Between The Pages

I open the book to chapter seven and stick my nose between the pages. I inhale the sweet musty smell and nostalgia fills my lungs. The book’s scent takes me to another world entirely and suddenly I’m sitting in a meadow. I wear a long white summer dress and my hair is braided in a ponytail that hangs down my back. The meadow is filled with thousands of flowers that vary in color and scent. I take a deep breath and let the sweet scent of honeysuckle seep into my body. I close my eyes and slowly lay back in the flowers, letting the sun soak into my skin. Here is where I am at peace.
                “Katie what are you doing?” Suddenly I’m snapped back into the library. Marcus stares at me in confusion. “I’m smelling this book. You can tell a lot about a book just by its smell you know..” Marcus smirks at me. “Okay whatever you wanna do Katie Cat.” He chuckles before walking to the next isle over. I can feel my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I close Pride and Prejudice and place it back on the shelf, gently stroking the spine before I walk away. “Marcus, I thought I told you not to call me that!” I yell at him from around the shelf. He sticks his head out from between the two shelves down from me.
“Hmm…I don’t remember you saying anything like that.” He says stroking a beard that doesn’t exist on his chin, pretending to think. “Surrreee you don’t!” I say grabbing a book that doesn’t belong on this certain shelf. “Here take this, It goes over in romance.” I walk up to him and hand him the book. For just a minute he looks into my eyes and my stomach goes crazy with butterflies. “Okay Katie Cat whatever you say.” He smiles wide, knowing how much the name annoys me. I gently punch his arm before he takes the book and walks over to romance.
                 I stand there trying to recuperate myself, trying hard to pretend like the butterflies in my stomach don’t exist. Marcus comes back a second later and grabs me by the waste, pulling me into a kiss. At first I’m shocked, but soon the shock melts into bliss. He smells musky like the books in the library and sweet like vanilla. It’s the most intoxicating scent I’ve ever smelled and it urges me to kiss him harder. He pulls away for a second, his forehead still touching mine and his lips barely touching mine. “I could kiss you until the stars stop shining.” I say, trying to catch my breath. He smiles and says “Okay Katie Cat, whatever you want.” And presses his lips to mine. 

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Challenge: Write a story based off of a scent

Ink's story has been taken down for editing.

Challenge #36

Hello Everyone!

Hope you are having a blast for your weekend! Welp, the challenge for this week is pretty nifty. The challenge is to write a story based off of a scent! Smell something and write a story about where that smell takes you . . . Or something like that.

If you would like to join us for Fan Friday and submit something of your own, please do! Just e-mail us your submission at inkedfeathersfink@gmail.com! Remember, you don't have to send us a story, you can send us anything creative that you have made specifically for this challenge!


See you all on Wednesday!

Fan Friday!

An Unfortunate End to Life as I Knew it:

“I think we did something wrong,” I said.

“We just stole a car and ran over Fred.”

“It’s not that bad,” replied Bob.

But over his shoulder, I saw a mob.

With torches and pitchforks the raging folk came

Complete with angry orange glow, courtesy of flame.

I saw with the wood hatchet, mom and pop.

Even they wanted to give my head a chop!

Like all people with common sense,

Bob and I ran, and hopped the fence

We thought that no one could catch us.

But then we got too hapless.

We made it to the forest and planned to live there

When we ran headfirst into a bear

I started to run, but Bob had just had enough

He faced the bear and tried to look tough.

Bob actually tried to put up a fight

But the bear swung once, and put out his light.

Bob was dragged off into its cave.

At least I can say that he died brave.

So then I hid in this mining shaft

Slowly but surely going completely daft.

Tomorrow I’ll have been here for my twentieth year,

So please don’t tell anyone you found me here!

-Josh

The Capable Cannibal

The Capable Cannibal walked on home. His briefcase was full with a little more than foam. He had human organs, and human limbs, and he even had the brain of his twin Jim.

            All these and more he was adding to his collection, all of which was three Corrections away. The first Correction he had to pass in order to get home to his collection, was one of memorization.  

            The Correction of Memorization was fond of the Capable Cannibal. He always seemed to be able. So upon knocking on the door of the Correction, a small white haired man opened the door and beamed, “Mr. Cannibal! How nice it was for you to come, of course it’s not like you had a choice. Come, come, meet Lindsay and Bennetts, our two new attendants.  Lindsay is from Bendsay, and Bennetts is from Kennets. Lindsay has four cousins, Mark and Peter and Joseph and Roz. Bennetts has two sisters, Shirley and Bora. Have you remembered everything?”

            “Of course! I am the Capable Cannibal, after all. This is Lindsay and Bennetts, your two new attendants.  Lindsay is from Bendsay, and Bennetts is from Kennets. Lindsay has four cousins who are Mark, Peter, Joseph and Roz, while Bennetts has two sisters, Shirley and Boz.”

            The white haired man applauded and allowed the Capable Cannibal through the house and towards the second Correction. The second Correction, just a few steps away, was the Correction of Invention. In order to pass through here, the passerby would need to invent a fresh new lie. It was Cannibal’s favorite confection.

            The Correction of Invention was passed an Anime Convention. On his way through, Cannibal hacked down a Doctor Who crew. He would have gone for a hobbit, but darn it, he just couldn’t find the right poppit. So when he knocked on the door of the second Correction, a withered hand signaled him forward. He knew what it wanted, and knew it was bored, and told the old nut that he was United States American President Ford. He listed off facts, and small bits of trivia, anything really, that sealed this little scenery.

            The withered hand waved Cannibal in, and in he did go. Through the dark little house that seemed empty and low. Once through there was only one Correction left, the Correction of Deception, and this was Cannibal’s last bow.

            This was the place that kept him from home, this was the place that might leave him to roam. The Correction of Deception was a real hard place to enter, or leave for that matter. And it was the one place that many people feared to go. But Capable Cannibal knew the risk and the reward, and he was sure he would find everything in his gourd.

            Before knocking on the door, a black cloaked figure opened it wide. A bone white hand gesturing inside. A withered face smiled and seemed to have much more time to bide. Capable Cannibal walked right on in, he gave them a deception that would convince for a bill. Unfortunately, this was the end of the line, Capable Cannibal was found to be fine. Fine enough to stand trial, find enough to take responsibility, and fine enough to pay for his crimes. 

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challenge is write a story based of Dr. Suess
Feather's Story is taken down for editing

Challenge #35

Hello everyone!


So, this challenge is gonna be super hard! Why? Because it is to write something with a Doctor Seuss Theme! That's right, we are going to try and write with the great Doc in mind!

Want to join us for Fan Friday? Please do! Send your submissions to us at inkedfeathersfink@gmail.com! You can send us anything as long as it relates to the challenge of the week! C'mon, you know you want to draw us as little who's from whoville.

See you all on Wednesday!

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Challenge: Write a story based off of a tree's meaning.

Ink's story has been taken down for editing.

Protector

“Look! There’s the witch!” The girl whispered to her friend. Margaret kept her head down as she walked, trying to ignore the girls. They pointed at her and laughed like she couldn't hear. Margaret sighed and walked faster toward her house. When she got home she was gasped at what she saw.
Spray painted in big red letters on her door was the words “Stupid Witch, Dumb Bitch.” Margaret began to cry. She slumped to the floor in anguish, sobbing on her front porch. The whole town thought she was a witch because she had purple eyes, dark curly hair, and sometimes wore mismatched socks. It aggravated her to know end. She wasn’t a witch, she was just different.
                The next morning Margaret was on her knees washing the red paint off her door. It began to stain her hands red, making it look like blood instead of paint. She tried scrubbing her hands, but they stayed red. “Why can’t I ever catch a break?” She thought to herself.
“Hello.” Came a voice from behind Margaret, making her jump. Margaret whipped around to face tall women with long brown hair and almond shaped eyes. Her pupils were the same color as Margaret’s; a deep violet.
“Uh can I help you?” Asked Margaret. The women smiled.
“Tsk darling, how can I help you?” Margaret stared at the women in confusion.
The women gestured to the door; the red words were smeared, but still visible.
“You seem like you’re having trouble.” She said. Margaret sighed.
“Yeah…kinda. You’re not from around here are you?” Margaret asked. She looked at the women’s clothes. They were long and dark, too dark for this hot weather and yet women seemed unfazed.
                “How could you tell?” The women smiled, looking down at her clothes. She gave a light laugh before stepping closer toward Margaret. “Listen Margaret dear-“
“Whoa, how do you know my name?” Margaret interrupted. The women ignored her, and continued on.
“Listen Margaret, I know how to help you.” The women slipped her hand inside her pocket, revealing a tiny brown and green seed.
“This is the seed of an Ash Tree. Plant it in your front yard and you will gain protection. No longer will you have to suffer from name calling or hurtful people.” The women said. Her eyes almost seemed to glow while she spoke. Margaret was enchanted. She nodded and took the seed from the women’s hand.
In one blink the women was gone, and Margaret stood alone on her front porch with nothing but the seed of the Ash Tree.

                That night when the sun had gone down and the air was cooler, Margaret planted the seed in her front yard. “Please help me, I just want to be treated like everyone else.” She whispered to the seed before packing dirt on top of it.

                Months and months went by and still nothing changed around town. Margaret wasn’t surprised; the tree hadn’t even sprouted yet. She knew trees took a long time to grow, but hoped the seed would at least help. She watered it every day, and at night she was sit on the grass and read by candle light next to it. She would even whisper secrets and wishes to the seed.
                One day when Margaret went to water the seed. She filled up her watering can and walked over to the spot that she had fenced around the seed. She gasped, dropping the can to floor. A young man laid naked where she had planted the seed. He was sleeping on top of the now broken fence.
                “Who the hell do you think you are?!” Margaret screamed. The young man awoke suddenly and jumped to his feet. He was very tall. “Put some clothes on will ya?” She said averting her eyes.
“I’mSorryI’mSorryI’mSorry” The young man said quickly. He ran over and picked up the water can, using it as coverage.
“Who are you and why are you on my front porch?” Margaret asked. The boy smiled wide, one eye was the brightest green Margaret had ever seen and the other was a dark golden brown.
“My name is Ash and I’m here to help.” He said. Margaret’s eyes went wide with realization. She had to be going crazy, because something like this wasn’t possible. But the more she thought about it, and how weird that women was, the more it seemed to make sense. Margaret looked closely at the boy’s face. His hair was a dark brown, almost black. But she could see that some of the strands were ivy green.
She sighed, letting her jaw fall open in amazement.
“And how is a naked boy, who is apparently also a living tree, going to help me?” Margaret asked.
Ash looked at her with a serious expression, stepping closer.
“I am your protector Margaret. I have been since the day you planted me in the ground. No one will ever call you a bad name, no one will ever hurt you again. I care more about you than anything in this whole entire world and from this day on, it will be my mission to make you the happiest girl on this earth.”

Challenge #34

Hello everyone!

Having a good Summer? I know I am!

The challenge for this week is to write a story around a Tree's Meaning. Choose a type of tree, find the meaning, write about it.

If you would like to join us for this challenge, please do! Submit art, poetry, a short story, anything! As long as it incorporates this theme! We will post whatever you send us on Fan Friday! Just e-mail us at inkedfeathersfink@gmail.com!

See you all on Wednesday!

Full Moons Bring Zombies

            I sat staring at the screen of my laptop, like I had been doing for the past six hours, making sure my sims were all in line and doing what I wanted them to do. Maranda, my sim self, was about to die in six days due to old age, but since she had that death flower thing, I wasn’t all that worried about her. Morgan, her daughter, had just gotten married to Fluffs, her imaginary friend. Sadly, Morgan doesn’t know that Fluffs wants her dead so that she can have all the simoleons to herself. Yup. Fluffs had the Gold Digger Lifetime Wish. Poor Morgan, and I had been looking forward to seeing all of the tricks Magicians had first hand. Luckily, Morgan’s brother, John, was about to move out, so I wouldn’t have to deal with him being a big pile of wuss when the deed was done.

            A howl and notification reminded me that tonight was a full moon in game. This meant that my frozen plants, it’s Winter in game, were about to get eaten because there was no way that I was going to allow my sims outside their home. And then I heard a loud ‘BOOM’ outside, some idiot had gone and hit the transistor again. I sat in my chair, trying to remember where I had put the flashlight when the power in the apartment, and the entire apartment complex, flipped off like someone had just turn off a tv. Everything was black, except my laptop. Which, for some reason, had my sims all looking up. Which was odd, because they were all supposed to be doing something other than that.

            Maranda was supposed to be calling over the next chess champion so that she could defeat him, Morgan was supposed to be calling the adoption services so that she could adopt a child, Fluffs was supposed to be at the computer writing a book titled, “Space Spy”, and John was supposed to be calling the job center to get a job in the Singer field. Instead, they were all looking up. I moved the camera, to see if the game was frozen, but it moved just fine, and the time on the game’s clock was still counting up. But it was odd, wherever I moved the camera, the eyes and heads moved with it.

            “Well . . . This must be a sign to stop . . . Might as well with the power being shut off . . .” I mumbled to myself, lifting myself out of my green swivel chair just to feel an electric jolt on my right arm. Looking down, I could see the arm of one of my sims, Fluffs, coming out of the laptop’s screen on holding onto my arm. She looked pissed. And then she yanked me in. Sure, you wouldn’t expect me to fit into the screen, but then you wouldn’t expect something to come out like the little girl from ‘The Ring’ either.

           

            Landing on top of Fluffs  in the study room, I knew I was in trouble. After all, I had either fallen asleep while playing the game and would soon wake up to dead sims and have to stop playing for a long time because reality had seeped into my dreams, or I was actually in The Sims 3. If I was in The Sims 3, well, I hoped the power would go back on soon. If not, my laptop would shut down after about two hours because of its craptastic battery power. This would mean that I would probably be stuck here for eternity and die. Which isn’t a bad thing if you think about the pros and cons of it all.

            Pulling myself up, I looked down at Fluffs with a face that looked like Mickey Rourke;s from Sin City. She scrambled up and pointed at me, speaking in Simlish and I had no idea what she was saying. The speech bubbles on top of her head helped a bit. The first one as a picture of me, the second one was of Morgan, and the third one was a flame. Oh. Well then.

            Fluffs made a gesture, a finger moving between the two of us and then she pointed in the direction of Morgan, who was on the phone calling for a baby girl. Shit . . . Fluffs wanted to kill Morgan now. I, myself, was going to wait for the two kids, for the adoptacy challenge, to be in the house before I even tried killing Morgan off. But Fluffs wanted the cash now. I mean, She would also have to see Morgan’s ghost, at which point I was probably going to have her kill herself from guilt . . . But Fluffs didn’t know about that. How could she? Her goal was to kill her wealthy wife and get all that moolah. She probably didn’t even know Morgan was on the phone getting them a bundle of pink joy at that very moment.

            I nodded, hoping that Fluffs would send me back as soon the deed was done. But then some complications ensued. Before we could even devise a plan of attack, I was thinking starvation while Fluffs seemed to have her heart set on fire, we heard a shout and looked out the window to the front of the house. Some fairy with red and black wings, probably working as paparazzi, was getting attacked by a zombie.

            I had yet to try zombie invasion mode, mostly because I haven’t been curious enough to try it, but it looked like that was what we were about to do. I looked at Fluffs, Fluffs looked at me, and we nodded. First, we had to get Morgan out of the house, then we had to lock the doors so she couldn’t get in. Now, I knew a zombie death wasn’t an actual death, but Fluffs was new to this world, thinking toilets and super old food from a super cheap fridge were all miraculous and amazing. So, luring Morgan outside with the idea of snowball fighting, Fluffs got her outside. Then she ran back inside and locked all the doors.

            Soon enough, we saw Morgan get attacked. Fluffs smiled, it was really creepy considering she had been Morgan’s imaginary friend and then lover. Once we saw Morgan fall down into the ground, I tapped Fluffs on the shoulder and pointed to the computer, and then to me. I needed to get back home. But Fluffs didn’t stop with that creepy ass smile as she nodded. And I felt like I was going to die by electrocution as she pulled me to the computer. The screen showed my room on the other side of it, so maybe she was sending me home, but with the way she acts, there’s really no way to tell. And then the screen went black, and we stopped walking up to it, because we couldn’t move ourselves. I felt frozen in place, like someone had actually hit the pause button. And then the room went black.

            Guess the battery died.

What is this Tron?!

My brother always told me I should never leave the playstation on when I’m not using it. I now realize why.

                I was playing the new tomb raider. A very fast paced, adrenaline filled game. The graphics were so real, and everything was a challenge. I was doing my best as Laura Croft to get through each mission without dying. I played all the way into the night, I was hooked like a junkie. But soon my eyelids began to droop and I knew it was time for bed. So I saved the game, but in my dreary state I forgot to turn the playstation off and that’s when my troubles began.

                It was so cold, maybe the air conditioning was on full blast. I search around for my blanket, but instead I find wet sand. Immediately I shoot up into a sitting position. I’m on a beach and I have no idea how I got here. It’s dark and rainy and the sea is in a frenzy. I began to panic each breath coming faster than the last. I can feel my heartbeat practically bursting out of my chest. This isn’t right, why am I on a beach? How did I get on this beach. Soon everything starts to look suspiciously familiar. This isn’t just and ordinary beach, this is the Island from Tomb Raider. I stand up and begin to walk around. Everything is just like the game. But it can’t be..it has to be a dream.
                “Don’t move or I’ll shoot!” A female voice yells from behind me. I know that voice, it’s the same voice I’ve been hearing for the past couple days.
                “I’m sorry..I’m not here to hurt you! My boat crashed and I’ve drifted to shore.” I lie. I can hear her inching closer and closer to me. Laura puts the end of her gun against the back of my head.
“Do you think I’m stupid?! I know you’re lying.” She says with her famous british accent.
                “If I tell you the truth you’re not going to believe me, you’ll shoot me!” I can’t help but begin to cry. I don’t want to die in a video game, what if I don’t get another chance? Or a second life?
“Try me.” She says. I sigh, wiping a tear from my eye. She pushes the gun harder against my head.
“I said don’t move!” She yells. I cry out. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!! Okay here’s the truth. I’m not from this world. This is all a video game. You’re a video game character!” I know after that I say it that she’s not going to believe me. She’s going to kill me right here and I’m not gonna come back for a second chance.
But she’s starts laughing. A long high pitched laugh that makes my eyes go wide.
“Well no shit Sherlock! I’m the Tomb Raider and this isn’t my first rodeo. I got sucked into this video game ages ago and I’ve been surviving ever since. I gotta say, I do like my new design though.” She lowers her gun and turns me around.
“Listen girl, I’ve been trying for years to get out of this game. I’m sorry to tell you this, but there is no way out. You’re trapped in this game with me.”
Instead of crying, I yell at the top of my lungs “WHAT THE FUCK?! THIS IS JUST LIKE TRON OR SOME SHIT!!?”

Challenge #33

Hello everyone!

The challenge for this week is to write a story about getting sucked into a video game. Literally. O_O

If you would like to try your hand it this challenge and share it with everyone, please do! You can send us something even if it isn't a story! Just email it to us at inkedfeathersfink@gmail.com! We will post your creations on Friday for Fan Friday!

See you all on Wednesday!

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Challenge: Write a story around a holiday

Ink's story has been taken down for editing.

Deja Vu

“It’s going to be different this year.” He told himself, pouring champagne into a thin glass. It was 11:00 pm and soon it would be a new year, a new him. His whole life would change soon, he wouldn’t be here anymore. He wouldn’t be himself anymore.
“Calvin, what are your new year’s resolutions?” Patricia came up behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to face her and smirked. “Oh I don’t know..I don’t usually believe in those kinds of things.” He said. Patricia chuckled, taking a sip from her wine glass. The wine stained her pink lips red.
“Oh come on Calvin, you have to one resolution!” She asked smiling. Her face was already flushed from too much wine.
“My new year’s resolution is…is to not be afraid of what’s to come.” He said with a sigh. Patricia’s smile faded for a second before someone called her name. She gave Calvin one last look before walking across the room.
                It was 11:30 pm and everyone was dancing, talking, and enjoying themselves. Calvin was outside of the New York apartment, looking at the sky with his fourth drink in hand. The wind bit his cheeks and spread goosebumps across his body. But he refused to go back inside to a life he’d have to give away soon. He checked his watch and sighed. It was thirty minutes before the New Year. Calvin took a big gulp of his drink before looking over the balcony at the ground below. People were in the streets celebrating the New Year before it had even begun.
“Calvin?” He turned around to find Alice. She was striking in a dark emerald dress, her red hair seemed like it was on fire. He took a deep breath.
“Alice.” He smiled. She looked around before stepping onto the balcony.
“What the hell are you doing out here?” She asked wrapping her arms around herself, trying to keep warm. Calvin took off his jacket and handed it to her. “I’m just enjoying the view before…” Alice looked at him confused. “Before what?” She asked. He sighed and pulled her closer to him. She didn’t resist, instead looking up at him. She was so beautiful tonight, like she was every night since he met her last year. “When the new year comes…will you be the first one I kiss?” He asked. She blushed and looked down at the floor.
“I don’t know about that…” She teased. He looked at his watch again. It was 11:45 and somehow time seemed to go even quicker now that she was here.
“Listen Alice…when the new year comes..I just want you know that I’m sorry.” He said. She looked back up at him, her smile replaced with a frown. “What do you mean Calvin?” She asked.
He couldn’t help it, he began to cry. Every year he’d gone without incident, never getting to attached to anyone. Then she came along with her hair like fire and her eyes like the night sky.
“Calvin what’s wrong?” She tried to comfort him.
“I just don’t understand why it has to be me.” He said his voice cracking. He turned from her embrace towards the balcony’s edge.
“Why did you bring me HERE?” He yelled over the edge. Alice was in a panic now, trying to plead with him to step away from the edge.
“Calvin I think you’ve had too much to drink..” But he didn’t move away. He stared down at the people below and then his gaze moved to the ball in the distance. The year read 1986. He didn’t know if he’d go forward or if he’d go back. He didn’t know who he would be this time, it was always different. But for once in his life, he wanted to stay. He wanted to stay in 1986 and watch the world grow. He wanted to kiss Alice and start a life with her.
“Please Calvin..you’re scaring me!” She yelled. He looked down at his watch 11:59. People began the countdown. The streets were filled with voices counting backwards. He looked at Alice one last time, her red hair becoming blurry through his tears. Four. Three. Two. “Goodbye Alice.” He said. One.
               
                It was 2013, 12:00 am and Calvin was no longer Calvin, he was now Alexa Luxburg.
It was a new year, a new body, a new time. He had to assume this life and forget the old one. Because that’s what his life is, because he is a Deja. A person who lives their lives through time and other’s eyes.