Writing Prompt
Writings
Writings
STORY STARTER
Submitted by Z
Write a scene where your protagonist betrays the side they’ve been on for years.
This 'side' could be an actual team or group, or an idea or arguement that the character has held for a long time.
Writings
“You’ve proven yourself time and again to be dedicated to this cause, Seth,” Henry says while patting Seth on the back with pride in his amber eyes.
For years, Seth has called this man father, this man who raised him and who claimed to love him. Yet all the while, this very man had killed his true father all while lying that Seth and he shared blood.
Henry still thinks that Seth doesn’t know the truth but he had heard every detail of Henry’s drunk recounting to the barmaid he was trying to woo many nights ago. At first, Seth didn’t think much of it as it was quite normal to overhear Henry brag about the gory details of his kills with joyous glee. That night, Henry had detailed how he shoved the blade into this particular enemy’s back then pulled it off to slice his neck. Usually, Henry goes on to the next story but he stayed on this one as he told the barmaid that as he left the tent he heard a baby cry. This baby that he found crying was a boy. A boy that he claimed and raised as his own. It was obvious to Seth that this story was about him. He was Henry’s only child and all his life he had to deal with side remarks about how he looked nothing like his general father. Henry had brushed off the accusations with claims that Seth resembled his mother but it was all a lie.
Henry had raised Seth to kill without thought but in that moment Seth was full of so many thoughts. Seth’s first thought was to kill Henry in the exact way that his biological father was murdered years ago but that wouldn’t be enough to sate the anger ruptured from Henry’s lies. Seth’s second thought was full of rage at having been lied to for he had sliced, tortured, and killed in Henry’s name to make him proud and make himself worthy of the title that he bared to compensate for not looking enough like him but it was all a lie.
How many times has he pushed himself to do things he didn’t want to earn his father’s pride? How many times has he done these things to prove that his father’s blood did run in his veins? Yet, the blood in his veins, it is the very blood that spills in the name of expanding the empire. The blood he was taught was lesser and worthless. He had killed these people who had blood deemed lesser by the king. He had laughed at their pleas as his father tore them from their homes. He had started the fires that blazed their homes while his father smiled with pride.
His biological father was one of them.
He was one of them.
From that night, he died, becoming a walking corpse without a grave. A betrayer of the land who protected his people for generations.
He keeps on his facade, the mask of a son who hungers for his father’s approval. He lets a sadistic smile go on his face but internally his hatred for the man he called father and the kingdom he serves brews.
“A worthy cause it is father, to expand our lands in the name of our king.”
He clenches his fist, his eyes moving away from his father’s face.
“Very worthy, indeed. Tomorrow, you will be my side in the coming battle, are you prepared, my boy?”
“Yes, I have the plans all memorized,” Seth unclenches his fist, pointing to his head.
“Good, go get some rest, we have some heads to slice tomorrow.”
Seth listens to the sound of his father’s footsteps walking away but he doesn’t move. Instead, he waits for the sound of footsteps to cease then once it does he moves in the opposite direction. Once he enters the small village, he lifts up his hood and it takes him some time to get to his destination. He knocks on the door of a small green house where he overhears the mayor lives. The person that opens the door is a boy around his age, who looks at him with suspicion.
“Is the mayor here?” Seth makes his voice sound more gruff then it is, hoping it’ll make him sound older.
“Who are you?” The boy asks, closing the door he’s holding a bit.
“I need to speak to the mayor.”
“For what reason?”
“It’s imperative that I speak to the mayor.”
“Who are you?” The boy asks again but with an edge to his voice.
“Your salvation, if you let me speak to the mayor.”
The boy studies him but doesn’t seem to be relenting his suspicion.
“At dawn, you’ll all be slaughtered in the name of King Edgar for refusing to join his kingdom.”
“What?”
The boy’s jaw goes slack and he opens the door, letting him in. He walks in and sees a modest home for a man tasked to rule a whole village. The boy moves past him and gestures for him to follow him. Eventually, they reach a door with a wooden sign that says mayor. The boy opens the door, calling the mayor father as he tells him what he’s overheard.
The mayor doesn’t say anything just sighs and asks. “Where’s the proof of this endeavor?”
Seth reaches into his pocket, taking out a letter addressed to King Edgar. In this letter, there are detailed plans of the upcoming attack. Seth had acquired the letter after carefully copying the one his father had asked him to deliver to a messenger. Seth walks over to the Mayor and places the letter on the Mayor’s desk. For a bit, the Mayor looks over it, adjusting his thick glasses as he reads.
The Mayor’s expression becomes pensive and he calls his son over to read it for him. The boy reads it, raising his brow as he studies the letter.
“There’s no official seal from the general…”
The boy’s voice is full of doubt and he eyes Seth with suspicion.
“I copied it. I couldn’t dare risk taking the actual letter.”
“How can we believe you then?”
“You can’t. The only thing I can offer you is my word and that copy of the letter the general sent to King Edgar.”
“Your word is meaningless.”
“No, it isn’t. My word is everything,” Seth says, lowering his hood and revealing who he is.
Deep in the hart of an untamed jungle, two adventures, Sparky and Guz finally lay eyes on an ancient temple.
They had tracked for days trough the hot dense jungle of Castrovel to find it. Foliage had closed around them like some sort of living maze. But Gus's resolve and Sparky's magic had made it so they could prevail trough the wilderness.
Now, here, in this open clearing they can finally see the pyramid shaped building, of which they had heard only rumors. Legend whispers of unimaginable treasure hidden within its walls.
The building is old and crumbly, over grown by moss, climbing plants and other greenery from the jungle. Maybe sixty meters high with chest high level steps. Within the middle of the front side a long stair presides where the steps are more reasonably sized.
After walking around it in awe, Guz breaks the silence: "Well the only way in seems to be at the top"
"Sure seems that way, doesn't it?" Sparky replies
The sense of anticipation grows with every step they take. "One hundred eighty two steps", Guz counted every one of them.
"That's the same number of days in a year on Castrovel, that can't be a coincidence" Sparky says.
At the top of the pyramid there is a small building, three walls and a roof, really. Three by three meters, with an opening in the front. There they find a series of hieroglyphs carved on the inside of the walls.
Sparky starts an attempt to decipher the writing, following the strokes in the stone with their fingers. Suddenly a noise comes from below them, clicking, stone moving over stone, a muffled thud.
Guz looks at questioning at Sparky "What did you doooooooooo" before he can finish his sentence the floor drops from underneath them. And they find them selves on some sort of smooth stone slide.
About a minute they twist and turn until the slide ends and they find themselves inside the dark interiors of the temple. They turn on their flashlights and look around. High walls on either side of them form a system of hallways.
"Looks like a maze" Guz says "better keep track of our route" as he gets out his data pad and starts drawing the hallways he can see from here.
"Be my guest, but I doubt we are gonna get up that slide to get out"
"Hey, at least we'll know where we have been"
They make their way trough the maze, with Guz all the while keeping track of the path they have taken.
"Wait" Sparky blocks him from moving any further with his arm.
"What's going on?"
Sparky takes his backpack off and throws a few meters in front of him. It lands with a puff of dust, and the floor shift a little bit. Suddenly the air in front of them is filled with arrows.
"Good call" Guz exclaims. "You think it is save now?"
"Only one way to find out" Sparky takes a steps forward and flinches... nothing happens "Phew, let's keep an eye out for other traps" he straps on his backpack.
They continue trough the maze, slowly, watching out for new dangers, but find none. A couple of times they reach dead ends and are forced to backtrack. Until they eventually reach a room.
Inside the room is a pedestal with a beautiful golden staf with a brilliant big red gem stone on top. This is what they came for. "Whoa" Sparky steps towards the pedestal and picks up the staff to inspect it.
Suddenly the room starts shaking, the roaring sound of stone scraping over stone fills the space, sand falling, the walls of the room start moving in. With a loud bang, the doorway, trough which they came is blocked by a stone.
"We're trapped!" Sparky clenches the staf, looks around, and sees their way out. "Up, there is no roof, it's our only way!" he shouts. He shoves the staf between the straps of his backpack, find his grip, and starts climbing the wall. About two thirds of the ways up, the walls have moved so close together that he can use the other wall to shimmy his way up.
Out of breath and exhausted he pulls himself over the edge. He turns around and looks down to see that Guz might not make it. The walls are starting to really close in. Sparky bends over, reaches down and grabs Guz's hand. But while doing so he feels something shift on his back. As he pulls Guz up, he hears a clang, as the staf falls on the ground and starts rolling towards the edge. He has to make a choice now, safe his friend or the treasure.
With one powerful tug he hoists most of Guz out of the chasm, and dives for the artifact. As his hands wrap around the cold gold, a sigh of relief goes trough him. It is short lived however, as a moment later Guz releases a shrieking yell.
He turns around and sees his friend, that has been with him on adventures since their time in the orphanage, looking at him with a panicked look in his eyes. The lower part of his left leg, and most of his right are stuck between the now almost closed walls.
With the staf still in one hand Sparky tries to free his mate, but it proves fruitless. The grating sounds of bones being grind to dust pierces trough Guz's yells of pain. Blood spurts out of the slit as the walls close, and pop his legs like over ripe tomatoes.
A year later Guz has cybernetic legs and is able to live a life again. But the the trauma prevents him from going on adventures again. Sparky overwhelmed by guilt visits him regularly, and although adventuring is his passion, the guilt prevents him from going out ever again.
On the other side of the bloodied battlefield, Aura Devilon stood proud, with a sword in her hand and smile on her face.
As the opposing side sent their forces upon Aura and the soldiers in her end charged toward them, she thrust into action. Slicing her sword, she moved with grace and calculated steps; leading closer and closer to her father’s tent.
When she finally stood before her father, who’s eyes were struck in pain and betrayal, he asked, “Why, my daughter? What did we deserve to be betrayed by our own blood?” With her sword at his neck, Aura looked him in the eyes, so similar to her own and stated her reason, “For years you lied to me. You convinced me to believe your lies, because you knew if I’d ever found out, I’d go against you. And now look where we are.” Digging her sword deeper into her father’s neck, crimson blood ran down, and she continued, “You killed Mother and your own daughter, my twin, Alina.” Her father shook his head. “It had to be done-“ “No! No! They did not have to die! We were a family! And you ruined that!” Aura shouted. Her lungs felt hollow. Her heart felt cold.
With a deep breath, Aura looked at her father and utter one last thing, “Our people don’t deserve a cruel leader like you Father. They deserve to have a leader that values peace and justice.” And with one movement, Aura killed her enemy-her father.
Lost in thought, she walked back to her once enemy’s home, but now it was hers. She turned against her father and fell into their enemy’s hands- Aero Ozias, the leader of the neighboring kingdom. When Aura found out about her father’s corruption, she turned to Aero. There, in his lands, she got rid of her father’s lies that brainwashed her, and instead stood by Aero’s side. Yes, the two had fallen in a passionate love, but Aura also recognized the good Aero possessed, and wanted that for her own kingdom, which was slowly dying at the hand of her father.
So, Aura made the sacrifice. She killed her father to free her people. Though she’ll live with the horrid memory, she would learn to live with it. No regret or guilt hit her.
Together, Aero and Aura will now rule their kingdom in peace and justice.
I always thought myself good. A knight in shining armor, a hero to the throne. I’ve only just come to realize I may never have been the hero at all. And I’m certainly not now.
***
I grip the cool hilt of my sword, holding it towards Princess Meg. The shock takes a few seconds to register, before her face twists into a scowl of hate and betrayal. She should have never trusted a child of a traitor.
“Roselyn” she whispers, the tip pressing closer to her throat. My hands shake with each shuddered breath she takes.
I turn to the group of knights and gentry lying dead and cold on the ground. The ambush was quick. Swift like planned. And just like I expected, the princess trusted me. I’m her most precious knight after all.
“Please don’t do this” she says, her eyes fluttering closed. There is so much unsaid, so many mysteries we both will forever be left in. All I know is if she was willing to betray me, I must do what’s best for myself.
“Oh” I say, stalking closer as she takes a step back. Her white heels stomp on a dead man’s hand. “That sounds familiar.”
She lets out a sob.
“Was it what my sister said?” I ask. “Was it her last words before you commanded your knights to slaughter her? And my family?”
Her head shakes.
“Then tell me!” I put the sword to the side, grabbing Meg by her hair. Fire churns with every tear she lets out. “Tell me what she said, as you watched them slit her throat!”
“I-“ she says, her voice trailing off. “I didn’t order them to kill her.” Her eyes plead for me to listen. I won’t believe her lies again. “Just your parents. She was never part of it. I swear.”
I think back to the day I came from training to my bloody home. My sisters head was on the rug. I couldn’t find the heads of my parents.
I was fine they killed my parents. They betrayed the country. Caused so much death. A treacherous advisor, and a scheming maiden, two things my vow to knighthood stood against. But I guess knighthood means nothing when the innocent are killed.
“I don’t care!” I yell. She goes entirely rigid. “You cared not to tell me. Let me eat and sleep and live with those who took a blade to my sisters head.” I lift the sword and draw it to her neck, her head suspended by my grip on her golden hair.
“I’m sorry” she says again. Begs. “You don’t need to do this. Your not like-“
“Like what?” I interrupt. “My parents?” A wicked grin spreads across my lips. “I am but what I come from.”
I don’t know what she would respond to that. Because before the words leave her parted lips, my blade slices through bone and flesh. Her head rolls on the ground of death, stopping at the steps of the staircase.
All my wishes have come due. I have betrayed, and killed, and forgotten all I’ve spent so long learning. But now all those who’ve celebrated with me before are reduced to blood and bone.
The year is 3027, sometime in October. The exact date is unknown since the whole world’s population has gone from being above ground, to being so far underground they are not even remotely far from the core of the planet. This issue is the least problematic one. The core isn’t really their worries. The humans worries are only about their safety of getting around their new “world”. The man made tunnels for the humans are not very, safe. Or wide, very long though. Along with being the most hottest area(s) to be in. Crawling through the tunnels is a great risk. Kids are not allowed to travel outside of their “home town”. Simply because they’d be playing in the tunnels, eventually overheating. Dying of a heat stroke. Or they’ll get stuck. Stuck in the heated tunnels. No food, no water. The tunnels have this ability, they figured that out losing three team members of the “New Goverment”. Once you’re lost, it becomes a repeated occurrence if you are able to continue, a endless cycle of the same place you got stuck. Get stuck, and the tunnel grips you. Grips you hard, oxygen seeps out of you, and they beam the most toxic chemicals in the air. “They” as in the holes. They call them “air holes”. The air holes are what’s causing the above ground air to become unlivable. Crazy right? Down under it’s beneficial, unless made non-beneficial. It actually helps them not have to eat! Yet, you get hungrier when you get stuck. Causing you and whoever else with you to die out. Why is this? They’re on a hunt for the answer right now.
A pair of eyes all black like obsidian store back at me, and as I store back at them into those ancient looking eyes realisation dawned on me. My mouth gapped open in horror. My mouth quirked in thought. “All this time you were training me to do your bidding!” Those eyes store back at me for a long moment, then the arm of their master slithered up my wrist like a snack. I shook him off. “No! Don’t comfort me!” I snapped. “I’m right aren’t I you need me to use my power so then you’ll have your war! Well guess what you bastard? Have a look.” His eyebrows quirked up and I knew I had him. I opened my palms and with the barest thought black streaks of my power appeared. I focused it. I needed to be quick before he realised what I was up to as well. I spread my palms to expand the darkness then I slammed my hands down violently sending the black shards of darkness down upon him but I wasn’t attacking him, well not in that way. Instead my intent was to get the power to incase him and surround him like a cocoon. His eyebrows quirked up again and his eyes widen with realisation just as the darkness enveloped him. I focused my power more until it eat him whole and with that I transformed it until he was no more than a large black coal jutting out awkwardly in a random field. When the work was done, I turned my back and left him there. I returned home to my empire that he had helped me build that I now controlled, satisfied with my days work.
ZANE•
He sprinted after her, only catching up when he reached the lake.
There she sat in the setting sun, her back facing him. He walked forward and sat next to her in the dewey grass. Tears stained her face.
“Why?” He asked her.
“I want to be a race car driver.”
“Not a jockey?”
“Nope.”
“Bruh.”
ZANE•
He looked at her until she met his eyes. When she did, he smiled, but she didn’t smile back.
She looked away. Patted her thigh.
?
STELLA•
As she gives her speech, Stella keeps patting the knife strapped to her thigh. Making sure it’s there. Making sure she doesn’t second guess herself. As she finishes her speech, the audience claps. She looks for Zane, but when her eyes meet his, an immense feeling of guilt washes over her. She looks away. Pats her knife.
Then the duke, her father and the leader of the academy, comes over to her. He shakes her hand and congratulates her amidst enthusiastic applause.
Staring him straight in the eye, she draws her knife.
She stabs him!
ZANE•
A bloodcurdling scream erupted from her father’s mouth. He crumpled to the ground.
Stella turned to the crowd as they gaped at her in shock.
“Smell you later, losers.” She said with a brief salute. Then she bolted for the exit.
STELLA•
Standing on the stage in a deep purple gown and a beautiful gold tiara, Stella looks out at awaiting faces. She is about to give her acceptance speech to Hightail Academy, the most prestigious riding academy in all of England. Her father, the duke, has just introduced her.
She puts a smile on her face, a bright look in her eyes. She has wanted to go to this academy since she was negative nine months old.
Despite the smile, there lingers a feeling of guilt. Betrayal.
She shoves those feelings down. Deep down. Too deep to ever reach again.
ZANE•
The love of his life stood on the stage in the elegant ballroom. The ballroom wasn’t the only thing that looked elegant. Stella did.
Zane had just finished his first year at Hightail Academy, and the whole time all he could think about was Stella. Waiting for her to be old enough to join him. He was confident she would get accepted.
Hightail had been their dream since they were kids. They wanted to come here and learn how to be the best they could be. They wanted to be legends. They still did.
Stella had grown up as royalty. As the daughter of the duke, she was taught how to be a proper young lady. How to drink tea. Correct manners. Yet her personality did not fit that label.
Zane was the opposite of royalty. He grew up hauling bales of hay and scooping horse poop. Learning how to treat sick animals and plants. They were the most unlikely friends ever. Neither of them ever thought they would end up here.
Stella was expected to be a proper young lady. To find a handsome and charming young prince (preferably rich) and run off with him to another country. But Stella wanted to become a professional horse racer, like Zane. That was how they had met.
Zane had loved Stella all his life. She was smart and brave and talented. Not to mention her stunning beauty and grace. When he was sad, she always knew what to say. She was FUN. She had the greatest laugh in the world, and when she smiled, Zane’s heart swelled.
He could never imagine her leaving him.
I always thought we were doing the right thing. Taking out those who’ve wronged others.
Every week I’d be given a list, seven names, seven deaths, a death a day if you’re following the maths.
They were all the same, men who had hurt people. Murderers who got away with it, assaulters, and perverts.
I asked no questions, just followed the name, address, and trusted the brief description.
Until today where I find myself standing in the bedroom of a scared seven year old boy.
His description read.
Oliver Redrick - 44 Tippleton Ave. (Arsonist).
I quizzed Oliver on his behaviour and it turns out he accidentally set fire to his neighbours’ shed. Upon some quick digging I found that his neighbour is my boss’ sister.
This wasn’t taking out the rubbish.
This was pathetic, and I want nothing to do with it anymore and if that means I make a colleague’s list next week so on my head be it.
Similar writing prompts
STORY STARTER
"I didn't realise she was going to tell me something so personal!"
Write a story with this as the opening line.