Weekly Writing Prompt

(Prompt Credit: thefakeredhead.com)

I found this writing prompt on Pinterest and wanted to give it a try. I was just planning on doing a short scene, but, as usual, I kept going and managed to get 1,117 words out of it. Below is a sample from it:

The room was buzzing with excitement. The masked party-goers chattered loudly. Garrett looked around him. Some had masks plated with silver and gold designs, others were topped with brilliantly colored feathers. There were a few who opted for more subtle masks so it would distract from their wide brimmed hats. One appeared to have a stuffed owl attached inside the curve of their hat.

The foyer seemed to grow increasingly smaller as more people crowded inside. The heat was building. Sweat began to trickle down the nape of his neck into the collar of his jacket. Garrett shuffled his feet in agitation.

The towering doors ahead creaked open. The room before them was dark, only lit by what appeared to be fireflies buzzing around. Guards in freshly polished armor stood on either side of a wide carpet leading guests down the dimly lit corridor. The armor glimmered from the light of the buzzing fireflies.

Garrett was relieved to be out of the foyer. He could feel the winter air seeping through the stone wall of the castle and caressing his face. People hastily made their way down the path, trying their best not to run. The sound of their footsteps echoed like thunder. A bright light appeared at the end of the corridor, emanating from behind two glass doors decorated with iron vines. The blacksmith in him couldn’t help by marvel at the craftsmanship.

Two servants opened the doors. The guests squinted from underneath their masks at the brightly lit room before them. The dome-shaped room was made entirely of glass, with the view looking out over the low valley and snow-capped mountains. Above them hovered a grand chandelier with its dangling crystals casting waves of rainbows every time they struck light. Pushed up against the sides were long, curved tables with a colossal amount of decadent food and drink. To the far left was a string quartet adorned with masks of their own. They struck up a lively tune as soon as the guests entered, enticing them to the wide space in the center of the room.

“Elaine!” called the Madame. She tugged Garrett through the dispersing crowd. He nearly tripped over his own feet, still marveling at the opulence. He had grown a disdain for parties. At home, they were usually held in over-crowded, stuffy barns with the only perk being the abundance of sweet, homemade mead. This, however, he could get used to.

“Don’t look so amazed. It’ll give you away.” The Madame instructed. Garrett peered around him. People were mingling about as nonchalantly as if they were in an open field. They were more focused on conversation than anything else.

“Are all you people this jaded?” Garrett asked.

“Money as a way of doing that.” The Madame replied. He could hear a hint of sadness in her voice.

“Oh, Marie!” beamed Elaine. She grabbed the Madame’s hands and kissed her on both cheeks. An ivory mask with curling, gold plated designs and a tall feather covered half of her face. Her pale blonde hair was piled on top of her head, with ringlets cascading down the sides of her face. Her gown matched her mask perfectly.

Her partner was her exact opposite. He was clad in a black waistcoat, trousers, and boots, with a dark ruffled necktie peeking out of his collar. His mask was the same design as hers, except with a black base and silver designs and a black feather at the top.

“You’ll never believe the agony of our journey.” Elaine groaned. Her voice reminded Garrett of an annoying bird who used to sit in the tree above his workbench and chirp all day until a cat finally silenced it. If only that cat were here now. “First, my favorite carriage had a broken wheel, so we had to take the other one. Then the driver became ill halfway, so we had to find another one in this tiny village.

They all seemed too busy to help, can you imagine? What do peasants even do all day? Anyway, it was the most horrible journey, but I have to go. I have a friend here who is dying to show me her new necklace.” She kissed Marie on the cheeks and shuffled her way through the crowd.

“Woe is me.” Muttered Garrett sarcastically.

“No, woe is me for having to put up with this farce.” Said the Madame.

“I though you enjoyed parties?”

"Oh, I do!” she replied, moving a stray hair way from her face and tucking it behind her mask. “With people who aren’t annoying.”

How many words did you get out of this prompt? Leave me a comment below!

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