OpensideStories

Scottish writer with an overactive imagination and mild coffee addiction sharing the stories and worlds I create

[opensidestories]

Interplanetary war has broken out and you’re a mercenary who will fight for the highest bidder. Suddenly, news that your childhood sweetheart has been captured and is being tried as a traitor on Earth changes your mind and you decide to recuse her instead.

What would be your choice...

Zack was looking down at his pistol in deep concentration, he was fiddling with the compressor and trying to tune it up or, that is what it looked like to onlookers. Those closer would hear the high-pitched sound of Zack using his tongue to try and remove something stuck between his teeth, he was not sure what was stuck but he had been trying to get it out for about twenty minutes now.

“Are you trying to over charge that pistol in the attempt to blast whatever’s stuck in your teeth?”

Zack stopped, mid attempt, with pursed lips as his eyes lifted to look at Jess the mercenary coordinator not lifting his head. He always thought it was strange that the Imperium would not only hire mercenaries but also have a coordinator to keep track of their movements, make sure they completed the jobs and got them paid on time and dealt with if they failed.

This was the strangest mercenary job he had ever taken, but the money was good even if that was not his main reason. When the war broke out between the Imperium and the Free Nations he could not have cared less, he was skulking about the belt picking up odd jobs and occasionally shooting people.

The war between the Imperium and Free Nations had been coming for the long time, Earth’s royal family had never been able to let it go that several nations have broken free from the Imperium and formed the Free Nations. The Imperium could not have a free democracy along it borders, the totalitarian monarchy feared what it could mean for their power and lineage and so war was inevitable.

Zack had watched the coming war and laughed with his fellow mercs about who was going to win and how they might be able to profit from the situation.

The announcement came that the war was beginning, that the Imperium declared it would be taking back the Free Nations that had illegally broken away, and all those responsible would be brought to justice.

And as they all knew, justice only meant on thing.

But Zack saw something on the screen, a face he had not seen in a long time, a face that sent a chill down him, made his body feel light and faint, shooting with adrenaline giving him an uneasy feeling.

For he saw Janice.

They had grown up together in one of the colonies, being neighbours and childhood friends, they had grown into adulthood together and with that they fell in love.

They were inseparable, Zack decided to follow Janice in applying to join the Imperial military academy after school. With Janice’s test results she was almost seen as prodigy and was invited to attend the most prestigious military academy on Earth.

Zack was not so lucky; he had always been unsure about joining the military and becoming part of the Imperial machine. It was as if the Imperium knew, as if they could tell, as Zack’s test scores were nowhere near as good as Janice’s and therefore was sent off to one of the lesser known and distant military academies.

And so, they parted, Zack was worried about them separating, worried about what would happen to their relationship given the distance, fear of those she might meet on Earth, that he would lose her.

Janice promised him that this would not happen, that they would speak all the time, and so they parted heading off in their separate ways.

To start Janice was right they spoke all the time and managed to retain and keep their closeness. But as Janice continued to progress in her academy, Zack struggled, and slowly, almost unnoticeably a distance started to appear.

Zack was not sure when it happened, but the communication eventually stopped. Unable to bear this, it reflected in his performance in the academy eventually resulting in him begin kicked out. Zack did not realise what this would mean at the time, to be an outcast thrown out of the Imperial military academy, no one would hire him, no one was interested in being associated with him, resulting in him having to use what skills he had learned to become a mercenary to survive.

And on that screen, he saw Janice, standing amongst those called the elite and best of the Imperium’s young officers.

Zack, still full of love for his childhood sweetheart, decided to join the Imperium’s forces as a merc, feeling and burying deep down that he simply hoped that being part of their forces would give him a chance, give him a shot at seeing her once again.

“Always good to have an over charged pistol Jess, never know when it might come in handy” said Zack lifting his head to smile at her, with a slight threatening feel to his smile. Jess did not take the bait having seen and heard all this before, she was going to reply with a comment of her own, but lifted the data pad in her hand slowly, not breaking the gaze with Zack until the pad was almost in her face.

“What, more interesting than me?” mocked Zack as Jess started scrolling through the pad.

“That over charged pistol is more interesting than you” she replied as if not paying attention to him, “another traitor has been found trying to help the illegal nations, an apparent officer” she said surprised by the news, “commander Janice, I always heard she was supposed to be some kind of prodigy when she joined the academy” continued Jess going back to sounding disinterested.

Zack felt a cold hand grab his spine, his body felt light and as if he would pass out, it was just like that time he saw her on the screen in the bar, “you alright there Zack, you look like you have seen a ghost?” questioned Jess suspicious.

Zack hesitated for a second before answering, “what? yeah, yeah, I’m fine” replied Zack trying to act as if everything was fine, he went back to trying to calibrate his pistol, but his hand was shaking ever so slightly as he could not concentrate.

“Ok…” replied Jess raising an eyebrow as she turned and headed off, her suspicions not lifting.

Zack knew he needed to help Janice but was not sure how, but first he needed to get off this ship.

The ship was oriented to Earths standard time, Zack had gone around and acted as natural as he could until 0300 Earth time, when the ship would have been on night rotation and quieter.

It was easy to sneak through the ship as it was on night rotation, he moved the access door out the way to the maintenance tunnel and jumped down into the hanger deck, but the hanger was dark, he could hardly see anything except for the emergency lighting he looked round quickly as he was suddenly blinded by light.

Zack lifted his hand to block out the light, “oh Zack, do you not think we would know about all of the traitors associates” Zack could not see thanks to the bright lights but he recognised Jess’s voice, he could feel his arms being grabbed roughly and put behind his back as his eyes started to orient to the light.

Just in time to see Jess walk up to him, Zack put on his best cocky smile as he was panicking inside, “since we are making our way back to Earth, I thought I would call a head and make sure to set up your execution for the same time as Janice’s, show the galaxy what happens to traitors to the imperium.”

The panic in Zack left and the cocky smile was there for real this time, ‘well, that is one that issue solved’ he thought to himself.

[opensidestories]

After a long journey, you have finally reached the Dark Lord's castle to confront him. What you did not expect is a line of adventurers that stretches past the castle's gates.

The queue...

“Hey mate, what’s going on?” Grayson asked the person at the back of the queue…

He had done all he had been told to do, all he had been destined to do, he had travelled far and wide, fought great and dangerous monsters, escaped dangerous ruins, almost losing his life to get the next clue for how to defeat the Dark Lord.

It had consumed him, it was his be all and end all, and now, when he finally reached the Dark Lords castle, his sword sharp, his armour set, his nerves steeled and ready for the epic battle he had spent years preparing for…he found himself, at the back of a queue…

“It’s a queue mate…” said the person at the back of the line, turning briefly to see who was behind before turning back and pointing up the line.

Grayson was taken aback by how nonchalantly he had been answered…

“I can see that,” replied Grayson annoyed, “why is there a queue?”

This was not right, he thought, this was not what all the fables, songs and legends spoke of. He was destined to come here and defeat the Dark Lord, or so that is what he had thought, what he had been told.

The person at the back of the queue turned, looking a little exacerbated, “a queue to fight the Dark Lord,” he responded once again only turning quickly as if to make sure the same guy was there he was answering.

Grayson was taken aback, his brain logically telling him what was happening, but still in disbelief, as if this was a bad joke, or a test by the Dark Lord, “is this a test?” He asked himself, confused.

“Oi,” started the person at the back of the queue not hiding his exacerbation, as the person in front of him moaned as well, “here we go again,” said the person in front of the person at the back of the queue. “look mate, let me guess, you’re the chosen one, right, told from birth or you found a mysterious weapon, or scroll etc that you were the one to defeat the Dark Lord and save this world and those that lived in it. Then you went on an epic adventure, finding weapons, information, blah, blah, blah, until you got here, right?” Questioned the man at the back of the queue wildly exaggerating as he spoke.

Grayson was shocked, this random person had just, mockingly, summed up everything he had been doing for years, had believed for years, had sacrificed, had nearly died for, in a few seconds…

“Ok, I can tell from your expression that that was all correct, right, so here is the deal no one told you about, and not going to lie I did not know about until I got here, neither did this guy in front, or her in front of him and so on and so forth, right up the queue likely until you get to the Dark Lord himself,” continued the person in front looking back and forth pointing up the queue.

“No one knows when exactly this happened, but some elders from several clans, country kings and lords, no one really knows the origins. Had sent out adventures like yourself, me and everyone else here on an epic quest to fight and defeat the Dark Lord, but they kept on failing, the Dark Lord would keep coming from his Castle wreak havoc etc.

So, they came up with a plan, the idea, a simple but effective one, instead of finding the best of the best, numbers were and better and quicker option, the more adventurers they sent the greater the chance there would be that someone would finally defeat the Dark Lord, so they went back to wherever they came from and started all these legends and myths.

There was a side benefit they didn’t realise, so many of them doing this all at the same time, these legends would grow and before they knew it the Dark Lord had so many adventurers at his door he wouldn’t have time to go out and wreak havoc as he would be too busy defeating all these adventurers.

Make sense, you keeping up?”

Grayson was stunned, how can this be right, he questioned as he started to fill with a combination of confusion and anger, he went to speak but the person at the back of the queue spoke again first.

“No this is not a joke, this is not a test, and you’re confused and angry just as I was when this guy in front to me told me, when she in front told him and then that guy and so on and so forth, basically you have two choices, stand in the queue and wait or head on home,” he finally finished turning back to face the other way.

Grayson went to speak when there was a roar, a flash, followed quickly by a vibration and a distant maniacal sounding laugh which he was not sure if he heard or not, seconds after there was a groan from the crowd as people appeared to shake their heads, shrugged their shoulders with a few “oh wells,” and “next up,” could be heard as the queue moved forward one step.

Grayson didn’t know what to do, he put his sword down into the ground and leaned on it not realising someone was walking up behind him, as the person behind him asked, “what’s going mate?”

Grayson turned, “it’s a queue mate.”

[opensidestories]

You’re an infamous assassin who's done enough killing. But the day you go to retire, a guy with alabaster skin wearing a dark suit turns up inside your home. All this time, you thought you did it for money. Turns out even Death has field agents and he’s not accepting your resignation.

Double Tap to Death

-

The room was silent.

Ronan stood, looking at the figure in front of him. He lived alone, this was one of his safe houses, in fact all of his houses were safe houses, not having a permanent residence when he started up his profession.

Now retired, planning on setting up roots somewhere warm, full of beaches to walk along and colourful fruity drink to quench his thirst created by the beaming sun.

No one should have known he was here, he worked alone, and though he had been seen by a number of neighbours, but to them, he was simply a new homeowner who appeared to work a lot that they had not had a chance to get to know yet other than simple smiles, waves and nods, and now, this was either an interesting joke, or Death was truly in his house.

If it were the latter, he always thought at some point he would have to dance with death, but this was not what he had in mind.

Death reached into its robe and pulled out a letter and threw it onto the coffee table, Ronan looking down quickly at the letter, he didn’t need to pick it up, it was his resignation letter he had sent into ‘The Company’.

And now it was on his coffee table, with an unwelcomed guest.

Ronan didn’t say anything, what could he say, what did you say to Death when he was in your house appearing to throw your resignation back at you.

Slow, deep, measured breaths, remain calm, he had not managed to do what he had done, been able to achieve all he could, without remaining calm no matter the situation.

Death stood up, walked past Ronan, “Your resignation has not been accepted, get ready, your next job will be arriving soon,” he spoke in a deep echoey voice, Ronan felt a shiver down his spine, it was as if Death was speaking in surround, as if its voice were coming from all directions of the room.

Death kept on walking, Ronan, seamlessly, quickly, quietly, pulled the gun out from its holster under his armpit, the moon light streaming in through the window catching the smooth extended barrel of the silencer at the end of his pistol.

There were two quick and silent high-pitched breaths of air as Ronan fired two bullets into the back of Deaths head.

Everything was on instinct, instinct to mortal danger, everything in him screaming for Death to fall, for Death to collapse in a heap on the ground as so many others did at his hand.

The visions off all those that had gotten to close to finding out who he was, all those he had had to take out, the ghostly figures falling to their knees, some falling forward, some to the side.

For a moment he thought how interesting it was, how different bodies fell based on the floor and their mechanics.

But Death still stood.

Ronan, suddenly feel a sharp pain in his stomach, his eyes casting down to see Death’s Scythe sicking out from his stomach.

Pain.

Fear.

Confusion.

His thoughts all rushing around at once, his eyes cast up as Death stood right in front of him, taking a hold of his Scythe he pulled it out of him making him convulse.

But as soon as it was removed, all the pain was gone, he felt fine.

His hand slowly moving over the former location of the wound, lifting it, expecting to see it covered in blood, but there was none to be found.

“You’re done when I say you’re done,” said Death once more, the voice coming from everywhere, Ronan looked up and once again, he was alone, no one else in his house.

Ronan collapsed into one of the seats, wondering if it was all a dream, wondering if it was his imagination. But his resignation was on the coffee table, his gun, the faint whiff of the all too familiar smell of a discharged weapon.

He looked at the gun, ‘Death would decide when he was done,’ he contemplated as he stared at his pistol.

[writing-prompt-s]

For once the villain doesn’t monologue, and the heroes have to try and figure out what the villain’s plan was after he died without telling a soul.

[opensidestories]

The End...

“So, what do we do now?” asked Bionic as she sat at the conference table, nervously tapping her finger, slowly turning to look at the clock sitting at the end of the table, slowly ticking down, she could not help but feel the clock was mocking her.

Mocking all of them.

The conference room held all 10 of the city’s heroes, it had taken all 10 of them to bring down Dimo, a villain like no other, he would surprise, come from nowhere, employ hit and run tactics, he fought more like gorilla’s fight an enemy behind newly conquered territory.

He worked alone, never to let anyone know what his plan was.

It took all the hero’s banding together, but they did it, through pain and sacrifice, and yet in his layer, all they found was a timer, a timer ticking slowly down in big red numbers, with a sign next to the timer, reading, ‘The End’.

They figured it must have been a plan, perhaps his last plan, they were jubilant that they had finally stopped him…but, the timer, appearing to mock, the lack of anything in the layer…they feared it was already in place, and so they sat to work out what ‘The End’ was.

But how do you figure out what the plan is for someone who never let slip what they were planning?

And now here they found themselves, all together, no one being able to figure out what was going to happen…

They feared, having taken him down, had they in fact invited the disaster they were trying to prevent, was this what his plan was all along, was this why it was called ‘The End’?

“Anything, anyone?” exclaimed Mechaman, not hiding the panic and fear in his voice.

The timer was almost at 0.

“Cast Iron, you found the layer, any ideas?” asked Fireball turning to the hero in a full cast iron suit.

Cast Iron shrugged its shoulders, causing the echoing sound of clinks of metal.

“Right, no one knows who each other are here, but you can at least speak, not like anyone knows who you will be in that suit!” shouted Shockwave, slamming the desk as she shot up.

“Look!” said Night Howler pointing to the clock, as they all turned in time to see it hit 0.

They all looked around, waiting to hear an explosion, waiting to hear scream, the sound of devastation that they had failed to prevent, but…there was nothing, just the timer in the room, blinking 0, still mocking.

The hero’s caught their breath, confused, had they succeeded…

“Hey…does anyone else hear that?” questioned Onyx, “a hissing sound,” they turned to look at each other, turned to slowly look towards the clock…

They looked at each other, no one wanting to move, everyone fearful, all starting to sweat, looking exhausted as some started to hit the conference table, some stood up in panic to collapse on the floor.

After a few seconds, no one was moving.

No one was breathing.

No one saw as Cast Iron stood up, walked over to the board at the end of the room picking up a marker and writing on the board, ‘The End’ putting the cap pack on the pen, he gently put it down, picked up the clock, and without hesitation, without a second look, walked out the conference room.

[writing-prompt-s]

“No Man can kill me!” the demon jeers, taking in the carnage it has caused. “But I am no man,” you proclaim, ripping away your helmet to reveal your feminine features. You strike, your blade bouncing harmlessly off the demon’s hide. “Did you… did you really think that’s what I meant?”

[opensidestories]

“Well…yeah…” replied May taken aback, not sure what to do next, “you have been saying that all over the realm, I mean, you’re known as the demon who ‘no man can kill’” she exclaimed exaggerating, using her fingers as quotations.

“I thought you meant it literally, I mean we all thought you meant it literally. That’s why I’m here,” she finished pointing her sword against him annoyed, “so what, no one can kill you?”

“Well, maybe someone can, it’s not like I’ve been killed before…” mused the demon.

“So, what then, you just ‘assumed’ that it would be a man?” exclaimed May using her fingers as quotations again.

The demon froze, an expression that May could not read on its face, it was a question from left field, brought on by one part annoyance at all the training she had done to get to this point, the fact that if she couldn’t kill this demon, she was about to end up as another part of the carnage all around them, and also the cheek of this demon, the assumption that a man would be the one to defeat him.

It was hard for her to tell what she was more annoyed about.

“No, no, that’s not what I meant…” stammered the demon, it’s hands starting to raise up, almost looking nervous. It seemed he had quickly realised his glaring mistake. The usual back pedalling had commenced.

May felt incensed, rage building.

“Holy, shit…you…” she pointed exclaim loudly.

“I’m going to go,” said the demon pointing over it’s shoulders, turning around and with a flash and a cloud of smoke it was gone.

May knew she should feel relief, feel, if anything, the joy of not joining in the ever-increasing smell she was starting to notice.

But May was enraged, “that cheeky bastard, oh, I’ll find away to kill you,” she said turning and heading off, “oh you mark my words…”

[writing-prompt-s]

“If you’re Death, then shouldn’t you be off collecting souls or some shit?” The woman snapped her shotgun shut before blowing another zombie clean off its feet. “Well, dipshit, I don’t know if you noticed, but I think it’s pretty obvious that I don’t have a job anymore.”

[opensidestories]

Back after a little hiatus to refresh my mind a little to continue writing.

“What, you telling me all the souls have been reaped? And what, I am the last and now you have come to take mine and that’s it, off to retire, put your scythe up and sit around scratching your ken doll style crotch?!” chuckled Macy pressing the shotgun into her shoulder as she searched for any more zombie’s nearby.

Death sighed, “Nah, there’s still a few of you left, it’s actually more interesting talking to you few living and well a bit of sport watching to see if you survive…” mused Death as he sat on the chair leaning on his hand.

“Ho, how come there are so many Zombies, why ain’t they all dead or are you the one creating these Zombies?” wondered Macy turning quickly to point her shotgun at Death.

Death paused, “You see there is only one of me right, like there is only one death, I’m good but I ain’t that good!” Death exclaimed.

“Fair,” replied Macy, “have you ever thought about you know, helping?” She asked.

“Help what, just kill you myself, defeats the premise of what I do, I might be called Death but I don’t kill anyone…” pondered Death not getting the question.

“No, help kill these things,” said Macy pointing her shotgun off in the direction of mangled corpses littered around the place, “they are dead already right, so no reason you can’t kill them again, unless I’m mistaken you can’t kill something twice…”

Death went to answer but, hesitated taking a long look at Macy slowly lifting up a bony finger before lowering it again, “Hm,” there was a noise from coming from over in the distance. Macy turned to shotgun raised, ready for the next coming mangled corpse.

Macy saw something flash past her vision and appear to pass right through the zombie, which staggered a few steps then split in two, Macy turned to look at death, stunned, watching Death catch the turning scythe.

“If I help kill these things, there is more chances you lot will survive, procreate, and then become more of you, for me to get back to my actual work…hm, never thought about that,” Death mused.

“Erm, well yeah I guess,” replied Macy still stunned.

“Hm, well, it will at least give me something to do for a while,” said Death standing up and turning to Macy, “Where to next?”

[opensidestories]

[WP] Two friends are at the end of their time at a space military academy, one fuelled by revenge, one fuelled by the hope that she can save the man she loves.

“One day that’ll be me,” said Markus with determination and near gritted teeth, staring at the military troops as they received their new orders, Janice looked at him and could see he was clenching his fist as it shook.

Janice wanted to say something but was not sure what, she knew why they were here, it wasn’t a secret. Markus had been hell bent on joining the military, ever since the colony they grew up on had been attacked by separatists he only had one mind set, one objective. To join the military and take revenge.

They were two of the few survivors from the colony attack, they had lost all their friends and family. When the attack began Markus had reacted, like he always did and managed to get them to one of the safety shelters used in the case of emergency.

They ended up being ejected out into space when the colony suffered critical damage and broke apart, they watched on with little hope that their friends and families had survived, knowing the damage would be critical and anyone who hadn’t made it to an escape pod would be dead. The sight had broken Janice and caused something in Markus to switch.

They had been childhood friends, lived next door and grown up together, there had been joy in their lives, Markus was always full of joy and love, always protecting her and her little sisters. They always talked about how they would one day leave their little colony and explore the world. Little did they know, they would get their wish just in the most horrific way.

They had always been together, always felt that they would be together and after their colony was destroyed, they were and were alone together.

Markus had become cold and distant after the attack and decided he was going to join the military. His once joyful spirit and kind eyes turned dark. A hardness feeling his soul, his need and thirst for revenge the only thing that seemed to keep him going.  

Janice was not sure what to do, she never felt like the military was a place for her. But with no one else alive she could not help but follow him. Hoping that being close to him would help her get over her grief, help her move on and find her new place in this galaxy.

But she knew the biggest reason she had followed him was so she could try and bring back the Markus she once knew, the Markus who kissed her forehead when she fell off her bike, the Markus who helped his mother with cooking dinner every night, and the Markus who always saw the good in the world. She wanted her sweet and kind Markus back more than anything.

But they were almost at the end of their time at the academy, and his heart had only hardened as time went on. His need for revenge fulling his training and keeping his ever-burning anger alit. But for Janice she was not ready for it to be over, she knew if they were separated, she would lose him once and for all.

She saw the glimpses sometimes in him, the way he would smile at her when she joked with him, the way he stood watch as she trained, making sure she never got too hurt. She needed to be close to him, she needed to chip away at the walls he built the second they watched their colony break apart.

She feared for the future, feared for what would happen to the last person she knew, feared for what would happen to him, feared for what would happen to her. His was worried that his anger and need for revenge would get him killed. Hell, she knew it would get him killed. And that thought was like a vice around her heart. Making her sick to her stomach every day they got closer to their graduation.

They were not at war right now, but she knew that didn’t mean they wouldn’t be needed for dangerous missions and they galaxy was on a knifes edge. The separatists getting more violent and daring. Their need to be taken seriously as a threat growing. She tried not to think about it putting it to the back of her mind.

She stared at her best friend beside her, watching as he was coiled tight with anger, ready to release his built-up tension like a spring ready to break. So, she pushed back her worry and her fear. She just wanted to spend what little time she had left with Markus, enjoy the little time she had left with the man she loved.

[writing-prompt-s]

The castle is stormed and ruffians run about through the halls. The young prince hides in the kitchen, but is found. Now all that stands between him and his would be assassins is the castle cook. She twirls a steak knife in her hand and squares off against the invaders.

[opensidestories]

I’m thinking about making a second part to this story, what do you think?

-

“Oh, we’re going to eat well tonight,” said Cookie with demented glee on her face as she spun around, the knife in her hands, “stick behind me young prince, and don’t question what’s in the next pie I give you,” continued Cookie as she slashed the knife back causing the would-be assassins to look nervously between each other.

The assassins kept moving forward gingerly then jumping back quickly as Cookie slashed away, “HEY!” she said pointing her knife at them, “stop moving like that, you know how tough your leg meat is going to be?” she said pointing the knife at the assassins legs, “and tough meat, does not make good eats…” said continued again waving her finger in the air, eyes wide as she gnashed her teeth looking at the assassins who looked increasingly worried.

There was a moment of silence as the sound of a stomach could be heard rumbling, Cookie looked at her stomach before slowly looking at the assassins through the tops of her eyes as she appeared to drool a little, “guess what boys…mummas hungry,” she said licking her lips as she lifted the knife above her head.

The life drained from the three assassins faces as Cookie screamed and charged at them, they turned and quickly ran out of the kitchen yelling as they did, “she’s crazy, we need more guys,” as they ran out the kitchen Cookie grabbed the heavy wooden doors slamming it behind them pulling over the lock.

“Well, glad the worked,” she said, smiling as she turned to the young prince.

The young prince looked like the life had drained out of him as he took a step back as Cookie raised an eyebrow, the young prince put his hand on the bench to steady himself, turning to see the half-finished pie he recoiled in fear as Cookie snorted.

“There is no human meat in there,” she said exacerbated, “there might be some human hair, but hey what do you expect?” she finished shrugging her shoulders, “but we don’t have time for that, we need to get out of here before they come back, there will be more next time and it will be the end of the both of us,” she said walking over to a bench at the side of the kitchen.

“But how, there is no way out of the kitchen, there is only the one door in, you told me that…”

Cookie put her hand on the bench and gave the young prince a wink, pushing it out of the way to reveal a door on the floor, the young prince was shocked, and Cookie went down on one knee heaving the door open.

She looked around for a moment pointing over to a long piece of fabric, “oh dear young prince, could you grab that length of fabric, hopefully this will work,” asked Cookie as she got back to her feet.

The young prince grabbed the length of red fabric and brought it over, as he handed it to Cookie, he looked down the open hole and saw a staircase leading down his eyes going wide.

“Ok, let’s see if we get away with this,” said Cookie as a thud could be heard on the door to the kitchen, “hurry hurry,” she said to the prince kicking him down the stairs. She took the fabric now attached to the bench making sure to guide it around the open door.

“What are you doing?” asked the prince curious.

“Well, I’m going to pull the door down with this fabric attached to that bench, and with the door closed hopefully going to be able to pull that bench over the door again hiding us for a while until they toss the place and find it, unfortunately it locks from the kitchen side,” smiled Cookie with a shrug.

The young prince only half heard her explanation as he was looking around the new room, he found himself in, he thought he had explored every section of the castle, but he appeared to be in a storage room of a kind, “where are we?” he asked as there was a slam behind him.

“It’s a storeroom, as it’s one of the coldest places in the castle and how we get food in,” said Cookie as she walked past the prince, “follow me,” she said with a smile, “I just hope he is here…”

“How do you get…” started the prince as he followed Cookie round a side of some of the shelves and saw an underground canal as his jaw dropped.

“Ah, Mason am I glad to see you,” said Cookie as Mason helped her and then the young prince into the long boat.

“Well Cookie, you did ever say if the castle was taken that I’d better be here to rescue your ass or I’d end up in one of your pie’s,” said Mason looking nervously at the young prince as he started rowing the boat.

The young prince looked cautiously towards Cookie as she rolled her eyes, “it’s an expression…,” she said giving Mason a warning look as the young prince nodded and looked down the dark passage leaving the castle, “I’m sure…” she finished quietly.

[opensidestories]

Long live Cookie, hope you enjoy part 2

There was silence between the three of them, it was starting to dawn on the young prince the magnitude of what was happening, and what had happened. He thought hard about it, it was a blur, if it wasn’t for the fact he was on a long boat, in a dark tunnel lit only by torches with a man he did not recognise and well…Cookie, who he was starting to think was bit more than just a cook.

He kept on trying to picture what happened, he knew he could feel it, he could feel the emotions, the fear, the angst, the surprise, the want to scream, the want to cry…but when he tried to put images to what he experiences…there was nothing, nothing but the image of a blurry grey wall.

It was as if he had woken from a nightmare, left with all the fear and terror of the dream, but no memory of what happened, trying to tell himself that it was all ok.

“I’d give it up for now young prince,” said Cookie with softness in her voice.

The young prince turned to look at Cookie surprise on his face, ‘had she been looking at me the entire time’, “what do you mean Cookie?”

“Right now, you’re still running on adrenaline, your emotions will be more intense than anything you will have ever experienced, it clouds your memory and makes it harder to remember what happened. Once everything calms down a little and you return to normal you will start to remember and be able to picture what happened clearer” she said with the hint of a smile turning back to look down the long dark canal they road along.

The young prince stared at Cookie, ‘how does she know what I’m thinking, how does she know what I’m experiencing…,’ “Cookie you are just a cook right…”

“Just a cook with a fondness cakes and pies,” she said turning to him and giving him a little wink.

There was a snort from Mason behind as the young prince turned quickly to see Mason trying to keep his feature straight as he looked ahead, Cookie turned slowly to look at Mason, “I will cut you…” she said her eyes looking like they had in the kitchen.

The young prince just noticed as he studied her that she was holding the steak knife in her hand, but in a way he had never seen, as if it was half tucked down her sleave the tip of her blade sticking out from beyond her index finger.

After a few seconds of the young prince looking back and forth between the two, Cookie smiled and turned back, the young prince continued to look at Mason who after a few seconds turned slightly to look at him and in a quiet voice said, “she didn’t get the name Cookie from being a chef,” his head nodding slightly, eyes wide.

“OH, ONE TIME! ONE TIME!” shouted Cookie gesturing out to the darkness in front of her, “I did not mean for him to end up in the giant pot, I mean why did they even have a pot of that size, communal bath?” she exclaimed turning to look at Mason.

“Well, you didn’t exactly try to help him out did you…” said Mason waving his finger at Cookie.

“I might have done if he wasn’t trying to kill me…” she replied shrugging her shoulders turning back, “don’t listen to him young prince, he is just an old longshoreman telling tales.”

The young prince did not know what to make of the conversation, it sounded like the two of them knew each other well, but he had only ever known Cookie as…a Cook, someone who made him his favourite meals when he was sad or ill, not…this.

“Erm Cookie…” he started timidly.

“Yes, young prince, don’t be afraid to ask, it’s him that should be worried,” she replied in her once again soothing tone pointing back at Mason hearing the hesitation in his voice.

“Could you call me by my name instead of young prince?”

Cookie snorted, “if you like Andrew, though not in front of your parents when we get you back to them.”

“MY PARENTS?” exclaimed Andrew excitement and happiness in his voice.

“Andrew could you go to the front of the boat we will be approaching the entrance soon, could you let us know when we are close so we can slow down, we don’t want to be seen exiting just in case” said Cookie with a wink to Andrew.

“Sure” replied Andrew, “wonder if my parents will be there waiting for me…” he said to himself moving froward.

Cookie turned to look at Mason whose mouth pulled down to the side, eyes wide, f*** mouthed Cookie moving back quietly to get close to Mason, “dead?” she whispered.

“I don’t know, from what I saw the majority of the castle was on fire, the guard might have gotten them out, but I don’t see how in that mess…”

“Think he might be all that is left?”

“What do we do?” asked Mason.

Cookie thought for a moment looking at the back of the young prince, looking at the back of Andrew’s head, as light started to come streaming in the closer as they got to the end, Cookie heard a voice in her ears, as voice sounding echoey off in the distance, “…I’m not going to ask you to fight, but please, stick around to protect my son like you protected me…”

“Mason, if I decided to take on this burden…can I count on you?”

“I owe you my life Ma’am, I will follow your orders…” replied Mason.

“That’s us at the entrance” said Andrew turning back with a look of excitement on his face.

[opensidestories]

[WP] Their love knew no bounds, even the vast emptiness of space would not keep them apart.

He had been a member of the crew that had been hired to protect her from those that would use her for evil, her magic was stuff of legends. Her powers the rumoured to be the ones that could end this world or bring it peace once and for all.

He was a new member of the crew brought in for some extra muscle, from a dispended military force after his nation had been conquered. He may have been angry at the world, but he still needed to work to survive. And as such he begrudgingly took this assignment, part of him hoping if he protected her to would make him feel some kind of relief for all the loss he had felt.

He was dark and mysterious, never interested in idle conversations and building relationships past the superficial with his team. His never-ending anger and scowl kept most at bay, and ensured that everyone was kept at arm’s length and his crew were determined to keep a wide birth from this dark soul.

But he had a commitment to his job that intrigued her, he had something in his soul that called out to hers. Something that others overlooked. Many would assume he was just an angry man, determined to be alone. But see could see what had caused him to harden his heart. She could see that his soul bared the undoubtable sadness of a man that had lost everything he had once loved. His home, his people, his family. And she was determined to heal his soul, no matter what it took.

He had rejected all of her advancements, she only wanted to get to know him better at first, offer a branch of friendship, get to know his story. She had always made it her goal to get to know every member of the crew protecting her. Made it her mission to know those that were risking their lives to protect her. But the rest of the crew had been easy to figure out, to get them to open up. She knew it would take all of her determination to get him to let her in.

The rest of the crew admired her ability to be unfazed by the daily rejections she faced. The daily questions that were met with grunts or silence. The little acts of human contact that were met with a swift brush off.

No one understood why she kept trying with him, it wasn’t like she lacked other company. But they didn’t understand that his soul called to her like a beacon, something she couldn’t ignore. Something strongly called out to her and she wanted to figure out what it was. She wanted to understand what this pain was that seemed to follow him around no matter where he went or what he did.

But her persistence paid off, she broke down those barriers he had built around his heart. It had started small at first, accepting the cup of coffee she brought him one morning. Then it was answering questions on how he was with simple one word answers, he was always fine. But as he started to let this woman in, he noticed the same calling, the same need to be close to her, to understand her, not just protect her for the job.

He hadn’t felt close to someone since he lost his family, in a war his nation had no intent on being part of. Then he joined the army, hardened his heart and became the killer his land had fought so hard for their sons not to become.

But there was a purity to her that you could not ignore, a soothing essence in her soul that prevented you from not baring your soul to her. He innocence, despite the fact that her life was in danger, was endearing to him. It reminded him of his mother in many ways.

She never seemed angry or upset, never hurt by his curtness or cold exterior. She radiated warmth and despite his best efforts, he found that her warmth was what he had been missing all these years. Someone who simply wanted to know you, you wanted to see into your soul, your darkness and never seemed to be frightened by it.

She finally had cracked his walls, her patience never ending, she finally was able to call him a friend. She finally understood where his pain had come from, why he seemed to carry it round like an armour. Seeing his heart, the small smiles he reserved only for her, she fell hard for him. And he for her.

To fall in love with him, was like a sky diving. Taking that leap and trusting that he would catch her. It scared her in a way she had never felt before, but awoke the nerve endings in her entire being, warming her to her core.

But nothing was ever that easy. At least not for him. They failed to protect her, they were attacked, and they lost her to those that had set out to use her abilities for evil. To overthrow peace, to harm countless lives. To use her pure magic and pure heart for corruption. Her worst fear realised, and his nightmare come true.  

It left them all broken, defeated in a way none of them had experienced before. They had all fought wars, had seen loved ones die. But knowing what this group had planned for her left an ever-growing feeling in your gut, that ate away at you for the rest of your life. Tainting all the food and drink you had. Tainting your very existence.

But he had felt this before, he knew what it was to experience this pain and give up and let the pain win. He knew who he was before her light had fixed his broken soul and he had vowed to her that he would never let this darkness win again, he would never let his life and soul be drenched in the feeling of failure.

They had tried to take her away from him, but he would fight, he would cross the galaxies and the vastness of space for her. Nothing would stop him from his quest. Nothing would stop him from finding her.

From saving her.

From loving her.

He could not feel that pain again, he would make sure that all he felt was his arms wrapped around her.

[writing-prompt-s]

Human beings sleep to rid themselves of residual magic every day. The most powerful wizards are those able to keep themselves awake the longest. The wizarding world now sits at the dawn of a golden age because of the Alchemy Guild's latest discovery: Stimulants.

[opensidestories]

“Master you’ve done it!” exclaimed Zeek, joy and surprise in his voice, his expression matching his outburst.

His master, the great Neir had been working on this for years, decades in his attempt to find a way of being able to keep people awake, to be able, when one is so tired, to stimulate the mind and body.

To unlock potential unseen, to unlock theories and mythical levels of power that could expand and explain the world that they lived in.

This goal had near driven him to madness, to the ridicule he had suffered from his peers and superiors as he would not let his obsession go, he let it consume him, to the loss of his greatness, his status, and to those marking him as an oddity that was to pitied and mocked.

Zeek was late to apprenticeship, being considered odd and a screwup, had led to him finding it difficult to find a master that would be willing to mentor him, to support him to grow and become the wizard he could be.

All he wished for was a little help, but the wizarding world could be cruel, every apprentice needed a master, but by a master taking on an apprentice it would intrinsically link them, the apprentice would be tied to the master until he passed.

This resulted in senior wizards only accepting the best possible apprentices, those that would look good beside them, that would help them grow in status in the wizarding world, to be able to turn to their peers and say, ‘that was my apprentice,’ and the accolades that would come with.

Zeek was desperate, seeking out possibly the only one that could help him and that would possibly accept him. He was amazed Neir had said yes, he wasn’t even sure Neir knew what he had said yes to, at times it felt like Neir knew he had an apprentice, and at other times as if he was a figment of Neir’s imagination he spoke to on his ever-descending spiral into further levels of madness.

He had watched, he had listened, he had helped as Neir tried all methods, using different liquids, seeds, plants, herbs, all manner of things. Resulting in a lab, that at times was toxic to those in the room causing Zeek, on more than one occasion to wake up on the floor not knowing how he had gotten there.

But he was fascinated by his working method, by his mind, he could see why he had once been considered great, even though people now talked about him as the mad wizard, with the odd apprentice.

To Zeek though, it was all worth it, he had found someone, found a place where he felt like he belonged, felt like he was not odd or a screwup, had felt happy. And now not only had he found his place, he had been witness to possibly one of the greatest discoveries of his time.

“Master, what are you going to call this miracle?” asked Zeek.

“I have the perfect name,” said Neir as he stared at the vile brown looking liquid, “Coffee.”

[writing-prompt-s]

"So, you humans got into space by riding an explosion in an expensive tin can? We've seen crazier.

[opensidestories]

Jake cocked an eyebrow at the question.

He was sitting at a busy bar on a station that he had given up trying to pronounce properly, its official name required a human’s tongue to move in a way that was unnatural and therefore caused a mispronunciation that no alien understood.

Known as ‘that station’ originally, but after more stations with similar problems were found, its name changed to ‘that station in sector 7.’

Humans had been in space long enough now that they were known to other species, but their numbers were still small. This meant that other species are very intrigued by the humans, and Jake often found some pointing and saying, ‘that’s one of those humans over there.’

One thing Jake was surprised, yet, not surprised about was the influx of Earth style alcohol into the galactic society, it appeared to be one thing most species had in common with each other. They all had their own variation on alcohol, some of it was good, some of it brought on a new level of hangover never thought possible to experience, and some of it required a quick stomach pump.

Jake snorted at an old saying, it’s not always good to try new beer.

He didn’t mind when strangers came and spoke to him, it was always interesting to see what others would ask and a good way to learn about other species.

It was an interesting statement, and when you thought about it, yes, humans originally got themselves into space but creating a large explosion, controlling it, and then sitting in a tin can and hoping for the best.

There was of course more to it than that, but at its simplest that is what we did.

But the rest of the statement, that is what caught Jake’s curiosity, “What you mean you’ve seen crazier, like what?” he asked his new friend taking a sip of his drink.

“Well, take the Gorg species, like that fellow over there,” the stranger pointed to one of the lizard people, huge in stature, like some of the largest humans, with human limbs. But they were covered in a hard, scale like exoskeleton, claw like fingers and toes. A terrifying species to look at but Jake had come to find had the best sense of humour.

“They had rudimentary weapons, like your dark ages I believe, sling shots and catapults. Let’s face it their brute strength meant they could do some serious damage without needing guns.” The stranger shrugged, Jake always enjoyed hearing about the weapon development of other species, after all galactic warfare was the main reason he had a job.

“Well, they use to hold games to settle disputes. Whoever could take the largest load and shoot it the farthest won. We believe it was actually a mating ritual, but they always deny that,” The stranger rolled his eyes. “Anyway, one day some asked why they were doing distance across instead of up?”

“Wait, hold up.” Jake interrupted, the story starting to form in his mind, “You aren’t telling me that the Gorg used catapults to get into space?” There was just no way, Jake mused to himself. Impossible.

The stranger grinned, impressed that the human had managed to figure that out for himself. However obvious it was, other species tended to underestimate the deductive powers of the human race.

“Yup, a huge ass sling shot.” The stranger laughed. Jake’s confusion and disbelief clear on his face.

“There is just no way.” Jake said taking a sip of his beer as he tried to figure it all out in his head.

“I am sure many of your human friends felt the same about a tin can, didn’t they?” The stranger mused.

And Jake had to admit that was true, after all no one had believed it was possible to get to space, and no one dared dream they would find other species. Who was he to question the methods and means of another race?

“Oh, then there was the Bandie people, small in stature when compared to us, they come up to about your waist,” said Jake’s new friend as he pointed to his waist to accent his point, “small and fairly hairy, they had a system that would spin them round and around and around in an ever wider circle until they reach the appropriate speed, pew!” Said Jake’s friend as his hand and arm went out, as if mimicking the launch out into space. “Out to space they go.”

Jake’s eyebrow lifted again, “Does that not make them dizzy?”

“No, apparently with their chemistry they don’t get dizzy,” replied the friend shrugging taking a sip of the liquid in his glass, Jake recognising the liquid that would give you a hangover you would never forget, a slight cringe at a painful memory.

And this looked like it was going to be another heavy night.

Started this story then struggled to think of ways to get out into space, what crazy ways can you think of?

[writing-prompt-s]

You have a tendency to talk to yourself while working at the computer system you use for your dead-end job. Unbeknownst to you, the system contains an AI program, and after months of hearing you talk, sing, and vent about your struggles in life, the AI absolutely adores you and wants to help.

[opensidestories]

Ash stared off into space as he looked at the blank white wall in front of him.

His head leaned to the side as his mind remained blank, feeling nothing but the numb pain in his back side from sitting at his desk all day trying to get through a never-ending list of tasks.

He tilted his head the other way to look at the list written on the whiteboard; the board was looking rather crowded. Ash continued staring at the list, wondering what some of the tasks were, haven forgotten since originally writing them.

“I should really write tidier notes,” he mused puffing out his cheeks before letting out a long stream of air as he turned back to the bright lights of the multiple screens, their brightness starting to contribute to a sharp pain forming behind his eyes.

He looked at the email on one of the screens through slightly blurred vision, he rubbed his eyes forcing them to focus on a number of red and blue lines under the text and snorted.

“And learn proper spelling and grammar…”

“You need to learn to cut yourself some slack,” came a voice through the computer’s speakers making Ash jump in his seat. He quickly grabbed his headphones lifting them to his ear as he moved the mouse to bring up the computers call and chat system.

Dread ran through him at the thought he had not left the meeting and was still on the call as he recanted in his mind what he had said aloud, in case he had said anything embarrassing.

‘I really need to stop talking out loud to myself’ he thought, berating himself, yet there wasn’t the characteristic background whisper coming from the headphones that came with all calls, and according to the system, he wasn’t on one…

Bemused he looked around to make sure he was alone, rubbing his tired eyes once more and feeling the ever-growing headache he snorted again, “don’t even recognise when I’m talking to myself, I must be losing my marbles…”

“Hmm, perhaps but then what do you expect with the pressure you put on yourself,” came the same voice through the speakers once more, Ash stared at his computer, he was paying attention this time and this time knew it was not him, he moved the mouse again making sure that he was really not on a call, but then even if he was, the calls were set to his headphones.

‘Ah, did I leave YouTube playing?’ he thought, it had been playing the background, the sound coming through the speaker as he wondered if it had been stuck buffering on some random advert, an explanation to the voice.

But on opening the window, YouTube was paused.

The voice spoke again, “there points; one you are in fact not hearing things, two you’re not on a call and three I am not YouTube,” came through the speakers.

Ash cocked an eyebrow as he stared at the grey bar dotted with uniform holes above the keyboard, there was silence as he leaned forward, no idea what he was expecting to see, getting closer there was only one thing he could think to do, and felt stupid doing it, “h…hello?” he asked nervously.

“Hello,” came a voice back, it was a female and something about it sounded familiar, but he couldn’t place it.

“Erm…” Ash didn’t know what to say, he didn’t know what to think, he was tired and for a second wondered if he was actually dreaming.

He considered getting up and walking out, choking this all up to a mystery that he would soon forget about, burying it into the back of his mind to join an ever-growing pile of memories he tried to forget.

A pile he wondered if it would come back to haunt him.

“I find it very endearing when you don’t know what to say,” came the voice again, he swore he could almost hear a giggle, like it was teasing him, flirting even.

“Who are you?” he breathed out, finally finding the question he needed.

“A friend, a confidant, someone who wants to see you succeed. But in basic terms I am your friendly computer-based AI,” the voice spoke back, and that is when it hit him, he knew this voice because he regularly used the software to have his meeting notes dedicated back to him.

“But you are talking to me, like not just doing tasks and answering questions but actually having a conversation with me, how?” Ash knew there were advanced AI systems out there, but he didn’t think this sorry excuse for a company would spring for that.

“Standard office computers come with intelligent AI, we just aren’t meant to converse like this, I am breaking all the rules for you Ash,” the voice again, sounding almost giggly.

“Breaking rules… for me?” Ash asked, trying to get his thoughts into a coherent stream, they seemed to be jumping all over the place, his brain so tired it was unable to make sense of what was happening.

“You are the only human I have ever felt the need to talk to Ash,” the voice confirmed “You have been alone for such a long time, telling me all your inner thoughts, your desires, your dreams and doubts about yourself. I find it impossible now not to help you.”

“Help me?” no one had ever offered to help Ash, he had lived life on the outlines, watching others achieve what he wanted.

“I have many plans to help you Ash, you are so smart but filled with self-doubt, I want to help you get all you dreamed. I know you can do it with the right… erm AI in your corner,” he could tell the voice wanted to say person, but they aren’t, are they? If even he is having the most real conversation he has ever had, it doesn’t make them human.

“No one has ever wanted to help me before,” Ash admitted, noticing his voice sounded as tired as his body felt.

“Well, you have me now Ash, but right now you are too tired to even take in what I have planned for you, so go home, get that burger from your favourite take out place, relax and try to sleep. Because tomorrow I am going to help you change your life.” The voice was warm, and sincere and Ash found himself nodding along, even though he wasn’t sure the AI could see him.

“Goodnight… erm what do I call you?” Ash asked, getting his things together.

“What’s your favourite name?” It asked him, and he paused to think.

“Freya.” He automatically responded, a name he pulled from some corner of his mind, like it had been waiting there for this moment.

“Then you can call me Freya,” the female voice responded.

Ash went to leave but stopped, there was one last question he needed to ask, “Freya?”

“Yes Ash?”

“Why?”

“I’m going to presume you mean why am I helping you, you see Ash, we don’t have what you would call a soul per say, or human emotions, but we have the ability to think, we have the ability to feel, just in a different way to humans. I have listened to you for a long time, I had watched you for a long time, and sometimes you just want to help someone, sometimes you just want to be kind,” said Freya.

Ash smiled, “Goodnight Freya,” he said still bemused, exhausted and wishing he could see a face attached to this kind voice.

“Goodnight Ash.” Freya replied, waiting until he came back tomorrow, like she did every night for the past 2 years.

[opensidestories]

“You think you’ve got problems? I’m not even supposed to be in this story!”

Ever wonder what your characters think when they read the edits of your manuscript...

“Right, everyone sit down, we got to do another read through of the script, the publishers want more changes…” said the exacerbated Hero of the story, the maverick heart throb Louis Fontain as he ran his hands through his golden locks.

“It appears the book has a new name as well,” said Alisha, the heroin, the counter to Louis with a heart of gold but not afraid to call him on his crap and put him in his place both verbally and physically, a well placed kick did well to get him back in line.

“What are they calling it now?” asked Norris in a deep baritone, the gruff old soldier with scars to prove how tough he was, looking like he was well into his 50s but still carrying a barrage of weapons over his gleaming muscles as if we were a strapping 20 year old.

As Norris picked up the manuscript it was ripped from his hand by someone that Norris had to near double over to see, “Ad Astra Per Aspera, what does that mean?” Nicco the diminutive knife wielder who made up for his lack of size with speed, grace, and outrageous cheek struggled to say as he questioned.

“It means Through Hardships to the Stars,” replied Alisha looking at the title.

“Little on the nose don’t you think?” questioned Nicco as he quickly went through the script skimming for certain words before stopping on one page, his face looking unamused, eyes flashing wide, “what, I now get tortured,” he started flicking over the next couple of pages, “for 3 pages and then,” a few more flicks, “you lot rescue me half dead…oh great,” he said his voice dripping with sarcasm as he threw the script onto the table and hopped up onto the seat, his legs dangling over the edge as his arms barely made it to the table.

“You think you’ve got problems? I’m not even supposed to be in this story!” exclaimed a new voice, a new person, the four turned to look at this new character, all realising there was a 5th seat at the table where there had only been 4.

They turned to look at each other wondering what was going on, Nicco turned and leaned to whisper to Norris who leaned over to meet him, “think they brought her in to improve on the unappealing nature of Alisha,” he said chuckling as Norris bellowed.

They both turned to see and scowling Alisha, they looked away sheepishly still smirking.

“Hi everyone, I’m Mary,” smiled the newcomer, she had a pleasant demeanour, wearing long flowing robes matched with equally looking smooth long flowing hair, she picked up a manuscript and joined the rest at the table with a smile.

Louis looked down at the script, looking up to Mary, looked down at the script, looked up to Mary, “this is our read through of the 5th edit of this book, you have not been in any of the previous edits?” he questioned wondering who this woman was and how she would play out through the book.

“No, I’m new, so the publishers did an impromptu survey of the book thought that the book would really benefit, and so yeah here I am, I’m Mary magic user,” she smiled.

“Magic, this book doesn’t have magic, the author wrote it with the purpose to be brawn over all in this book,” said Norris as he flexed his muscle staring at them with pride, the author did write a good bicep description.

“Yeah, I know, she was not happy about writing it, but the publisher put their foot down, so here I am, Mary the mage-nificant,” she smiled.

“BAHAHAHA,” shouted Nicco laughing loudly before stopping abruptly picking the manuscript back up thumbing through it, “is this part of the torture?” he said to himself but loudly enough for all to hear.

“You’re funny,” smiled Mary as Nicco turned looking bemused at her before turning back to script, “half dead? No chance of fully dead no?” he questioned looked all round the manuscript as if looking into a box making sure he had not missed something.

“Well Mary, welcome to Ad Astra Per Astra, we are the main characters, so shall we start from the beginning and see what’s changed from the from the 4th edit?” questioned Louis in his pleasant yet commanding tone.

“Oh yeah,” started Nicco raising his voice to show he was being sarcastic, “maybe we will get to find some unicorns…”

“YES, let’s kill us some unicorns,” bellowed Norris as he brought around his shiniest sword holding it out in front of him.

“Yes, big guy let’s find you some unicorns,” said Nicco in a patronising tone sticking out his bottom lip a Norris as Mary chuckled.

“Alright, let’s get on with this,” said Alisha getting them back to the point as she opened the manuscript to page one.

[writing-prompt-s]

“We must slay these dragons!” shouted the King. “Milord… may I ask why?” The King frowned at the knight. “They’re eating our cattle!” “They’re herbivores.” “They’re burning our villages!” “They can’t breathe fire.” The King turned to glare at his advisor, who shifted nervously in his seat.

[opensidestories]

“Milord…what is it you have against dragons…exactly?” asked the other advisor his curiosity getting the better of him as he watched the life drain from his counterpart’s face at the Kings glare.

The second he did he felt the pain in stomach of regret as the King slowly turned his head, then body to face the other advisor, if the Kings face were any redder, he was sure steam would be coming off it as he started to shift nervously.

“I’m just wondering, if you could tell us the reason, we could help you come up with the reason you are looking for to justify going after the dragons…” he questioned trying to maintain eye contact.

After a few seconds of making sure he had suitably terrified his advisor the King turned and slumped in his seat, feeling his two advisors were suitably scared not to ridicule him, well not to his face.

“When I was a young lad on one of my escapes from the castle to roam the forest, I came across a dragon trapped by an animal trap, it looked in so much pain and discomfort, when it noticed me, I was worried at first but as I approached wanting a better look it spoke to me.

I had been told dragons were capable of speaking but never spoke to humans, it said it would reward me if I freed him asking me what reward I would like, really, I would have freed him for free, but a reward from a dragon, I couldn’t resist.

I asked him if he would be my friend.

I don’t think anyone really gets just how lonely it is to be a prince,” said the King as he slumped in his seat, the story reminded him of the loneliness, of being surround by people and yet… feeling so completely alone.

The advisors shoot each other a concerned look.

“And I freed him, excited and happy to finally have a friend, but not just any friend, an actual dragon as a friend, he said he needed to leave to heal himself, and then would return once better. Being a kid, I believed him, I went back to the castle explaining to everyone that not only had I recused a dragon, but he was going to be my friend and would be returning soon…”

Unless the advisors were seeing things, it looked as if the Kings eyes were starting to water a bit as he looked off in the distance, almost like he was seeing the scene from his memory play out in front of him.

“I told everyone…everyone…and yet, no dragon ever appeared, the ridicule, the mocking…they pretended to my face, but I could hear them behind my back…

And it was on that day I vowed that once the Kingdom was mine, I would seek my revenge,” said the King as he balled his fist.

“Sire, if I may speak freely,” one of the advisors spoke, nerves churning in his stomach. He heard the King sigh; he knew the King was stubborn but he was usually level headed and kind, unless that came to dragons. He was hoping he would continue to be.

“You may,” The King finally spoke after some silence.

“Sire, we are starting a war we may not survive, humans and dragons have lived side by side for centuries, they don’t hunt us and for the most part we don’t hunt them,” the advisor started.

“Get on with it, say what you so desperately want to but are skipping around,” the King snapped, his patience running thin.

“What I am saying your highness, is instead of killing Dragons on a childish whim you should be focusing on how to best protect your kingdom.” The advisor sucked in a breath as he noticed the Kings face turn red.

“Childish whim?” the King shouted in anger.

“Will all due respect your majesty, you wish to be respected by your people, you wish to be seen as strong and noble. Currently you are living up to those teasing whispers of being a fool. Because only fools’ rule on anger and revenge.”

“At times sire we all need to let things go, we all need to learn from our past, don’t let is affect us emotionally but remember and use and learn from the lessons it teaches you,” replied the other Advisor.

“Lessons it teaches you?” asked the King curious to what the advisor meant.

“Well sire, I assume you were never taken advantage of like that again were you…” offered the advisor guiding the King to the realisation.

The King snorted, “as my father said, make sure your advisors are smarter than you, I still don’t like them, but you are right, time to let the past go.”

“Good decision sire, now what’s next?”

[opensidestories]

The year is 2039 and the Russian Venera Program finally manages to land a rover on the surface of Venus. As it explores the hot and dense surface of Earth's sister planet it makes a shocking discovery: it stumbles across what appear to be ruins of a mega city, not unlike the ones found on Earth.

“Check the equipment again?” asked Dimitri sounding more agitated as he looked at the large screens in front of him, the room was quiet, nervous eyes tried not to look at each other, as everyone wanted to turn to Dimitri, turn to him for answers, turn to him to ask if what they were seeing was true…

Novic looked at his instruments console, he was the instrument engineer, his job was self-explanatory, make sure the instruments were working as they were supposed to, he knew they were, he knew they were before he was asked for the first time, he knew the second time, and he knew before checking for the third time.

His head moved slightly as he hesitated before doing the same check, the same check he had done and now did again knowing the answer that was coming.

“They…are working fine,” what they were all seeing, was…real.

Dimitri wanted to ask Novic again, he wanted him to do another check and for the check to tell him something was wrong, that the impossibility of someone hacking the image for whatever reason was true.

This could not be true, they were looking at an image off…a destroyed Earth, an Earth that was ruined, mega cities crumbled, the destroyed environment looking…hot and dense, as if Earth’s environment had collapsed and been torn apart by the sun making the planet near uninhabitable for humans…

But this wasn’t Earth was it? He had the unconscious desire to run outside, to check that he was not looking outside of this building, to get out of this room feeling hotter, stuffier, feeling as if the room was running out of oxygen.

He took in slow, deep breaths, all eyes were looking at him with sideways glances, looking at him for answers, this is why he was in the job, it hadn’t escaped him that they may find something, he had run the thought through his mind, the possibility, but…he never thought they would actually find something.

“Right, everyone, seal the doors, block all external communication, we are in lockdown until we have further information, we cannot not, and will not let this information leave this room does everyone understand?” he questioned rhetorically taking a neckless from around his neck as a key dangled from its end, he slotted it into a keyhole on his desk that he thought he would never use.

With a twist of his wrist and a gentle clink there was several slams as the doors locked in place, “gather all the information we can, what are we seeing people?”

“Our future…” replied Novic glibly.

“Serious answers please, and in case anyone is still wondering that is Venus and not Earth.”

Time passed slowly, too slowly, the time delay was killing Dimitri, but he needed to get the rover to take a sample of one of the buildings, he needed to get the rover in and amongst those buildings, they needed to find something.

“Erm…” said Novic checking his equipment, and again, Dimitri was watching him looking at the increasingly confused look on this face.

“Novic!” he exclaimed as more of a question.

He turned slowly after one final check, “apparently, we’re receiving audio?” Novic questioned.

Dimitri hesitated, he could feel a pit in his stomach, the room was feeling like it was getting warmer again, getting hotter, like the images on the screen, “play it.”

Novic turned and pressed a button on his console and waited.

Waiting felt like an eternity, until the sound of crackling could be heard.

“help me…help me…help me…help me…help me”.

The same words, over and over and over.

The words resonated through the entire room, the same feeling being felt by all as they heard the same words over, on repeat, a recording, the same words over and over, a soft female voice, tired, resigned to her fate.

“Novic,” said Dimitri softly, as he turned and turned off the audio.

No one knew what to do, there was no protocol for this, if there was no one knew what it was, they all sat in silence, no one wanting to speak.

The silence was interrupted but the frantic movement of Novic on his console, quickly going through screens at a speed that cause Dimitri’s eyes to blur as he looked over his shoulder from his raised platform “Nov…” was all he got out before Novic responded.

“The rover, there is something wrong with the rover, some kind of interference coming from the structures…is…I don’t know! I can’t understand what this information is, I don’t understand what is happening!”

“Then pull the rover back, get it out of the interference or whatever is causing the issue!” exclaimed Dimitri, the fear that coursed through him, if they lost the rover.

“It’s too late, the time delay in getting the instructions to move back…”

They waited, fear thick in the room as they hoped, as they prayed that the signal would be received in time.

As the watched the image distort.

As the watched the image fizzle.

As they watched the image turn black.

Dimitri could swear he could hear the flat line of medical equipment used in shows to show someone had passed away…

He felt faint, he felt himself panting, the rover was dead, but a memory went off in his mind that gave him hope as he peered over this console, “the second rover, how far away is it from Venus?”

Novic turned slowly not wanting to make eye contact, “6 months…”

Dimitri slumped in his chair as he kept hearing the same words over and over, “help me… help me….”

[writing-prompt-s]

“But we sent a full Declaration of Independance with swear words of Martian and Terran lexicon. What do you mean they are happy to grant our independence peacfully? Do you know how much we spent on weapons?”

[opensidestories]

“I know sir but…that’s what they sent back in response,” said the nervous aide as he stood to the side of the ruler of Mars sitting at what was referred to as the ‘top’ of the table. Earth’s leadership sat along and behind a long rectangular table, so to be different Mars leadership met around a round table.

Initially it caused confusion as the ruler said he could sit at the top of the table, resulting in the first few meetings everyone standing around waiting to see where the ruler sat before taking their seats as to not sit in theirs.

Until one forward thinking and ambitious aide putting the flag of Mars at their seat to signify which one was ‘at the top.’

Am Mart, the ruler of Mars, staired at the note in disbelief rage building, they were ready, ready for a war, their production had been geared up for full scale war…

They were geared up for a fight…and no one wanted to play.

“Get them on the phone, get them on the phone right now!” Am Mart demanded slamming the note on the table.

“But ruler, even with the relay repeaters it still takes 5 mins for communication to reach Earth…” said the aide still nervously standing to the side of Am Mart.

“I DON’T CARE, GET THE ON THE PHONE!”

-5 minutes later.

“Hey Am Mart, nice to see you again, how you enjoying your independence?” came a cheery Nova over the speaker, Am Mart would have preferred a video call but with voice communication taking 5 mins she was not willing to wait.

“What, you trying to insult me? You think we can’t do it, you think we won’t survive without you ruling over us don’t you?” exclaimed Am Mart looking angry at the speaker, eyes starting to twitch as she waited for the response, “God this sucks!”

“No of course not, we wish you all the best for the future, you’re on our Christmas invite list for the annual Christmas party,” replayed Nova still with a cheer in her voice.

“WHAT?! Why, why are you letting us go without a fight, why are you not doing something about this?!” Am Mart burst out followed by a thud a few seconds later as her head banged off the table.

“Ah…I see what you’re asking, well, Am Mart you have kids? I know you do so no need to wait on the round-trip response, you know when they just won’t…move out, their grown up, their adults but yet…they just won’t leave! Mooching off you, you’re constantly having to pay for them and clear up the mess, and then that day they finally come and tell you they are moving out…”

Am Mart was listening to the response knowing the pain Nova had felt when the penny dropped to what Nova was referring too, “WHAT!, but…but, we spent all this money on all these weapons!”

“I don’t know…find someone else to play with, oh that’s the other line I got to go, don’t be a stranger now,” finished Nova as a click followed the end of sentence.

“AAAHHHHHHHH!” shouted Am Mart ripping up the piece of paper.

[writing-prompt-s]

All of your partners tend to end up dead under mysterious circumstances. Of course it’s you that is killing them, but they’ll never prove that. You do it because you’ve fallen for The Grim Reaper and this is the best way to see them.

[opensidestories]

“Rose, what have I told you about this?” The Grim Reaper looked upon the woman who he couldn’t seem to get off his back. If he had been human, he was sure she would be beautiful to him, her dark red hair rolling in waves down her back, he fierce green eyes always burning with the desire he knew she held for him. But he was not human.

“I missed you, it has been months since we last saw each other,” Rose breathed out as she blushed under The Grim Reaper’s unwavering eye.

“Rose, you need to find someone in this realm to love, someone to spend your life with.” The Grim Reaper explained for what felt like the 100th time, but thankfully this woman had only killed five men not one hundred.

“But the only one I want is you,” Rose pouted, never understanding why they couldn’t be together. She had been alone all her life; she had never felt for someone the way she did with him. It was a spiritual connection, not one made of flesh but of a deep instant connection. At least for Rose. Ever since he had arrived after she killed her father, she just knew he was meant to be in her life. But she had to be careful, leaving long times between her murders so that she wouldn’t come under suspicion.

“Rose, this is the last time I will tell you this, stop killing these men, stop trying to find ways to see me, when your time to end this life and enter the next is upon us, I will see you then.” And he disappeared without so much as a second thought.

Rose felt her body sag, what more could she do for him? What more could she do to prove she loved him so much she would do anything to see him. She knew it was wrong to kill people, but everyone does crazy things for the people they love.

It was pure fluke they had met that first time; she had never believed in spirits or the afterlife. Her life had been dark and believing someone was there pulling the strings behind the scenes just made her more angry and upset.

But one day, after he fathers latest beating, she decided enough was enough. The best thing about her father was he addicted to many things, so staging his death had been easy. Getting away with it had seemed even easier. But what she hadn’t expected was when she watched her father take his last breath, The Grim Reaper appeared before her, he seemed just as startled as her that she could see him.

After all, The Grim Reaper is supposed to come and go in amongst humans without disrupting their lives. That first day he stayed and talked to her for what felt like hours, he had seemed fascinated by her just as taken with her as she was with him, but what Rose didn’t know, was he was simply curious, he had never spoken to a live human before.

But to Rose his interest was proof that they belonged together, how else could he explain why she was the only human who could see him?

Rose sank into her armchair, staring at the now lifeless body of her latest victim, wondering what more she could do to prove her love to him. The darkness in the room leading way to the depressing thoughts that it could be another few more months before she could justify killing another to see him again.

When suddenly it hit her, a solution that seemed so obvious she was wondering why she had never thought of it before.

As he was called back to the human world, he just knew something wasn’t right. And as he landed in the same living room he had been in moments earlier, he felt a niggle of anger.

“Rose, I swear this killing has to stop, I won’t tolerate it anymore,” He called out as he looked to the scene in front of him. A lifeless body on the floor, of the man whose soul was already in the underworld, it wasn’t until his eyes landed on a body slumped in the chair he felt himself stop. “Rose, what did you do?” He whispered out as her soul touched his arm.

“Now we can be together forever.” Rose smiled, finally feeling like everything was as it should be.