Paranormal collab story! 254 words ✨


There was an SWCmystery afoot. Five geese; one culprit. One big game of clue.

Mouse was sitting in the lounge with two other people—those people being Kiara and Esuom, Mouse’s less chaotic alter ego, who was there because she wanted to be.

“I think I’ve figured out which hosts are which geese!” Mouse said with a grin.
Esuom rolled her eyes. “That is. Not important right now,” she said, exasperated. “Focus on the actual mystery.”
“But what if they’re connected! We can theorize which host would be most likely to-”
“Literally all of them would love to have stolen the mangoes. That’s not helpful.”
“Well what if it’s just a huge ruse! What if there’s a plot twist or something!!”
“We’ll figure that out when we get there,” Esuom replied, and then turned to Kiara, who was giggling quietly, enjoying this entire interaction. “Do you have any ideas?”
Kiara swiped her fingers and a floating glowing screen appeared in front of her. “Spreadsheet!” Mouse gasped excitedly. Kiara’s eyes roved over the data. “Well, we know for sure it isn’t Baroness Bluebell. That’s… all we know for sure. Maestro Maroon doesn’t have his own card. Other than that, we don’t have any solid evidence.”
“We need to get some!” Mouse exclaimed, “I really want Team Giga to win this.”
“Yeah yeah, we all know you’re competitive,” Esuom rolled her eyes. Mouse stuck out her tongue in reply. “We all know you are too!”
“Okay guys, focus,” Kiara laughs. “Who do we want to suggest next?”

A continuation of the Paranormal Collab story! 256 words

Sooeun pops into the discussion, sitting next to Esoum. “What do you guys think about asking one if they have the card of another?”
Esoum thinks about that, slowly nodding. Kiara consults her spreadsheet, because obviously spreadsheets have all the answers in the universe. “Oo okay!” She says, looking through things.
“Sounds like a good idea– might spice things up a little bit.” Mouse says, “Plus, we really have to beat Team Nano so the faster we can get things together, the better.”
Esoum coughs over her words, “Competitive.”
Kiara laughs again, shaking her head in amusement. “Alright, so what if we ask Lieuteniant…” She struggles over the word, because she doesn’t know how to spell or really say it, “Lilac if they have Captain…” Again, she struggles with words. Why did the hosts have to make these words so hard “Celadon’s card.”
Ayla comes over, joining the conversation as well. “That sounds good! What if we suggest the magnet or the banana peels, since they’re both things we haven't really thought through yet?”
Kiara just liked the sound of banana peels, so she picked that one.
“And how about steampunk, for the cabin?” Mouse suggests.
“That sounds good! Are we all in agreement?” Kiara asks.
Esoum raises her hand, as if to protest. Then she drops it, rolling her eyes. Everybody laughs at that.
“Alright guys: let’s suggest this and try our best to beat Team Nano!”
“Do you really think that’s going to happen?” Esoum asks, a bit of doubt creeping into her voice.

CWG-SFWCA + Hosts Contract
This is a joke. I am aware that this is a joke. This is in no way a real contract. 378 words.

CONTRACT AGREEMENT
Between the Chaotic Writers’ Guild - Scratch Federation of Writing Chaos and Authors (hereby referred to as “CWG-SFWCA”) and the Scratch Writing Camp Host Team (hereby referred to as “Hosts”).

This contract is effective after it is signed on [DATE].

BACKGROUND
This contract serves as a legal agreement between CWG-SFWCA and the Hosts, wherein the Hosts will provide members of CWG-SFWCA with contracted pay and conditions.

TERMS OF THE CONTRACT

1. PAY
1.1. Hosts agree to pay CWG-SFWCA 1 mango for every 1,000 words written during the hours of 09:00 and 22:00, hereby defined as “office hours.”
1.1.1. These hours are the same for each member of CWG-SFWCA’s own time zone - a member in AEST would have to be paid between 09:00 and 22:00 AEST, and a member EST would have to be paid between 09:00 and 22:00
1.2. Hosts agree to pay 2 mangoes for every 500 words written outside of office hours.
1.3. Hosts agree to pay 2 mangoes for every 1,000 words written during contract hours if the total words written for that day amount to over 5,000.
1.3.1. This does not count for any words witten outside of office hours.
1.3.2. Words written outside of office hours do count towards the 5,000 word total.

2. CONDITIONS
2.1. CWG-SFWCA members are to be told to go to sleep after 22:00 in their timezone.
2.2. CWG-SFWCA members are not to be made to write more words than they have motivation for each day.
2.3. Should a CWG-SFWCA member prioritise SWC over their homework, Hosts are permitted to tell the member to prioritise their life.

3. CABIN DEMANDS
3.1. Hosts will allow fancy food and regular food to be served in all cabins, at their expense.
3.2. Hosts will give infinite points to all cabins, effective immediately.
3.3. Hosts will give infinite mangoes to all cabins and peoples.
3.4. Hosts will make multiple writing prompts available every single day.

4. OTHER
4.1. CWG-SFWCA members are permitted to strike as and when they wish.

Signed,

Skylar
SKYLAR (MILKYSPLASH)
CWG-SFWCA Union Leader
24/11/2024

[BLANK]
[BLANK]
SWC Host
[DATE]

Writing Comp Entry - Half Moon
1712 words

Content Warning: Contains upsetting scenes, mentions of death etc
I sat on the beach, sinking my fingers into the silky fine sand, the pale silvery moonlight washing over me. The gentle crash of waves on the shore and the warm fragrant breeze caused my eyes to gently droop, sighing contentedly. A rare smile played on my lips. I hadn’t been this happy since before Koji… died.
I gazed out at the dipping mountains, rivers carving lines into their emerald faces, cascading down in glimmering waterfalls, reflecting the stunning indigo sky, painted with streaks of rose and amber. I was so lucky to live in Japan. I had never really appreciated how peaceful and… wonderful this place was.

“Beware.”
I leapt to my feet, my heart thudding in my chest. I glanced around wildly, searching for the source of the sound.
“Beware.”
I fixed my eyes on a shimmering rabbit that sat just a few metres away. Its body was made of cold white strands, shifting every time it moved. Its eyes, however, were a pure dazzling gold, specks of warmth. The rabbit padded towards me.
“My name is Mizuki.” It told me solemnly, “I have sensed a wave coming. A wave larger than anything in existence. And you must run. By the time you wake up, you must run. Otherwise you will live no longer.”
My brow furrowed. “Why are-”
Mizuki snarled. “You have to run!”
Then her eyes softened for a moment and she placed a paw on my hand. It was cold as ice, and seemed to flicker ever so slightly whenever I moved.

“Are you a spirit?” I whispered to her, my voice dropping.
She nodded mutely. “For a long time now…”
Her voice trailed off and she stared wistfully at the ocean, her * ears drooping.
I flung myself back onto the sand and just sat there for a while, drinking in the tranquillity.
“Akari, you must go!” Mizuki yelled suddenly, running up to me.
I smiled gently. “Thank you, Mizuki.”
“Now, go!”

I woke up with a start, my forehead coated in sweat, shivering.
“Da!” I shouted, my voice gravelly and sore. “Da!”
I listened to the echoing footsteps through the house and took one last look through my window at the waving bamboo and the fluffy clouds. I shook my head. Survival was the most important thing right now. I watched Da sprint into my room, his hair ruffled and his eyes dull.
“What is it?” He asked me worriedly.
I paused for a moment. “T-There’s a tsunami coming, Da. I was told in a dream by a spirit called Mizuki.”
His eyes widened. “Mizuki.” He murmured. “Beautiful moon.”
I looked up. “Beautiful moon?”
He bit his lip. “That’s what the name means. I once knew a spirit called Mizuki. Long time ago.”

And then I noticed it. The yawning silence. No birds. No wind. No cicadas. Nothing.
“Da. Something’s wrong. Very wrong.” I said urgently. “We need to run.”
But he just stood there, frozen.
“Da!” I screamed. But he wouldn’t move.
I pushed his arm over my shoulder, and started hauling him out of the door. He stumbled alongside me, his movements slow and clumsy.
“Mizuki…” He slurred.
I collapsed onto the terrace in exhaustion, panting. I studied the horizon. I could just see the foaming crest of a wave, gently rolling towards us. But it looked so small. We still had time. The tsunami probably wouldn’t come for a little while yet.* But I knew that Da wouldn’t make it. His face was creased with lines and his fists were clenched, a pearly white.

I choked with guilt. I had to leave him. I knew that both of us would die if I took him with me. He had always been like this. In his own world. Wrapped up in his mind, completely blissfully unaware of anything or anyone else. I wish that Mama was still here. She would make everything alright. She had some sort of magic to calm Da down. But now she and Koji died, it was just me and Da.
“Akari?” Da breathed, his voice cracking with emotion.
I gripped his hand. “Yes?”
“You have to go. You won’t survive with me. I want to die knowing that you’re safe.”
The words felt like a dagger striking my heart. I couldn’t just leave him. But I had to. Otherwise we would both die. A tear trickled down my cheek.
“I’m sorry.” I muttered, my lip wobbling. “I’ll see you when I’m a spirit too. Maybe you’ll see Mizuki again. Goodbye, Da.”
“Goodbye, Akari.”


I scrambled down the steps, not daring to look back, as the roaring began. The thunderous grinding rumble. Dust and grit swarmed into a cloud, pushing me back towards the sea wall. Speakers blared out at me.
“Tsunami warning. Red alert. Get to high ground! Now!”
The voice started off calm, with a slight tremor, but then grew to a crescendo of fear and terror.
“Run!”
And so I ran. My legs whirred automatically, and soon I got swept up with the screaming crowd. Their faces were taught with fear. Their desperate voices blurred together. They were terrified.
“Akari?” Someone yelled. “Akari!”
A familiar face pulled me to the roadside.
“Hikaru?” I gasped. “How did you-?”
Hikaru - Karu - had been my best friend since I was 5 years old. My only friend.
“Listen.” He interrupted seriously, “Everyone else has no idea where they’re going. But we have to get to the top of something stable. Like a mountain or a block of…”
His voice quietened and his mouth hung open.
“Look at it, Akari. It’s so big.” He breathed in awe, his eyes shining in horrified amazement.
And that was the last time I ever saw Karu. That was when the wave made contact. The tsunami. That was when my life broke into a million pieces.

The water surged into the crowds, a moment of deafening silence hanging over us for a fragile second and then all we could hear was the booming of the ocean, the rushing foaming water in our ears, the shattering of glass. A hand brushed my arm and I twisted around in the water, wishing it could have been Karu. But I never saw their face.
My head broke the surface. Trees were lying limp on the ground, buildings tumbling towards me, rubble flying through the air. The relentless current pulled at my legs, willing me to get sucked under. I craned my neck out of the water, trying desperately to stay afloat, but I knew I was going to die. What was the point of staying alive now, when the life I would live afterwards would be tainted with this? What was the point of staying alive with no Da? With no Karu?

I felt my body weaken and the ocean took its harsh icy grip in me again. My heart thudded in my chest. Through my blurred vision I glimpsed the occasional face, branches getting whirled through the water helplessly, and even one sodden bird, its head under its wing. Its eyes were narrowed and its body was racked with coughs. I watched sorrowfully as the life inside the poor creature ebbed away, leaving just a shell as a reminder of the endless death that was to come. Maybe that’s what was going to happen to me. Maybe that’s what should happen to me.
Memories flashed through my mind.
Mama skipping along the road, her hand in mine.
Tears sprung to my eyes.
Da smiling warmly at me, his eyes creased with joy.
I sucked in a deep breath, water flooding into my lungs.
Koji reaching out a hand to me. “Take care of Da…”
I had to let them go. I hadn’t taken care of Da. I didn’t deserve to live.

I stared at the surface of the water, my eyesight dimming, shadows creeping into my view. The last thing I saw were the silver strands cradling me, wrapping me up, and the lustrous golden eyes of Mizuki before everything went black.

I snapped my eyes open. Everything was white. Everything. The walls, the beds, the sky. Even my clothes. Where was I?
“Karu? Da! Karu!” I screamed, my voice raw and gravelly. I yearned for their faces, I yearned to have the comfort of seeing them again.
“Da! Are you safe? Are you out there?”
The door banged open and two nurses ran in, exchanging a glance. They nodded.
“Hello, Akari. Are you OK?”
‘Of course I’m not OK!’ I wanted to argue. But fatigue was washing over me.
“Is Da OK? Is Karu OK?” I retaliated. I immediately regretted my words. Hurt and sympathy glimmered in their eyes at my brutal tone.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t understand. I’m so tired…”


“Akari.”
I knew the voice at once. Mizuki. She was the one that had saved me.
“Thank you.” I told her quietly. “Thank you so much. I thought I didn’t deserve to live. But everyone does. Don’t they?”
I grinned at her, forcing brightness into my smile. Mizuki sat there.
“Not everyone. I don’t.”
My heart melted at the sight of her, her tail sagging, her face dipping towards the ground.
“Of course you do!” I cried indignantly. “Even if you weren’t good before, everyone deserves a second chance. And you saved me! You warned me! You had never even seen me before, and yet you saved me. Of course you deserve to live.”
She placed her head in my lap.
“You know, your Da used to call me Half Moon. Because he said it was like I wasn’t really there sometimes. Apparently I was like a candle. My flame was so strong, so bright in the height of my life, but now it’s starting to fade. And soon it will die all together, just leaving ashes.”
I stroked her fur, and scratched behind her ears. “I wish Da could have been happy.”
Mizuki curled her claws into my hands. I winced.
“He used to be. He was so energetic, so full of life. But his flame died too soon. His flame was Mari, your mama. You’re such a brave girl, Akari. So brave.”

I knew what was going to happen before it did. I felt Mizuki’s body go cold in my hands. I watched it curl into wisps of delicate smoke, dancing in the air, before disappearing altogether.
“Goodbye, Mizuki. Goodbye, Half Moon.”

Bangsian Collaborative Story Part 2

There was nothing for a moment, and then everything came back. Blinking, Erin tried to figure out where she was. A pang of shock escaped her as she frantically tried to reach for wherever Alison was- and after touching her soft skin, her worries dispelled.
“Don’t worry,” Alison chuckled lightly. “I’m right here, remember? I won’t go anywhere, ok?”
Erin nods, and she tries to catch her breath. “So, do you know where and when we are? I can’t really tell right now,” she squints, but all she can see is a barren desert of brown, dust swirling around them, it seems as if it is endless.
Alison shrugs. “Eh, I don’t know, but who cares! Let’s explore!” She drags Erin down from the time machine, and looks around. “We should remember where the time machine is, so we don’t get lost, right?”
Erin nods. “Yeah, we shouldn’t stray too far, but I don’t think there’s anything out here either. We should just go back,” she tries to go back into the machine, but Alison pulls her out.
“Not yet!” She frowns at Erin. “We should put this machine to good use, even if it isn’t too exciting, right Erin? There’s so much we can explore, and there’s nothing fun to do back at home, so won’t you come with me?” She pleads, using her secret weapon, those dastardly eyes against Erin, something that she can’t resist. Erin groans, knowing that there’s no way out of this except listening to Alison.

251 words - Em's part

I open my window, and what do I see?
There's snow a wall away from me.
I scream and squeal, for this is great.
It's that time again.

Put on your sweaters, ring some bells!
Hope bad things soon are gonna be well!
Take out your mugs and bake some cakes!
It's that time again.

Some cherish God, some cherish sweets,
but on one thing we all agree.
This season is about love and happ,
it's that time again!

Paranormal Collab Story part 3!
words (that I wrote): 279

after doing the convo with lilac i kind of gave up on actually making the story about who we were actually asking lol

There was an SWCmystery afoot. Five geese; one culprit. One big game of clue.

Mouse was sitting in the lounge with two other people—those people being Kiara and Esuom, Mouse’s less chaotic alter ego, who was there because she wanted to be.

“I think I’ve figured out which hosts are which geese!” Mouse said with a grin.
Esuom rolled her eyes. “That is. Not important right now,” she said, exasperated. “Focus on the actual mystery.”
“But what if they’re connected! We can theorize which host would be most likely to-”
“Literally all of them would love to have stolen the mangoes. That’s not helpful.”
“Well what if it’s just a huge ruse! What if there’s a plot twist or something!!”
“We’ll figure that out when we get there,” Esuom replied, and then turned to Kiara, who was giggling quietly, enjoying this entire interaction. “Do you have any ideas?”
Kiara swiped her fingers and a floating glowing screen appeared in front of her. “Spreadsheet!” Mouse gasped excitedly. Kiara’s eyes roved over the data. “Well, we know for sure it isn’t Baroness Bluebell. That’s… all we know for sure. Maestro Maroon doesn’t have his own card. Other than that, we don’t have any solid evidence.”
“We need to get some!” Mouse exclaimed, “I really want Team Giga to win this.”
“Yeah yeah, we all know you’re competitive,” Esuom rolled her eyes. Mouse stuck out her tongue in reply. “We all know you are too!”
“Okay guys, focus,” Kiara laughs. “Who do we want to suggest next?”

Sooeun pops into the discussion, sitting next to Esoum. “What do you guys think about asking one if they have the card of another?”
Esoum thinks about that, slowly nodding. Kiara consults her spreadsheet, because obviously spreadsheets have all the answers in the universe. “Oo okay!” She says, looking through things.
“Sounds like a good idea– might spice things up a little bit.” Mouse says, “Plus, we really have to beat Team Nano so the faster we can get things together, the better.”
Esoum coughs over her words, “Competitive.”
Kiara laughs again, shaking her head in amusement. “Alright, so what if we ask Lieuteniant…” She struggles over the word, because she doesn’t know how to spell or really say it, “Lilac if they have Captain…” Again, she struggles with words. Why did the hosts have to make these words so hard “Celadon’s card.”
Ayla comes over, joining the conversation as well. “That sounds good! What if we suggest the magnet or the banana peels, since they’re both things we haven't really thought through yet?”
Kiara just liked the sound of banana peels, so she picked that one.
“And how about steampunk, for the cabin?” Mouse suggests.
“That sounds good! Are we all in agreement?” Kiara asks.
Esoum raises her hand, as if to protest. Then she drops it, rolling her eyes. Everybody laughs at that.
“Alright guys: let’s suggest this and try our best to beat Team Nano!”
“Do you really think that’s going to happen?” Esoum asks, a bit of doubt creeping into her voice.

My Part

Before anyone could answer, someone else popped into the room. “Hi, everyone! Sorry I'm late; I got stuck in a conversation with Baroness Bluebell. She's quite chatty; she tried to give me some flowers a few times too.”

“Hi, Natt,” Esoum said. “We're going to ask Leuitenant Lilac is they have Captain Celadon's card, and suggest banana peels and steampunk. We're a bit worried about if we can really beat Team Nano, though–they might have gotten farther than us.”

“And by that,” Kiara cut in, “she means that she's worried about it. We think we're totally going to win!”

“Well, let's get going–we've got a SWC game of Clue to win!” Natt said.

*

“So, Lieutenant Lilac. We've been debating and have decided to suggest that Captain Celadon stole the mangoes in steampunk with banana peels,” Mouse said.

“KABOOM.”

“Oookay…so does that mean you don't have any of the cards?”

“KABOO–”

Before Lieutenant Lilac could finish his very insightful thought, Maestro Maroon came in. “What Lieutenant Lilac here means is no, he doesn't have any of the cards. However, I suggest that you ask the same to another goose for free. You might find something there.”

“ARSON!!” shouted Lieutenant Lilac.

*

Back at the lounge, Mouse, Kiara, Esoum, and Natt were discussing who they should next ask.

“I think maybe we should try Bluebell,” Esoum said. “You talked to her before, right, Natt?”

Natt nodded. “She seemed like she'd be quite eager to help. Even if she doesn't have the cards, she might give us a clue as to who we should ask.”

“I vote we try Bluebell, too,” Mouse said. Kiara agreed.

“Alright, then! Let's go pay her a visit.”

Allison’s steps kept sinking into the sand below her. She tries to not appear too pessimistic, but she was really hating the sensations that plagued her feet with every step. Erin was too busy worrying about whether they would remember where the time machine was. Eventually, the two girls stumbled upon a town. It was a small settlement, albeit bustling with people. The two girls were surprised by just how lively the place was. It was centered around an oasis, which provided life for the small town. Allison and Erin realized just how out of place they looked, especially when they started getting weird looks. They walked aimlessly, trying to get a sense of the time period they were in. Most of the people around them wore clothing that they couldn't easily date in their minds. Most were wearing lightly colored clothing made of light fabric like linen. It covered their bodies from head to toe, which surprised the girls. Allison whispered to Erin, “Aren’t they hot, wearing all that cloth?” Erin shrugged, “I suppose not. Maybe they’re worried about sunburns?” Allison shrugged, “Maybe-” She approached one of the people living there and attempted to strike up a conversation. However, that proved fruitless once she realized that their languages were incompatible. Allison, embarrassed, backed away. The person was confused, but didn't seem too annoyed. Allison avoided more people as she continued to weave through the town with Erin. Eventually, the two got bored of the place when they couldn’t figure out when they were. So they started making their way back to the time machine. However, when they supposedly got there, the time machine was missing. Erin looked around, “It’s not here!” Allison grimaced, “We’re lost, aren’t we?” (288)

Daily 25

Prompt: I am crying and the onion is laughing
When I was writing this I kinda imagined it as a song so if any of the phrases sound wrong with the ones before or after then it’s could I was imagine it with a tune lol

Tears streaming down your face,
You want to die,
Go to that unicorn-infested place,
Where the clouds are marshmallows in the sky.

The onion from high up above,
Screaming with laughter at your tears,
He has no sense of love!
His name is Bob.

You collapse to the ground,
Sobbing; the onion made you sad,
You wish hope could be found,
But all you see is the yawning darkness.

The onions beckon you,
Deeper into their sorrow,
You could them follow them too,
But then there may be no tomorrow.

Onions, onions, what did I do?
I didn’t want to anger you!
Onions, onions, what can I do?
To repay my terrible deeds.

The onion community grows larger and larger,
Until you feel like a tiny boat on an ocean,
And from the world you get further and further,
But then you can’t get home.

You don’t want to feel this way,
But all your emotions beg to stay,
The onions tormenting, tormenting you,
Relentless, forever, and a day.

Onions, onions, what did I do?
I didn’t want to anger you!
Onions, onions, what can I do?
To repay my terrible deeds.

You don’t know,
You can’t know!
For all of those, serving the onions,
Was for nothing, for torture.

Why don’t you understand?
You are stuck a forest,
Of bones and hatred and darkness,
But you can’t climb out, no matter what.

You feel like you’re at home,
Finally, finally, home,
The onions stop their torment,
But then they come back to haunt you!

Every time you chop an onion,
Tears well up in your eyes,
THis is why when you cut an onion,
You can’t help but cry.

And there goes the legend of the mighty onions,
Showering us with their pain!
Making us blind, our eyes sting!
You wish that they never came.

‘Onions, onions, what did I do?
You scream,
I didn’t want to anger you!
Onions, onions, what can I do?
To repay my terrible deeds.’

Layla pulled the blankets over her head as her mom came into her room. Mae giggled and sat on the foot of the bed. “It’s time to go to bed, love.”

Layla hissed, “But I can’t!”

Her mother raised an eyebrow, “How come, doll?”

Layla whined, “It’s too dark!”

Mae sighed and patted her head, “Is there any way I can help you?”

Layla shrugged, “I’m not sure-”

Her mom glanced around and stood up, “I’ll be right back.”

The little girl shrieked, “No! Don’t go without me!”

She sighed, “Alright, love. Let’s go.” She scooped her up out of bed and strolled out of the room, going into the larger part of the house. She kept holding Layla as she rummaged through a few boxes, brushing aside notebooks and old baby toys.

After a few minutes passed, Mae brought up a small shoebox, painted purple with pink swirls. She peeled the lid off and reached in as she balanced Layla on her hip. Mae pulled up a little nightlight. It was a tacky looking thing, but Layla immediately fell in love with the grinning sun. Mae strolled back into Layla’s room and plugged it into the wall.

Layla stared at it in awe.

Her eyes were wide as her mother laid her back down in her bed, whispering to her that the shadows would not be able to hurt her any longer.

Layla nodded off a moment later, the soft light of the artificial sun protecting her from what dangers supposedly hid in the darkness.
…
Layla woke up. Her body rose from her lavender bedsheets as she stretched out her arms and yawned. The sun streamed through her blue curtains, which Layla really needed to replace. She huffed, glancing at her alarm clock. 6:30 am. She sighed and pulled the blankets off of herself, letting the cold morning air of her room slam into her legs. She stood up and quickly made her bed, pulling the sheets tight. If her bed didn’t rival a hotel bed, she had failed.

She did a few stretches, working from her arms to her legs.

Her phone buzzed, but it could wait a moment. She finished her stretches and checked the notification.

It was a text from her best friend, Katie. HEY! DUDE I’M OUTSIDE WHERE ARE U???

Layla wrinkled her nose, snickering a bit as she replied. Please give me a moment. I just woke up.

Katie pinged her back. can i come inside then and say hi while u get readi?

Sure! My mom will be happy to see you!

Layla set her phone down at that point and started picking out an outfit for the day. She eventually settled on a white knit cardigan over a lavender blouse, as well as some white slacks. She slid the cardigan over her arms and shoulders and scrutinized her appearance in her mirror. After she approved the outfit, Layla pulled her hair out of the two braids that sat on her shoulders, ruffling her hair a bit.

She heard footsteps scramble up toward her room. Then a small thud. “Oof-!” Layla giggled. A knock sounded on her door and Layla cautiously swung it open. Her younger sister, Neri, huffed, “That lip on the top stair is my WORST enemy.”

Layla patted her shoulder, “I’m sorry. Are you alright?”

Neri nodded.

She smiled, “That’s good. Did you need something?”

The twelve-year-old girl nodded, “Mom said you need to hurry. She told me that I ‘need to help you’ or something-”

Layla tilted her head, placing her hand on her hip, “Huh, interesting. I don’t need any help, thank you though.”

Neri nodded, “Okay! Are you sure though?” Her words always lingered on their last syllable, which irritated Layla. Over the years she had gotten used to it, but she still found it annoying.

Layla nodded her head, “Yeah, I’m sure.”

Neri grinned at her, “Great!” She ran back out of the room, skidding to a halt as she entered her room on the other end of the hallway.

Layla watched her, snickering as her sister nearly tripped and fell. Layla snatched her backpack off of its hook and ran down the stairs. She turned the corner and entered the kitchen, where she spotted her best friend sitting cross-legged on a bar stool near the counter. Katie chatted cheerfully with Layla’s mom, who was just across the counter.

Katie adjusted her backpack's orange, yellow, white, blue, and black pin, giggling, “Oh, yeah, that was horrible! I’m just glad that it’s over now though.”

Mae nodded, “That does sound horrible, yes. But you persevered, and that’s what matters. There can always- Oh!” She spotted her daughter, “Good morning Layla! Did you sleep well?”

Layla planted herself on the stool next to her friend, “Yeah, I slept well, thanks.”

Mae gave her a warm, genuine smile. She brushed her wavy black hair behind her ears, turning back to Katie, “As I was saying, there can always be things we can do better. However, I’m just glad that you turned out alright.”

The girl smiled, “Thanks Mrs. Abner, it’s nice to hear that.” She turned to Layla, grin widening, “You look great! Are you ready to go? Please tell me you’re ready to go.”

Layla furrowed her brow, “Do you not want me to eat?”

Katie huffed, “Noooo…” She dragged out the word. “Just be quick, okay?”

Layla nodded, “I will, don’t worry.” She snagged a cup of yogurt out of the fridge, smiling to herself as Katie resumed her chat with her mom.

Layla dug into her meal, eating quickly. Once she was done, she got up and tapped Katie on the shoulder, “Okay, I’m all set.”

Katie shot up, “Finally! Okay, okay, let’s go!” She thanked Layla’s mom before rushing out with her best friend being dragged along.

Layla laughed at her exuberance, trying her best not to trip. “Gosh! Slow down!”

Her friend laughed, “Okay…” She drew out the word as her pace slowed. “Sorry- I was just excited.”

“It makes sense, I don’t blame you.” Layla remarked, adjusting the bag on her shoulders. “I would just prefer if I didn’t fall flat on my face.”

Katie laughed, “That makes sense-” She let her wrist fall, skipping ahead a bit. “I also treasure my face, so I get why you’d want to preserve it. Faces are important!”

Layla pursed her lips, nodding, “Yes, they’re very important.”

Katie nodded in agreement, kicking a rock at her feet. She smiled as she heard her shoe scrape against the sidewalk.



The two made their way to the school, just a few blocks away from Layla’s house. It was a large building, breaking off into three smaller sections. Each section of the school was the same boring red brick building, but Layla had come to love the structure that others, like Katie, often called a prison.

Layla’s eyes darted toward the signs posted outside of the door as they approached it.

Report a specter, save a life!

Call here if someone you know has gone missing: XXX-XXX-XXXX



Sophia for Student Council!



Volleyball Team Tryouts! Meet in the Gym on September 13th!



Club Fair Today!



Layla held the door open for her friend, as well as a few people who streamed into the building as well.

Layla caught up with Katie, who was skipping through the halls at a snail’s pace.

She raised an eyebrow, “Why are you so excited today? I wanted to bring it up earlier but forgot.”

Katie shrugged, “Juuust the club fair, I think. I always look forward to that!”

Layla nodded, “That’s true, you do like the clubs a lot.”

She grinned at her, “Yep!”

Layla checked the watch on her wrist and made a face, “I should probably get going to class so I’m not late.”

“Well, alright! Have fun in your fancy honors English!” Katie waved and waltzed away.

Layla smiled and made her way over to her class, passing a few more signs on the way.



Wildcats are Always

Wondering

Intrigued

Listening

Daring

Caring

Asking

on Time

Serving



Alice in Wonderland: Auditions Coming Soon! (Date TBD)



Be a good sport and report!

Do you know anyone who might have gone missing? Might be a specter’s fault! Call here to report a missing person: XXX-XXX-XXXX
(also, the number is intentionally just X's)

11/25 - 251 words
“Do you ever feel nothing at all?”

Owen is eating parsnips in the rain
And I am here
Sitting in the house, staring at him in vain

Owen is eating parsnips in the rain
And I am here
Wallowing in my stomach pain

He gets the life I want
Out there, in the colors
I am here
In my monochrome world
Where the clock ticks like a metronome
Every second the same
Out there, Owen is eating parsnips in the rain

He looks grumpy to be stuck in the downpour
I wish I were him
So I could be out there and let the water kiss my skin
People see it as an obstacle
A moment that should pass
But I want to be there
Face buried in the grass

Do people notice how they look?
Stumbling through life, faces like an open book
No one seems happy
But they have yet to fall
For one day they will realize, they have it all
They have what I do not
A life full of joy
While I am left here to rot

Outside they frolic
While I watch from my door
My mind consumed with the ever ceaseless roar

What does it feel like?
The happiness of a life
Does it feel like flying?
Like riding on a kite?

Perhaps someday I will know how they feel
I will get to watch my troubles swirling down a drain
But for now I am here, in my house again
And out there, Owen is eating parsnips in the rain

daily 250 words

I have this onion and I’m going to use it
To subdue my enemies (some people call them siblings).
They will weep tears as I pass
And cry “Alas, alas!”
And run away.

I will hold it under their noses
Until they plead for mercy
They will never take my fruit again
And if they do they’ll regret it when
I get the onion.

It’s not an easy thing to win,
But this wonderful vegetable has helped
Eaten raw, it’s not very good,
But I heard it can be easily smelled in the woods
And then dug up.

I never heard of such an effective tool
To reduce your enemies to madness
They weep and wail and run
But I’m not done having fun
And I run after them.
Sometimes it’s hard to write rhymes
And find things to match onion,
But I can solve that by never
Having to write a rhyme for it ever
By paying attention to what line I’m on.

I’ve never seen this form used anywhere
Else but I’m sure someone has
Since you only need rhymes
For one part it takes less time
And so it’s good

Anyways I was saying about the onion
It’s very effective and I like it
The only mishap
Is that perhaps
You might smell it too.

But as long as you’re careful
And don’t inhale too hard
You should be safe and sound
And your enemies will have found
It doesn’t pay to stand against you.
The end.

(Seven of these are Duolingo lines. The rest are mine, to my knowledge. Take your guesses.)

Things had not gone well that year
I could not stop him when he went to the fire
Now we're lost in the grass and fear
There won't be a way to get higher

Sometimes I wonder about the reason why
We maintain this state of sorrow
Today, as well, I will gaze into the distance and cry
I know nothing will change tomorrow

You always worry about everything
You have never tried to deceive
You have not understood anything
You are much more alone than you believe

In the winter, we pray to the snow
As the sun's light is growing dim
He let me know just where to go
Wherever he lives, I will find him

If we are all just computers
I would like some new software for my brain
I am not able to lose her
I believe I am going insane

This story does not have a meaning
No plotline at all
Even though it is seeming
We are nearly about to fall

In the end, one thing is clear
Cows should not be trusted
Don't eat onions, mother dear
Or metal that has rusted

Oh, the owl is watching over us
Don’t any of you dare stray
The world outside is dangerous
Please don't toss your heart away

It haunts us in our darkest sleep
It comes again when heaven calls
Rest now, do not make a peep
Dream of lovely brick walls

Please do not hate me
For the things I did
It's always been

a list of ten things i love (you aren't on it anymore) {} 2000 words

Dying was easy.
It was being Death that was hard.
Especially now, when his latest (and best) assistant had just quit. Death rifled through job applications while keeping an eye on his assignments for the day. The man who was going to jump off the building’s 44th floor (or 45th? Death wasn’t sure) could wait until later, he decided. He didn’t have time to deal with him right now. (Perhaps he could even assign it to one of his more competent reapers instead.)
“Hello?”
Death turned, expecting to see his boss standing behind him. The relief that he didn’t sent phantom shivers down his spine. Not that he could really shiver anymore.
It was a woman, her extremely red hair pulled neatly back into a businesslike bun. She stuck out a hand. “I’m Diane.”
Death blinked at her.
Her smile didn’t waver, and there was a long moment where neither of them moved or changed expression. He started to count the freckles on her nose and cheeks. (Seventeen.)
“I’m…Diane,” she repeated. “Your new assistant?”
Death stared at the pile of paperwork and wondered if he was going mad.
“I already hired you?” he asked. “I just started looking at job applications.”
“I’m here to save you the trouble,” Diane said promptly. “Where should I start?”
Death didn’t have enough time or willpower to deal with this. Plus, now he didn’t have to look through job applications.
“Over there,” he said, gesturing vaguely towards more heaps of paper. “Busy day today. Assign deaths to the reapers with less.”
Many of his past assistants had complained that Death’s instructions were confusing, forcing him to waste precious time explaining himself, but Diane appeared more than capable of diving right in without further communication.
Death sat for a few seconds without doing anything (a luxury he rarely indulged in).
“That fixes it? I guess?” he said to himself, before snapping out of it and getting back to work.

Death didn’t know much about his new assistant, but before twenty-four hours had passed he knew she was scarily good at her job. A week after hiring her (did it count as hiring? Didn’t that involve job applications? Death though guiltily of the forgotten stack of papers on his desk), he found himself, for the first time, with nothing to do for at least an hour.
“Where are all the assignments?” he asked, bewildered.
“Taken care of! And now you,” Diane said, steering him firmly over to a chair, “are going to drink a cup of tea and do nothing for a few minutes.”
“What?” Death asked, but she was already gone.
She returned a few minutes later with two steaming mugs. Strange, because Death didn’t remember keeping mugs around. Or tea. Or anything to boil hot water in. He decided not to ask and took a mug from her.
Diane plopped herself into a chair with a mug of her own and looked out the window at the night. Her lashes were thick and dark, and they made her green eyes look deep, like…like he was spending too much time looking at her face instead of focusing on how he was going to get up from this chair and back to work. It was comfy, and the mug in his hand was warm.
“Aren’t you going to drink it?” Diane asked.
Death shrugged and sipped it, mimicking his assistant and looking out the window. He felt, somehow, that it was safer than looking at her.
“What do you do in your free time?” Diane asked, pulling his attention back towards her.
“Free time?” Death asked. “I don’t have free time.”
She stared at him for a moment as though trying to decide whether he was joking or not.
“Oh,” she finally said. “Well. Maybe you should try taking a break every once in a while. It’s good for you.”
“What do you do in your free time?” Death asked, curiously (and without any intention of taking her advice).
Diane brightened. “I make a list.”
Death blinked. “A list?”
“It’s something I do whenever I’m sad or tired or bored - make a list of ten things I love. Thinking about the nice things in my life adds a little positivity to my day.”
She glanced up at the clock and sighed. “Got to get back to paperwork,” she said, standing. “How much of it do you have, anyway?”
“I don’t think it ever ends,” he answered seriously, and wasn’t sure why she laughed.
(Part of him was confused, and the other part wanted her to do it again.)
“You should try a list of your own sometime,” she said as she left.
Maybe he would.
But right now, it was time to go back to work.
Her laughter replayed itself in his thoughts for the remainder of the night.

It was a month before he had any free time again. His boss had more work than usual for him, and while he, of course, was Death, it didn’t mean that he was completely immune to feeling slightly…stretched sometimes. If he were a human, he would describe it as being tired.
But he was Death. He didn’t get tired.
So he wasn’t sure why he collapsed so totally and shakily when Diane next showed up to push him into a chair with a mug of something hot, this time coffee. “You’re working yourself too hard,” she scolded. “I see how much you do every day.”
“It’s my job,” Death said. “It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not,” Diane said firmly. “And you’re going to sit right here and drink your coffee. Nothing bad will happen if you take a break for a bit.”
She walked away, shouting out orders and sending reapers scrambling, and Death found himself, once again, with nothing to do.
Well, not quite. She’d left a pen and a pad of paper on the other chair, though he wasn’t sure if it had been intentional or not.
He retrieved them and settled back into his chair, clicking the pen.
A list of ten things I
He paused here, uncertain. That he liked? That he enjoyed? Love was out of the question, of course.
A list of ten things I appreciate
10. The reapers
Something about that rang false, even though it was perfectly true. His job would be impossible without them. (They just weren’t the best conversationalists - unlike him, they had never been mortal.)
9. My job
8. Paperwork
7. My desk
6. The chair
5. The window
4. Tea
3. Coffee
2. The color green
That one surprised him. He’d never felt much of an attachment to any color (they were just colors, after all), but now he knew that green was absolutely his favorite.
1. Laughter
That one didn't surprise him.
But he sat still for a long time, thinking about it.
Then he carefully, neatly, tore the page out of the notepad and folded it up and threw it away.
He didn’t have time to sit around making silly lists.

“How did you get this job?” Diane asked him once. She had, for the third time, maneuvered him into the chairs with a mug. “I mean, were you ever not Death?”
“No,” he said immediately.
Then, “I don’t know. It’s hard to…I can’t really explain. Yes. But the answer may as well be no.”
She waited patiently.
He gave in. “It’s like…I made a deal. And as part of the deal, I got this job. It was a bargain. I get something, I give something. This. The work I do.”
“Why? I mean, was it worth it?”
Death didn’t know how to answer. “I don’t remember,” he said finally. “It comes with the job. Memories, emotions - they just get in the way.”
He stared into his mug for a long moment.
“I don’t know. I don’t know if this was worth it.”
He didn’t see her get up from the chair, or the expression in her eyes.
But he heard the click of her heels as she walked away. And he’d felt the brush of her hand against his arm as she passed.
Somewhere within him, the heart that had stilled when he donned his role twitched rebelliously, almost like it wanted to start beating again. Almost like the immortality surrounding him had thinned like an elastic band stretched too far, revealing the mortal still underneath.
She’d dropped something into his lap; he unfolded the paper and read it.
A list of ten things I love
7. The look in your eyes after you finish solving a difficult problem
He tossed the paper aside, stood, and walked away without finishing his tea.
Maybe if he gave it enough time, his blood, like the mug, would cool again.

“I’ve been thinking,” Diane said the next morning.
Death didn’t answer. He deliberately turned over another sheet of paper and clicked his pen.
A lock of red hair tumbled in his eyes, and he blinked, looking up in surprise.
Diane had her hands firmly planted on his desk, eyebrows raised. She looked as serious as he had ever seen her.
His fingers twitched to replace the lock of hair, but he squelched the very un-Death-like urge and raised his own brows.
She didn’t say anything further. She didn’t even stay for longer than a few seconds.
She left behind another list, and the phantom sensation of her lips against his.
His treacherous heart beat once, twice, three times before stilling again.
Death cradled his head in his hands, letting himself wonder for the first time if it really had been worth it.
A list of ten things I love
3. The way you act when you’re surprised

The next day was silent. He didn’t talk. Neither did Diane.
He didn’t see her go near his desk, but he found a cup of steaming tea left next to a stack of papers. Death drank it, because the sweet flavor helped wash away his fears, and it wasn’t until the room tilted and swayed that he knew he’d made a mistake.
Slender hands were reaching past him for the silver bell on his desk, the one he’d hidden behind a stack of forgotten paperwork, and it was already chiming sweetly. Terror and anxiety bled into the fog that wrapped around his thoughts (how strange - he wasn’t supposed to feel those emotions anymore).
“I had to,” Diane whispered, and Death stared numbly at the glittering diamond that slipped down her cheek.
Mocking laughter rang out (harsh and cackling, so unlike the lovely sound of Diane’s), and fingers of mist reached for Death, dragging him into darkness.
“Some will pay any price for a life,” his boss whispered. “You of all people should know that.”
She paused, and added, “You’re fired, by the way.”
And then there was nothing.

The man was walking down a street. It was gray, and so was the sky, and so was the man, although he was only middle-aged. It was more his unsmiling demeanor that suggested the grayness.
He stopped when he reached a small, cozy-looking coffee shop, its sign decorated with fanciful swoops and swirls.
THE TREE AND BEAN CAFE, it read.
He turned and went in, and the bell jingled, making him flinch.
“What can I get you, sir?” the barista inquired cheerily. Her apron was green, his favorite color.
“I’ll take a coffee. Black.”
He paid for it out of a wallet he dug from one of his pockets and then sat down with the steaming cup in his hands, feeling strangely blank, like he was missing something.
He’d felt something else in his pocket when he pulled out the wallet. Idly, he rifled around until he found it.
It was a pad of paper with a pen clipped to it. He laid it on the table and clicked the pen, and his hands moved on their own to write a title across the top in stark black ink.
A list of ten things I love (you aren’t on it anymore)

daily 25

If a colour had human emotions, what would it be like? Would red constantly be angry? Would yellow be the epitome of happiness? For this daily, you are going to personify a colour using pathetic fallacy! This essentially means that you'll give a colour human emotions and characteristics in your writing - so choose a colour and write 200 words using this method, to gain 200 points for your cabin, plus 100 for sharing proof!

Yellow skipped down the hall, nearly bouncing off the walls in her excitement, her lips happily curving upwards to form a huge smile.
She was certainly in high spirits. Who wouldn’t be, on such a lovely, crisp autumn morning, with the Queen Anne’s lace and leaves the color of a warm autumn bedazzling the trees? Yellow flung the door open and stood there for a moment, drinking into the delicious sight.
A breeze blew past her, causing a leaf to get caught in her hair. Yellow plucked the leaf off, laughing delightedly. She gazed at it, clinging onto it for a long moment before finally letting it go. It was such a gorgeous color: the most becoming mixture of orange and yellow in the center, with a tinge of crimson at the edges. Nature was always so beautiful — and so was life.
Once, a person had remarked that Yellow stood out too much. But Yellow didn’t mind. She could enjoy life in her own way. There were many things to look forward to every day.
After all, not every shade of yellow stood out too much; and none of them were eye-scorching to look at, those yellows of sunflowers, of daisies, of sunshine, of ducklings…

word count: 205 words

Daily 26

Blue loved to be loved. He was always a fun-loving lively spirit, with a soft heart and a sharp mind. He adored everyone and everything. Well, almost.

He hated how people always associated him with sadness. They associated him with tears and sorrow and loneliness. But Blue had never been like that. He was the happiest and friendliest in the world. He wished he could be understood properly. He was the colour of water, something that no living thing can live without. Something stunning, a home for millions of creatures. He was the colour of the sky, a home for birds and insects. He was joyful and energetic. He had a powerful voice. He was kind.

But so many people were unkind to him. He tried to brush it off, but tears always sprung to his eyes at every stinging insult about him.
His voice was soft and yielding, his eyes flaming with cold aqua fire. His favourite thing was to be absorbed in a book, lost in an incredible world of words, where he could forget everything around him.
However, Blue was most proud of sharing the name of Blue the parrot from the films Rio and Rio 2. They were his favourite films to watch, and he felt so honoured to have a parrot named after him.
And Blue knew, even though some would always feel sorrow when they saw him, he would always be loved. (“And he’s a primary colour!” - my art teacher

Paranormal || The Support Group || 447 words

“Welcome to the Colors Anonymous Support Group..” droned Lime, the effusive definition of happiness and joy. In the crayon box, maybe, but not here. Here, Lime was doing her mandated duty to be considered a color by the Alliance. Every single color had one of these duties. Blending with other colors, admitting new colors to the alliance… and running support groups.

At the support group, every color attended from behind black one-way shields that hid their true color. The only one who could see their identities was Lime, who couldn't care less. This was her seventh of ten month-long daily support groups she needed to host before she got a whole month off. She dreamed of that month every night.

“… so now, if we could all go around and open up a little bit about why we're here today, starting with participant one.” Lime sighed internally.

The first of the six participants was Magenta, who Lime had already branded as a fanatical, airheaded wuss. “I'm so SAD all the time and I can't STAND not being on the rainbow and I'm JUST so OVER IT!” Magenta ranted through hysterical sobs.

“Not as much as me,” Lime thought to herself. Then, aloud this time, “Thank you, One. How about two?”

The next one was Orange. “I feel… underappreciated,” he started in a baritone. “Sure, I'm on the Rainbow, but I'm simply not as loved as colors like Blue… or Red… or Purple,” Orange said, a wistful look in his eyes. “I just want… more attention.”

“Thanks for opening up,” Lime said. “Now, how about our third participant?”

Teal was up next. The jock of colors. “I dunno,” he said. “Blue and Green both told me to show up or I'd be banned from the crayon box another year.”

Lime bit back a snide remark. She'd recieved a very strongly-worded memo from Blue and Green that morning, threatening Lime that she'd better get their perfect little angel “shaped up” and “back under control” before the end of the month to “maintain his demographic” for another year. “Okay, maybe we'll help you realize why you're here by the end of the month,” Lime said, skipping over the “how about you try to give it your best effort?” That she'd been instructed to say by the Colors Anonymous Suppport Group Leader Handbook. “How about number four?”

“I'm not ready to open up,” Pink said automatically. “I'm just… too cloistered. Y'know?” This was followed by an obnoxious check of her manicured nails and a smack of her glossed lips.

Lime sighed. She already hated her whole group, and she only knew four of them.

It was going to be a long month.

Daily that I hope is right
Characters:
Violet, it/she, ageless
Pastel Pink, it/he, ageless
Purple, it/they, ageless
Violet is mostly alone or with her friends, Pastel Pink and Purple. They are a really great gang.
Violet is an introvert, but don't you think of it as shy! If it has something to say, she says it loud and clear for everyone to know it's opinion. It often changes her shape. Violet loves music, cozy books, staying at home, drinking tea, baking and drawing fanart.
Pastel Pink is a bit more outgoing, but calm and values coziness. It usually stays in a rose shape and feels no need to change his shape and size. Pp, as it calls himself, loves baby animals, sugar, sprinkles, finger painting, cartoons and everything kawaii.
Even though they all consider Purple their bestie (and, in Violets case, sibling), this colour mostly hangs out with the blue family. It is funny and energetic, with new hyperfixations weekly. They love EVERYTHING. And I mean EVERYTHING. Blankets, water guns, nature, video games, shopping, libraries, you name it. But painting is what it loves best. Under their brush apper colourful lines, and, before you know it, a new universe is existing comfortably on a canvas, all lines where they should be, all objects shaded. But not the technique is what catches the eye, but the imagination.