The Abandoned Ward
The Abandoned Ward — an illustrated stories story. 20 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Books.
Page 1
The year is 2242. Neo-Kyoto sprawls beneath a canopy of overgrown vines and shattered skyscrapers. Bioluminescent flora pulses with an eerie light, casting long shadows on the rain-slicked streets. Above, the skeletal remains of buildings pierce the perpetual twilight, monuments to a forgotten age.
Page 2
Kai, a scavenger haunted by a past he can't remember, navigates the treacherous cityscape. He clutches a rusted pipe wrench, his only defense against the horrors that lurk in the shadows. He has seen too many friends swallowed by the city's madness. Tonight, he hunts for answers... and survival.
Page 3
"Another dead end," Kai muttered, kicking a loose piece of rusted metal. A cloaked figure emerged from the shadows, its face hidden by a tattered hood. "Looking for something, scavenger?" the figure rasped, its voice laced with digital distortion. Kai recognized the voice—Rexus, a notorious information broker known for his shady deals.
Page 4
Suddenly, the ground trembled. A colossal, serpentine figure erupted from the ruins, its scales shimmering with bioluminescent energy. Buildings crumbled as the creature thrashed, its roar echoing through the city. The abandoned ward had awakened.
Page 5
Kai stumbled back, his eyes wide with terror. Rexus vanished into the shadows, leaving Kai alone to face the monstrous beast. "What in the blazes is THAT?!" Kai yelled, clutching his wrench tighter. I can't run... not again.
Page 6
He remembered the old scrolls his grandfather had shown him, tales of ancient spirits guarding the city's heart. Legends, he'd thought. But now..."Grandfather always said, 'The past is never dead. It's not even past,'" Kai muttered, quoting William Faulkner. He knew what he had to do, even if it meant certain death.
Page 7
Kai sprinted towards the creature, dodging falling debris. He activated the makeshift grappling hook attached to his wrench. With a mighty swing, he launched himself towards the creature's massive head! "For Neo-Kyoto!" he yelled, adrenaline coursing through his veins.
Page 8
The grappling hook snagged on one of the creature's scales. Kai swung wildly, slamming into the monster's face with all his might. The creature roared in pain, its bioluminescent scales flickering erratically. A blinding flash of energy erupted from the impact!
Page 9
Kai tumbled to the ground, dazed but alive. The creature recoiled, clutching its face. He noticed something strange—a patch of its scales had turned dull and lifeless. Then he remembered the stories of the scrolls: the spirits were vulnerable to disruptions of their energy flow.
Page 10
He knew what he had to do. He just needed to find a way to disrupt its energy flow. Kai thought back to his grandfather's workshop and the discarded sonic resonator he'd found there as a kid. Could that amplify the dissonance? It was a long shot...but what choice did he have?
Page 11
He raced back through the ruins, dodging falling debris and collapsing structures. Reaching the remnants of his grandfather's workshop, he rummaged frantically through the wreckage. The air crackled with residual energy. Where is it...where is it?!
Page 12
Finally, his fingers brushed against cold metal. He pulled out the sonic resonator—a small, battered device with a cracked screen. It pulsed with a faint blue light. "This thing still works?" he muttered, hope flickering in his eyes. He had to get back to the creature, and fast.
Page 13
He charged towards the creature, the sonic resonator humming in his hand. The creature thrashed, its energy growing more erratic. Kai raised the device and activated it. A piercing, discordant wave of sound erupted, shattering the creature's bioluminescent armor!
Page 14
The creature shrieked, its body convulsing. It began to dissolve, its bioluminescent energy fading into nothingness. The ground trembled, and then...silence. Kai stood panting, the sonic resonator smoking in his hand. The abandoned ward was silent once more.
Page 15
The rain began to subside, revealing a sliver of moon through the clouds. A lone bird chirped from a nearby rooftop. The city seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief. But Kai knew this was just the beginning. Something else was coming...
Page 16
He looked down at the sonic resonator in his hand. It was more than just a discarded piece of junk. It was a reminder of his grandfather, of his past, of the legacy he had to protect. I understand now, he thought. I know what I must do.
Page 17
A voice echoed from the shadows. "Impressive, scavenger." Rexus emerged, clapping slowly. "You may have saved the city... for now. But the true threat is far greater than you can imagine." He tossed Kai a data chip. "This contains the answers you seek. Use them wisely."
Page 18
Kai examined the data chip. It flickered with cryptic symbols, hinting at a hidden conspiracy. The city's salvation may depend on deciphering its secrets. But who could he trust? And what horrors awaited him in the shadows?
Page 19
Clutching the data chip, Kai turned towards the city's heart. He was no longer just a scavenger. He was a guardian, a protector, a symbol of hope in a world consumed by darkness. "I will not fail," he vowed, his voice echoing through the ruins.
Page 20
The neon lights of Neo-Kyoto flickered to life, casting an eerie glow on the overgrown ruins. Kai disappeared into the shadows, ready to confront whatever dangers lay ahead. The fate of the abandoned ward—and the world—rested on his shoulders.
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
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