The horrid heat drummed on his weary body, painting bright red splotches on pale skin. The sun squeezed sweat out of every pore. He #wilted, then face-planted into the soil.
“Go without me,” he said. “But please, tell my story.”
“What story? We’re only five minutes into the hike,” I said.
#whistpr

He was #happy to come of age and #adventure alone. His loved ones were supportive, though their stunted smiles betrayed their thoughts.
And they were right, he thought, tied to a post and watching as the fae lit the kindling around him. But few can say they’ve been a virgin sacrifice.
#2WordPrompt

“You have such beautiful skin,” I say. “I’m absolutely #green--“

I catch myself. The witch raises an eyebrow. “Which is it? Green with envy? Green around the gills? Go on.”

“I’m… 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯… when it comes to skincare. I’m #hopeful you can give me some tips?”

Nailed it.

#blueskyrelay

She threw her #yellow pieces carelessly across the board, giving no thought to her moves. Yet she played with such confidence and #enthusiasm, you’d think she’d been playing Twilight Imperium from birth.
“She’s only five,” said Mom to Dad. “Plenty of time to actually learn the rules.”
#blueskyrelay

“What lab-grown swill are you making me try now?” I ask, holding the unlabeled bottle an arm’s length away.
“I call it #Soporific Seltzer™. It’s a sleep aid. An anti-energy drink, if you will.”
I pour a little down the sink. Forest green steam rises out. “I don't think I will, but thanks."
#vss365

“Hello, thank you for calling the Homemade Cleaner Hotline. My name’s Sally. How can I help you? Dirty bowl? Sure, #dissolve baking soda into water until it makes a paste. Apply it to what’s caked onto the bowl and—what’s that? Ohh, dirty 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭? One second, let me consult the ancient texts…”
#vss365

“Your lunch,” they said, placing a silver cloche in front of the patient.
“Fancy,” she wheezed. “But I’m afraid I can’t keep food down anymore.”
“Try,” they urged. “I think you’ll like it.”
She removed the lid. A single white lily greeted her. She looked up at #Death and smiled.
“Thank you.”
#vss365

“Allow me to get your luggage,” the bellhop said.
“No need,” said the witch, toeing the trunk with disdain.
Legs sprouted from holes in the trunk’s base. Reluctantly, it scuttled up the steps.
“Neat! How about your husband and his belongings?”
She smiled knowingly. “He’s already up there.”
#vss365

Cabin in the middle of nowhere. ✔️
Bath bomb. ✔️
Cucumber face mask. ✔️
Relaxing playlist. ✔️
Fluffy robe. ✔️
Friends barging in on you because one of them nearly lost a finger and you forgot to turn off your location-tracking app. ✔️
When you’re the group’s healer, your work is never done.
#hbp108

“Walk down the abandoned tracks,” they said. “The surroundings are beautiful. You’ll gain perspective.”
They lied. I froze as the train roared towards me on the not-abandoned tracks. I gave a silent prayer and took a breath.
Then, it veered off… down a branch line I had not noticed.
#hbp73

Rocco squeezed another rivet into place and threw the pin over his shoulder. He’d clean after the bunker was complete.
Muffled yells broke his concentration. He turned to his bound family and winked at his wife. “I’m keeping y’all safe. Don’t you like the perks of having a crafty spouse?”
#hbp74

“Who’s ready to watch The Mingler?” Jen asked, holding a bottle.
“Wine? You angel,” Terry said.
Jen stopped moving, eyes glazing over. “You have a leak in the kitchen. I’ll get my tools.”
Terry sighed. Last time Jen’s plumb-senses kicked in, she installed two new toilets and a “mega-bidet.”
#hbp72

After an over 2 year hiatus, I'm finally posting work on my Substack again. Very excited to be in the game again! anthonylora.substack.com/p/im-back

#amwriting #writingcommunity #writersky #writers

Don’t let the naga’s lack of legs fool you. Their ability to take up arms gives them an edge over other serpent races. Their strong physiques, polished scales, and hypnotic #rattles make them infinitely more charming than humans. Yet another example of the sum being greater than its parts.
#whistpr

Here’s the thing about dating as a telepath. It’s not about learning the gory details of a prospective partner’s private life before you’re ready. It’s listening to the person’s mental #acoustics, their cerebral #ramblings, and asking yourself: can I handle a future full of this?
#vss365 #whistpr

#Grief is a monster slashing you with tiny pinpricks of your past. They’re reminders that give you pause as you drop the milk carton at the store, turning to look for the face of an imagined whisperer.
But it’s a friend, too. Reminding you to love the blissful reality you live in today.
#whistpr

Eve scrolled through Zoya’s profile. “This won’t get you many dates, Zee. You have to cast a wider #net.”
“I don’t want more dates. I want to find a specific fish. One with pretty scales and good intentions. Not bad breath, bad attitude, and… weird tentacles.”
“Um, that’s really specific.”
#whistpr

We were a #motley bunch of heroes:
• Captain Courageous: Leader. Two dozen superpowers. Moral compass.
• Scream: Vigilante. A terror on the streets (and the sheets, allegedly).
• Feet-4-Arms: Feet for arms.
• And myself: A billionaire who’d rather crush some skulls than crush world hunger.
#whistpr