The man moving in front of them had a jarring gait. The strange mechanical leg thumping the ground with every step, shaking everything around them. At the kids whispers, it looks at them. One eye glowing red, something deep inside sparking.
“Oh that can’t be good! Hamish… let’s get out of here.” Sylvia squeaks.
“Don’t. Move.” Comes the cyborgs demanding voice. All too human, making him that much scarier.
“Run Sylvia. I will distract him,” whispers Hamish, hoping that he can come up with some way to save his sister, from the half man, half robot now heading their way.
“Oh this can’t be good.”Sylvia turns to flee, and a strange light hits the ground in front of her.
“I said. Don’t. Move.” Growls the voice. “Don’t made me hurt you.”
Slowly turning back around, she moves as close to her brother as she can.
“What do you want from us.” Hamish says. Trying to be demanding, but the quiver in his voice ruins the effect.
“I don’t know. I just know that you have to come with me.” The cyborg looks a little confused.
“Are… are you okay?” whispers Sylvia.
“What are you doing?” asks Hamish. “Have you lost your mind?”
“No. He… looks confused. Maybe he just needs our help.”
“I am not confused. Just seems there is some kind of programming that demands I take you with me. I seem to have no current memories. Now. Come with me.” He points towards a building to their left.
“Umm… alright.” Sylvia says.
“Seriously… this is going to get us killed. Or worse.” Hamish grumbles. Turning to follow his sister, his arm around her.
“Oh, where is your sense of adventure, Hamish. Who knows… maybe now we will know why we woke up on the hill. Maybe now we will finally have some answers as to why we are so far from home.” she says quietly.
There you have it… What story do you get from this prompt? Please share it in the comments! And if you like what you find here, remember you can find me published in these anthologies: MN Emerging Writers and the National Edition!
I wasn’t really going to write today, and then… while streaming I decided you know what… this is what I do, and so I did. And wouldn’t you know it, I ended up with a piece longer than I anticipated! It is amazing how sometimes, even when we don’t really feel like it, just doing it is the answer.
Today’s Prompt: Welcome to the land of Nightmares. Where terror reigns and the only escape is in your wildest dreams.
Today’s Story:
The Escape
It was time. I wanted nothing to do with this sleep project. At first I thought it was easy money. What they didn’t tell you though, was that you would never sleep again. Oh sure, you were technically asleep… drug induced, even. That did not mean you were resting. No.
Instead you were Welcomed to the Land of Nightmares, a sign welcoming you and offering, where terror reigns and the only escape is in your wildest dream. This study… a quick buck, so I could get across to the East Coast and my sister who was waiting for me, who needed my help, was the biggest mistake of my life. They studied your brain patterns as they sent you to another dimension. I don’t know exactly how they had managed to figure out how to send you there, but I do know that there was something sinister and wrong about it all. The orderlies just a little too sadistic, the drs a little too out of reach. Questions that would usually be answered, and seemed to be answered on the surface when I first started, were no longer even bothered with the pretense of an answer.
The others don’t really seem to care. They are sucking down the drugs and falling into exhausted heaps. I don’t know why my metabolism is affected differently, but I have heard the nurses talking to the doctors. They don’t like that the drugs seem to wear off on me much sooner than any of the others.
Today is the day though. If I want to make it out of this situation… I have to do something today. They are supposed to up the drugs tonight, and I don’t know if I can get clear enough of the fog if I let them administer them. Of course, they don’t know I know what they are planing. If only there was a way to save some of the others.
Sliding my jeans on quickly, I grab my gear from the small closet, leaving on the hospital gown, trying to blend in a little. Glancing carefully down the hallway, I watch as a nurse walks into the room at the end of the hall. If I have timed it right, I have around seven minutes to get past that room and out the front doors. Taking a deep breath, I scurry down the hallway, heading for the vending machines at the end, trying to make it look like I am just out for a snack. Ducking down the side hall, I see the front doors, a big desk in front of them. Three nurses standing between me and freedom.
Inching my way carefully down the hall, I try to be as quiet as I can, knowing I will only have a moment to scoot out the doors before they hit the lock down button I see on the desk. Hmm… I wonder how many have tried escaping that they have a lock down button!
No time like the present, I take a deep breath and run for all I am for the doors, sweet freedom bathing my face with the rays of the evening sun, setting on me. I gasp for air as I hit the outside, metal grates sounding behind me with heavy thumps. Knowing they will be coming I run for my car, jumping in I fishtail out of the parking lot, no idea where I am heading, just knowing I need to get away from here.
I wake up with a wail! NUUUUUUUUU.
I hope you enjoyed! More and more I am finding this challenge to be incredible! I encourage you… even for a month, try it out! Or even once a week, take a prompt, even one you find here and just write! Set a timer for 15-20 minutes, and just let the creative juices flow. It is worth every moment! Don’t be shy, share your thoughts, stories, and opinions in the comments below! I love to hear from you. And if you like what you see, I am, in fact, published! If you are interested, please pick up a copy! The anthologies can be found here; MN Emerging Writers and the National Edition!
I thought I would shoot for another piece in the muse set… I am not fully happy with this one as of yet, but… it is a start.
Today’s Prompt:Mr Roger’s – new neighbors – Muse Series
Today’s Story:
Friendly Neighborhood Muse
Why doesn’t anything ever happen here? I mean… there is just nothing to inspire me. Same things happening, day after day. Same hum drum routine. Hearing the sound of a door opening and closing, I spin, but there is no one at my door. What is going on?
“Well hello there. I can’t help but feel like maybe you are taking for granted all the relationships passing you by.” A friendly voice says from my couch.
Looking to my couch I am taken aback… what in the world, why… no, how in the world is Mr Roger’s sitting on my sofa! There is something eerie about his presence. Why would a childhood tv entity be in my house talking to me?
“I am here because you are failing to realize how much inspiration is all around you!” He says, a smile on his face. “Take for instance your neighbors. You have a few… the ones to the North, you are always griping about. How they are doing crazy things like shooting some kind of guns, and selling drugs, or at least, that is what must be going on with all the comings and goings, and then there is the garbage and random people who seem to just camp out in the back yard. How is that not inspiration for a story? It must be worthy of some snippets I am sure! There there was the time the garbage guy came flying down the alley, the wrong way, stopping there, for just a moment before running off again, and it wasn’t even garbage day! Or what about the guy to the East… the one with the revolving vehicles? He has more vehicles than one can keep up with, and somehow he uses them all on a daily basis. Maybe renting them out… who knows the possibilities are endless. Look around you, at the every day… at the day to day things that you are taking for granted and you will see. Inspiration awaits everywhere.”
As he finished speaking he was fading away like he was never there.
“Wait…” I can’t think of anything… it was all too surreal.
“Remember… won’t you be… my neighbor?” his words fading away a whisper of a sound. It was as if he was never there.
Shaking my head I look back at my screen and the words that flowed out. Well… I’ll be. Seems I may have a friendly neighborhood muse after all. I think, as I take the time to start reading.
Well, I know, it is maybe not as funny as my first couple muse pieces, but it is a start! What about you? What kind of muse do you see Mr Roger’s being? Please share in the comments! And, if you like what you find, I am published and you can find my work in the anthologies MN Emerging Writers and the National Edition!
So, yeah… I know. I say this every time… but I really love today’s piece! It is another from the library world I think. I am looking at creating some more for this world… because they are just so fun.
Today’s Prompt:“Lets find a possessed book” “Ummm, why is it hugging me like that? This was just supposed to be a friendly hug.”
“Are you sure we should go in there? It is not natural… Books shouldn’t give off a strange lime green glow… they look like radioactive jello!”
“What? Are you afraid Billy? Come on. Let’s go find us a possessed book.” She said… laughing at the fear in my eyes.
Shaking my head, I follow slowly behind her, staying as close as I can while carefully watching around me. The light hum in the air felt like nails continually running down a chalkboard. All the hair on my body was standing at end, a case of static particles pulling at me. How could she be so carefree, as you please running through a room like this?
“Seriously Bree… there is something wrong with you.” I mumble quietly. Her laughter floats back to me.
“Don’t be silly. This library is my birthright. I have been waiting for those doors to open since I was four years old.” She turns in a pirouette. Her eyes glowing with an inner fire that tears the breath from me.
Under my breath I pout, “Doesn’t mean that you should be dragging me along for the ride.”
“You know… I still can hear you” she says with a laugh. “Here… this should make you feel better.” She pulls a book from the shelf to her left, and tosses it to me. I catch it, instincts pulling it from the air.
“Ahhhh! What is it doing… Ummm…. why is it hugging me like that?” I stand there, frozen.
Her laughter trills out, dancing in the motes of the air around her. “It is just supposed to be a friendly hug”
I really enjoyed this piece! I hope you do as well! The prompt, was another of the ones I have developed. I am looking at making some more! And please… what story does the prompt share with you? Share in the comments. And, as always, if you like what you find here, you can obtain published copy’s of some of my writing in these anthology’s MN Emerging Writers and the National Edition!
I have to say… yet again, I know, but this is my favorite piece to date! I really love how this one turned out! I crafted this prompt myself, so I hope you enjoy!
Today’s Prompt:A forgotten library, littered with the powerful magic in words.
Slowly creeping down the dark hallway, you can’t help but feel like it will never end. Closing your eyes and taking a deep breath you smell it. Hundreds of old books, their musty scent flooding and filling your senses. Slowly opening your eyes there is a room before you, a room that you have never seen the likes of before. It glows, a gentle light shining from the books before you, with no need for an external light.
Taking a step into the room, the awe floods through you as you slowly turn taking it all in. A forgotten library. One that came to you in your deepest hour of need. As you make your way towards a bookstand, where a book rests, the pages ruffling as you get nearer.
You look closely as the pages settle, and gasp. There waiting for you in this forgotten library, littered with the powerful magic in words lies the answer everyone has been searching for. Now the only question left is… what are you going to do with the knowledge?
What do you think? Did you enjoy the tale? What do you think should happen next? What story does the prompt tell you? Please, share your thoughts in the comments below. And if you like what you find here, I am published! You can find more of my tales in these anthologies, MN Emerging Writers and the National Edition!
So, I shared with you Wolodymyr’s journal entry yesterday, that felt too unbalanced, so today, I am giving you Wynston’s response.
Today’s Prompt: Siamese twins – one body, two heads – one is Elf (Wolodymyr) the other is WereRat (Wynston); the dominant hypothesis was that this condition was a very rare occurrence due to a mix of her mother being of a different race from her father and experimenting with weird magic to get pregnant. I’m afraid that the were-rat aspect of Wynston was left a little bit to the side but somebody said something about a curse. (same prompt as yesterday, gotta get Wynston’s entry!)
Today’s Story:
Rivalry
Lunar 14, ‘397
Sometimes Wolodymyr whines excessively, and yes brother, I am writing this just for you! At least you realize that I can’t control the moon and our shifting phases, because I always do my best not to shift when it would be an inconvenience to you. And privacy… I am rolling my eyes at you, even now. What privacy do you need? We share a body and all basic needs, and when not, you are more often stuck with your nose in a book, so I need to control our daily life! You would forget to feed us, and because of my were issues… that would not end well.
Unrest… if only they could see. But they don’t see what is right in front of their noses. Leave it to PureBloods to not see what they don’t want to see. Just because one is long lived, does not mean that there is always all the time in the world. But then… they don’t realize how much the world has changed and moved on without them noticing. They are too busy bickering and fighting amongst themselves to truly live.
That leaves it up to us! Those of us who see the ripples and notice the effect, to stop whatever is coming. In that, Wolodymyr is going to have to help me… maybe having his nose always stuck in a book is going to be to our benefit for once. He may be slow to react, but that does not mean he is slow.
The hard part is… where do we start. All brotherly rivalry aside… we always work together, even when annoyed with one another, we have to, and that has allowed us to see the world a little differently than most. Maybe that is why we are noticing the ripples more. Or maybe it has something to do with our shared skin and the magic that works to keep us alive.
I guess that is going to be a problem for later. For now, another day is about to begin and I know that Wolodymyr is going to be anxious to figure out what is the trouble… just because we are the best conmen in town, doesn’t mean that we don’t care. Sides… it is in our best interest if we want to survive, but for now… for now it is time to start our day.
Well, there you have it! Wynston’s thoughts. I hope you enjoyed, and please, take the time to check out Matteo’s stuff!
It has been hard to write lately, with the pain in my foot, but I am doing my best! I hope you enjoy this one, I realized that it is actually a prompt I have already done, but I really like this one.
Today’s Prompt: “Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can’t remember who we are or why we’re here.”
Once upon a time… fairy tales all began with that. The thing of the matter is this, we need once upon a time! When we stop telling the tales, when we stop sharing the stories, they die. And when stories die, we can’t remember who we are or why we’re here.
It is something long forgotten. Something only kept alive by the LoreKeepers, but when stories die we are lost. Every lost tale takes more of us. Who are we? We are the characters of lost worlds. We live on only in the realms of forgotten lore. You can find us between the pages of the books that were once loved.
If you want a glimmer into our world, take up the pen and arm yourself well! It is through the might of words we can truly live again! Please, find it in you to open the wellspring and allow us life! It is only with your power that we can move from the realms of the forgotten. They shrink a little more every day. So if you could find it in your creative spring to save us… well, then… we would be eternally grateful, and we do not offer thanks willingly.
You can bring us to life, by finding it in you to share our tales and before you are done finishing, The End!
I hope you have enjoyed this! What story does the prompt share with you? Please let us know in the comments! I love hearing from you! And if you like what you find here, I am published! You can find more of my tales in these anthologies, MN Emerging Writers and the National Edition!
I did two prompts today that were picked by those watching my Twitch livestream! Feel free to join me there on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s to get in on a live writing workshop online!
Today’s Prompts: The monster seemed content to sit in the bathtub, delicately pushing the rubber duck around in the water. They didn’t know what they had done to deserve such a weird horror-house, but, well, they kind of liked it.
They became a hero, despite everyone telling them they’d be a better villain and it was all thanks to spite.
Today’s Story:
Monster in the Shadows
Sometimes the challenges never cease to come flying at you, in my case it was more of a constant bombardment of always getting hurt. The latest string of injuries were knife wounds, but hey, at least I am a fast healer. I went out for some ice cream, sadly it melted long before I could make it home. Wren would be annoyed, but she could go for the ice cream next time.
I was just leaving the store when it happened. Three goblins were circling a girl, she had feathers for hair. Most walking by wouldn’t notice, but me, well I have always seen through illusions. Rather a pain most days. I am a big believer in live and let live, only the strong survive, but even I can’t walk away from a poor little girl.
“Hey, loosers” I growl quietly, “Why not pick on someone your own size.”
Almost in unison they swing around and look at me, the girl forgotten. The largest one running towards me.
Taking a deep breath, “let’s dance.” I pull out my silver blades, and spin taking out the first one before completing the movement. A rush fills me as the scent of blood fills the air.
The other two pause, taking me in. Sometimes my small size fools the enemy into thinking I am weak, but goblins… they see the world a little differently, which is why you always attack first and ask questions later. Otherwise you may not survive. They inch forward, trying to flank me, so they both can attack as one. That is the danger with goblins, they like to roam in packs. They are bullies through and through.
“What are you waiting for, friends? I don’t have all night.”
They snarl, and grab me from either side running, pulling me into the shadows. Great. Now I will be stuck here till Wren figures out what happened. We are no sooner in the Shadows and they have released me. Their laughter, if you can call it that, touching places in my mind, you don’t want them touching. But I have done this song and dance, I know what to do.
Moving forward with unearthly speed I launch my attack. Taking them out while they are still laughing. The smell of blood filling my senses. Ending them will assuredly mean that I will be stuck here, for a time, but thankfully my girlfriend will know how to get me out. Besides, she often roams the Shadows, one of the benefits to being a shifter, she was Shadows.
After a long, cold night, I wander the shadows, trying to find a good place to wait. It is late afternoon, I think, time is rather hard to know in the Shadows, when a voice speaks quietly from behind. I whirl around, knives raised.
“Easy, it’s just me, Ais.” Wren says. “Are you ready to go home?” She smiles at me.
“Yes! Sorry about the ice cream, but I couldn’t let that poor little swan maiden get beat up by a bunch of goblins.”
“Ever the hero.” Wren laughs, as she pulls me through the shadows onto our front porch.
Honestly, I never really wanted to be the hero, but sometimes it boils down to doing what you have to do. Besides, everyone always said I would make a better villain and I would not have others dictating what I would be come. After a hard day through the Shadow Lands, it was time for some well deserved rest. Not that I ever seem to manage to get rest. So there I sat, a monster, in a bathtub, pushing my rubber duckie around in the water.
It was a fun little piece. Trying to get back into the swing of my daily writing! I hope you enjoyed it. What about you? What story do the prompts tell you? Please share in the comments below. And if you like what you find here, please check out the anthology’s I am published in! MN Emerging Writers and the National Edition!
Every day I stare out the window and watch the others go about their day. What I wouldn’t give to be able to join them, just once. To just be able to do what every one does. Go to the store and buy some groceries, or just live a day with all of the same mundane things everyone else takes for granted. You know the things… running errands, going to the store, waiting in line at the DMV.
Turning away from everything that I will never do, I curl up with a book that is twice my size, hoping that at least for a few moments I can escape the reality that is. Trying to find some solace in the realms of faerie and high fantasy. I may not be able to do the things you do, but I have traveled more in my imagination than most people could dream of.
“ARGGGG…!” I scream my frustrations at the world. What I wouldn’t give to visit even one place in the books I escape in. Just stepping foot in my back yard is a lot like a high adventure. Danger lurks around every corner, waiting… to just eat me up. Think what you will of me, but you have no idea what it is like to be the size of a teacup.
I hope you enjoyed! What story does the prompt tell you? Please share your thoughts, comments and stories below! And if you like what you find here, check out the anthologies I am published in, MN Emerging Writers and the National Edition!
This is a sad, and yet very fun short little piece. Each time I write these, I can’t help but think each one is a favorite. I really do enjoy writing these and seeing where they take me next.
Today’s Prompt: With that, she walked into the rain and didn’t look back. That was the last time anyone ever saw her.
Today’s Story:
The Proposal
This is it, he thought. Tonight’s the big night, the night he pops the question. He had been planning for months. Every detail meticulously planned. The reservations were in twenty minutes. He had the ring in his coat pocket. As he drove to her house to pick her up, he felt the rising thrum of anticipation! His hands were slightly damp on the steering wheel.
Pulling to a stop in front of her house, he looked up in dismay as the first drops of rain began to fall. Not rain! He thought helplessly, but then, his eyes sparked. She loves the rain. He couldn’t have planned better if he could control the weather himself! Reaching in the back seat he pulled out the umbrella and walked up to her door. Ringing the doorbell he waited patiently. Looking at the house he started to get nervous, usually she would have answered by now. She knew he was coming to pick her up. What if…
The door opened and she smiled at him, a ray of sunlight that melted all of his worries away. “Sorry, was just finishing up. Are you ready?” She asks.
“You look marvelous, worth waiting all day!” He tells her, holding the umbrella, and sticking out his elbow for her to tuck her hand in to.
She laughs, taking his arm, and holding her dress with her other hand. He carefully opens the door and helps her in the car, running around and jumping in himself. Heading for their reservation.
Pulling up to the doors, he hands his keys to the valet and they make their way inside. After they ordered, and had their glasses of wine before them, he looked to the maitre d’ who signaled the musicians to start playing. As the music started to reach a crescendo, he looked to her and pulled the little box from his pocket.
“Lilly… you have become everything to me. Every perfect moment in my life, you are there. So I ask you” he carefully gets up and kneels by her side, holding the ring for her to see, “will you marry me?”
She looks at him dumbfounded. She thought he knew, that he understood. She couldn’t do this! Looking at him, a quiet cry escapes her, and he starts to smile. She gets up and backs away for a moment, staring at him. Fleeing to the doors, she looks back once more, her eyes sad. With that, she walked into the rain and didn’t look back. That was the last time anyone ever saw her.
I hope you enjoyed my take on that prompt. What about you? What story speaks to you when you read that prompt? Please share in the comments below. Remember that if you like what you find here, I am published! You can find my work in a couple of anthologies, MN Emerging Writers and the National Edition!
Rivalry
Random Acts of Writing 