forum Weekly writing prompts?

Started September 05, 2018 by @Nomadicd20 group

tune

Week 23: Write the following death scenes for your protagonist: 1) A peaceful death as an elderly person 2) A violent death 3) All alone 4) By your character’s worst fear

Yes!!!

Week 23: Write the following death scenes for your protagonist: (My story has multiple protagonists, but I chose Lizzie Gray, an 18 year old bisexual girl)

1) A peaceful death as an elderly person

Lizzie Gray was 93 years old. Looking back on her life, she felt a wave of different emotions hit her. Joy, for the life she had lived. Fear, for the next life she would go to. Sadness, for the people she had lost along the way. She still thought she could see them sometimes, in the corners of her room. Any doctor would say she was going mad in her old age, but she knew they were there. Mikey, Leo, Hunter. They waved, they smiled, and on occasion they would come and sit at her beside. We'll see you soon, Lizzie. We're so excited. We've missed you. Her mind always returned to that high school club of theirs. Their LGBT+ Club. It wasn't much, but it was theirs. All six of them had taken the idea and ran. She smiled, thinking of it now. As she looked into the corner of the room a new face stood there, beaming at her. Her life partner, Charlie Price, who she'd met in the Club. They were everything Lizzie could've asked for, and they had suffered a painful death at the hands of leukemia. Lizzie knew she was most excited to see Charlie again. She shifted slightly in the bed, sighing softly. She would miss this life. But there were great things waiting in the next. With another soft puff of air, she closed her eyes, and was still.

2) A violent death

She should have seen the car. Maybe then she would've had time to stop. But Charlie, her partner, had just texted. Maybe it was important. Maybe they'd been hurt. She just needed to check… Lizzie remembered her fingertips grazing the edge of her phone as she tried to grab it without looking away. Unable to, she glanced down and picked it up, reading the text on the screen. I love you. Lizzie just had time to smile before a jolting movement threw her forward, propelling her head through the windshield. There was a searing pain, and everything went black.

3) All alone

The stab wound hurt. A lot. The blood had long since seeped through her shirt and her fingers, pooling on the ground beneath her. Lizzie knew she was going to die soon. A victim of a night time robbery, in a back alley, in a small town had no chance of receiving help. Not without a phone. Not in time. Surprisingly, Lizzie found herself at peace with this decision. Even as she lay there, shaking and panting and sweating, she was not afraid. She knew the pain would stop soon, and she would be in a safer place. The only thing that really worried her was Charlie. She knew they'd be okay. They were strong. But she knew they'd be sad, grief-stricken, for a long time. Lizzie felt guilty for leaving them so soon. She wished she could've at least had the chance to say goodbye. But she would see them again, one day. It was that thought that dulled the pain for a moment, and allowed her to finally, mercifully close her eyes and fall still on the pavement.

4) By your character’s worst fear

Lizzie wasn't afraid of much. She was strong, confident, and proud of who she was. She wasn't afraid of rejection, or homophobia, or not being good enough for someone. She was good enough for herself, and that was all that mattered. But she did happen to have a horrible fear of spiders. It was stupid, really. A Spider-man worthy tale. After being bitten by a black widow that had escaped from one of the science jars, she unfortunately did not develop any spider-esque powers. She did develop the side effects of a venomous bite. She was shaking as she clutching her hand, tears rolling down her cheeks. In another situation this might have been funny, but it was after school hours. Everyone had gone home. Lizzie had gotten special permission to stay late from her science teacher. Now, she could feel the venom working its "magic." She collapsed, still trembling as she curled into a fetal position in pain. Spiders… why did it have to be spiders…?

I've never done prompts like this before so sorry if it's bad!!!

Not bad. 5/10 at least.

Thank you!

1) I'd always hoped I'd leave this way, but this wasn't how I'd imagined it. I figured I'd have a master's degree in the medical field… maybe a few PhD's. I guess fate had other plans. Staying inside the Dreamspace may not have been my best idea, especially since I failed at my mission. Night Mares can't be wiped out. Not even contains. I just wish it hadn't taken me years to realize that.
But now is not the time to regret. It happened, I can't change that. The best I can do now is keeping looking into Sarah's eyes, hoping that my unspoken apology would be known to her. The silvery-blue tint in those sightless spheres somehow gave me the peace of mind that I had worked so hard to accomplish in my lifetime. If only I had stayed…
"You're back," she whispered. Her voice was so different than what I heard in my dreams: it was cracked, weathered from time, just like the rest of her.
"Yes," I whispered back. "I should have gone with you."
Her dry lips pulled tight in a smile. "I'm just glad you came back while you still had… time." Her eyes flickered to the heart monitor next to my hospital bed.
I brushed my finger over her palm. "Have you done what I asked… when you left?"
She shook her head. "I couldn't bring myself to do it, Jewls. As much as I've wanted a family, it couldn't be without you. No, I didn't marry."
I sighed deeply. "That only worsens my mood."
"It's shouldn't."
I gazed back up into Sarah's eyes, trying to read into her mind, to see what she was thinking. Just as. I was about to say something, my strange peace of mind became more real than before. My life seemed to flash before my eyes, reviewing every single moment of my life. I took in a breath so heavy it seemed as if I couldn't breathe at all. I could faintly hear the heart monitor drawing a blank… I kept my intense stare on Sarah, and whispered, "I love you."
Her response was so faint it was but a whisper. I smiled. As long as she was the last thing I saw, I was at peace.

2) “Where–”
My voice was cut off by a ear-ringing screech from above my head. I hardly had the time to look up before a huge, gray humanoid thing pounced on top of me. I screamed and thrust my fist into the creature’s ugly face, landing it right above its mouth, which spat acid saliva onto my face. I jerked my head back, as if that would help the intense burning that had erupted in my skin. The Night Mare, seeing that my senses were disoriented from the sting, lashed out with its fangs, clamping down on my arm. With another deafening screech, a jolt of unbearable pain shot through my arm…. Oh my god. My arm was gone.
How I managed to keep my head clear, I wasn’t sure. But suddenly my pain was dulled, and continuous waves of adrenaline pulsed through every vein in my body. I found the strength to kick the Night Mare in the chest, sending it skyrocketing backwards.
Come on, come on, come on, I urged. The portal had to be somewhere around here. But the pain and loss of blood had begun to cloud my mind, and my memories were going blank.
The Night Mare screeched again; it was on its feet. Sword… sword. I fingered for my weapon with my leftover arm, but my grip was not steady enough. It clattered to the ground before I’d even lifted it to shoulder height. I moaned, lightning-like pain coursing back into me, overriding the adrenaline rush. This can’t be it…
The Night Mare came speeding towards me, its long boney arms flailing madly. I fell to my knees, accepting my defeat. I was so close…
And that was the end.

3) People say your life flashes before your eyes in the seconds preceding death. That wasn’t the case for me. My life came back to me as vivid memories, many of which had been lost in the fabrics of my stream of consciousness. I remembered things I’ve wanted to forget: my family, my dreams… Sarah. I wanted to forget her so badly, but she had made a permanent mark on my life. I couldn’t forget her. And that was what had made my choice to leave her so devastating.
I closed my eyes, imagining my head sinking deep into my pillow, clouding away any leftover memories. I could feel my life draining away, faster than I would have thought it would. I was coming onto death, and I had no one to share it with.
As my consciousness began to dim, a final memory emerged from the depths of my mind: our first kiss. The memory sparked fiery emotions in me, too complicated to explain. The caress of her fingertips on my jawline still burned on my skin. Her flirty smile, still so confused that I’d chosen her, out of all the other girls. She’d been so excited that she’d nearly forgotten why we had even come to the Dreamspace. She’d forgotten about Panda, about everything. I had to. It had only been the two of us, clinging to an unfamiliar feeling that we couldn’t bear to let go. And I had left her. And upon leaving her, I disconnected myself from every string that kept me up.
Now, I was paying for that price. Here I lay, in a dark room, with no family, no friends.
Completely and utterly alone.

4) “Sarah, run!”
Sarah had no time to scream, the Night Mare wrapped its arms around her mouth. Her blank eyes grew wild in terror, and she attempted to escape from the Mare’s grip… with no avail. The thing had already locked her in a chokehold.
Another Mare grabbed me by my shirt and yanked my into the air. My shirt collar dug into my throat, making it difficult to breathe. I screamed and kicked madly, but the Mare’s long arms made my own legs look like stubs.
“Let me go!” I screamed. As if that would help the situation.
“Julian!” The panic in Sarah’s voice was unbearable. “Help me!” Her plea was cut short by a screech, a spine-shivering crunch, and a weak cry. The Night Mare had broken her arm.
“Let us go!” I screamed again, but the Night Mares laughed; eerie, high-pitched laughs that sent a tremor down my neck.
Yourrrr friend will mmmmake a good snackkkk hissed the one holding me. And whennnn you watttch herr die… I’ll snapp your neckkkk
“NO!” I shouted.
Sarah shrieked, louder and clearer than I could have ever heard. She screamed my name over and over and over again until– nothing. I shut my eyes, holding back my tears. She couldn’t be gone. She couldn’t be.
Your tturnn
No. Not Sarah. Not me…
Nothing.

They go from sort of brief to very brief. I'm a happier writer. Death scenes are not my best trait. Especially when involving my favorite character.

You have done well Prim. I like you.

Haha, glad someone appreciated it

Good.

(1) A peaceful death as an elderly person

Little Blue is done with Earth. Just done. I would not have left Tir na Nog even after two hundred years if it had been right, but it wasn't. I am still so bitter about that. I do not want to think about that further.
Mickey looks up quietly. "You're sure you're sure."
"Look around, Mickey."
He nods and holds out a pill. I know it will not work on me, but my human would be so scared if he let his body take over. I swallow one with him and we walk through the waves.
So cold. Loud. Demanding, and we give. We lay down some ten feet in and gaze at each other. Mickey's eyes are warm and gentle, his hand closes around mine as he tries to keep himself from drifting off. I cannot tell him how much it means that he would die with me, happily, trusting. Maybe in the afterlife he will know.
The waves are coming greater now, roaring and excited, pulling our hair and filling our mouths. They make my heart pound faster, my eyes widen even as my body relaxes. They are giants gleefully coming to rush us off to final freedom, to a new land to walk, to see our loves again. They brush across our closing eyes and force them shut quicker, roughly, but they do not intend to hurt. It does not make logical sense, but I understand it, somehow. We will leave Earth together, and when we reach the new land, maybe I'll be able to show Mickey my heart's home, a home that I have not destroyed - I see it -

(2) A violent death

I can smell it. Disgusting. Gah. I can't describe it. Blood, rust, corrosion, sneering sweatily at me. Cursed metal. Curse it! It is coming closer - No - Eyes widening - Teeth grind - Please - I am above begging! Cursed man! Cruel hearts! Colder than father's, colder than mother's, colder than all of Tir na Nog combined - closer! Not this way. Not this way. Please, I would rather be thrown into the fire or eaten alive or slowly torn into a thousand pieces than this cursed, cursed way. IRON. IRON is coming for me, chuckling merrily at my thrashing legs, my bloody lips, my blank eyes. IRON, curse it, curse this man, he will never understand! O Tir na Nog, never set foot on this cursed world, this pit of wrathful humans. PLEASE - I am not above begging - PLEASE -
The pain. Oh, the pain. The pain. Burning me when I could not be burnt, slicing slowly to my marrow, IRON. IRON. Hatred, IRON. Doom breathes over its shoulder, watching me with empty eyes, tilting its head at me when one fingertip slowly, so slowly departs from the rest of my finger, lands with a vicious thud at this ruthless human's feet. And again. Again. Slow, so slow, I am trapped inside my own traitorous little body, any way but this way! Let me go, I cannot say it, blood is wrapping itself around my weeping tongue, but this cursed human knows it anyway. Spit in my eyes, it does not matter, I cannot see through the tears. Oh yes, I am crying. Poor Little Blue is crying. That smirking, cocky Fae, that girl who rained destruction upon her whole planet, who could make this man's blood boil with a twinkle of the eye, is crying her heart out before all of humanity, begging, pleading, screaming for mercy, and everyone watches and giggles and laughs because she is dead now.

(3) All alone

I knew it would be this way.
I knew it the moment I left.
I knew it the moment I saw.
I knew it the moment I dreamed.
I knew it the moment I felt.
I knew it the moment I listened.
I knew it the moment I learned I could.
I knew it the moment I thought I could.
I knew it the moment I hoped I could.
I knew it the moment I did.
Gone.
Just gone.
I am just gone now, a wordless entity watching sadly as every person who ever existed passes away in less than a second.
And I am all alone out here. I killed Mickey. I killed Collo. I killed father. I killed mother. I killed the scientists. I killed the warriors. I killed the plants. I killed the animals. I killed two planets, and now I will pay for hundreds of thousands of years, millions of years, until I find the courage to kill myself. Alone.

(4) By your character’s worst fear

Father turns very slowly. "Come here, colleen."
Mother frowns at him. "Do not come, Aoife, he is right."
I watch from my still corner. What are they thinking?
"Come here, colleen." Irritation.
But that is not possible. Father does not feel anything. Mother does not feel anything. Fae do not feel anything.
"Aoife!"
I straighten and approach.
Father reaches out and wraps his fingers around my throat, not hard. "Do you see what I see?"
"What do you see, father?"
"I see a human disguised as a fae. I see a liar - Do you see her too?"
Mother looks at him with disapproval, but she snaps her fingers, and suddenly the room is filled. "I think you are right."
Humans. The room is filled with humans. They gaze around, confused at first, and then their eyes slide toward me.
Father nods. "Humans. Your true family. Wretched creatures…they deserve to be put out of their misery, do you agree?"
"I agree," Mother sighs in my voice.
"Good! Then let us do so, then."
The room is empty.

1) Peaceful Death, Old Age

Farah slowly lifted her head. The once vibrant golden scales were no more. Age was something all beasts couldn't avoid, even dragons. Though dragons may have a long lifespan, they too grew old and would eventually pass on to the next world. The Dragon Princess, who had grown into a queen, was finally fading. Her brother had already left the world long ago, as well as her father.
Though she was not afraid. The dragonelle had served her purpose, she had managed to fulfill her deceased mother's wish before her, and bring peace to man and dragon once again. Farah had children, 2 lovely dragonkin, who would take her place to rule man and dragon. She knew her mate would be very proud, the prince of mankind who helped her save dragons and men from an even greater threat. He would be waiting for her, she would get to see him, her brother, father, and her mother once again.
A sudden caw drew her attention. The golden dragonelle shifted her head, too tired to lift herself. Settled nearby on a rock, was a large, black raven. Though it was clear this wasn't your average bird. It's eyes glowed a bright, unnatural blue, the same wisps of blue energy seeming to surround it.
"I-I knew you w-w-would come…you always do…w-when our times comes…"
The bird looked towards her. It unfolded its wings, flapping a bit, cawing. Blue eyes locked on the dull green eyes as a strong voice echoed in her mind. It was comforting:
~Farah…such a beautiful dragonelle…so brave and strong…you did all you could, but it is time for you to pass. You have served your purpose my lady in this life. Come, Farah, the Supreme One awaits you to join the ranks of the holy dragons~.
A soft smile appeared on Farah's muzzle. Her eyes slowly started to close. The dragonelle's breathing slowed way down, the rise and fall of her sides uneven, then eventually coming to a complete stop.
————————————————————————————————————————————————-

2) A Violent Death

"PLEASE! ZARIC, DAMON! JUST STOP!"
Her voice echoed across the sands of the desolate dunes. The Dragon Princes was in her human form, struggling to get free as her brother kept her in place. The fiery male held her tightly, trying to keep her from getting in between the battling males. It broke the Prince's heart to hear the desperate pleas of his sister…
Zaric stared wide eyes at the monstrous humanoid that had taken Damon's place. He couldn't understand, he felt this strange energy coursing through him, the past and present flitting in his vision. The once cold and calculating male started to crumble as he remembered more and more of what had happened so long ago, or perhaps it would be what had happened in another timeline. Either way, it was clear, he was no longer a match for this new form Damon had taken.
Damon released an inhuman roar, throwing his head back. As he did, a pillar of red and black energy spiraled upwards. This energy swarmed, running along his back and towards his head. The power started to build between the horns that now adorned his head, surging into a orb which crackled with unstable energy. Then without warning, the energy from the orb was released in a powerful beam, which arced perfectly forward, aiming straight for Zaric.
In response, Zaric swiftly raised a claw like hand, his black wings tattered in ribbons behind him. A spark of platinum energy soon ignited into a giant beam of his own energy. The cold male's green eyes glowed, wisps of golden flames lighting the tips of his own horns. Yet neither Damon or Zaric would've been able to foretell the next action…
"I SAID ST-"
FAAARAAAAH!"
Both beams struck, but they didn't strike the target either male had in mind. Zaric and Damon stared downwards from their places hovering above. Shock covered Zaric's once cold demeanor, eyes wide, the once slit pupils round. The bone-like mask that had once covered Damon's face started to crack, the horns slowly falling off, showing the Prince's own horrified expression.
On the ground, between Zaric and Damon, sat Fuego, Farah limp in his arms, a bloody hole in her chest. The girl tried to take a breath, but choked, burning blood dripping, hissing as it hit the ground. Once vibrant green eyes were glassed over, no life. The Dragon Princess reached a shaky hand upwards, fingers lightly touching her brother's cheek. She wanted to say something, to tell him everything would be alright…but she knew it would never be alright. Farah had only seen her brother cry once, and that was so long ago, the day their mother, the Dragon Queen, had been murdered.
"W-why…just w-w-why? Everyone I-I-I have ever loved…is taken from me…" the prince hissed softly under his breath. He tried to keep the tears at bay, but it wasn't working. All his frustration and anger, had disappeared into agony and sorrow.
The draconic male suddenly threw his head back, releasing a sorrowful howling roar. He couldn't understand…why his life was cursed in such a way. He wanted Farah back, but in the back of his mind, Fuego knew his sister was gone.
————————————————————————————————————————————————-

3) All Alone

The Dragon Princess curled up in a corner. She hadn't eaten anything ever since she had been brought to this desolate, depressing world. She wanted home, she wanted the comfort of the caves, to feel the warmth of her father's wing around her.
Was this to be her life? Trapped in a cage?
Farah desperately wanted to keep hoping…but in such a dark and despair-filled place, it was hard to keep such a flame alive, when it was constantly threatened to be snuffed out.
No one was coming for her, there was no way it was possible…
————————————————————————————————————————————————-

4) Their Fears

The golden beast ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Her breaths came out in ragged huffs, smoke billowing from her nostrils. The dragonelle sprang upwards, wings unfurling outwards to take her to the skies. She was too slow, a cranking in the distance followed by a 'thump'. A shimmer of metal sailed through the air, entangling her wings together.
The Dragon Princess released a yelp as she fell back to the earth. She looked back, seeing the men, those horrid humans. These weren't the normal humans, these ones were trained to kill dragons, and the leader of this group, was the one she truly feared. For it was by the hands of this man, her mother had been murdered.
She struggled to free her wings, but was instead met with a the flat side of a blade against her head. The golden dragonelle laid flat out on the ground, legs soon bound together as well. She jerked her head back, snapping at her attackers, missing them by mere inches. The men wizened up, swiftly moving to wrap something around her muzzle to keep her from spewing her deadly golden flames. All the while, she struggled wildly, but having run for so long, and now trying to fight to be free, her energy was waning.
Farah's form went rigid as her forked tongue flicked out, testing the air. He was near, he was coming…
Her green eyes moved to the side, seeing the dark shadow. She recognized it, she knew the shadow all too well. Her mother's murderer had come back, he was back and was here to kill Farah. Next to the shadow was a glint of metal, a blade rising above his head. A lance, the same weapon who struck the Dragon Queen's chest was ready to plummet into her skull.
Farah could do nothing, she was helpless. This was the end, to die by the same hands that killed her mother so long ago…

Write that book right now. I need to read it.

Week 24: If a victory is told in detail, one can no longer distinguish it from a defeat.

Week 25: Create a world based on a genre of music.

ʰᵉʰᵉʰᵉʰ

It was getting confusing again. I hurtled through the crowd, searching for something to somehow distinguish the puddle of faces, but I kept slamming into it. Its eyes were starting to get to me once more, glassy little things that ate away at anything they saw, looking for an answer but finding only pity. I took more deep breaths. When that didn't work, I veered into my favorite hiding spot, a small shedlike building no one could possibly find out about without hours of exploring this place. Wherever this place was. I only knew that it was a bad place.
It wasn't possible. I didn't get it. How could it already be here? More than one part, in fact, and then another appeared. The mob of freaks attracted more like moths to light. It turned to look at me when I appeared, reaching toward me with scarred, uncertain hands. Trying to get to the individual. Its blank eyes sucked me in.
Looking for something again. I walked through the crowd, wondering why I was doing so. There was nothing that could help. Nothing could help me, and nothing could stop the monster. The place was endless, filled with infinite blurs. Sandwiched between two other places, one cold and one warm. One full and one near-empty. I didn't know which one we were drifting towards. Sank down with the rest of the monster. Sat and stared. Blanking out. I was vaguely uncomfortable, I knew this probably wasn't good, but…why not. I wasn't unique, I wasn't special, I was just another lonely clone. Pointless.
A note. No one moved, but we were all holding our breath.
A note. Our heads came up one at a time to gaze at the sky. It was raining.
A note. We stood up, still looking at the sky. It was sunny now. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw the individuals stumbling out of buildings, getting to their feet, waking up. Their eyes weren't glassy. They were steel.
A song.
I knew which place I was drifting towards.

(this didn't really work right cos I can't build a whole world with no plot but I tried!)

I thought I was good. What genre was it?

Emo, I guess…Thanks

Yeah, now that you mention it I can tell. Great genre.

Week 26: Some journeys take us far from home; some adventures lead us to our destiny.

Week 27: A photographer and a sniper meet in a bar. Neither is aware of the other’s occupation. They talk about “How to take the perfect shot”.

Week 28: While cleaning your attic, you find a box of glass balls with names on them. You accidentally drop one, and as soon as it shatters, a person appears.