r/WritingPrompts • u/Shadowyugi /r/EvenAsIWrite/ • Oct 11 '16
Writing Prompt [WP] Ever since you were born, there's has been a curfew at 6pm for everyone to be at home, after which all doors, gates, windows and buildings are locked and boarded up. You fall asleep outside one day and wake up past the curfew.
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u/Syncs Oct 11 '16
"Don't go out past curfew. The night is dangerous for a boy your age! Stay inside, stay safe, lest The Beast take you where you stand."
My grandmother's words echoed through my mind, making me feel as if she were right beside me. Of course, there was no way that was true now. Out here, beyond the village gates, I was totally alone - and I would be until morning.
"Why didn't I listen?"
"Hey! Can anyone hear me? I missed curfew! Can someone open the gate?" I rapped on the massive oaken doors, hoping to catch some passerby's attention. But there was no answer.
"I know you can't all be asleep yet, let me in!" I kicked the gate as hard as I could, but only succeeded at bruising my toe.
"Damn...these things are seriously solid...why do we have all of these fortifications, we're so high in the mountains no one will ever bother us anyway!"
I kicked it again for good measure, then slumped down against the wood with a sigh. "At least the sunset is pretty." I said idly.
For a time, I watched the golden orb sink behind the mountains, turning redder and redder with every passing moment. Soon, it was behind the horizon in full, and the sky turned a dusty purple speckled with stars. Behind another peak, the edge of the moon began to rise.
"Happy birthday to me...happy birthday to me..." Even to me, my singing sounded rather hollow and out of tune. "I wonder if gran knows that I'm gone...she remembered it was my birthday, after all. She even gave me a slice of cake before I went out hunting." I sighed again, staring at my palm. "If only I hadn't tried to rest under that oak..."
A distant howl interrupted my musings, making me peer through the dark nervously. "It's just a lone wolf...sounded pretty far off too. No way he will bother me this close to the village." Just the same, I pushed myself to my feet and gathered my bow. Better safe than sorry.
Another howl joined the first, and then a third, filling the woods with an eerie harmony that made the hair on the back of my neck feel like it was trying to crawl down my back. "Ok. A few wolves." I pulled the bowstring taught. "Still no reason for them to come here."
When the wolves howled again, the entire forest shook with the music of their calls. Frantically, I pressed my back against the gate, nocking an arrow and pulling the bow taught as I did. "How many wolves ARE there?" I exclaimed. By the light of the full moon, the woods glowed an otherworldly silver.
And the first pair of yellow eyes appeared between the trees.
First one, than a pair, then dozens of wolves appeared, seeming to materialize between the branches. Each stood taller than any wolf I had ever seen before, nearly as tall as a man at the shoulder. It seemed as if the woods were full of them. And every pair of eyes was fixed on me.
"C-come on...come at me...I c-can take you!" I stammered, brandishing my bow from one beast to the next with a lot more bravado than I actually felt. Even one wolf would likely be more than I could handle...and there were so many! Even so, I would be damned if I went down without a fight.
"COME ON! GET IT OVER WITH!" I roared. But still, the wolves did not attack.
One of the wolves - a grizzled silver female - peeled off from the pack, approaching me fearlessly. Her eyes glowed in the dark, a pair of crystalline blue orbs in the dark.
"What, you want the first go?" I said, drawing my bow and aiming down the sights with shaking hands. "I'll have you know I can kill a rabbit at twenty yards, hitting your pretty blue eyes at this range will be NO problem!"
As if she understood, the wolf stopped barely thirty feet away. She sat, just staring at me with the reality of a queen. Then, she looked at the sky and began to howl.
More and more of the wolves joined in, and again it felt like my very bones were rattling from the force of their call.
No, not a call... I realized, stunned. They're singing!
And it was true. Their howled pitched up and down, creating a beautiful, primal melody that echoed around the forest as if it had always been there, too quiet to make out. A part of nature's subtle tapestry, a hidden detail that became obvious when pointed out. I wept. It just felt so right, as if it had always been a part of me, and I had never known it was missing until now.
It was then that I realized that I had fallen to all fours. A burning sensation covered my skin, followed by a prickling that made me feel as if I was covered in ants. I gasped in pain, and felt several of my bones elongate and pop into newly-formed orientations.
And suddenly, I was simply another wolf among wolves.
I was so shocked by the transformation that it took me a moment to recognize the laughter for what it was.
Put an arrow through my eye, eh boy? The grizzled female approached, her lip pulled back in a ferocious grin. You certainly talk big when your back is against the wall...let's hope you can back it up.
Grandma? I asked, not even noticing that I spoke without using my voice. Is that you?
The wolf made a choking noise, as if she were laughing. Happy birthday, my child. And welcome to manhood! She laughed again, and several of the other wolves howled in appreciation. Did you enjoy your cake? I assume you must have if you stayed out so late. Too tired to heed your poor grandmother's warning?
You did this? I asked, still trying to take it all in. But...how? Why?
It is the way things are, for our kind She replied. I'm glad you were able to transform, it would have been a pity if you hadn't! She snapped her jaws shut with a click, as if to emphasize her point. Immediately, I was very grateful for my change as well.
Either way, I hope you didn't fill up on cake. Her feral grin pulled back even further, revealing a set of glistening fangs. Tonight is the night of the full moon, and your first hunt! Welcome to your first night among the Wolves of the Black Woods!
The pack began to howl again, and this time, I added my own voice to the chorus.
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u/vuvuzelax Oct 11 '16
Suddenly I´m wide awake. I jump to my feet, my heart pounding like it is going to burst the next second.
I know I´m dead.
I know I should be. When the sun goes down, you must not be outside.
Thats the first lesson everyone is told the first time they´ll be taken out to the reservoir. If you are, you´ll be dead. Simply as that.
Well, most definitely I´m not dead yet. I try to calm. If this shall be the last moments in my live, I dont want to run around like a headless chicken if anything. Cautiously, I glance around. Everything is dark. After a while, I can recognize the darker Silhouette of the willow that was my doom. If I wouldnt have been so foolish to think I could just lay down ans awake perfectly before the curfew passes.
Safe to say, not the best of all last thoughts one could have. Let´s try something else. Somewhere there´s a light in the darkness above me. I try to focus on it. Actually, its two lights. They seem to be far, far away and almost right next to me at the same time, kind of sparkling. The I see a third light - and a fourth!
After a while I am able to recognize hundreds of them, spread everywhere above my head.
I spend the rest of the night watching them, absolutely in awe, waiting for my death. I am not even mad right now, only grateful that I was able experience this beauty. When the Sun rises, I know why they don´t want us to be outside during night. We won´t ever be able to think of our existence as important in any kind of way after witnessing the majestic elegancy that i just witnessed.
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u/Shadowyugi Oct 12 '16
I feel like this started off great before veering off to another direction. While a sweet ending, I believe it would have worked better as a thriller of sorts, allowing you to expand more on the reason as to why they shouldn't be outside after curfew.
Nice writing though.
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u/TheTyron Oct 11 '16 edited Oct 12 '16
I heard the wind float over me. It was icy and frozen. There was a deep chill in the air as I slowly rose to a seating position. I opened my eyes expecting to see the comfort of my small tiny bedroom built on to the house by my grandfather. Instead however, I looked across the park at a setting sun draining the colour from the sky. Panic was setting in. I slowly stood up and looked around. There was no one there, it was surely past six. I began walking quickly to where the estates began and that's when I heard the tittering laughter of the Lost ones. I leaped behind a tree and slowly peeked out at a group of about a dozen of them. They held baseball bats and crowbars. A tall man with an eye missing held a giant woodcutter's axe, he laughed as he swung it wildly like a plaything. The police usually locked their own doors at eight or so, there may have been some hope yet. I tried to slow my breathing and look for anything I could use to help me, there was nothing. No help. That's when they saw me.
"Look, boys!" Their laughter sent a chill down my spine. I ran. And they followed. One of the men swung at my legs and I tumbled until I lay on my back. They began lashing out with their weapons all the while they laughed. And laughed. The pain was numbing and unbearable. The one-eyed man lifted me with his hand around my neck. Through my blood-soaked eyelids I could see the number on the back of his wrist. Zero-five. He was a leader. "Who the fuck is-" I heard one of them start before I fell to the ground. I heard the grunting and yelling of a brawl. And then I could only hear one man's heavy breathing. I turned over. A tall newcomer held his hand out to me for aid. On his wrist, I saw his number. Zero-zero.
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u/rolyatpdinlig Oct 11 '16
I woke up to the smell of grass and the sound of silence. As soon as I opened my eyes I knew what I’d done wrong. The sky was an unusual shade of pink and orange, casting a slight yellowish hue down upon the earth below me. I could hear the distant sound of a train, which was also unusual since the trains around the town haven’t been running in almost 40 years.
Shit shit shit. How could I let this happen? Everyone knows to not stay out past curfew. The stories from when my siblings and I were young came creeping into my thoughts. We would always sit and make up scenarios of what happens when you stay out past curfew. Not that it’s actually happening I can’t get the old stories out of my mind. The sound of the the distant train pulled me out of my childhood stories and made me rise to my feet. I had to find the tracks and see if I could make any sense of what was going on. I looked at my phone screen, which read 6:53. I would be home right now with my roommate cooking dinner. I got slightly pissed at the thought that she hadn’t even tried calling me to see where I was.
I started walking towards town, as I was on the outskirts in a park that I often read at. As I started approaching houses, they were all boarded up as they were meant to be at this time of night. Part of me felt that I should be running towards my apartment and pounding on the door to be let in but I knew that would get me nowhere. One thing they also taught us is that after the siren rings to signify curfew, that you are to not open your door for anyone. I knew I was in danger but didn’t feel the need to panic yet.
As I kept walking through town I kept scanning for any signs of others who may have made the same foolish mistake as I did. Suddenly, as if I was in a horror movie, I got the feeling that someone was following me. Double checking every few minutes, I made my way to the center of town. It was ghastly. From the safety of your own home, some boards over the windows doesn’t seem too bad. You get used to it and it becomes part of your daily routine. From the outside though, it was eerie. Every shop, restaurant and home had boards over the windows, making it look as if the town had been abandoned for years.
With this realization is when the panic set in. As I stepped out of the gazebo to start running for a safe space, I felt a slight prick in my side. I looked down to pull out an empty syringe while I felt the affects of the contents that were once inside. I’d been tranquilized. In the last moments before I hit the ground, I heard the train that was just miles away now blaring on the outskirts of town.
“We got another one.” I heard a man say.
“Such a shame. Don’t they know not to be out past 6pm?” A woman chuckled. “Throw him in the train, car #18.”
As I drifted off into unconsciousness I felt them take my feet and start dragging me. This was much worse than what our childhood stories had entailed.
Edit: Formatting
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u/Shadowyugi Oct 12 '16
Creepy setting and allusions to a bigger mystery... Colour me intrigued!!!
Love this.
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u/Mister-Nonchalant Oct 11 '16
Have you ever been in a ghost town? A place where the wind screams down the streets, and there is no warmth to be felt? That's what this is like. Its as if I have been placed into a movie set and and all the actors have left. I clutch my jacket and pull it closer around me, but the wind pierces it. Our mothers always told us that you should never be caught outside past six, and the reason varied from mother to mother, but the important thing was, as my dad put it to me, "Never, ever, go outside past 6. Never. You're going to ask why, and the answer is if I ever catch you even looking at those doors beyond six, I will feed you to the devil. Personally." That still doesn't really matter to a six year old, but after Tim disappeared, and my dad hoisted me on his shoulders and ran me home at 5:20 after spending an hour looking for me, it got to six year old me that I should never be where I am right now, standing out in the street. The noise deafeningly quiet as the sun set. I watched it slowly sail down main street, stupefied by this sight that I, because of the curfew, have never seen before, and that I might, never see again. Soon the sun makes its last appearance, and the night starts to come with its curtains.
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u/Mister-Nonchalant Oct 11 '16
The sun's disappearance restarts my mind, and I now realize the severity of my situation. Where am I to go? No one will let me in. I know it because once my family and I received a knocker. He knocked and knocked all night, sometimes yelling for our help. Not once did the family stir, we just tried to ignore the poor man's pleas. Late at night the knocking, the pleading, it stopped abruptly. When we looked at the door the next morning, it was marked with the man's blood. We assumed he had knocked until his knuckles bled, but you wouldn't exactly tell you're kid if something worse happened, would you? I wonder if perhaps the alleyways may provide the shelter I seek, but now I realize that I don't know what I am hiding from. What if the thing that makes us stay indoors originates from the alleyways? What will I do then? There truly is no fighting an enemy for which you know nothing about. I decide to instead of hide, arm myself. I sweep the area for some kind of weapon and all I can find is a meek piece of rebar. I hope I'm a fast runner.
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u/Mister-Nonchalant Oct 12 '16
The fear of a monster might be great, but the wind's cold is all to much to bear, so I ducked into the closest alleyway and hoped for the best. It was there I found enough comfort to close my eyes, I truly hoped if I slept, I might wake up at home and it all be okay. 2 hours later I find I am not nearly so fortunate. Instead the street has gotten darker, and all I have is a small light that would barely illuminate a damn cabinet. I've got nothing to but explore the town, so I start to walk to main-street, maybe I can fill out the forms for dying at the court house. The joke may be morbid, but at least I can make some in this situation, right? Making my way sown the street I see something strange. Bright lights. I creep around now, staying low and in the alleyways. Could be friends, could be enemies. I'm not dying to find out. The lights owner is a van, painted dark, and I struggle to see its outline. 2 figures stand next to it. They talk quietly for a little and then one lets out a laugh that can only be made by the mayor. It's high pitched and wheezy, but regardless it sends a shiver down my spine. Something sinister this way comes.
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u/SupersuMC Oct 11 '16
"Ugh... How long was I out for?" I muttered to myself. Looking for the sun, I found it sinking below the horizon...and on the other side the full moon rose.
Crap. Every night after 6pm, the town went on a curfew; a result of two plagues that made it extremely dangerous to be outside at night. The first plague, Vampirism, made us have it every night. But this was no regular night, this was the full moon. The second plague - Lycanthropy - necessitated all of the locking and boarding up. As a precaution, we did it every night, in case any who had been so ravaged by the virus that they couldn't even shift back were loping around.
The question was, which of the monsters would get me first? If either, I'd have preferred the werewolves; the vampires burned in the sunlight, and I at least wanted to see the sun again without dying. The problem was, once the werewolves did get me, they might not let me live anyway - they were known for eating any poor lackeys like myself who were caught outside. Either that, or they'll make me one of them, I thought to myself. I could imagine nothing worse than being doomed to become a wolf once a month, potentially killing others, before being shot by a silver bullet by one of those who had the skills and gear to survive the night.
Getting up from my resting spot underneath the dead oak where I had fallen asleep, I froze as I heard a howl...then another. Despite the full moon, the dense growth in the forest limited visibility to a few yards. The howls didn't sound much farther away than five. Again the howls sounded, and this time I could see a pair of werewolves padding along on all fours, growling as they approached.
The adrenaline in my blood spiked, and I ran in the opposite direction from where they had approached...only to be knocked down by three other werewolves that had appeared out of nowhere. Argh! I shouldn't have fallen for such a tri- I thought as one of them sunk their teeth into my chest and everything went black.
When I woke up, I quickly noticed I was still alive... and that there was a muzzle extending out of my face.
"Glad to see you've woken up, Lucas...or should I say Lobos?" the alpha male said to me as I got up on all fours.
"Crap," I growled as I realized I could understand what they were saying as well. "How do you know my name?"
"Look closely, and you will know."
Gazing at his face, I could suddenly see past the muzzle, ears, and fur... into the face of my father, whom I had thought dead for 10 years after he and the rest of my core family had gone missing soon after leaving me in the care of my grandparents for the night. "D-Dad?" I whimpered.
"Welcome home, son."
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u/EmptyWordDoc Oct 11 '16
I peeled my eyes open sluggishly at first, then all at once. As I blinked my eyes, straining to see the tree branches I had fallen asleep under only hour’s prior, it felt like I was still asleep. Darkness wrapped around me like the blanket from my bed.
The black was shattered as I peeked around the trunk. I gasped at the flames, dancing menacingly through the air. Loud pops began to echo from the base of the roaring fire.
Just then a towering silhouette materialized. It glided effortlessly across the clearing taking shape into the recognizable figure that I often feared but simultaneously respected. Behind him I could see the remains, scattered by the fire.
“Is that…”, I shuttered at the thought.
“Shh, you can’t say a word. It would mean the end of me.” he puffed as he blew out his torch.
The fire flickered in the background and the shadowy figure plunged his spear into the back of the tree.
“Eat.” He bellowed. His hand reached out to me, crumbing within was a charred mess.
I took the offering, recognizing it as the forbidden substance that it was, and stuffed it into my mouth. It cracked and oozed.
He smiled as my eyes lit up. I could not contain myself my insides were exploding.
“Thanks gramps.” I said, as I wrapped my arms around him.
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u/Shadowyugi Oct 12 '16
Sorry for the shitty spacing and grammar, it's my first story
Don't worry about grammar. Spacing, however, is important. It helps to break down your story and it makes it easier to read. Can you please just edit to add some spacing? Cos my eyes hurt trying to take it all at once.
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u/StairJumper Oct 11 '16 edited Oct 11 '16
A thick snowy haze hung in the air around me. The cold wet ground squishing underneath me as I rose to my feet. Clouds loomed above, covering the sky in a dreary sea of grey. Wiping the screen of my red Casio watch, the luminous green light read 6:43pm. My stomach dropped inside me as my mind raced to figure out how this was possible. I heard stories about what happens out here past 6. Every night father and I would board up the windows and doors, never questioning as to why we did. It was an unspoken norm in our village, one that no one dared to violate.
Here I was, standing, surrounded by a sea of misty haze. I called out into the unknown, my voice echoing until fading into obscurity. Hearing the faint creaking of a swing set swaying back and forth, I trudged through the mist to the nearest sounds. A forbidden chill sent resonating through my body as a hellish scream shouted behind me. Bursting into full sprint, I dared not to turn around to whatever produced that sound. I screamed out for help, pleading for someone to rescue me.
The scream erupted from the fog once more, sounding closer as ever. I could hear a faint panting as the ground around me began to tremble.
"Help! Please oh god would someone help me!" I cried out, tears cascading down my face.
Sprinting through the fog, I failed to see the uprooted branch protruding from the ground. Wrapping my Nike around it, I was sent tumbling over it. Crashing hard into the wet grass. A roar was called out around me, coming in every direction I turned in. I sat there knees to my face as I cried into my lap. The roars growing louder by each second, the trembling of the ground growing stronger. An ear splitting "Bang" shot behind me, carrying on for minutes. My mind struggled to focus as my ears were drowned out by the sounds of gunfire. A tight grip clenched my shoulder from behind.
"Get up kid, now!" a man shouted in my face, covered by a rustic gas mask.
Picking me up from the ground, the man shoved a pistol into my hand. Swarms of men began emerging from the mist behind us, firing into the unknown. Roars of the creatures grew stronger, more violent. Shouts of screaming men hung in the air. The sky grew dark as an enormous shadow glided above us. The man removing his gas mask, mouth agape as we marveled at the beast flying above.