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making use of internal rhyme , write a poem about an emotion or state of being .
it takes a while to climb this mountain . your feelings like a fountain , your flow strained . the darkness rampant , it pulls you into a hole . while your goal is to climb ever higher . you can fight it off , but it keeps you drained . you feel weak and framed . the sadness looms , you feel so tired . but suddenly you are wired and sprinting up a mountain side . self preservation is lost , you embitter . people fear and flitter away as your mania grows stronger .
wp
humans can now store and retrieve memories instantly with embedded hardware under the skin . everyone 's memory is now essentially perfect . one day you suspect your memories are being altered .
one hundred and seventy-two days was all the separated clark from happiness . see clark was born exactly one year before everyone was given the gift of perfect memory . in light of the united states abysmal education rankings madame president had decided to have every child linked in with brainbank , the largest memory storage service in the world . well not every child , every child born after june 16 , 2022 . the cut off had to be somewhere , clark just happened to be on the wrong side of it . the forgotten generation bitches about the troubles that they faced back in the day , but they had nothing on the brainless . teaching studies performed early adopters of brainbank had proven its effectiveness , with standardized grades doubling across the board . in acknowledgement of this fact universities slowly stopped accepting the brainless as the brainbank babies approached graduation . i had a 3.5 gpa and did n't get a single acceptance letter . but clark was n't a quitter , he worked two shifts at a local packaging plant until he had saved enough for his own brainbank .
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the shortest story ever told . once upon a time there was a magical place where it never rained . the end .
once upon a time , there was a magical place where it never rained . the end . maybe there used to be a boy who found a lamp in a cave . the magic of the place held a genie in the lamp who granted wishes . and the boy wished for riches and power and love . but he did not wish for rain . and so he , and the lamp , passed on . maybe there once was a princess who was to be killed in the morning by the king , her soon-to-be husband . however , she kept telling him stories and so , night after night , he put off her execution so that he could hear more . but she did not tell stories of rain . and so she , and her king , passed on .
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you are scrolling through r/writingprompts , when this very prompt catches your attention . intrigued by it 's meta nature , you debate with yourself whether or not you 'll write about it .
now that you 're reading this , you know how my internal debate ended . it did n't even take that long . a small grin , scrolled past the first few entries of people trying far too hard to out-meta each other and then i started typing . was n't much of a debate at all , in fact . just so you know , i 'm writing this while in the back of am uber , on my phone , headed to my friend 's house . this is a stream of consciousness piece which i 'm not sure even counts as meta or my own internal ramblings made public . this will only last as long as my ride does . the trick is to keep typing , with as little thinking ahead as possible , just putting words on paper with no regard as to flow and structure . i 've never quite understood meta , nor have i ever been able to explain it . i just know it when i see it , and most of the time , i see it in dan harmon shows .
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you 're in bed with a terrible cold when you look up to see death sitting in chair on the other side of the room . he is reading a thick book when he looks up and says , `` do n't worry . take your time . i just started this ... . ''
`` hmmph . '' i mutter as i roll over in my bed , eyes sheepishly opening for a moment in the dark , as i get comfortable to fall back asleep . my lizard brain the only part actually awake : *wonder what time it is . * so i reach for my cellphone and double-tap the lock screen button to get a glimpse of the time , the back-light momentarily illuminating the room . adrenaline spike , brain fully awake now : *what was that ? ! * was that a shadow in the corner ? a figure ? my imagination ? cautious and frozen i lay perfectly still in the dark listening . i can feel a presence . this is no nightmare . this is real . three seconds that seem like an hour go by , and then i hear it . a page turning .
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a book lies open before you , titled `` your sins '' every deed you 've done is in it . next to the book lies a white marker and a note `` you may erase one sin from your record . '' what do you do with this power , and how does your life change ?
there were so many thoughts that ran through my mind in that moment . a lifetime of sins , a lifetime of people who had suffered at my hands . whether it was from the bullying , ignoring them , or something unintentional . almost everyone who had crossed my past was hurt in the wake that i had left behind . but one person was hurt above all else , no matter what she did there was no way to change it . her son had torn the family apart , ruined the safety of their home by bringing in his friends , his addictions , he had tainted it all ! after considering the sins to erase , i realized that there was but a single choice . as i moved the marker , feeling it get heavier and heavier , or maybe i was just getting weaker and weaker , i felt the last moment of release . my body was swept away as tears rolled down my cheeks . my worst sin was my existence .
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you have to explain to your mother why you are playing monopoly with obama , putin and xi jinping in her basement at three in the morning .
the door creaked open . a beam of light cascaded down the stairs , revealing illuminated clouds of dust throughout the basement . a rotund figure stepped through the opening , the scent of perm salt wafted down the steps . `` ken ! my ... what are you doing down here at this hour ? '' the labored voice floated past the exposed support beams as a woman in a burgundy velvet robe descended the stairs . `` my word ! and you have company ? '' `` i 'm sorry mother , we are almost finished , '' ken said , standing up from the table . `` you are still awake ? '' `` i woke up early today so i can make a trip to the pharmacy . who are your friends ? '' `` uhh ... hello , madam m-my name ... is barry . it 's an honor to meet you . ''
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you live in a world where everyone has multiple personalities . all but one of your personalities are monsters .
`` well here we are again . '' i said to myself . one was never alone anymore . the toxin accidently released from the spill two years ago made everyone stuck inside the quarantine go a little bit mad . i say `` only a little '' with a measured sense of ... desperation , i guess . in the hope that the sole manifestation of the growing disease in my head is multiple personality syndrome . my desperate hope , i might add . 3,500 men , woman , and children were sectioned off two years ago -- -and every one of us has been diagnosed with this horrifying , yet tame disorder . we can all live in a semi-state of harmony , i 'm sure of it . so far the personalities of each individual has increased on average by a multitude of five .
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you 've just killed santa in your living room mistaking him for a burglar . any moment your wife and three kids are going to wake up and come down stairs for christmas .
`` oh fuck , '' i said , looking down at him . his blank eyes gazed up at me , baseball bat still in my hand . the tag on the brand new bat read my son 's name . he still looked relatively normal ; i had struck him in the back of the head . i thought it had been a clever ploy ! a burglar dressed as santa ? but it had been the genuine article . i heard stirring upstairs . my kids ! oh god ! they could n't know that i had done this .
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you meet a genie that grants one wish . you wish to go back in time and change your biggest mistake . you get taken back to the time right before you made your wish .
`` what to wish for , what to wish for ... '' i tapped my feet . this was an opportunity of a lifetime , a wish from an omnipotent being ? sign me up ! unfortunately , i had really only considered the 'three wish ' genie , or a 'good faith ' single wish . if i had three wishes , i could figure out the rules and optimize my final wish , or if it was a magical object of some sort not covered in skulls i could be fairly certain it would grant my wish as intended . however the wish about to be granted to me came in a monotone , devoid of emotion . would it grant my wish maliciously ? literally ? as intended ? i only had one shot . there were so many things to wish for , but so many they could go wrong . i 'm not a big gambler .
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write a story about an elderly wizard and his young female apprentice .
he has had many apprentices before . they came in droves , really , journeying far and wide in hopes of becoming his assistant , in hopes of flying under his wings . oh yes , in his many , many years , the great arch mage mikalah had many apprentices . but none quite like her . lachesis sat beside him on the carriage , throwing a fireball back and forth to herself lazily in attempts to preoccupy herself on their long journey . lachesis may not have been the poster child for femininity or beauty , but that hardly mattered in her line of work . lachesis had the soul of a warrior , and the tenacity of a dragon , and was one of the most talented young sorceresses he had ever seen . the moment mikalah saw her , he knew she was destined for greatness . if only she wasn ’ t the most stubborn thing he had ever encountered . she was beyond bored , and restless , her foot drumming constantly against the floor and her hands refusing to sit still .
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- starwars - c3po & r2d2 never made it to tatooine . what 's luke doing years later ?
the tusken raider moved carefully across the dune . the desert had always had its dangers , but lately it was downright deadly . it had started with finding womp rat corpses . dozens of them . at first , they were just blown to pieces , but after a while they had shown the attentions of a more *personal* nature . banthas and duneclaws had followed . both of them could usually defend themselves quite well . usually . whatever was doing this had n't seemed to have any trouble . their weapon of choice seemed to be a blade . even for the tuskens , whose culture was brutal to the core , the method of killing seemed barbaric . when the first raider vanished , there was n't much surprise .
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every morning she puts on her sweats , laces her shoes , downs some coffee , and goes running with a dead man .
it was dark and silent in the bedroom when she woke . the phone charging on the bedside table was quiet , still too early for the alarm . she looked at the clock , laid crooked next to the phone . she stretched her hands across the cotton gulf next to her on the bed . the dreams had been good , but waking only brought nostalgia and loneliness . the red numbers ran . when the chirp of the alarm finally pulled her up , she sat stuck on the side . feet dangled towards the floor : small , cold things . the carpet looked the same as it had the day before . her bladder was not enough to move her , until the alarm sounded again .
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a showdown , downtown .
barney checked his pistol again . the the break-action revealed the end of the cartridge , .50 caliber . he snapped it shut , letting the gun rest in his hand . his arms crossed and he spit . a look of impatience and anxiety wore on his face , it looked like it had been taking a toll on him . barney stood in an intersection , the tall buildings around him watched him with a thousand glowing eyes , from a thousand broken windows . their leader was on the way . he was outnumbered , hopelessly . there was no going back . no way out except death .
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the international community makes a decision to ban christmas . celebrations are forbidden and anyone who is unusually happy for any reason will be executed immediately .
( just christmas ? aright ... ) abel walked jolly and buoyant on the sidewalk , a hop in almost every step . he passes by the old regular houses and churches , which are the same as ever . no holiday spirit . only the same old people as any other day . people he passes look at him with a pity , or a discontented scowl . they know what will come of him . a van approaches . `` we have the target , sir . '' the former happy man is put to a halt as agents force him to the ground . one pulls his pistol out and delivers lead to his cranium . blood seeps through the cracks . as they clean the mess up , an agent notices .
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every time you die , you are transported to the time of the first event that ultimately caused your death . one day , you are hit by a car and sent 12 years into the past .
i had read about the dead butterfly phenomenon - where after death one would go back in time to what started the chain of events that led to one 's death - but i did n't think it was real . anyway , here i am , seconds after the reckless driver hit me while i was trying to change a flat tire , and ... i 'm in the back of a room . some kind of lecture hall . i look up front and see several middle-aged men and women . they 're discussing something along the lines of allocating tax money to pay for overdue road projects . i hear canton boulevard brought up . wait , did n't they widen that road ten years ago ? that 's when i realized ... i 'm in the past . i look around to find some indication of what today 's actual date is . i then glance down at the papers i 'm holding .
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write a story beginning with : `` are you buying that or what ? ''
`` are you buying that or what ? '' the rake-thin clerk lowered her wrinkled forehead . glowered disapprovingly over cheap gold drugstore reading glasses . the fine chain around her neck bowed forward , inquiringly . he matched her gaze . turned the antique saucer over in his beefy calloused hands . ran a fat tobacco-stained thumb along the saucer ’ s painted edge . dull . he inhaled deeply . sighed . holding the saucer in both massive hands like a saltine cracker he snapped it in half . in a swift arc he brought a newly exposed edge to her jugular .
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a suitable planet for sustainable life is found in outer space . the only issue ? the planet is just far enough away that only a small child/infant would survive the journey without aging to death .
like a sacrificial lamb , the child was carefully loaded into the spacecraft . he was to be a test subject , the guniea pig for a whole world , the frontrunner to a *new* world . if he could survive , then others could to . ( if he could n't , then ... humanity would only lose one . ) the baby was chosen from a pool of the many unwanted children in the world ; after a rigorous selection process , he was determined to be the best . his parents had not given him a name , so the world chose one together . his name was adam , and he would travel upon the *eden . * ******** *year 8 , day 54* adam tapped the screen , watching the animation of the portable water purifier to review . `` aaiee , do i have to take the quiz today ? '' he moaned . now , he was old enough to pronounce the word , but he persisted with the mispronunciation the ship 's ai was unyielding .
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you hear a polite knock on the door . the closet door .
it did n't get any louder or faster . it was a patient knocking , almost rhythmic , considering how long it had gone on . jake was terrified . for once he wished that it was n't dark . he had never been afraid of it for as long as he lived and he was proud of that . but now he was wishing for floodlights , for flares , for anything . instead , he had to settle for a keychain flashlight that he found outside one day . he prayed for it to go away . he never understood god , jesus or the holy spirit , but he prayed to all three of them anyways , just to cover all bases . he promised to lead a pious life and to never sin against his merciful creator . never ever . yet still , the knocking did not go away .
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all 10 billion humans in the world wear wristbands that display their rank in terms of access to global resources in real time . yours just jumped from the middle of the pack to # 19 in a span of 10 minutes .
mediocre . that 's the only word that anyone has ever used to describe me . not good or bad looking , just mediocre . not wealthy or poor , just mediocre . not a genius or an imbecile , just mediocre . 4,739,111,853 , the number on my econiband , was just a reflection of my mediocrity . today started out , you guessed it , mediocre . just like every other day of my life i woke up at 7 o'clock , let the dog out , took a shower , ate breakfast , brushed my teeth , went to work . ah yes , work . you see like most people i hated my job but it payed the bills . i was your standard low level paper pusher for a fortune 500 company ; which one is n't really important they 're all basically the same anyways .
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it 's been 8 months since the zombie apocalypse . you fell in with a tough as nails roughneck group . when in the city looting , you come across a scavenger . he 's your best friend from before the outbreak and your crew unanimously decides to execute him ( he is armed ) .
my pack had cornered the survivor in an alley , we had been chasing him for days . we were hungry . then i finally realized , through the fog of rage and hunger in my head- `` this one ... friend . '' i grunted out . the others turned away from jon timbers , my old friend , my lover from before the outbreak . he was shaking but managed to unsling a shotgun , shouting `` stay back ! '' the alpha female turned to me , baring the fangs we grow within minutes of a bite . `` we eat . friend is kill . '' the horde began to shuffle forward , and jon blew her head off . as her brains sprayed across the pack like confetti , they fell upon her , and i locked eyes with him . `` jon , they eat , go . '' darkness fell over his face as jon walked over to me , dropping the gun .
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`` so , you do know why we called you down here right ? ''
their shirts were plaid but aggressively gangster , you could smell the hot sauce in the air . the first wore a pair of dark rimmed glasses with a button up shirt , his favorite lucky khakis were in full representation and turned up at the ankle . he could have swore jimmy , the lighter skinned of the two , was going to break out in lyrical rapping . kendall was larger , his glasses were thicker , and he was darker ; because he wore a small shirt he could have passed for having muscle tone . they would be attractive if they had a workout , hygiene , and grooming regiment . `` so , you do know why we called you down here right ? '' kendall just took a bite of his burrito . `` uh , no . i do n't , did you guys need something like ... maybe a consultation ? '' the balding white guy , cordell , sat nervously . they were in a office area but the desk was empty and had 'for meetings ' written on the cubicle wall .
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in the future , everyone downloads new skills straight into their brain . you have spent weeks/months/years learning a new skill , any skill , the old-fashioned way . why ?
it started early . i drew because it was easy . it was cheap . it was there . always . so i drew . mastering skills was infuriating . i remember crying over the paper , unable to understand why it could n't render reality as i wanted it . but i grew better . i soon advanced in great strides and was always showered with praise whenever i got to show off my talents . i liked having this skill . art . my domain . you could kick my ass in sports , but i ruled at art .
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were-humans ...
nsfw octavia crawled slowly along her web . she moved gingerly into the moonlight . β€œ what is happening ? ” she asked herself . she felt her eyes slowly merging together into two separate globs . β€œ it hurts ! ” she screamed . then she could only see out of the two globs instead of her usual eight . next her legs started merging . two front ones on either side and two rear ones on either said congealed to form four solid limbs . octavia fell to the floor .
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the death of a hero- due to their sidekick 's mistake .
for ages now i ’ ve been awash with might , my strength knows no bound . i fend off evil for the noble cause of right , and my feats always astound . i ’ ve been called a hero , a champion for good and given praise to meet no end . i ’ ve laboured with honour to do as i should , and all good persons count me their friend . but i ’ ve found of late that my schedule is full , so i took on a new helping hand . he ’ s dumb as a brick , but tough as a bull , so i make use of him wherever i can . he helps me smash walls , and dodge bullets galore though he occasionally makes mistakes . he has a tough constitution , can stomach much gore , but he can sometimes be a real headache . so tonight we set out to protect the innocent from harm and i fear i am now meeting my end . things are now firmly in motion for us to both buy the farm , all thanks to my new clumsy friend .
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and so he bitterly asked , `` why ? ''
and so he bitterly asked , `` why ? '' i looked down on him , sprawled in the corner with his broken nose and tear-streaked face , and felt a strong need to remind him that beggars ca n't be choosers . his stubborn looked told me he was reconsidering that phrase , wondering if he was really broken enough that he would take the hand i offered . i was the only one still here , the only one not willing to leave him lying on the ground . `` just let me help you . '' i answered the second he grabbed my hand , and pulled him to his feet despite his outraged noise . standing up he was just tall enough to look down on me , but the arrogant expression i knew so well was gone . he wiped at his face , his hand coming away stained with his own blood . `` i would 've kicked me while i was down . '' `` i know . ''
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sitting in this room playing russian roulette .
a dim room , a nearly empty bottle on the table . it 's as easy as the kid 's game . she loves me - pull a petal . she loves me not - pull again . your turn . spin , pull . click . drink , to make it interesting . a pause , and soon it 's your turn again . and again . and again . five chances for life , and one for death . what will i do with life if i win ?
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star of a tv show is expected to have no idea about it ( same as truman show ) . however , due to the utter incompetence of the crew , he recognized it long ago . now the show only works because he masterfully pretends he is deceived and sneakily fixes their mistakes .
my favourite show this is , by far . i make sure i have it pre buffered before i sit down to watch it each night with tea . wonderful world of wally . that wally , he 's such a character though . going about his business , day to day on his little island home as a postman . he knows everyone on his route and always has a kind word to say to old lady johns and a new joke each day for the kids waiting for the school bus . it 's not always been smooth sailing for wally mind you . last season he did break up with his girlfriend after finding her in bed with his old high school buddy tom . oh and the season before that he , like the rest of the island town , was almost washed out to sea in that freak tsunami . no wally 's life has definitely had it 's ups and downs , it 's lulls and it 's edge of your seat season finale cliff hangers .
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after a week long bender , you wake up , hung over . in the oval office .
consciousness returned slowly . my mind thought , `` this surface is cool against my forehead . '' then the pain hit and my mind stepped out for a breather . sometime later i awoke . struggling to remain awake , i lifted my head , squinting bleary-eyed against light as the world came into focus . white room ... hospital ? wait , pictures . and carpet . this looks familiar . looking down i saw a large wooden desk and a small puddle of drool . where the fuck was i ? how much did i drink at that bar ? i blinked a long slow blink as everything swam into focus .
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your character is seconds away from death .
i traveled down the same beaten path that had taken me home for years . as always , pulling down that hill , almost 30 mph , still sent shivers down my back . my legs spun fast as they could go , until i decided to coast the rest of this stretch . *damn bugs , * i wiped the splatters off my glasses . *you 'd think by now they 'd be smart enough to stay away from roads . * underneath me , the hum of my thin tires against the rough concrete sent the whole bike quivering . *i should pull into the road a little , * i thought . *you never know what kind of glass and shit is on the sides . * i pulled , just barely , into the lane . *that 's better , the hum is almost gone , too-* but it was n't . it was louder .
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it suddenly becomes possible to gain xp and level up in the real world , but you can only do so by getting kills .
4 years had passed . that is how long it has been since i have been fighting this one mother fucker . it has been 4 years since the 3rd last human has died . and now all that is left is this one guy by the name of ted . i have killed billions . the powers i have attained are immense . my skin is 2 inches thick titanium alloy , i can move almost anything with only my mind , i have the strength of 2000 elephants , i can read my opponents mind , i can fly at near the speed of light , i stand 12 feet tall ... this list goes on and on . but this last guy ted , he is one level above me and i just ca n't seem to win . it has been 4 years we have fought on this desolate wasteland . we can both output enough destruction that equates to the power of 1000 suns , but we also absorb that same amount .
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you are secretly a super hero working a desk job . you are terrible at suppressing your powers in the office .
clark stared at the full-size vending machine he ’ d just carried across the entire office . he ’ d done it again , unintentionally displayed his superpowers while not in his disguise . this time he was surely busted , there was no way they wouldn ’ t realize what he ’ d done . it wasn ’ t exactly typical for a middle aged man to single-handedly carrying what amounted to hundreds of pounds of dead weight over a hundred feet . with one arm . β€œ all right , ” steve from account said , strolling into the kitchen . clark turned toward him and the several people following behind . β€œ i ’ ve rounded up the gang . let ’ s move this vending machβ€” ” he paused , glancing over at where the vending machine had been beforehand , and where it was now . β€œ oh , looks like we ’ re already done . good job , gang . '' he turned toward clark .
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he finally broke the seal . but inside , the evil one had not survived his captivity . now he must decide what to say to his followers .
the great seal shattered in a flickering explosion of darkness . all was still as he peered into the exposed chamber . he stayed perfectly still for one long , immeasurable moment . many eyes watched the back of his head intently . he could almost taste the anticipation in the air . `` my dear friends , '' he paused , `` the evil one is dead . '' pandemonium broke out behind him . in the darkened cavern there were gathered a thousand sorcerors , warlocks and witches of the old age of blood and dark . with one simple sentence , he 'd thrown their ranks into chaos . any minute now , if nothing changed , there would be a bloodbath as magics of a variety unseen in any battle heretofore would be slung around by a thousand angry people .
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counting the seconds .
two hours , 43 minutes and 35 seconds left . i glance around the office . am i seriously the only one who has nothing to do ? michael has his headphones on and is bobbing his head to the beat . tracy is trying to discreetly paint her nails under the table . danny is typing away like there 's no tomorrow . he 's probably the only one in the building still working past lunch . the thing about this office is that the boss 's office is on the other side of the building . he only comes this way about once a week . it used to be great .
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you own a stopwatch that allows you to stop and start time at will at the push of a button .
i had it all . i would stop time when i needed to sleep , or in a exam to find the right answer , or stealing from people at any given *time* . when i met her , i hid the watch away . i did n't need it . i wanted to spend my *time* with her . today we are getting married . i threw my watch away . her eyes could n't look at me and i 'm terrible at placing people or doing pretend voices like i 'm a priest , but it was the best wedding i could have dreamed of . i do n't think we can have babies but i do n't want them . i want my eternity alone with her .
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after inventing and successfully testing a method of teleportation , the inventor develops a phobia of seeing or feeling straight edges and sharp angles . you 're a reporter interviewing the inventor in her specially outfitted room at a private psychiatric facility . you discover she 's not crazy .
`` i was overconfident . '' i started . katherine hayes , ph.d. , was sitting at her table , staring at the center of it - the blank white plastic center of the curiously constructed table , consisting of nothing but curves . the top sloped ever-so-slightly , so that a marble placed on it would roll off unless it were in the exact center . the edges were rounded , the legs curved , every possible hard edge and straight line hidden from view . the room was the same ; no corners , no edges . even the door was rounded , set in a circular portal in the padded wall . it was the least humanity could do for the inventor of teleportation . this room , in a mental facility where she could be cared for with her ... condition . i was one of her caretakers , delivering her water and finger food ( finding suitable silverware was deemed too problematic ) . `` i 'm sorry , what was that ? '' i replied .
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a sadistic `` evil '' person receives a donor heart , experiences guilt for the first time , and finally grasps personal redemption .
*there she is again just a darling little girl playing in a field . she smiles at me and runs to me . she embraces me , what a sweet heart . she wo n't let go . why wo n't she let go ? oh god her smile . stop smiling at me . stop ! * alexander wakes , the sheets suffocate him . his nightstand has a bottle of pills and a glass of water . he medicates , the pain of his new heart combined with night terrors is troubling .
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a sociopath who desperately wants to feel love .
i think about it every single day . this wonderful thing people i know talk about . this feeling of love . i will never understand it . but i wish i could . i 've spent many years locked up inside my own emotional cage . i ca n't ever understand or feel the same things people around me do . i do n't know what emotional pain is , i do n't know what heartbreak is , i do n't know what sadness is . i can tell you what people tell me they are . i can tell you what every therapist i ever had told me about those feelings .
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every person has a certain word that , if spoken aloud in their presence , will cause them to die instantly . while clearing out an abandoned storage unit , you stumble upon a book that contains the name of every living person-and also reveals their death word .
sam threw a box of old papers into the late afternoon sunlight from the shade of the warehouse , and it kicked up a cloud of dust when it landed on things of similar appearance . `` jesus christ , john , i did n't think this would take all day , '' sam grumbled to the tall , lean man dusting himself off . his short , sandy hair glinted in the sunlight as he rolled his eyes . `` you got somewhere to be ? '' john remarked . `` no , but this ol ' warehouse gives me the creeps . the things we been findin ' are just plain weird ... '' sam sighed . `` like who in their right mind keeps things like this ? '' he held up a jar of green liquid , and inside jiggled a scorpion with 3 tails . john grimaced and threw the box into the van , pulling another thing out . `` or this ? '' he said , and displayed a rather detailed and intricately woven cowl the color of a midnight sky and blood .
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earth becomes the battleground for two warring alien races , both of which claim to be humanity 's `` protectors ''
we had been sent on a divine mission . our god , volcano , had commanded that we go and rescue the noble savages from their invaders . but the enemy is weak : they have rejected the embrace of volcano . they worship water . water is a weak god : he can not even survive on most planets , and his followers are condemned to hop between them . sadly , we discovered that water had populated one of our planets , as well . and the enemy was coming . last year three enemy ships had penetrated the protective force field around the c-3801 system . we intercepted a communication : the enemy intended to occupy that solar system as a base to launch an attack on our own . but volcano reminded us that we have a duty to save the c-3801 system . for the third planet therein has been the greatest battleground between volcano and water .
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once a year an event occurs , hangman . a random human gets chosen to be hanged , survival is only possible if the word is guessed right by someone ..
`` it does n't make any sense . it 's a chick . should n't it be hangwoman ? '' terry and i were watching the broadcast . us and everyone else in the bar . he was n't wrong - it was a woman . she was pretty , in her early twenties . black pixie cut with lotsa eye shadow ; if i could be said to have a type , she was it . `` that 's your only problem with this ? '' was what i said as it cut to commercial and johhny depp smiled , trying his hardest to sell me some pepsi . i 'm more of a coke guy though . `` that 's sooo not what i said , '' `` yeah '' `` like , it 's just stupid . you know what i mean '' `` yeah , i do . that was n't fair , it 's just -- '' `` this shit pisses you off ? ''
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what happened in the time war ? how did the doctor survive ?
`` ... and then from the lofty shores of space-c , the infinity crabs scuttled with their evil pincers made out of the colour blue ! '' the doctor sat back , taking a deep breath . `` whereupon the nightmare phone dialled into the first words and used their powers to ... '' `` slow down , i 'm not getting this ! '' across from the doctor , his ornate robes pushed unceremoniously into the plastic diner seat , the mighty time lord president rassilon sat , scribbling frantically away at a napkin . his burger lay before him half-eaten , forgotten in the epic transcription that was going on . the doctor scowled . `` stop interrupting ! i 'm on a roll ! now , where was i ... '' he pondered this . `` oh yes . the first words shattered the helm of saturn-5 , and from that hyperworld hatched the cyber-spectres ! '' `` ooh , that sounds good , what are they ? '' rassilon looked up for a moment at the doctor . the doctor shrugged , stealing a chip .
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the oldest person in the world is now officially a person who is a veteran of every single war his country has been in since ww1 . reporters ask him how he has lived so long . his answer ? `` make sure death is too afraid to come for you . ''
the reporters are surprised and confused by this `` wrinkled '' old man 's response . one young reporter asks , `` what do you mean , mr . grabowski ? '' jacob grabowski , aka titan grey , looks at all the young reporters and then at a candle on his table stand . he places his hand over the flame and slowly lowers it down . the reporters start to get nervous . a reporter says , `` hey , what are you- ! '' titan then says , `` death has been afraid of me since my earliest memories . '' one reporter tries to stand up to stop titan from burning his hand . but titan quickly signals him to sit back down . titan continues , `` i never knew my real parents or the exact place i was born . but as baby , i remember crawling around in the cold forests of poland , which was ruled by imperial russia at the time . ''
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aliens arrive on earth , but worship us as gods .
in the far future , humans have evolved into the dominant species in the galaxy . the most advanced in all fields . once reaching the singularity things just kind of took off from there . the funny thing was that we spent years searching for life in the stars , even though nothing was to be found . no species was as advanced as us . we were the first . somebody had to be . we traveled the stars and found simple life forms . primitive beings just beginning to develop intelligence . being the enterprising race that we were we picked them up and made them more intelligent , more like us .
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you 're friend keeps talking like he is breaking the `` fourth wall '' and you 're no longer sure he 's acting crazy .
# title : paranoid β€œ isn ’ t it funny how after all these years , ” said kiefer to the sofa . he chuckled to himself and squinted . β€œ he still doesn ’ t believe you ’ re all here. ” β€œ the next time you speak to the sofa cushion i ’ m throwing you out of my fucking house what did you want again ? ” i threw my hands up into the air . β€œ you do this every month. ” kiefer walked smoothly around the room with an amused grin . β€œ once every full moon , ” said kiefer , as he tapped at some paintings in my house . then he nodded at the painting . β€œ but you all ready knew that didn ’ t you.
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in the world of magic , some people discriminate against others based on what type of magic they use . you , a closet necromancer , are about to come out to your devout holy mage parents .
i am a conjurer . i 've always enjoyed necromancy , though it was shunned by the other mages as a `` dark art '' . well , i 'm not using my power for evil ; i only use it for convenience . for example , i raised an ethereal shade of gourmet pyromancer gordon ramsay to cook dinner . i should mention who my parents are . my mother is a pyromancer , my father is a geomancer . they were called the `` brimstone brigade '' , famous for their combo magic during the dividing wars . i was told they settled down and became peaceful after the war . soon after , they rekindled their faith to the sun lord . now , they too shun the dark arts .
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a spaceship full of prisoners is sent on a one-way journey at faster-than-light speeds to the milky way 's black hole . however , when they get there , it 's not there , but something much worse has taken it 's place .
`` arrival in 5 minutes . '' talk about a huge relief ! hearing the ships a.i . prompted me to look out into the void , something i 've refused to do as i have accepted my fate to plunge into the black hole at the center of our home galaxy . the relief was seeing that there was more than non-existence waiting for us . by the looks of it , joe `` stabbed a guy '' venturi was right . directly in front of the bow of our transport was a towering facility that at this point , i had no idea what 's awaiting me or the rest of the prisoners aboard the scarborough convict transport . within minutes of touching down , things immediately did n't feel right . our guards seemed as clueless as the prisoners as to why the welcoming station seemed abandoned . suddenly a figure burst through a door leading into the belly of the facility , a giant shiny , purple ... .
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you live in a world were a drug exists that allows you to have an out of body experience converse with a dead family member . after months of speculation you decide to take the drug to have on final conversation with your son who committed suicide .
i saw him sitting there in a parched glade . he sat alone on a large stone , its concave morphed to his postured body , protrusions jutting up around him like a chiseled throne . over dark , cracked ground i walked toward him . β€œ my son , iβ€” β€œ β€œ don ’ t , father . save your breath from this foul air . you should not have come. ” he looked away from me then , eyes flicking past the charred trees surrounding . β€œ *you* should not have come , son. ” perhaps that was unfair , but it was said . and it stung us both , vengeful grievances come to redress old wounds .
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voice ( s ) on the radio .
a : i love you . b : do n't talk like that ! we 're going to make it through . we have to . the baby ... a : only you have to make it through for the baby to live . b : no . the baby only needs me to survive . to live , it needs both of us . c : it 's getting intense out here . we need to do something ! b : please , do n't do this . our child needs you .
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you are an old , faithful dog who is about to be put to sleep .
every muscle ached . i vomited on the floor yet again . normally john would yell at me for this but there was something different going on now . he came over and cleaned up for me . i tried to get up but it was just too difficult . he picked me up and i winced at the pain , and then growled . i never growled at john , but my instincts kicked in . i felt bad and fought through the pain . john would never hurt me and was no threat to my survival . he was a good master . he always petted me , and gave me food , and threw ball for me , and took me for walks .
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`` you never know true beauty until you see earth from space , or true terror until you hear someone knocking on the space station door from outside . ''
`` ramirez , load up the external camera 's feed . '' johnson 's nerves were a mix of excitement and terror . here they were , orbiting around the earth in outer space , and something was knocking . and speaking english . was it malevolent ? it was trying to impersonate a crew member . oh god , had they discovered alien life ? please let it be aliens . johnson had dreamed of little else since his infant years . first contact.. ramirez screamed in horror , jerking him out of his thoughts . `` what is it ? '' ramirez was trembling .
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the reason why earth has so many varieties of diseases , parasites and bacteria is because countless alien civilizations use earth as a testing ground for weapons and vaccines , and they did n't expect anything to live here . we find out eventually and get very angry .
`` what the hell , man ? '' `` we 're really sorry about that . '' `` seriously ? you did n't check first ? '' `` again , we 're really sorry about that . '' `` because ... we 've been down here for awhile and diseases are really , just , everywhere . '' `` clearly an administrative oversight . '' `` the plague was you ? '' `` which plague ? '' `` the plague . '' `` oh yes . that . we were quite proud of that . ''
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when someone is murdered , their name appears on the skin of the killer . you wake up with a name on your arm and no knowledge of how it got there .
nearly every day , a name would appear . three , four , even ten on some days . i wondered why they would appear tuesday through saturday , and why i was so tired on the days where multiple names appeared . at first they were on my arms , with extremely tiny lettering . each arm could fit several hundred names . it took two years before both arms filled up to the point where long sleeves could n't hide the `` evidence '' and one of my co-workers noticed . the look on her face was one of sheer horror . she had been my only assistant those two years and had never noticed the names till today . sobbing , she took me into an office and rolled up her sleeves . on her arms , in the exact sane places were the exact same names .
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a villain works to save the world .
hydor thornroot lay on the stone floor , bleeding from a long , deep cut along his stomach . no healer could save him . *fools* , hydor looked at the the group . the group of heroes , foretold of in prophecies . they had destroyed the sword , in their mislead notion of good . they had given up the source of absolute power , so that none would be corrupted . they did n't know . they did n't know what was coming . the darkness that was headed their way as they stood there , celebrating victory . they needed that sword , hydor should have had the sword .
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you run an rpg pawn shop . you haggle with adventurers who try to sell loot they 've acquired .
`` ayy my man ! '' a large , ironclad man yelled from across the room , `` hey man , it 's been too long ! '' cutting through the long line , he walks up to me and grins expectantly . the other customers do n't even dare trying to stop him when they see the back of his chestplate . `` oh . hello beastslayer19 . it 's been a few hours since i last saw you . that 's a fancy new chestplate you 've got there today '' i respond in a bored voice . beastslayer19 was a hardcore adventurer , exploring even the deadliest of dungeons . no matter how far his travels took him , he always seemed to pop by my shop once in a while , selling all his rare loot and whatnot . it did help that i had a monopoly on the business , being the only shop in the world . `` thanks man , i got from a friend . anyway , i got some sweet items for you this time . '' he says , opening his inventory to reveal a massive pile of loot .
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alone in the woods .
his feet crunch the leaves on the ground , making the only sound beyond the trees for miles . he looked around quickly , his head swinging in every direction , his breath increasing , stomach tightening . above him , the tree tops , leaving falling down in the cold autumn weather . he could n't tell you if the stars were out , because he only saw the darkness of the branches as his eyes adjusted , their growth allowing no light in . surely by day the trees could be seen climbing , battling for the precious sunlight , allowing none to reach the fauna below . he moves forward in the barren land beneath the giants . no crickets to mask the sound of his breathing , or river water to cover his footsteps . he felt every breath amplified throughout the forest , every twist of his body being recorded by some being . one sitting , watching , waiting . he thought he must be going crazy .
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the complete works of jakub rozalski .
the chimera class walker stepped through the barren fields . the war had ravaged this land and not but torn up dirt remained . the war touched not just the land , but the walker as well . one of its six legs dragged across the ground , its hydraulics destroyed . after a day of walking south , away from the clashing armies , the walker came to a halt . it had been snowing the entire journey , at least two feet of snow rested on the ground . steam rolled off the walker as the snow melted and evaporated . a metal shell topped by a box with viewing windows is what made up the walker . while fully standing from the ground to the top of the walker it was about 100 feet . holes along the side allowed for soldiers to shoot out from .
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in a world where film genres are personified , slasher film , ghost flick and monster movie are tired of always being in charge of the annual halloween party .
β€žwhat if we make it a theme party ? it 's not a normal halloween party then , right ? β€œ , whispered ghost flick while scratching her pale head . β€žyea maybe ... i dunno. β€œ the slasher film leaned back and grabbed another beer . with a hefty swing of his machete he flicked off the crown cap . it sailed through the air of his kitchen and hit the wall , barely missing his holiday picture of the sawed-up spanish girl . β€œ it does n't get rid of the main problem , does it ? they 're still gon na come in skimpy costumes and only want to get drunk . the monster movie gnarled .
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the two characters of the story can hear the narrator . the narrator ( being a hopeless romantic ) is trying to make them fall in love with each other . they are uncomfortable with the idea .
β€œ the first thing he noticed about her were her eyes . brown , liquid , not so much as a glint of diluting colors. ” harrison looked at the woman opposite him in the reading area . β€œ are you talking to me ? ” she looked up . she appeared to have brown eyes . β€œ no. ” she looked back at her magazine . β€œ she found her eyes drawn to the muscular form of the man before him , the quiet sense of tremendous strength waiting for an outlet . or a challenge. ” she looked up again . β€œ sorry , where did they get that from ?
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there are actually hundreds of different deaths that ferry the deceased to the underworld , such as tragic death , lonely death , sudden death , etc . you arrive home from a normal work day to find premature death waiting for you . he showed up 5 minutes early .
`` sooooooooooooooo ... '' david said , trembling slightly at finding premature death at his apartment . `` coffee ? tea ? anything ? '' the being tilted his head , as if amused at his question . tea please . `` okay . okay , i will get you some , eh , tea then . '' the being heard him rummage around some in his kitchen , before david returned . `` no tea , sorry . anything else ? '' no . i will have tea . see to it . `` i 'll , eh , have to get it from the supermarket , then . d'you mind if i , eh ... '' he pointed to the door . no , not at all . david almost ran out of the door .
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`` do not mistake honor for kindness . ''
the young woman ran out of the darkness and into the temple . her blackened feet made loud , dirty marks on the white marble floors . when she reached the center of the temple she fell over . but before she hit the ground , she was caught by one of the white robes of peace . `` rest daughter , you are safe now , '' said the priest . his quiet voice lulled the young woman to sleep . her breathing softened and slowed as the priest laid her on a cot in one of the upper rooms . she woke with sunlight in her eyes , making them difficult to open , but when she did , she saw a room with a crystal window looking down at all of sanford . the hebe river ran through the city like a monstrous snake . she stared down and traced it , before shuddering and turning away .
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your grandmother is an evil mastermind bent on the death of everyone in your family . you 're the only one who knows .
i stood , washing the dishes , staring out into the backyard . the whole family were out there , milling around , laughing and chatting , unaware of the monster that walked amongst them . i tried to focus on my hands , to take my mind off the situation , but it was hard . my fingers slipped across the soapy porcelain , circling below the bubbles , but my mind still wandered and my eyes soon followed . i was staring at her again . in the middle of the yard sat my grandmother , the matriarch . she laughed and joked with my nephews and patted my mother on the arm , but i knew . i knew what she had planned . it had all began this morning when i came home from work . i 'd opted for a night shift , partly for an excuse to leave my mom 's party early , and partly because i was desperate for the money .
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all the animals in the world , except humans , suddenly gain comic book style super powers .
`` what have we got ? '' i yelled over the roar of the helicopter blades . the response that crackled over my earpiece was panicked , and distant explosions and the rattle of gunfire could be heard in the background . `` sir , a primate , , seems to be heat based . a horse , brute 4 and mover 6 , made of some kind of metal ... oh god ... its so fast ! its charging through our fortifications like they 're nothing ! '' the sound of screams were heard through the communications before they abruptly cut out . i shared an uneasy glance with my fellow passengers . `` calm down soldier . is there anything else ? '' `` uh.. yes sir , '' he panted , now clearly running somewhere . `` a ... a pigeon sir , shaker 5 i think . telekinetic . its blocking most of our attacks sir , and defending the others . '' i jolted , alarmed .
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killing another person grants you all their strength and abilities .
lee moved quickly in the shadows , he flipped from rooftop to rooftop , gliding through the city at night . he was looking for a particular person tonight , a bomb expert by the name of dr. red . when he found her , he was going to kill her . he needed the knowledge , all that sweet , precious knowledge and the bomb-making muscle memory . with a single bomb crafted by an expert , he could kill a hundred people , maybe even a thousand if he could get enough explosives . the strength of another hundred people , coursing through him . it was all too much to hope for . lee , just another bloodthirsty serial killer , wanted more . the rush of the strength , the feeling of trying new skills for the first time . it was all too much , it was the greatest feeling in the world .
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if you kill a person with your bare hands , you gain their strength and will be twice as strong . killing more , you can be ten times or a thousand , whatever you can get away with .
the methodical cadence of five thousand boots hitting the ground at the same time , one after another filled my ears til i was sure i 'd go insane . the air was humid and warm . sand battered my bare skin lightly as a breeze threatened to almost comfort my erratic thinking . will i die here ? how did it come to this ? where did my descent into madness begin ? the last question , at least , i could answer . at the time , i thought i had the world figured out . my parents were so proud , their only son , independent and successful . brave , people called me .
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you just discovered england 's biggest secret : every time they say long live the queen it extends the queens life .
it didn ’ t even matter . even when they told him that every time he said it it prolonged her life it made no difference because she made no difference as far as he was concerned . β€œ god save the queen ” he would say jokingly after a few beers . as far as he was concerned it was prolonging her agony and that was fine by him . he knew what he was doing . few did . i suppose that is the curse of life in general . either you are blessed by ignorance or you are envious of it . but for him it was a bit of both . he knew that every time he said those words he was prolonging the inevitable . he knew that even if he stopped others would continue and so his stopping was pointless .
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write a story about a board game .
the king stood before the battlefield they would soon wage war upon . the vast fields had huge patches scorched black by a thousand battles before . he donned snow-white armor emblazoned with a cross . his crown was polished silver with rubies studded into it . high mountains surrounded the battlefield making entry into this sacred ground immensely difficult unaided . the king looked down his small white hill and saw his army assembling . his foot soldiers formed his vanguard as all eight of his legions took up their position on each patch . his queen and her mobile guards were beside him as the clergy began readying themselves for battle with their rituals and prayers . beside both clergy beside him and the queen were the heavy cavalry with armored horsed and they ’ re knights that seemed to wear more metal than the rest of his army combined . finally at either end hugging the mountain was his heavy armored soldier with their towering shields .
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a new virus evolves to help people instead of harming them .
the saviour virus was an odd threat to be dealing with from the very beginning . for a start , did something that helped people rather than harming them constitute an emergency ? the governments and health services might as well have gone 'look out , there are people handing out free money on the streets . keep away from them . ' secondly , the virus was almost impossible to contain in any case . the most stringent quarantine measures seemed utterly ineffectual against its slow yet determined advance across the globe . it quickly became less a question of whether you would catch it , and more a question of when . that was when the focus switched from prevention to damage control . we were bombarded with advice from medical professionals around the clock which was often conflicting . in the end , many people just ignored the announcements and waited to catch this new virus .
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it 's hard to notice something is missing , when it 's never been there before .
every day is exactly the same . i rise with the sun to begin my morning . some people insist on using clocks , but my internal alarm has never failed me . after a brief stretch to open my eyes , i start my single-serve coffee machine and turn on the shower . as i step in the shower , i hang my towel on the wall hook . after my shower , i pour my coffee and write in my daily journal . everything is a part of the routine , and i subconsciously let the flow take me . my day continues , and i walk out the door , making sure to take the apartment key with me . my car is parked across the street in the spot where i always park . i arrive at work and begin my daily tasks .
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write a story that seems like it could reveal much with heavy analysis of symbols and events . however , write it with absolutely no thought about symbols or hidden meaning at all . in the comments , furiously debate hidden meanings and symbols of the story .
i stare into her eyes : blue , like her mother 's , but where hers was river water in the summer sun , these eyes are the ocean bathed in moonlight . she hands me the bullets . `` green for me , red for you . yellow ... we 'll deal with that when we come to it . '' i laugh , a single sudden bark that hurts my parched throat . she stares back at me unblinking , her face equal parts abraham and eve . the glare of the sun ( sun sun son son ) off the barrel dazzles me as i load my father 's revolver . i never expected it to be this light . `` alright , are you ready ? '' i do n't expect an answer , and she gives none . i force myself to look at the statue .
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write a horror story with no gore or death , not even implied .
it ’ s not the creepy things that go bump in the night that scare you . in reality , there are no ghosts that haunt the world ’ s battlefields and abodes . crop circles and abductions are just fabrications of the deluded and wishful . monsters like frankenstein and dracula exist solely in black and white , either on the page or projection screens . instead , true horror is the realization of the atrocious , yet ordinary nature of life . the mundane is real terror . there are movies and comedy specials that try make light of this truth , attempting and failing to mock it . life can be boring . it can leave you trapped and bound , constricting your every decision . β€œ nine to five ” is a term that all fear .
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a day after losing your job , you find yourself in the one place you swore you would never go , doing the one thing you swore you would never do , to help the one person you never wanted to see again .
finally free , she closed her eyes and drew in a breath of clean air . it had been a long time since she 'd been outside of the city , a long time since she 'd felt the sunshine while a fragrant breeze tugged at her hair . the cornfield in front of her waved with knee-high stalks . `` you 're back . '' she drew in a breath and wrapped her arms around her waist . for a moment , she wanted to run away and pretend that she had n't heard him . but she could n't will her feet to move . she nodded instead . `` does this mean we 're finally going to plan the wedding ? '' he asked quietly . soft footsteps came closer to her . `` do i have a choice ? ''
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you live in a world where suicide is illegal . there is a division of law enforcement that travels to the afterlife to catch people that committed suicide and then bring them back to serve time in prison . you just killed yourself and someone is chasing you , but it 's not the cops .
they used to say suicide never solves anything . hah , that 's a fucking joke . the first time i killed myself was when i was 18 . back then it was n't illegal but back then they still called it a `` medical mericle '' . i was young , it was over a girl . that time i 'm glad they brought me back . god i was dumb . but alot of things changed since then . the second time i killed myself ... well that 's a different story . it started when my mandatory work service ended .
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you 're a composer with synesthesia . describe your works without using sound .
the grey flows in quietly . it starts at the corners and then satin wraps around my fingertips . it pulls and sets my body , my breathing , my heart , into a steady rhythm . there are straight grey lines now . colors ebb and flow through the edges , but they 're all neutralized shades of the colors i wish to experience much more brightly . so , dark , everything 's so dark . the field suddenly clears and black drips like a pigment onto a canvas . it feels like crying blood , silently , gently . from crying to a nosebleed to bleeding from my mouth , my blood is crimson and pouring out with my emotions . my heart pounds so hard that it comes out of my chest .
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riots cover the earth in major cities , causing anarchy to prevail . two anarchists sit back , watching the riots , wondering what happens next .
we sat together drinking . `` well , what the fuck do we do now ? '' `` i have no fucking idea '' we sat in an empty apartment , the walls were stained and the paint was peeling . the sound of gunshots came through an open window . i heard screaming and banging coming from other apartments . the president of the united states had called for peace days ago . that was before he was escorted out of the country by helicopter . days later he resigned . the uk fell next . funny to see all those hundreds of years of monarchy , reduced to nothing but bones and ash .
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you meet a generous dragon , but it 's into vore .
i 'm tired after completing the whole damn journey to here , i 'm never trusting atlas obscura again . i can only afford a seat of ash and leaves , boy what a great trip . i mean sure i 'm excited ( read : terrified ) to meet *the mythical axara* . it 's asleep , right next to ... a filmmaker ? ! wow , look at all the equipment there , and he 's just lying there , unconscious . herzog would n't do that . maybe it knocked him out , or the journey did . so i 'll play doodle jump , i can only wait . & nbsp ; **goddammit** , just before i hit 200,000 ! get up fast , wait- it 's not approaching me .
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every single photo ever taken is available to view in the cloud , and with facial recognition , you can find yourself in all the photos taken by others…family , friends , even tourists where you ’ re in the background . one day , clicking through , you see yourself with your arm flung around ...
at first you did n't believe it . photoshop must have played a part in this , but why did this bring back disjointed memories from childhood ? the memory triggers the faint hint of a familiar smell which now fills your nose , what is that ? the confusion is too much and you find yourself unable to even look at the picture , staring out of the window like someone trying not to look at a horrific accident . just do n't look . just do n't look . a minute or two later , your brain stops racing long enough for you to process this . how could you 're parents have lied to you like this ? if they had n't passed a few years ago you could ask them . `` the box ! ''
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fake-fake-pirates . they dress like cliche pirates and board ships for entertainment . but are in fact real pirates .
i went to a magician when i was 8 . he brought me up on stage while his assistant rolled out a large red curtain on what looked to be a portable coat hanger . he said some magical words , i was pulled below stage by another assistant , and all of a sudden i did n't like magic anymore . it was ruined . from that day on , i also hated audience participation . try to bring me on stage to be hypnotized ? nah . an interactive broadway show ? count me out . i tried to go up on stage once in middle school , but i had a nervous breakdown and ended up punching the drama teacher in the eye . at least i think that 's what happened ; i suppressed the whole thing . i think that 's why the man with the eye-patch was so surprised when he demanded i get up from my chair . `` arrr ! stand up lest ye be executed ! ''
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the last surviving member of a once prestigious warrior clan is getting ready to die .
i hear the roar of the crowd swell and climax and know the fight is ended , well by the length of the cheering . it is my turn . i ready myself and send a silent prayer to the twin gods of death and battle . i pray for glory in the coming fight and glory in my coming death . this time i will not be leaving the arena . they will sent their puny warriors against me until i fall . the gate behind closes . the gate ahead rattles up into the stone archway bathing the chamber in ruddy light . squinting i trot forward and the fans erupt in howls once again at seeing one of my tribe still living in the bloodring . they are not my fans but fans of my gift , they love the dance of war , nearly as much as i do .
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write a soldier 's journal entry on his first day at war . then write his last journal entry .
day one i was recruited by the thals to fight the kaleds . one of my colleagues was hit by a bomb that left him grotesque and mutated , and his own friends insulted him and abused him from then onwards . one of these bombs almost hit me , but it was gas instead of a biological weapon that was inside it this time . as i slipped on a gas mask last second , i barely escaped . day 3650 10 years have past , resources have depleted from laser rifles to bolt action single shot muskets.only scientists and generals can afford modern technology . the kaleds were losing , so they decided to embrace the mutations and biologically engineer themselves to become a new race known as the daleks . they 're unfeeling , cold , ruthless , and heading towards our dome . as bodies disintegrated into skeletons , i had no time to escape . as i 'm writing this page one is coming towards me , crying `` exterminate '' in a earsplitting voice . it readied it 's weapon and fired .
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make me want to punch you in the face .
fore-note : i 'll try my best , but i feel like this wo n't get me a punch . as usual , criticism is wanted ! i follow the person home . they know i 'm there . `` can you please not ? it 's really disturbing . '' i walk beside them , behind them , in front of them , sit on top of them , in a piggyback position . `` can you **please** not ? it 's really disturbing . '' i carry their bag , look through their contents , play flappy bird , drink some water , eat some pills , put on some lipstick , apply some mascara , call their boss and say i 'm not coming back to work , delete everything on their phone . `` can you **please not ? ** it 's really disturbing . '' i rifle through her pockets .
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website advertising has strangely become very personal .
five minutes until the end of work . i decided to check my e-mail one more time . there was nothing but a bill-pay confirmation . i filed it with the others . then the add on the side of the screen caught my attention . instead of animation or exclamation pointed clickbait , it said , in 12 point helvetica on a white background : `` the usual tonight ? '' wednesday nights , almost without fail , i get a bacon cheeseburger and a pitcher of domestic beer at the cruddy dive bar down the street from my house , but i 'm open to new experiences . i clicked the ad . it opened a new browser window showing the directions from my work to the bar by my house . `` weeeird ... '' i breathed .
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write the most elaborate , over-dramatic , and exciting story you can think of that all just turns out to be a set-up for a pun so horrible i 'll want to punch you .
the surgery was happening tomorrow . i fell into the correct blood group and can help these people . the doctors said it was a miracle they found me but im just glad to be helping out . the doctor has arrived but he looks concerned . i ask him whats wrong but he turns away . his voice is low and shaking `` we made a mistake '' `` what do you mean ! '' i was afraid , i thought i could help . `` the blood ! your blood ! we made a mistake ! '' the doctor slams his fist down on the desk , he cant hold back his tears . i remain silent , and wait for an explanation .
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( wp ) the legend of the most dreaded pirate of them all , neckbeard .
come in close and bend a knee , i 'll tell you bout terror on the high sea . a man of legend , a man most feared . the dreaded pirate ... neckbeard . now what i 'm about to tell you is a true story . i know it was true because i was there . you may have heard stories of terrible pirates like charles vane , anne bonny , or edward teach . none of them compare to the horror that was neckbeard . `` ship on the horizon ! '' the lookout shouted from his perch on the bleached white walls of the small fort . `` banner ? '' the commander asked .
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a scientific study proves that all humans have been breathing a mind-altering gas from birth . it has been in the air since the beginning of recorded time . people have been in a constant state of being high . until now . specialised gas masks are handed out and people have begun to act strange .
dr. kent slipped a pill in a coffee and offered it to jennifer . `` so how long it has been ? '' he asked . `` about a week . i do n't know it was damaged . i think maybe they give me a faulty one . '' said jennifer while sipping the coffee . -- -- jennifer knew something was wrong . she could n't explain what changed everyone . *maybe i 've gone crazy , or maybe it 's the world ? * she thought before she could n't take it anymore and decided to see the doctor . -- - she started feeling dizzy . dr. kent 's pills started working .
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shortly before order 66 a jedi knight achieves true balance between the light and the dark side . he become a grey jedi .
something kept poking at palpatine 's mind ; something was calling to him . it had kept him up for days at a time , and was slowly starting to interfere with his grand plans concerning order 66 . something had altered the balance of the force , something that ascended the matters of sith and jedi . `` master , the kaminoans have told us that the inhibitor chips in the clones are ready to be activated at will . '' said the voice of apprentice darth vader . `` master ? something disturbs you , what is it ? '' `` a disturbance in the force , anakin . someone has achieved a promising sign of power . a rival to your power . '' responded palpatine , who was now formulating a plan to test his dark apprentice even further . `` who is it my lord ? master yoda ? obi-wan ? '' the voice of anakin was filling with hate and anger , he could not comprehend that someone was able to compete with his level of power .
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everyone has the option to take a test to see their future with somebody . you find out you 're supposed to forgive and marry the person you truly hate the most .
`` it ca n't be him . '' i whisper , my eyes scanning the letter up and down to check for any signs of inauthenticity . i pick up the envelope for a third time to make sure the name and address are correct , but there 's no mistake . my mom fidgets next to me , nudging into my shoulder as she waits for me to speak . i ca n't bring myself to say the name . `` for god 's sake , katie . is it someone we know ? '' i push the letter into her hands and grab my coffee from the kitchen table behind us . it 's then that i notice my hands are trembling , the leftover grounds sloshing in the bottom of my mug . i hear my mom inhale quickly , almost choking on her spit . `` tim miller . it says tim miller , '' i tell her with a cold voice .
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news report with oddly placed 'air quotes '
good `` morning , '' this is alonzo jacob with your monday `` weather '' report . the heatwave that `` slowed '' everybody down this weekend is showing `` no '' signs of letting up this week . our meteorologists suggest that today 's temperature could climb to as high as 40 `` degrees '' celsius by the late `` afternoon '' . right now , only an `` hour '' after sunrise , the temperature here at the airport is already 29 `` degrees '' . however , there is relatively no `` humidity '' in the air , so it feels quite comfortable out here at the moment . unfortunately , there is also no `` rain '' in the forecast for the next five days . this is bad news for the `` thirsty '' forest fires that are raging across the interior of our province . looks like setting up a tent in the `` backyard '' may be the only way to catch some sleep tonight if you do n't have air conditioning . that 's all for today 's `` weather '' . stay tuned for the morning `` traffic '' report .
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: you do n't remember what you do for a living . literally . you black out for 8 hours 5 days a week and a paycheck appears once per month .
and so it was another day again . as i woke up , things were the same i left them . i slap a key on my computer , sleeping next to me , glance at the time but do n't actually remember it… i get up , make thym tea for my sore throat , grab some of that honey to put some sun in my mouth , i get , a little lonely , as i 'm getting back to my hypnotic state of mind . i 'm sitting here , staring blankly at my screen , watching videos over and over so i ca n't hear myself think… how could i merit any of it ? it 's been years these paychecks kept on following me , but i ca n't be sure what for exactly . have i lost something and an insurance pays me back ? am i an important piece in the times to come ? how could i be worth of it ? how will i repay it ? maybe i 'm dead already , and i 'm experiencing back my life as a spectator .
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the aokigahara suicide forest .
the forest was intensely quiet , as quiet as it had n't been in a while . the silence made the world close in softly , and the only thing to punctuate that was the occasional snap of twigs underfoot or the heftier cracking of bone . there were a lot of bones . there had always been bones . it was a sort of tradition , the kind spoken of in only the most hushed of tones . the forest provided an end for those who would take it - it called out and they answered . there was no stop that could be put to it , as the locals had once learned , and as had been confirmed in the last days . before then , there used to not be so many bones . farther in , the ground became liberally peppered with white . fewer and fewer twigs were the source of the crunching underfoot , and after walking farther the pale sky to be glimpsed through the canopy had a mirror in the carpet of remains from which the trees climb upward .
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- 250 words ; 2 months reddit gold prize .
as arthur settled himself into the stiff canvas of the deckchair , his toe happened upon something small and cold within the grass . he sat up sharply . brian turned to face the sudden motion . `` what 's the matter now ? '' he smirked . `` there 's something down there , i think ! '' exclaimed arthur , pointing accusingly at the ground . brian drew himself laboriously out of his chair , with much sighing , and knelt down . he turned his hands roughly through the grass , then stopped and peered closer . `` oh , what 's this ? '' he queried aloud , before raising his hand .
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instead of controlling how many people are born each year , this country controls how many people die each year . with a recent baby boom , you fear that the time is near for you to go .
conservative , democrats . liberals , republicans . what the fuck 's the difference ? does n't matter anymore so i suppose some people got their wish . where the hell was there a baby boom ? in under a year 4 million people born in one country . but that 's just the problem people are being born faster than they die off so they try disney program at first . only people that fit within the standard are allowed to breed and they are only allowed to have up to three children . the only people that were allowed to breed for people between the ages of 18 and 26 comma they could not have any autoimmune diseases or have any family relatives that have an autoimmune disease within two generations of them , must not have done any drugs outside of what is prescribed , and must never been arrested . some people suggested having a incredibly difficult iq test period while one suggested combining both . that worked , for a short period of time .
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becoming a god .
the machine is almost complete . all i need now is to finish the Ξ±Ο‰ function and i can do it . they always knew i would be the one that would give them their solution . they studied and meditated for billions of years just to know that this day would come , the day where i fulfilled their prophecy . they call me 'yahweh ' which i remember from my childhood as the name of a powerful entity that created the first realm in an old legend . the legend spoke of a consciousness that gave his life to give small creatures these immense spheres of light called stars that broke through the darkness , and tiny rocks that would be their homes . sadly , now there is only our lone rock , and no stars . there have n't been any stars or rocks since the rift opened , leaving us as the only thing in existence . they want me to finish the machine , so i can seal the rift and give our realms our stars and rocks back . but i realized the machine can do more than that .
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in the year 1989 , a police investigator arrives at the site of an impossible accident : a 2016 toyota corolla is wrapped around a lamp post .
the police arrive . `` rubert , do we even have any leads on this ? '' i mumble . rubert , my partner in law took notice of this accident as we drived around . `` sir ! look at this ! '' rubert shouts out to me . it was a plate . the mysterious thing about it was it was made with a different material . there was also some kind of paper attached onto it on the corner . `` expires in 2017 ... '' i mumbled . there was no way , there could be no way . it is not an act of time travel , it must haves been an imprint .
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she 's safe in the fire .
`` i can do this . i can do this . i can do this ... '' her mind trailed off as the voice in her head repeated the mantra . she can do this . she told herself she could . the cold sting of the gasoline on her open cuts woke her from the mantra 's trance , as she doused herself with the plastic can . she was really going to do this . she had to-after all , the only option was unthinkable . they would be here soon , set upon her like feral animals on a lame doe . the barricades could only hold them back so long . she could here their voices among the pounding fists and splintering wood . shouts , guttural noises , snarls .
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these are the adventures of a starship where every crew member embodies the worst stereotypes of their home country .
captain ron donaldson sat in deep contemplation in his cushy captain 's chair . in his right hand he held a scotch on the rocks , keeping it stable on his protruding gut . receding blonde-turning-grey hair sat atop a forehead beaded with sweat . the rugged features of a farmboy made good were twisted in a thought provoked grimace . he half-acknowledged a report about something completely worthless from his science officer and second in command , commander kolichyen . something about space dust being denser in this quadrant . `` thank you , commander . helm , increase sensor range to 40 kilometers . ahead , full impulse . '' `` aye , sir , '' responded ensign hernandez . fucker , thought captain donaldson . i bet i caught you in a nap .
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becoming a god .
i brush the keys with my fingertips . i revel at the sensation , the first tactile stimulus in months . the fingers of my right hand contain the only skin left on my body . the seductive whirr of the servos in my left arm plays as i reach across and check the subroutines one last time . no going back now . could i ever have gone back , though ? oh , well . plenty of time for philosophy later . too much time . a veritable infinity . i click `` execute , '' and become ... not . i sense my body go limp .
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you are an alien playing a video game in which the goal is to help a species survive the longest time possible . now you want to tackle the hardest mode in the game : human beings .
claxen watched in awe as his friend obliterated the second hardest level of the game . `` wow , you made them survive their own planet exploding . that was insane ! '' claxen said . `` can you beat the human level ? i find it too hard , ca n't get past the first flood . '' `` i 'll show you how its done . '' zaza fired up human mode . `` first stages are pretty basic , '' said zaza . `` get them into agriculture , create spare time and fill up their time with learning . '' time was flying by on screen as the humans cultivated large fields of crops and created villages near rivers and oceans . intelligence points started maxing out . `` when intelligence is maxed , just start getting crazy with slavery . make it widespread and normal . that way they can use their slaves effectively . ''
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pain is discovered to be the most efficient form of energy . it is ruled illegal , but secret human pain factories have already begun . you are the owner of one of these factories .
`` garrison ! '' i yell . `` yes ? '' a slender hunched over man sheepishly replies . `` get the hunters on the horn , it 's round up time ! '' `` very good , sir . '' the slender man sais , turning towards the door . `` oh , and garrison.. do n't you fuck this up . '' `` sir . '' in the following hour , a group of about 34 armed men are waiting in front of the massive factory , many seemingly equipped in uniform , many armed with rifles , most are armed with machetes and axes . some of these men are scarred , appearing to have been maimed in battle , some missing limbs , eyes , and teeth . the commotion of the scene is quickly silenced as i walk up onto a platform , stationed in front of and just above the formidable crowd of killers . `` listen up ! the quota today is 50 ! ''
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the secret to immorality is killing a newborn child . what is the world like ?
late . again . but then again , no one ever cares about time anymore . apparently it was a big thing up to about the twenty first century , but no one from the twenty first century ever talks about it . i was late to my doctor 's appointment . the mandatory one , for twenty-five year olds . some of my friends had already gone to the mandatory appointment , but their descriptions only left me more clueless than before . even though i was going to the same doctor my family had had for the last few centuries , the mandatory appointment was always conducted in a government building on the outskirts of the nearest big city . this meant i had to go to new los angeles . traffic had gotten so bad since -- hmm ... the twenty first century actually -- that the highways now had multiple levels ( think bridges on top of roads ) and getting a driver 's license was a real test of skill and mastery . my friend , sam , had one , though .
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