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Scott Taylor

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Apr, 2023

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81 Followers
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76 Stories

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The Fire Within

Weekly Contest #282

The Fire Within "I'm really sorry," Emily said the moment Michael opened the door. Her large brown eyes shimmered with unshed tears against the backdrop of her golden locks. Michael hesitated, his jaw tightening as he stared at her. "Can we talk?" she asked, her voice soft and pleading. Still hurting from the breakup, Michael stepped aside and invited her in. The flickering flames cast dancing shadows on the walls, mirroring the turmoil in her heart. She sat across from Michael, their eyes locked in an unspoken battle of hurt and longing. ...

12 likes 8 comments 8
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The Witch Who Came to Christmas

Weekly Contest #281

The town lay wrapped in Christmas's warm, glowing embrace, its streets alive with the mingling scents of pine, cinnamon, and wood smoke. Snowflakes danced like tiny crystal messengers in the flickering light of decorated trees while the sounds of bells and carolers wove through the air like a spell. It was a season of traditions, of joy and togetherness, yet beneath the soft hum of holiday cheer lingered the shadow of a recent tragedy—a loss so profound it seemed to cling to the snow-covered rooftops, refusing to melt away. And as laughter s...

13 likes 3 comments 3
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The Truth Beneath the Blood

Weekly Contest #278

The room smelled of antiseptic and regret, a sterile prison where the sun dared not penetrate the heavy drapes. As the machines beeped their monotonous dirge, I sat in the corner, watching my father drift between worlds—one foot still planted in the realm of the living, the other teetering on the precipice of whatever lay beyond. He was a shell of the man who had once chased me through the yard, laughter echoing like gunfire. Now, all that remained was a gaunt face, pale and waxen, and a voice that trembled like a leaf in a winter wind. “Ja...

12 likes 11 comments 11
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Shattered Certainties

Weekly Contest #276

The universe had always been a place of cold, hard truths. Being an engineer and a committed agnostic, I had always rejected the idea of a higher power, considering it merely wishful thinking. It wasn’t until I faced an unplanned physics experiment regarding inelastic collisions that changed my mind. Like many people, I imagined death as a permanent, dreamless sleep. I was self-sufficient and content with my life. Where my beliefs started is simple. I grew up hearing about how poor my father’s family was and how his mother would give money ...

18 likes 16 comments 16
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Brushstrokes of Betrayal

Weekly Contest #274

While waiting for the curator, Peter stood transfixed in the museum; his gaze locked onto a painting that seemed to vibrate with an eerie energy. A light from above focused on the painting, seemingly bringing her to life, while the rest of the area around him seemed dark and mysterious. The girl within the frame stared back at him with a haunting blend of sorrow and yearning, her eyes pulling him in like a siren's call. He felt a strange connection to the magic of the art that somehow breathed life into the scene before him. “I see you foun...

20 likes 6 comments 6
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Nudist’s Haven

Weekly Contest #272

Storms had damaged the road with potholes and washouts. Heavy rains had ravaged the earth, making the drive treacherous. Each jolt of the car reminded her of nature reclaiming its territory. Many years had passed since Sarah last visited the remote cabin. On her last visit, a bear tore down the clothesline, angering her granny. Her Grandmother had threatened to make a rug out of that bear if he came back around. It was now hers, a gift from her grandmother. Memories of her grandmother and the cabin flooded her as she neared the white split...

29 likes 6 comments 6
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Raisins and Almonds

Weekly Contest #271

The petite librarian strolled through the park, entranced by the hauntingly familiar tune that floated through the crisp autumn air. As she turned towards the source, her steps faltered, captivated by the enchanting melody of a guitar. A rugged man, with hair wild and untamed, strummed a tune from a lullaby. The song he played transported her to peaceful nights, where her mother's voice would lull her to sleep despite the stark differences between then and now. The choice to play an old Yiddish Lullaby struck her as peculiar yet heartwarmin...

33 likes 17 comments 17
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The Spaghetti Chronicles

Weekly Contest #270

The Spaghetti Chronicles is based on a true story… While the taxi arrived at the airport, an apparently ordinary businessman became caught up in a sequence of extraordinary and life-altering occurrences, each one more incredible than the previous. You ever feel like those TSA folks should at least buy you a drink or give you a little smooch after they've spent all that time feeling' you up and down? I mean, it's not like I'm some secret agent or anything. It's just a regular old trip to the airport. Flying as much as I have, I have seen t...

22 likes 10 comments 10
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Life in the Key of Loss

Weekly Contest #267

It began like any other day, wrapped in the familiar chill of winter, the kind of cold that nipped at your skin and whispered of the mundane. I pulled my coat tighter, oblivious to the tempest brewing beneath the surface of my ordinary routine. But as the frost clung to the windowpanes, I had no inkling that the very weather I took for granted would soon intertwine with the fabric of my fate, setting into motion a chain of extraordinary events that would forever alter the course of my life. Walking from my car to the elevator, the balmy 19-...

13 likes 6 comments 6
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At The Road's End

Weekly Contest #264

Since Aunt Haddie whispered the prophecy into my ear a year ago, its weight has consumed my every thought, leaving me haunted by its profoundness. A dark veil shrouds the world as the night falls, pulling me back to the ancient mansion. Inside, a mysterious ceremony awaits, cloaked in an aura of secrecy. While not exactly pleasant, the pungent stench of skunk was a relief compared to the noxious odors that filled the air on the ragged, ancient road. It was as though the air was pregnant with the lingering anguish of countless forgotten trag...

15 likes 8 comments 8
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The Haunting of BlackRock Hill

Weekly Contest #260

BlackRock Hill mansion had been the source of ghost stories for years. Lady Vanhorn decided to take her Halloween party up a notch this year. Her excessive self-obsession had no limits, causing even the Broadway crew to grow weary of her constant craving for praise. It seemed the locals were becoming bored and not offering her the praise she thought she deserved. This party must make the tabloids, but how, she wondered. It took several weeks of dedicated production work to create the flawless stunt. A staged death, a potential homicide wi...

9 likes 1 comment 1
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Faith Amidst the Storm

Weekly Contest #259

Life had a knack for turning on a dime in the quaint, sleepy coastal town of Willow Creek. Sarah, a girl of deep faith and unwavering devotion to her Lord and Savior, found her world turned upside down the day she met Alex. A tall, brooding man with fiery, rebellious eyes, Alex was the antithesis of everything Sarah believed in. Yet, as fate would have it, the moment she first set eyes on him, her heart found something in his stormy gaze it simply couldn't resist. Sarah's faith had wavered before, but this time, it felt different. Her once...

12 likes 10 comments 10
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Riches of the Past, Love Lost

Weekly Contest #258

How could you? What compelled you to do such a thing? The Washington Gazette had us on the front page holding a time capsule. The photo captured us in our youthful prime, clutching what we believed to be a time capsule unearthed in a building my company was working on. Our hearts raced with excitement at the incredible discovery. The media coverage would undoubtedly attract new customers and boost my fledgling company. We couldn’t wait to uncover the secrets hidden within the canister, our curiosity growing with each passing moment. The ma...

19 likes 13 comments 13
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A Cozy Mystery: A Tale of Deceit and Acceptance.

Weekly Contest #255

In the tranquil, picturesque town of AppleWood, the chirping of birds and the gentle rustling of leaves filled the air, creating a serene atmosphere. It was where whispers flowed freely, secrets were traded like precious gems, and the air was thick with intrigue. Samantha, a woman who had grown up in this close-knit hamlet, found solace in the quiet solitude that her introverted nature afforded her. Despite being raised in the township, she had always felt like an outsider, and even her adoptive parents became distant once she left for col...

7 likes 9 comments 9
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The Sorceress's Coronation: A Tale of Revenge and Royalty

Weekly Contest #254

Kyle Peirson had become the chinwag of the village by doctoring a poorly nag. Chucking the creature bits he knew to act as an evacuant had him pegged as a warlock. Lucy, the lass who'd taught him such tricks, came under the screws. Ere she too scarpered at the king's bidding, she hoofed it out of the country to learn how to square accounts for her brother's demise. After years with nary a hex or hocus-pocus, it was high time to give those who'd done Kyle in a taste of their own medicine. Lucy Peirson bobbed up during the King's knees-up. "...

13 likes 14 comments 14
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