Natalie Dafoe

“Tropical Ki” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #83

The men arrive on a large boat, all clumped into a crowd on the surface, hats obscuring sunburned faces and overgrown beards. Binoculars held up against squinting eyes, sight blurred by sweat and the jostling of the sea, they cannot see the petite girl on the horizon.She waits for them on Elina Beach, the fine sand slipping between her toes and clinging to her ankles. The sun is unforgiving, and a patch of green foliage from the palm trees above basks her in a cooling shade. This is not the first time she has dealt with the visitors. Ma Maki...

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“Nothing to Worry About” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #82

She laid on the couch, half-asleep, the television's constant sputtering of noise drifting in and out of her consciousness. Staying up much too late poring over her notes the night before, her mind felt devoid of critical thought and her body sagged into the couch. When she finally pushed herself awake, her binders fell off her lap and onto the carpeted floor.  In the moment of her body and mind slowly starting to awaken, a pang in her gut told her something was wrong. She could not yet place what it was or where it came from, but som...

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“Sweeping up the Past” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #77

The first thing you notice is the sun's rays, peeking through the dusty white shutters. They don’t close all the way, and by the time the light rises into the morning, thick bars of brightness shine onto your ceiling. Your eyelids fail to block out the bright colours of the room, and when you’ve tossed and turned for half an hour in bed, you begrudgingly get up.It’s only eight-thirty-one, your clock chimes in. You think with how bright it is it must be closer to ten. The thought of getting up early on a Sunday morning makes your body sag wit...

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“Captive” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #72

Subject 10000001284//:Gender: FemaleAge: 16Full Name: Kiara Juna Bond Preferred Name: KiaraFamily: Father, Chase Bond. Mother, Vivian Bond.[ALERT indicated person(s) identified as missing]Location: SYSTEM FAILUREJason aggressively clicked the keyboard mouse, as if reloading the page would unveil more information. The three dots would bob for thirty seconds before the system decided the impossible: It didn’t have any information on Kiara Bond.Her father’s rebellion was predicted by the system - his headpiece detected anger when Chase was...

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“The Phantom Doctor” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #67

She nods her head reassuringly as I tell her, her eyes bulging and her ceramic-white teeth clenching. When I finish, she purses her deep red lipstick heavy lips and sighs.“I know,” I say, my hands trembling. “It sounds like I’m crazy. But you have to believe me - I saw it. With my own two eyes!” My voice takes on a high-pitched tone, and she set her hand soothingly on my knee. A singular silver ring lay on her finger, and it rubs against my leg. Something about her feels vaguely familiar, but I can't remember ever meeting her. I’m ...

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“Failed Mission” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #66

I didn’t realize there were still places like this left. Carefully carved stone made up the walls of the room, shapes curving into spirals etched in their sides. The shapes reminded me of ancient buildings, and I could imagine an architect pouring over every detail in the individual panels. I didn’t know how old the building was, but even in the modern world, it was a grand display of wealth. Mixed in with copper - or were they gold? - statues of dragons, acting as pillars, and holding up the majestic archways. Their paws held above the...

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“Obedient to Impulsive” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #65

My hands were turning white, I thought, pausing to look at them. Did Ruby curse me as she threatened? Was I gripping my spellbook too tight? Or was it simply the full moon casting a colourful illusion overtop of my skin. Sending my already-pale skin into an icy blue, highlighting how I wasn’t truly human.“Admiring your hand, are you Evanora?” I jumped at Nyx’s voice, shattering the silence in my room. “I told you to call me Nova,” I spoke through gritted teeth, not bothering to turn around. Her heavy leather shoes clunk on my wood floor...

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“No Other Way” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #64

The smoke is rancid, thick fumes billowing out of the house’s windows and curling into heavy tendrils clawing their way out into the air. Autumn makes the air crisp and fresh, leaves crunching below sneakers not-quite warm enough for your toes. Despite the extreme heat emanating off of the house, goosebumps run up my arms, hugging me in it’s cold embrace. I can’t tear my eyes from the window, still sealed shut and revealing nothing more than smoke and burning white blinds. From the old house freshly painted a baby-blue, now blackened by fl...

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“The Lesson of Impermenance” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #63

By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire. The grass hissed and gave way to smoke underneath the flicker of a flame danced across them, setting them alight with but a little bit of coaxing. Most of the grass underneath was no longer the vibrant, lush green associated with summer. Instead, it had faded to a dark green mixed in with dead grass and orange-brown leaves. Now, over a quarter of  the lawn was blackened. I flicked up my gaze to two boys, mischievous grins plastered on their faces. One was tiny, obviously younger,...

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“The Apple of The Future” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #62

His eyes are ocean-blue, deep, mysterious, and focused tightly on me. Shaggy brown hair is pulled away from his face, tangled in the back like he cared not for how it appeared. I don’t know who he is. I don’t know where I am.“Do you see it?” I pulled away, his breath stinking heavily of peppermint failing to cover up the smell of smoke. His fists clenched with such an intensity, I felt small and insignificant and unworthy of his attention. I found my mouth to speak, my throat so dry I couldn’t remember the last time I spoke. In fact, if...

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“Taken Memories” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #62

They said I would be disoriented. That the present and past would be lumped together and pureed into a mixture of confusion and deliria. At least I think. I can’t quite remember anything clearly anymore. “Darling Breanna dear.” People in ironed white coats wave their hands in front of me, vying for my attention. I am not stupid. I can see, I just don’t want to. They can stay in the blur that was my peripheral, the white wall was the only constant in the blend of reality. 1,2,3,4. They ask me to count. It is not algebra I struggle with. N...

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“Nestled Away” by Natalie Dafoe

Eyes brown as the nearby lake, his gaze wandered down the streets of downtown, lingering only a few seconds on each shop. He walked with a stride in his step, dancing between the lines of confident and overzealous. Neatly combed back hair and blindingly white clothing set him apart from everyone else, caught stares and unwanted attention. Elixa’s eyes were on him from the comfort of her seat at Flino’s, warming her hands on the black coffee. He stuck out like a sore thumb from the rest of them, any passerby could see that clearly. The olde...

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“The Path of Destruction” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #57

Iva Kline knew she wasn’t supposed to use her father’s time machine, but like most teenage girls, she went against his will. She would pay for it later, she knew, as she fiddled with the controls of the aluminum box. But the lure of adventure just around the corner was irresistible, and so she decided to go.The metal was cold against her delicate fingers, and she couldn’t help but allow her lips to curve into a mysterious grin. Her father doubted her academic abilities, never believed she would be capable of working the machine. Of course, t...

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“Dark Karma” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #55

Adira stormed into the barn, her eyes twinkling with a fierceness one could only get from a good reputation and a thirst for violence. Blood dripped from the blades that dangled by her belt, red as the immaculate lipstick highlighting her cupid’s bow. Her leather jacket shined in the moonlight streaming through cracks in the barn, the initials AP scratched into the shoulder. Scanning the crowd, the silence was heavy except for the sound of light breathing. Adira met each of their eyes, daring them to challenge her skill. Her calloused fing...

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“Unwelcome Surprise” by Natalie Dafoe

Submitted to Contest #52

Sweat stuck to Aria’s brows, collecting into thick droplets that cascaded down her forehead. The August heat was not unfamiliar to the residents of La Princepaul, the noise of ceaselessly running air conditioners was perpetually irritating. Though, in the poor district Aria found herself plodding through, the sound of valuable chill air being created was absent.Wiping her hand across her forehead, Aria quickened her pace. The relief from the heat was incentive enough for her to rush home, nevermind the fact that she was in the highest crime ...

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