Cedar Barkwood

“Counting by the Second” by Cedar Barkwood

CW: Teenagers dying, something that resembles suicidal thoughts (sorry I didn't know what else to put, see authors note in comments if unsure).In a cell with two other people, you learned many, many things, but only one thing stuck with you.You were made to be destroyed, by the hands of your creators, you would be locked up, and eventually, killed. There was a timer, a ticking clock dictating how many times you would be allowed to breathe. Laugh at a joke. Smile at a friend, each of you only had so long to live. The timer on the ceiling of t...

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“If Only” by Cedar Barkwood

Content Warning: Contains kidnapping, murder, swearing October 27th: 9 years and 3 months ago A shrill scream pierces the air. It snakes down the stairs from Lily’s room. Not a second later the chiming of shattered glass hitting the floor drown out the scream.  “Lily?” I call, already running up the stairs. “Lilly?!” I’m screaming now, swinging around the rail and launching myself towards her door. Locked. It's locked. Shit. I kick the door. Over and over. Right above the handle where you're supposed to. Crack. Click. Door flies open. ...

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“Ground Beef” by Cedar Barkwood

Submitted to Contest #270

When I come through the door, Amy is laying on the couch, the news lighting up the living room, weeping into one of Jason's shirts.I do my best to ignore her, ignore the grief welling in my own throat, and head to the kitchen. I reach in my bag as I start to lay out all the ingredients that I brought. I glance up at the television, Jason's missing person picture and information flashes across the screen. Amy lets out a strangled cry.Frustration bubbles up in my chest. If she would just put in an effort to find him, he was her son after all.I...

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“Writers Bleed on Paper” by Cedar Barkwood

Note: This story is inspired by Romeo and Juliet by the poet and play-writer William Shakespeare, only parts of the story in this story (quotation or general plot) was written by William Shakespeare. TW: Mentions of suicide and murder. ---------------------------------------------------------------- I'm sure you've heard the phrase, 'writers bleed on paper.' I'm the result, I am the character that dances on the ivory pages of the stories you read, I am formed through the hundred black stains that make word after word. But I'll tell you some...

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“The Case Of Iris Craw Sandlers” by Cedar Barkwood

TW: Abusive relationship, partner violence. The following speech was written 37 hours before the wedding by Adam Johnson Sandlers, (the husband). The strikeouts were found on the original copy, it is copied exactly as it was found. I would like to propose a toast to the deadly beautiful woman in white. Today, she will no longer be just my girlfriend, my fiance. She'll be my monster. My murderer. My end. wife. And as scared thrilled as I am for this moment, I would like to recount a memory before the ceremony. When Iris was a little girl, I...

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“Hello Mary” by Cedar Barkwood

Submitted to Contest #261

TW: Kidnapping, abuse, pyromaniac tendencies and masochismDear Mary,The doctors are asking me to write notes. Notes to people, to say thank you for things, and you are obviously my first choice. Thank you for teaching me how to fold origami. In every fold of the paper, I found immense comfort, I do it now that the doctor said I am stable. They forced some food down my throat and told me a bunch of lies. Now I fold origami and argue with doctors, not a very interesting life. I wish they would let me talk to you.-Aubrey, September 19thMary,The...

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“6 Reasons To Die” by Cedar Barkwood

I know that there are 3 things I can rely on. 1, I am human. I know this because when I found out that my existence was a lie, I screamed until I couldn't breathe. I bled, and I felt completely, earth-shatteringly weak. The weakness, the helplessness only a human could feel. Because we aren't really made for anything, we are made to go through the motions, labor, laugh, love cry, all for it to end. For us to be erased from the planet. And I felt all of this, consequently, I know I am human. 2, most everything I have been told in life is a l...

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“I Always Know Who's Watching” by Cedar Barkwood

TW: Stalking, armed robbery (gun), not sure what this falls under but the main character is insane. Occasional vulgar language (minor). I have to do it carefully, or he'll stop following me. I can still imagine the high that I get when I feel his eyes groping me. I barely restrain the sort of laugh that makes people creep away from me. Walk carefully, you can't look like you know. I pulled out my phone and found a bench to sit on. Carefully, I arrange my body, making sure the highlights could be seen from behind. He's looking. Don't smile l...

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“The Wind In The Willows” by Cedar Barkwood

Submitted to Contest #248

Trigger Warning: non-graphic torture/death--------------------------They say that The Wind tells you things, stories. The stories whispered in the breeze. They say that those who can’t bear to stay away seek it. Even knowing that The Wind wasn’t a solution. There wasn’t a fairy-tale ending for those associated with The Wind. Yet, being away from it was unbearable. So I will tell you the story of a little girl, who tried to seek The Wind.--------------------------In a little town, there was a little for...

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“Agent 127” by Cedar Barkwood

Submitted to Contest #246

Trigger Warning: Death, violence, suicide, swearing, murder, abandonmentClide was sitting on the swing set, waiting for me. I could see in his eyes that he hadn't failed this time. Slowly, I walked out of the trees, my feet didn't make a sound on the summer evening grass. Yet he knew I was there before I had gotten as close as fifty yards."It's done." He said quietly. I walked quicker now, making no attempt to hide my footsteps."That's what you said last time, we had to go back and check. He wasn’t dead yet." I said."I did it this time, watc...

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“The Girl With Stars In Her Eyes” by Cedar Barkwood

Submitted to Contest #245

Trigger Warning: Death and psychotic illness and reactions. --- ---The doctors always told me that I was broken, that there was something different with my mind. I never believed them before I saw it…--- ---My name is Tara, I’m sixteen, I have one sister, two parents, and around thirteen psychologists, and four therapists. I have these dull green eyes, not bright leafy green, not insightful piercing green, no. Dull, sick green. I have choppy brown hair that curls, molding to the shape of my head.  I would kill somebody for my sister. I...

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“The One Who Spilled His Blood” by Cedar Barkwood

Submitted to Contest #230

*Trigger warning, includes mental health, physical violence, alludes to self-harm*I held my knees to my chest; that numb horror was creeping over me again; with the shadowy images of his blood, a shudder coursed through me leaving chills in its wake. I can hear voices saying my name, trying to break through the haze that has made me freeze, and go blind to the world; I feel another shudder rip through my body as I think about him. His pale skin, the way his green eyes had met mine zealously. How he had sacrificed so much to be with me. How q...

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