Ah yes, smoothies. Who doesn’t like them? A fruit and vegetable mixture blended to perfection. You can even add your own ingredients, like yogurt and cinnamon! There are endless possibilities, whether it’s something like a strawberry mango smoothie or a kale smoothie. However, have you tried a SCISSORS smoothie? I think not! Hear me out first, I know that it sounds preposterous to drink a smoothie made of scissors, but trust me, there are benefits!

First of all, scissor smoothies help with wasting. You can find them anywhere, like a stationary store or Walgreens. After a few months or years of wear-and-tear, you can’t sharpen them anymore. What do you do with it? Do you throw it in the garbage? NO! Instead of wasting precious materials, you can blend it up into a very delicious smoothie! Nobody will notice.

Next, scissors are very healthy. I mean, look at all the vitamins inside! According to many sources, such as Harvard.edu and Henryford.com, metals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, sodium, zinc, and potassium are good for your help, I mean health! People might say that scissors are dangerous and can’t be blended up, but that’s what the ‘pulse’ option on your blender is for. After a few years of blending, the scissors will be beaten into a fine paste, perfect for smoothies and your longtime health.

People might disagree that scissors are not very tasty, but they have no evidence to back that up. I mean, has anyone even eaten scissors before? Any decent person wouldn’t. Scissors could actually be really good! Have you tried the combinations? My favorite is combining it with paper. Speaking of paper, have you played rock paper scissors before? We all know that scissors beats paper, so therefore scissors are a much better ingredient in smoothies.

In conclusion, you should definitely give scissor smoothies a try. I mean, look at all the waste and health problems it would increase reduce! They can be tried with many other ingredients with very tasty results. Many scissors have worked, especially the ‘stainless steel’ type. Order one today at www.scissorsmoothie.com. Special discount: 3 for $5!

(please note that this is a joke and that scissors are very dangerous in smoothies)

The dull, bleak city was crumbling. The buildings were breaking down, the citizens were morose, and there were no animals to be seen. People trudged down the dark road, hoping to seek solace in a miserable cup of coffee. The faint pitter-patter of rain on the umbrellas and pavement was heard all around the town. ‘Father. The sky is dark.’ complained a small kid to his dad as they walked in a wilted park.

The next day, a miracle happened. The storm clouds that covered the city receded. In its place was a bright, shining sun. Citizens ran out of their houses, wide-eyed and thinking the impossible. Shouts like ‘The gloomy rain is gone, don’t you know? It’s another day!’ were heard all around the city square. The sun was shining at the plaza with love. Guess what? The blue sky is still alive!

Positivity spread around like wildfire. Rumors were going around that the mayor said ‘Hello, you guys are beautiful! Thanks guys!’ in a speech regarding the end of the clouds’ reign. Cafés reopened. The postman had to deliver hundreds of letters. Couples holding hands walked in parks. The plants were told where their ‘big dog’ that the clouds had hid for a long time was.

‘Professor Knight, why is the sky blue?’ a bunch of youngsters questioned. ‘He is the king of all!’ He answered, and everybody burst into laughter. He let his hand rest lovingly on their shoulders.

Today is the day we have been waiting for.

This is my memory of you. I am forever grateful to you.

Dear future self,

A few years will have passed when you read this. It seems like it’s been a blink of an eye, yet so much has happened. I miss when the world seemed like a perfect place, where everything was okay. It was so much more than that. Recently, I’ve been feeling the blues, but I always keep in mind that after the blues, there’ll be purple-pink skies. It’s a comforting thought that all the downs in life enforce the ups. After all, if everything is positive, then there’s no negatives, and there is nothing to compare positives to.

I always wonder what I’ll be like now. Will I be perfectly fine or an anti-hero? Sadly, I always think of what others think of me. It doesn’t matter, so what if other people think that you’re weird? Just keep on being yourself, don’t let others change you for the worse. I think most of us have learned that from experience, and trying to change our personality and likes to conform with others.

Memories always feel so powerful. Walking down memory lane, you always feel overwhelmed by what is deemed as ‘trivial’ is so nostalgic. Old friends, hitting rock bottom, realizing your mistakes, righting it. Life is fleeting, you have to make the best of it. Before you know it, the day’s gone, the year’s gone, your life is wasted. That shouldn’t happen to anyone. Life is short, and we always have to make the best of it.

I always feel like everybody wants someone there to listen, empathize, and understand what they’re going through. Having someone be there for them when they need it the most and helping them see the sun on the horizon, signaling a new day. A new start to a new way of life.

Sincerely,
Yourself

This is my first weekly for Script, I made this on a whim but liked it! Sometimes it mentions ‘mailboxes,’ which are basically places where I send letters. In total, there are 1517 words, I'm so happy I finished!

You should end up with 14 letters, each letter being a minimum of 100 words (total of 1400 words). You must post proof of all parts to gain points.

Dear Dystopian,
Hunger Games, The Giver, Divergent, 1984, you have a bunch of books related to a war-stricken society, based on twisted beliefs. Nice! It's scary that those are all possible outcomes of what Earth will be. I'm betting technology is going to be very advanced, maybe so much that robots will rule the world (cue scary music). Anyways, you guys must be really hard-working, since you have a bunch of points. Your storyline seems intense and interesting, however I don't know of any plays set in the future. May the best cabin win SWC!
Take a (long) break,
Script (100 words)

For Fantasy,
HEY GUYS! You definitely have the best book genre by far. There are so many different fantasy novels, each with unique twists, like dragons and magic. All you guys are so epic, fantasy seems like an awesome place to be. I love the QOTDs in your studio, as they can make users interact with each other more. I love how you guys have rewards for SWCers that worked hard. Doesn't everybody love imagining an alternate reality with magical creatures, people with superpowers, and beautiful landscapes? Fantasy is one of my favorite cabins, I am glad we're allies!
Blow us all away,
Script (104 words)

Morning Mystery,
It's actually nighttime but I ran out of greetings that start with ‘M’. (RIP) I love reading Mystery novels, especially ones like Agatha Christie and the Westing Game. Hopefully you're getting this letter, I haven't been able to find your mailbox and had to give it to my friend boarding the Mystery Express. The aesthetic of your cabin is really nice, I love the different symbols. I'm also wary of you, the last time a foreigner entered your cabin, they were never seen again. I'm scared now, hopefully we can gather the DNA and foot size to figure out who it was.
Who lives, who dies, who tells your story,
Script (113 words)

Hello Horror,
Please don't come after me, I come in peace *very scared*. WHY WAS YOUR MAILBOX STAINED WITH A RED SUBSTANCE?? I don't want to find out. What I do want to find is an exit. All jokes aside, the atmosphere of your cabin is very nice. I usually don't read horror, however I respect the genre. I absolutely love curling up in bed on a cold Autumn evening, reading a scary book with a flashlight and feeling a chill come down my spine. It's a really nice vibe. Do you believe in ghosts? I think I do now, after reading the cabin description. You guys are still pretty chill, though.
The world turned upside down,
Script (118 words)

Folklore,
It's me. Hi! You guys are cool! It's so cool that we're making peace, instead of exile. This is me trying to inconspicuously insert some easter eggs. It's nice to have a friend that always has our back. Don't blame us if we surpass you on the leaderboard. I like the vibes of your cabin, it's like Fairy Tales and Mythology combined in one (maybe that's why they got rid of both cabins). It's also very cool that you guys share the same name with one of Taylor's best albums (that won a grammy heheh). Stay sparkling!
We know you guys are fearless,
Script (104 words)

Salutations Sci-Fi,
Do you believe that the world is a simulation? It's an interesting theory, and I can understand why some people believe it. A lot of amazing authors write Sci-Fi, like Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov. Aliens, potions, stars, they're all so amazing. (Also, is it pronounced cy-fi or sky-fi? /hj) Your mailbox was very interesting. It was like it was glitching off at some parts, and when I tried to insert the letter, my hand went through the mailbox. Do you have anything to say about that? What is happening with my conciousness?
Your obedient servant,
Script (101 words)

Bonjour Bi-Fi,
HI SIBLING! Tbh, I didn't know that bizarro fiction existed before SWC. It sounds interesting, is it like an abstract painting, but as a novel? I'd like to read a book with that genre. You guys are bizarre (literally and figuratively). How is life? I wonder what it would be like if I was in bi-fi, it sounds interesting. (Btw, there are too many cabins that end in -Fi, I'm getting them mixed up lol) Is it chaotic in there? I would think it would be. When I tried to put a letter in your mailbox, a bunch of popcorn and water started squirting at me. I'm a bit intimidated now.
What comes next?
Script (117 words)

Dear Real-Fi,
I couldn't find any greetings that start with R, I'm such a disappointment. Anyways, this is the 3rd fiction in a row. I'm so confused on your cabin, is it like contemporary? If it is, then I think that the themes of real-fi are overused, they're like coming of age and being yourself. I used to be in contemporary, and it was a pretty cool place. I think contemporary has a better name as well (I like how I'm ranting about contemporary in a letter to Real-Fi). Themes in Real-Fi are apparent in many forms of literature, like plays, so it's interesting that we're enemies.
Cabinet Battle #2,
Script (111 words)

(I gave up) Arr me hatey Adventure,
That was such a good intro, right? Arg, you scallywag! Can't wait to go on an adventure with you guys through the mystical lands of SWC. It's the 7th day on sea, hopefully we can reach the end of the path by the 30th. The ship is very shaky, as there are a ton of campers on board. I hope it doesn't collapse. The ship's name is amazing, who could've thought of ‘The Mango’ as a name? We've got to watch out for deadlines, bad mental health, and fatigue. They're very dangerous enemies. But if we work together, we can beat them!
Watch out for Guns and Ships,
Script (116 words)

To Thriller,
Every time I enter your cabin (which isn't a lot), I get goosebumps. I think it's probably from the air conditioning. You guys definitely need to make it warmer in there. Brrr. The theme of an ocean is interesting, I wouldn't think a thriller would be set in the ocean. I'm a bit confused on your cabin though, where is all the currency and points? It seems a bit disorganized. Thrillers are books that I would generally would not read. They're like a rollercoaster, and I hate jumpscares. Please don't leave me on a cliff(-hanger)!
Is that a Hurricane?
Script (103 words)

For Fan-Fi,
They created a cabin for the secret fan-fiction that has become my opus for my whole life? (just kidding) Your cabin theme is so neat, it reminds me of Loki in the way of the TVA. I like how there the fan-fiction cabin exists for all the introverts who love to write. You guys have a LOT of links in your description, it's nice to see an organized cabin. Can you explain to us how you travel in time? I think it would be very well in helping us learn how our characters were like. It would also be epic to see the different stages of history.
We'll be back!
Script (113 words)

Hey Hi-Fi,
How are you guys? How's the robbery going? I really like reading historical fiction, it's like relieving other's experiences in a very different place and time. So many musicals like Hamilton are set in the past. Today, when I was visiting your cabin, I opened the door and saw DINOSAURS??? Where did you get them from? Is that even legal? I got out of there as quick as I could, I was lucky to escape without a scratch. I wonder if there'll be mammoths or Sphinxes there next time. I'm a bit worried now.
History has its eyes on you,
Script (103 words)

Ni hao Naan-Fi,
You guys are the third fiction in a row. Again. Well, technically, you guys are NON-fiction. I think I'm losing my mind. Interesting theme for your cabin. Also, it's interesting that non-fiction is included in SWC. Most, if not all, of the other cabins are fiction, so it's cool how unique you guys are. In my honest opinion, non-fiction books are boring, however I understand how they are important. Your cabin mailbox had a bunch of newspapers in them, and when I took a sneak peek, I saw that they were from different centuries. Can you explain that?
I think I saw the election of 1800,
Script (110 words)

Dear Poetry,
Poetry is a beautiful style of writing. Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and Walt Whitman are just some of many poets. However, I do not particularly like poetry, as it is cryptic and confusing, but I do understand how some people like it. Meter, stanzas, consonance, and scheme are so complicated. The theme of your cabin is unique, because it consists of many teams with different challenges. If 15 cabins wasn't enough already haha. It's a bit sad that you guys are in last, but I guess there always has to be one cabin that is in last place.
Stay Alive,
Script (103 words)

Spirit (6-word story):
A splash across the canvas. Vibrance.

Shards (Dribble)
Bare footsteps echoed across the room, tiles creaking as I approached the only other person here. As I looked at him, my hoarse voice cried out. Scars disfigured his fading skin, giving him a ghost-like appearance. Eyes, once beautiful, were broken and weary. I reached out and touched the mirror.

Immortality (Twitterature):
Time is a human invention, yet I don’t ever want to be immortal. Always watching, waiting, longing for eternal peace. Just ask the stars.

Weekly SWC November 2022 - Week 3: Healthy Habits (that was a lot)

Part 1. Time Management
I used Eisenhower's Matrix and the Pomodoro technique. They're really helpful!

Part 2. Encouragement Motivation
Comment: Could I have motivation to do my writing comp entry?
Replies: Hey, you can do it Make sure to actually do them, as they these techniques can help you in the long term. Working and setting specific goals will help, as well as taking away all distractions. You've got this!
*hands chocolate chip peanut butter oatmeal raisin pecan sprinkle shortbread gingerbread samoa crumbl snickerdoodle oreo macaron flavored cookies*
I think setting specific goals to be done in a set amount of time would help a lot Also, make sure to do extracurriculars that you like <3

Part 3. Self-care
Checklist:
Drinking more water, I'm doing this right now heheh
Exercise, I don't usually exercise beside riding my bike
Sunlight, I feel like I don't go outside anymore
Turn Electronics off, I watch too much TV and spend wayyy too much time on the computer
Listen to Music, this helps me focus, especially happier music

We’ve all been overwhelmed before. Last minute studying for an exam, rushing the SWC weekly, writing an essay on a book you have not read before. This makes us feel stressed, an impending doom rushing towards us, and we can not do anything about it. Well, that’s not true. Small things during the day will *hugely* impact the way we tackle tasks and fix them. Let’s look at some of them.

Drinking more water: Drinking water is what we need to do to survive! If we do not drink water, we become sluggish and dehydrated. This makes us prone to slower blood circulation, less activeness, and a higher risk of becoming a victim to illnesses. Drinking water throughout the day can help us stay on task and refresh us. A common myth is, however, to drink 2L of water each day. To many, that sounds way too much. We need to take in consideration that everybody is different, and not all of us need that much water. However, if you need help reminding you to drink water, there are some apps out there to help.

Exercise: Exercise is a fundamental part of the human body. As the world changes, more people do not go outside due to increased screen time or not having enough time. However, exercising is important. It helps the body grow stronger, helping our immune system, and making you feel great in general. It can be walking a pet, running, riding a bike, walking in the park, doing push-ups, skipping over a rope, anything that exercises your muscles! This can help you be more active and motivated

Sunlight: This ties in with exercise. We all need a daily intake of sunlight, this can reduce lethargy and increase the intake of vitamins and essential minerals. Exercising outside can be really helpful haha. Without sunlight, your skin would be pale and you would be unhealthier. Just stepping outside for a bit would make you feel better (unless you’re a vampire, of course).

Turn Electronics Off: As the world focuses more on technology, it becomes more of a part of our daily lives. Sometimes, I feel like I’m addicted to using the computer. Turning your electronics off and just doing something you like, for example reading or playing the piano. This can make us feel happier and accomplish more in life.


Listen to Music: I’m listening to Coldplay right now, which can tell you something about the effects of music. Music makes us unite and feel happier, as well as focus our attention. Did you know that the type of music you listen to affects your mood? Listening to happier music will make you more energetic and optimistic, while listening to sadder music makes you feel more understanding and empathetic. Listening to music will make you feel better.

In conclusion, using many techniques are a significant help in our daily lives, making us feel better and making the body operate better. Doing something you enjoy can boost our morale, make you more active, and go a long way to help you care for yourself. We all need to keep that in mind.

remembrance

You might’ve heard of the Eridanus constellation. It means ‘the river,’ and the 32 stars that make it up are visible during November in the Southern Hemisphere. There’s a surprisingly moving backstory about 2 lovers for such an obscure constellation. The story is not told often enough. That’s why I’m here.

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers flowed down the Fertile Crescent. Citizens of Mesopotamia cherished the rivers, using them for drinking, worshiping, and nurturing their crops. Everyone revered it, not knowing what would happen without it. Festivals were held, honoring the gods that created them.

However, one peasant came to the rivers at dawn every day. Why? Nobody knew. He didn’t drink from the rivers, he didn’t have any crops, and he simply sat there for what seemed like an eternity. Others ridiculed him. ‘It’s just a waste of time.’ ‘What are you even doing there?’ ‘You’re going to anger the gods; you’re not using it the proper way.’ They said, yet he still came.

Nobody knew who he was. Where was his wife? What was his name? How did he get food on the table? He was ridiculed and ignored. Yet he still came.

It was the day of the summer solstice. As usual, the peasant woke himself up in the last hours of the night and sighed. As tired as he was of repeating the tough routine for years now, he knew, deep in his mind, that it was necessary. His old, weary eyes glanced around the room and landed on his dog. He smiled. His dog was his only solace in the last years of his life. Rubbing the slobber off his face, the man patted the dog and began the arduous journey to the rivers.

His walking stick in hand, he walked slowly through what seemed like endless, uneven terrain. His eyes couldn’t discern the road, so he relied on his other senses to guide him through the many mountains and valleys. He sighed. The man had walked this path countless times, we didn’t even have to open his eyes. Walking through a gap in the mountain, he heard the slight sound of a dead branch cracking. Mystified, he turned to the noise. 2 fierce, yellow pinpricks were watching the man with silent prowess. A mountain lion. The man felt the power radiating from it, and respected it. Minutes passed as the eyes stared at each other until the peasant turned away and continued his journey. He felt the eyes linger on him for a while until the mountain lion pursued its interests.

After a few more hours of trekking, he reached the final stretch of his journey. His dry mouth was constantly aching from thirst, but he disregarded it. He calmly proceeded to the empty riverside and sat there, not moving an inch. The river waters flowed peacefully. The rising sun, the bubbling of the rivers, and the lush trees that dotted the landscape were beautiful sights. Slowly closing his eyes, he felt the tangibility of the sun’s warmth. He was right on time.

As he felt the warm rays of the sun, he slowly opened his eyes. Standing in the Euphrates River was a person meditating. If you could call a 7-foot man with some fish scales and slightly blue skin a person. A pointed hat covered his tangled gray hair. A pure white aura radiated around his form. His eyes opened, revealing kind, blue eyes. Wrinkles formed as he smiled serenely.

The peasant's eyes widened. He immediately recognized the figure as the mighty god Enki. He’d been going to the river for years now, and now a god decided to show up. He tried to gather his courage to speak, but a feeling in his heart told him to wait. Enki was one of the peaceful gods. He closed his eyes and continued to meditate.
It could’ve been a few minutes or a few hours before Enki spoke.
“Why?” He questioned, in a deep voice.
The man tried to speak, but his parched throat refused to comply. He coughed, and shakily replied ‘What do you mean?’
‘You know what I mean.’ Enki said.
The man sighed. He’d been trying to avoid this situation. ‘I’ve been coming here for years to remember my past… who I once loved.’
‘Do you know what today is?’ Enki added, with gentleness.
Hesitating, the man reluctantly answered ‘Today is our anniversary. It’s our 60th anniversary. I miss him so much.’
Silence.

‘What is your name?’
‘I don’t know. I can’t remember.’
Enki took a deep breath and said ‘You’ve come to my rivers for 60 years now. Others show joy and gratefulness. You show loyalty, love, and dedication. I appreciate you for that.’ After a few seconds of thought, he added ‘What do you desire?’
Without hesitation, the man said ‘To be with him again.’
With a hint of a smile on his lips, the deity slowly closed his eyes and melted into the river.

The man was confused. Why would the god disappear just like that? He mused on the possibilities, but in his heart, he knew why. Why had he come to the river for 60 years now? What was the point if you shut out all the memories? He took a deep breath and remembered.

Meeting him for the first time. Talking, laughing, enjoying, loving. Staring into those beautiful eyes and listening to his honeysuckle voice. Sneaking out at night to spend time with him. Laughing next to the river, holding hands, whispering, and smiling. There was no other place he would be, no other person he would spend time with, no other emotion he would feel.

Then, the accident. People uncovered what they were doing. His lover was drowned. He was exiled. It wasn’t fair. Anguish hit him as nothing else could. Staying by the river, doing nothing. Thinking of what they were, what they could’ve been. Crying, thinking of him. Thinking of them.

He’d shut down those memories eventually. He was unable to find closure, after all these years. Yet there he was today, alone by the river. Remembering, for the first time in many years.

He knew what he had to do. As the sun set, he walked into the river.

Nobody saw him again, yet his story has been told among generations. Enki placed him in the stars as a river. His name is Eridanus.

He was forever reunited with his lover.

Picture: Lounging Around https://www.onceuponapicture.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Chris-Dunn-LoungingAboutWeb.jpg

They sat idly there, enjoying the moment, enjoying the scenery. Two lifetime friends, one experience. The wind brushed the willow leaves into the glistening, transparent water. Bugs' calls, like little sirens, darted in and out of their ears. A dragonfly darted rapidly, a majestic predator searching for its next meal as the sun reflected off its silver wings. The air was rich with fragrances of the grass and the small shrubs where the old willow tree resided. The drifting river waters brought solace to all that listened closely.
The friends were the mole and the groundhog. The mole, always more timid and understanding, was reading his journal with his glasses. The journal contained his lifetime memories and experiences, including vivid imagery and strong feelings inside his soft-spoken façade. The groundhog, the more talkative and friendly of the two, sat there fishing, with his fishing rod, handmade with the bark of the willow tree where they lived together. The groundhog had tried, fruitlessly, for the past week to catch a fish, but was never successful. It was his goal to catch one, no matter how small it was.
A sudden rush of wind knocked the groundhog’s straw hat off. The groundhog’s hands were full and the mole was immersed in his thoughts, so the hat fell into the water with a quiet splash. The groundhog grimaced and exchanged looks with his friend. The mole looked in despair, feeling helpless that he was unable to do anything. His eyes widened, and he said “You could use your fishing rod to catch it.” in a squeaky voice. The groundhog smiled and high-fived his companion. He pulled his fishing rod back in, and aimed for the hat. It didn’t catch the hat, but he succeeded in pushing the hat back. He reached for it, and pulled it out of the clear water. The hat was falling apart due to it being made of straw and was dripping water. “Oh well.” the groundhog said in a gloomy voice “At least we can still have fun!” He said, always looking to the upsides of every scenario.
They started to open their picnic basket and eat their food, but there was no food! It was empty. “Oh no! How did I even forget to pack food?” They exclaimed. They had no more lunch. Disheartened, the groundhog put his fishing rod back in and started to leave, his breaking hat in one hand, and his fishing rod in the other. “Wait,” the mole suddenly said “What if you can catch fish for us to eat?” The groundhog nodded, but said “I don’t know how to catch fish, I’ve tried for so long, but I could not be able to catch one even if I tried.” The mole encouraged his friend “If I know you, I know you can do it.” The groundhog smiled, and cast his reel one more time. A few minutes later, nothing happened. “See? I can’t do it.” Then, there was a slight tugging. A fish! They smiled. He had finally did it.

Critique with @-WildClan-
I really liked your piece! The first 2 two (haha, see what I did there?) paragraphs really set the tone of the piece! The narrator tells you about doors and the rules in a mystical, sort of enchanting way. I really like how you use Here and There and the other opposites.

Something I would change is the wording of some of the sentences. You could make the sentence more cleaner and less redundant. For example, you wrote “The door is open, and you grip the doorframe, leaning through to see what’s on the other side” where you could instead write “You lean through the open door and grip the doorframe, trying to see what's on the other side” Your use of imagery is really nice, especially things like the star and sky part!

Also, since this story is in second person (which is cool, because you don't see a lot of second person literature), things like inferences don't fit well with the story. For example, “They must have been floating for a very long time.“ is a little unnecessary, as the reader should be able to make that inference, and if you think it would be harder for the reader to inference it, you could write something about ”the boats floated with chipped, fading paint“. Another example of this is when you say ”Looking down, there is a ladder leaning against the doorframe at your feet.“ Because you are already looking down, using ”you see“ instead of ”there is” is a much better change.

That's all the feedback I have for you! I really liked the ending and how you referenced mirrors as passageways as well. You chose a pretty amazing picture. I really liked your story, it was so amazing. My favorite parts were the 2nd person feel and the scenery.

Weekly for Script

Save code!
Your Journey: horror, option #1, adventure, option #1, bifi, option #1, thriller, option #1, fanfi, option #3, hifi, option #1, mystery, option #1, poetry, option #2, realfi, option #1, scifi, option #3, script, option #1, fantasy, option #1, folklore, option #3, nonfi, option #3, dystopian, option #3

Screenshot: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/768820710/
Word Crawl Project: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/762359450/

Manipulation

I reached out into the cold, autumn air. Nobody was there. I tried to feel, to understand, but I found nothing. It was a cold day, the icy, biting wind was in my hair, and there was a sort of stillness that one could feel. The absence of warmth. The bleak sun was covered by many clouds, restraining and blocking it. I looked around. The swings creaked on a deserted playground. The gray thunderclouds were starting to loom and cover the whole sky. I heard the ominous sound of a storm approaching: the slightest strike of lightning in the distance, I needed to find shelter; and quickly.

But I had to hide my identity. My face had to be a mask of no emotion. I emptied all thoughts, my mind a blank desert. My lips remained solemn, showing no sign of emotion. I clenched and unclenched my cheek muscles, softening my previously tense face. I clenched my jaw, not showing any part of my teeth. I forced myself to tilt my head ever so slightly and straightened my back, my 6’2 height giving a sense of power and authority. I did all the steps to insure that my facade was fool-proof, not revealing any part of my true self, however one thing bothered me. I knew my dark eyes were a storm of chaos, a tornado swirling, ready for complete destruction. My fatal flaw was apparent. I breathed in and out, slowly, emptying my mind once more, manipulating my emotions, forcing myself to empty my passion. I looked at my reflection through the water puddles. My mask was complete.

I scanned my surroundings. The abandoned playground was the only shelter in sight. Around me, tiles were strewn around on breaking roads, and the vegetation only consisted of dying, brown shrubs. I headed to the playground to fight against the storm, glancing back to see my fears confirmed; the brewing storm was headed straight towards me. I ducked down and climbed up the stairs to a tunnel. Thunder cracked like a whip, deafening my ears. It started pouring. Infinite droplets and hail hit the ground, I couldn’t discern anything outside the tunnel. Lightning struck the slide. The force left my hair stuck up. A few hours passed, and I lay there, useless, waiting for the turbulent storm to finally be over.

The storm subsided suddenly. I smiled. The next phase had worked. I clapped my hands in a pattern that others would realize, and a panel opened with a set of numbers. I tapped the correct password and entered the underground bunker. I stepped on a lift. As I descended, I thought about how advanced our technology became. We could now manipulate the weather, what else could we do? Could we change the temperature worldwide? Could we make it eternal rain? I marveled at the genius of me and the programmers.

I could no longer see the sky. I was descending down the lift at a rapid rate. I peered down, trying to perceive the bottom, if there was a bottom. A hard metal covered the walls, gleaming and indestructible. There was no way out besides the lift. The lift passed many doors, some to which said ‘PROHIBITED ENTRY’ or ‘Testing Room’. I recognized all of those names. Of course, I was the lead programmer, first in command of our leader. I had knowledge and access to a lot more than anyone else in our lab. This proved dangerous, and I had made some enemies with envious programmers, desperate for power and attention. I could name a few names: Rosemary Vale, Ricardo Astrew, and Eloise Drowry. For this reason, I stayed inconspicuous. The lift passed the door I was going towards. My brow furrowed. The lift was descending at an alarming rate. At this speed, it was going to reach free-fall any second. The air whooshed by, slicing into my ears. I could no longer see any of the doors, just a whir of metal. My brain was panicking, but I kept my cool. This was how I rose up to a high status. I remembered putting in an emergency button, well-hidden, when I worked on the lift. I located the panel, as I held onto the fragile rails of the lift. I had to open it before the speed proved too immense. I wriggled my now jelly-like fingers in hopes of reaching it, and I succeeded. I pressed the button just in the nick of time. ‘MANUAL OVERLOAD’ a female robot voice blared, as the lift slowed to a stop.

I looked down and saw a pitch-black darkness. For some reason, I still had a long way to go until I reached the bottom of the hole. This unnerved me: what could be at the bottom? Brushing that thought aside, I looked and saw the door that the lift opened to. It was written “Incanters”. I wasn’t sure what that meant. I knew most of the doors, yet this one made me wonder.

I remember a time when I stole the blueprints of the building when me and my friend Aercha were planning a lab that helped control the weather. The world was facing a drought, and it still is. We were aspiring meteorologists, wanting to bring change to the world and fix it. Back before the company changed, we were the best of companions. However, I was jealous of her talent and stole the blueprint, hoping to make it myself. My conscience wouldn't allow me to. I thought about how helpful she had been to me and her genuine kindness. A few days later, I returned them, not telling her where they had gone. It didn’t matter, because she died of illness in a week. I inherited the company, where I now worked for Dry Spell Associated.

The thoughts of Aercha evaporated when I heard a creaking coming from the “Incanter” door. It was emitting a pale light, yet there were no lights attached to the door. What does Incanter mean? I thought I heard the term somewhere. I strained my mind for thoughts, searching deep into my conscience. Then I found it. A sudden burst of knowledge entered my brain. The pieces all fit together. I was shocked. Dry Spell Associated, Incanter, Droughts. It all added up. Why was the company called Dry Spell? Incanter sounded familiar to me because of the word “Incantation,” which means “to cast a spell”. And, a few hours after the unexplainable droughts, the company bursted into existence. It all added up. I had been naive to dismiss this. I was working for witches and wizards.

I instantly doubted myself. Where were my alliances? Who was my boss? Who knew? The knowledge was too powerful for me to handle, and brought many unanswered questions. Then, more questions: how did they get their powers? What did they use it for? Did they purposefully start the drought in hopes of earning money? The questions, especially the last one. But I knew I had to keep a straight face. After all, I do have the best poker face. I breathed and calmed myself down. Nobody needed to know. I turned the wheel that guarded the door and used the eye recognition to enter the Incanter room. I braced myself for anything.

A gust of warm air flowed as I opened the door. Inside, there was a fiery atmosphere where I saw many people reading books and studying. Their eyes opened in alarm when I opened the door, but to calm their nerves, I said “It’s okay, I know about you guys.” Some went back to their work without any care, and some, particularly a male with dark skin and black hair, still eyed me apprehensively. I acted nonchalant and approached him. “What’s your name?” I asked. He seemed jittery for an odd reason. “Bennerd.” He replied. “Why’re you always acting so scared?” I questioned. He hesitated, but the look in my eyes gave him a reason to reply. “I think I am going to be fired. I’m bad at conjuring and once, I accidentally conjured the wrong key to the room. The directors were furious.” I gasped. This was a few days ago. His power was too powerful to be contained. I could use this. He could steal more for me. Then, he started ranting. “Sorry, but I’m starting to have doubts. What are we even supposed to do? I feel like the cameras are always watching and not letting us do what we want. I’m suffering from depression.” I empathize with him. I remember not being able to overcome my sadness as a child. I started comforting him. “Hey, it’s okay. You can do this. You’re strong and amazing.” He smiled in a way that made me get goosebumps. Then, his skin got lighter. His eyes became more narrow, shifting colors. His hair grew at an alarming rate until it was up to his shoulders. I gasped. It was Aercha.

I stumbled back, unable to contain my thoughts. Wasn’t that why I rose in authority? It didn’t matter now. I hit a chair and it spun, I glanced at Aercha and she appeared more prominent than before. Then I looked back at the chair and I saw: a frog. A green, wrinkled frog with boils all over its skin. I was bewildered. Where did the frog come from? Aercha was equally surprised, then she looked back at me with a withering stare. “How DARE YOU?” She shouted. “You STOLE my life’s work, didn’t tell me, and LEFT ME TO DIE?” I was shocked. “YOU THINK YOU’RE SO GOOD, MANIPULATING OTHERS? YOU EVEN STOLE THE INCANTERS’ POWERS. You DESERVE what you’re getting.” She smiled. I frantically looked around my surroundings for the exit. I clasped the handle, but it dissolved into sand. It was too late. The last thing I saw was Aercha’s evil smile..

The prison was a perfect cube. The walls shimmered with the scent of a cleaning detergent, not what is in a lot of prisons. At the ceiling of the prison held a bleak light that was like an interrogation room, which it could be. Right above the lights was a tiny, beeping camera, trying to be undetected. There were a few scattered chairs, wooden with uneven legs. One of the chairs seemed to be broken beyond repair. It looked like it was sliced in half and thrown against the wall multiple times. Why was it even there? That was a mystery. Besides the chair, there was not a lot in the room. There was a tiny bed with perfectly made sheets, but it looked like it was for a child. The only odd thing was a picture of an elevator hanging on the walls. Was there a door behind it?

I had to check. This sounded too good to be true. I couldn’t let my hopes evaporate, but I couldn’t allow my curiosity to be unsatiated. I peeked behind it. Nothing. I sighed. This was going to be a long stay. Then I noticed it. One of the pieces of the broken chair was oddly shaped. It looked like it could be… a key? I picked it up, confident that it was a key, but could find no possible place to put it. Was this a test? Then, I saw it. In the picture of the elevator, there was a keyhole. Could it be? I inserted the key into the frame and my eyes widened. The elevator doors opened. I looked around, and saw the camera beeping. Why and who would provide an escape? I wondered, and stepped into the frame. Anywhere else was better than here. I turned and saw there was only one way the elevator could go: up.

This was obviously the work of Incanters. But which one? Why would they purposely help the prisoner? Was I actually escaping, or was I still in the picture located in the room? I shook the thoughts out of my head. I had to focus on my escape. I anxiously waited for the elevator to arrive. Out of the blue, the elevator started blasting Taylor Swift. Was that.. Long Live? Taylor Swift was a few hundred years ago, yet Long Live was still my favorite song. It was apparent that the Incanters made the music change based on the user. Finally, after painstaking minutes of waiting, the elevator reached the top. With a ding, the doors opened to reveal a lab. There were many people working, but they appeared distorted, like seeing them through water. I realized I was still in the picture. I had somehow traveled to the security room through a picture.
I was surveying the scene when the doors started to close. It was now or never. I took a deep breath and stepped out.

As soon as I stepped out, I saw Rosemary Vale, my nemesis. What was she doing here? She was one of the programmers, not the security guard. She looked unsurprised. However, I was surprised. “What’re you doing here?” I hissed, trying to act confident. She said “I think I discovered something huge.” Then I said “Wait a minute. You’re an Incanter? Seriously?” She just rolled her eyes and nodded. Then, she whispered “I think the Incanters are controlling the dust storm.” This time, it was my turn to roll my eyes. “You haven’t realized? Here, follow my lead.” I hesitated, but knew this was the right thing to do. I touched my face. Slowly, it transformed. I felt my face change, my nose go thinner, and my mouth more of a grimace. I had a new disguise. I opened the door and strolled into the lobby. As I opened the door, the programmers all working at their computers looked in awe. I even saw the directors. Aercha’s eyes widened.

I confronted them, once and for all. “I know that you created the dust storms. I know EVERYTHING. Now do as I say, or I shall expose you.” The directors laughed. How was I, a clueless programmer, going to escape? Then I said “I know that you manipulate others. You control their minds.” The directors went silent. I smiled, knowing I had found their Achilles Heel. Vale stood at the back in awe. I revealed my true identity. Who was manipulating them now? Me. Lyra Opaeus.

Aercha was furious. I went back to the lift and rode it back up. Nobody stopped me.

A few days later, the dust storms ‘unexpectedly’ stopped. The Earth was back, and scientists were questioning the cause.

I sat there on the swings of my playground, recounting and musing on my endeavor. I was willing to restore the Earth to its original glory.

Then it struck me. It was me. I was the cause.

(2462) thanks to everyone for SWC. it was an amazing experience.

Critique for @sweetcakefamily!

Your story is really cute! I love the characters, especially the cat. Thalia (Hmmm, I wonder where you got inspiration from the name? *wink wink*) is a bundle of sunshine, which I love.

I like the opening paragraph, like the flecks of dust. Something I am not sure about is that it mentions ‘golden light of the sun,’ but wasn't it cloudy at that time? Or maybe the sky has already opened up at that time? Also, something else I would fix is how she woke up. She seems like she was ready to start the day, but you could change it to be more realistic, like her being groggy and rubbing her eyes before she saw her cat. Flicking your eyes open when you wake up seems unnatural in my opinion. Unless you wanted the reader to think that Thalia is always energetic, which in that case, then ignore my feedback. To add on, in the fourth line, I think you meant to write “stroking” not “stoking,” because I'm pretty sure the cat isn't a fire. XD There's also a grammar mistake in the sixth line, it is ‘how the weather was doing,’ not ‘what the weather was doing’.

Next, I really like the descriptions of Thalia's objects! The lemon raincoat, the picnic-patterned boots, and frog umbrella make her seem like a really bubbly person, and you succeeded in doing that! I think you should capitalize Papa, as it's a nickname for her dad. I also love the descriptions of water, they seem so beautiful. Her and Misty seem like they really enjoy each other (well, maybe Misty not so much).

Lastly, the conclusion is more realistic. I like how you make Thalia out to be innocent, as she's only a small kid who doesn't understanding the shape that their family is in. The last paragraphs seem solemn, as they introduce the mother into the story. It seems like the story ended on a sadder note than I would think it would be, and it seems like there's room for many possibilities for the story to continue!

My favorite parts of the story would be the description of the sky opening up and also how you made Thalia ingenuous, and at the end, she became a little more mature.