E.L. Lallak

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2023

Stories (15)

15 Stories

425 karma pts

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“Arising From the Ashes” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #249

The sterile scent of the tattoo parlor clashed with the distinct aroma of wet ink and anxiety. I shoved a piece of trident in my mouth to conceal the shots I threw down my throat to calm my nerves in the car on the way. As we walked through the door of the parlor, Jazz's foot caught on the edge of the carpet, causing her to stumble forward. "Damn thing was rolled weird," she said, giggling. I gave her the look of death. She shrugged it off, her usual carefree attitude shining through despite the nervous energy in the room. The buzzing tattoo...

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“Lost in the Jazz of Midnight Reverie” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #249

As the night fell and Alphonse Fontaine's thoughts became entangled, he found himself wandering the darkened streets of New York City. The bustling metropolis was teeming with restless energy, and flashes of lightning illuminated fleeting apparitions on the rain-soaked cobblestones. The bright lights of speeding vehicles reflected like countless tiny, shattered mirrors, adding to the city's energetic atmosphere. The moon’s silvery light guided Alphonse as he turned a corner and heard the soulful notes of a saxophone groove emanating from a n...

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“Paradise Lost” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #248

On a leisurely Sunday excursion through the verdant French countryside of Bellefleur, where emerald fields roll velvety to the touch and unfurl their plush sprawl beneath the azure sky, lies a grand rustic farmhouse that appears plucked from the pages of a whimsical fairytale. Newlyweds Aurelie and Lucas Dubois are desperately looking for their first home, hoping it will be the last. With a mistaken turn down a winding, dusty dirt road, their haphazard path unwinds to a hidden gem where their dreams are destined to take root on fertile land....

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“The Magic of Mushrooms ” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #247

**SUICIDAL IDEATIONS, MAGIC MUSHROOMS**On the precipice of the rusted copper arch of the Sienna Bridge in Solstead, Virginia, Vanessa Landon's lithe legs dangled over the brink of her fate. Delicate gusts of warm air flirted with the golden-brown wisps of hair around her sallow face. She sat on the rugged wooden planks beneath her, stabilizing her vulnerability. Her slim, tanned piano fingers grasped tight, the tension palpable in the stark contrast of her pale knuckles against her olive skin. Above her, the sun cast a remarkable dulcet glow...

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“Orphan Clown” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #246

The fire truck's siren shattered the chaos with its ear-piercing wail, cutting through the air like a sharp blade. Felix's instinct was to flee, eager to escape the looming specter of consequence that seemed to haunt his every step. He covered his ears to block out the screams. Well aware, he was hurtling towards an inevitable collision with his wrongdoing. His heart skittered. The notorious freckles disappeared into his red cheeks. Each swirling shrill made his face redder. Felix slouched, hiding behind his classmate Henry in the assem...

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“BONES” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #245

Flush-cheeked, gravid Rebecca Bradford extended her right arm behind her, swatting at the air, reaching for something to support her bulging body while cradling her sacred vessel with her left. With a relay of faith, she shut her eyes and fell back onto the plush sofa. Her husband, Tom, shouted, “TIMBER!” Just before she landed. The impact caused a tuft of air to poof him off the cushions a meter while Rebecca sank onto the sofa like a submerged submarine. She grimaced and rolled her eyes at his time-insensitive joke. Tom then swooped down a...

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“MIC DROP!-ELEMENTAL UPRISE” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #243

Date: The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 2032Ladies and gentlemen, my fellow Americans, I stand before you in this momentous address with a vision for our nation. We are at a time of dire despair, a low point that calls for bold solutions. I present a vision that seeks to heal the wounds of the past and forge a united future.To achieve this, I propose a transformative restructuring of our country, dividing it into four distinct regions, each representing a fundamental element: fire, air, water, and earth.Our esteemed ...

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“The Last Supper Surprise Party: Murder/Mystery” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #242

This is a complete satire, not intended to mock religion. I meant to enter this in: Write about a gallery whose paintings come alive at night. oops!On the evening of April 6th, 30 AD, chaos ensued during an impromptu farewell dinner party. A hidden underground chamber hosted a jubilant soirée beneath the renowned Louvre Museum. The celebratory evening took a sinister turn as it transformed into a horrifying murder scene. The guests, driven by an overwhelming desire to uncover the culprit among them, were determined to solve the mysterious c...

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“Tug of War: A State of Limbo” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #241

Downtown, a squawking crow perched on a third-story windowsill emits its harsh, guttural cry, piercing the stillness of the muted neighborhood like a rough-edged note: CAW. CAW. CAW. Its presence adds a touch of wildness to the concrete jungle below, evoking a sense of foreboding, turning joggers’ heads, and making dogs bark.God, Damn’t! Sandy moaned, hurling her alarm clock across the room like a quarterback. She didn’t have time to shower, let alone brush her bedhead. No toothpaste? Or brush her teeth.She cursed under her breath, strugglin...

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“What do Mulberries, Bamboo, and Hemp have in common?” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #240

Name: Liu Xing Location: Luoyang, ChinaOccupation: farmerDate: August 17th, 105 A.D.The markets of Luoyang, China, were rife with kinetic energy. Vendors haggled, sheep bleated, and coins clinked in the hubbub city. Unbeknownst to the patrons, a transformative event was concocting on the town's outskirts. — a revolution poised to alter the course of history.The pivotal transformation occurred as Farmer Liu Xing slayed on his wheat plantation. Thirst gnawed at his throat, making his mouth dry and lips crack. His reptilian tanned skin sho...

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“The Endless Road of Redemption” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #239

My chest was already in spasms, etching their way into my jaw, when I saw her Audi pulling into the driveway. The metallic tang of dread mingled with the taste of blood, a consequence of biting my cheek incessantly. Hoping to wash away the impending apprehension, I quickly swallowed a sip of water that felt obstructed in my throat."Ah, just who I wanted to deal with right now," I muttered to my seemingly unsympathetic ceiling. Heather, the self-proclaimed expert on my life, had arrived. In the last 23 years, she's been...

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““Guided by Aurora's Light”” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #222

Sarah's face contorted in agony as she felt the primal, unbridled energy surge through her, tearing away the civilized layers of her existence. She was a cavewoman succumbing to the fierce forces of nature, reducing her to a creature of raw instinct and primal struggle."I can't do this." She mouthed silently, unable to find the breath needed to articulate her defeat.Aurora, a frail and gentle woman with a perplexing inner strength, bent over and looked into ...

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“Brushstrokes from Beyond” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #221

In the echoing canyons of the Rocky Mountains, within the shadowy confines of the once-thriving coal mining town of Ravenwood, lived the enigmatic artist Aria Winters. With long, flowing charcoal-black hair and emerald eyes that seemed to hold the secrets of the rugged gorge, she captivated the townsfolk. Whispers and speculations about her abounded, suggesting she possessed an otherworldly talent: the ability to capture...

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“'The Luck'” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #191

‘The Luck’ "Good luck." Momah's words echo down the street. “It’s Like finding a tack in a haystack.” We were on a mission to find that lucky one with the four leaves. My Momah told me it would bring me ‘The Luck.’ Whatever that means. Dadbob tells Momah she will get lucky every time she wears those short s...

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“Shattered Dreams” by E.L. Lallak

Submitted to Contest #190

Deafening silence cut through the crowded bar as shards of glass exploded into the thick smoky air showering the patrons with amber shrapnel and foamy beer. The silence transpired into loud clamor as everyone gasped in disbelief at what they had just witnessed. Minutes before the chaos ensued, a chatty young gal with a thick southern accent sat sipping on an espresso martini bellied up to the bar banterin...

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Author bio

I'm a LEO. In search of my roar, my voice. I was born in Colorado surrounded by purple mountain majesties, the day Elvis Presley died. The king died, and the Queen was born-says mom. Natural disasters seem to etch out the path I have traveled in life. Floods, hurricanes, fires, tornadoes, and rockslides have forced me to move to new destinations across the world. Offering me new glimpses of cultures, life-styles, and perspectives. As a vagabond reporter and photographer, I have been able to capture the world's nuances and I enjoy writing about what makes the world tick. Oh! And I love constructive criticism. BRING IT!!! Teach me everything you know and how I can improve.