Carmen Schaller

“Alien Principles” by Carmen Schaller

Nolan kept a notebook of scientific things. Wherever he went, he would form hypotheses about human nature and the selfish chemical desires that drove them to do what they did. None of his friends knew how he earned his living, and if anyone asked him, he would cleverly evade the subject and draw their attention to something else. Several people, if you were to ask them, would suppose him to be of some profession or another, drawing their own conclusions, perhaps from something he said to them once, but such cases were purely imagined.  ...

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“The Talisman” by Carmen Schaller

Submitted to Contest #101

As she went through all the familiar motions, measuring this, adjusting that, glancing back and forth, Lissa kept her eyes wide open. She didn’t even blink. She was so afraid it was a mistake -- a mirage, a dream, a vision that would vanish like smoke if she closed her eyes, even for an instant.  Is this it? All the years of work, of searching, of chasing -- it was all over. *** “Hey - HEY!” Lissa ran down the pier, footsteps reverberating in the tired old boards it was built of. She was in hot pursuit of a dalmatian bou...

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“A New Tradition” by Carmen Schaller

Submitted to Contest #99

Hour 1: I’ve started a journal to mark the progress of our First Ever Hopefully Annual Summer Solstice Road Trip. Meg thinks I’m a control freak when it comes to recording things, but I just want to remember what good times we had. So there.  Hour 2: Sleepy. Hour 3: Janis has already broken into our snacks. This is going to be a long trip. Hour 4: Everyone is starving. Seriously, each and every person in this van. Meg is getting really cranky, like she always does when some magazine makes her think it’s sexy to starve herself. I w...

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“The LeMoine Man” by Carmen Schaller

Submitted to Contest #96

“Have you heard about the LeMoine Man?” Castella said in low tones, watching Lark eagerly for signs of recognition. Lark, absently trailing her fingers over the hanging ribbons, merely sighed.  “I’ve heard every little bit of gossip from here to Gaidlyn’s Castle thanks to you, Stell. Don’t you ever tire of it?” she replied. “Well, you certainly haven’t heard this,” said Castella, “Or you wouldn’t take it so wearily. This is no small snippet of gossip, it’s something bigger.” She paused, then cleared her throat dramatically when La...

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“That Houman Fire” by Carmen Schaller

Submitted to Contest #94

As nearly identical cousins, Greta and Meg had inherited the Houman family attitude. Both were confident, self-assertive, stubborn, and often loud. But most of all, they were competitive, just like the rest of their family. Family reunions meant unusually aggressive soccer games, scuffles over who would lead the hiking party, arguments that lasted for days, and the ever-growing “my fish was this big”.  “One-two-three-four-five-” Greta counted as her stone skipped across the surface of the lake. “-Six. Beat that!” “I will, thanks,” rep...

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“Cold Red Fury” by Carmen Schaller

Submitted to Contest #93

“Harls--Harls--Harley!” Kaida pushed through the crowd on the dance floor to a girl at the center of the dark room. Colored lights flashed from the ceiling, momentarily blinding anyone who happened to look up. Kaida could feel the pounding of the music in her chest, though the noise of the partygoers drowned out the lyrics that were blasting from gigantic speakers. Kaida scanned the crowd for the coffee-colored form of Harley Ghutana, whom she found dancing amidst a group of friends with a drink in her hand. Harley finally heard Kaida’s call...

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“Not Just Paranoid” by Carmen Schaller

Submitted to Contest #92

"I'm telling you, Gracie, it's the sun!" Gracie rolled her eyes. Opal could be so paranoid sometimes. "I get all broken out every time I'm at the lake." Opal continued, touching her left arm gingerly. Gracie could admit that her friend was allergic to something, but the sun? No way. "It's probably just something in the water," said Gracie. "No," said Opal, "Because it happens when I'm at the park, too." "Something you ate, then." Gracie shrugged. "But it only happens when I've been in the sun!" Opal insisted. "Coincidence," said Grac...

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