Waiting Backstage - DannisWrites Contest Entries

Black Swan Kidnapper

Wernerite Short Story Contest

9:08 PM 09-Aug-24 Entered Wernerite Short Story Contest from @TeenFix. Will be assigned 2 genres, pick one and write to prompt. 

TheGemmeCommunity and kreads01 are doing the contest.

Add Azurite Activity Book to reading list. One entry1500 words, no more.Top 3 get follow and promo on message board, and choose to add story to their blog. And winner sticker!I picked Fantasy as my genre.

Might add to this after the contest ends.

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My friend Janie and I walked past Lake Clara Meer in Piedmont Park. "Ooh, look at that black swan! Isn't he magnificent?"

He swam to the bank and flapped to get over a rock, then came waddling to us. "Oh, my, aren't you a big fella!" I moved closer.

Janie backed up. "He's got a beak that could break your arm, Emer!"

"You girls are too fast for me! Ahh!" Mama's voice behind me startled me. But the swan flapped and waddled closer.

He stretched his long neck so his beak almost touched my hand.

"Emer, run! Remember your name! Be swift!" The fear in Mama's voice didn't make me move.

 The orange beak pressed against my hand. If he was going to bite me, it'd be open, wouldn't it?

But his powerful wings flapped. Those webbed feet landed on my shoulder! And, held on. He had me by both shoulders of my brown bomber jacket, and his wings lifted me! "Put me down!" The shocked faces of Janie and Mama as I went up, shrank between my feet.

"Let her go, ya demon!" Mama got a stick and threw it. Missed.

We soared higher, across the lake, and towards the silver cylinder of the Peachtree Plaza. Bare treetops showed beneath my black boots. Wind from each beat of his wings made my hair cover my face before the force of the strong breeze ahead of us blew it back again. "Please, put me down!"

"Oh, you're going to be polite, now? First, you acted friendly, then you ordered me. I'm not your slave."

My heart beat up in my throat. He talks? And, how are his webbed feet anywhere near strong enough, to lift overweight me? "I just wanted to pet you. Then, I got scared. I'm still scared. Please, can't you just take me back to Mama and Janie?"

"No. Even if I wanted to, I can't. I was just looking for a mate, because I'm lonely. But what happens? That lovely voice wasn't a lady swan, it was an ugly man with black eyes. He grabbed me by the neck, and he has my family hostage. Now, I'm different. I'm his slave. And he wants me to tell you, so are you."

"What does he want? Is he the people SETI's talking with?"

"You ask too many questions. All I know is, nothing's the same. I could be in my pond with my family, swimming, or flying where I want, eating green stuff or maybe an orange someone throws me. Instead, I'm hungry, and tired, and this man keeps me bringing people to him. Not one of you asked me if I want to be here!"