Writing Prompts 2020

Lucy's Story - Prompt 1

Prompt : An orphan has been left inside a Minotaur's lair, without anything to kill it with. However, when it comes face to face with the Minotaur, the Minotaur notices that the orphan has been abandoned by their party and feels sympathy. Instead of killing the orphan, the Minotaur provides them with food, and decides to raise the orphan as his own.

Start Time : Thursday 2nd January 2020, 4:49PM

Deadline : Thursday 2nd January 2020, 10:00PM

Finish Time : Thursday 2nd January 2020, 5:50PM

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Pablo knelt next to his last living companion. They took their last breath, their eyes glazed over. It was a sight Pablo had witnessed six times this night, and now he was on his own. Emotionless, as he had cried enough, Pablo rose to his feet and continued to walk.

This Minotaur was supposed to be a myth, yet tonight it had been killing each of his companions one by one. Pablo wondered why it didn't kill them all at once, and quickly came to the conclusion that the beast probably found the anticipation entertaining. 

Pablo was about to turn twelve, and here he was roaming a lair that wasn't meant to exist. He wasn't supposed to be there - he had ventured of his own accord, to follow those who were going to hunt the Minotaur. As it turns out, his presence may be viable after all. He could be the last chance, a local hero. Pablo imagined the words of praise and the amount of gold he would receive. To a young boy, this was everything that was important. To an orphaned young boy who hadn't a penny or a friend to his name.

The boy was weaponless. The previous companions all carried axes and swords and other armoury that was much too heavy for him to use. However, working at an orphanage had earned him a lot of strength, and Pablo hoped against hope that his punches would be enough to at least seriously harm the Minotaur enough so it could never wreak havoc on his hometown again. Deep inside him, he knew what his end will be, but still he continued to walk.

He heard the familiar faint growls and pounding of the Minotaur's large hooves. It was taunting him, as he had done with Pablo's deceased companions. He wasn't falling for it. He just wanted the Minotaur to jump out and have it over and done with. He was done waiting around.

Pablo tried to follow the sound but it kept changing direction. He started getting agitated after about an hour, but didn't dare lose concentration. He didn't get this far to end up like the rest of the hunters.

Suddenly, he caught sight of a horn and sped towards it. The concrete maze, the grey stone walls, looked the same at every angle. He lost it. He grunted, shaking his head, and started to walk backwards. After a couple of steps, his back touched something that felt hairy...damp...muscly...

His breath cut out for a second as his eyes widened. He expect his head to be chewed off on the spot, but he was surprised at how long he was standing there for. His mind came to him, and he hit whatever was behind him with all of the force he could. It was like hitting stone. He groaned and fell to the ground, clutching his red hand. Annoyed at how long all of this was taking, he dared to turn and face the creature. 

Pablo was confused. The Minotaur did not have his teeth bared, his arms up and ready to strike, his hooves pawing at the ground. Instead, it stood there with an almost-human expression...sympathy. 

Pablo slowly rose to his feet, his stomach churning. He wiped sweat off his face quickly. His mouth cracked into a smile.

"Given up, have you?" he sneered, "Is a little boy not a match for a great, ugly thing like you?"

He didn't know what he was expecting, but a response wasn't one of them.

"You're young and weak," the Minotaur spoke in a dark, brooding voice that shook the concrete walls around them, "I don't kill men of your kind."

"But you kill men of their kind," Pablo snapped, gesturing vaguely behind him.

The Minotaur hung his head.

"Were they your family?" he asked, dreading the answer.

"They weren't my family, but they were somebody else's," Pablo muttered, not daring to take his eyes off the Minotaur for one second.

The Minotaur didn't say a word for a long time. He just continued to stare at this boy, his tousled brown hair that looked like it hadn't been washed in a week, his muddy and gaunt face, those sharp green eyes. He had never seen a man like him in the flesh, only pictures that older men or women carried with them in their pocket. The Minotaur, however, knew for a fact that this young human wouldn't allow anyone to put him in their pocket. He knew at once what he was.

"You don't have family," the Minotaur monotoned, trying his best to still sound intimidating.

Pablo gulped.

"No," Pablo nodded his head, his eyes flaring, "I wouldn't worry though, it wasn't your fault. They died of their own accord. They had a lucky escape."

The Minotaur was taken aback. He contemplated taking a step forward, but decided against it.

"I will let you go if you leave this moment," the Minotaur growled, "I will no longer attack your village. You can tell them you killed me."

Pablo raised his eyebrow suspiciously.

"You're lying to me, you will murder me the minute I turn away," he objected.

"I'm not a liar," the Minotaur assured, his eyes pleading, "It is in my nature to kill humans, that is just how I was raised. I do not intend to take your life, and you have...inspired me. I will leave this place, this lair, and I won't kill another soul."

"No," Pablo blurted out.

His blood ran cold. Pablo couldn't believe the thought that had entered his mind, but he knew he had to speak it. He took a step towards the beast, his eyes half-filled with tears.

"I will make sure you don't."

The Minotaur breathed shallowly as Pablo took another step to take his side.

"You are going to take it upon yourself to look after me, and I will take it upon myself to keep you from taking another man's life," Pablo spoke, "I have no life in that town, but the people who live there do. I may as well die a hero and be praised for centuries, than live to tell a tale nobody will believe."

He looked up into the Minotaur's big, yellow eyes. Most of his hatred had gone.

"You speak like an older man," the Minotaur contemplated.

Pablo nodded his head, agreeing. His images of fortune and fame were now clouded with adventures and acts of heroism partnered with a Minotaur. 

A Minotaur who was the first person who had asked about his family.