Ben Lages

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Oct, 2021

Stories (7)

7 Stories

145 karma pts

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“The Good News” by Ben Lages

Submitted to Contest #272

Content warning- The beginning of this story is set in a warzone and contains a few glib descriptions of the dead; this could potentially be sensitive. Shep Mercier’s father had warned him against enlisting, and Shep always assumed that time had softened the old man too much. How could he tell him not to enlist when he’d fought in the last war and come home with so many stories? Shep still felt a twinge of disappointment in the look of horror that had been on his father’s face the first time he’d come home in uniform. I’ll be just fine, he...

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“Eve in the Château Corbeau” by Ben Lages

Submitted to Contest #272

Having never been to a big city before, I always figured that my first time in New Orleans would be a tad overwhelming. My friends probably told me the same thing a dozen times: Just stick with us and don’t go down any dark alleyways, and you’ll be fine! And I thought that telling myself that same thing over and over again would help. I had common sense, I’d be surrounded by other FSU kids, there was no way I’d get in trouble.            That worked until we arrived at a packed Bourbon S...

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“Scenario 49” by Ben Lages

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #189

I’ve never been the type to pick up hitchhikers, and I’ve come across quite a few. I went to Burke College, which is virtually indistinguishable from the Oregon pines surrounding it. Whenever I went back to campus after a break or a weekend road trip, I’d see plenty of hitchhikers just standing out from the bushes. Maybe that’s a little callous, but if I don’t know for sure that I can trust someone, they’re not getting into my car.           That’s what made this particular night so unus...

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“Date Night” by Ben Lages

Submitted to Contest #189

Content Warning: This story contains violence and references to mental health problems.The following is an excerpt from the interrogation of Salvatore Jordan by detective Jeannette McBride, Thursday, January 21, 1993. Transcript courtesy of the Farnsworth Police Department.JEANNETTE MCBRIDE: Sal, you need to give me something, or I’m not going to be able to help you.SALVATORE JORDAN: I’ve told you: I have nothing to give you. I wasn’t in Matty’s apartment Monday night.JM: That was a lie when you said it four hours ago, and it’s a lie now. Yo...

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“The Deer” by Ben Lages

Submitted to Contest #183

      Content Warning: This story contains physical violence and briefly alludes to mental health problems. Renee Waverly was born to the Creek City Reaper on a rainy May afternoon in 1968. While her mother, June, lay unconscious in her bed, which was now stained at least five different shades of red, he stood just outside the nursery, staring in at his newborn daughter without a sound. His face was utterly flat, and he stood so still that he was less a man and more a fixture among the many others which line...

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“Crickets” by Ben Lages

Submitted to Contest #183

"I think we should start seeing other people," said Jake. Megan paused the movie that they were half-watching. "What?" she asked firmly. "I think you and I should start meeting different people." "You want a divorce? After sixteen years? Are you fucking serious?" Jake's eyes widened with shock, but then his face relaxed, and he chuckled. "Oh, no, no! I'm sorry, honey. No, I meant our friends." "Our friends?" said Megan, her eyebrow cocked. "What are you on about?" "Well... I'm just going to say it. We need new friends." "What do you ...

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“The Omega Ring” by Ben Lages

Submitted to Contest #114

The Omega Ring By Ben Lages Gil wished desperately that he’d had a chance to smoke before being driven to Columbia Manor. It was unrealistic wish; he’d had to come straight here from the site of the explosion, but he nonetheless needed something to calm his nerves. His mentor, Columbiaman, had been gone a long time--much longer than usual—and the largess of the red-and-white corridor and of the estate surrounding Gil made him feel feebler than ever. Or maybe it was because he had just had to flee a crumbling Capitol One bank after failing t...

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Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #189
Scenario 49 – read story