swc megathread ⌕ nov 2024

AmazaEevee

Weekly #2
11/16/2024
786 words

Part 1:
160 words

You find yourself aboard a ship, swaying as the wind howls around you and waves crash against the bow. Steading yourself, you grab the railing and look around.

“Welcome aboard,” a girl says, her hair blowing in the wind with two others behind her. “Here to help Odysseus get home?”

“Hurry! Come on!” another girl comes forward, clasping your hands. “There is so much we have to do to fight to get home. There are many monsters in our path; we must be ready.”

“Monsters?” you ask, still adjusting to the rocky ship beneath your feet.

An arm is slung around you as a guy pulls you around, facing the crew. He winks. “Don’t worry, you’re in good hands.”

“And soon, you’ll be fighting with us too!” The first girl says smiling.

The second girl extends her hand with a grin. “So, you ready to join us, soldier?”

You nod, feeling adrenaline course through your veins. You’re ready for adventure.

Part 2:

Part 3:
224 words

Hello our crew
So you're the one who brought us here
Why did you call?
You’re being send on a final mission
Remember, this is your only chance
To get Ody back home and prove your worthy
Writing stories to get yourselves back home
And yes, if you pass this test
Then you’ll climb up to first place
What’s this plan to get him back home and tell us
It will require some writing, my friends
You’ll need to create stories for this
You cannot get away with inactivity
You wanna be first?
You gotta make sure that you wri-ite
And put all of your words into this
Remember all the dreams and stories for this
You gotta treat the session like it’s cabin wars
You wanna be first
You gotta make sure that you wri-ite
Become writers
Alright, we’re ready. What do we write?
First up, we’ve got the dailies
Every day, a prompt to help write
Midnight UTC, that’s when it’s due
Don’t forget the time conversions
When weeklies come upon SWC
When words seem so hard to pile
Sprint your way through, write what you must to
Get all your words in
It will be challenging, my friends
You’ll need to create for this
You cannot get away with inactivity
You wanna be first?
You gotta make sure that you wri-ite!

Part 4:
400 words

“Captain?” you ask, frozen in fear as you stare at the giant cyclops that is sleeping, blocking your only path of escape. “What are we supposed to do now?”

“We must write,” Eevee says softly, pulling out rolls of paper and ink from her bag. “It’s the only way we’ll be able to sharpen the spear quick enough for us to use it against him before he gets up.”

Shelly nods her head. “We used up too much of our energy to try to get the cyclops to be compliant, but now we need to regain our energy. Come on guys, we wrote a lot before and we can do it again!” She grabs the paper from Eevee and starts passing it around.

Julian rolls out one of the papers. “We need around 3000 words in order to have enough energy. Between the 14 of us, that’s roughly around 214 words each. That should only take about 8 minutes if we all write fast enough,” he says, writing out the calculations.

You nod, grabbing a roll of paper and ink with the rest of your cabin mates. Of course, you need more energy before we can get anything more done. There’s only so much that you can use, and cyclopses deplete a lot of energy. You start writing, letting random stories come and go, focusing on getting words out. You let your dreams come to life and journal the events of the past weeks aboard the ship.

After a handful of minutes passing with only sounds of scratches as quill scrapes against paper, Julian speaks up. “We’ve got it. Guys, we’ve got it!” He holds up the energy sphere as it lights up and glows the familiar orange.

You huddle around him, cabin mates pressing against one another, as you gather around. Shelly and Eevee hold the sphere with him as they make their wish.

You press your eyes shut as the glow gets brighter, sending a burst of air as the orange light swells and disappears. You hesitantly crack one eye open, releasing a held breath as you see the sharpened spear in its place.

“Okay, everyone, let’s grab the spear together!” Shelly instructs, as you fall into place with the others next to the spear. “It’s heavy, so be careful.” She lifts the front end first and everyone follows soon after.

“We’re aiming for the eye,” Eevee commands.

Last edited by AmazaEevee (Nov. 16, 2024 22:46:40)

-NightGlow-

Weekly 2 - Cabin Creation
word count: 868 words

studio - https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/35929050/
project aesthetic - https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/984372411/

Part 1: 143 words
A luminous glow across the valley lit up the surrounding kingdom of Xadia. A war was on its brink, but what was to come next? Lives were lost, families were broken, and above all, society as a whole started to crumble. In this time of desperate need, the people needed someone to look up to, someone to guide them, ushering them on a new journey of hope.

This is where we come into place. The Rebellion. We are a source of power, and we need your help to make things right. Although our primal magic is kept safe in the Storm Sphere, dark magic lurks and Aaravos is still out there. You have shown that you are worthy, that you are brave, and that you are ready to do whatever it takes to bring back our world.

“Are you ready for this adventure?”

Part 3: 305 words
We've only got a few days,
to come together once and for all.
Every broken dream is just floating,
as we picture life without our sun.

Oh, oh, I know.

Let's take it one step at a time,
We need to stick together now and fight.
Don't matter what we're sayin'
I'm just glad you made it safe and sound.

Oh, oh, mm, mmhmm.

Save me, now I'm facing.
All my fears of the unknown,
I've been shakin' in my bones.
Lately, I've been rebuilding,
for some people I've never known,
we can't do this on our own.

So we, can build together,
we'll stick together and rebuild.
So hold on to my hand.
Oh, I'll be fine for tonight,
with all of you by my side, oh my
We're all in this together.

I know it seems like a huge thing,
something big to come out of.
We are the ones who unite,
and the next steps for our next time.

Oh, oh, ooh.

Save me, now I'm facing.
All my fears of the unknown,
I've been shakin' in my bones.
Lately, I've been rebuilding,
for some people I've never known,
we can't do this on our own.

So we, can build together,
we'll stick together and rebuild.
So hold on to my hand.
Oh, I'll be fine for tonight,
with all of you by my side, oh my
We're all in this together.

So let's go, ‘cause we won’t waste
another minute. This distance brings us
together oh just.

I can, do this.
Because you're here beside me.
I hoped you would know that no
one else could ever.

Save me, now I'm facing.
All my fears of the unknown,
I've been shakin' in my bones.
Lately, I've been rebuilding,
for some people I've never known,
we can't do this on our own.

Part 4: 404 words
The morning call came and time was ticking. Our battlefields were bare, those hurt and of despair. The war had ended, but at what cost? How was society supposed to rebuild themselves when everything was left in shambles.. and yet, no clear winner in sight. This was bound to continue again, a spark igniting the dying flame, but what were we to do until then? Were we just expected to wait it out, and accept this deadly fate?

Troopers of sound and light, we came marching in. We, The Rebellion. One of change, hope, and honour. Xadia was falling but so was Katolis, and in order to keep the enemy hidden we made sacrifices. Although as a community we would probabaly be able to see it through, the riskiness of it all seemed too close to home. Yet in the distance, there lay hope. Somehwhat distant, yes, but still existent. It was as if the light at the end of the tunnel was yet to die off, and that despite this tragedy - we still had hope.

I knew change had to be made.. and I was ready to do whatever necessary to make it happen. That's just the way I was, a do-er, not a follower. As the sun began to set across the horizon, I knew that our time together was falling short. She was barely breathing, and this battle has most certainly taken a toll on her. In the corner of her eyes I saw a stream of tears begin to trickle down her cheeks. But it was someone else that held her embrace, not in my arms but in his. I was shocked. All the time, all these spiels and hope and perserverance for this?

Everything that I had ever believed in came crashing down on me and I felt absolutely suffocated. Trying to catch a breathe as if someone was blocking my mouth - I felt weak, I felt hopeless. I just needed to yell, let out a scream to let everyone know and feel the pain that I was going through. But no one understood. No one will understand.. because that's just the way it is. People think that we're strong, resilient, and brave, but in truth, we're no better than anyone else. We're struggling all the same. It's just that we're somehow better at hiding it from everyone, somehow better at forcing that emotion out.

euphoriafall

weekly #2

part i (184 words)
Welcome, intern, to Dystopian Enterprise.
Your internship will last three months.
You are expected in office at 9am on Monday.

Another morning, another day at the office. The blank walls and clatter of keyboards greet you as you enter the room and pass by to your desk.

It is the same as every other day. Around you, your colleagues sit hunched over their monitors in the rigid metal chairs, and though you cannot see them through the barriers put up between each person’s desk, you know it is true. You wonder how they can bear it, the same work every day, with no human interaction, just the blue glare of the screen staring back at them.

Today, you choose something different. You leave your desk and walk to the break room. Though you have been introduced to the place, you have never seen anyone go there. Yet, when you enter, a small group of your colleagues stand around a table.

“It’s nice of you to join us,” one of them greets you. “I suppose you too have got tired of the way we work?”

part ii honestly i hate this as there's only so much you can do with a terrible idea. all images from pinterest

part iii (209 words) i honestly have only listened to this like one time and i had to add in an extra verse to make it enough words too
parody of we will rock you by queen
Intern, you’re new, got to work hard
Seeking that promotion, or CEO someday
You’ve got no experience, but that’s okay
You’ll just be another cog in the wheel, because

We will, we will work hard
We will, we will work hard

Intern, you can do this, we promise
This nine-to-five job is probably the best for you
You’re new to this department, but that’s alright
We’ll teach you how to work all day long, because

We will, we will work hard, sing it, oh
We will, we will work hard

Intern this is your time to join us
You’re experienced enough to really work with us
Eight hours a day, six days a week
For the next sixty years of your life

We will, we will work hard
We will, we will work hard
We will, we will work hard
We will, we will work hard

The days are slipping by, every day
It seems like the same, this is how your life will be
Dedicated, working at it all day
Your work isn’t unrewarded, we’ll give you minimum wage

We will, we will work hard, sing it
We will, we will work hard, everybody
We will, we will work hard, hmm
We will, we will work hard, alright

part iv (422 words)
“So, what brought you to this job?”
You mull over the question, turning it over in your mind. Honestly, you’re not quite sure, only that the rejections poured in thick and fast, until there was only one left. Desperate, you took it.
“I suppose it was the only one available to me,” you respond.
On the outside, it wasn’t the worst decision. A quiet job with possible opportunities for career success. And yet it is mind-numbingly dull, all grey partitions and the sound of laboured breathing, the stench of packed humans barely masked by industrial bleach liberally applied to the floors by cleaners who only appear during the night, materialising to straighten chairs and shred documents and dust tables, then disappearing once more. Everyone is nameless, faceless, just another part of a well-oiled machine.
You used to wonder whether you were the only one who felt this way. If you were an anomaly amongst the human race, or maybe at least amongst your colleagues. You recall your fellow classmates at university, starting your job together with enthusiasm, and then drifting apart as you saw them less and less, and now you don’t think you would be able to find them in the sea of faces at work anymore. You stop, startle, frown, as the thought forms. How did that happen?
On your first day, you introduced yourself to your neighbouring colleague with a smile and a wave. By the next day, they had been replaced with another person, stony-faced and responding to your polite questions with monosyllabic answers and grunts. After a month, you gave up talking to anyone.
Or perhaps it is the eerie silence of the canteen. Of course, it is not completely silent, but the sound of hundreds of people eating in silence is disturbing. You had never sat through a silent meal with others before working here. Or had you? Your memory fails to conjure up a memory to support either idea, and you eventually drop it, though not without a flare of panic.
“I think this place, it makes people doubt themselves,” Hope says, breaking you out of your musings with their words, a plunge of cold water.
That’s exactly what you were thinking.
Perhaps it is not human nature to crave isolation and loneliness, sitting at a desk for eight hours, voice husky with disuse and eyes burning from the harsh light. Perhaps, in the past, humans worked jobs in which they interacted and found joy or creativity or connection, and that fills you with hope.

ForestPanther

weekly, 1206 words

**brainstorming**

slay the princess themed cabin!!

genre: adventure, romance, horror, bi-fi. probably adventure!

—

**part 1 - 270 words**

*“You're on a path in the woods. And at the end of that path is a cabin. And in the basement of that cabin is a princess.”*

The disembodied voice of the Narrator echoes through the misty night. You turn, taking in your surroundings, as scraggly branches tug at your feathers.

*“You're here to slay her. If you don't, it will be the end of the world.”*

A knot forming in your throat, you glance around at your cabinmates. They all seem equally dazed, equally taken aback by the declarations of the Narrator. A cabin? A princess? And… we have to *slay* her?

“The end of the world?” somebody asks. They’re tall, with curly brown hair cut at their chin. “What are you talking about?”

“Killing a princess seems kind of bad, though, doesn’t it?” asks a pale blonde girl.

“Can’t someone else do this?”

*“I’m afraid not,”* the Narrator’s voices booms. *“There’s a reason you are on this path. You must follow through.”*

You swallow and glance at you cabinmates uncertainly. “We’re not… really going to do this, are we?”

The tall guy shakes their head. “I’m… not sure. We need to consider our situation- make our decisions together. I’m CD, by the way.”

“I’m , and this is ,” calls the blonde girl who had spoken before. She smiles and gestures towards the person who’d asked the last question.

“Well- should we at least go to the cabin? We might learn more about this whole… situation,” puts out after a silence.

You nod, chewing your lip.

“I just hope we don’t end up dooming everybody to oblivion.”

—

**part 2 - aesthetic set**
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1047021685/

—

**part 3 - 388 words**

to slay her or not to slay her?

to slay her or not to slay her?

to slay her or not to slay her?

to slay her or not to slay her?

you say something’s changed

and i could say the same to you

repeat it over and over again

what perspective is new?

i’ve been the smitten

i’ve been the cold

i’ve been the stubborn and the paranoid

i’ve been the skeptic

i’ve been broken

i’ve been the opportunist and the cheated

but in the end

it is quiet

i’m the quiet, too

oh, in the end

but in the end

it is quiet

i’m the quiet, ooh

what happens then?

-

(what’s the best way to play?)

-

to slay her or not to slay her?

to slay her or not to slay her?

to slay her or not to slay her?

to slay her or not to slay her?

you say, ‘bring more ways’

i don’t know what to choose

you said that we are oceans, that you’re a creek

and darling, it’s true

i’ve been the smitten

i’ve been the cold

i’ve been the stubborn and the paranoid

i’ve been the skeptic

i’ve been broken

i’ve been the hunted and the hero, too

but in the end

it is quiet

i’m the quiet, too

oh, in the end

but in the end

it is quiet

i’m the quiet, ooh

what happens-

more, new, different every time!

i don’t know which choice i made is right

but i gotta get it to the quiet

you predict what’s comin’ out of my mind

and i gotta keep going down until you’re fine!

down until you’re mine

girl, you’re such a dream

you’re the only perfect one for me

you’re a monster and you make me scream

still i find myself going down into the night

down until you’re mine

moral of the story, don’t think, don’t perceive, don’t do

how else do i get these vessels to you?

another time

-

i’ve been the smitten

i’ve been the cold

i’ve been the stubborn and the paranoid

i’ve been the skeptic

i’ve been broken

i’ve been the opportunist and the cheated

but in the end

it is quiet

i’m the quiet, too

oh, in the end

but in the end

it is quiet

i’m the quiet, ooh

we’ve reached the end.

—

**part 4 - 504 words **

You’re on a path in the woods. And at the end of that path is a cabin. And in the basement of that cabin is a princess.

You’re here to slay her. If you don’t, it will be the end of the world.

Gathering your resolve, you head down the path. The cabin lies at the end, perched on a small hill. It’s a ramshackle wooden affair, the type you’d expect to see in a stereotypical fairytale story- perhaps one involving a princess and a dashing savior.

Wasting no time, you enter the cabin.

The interior of the cabin is almost entirely bare. The air is stale and musty, and the floor and walls are painted in a fine layer of dust. The only furniture of note is a plain wooden table, and perched on the table is a pristine blade. The blade is your implement. You snatch it up and approach the peeling wooden door to the basement.

It’d be rather difficult to slay the princess and save the world without it.

The door to the basement creaks open, revealing a staircase faintly illuminated by an unseen light in the room below. Without taking a second to absorb the details of your surroundings, you plunge down the dusty stairs and into the basement.

You’re met with an empty, stone room, bare but for the delicate princess shackled to the far wall. She regards you- and the knife in your hands- with cold greeting.

“And there you are. Are you here to kill me or something?”

You ignore her chilling words, her inviting eyes, her undeniable beauty. You’re here to slay her- you will not be moved or persuaded otherwise by her honeyed word. Clutching your blade tighter, you step forwards.

“Oh? No talking? What even makes you think you can kill me?” the princess scoffs. She seems convinced that you’re no threat. You’re prepared to prove her wrong.

Suddenly, you lunge forwards without a moment’s hesitation. You have time to register the shock in her wide eyes as you plunge the blade into her heart.

The princess’ body slumps down onto the frigid cobbled floor, her mouth still agape. A small gasp escapes from her mouth.

You step back. The princess is still, her breathing stilled moments ago. You’ve done it.

Your work completed, you climb the stairs back into the cabin, closing the basement door behind you. The action has an air of finality- you won’t be seeing the princess again.

You feel a slight pang of doubt- did you really just… do that? Go into a cabin, kill a princess- a person- you didn’t know, just because you were placed on that path in the woods? Shaking your head, you reassure yourself- it was for the good of the world. It had to have been done, and you had to have been the one to do it.

You turn and open the front door of the cabin, ready to return to a world saved from the looming threat of certain doom.

hamilchaos

weekly n2!
930 total words
forest-mist thing cabin!! inspired by a park i went to today (one of the pictures was taken by me :)) and loosely on the 3rd sidetrail of an elmwood trail
genres: thriller, mystery, maybe adventure or myth

part one: 284 words
You look around, the sound of birds chirping, leaves and sticks being crushed, and people walking fills your ears. “Maybe this expedition isn't so bad”, you think, “even if I have to carry this gigantic backpack”.
One of the expedition guides stops for a moment to give directions.
“Folks, we will now cross a bridge. Please remain safe, and be careful to not fall into the lake.”
The wooden bridge is old and creaky. A bit broken. You doubt your first steps, but after walking for a few seconds, you're confident. An imposing metal gate stands at the end of the bridge, blocking the way to the forest. One of the leaders tingles with a key, opening the lock. They push the gate and it makes a chirring sound, like old corroded metal. Everyone goes through and the guide closes the gate.
Suddenly you cough. You struggle to breathe. Looking around, everyone is doing the same. Someone gasps for air.
“What is this?”
“Is… is this part of the tour?”
Thick white mist impregnates the whole forest. It carries a unique scent, like wet dirt - with something metallic or artificial.
The leaders look unbothered. Soon the fog covers your vision.
“Stay calm, everyone.” One comes to the front. “This is [name] speaking.”
“Form a circle. We need to recount and see if we have everyone.” Another one states seriously.
“This mist is not new. But it's not usual, or constant.” You recognize the voice of the leader who opened the gate. Their voice is sharp and ominous. “The forest has picked you. And now you can't go back.” They clear their throat. “Well then. Get going. The forest doesn’t like those who fall behind.”

part two: project aesthetic

part three: 206 words
parody of “all is found” from “frozen 2” :D i had to add some verses because the song was not long enough ✨️ so some creative liberties there xD

Where the deep mist meets the trees
There's a forest full of mystery
Walk, my traveler, and be safe
Or in this forest lies your grave

In the thick mist, dark and cold
Lie the secrets that you can unfold
But go with care, don't lose your way
Or you won't see the light of day

Yes, it will shout to those who hear
But in its voice, the danger grows
Can you face what you can't see?
Will you trust, or will you flee?

The trees are watching, silence calls
In its shadows, many fall
The realm waits, never sleeps
The darkness up on you will creep

In the fog, creatures hide
Do you know what is by your side?
Turn your head, all things shift
Look again and you might drift

Over here, the nights are long
Seek a shelter and stay strong
Can you live ‘till dawn appears
Or be taken by your tears?

Once you make it, find the thing
Solve the treasure, in the deeps
You will reach the final stage
This is when you need to care

Choose your steps and be wise
Or face the forest's dark surprise
Is your story at its end
Or just starting to ascend?

part four: 440 words
The group continued on. Everyone just wanted to explore and find out what they had signed up for, but they knew they needed to stick together. Better to be with more people than alone, especially in this unknown forest.
The forest occasionally growled as they walked. Sometimes they'd hear a soft hum, or the wind would suddenly howl stronger. Maybe the trees would twist, as if trapping something in their branches. All these random movements and reactions were considered normal by this point. They just wanted to get out. But no. Now they had to solve a puzzle of some sort, or maybe just resign to their luck.
“Why, why, why?” One of the members whispered, infuriated. “I didn't even want to come here! My mom told me I should get more in touch with nature and signed me up.”
“Maybe she just wanted to get rid of you.” Another one joked. Before the first one had the chance to laugh, one of the leaders glared at them both.
“It feels like we have been walking for an eternity” Someone commented.
“We might as well have been. I mean, who's to sa-” Someone else replied, shrugging.
“Do not know what the forest holds.” Again the leaders were talking ominously, almost in riddles. “Are you in need of sleep? We can stop and camp here.”
“Always taking measures of protection.” Another leader added, in the same tone.
Everyone in the group agreed. As they settled down in the cold, hard ground, one of the leaders motioned to the others. The three figures stepped away.
“We need to talk. The signs- everything happened so soon-” They struggled to talk. Even though they had kept up this nonchalant, serious, and calm appearance to not upset the newcomers even more, they were incredibly nervous.
“Yeah. I knew this was coming, but- I didn’t think it would be the moment we crossed the gate.” Another leader agreed.
“This time… it feels different. And if we get this wrong- we'll be facing more than silly little games, I- We were just joking around before, and-” A blood curdling scream, coming from the camp, interrupted the phrase. Everyone panicked as they tried to find out what happened. The leaders looked over, then back.
“Great. As if we needed something else to take care of.”
“Don't worry, we can- we need to lead these people. We need to be organized.”
“What was that scream? The forest- it's acting weird. Does it not like this batch of people? Did we do something?” One of them theorized as they all ran to see what had gotten down between the explorers.

Last edited by hamilchaos (Nov. 17, 2024 01:24:46)

Natt519

Weekly 2!
For paranormal, +1500 points
Total word count (+5 images): 915

Part One: Storyline Description
Words: 177

You wake up in the dark.

You are alone.

But who are you?

You can't remember anything–not your name, not where you were before here. It's all gone. Nothing. Just empty space. Where are you? Why are you here?

Then, suddenly, the box you are in begins to move. Rumbling, groaning, lurching like it might just give up at any moment. But it does not, and after an eternity, it stops. The box goes silent except for your rapid breaths. Then suddenly, light spills in.

People stand around the edge of the box, gazing down at you. There's maybe twenty people there. They don't seem surprised to see you. One girl jumps down. She has short brown hair, blue-grey eyes, and glasses. “Welcome to the Glade. I'm assuming you don't remember your name yet. Don't worry; you'll get it back in a day or two.

”Those two right there are our leaders, too. I'm Natt; the girl with the curly blonde hair is Faith and the one over there is Cat. C'mon–we'll give the Tour of the Glade."

Part Two: Aesthetic Set

I shared this on my profile because my cubeupload account wouldn’t work to upload it, and also i wanted to actually use the set lol

https://scratch.mit.edu/users/Natt519/

Part Three: Parody
ngl this kinda sucks but oh well—
words: 252
parody of ‘Wake Me Up’ by Avicii

Feeling my way through the darkness
Guided by a map of the Maze
I can't tell where the Maze will end
But I know where to start

They tell me it's to dangerous in the Maze,
They say I'm caught up in a dream
Well the exit will pass us by if we don't open up our eyes

So if you wake me up when you've all given up
When I'm “wiser” and I'm older
All that'll happen is more years
Lost in the Maze

So if you wake me up when you've all given up
When I'm “wiser” and I'm older
All that'll happen is more years
Lost in the Maze

I tried carrying the weight of the world
But I only have two hands
Hope I get the chance to escape the Maze
'Cause I've got some plans

Wish that I could stay forever this young
Not afraid to run
The Maze is a game made for the Immunes
And the escape is the prize

So if you wake me up when you've all given up
When I'm “wiser” and I'm older
All that'll happen is more years
Lost in the Maze

So if you wake me up when you've all given up
When I'm “wiser” and I'm older
All that'll happen is more years
Lost in the Maze

I knew we were lost
I knew we were lost
I knew we were lost in the Maze
I knew we were lost in the Maze
I knew, so I escaped

Part Four: Story
i didn’t have time to get actual campers so yeah, miranda is a random character
words: 486

“So, Miranda. How're you liking the Glade?” Natt asked.

“Oh–it's fine. I'm kind of curious, though; those people who come back from outside every night, what do they do? What's out there?”

“Actually…that's what we needed to talk to you about. You know Esmeralda, right?”

Miranda nodded. She was the captain of the Runners, though what they ran through, Miranda wasn't sure.

“She's been thinking about it and she wants you to be a Runner. If you agree, of course–you don't have to–after she's explained everything. She's waiting in the basement of the Homestead.”

*

Miranda searched the bottom–or at least, what she's thought was the bottom–floor of the Homestead for a door or something she'd never seen before.

She didn't find anything until another Runner, Carson, had to show her where it was. Which was behind the building, apparently.

The stairs leading down were dark and slightly damp from rain. There were patches of moss on the walls, and the entire area seemed like it wasn't cleaned very often. She reached the bottom of the steps and glanced around the corner.

Esmeralda was tinkering with some spare bits of metal on a table and looked up when Miranda came in. “Hello. You couldn't find the stairs, could you?”

“…No.”

“Don't worry about it. Every new Runner always has to ask someone. Now: so you know anything about what's beyond the Glade? Anything at all?”

“Well…I know about the Runners. There's six of you, right? You, Carson, Alexis, Courtney, Philip, and Reid. You go out there every day and then come back before the doors close.”

“But do you know why we go out there?”

“No.”

Esmeralda nodded slowly. Then, she picked up a cloth that had been covering part of the table. Beneath it was a huge model of a maze–with the Glade in the center.

“This is the Maze. Us Runners–well, we run it. Map everything out. It changes every night, and yes, to answer your question, this map isn't accurate for every phase. This is the first phase. Each part of the Maze changes every few days, always in a pattern. It's never done anything different before.

”In all honesty, we don't think we can find a way out. We've mapped every phase. I've run every inch of it myself. If there was anything there, we would've found it by now. You can't tell anyone that. The other Gladers, they'd lose the little bit of hope they have that they might find a way out. But there's something different about you. I know there has to be something there, somewhere–and I think you can find it.“

Miranda stopped examining the map to look up in surprise. ”Why me?“

”You're observant. You're hard-working. You can run. If you agree to be the seventh Runner, I think we can find a way out. I think we can escape. So…what do you say?“

”Yes. I'll do it."

Zyzeryko

YALL KNOW I'M DOING LUNARPUNK! LET'S GO LUNARPUNKFTW MARCH 25!? HOSTIES PLEASE?!

1 (150 words)
Your feet hang over the edge of the pier, dangled in the warm water of the lake. The city is quiet at this time, but soon it will be full of life again. The night dawns slowly, blue darkness taking over the sky as puffy grey clouds and stars stand out from the dark backdrop. Iapetus lake is a wonderful spot, and you watch the moon rise in eerie dregudare from your spot on the wooden surface.
The stars have been fading as the moon stays forever unchanged–spots disappearing from the sky without notice until the dawn comes in darkness.
No one else has seen the signs. No one besides you have heard the whispers trailing away down side streets. People don’t notice the darkness, not anymore.
That’s why you have to fix it. If you can’t… maybe no one can. Maybe we’ll be spending another era without the moon.

*dregudare (dred-j-u-dare) is not a real word, apparently. It means like ominous but beautiful. A warning in the form of a swan. Yes, it is mine now. Muahahahaha

2 (5 images)

3 (251 words)
Chemicals by Neoni

And now I’m seeing white
Lose my head while chasing spite
Get so caught up in the lies
I
Tried my best
Now I confess
That we’re all out of time
Its addressed
Fear welcomed guests
The sky has fallen fast
In sun-adorned gold caskets

It’s the war I rage,
it's the death of days
And I can’t stop falling for it
We are the words we commit

Luminescence
I’m dying for the
Dying for the
Omnipresence
Of a god long fallen
Think I need a
Crescent (sign)
'Cause I’m about to
I’m about to
Lose my wings and fly
Empty is the sky
I’m drowning in the high

Lumi, Lumi, Luminescent
Lumi, Lumi, Luminescent
Lumi, Lumi, Luminescent
Lumi, Lumi, Luminescent

Faded light
Alone in night
Remember the burn of daylight
Run away
From moonless haze
Are we going crazy in the absence of this night?
Don’t fall away
It’s hell to pay
But hell is the place where we go when we hide
And I’m afraid we’re running but we’re running out of time

It’s the war I rage,
it's the death of days
And I can’t stop falling for it
We are the words we commit

Luminescence
I’m dying for the
Dying for the
Omnipresence
Of a god long fallen
Think I need a
Crescent (sign)
'Cause I’m about to
I’m about to
Lose my wings and fly
Empty is the sky
I’m drowning in the high

Lumi, Lumi, Luminescent
Lumi, Lumi, Luminescent
Lumi, Lumi, Luminescent
Lumi, Lumi, Luminescent

4 (407 words)
I ran through the silent streets, dipping behind buildings to shy away from what would soon be the sunrise. The world titled as my eyes burned from the heat.
People would soon find me. I would be caught and quickly apprehended. I had committed a crime–the crime of intentionally setting things on fire for fun.
It was fun. But it was not worth being arrested. So I kept running from the life and fate I had pushed upon myself.
They couldn’t get me once the sun rose, but I wouldn’t be able to survive at that point either. Thinking quickly, I banged on the door of the closest house to me. The door was solidified steel, so it couldn’t be knocked down by police. But it couldn’t be knocked down by me either, so I would have to rely on the kindness and understanding of random strangers.
And they were very untrustworthy.
But the door opened, and I was quickly ushered in by a tall woman with dark skin and eyes, her hair a white- blue hue. She sat me at her long, rather fancy dining room table. It stretched across the room, taking up most of the space. Eight chairs reminiscent of thrones stood around the table in golden sun glory. I was seated at one end of the table, the end further from the door. She took the seat opposite me, her eyes piercing through my defenses.
She was not to be trusted, but she could be relied upon. You could ask of her a favor as long as you didn’t make the mistake of offering your trust in return.
I looked at her with skepticism in my eyes. I would let her lower my guard with so little as a glance in one’s fervent direction.
She pulled out a long weapon– a firearm, very much banned —and slid it across the table to me. “Take this, child. It will come as a great use to you.”
I nodded. “Thank you for the gift.”
I feared mentioning it as anything other than a generous gift, lest she think I was obliged to return her favor. My portrayal ensured my safety from her cold and cunning grasp.
She stood up, only to return a few moments later with a cup. It contained a beverage of sorts, but I only pretended to sip from the cup. She did not knock glasses with me, promising a poisonous death.

Last edited by Zyzeryko (Nov. 16, 2024 23:32:50)

FireBlood23

Weekly 2

Part 1 -
A girl looked up from where she was sitting by the bonfire, her wild eyes sparkling in the light. “Took you long enough!” She grinned as another person approached from behind and clapped you across the back. He was holding a plate of easy-bake pizzas from the kitchen, one of which he passed to you.. “Sit.” He said, as you the pizza juggled in your hands.

Another girl was sitting by the fire, frowning at something she held in her hands, brow furrowed with frustration. Without looking up she beckoned you over, gesturing to the spare seat next to her. You sit quietly, trying to peek over her shoulder at what she held in her hands.

“It’s good you’re here.” she stated, passing what she held in her hands over to you. Upon closer examination you realize it's a note.

To whoever’s reading this note. It’s me. If you’ve found this it means I am likely gone but what I was looking for isn’t. After all this time, I’ve found it. I know where it is, but getting to it will likely kill me.
This note is my safeguard. To ensure that all I’ve worked for will not go to waste. Go to the night's safety, 11, 34, 12. But only on a half day.
Goodluck. Goodbye

jrlj—

The name at the end had blurred with smudged ink, making it unreadable. As you looked up from reading the note you found everyone looking at you with expressions you couldn’t begin to discern.

“Will you help?” The wild eyed girl asked across the flames. An ember floated up and you followed its path with your eyes. Up, up, to the night sky, glittering with stars. Up to the unknown. You look back down and meet her gaze. “Yes.”

Part 2 -
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1097593752/

Part 3 -
On top of the world - Parody

If you look for something
Better find it why it’s here ‘cause
It just may be found before you
You’ll never know what it may have been
Then again it just depends on
How fast time flys for you

we've searched the highest mountains
we've searched the deepest rivers
You can have it all but not til you move it
Now take it in but don't kill it
'Cause we’re searching the world, ‘ey
We’re searching the world, ’ey
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the cops
we've been waiting to flower, ‘ey
Been watering it for a while, ’ey
Take it with us if we can
Been dreaming of this since a child
we’re on searching the world

They tried to cut those corners
Try to take the easy way out
They kept on falling short of something
we coulda gave up then but
Then again we couldn't have ‘cause
we’ve traveled all this way for something
Now take it in but don't kill it

'Cause I'm searching the world, ‘ey
I’m on searching the world, ‘ey
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the cops
I’ve been waiting to flower, ‘ey
Been watering it in for a while, ’ey
Take it with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I'm searching the world
'Cause I'm searching the world, ‘ey
I’m searching of the world, ‘ey
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I’ve been waiting to flower, ‘ey
Been watering it in for a while, ’ey
Take it with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child

And I know it's hard when you're trapped in the ground
And it's a long way out when you clear your head
Get up now, get up, get up now
And I know it's hard when you're finding your way
And it's a long way out when you lose somebody
Get up now, get up, get up now

'Cause we've searched the world, ‘ey
we searched the world, ’ey
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dead
I've been waiting to blossom, ‘ey
Been cradling it for a while, ’ey
Take it with me, I can
Been dreaming of this since a child

You’re underneath the world

Part 4 -
I blink the dust out of my eyes and check to make sure everyone's okay. Two people are already staggering upwards, leaning heavily against the stone walls of the cave for support. My ears are ringing and my vision has black spots in it but I am able to crawl out of the space I ended up jammed into. I try to put weight on my arm and wince as blinding white pain jars my sense of reality yet again.

As the noise in my ears subdues I can hear the definite cry of someone calling for help and another person sobbing. I stand up shakily and head to where the shouts are coming from checking in on each person I come across and making a mental count of who’s missing.

The cries for help become more desperate and I break into an unsteady run to get there quicker. My heart pounds in my head as I wonder who's been hurt and my gaze gains black spots across it as I force my already exhausted body to keep pushing.

As I trip and stumble over rocks scattered over the floor I come to who's been calling for help.
She’s kneeling next to a body that’s half crushed under a boulder that must have come down when the cavern collapsed. I come closer to recognise who’s crushed and let out a gasp of shock as I realize who it is.

“No. no. no.” I begin to panic pulling at the boulder in an attempt to move it off her while the other girl cradles their head, stopping them from looking at the bloody mess that is her legs. Tears drip onto my hands and with a start I realize that they’re mine. I stare at my shaking hands and will them to be still, which does nothing but make them shake more.

I hear her rasp out something, “It’s no use,” her voice sounds quiet, sad, as though she has already accepted her fate. I move to her and away from the crushed mess that is her legs. “I’m sorry.” I whisper, my voice cracking pathetically. She reaches up to touch my face.

“It’s okay.” she whispers. My hands tremble and my tears drip onto her. Her eyes go glassy and her hand falls from my face.
I let out a pain wail as my heart splits in two. A wail that echoes through the chamber as everyone gathers quietly around us.
Black spots appear in my vision as the adrenaline wears off and I pass out to the soft beautiful singing of my friends. No, family.

- Livy
Sci-Fi
1140 words

Le_lake

❝ I am an empty page, a muddled shade of paint, I am a light that’s burning out ❞
Weekly II - 834 words

Part I - 172 words
Your strange fascination with the occult seems to have landed you in a bit of an unfortunate situation. Your local community has decided that you are a witch (which is just a term to get rid of anyone who stands out, but they didn’t listen to you when you told them that) and now you are tied to a stake seconds away from an untimely death.
You hear whispering behind you and you turn your head to see a motley crew of three.
“Oh, hi! We’re here to get you out.” The first supplies while the other two nod. You give a confused nod and watch as the three of them cut the ropes and usher you into the woods.
You arrive at a camp and one of the three, seemingly the leader, turns to you.
“Welcome to our home, also known as the Cathedral.”
The one who first talked to you chimes in, cheerily adding “it’s where we do our cult!”
oh dear, what have you gotten yourself into?

Part II
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1097604632/

Part III - 256 words
I read all the texts you left me
From the moment I read them I knew there was more
It said there was more
I thought there was more
Do you know what they all said? When they heard what I had done
They said, you’re foolish for that one, love, they’ll never let you survive
You and your words flooded my senses
Your sentences left me defenseless,
You composed me churches of paragraphs,
You built cathedrals.
I’m speaking the texts you left me
I’m hoping that they’ll give me time
Or some kind of sign
Then they found what was mine
And the world seemed to burn, burn.
I tried to publish the stories you left me
Tried to tell the whole world what you said
In finding your name, I ruined my life
Do you know what they said? When they heard what I had done?
They said, you are an Icarus, you have flown to close to the sun
I and my fables, obsessed with the future
My sentences border on senseless,
I am terrified, in every paragraph, how will the gods see us?
Us, us, us
I’m finding myself in the narrative
When future historians wonder how we reacted
When it fell apart
They’ve tied me to the stake
I’m watching it burn,
Watching it burn.
The world has a right to our hearts
The world has a right to narrative
They should get to know what we said
I won’t let them burn the memories
Won’t let them burn the memories

Part IV - 406
I had not originally expected to be saved from that whole, burning at the stake business. Usually, and ideally for those burning you, being tied to a stake and set on fire in front of a chanting mob tends to be your death. And it’s certainly a flamboyant way to go, and I had made peace with that fact the moment my hands had been roped to the giant stick. That peace had been broken by a whisper.
“You, hey you. Yes, the guy who’s being burned alive, who else? We—“ they paused to gesture to the two people standing next to them— “are here to save you.”
I raised an eyebrow, a bit confused at the notion, but certainly didn’t object when one of them took a pair of shears and snipped the rope.
The strange trio immediately, scurried away, gesturing for me to follow. And I did. It would have been foolish for me not to.
They were dead silent the entire time, I was getting the general impression that this group of individuals was a quiet and awkward bunch. I supposed I wasn’t one to judge though, given my predisposition to silence. They finally spoke, and stopped running, when we arrived at a copse in the woods that I had all but forgotten existed until now. The shortest one introduced itself first
“I am Wil,” they motioned to the side, pointing out the other two people, “and that’s Ayla and Mango. We are from a group known as the Parable Coven, we study religious texts. I suppose that’s pretty self explanatory though, given that’s literally what a parable is.”
I did not know what the word parable meant up until that point, but decided against mentioning it.
Mango spoke up “we’re going back to our camp. Where you will live.”
Ayla nodded, “with us, because if you go back there you’ll be burned alive.”
Wil decided to elaborate, “we saw your papers on the works of philosophers and god complexes. I love myself a god complex, so I couldn’t resist recruiting you.”
I, not once, had consented to being recruited, but I deigned to mention that in favor of living. Besides, these people seemed interesting and their mission suited my interests rather well. I would give this a shot, that was what my mother had always told me. Try everything in life once. And besides, this was certainly better than being burnt alive.

Last edited by Le_lake (Nov. 17, 2024 00:22:43)

-WildClan-

PART 1: Storyline Description

(The genre is most likely Sci-Fi, but Bizarro Fiction or Horror could work, too, depending on how you want to look at it. It’s based on the trolley problem, especially spinoffs on the classic thought experiment, such as the game Trolley Problem, Inc.)

Maybe you shouldn’t have clicked that link.
Maybe you should have scrolled all the way to the bottom of the Terms of Service before clicking “agree.”
You thought it would be just a game.
But now the lever waits in your trembling hands, and it sure feels real to you. You can barely hear your own thoughts as the trolley comes barrelling down the tracks, louder than anything you've ever heard.
Squeezing your eyes shut, you pull the lever.
You feel the whoosh of air as the speeding vehicle breezes by.
“Welcome to Level 1,” an automated voice tells you. “Initiating scenario.”
When you finally open your eyes again, you find yourself on a platform. It looks more like a train station than a trolley stop, but you suppose that’s to accommodate the crowd of people who seem to be just as confused and unnerved as you are.
“Attention, new players!” an announcement comes booming out of the loudspeakers. “You have arrived at Dilemma Station, and I’m your trolley conductor, Wild! In the interest of improving our ethics, you will face a series of tough decisions. Your choices will provide data used to train our next generation of self-driving trolleys, so please take this seriously, and be sure to stay off the tracks at all times. Oh, and remember: life and death are in your hands now! Have a great day!”
In front of you, a curtain rises, revealing one track branching off into two. The first track has five people on it. The second has one person. You’re pretty sure you know what’s about to happen next…

PART 2: Aesthetic Set

(See project: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/821730366/ )

PART 3: Cabin Parody

(This is a parody of “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC.)

Sci-fi cabin
Havin’ fun
Clickin’ the link to a brand-new game
Gettin’ pulled in
Uh oh, what’s this
All the choices are callin’ my name
Pull the lever?
Or leave it be?
How do I get out of here?
All the lives
Are in my hands
Questions of morality are drawing near!

I’m on the trolley to hell
On the trolley to hell
Trolley to hell
I’m on the trolley to hell

No way to stop
Only pick a track
Nobody can ever slow it down
Grab the lever
Gonna pull it
Someone must die when the time rolls around
Hey Wild?
Please let me go
Stuck here in this station room
I’m sorry!
I had to do it!
Pick who to send to their doom

I'm on the trolley to hell
Trolley to hell
I’m on the trolley to hell
Trolley to hell
Gotta stop this!

I'm on the trolley to hell
On the trolley to hell
Trolley to hell
I'm on the trolley to hell
(Trolley to hell) I'm on the trolley to hell
(Trolley to hell) Trolley to hell
(Trolley to hell) Trolley to hell
(Trolley to hell)

And I've gotta choose
Until the end
I'm on the trolley to hell

PART 4: Short Story

“Level 8,” the automated voice announced. “Initiating scenario.”
That same old familiar sense of dread rose up in Aurora’s chest. What awful decision would it be this time? What questions of morality would have to be faced? What sacrifices would need to be made?
These trolley problems were driving them out of their mind.
The curtain lifted, revealing the new scenario. A long, curving track stretched before them. On one side, five strangers were tied to the rails, struggling and calling out for help. On the other…
Aurora’s breath hitched.
On the other track, Clev was tied down.
“Oh my god,” Cat whispered, clutching her hands to her mouth. “Clev’s on the tracks. What do we do?”
Natt leaned closer to the console, adjusting her glasses. “Classic scenario. Five people or one. But it’s not just one. It’s… Clev.”
“Trolley departing in thirty seconds.” The monotone voice resonated in sharp contrast to Aurora’s panic.
“Thirty seconds?!” they burst out, their voice breaking. “We can’t make this decision in thirty seconds! That’s absurd!”
“Think!” Natt said sharply, gripping the edge of the table. “Five lives versus one. Rationality says we flip the switch. Clev would understand.”
“But Clev’s our friend!”
Cat trembled. “Well, of course I don’t want to run them over, but… but what about the five people? Their families? Their friends?”
“Trolley departing in twenty seconds.”
“We can’t do this!” Aurora gasped, pacing in tight, frantic circles. They could feel their chest tightening, their thoughts spiraling. “This is Clev. This isn’t fair. It’s not fair!”
Cat was crying now, gripping Aurora’s sleeve. “We have to make a choice. We don’t have time to argue. We don’t—”
“NO!” Aurora screamed, spinning toward the console. “We don’t have to do this! Why are we even *playing* this stupid game?! This is sick! This is twisted!”
“Trolley departing in ten seconds.”
Natt took a step toward the lever, her hand trembling. “Aurora, stop it! If you don’t flip the switch, five people will die. This isn’t about what’s ‘fair.’ It’s about saving the most lives!”
Aurora froze, tears streaming down their face. The lever gleamed in the harsh light, awaiting the campers’ final decision.
“Five… four…”
Aurora lunged forward, grabbing the lever.
Their hands shook violently.
“Three… two…”
“I’m sorry,” they choked out. With a shuddering heave, they pulled on the lever.
It snapped into place with a sickening crunch.
“One… zero. Trolley departing.”

Runaway--

Weekly Two - Gothic!

Part One 245 words

Welcome, dear traveler, to Everly Manor. Settle down, find a room to call you own. Don't worry, the house has been empty for years. Nothing living is going to hurt you, as long as you stay within my sight.

The group around you mills nervously. None of you remember quite how you got here, but there's already a feeling of distrust in the air. Is it because of the way the floorboards creak without anyone moving? Is it the sideways glance your tour guide throws at you, as if suspicious? Or maybe it comes from those right next to you.

It might pay to get to know your cabinmates. They could help you on this journey… You want to make it out of here alive.

“Alright everybody, welcome to the manor!” Someone yells, stepping on top of a chair and gesturing for quiet. “My name is Via, and it's my job to make sure you all enjoy your stay. Everyone has been assigned partners, so make sure to stick with them. Oh, and stay inside! Last time I was outside I saw…. never mind. Stay safe, and avoid the creatures in the halls! If you don't touch them, they'll leave you alone too.” She laughed, handing out an empty notepad to everyone in the small crowd.

“It may not be how you expected to spend the month, but have fun exploring. Who knows, it might just be the key to the adventure of a lifetime.”

Part Two Five images

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1097297584/ Images in backdrop

Part Three 215 words

Camper, you're a star, make a big noise
Playing in the street, gonna win some day
You got ink on your face, you big disgrace
Writing your words all over the place, singin'

We are, We are, Gothic
We are, We are, Gothic

Camper, you're a young man, smart man
Shouting in the street, gonna take on the camp today
You got ink on your face, you big disgrace
Waving our banner all over the place

We are, We are, Gothic! sing it
We are, We are, Gothic

Camper, they're an old man, poor man
Pleading with their eyes, and they'll wanna make peace today,
They got ink on their face, big disgrace
Somebody better put /them/ back into your place

We are, We are, Gothic! (For the win!)
We are, We are, Gothic

Camper, you're a brave man, grave man,
Shouting in the street, gonna know your name some day
A grin on your face, they're a disgrace
'Start waving our banner all over the place

Who is, who is, Gothic? sing it
We are, We are, Gothic, everybody
We are, We are, Gothic, hmm
We are, We are, Gothic

Who is, who is, Gothic? louder!
We are, We are, Gothic, everybody
We are, We are, Gothic, hmm
We are, We are, Gothic
Alright

Part Four 468 words

I leaned against the wooden boards the blocked off one of the manor’s many broken windows, surveying the campers ahead of her. They had gotten closer during their time, and many of them have created friendships. It’s odd- I didn’t expect that when I found them here.

Sighing, I stood again, clapping my hands to garner attention. Three campers in the corner stood up straight, as if I wouldn’t have noticed them poking around the house’s old treasures. In a few strides I make it to their side, and pry a picture frame from their hand.

The picture is worn and curled from water damage, but the two faces are immediately recognisable. Me, as a child. I still wear the same necklace, although the dress i’m sporting in the photo is far more formal than anything i’d wear now. I guess it’s because my father isn’t gazing over my shoulder now- like he is in the photo. No- now he’s holed up in his room doing gods know what. The campers don’t know that though. I’ve seen their glares and glances as they explore this house- like they’re slowly figuring it out. But they’re not. So many of them are convinced there’s a mystery here, an adventure to undertake. They think that finding out my history will lead to their release- the end of the story.

It won’t. I am not that significant. They are.

Every soul in this house, every story they tell- the manor feeds. It always has, since I was too small enough to realise. My father was lucky to last as long as he did, before he got stuck in that room at the heart of the house.

The house calls for more and more- throwing odd creatures and obstacles in our way. But the house is not to be feared. It is helpful- keeping all these campers here and busy.

My father is in the heart of the house. The heart of it all.

This house take and takes and takes, but once he takes all of their stories- their imagination and laughter- he will get back his own. He will be back again.

They just need to be here for a month.

I spun around, placing the picture frame back on the table and smiling at my fellow cabinmates. Let them be convinced I am the puzzle they are here to solve. Let them believe that the great evil outside is more than just a story I made up to avoid the house’s anger.

“I’ve managed to find a break- a path through the darkness outside.” I grinned, savoring the moment. “I sent a letter. Help should be here soon.”

I sat back, listening to their excited chatter. Little did they know, they wouldn’t be leaving this house. Not now, not ever.

minergold48

Weekly 2 || 1095 words

Storyline Description - 299 words

Sci-Fi Starcraft (co-leaders: chrisluk002, booklover883322)

You open your eyes to a bright light and the uncomfortable feeling of ice on your skin. You slowly recollect why you’re here: you were one of the few chosen to make the first intergalactic journey to a distant solar system.
“Are we there yet,” someone mumbles as you and your companions stumble out of your cryotubes, looking towards the person in the doorway of the room. You recognize the long, dark hair and brown eyes of your ship’s researcher and botanist, Bookie. “Not quite,” she said, projecting her voice so it could reach everyone in the chamber. “There’s been a…situation, and I need you all to follow me!”
Still feeling disoriented, you and the rest of the crew followed Bookie through the ship and onto the flight deck, where a sight catches your breath in both awe and fear.
Gigantic tentacles slide across the ship, black like space with glowing strips of magenta and cyan streaked across them. There were various alarms going off, and your pilot, Chris, a tall figure with shaggy blond hair, was running around the room, clicking random buttons in such a way that you couldn’t tell if he knew exactly what he was doing or if the opposite was the case.
“Great, you’re here!” Aurora, your captain, stood in the center of the room, two brown braids bobbing behind them and glasses perched on their nose. “On our way to the system, we got attacked by this…creature.” They gestured to the tentacles. “Bookie, Chris, and I have been trying to get free of it, but we can’t do it alone… Could you help us?”
You looked around at the others and slowly nodded, the others agreeing. After all, you had no other choice if you wanted to ever get off of this starcraft.

Aesthetic Set - https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1097589359/

Cabin Parody - 366 words

Take Me to the Beach - Imagine Dragons
Save Us From the Beast

Something’s on our spaceship
Got a million tendrils digging in our system
I can not understand it
Gonna spend some time finding what the plan is
Each group to a zone
Got a co-leader ringing my phone
“Can I friend the-“ no
No, friendship is not the way to go

I know
Bookie said something about this creature from the deep
Oh

Save us from the beast, ah
It could have the asteroids, ah
We gave it food, ah
It's still right here
We need to get going, ah
Could it get off, ah
It could have the asteroids, ah
Just leave us, beast

If we want that, we must do it
Got a million campers telling me they're with it
And alarms are going off now
The solar panels, oxygen, greenhouse down
If you wanna keep on living
Cause the monster is now giving us a limit
Gonna find out there’s a way out
Can get the tentacles off, no doubt

Oh no
Chris is trying to find a way to befriend the beast
No

Save us from the beast, ah
It could have the asteroids, ah
We gave it food, ah
It's still right here
We need to get going, ah
Could it get off, ah
It could have the asteroids, ah
Just leave us, beast

It’s leaving us alone
Now to our new home
But something else roams
Now it’s bringing us down, down, down, down
Just give us some space
Laser in our face
And the beasts fight on, and on, and on, and on (S-A-V-E, S-A-V-E)
(S-A-V-E)

Save us from the beast, ah
It could have the asteroids, ah
We gave it food, ah
It's still right here (it's still right here)
We need to get going, ah
Could it get off, ah
It could have the asteroids, ah
Just leave us, beast (Just leave us-, Just leave us-)
Save us from the-

It was just our friend, we got that wrong
We’ll help it win again, protect us all
Save us from the beast
It was just our friend, we got that wrong (we got that wrong)
We’ll help it win again, protect us all
Save us from the beast

Short Story - 430 words

(booklover883322, -WritingIsCool-, -vanillamochabear-, CatMeowLove7, ReadWriteSing, chrisluk002)

Aurora opened the door into the little library on the ship, holding it open so the whole crew could fit inside. Bookie was already in there, frantically scribbling things onto various pieces of paper. Everyone stood there silently, watching her engrossed in her work, before one of the crew members, a brown-haired kid named Orion, awkwardly broke the silence. “You…called us?”
Bookie looked up at the handful of people crowded into the library. “Oh! Sorry I got a bit carried away there- look!” She pushed a book forward, everyone leaning over it. What seemed to be an accurate image of the monster wrapped their ship was on it, along with a few lines of random facts about the mysterious eldritch. Veni stared at it, twirling her fingers through her wavy hair. “And…what is this supposed to mean? There doesn’t seem to be much info on this thing at all…”
Cat, who had been reading through the facts, hesitantly scanned the room before saying “This book says the creature’s able to stick onto surfaces so well because of the coldness of space…maybe if we heated up those tentacles enough we could get it to let go?”
“Exactly!” Bookie grinned, Aurora nodding in agreement while deep in thought. “We have those flamethrowers, right?” Orion pointed out, everyone staring at him like he was crazy. Faith, who hadn’t said anything ever since being freed from the cryotubes, simply said “WE HAVE FLAMETHROWERS?!?”
“I…honestly forgot we had those,” Aurora muttered, before raising their voice. “Y-yeah, we can use them! They wouldn’t work in space, but if we use them to warm up the outside walls, that should work!” Everyone nodded in agreement…except Chris.
“We still haven’t tried just…talking to the creature yet, though!” Bookie sighed and held her head with a hand as he continued. “Before we try to flamethrower it away, why don’t we try to, y’know, be its friend?”
Veni raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know about you all,” she said, “but I just don’t see how knocking out our power, air, and food is a sign of friendship.” The others nodded as Chris sighed. “Fineeeeee, we can do the flamethrowers.”
Aurora quickly doled out orders. There were already three groups set up to help maintain the key systems of the ship before the beast permanently disabled them, and each one was assigned to grab some flamethrowers and heat up the metal walls of the ship that the major tentacles were attached to. Hopefully this way they could free themselves from the eldritch’s grasp and escape from this zone of the universe.

1lMaM

red herrings:
- a strangely broken coin
- stolen necklace
- empty Coke can
clues:
- typewriter that doesn't just print paper
- suspicious emails/letters
- stained apron

I’d been sure it was Louis until the typewriter.
The suspects’ cabins had been closed for the SWCops to investigate at their discretion – one of them was Gurtle in human form, with the potential to bring terror back to SWC – and I’d grabbed the opportunity with all my strength. Louis had a strange collection of one-dollar coins, and my hours investigating showed the dents and missing parts of many of these coins to be uncannily similar to tooth marks. Perhaps Gurtle was practicing his bite, I had thought. The squashed Coke can next to his bed had had too many words weaving around the wrapping to be a coincidence. I’d been sure. I’d been so foolishly sure that this was the morning I’d tell Louis of my suspicions to see how he reacted. I’d have told all the SWCops, no matter what he said.
But on my morning walk around the suspect cabins, I saw something new under Gigi’s bed.
I heard it before I saw it; a sputtering like the death of a machine, mixed with an animalistic burble. Something purple oozed into plain view, morphing into different words by the second. By my research, this was what Gurtle ate.
It could have been an accident, though. She could have bought some word ink from the Fantasy Market and put it into a typewriter, not knowing its true purpose. But it was enough for me to question whether Louis was the one.
The breakfast hall was packed by the time I got there. Everyone was there, as far as I could… where was CJ? He was probably getting dressed, or doing the weekly, or something. I sat down anyway, supressing my unease when Louis sat across from me.
CJ rushed in wearing a necklace I’ve never seen him wear, purple word ink dancing across the beads. Gigi glanced at it from the next table, glanced down, glanced at it again. Louis looked at the kitchen, then looked at me as CJ sat next to me. Did he not realise Gurtle’s incarnation was either across from him, or…
He was uncannily easy about all this. In fact, he was trying to be easy about it. The way he sank into his chair, hand reaching up a fraction and pulling itself down as if it was trying to fidget with that necklace, spoke of something different. He glanced at Gigi at the same time she glanced at him, and he looked hurriedly away as her eyes widened a fraction.
He stole it, didn’t he, from Gigi? So it was hers. Was she Gurtle’s human form, then?
The rest of breakfast whizzed by. I rushed to Gigi’s cabin, scanning all she’d left. Cosmetics, pyjamas, dailies and weeklies scattered across pieces of paper. One of them showed the Critiquitaire’s description, dated a day before it was opened. Curious. A couple of letters were sprawled across the bed in open envelopes, mostly to members of her own cabin, some of the letters whitened out. No, not whitened out. Gone.
Like something ate them clean off the page.
-
It was midday when I finally found Gigi on kitchen duty. Something black had stained her apron today. Along with all the other sauce splodges and squirts of juice on it, it wouldn’t have stood out. But that splodge was too black, and it smelled distinctly of something I knew very well. Not just ink, but words. Pure words. Only one person – or turtle – could eat words in their pure form.
I’d caught her.

(588 words)

silverlynx-

Daily 17

Red Herrings: a man’s boot, but it was actually a woman’s; a letter leading people off the scent; a perpetrator tricking an innocent person
Three Clues: an earring left behind by accident; a footprint; mud stains

Warning: Mentions of death, gore etc
An eerie scream echoed through the house, bouncing off the walls. My heart thudded in my chest and my blood turned to ice.
“Go to your room! Now!” Mum yelled, her voice shaking in fear.
I shook my head resolutely, and crept past her into the basement. Lying there, rigid and frozen, a body. Their legs were spayed out at an unnatural angle, and their dark hair lay limp by their shoulders, like a mane. My lip wobbled. I had seen death be
I tried my hardest to be brave and start thinking like a detective. I had seen death before but… this was too much. I stepped closer tentatively in the dim light, my brain screaming at me to get out. I leant down to her face. Clues would be vital for later.
I gazed into her eyes, which were distant and glazed. I swallowed down a lump of terror, and tried to imagine the sheer horror that this person must have experienced.
Dusty footprints were clustered around the crime scene. There had obviously been some sort of struggle.
There was also something glimmering on the floor, shining out at me. It was an earring. Its shimmering opal centre was a stunning navy blue, set in gold and diamonds. I slipped on my gloves and gently picked it up. I pocketed it. I was going to need this.

“Mari! Mari!”
I rolled my eyes. Mum was going to have to wait.
I slipped off my gloves and turned on the torch on my phone, bathing the room in an unnatural silvery light.
I shivered, a draught coming through the slightly open door.
“Come on, Mariam. Come on.” I whispered to myself, willing myself to carry on.
I glanced around the room another time. This time I noticed large clumps of mud clustered in a corner, with another footprint sinking deep into it. Where had that come from?
The door creaked open. I slowly turned around, my whole body trembling. I stood there, rooted to the spot as a shadowed figure peeked around the corner of the door.
“Leave me alone!” I shrieked.
Then a wave of dizziness rushed through me and everything went black.

I woke up, sweat trickling down my forehead. I rolled over and looked at my clock. 2:07am. Definitely not breakfast time yet. I tried to shake all thoughts of last night’s events from my head, but an overpowering urge to investigate flooded through me and I felt myself rise from my bed. My feet carried me towards Aunt Lil’s room. It was Aunt who had been murdered last night. The one person I could trust.
I was out for revenge.

I pushed open the door carefully, trying not to disrupt anything in the room. I didn’t want those silly policemen telling me that detecting was something far too old for me. Again. I made my way past the pale green leather sofa and towards his desk. Desks can reveal a lot about people. My desk was scattered with little charcoal drawings that I had done over and over again for art homework and huge stacks of wool, threatening to tip over at any moment. That had actually happened before and it was… interesting.
I pulled on my gloves and started yanking the drawers open. A huge sheaf of papers flew out, scattering around the room. I picked one up. Taxes. Boring.

I gathered all the files and put them back in the drawer, and continued to investigate. One thing caught my eye though. A thick creamy sheet of paper, folded up into a little origami lily. Carefully written letters adorned its proud leaves. I unfolded it.

Dear Police,
I would like to give you more information on my sudden death. By the time you have read this, I will be long gone.
You see, my reasons for passing are much simpler than you probably think. Despite the fact I am perfectly healthy, my mind is not. I believe I have a mental illness. However, NO ONE will listen to me, and so I must put myself at rest. I will have a harmless death and I hope this clears up any confusion.
See ya in the afterlife!
Lily Monterby

I gasped. The whole death had just been death of her own accord? But what about the clues? The body? The scream?
This letter was a lie. Aunt was a lot nicer than that. If she had really written that, she would have made it much kinder. And I knew she was perfectly, if not more than well in both her physical and mental health.

And then I saw it. A boot in the corner. A single boot. Where was its twin? And what was a boot of that size doing in Aunt’s room? Aunt had a smaller shoe size than me, and I’m only 9, so her feet were tiny. And this boot looked to be at least a size 10, with polished gold buckles and shiny leather. This meant that the culprit was a lot more likely to be a man. I looked at the label. Men’s Size 10.
I had just ruled out almost all of the suspects. Apart from two. And one of them was my dad.

“I am calling this meeting to try and decipher who murdered Lily Monterby.”
The policeman swept his gaze over the room. An incessant chatter started up. My mum was holding Gran’s hand, whose wrinkled cheeks were wet with tears.
“Silence!” Boomed the policeman. “Now, after piecing together all of my facts, I believe that the murderer is…”
A hushed silence fell over us.
“No one! A few minutes ago, I entered Lily Monterby’s room, and discovered a letter explaining of her death, of her own accord.”
Gran put a shocked hand to her mouth.
“No! My Lil was perfectly happy!”
The policeman shook his head.
“I’m afraid not, ma’am.”
Da leapt to his feet. “Sir, I do believe it’s far more likely to be Andy. I mean, he had the most to gain from Lily’s will, being her father and all. I know he seems like a sweet old man, but really, all people have some evil at heart.”
My pointed a shaking finger and Grandad, who was snoring peacefully in the corner, blissfully unaware of the current events. I inhaled deeply and started to speak.
“I’m sorry, Da, but I’ve pieced together all of my facts, and the only possible culprit… is you.”

Last edited by silverlynx- (Nov. 17, 2024 13:40:28)

Milkysplash

Weekly 3 - Journalism - 2070 words

Part 1 - 661 Words
If you need further information about the world that this is set in, you can find it here, and higher map quality exits here. The world that this is set in is done in collaboration with Hope and we've been working on it on and off for about two years, and this was inspired by an off-hand comment I made to Hope about a week ago.

“Hi Michaela,” Michaela’s shift partner, Samantha, greeted as she pushed open the door to the break room.

“Morning, Samantha,” Michaela replied, clearly exhausted. It was only 06:30, but she was tired. From the drive, from having to get up so early, dealing with a crazy amount of traffic for the day… “Traffic was a nightmare.”

Samantha walked over to the coffee machine, filling up a mug while talking to Michaela. “It’s the strikes, isn’t it?” Samantha asked.

Michaela nodded. “Yeah. I was really hoping to not have to drive in today, but they just had to stop overtime last night and have a full strike today,”

“I mean, I understand why they’re doing it - you know, all the railway workers, because of some of those overtime conditions, but it’s been over three months already,” Samantha commented. “Coffee?” she offered.

“No, thank you,” Michaela politely declined. “I’m more of a tea person,”

Just then, the door opened, and Michaela recognised Alaina. “Morning,” Michaela greeted.

“Hi Alaina,” Samantha greeted.

“Morning you two,” Alaina replied. “No sign of Kallie?”

Michaela shook her head. “No, not yet.” She replied.

“Must be those train strikes,” Alaina muttered. “It’s the worst thing ever.”

“Ah, yeah. Tea? Coffee?” Samantha - who was still standing by the coffee machine - offered.

“Coffee, if you wouldn’t mind,” Alaina said. “Alfie finally made me drink it.”

“Sure,” Samantha responded nonchalantly. “I’ll have your coffee coming right up.”

“Hey, don’t forget my tea!” Michaela teased.

“I won’t, I promise,” Samantha laughed. “Anyways, Alaina, how has it been for you? The new roster has just started and we’ve worked opposite shifts so I don’t know how you’ve been managing.”

“Yeah… I’ve had to get Alfie or Adelaide to drive me in, whoever’s working the same shift as me. They don’t like it, but we have to deal with it.” Alaina replied. “Kallie doesn’t own a car so she’s basically stuck navigating the delays and the buses and whatnot.”

Michaela winced. “Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t own a car,” she laughed. “Considering the entire Sunshine Bay metro is out of service, and Eastern Railway, Citylink, and the Overground as well today, if I didn’t have a car, I’d be so screwed.”

Samantha’s eyes shot up. “The entire network is down?” She asked, surprised. “Oh, and you can grab your drinks now,” she added.

“Yeah,” Alaina responded, walking over to grab her coffee and sipping on it. “It’s horrible. Normally it’s the metro workers for two days, one day break, then the national rail workers for two days, then another day’s break, so we can still use some part of the rail network, but I suppose things have just gotten too heated and they’re too impatient for their new deal.”

“And goodness knows how we’ll deal with it again in five years if the government doesn’t give them a better deal next time their contract renewal comes up,” Michaela added, now holding a cup of tea in her hand, gently sipping it. “It’ll be an absolute nightmare, with all the picket lines and whatnots at stations. And it being all over the news, as well. It’s really bad this time around.”

“Good thing we at least agree to all the pay deals our union makes for us,” Samantha added. “I’m glad we haven’t had to go on strike… yet.”

“What, and the headlines would just be ‘Sunshine Bay Paramedics Go On Strike’?” Alaina teased. “No, I’d never strike. Alfie and Adelaide would disown me if that happened.”

Michaela and Samantha laughed.

“What are you going to do then, if Kallie doesn’t show up by 06:45?” Samantha asked. Michaela had been late before, but not to the point where Samantha couldn’t go out on shift.

“Control will probably call me… and… that’ll be it, I guess,” Alaina said. “I’m usually given another partner for the day,”

“Ah,” Samantha said. “Well, let’s hope Kallie gets here on time.

“I hope so too.”

Part 2 - 575 words
I used this piece by Decent!

Biased - 296 words

LUCY WALKER SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CAREFUL - CAUSE OF DISAPPEARANCE REVEALED
Last night, a girl named Lucy Walker was taken away by starry jellyfish after a night out stargazing with her friend, Luna Kiara.

Walker is currently missing.

According to first-hand accounts by Luna Kiara, the two girls didn’t realise it was a starry jellyfish until it was too late, assuming it was just a bright star.

Later, it was discovered that there were numerous warnings in the run-up to the incident that the two girls seemingly ignored.

Alice, a friend of Kiara, said that “the rest of Houston has been seeing a lot of them lately.”

This can only mean that the two girls were aware of the existence of the starry jellyfish, and did not take reasonable precautions to prevent the incident where Walker was taken away by the jellyfish.

During the press conference with the local police chief, we asked if there was anything that could be done beforehand to prevent such a tragedy.

“Taking precautions, such as being aware of their surroundings may have prevented this incident,” the police chief responded.

We also asked the police chief if the jellyfish were rather noticeable as starry jellyfish.

“To the untrained eye… they can be easily identified as jellyfish,” the police chief responded.

From this, we can conclude that this was a preventable incident, and had Walker and Kiara been fully aware of their surroundings and fully alert, this incident may have been avoided. It seems that it was the childish innocence and blindness of the two girls that led to Walker’s disappearance.

Walker and Kiara’s families have denied a request for comment from us. We are still awaiting an official statement from the Houston Meteorological office regarding their warnings about the starry jellyfish.

Unbiased - 279 words

LOCAL GIRL TAKEN BY STARRY JELLYFISH
Late last night, at around 23:16 Central Standard Time, Lucy Walker was taken away by a starry jellyfish while out stargazing with her friend, Luna Kiara.

Walker is currently missing. She is presumed dead by local authorities.

Kiara tried to prevent Walker from being taken, but she was unsuccessful.

Kiara then called 911, reporting Walker missing. The report was flagged as high priority, and police officers arrived on scene to take a statement from Kiara.

At 04:22 Central Standard Time, the Houston Police Department held a press conference, discussing the disappearance of Miss Walker and what has been done to prevent it.

“It is unknown how dangerous these starry jellyfish really are. We are asking everyone in the Houston area to be extra vigilant when going out at night, and for any sightings to be reported to the police.” The Police Chief warned.

Many journalists at the conference were sympathetic towards the Walker and Kiara families, however other journalists were not so convinced.

When asked if the girls could have prevented this incident by being more careful, the police chief answered, “To the untrained eye, they can be easily identified as starry jellyfish after a few minutes.”

When asked for comment, Luna Kiara stated that “It was the worst night of my life.”

Alice, a family friend of Kiara, was also reached out for comment. She stated that “The jellyfish were so beautiful, and I didn’t think they could be dangerous.”

At this moment, it is still unclear whose fault it is, or if there is anyone to blame. We will be bringing you more on this story as it develops.

Part 3 - 543 words (455 that count!)
SCRATCH WRITING CAMP GOES ON STRIKE
This just in! Industrial action has just begun in Scratch Writing Camp’s main cabin, with the Polar Bears (the Activity team), Leader team, and campers all heading off on strike in some hastily-made workers’ unions with questionable legality.

They’re making groups and lists of demands, which all seem to be directed at the hosts. It is unclear if there is any collective reason as to why they are striking, but it seems that the Polar Bears have not been sufficiently well-paid in mangoes and lasagna, the leaders would like more points, and the campers would like to have a camper union.

In this chaos, it has followed with the leaders going on strike, and finally the campers unionising and also heading out on strike to engulf the main cabin in absolute chaos.

When we went out to the picket lines earlier today, we asked some questions to the people there, in hopes of getting a better understanding of why people were striking.

The first thing we wanted to know was why they were out on strike. Chuey, a fantasy co-leader, said that they went out on strike “because Luka commented in the main cabin about how leaders should be able to go on strike too, and I took that and ran with it.”

Bookie, a co-leader from Bangsian, stated that it was because “I’m a co, part of the [Memory Book Committee], and part of the daily team, so, I like, had to strike- It was just too funny not to.”

Meanwhile, Faith, a Dystopian camper, stated that it was because “the reasons are fair.”

Another thing we wanted to know was what their demands were. Skylar, a Bangsian camper, said, “I’ve been trying to get a worker’s union set up for Bangsian since the last session of cabin wars, and when people started striking, I decided to make this one of my demands.”

Vicky, a poetry camper, says that their demands were to “[Get] the polar bears back, camper rights earned, and a camper union set up, in case anything shady comes up again.”

Faith said that she wanted “medium roasted toenails and points.”

Points seem to be a regular demand, as well as food and the formation of official unions.

When asked when the strike would end, many agreed that it would end at the end of the day, but Vicky thinks that it’ll “go on until Monday.”

Faith also rejected the general consensus that it would end by the end of the 22nd November, 2024, as they thought it would go on until “we get equality.” with an unknown timeline.

Also in this camp is Skylar, who thinks that “the strike will drag out for fifteen more months because we need to do it properly.”

Either way, this would be a very disruptive weekend for all people involved in Scratch Writing Camp.

At the moment, this story is still developing and chaos is still occuring within the main cabin. Perhaps tomorrow it would have calmed down, but all that may be subject to change in the future. Keep your eyes on the SBC, as this is still a developing story that is subject to change, and we will be bringing you all the latest.

Part 4 - 291 words
I critiqued this piece by mikamillie!

Hiiii! Alright, so there's a lot I have to say about to this piece, so I'm just going to get into it! Aplogies if this was a bit harsh-

In general, your piece had a good sense of cohesion to it - it didn't feel like topics were being changed in the middle of a paragraph, and the chronological ordering of the piece gives it an added sense of being grounded, and approaching things logically.

I also like your use of the rhetorical question at the end of the first paragraph, as it really gets the reader hooked in to your article.

I also like your use of leader quotes as it feels like you, as the reporter, have actually gone out and talked to the leaders and taken them from a short interview. It really adds a lot to the journalistic nature of this piece!

However, when reading your piece, it felt rather flat. What I noticed was a rather limited vocabulary was used in this piece of writing, which takes away from your flow. By adding more varied vocabulary, for example changing “tired” in “They were tired of constantly writing all these dailies” to “exhausted”, I think it would add more intrigue to your piece and keep people interested.

I also feel like your paragraphs are longer than nesscesary - while your paragraphs are well-organised, you could have perhaps added a few additional paragraph breaks in the first and second paragraph. I would also suggest adding pargraph breaks before every quote, especially in the second paragraph as it feels packed and crammed, if you get what I mean ahaha~

Overall, I think that this is an excellent piece of writing covering the SWC Strike and it was a pleasure reading it! Feel free to take my critiques however you wish <3

Last edited by Milkysplash (Nov. 23, 2024 16:59:46)

HippotheHippo

Weekly part 1 for Paranormal! (624 words)

The turtle gazed determinedly up the hill. Sure, it was tall, but he could do it! A pile of over fifty perfect, untouched links sat at the top. From the smell of them, they were fresh weeklies from this newest SWC session. His favorite.

Slow step after slow step, the turtle was making progress. The links were getting nearer by the minute. The tantalizing smell drew him closer. His head was filled with visions of the beautiful blue and purple underlined words. How delicious they would be!

Two dailies later, the turtle found his first obstacle. A Mangoes and Mayhem episode fell in front of him. Defeated, the turtle splayed out on the ground and waited for the project to be cleared out of the way by the Powers That Be.

One more daily passed, and the turtle still hadn't moved. He knew his time was running out if he wanted to get to the weeklies before they were counted, but he couldn't find the motivation to go on. A common experience in SWC. He flipped onto his shell and looked at the constellations of cabins, campers, and leaders hanging in the sky above him. In his mind, their beautiful passages written during camp strung each profile, studio, and forum post together. These were the co's and leaders who had descended into SWC ghost-dom, the inactive campers who never checked their messages, and the cabins who were so generic that they had been replaced by more unique genres. Their brilliant, vacant souls shined onto the turtle as he laid there, as if offering him strength.

The turtle was struck by a sudden inspiration. He had to keep going, if only for the stars that adorned the sky of SWC. He rolled hard onto one side of his shell and stood back up, his spirits renewed.

Slowly but surely, he picked his way around the episode. Insignificant links tempted him in all directions, their scents wafting on breezes of motivation. He stayed focused on the ever-growing pile at the top of the hill. As he watched, two twin links fell slowly onto the mound, as delicate as snowflakes.

The turtle ran with his head in the wind. Each step was full of renewed passion. He could almost taste the freshness of the links, their sandy-sweet sensation on his tongue.

As he got closer, the campers began to walk with him, united in their mission. He saw a wooden sign arcing over the links. BANGSIAN WEEKLIES, it read.

The delectable smell of the links pulled him closer. His stubby legs ached, but he didn't stop moving. He led the charge of campers with triumph.

As they were almost to the pile, everyone broke into a run. They probably resembled a mob from the French revolution, replacing the pitchforks and heads-on-pikes with pencils and keyboards.

The turtle clambered to the top of the pile of links. Exhausted, he panted and plopped down onto his stomach. A fresh link fell right onto his nose. He tossed his head and caught the link in his beak just as the sun started to rise. The campers clustered around the pile cheered and threw links into the air like confetti. He grinned broadly and tossed the link into the air again. He caught it proudly in midair.

Just as he took the first juicy bite, a ghost flew up the hill. “Wait! No! Stop!”

The turtle laughed and finished the link, leaving only four characters as the ghost pulled fruitlessly on the “.edu.” He started on the next one as more and more ghosts came up the hill and yelled at him to let their links go.

Soon, the whole pile was gone. Gurtle smiled. What a feast it had been!

Last edited by HippotheHippo (Nov. 19, 2024 02:23:00)

silverlynx-

Critique for Vi!!

First of all, I loved reading through this piece! It flowed really nicely and I really liked how you managed to make the speech so natural ;D

I think to improve a bit, near the beginning where it says ‘his voice was only not quite monotone’ you could try to make it less confusing, because the way you’ve worded it is quite hard to understand

I also think the way that you have the question mark in the dash in that sentence just looks a bit wrong? I mean, that’s probably just being fussy (and I just read a book where the author obviously doesn’t know what speech marks, commas or apostrophes are lol) but I just think it makes the writing look a bit scruffy.

Like you mentioned to me, it is a bit confusing, but that’s fine since I’ve never watched Ninjago anyways, and I’m sure it all make perfect sense to you hehe <3

I think when you mention that the boy’s name is Zane halfway through seems a bit out of place, since we’ve already met this character a little bit, so I think it would be better to introduce Zane nearer the beginning, after the bit of speech.
I also think that at the point when you say ‘a nindroid forgetting something. Imagine that’ I got a bit confused, because I thought that Zane was the only nindroid, and Pixal wasn’t. So maybe, near the beginning, you could add in a bit after ‘another nindroid’ explaining that Pixal is a nindroid too? Again, I’ve never watched the series, so I’m pretty clueless (*sob*) and I might just be getting this really wrong, and Pixal isn’t a nindroid, but I just think that part is a bit confusing.

Honestly, I found this piece really hard to critique, because it was SO good lol <3 I loved the descriptions you used and the way you managed to make the characters seem so real when I was reading it. You said for me to critique anything on the flow, but the flow was really good. I just think leaving slightly smaller gaps in between each paragraph or making the paragraphs larger might make it better but that’s just something that I like to do so that’s really unhelpful xD
Anyways, this was an amazing piece that you wrote, and I can’t wait to read more of your writing <3
I hope my critique helped (it probably helped like 2% or something soooooo oh well) and ummmmmm bye!!

pugusialove

Writing using a word war prompt:
“if clumsy were a currency, i'd be a billionaire” suggested by @ButterPopcorn8
Another day, another million of accidents.
I turn off my alarm. At least I try to. Instead I knock over a glass of water. Oops.
I get out of bed, but get tangled in the covers and fall face down on the floor. Double oops.
I pour too much milk in my cereal and drop my spoon while it's full. More oopses.
While brushing my teeth, I accidentally cover my whole face in toothpaste. I drop my hair comb thrice and I fall on the floor while putting on my shoes.
Grandma drives me to school. She says I am too clumsy for riding a bike or even walking. That is not very pleasant to hear about yourself.
At school, I trip over and fall on my friend Zere, causing them to fall, too.
“Oops after oopsies”, I say.
Zere laughs.
Our other friend, Alex, sees us and runs for a friendly hug.
I try to hug Alex, but knock both my friends over instead.
“If clumsy were a currency, you, my friend, would be a billionaire.” giggles our school pet, a lab named Kronk. “I hope you can learn to control your moves before your first quest…”
“Dear students, are you excited for your first magic quest?” we hear through a megaphone.
Kronk sighs.
“Good luck.”
217 words

-vanillamochabear-

november 17th

rudy glanced down at her scrap of notebook paper again, studying her three clues carefully:
the abandoned house will aid your journey.
find the magic goblet.
pour yourself a drink, in which the steam, destiny is revealed.
all in all, pretty useless pointers. she had no idea what any of them meant, or how they connected to the quest at hand. they needed to hunt down the dragon, so where would a goblet be of use?
“lyra?” she asked, frowning, “wanna have a go at the clues?”
“sure.” she took the paper, studying it thoughtfully. rudy sighed as her friend’s expression fell, knowing they were equally lost. “should we find the lady again?”
“why would she want to help us a second time? plus, the pub is too far away now.”
lyra sighed. “okay, well, we don’t have much to work with. come on, let’s go check out the only abandoned area i know.”
rudy quickly folded the paper and shoved it back into her pocket, before following her friend’s sprint down the road. their footfalls thudded softly against the earth, as the daylight fell - they’d have to be quick in order to meet their deadline.

at last lyra slowed, and rudy took the cue, panting. “this is it?”
“mhm. now, to find an entrance…” she circled the building, before smiling and waving her arms. “over here!”
“are you sure? this trapdoor looks pretty used, look, there’s no dust or anything -” she started.
“please. it could be explorers or something, right? come on, i shouldn’t have to remind you that we need to hurry.” she disappeared down into the dark, and rudy rolled her eyes. she had no choice but to follow. still, she couldn’t help the smirk that rose when her eyes adjusted to the surroundings.
beneath the trapdoor and inside the rickety, locked up building, there’s a bustling market. it was lit up with various kinds of torches, breathing life into the place. all around them, there were people hurrying about, and vendors yelling out offers.
“abandoned… sure. i’ve got to admit, this is pretty cool, though.”
lyra furrowed her brows. “no, i swear… what now?”
“we have a look around, of course. fate’s a funny thing - what if this is where we find the goblet?” rudy marched into the lanes of stalls, now leaving lyra to follow.
“but then we’re doing the list out of order…” she muttered under her breath.

there’s an auction in a hidden corner. and, almost a bit too perfectly, the thing that everyone is gushing over happens to be a sparkling golden goblet, its sides embedded with rubies. rudy met her friend’s eyes, and they nodded. there could only be one reason why everyone was so obsessed with the cup, which meant that they had to have it. they pushed through the crowd.
“one hundred.” lyra said firmly. the man looked over to them curiously.
“and why would you youngsters want to have something such as this? a fine piece, rare, sought by many across the land, in the hands of children?” he laughed.
“no, you can trust us,” rudy persuaded. “it’s, um, a gift. to our parents.”
the man hummed. “whatever. i don’t actually care where this thing ends up, and your offer is high. sold!”

“do you think it was suspicious how he was trying to lead us away?” lyra pondered, carrying the bag on her shoulder.
“suspicious.” rudy agreed. “that only adds to the motif that it’s important, though.”
(it wasn’t.)

Last edited by -vanillamochabear- (Nov. 17, 2024 23:03:16)

KrisAsInHemsworth

Mystery Daily for Paranomal <3

(kind of a parody)

We open in an empty room in shambles. A muddy brown couch, stained and worn, is tossed over on the floor. A broken window lets a light breeze into the room, stirring the glass shards on the ground. Softly, “Red Wine Supernova” by Chappell Roan can be heard from the bedroom, which can be seen through an open door. Looking further into the apartment you’ll see the bathroom’s flickering lights on the main room, causing the room to be lit up every so often.
Our lead steps in, pulling her scarf around her. She looks around after tying her hair up with a red ribbon. She pulls sunglasses on and steps inside, her high heels clacking behind her. After she instinctively sits and takes her heels off, she looks around.
“Jean?” she pushes the bathroom door open and turns the light off. “How could you have let your place get like this? This isn’t like you, I know.”
She takes off her trench coat and hangs it up in Jean’s bedroom. “Jean, what did you do to yourself? Who are you, really, Jean?”
Sighing, the lead moves on to the living room, noticing the stained couch. A boot mark on it indicates somebody just stood there, and our lead notes this to her sidekick, who has just entered the room. “Well, yes, but why are we writing this, miss?” she said, flustered.
“God, Martha, you’re so stupid, it’s evidence!” our lead shouts.
“I, I was just saying, miss–”
“Shush. Now watch.”
Martha puts her head down and writes in her notebook. Our lead puts the couch back upright. She puts her foot where the boot was. In one jump, she leaps to the windowsill before falling off. The couch falls, clattering loudly.
“As you can see here, this explains the broken window and dirty couch. Now, if you will please follow my gaze, we will see our culprit’s escape rou… Look, a bracelet. It’s a friendship charm, I had one like that, didn’t I, Martha?”
“Yes, miss, you did,” she said. “But correct me if I’m wrong, you’re Jean?”
“I… oh.” Jean said, “That’s why I had her keys… I remember trying to tell the landlord to fix the light, didn’t I? And.. the record… that’s mine, I remember buying the signed edition off ebay…”
“Yes, ma’am. But why so much damage, and what of the friendship bracelet?”

THE MYSTERY CONTINUES!!

Discuss Scratch