Prisca's_Writing_Area

Title: The Sound of Silence
Characters: Mr. Smith
Prompt: sound of silence
Words: 147

:::

Frowning, Smith opened his eyes. Not a nightmare had woken him from sleep today, but something was different. The rain had finally stopped, and a fresh smell of grass and wet soil filled the air. The sun just started to rise from behind the clouds, promising a beautiful day.

Smith sat up. It was not that. He listened hard. Nothing! Silence!

Since he woke up on the shore of the lake months ago, the booming voice had been in his head. He had tried to ignore it at first, but no one could escape God's voice. It was omnipresent, every hour, every minute. Every day and every night.

And now – silence. Smith relaxed and smiled. He wasn't sure if this was a good or a bad omen. But for the moment, he didn't care. He would enjoy the sound of silence as long as it lasted.

Title: Sign of Trouble
Characters: Mister Smith, Kurdy Malloy
Prompt: any / any / first sign of trouble
Words: 479

:::

Kurdy frowned. „What's this supposed to mean? You don't have a past?“

The little guy beside him shrugged. „Well, I guess I have one, but I can't remember. One morning I did wake up and all my memories were gone.“

„That's kinda strange.“

„A lot in my life is strange. Like the voice in my head who insists that it's God talking with me because I am his messenger.“

Kurdy hit the brakes, and the old jeep came to a halt. Suddenly, he regretted that he had stepped in when he had seen the guy getting knocked around by a group of drunkards in the bar. Obviously, Jeremiah was right when he sometimes called him a softie; he could never turn his eyes away when someone got hassled. „One day, it will bring you serious trouble,“ his friend had warned him. „And I won't be around to help you out of it!“

Kurdy huffed inwardly; maybe the day was today. „So, who are you? A kind of priest,“ he asked cautiously.

„No. I am just...“ The guy shrugged. „One name is as good as the other. Call me Smith. Mister Smith.“

„Okay, Smith. I guess, our paths will sepa....“ A booming detonation made him stop. Shit, this had been close. On the road, only a mile down, near the bridge. Maybe the skinheads were already nearer to the Mountain than Markus knew. Kurdy felt iciness rushing through his body. So many people, good men and women, and children. They were all in danger if he didn't return in time to warn them. With a shaking hand, Kurdy turned the key in the ignition.

„That's not a good idea.“

The voice made him stop; reminded him that he was not alone. „What do you know,“ he asked, his voice sharp, his eyes narrowed.

„Going back now will lead them to the Mountain. Will bring chaos and death over to everyone living there. We will have to wait until the fog comes to hide us.“

This was too much. Kurdy grabbed the collar of the old coat, pulling Smith closer. „You will tell me all now,“ he hissed. „Who are you? Where do you know all this from? You are a spy of the skinheads?“

„Like I said, I am God's messenger. He told me to find you.“ A weak smile turned up on Smith's face when Kurdy deepened his grip. „Go ahead, I am used to it, that people hit the shit of me when I try to help them. But maybe you should think twice first.

Without me, you would have been in the middle of the bridge when the bomb exploded, and you would be dead now, or at least seriously hurt and a captive of the skinheads. No chance to go back to the Mountain in time to warn them.“

Title: Into Your Arms
Character: Jeremiah, Kurdy Malloy
Prompt: Our Song / Fandom Rush
Words: 512

:::

Jeremiah rushed out of the cafeteria, leaving behind two knocked-over tables, some broken chairs, and a guy with a bloody nose. Erin stared after him, shocked. „What was this? I haven't seen him in such a state for weeks.“

Kurdy got up from his chair, shrugging. „I'm afraid he is still struggling with his guilt. Maybe a party for his birthday was not the best idea.“

„No one blames him! And I thought it would be good for everone; distract us from Libby and everything that happened. It's hard for all of us but for him... Maybe I should have known that he is not ready yet.“

Kurdy put an arm around the young woman's shoulder, squeezing it slightly. „Nothing of this was your fault. Can you handle this mess alone for a while? Then I would like to go, look after him.“

Erin nodded quickly. „No prob; it could be worse.“

„Okay!“ Kurdy nodded shortly, then turned to the cafeteria door to follow his friend. He didn't have to look for long; as expected, Jeremiah was sitting under the stairs at the end of the hall. Libby's famous place at the Mountain was now his refuge when everything got too much. His head rested against the wall, his eyes closed.

When he heard Kurdy's footsteps coming closer, he turned his head, his face still pale, a deep sadness in his eyes. „I know, I am a fucking shit“, he whispered, „I ruined the evening for everyone.“

„They will get over it.“ Kurdy smirked, dropping down on the floor beside his friend. „You okay? Your hand is swollen.“

Jeremiah shrugged. „I guess I should go, apologize to Erin for overreacting like this.“ But he didn't make the try to stand up. „She only meant well. She is always thinking of others first. And I thought, why not play along for an hour or two, smile, and pretend to be surprised and happy? And then she will stop bothering me.“

He clenched his fists, winced slightly when the pain rushed through his arm. „Maybe it would have worked. A beer and one or two whiskey, and I started to relax. But then...“ He breathed in deeply, opened his hands, only to clench them again. „There was this song. Into my arms … I didn't even know the singer. It's an old song from the time before the Big Death.“

Kurdy waited in silence for him to continue. „It was Libby's song. When I first met her, it was playing on her old cassette recorder; she had closed her eyes, threw her head back, and danced to the distorted music. From that moment, I knew she was the only one for me.

Later, when I told her about it, she laughed, in a way only she could laugh, and she said, „I guess I will share the song with you. Make it our song. Because whatever happens, I will keep returning, always and evermore, into your arms.“

Feeling exhausted, Jeremiah closed his eyes. „I did believe her. How could I not!“