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Daniel Rogers

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2023

Stories (81)

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433 Followers

448 Following

81 Stories

4857 karma pts

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Screaming Like a Little Girl

Submitted to Contest #319

The monster's hot, steamy breath smelled like decayed skunk. My stomach churned, and I almost lost my breakfast, but that would be disastrous, so I covered my mouth and forced it down. My chameleon suit can keep me from being seen, but it can't hide puke. The giant tiger-like creature sharpened its claws on the other side of the massive tree I had chosen to hide behind. Even as a kid, I was never any good at finding hiding places, and I was usually the first one found. Actually, I'm not good at doing anything on this alien planet. I should h...

4 likes

Crash Landing Sucks

Submitted to Contest #318

Crash landing sucks, but at least we're still breathing. Well, at least I am. Alora doesn't breathe, but a quick diagnostic check showed her systems functioning at optimal levels. We checked the star cruiser next, finding minor damage. If it weren't for the fact that our dylanium deteriorated when we ran into that solar storm, we would have been able to fly off this primitive planet without any trouble. But our dylanium did deteriorate, making our star cruiser as useful as a paperweight.  Dylanium is a fairly ambiguous mineral on planet...

33 likes

A Shotgun Through Fog

Submitted to Contest #317

He appeared out of nowhere, bleeding profusely. I ran to help, but he stopped me. He held a small, octagon-shaped device and motioned for me to take it. I grabbed the blood-covered object and noticed its edges contained strange, otherworldly markings. "You must stop her!" The dying man coughed up blood. "The Lion must survive!" He fell, but regained his balance. "If she succeeds. Earth will undergo a hundred-year civil war. The Earth you know will never exist." He attempted to speak again, but started convulsing, and fell face down on the co...

31 likes

Pens of the Prompters

Submitted to Contest #310

If I can get my hands on one of the Prompters' pens, I can save Anne Servago. No one knows how the murderous pens work; I suspect the Devil himself endowed them with his power, but any story written with their black ink comes true. I wrote a story where Anne Servago dies, but I didn't realize the power of the pen until Cliff Strafford. Cliff Strafford died yesterday. That's when the truth became clear. The Prompters gave me two prompts with specific character names, instructing me to end my stories with the character's death, which I did des...

43 likes

The Act of Spreading Ashes

Submitted to Contest #309

Technically, the law says it's illegal, but who cares. Honoring my father's last request is worth the risk. Just how I'm going to spread his ashes over Niagara Falls is fuzzy. Dad would say, "Just wing it. Life isn't planned, it's experienced." My hometown of Buffalo is only twenty minutes from the Falls, so I'm far from being a tourist, but my instincts are telling me to dress like one. If a ranger gets a whiff of my intentions, he'll ban me from the park, ending all hopes of accomplishing my task. Dressed in my "Dad Bod" t-shirt, blue jean...

57 likes

Frozen Dead Guy Days

Submitted to Contest #308

I'm such an idiot! I'm unable to check into my hotel. Eat! Buy souvenirs! I've ruined my vacation before it even got started. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Okay, get a grip, Pam. Think calmly. I need to retrace my steps. That's all. I probably dropped it nearby. But what if someone already picked it up? Panic clawed to regain control. They could be buying "Frozen Dead Guy" t-shirts and eating Frozen Dead Guy ice cream purchased with my credit card. I'm so stupid! Why didn't I download the app? How can I freeze my card without the ...

53 likes

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

Submitted to Contest #300

"Who left their shoes!? Seriously man! You have no shoes! Come on, somebody, anybody!"Darren Doorful was having a bad day. No one mentioned his twenty-fifth anniversary with the TSA. He knew the young-ens wouldn't, but his uppers should have.Clueless faces turned towards Darren without saying a word. No one came forward to claim the abandoned bucket."These shoes didn't just walk in here by themselves. They got to belong to somebody!" He scanned the travelers like an eagle for prey.They scattered, adverting their eyes, desperately trying to a...

33 likes

The Trouble With Transporters

Submitted to Contest #299

"Did you try restarting the transporter?""Seriously? Do you think I'd call if it were that easy?"The tech support guy stared blankly at me with the fakest smile ever. He didn't blink once."Hello!" I banged my call screen."Yes, sir. Did you try restarting?""Are you listening? Of course, I did!"The tech guy's fake smile widened, and he spewed out several more suggestions, each one more basic than the first. I parried his suggestions with ease – this isn't the first time I've messed with this transporter – until I had enough. I demanded he send...

47 likes

COVID Falling

Submitted to Contest #295

"What's in that chicken soup of yours?" Stacy, a big-boned nurse in charge of the COVID wing, shook her head in disbelief. "All four of your patients took a turn for the better. They'll probably be able to leave soon." Irene had just exited a patient's room who was fighting COVID-19. She blinked several times and adjusted her glasses. She never knew how to handle compliments but answered with a sweet old voice, "I get my chicken from Walmart." "You're so funny. We all know the secret is you. You've been so helpful during this pandemic." "I j...

38 likes

Being the Chosen One is Highly Overrated

Submitted to Contest #294

I'm looking for someone to tell me if I am the chosen one. So far, I've asked a knight, a wise man, and a wizard. I got nowhere with the first two, but the wizard pointed me to Mordrone, an old dragon who might know. Unfortunately, Mordrone was just as likely to eat me as tell me what I wanted to know; it mattered which side of the horde he woke up on. No matter the risk, I had to find out. If I discover I am the chosen one, I need to save whoever I'm supposed to be saving. So I trekked to the dragon's cave and asked my question. "Excuse me,...

59 likes

Blame it on the Universe

Submitted to Contest #293

"I'm late!" I finished drying off, splashed some cologne, smeared deodorant, and brushed my teeth. She expected me to be there to help calm her nerves. How in the world did I lose track of time? I'm never late. I jumped into my clothes and dashed out the door. I tried starting my car but had forgotten my keys. What's wrong with me? I never forget my keys. Between losing track of time and forgetting my keys, I was beginning to believe the universe was trying to tell me something. I don't believe in coincidences. Keeping the speedometer under ...

61 likes

It's the Orange Fur Coat

Submitted to Contest #289

I needed this date to be good. After dozens of failed online dates, I finally built enough courage to ask a real woman out. We worked on different floors, Betty on the twentieth and I on the twenty-seventh, but we shared an elevator from time to time. We couldn't talk much, but I felt a connection. She thought I was funny, and I thought she was the most beautiful woman I've ever met. I popped the question on the elevator. Regrettably, my nerves got the better of me, and I blurted out, "Will you be eating dinner this Friday? I know I will." M...

81 likes

Moon Shattered

Submitted to Contest #288

"You don't take warnings well," the Russian said as he sat in my booth.Without moving my hand, I unsnapped my holster.The Russian hailed a waiter, "Vodka, please." He looked back at me, "I'm going to have to kill you now. You know that?"I never took my eyes off him. It was unlikely he'd try anything in a crowded bar, but I wouldn't bet my life on it."Not much of a talker?" The Russian took a drink."You're doing enough for both of us."The Russian laughed, "Good one."A couple of LTF officers walked in. The Russian stared at them and laughed, "...

66 likes

Orbits

Submitted to Contest #287

I microwave water because there's no teapot in my house. It does the job. I currently only have black tea since I already have flavors to add. I'm fuzzy on how we acquired a dozen bottles of flavored syrups, but I figured there was no need to buy flavored tea until I used these bottles first. While stirring my hot tea after adding honey and French vanilla syrup, an idea hit me: I live in an orbit. The rotation of the tea inspired the idea. Everything goes in a circle or orbit. The moon orbits the Earth. The Earth orbits the sun. The sun migh...

55 likes

You're Like a Book with only One Chapter

Submitted to Contest #286

"I cried out, Bingo, and this is what they gave me." Aunt B pointed to Nick, a five-foot-tall stuffed Santa Claus. "I just wanted cash! The Idiots!"I love watching Aunt B rant and rave over the infamous slight perpetrated by a misguided Bingo hall. Never mind that it's been over twenty years. She drags old Saint Nick from the attic for anyone who hasn't heard the story. Heck, even for those who have heard the story. Aunt B isn't picky.Nick has been in the family longer than I have. The day after Halloween, he takes his place in the corner of...

41 likes