Michael Martin

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jun, 2021

Stories (17)

17 Stories

827 karma pts

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“The Locked Door” by Michael Martin

He gripped the doorknob, the cold brass sending a chill through his small hand. He turned his wrist, not surprised to hear the click that always accompanied the knob’s premature halt. Well, the door always clicked now. It didn't before... but he could hardly remember a time when the knob was able to rotate past this point.Was there ever a time when this door opened? The doorknob stopped at exactly the same spot when he rotated it left and when he rotated it to the right. He didn’t react; he no ...

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“In His Hands” by Michael Martin

Everything was ready for the ritual… everything except me. He would soon fix that. The sensation of his hand sliding to the base of my neck wakes me from a deep slumber. He cradles my head, his fingers wrapping around the back of my neck as he’s done many times before. A gentle squeeze later, he has me exactly where he wants me. How I’ve longed for his embrace. His hands are home, they’re safety incarnate – like reinforced walls, impenetrable. I’m where I belong. It’s time again, isn’...

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“The Chase” by Michael Martin

The raindrops that collected between the arcing swipes of Beth’s windshield wipers blurred the lights on the four-lane highway; red lights from brakes and the traffic signal streaked across the dark glass. Her breaths were shallow and quick; her eyes danced back and forth between the car braking in front of her and the rearview mirror. The large Ram pickup was so close that its headlights only showed as an intense glow at the bottom of her rear window. She could even make out the silhouette of its driver.James. Her husband. ...

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“Promoted” by Michael Martin

Why was Rick calling again? It had only been 30 minutes since Ed’s last check-in.Work could wait; Ed swiped Ignore on the cracked screen of his old phone. “Alright Danny, let’s…” Where was his son? Ed whipped his head around, looking from one end of the massive roadside truck stop to the other. “Honey, where’s Danny?”“He was right h-” His wife, Ivana, paused as she turned to face the candy aisle that Danny ran down just moments before. “Uh, Danny? Danny?!”

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“Parasite” by Michael Martin

He found himself in front of the box again. Brian didn’t recall lowering the stairs to the attic. He hadn’t noticed his feet carrying him down the path his footsteps had created in the dust and insulation-covered planks. Navigating the clothes, decorations, and knickknacks - strewn about the attic floor during his impassioned rush to find the box in the moments after she’d walked out the door – didn’t register to him anymore. Yet, here he was again. Staring at the half-empty box that contained one struggling he...

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“Reunited” by Michael Martin

“It’s for you, sir. They found Katie.”Special Agent John Lanton snatched the phone from the deputy’s hands. “Is she there? Is she at the barn?”A hesitant voice came through the line. “Yes, yes sir. She’s here, but she’s refusing to cooperate. She said she’ll only come out when her Daddy gets here.”A smile spread across John’s face without him realizing it. They’d found her. After all this time, they’re truly found her. Not only that, but she refused to see anyone but him.&n...

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“Can't Miss It” by Michael Martin

“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!”The voice that came through his phone's speakers sounded so different than Emily’s did just minutes ago when she'd asked to watch Minecraft videos. How had she changed so much in just a few short years? Emily was only 3 then, her hair was shoulder length. Sharon had put it up in pigtails that morning. They bounced along with Emily as she implored him to wake up.He was glued to the small screen, replaying the video from four Father’s Days ago. How had he forgotten about that yellow fl...

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“Chipilly Ridge, 1918” by Michael Martin

Note: this is based on the true events of August 9th, 1919, in Chipilly, France.*****“Medic! Medic! LT’s down, get your ass over here!”Despite the constant drumroll of machine gun rounds zipping over our heads, I heard the call loud and clear. I looked over to the section of the hastily dug trench where Lieutenant Johnson was barking out orders from just moments before. The only things visible were the fresh speckles of blood and brains on the greyish brown dirt that formed the back wall of his ...

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“If Loving You is Wrong” by Michael Martin

“Are you coming tonight?”Her alluring voice played through the phone, a siren call of smooth, sweet promises laced with unspoken dangers. A drug, one that got my heart high and my brain numb. My mind, at least its more moral aspects, screamed at me to stop before things turned physical.I’d stopped listening to that part of my psyche weeks ago.“I’m thinking about it. She knows what time to expect me, but I can tell her I hit traffic.”My chest felt like a black hole, an intense weight resting on it...

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“Ketchup and Mustard Initials” by Michael Martin

I took each step slowly as if the four steps to the pulpit were a barrier between the past I’d always known and a future that I wasn't ready to face. My feet seemed afraid to cross that threshold, each step growing increasingly steeper to climb if in no other place than my heart. They’re all waiting on you, I thought. Get a move on. I’d rehearsed time and time again and thought I was ready. There seemed a disconnect between my physical self and my mind, though, a chasm between the image ...

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“Shots” by Michael Martin

Trigger warning: alcohol addiction The leather of the basketball made a satisfying swish as it sailed perfectly through the hoop, making no contact with the metal rim. Marcus whipped both hands towards Coach Martin, ready to take the next free throw. “How many is that, Coach?” “Number 100. That was your last shot.” Finally! Hitting 100 free throws before leaving the gym always hit Marcus harder than anyone else. The center of his semi-profession...

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“Cooking for Gordon” by Michael Martin

Kyle stared at the two prep cooks, wide-eyed and speechless. “Tonight? Gordon Ramsay is coming tonight? And you're just now telling me?”“Your uncle told us not to,” Joey said. “Said you would freak out if you knew.”“Of course I would freak out! It’s Gordon friggin’ Ramsay! And he’s gonna expect the food to be terrible..." The restaurants on Kitchen Nightmares are supposed to be terrible. The food is expected to be disgusting. Why did Uncle John invite the show when the restaurant...

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“Dinner with the Dead” by Michael Martin

The grey door in front of Lester was far too unassuming for what existed on the other side. An assistant - Jamie, according to his nametag - played tour guide for the teen, rambling in his most excited voice about the wonders of cognitive storage technology. None of it registered; Lester could only stare at the door. What would it be like meeting an actual dead person? What would this Curtis guy be like?Jamie finished reading the factoids off his notecards then opened the door. He ushered Lester inside a small room...

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“Whisked Away” by Michael Martin

The bumpy section of highway pulled Michael from his sleep, the last of the four boys to wake up in the backseat of the tiny Volkswagon Golf. Lifting his head from his windowsill pillow, he saw the sun peeking just above the pine trees off the side of Interstate 77.Michael didn’t remember falling asleep in the car. “Where are we going?” “Just taking a trip to see Grandma and Grandpa.” That was the only explanation he would get from his parents. He didn’t press.He whispered to his older ...

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“Bloodthirsty” by Michael Martin

The last of the scattered beams from First Sunset would bring about Second Sunrise soon enough. Those rays turn the rocky terrain, typically grey and bleak, to a rather ominous shade of crimson. It's fitting, as I'm out for blood. And I plan to get it from this thing laying on the ground, fresh hematoma on its head and a gash in its right front leg. I didn't cause the gash, it had that before I caught up to it. The lump was all me though.Are the guttural sounds an attempt to plead for its life? I have no idea. We d...

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Author bio

Single father to an incredible 10-year old daughter. Army veteran who's parachuted out of airplanes at least 75 times. Trained in military intelligence, and worked for a variety of government agencies. Certified project manager and instructor. I'm putting the finishing touches on my degree in data science by taking full-time classes each semester (one more to go!). Oh, and I'm also a writer in my free time (what little I have).