Welcome to Week Three! Can you believe we’re at the halfway mark for the 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 third week, so it’s time to do it again! Will your story have aliens? Zombies? Maybe it’ll have a dragon in it! Whatever you decide, we can’t wait to see what you come up with.
So, without further ado, here’s your next prompt!
Week Three Prompt – The Starting Sentence Prompt
Write a story that starts with the
following sentence: So this is what drowning feels like.
Wait…what’s a “Starting 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 start with this sentence: So this is what drowning feels like.
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!
Will you notice if someone is like 1-25 words over the 1000 word limit (asking for a friend hahaha)
what if i accidently posted my story as a comment last week lol? does it still count?
Hey Izzy and Ava,
If you accidentally post your story as a comment instead of an answer, you should get an email to alert you! It will still count for points for your team, but no one will be able to vote for it.
And, to answer your question for your friend 😉 As far as word count, for your story to count for the challenge, it does need to be 1,000 words or under. Great questions!
Free the Captives
Lucas Helm, Team A
“So this is what drowning feels like,” James threw a rock against the cold hard stone of his damp prison cell. Constantly smothered under a constant drive of darkness. Despair was prevalent, for no one had ever made it out of the prison of Impaargu alive. He didn’t even remember why he was there in the first place. He threw the rock against the wall again in frustration, but then heard another sound. He looked out of the small window in his cell, the one ray of light blinding him. Then he saw something he never thought he would, a smiling young man.
“Want some help?” he asked.
“Who wouldn’t!” James yelled.
“Stand back,” the young man said. James obeyed, and within seconds, the wall was blown open, allowing light to flow freely into the cell.
James took his chance and climbed out of the opening, but as he did, about fifteen others poured in.
“You ready Bradford? I wouldn’t be upset if you just observed, this is your first mission after all,” The young man said to another boy, this one clad in a cloak that appeared white at first, but as he moved, it flowed with a variety of colors.
“No, I know my purpose now. I’ll see you on the other side, Jeremiah,” Bradford leapt into the prison with the others.
“That’s my boy,” Jeremiah smiled proudly, then realized he had a guest, “I’m so sorry, James right?”
“How did you know?”
“Because we’ve met before.”
“Whaaaaaaa..?”
“You must be awfully confused, here, come out of there and drink from this creek here, the water is fresh.”
James obeyed, and after a long refreshing drink of fresh ice cold water (of which he had been deprived in prison) he turned back to Jeremiah, “Alright, now for answers.”
“Of course! So, tell me, what do you remember?”
“Nothing besides these dark prison walls.”
“It is a shame really, the Parrallellian is so careful about Universals. He always erases their memories before he delivers them to one of his many prisons, this one run by Lord Impaargu.”
“Where is he?”
“The Parrallellian, we never know. Lord Imparrgu fled at the first sign of trouble like the coward that he is. His guards however are brainwashed people like you, forced into endlessly serving here, and they protect it with their lives.”
“You didn’t… Kill them, did you?”
“By no means! We simply used weapons coated with blue-green snake venom. Completely harmless, but will knock them out for up to twelve hours.”
“So… Why are you here?”
“To rescue people like you. Universals, people drawn out of their own universe to help for a greater cause in another. Those who are simply commoners who got in the way of these tyrants are freed too, and offered to join our cause. If they refuse, they are simply returned to their original time and place.”
Just then, Bradford came out of the rubble.
“Ah, here’s our newest lightbearer now!” Jeremiah smiled. Bradford’s expression was not so jovial. “What is wrong my friend?”
Bradford sat on a nearby rock, obviously shaken, “There are people in there, many of whom we freed but some… Some of them flee from the light.”
“I was afraid of this,” Jeremiah shuddered, “Those are the lost ones, people who have been in darkness so long that they learn to hate the light. There is little that can be done for them except to pray. God has saved many of them. Tell me, of the captives, how many were there?”
“Out of the ninety eight captives, nine were lost.”
“Ten percent,” Jeremiah grimaced, “If only we could’ve been here sooner. If only Lucas and Karalyn were here. Their scouting and combat prowess would’ve allowed us to save many more.”
“Did they die?” James asked.
“Well no… But they aren’t here. Truth is… I don’t know where they are. However, that’s a depressing story for another time.”
“Sir!” Another soldier ran out of the rubble, “We’ve just received word that a contingent of soldiers are on their way here!”
“Then it is too late. Come, help me gather the freed captives. Tell me, James, do you wish to join us like you once were, or would you rather return to your past life?”
“Seeing what I have, there is no place I’d rather be than fighting this darkness with you all.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. Now, let’s get out of here, and quickly!”
“How do you plan on doing that?” Bradford scoffed, “The guards are all on horse back and we’re escorting eighty-one captives on foot!”
“Who said we’d be on foot?”
“I’m not following…”
“Lord Impaargu keeps a large collection of horses conveniently in the field right outside the castle. Two to a horse would be around forty I’d say, and with his vast wealth, I’d say he has more than enough.”
“You guys are crazy,” James laughed.
“You think this is crazy! Just wait until you see Illyadu!”
“Illyadu?”
“Right, you still don’t remember. It is Elvish for The Refuge. It’s where all of us Universals live when we aren’t on assignments. Now saddle up!”
“Right, I’ll help the other captives.”
“That’s the spirit,” Jeremiah smiled, another one of them had seen the light. No matter the risk, freeing the captives of darkness would always be worth it. As they rode through the green pastures away from that dark castle, Jeremiah wondered when they would hear from their enemy, Lord Impaargu, or his evil master, the Parrallellian, next. Only time would tell. All he knew was that the captives weren’t drowning in darkness anymore, but were instead, bathing in the light.
I really enjoyed this! I totally would love to read more from this world. Do you have plans or have you written more in this setting?
My main work (a fanfiction I couldn’t publish due to copyright reasons) is slightly connected to this, but doesn’t cover nearly as much as it could; however, I would like to develop this into a full novel at some point in the future
I’m glad to see previous characters, Bradford and Jeremiah, again! Also, I am very glad you are revisiting this story of the Universals. I also liked that little “cameo”
Wait so if we like accidentally post our stories as a comment here, will it count or be ignored?