A Spunky Arcader - Dystopian Writing Prompt

Once in a while, my random writing prompt generating system gives a good combination. For this post, I’m glad to say that I’m super excited to be writing another dystopian writing prompt. I had a lot of fun when I wrote one last year which was titled Bookshop Oasis. Now I get to delve back into the dystopian genre and write for you all again.

After last month’s historical writing prompt, I’m glad to be back in the fictional world where everything is going wrong. Is that too morbid?

April’s Dystopian Writing Prompt

Genre: Dystopian

Setting: An Arcade

Character Personality: Spunky

As I was writing my depiction of this prompt, I realized I was writing a more middle grade tone. For some reason a younger character popped into my head and I couldn’t let her go. So I just rolled with it.

That’s the best part of these prompts. You can pull inspiration from anywhere and just write. There are no commitments. Just writing.

So I challenge you to write a 300-500 word scene that uses all of the elements of this prompt! I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

If you’ve written from one of my 2020 or 2019 writing prompts and you want to share, please link back to the prompt you’ve completed or email me at boundtowriting@gmail.com so I can share your story.

“Are you ready to go?” I bounce over to my older brother’s cot.

He groans. “Ava, you need to be quiet. The guards…”

“I know. They will find us.” I interrupt. “Don’t worry, I’ll be quiet. Now can we go?”

He stands and brushes off his torn khaki pants. “Remember if you see a guard hide. We can’t risk being caught like Miles and Kit.”

I shutter at the thought of our friends whom we haven’t seen in over a week since the guards caught them. Without parents we are considered orphans. When the Syndicate took over, orphans disappeared either from being caught or going into hiding like my brother and I.

I trip over a sewer grate, landing against the overflowing dumpster with a thud.

Trent swings around and pulls me into the nearest alcove. “What the heck Ava! You’re going to get us caught.”

I push his protective hold on me away. “It was an accident. No one is coming, let’s go.”

I walk away from my brother and continue on the journey. It takes a few seconds before I hear him walking behind me.

When we arrive at the crumbling building, I take one side and Trent takes the other. We can’t have any guards ruining our outing.

We end up together at the wooden door with caution tape xed across it. Upon entering, I make myself at home on the first of the arcade machines.

There are other kids spread across the giant arcade. We wave to each other, but no one dares to say a word. We are all orphans here.

I press the power button to start up one of my favorite games. When the black screen lights up with a maze and my yellow character starts to move, I am sucked into a world where I don’t need to be afraid of everything around me.

“Defeated again.” I mumble after my third loss. The ghosts always outsmart me. I raise my hand and Trent catches it.

“You can’t beat on the machine when you lose.” He warns as he drops my hand.

I nod. It’s Trent’s turn on the game so I take my time to venture around the other working games.

Before this arcade was the most popular place in town. Now, gaming is considered illegal. We were surprised when we snuck in here one night that most of the games still worked. Trent went through all of the games and cut the speaker wires so no one would ever know we were inside.

I’m at the back of the arcade when I notice one of my old friends from school. Well, when I used to be able to go to school. She slouches in the corner. I walk over to her.

“Sarah! I can’t believe you’re here.” I say in my most cheerful whisper.

She looks up at me with tears in my eyes. “They took my parents Ava, I’m an orphan now.”

Well that sure did take a turn! I had a lot of fun with these characters. I feel like their backstory and story in general is definitely something I will keep in mind for a future writing project.