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Samantha McWilliams

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2022

Stories (12)

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6 Followers

1 Following

12 Stories

216 karma pts

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A Beautiful Specimen, Such As Yourself

Samantha McWilliams

Submitted to Contest #308

It was the day after the Flower Moon that Dahlia stepped out of the sunshine and directly into a man named Bint. The collision was brief – the brush of shoulder to shoulder– but it was enough. A hush fell over the Mossmere Glade as they touched. The bird song stopped, squirrels halted in their tracks and the monarchs seemed to hover in place. All watching. All noticing. The man stumbled, clearly shaken and pushed dark locks from his even darker eyes. “I’m so sorry, I–” Dahlia cocked her head at him, curiosity spilling from her like a casc...

1 like

The Vespertine School of Experimental Thought

Samantha McWilliams

Submitted to Contest #307

The walls spoke sometimes, which wasn’t something Admissions had been clear about when Elias first arrived at the Vespertine School of Experimental Thought. But there was no doubt. He heard them whispering sweet nothings into the students’ ears. The first time, Elias could have sworn the gothic architecture quaked when his head whipped toward the voice, as if the building itself delighted in finally being heard. He was insane. Clearly. At least, that’s what he told himself. Yet, the awareness did nothing to quiet the chatter. Meet them at ...

9 likes

Based Solely on Wants

Samantha McWilliams

Submitted to Contest #275

"Content Warning: Strong language, themes of grief and trauma, supernatural violence."“But Mother, I am a witch.” Mother dropped her large wooden mixing spoon into the cauldron bubbling above the fire. “God’s Mercy! Tabitha! Do not say such things. If ever someone from town were to hear ye. I could not bear what might happen.” I waved her off as I ground valerian root in my favorite pestle, “You worry too much. There is no need. Have faith. “How can ye say that? Ye were fourteen years old when they burned Marta at the sta...

4 likes

Kaleidoscope of Paradoxes

Samantha McWilliams

Submitted to Contest #260

Today was a new day. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. Even though hope felt elusive, Robert told me to fake it. “That’s how everyone does it, dear Effy. No one really has any hope.” I imagined the sentiment was meant to make me feel better, yet I found myself standing in our brand-new kitchen peering at our newest addition with dead eyes. The Meal Prep Master Pro. Everything a kitchen needed. There was no need to touch anything now. All the shiny knives were tucked away out of my reach. Wouldn’t want another accide...

6 likes

The Girl That Saved The World For Us

Samantha McWilliams

Submitted to Contest #218

I wake to the scent of fried rice, the accompanied sizzle intermingling with a cacophony of voices from the radio in our living room. It's a Monday, I hear them say. Maybe the last one. "You’ve got to be freakin’ joking." Melanie's voice bounces off the walls of our four-story apartment as if to remind us just how little space we have. I pull the pillow further down over either side of my head, forcing the pain of a three-day-old ponytail to amplify through my skull. A heavy sigh works through my chest before I press up from my futon and te...

8 likes

The Summer I Grew Up

Samantha McWilliams

Submitted to Contest #214

It was the year I turned fourteen that Sarah had invited her new boyfriend, Gerald, along to our family vacation. The pitter-patter of rain against the windows of our shore house punctuated each word as I complained to Mother in her private bathroom. A painted sign of a sea turtle in the ocean hung behind the toilet. Let the sea set you free. "I mean, come on. Gerald? What kind of name is that?" Mother only laughed causing indignation to bubble around my edges. My own sister! And here I was thinking we'd gotten past those terrible times. Bei...

8 likes

The Artificial Alliance

Samantha McWilliams

Submitted to Contest #192

*Warning: Profanity* Joz did her best not to let the disdain for the bustling antique roadshow leak out of the corner of her eyes. Here, in a rough n’ tumble place such as this, weakness would only get her into trouble. The massive dome structure was a buzz with the gravitational pull of hovering tables and billowing flags. She held her head high, familiar with the thrum of caustic calls bouncing off the interior – each vendor raising their voice to beat out the seller next to them. Here she was again, stuck amongst the rusting corpses of...

13 likes

Carl's Catwalk

Samantha McWilliams

Submitted to Contest #187

The crackling sensation of Jack’s hangover radiated through his body as he opened his eyes to a clear blue sky encircled by the pointed tops of corn stalks. The cold Earth had seeped into his joints, causing a groan to lift from his chapped lips. He rolled to his side but the motion had him yacking into the pile of burnt ash next to him. He used his callous denim sleeve to wipe his mouth as he tried to catch his breath. A brush of fur rushed against Jack’s ankles and he turned to look around the open space they had carved into the cornfield ...

13 likes

Hoarder of Hridaya

Samantha McWilliams

Submitted to Contest #185

The effervescent spray of ocean sifted through the last rays of sunlight as Cintra lowered herself deeper into the Volcano of Moor. The faint zipping of the threaded rope she had spent months developing for this task echoed against the hollowed mountaintop. The darkness swallowed her as if thick wool were thrown over the sun, leaving nothing but the glowing crystals attached to her pack. She had collected them just this morning from the Field of Light.Her daughter Kali had followed just behind her, the obsidian curtain of her hair flicking a...

7 likes

Last Moments of Freedom

Samantha McWilliams

Submitted to Contest #181

It had taken us nearly three days to get to the cabin on foot with no vehicle or cell phones. I had been taking a piss, leaning one hand against a tree, steam rising from the place in the snow where the hot liquid splashed. I didn't look down at the dried blood covering my jeans.  “Jimmy!”  The sound of Keisha’s shouts was enough to get me scrambling as I pulled my pants around my hips and stumbled in her direction. My heart kicked into a trot and I let the speed of it keep my head above the wave of fear that threatened to freeze...

9 likes

Books of Betrayal

Samantha McWilliams

Submitted to Contest #176

Penelope’s boots thumped against the pavement as she swung her legs from the limo. She bent over briefly to brush the snow from the suede of her shoes, her other hand pressing her phone tightly against her ear. The driver held the door open for her as she pushed out into the whipping winter winds. The snow that had fallen just yesterday was being pulled from its place on the ground into tiny swirling squalls. She tugged the long winter coat tighter around her middle and pushed the phone closer to her ear. “Look, you said you would be here, B...

7 likes

Kept On Digging

Samantha McWilliams

Submitted to Contest #167

It’s often easy to tell the difference between an accidental crash and the shattering that occurs with the force of anger behind it. Looking up from my yard, with the sound still reverberating in my mind, my innate curiosity overcame me. Just across the way there, the mobile home tucked haphazardly amongst the rest — a stillness had fallen over the place that seemed quite different from the others, from mine. A slick feeling of sickness was already creeping into my gut, and I found myself pushing the sensation down into that place of denial....

11 likes