Shawn Luther

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2021

Stories (10)

10 Stories

185 karma pts

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“CARL17820” by Shawn Luther

Submitted to Contest #243

The overcrowded hangar was stifling.  The sickly aroma of sweat and lubricants assaulted his nostrils, coating the back of his throat.  He grimaced slightly, fighting to retain his composure. The woman ahead of him fidgeted.  He supposed that she was aesthetically pleasing under the right circumstances.  This was not one of them.  Her dark hair fell in greasy clumps around her face.  Her cheeks were sunken, her eyes defeated.  He tried to feel compassion for her, but could not. Overhead a voice boomed from ...

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“Pride's Joy” by Shawn Luther

Submitted to Contest #237

The tea kettle sat in its customary spot on the stove, waiting patiently.  Gladys paused briefly before lifting it.  That small piece of normalcy helped anchor her; too much had already spiraled out of control.  She wiped her swollen eyes.   A cup of tea is what she needed now, it always helped calm her nerves. The kettle was a light beige in color.  A vine of yellow and orange Hibiscus circled the top, with offshoots going down each side.  The handle, a dark brown that was nearly black, curved over the top like...

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“Mountain Flight” by Shawn Luther

Submitted to Contest #189

It was so terribly cold.  Snow was falling, and it was almost dark.  The cave which she hid in was small and cramped, not much more than a fissure that cut deep into the side of the mountain.  The walls were uneven and sharp, cutting into her back as she pressed up against it.  The opening was like an angry snarl, narrow and crooked.  The waning light of dusk barely penetrated the opening, yet nearly ten meters deep she still felt horribly exposed. Earlier, while she had been climbing the mountain, the wind ravaged...

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“38 Special” by Shawn Luther

Submitted to Contest #188

"So, what's 'The Catch'?"   Silence fell around the table.  Varying degrees of disbelief and pity played over the faces of the other four men sitting with him.  Stewart felt his face redden at the apparent indiscretion he just committed.  The situation was exasperated by the very real confusion he felt concerning their reactions to his question.  "What?" Kent looked around at the others.  "Is he for real?" "Sadly, yes he is.”   Trevor lowered his head, his hand held over his heart.  A twinge of ann...

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“It's Not My Fault” by Shawn Luther

Submitted to Contest #186

“Do you know why you’re here, Mr. Barnes?” “Well it’s not for the ambiance.” “Do you think this is a game, Thomas?" "No, Detective Flannigan, I do not. But I crack jokes when I’m nervous. It’s a coping mechanism.” “Why are you nervous, Thomas?” "Why wouldn’t I be? I’m woken out of a sound sleep, dragged out of my house and thrown into the back of a cruiser! The flashing lights stabbed into my eyes like knives, they were so bright! Then I’m put into this cramped, windowless room for hours, and I still have no idea why...

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“Red Tide” by Shawn Luther

Submitted to Contest #123

I put on my mask and entered the building, the remains of my cigarette smoldering on the pavement. The midsummer sun was brutal, and within seconds my face was slick with sweat. Inside wasn't much cooler. The hallway leading to the locker room was short and claustrophobic. Old metal chairs with bent legs and dented seats lined the walls. Sagging cardboard boxes rested on top, a layer of dust testament to their age and neglect.The locker room itself wasn't much larger than the hallway, but the sense of constriction le...

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“Linnea” by Shawn Luther

Submitted to Contest #102

Linnea never lacked for anything.  That being said, she led a hard life.  She was never one to complain, or mine others for pity, but you could see it in her eyes, and the way she carried herself. There was a mingling of hope and despair; longing and fear; that would sometimes cross her face when she didn’t think anyone was looking.  It was that vulnerability that made me fall in love with her. Not that I told her, of course. But she knew.  Of course she knew.  I was never good at hiding my feelings, no matter how ...

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“Gut Check” by Shawn Luther

Submitted to Contest #95

"Standing before you is a choice. One of profound possibilities, and cosmic consequences. Consider your choices carefully, but don't hesitate! You'll find that intuition is your best guide for the journey on which you are about to embark." Trevor tried not to laugh. He succeeded, for the most part, but it was close. The recruiter was really laying it on thick. With his slicked back dark hair and calculating stare, he reminded Trevor of the carnival barkers hyping up their sideshow attractions. Come see the two-headed dog boy! Let h...

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“Midnight Feeding” by Shawn Luther

Submitted to Contest #94

"Go on, do it!" Kyle stared back at his friends, a hesitant smile dancing on his lips.  They stood in a tight group in front of him, leaning against each other and laughing.  They were all drunk.  Three sheets to the wind, as his grandfather would say.   Kyle himself was feeling no pain.  The area around him was hazy, but he couldn't tell if it was from the creeping mist or his own inebriation.  Perhaps a bit of both. Julie half fell, half leaned into him, her mouth inches from his.  "Come on, do...

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“Brixtle” by Shawn Luther

Submitted to Contest #87

Brixtle knelt under the leaf, watching the human.  It was large and slow, lumbering across the glade.   One hand clutched a large wooden stick, which it leaned on heavily.  The other held a  wooden pail which bounced against its leg, splashing water with each step.  Brixtle covered his mouth and laughed. He danced across the branch, following the humans progress. The human was heading down the path which cut through the Great Woods.  It appeared oblivious to everything around itself.  Its attention was f...

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Author bio

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