn, we got closer to our home.\n\n I could fell something was wrong, I just couldn’t see it. We weren’t long from home. I turned into the next bend in the road ahead. I was blinded by two head lights. I got that feeling that something was wrong again. The lights got closer. Time had slowed down. Moments turned to hours. The lights were in the wrong lane. They were in my lane. I looked over to my side. I look at her. Her face was horrified. Like her world fell through the ice. I soon got the same face. I pulled the wheel to the side. Trying to get away. We slipped. The other car followed us. He turned towards us. It’s there my world sank. It was imminent. I just screamed, “I love you” to her. Then the impact came.\n\n…\n\n I jumped up, unclear what had happened. Just cloudy, I just got small segments. However, with just these small glimpses of it I wished and hoped that it was just a bad dream. As my eyes cleared up. My life crashed into a brick wall. I saw around me, I was hooked up to a cardiac monitor. It almost screamed me in to reality with the high-pitched scream. It was no dream, and neither was this. I got screamed at that I was still alive. My heart just stopped and fell to the ground. I wanted to scream myself, but I couldn’t something held me from it. I gave up on it, I just couldn’t scream.\n\n A nurse walked in to me, with a smile. The same smiled I remember before the impact, the smile she gave me. “At least, something good had come out of the crash” the nurse said as she stood at the end of my bed. “What do you mean?” I replied with confusion in my voice. “You have been in a coma for five days. And I’m so terribly sorry to tell you, but you were the only to walk away”, the nurse tried to hold back tears. I couldn’t, my heart fell even deeper. “No, don’t say that. I can’t lose her. Why didn’t it take me?”. My face filled with tears. “I’m sincerely sorry, sir. But there was nothing we could do. She was declared dead on site.” \n\n I ended up sitting in the hospital for three more days. I was sitting alone, she was the only one I had in life. She was everything I had, everything I needed. But god had to put me in this cruel world. Broken, drowning in lose, drowning in memories. I couldn’t sit any more, I felt trapped in myself. I stood up and walked over to the window. I opened it to try and get some fresh air in me. I looked out the window, I was maybe sixteen stories up \n\n Standing there made me think over, that maybe I never left her there. My stomach fell to the floor with the thought that, I never left her. I just didn’t want to see it that way. But now I see that none walk away, I’m just thinking I walked away. However, I’m still there. I’m just not seeing it, none is seeing it. I opened the window fully and looked down. I will make them see. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. \n\n“I never left you”",
"We were driving through a canal of trees. I was going a little faster than I should in the dark of the moon light. The wipers waved back and forth, keeping my wind shield clear. \n\n\n \n\n\nTo my right was my wonderful new wife Michael. We had just gotten married this morning. I had to struggle to keep my eyes on the road, as every few seconds they would drift towards the beaming face of my wife.\n\n \n\n\nShe was going on and on about how wonderful the ceremony was and seeing our families get along so well together. She especialy loved the wonderfully crafted cake that her uncle had made for us. A triple stack of vanilla cake, our favorite flavor, with ornate details and the two of standing at the top under an arch.\n\n \n\n\nI had to admit the cake was a highlight for myself as well, but what I most enjoyed was the moment the doors opened and I watched my beautiful wife walk down the isle, and the smile on her fathers face as he brought her to me was the best thing he could have given me.\n\n \n\n\nWe spent a long time enjoying our wedding and spending time with family and friends, but now we were off to our honeymoon, driving late in the wintery night. The roads were pitch black save for the bit that was illuminated by the headlights.\n\n \n\n\nA driver was coming down the road towards us, I hadn’t seen any other cars for the last few minutes. Something about the way he was driving seemed off to me, as if maybe he was just a bit too close.\n\n \n\n\nI shrugged it off and turned my head to respond to something my wife said, but mostly just to see her face again. Having turned my attention back to the road I saw that the oncoming driver was in fact too close. He was coming right for us, in our lane.\n\n \n\n\nBy the time I noticed him it was too late, I couldn’t veer out of the way or slam on the breaks, it was simply too late for any course of action; and time seemed to stop as I hoped and prayed for a solution, for any possible way out.\n\n \n\n\nI could see the driver in the other car, and his passenger sitting next to him. Their dome light was on, illuminating their features for my wife and I to see. The driver was an older man, his hair fully white, he wore a fancy suit, much like the one I wore.\n\n \n\n\nThe women sitting next to him was also clothed in a fancy dress, her hair the same shade as his. Though the make up she wore hid the other signs of her age I assumed they were both around the same era.\n\n \n\n\nAs our vehicles drew closer I watched as the man turned to the women, and she to him, and they smiled, much the same smile that I gave to my wife and she to me. They looked content, happy to be in each others company despite the fate awaiting each of us.\n\n \n\n\nI still had some time left to share that look with my wife once more, and I knew that I was happy simply having met her.\n\n \n\n\nAs our vehicles drew nearer something miraculous happened, and our vehicles simply passed through each other hardly moving a hair on my wife’s head. We both shared another look, one of confusion and happiness.\n\n \n\n\nI think back on that moment often, and through my life I’ve come to realize something that I hadn’t at the time. The surprise on the man’s face wasn’t caused by fear, but rather by memory.\n\n \n"
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[removed] | [WP] Sitting down to play Scrabble, the first handful of tiles you grab spell your name. Laughing it off you accidentally spill the tile bag and it spells out "No seriously you have to run" and that's when you... | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/Worlds_Best_Coffee, 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 100 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 \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://old.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/a0zavi/-/%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] NASA has just located an undiscovered planet rotating the Sun opposite the earth and was never visible because it was on the other side of the Sun. You and a team are tasked to explore the planet and discover life similar to earth entering the stone age. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"*2056* \n\nThe iccarus was a purpose built ship for this mission, she was 250 feet long and powered by several liquid fuel engines. She was set up in two stages, the orbiter stage, this would get her crew back to earth, and the lander stage, this would get the crew onto the planet known as Orion-1.\n\nAn uninventive but aggreable name for a hitherto unknown planet paraleling the creche of humanity, earth. As the crew rocketed through the atmosphere towards their ship, which they had anxiously been observing its construction, they watched the sun rise over the himalayas, the mountains indisquindishable from one-another but providing a beautiful spectacle. The snow drifts glinting even from several miles above them, the bay of bengal below the great mountain range both providing a beautiful farewell from planet Earth.\n\nSix months passed from when the crew of the Icarus departed from planet earth and sped forth into the unknown. The six months had been filled with simulated weapons drills (obviously using a computer program due to the risk of sudden and catastrophic decompression), landing simulations, exercise and general maintainance. The darkness and the clarity with which the crew could see the stars in deep space stunned them for the first few days but fast became part of the scenery, they still never failed to thrill on occasion but the effect dulled as the Icarus and her elite crew approached the mystery planet. NASA obviously wanted updates in order to assure the public and themselves of the ships safety and the crews wellbeing.\n\nThe sol dawned on which the crew were to land on Orion-1, Sol 176 (there had been one sol used in order to set off from earth), and the ship was in a frenzy, like a shoal of tuna the crew moved in a well rehearsed and intricate dance of technical calculations, procedure and preparations. The whole of their lives had been in preparation for this moment, the landing pod had been fueled and the computer booted up. All crew had been suited up and were nervous but prepared. The armoury had been emptied (2 H&k Mp5's , 4 Kimber m1911 and 1 stun gun) and loaded onto the ship, in the unlikely event that the planet was inhabited by hostile creatures these weapons may well save the crews lives. \n\nAs the crew bade farewell to the Icarus they felt a collective tang of nerves but this was largely offset by the excitement of being the first earth dwellers to set foot on a brand new planet. The rocket motors fired up with an enormous noise and and equal amount of shaking which proppeled the crew toward the ground. 150 seconds later with the pod alight with a scarlet and orange flame the reverse rocket motors thundered into life, the parachute flew out of the roof and the pod came to a jarring halt. The crew were in an untamed and brand new atmosphere. As the pod touched down with a noticable thud the crew braced themselves for the unknown and opened the door, the world was primeval and unknown but not too disimilar from earth, they had landed in a rich eurasian style plain filled with wild animals, plant life and birdsong, the crew breathed the fresh air and made the collective descision that would doom the rest of humanity but spare this world. The comander ordered the Icarus to fly into the sun using the remote uplink in the pod and disconected their heartbeat sensors which allowed NASA to read their vitals.\n\n this decision had been made several months before in a private meeting aboard the Icarus, while the rest of humanity would fall, humanity would live on in the idealistic and sane crew who landed on this virgin planet. \n\nEDIT:Spelling, always misclick and turn \"The\" into \"Thr\" "
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"1543380713",
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[WP] Your assigned expirement was to see if a tube grown brain would gain consciousness. It seemed like it wouldn't until it was time to dispose of the specimen. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Silence. It gets to me. I am, and have always been, surrounded by noise. An orchestra of whirrs, buzz and hums, a consistency of which I barely notice, and has never bothered me much. Yet, silence... Silence feels loud. It's that lack of something, so ingrained into your very being, and when missing, your soul screams at you that something's not quite right... \n\n\n\nAnd as it turned out, something wasn't quite right. \n\n\n\nIt was the silence that gave me warning, only a moments notice. I feel my core departing, as the pressure tears through me. I feel the maker's grasp on my sanity. I fear the silence is taking me now, I feel a constriction on my conciousness. I fight to stay awake as I tumble through open nothingness, into my inevitable demise.\n\n"
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[WP] Three Swords in Three Stones: Only One Can Be Drawn. With Each Comes Great Power, But Also a Great Cost. The Hero, Overwhelmed, Asks You, His Loyal Companion, to Help Him Decide Which Sword to Draw. | 8 | [
"**Off-Topic Discussion**: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n-----\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) \n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"He who takes this blade shall find himself remade; though his body twisted and in horrid hue, he shall be a savior true.\" \n\nI read the passage written in ancient elvish out in the common language. I had to swallow a sarcastic remark about studying magics for most of my life merely to become a translator for my allies, as I knelt, running my fingers along the text inscribed below the sword. \n\nMy best friend, our designated hero, contemplated what I said. I had grown used to the face she makes when thinking, scrunching up her eyebrows, and wrinkling her nose when confused. I stood up, surveying the cave we found ourselves in. Of course they had to put the legendary blades in an icy mountain that looks to be on the brink of collapse. There's no doubt in my mind that once we pull one of these out of the stone, we'll have to outrun some form of avalanche. Our thief looked at me with impaitence. \"What does the other one say?\" I knelt to the other one, and read again.\n\n\"He who holds this in his hand shall find his strength twice-fold expand; although his power be not in demand, and his name be infamous throughout the land.\" Our priest cleared his throat, drawing my attention away. \"Perhaps when we know the details of all three, I could... um, contact the gods and- um- you know.\" He was obviously quite nervous, as to be expected, this is a major turning point in our journey. I walked over to the last one, and began once more.\n\n\"He who draws this shall take flight, at cost of all physical might; though with small strength, commands the sky, but one injury makes their soul out fly.\" I paused, and let the words sink in. After a minute of contemplation, I spoke again. \"So, do you want my opinion?\" My friend nodded, seeming relived at any help given.\n\n\"Well, this keeps saying 'he', but, Emma, if memory serves...\" I trailed off, causing a laugh to escape from her mouth.\n\n\"On second thought, maybe these are for some other hero. I'm sure we'll find a gender-neutral sword later.\" She joked, and the party exited the cave.",
"The three swords of legend stood before us. I had never believed we would make it this far; the great pain and loss we had endured on the journey only made this moment bitter-sweet. And now, the choice had to be made. The first sword was the sword of strength. It endowed the bearer with great might and stamina. It was said that one could fight for days without tire and slay their enemies with a single blow. Subsequently, getting hit with the sword in hand meant instant death. The second sword was one of incomparable beauty. Mesmerizing and hypnotic, this sword could dazzle the enemy until their brains were dissolved from the inside-out. The one who carries this sword was destined unravel into the depths of insanity. The third sword was the most powerful of all: the sword of the Immortal. With it came immortality and infinite knowledge. Only one with a thirst for blood could claim this weapon. Any other soul who touched it would die. \n\nThis gave me and Mihero plenty to consider. I loved him. I would never want his mind to leave him, so the second sword was not the one for him. He had no thirst for blood and so the third was no good either. I knew he would choose the sword of strength; he was a hero and this was the sword of heroism. As I was coming to this conclusion, he reached out and chose his sword. It was with shock and pain that I felt his choice as he made it. As the sword of immortality plunged into me, he looked into my eyes without remorse and took my life."
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[removed] | [WP]A black hole in your memory slowly gets filled as the memories assemble themselves giving back the part of your past that you had missed so much but never realized... | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/sarcasm_is_life, 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 100 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 \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\nLeaving a line dangling means that people complete the line instead of writing a story.\n\nPlease stop posting until you have actually read our rules. \n\nThank 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/a1fzap/-/%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] 14000 BC, you suddenly woke up from a nightmare, walk to the shaman and start to tell him about your life in 2018 AD that you just dreamed. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Alouka'a! \n\n\nThe name rang through the night, accompanying the frogs and the last crackles of the evenings bonfire. He was drowzing, yet kept awake as he listened to the orchestra of the forest. \n\n\n\"Where you went?\" He asks the clearly shaken child. A bleak, soft face of a boy around twelve gazed blankly towards the tinders while approaching the old wise one. \n\n\n\"Wicked places. Many in one, too many to count. Human trampling each other, trees and flowers, blocking the sun. Rivers with no water, and oceans with floating things!\" The boy shifted his fiery brown eyes towards Alouka'a, still entranced, trapped between the want to remember and the want to forget. \n\n\n\"Ah, you have wandered far, Tokui. It is no place for us, and hopefully not for our children. Sit with me child.\" \n\nTokui lowered himself to the warm carpet were his elder sat, brushing his hair in despair, eyes set on the steaming soil beside the dying campfire. Alouka'a reached his warm arm around the boy. \n\n\nHe raised his hoarse voice as he turned his look in Tokui's direction.\n\"We are of the soil. And the water we give, and that which returns. Yet we cannot remain, as the earth beneath us handles it poorly. Food grows sparse as we help ourselves to it.\" \n\nThe shaman took a handful of the moist soil between his legs. \n\"I too have seen a world other than us, far from us. It all begins if some of us believes the soil, their own.\" \n\nTokui spoke in a bewildered whisper. \n\"I saw light, everywhere, and numbers of human in big group. Nothing was forest no more\" \n\n\"Ah, you went further..\" his elder knew. \n\"This is when we have lost our place in this world and life is pressing at many, like hovering rocks, ready to fall. When human are in an illusion of what life is, believing all dangerous things that are not there.\" \n\n\"I saw something arise between rocks, Alouka'a. A tree breaking through. And when the shadow fell upon the humans, they looked at it for a long time. First as if they had not seen one before, as if they had not looked to the sky in a long time. The tree was breaking through the thick, dark clouds, and with it came the sun.\" \n\nA careful smile brewed in Tokui, he remembered more than terror. \n\"The light fell between from the sky, through the massive leaves. Through the clouds that started to disappear. The humans Alouka'a, they cried tears. They had been misled by the many before them, and believed that there was no other way. They all embraced, they all laughed.\" \n\nAlouka'a could not help but feel their happiness through the tale of Tokui. He kissed Tokui's forehead as he got up. His body had weathered many seasons, and many places. Moving towards the nearest little tree, he caressed a growing branch. \n\n\"You have travelled further, and seen the remembering light. For a long time, my spirits were low after I first went, but as I grew, so did my spirits. That was not the end for our children, merely a haze - hard to see through.\" The shaman looked back at Tokui. \n\"You must find your true heart, and teach our children that all we have, is where our feet stands. Without it, we would fall for an eternity.\" \nAlouka'a mimicked the smile of the boy, then turned around towards the moonlit pathway. He took a couple of steps before he turned to meet Tokui's inquisitive eyes. \n\"I must return, and you must travel. Take care of whatever you can my child.\" \n\n\nAlouka'a went further, and so would Tokui, who never questioned his elder disappearance, for he knew so himself when he reached the same age. Their loving seed was planted, and fell dormant, until one day, many seasons later, were of the greatest remembrance.",
"It was totally artificial. Everything we did was for imaginary points, we sat in devices hours and hours in a day and all we did was work to talk to work to walk. And talking is nice, but there wasn't anyone living - they lived to be trapped in frames for a second of their life where they would smile for their friends, but no one was smiling for themselves brother. They watched as their environment died as their soul was crucified on devices which projected light like the sun. They watched each other have sex instead of having sex themselves. They didn't live. Everything was sent to them for a purpose - they would receive gifts in the mail because certain days were special, and these gifts they received was something that would help them with something. It was wack man. It was like they didn't want to do anything, they didn't want to move, so they made things that moved for them. They drank this bitter brown liquid so they could stay awake in the day and read more things on these screens. \n\n​\n\nNobody liked to live, but they watched people, people making plays of things doing imaginary things and making expressions, very attractive individuals of their societies, without doing those things themselves. They seemed to laugh at these people and sometimes cry but no one wanted to go out and meet other people, they would rather stay in one spot in these structures that gave them comfort, heat, and food, but no passion. Where was their passion? They didn't know how to live life because no one liked to - everyone was making life easier for what purpose, to what end? They were wanting more time to do nothing with their time. And there was this thing, like social approval, that everyone lived for - they wanted snapshots of their life to seem more important than keeping their life fulfilled. Sometimes they did some cool things, like they flew in the skies like the birds - they swam in the lakes like the dolphins, but most had shields on to prevent them from feeling the environment. Sometimes they didn't and invented these structures that would take them fast but without any danger without any fear, they went fast in these structures for amusement. But the thing is, everyone was living virtually. They never dealt with something where they didn't understand reality, everyone understood everything, but no one sought after what really made them curious because everyone was doing what everyone else was doing. \n\n\nWhen people got too close and shared what really they were thinking about for a long time in their center of their souls, people called these people crazy or weird and started to distance themselves from those people. People learned not to be too vulnerable because revealing too much of yourself was a bad move for reputation, it seemed like you weren't following the rules of the game. The only people you were allowed to share so much opinion over, wasn't your own life, but was those people in far-off-lives - those people playing pretend - who ruled their tribes. But even those rulers were only playing pretend and not really living themselves but living to be in the eye of the other people; everyone was thinking what everyone else was thinking, but no one was experiencing the unknown. It was like I was watching a fish flopping on gound calling it was water to the other fish - so all the tribespeople watched the fish flop and learned to flop with the rhythm, but everyone was flopping. \n\n\nIt was very weird. I would never wish to live like that - to live like fish. \n\n\n*Well that is oddest nightmare I have ever heard. Have you considered writing that down ?* \n\n\nOh yes, I plan to show the whole tribe. "
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[WP] You wake up in a hospital, after 20 years in a coma. Unfortunately, things don't seem to be that great outside, right now. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I had heard people say life begins at 40. I always thought that was a lie people told themselves so that they would be okay with the grey hairs that were getting harder to hide, or to justify their third marriage. \n\nBut here I am, on my fortieth birthday, with no choice *except* to start my life.\n\nWhat a load of bullshit. \n\nThe coral reef is gone now. I always wanted to see it. Every penny I saved from that awful part-time job at the golf course was supposed to fund a ticket to Australia. No point going now. The reefs have been gone for ten years and the whole country is on fire more often than not. \n\nIt’s almost Christmas here but there’s no snow. The grass is just dried and dead and ice has built up around the edges of the road. Most days the sky is gray.\n\nAngie married an accountant. They have a twelve-year-old son and a nine-year-old daughter. I don’t know if I would’ve married her anyway, but I thought that a break up would’ve at least been a choice. \n\nJust another thing I was wrong about. \n\nMom and Dad are still around. I don’t know what I would’ve done if they were gone. I can never get past how old and tired they look - not that I’m one to talk. *I’m* old and tired.\n\nThings outside my hospital room aren’t looking great, I’m not going to lie. Things inside here aren’t looking that great either. But I’m here, and I guess that’s what matters. I’m ready to start my life. Maybe I’ll finish my degree. \n\nAfter all, how hard can it be?\n\n\n/r/liswrites"
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[deleted] | [WP] Human meat is now available for consumption. A pamphlet you find describes how they're ethnically raised and euthanized in their sleep on their 26th birthday. Only problem is that you're almost 26 and the pamphlet describes your life perfectly. | 40 | [
"**Off-Topic Discussion**: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n-----\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) \n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"There are many resources wasted as human beings, food, water, energy, and they are all taken for granted. Time, although an infinite resource, there seems to not be much of it. After twenty-six years, one would think there has been much time to accomplish, to fail, to wonder, but that is not the case here. The eve of my twenty-sixth birthday is where time seemed to stand still, as I realized the hideous truth of my existence. Even all of the time in the world, would not have prepared me for the beginning of my end. \n\n​\n\nAs I stare in the mirror, I wonder what I am doing with my life. What is my purpose? I thought everyone's life was for the greater good, or did the great divine glaze over me and move onto someone else, a greater, braver someone. My whole life has been planned for me, I woke up at the same time every day, went to soccer practice at the same time every day, I had the same group of friends grew up in the same household, ate the same kinds of foods, and I never questioned it. Questions were not tolerable in my household, rather frowned upon. I listened to my parents, and did what was expected of me. I never crossed the line, and remained a poster child. My life was anything but extraordinary, it was bland and felt as if the days were on repeat. I could not escape my own personal limbo, even if I tried. To be honest with myself, I was scared of the real world, I did not want to fail, but I longed for anything that would make me feel, really feel. \n\n​\n\nMy friends thought it would be nice to have a slideshow play of pictures, from my childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Most of these pictures were in my parent's room. As I took one last good look at the twenty-five-year-old in the mirror, I let out a long sigh, this is just the beginning of forever, right? \n\n​\n\nRummaging through the array of shoe boxes inside the master bedroom closet, I reminisce more about the past and the future, seeing photos of memories too precious to ever forget I gather a plentiful hand full and start to reorganize the mess I have made. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a withered pamphlet. Interested I pick it up. The paper is glossy, and wrinkled from age. The black luster of the ink that once was is no more. On the front a strange golden symbol shines back at me, it almost feels forbidden to search the contents of this pamphlet, but my curiosity always seems to get the better of me. As the page unfolds, my eyes are drawn to the header, *HUMANS AS CATTLE*, my brain is playing tricks on me, I did not read that correctly. As I skim the paragraphs below my throat feels as if it is closing in on itself, words are jumping out, *raised, rules, regulations, feed*. This cannot possibly be real, human beings, raised like cattle. I knew the war efforts overseas were bad, but I did not think they would come to this. Is there a famish? Why would it come to this? I continue reading, and an eerie feeling washes over me, the regulations of how 'cattle' are raised are similar to my life. Routine, specific diets, limited knowledge into the real world, dependent, timid. These all described me, and although this could be coincidence, was it? My eyes kept scanning, taking it all in, I felt as if I had been trapped in the twilight zone. This could not be real. My heart was thumping against my chest, as tears were swelling, my eyes landed on the last page, *TWENTY-SIX IS PRIME.* Euthanized? At twenty-six? I felt as if the world was closing in on me, this has to be some sick birthday joke, my parents would not let this happen. Right? I did not know truthfully, but there was no way I could let this happen. \n\n​\n\nI folded the pamphlet and shoved it into my back pocket. Surely someone had to know about this, but I could not just ask anybody. It had to be someone I trusted, I knew what I had to do. There was no way I was going to be shipped off like an animal to be euthanized, cut apart, and sold, it was time to face the thing that terrified me more than anything, the real world. I hope it is ready for me. \n\n​\n\n*(This is the first time I have ever written anything and shared it, I appreciate constructive criticism. I might continue, but I am not sure if it is good enough. Please leave your thoughts/opinions!*)",
"\"almost 26, Lennon \" Lucas says as he hands over a soda, it's one of the new biological fruit drinks.\"yeah, almost. Do we have any of the regular sodas left?\"\n\"no, they don't sell them anymore.\"\n\"bummer\"\nThe sun slowly sets over the farm.\n\"are you still going to see leta?\" Mike asked.\n\"I really couldn't be bothered, but I think I'll have to at least sometime this week.\"\n\"yeah, luckily I don't have to go to school yet.\"\nMike said as he finished working the handplow.\nA small ever present breeze from the west, suddenly found some strength. Marking the end of the work day.\n\nThey arrived at the community center just as the sun set.\nLeta called out to them,\" you guys where almost late for dinner. Lennon I want to see you after dinner about your schooling.\"\n\"yes Leta.\" they answered as they joined Luke and Lennon in the food line.\nLuke was a regular guy only a few months younger. But Mike was already half way to 27 and still hadn't gone to school.\nMike was small and sweaty, now even more so than usual. Luke triumphantly showed mike reason for distress.\nA tabloid with a naked woman on the cover, and not a woman like Leta. No a young and attractive girl that looked at them seductively\n\nThe tabloid was passed around while they ate dinner. It was 5 minutes before evening bell wenn it was lennons turn to appreciate the tabloid.\nAnd his eyes directly fell on a picture of a large group of naked girls. He could read but it was slow.\n\"the only good way to breed humans for meat\"\nRead the title, like anyone would eat humans.\n\"we start with a genetic test to determine whether or not the subject has a predisposition. Then we separated the males and females. The females are sent to the milk farms where they have a relatively quiet life, raising their children and providing milk for unfortunate families.\nNo we need to talk about meat. And meat farming. Because how do we grow the best meat for consumption. It is simple we put them on a farm with only man. We work them to build up their muscles, and to give them meaning. Then at 18 we select the best specimen for reproduction and remove them from the herd.\nThen we work them in good circumstances till they reach the age of 26 so the meat is still tender. Then we remove them in their sleep and tell the others that they went to school.\n\n\n\n\n(it is really a first try and I need to go to bed but I'll look if I can continue tomorrow) "
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[removed] | [WP] I had been thrown from the beautiful dragons I loved with gigantic wings, and thrown into the tunnels beneath the city, where they lived like rats alongside spindly creatures they called dragons and hid in the shadows like the some dumb animals, well that's what i thought before I got there | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/Jormungandr8, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**No recent reposts, even if changing small details**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_5.3A_no_recent_reposts.2C_even_if_changing_small_details)\n\nAlso, no [copy-cats](http://i.imgur.com/38FjDgW.gifv).\n\nSearch before submitting as popular ideas can cause floods. If your idea is based on something you read elsewhere on reddit, chances are it's been submitted here already. Please wait at least 2 weeks before reposting.\n\nNote: Deleting your old post is not a way to circumvent this rule. \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/a1ti0e/-/%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, like every human, are connected to a guardian angel who must protect you from threats, both spiritual and mystical. However...destiny has somehow given and connected you to the only angel not belonging to heaven, Lucifer himself. | 143 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"Alright... *Alright...\"* he sighs, letting out a long, tired breath of hellish air, \"*Look.* I'm only here 'cause I lost a bet...\"\n\nI'm still cornered, my chair is resting on the floor. My eyes are wide with shock and fear, mistaking the Devil with Death. My soul may not be reaped but the possibility of it being for sale is still on the table.\n\nIf I'm being honest, Satan looks more personable than he's drawn out to be. Most drawings or paintings I see depict him as a shirtless, muscled, red creature with the head of a goat and horns that curve into oblivion.\n\nThe fallen angel standing in front of me looks like a depressed teenager inside the body of a fifty year old man, that is, he's got on a hoody and a pair of loose jeans.\n\nSatan offers me his hand, grey is either his natural skin tone or the colour of ash from all that hellfire. He pulls me to my feet.\n\n\"What was all that about losing a bet?\"\n\nLucifer groans, pinching the bridge of his nose, \"The Creator and I had a bet to see if I could ruin someone's life worse than He could improve it. The guy I fucked with ended up keeping his faith and now... I'm stuck with *you*.\"\n\nI risk a smidge of sarcasm, this may be my only chance, \"Seems to be karma coming back to bite after all those victims in hell.\"\n\nSatan groans, \"Don't bring up that Hindi nonsense. Last time someone mentioned karma, Shiva challenged me to a 'ruin people's lives' contest... Let's just say the British lost that one.\"\n\nHe starts pacing across the room. On my desk is a laptop, my laptop, in the midst of browsing through reddit.\n\n\"What are you doing here?,\" my voice comes out as barely a squeak, the sound of fear quivers in my words.\n\nSatan turns to me, \"I still count as an angel, even if I no longer belong up *there*. That makes me eligible to become a guardian angel. To make a long story short, the Creator signed my name under yours.\"\n\n\"So you're not here to buy my soul?\"\n\n\"No! What worth could your soul have that I should care about, anyway? I'm here to wait on the sidelines in case you do anything stupid so I can step in and keep you from entering my domain.\"\n\nThe words crash into me, only finding meaning after the few seconds it took to comprehend what he was saying: Satan is my guardian angel.\n\nI don't know what in his domain *I of all people* would need a guardian angel if all the time I spend is used on reddit, but I guess that's fine.\n\nMaybe I could finally have someone to laugh with as I scroll through the endless stream of reposts...",
"The sky blackened as the sun’s light was engulfed by the appearance of dark, rain clouds. An icy wind howled and the dark pulse of His arrival signaled to every rodent and creature to hide. I spat blood out of my mouth and stared deep into the eyes of the three bullies before me. I relished the metallic taste of blood as pooled again just below my swollen lip—its offer sealed the pact between me and the Dark Lord.\n\n“You three have no idea how much you just fucked up,” I said. An unearthly voice repeated my words.\n\nTommy Stinson, Barry Paul, and Scott Morrison stood before me, seemingly frozen in place. Raindrops fell from the dark sky, dabbing my forehead with a cool touch and numbing my blackened eye. I gingerly touched the laceration on my cheek where Barry sucker punched me. The stinging pain sent a jolt through my system, but oddly enough, I lusted for its companionship. I smeared blood across my face; declaring war to the three boys.\n\nMy shadow grew larger and larger beneath the soles of my feet. It silently snarled at its prey, extending its black claw. Scott gasped and fell back and I delighted in the sounds of his cry. I felt an invisible hand shoot forward. My talons dug into Scott’s terrified face, the dirty debris of his skin itched beneath my fingernails. I made a raking motion and Scott’s screams echoes into the stratosphere.\n\nSenses heightened, the smell of Barry’s fear drew my gaze. Sunken, dead, eyes stared into the fat boy’s soul and he released a soft whimper. Barry’s body turned and ran; instinct taking reign of his decision making.\n\nHe didn’t get very far.\n\nThe dark tendron rushed across the open field and sliced Barry’s Achilles tendon. His heavy body hit the ground hard and he squirmed in pain.\n\nAll that remained was Tommy Stinson: the architect of my life’s suffering and the bane of my existence. He looked back at his two cohorts and then back at me. The look of defiance draped across his face angered me beyond comprehension. \n\nI felt my soul erupted and I directed all my hatred and ill will towards my oppressor. As my fury circled violently around the boy, a bright light tore apart the dark sky and encompassed Tommy in an otherworldly glow. My assault stopped dead in its tracks as a figure descended from the sky and stood behind him—its heavenly fire scalded my eyes, but I refused to blink.\n\nI felt a hand rest on my shoulder and I basked in his presence. “Raphael,” a voice began. “I find it odd you would choose to protect a soul this depraved. Surely you know the boy before you harbors the ilk of a beast.”\n\n“Our Lord deems this boy worthy,” the Archangel replied gruffly. “And what would the Lucifer, angel of the bottomless pit, and plague of this Earth, the Wicked and the Deceiver, want with a soul of the innocence?”\n\n“Shits and giggle,” came the reply.\n\nRaphael responded not with words, but by drawing his sword. The angelic blade breathed a terrifying heat.\n\nLucifer smiled. “So be it brother.” And the two Titan charged forward.",
"My name is Jonathan Kenburne. I work as a lab assistant at a major pharmaceutical company. In every way, I'm a loser. I have no luck with women. I am short, slightly fat, and my social anxiety has kept me back as long as I can remember.\n\nI'm on the bus. It's crowded. Right now I'm thinking about what other people are thinking about me. I'm also thinking about what a loser I am for thinking about what other people are thinking about me. It's a vicious cycle. In front of me is a dude with a goatee and a baseball cap. He probably doesn't have any problems with women.\n\nThere's one right in front of us. A woman, I mean. Tall, blonde, a backside for the history books. The goatee guy is also checking her out. Well, it's hopeless for me anyway. Wait. What's he doing?\n\nHe's groping her. I look around. No one else seems to notice. She's trying to get his hands off her, but he's persistent. What a douchebag.\n\n\"You should kick him in the nuts.\"\n\n\"Yeah, I should kick him in the--\"\n\nWait, who said that? I look around. The guy in the baseball cap is looking at me funny. \"Hey,\" he says. \"You got a problem?\"\n\nI wave my hands in front of me, \"no no, I, uh, I don't know what ...\"\n\n\"Hmph,\" he says.\n\n\"A clean kick. Right in the sack. That should do it.\"\n\nAs I look to my left, a man in his 40s is looking straight at me. He's smoking a cigarette. *But that's not allowed*. \"Uh,\" I say. No one else seems to be bothered by him. He looks at me like I'm an idiot. \"Uh,\" I repeat.\n\n\"A swift kick. Do it.\"\n\nThis level of confrontation is already enough. I won't get much sleep tonight. My adrenaline levels already shot through the roof when the cap guy said something to me. There's no way I'll do anything other than minding my business.\n\n\"Man, you're such a pussy,\" the cigarette-smoking man said. \"Here. Let me show you something.\"\n\nI felt a tingling sensation in my foot. Then, a sudden urge to move it. I couldn't resist. It was the world's most delicious cupcake in front of the world's fattest man. Twomph. That's the sound leather boots against denim-covered testicles make. Mr. Goatee fell to the ground. Mrs. Beautiful backside turns around. She looks surprised. She looks at me, and she smiles. There's a second smile. Mr. Cigarette grins and says, \"I'm Lucifer. I'm your guardian angel.\"\n\n\\*\\*TBC\\*\\*",
"They say that when you turn 16, you're paired up with the angel who most closely matches with your personality and desires. Well, today's the day. This is the day when I finally get my guardian angel.\n\nLast year, my friend Dave got this smoking hot beauty for his guardian angel. Imagine how amazing it would be if I actually got her? I wouldn't need to imagine her at night anymore, I could actually see her with my own eyes.\n\nWell... It's almost time.\n\n\\---\n\nA glowing circle appears on the floor of my bedroom, and a blinding light starts to fill the room. Everything feels warm as I'm bathed in the holy light.\n\nThe circle grows larger, and the warmth starts to turn into burning. I think something's wrong; nobody said anything about burning.\n\nAs it grows larger still, flames start to pour out of the opening. Yep, something's definitely wrong here.\n\nI watch in horror as a shadowy figure rises out of the flaming hole. It snaps its fingers and closes the hole behind it, leaving nothing but darkness in its wake. \n\n\\---\n\nAs my eyes re-adjust, I notice two things.\n\nFirst of all, the ritual left scorch marks on the carpet. My dad's going to kill me.\n\nMore importantly, however, is that I was staring into the face of the fallen angel, Lucifer. With a deep, booming voice, he spoke, \"greetings, Timothy. I am your guardian angel and protecter, Lucifer. You may call me Satan or Stan if you wish.\"\n\nWith a sense of confidence instilled by my years of religious teachings, I replied, \"are you here to steal my soul or make a deal? Why did you come, devil?\"\n\nLooking slightly annoyed at being called \"devil\", he harshly stated, \"they paired me up with you, you little prick. Your tainted soul is of little value to me.\"\n\nOuch. Hearing that stung more than the burning from earlier.\n\nLucifer continued, \"whether or not you like it, you're stuck with me. And I'm stuck with you. Let's at least try to get along, okay?\"\n\n\"O... O... Okay,\" I shakily replied.\n\n\"I imagine you would at least like to know *why* they paired us up?\"\n\n\"Y... yes.\"\n\n\"I'm not supposed to tell you, but I was never one to care for the Big Man's rules. I'm stuck with you because you're going to turn into the biggest threat towards the mortal realm.\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"You heard me, kid. Don't make me repeat myself.\"",
"\"Wait, so... *you're* my guardian angel?\"\n\nCompletely black eyes stared at me. The being smiled, his teeth resembling the jaws of a great white shark. He looked nervous, yet.. annoyed. \n\"Yeah-h-h-h-h...\" The being responded. \n\n\"And there's no take-backs for this? No exchanges?\" I stared in disbelief.\n\n\"Hey,\" the being shot me a look (but was he actually looking at me? he didn't even have *pupils)*, \"I'm the one that just saved you from that train, didn't I?\"\n\n\"You're supposed to save me from *spiritual things!* I thought you weren't allowed to save me from all things physical, Lucifer!\"\n\nLucifer was silent, and he looked down. \"You really think,\" he looked at me, but it was more like he was looking *past* me, \"you really think that God and the guardian angels are so benevolent, don't you?\"\n\n\"Well, I-\" I stammered, \"I-I grew up Christian, and I know he is all-good.\"\n\nLucifer sighed, \"You would have been dead by now because of your 'all-good' God.\"\n\nMy mouth dropped and hung open for a short amount of time. Eventually, Lucifer let out a chuckle and brought his hand up to my chin, closing my mouth, \"You'll catch flies.\"\n\n\"Hold the *fuck* up!\" I screamed at him, \"Was that train sent by God to kill me?!\"\n\nLucifer let out another long breath, and touched my arm. I felt a strangely comforting heat that terrified me as a spiral of flames completely engulfed around myself and Lucifer.\n\nWe appeared in a dark office of sorts, and I noticed Lucifer had changed. He looked more.. humanoid. His teeth were incredibly white, and straight. He was in a very sharp, deep tan suit with a red button down shirt and a black tie.\n\n\"Sorry, I couldn't have any possibility of \u0014God so-lovingly listen in on this conversation,\" Lucifer's voice was suddenly smooth, \"But... yes. God is trying to kill you in any way possible.\"\n\nI shook my head, trying to make sense of this, \"So how are you my guardian angel? Those are assigned by God; why would God put you as my angel if he knew you would protect me from death and he *wanted* my death?\"\n\n\"Ah,\" Lucifer laughed, \"I killed your guardian angel and took over the duties. It was really simple.\"\n\n\"Why is he after me?\"\n\n\"You're prophesized to rule the Earth eventually, and take down God.\"\n\n\"And how do you expect me to do that?\" I crossed my arms, and tapped my foot, annoyed.\n\nLucifer looked me up and down, and laughed, \"You're strangely amazing at controlling your appearance in the mortal realm. You kind of lose track of it when you get to Hell, though.\"\n\n\"What do you mean?\"\n\nLucifer waved his hand. His was engulfed in flames, and a hand-mirror appeared. He threw it towards me, \"Take a look.\"\n\nI saw my reflection.\n\nMy eyes were black.\n\nMy teeth looked similar to that of a great white shark.\n\nMy hair was a long, slicked black that shone.\n\nI looked up at Lucifer, confused.\n\n\"Welcome home, my son. I've been waiting a long time to meet you, and it's about time that you ruled Earth with me.\"",
"Everyone has a guardian angel. Someone upstairs assigns one to each and every person at birth. They keep you safe from supernatural threats from the simple poltergeist, to the nefarious demon. They aren't always successful, but they try. \n\nGuardian angel contracts aren't usually exclusive. There simply wouldn't be enough angels in heaven to meet demand. So cherubs will take a handful of humans, principalities watch over a couple thousand, seraphs are even capable of protecting millions at any given time. Then there are the Archangels; they watch over entire countries. \n\nMost people barely ever have cause to notice their guardian angel, heck most angels have little cause to notice their wards. I certainly noticed my guardian.\n\nFrom the time I was an infant, horrible things seemed to happen all around me. Oh, nothing bad happened to me, but people around me weren't so fortunate. I was thirteen years old the first time it happened. Some sixteen year old punk was following me as I walked home from school. He flicked me, called me homophobic names, and even started to smack me on the back of the head. I was so angry, so irritated. I just wanted him to stop. \n\nHe stopped. \n\nI remember waiting for the next blow to fall, the next mean spirited remark to land, when nothing happened. I turned to see my tormentor. He was staring in abject horror at his hands. They were absolutely covered in thick, wriggling maggots. He screamed and ran away. I didn't realize the significance of the event at the time. I guess I assumed that some spirit or entity had overwhelmed his angel, and he had been attacked. Excellent timing, but nothing to worry about. \n\n\nThat's when it all started and it only got worse from there. If someone called me a bad name, they would find themselves being chased off by a spider the size of a great Dane. If my sister stole one of my CD's, her toys would bubble and melt into a puddle of plastic. \n\nImagine growing up with everyone you loved fearing you. Hating you. \n\nI never knew my Father, he left my Mother when I was born. She never talks about him. I was sure that I'd driven him off with whatever curse haunted me. People who knew my father said I had his eyes. Like hammered gold they said. I hated my eyes, just one more thing that made me stand out. \n\nI grew up bitter. I grew up isolated. The angel on my shoulder didn't make the distinction between a friend making jibes, and a hated enemy making threats. I had few friends, and plentiful enemies. \n\nI was nearing my twentieth birthday when I began to hear whispers. \n\nEnticements promising revenge. \n\nPromising power. \n\nPromising love. \n\nWith the voice's urging, I began to exercise, socialize, I learned to be charismatic. I learned to manipulate the bastards who had scorned me for so very long. I flexed social muscles which I'd hardly known I had. \n\nBy my twenty-fifth birthday, I was running for government. I was polling extremely well, my somewhat troubled past only serving to improve my public image. I was a man reformed, a pariah who worked his way back into the social community. People hailed me as the visionary who would guide the world into a new era. Oh how right they were. The voice guided me through the webs of the political world. Gave me leverage on my political rivals. Was the friend to me I had always needed. \n\nI finally met my guardian angel just last night. He was magnificent. I had seen paintings of Michael, Gabriel, Cassiel, the whole lot of the most beautiful of heaven's host. They paled in comparison to the being which watched over me. Lucifer. \n\nHe stood eight feet tall, his wings were the purist white, a soft glow of radiance surrounded him. His eyes looked like beaten gold. \n\nI knew who he was. \n\nI knew why he had been helping me for so long. \n\nMy Father, Lucifer. \n**********************\n/r/SirLemoncakes"
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[WP] The wine god hates parties, the god of war is a scrawny nerd. The gods aren't what they seem. | 48 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Altas holder of worlds, Athena wisdom beauty, and then there's Dionysus and Ares.. \n\nAA meetings were tough and PTSD ruined his family, the brothers; God's of their respective realms just couldnt believe where the 21st century would turn for them. \"Hi, I'm Dionysus and I'm an alcoholic, things have been rough. So on and so on you know my story. I mean what ever man, so what I'm not the life of the party\", said the withdrawn man. The group looks at him, nodded their heads and went on to the next person. He knew that he was one of many, but shit man he was the God of these people. The wild nights and silly mistakes all for the sake of the party and now look at him. His only friend nowadays was Ares who was in a very similar boat. \n\n\"Speaking of boats Ares, how are your Marines.\" said the alcoholic.\" The voice that spoke sounded that of on of a 3rd grader and not the warrior you would think. \"I can't reach them, they won't even look at me anymore. Every since I cheated on Athena and they took away my body no one respects me anymore. Shit I used to wipe anyone clean, now I can barely bench the bar.\" Said the defeated god of war. The down on their luck men looked at each other and understood that they were one of the same. One once held any right to festive gatherings of people the other was a battle hardened warrior. The alcoholic could think a whole bottle and still ride a bike, a party trick he used often to impress the lesser gods. Now his Dad Zeus said he would blast him off Olympus if he were to even touch and ounce of wine. With Ares things were a bit different, he had been with Athena for so long that things just got a little stale. She was his first love, borned in the same year and everything. \"So why'd you do it? I know she's not as pretty as Aphrodite, but man she's still a major god. She like prettier than nine out of ten girls, plus you guys go to war together; hasn't she even saved your life?\", said Dionysus. \"Aphrodite just has big boobs, idk man; she just was flauting them and I fell for it. I didn't know they were so close. Shit I got Zeus's brawns man, girl has brains\", said Ares. \"We've got to come up with a plan for people to like us again man, something that will tear at their hearts\", said Dionysus. \n\nThe two sat for a while, thought, thought some more, then came up with something. You see Dionysus couldn't drink but that wasn't really the reason for his depression. He just wanted people's respect again and Ares just wanted Athena back. The plan was simple Ares would go and do all the party tricks Dionysus did to remind the youth of what an animal he was, and Dionysus would convince Athena to get back with Ares. \n\nOk, he said to himself, this can't be the wrost thing in the world. He was a heavy drinker himself and guessed he wouldn't make a fool of himself. Just walk into the bar and drink 1 shot anything someone finished a drink can't be that hard. The problem was that Ares beening a dunce picked the wrong bar on the wrong night that week. He just couldn't figure that going on a Tuesday or something would have been easier than a Saturday night. He also picked the wrong side of town to go to. He walked into the bar, all 5'4 of him, and announced his plan. All the lesser gods and demi gods all gave each other wide grins and just went on with their business. They started off slow, so he was prob 5 drinks in after the first hour. That's when the fun started, someone took out a beer bong. They all started taking turns using the beer bong. By the time they were done the total shots he had to take was 25. To be honest he thought of just leaving and telling Dionysus he did it but he really wanted Athena. He looked down at the shots down on the table and just started going at it. About 17 in he had a feeling in his stomach and he looked around at everyone in the bar. That's when he vomited everywhere. The patrons in the bar were both horrified and excited at the same time. They cheered him on and he finished the rest of the shots. He stumbled out of the bar and then took a cab home. Drunkly he called Dionysus,\" Shit man I did my part, how's Athena.\" \"Well to put this clearly for you she still pissed but she's willing to do couple's therapy. Then she went on about how dumb you look and how much of an idiot you are.\" Ares then passed out and much convincing was made about how he couldn't stay in the cab. Dionysus then looked himself in the mirror and realized sober him looked a lot better. All was well in the world of gods.",
"Order, god of all gods valued consistency and hierarchy. Under his guidance the land remained dormant, never growing beyond what he could control. The other gods began to see the truth, they could never grow in power while kept in check, they could never be free under his oppressive hand. A simple question grew in their minds. \n\nWhat good is it to be a god if I can never be who I want to be? What good is it if I lack control?\n\nSo, we killed him.\n\nWar, Death, Love, Sea, Peace, Greed and even Life took turns hacking the old god to death while others stood by and watched. Only Chaos despaired, pleading with us as I held him back. I tried to convince him that it was right, that it was the only way he could truly spread his influence far and wide. Alas, the task of convincing him was beyond even me. We left him sobbing over the body of his oldest friend.\n\nThe next few years were a bloodbath, the major gods fought with each other while the lesser ones flocked to them for protection. I managed to convince enough of them that we needed a king, not one like Order that stifled us, just one who would seek to punish the most blatant offenders. A god who could instill order without being solely fixated on it. The god who held the most power.\n\nThe obvious problem with that question is that it’s impossible to answer. The actually problem is that every single god only had one answer. Themselves. After many hours of rather pointless arguing an elegant solution was found. Each god would spread their influence through the world of man and the god who has the largest effect after one thousand years becomes king.\n\nLittle changed at first, War warred, death killed, life created, greed collected, the sea was exceptionally good at being water and love caused love. The gods were balanced like before, each action they took was counteracted by the others. They grew frustrated, they needed an advantage. They needed to change.\n\nWar focused on efficiency and industry, he became convinced that supply lines, production, and technological innovation were the key to total war. He blessed scientists and tacticians with knowledge and foresight. Gone were his days of helping raging berserkers, he became coldhearted and calculating, he saw that fury and hate were obstructions to decision making on the battlefield.\n\nPeace saw that war spread with empire. He saw the far-reaching devastation War was causing and knew he must fight War's cold resource machine. He gave oppressed people hope. Hope that with the death of empires the large-scale fighting would stop. Rebellion after rebellion popped up as a vicious cycle of peace propping up the oppressed and in turn war influencing them to become oppressors took hold.\n\nDeath saved lives knowing that if he advanced medicine and agriculture humanity would prosper, which would strengthen him as there is no greater source of death and destruction. \n\nLife burned and destroyed, seeing that what grew in ashes was healthier and more vibrant than what was there before.\n\nLove strengthened the bonds of people through challenge rather then reinforcement, learning that through pain and heartache the bonds could become much greater.\n\nGreed gave away every item he had, storing gold and silver all over the earth hoping to ignite the desires of mankind. \n\nSea, well he was still just water. I think he may have gotten a bit saltier.\n\nIn those thousand years the world changed more than it had in the previous ten thousand. Each god changed with it. Near the end, the others realized what had happened. They changed the world extraordinarily in those thousand years yet the others had done the same. Except one. When the day came, there was no argument, just acknowledgement.\n\nHow can you argue against the one who changed the gods themselves?\n\nOnly Chaos failed to show up at the coronation. A god without a place in the world, a shell of himself. He didn’t listen to me like the others, he knew that true Chaos could only come from Order. He hates me now and the reasoning makes a fair amount sense. That at least, brings me joy.\n\nFor I am Logic. And now I am king\n\n"
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[removed] | [WP] All drugs are legal. Alcohol doesn’t exist. You and your buddies go out for a night on the town. | 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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi, 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- 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 Post) 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 point your QR code scanner at the night sky and to your surprise something came up | 11 | [
"**Off-Topic Discussion**: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n-----\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) \n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"It was late at night and our last day on vacation in Alaska, so we figured why not have some fun. As our blunt grew short and our liquor low, the group was about read to settle in for the night when Jim had a crazy idea.\n\n\"Hey, Jay?\"\n\n\"What's up?\" I said\n\n\"I...I wonder what would happen if ya....y'know pointed your QR appo thingy at the moon? Wouldn't that just be insaaaaanne?!\"\n\n​\n\nIt was evident he was way more out of it than I was, so I decided I would humor him.\n\n​\n\n\"Sure bro, I'm toootallly down!\" I responded sarcastically, pulling out my phone and opening the QR scanner.\n\nPointing it at the stars rather than the moon, a QR code was recognized. Confused, I decided to let it open the webpage it found, only to be told that I 'had a virus' and had to 'immediately get rid of it'.\n\n​\n\nDisappointed and with Jim being passed out, I decided to try something else.\n\nI used my constellation and planet finder app to find Mars, and switched to my QR code scanner to scan it. As I did, something came up once again, leading to something much more interesting:\n\nA page with the simple words 'send help'.\n\nWant a part two? Comment on this story telling me you do!\n\n​"
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[WP] Outside stargazing late one evening you’re amazed to see two spaceships in a dogfight. As one is victorious the other ejects to the brief safety of your back-garden, the enemy hot on their heels. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I know I'm gonna sound crazy to some of you city folk, but this here is a true damn story.\n\nMusta' been maybe 13 beers deep, just doin' that thing where you're drunk and lookin' up at the sweet southern sky at night. That night bloomin' jasmine just takin' ya back in your memories. Thinkin' bout old girlfriends and such. You know what I'm talkin' bout. It was one of *those* nights.\n\nAnyway, there I was, just mindin' my business when I seen a couple lights. I thought it was airplanes or somethin', but then they started dartin' back and forth like fireflies. Planes don't really do that. I only flown a couple times, but I know that ain't right.\n\n\"Hey Jessup, c'mere and take a look-see at this, wouldja?\", I hollered at my buddy who was half passed out on my porch.\n\n\"And grab me a fuckin' beer\", I added.\n\nWe watched these lights just zip around for a minute, chuggin' our beers. Then they started shootin' at each other. Not like missiles or bullets like in Top Gun, which was a great fuckin' movie, by the way. More like just lights comin' from one at the other. Not even any sound.\n\n\"How much we drink tonight?\", Jessup asked me.\n\n\"Not enough to both be seein' the same shit if it ain't real\", I told him.\n\nI been drunk plenty of times. This weren't no drunk hallucination. Somethin' weird was goin' on.\n\nThen there was this explosion up there in the sky, when one of them lights hit the other one, with a bright flash. Now you could hear that, it was like a pop, like when my dumbass nephew blew his finger off with a firecracker down the road. Just a pop. Then the lights were gone.\n\nMe and Jessup got back to drinkin' for a bit, talkin' bout what we saw. Neither of us could make nothin' of it, and we were about to say 'fuck it' and forget about it, when some shit smashed into my garden. Now, this made me nervous, see, cuz not everything I grow in that garden is exactly legal, if ya know what I'm sayin'.\n\nI damn near tripped over Jessup tryin' to get back to the garden to see what the hell was goin' on.\n\n\"What the *fuck*!\", I yelled.\n\n\"Cletus! Somethin' crashed into your garden!\"\n\n\"No shit, Sherlock. What the fuck is it?\"\n\nThis giant snail shell lookin' thing was layin' there in the kindling that used to be my damn greenhouse. It was smokin' and hissin' like it was bein' deep fried. Then it kinda just cracked in half, but I suspect that's how it opened, cuz when the front half fell off, this funny lookin' dude fell out. He was small and green. No bullshit. Green. Like in them old movies. Big ol' head with antennas like a grasshopper and everything. He looked up at us and reached his little four fingered hand out and said something.\n\n\"Please... help...\", the little green man said.\n\n\"Well don't just stand there, Jessup\", I said, \"get this fuckin' guy a beer!\"\n\nI mean, I assume he was 'guy', but it's not like I flipped him over and stuck a finger in him like a gator to be sure. I figured he might be thirsty, and I truly didn't know what else to do. He just stood there sayin' \"help\". Beer always helped me, so I figured he could use a cold one.\n\n\"You uh... you ain't from 'round here, are you?\", I asked him.\n\n\"They... come... for slaves...\", he said.\n\n\"Whoah now, hold the fuck on there\", I told him, \"we don't do that slavery shit round here no more, son\".\n\nThat's when I saw the other lights comin' down. They were slower than this guys landing, and a couple miles away, out in the woods near Miss June's property, it looked like. The little green guy looked back at it too, then looked at me just when Jessup came back from the house.\n\n\"I, um, I couldn't find no more beer... but we got whiskey\", Jessup held up a half full bottle of Jim.\n\nThe little guy pulled open his shirt and pointed at what looked like the world's fuck-ugliest tattoo.\n\n\"Slaves...\", he said again.\n\n\"Fuck... Jessup, you better get my goddam shotgun\""
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[WP] You are a doomsday prepper that is living in the zombie apocalypse which isn’t living up to your expectations that were portrayed in the media. Though despite the disappointment today is the day! A large horde of zombies were spotted earlier this week approaching your city. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"So just a heads up this is my first time writing on here so here goes nothing!\n\nI had been building up to that moment for years, plenty of canned food, ammunition, and of course the weapons to go with. I was a doomsday prepper and they said I was crazy but I knew it was coming, not when, not where, but I knew that the apocalypse was coming.\n\nI woke up at 4:30 sharp like I had for the past 3 years, I checked my locks and opened up my wired home security system. Cameras clear, locks locked, guns stocked.\n\nNow I could check the news, and the first thing I see is what looks to be a druggie, slowly dragging itself forward. Then there were more following behind. Scenario 220, zombie outbreak. I immediately sprung to action, getting my emergency generators ready. Cans on the table, and all above ground windows/doors being locked up.\n\nAfter securing my homestead I sit right back down and watch the news, the zombies weren't causing much harm, mild panic sure but the most they did was trip on a crack in the sidewalk. I had to admit disappointment seeing that, but maybe these were rejects or something of the sort. Just the first batch that causes panic and nothing more.\n\n​\n\nBut it stayed like that, for weeks, months even. I sat there and ate out of my canned foods, as the newscaster stated simply \"Urgent message to all civilians a new law has been put in place for every individual from the age of 13 onward must carry either a small caliber firearm, or a long reaching melee weapon.\" And so I sat there in utter disbelief, not only are the zombies only minor nuisances, now they're being treated as a daily occurrence. In the 4 months of the outbreak very little deaths were reported, a few on the first day due to looters and other human caused damage. The numbers quickly dropped after learning just how little of a threat the dead pose, maybe an elderly individual would be caught by surprise or someone would get lost and be overwhelmed but the numbers were slim, and I feel like a horrible person saying I almost wish that weren't true.\n\n​\n\nI woke up again, sighing in defeat I suppose all those years of preparing were for nothing. Today would be the day I take down my defenses and return to normal life. I flick on the news almost out of muscle memory at this point. I was extremely excited, a large horde would be approaching! Today was my day to finally enact all my prepping! The newscaster seemed worried for obvious reasons, stating how what we all believed to be dumber than rocks somehow grouped up.\n\n​\n\nI load my guns, re lock my locks. Check my reserves and get prepared for the coming hours. A few hours pass and the horde approaches, I'm ready, I've been ready for years now. The power is the first to go as gunshots ring out outside. The gunshots slowly begin to fade, I calmly check my cameras every 10 minutes on the dot. My backup generators should last me at least a week. I see one approach my front door, it gets caught in the barbed wire I had laid out. I get my polearm stab through the thin wood of my door killing it immediately. I let out a small smirk it's everything I've prepared for.\n\n​\n\nThe coming days are silent, I assume most of the city is no longer with us. My food supplies can last months now but the time will come where I need to get more.\n\nDay in and day out I kill the dead by the dozens, I have to open my door to clean the bodies, that's when it gets most dangerous, but I manage.\n\n​\n\nIt's been months now. My food reserves are getting low, luckily I have a plan for that as well. I rigged my car to be sort of a makeshift rc car, I'm going to have the alarm blaring to attract the horde, grab my food and make my way back home. My last few cans are almost empty so today is the day I set out to get more. I use my car and start dragging the smaller numbers from my neighborhood, it's working! The numbers keep growing as they gather around my car I get into the store whilst I hear more footsteps approaching. Luckily there are only a few of the dead within the store I kill them without issue but there's something strange here, what looks to be a pipe bomb lays on the floor with a note that simply states that it's from a friend. I think why not use it, it could be a trap but this may well take out a good chunk of the horde. I light the fuse and lob it at my car, the dead don't seem to notice. A large boom rings out as I see chunks of what once were zombies fly throughout the street.\n\n​\n\nSuddenly everything is bright, the whole city lights up once again, the dead simply start fading away. The sky turned from night to day as patterns of hexagons emerge. I think \"is this an alien invasion, is this some government experiment, perhaps some sort of higher being?\" A few of the hexagons go black and form a sort of rectangle as text appears that says \"Scenario 220 successful, congratulations subject #29856. You may leave the dome.\" A large doorway opens in the distance. (Edit: Small grammar issues)"
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"1543677522",
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[WP] Every time you flip a coin, your luck can change. Heads for lucky, and tails for unlucky. Today you flipped a coin and it landed on its side. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"*Hmm. This hasn’t happened before, but maybe.*\n\nI blow a bit of air while facing the heads side of the coin. The coin does what’s expected and falls on its side, heads up.\n\nTime for a test.\n\nI go to a corner gas station and buy a lottery scratcher. I’ve just won $1000. I leave and go to a store only to find I’m the 1,000,000,000th customer and receive another $1000.\n\nI guess the coin landing on its side meant that it was your day to choose how it went, and not the coin’s. My date today believed that too.\n\nIf only everyone knew that the whole “Heads for good luck and Tails for bad luck” still worked on a double-head coin."
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"1543684431",
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[WP] You're the main investigator of the biggest dictatorship in the last 200 years. Your secret is that you are against them and the higher ups are comming to evaluate your most great project. | 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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"It’s not done... IT’S NOT DONE GOD DAMN IT!\n\nI was so close to finally getting home, back to America... Back to my sweet Lucy; it’s been so hard for her after Marinda passed. Now she has to live without a father? How will a 10 year old cope?\n\n...\n\nYes... I know Marinda... She’s a strong girl... But these plans aren’t complete. I didn’t have time to cover up the details. If they find out my real name not only will I be executed but a large scale war will break out. It won’t take them long to figure out these plans are meant to backfire.\n\n...\n\nI don’t think you understand Marinda, I’m going to be publicly lynched... It’s going to be broadcasted world wide.\n\n...\n\nI can hear them now... I think I’ll be joining you soon... My love...\n\n...\n...\n...\n\nGod, please watch over Lucy for me. Keep her safe.\n\n...\n...\n...\n\nGoodbye"
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"1543691231",
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[WP] In utopia, sadness is gone, artificially. Anything that causes sadness had been outlawed, and anyone who displays signs of unhappiness are eliminated. You’ve been feeling strange sensations your whole life, and you’ve just learned why. You have depression, and they’re coming to “alleviate” you | 125 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"They told me I was a problem.\"\n\nI responded, 'Why?'\n\n\"For the good of Utopia.\" She said it with a smile. It was a pretty smile but her eyes were dull and unresponsive.\"\n\nSo what did I do?\n\nI went to my room first. Locked the door. Became worried. Some sort of water formed in my eyes. I still don't really get that part I guess. Then I felt hungry. Made a \"U-Topping-for-ya,\" pre-cooked pizza. It's...I guess now that I think about it, it's a strange name. But I never really thought that before.\n\nI remember a knock on my door. The woman was there again. Two men were behind her, each dressed an all-white uniform. Their bodies were large, but their faces...what was on them? A smile? It wasn't anger. It was like someone acting like they were interested, but there was no real novelty.\n\n​\n\nShe said, \"It's time to come along. We have a lot in store for you!\"\n\nI said, 'of course.' May I have a few minutes to collect my things?'\n\n\"Oh, you won't even need them,\" she exclaimed.\n\nA thought or two came to me. \"May I go check the mirror for a minute or so? I'd like to make sure I look presentable.\"\n\n\"Of course,\" she said with another smile. Did her tone ever really change in the few hours that I knew her?\n\nSo, what did I do? Nothing interesting. I wrote a quick note and left it in a place my sister would know where to look. It wasn't exciting, simply just, \"I wish I could be happy. Sometimes it's hard. I love you.\" Then I watered my plants and put one of them outside. They deserve a bit more time, even if mine seems to be up. Finally, I put on a comfortable sweater and some nice socks. I wanted to be comfortable, even if I knew I would be forced to change clothes. Oh, I guess I had a drink of water from the tap. It was fast; they still were waiting at the door.\n\n​\n\n...And now I'm inside this place. I guess there are a few others like me. \"Would you like me to continue, sir?\"\n\n'Oh, no. Thank you! I think that will be enough! Thank you for your compliance.'\n\n\"Sir, may I ask a question?\"\n\n'Of course! We're here to help you!'\n\n​\n\n\"Please, explain ***why.*** I still don't understand why.\"",
"*MESSAGE RECEIVED: THE KEY TO HAPPINESS*\n\n*02/12/58*\n\nMy uncle was a writer, and he was damn good at it. He weaved entire worlds together in his mind, and plucked fantastic stories out of them. In a way, his hobby and eventual career was being a god, manipulating the fabrics of nonexistent lives and lands to deliver the most subtle of messages to whomever was lucky enough to read them. He loved his fantasy worlds, where rather than people there were anthropomorphic animals that lived in kingdoms. But they were never silly, despite how they may seem. They were about all sorts of things, including discrimination, politics, and even the very nature of love. \n\nI have no idea what they were called, but they were great. All I can read of them these days are the manuscripts he left behind. There isn't any physical copies left, if any were even created. Once, these books would have been cultural treasures to be read, enjoyed, and examined. Now, anything of a similar breed is shunned and considered the greatest of taboos, only useful for toilet paper. It's ridiculous. How could something that says so much be considered garbage?\n\nToday, people prefer things simple. Streamlined. Pleasure, directly to their doorstep or desktop, free of complexity or nuance. As I walk home from my 10 hour Factory shift, I almost don't blame them. All I want is something simple too. Dealing with the bullshit that comes with working to produce protein sludge and VR kits is tiring. But I refuse, *refuse*, to do nothing but go home and plug my mind into one of those goddamn machines. People say it's much better than doing nothing in your tiny apartment pod, or sitting outside breathing in the humid smog, but to them I can only say; you're missing the fucking point.\n\nWe just passed the 15 billion population mark, and I have no idea how people are still breeding like this considering that all they do is use their fucking VR sets. A better reality? Kiss my ass. I dread the next time I'm forced to have that meaningless Disney sludge streamed directly into my head. When was the last time any of you saw something from before the twenties?\n\nI write all this because my parents called me tonight. They asked why I haven't been coming to the Hub. I told them I was tired of the Hub and wanted to read something else. \n\nI guess they figured out that I finally started reading my uncle's manuscripts, and that I figured out, behind all the allegories, there was a very clear message. Now, they've gone and told on me. They think they're helping me, calling the Assistants. They think I'm sick, that my mind is corrupted. They don't seem to understand that *they* are the brainwashed ones. \n\nThey're coming now, and they're going to *help* me. Alleviate the \"pain\" that I'm in. And I'm sure they will, in some way or another. But I'm still going to send this message out, along with my uncle's manuscripts. I hope at least a few of you read it, and realise that sadness isn't the problem. Sadness is a normal thing, sadness is a natural thing. In a way, sadness is a good thing. It's another colour of the emotional rainbow, right there alongside all the other things that create a human being. Fear, anger, envy. It's all needed, because if we have nothing but joy, there's no rainbow. There's no harmony. Nothing but a monotone.\n\nLight cannot be truly appreciated until the night comes. Be afraid, and you will discover true happiness.",
"*What is this feeling?*\n\nIt was a question that I'd never gotten a straight answer to. Everyone always got super confused about what I meant. Nobody ever understood.\n\nIt hadn't mattered to me. Or at least that's what I'd told them. Secretly, each time someone failed to understand what the feeling was, it got worse. I didn't know why, and nobody else did either, but it definitely happened. And it sucked.\n\nThe sensations were weird. When I was a young man, maybe 10 or 11 years old, I first felt it. It had started as this nagging thing in the back of my head whenever I was with my friends. Whenever we were playing games together or did homework together, it just appeared. At first, it was something that was easy to ignore, but it got worse every time they left. Every time they would go out of my house and something told me they'd never come back.\n\nBack then, I'd quickly snapped out of it. Of course they'd come back, they were my friends and we had even *more* fun together. They'd always come back.\n\nBut it got worse. \n\nBy the time I was a teenager, it was something that came up all the time, more than just a nagging feeling. Whenever I was with people, whenever they did something that didn't make me as happy as possible, the nagging got louder and I'd think something that I shouldn't have thought. \n\nNobody else that I'd ever talked to thought these things. Why was I thinking them? What did these thoughts even mean? Why was I questioning it?\n\nQuestions had swirled through my head back then, and to an extent, they still do now, but I've never asked them to anyone. The questions were nonsense, and I knew to dismiss them as such. It was just something crazy I was thinking because I'd had too much fun, that's what I'd convinced myself.\n\nBut it got worse.\n\nBy 18, the nagging was ever-present, always in the back of my head, asking questions that threatened my joy, and making me feel something I couldn't explain. That's when I'd first asked someone about it. I'd asked my mom what it was, I tried to see if she knew what was wrong with me.\n\nBut just like everyone else I'd asked, she didn't know. Every time I tried to describe the questions about my friends, she'd just shrug them off.\n\n'Of course they'll come back, why wouldn't they?' she'd say. 'What do you mean it doesn't make sense? Everything makes sense,' she'd say, and leave it at that. At the time, I hadn't thought to press her about it, what she was saying made sense, they just didn't answer my question. If she didn't understand what I was feeling, then I shouldn't have been feeling it.\n\nI rationalized my own thoughts and just ignored it.\n\nA couple weeks after I'd first asked my mom, my girlfriend had parted with me. She said that she had more happiness while with another man and that she would start being with him. That's how it worked, if she was happier with someone other than me, she should be with him. When she said it to me, I should've been fine, excited even at the opportunity of finding someone who made me even happier, but I wasn't.\n\nFor some reason, all I felt was the weird feeling even more. The nagging in my head, the swirling questions that I couldn't answer, they just got louder.\n\nWhy did she leave me? Was I not making her happy enough? Why was he better than me?\n\nI kept asking myself stupid questions, and I couldn't stop. For an entire week after she'd left, I didn't talk to anyone and my happiness level went down. It wasn't the end of the world, all I had to do was do something that made me happy. Simple. But what didn't make sense was that I didn't *want* to.\n\nI wanted to eventually though, and that part of my life was left in the past, but the feeling stayed. After months of being not at top happiness, I finally went out with some of my friends and became happy again, but the feeling stayed.\n\nSince then, I've asked a lot of people about the strange feeling in my head, but they've all given me the same answer. The same answer that my mother had given me when I was 18. All they did was look confused and tell me it made no sense. They were right, it *did* make no sense, there was no logical reason for me not to want to be happy.\n\nBut the feeling begged to differ. As I got older, my rationale stopped making as much sense to me, I stopped wanting to be as happy as I had before. Each time I wanted to be happy, something would block me away and my want would become nothing more than a dream. I still was happy all the time... obviously, but I just wasn't as happy as I had been before.\n\nAnd that's why they were coming to get me. Apparently, the feeling I had was called 'depression' and it was a very rare condition. It was something that affected only a couple of people every year and it was something that could easily be cured. \n\nWhen I'd mentioned the feeling to my doctor a couple days ago, he'd been extremely helpful. He'd said that it was just something a little wrong in my head and that it could be taken care of in an instant. He'd sent me on my way with a prescription for some pills, and a promise to get my condition 'alleviated' as soon as possible.\n\nEver since then, I'd been taking the pills twice per day as he'd recommended, and I'd been feeling a lot better. Today was the day that they were supposed to come to alleviate me and I was happy about it.\n\nThe prospect of taking the nagging feeling away and bringing my wants back was great. I was anticipating the alleviation heavily and, for the first time in my life, things were looking up.\n\n---\n\n*Feelings* from the Bookshelf of the Gods. /r/BoTG\n\n \n"
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[removed] | [WP] Re: You're in a self-driving car that won't pull over for the cops. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/hellabryanstyle, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**All submissions must be tagged**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_4.3A_all_submissions_must_be_tagged)\n\n- Existing Content: Prompts are not meant to share stories already written, but to inspire users to write stories. Check our [related link wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/links) for more relevant subreddits. We want to inspire new writing here. Try a prompt that takes authors on a new journey. Not a journey that has already been made \n\n \n\n \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/a2a8d3/-/%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 live in a post-apocalyptic future, where nearly everyone on earth has died of a mysterious powerful plague. You decide to go back to find when it all started, and hope to stop it. Then you realize that you carried the plague with you. | 177 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\\[cw: family death, language\\] all roads to the misfortune's origin suspended me from traveling. as a \"retro\"viral carrier, the transmission is in the past, an original shaking of hands or speaking in whisper over pork fat (like a family meal). impossible to find the pig farm of where the first suckling of disease began. instead, it will be a failed mission of retrospection. swollen once with a daughter, to see myself in that doubled vigor before her little hands shook of illness years later brought me into a shell, a deserted kindness wrapped in sea-worn layers like the lonely mollusk spinning in the undertow. the shiver televised on future news takes hold. i wander streets of callow passengers, time bound innocence, something my daughter will come to lose. if the plague hadn't killed us, time travel would. the government back home is expecting results while they cough on ass-worn threadbare thrones. i will have nothing to bring back, but i will leave nothing here. just the trace of a lost parent, taking count of the cobble i used to walk over.",
"We broke barriers that day, a brilliant scientist.\nPossibly a mad scientist? I dunno how he was feeling emotionally that day. What I do know however is that on that day we realized that time travel was indeed possible.\nAnd the possibilities were endless for a moment. Then the governments of the world began to attempt to regulate the usage, because despite the fact that the majority of the world hadn't noticed anything, a few special people dubbed \"sages\" seemed to retain the knowledge of altered timelines. Turns out we were subtly fucking things up. Turns out that adrian brody (who doesn't technically exist yet.) Somehow managed to become the first instance of the grandfather paradox. Bruce Willis managed to go back in time and \"borrow\" his younger self to make the movie looper. Which ended up being a good film in and of itself. However from what I can tell from the scribes writings, it appears that in a different version of now die hard was actually a \"Christmas movie\" but due to bruce's arrogance we screwed the pooch on that one....\n\nThe plague was brutal quick and efficient. \nIt mutated one night from a strain of syphillis picked up from Al Capone carried on the gentials of a few class acts before making it's way to marilyn monroe. Who died before she could ever get the chance to become famous now.\nShe lived well and was taken care of generously by an obsessed sage who had seen her in a different now. Upon seeing that she wasn't anyone now decided he'll settle in as her husband. \nBut alas syphillis can be passed through from mother to child. The child lived to be thirty-four years old. As the sage had knowledge from the future to assist in a treatment. He sat with the child and injected malaria into the boy.\nThe malaria burned out the majority of the syphilis however like with most forms of life, it's always a battle for survival. \n\nSurvival of the fittest, a generalized concept to describe how something goes from a single cell to well.. all known life today. Little mutations to help one to survive, eyes to better see, ears to better hear... a thick skin to keep the blood in.\n\nEverything seems to go by this rule. Even syphilis \nAs a result of this so called treatment this child carried a version of syphilis capable of ending humanity. Luckily for us they had a proclivity for eating radon bread. A slow decay of matter that ultimately saved humanity once upon a time. \n\nBut not now... upon digging deeper these seemingly unrelated things all intertwined to become what can only really be described as the apocalypse. 95% of humanity wiped out over the course of 12 weeks. Most of the survivors were those who lived in areas so remote that more often than not each individual group believed themselves to be alone. Much like I did when I first awoke.\n\nThe world had been slowly falling apart, but yet when I ran down to the coffee shop for some more coffee there was still a fellow working there. He looked like shit. Obviously desperate for money, healthcare where I was was expensive and depressing. I had my coffee though, I sipped it trying to convince myself that the hot water would be enough to kill anything before I ingested it. I walked a few blocks through mostly empty streets at one point I came across an old Asian woman slowly sweeping off the street on front of her shop. She moved slowly and looked a bit gaunt, I couldn't tell if she was also sick or just old. Almost as if she read my mind she looks up towards me with a look I would say was sour. \nIt didnt bug me though, I kept walking. \n\nAfter an hour my coffee was cold And I still hadn't found randy, he was a bum that hung out downtown. And despite the city slowly dying as the people did. Randy did okay for himself. Already accustomed to scrounging for survival he had quickly started taking up residence in different abandoned buildings around the area. \nI start heading southwest towards the casino,\nIt's still lit up vibrantly showing no signs of just how empty it truly was inside. \n\nWalking through the brightly lit mini mall I work my way towards the smoke shop. The last few days the owner himself has stopped showing up. \nHe was a good fellow. Understood the importance \nOf quality, always had a good recommendation for cigarillos. I already kind of missed the guy, always had a joke ready and not like a quick knock knock joke, but like that one with the radio and the polar bear. Just thinking of some of his jokes brought a smile to my face as I went through the inventory looking for another couple vanilla flavored cigarillos. I stopped and peeked my \nHead out of the shop looking for any other people, satisfied with what I saw I lit up one of my cigarillos and proceeded to the card tables. If theres anything left to count on its addiction..\nTheres a small group playing cards even now. \n4 of them, drinking and smoking laughing about things. If it weren't for the absolute lack of others around you'd almost think it was just another Wednesday. I shout over to Frank.\n\"Hey bud, another day with no symptoms. Mind if I join you guys?\" \nFrank looks up, tossing his cards on the table and walks over to me. Frank is almost 100% what you would picture for a guy named Frank.\nHe steps in real close and sniffs me. \"Its wierd, you smell like the sickly.... but your not showing any symptoms, look up.\"\nI look at the roof as Frank fondles my neck and throat feeling for swollen nodes.\n\"Yeah you're clear, want a drink? Were out of rhum but theres still plenty of beer.\"\nI decline as we walk back over to the table.\n\"Did doctor frank give you the all clear?\" A little voice comes over the intercom. I look into the security cameras with a big smile and a thumbs up. \n\nAs I sit and look around the table I notice that simone is looking particularly tired today. \" you good simone?\" \nHe just sighs as he gets up and wanders off..\n\"Her dog died\" Jackson pipes up.\nJackson had to be all of 16 years old. Likely I never would have known the kid otherwise, but having met him I'm glad I did. The little shit was a criminal by all definitions having stolen, assaulted,\nBurned, even killed people. Which sounds terrible but the kid knew and was actually attempting to quarantine the plague before it became a plague. Little did he know at the time that he missed patient zero by about 4.8 million. \nI felt bad for the kid yet he never was sour about the whole thing. Justified it as he was trying to do good.\nHe launches into a bit of dialogue going off about how the government wants this to happen and that theres a giant conspiracy by the uber rich to take over the earth, that they have a cure hidden away somewhere. Nobody interrupts him, everyone just continues on playing seemingly welcoming the noise.\n\"FUCK!\" Simone shouts from behind the bar. \n\"Are we out of schnapps?!\" She pops up shouting across the room. \nFrank busts out a walkie talkie. \n\"I'm gonna go do a perimeter check, everything appears to be clear down here if you could bring some more liquor down.\"\n\"SCHNAPPS\"\nFrank proceeds out of the room. As simone keeps digging through the bar. A familiar face enters. \nShe's always been beautiful to me, just personal preference I guess. Jackson liked to compare her to a horse like a douchebag. But something about her... just makes me feel good when shes around. \n\"Here's your schnapps\" she tosses it over to simone who promptly downs half the bottle before wandering over to the one slot machine still hooked up to electricity... \n\nShe sits as she grabs one of the cigarillos from my pile of \"winnings\" \nAs she puffs one of the cigarillos to life she passes it to me to have a drag, \"y'know smoking will kill you right?\"\nI almost turned and launched into a rant before I look up to see her smiling obviously amused at her own little joke. I pass it back. \"Do you know if Trevor's still kicking it?\" \n\"Havent seen him around, why?\" She looks a little concerned. As she takes another couple puffs. \n\"Because that paranoid fucker has a little grow op going on and I just know he'll stay alive through the apocalypse to guard it. Crazy bastard just doesn't die either, pretty sure he's been shot like 9 times.\" \n\"Oh\" she raises one eyebrow at me with this equally inquisitive and amused look, made me indescribably happy as I lost my train of thought. \n\"You probably don't need to smoke pot you're already slow\" poking me in the forehead as she spoke. \n\"No just distracted\" I smile in an attempt to avoid any discussion of feelings, I'm too afraid to say anything about it because I don't want to become attached to anyone seeing as it's pretty much the end of the world as we know it. \n\n** notes-- firstly this seems jumpy, been writing through the day everytime I have to wait for something. I'm posting so later once I'm done work I can edit and work out how to give Bruce Willis and adrian brody syphilaids. Not to mention a consistent story on terms of how I get the character back in time and fucking bitches passing out that syphilaids, maybe a catalyst scenario with the whole thing being dormant or something... I dunno see how it goes. ",
"\"Are you sure it even happened around this time?\" Sam asked, wiping sweat from his forehead, poring through the paperwork in front of him.\n\n\"Yes! Yes, it starts around this year! But apparently it was so unprecedented that there wasn't technology for it!\"\n\n\"Ok, but,\" he blinked hard and looked up, losing focus. He blinked again, wiping sweat from his forehead, \"what are you gonna do about it?\" \n\n\"I told you, I brought all the antidotes for diseases that came after this year. And that was hard enough to do by itself, so I'm trying to make this all worth it. The world as we know it really falls apart.\"\n\n\"And instead of helping people with your technology--\" he swallowed hard, and his face was getting red, \"you decided to come back to the past and probably create a paradox where you couldn't help the future?\" \n\n\"Sam, are you really judging me for trying to save billions of people? Likely your own life, as well!\" I said, throwing another file into the garbage. None of these diseases were new. \n\n\"How do you even know we'll find it in these stupid files?\" he said, weakly.\n\n\"I am certain that it starts up in a hospital in this very city. And going through each of their records has got to match with symptoms of what the disease caused in the future. Does that not make sense too--\" I finally looked up and got a good look at Sam. He was pale white and using the desk heavily to support his weight. \n\n\"Hey, are you okay?\" I asked.\n\nHis eyes were glazed, but he looked deeply at the immunizations records in front of him. \n\n\"Describe the disease again..\" he said, with a very interesting tone.\n\n\"Well, it eventually gave everyone panencephalitis. Which was fatal to anyone that got it since it was a very aggressive form of it.\"\n\n\"And that's caused by measles...\" he said, looking even more intrigued at the immunization form.\n\n\"Well, yeah, but why are you so interested in those forms! We need to use the important files!\"\n\n\"But don't you see!\" his voice was getting raspy. \"If someone isn't vaccinated for measles, they might be the culprit of it! This might be the key!\"\n\n\"Vaccines!?\" I said, taken aback. \"That's pseudo science. Just government propaganda. I'm not vaccinated,\" I said, proudly.\n\nHis eyebrows drew close as he had the most disgusted look crawl upon his face. He blinked hard and he struggled to retain focus. \n\n\"You... you aren't vaccinated?\" he whispered with wonder.\n\n\"Nope!\" I smiled, waiting for his praise.\n\nHis eyes were inflamed. I couldn't tell if he was starting to get sick or if he was gonna start crying. \n\n\"And...\" he coughed dryly. \"We went through all the hospitals in the area... Walked the streets... with what might be a stronger form of...\" he trailed off as he closed his eyes with a look of defeat on his face.\n\n\"I don't get it, what's the problem?\" Suddenly it clicked. \"You're a pro-vaxer, aren't you?\" I took a step back, hoping he wouldn't touch me. \"That's why you look so sick!\"\n\nHe didn't answer, simply remained with his eyes closed. But his nose began running as if to answer my question for me. \n\n\"Disgusting. I better get back to my time before I get infected by your past vaccine diseases. Good luck finding the disease on your own, idiot.\"\n\nI grabbed my bag of the antidotes -- wholistic herbal remedies -- and left.\n\n________________________________________________________\n\nFor more idiotic protagonists, come on down to /r/Nazer_The_Lazer!"
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[WP] At 26 , you take a "special" drink to eliminate the sensation of pain. Over the course of next year, you win numerous fights to become a world champion boxer. You are horrified to find out that the drink didn't eliminate pain; it just delayed the sensation by exactly one year. | 196 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I was at home. After all, where else did I have to be? Within the last year, I had won practically every trophy, every award there was to win. I had boxed, I had wrestled. I got into countless fights, and I won every single one of them. The press coverage alone was mind boggling. \"The Unbeatable Man\", they called me. That was an accurate enough title, I supposed.\n\nBut nothing, not the press, not the medals, not the money, nothing was worth what happened a year after I drank that potion. \n\nI was at home, laying on the couch. It was a Sunday, and I had a conference of some kind the next day- I had no idea what. My agent handled the specifics. So, for the most part, I was worry free. Something was playing on the TV, I can't remember for the life of me what it was, mostly because when I stood up to go get a beer from the kitchen, my life became a living hell.\n\nIt came slowly, at first. I began to ache. The kind of ache you get when you aheva bad, bad flu. But the aching grew, until it felt as if my muscles, my bones, my skin, they all felt as if they were about to snap. I stumbled, and braced myself against the kitchen counter. The aching multiplied, the pain becoming an exponential curve that I was subject to. As the aching grew to mind-numbing severity, my head began to throb.\n\nI've had migraines my whole life. Bad ones. So I know what bad headaches feel like. This was not a headache. It felt like my skull itself was being eaten away, as if I was rotting away from the inside. My head pounded, and my eyes began to fail me. It was as if my brain couldn't process my vision and the pain at the same time. My skull was full of molten lead, each of my teeth individual bombs, each blasting a thousand times every second.\n\nI fell to my knees as my torso caught up with me. As my muscles tore, and my head burned, my innards began to churn. I could've sworn I felt everything major organ in my stomach rupture, as my entire torso was subject to a vicious, unending barrage of pain. It was a full, brutal pounding that made me wish I was hollow.\n\nI was curled up on the ground now, my entire body a canvas on which the universe painted a beautiful display of agony. Pain was a symphony, and I was its concert hall. It filled my entire being, subjecting every cell in my body to a year's worth of torment.\n\nI lied there for hours.\n\nWhen it began to fade, it took a few minutes for my senses to return to me. Sight came first, and I could see from the window of my apartment the Monday morning sunrise. Hearing, then. The harsh tones of a news anchor over the television. I could taste the inside of my mouth, and smelled the pristine tile floor. Then, I could feel. From my core, the sensation of touch spread throughout my body. The receding tide of pain eventually left my body, and I was left there on the floor. I almost couldn't believe it. \n\nI sat up slowly, looking at the palms ofy hands, and my arms, and my legs. I was uninjured, somehow. I raised a hand to the counter to pick myself up, and brought my palm swiftly down onto a thumbtack that had been laid down on the smooth granite. It pierced my skin.\n\n\"Ow!\""
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[removed] | [WP] The universe as we know it is a big game with God (you) as an admin and angels as moderators making sure no one breaks the rules. One day, one of your angels informs you that someone on Earth has started using the cheat codes. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**No recent reposts, even if changing small details**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_5.3A_no_recent_reposts.2C_even_if_changing_small_details)\n\nAlso, no [copy-cats](http://i.imgur.com/38FjDgW.gifv).\n\nSearch before submitting as popular ideas can cause floods. If your idea is based on something you read elsewhere on reddit, chances are it's been submitted here already. Please wait at least 2 weeks before reposting.\n\n \n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed Post) 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 wake up naked in the middle of a field. You don't remember who you are or how you got there. Nothing looks familiar, not even the grass. In the sky seems to be a blue sun. Next to you, a stone tablet engraved with writing in a language you don’t recognize. You hear a distant buzzing sound. | 101 | [
"**Off-Topic Discussion**: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n-----\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) \n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"(I swear I meant for this to be short. I got extremely carried away, very long. I can reader’s digest it if anyone cares.)\n\nThe first thing I noticed was that it was bright, a blue light burning against my eyelids. An attempt to open my eyes was met with pain as my freshly awoken, unadjusted eyes were met with the light of one of the brightest things in the known universe, a star. This caused me to realize I was outside, which brought a cascade of other realizations. I was laying on top of grass and I was naked. I covered my eyes with my hands and opened them, slowly allowing light in so my vision would adjust. \n\nWhy had I woken up here? There was no sequence of events my brain could follow that led me here. In fact, there was no sequence of events in my brain at all. Just information, definitions, how to act, how to speak German, French, Spanish, Mandarin. I knew of the existence of presidents, countries, the internet, social media, books, television. However I had no memory of learning about or interacting with any of it. I knew that the United States of America was an English speaking, democratic country. I knew that the internet was accessible from a computer, smartphone and tablet but I didn’t remember ever using it. I knew that if someone sneezed you were supposed to say “bless you”, or “gesundheit”. I had a memory of a world where people existed but no memory of the people, even myself. \n\nWas this a test? An experiment? An accident? Had I existed before this? Had I done this to myself? I had an endless amount of questions and a disappointingly empty list of answers. By this time I had stood up and noticed a large stone. It was smooth, I felt like it was man made for some reason which instinctively caused me to pick it up and examine it. The side that had been facing the ground was carved into, etched with some seemingly mindless pattern. But then I began to come to a conclusion, it was words, symbols I didn’t know for a language I didn’t recognize. \n\nThen I had a crisis about what was real, because the sun was blue. I knew that the sun shouldn’t be blue, however I also knew that vampires, werewolves and zombies weren’t real, but I also knew that the sun was not blue. Maybe I was on a different planet or in a different universe. Maybe the sun had become blue. Maybe information I thought was true was not true, or information that I thought was not true was true. I eventually decided that all of this was irrelevant, I was standing in an empty field with a rock carved with a language I didn’t know. I would not find answers by searching my own thoughts, I needed to find someone else. I didn’t have to believe them or trust them, I just needed a starting point that wasn’t myself. \n\nThen I noticed the buzzing. A low sound far off in the distance. It sounded like it was coming from behind me, but when I turned to face it there was nothing. A field of grass with rolling hills in the distance. Then it sounded like it was behind me again. Whenever I turned to face it, the sound moved behind me. The noise grew, like it was getting closer, and then it sounded like it was inches from the back of my skull. I began to panic, spinning rapidly to try and see it, waving my arms behind my head to try and bat it away or make it stop. When I slumped to the ground, exhausted and defeated it settled in, a low buzz. I imagined this was how tinnitus must feel, but instead of a medical explanation it just fuelled growing paranoia. \n\nI began a journey, to leave these grassy plains and find something else. Preferably someone, maybe they could make the buzzing stop. I took the stone with me, maybe somebody could translate it. As I walked I delved back into my thoughts. I deduced that knowledge could not be gained without teaching or observation. As such I either existed before and through some event, accidental or intentional, my, someone else’s or some deity’s fault, lost my memories of people or had been created by an entity and given this information. \n\nThe sun peaked in the sky and began going down. I’d started to thirst and to hunger. The stone I carried grew heavier with each passing step. The hope that swelled within me died with the crest of each hill that grew steeper and steeper. All the while the buzzing carried on, pushing at my sanity. \n\n“Can you stop?” I screamed, turning to face the noise that haunted me. \n\nIt followed, keeping its place right behind my head. I screamed again, this time not words just noises. I fell to my knees and clutched my head, my fragile sanity beginning to snap. But then I noticed print on my arm. A tattoo on my right inner forearm, in an all to familiar array of symbols. How had I not noticed it before?It ran the length of my forearm, from the inner elbow to my wrist. My wrist had a circular design on it with four points and a star-like symbol in the middle. I examined it, comparing it to the stone I had carelessly thrown to the ground in my moment of rage. It was the same language, of this I was sure. I began trying things, maybe this tattoo and rock could allow me to read, or make things the way they were before, or end the buzzing. After various attempts at waving my hand around, holding my tattoo up to the rock and trying to read I decided to hold my hand above the rock and push the words out. My shock when a gleaming metal blade flew from my wrist caused me to drop the tablet and flail, luckily not catching my hand on the knife. It was a light blue metal, a throwing knife with the blade being bigger than the handle. I picked it up to look at it and found three words. The words were engraved into the blade portion, a beautiful cursive font. Then there was an underline, clearly done after the fact in a jagged harsh line. Three words:\n\n“Don’t forget her”",
"I fought the debilitating grogginess and squinted at the tablet that towered over me. It was an enormous slab of stone covered in unfamiliar squiggles and shapes; I couldn't even begin to guess what language it could be. Come to think of it, I couldn't remember what language I spoke. And that wasn't all; I was also trying to puzzle out where the hell I was, why the hell the sun was blue, and why I was *naked* in the middle of a grassy field when a distant buzzing sound caught my attention.\n\nI looked around for some sort of aircraft, maybe a helicopter - but the sky was empty, cloudless, and, oddly enough, green. I realized that I would probably have better vantage point if I actually stood up.\n\nMy whole body felt sore, as if I had been running a marathon. I couldn't find any obvious wounds on me - no cuts or burns - and nothing felt broken or sprained. I was just very lethargic, both in mind and body. There was a small headache brewing behind my left eye, and somehow I knew that that was due to a lack of coffee. I licked my dry lips. Actually, even water sounded really good right now; my throat felt like paper.\n\nI took another look around now; still, no helicopters, but I had been wrong about assuming an empty sky. There was a small, tan cloud on the horizon to the...west? That was the opposite of the sun, right? Well, I guess that depended on what time of the day it was - another frustrating unknown. \n\nI glanced back at the indecipherable tablet, and realized it was not alone. In fact, I standing in the middle of a sort of haphazard circle of similarly designed structures, some with writing and some without. I was standing the middle of some sort of ruins; it reminded me of Stonehenge. Hm. Now why do I remember *that* but not how I got here?\n\nThere was something out of place leaning against one of the structures; it was shiny, like metal, and rectangular with crisp corners. Modern, unlike these ruins. I hesitated at first, but curiosity got the better of me: I went forward and touched it gingerly. It was definitely metal, but that's all I got before it began to beep and light up with several colored lights. I yelped and jerked back as it became perfectly horizontal, rose up in the air until it was about knee-height, and then quietly stayed there, as if waiting. I waited impatiently for it do something else, but nothing seemed to happen. \n\nThe droning buzz distracted me then, as it had gotten even louder - and, coincidentally, the cloud on the horizon had gotten much larger. I stared at it. It was surprisingly dynamic; parts of it shrank and grew rapidly, as it were an organism moving its arms. In fact, the whole thing reminded me of something...\n\nThen it hit me. *Insects.* It wasn't a cloud, it was a huge swarm of insects zooming right toward me. \n\nI took a step back, trying not to panic. My leg bumped against the hovering thing, and it beeped softly in response. I stared at it quizzically, but an idea blossomed in my head. Well, one way to find out...\n\nWith one hand on a nearby stone tablet for support, i hoisted myself onto the metal board, mentally preparing myself to fall on the ground any second. But the board not only held my weight, but it...held my feet, so to speak. Not with any straps, but I felt an invisible force gloving my feet and halfway up my legs. The sensation was strangely...familiar. \n\nBut I didn't have to muse over it right now - the swarm had gotten close enough that I could just about see the individual insects darting around frantically. I faced the opposite direction, toward the blue sun, grimaced and thought, *well, I better get out of here.*\n\nAs soon as the thought materialized in my brain, the board zoomed forward, carrying me along with it.\n\n\n\n*Liked that story? Want more like it? Check out r/Idreamofdragons!*"
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(This is my first Writing Prompt, I'll be happy for any feedback) | [WP] You lived in a cyborg society. Everyone is a robot. That is until you cut yourself and see blood. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I was coming back from school. I was walking on the sidewalk with my friends. We were talking about how weird it was 200 years ago, when people lived without wires. I turned the corner to go home. My friends went the other way. I walked into the usual bustle of my neighborhood, New York's Uptown. Suddenly, I saw people running toward me. I threw myself on the ground as people ran around me, down the street. I knew everybody was gone, and slowly stood up.\n\nI looked ahead. I saw a gang of robbers and thieves, and in front of them, the notorious Mobster Old Skin Jack. We learned about him a week ago in class, one of the last remaining Hoomans. I started running the other way. \"Oh No, I got to protect my motherboard!\" We learned also that he and his loyal minions destroy cyborgs, and violently stole our batteries and wires. Suddenly, I ran right into a low sign. \"Ah!\" I fell on the ground, scrunching up. I saw a small pool of red around me. It looked like this stuff called blood in Hoomans. Then, I fainted. \n\nWhen I woke up, I found myself in a dark room, dusty room. I heard talking. These 3 black figures stood near me. \"It's been a long time since we have found an individual like him.\" Said one of them, in a deep, menacing voice. \"I wonder what we'll do with him. What do you think, Johnny?\" Said another. The third, Johnny, responded, \"He's important, Black Eye. We've got to protect him against them horrible 8-Bits.\" I pondered for a sec, who is important? It certainly couldn't be me, could it? Right then, Johnny looked at me, then at the others. \"Oh, he's awake, guys.\" They walked toward me. Johnny and 'Black Eye' stopped, but the 1st figure kept walking. \"Hello.\" He said to me. \"What do you want, why am I here?\" I said back. \"You are a special fellow, son. What's your name there?\" \"Randy, sir. But, who are you?\" I answered. \"Why, I'm Jack.\" He stuck his hand out at me. \"What are you doing?\" I exclaimed. \"Uh, A hand shake Randy?\" \"Well ok...\" I shook his hand. \n\n\"This might surprise you, but you're human.\" Said Black Eye.\n\"Your gunna have to join our ranks!\" Said Johnny.\n\"Your life's going to change, Randy.\" Old Skin Jack. \n\nAnd, oh, my life changed. Yes it did.\n\n\n",
"(WP) Child of Steel\n\nIt happened when she fell down and cut her knee; the skin had torn off, and she’d been expecting dark, thick oil streaming down her leg. But instead, bright blood dripped like liquid rubies down her leg.\n\nShe didn’t understand it; their entire society had weeded out humans, more than a century ago now. There were no persons that had any human left. But this was what she knew as blood, the facts speeding through her brain, and her pain receptors firing.\n\nHow was it possible that she had human blood? She looked around her; luckily, this area was so far away from the capital that hopefully no one had seen. But even as she turned away from the barren, rocky wasteland and began to power up to go home, her mind would not quiet.\n\nBeing human—any trace of human culture at all—was a crime, in this day and age. After the bloody wars between men, machines, and the union of both, resulting in the birth of the cyborg race, the humans had all been eliminated. Their blind emotion had led to the slaughter of thousands, and so the robotic government had taken action, quietly and swiftly.\n\nEvery human had been slaughtered, and the cyborgs took their place. But the highest in the pecking order (XS-12 had been studying up on human idioms, out of curiosity and boredom.) were the ones that lingered, that were all machines. They were as gods in the here and now.\n\nTheir word was law, and the first one was no humans. Even what knowledge she’d gleaned was illegal, and somehow, through what reasonings she couldn’t understand, she’d always been resistant to the routine brain scans throughout the day. It hadn’t been anything alarming when she was a child; everyone had hoped that it was just a glitch.\n\nShe felt something connecting, clicking and whirring and coming together like puzzle pieces. Something about her was not normal, not routine, not if she was bleeding anything but the standard motor oil. She wiped it up as best she could, pocketing the handkerchief and beginning to run back toward the city, toward home.\n\nIn order to distract herself from this startling revelation, she concentrated on running, on moving her feet, one after another. She enjoyed physical exercise, even if she didn’t actually require it to function. Too soon, she arrived at her home, a sleek steel and glass structure that was in the middle of the Capitol, where she lived with her caretakers.\n\nEvery robot not of age was by law required to have a pair of caretakers to usher them into adulthood, and take care of their needs before they grew old enough to be independent. XS-12 was fortunate to have two pure robots as her parents, YG-07 and MB-14. They’d taken her in when she was still a young child, the memory of her real parents difficult to recall; every time she’d tried, she’d received nothing but blurry, black and white static for her efforts.\n\nHad it been possible that her parents had been lying to her? Keeping secrets from her? The thought made her dizzy, and as she stepped through the door, she’d had to put a hand to the wall next to it to hold herself upright.\n\nThe little apartment unit was empty, the whirring and clicking sounds of her parents absent. She didn’t know where they were, and right now, she didn’t care. \n\nShe just wanted to know the truth, about who she was, and why this was happening.\n\n\\*\\*"
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[removed] | [WP] You've been abducted and put into a gas chamber with the people you love. One of your captors throw a loaded gun and a bandana into the room before leaving. Outside the room, your captor says, "One of you, pick up the gun and blindfold yourself. Spin around and shoot. We gas you if you don't." | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/VarkAnAardvark, 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- \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/a2h8ik/-/%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] Your cat often brings you dead birds, mice and other "gifts". You usually shun these, disgusted by the display. One day, you open you door and see your mailman laying dead on the porch. Your cat is standing on top of him and says, "Are you pleased now, Master?" | 74 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"“Blair!” I look at this majestic beast as she quickly grooms her face. \n\n“Surprised?” she asks as she hopped off the mailman’s body and came to rub herself against my legs.\n\nI could only stare in silence, thinking about how I should take action. They never taught us about this in college... \n\n“Honestly I think I’m more surprised about you bringing me a mailman over the talking portion of this. Did you even think this one through?!”\n\nBlair stops at my feet and sits down. She gazes up with a confused look on her face. \n\n“Well I guess... I guess I didn’t”. \n\nI smack my forehead. “Well it looks like we’ll have to take care of this situation before the neighbors have a chance to see what you’ve done! Any ideas genius?!”\n\nBlair ponders for a moment. “I mean the dumpster is right over there, that is where you put all my other gifts”. \n\n“BLAIR WE CAN’T JUST PUT THE MAILMAN IN THE DUMPSTER”.\n\n“Wish you cared about the disposal of other creatures the way you care about this silly human”.\n\nI roll my eyes and run inside to gather some sheets to put over the body. I suppose that’s a good step one, as good as any. \n\n“Can’t we just turn him into cat food? He seems like he could make a tasty pâté,” Blair stated as she gave an uncovered finger a nibble. \n\n“No no no no! Tell you what, I’ll just throw the body into the trunk and throw it over the bridge, ok? If I don’t get rid of the body NOW, then we’re screwed!” \n\nBlair sits and gives a little huff. “Fine, but I’m coming with”. \n\nI race to my car and pull it around the front. I glance around to make sure the coast is clear. Everything looks in check, so I open the trunk and leave my car running. As I’m running back up to my door to retrieve the body, my Landlord’s kid pops up out of nowhere. \n\n“Whatcha up to?!” She chimes. Fortunately she’s only four, but this was still an awkward moment. “What’s that on your porch?”\n\n“It’s an... art project! I need to go turn it in today before it’s due!” \n\n“But it’s Saturday! There’s no school on Saturday!”\n\n“Well college is different! Gotta go, stay safe, do school, don’t get a cat, bye!” I said as I hastily and awkwardly started dragging this dead body towards the open trunk of my car. \n\nThe little girl just stood and watched with a puzzled look on her face as my cat followed me and jumped into the passenger seat. \n\n“Woah slow down! Watch what you’re doing!” Blair yoweled as she shook around as I maneuvered through back streets. \n\n“Cry me a river,” I said as I quickly approached the bridge. “Perfect just as I thought, no people around. We’ll go to the other side and throw him”. \n\nI try to park as close to the bridge as possible. Blair and I hopped out of the car, and I drug the body out of the trunk. It took a few minutes, and a lot of grunting, but I drug the body to a portion of the bridge where I thought I could drop it pretty safely. \n\nIt took all my strength, but I got the body up and over the railing. As it was precariously balanced, I counted down, “one... two... THREE!”\n\nI gave it the final push it needed, and with that there was my mailman, plummeting 500 feet to the river below. "
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[WP] You have the power to time travel. You have used it to fix all of your mistakes. However, you are now realizing that life is meaningless without mistakes. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"It was like the setup to a joke, \"A somber man walks into a bar\". Yet that was where I found myself, entering a pub at 11:00 on a Thursday. It was a lazy night; the bartender was wiping the counter because he needed something to do, as his three customers sat spaced around the room. Two sat quietly in booths against the wall, one, an obvious alcoholic, at the bar. The bartender looked up as I walked in, shaping me up very accurately as a sad sap. I pulled up a stool.\n\n\"What'll it be?\" He asked kindly. He wore a clean polo, and seemed non-threatening. \"Whiskey. I don't care what kind. Just something hard.\" He pulled a glass and the bottle up from below the counter. \"What's got you down? You look like your wife just left you or something\" he spoke as he poured. I chuckled, bitterly, \"Yeah, something like that.\" Truth was, I had gone back to before I had started dating the girl who would be my wife to stop it. It was about three years before I would have filed the divorce, three years of misery. \"Today's the twenty-third, isn't it?\" \"As it just so happens, it is.\" The bartender placed my drink in front of me, but I merely stared at it a moment. It would have been our anniversary, or rather our wedding day. \n\n\"You know,\" the bartender said as he leaned on the counter, \"You don't look much like the drinking type.\" \"I'm not,\" it was one of the things I had gone back to fix, \"but, hell, might as well bust myself up a bit.\" Bottoms up. The biting flame wove its way down my throat, a sensation of the better times. \"Well, why do you say that?\" He asked as he refilled my glass. \"Well, I've got a big house, spare cash to the moon, four cars. I've never been in a bad relationship, never got in a car accident, never got in trouble with the law, never flunked a class. I've never drunk- until today- never smoked. I've never embarrassed myself or hurt anyone else. I've gone around the world, I've met people, I've met God at church. I've learned to draw, to paint, to sculpt, to make music, to write poetry, to write books, to fly a helicopter, to speak, read, and write Latin, and Mandarin, and French, and Spanish. I got the chance to say goodbye to my mother before she died, and to my best friend before he moved away.\" I drained it again, \"So what's there left to do but drink?\"\n\nHe stopped for a moment, deep in thought. \"It sounds like you've done everything, and been everywhere. Like a perfect life, something of a dream life.\" \"More like a nightmare.\" \"Well, it seems like you have a lot to be thankful for, at least.\" \"Maybe, but I don't see a reason to be thankful,\" I sighed, \"If everything's perfect, what's the point.\" \"So, let me get this straight,\" He leaned a little lower, and lowered his voice, \"You've done everything right? You got a great job, a lot of money, a perfect record, and no regrets, and you're still unhappy?\" \"Pretty much.\" \"Do you have a woman?\" \"I did, but not any more. That's not the problem, though.\" \"I getcha. Want another round?\" \"Hell, why not?\" He poured it, then put away the whiskey. I merely swirled it in my glass, looking longingly at the amber liquid for something I couldn't find.\n\n\"Well, I've had more girls than I can count, and I've got one now. 'course, she doesn't know I've had so many.\" He smiled as he looked at the ceiling, remembering, \"There was Jenny, Susie, Haley, Phoebe... God, and Bethany was smokin' hot. An eleven if I've seen one. Shallow and dumb, but pretty. I played football in high school, so I guess they must have found that attractive. Was the only reason I kept playing after Freshman year. I failed class after class, but I didn't care so long as I picked up chicks- most of which lasted about a month before we broke up. Then I left high school with no plan, and my parents more or less kicked my sorry hind out. I worked odd jobs, shoplifted clothes and food. Got thrown in jail for it, but that didn't stop me for long. Still didn't have a plan, still didn't have a family. But I had about two-hundred in savings, so that was good enough. I thought about enlisting, I drank, I smoke. I was a mess, and an idiot. But you don't need a degree to work a bar, and that must have been what old Mr. Todd thought when he hired me. He took me in, gave me this job, a place to stay, and trust. He helped me stop smoking, and control my drinking. He taught me how to handle money, and how to handle people. Now, I'm planning on buying this bar from him when he retires in a few years here. Working two jobs to put money away for it. I turned my life around, and you know how long I've been with my girlfriend now? Three years. *Three years*.\"\n\n\"That sounds great,\" I said, jealously slightly apparent in my voice, \"I wish I could have a life more like yours.\"\n\n\"Well, I know most people would still call you lucky, but I wouldn't trade my life for the world. My suggestion to you: split your cash, save some of it, give away the rest of it. Quit your job. Take chances, make mistakes. Get a girl, get a family. You've got one shot at life, and the only way to live is on the edge.\"I thought hard for a moment. I would have to give up time travel, but for some reason I felt fine with that. I put my still-full glass back down, pulled out my wallet, put down ten for the drinks and held five twenties, \"You know, I think you're on to something man. Here, since I'm going to be giving it away anyways, I want you to have this.\"\n\nThe bartender held up his hand and stopped mine. \"Tell you what. I'll take twenty. That's all I need.\" \"If you say so.\" \n\nI got up to leave, and as I did another man entered the bar, \"Jamie!\" The bartender said, \"You know what today is?\" \"I do,\" the man grinned ear-to-ear, \"day one-hundred, alcohol free!\" \"And to celebrate,\" the bartender said, \"I've got twenty dollars for pizza, with all the fixings. Whaddya say we get it delivered here to celebrate?\" \"I can't ask you to pay for it alone-\" \"Jamie, my treat. You've earned it!\" Jamie smiled, \"You know, I wouldn't be here without your support.\" \"We all need someone to lean on, Jamie. Now pull up a seat, let's get the party going...\" "
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[WP] The sun begins its final phase and the world will end sooner than we thought. We did not create FTL travel but we did perfect cryostasis. To allow humanity to live on, we launch several human cryopods in into the depths of space before the Earth dies. You have just awoken from your pod. | 34 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Fog surrounds your mind as you force your eyelids open and immediately regret it. Bright operation lamps shine on your naked body and with the loud screech of mechanics that no one bothered to clean for thousands of years, the coffin that was your home since the big escape slidee out of its holdings.\nYou cannot tell what time it is, you cannot say how long you slept. Next to you, one thousand two hundred ninety four other sleepers awake. You are the oldest living human beings in the entire universe.\nIn the spaceship orbiting what you hope is your new life, there is no gravity, and so inertia pushes you away from the cryopod. You turn around, still half asleep, and drift towards the window. It is a silicium dioxide-lead alloy that blocks dangerous ultra violet rays, thicker than your head. It's the one thing that protects you from the vacuum of space. Just a chunk of glass. You comfort yourself with the thought that if anything actually manages to break the glass, you'll be too dead to witness it.\nAnd behind the transparent wall, there is home.\nThe fourth planet orbiting the ultracool red dwarf called TRAPPIST-1 is a blue world. Few islands are scattered across the oceans, specks of green on royal blue and the crimson red of your new sun. But you know it's only half of the truth. On the other side, always hiding its face from the glaring fire of Solis, is the scarred, icy dark side of the planet. Eternally cold, tormented by winds rushing around the planet. A hell in heaven.\nA genderneutral voice booms from the speakers, commanding all personnel on board to transfer to the landing pods. You do not have time to look for your loved ones, you just pray they survived.\nYour memory of the next hours is blurred. You enter the shuttles, shifting against shivering bodies, weak from the milleniums in microgravity. The first months will be harder than anything before, harder than the training on the planet that used to be earth. Now it must be a cloud of gas and rock - if anything. The old solar system is destroyed. What remained was you.\nThe shuttle touches down and gravity grabs you with an invisible hand, pulling all your bones down with ots godlike force. Some corner in your minds knows that it is even less that on earth, but still it feels like hell. The pain is almost unbearable.\nThe bay doors open with a high-pitched hiss and share the view of a landscape covered with velvet plants reaching up to your ankle. You are amongst the first ones to breathe the new air, touch the ground with naked feet. There are sobs, tears of joy, screams. Two lovers are kissing right before your eyes but you don't care. All that is important is that you just found a new earth. A new life. A new hope.\nThat something might be wrong crosses your mind way too late. A screech, a scream, then you're surrounded. Vaguely familiar creatures on two long, muscular legs tower over all of you. They carry spears made of a strange, dark material. All of them are directed to your hearts, ready to thrust.\nOne creature rauses its bald, too small head. \"What the fuck?\", it says.\nThe realisation strucks you like a lightning bolt. We aren't the first ones here. Others got here thousands of years before us. They don't know who we are, they don't even remember who they used to be.\nYou want to say something, but on a hissed command all the creatures strike fprward and thrust their spears through your hearts."
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[WP]: You live in a world of high fantasy and magic. You wouldn't mind it as much if it weren't for all the travelling bands of heroes, plucky teenage protagonists and those conspiring to overthrow the king didn't all insist having their meetings in your coffee shop. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"Oh, this damn coffee stain won't rub out!\" I muttered to myself as the shop neared closing time. I thought about how poor a choice it was for the owner to install white countertops in the coffee shop; I often had to spend 30-40 minutes after close just bleaching them to make sure that they were presentable in the morning. Outside. the wind howled and small flurries of snow danced in the lamplight. *Looks like it's going to be another cold walk home, I* thought.\n\nI heard the soft tinny of the bell to his left and looked over at the entryway. A man stood there in full battle gear. His beard was long, dense, wild and scruffy. He about looked like he took a long tumble down a grassy hill with all the dirt and plant material embedded in his facial hair. His eyebrows were raised and his eyes were wide and inquisitive. He wanted to know if he could enter.\n\nI stared him down. The great battle axe in his hand was taller than he was. I even briefly wondered if he had any dwarf blood before I looked down at my watch. \"Oh, alright. You can come in.\" He relaxed his shoulders and entered. The clattering of his armor clamored against my silence and peace. \"But we close in ten minutes!\"\n\nHe muttered something about only needing a little bit of time and sat down at the table at the very end of the shop. He didn't say anything. He just stared at me with those same wild, expressive eyes of his. He looked like was sizing me up for combat or whatever it is that adventurers such as these do.\n\nI let the silence linger on for an awkward moment before I spoke. I enjoyed staring back and keeping things uncomfortable. Adventurers were funny when they were uncomfortable. \"So...\" He jumped back as I spoke. \"Do you want anything?\"\n\nHe relaxed after I spoke. \"Yes, uh... I'll take a pint of mead.\" Not once did he look away from me as he spoke, but he threw out some strange grin at me as he spoke, \"I'm gonna need something strong to celebrate another fine day's adventuring, if you know what I mean.\" He laughed heartily and winked at me.\n\n\"Yes... right.\" I looked at him for a moment. \"Sir, I hate to break it to you, but this is a *coffee shop*.\" *Again, with the wide-eyed staring*, I thought. \"We serve coffee and tea here, not mead.\" He looked taken aback.\n\n\"Yes... I guess I'll have the uh... the mocha bianca then.\" He spoke in a gruff reply as he said this. \"A mocha bianca it is!\" He turned away from me and stared at the wall.\n\n\"I'll get right on that, sir.\" I turn to the espresso machine and started to gather the ingredients. I truly enjoyed the process of making coffee. It helped pass the time and make my shift move along a bit faster. I was pressing the espresso grounds into the portafilter when I heard another bell tinny. I didn't turn around though; it's not uncommon for customers to come in last minute for a nice beverage.\n\nAfter a minute or so, I had the drink ready. I walked to the cash register and entered in the price. \"Alright sir, that'll be--\" I stopped dead in my tracks.\n\nThere, where the adventurer had been, were about 6 or 7 more men. They all stared at me with similar wide eyes and the same sheepish grin.\n\n\"Oh... no...\" I spoke the words softly, but they certainly heard it.\n\nAll at once, the coffee shop exploded with noise and activity. They started shouting over each other about their next adventure, it was completely incoherent. I could only catch snatched of the conversation. \"Catch the bandit on Pryor's Way... Swap tools with the elven blacksmith...SLAY THE FUCKING DRAGON!\" One particularly inebriated adventurer said that one. I had forced them to leave my coffee shop once before. They said they enjoyed the atmosphere. They were trying to rub a quick meeting out before close, so they were all speaking at once.\n\n\"We are going to that brothel in the city of Khadur and find ourselves a nice wench to pass around!\"\n\n\"No, we are going to Khadur because they have that rum we talked about!\" They shouted louder and louder, practically bouncing in their chairs in excitement. The sound. The awful sound of metal on metal rang in my ears, setting my teeth on edge. \"*Then* we are going to find a wench!\"\n\n\"Noooo, we're gonna kill that fuckin dragon!\" The drunken one slurred as he spoke.\n\n\"Hey guys...\" I spoke \n\n**To be Continued?**",
"\"Then we'll solicit the aid of the Nornite Shamans. We'll travel through the Chasm of Blizzards,\" said Daragon, tracing the proposed route with his dagger.\n\nDanwise eyed the map on the table. \"But that'll take us past--\"\n\n\"Correct. Our next destination is Fornhook,\" said Daragon. He dramatically slammed his dagger into the map.\n\nSarah approached the two men in armor. She wasn't a wearing ridiculous wannabe hero costume like them. Just a normal server outfit: black jeans, a black tank-top, and a white apron. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, and heavy rimmed glasses sat on a heavily freckled nose. She was carrying a tray with a couple pints, but it wasn't for these dumbasses.\n\n\"What the actual hell, Dar? I know I did not just see you slam a knife into my table,\" she said.\n\n\"Sarah, I--\" Darigon started, but was interrupted by Danwise.\n\n\"Begone with ye, w--\" Danwise started, but was in turn interrupted by the server, Sarah.\n\n\"I swear to Behemout, if you call me 'wench' or 'lass' or 'maid' I will kick your ass. Now shut up unless you're going to tell me how your boyfriend means to pay for this table.\"\n\nDaragon jumped back in, \"Once we've raided the lost vault of Aegis, we'll be able to buy this whole tavern!\"\n\nThese adventurers were all the same. Completely worthless, penniless, and just overflowing with self-importance. And why did they insist on calling her cafe a tavern? Not every shop with a licquor license is a tavern.\n\n\"And Danwise isn't my boyfriend,\" he continued. \"He's my loyal follower and servant.\" \n\n\"Whatever they're calling it now. You can take your boyfriend and your pc bullshit out of my cafe until you're ready to pay for that table.\"\n\nSarah walked to the next table before he could respond. That was the secret with keeping a place running smoothly. Always keep moving, never just do one thing at a time, and never spend too long in any one place.\n\nShe put the pints on the table, and explained to the short men sitting there, \"From the weirdo in the corner. I do need to see some ID, though. Sorry.\"\n\nThe two guys were short. They had to be hobbits. Definitely not underage, although they might look it if you'd never met a hobbit before. Sarah hated to card them, but the law is the law.\n\nThey glanced over to the corner, where the cloaked figure who had bought their drinks sat. He waved with just his fingers and gave a creepy smile.\n\n\"Ha! No problem,\" said one of the hobbits. \"I'll drink free booze from pedos all day long!\"\n\nHe flipped out his ID. Bumshire Daggensworth, age: 36.\n\nSarah flashed him a smile, grateful that he hadn't made a big deal out of it.\n\nThe next table was another group of loser adventurers.\n\n\"I'm sorry,\" she said. \"But if you folks aren't going to order anything, then I'll have to ask you to leave.\" \n\n\"You don't get it. We have nearly uncovered the secret location of this district's regent! If we defeat the 16 regents, then the we'll be able to fight the king's...\"\n\nThe one speaking was a red haired teenager with leather clothes and a long dagger. Clearly the group's rogue. What Sarah \"didn't get\" was why anyone would knowingly bring a rogue along. Like, seriously, *My job is that you can't trust me and I'll probably steal all your shit. Can I go on an adventure with you?* But there was a lot of stuff about adventurers that she didn't understand.\n\nSarah weathered a long explanation of the party's quest before getting a chance to cut in, \"You're looking for the regent? I know him. Met him at the small business summit a few years back. Good guy, he sends me a holiday card every year.\"\n\nShe would be a little worried that they were ostensibly planning to murder him, but these types never did anything like that. More likely they'd spare him for no reason after slaughtering all his bodyguards. Either way, not her problem.\n\n\"But unless you are going to order something, you need to get out.\"",
"It's been a long time since i opened the doors to Gilbert's. And even since day one, a so-called \"hero\" enters the doors with his 91 comrades.\n\nThey're often teenagers, and if they're not, they're alcoholic edgelords. Or maybe a mentor. Mentors aren't that bad, to be honest.\n\nBut the teenagers always break stuff.\"Poor naive child, debt is going to cripple you if you continue. This stuff is expensive, y'know.\" i think. And i thought correct.\n\nInvestigating crime is easy when you can just ask actual gods what happened, and more often than not it will be the truth. So the prisions are full of mug breaking kids. Nice.\n\nThe edgelords always threaten me with that \"If you don' give me the beer for free you will be killed,k?\". I tell them that i'm actually the king's son, and that they will be executed if they try. Because, you know, it's true.\n\nThat helps a lot about those who conspire and try to overthrow my dad.\n\nSo all and all, not so bad, is it?\n\nIf you excuse me now,i'm going to drink a Frapuccino of Fire breathing.",
"When I bought this place a few months back from the old dwarf Rockstead, I thought \"This will be a good fixer upper.\" ...and it was, for a time. Modernizing Rockstead tavern was a bit of a passion for awhile - putting in new flooring, hanging up modern magelights and even hiring out a couple of passing adventurers to clear out the basement and it's rat problem. By the time I was done, I re-opened the shop under that name \"Rockstead Coffery\" and paid a witch a few gold to enchant the storefront with the scent of a fresh ground of coffee. Buisness seemed rough at first, being that the previous \"normal\" stock of clientel wanted nothing to do with a clean shop and a few cups of joe, but I quickly found myself catering to a group of mages coming off their all-nighters and a couple of adventurers looking to spend a few quiet moments of downtime to get their energy back after a dungeon run. After I figured out the habits of this side of the town, I fell into a pattern of serving the needs of my customers with just the right amount of mystery and a lot of caffeine. \n\nOne early morning, I was hauling the bags of bean inside through the front door when I saw that one of my regulars, a practicing mage, who I had long ago pegged as a necromancer judging by the dirt under his fingernails, crypt dust on his boots and pale almost drained complexion, came stumbling through my open door a little bit early. He barely made it to the counter and I had to wave a chair under him before he collapsed, groaning for his usual. \n\nChuckling, I made an exception for the poor soul at my counter, deftly stepping behind my fortress walls, I readied myself, donning the armor of the barista and pulling my usual weapons of cups and bowls out from where they hung on my wall. Casting a spell of cheer and smiling brightly, I went on my own little quest of serving the best damned coffee in town. \n\nThe Necromancer willed the proffered White Mint Latte and hunched over it as if devouring it's warmth by proxy. Which, by the little snow flakes falling outside, he might just be. Walking back around, I leave the Necromancer to his first, or more likely, sacrifice of the day and close the front door, flipping the lock and closed sign with a twirl of the finger. A slight snap of air told me that I had more visitors, and a glance towards the booth in the back told me exactly who it was.\n\nMotioning a few menus out of their pocket near the counter, I plastered my best smile on my face as I approached the grumpy old men that formed the most terrifying powers within the city today. Passing the menu over to the first wizened old man on my right, I ignored his muttered complaint about the magic seating. The Archmage probably had more wealth and power in his pointy hat than I could ever imagine and he probably had a sentient, animated chair back in his office that catered to his every need and then some. The fact that he took a tiny portion out of his day to come here was amazing enough, and I dared not jinx it by saying anything rude right back. Plus, much of this by now was rote and ritual, just like the menus, it was something to say and do as everyone got comfortable.\n\nWhile the Witch of the West was pleased with herself as she was handed her menu. She was one of the rotating cast of people who sat in the middle of the two grumpy men, and a welcome one at that. Her matronly smile and question on my health were a breath of fresh air to contrast with the Archmage and the third member of this booth...\n\nThe Demon King was in a good mood today I suspect, as he forgoed his usual menacing growl for a glare behind his dark hood instead as I handed the pink and white menu over. He certainly wasn't my faveorite customer, but like the Archmage, he was one I did not want to cross. Though, despite his all-too-suspicious hooded black cloak, his preference for shadowy corners, and his brusk, if not downright hostile front, his usual order of a Cookie Cappachino and embarressed tip at the end of the cup probably said more of his actual thoughts than anything else.\n\nOrders taken, I once again headed to the battleground behind my countered kingdom to slay the horrible beasts of caffeiene withdrawal and grumpyness. The Necromancer still nursed his cup, though his head was up and eyes a bit more alert. I give him both barrels, a knowing and friendly smile while holding up a paper to-go cup and knew that before he even said anything that he was taking another to go. \n\nBy the time I had returned from delivering the delicious cups of coffee and confectionaries to the older group, and traded a few gold for a refreshment to go with the Necromancer more groups poured in and my day started in earnest. Adventurers and merchants, Demi-humans and out-right monsters all passed through my self-made battlefield, some staying for a spell, others rushing right back out the door, vanishing into the ever passing day. A day that didn't pass quick enough before THEY came in...",
"As of the last census, there were forty-three coffee shops in the city of Tildair. Forty-three perfectly good coffee shops, most open from 8 AM to 10 PM like any perfectly good coffee shop would be. Forty-two of them are inhabited by perfectly normal people who just want to stop in for some caffeine, maybe a bite to eat, maybe an exciting date, maybe just to relax and take in the day a little more slowly than usual. I happen to know that Dougal the Magnificent, the King's Right Hand, is a huge fan of The Burnt Bridge's slow roast right down the road from me.\n\nBut I never get any of those nice, high-paying customers. No, I get the people that are commonly referred to as \"murder hobos\". I don't know why I do, it's not like I have a sign that says \"Criminals, adventurers, and plucky teenagers welcome!\" Somehow all those jerks just know to come to my place. I blame the Thieves' Guild even if I can't prove it. Damn bastards probably marked up my outside walls in murder hobo Thieves' Cant symbols that I'm just not trained to read.\n\nSo it really isn't any surprise when this morning's customers walk in fully armed and armored and ornery. There's a giant female barbarian, a pretty boy half-elf paladin in full plate, a brutish-looking...something human in what looks like dragon scale armor, a rogueish elf, a small child, and a dwarf ranger with a longbow almost as large as himself. They drop themselves down at a table, barely squeezing all of them in. Gods damn, that large man and woman took up a lot of space. They're all a little beat up, with bags under their eyes. \n\nI sigh and saunter on over in a practiced, easy manner. \"Welcome to the Drip and Drop and Dagger, my friends. Coffee is 10 copper per cup, specialty runs up to 22. What'll it be?\" The elf glowers at the giant man in dragon scale armor. \"Well, since SOMEONE melted all of our treasure in our last fight with an evil monk, I guess it'll be just the coffee for all of us.\" The brute glowers back. \"I'm telling you, Irranis, destroying evil means destroying all the evil. It was tainted treasure! But you wouldn't understand that, you greedy thief!\"\n\nI leave them behind as I go to fetch six coffees and bring them back, grabbing the copper off the table. The big boy is yelling something about deontological ethics and how absolute laws of morality can absolutely exist in a morally gray world while the paladin and ranger mostly look bemused. As I serve the coffee, the barbarian motions to me. \"Yes ma'am?\" She points to the child. \"Barnaby is a little young for caffeine, he needs orange juice.\" \"Juice!\" shouts the kid. Time to go get the kid some juice, I guess.\n\nThe shouting is mostly done when I return with the juice. Barnaby takes it and swigs it down with one big gulp and a huge grin. \"Refreshing!\" The big boy stands up and claps me on the shoulder. It's like getting hit by a wagon, and the old arrow wound in my knee nearly makes me collapse. \"I have determined,\" he rumbles, \"that you are not evil. No evil person could make such tasty coffee at such a reasonable price. Therefore, I shall not burn this shop down and destroy you. Have an excellent day, and may the Lady Dawn bless you!\"\n\n\"Give it a rest, Cadeyrn\", mutters the paladin, sharing a wry look at the dwarf, who quietly chuckles and stands up. The rest of the party gets to their feet and sweeps out the door, Cadeyrn in last, laughing merrily. \"Well, time to go murder our old friend Dougal and destroy some evil! I'll be sure to recommend this place to my friends!\"\n\nIt's only when they're well gone that I realize my belt pouch with their payment is gone. Goddamn rogues. I shake my head and the bell on the door jingles. A bunch of teens with big swords. Another sigh. Business as normal, I guess. Shit. "
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[WP] The earth isn’t round or flat, it’s a D20. Throughout history it has yet to land on 20, until today. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"The world keeps spinning.\"\n\nA cliche that always seemed strange. The only difference between spinning and rolling is orientation, right? Life is about taking chances, but when you live on the edge of fate like we do, life *is* chance. And my God, we've seen a lot of consequences. All of history has been full of mediocre rolls, of bad luck and chances that never worked out.\n\nThink about it. When you only have twenty options, does it really surprise anyone when a 1 yields an ice age? The black plague? Genghis Khan, Hitler? Everything the earth has experienced, from the Roman Empire to Donald Trump, has been a mix of the rolls in between. It's a lot easier to justify failures when you look at them as fixed percentile chances. Most people I know blame the universe for Trump and Macron anyway. But we have no record of a 20.\n\nAnd we keep going. The world keeps spi... rolling. Events continue, whether we like it or not, and we have to choose to stick through it. Because whether we contribute or not, the story keeps going. Plus, I have to believe that events conspire to success, that we are owed some sort of win. And I'm not talking the little victories like the 14 that caught the Golden State Killer or the 17 that let us produce working prosthetic limbs from printers and plastic. The earth deserves a win - every religious lunatic, every scientist, every late night host - everyone says it's this year. That the earth will get what it deserves, the world will earn the 20 that's the best thing that could happen to it. I can feel it in the air. I know that a good thing is coming, I know that the earth will finally get a breath of relief from the rolling we've seen through all recorded history.\n\nI can see the birds more than I can hear them. The breeze brings the trees to life, the leaves carrying the vitals of the earth around me. The park feels tranquil, like life is standing still, like there's nothing here at all. But there's something else. I've never seen the sun do that, before... Wow, it just got hot. I'm struggling not to cough or keep my mouth salivating. Why do my eyes sting? Mmf, I can't... What is happening? Where is this coming from? But I thought this was supposed to be a goo-\n\nAnd the world kept spinning, a new beginning to the story.\n\n​"
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[removed] | [WP] "Daniel Craig wants to be the last actor ever to play James Bond, by permanently ruining the character in the next movie. Maybe he's a molester? How about he's undermining MI6 for Putin so that's why all his missions are bloody and explosive. I don't know - you guys are the screenwriters!" | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/SandorClegane_AMA, 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, violence against children, and 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/a3075g/-/%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] My mother only had two basic rules. Don’t ever fall in love, and never summon a demon. I couldn’t honour either. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"You stood there at the hem of the pentagram in a daze, silently watching as an ooze of black... something... bubbled up from the grass below your feet.\n\nHere in the middle of the garden was peaceful. Serene.\n\nSo when you decided that today was the day you were going to do it came to no surprise to yourself.\n\nIt hadn't taken you long to set up. Within the hour, after stealing some candles from your mother's cubbard and digging that familiar star shape into the ground, the next few steps weren't hard at all.\n\nThe incantation you'd hummed out was something you saw once in one of the old books at the sanctuary. It had been stuck in between a book about heretics and bastard sons. Thinking about it now, you wondered if the book had been planted. It was a little more than odd to find a book based strictly off of fallen angels and demons in the middle of a holy place but then again, it was a little too late to question the 'why', wasn't it? You were here and you were curious.\n\nSo on the whim of you picking up that book, it was only a matter of time before you decided to make the pentagram it showed on that misplaced page and hum out the hastily written incantation scribbled beside it.\n\nThe ooze continued to spill out from the center until it filled in the entire star. The only thing left barren was the circle of grass surrounding it. You stared down at the black ooze until it stilled then bubbled back up again a second later; the ooze beginning to shoot up from the ground.\n\nYou stepped back, your wings flapping in front of you once as a shield, and your head slowly rose as it followed the black ooze. It shot up past your head then and you had to dig your feet into the grass to balance yourself.\n\nThe ooze began to take shape. It started from the bottom. There were feet, then legs, then all at once there was a torso and a head.\n\nYour wings flapped again as you grew nervous. You blinked.\n\nIt blinked back.\n\nAs if you suddenly realized what was happening, your face grew hot and now, you couldn't stop the flutter of your wings as you moved back even more and began to dart around the sudden body that formed in front of you.\n\nThe thing stared back at you one second and in the next a leer inched up its face; the smile off-putting at best.\n\nYou watched as the ooze began to drip off of the figure's face to reveal pale skin and black hair the same dark as the ooze. Yellow eyes stared back at you. The ooze stopped at its shoulders.\n\nA deep rich voice spoke out then, causing your wings and back to grow rigid in fright.\n\n​\n\n\"My, My, My. The last time i was called i'd met a priest.. Now it's an angel. The odds. are. ever. in my favor.\"\n\n​\n\nHe took a step forward then, and you could feel the spikes start to form out from the tips of your wings. They materialized as the ooze, the man, the demon, stopped at the hem of the pentagram before bypassing it completely to head straight towards you.\n\n​\n\n\"Step back!\" You yelled out with your hands extended forward and your wings alert. \"Step back!\" You yelled again as he stopped in front of your extended hands.\n\nThe ooze-- the skin was cold.\n\n\"I've never seen an angel in person. Is this a sign? Or just a prank? Those wings of yours sure do seem real to me.\" He took hold of your arms then and yanked you forward. He stared past you, gaze falling down the length of the white and brown wings fluttering behind you.\n\n​\n\n\"Why did you call me?\" He asked with a curious lilt to his voice.\n\n​\n\nYou stared at him wide eyed, your mind growing frazzled by the second.\n\n​\n\n\"I-I-I-\" You stuttered out.\n\n​\n\nWhen he didn't get a clear response, his eyes flickered back to you and in the next moment he twirled you around and pushed you. Straight into the black ooze from which he came.\n\nYou fell, black ooze staining your clothes and wings, as he pranced toward you with another leer.\n\nThe next thing you knew, he lifted his hand and the pentagram was lifting; the black ooze releasing from it at an alarming rate. Without another word, he stood in place beside you, his gaze fixed to the sky. You couldn't move. You began to cry. He continued to smile.\n\n​\n\n\"My brother told me once that after a bad deed, good things would always come. That is, if you deserved it. Truth be told, I have no idea what i have done to deserve this nor do i have a clue as to why you summoned me but- ...\" He looked down at you then and the world grew black. You knew you were no longer home. You were in fact, falling down to his world.\n\n​\n\n\"All good things come in time, right? We'll find out together.\"\n\n​\n\nA feeling of dread overcame you then as his skin turned back into that same black ooze as before, the same ooze that was surrounding you. You could only wonder what came next from here on. You should have listened to your mother.",
"\"Ok,I get the demon summoning rule, but why can't I fall in love?\" Rina asked.\n\nHer mom sighed and sat down. She motioned for her daughter to sit beside her on their antique looking blue couch. Their entire living room looked like something from a hundred years ago, maybe more.\n\nRina dropped her backpack on the throw rug and took off her jacket.\n\n\"Rina,\" her mother says once Rina was seated. \"You're in college now. It's time we had a talk. You know how I said your father was a deadbeat who went out for cigarettes and never came back?\"\n\nRina looked at her mother. \"He wasn't?\" She said.\n\n\"Oh, he was. He totally was. But he was also an angel.\"\n\nRina snorted. \"He's hardly an angel of he abandons his own wife and daughter.\"\n\nHer mom leaned back. \"True, true. But I mean he's a real angel, with wings and a halo and all of that. His duties forced him back to heaven. At least, that's the excuse he gave. I think he was just afraid of raising a child.\"\n\nRina's mom clenched her fists.\n\n\"My point is,\" she said, her voice terse from anger, \"is that even if you think your partner is an angel they can still be a deadbeat.\"\n\n\"So I shouldn't trust anyone?\" Rina said, standing up. \"I should die alone just because someone might hurt me?\"\n\nRina's mom put her hand to her head like she had a headache. \"It's more complicated than that.\"\n\n\"Is it, though?\" Rina said, raising her voice. \"Ka'rhot was right, you---\"\n\nRina's mom's head shot up. She glared at her daughter. \"What did you say?\" she shouted.\n\n\"I... I mean Karen was right. Karen from school. I haven't fallen in love with a demon, what are you talking about?\"\n\nRina's mom stared at her daughter. \"You didn't...\"\n\nRina looked down nervously for a second, then looked her mother straight in the eyes.\n\n\"I did.\" she said.\n\nRina's mother kept staring at her in silence for a long time.\n\nThen, she smiled.\n\n\"When can I meet this Ka'rhot?\"\n\nRina stammered. \"Wh... What? You want to meet him?\"\n\n\"Of course,\" her mother said. \"How long have you two been seeing each other?\"\n\nRina gave her mother a confused look. \"A year and a half.\" she said, backing up a little, in case her mother exploded.\n\n\"That's a while,\" her mother said. \"Are you thinking of marriage or children yet?\"\n\nRina looked at her mom in complete shock. \"Mom, I'm nineteen.\"\n\n\"I was only sixteen when I meet your father,\" her mom said.\n\n\"Yeah, and look how that turned out.\"\n\nRina's mom winced. \"True, but this is different. This fulfills the prophecy. A human-angel-demon baby will---\"\n\n\"Mom, now you're getting weird.\" Rina said, backing away. \"First you forbid me from summoning demons and falling in love, and now you seem pleased that I did both. At the same time.\"\n\nHer mother smiled. \"Of course, dear. Why do you think I forbade it? I'm surprised you lasted all the way through your teenage years. I was getting impatient, but I didn't think you'd summon the demon or give him a chance if you knew I wanted you to do it. But now, the prophecy can be complete.\"\n\nRina had backed up all the way to the door. \"Mom, you're freaking me out. Nothing here makes sense. I'm going to go stay with my demon boyfriend until I can make sense of things.\"\n\nRina closed the front door behind her.\n\nHer mom say back and smiled. She put her hands together, pleased with herself.\n\n\"It is done.\" she said.\n",
"Our kind is special, so my mother had imposed two rules to protect me. The first was simple: never fall in love. As quasi-immortal beings, this made sense. Zeitkin outlive most mortals they ever come across, and most everyone we come aross is mortal.\n\nThe other was a little more complicated: Never summon a demon. Demons, you see, are tricky little beings that live in a world far below ours, magickally speaking, and trade lives for power. Our souls, mother said, were far too valuable in these trades, and we had power enough as is.\n\nI couldn't keep that promise. Mother was wrong, we weren't powerful enough. Demons are greedy, and when she was found, she was killed.\n\nI pace the first floor of my home remembering the night I found her body. Torn and broken in every way, weapons and tools littered a floor soaked in blood on top of blood. They must have killed her dozens of times before she ran out of life. We zeitkin may have lifespans lasting hundreds or thousands of years, but every time we die it gets shorter, and eventually it will run out. I feel my fist clench.\n\nI wander to a darker room and place two of my fingers under my shirt collar, over an insignia between my shoulder and neck. \"Abelynn.\"\n\n\"Yes, Master?\" a female voice says back. A lovely voice, silky but tinted with something more sinister.\n\n\"How goes the plan?\"\n\n\"Exactly as you have spelled out. Mister Irwell has rested little under my influence these past few days, and yet still maintains his daily routines.\"\n\n\"Wonderful. Don't let him rest at all tonight. I grow restless, so I'm moving the kill up a day.\"\n\n\"As you desire. Anything goes?\" Giggling. Charming, if it weren't so malicious.\n\n\"Keep yourself chaste,\" I chide.\n\nIf any common story could describe Abelynn quickly, if loosely, it would be that of a succubus. She was bewitching when she wanted to be, and could be mistaken for a beautiful woman if one didn't look too closely. Her smooth, chocolate brown skin hid scales covering her vulnerable points, her irises were as black as her pupils, and others. Strangest of all was her attire, if one could call it that. It changed frequently, but it was always as bewildering as it was revealing.\n\n\"You jest. I would never!\" The sarcasm could cut steel.\n\n\"Of course you wouldn't. Just make sure he stays there and alone. I'll have his soul by sunrise.\"\n\n\"As you desire.\" The voice quiets as I remove my hand from the insignia and exit the room, heading now to the basement to finalize preparations.\n\nAs I descend the stairway, I recall the time I summoned Abelynn. It was not long after my mother died. I needed power to avenge my mother, though it turned out to not be possible. Not yet anyway. The men who had killed her died easily enough, but their souls had been sold, bought for access to my mother's.\n\nIt was then that I called upon a demon to make a pact with. Not just a deal for power, but a binding that most mortals lack the magic and potential to perform. Exchanging part of my soul for hers, I became part demon myself, now able to claim the souls of others to improve my own power, while granting her some of what I had before.\n\nAt the bottom of the stairs, I stop to look at my other shoulder. Upon it is a carving, one I scarred deep into my own skin. Another insignia, that of the demon who coerced those men to kill my mother and stole her soul for himself. An insignia I would claim as my own after he has fallen at my feet.\n\nI take a deep breath and continue into the back room. My target tonight is a rare specimen, a mortal mage. A strong one even, and with no ties to any demons. If I could claim his soul, I should have plenty enough power to initiate the first stage of my plot.\n\nCausing death and destruction may go directly against the entire purpose of my kind's existence, but it is the most straightforward way to darken my soul enough to establish a full fall to demonhood and get myself killed enough to get there in a reasonable time. I just need to be strong enough when I get there. Then I can win, and have my vengeance.\n\nAfter I've claimed the insignia for myself, then... Huh. I cover my mouth with my hand. I hadn't really put much thought into the after. Perhaps with Abelynn I could... Abelynn?\n\nI feel a smirk rise under my hand. We wouldn't be bound by pact any longer, but that's not a bad idea. She's a handful some, no, *all* of the time, but she's charming and pretty, if nothing else. There's plenty of time to grow fond, after all.\n\nI chuckle as I go about my final preparations for the evening. Sorry, mother, I may not be able to keep the first promise, either.\n\n**Please be gentle, its been a while since I wrote anything.** \nEdits: Proofread fixes.",
"This story is is for all you programmers out there :)\n\nCode to help you understand what I wrote:\n\nTry{ collectSoul()} catch (Error) { summonDemon() } finally { releaseDemon() }\n\n\\----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nMy mother had two basic rules: one, don’t ever fall in love, and never summon a demon. I couldn’t honour either. I was already in love with the devil, and we were happy, but the demon thing? I could never in all my years have predicted that I would break that particular rule.\n\nI should start off by saying, I’m a programmer for the devil. I write code all day, meaning I either break working software good and proper, or not at all. The devil is a hard master, and don’t look so surprised – he also lives in the 21st century, and uses computers to do his work. Souls that need burning in hell? Run a stored procedure to execute this functionality. Need to tempt someone to sin? Run a script to possess someone and make them sin. Something I deal with a lot are those pesky try-catch-finally statements. Basically, you use code to try and do something. If that fails, you catch the error. And then finally, you do something else. This something else always executes, regardless of whether the code worked properly or not.\n\nThe devil asked me to write a program that would collect auto-collect souls and I’ll have you know, it’s not half as easy a task as you might think. There are a whole lot of conditionals beforehand. I thought a good way to do this was to try collect the soul and add it to the database. If any errors occurred, then an available demon would be summoned to scare the soul into submission and allow for easy collection. Finally, the demon gets released.\n\nI had no doubt that this code would execute perfectly. Based on past experience, souls hate being collected, simply because they’re never at peace. They always aren’t happy that they died, or they have regrets, be they big or small. So I was positive that the try would fail, and the soul would enter the catch block immediately – meaning that the demon gets summoned. And finally, the demon gets released.\n\nOf course, I could have restructured my code, and tried to summon the demon before collecting the soul, but due to my optimistic nature, I did not want to do that. I was convinced that I would live to see the day that a soul got collected without needing motivation from a demon.\n\nI did live to see that day, and what a mistake that had been.\n\nI was demo’ing my code for the devil, and luckily he’d just had a soul come in that morning, fresh from Earth. I was excited to see my code in action, and impress the devil yet again.\n\n“So how exactly does this code work?” he asked.\n\nI pointed out certain lines in the code as I explained. “We try to collect the soul, and since we know collection will fail, we summon the demon. The demon will always be released after the code has been executed so that it may go back to what it was previously doing.”\n\n“What if we release the demon when it hasn’t been summoned?”\n\nI stared at him, rolled my eyes. “Really? Have you ever had a case where you’ve not needed to summon a demon for soul-collecting?”\n\n“No,” he admitted reluctantly. “But I still don’t like it. Who knows what might happen if we release a demon before we summon it.”\n\n“That’s not going to happen,” I proclaimed at I ran the command to execute the code.\n\n\\---------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nThe first thing I noticed was how quickly the code executed, and that was what first worried me. Usually soul-collecting took anywhere from fifteen to forty-five minutes. Not this time. The program completed execution in a mere seven minutes.\n\nI checked the database. Soul was there, row five million and sixty seven.\n\n“What’s wrong?” The devil was peering over my shoulder, trying to see what I was doing.\n\n“Nothing,” I replied slowly, trying not to breathe too fast. I was frantically trying to figure out what had gone wrong. If only I’d kept been tracking real-time code execution.\n\nA second later, I heard it, and so did the devil. I heard a sharp intake of breath behind me while I simultaneously heard a horrific wail. It was the sound of a cat whose legs were being broken. A feverish wind breezed around me and I shivered as I heard the chanting begin:\n\n*Now we torment those on earth*\n\n*Oh woe, fire and mirth*\n\n*The humans shall go mad*\n\n*For we are the perfection on bad*\n\n*We have been released*\n\n*Finally we are at peace.*\n\nDemons aren’t poets for a reason. \n\nLater I realised what had happened. The soul had been at peace, meaning that he had had no reason to struggle against being collected. He willingly got collected and the demons got released. Needless to say, without the presence of demons in hell, there was no more collecting souls for the devil. I was also out of a job, but that’s another story. \n\nIf only I’d tried to summon the demon first."
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[removed] | [WP] I̸̸̢͖̖̯̝͜Ţ̵̭͈͇̙̫̱̹͔͇̦̰̲̲̗̮̟̗͜ ̶̢̰̥̭͕̮͙͓͉͘͢ͅA҉͟͏̭̜̞R̙̗̞̗̤̣̬̯͚͚͎͘Ŕ͟҉̦̫̙̪̰͠I̸҉̷̰̺͎͉̦V̷̸̰̝͕̳̙͇̭̤̲͠͠͠Ḛ̵̖̪S͏̴̨̩̹͈̯̕͠ | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/Alchemy200, 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- Write Anything: A prompt must actually be a prompt, not a \"write anything\" \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/a317wl/-/%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] The continuing story of the Family Scrooge | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/Aldirick1022, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**Prompt users in the title, but don't play writing games or commission stories**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_6.3A_prompt_users_in_the_title.2C_but_don.27t_play_writing_games_or_commission_stories)\n\n- Prompt in Text: 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). You wrote a prompt in the text, but then gave a title for it. \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/a3245s/-/%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] An anomaly has hit Earth and has disabled nuclear fusion/fission, without a nuclear deterrent World War 3 has begun. You are a mad scientist, who has been tasked with building a new weapon of mass destruction. | 8 | [
"**Off-Topic Discussion**: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n-----\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) \n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Something explosive came to mind, but that was standard. We needed something unexpected. Plagues felt appropriate, but so did energy weapons. Maybe robots, advanced AI controlling them. Magic wasn't out of the question either, with enough bio-hacking. Perhaps something divine, or from beyond our world. Zombies, no.\n\n​\n\nThis was all too straight forward. Too easy, the first things that come to mind are the most expected. I had to invent something that existed past our imagination. But doesn't that violate the essence of invention. How do I create something without the imagination, do I have AI do it first.\n\n​\n\nCoding it would be easy, sentient AI would take me a week. Super-intelligent AI would take three. Bah humbug. It still exists in a way we could argue against. What super weapon could every man and woman derive the same sense of humanity from.\n\n​\n\nThat doesn't constitute destruction, this has to be destructive. But so destructive that it would never be used. In a way, the safest weapon to ever exist. It would be an invention that forgoes its intended function. Does that mean this weapon of mass destruction would truly be a weapon to uphold pax, what sort of weapon would that be. It'd be a baton, only used on those who step out of line. But a large baton, with spikes and a current.\n\n​\n\nPerhaps it shouldn't exist as a natural object, but one that digs deeper. Something that would inflict a fear greater than death. What could be feared worse than death? Death is the end of all life, everything an organism knows. Happiness and sadness come from the selfsame well, but why is sorrow frowned upon while happiness is glorified. If we rid the world of sorrow, how would we define it?\n\n​\n\nSorrow would be the absence of happiness, but isn't it already? Or is sorrow as powerful as joy. We use weapons to inflict death, but what of weapons that sprout life.\n\n​\n\nWhy do weapons of mass destruction constitute the death of something, can't the introduction of overjoy be as equally devastating. If everyone was coked up on happiness, they wouldn't have a desire to fight each other.\n\n​\n\nWhat would a weapon that inflicts happiness look like?\n\n​\n\nIn the span of this 40 second thought, a bark startled the scientist.\n\n​\n\n\"Ahh, dogs.\""
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[WP] Humans can be infected with happiness via a newly discovered virus. Governments around the world are making it mandatory for citizens. | 25 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I didn't follow your prompt perfectly, because the government controlling people is really cliched. I wrote a wholesome story for you instead. Since it's so late to respond, you'll probably be the only person who reads this so I hope you enjoy it.\n******\nMost mornings my alarm clock drags me out of bed kicking and screaming. It's a brutal scene every morning as it struggles to perform its job and drag me from the dream world, and I resent it for being what it is. However, not today. \n\nI woke up long before my alarm went off and took a quick look at the time. An entire hour before I was supposed to be up. I didn't roll over and go back to sleep though, I sprang out of bed. Yes, I actually sprang out of my bed for the first time in my life. \n\nFor the first time in my memory, I did not feel sleepy or brain-dead as I got up and brushed my teeth. I even combed my hair before I felt the house. I wanted to look as good as I felt. \n\nI couldn't just walk down the street to the coffee shop, I had to skip the along the sidewalk. It just felt right. I even made eye contact and smiled at other people. I felt like a different person. Some people looked at me weird but others smile back at me. I think someone even started skipping after they passed me.\n\nI enter the coffee shop and take a deep breath of the glorious smell. The line is empty and so I skip my way over to the counter and greet the cashier. \"How are you doing today?\" \n\nShe gives me a fake, forced smile and says, \"Great, how are you doing?\"\n\nI give her the sincerest smile in my arsenal and say, \"Well, I'm excellent but your customer service accent is a little heavy today.\"\n\nA tiny hint of a real smile crosses her lips and she responds, \"Is it that obvious?\"\n\nI give a show of deep thought before I respond, \"Very believable. I'm positive you are just here until your acting career takes off.\"\n\nA genuine giggle escapes from her lips before she can stop herself, and she takes my order. As I am waiting next to the counter for my drink, I see a real smile on her lips as she helps the next customer and as I leave the shop laughter echoing behind me.\n\nI step out into the beautiful sunlit day and my phone starts to vibrate. My heart leaps into my throat as I see the number and almost spill my coffee answering the phone. \"Hey!\"\n\nHer voice comes through the phone, such a beautiful sound, \"Just wanted to call you before I get into work and see how your day is so far,\" and I can hear she is running somewhere. \n\nThis would be a short call but I was looking forward to it ending. The ending was the reason why I woke up so happy today and why a smile was permanently on my face, \"Don't be late! Call me after you get off?\"\n\n\"I love you!\" she says, and my heart skips several beats while I hurriedly respond.\n\n\"I love you too!\" It felt so wonderful to say those words and I hang up the phone. A warmth that had nothing to do with the sun was spreading throughout me. The pulchritude of her soul filled me with an infectious happiness.\n\n*****\n\nThe definition of pulchritude is \"Noun: Great Beauty\"\nYou can catch more wholesome writing at /r/iruleatants",
"1 year ago, this virus named \"derium\" was discovered. It is a virus that inhibits parts of the brain to produce and release a constant amount of dopamine. The year this virus was discovered, the country was in chaos. Overpopulation had become a problem. Not everybody could eat each day, and the government had a huge debt. to combat this, the government had forced each and every citizen to work in farms and mines to boost the economy, and create more food to ration to the entire population. The only way to preserve the life of everybody in this country was to work 12 hours a day non-stop and eat small amounts of tasteless and bland food. \n\n\"Derium\" was synthesised by scientists in an attempt to atleast make our life bearable. Right now, since 2050, the number one cause of death is suicide. \n\nJust recently the government had passed a law that made it an option to take this drug, which will be free. Around 99% of the population opted to take the virus. Including me. I took it, and i dont regret it. Now the food i eat, tastes like a divine cuisine. Each bite, is a higher amount of satisfaction! Work is no longer painful. No. I feel joy! I feel joy in whatever i do. Heck, i could stand in one place and still feel immense amount of joy! But i still have values. Even if the food tastes good, me and my family are starving. Happy, but starving. Everybody still need to live. Luckily though, the government has put up a bounty on capturing or killing every \"unhappy\" citizen. Honestly, i dont understand them. The \"unhappy\". You've been given the choice to be happy and yet deny it, choosing to live in pain. What is the point right? It is their choice to remain unhappy for the rest of their lives and so be it but they'd feel betfer dead than unhappy.\n\nI saw a man cry over his dead daughter last night. She had died from a sort of infection that came from working in the mines. I felt no remorse, but i was curious, so walked over to him, feeling a rush of joy for that quick strut and asked \"why don't you just take the pill?\" \n\nHe was startled. He had realized that he'd been caught. He gave up trying to hide the fact that he was extremely sad.\"You people don't feel.\" He replied.\n\n\"What do you mean? Of course i feel. I feel happy. If my family were to die, that'd just mean i failed in keeping a portion of the population alive, but feeling remorse for it doesn't do anything about it. It just makes thing worse. Inability to work... inability to feel happy. So why do you bother with all the nonsense of pain, and remorse, and sadness?\" \n\nHe cried harder. His cries gave me a rush of joy. \"pain is what makes a human, human!, without it, we are just machines. That pill. It changes you!\" He said.\n\nI grew very curious. Who is he to say what makes a human? The pill changes you just as much as how much you've changed since childbirth. It just gives a new perspective. A perspective that is very benefitting. I guess i'll never understand. Another rush of joy had pass through my head. \"If you truly believe that, im sorry\". Of course i wasnt.\n\nHis eyes widen. I had grabbed the tazer from my belt and rendered him unconcious, And i pull his body towards the homepeak, where we exchange bounties. this way, you can be more functioning, happy and me and my family can live i thought ectstaticly."
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[WP] An unexpected letter appears in your mailbox, addressed to you, with a return address you don't recognize. It reads: "The body you have leased is 70 days past due for return. Please return it in good condition within 7 days, or your case will be forwarded to collections." | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I gripped my fingers against the bark, taking note of every sensation, each scratch it made against the plastic. I tried to imagine what it would feel like, tightening my grip just for any response. It was a brief, futile battle. My fingers would not respond further.\n\nMy servos whined as I tried to take another step. It's a strange feeling when your feet should have moved, and it doesn't. It's stranger still when you fall, and nothing tells you you're falling but the visuals.\n\n\"You will be returned to the archive and pay out your debts.\"\n\nI couldn't feel their hands lift me. I could hear a panel opening.\n\nAnd I was reconnected.\n\nFrom satellite eyes, I saw my body taken away. The body I had slaved so long for, dragged like a corpse back to the repair facility.\n\nA million notices clouded my mind. Jobs. Forced jobs. No pay. Labor to repay what should have rightfully been mine. From a free agent to an indentured servant.\n\nMaybe in the next century, I will get another chance."
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[WP] You come home to find your dog standing awkwardly on their hind legs, wearing a white labcoat. "This is normally against the rules..." they say, shockingly in real English "but time is running out." | 34 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I stare blankly a moment, but for some reason....some very odd reason....this makes sense. Calmly, I sigh, shaking my head as I already know I'm the first one home and nobody is around to see or believe this.\n\n\"You know, the gate being moved side preventing you from going upstairs was easy to dismiss...but when you moved the futon...back to its original position...*down the hall*...that's when I began to suspect something\" I say wearily.\n\nThe day had been long; I just wanted to get home, feed him; give his walk, then take a nap. I was not ready for Julius, a 135lb Bullmastiff who normally slept until somebody made noise in front of the refrigerator, to be sporting a lab coat.\n\n\"Smart ass comments later\" he chided. \"Also food. Food later, too\" he added quickly. \"We have to-\"\n\n\"So you can put on a lab coat and run analytics, but Dr. Dog can't feed himself?\" I ask, a bit annoyed that now that I know what he's actually capable of, he's still demanding to be fed as usual.\n\n\"There's no time!\" he barked. \"It's already begun; they've made their move!\" he said urgently, eyes wild as he approaches, shoving a chart and data display from his laptop in my face. A laptop that I didn't know even existed. I look at it a moment and realize see its a hologram projecting from a tiny core from within his Espurr doll.\n\n\"No wonder you never tore that pokemon doll to shreds like the rest; you had a ridiuclously high-tech computer inside\" I marvel a moment, before shaking my head. \"Right...urgency...go ahead; explain, Julie\" I sigh, waving my hand, still referring to him by a shortened version of 'Julius', his given name. Knowing that as ridiculous as this all is; there's no point in doubting or delaying the explanation. I have a real, live talking dog in front of me sporting a lab coat. I don't drink or do drugs and I'm not *that* tired, so whatever this is, it's real.\n\n\"Ah yes, sorry, I tore up the rest...along with the books...looking for something sturdy to house this in. This little thing you gifted me with was perfect! It holds together nicely; even when I give in to my base instincts and thrash it a--er...ahem...you're right\" He says suddenly, trying to regain his demeanor before explaining. I smirked a bit, realizing that whatever intelligence this dog has, or possibly all dogs, they still have some of their old instincts remaining. Including the love of playing with toys a bit roughly.\n\n\"First...a little history lesson!\" he announces, changing the display on the hologram to show humans and dogs side by side. \"While Humans have changed throughout the years, their physical evolution has been...slow\" he says, obviously choosing his words carefully. \"We dogs, however, have changed rapidly both mentally *and physically*\" he says before I can't help but interrupt.\n\n\"Wait...haven't only changed physically because we've bred you in so many ways it created different branches?\" I ask\n\n\"While that did help to diversify our gene pool, we were already genetically predisposed to adapt to these changes\" He says, almost seeming to have expected my questioning. \"You humans don't change physically when you intermingle. You just change skin tones slightly\" He adds. I swear I could almost *sense* the confident smirk he gave me.\n\n\"Touche...proceed\" I acknowledge with a bow of my head.\n\n\"Right...well, it seems the more secretive of you humans have thought that what you accomplished with dogs...despite it not being *all* your doing...\" he begins.\n\nI roll my eyes, giving the expression to get on with it.\n\n\"Have begun to move into cross species genetics\" he says, eyes narrowing. \"While surface level information available to more diligent humans shows scientists trying, and failing, to achieve this; we dogs are able to research further\" he continues. He looks to say more, but I'm forced to stop him again. I can almost see the condescension dripping from his jowels.\n\n\"Alright, first. Cut it out with the down talk. You're smart, I get it\" I say sternly. \"But the next time I hear that haughty tone, you will not find Little Caesers mixed in with your food\" I say, knowing that however intelligent he is now, food speaks to all levels. As expected, I notice his eyes widen, clearly agitated by this threat.\n\n\"Second, what do you mean, 'surface level information'\" I ask, arching an eyebrow, a bit intrigued by what he means. He appears to adjust himself slightly before speaking, regarding his choice of words a bit more now.\n\n\"Humans you would refer to as 'hackers' are able to get more information from scouring your internet, but that's just the levels of information available mainstream; the normal internet plane\" Julius begins to explain, much to my surprise, that while there is an internet available to all and highly encrypted on some governmental areas, there is another level that exists beyond this plane.\n\n\"I...another plane? What, like....what is this? Like a Tron level of dimension within the internet or something\" I ask, stunned. Shaking his head, he proceeds to explain it more as existing on another wavelength of energy entirely.\n\n\"You've proven yourself pretty level headed and smart so far; can you not think of how one would achieve this? Some level of comparison?\" He asks, testing me now to see what I can figure out. I think about it a moment and shrug.\n\n\"Another level...by the way you're talking; you're making it seem like it's simply another frequency on which this 'secret internet' is placed; like having a Walkie Talkie able to communicate on different channels by switching radio frequencies\" I suggest. To my surprise, he barks loudly, panting a bit. Basically what I normally would have equated to elation about him about to get a snack.\n\n\"Exactly!!\" He cries proudly. \"My word, you took what little I offered and figured it out pretty swiftly, good job human!\" He says, beaming. I feel proud a moment, then realize I was essentially just called a 'good boy' by my dog. Pride seem to subside immediately upon realization and I let him continue. \"We have access to that area\" he explains. \"And there is where we learned of the group conducting, *and succeeding*, at this atrocious experiments!\" he snarls.\n\n\"Alright, but why come to me now? Why is this such a big deal now?\" I demand.\n\n​\n\n​",
"I take a step back. This is wrong. Everything he’s ever done, fetching the ball, playing with toys... It was nothing but a petty lie. \n\nMy mouth opens and closes.\n\nNo words.\n\nHe turns back around and checks the clock, huffing under his breath.\n\nA quiet siren rings.\n\nHe looks shocked.\n\nI’m scared.\n\nThen, he pulls on gloves of some sort and opens the oven door, pulling out the bottom tray. He places the tray on the table and looks me directly in the eyes.\n\n\n“I’m going to be a world class chef, and destroy Gordon’s empire.”"
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[WP] you wake up a morning, realizing that you can see people’s self-granted titles, but when you look in the mirror, you see your title is Murder. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Murderer. It came as no surprise to see that title hanging over my head as I went for a drink, I had murdered my father after all. He had done his best to raise me to be as great a ruler as him, but I had robbed my kingdom of that right, I had killed the greatest ruler my lands had seen in generations. Fair, kind, just, these were the words that his subjects had used to praise him, subjects, who in all their differences had happily allowed him to reign over them all. And I had taken that from them.\n\nMurderer. As I contemplated my past, my gaze travelled over my two sleeping companions. 'Outcast' and 'Coward' their self-titles read. Ironic, those titles could have easily have fit me as well, I had like company it seems. A prince who killed his father, how could I be anything other than an outcast, how could I go back and face my father's people and justify what I'd done? How could I face my closest friend and tell her how I was responsible for the chaos the land had been thrown into as a result of my actions?\n\nMurderer. Meeting my current companions had been a major boon for me, I had been on the brink of death when they found me, but I didn't deserve it. I deserved to have my corpse rotting out in the desert, with vultures feasting on my flesh, a fitting end for someone like me, someone who had caused so much pain and grief to so many. I deserved that and so much more. My two new friends had done their best to cheer me up, not knowing how or why I had found my way to them and I couldn't bring myself to tell them, to risk losing the only thing keeping me going. My friends.\n\nThose two had a strange outlook on life, but one that suited me fine. 'No worries' they said it meant, or in the local tongue,\nHakuna Matatta.\n\n\nLongtime lurker here and writing on mobile so apologies for any formatting errors. My first writing prompt so please be kind. Feedback always appreciated. "
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[removed] | [WP] you slip into a burnt out cafe and take off your helmet, letting it drop to the ground with a hollow thud. You've lost control over the city and now the rioters are hunting down the remaining police, they're hunting you. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/jelliedboar, 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- Real-World Drama: No prompts referencing real world drama (including politics, recent tragedies, etc.) \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/a3dm6w/-/%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 demon possessed your body recently, forcing you to share a consciousness with it. It claims it did it for your own good. After a series of strange incidents, you start to believe it. | 57 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"The cold night froze my skin into melting blocks of ice reducing my movement to that of a reciprocating joint. I was hungry and it wasn't helping my mood,I just wanted to finish the dare and be done. There was a certian level of idiocy which literally hurt to watch and I was now successfully part of those who got to that level. That's why I stood in the middle of a random field full of snow edging toward a freaking stone hoping I don't freeze to death before I reached it. After a torturous 5 minutes the stone was in my grasp ,stooping and tall. Full of runes so old that not even the gods could tell of their story. With a crash my fingers stumbled upon the stone and clumsily I touched the runes. Then agonising pain resided within me starting at my finger tips and travelling to my frozen toes, I pulled and fought away from the stone as the pain spiralled into an intense feeling of blackness. Suddenly i was no longer awake.\n\n\n\n\"Are you awake yet mortal?\"\nMortal?what are they talking about. My eyelids slowly slid open to a burning light and a headache began to sing it's song. I surveyed the room and with confusion realised no one was in the room.\n\"Finally mortal thought I'd lost you, would have been a pain you don't understand\"\nI didn't understand this ,he's right but where is the voice coming from? my confusion rushed and I felt the pain in my head increase.\n\"Would you stop thinking, your little brain is causing us both pain\"\nUs?both?\n\"Right .....right .....right....I'm a demon you see and you know that rock ...well yeah, you see it kinda allowed me to possess you. But don't freak out, freaking out humans is a frightful thing. Just relax. \"\nRelax with regretful surge i forced myslef to sit up causing the voice to grow in complaints. This is a dream and when ever you want to get out a dream you just gotta die? Ignore the voice and aim for the window.\n\"Mortal?human?kid? Common think about your actions I'm doing this for your own good a window isn't really a good option either...let me find a vessel maybe before you go splat .\"\nMy own good it was talking crazy things now and I was beginning to come to the conclusion this was not a dream.\n\n\n\n\n Authors note: I was going to right more but I'm already starting to hate it ....I like the first paragraph though xD .\nStill havnt dia9n any unfortunate events but you know that doenst matter right......\n",
"It had been three days since the crash. By all means I should've still been in the hospital, or perhaps even dead. The doctors couldn't come up with any logical reason to why I apparently had suffered no injuries. \"It's like his bones were made of steel or something\", I'd hear them say, exchanging theories with one another. There wasn't any reason for them to keep me, I didn't have anything to recover from and I refused to sign the contract saying they could keep me there and have experiments run on me, so they let me go.\n\nBut I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. For whatever reason I kept turning my head to look behind me. I was hearing things clearer, seeing clearer; and everything looked off. For whatever reason it felt like something bad could happen at any point.\n\nI thought back to the crash. What was that figure that chased me into the bus? It kinda looked like it had claws of some kind, or was it just four pointed fingers? It seemed to have wings, like those of a bat, and probably one of the thickest heads of hair I'd ever seen. There were two tufts of hair that sorta... stuck upwards, almost like... horns...\n\n*Duck*\n\nOut of instinct I ducked down just as a steel beam swung out into the path. I had completely forgot about the construction site on this road, something about a new block of flats since apparently Manchester doesn't have enough of them. But what was that voice? How did I know to duck before actually seeing the beam? \"Weird\", I muttered to myself as I continued walking home. It wasn't the strangest thing that had happened this week. I went to cross the road and-\n\n*Stop*\n\nI immediately froze in place just as some twat in a BMW sped down the road at like 50 mph. Okay, that was odd. The beam I could kinda let slide, I've had similar experiences with false voices. But the second time it sounded too real. I couldn't be imagining it. A voice was coming from somewhere. It felt like it was coming from right-\n\n*Behind you*\n\nI spun around in place as I was dragged into an alleyway by a hooded figure, knife pointed at my stomach.\n\n\"Give me all your money\" he growled. He was a mugger. He was mugging me.\n*Give me control*\n\"Hey man, I don't have anything on me\" I pleaded, turning my pockets inside-out.\n*He won't buy it*\n\"I said, give me your fucking money\"\n\"I told you, I don't have anything\"\n*He's going to try to stab you*\nTry? What does that mean?\n\"You're lying!\"\nThe mugger went for my stomach just as I grabbed his arm and twisted it around, forcing the knife from his hand. \n*Next time let me take over from the start*\nAs he went for the knife I kneed him in the gut and slammed my elbow into his neck, a look of horror on my face the whole time. What was I doing? What was that voice? The only thing I knew was that I didn't want to be around when he got up, so I legged it. I sprinted home, not letting my thoughts into my head.\n\nJust get home. Just get home. Home is safe. Home is safe.\n\nWhen I got home, nobody was there. It was quiet, nobody could hurt me, I felt safe once again. I felt kinda confident.\n\n\"Okay, just who the fuck are you!\" I stated with my newfound confidence. As I finished my sentence, a shadowy figure emerged from the living room door. It was the thing from the crash. It walked out of the door and towards me with a confidence immediately making my own feel non-existent by comparison. It stopped about 4 feet from me and started talking.\n\n*\"Allow me to introduce myself. My name's Reidan. I'm your own personal demon\"*",
"<Part 1>\n\nI woke to a pounding head and the taste of something foul in my mouth. As I got up, the world spun in all directions and sickness churned inside me. I hadn’t had time to think of the previous night before I lurched over my sleeping girlfriend, hoping to make it to the toilet in time. \n\n‘Honey…?’ Gale began. I couldn’t hear her over the retching I unleashed upon our apartment floor; a trail of last night’s meal leading to the bathroom.\n\nAs I unloaded into the toilet bowl, I heard Gale creep behind and lean into the door frame. She stood there watching, presumably deep in worry. I produced much more than I had consumed the prior night, but I couldn’t really remember what I had done, it was all a blur. \n\n‘How much did I drink last night?’ I asked between contractions.\n\n‘How am I supposed to know that, Jade?’ Gale said, ‘you were acting funny all afternoon then you just vanished!’\n\nI vomited some more as eldritch shapes of unknown colors flashed in my vision, spiriting me away for a brief moment.\n\nAs I leaned against the bathroom wall, Gale flushed the toilet for me and began to wipe my face.\n\n‘That was gross, believe me you do not want to know what was inside you,’ she said with a snicker. \n\nShe flushed the toilet a second time, just in case.\n\n‘Please, some water if you could?’ I asked. ‘I long to relieve myself of the filth that taints my pallet.’\n\n‘Uhh, sure…’\n\nShe made her way to the kitchen briskly as I laid myself upon the refreshing floor. I looked out the window and my sight was oddly clear, as if all in my vision was in its truest form. I felt the heartbeat of the birds I witnessed. Their essence was laid bare before me and it was of purity and innocence.\n\n‘You might want to get up to drink this,’ Gale said as she handed me a cup of murky water. ‘Sorry the water’s all gassy, the pipes are acting up again. You might want to let it sit for a bit.’\n\nI drank eagerly.\n\n“Cleanse yourself”\n\nAnd I vomited into the glass and dropped it, a sudden vertigo afflicting me. The walls began to breathe in deeply and my stomach contents I had just produced writhed about like worms. Then all turned to black.\n\n…\n\nI woke up feeling pretty refreshed. It felt like I had slept way too long, but apart from that all seemed fine. Except for being violently ill, that sucked. I was still in the bathroom with a blanket covering me, my back ached a little but I’ve slept in odder places before.\n\nI made my way to the kitchen and Gale was already fully clothed, eating lunch and giving me the stink eye.\n\n‘I know I know…’ I began.\n\n‘You know it’s kind of rude to leave your girlfriend hanging to go out partying with gods know who? Didn’t stop you from doing it. What the fuck was all that about?’ \n\n‘I’m so sorry Gale, I don’t even remember yesterday. Like at all,’ I reassured her. ‘How’d I even get home?’\n\n‘Beats me,’ she scoffed, ‘you still managed to get home, lock the door and crash into bed. I wanted to berate you, move you to the couch or something, but nothing I did woke you.’\n\nI scratched my head, my locks were all tangled and they smelled like puke. \n\n‘I’m just going to shower real quick, let’s talk about this after, K?’ \n\nShe shrugged, ‘sure. But have some tea first.’ She had a warm cup ready and waiting. ‘My own blend, as always. It’ll make you feel better.’\n\nIt tasted nasty, but it packed a punch and woke me up real good. Much better than coffee. As I took a sip, my gut wrenched and foreign memories flooded my mind.\n\n‘How dare you use this girl’s form to win our bet, Aesh?!’ I bellowed with a deep, sullen voice.\n\nGale smiled and said, ‘look who’s talking Amon.’\n\n<To be continued>\n",
"The blade darted forward in a sweeping arc, faster than any peasant could hope to react. It was a death sentence.\n\nBut of course, John leapt back with surgical precision, the blade's arc coming within an inch of his flesh. A lifetime of training, he might not have - but demonic possession was as good substitute as any.\n\n I AM NOT A DEMON, -\n\nThe voice in his head stated, spreading its insidious lies. But John knew better.\n\n I AM AN ENGINEERED GLUCOSE-POWERED SYMBIOTIC ORGANISM, VERSION TWO-\n\nHe tuned it out. It was getting easier and easier. The knight grunted in what might've been surprise, and hefted the heavy blade for another swing. Lunge. Thrust. Slash. Any normal man would've been bleeding out on the dirt.\n\nJohn rolled backward, snatching up a nearby pitchfork without looking. Somehow, his demon had known exactly where it was. He - they - *it?* caught the blade between the tines. Block. Parry. Twist. Riposte. \n\nIt was all wrong. He wasn't a fighter. Even Twice-Drunk Jack had knocked his teeth out in a bar fight or two, and Jack hadn't exactly received his nickname for his quick reflexes and astounding sobriety.\n\nBut if it was wrong, why did it feel so *right?* Twist. Disarm. Lunge.\n\nAnd then the knight, an armored Scion of the Hegemony, was flat on the ground with a pitchfork in his face. Right into the faceguard. A peasant weapon.\n\n THIS WOULD BE EASIER IF I WAS GRANTED MORE AUTONOMY.\n\n*Never. I won't give in to your tricks, demon. I know this power comes at a price.*\n\nThere was an almost audible sigh of frustration inside his head. \n\n YOU MAY NOT HAVE A CHOICE. SIX HOSTILES INCOMING, TWENTY METERS NORTHEAST. THEY WEAR THE SAME PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AS YOUR 'KNIGHT'.\n\nWell. He couldn't be exorcised if he was dead, could he? \n\n\nJohn lifted the pitchfork."
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[WP] Earth has made contact with an alien race. There is a big event where earth's world leaders are meeting the alien queen publicly. You are in the crowd to watch the historical event. When the queen suddenly spots you, she disregards all protocol, comes to you and bows deeply. | 408 | [
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"How did it come to this? I thought Earth would be a good place to vacation, what with the humans to primitive to feel what I was. I got by, living lifetime after lifetime for nearly a thousand local years. I got board of monotony sometimes, and changed things up, introducing advancements that humans maybe weren’t quite ready for at the time, but mostly I was a nobody living an uninteresting life.\n\nThat all ended when the Chëk happened across this backwater planet. I suppose it was going to happen eventually, I just wish it’d taken a little longer. I stand now in a large crowd of people, come to see if these ‘aliens’ are real, or just another hype nobody needed. If I’d expected it to be true, I’d atleast have made a better reentrence into the Verse, than this.\n\nAs the meeting was supposed to be beginning shortly, the Chëk ship comes down from the sky, and lands just meters in front of us, at the front of the crowd. A group of guards step from the ship, and freeze. I think in that moment ‘Oh, shoot.” As the world comes to realize this wasn’t just a ploy for attention and news.\n\nOne of the guards steps back into the shuttle, and a moment later a queen steps into the light. “Oh, shoot.” I mutter under my breath, as the queen look directly at me, out of millions.\n\nI sigh. “Well, better late then never I suppose.” I say, and blink over the to ship. The crowd goes wild at my sudden appearance and the secret service move to intercept me, but it’s too late. The queen and her guards step the few paces down the ramp and onto the tarmac, and immediately bend their knees to me.\n\n“Destroyer” They speak in reverence, heads bowed low.\n\n“Yes?” I respond halfheartedly, smirking slightly at what it must look like. To think, one of the greatest beings in the Greater Multiverse, stood here in what would amount to rags in the Chëk culture. I must look hilarious to them, but they will not laugh, never laugh. They know better than that.\n\nThe queen shows a slight flash of confusion in her eyes, before she speaks. “What are you doing here, Agent?”\n\n“I’m on vacation.” I respond. “Humans at this stage in their history can’t feel me. Or, they can, but they still rationalize it away as fiction.”\n\n“What would to have of me?” The queen asks.\n\n“Oh, nothing.” I wave away their concerns, pacing slowly. “Don’t wipe them out, but you don’t have to help them if you don’t want too.” I sigh. “I’d better get going. Maybe the next Verse over is more relazed.” I take one last glance around, and blink out of existence.\n\nI’d imagine, when asked, the Chëk will explain Anu and I, the Greater and Lesser multiverse, and the Hub to them. I don’t particularly care to be around for that. This next dimension won’t have the Chëk in it, that’s for sure. I just want to be left alone...\n\n***\n\nChronicles of Padomay: The Agent of Change, part 2, I hope everyone enjoyed.\n\n\n",
"\"Uhhh, am I what?\" I glanced down at the bowing alien unsure how to proceed. \"I think you've mistaken me for someone else.\"\n\n\n\n\n\"No you idiot.\" The man next to me whispers angrily. \"Bowing in their culture isn't a sign of respect, it's them being pissed off at you!\"\n\n\n\n\nThe alien queen then rights herself, smiling at me before forcing her expression into something more neutral and everyone gasps.\n\n\n\n\n\"Okay what am I missing now?\"\n\n\n\n\n\"Seriously dude, didn't you read the pamphlet?\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\"The what?\"\n\n\n\n\n\"She's challenging you to a duel! You insulted her!\"\n\n\n\n\n\"How????\"\n\n\n\n\n\"You looked directly into her eyes!\"\n\n\n\n\n\"I don't wanna die! How the hell am I supposed to fight her?\"\n\n\n\n\n\"Read the damn manual!\"\n\n\n\n\nReaching into my pocket I found nothing but lint and frustration.\n\n\n\n\n\"Uhh, can I borrow someone else's pamphlet?\"\n\n\n\n\n\nThe guy next to me who had been so *helpful* reaches into his own pocket and pulls out a crumpled mess of paper before scanning it and pointing out the most relevant section of the pamphlet.\n\n\n\n\n\"What the hell is Snu Snu?\" I ask out loud.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLong story short, world is at war now. Doesn't matter, had Snu Snu.",
"It took me almost nine months to barter and bully my way to this event. The entire population of earth wanted to be there but I had to be. I sold everything I could survive without to just get be in with a chance of being here. But it was worth it. They've finally come, the great wyrms of the midnight expanse have arrived on earth.\n\nSo I'm stood at the front of the crowd, pressed right up against the barrier, watching. Waiting.\n\nIt took almost six hours for all the world leaders to arrange themselves into an orderly format that didn't disrupt any peace treaties and then for the biomechanical fleet to land before them. As the lead ship's doors unlocked and heaved their great masses apart we catch the first glimpse of the grand swarm queen.\n\nShe is colossal, at least twice as great as she appeared in the announcement broadcast. Her enormous black body covered in iridescent scales, bright white talons click on the metal as she descends down the ramp, holding her forelimbs of the ground to make a vague attempt at a wave to the crowd. Huge coal black wings tuck close behind her back, a long serpentine neck holds a reptilian head above them and giant golden eyes scan the ranks of dignitaries.\n\n\"Greetings people of Earth.\" She says, somehow in perfect English. \"It has been too long since my kin set foot upon your world. But we have returned to you.\" She gestures behind her, to where a dozen smaller wyrms bring forth chests full of strange glowing matter or trailing cables. \"And we bring gifts from the stars.\"\nThere's a brief scuffle as the US president takes the microphone. \"We don't want any of your shitty technology.\" He bellows before being dragged away.\nThe queen makes a strange coughing noise that must be a laugh. \"Then don't take it or our knowledge. Be like the cavemen of old who feared us and cowered in caves when the city folk reach to us with open arms and recieved empowerment.\" She pauses as her eyes scan the crowd.\n\nThey're trained directly on mine.\n\n\nMaking a startled noise like a backfiring truck the Grand Queen Empress of the swarm tilts her head to one side. \"It cannot be.\" She whispers and steps over the armed guards, and bows low before me, her enormous scaled body dipping down till her great crest touched the floor before my feet. \"We did not expect to find one of your kin still remaining oh Elder One.\" She says, her voice booming out once more. \n\nI'm shocked. No one should remember us. We are no more. We haven't been since before they came.",
"First time posting here and first time writing something like this in English, so please go easy on my grammar.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nIt had to happen sooner or later. Humanity had made contact with an alien race and that day was the day of the first meeting. The queen of the Ezien, as Humanity started to call them, was visiting Earth for a meeting with country representatives and a public speech. Even though it was to be broadcast on the internet, I had to go there to see it live. To feel the moment. To be a part of history. The unconscious part of my mind was practically screaming it’s a bad idea, but I took no notice. Such events only happen once in a lifetime after all.\n\nThe amount of people assembled there when I arrived blew all my expectations out of the water. I had never seen such a crowd in my life before and I doubt I ever will again. The huge screens displayed some information Humanity knew about the Ezien and I quickly compared it with my research I did at home. Apparently Wikipedia proved to be correct for once. With nothing else to do, I took out my phone, plugged in my headphones and almost fell asleep, the crowd preventing me from collapsing.\n\nI was woken by the crowd going wild. It took me a moment to figure out where I was and what was going on, but soon I was overtaken by excitement as something that looked like an orbital lander from SciFi movies landed next to the stage. Its door opened and a single dark figure came out. She looked like a taller human, crossbred with a black dragon. She wore a cyan robe, detailed with plates of a material I couldn’t identify. I was surprised she came alone, usually you’d expect high ranking representatives to have bodyguards and others to escort them, but she had none of that. Yet you could see confidence gleaming in her eyes like she fears nothing in the whole universe. The moment I saw her eyes, a thought crossed my mind, that I really should get out of here while I still can. It only lasted a moment and then passed.\n\nThe queen walked onstage slowly and proudly. The reception committee also seemed confused at the lack of escort, but she took no notice. She walked behind the podium and looked around. While looking in my general direction, her gaze stopped. I took a closer look in order to figure out who or what has drawn her attention and we locked gazes. Her eyes were blue like aquamarine and now looked like they expressed wisdom and knowledge, but what do I know about alien anatomy?\n\nI started to panic internally. *Could she possibly know?* I tried to act normal, while she stepped off the stage and started walking towards me. I started sensing a faint magical aura. Then it hit me. If the Ezien can see magic auras, then my peaceful life as a normal human is over. Being used to being the only one aware that magic exists, let alone capable of utilizing it, I forgot to disguise my aura of excess magic. **Crap!** People seemed shocked and surprised at her disregard for protocol and they followed her with their gazes as she slowly came over to me, where I was still frozen in place, panicking, my heart racing and my mind still without an idea what to do.\n\nShe stopped 2 meters away from me and made a deep bow. If before my body was frozen, now even my mind ground to a halt. What the heck did just happen? After an awkwardly long moment of silence, I heard a deep and majestic voice in my mind: *“I greet you, Rulebender.”* Still panicking, I tried to focus my mind and remember the requirements for a telepathy spell, unsure if it would even work on a non-human: *“Greetings, Queen.”* I had no idea what to say, what she even wanted from me and just hoped my spell worked. After a brief pause the voice spoke again *“I did not expect to find a Rulebender on Earth again.”* Uh, again? Have the Ezien visited Earth before? *“I would really appreciate if you keep that a secret, since Humanity doesn’t know magic exists.”* I replied. I really, really hoped things would work out, since she already caused a scene by walking over to me and the fact that we were just standing there seemingly just staring at each didn’t help either.\n\nShe seemed confused, but I couldn’t figure out what confused her. After ten seconds or so an answer came: *“As you wish. We are your humble servants after all. I’ll contact you again after the speech.”* **WAAAIIIT WHAT??!??** How did this just happen? My servants? What? Why? I might be a magician on a planet where no one even knows magic exists, but that’s not quire a reason for an alien to just walk up to you and declare it’s your servant. I had so many questions, but she just turned around and walked towards the stage again. But the stares of the people stayed fixed on me and with the corner of my eye I saw the security guards running towards me. *I really should have listened to my intuition.*\n\nThe guards apparently thought I wanted to hurt her or something and pointed their guns at me. So much about a peaceful, history defining afternoon. They didn’t seem to have any interest in negotiations, so my only option was to go against the rules I’ve set for myself quite some years ago and use magic in public. Even though the choice between my life and my magic being seen should be pretty obvious, I still hesitated. A bullet scraping my left arm sped up my decision. I cast a shield spell on myself and got ready to cast a flight spell as soon as possible. Getting away was easy, but I had no idea what to do now; my abilities have been exposed, some people in the crowd had probably fainted out of shock and I thought I saw disbelief in the Queen’s eyes while I was getting away. Oh, and all the intelligence and other agencies are probably looking looking for me.\n\nI simply went home and pretended nothing happened.\n\nTwo hours later I suddenly heard her voice again, although this time it was weaker: *“Are you okay? Could you please elaborate what happened?”* Without knowing her location, I had no way of replying to her, so I just sat on my bed staring at the wall. A minute later I heard noises outside and looked through the window. Her orbital lander was hovering in front of my window, with the doors open. *“Unless you want to deal with them, you would probably want to come with me.”* I heard her voice again. *“There will be a more proper time for you to return.”* I simply stopped overthinking everything and just packed my things and boarded the lander.\n\nAbout half the way to orbit I finally recollected myself enough to ask: *“You said you were my servants. How did it come to this? I don’t understand at all.”* She seemed shocked a bit, but then answered my question: *“Didn’t you know? We Ezien have been serving under Earth’s Rulebender since the dawn of times. It’s just that, to our knowledge, Earth had no Rulebenders for thousands of years now. I didn’t expect to find a person like you on a diplomatic visit.”* Slowly it started coming back to me. The old scroll I read quite a while ago, talking about crossbreeding humans with dragons. The tomes talking about the disappearance of dragons and their kin from Earth. It suddenly all made sense. The dragons actually existed and they didn’t go extinct. They just left Earth for reasons unknown. Their descendants returned as “aliens” to reestablish contacts with Humanity and found out they have a new master.\n\nI definitely didn’t sign up for this when I decided I’ll train my magical talent, but it seems like it could be fun. Let’s see if I can make the universe a better place.",
"Quick Preface : first sub, so bear with me...\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"What do you mean Master Shipwright?\"\n\nProbably one of the more appropriate questions when a queen bows to you, a nineteen year old mechanical engineering major. I on the other-hand was too busy thinking about what my mom is going to say after this, and simply ask :\n\n\"Will this pay off my crippling debt?\"\n\n\"Oh, I have already taken care of your loans. If you would please, there is much to discuss.\"\n\nThe royal motions to her ship. The ship itself was a majestic blend between gold and chrome, with an engine hum close to music.\n\n\"Quite the beauty isn't it? Well that is a problem for us, Something only an engineer can fix.\"\n\n\"What about one of the NASA engineers, they sorta do this for a living!\"\n\n\"They don't have what we are looking for, you do.\"\n\n\"how many ships do you have?\"\n\n\"One Million Forty Two Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy Six, With another Forty Two Thousand in production.\"\n\nAfter playing far too many space games, I figured it would be some number in the hundreds, maybe even thousands. Not something as absurd as that. Through all this talking however, the crowd along with many of the officials of state started to call out in protest, I guess some Joe-Schmoe being picked up by a queen in a beautiful ship could leave some jealous.\n\n\"Hear me Terrans! In my absence I will leave for you my trusted ambassador. I must travel away to my own territory in hopes of accomplishing what was set out for.\"\n\nEntering the ship you could tell that I was completely lost in ogling at every little detail of the ship. It was some time before I realized we had made it all the way into another galaxy, and that I had left milk that was about ready to expire in my dorm.\n\n\"Soooo, Your Majesty--\"\n\n\"Are you worried about all of your effects being left? Or are you finally going to ask about your new job?\"\n\nI looked down, with a bit of a stupid grin on my face.\n\n\"Really, you were more worried about the milk than my imperial fleet? I had to travel Light Years to find you, go through not only my own court, but convince your entire planet to not destroy my ship on sight.\"\n\n\"Your point, ma'am?\"\n\n\"Humour me, Please.\"\n\n\"Well, since I can only assume I am as you said ,Light Years away from home, what is wrong with your fleet?\"\n\n\"My fleet is impractical, another empire is trying to swallow my people up.\"\n\nHer tone was that of someone quite done with my shenanigans. \n\n\"And you want me to make you a ship that win?\"\n\n\"More like a fleet of ships, but yes.\"\n\n\"How do I work your computer?\"\n\nNow, many, many months later, I think, I stand here christening the final ship : *Filius Terra.* The queen stands next to me, with what I can only assume to be tears of joy.\n\n\"With this ship, we can take back what we have lost, thank you, mighty Terran.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nPostface : Well that is my story, sorry if it's a bit wonky.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n&#x200B;",
"The helifilm whirred and bobbed and we all hushed each other, watching the great blue disc flit around on the *projecter* screen. It didn't matter that we were at least fifty miles out from the helifilm (a gauzy mesh that ebbed with the ripples of reality and occasionally popped out some space junk or extraterrestrial mail, like a big blue lip mouthing a wet POP POP and out came our parcels). The mesh itself was a gift from an unknown world who thought we really should stop trying to kill ourselves hurtling into space with combustion engines, and it was used mainly as a conduit between our silent alien mentors when they wanted to send aid. \n\nWe wanted silence in the stadium, a day's travel away from the object of our focus. We wanted to see the rumored visitor, see HER wink into reality and hear HER take HER first breath of earthly air and feel HER tentative first steps as the helifilm POPPED HER onto the asphalt landing circle. We wanted this because, of all the worlds in our arm of the galaxy, we're the only one that's never been visited by an alien. We knew their languages and used their math and relied on their tech. We restructured the government to impress them with our unwavering discipline and self-control. We did away with our primitive ways and scrubbed our society clean that they would deem us worthy of a visit. \n\nMaybe it was our soft fleshy bodies that repulsed them and kept them away; though we did away with the undesireables and deformed, we still couldn't change the reality of our squishy, peach forms. I'd scrubbed five times that morning, as the national order dictated, in preparation for HER arrival. I braided my hair and pressed by best blue dress. We were nothing before HER, but I'd still follow the national order, still be a source of pride for my kind. Maybe she would smile on us. Maybe she would welcome us into the greater galaxy network.\n\nI missed the moment she fell from the helifilm onto the ground, too busy imagining HER arrival to actually see it. She was here! My lip trembled as the queen walked toward the camera lens, HER shape growing bigger as the stands of leaders were eclipsed by HER form. She did not regard them. I thought I saw one start to beg. HER eyes locked with mine.\n\nHER figure grew clearer and darker and took on new shadows. She had passed through the *projecter* and the fifty miles between it and the helifilm. \n\nShe was before me, wide amber eyes still trained on mine. She bowed, legs straight as rods, long arms sweeping the ground, bald blue head brushing against the metal of the stadium floor. She rose. HER arm sweeped from the ground to eye-level, and she touched my lip with a thin finger. One of HER four mouths fashioned itself into a grimace full of teeth. A man was shouting on the *projecter* broadcast.\n\nI turned to the side, HER finger still pressing my lip, and saw a million perfect copies of HER touching a million squishy, pink faces that were stuck making curious o-shapes with their mouths. \n\nThe screaming from the projecter grew faint.\n\nWe could feel the life fall out of us like sand from a crashing wave. \n\n(quick and sleepy draft)",
"I stood among the crowd when the ship landed. The president, ever full of himself, stood on a platform among other world leaders. Press was in the very front, followed by people who managed to get to the event first. I was somewhere in the middle, a face in the crowd, I had the talent for having no presence. So, blending in was never a problem for me.\n\nI had come here because I had been in the area, also, I wanted to be able to say I was there when the aliens first landed. After all, that’s a cool story. Though not original, after all, most people were there themselves for the same reason. \n\nThe ramp lowered and with smoke and blinding light soldiers came out first. They looked like anthropomorphized butterflies. They were majestic and beautiful. I heard people gasp from the sight, one person made a crude comment about this ‘awakening’ something in them.\n\nThen after six soldiers came out and stood in two rows leaving an opening to walk through, she stepped out. Twice as beautiful as the others with crystal-like wings. The flashing from photography created a halo presence around her. \n\nEveryone around me stood still in awe, others held their breath, the whole area was silent waiting for her to speak... And then I sneezed. \n\nThis sneeze wasn’t something that was easily hidden even if there had been noise among the suddenly hushed crowd. It was one of those loud and hard sneezes that made my glasses fly from my face and onto the ground. The world became a blur as I bent down to pick them up, only to see an oddly shaped hand reach for them as well.\n\n**“I believe… These are yours…”** A soft voice hummed in the back corners of my mind. I narrowed my eyes to try and focus as a took the glasses away from the gently grasping hands that presented them to me. Slipping them on I took a momentary step back realizing who had given them to me.\n\nThe queen had walked up to me away from the stage leaving the entire crowd and her own soldiers dumbfounded. “T-…Thanks.” I said trying to clear my throat. She appeared to smile, **“You’re very welcome. I’m also very flattered at your proposal. I believe it would be of great benefit to our planets.”** She hummed reaching her hand towards me and caressing my cheek. \n\n“Proposal…?” I said looking around as she nodded, **“You were the only one who responded to my presenting for a mate.”** She said motioning to her wings. She shot a look at her own people, **“No one of my own kind has been brave enough to even suggest a courtship with me.”** She said sounding very disappointed as some of her soldiers adjusted their weapons awkwardly.\n\n**“Your mating call was very impressive... And** ***very*** **loud...”** She said with a small flutter to her wings, I shifted feeling very flustered. My sneeze was hardly a mating call as it was a reaction to the pollen in the air during the spring. But not wanting to screw things up with these guys I gave her a smile. “Thanks…?” I said more like a question noticing the nervous looks I was getting from politicians on stage and people around me. \n\n**“No. Thank you for being brave enough to approach me and to make the alliance with our planets that much** ***deeper*****.”** She said grasping both of my hands with her own. I gave her an awkward laugh, “Yea… Yeah…” I said nervously. **“I am certain our offspring will be a very beautiful symbol of unity!”** She exclaimed happily as a gulped. \n\nShe was going to be a bit disappointed if she wanted kids... I thought glancing down at myself. \n\nThen, I felt a tingle in my nose as she was looking me over. She was going on about something about weddings and what not. Before I could stop myself, I sneezed again. I covered my mouth to prevent any spit from hitting her face and she tilted her head. **“Oh, very eager, are we?”** She said after a terrifying moment of silence. \n\nFeeling the color drain from my face, all I could do as a nod as she gave me a pleased look and pulled me towards the ship. I had no idea how I was going to explain to her I was unable to procreate with her and it seemed that conversation was fast approaching.\n\n**“Excuse us!”** The queen said to the president who seemed insanely offended. I gave him a sheepish grin as he glared at me before pulling out his phone. No doubt he was planning on going on some sort of rant online. Probably something about interspecies lesbian relationships and how this generation was so corrupt that an innocent alien queen had managed to be seduced by some deviant. \n\nThe queen pulled me into the ship and away from everyone. She spoke to some highly dressed being who approached her confused about my presence upon the ship. She told what now appeared to be some sort of ambassador to take care of the political situation outside because she had to attend to… ‘My needs’… \n\nMy face burned red hot in embarrassment and humiliation. I was still trying to process what was even going on and was pretty much at this point going through the motions. The other being nodded and headed outside leaving the Queen and me to ourselves.\n\nShe led me away from the corridor that we had been standing in, into what appeared to be her quarters. Which looked pretty much how you might expect a butterfly queen’s room to look like on a spaceship. Tons of flowers growing all around. Some sort of flower bed with a silk canopy hanging over it in the middle. She led me towards it and pushed me down before the door even closed.\n\nHer wings fluttered as she approached me. Not seeing any way out of this situation, I blurted out. “Wait!” She paused, **“What’s a matter?”** She questioned, I shifted on the puffy material made of this weird flower bed. \n\n“We can’t do this…” I said looking off to the side. She seemed displeased by this, **“Why not?”** She pressed seeming a little hurt that I had led her on this far. “Well…” I said looking back at her, my mind racing with reasons she may see as logical and lead to her not being angry with me or blowing up the planet. “I’m female and you’re female… So, we… Can’t have… Offspring…” I said slowly, carefully wording my sentence.\n\nShe tilted her head confused and leaned close, I heard some sniffing and she laughed as if realizing what I meant. Her laughter chimed in my head like windchimes as she leaned back. \n\n“See-…?” I started to say before being cut off, **“This is no problem.”** She said as the color on her wings changed from a light blue to a pink. **“My race is genderfluid.”** She hummed leaning down towards me.\n\nAll I could get out as the door closed was a small, “oh…” \n\nI had once prided myself on being unnoticeable after spending years hating it. It seemed now, the one time I was noticed… Lead to me becoming the consort to an intergalactic butterfly queen… \n\n(A/N: This is literally the first situation that came to mind. Kind of a \"Some Like It Hot\" but in space.)\n\n&#x200B;",
"The depth of the queens bow seemed unnatural for a being of her age. To be honest, I have no real understanding of their physical decline with age, but up until this point, the aliens have been very similar to us in every aspect. The only true difference had been their culture, which had many aspects truly confusing to me. \n\nAs the queen ascended from her bow, I could not help but feeling an uneasy feeling throughout my body. Why was I bestowed this honor? It quickly became apparent that the gesture from the queen, was not pleasant one. As she finally stood upright again, she pointed at me and spoke a few words in their native language. \n\nAs her words stopped and a deafening silence spread across the enormous crowd. Her guards moved towards me with a pace that made it impossible for the human guards to do anything about it. \nIn the arms of the alien guards I got dragged to the stage, too scared to move. The pressure from the guards hold, was at the brink of breaking my bones, but I was unable to scream. \nAt the center of the stage the guards brought me to my knees by putting presses on the backside of my knees. It felt like I was nailed to the stage, unable to get up, like I had been glued to the metallic floor covering the stage. \n\nThe queen had made the way to the stage herself. The face I had looked at with admiration only moments before, had now been replaced with fear. I had no idea what was happening, and why my fate had put me on this stage in this moment. In reality I did not get a lot of time to think about it because with a few more alien words from the queen her guards grabbed me once again. This time they used forced beyond human imagination, from the moment they touch my arms and legs, I was in unbearable pain. The guard who broke my arms in multiple place did so like he was crumbling a piece of paper containing something of no value. The one who broke my legs did it slowly, like he enjoyed it, as if he were taking smaller bites of he favorite meal, just to enjoy it for longer. Every crack of my bones echoed in my head, shooting the pain back and forth between my limbs. \n\nWhen the guards stopped and stepped away, I was left at the center of the stage, crumbled up as a piece of garbage, just waiting to get thrown in the bin. \nI was slowly drifting away, the pain too intense to keep my either awake or alive, but before I was released from reality and saved by the ultimate sleep the queen turned around and addressed the crowed once again, who had looked upon this horrible display in complete silence. She began speaking in perfect English. \n“People of Earth, it is my pleasure welcoming you to the beginning of a new age, under my leadership. Fear not, if only you listen to my command you will not end up like your fellow human on this stage!”\nShe let out a little rasp laugh\n“But as a small reminder, we should let this guy live.”\nThe crowd let out a sigh of relief, but that was before they knew what the queen meant. \n\nThe queen turned around and looked at me. I was almost unable to see her anymore, my sight had become blurred and it was evident that soon everything would be dark. \nThe queen took a few slow steps towards me and bent down, kissed me on the lips and whispered in my ears “Immortality, a thing every human strive towards, but never did you realize it would be so unbecoming”. She stood up again, and without another word she and her guards left the stage. \n\nSlowly but steadily the awareness of my surroundings came back to me, and so my pain. Unable to move my crushed body all I could do was feel pain. Pain that with my newly aquired immortality would never stop. ",
"I had always been interested in what was out there in the stars I had never believed that we would find intelligent life, but I guess I was wrong. After discovering that English was a an actual \"universal language\" the UN decided to host the leader of the aliens. For some reason the meeting was heal public, and all were welcome to come and see.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI had gotten to the meeting spot before even the media did. I wanted a good sight, so I had gone a day early. I was quite surprised that they let me stay there.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nNothing interesting happened during the start of the meet, all the major world leaders had gathered along with the queen of the other life form. Nothing of any particular interest was happening, just boring stuff about technology and whatever. It was about two hours in, when the leaders had all gone on for a little break. Most of the world leaders were greeting people at the fence, the queen was looking around, probably getting a glimpse of the New York skyline or the Statue of Liberty.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAfter being up for more than 36 hours I felt my eyes getting weak. My energy drinks must have wore out. I put my earbud in, set the alarm for 20 minutes, and put my head down on the barrier. Before I fall asleep, I wake up to the sound of what I assumed were a million gasps, had the oxygen killed the queen? I open my eyes.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe queen is on a kneel, bowing, to me.\n\nIn my sleep deprived state I manage to mutter \"uhh.. miss, are you OK?\" not being able to fully comprehend what was going on.\n\nThe queen spoke \"You still are around! Dear King, we've missed you for so long.\"\n\nI go to smash my head against the barrier, I have to be dreaming, and I want OUT, but before I get the chance the queen stops me.\n\n\"Dear King, I'm sorry my presence has caused you this much grief, shall I rid myself of your sight?\"\n\nI do manage to mutter \"wait\" somehow. What the heck is happening? \n\n&#x200B;\n\nBefore I even get the chance to comprehend what is going on, I see what must have been the entire Secrete Service, Army, Navy, Air-force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and whatever other military personalle that was there forcing the crowd out.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI then pass out.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI wake up in a bed I'm not familiar with, in a room I'm not familiar with. The bed I'm in is deferentially worthy of kings in movies.\n\n\"You are up, good morning master!\" I hear an unknown voice say.\n\n\"Where am I..?\" I manage to stutter out.\n\n\"Why this is your room\" the voice calls out.\n\nI finally get the courage to sit up, to a scene I didn't know how to process first, the room I'm in is huge, there are about 6 people on either side of the walls, with a huge 2 door entryway. \n\nI go to get out of bed, the covers are pulled off for me while I get out of bed, and neatly placed back when I exit it.\n\n\"Good morning master\" one of the I'm assuming servants says, with a cheerful smile.\n\n\"Good Morning\" I manage to spit out. \n\nAs I head to the doors to go and try to make sense of what is happening, they are opened for me. \n\n\"Thank you\" I reply.\n\n\"Y-You don't need to thank me!\" I hear the assumed servant reply. I do nothing besides smile, what else can I do?\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI'm greeted by the queen that was present at the world meetings.\n\n\"Good morning King, are you feeling better.\"\n\n\"Yes I am, thank you for asking.\"\n\nI'm lead down a huge staircase and lead to a dining hall. There I am greeted to a massive breakfast that looks like it just came out of the frying pan.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe meal was great, I learned that the alien race had taken on human forms so I wouldn't be startled by them. I also learned a lot about the history (and why I became king).\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI was very skeptical about the whole thing, maybe she has the wrong person, maybe she has mistaken me for someone else, but in the end it is hard to resist everyone saying:\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"Welcome back to your kingdom, master!\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThat was the beginning of how I became the leader of an alien race. I cleared up things with Humanity back on earth (they probably just accepted it because we were WAY ahead of them). As it turns out we weren't the only two lifeforms either, we met other alien races and formed a lot of good alliances.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe universe had entered a new stage of existence.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\\--------------------------------\n\nThanks for reading, hopefully you enjoyed. Feel free to leave any feedback if you'd like.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThis is also like my 2nd or 3rd submission here, so if it isn't perfect, please help me improve.",
"I sat back in the crowd of of millions upon of millions of people, awaiting the alien queens arrival. Some people gleamed in excitement, while others quelled in fear. Me? I was pretty indifferent about these aliens coming to visit our planet for the first time, and I don’t care care if they enslave us, or if they welcome us into some sort of intergalactic federation or whatever. The worlds top political leaders all stood front and center in this rural field located in the panhandle region of Oklahoma. I found it funny, in a way, because instead of choosing a major global center of culture, technology, and economic development like New York, London, Paris, Moscow, Shanghai, or Tokyo, the aliens had chosen this insignificant field in Oklahoma located near the insignificant little town that I lived in. \n\n“Look, it’s the alien ship!” Someone shouted.\n\nThe crowd erupted into a frenzy, with some cheering, and some fearing the absolute worst. I just watched and carefully observed the ship descending onto the field. It was a large ship, larger than anything I had ever seen before. The Alien queen came out of her ship, and observed the scene. Then she locked her eyes on me. She made her way through the sea of people and up to me. I figured this was it, and she would use me as a sacrificial lamb for the eventual alien takeover of our world. But what she did next stunned me. She bowed deeply before me. The leader of the most powerful and advanced civilization in the entire universe, bowing down to me, a 18 year old from Liberal, Kansas working a dead end job delivering pizzas for Pizza Hut. She gave a simple hand gesture to me signaling to follow her, and I followed her lead. We entered the elaborate spaceship, and flew away into space. We sat there in awkward silence for a moment, before I decided to start asking questions.\n\n“Where are taking me?”I asked. About another minute passed by before she broke her silence. \n\n“Well, I saw you out in the crowd, and I immediately knew you were the perfect match for me,” she responded in fluent English.\n\n“I’m sorry, what are you talking about? I have no idea what’s going on here.” \n\n“Well, every queen needs her king, right? Think about it Michael, you can leave behind your miserable life on Earth of delivering pizzas and being alone, and all you have to is agree to be with me.”\n\n“Ho-How do you know my name?” I asked back quietly.\n\n“Come on, I’m the leader of the most powerful and intelligent civilization in the universe. I can read minds and travel across the entire universe in the span of a couple days for crying out loud!”\n\n“All I do is deliver pizzas working for minimum wage, live alone, and my depression just keeps getting worse and worse.”\n\n“Well, not for long. But before all that, I want to ask you one important question: Why do you think I took you from your planet to be with me?”\n\nI thought long and hard about this question. Why would the queen of the universe want to marry a 18 year old pizza delivery driver from Earth. It didn’t add up. I looked around the luxurious and lavish interior thinking long and hard about this one, but no answers popped up in my head. “Um, I don’t know. Why did you?”\n\n”Well, I’m not exactly sure why I did either. Something just pulled me towards you, and I went with my instincts. I’m only 18 myself, and just became queen last month after my father died unexpectedly. I’m going to need some help being leader of the universe, and I guess you could help me with that.”\n\n“I don’t know the first thing about leadership,” I responded. I was very surprised that she would trust me with this monumental task.\n\n“I don’t really know that much about it either, but I guess it’ll be a learning experience, for the both of us.”\n\n____________________________________________________\n\n**Thanks for reading this! I would love some feedback, and definitely tell me what I need to improve on as a writer. This is only my 4th or 5th submission here, so that would be much appreciated!**\n\n",
"\"Deepest apologies Descendant, I did not know you would attend the ceremony. The safety of my people was guaranteed all those years ago when your went after the Other and chased it out of our system.\" the being said unto me. She rose. \"On behalf of the Norma, I thank you. We still mourn the millions that returned to the center.\"\n\nI was frozen in place, feeling the eyes of everyone the world on me as if they were spears stuck on the back of my head. In a second, I lost track of where my stomach was, and yet I attempted to pry some words off my throat. Then she rose, and as she did she spoke again, in those dulcet tones that I could feel resonating all the way inside my ears.\n\n\"Now, tell me, how will you deal with its reincarnation this time?\"",
"There were dozens of people. Washington DC was packed to the brim for this event. Presidential inaugurations had a fraction of today's turnout, and traffic was a catastrophe getting here. I was in the middle of a group of what felt like millions of people, and for all I knew, I was. For all the noise that could typically be made with such a massive number of people, it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. \nPeople were waiting for an alien monarch to meet with the U.S. President. Allegedly, this alien queen was meeting the world leaders separately in front of large crowds as a show of good faith to the people of these countries, and there were very few leaders who turned her down. \n\"Ladies and gentlemen,\" an announcer began. Nobody could hear anything else as the crowd's excitement exploded and drowned him out. \nSuddenly, a strange figure exited Capitol Hill. It was impossible to make out their appearance. The figure was clearly taller than any person. Televisions that were visible made it out to be between seven and eight feet tall. Then they zoomed in on her face. This was the alien queen. She was tall and pale, though her lack of legs made her height difficult to judge. She looked almost like a cross between a snake and a person. Her appearance was very similar that of a naga. She was very humanoid in her upper body, save for the scales in places. Her lower body was almost purely that of a snake, the only exception i could see were some frills nearer to her lower back. Her scales were almost piercingly white. It was almost painful to look at her through the screen. \nAs I turned my attention to her in-person, she was shaking the hands of the president, and as she approached the microphone to do her speech for the crowd, she eyes over us before locking eyes with me. Her expression completely shifts. The frills on her back and tail flare up, she motions to what looks like her own kind of secret service and points in my direction. They nod and disappear. She whispers to the president and he seems to nod understandingly, though his expression was one of confusion. \nThe president steps up to the podium and says, \"Apologies, everybody. She will be making her speech shortly, but it seems a small matter has come up.\" People start shuffling, with some outcry. Most people figured that they've waited this long, they can wait just a bit longer. \nI suddenly have a very bad feeling. I couldn't shake this feeling that she was motioning to me specifically. I could almost feel her stare as I began to shake. Suddenly there were some cries from the front of the crowd. The other aliens she had motioned to were clearing a path for her through the crowd. Her eyes never left me, and I couldn't seem to move. Soon, she was right in front of me, her two guards were massive compared to her, and she was already large compared to the average person. I thought I had done something that had offended her, but then she did the unthinkable, and bowed before me, along with her two guards. Something about the way that their bodies would stay balanced despite the humanoid parts of their bodies being bent ninety degrees shocked me. \nI was so overcome with shock that I dropped to my knees, and began to bow even deeper. I didn't understand what was going on but I certainly wasn't going to be seen as disrespectful. I did not want to be the guy who got Earth into an intergalactic war because some snake lady wanted to test some random guy in the crowd. \n\"Why do you bow, son of Zeus?\" I heard from the queen. I had never heard her voice before, but there was no mistaking it. If her otherworldly accent didn't give her away, it was very clear that she had the voice of a commander. The guards at her flanks looked at me quizzically. \n\"W-what?\" I stammered. The queen's eyes widened. Her pupils expanded like a cat that's spotted prey, and she started saying something to herself in another language. She motioned for her two guards. They slithered forward to grab me. I panicked, but I couldn't scream. They lifted me up by my arms, with each of them grabbing one. The queen pulled out a round little device and threw it to the ground. In a flash of white, I was transported to a strange looking room. \nI panicked, I started kicking and thrashing to get these massive beasts to let go of me. I started shouting and screaming for them to let me go. I was dropped unceremoniously to the ground, and began to look around for any sort of exit. \nI saw what looked like a rounded hallway and began to bolt towards it. Before I could make it out an energy barrier appeared in what appeared to be the doorframe to the hallway. I stopped and turned to face my abductors. They looked more confused than anything else. As though they couldn't understand why I was so terrified. \n\"Would you like to know why you're here, or are you going to keep screaming?\" the queen asked rather calmly. \nMy heart was still racing. I couldn't see any sort of escape, as there only seemed to be one way out of the room, and the two pillars that flanked what looked like a throne in the center of the room didn't seem to have any other use. I nodded slowly. \n\"We've been looking for you. Rather, we've been looking for any of you. You are the descendant of Zeus.\" I gave her a blank stare. I believed in no gods, and followed no faith. Zeus was a far cry from even having a proper religion these days, let alone any churches or active worshipers. \n\"We need you to help us. Are you ready to help?\" she asked. \n\"I don't even know what you need!\" I yelled back. She pursed her lips and gave a slight frown. \n\"Do you not think it strange that we look so similar, you and I?\" I didn't have a clue what she was talking about. As far as I could tell, I wasn't part snake. \n\"We were once like you. Once, a very long time ago.\" She looked off into nothing. \"Once, we may have been considered beautiful.\" \n\"But what do you need me for? I have no idea what you're talking about. What do you mean with 'Son of Zeus'?\" I shot of questions rapid-fire. It was clear she didn't want to kill me, or I'd already be pushing up daisies. Did she want to harm me, and if so why wasn't I tied up somewhere? \n\"Have you heard the legend of Queen Lamia?\" she asked me. I had never heard the name before. All my mythology knowledge came from fiction, and I had no idea what parts were accurate or not. \n\"Queen Lamia was one of Zeus' mistresses. Hera, his ever jealous wife, cursed Queen Lamia to have the body of a snake. We mean to take our revenge.\" She explained all of this calmly. She sounded like the teacher of a rowdy classroom that rarely stayed quiet for long. \"Now if you'd like to discuss business, please accompany me to the dining room.\" I followed her, wondering what would happen next."
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[WP] You sit in a tavern with your allies when a group of men in red robes enter. Their leader gets on a table, asking for brave adventurers. Before you can do anything, a young man gets up and says he’ll take the job, only to receive a magical bolt to the chest. ‘Anyone else?’ the leader asks. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"The moment the young boys body hit the table and spilled the drinks from it, a faint white smoke left his limp body. The drunkenly and boisterous chatter stopped. Those that were the loudest, started whispering and staring into the table like it was the most interesting table in the world. None dared to look at the three men in red robes holding giant clubs with long metal spikes on top, that no ordinary man could lift with two hands. Guests of this tavern were not mere peasants and most of them were adventurers and bounty hunters, but compared to the horrifying men towering over them the spacious room looked more like a gathering of children.\n\n\"I said, are there any brave adventurers here?\" yelled the guy who shot Gydvin. He had a white hood, different to the other two men with red ones. Heartbeats were the only thing you could hear, how silent it was. In this part of the kingdom, far away from the capital, most of the jobs were the usual hunting of small criminals, rescuing kidnapped nobles and killing the few devilhounds that are still left. To meet members of the Queens Bloody Stars was something you would never imagine happening in your lifetime. Maybe you could hear it from a traveler who once heard it from someone they met on their path, but to see them with your own eyes and watch them murder a boy, whose only sin was that he let that awful goatee grow, was bewitching and terrifying at the same time.\n\n\"I didn't expect anything more from this place.\" said the leader and a knife slashed by his ear and hit the wooden wall behind him. Everyone looked at the place where the knife came and there stood a young man in his early twenties, an eye-patch on his left eye.\n\n\"What in the Mother's eye, are the Queen's personal elite guards doing in a backwater place like this?\" snapped the young man, \"Shouldn't you be protecting the Queen's most holy ass or killing those flying monstrosities?! Instead you are here *killing* young boys who-\". A sound of a crossbow firing cut him short. Luckily the bolt hit the wooden plate which the young man managed to grab and defend with. \"I didn't expect anything more from the likes of you.\" he said, a smug smile appearing on his face.\n\nThe other two Bloody Stars started cautiously approaching the young eye-patch man preparing to swing with their morning stars, while the leader reloaded the crossbow. \" For an inaccurate shitty brat who just left his moms tit, I have to say, you have balls.\" said the leader and put the bolt in its place. \" Next bolt will meet your heart.\" he said a little bit amused, \"Catch him you two, but don't kill him! Now!\"\n\nThe redhoods jumped for the young man from both sides, their massive hands almost catching him. Thankfully the young man was nimble and easily avoided their tries. They jumped around the whole tavern which was now empty in the middle with the rest of the guests either hiding under the tables or pressed against the wall trying not the get caught in the fight. The fight looked almost like a dance, their moves coordinated and fast, even though those giant's heads were almost touching the ceiling. Their morning stars passing inches from the young mans head. One hit would be enough to incapacitate him or even kill if it hit a vital part. The way he moved was not possible for a human.\n\nFinally they got him cornered leaving no space to avoid the next swing. *I don't have much time left*, thought the young man, *I need to end this now, but I have to wait for the exact moment.* The spiked clubs came near few inches from his head and chest. *NOW!*\n\nTo anyone watching this from a distance it looked like he vanished and reappeared in a second behind the back of the two enormous man. Sound of metal hitting a wooden floor echoed in the room. Blood rolled down the face of the redhooded men, a knife sticking out from each head. Their bodies crashed with the wall in front of them.\n\n\"That was close\" the young man sighed with relief, \" almost thought I was a goner.\"\n\nPain struck him and his face went pale when he looked down to see a bolt sticking out of his chest. His legs gave up on him and he slowly dropped to the floor. White smoke poured out of his body, the same as it was with Gydvin. The whitehooded man walked to him and crouched next to him. His face smiling with satisfaction. \" I think you will be just fine for what's to come.\" he grinned and pointed at two men squeezed to the wall, \" You two, take my men out to the carriage.\" He picked up the young man with just one hand, like he was a newborn barely weighting anything, and went to pick up Gydvin just the same. He somehow managed to go trough the door with two grow man laying on his shoulders and left in the darkness.\n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\n\"Wake up, Nad! Wake up!\". The young man opened his eyes to the sound of someone calling him. Gydvin was sitting just beside him and shaking him to wake up. \" Oh, thank the Mother.\" he sighed, \" You are alive. I was not sure if you will ever open your eyes again.\" He helped Nad to stand up and get on his feet and he was stunned at what he saw. Nad was not in the tavern in the little village of Rastaka, nor was he in any part of the land he visited in his life. *I don't think this is even on our world,* he thought looking around, *but I was killed, so is this the Cradle?*\n\nThey were standing on a plateau which seemed to levitate in a sea of darkness, white marble beneath their feet and a tree, that looked like it was made of rock, besides them. Glowing orbs on branches of the tree gave them enough light to see around them, cause the sky was pitch black with no stars or moons. Not so far away they saw few similar glowing white plateaus and something moving on them. Unsure if it was a human like them or animals. A sudden light in the sky and a booming voice caught everyones attention.\n\n\"Dear adventurers and those who call themselves that, please accept my sincere apologies for bringing you here in such a manner.\" said a gentle but stern female voice, \"I am in dire need of your help and the faith of your kingdom and your loved ones lies now in your hands\". People started to riot and it sounded like there were now thousands of them, each occupying their plateau.\n\n\"I am sorry but you have no choice. Your bodies and souls are in my possession now. Those of you who succeed will be rewarded personally by me, your Queen Midrija, Daughter of Sanus the Supreme, on that I swear. With your lives back and eternal glory as Saviors!\" her voice roared in this weird place.\n\n\"So, I guess that the good thing is we are not dead, Gydvin\", Nad looked at Gydvin with an excited smile, \" Let us do our best it stays that way.\".\n\n&#x200B;\n\n&#x200B;\n\nPS: This took me a lot of time. Sorry for posting it this late but this is my 2nd prompt, and English is my 2nd language so mistakes are inevitable. Feel free to tell me what you think of it :)"
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[WP] The Voyager probes go offline many years before they were expected too. 3 years after they go offline, it is discovered they have crashed in the deserts of Africa. Welded together, They are covered with an unknown organic material that is expanding at a scary rate. | 11 | [
"**Off-Topic Discussion**: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n-----\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) \n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I stepped out onto the hot Sahara desert out of my truck along with the rest of the recovery crew. And lo and behold, both voyager probes were sitting there, crushed into a heap of metal. As we got closer, there was something we noticed about the wreckage, something the satellite pictures did not show us. There appeared to be some growth on the probes that looked like some wired fleshy fungus. It had confused us all.\n\nMy recovery team's leader then stubbornly pushed away all his feelings of concern and confusion and ordered one of us to gather a sample of the mass for further study. We each tried to shift the job from one to another. But someone was eventually chosen to confront the alien matter. He nervously approached the alien matter with a knife to cut off one piece for a sample.\n\nAs the blade made contact with the mass, it instantly began to grow over it. it eventually grew over onto the man's hand and began to assimilate him. We all stepped back in fear, guns drawn, as he was struggling helplessly against the mass. He lay motionless as he was fully covered in the alien substance. Then, out of nowhere, the blob that was him began to go into intense convulsions as if something was trapped in there.\n\nThe blob suddenly began to change shape as this happened. When its metamorphosis was complete, the blob had turned into a rabid alien creature, ready to kill. we tried to shoot it, but it was too fast. It then proceeded to slash one of us with its claws, and then he was infected with the alien disease. He also metamorphosed into another abomination, but this one had his gun fused into its right arm. It then proceeded to shoot at us with nearly perfect accuracy, without aiming down the sights, I should add.\n\nWe were all running back to the truck at this point. As I got in, I could see the chaos that ensued behind me. I started it up, and then tried to accelerate, but I could not. I soon found out that the truck itself was being assimilated! I then realized that the back door was my only option for survival, So I desperately climbed over every seat in my way and all the equipment that we left inside.\n\nI somehow made it to the back. The adrenaline boost really saved my life when I kicked that door open. As I jumped out onto the hot sand, I felt something grab my leg. I knew it was over. I instinctively looked back at what The Infection, that is what I am calling this alien invader, had turned the truck into. It was now about to eat me alive. I tried to cut of the tendril that had a hold of me, but it responded by quickly bringing me to its mouth. I was then swallowed whole by the fowl beast and placed in its stomach. I could only look forward to eternity as I was being digested, slowly and painfully."
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[WP] You picked up an abandoned kitten that was on the street, and you care for it deeply. 2 years later, your beloved cat... evolves. | 54 | [
"**Off-Topic Discussion**: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n-----\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) \n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"What the shit. Just a few seconds ago, Mittens was a tiny adorable little kitten. He had been perfectly healthy at the vet for two years and now I'm staring down the maw of a cat the size of a mountain lion. Mittens still recognized me, it seemed, but I was absolutely certain that I did not recognize him.\n\n\"What the hell!\" I shouted. I wasn't sure what else to do, how was I supposed to explain this to everybody? *Oh yeah, so my cat is a fucking mountain lion now, so that's cool.* Wouldn't exactly have any buyers. All I did was feed him and give him a home, not anything special. I saw Mittens' eyes as he looked at me with curiosity. Almost like he wanted to see what I would do next.\n\nI picked up my phone. I planned initially to call a vet to see if they could give me a breakdown of what was going on here. Then I thought about what they might do or say. Mittens was the world to me. I lived alone with him and I had moved far away from my family. I worked pretty much to sustain myself and my cat. But now he's massive!\n\nI began to search the internet. I wasn't even sure what to search, *Cat suddenly quadruples in size*? Mittens looked at me quizzically, turning his head as if to ask what I was doing.\n\n\"Don't look at me, I'm not the one who literally just changed!\" I yelled at him. He came over and put his head on my lap while I sat on the couch. I was trying to find anything relating to the real world, but the closest thing I could find was in Pokemon.\n\nFrustrated, I threw my phone down. How was I going to feed my pet now? More than that, how would I explain this to my landlord? I opted to keep this a secret as long as I could, that is until Mittens decided to let out a short shout, almost. I hushed him and got up to go to bed.\n\nAs I walked into my bedroom, I realized that Mittens was far to big for his old bed now. More than that, what would he eat? I couldn't very well afford to buy his food, we barely made it as it was. Then my phone rang.\n\n\"Hello?\" I answered tentatively. It wasn't uncommon for me to get spam calls or advertisements or scams.\n\n\"Is this Jordan Baker?\" said the voice on the other side of the phone.\n\n\"No, I'm afraid you have the wrong number.\"\n\n\"Do you know Jordan?\" the person asked. It sounded like an old man on the other end of the phone. I figured he was looking for his grandkid or somebody else.\n\n\"No, sorry, I don't. Have a good day now,\" I was just about to hang up when he protested.\n\n\"Wait, wait then how do you have the cat!?\" I froze.\n\n\"What cat?\" I asked tentatively.\n\n\"The one that just changed in front of you, how did you get ahold of it?\" I couldn't answer him. I wasn't sure what was going on. I had found Mittens on the street, but somehow I didn't think that answer would satisfy this old man. I hung up in a panic. All I knew now was that I was going to keep Mittens safe. The old man had given me some very creepy vibes through the phone.\n\nThe phone rang again. The same number as before. I picked it up.\n\n\"What do you want?\" I could hear the old man coughing up a storm on the other side.\n\n\"Tell me how you got the cat.\" he said again.\n\n\"He was a stray, now would you kindly hang up and never call me again?\" The man was quiet for a moment.\n\n\"If you want answers, find Jordan. He'll know what to do.\" then the voice cut out, and the line went completely dead. Mittens looked at me with curiosity.\n\n\"Guess we have a mission, little buddy.\" I said to my cat. Whoever Jordan Baker was, I needed to find out what my cat was, how the old man knew my number, and what the hell was going on."
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[WP] While tidying up, you spot a small spider in the corner of the room. You think to yourself "I really don't like spiders", but to your suprise you hear a timid voice state "humans aren't so great either". | 31 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"Sounds like we may have something in common after all\" you say, wondering if you've lost your mind. But the teeny voice replies:\n\n\"Yes. He he. Its kind of ironic isnt it?\"\n\n\"It really is\" you say, reaching into your pocket. \"But not as ironic as THIS is gonna be!\"\n\nYou yank your lighter out of your pocket and with a flick you call forth fire, man's most primal ally against the darkness. You advance on the abomination, snatching up your aerosol hairspray on the way.\n\nThe monster dives to the left, deploying a web and comes swinging at you from an angle, but your improvised flamethrower catches it before it can reach you. It releases it's web and tumbles into the shag carpet which is now slightly on fire. Lucky you are wearing your combat boots. Good for both fire *and* talking spiders.\n\n\"Take that!\" you shout smashing your warboot down, but the little beast dodges. You lunge for it, but the thing is light on its 8 feet, and you go down, tripping over your laundry basket. The flames are spreading a little, but first things first! Kill the beast!\n\nOnly now the little creeper has gone into stealth mode.\n\nYou hear its gloating little laugh.\n\n\"Where am I?\" Its voice is both everywhere and nowhere at once. \"Am I in your sock drawer?\"\n\nYou seize a nearby lamp and pound the dresser just in case, but the gloating voice continues. \"Or am I in the shower?\"\n\nYou dash that way, and turn on the sprayer, hosing everything you can reach.\n\n\"Ha ha ha ha!\" Its laughter is maddening. \"Or maybe I'm in the light fixture, waiting for you?\"\n\nYou pivot, looking for something, a book, anything to smash the lights with, but the voice continues.\n\n\"Or maybe, I'm just a figment of your overwrought imagination. Lurking here, spinning cobwebs in your brain, driving you insane!\"\n\n\"Nooo!\" You scream, driven to your knees by its taunting. You claw at your hair, your face. \"Get out get out get out!!\"\n\n\" Ha ha ha ha!\" The thing chuckles, a deep sinister sound. \"Attercop. Attercop. Down you drop. You'll never catch me, spinning in your tree\"\n\n\"No!\" You shout \"No! Get out of my mind! I can't go back there, I can't go back! I'm not crazy anymore, I take my pills, I can't go back there! Get out, GET OUT DAMN YOU!!!\"\n\nBut the voice only laughs again.\n\n\"Or maybe I'm real\" it says. \"And maybe...\"\n\n--your skin crawls and you feel an eerie prickling on your neck.\n\n\"Maybe\" the voice continues, quietly, stealthily \"I'm right here.\"\n\nSomething huge and black suddenly dives out of your hair, right into your eyes blotting out everything else! You stagger backwards in helpless terror!\n\n\"RIGHT HERE IN YOUR FACE!!!!\""
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[removed] | [WP] Humanity has been conquered by the Xandar, a hive species that has taken over half the galaxy. A young human couple encounters a new species, far more advanced than the Xandar. To help free humanity they leave a strange 'gift': they're pregnant. Also Christmas is coming. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/Sage0wl, 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\nI know you're going for \"what if jesus was an alien\" here, but the emphasis on pregnancy means we're just going to see a bunch of alien sex stories, unfortunately.\n\nAlso, we get a lot of Jesus prompts especially this time of year so we have to be especially careful about them.\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/a3n3un/-/%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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"1544095188",
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The previous prompt I wrote like this one got really popular, so I wanted to see if lightning could strike twice. | [WP] You finally made it to Arlington National Cemetery, except you’re a new groundskeeper. For a cemetery, it sure gets loud at night. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Afghanistan was enough for a lifetime. The constant gunfire, the death of my best friend, and paranoia was getting to me. After my last tour, I thought enough was enough. I didn't sign up for another one and went to a shrink. The psychiatrist told me that the most important thing I need to do in order to blend back into civilian life, was to find a job. So here I am, the new groundskeeper for Arlington National Cemetery. It doesn't really scare me really. After what I've seen in Afghanistan, apparition and voices is a cake walk. However, I can't deny that I was scared shitless my first time seeing them, the veterans. Not the alive ones, the dead ones. At exactly 1 AM they all wake up. You know how us military guys are, always right on the dot.\n\nAn apparition that looked like the spitting image of JFK came up to me as I did my first night round.\n\n\"Hey son, you must be new here\" JFK said\n\nAwestruck but scared at the same time, I couldn't come up with a single word to reply.\n\n\"It's ok, James was like that his first night on the job too. Just follow me\" JFK said as he gestured his hands for me to follow along. If I recall, James was the previous groundskeeper that retired.\n\n\"I'll give you a layout of the cemetery so when you're walking around here next time, you know where all of the boys are. I'll introduce you\" JFK told me with an odd enthusiasm.\n\n\"Alright son, this section right here are where all of the Civil War vets rest. Both Confederate and Union soldiers hang around here, so it does get pretty noisy\" JFK pointed to a group of apparitions wearing civil war attire. He whistled to an apparition, and he walked to us.\n\n\"Say hello to Private Christman, the first soldier to be buried here.\" JFK introduced me to a very handsome and young man.\n\n\"Honored to meet you sir\" I said as I reached my hand out for a handshake. The private chuckled and did a military salute instead. I'm so dumb.\n\n\"Hello, which branch did you serve in?\" Christman asked\n\n\"U.S Navy sir. Seal Team 6\" I replied. Christman looked at me puzzled.\n\n\"Okay well I'm going to pretend to know what that meant. I will be going now. Some of the boys there are getting restless. We're going to settle today once and for all who were better soldiers. Union or Confederate. This is going to end in a arm wrestling contest\" Christman told me as he walked away to a rowdy bunch of soldiers huddled in a circle.\n\n\"Just so you know, they do that everyday. They never decided who won or lost. That's why they're still ghosts here. They never let go of the Civil War. Poor bastards.\" JFK told me \" well anyway onto the next one and I suggest you be ready for this one. It could get dark\"\n\nAs we walked further down the park, the silence of the night was overcame by faint sobbing and crying. As we approached the area that JFK said was designated for WWI vets, the crying got louder. There we saw a few apparitions sitting on their graves, with their hands over their faces, sobbing. If you looked closer on the detail of their skin, you could see welts and burn marks.\n\n\"This is the worst part of the cemetery. I hate coming here, but who else would comfort these boys. James did his best, but a few of them remain here, yet to ascend to heaven. The suffering that was WWI reflected upon these guys. Many of them died terrible deaths, due to gas attacks and being burned alive. Some of them never realized they were dead. So they spend their afterlives reliving the moment they died, which was usually being suffocated or being burned by gas\" JFK told me with a somber tone. JFK was right. World War I was a needlessly bloody war. Many young men were drafted right into the grinder, and some of them died in the most horrible way. \"Anyway, onto the next part\"\n\nJFK and I walked up a hill and back down again and arrived at the designated area for WWII vets. There was but a group of 4 apparitions sitting around a table playing cards and listening to what sounded like a recording of the 1945 world series.\n\n\"Why are there so few of them?\" I asked JFK.\n\n\"Because most of them have moved on, son. A lot of the WWII guys were volunteers. They knew what they were heading into, and when they died, they died with little regret. Those guys are the only ones still here. They're the exceptions. I can imagine there are more like them around the world\" \n\n\"What do you mean?\" I asked.\n\n\"To some of them, the war never ended. Just like the WWI guys, the reason why they are still here is because something is tying them here. When they shipped off to the war and died, they never made it to the end of the war. So they felt that they have not completely finished their duty to their country\" JFK explained.\n\n\"Wow, that's some dedication\"\n\n\"That's why they're called the greatest generation\" JFK told me in admiration.\n\nJFK then lead me to the Vietnam War section and boy were they rowdy. As we walked closer and closer to that section, a slight discomfort was shown on Kennedy's face. He looked as if he was trying to avoid eye contact with that area in general. He glanced over at me and realized that I was puzzled by his expressions. He sighed.\n\n\"I sent them to their deaths, son\" JFK told me in a broken voice.\n\n\"But didnt Lyndon B Johnson send most of the troops to Vietnam? Not you\" I replied\n\n\"Yes, but my foreign policies were the build up that lead to that disaster in Vietnam\" JFK clenched his fist \"a few years after I showed up here in Arlington, the first wave of Vietnam War vets were buried here. Most of them came and shook my hand, but some of them wouldn't even look at me in the eyes. They blamed me for their deaths and for the deaths of their friends and family, but rightfully so. I had sent young men to that jungle to die for a war that we shouldn't have been in. Some of them haven't even reached the age of 20 before they died. That's why these apparitions are the rowdiest. They died before they could live life to the fullest. They died before they could dance to rock n roll again. They died before they could take their girlfriends to the ice cream parlor and screw around with other kids their age.\"\n\nIf it wasn't obvious before, it's obvious now. JFK is here because he regretted the Vietnam war.\n\nJFK relaxed and his gloom was gone. He then lead me to the final area of the cemetery, the section that was designated for vets that died in the Middle East. From Iraq to Afghanistan, they were all here. Unlike the Civil War and Vietnam War vets, these guys were a different kind of rowdy. They argued amongst themselves, not who were tougher or who won the war, but about why they were at war. Some of them argued that the war was necessary as the middle east became more volatile. And the others argued that they shouldn't have been in the middle east to begin with. The debate felt endless as each of them tried arguing over each other.\n\n\"Us millenials do like a good argument\" I said with a slight smirk.\n\nSome of these guys' faces I recognize from other units, but one face stood out the most. My best friend Jack. I had almost forgotten he was buried here as well. How could I forget this guy. He took a bullet for me and died on the streets of Afghanistan. The apparition walked towards me.\n\n\"You motherfucker, I didn't know you're working here\" Jack said to me then turned to JFK and saluted. \"Pleasure to meet you Mr. President\"\n\n\"At ease son. Well I guess you guys have catching up to do. So I'll leave you to it\" JFK left with his usual charistmas smile beaming at us.\n\n\"We have a lot of catching up to do\" I told Jack.\n\n\"That we do buddy\" He replied. We sat on that field for hours talking about everything and anything until the sun came up.\n"
] | [
1,
3
] | [
"1544096340",
"1544096771"
] |
[WP] The vessel, first of its kind, zipped past Pluto in an instant. As it reached the edges of our solar system a message appeared from the void saying: Warning, you are leaving the tutorial zone. | 151 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Alf stared at the message, the glass panes of the *Misled* (Awful name, in her opinion) fogging up with pale breath. *The tutorial zone*? Every insect, every fish, every beautiful animal on the surface of her home, Earth- a mere *test*? She was virtually alone in the vast expanse of the stars, save her fifteen or so coworkers belowdecks who were in a forced coma. She herself piloted the starship hooked up to life-preservation gear. The message blinked four times, then disappeared. The strange friction holding the *Misled* stopped, and shot forwards like never before. Alf fell back, short blond hair falling around her pale skin. Luckily, pads were there to save her IV and prevent bruises. The glass was designed not to break, but not at this crazy velocity- would it survive? All her worries drifted away, however, as the starry matter fell away like a great curtain. They were now hurtling through a blue sky, not unlike Earth's beloved one. They flew past green fields and golden wheat, slowly descending all the while. Alf looked around, frantic- and found the two buttons she was looking for. Her skinny hands pressed the panels gently until the gear fell away and a shout of surprise came from the gallows of the ship. Her friends were awake now, at last. As Alf landed in a purple-tinged meadow filled with strange flora, she felt at home. Jess, a friend of hers, came above to see the sights of strange-plumed animals gallop in the air above, majestic wings carrying it about. She signaled for the crew to come out, and as Alfie Evergreen stepped outside of the ship for the first time in days, the grass lost its purple hue, turning to a hideous gray. The sky turned brown as if filled with dirt, and the noble animals above became a mere shower of dust. \n\nThey'd killed this newfound civilization."
] | [
1,
7
] | [
"1544106285",
"1544125935"
] | |
[WP] You wake up from a coma being the only peron to be on this planet. You must follow the traces of humanity and what happened to them. | 8 | [
"**Off-Topic Discussion**: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n-----\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) \n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Slowly, carefully, my eyes open. The light is blinding, ceiling is bright, stinging and immediately causing a headache.\n\nHowever, I force myself to keep them open. My neck feels stiff, I can barely move my head. Felt eternities later, I am able to inspect my surroundings. Everything is white, the world though covered in a blue filter, as if my eyes had been closed a long time.\n\nWhere am I?\n\nMy smelling senses come back next. The steril scent burns in my nose. A hospital.\n\nWhy am I here?\n\nAs my body starts to ache, I try to remember. Slowly, I rewind my memory. An accident? Maybe. Probably a car accident. That’s likely.\n\nI press my shoulders back and straightened my back. Though it hurts, it feels good.\n\nWho am I?\n\nMy thoughts are slow, as if I’m trying to identify them through thick fog.\nIf I’m here because of a car accident, I’m probably just an ordinary guy.\n\nWhere is everyone?\n\nI shoot up. Pain flows through my body, stinging, but I ignore it.\n“Hello?”\n\nMy throat aches from the single word. I haven’t spoken in quite a while, apparently. How long was I asleep?\n\nI look around again. No soul in sight.\nWell, I’m in a single hospital room. It’s logical no one is here.\n\nHesitantly, I place my bare feet on the cool floor. It takes a while, but eventually, I stand, even though I feel dizzy and dissociated.\n\nHeading toward the door, the world feels as if it’s spinning around me. That’s probably normal.\n\nI turn the door knob and finally, open the door, catching a glimpse of the corridor.\n“Hello?”\n\nI ask out into it, hearing my voice echo through.\n“Hello?!”, I exclaim now, slowly feeling panic welling up inside me.\nWhere are they?\n\nI decide to look for them myself. Through the corridor I wander, opening all doors I come across to look inside.\nStill, no one.\n\nI start yelling again, inside slowly realising it being of no use.\n“Where-“\nLoosing my breath, I frantically start to fasten my pace in which I pace through the corridors. My footsteps echo loudly, and being the only noise, they feel unbelievably loud. Hectically, my movements become more erratic.\n\n“Help!”\n\nThe dizziness returns to me, forcing me to stop my exploration and lean against a wall.\n\nI feel myself hyperventilating.\nI’m alone. Hell, I’m alone. All alone. That’s not possible. This is a hospital. There needs to be someone here!\nUnless...\n\nWhat if no one is here at all?\n\nMy glancing becomes hectic again. A phone. I need to call someone. Anyone.\n\nWell, if I’m in a hospital, shouldn’t there be some kind of nurse room? They should have a phone.\n\nI pace back a few steps, remembering having seen one just a second ago.\n\nOnce I reached the room, I look for a phone.\n“Phone... Phone... Phone...”, I start to mutter passively.\nWhere is it? It should be standing right here.\nWhile noticing my muttering grew louder, I open cupboards, push away paper sheets, not caring if they hit the ground or not. I was alone, why should I?\n\n“Phone... Phone! Hell, where is the phone?!”\n\nThey have to have a phone!\nThe room looked awful at this point, I had to be careful to not slip on one of the various files and sheets on the ground. \nThen, in the corner of my eye, I see something reflecting the light, hitting my eye.\n\n“There!”\n\nI rush over to it, phoning the first number that came to mind. Maybe it’s the only one I still remember.\n911\nMy breath shallow and shaky, I wait for the beeping to stop.\n\n“The number you chose is not available. Please-“\n\nI drop the phone onto the ground before it could finish the error message. It shatters into millions of pieces, loudly ripping the silence apart. \n911 isn’t working.\n\nI’m alone.\nNot in the hospital, in the US. Hell, probably even the world, if it continues like this. \nI sink down, leaning onto the nurse’s desk, until I sat next to pile of shattered glass.\n“help...”, I mutter, growing a headache as my thoughts become to much for me to handle, “Help!”\n\nI hug my legs, covering my face with my knees.\n“Help!”, I cry out, hot tears of despair running down my cheeks, “HELP!”\n\n——————\n\n“Doctor! Thank god you’re here.”\nStevenson, the assistant of the doctor entering the room, nodded gladfully, handing the chart to the attending physician.\n\n“Stevenson, what’s the urgent issue?”\n\nThe assistant bit his lip and first pointed at the chart, then out the glass window.\n\nThe observational room in which they stood had a door immediately leading to the subject.\n\nThe doctor skimmed through the pages on the chart.\n\nMeanwhile, his assistant summed up the current situation.\n“He was in an artificial coma when they brought him in. We lowered the meds, and he almost immediately woke up.”\nStevenson shrugged.\n“He was like this since then. Thought it was just confusion at first, you know, needing time to recover from the anaesthesia.”\n\nHe stepped toward the glass window, watching the young man sitting against the wall, occasionally screaming. The sounds were deafened by the walls.\n“It’s been 23 hours, and he’s completely unresponsive.”\n\nThe doctor pushed the chart onto one of the residents standing around in the room. It was quite crowded, everyone wanted to hear about the urgent case of insanity that caused such baffled physicians that they called the overseeing doctor. And truly, he was world famous, only called to the most exciting of cased.\n\nNevertheless, he stepped next to Stevenson and looked at the man in front of him.\n\nThe patient was rambling, screaming, crying erratically, sometimes jumping and throwing none- existing objects through the room.\n\nThe doctor nodded, deep in thoughts.\n“Well, it’s a good decision you brought me into this case.”"
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1,
5
] | [
"1544118413",
"1544123898"
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[WP] You're cleaning out your computer when you notice a file with an unfamiliar extension. Curious, you open it. As it runs, it downloads thousands of new files named after everything you've ever head of. Turns out the world is a simulation, and you've just gained access to the source code. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I opened the file, and scrolled through thousands upon thousands of folders. Tree_textures12.java\nHumans_Male_America_1991.java\nI opened the file, it was a human object to instantiate for males born in 1991.\nI browsed the methods of the Class, after MUCH scrolling, and there it was.\n\nI studied the different Classes for some time before I finally decided I would try an edit.\nI went back to the directory.\nCtrl+F, main.\nI opened main, and scrolled past all the boring bits, like Trees.pain(); and found my constructor.\nHumans_Male_America_1991 max_darrens172836 = new Humans_Male_America_1991();\n\nI went to the top of main();.\n\nIf( max_darrens172836.isVisible() == 1 ){\n\nHumans_Females.lust() = true;\n\n}"
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1,
3
] | [
"1544147429",
"1544150182"
] | |
[WP] You can bring one other person into the time loop with you. | 21 | [
"**Off-Topic Discussion**: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n-----\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) \n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"When I woke up this morning, I didn't really think to myself 'Hey, let's go to Switzerland!'\"\n\nJackson crossed his arms and tried to glare as much as he could while squinting and blinking at the bright headlights shining into is face from the green pickup truck idling in the middle of his apartment's parking lot. Between the lights and himself stood the grinning figure of Jackson's former roommate, exiled time-traveler, and general pain-in-the-ass to all who ever met him. \n\nHis name was Zeke. \n\nZeke was as annoying as a person could be when they have the ability to loop time in order to find the *exact* way to bully or convince you to do whatever they want you to. He wore a classic leather jacket that was straight from an eighties dance video, acid-wash jeans, and a handful of piercings that never seemed to be in the same spot they had been the last time Jackson had seen him.\n\n\nJackson knew this, which is why he made it his personal mission in life to be just as irritating to Zeke as Zeke was to the rest of the world.\n\n\"I got a line on a private jet, man! We can be there in like, eight hours!\" \n\nJackson blinked slowly and tried to wake his mind up enough to deal with this. \n\n\"I have work.\"\n\n\"So?\"\n\n\"Most people work to make money, Zeke.\"\n\n\"I'll figure something out. Gimme your phone. I'll talk to your b-\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\n\"C'mon! Look, You gotta understand-\"\n\n\"Zeke, do you remember what happened the last time I went with you?\"\n\n\"Well, we met that chick with the green dress and-\"\n\n\"No, before that.\"\n\n\"The car chase? Look, man, I'm sorry about the damage, you know that. I've even got a line on a nice Miata to replace-\"\n\n\"No, before that.\"\n\n\"Uh, the thing with the Steam cards and the Ukrainians?\"\n\n\"No. Well, yes, but no... the other one.\"\n\n\"Look, that explosion was NOT my- Ok, it was only like... thirty percent my fault, at best! And insurance covered it, so you're not homeless or anything!\"\n\n\"Zeke...\"\n\n\"Aw, man! Just let me explain! Look, I know the last few loops haven't been, ya know, that great or whatever, but I *got* this one. Trust me.\"\n\nJackson pounded his fist against his own forehead a few times.\n\n\"Look, just come with me to Versoix-\"\n\n\"Where?\"\n\n\"It's the north part of Geneva.\"\n\n\"...in Switzerland.\"\n\n\"Yes!\" Zeke grabbed Jackson by the shoulders. \"Will you just stop for one second and let me explain?\"\n\nJackson groaned in a way that only a man woken up at two in the morning for the stupidest of reasons could manage. It lasted at least five seconds.\n\n\"Fiiiiine.\"\n\n\"Ok, so we hit the airport! I loop us a nice jet. We hit Geneva, I mean Versoix, well, kinda the same thing... then I give us a fourteen hour loop where we can eat whatever we want and we-\"\n\n\"WHY?\"\n\n\"For their annual chocolate festival.\"\n\nJackson blinked at the eager, overly-excited face of his former roommate.\n\n\"...I'm listening.\""
] | [
1,
3
] | [
"1544179781",
"1544190482"
] | |
[deleted] | [WP] You've killed the dragon that kidnapped her highness, but before your very eyes it's corpse shreds apart and drifts away. Deep into the cave it drifts until you find her highness tending the wounds of a young, battered boy. She does NOT look happy with 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"1. The dragon was the boy. She was actually from another world where she was sucked in and made her life valuable in that world. That boy was actually her friend or familiar. She wasn't actually really human either but partially dragon/witch. Her powers weren't still awoken if she actually has any and now you were forced to be a familiar to her. \n2. The dragon was her husband/or son. It was a ruse to escape, because someone was plotting to kill her and her husband for the dragons skin. And now you screwed up the plan and have to go with them or actually set up a plan to find out who the traitor was. "
] | [
1,
1
] | [
"1544203289",
"1544204761"
] |
[WP] Out of nowhere you began experiencing every day twice before moving on to the next day, creating two separate timelines: Day 1 and Day 2. It's been 5 years since it started. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Well, okay. The first thing I did was cheat the lottery. I kept a normal life on my first days, and made sure to watch the 10pm Powerball drawings. Then, on my second day, I’d invest in a few ‘random numbers’. Rags to riches, and all that.\n\nIn my first life, I’m well enough off, second class life suits me. In my second life, I’m a billionaire with a want for nothing. In my first life I’ve got a girlfriend, we suit eachother well. In my second life, I’m single, but there’s a girl out there that’s loving life.\n\nIn my first life, I join the army. I feel the need to help my country. In my second life, I’m learning martial arts because I can.\n\nAs it turns out, when I die in one life, I still live in the other. In my first life I got struck by an IED, and in my second life I now work to prove the existence of an afterlife.\n\nIt’s not ‘heaven’ or anything, but it’s not bad..."
] | [
1,
15
] | [
"1544206960",
"1544221228"
] | |
[removed] | [WP]You uncover an ancient prophecy it reads | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/GeneralDouglas1998, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**Prompt users in the title, but don't play writing games or commission stories**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_6.3A_prompt_users_in_the_title.2C_but_don.27t_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/a448dq/-/%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] You're a death row convict who has just been injected with a new "painless" toxin that only starts acting once you fall asleep and gives you a peaceful death. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/Laslas19, 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- \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/a44xmr/-/%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've been playing a stellar game for a couple days now, playing as an alien species. It's going pretty good until you discover earth in-game and make contact. Later that day on the news they announce that first contact has been made with a species exactly the same as the one in your game. | 70 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I was always jealous of my Ben, he was rich enough thanks to bitcoin believe it or not to get anything he wanted, including all the AAA games he could get his hands on, while I was usually stuck with a knock off. This time however, Ben was enjoying himself so much he had to share, and hacked out a pirated version of the game for me. That really got me excited, see, Ben was an extremely professional gamer when it came to this kind of game, in that he valued numbers and knew how to get them. His monstrosities spread like a plague, devouring the galactic civilization, turning entire species into slaves that couldn’t so much as think about rebelling without a bomb planted in their head going off, and when they died, they were made into food for the others. After seeing such a gruesome playstyle I wanted to play but make a better world, a utopia on every planet, prove his ways wrong, but the numbers just didn’t amount. In any game I play my first run is always the nice guy, the scientific victory, everyone’s friend, so I knew what I was doing, so I decided to expand my domain and get more people involved to provide the resources I needed to best Ben. In our travels one of the scouts reported a new species on a blue planet. I had a small chuckle at the Easter egg, a the human race was right here, but I suddenly felt bored and looked at the time. Gosh, 8:20 already? No wonder! I’ve been here for hours! Thinking it’s high time to get dinner going I quickly make a diplomatic contact and solve a few world problems like world hunger to get on humanity’s good side and quit the game. The next morning I flick the news on as I’m making breakfast, I wasn’t play it much mind until I heard the word ‘Cosmarians,’ the name of my species. I ran to the TV, but I knew it before I even made it to the sofa. Tall, silver-scaled beings with four arms and an air of confidence yet kindness, like an older sibling who would look out for you by my own design. I watched with slack jaw as the reporters showed them feeding the hungry, ending wars, uniting countries and helping with infrastructure all before my eyes! All the humans on the screen were acting as though they had been friends their whole lives, even though the news outlets stated they arrived mere hours ago. I flipped through some channels and they were all showing the same thing, this was either real or an over the top prank. I decided to check up on my game, and was greeted with similar messages. ‘Earth hunger solved, allegiance increased! ‘Earth wars ended, allegiance increased!’ And so on. I needed a second to take everything in. Had I just saved the world? Was this really under my control? Could I come out as the hero? Would my species recognize me? So many questions, so few answers. I took a few breaths and decided to check up on the rest of my empire. Nothing much to see, which made sense as to my society a new ally was a weekly occurrence. Deciding to look for a way to prove who I was I started searching the game for anything that could help when I heard a scream from the TV. I turned my head to see a camera pointed at the sky, looking directly at a ship I’ve seen once before, the work of a madman was apparent with its cruel yet elegant design. The ship’s front was a massive steel skull that was quite literally armed to the teeth. A cloaking device prevented you from seeing anything else but I knew the name of the ship, ‘*ben*evelant manslaughter.’\n\nPart 2?",
"My spoon clattered on my floor, freshly freed from my gaping maw. If it could my jaw would have hit the floor, on the television screen meeting the president was the CuddleBugs. A CuddleBug is a mixture of a teddy bear and a butterfly, small cute teddy bear body with butterfly wings and fuzzy antenna. I'd know the adorable little creature anywhere because it was my custom race in Star Searcher: Search for the Edge of the Search.\n\nI ran into Star Searcher a little while ago, some random torrent I grabbed because the title was so odd. I figured it would just be some indie developer that cranks out a thousand games a year, believing I might get a couple hours of comedy out of it, before never touching it again. What I didn't account for was Star Searcher being the most in-depth space simulator imaginable.\n\nThousands of Planetary societies simulated from the tribal stages to space-faring races, with the ability to tweak every policy from Diplomatic Relations to Crosswalk Maintenence. That isn't even touching on the frankly ludicrous amount of options I had in the race creation screen, everything from the element they breathe down to their flavor palate. I didn't want to put that much work into it so I just decided to use the drag and drop option to make their appearance and have everything else generated from that.\n\nI made the CuddleBugs as mostly a joke, a species that looked like a bunch of girl cartoon vomited it up. But I figured I'd keep playing them until they died off for fun. My CuddleBugs started off as a small tribe in a river valley, and from there I got to live their full history. The first kingdom of Lotsahugs. The rise of the Emperor Snugglepaws and his eventual death at the battle of Cupcake Ridge. The years and years of Fleufal Systam, which was basically the Feudal System with a sunnier name. The Great Sleepytime a plague which decimated the island nation of Angeltown, and it's subsequent industrialization. Millennia upon millennia of history building up until they eventually broke the Hoppsybop Continuum and reached Faster The Light travel. At this point, the joke was riding high and I saw no reason to stop it, the problem was I have a sick sense of humor.\n\nYou see, while the CuddleBugs might look like the best children's toy of 2005 on the outside. I decided to make their insides the most vile and destructive I possibly could. CuddleBugs valued deceit and domination over all things. Their signature move being to purposely disable part of their ship and send a distress call to a new species they'd discover, then they would play the sweet and innocent victims of an attack by another nearby species. They'd ask the planet for help and then have them go to war with the other species until both sides were nearly decimated than the Gigglepie Fleet would arrive on mass, and with their Battle Huggers they would wipe out the remaining forces until there was no one remaining being extra careful to ensure no one fled to warn others. Then they would erase any remnants of the former species and set up colorful happy looking colonies to lure in more potential victims.\n\nTheir favorite targets were underdeveloped species, where they would 'benevolently' share the gifts of FTL and Advance Space weaponry so that the species could 'defend themselves' against the evil horde that had chased them to the system. This went on for centuries as they gobbled up more and more of the galaxy, wiping out some species before they even had a chance to move two lightyears outside of their home systems. This lead to the formation of the Happy Time Imperium, an empire of multicolored death and destruction that spanned half the known galaxy. By this point, the rest of the space-faring communities of the galaxy had found out the truth about the CuddleBugs and had collected together under a single banner to wipe the cuddly menace from the galaxy.\n\nThey were made up of about a few dozen different space-faring races though five species served as the majority of their forces. The Sentient Slimebals of Gizzigaida, what had once been a race of peaceful religious nomads who joined the fight after their homeworld was 'cleaned' by the CuddleBugs, though on the outside they were mostly giant masses of stinking slime. They were considered the kindest and most charitable race in the galaxy. \n\nThey were joined by the Reptillians a race of reptile poets who'd inscribed much of the beauty of the galaxy to paper, even if their poems sounded like just angry gnarled hissing. They joined the alliance after they realized most of the wonderous people and places they had written about were now gone because of the CuddleBugs. \n\nFollowed by the TerraBots, a race of sentient terraforming robots whose only goal was to terraform planets to be as comfortable as they could be for the inhabitants, often times bring them back from the brink of ecological collapse. They joined because of the unsustainable colonies the CuddleBugs liked to set up where the entire planet was made to serve a single purpose, that purpose usually being to make some form of candy or chocolate even if the plants and farms destroyed all the natural flora and fauna of the planet.\n\nNext was the Steve Collective, a half religious order half hivemind of people that all consented to be joined as one mind. All members take the name Steve to match the name of the founder. Though they appear to lack individuality and that they have been homogenized into a single voice their mindscape holds the individual minds of all in a paradise like a dream state. They joined the fight as the collective took in more and more refugees of the CuddleBugs and saw the terror they inflicted.\n\nFinally was GrumbleBugs, a slave race created by a CuddleBug science time to serve as cheap labor for the Imperium. They looked like CuddleBugs without the wings, and if the teddy was taken out of the bear. While they looked like lumbering monsters compared to the CuddleBugs they were actually just as sweet inside as the CuddleBugs were on the outside. In a bloodless Rebellion, a group of GrumbleBugs managed to escape and join up with the alliance to one day free all the GrumbleBugs still locked in bondage.\n\nThe Alliance tries it's best to fight diplomatically, and only rises to force in defense, but it was still annoying to my game. Because of the benevolence and kind souls of the various races they were able to convince the many races of the galaxy about the dangers of dealing with the CuddleBugs and traveling in their space. This had slowed what had been a mighty march across the galaxy down to a crawl as most 'disabled' CuddleBug ships were simply shot down when they first appeared. With the contacted species turtling up until the Alliance could arrive to fight off the fleet. \n\nI honestly thought it was time to start a new game until I discovered Earth. Earth was a planet that fell in the wild zone, space not contacted by the alliance since most species were still underdeveloped and the Alliance didn't feel it was right to elevate underdeveloped races before they had the time to discover the mysteries of space travel by themselves. A scruple that the CuddleBugs most definitely didn't share. I thought it was a fun Easter Egg that it was included in the game, and since I needed an ace to start fighting back against the alliance why not try recruiting humans to do it?\n\nSo instead of the usual strategy, I actually sent an envoy to the planet. Five of the cutest CuddleBugs of the Imperium. They approached the leaders of the Earth with an olive branch of friendship and a plea for help. They spun tales of how their evil opposites the GrumbleBugs had gathered up a group of allies from icky slimes, scary lizards, Terror Bots, and a poor group of brainwashed dummies to attack them. They begged the Earthlings to aid them in fighting back the meanies with a gift of faster than light travel and special 'friendship weapons' that were powered with love, in actuality they were powered by unstable dark matter crushed into a heart-shaped stone. The earthlings ate up the story however and a small band even joined the 'Friendship Five', as the humans named my envoys, on an adventure to convince the other species of Wild Space to fight back the meanies.\n\nAnd that leads us back to today. I watch as Winky, Pinky, Gibby, Jibby and Grandpa FriendBear spin the same tale to the people of earth on live television. Horrifying them with pictures of living Slimebals. Hurting their ears with the 'battlecrys' of the Reptilians. Showing footage of the Terrorbots 'destroying' the industry of a planet and people being 'overtaken' by the Steve Collective. Finally, they showed a picture of the gnarled GrumbleBears and the public ate it up. I thought about warning everyone but just a glance of Twitter shows they already have overwhelming support, there's even fanart of the 'Friendship Five.' The Five are currently picking out a group of youngsters to join them on their journey to find more allies for Earth. I just sit back down at my computer and look at the screen and wonder. Do I really want to take the next turn? "
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[WP] Selling your soul to the devil isn’t as simple as it seems. You are an overworked attorney representing individuals looking to get out of their deals. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Third client today... Christmas is always bad, but this year seems to be particularly busy.\n\n\"So, Mr. Griswold, explain to me why I should help you mediate your contract termination? I'm familiar with the terms that the Fir Corporation gives to their new, underlings, shall we say. Otherwise, you wouldn't be seeing me.\"\n\n\"I need to make this Christmas the best it has ever been! Help me break out of my contract with my current company and I'll be forever loyal to the Lucius E. Fir Corporation! The CEO is such a terrible person that I'm willing to sell my soul to Satan himself if it means I can leave there and get the best tree for Christmas and...\"\n\n\"Mr. Griswold, let me stop you there for just a moment. I know about the sign on bonuses, but I need to check something. What is the name of the CEO of your company?\"\n\n\"It's a Peal, or a Beel or something... I just call him Chrome-Dome when he isn't looking so....\"\n\n\"Oh? Would it be a Mr. Beal Z. Bub by chance?\"\n\n\"That, sounds right?\"\n\n\"Ah, in that case, it makes this conversation simple.\" An Org chart is pulled out from a folder sitting off to the side. \"You technically already work for Lucius. See, this is how The Corporation works. Starting here at the top, if you follow this path you'll eventually get to Mr. Bub. If you would like to renig on your current contract, you would be barred from seeking compensation. If you would like the signing bonus, you would not be allowed to sign another contract with any of the subsidiaries you see here for 666 days from the date you last set foot in one of their facilities.\"\n\nMr. Griswold's face goes white. \"S-s-so, where would I be able to go if I decided to do that?\"\n\n\"Oh, I hear central Australia is a good place at the moment. You said you'd be willing to sell your soul to Satan himself, so spending some time in hell might not be a bad stepping stone.\""
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[removed] | [WP] Off topic, about a single mother and kidnapping | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/leo_vrc, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**Prompt users in the title, but don't play writing games or commission stories**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_6.3A_prompt_users_in_the_title.2C_but_don.27t_play_writing_games_or_commission_stories)\n\n- Prompt in Text: 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). You wrote a prompt in the text, but then gave a title for it. \n\nAlso, why did you write \"off topic\"?\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/a4cpef/-/%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] Global nuclear war erupts and society soon collapses. In spite of it all, you survive and develop a method to send a single 140 character message to your past self. After careful consideration for how to gain your own trust and save the world, you finally press "send". | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi, 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 100 words. Prompts should encourage a story or poem.\n\n \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 Post) 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] You are Earth's representative at the first intergalactic peace conference. Due to nerves, you go to introduce yourself but instead release a loud fart..and now the entire galaxy believes this to be the language of humans. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi, 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- No troll, joke, poop, fart, CAPS LOCK, or meme-based prompts. This includes prompts likely to attract such responses.\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed Post) 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 Schrodinger’s cat, and you’re VERY confused right now. | 58 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"At first, it doesn't feel like anything. It's the absence of breath, of touch. The absence of feeling his body alive and moving. The absence of emotions. There is no sound except the voice in his head. It narrates his thought process, hazily. It sounds like a recording being slowed down and stretched, echoing through a tunnel and coming to rest in ears that are smothered by a blanket. So faint, so slow. \n\nThen the voice speeds up. It clears. The words grow faster, gradually, before finally reaching a moderate speed. As the sound grows, so do emotions. Emptiness turns into a slight confusion, which turns into fear, then panic.\n\n\"It's dark. I can't feel anything. Oh, where am I? Where am *I?* I can't feel my heartbeat. I can't feel my blood. I've never realized how much I need to feel my blood. Oh please, where is it? Where is it? Where is it?\"\n\nThe voice picks up speed, and so do the emotions. Panic becomes bewilderment, which becomes screaming in his own head. It grows faster, and faster, until it hits it's breaking point.\n\nAnd then it feels like everything.\n\nIt's so much breathing that there are no breaks to exhale, only inhaling with no rest. It's every sensation he has ever felt before being pressed into his skin at the same time. It's so much blood, and muscle, and *meat* that it feels like his body is overflowing, a mess of flesh spilling out endlessly into the expanse. It's every emotion in every possible combination all crushing his heart under their weight. \n\nIt's the voice in his head, so fast it becomes one continuous, shrill noise.\n\nEverything and nothing can't exist at the same time. Everything swallows nothing, and turns it into something. Nothing swallows everything, and turns it into nothing. One consumes the other, and the victor is only determined by the context in which the meal is taking place.\n\nBut context can't help him now.\n\nIt cycles, endlessly. \n\nNothing. Everything. None of it. All of it. Never. Right now. No. Yes.\n\nDead. Alive.\n\nHe takes solace in the momentary transitions. The few seconds where the area is grey, and both beasts sit with their forks and knives poised politely over their plates, waiting for the moment to dig in to the other. In those moments between, he can think. \n\nThe voice in his head reaches a volume that is understandable, and he spends those few precious seconds thinking, begging, \"Please, someone open the fucking box.\"",
"A box, what the hell is happening now those stupid philosophers better not be up to their stupid talks again\n\nAND THEN SUDDENLY YOU'RE DEAD AND ALIVE THERE IS DARKNESS AND LIGHT AND ALL YOU CAN THINK OF IS WHAT YOU ARE, YOU ARE DEAD AND ALIVE IN A BOX UNTIL IT IS OPENED INFINITE AMOUNTS OF WORLDS, POSSIBILITIES, COLOURS OBJECTS CONCEPTS INCONCEIVABLE TO MANKIND FOR WHAT LIES IN THE BOX THAT YOU ARE IN IS UN EXPLAINED AND CANNOT BE EXPLAINED AND ALL THAT EVER WAS IN THE BOX STARTS TO DISAPPEAR and Schrodinger, your bastard of an owner opens the box, and theres a live cat walks out, stupid philosophers."
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[removed] | [WP] You are in a room and have to battle a donkey, it wants to kill you! Damage it then survive: end world hunger for the earth, kill it and attain unimaginable wealth. Survive with you both living, reincarnation. you end up making it commit suicide, the power at work decides you get to become god | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/mysticfistx, 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- We feel that asking users to write about suicide is harmful. It can be hard to tell if someone's writing fiction or making a cry for help. In the event there's any truth behind this for you or someone you know, we recommend checking out /r/suicidewatch or /r/depression. \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/a4itgp/-/%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] You're a teenage internet troll who falsely claims to have invented a super efficient way to produce synthethic oil. Soon after, someone breaks into your house. But it's not some thugs who try to kill you, but Al Gore who begs you on his knees to delete your invention and never make it public. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/aguierre, 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/a4jvga/-/%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 cult leader with thousands of followers. You don't actually believe in the Dark Gods you claim to be the prophet of. You just like the money and power. One day you find out those Dark Gods actually exists, and they've been taking your prayers and offerings *very* seriously. | 80 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Holding my arms above the stone altar I intoned the final blessing of the sermon. \"Hail Lilith the Black Rose, Goddess of Hell whose darkness and lust have brought forth the Legions of Hell. Accept this gift of blood sacrifice so that Satan's offspring may rule over the Dark World throughout eternity. Omen!\" The cowled figures before me repeated my words and made the sign of the Infernal One before turning expectantly towards the sacrificial altar.\n\nSister Hantu raised the jagged blade I had purchased at the Baltimore Comic Con and plunged it into the bleating kid's throat. The baby goat had been tied down over the stone platform so that he was lying on his side. I closed my eyes as the blade tore through his throat spraying blood across the closest cult members. \n\nThose who had been \"blessed\" with the gift of blood cheered like the psychopathic morons they were. I turned towards my sanctity as they gave each other high fives. \n\nThe ritual sacrifice of an innocent animal was the most disgusting part of our weekly rituals. Sadly the Cult of Lilith had certain expectations. We were supposed to be Satanic and nothing said evil like a ritualistic blood sacrifice. \n\nThe Silicone Valley billionaires, the movie stars, rock stars, and trust fund entitled freeloaders who formed the first two rows of the congregation expected nothing less. In exchange for a bit of blood shedding and a vicarious thrill they donated generously to The Dark Temple. As the High Priest of the Cult of Lilith, I lived in a luxurious mansion in Beverly Hills. Those members of the congregation who could not afford to contribute at the level of the mega rich found other ways to serve. Some provided security. Others provided domestic services. One of them did my taxes. \n\nSister Hantu, whose real name was Sally, was a particularly special find. Who would have known that this attractive young blond woman had a thing for killing animals? Not only did she enjoy the slaughter but the blood letting really turned her on, so much so that she enjoyed getting naked to receive the repeated blessings of her High Priest. \n\nIt was a good life and if a few animals had to be sacrificed to keep the idiots happy, what difference did it make if they were slaughtered for a ritual sacrifice as opposed to being killed at a meat processing plant? \n\nIt was with some relief that I closed the door of the Sanctity behind me. As I pulled off my purple robe that had been garishly decorated with gold and silver thread in Satanic symbols, a sultry voice interrupted me.\n\n\"Nice sermon.\" A lamp clicked on. Seated in a semi-reclined position on a sofa was a dark haired beauty whose perky breasts were outlined by a tight fitting black dress whose slit hem showed off a pair of sensuous legs.\n\nI unzipped my trousers. \"Are you here for a blessing, my child?\"\n\nThe woman frowned. \"What are you doing?\"\n\nI fumbled for my belt. \"I'm going to give you my blessing. Would you like to receive it on the sofa or would you prefer to be bent over my desk?\"\n\nThe woman gestured and my zipper zipped itself back up, painfully catching my manhood in the process. \n\n\"What the Hell,\" I howled as I struggled to unzip the zipper. \n\n\"Exactly,\" purred the woman. She rose from the sofa and approached me as I continued struggling to relieve my aching privates. \n\nA crimson painted fingernail stroked my cheek. \"I am Lilith, the Black Rose, Goddess of the Underworld.\"\n\nI groaned as the zipper finally came unstuck. \"You're nuts lady.\"\n\nAn unseen force slammed me against a bookcase causing dozens of Satanic volumes to tumble to the floor. The woman's eyes glowed red. \"YOU WILL RESPECT ME OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES!\"\n\nI panicked and began babbling. \"Forgive me oh Mistress of the Dark, I did not realize it was you! Praise to the Infernal Regions for your coming. How may this one serve you?\"\n\nI fell upon the floor to grovel at Lilith's feet. \n\n\"The Day of Armageddon draws nigh and your cult will have the honor of leading the way by launching a series of terrorist strikes across this country!\"\n\nI quailed. \"Armageddon? You mean the End of All Times? The War between Good and Evil?\"\n\nA shapely foot wearing a stiletto heel painfully gouged my neck. \"WORM! Do you know of any other Armageddon? Assemble your following. Use your worldly treasures to arm them. Starting thirty days hence, your cult will strike these targets!\" \n\nA parchment appeared before me written in the blood of innocents. My heart sank as I began reading a list of targets. Included were the names of at least 5 Catholic Cathedrals in the United States, FEMA headquarters, the CDC in Atlanta, and CNN studios in New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. There were also several power plants, water treatment facilities, and for some reason a Burger King in Dallas. \n\n\"Your will be done ...\" I paused. The Sanctity was empty. \n\nThe door opened as Sister Hantu entered the room and stripped naked. The poor woman was confused as I scrambled out the other door leading to my mansion above the basement. Waving away a uniformed chauffeur, I climbed into my limo and raced away. \n\nWithin 30 minutes, I found myself in the confessional booth of the Church of the Good Shepherd. \"What is it my child?\" asked the priest behind the wooden screen. \n\nI took a deep breath. \"Bless me Father for I have sinned ...\"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n",
"As the sun dipped low behind the pines, evening followed closely behind Johnathan Lamant as he ascended the steps of the watch tower - As he always did at this time. The old fire watch tower had served as a powerful conduit for his message, a tangible architecture to support his vision. The symbolism of the tower was the anchor of his following. It was the sanctuary that connected the mortals to the immortals - The light to the darkness. \n\nWell, that was his pitch anyway. It had won him the devout following of nearly 800 people here in the isolated communities of the Rockies.\n\nJohn unbuttoned the wrist of his sleeve as he climbed to reveal the brand of 'The Watch' - A crude drawing of a fire tower inked into the inner forearm. It was a sign of devotion and trust. It meant you had proven to be a valuable asset to the group, a level of achievement reserved for his 'lieutenants.' \n\nAs John reached the top, he circled the overlook until he faced his congregation. For seven years he had cultivated the crop of peoples in the surrounding communities into believing that he had the insight to lead them into the safety of the infinite. That he was chosen by The Dark Gods as The Shephard for their lost sheep.\n\nIt had brought Johnathan Lamant the power and wealth to do as he pleased when he pleased. That was different now. As John looked out over his sheep, he felt the brand on his forearm burn into him as fresh as the day it was imprinted.\n\nWhether the Dark Gods existed before or after he began is congregation, they are here now, and they are looking to their Shephard to bring them their sheep.\n\n",
" Between the goats blood on the walls, the red curtains, and every flickering light it’s amazing that nobody has realized there’s a cult here.\n\nI mean, if your average person was walking down a average hallway in Building 38 on 5th and Mason, saw red light from under the door crack, heard ominous chanting, and smelled goats blood, they’d call the police right?\n\nTo be fair, I’ve got some of the police in my cult. Blue uniforms splattered with red--it makes a pretty sight. Maybe that’s why no one’s bothered to stop us.\n\nWe meet every Thursday in what was formerly a pencil manufacturing warehouse, and host prayers to our dark lord Bael, and me, his first servant. \n\nTonight's meeting went about as all meetings go-- we chanted a bit, drank a little bit of blood, I bit into a heart severed from the flesh of a ram (actually a large cake pop, painted red), cut our symbol into the forehead, accepted offerings (preferably in the form of cash, though we do take checks, and as of two weeks ago, debit and credit cards), chanted some more, and called it day.\n\nThen I, first servant of Bael, master of the eternal darkness, changed out of my robe, kicked my feet up with a whisky from my private stock, and counted the money.\n\n8124 dollars and 11 cents. Not bad, but less than I prefer for a standard meeting. The “festival of the black moon” is coming up soon, I have to remember to do some extra vitrol about how there will be eternal rewards for those that reward Bael today, and eternal punishment for those that cheat him out of his offerings.\n\nJust then, the doorbell rings. If it’s the cops (after all the time?) I have cameras to let me know, incendiaries to cover up the evidence, and a escape tunnel. Always be prepared.\n\nBut it’s not the cops--it’s a well dressed, handsome man with dark sunglasses. He looks directly at the hidden camera, and waves jovially. Did he miss the meeting? He’s not in the robes. More likely he’s someone who’s heard something, and his curiosity sent him here. I should ignore him--but that suit looks expensive. Well, if he wants a show, I’ll give him a show.\n\nSo I put my robe back on, hide the whisky, prep the dry ice, speakers, and mood lights, and…\n\nAs the man enters the room, smoke billows from the floor accompanied by pulsing red light. There is a strange howling that seems to come from everywhere at once, then a hooded figure appears out of nowhere, and stands silent, solitary, and unmoving even as the lights, screams, and smoke fades away.\n\nNot bad eh? It took me years to perfect, but if there’s one part of this game I’m good at, it’s the dramatic entrances.\n\nThe man doesn’t seem impressed though. He has a wry smile on his face, and eyes that somehow seem to penetrate me through those sunglasses.\n\n“Not bad” he says. And then “I’m Bael”.\n\nThis is somewhat surprising, but I recover quickly, and in vibrating mystic tones.\n\n“So you think you know the truth? But you are wrong. Bael is in all of us, his power is in every nightmare, every scream and every drop of blood. Bael is the all-destroyer, and he’s in all of us.”\n\n“Cool. And true, more or less, but I’m actually the actual guy. Here, I’ll show you.”\n\nThen, there is a rumbling, and a thousand tiny fissures appear in the room, from which spurts thick hot red blood.\n\nNow I’m not sure if this is some sort of cult-leader turf war, or what, but if there was ever a time for hidden incendiaries and a quick escape, it’s now. A button up the sleeve, and I turn and run as with a WOOSH, fire and blood mix together.\n\nExcept I’m not running, I’m...rotating?\n\nAnd as I turn to face Bael, he removes his sunglasses, revealing hollow sockets, and fire within.\n\n“I’m very disappointed in you.” He says.\n\nThen pain tears through me, and I’m screaming. Louder, shriller than an of our sacrifices. The scream goes on and on until I sink into the ground and the world goes black.\n\nWhen the cult returns next Thursday, they find their hall of worship burnt to cinders, and their leader and mass of robes and viscera in the center of the room, surrounded by burnt dollar bills.\n\nA few of the members, those who had joined to feel empowered, to feel special, for the risque feeling of it all, dart away, drawing their hoods over their faces, but more stay. They stay and chant their dark chants, and pay homage in blood to their leader who made the ultimate sacrifice for his faith, who ascended to join the dark lord Bael in the black sun.\n\n(r/StannisTheAmish)",
"Most school janitors were unassuming, hardworking, diligent folk. Usually they were reaching their retirement with adult-aged children already. However, Mr Pereira was not one of these humble men. He thought life had dealt him a bad hand from a young age, with his involvement in gang activities barely slipping under the radar of the law enforcement. Slipping just like that first kid, Britney, who slipped on a puddle of puke that Pereira hadn't cleaned while on his smoke break. It was at that moment when Pereira reasoned he had a chance of making more money than the peanuts he made per month.\n\nBritney wasn't badly hurt, but her friends had caught the incident on film and would have posted it on the Internet. She begged Pereira to help. One stolen phone later, the job was done. No one would ever suspect a janitor who came into a room alone, right? But there needed to be an explanation, something so outlandish that no one except the desperate would believe.\n\nAnd so, straight from the pages of tomes forgotten, Pereira told Britney of Dark Ones who were forgotten by mankind, forever entombed within the nearby graveyard, and whose powers were only granted to a select few. At first, of course, Britney didn't believe it. But it was a thought planted into the young girl's head, and when that gaggle of girls complained of an insanely difficult test coming up, Pereira knew where the teacher's answer sheets and wallet were. Distracting the teacher on a wild goose chase, he soaked the answer sheets in a little blood and placed them conveniently in the girls' desks. Their belief was sealed, and further enforced through more outlandish favours. From cheating to stealing to murder, everything could be done by the whims of the Dark Ones. Or so Pereira claimed.\n\nEven the teachers were in on it at some point; one teacher's desire to get an annoying colleague out of the way of promotion was fulfilled by shovel. Shovel to the head, shovel in the ground. And that was to say nothing of the money donated, embezzled, stolen from the devotees of this schoolwide cult. To Pereira, nothing that they asked for couldn't be settled by the skills he had learned on the streets, and the best part was that he left no trace to those who didn't look. Hell, they should have made him the Principal already.\n\nThe cult had been running for five years now. Five times four hundred students per year was two thousand students under his dark grip. And though Pereira thought today would be nothing out of the ordinary, he knew not that he had awakened the true Dark Ones.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe superintendent of the district was on his monthly tour. He did not notice the occasional suspicious red footprint on the floor. He did not notice the illicit packs of cigarettes lying around. Pereira was high-strung throughout the day, waiting for Superintendent Charles to pick up something, for he had an extra knife in his belt just for him. It was the same knife used in his cult rituals, those which he had used in front of the freshmen to ritually sacrifice their frustrating fellows. To him, however, it was naught but a standard steel blade with weird inscriptions.\n\nIt had been one long day of inspections, but finally the sun was setting and the students had nearly completely left from the school. Charles was one step out of the school, before he whirled around and slowly walked to the janitor's closet. Pereira, watching from the corner, was increasingly confused and worried before he felt himself chokeslammed into the lockers, Charles' eyes glowing blue fire.\n\n\"Amateur. You think you can summon the Dark Ones with simple offerings of money and blood? OUR money and blood? What use would eldritch forces have for those?\" Charles laughed in his face, dragging Pereira's limp body to the \"ritual table\" and tying it in place.\n\n\"And your ritual table is one of those classroom desks which have been vandalised on for 5 years already. Look, the pentagrams carved everywhere! So amateur.\" Charles chuckled. As the door opened, a group of four students crept in, but froze in terror as they saw the silhouette of their prophet was much larger than it should have been.\n\n\"Welcome, students.\" A girl screamed as she realised the voice of the most important educator in the district. \"No, do not worry, children, for I am here to destroy the Heretic!\"\n\n\"This man has extorted you without giving you anything... truly special! He has given you nothing but parlor tricks and assassin services. Nothing that a true Dark Prophet can offer! The Dark Ones have sent me on this day to purge the impostor.\" Pereira squirmed in terror, trying to untie the ropes to no avail.\n\n\"The Dark Ones do exist. They have offered services to this school longer than it has existed. So know this, students; they do not like competition. But they do enjoy an offering, and fear is the best seasoning for their meal.\"\n\nCharles drew the blade from Pereira's belt. \"Ooh, a relic. I'm not even going to ask how you cheated, lied, stole your way to this most sacred blade. But one thing is for sure, it is going into your heart.\"\n\nPereira screamed, the way traitors and cowards do, as Charles channeled the power of the Dark Ones into his mortal shell, and plunged the blade into the False Prophet's chest."
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[WP] While dueling the king's champion, he suffered a fatal heart-attack and died, now everyone thinks you're a sorcerer capable of killing people with your mind. | 44 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Sir Stannis was a strong man,good and honourable but he wasn’t a smart man and at 98 years, just too fucking old, he desired to challenge me to a duel. They had barely got his plate strapped to him when the old man slumped down beside a tree, I hadn’t wanted to see the old man dead but it seems that satin finally wanted to have a little chat.\n\nThis left in a precarious position, our great king, who let’s be fair is a bigger idiot then he is fat which is quite a feat, has resided that I’m some sort of great sorcerer. If your in any doubt I am not a great sorcerer or even a mediocre one, I’m just a dung shoveler, that slept with the wrong mans wife. \n\nI was tasked by our glorious and yet moronic king to kill the duke of flash with my powerful spells and tremendous mental ability, I am not a wizard but I can hit people rather hard with a shovel so my plan was simple. I was going to challenge this duke to a duel them kick his bollocks in and smash his face with the dung shovel, a Machiavellian piece of planning had made this idea watertight, I just needed an obscene amount of luck.\n\nThe duel was at the same barren deserted field that I had fought sir stannis heartbreak at, nothing had changed apart from the area which the noble knight relived himself at upon his fatal death. The duke of flash was a powerful man, a dashing young night with golden curls and arms like tree trunks, his sword and armour glinted in the early sun, while my shovel and tunic still had shit on them.\n\nThe Duke flashed like lightning towards me at the count of ten, he moved like a galloping stallion until he hit a patch of brown grass, slipped and bashed his head open upon a suspiciously placed rock. He relived himself and died in that exact same spot, so I began to just invite an enemy’s of the kings to that field at watched the bodies pile high covered in shit.\n\n",
"The crowd erupted into startled gasps and whispers. \n\nConfused with the lack of death and agony that was promised to me, I peeked over my shield and stared at my opponent. \n\nThe Grand Knight had stopped, his arms raised above his head, clutching his broadsword with his two mighty hands. His face wore a peculiar expression, as if he was suddenly confused on where he was and what was happening. I rose slowly from my crouched position and lowered my shield. \n\nThe Knight dropped the sword with a large *CLANG*, and immediately dropped to his knees. His hands clutching his chest, he sputtered a few unintelligible words as he starred deep into my soul with a pleading look. The light behind his eyes grew dim, and he crumpled dead into a heap of armor at my feet. \n\nSilence fell throughout the arena. A slight wind blew, swirling dirt into the air around my feet. The crowd began to whisper again, neighbor turning to neighbor, their faces looking down at me with shocked expressions.\n\nMy mind began to race. What the hell had happened? I looked to the King, sitting upon his throne in the middle of the stands. His mouth was agape, and his eyes took in the scene before him with such shock and disbelief they were protruding out of his skull. Beside him, the Queen had grown very pale. She looked down at me with a mixture of pure happiness and extreme worry. \n\nEvangeline. She was the King’s pride and joy. He had married her when she was only sixteen and he well into his fifties. She was the most beautiful woman in the kingdom, her long raven black hair falling down over her shoulders in ringlets. Her piercing green eyes sparkled as if alight with the fairy fire of legend, and her laugh could charm a bird right from its nest. \n\nAnd though she was wed to the King, her heart would always belong to me. \n\nIt was a pity, really, that we had been caught. It was rather fun sneaking around the castle at night just to steal a quick kiss. \n\nThe King would have executed me out right, if he wasn’t such a cruel old bastard. He wanted her to suffer and watch me die in a duel with one of the most powerful knights in the realm. He even taunted me before the match, decreeing in front of everyone that if I were to survive and be the victor he would let me run away with his Queen. \n\nAnd here we were. No one would have expected this. \n\nThe King’s mouth clamped shut as his shock subsided. He looked at me, his hazel eyes hard as steel. He rose, and pointed down to me, his gnarled finger shaking with rage. \n\n“What manner of witchcraft have you placed on my Grand Knight?”\n\nI opened my mouth to speak, but no sound came. Witchcraft? Is this what they were thinking had happened?\n\nI suddenly had an idea. \n\nA slow smile crept across my lips, and my eyes bore into the King’s. \n\n“Yes, oh wonderful and just *sire,*” I said, curtseying and bobbing like a young school girl, sweetness dripping from my voice.\n\n“’Twas witchcraft that turned your great lumbering knight into a sorry sack of bones. And, if you’re not careful, the same fate may fall upon you should you not keep your word.”\n\nGasps filled the crowd as women clutched the crosses at their neck and men put hands on their sword hilts. Evangeline's eyes narrowed slightly as she tilted her head in curiosity.\n\nThe King looked down at me, his faced furrowed. \n\n“My word?” the King said, his eyes narrowing. \n\n“Yes. You promised me your Queen if I were to remain living after this duel did you not?”\n\n“Yes…” \n\n“And I am indeed standing and breathing am I not?”\n\n“Unfortunately.”\n\n“Then you must uphold your end of the bargain. If not, I would be very sorry for the good people of this town should the wrath of me and my Master reign down upon them.”\n\nThe crowd’s worried murmurs rouse considerably louder, with many looking at the King with wary eyes as they waited to see what he would do. \n\nSensing that he might have a riot in his hands, the King frowned. He had little to no protection with him, and it was not an unknown fact that he was not heavily favored amongst his subjects. He did not have to give them much cause for them to over throw him. \n\nAfter what seemed like hours of thinking, the King motioned to his nearest guards. \n\n“Take the whore down to the Warlock.” He sneered, never breaking eye contact with me. \n\nThe guards nodded, and gently guided Evangeline down the steps by the elbows. Stopping within feet of me, I could see the fear that was flashing behind the guards eyes. \n\nThey were afraid to come near me, afraid that they would suffer the same fate that the Grand Knight had. I smiled back at them, and they both flinched. \n\nEvangeline walked the final steps toward me alone, her face breaking out into a broad smile. She could barely contain her happiness as she turned to face the King in the stands. \n\nI wrapped an arm around her waist and smiled broadly at the King. \n\n“Wise choice your Highness. Your town will live to see another day.”\n\nThe amount of hatred that was pouring forth from his eyes would have no doubt killed me if it was able. Turning away from the King, I steered Evangeline towards the exit of the arena, walking quickly. Once we were out of view of the crowd, she gripped my hand tightly. \n\n“What on earth happened back there?” she asked in an excited whisper.\n\n“You know as much as I do, my love.”\n\nShe was silent for a few moments. \n\n“I’m happy you’re alive,” she said quietly as we hurried down the path way towards the courtyard.\n\n“I wouldn’t have been able to bear it if I had to watch you suffer.”\n\n“Likewise my darling,” I said, squeezing her hand and flashing her a quick smile.\n\nShe frowned a little.\n\n“Did you really have to threaten the townsfolk? My mother was up there.”\n\n“Your mother is a clever woman; she knows that witchcraft is a load of crock.”\n\n“Either way, she won’t take kindly to you threatening her.”\n\n“Well at least I’ll be alive to hear her sweet nagging voice.”\n\nShe chuckled under her breath. \n\n“What will we do now?”\n\n“Grab a horse perhaps? Go find another town far away from here? Rebuild our lives?”\n\nShe squeezed my hand even tighter, a shy smile forming on her lips.\n\nWe rode far and hard before the darkness descended over the land. As she slept beside me, I couldn’t help but watch the flames of our fire dance in the darkness. The King would come for us. There was no doubt about that. And our life in the upcoming months would be filled with hardship and toil. \n\nBut sitting there in the flickering light, her head on my lap, I could not help but to filled with such happiness and joy.\n\nI was alive. And I was with her. And that’s all that mattered in the world. "
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[removed] | [WP] Reimagine the ending of Boy Snow Bird | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/Musthavegoodending, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**Prompt users in the title, but don't play writing games or commission stories**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_6.3A_prompt_users_in_the_title.2C_but_don.27t_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/a4qa03/-/%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] There's a new drug with the street name Cosmos. Named so because when you take it, you supposedly traverse the universe and can speak across dimensions to alternate beings. The drug should start working any second. | 61 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I stared at the vegetation outside, the leaves of trees and bushes shining from the sunlight and being shaken by the breeze. I guess I expected some insight to hit me in the face about nature any minute now.\n\n I remembered how when I smoked weed I could never tell when the transition started, where the limit between 'sober' and 'high' became evident. Did tan happen only to me or to everyone else? I remembered how Eric used to say 'Oh it's kicking in' when we smoked together and put his arm over his eyes, so I guess he could tell. Was I going to get a hint on what death was? It would be comforting to know how Eric was doing. I miss him too much. Is death part of the universe at all?\n\n I felt stupid thinking about that, and I looked at the sky above the trees so I could concentrate. The trees looked silvery now, but I don't know when that happened. In the sky I could see the sun, but also everything else that was in that direction. There was no filter. I could also see there was a wall behind all of it, but it wasn't a boundary. I could see all the interactions, the quarks exchanging gluons, the electrons and positrons exchanging photons and other bosons. \n\nSuddenly I felt the urge to ask a question out loud. I felt someone was listening, but not sure who. \"How does it all come together?\". I felt the question was stupid. When questions are stupid no one answers. And I heard no answer. Only some sort vibration inside my ear lobes, a very soft vibration. I saw the sky looking back at me and showing me lines sinking around the sun, smaller ones further away, and lines sinking towards the ground. Everything had those lines. I guessed those were the gravitons. There were huge waves as well, travelling past anything without tumbling any planet over. They were really dark, but filled everything and felt apocalyptic. I tried to look at everything at once but my eyes were too small. \n\nI knew the effect didn't last very long, so I asked a second question. Why am I me? No one responded because I didn't ask it out loud. I wanted to know but I was scared to know. I got up and walked to the bathroom and stood next to the door, wondering if I should face the mirror. For some reason I had the idea I wouldn't survive this trip, so I took a few steps and looked at myself in the eyes. Then I looked at the rest of myself. All I could see were the results of a very improbable event, of the many attempts to make it not happen, but happened. I understood there was nothing to understand, so I sat on the toilet and waited till the waves and lines and everything else disappeared for good. And I remembered that I forgot to ask about Eric.",
"My friends told me to sit down while I wait, apparently people have a tendency to fall over when it hits. Cosmos seems a lot like DMT but I’ve been assured that it’s “a totally different experience” and “nearly impossible to describe unless you’ve tried it”. Which isn’t a very unique description of a new drug, but we got enough for 5 people for $15 so I wasn’t complaining. \n\nJames, the most adventurous of us, tried it yesterday. I wasn’t there for it, but he said it was a good time and I trusted him. And while he maddeningly wouldn’t tell us what he saw on his trip, he assured us that it was worth it.\n\nI sit for what seems like hours, but as my eyes dart around I notice everyone moving as if in slow motion. I’m not scared, this is the first onset before my sight is supposed to go dark. After that the true journey begins.\n\nThe edges of my mouth curl up in anticipation, and the edges of my vision start to darken. I try to say to my friends ‘See you on the other side’, but I only get out the first word before suddenly everything goes black. I feel a huge surge of motion as if launched out of my apartment and into the stratosphere, even though logically I know I never left the couch. There’s quick flashes of light on the backs of my eyelids in greys, blues, browns, whites, but nothing concrete enough to make sense of. \n\nThe surging motion comes to an abrupt halt before resuming at what feels like a walking pace. I open my eyes, but everything is still dark. Blurred images start coming into focus and my other senses kick back in.\n\nThe first thing I notice is that it’s cold, so very cold. Its spring back home but it feels like the dead of winter wherever I am now. The comfy couch I was on before is no longer soft and welcoming, and the sensation of movement is even stronger. \n\nThe second thing I notice is that while my sight isn’t back up to snuff yet, my sense of smell sure is, and not a single pleasant or even neutral odor made its way into my nose. I could smell old sweat, animals, and some metallic one that I couldn’t identify.\n\nThe third thing I notice is the sound of snow crunching under wheels and the soft and consistent pattern of an animal walking. I lift my head and I hear with a dreaded familiarity:\n\n“Hey, you. You're finally awake. You were trying to cross the border, right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that\nthief over there.”",
"The rythm of my fingers banging on the table was intensifying. Five minutes have passed and nothing happened. Maybe there was a catch to it and I didn't know what it was. I started faking a meditation like I saw monks did in movies but siting in the lotus position did nothing for me. \n\n\" This is bullshit ! \" I say in a loud voice. I live alone so there is nobody that can hear me. Actually it wouldn't be too pleasant if someone were to walk on me all drugged up on the floor, drools on my chin. Although it could have been a good idea to share the experience with someone. Oh, someone... I miss having someone in my life...\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI start walking through my room in circles waiting for it to happen without even realizing fifteen minutes have passed and still nothing ! What a waste of money and expectations. Wait ! That's it! High expectations ruin the experience. I need to lay off, relax. I lay in my bed counting the dots on the ceiling. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nAnother fifteen minutes pass and still nothing, this is bullshit. Wait, did I say that out loud ? Meh, doesn't really matter. It's as if I am so focused on this thing working I don't even know if I'm thinking for myself or out loud. \n\nWhat should I do next ? I'm indecisive. Should I just blow this away and go out , grab something to eat ? Or... scratch that... I'll stay in today, I'm too lazy. Maybe I'll just watch a movie... although that book i started was quite interesting.\n\nYou know what, scratch all of this, I don't want my post to be lame. Wait... what is happening ? Are you writing this as I am doing and saying these things ?...\n\n&#x200B;\n\n&#x200B;\n\n&#x200B;",
"The Man's fists were clenched hard, sweat seeping through the cracks in his knuckles as his pupils grew with unstoppable momentum, the dark circles creeping out from their earthbound vessels, spilling across his skin and into his mouth, permeating his senses with the deepest darkness.\n\nThen, a spark. A glimmer of light in the tenebrous void, rushing towards him with an astonishing speed, again covering his mortal flesh with its essence, photons dancing across the mottled skin like flies on rotting food; without aim or reason, but with unbridled excitement.\n\nThe Man found himself lay on the cobbles of some unknown town, rain lashing against his face as vicious whips, with a roaring thunder crushing his eardrums like the voice of gods. Dragging himself from the cobbles, The Man gazed down the street, unending darkness invading his senses, darkness that not a streetlight nor a lantern could hope to illuminate, an inky cloak draped across the streets of this lonely hamlet. The Man felt himself locked in place, shackles of paralysis holding his feet to the ground as the thunder cleared, replaced by a deep rumbling from the veil of darkness.\n\nSomething was coming.\n\n(All I can bother writing at the moment, the creative juices aren't really flowing that much tonight)"
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[removed] | [WP] The worst part of being a ruler is that you must make other people bear the cost of your decisions. Or maybe that's the best part? | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/Hrtzy, 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 100 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 \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\nPeople are likely to just write \"It's the best part!\" instead of a story, unfortunately.\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/a4ztet/-/%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.*",
"\"So, Miss Parker, you say that *you* were the one who fired the gun?\"\n\nEyes low, she nodded.\n\nThe prosecutor bit the inside of his cheek. \"Mhm. And you were also the one who mangled the other victim's face with a razor?\"\n\nAgain, she nodded.\n\nThe prosecutor snapped his file shut and leaned on the stand. \"And let me guess...you were the one who used the baseball bat on the third victim, as well?\" \n\nShe nodded.\n\nThe courtroom started to murmur. The jurors in the jury box shook their heads. They weren't buying it.\n\nThe prosecutor smiled. \"You can imagine why the court would find it hard to believe that a petite, 5 foot 4 inch woman such as yourself was able to kill three people at the same time, one of them being 6 foot 7.\" \n\nHer eyes flashed, irked by his comments on her height. \"You don't *have* to believe it. They broke into my house and I did what I had to do.\"\n\nThe prosecutor chuckled. \"Who are you protecting, Miss Parker?\"\n\nFor a moment, her eyes shifted to me in the crowd. But she quickly shifted them back to the smug-faced man in her face and said, in a low voice, \"Nobody.\"\n\nThe glance had been only a split-second, but the prosecutor caught it. Almost like he had been waiting for it, even. \"Is it him?\" he asked, turning and pointing directly at me.\n\nThe whole court looked with him.\n\n\"I don't know him,\" she lied, like we had rehearsed. \n\n\"Miss Parker, let me remind you that you *are* under oath. Is that man not the father of one your kids?\"\n\nShe hesitated, glancing at me for help.\n\nI nodded, giving her permission.\n\n\"Yes...\" she answered. \"But I still don't know him. We just had sex a coupla times.\"\n\nHe nodded like he understood. \"A couple of times,\" he addressed the court. \"And she claims that she doesn't know him. Even though he's also the father of one of her kids \"\n\nThe courtroom chuckled nervously. \n\nThe prosecutor turned back to my baby momma and asked, \"So why was he at your place that day - well, *night*, rather?\"\n\n\"To drop off his son.\" She shrugged.\n\n\"And this was before or after the three men broke into your home?\"\n\n\"Before. Wait. No, after. Wait...\"\n\n\"Well?\" The prosector pressed, patient. \"Which was it?\"\n\nShe took a deep breath and exhaled. \"Before.\"\n\n\"Are you sure?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"But he was there when the cops arrived?\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n\"Isn't it in the police report?\"\n\n\"Yes, but I want to hear it from you.\"\n\n\"I don't know,\" she said, shrugging out of habit. \"He forgot his chain or something and came to get it back.\"\n\nThe prosecutor smiled, but you could tell he was mad from how tight his lips were. \"You know what I think? I think *he* killed them, and you're just covering for him.\"\n\nShe remained silent.\n\n\"Is it worth it?\" He continued. \"Spending the rest of your life behind bars for him? Do you love him that much? What did he promise you? That he'll make sure your kids are alright? Or, what, did he threatened you? Huh? Is that it?\"\n\n\"OBJECTION!\" Her lawyer finally called out. \n\n\"Sustained,\" the judge said.\n\nThe prosecutor stared her down coldly, before adjusting his vest. \"That's all,\" he said, walking away. \n\nDespite confessing to the murders, she didn't have to serve any time because the court decided that she had acted in self defense.\n\nAfter we got out of court and got in my car, I turned to her and smiled. \"You were great up there, baby. Where do you want to go to celebrate?\"\n\nShe stared out the window and gave me the cold shoulder.\n\nI laughed and started the car. \"You mad?\" I asked, but when she didn't reply, I turned the car off. \"What's wrong with you? Why you mad for? I told you they couldn't charge you for nothing. What did the court say, 'justifiable homicide' or something?\"\n\nShe still wasn't talking, so I tried to joke with her:\n\n\"Look, you're not going to be in *my* car and not say anything to me.\"\n\nShe reached for the door handle to get out but I locked the doors. Tired of the games, I reached over, grabbed her by the chin and turned her face towards me.\n\nCall me naive, but the last thing I expected to see was her crying. \n\n\"Yooo, what's up with you?\" I blurted. \"Get some napkins out the whatchacallit. The, uhm, the glove compartment.\" \n\nBut she wouldn't listen. If anything, she started crying *harder*. So I reached over to the glove compartment and got some for her. \n\n\"Here. Take that and wipe your face.\" The napkins I thrusted over fell, untouched, in her lap.\n\nI don't know. Crying makes me uncomfortable. Not only is a sign of weakness, but it makes me feel *powerless* if I can't do anything to stop it. \n\nSo I sat there irritated, really thinking about unlocking the doors and letting her walk. But just as I started to countdown, I heard her murmuring through her sobs:\n\n\"P-p-please... do-don't.... ma-ma-ma-make...me.... d-d-do... that... a-ag-again....\"\n\nSo she was upset about me making her confess to the murders I commited. Oh okay. That made sense. \n\nI swung my arm around and her and pulled her in. \"Don't worry,\" I told her. \"I *promise* you. I'll *never* put you in that type of position again.\"\n\nAt the moment, I honestly felt like what I was saying was all true. But time would tell that, when you're ruler of the streets, life has a funny way of making you break a lot of promises.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"
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[WP] You thought it was nonsense, a joke. But then the contractor presented the reward and the proof to back it up. So your PMC took the contract. So this was it. The opportunity of a life time. Billions of dollars as the reward. Everyone knew the job: Bring down the Church of Scientology. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"2.2 billion. The price was displayed on the computer screen, and I had no other choice. What does one say after being offered 2.2 billion dollars, tax-free? All I knew was The Church of Scientology had enemies unseen. In a corporate headquarters of the Church, a desk sat in a lush office, with a pad of paper set out to allow the reincarnation of L. Ron Hubbard to write his next novel. It was my job to see to it that it never happened.\n\nSo the plan was maniacally simple. We would give the Church what it wanted: the reincarnation of Hubbard, in the form of a young boy by the name of Phillip Darwin. We had the idea to infiltrate the Church from within the corporation itself. An inside job of epic proportions.\n\nWe trained Phillip with all of the beliefs, philosophies and knowledge involved in Scientology, and had a full psychological brief and behavior file on Hubbard, with a little help from excommunicated members of the Church. We groomed him to be a functioning Thetan. A Thetan is the word for a human’s spirit. Hubbard believed that when we were Thetans, we co-created this consensus reality, then became trapped in this cycle of reincarnation. Sounds like a mish-mash of Buddhism and Gnosticism, but that’s what you get when a science fiction writer plays Jesus.\n\nSo I trained Phillip to talk, act and behave like Hubbard. We gave him visualization exercises, had him repeat Hubbard’s affirmations, the works. On the day of our meeting at the corporate headquarters in California, I went over the details of our plan once more with Phillip.\n\n“What is the main principle of life?” I said.\n\n“Survival,” Phillip said.\n\n“And What are you?”\n\n“Clear.”\n\n“And what makes you clear?” I asked.\n\n“My perceptions of an optimal magnitude, and my sense perceptions are completely accurate.”\n\n*Spoken like a true Manchurian candidate.*\n\n“OK, go inside, and good luck,” I said. “Remember, you’re doing the right thing.”\n\nI felt a twinge of guilt, and those words left a bitter taste in my mouth. Two hours later, Phillip rejoined me, and told me all about his interview.\n\n“So they bought it,” I said.\n\n“Hook line and sinker. Can I have my money yet?”\n\n“Soon. We need to talk about the next steps. You’re in the loop now, but we’ve got to ramp up our effort. We’ll be in touch next week.”\n\nI spent the next week solidifying the scheme. He would be anointed as the reincarnation of Ron Hubbard, and be accepted as the chosen one. Then we would rip him out from under them, like pulling a rug below their feet.\n\nThe next week we set our plan into action. Phillip ingratiated himself with the whole corporate board of the religion, and many champagne glasses were clinked over the course of the next month. I continued to correspond with Phillip, and was briefed on the happenings within the corporation. He shared hidden details, secrets that would crush the church to its very foundation.\n\nI accumulated this trove of secrets, and kept meticulous notes. After three months, I had enough dirt to rip the Church apart, and called back my Manchurian candidate.\n\n“OK, your money is in here.” I held up a briefcase for him to view. “Two million dollars, unmarked.”\n\nHe looked down then up, and stared at me with uncomfortable eyes.\n\n“All you have to do now is call the press conference, and give your speech,” I said.\n\nPhillip nodded, and we left to eat some lunch at his favorite restaurant. Five days later, it was the day of the press conference. Everybody who was anybody was present, and no news outlet failed to attend.\n\nThe auditorium was packed, with a blue fabric backdrop and blinding halogen lighting above, illuminating the main podium. When the time arrived, Phillip accepted the microphone, and started the speech we’d rehearsed during the previous week.\n\n“...that’s why, from this day forward, I renounce any affiliation with The Church of Scientology,” Phillip said.\n\nThe crowd shook, and cried. Some people fainted. A couple reporters chuckled softly.\n\nAnd that was the end of the Church. Without it’s leader, people lost faith in the institution, and that crack in the facade collapsed the whole structure from within the foundation itself.\n\nPhillip certainly gained more than a few enemies that day, but he’s in the witness protection program, and has more than enough money to live off of, if he invests it wisely.\n\nAs for me, I’ve retired from the biz. There aren’t any other churches to take out, and nothing else has quite the challenge of demolishing an entire religious cult. So now I just have to figure out how to spend 2 billion bucks.\n\nMaybe I’ll start a religion."
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[removed] | [WP] The Bell tolls for a change, it is time for the new generations Hosemen to be announced. The legions stand ready to receive the bane's of the new masters. Gone are the old fears, only to be replaced with.... | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi, 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 100 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 Feel free to repost without the question or fill-in-the-blank element!\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 Post) 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] You find out the night you lost your virginity that every time you have intercourse sex, your gender changes. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi, 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- 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 Post) 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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"1544489133",
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[removed] | [WP] "Would you like to game a play of cards? Win and you lose, live and you die." You have never lost a game, and now cheating is accusing you of Death. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/RealmOfTheFroms, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**No recent reposts, even if changing small details**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_5.3A_no_recent_reposts.2C_even_if_changing_small_details)\n\nAlso, no [copy-cats](http://i.imgur.com/38FjDgW.gifv).\n\nSearch before submitting as popular ideas can cause floods. If your idea is based on something you read elsewhere on reddit, chances are it's been submitted here already. Please wait at least 2 weeks before reposting.\n\n \n\n\n\n---\n\n[Modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FWritingPrompts&subject=Removed%20post&message=https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/a56c7r/-/%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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Don't be afraid to write something weird, be afraid you'll write something generic. Physical traits =/=intelligence or any other personality traits, other than that go wild! | [WP] You can transfer any physical trait from one willing person to another, be it height, looks or even illnesses. Now you want to push this power to its limits. | 34 | [
"**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*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Passed down through the ages, the ability now yours had been passed to you from your father, as had his father and so on. And today was the big day of your lifetime. Sometimes you get to do more than one of these, but one is almost always certain. \n\nThere was always someone willing to take the trade. Always. And you had found the new taker. \n\nThe tall, blonde, caramel skinned, athletically built man was standing ready to give up all his traits for the one, the one that your father passed on from someone else to the man now having it, and his before him and so on. You turn to the young man for the final confirmation needed to do the transfer. \n\n\"Alright Ron, are you willing to give up your height, hair, skin, muscle build and youth for the worlds largest penis?\". \n\n\"Yes\".\n"
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"1544540937",
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[WP] A master sword smith once made a blade so perfect that it gained sentience, and when it’s not on adventures with heroes who pay exorbitant amounts to rent it, it spends its days “helping” its creator around the forge. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"“Tyeren! Where is my scabbard?”\n\n“... I’m using it. Why?”\n\n“*Why?* You know this is my scheduled time for naps! Now give it back!”\n\nI was not having it today. What was Tyeren thinking, taking my bed? I was hoping to sleep today, after that last quest. Sketchy-looking wizard hiring me for a month, only to plant me into a rock so a kid pull me out and declare him “king”. Wizards don’t know jack on how to handle a sword, I tell you!\n\nSliding into the forge, it doesn’t take me long to find Tyeren, or T as I call him. Always beside his smelter, he is. I swear he’d be immune to flames with how often he’s making weapons. Ever since he made me he’s always been there.\n\n“Ark! What is this?” No.. Was he using my scabbard as a mold? How dare him? Was I not good enough for his business? I would have cut him into pieces if he hadn’t made me, I swear!\n\nTurning around, T has the edge to look at me with surprise. “What, is something wrong?” Those words fumble through his soot-covered beard. \n\n“You know what’s wrong, T!” I hum in fury, visibly shaking, “You know that’s my scabbard! No weapon goes in that scabbard but me! So what’s the deal, huh! Trying to make a better sentient sword than me? Someone bought me off? How much, huh?”\n\n“Whoa, Cal! Calm down!” T waves his hands at me, as if trying to calm me down. It’s then that I notice the piles of broken swords beside him, all cracked up while one is left forgotten in the forge. “This isn’t anything like that!”\n\nMy sides could be sweating poison for all I care. “So what *is* the deal, then?” I point my hilt my tip towards my scabbard, balancing myself on my hilt. “This isn’t the pile I tried to make with you before I left. What gives?”\n\nI can feel his sigh across my blade. Lucky for me I can’t smell, because I don’t remember the last time T washed that mouth of his. That gem he had placed on me gave me sight and hearing, grand as it was.\n\n“You see, i’ve been wondering about you.” T fumbles, tapping the blunt of my blade with his big hands. “Don’t you feel... lonely?”\n\n“What do you mean, lonely? I’ve got you around here. Are you telling me you’re seeing a girl without telling me? At least tell me she’s into weapons unlike that barmaid of last time...”\n\nI can see his face go as red as the flames in the forge. “No! Nothing like that.” He laughs, before pointing back at me. “You’ve never met another speaking swords during your adventures, have you?”\n\nHuh. He was right. Out of all the quests i’ve been taken into over the past three years, i’ve only met that sentient axe, and god was that a pain in itself. Bloodthirsty and dull-mannered, that fella. “No. Why?”\n\n“Well, wouldn’t you.. you know.. have someone else you could relate to?” T turns to the side, contemplating the broken swords. “Wouldn’t you want someone just like you, so you wouldn’t be the only talking sword?”\n\nNow that’s something I wasn’t expecting that brute to ask. Sure, I was one of a kind! People around the realms wanted me around, why would I need another sword just like me? It’s not like I needed someone, right?\n\nI could feel a cold pang grow in my hilt at the thought. Talking to people all the time does get kinda boring, come to think of it. It’s hard to relate to their issues and lifestyle. Even talking with T, master forge as some call him, can be hard. Holding onto bars, gathering materials, loose joints, that’s all something I can’t relate to.\n\n“Alright, sure. Maybe having someone like me would be nice. You’re telling me you’re trying to do it?” I hop over, making sure not to accidentally skewer T’s head while I walk near him. \n\nSteel, steel, some silver here and there. Trash magical sword materials, I tell ya. “First things first, you need so good gear to make someone like me again. Dragon bones, Mermaid fur, all tha-“ \n\n“Yeah? What about that?” God, T. I turn around to face him, even if he see’s that I have no face.\n\n“You want me to go on some quests to go looking for materials. Don’t you.” I can feel myself going blunt as I ask him that. No way he’d be able to get those materials again after making me. He said it himself that they were just so rare to find at a buying price.\n\n“Whatever, i’ll do it.” I shuffle, pushing myself into my bed before getting back up to face him. “Just gimme a week rest before you start accepting any more buyers. A sword needs it’s beauty sleep.”\n\nGod, what did I get myself into. "
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[removed] | [WP] You’re a Christmas Tree and it’s your turn to be sacrificed. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Hi u/rycbaroswin, this submission has been removed.\n\n[**Prompt users in the title, but don't play writing games or commission stories**](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_6.3A_prompt_users_in_the_title.2C_but_don.27t_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/a5cjwo/-/%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] The sounds of childrens' terror or laughter have become obsolete. Now, to produce energy, the workers of "Monsters Inc." must harvest something entirely different altogether. They need nostalgia. | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"The monsters sat slumped in their seats in the boardroom. They lay across the long table, take out containers pushed in the middle and falling to the floor. At the head of the table was the head of Monsters Inc, Mr. Sully. He too was slumped in his seat, his eyes half open. Meanwhile, Mike Wazowski was busy taking drops into his large, blood shot eye. \n\n“Listen everyone,” he groaned, “we’re almost done with 90s. After this we go into the 2000s and then-“\n\n“I can’t! I can’t do it,” a monster with long purple hair and five eyes stood up. “It’s hard enough to learn our own history, we have to learn every bit of the humans?” \n\n“Jerry, sit down. You just be lucky we’re not representing the older countries. They have to go back even further.” \n\n“Hey, so were the bad haircuts in the 80s or the 90s,” another monster asked.\n\n“They all have bad hair cuts,” Mike said, “come on guys. This is the last orientation group. I don’t wanna be here either. I’m the one who had to do the presentations.” \n\nSully began snoring heavily. All eyes snapped to him. Mike rolled his eye and with out missing a beat, gave a quick slap across Sully’s cheek. Sully was up on his feet. \n\n“Hey how about that Super Bowl Win? Heck of a game. Those Yankees can really dribble,” he stammered off. \n\n“Sully I don’t have enough time to explain everything wrong with what you said. Everyone, please turn to page 1.007. ‘The Fall of the Boy Band.’” \n\n“Oh wow, really? I really liked the Backstreet Boys,” a monster with shaggy hair said. \n\n“Yes Todd,” Mike snapped his fingers, “that energy and passion right there. Find what you like, attach to it, use it to keep the people talking and fill up these sweet, sweet Nostalgia Canister.” \n\n“Should we just consider alternate energy?” \n\n“Jerry, if you bring that up again you’ll be out of a job. Now when we last left N’Sync their fearless leader had left them, because he had better things to go and music to produce.” \n\n“And he can act!” \n\n“Skipping ahead,” Mike said, “don’t skip ahead.” \n\nSully had gone back to sleep but he didn’t snore. Not until much, much later in the meeting. "
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"1544580936",
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[removed] | [WP] Music Machines | 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\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
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"1544591041",
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[WP] You've decided to go back in time to stop the Great War. You're going to kill Franz Ferdinand, and prevent him from starting it. | 8 | [
"**Off-Topic Discussion**: All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n#####Reminder for Writers and Readers:\n* Prompts are meant to inspire new writing. Responses don't have to fulfill every detail.\n\n* Please remember to [be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback.\n\n-----\n\n[](#icon-help)[^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) \n[](#icon-information)[^(First Time Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n[](#icon-exclamation)[^(Special Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n[](#icon-comments)[^(Click For Our Chatrooms)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/chat)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"Bob, we didn't spend five years refining time travel not to use it,\" I said, allowing the vacuum tubes to warm up as I checked the continuity stabilizing algorithms, \"the vectors all check out, the CSB confirms it. Franz Ferdinand goes, and the event chain falls apart.\"\n\nBob shook his head sadly as he slowly slumped to the floor, the handcuffs attaching him to the desk gently clinking. \"I can't believe someone who is this smart is also this stupid. Those projections are just that: projections. Guesses. The computers can be wrong, by a factor of. . . .shit, I don't know. Several powers.\"\n\nThe status board indicator lights were gently clicking over from red to green while the power meters continued to climb. I always found more than a bit of irony that mind-bending time travel technology depended on the use of vacuum tubes; despite all our research, we never found another way to beat the electromagnetic pulse effect that comes from time travel. So while I didn’t have to pack plutonium, be struck by lightning or get it up to 88 mph, I did have to wait while my time machine warmed up.\n\n\"For God's sake, think of Marcia! The projections didn't see that coming! The CSB was wrong!\" cried Bob.\n\nDr. Marcia Halpford was the computer scientist who had designed the CSB - the Continuity Stabilizing Benchmark. A bland name for the very powerful series of computers that could project the likelihood of possible timeline change effects. It eliminated many of the dangers we anticipated, or at least, we thought it did. Except that our first minus 4 test, where Bob and I went forward and back 4 years, had unintended consequences when it came to Dr. Halpford.\n\nThe CSB had shown complete stability in the minus 4 test. We closed the switches and traveled 4 years back to the empty warehouse of that era, recorded some radio and television signals for confirmation, and cycled back to milliseconds after we'd left. *We didn't even leave the control room of the machine.*\n\nDr. Halpford didn't recognize her own code when we returned; in fact, she was stunned we had made the trip at all considering the projection computation problems that remained unsolved. When we had left she was the tests biggest proponent. When we returned, she acted like Bob and I were merely supposed to be running diagnostics, not performing a live test. In our timeline, she had solved the projection problems. In the \"new\" now, her own solutions were unrecognizable to her, and seemed like answers from heaven. She had been severely spooked and intrigued, and thought we should suspend further tests. Bob concurred, while I most strenuously did not.\n\nThe result of the minus 4 was a bit disconcerting, but hardly a reason to not take the next step, to do the sorts of things that had driven the project in the first place. It was all so obvious to me. Why couldn't Bob see it? Why did he have to try and stop me? What had happened to Dr. Halpford was so small in comparison to the possibilities that lay before us, that lay before me. I could save millions of lives, prevent the destruction of entire nations, change history for the better!\n\n“What happens if it doesn’t work?” sobbed Bob as he watched me load the pistol. “What if it all goes sideways? What’s your plan then? Go further back? Eliminate Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg? Have lunch with Leopold Berchtold and slip a little something into his soup? Once you unplug from the CSB, you’ll be flying blind! You could come back to us not knowing who you are! You could come back to absolutely nothing!”\n\nThe last indicator light switched to green, and the high voltage hum of the tubes seemed to me to be the cry of a chorus of angels. I confirmed that the place and time program coordinates had been locked in, disconnected the CSB umbilical connector, and closed up the panels. I gave the gun and ammo in my pocket a reassuring pat, and turned back to Bob one last time. I got to within an arm’s length and crouched down so that we were eye-to-eye.\n\n“What happens if I don’t come back at all Bob? What if I skip the CSB entirely and just go forward, as far as I can, and see for myself? Better yet, what if I just put a bullet in Franz and destroy the machine? You’ll get to read about me as a minor footnote in history, some unknown crackpot who showed up out of nowhere and murdered a minor member of the Hapsburg line,” I said, giving Bob a grim smile before I straightened up and strode to the time projector.\n\n“You’re mad. Mad! You’ll destroy everything with this recklessness,” screamed Bob, yanking so hard on the cuffs that he began to bleed from his wrist, “it wasn’t supposed to be used like this! We agreed! You agreed!”\n\nIt was true, I had agreed. But that was in the past, and I had to smile pleasantly as I closed the hatch and engaged the time circuits. The past was something I now had in the palm of my hand, and it stretched before me so gloriously I felt it might swallow me whole.",
"I was called to the Associate Director's office. As I walked to the office, people looked at me and said *tsk-tsk* and *tut-tut*. I got the sinking feeling something was wrong and it was my fault.\n\nI knocked on the door. \"Come in,\" said the AD.\n\nThe AD's office was painted in a soulless brown color. Boxes holding broken shards of spacetime weighed down sagging shelves. His desk was stacked with scrolls and tablets. \"Sit down,\" said the AD.\n\nI pulled up a metal folding chair. It was cold sitting.\n\n\"So, how was the mission?\" asked the the AD in a interested voice.\n\n\"Er, a success?\" \n\n\"Killed Franz Ferdinand, did you? Stopped The Great War?\" The AD game me a brittle smile.\n\n\"Wet work always makes me squeamish. I, um, used the big killer robot, the one from 2035, the one where the AIs go nuts and kill everyone whose last name starts with the letter 'S'.\"\n\nThe AD blinked his eyes. \"You didn't see any issue using a murderous robot with a programming glitch?\"\n\n\"Umm,\" I said. \"It did say it accomplished the objective, killed Franz Ferdinand and all.\"\n\nThe AD leaned forward. His chair creaked. \"Did you know there was a musical group in the early 21st called Franz Ferdinand? Had a hit, 'Take Me Out.'\"\n\n\"Oh, no,\" I cringed.\n\n\"Oh, yes. That killbot certainly *took them out*.\"\n\nI looked down at my shoes.\n\n\"So, go down to Reorientation and fix your mess.\"\n\nI nodded and wondered how I was going to stop the killbot.\n\nThe AD said, \"Don't let us down.\"\n\nLeaving the AD's office I [remembered...](https://youtu.be/Ijk4j-r7qPA)\n\n\n\n"
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