Randomly generated prompt: Your fantasy world is in a floating city. The story involves spiritualism. A dying woman makes a last request. The story also includes a teleportation jewel. 

Goal: 1000 words under 60 minutes, plus including all of the points from the prompt. 

BEGINNING

Ever since I was little, all I ever dreamed of was to visit the first level city. My mom would tell me stories of the city that floated closest to the moon. The air was cold and crisp. The mornings filled with beautiful white snow flurries from the space above. And at night you could see the moonlight below glowing through the translucent ground. 

The second level was the closest my mother ever got when she was younger. Her mom would take her to work where she was a lady’s maid. My grandmother would get to dress some of the most prestigious women of level two in the warmest kinds of clothes; fur, wool, cashmere. All of the warm materials were found here, on the tenth level, but never needed because we floated closest to the sun. Level ten was filled with nothing but sweltering, blistering heat 364 days a year. Living on level ten was miserable. All everyone wished was to live a few levels lower. So, every night before bed in the summer when my sister and I would be too uncomfortable to sleep, my mother would tell us stories about the first level to help take our minds to a cooler place. 

“Okay now, close your eyes and imagine you can feel a cool icy breeze blowing on your skin,” my mom started. “It was of course another frosty morning in the spring on the second level. I was about ten years old and your grandmother had to get to work extremely early that day. Her mistress, Lyra, had a special event on the first level, so she was expected to be in her best dress. Lyra was pacing across her room in her cashmere undergarments, anxious of her chilly day to come. She wasn’t sure if she would be good enough for the first level. Your grandmother helped her get dressed in two layers of wool petticoats. Then, a moment later Lyra fell flat into her bed, too nervous to move. ‘Now, Lyra, everything’s going to be okay. I have a special surprise for you,’ your grandmother spoke softly while comforting her. Your grandmother walked to the closet and pulled out the most beautiful fur dress I had ever seen. In your grandmother’s hands was a gorgeous deep raspberry bodice, embellished with ruby and sapphire crystals that flowed out from the hips to a five tiered fur ball gown skirt; each tier being a different type of fur dyed in various deeper shades of reddish pink. As soon as Lyra saw the dress, she popped right out of bed and giggled with glee. She slipped into the dress quickly while your grandmother helped her button the back. It fit her perfectly. The long puffy sleeves seamlessly draped off her shoulders. When they finished getting ready, we all stepped outside into the brisk air to walk Lyra to the ascending room across town. This spring was exceptionally freezing because the first level was experiencing an unusual snow storm that seeped through the second level’s ground, making it even colder than usual. As we walked through the park, I noticed the three foot long icicles dangling off the leaves of the trees. Lyra even let us stop so I could see the frozen bugs and fish in the pond. When we got into the ascension room lobby, everyone could feel the bitterly cold air as the lift came up and down. It felt as if a wave of the snowstorm came through the doors every time they would open. When it was finally Lyra’s turn to go onto the ascension room, we all said our goodbyes and wished her good luck on her special night. We waved goodbye to her as she floated down, beautiful as ever,” my mom stopped, gave me a kiss on the forehead and started to walk out of our room.

“And then what happened?” my sister yelled. My mom jumped back startled. 

“You silly girl, I thought you were asleep.” 

“It’s too hot,” my sister said back. “And I want to know how Lyra’s big event went.” 

My mom walked back over to my sister’s bed and sat down combing her fingers through my sister’s hair. “Well, my dear. She didn’t come back. So, I’m not exactly sure.” 

“Aw,” my sister groaned. 

My mom paused for a moment then shared, “Yes, unfortunately your grandmother was suddenly out of work with her mistress’ disappearance. We spent the next ten years jumping around different levels while your grandmother tried to find consistent work. But one day, Lyra found us working on the fourth level as seamstresses. She apologized and told us that the special event that day ended up being her engagement to a man she had been seeing. She moved in with him right away and left everything else behind. She later introduced us to her husband who was a very wealthy man on the first level, her step son who was around my age, and their new baby boy.” 

My sister asked, “That’s it? She didn’t give you any money to help with being an upper level lady’s maid to a level four seamstress. She doesn’t seem as nice as you make her out to be, mom.” 

“She was a very nice lady, Aster. She didn’t owe us anything. But if it makes you feel better, she did meet with us a few more times before your grandmother passed away. We would have a nice meal with her and her family on level two, since we weren’t allowed to their home on the first level. And one of those days she gave your grandmother the raspberry fur dress from that night, as a thank you.” 

“Oh. Okay. That’s nice.” Aster said as she laid back down. 

“Time for bed now, my beautiful girls. Just imagine you’re on the first level during that freezing snowstorm. Brrr. Sweet dreams,” my mom spoke as she gave us each a kiss on the forehead and walked out. 

I remember my mom telling us those stories like it was just yesterday. Today though is not as fun as it was then. 

I walked over to my mom’s house and placed her in an ice bath because she can no longer walk. The heat is too harsh on her body—it makes her very weak. As I’m sitting on the floor next to the bathtub with my mother… 

END

Result: 1068 words. An hour and a half. And technically, I’ve only addressed the floating city from the prompt…I’ll keep practicing.