Tick Silence Tick Silence Tick Silence

 The bomb strapped to his chest was nothing of concern for Kyrin. He had been in various situations like this before and had always come out alive. 

Tick Silence Tick Silence Tick Silence

 His primary concern was the fact he had no idea where he was. He could hear thunder around him, but the blindfold and handcuffs made it practically impossible to understand the chill rolling up his spine. 

Tick tick Silence Tick tick Silence Tick tick Silence

Now he was concerned. Kyrin didn’t get afraid much. He was the strongest villain in the lands and his greatest power was immunity. Along with the ability to drain powers from others. Just to use it against them. His greatest weakness was her. The strongest hero in the land with the power of controlling the weather. But that’s not why he was weak. Her eyes were the reason his knees buckled. She dreamed of her and refused to admit his love for his worst enemy. Apart from the thunder, he knew she was close.

Tick tick tick Silence Silence Silence Boom

 A bolt of lightning hit Kyrins chest and he knew it. He had been struck before and could recognize her power any day. Another bolt of lightning hit his handcuffs and he immediately tore off the blindfold. He stared around him taking in every surrounding. The bright blue sky was everywhere as he spun. 

He stopped when he saw the greatest view of all. She levitated to the ground. With regret he pulled out his sword. “Hello Kyrin” she called out

Why oh why did he always fall in this situation. Why oh why did he have to kill his favorite person in the whole world.

He knew the answer to it. He just refused to acknowledge it. “Hello hero” he said with a sad smile

The lights. The applause. It all seems like to much. And everything at the same time.

I stare at the audience and wonder if this is really what I want. I think back to her. I wouldn’t be here without her, but how I wish I was here with her. When I was offered this opportunity I took it without a single thought. Until now. This was her dream not mine. She was the one to tell me to take my first audition. She said to get us there, she said she would meet me halfway. She was the one who I carpooled with to choir. She was the one who said “Join! We can do it together! My mom will drive us. I want to do it… but not alone.” I was the one who pressed play on the karaoke machine. I was the one who applauded at the end of every song she performed in her basement. I was the one who said she had the best voice I ever heard. Our roles switched. I never thought I was a good singer. Until I tried choir. Until I auditioned. Until I took the record label. This was her dream, not mine. This was my best friends dream, and I’ve completely forgot.

—

I look at Clara. She looks amazing on the stage. I wonder if anyone here knows our story. I wonder if she remembers. I do. That’s how I catch it when she starts to cry. I know her. And I’m proud. Yet I wish I could be there with her.

Amidst the roaring applause, a silent tear fell, reflecting the untold story she could never tell.

Marie Couvins can’t bake cookies to save her life. But I can’t tell her that, it would break her heart. So every two days when she comes into the dry cleaners place where I work, I take the burnt cookies with a smile. Today was different. Today Marie brought no cookies. Just a terrifying silence. I attempted to make any sort of communication but was met with a dry response. Okay then. Sounds good Marie. I suppose I will have no cookies today. Doesn’t hurt me. Though I typically take a bite when she is here to see her satisfied. I take the coat from Marie’s hands and bring it to the back. I hear the bell on the door ding and know that she has left. Per usual I check the pockets of the items to be sure nothing will be lost. I reach my hand in and feel two plastic bags. I pull my hand out and find two ziploc bags, one with three terribly burnt cookies, and one with three beautiful cookies.

I run out of the dry cleaners.

I see Marie down the street and call out to her. “Marie!” She turns and walks over “What are these?” I ask with a accusing tone. “Cookies.” “No, really?! I mean why have you been given me burnt cookies when you made these beautiful ones?” She looks at me confused “You were the only one who seemed to like them. So when I got good at making cookies, I saved the bad ones for you.” I walk away flabbergasted.

(Sorry, this one was kinda silly😂”

I kick at the small pebble in front of me, it scatters down the street. As I make my way into work, my friend Avery walks by. Her preppy smile and joyful expression attempt to break through the shield of my frown. She waves. I nod. Far different from our usual giggles and squealing routine. I brace myself and walk through the doorway of the tall office building. Immediately when I walk in I’m shoved by a passerby who refused to move. Shows them right for standing with their back to the door. I hear them behind me quickly apologize. They really should do more. I walk away without acknowledging them. I see Michael walk away from the coffee stand without refilling the water jug. I see Leisal very clearly not doing her job, as she stands next to the poster wall without replacing the old ones. I see broken legged Dan moving the boxes at a painfully slow pace.

“Must I do everything around here!?”

I grab six boxes in one hand, while very ungracfully refilling the water jug and tearing the posters of the wall. After I promptly sit down on my desk. Everyone stares. “What are you looking at? Get back to work!”

I would be anything for you I would change my personality My mind My ideas My soul

I would do anything for you If you asked me to I would If you needed me to listen I would Even if you can’t listen to me

I would give everything for you If you wanted, needed or loved It’s yours Even if it’s mine

I would be anything for you Even if i didn’t want to Even if I couldn’t I would find a way

Even if it hurt me, it helped you

People Pleaser, that’s me.

I know I shouldn’t do this. My family stares me in the eyes. Disbelief shines on their faces. “Casandra. If you climb that wall, we will never take you back.” Tribe leader’s powerful voice carries over the crowd. “I’m tired of the lies! I saw that thing in the sky… I need to know the truth mother!” My heart shatters. I love this place, it’s my everything. I love the nightly fires, I love the teachings and trainings. But as of today I have questioned everything. Is my world really this small? What lies behind the wall we were told to never cross? I know people have came form the other side of the wall. I know there are captives, I have heard the screams. I know I have been lied to. With a final look at my world, my family, I start to scale the wall. I memorize their long hair, their flawless faces, and their smiles. When I reach the top of the 20 foot wall a tear falls down my face. Anything could be on the other side.

—

I have been walking for days, all I have seen is trees, plants and nothing edible. No water, no food. Nothing. My body hurts so much. My lips are so dry and I’m so so tired. Why did I climb that wall. I collapse to my knees, I brace my body for the feeling of the ground. Knowing I won’t get up.

—

I’m not in the forest. But if I’m not there than where am I. I smell fire. Smoke. I feel warm. Scratchy cloth covers my body. I open my eyes and they fall to a tall figure in the corner. I lose my breath. What is that? It’s alive but it can’t be human like me. Can it? It’s got shortly cut hair. Long limbs and broad shoulders. It smiles. “You’re awake!” It crosses over to me quickly. “Do you want help getting up? Here let me just-“ it puts it’s hands on my shoulders but I won’t let that happen. I jump up and grab the knife tucked in my pockets. I push the thing back and kick it in the stomach. I quickly bring the knife to it’s throat. “Woah woah woah! I’m sorry! Jeez!” I don’t move “Not the nicest thing to do to the man that just saved you!” “What?” I reply “Yeah, I found you unconscious in the woods on my hunting trip.” “No, I mean what’s a man?” “Uh, the opposite of a woman?” I bring the knife down, and observe the man. I can’t imagine it being right, for everything it has said seems stupid, but I’m in a new place and for all I can know, it might be right. For some reason the man brings me joy. It’s face is perfect and I can’t pull my eyes from it. “Wait a minute. You must be one of those lost girls.” It pulls a small bright rectangle from it’s pockets. Light spews from it as the man begins to tap it furiously. I turn my head, confused. “What should I call you, man?” He looks up, and smiles a bit. “You can call me Will” I commit the name to memory “You can call me Casandra.” “I think I’ll call you Cassy.” “That’s not my name” I question “Yeah but it’s a nickname.” Cassy. It’s beautiful. Will turns the bright rectangle towards me and I see words display across it.

“Group of 500 young woman being raised in the middle of the Canadian forest”

I don’t know what Canadian is but that sounds exactly like my home. “I didn’t know about your world, Will. Not until now” I give the rectangle back. Wills blue eyes meet mine. “Well, if you don’t plan on going back, maybe I can show you?” I smile at Will and I don’t even know why. This man sounds intriguing and I feel safe with it. I doubt I can do this alone “I’ll take you up on that offer.”

—

It’s been 6 months since my escape. This world is beautiful, I have learned so much. I miss my home sometimes but I hope one day they can see all the wonders of this place. Tall buildings line the sky, yet fields of flowers can stretch miles. Everything lives harmoniously. Sure there are some issues but Will has taught me that they can be resolved. Im infinitely thankful for him and hope one day we can rescue the other girls, because though their home may be beautiful. They are missing so much because of their fear.

“Bri! What is this!” “What’s what?” I call back to my friend “This just might be the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen in my life.” “I really have no idea what you are talking about.” Ever since I came back from my outer space travels I have been stuck with Aria. An alien from a very distant planet. I can hear her in the other room and have not a clue what she is talking about. Until I hear the shower turn on. And off. And on. And off. And on. “Aria! What are you doing!?” I stand up and rush to her. “It’s beautiful.” She says with tears in her bright purple eyes. “It’s a shower…” “You can just have water whenever you want?” “Uh yeah?” “Back on my planet, we walked days for this delicacy. Festivals were held for this stuff.” She holds out her hands and lets the water fall into them. She raises the liquid to her mouth and sips it softly. I’m amazed. I can’t imagine walking weeks for water. I guess I have taken a lot for granted.

(I know it’s a little different from the prompt but I thought it was a cool idea)

My world is sinking. My home is this ship. And I’m all alone. My stories sit on these shelfs.

I grew up on this fishing boat. Just me and my dad. My entire childhood are these books. They were my world when I couldn’t get to the one on land. And now we are sinking.

This is no time to be woeful. The water seeping in through the wood is no help and the fact that the only light is flickering like theres no tomorrow isn’t great either. Maybe it’s right though.

I try with one final tug to pull my leg free from under the couch. Thankfully it slips out with a painful scrape against my skin. I stumble up and cling to the door. It’s jammed. My father tryed fixing it when I was young with no luck.

I step back and grasp the handle, then I pull back with my entire body. I repeat this step multiple times and just as it’s about to budge I remember. The water seeping in.

The door comes free.

A wall of water slams into me and I’m pushed back. I land on my bookcase as the boat makes a terrible groaning sound and sinks a tad bit faster. I stand and try to push against the waves, but my legs just tire.

I start to really panic. Oh god. What if i actually die out here.

More and more cold water attacks me. With all my force I jump to the window. The light is really flickering now and I resort to the moon being my source.

I grab the heaviest book I can find and hold it in two hands. As I reel it back I read the title. “The Lord of The Rings”. Nice.

I slam it into the window but it doesn’t budge. As my arms throw as much water aside in search of a heavier book, the ship is thrown back.

It’s vertical.

I fall again to my bookshelf. And it’s where I stay. I dive under water and grab all the books that fit in my arms.

When I resurface I realize I’m crying. My stories sit sadly in my arms dripping wet. Everything is ruined. I want to collapse to my knees but the water is too high.

With the flickering light I look up and out the door. The water continues to fall in. I try to jump up. My arms barely graze the top of the door. But a wave pushes me down. I scream. I cry. I flail my arms. But I know it’s useless. No one is out in the middle of the ocean. Just me and my stories. We are all that’s left.

I hold my first ever book in my left hand and my diary in my right. I hug them close as my feet lift off the ground and the water rises. In one final attempt I try to pull myself out the door but the water rushing in is too strong. My heart shatters. I am going to die out here.

I open the book that holds my first words and read it silently to myself.

I tried I swear I tried dad. I swear I tried stories. I swear I tried to get us out of here.

With the final flickering of the lights, I took a deep breath, knowing I had done everything I could do to save us.

Priya sat with her legs crossed. She was sitting in the living room writing cards for her boyfriends birthday, a small get together with friends, but Priya loved to write and thought traditional cards would be appreciated. On the subject of her boyfriend, he was a simple man, but perfect for Priya’s chaotic character. His name was Lucas.

 They adored each other and their easy routine. Both were detailed oriented and hated change, an everyday schedule was necessary to keep them sane. That’s why when Lucas asked himself how they met, how this perfect thing started, his heart skipped a beat. Not a thing came to mind. 
 They were supposed to be perfect for each other, something for everyone else to compare themselves too. 

 Lucas spent the next twenty minutes wracking his brain to find how the two came to be. By the end he had found nothing but a headache. 
 Knowing them he expected a meet cute. Maybe she stumbled and he romantically caught her in his arms before she hit the ground. Or maybe they found each other in their favorite coffee shop. No. Wait. 

Now everything about Priya he had lost. He couldn’t even remember if she liked coffee. He couldn’t remember her parents names or if she had siblings. Why. Where. How. Everything was gone. If he knew nothing about this girl why in the world did he love her. They had been together for at least a year.

“Why am I being so stupid.” He thought to himself

Finally he looked up from his spot on the couch and blurted out,

“Priya?” She turned around and her long black hair spun with her. She smiled when they locked eyes and Lucas felt himself relax. His heart slowed and his foot stopped tapping the floor. He remembered, it didn’t matter how or why he met this girl. He loved her and she loved him. He would give anything for her and that’s what mattered “Yes?” She said excitedly. “I love you.” Her smile grew “I love you too”

Sometimes healing Takes a different shape Mine is the stars Where I can escape

I lean my head back The worries drift away Because what hurts me Stays in the day

At night is my home Where I drift in space Not a thing matters Pain has no place

I trace the lines In between the stars And the hurt in my heart Drifts more and more far

As my eyes close The stress can’t spread For I sleep in the stars And the sky is my bed