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Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2020
Submitted to Contest #103
The ice cubes slowly melted in the bottom of the glass as Stacey swirled it around in one hand, not noticing the people around her even as they jostled and shoved, as she stared at the faded oil painting hanging in front of her. The red car shining as it shot along a road. It seemed eerily familiar. “Last drinks!” the man behind the bar yelled, his cheeks reddened from the warm air. The person perched next to her waved their hand in his direction. “Are you sure?” the man asked, glancing at the man’s glazed eyes. “Just fill her up,” the man s...
Submitted to Contest #98
I don’t know why I turned around.I should have continued trudging along the riverbank, my trainers becoming filthier with each step as the mud squelched over them, and my head bent against the wind, and never looked back.But the scream that echoed through the valley, causing nesting birds to flutter into the sky, squawking, seemed to sink into my bones. It was as if it was my own scream that I heard, which of course was impossible. And who knows what I was going to do.I could see the smoke in the distance, curling into the sky and I knew, I ...
Submitted to Contest #97
Standing on tip toes, Kathy gripped the window ledge with her fingernails and pulled herself higher, the skin of her knees scraping against the wall, until she could see outside. Her breath against the glass pane blurred her view but she could still see the thick snowflakes falling to the ground, and the stars twinkling behind them. Yes, she thought, it’s snowing! Dropping back to the floor, Kathy shivered as she felt a cold draught travel up her legs and under her nightie, her bare skin goose bumping through the thin material. Wrapping her ...
Submitted to Contest #95
Wincing, Stevie tried hard to look calm and complacent as the heavy files landed on the table, the loud thud echoing through the room. “I’m telling you, this isn’t good enough!” his manager shouted, spittle flying out of his mouth and covering the smooth, polished surface. “I’m sorry sir,” Stevie murmured, glancing down at his tightly clasped hands so their gazes wouldn’t meet. “Stevie!” “Sir?” “Just look at me! Do I look like I’m joking?” Swallowing the lump in his throat, Stevie nervously glanced up. His manager glared back at him, his eye...
Submitted to Contest #92
The floorboards creaked as the small group of people, all wrapped in thick coats and scarves, huddled closer than they normally would have done as they climbed the grand staircase, several torches lighting their way. The light from the full moon trickled through the dirty windows, but the panes of glass were so grimy, the hallways and rooms were still dark; thin beams of light reaching the dusty, dirt covered floor, adding to the eerie spookiness. “Ring a ring a Rosie, a pocket full of posies.” “What was that?” one of them asked, spinning ar...
Submitted to Contest #89
Thick mist drifted between the graves, the rain soaking the already drenched ground, making the mud even more slippery and treacherous to the mourners who were trying desperately to stay upright.“I told you not to wear those shoes,” one man said to his wife as her heels sank into the ground.Tom gritted his teeth and tried to block out her reply as she was yanked free.“….and those that are left behind can only….”, the monotonous voice of the Priest droned on, as if determined to finish so he could escape back to the comfort of his lounge and ...
Submitted to Contest #85
The thin wail of the sirens echoed off of the buildings as the police maneuvered their way through the streets. Outside, the crowd was becoming larger, the people at the back standing on their toes and craning their necks to get a glimpse, regardless of any danger. The traffic was at a standstill, and cars horns were beeping, their drivers yelling profanities. Trying hard not to smirk as he ignored the noise, Ben held one gloved hand out. “It’s over,” he said, his voice calm and steady. “Why don’t you just hand it over, and no one needs to g...
Submitted to Contest #81
The flame of the candle flickered as a gentle breeze blew through the back garden. The sweet smell of the flowers still in bloom wafted through the door, making Derek wrinkle his nose in an effort not to sneeze, as he wrestled the potatoes onto their roasting tray. Everything has to be perfect, he thought, as he glanced at the book propped open against the toaster, his finger shaking slightly as he ran it down the list of ingredients. “Now, I reckon that’s everything,” he whispered, breathing a sigh of relief, as he noticed the time. If ther...
Submitted to Contest #77
The lights turned off, leaving the entire seventeenth floor of the office complex in darkness, except for the computers with their screensavers showing exotic locations. Swearing loudly, Maggie staggered out of her chair, it’s wheels squeaking on the scratched lino, and flicked on one of the desk lamps. It’s yellow light shone over her desk, illuminating the pile of papers she’d neatly placed after completion, and casting shadows across the surrounding cubicles. Shivering, Maggie wrapped her coat around more tightly. “Why the hell is it so c...
Submitted to Contest #72
Shuffling through a pile of dusty paperwork, Samuel paused to sneeze, causing goose bumps to appear along his arms. Rubbing his tired eyes, the ink still wet on his left hand leaving marks on his face, he glanced over at his fellow detective. He was asleep. His head was resting on a large, open book, and saliva had dribbled out of his mouth and onto the pages. “Hey,” he yelled, rubbing his arms to warm up. “Wake up!” His eyes bleary, Mike glanced around,” What’s the matter? I was only resting my eyes.” Snorting, Samuel pushed back his chair ...
Submitted to Contest #69
Cool water splashed against the sides of the goblet as it was poured from the jug, dampening the crisp cloth. “Oops, I’m such a butter fingers! Never mind,” Aunt Daisy giggles, patting one of my cheeks. I sniff as subtly as I can as the smell of moth balls reaches me. My cousins, seated around me, grin. They know I have an announcement to make. I have their support at least, even though they won’t stand next to me. If I can make a change, so can they, but if it all goes wrong, they’ll still be okay. The golden children of the family. I can f...
Submitted to Contest #68
It had been twenty four years since she’d last seen it, but the place looked exactly the same. The blinds were drawn to shield the room from the bright sunlight, or what light ever reached the place, and the scattered cushions still had indents in them from where people had leant. The only sign that time had elapsed was that the clock was no longer ticking, it’s cuckoo trapped forever in a hibernation. “It’s a bit stuffy in here, isn’t it?” Max asked, wrinkling his nose as he tried not to sneeze. Shrugging, Layla moved around, her fingertips...
Submitted to Contest #64
Rain lashed against the windows, and the strong wind howled down the chimneys. It was cozy inside the library but the inhabitants still shivered as a breeze blew across the room. The fire had long ago died.Despite the thick curtains, they could all sense the thick fog surrounding them, almost as if the moor was penetrating into the house.Madame Kiri coughed and cleared her throat. It turned into a racking, chesty hack which she tried to stifle with the sleeve of her dress. The rich embroidery on the material was quickly dampened.“Now then," ...
Submitted to Contest #63
By the time I stepped outside, the leaves were on fire.The air was thick with smoke and clumps of ash seemed to be falling from the sky. Not that the sky could be seen. It looked like it was midnight. The sun had been blocked by the smoke, great swirls of grey and black and the eerie glow of red as the fire came closer.“Come on Abby, don’t just stand there!”, my dad cried as he ran past, the garden hose clutched in his hands.A trickle of water squirted out of the end as he aimed it at the leaves.The water supply was out.Swearing in frustrati...
Submitted to Contest #62
Footsteps echoed down the hallway. They paused as their owner peered into a room. The door creaked slightly as they shut the door behind. Stephanie could hear them as they searched for her, moving files and shifting furniture. As if they thought she was hiding behind a desk. She glanced around. It was an ordinary office. Nowhere to hide. They’d find her quickly. She felt a violent shiver go through her body. She couldn’t let them find her. She had to hide. The footsteps were getting louder. Maybe the person was in the room next door. Ignorin...
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