Dylan O'Brien as Joel Dawson
“Love and Monsters", dir. Michael Matthews
Kemp knocked softly on the apartment door then leaned his head on it. It was cool. And he was hot. And sweating. And so very tired. The door wasn’t opening. Cyril wasn’t opening the door.
Kemp swallowed hard and knocked again. He waited even longer this time. Still nothing. His heart rate ramped up and he felt his hands and feet grow cold. His stomach lurched.
Kemp tried the knock they had agreed on one more time. He waited and waited and waited. Nothing.
The edges of Kemp’s vision grew blurry and cloudy. He reeled back and kicked the door. Once. Twice. It banged open, the wood around the bolt cracked and splintered. Kemp’s hand went for the gun at his side: the gun that wasn’t there. Shit. He pulled the knife from his boot instead.
Kemp checked the living room. “Cyril!”
Sweat dripped from his forehead, stinging his eyes. He was so hot and freezing at the same time.
Kemp checked the kitchen. The kettle was on and boiling. “Cyril!” He tried to breathe but all he could do was gasp. His heart raced. As Kemp paced into the bedroom, knife ready, the floor tilted sideways and he had to lean on the wall to stay upright.
The shower was running. It sounded like a waterfall. So loud.
“Cyril?!”
“What?”
Kemp turned.
Cyril was there. Coming out of the bathroom. Towel around his waist. And safe.
Cyril was safe.
Kemp dropped the knife. The carpet came up to meet him. Kemp felt like he was dying. Why was he dying? Why couldn’t he breathe?
Cyril was saying something but Kemp couldn’t hear him.
Kemp opened his eyes.
When had his eyes closed?
He was on his side, his head resting on something soft. Someone was stroking his hair. His cheek throbbed.
“Are you with me?” Cyril asked, his voice coming from above.
Kemp turned his head a little. He was resting on Cyril’s lap while Cyril ran his fingers through his hair. The shower was still running.
“Yeah.” Kemp whispered. “I’m with you.”
“Good.” Cyril leaned down and kissed Kemp’s forehead.
That was new. Fainting was new too. But kisses especially so.
“You look awful.” Cyril smiled down at him.
“Can’t imagine why.” Kemp tried to sit up but the world tilted again.
Cyril eased him back down to the floor and kept his head in his lap. “Careful there. You had a panic attack maybe. Give it a minute.”
“Don’t have panic attacks.”
“Well, you do now. What happened? Why were you looking for me?”
“Didn’t answer the knock.” Kemp closed his eyes. The towel was thin about Cyril’s thighs and his body heat was soothing. “Thought something happened.”
“You had a panic attack over me?” Kemp could hear the smile in Cyril’s voice.
“It’s not funny.” Kemp grumbled.
“I’m not laughing.” Kemp felt Cyril’s breath as he leaned down over Kemp’s ear and kissed his hair.
Kemp turned his head. And met Cyril’s lips with his own.
“You are laughing at me.” Kemp breathed into Cyril’s mouth.
“Never.” Cyril whispered, and kissed him again.
(content warning - graphic violence)
The silvery light of the glowing noose illuminated the tears running down Ylen’s cheeks from below. He rushed to grab hold of the rope of light, and reeled back with burned hands.
“Alixor.” Ylen gasped. “Alix, what are you doing?”
“You did this.” Alixor sat down heavily in the dewy grass, panting and sweating as though he had just run miles. The spell had taken almost all of his energy. “You did this.” He gasped. “When you refused to help me.”
“What?”
Ylen fell to his hands and knees. His eyes were wide and stared into Alix’s face.
Alixor looked down to the ground, averting his eyes from Ylen’s stricken look.
“You refused to help me.” He said again, much quieter than before.
“Alix, I-”
Alixor pounded his fist into the wet grass. “You won’t help me!” He screamed. Alixor looked to Ylen again. Braved the terrified eyes. “You won’t help my people!”
A beat.
Ylen’s face softens.
But instead of looking scared, Ylen just looks sad.
“I will not kill for you. That is what you mean.”
Alixor shook his head. No, Ylen can not change this. Ylen is wrong.
Ylen continued, voice becoming stronger, the furrows of rage in his face becoming deep in the silver light shed by the noose around his neck.
“I will not use my power to kill.” Ylen said.
Alixor shook his head again, feeling tears pouring from his eyes. “You won’t help me.” He sobbed. “I need help.”
“I am not your weapon. I am your friend.”
“We are not friends. Not anymore.”
Ylen fell silent at this. With shaking hands, Alixor pulled out the rest of his supplies from his bag. When he set the ornate knife on the rock, it rang out softly against the stone. Ylen started and stared at the weapon. But he asked no more questions.
Ylen remained quiet as Alixor finished the spell and bound his hands and feet to the ground, spread-eagle.
Ylen said not a word when Alixor picked up the knife and crouched over Ylen’s body.
He only looked at Alixor. Studying him. Eyes shimmering with the light from the luminous ropes.
“I’m sorry.” Alixor sobbed.
“No.” Ylen smiled. “You are not.”
Alixor plunged the knife into Ylen’s belly and began to carve. Ylen screamed and struggled, but the shining ropes held him fast to the ground. Alixor’s vision was blurred by tears. He continued to cut and cut, laying Ylen’s body open to the air. Exposing every facet of the god’s existence. When Alixor finally found Ylen’s heart, the ground was soggy with blood.
The crimson organ beat wildly in the god’s chest, cradled in a nest of blood and bone and sinew. It was hot. Burning. It almost smoldered.
“Please.” Ylen wheezed.
Ylen had watched Alixor’s every move. Almost like he was committing this atrocity to a memory that would soon be gone.
Alixor wished Ylen would screw up his eyes and just scream. Rather than this. Rather than pleading with him. Anything but this.
“Please.” Ylen repeated. “Please kill me.”
Alixor set down his knife, now slippery with viscera.
“Please don’t use my power for this.”
Alixor had long ago run out of tears. He was feverish and thirsty at this point. Dizzy with the heat of Ylen’s burning body. Who would have thought a god of wildfire would boil on the inside? Alixor braced himself and reached for Ylen’s heart with his bare hand. He wasn’t thinking. He wasn’t lucid. The cold night spun about him and he gasped for breath.
The heart seared his flesh. Alixor cried out but did not let go. He pulled and tore and wrenched and ripped and twisted. The heart came free. Alixor slumped down on the ground, clutching at his scorched hand. The heart flopped onto the grass and continued to beat.
“Please.” Ylen continued to whisper.
Alixor sobbed, great heaving sobs that nearly choked him. He vomited bile. Then lay there for a long time trying to catch his breath.
“Please don’t use me to kill.”
Alixor, laying on his side, watched the heart continue to beat. It steamed in the cold night air. His hand throbbed. He had to do this. This was the only way. He had to save his people. This would give him the power to save everyone. Alixor reached for the heart again with his blistered hand.
“Please.”
Alixor’s mouth was scalded when he took the first bite of flesh. It hurt even more when he swallowed down the second. Agony bloomed in his stomach. He was on fire, from the inside out. Still, he ate.
Ylen watched him. “Please.”
Alixor kept eating.
Event tags: #mwm2024 #themerrywhumpofmay #mwmday[X]
Image text under the cut-
Transcription:
The Merry Whump of May is an event run by @wormwriting and @painsandconfusion. There are 31 days of prompts to be completed each day of May. Feel free to do as much or as little as you’d like.
Prompts can be filled in prose, poetry, art, or any other medium you resonate with.
There will be participation and completionist medals in downloadable pdf format.
01 - Breathless “Get back in there” | Ring box | Cliff
02 - Scorching “Don’t you dare.” | Glasses | Storage Shed
03 - Lost “See what happens.” | Screwdriver | Club
04 - Forgettable “Who are you?” | Lamp | Alleyway
05 - Strained “Put that down.” | Electrical wires | Plane
06 - Suspicious “You thought you could get away with this?” | Barbed wire | Riverside
07 - Fallen “Forget about them.” | Piano | Edge of town
08 - Pitch black “I’m fine.” | White-hot blade | Passenger seat
09 - Frostbitten “You’re nothing” | Blanket | Parking lot
10 - Jaded “Revenge is a dish best served.” | Mask | Rooftop
11 - Numb “Pretty little thing.” | Bracelet | Stairwell
12- Known “Let me hear you.” | Garrotte | Desert
13 - Restless “Tell me how it feels.” | Needle | Trail
14 - Punchable “I just want you.” | Rock | Closet
15 - Stone-cold “Let me hold you.” | Candle | Cellar
16 - Naive “Say aaaaa-” | Whip | Library
17 - Hungry “Wait, are you afraid of me?” | Fork | Lake
18 - Conditioned “Why do you love them?” | Record player | Ballroom
19 - Distracted “Rot in hell.” | Soup | crate
20 - Alone “Don’t tell me you forgot about me.” | Lipstick | Training grounds
21 - Charismatic “Sit.” | Vial | Balcony
22 - Charred “It’s been too long.” | Straps | Rafters
23 - Overthrown “Close your eyes.” | Rock | Truck
24 - Shadowed “Break a leg!” | Plants | Cave
25 - Practical “I’ve always loved the rain.” | Bottle | Shop
26 - Resilient “Get in.” | Pocket | Marsh
27 - Mistrusted “You’re trembling.” | Dagger | Couch
28 - Loyal “Smile.” | Water | Workshop
29 - Reflective “Chin up.” | Trap | Office
30 - Tenacious “Did you have a bad dream?” | Paper clip | Doorway
31 - Broken “Last one.” | Key | Under the bed
Hidden
Waking
Betrayed
Garish
Garden
Theater
Docks
Street corner
“Lean on me.”
“I don’t have regrets.”
“Take me.”
Shoe
Ribbon
Corset
Crown
(The Man From U.N.C.L.E. 2015)
@themerrywhumpofmay
“You should not be here.”
This was the first thing that Solo said to Illya in two weeks.
“Too bad.” Illya whispered and finished uncuffing Solo from the metal chair. The dim bulb above made it hard to parse Solo’s expression, as did the bruises.
“You should have left.” Solo stood slowly, arm wrapped around his chest. He leaned over and spat dark blood on the floor before speaking again. “Why didn’t they bring you in?”
Illya jerked his head towards the door, holding out a pistol.
Solo took it.
Illya took the lead and left the room. “They tried.”
He heard Solo wheeze out a laugh softly behind him.
They finally got outside and Illya led the way to the first car he spotted, halfway down the street from the warehouse. It was unlocked. But no keys.
While Illya hotwired the vehicle, Solo eased himself into the passenger seat, groaning in pain.
The engine rumbled into life.
Illya slammed the door closed and caught sight of Solo’s face. His head was back against the headrest and his brows were furrowed. The harsh light of day brought the bruises into sharp relief. Yellowing greenish contusions that were healing. And darker, reddish purple for newer ones.
Illya gripped the steering wheel hard and set his foot against the gas. “Are you ready?”
“No.”
“Good.”
They sped off into the sunset.
An hour later, sun down and surrounded by dark trees, Illya pulled the car to the side of the road.
“We have arrived at milepost-” Illya turned and noticed his companion was asleep. “Solo.”
No answer.
Illya reached out and just barely touched his shoulder when Solo gasped awake. He pressed as far away from Illya as the car door would allow.
“Solo.” Illya retracted his hand and filed that reaction away for later.
“Y-yes.” Solo relaxed a little. “What?”
“We have arrived at milepost 8. This is where we start walking.”
Solo sighed. “That sounds like the last thing I want to do.” His voice was hoarse.
Illya left the car and circled around to Solo’s door and opened it. “Too bad.”
Solo unfolded himself gingerly from the car. “Where-” He stopped to breathe. “Are we going?”
“Remote cabin.” Illya retrieved two bags from the side of the road from underneath some bushes, damp with dusk dew.
Solo limped over and took the map, compass, and bag Illya held out to him. “How remote?”
“We will arrive by dawn if we make good time.”
Solo swore, coughed, and swore again as he slung the bag over his shoulders.
Illya paused for a moment and looked his partner up and down.
“What?” Solo asked. Hunched over. Already panting.
“Can you?”
“Can I what?”
“Make good time?”
Solo straightened up immediately. Even in the darkness of night, Illya could see his jaw was set. Eyes gleaming.
“No pain, no gain.” Solo grated out.
“That does not make any sense. Follow me.” Illya led the way into the dark trees.
A few hours later, Illya stopped and waited for Solo to catch up. “Water.”
Panting, Solo nodded.
They both drank from the canteens in the bags and caught their breath. The forest was thick with trees and brush and the hillsides were steep with slippery pine needles and rocks. It was slow going. Slower than Illya had hoped. But it could not be helped.
He watched his partner take out the map and compass.
“Flashlight?” Solo wheezed.
Illya stepped over and flicked on his flashlight.
Solo took a small step back, map shaking in his hands.
“Th-this is the location?” He pointed at a small pen mark in the middle of the map.
Illya stopped where he was. “Yes.”
“Right.” Solo sighed, held the compass into the flashlight’s beam, turned a pace or two to the right. “We need to be going this way.”
“We should take a break.” Illya did not want to push Solo too hard. The way he was favoring his chest suggested a broken rib. Or more. And that could not be all. The point of rescuing Solo was not to kill him in the process.
“Sit down.” Illya urged his partner.
“No.” Solo pocketed the compass and map again. “Sorry, but if I do that, I won’t get up again. We keep moving. Unless, you need a break?”
It was dark but Illya could hear a little smile in Solo’s last words. At least he felt well enough to needle Illya.
“We keep moving.” Illya agreed.
The first tatters of dawn were showing when they reached the cabin. They were cold and damp from a mist that had settled into hills. Feet wet from fording a few streams. They trudged inside. It was bare bones. Cool and musty. A fireplace. A table. Kitchen sink. Bed in the corner.
“This is honestly worse than the warehouse.” Solo drawled, panting. He dropped his bag to the creaking wooden floor planks.
“Be grateful.” Illya sniffed and set down his pack on the rough table. “You are safe here.”
“Yes, safe from a hot bath.”
“There is a gas generator and well-water. This is better than most hotels.” Illya dryly said.
Solo edged closer to the kitchen windows and stripped off his jacket and damp shirt slowly and painfully.
Illya stayed across the cabin, despite how much he wanted to help.
Finally free of the shirt, Solo let it drop to the floor and looked down at his torso. In the dim dawn light from the grimy windows, Illya could see a mess of mottled bruises, the worst of it dark like thunderclouds over Solo’s ribs.
Illya realized Solo was falling before Solo did.
A brief moment. A sway. Eyes glazed. Eyelids fluttering.
Illya strode across the cabin and caught Solo as he went down, head hanging limply. The heat coming off Solo’s body was concerning. And he was slick with sweat.
Solo’s faint only lasted a moment.
He began to thrash in Illya’s arms, pushing away. Frantic. A rough sob tore from his throat.
“Stop.” Solo’s voice was barely a whisper. “Don’t.”
Illya did not drop Solo to the floor but lowered him as carefully as he could as Solo struggled. And then he backed away.
“Sorry.” He muttered.
Solo propped himself against the kitchen cabinets, panting, eyes wide and wet. Tears threatened to fall.
“Sorry.” Solo coughed. “I don’t-”
“It is fine.” Illya cut him off. “They beat you. I know. I am sorry.”
Solo just breathed and shook then closed his eyes. “Yes.”
“You are safe now.” Illya knew there wasn’t anything he could say that would fix this. But he tried. “You rest. I keep watch. I will keep you safe.”
A few tears hit the wood floor, soft sounds, the only sound.
“Thanks, Peril.”
DAY 7 No 7. I’VE GOT YOU. Support - Hughie Campbell - The Boys
Hughie stumbles out of the van after it was rolled in a blast from a supe. It results in him getting impaled with a piece of metal, forcing Butcher and Annie to rush him to hospital.
@whumptober2020
The Outfit (2022): “The Wound Needs To Be Sealed. We Have To Stop This Bleeding.”
[PART 1] [PART 2]
Hi everyone! @whumpetywhumpwhump here- I noticed there doesn't seem to be an official Medwhump May running this year, so I'm running one myself :)
I appreciate it's pretty late in the game to be releasing prompts, but I was waiting to see whether the official page was going to post anything before deciding to start mine. Hopefully a few of you would like to get involved (even if it is short notice lol)
No AI-generated content
Please tag this account if you post your challenge submissions on Tumblr and use the tag 'medwhump may' (as in the tags of this post)
For completionists, all 31 days must be completed (using either the daily prompt or an alt prompt)
When creating content for chronic illnesses and seizures, PLEASE USE THE RELEVANT WHUMP TAGS INSTEAD OF THE GENERAL TAGS. e.g 'seizure whump' rather than just 'seizures'. This avoids important tags being flooded with whump fics
Have fun!
I will update these rules if necessary! Happy whumping!
Please reblog this to get the word out :)
welcome to the Whumperless Whump Event of July! for your sickfic, situational, and completely apersonal whump needs--comfort included, of course.
Image transcripts, tagging rules, and guidelines under the cut!
RULES
Any and all art types allowed! GIFs, drawings, music, writing, etc.
NO AI ALLOWED
OCs and Fandom works alike are welcome :)
Trigger and content tag. Even if the prompt explicitly requires the content (eg. Vomiting), still tag emetophobia
If enough interest is showed, I will make an Ao3 collection
TAGGING
Tag with, per example: #whumperless whump event day 1, #whumperless day 1: [prompt], and #whumperless whump event
Tag me (@whump-kia) if you desire on your work!
Again, make sure to trigger tag and content warn
Prompts (text):
Emergency First Aid: Self-done stitches / Alcohol as sanitizer / “It's just a scratch, I've had worse.”
Does your insurance cover this?: Car accident / Bystander caretaker / “Eyes open, ambulance is almost here.”
Like a record, baby: Vertigo / Struggling to stand / “Is the room spinning, or is it just me?”
It's every day bro: Chronic pain / Massage / “I'm used to it.”
Stealing my breath (give it back): Wheezing / Light-headed / “I'll count, you just breathe.”
Summer is a curse: Heat Stroke / Panting / “Why don't we… find some shade, quick?”
Accidental Cryotherapy: Falling through a frozen lake / Hypothermia / “Hey, c'mon, you gotta stay awake.”
Put your head on my shoulder: Migraine / Light & Sound Sensitivity / “I can close the curtains…”
White and red handkerchief: Coughing up blood / Can't speak / “You just can't shake that cough, can you?”
Your work is never finished: Forced to work while ill / Workplace emergency / “...sit down, I'm calling HR.”
A minor annoyance: Stuffy nose / Hate to be sick / “I'm fine, I can work.”
It's going down (I'm yelling timber): Building collapse / Trapped under rubble / “I can't move my legs.”
It's just a pebble: Avalanche / Stuck in the mountains / “Well, this wasn't how I thought the hiking trip would go.”
Lay down your sword: Fighting back a cold / Cuddling / “Just let yourself be sick so you can get better.”
I'm going down (you're yelling timber): Passing out / Exhaustion / “I've got you, let's sit down, I've got you.”
Say goodbye to filters: Half-conscious / Delirious / “You would never say that in your right mind…”
In hot water: Dangerously high fever / Cool baths / “We have to get that number down somehow.”
I don't see it: Hallucinations / Fever dreams / “It's just a nightmare. You're safe.”
The whump morning after: Tending to injuries / Domestic hurt comfort / “Let's check the bandages, okay?”
It's not fun if you're panicking: Stuck in an elevator / Claustrophobia / “Get me out.”
Where's the exit: Lost / Stuck in the wilderness / “Surely someone will notice we're gone.”
Better out than in: Nervous Stomach / Vomiting / “I got your hair, it's fine.”
Well, that doesn't taste right: Accidentally poisoned / Allergic reaction / “My tongue feels like bees, is that normal?”
Be one with the fish: Drowning / Rescue Breaths / “Why did you think that was a good idea?!”
We didn't start the fire: Severe burns / Running into flames / “I know it hurts. Breathe.”
That's no barn spider: Venomous bite / Arachnophobia / “You'll be okay, we can help.”
What's your name again?: Concussion / Temporary Amnesia / “I don't remember what happened to me.”
Nothing behind the eyes: Fully unconscious / Force feeding / “It's just me, go back to sleep.”
Wrong place, wrong time: Robbery / One of many hostages / “Stay behind me, I can take a hit.”
I don't mean to get emotional: Fear / Breaking point / “I can't stop crying, I'm sorry--”
Only way out is through: Tunnel collapse / Accidental Journey / “We can't just sit here and wait.”
ALTERNATES:
Seizure
Choking
Withdrawal
Drugged
Wild animal attack
Hangover
Strain/sprain
Broken bone
Bloody nose
Panic attack
92 posts