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Eric D.

Author on Reedsy Prompts since May, 2021

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49 Followers
28 Following

89 Stories

1086 karma pts

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A Night at the Loud Lobster

I should’ve known better than to trust a random speech coach I found through an online ad. Looking back, the warning signs were there, practically screaming at me: the cheap “luxury” graphics, the overly dramatic slogan, and the type of empty promises that sounded like they were written by a desperate motivational speaker. Yet, somehow, I let them convince me.Now, I’m wondering how I’m going to look myself in the mirror again, especially if I ever admit how much I actually paid for the thing. The program called itself “the most innovative co...

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Venom in the Mountain

Agent Yellow’s only assignment was to travel to the most remote part of the jungle to visit an old man named Mauricio who owned a small bar in a remote road heading to the llapatepec mountain. There was Intel that the kind old man sold bagged coconut water to tourist passing through.It wasn’t until a few days riding on unpaved roads until Agent Yellow found that secluded bar, the little shack was barely visible through the broad girth of the old trees surrounding it. There had been a faded sign that should have been pointing to it on the gro...

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Between Rain and Saltwater

It’s been eight long years since my fingers last created enthusiastic ripples into my keyboard and wrote something that genuinely moved me. Eight years since that copy of me existed breathing life into epic fantasy worlds, manifesting intricate characters that felt as real as the neighbors in my apartment complex. That writer had once felt butterflies in his stomach when he wrote, and what fueled him was his small devoted fan base that pleaded for more. This was all before he dealt with his own real world catalyst that molded his character a...

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The Jinn Made Me Do It

I keep the heavy vintage lamp by my bedside in case I have a late-night craving. When I get stuck in an argument online, the Jinn who lives inside would tell me the clever things to say. When I have a growl in my belly, the genie satisfies my guilty pleasure with high-fat, expensive comfort food. I also ask my Jinn for a bit of confidence, a small dose to numb life's awkward experiences and make them more euphoric and easier to endure. “Wakey-Wake-aaay!” I yelled as I rubbed the polished spot on the antique lamp. “Ahoy-hoy?” she whispered fr...

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Mind Avalanche

Dr. Patel whispered into her cell phone as she stood on the dimly lit porch. “Good evening, Ms. Clary. We’re here, waiting by the front door.” She whispered. She stood next to her colleague, a rather short, much younger Dr. with a thin mustache and glasses so thick they made his already enormous eyes even more bulbous.Ms. Clary cautiously opened the door.“It’s very good to meet you at last, Ms. Clary.” Dr. Esquivel extended his two arms for a double-handed handshake. “Do you mind if we come inside? It’s a bit chilly.”Ms. Clary guided them in...

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The Windham Phantom

To: Sergeant Finnegan,Now, I may not be the most decorated uniform in the department, and this may seem like a whole lot of monologue from a 42-year veteran that should probably be out there slowin’ my roll, by enforcing hunting laws with those Fish guys or Game Conservation officers, or whatever those wildlife folk like to be called, who’ve now become too big for their britches. And you may think this is way above my pay grade, but I promise you I’m not trying to convince you the Tennessee wild man is alive. I know what I’ve seen. I promise...

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How to Evaporate

I sat on a bench in a park somewhere near Amsterdam and inhaled my 5th cigarette of the day. I smiled as I watched the Japanese tourists giggling and covering their mouths with their clasped hands, with a gaze of envy. If only they knew how good they had it, knowing people back home are still longing for their safe return.My name is George Jansen, one of at least 85 men in my age range with the same name in this country. A name given to me for a particular reason, to evaporate, like a sweat droplet on a sizzling pavement.“Excuse me, mister?”...

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The Residents of 5th Floor

“Juan Carlos is the new guy?” asked Guillermo, the service technician manager speaking on the phone with the lead security Bert. He was a clean-cut, middle-aged man who left a thick cologne fog wherever he walked.      “Yeah, his resume impressed the owners,” said Bert.      “We’ll see how he does.”      “I’m confident about him.”      “Nah! Resumes don’t mean shit out here.”      After a few m...

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The Wind in the Willows

My wife, Christy stared daggers from across the room and she looked annoyed at me for finally gaining the courage to grow that itchy rugged “bear-man” beard she hated. She finally cracked a smile and accepted it before leaning in to rub my prickly chin and plant a kiss on my lips, something I desperately long for.      I begged them to let me see her one last time and in exchange could do whatever they wanted with my corpse. I rubbed my bloodshot eyes and saw that there was only me on the other end of the reflec...

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Deus Ex Machina

“Good evening, my lord!” The Master of Ceremonies greeted, with a head bow, “You must be the honored guest. Everyone’s been waiting for you.” Please state your name so that our guards can remain composed.”      “Isaías Sánchez?”      “Is that a question, my lord?”      “No.”      “Then state your name, my lord.”      “I’m Isaías Sánchez,” said Isaias before swallowing an empty gulp of air watch...

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The Elders of Whitehorse Pines

As I drove through the frozen mountains to a village said to have been abandoned for over forty years, I felt something sickly filling the space in my stomach. I could feel my heartbeat thumping in a peculiar rhythm as I watched the lonely dirt roads disappear behind me into the thick white mist.      “It’s getting too far to turn back now,” said Wyatt.      “Just keep your foot on the pedal, put your hillbilly music on, and get comfy, old boy.”      “G...

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It Carries Whispers from Lands Far Away

Chelo counted the coins he made from selling marinated mangoes on the side of the road during traffic stops. Today was a good sales day for him, but a busy one. Chelo was used to finishing the day with a damped shirt soaked in lemon juice and spices. His little brother, Luis, however enjoyed the work. He loved interacting with the customers, often carrying the salt shakers and lemon juice sprays on his belt like a spaghetti western.“Reach for the sky, cabrón!” his brother would shout for his share. “Hand over the coins, if’n you know what’s ...

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The House that Whispered

Weekly Contest #239

   It felt like a cauldron was brewing in my stomach from the nerves of walking into the creepy abandoned house that everyone had warned me about. I had no choice though, it was my only clue in finding my missing friend Carmelita.  There had been stories circulating about the old house ever since I was a kid, but I swallowed the fearful thoughts and continued on.  “Carmelita, you in there?” I shouted from the porch.  I turned the rusted door knob and peeked inside. “Hello?”I could see bits of the ...

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Krewe of No-Return

      James Johnson was known for being very laissez-faire in the way he used his credit card. While his friends were mostly settled down married or with kids, he still enjoyed living a carefree lifestyle composed of a lot of short fulfilling "I deserve it" weekend trips. Today marked his first day on a new adventure when he checked in on a late Friday night to his boutique hotel in French Quarters, New Orleans. With heavy eyelids and butterflies in his stomach, he made his way to his hotel room clutching a wate...

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Dark Side of the Wall

"You can't run forever." whispered an elderly man shuffling past me in his walker.      "I'll try my best," I said heavy breathing.      He caught a whiff of me and his eyes rolled back. "Smells like shit."      It's always the sweat that gives me away.      I am the disgusting half-breed they loved to hate, half-like them, and half-human. They believe I should be fighting along with them, the way the sacred scriptures said...

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