Kevin Marlow

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2021

Stories (25)

25 Stories

2067 karma pts

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“The Resting Place” by Kevin Marlow

The site was serene. A field of bright green fescue, corralled by stately white and red oak trees, waved in ripples, like spectators at a large live music event. The late summer evening sun jabbed daggers through the forest canopy, slicing away the minutes as the gentle breeze pushed sparrows from their perches, seeking their nightly roost. One sparrow looked down at the newly dug hole, just past the edge of the pasture, concealed in the wood line. What a fine addition our new resident will make.To call it an addition wa...

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“Manufactured Dreams” by Kevin Marlow

The iridescent pearl lipstick clung to the straw as she pulled it gently away from her mouth. It exposed her perfectly aligned teeth just for a moment. Michael narrowed his eyes and stared at her full lips after she closed her eyes with a sigh.“How was your meal? Michael.” Her eyes shot open and he turned away trying to gather his thoughts."It was wonderful. I loved the mellow garlic notes blending with the cream in the blackened chicken Alfredo." He returned his stare to her eyes, noting the rare hypno...

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“My Friend Carmen” by Kevin Marlow

Although because of my age, you can't tell, I'm a chocolate point, not a blue point or orange-ass Abyssinian like those turned-nosed bitches from the east side insist on being ruled by. Being generic isn't always bad. At least the beasts don't expect a lot if you are average. If one can fake normal you can coast through the teen years like a boss even though you are missing your gonads and only means of self-defense.I digress. This lame bipedal monkey fish signed some shit and put a box of gravel next to the toilet and t...

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“Marci's Menial Menagerie” by Kevin Marlow

Marci thumbed through the pile of manuscripts. Bad text choice, that title is terrible, and the surname alone cries DORK, Oh, this one sounds promising. She proceeded to spend the best part of the three hours after her two-hour, three-cocktail lunch deciphering the story arc of a dystopian, science fiction novel, occasionally peering over the top of her leopard print Warby Parker progressive lenses at the bland modern architecture of the Goldman Sachs building across from the glass on her floor.A smile crawled a...

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“High There” by Kevin Marlow

“Dude, it's just a plant.”“I don't know Cain. What does it feel like?”“It's the best feeling in the world. Why do you think they call it a high?”“I've never used any drugs. Are you trying to help me or get me hooked?"“You've been in the dumps lately friend. Weed is not a drug. It's all-natural. It's a gift from Mother Nature. If you don't like it, remember it's the thought that counts. I'm turning you on to help you out.”“O.K. Give me the damn pipe.”...

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“Bhang! Snake Eyes” by Kevin Marlow

CW {Drug use, Sexual themes, Prostitution, Violence, Offensive Language}Karnack tapped the crystals out of the little zip-lock bag, onto the shiny, reflective stainless steel plate. Pulling his dagger from the top of a worn and crumpled leather boot, he used the flat side of the razor-sharp blade to crush the rocks back into powder form. Tucking a long shock of dark hair behind his ear allowed him to get close and inspect the product.“I've got a pipe. Are you sure you don't just want to light up?”

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“Farewell to Adelaine” by Kevin Marlow

Adelaine finished the draft of the text and pressed save, rolling her eyes and drawing in a breath. Looking around from the safety of a Lexus, the parking garage felt empty. It was early. That didn't stop the tension from surfacing. Rereading the unsent text, she pressed the button to turn off the screen and plucked the goggle-eyed shades from the visor and pulled the earpieces out with a lip still soft from a hot shower, and slid the sunglasses on to hide her face.Pulling a hood over her still-damp hair, the car chirped...

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“Simon Says” by Kevin Marlow

The alarm on his iPhone grates and pulses. Simon folds the pillow around his head. The dull ache emanating from where his skull is fused to his spine causes him to fumble for the water bottle on the nightstand. The cell phone is across the room plugged in on the dresser, its intermittent wailing, grinds up the sloshy thoughts in his brain. Sitting up, Simon gulps the water into his dry stinking gullet. Dribblets trickle ...

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“The Mind Flayer's Minions” by Kevin Marlow

{A Stranger Things Fan Fiction Story}“He doesn't like you.”“What? Will, don't kid around.”“I'm not joking Dustin. He is coming for you. You abandoned Dart, you wanted to kill him.”“He was a Demogorgon and he ate my cat Will, besides what happened in the bus at the junkyard. Did you forget about that little detail?”“If you don't give him what he wants, he's going to drag you to the upside down in your sleep.”“Now you're scar...

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“Bury Me Home” by Kevin Marlow

The rolling hills of the Midwest undulate like the humps of the Midgard Serpent, locking the hard-pan clay together. Its scales are clusters of juniper and elm, erupting from sandstone bluffs. The forked tongue is a confluence of two mighty rivers, the legs, scars of railroad beds riveted to the land with iron, torn from its own belly. Johnathon remembers seeing the beast in the ancient lake that had been plowed by glaciers from the last Ice Age, or is it a recurring dream, he never quite figures that part out.“Penny for...

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“Like Roses in the Desert” by Kevin Marlow

Red tail lights whizzed by, their glow leaving sparkling trails on the side glass in the back seat of a domestic sedan with an interior the color of ash. Tristan craned his head, looking for the street sign.The stiff collar on his shirt rubbed his neck like sandpaper. Mom had settled on the cotton poplin dress shirt and tie, they couldn't afford the Ralph Lauren Polo. 'It makes you look mature,' she said.“When you pull up to the gym, just let me out O.K.” Tristan leaned up to catch his mom's eyes in the...

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“Penal Colony Paystubs” by Kevin Marlow

{CW: Drug Use, Violence, Sexual Themes}“It's your move,” Even with a face covered partially by a mask and goggles, Karnack could sense them smiling at him.“What if I don't have that much weight. Can I renegotiate the offer?” Karnack stuck the hand rolled cigarette between his lips and pulled a slow steady hit into his lungs, following it with a suck of stale fetid air.“I'll give you a hundred thousand for ten pounds. That's my final offer,” The man pulled out a smaller attache and unzi...

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“1869 Gehenna Street, Hades” by Kevin Marlow

The heat erupted from the very rocks themselves. With no sun, orange light emitted from the glowing stalactites that jutted from the roof of the massive cave like giant flaming lances. Pools of sulfuric acid smoked and gurgled, belching fumes that burned the nostrils; fumaroles were burping dragons releasing acrid gases. This was 1869 Gehenna Street, Hades, just up the way from the Abyss. The apartments were carved into solid rock by wayward souls that had yet to earn a chance to hurl themselves into the eternal fire and be erased from th...

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“Aldor's Wicked Children” by Kevin Marlow

CW {Drug Use, Language}THE END.The words were burned into the retinas of cinema patrons through their virtual reality head sets. Removing his goggles, Bailey blinked at the darkness and rubbed his eyes, digesting what he had just witnessed and framing it in his minds eye.“It never gets old, does it?” Karnack's voice pierced the black curtain of the theater.“I've only seen Avatar 10, being installment number 13, I guess they have their formula don't they? Giant blue el...

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“Whatever You Do Don't Write it Down” by Kevin Marlow

CW{Strong Language, Sarcasm}Dear Kevin,It's me Kevin, your actual future self. I remember the summer you are in well. Your air conditioning was not working because the electric company turned you off due to not paying. You were admitted to the hospital due to a bizarre host of episodes that culminated in a weekend in jail and a trip in front of a judge. It doesn't seem like it now, but everything is going to be alright. Being diagnosed with schizophrenia is not a death sentence. Which brings me to the i...

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Author bio

Spend hours reading here and you will discover there are many talented writers on Reedsy from all around the globe. This community is genuinely supportive of anyone, at any skill level, trying to hone their writing ability or even just wanting to share their stories. Giveaways will be sporadic. Until I have polished my manuscript to publishing standards, I will still offer my short story collections as weekend freebies. Find my Author Site at... https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BD626S6H/about “Do not take yearly results too seriously. Instead, focus on four or five-year averages.” - Warren Buffett If you like the characters and worlds of Terradorn and Aldor, check out these stories: Utopia Underground Penal Colony Paystubs Aldor's Wicked Children Bhang! Snake Eyes Dead to Dust After the Cleansing The Third Hand Justice in Time Greenhorn Graveyard Gift