Aj Hensley (temporarily inactive)

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Oct, 2020

Stories (8)

8 Stories

1448 karma pts

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“Peace of Mind” by Aj Hensley (temporarily inactive)

He’s going to kill her.That’s my first thought as I stare at Camilla’s pale, bare shoulders. Her moon-dew skin is ruthlessly freckled by dark welts. She winces as I gingerly reach out to place my fingertips lightly upon the yellow and purple blemishes that mar her neck and upper arms.My chest swells as I choke back a fierce rage. My mouth tightens, and I will myself not to react until I have a chance to process what I’m seeing. But my eyes don’t listen – they sob on behalf of my tongue. Thick, ...

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“The Odds” by Aj Hensley (temporarily inactive)

72% of couples breakup in the first year. That's what my best mate Freddy told me when I was picked to be on that godforsaken show. I looked it up. He was right. So I kept my expectations low. But when I brought Zoey home, he’d patted me on the back. “Well done mate,” he had said, “she’s perfect. She’ll be a GREAT mom to Jamey.”Perfect? I let out an audible scoff. Yeah, right. A buzz in my pocket catches my attention. Pulling out my phone, my stomach tightens as I see her name glow acr...

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“Angel Paint” by Aj Hensley (temporarily inactive)

Cupping my hands, I catch the thin stream of cool water from the faucet before splashing the pooled water on my face. Relishing its calming lick behind my ears, I take a moment in the silence of the empty department store bathroom - the quiet interrupted only by my ragged, watery breaths and the stale elevator music playing faintly on the speakers above.Unsure if it’s water droplets, or leftover beads of cold sweat that now run down my nose and drip into the sink basin, I glance at the mirror and cringe at the nervous wr...

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“Seasonal Allergies” by Aj Hensley (temporarily inactive)

Most people believe the sun, a braid of garlic, or a stake through the heart to be a vampire’s greatest threat. They’re wrong. In my 826 years of death, my greatest foe has always been seasonal allergies.“ACHOO!” I sniffle, letting out a dry, uncomfortable sneeze. Seeing as my body is, well, dead, I don’t produce mucus. Every sneeze feels like pulling a piece of sandpaper through my sinuses.“Are you kidding me Haelyas?”Glancing over at the passenger in the front seat of my car...

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“The Night Raven Chronicles: Chapter 2” by Aj Hensley (temporarily inactive)

“I’m knackered, Shay. Don’t we have time for a rest?”Fiadh’s tired voice breaks my concentration as I try to evaluate the supplies on the desk before me. Gruffly exhaling, it’s difficult to control my temper. Having only just arrived in the States yesterday, we’re all exhausted.“No, Fee. I know we’re shattered, but we’ve a job to do.”Focusing once more, I assess what we have left: two healing vials, a single regeneration potion, and a few bundles of Hagthorn and Wormwood. The earlier a...

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“The Night Raven Chronicles: Chapter 1” by Aj Hensley (temporarily inactive)

“It’s been almost 700 years, Laurie. Do you really think they’re still looking for us?” I ask, noticing a slight tremor in my own voice.A faint click from the cast-iron latch of the graveyard gate permeates the silence. Laurie pushes it open and slips through to the other side. I roll my eyes – she’s always been good with locks. That’s why I keep my Book of Shadows hidden. I don’t need her snooping through my dream interpretations.“Come on, Alita. Stop whining," whispers Laurie through the gate...

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“Greenspace” by Aj Hensley (temporarily inactive)

The lady with the droopy mouth driving the red and white bus laughed at me when I told her I was getting off at the Exeter Street stop. “Good luck kid,” she had smirked. But I didn’t like the fuzz on her chin or the greasy grey streaks in her ginger hair, so I decided to ignore her.When I got off the bus, the crunch of the chalky gravel under my feet reminded me of home, and I felt the worms in my stomach for the first time since Mallory put me on the bus back in Chicago. But that was because the driver lady was yelling ...

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“Honey and Lavender” by Aj Hensley (temporarily inactive)

The first thing you realize when you’re about to die is that, presumably, the day started out like any other. For me, it began with the taste of honey and lavender.***“Good morning Bugsy,” I heard Henry’s cheerful baritone call out from across the bedroom.Cracking one hesitant eyelid, I squinted as the thin rays of daylight seeped through the curtains. Stretching, I let out a small groan and quickly noticed the unmistakable scent of bacon...

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Author bio

I'm an aspiring fantasy author that enjoys blogging about marginally helpful information for new authors and making up magic systems! ---------- You can find my blog at www.ajhensley.com I am Twitter obsessed. Find me here: https://twitter.com/TheAJHensley. ---------- I so appreciate feedback on my stories and always try to return the kindness! Critiques - however harsh and hard to swallow - are what make me a better writer. Please share your feedback! I always try to return the favor :) I have a few recurring characters, and several stories that go together. Below are the stories that go together, in the order in which they should be read: Series 1: Night Raven Chronicles Chapter 1 Night Raven Chronicles Chapter 2 Series 2: Honey & Lavender Angel Paint —————————————— Here's a list of some of my favorite pieces that I've come across. You should absolutely check out these stories and follow these writers: - “A Murder!” by Jessy Glazewski - "RE: Don't Freak Out" by Lina Ozz - "Unrequited" by Emma Rose - "Leave A Light On" by Natalie Strawbridge - "Dum Spiro, Spero" by Elizabeth Inkim - "We Always Had The River" by K. Antonio - “Influenced” by Scout Tahoe