Kevin Marlow

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2021

Stories (25)

25 Stories

2086 karma pts

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“I am The Crow” by Kevin Marlow

{The names of the guilty have been changed to protect them from the innocent.}Brandon Lee was dead. An accident they said. Having been around guns since I was old enough to point my finger and say POW! I wasn't sure I believed it. A loaded gun is that, loaded. A live round is an ominous thing to hold. It vibrates with the confined kinetic energy it contains. The graceful flow of the trigger sear releasing the firing pin feels like poetry until the powder ignites. BANG! One has to train themselves not to flinch and pull o...

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“The Curious Killing of Lucien Morgoth” by Kevin Marlow

{CW : Abuse, Gore}For a late spring day the wind was calm and being a weekday, traffic would not be a problem. The tripod jerked and creaked as I spread its legs and squinted an eye across the shining camera mounting bolt to the target.The gothic architecture of Dowton Theater erupted with a purple orange glow as the setting sun silhouetted the building against the empty skyline. Gentrification had leveled the nearest structures leaving it protruding from the concrete like a pyramid in the desert. Volunteers turne...

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“Degorath and the Other” by Kevin Marlow

CW : {Violence, Language}“What happened to it? The other sexed being that dwells with us?” Brilliant blue tresses were hanging like curtains over fractured purple irises and young almond skin.“Very thoughtful choice of words. It was arrested and is being detained for a hearing.” An older creature, obviously her senior, reached out to brush back the ocean of curls hiding the little one's eyes.“Is it because Malrez is a warlock?”“Shhhh! Dare not speak such heresy!” Her ...

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“My Masquerading Mercantilism” by Kevin Marlow

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!A grating alarm signals it is wakey time. Ugh. Mornings stab my mind like a shovel in gravel. Noisy, achy, I stumble to the bathroom for my first break. The sun is trying to find its way into my house from a window and stick me in the eye. “Where's my water?” I realize I'm talking to the refrigerator. A jenga puzzle of recyclables decorates the counter. My water bottle is hiding among its bitter enemies, coke and tea. Traitor.Agua makes the dropsy little pills go down, a reminder of pic...

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“Justice in Time” by Kevin Marlow

“Something is on the radar. Skip, come look at this.” Dirk toggled from the radar to the thermal imaging camera. The dreadnaught was tearing through the burnt and dusty sky five hundred feet above the scorched earth of the wasteland.“It looks like a buggy on fire. Run a scan and try to identify what type of vehicle.” The fire was a brilliant white blur on the com screen.“Negative, I think the CPU is already toast.” The conflagration had burned up any evidence of the buggy's origins.“Ke...

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“Greenhorn Graveyard Gift” by Kevin Marlow

{CW:Strong Language}“You know why they call it the graveyard shift?” I had activated my device to message her. Third shift could be so boring.“Humor me.” Jessie had yet to prep for bed. I was hoping for a video chat while she changed into her pajamas.“After you have been at it awhile you wish you were dead.” I said with a chuckle. She knew I was being sarcastic. This was the easiest job I ever had. 'Working midnight shift' had been much better than the repetitive stress of the factory ...

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“Utopia Underground” by Kevin Marlow

The shaft is unforgiving. Grinding into the night, the machine sounds slice into the skull. Hardened steel drill bits on the head pulverizing the bedrock vibrate the platform. The sounds are shock waves battering your bones. Burnt rock dust smells like the devil's pitchfork. Powdered bits of stone clog the mask, making breathing difficult. When asked about work the reply is always, 'I'm not in hell yet but I'm trying to get there as fast as I can.'Vertical drilling has many unique challenges. Removing the rock dust produ...

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“Dead to Dust” by Kevin Marlow

The ethereal shapes swirling in the waves of dust in the air were mesmerizing. Shapes like tongues of fire and billowing clouds, painted the burnt orange sky a hazy gray. I had replaced my tinted ultraviolet goggles with a clear lens model and the strange world of Terradorn took on a new dimension.The mask beeped. I put it on after a warning erupted from the device. It was the second warning, indicating the ninety second window one had to seek shelter from the dust storm.There were shelter-in-place pods...

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“The Third Hand” by Kevin Marlow

“Time to wake up my pretties.” A man's voice boomed out over a room filled with rows and rows of cots. Slowly the bodies occupying those beds started stirring. The man who spoke was dressed in a white lab coat, hair neatly trimmed short, streaked with gray. A chrome pair of bifocals was perched above a clean shaven face. As the people were waking up, the man began his instructions.“There is a drug port taped to your arm. Don't touch or try to remove it. You will need it for your final inoculation before you get released. Next to yo...

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“After the Cleansing” by Kevin Marlow

The dreadnaught thundering overhead drowned out her voice.“What did you say?” I leaned in close, raising my voice.“It's nothing. Maybe we can talk again tomorrow after you leave manufacturing.” Jessie grazed her hand through my hair as she pulled away, leaning into the buffeting wind as she turned and walked away.I tossed up the hood on my gamma coat and headed back to my quarters. The dry wind was tearing at me. It was ridiculously hot for the season. Sweat crawled down my nose and cheeks, salting my cracked lips. Di...

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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