Chandler Wilson

“Beau's Wish” by Chandler Wilson

The warning echoed in Beau’s mind as he stepped into the narrow alleyway, his sneakers crunching softly against a carpet of fallen leaves. Faint shafts of early evening light filtered between the looming buildings, casting long, fingerlike shadows on the ground. Beau McKenzie, a thirty-two-year-old man, had heard the phrase a thousand times from his mother, teachers, and even his old boss at the garage. But never had it felt so immediate, so present, as it did now. “Be careful what you wish for.”It’s not like Beau had wished for much. Just a...

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“Roots and Chains” by Chandler Wilson

“You ever wonder if it was worth it?” The question lingered between them, suspended like smoke curling off the edge of a cigar. The hotel bar hummed with low jazz and the soft clinking of glasses, but at that moment, it was as if the world had gone still. Roger glanced sideways at the man seated beside him. Sharp suit, graying temples, wedding ring, and a face that carried the weight of too many 60-hour workweeks. A stranger, but not entirely unfamiliar. “Worth what?” Roger asked, taking a slow sip from his whiskey. “Ever...

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“Whispers and Shadows” by Chandler Wilson

Gabriel Devereaux stepped into the dimly lit hallway of the old apartment building, his footsteps echoing off the worn hardwood floors. The faint sound of a laugh track from a distant television mixed with the soft drips of a leaky faucet created an ambiance that was both familiar and unsettling. His fingers lingered on the strap of his laptop bag, his heart beating a touch faster than usual. He had spent the day at work like any other—crunching numbers at the office, enduring the drone of fluorescent lights, and fielding his manager’s ...

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“No Don't” by Chandler Wilson

The rain had just started to fall when Evan spotted him—a figure silhouetted against the gray sky, standing on the edge of the bridge with its cold steel railing to his back. Evan’s heart jolted in his chest. It wasn’t the kind of thing you could mistake for anything else. He knew that stance. Too still. Too deliberate. The way the young man leaned forward ever so slightly, hands gripping the rail as if he’d already decided.  Cars whizzed past, seemingly unaware, as Evan’s feet moved before his brain caught up. His pulse thudded in his ...

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“Tuesday Ritual” by Chandler Wilson

Elliot always chose the same table, the one near the window that framed the street outside like a living photograph. He liked the view, the hum of life moving past while he sat still. Every Tuesday afternoon, like clockwork, he arrived with his laptop bag slung over his shoulder, a latte in hand, and the vague hope that maybe this week would be different. He would finish his reports early, finally reply to the emails sitting like unopened letters in his inbox, and get back to writing his novel.The first Tuesday he noticed him, the man with t...

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“The Incident” by Chandler Wilson

It all went down on a Friday night when most of us were just counting down the hours to the weekend. The campus dining hall was unusually quiet, except for the hum of fluorescent lights and the occasional clatter of trays being returned to the conveyor belt. I was working a closing shift—a last-minute favor for Katy, who had begged me to cover for her so she could catch her boyfriend’s band playing on the other side of town.I didn’t mind. The stillness was nice for a change, and besides, I had my philosophy notes spread out on the counter ne...

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“On the Edge of Tomorrow” by Chandler Wilson

As the day to leave for Texas Tech finally dawned, I felt a strange mix of dread and anticipation. I stared at the boxes piled up by the front door, a silent reminder of how much was about to change. In a way, I’d been counting down the days, eager to break away, to carve out a life that was all mine finally. But standing here, watching my dad’s Range Rover pull into the driveway through the side panel window, the feeling twisted into something heavier. A bittersweet ache settled into my chest, and I rubbed my clammy hands on my jeans, tryin...

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“A Reflection of Valor” by Chandler Wilson

Submitted to Contest #261

Victor Blackwood is a 60-year-old accountant who, until today, has lived a life filled with routine and predictability. Each day seemed to blend into the next, creating a monotonous blur of unfulfilled dreams. He sits in his Subaru Outback, staring at the sign in the yard outside his Aunt Ursula’s attorney’s house. The stark white lettering of the sign contrasted with the dull gray and blue of the one-and-a-half-story Cape Cod-style house. The rain peppered his windshield, the streaks slightly blurring his view. Peering up, he saw the s...

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“Last Night's Reunion” by Chandler Wilson

As a hot July twilight seeped into the heart of Texas, Michael Lewis sat at his desk in his bedroom, staring blankly at his computer screen. His publisher expected a first draft of his next book within a week. Michael hadn’t written a line. He was at a loss for where to start. His mind was more or less a blank slate. He tried to concentrate on what he should write but couldn’t. A sequel to his last book, possibly a new one from scratch?  Michael’s chest tightened as an insistent impending doom washed over him. He felt in his heart somet...

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“Waiting for Noah” by Chandler Wilson

Submitted to Contest #250

The faint sound of footsteps shuffled through the brush as an undercover SWAT team approached the abandoned mortuary. An orange sky signaled the impending sunset and arrival of twilight across the Scottish landscape.Clad in black tactical gear, they moved with calculated precision, their movements silent and synchronized. Each member was a seasoned professional, honed by years of training and experience.The leader signaled for a halt as they neared the mansion converted into a mortuary. With a hand gesture and silent communication, they coor...

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“Alien Fire” by Chandler Wilson

On an early November night in rural Texas, bright stars sparkled in a dark, moonless sky. Kevin Griffin, a forty-three-year-old Texas Rancher, jumped from his pickup truck into his brother's Jeep. Kevin rubbed his hands together and blew on them. “Burr. It's a cold night and getting colder.” Logan turned to him, pausing before he said, “It sure is.” They sat momentarily, staring at Kevin's burnt-out, smoldering sofa in his yard. Suddenly, two blue and yellow spheres of mysterious light materialized on the ends of the couch. Lo...

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“Wizard of the Lost” by Chandler Wilson

Submitted to Contest #189

The moment Jake stepped off the trail and onto the narrow path, he felt a sense of foreboding. His brother, Simon, close behind, laid his hands on Jake’s backpack. Drawing short, quick breaths, his dark brown eyes like saucers as he glanced about with uncertainty. The thunderhead in the distance was reshaping in slow motion. The encroaching storm ate up the color of the horizon, more ominous with every passing second. The full moon cast long shadows across the way ahead. Overhead, a malignant sky becoming darker by the minute. Fractures...

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“My Friend Charlie” by Chandler Wilson

Nathan Butler, a sandy haired 26-year-old graduate student, laid alone in his bedroom and stared at the ceiling. He glanced over at the clock, it was three a.m., then, looking up, he whispered, “Five nights in a row without sleep.” Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, his hands were clammy. His heart beat kicked up a notch, and his pulse thumped at his temples. His insides quivered as his mind raced.  My grades are slipping. I've lost all my friends. I’m alone in a crowd. Something's just not right. He sat up, and threw back the c...

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“A Prior Life” by Chandler Wilson

Doctor Todd Bischoff smiled as he walked into the hospital room. Alaina Graff, a lovely 28-year-old first time mother, held her baby boy, Jake. The soft glow from the deflected light above the bed put them in an almost angelic aura. Her husband, Ethan, his dark brown eyes filled with their reflection, stood at the side watching over his wife and new son. Glancing from one to the other, he said “Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Graff, I'm the staff pediatrician. Congratulations, you have a perfectly healthy child.” Alaina’s smile melted into a...

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“In Too Deep” by Chandler Wilson

Joe Freeman, a handsome man in his early forties, and a certified federal building inspector, decided to take the back-road home to Sacramento from Reno. The two-hour drive would take longer, but he needed the time to clear his head. He took his cell from his shirt pocket. There was a message with a direct link to a bank account. He clicked on it and his phone number verified his identity. The money was there. Then he hit the speed dial.The voice on the other end said, “Freeman’s residence.”“Is this the lady of the house?”His eight-year-old ...

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