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Constrained Writing[CW] Follow Me Friday - Keychain (self.WritingPrompts)

submitted by throwthisoneintrashModerator | /r/TheTrashReceptacle

Welcome to Follow Me Friday!

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Thanks to all our writers last week!

This week, if you are looking for some feedback on a short story, try our sister subreddit r/WPCritique. From May 21st until May 28th, post a story without using up any crit credits! What are crit credits you ask? Why not check out the wiki?

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Here’s How It Works

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​ 1. Every Friday a new post will be pinned at r/WritingPrompts with a 200-ish word starter for your story.

​ - There will be a variety of themes and genres to work with. After the initial “prompt” portion of the story, it will need a “Middle” and an “Ending”. That’s where you come in.

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​ 2. Every participant must write a 300 word “Middle”.

​ - You must have a top-level reply to the post that is 100 to 300 words and continues the story without ending it. Leave room for the next writer to add their creative touch.

​ - You must title your comment with the following: <2/3>.

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​ 3. Once you have written a “Middle” you are qualified to write an “Ending”.

​ - You may reply to someone else’s “Middle” section with an “Ending” to the story. It must be 100 to 300 words and finish the story.

​ - Title your comment with the following: <3/3>.

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​ 4. Comments can then be placed on the “Ending” section.

​ - Non-story comments can only be placed on the stickied comment thread or after an “Ending” as a reply.

​ - Top level or second level comments will be removed if they are not story sections.

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​ 5. “Middle” comments are due by Tuesday 11:59PM CST. “Ending” comments are due by Wednesday 11:59PM CST

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Are There Winners?

​ Yes!

​ Use comments and upvotes to identify your favorite thread! Reply to the Ending comment with your feedback and that thread will be considered for “Commenter’s Choice”.

​ There will of course be my favorite thread as well: “Cheetah’s Choice”.

​ That makes a whole lot more sense if you join our discord and see my profile pic.

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From Last Week’s Thread

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Commenter's Choice:

Middle by u/Thetallerestpaul

Ending by u/wannawritesometimes

Cheetah's Choice:

Middle by u/SilasCrane

Ending by u/ispotts

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This Week’s Story Starter

​ ​ Cam lugged their suitcase through the stone corridors at the train station. The sharp mechanical scent they always associated with the trains filled the air as they raced for the turnstile.

Once through, it was only fifty paces to the train. Cam was sweating and puffing by the time they reached the tracks. But it was too late.

Up ahead, the last passenger boarded the last train car and all hope was lost. Cam slumped, feeling dejected. Train tickets were expensive, and there wouldn't be another train for an hour. They leaned against a pillar and let out an exasperated sigh.

Something sparkled up where the last passenger had boarded. Cam walked up to see what it was.

A set of ancient-looking keys hung onto a brass ring. The passenger must have dropped it in his haste. As Cam picked it up, they read the words inscribed on the ring.

THE KEYS TO EVERYTHING.

Just then, Cam heard shouting in the background. An eclectic group of people charged towards them, looking angry.

At the same time, the keys lifted of their own accord and pointed Cam in the opposite direction.

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Subreddit News​

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[–]dewa1195 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Cam ran in the direction pointed by the keys, putting the strangeness out of his mind. The people followed, frothing. They soon came across a well-lit hallway and saw three corridors leading away from it—one on the left, one on the right and one straight ahead.

They stopped to catch his breath for a moment. They looked at all of them and he was at a loss, where should he go?

They heard a clamoring behind and winced, their time was nearing. Why am I even running away, I should just give the key to them, I'm sure they'd understand and leave—

The key rose again and pointed to the one on the left and Cam took off in that direction. They ran and ran and came across a dead-end.

They huffed and puffed and ran and hurtled through that corridor.

The corridor led him to a door. They threw themself at the handle, pulled on it and nearly broke it, to no avail.

The people following them were getting closer... Why is this happening to me?! What crime did I commit?

The lock opened with a click. The key had opened the door during his break-down and they ran in. Closing the door and locking it behind them, they slid down the door, catching their breath.

They jumped just in time to dodge a knife. They whirled around ready to fight or flee when he noticed a bald, skinny man, spitting curses and words of hate alike.

Oh, why is this happening to me?

[–]Say_Im_UglyModerator|r/Say_Im_Writing 2 points3 points  (0 children)

<2/3>

Cam left their luggage where it was and grabbed his partner’s arm as he dragged her away from the angry mob.

“What’s going on Cam? We have to wait for the next train.”

“Don’t worry about that now Amelia,” Cam said as held the keys in front of her face. “More important things are at stake.”

“Meaning?”

“I’ll explain everything later. Let’s go.”

They ran for the end of the corridor but it was a dead end and there was only one door. The sign on it read: Employees only beyond this point. Amelia jiggled the door handle but it was locked and their pursuers were getting closer. "It wont open Cam." Her eyes were frantic and pleading. Cam lifted the brass key ring to the door lock and miraculously one of the keys inserted itself into the keyhole. The door unlocked with a click and Cam threw it open. They rushed inside as it slammed shut behind them.

Amelia took a second to catch her breath. As her breathing steadied she looked around. Whatever it was she expected to see on the other side... this wasn't it. The door had let them to another long corridor that seemed to go on forever. It was stark white and along the walls on both sides were an endless row of doors. Each one of them unique and etched in their centers was a strange symbol. Amelia looked at Cam but he wasn't at all surprised. All his worries seemed miles away and he had a bright gleam in his eyes. Something about him seemed different. He seemed to stand straighter, with more confidence than she'd ever seen on him. "Cam," She said slowly, "I think it's time to tell me what's going on."

[WC: 292]

[–]SilasCrane 2 points3 points  (1 child)

<2/3>

They could take a hint: the set of keys wanted Cam to go in the direction the keys were pulling towards. On impulse, Cam decided to trust the Keys' suggested path of escape from the approaching angry mob, despite the well-known tendency of keys to become hopelessly lost.

Perhaps it was because they had always felt a certain kinship with keyrings: after all, just like keys on a keyring, Cam was also multiple entities that had been compiled into a singular collection.

Since they had decided to follow the keys' advice, Cam also decided to become Mac, as that particular manifestation of them was better equipped for a situation like this. Cam was a short, middle-aged woman, and they had short, middle-aged legs to match. Mac on the other hand, was a tall, lithe, and athletic young lady, with legs that could be compared favorably to those of a gazelle. Mac actually enjoyed running, which Cam found endlessly perplexing.

So, in the space of two eyeblinks, Cam reshaped themselves into Mac, who then sprinted away from the pursuing crowd, following the strange magnetic tug of The Keys To Everything. Mac practically exulted in the chase, as they had predicted that they would a moment ago, when they were Cam.

It was never exactly easy, living with Multiple Physicality Disorder, but as the Keys led them down a dimly lit side corridor in the train station, and they began to gradually outdistance their inexplicably irate pursuers, Mac had to admit that their disorder definitely had its advantages, from time to time.

[–]WorldOrphan 2 points3 points  (0 children)

<3/3>

Mac reached a dead end. They'd been hoping for a door, but there were only train tracks disappearing into a dark tunnel, and a ventilation grate high up on one wall. The mob was catching up. Mac had to choose.

A padlock held the grate shut. Standing on tiptoe, Mac tried the keys, and the smallest one fit into it. They swung the grate open and pulled themselves up. As they did, they reshaped themselves again, this time into Ace. Ace was five-foot-nothing, rail-thin, and double-jointed. If anyone could fit in the ventilation shaft, it was Ace.

Ace squeezed inside and waited. Five people pounded down the hall and skidded to a stop.

“Where'd that freak go?” one of them growled. He had a wide mouth with too many pointed teeth, and had no business calling anyone else a freak.

“They've got the Keys. That means they're the new Traveler. We've got to get those Keys before they figure out how to use their powers.”

Powers? Ace wondered.

The mob rushed off down the tunnel. But the keys led Ace further into the ventilation shaft. Ace crawled along it, and emerged in a lobby. There was a man there, dressed like a cab driver and holding a sign that read “Traveler.” He had Cam's luggage.

“Ah, there you are,” the man said. “All this must seem very strange to you.”

“Not that strange,” Ace said, shifting back into Cam.

The man blinked in surprise. “Well. It seems you've missed your train, so I'm here to drive you to your destination. This way.” He led Cam to a taxi parked just outside. As they pulled away, the man turned and handed Cam a book.

The the book was titled “So You're a Traveler Now: A Guide to Being the Chosen One.”

[–]rainbow--penguin 2 points3 points  (0 children)

<2/3>

Perhaps the crowd weren't coming for them. After all, why would so many people be angry with them? But as much as the logical part of Cam's brain wanted to believe that, every instinct screamed at them to run.

So they ran.

The keys swerved, jolting the joints in Cam's fingers. But no matter how hard the keychain pulled, their hand refused to open, leaving Cam no choice but to follow.

Their feet pounded the platform, heart threatening to jump from their chest. They were so focussed on following the keys, they almost ran headlong into the door. The only thing that stopped them was the keychain abruptly turning, pulling their hand down towards the lock.

With one final glance back at their pursuers, they fumbled to select a key. As the chain jangled in their trembling hands, they couldn't help but wish that they'd just got here on time. None of this would be happening if they were on the train they'd been meant to catch.

The key fit the lock perfectly. They turned it, yanked the door open, and stepped through.

The world around them lurched. Until they grew accustomed to the rocking motion of the train.

They glanced around the carriage, alert to any signs of the angry mob. But everyone else seemed completely oblivious.

Maybe they should have just taken the win — settled into their seat and made the journey they'd originally planned to make. But the spark of curiosity inside them just wouldn't die.

They turned to face the carriage door and slipped a key into the lock. If I could go anywhere, Cam thought, where would I go.

But despite all the possibilities, their thoughts kept returning to the same place.

They turned the key and stepped through the door.

[–]WorldOrphan 1 point2 points  (0 children)

<2/3>

Something about the people rushing toward Cam felt wrong. Panic rising in their chest, Cam abandoned their luggage and fled, letting the keys pull them along. They clambered back over the turnstile, raced down the corridor, through a waiting area, down another hallway, and into a locker room. Cam bent double, catching their breath. They heard pounding feet, and raised voices. But they sounded distant. Cam had a moment to think. At least, they hoped they did.

The keys jingled again, pointing toward a row of lockers, the sort of where people stored belongings while on long trips. Cam looked around nervously. They didn't like the idea of breaking into someone else's locker, but no one was there to see. Cam held the keys out, and one of them slipped into the keyhole on a locker and turned with a click.

Inside the locker was a blue dufflebag, embroidered with a logo of a star and a shield and the letters I.C.E. “In Case of Emergency?” Or were they someones initials? Cam unzipped the bag. It held some clothes, a toothbrush, and four long wooden sticks. They were carved and polished, and tapered to a point on one end. And they were decorated with odd designs. To Cam they looked decidedly like magic wands.

Suddenly, Cam's pursuers burst into. “Get 'em!” one of them yelled, rushing at Cam. His fists were glowing. The woman behind him was holding a sword. Cam cringed, raising one of the wands in self defense. A gout of flame burst out of it, engulfing their attacker. Cam yelped and dropped the wand.

The other two advanced. Cam held up a second wand. Silvery mist wafted from it, settling over Cam's assailants and encasing them in ice.

Momentarily safe, Cam wondered what the third wand did.

[–]Dodecadungeon 1 point2 points  (0 children)

<2/3>

Amos knew the moment he saw that runner trying to catch a train that they would be fast enough to outrun the Keepers. So he gave them the keys.

Amos had been running from the Keepers for years now, and he had grown tired. The keys brought great possibility, but they also brought a life of constant running. He was too old to keep up the pace he used to, but not old enough that it was too late for him to live a normal life.

There was a woman named Emily who lived in his hometown of Locksville. She was a property manager who had all the keys to her buildings. Even before Amos got ahold of his cursed set of keys, he had a fascination with locks and how to open them. He would spend hours wondering what Emily’s keys were for, and when he finally asked her, he began to fall in love with more than just the keys.

He wondered if she still lived there and if she still remembered him. He wondered what the new runner would have to leave behind to start their own life of running. Amos regretted unloading the keys onto the poor individual, but he knew the Keepers would catch him soon if he didn’t find someone. They didn’t have to pick up the keys, but they did. Maybe he chose them because he saw something of himself in them. Maybe they had their own Emily back home. Either way, he wished them luck, they would need it.

But that was all finally behind him now. He sighed and sat back in his seat, looking out the train window. It wouldn’t be long before he arrived in his hometown of Locksville.