The rain began as a light drizzle, dampening the edges of the bustling city streets. Lucy hurried down the sidewalk, clutching a bright red umbrella she’d picked up from a store earlier that day She had almost left it behind, thinking the color was too bold, but something about the intricate gold stitching on the edges had drawn her in. Now, she was thankful for her choice, as the drizzle turned into a relentless downpour.

Her phone buzzed with a text asking where she was. 7:12 p.m. Shit. She was running late.

It was her first date with Nathan, a guy she’d met on a dating app. He seemed nice—friendly, funny, and just charming enough to ease her nerves about meeting a stranger in person. They’d chosen a cozy Italian restaurant downtown, and she’d been looking forward to it all week.

But now, her excitement was dampened—literally—by the rain. Her jeans clung to her legs, and her hair was already frizzing despite her umbrella’s best efforts.

Lucy ducked under an awning to check the directions on her phone and fired off a quick reply.

Running late. Be there soon!

As she stepped back into the downpour, the phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn’t Nathan.

Unknown Number.

She hesitated but answered anyway.

“Hello?”

A raspy voice spoke. “You don’t know me, but I need your help. Someone’s life depends on it.”

“Who is this?” Lucy demanded, her pace slowing.

“No time to explain. Go to the corner of 5th and Main. There’s a man in a gray coat. Give him the umbrella.”

“What? Are you insane?”

The line went dead.

Lucy stopped in her tracks, heart racing. Was it a prank? But something about the urgency in the voice unsettled her. She glanced around the crowded streets. People bustled past, heads down, hoods up, umbrellas bobbing like flowers in the storm.

She could just ignore it. Go meet Nathan.

But she didn’t. The address was around the corner from the restaurant anyways.

At 5th and Main, Lucy spotted him immediately: a man in a gray coat, standing under a streetlamp. His hands were jammed into his pockets, his head low, as if he were trying to disappear into the background.

Taking a deep breath, Lucy approached him.

“Excuse me,” she said. “Are you waiting for this?” She held out the red umbrella.

The man’s eyes darted to hers, then to the umbrella. For a moment, he didn’t move, and Lucy wondered if she’d made a mistake. Then, his hand shot out and snatched it from her.

“Thank you,” he muttered, before disappearing into the crowd.

Lucy stood there, drenched, regretting everything. The man had vanished so quickly it was almost as if he’d never been there at all. The umbrella—her umbrella—was gone, leaving her exposed to the elements and the gnawing sense that she had just made a mistake.

What had she been thinking? A random phone call, a cryptic demand, and she’d obeyed like a fool. Her mind raced. Who even was that man? What was so important about the umbrella? The question burrowed into her thoughts, sharp and persistent.

A chill ran through her as the rain soaked through her jacket. She glanced up and down the street, hoping to catch a glimpse of the gray coat or the bright red umbrella. Nothing. Just the usual crowd of hurried pedestrians, cars spraying water as they sped by, and the suffocating hum of the city.

Lucy sighed, running a hand through her damp hair. She turned to leave when she noticed something—a crumpled piece of paper lying where the man had been standing.

Frowning, she bent down and picked it up. The ink had smeared in the rain, but she could still make out a few shaky words:

8:00 p.m. Hotel Briarwood. Room 614.

Her stomach twisted. It was already after 7:30.

“Not my problem,” she muttered, stuffing the paper into her pocket. But as she walked away, unease clung to her like the wet fabric of her clothes.

By the time she made it to the restaurant, the rain had slowed to a drizzle, though her mood remained heavy. Nathan was already seated at a small table by the window, checking his phone. When he spotted her, he stood and smiled warmly.

“Lucy?” he said, pulling out her chair. “You made it. You okay?”

“Yeah, sorry,” she said with an apologetic smile, sitting down. “It’s been… a weird evening.”

He waved it off with a chuckle. “No worries. Crazy weather, huh?”

She nodded, but as he launched into small talk about the rain and how long it had taken him to find parking, Lucy found herself zoning out. The man in the gray coat kept replaying in her mind: the way he snatched the umbrella, the look in his eyes—anxious, almost desperate.

“Lucy?” Nathan’s voice pulled her back.

“Sorry!” she said, flushing with embarrassment. “What were you saying?”

“I was asking if you’re a red wine or white wine person,” he teased, smiling kindly.

She forced a laugh, trying to focus. Nathan was nice—understanding, even—but as the evening dragged on, it became clear that the date was ordinary. Nothing to brag about. He told stories about his job, made a few decent jokes, and asked polite questions about her work and hobbies.

Still, Lucy couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d just stepped into something bigger than herself. Her fingers kept brushing the edge of her pocket, where the crumpled piece of paper sat like a weight. 8:00 p.m. Hotel Briarwood. Room 614.

She glanced at her phone. 8:07 p.m.

Nathan noticed her distraction and tilted his head. “Everything okay? You seem a little out of it.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she said quickly. “Just… it’s been one of those days.”

By the time he paid the bill, the rain had stopped completely. Nathan walked her toward the corner where she’d catch a taxi home, still chatting about weekend plans, but Lucy barely heard him.

“Thanks for dinner,” she said, interrupting him gently as they reached the curb.

“Of course,” he said, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. “We should do this again sometime.”

“Yeah,” she lied, forcing a smile. “I’ll text you.”

Nathan smiled, but Lucy was already turning away, staring down the dimly lit street. Her thoughts weren’t on him anymore. They were back at 5th and Main, on the man in the gray coat and the strange call that had started it all.

What had she really given away tonight?

And what would happen next?

———

That night, the 11 o’clock news was filled with reports of an attempted kidnapping at a luxury hotel downtown. A man had been arrested in the lobby, armed with a gun and fake credentials, trying to gain access to a visiting diplomat’s suite.

Lucy froze. The image on the screen was unmistakable: her red umbrella, spread wide on the marble floor of the Briarwood Hotel lobby, its gold-stitched edges gleaming under the harsh light of a camera flash. Police officers crowded the scene, one of them holding the hollowed-out handle that had concealed the weapon.

Her stomach churned. That umbrella was hers. It had been hers just hours ago, and now it was evidence in a foiled attack on a diplomat.

“What the hell…” she whispered, sinking onto her couch.

The news anchor’s voice was steady but tense, describing how an anonymous tip had led security to intercept the suspect. “Authorities are investigating whether the man acted alone. Reports suggest the suspect gained access to the building by blending in with guests and using the hollow umbrella to smuggle in a firearm.”

Lucy’s blood ran cold. The man in the gray coat.

The next morning, Lucy woke to the sound of heavy knocking on her apartment door. She crept to the peephole and saw two men in black suits standing in the hallway.

“Ms. Daniels?” one of them called. “We’d like to speak with you.”

Lucy’s breath hitched. The men didn’t look like your average detectives—they looked like something out of a spy thriller. Suits too sharp, expressions too unreadable. She debated pretending she wasn’t home, but the knock came again, louder this time.

“Ms. Daniels, we know you’re in there,” the taller man said.

Heart racing, Lucy opened the door a crack. “Yes?”

The shorter man held up a badge. “Detectives Marshall and Greene, special investigations. May we come in?”

Her mind spun. Special investigations? What does that even mean? She forced herself to nod and stepped aside, pulling the door wider. “Uh, sure. Please come in.”

The detectives entered, their eyes scanning the apartment with the precision of people trained to notice every detail. Lucy fidgeted, suddenly hyper-aware of her unwashed dishes and the clutter on her coffee table.

“Sorry for the mess,” she muttered.

“This won’t take long,” Marshall said, his tone clipped.

“May I take your coats?” she asked, gesturing to the coat rack by the door.

They hesitated for a beat before shrugging off their jackets and handing them over. Lucy turned to hang them up, but as she did, the motion jostled her own coat. A piece of paper fluttered to the floor.

She froze.

The crumpled paper with the address and hotel room number lay face up, the smeared ink glaring like a beacon.

“What’s that?” Greene asked, his voice sharper now.

Lucy bent to grab it, but Marshall was faster. He plucked the paper from the floor and scanned it, his jaw tightening.

“Hotel Briarwood,” he said, exchanging a look with Greene. “Room 614.”

Lucy’s mouth went dry. “I… I found it. On the street.”

“Did you?” Greene said, his gaze narrowing.

“Yes! I swear,” Lucy insisted, her voice rising. “I don’t know anything about this. I just… someone called me. They told me to give my umbrella to some guy on the corner. That’s all.”

Marshall folded the paper and slipped it into his pocket. “Why didn’t you report this?”

“I didn’t think it mattered,” Lucy admitted. “I thought it was just some weird prank. I didn’t know…” Her voice trailed off as the memory of the news broadcast flashed in her mind.

Greene stepped closer, his expression unreadable. “Ms. Daniels, the man you handed that umbrella to was caught attempting to kidnap a high-profile diplomat. The weapon hidden in that umbrella could have changed everything.”

Lucy staggered back a step, her knees suddenly weak. “I didn’t know! I didn’t know anything about a weapon or kidnapping or—”

Marshall raised a hand, cutting her off. “We believe you didn’t know. But you’re involved now, whether you like it or not.”

“What does that mean?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“It means whoever orchestrated this is still out there,” Greene said grimly. “And now they know your face. Your name.”

Lucy’s stomach sank. “You’re saying I’m in danger?”

Marshall’s eyes were hard. “We’re saying you need to be very careful. Until we figure out who’s behind this, you’ll be safer under our watch.”

Lucy swallowed hard, the weight of their words pressing down on her. She thought back to the man in the gray coat, to the desperation in his eyes, to the cryptic phone call that had started it all.

Her ordinary life had just become anything but.

☔️ to be continued ☔️

His head hit the cushion. He was so tired, but behind his eyelids he could still see scenes from this crazy day. A day still so far away from its resolution.

But time was almost up. Outside, the world was the usual faded orange haze of sun rays filtering through restless dust. Swirling tumbleweeds disappeared in the golden blur as he spied through the slatted steel blinds. The hostage gave a whimper through the gag as she once again pulled on the handcuffs holding her to the chair: her wrists were bleeding. No time for this now, soon all of this would be none of his business. He just wanted to lie down and get some well deserved rest.

But time was up. He could hear the helicopter blades helplessly trying to part the orange fog as they slowly approached. A weary grin illuminated his emaciated features. Everything was finally going to plan.

But his time was up. As he turned around, he didn’t immediately understand: the hostage was no longer chained to a chair; her blood-red had was holding a smoking gun; the gun was pointing somewhere between his eyes. He felt so dizzy, his grin slowly fading from his face and assembling on her lips. He stumbled back and, for one last time, his head hit the cushion.

I want to feel something—anything at all, From endless words to tears that fall, Once a river that carried my pain, Now silent waters, dry and plain.

The hardest battles, I’ve fought to the end, Overcame, though it took all I could spend. Yet here I stand, no tears to cry, Numb in a world that’s passing by.

Two stars above, watch over me still, Souls I cherish, though they feel distant, still. Lives I’ve lost, angels I’ve known, Yet no tears for them, though I’m not alone.

It’s as if I’m wrapped in hollowed walls, A shadow that stumbles, trips, then falls. Each day I wake to the same gray skies, But no fire stirs behind these eyes.

I long for the storms that raged before, The waves that crashed, the heart that soared. Now I drift in an empty sea, Searching for any part of me.

My coffee needed something. I wasn’t feeling sugar, and black coffee didn’t agree with my stomach. Cream it was. I found the small container at the back of the fridge, and enjoyed the resulting tan brown beverage. The phone buzzed in my pocket. My girlfriend was calling. She never called, she always texted. This was ominous. “I’m pregnant, Brandon. I took three tests today and I’m sure of it.” Everything got quiet around me. I looked at the surface of my coffee. “Brandon, are you there?” “I’m here. What do you want to do?” “I’m going to come over and we can talk about it.” She arrived soon enough. We hugged and sat on the couch. “You know I’ll support whatever you want to do.” “I know.” I heard it from inside the refrigerator. The cream was calling to me. "Empty, empty," it said, and I knew it wouldn't stop. "Just a second, Jen." I went to the fridge and took out the cream. I opened the lid and it screamed it me. I shut it and brought it to the couch. Jen looked at me, confused. "What's going on?" "You can't hear that, can you?" I was sweating and felt tears creeping into my eyes. "Hear what? I can't hear anything." “The cream, Jen, can’t you hear it?” I unscrewed the lid and “EMPTY” echoed throughout my living room. She shook her head, looking more and more frantic. “I don’t like how you’re sounding. Is this about the baby? Are you not ready?” “Jen,” I leaned forward and put a trembling hand on her knee. “This is bad, this is very bad. I need you to call an ambulance for me.” She got up and went to the other side of my living room to call. I tried to remember if I’d taken my medication, if anything had gone wrong with it. “They’re coming,” she announced. “I wish you would tell me what’s happening.” “I’m crazy, Jen, I should have told you sooner. The medication helps me and I haven’t had a psychotic episode for years. It’s schizophrenia; it runs in families. I’m so so sorry, I didn’t know this would happen.” I was crying. “I thought we were using protection and just getting to know each other.” Her voice came out sobbing. Mascara ran all down her face. “I was taking the pill, we were being careful, things just happen like this sometimes. I really like you Brandon.” “I really like you too, Jen. I don’t have long before I’m not lucid anymore. Would you please call my parents and tell them to meet me at the hospital?” She nodded, and said she would. “I don’t want you to see me like this. I never wanted you to see this.”

“Hey did you get the bake sale stuff?” “Yeah, they had everything on the list besides blueberries. But, I thought for the filling we could use strawberries instead?” Darryl asked in an almost desperate voice. He really didn’t want to go back to find something else that could work for the pie this late at night. Walmart after 9:30 is just full of insane people and bored teenagers playing kickball in the back. “That should work just fine. Okay see you back at the house.” “Wait Jared, you still dog sitting tonight?” Darryl asked quick so Jared wouldn’t hang up on him. “Yep we’re still Winkle-sitting tonight” Jared said excitedly. Jared loves dogs but doesn’t have the commitment you need to be a dog owner. Almost the exact same reason he can’t keep a girlfriend. “Bro that dog is ginormous where is he even going to sleep tonight?” Darryl asked annoyed. Darryl isn’t too big of a fan of dogs. He likes them better than cats though. “On the couch Darryl. Leave the man alone he can’t choose what size he is. Unlike you who could actually go to gym instead of saying ‘you’re just bulking’’ or ‘waiting for your villain arc’.” “Shut up.” And that was the point in the conversation where Darryl ended the call with Jared. When Darryl pulled into the driveway of the house he rents with Jared he already heard Winkler howling from inside. Winkler is a big mutt with a deep howl. Darryl sighed and got out of his beat up truck with his plastic Walmart bags in hand. He stopped to look up at the sky for a moment. To take a breather before he was attacked by Winklers slobber and berrated by his barking. Tonight was beautiful. Not a cloud in sight and a full moon. Sure the moon’s light was so bright you couldn’t see a ton of stars. But, you could see every crater in the moon with how full it was. He took in one last big breathe and let it out. He marched up to the door and threw it open. And then got knocked down on his butt by Winkler. The dog was licking Darryl’s face while Jared was yelling “Winkler don’t step on our food. Winkler get off the Walmart bags brother.” Once Winkler was satisfied with his attempt of drowning Darryl with slobber he trotted back to his spot on the couch. And Darryl pushed himself off from the floor. Without any help from Jared who was already beginning to get the supplies and ingredients out to make his pie. Darryl earlier that day got paid twenty dollars by Racheal (the head of their school’s bake sale this year) to make sure Jared made something at least edible. So he decided to head to kitchen to supervise Jared’s attempt at a strawberry pie. It was going good so far. The only detrimental mistake he had to help prevent was when Jared almost put salt instead of sugar into the bowl of dry ingredients. And when they decided to start on the filling they got the strawberries out and started washing them. Winkler started howling and barking. They tried get him to stop by throwing a piece of bacon at him they had in the back of their fridge. He only stopped for a little bit because as soon as they started cutting the green tops of the strawberries he started up again. Darryl was already tired of it because he was sleepy and they aren’t even half way done with the filling and it’s 11:00 pm. It looked like they still had an hour left. So they turned on Britney Spears and locked in. The pie was almost done. They were putting on the crust when Winkler once again started his howling. And he started getting agressive. Even Jared was getting tired of Winkler. He wouldn’t stop nipping at our ankles like a sheep dog. And was barring his teeth at us. But Jared being the dumb person he was put out his hand trying to pet Winkler. His kind heart got his hand chomped down on. And as stated before Winkler is not no purse dog. He is big. So while Jared was trying to get his hand free Darryl was throwing spoons at the dog trying to distract him so he would release his friend’s hand. Eventually the only spoon left was the one covered in strawberry goo and chunks. So Darryl chucked it at Winklers snout. It didn’t even faze him. But then Winklers snout started twitching and sniffing the air. He let go of Jared’s poor hand. And started licking and chewing on the wooden spoon. Darryl and Jared hopped up on their counters by the oven. With Darryl backed up completely against the wall and Jared clutching his strawberry pie. Winkler walked off and went back to his couch. Jared hopped down from the counter and opened the oven and popped the pie in. Darryl didn’t move an inch. He was terrified. And rightfully so. The pie was almost done. The smell of strawberries wafting through the air. The clock struck midnight. The ding of the oven signaling the pie complete. Even though some of its crust never made it onto the pie. There was a groan coming from the couch. And then footsteps. Darryl crawled on the counter to a nearby drawer and pulled out a knife. And Jared picked up the chewed up spoon off the floor. A dude about Jared and Darryl’s age walked in. He was covered shaggy hair and very tall. He opened the oven and pulled out the pie. With no mits on. Jared upset that somebody was about to eat his creation yelled “Who are you and what do you think you’re doing?” The man replied “Winkler. I pefer blueberry.” Jared’s mouth hung open in disbelief. And Darryl almost identical the only difference was he was still on top of the counter. Winkler opened their front door and walked out.

I was so nervous for my interview, I just kept fidgeting with my bracelet. I didn’t know why I was so anxious, but I had this feeling something was off. I just didn’t know what. Eventually the secretary called me and led me through the hallway. As I stood up, I straightened my clothes and hair, along with adjusting my bracelet. I walked through a door and sat in front of a man. As soon as the secretary shut the door and left. “I am so happy to meet you Amber. I am afraid to tell you that is not quite the interview you signed up for. I need to know, where did you get your bracelet?”

(Someone continue this story)

He heard a raspy voice over the radio. He turned the volume up to listen and leaned in closer. A male voice whispered, “If you’re listening to this broadcast you have two choices; run or let them find you.”

Once upon a time in a distant galaxy, there existed a planet called Lumina, where the inhabitants lived under the rule of an oppressive alien race known as the Zorians. The Zorians had enslaved the native Lumians, forcing them to work in mines to extract precious crystals that powered the Zorians' advanced technology.

Our story begins with a young Lumian named Rhea, who toiled day and night in the mines alongside her fellow Lumians. One day, while digging deep underground, Rhea stumbled upon a small, shimmering crystal unlike any she had seen before. It emitted a faint glow and seemed to resonate with a mysterious energy.

Rhea kept the crystal hidden, knowing that possession of such a rare find could lead to severe punishment by the Zorians. However, as days passed, she noticed strange occurrences around her. Machinery malfunctioned when she was nearby, and sometimes, she could sense the thoughts of others without them speaking.

Curious and fearful of the crystal's power, Rhea sought out an elder Lumian named Elder Gaius, known for his wisdom and knowledge of ancient legends. When she showed him the crystal, his eyes widened in recognition.

"That, my child, is the Heart of Lumina," Elder Gaius explained. "It is said to hold the key to unlocking the true potential of our people, a power that could free us from the tyranny of the Zorians."

Rhea was skeptical but intrigued. She began to experiment with the crystal, discovering that it could amplify her innate abilities to communicate with others telepathically and even manipulate the energy around her.

As Rhea delved deeper into the crystal's mysteries, she uncovered a hidden network of rebels among the Lumians, all secretly planning to overthrow the Zorian oppressors. With her newfound powers and the support of the rebel alliance, Rhea became a symbol of hope and resistance.

The turning point came during a daring raid on the Zorian command center, where Rhea used the crystal's power to disrupt their technology and communications. In the chaos that followed, the rebels emerged victorious, driving the Zorians off Lumina once and for all.

In the aftermath, Rhea realized that the inconspicuous crystal she had found was the catalyst for change, a foreshadowing of Lumina's liberation. It was a reminder that even the smallest of things could hold immense power, waiting to be unleashed at the right moment.

So im not writing on here today because im actually writing for a competition! I have till 4:00am tomorrow to write a short story and im going to do the train one i mentioned in some previous writings! Im rlly excited so wish me luck! (Or dont lmao idm) i just came here to save my streak rlly so i gotta waffle for 75 words. Anyways i love you all, have a great day.

The girls is runny around the room looking for the ring her grandma had given her. She only took it off to sleep and shower. She had gotten it right before her grandmother had fallen ill. Once her grandmother had passed from being ill,Mary had recieve it was the one items that made her fell close to her grandmother still. She was the first grand child on the side of the family. Her grandmother was so special to Mary.

“ I hope I find the ring?” Mary worried.

Mary was runnign late for her birthday party and now she could not find the ring. It was kind of weird since her boyfriend was not picking her up for her birthday dinner. Instead she was going with her family to meet him at the resturant. She needed to find the ring. She had never celebrate a single birthday without her grandma or her ring.

“It must be here somewhere……… I have to find it.” Mary worried.

Mary hears her family getting ready to leave.

“Come on Mary, We must go.” Yells her mother.

“ I can’t find grandma’s ring”Mary yells back.

Mary retraces her foot steps. The ring is not on her night stand. It is not next to the bathroom sink. Mary is now starting to worry even more. How can she go to the dinner without grandma’s ring. Mary’s mom comes baack trying to rush Mary.

“ We can go and look for it when we get back.” Mary’s mom offers.

Mary is not to happy, but she realizes she does need to go if they are going to make the dinner. It is not nice to make people wait. The reasurant is just across town, so it wont take a long time to get there. Mary is still worried about the ring as they dive to dinner. They get to the resurant and see his family and ftheir friends.

“Why are so many people here?” Mary asks.

Mary does not like big crowds. She hates being the center of attention. Her boyfriends knows this about her. She fidgets with her finger where she normally wear her grandmother’s ring. She realize that she always wears her grandmother’s ring on her left ring finger. She is walking up to the resturant getting more nervous with every step. The doors open and she ralizes the entire reasurant is full of her family, his family, and their friends. Her family disappera into the crowds. She wishes she had the ring now. Mary’s boyfriend walks up to her. He take her hand and leads her to the middle of the room. Mary is shocked.

Mary is worried what is going on. She NEEDS her grandmother’s ring right now. Her boyfriend take her hand and kneels down on one knee.

“What are you doing honey.” Mary questions.

He asks “Mary to marry him.” He pulls out a ring box and when he opens it there lies her grandmother ring. Mary just crumbles into a ball of tears. She knows he is the one becuase her own mother gave him Mary”s grandmother ring to use when he was going to propose.

“Yes, yes,yes.” Mary finally asnwer.