SCARLET ORDER
OF
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Prompt #1 Stories
The Stranger
She gasped in. Her eyes were closed and she tried her hardest to get herself together. To collect the
pieces of herself an clue them together, once again.
She should have known this.
Her fingers were shaky while she tried to write an answer. All the voices in her head were saying
different things. She wrote the words into her phone, but every time, she deleted them. She could
physically feel her heart been shuttered into million pieces, but she couldn’t write the message.
He had broken her heart before, so this shouldn’t be a surprise.
But she was not ready to say no.
Around her, there were people, but no one seem to notice her. The girl started to collect her things
to her bag to leave. He wasn’t going to come.
Just when she was about to leave, someone started talking to her.
“Can I sit here?”
There was a boy in front of her. His muscular, relaxed hands were holding a cup of something –
maybe a peppermint mocha, according to the smell. His eyes were golden brown and hair looked
blond where the sun hit it. It was messy but somehow cute and adorable at the same time. Sharp
cheekbone and thick eyebrows made his appearance look cute in a weird way.
“I was about to leave”, she blinked her eyes and saw the boys eyes, that were full of energy. Almost
like they had their own electricity in them. “But actually, I think I’m going to take another cup of
tea.”
He smiled. She felt herself stupid. How idiot she had made herself look in boy’s eyes…
“Yes, you can sit there”, she realized that he waited for an answer.
He sat down, nodding smoothly to the waitress. She ordered a cup of green tea with ginger in it.
“Ginger?” the boy said asked when the waitress was gone. “Really?”
He didn’t seem offensive, he was just surprised, as far as she could tell.
“Ginger”, girl felt her cheeks getting hot. “I like ginger.”
His eyes blinked when he took a sip from his coffee. “Peppermint is just way, way better. And
coffee.”
She shook her head. “No, I don’t think so.”
The tension grew in café’s terrace. The sun was warming her back.
They both burst into laughter.
“Lucas”, he straighten his hand.
“Katariina”, she smiled.
“I’m sorry to say bad things about your tea taste”, his eyes had a playful tone in them. “I don’t
normally run around laughing other humans taste opinions.
“Oh you don’t?”
“Not usually. So, will you have TRAUMAS from my mean words?”
He smiled and sun made his eyes have a sparkles on them.
“I think I’ll survive”, she liked his smile. It was honest and funny, both at the same time. The smile
made her feel tickling inside of her body. “But you’ll pay my therapy.”
He laughed. “Absolutely.”
She could see the freckles on his face. He had gotten some tan during the summer.
“So…”, he started when they had been in awkward silence for a while. “What are you going to do
this semester?”
“Me?” she pointed herself like there was someone else he could talk to. “Umm… I’m going to
learn.”
“Wise idea.”
“I thought so”, girl blushed again. “You?”
He pointed his finger to building opposite the road. “I’m going to college”, he said after looking
into girls eyes a while. “That college.”
She could feel her eyes go brighter. “You too?”
When she left the café, she wrote a message. She could finally answer to the mail she had gotten
before. Too many times before.
We’re done. I’m done being your “Monday girl”. I don’t want to find out that you have cheated on
me any more time. You can find someone else you can play with, someone you actually like, because
I’m definitely not going to be one of them. I mean, I might not be better than you. But I’m smarter,
now, so I can say this. We’re done. Over. The end.
Her hands didn’t even shake when she sent the message.
By: Sini K
Rating: T
Glamourous Meals
By: Rielly Beckner
Rating: T
I tapped my polished fingers impatiently on my third cup of coffee, staring at my phone. I had things to do. If this was so important, why are you—
The phone buzzed, as if in answer to my question. I tapped the messaging app and read:
I’m not going to be able to make it, but I sent a representative.
I rolled my eyes and rose, but before I could, a small wisp of a woman with bright pink hair ran to me and announced, “I’m so sorry, it’s my fault that Lily couldn’t make it—here, let me buy you a coffee — “
She then noticed the three empty cups of coffee littering the table, checked her watch, and added, “Or, maybe lunch?”
I smiled and stood, “Listen, I’m sure you’re a fine person and all, but I really have to get back to work…“
“Oh, what do you do?”
I sighed exasperatedly, “I write magic spells for the Slayers to use.” I looked at my watch, “And I really ought to be going, I have a presentation in just a few minutes,” I looked longingly at the sidewalk past the girl, hoping she’d catch my drift.
“Please let me buy you lunch? To make up for Lily’s lateness?” She grinned and said, “plus, I’d like to learn what spells you’re going to hand to me next.” She winked.
I started to answer then looked at her, “You’re not…human, are you?”
She shrugged, “I might’ve told you over lunch, but now…”
“Fine.”
She squealed and took my hand, “Come on, I know the best place!”
What did I just get myself into? I wondered, shaking my head.
The woman —pixie? Selkie? Werewolf? —dragged me along the sidewalk, her feet hardly touching the ground (angel? Cherubim? Demon?), grinning back at me and chattering, “I’m so glad you let me take you out! Lily and I had a bet, you see.” She let out a laugh, though I didn’t find the concept funny at all, “and plus, I’d heard a lot about you.”
As she dragged me, my skirt got caught up by the wind. I held it down, blushing. The creature finally stopped and whispered, “and you know, you don’t have to hide from me.”
She turned and started dragging me straight towards a brick wall. “No!” I screamed, trying to back away.
“Come on, Ash! This is the best place in town!” She then stepped behind me and started pushing, her
small little body stronger than I’d expect (maybe she was secretly a troll?).
“I’m not eating bricks,” I spat, trying to escape her grip or at least try to wriggle away, but she continued
pushing me like I weighed nothing.
“I’m gonna give you human food, silly. If you! Just! Let! Me!” with a final shove, the girl pushed me into
the brick wall—
And through it.
I gasped and looked at the finest restaurant I’d ever seen. Creatures of all sorts—trolls and werewolves and pixies and selkies—sat in formal wear, all in their most human forms possible—I was suddenly glad I wore my dress instead of my tee shirt and jeans. That’s not what caught my attention, though—a large chandelier hung in the center of the room, bestowing gold and silver light upon everyone. The food smelled like nothing I’d ever eaten, but I wanted to try it soon.
I looked at the girl and said, “there’s no way I can let you pay for this.”
“My treat!” the girl winked and said, “it’s not like you’re not going to pay me back.” She winked.
“What could you mean by—“
Before I could finish my sentence, a Kitsune in a suit interrupted, “Do you have a reservation?”
“I’m Puck’s kid,” the girl said with a flourish.
I looked her over; Puck had a kid? But the waiter simply nodded and motioned to a table, “Please be seated. May I take your drink orders?”
“Ohh,” the girl said, “Honeysuckle?” The server nodded and turned to me.
“Ambrosia?”
“That’ll cost extra.”
I was about to choose something else when the girl said, “It’s fine, I’ll take care of it.”
And we were left alone.
“You’re fey?” I asked, looking down.
She nodded, “One of the best Slayers out there, though. Tell me—what kind of spell are you brewing up for me, kid?”
“You’re not going to ask about--?” I gestured to myself, indicating my glamour, my dress.
The faery shrugged, “Not if you don’t want to talk. Plenty of my kind have done weirder. Though I do want to know more about you.”
I blushed and muttered, “a glamour spell. Though I guess you don’t need one of those.”
She laughed, “no, I don’t. You know what I do need, though?”
“Hm?” I asked, leaning forward. I’d never been able to actually talk to a Slayer before, to get feedback. The server came, so I sat back, trying to look uninterested. After taking our orders (well, the faery ordered for both of us) and setting the drinks down, we were left alone once more.
“An assistant.” She pointed a straw at me.
“Me?” I shook my head, “I could never—“
“Why not? You just walked through a brick wall. And,” she grinned devilishly, “You do need to find a way to pay me back.”
I hesitated, then blurted, “I’m genderfluid.”
“Hi, genderfluid, I’m Titania.”
I gave a half-smile, “Did Lily tell you to do this?”
“She must’ve known it was a possibility. And she had been telling me how beautiful you are for weeks. Have to say, she was right.”
I blushed, “Okay. I’ll help.”
Titania leaned forward and gave me a honey-sweet kiss, “I never doubted you.”
I blinked back my surprise and said, “So, what are we going to slay first?”
The server appeared and lay the delectable meals in front of us. Titania nodded towards it.
It was the best meal I’d ever had.
Five Bucks and a Dead Brother
By: Sapir
Rating: T
"Hi" my phone beeps.
"Hi" I beep back, knowing what the next text massage will be.
"I'm sorry" she says, and I can hear her sigh, "I can't come"
"What happened?"
A few seconds that were actually hours passes before she replies "I need to study" and I can hear her sigh again, Then yawn. She is tired, that's it, probably.
"k"
"are you mad?"
Yes
"no"
"See you tomorrow. Love you."
"Good night"
I know it's not her fault. No one knows it's my birthday. Even my parents didn't call (they will probably call in two days, blame the time zone and send a box of books that will arrive in a month).
"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to youuuu…. Happy birthday to you!"
The diner I'm sitting in becomes dark and only the candles light on the cake show the face of the excited young boy who sits in the other side of the room. He has his two parents and his big brother with him on the sofas. A perfect family of four.
"Make a wish, honey!" says mom.
The boy closes his eyes and asks something stupid. Be in the school baseball team, like Tim.
A man sits in front of me.
"Hi, little guy."
"Don't call me 'little guy'."
"But you are." The man says and tries to reach to my head with his hand in order to dishevel my hair.
"Tim," I say. The man looks at me.
"Yes?"
I point with my chin to the family, "You're going to die in an hour."
The man looks at his watch, "Yes, something like that."
We sit in silence for a while, and then he says, "It was one hell of a cake,"
"Your driving was like hell,"
"You're mad?"
"Yes."
"Because we never got to the game?"
"No"
"So…?"
"I just hate my birthday." I take a sip from my coffee and look at the family again. The eighteen- year- old Tim gives the young boy two tickets to the baseball game. The boy is happy. Eighteen- year- old Tim laughs and finishes his milkshake. "We better get going," he says.
Dad orders a check while mom licks her chocolate- covered fork. "Have fun, kids." She says.
"Here we go," the man says and sigh.
We sit and look at the two brothers go out of the diner to the parking lot outside.
"Is this how you would have looked like if you were still alive?" I ask him- he has a green jacket and half- shaved face.
"I guess."
I finish my coffee and get up, sick of the darkness of the diner, and leave a five buck bill and a dead brother on the table.
"Are you alright?" he asks.
"Shut up."
"Call your girlfriend."
"Yeah, I will, tomorrow."
"Now. Do it now. She feels bad about not coming."
"Really?"
"Yeah"
I take out my cell phone from my pocket and look at it. We took the background picture last summer, on our trip to the beach. We were there for a week, doing nothing. Maybe we could do it again.
"Hello?"
"Hi. It's me."
"Hey. Are you alright?"
"Yeah… just… can I come over?
"Yes. Sure."
"It's my birthday."
I can hear her smile, "just come. I love you."
"I love you too."
I hang up
"Happy birthday, little guy," Tim says from his sit near the table.
"Shut up."
The Lucky Stranger
By: Kiara
Rating: T
The buzz of my phone from my pocket shook me from my mini-trance. I’d been waiting so long, I’d drifted off into the realm of daydreams and wandering thoughts that you never quite remember later. I already knew what the text would say, but pulled my phone out anyway. Another buzz lets me know that I’d received another text. It was probably Ally.
“Can’t make it today, sorry.” read the first message. I wasn’t surprised. This was the third time he’d canceled at the last minute. Or after the last minute, in this case.
The next message was from Ally. “He went to the bowling alley with some of his friends. The bastard. Want me to beat him up for you?” I smiled but messaged her back telling her not to bother. Not that she couldn’t. Ally was a brown belt, and her brother had dropped out soon after getting his yellow belt. Nevermind that their parents were their teachers; Jason had had enough. He never does anything he doesn’t want to, which makes me believe he doesn’t want to help me out after all. Which was fine, but I wish he’d just tell me outright. With a sigh, a packed up my bag and got ready to leave. But before I could get up, a guy just a few years older than me sat down and said hello.
“I couldn’t help noticing that you looked a little bummed. Anything I can do to help?”
I smiled at his offer. “Oh, it’s nothing really. I’m an art student and my friend was supposed to meet me here so I could sketch him.” I figured I ought to say something so that he wouldn’t offer to help. I’m very picky about who I draw, and this guy, with his sharp nose and soft jawline, and his green eyes set far apart on his face, well, he wouldn’t—
With a jolt, I realized he was the perfect subject, dropped down from heaven at my feet.
“This is kind of a weird question but would you happen to be willing to sit here and let me draw
you for about an hour or so?”
He grinned and I made a mental note, so I could include it later. “Anything to help out a damsel
in distress,”
I grumbled as I pulled my sketchbook and pencils back out. “I’m not exactly in distress,” but his
smirk told me that he didn’t really care.
“Whatever you say, milady.”
The fresh, empty page in front of me was calling my name. I couldn’t wait to get started. Ignoring his previous statement, I told him to sit however he liked and not move until I told him too. He immediately dropped himself to the ground and clung the bench like he had survived a boat wreck and it was a piece of driftwood he was using to stay afloat. I bit back a laugh and started to draw.
A few months later
I was walking around the gallery, unable to drop the smile from my face. Ally was beside me, practically bouncing. They’d just announced the winner of the competition.
Ally was gushing praise beside me. “I always knew you’d win. How could you not? You’re going nowhere but up, Lisa. Don’t forget about me when you’re famous.” I noticed she was leading me, yet again, towards the drawing with the bright blue winner’s ribbon on it. My drawing. Every time we’d passed it, which was often, she’d make some loud comment that let everyone looking at it know that it was my drawing. This time was no exception. As we stood just a few steps back from a guy looking at it, who was oblivious to our presence so far, Ally exclaimed loudly, ”You really outdid yourself this time, Lisa. Just amazing.” I was just about to tell her that enough was enough when the guy in front of us turned around. Ally let out a little squeak of surprise.
It was him. The guy who sat on the bench next to me all those months ago. The guy who’d let a total stranger draw him. The guy who was the subject of my winning drawing. I didn’t even know his name, yet somehow he’d found me.
“Such a compelling subject you have here, in this drawing. A friend of yours?” he asked, with a slight raise of his eyebrows and a smirk in his eyes.
“No, just a stranger from the street. Quite an obnoxious person, to be honest. But I must admit, he does make a good subject, no?” I said, mocking his fancy tone.
Ally was looking at us in confusion. After a pause, he spoke. “Well, what a lucky stranger they are.” Then he turned, and walked right out the door, disappearing into the darkness outside.
I turned back to the painting at the sound of Ally’s voice. “What’s this?”
Between the frame and the wall was a small card. Two things were written on it. The name Mark, and a phone number. I smiled as I plucked it out. A lucky stranger, indeed.
Cate Meets Kate
By: Laci Dagger
Rating: T
Sorry. Last minute work plans. We’ll reconvene for dinner.
-Michael
She read the text over and over again. Last minute plans. When didn’t he ever have last minute plans?
She snapped her case shut, pushing the magnetic latch in place. She wasn’t surprised. Lately, he’d been doing all he could to spend less time with her. Work, he said. It was just work. She let him lie, because deep down, she wanted to believe that he could do no wrong.
Her coffee was cold – no wonder, she’d been sitting in that café for God knows how long. It was fairly busy, but not enough for her to be tossed out. She blinked, suddenly realizing – there were tears running down her face.
Don’t cry damn it, you promised you wouldn’t cry –
“Excuse me.” She jumped – she wasn’t expecting anyone to approach her. Across from her sat a woman, short bangs swept away from her eyes, which were softly regarding her. She hastily wiped at her own eyes.
“Sorry to intrude,” said the stranger. “But you seemed extremely upset.” Is there anything I can do to help?” Her voice was soft and wispy – it reminded her of butterflies. She sniffed, picking up a napkin to wipe her nose.
“No, it’s alright. I’m just having some relationship problems.” The stranger cocked her head, and she realized she was waiting for her to continue. She shook her head, rubbing her shoulder as she looked at the table. “Really, it’s nothing.”
“I don’t think it’s nothing.” Said the stranger. “I’ve been in this café a bit longer than you, and when you first got here, you seemed very excited for something. Were you waiting for your boyfriend?”
She found herself nodding, but she didn’t know why. “He cancelled… again.”
The stranger’s eyebrows scrunched together. “Does he do that often?”
She nodded again.
“That’s terrible. You should never have to wait on someone like that, ever.”
Suddenly there were tears in her eyes again. The stranger reached forward to wipe them away with a napkin. Her movements were gentle.
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to upset you again.” She extended a hand. “I’m Catelyn.”
She giggled, taking the hand. “That’s funny. I’m Katelyn.”
“Really? How’s it spelled?"
She spelled it out slow, and Catelyn’s face brightened. “Get out of town! Mine’s the same, just with a C.”
Katelyn giggled again. “Just my luck, to meet another Katelyn. Well, you’re much prettier-” she could feel her face warming, and she thanked her lucky stars she was too dark to blush. “I’m sorry, that was awkward.”
But Catelyn only laughed. “Not at all, thank you very much.” She looked around. “Do you want to get out of here? I know a lovely park not too far from here, if you don’t mind walking. I was just about to head there to take some pictures.”
Katelyn nodded. “I’d love to, really.” She stood, and Catelyn did as well.
“Oh, Katelyn?”
“Hm?”
“Forgive my forwardness, but I pity your boyfriend. If I was dating a girl as pretty and sweet-seeming as you, I’d never leave her sitting alone in a coffee shop.”
Katelyn swallowed, and again, thanked her stars her blush was undetectable. Her smile, however, was not. “Oh.”
Catelyn extended her hand, and Katelyn took it. Together, they exited the coffee shop. They were barely across the street when Katelyn’s phone rang.
“Good news.” It was Michael. “I think I can squeeze in some time to see you at home. Wear that little lacy thing I like-”
“Don’t bother, Michael. I’m through.”
“What?”
“I’m not waiting around for you anymore. Now you can wait for me. I’ll let you know when I’m home so you can come get your things.” She hung up before he could say anything else. Looking to Catelyn, she smiled. “The park, then?”
Stranger in the Coffee Shop
By: pipwadderz
Rating: T
I had just finished my second cup of coffee when a manicured hand slapped a small rectangular piece of paper down onto my table. I looked up in time to see the fed up looking waitress march back to her stool behind the counter and begin to leaf through a magazine, her chin resting in her hand. The café wasn’t busy; I was the only customer in there, yet the waitress’ hurried demeanour suggested otherwise. It didn’t put me off my coffee though.
I flipped the paper over. It was a note.
Miss Brent, despite our plans I regret to inform you that I shall not be attending our
arranged meeting as the job I was offering has just been snapped up by a young lad I
happened to have met only by chance earlier in the week. Good luck for the future,
Mr Creek.
I read and re-read the note several times before crumpling it into a tight ball and dropping it into the bottom of my mug where the dark remnants of my drink began to seep their way through the once white paper. My plans, nay, my dreams had been shattered, leaving me with nothing but a mediocre CV and my own self-pity to wallow in. This job had been my last chance; now that I’d lost my hopes with the advertisement business, I’d have no choice but to work for my uncle’s accounting firm. My parents had made that very clear.
I looked around the small café. The whole feel of it was humble and home-made yet my deflated mood made everything around me look tacky. I had thought that the patchwork curtains seemed authentic and tasteful when I had first walked in; now they just looked sickly, and the odd quirks that were placed around now seemed so unnecessary to me, like the old-fashioned coat stand in the corner by the door with half a dozen un-owned coats and scarves on it, topped off with a bowler hat.
The waitress was still behind the counter, leafing through the magazine. I wanted to ask when she got the note. He must have been in here to hand it to her, I thought. I walked over to her to ask when he’d given the note to her.
“Just found it two minutes ago, Miss. Right here on the counter,” she said, drawing her eyes away from the glossy page she was reading.
“Was he here any time today?” I asked.
“No miss.” She looked back down and began reading again, clearly finished with our
conversation. I turned around to go back to my table, but I stopped in my tracks. There was
somebody sitting at my table with their back turned to me. I hesitated before walking over.
It was a man. A young but wise looking man with a black suit and a bright green tie. He had
brown eyes and coal black hair that was pulled back into a small ponytail underneath a black
bowler hat like the one on the coat stand. I glanced over to the door. The coat stand had gone.
“Miss Brent,” he offered out his hand to me, a grin spreading across his face “Please, do sit
down” I shook his hand and hesitantly sat down.
“Who-”
“My name is Mr Reed but you may call me Oscar.” He said, removing his hat and placing it onto the table. “Now, let’s talk business.”
He pulled a folded piece of paper out of an inside pocket of his suit jacket and unfolded it. “Daisy Brent. Previous experience etcetera etcetera,” he mumbled, “Aha, here we go: likes animals and adventures.” He was reading my CV.
“Where did you get that?” I asked, pointing to the document. He ignored my question.
“Is it true?” he asked “Is it true that you like animals and adventures?” I nodded slowly in reply, suddenly embarrassed at how childish my interests sounded. He grinned and searched around in his pocket for something and placed it on the table. It was a small glass lizard the size of a playing card.
“Those are my details.” He said as he pushed the lizard towards me. I looked closer. On the lizard’s back were what I had thought were painted markings, but were actually tiny words.
Oscar Reed – professional explorer and creature discoverer.
Contact via butterfly.
I laughed and looked around the room. It had only just occurred to me that this whole thing was a set up. Oscar looked at me with one eyebrow raised. I picked up the glass lizard.
“Do you really expect me to believe that this-,” Suddenly the lizard moved, wriggling about in my hand before breaking free and scuttling onto the table.
“Miss Brent,” he leaned onto the table and fixed me with an intense stare, “I am incredibly serious about this. I am in desperate need of an apprentice and you seem to fit the requirements perfectly, what with your only other option being to live a life of numbers and boredom.” The glass lizard had now wound its way back up Oscar’s arm and was sitting on his shoulder. It cocked its tiny head to one side as the man spoke.
“So what do you say, miss Daisy Brent? Will you be my apprentice?”