C. Charles

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2021

Stories (24)

24 Stories

570 karma pts

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“Convergence” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #271

Kurt sat on a bench outside the main hall of the University and watched the students and professors make their way across the campus. He watched the way some students walked in groups while others hurriedly swerved around their classmates, obviously late for something. Some students looked professional and put together with bright, eager eyes—ready for the day. Some of them looked like they’d just rolled out of bed, their sleepy eyes drooping and fighting to stay awake. It seemed like they were all drinking coffee out of paper cups. The prof...

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“Restless” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #270

I feel my dog rest her head on the edge of the bed at my back. I sigh and look up to check the time. 2:43 A.M. My love is sleeping next to me and facing away, her breath slow and rhythmic like waves rolling gently against the sand. My dog sets her head down again, harder this time, and lets out a soft, airy whimper. “All right, all right,” I whisper to her as I roll over and throw the blankets off. I haven’t really slept yet tonight—I’ve drifted and dozed and my mind has wandered into that strange place where everything and nothing makes se...

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“The Duel” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #256

Outside Campbell Creek, New Mexico, 1880 “All right, on the count of three. One... Two... THREE!” Stevie yelled. Two pistol cracks split the hot air, one a half second before the other. The can Billy was aiming at flipped into the air while the one Stevie was aiming at didn’t move—there was only a spray of sand behind it. “Shit,” Stevie said while a wide, goofy grin spread across Billy’s face. “Billy, Hell, I think you just might be the fastest gun in the West.” Billy held the barrel of the Colt up to his mouth and blew across the barrel bef...

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“Better than I Know Myself” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #254

 “Sierra, we should dance,” Jeff said without looking at her, trying his best to make it sound casual and platonic. The DJ had just put on “Better than I Know Myself”, one of his favourite Cole Steele songs.The DJ’s booth was underneath the basketball net that had the double doors that led outside. Next to the big speakers, he had a few effect lights that seconds ago had been throwing alternating colours around the gym in patterns that synced to the music. When Cole Steele had started, the lights had changed to a velvety purple that rol...

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“Lost in Quebec” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #249

Quebec, 1985It’s just after six and the sun is beating down through the windows of the tan Ford and reflecting off of its dusty hood. The only thing keeping the temperature inside the car tolerable is the windows being down and the wind from the highway rushing in. Shirley is driving and Eleanor is in the passenger seat, with her bare feet up on the dash. The radio is cranked up loud and they’re singing through the chorus of Never Surrender. They’re on their way to Nova Scotia from Ontario to visit their older sister, Diane. She’d moved out ...

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“Scattered to the Wind” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #240

TW: Violence, Gore and mention of Sexual Violence Chad fell to the ground and scrambled up as fast as he could as the icy wind whistled all around him. The wind—he had to get out of the wind. He was walking through a dead and yellow field, close to the edge where there was a little tree cover. If he didn’t find shelter, he would be dead soon. The worst part (was it the worst part?) was that if it came to that, he didn’t think that there’d be anything left of him.Another icy blast ripped through his naked body—so cold that he could feel it in...

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“Cat” by C. Charles

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #237

Sleep hadn't come. Tom brushed up against it—touched it, but it hadn't wrapped itself around him and taken him in. He'd kept his eyes closed, wishing he could slip away but one o'clock gave way to two, to three, and so on. Tom opened his eyes again to check the time. It was a little after seven. He couldn't lay there anymore. He had to get up. He groaned as he creaked out of the recliner (He hadn't slept in his bed in four days; he just couldn't stand to) careful not to wake Maggie, who had started in her room but was now asleep on the couch...

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“Early Morning Run” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #224

Krssshhhh“-olf sighting. Police are advising residents not to leave pets and small children outside unatten—”clickGraham turned the alarm off and stood in the dark, eyes drooping at the numbers on his alarm clock. 5:00He’d been trying to get up and go for a run all week, but it was too easy to roll over and reset the alarm for the usual six-thirty. But last night, he had moved the clock from his bedside table to the dresser across the room. This morning, he was going to go for a run, dammit.He kissed Heather’s forehead and pulled the bl...

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“A Portrait of a Son” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #213

The ringing phone pulled Derek from the depths of his stupor. He was on the couch with the TV blaring and an empty bottle of rye lying on the floor next to him.  “Who the fuck–” he slurred as he groped for the phone on the coffee table. Every time his finger touched the wood, the tips tingled with pins and needles and bubbling fear returned to his stomach. He found his phone. “Hello?” he croaked. “Derek?” came Sally’s voice, “Where were you? I’ve been calling you.” Her voice sounded frantic. “Sorry, I was sleeping,” Derek said, “What’s ...

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“The Precious Love of Margaret and Bill” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #211

Margaret Reed had a secret. A secret that she wanted to share, but couldn’t; no one would believe her. It started about six months ago, right on her and Bill’s anniversary.Ted and his wife Claudette had come to visit and say happy anniversary, but it felt dutiful. They stayed and chatted about the weather and Ted’s work and how Chad was doing in school; the same kind of conversation that they’d had since Margaret moved into the nursing home. After they left, Margaret sat alone in her room, waiting for dinner. She’d tried watching TV but...

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“The Neighbour” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #210

Paul was walking towards his car when he noticed his neighbour across the street was just getting into hers. God, she’s weird, he thought. For the three years that he and Emma had lived in their house, they’d never spoken to her. Emma would be home soon so Paul was going to the grocery store to pick up supper. It was Friday and neither of them felt like cooking. He got in the car and started it just as the woman started backing out of her driveway.She left the house multiple times a day and was only ever gone for a short amount of time....

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“I'm Fine” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #207

**CONTENT WARNING: This story contains depictions of violence, mental health struggle, drug abuse, and overdose**“CUT!” Thomas yells just as I start my last line of dialogue. I throw my head back and close my eyes. I open them to find Thomas standing behind the camera with his glasses perched on his forehead and his fingers massaging between his eyes in frustration. The crew around him is silent, waiting and wondering, is he gonna blow up again?We’re in a tiny room in a dirty house; Thomas always insists on shooting on location, to try and c...

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“The Scrapyard” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #206

If I’m being honest, there was a part of me that was kind of excited. I mean, I was annoyed that my car was broken but excited. The middle of a downpour on a Friday afternoon is a hell of a time for your wipers to quit. It was a scary drive across the overpass and through town to see a mechanic. A used linkage was gonna cost me $60 and they wouldn’t get it until Thursday. The forecast called for rain all week and I just couldn’t wait that long. I also couldn’t afford to take time off of work and it wasn’t worth risking my neck cruising down ...

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“Makoto” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #205

“... I speak for members on all sides of the house today, in offering to Japanese-Canadians the formal and sincere apology- That was Prime Minister Brian Mulroney addressing the House of Commons and an audience of Japanese-Canadians yesterday, offering an apology to the 22,000 Japanese-Canadians who were interred in Canada following the attack on Pearl Harbour in 1942.  Along with the apology, is a $300 million compensation package. The money will go to a Japanese community fund, individual compensation, and the creation of a race relat...

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“Before You Meet the Devil” by C. Charles

Submitted to Contest #204

Skinner, Arkansas, 1877 Jack sat behind the bar reading a newspaper. It was mid-afternoon and the saloon was quiet, but it was always quiet until suppertime when the gamblers came in. It would be standing room only, everybody hoping to get a seat at a table or making bets on the side.  Jack had started the bar in a tent, in 1870. He had named it the Red Ace Saloon and it soon garnered a reputation as a card-playing hot spot. He learned quickly that gambling was thirsty work. Men drank to calm their nerves, for courage, or to drown the...

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Author bio

Trying to write the best stories I can—I hope you like them. -On the long list for Quagmire magazine’s fiction contest Instagram: @c.charles.writer

Shortlisted 3 stories ⭐️

Contest #237
Cat – read story
Contest #201
The Chevelle – read story
Contest #195
The Watch – read story