Welcome to the second 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 second week, so it’s time to do it again! Will your story take place in the past? In space? Underground? Whatever you decide, we can’t wait to see how you use this prompt.
So, without further ado, here’s your next prompt!
Week One Prompt – The Setting Prompt
Write a story that takes place in a
Forbidden Garden
Wait…what’s a setting prompt?
A setting prompt is a prompt that takes place in a specific setting. It doesn’t matter who’s there, what happens, or what’s said. The only thing that matters is that your story must take place in a forbidden garden.
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. 🙂 You’re all doing such a great job!
Happy Writing!
Team 1! Sorry if there are typos or grammar mistakes, I’m posting this a minute before the deadline haha <3
When my brother became king, he sealed all entrances to the palace garden. He put his best guards around the perimeter and ordered anyone who strayed close to the entrance to be arrested.
My brother was only in that garden for minutes on the fateful day he watched my parents die, but his eyes are now hollow, his once chocolate brown hair streaked with gray. He told me, and I honestly can’t recall if he has spoken to me since, that he would die before letting another person set foot in that garden.
I pull my hood tighter around my head as the frigid wind bites my cheeks. I have no desire to be the reason for my brother’s death, but my need for answers is becoming suffocating.
Tonight, the moon hides behind the clouds, helping me stay undetected. I zig-zag between the shrubbery that once lined the path to the garden. The guards around the perimeter have become more lax with the rotations since no one has yet tried to break in.
I hide behind a bush and count sixty seconds between when a guard disappears around the corner and another one comes into view. I try to relax my muscles while I wait for the next thirty-second gap. When no guards are in view, I run towards the garden hedge and push off the ground to jump. In the split second I’m in the air, I realize the hedge is taller than I remember. I ungracefully land somewhere in the middle, grasping wildly for purchase.
I’ve almost managed to make it almost to the top when the next guard rounds the corner. My traitorous body freezes in fear, fingers going slack. The guard doesn’t see me until he’s right below my perch. I watch my presence register on his face, but manage to keep my grip. I swing my legs over to the other side as the guard opens his mouth to sound an alarm.
I hit the ground ungracefully, rolling onto my back. Then I’m up and running. I’m not sure if the guards will try to chase me, but I’m not taking any chances.
As a child, I found gardens tedious and stuffy due to the parties of that sort my parents hosted here. Now, I wished I’d spent more time in the garden as I blindlessly race through it.
After putting a good distance between me and where I climbed over the wall, I pause to catch my breath. The palace garden is essentially a maze, somewhere designed for people to become lost in.
For the first time, the layout seems sinister, not romantic. A chill creeps down my spine as I take in my surroundings. The tall hedges are healthy and pruned, even though my brother had the gardeners relocated after his declaration. The leaves are so green they appear black, and instead of the colorful flowers I remember, glowing silver blossoms adorn the hedges.
What happened here?
The flowers start to slowly grow, their petals reaching toward me. I back away, blinking. And that’s when the music registers.
I’d thought it was the wind in my ears as I ran, but there’s a haunting melody floating through the air. It seems to grow louder after I acknowledge it.
Ignoring the fear in my gut, I start following the sound. I’m here for answers, and this impossible song seems like a good start.
I always try to be brave, but this garden is haunting. Vines strewn the ground, and some are splattered with red. All I can think about is my parents and how they spent their last moments here. Was it quick? Were they scared? I feel nauseous.
The music is now so loud it’s almost deafening. It doesn’t occur to me to think about how I know exactly which path to follow, and how the music seems to be tethered to me, reeling me in.
Suddenly, I come to a clearing. In the center, was something that tugged at a childhood memory. A wishing well.
I approach the well in a daze, ears ringing and eyes stinging from the blindly bright flowers. I came here as a child several times, but only made a wish once.
“Careful,” my parents had said. “The well can only hold so many of your wishes before it takes in return.”
I lean over the edge, a terrible feeling crawling up my throat, causing my earlier nausea to return. The water in the well is splashing about, and there, in the waves, I can make out the resemblances of my parents’ faces.
I reel back, horrified. My legs give way, but the well is pulling me closer again. I fall against its rim, shutting my eyes so I can’t see the water.
In one terrible moment, the melody morphs into a voice.
“Elora. I’ve been waiting for you.”
An Intro to My Corner of the Multiverse
Lucas Helm, Team A
Have you ever wondered if there was anything else out there? Not just out in the depths of space, but somewhere beyond time and what we know as reality? A place where the rules are different, nature is changed, people live differently, and history grows at a different pace?
It sounds fantastical in nature, as it should; however, to some it isn’t as crazy as it sounds. You see, Bradford had often felt as if he was missing something. He was always trying to be there in the moment, but even so, a part of him was missing somehow. He knew who he was as a person, he was strong in his faith, and he trusted that God would reveal all to him in time, but up until that fateful day, he had no idea what that missing piece was.
He was taking a walk down the street when he noticed something he hadn’t seen there before. He had been down these neighborhood roads hundreds if not thousands of times, but this time he noticed something different. It was a singular tree on a hill behind a fence.
“Weird,” he thought to himself. Not knowing what he was doing, he walked towards that gate. Strangely enough, it opened all on its own, as if inviting him to come in. He felt that, against all logical reasoning, he was supposed to go through that doorway, and to this day he couldn’t tell you why besides the work of the Holy Spirit.
As soon as he stepped through, he was on the hilltop, the cherry blossom tree beside him in full bloom. Now he was even more confused, the garden in which he stood in was covered in snow, but flowers of all varieties of colors bloomed through the layer of fresh powder. Trees in the distance (the neighborhood road now nowhere to be seen) echoed the beautiful fall colors as the warm breeze of a summertime beach ruffled Bradford’s hair.
“You’re obviously new around here!” A cheerful voice behind him said.
Bradford spun around to look at who spoke. It was a light brown haired boy about his age, face covered with freckles. He was adorned in the garb of royalty, as was the tall girl beside him. She had a sharp, yet gentle face with hair as black as a raven.
She elbowed the boy in the side and joked, “Do you really think that’s the best way to greet a new arrival? He’s already scared enough as is!”
“I’m sorry,” Bradford stepped back, “But who are you people and how do I get back home?”
The boy laughed, “You sound just like a friend of ours, but where are my manners? I am Jeremiah, and this is Lisa. We are… Guardians of this fair garden and the surrounding lands. As for how to get back home, you are there. Welcome to the space between.”
More confused than ever, Bradford shook his head, “The space between? What is that?”
“Well, a place for people like you, like us,” Lisa laughed, “We call ourselves Universals. We are people God has called to venture in places outside of our original reality. Think of it like a solar system with different planets all in orbit, but never colliding. That space between the planets (or universes in this case) is where you stand now. All Universals find themselves here eventually, and while it is possible to travel between universes without coming here, it is far easier to access those places from this space.”
“Calm down Lisa, we don’t want to overwhelm him,” Jeremiah put his hand up. He looked Bradford in the eyes, “I know this is a lot to take in, but you’ve felt a missing piece haven’t you? This is it. This is the deeper mission in which you were called to.”
“Then why am I here and not in that alternate whatcha-call?” Bradford demanded.
“To prepare you. To be honest, Lisa and I weren’t exactly prepared when we were called into this business, but God has provided and we are secure in him.”
“If only you could’ve met Matthew, or Karalyn, or L-” Lisa stopped herself, “Wait, these names mean nothing to you do they?”
“Not really,” Bradford scratched the back of his head, “So can anyone reach this place? This garden?”
“No, if they could, people from all over would be flocking here and this space would be corrupted as it once was all that time ago,” Lisa scoffed, “It isn’t so much forbidden as it is protected. That is something you must remember, that at all costs this place must stay safe and secret.”
“I think I kinda understand,” Bradford looked at the snow covered ground.
“That’s okay,” Jeremiah put his hand on Bradford’s shoulder, “Come on, there’s a lot for me to show you. If you trust me that is.”
Bradford thought about all that had transpired. This was an incredible thing to take in, and it all felt like a dream, but he knew in his heart that it wasn’t. Somehow, he felt that God had placed him here for a purpose and a reason, and now, he was determined to find out why.
“Yeah, I trust you.”
“Great! Follow me!”
Wow! Great job, oh my gosh! You totally pulled me into the story, it was so interesting, if it was a full book I would read the whole thing! Amazing work!
I agree. This story needs to be longer. Possibly a book in the makings? It is very interesting.
This was a very interesting read. Nowadays, multiverses have become such a trend that people forget it has been a topic ever since quantum physics and a theory of time was introduced. This is definitely a story I want to hear about more, and it certainly sounds like the start of an adventure for Bradford. Looking forward to a book, like the rest of the commenters have brought up!
Beautiful voice
Good job! I really liked this story!
Intriguing! I want to know more!
Team A
“There once was a forbidden garden. Guarded by an old troll with green, wrinkly skin. When the little children knocked, she would yell- you cannot come in!” Finn huffed and knocked over the troll he set up on the table and it went hurtling to the floor with a thump.
May, a tot with those cute, spiky, toddler-wisp pigtails on top of her head, bent down and picked up the doll, petting its head. Then she put it in her mouth.
Finn sighed.
“May, give me that back.” he said, holding out a hand.
May shook her head no and her mouth hardened into a pout.
“Mine.”
“No, it’s mine. I need something to be Old Lady Crandall.”
“Mine.”
His little sister could be so stubborn.
“Fine. You can play with it. See if I care.”
“Finley.” His mother’s admonishing, but gentle voice carried over from the kitchen where she was cooking. “Be nice to your sister. She’s little.”
“Okay.” He got down to May’s height. “Sorry I was mean.”
“It okay.” She gave Finn a hug and he hugged her back. He couldn’t be cross at her for long. May didn’t understand his frustrations.
His mother set their pasta dinner on the table and Finn was asked to clear up his creation to make room for his plate. He did- tearing down the Lego fence and removing the dandelions he’d placed to represent the neighbour’s flower garden.
He gathered those in his hands.
“You can have them.” he said, and his mother, a slender blonde woman, set his plate on the table, picked up his sister and settled her into her high chair, and then accepted them.
Pasta was good, like usual. Finn liked it very much. What he didn’t like was the way Old Lady Crandall had looked at him as he walked past this morning on his way to school. He always stopped by her fences and always stood on his tippy toes to peek over the fence into her garden. It was real lovely in there- roses and buttercups, stone walkways, even a pond.
He liked the pond, with its splashy fountain and huge koi. He’d sometimes see frogs over the fence too. Most often, he saw Old Lady Crandall. She looked like a prune and she had a voice that scratched when she yelled. She yelled whenever she caught him watching her. She made Finn feel worse than dirt or an ant on the road.
“Finley, what’s wrong? You seem upset.”
“Sorry.”
His mom smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“It’s okay to have feelings.” she said with a smile.
“Old Lad- Mrs. Crandall hates me. Today she forbid me when I asked to see her fish and garden.” Tears began to spill over, so his mother reached for her napkin and began to dab at his face, cradling him close.
“Maybe I should talk to her.”
“No.” He pleaded with his eyes. “She’ll be more mean when I walk past to school.”
“We’ll see about that. How about we go talk to her together?”
“I don’t know.”
“Some people are mean for lots of reasons. You got upset at May because you were having a bad day. Maybe she’s feeling bad because of her day.”
“Or years.” Finn muttered, a bitter note seeping into his little voice.
His mother patted his head and then directed him to eat his dinner.
The next day was a Saturday, and Finn wasn’t going to school. He was almost glad because he wouldn’t have to see Old Lady Crandall again, but then he remembered Mom’s words. Yes, they were going to see her and talk to her. Big gulp.
He put on one of his Sunday shirts just in case, and brushed his hair real nice. If she thought he was a good boy, could he see the fish?
Only one way to find out.
Finn put on a determined gaze and waved good-bye to his Dad and little sister May. Then he took his mother’s hand and they both walked down the street. Finn’s mom had a soft, warm hand, and a basket of cookies in the other. She said cookies could help anyone remember their manners, and Finn believed her. Unless some people were too cranky for cookies.
His breath hitched as they came into sight of her house, and he had a vivid picture in his head of her scowling face, but she wasn’t in the forbidden garden today.
She must be home.
Finn and his mom came up the driveway beside her car. She was home. Finn gripped his mom’s hand tighter and hid behind her once they were on the doorstep.
The doorbell chimed a beautiful sound, like church bells. What Finn was worried about was the shrill noise that would remind him he was a terrible boy. So, when the door began to open, he wished he was invisible and shut his eyes too, hoping it would work.
“Hello, Mrs. Crandall.” His mother said.
“Cheryl. Your boy’s been trying to ruin my flowers.” She said, fixing Mom and the cookies with a harsh stare that made Finn quake in his sneakers.
“I thought Finn could explain himself if you’d give him a moment.” Mom said, holding out the basket of cookies.
The old lady took them.
“Fine. Speak up, young man. Yes, I see you there.”
Finn stepped out from behind his mother. His eyes threatened to fill with tears.
“I like your garden- I wanted to visit.” He said, and then the tears came.
“Oh. Oh.” The old lady almost dropped the cookies, but managed to bend down a little, so she was looking into Finn’s face.
“You really should have just asked.” She said. “I’m so sorry. I thought you were one of the boys who threw toilet paper at my house last Halloween.”
Finn looked up into the old lady’s face and wiped away his tears.
“It’s okay.” he said.
Then they walked into the garden together.