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Prompt: 015. hasten

1. Though she would never do anything to hasten his passing, she wished he wasn’t in so much pain.

A. Though she would never do anything to hasten his passing, she wished he wasn’t in so much pain. She could see the agony in the tense lines of his body, in the grooves carved into the sides of his cheeks and the shadows under his eyes.

He was wasting away a little more each day. It made her afraid that one day he was going to disappear.

She hoped that seeing him like this wasn’t going to taint all the memories she had of him. Because once he was gone, the memories would be all she had left.

2. At the sound of screams, he hastened his steps down the hallway.

A. At the sound of screams, he hastened his steps down the hallway. As he drew closer, he also heard heavy thumps and scuffling from behind one of the doors. It sounded like someone was being murdered.

He hesitated for a long moment, wondering who would even know if he just walked away and pretended that he hadn’t heard anything.

There was a woman’s shrill scream, the loud SMACK! of a fist against flesh, then the terrified wail of a young child.

There wasn’t time for second thoughts.

3. The teachers tried to keep the children together and moving forward, hastening them as much as possible.

A. The teachers tried to keep the children together and moving forward, hastening them as much as possible. Older children pulled ahead with their own teachers, their longer legs eating up the distance.

“Oh no, they’re going to leave us behind!”

“Don’t worry, honey. Nobody’s leaving you behind. We’re all making it out of here, I promise.” It tasted like a lie, but she had to say it. The last thing they needed was a bunch of crying first graders that refused to keep moving.

If anyone stopped, they would die. And she would have to leave them behind because there were twenty other children depending on her to keep them moving out of the disaster area.

There was a distant rumble that became a painful roaring sound that made her clamp her hands over her ears and open her mouth in a silent scream. The ground twisted and shook under her feet. Several children tumbled to the ground, and they all looked terrified, but there wasn’t anything she could do to sooth them.

Not when the ground still shook and shuddered, and there were explosions tearing up half the city skyline.

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Prompt: 014. milkmaid

1. It was well-known in the area that all of the dairy farmer’s daughters were quite lovely milkmaids. They could be seen doing their chores from dawn to midday.

A. It was well-known in the area that all of the dairy farmer’s daughters were quite lovely milkmaids. They could be seen doing their chores from dawn to midday. But they were forbidden fruit, as their father was known to threaten the life and well-being of any young buck that dared sniff around.

A number of locals had stories to tell of the farmer and his rifle or his gelding knife. There was no one that dared to get close to any of those young women.

They seemed destined to become old maids together.

2. They dressed as a buxom milkmaid and charming shepherd boy the first night of the convention.

A. They dressed as a buxom milkmaid and charming shepherd boy the first night  of the convention. When they returned home he demurely allowed himself to be led  to bed, the ruffled edge of his petticoat showing when his skirt slipped up his thighs.  With the wig and the anachronistic Mary Janes, his knee-sock covered legs looked a mile long and he didn’t hesitate to lock his ankles behind her back and pull her closer.

“Please sir, be gentle with me.” He fluttered dark eyelashes over laughing eyes and pouted his lips outrageously. “It’s my first time.”

3. One bite of the kimchi and she knew it hadn’t been made with crushed red chili peppers. It tasted as though she’d filled her mouth with powdered cayenne; it was overpowering.

A. One bite of the kimchi and she knew it hadn’t been made with crushed red chili peppers. It tasted as though she’d filled her mouth with powdered cayenne; it was overpowering.

After a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching, she spat the mouthful of kimchi and rice into the paper napkin. Then she took a large drink from her glass of water, swishing a little to wash away the flavor.

“Not good?”

She looked up and gave a wry smile. “Pretty obvious, huh?”

“You did look mildly perturbed. It makes me think you’re not going to recommend the kimchi.”

“Yeah, I’d give it a pass. Let’s see how everything else tastes.” She felt bad. This was the only “Korean” restaurant in a hundred miles and she was ruining the evening with her pickiness.

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Prompt: 013. pepper

1. On seeing the potted jalapeno plants for sale, he bought two with the thought of growing his own jalapeno peppers for game day nachos.

A. On seeing the potted jalapeno plants for sale, he bought two with the thought of growing his own jalapeno peppers for game day nachos. In the same vein, he also picked up a couple of tomato plants, some lettuce starts, and a potted green shoot that claimed to be a cilantro plant.

It was only after he paid that he considered how he was going to get everything home. Even with the cardboard box the cashier had put the plants in, they still had a tendency to try and tip over. And since he hadn’t thought to grab change for the bus, it was going to be an awkward walk.

2. She lost her temper when he dared to sprinkle salt and pepper on her perfectly crafted dinner.

A. She lost her temper when he dared to sprinkle salt and pepper on her perfectly crafted dinner. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

She’d been running on empty for a long time, the joy in her life gradually sucked away by the day-to-day tedium. There were some mornings when she had to force herself to get out of bed, because a large part of her didn’t see the point of anything. But she tried her best, day-in and day-out, to make sure her family was well taken care of, that they had clean clothes and good food to eat.

She’d had to go to three different stores to find affordable ingredients for the dinner he was so casually ruining. He hadn’t even taken a bite to taste it first! He’d just started shaking salt and pepper over everything while talking to their daughter.

3. The pepper spray was everywhere as the shield-bearing and baton-wielding police moved in on the crowd.

A. The pepper spray was everywhere as the shield-bearing and baton-wielding police moved in on the crowd. Caught up in the press of bodies and now blinded by stinging spray, it was a fight to hold onto her shopping bags.

She regretted stopping off for groceries on her way home from work. She regretted not listening to her warning instinct when she’d seen the crowd of people filling the street. But she’d thought she’d be able to edge her way past if she stayed on the sidewalk.

She hadn’t expected the police to show up in riot gear and close in on the crowd from all directions. She hadn’t expected to be forced into the mass of people with no way to escape, her short stature not helping at all as she was pushed and shoved this way and that. She hadn’t expected pepper spray to hurt so damn much, her burdened arms keeping her from being able to wipe her streaming eyes and nose.

She’d never been more terrified in her life.

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Prompt: 012. screw

1. He leaned in close when they shook on the deal. “Don’t screw me over on this.”

A. He leaned in close when they shook on the deal. “Don’t screw me over on this.”

“I won’t,” she said, resisting the urge to glare back at him. There was no reason to up the aggression level, not when she’d already won.

By the time his lawyers untangled all the traps hidden in the contract he’d just signed, there’d be nothing anyone could do to stop it. And if he decided to contest anything, he’d spend years tied up in the courts while she continued to bilk his company for all it was worth.

“Mom asked about you the other day,” she said. “I know you’re not married anymore, but for some reason she still cares about you.”

“She should get over it. We’ve been divorced for five years. She should move on with her life and leave me alone.”

“Yeah, Dad. She should.”

2. There’s a moment when every person reevaluates the course of their life. Marissa Onion had her moment screwing in a light bulb while standing on a chair that had somehow lost a screw.

A. There’s a moment when every person reevaluates the course of their life. Marissa Onion had her moment changing a light bulb while standing on a chair that had somehow lost a screw. The resultant trip to the hospital and sudden vacancy in her position heralded the arrival of the first of many temporary workers in Handelman’s department.

The temps never lasted long, but Handelman’s work was of such importance to the company that there was a virtual never-ending supply of workers rotating through. It became a test of the employees–if a new hire could handle working in Handelman’s Madhouse for six months they could transfer to another position in the company; if they couldn’t handle Handleman, they were kindly sent on their way. Not that they were ever told that when they were hired. They were simply given their assignment.

Which was why Wendy Lau stepped off the elevator on the 13th floor with hope in her heart. This would be her first job after college and she desperately wanted to have a career with the company.

This was her chance.

3. Using a dusty old bartender book, they taught themselves how to make martinis and screwdrivers and whatever had the nicest pictures.

A. Using a dusty old bartender book, they taught themselves how to make martinis and screwdrivers and whatever had the nicest pictures. It was something to pass the time, and it wasn’t like anyone was going to be coming back for all the liquor they’d pilfered from the hotel bar down the street.

Everyone was dead or gone, which was about the same thing, They were the only people they’d come across in this part of the city. And they were happy to keep it that way–the virus drove people crazy! It put nasty thoughts in their heads and they did nasty horrible things. And neither of them had ever dreamed of being crazy.

“What should we do?” A gravelly whispered, answered by a lilting purr of a voice, “Whatever we want to do.”

The laugh started deep in their bellies but seemed to go on forever, ringing in the stillness of a city gone dead.

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