"What Happens Next?" 😯 - Discovering The Unknown Upstairs
Hello there writing community ☺️
‘What Happens Next?’ is an interesting forum activity where you get to choose how a situation turns out! The rules are simple:
We would provide you with a situational prompt.
You would reply to this post with a creative ending of your own in response to the situation given to you.
Prompt:
"Ahh, thank goodness we're almost done!" Eric yelled to his brother Alex. "I know, who knew moving would take a whole week" Alex replied. There was only one last place to clear: the attic upstairs.
"Oh come on, we've never even been up there before I'm sure we aren't leaving anything important behind" Alex said as he rolled his eyes. "Let's go", Eric said sternly to his younger brother. "We're moving miles away and we'll never see this place again. This house has been in our family for decades, the least we can do is make sure we have everything left from it"....
What happens next when Eric and Alex enter the attic for the very first time?
Get together to create as many alternate endings as possible! (Parallel universe, who? It’s Content Subcommunity universe!) Please make sure that your entry is not more than 800 words.
If you want to get tagged for more ‘What Happens Next?’ prompts, reply to this post with “Tag me!”. We will add you to the taglist for this activity! Feel free to tag your friends and have fun exploring alternate endings with each other!
If you have any questions about the series or wish to submit some prompts feel free to drop a message to @SirenofSerenity or @Clarisse29
Taglist: @Barltik2065 @ShyCecropia @ScorpiaD @MusicLeigh @Torean @Ashnugget @Inara752
Before you go!
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@SirenOfSerenity
Eric went first, opening the hatch to the attic, standing on a ladder he didn't trust. As expected, it was sweltering up in there, and he immediately regretted his decision.
There were a number of clear plastic boxes to his side. It looked like Christmas stuff, old newspapers, and Betty boop memorabilia. He could see why the memorabilia didn't have a place anywhere else, but why did anyone ever want to stash boxes like this in an attic? No one would ever want to deal with them later. Always about making the next generation deal with it.
Eric shook his head and started going further back, as Alex came up the ladder saying, "nope."
"Yep", Eric said, but it looks like we can ignore this first area at least.
Alex sighed loudly behind him and started complaining, but Eric automatically started tuning it out when he saw something interesting. There was a record player, with a record next to it, that had a post it saying "play me". Behind that, there were three life-sized dolls that looked like him and Alex when they were kids. They were twins, but there was a third here. He looked at them. It was easy to tell by expression who was who... But the third one just had a confident smirk.
Looking back, they exchanged a look, both seeing everything here, and it was Alex that dusted off the record and player, and started to put it on, about to set the needle and start it.
Alex sighed, "Do we gotta know?"
Eric nodded, and Alex nodded back. What started playing wasn't music, but words.
Hello to my brothers. I'm Ivan. As you're listening to this, you probably never heard of me. I'm real. We were triplets. I hope to meet you someday, but there is a reason that I left you this. You have to cancel on your new apartment, and move in with Manny instead. His offer should still stand. I can't say anything more for now, but you'll hear from me again. There will be something else to find in his attic - but no matter what you do, don't.. there... As... When... Place...
It has started skipping. They exchanged an intense wide-eyed look. There was going to be a lot more to unpack besides boxes...
@Torean This was a really fun read, I didn't expect or even think of the possibility of their upstairs discovery turning into an adventure towards other attics in family homes! You always do a fabulous job making entertaining stories from these prompts 💙 I hope you're doing and feeling well, and thank you for participating this week
@SirenOfSerenity
As Eric and Alex climbed the creaky stairs to the attic, anticipation filled the air. Dust particles danced in the faint sunlight that streamed through a small window, revealing the forgotten treasures of their family's history.
They carefully navigated through the maze of old trunks and dusty furniture, their curious eyes scanning every corner. Among the forgotten relics, they discovered a worn-out journal, its pages filled with their great-grandfather's handwritten memories.
As they flipped through the delicate pages, the stories came alive, transporting them back in time. Tales of resilience, love, and adventure vividly depicted their family's past. They read about their great-grandfather's struggles during the war, his determination to provide for his family, and the cherished moments of joy amidst hardship.
Inspired by the tales of their ancestors, Eric and Alex felt a deep connection to their roots. They realized that their family's legacy was not just confined to the walls of this old house but extended far beyond. With a renewed sense of purpose, they embarked on a mission to honor their family's history.
They meticulously sorted through the attic's contents, finding an array of keepsakes: faded photographs capturing tender family moments, letters that echoed the love shared by their grandparents, and heirloom jewelry passed down through generations. Each item held a story waiting to be heard.
Recognizing the importance of preserving these treasures, Eric and Alex created a dedicated family archive. They carefully cataloged each artifact, digitizing photographs and transcribing letters. Their attic transformed into a treasure trove of memories, a sanctuary where the past met the present.
But their exploration of the attic didn't end there. As they continued to search through the attic's nooks and crannies, they stumbled upon a hidden compartment behind a loose floorboard. Intrigued, they carefully pried it open, revealing a secret compartment filled with mysterious letters and a faded map.
The letters were cryptic, written in a language they couldn't decipher, but the map caught their attention. It depicted an uncharted island in a faraway ocean, marked with an "X." Could this be a hidden treasure map passed down through generations? The brothers exchanged excited glances, their imaginations running wild.
With hearts pounding, they decided to embark on a daring adventure to uncover the secrets of their family's past. Armed with the map, they vowed to follow in their ancestors' footsteps and seek out the fabled treasure. Little did they know that their journey would take them on a dangerous expedition filled with unexpected challenges and mysterious encounters.
As Eric and Alex left the attic behind, their minds brimming with excitement and curiosity, they knew their lives would change forever. The hunt for the treasure would unravel the mysteries of their family's history and plunge them into a world of suspense, danger, and unexpected discoveries. They could hardly wait to set sail and uncover the truth that awaited them on the mysterious island.
And so, with the attic's secret hidden safely in their hearts, Eric and Alex embarked on an adventure that would test their courage, forge unbreakable bonds, and lead them to a revelation beyond their wildest dreams. The suspenseful chapter of their family's story was about to unfold, with the attic's treasures guiding their way into the unknown.
@AvaFoxy This was very enjoyable and I'm happy you joined in this week 💙 Your story provided really good visualization from the way you described each and every detail of the attic and their findings, I almost felt like I was there!
My favorite part of your response was, "Inspired by the tales of their ancestors, Eric and Alex felt a deep connection to their roots. They realized that their family's legacy was not just confined to the walls of this old house but extended far beyond." 💙