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Iona Cottle

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Aug, 2019

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641 Followers
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103 Stories

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Farce on the Orient Express

Weekly Contest #345

I check the time on my fake Rolex, having to hold my hand steady so I can read the numbers clearly. 12:07, as best I can work out on the spindly little hands, that were never that secure anyway. Between my shakes and the bumping of the train, it could be anywhere between midday and twenty past I’d reckon.I sigh. Close enough. It’s not going to matter what time it is soon enough anyway. Soon enough I won’t get to chose when I eat lunch, if this doesn't work out.I stand up and dust myself off, trying to get rid of some of the fluff that’s gath...

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The Ides of Hades

Weekly Contest #344

The air is hot inside the chamber, a glorious sun blazing through the high windows, and the knife hilt feels slippery in my hand. I am vividly aware of the grit between my toes, kicked up by my sandals as I’d hurried here this morning, and the weight of my toga as I try to stand in a normal pose. Never before have I felt so aware of my own limbs, so conscious of how they sit and how much it looks like I am hiding something.At any moment I expect the lictors to arrest me. Or just stab me. It’s what should happened. By any sense of justice, th...

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Not The Rescue She Expected

Weekly Contest #324

The sun was high and bright, glittering off the waves like a thousand tiny diamonds, the gulls and sea birds soared far overhead, cawing softly to each other, the waves lapped about the rocks with a childlike enthusiasm, and the young, scantily clad woman chained to the rocks sighed heavily.The ghost next to her frowned. ‘You’re not like the other sacrifices, you know.’‘I’m sorry,’ the young woman said. ‘Would you prefer it if I cried and screamed and begged to be released?’‘Well, no, I guess not. It’s just incredibly disconcerting, having y...

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Then and now, When and now

Weekly Contest #315

It’s just another day, just an ordinary day, nothing special, blah de blah. That’s what they all say, right? But it is. Isn’t it dull when life is so cliche?I’m halfway home from the shops, miles away on my phone, when I glance up. He’s standing next to the bus stop, slouched and completely relaxed. His confidence is what draws my eye at first, that whole body confidence that isn’t forced or situational; he knows who and what he is, and he’s at peace with that. I’d kill for that surety.While I’m eyeing him up- quite subtly, so I think- he wi...

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The Darkest Tourist

Weekly Contest #314

‘Are you sure about this?’I groaned and rolled my eyes. ‘If I wasn’t, don’t you think I’d have said something one of the other million times you’d asked? Besides, it’s a bit late to be chickening out now, ain’t it?’‘Not at all, and no-one would call you chicken. Come on, Leigh, this is… this is crazy.’‘Not the word you want to use.’ I grinned, but Bobby didn’t return it. The storm clouds he’d been carrying for the past week had grown heavier. He’d hated this idea ever since I started planning it, and I felt a twinge of guilt at forcing him t...

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A Life In Cinders

Weekly Contest #303

Once upon a time, a young woman lived with her evil stepsisters. They bullied and abused her, making her their servant whilst they lived the high life. When the prince invited everyone to a grand ball, and her stepsisters tried to prevent her from coming, it was only the intervention of a fairy godmother that saved her, and gave her the chance of a happily ever after.This should not be her story.-The ballroom was stunning.That was hardly surprising, given it was the Prince’s greatest party yet, but still. I hadn’t known anything could look s...

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And Then He Killed My Minion

Weekly Contest #263

The hall is wide, with a high ceiling, flagstone flooring and two dozen torches lining the walls. On the dais at one end stands the Lord of Night, appropriately shrouded in black velvet, with his skull adorned throne behind him and his hordes of undead flanking him. Halfway down the hall stands the plucky band of heroes, their battered armour gleaming with internal righteousness and smugness. How melodramatic. Who doesn’t love a showdown? “You fools!” the Lord of Night laughs. “You’ve walked right into my trap! Now I will destroy you, and ...

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The Eyes of a Dragon

Weekly Contest #217

Sensitive content; physical violence, suicidal ideation, loss Banners snapped in the wind which carried the calls of the townsfolk out into the open air of the valleys. The constant low dust cloud that surrounded the town seemed to be dancing in response, a happy little jig of triumph. The sun – usually remorseless and cruel – felt almost pleasant today. The dragon-hunter, the greatest warrior of their day, was here, and everything would be all right. Gaius, loaded down with armour, swords, knives and nets, waved and smiled at the crowd...

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The Last Technical Truth

Weekly Contest #162

[Content Warning- Death] “You know, I make the meanest grilled cheese in the world.” Flicking a few more switches, Marcie checked out the cabin window. “Well, in the universe, I suppose.” A light dimmed on the panel in front of her. Thinking, she thought. “You have told me this before,” a flat voice said. “I know. I’m just not sure you believe me.” Another dim. Memory recall? “I do not have any way to make an objective judgment on your statement.” Ah, no. Snarky. “You don’t have to make a judgment. You could just trust me, you...

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Chaos and Coins

Weekly Contest #105

“Formation! Everyone form up!” There was the usual clatter and clang of armour as the soldiers formed up tighter. The lines were already there, and now they closed the gaps and squared up for the fight. Up at the front the king and his generals started parading their horses up and down the line. When the troops were in place, the king sat up further in his saddle and addressed his men. His voice carried across the first dozen lines, inspiring courage and loyalty. Fifteen rows back, Scothern leant over to Cott. “What’s he saying?” “No...

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A Quiet Night Out

Weekly Contest #104

The kettle hissed and clicked, the bubbling inside subsiding as the heating elements turned off. With a tut of frustration at the stereo, Tony left it and went to the kitchen. He poured the freshly-boiled water into his tea mug, inhaling the wonderful camomile fragrance as he did. “Perfect,” he said to himself as he replaced the kettle. Humming a little tune he dug out some biscuits and put them on a plate, before taking them and the tea into the next room. On the way past he headbutted the light-switch, sending the kitchen into darkness. ...

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The Cat Got It Easy

Weekly Contest #103

The box landed with a solid thud. “Careful!” “Bloody hell, April!” Ian kicked the box, and then started hopping when he stubbed his toe. “What have you got in here, gold bars? Please tell me it’s gold bars. Anything to get back some of that stupid Stamp Duty.” April yelled back from the other room. “Uh, will you cool it about the Stamp Duty? Seriously, how have you never heard of it before?” “Maybe because no one in my family ever owned their own house,” Ian muttered under his breath. He knew that tone of voice from April; it was the...

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All Lies

Weekly Contest #102

There was a knock on Mrs Winters’ office door and she sighed. She looked at the stack of paperwork in her ‘In’ tray on her desk, before putting the cap back on her fountain pen and sitting upright. “Enter,” she called. There was a chance, after all, that this was a quick query. It was a slim chance, and one look at the face of the teacher who leant round the door dashed that chance entirely. “What is it?” “Sorry to disturb you, Ma’am.” The teacher bit their lip as they met the stern glare. “What is it?” “We’ve got a student that’s pl...

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The Performance We Shouldn't Have Done

Weekly Contest #101

The back room of the church is echoey and cold. It’s dusty as well, and I curl my lips up as I wave a hand in front of my face to keep the dust away. This is the worst place for a warm-up, and in any other circumstances I would be demanding to talk to the manager. “It’ll have to do,” I say. Isabella comes in behind me and looks round. “It’s fine. Thank you.” Her voice is duller than I remember, and so flat that I worry about how well she’ll do today. The door clicks shut and we’re left alone. “Better warm-up,” I say and start jumping...

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Another Two-Sided Date

Weekly Contest #100

The woman pushed the door of the restaurant open and glided inside. She was tall and elegant, and so confident that -- even in a black-tie place such as this -- everyone turned to stare at her. The skin-tight, shimmering wine red dress she wore helped. The colour of it matched her hair and lips perfectly, creating an image of perfection. The maître d' fobbed off the customers he was talking to, dropping them with a waiter, and came straight over to the lady. “Good evening, ma’am,” he said with his most shark-like grin. “Do you have a res...

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