Short Snippets *I may add more at random times, who knows?* 7 freewrites added 11/10

Maturity: Depends on the snippet but I don't think it ever goes past a little blood.
Fantasy: Again, depends on the snippet. Some of them are fantasy, some aren't.

If the writing is in italics, it's me talking. I'll usually give a short explanation of where the snippet came from. Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~

#1: Civil War

I grinned inwardly as I stole the scraps of paper I had seen the Union general scribbling on earlier that day. I crept silently out of the command tent and into the dark night.
I had to maneuver around the huddles of sleeping soldiers and the smoldering remains of fires before I crossed the enemy line. Once there, I followed the light that was waiting for me into the Confederate’s command tent.
Their general waited for me with a raised eyebrow and an outstretched hand. I handed him the precious papered and waited as he looked them over.
“Very good,” he said in his deep voice. “You are dismissed.”

A howl of dismay rent the still air. It came from the Union command tent. The theft had been discovered. I smiled grimly.
I watched shock and horror change to grief and outrage on the faces of the Union soldiers as they recognized me standing without fear among their enemies. Then the fight began.
Our troops rushed them. Without a plan, the Union army was soon defeated.
I grinned, but soon my smile faltered. A wave of nausea rolled over me as I was hit with the realization of what I had done. In my mind’s eye, I saw chained Africans toiling in the hot sun under a cruel overseer’s lash. And because of me, they would do so forever more.
The pain hit me in the gut. I doubled over, gasping for breath. I knew what this was. It was the purest form of regret.

This one came from journal writing in school. We could either write a short story on betrayal, or one on regret. I did both. This person completely changed history by betraying the Union's plans to the Confederates. Only when it was too late did s/he realize what they had done.

~~~~~~~~~~

#2: Waiting

I glanced at the sign that said “J stop”, then at my watch. No, it still read 5:31. Only 31 minutes late. There was still a chance for it to come... right?
I waited for hours. At 9:53 PM, I went home.
I lay awake in my empty bed all that night, waiting, hoping that he might suddenly appear beside me. But he didn’t.
The next morning, I stumbled out to get the newspaper. I sat down at the kitchen table, opened it the front page, and spewed my coffee all over it.
The bold black headline that was the end of my life read:

J bus crashes into building- no survivors.

This one came from seeing a woman looking - nervously, it seemed - at her watch on a street corner on the way home from school a while ago.

~~~~~~~~~~

#3: A Day in the Life of a Roman Slave

“Asina, clean out the stables. And when you have done that, draw water for my bath.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said meekly. Inwardly I groaned. I dared not complain about the tasks given to me, for fear of the Master’s lash.
I trudged wearily to the stables and took the shovel from the hook on the wall. As I scooped, I imagined what my life could have been like if my mother hadn’t been captured as a young girl.
As I thought, I unconsciously stopped shoveling. Tears started to leak out from beneath my closed eyelids.
Then I heard the crack of the whip from behind me. “Asina!” the Master warned. “Get back to work. The Mistress is waiting for her bath.”
I jumped. “Yes, sir!” I hurriedly began to shovel the manure and soiled hay into the wheelbarrow. He watched me for a few minutes with narrowed eyes, then left the stinky barn.
I did not let up my fast pace, but rather sped it up, until the shovel was nothing but a gray blur. When all the soiled hay was piled high in the barrow, I laid fresh hay down on the stable floor and wheeled the barrow out to the waste pile. I had just left it empty in the barn when a call came from the Master’s house.
“Asina, what about my bath?”
“Coming, Mistress!” I hollered back, hoping she would hear. I went out to the well and turned the handle. Soon the big bucket appeared over the stone wall, water splashing out the top. I filled another bucket with the water and let the well bucket fall back down. I waited until I heard a faint splash from below before I repeated the process.
Then I picked up the heavy buckets and slowly carried them back to the house. My older brother, Sorex, was tending the furnace when I finally got the water inside.
“Hello, Asina,” he said, smiling. “Water for the Mistress’s bath?”
“Yes, thank you, Sorex,” I said as politely as I could manage, smiling back. I waited by the hearth as he warmed the water, taking advantage of the warmth while I had it.
“Here you go, Asina. Mind you don’t spill it, now. The Mistress won’t take kindly to having her carpets ruined, nor will the Master.”
“Thank you, Sorex,” I said as I carefully picked up the heavy buckets. I watched my feet carefully as I went up the stairs. Luckily, I didn’t trip. And then I slowly pushed open the ornately carved doors and carried the warm water to the tub where the Mistress waited.

Midway through the bath, the screaming started. The Master burst through the door without knocking. I was shocked to see tears streaming down his face. I hadn’t know the Master was capable of crying.
“Tacitus!” he gasped. “Tacitus is dead!” The Mistress fainted, her faze frozen in a mask of shock and grief.
All the blood drained from my face. Tacitus was the Master’s infant son.
The Master was so upset he didn’t notice the Mistress’s limp body, or me struggling to hold her head above the water. He just babbled on.
“The nurse... THE NURSE! She dropped him and broke his neck!” he screamed. “She will be punished!”
And then, the worst part of all.
“And the law says all slaves within hearing must be killed as well!” he shouted.
And then I fainted.

I stood in the line of slaves awaiting their fate, wincing as the lashes I had attained from fainting, and, consequentely, nearly drowning the Mistress, stung horribly. My brother was next to me. His face was still frozen in shock.
“What happened?” I hissed. “The master said old Getha broke his neck!” Getha had been Tacitus’ nurse.
“She... tripped,” Sorex murmured, dazed. “Over a chicken, while she was crossing the courtyard. She dropped him on his head. I saw it all...” His voice trailed off, and I turned my gaze elsewhere. I knew that, even if we survived this, which was not very likely, it would be a long time before my brother was able to smile again. If ever.
When I came back to earth from my reverie, I realized I had been staring at the Master’s eldest daughter unintentionally. Julia was begging to her father about something. I could see where the tears had run down her face, but what could she be pleading about? She couldn’t save her brother now...
The Master shook his head fiercely and uttered one word. I didn’t have to hear him to know what it was. No.
Julia began to plead again, but her father shot her a warning glance, and she fell silent. She looked in my direction with sad, pleading eyes. Apologetic.
I was baffled. Why would she be apologizing to me? Then I looked at Sorex. I followed his gaze -- to Julia. That’s when I understood. She hadn’t been looking at me, she had been looking at Sorex.
They were in love.

This one also came from school. We're learning about Ancient Rome, and we had to write a day in the life story about someone from the time. I chose a slave.

~~~~~~~~~~

#4: Dreaming

“How much farther is it, Draco?”
“Not too much farther now,” the pale blonde boy called back over his shoulder. As he spoke, he emerged out of the huge corn field. I followed quickly, eager to be out.
He marched purposefully through a small village, made up of stone huts with thatched roofs. As I followed, the dark-skinned villagers drifted around me, whispering in my ear with their strange accents.
“He’s mad...”
“Mad...”
“Yes, quite mad...”
I was glad to be out.
As we walked farther, I glanced up. “What the- is that the Space Needle? And why is there an amusement park underneath?”
Draco shrugged and kept walking.
This was weird. The Space Needle was in Seattle, and there certainly wasn’t any amusement park under it. But, there it was, large as life, as it loomed over the roller coasters and ferris wheels and other rides.
And then, in the distance, I saw a long, white, one-story building.
“There it is,” Draco announced. “Malfoy Manor.”

Yes, I know this one is really strange, but it came from a dream I had a few years ago. Everything except the dialogue came directly from the dream. The only thing I can remember anyone saying is the villagers talking to me, exactly like they did in the snippet.

~~~~~~~~~~

#5: Watching

I can remember every moment.
A fleeting glance, and the memory is engraved in my brain forever.
I can tell you every little detail about every moment from the instant I first opened my eyes and discovered the universe.
I was there when the first humans discovered fire.
I was there when David slew Goliath.
I was there when King Henry converted from Catholicism.
I was there when George Washington crossed the Delaware.
And I am watching you as you read this. Yes, you.

I have absolutely no idea where this one came from.

~~~~~~~~~~

#6: Ghostly

The ringing of my alarm clock jolted me awake. I groped for the snooze button, not opening my eyes. My hand only grasped empty air. Confused, I opened my eyes. My alarm clock was right where I thought it was, still ringing. I reached for the button again... and froze in horror.
My hand was transparent.
I was transparent.
I hesitantly reached for the clock again. My hand went right through it.
I screamed.
I was a ghost.

It was the prologue to a story I was going to write. That's about as far as I got.

~~~~~~~~~~

#7: Abyss

Whispers wreathed around her like the winter wind as she stood on the brink of the abyss. Her posture was straight and tall, though she had been beaten and starved and her clothes were naught but rags. The crowd huddled well behind her, away from the cliff’s edge.
“She shouldn’t...”
“She couldn’t...”
“She wouldn’t!”
And then she spoke, and her voice was brave and strong, without a quiver of fear.
“But I should, and I can, and I will.”
And then she jumped, plummeting through the blackness to the ground far, far below.

I... really don't know where this one came from.

~~~~~~~~~~

#8: Wind Song

She lifted her face to the heavens and sang softly, the notes carried far on the light breeze that whirled her long hair around her face.
As she sang the birds fell silent to listen and the wind blew faster. Time ceased to have meaning.
Time ceased to be.
She sang louder. The wind blew harder.
She raised her voice for all to hear and the breeze grew into a raging gale. It lifted her off her feet, but still she sang, spinning so her voice carried to all the four corners of the earth.
She spun faster and faster, her dark hair whipping about her face.
And then a tear opened the sky. She whirled through it and vanished with the opening, the sweet notes of her song still ringing in the people’s ears.

A girl was singing at the morning assembly and her hair was blowing around her face. The rest is all from my imagination.

~~~~~~~~~~

#13: Moonlit Plains

The two young lions loped across the plain to greet each other, the moonlight turning their lithe bodies silver as they twined their tails lovingly and settled down to talk. Only a few minutes had passed, however, when the male sprang to his paws. The lioness murmured something softly, and he backed away, fur puffed out.
“No,” he said. “I don’t know who you are anymore.”
The female got up and advanced towards him. “Liu...” she pleaded.
“No!” Liu repeated, baring his teeth. “Don’t come any closer!” He turned and raced away.
The lioness stared after him for a long time. Finally, she turned and walked slowly back the way she had come, head bowed. As she passed a clump of tall grass, two tiny shapes tumbled out.
“Mommy,” one of them squealed, “what happened?”
The lioness showed no sign that she had heard, but continued trudging on, tears leaking out from under her closed eyelids, and her two cubs stumbling behind.

This the prologue from one of my stories, which features the history of three of my role-play characters. I only got a few chapters into it before I quit.

~~~~~~~~~~

#14: Mintflower

Mintflower.
The name rang in my mind as I padded, alone, through the forest. Thinly veiled grief shone in my eyes and every thought of her was like a claw in my heart.
I missed her more than I'd thought was ever possible. The world seemed colder and darker, knowing that she'd never again curl up by my side or hunt with me in the forest.
I tried to act normal around other cats, for my kits' sake if nothing else. But when I was alone, I could show my pain. I could allow her name to run through my mind until I couldn't take any more.
I caught the scent of badger, extremely faint, and another wave of grief lapped over me, threatening to drown me in despair.
I remembered throwing myself at the badger and clawing at its face, pain shooting through my paw as heavy jaws clamped around it. Mintflower - Mintpaw then - had been thrown off and landed on some rocks. But still, we'd driven it off. More memories flooded my mind, ones I didn't want to think of.
She'd run from me, running until she reached Carrionplace. She'd stood there, surrounded by Twoleg rubbish, and wailed that she couldn't stay with the Clan, couldn't stay with me, because she was cursed. Anyone she got close to would die. I'd told her that I'd take her, curse or not.
My head pounded as the worst scene of all replayed itself in my mind. She was stretched out limply on the ground, blood streaming from her body and pain flickering across her face as her life ebbed away. Once again, I felt the utter horror I'd felt then, my paws freezing in place.
What if Sablepaw had been right? If I'd gone for a medicine cat, would she have lived?
The thought took my breath away.
No. No what ifs. There were too many; they'd drive me insane. But still, I couldn't stop thinking about them.
What if we'd never had the second litter?
What if we'd never been mates?
What if we'd never even met?
What if, what if, what if?
My heart felt like it had been clawed to shreds. My vision blurred with tears and my paws trembled under the weight of the fresh wave of grief that had just rolled over me, leaving me crushed and beaten.

This was a self-RP I wrote a while ago for Shadow's WI RP, RMBSHVWI. Darkstorm, the POV, recently lost his mate, Mintflower, when the birth of their kits went wrong.

~~~~~~~~~~

#15: War

I’ve read many times about the glories of battle. The writers of old, the poets, the playwrights, all spoke about this most wonderful of events, where brave men lay their lives on the line for the honor and protection of their country.
There is no glory in war.
There is no honor.
There is nothing but the horror of watching your friends cut down before your very eyes.
There is nothing but the agonized screams of the wounded.
There is nothing but the blood around you and under your blade as you fight for the one basic right you have: life.
And in the end, there is nothing but death.

We were watching some stuff about George Washington in class and then it just kinda wrote itself in my head.

#16: Freewrite #1: Top Secret

I flipped my thick plait over my shoulder and straightened my posture, then pushed open the gleaming white doors in front of me.
I stepped inside the room, closing the door behind me. Everything about the Director's office was perfectly ordinary. The floor was covered in a thick beige carpet. The curtains were mostly drawn, allowing only a sliver of natural light to enter. The rest of the illumination came from the fluorescent lights above my head. The polished wooden desk in the center of the room was neat and organized.
Even the man behind the desk looked normal. He was slightly overweight, dressed in a pressed gray suit, and had a bald patch on the top of his head. He wasn't short, but he wasn't tall either. His brown eyes were the only thing that betrayed the fact that he wasn't normal, not in the slightest. They were hard, cold, and so intensely focused on whatever he was looking at that you would swear he was glaring straight through it.
I gulped. "You... er, wanted to see me, sir?"
"Yes. Miss Lite. Very punctual." He rustled through the neat stack of papers in front of his until he found what he was apparently looking for: a thick manilla envelope. "Somebody will meet you at the Site for a debriefing. Everything else you need to know is in here." He tapped the envelope with a long finger before handing it to me.
I nodded, tucking it under my arm. "Yes, sir."
"Dismissed."
I turned and marched out of the room. The moment the door swung shut behind me, I relaxed my stiff posture.
"Well?" I heard somebody ask. "How'd it go?"
"Fine," I replied, turning to see my friend Carlos leaning against the wall next to the door. "He's sending me on a mission."
He raised his eyebrows appreciatively. "Nice. What about?"
"No idea." I shifted the envelope and looked at it for the first time. In bright red, bolded letters on the front was stamped: TOP SECRET. "Er... I don't think I should tell you," I said apologetically, flipping the envelope around so he could see.
"Oh. Right. You'd better go, then. To read it over, you know."
"Yeah." I paused. "Hey, maybe he'll give you a mission soon. Just hold out, okay?"
"Yeah, sure." He smiled. "Till then, have fun."
"Yup. Guess I rank higher than you now."
"Guess so."
I sighed. "Well... bye."
"Bye."
I turned and left.

I sat down on my bed in the room I shared with two other young women my age. I folded my legs in front of me and slit open the envelope, then pulled out the thick sheaf of papers that had been inside. I skimmed through them, taking in minimal information before reading through them more carefully.
This gist of it was this: I'd meet a small team of other Members at the Site. Together we'd attempt join the Others (they had their own name, but kept it secret, of course) and get as much information as possible from them before coming back to Base.
The door opened and one of the roommates walked in. I quickly stuffed the papers back into the envelope.
"Whatcha got there?" Milla asked absently, rummaging through her stuff.
"Mission brief," I explained. "Top secret."
"Oh." She found whatever she was looking for and left.
I glanced around the room and figured I'd better start packing. I was supposed to be at the Site ASAP, and the next Chute left in... I checked my watch. Thirteen minutes. I grabbed my bag from under my bed and began throwing my few belongings haphazardly in. I tugged the zipper shut and took another peek in the drawers and under the beds and such, making sure I'd gotten everything. snapped the shoulder strap on and slung it diagonally over my torso, then left the room.
As I walked down the spotless halls, I had a feeling that this could well be the last time. Now that this thought had crossed my mind, I paid more attention to everything, wanting to save as much as possible of this place in my memories. Maybe it wasn't the greatest place to be, but it was everything I'd ever known.
I spotted one of the younger Training Groups heading out to one of the practice fields, headed by one of the Trainers, who was looking very official and proper with a shiny silver whistle, polished bronze name badge, and a clipboard tucked under her arm. I remembered how terrified I'd been of my Trainers when I'd first started, but I'd had no choice but to do what they said or risk being sent to Punishment.
Nobody wanted to be sent to Punishment.
An older Training Group left one of the higher level fields. Their Trainer wasn't nearly as official-looking. As they drew closer I recognized Carlos. I smiled; looked like he wouldn't have to wait for promotion.
Turning away from my life, I took a deep breath and faced the doors to the outside world. I pushed them open and entered into the sunlight.

#17: Freewrite #2: Strange Friendship

The little mouse scampered over the leaves that carpeted the forest floor, nose twitching and ears alert for any sign of danger. A wonderful, irresistable smell reached her snout: food! She followed her nose to the base of a beech tree and quickly picked up the nearest beechnut. She began nibbling on it happily. Suddenly, a noise! It was the sound of fur brushing on leaves. Frightened, she stuffed the half-eaten nut into her mouth and scrambled towards her burrow. Before she was even halfway there, though, the crunch of leaves behind her told her that the predator had leaped. Putting on a final burst of speed, she dove for the little hole. Just as she thought she was about to make it, a huge paw pinned her tail to the ground. She let out a frightened squeak, turning to face her attacker.
"Hi!"
"Fell! Don't do that!"
The young cat grinned down at her and lifted his paw. "Got you that time."
She stuck her tiny tongue out at him. "Barely. Anyway, why do you have to keep doing that?"
"I have to practice on someone, don't I? And your family don't understand. They don't get that I won't hurt them."
"What do you eat, then?"
"Other animals."
"Like?"
"Birds. Voles. Squirrels. Stuff like that."
She made a face. "Gross!"
Fell rolled his eyes. "Of course you'd think so. You're a mouse."
"And proud to be one!" she squeaked, drawing herself up to her full (and very small) height.
"Yeah, yeah. Anway, where is everyone?"
"Out looking for food. Probably better they weren't here."
"Yeah."
"Rhoda!" a tiny voice called out from the bushes. Another mouse scampered out, took one look at Fell, and squeaked in fright. "Cat!" he paniked. "Cat! Run!"
Rhoda sighed. "Lo, this is Fell, remember? He won't hurt us."
"Cat! Run!" Lo dived for the burrow and disappeared.
Fell rolled his eyes. "Why don't they get it?"
Rhoda shrugged. "Dunno. Guess they're just too set against cats."
"Hmm..."
"Fell!" someone yowled. "Fell, get over here right now!"
Fell winced. "Oops. Better go. Bye!" He bounded off into the bushes.
"Bye!" Rhoda squeaked after him, then turned, picked up her beechnut, and went back to her burrow.

#18: Freewrite #3: Controller

I descended the seemingly endless staircase, wanting it to end so it would be over with, but at the same time, dreading reaching the bottom. The screams grew louder and more clear as I drew closer, until I could hear the words.
"Please - PLEASE!"
"No! Not again!"
"Get out of my head, Yeerk! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"
"Help, please, someone, help!"
I hated the sound. Hated it until I thought my head would explode.
I wish it would. Better than being kept captive in it.
As I - we - turned the final corner, the horrific scene in front of me became visible. I didn't want to see it, didn't want to know what was happening, even though I already did. But I wasn't in control of what I looked at, where my eyes focused. And the Yeerk in my head, the one who did, it reveled in the screams, the panic, the torture. It loved it. So I had to watch too.
It made me join the line in front of the steel pier. Several Hork-Bajir, big bladed creatures, were standing there, waiting for the Yeerks to slither out of their hosts' heads, slip into their slimy pool. That's when the screaming began.
"Please - no - you can't do this to me - let me go!" The man struggled, but the Hork-Bajir held him tight, forcing him over to the big metal cages full of other screaming humans, temporarily free of their Yeerks, while another pair of Hork-Bajir took their place on the dock.
The line slowly shrunk in front of me, until there was only one person, just a little girl, who was forced to bend over and let the Yeerk crawl out of her ear. As she was freed, she began to cry, sobbing for her mother. The Hork-Bajir were expressionless as they forced her into the cage. I wondered what the real Hork-Bajir, trapped deep within their own minds, were thinking at that moment. Did they understand what they were being forced to do? I wasn’t sure. My Yeerk’s host before me had been a Hork-Bajir, and I know it thought they were stupid. Maybe they were, or maybe it was just that one.
Then suddenly it was my turn.
My Yeerk made me bend over. I felt the numbing secretion it created numb my ear as it wriggled out and dropped with a sickening plop into the pool.
"Please," I mumbled, as the Hork-Bajir grabbed me roughly by the arms. "Please, let me go, please!"
They ignored me, shoving me into one of the cages. I was unable to stop myself from looking at my fellow Controllers. Some were screaming, for help or just because they could. Some were crying, sobbing into their hands. The rest were silent. They’d accepted their fate and knew it was either this... or death.

#19: Freewrite #4: Iq

The lava boiled and frothed below me. I peered over the rim, trying not to imagine what it would be like to fall so far only to be incinerated before even reaching the bottom.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Lyz pull back from the edge slightly. I copied her example, shuddering slightly.
“How are we supposed to get to that?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Tie a rope around a cup and drop it down?” I suggested lamely.
“Where are we going to get a rope that long?” she said logically. “Besides, the rope would burn up way before it got to the magma.”
“What’s the difference between magma and lava?” I wondered.
“No idea,” she replied. “C’mon, let’s get out of here. I don’t like this place.”
We half-walked, half-slid (okay, more like nine-tenths slid) down the rocky slope, following the very long, very windy path to the bottom of the mountain.
Something cought my eye. “Hey, what’s that?” I asked, bending to pick it up.
It was a bright red pebble, small enough to fit easily in my palm. It glowed slightly and felt hot beneath my fingers.
“Can I see?” Lyz asked, holding out her hand. I obligingly dropped it into her palm and she brought it up to her eyes, examining it closely. “I think it’s a Shield.”
“A what?”
“It’s a special kind of rock,” she explained. “There’s one type for every element: Water, fire, ice, earth, and air.”
“What do they do?” I asked, taking it back and bouncing it lightly in my palm.
“Shield you temporarily from their element. Throw it onto the ground and you’re immune for exactly ten minutes.” She snatched the Shield back. “But they only work once.”
I grinned guiltily. “Oops.”
“But that still doesn’t quite solve the problem,” she went on. “Maybe we can survive for ten minutes in the magma, but how are we going to get back up?”
“How should I know? You’re the expert.”
“Oh, shut up, Iq. You’re not helping.”
I threw her a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
She rolled her eyes. “That means stop talking.”
I fell silent. She thought for a while, her expression unreadable.
Finally, she smiled. “Got it. We have to go get the air sample first. If we can get one of the Faiars to help us, we’re all set.”
“And if we can’t?”
“We’re doomed.”
“Oh, that’s a cheerful thought.”

#20: Freewrite #5: Underground

I sighed as I wriggled through the cramped dirt tunnels, my wings pressed against my scaled body. Dragons just were not meant for underground. We were meant to be free, to roam the skies and soar with birds. But the recent catastrophe - nobody was quite sure what had happened - had destroyed our atmosphere and released poisonous gases into the air, so that it was no longer safe to breathe. I pushed forward, trying to squeeze my bulk through the hastily constructed tunnel. I could almost feel the thousands of tons of dirt pressing in on me. Dragons had a natural claustrophobia that kicked in in any enclosed space, no matter the size.
I entered one of the larger caves that was packed with dragons, so it wasn't much better than the tunnels, although the ceiling was higher. I could see worker dragons on the edges of the ground, trying to enlarge the cave. I pushed past two green-scaled females and a young male with muddy-brown armor. More dragons, just milling around and waiting for something, anything to happen. Females, males, hatchlings, scales in all colors of the rainbow. My glittering opal scales stood out sharply as I passed through a small knot of jet-black dragons. I squeezed into an even smaller tunnel, somehow managing to get all the way through and into a slightly less crowded room. I spread my wings gratefully, managing to get just a foot off the ground before my wings hit the walls and I had to land.
I felt the dirt around me tremble and a loud roar echoed through the cave, signaling for us to get to one of the reinforced caves. Something big was happening in the world above. I raced through the tunnels, heart pounding and wings fluttering nervously, although there was no space for them to spread. I was as far as you could be from a reinforced cave. Or I thought so. I stopped as two tunnels opened before me. I faced on, then the other, heart starting to beat faster.
Oh, no, I thought desperately. Which way is it?
Oh, why hadn't I paid attention to the maps?
I closed my eyes, trying to remember which way it was. It was... it was... south, right? And that would be... left? Taking a deep breath, I turned left, praying to whoever happened to be listening for this to be the right way.
I continued along the tunnel, the trembling in the earth becoming more and more noticeable. My heart beat faster and faster as I moved farther and farther along the tunnel, and still no reinforcements. Just as I had decided that I'd been going the wrong way, the dirt gave its largest shake yet. Time seemed to stand still for a moment, and then the tunnel collapsed.
Right on me.

#21: Freewrite #6: Fortune Teller

“Gina, come on.” I felt Shira’s tiny hands press into the small of my back as she struggled to push me towards the tent flap.
“Okay, okay.” I gave in, cautiously pushing the canvas aside and walking in. Shira followed, her pale eyes shining in the dim light.
“Welcome,” a mysterious voice said, making me jump. “Sit.”
I cautiously sat down on one of the tiny wooden stools. Shira took the other.
“Can you tell us our futures?” my little sister asked in a hushed voice, sounding awed.
“Of course,” the woman said, leaning closer to us over the little table. It was covered in a velvet purple cloth with tattered edges. “But I require payment.”
Of course, I thought, reaching into my pocket and pulling out a crumpled five dollar bill. “Is this enough?”
“Yes, yes.” The money vanished from my hand and the woman pulled out a polished crystal ball. “Place your palm on the surface, so I may see within you.”
Shira nudged my arm when I didn’t comply and I reluctantly did as the so-called fortune teller had said.
“Yes... yes. I see. I am getting a vision...” She paused dramatically and I heard Shira’s breathing stop momentarily. She was so gullible. But then, most six year olds were.
“Cars spell danger for you tonight,” the woman announced finally. With that, she took her crystal ball and vanished behind a piece of cloth dangling from the ceiling that split the tent into two.
I got up and left the tent, making sure Shira followed.
“Come on,” I said, pulling out my car keys. “Let’s go.”
She stared up at me. “But... but... the lady said not to drive!”
I rolled my eyes. “What a load of waffle. Let’s go.”
She scowled and reluctantly followed me towards the gate. We were some of the last to leave the carnival, and the parking lot was nearly empty. I unlocked the doors, waiting until Shira had clambered into the backseat before getting into the driver’s seat. I inserted the key into the ignition and started the car, backing out of the lot and into the street.
My fingers tapped on the steering wheel nervously; I technically wasn’t supposed to be driving without adult supervision. I still only had my learner’s permit. But Mom had practically begged me to take Shira, because she had to work and Shira wouldn’t shut up about the fair.
A traffic light was in front of us, green. I checked the side mirror, still going steadily forward. Suddenly Shira shrieked. My eyes snapped forward again just in time to see that the light had turned red and somebody was speeding perpendicular to us. I tried to slam on the brakes, but was too slow. There was a sickening crunch as the other car hit mine, an explosion of pain, and then everything went black.

#22: Freewrite #7: Running

The sun shone through the canopy of leaves high above, dappling shadows onto the forest floor. Mice and squirrels scurried about, searching for food. Birds chittered back and forth and soared overhead.
A light breeze swirled through the trees, stirring the formerly still air and rustling the leaves, both on the branches and off.
All this beauty was lost on the girl, though, as she stumbled through the undergrowth. Her hair was matted and tangled with twigs and dirt and she was bleeding from numerous shallow cuts across her arms and legs.
Her breath rasped in her throat with every gasp she took, and yet she didn’t stop. She pushed through thickets and bushes, hardly noticing the thorns that further ripped apart her skin. She didn’t stop, even when night fell. She ran, and ran, and no obstacle stopped her.
Finally she tripped into the shallows of a lake, barely sparing a glance for the full moon that reflected off the water. She waded deeper, limbs nearly numb with exhaustion.
She didn’t know that beneath the dark surface lay dangers far worse than anything she was running from. The mud below her feet suddenly dropped away, sending her plunging beneath the surface.
She struggled feebly, but her exhausted limbs were no match for the strong currents that lay beneath the calm waters. She felt herself being dragged down to the unplumbed depths, and she didn’t try to fight anymore. All she wanted was peace. Under the surface there was peace.
Oh, the currents were tossing her around like a rag, but inside her mind, where she had long ago buried herself to escape from the horrors that comprised her life, there was darkness, and silence, and peace.
And so she died.

Those are awesome. XD Even though they're all like really depressing, lol!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xD I missed these.

I missed these! And I still think they're all awesome!

Thanks, guys! Yes, Shadz, I like writing depressing stuff. XD

I'm really glad I put these up because I decided to continue the lion one.

Yayness! =D

These are awesome Ratty! They're kinda depressing as Shadz mentioned. . . . But in a good way!!!

They're really good. Just sort of depressing, but I guess everyone's already mentioned that xD

Some are pretty weird, but the space needle one was pretty funny!

These are really good!

Thankiez, everyone! Yes, iGri, my dreams are extremely weird. XD You should see the one I had a few weeks ago.

I love all of these, Ratty! They're really great.

Thanks, Mo!

Haha nice Ratty. I like them! I don't think they are wierd!

Thanks. But you gotta admit, the Draco Malfoy one is pretty strange. XD

Really? That's one of my favorites!

I didn't say it was bad, just strange.

I hope you put some more up soon, I really like them

Thanks!

Welcome

*throws everyone off a cliff* Malfoy Manner!? Omygawd! Count me in!

Sorry, I was browsing through, and I randomly say Draco written, so I began to read.

LOLz. I really do not know where the dream came from. XD

I added another one!

I recognized that one! I like it.