Rising Star Adventures and Beyond

Day 18 prep 2025 (setting: contest round)

Describe a setting in words. Use all five senses and make your reader experience the setting as if he or she were there.

*Contest Round entries may be any rating. Submit your ITEM or ENTRY number by 1200 noon WDC time on Sunday to compete. WDC time is New York City time and can be found at the top of the IM Console. If you miss this deadline or choose not to compete, you must still log the assignment complete (without linking your work) for the grand prize, per the standard Prep guidelines.


The property seemed quietly abandoned. It was misting rain with a dark, cloudy sky. The air had a bit of a chill and caused Ayah to shiver slightly as goose bumps formed on her arms. She stood at the top of the stairs on the front porch of the big mansion just trying to take it all in for a moment. It was a large three-story building with old shutters on just about every window. It appears to be an old Victorian style house. According to the paperwork she had gotten from the lawyer, it had been built in the mid 1800's. The grey and black paint was faded and beginning to peel from the framework. One of the balcony's railings was broken. The old house was in definite need of some repairs as it had not been lived in for a while.

If it wasn't for the fact that Ayah's great-grandmother had instilled an appreciation in her for vintage items, she may have been repulsed by the looks of the old building. However, she was able to see past the rustic and broken-down appearance to see a beautiful structure within. She took a deep breath and muttered to herself, "It sure does need a lot of TLC."

Then as she caught the scent of the beautiful purple lilies in the flower bed near the porch, it was a sweet fruity scent, a light wind blew across the yard, and the smell of the rain blended in. It was a pleasant smell that she could see herself getting used to as the rain began to come down a little heavier. Thunder rumbled quietly overhead. lightning briefly lit up the sky.

Ayah decided the outdoors would have to be explored later after it had stopped raining. She pulled her red knitted sweater a little tighter and put the key into the lock and turned it. The large wooden front door, painted black, creaked as it slowly opened. The house was dark inside. Ayah pulled her cell phone out of her purse to use like a flashlight. Once the interior was slightly illuminated, she could see enough to find a light switch.

The light revealed all the furniture had been covered by white drop cloths. She was standing in the living room. A few pictures that decorated the walls had also been covered in a brown packaging paper but left on the walls. The wallpaper, pink with small red roses, was worn and pieces were hanging from the walls in some places. The dust in the air tickled her nose and made her sneeze. There were cobwebs hanging in the corners and from the ceiling. Off to the right side was a small half bathroom. Next to it was a hallway. To the left looked like a music or ballroom. She could only make out the silhouette of a grand piano.

Ayah was going to have a lot of work and exploring to do. She would probably spend most of today just exploring the old house and her newfound belongings and treasures within.

Word count: 508