Crunch: The Oracle
Writing Exercise #11
Let’s try another Crunch—back to the roots, taking a random prompt I find online.
If you have ideas for Prompts, Crunches, Sprints, or other writing exercises in the future, please leave them in the comments! If you would like to write your own take for this exercise, please comment with a link so that I can see what you wrote and support your work, maybe even share your version with my subscribers. Please let me know if you have any thoughts, comments, or constructive criticisms as well!
Enjoy!
Crunch: Set your story in an oracle or a fortune teller’s parlor.
(source)
The old guards stopped the desperate stranger at the gate.
“Please! Please let me pass! I must see the Oracle!”
“What do you offer, peasant?” One of the guards pushed the stranger to the ground.
“I have nothing. I am nothing. I have only this coin to my name.” The stranger holds a coin, as if it could ward away the old guards.
A guard took the coin, and flipped it into a pile of treasure behind them. “Your offering is accepted. You may approach the Oracle.”
“…On your knees.”
The stranger was not dissuaded by the penance. “Thank you, thank you!” he said. He stepped on his knees over the hard stone.
The Oracle resided at the top of a mountain, in an open rotunda that allowed a panoramic view of the surroundings. In the center of the circle sat the Oracle—a funny looking man, who kept his eyes closed. He wore dark yellow robes, and a tall circular hat.
The stranger heard a voice in his head: “Proceed no further.”
“Yes, Oracle.” He said.
The Oracle appeared to look at him and open his eyes—which glowed a uniform deep blue, with no pupils. And yet, he simultaneously appeared not to be moving—like a shade had emerged from the seated figure. “What do you ask of the Oracle?”
The stranger was prepared for this. “I ask for your life!” He raised a hidden sword—
The old guards heard a clattering noise from within the rotunda.
(249 words)
The Promptee Has Become The Promptor
Your feedback helps to improve my writing. I would really appreciate a comment on your thoughts on this writing exercise. Consider telling me your thoughts about:
Who won—the Oracle or the stranger?
Would you ever consult an oracle?
What did you have for lunch?
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy! Come back next week for another writing exercise!
God bless!
The Oracle would have seen it coming, and therefore would have won. Unless, of course, the stranger was somehow the most Pure of Heart, and the Oracle gave their life on purpose in order to fulfill the age old prophecy and restore balance to the world.
But I'm just a girl who had a delicious hamburger and tater tots for lunch today, so what do I know?
Yes, I don't think the stranger had a chance if his mission was to kill the oracle. Maybe the stranger wanted to have everlasting life but not on earth and have it done by the hands of the oracle. Very good short story though, I enjoyed it.