Misty Phillips

“The Sweet First Step” by Misty Phillips

Submitted to Contest #135

Tick… tick… tick… tick… Malory flinched at each sound that clock made. Once it was a calming sound, a sound of structure and familiarness. Today, it counted down the seconds to her doom. She clenched at the arm of her favorite chair, her manicured nails digging deep into the leather skin as she heard the most dreaded sound possible. Knock, knock, knock. A whimper escaped her lips, and her legs betrayed her. She couldn’t stand… or wouldn’t. She was comfortable here. She didn’t want to go. Knock–knock–knock. It was faster now. They must h...

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“Chocolate and Oranges” by Misty Phillips

Submitted to Contest #133

“Twenty-six, twenty-seven, twenty-eight…” Inventory days. They were the absolute worst. “Thirty, thirty-one—” Ding-a-ling-a-ling. I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of that bell. Most of the island was still fasting, so customers were extremely rare. I spun around to the door. There was a teenage boy, panting like mad, his whole body pressed up against the door, and I couldn’t help but give him a look-over. The first thing that caught my eye was that brilliant orange hair framing his soft, freckled face with a bandana tied around...

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“Xin's Escape” by Misty Phillips

Submitted to Contest #131

Content Warning: References of sexual abuse, torture and death (non-explicit) Beaten, defiled, and betrayed, Xin stood hanging within the cold, damp brig. He swayed back and forth with the swell of the boat as the cuffs around his wrists cut painfully into his flesh. That pain was nothing after the horrors he faced this last week. His wounds were healing, but that wouldn’t last long. He broke into a cold sweat at the thought of those torture tools scraping his flesh, but that wasn’t the worst of it. A key sat on the table in front of h...

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“The Tangled Mirror (part one)” by Misty Phillips

The Diary of Chase Burke, age thirteen. Sunday, July 24th Dear Diary, My adventure began today. As always, whenever we went sailing, I was up at the bow, letting the ocean spray me and get me soaked. I wasn’t going to miss a feckin’ moment of this adventure below deck. The priests barely took me out on their adventures ever since Ma died. I don’t know why. I hated being cooped up in that stuffy old temple. I needed to explore. I needed the wind in my   I needed other people. According to Father Moumou (or as he is stuffily known a...

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“A Mountainous Problem” by Misty Phillips

“Cold, cold, cold! Why is it so bloody cold!” That was Mikey, though with how bundled up he was, I figured he looked more like a little marshmallow than a person. Poor guy was so tiny. He was not meant for this weather. “Oh, stop your whining,” sighed Bones, only slightly more bundled than usual, his armour still clanking loudly above everything else. He was really proud of that armour.  “Why are we doing this? There isn’t even a mark here!” said Mikey, his voice muted by the layers of scarves around him. “I told you it’d be fun. Giv...

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“Beware the Dragon (Part Two)” by Misty Phillips

Stormday. Some weeks it was better than others. Today was one of the bad ones. Gales whipped the small ship about the ocean. Mighty waves reached up and crashed upon the deck. Bones called out orders, that booming voice quite beneficial in times like this, and the men worked together flawlessly. It impressed me.  I lent a hand where I could, subtly letting them know this wasn’t my first Stormday either, but they certainly didn’t need me. The men held that boat, steering through the storm right until the pulse came through, pushing back...

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“Yuletide Dread” by Misty Phillips

The flames licked up into the air as that Yule log burned for the fifth day in a row. I stood basking in its warmth as the cold froze my backside. Yule was always my favorite time of year. The time of year my family was almost always together and happy. Even She would put aside her grumblings about the cold months and enjoy this time with me.  That sadness crept over me again. This was my first Yule without Her.  A stray snowball came flying at my head. Not expecting an attack and being caught up in my world, it hit me hard on th...

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“Beware the Dragon (Part One)” by Misty Phillips

“What!?” That man was sure was making a ruckus. Why did he have to be so loud? “What do you mean the job is already done? The lord hired us personally. We’re the best in the business. Who the hell finished the job? Was it that stupid firefly gang?” The young woman behind the counter shook her head, then pointed a shaking finger at me. The loud man followed her finger, sneered at the sight of me, then turned back at her. “Yeah, very funny sweetheart. Like one guy took out a whole bandit camp. Come on.” “Really,” she replied, barely loud en...

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“Raven” by Misty Phillips

Submitted to Contest #124

“Xin? ….. Xin?” Her voice was faint. A whisper. How far away was she? “Lore?” I tried to speak softly, but it came out in screaming anger. She laughed. It was that soft, loving laugh at first, and she was standing in front of me. Just her with that wonderful olive skin, her sweet scent surrounding me. I wanted to reach out, to touch her again, but the closer I got, the further away she was. Then came that cackling, mocking laugh. “You were just a mark.” It echoed through my mind. *** I gasped myself awake, nearly gagging on the taste...

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