Sentenced to Writing

I started these writing prompt/short stories to help me get into the writing mood. This one kind of took off on me so it is quite a bit longer than my others so far. Enjoy! I heard the call as I scrubbed the floors below deck. Pirates had been sighted, and laden as we were with so much cargo, outrunning the fleet vessel wasn't likely. I couldn't afford to abandon my post, the whip marks from the morning still open and tender. I'd only missed one spot in my scrubbing to earn that punishment. Then the captain had poured all waste bins on the floor and made me scrub it clean again. There was still a quarter of the deck left before I could dare to take a break to relieve myself.  The tell-tale crack of a whip made me flinch, even though it wasn't near me, but the sound came through the wooden planks above my head. Captain and the first mate were fond of that whip, and as equally unfond of me. The money I had given them to allow me to board this ship only held their re...

Prompt: The dark is all I have ever known. Julianne heard the doorbell ring and made her way confidently to the front door, her way marked by the rhythmic click of her tongue on the roof of her mouth. She found the door handle and pulled the door open, exposing her home to the sounds of her friends waiting on her doorstep. She recognized most of their voices. "Come in, come in," she said with a bob of her head. She wasn't always quite sure when people were so she didn't want to wave her hand and knock into somebody. Several someones trooped past her into the open front room. One of these someones stopped and Julianne felt arms wrap around her. "Hey Julianne. I hope you don't mind, but I found Mark wandering around like a lost puppy and asked him if he wanted to come over too." Kari's voice was kind and warm.  Julianne answered, "Of course I don't mind. Mark, wherever you are, come on in and join us. I'm not sure what seats are ...

Prompt: She narrowed her eyes and clenched her fist. "Do not challenge me." Erick had been working up to this moment for two years, and I'd endured every miserable moment of it. The endless teasing, the nips, the subtle disobedience, and every put down he could throw out of his useless mouth.  He just wasn't okay with having a female Alpha, and since he was definitely not a candidate to be my equal and lead the pack, he apparently felt like he could win the title by undermining my authority. I was done. I finished my sparring session and wiped my face with the towel from my gym bag. Thanking Julianne for her time, I strode out the doors and into the chilly air. Our compound was deep in the Alaskan wilderness and it was at least a twelve hour drive to the next town, thank goodness. Any closer and no one's livestock would be safe, not with Erick running his night raids thinking I didn't noticed. Oh I noticed. I just couldn't win that fight without seri...

Prompt: Sure it hurt, it always did. But the louder you screamed the more blood they would take. My skin burned and itched. My heart beat harder and harder, trying to push precious life force through my failing body. I wanted, more than anything, to push the vile man from my neck, but any movement would rip my veins beyond healing capacity.  A quiet whimper escaped my traitorous mouth and the pull stopped. He let me go and I slid to the floor in a pathetic heap.  His voice rumbled around my head as I started to lose consciousness. "Oh pet, you should have let me know, I would have stopped much sooner." I knew he wouldn't have, he never did, no matter how much noise I made. His footsteps grew quieter and I heard the heavy door slam shut behind him.  I stumbled over to my head, hitting my shin on the bed frame. I groped for the nightstand, grabbing for the handkerchiefs I stashed there for just this purpose. Finally the soft fabric met my fingertips and I snatche...