Writing Prompt

STORY STARTER

There was a collective gasp of dread and concern.

“I’m fine. It’s not my blood.”"

Continue the story...

Writings

They Don't Have Insurance In Burundi Or swimming W/ Hippos.

One of the best things about being an international judge for the Cup of Excellence competitions is, when you are not tasting coffees, the host country is compelled to entertain and dazzle you with national novelties and visits to top farms. We interact with the farmers, their families and touch the soil and seeds.

In Burundi, it was mostly similar, tasting cup after cup of potato coffee. There was a common defect in the coffees that caused a whole cup to taste exactly like a raw potato. Sadly, it caused over 30 coffees to be disqualified that year ** footnote progress on this coffee since**

Anywho, this day they toted us the the border with the Republic of Congo, slightly terrifying as our van was boarded and searched by very stern young men in fatigues and automatic rifles. No harm, our brave host shared our esteemed position with the guards who had no interest. So, yep, yep, there's the Congo kids. As we eased away, one of the judges held fistfuls of candy out his window.. for some eager kids to take. He kindly gave all of us candy to pass out, as well, letting us share in his benevolence. As we pulled of I jotted "candy" in my travel journal so I would remember to bring it on my next origin trip.

After that, we were to visit a local river name to see hippopotamuses. Yes, live hippos, notably one of the most aggressive animals in Africa. Why not? Well the boat like craft that shared the African waters could only hold 8 people and there were about 20 of us, so we went in shifts. I went out in the second group, and while waiting we were left to entertain ourselves by looking at a little monkey chained to a tree.^%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Blood Moon Pt2

Corin waited in his study until Hanna came in

“Master he is done now.”

“Ok Hanna,.” Corin walk out of the study, heading for the west tower wing Corin was soon at Romingos door Blye ran up to corrin with a strange package stained with blood He handed to Corin then left

Corin opens the door to find Romingo on the floor covered in blood “Romingo.” Corin said while closing quietly. Corin walked to Romingos side He kneeled to inspect his gash

“You need to stop hurting yourself Romingo.”

Corin opened the package, then handed Romingo a really large piece of unusual meat

“It can’t be helped Sir,” Romingo said after regaining some strength back from the meat “The Blood Moon causes me to lash out at anyone or anything.”

“I don’t want to chain you down Romingo,but you’ll hurt yourself more if your loose.” Corin opened a med kit he gotten earlier from Javier

“Sir chaining me up won’t help either, when I shift I grow bigger and the collar would strangle me.”

“Don’t worry Romingo I’ll think of another way instead of restraints.” Corin pulled out a rag then pressed it against his wound

“Sir you should just send me back, I’m a danger to everyone here.”

“Stop that foolish talk, you don’t what to go back to that living nightmare. You made an oath to protect me, so in return I will do the same. Corin looked down at his hands and saw blood

“ I’m not well equipped in the medical field Romingo, stay here I’m getting Chavez.”

Help Me

There was a collective gasp of dread and concern. “I’m fine. It’s not my blood.” Elena held up her red hands, her long brown hair pulled into a ponytail. It was midnight, or it was when Elena woke up my family. That could have been hours ago, all I knew was that there was blood on Elena’s hands. A lot. “What happened,” my mother asked, hiding a warm cup of hot chocolate in her hands. She seems awake, even though she wasn’t. This was probably like a dream for her. A bad one. “I-it was dark,” Elena looked into my eyes, her hands held out in front of her. “Please,” she whispered, “I need your help.” I shook my head. The last time Elena needed my help it almost cost me my life. “Elena just go home,” I said, stepping in front of mom. “Just deal with this,” I waved a hand, “Thing on your own.” Elena dropped her dark red hands, “Logan I need your help. I didn’t mean to do it. I thought I didn’t. I thought it was okay, what if he answers me. What if he hates me now?” She started crying, half from fear and half from the loss of sleep. Part of me thought this wasn’t about the blood, maybe it was about something else. “Did you do something?” I asked, stepping out the door and shutting it. My mother didn’t need to hear this. And more reasonably I didn’t need to hear it again. Mom would tell me, she’d think it was a dream. And I’d have to hear all about it. Elena nodded, as she took a deep breath. Her hands started shaking, “I told him thank you,” she cried, “I said thank you, and it had been a year late. What if he answers, I’ll be so embrasssed. I don’t need that. I don’t want it.” Maybe this was a dream, blood, thank you, embrassesment. Maybe it would have all clicked if I weren’t so tired. “Huh?” I asked, letting my eyes fall to the ground. Elena’s feet were bare, she was wearing socks. Brown from the dirt she had to walk through to get here. “Please Logan. I told him thank you. He doesn’t need to know that. I bet he doesn’t even like me. It’s all in my head and I’ve just ruined my life. Tell me I have-no don’t.” My eyes met hers again, “Elena. How does that match, blood and a late Thank you.” She shook her head tears falling to the ground, “I don’t know! All I know is I made a mistake, and I need to fix. . .it but I can’t. It’s over, I can’t even pretend I didn’t do it because I did. And not matter what I do, thst will always be with me. The truth. . . It’ll follow me like a lost puppy-reminding me I’m not perfect,” Elena let out a small sob, “And it’s true.” She falls to the ground, and I stand there. The only light coming from the porch light above us. It flickers, as Elena looks up at me. “I can’t fix this. I can’t go back, I can’t change the past. It’s ironic right? I can’t change the past and yet that’s all I try to do,” she lets out a sad little laugh, “but maybe it’s not ironic, I don’t even know what that means.” The porch light flickers again, “Elena what did you do?” She stands up, “I sent an email. To,” she leans closer, “him-He’d never answer but I feel like I acted weird. He’ll never see me the same again. Never.” What’s the big deal? Maybe I should just fall to the ground. That sounds nice, sleep. “I don’t get it.” Elena sighs, “I can’t undo the email. And I need-“ I hold up a hand, “What does that have to do with the blood?” She looks at her hands, “I lied.” She lifts her shirt to reveal a giant gash. It’s across her whole stomach and is bleeding like a waterfall. I stare at her, all the sleep I used to have is now gone, “You-you,” She nods, “I told you. I embarrassed myself. It seemed like the only option. It is,” she pause, “the only option.” I shake my head, “Elena it’s not.” A car drives by, it’s head lights turn on. Elena jumps, her face growing pale white. “Logan if there was another option I’d take it. Don’t you see that. . .” I didn’t see that, embarrassment sucked but hurting yourself it seemed a little up there. “Just help me Logan.” Elena grabbed my hand the feeling of the dried blood made shivers run up and down my spine. “Kill me.”

I’m Fine

There was a collective gasp of dread and concern.

“I’m fine. It’s not my blood” I hurried to clear up any misconceptions of the red substance dripping from my head.

“But it’s MINE” Lyla gasped beside me.

Everyone hurried over and started fussing. What a drama queen.

I rolled my eyes as people brought over bandages and disinfectant to treat the hole in Lyla’s shoulder.

“Was she shot?”

“This was supposed to be a supply run!”

Xen, help us out! Get some tea at the LEAST!”

“You should have been more careful, Xen!”

“Why is it you EVERY TIME!”

I decided to make the tea run as people kept talking over eachother trying to find out what happened. Funny, because they weren’t actually giving me time to speak.

The sweet smell of chamomile started to waft which calmed most of them down. Still, I waited for everyone to be silent before I was able to explain.

“So. We got the supplies. Medical stuffs, food stuffs, and even some fight stuffs! The problem is that I found the fight stuffs.”

Everyone groaned knowing exactly where this was going. I grinned knowing no regrets.

“So I started swinging around one of the guns. Unfortunately, it wasn’t on safety, so….” I punctuate the following silence with a sip of my own tea.

When the silence only continued, I figured it couldn’t hurt to elaborate, “I guess I’m a pretty good shot when I’m only foolling around!”

People started shouting and groaning about headaches and idiots. I guess my lovely addition worked.

“Oh. My. God.”

“Why did we ever think it was a good idea to send Xen?”

“EVERYONE ELSE WAS BUSY! Xen does nothing else and at this point there shouldn’t be any weapons left!”

“I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SAFE!!”

“Does anyone know if chamomile can end my misery of a headache or should I start ‘fooling around’ with a gun too?”

“SO ANYWAY!” I shouted to get everyone’s attention, “I helped her walk over here by putting her injured arm over my shoulder, so that’s where the blood came from!”

They instantly got riled up again, for some reason, so I just decided to head to my room and get some rest.

“I COULD HAVE WALKED BY MYSELF! YOU SHOT MY FRIGGIN’ ARM!!”

“WE’RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE BLOOD ON YOU!”

“HOW HAVE WE STAYED ALONG THIS LIVE!”

“GERALD IS MIXING HIS WORDS, PEOPLE! GET IT TOGETHER!”

“WHY US?”

As yes sweet chaos.