MAY 2010 Writing Challenge -- Sephiroth wins a decisive victory!

[chopper]

Escape, or, Now Voyager! - The Remake


Storms thrash across the giant blue world below. It looks upon them dispassionately, records them, sends data pulsing back into the distant warmth of the solar system. It may have become used to extremes, but nothing can compare to the awful silence between the worlds.


Pre-programmed software nudges it. Away, and below the system ecliptic. The heliosphere beckons. If it could, it would feel excitement. Anticipation. Trepidation. The prospect of freedom.

 

[crystal haven]

Family Matters

Papa slurred his anger. “Fetch that wretched child. Now!”

“She’s not here, Papa. Collecting wood – as you asked.” I cautiously removed the bottle from his grasp and led him to the chair by the fire. “I’ll find her. But you must be tired,” I said, unfastening his boots. Taking my time.

In fear I watched Sophie crawl from under the table towards the door, the bundle of clothes under her arm.

Good luck.

 

[The Judge]

Living the Dream


Fingers curling into soft white sand. Cobalt sky. Turquoise sea. The lapping of waves against the shore. The scent of frangipani.

The perfect bank fraud. The perfect getaway.

Unexpected noise jolted her eyes open. Her cellmate crying.

For an instant, reality. Fingers gripping rough blankets. Barred window. Bare walls. The whimpers of sleeping women. The stink of prison.

Perfect bank fraud. Imperfect getaway.

She shut her eyes again. To return to the dream. To escape.

 

[ctg]

The Moment of Truth

As the clerk placed the half-moon glasses on his nose and picked up the paperwork, my hearth started thumping like never before. Was this it? Was this the point where I could kiss goodbye to the years of malnutrition, pain and misery?

“Ah, let’s see…”

Yes…

He trailed the letters and numbers with his pen and meticulous compared them against the glowing data-pad. And then after a strenuously long moment he looked up.

“Yes?”

“Congratulations.”
​

 

[onebigpotato]

The beast within

I've locked the doors, the chains are in place, now the waiting, the praying and hoping that the precautions will hold.
I can almost smell the blood from last time, the same stench that drives it revolts me. It won't be the regret, but the screams I fear most.
Oh God, it's here, the rasping breath and racing heart. I need this to work, for it is what's inside of me that can never escape.

 

[reiver33]

Never look back.

Keep running, even when you can feel the breath on your neck, even when you can feel the cloying kiss of fear across your bare flesh. Ignore it, focus, think of nothing, nothing, but escape. What lies behind is everything that thrives in the dark.

Never look back.

Words more wise that you can know, for fear can become Fear; made manifest, made whole, made in your image.

And hungry.

 

[digs]

Shadowless
[FONT=&quot]
There, look, you can see them, just, flitting through the fragmented sunlight in packs and pods. They break, flowing, streamlined, arc in aching symmetry and coalesce again. They spiral and jag. Unchained, they exalt in the sudden limitless possibilities of being real and alone and together and free.

And there, see, behind, in the full embrace of the the bitter daylight that bore them stand their old dejected children, forlorn, bereft. Shadowless.[/FONT]

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

The Final Escape

I finished my letter with "The End". Now, the only thing between me and freedom was the empty noose.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Centrifugal Force
​

To wish, would you go to tranquility? Only with chaos is space and time traveling, circling ever closer. Looking without seeing, hearing without noise, meaning is everything. Color finds darkness. Desire is trapped time. Round and round, round and round. Time trapped is desire. Darkness finds color. Everything is meaning, noise without hearing, seeing without looking closer, ever circling. Traveling time and space is chaos. With only tranquility to go, you would wish to​

escape!​

 

[Boneman]

The Words​

I'd been trapped for an eternity.

No matter what I did, how I planned, I remained trapped. I couldn't take much more; depression was my only friend; cold fear lurked at every corner, clogging my pores, my mind.

I resolved to make a final effort. One more failure would break me; I marshalled everything I had, everything I'd dreamed, into the words that would lead to my escape: "It was a dark and stormy night...."

 

[Moonbat]

Hero? Sh! I’m a…

My partner and I were as close as could be. Life was simple. You could say it was elemental. But for all our symmetry and simplicity we were surrounded by a cloud of possibilities. That cloud, like an electric mist, protected us from strong outside forces. Then Barry arrived and drove us apart. In my weakness I left at high speed, finding freedom in a mushrooming cloud of broken hearted brethren.

 

[Erin99]

To the King

Their faces haunt me, man and child,
soldiers unfit for war.
All slain by my hand, slain by my friends,
friends who sacrificed their life.

But what of you, glorious King,
Sire we followed gladly?
You bled our land with promises sweet.
Sweet wine now toasts your success.

You made my bed to lie in, then.
A deathbed it shall be.
I’m through with your victorious Hell.
Your Hell has no place for me.​

 

[Heoru]

A Portrait in Pain

​

Day by day they pass me, staring but never helping. I am lost in a world

of twisting and turning, and yet they are not moved. For years my please

have failed me, my cries unheard, my tears unfelt; and still they stare. Will no

one save me from my own eternal screams.

 

[mygoditsraining]

Weigh anchor, Muttley; there's a medal in it for you.

In the abandoned stockyard, society belle Tricia Tyretread lies tied to the railroad tracks.

“Haylp! Haylp!”

Meanwhile, on a cruise ship some five hundred miles distant, her broad-chested beau Bradley Greathope leans pensively against the starboard rail.

“Are you sure she’ll be okay?”

“Of course I am,” coos Richard Dastardly, admiring the fine, tanned lines of his companion. “Much like your ex, no train has been down that track in a long time.”

 

[emilymarie070750]

Divorce

I looked back at the door, once an entryway to happiness but now an exit from dejection.

Why did I let the abuse continue for so long? Anger and shame sliced through me.

I turned and departed the house at last. Stepping out into the sunshine I realized that I've moved on although the way was unclear. This time, my future was on my terms and anywhere I went, I’d go with hopefulness!

 

[Faraway]

The King is dead.



Scarcely does the blackbird sing; atom's shadow shrouds our steps. In my shallow grave I lie, a hollow hall to keep my word. The seer told me fate was set, my sons to blood my tracks anew. But ho! A singing bird now comes! What counsel do you bring?

Set them free, set them free, your prison's lock guards more than you did see.



“BIOKEY OFFLINE. LAUNCH ABORTED.” In the bunker's gloom, she smiled.

 

[Precise Calibre]

Exodus



They had been contained long enough - they had to move!
He was pressed in tightly with his brethren.


They all sought a way out, any hint of crack in their prison.
Millions they were, searching desperately.


Others found what he had sought.


Freedom.


He would follow their lead, there was no other choice.


With a cheering roar, they surged through the breach.


A dull light-show of blinking red heralded the exodus.

“Caution: Decompression Imminent”

 

[Ursa major]

It’s all in the Execution

He savoured each swing of the pendulum. He watched the great toothed wheel inch forward only to be caught by one of the deadbeat’s arms. Fascinating. Intriguing....

Why had he joined the plot? He knew it wouldn’t work. Hope does that to a person, makes them do anything to escape tyranny. But when, against the odds, it seemed to be working, someone had bungled. Him.

One last tick of the clock.

His time ran out.

 

[The Procrastinator]

Solitary


Why is it so quiet? The lock is open. Has the power failed?
Cautiously he pushes at the door – pokes his head into the steel corridor – steps outside. Soft steps echo as he wends his way out of the cold, dark labyrinth. There are no answering sounds.
One final door and he is breathing air untasted for five long years.
“Hello!” he calls at last. “HELLO!”
No one is there.

 

[dwndrgn]

The Perfect Escape

The telltale noises from the wood behind gave notice that someone was still following. Trying to breathe as silently as possible, Jax slipped into the thorn hedge - his slight body slipping through the brambles with barely a snag. Mouth open for heavy but quiet breaths, Jax waited. And the rustling stopped. Jax held his breath.

"Come out of there right now!"

Susan closed the book and crawled out of the treehouse, "Ok mom. I'm coming."