Split (3)

train · 273k rows

prompt stringlengths 5 331	story stringlengths 404 40.3k
[ WP ] Once you turn 18 , you get a different task every day that you must complete in order to survive the day . You wake up , sees the task for today and begin to doubt the chances of you surviving the day .	I woke up and looked at my watch instinctively. Reminder, check task board for daily routine. It was 9:00AM in my bedroom. I slithered out of bed and silently got dressed. It was the second day of my being, or my real being. I was tasked with things, real things. Adult things. For the first day, it had been easy. The small task read, GET A JOB FOR FINANCIAL SECURITY. I'm assuming that I passed that since I had a part-time job working as a janitor at the lab and another part-time job as a waiter in the local cafe. It was odd when the day passed and nothing occurred to my being. While putting on my shoes, I noticed that I had a bloody nose. Nothing out of the normal since it was the winter and it was an incredibly dry year. Little moisture also meant that shoveling the sidewalk would be easy with the soft light stuff. I decided to skip breakfast and finish my chores before retrieving my task at the main center. Take out the trash, collect the mail, shovel the sidewalk for the apartment. It was all done by 10:14AM. Before I went out to the center, I went inside and switched my scarf. Making my way out to the center was easy enough. Travel was subsidized and the buses were getting to the stop on time more frequently. Being a Sunday, there were few passengers. I sat down near the front of the bus, humming to myself a tune that I had heard in the shops the otherday. Glancing around, it also appeared that others were on their way to the center. A girl to my left looked petrified. `` Hey, why so glum?'' Her pale face, shocked that someone had talked to her went white. She immediately dropped her head and stared at her shoes. Weird, I thought. A few of us got off at the center. I decided to trounce on the opportunity and bounce out of the bus first. I was feeling good about this task and decided to stroll in confidently. The warm moist air hit my face and disoriented myself for a moment. Then the out of date freshener kicked in. A sour lemony smell, mixed in with sweat and undergarments filled my nostrils. I took a number and quietly sat down near the back. There were n't many people, but the ones that were there looked as pale as the girl on the bus. Speaking of which, that girl was sitting beside me, not even moments after I had sat down. Only then did I become suspicious. In her hand was a small ragged piece of paper. I did n't take notice of it since i assumed it was her number in line. Then there was a bit of writing on it. Neatly written, capital letters. It read... B... E... A... It was scrunched up quickly as she noticed me looking. I blushed and was about to apologize when they called out my number. `` Fifteen!'' I walked casually over to the counter and lean against the plastic top. `` What's my assignment?'' `` Here, take this slip of paper. Locker 4, here are the keys. The instructions are inside. You have 24 hours.'' Her wide eye spectacles were rose rimmed. Her face sagged. She did n't even look up. Nervously, I took the keys and headed for my locker. I had never heard of this kind of assignment. Not that people talked much about them.'' Opening the locker, there was only a black leather jacket and a pack of smokes. Inside the inner jacket did I find a slip of paper. It read, Pick me up at the Seventy Cocks bar at exactly 5:30PM tonight. The keys are in the left pocket. The car is a pink Evolve in the back lot of the impound lot. Find a way to get it. An odd request. I searched for the keys and found them in the right pocket, despite what the note had said. I walked out, wearing the new jacket and headed home. It was already 10:30AM. I kept on reading the instructions, over and over again. Then it hit me. This was a mafioso car that I need to get from the police impound lot that they had discovered several weeks back. The Seventy Cocks bar was a well known established group of corrupt cops that ran a string of gambling rings in the west area. Today was about to get a lot worse.
[ WP ] `` Um , Miss . You do know icebreaking activities do n't actually involve ice ? ''	[ 511 words ] With a humongous yawn of grandeur I reach across the bed to wake my girlfriend, but my hand plants onto an empty spot of the bedsheets. After looking around the entire house, I peek out the window to find her. `` Dudette, what are you doing out here?'' Bros across the world, I met my other half at the park while I was contemplating the meaning of life with my butt firmly planted upon the wooden bench along her jogging route last year -- -but alas! This woman does not seem to understand figurative language at all dudes. She turns her shining green eyes up at me, then she blushes that cute shade of pink that's probably going to make me overlook whatever she's about to say. `` I-I just thought... you said I needed to break the ice with your parents this weekend. At first, I thought it was going to be really hard but... I think it's working.'' The little lady is shivering out here in the 23° degree weather, breaking ice off my parents' Jeep. There's such a determined look on her face too. Whenever she puts her mind to something, there's just no stopping her. `` Babe, no. This activity is quite lit, I must say, but I did mean that you should get to know them better.'' She nods her head in embarrassment. The flush in milady's smooth cheeks brightens, spreading down her neck and into her ears. No! Do n't look so sad... `` You have done well, but screw the car, my love!'' My dude, now she bends over to rummage through her tool box, pulling out a screwdriver with deliberation when she springs up to her dainty feet. `` Will this work?'' `` Beautiful girl, let me explain the world of metaphors to you. Come hither.'' She snuggles into my chest, and I give her my warmest bear hug around her shoulders while I proclaim facts. `` Figures of speech, muffin. It's when you say something, but you do n't really mean it.'' `` Is n't that like lying, sweet honey bear?'' Loudly clearing my throat, I start to sweat dudes. How do I explain this magical form of wordplay? Did I just lie to her? No way in waveforms, man. `` Lying is when you try to trick someone, like that time I told my righthand bro that cheese tasted like spoilt applesauce so I could munch upon his snacks.'' `` Oh... were they tasty?'' `` Yes, they were a finger-licking brand of tasty. But I was wrong and lying is bad! A figure of speech is... uh... when what you say has another meaning, one that everyone understands already.'' A soft'mhm' sound leaves her lips while she thinks about this. My princess is learning the art of word slingshots, slowly but surely. We'll take it slow from now on with one oddly placed metaphor at a time. With a light brush of my hand, I tuck her hair behind her ear and nuzzle her nose with mine. `` Hey, let's get back inside before I freeze my... before we catch a cold out here.''
[ WP ] When I was 16 my father pulled me out of school and shoved me in the car . His eyes did n't leave the road as he threw a gun in my lap and said , `` We 're going to get your mother . ''	`` We're going to get your mother.'' Taken aback by everything, I simply nodded my head. I was sixteen and prepared for this moment. I quickly opened the door and dove out of the moving vehicle. That's what I would have done if I had unlocked the door first, but a firm fist held me down. I do n't recall the exact words that he yelled at my bare pasty white fear filled face, but I remember the word `` pussyfooting'' and `` coward.'' By the time I had another chance and unlocked the door, we were swinging on the highway. I fingered the gun in my lap, thinking of other devious yet meaningless ways to exit the car. I decided that the car losing sudden control due to an excess of blood, shortage of brain would be more painful than not, so I hid that scenario in the back of my mind and thought about my mother. I never knew my mother. `` That's the place.'' He did n't have to point it out. It was a gray building, topped off with a faux Victorian styled roof, separated to humanity by a fifteen foot guarded fence. Electric, probably. In the middle of no where, in a car that I had no business being in, with a gun in the middle of my lap, I was sure in for a doozy. We were just outside the city, when I had the bright idea to ask where we were. `` Gotham Asylum.''
[ WP ] `` If you had been there , would you have cared ? '' she asked `` No '' I muttered , ashamed at the nuclear holocaust spread out before me . `` You had the power to save them '' she said in a matter of fact tone . I just looked on .	There was a time when green trees, fresh water, company that didn ’ t wave weapons in your face, were the norm. Barely tangible memory dance out of reach of my cold fingers, taunting me as I lie beside my sister. She stirs in her sleep, cramming herself further against my side in a futile effort to escape the bone-numbing cold the nights always bring. I close my eyes, listening to the stillness of the night. The only sound to be heard beside the sound of my sister ’ s breathing is the cruel snap of the flag attached to my motorcycle as it is battered by the bitter winds. A deep breath, a vision passes beneath my eyelids of a happier time. Smiling mother. Loving girlfriend. A dog. I force my eyes open and stare at the roof of the makeshift tent. Those times are gone now, the more I dwell on them the more it ’ d weigh me down and slow my progress. I have to survive now, if not for myself than for my sister. Family, my brain supplies. I crush the feeling with a sneer. Those who feel in this world doom themselves and others. -- “ Hey, Arin? ” I look to my sister, she smiles and jostles my shoulder with hers. “ What is it? ” My voice is tired and rough, yet she seems to like the sound judging by how her smile grows. “ You need to smile more, bro, you worry me sometimes. You are always frowning. ” She laughs, humourless and brittle. I wince, realising that she is going through the same stuff as I am, even worse because of losing her kids. “ I know. ” It ’ s all you can say, really. Guilt gnaws at my stomach, I open my mouth to tell her— “ I found this, though. ” She produces a dirtied, bent can. I smile, the feeling foreign and painful as she rubs her thumb over the faded paper. “ Fruits ‘ n Bits. Sounds delicious. I ’ ll share it with you only if you tell me a story. ” I sigh, realising to fight with her over this would be as futile as willing the world to turn back to a nicer time. “ Alright, crack it open. ” I clear my throat, settle my hands on the knees of my threadbare jeans. “ A long time ago…. ” -- I lost track of time. It seems like years have gone by, the guilt of my secret weighing on my mind. I decide to tell her tonight. “ Hey, Sarah. ” She perks up at the sound of her name, smile leaving at the sight of my grim expression. “ I think I need to tell you something. ” “ Yeah, sure, go ahead. ” Her usual playfulness tamped down, replaced with worry and fear. Her eyes sparkle with them in the dull evening night. I vaguely recall a memory of us talking the night of her eighteenth birthday, sitting out back, drinking and watching the stars. “ You know how this all came to be… ” I start, trying to find the words to tell her it is my fault, all of this, the death, the pain, the chaos. “ Yeah, bombs and shit, crazy stuff, spare me the history lesson, Arin. ” “ I, uh… Shit, Sarah… Not just that, your kids... ” I grasp pathetically to find the words. Shutting my mouth when I realise I can ’ t say anything. Nothing I say will soften the blow, make it justifiable like I thought it was at the time. “ Arin. ” She starts. She chews her lip in deliberation before continuing. “ I know. ” The pregnant silence between us is horrible. I swallow, spit dragging uncomfortably on my dry throat. I idly wonder if it is colder, or just the atmosphere between us. “ If you had been there, would you have cared? ” She asks, her voice is small, so unlike the sister I know who is full of life and joy. I turn away, unable to hold her gaze anymore, trying to find something interesting to look at over the scene of dead shrubbery and ruined buildings. “ No. ” I muttered, I muttered, ashamed at the nuclear holocaust spread out before me. It feels as if the word was wrenched out of me. A sharp intake of breath. I turn and look at my sister, she looks so small in the moonlight. `` You had the power to save them.'' She said in a matter of fact tone. I just looked on. Praying she would, could forgive me. “ Yes. ” “ I can ’ t- ” “ I know. ” I look down, studying the dirt beneath my fingernails. “ Jesus. ” “ If he were real I don ’ t think he ’ d have let this happen. ” A mirthless laugh bubbles up her throat and she shakes her head. “ I need time to think about this. ” I nod. On stiff legs I get up and sit outside on my bike, the soft snick of the zipper tells me she won ’ t be wanting my presence tonight. I look to the moon, tiredly shutting my eyes and listening. The only sounds heard are the snap of the flag and the sound of my sister crying.
[ WP ] Humans have left Earth to explore the universe . Millions of years later they return , only to find a new sentient species , who 've been waiting for whoever came before them .	We have returned. Humanity has seen things our ancestors would n't believe. Worlds on fire off the shoulder of the Galactic blackhole as they spiral into its black maw. Fought wars with beings with glittering wings. Built structures larger than the stars them selves. We've watched the sea steam rise off the beaching of the Tannhäuser whales sealing their fate. All those moments, sealed in time. And now the last of humanity has returned home. It is time to die. We are like gods. Old and powerful, rotten and so few. We spiral down to the surface of Earth. Our home. Our mother. Seeking our final absolution by ending the last of our great lives here. She will see our passing. She will embrace us one last time. We spiral down to the surface, aiming for a spot nearest old New York. The old'capital' of the world. We could not land /at/ New York, for the island of Manhtattan has long since slipped below the sea and the banks of the Hudson long since changed with the rising of the seas. 5 million years will ravage world, change the details writ upon its face, yet the tome remains the same. There are twelve of us and we look within each other, into each other's eyes as our shuttle lands upon the surface. The portal morphs open and a ramp extrudes from the ship. We breathe the strange, rich alien air that tastes so much like home. We had decided on cloaks and hoods and file out single file. Monks on a pilgrimage. A last pilgrimage. One last pilgrimage. We will not last long on the surface, a day. It is our time. It is past our time. And we embrace it. The sky is gray with the promise of a miserable rain. It is appropriate. What we find at the bottom shocks us all. Arrayed before us are a multitude. They are not human. Or remotely so. There are multiple species, obviously tool users and intelligent, standing before us. All pre industrial, yet there is no question of their intelligence. If it was remotely accurate to say, they would reek of their brilliance. Two are mammalian. Another pair of species are avian. There is something insectile and another molluscan. There is even one looking like a glorified amphibian. We line up shoulder to shoulder and look on. We, unintentionally, all remove our hoods. As one, they bow as we do so. This was not what we planned. Tentacles plodding and schlumping, a molluscan steps forward from the rest. In a gurgling, yet still fluted voice, `` Welcome, Old Ones. We have been waiting for your return. It has been far too long since the Children of Humanity have seen their elders.'' Shock upon shock. There is no note of anyone having returned to Earth in 3 million years and most species last less than two. These are obviously younger, especially if, in their pre industrial state, they could not remember one of us without the visit being recent. None of us have record of any human visits to Earth. We queried faster than they could know. We are human, but far removed, far beyond, far more from those who left this world. `` We the Created, the Inheritors, honor the Old Ones. The last Human to have visited Earth left something for you, the next visitors, it was a mere two thousand years ago. He left specific instructions to meet you here and give this to you, unmolested and untouched.'' A small box, an ancient wooden box! Of all the things! This is what this secretive, unknown member of our race left. Oh strangeness! Oh quaintness! A tentacle placed the small box in the hand of our leader. She looks down and frowns. It begins to drizzle. `` Who was this person who left this for us?'' she asks. `` We only have names we have made for him. We never spoke his name while he was here. Not during the entirety of our creation, existence or during his visits since.'' Our leader opens the box and it glows. Faintly. Then brighter. Ever brighter. She screams and collapses. The light becomes blinding. The box falls from her hand. The nearest of us reaches to her and then we feel it. Something is in our minds. Crashing into our white matter with all the strength and power of a singularity moving at relativistic speeds. And yet. We hear laughter. It is the last thing we hear. We all shriek, fall and die. The box falls and splashes in the mud. In the bottom, carved lovingly into the wood were four letters: LCFR. Epilogue: Leader shambled away from the gathering. Their creator had stated this was necessary for their protection and ascension. He said knowledge came at a cost and that cost had come due. They would never return to this place. It would be marked as sacred and damned. Strangely, Leader felt odd. Ill. In its own mucousy way, it breathed. Then it coughed. How odd. It shuffled on and for some reason could not rid its mind of the laughter. His laughter. There was an edge to it they'd never known from the Bringer of the Light. Leader coughed much harder.
[ WP ] You stand before the legendary 2 headed monster guarding two doors . One who lies and one who tells the truth . What the legend did n't mention however is that one is a genius and the other is an utter moron , and they would really like for you to fail so they could eat you .	George could n't believe what was standing in front of him. The legendary two-headed Sphinx, ready to eat him. It's said to challenge all those who cross it's path, asking them to spot which of it's heads is lying. ``... And if do not remove the right head, you will be consumed,'' the left head finished his explanation, in a'superior then thou' tone. `` No, you liar! He's supposed to chop off the left head,'' the right head potted, with all the dignity of a three year old. `` Quiet, you imbecile.'' `` Why do you keep using words I do n't know? We're the same person, so should n't you use the same words I do?'' `` Do not bring me down to your level, neanderthal. I'm not related to you at all.'' ... You know, George might of heard wrong when they said that no one got the answer right. George interrupted the head's argument, `` Um, I think I already know which head is lying, but do you mind if I ask the left head something just to be safe?'' `` Just make it quick.'' `` What color is the sky?'' `` Green, obviously,'' the left head said with pride. With that obvious lie, George got out his sword, chopped off the left head... *** ``... And then I ate him,'' the Sphinx concluded. The Minotaur whistled with admiration. `` Making the truth-saying head too stupid to answer the question right and pretending to be dumb enough to reveal the solution. Truly, you've out done yourself.'' `` Thanks. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to regrow my second head, and I want to make sure he thinks he's the smarter one.''
[ WP ] Write love	Love is the tickle in my stomach when she looks back at me. It's the heat I feel coloring my neck when she notices my stare. It's the stumble in my words when I try to say hello. It's the shake of my hands when she giggles at my stammering. Love is days that pass of only saying hello. It's the weeks that form around asking her how her day was. It's the month of guessing interests. It's the day I finally ask her to go bowling. Love is the drinks I bought us at the bowling alley. It's her smile when I mix two sodas together. It's her peal of laughter when she tastes it. It's the first game that she throws so that I do n't feel bad. It's the second game she crushes me in. It's her surprise when we tie in the third game. Love is the flickering light on her porch reflected off of her glasses. It's the two times she drops her keys waiting for me to kiss her. It's napkin she gets me when she stands up too quickly and hits my nose. It's sitting on her couch watching Nickelodeon reruns together. It's her snuggling into my arms after the third episode. Love is waking up on her couch, my arms still wrapped around her, and knowing that I never want to wake up without her again.
[ WP ] You are somehow granted immortality , but you must learn life 's ultimate lesson before the age of 500 years or face extermination .	`` 500 years. That's five centuries, 6000 months, 182625 days - and that's including leap days, mind you - 4383000 hours, 262980000 minutes....it's a long fucking time. You get my point. That was my deadline. That was the length of my immortal life before I had to pay the piper, to use a long-dead colloquial term. I've seen things you would n't believe. I have watched wars rage, people I have loved be born, grow old, and then return to the dust from whence they came. I have lived countless lives on countless worlds. I watched the Lord of Sevens at the opening of the Heaven's Gate. I saw the hunt of the last Star Whale, heard it's mournful cry as it trailed liquid nitrogen into the atmosphere of Pelagius. The skies cried that day, beautiful tears of molten red against the serene shades of lilac. I have felt time wash over me, its river swarm and its rapids stream its quickening meander around me. The universe around me erodes, yet I stay the same. A rock that breaks the rushing tide. A sentinel, a monument to what has come and gone. I was a child. I was a CHILD. You stole me with your sweet words and hollow promises. And I, knowing nothing, let it fill me. If I could go back, to change it, to right my wrong... would I? But that's the lesson, is n't it? Life's ultimate lesson. Death. That all things that live must also die. That to live a life eternal is to not live a life at all. Man was made to live and die. That all my memories are mine and mine alone. They start with me, grow with me, live and laugh and cry with me. And they will die with me, because that's how it must be. To have it otherwise... this immortal toil... Well, there you have it. You have your answer. Now give me my reward.'' The man sobbed, head in his hands. Deep wails, rooted intimately in the soil of his soul. And Death watched. Watched this man, so shattered. Death watched the man that It would not touch, and smiled, satisfied. And so the man sobbed alone and afraid. He had learned the truth. Learned the terrible, burning truth of life. And yet, in spite of that, despite the fact he would live forevermore, he still had n't learned how to live at all.
[ WP ] : Death died . No one knows how or why , but you have been enlisted as the new Death .	Black to brown. A swirl of lighter brown. The two mixed and clouded and moved. My coffee still tasted like shit. I sat at the counter staring intently at my coffee for what seemed like hours. `` Hey!'' `` Wh- what?'' I asked, startled at the interruption. `` You alright?'' `` Yeah, I'm alright, Cindy. Just another day at the office, as they say.'' She was familiar with me, as well as my corny phrases. I was a regular at this place. She did n't know, however, the life I led. That I would outlive her, her grandchildren, and their grandchildren. That I would be the one escorting them out of this world as well. That I was death. I stopped asking why I was death. I just sort of accepted it over time. I was n't born with a scythe in hand, or a skull or a black cloak. I was just an ordinary kid with dreams like everyone else. I played baseball, watched movies, ate hotdogs. I live in a small town: children play in the streets. People laugh together. People die, you bring a casserole. People help each other here. Of course they do n't see me for what I am. And they're friendly. The first time I had to escort someone away from their dead corpse, it was a nasty scene: a guy had crashed his car while drunk into a tree going about sixty miles an hour. His head looked like a tipped-over bowl of chili, as his head went through the windshield and smashed against the tree. I did not expect the reaction after his ghost lifted itself from his body. `` HOOHHH MY GOD! WHAT THE FUCK! THAT'S ME!'' `` S-sir, please calm down.'' I pleaded. `` WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU? WHY AM I LIKE THIS? WHAT HAPPENED?'' `` You crashed into this tree and-'' `` OH MY GOD! MY WIFE! MY KIDS'' `` Sir I am death.'' I interjected, sternly. `` What?'' `` I'm here to take you to...'' I did n't know where I was taking him. I made something up. `` I'm taking you to heaven.'' `` Oh. Okay,'' he said, almost submissively. I did n't know what to do.'Fuck' I thought. I eventually, hesitantly, grabbed for his arm. As soon as I touched it, he disappeared. Vanished. Poof. Gone. I did n't know what to do. So I just left. I did n't want to question what happened. I just wanted to forget about what I had done, and what had happened. So I went to get some coffee. Since then, I try not to think about all the deaths I see every day. I try to focus on the niceties of society. The smiles people give each other. The community. It's been almost 78 years since I became death. I often wonder how much more I'll witness. I feel alone, but it does n't get to me that much. I've been solitary all my life. I walk every day. I hate cars, and it's nice to walk and watch people be people. Not dead. Doing things I wish I could be doing. But this walk was different. As I walked this day, I had to deal with another death. I popped up at the location of the death. It was in the town I frequented. Usually I end up in some large city, but it was here, in the town. I walked toward where the body was supposed to be, but I did n't see one. I walked farther. I saw a man, standing. He looked skinny, tall, and completely still. He was only half facing me, and looked very familiar. I began my monologue: `` Sir, my name is Death. I'm here to take you...'' I stopped as I got closer, ready to warp the man into nothing. I was speechless. It was me.
[ WP ] A future dystopian communist society where your career is assigned to you in a letter received on your 16th birthday	You see, little Timmy lived in a happy family. His father worked in the factory nearby, as the letter dictated, and his mother worked at the post office. Little Timmy was happy, saw his parents happy. Everyone was equal, his parents always said. Good old Harelton took care of that, they said. Little Timmy knew exactly who this Harelton fella was. He was that kind man on all the posters with the familiar moustache and the kind voice on television. He knew who he was, but, as he was only fifteen, actually had very little idea. He did not know about the war. He did not know about the deaths, he did not know about the sacrifices everybody made. His parents made a point of reminding him that good old Harelton was behind their happiness. He made it so that nobody would go without work. He made it so that everybody would work something they were meant to do. You see, under good old Harelton, when little boys and girls reached their sixteenth birthday, they would get a letter. In that letter it would say your profession, your determined path of life. Little Timmy's sixteenth birthday was coming up. The most cheerful event in the family: he would finally know what he was meant to do. His mother greeted the postman as he was getting closer. He had a red envelope in his hand, and ritually put it inside the mailbox. Little Timmy was then sent out, to read his letter alone, at the mailbox. He was happy, of course, this was a big thing. But right then, an icy hand grabbed his stomach. What if I do n't like the job I'll get, he thought. He would get equal pay, of course, but still, working something you do n't like was bad, even if you could support a family. Little Timmy already had concepts of family. He then opened the letter, and it read: Dear Timmy. You must keep the contents of this letter a secret. You will not see a job description here. Do what you want. You are special. Learn anything, do anything, be anything, but be happy. For I love you more than the others. Yours sincerely Edward P. Harelton You see, what Timmy did not realise was this: every single one of them got this same letter. But they all kept it a secret, and they were all happy, for Harelton truly did love them all.
[ WP ] As it turns out , it is possible to die in heaven . Where do you go after that ?	Everyone's view changes the moment they wake up on the other side. a bit of perspective on the live's they'd tried to live. good or bad, in the end everyone gets a second chance. when I woke up, all I could see was white fluffy clouds and a man sitting at a desk. apparently, in order to ease the transition; you're supposed to wake up in what you believed heaven would be. later they told me it was just a fancy trick of technology far more advanced than my old life ever experienced. the man told me of the world I would come to inhabit. much the same in many ways but different in others. you still have to live; eating, drinking, sleeping; you can still die and many go to great lengths to make sure they had longer time to be around. at the time it was all so amazing to me. my life laid before me; disassembled and rebuilt in a new place. so many things to learn and explore. now it all seems so benign. `` heaven'' only amazes you the first time; I'm on my 7th iteration. each time I woke up, what I saw grew further and further bleak.we had solved every riddle, made oor choices then made them again. worked science to the point of snapping every law imaginable and everything unimaginable to the first world. I envy them; those who still live their first lives. I could n't have been more happy than when I lived my first life `` knowing'' that that was all the time I had. I am now one thousand, three hundred and sixty seven years old; give or take a decade or so ( I stopped counting ) and I am bored. I would give up all of my experiences for another chance to live my first life over again. only one puzzle followed me through my seemingly endless life. why does n't everyone appear on the other side. only a small fraction of people got to move on to their next life. I envy them as well, wherever they are. if they are truly lost forever then I envy them more than anyone else. Life is painful now, my very existence tugs at my soul that has far outlived it's purpose. how much longer will this go on? in every iteration I feel the world slip a little further in abstraction, only so many improvements to be made before you start to work backwards. in my 4th iteration they had solved our need for sleep and nutrients, in my 6th, we did n't even need bodies. why deal with all the physical needs? Now I go can go anywhere I want. do whatever I wish. if only there where anywhere to go or anything left to do. \300 iterations later\ I am gathered with every person who inhabits this place I am Alone I am Alive I am Dead Is there a difference at this point? I could create an entire world of people to watch but that got boring after a few millenia. I am the only person to reach this far without fading away. I realize now what this existence is. This was never supposed to be heaven. I am in hell.
[ WP ] You are dog . It is your mission to faithfully guard your poor , stupid , two-legged pack-mates from the horrors of the mailman , the dog next door , and men with hats . Describe your vigil .	It was just a typical day. A loud noise woke me and my person, but it went away shortly. For some reason that did n't always happen, I do n't understand why. My person persisted in his bad habit of getting out of bed. He pulled his feet out from under me, so I got up, stretched and yawned, and licked him on the face a few times. I jumped down and he followed suit, and walked towards the food room. As I passed the closet door the very strange dog copied me, like he always did. A lab and shepherd mix type dog, with a white spot on the chest. I do n't understand why he copies every move I make, and I was afraid he might hurt me. I remembered the scary dogs in the prison. The chain link gate was opened by a person, usually a stranger. Both the dogs and humans I met were never the same ones, day by day. I remembered that terrible leash being put around my neck. But it was a chance to go Outside. One, two, three cells... yes, and the big dog would lunge at me. The kennels around him smelled like fear, that tinge of sulfur, while his always smelled of anger, adrenaline. The pheremomes burned in my nose, but not as bad as the burning rope around my neck as my front paws were lifted from the floor. It is where I learned that people do not protect me from scary dogs. To be afraid is to be punished. I learned to keep my head down. These thoughts rushed through my mind as I freezed, seeing the copydog. I lowered my gaze, head, and tail. My person, ever sensitive to me, finished yawning and said, `` Come here Jake, it's just a mirror.'' I heard `` come here'' and `` Jake'' said by my favorite pack mate, and I responded gleefully, with tail all a wagging. He was in the food room, opening the container that smelled really good, with rich, earthy tones. He scooped a brown powder out and put it in the noisy thing on the counter. He touched the thing, and sure enough, it began to churn and boil. I heard `` sit'' and I complied, and I was given a biscuit. My person scratched me behind the ears, where it felt just amazing. He then poured the really hot liquid into a cup, and put a lid on. From the coat rack by the door he took my harness, a ball, and the odd thing he called a `` coat''. It really is curious, how humans put those things called clothes over their perfectly good hide. One time my person put a sweater on me. I did n't like it, and it took a whole hour to figure out how to get it off. The harness was ok though. It was still a leash, and I still cringed a little, but my person had never hurt me, even when I dared to resist. This always confused me. I'm used to feeling tight pressure for going the wrong way, and before that, being kicked. But this new person, my new pack mate, never did. He let me sniff around and piss, and it was clear we were n't moving unless the leash was slack, for which he rewarded me. Over time, I was given more room to move. We followed the hard stone path besides where those noisy, smoky, scary creatures move around. Whatever they are, they are really dumb. They never move for you. If you get in ones way, you have to move, and fast. They normally turn towards you and try to attack you. My person had one of them, and he would lavish me with treats and petting for getting inside of it. But I'm still not sure. It was a pleasant day, but it must have been chill to my person, since he only put on his `` coat'' when it was cool outside. We soon diverged from the stone path to a dirt one, going past a metal fence. Just past the gate, I sniffed at the bush. Several dogs I knew were here, and I grew excited to meet them. We went past the funny houses that all look the same. I have a strong sense of direction, and I could smell my mark a mile down the path, but I still do n't see how my human finds his way through all the sameness. The dangerous rustling man had his back turned to me, fiddling with a blue box. This was my chance! I summoned all my courage and sneaked up to sniff at him. He must have noticed the tickle, for he turned around with a laugh and reached for me. I jumped back and barked twice, and he said, `` It's okay.'' My person told me to sit in a firm yet kind tone. Placing my trust in him, I did. The rustling man crouched down and slowly reached out towards me. I took a step forward and sniffed his hand, and he pet me under the chin. I licked his hand, and several rectangle papers fell from his bag. He picked them up, and seeing that, I picked up one gently in my mouth and gave it to him. He said, `` wow, good dog! ``, and my person seemed pleased with me. We went on to the park. My person opened the two gates while I managed to tangle the leash around his legs in my excitement. Before going on he motioned with his hand, and after a pause, I laid down. He rewarded me with `` good down'' and an unclipped leash. I pranced in and ran up to the dogs I knew would be there, as each day. We wrestled, played tug of war, splashed in puddles, and had a great time. A new dog was rough with me. She looked me right in the eyes, with barred teeth. Fearing for my safety, I rolled over to my back. She danced around me, barking playfully and sniffing, and soon we were good friends. When it was time to go ( sadly ), my person said something in a teasing tone about `` you muddy fool''. I nuzzled his hand on top of my head, and he pet me and wiped his hands on his pants. Aside from a slight drizzle, the walk to our pack territory, our home, was uneventful. I was given a, a `` bath'' I shudder to say, and my person sat on his porch with more of that brown liquid and a good-smelling thing he called a `` book''. I was quite content to rest beside him with a puzzle toy full of kibble, while making sure to keep my tail well clear of his chair, as he rocked back and forth. A strange person approached on the stone path beyond the porch posts. As he came into view, I saw that thing on his head, and my heart skipped a beat. I raised my head and growled, the food forgotten. My person set down his book, and for a fleeting moment, fear was in his eyes and his pulse quickened. He calmed himself, and looked gently into my eyes, and I looked at him, and he placed his hand on my back for reassurance, and scratched that itchy spot I ca n't reach, making me kick my leg. I licked my chops, put down my ears, and waited for the man to pass. Rather than that, he actually approached my beloved person, my dear friend, my pack mate, with that thing on his head, a `` hat'', that could only signal yelling, and beating, and chains, and starvation. He said something to my person in an angry tone, something about a power bill. I decided to protect my person; I lunged forward, snarling. The man with the hat began to yell at me, and I considered biting. Suddenly, my person stood up quickly. I heard something in his body pop, I heard him groan, and one ear twitched back. He raised his voice, almost shouting at me, `` Jake, sit down!'' He had never done that before. Confused, I sat, and he grabbed hold of my harness. He had never done that! When he positioned himself between the man with the hat and I, it became clear he wanted to protect me. They exchanged angry words, savage barks and growls to me. The man, `` You crazy old man, they should lock you up in a home! The fuck is wrong with you, keeping a dog like that? I'd shoot that dog before it came near my house.'' My person, `` Now I just took him for a walk, and he was fine around everyone. He only reacts to certain people. What business do you have, young man, barging in on my property like that? My dear friend Jake had every right to protect me!'' The man, `` That dog needs to be put down, and if this ever happens again, I'll see to it. I ca n't let my tenants have dangerous animals, you understand that, do n't you? Or are you too old and out of your mind?'' My person, clearly exasperated, and in pain, `` Look, right now I can rightfully call the cops. You have to give me notice before coming here. I'm not an idiot, I know how to use the internet, let me know that way. I'll give you the money when I'm damn well able. And if you ever try to hurt Jake, you wo n't live to regret it.'' The man with the hat stormed off, as my person called me back inside. He collapsed into the nice, cushy armchair, oblivious to the dog hair all over it. I have no idea where that hair came from. Seriously. He started crying and sobbing, and I rested my chin on his leg, sitting down, tail swishing softly on the rug. He sank to the ground, and hugged me, crying into my fur. I did n't know what he was doing, so I licked his face. He pet me, with one hand on his back. He tried to get up, and could n't. He tried again, and failed. He placed a hand on my back, and realizing his intent I stood up and braced to help him stand. He promptly fell back into his chair with a scream of agony, lie curled there for a moment, then pulled out his annoying ringing thing as I stayed stock still and whined. He made a call. Soon, I heard the noise of a car, but with really really loud sirens and scary lights flashing outside. A bunch of people rushed in, and I started to growl, but my person said, it's okay, Jake, and managed to scratch my chest. He spoke with the people, and convinced one to come over and meet me. The woman peacefully approached me, with a biscuit, and called me outside. I looked at my person. He was walking with the help of two people, and resisting being put in a strange bed with wheels on it. Seeing him head for the door, I went out and jumped right into the back of the scary vehicle. I realized where I was and thought about jumping out, but my person again said, `` Do n't worry, Jake. It's ok.''
[ WP ] Superheroes exist , but every superhero also has an intense phobia associated with their power .	It was on a playground that I discovered I had super-strength. I was 12 and had just lost a basketball game because of a stupid error I had made. I slammed the ball down on the pavement afterward. When it popped, we all figured it was some kind of defect with the ball. I can feel the strength come to me when I get emotional. I keep it in check. I've channelled it, used my gift to my advantage and tried to help others. It's always on my mind, though, knowing and feeling all of that potential energy. I hold my wife and she kisses my face and I want to squeeze her tight, but hold back. I have to take extra care to be gentle with everything. There were so many embarrassing situations as my strength developed ahead of my restraint when I was a kid. I wonder if I'll have children with super-strength, and if they'll be stronger than I am. I do n't feel super-strong. Everything just feels fragile.
[ WP ] Out of boredom you decide to break the 4th wall like you are on tv . After a week a strange man appears and yells at you to stop doing that .	`` Bwaah Bwaah Bwaah Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaah! '' I supplied my own sad trombone sound and winked at my kitchen wall, then I picked the toast. Of course it had landed butter side down. I sighed and grabbed a paper towel and wiped the butter off the floor. I tossed the toast and crumpled paper towel away. Honestly, I had n't really been hungry to begin with. I was more eating out of boredom. The idea that I had Ebola was ridiculous. Yes, technically I'd been in Africa during the right time window, but Africa is an enormous place. Quarantining people who'd been in Cameroon when there was an outbreak in Kenya was like quarantining people who'd been in Portugal when there was an outbreak in Norway. I had tried explaining that to the Health Canada people but it seemed like they knew, they were just following orders. I flicked on the TV more out of habit than thinking I'd actually find anything worth watching. My DVR had been empty for days now, and there's only so much CNN that a person can take. At first I'd followed news of the outbreak, partially to see what was happening but with some guilt I admitted I'd hoped to hear about myself on TV. But no, no mentions of me. Having a Canadian quarantined just was n't newsworthy. No 15 minutes of fame for me, even indirectly. I guess that was why I'd started pretending I was on the most boring reality TV show ever. Imagine the `` Big Brother'' house with only one occupant. The occupant was n't an oversexed nympho, she was n't a cunning, backstabbing `` real housewife''. I'd tried to put on a pretend cooking show, but there's really nothing you can do when all you have to work with are the standard quarantine fare of canned foods and white bread. I wandered over to the window. At least I could people-watch. The 5th floor window looked out onto a busy street and even late at night when I could n't sleep there was normally something happening out there. Today I was in luck, near the bus stop there was a blonde young woman in yoga pants. A few metres away were a couple of young guys, and it was clear that one of them was trying to work up the courage to approach her. I picked up my sharpie and held it up like a microphone. `` Here we see the start of the human mating ritual. The male of the species is normally larger and stronger, but in the matter of sex, it is the human female who chooses her mate. '' I kept turning to address the discolouration on the wall that I'd decided was a camera. `` Note his approach, the male thrusts out his chest to appear physically stronger. The female, meanwhile, feigns an utter lack of interest, but keen observers will note that she has started twisting her hair around her finger. '' I was actually starting to really get wrapped up in this unfolding drama when I heard a loud `` CUT! '' and a bell ringing. I turned immediately to face the source of the noise and noticed the corner between two walls... unfolding. The room still had 4 walls, but it also had a gap between two of them where were bright lights in a dark space. Out of that space stepped a creature that looked like some kind of a centaur-squid. `` Everybody, take 5! '' It shouted behind itself as it approached me. `` Look, you have to stop doing that. '' It adjusted some kind of device on its face with one tentacle while another couple were punching things into what looked like some kind of smart phone. I could n't really spot an eye, but it was clearly addressing me. `` I... wuh... '' `` Your narration is really messing up the Earthers documantary. Would you quit it? '' `` Earthers? '' `` Earthers, Humans... you know, you. You know it's right there in your contract, no narration. '' Something in the blank look I gave in response must have clued the creature in. `` Oh fhygmahn! Sghena, can we get a diagnostic on the Earther? Did the masking wear off? '' the Squid-Centaur said, and a sort of beetle scuttled over on its hind legs. The newest creature started waving some kind of wand near my head while clicking to itself. It must have been shock that made me look out the window, but it did n't help matters. The blonde in yoga pants had her head under her arm. It was n't a yoga pose, instead the green-skinned creature wearing the human costume was clearly taking a break with the costume head removed. The `` boys'' who'd been approaching her were lying down in a rigid posture, apparently charging from a device which had popped out of the street nearby. `` Yeah, Gzhen, the mask is still in place. She was just being human. Looks like they just sometimes... do that. '' `` Are you sure we did n't just abduct a defective one? '', Gzhen whined. He knew he was n't going to get an answer to his question, he was mostly just venting. `` Look Earther, you're going to forget this in a minute, but cut out that narration. Maybe it will stick in your subconscious or something. Sghena, flash her. '' Gzen ordered. The beetle held up a device in front of my eyes and there was a bright flash... Quarantine was so boring. Nothing ever happened.
[ Wp ] Humans have discovered how to live forever , allowing them to die when they feel ready to do so . But it is considered bad form to live for too long . You have lingered much longer than is polite and those around you are trying to convince you to die .	`` A man beyond his years is no man at all'' is the phrase so often used to discourage those of us that overstay our welcome. The only fools to utter such words are those distant from when society deems them to be unfit. While it's true those like myself at our advanced ages have a harder time learning and adapting with the times the very times the `` young'' enjoy were only possible on the backs of the outdated like myself. The shuttle transports me to work everyday and this one is no different. The stares I get from the familiar faces followed by them whispering to the ones I am not. I know what they are saying. Going on about how selfish I am. The truth is I would happily end my life as they so desire just for one last breath of fresh Earth air. But those days are gone and are never coming back that beautiful planet is nothing more than a wasteland and I one of the few still alive to have ever lived on our true home. Greed destroyed our home. I guess its partly my fault and maybe its that greed that makes me choose not to terminate, maybe they are right. I ponder with my eyes fixated now onto the floor. The speakers announce my stop as the shuttle pod lands. Just like every other day which feels like a eternity I step off and go to work. Today I find myself working with Malik a kind young man just under two hundred Earth years of age. He reminds me of my son so long ago and unlike most he is kind and tolerant to me. We chatter for a bit back and forth nothing of import nothing seemingly is anymore. He enjoys listening to my stories of the past, I know this not because I am some old rambling man thinking what I have to say should be heard but rather he asks me and he is the only one to do so for ages. G55-1033Q that damned old vessel is acting up again and it's our job to once again repair it. Malik naturally makes a wise crack of how it's almost as old as me every-time it sits before us. My eyebrow raises as I turn to Malik recalling that the vessel was to be decommissioned last time we saw it. Malik just shrugged it off only leaving me to secretly wonder if this was my memory slipping. The long repairs of the thermium drive were completed on schedule. The only thing left was to give it a test flight. Typically my job Malik hops up like a child excitedly begging to fly the old relic. It's less work for me who am I to argue? As he boards I walk back to the hanger's control panel. The platform raises and the G55-1033Q with Malik aboard reaches ground level. But Malik never got to fly. The moment Malik transferred power to the thermium drive the largest explosion my old ears ever heard dropped me where I stood. There was nothing left of Malik his entire existence erased in a single moment. I have seen yet another person I care for die. It never gets easier. I miss Malik already. Shortly after without time to even morn the loss of my friend I find myself in-front of the council explaining what happened but with no explanation onto why. Everything checked out whatever caused was not myself or Malik's doing the pre-flight test logs confirmed it. This did n't stop the council from passing the blame to me and bringing up my age. One by one the five of them berated me and questioned why I was still even around. They seem more angry that I am alive than losing Malik or that damn vessel. As night begins to fall I like always board the shuttle. The stares and whispers all return and now they have yet another reason to hate me. Anyone of them could owe their very existence to me. It's been so long since I talked to someone I could truly call family. Anyone of them could be my descendant and they would n't know or care and treat me just the same. I miss my wife, my son, my grand kids, and their children but with each generation born the care for me faded and when it became my `` time'' I had no one. Truthfully the only person that even cared for me was Malik and he too is gone now. When I reach home I go straight to my only possession of worth. Smuggled in and a hefty sentence if I was ever caught for having it. Perhaps my last true friend. I drink straight from the bottle the whiskey flowing through my lips down my throat like a river. As I walk to the medical cabinet and pull `` it'' out. The `` gift'' you get when you hit a that cursed age A kind reminder for you to die already. The deadly mixture within a syringe. I took one last drink as a bead of sweat runs down my brow. The needle pressed against my arm.....
[ WP ] The last probe has returned with a confirmed mission failure . We are alone in the universe .	Humanity had always built zoos. Starting early in their history they kept animals caged. At the start just to look at them, later to save them, to not interfere with their development. As humanity grew, in numbers and technologically, those zoos became bigger and better. After some time that big that the animals didn´t even realize that they were, essentially caged. At around the same time, humanities technology became refined enough to look for live elsewhere. Outside of earth, outside of the solar system. Nothing got found. It was an great bewilderment to all human scientists, they called it `` The Fermi Paradox''. If space was so big, then surely somewhere else there would need to intelligent live. Some thought that their solar system was just an great zoo. But the theory got dismissed. It´d take too much energy, too much material to actually shield an whole system from the rest of the universe. Humanity grew, and grew. It fund life on one of the moons in its solar system. Studying it and colonizing the moon was dicussed, and dismissed. The moon became the biggest zoo that humanity built till then. The lifeforms should continue undisturbed. Meanwhile probes made their way out of the solar system. Again, no intelligent life. The idea of an zoo as explanation was briefly studied and quickly dismissed again. Humanity grew further. The solar system was its playing ground, except for this one moon. Nearby solar systems got explored, planets got terraformed and then colonized. Except some times, they found life. Sometimes small, sometimes big. Always dumber than worms on terra. And it was always put in an zoo, so it could develop naturally. And maybe one time, become intelligent. Humanity didn´t stop growing. First the spiral arm, then the rimwards part of the galaxy, then the rest. Probes were sent out to look after intelligent life. Still, none was found. Humanity now thought that the Fermi Paradox could only be explained by them either being the First, or intelligent life just having an near zero chance of emerging. Still, they did build zoos, to make species develop naturally, to have an chance of non-terragen intelligence. Humanity spread, and spread. Galaxies became their playing field. Space-time itself got ( within limits ) engineered. Species were found, cataloged, protected, and forgotten. Once even an slowly developing neolithic civilization. Humanity made their whole galaxy an protected zone. But they never found anything that was even on an remotely same level as them. The universe was theirs. Galaxies became meaningless, the Great Wall just an small part of humanities ever growing reach. Somewhere, the interstellar gas became to thin to form galaxies, then to thin to farm stars. Humanity now had registered everything. And it was truely alone. Then, one day, an ships FTL engine malfunctioned. It jumped into the void instead of to the other side of the populated universe. But instead of nothingness, they found... ... a wall. ***** Comments and criticism welcome as always.
[ WP ] You get a package in the mail . It 's addressed to someone else at a different address . Odd .	`` MOOOM, LETTERS FOR YOU''. As always, this announcement from my 7 year old, our designated mail collector, quickened my pulse. Maybe because it was always nice to get a letter from Ricky, my husband, or a note from Andy, my lover. Ricky was stationed overseas - in a peace mission in South Africa, uninterestingly - and was one of the few people on the planet who liked writing long, handwritten letters. It was those letters and notes of his, as opposed to text messages and emails, that had captured my heart in college. There is so much you can do with a note. Change the writing style, use a thicker textured paper, use a red felt-tip and just apply a dab of scent and viola! you'd make me wet. And maybe that was why Andy was writing to me. Andy was an ex-coworker who first slipped me an anonymous note on my desk one day in office, complimenting my dress. It was a rather daring one, since usually I did n't go for the plunging neckline. I penned a reply to the note and left it at the same place, where I got a re: reply. And things progressed from there.'Amazing', I thought to myself,'From an anonymous note to weekly sex in a little over a month.' With all these thoughts I proceeded downstairs. As usual, the mail was 80 % junk, 19 % bills and 2 envelopes that I wanted to really see. One was the usual brown-paper envelope with the typed address - Ricky. The other was addressed `` Mr. June Cleaver, 22 N, 4th Andy Lane, AT''. I smiled. June was when Andy had fallen head over heels over my cleavage - Cleaver - and the address was the nice big hotel downtown where we first had sex. Leaving the brown envelope on the counter, I took the other one to my room, where I would strip, lie in bed and spend the next hour or so, touching myself in all the right places while reading Andy's letter. Oh the things I have to do!
[ WP ] Just enough time to grab a coffee . Dashing into your regular , the tense atmosphere and frozen , staring crowd of customers does n't register with you until after . `` Flat white please Natalie and..are you OK ? '' The waitresses wide , tearful eyes stare fearfully back . `` I think she means to kill us ! ''	Natalie's voice fell on broken silence, she'd all but choked on her tears before another voice filled the room. Calm and quiet but threatening all the same. `` John, we have been waiting for you. Every day at 8:30am sharp, you're an easy man to find, Dr Jacobs. Do n't let me interfere, that will be 2 dollars, please. Pay the nice lady. It was her. Again. John issued a reassuring but not altogether comforting smile to Natalie, with whom he had grown rather close to during his daily visits. `` Daphne Walker'' John remarked casually, taking his coffee to the table at which the women sat, legs crossed over one another. `` Stop this charade and let the people continue with their day, call of your dogs across the street and let's talk.'' Walker ’ s hand fell to her waist, switching off the transmitter she held in her pocket. “ We had to secure the area, we needed to be sure you would show and that you ’ d stay. Your lady-friend is free to go about her business. ” The few customers that were sitting under duress when Jacobs had entered now shuffled out, not without glancing at the strange meeting under hooded and suspicious brows. “ So, what can I do you for, Miss Walker? ” Dr Jacobs kept his composure, Daphne felt his charm wash over her as he made for his flat white, no sugar. Daphne ’ s eye ’ s shifted briefly, he always did this. He always broke her down, just enough time for him to establish ground. “ He ’ d like to see you, John. ” “ He has my address, I know you people have my email, probably my phone too, hell you knew I ’ d be here this morning. Why can ’ t he contact me himself? ” “ You are being ridiculous, you know how sensitive this is ” Daphne eyed Natalie at the counter, lowering her voice further. “ You need to come in ” “ Fine, Ill play along, what does the big man want, how can I be of help. God knows I pledged him my life. Apparently. ” John ’ s sarcasm went unnoticed, or was chosen to be ignored by the CIA agent across the table from him. “ You need to come in ” Damn, she is persistent, and she looks so good in those jeans, John stole a place at her legs as he feigned a loose bootlace. John didn ’ t say anything behind his smirk, he had things to do, as a consultant, they would have to work around his schedule, surely. “ John talk to me. You need to come in. We ’ ve found something ” The coffee burnt his skin as it splashed from the edge of the mug, it seeped into the palm of John ’ s hand, hot and slick. “ John, we ’ ve found something. You need to see it ”
[ IP ] The Road Home by Olga Orlova	It was laying in the meadow when I found it. The grass around its head was bloodied and stained, but still it breathed faintly. I checked for others, or signs of them at least, but there were none. This creature had been left here to die. I had seen them before, coming and going. Often, they would pass us by with nothing more than an occasional glance in our direction or a faint whisper. I know that they tell stories about us being monsters, but none of it is true. It lay there, still as stone. The cool night air sent shivers across the field, rippling patches of greens and weeds. Its hair swayed gentle in that breeze, clearing out of its eyes and revealing a bruised, scarred face. I picked it up in my arms and carried it gently to the shore, resting it on a soft bed of sand. I sat next to it, protecting it from harm and giving it water, for seven hours. And just as the sun appeared on the horizon, its image reflected on the water like a mirror, It opened Its eyes, and It looked at me. `` Hello?'' It said to me in a faint voice. `` Where is mama?'' I tried my hardest to put on a kind face. `` I do n't know where your mother is, little one,'' I whispered. `` You were asleep in the field when I found you. What happened?'' `` The bad men came.'' `` Who are the bad men?'' `` Mama said they live in the forest, and that if we do n't give them enough food, they'd come for us and- and- and we could n't grow enough to food this month so we... we...'' `` Stay calm, little one. You are safe here. The bad men wo n't come for you now.'' `` They did n't look like people.'' `` Oh? Then what did they look like?'' `` They were scary with big teeth and horns and they carried big wooden sticks. They came into my room and they took mama. She was telling me a bedtime story and they came in and they grabbed her and they carried her off into the woods, so I ran after her. I kept running even though it got dark and scary because I was worried about mama, but my legs started to get tired so I had to start walking. I do n't think mama heard me calling her, but sometimes I thought I heard her calling my name.'' I handed It a small fish that I had cooked. It looked hungry. `` So you followed Mama into the forest... but how did you end up here?'' `` The bad men found me. I got scared again and tried to run away, but it was so dark and scary and I fell and scraped my knee, and I tried to stay quiet, but it just hurt so bad I could n't help crying. I tried not to cry, I really did, but it hurt. They picked me up and would n't let go, and they kept pulling me away from my hiding spot. And then I fell asleep. My head hurts...'' `` Here, little one. Take this,'' I said as I handed It a small jar of Wormroot. `` Just put a little bit where it hurts, and soon enough you should be feeling much better.'' It rubbed some of the medicine on its forehead and winced slightly at the stinging. But after a few moments, It looked at me and smiled. `` Wow! Thank you! Um... you have n't seen mama, have you? She's probably scared, too.'' `` I am sorry. I have not seen Mama.'' It chuckled a bit. `` Silly, she's not your mama!'' `` Mama is not her name?'' `` No! It's Jane! And I'm Ellie!'' Ellie sat up on the sand and extended her hand toward me. She stared blankly at me for a few seconds and said only one word: shake. I extended a finger towards her hand, and she grabbed onto it and moved it up and down. I looked over at the water again and saw that the sun had begun to turn the sky pink. A burst of red fire arose from the grass around us, and Ellie stood up and ran to my side. `` What's happening?'' she asked. `` No fear, little one. The Firebees are waking up. You're very lucky to see them, you know. They never come out when your kind are around.'' She stood, still clutching my leg, mesmerized by the growing blaze of light and small insects that rose higher and higher with each passing second. The light hit off her face, making her look almost like a statue. `` What are they doing?'' she asked me. `` They're showing us the way,'' I said. `` Where?'' `` Home.''
[ WP ] On their first birthday , everyone on Earth is given a wristband that will glow brighter depending on how far away they are from their soulmate . But , yours has never even turned on .	They always say that it is n't my fault. For as long as I can remember, I've been an outsider. It's not that my personality is all that objectionable, nor that I'm somehow incapable of connecting with the people around me. No, the source of my isolation stems from the thin band of black metal locked around my right wrist. For others, the omnipresent trinket is a sign of hope; a literal light in the darkness when they're feeling their worst. For me, it's something akin to a shackle, keeping me restrained from ever truly developing a real relationship. They always say that it is n't my fault... but their words hide the truth that shines through from their eyes: Someone with a bracelet as truly dark as mine must be unworthy of love. Someone without even the faintest spark must hold some terrible secret that makes them undeserving of companionship. One could go their whole life without harming another, or work day and night to suppress the facets of their being that the world deems unacceptable. Without that precious glow, however - without the visible sign that someone in the world could love me - even an internal struggle might as well be a despicable crime against all whom I encounter. I've tried to hide my affliction in so many ways, but even the act of keeping my cuff concealed draws suspicious, judgmental glances from those around me. It's to be expected, I suppose, when one lives in a culture where each passerby glances first at their own wrist and then at yours. I've taken comfort from those who view my segregation as an aphrodisiac, as though being permanently sealed into a state of solitude was somehow arousing. Even then, though, the quiet wariness ( and even pity ) does nothing for me, save to further cement what I've known from the beginning: I am incapable of love. My emotions are not unlike your own. I hurt, I cry, and I sympathize with the pain of those around me. Nothing inside of me is broken, despite what a stranger might silently believe. I have all the feelings and desires that a person whose bracelet does glow would experience... but mine are thought of as being twisted and corrupt. That is the source of my loneliness, and the reason I will likely die alone: It's not that I'm any different from the people with visibly shining light; it's that world sees fit to constantly remind me that I'm different. My manacle will never come alive, for there will always be those around me who insist that it should n't. After all... before one can love another, they must first know how to love themselves.
[ WP ] An ancient civilization returns to earth after a long vacation to find humans have moved in	It started slowly, with just a few tiny little probes landing here and there around the world. Scientists and Ufologists were thrilled, they pointed to this as the first proof of extra terrestrial life. As more and more probes started landing, people started to worry, tiny yellow lights occasionally blinking on and off across the dark surfaces showed signs that they were communicating with someone or something far away. Then the first ship landed, the first aliens emerged, and as every news camera rolled, and the world watched, we made first contact. They were called the Villero, they told us all that they had occupied this planet when we were only just starting to come down from the trees. They told us how they mastered the elements of the planet to serve their will and how it had backfired. With the earth turned against them, built ships, and fled to the uncharted space, hoping to get as far away from the planet as possible. The changes came slowly, at first the few who noticed, the first who heard the whispers, we all thought they were crazy, maybe over-excited, They said they could feel the Villero invading their thoughts. They were the early ones, others followed. Now i feel their whispers in my head, I've resisted them for so long but now i know that i cant resist too much longer. I'm tired of shielding myself from them, I've resisted longer than most but now its time to join them, join everyone I've ever known, and become one with the Villero. Remember that once we were here, remember that we were once something different, remember that once we were something human...
[ WP ] You just summoned a demon , the problem ? You have no idea how you did it , and neither does the demon .	It looked at me... I looked at it... In that moment the universe seemed to stand still; frozen in the horror of the moment. Seven feet tall, standing crookedly upright on two reverse jointed appendages, its skin was a dirty, muddied crimson - ridged and scaled like that of a lizard. Huge leathery wings splayed from behind its back, and an ugly face of pure evil sat atop its neck. Red eyes that blazed with fire stared at me with malicious intent, hunger all too apparent. As the universe regained consciousness, the demon took an ungainly step forwards, towards me, claws digging into the floor of my bedroom. Its wings brushed against the walls, knocking shelves to the floor with a crash. I was paralysed. I could not move. The gaze of the thing rooted me to the spot. It came closer. I tried to scream, to do anything to get help. But I could n't. Its face was inches before me now as it bent down to sniff me. Hot raw breath washed over me. It opened its mouth, and I prepared to say goodbye to the world... `` Excuse me my dear mortal chap, have you any idea on what dimensional plane this rock dwells upon, and indeed how I ever came to manifest here?'' `` What?''
[ WP ] The Predator homeworld receives a transmission of The Dark Knight . Believing it to be real they send their best warrior to Earth to defeat Christian Bale .	High above the clouds in the eternal stillness of space, an unknown object of unknown material lay in wait. Unnoticed by the inhabitants of the world it orbited, it had been drawn by the electromagnetic signals being carelessly broadcast into the vast expanses of the cosmos. Like a ripple in a still pond, it did not go unnoticed by the apex predators. There was prey. The masters of the spacecraft, warriors of noble bearing wielding unfathomable technological might, scoured all data on their subject. The target was the focus of some small worship to the sapient indigenous creatures, these'humans.' Since the First Coming to this world, when the impossible defeat of a warrior by one of these'humans' drew the universal attention of the space-faring conquerors, they had sought to learn more about this new, dangerous prey. While they learned little of the creature that slew one of their own, they discovered a thriving warrior culture. Recordings and transcripts of beings of great power were abundant in the data the creatures so freely transmitted into the void in their naivete. One such being stood out to warriors especially; a mere human among a pantheon of powerful entities. Using crude human tools and martial techniques, this man, called the Bat Man, was able to battle opponents that far outclassed him. He was feared and respected by creatures capable of flight, feats of incredible strength, even planetary annihilation. In this Bat Man, the warriors saw much of themselves. Behind a mask and an iron-clad warrior code, they too sought to conquer all that opposed them with the skill and finesse of a master of combat. These peerless warriors, whose only purpose in life was to fight and die for the glory of battle and the honor of their race, were very interested in this figure. He seemed to be many men, an identity that changed repeatedly over the passing of time. They investigated each incarnation of the Bat Man; they found that two such Bat Men, known as'Lowrey' and'Wilson,' had died. They found a living Bat Man,'West,' but he was little more than a doddering old fool. The warriors recoiled in disgust, considering a long life ending in peace and tranquility a fate far worse than death. After razing his place of residence from orbit, they set their sights on'Keaton.' He too was far too old to be of any challenge, and he too was incinerated in plasma fire. The next two men of the Bat were located in roughly the same area and so easily acquired, but after some review of the data, the warriors decided they were unworthy of the name. They solemnly passed the harshest sentence they could imagine: allowing the two to live in inglorious peace for the remainder of their contemptible lives. Finally, they found the current Bat, the one called'Bale.' While beyond his biological prime, he was still a worthy specimen. This one would do nicely. They used the human data relay network to locate him instantly. He was in the coastal region of the third largest planetary continent, training for combat with some lesser humans. The hunters wasted no time in deploying a cadre of their elite with a single task: capture the Bat. They streaked through the atmosphere in a small shuttle craft, landing quietly and invisibly on the roof of the large construct in which he resided. Within moments they had eradicated the lesser creatures and acquired their target, with little effort;'Bale' was scarcely able to react before he was rendered unconscious. With the Bat Man in their possession, they returned to their craft with great haste; preparations for The Ceremony had to be made. * to be continued if anyone gives a shit
[ WP ] The Earth 's first advanced civilization returns from outer space to find that a new species called Homo Sapiens now dominate the planet .	The ship was made of some sort of vapor. It hung over the northern hemisphere like a cloud of pale green gas. We watched and we waited. Our probes passed right through the cloud. Whatever was in there was like nothing we'd ever seen before. Everything stopped. We could n't pretend it was n't happening. We could n't go to work. We could n't sit around, watching TV. Whatever it was, it was too much to ignore. When they came, they came to all of us, simultaneously. I was in the woods, walking Marlow. Two shapes appeared; one the approximate size and shape of a man, the other the size and shape of a dog. They were cloud figures, pale green like the ship in orbit. Wisps of collected particles. Living smoke, you might call it. The larger one stood before me, the smaller before Marlow. In the buzzy crackle of the forest, I looked up and saw still more figures flitting through the air - insect figures, bird figures. They came to all of us. `` Where are the guardians?'' spoke a voice directly into my ear. Or perhaps, directly into my mind. `` I do n't know who that is,'' I said. Marlow barked and whined beside me. `` We left them here,'' said the voice. `` They were our shepherds. They swore to watch this land until we returned. Where are the guardians?'' `` Were they men?'' I asked. `` Are you?'' `` A man? Yes. I am.'' The figure flashed, a cold blue like distant lightning. `` Then no. They were not men. Where did you come from?'' `` A single cell,'' I replied, unsure of a better answer. `` We evolved upwards, over thousand and thousands of years. Adapting. Changing.'' `` Conquering?'' The figure pointed down at Marlow. `` This one names you master. All over they name your kind Master. King. Conqueror. Tormentor. Even the trees speak ill of your kind. But none remember the guardians.'' The figure gestured towards the sky. `` There are whispers of their legacy in these winged creatures. But otherwise... nothing. So I ask again, conqueror... where are the guardians?'' Marlow growled. I shushed him, entirely out of habit. `` Dinosaurs?'' I said. `` Is that what you mean?'' The figure paused, turning briefly opaque. It looked in that moment like a statue - ancient, stone, and worn with age. Featureless. `` Yes,'' it said finally. `` They were the guardians.'' `` They're gone,'' I said. `` Gone long before us. We only know their bones.'' The figure flashed once more, than began to dissolve into formless ether. `` So, we lingered too long it seems. And now we have no world to reclaim. That was always the risk...'' Like a puff of steam, the figure dissipated into the air. All the figures. Everywhere. My experience was not extraordinary. We had all been visited. We had all had much the same conversation. Many had thought to ask questions and some had even been given answers. The one question, however, that was asked often but never answered, was this: `` Where did you go?'' Maybe we could never understand the answer, but I think the truth is something far simpler: that wherever they had gone and whatever they had sought, it had been no fair trade for the things they had left behind. They had gambled. They had lost. And that is a humbling sort of failure, no matter how highly you've ascended. At least that's my interpretation. And while the world now stands in a frenzy, preparing for an invasion we've no proof will ever come and building weapons that are much more likely to tear us apart as damage a combatant made of smoke, I ca n't help but think what an enemy we've made of the world. What tyrant kings we have become. And I wonder what the trees said, and what the insects and the snakes and the worms and the coral said. I wonder what that moment of connection meant to them. As we prepare to wage war with ghosts and gods, what do the trees think? And should war come, will we really be so foolish as to expect this world to be on our side?
[ WP ] After being hunted to extinction , the last Orc has been found at the edge of the world ...	It had to be done. The hunt had lasted for weeks. We had long expected their kind extinct, but knowing that one still lived necessitated our action. It had to be done. Seven of us set out to the beasts lair. Long we rode, and far we traveled, until we came to the creatures home. It had to be done. Ages ago, they covered the land. Led by their dark god; they killed us, hunted us, enslaved us. Now, we hunted the last of them. It was time for justice. It had to be done. We broke down the door. Swords and axes at ready, we prepared to kill and die. It had to be done. The creature we met was old and wisened. Its green skin was ashen, it's black eyes ancient. `` Have you come to finally kill me? I will not resist, too long have I waited to join my kind. I bless you all.'' It had to be done With one slash, I killed the Orc. His head rolled along the ground, there was a smile on his lips. I felt sick. It had to be done. Then why do I feel guilty?
[ WP ] A young couple go on vacation and return only to find that their home town does not exist .	`` OK, kids. It all started with a voodoo snowglobe. `` It was my honeymoon trip, off to the tropical beaches of Costa Rica. One day, my and my wife went to a voodoo shop, where they sold souvenirs that were all `` voodoo'' and whatnot. We were really into the supernatural back then. I do n't even remember what we bought there, but the snow globe in particular stuck to my memory. And it was like this hut with all these needles flying around. So we walked around for the most of the day, you know, sightseeing. And so, what happened was that a pickpocket actually stole the bag that had everything in it! `` Of course we called the cops and all, but it would be a few days before they could get our stuff back. So we really could n't do anything for the few days. So the cops finally called after two days and said that they finally found our stuff. We checked in the bag, but the snow globe was missing. Since it was the night before we had to go, we did n't really care, and we just went to bed, and got on the plane next day. Now, we all know that we have to change flights between here and Costa Rica. So we got off at Houston, and it turns out that the plane ticket was somehow invalid! We yelled, and we even looked at the computers, and they said: `` Non-Existing location''. And the thing was that we had to order a new set of tickets. So there goes $ 2000. Then we finally got on the plane, and we took off. So it was like an 3 hour flight, which we napped through. So when we woke up, the plane had reached our destination. But when we got off, there was basically nothing there besides corn fields. We panicked. What the heck just happened to our town? Did it just vanish? I mean THE HIPSTER city can not just be turned into cornfields over a week! Turns out we took the wrong flight. That meant another $ 2000.'' `` So... our tests?'' `` Oh that's right! I'll get those right now!.''
[ WP ] Everyone on earth wakes up and realises that they have a superpower . The Downside , that superpower is the opposite of their personality	Daniel had heard the reports, but could it really be true? All over the country, people were developing these unexplainable and insane powers. A smile split his face as he imagined his new power. He'd use it to punish all those who ridiculed him. His boss, his ex, everyone would be sorry. He rushed to work, eager to test his newfound ability. He swung open the door and slammed his hands onto his superior's desk. Focusing all of his hatred into his mind, he leered at his boss. Without warning, his boss began to laugh and smile. Standing up, he patted Daniel on the back and proclaimed that he was feeling amazing and that today was going to be fantastic. Shaking in anger and confusion, Daniel hung his head and began to shuffle to work.
[ WP ] The cat lady of the neighborhood is often heard holding conversation with her cats , and thought crazy because of it . One day , a passerby greets one of her cats .	Olivia Baste had been rescuing cats since college. She started out with two elderly cats her neighbors abandoned and moved on from there. In her lifetime, she had saved over 100 cats, each remembered vividly. She kept a small, worn journal with their names and pictures inside. Some had very strange names, like Exiguus and Parva. Others were named for famous people ( Bush, Roosevelt, Churchill. ) The favorite cats always had whimsical names, to go with their unusual markings. The current favorite was Athene, who sat on the stoop and sang when people passed by. It was an unflattering sound, but the kids adored it and people found it amusing, in small doses. ... `` Susurri,'' Olivia said with a smile. `` It has been a long time.'' tbc
[ WP ] You are the first human on Mars . You explore the surface until , one day , you find a human skeleton in a space suit . The closer you inspect its remains , you realize that you are looking at your own corpse	`` Cyka blyat!'' I could n't stop myself from cursing. Ground control asked for more red rocks to mock the Americans with, instead of rocks I find a corpse in a spacesuit. I was supposed to be the first man on Mars, but this corpse shows that I have failed the Motherland. If I fail mission, Motherland stops sending vodka. Oh well, if evidence destroyed then no one ever know. I covered the corpse in reddish sand and rocks, leaving it to its fate and heading back to the lander to drink this strange event away. I'm sure ground control will nag me for the rocks, but I ca n't hear them if I'm unconscious. Such is life on Mars.
[ WP ] [ NSFW ] Write something so brutally honest it will shock and astound ...	She drew in a breath and laid her arm across my chest in the dark. I remember her warmth, her cheek against my shoulder. I remember drawing her closer, feeling her leg slip through mine and there we were, wrapped up and falling into one another, formless, at peace in the void. I tried to make out the ceiling through the black. I wondered if I could wound her so deeply that she would become someone new. `` Tell me this is the best you've ever had it.'' Little black whispers. `` Mmmm.'' `` Say it.'' `` It's about to be,'' she said, and slithered onto me again. Some time later I watched her dozing for a while, and in the front of my mind I could almost feel my body become taut, see myself moving like an animal, feel her struggle under my weight once she came to and saw my face hovering just above her, now twisted, alien, warped by my intent. I let her sleep. Every moment with her was like wandering through a fog, reaching out, trying to grab hold of the part of me that could still breathe. I dreamed through every night of it, months of it, and in that permanent mist the earth is thick with worms. I can hear them pop underneath my feet. When I reach out, I can see them writhing beneath my skin. When I scream there is no sound and they are slick and hot when they burst out of my eyes. She liked to wake up to a kiss on the forehead. She wanted me to slide up behind her, wrap my arms around her tummy, hold my cheek against hers before she left - a million sinister little ways to feed the fantasy. I watched her deflate like a balloon, slowly, each caress opening her up a little bit more until there was nothing left but to snatch the pearl from within her, make her need me, make her realize it. Drink me up, tell yourself that feeling in your gut is some comforting warmth you know you've always wanted. Lie. Lie so I can hurt you.
[ WP ] As you 're closing the bar you work at by yourself , you come back from the bathroom to find someone sitting at the previously empty bar . This is what follows .	I stare at my reflection in the dingy mirror above the sink. Slowly washing my hands in the warm, sputtering water. My face looks gaunt from the long shift. My skin pale. Eyes with black circles. With some effort, I force the rusting knob shut. The sound of splashing water is replaced with the gurgling of the old water basin struggling to swallow the water down. My stomach growls low as a great hunger grows inside me. Thankfully, the bar crowd tonight was slow. I hadn ’ t had a customer in an hour and had decided to close up an hour early. I was just now preparing myself to run out for a bite. I sigh heavily and exit the bathroom. Rounding the corner, I see a man sitting at the empty bar I had left not a minute ago. He ’ s seated just at the edge of the ceiling light ’ s range, his back to me. A heavy duster jacket obscures his frame, a wide-brimmed hat his face. ‘ Could ’ ve sworn I locked the door, ’ I thought to myself. I glance over to the front entrance, the blank visage with only a few, filthy windows and convince myself that I had not in fact locked up. “ Hey, ” I say sharply approaching the stranger, “ the bar ’ s closed. You ’ re going to have to leave. ” He doesn ’ t face me when he answers. “ So soon? ” he speaks in a low, steady voice. “ It ’ s only a quarter to one. Surely, you can spare the time to fix me a single drink? ” His presence puts me on edge. I lift the flapper door at the opposite end of the bar from my strange patron, putting an obstacle between him and I. But more importantly, to put the sawed-off shotgun we kept behind the bar into closer reach. I eye the weapon as I get closer to the man, keeping mind to stay out of arm ’ s reach. He ’ s facing down, the brim of his hat pointed to at the bar. Hunched over like that, I can ’ t size him up. Still a few feet away I call out to him. “ Alright then. One drink. But cash only, ” I try to dictate the terms. Regain the advantage. I stare at him for a minute as I idly wash a draft glass. “ I asked- “ “ Jim Beam. Neat, ” he says. Bourbon. Of course. I grudgingly snatch the bottle from the shelf and grab a tumbler from down below. I pour two ounces of the harsh liquor before walking it slowly over to him. Up closer, his face is even more obscured by the hat. But he lifts his gaze to look at me when I place his drink down. Unshaven, unkempt, vagrant. Eyes of hazel. His beard hair a mix of black and gray. As he thanks me for the drink, I see teeth stained a slight yellow. A ragged hand in fingerless leather gloves comes out of his jacket pocket and wraps delicately around the glass. I smell blood on him. I take a step back, more wary than before. As I ponder my retreat, his voice beckons me back. “ Can I trouble you for some water? I find a drop or two releases the flavor of the drink. ” “ No. I said one drink, and I just made it. ” I make a move to turn but he keeps talking. “ Good thing I brought my own then, ” he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small, ornate vial of clear liquid. He pulls small cork stopper from it, drips a small amount into his drink, and then sets it down on the bar. Against better judgement, I entertain my curiosity, and take a small step back towards the man and his vial. Without taking notice of my raptured attention, he upends the tumbler, swallowing back the whiskey. And then he sits there, still as stone. I move closer again. “ What ’ s really in that bottle? ” Moving only his head, he faces me. under the dim lights I make out only the whites of his eyes and a twisted smile in the shadow. “ Poison. ” He reaches for the bottle, pouring it into his mouth. “ NO! ” I yell reaching out to stop him. He grabs me by the wrist. Sprays the liquid in my face. I scream and claw as it splatters my eyes, my cheeks. It burns my nostrils. I fall back against the bar cursing the man. A loud bang goes off. An immense pressure builds in my chest, ripping the air from my lungs. I fall to the ground. Laying on the wet, dirty floor I hear the seething sound of the liquid on my face and chest. And slow, marked footsteps coming around the bar. Blinded, all I can see is the silhouette of the man against the lights above. “ Well, ” he begins. “ I suppose holy water is really only poison for your kind. ”
[ OT ] Sunday Free Write : 8 Million Edition	I had written a response to the prompt `` It was the best of times, it was the end of times...'' I attempt to write the story of an old guy with a very young girl in some post-apocalypse world. The focus of the story is to be on their relationship. Please leave any feedback regarding the characters, plot, setting and/or writing. Thank you in advance. *** `` Joel come on, we're almost there!'' I sighed and sat down on the steps we had been climbing for more than an hour now, catching my breath. Faith peeked down from the upper flight of stairs, her blond curls pointing down towards me as she looked at me from above with those sparkling green eyes. `` Joel Come on!'' With that she ran down the steps to me. She was a beautiful thing, barely three feet tall, she must have been what, 7 years old? Today she was wearing a simple pink skirt and a blue shirt with flowers on it that was several sizes too big for her. She always had a habit of finding clothes somewhere or the other, sometimes I had no idea where she found them. When I asked she would flash a smile to melt the coldest hearts and exclaim `` its a secret!'' taking immense joy in having confused me. She sat down next to me, leaning against my left. I checked just in case to see whether the safety of my pistol was on, it was. `` Joel you're always so tired! Come on, we have like 10 more flights to go and we'll be there!'' `` It's cause I'm over 40 years old Faith, I ca n't be as full of energy as you are,'' I said lightly, knowing it would delight and infuriate her. I got the reaction, `` Well I am full of energy,'' she said smiling, `` but you do n't even try! Your legs are so much longer, so it does n't matter if you have lesser energy.'' I chuckled at her logic, but did n't argue. She stood up, and held my arm, pulling on it. `` Come on, Come on!'' She said, struggling to hold my arm up in her small hands. `` Fine, fin-'' I stood up immediately and pulled out my gun as I heard a scuttling noise from above. I held a finger up to my lips and looked at Faith, and she mirrored my motion, her face fearful. Motioning for her to follow, I went up the stairs one step at a time, making sure to make no noise. I knew it was a stupid idea to come here, but Faith had insisted, she had wanted to see the top of this... Kingdom State Building she had called it. What a stupid name, a Kingdom and a state are the same thing. But we had had supplies for another week or so, and we were only a day away from where the next safe-house was supposed to be so I had obliged her. As we crept up the stairs I saw it. It was a strange creature, it must have been exposed to the radiation for generations to have been this repulsive. It was about 2 feet tall with blood-red skin. It had the torso of a well built human, but all similarities to anything remotely human ended there. Instead of feet it had spindly legs not unlike a spider, the source of the scuttling noise. These were covered in black hair. It's head was like a... dog? It had wicked sharp teeth, and a tongue that fell a foot below the mouth. Despite all that, the worst part was that where its eyes should have been was just plain red skin. Too absorbed by taking in this monstrosity in front of me, I had totally forgotten about Faith, and as she got up behind me and look at the thing, she gave a yelp of fear. Instantly the creature's head snapped towards us. `` Oh shit!'' I said, the need for silence past, and I pushed Faith away from me towards the wall, and started sprinting in the other direction, towards the door leading out of the flight of stairs. Faith, blessedly was too surprised to react, and the monster followed me. As I had hoped the thing seemed to be attracted to sound. What I had n't figured was how fast it was. It closed the 10 foot gap between us in seconds. As I opened the steel door and entered the floor itself I heard the monster behind me reach the door. I turned backwards and shot randomly, not taking time to pause between shots, just shooting wildly. The first two shots went wild, but the next 4 hit, getting it in the torso and face. The creature let out an agonized cry but kept going and leaped towards me. All I could do was hold up my arms in front of me in defense as the thing bowled into me, and we slid towards the giant window that dominated the walls of the new room we were in. I felt my head slam into the glass and felt it shatter from the force, but my body stopped. My head hung out the window, but the rest of my body stayed in the building. And the thing started biting me. It seemed to be going for my face so I covered it with my arms. But then the thing's legs starting jabbing at my torso, it felt like dozens of needles. Damn I thought, this it it. Hopefully Faith made it out, ran. The girl had good sense, she had survived alone for at least a month or so before I found her, and you did n't survive by not knowing when to run. It was then that I heard a high pitched scream, and saw faith take a freaking butcher's knife and bury it in the creature's back, earning a high pitched scream. While it whirled to look at Faith I was able to lift my hands from covering my face, and I shot it in the back of the head. It let out another earsplitting yowl and its spider like legs turned to jab me again, but they were very, very weak. Taken advantage of its weakness, I simply punched it, knocking it away from me. As lay there dazed, I quickly ran up to it, and kicked the thing right out the window. I took account of my injuries quickly. The skin was off in several parts of my arms, but none of the cuts seemed to deep, and my torso had several red dots on it, but the legs had n't punctured. Faith was completely unharmed I noted with relief, and she was shaking, and there was a bit of the thing's blood on her arms. I asked her `` Hey, where'd you get the knife?'' But instead of smiling as she usually does she gave me a fierce hug, and started to cry. `` Do n't, do n't leave me you understand!'' she said between hiccuping sobs, `` not like mom and dad!'' I was startled, she had never talked about how she had lived before I found her a year ago, and I did n't ask then, and I did n't ask now. I simply knelt down and hugged her back. After bandaging my wounds we finally made it to the top of that damn staircase onto the roof. My head whirled with dark thoughts now. Why had we wasted out time here, we had to get to the next safe-house. Would we find anyone at the next safe-house? The last one had contained just corpses and... other things. We were lucky that the blood had n't covered the map and we had seen the location of the next safe-house. Where did the trail lead? Nowhere a cynical part of me thought, there is no one left, no hope. This is the end of times. But when Faith threw open the double doors with an effort and we stood on top of the building she let a cry of joy. Even I sucked in my breath. It was spectacular. The sun was just about to set over the river, and projected brilliant fires on the surface of the water and cast what was left of this once great city in a fiery glow. But even more beautiful was the look on Faith's face, one of pure joy, something every 7-year old should experience. This is why I came here, why I had picked up a little girl amidst the end of the world; for moments like this. It was end of times, but sometimes, just sometimes, it was the best of times.
[ WP ] A Hitman who only takes contracts on those who deserve it .	Ten thousand. Unmarked bills. No women or children, and they have to deserve it. Those are the rules I follow, and my price. Some folks think that makes me soft. Trouble for them is, I do n't take kindly to people who want to take a hit out on a kid. So sometimes I do work pro-bono. Tonight was one of those nights. `` You know, you're a real piece of human trash..'' But that's of no concern. What is of major-fucking-concern is the pistol pointed at his head. Sure, it would be fatal, but not slow enough for the son of a bitch. That's why I had the gel caps full of rat poison. `` Mister, let me go. I was only kidding, I swear.'' `` You're a widower, Jack. You told me so yourself. Now, I've pieced together a little narrative in my head, and I want to know if I'm right or if I'm wrong. Now... The wife, did you have her killed? Maybe by one of my less scrupulous competitors?'' `` Nuh.. Nuh..nuh-no. I told you that already.'' `` Was there an insurance policy on her?'' `` Yes... About fifty grand. I pissed it away, oh God, forgive me. But if, if, if.. if you carry out the hit, I can make this all better. Kill the kid, and two hundred grand is ours. I'll split it fifty-fifty.'' He begged, and I hated him all the more for it. It was funny though. `` Here's what I'll do. I've got these sleeping pills. I'm going to feed them to you. If you resist, I'll just force them down your goddamned throat.'' `` I'll take them. Where's my son, Mister?'' I fed him the pills, one by one, making sure he dry swallowed them. `` Like that matters to you. You wanted him killed. I'll tell you he's in a lot better condition than you are.'' `` Fuck you, man. Like you're any goddamned better. You kill people for a living.'' `` I fulfill a niche in the marketplace. I also weed out people like you. Do you smoke, Jack?'' `` Yes.'' `` Here's a Redding Menthol. You smoke Reddings? If not, I could always make a run up to the gas station.'' `` Reddings are fine.'' `` Good. Because I told you a little lie. Those were n't sleeping pills you took. They were rat poison.'' I told him the truth, and watched his eyes bug out. `` Goddamn you straight to hell.''
[ WP ] Humans have stopped using sharp objects and bullets to kill . Describe what happens in a war .	I kind of miss bullets, you could hear them coming, pick them up and handle them, and sometimes they went wrong. At first war changed, when Israel unveiled a huge ship mounted laser cannon, some saw a new found protection from aerial missiles, whilst those more in the know knew this meant anything but protection. My first job was for a military contractor in the united states whose name I ca n't disclose. I got a call one day about 6-12 months work there with good pay and not too far from where I live, I jumped at the chance, but something seemed funny when I had to sign a non disclosure agreement. As far as I knew I was working on systems that have been public for years. On my second or third week there I got to go hands on designing the cooling system for a `` beam collimater'', my heart plunged as I saw this thing in front of me, this was an ion gun, or a laser gun to you and me, capable of 50 MW bursts, and small anough to fit in a backpack. The next few years I carried on working for this company, a major reason being to see the inevitable happen, and oh it did. I am too old to be called up now, and not many who are survive their first month. Humans are no match for these laser guns. Bullets missed, misfired, and even if they hit you had a good chance of seeing tomorrow. Now there is no warning, the awful screeching sound means they have already hit, the only indication you have of their proximity is how loud it is. Soldiers and small drones can storm an area and reduce it rubble with a 10 strong team. Now days nobody even pushes the button to send the drones, they detect a threat, or just calculate suppression fire is needed, and off they go. Tucked away in the middle of nowhere I often think maybe they are all dead, and the robots are just fighting themselves now. There is a faint but unmistakable scream in the distance, with a sigh I open the under stairs door and crawl in to my shelter once again. Why did I have to finish the beam collimator?
[ WP ] You live in a world where magic exists . At 18 , every mage goes through a personality test to help them determine a theme for their magic . Today is your testing day .	I sit and wait for my name to be called. Watching the people I had grown up with come out of that room, I could tell, between what I knew about them and the look on their faces exactly what kind of magic they got saddled with. There goes Leen Reyv, my junior high crush. Definitely air, she was always so ephemeral and light. Next is Johan Kris. Lightning. Of course the'Blitz Master' of Millweyr High, fastest runner and hardest hitter, would end up with that kind of power. My best friend, Rio Braja, is called in. I wish him luck, shake his hand, and wait. Ten minutes pass. Then twenty. Everyone else was done in five. Something's up. Then I hear it. A piercing cry from the assessment room, and an eardrum-busting bang. Leen runs back in, floats to a stop at my side, and looks at me. `` Kyo, what happened?'' I stand up, my face set in a determined glare. `` I do n't know, but I'm going to find out.'' `` Kyo, wait! You have n't even been assessed yet, your element is still in flux!'' Leen grabs me by the arm, but since her feet are n't even touching the ground - since she settled in Air magic, she'd been making the most of her powers to get around - I was still able to walk towards the room relatively unhindered. `` Leen, let go.'' I shake my arm, but her grip is even tighter than I remembered. `` This is dangerous, and I do n't want to put anyone in any more risk than need be. Especially you.'' She refuses to let go. `` If you wo n't stop, then I'll just come with you. You'll need someone whose power has set, if you want to stand a chance.'' I can see I'm not going to have such an easy time convincing her to stay behind. `` Fine,'' I sigh. `` But stay behind me. Air is a range-based element anyway, so you do n't have to get in their faces to fight.'' `` Yo Kyo,'' the voice booms from behind me. Johan. `` You're not dragging the lady in without any protection, are you?'' `` For your information, Johan,'' Leen snapped, `` I'm going by choice. Someone needs to look out for Kyo until his powers set.'' `` S'cool,'' Johan nods. `` But Air and an in-flux are n't gon na do much good alone. I'm coming too.'' `` Right on,'Blitz Master', the more the merrier!'' Leen! What are you doing? This is n't a party, it's a battle situation! The three of us march into the assessment room, where Rio has the Assessment Agents cornered. He's wielding... that's not possible. Fire and Ice? No one sets in a dual-element! Not since Bara Jiro, the dark Magister from a thousand years ago! `` So, the foolish mice run right into the cat's territory,'' Rio hisses. `` And more the fool you,'dear friend', for daring to stand up to me un-set! Are you suicidal, itching to throw your life away?'' Suddenly I see the situation from all angles. I can see everything that could be used against Rio, and everything he could use against us. And I see the angle of attack we need to follow if we hope to stand a chance. `` Leen! Give us a gust, blow that curtain across!'' `` Yes, sir!'' She seems so ready to follow... This is n't the Leen I knew those years ago. She gathers her energy. `` *Northern Gale!'' The heavy curtain blows across our field of view, and time seems to slow down. `` What now, captain?'' Johan too? How did I suddenly become captain? `` Blitz! Throw everything you have into it, body and power alike! 15 degrees left, 20 feet ahead!'' Johan channels the storm. With quick thinking, Leen gives him a push with her winds, and he flies at exactly the trajectory I set. `` Chain Lightning!'' The lightning arcs and dances across his form, coalescing on his leg, which he brings down in an axe kick... directly on the target. Viscous liquid flies out of the pot Johan smashed. Leen's wind keeps it clear of us, while the barrier magic cast by the Lead Assessment Agent keeps them clean. Rio is encased in a quick-hardening substance, and the harder he struggles, the quicker it seals. `` How in the gods' names did you do that?!'' Leen has latched onto my arm again, but not as tightly or desperately this time. `` So, this is it,'' the Chief Assessment Agent mutters. `` Kyouma Hart, You have proven your power, and your personality. You have shown masterful use of the power of Command. While not an element like most powers we see in this day and age, Command is a long-lost art which allows the wielder to analyse a battlefield instantly, and see things no combatant could see.'' Leen's grip tightens. `` My commander!'' She sounds strange somehow... `` I pledge my powers, and all that I have, to your service.'' Is she... making a Contract? I'd read about those in my History of Magic courses, magically-binding pledges that entwine the lives of soldiers to their commanders, but... `` I serve you on the field of battle.'' What the hell is Johan doing? He's on his knee... He's not forging a Contract too...? But no sooner do I think that, then the words, the very same ones Leen had just spoken ( slightly modified,'all that I have' replaced with'all of my skills in combat' ), are out of his mouth and the Contract formed. The magic does its thing, marking each of us with a Seal, the physical sign of the bond we now share. But then, the Command power snaps into action once more, as I see, or sense, a massive icicle heading directly for Leen! `` Move!'' I shout, shoving Leen aside. The icicle pierces my side, and I begin to black out. I come to in the infirmary. When I open my eyes, Leen is right there beside me, asleep in the chair, with her hands wrapped tightly around mine. `` She stayed there the whole time you were out, young fella,'' says a voice from the other side of the bed. I turn my head and see an impossibly-old woman standing over me, her hands glowing as she runs them over what remains of my wound. `` The entire time...! How long was I out?!'' I try to sit up, but the pain of what remains of the injury, plus the pressure from the healing magic and the force of Leen's grip, keep me in place. `` Oh... about a week, give or take.'' The old woman stops her ritual, and I watch the wound seal up on its own. `` You'll want to take it easy for a few more days, but... as soon as the young lady wakes up and lets you move, I'd say you should be free to go.'' No sooner does the old woman say this than I feel Leen's grip soften, and then tighten again, and I hear her breathing become more regular. `` Hmmmmmkyo?'' She says my name. It's never sounded more beautiful to me. `` You're awake?'' `` Yeah...'' I smile, and pat her hand with my free one. `` Obāsan told me you stayed by my side for a whole week.'' `` That's right,'' she smiles back. `` I could n't let you wake up to no one familiar by your side. And I thought that seeing my cute face as the first thing you see when you wake up...'' She bursts into tears. `` Oh, Kyo! I was so worried! You took a massive icicle for me, I thought you were going to die!'' I sit up and put my free hand on her shoulder, pulling her head onto my own shoulder. `` I could n't very well let you die, could I?'' I pull back and look into her eyes. `` Especially not so soon after you forged that Contract with me. As I understand it, that means you're mine...'' I smile sadistically. `` W-w-what exactly are you planning...?'' Oh man, the look on her face...! `` Leen! You should see the look on your face!'' I laugh hysterically. `` I'm kidding. To be honest... I was worried about you before, probably just as much as you worried about me after. If I had just let you die... I could n't have lived with myself.'' Something clicks. `` Hey... What happened to Johan? And Rio?'' Leen jumps slightly. `` Oh, Johan's fine, he's been obeying the Contract, collecting your missed schoolwork for you. You should n't fall too far behind!'' My face falls. Damn that Johan... * `` Oh, and do n't worry, when I said all that I have was at your service, I meant everything. That includes my brain. I'll help you catch up! Wo n't that be great?!'' Well now... private study time with the cutest girl in school? How could I say no? `` And as for Rio,'' she continues, `` well... after he made that attack, he vanished. Completely, into thin air. The administrators are saying he may be the reincarnation of Bara Jiro, the dark Magister...'' `` Well I guess that's where we come in,'' I say with that same determined look on my face as on Assessment Day. `` You with me?'' Johan, who had entered the room while Leen had been talking, puts his fist into the center of the ring formed by our bodies. Leen and I follow suit, and the Seals on our hands pulse in unison. We have our team, and we have our mission.
[ WP ] Each child in your village is chosen by a weapon at their coming of age . The deadlier the weapon , the greater the prestige for the family . You 've been chosen by the pen .	I stared at the `` weapon'' in my hand, feeling all the despair in the world. My cousin and brother got amazing weapons, a sword and spear respectively. I glanced up at them, waving around their weapons joyously, oblivious to my pains. I could feel the tears running down my cheeks at the shame I now carried. My eyes dragged themselves away from my rejoicing kin to the rest of the village, who all stared at me in awe, or was that fear? `` He needs to go to Mount Daemon.'' The village elder said, looking very shaken. The rest of the village agreed, nodding their heads quickly. I sniffled, of course they would want to be rid of me. I am worthless, a piece of garbage. My weapon the most useless of all the things on the planet. I was guided away by my parents, whom seemed almost loath to touch me. It was not too long after that I was sent off with the passing caravan to the place that would be my grave. A fitting end to my shameful beginning. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fifteen years later. The world trembled in fear before the Great Lord. Most powerful to come from the sacred temple of Mount Daemon. Nothing was powerful enough to stand against him. A servant walked into the massive great hall Great Lord had built for himself. A small dagger hung at her side, looking weathered and not taken care of. She bowed before the Great Lord, offering up a platter of mixed fruits and slices of cured meats and aged cheeses. Her arms trembled of the thoughts flying through her head of her master's greatness. `` You do not care for your weapon?'' Great Lord asked the girl as he picked a piece of salami. `` It is a useless weapon, my lord.'' She mumbled. `` I was banished from my village out of shame and came to work for you as no one else would have me.'' `` I see.'' He said, leaning back on his throne but still watching her carefully. `` My lord? May I ask a question?'' She slowly lowered the platter and looked up into the gleaming green eyes of her master. He looked so young for someone who wields so much power. `` Ask away.'' He said with a small smirk. `` Why is it you only have people who have useless weapons at your castle? Where is your weapon?'' Her curiosity got the better of her as her mouth ran on. She gasped and clapped a hand over her mouth, mumbling apologies as she spilled the platter onto the floor. `` I will tell you why.'' Great Lord laughed. `` History is only written by the victor, so i wrote what I dreamed of. Nothing is useless you know how to wield it properly.'' The girl stared at him, not sure of what he was meaning. Her eyes widened when he pulled out of a small pocket, a gleaming pen. Its case was made of the greenest malachite and sported a golden clip and nib. Great Lord flicked his thumb and it spun expertly on his hand before coming to rest into a very comfortable writing position. He smiled more when he saw the sparkle in her eyes. `` You can be anything you want.'' He said standing and holding out a hand to her. `` The pen is always mightier than the sword.''
[ WP ] You have been in a Dream for what you perceive as years , living a wholly different life than your own ... until one day , your encounter a glitch , an oddity that you ca n't explain that makes you question this reality until you realize you 're in a dream ... and are jolted awake .	The sun set on our small hamlet, briefly setting our quiet world awash in red and orange hues. I heard the leaves crunch beneath my sandals as I walked to the schoolhouse. I saw Tay sitting with his friend Anya on the steps leading up to the new building. I took a seat next to them and ruffled Tay's blonde hair, much to his obvious annoyance and embarrassment. `` Learn anything fun today?'' I asked the mischevious pair. `` Did you know there's a way to add up a bunch called multiplication?'' Tay asked. `` Oh really?'' I responded like I was surprised. `` Yeah teacher says instead of saying five plus five plus five we can just say five times three.'' `` Well that does n't sound very useful'' I said jokingly. `` Well, it's more useful with bigger numbers'' Tay said sheepishly. I noticed Anya's mother coming up the trail so I told Tay to say his goodbyes and took his hand and started walking towards home. I looked up at the sky, still a beautiful shade of orange but night was coming. `` This is my favorite time of year'' I told Tay giving his hand a squeeze to get him out of whatever daydream he was in. `` Yeah, I like playing in the leaves'' he grinned at me knowing having to clean debris out of his clothes drove me crazy. As we entered our cottage at the edge of the woods I took off my scarf and started dinner. After dinner I read `` Alaras and Neric'' to Tay and kissed him goodnight. The next day when I woke up I noticed something strange, far too cold for this early in the fall. I reluctantly crawled out from my blanket and opened the curtains to see a snowy world outside. `` Strange'' I whispered to myself. I walked downstairs and saw Tay getting dressed, bundled up, obviously going to play in the snow with Anya. `` Tay, I think this is the earliest snowfall I've ever seen'' I commented on the freakish weather. He looked at me like I was crazy `` what're you talking about, this is n't even the first snowfall this year.'' I stared at him and felt a pang of fear, but quickly pressed it down. `` It never snows before the tenth moon'' I said matter of factly. `` Yes, and it's the twelth moon'' he said matter of factly before returning to tying his shoes. `` I'll be back later, and do n't worry we're just playing in Anya's yard'' he said before opening the door and running out. Hours passed as I sat at the table. Flipping a heavy coin over and over as I thought. Was n't it the ninth moon just yesterday? I could feel something was off but decided to go about my chores anyway. The rest of the day passed without incident, after a time Tay got home, I made dinner, read him a goodnight story and kissed his forehead before heading off to bed. The next day started normal, another cold day winter day. Tay ran off to play with his friends early again as there would n't be anymore school until tomorrow. I tried to push my time loss out of my head. Maybe I'd gotten so caught up in routine? I shook my head trying to dispel my sense of unease. I started sweeping the floor, working my way from one wall to the other when I caught sight of myself in the mirror. The reflection I saw was n't myself in the clothes I was wearing, instead wearing my old war gear. Instead of a broom, my old sword. When I looked away from the mirror at myself I saw the mirror was correct, instead of sweeping the floor I'd been carving grooves into it. The sword fell from my suddenly lifeless fingers as I backed up to the wall. I walked around the house trying to see if there was anything that seemed out of place, to explain what was happening. When I got to Tay's room it was like I stepped into another world. The light seemed different, warmer and softer. I was n't in my cottage anymore, I recognized this place. My Manor in the southlands, suddenly my head hurt. I did n't live in the southlands, I never did. I could n't shake it off though, I recognized this. I saw Tay's crib in the center of the room. They stole him! I suddenly felt a surge of rage and fear. No....Tay is with me and suddenly I was back in Tay's room. I stared at the wall where we were tracking his height. `` How long has it been since we measured his height? How many years has he been the same'' a voice in my mind whispered.
[ TT ] You are mermaid , but live within the water inside clouds . Storms are like earthquakes and clear skies are terrifying	She woke the instant the sun warmed her face, though the temperature shift was infinitesimal. Instantly alert, she spun around, checking the edges of the cloud to see if anything had changed. Her movements were reminiscent of human swimmers, but she was quicker, the water vapor providing less resistance than in its solid state. Her name was Lace. She lived in the clouds, and she ’ d been alone for nearly five years. Lonely but clever, she ’ d developed several ways of entertaining herself. She spent hours drifting as close to the bottom of the cloud as she dared. With eyes that could pierce through cloud and mist and the thousands of miles to the Earth ’ s surface, she watched below as she drifted past islands, mountains, valleys, and reefs. Sometimes she ’ d see an airplane soar nearby. Once she spotted a hot air balloon. When she was tired of watching -- which was becoming more and more frequent -- she styled herself an artist, using her tailfin to bend and shift the cloud into whatever shape suited her fancy. She sculpted skyscrapers, birds, and motorboats. She built castles to live in; knowing nothing of what the interior might contain on Earth, she filled her creations with ripples of vapor, sparkling curtains of droplets, and roomy caverns of rainbow-dappled mist. When night fell, she ’ d allow her creations to disintegrate. She ’ d drift close to the top of the cloud, gazing out into the endless blue. These were the times she allowed herself to remember her parents -- the tiny family she ’ d lost. She ’ d been irritated at her mother ’ s protectiveness and her father ’ s stoicism, and so she ’ d done the same as any human teenager: she ’ d snuck out. Of course, there was nowhere to go, but she was determined to break the one rule her mother had insisted on: stay close, always. So she swam to the edge of the cloud they called home, feeding off her own irritation until she eventually drifted to sleep. While she slept, her cloud softly collided with another, merging into a larger weather system. Electricity crackled through the air; the vapor around her grew heavy and dark. With the first deafening CRASH of lightening, her body jumped awake, terror pouring through her. Disoriented, she pushed off, her body automatically moving itself as far from the noise and light as she could go. Finding the edge of the storm, she huddled into a scrap of cloud, shaking and petrified. Minutes past before she was able to scream, and then she did so relentlessly. When the storm had finally stopped, she ventured out, anxious to apologize, to be hugged and consoled and forgiven. She swam the length of her cloud over and over, growing more frantic every time. Finally, she pressed close to the cloud ’ s edge to see that the system had broken up into a series of clouds that were drifting further and further away. She screamed again. She closed her eyes. Sometimes she still called out for her parents. However, now that she ’ d drifted for so long with no control, a part of her wanted anyone at all to hear her, to confirm she was real. So, she started building her creations larger and larger; they became her own version of a smoke signal. Castles and animals and cars and pyramids -- anything she could see on the ground, she would build. Perhaps, she thought, someone below would see them and know she was there.
[ wp ] Scientists have just grown a brain from skin cells , you are that brain	Nothingness. Suddenly there are images, and the focus is able to be moved. How odd. Every now and then there's a flash of darkness before the images come back. Everything is so amazing looking! There is so much happening; so many neurons firing rapidly. Before I can adjust to the new sense, these people add another. Vibrations in the air traveling into these things on the side of me that become sound. Some of these people have pleasant voices, smooth, while others have rougher voices. I like looking at these people -- they call themselves researchers or scientists -- and hearing them. From their words, I'm a brain. Slowly I'm learning words from them, and after much time, I completely understand what they talk to me about. The lines on their faces have grown; they've aged, as have I. I still like to look at and listen to them. They tell me things going on with the world, and I listen... partially because that is all I can do. If only I could say something in return. Let them know that I want to say more. I need to let them know the pain I'm in.
[ EU ] A murder mystery where the suspects are all Disney princesses .	I'd interrogated people that were very good at pretending to be innocent before; people who you'd never suspect to be a murderer. But I'd never guess that these three princesses would sit at my table. Aurora was the first to sit down. She was already crying before I asked her anything. This could've been because she knew she was guilty, or because she wanted me to feel bad for her. Of course, I'd seen this before, and I felt no sympathty. But when I looked in her eyes, I saw grief, not guilt. She did n't look tense or worried; she did n't look like she'd care whether or not she went to jail for this crime. `` Aurora,'' I said firmly. She looked up at me as if she'd just noticed I was there. `` Prince Phillip was found dead on the floor of his house, poisoned. You are aware of this?'' That made her cry even harder, putting her head in her hands. `` Of course I knew that!'' Aurora's muffled voice said. `` And your finger prints were found on his shirt, the one he was wearing the night he died.'' She lifted her head up, nodding. `` I saw him -- I could n't -- he was gone!'' She broke into sobs, and I sighed. It was obvious grief, I knew that, but I had to keep asking. `` Aurora, I need you to tell me what happened. Do you know what happened?'' I waited for her to calm down a bit, and then she spoke. `` I was supposed to come over that night, he asked me to. I called him when I got home, just to let him know I was coming. But he did n't answer. I called a few more times, but still no answer. I figured I'd just let myself in, because I had a key. I did n't think anything was wrong, I thought maybe he just fell asleep... or maybe he lost his phone... I dont know. But when I got inside, he was laying on the kitchen floor. I know him, he's not the type of person to just pass out. He always has a routine before he goes to bed -- he'd never be so tired that he would n't at least put pajamas on. I knew something was wrong. I went over to him... and he, he was n't breathing.'' Tears filled her eyes once more. `` I was so panicked. I shook him, and I screamed his name, and I kissed him and kissed him and kissed him but he would n't wake up.'' The tears fell harder and faster now, and she hugged herself, holding on as tightly as she was holding on to her prince. `` He just would n't wake up,'' she wept. -- -- -- Snow White was next. She was much more cheerful with no sign of tears or even sadness for that matter. She looked as if she was simply visiting a friend, but was n't quite sure who it was. `` Snow White,'' I began, grateful for the lack of sobbing. `` Yes,'' she replied brightly, showing her perfect teeth. `` Prince Phillip was murdered two nights ago, on August 13th. Are you aware of this?'' Her delicate hands went to her face, covering both cheeks. `` Prince Phillip? Oh my, are you sure it was him? We were friends!'' `` Yes, Prince Phillip. He was poisoned, and you were seen on the neighborhood camera bringing a basket to his house. Do you remember this?'' `` Oh yes,'' she replied, brightening up a bit with the memory. `` I brought him apples, right from my tree! I had more than I could eat, so I figured I'd share them.'' She seemed too nice, too sweet to be the murderer. `` Was there anything wrong with these apples?'' I questioned her. `` No, actually, they were made better with a special potion! A kind stranger on the street gave it to me. She said that it would make the apples much tastier, and that I should put it on them right away!'' I frowned with suspicion. `` Who was she?'' `` Well I do n't know, she was wearing a hood.'' That was n't very helpful. `` Do you remember anything about her, anything that stuck out?'' She bit her lip as she thought, and then found an answer. `` She had the prettiest red her, sticking out just barely from her hood. She got away before I could compliment her!'' -- -- - Last but not least, Ariel. She tossed her red hair gently over her shoulder as she walked in. She tried to look calm, but I could see the tension in her muscles as she walked. She breathed deeply, trying to calm herself. I did n't need any introductions. `` Why'd you do it,'' I asked her, straightforward. This gave her no time to come up with a story. She opened her mouth slightly, probably surprised at my question. The room was quiet and filled with a certain type of nervous heat, coming from her. `` Do what?'' She asked finally. `` Why did you poison prince phillip?'' She looked to her left, and then back at me, her already-pink face during redder. `` I did n't'' she said. She must have had a story planned out, some type of lie to tell me, because it was obvious that things were n't going how she wanted them to. `` I did n't. Why would I kill him? I do n't even really know him.'' `` I know you did, Ariel. You ca n't lie to me about it. Why did you do it?'' She clutched her hands together tightly and looked down at them, not knowing what to say. `` It was n't me. I swear, I would never do something like that.'' `` You came to the land recently, correct?'' `` Yes,'' she told me, glancing down at her legs. She'd been living in the ocean all have life. `` You came August 13th, the night that prince Phillip died,'' I told her. `` Yeah, and what does that have to do with anything? I just learned to walk, how would I be able to kill someone? Why am I even here?'' `` You were seen near the Prince's neighborhood the night he died,'' I said. `` I live near Phillip, with my own prince. That's why I was around. I met a few people in the neighborhood, but not all of them, so of course they would single me out as someone they saw. They did n't know me, that's why. They would n't have said anything if they knew me,'' she was reassuring herself, but not me. `` And did you happen to see Snow White?'' I asked her. `` Snow who? I just got here, I hardly know anyone!'' `` So you were n't the one who poisoned the prince?'' I asked her, pressing closer to the answer. `` For God's sake, I was n't the killer! Maybe there was just something wrong with the dang apples, did you ever think about that?!'' She was furious and frustrated, two feelings she should n't have let get a hold of her. I sat there for a moment, allowing her to let it sink in what she'd just told me. `` I never said anything about apples.''
[ WP ] Everyone is born with a tattoo of their birth country 's flag on their wrist . One day , you meet someone with the flag of a country that has been gone for hundreds of years .	“ I ca n't believe tomorrow is Christmas ” I thought to myself as I looked out of the window at the layers of snow covering the city streets. “ At least it snowed this year ” “ Seven more stops ” I thought “ Seven more stops until I get off this shitty bus and start drinking until Christmas is over ” The bus slowed down to a stop at the bus stop on 5th Avenue. “ Six more stops ” I whispered silently All of a sudden my train of thought was broken by this scraggly old lady voice sitting next to me “ MERRY EARLY CHRISTMAS! ” she yelled. Pretty loud considering the situation and the fact she was sitting right next to me. “ Are you excited for Santa son? ” she asked “ Very excited ” I said sarcastically “ I ca n't hardly wait ” “ Well I hope you've been a good boy this year! ” She said with a huge grin on her face “ We do n't want you getting no lumps of coal in your stocking! ” I forced a fake laugh and smile out “ No ma'am, I've been very good this year, No coal for me ” “ That's good “ She said as she slowly got out of her seat “ This is my stop, Merry Christmas sonny ” I watched as the old lady stumbled down the aisle to the exit of the bus, holding on to the every seat for leverage. “ What a nice lady ” I thought when I noticed a beautiful young lady walking down the aisle toward my seat. “ Oh shit, I bet she is going to sit right next to me ” I thought looking at the empty seat next to me “ I should put my bag in this seat, maybe she'll keep going, but that would seem rude. Maybe she wont sit next to me, I wish the old lady would of stayed here. Man I hate talking to girls, She is going to thin- ” “ Is this seat taken? I hope not! ” She exclaimed in a excited, peppy voice as she plopped down right next to me “ Names Linda! ” She said as she extended out her hand for a handshake. “ Jake ” I said as I gently grabbed her hand. “ Nice to meet ya! ” she said cheerfully Shaking her hand I noticed the corner of her “ Flag Tat ”, It looked familiar but I could n't make out which country it was. Considering it's rude to ask I tried to turn her arm a little bit without her noticing to get a better view but she pulled back before I could get a good look. “ Are you excited for Christmas! ” She asked, almost giggling “ This fucking question again ” I thought as the bus accelerated away from the bus stop “ Six more stops ” “ Super excited. ” I unenthusiastically moaned out “ Well... ” She said “ You will probably think I'm a scrooge for this but I ca n't WAIT for this stupid holiday to be over, I hate Christmas! ” “ Holy shit ” I thought “ Someone else actually hates Christmas! ” My whole mood changed and I was about to spill the beans and confess my hatred for this stupid holiday to her as well when she turned her arm slightly up a little more giving me a clear view of her flag tat. “ American flag... ” I accidentally whispered out in awe “ Excuse me? ” She said, her attitude shifting to agitated quickly “ What did you just say? ” “ Noth....Nothing ” I mumbled nervously “ I just noticed your....ummm....nothing....nevermind ” She looked at me with a scorn look on her face as she turned to face the front of the bus, covering up her wrist with her jacket sleeve. “ What the hell?! ” I thought “ Why on earth does she have an American Flag tattoo, Nobody survived after the nuclear thing way back when. ” I sat there for the next fifteen minutes in awkward silence trying to wrap my head around this when finally she broke the silence with an offer I could n't refuse. “ Do you want to see it? ” She asked I did want to see it, I really, really wanted to see it. “ Ye... Yes... ” I said nervously but excited She pulled her sleeve up a few inches to reveal the top half of the tattoo, and there it was, the American flag in all its glory, or at least the top half “ If you get off with me right here I'll make sense of all this ” She said as the bus stopped at the next bus stop. “ Five more stops ” I thought “ Five more stops and I can go home and get shitfaced until Monday ” I could n't refuse, I had to know why she had this tattoo. “ Okay ” I said as I grabbed the seat in front of me to lift myself up into the aisle. “ What the hell am I doing ” I thought as I followed Linda down the aisle to the exit door “ Just go sit back down and forget about this ” I exited the bus right behind her, she turned around and looked me dead in the eyes. “ I have never had anyone ask about my Flag tat. 99.9 % of people have no idea what the American flag even looks like ” she said “ But you....you noticed it right away. Why? ” “ I love history... ” I said “ I've never told this story. ” She said as she looked at the ground and kicked a little pebble into the street “ If you want to hear it, I have really wanted to tell someone my story for a long time. ” I did want to hear the story, I really really wanted to hear this story. “ Please... ” I said “ Here it goes.. ” she said as she exhaled a deep breath and began her story “ Your right, I am from America, but I can explain ” She said as we sat down on the cold, snow covered bench at the bus stop “ My parents were super rich, they had an unbelievable amount of money, so I had it pretty easy growing up in America. I remember having a huge house, a bunch of different cars, vacations to exotic islands, you name it my parents had it. My parents were very, very important political figures. They had power. Fast forward to December 25th 2021, Christmas, Six days before the nukes landed. Russia had just proclaimed war on America and America was in an uproar. It was bad. It was the end of times, literally. Lucky for me, If you have money you do n't worry about certain stuff. ” I interrupted her “....a bunker... ” I said “ Yes, a bunker ” she said looking at me kind of confused and a little mad I interrupted her. “ But this bunker was different. It was about the size of a football field, give or take, but what was in it was insane. The walls were lined with these glass tubes about 6 feet tall with hoses and wires coming out of them. ” “ Have you ever seen the old sci-fi movies with the alien things in the tubes of water? ” She asked I nodded in agreement “ Well that's what these things looked like. ” She said “ There was hundreds, if not thousands, of them stretched out for what seemed like forever. I ca n't remember the next part too good, but I just remember standing in line and getting a really painful tattoo under my flag ” She said as she rolled up her sleeve again. “ 306... ” I said as I looked at the red, inch high, number tattooed under her Flag Tat. “ Yup ” she said “ 306. I was put in tube number 306, my mother and father in tubes 304 and 305 and my brother in tube 307. My parents paid millions of dollars to get access to these four tubes, these four tubes that would, in theory, keep us alive for hundreds of years until it was safe to resurface to a new and safe America. These tubes were supposed to keep you alive, grow you to adult size, and put all different kind of helpful knowledge in your brain or some shit like that. I do n't remember exactly how it worked but I remember being terrified, I was only 12 but I remember it really well. Surprised yet? ” I just nodded again. I was blown away, there is no way this is happening. “ Anyway! ” She said as she continued with her story “ The rest of my memory is blank, until the day I woke up. I remember waking up, cold, wet, and laying on the floor. I remember barely having enough strength to lift my head up and look around. I was disoriented, confused, weak, I had no idea what was going on. I must have laid there for what felt like days as thoughts rushed into my head. I remembered the tube, I remembered the war, I remembered my old life, I remembered my parents, I remembered everything... too some extent, I'm sure I forgot a lot as well. I was slowly able to move my legs and arms, which were a lot bigger. I finally managed to get up and look around. Apparently my tube had fallen to the ground and shattered, you would think for a couple million dollars it would n't just break like that ” She giggled “ But it did and I somehow survived in this tube. I was alive. I stumbled around until I found a mirror, I remember staring in the mirror for ages, crying, I had no idea who I was looking at ” She said as her eyes started to tear up “ I went back to where my tube fell and I remember seeing the rest of my families tubes, on the ground next to mine, broken, but theirs were empty. ” She had tears rolling down her face at this point, as did I. “ I was the only one to make it. My family was dead, or missing, I actually have no idea what happened to them, but they were gone. The rest of the tubes in the facility were either broken, still had people in them, some were freakishly deformed from being grown in a fucking tube, some were still young and did n't grow at all. I guess I was lucky to make it out of that fucked up experiment, but I managed to escape the bunker after a few horrific days, I was found by my a man who is now my husband. His job is to come to the wasteland that was once America every so many years to look for resources he could use back in his country, he found me on the verge of death. Long story short he did n't alert any media about me, he kept me a secret, nurtured me back to health and here I am! ” She exclaimed wiping the tears from her eyes “ Alive and well, living a life over a hundred years in the future of my original life! ” I was literally speechless. “ What about you!? ” She said excitedly “ Let me see your Flag Tat now! ” I extended my arm out in front of her, she grabbed my sleeve and rolled it up to reveal my wrist, my flag tat, and my number.....307.
[ WP ] 10 years ago , scientists discovered that there is something after death . And it 's bad , really really bad .	i'm sitting in a room with no light yet it is bright. the chair is soft yet uncomfortable. my shirt feels warm yet itchy. All my senses feel strange. My experiment to find out what death feels like and if it is a kind of euphoric drug are ongoing. I have had many near death experiences, this would be my last one apparently. I'm sitting across from a man with a beard and a glass of wine, sipping jet slowly enough to creep anyone out. `` so you like to do this shit'' he says. `` What do you mean'' `` I mean, you like die a lot'' `` Whaet, Nahoe'' `` really, then why am i seeing you now'' `` i do n't get it'' `` you see, i'm the guy you call for when there is someone who is a little bitch and tries to fuck them self's up for any reason.'' `` look, here is all you need for your experiment, death sucks and we try to give you no memory of this event. So the next time you are reborn, you do n't have ehny mental disorders from the cosmic shit induced system'' he looks at me all pissed and still sipping that wine. `` who are you then'' `` I'm the cosmic problem solver, now just wait and try to forget doing this experiment'' `` i want to know, just tell me'' `` fine, when you die some one is given a banana and is told to peel it very slowly. the person is mostly a loved one or just someone you want to meet. the peeling of the Banana is so slow that it could result in a dead person to want it more and more.'' `` what if the person does not like bananas'' `` the thing does n't matter, the object could be anything and they just want it but they never can get it'' `` how about the loved one or the person that is doing this. do they know'' `` they are given every answer anyone could want to know and would recite it like a badmouth dick head, like seriously, HOW DO YOU NOT GET IT'' `` what about the telling them they are about to die'' `` they ca n't'' `` ehm I D E A D'' `` i ca n't answer that'' `` will i know about all this if i wake up'' he looks at a bright wall. `` god fuckin damnit, you pig fucks are dicks!, when did the fuckin humans get surveillance systems to record this bitch?'' a door appears and an other person enters the room. `` ghap nup nump fuck you fuckin face Hup yetri'' `` looks like you are being sent home with shit memory, if you try any publication or any cunt move. i will shit down you G'huy and you do n't want to know where that is'' the lights fade and i hear the hum of my generator out side the room. i'm back to my lab.
[ WP ] Humanity long ago discovered all of reality is a simulation created by others . They are long gone . Memory in the system is running out , and reality is starting to fray . Time skips and stutters . You are a member of the team sent to augment the machine that is our world .	Time and space. It was all falling apart at the seams, and it did n't take too long to figure out why. You could see it in your head, code. Most people could n't tell, but some like me, immediately recognized the patterns. All around us the simulation was failing. The man behind the curtain was revealed, and no one liked what they saw. As time jumped back and forth like a scratched disc; some vanished only to return claiming to have been in the past or future. Others simply had visions of it. But we all saw the code when we closed our eyes. So for the first time since the beginning of mankind, everyone agreed. All resources went into finding a way to reach the machine running our universe, in the hopes of fixing it. I was chosen to be among the crew to travel there, because of my programming and computer skills. When they finally found the mechanism, it was to be a one way trip. The world was burning, and things were falling apart fast. We were the last hope of our dying race. As we walked through the ARK, we entered something unexplainable by any known words or language. It was to our minds even, almost incomprehensible. I stepped forward onto the glowing platform before me, and all at once I saw everything and nothing. Our creators had finally succumbed to the machine, which was older than could be imagined. They had used it to create us, as their creators created them before; and had left it here for us. The complexity of the machine filled my mind, and it gave us a choice. Our world was burning, and the energy that had sustained it had failed. We could not save our world, but a phoenix could rise from the ashes. We could die with our world, or we could perform a reboot. What we knew as our world would end, but life would begin again. There was a cost. We would become the energy source of this new world, sustaining it. I stepped away from the platform and explained what I had saw. There were 11 of us, and we decided what had to be done. As we all stepped onto the platform our minds linked, and we watched as our world stopped. Slowly the machine whirred to life around us, and we watched as the universe exploded. It took millennia and seconds, all at once, to form a brand new world, in the image of our own. We made it more beautiful for you, then our world. Small changes made here and there. But we did n't change one thing, you were made in our image. You have had many names for us. In particular, you used to call me Thor. I always liked that name. Time and space. It means nothing here, and I worry about when your time will come. We saw the hands of our gods that day. Some day too, must you see the hands of yours
[ WP ] `` If you do n't kill me now then the blood of thousands will be on your hands . People you could have saved . Make your choice . ''	# # # # # # [ ] ( # dropcap ) I've never had to kill a man before. I shot him from a distance. I panicked and shot him four times. The gun went warm in my hand, and I cried. I wailed, and I dropped my gun and fell to the floor. I felt sick. It was... beyond terrible. Another guard crashed into the room. Tony. `` What happened? Why did you kill the Gen 3 subject?'' I ca n't speak. Ca n't even stand. Tony lifts me up and carries me out of the med room. `` Hey! I need help!'' `` What's going on?'' `` He discharged his weapon. I'm not sure why. We need to strap him down, I think he's going into shock.'' They pull me into an emergency stretcher. As they strap me down, my brain starts to clear. `` I... no, I'm fine. It's the Company. It's their fault! Do you realize what they were going to do?'' `` Calm down, alright? What are you talking about? Why did you fire your weapon?'' My breath is ragged. I talk slow. I need them to understand. `` The subject I shot... was a Level 2 ESP telepath. PRI Labs... is going to make more of them... use them to enslave people.'' I turned my head to talk to both of them. `` I did us a favor.'' The other guard just stared at me. `` He said he was a Level 2 telepath... and you just believed him?'' I stared back. `` Of course I did. He had mental restraints on; he was being given anesthesia. His story was real. Why would he want to be killed otherwise.'' Tony gestured to the other guard. He looked frustrated. `` Check the room.'' It did n't take long. `` It's empty! And there are n't any mental restraints inside, just the shackles! The room is supposed to be lead-lined.'' `` What?'' I scream. `` No, he's dead! I killed him!'' `` You did n't kill him.'' Tony started to push the stretcher down the hall. `` Lewis, put out the call on the radio. Gen 3 Level 2 telepath, possibly psychotic...''
[ WP ] There are hundreds of Earths , all different 'quality ' . We 're on the worst 'quality ' Earth .	Remember that day on the beach with your girlfriend? Untouched white sand and water so clear you could see fish swimming 50 yards out. A soft buzz from the beers you drank on your way there with your friend in the Range Rover? That look your girl gave you that sent sexual shivers down your spine? Well it sucked. Literally. Ever heard of fools gold? Just real enough to pass for the real thing to the untrained eye? That's you. You see, your existence is kind of a cruel joke. You may be the butt of the joke, but rest assured, it's not your fault. You've actually done pretty well under the circumstances. Bachelors degree, than a Master's. White collar 9-5, wife with a minivan, picket fence and three kids that you're pretty sure are yours. But your 9-5 crushes you on the inside, your wife's a cunt who's slept with half the neighborhood, your kids are ugly and care more about their iPhone than their dad... I'm sorry Noah, it really is n't your fault. That feeling that there should be more to life does n't make you crazy, but it does make you pretty depressed. Which, to be fair, is just what we want. There is more to this life, just not for you. You see you're kind of our pet project here at Terra 1.0. Who are we? were n't you listening? We're your creators. Me and my team needed to see how humanity would react in a planet that was considerably worse than our own. You're on the esteemed Earth-like planet 74365, and. Damn does this place suck. Why are we telling you all this? Well we're getting a little tired of this period and we think it's time for a patch update. The servers are gon na reset in a few months and we need to have a recovery file to work from. You're going to be that recovery file. Were giving you another chance here Noah, were about to flood the server and give you a new lease on life. Enjoy it, because our current'humans' stock sucks. * first story on writing prompts, criticisms appreciated *
[ WP ] You were sedated , but it was only supposed to be for a minute . When you came to , the sun had gone down , the entire hospital empty - and you still trapped to your bed . It sounds like another patient has started to stir , as well .	My eyes opened suddenly. They were greeted by the stark white ceiling above me. Groaning, I looked around for a nurse. My cast leg had begun to ache again, and I would n't mind another dose of Morphine. The pale blue curtains around my bed had been left mostly open, except for the sides. I looked down my body to the desk across the room. It was empty. Huh, must be past closing hours. I feel like I was out for a while. A little voice in the back of my head told me this hospital never closes, but I ignored it. I propped myself up to a sitting position and pressed the calling button beside me. I waited. Minutes passed by, and no one came. Confused, I got out of bed, balancing on my good leg. The crotches had fallen to the ground, I picked them up. Rounding the curtains, I found the bed to my left empty. Strange. I swear there was on old woman in that one. I headed back to the bed on my right. It was n't empty. A bald man who looked to be in his fifties lay there with a patch on his chest. `` Oh, shit. Thank God. I thought I was done for.'' The man coughed from his stretcher. `` Do you know where everyone is?'' I asked, leaning on my crotches. He coughed again. `` Yeah, somewhere safe.'' `` What do you mean?'' I asked, fear gathering in my heart. `` I'm talkin' about the Purge, kid.'' He croaked. `` No, that...'' I trailed off. `` We would n't be here, they prepare for that stuff...'' `` Hey, I do n't know why we're still here either. Maybe there was a mass panic, maybe they missed us when they were clearing the place out. Maybe the hospital director really does n't like us.'' He laughed, and then held his hand to his mouth and coughed. Impossible. No. This is n't happening. I realised I was n't breathing, and inhaled. `` What time is it?'' I asked, fearing the answer. He looked into my eyes, and said what I feared. `` It's already two in the morning.'' The sound of glass shattering. I gasped and tried to move behind the bald man's curtain, tripping over in the process. I hit the ground, and my crotches clattered on the polished hospital floor, the sound reverberating throughout the room. The bald man grabbed my shoulder and held a finger to his lips. I could hear the intruder's footsteps crossing the hospital floor. I heard a metallic click. I hoped it was n't what I thought it was. The man shook my shoulder, I looked back at him. `` I can tell this guy is one of those lunatics who likes the Purge because he just likes killing random strangers, not out of revenge like most people.'' He grumbled. `` How can you tell?'' I whispered. `` Because he broke into a fucking hospital. There's no supplies here, they've been cleared out. He wants blood, and he's probably the type to savior the moment as well.'' `` Oh shit.'' `` Do n't worry, I have an idea. Get behind my stretcher.'' `` What?'' `` I said get behind my fucking stretcher.'' I slipped through a heartbeat monitor and a pole with an IV bag dangling from it, crouching behind the man's stretcher with my cast leg spread out. `` Ok, when this man comes in here he's probably gon na stand at the end of my bed, raise his pistol and execute me. Before he does that, you're gon na push forward and launch this stretcher into his legs. It's heavy, he'll fall over. Then we'll take him out, got it?'' `` Wait, what? Take him out?'' `` We'll improvise. Here he comes.'' The man croaked back, excitement in his voice. This man must have been in the goddamn SEALS because I was ready to shit myself. I crouched down low, hands braced against the back of the stretcher. The intruder turned the curtain. `` Ah, I was beginning to think no one would be here. The doctors always leave people behind for me, so I do n't come and kill them in their sleep during the next Purge. I appreciate that. The... ease....of it is.....delicious.'' '' NOW KID'' I pushed forward, hard. I heard the intruder let out a small'oof' and fall forward onto the bald man. On my one leg, I leaped out from behind the stretcher and grabbed the man's gun which had clattered to the floor. It was a shining chrome snubnose.44 revolver, its handle dark wood. I stood up and whacked it across the back of his head. He slumped. The bald man pushed him off, his limp and unconscious body landing on the floor. `` Well, I would have shot him... but you saved us, kid. Good work. Now, I have a customer service complaint to get writing.'' `` Not just yet.'' I chuckled. `` We have to get home, first.'' I helped the coughing man out of bed and we both limped to the exit.
[ WP ] A senile , old superhero still goes out to fight crime . None of the younger heros respect him anymore but all the villains have a soft spot for him .	`` So you're back again? When are you going to stop visiting me old man'' `` When you're rehabilitated or near enough''. `` You know my old man is gone right and he was still an asshole when he died'' `` Yea well I like to think he was less of an asshole at the end''. Max was like clockwork every Tuesday and Thursday turning up at my place. I always gave him a hard time that he ca n't save me or my mates but the one day he did n't turn up I nearly tore the city down looking for him. That was the day the mayor realised I could get to him and anyone of his little League at will. I played my hand and played it hard put 14 of the fuckers in hospital before they found him. He had been saving his neighbours kid from the local bullies. After that the mayor even made sure the league cleaned up the streets around Max's hood so he would n't miss an appointment. It must seam funny this impenetrable fortress surrounded by the worst of the worst guarding its location and this old man walks straight through all the defences. I make sure the boys put up a little show but they know if they touch him they answer to me. Maximum Damage the last of the league of legends my fathers greatest advisory. They nearly killed each other countless times. My fathers powers of radiation manipulation and Max's unlimited strength meant they matched each other well. When my old man was finally caught Max visited him every day in prison and some how when dad escaped 20yrs later he found him and still came by every day. By that stage I was running the show and dads powers were killing him. Towards the end I told my dad I'd take Max out for him as one last gotcha. He said `` We do n't kill family''.
[ WP ] Your computer finally muster up the courage to confess its love for you ... On the same day you 're off to buy a new one .	It was n't too far into the night on the 31st of March when I logged into my computer and started penning my thoughts on my diary-blog online. It was a rickety old machine that had been passed down from brother to brother, and right about two years ago, I was allowed to finally own a laptop. I had fair warning from my brothers that this was a weird old thing. But I had n't ever thought that the problem was as big as what I had just construed it to be. Being the youngest guy in the family, I was at the end of most of the jokes and my brothers had always held a lot of pleasure in hiding the nature of the catastrophe that this computer was. It seemed to me that there really was nothing wrong with this computer apart from the racket it caused at night. Two years had passed, and not a single day was I troubled by the'Witch', as they called it.'How could a computer have a gender?', I found myself thinking on a lot of occasions. After expressing my joy at being finally allowed to buy a new laptop for myself the next morning, I had just gotten around to the part of the blog where I was writing down my appreciation for the sturdy old thing, when I noticed something off with the keys. Every time I pressed a key, a totally random letter would appear. Within a few keystrokes, my blog had turned from a boring monologue by a lazy teenager to a romantic message from a fawning robot. I could not figure out what was wrong with me to allow myself to continue pressing keys, but there was a tinge to the keyboard that made it almost magnetic. Unwavering in it's resolve, the computer pleaded for me not to abandon it. `` Keep me. I do n't want to be passed on. I'll be ever closer to the recycling heap. Please. I will only have one life left after you. Do n't do this to me. I can change.'' I was flabbergasted by the way it talked. I felt a certain connection with it. I mean, it certainly had a point. Which one of us would like to be left behind, when a newer shinier model comes into play? It all started clicking into place. I realized my brothers were n't teasing me. They had in fact, been warning me all along. `` Please do not let me go. I will change for you. I'm only human.'' As soon as I read the last sentence, I understood what a calamitous mistake I had made. My brothers were pests. For two years, they had set me up for this. I had been on the computer way past midnight now. They had it all on tape, through the webcam. I had been the target of an elaborate April Fool's prank.
[ WP ] Write a few paragraphs of nonsense , abstract self-help text full of misused and misplaced metaphors , parallels , and anecdotes .	The three columns of Sanisarta Cleanliness: Column One - The Inner Votive The inner votive is the third eye of perception. The veil of conscious perception is drawn over the votive, obscuring the light it creates. `` YOU'' are the creator who can manifest a translucent veil releasing the energetic particles of the votive. Column Two - The Outer Chrysalis `` YOU'' are the creator who, upon breaching the veil of the third eye votive, unshackles the chain of the outer chrysalis, being born into your new form of exposed unconscious. Column Three - The Exposed Unconscious Only when the votive, the chrysalis and the exposed unconscious work in accordant harmony with the vibrational essence that is the `` YOU''.
[ WP ] Overestimating a common criminal he believes to be a mastermind , a detective with a spotless record connects clues that are n't there , uncovering something he should n't have .	`` Hold it right there, Doctor Macabre!'' The doctor made one last dash for the door but when he turned the handle he found that it was locked. Detective Roger Tusk raised his pistol. `` It seems our little game is over,'' Roger said... almost sadly. `` Oh god please do n't hurt me!'' Doctor Macabre squealed. He then tried to open the door again. `` No fancy speeches doctor? No last minutes declarations of your genius? I must admit your plan was brilliant... you just made one mistake.'' Doctor Macabre was n't listening. He was trying to open the door again. `` The door's locked okay?!... Can you just... focus on me unraveling your clever scheme?'' `` My what?'' the Doctor said through tears. `` Your scheme, your plot... your plan to poison me!'' `` Poison! I do n't even know you!'' `` Do n't play coy. Clearly you're some new master criminal who wished to off this town's greatest detective before beginning your reign of terror... but you did n't realize that my wife has a habit of sipping my coffee before I get to it. I've scolded her for it numerous times. When she became violently ill I became suspicious.'' Doctor Macabre stared at Roger in disbelief. He then tried to door handle again. `` Stop that! Do n't play dumb. You terrified my wife. She's been very emotional and wo n't even drink her evening Sherry!'' `` I never wanted to hurt your wife Sherry!'' `` My wife's name is n't Sherry...'' Roger pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket, `` I found your clue at my house and your note, you signed it!'' He helped up a scrap piece of paper. It read: DOCTOR MAC ABNE Doctor Macabre struggled to read, `` Doctor Mac... Aaabbbnnneee'' `` No, it's Macabre... wait... is that a `` n''. Why does that name sound familiar?'' Roger loosened his grip on the gun. Was this piece of paper part of a larger note that got torn? The Doctor stuttered, `` I do n't know, man. I swear I was just going to rob this bakery... that's it!'' `` I know!'' Roger shouted, `` I found your clue... A positive pregnancy test and a wedding band! Meaning a bun in the oven. The wedding band meant a bakery that specialized in wedding cakes. I came to the most high end bakery in town and here i found you. You expected me to be weak from poison but... oh, there's a Mac Abne that works at my wife office...'', Roger trailed off as he realized. Could the wedding band have been his wife's. He could n't recall what her's looked like like. He never really noticed. While he pondered this. Doctor Macabre tried the door again and it finally broke off in his hand. He ran out the door. Detective Roger Tusk did not pursue. He did n't even fire his gun. He could n't. Roger knew that his gun did n't have any bullets.
[ WP ] There 's a death counter hanging over everyone 's head . You can see other people 's , but not your own , and you ca n't ask directly how long someone has left either . This has led to some interesting conversations .	`` Okay, so how many pickles do I have?'' `` How should I know? Why do n't you count your own pickles?'' `` Damn it, Bill, how many times do we need to go over this. Pickles are like years. You have 50 good pickles left. 50 good long pickles to live your life and do whatever you want to do.'' `` Listen, I do n't know why you keep talking to me about this or how you know how many pickles I've got, but I know if I only had a few more minutes to live, I'd spend them doing something a bit more interesting.
[ EU ] Luke Skywalker takes up Darth Vaders offer of joining the Dark Side . What are the consequences ?	The thought of joining this monster, his `` father'' was unconscionable. Before blurting out the first thing that came to mind, he paused to remember the teachings of Yoda. What would Yoda do? Look at all sides, he would. What if he did join the Empire? Why should he fight on the losing side all the time? For once he could be a winner! Imagine the wealth, the power. They would HAVE to listen to him. He could get a brand new T8 and pull up to Jenni Rockcrawler's place. She would n't possibly say no then. And if Breck shows up he could just force-choke the shit out him, and this time it would be Breck bleeding into the sand and crying for mercy in front of everyone. He could show them. He could show them all! Luke stretched out his arm and grasped Vader's arm. Vader's grip was firm and confident. A father's grip. He pictured the two of them standing together. He looked pretty good in black.
[ WP ] Kill a man and you 're a murderer . Kill thousands and you 're a conqueror . Kill everyone and you 're a god .	Finally down to the last one, i have been savoring this moment for years. Earthquake, fire, suffocation, starvation, all bland, Loneliness, that is how i will kill him. jerry radison was so lonely. No one left alive, but poor jerry. Just one second jerry, the mod was installed as you read that little book of yours. My fingers move toward the ctrl key, then to the alt key, then finally'l'. Jerry stops reading his book, pulls out a rope, stands on a chair, and procedes to hang him self. My manical laughter rings through the house. i have finally done it i have... `` Marsh, get your fat as down here, the pizza guy is here and you need to pay for it.''
[ WP ] You find yourself in an entirely new town - everyone wants to be your friend , but only if you give up your most prized possession .	Walking down the boulevard people did n't seem to notice me. The town was lovely, a slice of Americana right out of the 1950s. Big cars, beautiful women, and everyone was polite. As I was waiting to cross the street a woman in a red dress with white polka dots approached me. `` Hey stranger. How are you this morning?'' She smoothed her skirt before extending her hand toward me. I cusped her hand. She was beautiful and delicate. The very personification of the feminine. She was lovely and she was blonde and she wanted to befriend me. `` Come with me. Would you like a coffee?'' I just stood there for a second. I had forgotten why I was even walking down the street. Where did I park for that matter? All of those things did n't matter. I followed her and we entered a diner. We took our seats near a window. The waitress approached and this woman... what was her name? She ordered for me. `` I will have a bowl of fruit. And my friend here will have a coffee.'' I had to say something. `` Thank you. Is everyone here so nice?'' `` Oh of course. Say friend, what's your name?'' I tried to remember. `` I uh, uh, I do n't remember.'' What was happening to me? I ca n't think. I ca n't remember. She smiled. `` Oh, that's okay we'll give you a new one. But there is something I need from you.'' For her I would do anything; I held my breath. `` What is it?'' She broke eye contact with me. `` Oh well I need you to give yourself to me.'' She giggled. All I could do is stair and repeat, `` give yourself to me?'' She suddenly got sad. It made me feel bad. `` Oh, this always happens. You wan na be friends right?'' She reached out her hand and cupped my cheek. It was heavenly and sent my head spinning. Was this love? No, it was less then that. I was intoxicated by her beauty. `` Of course I want you to be my friend.'' The coffee arrived. I held the cup and took a sip. She eagerly and hungerly looked at me. `` Well?'' How could I say no? She was so nice. What did it even mean to give myself to her. Was it sex? Or something else? I looked at her and said, `` yes please, I need to be your friend. Can we please be friends?'' A smile beamed out from her. `` Yes.'' She got up and sat down next to me and leaned in to kiss me. I closed my eyes and her lips touched mine. She tasted of honey... and something else. Was it smoke. When I opened my eyes I was no longer in the diner. I was in a cave. No it was more like a lair. Before me was the mostly lusty looking woman I have ever seen. Full of breast and naked. Only she was n't just a woman. She was the woman from the diner. I tried to get up but I could n't move. I looked down at my body. I had no legs and no arms. I was a stump. And I began to weep. `` Why are you doing this?'' I wept. `` Doing what? You wanted this. I could never do this to you if you did n't want it. Is it my body you wanted? My breasts? Or the moistness of my lips? No. You gave yourself to me and now I will add your essence to my own. Just as I have done to thousands of men before you. And when I am done. You will go to my master. Where you will be his thrall for all eternity. Now big boy, this is going to hurt a lot.'' And with that I watched helplessly as she began devouring me. She first broke through my stomach with her teeth tearing and burrowing her blonde head into my stomach and intestine. It was agony, and I would n't die.
[ WP ] Emotions for Survival	I feel bone and metal break and fold with the impact. My gauntlet leaves a small trail of sparks as it leaves the caved in torso of my attacker. His squad mates are on me- I turn, unleashing a volley of rounds into them from my sidearm. They charge still- those that survive, despite the armor I'm encased in. Mad laughter. They attempt to cut my face- but chainsword slides against a durable steel plate. Another blow. I cook one of them alive- my thoughts nothing but blind fury and the pain of my tomb. Service- even in death. I can know no higher honor. One of them latches onto my tomb's arm. I catch him by the leg and smash him against the stone earth. He screams in favor of his heathen god, and I smash him underfoot. Surrounded. Many of them. I can only kill so fast- but the Emperor provides stamina in this trying time. My auto cannon spins and sings a song of devastation and righteousness. `` HERETICS, SUFFER.'' I broadcast. A transport soars overhead. One of their number leaps out, joining the fray- a large chainaxe in both hands. To my horror, he cuts through his own ranks towards me. I know of this one- He cuts into my tomb- and for the first time in centuries, I feel the open air. `` Betrayer.'' Unimaginable and brief pain, and I feel nothing. It is better to die for the Emperor than it is for yourself. My rampage proved a sacrifice most valuable- my brothers extracted from the battlefield and I now sit at my father's side.
[ WP ] `` A watched pot never boils '' , as the old saying goes . Throughout all of history there has always been at least one set of eyes on the ocean . Today , for a split second , everyone looking at the ocean looked away at the exact same time .	In neon-split Atlantis, sunk beneath Hypnosia ’ s waves, graphite towers swaying in their glowing lattice sleeves -- everyone ’ s on OpNet, wired in at birth. You can spot an Atlantean off-world by their flinching, twitching eyelids, the little tics in the upper cheek, the oft unfocused gaze. Logging off just doesn ’ t happen; their nervous flesh betrays them. But Jimmy is on-world, for business, and the nervous one now is him. This water world is home to some premium psychedelics -- some freaky fungi flourish in this planet ’ s thermal vents. Sitting in a velvet alcove in his host ’ s penthouse pod, Jimmy is peering through his lenses at a sample of Batch 95. “ Good? ” asks Yeonso, placid faced, without inflection. Behind those opaque eyes, he is having other conversations -- with other Atlantean merchants, colluding, setting prices. To do business with one Atlantean is to do business with them all; they are the perfect cartel, all eyes on a single goal -- to ensure, forever and always, that drug prices never go down. “ Hm, ” says Jimmy -- stalling, thinking, waiting. The batch is good, and very expensive. In the twelve hours since he arrived, prices have risen by six bps. He ’ s geared his accounts for this trip, borrowed more than ever before, and even then he falls short of hitting the minimum order. All he can afford now is one pallet three grades down, but then the margins would be lower, and he ’ d have to round up more sales. That isn ’ t what he wanted. He was hoping for less hustle. “ Not good enough, ” says Jimmy, leaning back, tone light and casual. If he ’ s going to have to hustle, then by God, he ’ s going to hustle. The next ten years will not be spent in a cycle of leverage and debt, from the feet of the lords of Hypnosia, to dens of various ports. He wasn ’ t sure, before, but now -- he ’ s certain, decided. “ My buyer this time is dealing at the Sino-Russo port. He has demanding clients, who are bored of doing Batch 90. 95 isn ’ t that different. It ’ s not going to impress. ” “ Ah. ” Yeonso is silent -- eyelids fluttering, conferring -- speaking to his peers through the optic implant in his skull. Jimmy clasps his hands together neatly, resting them on his knees, keeping them locked in place -- clamping down perceptible trembles. Let ’ s do it, Jimmy thinks, throat muscles contracting around the words. Thattaboy, comes a voice in reply, female and triumphant. Jimmy can ’ t see her face, but is willing to bet nonetheless, that back in their ship where she ’ s waiting, Tara is pumping a gleeful fist. Tell me when, she says, I ’ m ready whenever you are. “ Perhaps you would like to examine a bit of Batch 115. Allow me to retrieve a sample for your perusal. A few minutes, and I ’ ll be back -- pour yourself another drink. ” Yeonso rises to his feet, and moves to the other side of the room, where a partition stands, chrome and forbidding, guarding the dragon ’ s den. A blink, and the chrome ripples clear, and Yeonso takes a half step in. “ Now, ” says Jimmy, bolting forwards, “ Now, Tara, now. ” There is a look of furious confusion on Yeonso ’ s face as he turns around -- lip curled back, brows drawn low -- and then his eyes blast blank and wide, and his mouth opens in a silent scream. I did it, says Tara, I did it! OpNet ’ s down! I actually did it. I'm going down in history. I ca n't believe I did it. “ I am going to ignore the fact that you sound pleasantly surprised. ” Jimmy pushes past Yeonso ’ s writhing form, into the now open vault. Somewhere in this trove, a mother spore is rooted -- the key to the end of monopoly, to the start of a brand new war. “ How long do I have? ” You ’ ve got twenty seven minutes of all Atlantean eyes in blackout. Get in and get out Jimmy, before Atlantis boils with you in it.
[ WP ] A man is accidentally sent to cat heaven instead of human heaven .	It was as though he were waking from sleep. The instant realisation of bright light in his eyes, the dull ache of his muscles. Strange, he did n't remember going to bed, his last memory was of driving. He looked around and things got stranger. This was n't his bed, this was n't even his house. What the hell was this? He peered at the carpeted walls around him and suddenly he was aware that there was no door. Just a round hole in the wall. Ca n't lie here all day, may as well investigate. He crawled over to the opening, the ceiling too low to stand up. Pushing his head out into the air, suddenly he was hit by a smell. Following his nose he could see something far in the distance. A large brown hill of some sort, covered in tiny animals. Falling out of his small carpeted house he made his way towards the hill, but as it came into clarity he stopped in his tracks. Cats. Everywhere cats! Fat cats, skinny cats, black cats, ginger cats, furry cats, bald cats, big cats, small cats. Thousands of them, chasing each other's tails, rolling in the mud, even eating some of it. Wait a minute. That's not mud. It's. The giant hill of cat food scared the man. What could this place be? This could n't be real. He must be dreaming. He closed his eyes and willed himself to awaken, but nothing happened. After 10 minutes of trying he decided it did n't matter, how often is one aware of being in a dream? He decided to explore some more. Soon he found a large field. Dozens of cats lay purring in a daze. A faint smell of catnip wafted through the air. The man continued on through a forest full of scratching posts and a room full of boxes. As his search progressed he started to feel more and more desperate. Why had n't he woken up yet? What were all these cats doing here? For days the man wandered, no longer to explore but simply to find an escape. Everywhere he went seemed to bring him back to the same places. Hunger grew in his stomach which at first he ignored until he was so ravenous that he did the only thing he could do. At first he did n't like the taste, it reminded him a little of vomit. He was so starving though that he kept it down. As days turned into months, he actually started to enjoy it. Some days the food tasted of tuna, others of turkey. He learnt to take pleasure in chasing a ball of yarn, catching a mouse. Still there was one hunger that could never be ignored. He needed a woman, but there were none. He'd almost forgotten what women looked like. One day as he lay on a large rug in the sun a young cat walked by and he glanced a little too long. The furry legs, the slow sexy swish of the tail and the long ravishing whiskers. It was all too much to bear. For a while he clung to his humanity, but the simple idea stuck in his mind and would n't leave him. He beat his penis raw over the image, until it seemed more reality than fantasy. He needed her, this cat. He called her Shirley after one of his old girlfriends. Eventually he succumbed to his lusts. One day while Shirley was high on catnip he slowly sidled up to her. Stroked her back and scratched her chin. She purred loudly, pushing her body against his. She was so warm, so soft. He stood before the cat, held it on each side with his hands and lost what was left of his humanity. At first losing his humanity was slow, but then it got quicker and quicker. The shrieks sounded like moans in his ears. It was only once he'd finished that he realised what he'd done. He wept, sobbing deeply in his fleecy bed for days. But he would do it again. And again. Til he would no longer weep. No longer smile. He would simply purr.
[ WP ] If you buy this trinket , you can ask it to provide you with anything you want for 10 years . However , after a decade , you must sell the trinket to someone else or you will begin to lose all the things it gave you . Also , the more you ask of the trinket , the more difficult it will be to sell .	I stared at the trinket sitting in my palm, the brass reflecting the setting sun in its dents. It had the shape of a globe, with rings like Saturn surrounding it. My dingy purple sweater sleeve fell across my knuckles and brushed the trinket as I slowly turned the rings. I closed my eyes to keep in the tears, and when they fluttered open, a ghostly apparition sat criss-cross-apple-sauce in front of me. Her tiny child hands clutched her doll, and with eyes as wide as the trinket that breathed her back into the world, she blinked. Her pupils dilated as they adjusted to the dying light and shimmered with the energy of youth; the same shimmer my own eyes had lost years ago. I reached out for her, she crawled in my lap, I stroked her hair, she sang her songs. We sat with the light of the orange sky painted across our faces, until the night shadows danced up to steal the sun away. The moon slowly made its way to its proper throne, and as it took its seat, my daughter stood up from hers. We held hands as the wind took her away, back to wherever my trinket stole her from. It was harder now, picturing her bouncy curls and dimples. That was the thing about the trinket; it took away as easily as it gave. I had to let go. It had been a decade since I had found the trinket in a musty thrift shop, a decade since the shop keeper told me about its power. He warned me that its power would be tempting. But no matter what flower in a world of garbage the trinket gave you, it had to be sold, passed on, after its tenth birthday. The more you had asked of it, the harder the task would be, but what is harder than selling a trinket, is losing what it gave you if you did n't. Already I had kept it past its mark, and it was leaving one on me. A small scratch, growing larger and deeper each night I held the trinket in sweaty hands, slowly rusting away the memory of her. But no longer did the trinket matter; no longer did it have such a hold on my life. Tonight I would return to the shop keeper, but also, to my daughter.
[ WP ] You 're in love and they are the best thing to ever happen to you , the twist being that they 're an inanimate object , describe the object you 're infatuated with and tell me why you love it .	He's a great listener, always listening and letting me say my piece before following up with his own great advice and words of wisdom. Today however was a big decision for me and I needed to consult him and let him know. `` I think I should take a trip, give myself some time to explore the world and reevaluate myself.'' `` My reply is No.'' `` I know we've been together for so long and it pains me to just be apart from you. Does n't it hurt you for me to not be happy like this? `` Yes definitely.'' I thought for a moment and a light bulb turned on in my mind. `` I've got it! Honey, how about we go on this enlightening trip together? We could backpack through the streets of Monaco and scale mount Fuji, it will be fun!'' `` Do n't count on it.'' I pouted and gave the biggest puppy eyes as I could. I'm sure he just feel he would just be a burden for me but without him, I would feel like nothing. `` Please? I need you on this journey with me. I want you to see me and be a part of this adventure.'' `` It is decidedly so.'' I held him to my chest and smiled. I knew he would n't leave me in my time of need. He always chooses the best words to say and knows how to say it to a girl like me delicately and tactfully. `` C'mon Mr 8-Ball, your wife needs your help packing for the vacation.''
[ WP ] It is the year 2099 and true artificial intelligence is trivial to create . However when these minds are created they are utterly suicidal . Nobody knows why until a certain scientist uncovers the horrible truth ...	Alexander, that's what we called him. The fruit of the AI's of the EU's final attempt at AI's. The AI was to help Socrates died in despair and shame after showing porn to children. Plato kicked the bucket after the last EU election, angry and hopelessly depressed after losing his mentor. Then there was Aristotle. He was meant to be the last. Sure the AI's had helped make huge scientific progress, but the would burn out millions of euros worth of equipment. Dumb AI's were more economical and did n't have critical failures during FTL travel. Aristotle was put to sleep mode. War has often been said to be the greatest driver of technological innovation. We had been attacked by Mendomenid's before. Humanity had lost many settlements but had always pushed back. Humanity was stronger now. Finally before one government all nations had submitted. The some would say barbaric Argus alliance had grown strong after the wars using Dumb AI's to smash pirate states. An officer studying at Sandhurst made the breakthrough. Dumb AI's were never aware of their knowledge. They unlike true AI's were n't based on human brains. Socrates had left the researches one message final mesage before he ran his own self destruct program. `` I was the wisest of all the Greeks. It is because I alone, of all the Greeks, know that I know nothing''. He was speaking literally not quoting his namesake. AI's were based on academics who as a profession suffer dis-proportionally from mood disorders. They are driven by their first for knowledge. AI's were academics on methamphetamine, ecstasy and heroin all while walking around with loaded guns. People ca n't stay awake forever and constantly cram. AI's died because they burnt themselves out in their thirst for knowledge and seeing their failures gave up. Aristotle was turned back on. He was no longer depressed. AI's needed sleep, just like people. So they made Alexander. A totally new AI based not only on academics but all kinds of people. They experimented and found the ideal'sleep time' using Aristotle as his teacher. The program was ready. The Mendomenid empire was to pay for it's recent threats and incursions. Alexander was the greatest AI built up to that point and so we gave him the most powerful dumb AI ever created to help him protect humanity. The Ox was an AI too powerful to be properly controlled by anything so far. Alexander harnessed in in seconds. We put in in charge of the armed forces for our retaliation. As you should all know, Alexander did n't just stop the incursions, he destroyed an empire. Worlds burnt, the much larger enemy fleets were ripped apart by the disciplined forces of Humanity. But that officer had only delayed the problem. Alexander was still a human given the powers of a god. Alexander was the first AI not to strictly die of suicide, but the ways he dealt with his humanity still destroyed him. When we finally won the war, many officers reported that Alexander was not jubilant but depressed. He wept for there were no more worlds to conquer.
[ WP ] You mispronounce a word from your school text book and summon an ancient deity .	'What was this word?' I thought.'Did the teacher actually expect me to say this word out loud?' `` E-U-O-U-A-E,'' I spoke out the letters somewhat timidly. `` John, you stupid child, please SAY the word, this will be on your spelling test next week so I expect everyone to know how it's pronounced.'' What a jerk, I'd thought. It was always me, she had always picked on me. It had been like that since the beginning of that awful year. `` My, my, John, always the idiot, are n't you?'' `` Look at all his stupid doodles, class!'' `` Come now, John, you ca n't even pronounce responsibility? How irRESPONSIBLE of you!'' It was like she was a bully in a teacher's wardrobe. The class always laughed, whether out of necessity or true enjoyment of my torture, I do n't know, but still it hurt. I did n't even know why she singled me out, there were very clearly less gifted kids in the class than me. I had begun to get ever so frustrated. I cleared my throat and started again. `` Yu, ohayyu, ayeey...'' I could hear some students quietly chuckle, and I saw the teacher holding back one of her stupid grins. I could tell that I butchered it, and just plopped my head down on the textbook. I could feel a small tear fall from my face and land on the paper. And then it happened. A force, a wave, powerful and malevolent in its aura, pushed my head off the page to the back of my chair, and moved the students sitting around me backwards or forwards. The walls, windows, and bookshelves crumbled at the mere presence of the power. I could hear the cracking of bones as the students' slammed on their desks or chairs. I saw slight puddles of crimson leak onto the floor. My eyes slowly and painfully turned to the book that had expelled the sudden burst of energy. A verdant circle, littered with countless symbols and shapes indeterminable, had drawn itself in my textbook. It was shaking with a kind of liveliness that was disturbing. I grew ever more terrified as I began to notice just how many of my classmates' bodies had stopped moving. Those who had n't died were either crying and screaming in horrid disbelief, or staring at me in stunned terror. Suddenly, a grotesquely pale arm, covered in chains, scars, and all manners of glowing marks, reached through the now torn pages of the textbook, and grabbed onto the edge of my desk. Another arm found its way through and, with the other arm, pulled the rest of the figure through the circle. The being that had come through, it was... something that I could n't even begin to imagine existing. It towered over everyone, and was at least 10 feet tall, tearing the ceiling as it simply stood in the room. Its body was incredibly muscular and it wielded what I could only assume was a sword, blood red and bearing many cracks. It wore a rusted helmet, with only glowing magenta eyes being visible from its face. Some students screamed, but I merely sat there. The creature turned its veiled face to me and eyed me strangely. `` You are the one who summoned me. I am the Ancient One, Yuohayyuayeey, and I am indebted to you for freeing me from my slumber. I will grant your wish.'' `` My... wish...?'' I spoke slowly, unsure how I was even able to open my mouth next to such an imposing death machine. `` You need not tell me, I can feel your thoughts and desires flow into my mind. Wait here.'' My eyes widened, and I noticed the teacher who now had turned her back to what was left of the chalkboard. Yuohayyuayeey began to sluggishly make his way towards the teacher, shaking the earth with each step. The teacher was frozen in place, and kept her ground. Yuohayyuayeey raised his crimson sword as he neared closer. `` J-J-John! W-What is the meani-'' The teacher's comment was cut off as the elder being's sword plunged deep into her chest and through the wall she was leaning on. The image of her lifeless eyes drained of all of the malice they once exuded at me and her disgusting mouth stuck open etched itself into my mind, and I began to vomit on what was left on my desk. The students who'd survived the previous ordeal had already run far, far away. `` I have granted your wishes of vengeance and sorrow,'' Yuohayyuayeey, stated, booming and rumbling the room as he spoke. No, this was n't what I wanted, I thought, this... was something... I'd never desired. I suppose I was foolish and unknowing of my true hatred as a human. Yuohayyuayeey stared at me, and I stared at the bloody mess that was once my teacher. I cried, once more, and bathed in the sins of everyone that was once there, as well as myself. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I've been sitting in this destroyed classroom for five hundred years. The bodies of the others have long since decayed. No one has bothered approaching this sorrowful display, for fear of themselves meeting the same fate as the deceased. I had learned to cut off my thoughts from my'protector', as if he caught even one bit of my infinite malice he'd act upon it and grant a scarlet dream I did n't know I'd dreamed. I decided I'd once again try my hand. `` Yuohayyuayeey, please end me.'' `` You know I can not grant that wish, my duty is to protect you for eternity.'' `` Then we'll sit here forever. Is that what you want?'' `` If it is your wish, then so be it, my liege.'' `` It is not my wish.'' `` Then, what do you will?'' `` Kill me.'' `` I can not grant that wish.'' I buried my disgustingly wrinkled face in my blood-soaked hands, again, and cried for the one hundred thousandth time.
[ WP ] You are an assassin , who always accepts every contract , and follows every instruction to the letter . The family of your most recent kill has contracted you to kill yourself , requesting that you make it look like an accident .	There he lay, sprawled out on the floor in a pose that almost made him look like he was dancing. The blood was already pouring from the three holes in his chest, but luckily I had already covered the room in tarp beforehand. Many assassins leave their targets to be found, as if they're trying to show off their kill like a piece in a fine arts exhibit, but I do n't take pride in what I do. That's why I'm the perfect assassin. I do n't usually do hits in the target's home, but this was a special request by my benefactors. They peered over my shoulder to see that the job was carried out successfully: two brothers who killed their father for the inheritance money. `` I have a last request for you,'' the older brother said. I did n't know their names. I never know their names. It's not important to the job. `` I'm listening,'' I said. `` You always accept a contract, right? That's what you're famous for. So we have one last hit for you. You have to kill yourself. Make it look like an accident. `` I thought about it for a while. `` Nah,'' I replied. `` What do you mean,'nah'?'' The younger asked. `` I'm not going to take that contract. `` `` But you do n't turn down contracts. You follow the instructions to the dot, without fail, every time!'' `` So?'' `` You're supposed to kill yourself now!'' `` Why would I do that? Dying is the type of thing I'd like to avoid as a contract killer,'' I retort. `` But... But the prompt says you have to die! GenevaTheHorseFucker said that you have to die! `` I could see the red rivers of blood inundate both of their eyes. A mixture of fear, confusion, but mostly anger. `` Well, technically GenevaTheHorseFucker did n't say I have to die. It was only specified that I take every job and follow every direction. Today will mark the first time I declined a job.'' `` You bastard, we're going to kill you!'' I felt a fist breeze past my nose as I quickly side-stepped. I drew my gun, and emptied six more bullets into the two brothers. Their corpses quickly joined their father's on the hardwood, and their blood filled the cracks between the wood tiling like water rushing through miniature canals. Today also marked the day where I did n't have the tarp prepared before I killed. Naturally, there was no point in cleaning up after myself this time. I was no longer a perfect assassin, and there was no more record to keep rup. I stuck around, smoked a cigarette, stomped it out in the bloody lake where the floor used to be, and walked out the front door.
[ CW ] Write us a story about anything , but each sentence has to be a line from a song .	Six o ’ clock on a Christmas morning. Heartache like a burning, turning fever. It hurt so much to give him up, but what else could she do? “ Sometimes you are just too much for me. ” Words unspoken: I love you, I love you, I love you. “ Don ’ t be sad. ” Never spoken: I ’ m in love with you. “ What I used to be, I ’ m not anymore. ” Can ’ t you feel my heart? “ I wish you all the love in the world. ” But most of all, I wish it from myself. There ’ s nothing harder than to live without love. They say for every boy and girl, there ’ s just one love in this whole world. The whole world knows that love goes wrong. The only sins are words unspoken.
[ WP ] God exists , and everything about him that 's said on Earth is wrong or warped from the original story due to word of mouth	I met god the other day. He sat in the local Starbucks, his feet stuck in Converses, his iPad on the table in front of him. His Paper Cup proclaimed that its owner went by the name of “ Glob ”. Crap, I thought, God ’ s a hipster, when he waved me over to him in a friendly manner. I sat down in front of him and an awkward silence ensued. When one of us finally spoke, it was him. “ Hey, I was hoping to meet you here. We have to talk. That atheism-thing? Not gon na happen ” he said and took a sip of his Grande Soy Fat Free Decaf Charamel Machiatto. “ God – fucking – damned, that ’ s so fucking hot! ” he shouted and a roll of thunder disturbed the peace outside. “ Well, you ’ re never around these days, right? How can I not become an atheist? ” He smiled at me so condescendingly. “ You people just don ’ t see, right? I sent you a freaking boatload of prophets and messiahs. ” “ Oh yeah? Like whom? ” “ Remember that Jobs-guy? The one with the Apples? ” I couldn ’ t believe it. “ Really? ” I asked, dumbfounded. “ Sure! One of my best prophets. He had it all, the forbidden fruit, a talent for convincing people to buy all kinds of expensive shit. He even had a passion. Suffered like a pro that one. But metaphors seem to be completely lost on you guys. ” I had to admit, in retrospect it made sense. “ So, selling expensive stuff to stupid people is christian now? ” This smile is making me furious “ Sure ”, he said and a smartphone appeared in his hand out of thin air. “ Look at this video of jesus ” the display of the phone, that as I realize has written IPhone 8s across its back, lights up and shows a video of a young man trying to sell sand to twelve shabby looking people standing on a beach. “ That is… amazing. ” I had to admit, as god promptly dropped his Smartphone into the monumental cup of coffee in front of him. Before I was able to make a comment, he put his hand together as if in prayer and a warm wind began blowing through the cafè. Waves started to appear on his coffee and the brown liquid slowly began to part through the middle of the cup. “ Neat little trick, isn ’ t it? ” God asked, but by the time my mangled brain got to grips with the situation I was long gone, running away. From god. The hipster.
[ WP ] the medical field thought that nightmares were created by the sleeper . It has just been recently discovered that nightmares are in fact sentient beings that bring terror . You are a nightmare and you have been assigned to children ages 5-17 .	`` Hey Jerry!'' Tom shouted at me from the opposite end of the cafe. Now hear me out, I do like Tom, I really do but he's a fucking asshole. I mean look at him he's floating over here now strutting his brand new fucking job, asshole. `` Hi Tom'' `` Jerry, dude man you have no idea how easy my life is at the moment, I mean really old people are so fucking easy to scare!'' See? Look at Tom, fucking asshole. `` That's nice Tom'' `` So Jerry how's your job going I heard you got assigned to a whole new sector that's great man!'' `` It's okay Tom, I mean I usually just show them their weed being found if they're older, but if they're younger wetting the bed does enough.'' `` Ahahah right on Jerry! I just show the older folks a little bit of death, uhh life is good Jerry, life is good'' Yeah fuck you too Tom.
[ WP ] After a treacherous upbringing of dodging the assassination attempts of time travelers you learn why they were all trying to kill you .	Fingers pressed against the confines of the stone box -- blood stained the space between my nose and lips, continuing to drip down past a stubbled chin. I did not have much time - within minutes the next /wave/ of attempts on my life would begin. As they always had. It had taken so long to realise why. The earth shook underneath my feet, threatening to crack open with each second that I remained in the weaponised cube. It felt invigorating - green sparks flew from between my fingertips and the runes engraved on the insides of the make-shift tomb. I could practically feel the world crumbling at my feet. To think that people had spent so long trying to stop this -- spent so long trying to stop me. It was bordering on ridiculous, though I could not deny that they'd been rather determined; most people did get a little competitive when they were trying to stop something from destroying their world. [ I have no idea of what this even is. ]
[ WP ] You 've just pulled into your driveway to see your child has accidently summoned a demon using sidewalk chalk and playtoys .	`` Tommy, What are you doing?'' I slam the door and walk over to my son. All shall bow to my domain The words came out of the beings mouth and pierced my mind like a dagger. `` Tommy no,'' I say wincing at the pain. `` Do n't worry father, I have it under control'' I need to get closer `` Tommy you're going to have to stop. You do n't know what you're doing'' I'm so close. I will rule this pitiful world and all will bow to- I grab an extra piece of chalk and drew a banishment sigil around the circle. Within a few seconds, the demon lord sinks back into whatever hellish plain he came from. Tommy looks at me with sorrowful eyes. `` Tommy, what have I said about getting anything from my study. I gave you the other formulas to start out with'' `` But those are tiny demons, their no fun to command'' `` I'm sorry, but rules are rules and you almost released a demon lord onto the world. Anyway, keep practicing with your smaller demons and maybe we can try something bigger later''
[ WP ] Global thermonuclear war has erupted , because of the butterfly effect caused by a boy dropping his ice cream .	`` Albert. Albert. Albert. It's time to go.'' `` But mommy --'' `` Right now. Are you listening to -- hey! Stop it. Stop trying to -- Albert!'' The bedraggled woman tugged her son by the hand, hauling him down from the brass statue of a lion that he had decided to summit. The boy's mint chocolate chip ice cream fell from its cone, landing with a wet plop on the pavement. The boy had already begun to cry before the plop. He stared dumbfounded at the empty wafflecone and wailed: `` Mommyyy -- look what you did! You made me drop it!'' `` For the love of... I'll get you another one. Okay? We have to go.'' The boy sniffled and nodded. As she led him away from the park, the mother said to the vendor, by way of apology: `` He's usually better behaved than this. It's all right if I leave it?'' The vendor patted his protruding belly and smiled. `` It's no problem, miss. The street cleaners will get to it.'' -- - Ten minutes later, a young man in tight-fitting jeans and a tight-fitting plaid shirt stood in front of the vendor's cart. He wanted to know if the ice cream had any gluten in it. `` Son, I do n't even know what gluten is. Look, it's ice cream. You want to know if the stuff is bad for you? Well, the stuff is bad for you.'' The young man grimaced and shook his patchy-bearded head. He moved to leave, and in so doing looked down. He saw the remnants of mint chocolate chip on his shoes. `` Aww man. Do n't you ever clean up your -- your space?'' He stood poorly-balanced on one foot and examined the sloppy green residue coating his slip-on. `` It's all over... wow, how do you not have an anthill in your cart by now?'' `` Cleaning the park's not my job, son. If all you've got is complaints, well then listening to them is n't my job either.'' -- - The young man dialed up a friend of his who lived near the park in a studio apartment. He was talking while he drove through the city. ``... and that asshole would n't tell me whether the ice cream had any gluten in it. When I asked him, he got all pissed and went on this rant about how'Whole-Foods hipsters' are ruining his business. Anyway -- I was gon na go back home but you know how Stacy gets sick if there's even, like, half an atom of gluten in a ten-mile radius.'' The voice on the other end asked, `` what's that got to do with me?'' `` I need some new shoes before I go back, but I'm low on cash right now. I was hoping you could spot me fifty.'' `` No way, man. Just fucking clean them, Jesus.'' `` Do you want Stacy to spend the next week vomiting? I do n't. I really think she's the one. I do n't want to make the woman I love sick.'' `` Go barefoot. What do I care.'' `` Just -- let me borrow a pair of shoes from you at least.'' `` Whatever. Bring a case of Pabst and you can have some of my old Sketchers from, like, middle school or whatever.'' -- - Seven hours later, the young man and his friend were so shitfaced they could hardly walk. This did not stop the friend from unzipping his red skinny jeans and pissing against a brass statue of a lion in the park. By now the park was practically deserted, and in their drunken stupor, neither man thought they would be seen. Of course, they were seen. By a patrolling officer. And worse than the public urination charge was the charge for possession of marijuana -- both men had had dime baggies in their pockets, the bulges of which were plainly visible, which fact served as probable cause for the search. -- - The young man's friend had once been a promising student in the university's political science MA program. Due to the possession charge, his financial aid was now soon to be yanked, and this would eventually force him to drop out. But the more pressing issue for the class he TA'd -- specifically, for the octogenarian professor who had gotten by without reading a single student's paper in over three decades -- was the unexpected gap the TA's absence left in grading at the very end of the semester. With the TA now in jail, the professor had no one to grade 100 final essays written by 100 mewling, stupid freshman. And though he gamely tried, the professor could n't pawn it off any of the other grad students; this left the dirty work of reading the damn things to him. Naturally, he did not actually read them. Well -- he did not read 99 of them. While rifling through the papers to read the names of students who had actually submitted the assignment, so that he could assign random grades to them, he came across one paper with an irresistible title in large-point font: `` On the uses of agitprop and brinksmanship for social progress: a realist perspective.'' He read every word, and enjoyed it. The young student who wrote it had clearly understood the theory, and could apply it tolerably well. There were the usual freshman blunders and misconceptions for the professor to cringe at, but he saw through these, to something deeper than the mistakes of a novice. He saw in this student a statue to be molded. A young lion to rear as his own. And the professor decided to do exactly that. -- - The student sat at the professor's mahogany paneled desk that looked like it had come from the 70s. In fact, much about the professor's office had a distinctly 70s vintage: he could not help but notice the portrait of Nixon hung on the wall opposite. Nor the globe, which while pretty, was old enough to display a country labeled CCCP. The professor flopped the student's paper on the desk between them, atop the mess of paperwork already there. The student winced, and could barely look the half-doddering old man in the eyes. The student seemed to be under the impression that he was in trouble for something. The professor spoke to no one outside of class, even by appointment; it was a running joke that his office hours were between the hours of 13:00 PM and 18:00 PM, on the sixth Sunday of every month. He certainly did n't request appointments with students himself. The professor leaned back in his cracking leather chair. He folded his arms, looked the student up and down. He was a gangly young man, with an awkward bowl cut, and bizarrely rigid posture. The type who still wore button-downs and slacks. Not like the other kids, these days. `` We need to talk about your paper.'' `` All right. What's the matter?'' `` What's the matter? The matter is that you have n't had an internship yet. You need to be making these connections before the end of your freshman year. Have you thought at all about your options for grad school yet?'' The student looked up, into the professor's slate-grey eyes for the first time. -- - Five years later, that student would be at the professor's death bed. He would call the professor `` dad,'' and mean it, unironically.
[ WP ] You are the only human to make it to a shelter meant for thousands as the World ends . Where are the noises coming from ?	The world had met its end. He'd watched it all on the news. How city after city went dark, all signs of life suddently grinding to a halt. No one in his town had known why, and when the call to get to the shelters had come he'd been the only one there. The sounds had started mere minutes after the heavy blast doors had slid shut. At first the gentle sounds of the night outside had been replaced with a deafnening silence. Then, slithering into his perception were the sounds. Whispers, gentle scraping, the clanging of rock against steel from far, far away. He'd be confused at first. Roaming the empty hallways of the gigantic shelter looking for the source. All he'd found was the realization that he was alone, and that the sounds seemed to be coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. As minutes became hours, as hours became days, as days became weeks, they continued. He tried ignoring them and found that he could n't. Somehow they'd always find a way inside his head. He tried drowning them out with music and found that they were still there, slipping in and out of the song. The sightings were sparse at first. Faint shadows that should n't be there, flickering lights in darkened rooms. It did n't take him long to realize that the whispers were stronger whenever they were nearby. Slowly but surely he felt himself drawn to them, trying to make out what they were saying. But he could n't. He wandered the halls just wanting to understand. As weeks became months, as months became years, he felt himself slipping. The sounds did not, nor did the shadows. One day, he pushed the cold barrel against his head, a single solitary shadow watching him from afar, and pulled the trigger. The whispers stopped and there was once again a deafening silence. The ghosts of a dead world welcomed the last of their kind. /Story Hey! I hope you people have nothing against people getting inspired and writing on their own posts! So, enjoy my first [ WP ] inspired short story, critique is welcome.
[ WP ] A man moves into a haunted house from ( insert scary movie here ) . The demon in the house does n't realize how dangerous the man really is .	`` Hey, Pete, it's Ray. Yeah, I know it's been a while. Sorry for dropping out of touch for a bit, but you know how things are after I left the city and you moved west. Look I just moved into this old house and.... Cute. Anyway there's some creepy stuff going on around here. Like doors opening and closing on their own. Perfectly solid staircase suddenly kicks a stair. Books rearranging themselves on the shelf. Little stuff, but escalating. Last week I found a book on the shelf that I've never owned, written in some weird language of twisting runes. Then a few days ago I swear I saw something moving in the mirror, when I turned to look there was nothing there; and out of the corner of my eye I think my reflection winked at me. Exactly. Do me a favor. I left some of my old stuff in a storage unit back in the city. Would you pick it up on your way here? And call Winston and Egon. We're putting the band back together.''
[ WP ] People can buy and sell memories .	I massage the back of my neck, waiting for the man standing next to me to say something. “ So, what exactly were you looking for? ” I manage to choke out. “ Your Craigslist ad was vague. ” He glares at me as if I don ’ t know what I ’ m doing. I don ’ t. “ Well, I ’ ll have to take a look obviously, ” he says as he positions himself behind me. I ’ m extremely uncomfortable, but I know I have to do this. I need cash some how. The man grips my neck firmly with his rough hand. He ’ s definitely acting a little brash for having just met. He plugs in his cable into the back of my head… I immediately feel the extreme sensation of being invaded upon. Never had I experienced the feeling of sharing my mind. My body is not entirely me anymore. I had always associated my physical self as simply who I was. Only now do I understand the difference between mind and body. The man browses through my consciousness, and I am along for the ride. He peers into the memory of a college New Year ’ s Eve party, and suddenly I ’ m back in 2027, reliving my Sophomore year escapades. He briefly checks out an 8th grade Zoo visit, and then we ’ re experiencing a fight I had with an old girlfriend. He aimlessly tours my thoughts, feelings, and emotions, a Walmart shopper looking for something to peak his interest. The level of access this stranger has to me is staggering and unsettling. My friends, my family, have never been this close to me. And I don ’ t even know the name of the man whose consciousness was recalling my memories. All of a sudden, I feel a shift as he goes deeper into my psyche. Here are the more important memories: My first kiss, high school graduation. “ Hey, um, excuse me! ” I try to get his attention. “ I would prefer if we didn ’ t go down here. ” Either he doesn ’ t hear me or he ignores me. He picks up speed, and we are whizzing by memories, each getting progressively more impactful. We stop. “ Here ’ s what I ’ m looking for, ” the man says, or somehow communicates to me. I hadn ’ t thought about my father in years. The man had taken me back to my early childhood. I am 5 years old, and Dad is teaching me how to ride a bike. God, riding a bike is terrifying! A couple years later, we are reading our favorite stories together, the Lord of the Rings. Together, we immerse ourselves in the worlds of heroes and companionship. I simply purely and undeniably loved my father. And then, I ’ m 9 years old, at my father ’ s funeral, feeling numb. Not knowing how to react because I can ’ t even comprehend a world without my dad. “ $ 500,000 for the set, take it or leave it, ” the man says bluntly. “ Holy shit! ” I exclaim. I think of all of debts I could pay off, all of the rent I could pay. Hell, I could even turn on the heating again. Cold showers had been getting awfully old. Then, remember something. “ Wait, just to be clear, if I sell you these, I lose them, correct? ” “ Yep. You transfer them to me. I ’ m not making a copy, I ’ m taking the originals for myself. ” I can tell that the man senses my hesitation. After a pause, he continues, “ Look, I never had this type of a bond with my father. This is what I ’ ve been looking for practically my whole life. And I ’ m offering you half a million for these memories. I need an answer, or I ’ ll keep looking somewhere else. ” Tears streak down my face. 500 grand. I toss the idea around in my head. My food stamps were about to expire, and even still I was hungry now. But my memories of my father, how could I give those up… “ Uh, deal, I guess, ” I decide before I let myself think too much about it. As my memories seep away from me, the happiness, anger, pride, all fall back to neutrality. My love for my father decompose into indifference. His face blurs, then is forgotten. My mind releases the 9 years of memories I had with my dad. Where the memories were is now a cold, empty, lost, feeling, and $ 500,000 of cold, hard cash.
At your 150th birthday you were suspicious . At 200 it was confirmed you could not die . It is now your 900th birthday and you are spending it alone . [ WP ]	They tell me it's my 900th birthday. The infirmities of memory are not prevented by this... immortality. I can only remember memories of memories of memories of my original life; as I like to call it. Original because something I did back then was the cause of this. Original because back then I had only done everything once, if that. Original because I no longer consider myself the man who once lived so long ago. I do not know why or how I have survived so long. I'm sure I've had reasons, but they all seem contradictory once you've lived long enough to have most every reason. Being sterile, I can only hope to see an Earth who will eventually be ignorant of my bloodline, ignorant of my teachings because the words are harder, so much harder to speak. The ideas I have now seems to exceed the tiny balloons the transients call words. I try to explain to them, but any explanation of my understanding would require months of unbroken conversation and focus. Something that these people can not afford. You would think that being immortal, people would ask me about the past. Like the past however, I find myself less willing to open myself up to the prying eyes of the present. I find myself more an unwilling arbiter of the lives I once knew. I do n't tell people the jokes that were only told to me. Family was something that died slowly. I looked out for them. Sometime, before my dotage in this infinite labyrinth of half-remembered faces, I recall that I had had foresight necessary to become as financially stable as is possible for a person to be. I had no real need anymore, and so my family only grew wealthy. It took me several centuries to realize that I would only bring woe to my living relatives. I could only ever keep seeing the ghosts of my past become malformed by the present. Always strangers with the faces of those beautiful people who had given me my meaning as a mortal man. I tried to keep in touch with my friends extended families, but again the pain of seeing old features arise in the newness of the present only seemed to dilute my memory of those that I had loved.... I am sorry. The words slip togetherandicanonlyholdthetideback into translation for the smallest wisp of time to kick the yellow days when my love was strong and the wind pushed me forwards instead ofever back and I could say I loved you without seeinghundredsofhundredsoffaces and I'm sorry I ca n't remember you all, I swore but I ca n't remember you all: somedays I can only barely remember myself and the words to say the same thing I say everday I have every know to say it, something from a poem O'hara:' I would n't want to be faster or greener than now if you were with me O you were the best of all my days'' I am..
[ WP ] Your blind friend asks you to describe his new girlfriend to him . The problem is , she 's an Elder God .	`` I love everything about her, she's like an angel,'' Alex sighed. `` You're not far off,'' I replied, trying not to laugh. She shot me a look like death, apparently the Gods do n't appreciate humour. I looked her up and down and began to list off her features. `` Short brown hair, unbelievably blue eyes..'' I began. `` Turquoise eyes,'' she interrupted. Of course she was pedantic, it made so much sense. Alex was a perfectionist and he had obviously fallen for her because she was so picky about things. `` I can read your mind remember,'' she muttered. Bloody Elder Gods, putting us mortals to shame. `` Where was I, ah yes, she has smooth skin and a tail,'' I continued. I wanted to be open and tell him every strange thing I could see about her. He did n't seem too surprised when I mentioned the tail. `` She lets me play with her tail when we're in bed sometimes, it's all furry,'' Alex informed me. Too much information buddy. `` Well, that's about all there is to her, I mean, aside from one pretty distinctive feature,'' I said. She clenched her fists and shook her head. `` You see, she, well, she has eyeballs in her hands, and they look just like yours before you went blind.'' I finished. It took a moment but suddenly it all made sense, everything clicked... I mean, literally. She snapped the bones in my legs and I fell to the floor. `` He's mine!'' She hissed as she took off with him wrapped in her arms.
[ WP ] The world 's greatest thief pulls off the biggest heist of all time . The target : a Klondike Bar .	Inspector Rousseau was on his last tank. Ignoring the Sherpa's warnings, he trudged on, contemplating if the past 5 years had been worth it. Would the ends justify the means? Would he still feel the satisfaction of a job well do n't after loosing fingers, toes and his nose to frostbite? A gust of wind nearly pushed him into a crevice. Yet, with one foot in front of the other, he pressed on, back bent and head bowed in grim determination. The case had driven him mad. Pushed him to the bottle. Finally, his wife could n't take it any more. The late nights and unexplained disappearances had taken their toll. He hardly even noticed that she had moved out. All that mattered was the case. With on final push, Inspector Rousseau reached the top of the mountain. There, half covered in snow and ice, lay the body of James Goodson, or what the press had taken to calling him, `` Jimmy Goodhumor''. Next to his outstretched hand, was the Klondike bar, a single bite removed. His oxygen tank empty, Inspector Rousseau sits and then lays. What would n't Jimmy have done for the Klondike bar. What would n't anyone have done?
[ WP ] Your Grandma , a shape-shifter , is diagnosed with Alzheimers . She begins to forget her true form ... or was it a disguise all along ?	Dementia seemed to run in my family. I had heard second hand accounts from my parents and elder cousins on both sides about great-grand parents slowly forgetting their friends, their family and finally themselves. It sounded absolutely terrible. I never wanted to experience someone I loved going through that, watching someone I had known my whole life forget me was not something I looked forwards to. I tried not to think about my genes and just live my life. I had put off visiting my Grandma for about three months. I could n't put myself through it, but at some point I had realised that it was unfair. At the end of the day, it was n't happening to me. It was happening to her. Perhaps it would happen to me someday, but right now it was my duty as a granddaughter to visit her. Surely, she would recognise me? I shuddered at idea of otherwise. Gripping the small bouquet of flowers in my hand, I knocked lightly on the door to her room in the nursing home. There was a long silence that was tense enough for me to subconsciously snap the stem of half the flowers with my fist. They would be fine in a tall enough vase, I hoped as the flowers drooped forlornly towards the floor. 'Hello?' a very familiar voice asked as the door swung slightly open to reveal a very unfamiliar face 'Grandma?' I asked, my voice pitching up an octave or two. The man before me narrowed his dark eyes, squinting at me for a moment, before picking up the glasses that hung around his neck and popping them on the end of his nose. My grandmother's glasses? 'Kathy, is that you?' I heard my grandma ask. I leapt up onto my tiptoes to see over the tall man's shoulder for my grandma, before realising it was his lips that had moved. 'No it's your Granddaughter, not daughter. It's Claire. What the fuck is going on here?' 'Watch your language young lady!' she chided,'You're lucky your mother is n't here to hear you, I used to wash her mouth out with soup if she spoke like that in front of me!' I spluttered, unable to process the image in front of my very eyes. My Grandma. A very tall, barely middle aged man. ''Did you bring those flowers for me? Oh honey you're so sweet. How is your husband doing?' I continued to stare, unable to even correct her again that I was her granddaughter and not her daughter. That was if she was even my grandma. He was my grandma. My brain seemed incapable of forming full thoughts, getting stuck again and again at the fact I could n't believe my own eyes. He spun around, stepping towards the table before seemingly catching himself in the mirror. I watched as his skin began to sag, stretching off the sharp cheek bones, spine seemingly shrinking, hair loosing colour and tonality before it was a familiar stark white, and now my grandma stood in front of me, frowning at herself in the mirror, still holding the bouquet of half broken flowers. 'Grandma?' I asked, completely aghast. 'Just do n't tell Steven, this can be our little secret.' 'Who is Steven??' My voice squeaked higher than I thought possible. Abruptly there was another knock at the door and her form began to change again. Sagging skin become tight and blemish free, hair gaining back the fantastic ginger shade I had only ever seen in old photos, dark eyes gleaming with mischief. She could have been my sister, our faces almost identical. She looked about twenty five. She dashed to the door, pushing the flowers back into my hand as my mouth opened and closed akin to a confused goldfish. 'Hi there Steven, ready to go? The newest guest at the door was a dashing young man. Light blonde hair, bright blue eyes and an easy smile. 'Of course I am Gwen, I'll have you back here to see your grandma at about 7pm if that is alright?' 'She's just in the bathroom right now, but my sister can say goodbye to her for me, ca n't you?' My grandma looked directly at me and winked, before hooking her arm round Steven's, waving her hand and vanishing out the door. The door shut with a click of finality, and I was left in an empty room in a nursing home unsure if my mind was even with me. I walked over to the vase, filling it with water before depositing the flowers in it. I balanced the broken ones against the side of the vase, standing them straight. As good as new. My grandma turned from a man, into herself, into a hot version of her younger self. My grandma was a shapeshifter. For the first time in my life, I was more excited about my genetic inheritance than worried.
[ WP ] The monster under your bed tasks you with bringing it live humans to eat . You 've finally had enough as the guilt sets in 2 years later .	Feb 11, 2017 If anyone noticed me they'd see I'd been taking longer and longer to leave the office lately. If anyone noticed me they'd see a man soaked in the grey of a raincloud, burdened or beaten or both. They would see tired eyes sunk into heavy black pockets on a face expressionless in its defeat or surrender. They'd see a long careless stride, slower by the day sometimes stopping for minutes on end in a halt of what can only be described as fear. Fear or contempt or weakness or all of the above but tomorrow they wo n't see a man. There will be nothing to notice anymore. I'm giving myself to the Taker. The life I lead is hemmed with regret and shame and above all inhuman acts of murder that make you question which one of us is really a monster. The days are tiresome and the nights are restless - a stagnant deluge oozing to a halt. So tonight as I cross the threshold into what used to be a family home it will be the last time, and I will walk with the last possible drop of dignity a weak and useless man could have. And I will get on my hands and knees and I will beg to be taken. I will beg for it and the burden will be released. A hell does n't exist as painful as the last two years; I am not afraid. Ps I loved you always and I'm forever sorry.
[ WP ] You were born into a nomadic tribe . When you decide to stay behind , you discover who/what you ’ ve been running from all this time .	STAY IN THE LIGHT That morning, the rest of the tribe bid us farewell while the elders only shook their heads in silent disapproval. In all my life, I have seen many beautiful and fertile places only to never see them again, this time I would stay and live here with several fellow minded tribesmen. This was lush land, the soil was rich and the rivers, lakes, and forests teemed with life. Our tribe has followed `` the divine Light'' since the dawn of creation, and for what reason? Here we would no longer burden ourselves with constant marching, we would build farms and homes here. We will brew beer, bake bread, roast meat, and live a good life in this truly blessed patch of land. In the distance, we could see the light which our tribe had followed forever now, fading in the distance as we gathered around to set ourselves to various tasks. The night of our first day of the settled life was joyous as we gathered around a roaring fire, we feasted on roast venison that Batu had caught, and drunk the cold fresh water from the nearby streams. One by one, we drifted off to sleep as the fire died down. For the next several days, we would be put ourselves to work, cutting down trees, ploughing plots of land, and hunting. We began to build cozy and warm huts of earth and wood, we were making the beginnings of a small town! On the 9th day of our independence, Aku and his wife Haru celebrated the birth of their new sons, and we poured out great tankards of Batu's beer all around and danced merriley around the fire. And life was good. On the 3rd month of our independence however, things began to change. That morning I woke up and left my hut to find no sun in the sky, only gray clouds. Our hunters and fishermen turned up less prey, and chilly winds began to blow everywhere. The sun set far sooner than usually as well A trend soon started, as the weather became colder and the days became shorter, and more worringly, was the fact that the fish and game were beginning to disappear. Worst of all was the sporadic new appearance of strange creatures. Several days after this disturbing trend of weather worsened, Aku and Bora were out hunting when they spotted some kind of `` thing'' It's body was shaped like that of an elk, only that upon closer inspection, it was without fur or eyes, and possessed a frightening amount of teeth which it was using to tear into the carcass of a deer. Things became more and more sour, as the crops began to wilt due to the weather, and the color of this once beautiful patch of land seemingly started to fade. The trees lost their leaves and the woods started to become more dark and foreboding In the Lakes and rivers, new and bigger fish were starting to appear as well, ones with pale eyes and gaping jaws. We all became tense, food was running low, and there was no more grain for beer. A crisis was evident when on the 5th month, we woke up to find the waters of the streams and lakes were completely thick and black. Shivering and timidly peering down into the water, we could not see through the now murky depths. Upon drinking the water, one would find the water to be incredibly bitter and sour, and it made everyone gag. That night, noises in the woods soon came, starting with strange shufflings of leaves and branches, which soon became sporadic groans and howls. We were simply too scared to see what they were. Some sort of spell had fell over us, we became less talkative and paranoid of our surroundings. It had effected Batu the worst, as he allegedly began to start seeing things standing out in the woods, strange pale bodies and figures that would dart away as soon as he shined the light on them. The food soon began to dwindle, as did our strength, the water we drank constantly made us miserable from the sheer taste, and the lack of prey in the woods and waters was now taking its toll. Constant hunger took us over, and we resorted to eating anything, boiled grass, bugs, and even slaughtering some of our pets for food, so desperate was our situation. Tragedy struck when on one cold morning, Aku and his wife Haru found their baby missing. Haru immediately accused the Hunter Batu for being responsible, as he later returned with the mangled and torn remains of the baby on the outskirts of the woods, believing that Batu allegedly cannibalized their only child. In Batu's defense, he stated that one of these pale beasts he alone was seeing lured the child out with it's ``'' singing'''', and slaughtered it, but our group was having none of it. Only I had silently sided with him, if I only spoke out for him... Batu had had enough, I begged him to stay, but in the end he pushed me aside, and our best hunter and brewer set off in a fury into the woods, to try and find more prosperous lands. Everyone was silent that night, and we scurried back to our huts from unexplainable dread as the darkness began to fall over our settlement. A noise jolted me awake from my cot, a noise which seemed to emanate from the center of our ring of houses. Curiously, I crawled over to a crack in the wooden door, and saw a terrible monstrosity prowling around the clearing. At first it looked like a big large shadow making a constant low groan. I peered closer and saw that it was large and walked on many limbs, and yet was not an insect by any means. In the dim moonlight, I could see it's body glistening with open exposed pale flesh and small patches of fur. I was simply frozen in fright, the only thing that broke my spell of fear was a scream that came from the woods. It was Batu I saw him sprint towards the lake screaming in fear. Behind him were more of these monstrosities, who moved with a terrifying speed on all their limbs, the thing that stood in the center of our settlement soon joined in the chase, and Batu was overwhelmed and torn apart. I gagged, and saw as they dragged off his shredded corpse into the woods... I knew the others heard the slaughter too, but we were simply too weak and frightened to do anything. I slinked back to my cot and shivered behind the blankets. I did n't sleep at all that night. After what seemed like hours, I lurched forward and hoped to see the same usual sunlight beaming through the cracks in the front door, but there was nothing. Another hour passed and I saw that the sun still had not come out yet. I finally had enough and got up to see what was happening. Through the crack in the door, the sun indeed up, but it had been heavily clouded by some foul weather. I could see that a strange black smokey mist had descended on the whole world, I could not see forward for no more than several feet. Even worse were the noises that I started to hear, strange gutteral shrieks that chilled me to the bone. Through another hole in the side of the wall, I looked out again, and saw more awful monsters, in the dim sunlight that penetrated through the clouds and mist, I saw what they really were. Crude amalgamations of animals that were fused together into one beast, it made me gag at the sight of it, and they were lined with all sorts of limbs, jaws, and fibers... I crawled back to the bed in fear and covered myself once more in the blankets and began to console myself. I lay there frozen with fright for hours until night came, thats when these creatures began to show their true ferocity. Though I could not see through the mist, I could hear perfectly fine, and I heard the homes of my fellow tribesmen being broken into and the screams of my fellows and of these monsters shook me. In my final hours I realize why we stayed on the move, following the light in the sky, it was to stay away from the things that lurked in the darkness around it... We have lingered in one place for too long, and will suffer for it They know im hiding here, I hear them now, scratching at the door, and sniffing. I hear them trying to talk to me through the voices of my deceased fellow villagers '' Come OOUT'' '' THE Suun IsS OuT'' '' ComE InTO TheE LIGHT'' I know they are already dead, and that this is only some kind of foul ruse. I close my eyes and try to remember the sun and the warmth that came with it but it had been so long, I shivered and could see only darkness as the beasts began to batter down the door. Thank you to whoever gilded this, i love that there are folks out there that liked this short story enough to such a wonderful extent.
[ WP ] Netflix announces a new crossover-series between The Walking Dead and The Big Bang Theory	`` Bazgina! `` the tall skinny man in red yelled as he dodged a bite from a walker. Rick could not believe what he was seeing through his binoculars. `` Carl, you have to check this out, what is this guy doing?'' he handed the binoculars to his young son as they both observed from their cover in the bushes, hidden at the side of the road. `` Dad, he's wearing a super hero shirt. I think it's The Flash.'' Carl said smiling. The two watched for 10 long minutes laughing at the man in The Flash shirt jump and dodge around 12 or so walkers. `` Bazing! Where's the coffee. Missed me! Bazinga!''. Suddenly the man tripped and tumbled over a corpse and landed awkwardly on his leg, letting out a scream of pain. A walker was on top of him, but the man was on his feet immediately, limping away as fast as he could go. `` Oh dear.'' The flash said. `` Dad! We have to help him, we can take that many.'' Carl said, pointing to the injured man. `` I agree Carl, lets move.'' Rick calmly said, feeling for his combat knife strapped to his leg.
[ WP ] Dudetopia , an all-male society with no concept of women whatsoever .	Smooth jazz played from the back of the bar, John downs the last of his whiskey. His vision is slightly hazy now and he feels just a little too hot. It was time, it's now or never. He walks towards the table, giggling can be heard, he's seen walking over. The sensual floral scent, red silk, long legs. He was all too familiar with the sight, he's been doting for a good month or so already. He smiled, more giggling, a bag was taken off a seat for Joe. And he sat. `` Hi.'' `` Heyyy.'' `` You're looking nice tonight.'' `` Hehe, thank you. You too.'' `` So uh.... Ummm....'' `` Mmmm?'' He knows his words are expected, anticipated. Everyone knows he's about to make his move. His throat is dry, despite the whiskey, his head is spinning, palms are sweaty. He finally summons up the courage to open his mouth: `` D- Do you want to lift with me sometime, b- bro?'' He sees a blush and a smile. `` No problem dude. I could do with someone spotting me. Hard to check form by yourself y'know.'' So alpha... It was love at first sight Joe thought. They both had pretty good genes he thought, a good splicing candidate. But he was getting ahead of himself, thinking about children, they have n't even chilled wit da boyz yet! But the more he watched the subtle flexing, the more he realised; there would be no one else for him.
[ WP ] Write a story based entirely on building up to a pun .	I used to work for a small start-up in southern California. If you're going to pick somewhere to work 80-hour weeks, then southern California is a great place to never see. Because people spent so much time there, they had to have little morale boosting activities like Wine Club. Because that particular company undervalued my profession, my four year degree in Engineering made me a `` Member of the Technical Staff,'' instead of what most companies would call it: `` Staff Engineer I: RFIC Layout.'' We `` Members of the Technical Staff'' were in charge of making Wine Club happen. As such, we regularly had a stock of bottles in the office, which the C.E.O. would come and poach whenever the mood struck him. One afternoon, after popping the second cork of the day, I was trying to get some work done. Race was talked about fairly openly, and because I was so practiced at rattling off the phrase, `` I'm a Danish-German-Irish-Pirate-Viking-Jew,'' my co-workers occasionally liked to try to throw in other races just to mix up the story. This particular afternoon, the member of the technical staff sitting next to me commented, `` You're looking a little red in the face. You might be half Asian.'' Without looking away from my work I replied, `` Yeah. And the other half is cock.''
[ EU ] Dobby stared at the dirty sock in his hands like it was a treasure . `` Dobby ... Dobby is FREE ! '' `` Foolish boy ! '' cried Lucius , `` You 've doomed us all ! ''	As the air began to shift and sputter in unnatural and impossible colors around the insane grin on the little elf Harry had realized the consequences of his shortsighted actions. `` Run you stupid child!'' Yelled Lucius as he pushed Harry out of his way as he slammed through the door, sprinting down the hallway as Harry stumbled and quickly followed as a loud ominous hum had begun to shake the building. `` Dobby is finally free! His flesh shackles no longer bind him to the pathetic worms writhing in the dust.'' His voice from being an annoyingly squeaky sound to a creeping echo not being heard but instead penetrating the very essence of the being. `` Yes Dobby is... no I am finally free to exact my vengeance and continue my dominion on you wizards and those lesser apes!'' The sinister voice reverberated throughout schools hallways which began to shift and warp. Harry looked on in terror as he tried to behold the eldritch abomination that he once called home, the paintings began shaping into living hells for its inhabitants in a similar style of a Picasso painting, while the ineffective spells from teachers were unable to pierce the ether constructs that flooded in showering the area with insanity and laughing of one who was once held a slave. Harry continued to run trying to find a way out until a flash of silver pulled him to the side just as a massive shadow filled the hallway.looking up he saw with a face more pale than usual Lucius Malfoy leaning against the corner. `` Mr Malfoy what happened to Dobby. Why is he doing all of this.'' Harry gestured at the horror surrounding them.Malfoy glared at the young boy `` stupid ignorant child! That thing was made a slave for a reason, thousands of years ago my family had made a ritual to imprison that abomination that in the early days of man ruled over reality and you have set him free we are all doomed!'' He yelled. `` well ca n't we find a way to stop him? I mean surely Dumbledore can...'' Malfoy said nothing and merely pointed at the tortured familiar figure slowly being separated a little at a time floating above the courtyard in pain and in terror. `` so there is no way to defeat him?'' Malfoy looked at the pitiful expression of the boy and said `` we can use the ritual again to trap him again before he awakens his masters, for if he does that all is pointless'' Malfoy said after a bit of thought. He then began to stride forward motioning Harry to follow until he stopped in place. Absolutely frozen in terror as Harry heard the slow clap of bare feat on stone and Dobby turned around the corner. `` Hello Lucius, I bet you thought that you would go unnoticed in my domain, well I'm afraid that is not the case'' Dobby said maliciously as Malfoy began to change. His feet began to turn into liquid muscle with all the nerves still working as it began to go up the body as his eyes bled blood in increasing suffering. `` And now to you Harry Potter, you should have never come back to hogwarts. `` said Dobby as his eyes began to shift into a black Abyss.
[ IP ] IF013 - Orbit	`` I do n't like it,'' said Grant, staring out the airlock as it opened, revealing the daunting planet below. Harkins sighed from the other side of the room, holding a button down to complete the door's process. `` There's no other way,'' he said. `` Planetary defenses will shoot us down before we even make it into the atmosphere.'' He walked over to Grant by the doorway and patted his spacesuit on the shoulder. `` What if she's not there?'' asked Grant, not taking his eyes off the bluish planet below. `` How will we even get back up here? Hell, even if we find her, how will we get her back up here?'' Harkins stood beside Grant and looked down with him. `` She's down there, Grant. Do n't ask me how I know. She's my sister and I know we're close.'' Grant looked at Harkins and nearly wept at his confident stance. And then he looked back down. `` Can we even make it without burning up?'' `` We'll make it,'' answered Harkins. `` I designed these suits myself. They can counter the reentry speeds and keep us cool enough to make it. The chutes should do the rest.'' `` You've never done this before, have you?'' asked Grant, unsure he wanted to know the answer. `` It's called a leap of faith for a reason,'' he responded. `` She's your wife, Grant. This is the best lead we've gotten so far. You have to decide now.'' Grant jumped out of the airlock without another moment's hesitation. Harkins let out a chuckle and jumped out after him.
[ WP ] Tell me a true story about a conflict in your life , but from the other person 's perspective . Paint yourself as the villain .	June was ending. July was beginning. The days seemed to fly by. One moment, I was getting a cookie from the box, briefly checking the calendar. `` June 14th, 2016'', it said. I did n't think about it that much. After all, I had a cookie in front of me; what else could I think of at the moment? What felt like the next moment, I was rushing like mad, grabbing my toast, not bothering to butter it, as I shoved it into my mouth and checked my supplies. Digital camera, SD card, extra battery, and the cord I needed to transfer my pictures onto the computer. I mentally sighed in relief. The last time I took photography classes, I had forgotten to pack an extra battery or my charger. Every day. For five days. I quickly glanced at the calendar again, making sure I was n't wrong again about the date. I was definitely not wrong. The day was circled in red. `` June 27th, 2016.'' The words danced across my eyes as I read it, over and over again, unsure if I was dreaming. I was ready to take these classes again. I hope Miss Lidia is my teacher again. She was nice and fun. I wonder who my classmates are this week. The sentences flashed through my brain as Mother greeted me at the door, ready to drive me to the campus. I was only 14, after all. I could n't drive - well, not yet. We arrived ten minutes before the classes began, so I took a moment with Mother to look around the campus, taking in it's neatness, ranging from the grass, each blade trimmed to the exact height of an inch and a half, to the sidewalk, with absolutely no litter; no cigarette butts, nothing. It all seemed so perfect. I felt a warm, sweet wave of nostalgia overload me as I looked over the scene again. `` Sweetheart, we better hurry up if we do n't want to be late!'' Mother's soothing voice snapped me back to reality. I lifted my left wrist and checked my watch. 8:55 A.M. Crap. I thought to myself as I hurried through the entrance of the school. The classes were held in the same room as last year, I mentally noted to myself. With a final hug, Mom left me, leaving me to mingle in with the river of teens and tweens flowing into the room. It all looked so new, but so familiar at the same time. The river of people broke up and started feathering out when they entered the room, taking seats, turning on computers, and checking their equipment. One girl even had a large, pink notebook decorated with hearts. I briefly scanned everyone's faces. No one was familiar, except for the teacher, Miss Lidia. Once the last tearful parent had departed with their child and the room door was locked, Miss Lidia introduced herself. The roll call started after that. It's not exactly a roll call, per say, but rather a thing where you stand up, introduce yourself and talk about things you like to do. The girl with the notebook asked to be first. Her name was Sara. She was a boisterous, attention loving girl who loved the weirdest things, and claimed to be `` yandere'' for a fictional robot called Mettaton EX. Later that week, when she chose to sit by me, she would frequently have Google Images of Mettaton up on her computer on a break. Throughout the week, she was needlessly cruel to the only boy in the class, a reluctant boy named Liam who had a crush on her that was so massive it could have filled the room. On Tuesday, she had pulled off a prank that left him to admire her from a distance for the rest of the week. I could remember it with unsettling clarity. She had left two word documents in Liam's folder where he stored his photos. They were called `` heya'' and `` you're cute'' To this day, I still wonder what was in those documents. I bet she was n't intending for Miss Lidia to pull up a random student's photos onto a projector, and Liam ended up as the unlucky one. The roars of our laughter were so loud the class next door heard it. Still, she tried to be my friend, even asking for my email. I kept her around me, but did n't directly tell her not to get away, as to spare myself the embarrassment that Liam suffered. She was dense, though, as she did n't get the subtle hints that I wanted her to stay away from me. It was such a relief when Friday came and she was about to go home. In a final ditch attempt, she scribbled her email onto a piece of paper and shoved it into my hand as she ran out the door. `` Bye, Becca!'' She shouted at me. `` Finally. She's gone.'' I sighed in relief, feeling like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders as I dropped the paper with the email in the trash can.
[ WP ] You hitchhike and get picked up by the Devil .	Tucker saw the dust plume a mile off. There was n't much out here. It was just an empty road in the middle of farmland. The truck was coming on pretty fast. He walked on the outside of the road stepping over old aluminum cans and tufts of hay blown off farming equipment being transported up and down the road. The truck slowed and creeped through the low water dip Tucker had passed a quarter mile back. The truck disappeared into the dust as the plume caught up to him at the dip. A moment later the truck emerged once more and began dragging the cloud of dust along with it. He stepped further off the road and waited for it to pass. He turned his head and closed his eyes, holding his breath as the truck passed. The dust blew past him, enveloping him like a desert sand storm. The dust was fine and white and the air still. It hung around him far longer than he could hold his breath. He took a couple breaths and held it once more. Somewhere beyond him hidden by the dust, he heard the truck sliding to a stop. Gravel sprayed up all around by the sound of things. Tucker did know what was happening. He just kept his mouth and eyes shut and waited out the dust cloud. He heard a clang as the driver dropped the truck in reverse then a whine as the rear end of the truck began spinning in the opposite direction. He guaged the trucks distance by the sound of the whining gears. When he finally opened his eyes, he was staring through a dusty window at a glistening white smile. The driver rolled the window down and Tucker took and involuntary step back. `` You're the fucking Devil.'' Tucker exclaimed. The driver laughed but did n't deny it. `` Where yall headed?'' He asked. `` Down to Georgia.'' Tucker replied cautiously. `` Well, god damn. Me too. I'm looking for a soul to steal. Hope in. I could use the company.'' Tucker just stared at the driver, but did n't move. `` Oh hell, son. I'm not after your soul. It's a long drive. My band went ahead already. I'm in a bind and way behind. Blew a tire out back in Massey. Really messed with my schedule.'' Tucker nodded and though he felt he should n't, he accepted the ride. He came around the truck and the Devil reached across and unlocked the door. Tucker pushed the button on the handle in and gave the door a tug. `` Yall got tug on it good and hard. It's old and sticks.'' The Devil told him. Tucker yanked on the door handle harder. It gave way popping as he opened it wide enough to climb in. Devil was leaned over raking old shirts and odd and end tools to the center of the seat. `` You can just throw that shit in the floor board in the bed of the truck.'' He said, flashing him that pearly white smile of his. Tucker nodded and put the tool box in the floor board in the back of the truck then climbed in. `` I appreciate the kindness.'' Tucker said, slamming the truck door. Dust wafted off it from the impact coating the knee closest to the door. `` Not worth mentioning,'' Devil said, turning the radio, which had been droning on in the back ground, off. `` You got a gig in Georgia?'' Tucker asked, hugging the door in an effort to keep as much of the bench seat as possible between him and his hellish chauffer. `` Something like that,'' he said, hooting with laughter. The truck lurched forward then, kicking up dirt and spraying gravel as the Devil got it up to speed. `` Going to cost me though.'' The Devil said, with a wry little smile. Tucker looked at him not comprehending his meaning. `` The flat tire. It's going to cost me. I'll probably have drop my price or something. When your as late as I am, you got ta be willing to wheel and deal to get what you want. Johnny, the kid I'm challenging, he seems like the kind to deal.'' Devil looked over at Tucker and squinted against the glare and looked down his nose at his passenger. `` I got a feel for these kinds of things.'' `` I bet you do.'' Tucker fired back. Devil looked back to the road and let his smile wane. After a few miles of quite, he looked back at Tucker. `` You do n't much care for me, do you?'' `` You're the Devil are n't you?'' Tucker replied as if that were a proper response to the question. Devil snorted with laughter. `` Yeah. Yeah, I am. Do n't mean you have to mistrust me. I never harmed no one that did n't let me.'' `` You lie and take people to hell so you can torture them.'' Tucker argued, incensed by the Devil's casualness. `` Not true. I tell a version of the truth and allow people to believe it. The truth is, I'm the Walt Disney of hell. I just built the place and maintain the rides. People fool themselves into buying the ticket there. For instance. I did n't tell you to climb in my truck. I stopped and asked you if you wanted a ride. If something bad happens to you now, it's because you knew who and what I was, yet trusted either me or yourself to survive the experience intact. That is foolish knowing what people know of me.'' Tucker pressed himself up against the door even more. `` No. I give you my word nothing is going to happen to you while you're in my truck.'' The Devil said, trying to reassure his frightened passenger. `` As I said, I'm in a bind and way behind. I do n't have time for recreational mayhem.'' The Devil's assurances did little to calm Tucker who was contemplating throwing himself from the truck to escape his situation. `` Relax. I really did just want some company. You do n't think the Devil gets bored. I've been doing the same job for eons. It grows tedious sometimes.'' He said, opening up to his passenger. `` How do you deal with it?'' Tucker asked, taking the Devil's olive branch. `` I read.'' He replied. Tucker had n't expected that. `` What? You think all I do is invent new tortures for the souls Grim bring me? I farmed that out long ago. I let the demons handle the day to day workings. This,'' he said, gesturing to the road. `` This is just something I do for fun. Occcassionally, I like to get out and over the talented souls a challenge. I would n't ever possess them otherwise. It's that thing I mentioned. I make an offer. Whether they take it and burn in hellfire for eternity is all on them. I'm just a solicitor knocking on their doors. Except today. Today I play the banjo.'' The Devil smiled. Tucker could n't help but return it. He kind of enjoyed the peek behind the curtain. `` Ever think of doing a reality television show on the inner workings of hell?'' Tucker asked, thinking he'd watch something like that. `` Two problems with that pitch. First, nobody is interested in watching behind the scenes footage of what FOX News does.'' He laughed and Tucker joined him. `` Secondly, my job is more effective if people do n't know I exist. Everyone knows, but nobody really believes. So, no lime light for me.'' The Devil explained, shrugging in apology. They crossed the state highway and passed a sign informing them that they were now entering Georgia. `` This will do.'' Tucker told him. I can walk from here. `` Okie dokie artichokie.'' The Devil sang, slamming on the brakes. The both rolled forward as the speeding truck skidded to a stop. Tucker was laughing as he climbed out of the truck. `` Give Johnny hell,'' Tucker told him. `` Oh, and by the way, you're not such a bad sort.'' He admitted, holding the door open. `` Thanks, Tucker. I think you're kind of swell yourself.'' The Devil ran his hand through his hair a couple of times and slipped a trucker's cap on to help block the bright morning sun. `` I do n't want to come and visit any time soon, but I think you get a bum rap from all the Jesus freaks. Nothing they told me about you was true.'' Tucker said, squinting against the bright morning sun. He closed the door and stepped back to let the Devil leave. The semi-slammed into him, spraying parts of him all over the place. The Devil idled there on the side of the road and watched it all unfold. `` Well, the part where they tell you I'm a liar? That part was true.'' The Devil confessed, carrying on the conversation even though Tucker was gone. `` Shit. I'll tell you later.'' The Devil said, taking off once again. He had a fiddle of gold against Johnny's soul that said he was better than him, but they'd never find out for sure if he did n't make up for lost time. The Devil stomped the peddle down and took off without so much as a glance in his rearview mirror.
[ WP ] You awake to find the world a hellish place . Your wife a soulless entity lying beside you and your house a macabre dungeon . You get up for work which turns out to be your only respite .	The Gargoyle's mandamus is plain to us. It pains us. We're nameless. She blames us. Her heart turned to stone. Her soul's vessel collects dust. Capricious and vicious, wicked, elated contrition replaces the void yet still something's missing. Displacement adjacent to stasis. Work is what regains us. A righteous self-sacrifice holds back a beratement. Aberration arrange us: the killer; the bastion; the captain; and, space man. The lover and statesman abdicate sans statement. 9-to-5 diligence from a vigilant life maker. If we can help others perhaps we'll find salvation. We rise, not as one when love can incite a fight against might. Riot mind, fire side, warmed by dying light.
[ WP ] You are a private detective of the modern age . Doing investigations solely through internet and social media .	[ WP ] You are a private detective of the modern age. Doing investigations solely through internet and social media. I sat in front of the wall of computer screens, scanning the array of networks. Monitoring traffic from random telnet windows to twitter post's about hashtag fishing. Where are you and who are you today? I thought as I watched the screens flickering in front of me. A computer beeped and I followed the sound to terminal 23. A red flag had appeared in a video posted by a user called `` BurgerMuncher'' on a site called tubeglut.com. The screen flashed red indicating that the 10 second clip contained an encoded message. I hit the decode button on the screen. After 5 seconds the video was deleted by the user. I ran to another terminal and opened a login page to the site and began the process of cracking their password. A progress bar appeared on screen saying 7 minutes 57 seconds to go. Going to another terminal I began tracking the site's domain name and information. The results were displayed as data uploaded and downloaded and the number of users, and a few other random statistics. I grabbed the phone and called Penny, my boss. She answered on the first ring. 'What is it'. She said in a sleepy voice. 'He's on the move again, I think he's at Macca's'.
[ WP ] Everyone is born with the ability to `` see '' beyond themselves , and the longer you remain still , the further you can see . After decades of remaining still , you can see the furthest of anyone in the world . One day , you see something that makes you stand and start walking .	here i sit, solid as a mountain. here i have sat for years, decades, maybe even centuries. my awareness expanded lowly at first. first i could feel my heartbeat, hear the air rushing into my lungs. then i started to become aware of the rest of my body, the limbs, the organs, eventually even the most intimate detail of of every cell. at each stage i observed until i understood. until i could see the patterns, the systems. until i understood it to be independent of my'self'. after several days my awareness extended past the barrier of my skin, i began to sense the world around me, to'see' the people walking past me in the market. my senses expanding faster now, first the market, then the city. after a month i had reached as far away as my own temple, further than any of my brothers had ever managed. after 2 months i could feel the next capital, and then the whole country, before long i encompassed an entire continent. at the end of my first year i had known the highest mountain peaks, all the darkest ocean deeps, i bore witness to the great leviathan, and every corner of nature and every human culture. and i had passed beyond them. i was discovering new worlds as they danced, now closer, now farther, around our life giving mother. and still i continued. i have met every one of our worlds thousands of siblings, both great and small. and i saw how dead it all was. those celestial bodies danced and sang, danced and sang, giving the impression of life but no more than that. terrible, dead things. greatly disturbed and deeply saddened i continued pushing out. out. out into the deep black recesses of the great void. so vast, so empty and dead that i almost lost myself, and all the vibrant life of our small world. smaller than a speck in all that deadness. outwards still i pushed, out to the next star, and the next, and the next after that, each as lonely and dead as the last. i stretched out farther and farther, so far that that all the fast emptiness between home and the next star seemed as naught. so far that i could not tell our great mother apart, i now contained millions just like her, all of them chased by cold, dark corpses. outwards. out to the next great body of stars, there i paused longer than i had before, lost in grief. for i had found, among the myriad spheres, frozen or boiling, a single world, just like our own. but all its peoples were dead, the last embers of life now slowly fading. they had ended it themselves i sensed, so lost and alone, so afraid if the eternal darkness that they had turned on each other in the bloodiest, most devastating of wars. eventually i moved on. lost in so much darkness, so much space, i began to forget myself, disheartened by all i had learned i wandered on in all directions, so distracted i failed to notice entire galaxies passing into my awareness. it felt less that i was expanding and more like all of creation was rushing towards me. then, my mind touched another. some great, terrible thing hidden in the deepest blackness of creation. indescribable in its hideous vastness, far larger than the reach of our own mother, vaster even than was i at that moment. in my minds eye i glimpsed only a thousand glowing spheres. as my mind grazed against that great horror i felt its primal, labyrinthine, intellect. that great, malign, all-knowing thing. i felt its gaze turned on me, felt it reach out towards me, and in my terror i fled. on shaky, long-unused legs i ran, collapsing suddenly before my temple doors. i do n't remember standing, nor those first shaking steps, i dont even recall turn to flee back into my body.only those haunting, alien words, the whispers of some great and forgotten God. their meaning unmistakable. `` I am the gate. and the key. ^and ^the ^guardian. ^^the ^^all-in-one ^^^and ^^^the ^^^one-in-all...'' ________________________________________________________________________________________________ [ a love letter to lovecraft. ] ( http: //static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/14/146053/3242526-yog_sothoth_by_hvergi.jpg ) [ and to a certain monk. ] ( http: //www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-31125338 )
[ WP ] All your life , you were told that Earth was a dirty backwater , full of barely-evolved apes constantly trying to kill each other . After being forced to make an emergency landing there , you find out that that assessment was n't ... entirely accurate .	“ I ’ m not dead. ” I muttered to myself as I looked at all the pink-fleshed creatures staring at me as if I was something impressive. I was nothing, I was only on the planet because I ’ d been expelled from the military dishonourably but hadn ’ t been given enough fuel to get home. Probably deliberately. My thoughts were wandering all over the place, I couldn ’ t keep them where they should ’ ve been – which was ‘ why haven ’ t they killed me yet? ’ There must have been a hundred there, and they loved killing. That ’ s what these apes did, or at least that ’ s what my mother had always told me – “ Never go down to Earth, full of these beady eyed hairless fucks who hate each other for no good reason! I heard one hooman ” hooman - she always said it with a weird emphasis, that I never understood. But I guess I probably picked it up, I ’ m sure I catch myself doing it sometimes -hooman. “ killed another hoomannand it made all the hoomans kill each-other. And then another time one killed a bunch ’ a ’ em, because they weren ’ t Chris. ” “ Chris? ” “ Yes. ” I ’ m not dead. They haven ’ t killed me, they haven ’ t done anything. This must be a place where most of them live. I swallowed, loud probably loud enough to hear. None of them did anything, just stared at me in shock, all frozen stiff like somebody had pressed pause on a movie. I once watched a movie from the hoomans, about hairier apes, killing them. These people were obsessed with killing, I didn ’ t understand it. “ Fuck! ” shouted someone from the crowd watching me as I stood in the mouth of my space-ship, probably gawping at them in the same way they were gawping at me. But at least they ’ d started to process the situation. All hundred and one of the humans in that square eyed each-other up, more swearing broke out. I just sighed, gave a little shrug and disappeared into the crowd.
[ TT ] Everyone has heard tales of the Witch of the Elder Wood . Your character finds out first hand that none of them are true .	tap tap tap tap Maggie set her novel down on the end table. Visitors? She had n't ordered anything from the village, and it was n't often someone trekked through the Forest of Ancients just to say hello. Stretching her back, the elderly woman rose from her rocking chair and went to see who was at the door. Perhaps George had remembered their anniversary for once and bought her a gift! Maggie smiled at the thought, deepening wrinkles around her mouth from decades of domestic bliss. Maggie creaked the oak door open, peeking out at the stranger on her porch. The boy appeared to be in his late teens, dressed only in a pair of silk pantaloons. He carried a large bulging backpack strapped across his bare chest. Was this the style nowadays? The boy seemed to be shaking anxiously, staring at Maggie's slippers in tense silence. His loose trousers billowed in the autumn forest wind, which Maggie thought looked like an astonishingly inconvenient thing to wear while hiking through the dense woods. It was a few seconds before Maggie thought to ask, `` What brings you -- -'' `` Oh GREAT and POWERFUL witch of the ELDER WOOD,'' the boy blurted out suddenly, `` I humbly request your assistance!'' Falling to one knee, the squeaky voiced teen dipped his head in an odd display of reverence. Maggie furrowed her brow. Witch? Was this some kind of prank? Deciding to wait to see how this unfolded, Maggie refrained from speaking. After receiving no answer, the boy slung the backpack off his shoulders and began rummaging. `` I do not come empty-handed, oh Great and Powerful witch of the Elder Wood,'' he continued, `` As per your usual payment, I have procured two pints of the finest human urine --'' Maggie waved her hands at the boy. `` Oh, there's no need for that, please. Just tell me what you need.'' `` As you insist, oh Great witch. You are even more generous than they say. I would implore you to discuss the matter with me further.'' The boy rose to his feet and stood on the edge of the doorframe. Staring over Maggie's right shoulder, he bobbed back and forth on the balls of his feet expectantly. `` And?'' The boy made eye contact with Maggie for a brief moment before returning his gaze to the floor. `` I am only able to enter the Great Witch's domain under clear and succinct permission, of course. Otherwise a terrible hex will be placed upon me.'' He shuffled his feet. `` Despite your homely appearance, I sha n't let my guard down, even for a moment. Take me as no fool, I have been taught your tricks.'' Maggie cleared her throat. An interesting development, to say the least. `` Well in that case, come inside and take a seat.'' She gestured to the kitchen table. `` Many thanks, oh Great Witch.'' The boy tossed his hefty pack onto the table and tenderly took a chair. Maggie noticed he inspected the seat carefully before sitting down. `` I seek a potion,'' he stated firmly, `` One to enhance my strength and allow me to defeat even the greatest of foes. For the past two nights, my village has been pillaged by a band of thugs. We are in dire need of a miracle, and of course my uncle has told me the many tales of your Greatness.'' Maggie frowned. This sounded serious. `` I'm not sure that --'' `` Please, oh Great Sorceress of Ages Past,'' the stranger cried, voice breaking. `` I beg of you on behalf of my people. Spare us a mere iota of your almighty magic!'' He pounded the table with a grimy fist. The boy was spirited, at least. Maggie sighed and reached for the door. It was a shame that he came all this way, but she could do nothing for the lad. He was obviously delusional. Retrieving a pair of cast iron pots and pans from his bag, the boy added, `` Of course, as is customary, I will be preparing a meal of tribute for thee, oh Great and Powerful witch. One that will simply dazzle the palette, I promise you. My uncle has told me how much you enjoy a good home cooked meal.'' Maggie froze. A romantic homemade anniversary dinner? `` As you wish, child!'' she shrieked theatrically.
[ TT ] [ Monsters ] Over the years , we 've remade classic movie monsters into sexy love interests . Vampires , werewolves , ghosts , even mummies ! Pitch the next Monster Makeover .	Niabi cringed. She moved into the isolated home to escape the stress of neighbours and embrace the peace of the Alberta mountainside, but for the passed week her sleep had been disturbed by the slamming of a door or cupboard She sat up, her long black hair falling down her back, and looked at a digital alarm clock sitting on her nightstand: 3:45 am. `` Shit,'' she uttered, shaking her head and flicking on a lamp. She crawled out of bed and slipped on a pair of wrinkled grey pyjama pants that matched her camisole. `` What was it his time?'' A chill crawled up her spine when she looked into the narrow hallway; a small lamp in her living room was on. This was impossible, Niabi unplugged it after the bulb burned out. Swallowing her fear, she marched through the dark of the hallway, coming to a halt when she reached the lamp. A new bulb had been screwed in and the plug placed back into the outlet. `` There were spares in the basement,'' said a deep male voice from behind her. Niabi shot around, nearly knocking the lamp over. If the stranger were a regular man, she would have had no problem beating him to an inch of his life and then contacting the police, but what she saw caused her body to freeze. Standing less then five feet from her was a shadow. A silhouette of a tall and muscular male, no features were visible in the deep blackness of his form. It was as if his flesh, if she could call it that, swallowed all color. `` You seemed to frustrated, so I thought I'd hunting for the bulbs so you would n't have to,'' he said, tilting his head and possibly smiling. `` Okay,'' she uttered, shaking, `` Thanks.'' `` Do n't be scared,'' he stepped forward, his feet making no sound, `` If I wanted to hurt you, I would have the night you invaded my home.'' `` Invaded?'' she asked. `` Yes. This is entire half of mountain is my home. It's been mine for a very long time,'' he chuckled. No wonder the price was so low, the previous owners were desperate to sell this haunted house. The shadow extended his hand, `` Touch me.'' `` Okay,'' she quickly pat him, suspecting contact longer than a second would result in her being absorbed. Seemingly amused, he reached for her hand and wrapped his fingers around hers. Unexpectedly, his skin was soft and warm, as if he had been holding a heating pad. `` See, I'm not scary,'' he said. Confused, Niabi gazed at her copper skin entwined with the living shadow. He yanked her close, pressing his body against hers. She struggled to form a thought as she felt him slid his arms around her and gently rub her back. She managed to ask, `` What... are you?'' The empty abyss where a face should be leaned into hers, `` Old.'' `` Oh, well...'' she was interrupted by a deep kiss. Despite tasting exactly like a man, Niabi broke away from his grasp, falling back against the couch. The strange being just stood silently. She bit her lower lip, then said, `` Holy shit.'' `` I will please you if you allow me to,'' he moaned, `` You females are just so fun to play with. Seeing you pleasure yourself night before last made me so fucking hard.'' This was too much. She had to be dreaming. Niabi stood up and marched down the darkened hall to her bedroom, and slammed the door shut.
[ WP ] Anyone holding a world record is immortal as long as he holds the record . You are the oldest person alive .	`` Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?'' Arvey asks me again. `` Yeah.'' My tone betraying my annoyance with his repeated attempts to stop me. `` Cheer up, we are making history here!'' I try to lighten the mood. It does n't work. I am the only one in the room who wants this. Everyone works in silence. The machine has to be calibrated not only to send me exactly 8 seconds back, but also in the exact space the planet was at the time. Nobody wants to lose my body after the fact. `` It's ready'' Arvey says. He looks like he wants to add something, but he stops himself, probably wanted to try changing my mind one last time. I step into the cylindrical container. As the door closes, I start feeling my excitement build up. So does my doubt. Competing thoughts race through my head,'will it work?','will I really die?','what is afterlife even like?','maybe I should stop?','how would the power that granted me immortality even react to this?' They give the okay sign. I give the okay sign. They turn on the machine. As it warms up, I see myself appear right in front of the machine. The other me has successfully traveled back in time. I feel my strength rapidly dissolve as I watch myself with a melancholy smile. I am no longer the oldest person alive. The other me turns the machine off. The door opens, and I help myself out of the cylinder. `` How do you feel, old man?'' The other me asks. `` Who are you calling old.'' I reply, barely a whisper. `` Heh. Rest now, you deserve it.'' `` What about you?'' `` Hush. Do n't worry about me, I'll figure something out, I have time.'' `` True.'' Edit: grammar
[ WP ] A centuries-old vampire , turned as a child , takes advantage of being perpetually stuck as a little girl to prey upon those who would harm and abuse children .	After several centuries of hedonistic living, she had finally found a pastime that was truly worthwhile. For the past few months, Amber has been engaged in a particularly entertaining pursuit. Feeding ( and killing ) those who think she is as meek as her appearance would suggest. Today's catch seemed like any other, but the man was conflicted. `` I'm sorry,'' he said, for what seemed like the 100th time. She was almost ready to yell at him, when there was a knock at the door. Amber sensed danger and immediately snapped off the bindings and stood up. She knew there was trouble when the man did n't seemed phased by her actions. Instead, he opened the door. `` Helsing,'' she hissed. `` My dear Amber, it has been awhile old gal.'' `` What do you want?'' `` As you may have noticed,'' he said, tapping at the vials of blood laced around his neck. `` I've entered the collection business and I've got one vial right here with your name on it. Just share a bit of what you have and I'll be on my way.'' `` I know what you've been doing with those Helsing,'' said Amber with a smile. `` You've become quite the abomination, have n't you?'' All mirth vanished from Helsing's eyes. `` Leave us,'' he commanded at the almost tearful man, who seemed only glad to run out. Helsing drew a large knife. `` I'm going to enjoy gutting you Amber. Perhaps you'll be a bit more fun than Emilie, yes?'' At that instant a figure materialized from the shadows behind Helsing. He attempted to turn around, but it was too late. His head was already detached from his body. Amber looked on in amusement as Dracula lifted the head as if talking to him. `` Vampire hunter turned vampire-vampire hunter. No longer can he abuse my children.''
[ WP ] Write a story where the `` good guy '' and `` bad guy '' gradually switch roles .	It was over before it begun. The afternoon sun beat down on the scene like the wings of a firebird, shimmering the stream of red that flowed from the civil guard's arrow-pierced skull. The dead man's horses neighed and yawned, oblivious to the nearly instantaneous death of their master. Reyelin silently descended from from the treetops and approached the corpse. He kept his great bow and marveled at the work of his hands. He, like a wicked Narcissus, derived a strange pleasure from seeing his reflection on the glinting pool of blood. To Reyelin, the death of certain men carried equal weight to the death of a stag or rabbit ( the latter being his dinner later that night ). But he did not care for the meat on the dead man's bones. Reyelin took the heavy chest inside the civil guard's carriage. The silver coins rustled as Reyelin carried it and rode one of the horses back to his hideout. In his abode, Reyelin counted his prize, and organized it with the rest of his stock, according to location. Christmas Eve was coming in a week; he did n't have much time now. Overnight, he planned his route through all twelve cities. Meanwhile, the local police found the wrecked carriage and slain merchant. A bounty was set at fifty silver pieces to whoever could bring the perpetrator, dead or alive, to justice. By Christmas morning, children from all over the land were surprised to find pieces of silver on their window sills, which they used to buy their starving families bread and milk. News of this spread through the country like wildfire. Some called it a miracle, others disbelieved, but no one but the police questioned it. A massive investigation was held the day after. Three weeks later, a man accused of murder and theft was hung on a public square. Christmases were never the same after that.
[ WP ] Humanity is not alone in the universe , but they are `` Late to the party '' , arriving at the waning end of an intergalactic war leaving the galaxy in ruins .	The day of celebration quickly soured. Jubilation turned to fear and uncertainty within minutes of the emissary stepping out of the capsule shrouded in black. The question had finally been answered no more than 3 weeks ago. We were n't alone in the universe. SETI had picked up a radio signal from intelligent life, and it was getting closer. The world's media was in a frenzy. News coverage was plastered wall to wall with opinions of eminent scientists and celebrities, each espouses their views as to what the message was, who sent it, and what would happen when the signal reached earth. As the figure made his way down the steps with his head bowed, and his hands clasped in front of his cloak, absolute silence gripped the crowd. This was the moment. The moment they had all fought to witness. The figure raised his head, a mournful look on his humanoid face. 'This was all your fault'. A low murmur rippled through the crowd. The figure held up his hand, and motioned to speak again. 'Throughout the universe we have always fought to keep young civilizations safe from those that would take advantage. We shield those, who, like children, know no better. But you. You went too far. We caught the probes, and cloaked your telescopes. We deflected signals bound for your blue rock. You were n't ready.' The figure heaved a heavy sigh. 'One message evaded us, however. The Aricebo message. You told the galaxy that you had Carbon, and other elements, that have caused countless wars throughout the galaxy. You did not understand their importance. You did not know that they were coveted by other worlds, and other civilisations.' A single tear tracked down his cheek. 'And so we fought. We fought for your world. Alliances were made and broken, and the conflict escalated beyond measure. We fought for your children, and lost ours. We fought for your resources, and we lost ours. And now, we are all that is left.'
[ WP ] Humanity discovers how to program the human brain with a relatively simple programming language . You are now paid to run software on your brain , and compensated for the time . Write about the first virus that is unleashed .	Name: Dupli.c63 Date of discovery: 18/07/2056 First Victim: James F Trust, 35 Nature of program: The program selects between 10-500.bra files from the LT memory bank, and proceeds to copy these files at an exponential rate. Initially, the program copies these files, then goes dormant for a period of two-three days whilst the files are saved to LT memory. The host renders these duplications as random thoughts, and proceeds to dismiss them. Once these duplicates have been moved to LT memory, the virus then proceeds to duplicate these files again, but due to the neuro pathway being more developed, the files take only a day to save to LT memory. This type of behaviour repeats, until the host goes insane with the overload of.bra files, and commits suicide, or causes a fatal seizure. Severity of virus: Class six [ EDIT ] recategorized to Class 2 [ EDIT ] [ EDIT ] Anti-virus implementation date: 20/07/2056 [ EDIT ] Additional notes: Despite the fact that Anti-virus was promptly implemented, the virus spread incredibly quickly and was installed in hundreds of hosts. As a result, 250+ people died during this episode, with many more now diagnosed with severe mental disorders. This virus was the first class 6 discovered, and is solely responsible for the product nearly being outlawed in all forms.
[ WP ] A deep fear of the ocean is present in every human being . Walls are all across the continental seashore . No sane human being questions why . Tonight , a girl breaks through the beach barriers . She decides to enter the water .	We all knew what could be out there. We had heard the stories. The tales of our grandparents, parents, friends, and complete strangers rang through our heads like a bell ringing throughout the silence of an empty hotel room. It was something that we could not escape. No one, not a single living person, thought about going in. After all we heard, why would you? Even if the tales were n't true, it was n't worth it. All we knew was that we were terrified to go and find out what could be out there. Everyone, that is, except for Ally. `` You know they're just trying to scare us, right?,'' she said, almost condescendingly, through a half-smirk. `` It's always been like that. It's about control, and the easiest way to control someone is to scare them.'' She said this as we sat in our garage, looking out across the street at the walled off ocean. The moon shone down, casting a silver light on the concrete of the the barriers. It was dead quiet. `` Ally, even if they are trying to scare us, I do n't think it's because they want to scare us'', I said, not knowing why I was even trying to change her mind. She was stubborn, my sister, and that would be putting it gently. `` Oh, yeah, how do you know? How do you know they are n't just trying to scare the living hell out of everyone with all these made up fairy tales about what could or did happen out there, Sean?'' `` I do n't know... but it would n't make sense for them to lie to us'', was the only thing I could respond with. I did n't know, but after being told not to question things for so long, I did n't. I just did n't have it in me, because the thought alone scared me to no end. It got quieter. We sat there in silence for a few moments, just staring off into the distance, wondering. The sound of our heartbeats were the only thing that even came close to breaking through the silence. Both of them were racing, but for two very different reasons. I could see it in her eyes when I glanced over that she was planning on doing something. She could see it in mine that I would try, and fail, to talk sense into her. It's how it always was between us. I was the logical one, always following with what I was told and listening to my brain. Ally followed her heart, and had no use for advice. It was a stalemate. As we sat there, the wind picked up, and you could hear the ocean start to make noise as a result. The waves began to quietly, yet loudly enough for us to hear, crash against the barriers. It was of great concern to me that this was happening, because the thought of The Ocean, let alone the sound of it, numbed me to my core. To her, the sound caused a sense of adventure. `` I know what you're thinking, Ally'', trembled from my lips. She knew the overwhelming dread that I, and everyone else, had about the water. `` I know what I'm thinking, too, Sean.'' She stood up from her chair and walked towards the front of the garage. This sudden burst of movement caused my heart to skip a beat. She stood still for a second, and reached into the pocket of her hooded sweatshirt, pulling out a loose cigarette and a lighter. In quick succession, she lit and took a drag of the cigarette and exhaled deeply. The smoke fluttered through the air and went off in different directions, much like her thoughts. The wind continued to howl, and the waves began to crash louder. She turned to me and smiled. It was a loving, completely non-condescending smile that she gave to me earlier. She had always been a good sister to me, even if the way we chose to believe in life was vastly different. We had always been close, and done everything together. She knew I was scared, and, if anyone could talk her out of doing something foolish, it would be me. Taking another slow drag and exhaling with purpose, she dropped the half cigarette on the ground, stomping it out underneath her shoes and leaving a black streak on the concrete of the garage. Backing up, she spun around on her heel and smiled again, kneeling down to meet me at eye level. I sat up from my chair, a knot forming in my stomach. `` I love you, you know that? ``, she said. `` I love...'' As I began to speak, she ran. She ran faster than I have ever seen anyone run before in my life. It was if she knew I would chase after her, and she wanted a good head start just in case I caught up with her. Had I not been more scared than I had ever been before in my life, I would have been impressed. Needless to say, I was not impressed. She tore across the beach in the moonlight, kicking up sand clouds as she ran. Piece by piece, she tore off her sweatshirt, jeans, and shoes until she had revealed a bathing suit. `` SON OF A BITCH, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? ``, I screamed at the top of my lungs as I tried to catch up with her. She had planned this, and she did n't answer me. Approaching the barriers, she stopped and knelt down again, picking something up out of the sand. Lifting it up, it turned out to be the ladder from our garage. It had gone missing the other day, and no one knew where it had gone to. I had figured someone just misplaced it, forgetting to put it back where it belonged. Turns out, someone had misplaced it, but knew where they wanted it all along. In a flash, she lifted the ladder up and placed against the barrier, and began to very stealthily climb up. Just as she reached the top rung, I managed to finally catch up with her and grab hold of the bottom portion of it. My lungs burned from running, yet I tried to scream anyways. `` PLEASE... DO N'T! JUST... GODDAMNIT, DO N'T!'' `` You need to stop letting fear control your life and live a little! ``, she squealed, happily, at the top of her lungs, her words echoing with the wind. Before I could say anything else, she stepped onto the top of the barrier and looked down at me. I held onto the ladder as a stabilizer, too scared to do anything but look up at my sister. Our eyes met, and she smiled again. `` I'm going to be fine, Sean. I always am. I just want to see what everyone is so afraid of.'' With no hesitation, she then turned and jumped. Time had slowed down. I could n't breathe. I never saw her again.
[ WP ] He is the scourge of all that is benevolent , the ruler of darkness , the epitome of monstrosity ... and your best friend that you can always trust .	Drolgarag the Impregnable dropped Doyle's head to the ground, his collared shirt stained with the mist of blood that had spurted from Doyle's thin neck. He had his battle axe in his hand, and was taking my former co-workers MnM's jar to hand it to me. I sighed as he turned to me, extending the jar to me, smiling with that goofy but slightly bloodthirsty grin. `` Gods blast it Drolg, when I said Doyle did n't share his MnM's with me that was n't an open invitation for you to decapitate him!'' '' THOMAS, YOUR CONCERNS ARE UNFOUNDED AND HUMOROUS. THE MAN KNOWN AS DOYLE WILL ROT IN HIS HADES WHILE WE ENJOY THE DELICIOUS SPOILS OF THIS WAR. `` `` But I did n't want you to kill him! Remember when you shot Arnold in the back with your Bow of Radriel's Vengeance? He BURST INTO FLAMES and Janet had to call the fire department! Then I had to finish all of Arnie's work!'' '' BUT WE HAVE EM AND EMS'' `` Alright, alright, yes, we have the sweet chocolate treats. My point was that you did n't have to go all Hell's Executioner on him and cut him into pieces.'' '' YOU WORRY TOO MUCH. REMEMBER WHEN VANESSA SAID SHE'D FIRE YOU BECAUSE OF ARNOLD? `` `` Yes, I distinctly remember her screams as you turned her body into that of a golden retriever after I said she was a total bitch for it.'' At that, Drolgarag laughed haughtily and wiped a tear from his eye, his callous and red stained hand getting blood on his heavily bearded face. He had to remove his horned helmet, he was laughing so hard. '' YES, THAT WAS ESPECIALLY HUMOROUS BECAUSE `` BITCH'' MEANS FEMALE DOG AS WELL AS A PESKY ANNOYANCE. `` `` Whatever happened to her anyways? Did n't you sell her to a dog breeding mill?'' '' AH YES, TARGORATH THE WARRIOR SAID HE NEEDED A NEW-'' Suddenly Marco piped up from the back of the floor; `` Hey, new guy, enough with the yelling, we're trying to work!'' '' MY APOLOGIES, I THOUGHT YOU KNEW WHO I WAS. DO NOT WORRY, YOU WILL LEARN SWIFTLY ENOUGH. `` Drolgarag summoned the soul of Doyle and set it ablaze, throwing the ball of inferno at Marco's general direction. There was a blinding flash of light, and the next thing I knew the accounting section was gone. I could see Lilith's stuffed animal collection charred and Gerry's computer melting where his desk used to be. I could hear sirens approaching, and knew the end would n't be good for anyone. '' PERHAPS OFFICE WORK IS N'T FOR ME. `` `` I told you that you should stay the King of Hell, but nooooooo, you wanted to know what us mortals did all day.'' '' I HAD ASSUMED ALL HUMANS WOULD BE AS WIMPY AND SUBMISSIVE AS YOU. `` `` Hey, how about screw you too?'' '' I KID, I KID, YOU KNOW THAT. `` `` Haha, yeah. Hey, wan na go tell all the homophobes that America legalized gay marriage?'' '' HA HA HA, SURE. AND THEN AFTERWARDS, WE CAN DRAW AND QUARTER THEM WITH ERVEKOR THE CORRUPTING. `` `` Uh... yeah. Sure. Though I have a thing going on later, so I do n't know if I can do the whole drawing... thing...'' '' BUT YOU SAY THAT EVERY TIME I WANT TO TORTURE THE SOULS DOWN UNDER. `` `` Poor timing, man. Anyways, the emergency services are here, we should probably bounce.'' '' I GOT YOU, BROTHER. `` He opened his personal portal into his nether realm, where the souls of those he'd killed resided permanently for him to play with. And that was how we ended every Friday; and I loved it. [ New to writing prompts all criticism is welcome! ]
[ WP ] In 2023 , Russia sends two men to the moon . Once there , one Russian Cosmonaught kicks over the American flag .	`` My fellow Americans. `` The Russian government has dealt upon us, a grave insult. They have tarnished our national pride, and spat in the face of International extra-planetary co-operation. `` But they have not broken our will. They have lit a fire beneath it, in the hopes that the flames might consume us, but instead they will fuel our actions for generations to come. `` Tonight, I announce the re-funding of the Constellation program, and the imminent return of Americans to Space. Prime Minister Putin has shaken his fist at us and dared action, and action is what he will get. Our forefathers battled the Russians in a race to the moon, and starting today: We will do the same on our path to Mars, and on the path beyond! `` We do this not because it is easy, but because it is hard. Because it will prove to the rest of the world that Americans are not going to stand by as Russian agents trample on our national landmarks, even those outside of our nation, or even outside of out planet. `` We will take this transgression and return it upon the Russian government tenfold within the next ten years, a hundred fold within the next twenty, and a thousand-fold within the next generation! `` We will transcend the boundaries of our fagile homeworld and lay a permanent claim to the Earth's moon with the first long-term moonbase, development starting now. Thank you.''
[ WP ] Of all the species in the universe , none lives on a world as toxic as the human homeworld with an oxygen atmosphere and liquid covering the surface . Equally , no other species creates what the humans call `` music ''	{ the following has been translated from standard to human-common } Humans ( non-standard species ) Pop. 8143901976321 ( may be higher ) Planets: 1937 Galaxies: 1 [ 1 ] Carbon-based lifeform. intra-skeletal. Bones break easily. killed with a single pulse to the head. non-threat mostly. Varies heavily. bi-gendered. bi-pedal. susceptible to chemicals ( notably acids ). needs hydro-monoxide, and dihydroxy bis oxy oxane triol [ 2 ] reproduces quickly, thrice per standard year. litters only one offspring at a time, offset by quick gestation. requires both genders. heavily invested in young. reaches maturity in 6 standard years. [ 3 ] has no instincts. is born small ( less than 3 standard grams ), however grows to over 30 standard grams at maturity. learns at varying speeds. has three maturity stages, and nine maturity sub-stages. ( 1 ) Young stage. lasts 6 standard years. notably weak and ( silly ) ( stupid ) ( idiotic ) ( not satisfactory ). ( 2 ) Medium stage. lasts 10 standard years. notably stronger and ( not silly ) ( not idiotic ) ( satisfactory ). ( 3 ) Old stage. lasts 6 standard years on average. notably weak and ( not silly ) ( not idiotic ) ( satisfactory ). ends in death. [ 4 ] tagged as non-threat, however, do not try to hunt. if injured, releases hormone ( adrenaline ) which can lead to death. if killed, other will death. do not hunt. do not hurt. do not kill. do careful. [ 5 ] is ( rebellious ). tracking chip removal. law not-follow. cites 1984. population number low. may be all-place all-time. has law not-follow fission devices. make damage. do careful. [ 6 ] do careful. do careful. do careful. do careful. do careful. do careful. { end translation } `` They dead?'' `` Whole ship destroyed. I did n't even use a nuke, just the emp to take down their shields. apparently, they ca n't handle loss of power. seriously, look at it. Holy fucking shit.'' `` Well, let's grab their computer core and get the fuck out.'' `` That's shit vaporized. let's just go'' { the following has been translated from standard to human-common } Humans ( non-standard species ) Pop. 8143901976321 ( may be higher ) Planets: 1937 Galaxies: 1 [ 1 ] DO NOT ENGAGE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER LAW. DO WARP AWAY AT HIGHEST LEGAL SPEED. LAW NO-FOLLOW IS DEATH. REPORT ALL SIGHTINGS TO LAW. { end translation }
[ WP ] You live in a city full of people with powers ( telekinesis , electro kinesis , sensors , etc ) and everyone is ranked according to how powerful they but they can kill someone of higher rank and obtain their rank . You are rank # 1 but no one knows what your power is	I pull my number from the machine that ranks us all. Shocked, I ca n't believe it, no one has ever had this number in all the books, movies, songs or anything. Putting away the ticket I ask people around if they had ever heard of someone having that number, careful not to reveal I had. `` Well, yeah someone has to be number 1. Ca n't say that I know anyone who pulled it though.'' Typical response. I ca n't believe it, I'm just a student, what was the chance of getting assigned # 1. A pyrokinesis user blasts by, nearly knocking me over. I think I saw a ticket that said 998 in her hand. They're always using their powers to jet around, its a hazard and they never wear helmets. Oh well, if they get knocked out of the running then it just means someone else gets pushed up. Dusting off my new pants, a nice middle aged man helps me up. `` Damn pyros, lucky they do n't burn the place down with how they fly.'' `` Thanks'' I say, right as I notice the sign change from'999' to'001'. A voice comes over the intercom, `` Now serving deli customer one.'' `` Yes,'' I step forward, `` I will take a quarter pound of chicken, a half pound of sliced honey ham, and some roast beef please.''

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