Writing Prompt

I’m sweaty. Sticky. The black void stares back at me. Taunting me. Tempting me. I feel so drawn to it as if it’s physically pulling me towards it. My entire life I’ve craved the adventures the characters in my books and video games go on. I wanted an otherworldly experience. An otherworldly life. But as I stand here directly in front of this darkness I’m shaking. There’s a pit in my stomach and I feel at any moment I could lose my lunch. All of the courage I always assumed I’d have in these moments is nowhere to be found. Maybe I don’t have to do this. Maybe I can turn around and go home and forget I ever found this door or portal or whatever it is.

And then suddenly and without warning the choice is stripped from me as a force shoves me forward from behind, plummeting me into darkness.

Lucian moved stealthily along the fringes of the village, the shadows clinging to him like an old cloak. His keen instincts were heightened, and every sound made him pause, listening for any signs of trouble. He darted behind trees and around corners, ensuring that the faintest rustle wouldn't reveal his presence. The memory of that kiss still lingered on his lips, warming his heart, but he knew he had to be cautious. The woods between Raven's Reach and the Wolfbane village were fraught with danger, especially during the full moon.

Meanwhile, Rylan dashed into the village, his heart racing with excitement and a tinge of anxiety. He hoped he wouldn't be caught in another precarious situation. He had escaped the watchful eyes of his father this time, but he knew the weight of expectations was heavier than ever. The moon hung full and bright above him, illuminating the path to his home.

As he entered the modest cottage, the rich aroma of his mother's cooking enveloped him like a warm embrace. The clattering of pots and pans and the cheerful chatter of his family welcomed him back. Rylan's little sister, Celeste, a sprightly girl with bright eyes and a mischievous smile, was seated at the table, eagerly waiting for dinner.

“Rylan!” she squealed, jumping from her chair and rushing over to him. “You’re back! I thought you were going to stay out all night again!”

Rylan chuckled, kneeling down to ruffle her hair affectionately. “Not this time, Celeste. I was just… exploring.”

Celeste's eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Did you find anything cool? Like a treasure or a secret cave?”

“Something like that,” Rylan replied, his mind flickering to Lucian and their fleeting moment in the moonlit forest. “But I can’t talk about it right now. Dinner is the important part.”

He straightened and joined Celeste at the table where their mother was setting out steaming bowls of soup and freshly baked bread. As they sat down, Rylan couldn’t help but feel a mixture of warmth and longing. The normalcy of family dinner felt both comforting and bittersweet after his encounter with Lucian.

With laughter and stories flowing, the family settled into their evening routine, but Rylan’s mind wandered. Lucian's crimson eyes haunted his thoughts, the sound of his voice mixing with the laughter of his family. Rylan couldn’t shake the desire to see him again, but a growing worry nagged at him. If Lucian would be leaving Raven's Reach for any length of time, what would that mean for them?

As he finished his meal, Celeste nudged him, breaking his reverie. “You’re not listening! I said I want to learn how to play the flute! Can you help me, Rylan?”

“Of course!” Rylan said, grateful for the distraction. He smiled at Celeste, appreciating her innocent enthusiasm. “Let’s practice together after dinner.”

And so, even as the warmth of family surrounded him, Rylan couldn't shake the thought that something profound had begun to unfold in his life—a secret that grew in the shadows, much like Lucian, hiding but yearning to be uncovered.

Luca tied his flowing hair back into a leather bobble, swiftily pulling it into a ponytail. He shot me a small grin, his dimples popping out in an instant.

“Ready to discover our destiny, darling?” He murmurs, his breath hot against my ear as he wraps his arms around me.

Darling. It still felt heavenly everytime he called me by that name. Definitely an improvement from Olly Bolly and all the random nicknames he’d come up with when we first met.

“Ready.” I nod.

His lips meet mine in a gentle, yet teasing brush. I savour the moment, the sweet scent that always drifted off him bringing a soft smile to my face. I take in the chestnut freckles dotted across his nose and his stunning eyes. Then finally pull away.

Luca moves his hand to mine, intwining our fingers. With a breath, he meets my gaze once more.

“To a fresh start.” He says. “Or death.” I finish.

With his traditional lopsided smirk, we step into the entrance way. I close my eyes as we hit the darkness and suck in a sharp breath of air.

It tasted…

Like home.

She wonders if this was always there way forward, into the unknown. She wonders if ever misstep, every mistake lead her to this path. She can feel them all trailing behind her, whispering regrets in the falling of leaves, hiding hopeless in the holes of dark trees. She has walked this far, head forward, not looking back. She has followed a path set only by hopes and dreams and a yearning for a better tomorrow than her dark yesterday. She doesn’t know if she wants to know what lays ahead. She wonders if perhaps it is best not knowing, to take the steps, not in fear but wonderment. Her life she realize wasn’t made with rear view mirrors.

One day Terry was driving home. People in the town he was driving to started singing.

(Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Remix)

You better watch out Cause your gonna cry Yeah your gonna pout I’m telling you why Terry is coming to town

It’s turn wasn’t missed It’s tries are bing nice Gonna find out If it’s being nice Terry is coming to town

To town it will come creeping When it is getting late Terry better be good not bad Be good for goodness sake

You better watch out Cause your gonna cry Your gonna pout I’m telling you why Terry is coming to town

Camden suddenly wakes up quickly sitting up and looking around his eyes wide “ where was he ? , How did he get here ?” Camden gets to his feet rubbing the back of his pants with his hands brushing off the dirt . “ he had to be dreaming he had no idea where he was it was like something out of a dream .” He starts waking slow forward looking around at the beautiful scenery around him licking his bottom lip slowly .” Wow “ Camden thought to himself it was nice to have a better dream once in awhile the past few weeks his dreams had been more like nightmares causing Camden to wake up in a messy huge sweat all over his body . Suddenly Camden comes to a stop as he approaches entrance way into some kinda under ground tunnel having a view of a kinda beach castle theme . Camden looks around and behind him before turning his focus back toward the entrance way . “ should he go inside ? “ Camden thought a moment he thought of if he wanted to die at the age of twenty four then laughed suddenly “ why was he so scared ? Who was he ? He was Camden Hamilton , he didn’t get scared . “ Camden takes a deep breath inhaling and exhaling slowly “ well .. here we go “ Camden slides out a small flashlight that was pretty good when it came to really extreme dark places he hits the on button as he slowly walks inside the extremely dark cave .

If you must know a secret pipe, alleyway or fort is most definitely the best place to hide a body __ __ _The woods were quiet as the fog crept in, curling like fingers through the trees. Max's boots crunched against the leaves, his breath shallow and fast. The weight of the body in the tarp on his back was heavier than it should’ve been. He hadn’t thought this through. It was too late to turn back now. _ __ __ __ _His feet carried him to the familiar spot, a crumbling stone arch hidden beneath the canopy of thick oaks. Overgrown ivy clung to the entrance,and Max was the only one who knew it was there. He’d found the tunnel years ago when he was just a kid, a dare from his friends, and it had become his place of solitude. It was safe here. No one ever came. No one except Max _ __ __ Max set the body down carefully, pausing for a moment to catch his breath. The man he’d killed—Jason—hadn’t deserved it, but he had to go. He’d pushed Max too far. They all did, one way or another. __ __ The tunnel’s entrance was narrow. the stones slick with moisture, but it would do. He’d hidden worse things in worse places. __ __ _Dragging the body across the dirt floor, he reached the far wall, a small alcove deep within. His hands shook as he wedged Jason’s lifeless form into the corner, tucking it away as best he could. It was cold down here, the smell of earth and decay mixing with the metallic tang of blood. _ __ Max wiped his face, his fingers trembling. He hadn’t planned on this. He never planned on anything anymore. The world felt so small, the distance between one bad decision and another, just a step away. __ __ Standing there in the dim light, Max stared at the body one last time. "No one will ever find you," he muttered to himself. And with that, he turned and disappeared into the dark tunnel, leaving the past behind him in the woods.

The abandoned railway line that we had been walking on, the tracks long gone and lush green overgrowth filling in the gaps, widen into a clearing at the end of which was a tunnel built of stone that emerged from the undergrowth.

“Jesus Christ,” Lill said “What is that?” Her tone was tight, fearful even.

“It’s an old railway tunnel,” I said matter of factly and gesturing obviously to the path behind us.

“You don’t expect me to go in there, do you?”

“I thought you, of all people Wednesday Adaams, would love this place.”

She glared at me. That stare, meant to deter me, did nothing but make me want to do something to make her glare at me again. Those lips in that pout…

“It looks like a gaping void of hell.”

“You should love it then,” I teased, unable to stop myself, then musing, said, “I think it looks romantic.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Oh, come on,” I said, “it’ll be a great little adventure.” I put my hands on her shoulders and gave her a little squeeze, pulled her close to me, and nuzzled my face in her neck. Her dark hair smelt clean and fresh, just like the lush wood surrounding us.

A moan escaped those pouty lips, and I encouraged it by adding “A very hidden and private adventure.”

I had been coming here since I was a kid, and my intention of showing her my name carved into the stone wall, my masterpiece when I was 10, was quickly morphing into something decidedly more adult.

“We’ll be murdered,” she whispered.

“No we won’t,” I whispered back.

Since when did anything macabre, deter her?

“You ok?” I said, pulling away, suddenly serious.

“I am,” she said, and I saw many more words flash behind her eyes, that she was not saying.

“It’s not that long, once we are inside, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” I tried to be reassuring. “I’ve been coming here for years, it’s safe, I promise.”

Her shoulders relaxed. I wasn’t sure what spooked her, but being able to comfort her, puffed my chest more than it should.

I thought that it was an enchating place - the way that green forest sprouted out around it, threatening to swallow it. It made me think of life, and growth and renewal. Not murder! I guess, the fact that she thought that was one of the things that drew me to her. Opposites attract.

“Come on,” I said “I’ll protect you.”

Those seemed to be the magic words, because her face softened even further, and wait, were those tears in her eyes?

“Well, let’s not delay the inevitable,” she deadpanned and held her hand out to me. I laced my fingers through hers and pulled her close, wrapping my arm around her shoulders, tucking her safely into the side of my body, and like that, we walked towards the tunnel. 

My name is Becca. I know that because it’s short for Rebecca. I am 21 years old. I know that because I was born in 2002. I go to the University of Miami. I know that because it was the college closest to home. I have a boyfriend of two years and his name is Jackson. I know that because he's just spent the last three hours trying to justify the fact that he hit me publicly at a party. I promised myself that this would be the last time and so it is. Kingston, my brother, picked up his phone immediately when I called. No questions asked, he told me yes when I asked him to pick me up. Now, his old truck sits outside the apartment I was in. He gives me a look from the driver's side. I'm slowly walking to him. The dried blood on my face and short dress is enough to change his sullen expression into one of pure glistening rage. The second I'm safe and sound in the automobile, he's storming the building. I don't watch after him, I know he's giving Jackson hell both emotionally and physically. Fifeteen minutes passes. Then, thirty and Kingston still isn’t back. My eyes threaten to well shut and it is then that I realize that tears have been falling for quite some time. I don't fight it anymore. I let them close. ••• Waking up feeling dirty was the last thing I thought I wanted. The welcome air nipped at my skin. The sun wasn’t up yet. I know that because my eyes didn’t have to adjust to brightness. I was in a foresty-scented area. I know that because the strong scent of pine trees burned my nose. I was laying under a bridge; near a line that I’d never thought I’d cross. I know that because across the bridge and line stood a large door waiting for me to come inside. I immediately crossed the line and waited patiently for the door to beckon me unto it. I continued to wait and felt the light, looming presence of another near the door’s entrance. “Are you going to go in?” My own voice surprised me as it came out in a clipped and hurried croak. The masculine tone responding to my question wasn’t at all menacing or alarming, but rather very soothing and sweet. The man** huffed and quickly said, “If you are looking for a simple way out, this isn't it, Becca.” **I looked at the man before me. His eyes were penetrating and a beautiful shade of green. His dark hair contrasted the light of his eyes and I didn't think I would ever be able to stop staring. His skin looked butter soft and I actually had to pinch myself to be sure everything wasn't a dream. “As long as I'm with you, I’m safe and I believe that is my way out.” He seemed hesitant to touch me and I understood why that was. He looked me up and down, his disappointed face made me want to turn and run, but, instead, I reached for his hands and he gripped mine in response. He opened the door and thrusted himself into the entrance with impressive speed. Coming through, I realized the depth of my choices. My eyes shut for a minute as he pulled himself out of my grasp. My eyes snapped open as I scanned the familiar bedroom I’d been in the entire time. I was in a green and woodsy themed room. I know that because even in the dark, I recognized my brother’s room. I looked into Kingston's captivating green eyes and saw no regrets. I know he didn't regret the things we did, because I didn't regret them either. My brother just gave me the best night of my life, and I know this because I was never really lost in the forest, I was lost in his sheets.

I abruptly stopped, blocking Wayne from continuing, by sticking out my left arm in front of his path. “What…the…” Wayne’s eyes widened as he looked at me and then back to the scene in front of us. Wrapped up tight in the trees and leaves was a gaping mouth of darkness, a cave that wasn’t on the detailed paper map I had retrieved at the visitor center before beginning our hike.