Prompt: Be inspired by a song (Hivemind by Legrand)
Word Count: 813/200
Points: 250
Completed: 11/13/24 at 11:53 UTC
“Leon. Are you listening?”
I nodded sluggishly.
“Are you sure?” Asked my mentor. “You look like you’re struggling to stay awake. Do you need a break?”
I shook my head, “No, no, keep going-”
“I’m worried that you won’t listen to me. This is important information.” They crossed their arms, “Please, Leon, either pay attention or take a nap. You can’t do both.”
I huffed, “Fine, I’m listening.”
They smiled, “Alright, thank you. I’ll be repeating myself a bit when I say that this is important information, I really want you to know it.”
“Sure, sure- Just get on with it-”
They made a face but proceeded to do so. “The reason why we’re bestowing this responsibility upon you is simple. You are the last of your kind, and when it comes to the Spine, it’s important that we retain whatever power we have left. I’m sure you understand.”
I nodded.
“Explain to me in your own words how your power works.”
I tapped my chin and thought for a bit before answering. “I’m able to use people.”
“Be more specific.”
I shrugged, “I really can’t be. There are a lot of ways I can do it. I mean, like, mind control’s one thing, but there’s also the times where I can steal people’s strength- It’s hard to say it all so simply.”
They shrugged, “Fair, but you just did it, for the most part.”
“But there’s more I-”
“Ah- That’s enough. You did the best you could. I’m just trying to get you to recognize the point that I’m getting at.”
I crossed my arms and pouted, but listened closely to what they had to say next.
“The point is that you’re powerful. You’re only one person, but that’s enough for us to do quite a lot. I want you to know these things because it may be the last time that I’m able to teach you these things.”
They looked like they had just dropped a bomb on me, but I was more confused than anything else. “What do you mean?”
They made a face at me, “Can’t you tell? The governing body is sending you away.”
I blinked. “Oh, okay, cool.”
“Is that really your reaction?”
“Yes. What else should it be?”
They scrunched up their face, “Um, well- Ugh, I suppose that’s fine. I just expected you to… fight back more.”
I shook my head, “I don’t need to. I know this is my purpose.”
They gave me a smile, “Wow, alright, this is surprising, but I like it. Thank you for your loyalty.”

Ten years later…

I glanced around, grimacing. If the rumors were true, it’d be the end of everything I’ve ever known.
I snuck into the office and softly closed the door behind me. I slipped toward the back of the office and opened a small filing cabinet. I fingered through the cards and eventually came to one that bore my name.

Jason Herrans
Iteration: 350
Termination date: 15/12/67

I wasn’t able to read any further when I heard a voice from behind me.
“Mr. Herrans, what are you doing in here?”
I turned around, grimacing when I saw an officer standing in the doorway. Before I thought of a response, my body reacted for me. I bolted, shoving past them and into the hallway. “Hey! Come back here!”
I ignored their cries, turning right and descending the stairs to the ground floor. I slammed through the doors that led outside, and my feet kept me going. I nearly tripped down the bony stairs that led up to the huge office building. I heard more cries from behind me, but my instincts refused to stop me, despite my hesitation. My feet pounded on the bony streets as I ran toward the walls. Supposedly, the outside was nothing but sky, black and inky. However, I wasn’t so sure anymore. I reached the wall and started to scale it. I prayed to whatever generic deity there was in this forsaken world to help me as I noticed a search party run towards me. I didn’t have much time. I clambered up the wall like an animal, before falling over the other side. I shrieked, wondering if I would just fall forever, but I did not. Instead, I plopped onto the same bony ground that I had known for my whole life. I took in my surroundings, feeling bile rise in my throat as I saw… myself. The same exact man, except more grey. Piles upon piles of me, all suffocating each other. Their eyes were my own, eyes I had seen every day when I checked myself in the mirror. I knew that their hands were stained with the same bIood, with the same heinous acts they had thought were righteous. My world crumbled before me. I was disposable, and here was where I was disposed.

Daily 13 || 734 words
Midwest Indigo - Twenty One Pilots

“Crudcrudcrudcrudcrud-“
Ringdom stared at his spaceship’s control holographic. He had left his ship outside overnight, and something must’ve jammed the camera in the windstorm because there was a fuzzy blank spot on the holographic’s surface preventing him from seeing the entire area around his ship. He was running late for his assignment though, and didn’t have time to clean the camera, stepping into the holograph and turning on the ship. As it rumbled to life, Ringdom slid his visor on. The holograph became opaque, and the space oryx felt his magic course through him as he took off.
Luckily for him, space had no speed limits, but Ringdom couldn’t go as straight as he’d like to go with the blind spot on his camera. He grit his teeth as a voice rang in his head.
“Ringdom! Are you here?”
“N-not yet!”
“UGHHH why are you always late?? We only have a limited amount of time on our schedule! Hurry up!”
“Yes ma’am!”
Ringdom sighed as he felt the telepathic connection shut off. That was Nova, the Jadeling he had to work with. He had been extremely excited to work with the rabbit, one of the higher ranking members of the main Jade branch, but she wasn’t exactly the pleasant type.
Strict and confident, she had taught Ringdom everything he knew, and it wasn’t like he didn’t like her…she just wasn’t interested in making friends with the new, low ranking member she was assigned to train. She also wasn’t the type to say ‘good job!’ or ‘you did this well!’, she was the type to be very highly critical. It made Ringdom kind of sad, thinking about it. He wondered if being a good Jadeling meant putting your job over friendships, which wasn’t an idea he was fond of.
He landed on the foreign planet, jumping onto the dirt-like ground and running over to where Nova was waiting, glaring into his soul. “I-I’m sorry ma’am,” he mumbled, “I’ll do better next time, I swear!”
Nova just sighed. “This is the fifth time this month you’ve been late. In an emergency you need to be quick, ready, and…” She went over to his ship, sliding under and pulling a rock out of the camera system, “have your ship in good quality.” Throwing it aside, she beckoned to Ringdom to follow her to their situation. Ringdom felt really guilty, knowing that this wasn’t the time to offer a paw in friendship again. Well, he’d try to do better next time! He was a Jadeling, he could get over his tendencies to procrastinate and get easily distracted…right?

-Half a year later-

With a sigh, Ringdom flopped onto his bed. He was in a bit of a slump, not feeling like doing anything unless he was forced to. He had tried to reach out to someone on the ship who could do…healing rituals, but they were far too busy for him. He knew he was close to being promoted to a spot of actual interest, but in this state…
His visor automatically turned on, notifying him of a mission him and Nova had been assigned to. Nova had already been on a different planet due to a different mission, so she would meet him there.
As much as he wanted to lay there for five more minutes, Ringdom knew the expectations, jumping up and running into the ship bay, doing a quick inspection of his ship before getting in. Nova had only gotten more strict as he had gotten more comfortable as a Jadeling, and he had to make sure not to slip up.
When he was a few minutes away from his location, he heard Nova’s voice in his mind.
“How far out are you?”
“Uhm-“ he looked at the ETA on his visor, “2 minutes! I left as soon as I could, I’m s-“
“What are you getting so worked up about? 2 minutes is fine. See you there.”
Ringdom was a bit taken aback as Nova hung up. He had honestly expected her to yell at him again, but she was…fine with it?
He landed on the planet, hopping off to see Nova. She gave a soft smile. “Right on time. Well done.”
Ringdom’s eyes lit up, and he hugged Nova, who was startled, but let him do so without complaints. She raised an eyebrow when he let go.
“I…I needed to hear that, Nova. Thanks.”

kaleidoscopic eyes
words: 270
based on ‘next to you’ by JVKE


The eye is gray, shiny and metallic. Actual metal, she notices; it isn't real, of course. She peers into the room inside it. There are chairs, like in a movie theater, and everything is dark inside. She goes in.

She sits for a moment and nothing happens. What did she really expect, she thought; what would happen inside an eye?

But then again, this world is not real. Perhaps something will happen after all.

And then, the seats all rise on a platform. They go upwards, upwards, and upwards still. The top of the eye opens and they rise out. Then, they rotate and float downwards and center with the pupil. Then, she waits.

And slowly, the dream goes dark, and then the eye is lit. First green, then pink, then yellow, each one washing over the iris like an ocean wave. Then it changes. The night sky is lit up, blue and purple and white painted over the sky, so beautiful it takes her breath away for a moment.

The lights fade slowly, and she thinks to herself, Is that it? Was it already over?

The eye fades completely first, then the chairs, then everything but her. And suddenly the sky it lit with splashes of stars and slices of green and pink and pinks, all in patterns that change wherever she looks. Then, the girl looks down–she is standing on nothing.

Why isn't she falling?

She takes a cautious step forward and she does not fall. Then, she takes another. She then she begins to run.

Colors speed by her and slowly fade, until her dream goes dark.

Whenever the weight of the world got nearly too heavy to bear, Ink would tell a story. They made light and shadow dance together, the images flickering into being on the rocky walls, bending to their every whim. For a moment, every life and death, every failure and success, every laugh and cry of their little world rested in their grasp. Every struggle would have a meaning. Every tale would have a happy ending. And all at once, they would believe in magic again.
Over time, they attracted an audience. At first, just their friends and family, but soon, even people they had never seen before came to watch. Ink was happy to perform. Maybe their craft could be a spark of light in a dark world, these fictional shadows lightening the real ones that everyone bore these days. Maybe everyone could do with a bit of escape every now and then.
Ink was no trained Storyteller. Histories and harsh truths had never been their legacy to pass on. They had never studied the ways of the universe; they had no grand wisdom to impart. They were hardly even an entertainer. Yet they were given the Storyteller title anyway. They spent time with the likes of Hurricane.

daily for sci fi
based of the song House of Gold by Twenty One Pilots
+412 words

“Son, please we need to get out of here.” My mom says to me with a desperate look in her eyes. We didn't have long until my dad came back and started to hit her or scream at me again. “Maybe you can build me that house of gold you were talking about.” She says to try to lighten the mood as she throws clothes together in a suitcase to stuff in the car. “Of course.” I tell her and reach out to hug her. I run upstairs and grab clothes and a few other items and shove them all in some random bags and suitcases. I was determined to get my mom out of here and away from this sad desolate place. Away from the crappy excuse that is my dad. Outside mom is loading up the car with as many possessions as possible. “Here let me help.” I tell her and finish up putting everything away for her. She gives me a small sad smile and steps into the driver seat to turn on the car. I hop in the passenger seat and just as I do that my dad pulls up in his truck. “Where do you think you're going?” He shouts and runs up to us banging on my moms window. “After all i've done for you and all I've given you? You won't be able to make it out there. You’ll come crawling back to me.” His tone is harsh and he has almost what looks like a snarl on his face. “You're nothing. At least when you're with me both of you are worth a little something.” Tears stream down my mom’s face as she spits out “At least if I'm away from you then I can finally be free.” She quickly pulls out of the driveway and speeds off down the street. My dad is screaming and chasing after us. Eventually he is nothing more than a speck in the distance and my mom slows down some. She wipes her eyes and looks over at me. “Promise me that you will never look back. Promise that you won't ever return to this horrible excuse of a town.” My expression softens and I give her hand a gentle squeeze. “I promise Mom. It's you and me now and I'm determined to give you the best life possible. Make you queen of everything you see.I'll put you on the map. Heck I'll even cure you disease.”

Daily for Poetry, exactly 200 words lol
“The Throne of Blo..od”
november 13th

In Elvesraine, the throne is taken by a battle to the death, of the current queen and her daughter. On her 19th birthday, Neleah is old enough to become the next queen. Per clan customs, she must kill her mother to take the throne. It's brutal, but the clan cannot accept a queen that has not become queen this way, since it has been done since the start of the elves. Everyone including Neleah's mother is forcing her to fight for her place. On the day of the ceremony, Neleah refuses to fight her mother, which results in her banishment from the clan. Now a rogue elf with nowhere to go, since no other places will accept an exiled princess, Neleah is left for the forest to finish her off. The forest is not safe, if it does not recognize you as one of it's children, and as a banished elf, she is no longer protected. Now seen as a threat in what once was her beloved home, Neleah is to survive in the hostile trees, and harsh winds on her own. The forest takes what it can, and without her title, she is nothing but prey in these lands.

Daily for sci fi
202 words

Sage Ellis had met hundreds of people over the years working as a prosthetist but she had never met one quite like Jamie Whittaker. When he shows up at the hospital Sage works at he explains that he was in a roadside IED explosion and lost both of his legs. Sentencing him to a wheelchair which led Jamie spiraling into depression. He can barely even look her in the eyes at their first appointment. He explains to Sage that ever since the accident he hasn't felt like a man and hates being confined to his wheelchair. Slowly over the months of working to build Jamie’s new legs she finds that she falls in love with him as he becomes more comfortable with her and starts to climb out of his depression. Giving her glimpses of the bright and happy man that he once was. He eventually starts to return her feelings as well as after the accident, Sage is one of the few people that has actually treated him like he was human and not just a pitiful unfortunate soul. Whenever the prosthetics for Jamie finally arrive, for the first time over two and a half years he is able to stand.

November 14th - Blurb - 222 words
Elyta Skye Zhang is well-known in the figure skating world. At age 15, she emerges onto the world stage as someone with high potential, having landed a Triple Lutz Triple Loop jump combination, and with commentators talking about her potential for a Triple Axel or even quadruple jumps. It leads Elyta to a sudden burst of popularity in school, with everyone wanting to know her and be her friend.

But coming from a family who have had high academic expectations of her for all of her life, Elyta has had no social life to speak of for the better part of six years, being forced to choose between grades and her parents wrath, practicing at the ice rink, or having friends.

Never having made true friends when she was younger either, the only people she even remotely considers friends are her parents’ friends’ children - Makayla (22), Alaina (17), Alfie (21), Skylar (17), Lauren (10), Mira (8), and Taylor (20) - all of which have no social life to speak of due to their differing family expectations - Lauren and Mira of which are “too immature” to give any good advice.

And so it is with the rustiest thing that may even resemble a friendship group that Elyta has that she needs to rely on to learn what makes a good friend.

Weekly 2
Sci-fi Modding Crew/Glitch in the Game/idk what I'd name this cabin
2511 words

(Note, all of the leaders are based on the main cast of the video game plot I'm developing, and the mysterious character that appears near the end of the 4th part is the other main character in the story of the game)

Part 1 (255 words)

You wake up, and you're in a serene forest. The very last thing you remember is working at your computer in the wee hours of the night. But, what were you doing on the computer? That, you were a little bit fuzzy on.
Suddenly, you’re distracted by some young boy who had messy brown hair, and nothing but enthusiasm.
“Guys, I found another one!” He exclaimed, pointing down at you.
“Ugh, again? This has to be the 15th one today alone.” said a girl in her late teens, with incredibly long reddish brown hair.
A person in their mid-teens with disastrous blonde hair and unmissable purple glasses helped you up.
“That just gives us more incentive to get all of them to safety.” They say. All of the sudden, you could've sworn you saw one of the trees glitch. You question what you're doing here.
“Well, you see…” The blonde one starts.
“You were transported into this world through your computer, likely through modding a game. So, now you're in this so-called fictional reality, and it's our job as NPCs to ensure you get back safe and sound by beating the game.” The brown haired girl interrupts, reading from a notebook.
“…couldn't have put it better myself…” The blonde one sighed. “Anyways, I'm Mango.”
“I'm Mav, their little brother!” Said the enthusiastic little boy.
“And I'm Eva, the fellow supernatural researcher.” Said the other.
“And together, as fellow NPC’s, we're here to help you beat this game!” Mav shouted, pumping his fist into the air.


Part 2 (Please avoid this one if you can, I sketched it up in half an hour and I hate it because I despise making aesthetics-)
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1096781468/


Part 3 (244 words, if you only count the actual lyrics)
(Parody on MECHA BEE DESTROYER BLASTLORD, originally composed by Tristan Alric, and if you don't accept a non-lyric song, Juno Songs made a lyric cover, which this parody was mostly based on. Parody-ception!)

*le epic intro*


Let them see the glitches
Make them see their fates now
Let them see the code
Make them fall through the cracks

(Repeat once more while the next part begins)


Defend the team
From the glitch makers’ schemes
We cannot let them run supreme.


Video game corruption
Is a chance we can't afford
To keep our group motivated
And normal lives get restored!
We must repel
The oncoming hoard
So we can finally reach our reward.


All who enter the game
Must be torn apart
There's no way you can stop us
We've got no lives, just archives
Our mission's to hack, destroy, and delete
Don't you know
To stop your goals would make that achieved, don’t you see


At all costs, make the game stay online!
So our whole team may remain alive!

*second loop*


Let them see the exploits
Make them get off-track now
Let them see the voids
Make them fall through the cracks

(Repeat in the same way you did last time)


This hopeful team’s
Future as we see
Rests its hopes upon us NPCs


Every member is needed on this great journey
To keep this game from corrupting, to allow us to be free
Must ensure security
With minimal difficulty


All who enter the game
Shall become mere bits
We shall never call it quits
That’s all we can admit
Our mission’s to take over this mistake don’t you know
To stop your goals would make that achieved, don’t you see!


At all costs, ensure the game stays online
So our whole team can go on and thrive!


Part 4 (2012 words)

The adventure had started. Everything seemed relatively harmless… so far, at least. One member also couldn't help but notice that a wrist watch seemed to latch onto them. Upon further inspection, they noticed that it had some strange writing on it. They tap it, and all of the sudden, a virtual screen appears above the watch, revealing the strange writing was actually code.
“Uh, what’s this?” the person asked. Mango turned around to face them.
“Oh, that’s just your handy dandy mechanism to hack into the game!” they explained.
“…hack into the game-? Isn’t that, like… cheating?” another person asks.
“Well… yes, but we’ll need all of the help we can get!” Mango tried to reassure the team, but ended up causing even more conflict.
“We can’t beat this game without hacking!?” Another person shouted.
“You made it seem so easy before!” said another.
“Are you saying we’re all gonna die if we don’t cheat?”
“No, they never said that…” Eva, who wasn’t all that involved with the conversation before, stated. “They simply said that your hacking skills will give us a boost in this challenging situation. We want you to return safely, so obviously, you’re going to be offered something that will help ensure that safety.” She then went back to reading the notebook she had been so engrossed on ever since everyone got there. Everyone started nodding in understanding. Eva always had a way with calming people down with her concise arguments. Unlike Mango, who was very good at getting off-track. Mav was even worse. Speaking of Mav…
“Guys! I don’t wanna freak y’all out, but… I saw a rock glitch over there!” he shouted, pointing over at a large rock roughly 50 metres away from the group. Mango adjusted their glasses, observing it. The rest of the group turned their heads towards it as well.
The rock did indeed glitch, suddenly phasing out of existence for a brief second. So brief, most people, even Mango, thought it was their imagination.
“I was hoping this wouldn’t happen until AT LEAST the first few days…” Eva muttered. She followed that up by writing something in that notebook of hers. Everyone was suddenly concerned yet again.
“What does this mean!?”
“Will the glitches consume us?”
“Are we gonna make it in time!?”
Random cries and mumbling statements could be heard from the squad, and Mango had to attempt to calm them down, as not only were they technically the leader, but Eva was only there for research purposes, and Mav joined in on the screaming.
“It’s fine… it just means we’ll have to teach you the art of hacking tonight, rather than just some time in the near future. If we learn how to do that, we’ll be fine!” Mango reassured the team. There were mixed feelings about that statement, but most shrugged it off.

Dusk had approached and Mango figured it was best to settle down for the night, especially considering they had to teach 20 people how to hack a video game. Once everyone had set up their tents that were given to them at… some point (I love plot holes), Mango got everyone to surround the campfire they had made. Mav seemed pretty excited, sitting beside their sibling, while Eva stood behind the duo.
“Alright, to start out, you’re going to have to give your watch a quick tap.” Mango said. Everyone followed their instructions. Slowly but surely, Mango got each and every one of the members to learn their own unique hacking ability that would benefit the team. Some could change the environment around them. Some could boost other members of the team. Some could make small objects spawn supposedly out of thin air.
Eva, who was walking around and acting as an assistant to the whole lesson, shared one last thing before the night was over.
“An old friend of ours from long ago also managed to add one more feature to this device,” she stated. “find the line of code that says {notebook}=closed, and change the “closed” to an “open”
Most did as she told them. Suddenly, on their screens appeared what seemed to be Eva’s notebook, but virtual.
“My friend in question took the pages of my notebook and made them into what we call the Eva Wiki. Nearly every page of my notebook has been transcribed into this wiki, only leaving out a few personal pages that I asked not to have added. This has travel logs, lists of enemy encounters, both from our adventure, and our previous endeavours, and information about various other people in the game. Don’t be afraid to check it out, as I do try to keep my notebook full of valuable info.” Everyone nodded as they scanned through said Wiki, some of them intrigued by some of the entries.
One entry, however, caught one of the member’s eyes.
“Nova…?” they asked, looking through the information. Everyone around them was intrigued and tried to look for that entry themselves. No luck though. How odd…

The next morning, some members of the group were already awake and raring to get going, while others despised the idea of waking up. Mango definitely fell into the latter category. Mav rushed into their tent.
“WAKE UP SLEEPYHEAD!” he shouted in the most mischievous, childish voice he could muster. Mango sat up in absolute shock, which was rather surprising, because at this point, Mango should’ve been used to it. They rubbed their eyes and put on their glasses.
“Gimme a moment, I had a late night last night… dealing with 20 members on our team who don’t quite know what’s going on, and the glitches invading sooner than we expected… it’s getting to me.” Mango said groggily.
“I made you a coffee.” Eva entered the tent with a mug in hand, acting a lot less emotionless than she typically is. “…despite the fact that you have a serious addiction and would highly advise you to stop-”
Mango interrupted her. “I’m well aware. I’ll cut coffee out of my daily routine soon. Just… not until the adventure’s over.”

The team took off, setting a rather high pace compared to yesterday pretty early on. However, they were also stopped in their tracks.
“Well hello there!” said an odd robot-like creature who leaped in front of the group out of a tree.
Everyone was rather confused, other than the leaders.
“Hi Oak…” Eva muttered. Instantly, everyone looked through the Eva Wiki, and sure enough, there was a page on a character named “Oak”, with the quotation marks included, that looked exactly like the strange character in front of them. The Wiki stated that they were a robot-human-magical entity hybrid, and that they had powers that corrupted the environment around them, mainly only as a visual effect.
“Got a rather large crew this time around, I see! Not surprising from a Grapefruit kid like you.” This Oak character said, walking in front of Mango.
“Once again, the name’s Mango.”
“Does it really matter?” Oak asked, stepping on Mango’s foot for some reason.
“…no. Not really.” Mango responded. Oak backed off. One member was watching the interaction, and taking note that stepping on Mango’s foot was a threat, as enough harm done to an object or entity would cause it to glitch, and perhaps become corrupt under certain circumstances, from their quick research on the Wiki.
Mav appeared to desire to say something, but he advised himself to keep quiet.
“Anyways, you know why I’m here.” Oak gave a strange, uncanny smile.
“Indeed we do, and we’ve ensured to train these ones beforehand.” Eva stated.
“Take out your watches! It’s time for battle!” Mav exclaimed.
Everyone exited out of the Wiki and into their designated code that they were now skilled with.

The battle was won rather quickly.

“Grrr! Fine! I guess you can keep your stupid adventure going…” Oak seemed upset by this outcome. “Don’t expect that to be the case forever though.” They then disappeared. Where? Who knows.
Mango shouted in triumph, providing a high five for all members who wanted one.
“Well done, fellow members. Our first fight was a victory!” Mango exclaimed.
“Although, it won’t be the last, nor the hardest.” Eva stated. “We must continue to train for what lies ahead.”

The journey progressed, and encountering enemies was becoming a common occurrence. However, they did forget about one issue.
As the group was walking, one of the members lost their balance, as if there wasn’t any floor beneath them. They looked down, and noticed there WASN’T any floor beneath them! They were stepping into a void. They shouted in worry, and Mav and Mango both ran over to them, catching them as they began to fall into the void. They looked at what was beneath the world as they knew it, and saw nothing but the sky box, and a dark grey sheet above them where the ground would be. Below seemed endless, and they were more than grateful that they were caught in time. Everyone seemed absolutely shocked.
“What in the world was that-” the person who fell into the hole said when they were comfortably back on the ground.
“More corruptions.” Eva said bluntly. “Our enemies have somehow already found out how to move around and delete visible walls, it seems, in an attempt to make all of you eventually fall out of bounds and therefore not be able to complete the mission.” The whole group seemed rather terrified by this, and they started making even more fearful assumptions.
“Oh my goodness, chill out!” Mango yelled. “We’ll be fine, and we’ll get through this together!”

As they made it even further into their journey, one of the members felt this strange presence. As if something nearby was something they recognized. They didn’t point it out, but it seemed clear that no one else seemed to feel such a presence. They looked up at their leaders who seemed unphased by whatever they were feeling as well. They quietly crept to the back end of the group, and eventually went off-path, feeling as if it was the way to get rid of this strange feeling. And surely enough, there was a hologram of a person leaning against a tree.
“Well hello there. I’ve been expecting you…” the hologram stated. They had incredibly long hair that appeared to be purple and bioluminescent near the bottom. They also wore a leather jacket, small rectangular glasses that were way less noticeable than Mango’s, and incredibly baggy track pants. The person looks at the hologram suspiciously, thinking that they REALLY recognized the person that was formed by the hologram. Then, it came to them.
Nova.
“You, my friend, are the chosen one…” Nova said, smiling.
“…me? And, how do you know…?” asked the camper.
“Well, I’m the secret “4th leader”, as some may put it. The very first one trapped in this disaster of a game. I managed to escape… sort of, and now I’m trying my best to assist anyone else who’s trapped in the game. …which, to be perfectly honest, I’m still the only one who’s made it out.”
“WHAT!?”
“Calm down, everything’s going to be alright. I promise. And I promise more than any of your leaders ever could.” She tried to hush the camper.
“…ok. But how in the world are you going to help me?” they asked.
“By giving you this…” Nova said, taking off her watch and handing it to them. As soon as they had taken the watch, the hologram disappeared. They were confused, but put on the watch, which a pixelated version of Nova appeared on the screen. “Great! Now, head back. However, don’t tell anyone about this. This is a secret between just us two. Got it?”
They nodded.
“Very good. Now, go and kick those stupid glitches right in the zero!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“…good question. Don’t worry about it. Just… just go. You can do it.”
The screen turned off, and they made their way back to the path, ready to be the mission’s saviour.

Bookstore
Verity is not your normal 19-year-old. She was a notorious pirate who grew her fame after only being on the high seas in the 1700s for two years. She thrived off of the fear but she always wanted something more. In her world, there are necklaces called vestiges that grant people magical powers. Verity is already the holder of one that allows her to control water and ice However, with her power-hungry nature, she wants more. So, she decides to seek out the next vestige that is most readily available to her, that being the vestige of shadows and darkness. It’s rumored to be in a city in northern England. She decides to go on a quest with her crew. She finds many problems along the way as she attempts to steal more power for herself. She learns a lot about herself and her morals and what she finds valuable in life. She deals with both internal and external conflict as she’s chased by a group of bounty hunters. As Verity navigates through her world, she finds out more about the history of her superpowers as well as the history of her family and how they were involved with these abilities, all coming to a head when she finally realizes who she actually is.
(213 words)

This is a book that didn’t want to be written. It fought against the world of publishers and genres and page numbers, refusing to be bound (both literally and figuratively) by such rules and labels. Its true form resides in electricity and light and sound, abstractions and unquantified conceptions, never satisfied with the permanence of a solid incarnation. It’s always changing, just like the world contained within its tales, just like the world in which it exists.
Every mind that perceives it ends up reshaping it a little. Whether those minds exist inside it or outside it doesn’t matter. Its only job is to bridge the gap between the two, allow the two universes to touch, even if only for a moment. Sometimes it speaks in words, sometimes in music, sometimes in art. It grasps at any communication medium it can, imperfect as they may be, to express its ideas.
This book wants to be known. It wants to understand and be understood. The perspectives it portrays tell countless versions of reality, and it wants even more. It doesn’t really have a start, and it certainly doesn’t have an end, at least, not yet. It wants to be completed.
But that’s the job of those who read it.
That is, until the day it learns to write itself.

I’m not Signed yet, and I’m hoping against everything that I don’t get one.
Emilia’s a Healer now. Law states she has to be a pharmacist, doctor, nurse, or another emergency service. If she has another job, she has to fill out a form to prove it’s related to medicine. I’m going to be a painter, and nothing will stop me from that.
I tremble in my chair. They’re still calling up the rest of Class Jaguar, but Emilia stands on the other side of the stage, holding her Writ of Signature and staring at the raised platform she’s standing on. Three others in the class of seventeen stand awkwardly beside her. Only one looks truly satisfied with her Writ of Leadership.
Anything but Artistry – preferably nothing – and I’ll be on the verge of tears, despite telling myself all these years that I could find something else. Could I live with anything else?
The rest of the class passes in a blur.
“Class Wren, please make your way to the stage to be sorted.” Sir Jonson’s voice makes the windows vibrate without a microphone.
Whispers hiss through the crowd again as we rise like zombies. Four of nothing. One Thinker – of course it’s Hosea. Six of none. A Fabricator. An Artist. Does that mean I won’t be an Artist? No. Three already. They’re rare. Rare enough that those three should be it. Should be.
Mayna is visibly shaking in front of me. Nothing. She relaxes. These things are a death sentence.
Sir Jonson towers over me. For all his kindness, his bulky frame and piercing eyes are enough for my heartbeat to sprint. As if it wasn’t going fast enough. He lays his hand, cold Signing stone in the palm, over my head.
Ice shocks my body.
You love to create from imitation.
Is that the Signing stone? It can speak?
Yes, but I am not the Signing stone. I am the one who speaks through the stones, the one who truly creates the Signs.
Not based on dreams or hopes, even emotions. Based on raw, stripped, cold talent. I can’t get a Sign. I can’t get one. Please, Signer.
You are too special not to get one. A Fabricator, perhaps, since you love to imitate?
NO. NOT A FABRICATOR. I fuse things together-
Fabricators do that.
Fabricators make something that already exists, just in a new form. I make new things.
How about a Leader? They take what is and make it into what could be.
I… That’s with people. You have to make the patterns fit. Leaders can see the pattern in a group of people and make the pattern work. I can’t do that.
A Thinker-
No.
Let me finish. Thinkers make unknown things, things that don’t make sense, complete. Are you not simply bringing order to chaos?
The things I make don’t always make sense. A Thinker’s conclusions are right, all the time, by every standard. Who is to say a drawing of a woman I’ve never seen is right? She simply is.
Warmth hums through my body, and I relax in the absence of the cold I forgot about. Good answer, the Signer says. You seem to know a lot about the Signs other than the one you want.
Yes. In case I got one I don’t want. I’d have to know what I’m supposed to do.
And how to bend the rules to get the job of an Artist, but I’d never say that to the Signer.
How do you feel about a Peacemaker?
A what? I’ve never even heard of that. What if I get it? How could I do anything of Artistry if I got a sign I’d had no idea existed?
It is an old Sign, one I do not assign to people now. They make peace between people, and Signs. They also inspire good in others. You would be a role model, and you would naturally make good decisions as you mature in your Sign.
Mature in my Sign. I’ve never heard that. Your sign reflects you, supposedly. You don’t reflect your Sign. You don’t turn into what your Sign makes you. At least, I hope against all hopes not. And… an old Sign? One the Signer doesn’t use anymore? Why am I the first?
You love to create. You would create a new society, one better for you and all Signed. You are right. This country does not see the potential of Signs. Your essay could change Iska, it says.
How did you know about that?
I just went through your mind. But listen. Your essay could change the world. You could change the world. And I’m making you a Peacemaker anyway. You’ll get used to it. With your help, Emilia could find the perfect job for her. She knows it’s not in medicine, but she doesn’t know it still heals at its core.
I jolt back into reality. Everyone is so quiet I have trouble believing they’re there. Sir Jonson’s eyes widen, his jaw dropping a fraction.
“Peacemaker,” his awed voice rumbles.
The crowd stares at me in utter silence.
–
Artist. Healer. Mentor. Leader. Thinker. Fabricator. And the old ones, slowly becoming new: Heatgiver. Lifebringer. Peacemaker.
Imagine a place where you’re safe to be Signed, but you can follow your true passion.
Healers becoming politicians and sewing Iska back together. Fabricators bringing a structure to businesses that no other Sign could create. Mentors quietly teaching others to find peace in what you truly love every time they pick up their paintbrush.
Iska is the only safe country for Signed. Now imagine if we – regardless of the place our talents lie – were all truly free.

(966 words)

My recycled idea was a 1182-word story with the same world and characters that I never really finished.

11/15 daily for sci fi
431 words
Recycled a few sentences from a story that I had started and continued it some.

It really seems like the universe hates me today. Why can't I catch a break for pete's sake? First my alarm clock went off late and I missed the bus and had to catch a ride with my sister. Then I spilled coffee all over my new shoes and now they're stained. Now for the cherry on top I'm late to chemistry. The bell rings as I walk down the hallway. “*.” I mutter and take off running to class so I'm not too late. “Sorry Mr. Patterson!” I call out as I rush in through the door no doubt looking like a mess. I make my way over to my usual seat only to find a new boy sitting there. “Excuse me, that's my seat.” The boy turns around and I freeze for a moment. He has short blonde hair and a carefree smile. But what really strikes me are his eyes. He has these gorgeous dark green eyes that remind me of the woods at night. Although somehow impossibly darker. The strange boy looks up at me and shrugs. “I don't see your name on it. It was empty when I arrived.” This statement snaps me back to reality and behind me I hear Mr. Patterson exclaim “Ms. Juliette, find a seat please.” I turn away with a frustrated huff and stalk towards an empty seat in the back. “Idiots.” I hear the boy mutter under his breath, my cheeks flaming with embarrassment. The rest of the class period passes by in a blur and in the back of my mind I keep thinking about the new boy. Come on Juliette pull yourself together. When the bell rings the boy grabs his bag and immediately bolts for the door. I head down to my locker to put up my books and just my luck the boy has the now claimed locker beside mine. “Excuse me.” I mumble and scoot past him to open the locker door. “Oh it's you again.” He says with a slightly surprised look on his face. “Yeah, what about it?” I ask and start pulling books out of my bag. “Oh nothing.” He says and shuts his locker. “What’s even your name anyways new kid?” He chuckles a bit and smiles. I smile back slightly and he shrugs. “I'm Aaron but new kid I guess works as well.” Oh okay well maybe he’s not so bad. He’s cute anyways. “Juliette, right?” Aaron says and picks up his book bag. I nod and shut my locker door as well and start to head down the hallway.

November 15th Daily - Recycling Writing - 324 Words
So, I was looking back through some old Sunshine Bay docs I had to check my characters’s canonical age and well. I found the airport hotel drama I was going to write and found my two delightful evening shift workers - Lily Rin and Nathan Huang. I have changed the age gap between them from 3 years to less than a year, to make it work within this story, which is set approximately five years prior to the airport hotel drama.

“Ah!” Lily said, not realising she hit someone in the corridor, spilling all her work onto the floor. “I’m so sorry about that,” she apologised, bending down to grab her stuff off the floor. She was expecting whoever she bumped into to walk away and carry on, but they dropped down to help.

“It’s fine,” The person, clearly male, said, dropping down to the floor to help gather Lily’s strewn papers. “These things happen,”

Lily felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. “Again, I’m really sorry-“ she began, hoping that the apology would be enough to get him to go away- or just make herself feel better.

“It’s fine,” The man said, handing Lily back her papers. “Do you take hospitality management by any chance?”

Yes. Yes, she did. Oh no! He must have seen the papers - it was such an embarrassing thing to be studying at University College Sunshine Bay, especially as it wasn’t seen as a route for the more academic. “Uh…” Lily began. “Maybe?”

She could feel the man, who she had a better look at now, who was definitely of East Asian descent - most likely Chinese - and definitely incredibly academic from the looks of things, soften up. “It’s okay, I do the course as well. I was just wondering.”

Oh? He did Hospitality Management as well? “Oh!” Lily responded, smiling. “I could have sworn that you did something like Chemistry or something,”

“First year,” Nathan said. “I just turned 19 a few days ago.”

“I’m first year as well- how come I haven’t seen you before?” Lily asked.

“Probably just a really big campus,” the man replied. “Nathan Huang. What’s your name?”

“Lily Rin. Thank you so much. It’s nice to meet you,” She said, feeling less embarrassed about herself now.

“So… I guess I’ll see you around?” Nathan asked, before walking off.

“Yeah, see you around I guess,” Lily replied, before making her way to the library.

Daily 15

404 words
April’s heart thudded in her chest as she ploughed through misty sheets of rain towards the sodden cave.
“Please let him be there.” She whispered agitatedly, shielding her face against the harsh wind, “Please.”
She gripped the dark rock, her knuckles a pearly white and she slowly stumbled into the gaping mouth of the cave.
And before her sat a large shadowed figure; a dog.
“Ace!” She yelled in excitement, flinging herself onto her dog’s silky back.
She buried her face into his fur, inhaling his scent. His skin was cold and sometimes his body flickered away, leaving her alone.

April’s dog was a ghost.

“I’m so glad you’re still here!” She exclaimed, her face lit-up and glowing.
Ace nuzzled April affectionately, pressing his nose against his hands. She snuggled into his rust-coloured fur contently and closed her eyes, drifting into darkness.

She snapped her eyes open, a layer of sweat coating her forehead.
“Where am I? Where am I?” She screamed, her voice raw and gravelly. “Help!”
She sat up abruptly and gazed around, her eyes blurred. Everything seemed distant to her. Barely there. Threatening to disappear every time she moved.
Wailing sirens echoed inside her ears and neon colours flashed around her.
“Is she still here? April! Where’s my daughter?”
April’s vision cleared as she heard her dad’s familiar voice cutting through everything else.

“April! Wake up!”
She felt hands shaking her vigorously. ‘I’m here,’ she wanted to say. ‘I’m safe.’
“I’m sorry sir. She’s gone.”
I used all my strength to rise, but nothing worked. My muscles were sore and creaking, my voice soundless and my mind… dead, apparently.
A figure floated towards her. Ace.
“Ace!” She screamed.
And her voice worked.
She hauled herself off the ground.
Her muscles felt springy and full of life.
And her mind was clear and sharp.
Ace smiled kindly, and padded over to her.
“Hi.”
I stepped back startled, and tripped over something stone cold. I looked down and gasped in horror. My own face stared back at me, my eyes distant and glazed, my face ashen and pale, my expression petrified. I looked back at Ace, confused. He shook his head mournfully and gazed at the ground.

I was dead.

I woke up, panting, my whole body shaking in terror. A trickle of cold sweat ran down my forehead. I glanced at Ace again. Was I dead in real life too?

weekly 2, 1000 words and 5 images

part 1
Something’s baking, and it smells delicious.
Curious, you walk around a corner and stop, eyes wide. The cutest little shop is right in front of you, painted in bright, cheery colors. You wonder why you never noticed it before - you’ve been around this corner hundreds of times.
THE CHARMING BAKERY, the sign reads.
Enchanted, you walk inside.
A girl in a floury apron walks out from the kitchen, her nose dusted with flour. Her eyes widen when she sees you.
“You can see us?”
“What?” you ask, confused.
She squeals. “You came in! That must mean you’re one of the ones chosen to help us.”
“Huh?” you ask, but she grabs your hand and pulls you over to a table. “You see, we’re not quite ready to open, but my staff and I are so busy getting ready we’ve got no time to stop. Unfortunately, we’re missing a few essential ingredients.”
You nod, but something’s still bugging you. “What was that about not being able to see the shop?”
She grins. “Only the ones meant to help us can see it right now. It’s not exactly your ordinary bakery.”
Well, that’s for sure. And even though you’ve never been here before, you know you’ve got to make this adorable dream a reality.
“I’m in. Where do I start?”
The girl laughs and stands. “Here, let me get you a list…and by the way, welcome to the Charming Bakery, where we sell only the finest fairy tale goods!”
Fairy tale goods?
This is going to be fun.

part 2
top left, middle, and bottom right are by me and it WILL NOT let me upload the image here which is VERY FRUSTRATING so go here and look in the fourth sprite instead: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1090193153/

part 3 (you're welcome)
Okay, okay.
I see what’s happening here.
You’re face to face with pastries and it’s strange,
You don’t even know what to try,
(it’s adorable,) well, it’s nice to see that customers never change.
Close your eyes and breathe in,
Yes, one of these can really be yours if you come in.
I know it’s a lot, the frosting, the cake,
Follow your tastebuds and you won’t make a mistake.
What can I say except you’re welcome,
For the quest you’re about to begin,
Hey, it’s okay, it’s okay, you’re welcome,
Cross places off the list where you’ve been.
Hey, who’s got a pat of creamy butter,
Running down the path with her heart in a flutter?
Who’s got red fruit with a bitter taste
Whose famous beauty a little house graced?
Oh, and a little bowl, hot and fresh,
Yet golden curls weren’t very refreshed.
Also a squash on wheels,
Rolling away to midnight’s peals.
So what can I say, except you’re welcome,
For the fairy tale realms you’ll see,
It’s a beautiful day, come play (you’re welcome)
And then drink a cup of the Godmother’s tea.
You’re welcome! You’re welcome!
Hah, now check another item off the list.
You’re welcome! You’re welcome!
Now, come to think of it…
Honestly, this search could go on and on,
Until every ingredient is gone.
The butter, the apple, the bowl,
Getting them all is your final goal!
Quick, get the pumpkin before midnight strikes,
So we can make dessert that you’ll like.
What’s the reason? What happens then?
The Charming Bakery can open and begin!
And the things we’re baking today,
Will be part of our tasty array,
Look what we’re doing, the things that we’re making,
Soon all of these can be yours for the taking.
Well, anyway, let me say you’re welcome,
For the adventures you got to go on,
Hey, it’s okay, it’s okay, you’re welcome,
And now you’ll get to eat your reward!
Hey, it’s your day to say you’re welcome,
For getting everything we need,
We’re opening today, today, you’re welcome,
So thanks for helping us succeed!
You’re welcome! You’re welcome!
And thank you!

part 4
Finally, the ingredients are hers.
A wide smile crossed the girl’s face as she surveyed them. A smooth ball of butter. A rosy, red-and-white apple with a single, perfect bite mark. A blue bowl filled with porridge. And an abnormally large pumpkin with a good bit of coiling vine still attached.
The girl washes her hands without removing her eyes from her treasures. With these, she’s going to make the best baked goods in the realm.
First, croissants made with Red Riding Hood’s butter. The baker rolled out light, flaky dough and carefully cut the butter into small, neat pats, interspersed between layers.
Next, an apple tart. This one took a bit more preparation, mostly because she had to take steps to ensure her customers wouldn’t fall over flat after one bite. Or, if they did, that it was because of the stunning deliciousness of the dessert and not because of any lingering curses. Hunting down everyone’s true loves to revive them would be a real pain.
The girl dunked the apple in a bubbling pot and then ran it under cold water, relieved to see that she had gotten it out before it started cooking. That should take care of any lingering effects of the potion.
More dough. She cut up the slices and sprinkled cinnamon, sugar, and butter over it, then popped the tart in the oven. The croissants were already cooling in a corner.
The porridge would be trickier to handle, but she had just the thing. Oatmeal cookies with chocolate, dried fruit, and nuts would be quite easy and quick to make, and soon those were in the oven too.
Right. She stopped and washed her sticky hands again, eyeing the pumpkin. She’d already scraped it clean and roasted the seeds (and then mixed them into the cookies), but there remained the question of what to make with it. She already had a tart, which was close to a pie. Maybe cake. Yes, pumpkin cake would be just the thing.
The tart and the cookies were done and had joined the croissants, and by the time she finished the cream cheese frosting, the cake was almost done too.
The girl smiled. She’d achieved her dream and baked with fairy tale ingredients. Soon her bakery would be set to open.
It was perfect.

Daily!

So, incase anyone’s curious, this concept is very, very, VERY old. It’s about 6 years old at this point, so, why not revive it now?
Oceanheart = Baypaw

The soft rustling of leaves underpaw was the only sign that a cat was there. The water vole, nibbling contentedly on some berries was oblivious. An orange and white tail swished once before a furry blur pounced onto the vole. Half of a squeak escaped it before the cat bit its scrawny neck.

“Wonderful job, Baypaw,” a brown-and-white cat commented as she leapt down from her place in the branches. “You’ve gotten better at your stealth, despite the odds.”

Baypaw only ducked her head in embarrassment. “Thank you, Sprucerise.” Baypaw mumbled around her catch. Baypaw was always the odd one out. But she was proud of being able to achieve the unexpected from her clanmates. She wasn’t far behind her siblings, Sunpaw and Valerianpaw, which was a shock to most. She couldn’t hide or stalk prey easily, her white, orange, and black fur would stick out like a raven among doves. Her siblings, a deep orange and a pale brown had a much easier time when it came to hunting.

Baypaw meanwhile was forced to hunt from the trees, leaping down to catch her unsuspecting prey. She had to work harder than her siblings. She had to practice late into the nights, the stars her only company as she repeated a move or technique over and over again. She had to, to prove herself.
The clan seemed to think she wasn’t one of them, but obviously, that couldn’t be, right? She was CypressClan, through and through. They were just jealous, that’s what her mother would always say. They thought she was so cool, that they couldn’t accept that, and were mean to her because of that.

“Sprucerise?” Baypaw asked softly, dropping the vole by her feet as she dug up a squirrel she had caught earlier.

“Yes?” she answered, glancing back at the apprentice.

“Do…” she hesitated. “Do you think I’ll pass my warriors’ assessment?”

Sprucerise only purred in amusement. “Baypaw, you’ve reached my expectations or passed them! Don’t doubt yourself, you’ll do great, I assure you.”
“I hope so.” Baypaw said, scooping up the vole and squirrel.
Oh, how wrong she’d be.

Critique for @/strang3rthing
305 words excluding quotes

Alright! Apologies for it being slightly late, I got busy and didn’t really have access to my device. But overall, the piece is good! There are a few things I would change/fix though.

“Momma! Come on! I wanna look at the ships!” She called to a woman walking up the same steps. A lady with black hair and dark green eyes smiled gently. “I'm coming dear.” She said as her feet touched the sandy floor.

The general rule of thumb is that you start another paragraph when a new speaker starts talking.

A lady with black hair and dark green eyes smiled gently. “I'm coming dear.” She said as her feet touched the sandy floor.

A little bit of a clarity issue here? While it’s pretty obvious that the mother is talking, it’s not as obvious who’s feet are touching the ground. I would recommend either referring to her by name or perhaps changing up the sentence to make it a little clearer.

Zelia's eyes lit up as soon as they came to the docks.

Once again, it’s pretty obvious that the little girl’s name is Zelia is does take a moment for it to register. Personally, I would recommend something like “The little girl’s name was Zelia” or the like, to make it a bit easier.

A girl with golden brown hair ran down the beach, the moss-covered stairs quieting her footsteps, but that wouldn't help her much…since she was kinda being chased, as soon as she reached the sandy floor she quickly ducked behind a small group of bushes, her eyes darting around as if she was watching for something.

This… is an insanely long sentence that could definitely be shortened or spliced into multiple sentences. My recommended splice is this:

A girl with golden brown hair ran down the beach. The moss-covered stairs quieting her footsteps—but that wouldn’t help her much… since she was kinda being chased. As soon as she reached the sandy floor, she quickly ducked behind a small group of bushes. Her eyes darting around as if she was watching for something.

I would also recommend getting rid of the “kinda” in narration, it weakens the strength of the sentence. I would also say try using some stronger nouns and verbs.

“A girl with golden brown hair ran down the beach” verses…

“A girl with golden brown hair flew down the beach” or, maybe, “A girl with golden brown hair bounded down the beach.”

I do the like the parallels between the first chapter and the second chapter. But speaking of chapters. Unless this is only an excerpt of the full thing, then the chapters are incredibly short. Most book chapters have an average of about 3,000 to 4,000 words according to Google. That might sound pretty daunting! But with a fine balance of describing the environment or what’s going on paired with some dialogue, that’ll pass in no time!

That’s it for my critique! The story seems pretty good! I hope you continue writing it

November 15th Daily: Storyline Recycling
Words: 343 words total

Amelia stood there picking her share of flowers and mushrooms. Today had been horrible. She tried to go to lunch but some jerks came in and grabbed her backpack. She had to fish it out the garbage. She had been so happy in the morning because it was her birthday. She had a whole list of what to do after school. Now, she finally can do it by herself. Amelia grabbed her phone and stared at it. 4:35. Amelia started running towards her favorite bookstore. She had to make it there in time. It was her favorite thing to do everyday. Amelia stood in front of the door which read “OPEN.” She let out a sigh of relief. She opened the door and greeted the bookstore owner which she was good friends with. Amelia walked to the Fantasy section and one book got her attention. She grabbed it, studying it carefully like a hawk staring at it’s prey. “Once there was you” it read. It had a flower the size of a baseball on the front. “This might be interesting.” Amelia thought. She continued to shop before leaving with four new books. While walking home, Amelia dropped one. “Shoot!” She yelled but the book opened. It had a faint, yellow light glimmering around it. There was a wind and Amelia was falling. All around was billions of stars and galaxies circling around her. Amelia smacked hard on the ground and groaned. The fall must’ve been at least 100 feet. Amelia opened her eyes to see herself sitting in a bed with a closed capsule over her. She tried to sit straight but hit her head on the glass in the process. “Ow! What in the…..wow!” The glass of the capsule opened and she seemed to be floating out. Amelia looked around. She was in a spaceship. There was gear on the walls and dozens of buttons and walkways side by side. “What is going on?” Amelia said. She floated towards a hallway only to be lost looking at the window of infinite space.