Kara O

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Dec, 2019

Stories (10)

10 Stories

236 karma pts

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“The Forger” by Kara O

Submitted to Contest #75

She cupped her hands and exhaled into them, breathing life back into her frigid fingers. Her gloves were too old, the wool too worn. But she could not complain when surrounded by those who wore hand-sewn leather coats as their only shield from the cruel desert wind. It must hurt to see without goggles protecting their eyes, but the children beamed at her, anyway. They were elated to have a visitor. Even the adults were elated. Only the camel seemed apathetic. Then again, if one's skin clung to their ribcage like that, they wouldn’t g...

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“ Jumping without a Parachute” by Kara O

Submitted to Contest #75

The Toyota came to a gear grinding halt before the silver gates of the Saving Faith Care Facility. The door hiccupped as the driver stepped out, taking the keys to the ignition with him. The old girl was so battered, he couldn’t fathom anyone in their right might would steal it, but habits won over logic any day of the week. From the back seat, he took a tangled mass of bright blue blanket. It was lighter than he imagined, and it deepened his frown. From the mass of fabric stuck out a once brilliant brown face, the mahogany shade lost to the...

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“K, his name is K.” by Kara O

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #72

Row and rows of cylindrical tanks filled with neon green liquid light the dim pod chamber. Pink skinned, brown skinned; bald, hairy; long limbed, short torso-ed; a variety of human bodies float in those murky waters, their breathing done through tubes. Wires monitor their brain activities. Above the tanks the computers beep happily with every new data gathered. Some are good-looking. Bodies shaped like a renaissance sculptor’s model—not too buff like a whey head, not too skinny like a neurotic on a diet of ramen noodles—a category I sadly fa...

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“Grave Hopes” by Kara O

Submitted to Contest #65

There couldn’t have been a sillier idea than staying in a graveyard past midnight in the hopes of having a wish granted. Yet here I was, staring at Mae’s ass as we hid from the security guard. Torch light pierced through the mesh of branches and leaves, but from the whistling and the any-which-way direction the rays moved in, you could tell the man wasn’t seriously searching. I wouldn’t be either if all I had to do was look after corpses. Dead things don’t move.“My days.” Mae sighed, slumping to sit on her butt after...

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“Pockets Filled With Pebbles” by Kara O

Submitted to Contest #64

“Come in!” came a distant shout. “The door’s open.” It was a sunny day with singing birds and sailing clouds. Gia turned the rusted handle and shuffled inside with her trunk, suppressing her surprise that people anywhere would leave the door open. This was the rumored safety of the countryside. Everyone knows everyone, they said. Her eyes struggled to adjust to the dimness inside. Only a narrow hallway with a set of French doors at the end awaited her behind the door. The light that came in seemed to lea...

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“Hexed” by Kara O

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. From the upstairs loft, the tendrils of smoke had looked like a mirage, a trick of the mind. But standing on the porch with the heat blazing and the leaves cracking, it couldn’t be denied. The spell had worked. And my heart bubbled with joy. And I did a little jig. Now I knew hexing my neighbors would work. Not that the spell not working would have stopped me, but now I knew it was going to work. Hosing the pile of leaves I’d raked till they were a hiss...

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“Jannus' Eyes” by Kara O

Submitted to Contest #25

Winter came resolute to the fields of Jannus, the two-faced god of new years and New Year’s resolutions. His workers filed into two lines: those who had accomplished their New Year’s resolutions, and those who hadn’t.In one line was a girl with curls like descending clouds around her ebony face, who looked to the other line with a shy smile. Her calloused hands gripped her worn out apron as her heart beat with emotion she would not divulge. When her friend caught her look, her friend grinned and waved. They had said their farewells in ...

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“The Time the Sun and the Moon eloped” by Kara O

Submitted to Contest #24

Lunar sneaked into the aquamarine chambers of his darling Solar. His steps, dainty and silent among the marble pillars, raised the ocean waves below his feet. Solar sat on a throne of cotton clouds, her legs of a shimmering copper stretched out upon a green hill footstool. Her hair was a halo around her round face, which wore a bored expression with her full lips pulled in a pout.She did not perceive him at first, for his face was but a faint outline in the blue sky. When he called out to her, her heart flowed with joy, casting rays so ...

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“Closed Windows” by Kara O

Submitted to Contest #23

In the haze of falling snow, a figure in red emerged from the white, waving in their direction. “Is that Nix?” Henry glanced at the rear view mirror, locking gazes with Odie, who chose to sit in the back. He caught a faint intimation of a shrug, a tilt of his head, before Odie returned to scribbling in his sketchbook. Shoulder length dreads obscured the often blank brown face. Henry couldn't read a signal off him even if he tried. The jeep slid to a halt before the figure. Henry rolled down the window of the passenger side, a blast...

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“Nothing to Celebrate” by Kara O

Submitted to Contest #22

The fire crackled as a log split; its insides consumed from within. Azma tossed another branch in. Her fingers throbbed, numbed by the cold. The air, dry as would be this time of the year, pinched her cheeks raw, cracked her lips, and froze the inside of her nose. She would be warmer if she would sit a bit closer, but the glare of the light irritated her, burning her irises and making spots dance in her vision. So she made do by hugging herself. The air seeped through the thin fabric of her green sweater and robbed her of body...

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Author bio

Currently on hiatus from writing shorts, attempting to write a longer work. Will be back soon. Writer with multiple breaks and hiatuses of non-writing under her belt. Writing once again to prove to myself, I can write. I use the word write often. Feedback welcome, random thoughts welcome as well. We're all writers here. Sporadic seems to be my fate, but I'm still climbing that tower called Improvement. A bit sporadic, a bit slow in how I respond. One day, I'll get a hang of being on the internet. "K, his name is K." was shortlisted on 24 December, 2020. Contest #72 Xmas miracle? XD

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #72

K, his name is K. – read story