Lina Oz

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Sep, 2020

Stories (41)

41 Stories

3314 karma pts

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“An Arm and a Leg” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #60

They stare at me.It’s unsettling, their gazes. I walk slowly through the small dilapidated town, my eyes focused on the dirt road, glancing up occasionally to see if their eyes remain transfixed on my image.They still are. All of them.Even more unsettling are their bodies.Every single villager retains only three limbs. Two arms and a leg or one arm and two legs. Something missing from every one of them.When I first arrived here, to this strange place––when my car broke down after hours upon hours of driving aimlessly––I saw a woman with one ...

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“Awaken.” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #59

Sleep.Alarm.The man switches it off.Eat.Work.Eat.Sleep.Alarm.The man switches it off.Eat.Work.Eat.Sleep.Alarm. The man sighs as he switches it off.Eat. A bowl of soggy flakes. Milk that’s almost expired.Work. A programmer. The job designed to “keep humanity running,” as the city deems it. He calls it the job designed to “keep humanity on loop.”Eat. This time, rice. Vegetables. Slightly wilted. Packaged chicken. Bland.Sleep. Eight hours exactly. He sleeps in bed number 472 on floor 7 in building 11.Alarm. The man switches it off. As does ever...

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“The Dark Lady” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #59

“The Dark Lady is coming,” Mother Agnes whispers hoarsely, her large glass eye swiveling in its socket. “The Dark Lady is coming.”I inhale sharply.The Dark Lady is coming.“I must warn the others,” I say. “Rest well, Mother Agnes.” I gather my skirt from the dusty wooden floorboards, kicking up dirt and cobwebs as I hurry to leave the elder woman. Mother Agnes remains still in her cot, her wildly long hair splayed around her like the rays of a sun. But her eye––the one that is real––carries the dim burden of truth.I swing the door of the smal...

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“Forward” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #59

“This was wrong, David. Wrong.”“Give it a chance, Edith. Come. Let us discover this world.”Edith stares about wearily, looking at the strange world before her.David had parked the space-time teleportation vehicle––his “travel whatchamacallit,” as Edith always liked to mutter when he was not around to hear it––in the dark alleyway between two large brick buildings. She had fallen out of the vehicle rather nauseous, groaning, holding her throbbing head in her hands. David, of course, was giddy, excited; he leapt from his seat and into the humi...

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“Alone Together” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #60

I am sad.There is no denying it. The sadness still envelops me, all these many years later.It has been a long time since I have been held in the arms of my Compatriot. She was kind, and loving, and gentle. She used her long-fingered hands to ease my fears and provide a safe haven of comfort.But she is long gone now, along with all the other Bipedals. They are all gone.So, I have walked this earth alone, without my Compatriot by my side. I still remember being pressed against her body as she fell ill, her heart racing. It had happened so quic...

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“#128” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #60

“Diary of a Survivor” Location: Former United States of America (abbr., U.S.A.) Archives: September 2432 The following is a transcription of a diary entry from survivor #128. It is one of few archival materials recovered from the Great End era. Discovered by Dr. Owen Matherson, Archaeologist [Specialty: Documentation of the Great End], University of the United Hemispheres. CAUTION: PRIMARY SOURCE. AUTHORIZED USE ONLY. HANDLE WITH EXTREME CARE. Dear Nobody, Let me tell you: post-apocalyptic Earth sucks. I mean, I knew it wasn’t going to...

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“The Nice Voices” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #59

There are many people here. Many young people. They move about quickly, and loudly––too loudly.But perhaps these voices are the friendly ones. The nice voices.There is a line on the left side of the large room. It weaves about like a snake, circling around tables, moving, fluid. Comprised of many young people. The other young people are sitting at round tables scattered throughout the large room.There seems to be no pattern. No reason, no rhyme. I tap my finger against my left thigh, three times. My breath slows.The line is moving––forward, ...

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“Base 14” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #58

“Oy! Ollie! Get back here!”Ollie winces upon hearing his name, followed by a deep sigh. That tone is never a good one.He slowly turns around and scampers back to General Chi, who towers over him, scowling. Ollie shudders.“And where do you think you’re going?”“I was just—”“Is that how you address your General?”Ollie swallows. “Sir, I was just hungry. I was going back to Base 14––”“Back to Base 14? What in the… What are your orders regarding the current situation?”“Sorry, sir!” Ollie straightens, cheeks reddening. “I—er, yes. The orders. They’...

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“Stages” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #58

I didn’t see the moth at first. It is small. It matches the color of our roof shingles above me: dark and dreary and gray. I have never liked moths. I don't despise them, to be fair; they’re just, simply, irritating. Flapping and buzzing around, occasionally diving toward one’s head, inducing screams and gasps of horror. They’re a nuisance to the world. And I have never enjoyed their presence. So, I certainly do not appreciate this particular moth as I sit near the porch fire, warming my hands inches from the blue flames. I jerk backward...

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“Curiosity Killed the Cat” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #58

I did not expect to end up here.Mr. Wilson was––rather, is––my charge. From birth, I was assigned to his case. Mr. Wilson is my past, my present, my future––he is my everything. I had only meant to follow him, to quench my curious thirst.But I did not expect to end up here.What had happened? How did I end up in this place, this horrible, treacherous place, soon to perished, soon to be gone from the only world I have ever known?I had followed Mr. Wilson and his guardian––the tall woman with the sweet-smelling aroma, whose hand wrapped around ...

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“Chopping Down the Aspen” by Lina Oz

Submitted to Contest #57

There it is. Again.It’s happened three times today already.I narrow my eyes, waiting to catch it once more. I scan the street. The bench is cold beneath my legs, but sweat drips down my forehead all the same, stinging my eyes. I don’t want to miss it, don’t want to confirm that I am, in fact, certifiably insane. Someone, someone out there just needs to— There.This time, it’s an older woman with short, stubbly gray hair and thin glasses resting on a flat nose. She glances in my direction and nods. She looks away, back to the path before her. ...

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Author bio

Shortlisted: Contest #65 - "Freed"

Shortlisted 1 story ⭐️

Contest #65
Freed – read story