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Martin Maynard

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Feb, 2024

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53 Followers
108 Following

24 Stories

543 karma pts

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The Thing About Opal

Weekly Contest #354

The aquarium closes at six. By seven it belongs to him.The octopus is in the east corridor. Large tank, blue-lit, the water always moving slightly from the aerator near the top. She has been here longer than he has. Three years he's been pushing this cart through these halls and she was already here when he arrived, already old by their standards, tucked behind the artificial rock formation like she'd been there since the building was built.The first time she came to the glass for him he thought it was coincidence. The second time he thought...

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Almost Dark

Weekly Contest #334

It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark.Two men stood among the trees and did not move. They had been taught not to move. They had been taught that the body was a betrayer. A foot that shifted, a sleeve that brushed a branch, a breath let out too hard. Each small thing could become a beacon.The taller man shifted anyway, once, a slow change of weight that left a faint crunch. He did it because his feet were going numb and he did not want to fall like a drunk in front of someone.The other man, the one nearer the hut,...

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The Platform

Weekly Contest #331

The lights along the edge of the train platform glowed through a faint veil of falling snow. Thin flakes drifted down as if testing the air before committing to a storm. The platform looked different in the early morning. She pulled her scarf higher across her mouth and let the cold settle into her lungs. It felt clearer than the air in her apartment had been when she slipped out before sunrise.Her birthday never made her sentimental, but she didn’t want it started with loud singing and homemade banner signs taped to the kitchen cabinets. He...

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Silence in the Fire

Weekly Contest #306

Silence in the Fire [119 DAYS POST COLLAPSE][MISSION DEBRIEF REPORT]YARROW COMMAND LOG | OPERATIONAL MISSION DEBRIEF | ENTRY 4087-A] DISTRIBUTION: INTERNAL LEADERSHIP CHANNEL ONLY (HERON, OPERATIONS RECORD) ASHLEIGH D. | STATUS: ACTIVEPhantom’s last words were: “You should’ve let me go alone.”He was right. But I couldn’t do it.We ran the corridor south of Subloop 19-terrain familiar, activity low. Pattern scans from previous missions showed gaps every 11 minutes. We entered on a 9-minute count to allow time for margin. He covered the rear.Co...

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The Hound of Hollow Pines

Weekly Contest #304

The Hound of Hollow PinesThe fire crackled low in the underground bunker, spitting sparks that briefly lit the jagged ceiling. Children sat cross-legged around the flames, wrapped in wool blankets and too-thin jackets, their faces upturned and waiting. Some leaned forward with their chins on their fists. Others, older, feigned disinterest, but even their eyes never left the man crouched beside the fire. They were sent to the odd man whose body was twisted and pained, not for a fireside ghost story, but because they needed to know what they w...

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Finding Grace

Weekly Contest #298

Finding GraceThe woods were thick with mist, quiet in a way that wasn’t natural. Silas Boone crouched low behind a stand of spruce trees, one weathered hand resting on the stock of his old hunting rifle. His ears strained against the silence, listening for the mechanical whine that always came before death. He didn’t hear it yet—but it was coming. It always was.He adjusted his canvas pack, squinting through the fog. It was late afternoon, the sky a colorless smear, neither day nor night. His boots left no trail in the pine needles. That was ...

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The Light of Luminaea

Weekly Contest #284

The Light of LuminaeaPrincess Aveline sat alone at the dining table, the flickering glow of candles casting her shadow onto the high stone walls. The Luminaea Solstice had always been her favorite celebration—a time for renewal and hope during the year's darkest night. Yet this year, hope felt as distant as the stars.The gilded hall shimmered with decorations meant to inspire cheer. Silver banners embroidered with phoenixes hung from the vaulted ceiling, and crystal lanterns lined the long oak table, their warm light reflecting off plates la...

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Footsteps and Faces at the Prescott House

Weekly Contest #274

The Footsteps at Prescott HouseIt’s funny how you can go your whole life not believing in something—until you experience it yourself. I never thought much about ghosts or demons. To me, they were just the kind of stories people told to get a rise out of others, or maybe to scare themselves for fun. I used to roll my eyes at that stuff. But one night, in an old abandoned house out in the Midwest, that all changed. It started like any other weekend adventure. My friend Josh and I had been to Prescott House once before. We’d heard all the rumor...

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The Sisters of Truth

Weekly Contest #269

The Sisters of TruthSensitivity Warning - Mild Sexual Violence Mentioned Edward Hale sat across from Detective Verena Jones in the cold, sterile interrogation room, his posture too casual, too calm for a man in his situation. His fingers tapped lightly against the metal table, a small, measured beat that gave away more than his steady voice ever could. His eyes, though polite and attentive, showed frustration. Verena knew he wasn’t the type to break easily. She could feel the tension between his words and carefully chosen pauses.Verena shift...

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Marianne's Vengeance: Dark Thoughts

Weekly Contest #255

This is a Fan-Fic story from Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility Marianne's Vengeance: Dark ThoughtsMarianne walked briskly, her steps firm and purposeful as she moved through the lush countryside surrounding the Palmers' estate. Her mind, usually so full of romantic reveries and poetic musings, was now consumed by a dark storm of anger and betrayal. Each step seemed to echo the tumult within her soul, her heart beating in rhythm with the fierce determination that propelled her forward.How could he? How could Willoughby, whom she had trusted...

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The Fallen's Plea

Weekly Contest #255

The Fallen’s PleaThe celestial courts of Heaven were a sight to behold, bathed in divine light so pure and overwhelming that it was hard to look directly at it without feeling a surge of reverence. Angels sang in harmonious choirs, their voices weaving an ethereal symphony that seemed to float on the very air. Their sounds were a testament to the eternal glory and peace that filled this sacred realm. The presence of God was everywhere, a palpable force that imbued every corner with an essence of unwavering love and justice.Amidst this celest...

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Fairness and Freedom

Weekly Contest #255

Fairness and Freedom Trigger Warning: Contains acts of war. We both stand in the clearing, staring at each other. I'm struck motionless by the suddenness of seeing him in front of me. His fear-stricken eyes mirror my shock. We recognize each other immediately—not the person, but the uniform. Neither of us has our guns at the ready. I hold mine by the stock, pointing it to the ground. He grasps his, white-knuckled, pointing it to his left, his fingers nowhere near the trigger. The slightest movement by one would send the other swinging the g...

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The Naked Truth

Weekly Contest #255

The Naked TruthGinny got out of her 1978 Ford Fairmont and opened the front door. As she stepped inside, the sound of classical music greeted her, its soft strains emanating from the far side of the house. The dim glow of candles flickered from the living room, casting dancing shadows on the walls. She knew exactly what that meant. She took off her coat and walked down the entry hall, removing her shoes and blouse before stepping into the living room. There, on the area rug, lay her husband, Dane, naked with his eyes closed. Ginny's nerves b...

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Transitions in Silence

Weekly Contest #255

Transitions in SilenceI’m sitting on my bed, holding a broken piece of wood from the neck of my acoustic guitar, contemplating a lot of different thoughts. Nothing is going as planned in my life. After this last week, especially Thursday night, my whole life seems very different.As I rub my palm against the smooth, six-inch piece of wood, I think about what happened this last week. I’ve been in Burnith, Kansas for almost six months. I came here for work, and my time is almost up. In one week, I will be leaving to go back home. My father, Nat...

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Grace and Guile; or, the Adventures of the Shadow and Fox

Weekly Contest #254

Grace and Guile; or, the Adventures of the Shadow and Fox As I descended the grand staircase in my midnight blue ball gown, I inwardly commended my discreet modifications, which rendered the gown far more comfortable than those of the vapid and affected ladies around me. These women, with their simpering smiles and ostentatious gowns, fluttered about in a vexatious manner. Their garrulous chatter grated on my nerves, making me grateful for the small adjustments I had made to my attire.Instead of the usual baleen that provided structure to my...

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