Prompted to Write

It’s a sunny spring day at the gallows.  Surprisingly, the condemned aren’t hanging their heads and shuffling towards defeat.  As they are dragged up to meet their fate, they dance.  Perhaps it’s in defiance of the government that sent them there, perhaps it’s in defiance of death itself, or perhaps it’s to send a message to onlookers: We’re all headed for the gallows; some of us are just a little bit closer.

Why are they here?  Who are they?  What’s going on?

Give us 100 words in the comments, or blog your response and let us know where we can check it out

It’s a chilly winter night and you’re staring blankly into the Christmas lights.  Suddenly, you get a hint of a distant memory.  You’re not sure what it is or why you remember it, but you keep seeing the image of a clock in your mind.  It was an old fashioned nixie clock, and it read “15.38″.

Why are you remembering this?  What could have happened to make you remember this clock and time?

Give us 100 words in the comments, or post a reply on your blog and tell us in the comments where we can read it

photo credit: svofski

You’re driving across the country from Maine to Los Angeles.  Along the way, you stop for the night in a roadside motel.  The room’s not much, but it’s clean and quiet – until about 1 in the morning when you’re awakened to the sound of blood-curdling screams next door.

Needless to say, you don’t sleep well.  The next morning as you’re leaving, you walk by the door and see that it’s open.  The housekeeping staff hasn’t arrived yet, so you peek into the room and see no evidence of the night before.  In fact, the room appears untouched aside from a single half-eaten truffle on the table.

You can take this in two different directions:

A – What happened between the time you heard the screams and the time you left the next morning?

B – Why is there a half-eaten truffle and nothing else?

Give us 100 words, either in the comments or on your own website (and let us know so we can check it out).

photo credit: ginnerobot

You’re sitting quietly at a table about 10 feet away from this character in the coat and pants.  You get the vague sense that he or she may actually be looking for you, not the sculpture behind the ropes.  Why?  What do you do next?

Give us 100 words in the comments, or put it on your blog and link here so your trackback will show up!

photo credit: -Merce-

According to the rumors, an old woman lives in the abandoned church down the road.  They say she’s a witch, but you’d like to see for yourself.

That why, on this bright and sunny day, you’ve decided to venture into the cool, damp building with a flashlight.  What happens?

Give us 100 words or more – Is she there?

photo credit: Derek Farr ( DetroitDerek )

As you wake up, you look around and realize you don’t recognize your surroundings. You’re in the forest, laying beside a creek and a mangy dog that looks more than a little hungry. You stand up and begin to walk towards what appears to be a clearing in the trees.

As you reach the edge, you see a strange house. Not only is the place unfamiliar, but you’re not even certain you’ve awakened in the year 2008. You see a flash of red hair so bright you initially think it’s fire, but then you realize it’s actually a girl.

What happens next? Give us your 100 words (or more, if you’re feeling crazy) in the comments.

photo credit: spicorder