Susan Zalick

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2022

Stories (4)

4 Stories

70 karma pts

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“The Lady in Crimson” by Susan Zalick

Submitted to Contest #292

The moon bled that night. A sickly red, it loomed over Lawler Manor as thought the heavens themselves had opened a wound. The air carried the scent of damp earth and something sweeter- cloying, metallic. The estate, forgotten by the living, perched atop the blackened hills, its towers piercing the night like jagged teeth gnawing at the sky. A creeping mist slithered around its foundation, curling through the dead trees with the likeness of skeletal fingers. The villagers had long since abandoned the road that led to the house, whispering of ...

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“When the Walls Whisper” by Susan Zalick

Submitted to Contest #291

Contains themes of mental health, physical violence, gore, and abuse.The front door towered over her. With its goliath stature and white-painted wooden frame, it seemed like it was bracing itself to collapse. The air in the foyer was still, so still it tasted stale. Staring widely at her aggressor, Lisa felt as if she was a bug falling victim to a young child's foot- waiting for her body to crunch against the hardwood floor, reduced to nothing but an unnoticeable smear to be hastily wiped away. Click. Click. Click. The fan whirring and clink...

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“Beneath the White” by Susan Zalick

Submitted to Contest #281

The snow fell in thick, swirling curtains, blanketing the narrow mountain road as Sophia gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled hands. Her breath clouded the inside of her windshield as the wind howled through the pines, blurring the world in a swirling gray and white haze. Her car's heater was fighting a losing battle against the bitter cold; she had been driving for hours, eager to make it home for the holidays. Just as she was about to turn onto the main road, the car sputtered loudly—once, twice—and then fell silent. "No, no, n...

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“To My Little Sister” by Susan Zalick

Submitted to Contest #202

Cleveland was frighteningly frigid in February, cramming vehicles on the slick highway like a herd of deer on ice. Daddy has the heat on blast, grunting and cussing under his breath at the slowness of traffic. Cold weather has never agreed with him. June’s eyes darted back and forth, following the windshield wipers as they went up and down, up and down. Tracing her tiny finger across the backseat window, she draws little stars and hearts into the frost. “Mommy!” she exclaims. “Yes, Junie,” Daddy says, “We get to see Mommy very soon.” For re...

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Author bio

Hello! My name is Suz, and I am twenty-two years old. I love writing for fun, as well as drawing, painting, and hanging out with my cats. Literary loves include Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, Steven King, and Dostoevsky.