Submissions by Lozzamus
POEMS AND SHORT STORIES
Poet Introduction
I compare poetry to painting, believing that I lack any drawing/painting skills but believing my imagination and training in writing has enabled me to transfer my love of visual art to the written word
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
17th Jun 2024 8:17pm
17th Jun 2024 8:17pm
Silent - The Missing Friend
Two Years Ago, Gavin
I phoned Jace. No answer. Texted: are u around? Weird stuff going on. Call me NOW.
I went back upstairs again.
'Awww,' I screamed near the top of the stairs.
A pair of hands gripped me around the waist, travelling up to cover my eyes. A knee lodged in my kidney, forcing me back, and I found myself half-falling, half thrashing out in self-defence, certain that Steve was about to attack me.
Or Aidan.
I tried stamping on his foot, but he sensed the intended move and twisted his foot away from mine....
I phoned Jace. No answer. Texted: are u around? Weird stuff going on. Call me NOW.
I went back upstairs again.
'Awww,' I screamed near the top of the stairs.
A pair of hands gripped me around the waist, travelling up to cover my eyes. A knee lodged in my kidney, forcing me back, and I found myself half-falling, half thrashing out in self-defence, certain that Steve was about to attack me.
Or Aidan.
I tried stamping on his foot, but he sensed the intended move and twisted his foot away from mine....
#friendship
#mystery
#risk
127 reads
4 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
8th Jun 2024 6:27pm
8th Jun 2024 6:27pm
Silent - The House Abandoned
Crazy move. Philippa back in my life. She hadn't meant to hurt me yesterday, she insisted at our hastily arranged meeting in the fields after the dress rehearsal. Aidan had emotionally blackmailed her. He'd managed to confuse her. Since then, she'd decided to end the relationship with Aidan for good because it kept going around in circles, and Aidan had already left for Exeter.
'Come on,' Philippa said, taking my arm and pulling me up from the tree trunk. 'I bought a torch with.'
It was about quarter to six in the afternoon. We located the outhouse, the one Jace and...
'Come on,' Philippa said, taking my arm and pulling me up from the tree trunk. 'I bought a torch with.'
It was about quarter to six in the afternoon. We located the outhouse, the one Jace and...
#manipulation
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
137 reads
5 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
30th May 2024 7:25pm
30th May 2024 7:25pm
Silent - Sheer Danger
Two Years Ago, Lucy
Footsteps on the stairs. Faint, unlike Arthur's more laboured steps. She froze, held her breath.
Someone coming up the stairs.
Not Arthur.
The figure in the tree, watching, waiting. Climbing the steps to get to her.
But she'd just locked and bolted the kitchen door. No one could have got in through the kitchen door.
The footsteps were getting closer. She glanced around Arthur's bedroom. Nowhere to hide, apart from the wardrobe.
The footsteps stopped outside the bedroom door.
...
Footsteps on the stairs. Faint, unlike Arthur's more laboured steps. She froze, held her breath.
Someone coming up the stairs.
Not Arthur.
The figure in the tree, watching, waiting. Climbing the steps to get to her.
But she'd just locked and bolted the kitchen door. No one could have got in through the kitchen door.
The footsteps were getting closer. She glanced around Arthur's bedroom. Nowhere to hide, apart from the wardrobe.
The footsteps stopped outside the bedroom door.
...
#mystery
#risk
131 reads
4 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
25th May 2024 7:22pm
25th May 2024 7:22pm
Silent - Trapped
Two Years Earlier, Lucy
She returned to the guest room, head aching. Time to think, to plan. Let Brendon ring someone and report her. She would not forget about Dad and the fire ten years ago and her half-brother Pete.
She sat on the bed with her eyes firmly shut, wishing the pounding in her head would stop; an enormous roar that caused her to think of the sea. In her mind, she saw the unsettled waters hurtling towards a shore in the wind under the glare of a half moon. A brilliant shade of white exploded against the edges of her vision, and very slowly, facial...
She returned to the guest room, head aching. Time to think, to plan. Let Brendon ring someone and report her. She would not forget about Dad and the fire ten years ago and her half-brother Pete.
She sat on the bed with her eyes firmly shut, wishing the pounding in her head would stop; an enormous roar that caused her to think of the sea. In her mind, she saw the unsettled waters hurtling towards a shore in the wind under the glare of a half moon. A brilliant shade of white exploded against the edges of her vision, and very slowly, facial...
#mystery
#risk
149 reads
7 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
25th May 2024 6:48pm
25th May 2024 6:48pm
Silent - Family Secrets
Two Years Ago, Lucy
She overslept, waking to the sound of birdsong and a silvery mist of sunlight streaming in through the curtains. It was about midday. She lay still, snug under the weight of the duvet, wishing she could stay there for good, away from the Philippa-Steve Whittaker mess. Further down the landing, Arthur Harlesden was talking to someone on the phone. She couldn't hear the conversation, but she thought he sounded worried.
She checked her phone for messages and texts. Maxine had texted her late last night, asking for an update – she hadn't told Max yet...
She overslept, waking to the sound of birdsong and a silvery mist of sunlight streaming in through the curtains. It was about midday. She lay still, snug under the weight of the duvet, wishing she could stay there for good, away from the Philippa-Steve Whittaker mess. Further down the landing, Arthur Harlesden was talking to someone on the phone. She couldn't hear the conversation, but she thought he sounded worried.
She checked her phone for messages and texts. Maxine had texted her late last night, asking for an update – she hadn't told Max yet...
#memories
#mystery
#risk
131 reads
2 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
13th May 2024 7:49pm
13th May 2024 7:49pm
Silent - A Dangerous Game
Two Years Ago, Gavin
I woke in a state of confusion, wondering why another person was in the room. Jace lay in a peculiar position on the floor, covered by a blanket he'd nicked from somewhere, his left arm bare, displaying a line of tattoos.
From his position on the floor, he stirred, stretching out and offering me a grin. 'Alright, posh boy. What's the time?'
I glanced at the time on my phone. 'Half-seven.'
'Cheers, posh boy. Wicked, last night. Your friends are sound. What're your plans?'
'I'm heading back to London.'
'No...
I woke in a state of confusion, wondering why another person was in the room. Jace lay in a peculiar position on the floor, covered by a blanket he'd nicked from somewhere, his left arm bare, displaying a line of tattoos.
From his position on the floor, he stirred, stretching out and offering me a grin. 'Alright, posh boy. What's the time?'
I glanced at the time on my phone. 'Half-seven.'
'Cheers, posh boy. Wicked, last night. Your friends are sound. What're your plans?'
'I'm heading back to London.'
'No...
#mystery
#obsession
#risk
164 reads
6 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
11th May 2024 7:26pm
11th May 2024 7:26pm
Silent - A Familiar House?
Two Years Ago, Lucy
She went down to talk to the B & B owners who'd just finished dealing with the burning dustbin. Arthur arrived a few minutes later and settled the bill.
'Come on, you're spending a few nights at mine,' he said.
'Were they suspicious?' she asked on the way to his car.
'They were certainly a bit puzzled, but fortunately, they didn't make the connection between the fire round the back and my decision to put you up at mine for a few days. They would probably suspect bored local teenagers of starting that fire. And that might...
She went down to talk to the B & B owners who'd just finished dealing with the burning dustbin. Arthur arrived a few minutes later and settled the bill.
'Come on, you're spending a few nights at mine,' he said.
'Were they suspicious?' she asked on the way to his car.
'They were certainly a bit puzzled, but fortunately, they didn't make the connection between the fire round the back and my decision to put you up at mine for a few days. They would probably suspect bored local teenagers of starting that fire. And that might...
#memories
#mystery
#risk
123 reads
2 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
3rd May 2024 6:15pm
3rd May 2024 6:15pm
Silent - The Friends Gather
Two Years Ago, Gavin
Jace didn't say much about Lucy, just that she'd told him who she was and that he knew that I already knew about the situation and that Veronica was somehow involved. Lucy and Jace had got together to talk about Philippa who was causing friction with Steve and other members of the Harlesden family.
Thankfully, Terence Harlesden had ordered Steve's mother or grandfather Arthur to send Steve to stay with family friends up in Scotland because his behaviour had got out of control and they didn't want him ending up in trouble with the police.
...
Jace didn't say much about Lucy, just that she'd told him who she was and that he knew that I already knew about the situation and that Veronica was somehow involved. Lucy and Jace had got together to talk about Philippa who was causing friction with Steve and other members of the Harlesden family.
Thankfully, Terence Harlesden had ordered Steve's mother or grandfather Arthur to send Steve to stay with family friends up in Scotland because his behaviour had got out of control and they didn't want him ending up in trouble with the police.
...
#friendship
#mystery
129 reads
2 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
15th Apr 2024 1:09pm
15th Apr 2024 1:09pm
Silent - Pursued
Two Years Ago, Lucy
No good, Jace mouthed to her. I'll text you later.
The lad Gavin had calmed down, though not totally. He remained shaky and close to tears. The explosion of sheer emotion had shocked her. She decided to leave and let Jace and Gavin talk among themselves, as she'd already worked out what must have happened: the girl in black, Philippa. Another witch, from the sounds of it.
Her half-sister.
Earlier.
Jace told her about Philippa when they'd met at six-thirty. The facts fitted, as she'd always known that Dad had an...
No good, Jace mouthed to her. I'll text you later.
The lad Gavin had calmed down, though not totally. He remained shaky and close to tears. The explosion of sheer emotion had shocked her. She decided to leave and let Jace and Gavin talk among themselves, as she'd already worked out what must have happened: the girl in black, Philippa. Another witch, from the sounds of it.
Her half-sister.
Earlier.
Jace told her about Philippa when they'd met at six-thirty. The facts fitted, as she'd always known that Dad had an...
#memories
#mystery
#obsession #risk
#obsession #risk
110 reads
4 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
5th Apr 2024 8:24pm
5th Apr 2024 8:24pm
Silent - Rock Bottom
Two Years Ago, Gavin
Sorry, back with Aidan. x Philippa
Just like that. Dumped by text. No explanation, nothing.
The words Back with Aidan meant she had been his girlfriend all along. Philippa had lied from the moment she'd introduced me to him. Aidan had told the truth from the start.
My hands were shaking. Not putting up with this. I dialled her number.
She answered after four rings. 'You're wasting your time, Gavin. I've already made up my mind.'
She ended the call. I tried again, but this time voicemail took over and I...
Sorry, back with Aidan. x Philippa
Just like that. Dumped by text. No explanation, nothing.
The words Back with Aidan meant she had been his girlfriend all along. Philippa had lied from the moment she'd introduced me to him. Aidan had told the truth from the start.
My hands were shaking. Not putting up with this. I dialled her number.
She answered after four rings. 'You're wasting your time, Gavin. I've already made up my mind.'
She ended the call. I tried again, but this time voicemail took over and I...
#love
#relationships
#mystery #obsession
#mystery #obsession
133 reads
6 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
1st Apr 2024 7:29pm
1st Apr 2024 7:29pm
Silent - The Moment Of Truth
Two Years Ago, Gavin
Bed and shower. At around half three, Philippa went back to her room to fetch a bottle of white wine and plastic cups, and we headed downstairs to the Remembrance Garden.
'What's really going on?' I said. 'You reinventing your background and coming here? Altering your age? Saying you're from Kent when you're from Exeter? Your interest in the fire?' I couldn't bring myself to mention Philippa's half-sister Lucy, since it seemed out of order, like betraying Lucy.
'I suppose now's the right time to tell you,' Philippa said. 'I'm the...
Bed and shower. At around half three, Philippa went back to her room to fetch a bottle of white wine and plastic cups, and we headed downstairs to the Remembrance Garden.
'What's really going on?' I said. 'You reinventing your background and coming here? Altering your age? Saying you're from Kent when you're from Exeter? Your interest in the fire?' I couldn't bring myself to mention Philippa's half-sister Lucy, since it seemed out of order, like betraying Lucy.
'I suppose now's the right time to tell you,' Philippa said. 'I'm the...
#relationships
#mystery
#obsession
140 reads
4 Comments
FICTIONAL PROSE
Published
22nd Mar 2024 7:45pm
22nd Mar 2024 7:45pm
Silent - A Secret Revealed
Two Years Ago, Lucy
The coast was busy, the tide out. She sat on a bench further down, away from the locals, and waited for him.
They'd talked yesterday afternoon, although she'd been wary of him at first. It had happened just after Arthur had discovered her and Gavin at the House. She'd waited for Arthur by the bungalow and Arthur had dropped her off in town in the car, maintaining still that the boy Pete Whittaker wasn't Dad's son but Terence's. On the way back to the Bed and Breakfast, she'd passed Jace on the street and he'd stopped her to talk about Monday...
The coast was busy, the tide out. She sat on a bench further down, away from the locals, and waited for him.
They'd talked yesterday afternoon, although she'd been wary of him at first. It had happened just after Arthur had discovered her and Gavin at the House. She'd waited for Arthur by the bungalow and Arthur had dropped her off in town in the car, maintaining still that the boy Pete Whittaker wasn't Dad's son but Terence's. On the way back to the Bed and Breakfast, she'd passed Jace on the street and he'd stopped her to talk about Monday...
#mystery
#obsession
#risk
121 reads
2 Comments
DU Poetry : Submissions by Lozzamus
