Savannah Wagner

“Deerman” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #274

Disclaimer: This story uses mild language, scenes of terror, and implied gore. The blaring horn of a pickup truck echoed through the country roads late one October night. In the small farm town of Greenville, Illinois there wasn’t much for teenagers to do after the high school football game. “Pump the gas would ya, Cody and Tessa are already like a hundred feet ahead.” Ashlen scolded her boyfriend Max in the driver’s seat while Kenny Chesney was full blast on the radio. Fog rolled over the cornfields on both sides of the road shrouding the ...

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“The House with Four Chairs ” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #272

*Disclaimer - This story is inspired by Neil Gaiman's writing style which features dark and unsettling themes* There were four of them. Each sat in their own chair, facing a dimly lit fire. You could only discern the light emanating from the fireplace if you were a couple feet from it. “I’m hungry,” said the one we’ll call Lenore. She was always hungry. The others could tolerate their hunger. “Patience,” said the one we’ll call Virgil. “Good things come to those who wait. The longer it simmers, the better it tastes.” Virgil was roasting meat...

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“Railway to Scotland” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #271

"Dear Diary, the date is September the 1st of the year 1851. I finished reading Jane Eyre, and now I must complete my needlepoint—Uhhhh!” Clara Ashcombe threw her journal across the candelabra-lit room toward the wall, nearly knocking over her used tea set from the morning. “Mum would be furious if she saw you chipping the wall.” “I’m unwell, Sister.” “Clearly.” Her sister, Abigail, paused to temper her judgmental glance. She sensed the genuine pain in Clara’s eyes. “What troubles you, Clara, dear?” “My life. My older sisters have found husb...

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“Railway to Scotland” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #271

"Dear Diary, the date is September the 1st of the year 1851. I finished reading Jane Eyre, and now I must complete my needlepoint—Uhhhh!” Clara Ashcombe threw her journal across the candelabra-lit room toward the wall, nearly knocking over her used tea set from the morning. “Mum would be furious if she saw you chipping the wall.” “I’m unwell, Sister.” “Clearly.” Her sister, Abigail, paused to temper her judgmental glance. She sensed the genuine pain in Clara’s eyes. “What troubles you, Clara, dear?” “My life. My older sisters have found husb...

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“Railway to Scotland” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #271

"Dear Diary, the date is September the 1st of the year 1851. I finished reading Jane Eyre, and now I must complete my needlepoint—Uhhhh!” Clara Ashcombe threw her journal across the candelabra-lit room toward the wall, nearly knocking over her used tea set from the morning.“Mum would be furious if she saw you chipping the wall.”“I’m unwell, Sister.”“Clearly.” Her sister, Abigail, paused to temper her judgmental glance. She sensed the genuine pain in Clara’s eyes. “What troubles you, Clara, dear?”“My life. My older sisters have found husbands...

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“A Cup Without Tea” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #269

A shooting star soared across the galaxy. A wish was made. Then I awoke. *** She was late coming home one October night. Fireworks from outside rattled the teacups on the shelf. The sound of fingertips tapped the glass windows.Was she home? The tapping dissolved into a heavy rain coaxing the windowpanes. I sat in the kitchen waiting. Then finally, she came home. The rain made her porcelain-colored skin glow. She wasn’t alone; a man trailed behind her. They were drenched from head to toe. Their laughter filled the air. He appeared exotic, c...

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“The Search ” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #253

“I have a gut feeling about it. It has to be a routing issue. I’ll swing by to check it out. Oh, you have a meeting? Alright, is 4:30 good? Trust me, it’s just a routing issue. I’m a pro at solving mysteries. It’s my job, remember? Alright, take care.” Gautam sighed, clicking off his headset. He pushed his shirt sleeve up. His tattoo was still blush red and stinging.“New tattoo?” His co-worker, Jaclyn asked, sipping coffee from her styrofoam cup. She rested her elbows on his cubicle ledge.“Yeah, just got it actually.” He pulled his slee...

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“Good Things Come to Those Who Wait ” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #252

*Disclaimer - This story is inspired by Neil Gaiman's writing style which features dark and unsettling themes* There were four of them. Each sat in their own chair, facing a dimly lit fire. You could only discern the light emanating from the fireplace if you were a couple feet from it. “I’m hungry,” said the one we’ll call Lenore. She was always hungry. The others could tolerate their hunger. “Patience,” said the one we’ll call Virgil. “Good things come to those who wait. The longer it simmers, the better it tastes.” Virgil was roasting mea...

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“Crowd Goes Wild ” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #249

*This story uses strong language. Reader discretion is advised*I bolted down the sidewalk in the night of the city. Moon powered street lamps flickered above me. Must be a stormy night I thought. Perfect for choosing the next best band inside the only underground music bar in the galaxy. Hover boards and hover skates jetted past me flashing an array of colorful lights. I was never a fan of hover skates. Too 2080. I flinched at a passing police car wailing its siren. After passing mile high skyscrapers and bustling through...

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“A Cup Without Tea” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #243

She was late coming home one October night. Fireworks from outside rattled the teacups on the shelf. The sound of fingertips tapped the glass windows. Was she home? The tapping dissolved into a heavy rain coaxing the windowpanes. I sat in the kitchen waiting. Then finally, she came home. The rain made her porcelain-colored skin glow. She wasn’t alone; a man trailed behind her. They were drenched from head to toe. Their laughter filled the air. He appeared exotic, clad in a long sequenced shirt and sandals. “Is this usually how Diwali ends?...

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“A Cup Without Tea ” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #239

She was late coming home one October night. Fireworks from outside rattled the teacups on the shelf. The sound of fingertips tapped the glass windows. Was she home? The tapping dissolved into a heavy rain coaxing the windowpanes. I sat in the kitchen waiting. Then finally, she came home. The rain made her porcelain-colored skin glow. She wasn’t alone; a man trailed behind her. They were drenched from head to toe. Their laughter filled the air. He appeared exotic, clad in a long sequenced shirt and sandals.“Is this usually how Diwali ends? Ru...

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“The Travel Bug ” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #211

Friday, May 21st 3:30pm pick up car.  I read and reread the note in my leather bound planner more times than my own acceptance letter to Northwestern. I tried to hide my smile by biting my lip but it was no use. I was ecstatic. I finally closed my book and rested my head on the hard plastic seat under me. The L felt more rickety today. We must have hit a nasty bump since the woman in front of me gripping her pole in a cherry red peacoat lost her balance and landed backwards onto my lap.  “Sorry,” She muttered trying to rise up ...

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“The House of Goblincore” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #209

“You sure about this? Because once you do this there’s no turning back.”  “Uh,”  “I’m kidding, I’m kidding, Senorita. You’ll look fabulous.” The hairdresser used a comb to tangle out her client’s split ends. “Tell me again what your name is.”  “Well, it’s Ivy. Ivy Meadows.” The hairdresser started mixing hair dye into a plastic dish. “And just to confirm. You want black hair with just a tint of green?”  “Um, yes.”  “Perfecto. I will make it black enough that just enough green can be seen in the radiant sunlight. It w...

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“ The One Room Schoolhouse” by Savannah Wagner

Mrs. Willard yelled roll call to her fifth grade class in the parked school bus. They had just arrived at their class trip. Laura rolled her eyes at her least favorite classmate, Bridget, who was sharing photos from her Little Women book with her seatmate. “This is going to be just like the book. See here?” Bridget pointed while the neighboring group of girls awed.  Laura scoffed. She’d only begged her mom to sign her permission slip so she can get a break from the boring school. She had no interest in learning about the one room schoo...

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“Haikus and the Shiba Inu Adventure” by Savannah Wagner

Submitted to Contest #191

This adventure hereIs told in Haiku poems Our story begins…The mountains sat quietInside the temple, he satThe Shiba InuBreathe in and breathe out It was meditation hourIt had been since dawnNash was his real name He was a trained and skilled dogHis master was Kai“Meditation done”“Time now to follow the ball”Kai threw Nash the ballNash caught it mid-airHe rolled it back panting hard“Remember your breath”“Tai Chi begins there”“You must respond not react”“We must be aware”The ball squeaked loudlyNash fought the urge to chase it“...

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