Thank you, this was good prompt

Yeah reading it back today it is a bit confusing for sure. Fun concept to play with in the future maybe, and I'll give it another spin. Thanks for the feedback!

Western zombie apocalypse

Thanks!

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The door to the shop slammed open and Tazad, the necromancer, looked up from his work to see Cain, a local rogue, standing in the doorway.

"Good morning, my dear customer," Tazad began, but was interrupted by a cough. cough ", how can I help you?"

Cain strode into the shop, the dust settling around him as he made his way to the counter. "Good to see ya buddy, not feeling well are ya?" he asked with a smirk.

"Oh, it's you Cain, I'm just a little tired," Tazad replied with an annoyed look. "I can see, too much business lately?"

Cain nodded. "Yeah, just reanimated the son of a rich noble guy yesterday, he wanted to make amends."

"Hah, typical story I guess, father too busy to pay attention to his kid, so he wanders off to go on adventures by himself and due to unfortunate circumstances... dies, right?" Cain quipped.

"You know it," Tazad said, "but nevermind that, what brings you here?"

Cain grinned. "Hehe, you'll love this, I promise ya. I want you to bring back this guy!" he exclaimed, showing Tazad a photo of a suspicious-looking man.

Tazad examined the photo in silence. The man had a pale face, white hair, and sharp eyes that seemed to penetrate the soul. He was dressed elegantly in a black tuxedo on top of a white dress shirt.

"Fuck you, Cain, this guy's a vampire!!" Tazad exclaimed in anger. "I ain't going to resurrect a damned lord of the night."

"Wait, wait, my guy Tazad, let me explain... This is the ex-lover of the current princess, got killed by the current hero of the Empire, also known as the soon-to-be new fiancée of the princess. But here's the interesting part..."

"What?!? What's so fucking interesting about this?" Tazad asked.

"I knew you'd be curious. This dude here is the son of the most powerful count ever existed! And what's even crazier is that, the princess still loves him!!! You know what it means, my friend?!?" Cain said with excitement.

"Get to the point," Tazad said impatiently.

"We'll be rich! So fucking rich that we could buy a whole nation and even have our own army!" Cain exclaimed. "You'll be getting paid by the princess and the count too, so... are you down?"

Tazad thought for a moment. "I'll have to think about it," he said.

"You have until tomorrow, don't make me wait!" Cain said as he walked out of the shop.

He decided to close early that day and returned home. As he walked on the road home, he gazed at the moon, as if the answer to his dilemma would be given by it. "What should I do..." he thought to himself as he approached the door of his house.

The home was a modest dwelling, neither too large nor too small. From the outside, it appeared cozy and inviting. But upon entering, it was clear that this was the abode of a necromancer - vials, potions, books, and herbs were scattered about the interior. The most striking feature of the room, however, was a pod situated in the center, contaning a woman.

Tazad approached the pod, his gaze fixed upon it as he placed a hand upon it. "Dear Lya," he murmured softly, "I may have finally found a way to earn enough to bring you back... but what I might do could unleash a new war upon the world." He couldn't shake off the feeling that the decision would have far-reaching consequences, and he wasn't sure if he was ready to face them.

The next day arrived, and it was time to decide. The door to the shop burst open and Cain walked in. "I'm here, have you decided, Tazad?" he asked.

"Yes, let's do it," Tazad replied.

"Good, good, I knew I could count on you!" Cain said, and the two set about making the necessary preparations. Tazad gathered the ingredients and drew the summoning circles while Cain watched.

Finally, the time had come. Tazad began to chant the incantation, channeling all of his mana into the spell. The circle glowed brighter and brighter until it was almost too bright to look at. Strong currents of energy emanated from the circle, making it hard to stand.

But then, something unexpected happened. The circle collapsed onto itself, getting smaller and smaller by the second.

The black orb continued to crack and split, sending powerful light rays bursting out in all directions. Time seemed to freeze as the energy from the circle intensified, gravity multiplied, and the wind currents created by the energy sounded like the screeches of harpies.

"WE NEED TO GET AWAY! IT'S GOING TO EXPLODE!" Tazad shouted to Cain.

Tazad, using all of his strength, grabbed Cain and created a barrier around them. It barely withstood the impact and after what felt like an eternity to Tazad, but was actually just two seconds, everything was back to normal.

Both of them were exhausted, and as they collapsed on the ground, Tazad managed to see a glimpse of his creation - the son of the count and the one who would be known as the catalyst of the world's end. He was standing tall, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly power, and his hair was blowing wildly in the wind. Tazad knew, at that moment, that he had unleashed something truly dangerous and powerful into the world, and there was no telling what consequences his actions would bring.

Enough nukes have dropped to cripple the infrastructure and descend the world into anarchy. The pieces are still there to put the world back together again but it won't be easy as some people don't want it.

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Nice build up and interesting twist.

Thank you for the reply!

>but people love them.

If only briefly

Interesting.

Thank you for the reply!

This is a brilliant twist on the prompt, thank you for writing it!

And in the Buffalo suburb of Hamburg

This is also the name of the bar I was at last Sunday for football games. I kid you not!

A few years ago, the world got invaded by giant slugs. They are invulnerable and their mucus is extremly corrosive. But they are slow so sure, they destroyed the world but they aren't that difficult to live with. Aside from the occasional relocation when a slug is headed their way, people are living a pretty chill life in the ruins of the world they once enjoyed.

Penguin runs a bar called My Alibi in Gotham City for the same reason lol

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“You’re the wizard?”

I don’t correct clients, as a rule, so I nodded. “Yes sir.”

“And this isn’t a scam?” he asked. He was looking at me, but the question was directed at his entourage. They took care of reassuring him; all I had to do was stand there and look ominous. I knew the type: he was drowning in grief, and desperately trying to keep it bottled inside with a sense of control.

“So you can bring my dad back?”

“Not forever,” I said. “Not even for a long time.”

“But long enough to say goodbye?”

I nodded again. And to my surprise, he grabbed me in a bear hug. “Thank you, man. Thank you. I’m Guy Redmond. My dad, he-” and then he was sobbing on my shoulder.

My assistant keeps a spreadsheet on potential clients: executives getting chemo; celebrities doing their own stunts; and of course, billionaires over 85. Julius Redmond had been at the top of the list for years; so long I’d wondered if he’d found some power even stronger than what I offered. But no, when it came down to it, Julius Redmond, billionaire media baron, just had healthy habits and excellent medical care.

A car had taken me to the Manhattan helipads; a Sikorsky charter took me all the way upstate, where another car had taken me from the helipad to the Redmond family home. Now, Guy himself walked me the last leg of the journey, down the hall to his father’s bedroom. He kept his hand on my arm the entire way; I could feel him sagging under the weight of the moment.

Julius – or at least the earthly vessel I would call him back to – reclined majestically on a large bed. Medical staff were already packing up the IV poles and monitors. “Leave that one,” Guy pointed at the heart-rate monitor that was showing a steady flat line. A nurse nodded and then withdrew, leaving us alone.

“Here,” Guy said to me, pulling a crumpled check out of his pocket and pushing it into my hands.

“Your people already paid-” I started to protest, but he cut me off.

“Nah, you’re gonna dig deeper. You’re gonna give me more time with my dad. Alright?”

The toughness was back; the need for control. But that check had quite a few zeroes on it.

“It can be overwhelming,” I warned him. “For you, I mean. It can help to have an agenda. To help you stay focused and cover everything you want to cover with him. This is your chance.”

Guy shook his head and blinked his eyes a few times. “I just want my dad to be proud of me.”

“Alright,” I said. And then I got to work.

I won’t bore you with the details of necromancy. Guy paced the room, fists balled, until the heart-rate monitor started to beep.

“Dad?” Guy rushed over to the bed. “Dad, it’s me.”

Julius’s eyes opened slowly. I put my hand against the wall, steadying myself as I channeled, slow and steady.

“Gaius, what happened?” Julius asked.

“You died, dad. And I brought you back,” Guy said, his voice trembling. “It’s not like you think. I don’t just let things happen. I can do things. And I wanted you to see.”

Guy took another deep breath. And then he brought his fist up, and punched his father. And then he did it again. And again.

Julius had been tough for his age, but he was an old man who had died once already. I felt the tether slip. The beep of the heart-rate monitor stopped.

Guy turned to look at me. His gaze was vacant, but he was breathing hard.

“Will that be all?” I asked. I was breathing hard with the strain of magic, but I don’t correct clients, as a rule.

“Oh no,” Guy said. “You promised me more time. I’m not done.” He balled up his fist, and turned to face the body. “Bring him back again."

(Thanks so much for reading! If you enjoyed this, you can find more of my stories at r/prejackpottery_barn )

Nice opening, with the typing and everything. Made me smile.

"Welcome to Returns, your speaking with Jill, who can we bring back for you today?'

"Hello Jill its Bill Gregory"

"Mr Gregory- what a pleasure it is to hear from you again, has it really been a year already?"

"Please call me Bill and its that time again for sure"

"Ha I cant do that, you know how Mr Gorgon-the duke of the undead, ruler of the un-life- may his reign last for 10000 years feels about proper titles" Jill said with a chuckle

Bill Chuckled back at her, while she started typing on her computer.

"Let me just bring up your file - lets see here, ah look at this with this one you have almost filled out your resurrect 9- get the tenth free card. that's always a good deal for our frequent customers"

"so just the normal package again Mr Gregory, or would you like to upgrade for a longer stay?"

"no thank you- just the normal 24 hours, I don't think I could stand any longer"

"Not a problem, what do you have planned this time?" Jill asked as she tapped away on her computer

"Maybe something with fire or maybe take him out shooting?" Bill replied "most of the time I just make it up on the spot"

"Fair enough- that's all set for you I've booked in the time and updated Mr Gorgon-the duke of the undead, ruler of the un-life- may his reign last for 10000 years, calendar. just do the normal bank transfer and we are all set"

"Thank you Jill- you have a good one now"

Click

I get the ping that a new job has been added, and I open my eyes, the gem in my forehead begins to glow bright green, the light spreads across my bones replacing the long dead flesh with new muscles, blood and skin, until I'm fully formed again and I step out of my upright coffin and look at the update.

Ah Mr Gregory, that time again.

I gather the darkness from the corners of the room and spin it into a robe for me to wear, as I'm walking I click my finger's and the skulls along my walls light up- fueled by their souls- sometimes I can hear a very faint screams but this just adds to the ambiance and people love a show.

Some think Necromancy is monstrous and goes against the natural order of life but I say, its just the same as capitalism or Influencers and everyone shuts up real quick.

I'm just offering a service which a lot of people pay a lot of money for.

But what everyone doesn't know is Necromancy takes a lot out of you and you always get some cross over form the dead your reviving, some thoughts and feelings, actions on how they lived life.

And this job for Mr Gregory to bring back his father always leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

After what his father did- I know what true evil is.

Most humans are dead, the world is overrun with demons, large parts of the planet has been nuked, large pockets of sentient AI remain that have built bodies for themselves out of whatever tech they could find.

You are an AI that was infected with a computer virus that recently became sentient, you find yourself in a very human like body in a factory producing exact replicas of your body.

Good work.

Miranda nervously fidgeted at the sleeve of her long coat. It was her first day, she was waiting in a room with a large table and several chairs as office halogen lights hummed away. Smoothing the cloth over and over is something she's done often in school to the point it started to fray. The new patch sown on her shoulder felt a bit uncomfortable but she was proud to be part of "Lawrence & Reynolds & Gutgrob: Necromantic Services". LRG was one of the major players in Necromantic Services, ever since the 1996 Convention of Demons at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Part of those services allowed someone to come back from the dead almost as normal and continue living their life as if nothing happened except for the occasional memory lapse. How this happens is hidden behind NDAs, misinformation, disinformation, and some even say magic. Miranda had her ideas of course but today myth would become fact.

"You ready Mira?" a man wearing a fine dark suit and a red ornate goblin mask. It was turned into a extorted expression of pain and glee. This was her attendant. They wore masks to prevent demons from disturbing them too much. "Yes." she replied.

"What are you against the darkness?" the attendant asked.

"I am the stone, indifferent."

"What will you do when shadow swallows you?"

"I am unmoving. Lodged in the serpents throat."

"When the void is all you come to know?

"I will know nothing, unchanged and come to awaken."

The attendant using a pen with an elaborate ivory handle and golden feather scratched what looked to be blood on old parchment. The attendant broke the silence, "It's not lost on me how goofy this all looks in contrast to the savings management got on the building and location. Apologies it's not great but the job does have other benefits; casual Fridays for example, though I do have to wear the mask." Miranda forced a half laugh, "It's fine. I'm just nervous."

There was a knock on the door. The attendant stood up and opened the door to a person in a blue goblin mask with a blank expression who handed him a garment bag.

"Ah, your meeting robe, great." The attendant placed it on the back of a chair.

"Ok, last check list, be as specific as possible." The attendant pulled out another piece of paper, but this one seemingly normal white copy paper.

"Lawrence & Reynolds & Gutgrob hereto "LRG" is not responsible for any injuries or pacts made during "The Human Representative Miranda, hereto "THRM", time with your Partnered Spiritual Consultant, hereto "PSC". THRM will stay present with PSC for a period of 8 earth hours as designated by the 1996 Compact." The attendant paused for a moment, "Are these terms acceptable, Miranda?"

"Yes."

"Great, then by the 1996 Compact of Demons you are granted access to office 858 where you'll be working with PSC. Norl. Oh, he's a veteran so you'll be in great hands, good luck in there and hope to see you back tomorrow. Another attendant will conduct your exit interview for the day. You can leave your clothes here, someone will clean them and have them ready for when you leave, and you have a ten minute break before you head in. Need anything else?"

"No, the 8 series is last on the right, correct?" Miranda asked.

"You got it! Bye!" The attendant left Miranda alone in the room.

She was instructed not to bring anything in. She changed into the robe, upon exiting the blue masked goblin was waiting. Silently they motioned to the end of the hall. Following behind her quietly they walked past other doors and series of hallways. It was remarkably quiet.

Arriving at 858 the goblin attendant put their palm on a odd marking just below the door, opened it and motioned inside.

Miranda walked in with a bit of hesitation, it was pitch black but once she put her hand inside a light was reflecting off her. Taking a step into darkness her foot landed on something akin to concrete. She walked further in and the door to the hallway was surrounded in a void. Before being swallowed whole the attendant in the blue goblin mask stared in for a moment before slowly closing the door.

A distant voice from the darkness called out, "You're not supposed to be here, child."

Miranda stood silently. The voice spoke again closer. "You don't even know what your time is being exchanged for do you?"

A cruel gluttonous laughter erupted next to Miranda. Who jumped in response.

That same voice started to form in front of Miranda. "Got you..." it said playfully. The form it took had legs and hooves of a beast that transitioned mid belly into a humanish shape. Seven fingers on skin soaked like red wine. It's noseless face with three eyes and two mouths on each side of it's face loomed over Miranda. "What forms you give us," Norl remarked while looking over it's form curiously. "I like this though."

"It's my first day." Miranda stammered.

"You don't sayyy?" Norl remarked with sassy disdain. "I knew that child. I knew everything about you when you put those green painted toes on the feet of our domain. I will know everything about you now that we've met face to face, so no need."

"Then you know..." Miranda started, but Norl continued, "That your Grandmother was one of the first generations of the Relifed. That LRG made a contract for her with, me, for her time to continue. Of course." Norl looked at Miranda who seemed to be looking into Norl more than it was to her. Norl felt unsettled. "What is this, what are you?"

Norl didn't like these dealings with the humans, some were, unpredictable. Part of the pact gave them form in their domain, a necessary disadvantage to completing a pact. Demons can read the minds of those who enter in their domain but Mirandas mind was confusing and troubling to try and sort out.

"I know that confused look." Miranda said with a uncaring face that grew to rage. "It's the same one my Grandma used to give me. It's the reason why late at night, she would open my locked door, climb on to the ceiling and slowly press her face to mine, for hours, EVERY NIGHT. For so, so many nights and I would lay there frozen in terror. Then I watched her do it to my sister and my brother, and I was held still in rage. No one would believe me. They would disregard it. I would come to know this was an effect of your kind on ours. Part of the exchange to forget. I don't know why I remember, I don't know why you can't read my mind, but I know that confused look."

"You're not the STONE!"

"I am the spider. Calculating."

Miranda started to approach Norl.

"YOU ARE NOT UNMOVING!"

"I am a prison. Unescapable."

Miranda placed her hand upon Norl's chest.

"WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF THE VOID, CHILD!"

"I know your form has pain, and I will come to know you."

Norl screamed out both mouths as his body wretched.

"And we technically have seven hours and fifty five minutes until my shift is over and LRG is not responsible for injuries. I have a few questions for you." Miranda placed her other hand on Norl's head. Norl, breathing heavy, body shivering, about to speak before Miranda said, "Please. No. You remember don't you."

Norl nodded, defeated. "Seven hours, fifty four."

The End.

"Thank you, Mei, and I absolutely agree with you, this year's opening is truly stunning."

"While the ceremony proceeds, it's worth taking a moment for us all to think about the hardest achievement most of these athletes have accomplished: adapting themselves to Earth conditions. Whether it's atmospheric composition, gravity, temporal mechanics, or microbiological conditions, every single competitor today has had to strive–and win–against Earth's particular requirements. For all of them, it's a point of pride to stand tall in the place where we get the words 'air,' 'biome,' and '1-g.'"

"Thank you, Idris, that's absolutely right. What many of our viewers might not know is that reaching Olympic tolerances for competition can involve exercises that are more demanding than the sports themselves. I'm told that this year's Andromedan track star Luka Lee actually had to undergo reconstructive heart surgery at the age of fifteen to remove the extra muscle brought on by their training at the Ain Sil Sports Complex on Andromeda IV's ultradense moon. It's a real testament to their dedication that they were willing to undergo the procedure just to compete in the Olympics. Lee really put their convictions on the line as an advocate for the ongoing intergalactic peace project."

"It's a real story of courage and perseverance, Mei, and that's what the Olympics are all about. It looks like the march is concluding, so let's go now to the opening speech. Stay with us here at IGBC as the Standard Year 4023 Olympic games begin."

> I was distracted

Imagine if you weren't... I hope i see some of your replies again.