Paul Littler

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Oct, 2023

Stories (24)

24 Stories

495 karma pts

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“The Old Ways” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #272

    His head was killing him. Eamon Ahearne’s wake was in full swing when Father Brian McCracken grudgingly made his apologies and left, weaving unsteadily to his rooms through the unlit streets in the wee small hours. Waking with a pounding behind his eyes and a mouth filled with sand, McCracken reached for his clock, cursing Saturday morning and needing to be at the church of St Francis Xavier to undertake the morning’s sacrament of reconciliation. “Never again,” he muttered.     Collar turned up a...

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“Married Quarters” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #270

    Phoebe could only fiddle with her food, their first meal together in their first home together. She’d shrugged off the unease she felt on stepping into her husband’s cottage, rented for years whilst he served abroad. Something about it was getting under her skin.    “There’s nothing wrong with this place. Laura talked rubbish about feeling weird round here. Give it time.”    At the mention of his ex-wife, Phoebe looked at her new husband, struggling with his chopsticks before gi...

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“Orange Notice” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #260

    The sudden turbulence made me grip the seat nearest me as I returned down the aisle. My hand lightly touched the hair of the woman sat in front of me and she pulled away, frowning, so I gave an apologetic smile.    “Her phone is already on,” I whispered to Millray, sat beside me.    A warning bonged as the ‘please fasten seat belts’ sign flashed overhead.    “Ladies and Gentlemen, we are approaching Zurich Airport, please fasten your seatbelts and please keep...

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“MacBeth” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #257

    “Ten minutes until ‘go live!’” Maggie Campbell strode through the narrow hallway of Ten Downing Street. Scurrying figures piled paperwork into boxes to be taken into the back garden. She picked a speck of lint off Prime Minister MacBeth’s shoulder as he stood at the window, looking across the lawn.    “I need to make a call,” he replied quietly, eyes fixed on his staff carrying boxes to the rear of the grounds.    “Make it quick Dougal, they’re baying for blood. Pull yourself to...

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“It’s Janet” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #252

This story contains sensitive content, please be advised    There were just two working the helpline’s dead shift, Janet and supervisor Ivan, as Shannon had called in sick, again.“Typical,” Janet tutted after Ivan told her she’d be on her own.    “She’s got a lot on her plate,” Ivan said, pulling on his headset.    “What happens when I get my ‘caller’? You know I’m not supposed to rush anyone.” Janet had received a number of advisory comments during her volunteering.“Don’t sigh whe...

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“Paradise Lost” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #248

Please be aware, this story contains references to the aftermath of natural disasters. Now​David Brevda paced the polished marble floor of his East 79th Street gallery. Huge sheets of paper, taped to the towering plate glass windows, shielded him and Marina Anderberg’s new works from the gawkers. She hadn’t yet arrived, and tonight, of all nights, he needed her in the flesh. He checked his phone, nothing. He could feel the ulcer gnawing away at his guts. Why...

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“Jacob and the Psychonauts” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #247

​Jacob Bayley lay back and placed the mask over his face, in what used to be his father’s favourite chair, and began to inhale. Dad had been dead for a few months now, and Jacob knew he wouldn’t have thought Jacob had the guts to do what he was about to do, but he wasn’t around to bitch about it. ​The water bath had reached the right temperature, Jacob having put it on a plate warmer lit by a tea light’s small flame. He got the initial ether hit almost immediatel...

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“The Distance from the Sun to the Earth” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #243

     A nation planted, so concerned with gain     As the seasons come and go, greater grows the pain     And far too many feelin’ the strain     When will there be a harvest for the world?     ‘Harvest for the World,’ The Isley Brothers      The distance from the Sun to the Earth is approximately ninety-three million miles, or one astronomical unit, which is close to the distance displayed on m...

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“Nothing But Kindness” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #242

     Muriel was both embarrassed, at being locked in the toilet, and then angry at everyone leaving without her. Granted, she may have nodded off some point after repeatedly calling for help, but nevertheless, there’d be a strongly worded notelet to the secretary of the ‘Historical Weavers Society (Essex Branch)’ when she got home. When that might be, was anyone’s guess.     It was October and the nights had begun to really draw in and mornings were dark. Muriel had been looking forward to th...

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“To Be A Pilgrim” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #241

​Anthony rounded the headland, his breath snatched away by the gusty south westerly, ignoring Lol’s ghost looming on the path ahead. He trudged the coastal path, grateful for the tug of the mud at his boots and the salty slap of the gauzelike mist; a reminder to stay in the moment and not let the past drag him back.​He pushed determinedly through Lol’s spectre. Anthony’s impulsive decision to get away to walk and think had been met with scepticism by their friends; the sam...

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“The Last Word” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #238

This story contains themes that may be upsetting to some readers, please be advised.     The ‘water cooler’ moment is long dead, with the rise of social media and on demand news, yet Piers Kavanagh’s last words on his live show ‘Exposed’ were on everyone’s lips, everywhere, the following day.     “I can see…”     During the staged seance with Molly Burke, the latest spiritualist medium he planned to debunk on his popular show, he’d begun to look odd.   ...

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“Bite” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #237

JUNE 1666 LONDON      He had taken a room at the ‘The Town of Ramsgate’ inn, sitting quietly as a commotion raged following the discovery of a young woman’s body in the Thames, mere hours since her arrival from Rotterdam.       He’d disembarked the ‘Gilded Lion,’ a Dutch three masted Fluyte. It had been squalid and uncomfortable, but the young woman he’d made the acquaintance of during the short voyage provided a singularly pleasant distraction. Reading by candlelight, Carsten kept an...

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“Run!” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #235

2026It was a nice neighbourhood until the election; then, like the rest of the country, it went to hell. Elizabeth, from her loft space, watched the crosses burning in her neighbours front yards. RUSP police stood guard as hooded Klan members, probably the same white guys from the Regional Committee of Governance, set cars alight on driveways, kicked down doors and dragged whoever had been dumb enough, too proud or too poor to stay.She watched Mrs Washington struggling, screaming at her attackers, dragged her by her hair across her lawn wher...

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“Friday’s Child” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #234

Today      Jason had missed Mum’s funeral on account of the murders.  Time was his greatest loss over the last thirty years, he decided, sitting on the bed in his cell.  Add another loss, now Mum was dead.  He looked at the clock on his shelf and wished he could turn back time. Again his parole eligibility date had come up, attracting the usual press ranting and raving.  Previous applications had failed three times, so he’d been wary, not raising his hopes; but his new sol...

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“The Last Voyage” by Paul Littler

Submitted to Contest #232

Please be aware, this story contains adult themes.            Constance at her table, stared out of the window of the ship, the wake the only thing visible in the darkness.  Lost in thought, she listened with half an ear to the conversation at the table next to hers. “Here’s to us!  Tom and Jack” said one of the men.            His partner was clearly not as keen on yet another toast, the fourth Constanc...

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Author bio

Short story collection, ‘itch’, available on Amazon Kindle and paperback. More incoming… I’m married, living in the south of England. My time is divided between reading, researching and writing tales of horror, hauntings and suspense.