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Andrew Hixson

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jul, 2023

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24 Stories

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The Weight Beneath

Weekly Contest #316

The Weight BeneathI always arrive before the others. It’s not punctuality—it’s necessity. I need the silence of the archive before the voices begin, before the questions start. The old building exhales dust and memory, and I walk its corridors like a ghost who knows where the floorboards creak.The archive room is cold, even in August. I unlock the cabinet with the key I shouldn’t have, and slide out Box 47. It’s labelled “Coastal Surveillance, 1952–1956,” but that’s a lie. The contents are older, stranger. I know because I put them there.Ins...

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“I Can’t Sleep” - A Short Mystery Featuring Detective Callum Reed

Weekly Contest #314

The rain had been falling for hours, soft as static against the windows of the old boarding house on Wren Street. Inside, the wallpaper curled like old parchment, and the air smelled faintly of mothballs and forgotten secrets.Detective Callum Reed stood in the hallway, coat damp, eyes scanning the dim corridor. He’d been summoned by a call at 2:17 a.m.—a woman’s voice, trembling, barely audible over the line.Room 6.He knocked once. The door creaked open.Maureen Ellis stood in the threshold, her eyes rimmed red, her hands clutching a porcelai...

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The Shadows That Promised to Return - A Callum Reed Mystery

Weekly Contest #311

The Shadows That Promised to ReturnA Chilling Murder MysteryThe sky over the sleepy coastal town of Ravenshade was heavy with the threat of rain, its clouds bruised and swollen, promising a storm before midnight. The city was accustomed to such brooding evenings, when the world outside seemed to whisper secrets to those who dared to listen. It was on one such night—in the waning hours before dawn—that the peace of Ravenshade was shattered by a brutal murder.The body was found on the windswept cliffs behind the old Hargrove manor, a decaying ...

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THE WHISPERING PAGES - A BOOKSHOP MYSYTERY

Weekly Contest #310

On a rain-glazed Thursday evening, with the last wisps of twilight clinging to the rooftops of Olde Crescent, Sarah Hargrove was closing up her little indie bookshop, The Whispering Pages. Her routine was a comforting one—shelving the errant paperbacks, aligning the displays, counting the cash register to the mellow hum of jazz. She knew every book and every regular by name, so when she noticed a book was missing from the shelf where The Violet Ledger—a battered, out-of-print volume chronicling the infamous Crescent Disappearances of 1982—ha...

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Veil of Midnight - A Tale of Nocturnal Inspiration

Weekly Contest #304

The night was a canvas of endless possibilities, inked in shades of cobalt and charcoal. For Lucien, it was more than a mere backdrop—it was the only time he truly lived, the only time the spark of creation burned within him. As a vampire, he was bound to darkness, but his nocturnal lifestyle was not by mere necessity. It was when his soul, or whatever remnants of one he possessed, came alive. Lucien had once been a renowned painter in Paris, centuries ago, his work admired by nobles and commoners alike. That was before the bite, before eter...

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The Unseen Path - A Tale of Destiny

Weekly Contest #303

In the quaint village of Eldoria, nestled between verdant hills and shimmering lakes, there lived a young woman named Elara. Known for her unwavering spirit and kind heart, she had always dreamed of exploring the world beyond the familiar landscapes of her homeland. Eldoria was a place of timeless beauty, where cobblestone streets wound past thatched-roof cottages and the air was filled with the scent of woodsmoke and wildflowers. Elara, with her bright eyes and a cascade of auburn hair, was a beloved figure in the village, often seen tendin...

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Secrets in the Wrong Hands - A Twist of Fate

Weekly Contest #302

On a chilly Tuesday morning, November 14th, an unexpected event unfolded. A thick layer of mist obscured the upper floors of the skyscrapers, shrouding the city’s usually breathtaking panorama of steel and glass and giving the scene an almost ethereal quality. The streets, typically bustling with the vibrant energy of a metropolis, buzzed with the usual rush hour activity—honking taxis, rumbling buses, and the incessant chatter of commuters on their way to work. Amidst this urban symphony of noise and motion, a significant mistake—a series o...

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The Beekeeper's Birthday Surprise

Weekly Contest #301

A bright spring morning dawned in the quaint village of Meadowbrook, where wildflowers dotted the rolling hills and the air was thick with the sweet scent of nectar. Jacob, the village's beloved beekeeper, awoke with a sense of excitement. It was his birthday, and his wife, Emma, had promised him a special surprise. Jacob's life revolved around beekeeping. His father had taught him the ancient art of beekeeping, which had become his passion and livelihood. The bees knew him well; they recognised his gentle touch and the familiar scent of the...

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The Lost Village of Dunwich – My Story

Weekly Contest #300

I was nestled on the picturesque Suffolk coast, a thriving medieval town named Dunwich. With my bustling harbour, grand churches, and vibrant market square, I was a beacon of prosperity and a jewel of the East Anglian region. My fate took a tragic turn, and today, I exist only in whispers of waves and fragments of ancient tales. My story is one of glory and sorrow. My strategic location made me a hub for trade and maritime activity, attracting merchants, sailors, and settlers. My formidable walls and fortifications spoke of a place well-def...

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The Spy’s Excuse - A Tale of Deception and Discovery

Weekly Contest #299

In the quaint Suffolk town of Stowmarket, nestled between Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds, lived a man named Dmitri Volkov. To his neighbours, friends, and most importantly, his family, Dmitri was a loving husband, a devoted father, and a dedicated employee at the local library. Little did they know, he hid a secret so profound it could shatter their idyllic lives.Despite his ordinary life, Dmitri harboured a shadowy past that he had kept hidden from everyone he loved. He often looked over his shoulder, haunted by the choices he made long ago. Y...

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The Long Road to Forgiveness

Weekly Contest #298

For forty long years, I carried the burden of secrets and lies, hiding my gambling and drinking addiction from my beloved wife and two precious daughters. It was a heavy cloak that weighed down my soul, a constant reminder of my failures and deceit. Over time, the gap widened between the facade I presented and the reality of who I had become.The façade I maintained was intricate, a tapestry of lies woven to protect my family from the truth. I rationalised my actions, convincing myself that I was sparing them pain by shouldering the burden al...

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In the Heart of the Wilderness - A Tale of Survival

Weekly Contest #296

The dense canopy of the Amazon rainforest loomed overhead, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. Amidst the cacophony of exotic birds and the rustle of unseen creatures, a lone figure moved with wary precision. Alex, a seasoned explorer, had ventured into this verdant labyrinth, hoping to uncover an ancient, lost civilization, but now faced the harsh realities of the untamed wilderness.Days melted into nights as Alex trudged deeper into the jungle’s embrace, each moment a testament to their resolve. The path was visible, a trail marke...

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The Chase on the Rails

Weekly Contest #293

A pre-World War One calm masked the coming global upheaval. Amidst this backdrop, a train chugged steadily through the English countryside, its destination: Dover. Aboard the 1914 vessel, a passenger captivated many.The air was thick with a mix of excitement and unease as the train thundered down the tracks, its rhythmic chugging creating a comforting backdrop to the day’s unfolding drama. Outside, the view was a mosaic of vibrant green meadows and charming hamlets, smelling fresh earth wafting through the windows, contrasting with arguing t...

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The Mysterious Painting

Weekly Contest #292

It was the summer of 1913, an era teetering on the edge of unprecedented change. The grand palaces of Europe still exuded an air of unassailable power, while dark whispers of revolution and war simmered in the shadows. In this delicate balance, I navigated the corridors of espionage, an invisible soldier in the intricate chess game of nations.My name is Sebastian Lowe, a name that might spark recognition in the dimly lit rooms of intelligence circles but would mean little to the uninformed public. I was an operative for the British Crown, ta...

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The Forgotten Melody

Weekly Contest #291

Eldoria's legend spoke of an enchanting melody, audible only to the pure of heart. Legend claimed the melody brought immense joy and prosperity to anyone lucky enough to hear it. For centuries, villagers had searched for the source of this elusive tune, but to no avail.The legend fascinated Elara, a young and curious musician. She had grown up hearing tales of the Forgotten Melody from her grandmother, who often hummed a soft, mysterious tune before bedtime. Determined to uncover the truth, Elara set out on a journey across Eldoria, carrying...

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