YWS Olympics Event Five

Event Five: Picture Perfect

Choose one of these:

Spoiler

Image 1


Image 2


Image 3


Image 4


Image 5


Image 6


Image 7


Image 8


Image 9

And two of these:

Spoiler

Hero; Luck; Fear; Hip; Supervisor; Bureaucracy; Crisis; Flood; Leading; Parking; Hiring; Vouch; Form; Proximity; Commercial; Paranoid; Aesthetic; Pharmacy; Keystroke; Axiom; Underground; Species; Negative; Combat.

Do something with them. List your three items at the beginning of your entry. Your word limit is 500 words.

How to Enter

Once you have completed your entry, post it here. Please run a spell check first - any spelling errors will disqualify you from the event. After posting, you may edit your entry as many times as you wish until the end of the event. This event ends twenty-four hours from now, or when the thread has been locked. After the thread is locked, do not edit your entries, this will also disqualify you.

If you are uncertain about any part of this event, please do not post questions here. This thread is for entries only. Instead, go here but be aware that these events are only open for twenty-four hours so I may not be able to respond to your question in time.

Teams

If you are on a team, be sure to list the name of it at the top of your post. Best of luck to everyone.

Image 5, Underground, Flood

Mermaids must be real

The smooth cold lines of the 404 slither into the distance, leaving behind the smudge of ash and smoke. My mother collars me into submission, laying her long-fingered hand on my nape and staring back toward the lost train. The piano recital is in four hours and we are far too early, but still she is fidgeting beside me, tucking my pigtails back, brushing my coat of dust. The rumble begins at 12:05, the 404’s distant cousin, the 405 is still ten minutes from arrival time.

A man two seats from us is suddenly flinging himself over the arm of the seat and heading straight for the stairs. He is screaming and my mother clutches me close. “Don’t look, baby.” He is gone and the rumble is loud and my tummy feels like it is falling away from my heart, I wonder if I’m hungry.

In moments the grey, angry spout of water is slick through the tunnel, filling up the tracks and I am bumping and watching and my mother carries me across her hip and she is huffing but so quietly, I already hear like underwater. The gout of bubbles in the water swirls into a mini whirl and disappears and mother is screaming and clashing and there is so much noise. And mother is looking in my face and she is wet, all of the adults around me are wet and I wonder if the children have all disappeared like the man who ran.

My face is being touched and kissed and pet and the adults are all crowding and lifting and I am so high! So high like a bird floating and I see the curve of the ceiling and how the gold and red tiles reflect the billowing sea. It is a sea on the tracks, clotting and shuddering like an angry child tantrum, I laugh because my mother does not permit such silliness.

Floating and rolling the ceiling is so close now and fingers scrabble at my hands and they are cold. Everything is cold.

I am so very cold.

Fourteen adults and one child perished in the flash flood of the Urban Utopia Underground Station this afternoon, reports are being filed as to the cause of the freak event. We pass our condolences to those mourning.

Spoiler

Guess what?!? I have a team now! Team Conjunction. WOO!

Picture 1
Fear 
Combat

No Rules

There are certain moments in life that make your heart stop. Having your husband's mistress deliver the divorce papers, for instance. Finding out your child has a number of mental/learning disabilities is definitely one. Seeing your apartment building burning to the ground, knowing that your child is inside, that tops the list.
As Mandy Thacker bolted from her car she felt nothing but fear and adrenaline in its purest form running through her veins. The black smoke billowed into the sky and she could only think of one thing. Melissa. She ran into the fray of firemen and paramedics and felt one of them grab her. Was that sound coming from her? Was she the one screaming? Why couldn't he understand? Her child was in there.
"Mandy, what the hell?"
She caught sight of the man who had shouted and felt her knees give way. The fireman who had grabbed her yelled for a medic. Before she could be examined, however; Mandy got to her feet and ran to the man. Not because she was happy to see her ex-husband, John, but because in his arms he held Melissa, unharmed.
If only she had known that it went downhill from there.

"In the best interests of the child, we want you to grant custody to the father, your Honor."
Mandy Thacker felt the same terrified detachment. She shook her head, trying to snap herself out of it.
"I've already proven to the court that I am a suitable parent," Mandy protested.
"Does a suitable parent leave her child unattended?" Her ex-husbands lawyer sounded smug, like she knew already she would win.
"I was only gone a minute."
"A minute is all it takes, Ms.Thacker," pounced the lawyer, "Your child is disabled. What if her father hadn't come to check in? Melissa would have burnt along with that building. Also, as you are currently in temporary housing, you are hardly able to provide stable living conditions."
The judge, who had been silent thus far, handed down his ruling, "Custody is granted to the father."
 
On the courtroom steps, Mandy stood, numb.
"I don't do this just to hurt you, you know." said John coming up behind her, a cigarette dangling in his mouth.
"I'm sure," said Mandy shortly.
As an attorney walked by, John tapped him on the shoulder. "Got a light?"
"Sure." The man lit John's cigarette and walked away.
"Where's your lighter?" asked Mandy.
John smiled. "Must of left it somewhere."
She felt her blood run cold. "You didn't..."
"There are no rules in combat, Mandy," he whispered. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go collect my daughter."

Mandy stood outside John's house as she had every night this week. Deep in her heart, she knew, she was never getting her daughter back. She wiped her teary eyes and reminded herself, "There are no rules in combat."
She took a small packet from her pocket and with a flick of her wrist, lit the match.

Image 6
Commercial
Species

Dream Vacation

"Want to get away from those pesky inter- galactic battles? Need a break from those noisy Nova- Sun droids? Well this is the perfect vacation you have been dreaming of: Earth. Centered on the edge of the Milky Way galaxy, it is only 3.4 billion light-years away from home.

"This planet is mainly ruled by a species called Homo sapiens, commonly referred to as people or humans. While much of the human poplation is hostile, there are some places where you can find peace. These include forests, beaches, and mountains. But you have to act fast, because, due to the cannibalistic nature of humans, they are disappearing quickly!

"Another attraction of Earth is its monuments. Earth had a wide range of monuments, including the Eiffel Tower in a city called Paris, the Opera house in Australia, and the Golden- Gate Bridge in America. These golaiths attract both tourists and anthropologists alike. They are great fun for the whole family! However, you have already missed the opportunity to see the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, another reason to get your tickets now!

"For the thrill-seekers, Earth also features many dangers, both real and fake, if you go looking for them. Earth's thrills include everything from video games and roller coasters to hunting on the African safari. So pack your bags for the adventure of a lifetime! Space is limited, so call today!

"Each ticket costs only forty-nine shekels. There is also a special value package for families of 20+, where it only cost seven-hundred shekels, a savings of almost three-hundred credits' worth minimum. Your trip includes: a seven-day stay at one of our choice hotels, situated right outside of Earth's atmosphere, making it that much quicker and easier to reach the destination of your choice. You will also be provided transportation to and from the hotel, as well as a slip-on holo-image to help blend in with the indigenous population (We have to take extra precautions to ensure the humans do not see us as a threat). See you soon, and enjoy your stay!"

Team ROR (Residents of Randomosity)

Image #3
Species, Flood

The River Maiden

She walks along the riverbed,
And sleeps in cold grey skies.
She wends her way through streams and brooks.
The dew drops when she cries.

Her song she sings in waves and storms.
Her voice is crystal clear.
She lives and thrives as all things do;
As rain and floods and tears

So many often wonder,
By what name she is called.
Maiden of the riverbed.
Maiden of the falls.

Team Conjunction!

Image 7; Supervisor; Leading

Here's a song:

Spoiler

train tracks of the lovers' ballad

[intro]
I had once came down
to the train tracks
of a forest,
looking for a lover
in the rain..

Hoped that you could find me
once again,
hoped that you would bring me
all of our memories,
locked away,
so far away..

[verse one]
Down by the train tracks,
we had a story
of two young lovers
running in the rain,
running in the rain..

[verse two]
I'm telling you,
they existed.
Never seen a
love so strong.
They did not know
what would await them..

[verse three]
But we had a story
of two young lovers
running in the rain
by the train tracks..


I would know,
I was there
when they left..

[verse one]
[verse two]

I saw them
and seen them
so many times
so many times..

I knew that
they would not
come on back.

At least, I hoped..

[verse three]

Didn't know that
you would
come on back.


What happened, dear?
Thought that I saw you lead her away,
why would you come back?

I made sure that they wouldn't follow..


You had a story
of two young lovers,
running in the rain
by the train tracks..


Why were you running away?

(Thought I lost you there)

Why were you running away?

(Where have the lovers gone?)


Supervised them
then lost them,
as they ran off
into the distance,

by train tracks..

This was a story
of two young lovers,
running in the rain,
running in the rain..

(Down by the train tracks,
they found two bodies,
could've been the lovers
could've been the lovers..)

They were lost
and never
came back..

I would know,
I was there
when they left..

Team Batman!

Image 6, supervisor, and species.

The World at His Fingertips

One morning I was sitting in a quaint little coffee shop, waiting for my cappuccino, when he walked through the door. Literally, he walked through it like he forgot to open it. I, as a journalist, was intrigued. I watched him closely, but he just sat down and started reading a book.

The barista called out two numbers. I stood up, took both drinks, and sat at his table. “Hello Pamela,” he said as if he knew me. I tried to find out more about him, but he wouldn’t say a thing.

Finally, he said, “Want to find out what it’s like being supernatural?” He crossed his arms on the table.

“Alright,” I said, trying to maintain a calm exterior while my insides did backflips. He led me out of the shop, holding the door for me, and went down to the subway.

“Do you have a subway pass? Never mind. Hold my hand.” Tentatively, I took his hand. We walked through the turnstile, passing right through without turning it. We got on the first train to arrive, and in barely a minute stepped off again at a station I had never seen before, and I had been commuting on this route for years. The roof was made of glass domes, and the sky above was starry, even though it had been morning before.

“Up here,” he called from the stairway, drawing my attention away from the ceiling. Just one flight up, we arrived in a large, luxurious apartment. He pulled apart heavy red curtains, revealing a glass wall with a magnificent view of the Megacity, as he called it, a construct of his own where he could see every human on the planet at the same time. At a glance, I could see the Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House, the Empire State Building, and Buckingham Palace.

I perched on a red couch, pulled out my notepad and pencil, and started writing. “What can I call you?” I said.

“I have many names,” he said, changing before my eyes from a professional-looking man, to an old cowboy, to a little girl, and back again, but his blue eyes and crooked smile remained the same. “But you can call me Steven.”

“What do you do, Steven?” I said, glancing up. “What are your powers?”

“I’m a master of disguise. I can be anywhere in the known universe and back again in time for lunch. I’m the supervisor, the Big Brother watching the world. I live above, apart from, beside, and within the Earth. Anything I can think, I can put into being.” He sat on the couch next to me.

“So, what kind of thing would you say you are? What’s your …species?”

“As far as I know, I’m completely unique,” he said, his lips twitching into a frown.

“You must get very lonely,” I said, looking into his eyes.

“I do.” He got up and stared blankly out the window. “I guess that’s the downside of being metaphysical.”

Team R.O.R. Residents Of Randomosity.

(I don’t truly feel like writing... But whatever ^^])

Image 5, Species, Underground.

It was from the Monsell Subway, one of the oldest subways operating within Turkey, that the first of the species emerged from. On the third of January, 1995, one of the trains apparently failed to reach its designated station. An informal investigation team was quickly gathered, mainly composed of a few security guards which were on duty that night, and sent into the tunnels in order to investigate. The train was soon discovered, idle, devoid of any life. It was estimated that approximately forty people have disappeared that night, without any apparent trace, within the black underground tunnels.

Three weeks later, reports came in from various workers detailing an alleged infestation of large, brown-skinned spiders, mayhap ten centimetres across in size. Within the next five days, numerous security cameras located within the complex glimpsed some of these spiders, providing proof of their existence. Although the quality of the devices left much to the imagination regarding the spiders’ appearance, it was decided that an extermination event should be undertaken. During this event, a thorough process which took two consecutive weeks to complete, none of the spiders have been found. Surprisingly, the population of rats which would have been expected was also missing from the death toll.

Within the next month, seven workers went missing. Five of them have been required to maintain the tracks during periods of inactivity. The other two were security personnel, armed with a revolver and a police baton, each having a flashlight. No evidence suggesting their death has been discovered, and it was assumed that they have left the work site purposefully. Interestingly, trails of a substance resembling saliva were discovered present in certain areas, but these were ignored for unexplained reasons.

During that month, complaints increased steadily from the citizens of the city regarding a fetid smell emanating from the sewer system. The source was finally tracked to a network of pipes which ran not far below the Monsell Subway. Here is a report written by one of the men whose job was to investigate the source of the smell:

“After descending into the manhole, I stepped onto something soft... Something not pleasant. As I looked down, I realized that I was standing on the stomach of a rotting night guard, his entrails covering my boots. Around me, in the darkness, I saw spiders... Hundreds of the beasts, feeding on dead things... Decomposing things... I was paralyzed... There were the remains of rats, and other animals. But there were also people... So many people... All of them rotting and half-eaten... I then saw one of the spiders eat another, and scurry towards what I thought was a pile of corpses... Only then did I make out the mouth in that pile... It opened, and the spider rushed in. I can still recall the sound of its bones being crushed, the sight of its body being eaten by that monster. I ascended screaming, fearing for my life, and for my sanity.”

Team ROR: Residents of Randomosity ^u^

Image 2; Vouch & Negative

~It was getting late; one glance outside the window confirmed that. I returned my gaze to the desk, the glow of the lamp illuminated the papers and clockwork trinkets strewn across it. Picking up the closest gear for the hundredth time, I held it in front my face. There was nothing there. Again.

I ran my fingers through my hair. This doesn’t make any sense.

“Knock, knock!” Snapping my head behind me, I saw Airi standing in the doorway, her hands clasped behind her back. I smiled.

“Hey Airi.” I turned back to the desk.

“What are you doing?” She walked up to me and looked over my shoulder at the desk. “Going over the clue, yah?”

I nodded, trying not to jump out of my skin at how close she was.

“It just doesn’t make sense. Before the Imperial Force took him away, Uncle told me ‘When the time comes, go back to the basics.’ At first, I didn’t know what he was saying. Now I’m sure he meant the watch. It’s a clue.”

“Mr. Thomas would do something like that.” She grinned. “But a clue to what?”

“He wants me to prove his innocence in this mess, but as you can see,” I gestured to the gears and parts on the table “I can’t find anything.”

Airi was quiet. “Lev,” she said gingerly “are you sure Mr. Thomas didn’t do it?”

My head snapped up “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying, are you sure Mr. Thomas isn’t involved in the murder?”

“No!” I said with an uncomfortable mix of confusion and anger. “Of course not. You know this.”

“Lev, you’ve got to keep an open mind-”

“I am keeping an open mind!” I snapped.

Airi stepped back, holding her hands up.

“I’m sorry.” I put my head in my hands, my anger draining out of me. “I just don’t know what to do. Believe me; I know my uncle didn’t murder that man.”

Coming up behind me, she put her hand on my shoulder. “I know, Lev. I believe you.”

Despite the circumstances I felt a rush of heat. She moved over to the other side of the desk.

“But Lev, you’ve got to face the facts. He’s part of the murder.”

I grimaced, my anger returning. “Of course not! He-”

She placed her hands on the table, leaning in close to me. “Lev, everyone knows that Mr. Thomas was involved with the Gang.”

I looked at her with defiance then dropped my head down in defeat. I nodded.

“Everyone thinks that he committed the murder. We know he didn’t. You are trying to prove that. We also know that his clues are going to be complex and hard to figure out. Near impossible.”

I nodded again, grimly.

“So,” She sat down across from me “I’m going to help you.”

I looked up in surprise.

She held her hand out across the table “Partners?” She flashed me her signature smile.

Smiling, I took her hand and shook. “Partners.”~

Image 2, Crisis, Flood

A Curiously Wet Watch

It was already midnight, but Isabelle was still at the lab. Midnight was the best time to go, in her opinion. None of the other archeology students were there; she had the lab to herself. She went to one of the tables and set down the focus of her project—artifacts from a nineteenth-century shipwreck. Adjusting her glasses, she pulled out her first artifact—an old, grungy pocket watch, in pieces, preserved in an airtight bag. As she unpacked it, she paused, a strange feeling coming over her. There was something odd about this watch…

It was damp; after more than a hundred years in a plastic bag, it was still damp.

Why would a watch be damp?

“See?” the captain said, pointing to the face of the pocket watch. “You’re lucky. This is a very nice watch. Nice and durable. This should even work underwater.”

“Well, I won’t be checking the time if I’m underwater,” I chuckled.

“True,” the captain agreed. “I’m going to check on our new navigator. You have a good evening.”

“You too, sir,” I replied. The captain walked back inside, but I stayed out. A cold gust of wind nearly blew my hat off, and as I tugged it on again, I felt something wet on my face. I held my hand out—just as it started to drizzle. I frowned, looking up at the sky. It was dark—too dark to see the clouds. I could feel a storm brewing, though; the air was heavier, wetter.

Then the downpour started.

Isabelle drew in a sharp breath. Only the captain or one of his officers could have afforded this watch. That ship had disappeared in a hurricane. What had happened to this watch’s owner?

The ship rolled violently, and I almost lost my footing. The floor was already wet, but the ocean wasn’t letting up, and every time a wave crashed against the ship, it sent even more water spilling onto the deck. “Sir!” I shouted, hoping to find the captain. “Sir!”

All around me, the crew struggled to keep the ship in check, but the captain was nowhere to be seen. I shouted again, the wind almost drowning out my voice.

Then a giant wave crashed over the side of the ship, washing my feet out from under me. I fell hard, almost losing my grip on my watch. Coughing up water, I scrambled to my feet, only to fall into the water again. The sea was cold, so cold that my muscles locked up. Swim—I had to swim, but I could barely move my legs…

I was thrown into the air again, and then the cold got worse. I gulped one more breath and tried to swim, but I just…couldn’t…move…

Well. Maybe I would check the time underwater.

Isabelle stepped away from the table, a little queasy. She froze for a few seconds, but then her morbid curiosity took over again. Who had owned this watch?

Team Conjuction
Image 2:Hero and luck

A Tale Not Told

The corners of the book
began to curl
with age

A hero’s story
full of luck and wit
stamped in black ink

Forgotten
A story long untold

Medallions shut between the pages
Complete and add
dimension to the story

A necklace reminding her
Of his likeness.

A lock,
A key,
To the treasures of their heart.

Once upon a time
They were young
And happy

He was sent to war
She wept
and followed

A life in prison
A POW’s life to
be

A twist of a chain
The creak of a gear
The gate sprung open
The soldiers were free

As luck would have
it her dress got caught
The footsteps drew nearer
She gave him her earrings

And kissed him goodbye

The guards found her body
Still trapped to the gate
With a bullet shot through her head

The gun limp in her still, cold hand

They won the war with her freed men
Erected a statue to the brave heroine
“For letting good men live”

Her story was told and soon discarded
For what excitement was there
Of a silly girl in love?

The statue made into scrap
No one read her story

A man wrinkled with age
Sat staring the spot
Where the statue had been

Wiped a tear from his eyes
Took his hand from his pocket
And shot himself between the eyes