Lani Lane

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2020

Stories (50)

50 Stories

3673 karma pts

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“The Bachelor: Season 492” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #66

“Ladies, it’s time,” said Chris Harrison, his voice satin (much like his designer suit). The twenty-five women in the room nodded.“It was nice meeting you,” Christie said to Rebecca, wrapping her arms around her new friend.Across the room, Kristine and Hannah similarly embraced.“I’ll let your parents know,” Maddie whispered to Charlotte, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. “If, you know, it happens.”“I’ll do the same, of course,” said Charlotte.After much hugging and squeezing of hands, the twenty-five women followed the producers into t...

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“Graveyard Shift” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #65

On October 13th, 2020, candles flickered in windows around the world as millions mourned the death of actor Jim MacDonald, famous for his roles in “I Can’t Think of a Good Movie Title” and “Insert Clever Idea Here.” He passed away in the hospital after losing a dreadful fight with pancreatic cancer. Martha MacDonald, Jim’s wife, fainted when she heard the news in the lobby of the hospital. She was rushed to another room, where the doctors found a weakened heart.  “Only a few days,” they whispered. On October 18th, the MacDonald ch...

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“The Move to Rouge Nest” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #65

The Mondragons moved into Rouge Nest a little past midnight.Vladimir Mondragon drove the U-Haul. He wore a long coat and round glasses perched atop his sharp nose. His wife Ambrosia sat in the passenger seat and their daughter Drusilla chattered away between them.“This is it!” said Vladimir when he turned into the neighborhood. Dark houses lined the streets and a few figures ran on the sidewalk. One of them waved at the Mondragons as they drove past.Under the light of the full moon, the neighborhood came alive.Vladimir drove around a bi...

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“Sisters” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #65

Amethyst almost jingled as she walked down the street. She was adorned in mounds of gemstone jewelry that clanged with every step: necklaces of quartz as clear as the night sky, aventurine bracelets carrying hundreds of charms, huge rings of tiger eye wrapped around every finger. It was a wonder she managed not to fall over with all the extra weight. She hurried past giggling children and their parents, ignoring their curious glances, and stepped into the forest at the end of the neighborhood. The trees stood so close together she could...

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“The Mysterious Costume” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #65

“Are you sure you want to go?” I ask for the millionth time.Oliver nods as he adjusts the satchel hanging over his shoulder. I smile, tucking my worry away into a small corner of my heart. It’ll grow there, but at least it’ll be quiet. Jack would roll his eyes at my nonsense.Something catches in my throat and I swallow hard, pushing the memories down.Oliver grabs my hand and pulls me through the door. I laugh, a sound so rare in the household I stop halfway through. I shake my head and take a deep breath. This night needs to be perfect. It’s...

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“True Calling” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #64

The car wove through the green countryside until it came to a large mansion nestled between two tumuli. The mansion almost sparkled in its whiteness, a spot of brightness against the dreary autumn sky.The door to the car opened before it came to a complete stop and a short girl with flowing red hair stumbled out. She hurried forward until she came upon a batch of wilting shamrock, in which she promptly vomited.“Girl!” barked a voice from the mansion’s doorway.The girl straightened, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, and wobbled towa...

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“Anything” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #64

The sounds of clanking filled the room when they dragged in the prisoner.Almost like bells, Anahera thought. What was that saying?“Every time a bell rings, an angel grows its wings,” she muttered. She leaned forward in the front row and the wooden bench creaked, a whisper against the grumbling chains.“What?” asked her sister, Charmeine, sitting beside her with her arms folded.Anahera shook her head. “Nothing.”Charmeine reached over and gripped Anahera’s hand.Two guards clutched the prisoner’s arms as they walked him down the courtroom. They ...

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“The Enchanter's Orchard” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #63

Ryder pulled his cloak tighter over his shoulders. He crunched through the frosted grass and stared straight ahead, avoiding the dark forest around him.“Are we there yet?” his sister whispered, hurrying along beside him.“Hush, Skye. Not yet.”Their breath came out in small white puffs in the chilly night. A biting wind whistled through the trees, and Ryder listened to Skye’s teeth chatter.After another ten minutes of walking, they came upon a small sign sticking out of the ground, in front of a particularly thick patch of trees. “The Enc...

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“Sparrow's Flight” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #63

Sparrow wept as she soared away from Cottonwood. The image of his drooping branches seared into her mind, and she fought a sob rising in her chest. A few of his leaves had fluttered to the ground, staining the dusting of snow in spots of yellow and orange.The honking from the street dulled as she flew higher and higher among the skyscrapers, but she didn’t notice. She thought about Cottonwood, rooted to his small patch of grass among the buildings, a flash of light in the dark, dull gray that seemed to settle over the city even in the summer...

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“Changing Seasons” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire.Hues of yellows, from the soft sunlight that grazed the wheat fields to the blazing petals of the daffodils in the garden.Oranges that matched the thriving pumpkins growing next to the house; the sunrises painted behind the mountains; the flames I stoked in the fireplace every night of the past week.And reds, my favorite. Red like the apples I carve for my pies. Red like hummingbirds that stick their beaks in the sugary water of feeders hanging from trees.Red like Lewis’s favorite flanne...

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“Brewing” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #63

Esmerelda parked her broom and hopped off, running her fingers through her dark, windswept hair. Pointing her warted chin, she marched over to the front of the coffee shop where Hettie stood waiting.“Morning, Es,” said Hettie, smiling. She was bald, with skin as green as the lily pads down by the pond. She wore a black cloak with a name tag pinned over her heart. “Heard good things about this one.”“Hmph,” huffed Esmerelda. She wanted to go to the cafe on Wycamore Road, but Hettie insisted they give the new shop a chance.Hettie wagged her fin...

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“Momma” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #62

She’s perfect, really. The curls that cascade around her shoulders, dark as chocolate. Those wide eyes that follow my every movement. That giggle that seems to fill the room with sunlight and strawberries and every other good thing the world has to offer.“Momma,” she says, “can we go play?”“Sure, honey.” Honey. I love that word. She’s all the sugary goodness of honey, and more. Lydia hops down from the breakfast table and runs to the door, Barkley skidding on the hardwood floor behind her. She laughs and wraps her arms around Barkley’s ...

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“The Boys” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #62

The Boys got him again. Jackson Creed, flanked by Kurt Marshall and George Paulson, the new kid with pimples, cornered Timothy into the stall and pushed his head into the toilet. The water wasn’t so bad. Timothy had practiced holding his breath at home, during bathtime. Sure, he flailed his legs and screamed into the water so bubbles erupted around his head, but he just knew he needed to make a show.But his neck—now that hurt. Jackson seemed to shove his entire weight against Timothy’s neck, and one minute into the torture, Timothy thou...

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“The Chieftess” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #62

Far in the mountains of Adilade, deep within the High Cave, lay a snow leopard. Faded spots dotted her back, and she sported a large scar across her left ear.Tucked under her belly wriggled a tiny cub--the smallest cub the snow leopard had ever seen.“I’m hungry, Nan,” squeaked the cub.“Hush. The hunter’s on his way.”“I want food now.”“Hush! Don’t make me say it again, Shortpaw.”Shortpaw squirmed underneath her grandmother, who curled her body tighter around the cub.Heavy thumps echoed around the cave and another snow leopard bounded up to Na...

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“The Shoebox” by Lani Lane

Submitted to Contest #62

I stare at the chaos in front of me and clutch the shoebox tighter in my arms.I’ll admit—I’ve pushed “cleanliness of my bedroom” to the back of my mind lately, right next to “homework” and “college applications.”Heavy footsteps thump across the hallway and Dawn peeks her head into the room. “What’re you doing?” she asks, rubbing her bulging belly. She’s visiting for the weekend because she “misses us.” Yeah, right. Like Mom and Dad didn’t tell her to hop on the next plane as soon as she could. I know why she’s here.I’m grateful, really. But ...

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Author bio

Was here for a while, then left for a while. Back again...