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Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2020
Submitted to Contest #64
The raven spirit hadn’t been called to light in a century, but yet here it stood, perched on the highest rooftop of all the houses in Stratensborough. Some of the rumors were true; the ones you chose to believe at least. The raven hadn’t been around for a while, but those who caught sight of it knew it’d be best to stay home the whole day. Today, it scratched at the already fallen apart shambles of Stratensborough mansion, abandoned since 1844 when Sir Isacc passed in his quarters, blood spread thin over the ground like a blanket or icing on...
Submitted to Contest #63
By the time I was outside, the leaves were on fire. Usually, I’m not a stickler for rules, but standing there, watching the leaves; only the leaves light up in flames, it reminded me of you. I would’ve said the leaves shouldn’t have been alight like that; it was against the laws of science, but this isn’t my story, it’s yours. If you were here you wouldn’t have bothered with the fire extinguisher, so I don’t either, only watching the leaves smolder in the fire, from a safe distance of course. You might’ve confronted the leaves themsel...
Submitted to Contest #62
Who am I? My eyes flutter open landing on a short female, a “Dr. Sanders” as it says on a rectangular card pinned on her shirt. There are crowds of people running around, testing things, like they’re in a hurry. Laboratory. The word comes to me quickly, though I was fine with the “not knowing” I had always been accustomed to. The Dr. Sanders places a hand on my shoulder and smiles. “You’re finally ready.” I can tell from the color of the sky that it is going to be a different kind of day. The Dr. Sanders, as usual, presses a few butto...
Submitted to Contest #61
Maybe if more people listened to old ladies they would be alive longer. “There’s another one in North Hampton.” There’s always another one, always another house to clean up after. All this, only because she left me. I dressed in my thick sweatshirt, pulling the hoodie over my head. It was time to begin my daily shifts. Fog. First, there’s only fog and the few bits of trash littering the sidewalk. Today my fingers are numb around the closed doorknob, my hands shivering as I twist the key inside the lock. Some of the fog comes in...
I told you to keep me in, but now you will pay the consequences. “If we die, can I have all your worldly possessions?” “If we both die, then how are you going to-oh never mind that.” Tasha let her silver hair whip around her face, clutching her blaster tightly. Aliens, everywhere, covering the landscape. She didn’t want to kill them, but they intimidated her, especially since they just appeared out of nowhere. Jay stood beside her, waving and making stupid hand motions with his arms. “Do you understand me?” He danced l...
Submitted to Contest #59
My feet stick out awkwardly from underneath the small blanket, trying desperately to get warm in the cold night. Frustrated, I get up and toss the blanket on the floor, comforting my feet with wool socks. It is useless to try and stop tomorrow from coming; it is the Star Child’s destiny or whatever. Anger bubbles up inside of me but immediately disappears to give room for the empty. The windows are drawn tight like they always have been, hiding me away from the people I am supposed to guide. But tonight, nobody will see me pull the curtains ...
Submitted to Contest #57
In a cottage by the wailing sea, An old man, a poor man, Wears his coat nearly seventy years old, His deathbed made two weeks early, Fresh linens draped over the pillows. He sat, somberly satisfied, Raspy coughs churning in his belly, A visit, Maybe one last visit to a special place. Somewhere he needed to go. Poor man, rich man, He smells the air ‘round him, Takes in a breath, realizing, He is at the train station, Pen and paper in his pocket, Waiting and watching for the right time. There is nobody who can find him, S...
Submitted to Contest #56
There are reasons we are living.Reasons why the sky turns orange and pink and yellow at the same time,Reasons why we have pets to make us happy,Reasons why we travel, Reasons why we have family and friends,Reasons why we have to see all the colors in the sky. The sky turns a bright purplish orange from my perch on the roof, a bruise staining the perfectly blue evening. My uncle’s footsteps echo all the way upstairs until he’s standing above me, covering the purple orange blob in the sky. “Blue,” His voice makes me want to laug...
Submitted to Contest #53
She climbs, sweat dripping off her forehead. Ruthlessly, she slams her fist into the rock, a rope slung over her shoulder. Almost there, almost there and then she can pretend the crowds weren’t gathering around her; the people snapping pictures as she swings gracefully to the window ledge, gasping for air. Today she slips, stands up, regains her posture, and moves to the window, gliding across the polished stone as if she’d been doing this her whole life. ******************************************** He stares out the window, wait...
Submitted to Contest #51
Tonight, I silently gazed from my perch on the roof, at the stars...white pinpricks of light bursting through the pitch-black sky. I crouched low into a squat, lifted my head to the universe, and howled to the heavens, howled like the wolf always in my dreams, ready to take me above. Ready to take me to the stairway; my stairway to the stars. Stairstep one I don’t remember who I am but I want to be free. Free from the common people because I am not like them, free from the attachments I don’t understand. Now all I can do is climb; keep on ...
Submitted to Contest #50
Author's Note: This story is the sequel to a previous story I wrote called Nowhere. If you would like to read Nowhere you may, but there really isn't much you need to know from that story in this one. :) Also, this is dedicated to all the people who are different. We all are; it just takes others a while to see that part in themselves and acknowledge it. Thank you. ********************************************************* The woman at the cash register bagged my items and put them in a cart, trying to stay as far...
Submitted to Contest #47
You never gave much thought to those afternoons in Mexico, you and your aunt sitting opposite one another, a game board set on a table between yourselves. It was always scorching hot outside, but without fail every morning, Tia Elena would set up the game for a quick round of scrabble. You always took a fancy to the word game though you got beaten each time by family members-even today. This morning, you were up earlier than usual, breathing in and out, in and out. Soon, your kids would be tugging on your new green dress, waiting...
Submitted to Contest #46
Mia and I walked through Queen's Crossing trail, pushing away overhead branches to clear a path. Mia looked into my eyes questioningly, but I turned away to focus on the trail. "I heard Queen's Crossing has a magnificent castle to the left of here, almost perfectly preserved!" Mia garbled on about the palace as we neared a sign. It was a bright day, and the woodland seemed even more tranquil than it was yesterday morning. "You go ahead. I'll meet you here in a couple...
Submitted to Contest #45
Nestled perfectly in the grass atop a massive hillside, I gaze at the starlit sky. The sound of crickets chirping is the only thing to be heard over a mile away, and the full moon shines its light like a summer day. An owl hoots in the distance as I look past the stars to the newly built wall. It cuts through the forest in a loop, making its way back to where it starts. Tomorrow, this part of the woodland would be blocked off too, leaving the city surrounded by stone. Suddenly, a twig crac...
Submitted to Contest #44
Sometimes, I regret having to know Sydelle Mackoff. I'd even eat a rock to avoid the likeness of her. One of my strongest memories with Sydelle were her unexpected appearances at my doorstep, a blank expression on her face. Sydelle was an eccentric-well-something, but often showed up to ask for money or drag me on a quest for "hidden gold". My other sister, Amara, who was quite the opposite of Sydelle, complained about her ways to me a lot. Both sisters never got along, and being the middle sister came with its own downsides. But I guess it ...
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