The Island

From #writeworld: Write a story, description, poem, metaphor, commentary, or critique about this picture.



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Freewrite:

When I awoke I found myself lying in the sodden sand.  I  could both smell and feel the slippey seaweed lying across my cheek.  The sun was shining it's warmth upon my bare skin, exposed from the torn material of my dirtied violet shirt.  I was still damp as the waves of the ocean tickled my toes; the tide was on it's way out.

I grabbed the seaweed upon my face as I sat up, flinging it into the ocean.  I couldn't remember what had happened, and I had no idea where I was.  All I knew was a name...but I couldn't remember if it was mine, that name was Ecko.

I stood up, feeling the cold roughness rub through my toes like paper made of sand.  I could see nothing out into the horizon of the ocean, it seemed as if it went on and on like a never-ending emptiness.

I was listening to the waves of the ocean as a group of seagulls flew overhead.  I could hear the waves crashing against the rocks as I stared up at the sky.  Where the hell am I?

I felt warmth upon both of my elbows and arms, and I heard the deep raspy voice of a woman.  I couldn't understand the words pouring from her lips.  It must have been some language I was lacking acquaintance with. Then I saw her....

Jade Display Glass (W.E. 25)

Exercise 25:

Another time. Choose a date somewhere far in the future or past, and have pretend that you are in that time and describe a complete day. Tell what you eat, what you read in the newspaper, where you work or go to school and what changes you've seen in their lifetimes. Suggested by Asher.

Jade Display Glass

June 6,  2121

I wake up to the usual sound of Jade speaking to me.  Her animated voice has become a normal wakeup call, and not an unpleasant one at that.  She’s the voice within my technology glass displays that exist throughout my house.

I stretch under my sheets before I throw my feet over the edge and descend from my safety net.  My body still feels very worn out, and having had only 6 hours of sleep, as per usual, I find I’m not as ready for the day as I wished I could be.

I walk to my bathroom and the displays light up within the darkness of my home.  They read 6:05AM.

“Jade, what’s the news for today?”  I ask and the displays light up with a list of news from murders to earthquakes.  “Jade, show today’s weather.”  Upon the display screen shows rain outside of my home, the water drops dribbling down the side of my orange sports car made by a company called Ziolite, the same makers of my technology glass throughout my home.  As one might guess, there is also technology glass within my vehicle, where Jade also resides.

I brush my teeth, and then walk toward the kitchen, where the counter top lights up.  I sigh, unsure of what to eat this morning.  “Jade, what should I have for breakfast?”  The countertop displays a menu from French toast to extravagant omelets; all options display only that which I can make with the necessities within my own fridge. 

I decide on the omelet, reaching my hand out to it, and once my hand touches it a display shows the ingredients, which I go to my fridge to collect.  I then open my drawer for a knife which I use to proceed to cut up the ingredients.   I reach my hand out to the stove display and put it to the temperature the recipe provides, and set the frying pan upon its round heating surface.   I add the ingredients as the recipe says.

Finally I sit down at my glass display table, and begin to eat my omelet as I look over the days routine, noticing no differences in my daily routine, I sigh at how boring and dull my life has become.

“Jade, show me my life 10 years ago.”

“Access Denied.  Data does not exist.”  Responded Jade.

“Why did I think the future would be better than this?”  I sighed to myself.

I took a shower and headed to work in my orange sports Ziolite.

I walked through the sliding glass doors of my office building.  I was the owner of a company called Highlights that’s main goal was to create realistic holographic displays of everything known to mankind, now or ever.  We focused on bringing back to life that which had been destroyed.

In 2012, the world nearly collapsed with the pole shift brought on by the planet Nibiru.  New York had been destroyed, as well as Washington DC, the Pentagon, and the Whitehouse.  Those weren’t the only places that took damage, even places like the Eiffel tower, and stone henge had ceased to exist after the rupturing of the Earth subsided.

My company was funded by Ziolite, and therefore the entire building had technology glass.  Every cubicle had technology glass for computer screens instead of monitors.

I went into my office and sat down at my desk. I leaned back in my chair, and stared up at the technology glass ceiling. “Jade, show me the office starting on the first floor and ending on the 13^th floor.”

The display glass provided me easy access to surveillance of the office, and I found it quite handy at times.  “Jade, zoom in on Malcom and Jenny and provide me sound access.”

“She’s up in her office doing nothing but sitting there. I’d kill to have a job like that. Did you see her when she came in this morning?  She looked like total shit…” Jenny stated.

“Maybe she just had a rough night.”  Malcom defended.

“Would it kill her to at least say hi to us?  I mean, what the hell.  It’s like she doesn’t even acknowledge our existence.  I think she’s a total bitch, thinking she’s better than all of us.”  Jenny snidely continued.

“Jade, give me access to…”  I started about to request that Jenny make her way to my office, then I decided to let it go.  “Never mind, Jade, continue on.”

Nothing interesting happened, and I found myself quite bored.  “Jade, don’t let anyone disturb me. I’d like a nap, wake me up in about 30 minutes.”

With that I fell off into a deep sleep…

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Authors Note:

I am quite aware this is unfinished.  I hope you enjoyed reading thus far anyways. I have things I need to do, and a morning of dread to wake up to.  I hope you've been trying out some of these exercises yourself, and haven't found yourself to bored with them. Leave me comments, I'd like to know what you think.

Kia (W.E. 24)

Exercise 24:

You(or a character) have often passed a particular house (or first floor apartment) as you(or a character) walk to the train or drive home from work. This particular evening it is just past dusk so that there is still a little deep blue color to the sky, but all the lights are on in the house/apartment/place you(or a character) notice. Something makes you(or a character) stop and look.

Looking in the window, you(or a character) can see rooms and pictures on the wall, furniture. It seems strangely family. Suddenly you(or a character) are in the room, and it is a room you(or a character) have been in so many times....

Kia

Kia was a beautiful young woman with bright orange hair that flowed down past her shoulders and curled slightly at the tips.  At the moment she had her hair up in a loose bun.  She wore a plain white shirt, and a loose royal blue hoodie.  Her jeans were torn at the knees, a sign they were well broken in.  Upon her feet were black All Star sneakers, they also looked worn.

With hands in her pockets she walked up the stairs of her dull apartment building, and descended down the mildly dark corridor.  Her eyes were upon the floor until they met daylight on the stained brown carpeting.  Pausing in her stride she looked to her right.  That was when she saw the scene. 

Before her was a mother, with brunette curly hair, a smile spread across her lips.  She was laughing with her little girl, who had equally curly brunette hair, and the brightest blue eyes Kia had ever seen.  Kia heard their laughter as the mother wrapped her arms around the little girl and tickled her.  The mom pulled her daughter of about 6 into a hug and kissed the top of her head.  It brought a smile to Kia’s own lips, and it warmed her to the core.

Light cascaded through the window as Kia’s feet met the floor and she walked through the threshold.  “Hey Leslie.”  She said with a smile.

“KIA!”  The little girl bolted toward her and wrapped her in a hug about her waist. 

“Hey there Diana.”  Kia smiled rubbing the top of Diana’s head.

Leslie’s smile turned to Kia. “Hey, how are you?”

“I’m fine, I just got home from work. I was on my way to my apartment when I saw you, and since I haven’t come by lately, I just thought I’d say hey.  You two seem to be having a great day!”  Kia responded.  “Anything particularly marvelous happen today to put you two in such a great mood?”

“Mommy took me to the park and we swung on the swings. I flew so high, I thought I would go into space!  Then, she took me to get icecream!  It was so fun!”  Diana spoke, as she held her arms out and ran around the room like she was flying.

“Careful sweetie, you don’t want to trip and hurt yourself.”  Leslie warned.

“That does sound like a good day.”  Kia responded.

“So, we’re going out to dinner later, do you want to come with us?”  Leslie asked hopefully.

“I’d love to but, I have to wake up early in the morning, so I thought I’d just get a tv dinner and a hot bath and call it a night.”  Kia responded, sounding rather displeased with the idea of having to reject the offer. “Raincheck?”

“Sure.”  Leslie said with a smile, grabbing a glass off the table and heading into the kitchen to set it in in the sink.  “Don’t be a stranger alright?”  She leaned back against the counter with her hands gripping it by her sides.

“I’ll try not to be.  You two have fun tonight alright?”  Her gaze fell to Diana who was playing with a stuffed bunny now, hugging it to her chest, with its fuzzy little face pressed to her cheek.

“We will. I wish you could come!” Diana responded with disappointment clear in her little voice.

“Next time.”  Kia said, taking her right hand out of her pocket and waving to the two ladies and walking out of the apartment.  It was always such a delight to talk to them, if only just for a moment.  The atmosphere made her remember her mother, before her step father came into the picture.

Kia’s hand found itself safely within her warm pocket as she stared at the brown stained carpeting and finally found herself at the end of the hall to her apartment.  From her left pocket came a key, and within the door it went.  Soon she was in her apartment, going straight to the fridge and getting that tv dinner, popping it in the microwave, and she stared at it as it turned on the pedestal.

Kia felt a strange sadness inside of her.  The memories of her childhood washing over her, the smiles her mother and she shared.  Then the memories of her step father hitting her mother, and her own face covered in bruises…

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Authors Note:

This is unfinished, and if anyone wants to finish it, feel free to. I'd love if you'd leave the continuation as a comment if you do.  I know it's kind of dull, but I've been rather uninspired due to life's current situations. [ Updates might be slow for a while.  I need to figure out a few things in life before I can continue, but I will try to keep updating. ]

Captured (W.E. 22)

Continue the story:
"The wink, or the blink, seemed to bring the room into clearer focus for the monk." (A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.)

Captured

He lay on the cold hard concrete floor and surveyed his surroundings. The first thing he noticed as his eyes adjusted was how dark it was in this room.  Above him he could see rafters covered in webbing, probably from cob web spiders. Next, he noticed the stairs, they too were made of concrete, and no railing led up with them.  The third step from the bottom had cracks throughout it, as if it were going to collapse.  There were 7 steps in all.  At the top of the steps was a normal door, minus the 5 randomly scattered bullet holes.

His eyes wandered to the walls.  They were unfinished and also contained cob webs.  To his left near the floor was an outlet.  Behind him was a window that was too dirty to see through.

His head throbbed like he'd been previously knocked out, and perhaps he had been, he didn't know.  He didn't know where he was or how he'd got there, but something told him he was in a load of trouble...

Strange Planet (W.E 19)

Exercise 19:

I don’t know about you, but my desktop wallpapers cycle.  In this exercise I’m going to allow my current desktop wallpaper to inspire me.

Strange Planet

A hole existed amongst all the space matter floating around.  That which floated about in space consisted of carbon, platinum, iron, helium, hydrogen, and so many other elements.  This deep dark hole didn’t discriminate.  It was so hungry for all of the matter floating around, that it sucked it all in.  It began to grow, like a fat kid consistently eating cake.  The thing about this ominous abyss was that the more it ate the more it grew the more hungry it became.  It then began to devour specific things.  An asteroid belt was the new desire of this deep black nothing. 

No, it wasn’t a nothing, it was a something.  This something was once a star that had exploded and collapsed.  It contained so much gravity within itself, that it couldn’t stop itself from collecting everything nearby.  Every little piece it left behind in the explosion now was a part of it once more.  Every fragment of gold, silver, copper, carbon, iron and everything else was now reunited.  It was becoming something new.  It was becoming something to inhabit.  It was becoming a planet. 

At the farthest reaches of this solar system floated luminous bright colors created by other super nova.  Pinks, purples, greens, blues, even yellows and oranges floated about, and yet were so unmoving.  Time simply stood still here.  It wasn’t the past, nor was it the present.  It could only be an unknown future.  Time flowed, yet it flowed so slowly that to the human mind it would appear nothing occurred. 

Over decades, over centuries, over millennia, mankind had observed the universe.  Documents told of different constellations, stars, and planets.  Yet over time everything changed.  It changed slowly, yet the change was seen but unseen.  One human life could never see the slow change.  How simple man, and how short one’s life.   No one could comprehend why time was so fast on Earth and yet so slow in space.

One day this black hole would become a planet.  One day particles from space would share in the growth of many new species.  It was a slow process.

“Captain, I believe I have discovered a new planet.” Navigator Fleece spoke without a shake in her voice.

“Very good navigator.  What are the specifications of this new planet?” The captain requested.

“It appears to have some strange force around it.  At this time we’re unsure what this matter contains.” She spoke with a clear voice.

“Well hurry up and find out imbecile.  Perhaps we can dock and refuel there.  Exploration is of interest to me.”  He spoke in a stern voice very arrogantly.

“We’re looking into it as we speak captain.”  She spoke as if she didn’t hear his insult, but deep within her stomach was a knot festering of anger.  He only ever treated her this way.  Perhaps it was because she was a woman.  She was the only woman of his crew.  “Kraft, try to pull us as close to this planet as possible, I’d like to get a reading on this new energy.”

Around the planet appeared to be some pink-yellow gas. It floated around in rings much like that of Saturn’s rings, but more scattered.  The planet was colored a deep purple-blue.  Specks of green and brown appeared in small patches.

                As navigator Kraft pulled closer to the planet sensors went off, and then stopped abruptly.

                “What is the source of these sensor screams?”  The captain spoke in a collected manner.  He appeared as if he had no fear at all.

                “I’m not quite sure sir.” Spoke science officer Cobalt.  “Our computers didn’t give us a direct reading.  Whatever it was, it’s gone now.”

                “Let me know if you discover anything further, I must rest.”  The captain turned and left through the only set of doors leading into the cockpit.  These doors were double doors with a zigzag down the middle.  They opened automatically when approached due to motion sensors.  They slid closed with a loud clank behind him.

                “Aren’t you going to voice your concern’s Flora?”  Cobalt asked of her.

                “Which concerns are those?”  Fleece asked as if she was clueless to his intent.

                “That he consistently calls you such harsh names, when you don’t deserve it.  You shouldn’t let him treat you that way, captain or not.”  He said, going over the monitors.

                “It’s not of your concern.”  She could hear his concern, but she wanted him to know that she wasn’t a weak minded fool.

                “Whatever.  I just think it’s dumb that just because he’s a captain…Well just because he’s a captain doesn’t give him the right to treat you like dirt, or any other woman for that matter.”  Cobalt voiced.

                “I think she can handle herself Chris.”  Kraft flashed a smile in Fleece direction.  She caught it and found herself unable to keep from blushing.  She couldn’t deny that she was very much attracted to him.

                Just then the sensors blared again before the power of the ship fluxed.  The computer screens and lights all flickered off for just a few seconds.  “Energy levels at 80%.”  The ship said in a very feminine voice.

                “What in space matter, do you guys see that?”  Kraft pointed through the windshield of the ship and saw flashing balls revolving around in the pink-yellow gas.  It was as if the planet itself had stolen some of the ships energy.  It was coming back around and then as if the ship itself had called it, the plasma flew directly at the ship.  The ship shook as if it had been hit by enemy fire.  The planet seemed to be attacking.

                “Damage minimal.  Taking evasive actions.”  The ship blared out once more and made distance between itself and the planet to what it believed was a safe distance.  It had taken the initiative and went into autopilot as a response to the attack….

Authors Note:

Due to being too tired to continue this at this moment, I’m leaving it open ended.  Please, if you’d like, continue this story in your own blog and share the results with me in a comment or on my twitter: @lylathewicked I may continue this at a later time.  This is the barebones unedited version of course.  Things may be changed around to better suit my needs.