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Prompt: 008. ocean

1. The sailboat floated in the middle of the ocean, the sail tattered and torn. There was no movement on deck, as the single survivor had lost all strength to overwhelming thirst.

A. The sailboat floated in the middle of the ocean, the sail tattered and torn. There was no movement on deck, as the single survivor had lost all strength to overwhelming thirst. She had barely managed to pull a bit of sailcloth over herself as protection from the sun’s brutal rays.

She could feel herself dying, but there was nothing she could do to stop it. The water had run out and she was in the middle of nowhere.

All she could do was close her eyes and rest in the still heat. The sound of waves lapping against the sides of the boat were the only music she could hear over the thunder of her heartbeat pounding in her ears and the dull rasp of her breathing. She was living the last day of her life.

2. Standing at the narrow window breathing in the scent of the ocean from a cell in the cliffside prison.

A. There was a sadness to standing at the narrow window breathing in the scent of the ocean from a cell in the cliffside prison. A forlorn glimpse of sky and a whiff of ocean breeze was not a replacement for the freedom that had been taken.

3. The invaders came from the ocean on ships that looked like white clouds, and their swords were fierce and sharp.

A. The invaders came from the ocean on ships that looked like white clouds, and their swords were fierce and sharp. They were hungry for the blood of the people, killing the men and raping the women and children. There was no stopping them, bronze weapons breaking in the face of steel.

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Prompt: 007. winter

1. The first snowstorm started a month early. Winter had come and they weren’t prepared.

A. The first snowstorm started a month early. Winter had come and they weren’t prepared.

There was a panicked rush to the store to stock up on needed supplies, but they hadn’t received their last paycheck. It meant they were forced to sacrifice

2. Alice DeWinter ran as fast as her slender legs could carry her over the grassy hill and down the other side.

A. Alice DeWinter ran as fast as her slender legs could carry her over the grassy hill and down the other side. She could hear the baying of the hounds drawing closer. Her breath came in panting gasps and her heart pounded so hard she could feel it fluttering at her throat.

3. The Winter Ball was two weeks away and she still didn’t have a date.

A. The Winter Ball was two weeks away and she still didn’t have a date. No one had asked her, or even looked at her as though they were thinking about asking her.
She’d never felt so ugly in her entire life. No one wanted to date her.

4. Being declared the Winter Snowball Queen changed the course of her life in every way.

A. Being declared the Winter Snowball Queen changed the course of her life in every way.

Without the scholarship that came with the title, she wouldn’t have been able to afford college. And without college she wouldn’t have met Levy and gotten the job at Haldecort.

B. Being declared the Winter Snowball Queen changed the course of her life in every way.

People looked at her differently, treated her differently. She was high school royalty.

After her win, she didn’t hesitate to sign up for the beauty pageant. She had the confidence to believe that she would win a title. That she would get a scholarship and have the bright and beautiful future she’d always dreamed of.

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Prompt: 006. fall

1. It didn’t seem like a long distance to fall, but it was an awkward landing.

A. It didn’t seem like a long distance to fall, but it was an awkward landing. The minute her foot left the ledge, she’d known something was wrong. And the hard crunch when she hit the ground almost made her wish she’d let the fire take her. Almost.

2. The leaves of fall rustled in the breeze, a few loosening and slipping free to tumble gently against the ground.

A. The leaves of fall rustled in the breeze, a few loosening and slipping free to tumble gently against the ground. Soon the branches would be reaching up as bare sticks and the clouds would gather in the sky, heavy with snow.

Winter was coming, and they weren’t close to ready yet.

3. There was a nasty slip and fall in the middle of the store resulting in EMTs and a police report.

A. There was a nasty slip and fall in the middle of the store resulting in EMTs being called and a police report being filed. It wasn’t a surprise when the lawsuit came in a month later, though they’d hoped. She’d been a long-time customer, but not even loyalty could counteract the siren call of money.

“This is going to ruin us. We’ll lose the store.”

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Prompt: 005. summer

1. It was the hottest summer on record.

A. Two more elderly people had been found dead in their homes. It was the hottest summer on record and it wasn’t anywhere close to ending.

There was talk that the water shortage was getting worse. They were already on short rations, but they were going to be cut even shorter. Just enough that each person could drink each day and have some for cooking. Otherwise there was talk of a community bathhouse being built and each family being allowed a bath one day a week.

It was turning into a miserable season, with everyone being hot, smelly, and short-tempered. No one was looking forward to the announcement that they’d be allowed even less water.

2. Her name was Summer and she was beautiful.

A. He wanted her the moment he saw her. From her hair to her feet, she was everything he’d ever desired.

He wanted to touch her, hold her, own her. He wanted every part of her for his own.

He didn’t know her true name, only the name he gave her: Summer.

3. It was either summer school or repeating a year. It wasn’t really a choice at all.

A. It was either summer school or repeating a year. It wasn’t really a choice at all. There was no way she was losing her summer to something as stupid as school.

B. It was either summer school or repeating a year. It wasn’t really a choice at all.

Considering how badly she’d messed up, it was a relief that her parents eventually stopped yelling at her. She didn’t complain when she was signed up for summer school and didn’t make her usual sounds of misery as she put on her uniform the first day of class.

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