of-wildflowers-and-stars - Tumblr blog

[of-wildflowers-and-stars]

Please do part 3 for snippet 3. -🐱🐱

Will do Cat Anon! Also, I've decided that snippets past three parts are gonna get a name. Bon appétit!

Through a Crowd

part 1, part 2

Hero chased the edge of Villain’s cape as they rounded a corner. They couldn't help but question their sanity, whether they were chasing Villain or a specter. Whether they were being followed or the presence they sensed was paranoia. 

The alleyway they entered was dark, shaded by laundry lines and the blackening sky. They stepped deeper into the shadows, attempting to quiet their breathing.

Water splashed behind them. A hand clamped over their mouth, holding them against a chest.

“I didn’t know you were one for speeches,” a familiar voice rasped in their ear. Hero relaxed immediately, nearly falling to the ground as tears flooded their eyes. “Hello, love.”

Hero whipped around, throwing their arms around Villain. A hiss slid through Villains teeth and Hero pulled back.

"Are you hurt?" They scanned Villain, noting how they favored their right leg. 

Villain released one hand from Heros waist to grab their chin and guide their gaze back to them. Their face was riddled with bruises and stitches. “Hero—" Villains tone was a gentle warning, knowing that look.

"How dare you die?" Hero slapped their hands on VIllain’s chest and they winced. Their face fell and Villain chuckled. Their eyes found Hero’s and they beamed, filling the dark alley with a pocket of light. Hero couldn't look at them. Instead they whispered, "Half the city is razed. I thought—why stay in such danger?"

Villain brushed a hand over Hero’s bent head, tucking a loose strand behind their ear. They didn't speak until Hero looked up again, deep in thought.

"Superhero knows my weakness even if they don't know about us. They said so many horrible things..." As if by instinct, their grip on Hero tightened, drawing them flush against each other.

Hero reached up to cup their cheek, snapping them out of their reverie.

"Their lies blinded me. I lost myself when I thought I lost you." Hero’s breath caught in their throat as Villain threaded their hands through their hair, their faces drifting closer.

"Hero," they breathed against their lips, "you are my greatest weakness."

The air shifted behind them and they both froze. The paranoia of another presence settled sickeningly in the pit of Hero's stomach again.

A shadow lurked on the roof above them. The figure dropped, landing in the mouth of the alleyway. Concrete shattered under them, sending splinters up the walls and between the two lovers.

Superhero looked between the two, hatred burning in their glare. "Traitor!"

[of-wildflowers-and-stars]

#7

The sea crashed against the cliffs below. Much the same way Villain’s ideas bounced around their head. Rushing forward with surety only to hit a barrier, retreating before they could grasp them. Gulls screeched above, calling their brethren inland as the sky darkened into night. Spray clawed for the sky when the rock blocked the waters path, coating Villain’s hair in seasalt.

They’d sat on the cliffside, half-hidden in the tall grass, for half the evening. They needed to think. To avoid the noise of the bustling fortress walls. The soldiers and servants coming and going. The General dispatching orders as often as they breathed in air.

If Villain was honest, the war effort was overwhelming. Their superiors were pressing all the commanders harder than ever since the latest loss. Every day something new was wrong, someone else deserted. Today, one of their best soldiers turned traitor, joining Superhero’s ranks. Cracks littered their mind and questions slipped through that they couldn’t answer. 

Perhaps that's why when they found Hero sagging in the stairwell of Villain’s fortress, eyes glassy and breath heavy, they didn’t act. Why they didn’t reach for their weapons. Why, like a fool, they started a conversation with the loudest question begging for a voice.

“Why?” They’d croaked into the tense silence. “What is this war for?”

Hero looked just as shocked to hear that question as Villain felt asking it. They’d paused, still catching their breath, before giving Villain an appraising look. “It’s not ours to know is it?” They whispered bitterly.

Villain flinched. That was what his superiors had told every questioning recruit before they were punished.

“They’ve told you nothing,” Hero startled. They glanced over their shoulder before shoving a seal into Villain’s hands. “Seek answers from the darkness, for it sees all lightless deeds. Accept it and it shall have you.”

Villain closed their fist over the seal and Hero disappeared down the stairs. No alarm ever sounded.

Sighing, Villain shifted in the grass, folding their legs under them and closing their eyes. They turned Hero’s words over in their head, gripping the seal in their hands. Focus, they thought.

They blinked slowly, turning their gaze back to the sea. The waves pulsed and lapped away from the cliff, something just under the surface calling to them. The wind shifted, a gale blowing straight for Villain. Shadows danced over the waves, leaping up the cliffside.

Villain smiled as the darkness swallowed them whole.

[of-wildflowers-and-stars]

Hello, hope you're enjoying your day, please do a part 3 of snippet #5.

#5 part 3

part 2, part 1

The world froze and Villain was floating. Then the ground rushed at them, and they instinctively curled themselves around Hero’s unconscious form. The air rushed from their lungs as they landed in a hedge. Branches tore at their skin and clothes, but they paid no attention.

They needed to move.

Shouts echoed out across the garden. Orders were assigned to people rushing from the ballroom and those emerging from the shadows. There were too many running towards the garden. Towards Villain and Hero.

They hauled Hero out of the bush and onto their shoulders, cursing under their breath. Villain took a step towards the hedge maze and crumpled to their knees. They glanced down. Their ankle laid on the pristine lawn at an unnatural angle. Useless.

“You owe me,” Villain grumbled to Hero, pushing to their feet. They stumbled into the hedge maze and the shouts muffled.

Down every twist and turn the shouts came closer. Villain lost track of how long they limped from the voices, trekking deeper into the maze. 

They took a right and turned into a courtyard with a fountain. They couldn't ignore their ankle or Hero’s weight any longer. They laid Hero on the fountain and slid to the grass. 

Supervillain’s voice range over the hedges, echoing from every direction. Villain didn't know why they wanted Hero and the others. They knew from firsthand experience when Supervillain emerged from the shadows on this large of a scale, those involved would meet an ending worse than death. The pursuers' shouts echoed from every direction. Villain couldn't go on.

There was no escape

A splash sounded behind Villain. They whipped around and Hero shot up from the water gasping.

“What the–where–Villain,” Hero sputtered, eyes finally fixing on them. “Villain what–”

Villain dove for Hero, clamping a hand over their mouth. “Shhh! Listen”

Hero’s narrowed their eyes in indignation. Villain shot them a look, nodding towards the growing din within the garden.

“The guests were poisoned and taken,” Villain whispered, ignoring how they got into the garden. “Why would they poison you? Hero!”

Hero’s attention snapped back to Villain, no longer bewildered but urgent. “Did they take Superhero?” Whatever Hero saw on Villain’s face answered their question. They stood up searching for a way through the maze, swaying to the side. “They are looking for the project’s organizers. They–” Hero’s legs gave out and Villain caught their arm.

“Ah, there is our dear Hero,” Supervillain drawled and the courtyard filled with the servers., tie pins at the ready. “I was beginning to worry.”

[of-wildflowers-and-stars]

Finals are over!!!!

[of-wildflowers-and-stars]

Hello yall I am alive! The accidental hiatus was caused by a high fever and then finals fever. I'll be back and answering asks once exams are over. Good luck to everyone taking finals!

[of-wildflowers-and-stars]

Would you write a part 2 for snippet #6? It could be from the villain's pov, as to explain how they disappeared, if you wanted and feel it's right for your story. Your writing brings light into my life, so thanks a million!

#6 part 2

part 1

Moonlight pooled below the windows, seeping into the floorboards and illuminating the unlit silver sconces lining the doorways. The dormitories had always been most beautiful at night, Villain thought distantly.

They’d been pacing the shadows of the hall for nearly an hour waiting for Hero to return. They’d intended to question them ruthlessly about their nightly outings. Hero wasn't quiet. Every floorboard creaked, door hinges whined, and Villain swore the very air itself made a noise wherever Hero went. Every night since their meeting at the library, Villain had had to listen to Hero’s noise echo through the silent halls. They were tired of being woken by their upstairs neighbor.

Their impatience reaching a climax, they turned back to their room. Perhaps they could get some sleep while Hero was out. 

It was colder in their room than they remembered. They flopped immediately under the covers of their bed. The wind rustled the papers on their desk. Villain sighed, taking in a deep breath of cold night air as the breeze played with their hair.

Their eyes shot open. They hadn't left the window open.

A pen knife met their temple as a shadow leaned over them.

“Where is it?” they hissed. The shadow shifted into the moonlight. Hero had a mask on the top half of their face, their wild eyes bright through the crudely cut holes.

“I’ve no idea what you're talking about,” Villain jerked away, falling off the bed. Hero was on top of them before they could stand, pinning them to the ground with their weight and the pen knife at their neck.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Hero spat, still in a whisper. Villain watched them frantically glance around the room, their wide eyes always returning to the walls.

“Hero,” Villain spoke at normal volume, making Hero jump, "you must be more specific than that.”

“The book villain” Hero matched Villain’s volume, as they’d hoped, "Where is the book?”

“Well, as you know Hero, I am quite the literate. There was a fantastic read on the theoretical usages of lichen if you would like a recommendation.”

Hero cried out in frustration, releasing Villain’ arms to grasp the head and sitting back on their heels. Villain felt a hot trickle on their neck from where Hero pulled away too quickly.

So much for a clean game.

“You–you have no idea–no idea–what you've done,” Hero gasped.

Villain bucked, throwing Hero off them. They kicked the knife under their bed and pressed a boot into Hero's chest.

“On the contrary, dear Hero, I believe that's all I have.” In reality, Villain wasn’t sure why Hero thought the book was so important. They’d lifted it from Hero’s bag after they'd overheard Hero whispering about it. Since then, they’d read through it multiple times and found nothing out of the ordinary. It was a standard, albeit ancient, spellbook, the margins crawling with generations of notes.

“Did you read it?” Hero gasped urgently,”Did you open it?”

Something made Villain uneasy. They eased their boot’s pressure on Hero’s chest. “Yes.”

Hero’s eyes rolled back and they shuddered.

“Hero what–”

“Who was the author Villain?” Hero asked, the wild look in their eyes returning. They looked like they’d gone mad.

Villain pondered the question, picturing the title page in their head. It was different from the normal author of basic spellbooks, but Villain hadn’t thought much of it. It was rare but it sometimes happened that the library stocked older publications. Still, something snagged in their mind. They’d seen that name before in another book. An ancient tome depicting the most powerful characters of history.

Seeing the dawning realization on Villain’s face, Hero gripped Villain’s ankle. “Who, Villain?”

[of-wildflowers-and-stars]

Could you do a part 2 of snippet #5?

#5 part 2

part 1, part 3

Villain had only a split second to think. Clutching Hero to their chest, they fell backwards, mimicking the other guests. They crashed through the balcony doors and landed hard as a familiar voice echoed through the room.

“Server?” Supervillain drawled. “What is this?”

Villain lolled their head to the side. A group of guests cowered, confused and frightened, in the center of the ballroom. Supervillain stood calmly, with their arms behind their back, watching the server. If Villain didn’t know any better they would think Supervillain was bored. But Villain knew better and that look never meant anything good.

“These guests appear to have not been hungry,” the server deadpanned, “sir.”

Supervillain clucked his tongue, stalking forward. “Well this simply won’t do.” They stopped in front of a guest who’d begun to cry. “Now, now dear,” They said, mimicking the guest’s shaking head, “would you like to try an hor d'oeuvre?”The guest sputtered out nonsense in between sobs. The Supervillain stepped back, nodding to the servers.

The servers swarmed the remaining guests, jabbing them with their tie pins. The guests cried out.

Villain guessed whatever drug was in the food was also in the servers' tie pins. They didn't stay to confirm their suspicions, however. Slowly, Villain inched further out onto the balcony, trusting the commotion to hide any noise they made.

The screams stopped, their echos dying in the eaves of the ballroom. SIlence descended once more, only interrupted by the clicking of Supervillains shoes.

“Are all the guests properly fed?” Supervillain’s voice turned to steel.

“Yes, sir.”

“Gather them.” Footsteps echoed off every surface, and Villain could no longer tell where they were coming from.

Through the doors reflection, Villain watched the servers comb through the piles of guests. One server found who they were looking for and hoisted them on their shoulders, carrying them to the door. They only took the guests of high standing, Villain noticed.

Taking their chance, Villain shuffled behind the walls of the balcony. With Hero gathered in their arms, they stood searching for an escape. There were no stairs to the ground level.

“We’re missing Hero, sir,” server reported. Villain stopped breathing. Frantically, they looked for any way down.

“Check the balcony. Find them,” Supervillain's voice rang out, sharp and furious.

Footsteps hurried towards them. Villain’s eyes landed on the balcony railing. Taking a deep breath, VIllain sprinted towards the railing. The server called out but it was too late. WIth Hero held tight, Villain fell.

[of-wildflowers-and-stars]

#6

part 2

The soft squeaking of wheels on the carpet drifted around the corner of Hero's bookcase. The librarian scoffed and Hero looked up. They sat sprawled on the floor surrounded by stacks of tomes and scrolls laid out in no particular order. It was quite a sight. Hero couldn't imagine what they looked like if this was the result of their night's work. The disgruntled old librarian shuffled out of sight.

Hero sighed, returning to the book in front of them. Two pages later it was clear it was no use. This book was another dead end.

Hero slammed the book shut, the loud smack echoing back off the high ceilings. A cloud of dust rose around them as they stalked from the aisle. 

They needed to clear their head. It'd been a long night of searching. If the book wasn't here then they’d have to tell the Headmaster what was in it. If they did that Hero would be severely punished, but the book would be safe. Luckily, there was no need for drastic measures yet. The book was here. It had to be. If it wasn’t then–

Hero slammed into someone down the next aisle. “Oh! I’m so sorry,” they apologized to the person’s back. “I–” They stopped short as the person turned.

“Ah Hero,” Villain purred, eyes roaming the bedraggled Hero head to toe, “do watch where you’re going.”

“What are you doing here?” Hero asked before they could stop themselves. Hastily, they added, “Isn’t it past your bedtime?”

Villain cocked their head, “Dear Hero, the sun has risen and thus, so have I.” They smirked at Hero’s poorly hidden shock. They sighed, leaning back against the bookshelf, “Besides, I’ve found the most interesting book.”

Hero’s heart stopped. Started. Then stopped again. Against their will, their eyes widened and they fought to regulate their breathing.

“Are you familiar with this title?” Villain asked. They watched them from the corner of their eye, enjoying every second of Hero’s reaction. 

Hero stared at the book held loosely in Villain’s hands. They knew they were baiting them but they couldn't help themselves. They lunged for the book. Villain grabbed their arm, throwing them off balance, and pinned them to the bookshelf.

“Now, now Hero,” Villain purred into the squirming Hero’s ear, “let’s play fair. This has been a clean game.” Villain released Hero, pushing them to the ground. Their voice dropped as they rounded the corner. “Let’s keep it that way.” 

Hero scrambled around the corner but they were gone.

[of-wildflowers-and-stars]

#5

part 2, part 3

The floor was a dizzying swirl of colors. Skirts of every color brushed across the floor and into the air. Shoes of every style clicked as the partners were set down. Everyone clapped in time to the music as they changed partners mid-dance. 

Villain leaned back against the pillar, feeling rather nauseous.

“You’re looking green, my friend,” a server approached Villain with a smile. “An hor d'oeuvre should help. Here.” They held up their platter. The smell of sour cider and blue cheese toast wafted up to VIllain.

BIle rose in their throat.

“No thank you,” Villain said tightly. Something passed through the servers eyes the Villain couldn't quite place. Annoyance, perhaps? That didn't seem quite right. 

Before the Villain could decipher the look, the server gave a quick bow and left, weaving through the dancers. Villain picked their way across the ballroom towards the balcony. They were nearly there when a blur raced across their peripheral and straight into them.

Hero paused dazed for a minute. Then they looked at Villain. The brightest smile Villain had ever seen split their face.

“Villain!” They shouted, though their face was mere inches from Villain’s. Hero looped their arm through Villain and skipped around in a circle, dragging Villain along with them. Hero laughed when they stopped, grabbing onto Villain’s shoulders for support. “I din’t–didn’t know you were there–here too!”

This night had not ceased to surprise Villain. However, Hero laughing and dancing with Villain was shocking. Villain looked into their eyes as Hero swayed on their shoulders. Their pupils were dilated and bloodshot, and their breathe smelled strongly of cider and cheese. Hero looked drunk.

“Hor d'oeuvre?” Villain’s head snapped around. Another server stood patiently with a platter of cider and blue cheese spreads.

“Oh Villain you must try one.” Hero exclaimed, shaking Villain’s shoulders. “They are to die for.”

“No thank you,” Villain told the server, ignoring Hero’s whines. Irked, the server bowed and left.

Hero stopped swaying, regaining Villain’s attention. They stared unmoving, unblinkingly at the server. No, Villain realized, at the hor d'oeuvres. Re-examining Hero, Villain noticed the blue veins popping from Hero’s eyes and neck. There were blue stains on their mouth too.

Villain studied the ballroom once more. All the rest had similar features.

“Hero?” Villain asked, nudging Hero’s head to look at them.

Hero didn't respond. They dropped into Villains arms as the ballroom filled with the sound of bodies thunking to the floor.

[of-wildflowers-and-stars]

Could i request another snippet of #3 where hero thought villain was dead but they aren’t? No rush, i really like your writing!

Through a Crowd (#3)

part 1, part 3

It was as if Hero’s brain had rebooted and the events of the day finally broke through their shock. Villain had been killed. They thought they had witnessed that.

They gasped, turning it into a coughing fit easily.

Their boss cleared their throat behind them and they turned their gaze back to the speech. Their heart dropped when they read ahead.

Hero glanced out over the hushed crowd, then over their shoulder at their boss.

“This is a historical occasion for our great city!” Hero’s voice shook in the mic as the crowd resumed cheering. “As well as for the League of Heros. As such, the League would like to take this opportunity to reveal a new protocol. It will be implemented starting today to better ensure the safety of the city and its inhabitants.”

Hero paused gazing over the baited crowd, hands shaking on the podium. They locked eyes with Villain for an infinitesimal moment, conveying as much sorrow as they dared.

“From this day forward, the League declares they will no longer imprison high-risk villains.” The crowd gasped, beginning to protest. They silenced as Superhero stepped forward, the friendly crowd-pleaser gone. They winked at Hero and their blood boiled.

“Henceforth,” Hero continued choking on the word, “high-threat villains will be executed on sight. Anyo–” Everyone struggled over each other to voice their thoughts. Loudly. Some gasped and yelled about the injustice of this rule. Others cheered, throwing their ripped masks in the air. “Anyone–,” Hero tried again over the crowd’s noise, “Anyone found harboring a villain of such criteria will be put on trial in front of their peers and sentenced to a life in prison.” Exhaling they stepped back from the mic. Their boss gave an approving nod.

Hero searched the crowd one last time for Villain. They stood as still as a statue in a sea of chaos, their face settling into a quiet rage.

Hero made their choice then.

“Citizens!” Hero called, stepping back up to the podium. They saw their boss shift forward in the corner of their vision. “The Leagues new protocol is barbaric.” The crowd silenced. The League behind them started forward. “It is injustice disguised as protection. So I ask you; are we any better than villains if we offer them no opportunity to speak for themselves?” The Hero paused surveying the faces of the crowd, then the league. “I will not fight for a corrupt system.” They watched Villain smile before retreating to the back of the crowd. Hero locked eyes with their boss. “Consider this my resignation.”

All hell broke loose as Hero stepped off the stage. The crowd chanted profanities at the League, throwing their signs and masks and trying to climb onto the stage.

None of it mattered as Hero elbowed their way through the crowd towards Villain.

[of-wildflowers-and-stars]

#4

“Type them in. Now.” Villain nudged the gun lazily against the back of Hero’s head

“Would you stop that?” Hero exclaimed, throwing their arms up and spinning the chair around to face the Villain. “I’m not the tech person in the Agency, ok!”

One side of Villain’s mouth twitched. They pressed the gun into Hero’s forehead. “Hm, what a shame. After all your life depends on it.”

Grumbling, Hero turned back around. It would have been a lot easier if Villain had just taken the codes Hero gave them earlier, but no. Villain had demanded that Hero type them into the computer system. ‘Just to test them out,’ they’d said.

Hero typed another string of numbers into the computer, and yet again the error tone sounded.

“I’m beginning to believe you don’t know the codes, love,” Villain drawled against their ear, ceaselessly bored.

The truth was, Hero had made those codes up. They did not remember any of the Agency’s manual codes, everything used fingerprints. They would never admit that though. They rather liked their hands with all their fingers.

“It’s not my fault! You have a weird keyboard,” Hero bit the inside of their cheek, typing in another series of numbers.

“A weird keyboard?” Villain sounded mildly amused. After almost an hour of bored threats, this amused them?

“Yes! It's not standard. How can you boast such a high-tech facility when you have this keyboard.” Another strand of numbers.

“This is the highest tech facility you will find in this city. Of course it’s standard.” The gun slipped a centimeter down the Hero’s head.

“No, it’s not. It’s a foreign keyboard,” Hero continued. “But I understand, it can be cheaper to buy foreign tech.”

“Cheaper!” The Villain laughed and Hero knew they’d annoyed them. “Love, I assure you it was not cheap and it is standard!”

The Hero typed the last series of numbers into the computer and was rewarded with the sounds of alarms.

“See Villain,” Hero whirled around in the chair to see a shocked and angry Villain, “It’s clearly not standard!” The Hero kicked the chair forward, knocking the gun out of Villain's hand. Then they ran.

[of-wildflowers-and-stars]

Through a Crowd (#3)

part 2, part 3

Hero knew the day would come when Villain was defeated and thrown behind bars. They’d prepared for it. They would have turned a blind eye as Villain was dragged away, then they would have congratulated their colleagues and joined in the celebrations. They would have been just as shocked and outraged as their colleagues when Villain broke out, never raising any suspicion.

But justice was not served the way it always had been.

Instead, they watched Superhero beat Villain to a pulp on live tv before the camera was destroyed in the fight. The news anchors giddily announced a few minutes later that VIllain was defeated once and for all. Their boss had barged into their office not an hour later to throw the death report and a speech on Hero’s desk. “For your previous violations of the League’s policies by…involvement with the late Villain,” the boss had said. Hero didn't give a reaction and their boss didn't stay long enough to look for one. “Your probation period will be over and your status reinstated after the completion of the speech.”

That had been six hours ago. Now Hero stood, in shock, in front of a podium in the city square, a raucous crowd cheering before them. They were all dressed in poor remakes of the Villain’s costume, artfully torn and stained to replicate Villain’s final moments. 

They swallowed a lump in their throat and raised their arms. The crowd hushed. “Citizens!” They shouted into the mic. “Today, justice has triumphed over villainy!” The crowd roared. Hero gestured to the League behind them and Superhero stepped forward on the stage. “This morning Superhero fought valiantly against the evil in this city. Vil-.” they cleared their throat, covering up the voice crack as discreetly as possible, “VIllain was defeated once and for all and proclaimed dead on the scene of their latest and final crime.”

The crowd erupted, surging towards the stage. Towards Superhero. Hero betrayed no emotion, only observing the sea of Villain knock-offs.

Someone in the crowd shouted Hero’s name. Glancing in that direction they saw another person in Villain’s costume waving. This person’s costume was unlike the rest of the crowd’s, without rips or fake bloodstains.

Hero stared at the person’s face. The person stopped waving and one side of their mouth lifted. Hero’s expression faltered, threatening to give under the wave of relief washing through them.

Villain was alive.

Here’s the prompt I used by the lovely @elliegotistic

[of-wildflowers-and-stars]

#2

I’m sitting in my room staring at the field below. It is bathed in the fiery gold and amber tones of sunset. Fireflies have just begun to flit through the underbrush of the treeline. I press my face against the cold glass, longing to feel the sun on my face once more before its gone.

Its pointless though.

I shouldn't go outside this close to dark but I risk it, sneaking out the back door. I duck past the windows and onto the small crest of the clearing where the sun is the warmest. Laying in the brush I close my eyes feeling sun as it dips below the horizon and darkness shrouds my sight.

I hear heavy footsteps just before a foot collides with my leg and a person lands on top of me. Shouts in the distance ring out over the hills and the person freezes.

“Get off!” I shove them but they clap a hand over my mouth, shushing feverishly.

The shouts are growing closer and I turn in their direction. I freeze. The inn at the bottom of the hill is in flames. Silhouetted figures run in every direction, some unmoving, and some much, much closer to us.

The ones closest to us, I realize, carry torches, metal gleaming on them in the fire light as they shout unknown words.

I grab the strangers hand and crawl closer to the treeline, ducking as the group walks across my yard. Towards my house. They shout for a person I don't know to come out, spitting all sorts of curses. I am glued to my hiding place in the bushes.

“We have to go now,” the stranger tugs my arm.

One of the party throws a rock through my window, where I had been sitting only an hour ago. I can’t move. I watch as a torch is thrown, spinning end over end in a smooth arc. I watch as it lands in my bedroom. I watch as my home bursts into flames.

A high-pitched, strangled noise fills the air. It takes a moment for me to realize its coming from me. Another moment and I realize the stranger has my arms pinned behind me and a hand over my mouth.

The group of arsonists has turned in our direction.

The stranger releases me, breathing one word in my ear, “Run.”  

[of-wildflowers-and-stars]

#1

Do it, Determination whispered down the length of her spear. Do it, he echoed from her target. Her enemy's chest. The girl suspected Determination was born of Revenge and Anger, though she doubted that he would ever admit to his heritage. Do it, he repeated, one hand posed to guide her spear.

No, do not do it, Hesitation spoke. Hesitation was of noble birth, her parents being Mercy and Peace. She was cousins to Respect and Compassion and bore their features subtly. Do not do it, she tugged on the girl's sleeve. What will this solve? 

Everything, Hesitation was interrupted by Determination. Do it, and the war will end. Do it, and no more children will cry out in the night. Do it, and your people can cleanse themselves in the blood of their enemies.

And what of their people? Hesitation countered. Will not the suffering only be passed to them? Will their children not cry out in the night? Will they not be forced into a bath of their own blood? And why?

The girl let Hesitation drag her arm lower.

Whatever happens to them they will have brought on themselves. Sacrifice is the price of war. Do it, and your people will be free. Do it, and you will have prevented a murderer from continuing its work. Determination turned to Hesitation, Would you want this vile person to commit such heinous deeds, Hesitation?

Hesitation let go of the girl, pausing for a split second to ponder her answer.

It was a split second too long.

In that time, Determination had guided the girls' hands back up. The girl put all her momentum into the spear, preparing to throw it.

Which person? Hesitation breathed.

It was too late.

The girl released.

Her aim landed true.