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Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jun, 2020
Submitted to Contest #60
Noah wakes to the sound of the siren. No one goes to the Minero suburb anymore. But just in case some teenagers try to show-off their running skills after sniffing the last fumes of a paint can, it will at least give them a head-start. The relics of an old diamond mine is the last surviving evidence of a forgotten underground mining world. The last time it was active, was in 2085, ten years before the big explosion. Now it still spews angry gases from the holes prior civilizations used to dig. It is out of those holes hot lava now flows. The...
Submitted to Contest #59
Ayanda wakes to the buzzing at her left ear. She attempts to swat in that direction, and her hand hits a bed-fellow. Retrieving the empty bottle from between the sheets, she stretches and cautiously open both eyes. The angry sounds of the wind of the previous night made way for high-rising clouds. The sun peeking below, is burning the tips of her toes. The buzzing returns, and this time her aim is spot-on. She angrily tosses the stained pillow to the side and swing her legs from the bed. She reaches for her gown, and silently hopes she did ...
Submitted to Contest #58
Commander Veronica Wilson replaced the receiver. She returned to the table where her daughter was attempting the art of eating. She was still learning that the concept simply required the use of the mouth. The other facial functionaries have minimal involvement. Her need for an imminent chat made her turn towards Jasper. Sensing her need though, the ginger tom turned onto his side, stretched his legs and closed his eyes. Refocusing on her daughter, she sighed, as she observed the huge cereal bubble. The harbor buzzed with activity. It...
Submitted to Contest #57
Fred locked his office door. It was the first Friday in a very long time, that he was leaving the building alongside his colleagues. It was a long month, with tax deadlines and endless compliance reports. On top of that, he lost two senior administrators. The previous day was their official final day, but as with all resignations, the notice month was just a mere formality. Their presence did not guarantee one last month of productivity. He reversed out of the parking bay, and noticed the new guard at the exit. That’s what happen when you b...
Submitted to Contest #56
The wind was tucking at Meryl’s scarf. Pulling it tighter around her neck, she acknowledged the game of the wind, pushing her closer to her destination. She wanted to walk slower, but her legs kept the same pace. From her online searches she would recognize the rusty door anywhere. She sidestepped a cycling toddler, and her eye caught the headline from the newspaper stand. Another woman disappeared. The country was forcing everyone to live a different life. A life of fear, a life of confusion and a life of self-imposed isolation. Even her ac...
Submitted to Contest #55
From the outside, the entrance to the retirement home looked friendly and inviting. The sterile security gate blocked a picturesque driveway. The guard worked mechanically and remained aloof as she introduced herself. Her initial nerves returned as she parked her Datsun in the allotted space. Geriatric care or Pediatrics? She eagerly answered that question with her choice to take up a post at Remstone Care. The cold was tugging at her hair as she hurriedly ascended the stairs. It was 06.15 and the front entrance lights were still ...
Submitted to Contest #54
She has been sitting in the overgrown tree for about two hours. No movement was detected inside or outside the house. There was no sign of an alarm. There was a big electric gate, and a side gate which flapped along in the wind. That would be her entry point. From there she would decide what to do. She was certain that there would be something in the garden or the back yard which has trading value. The wind has picked up. It was time to make her move. She was contemplating waiting for the rain, but was uncertain about the amount of time she ...
Submitted to Contest #53
Sophie realizes that her shirt is getting wet. Hurrying to catch the bus, she swings the cloth bag over her shoulder. She can feel that her body heat and the popsicle are beginning a sticky dance. She made sure she bought all the items on the list first, and then chose the kiosk closest to the bus stop. But the bus is late. And there is a long queue. The 345NB on a Wednesday is normally empty, because those who needed to get home are home. No one is in a rush. Other times she chose to walk the seven kilometres from the market. There is cert...
Submitted to Contest #52
She knew she had to get out of the car. The wind was picking up, and she knew that the small car would not be able to handle the increasingly strong winds. She surveyed the building in front of her. The post office and bank were deserted. She spotted the red truck outside the pizzeria, and she felt relief. But then she sighed at the blocks where the back tires were meant to be. Something caught her eye. That window of the toy store was indeed flapping. From that angle it appeared big enough to crawl through. She noticed the direction of the...
Submitted to Contest #50
Fritz realizes that his legs are starting to feel wobbly. His heart is pounding in his chest. He is breathing heavily now. He knows he cannot rest now, but the faint pain in his chest is forcing him to take a few seconds, and wait. He moves towards the green recycling bin, and kneels beside it. His frame is small enough, he knows that he will be invisible against this color. He must remain still for a few more seconds. An unexpected movement next to the garage startles him. He decides it is time to move again. He grabs the top slab of t...
Submitted to Contest #49
The nights are quite chilly this time of the year. It signals the start of another long Winter. Soft misty drops soak into the visitors’ coats, as they ascend the stairs. The house, indeed to be admired even in this weather, looks majestic. More and more people arrive, each one equally surprised by the intensity of the chill. I have arrived with John. We have been dating for eight months, and I decided to share this moment with him. This moment which comes at an appointed time every year, and shared by a special group of people. We all und...
Submitted to Contest #48
Jessica is squeezed between two large females. This was the only seat available when she entered the carriage. Normally, she wouldn’t care much for a seat. However, this day is a day which requires the art of sitting. In less than an hour, she will be sitting down for her final examination. The two previous ones were done over a space of 12 months each. This one had to be rushed – a new job is on the horizon! Without this last one, a difference of close to half a million’s worth of earnings is on the line. She makes her way through the crowd...
Submitted to Contest #47
I lock the car and run the few steps to the front door. This apartment building is 75 years old, and in this weather all tenants just hope and pray that it remains standing for another night. It is always darker inside, as if the developers built the entire structure under a tent. As if it was meant to be seen only when completed. I took a left, purposefully avoiding the lift. My apartment is on the third floor and the adrenaline will keep me going. To my right are the letter boxes. My number is second from the door. I glance towa...
Submitted to Contest #46
I’m standing in the corner. When I’m still, no one seems to see me. Is that because I am no bother? Is it because I do not need anyone? As soon as I move, I become the destroyer and consumer of that which was and could no longer be in my path. There is a darkness around me, and a smell that brings both pleasant memories, as well as a sharp pain, getting stuck somewhere in my lungs. I can remember sitting with a real cigarette between my fingers. But I cannot recall what transpired after the burn caused a long shriek emanati...
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