Our Sunday Scribblings prompt for this week is Portal. If you decide to write a post based on this week’s prompt, be sure to share your link so everyone can see how you interpreted things! Here’s what I did with it…

Eddie was a man of many interests, but his latest obsession was portals. Not the kind of portals you’d find in a sci-fi movie or a fantasy novel, mind you. Eddie was convinced that there were real, tangible portals to other dimensions hidden somewhere in his small, suburban neighborhood. And he was determined to find one.

You see, Eddie had a habit of diving headfirst into the latest fads and trends he read about in books. One day, he stumbled upon an old, dusty tome in the back corner of a used bookstore. The book claimed to be a guide to unlocking the secrets of interdimensional portals. Eddie couldn’t resist. He bought the book, took it home, and started reading.

The book was filled with cryptic instructions, ancient symbols, and diagrams that made no sense to Eddie. But he was undeterred. He was convinced that if he followed the book’s guidance to the letter, he would discover a portal that would lead him to unimaginable adventures.

Eddie began gathering the materials he needed for his grand experiment. He purchased rare herbs and mystical crystals from an online store that promised to ship them straight from the Himalayas. He even managed to find a chicken that laid eggs with perfectly symmetrical yolks, just as the book had demanded.

With his ingredients in hand, Eddie set up a makeshift altar in his basement. He lit candles, drew strange symbols on the floor, and chanted incantations he could barely pronounce. He felt like a character in a B-list horror movie, but he was convinced that this was the path to portal discovery.

Hours turned into days, and Eddie’s determination only grew stronger. He had stopped going to work, stopped answering calls from concerned friends and family, and had become a recluse in his quest to open a portal. His basement looked like the lair of a mad scientist, with jars of mysterious substances and strange contraptions scattered everywhere.

One fateful evening, as Eddie was in the midst of another incantation, something inexplicable happened. The air in his basement seemed to shimmer, and a low, eerie hum filled the room. Eddie’s heart raced as he stared at a swirling vortex that had appeared in the center of his altar. It was like a scene from one of his favorite horror movies, but he couldn’t believe it was actually happening.

Eddie cautiously approached the portal, his excitement tinged with fear. He had no idea where it might lead, but he was too curious to turn back now. With a deep breath, he stepped through.

On the other side, Eddie found himself in a world that defied all logic. The sky was a swirling kaleidoscope of colors, and the ground beneath his feet felt like it was made of gelatin. Strange creatures, unlike anything he had ever seen, scuttled and slithered through the landscape.

Eddie’s initial excitement quickly turned to terror as he realized he had no idea how to get back home. He tried retracing his steps, but the landscape seemed to shift and change with each step he took. Panic set in as he realized the gravity of his situation. He was trapped in a nightmarish dimension with no way back.

As he stumbled through the bizarre landscape, Eddie encountered more of the strange creatures. Some were friendly and offered to help him, while others seemed intent on making him their next meal. It was like a never-ending game of survival, and Eddie was woefully unprepared.

Days turned into weeks, and Eddie’s appearance began to change. He grew a scruffy beard, his clothes became tattered, and his once bright eyes now held a haunted look. He had given up on ever finding a way back home.

But then, one day, as he was on the verge of despair, he stumbled upon another portal. It was smaller and less intimidating than the one he had entered through, but it shimmered with the promise of escape. With a renewed sense of hope, Eddie stepped through.

He found himself back in his basement, his makeshift altar in shambles. The book lay open on the floor, its pages scorched and tattered. Eddie couldn’t believe his luck. He was home, back in his own dimension.

Eddie quickly realized that he had been profoundly lucky to escape the ordeal with his life. He had dabbled in forces he didn’t understand, and it had nearly cost him everything. He decided to put away the books and mystical ingredients, vowing to never again chase after the fantastical and unknown.

As he cleaned up his basement and returned to the mundane routine of his suburban life, Eddie couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. He had gone in search of portals to other dimensions and had ended up with a wild tale to tell, but he had learned a valuable lesson in the process. Some things were best left to the realm of fiction, and the real world was strange enough as it was.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week and shared your links! Please visit their blogs, give them a follow, and take a look at how they interpreted the prompt.

1. Catsandcoffee

Be sure to come back on Wednesday for the next Sunday Scribblings prompt! Encourage other bloggers to challenge themselves with the prompt! Remember that there are no rules for what you write, other than responding to the prompt! You can write fiction, non-fiction, poetry, prose, biography, instruction… it’s all up to you!

Feature Photo by Marek Piwnicki