Writing Prompt

Harsh, cold waves tossing me throughout the water. The chill sends shivers down my spine, but my body can barely find the energy to shake as I push up.

Further up.

Gasping.

Trying to find relief for my lungs.

Pain.

No, that’s not the word.

Tension.

Like my lungs are being suffocated.

I reach the crystal surface, following the moons soft trail, gasping for breath just to be shot down by another wave.

The water won’t let me escape.

Air.

In need air.

I sink further and further down, using the last of my energy in my arms and legs.

I don’t like these odds.

Not at all.

I can’t help it.

My lungs fill with water, with the hope that maybe, just maybe it was air.

My brains jagged thoughts push my body throughout the water.

I sink, several bubbles floating from my nose.

I hit the sea-floor gently, the sand agitatedly moving from the disturbance. I can see ripples from the waves high above the water. The moon casting an almost warm glow on the surface. Like a candle in a cozy house.

Peace.

No, that’s not the word.

Relief.

It’s over.

I’m free.

“Get him!”

“Woo!”

“Who’s winning?”

“My money’s on Jessie.”

“No way! Jonah’s got this.”

Lou wonders why fights are even more common now than before they had the dampening cuffs. And humans think animals need to be trained.

She really doesn’t understand humans.

From where she is walking by, she sees a glimpse of the action and grimaces and turns her head away. Violence isn’t her thing. Neither is blood.

Soon a teacher will come out and break them up. They are probably tired of this too. Not being able to use their abilities either.

She misses Greg’s commentary of her school day from her shoulders. It’s been a slow transition for her. She’s still not used to it.

Every time she puts on this muzzle, she feels suffocated, like all the air is sucked out of her lungs. All that is natural to her is gone. With just one click of the stupid cuff, her world goes silent. If not for her friends, she would have for sure gone feral by now.

Speaking of friends (the human ones), she sees Jones. In her haste to get away from the fight, she finds herself at the secret stairwell.

It’s a set of stairs that only goes up one floor instead of a continuous stairway to the top floor. Secret comes from the fact that it is in the far corner of the school. Most people don’t use to since it spits you out in an inconvenient place, not near most rooms.

Jones is sitting on the second step with his head in his hands, hunched over. He looks like a kicked puppy.

“Jones? Are you ok?” She asks, slowly approaching him so she doesn’t spook him.

“Yep. Fine,” he mumbles into his hands, almost noncoherently, never looking up.

“You don’t sound fine,” she retorts flatly.

Why do humans lie? Why not just say how you really feel?

What confuses her more is the fact that Jones is the one not being honest. She thought they got each other.

“Please just leave, Lou,” he almost pleas with her. His neck cranes a bit and he faces her for a second before he squeezes his eyes shut and puts his head back down. The glimpse she got of his face told her enough. He looked as pale as a polar bear.

Doing the very opposite of what he asked, she sits down next to him. “Unfortunately, you’re stuck with me. So we don’t have to talk, but I’m not leaving.”

They sit in silence. Lou doesn’t mind.

She’s used to the chaos at home with all her animal friends. While she doesn’t normally love the quiet, she’s ok if it’s with her human friends, especially Jones.

With their animal connection, him a shapeshifter and her an animal whisperer, it bonded them. He may try to bare his teeth (metaphorically) and push her away, but she won’t let him.

As she’s lost in thought, Jones finally speaks. “I’m sorry for being rude.”

She shrugs. “You weren’t. Just dishonest.”

Leaning back against the next step, he rolls his shoulders and tilts his head up, eyes still closed. Not as pale anymore. “Well I know how much you hate that.”

“Then why did you?” Lou questions.

She’s always been a straightforward person. Her parents used to say it was because she adopted the instinctual nature of animals. That’s probably true.

Animals don’t deceive. They may try to camouflage or hide, but they don’t play mind games. They don’t lie.

When they’re happy, you know it. A dog’s tail wagging. A triumphant jump from a dolphin. When their sad, you can tell. A bunny’s laid back ears. A cat’s cry.

When they feel sick, they try their best to communicate that.

“I don’t feel well. Like physically. Everytime I put this on,” he waves his arm up, the bracelet blinking an orange color. “I feel like my skin is crawling. My stomach hurts and I get a huge headache. Even when school is done and I take it off, the feeling doesn’t go away. It takes hours to feel normal again,” he explains.

Immediately she relates. When she first put the muzzle on, she hated it. She wanted to stampede it into pieces. But after three weeks; the feeling became toleratable.

Not normal. No, not being connected to animals would never feel normal.

It became a constant buzz. Always there but faded into the background when she was concentrated on something else.

But she’s never not aware of the cuff.

“Is there anything I can do?”

Jones attempts a smile but it is sort of wobbly. “I appreciate that, but I don’t think so. You just being here helps though.”

So she stays.

But something weighs heavy on her mind like an elephant on a tightrope.

The cuffs hurt her when she put it on for the first time. She thought it was the unnatural severing of her connection that was painful. Her wild spirit hurting.

But what if it physically caused her pain.

The muzzle is hurting Jones.

And it could hurt the rest of them.

——— (I love how Lou is always so authentically herself. She’s one of my favs to write!

Off topic, has anyone watched Cobra Kai? Specifically up to season 6 part 2? If you have, what are your thoughts???? 🥋)

I’ve been living in a world of White stucco and grey So it hasn’t felt like a shock To see my reflection every day In the matching black and white

But now I’m in paradise The teal skies, pink flowers Grass lush and green Pool aquamarine With the people who love me

And all the sudden it’s obvious

They’re living in color

And my aura is glaringly Embarrassingly Shockingly Grayscale

I’m exposed I’m ashamed

What happened to me? How did I let myself go?

When did I become the person Who has to squint at the light?

It’s going to be a long road But for the first time in a while

I can see color

For the first time in a while I want to find my way back To bright

Loud music Hearty laughter Quiet thoughts Of the hereafter

TW: suicidal ideation (reflecting on past thoughts, not present intent)

She painted black Over my favorite Monet She had the power To slap night onto day

It was endless the gray I was not okay Because she’d show me the light Then take it away

She made everything dark And nothing fun Dealing with her was so heavy That I wanted to be done

Being alive

But now she’s gone And the sky is back to blue But this change feels a little Too good to be true

She was just one woman How could it be? That she alone could have Such power over me?

To make me turn off? To darken the sun? To block every path So I could see none?

I’m in shock

That just like that I can see blue sky

I’m embarassed

That one person Could make me want to die

It can’t be that simple

Since now darkness Is my friend

And we fell in love so This can’t be the end

This is me now Me and night I thought we were it

That when me and darkness met We finally fit

So here I still sit Unwilling to admit That there’s hope ahead That bad fortune ever flips

The sun is out again After all of that suffering Just making one change

Was it?

Who am I?

If she Was just a solar eclipse

the clock on my wall 2am pitch black throwing up scared don’t cut. don’t cut. don’t cut. the moon wait for morning close your eyes pitying smiles anguish don’t cut. don’t cut. don’t cut. the bathroom floor 4am lights off violent shaking empty don’t cut. don’t cut. don’t cut. my green bracelet almost there pink blanket over face tears down cheeks strengthening don’t cut. don’t cut. don’t cut. first rays of sunlight 6am stinging eyes deep breaths relief don’t cut. don’t cut. don’t cut. open curtains new day adjusted eyes quiet thinking fear tomorrow? tomorrow? tomorrow?

~eap

Walking through the Wild Thicket with someone they barely knew is a bit awkward. Haze doesn’t appear to mind at all. She hums a happy tune, not apprehensive at all about Ward.

“So….what is your relation to each other?” Ward asks, expression uneasy. He looks expectedly at Nova.

“We’re sisters,” Nova answers sharply, not liking his behavior at all. “Oh that makes sense.”

“Excuse me?” His face pales a bit. “I just meant that to two seem so close. That’s all.”

Nova doesn’t believe that for a second. “You mean that the fact that we are sisters must be the reason Nova trusts me, a witch,” Haze states rather joyfully as if she is conversing with a friend.

Nova refrains her chuckle when his color worsens. He frantically waves his hands in front of him. “No! I didn’t mean it like that!”

“You can stop your worrying. Haze wouldn’t hurt a fly,” Nova explains to this obviously judgmental boy. Why can’t they just ditch him and go to the Princess? She’s seriously considering it.

As they silently stroll, she notices him linger just a step behind them. It makes keeping him in her sight a tedious task.

“Do you not know what way you’re going? How did you expect to get back to the Princess with a cure if you can’t, you know, get back?” Nova knows she’s being rude but she can’t help it. That’s a lie she can, but she won’t. Not when it comes to her sister.

“As I said before, I am desperate. The royal family has exhausted all other options.” So, using a witch is the last option. Typical.

She stops and faces Ward. Haze keeps skipping ahead. “If you can’t even trust Haze enough to walk side by side with her, how will you trust her to heal your princess?”

“What does my trust have to do with anything?” Ward asks, deviating away from her question. “It has everything to do with trust. Here’s a Witches 101 lesson. Witches need trust for their magic to work.”

“Trust? Why would a witch need trust?”

“It’s the basis of our abilities,” Haze answers. She opens her mouth to say more but then looks to Nova who shakes her head.

Nova doesn’t want to reveal all about witches to Ward. Who’s to say he doesn’t try to use that information against them?

Ward would lose his mind if he knew that a handful of witches don’t need trust if they have genuine self trust. Most don’t have that.

“It’s getting pretty dark,” Ward changes the subject, his head tilts up towards the evening sky.

“I’ll go get firewood!” Haze offers and goes about her normal routine like they aren’t traveling with a suspicious knight.

Once she is gone, Nova and Ward are left to just stare at each other. “So the princess is sick?” She asks, breaking the awkwardness.

He lets out a shaky breath, “Yes. She has some sort of persistent illness. It keeps her bedridden. She coughs up blood on particularly bad days.”

“Are you seriously just a knight to her?”

“She’s my best friend. My father was a high ranking royal official. When he died, the king and queen took me in. Made something of me.”

Nova feels herself soften slightly. “I’m sorry. It must feel like you are losing someone else.”

Eyes misty, he nods. “If she dies when there is someone that can heal her, I would never forgive myself. I don’t care who it is as long as Aziza lives.”

She can feel herself nod in agreement with Ward. Maybe he isn’t so bad.

Just as they begin to bond, a rustling from the bushes behind them. In a flash, Nova has a dagger out. Ward steps next to her, his sword ready.

Into the light came a tree. An enchanted tree with sharp sticks and moving roots as legs.

“Is that normal?” Ward whispers. “Yes and no. The Wild Thicket is unpredictable, but this is probably another witch’s work,” she says, keeping her dagger up, pointing it at the foliage.

“We might be close to another witch’s territory. The tree is mostly likely a protector.”

“So it’s dangerous?”

“It can be.”

Everyone stands still for the next few moments. Nova eyes the tree’s roots, thinking if it goes to move, it would have to move slower first.

That is a mistake. It lunges forward enough to catch Nova on the hand with its long limb. She yelps and almost drops her weapon. Ward pulls her back as they both retreat a couple of steps.

The tree advances towards them, its branches swinging. Ward uses the length of his blade and cuts off one of its limbs. A booming cry startles Nova. The tree feels pain.

With another heavy branch, it manages to knock him to the ground.

Preparing herself to fight, she aims her dagger, but she doesn’t have to.

A purple mist covers the tree, and it embeds itself back into the ground, becoming a completely normal plant.

“Haze?”

“I go away for five minutes and you get yourself into trouble,” Haze teases, swirling her fingers in the air, leftover mist falling to the ground like rain.

Ward recovers from the tree attack rather quickly. “That was amazing! What are witches not capable of?” He asks.

Even with their newfound, tentative understanding, Nova is still leery. “Haze, be careful.”

This doesn’t appear to offend him in the slightest. If anything, it does the opposite. “People are afraid of witches because witches have an antiquated stereotype. If they knew more about them, they would get to see you. It’s the unknown that scares people.”

He must have noticed their hesitation in answering.

“If you would let me learn more about witches, I will document it. Spread it around,” he promises, eyes wide and earnest.

Nova and Haze share a look, before she nods. “Ok. Where should I start?” Haze questions. Ward grins widely at them both.

“The beginning.”

Darkness and despair. The cries of the wicked are similar to the cheers of a crowd, after witnessing a game winning goal. As waves crash against a wall of glass. The shattered windows spread like an infection into the hearts of all people.
For those coming from a cold world. The eternal black flames seem like a warm Hug for those without love, the burning and bruises are the only sensation they’ve become comfortable with. Forgetful of the peace they once felt as infant children. Broken hearts are Now filled with rage and fear. The only console left is to tempt those too weak to search for the light within themselves. The same entities who love fear, are the ones who are terrified of love. Perhaps the struggle for life doesn’t end with death. Perhaps even In hell there can be a heaven. Once fallen angels, the demons continue to search for themselves. Now destruction is their solace

Everyone loves me.

Here I am, a kind server at a local diner that everyone frequents in a small little town. Dressed in a dress and apron, I smile and offer you the best hospitality there is.

Been coming for a while? I know what you like and dislike. I’ll give you what you want before you know what that is. I’ll joke with you and give you such a pleasant time here. Such a sweet, kind girl they say. And it’s true! I care and love to help.

That is, unless…

Unless you’re that person.

That person who is rude, cruel, and unkind. The person who comes in alone time after time because even your friends don’t want to be friends. The son you never see is on the phone as you scream at him. You reek of alcohol and lies, and assume everyone wants to know everything about you.

You never leave when we close. Dawdling and defiant, you make a giant mess and leave whenever you feel like it.

So here I am, done with it.

I lean in, after telling you several times that it was time to leave, and I say to you…

“An entire life lived and here you are,” I breathed to them, “an aging alcoholic who’s alone because you’ve pushed everyone away with how horrible you are. Any tiny amount of control you have you grasp on to tightly because your life is nothing but a pathetic spiral. But no one cares, do they?”

I stand back up and remind you it’s time to go. I walk back into the kitchen and take a sip of my coffee, looking through the door window as you wipe away the tears and leave.

I smile, relishing in your pain.

Sure, you can tell somebody. But who will ever believe such a horrible person over me? Not that it matters, because you’ll forget all this and we’ll do it all over again soon enough.

Everyone loves me. And I will make sure I will bury you sweetly.

Tyler stood in the midst of a chaotic party, the deafening music pounding in his ears. The room was filled with people, their laughter and conversations blending into a cacophony of noise. He tried to lose himself in the crowd, to drown out the thoughts that haunted him. But no matter how hard he tried, his mind kept replaying the hurt, the failures, and the heartbreaks that had defined his past.

As he pushed through the crowd, Tyler's heart felt heavy with the weight of his memories. The arguments, the lies, and the betrayals played out in his mind like a broken record, each scene more painful than the last. He desperately sought solace, a respite from the turmoil that consumed him.

In a moment of clarity, Tyler decided he needed to escape, even if just for a little while. He booked a last-minute flight to the Florida Keys, drawn to the promise of tranquility and the healing power of nature. As he stepped off the plane, the warm breeze kissed his face, and he felt a glimmer of hope.

Tyler found himself on a secluded beach, the sand cool beneath his feet. The crashing waves provided a soothing soundtrack, drowning out the noise of his troubled thoughts. He walked along the shoreline, the salty air filling his lungs, and watched as the sun began its ascent into the sky.

As the first rays of sunlight painted the horizon in hues of pink and orange, Tyler felt a sense of peace wash over him. The chaos of the party and the painful memories of his past seemed to fade away, replaced by the serenity of the moment. He closed his eyes, allowing the warmth of the sun to seep into his skin, and let his mind wander.

In the gentle embrace of the sunrise, Tyler's thoughts shifted. Instead of reliving the arguments, lies, and betrayals, he began to focus on the lessons he had learned, the strength he had gained, and the growth he had experienced. The memories of his past became stepping stones, guiding him towards a brighter future.

As the sun continued its ascent, Tyler's healing thoughts intertwined with the memories of his past. The scenes flashed back and forth, but this time, the hurt and pain were overshadowed by resilience and hope. The chaotic party became a distant echo, drowned out by the serenity of the sunrise.

With each passing moment, Tyler felt a weight lift off his shoulders. The sunrise became a symbol of his own rebirth, a reminder that he had the power to overcome his past and embrace a future filled with possibility. The transition from chaos to serenity was seamless, as if the universe had conspired to guide him towards healing.

As the sun reached its zenith, Tyler opened his eyes, his heart filled with gratitude. The chaotic party and the painful memories were no longer the focal point of his existence. Instead, he saw a world brimming with beauty and potential, ready to be explored.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Tyler walked away from the beach, leaving behind the chaos and pain that had once consumed him. He carried the serenity of the sunrise within him, knowing that no matter what challenges lay ahead, he had the strength to face them.

And as he stepped back into the world, Tyler vowed to hold onto the lessons he had learned, to cherish the healing power of nature, and to embrace the beauty that surrounded him. The transition from chaos to serenity had transformed him, and he was ready to embark on a new chapter of his life, guided by the light of the sunrise.