Kevin Alphatooni

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jun, 2022

Stories (28)

28 Stories

539 karma pts

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“Opportunities” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #245

The horn sounded its’ loud warning tune, echoing far beyond the wooden walls of New Haven. Everyone who heard it stood frozen and listened, fear gripping them tighter with each subsequent blast. Birds picked up from their roosts and took to the skies, squawking frantically.  Five times the horn sounded. The dreaded fifth was seldom heard in New Haven. Men, women, and children all stopped what they were doing and ran. Shops were abandoned, work fires were put out, and those in fields took their tools with them as they beelined to the tow...

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“How Peter Found His Purpose” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #242

“Look at them,” Peter said, “They mock us.” Po sat next to Peter but didn’t respond. Instead, he arched his back into a stretch and yawned. After scratching his stomach, he reached down and grabbed a lush bamboo branch and stuck it in his mouth. He crunched down on the shoot and then looked up at the brilliant sun, appreciating how it heated the stone platform he sat on to a comfortable warmth.  Peter stood rigid at the edge of the platform, his front paws curled over the side as he leaned over the edge, teasing a fall down the grassy s...

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“Purple Paper” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #240

Wendy sat in her studio apartment and tried to write. She sat motionless for a long time, staring blankly at her purple notepad—pen ready to write down whatever came to mind. Her hand sprang into action, seizing upon a fleeting thought like a spider attacking a fly caught in its web. She filled the page and a smile crossed her face when she stabbed the last period into existence. Yet that smile faded after she reviewed what she wrote. She scowled, ripped the page out, and threw it into the trashcan. “Where did all the good ideas go?” sh...

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“The Worst Kind of Fear” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #239

“Careful. . . Careful. . . easy does it, oh—” A loud scratch sounded, the one of hardwood scraping into drywall. Carla panicked and jerked the dolly back. The dresser it held wobbled and it took every ounce of Carla’s strength to set the heavy piece of furniture down. Once she did, she inspected the damage and found a large gash in the wall.  “Nononono. Stupid Wayfair junk furniture!” Carla cried and stamped her foot before she wheeled about, threw her back against the wall, and sunk to the floor. She gave the dresser a good kick an...

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“Boundaries” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #202

The wind howled and the storm crept its way across the sky, thunder cracking as it neared. I staggered away from it as fast as I could, clutching my bloodied side. The tall pines surrounding me rocked back and forth in the rough wind. It was dangerous to be caught outside during a summer storm, especially in this region of Dunamis where the cold mountain winds mixed with the convective valley heat, creating super storms that have been said could toss a delivery wagon off its wheels. I hadn’t personally seen this happen, but this was a myster...

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“The Eyes of the Moon” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #199

There are some nights when you can lay your head down at the end of the day and drift off to sleep rather comfortably. Your pillow cradles your head ever so snugly, extra soft after a long day, putting the mind at ease. I can’t say I remember the last time I had one of those nights. For the past five years, I’ve tossed and turned, limbs restless while my hands claw at the sheets, grasping for something just out of reach. Alone in the dark, it did not matter if my eyes were open or closed, the image was always the same. A haunt...

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“When to Toast with Coke” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #178

A bitter cold swept through Richmond, the coldest it had been in a decade, and Jerry Richardson, at the ripe age of 68, walked home alone after an 8 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight service. Arms crossed and knees aching, he scowled beneath his tightly-wound scarf. “This is gonna suck,” he mumbled. The wind howled and Jerry held himself tighter, shivering beneath his thick jacket. Though many didn’t show up this year, Jerry was never one to miss a Candlelight Service after coming home from fighting in Korea. “The Forgotten War” is what it was ca...

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“George's Great Journey” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #176

“Okay, George. You be good!” The shout echoed through the house, its haunting message turning my blood to ice. I leaped off the couch and dashed to the entry hall. Where the heck was he going now? I rounded the corner, almost slipping as I skidded across the hardwood floor. My owner waited for me in the open doorway, the fragrant smells of the outside world wafting their way inside.  “No. You can't go!” I whined and sat down defiantly before him. He looked down at me, kindly, while a smile stretched across his face.  “It’s okay, b...

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“The Serpent of Pride” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #174

“Well if that’s how you feel, THEN THERE’S THE DOOR!”  My words cut through her like a jagged blade. Her blue eyes widened, horrified by its bluntness. Even I was surprised about the way it came out. So forceful.  “You’re a cold-hearted jerk, Allen,” Darlene cried as she ran away from me, “I don’t even know what I saw in you.” A tide of fresh anger swelled within me, urging me to retort her claim but, before I could respond, she was already out of the room and quickly gathering her things. Part of me knew she wanted me to follow ...

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“Birds Eye View ” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #172

“You’re finally going to take me there?” Peter asked. “Yup,” Dennis said with a nod.   The two sat high up in the branches of an old redwood tree. Out toward the horizon, the silhouette of a city loomed, the tall skyscrapers veiled by a thick morning haze. Peter eyed it, curiously. He had always been told the city was a dangerous place, however, he was now of the age where he was expected to make the journey to its heart. To do so was a rite of passage. There, the Elder Dove would reveal to him the secrets of the past.   “...

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“Fly with the Eagle” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #171

The wind blew, frigid and sharp. My sweat-stained shirt took the brunt of the chill but a cold shiver still electrified down my skin. The sensation was oddly calming. I took in the cool air and opened my eyes. Small wispy clouds drifted high above, casting their shadows onto the forested landscape below. Mountains bulged from the rolling terrain. A mix of fall colors blanketed the horizon, filling my mind with a nostalgic peace as I thought of all the joy the holidays used to bring.    “Just a little farther,” I rasped and ...

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“Paved with Good Intentions” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #170

“I’ve got a plan,” said Mr. Robinson. All eyes were on him as the candlelight fixtures - spaced regularly along the walls - flickered with an artificial glow. Those that stood around the room seemed to share nervous energy. The only ones who looked calm were the four who sat in leather-bound chairs arranged in a semi-circle and facing a beautifully-carved, oak desk. Despite the massive amount of individual power accumulated within the room, no one bid Mr. Robinson to continue. Only one could give such a command and he stood by the window, t...

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“The Carving” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #169

I twirled the knife in my hand, the sharp blade reflecting the dancing flames of the candlelight. Then, with a devilish grin, I stabbed. The blade pierced the hard exterior of the pumpkin and easily slid through the soft flesh. A euphoric feeling crawled up my arm, washing over me - making my smile widen. Keeping a tight grip, I moved the blade in and out, cutting a perfect circle around the stem; each movement purposeful and precise. Soon, I was able to remove the top, exposing the inner guts. "Look, babe," I said, lifting the p...

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“Children of the Dark” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #168

Shadows moved beyond the glass, their features difficult to delineate from the surrounding darkness. Unable to take my eyes off of them, I strained myself to see what they were doing. What were they up to? What were they going to do next? They danced and swirled about, forming their own, unpredictable saga. I barely noticed the static noise coming from the intercom above the door behind me, but it was there, amplifying the whole mystifying experience in its own subtle way. Time fluttered away, stolen away by the whir...

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“Holey Hell” by Kevin Alphatooni

Submitted to Contest #161

“Ramirez!” I hissed, “Keep your eyes open!” Ramirez jerked awake and then lazily lifted his head off the butt of his M16A4 rifle.  “Sorry Jones,” he said, “It’s just so damn comfy outside.”  “Maybe for you. I’m sweating bullets over here.” I bent over and shoved the tip of my collapsible shovel into the hardened, mostly clay, dirt at the bottom of my fighting hole. The humidity had reached a point where the air felt muggy and thick. Sweat soaked my camouflage utilities and seeped into my body armor. Ramirez lay i...

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Author bio

Just a man on a journey to explore the depths of his own imagination. https://alphatooni.substack.com/