Welcome to the fifth week of the Spring Writing Challenge!
You all did so well with your stories last week! There were so many interesting and unique ways you interpreted the prompt. It’s now the fifth week, so it’s time to do it again! Will your story have fairies? Time travel? Ghosts?! Whatever you decide, we can’t wait to see what you come up with.
So, without further ado, here’s your next prompt!
Week Five Prompt – The Sentence Prompt
Write a story that includes the following sentence:
Needless to say, this wasn’t the first time…
Wait…what’s a sentence prompt?
A sentence prompt is a prompt that uses a particular sentence. It doesn’t matter where your story takes place, who’s in it, or what’s said. The only thing that matters is that your story must include the sentence, “Needless to say, this wasn’t the first time.”
Before you start writing, we have some important rules for you to follow.
Writing Rules
1. Please keep the content of the stories you post to a PG rating. Please avoid real curse words. Violence/fighting should be limited and purposeful. Please do not include any spice.
2. Your story must be 1,000 words or less, and must contain the prompt to be counted for the challenge. You’re not required to post it in order to “win” the challenge, but if you want it to count for your team, your story must be posted by Sunday at 11:59 PM ET, and you must include your team name.
Remember to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and post your story as an “answer” to this question, not a “comment”. 🙂 You’re all doing such a great job! I’m so proud of all the stories you’ve posted.
Happy Writing!
Team A | Lydia Fiore
All it took was a flick of the wrist, a pour of a bottle, and a nearly imperceptible signal to her employer, watching from the shadows– and then it was done. It all happened in under ten seconds and under the nose of about fifty oblivious members of the King’s Court. She moved fluidly and silently, suggesting she had gone through the motions hundreds of times.
Needless to say, this wasn’t the first time Loralei had poisoned a courtier.
She moved just slowly enough to the door to bypass suspicion, already itching to be rid of the scratchy gown and pound of makeup she had been forced to don as a disguise. She sent thanks to any saints listening that nearly all of the King’s Court were already too inebriated to see clearly; all it took was two glances at her to see just how badly she stuck out, like a sore thumb. She was used to doing her work from the shadows, where it didn’t matter what she wore, and this job had pushed her far out of her comfort zone. But it didn’t matter– it was done, and no one had seen enough of her to be able to name her as a suspect.
Loralei didn’t know who she’d just essentially drop-kicked into the afterlife. She didn’t want to. She always took the money, did the job, and fled without looking back.
She picked up her pace as the eleven o’ clock gongs began to sound. She liked to be gone before the victim started choking.
~~
It took Loralei less than ten minutes to exit the palace grounds, and she held her breath nearly the whole time. Now, in the safety of her favorite alleyway, she allowed herself one sigh of relief and a moment for her heart to stop pounding. Pulling the cloak she had left here over her head, she tucked her hair beneath the hood. This felt a little more normal– although the gown was still infuriatingly itchy.
Loralei stepped into the crowded streets, where carriages rumbled past and people shouted at each other over the din. She had paid a carriage driver to be ready to pick her up around eleven o’ clock, and here he was, hopping down from the driver’s seat and opening the door. Loralei nodded to him in greeting. He didn’t return the nod, only looked grimly at her as she stepped into the carriage. Odd, but she didn’t spare it a second thought. That is, until after the door swung shut, the carriage started rumbling over the cobblestones, and she felt the cool edge of a knife at her throat.
“Don’t move,” a scratchy voice whispered.
Loralei stilled. That snake was the first thought she had. He let a random man pay him off and sneak into his carriage, most likely thinking it would doom her. She could handle a man with a knife, but he didn’t know that. I’ll get him back.
“Let go of me,” she said, preparing to grab his knife and twist his arm. But to her surprise, he did as she told him, arm falling away. She turned to look at him and saw a boy no older than she was, with curly dark hair and round glasses, arms raised almost as if in surrender.
She grabbed his knife and twisted his arm anyway.
“Ow,” he grunted as she pushed him against the carriage door. “What was that for?”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe for sneaking into my carriage and threatening me with a knife?”
He winced. “Okay, the knife was a little overkill. I just wanted to talk to you and I thought I might… you know… match your energy.”
“My energy?” Then she realized what he meant. “You know who I am?”
“Yes,” he said, “And I have a job for you.”
Loralei dropped her arm and scooted back, scoffing in disbelief. “Are you serious? You did all this because you have a job for me? You know there are much more civil ways of hiring me, right?”
He blushed a little, but lifted his chin. “Nothing about your line of work is civil.”
“Maybe not,” she said haughtily, “But I’ll have you know I don’t make a habit of taking jobs from people who threaten me with knives.”
He threw his hands up. “I’m sorry I threatened you, alright? But I think you’ll want to hear me out on this one– my boss is willing to pay a pretty penny.”
Loralei sat back, pretending to be considering it, but her mind was already made up. Of course she would accept the job. How could she not? He was right; she was anything but honorable, and she couldn’t exactly expect her employers to be.
Huffing out a dramatic sigh, Loralei spun the knife through her fingers and tucked it into her sleeve. The boy watched owlishly, but didn’t ask for it back. “Fine,” she said. “Who do you want me to kill?”
~~
The room was dark and silent. Books lined the spacious walls, reaching from the floor almost to the ceiling. But Loralei’s attention was on the dark form on the four-poster bed. There was a glass of water on the bedside table beside him, just as the boy had said.
Loralei slunk across the room and tipped her bottle over the glass; a drop landed in the water, turning it opaque and then returning to its original color. She would have preferred to kill the man more directly, but the boy had promised he would drink the water. She already had the money; it wasn’t her problem.
Returning to the window she had entered through, Loralei jumped out and began climbing down the wall. She didn’t have time to waste, for she had another job already on her agenda for the night. She was gone as quickly and silently as she had come.
Needless to say, this wasn’t the last time Loralei would poison a courtier.
Ooh nice story! I love the suspense! All it’s missing is strawberry ice cream (which is what probably 90% of stories are missing)
Ooo I love the intrigue and suspense of this one!!
The worldbuilding was great for a 1000 word story, I felt as if I was being transported to the land of your story! It was like I forgot where I was only to be pulled back into reality at the end just like Narnia and the lamppost!!
Keep up the good work!! ✨
TEAM A
SUSAN BY ADELAIDE RIGGS
Near the local dirt road in a lush field, there was an abundant variety of grasses, wild flowers, and small creatures. All who dwelled here lived their lives with simplicity and gratitude. This included Susan, a beautiful flower whose color reminded everyone of a ripe summer lemon (but she was not quite so sour).
One morning, Susan was in the clearing enjoying a soft breeze when suddenly the air rapidly changed direction. Fragile as she was, Susan fell on her face, unable to get up. Panicking, she tried calling for help but the ground muffled her voice. Susan was helpless.
Just a minute later, a tiny, round old woman wearing a bright red cloak with black polka dots came into the clearing. It was Mrs. Dotty! She noticed the girl laying on the ground.
“Oh my!” exclaimed Mrs. Dotty as she hurried over to Susan. “What ever happened to you, dear?”
“I fell and ca-can’t move,” replied Susan quietly. “Could you he-help me?” Then she began to cry.
“Yes, yes of course! Be patient my dear. I’ll go as fast as I’m able to the house of Dr. Chippy.” And with that, Mrs. Dotty turned and quickly scuttled away, her red cloak fluttering behind her.
Susan was alone again, and very anxious. She wondered if she would never rise to see the blue sky again. Despite these thoughts, she tried to focus on her respiration. After what felt like months, she heard a pitter-patter, and out from the tall grass appeared Dr. Chippy with little Mrs. Dotty riding on his back.
“There she is, Doctor!” said Mrs. Dotty, pointing with one hand while the other five hung on tight. Needless to say, this wasn’t the first time he had been summoned, however this was the first time he had dealt with little old woman riding on his back.
“I see, I see! Please do not yell, you’re already near enough to my ear!” replied the doctor. Dr. Chippy was tall, dapper, orderly man, with a decent amount of good humor. They approached Susan.
“Hello?” asked the girl.
“Hello! So sorry about your condition. I’m Dr. Chippy, and we will help you get up.” These words made Susan feel better.
“Pardon, but where is the other one?” inquired Mrs. Dotty.
“Well, Perk should have been behind us. Excuse me for a second.” The doctor filled his cheeks and gave a couple sharp whistles.
In a moment, a boy appeared next to them. He looked rather lofty, and had a smirk on his round face. Mrs. Dotty jumped up and landed in a ball, her arms and legs tucked in.
“Perk!” said the doctor sternly as his son began to laugh. “This is a serious matter. I did not ask you to come along to play games!” Susan thought it was quite funny, but would have enjoyed it more if it weren’t for the condition she was in.
“Ok, let’s get to it,” said the motivated doctor. “Madam, you fetch some water from the brook and grab some witch hazel on your way back. Perk, you’ll need to climb onto my shoulders so we can lift this poor girl up.” Immediately Mrs. Dotty flew down the hill to complete her orders.
Just as Perk was about to climb upon his father’s back, Dr. Chippy noticed a break in Susan’s back. “Oh my, we will need some long grass to bind that wound. Got it, Perk?” “Sure, dad!”
Overhearing the doctor’s concern, Susan’s nerves were on the rise. “A-am I going to be OK?”
“I believe you’re going to be just fine,” consoled the doctor.
Perk made quick work of gathering some long grass and wasted no time in hopping up onto his father’s shoulders. They worked together to lift Susan up off the ground and stand her upright, Dr. Chippy encouraging Susan throughout the process.
Mrs. Dotty arrived not a moment too soon with the water and witch hazel, the latter of which was applied to Susan’s fracture.
In a jiffy Dr. Chippy had bound her wound with the green bandage and all was well.
“Oh, thank you all! I feel so much better, except it feels like my eye might be bruised,” said Susan.
“Well miss,” Dr. Chippy responded, “it does look pretty dark.”
“Black, I’d say,” added Mrs. Dotty.
Dr. Chippy applied the witch hazel to Susan’s bruise, but it did not seem to work.
“I’m sorry, but there is not much else I can do. What’s your name, miss?”
“Susan.”
“Susan,” Dr. Chippy looked her in the face. “Your black eye is beautiful.”
“Black eyed Susan.” said Mrs. Dotty….