u/Ecyrb_Writes

Stop crying; five was an adequate age to die.

My tears fall up as I fall down; I always thought the sky was beautiful. It was foolish to volunteer for this; my allegiance to my King is my downfall. My King was envious of the beast's wealth and wanted it executed. He promised never-ending riches and goodness to whoever ended the creature. The quest was told as a challenge, the most difficult one I might ever face, yet I was the first to saddle up. As soon as the fellowship and I were prepared, we set off on a four-day ride.

​

We arrived at the lair, and the charred bones and burnt flesh immediately made us sick; there were insignias of our own kingdom scattered around. Many of my men decided that was enough for them; the cowards couldn’t handle it; they didn’t have enough loyalty. We trudged forward with our boots and hearts heavy for our fallen comrades; scorched for fun rather than food. Soon we heard it…a heavy, horrendous breathing, sulfur and ash filled our noses; it was asleep.

​

​I walked as quietly as I could across its hoard, inching closer by the second. The dragon was unaware of the sword I unsheathed, unaware of the danger that I am. I had my blade positioned right above its closed eye, one clean stab, and riches beyond my comprehension were mine! I tried to plunge my blade into its skull, only for it to shatter from the scaled eyelid. It rose in an instant and slammed my campaign into the wall with its tail; they all died faster than I could scream. The disdain the monster showed me was dreadful. It let out a breath of steam before grabbing me in its mouth and launching me skyward.

My tears fall up as I fall down; I always thought the sky was beautiful. It was foolish to volunteer for this; my allegiance to my King is my downfall. My King was envious of the beast's wealth and wanted it executed. He promised never-ending riches and goodness to whoever ended the creature. The quest was told as a challenge, the most difficult one I might ever face, yet I was the first to saddle up. As soon as the fellowship and I were prepared, we set off on a four-day ride.

​

We arrived at the lair, and the charred bones and burnt flesh immediately made us sick; there were insignias of our own kingdom scattered around. Many of my men decided that was enough for them; the cowards couldn’t handle it; they didn’t have enough loyalty. We trudged forward with our boots and hearts heavy for our fallen comrades; scorched for fun rather than food. Soon we heard it…a heavy, horrendous breathing, sulfur and ash filled our noses; it was asleep.

​

​I walked as quietly as I could across its hoard, inching closer by the second. The dragon was unaware of the sword I unsheathed, unaware of the danger that I am. I had my blade positioned right above its closed eye, one clean stab, and riches beyond my comprehension were mine! I tried to plunge my blade into its skull, only for it to shatter from the scaled eyelid. It rose in an instant and slammed my campaign into the wall with its tail; they all died faster than I could scream. The disdain the monster showed me was dreadful. It let out a breath of steam before grabbing me in its mouth and launching me skyward.

Please stop screaming dear.
Flawed and utterly broken.
You only need one.

She dwells in the darkest abyss
With the most petrifying smile
Can't be human, something's amiss
Heart drops and stomach loses bile

Her lake's full of women and men
She dwells in the darkest abyss
The sun's falling, she'll come again 
She's malicious, you can't dismiss

She'll charm you with a song or kiss
She'll eat your liver and your heart
She dwells in the darkest abyss
With a laugh she'll rip you apart

Killing folk for years, an ancient threat
She'll steal your soul and take your bliss
I hope you die with no regret
She dwells in the darkest abyss

The door was unlocked
I’m sure you wish I knocked
The fear on your face
Don’t run; I hate the chase

Too bad you live alone
I’ll make broth out of bone
Did you just call me cruel
I’ll cut out your tongue fool

Now hush up and quiet down
Your blood will make you drown
I’m being nice to you
Your very life is through

Keep your eyes open
I want to see when you’ve broken
They’re windows to your soul
Mine is blacker than coal

Play time’s over; I'm bored
Do you want the knife or the cord
Woops, I forgot you can’t speak

Now who’s my victim next week

You elate!
Joy Floods!
I can't wait! 
Gorgeous like rose buds!

A tree on a hill
For 10 years
Couldn’t stay still
Happiness ends in tears

As I peer up to where we were supposed to meet my heart and the basket drop. There's blood everywhere, the petals were supposed to be pink not red. I lunge to you the tears I had from joy turn to those of fear. Why are you bleeding? Why are you cold? Why won’t you answer me? I look around in a frenzy, looking for who did this, looking for a way to fix this. Why did this happen! Blood stains my hands and your loss stains my heart.

I can’t die.

Burnt neck with a bulging eye

Pain beyond comprehension

Reaper, bring me to your dimension

​

You can’t die?

You’re this country's greatest ally

Go fight for our people

Reaper, we can wipe out all evil

​

She can’t die!!!

Her blood's all but dry

I stabbed her countless times

Reaper, return for my crimes

​

They can’t die…

Why did you all try

When I leave for a day

Reaper, the world's in dismay

It’s dark. I'm suffocating in the dank room. I'm strapped to this table, flipped upside down, and have been for who knows how long. The blood rushing to my head makes it hard to focus or even think; what do I do? A door opens, but I can’t see where from or who it could be. Screaming for help is the only thing I can do.

​What a fool I was. Obviously, the person who walks into a pitch-black room without a word isn’t here to save me. He gagged me with a fucking rag, and quiet as a corpse, pulled a scalpel from his pocket. My skin tearing apart was the most excruciating thing I’ve ever experienced; the rust had dulled the blade, making the incision agony. I hope he goes for my neck next time… but I know he won't; that would be too quick for him.

Another arrow flies and hits the wand; another flawless shot. Soul-crushing boredom, I wish something exciting would happen to me once. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been perfect and always have been. While grateful for what my parents, the king and queen, have given me, I can't help but want some excitement in my life.

​

When I grow sick of archery “practice,” I pack my things and wake Jericho, my horse; it is almost sundown after all. As we canter back home, a ride taken hundreds of times, I feel a sense of unease. It’s the first time I feel such a way, a pressure upon my very soul. I urge Jericho onwards, as soon as I climb the final hill, my heart drops.

​

Unbearable stench. That's the only way I can describe my people as the fires spread. I push Jericho as fast as he can towards home when a spear comes out of nowhere and pierces his skull. As if I have wings, I’m thrown from his body and yanked from the mud as a group of raiders surround me, cheering; it seems they know I’m the prince.

​

They have me tied to a post in their camp and gagged, saying I was squawking like a parrot. They have me held hostage, hoping to draw my parents out or to have them surrender. My whole life, I’ve never had to question what to do; things always work out for the best. I wish my parents would come out with a white banner. I wish our knights were storming to save me now. I wish for anything better than this. Soon enough, their leader comes out with a sword and a smile; I guess we don't always get what we wish for.

Glamorous Girl, a daughter
Boisterous Boy, a son
Dirty Dog, spotted pooch
Prodigious Partner, a wife
Dutiful Dad, a husband full of love

Graved Girl, dead at 9
Buried Boy, last year of college
Decaying Dog, head crushed
Pained Partner, suicidal ever since
Dutiful Dad, a husband full of love

Glamorous Girl, a daughter
Boisterous Boy, a son
Dirty Dog, spotted pooch
Prodigious Partner, a wife
Dutiful Dad, a husband full of love

Graved Girl, dead at 9
Buried Boy, last year of college
Decaying Dog, head crushed
Pained Partner, suicidal ever since
Dutiful Dad, a husband full of love

I secure the last limb to the table; it would be awful if the body fell off during the operation. I calmly grab the scalpel and start at the leg as instructed, “always work your way up.” A scream tells me the gag isn’t tight enough for it.

I secure the last limb to the table; it would be awful if the body fell off during the operation. I calmly grab the scalpel and start at the leg as instructed, “always work your way up.” A scream tells me the gag isn’t tight enough for it.

What am I going to do? The toll it’s taking on the kids is concerning; they hardly smile anymore. I love my wife more than anything, but I just don’t know what to do. I’ve sat by her side for weeks now, I’m missing work, and the kids are missing school. I need to figure something out. We talk day in and day out, often with tears, about how when she gets better, we’re going to go on a trip and forget all this ever happened. She’s sleeping now; it takes all my willpower not to scoop her up, kiss her, and run away with her. I sit down on the chair I’ve been using as a bed and wistfully look at her sunken face, then at the stacks of bills by her side. My hands come together, and for the first time in my life, I ask for the strength to get through something; thank goodness no one saw that. I feel like a fool. A few hours later, in the dead of night, I caress her face and give her one last kiss before stepping out of the quiet room…what have I done?

What am I going to do? The toll it’s taking on the kids is concerning; they hardly smile anymore. I love my wife more than anything, but I just don’t know what to do. I’ve sat by her side for weeks now, I’m missing work, and the kids are missing school. I need to figure something out. We talk day in and day out, often with tears, about how when she gets better, we’re going to go on a trip and forget all this ever happened. She’s sleeping now; it takes all my willpower not to scoop her up, kiss her, and run away with her. I sit down on the chair I’ve been using as a bed and wistfully look at her sunken face, then at the stacks of bills by her side. My hands come together, and for the first time in my life, I ask for the strength to get through something; thank goodness no one saw that. I feel like a fool. A few hours later, in the dead of night, I caress her face and give her one last kiss before stepping out of the quiet room…what have I done?

You elate!
Joy Floods!
I can't wait! 
Gorgeous like rose buds!

A tree on a hill
For 10 years
Couldn’t stay still
Happiness ends in tears

As I peer up to where we were supposed to meet my heart and the basket drop. There's blood everywhere, the petals were supposed to be pink not red. I lunge to you the tears I had from joy turn to those of fear. Why are you bleeding? Why are you cold? Why won’t you answer me? I look around in a frenzy, looking for who did this, looking for a way to fix this. Why did this happen! Blood stains my hands and your loss stains my heart.

Waiting…
Knife
Night
Alley 
Hiding 

Strolling…
Jewelry
Night 
Alley
Bleeding 

Laughing 

Death.

God, why have you made me this way? The thoughts I have are destructive to myself and others yet all I can do about it is endure alone. I think of harming others and taking what they have. I want nothing more than to see others fall and myself look down upon their meaningless faces. I see myself as a king at the top, by your side, and everyone else bowing before me. These thoughts of mine are sacrilege, I know, yet they persist. It is through the strength you give me that I don’t act on these urges, but even I am approaching my limit. The perseverance you have given me is my only strength, and yet it is my greatest struggle. I often wake up in the mornings in despair, for I must greet another sickening day. You have given me much good, but the wickedness you have laid out for me is far too great a burden. I want to meet you now, my God, I want my rotting body to fail me so I may see you in all your glory. Foolishly, I continue on; for meeting you before my time does come would be a cruel thing, and I do not wish to see you full of sorrow. I will continue living on with the darkness in my head and you in my heart but I fear that soon the darkness will take over your light.

I look at others in envy, I must admit, and feel more sorrow than I ever have before. Have you blessed them more than me? Do you have a favorite child? Have you planned my life for me? What reason would you bring me into this world just to question you or resent the life you have given me? I know one day you answer me; these questions and doubts that have eaten me alive and your goodness will ease me. I simply must know when will those who cause the good to suffer receive penance, my Lord? I have seen countless atrocities on a screen and mere feet away from me. These crimes to you are done by those you have given breath to, and yet they look down on my meaningless face from their golden thrones while I sleep on hardwood floors. This is unfair, my God, it is not my desire to doubt you, but even you must see why I am fed up with this! I ache and stress day in and day out on how to be better for you and those around me, and fail time and time again, but the heathens that murder, rape, and steal live lavishly. I have no plans to do those things, I try to be good by my neighbor and those I cherish but even your most devout follower fails, don't they? I know you can hear me my lord, I know you will save me when the time is right. I rest my weary knees every night to pray to you and as a way to beg for a reason, any reason. If there isn’t a reason then I fear you are simply letting me struggle for nothing. There must be a reason my God, please tell me there is or we will be meeting sooner than you planned.

Waiting…
Knife
Night
Alley 
Hiding 

Strolling…
Jewelry
Night 
Alley
Bleeding 

Laughing 

Death.