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Patrick Huber

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Oct, 2024

Stories (13)

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17 Followers

10 Following

13 Stories

258 karma pts

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The Railroad Apartment

Submitted to Contest #295

The grinding sound of metal on metal as a key is inserted into a lock. Pins are pushed into alignment within a cylinder. The key turns, and a rotating cylinder retracts the bolt. The door releases from the jam.First through the door is Abner, business manager for the building owned by his brother. He is in his 50s, unkempt, in a body thats too big or a suit thats too small.Whitney - early 30s, black curly hair, glasses dresses stylish but on a budget - appears from behind Abner, standing just beyond the door threshold.“Okay, it’s a railroa...

4 likes

Peril in the Park: A Dad & Ollie Adventure

Submitted to Contest #291

Dad and Ollie walk hand-in-hand through the park. It’s late winter, young buds on the trees, and snow is finished for the year. It’s the first day in weeks with sun and a comfortable temperature. For most it’s a reprieve from a season of being shut in. Others, it’s routine. “Why do we always come to the park on the weekends?” asks Ollie.“Well I only get time with you on the weekends, and you like the park, the playground is great. The sun is out. You love meeting new friends.” Dad responds.“And it’s free.” Ollie answ...

7 likes

What the Cat Dragged In…

Submitted to Contest #290

WARNING! CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING: Sexual violence, sexual abuse, physical abuse, gore, cannibalism, bondage, torture. “What have you dragged in on this dreary night dear Winifred?” Says the elegantly dressed man dripping with demented fascination. He holds a drink in his hand. Winnie, tall blond with radiant skin performing spectacularly to conceal her age, goes over to this man, and they embrace and affectionately kiss. They detach but stand arm-in-arm. “This is Angie, she was on the train with me that got stuck in the storm.&nbs...

4 likes

Dream Traveler (or Just a Cup Dear Boy)

Submitted to Contest #287

George wakes up next to a tree. The air is warm and the sun is bright. Not the cold winter night he left. He’s still wearing the coat for such a night. He stands and looks around. He is in a suburban area, medium coverage of trees. It’s summer or at least late spring. Could be June, my birthday’s in June, thought George. A car passes on the street, an old fossil fuel model George remarks.My God it worked!, he thinks. The car continues around the small wooded area and through an underpass by a train sta...

3 likes

Un Drame à Trois

Submitted to Contest #285

CONTAINS COURSE LANGUAGE“Peter, phone.” Dad yells from the kitchen. I am in the bathroom, mid-school-day-morning routine. I heard the phone ring just as the toothpaste hit the brush. Phone calls this early on a school day are often products of trouble. Sometimes the trouble is good, like “School’s closed, snow day!” but this was May. I pick up the receiver left hanging by the wall-base. Toothbrush in my mouth, I begin the conversation. Peter: HelloTommy: Hey, man, what are you up to?P: …brushing my teeth, what’s...

5 likes

Lost in a Dark Place

Shortlisted for Contest #282 ⭐️

A chaotic symphony of light and sound pop and burst until all that remains is silence and darknessYou wake up sitting in the pilots seat of a craft pod. Your perspective is limited and you hear your breathing which means you have a helmet covering your head and face. You are in a flight suit of some sort designed for distant off world travel. So far you are unable to see beyond your mask, but a blinking light brings your attention to an instrument panel just at arms length. Most of instruments are broken save for the one ...

24 likes

The Last Transmission of Archibald Tell

Submitted to Contest #279

The following transmission was recovered from the ULYSSES Starship. The first of its class starship capable of reaching farther reaches in space, equipped with ion engines, self sustaining life support system and hibernation chambers able to keep an individual in stasis over long voyages. In the event of a mission critical emergency, the Captain will be woken from stasis to triage the problem. Captains Log…This is Captain Archibald Tell of the starship Ulysses, commissioned by the New World Exploration Alliance. Our mission st...

9 likes

Do Birds Know They Can Fly?

Submitted to Contest #279

Walking down the street nowadays, two years into whatever we want to call this new era of humanity, we are constantly reminded to live in fear. Fear that a loved one may get sick, get you sick, or you get them sick. They say once infected you can’t help yourself, and your animal instincts take over, quite literally. The posters tell us to “Stay Safe, Get Checked Often”. You can be clear of symptoms for close to 3 days before anything noticeable pops up. Of course people will try and keep those hidden as long as they can.&...

13 likes

A Wicked Whisper in the Wood

Submitted to Contest #277

Once long ago, in a time since forgotten, in a land since lost, lived a King and Queen who wanted desperately for a child. After much loss and tragedy, a son was born. The Kingdom rejoiced and was in much celebration. “Behold the Prince!” Shouted the King with much happiness and proud delight.“In one week’s time, “The King proclaimed, “We shall have a feast for the whole Kingdom, a grand time will be had by all in celebration of the Prince’s birth.” News of the feast spread far across the kingdom to every man, woman, chil...

8 likes

The Place Between Certainty and Doubt

Submitted to Contest #274

The air wasn’t warm but not cold either. It blew in blusters. One second stillness, the next a mighty blow, sending dried leaves into a whirlwind of browns, yellows, oranges, and reds. The wind this time of year left those curious as to the day, early winter or unrelenting summer would bring. Chilly or warm the air leaves a trail of nutmeg and cinnamon in its wake. October brings many things, but most of all it brings change.The reporters collecting outside the gates of the LaMonte Mansion had been waiting there since noo...

8 likes

Now Serving…Harvey!

Submitted to Contest #273

“Quad Oat Latte with Cinnamon?” A young female, barista announces. She looks around the crowded coffee shop for anyone to react. Within a minute a middle aged man in a well-tailored suit steps up and grabs the drink. “I’m the quad” he says as he takes the drink and in return gives a wink and suggestive grin. Not only has he done this before, but this is the start of his routine. He visits this coffee shop in particular not because of the quality espresso drinks but for the young, attractive baristas. His regular...

12 likes

A Walk Amongst Monsters

Submitted to Contest #272

The festival of Samhain, celebrated the end of summer as well as the ascendence of deceased loved ones to the afterlife. Celebrants would dress as animals or monstrous creatures to scare off evil spirits. 2000 years later, we mark the occasion every October 31, now called Halloween, by dressing in costumes and begging for candy. Whichever version of the holiday suits you the best is up to you, but I love it all the same. My name is Albert Lambert. I was born in the small village of Nurembeck in what is now Belgium, in the year...

8 likes

Vacant Memories

Submitted to Contest #271

Alvin Isaacs, 32, lies in a hospital bed. The bed sits in a sparsely furnished room outfitted for patients recovering from surgery. Two windows along the eastern most wall and an assortment of beeping and booping machines all attached to Alvin in some manner adjacent to the singular bed in the room. The same bed Alvin has been confined to for the last 8 weeks. A deteriorating cancer has put his body into a coma, but now that is about to end. “Doctor I think he’s waking up”A voice, a woman’s voice. He can hear it but can’t...

7 likes