Mystery
My Struggle with Sleep
My parents assert that I previously slept more soundly than any other child. Between the ages of five and eight, I would nap in automobiles, on sofas, and similar locations. It wasn’t too big a fight to get me to bed at night either, which is saying a lot when you’re a tiny child. Although I did have a practice of awakening at 3 am and striking my mother's head with a book to get her to read to me, my overall sleep quality was generally consistent. However, at around age 12, a change occurred. It may have been puberty, characterized by surging hormones. I have always believed it may be related to my first encounters with anxiety. Regardless, that summer, I seldom slept. This implies that I would get around 2 to 3 hours of sleep each night. That isn’t enough for any youngster or for any adult.
By Iron-Pen☑️ 2 years ago in Chapters
The Obsidian Key
That seemed like a lighthouse on the dark and deserted station. I stood before the terminal, still catching my breath, and with my heart pounding from that chase through Neo-Aurum's twisting streets. A flurry of questions raced through my mind. What was Nexus, truly? And why had it chosen me?
By Vinay Singh2 years ago in Chapters
Chapter 2: A Whisper in the Network
The alley wall map pulsed with a dim glow, warping its surroundings and throwing skewed shadows across the rain slick ground. In the center was the word “Nexus,” sweet-talking like a promise or a harbinger. I hesitated, the gravity of what I had seen weighing on my mind. This wasn’t just some glitch, one of those annoying coincidences or a bug buried in the sprawling digital ecosystem of Neo-Aurum. It was deliberate.
By Vinay Singh2 years ago in Chapters
Chapter 1: The Shimmering City
Neo-Aurum. Just the name felt like a promise, a half-whispered echo of some gilded future. I stayed on my balcony of the apartment, ten stories high above the jangle of the spinning city on the hundredth floor, daring to look out at the after-the-fact sparkle of the city’s bright effulgence against the night. But the city was more than beautiful, it was alive, an animate thrumming of hyper-advanced tech and glowing holographic advertisements and the cold, iron-fisted wisdom of Titan, the all-knowing, all-seeing AI overlord of the city. Or so we were told.
By Vinay Singh2 years ago in Chapters
Where did the Brick Tree go?
Once upon a time (around 2018 AD) in a bustling city (Clearwater, Florida) there was a commercial lot where an empty building that had once been a thriving restaurant and then a thriving casino. The building remained on the lot empty, but the old oak trees surrounding it continue to stand and grow. Many locals would walk past the lot and look at the empty building and trees, possibly reminiscing about the history associated or their personal memories of having participated at the restaurant or casino. There were even homeless outcasts who considered the abandoned building and lot a safe, cozy park to rest at under the tall oaks that provided plenty of shade on a hot, sweaty Florida day.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman2 years ago in Chapters
Fate Between Shadows
Chapter 1: The Return The air in the town of Ardell was thick with memories, memories that Raisa had buried long ago—memories that the wind seemed intent on bringing back. She stood at the entrance of the quiet, desolate town, her gaze tracing the old streets that once held laughter, now only whispers. The late afternoon sun bathed the town in a golden glow, but it felt like the light could barely penetrate the heavy shadows that clung to the corners of the buildings. The scent of wet earth and rust lingered in the air, as though the town itself had never fully recovered from the storm it had weathered. Raisa hadn’t planned on returning—not like this. Not when her heart still carried the weight of unresolved questions. But when the news of the disappearances reached her, something stirred deep within her. The town hadn’t changed, but she had. She wasn’t the same naive girl who’d left ten years ago, running from a past she couldn’t bear to face. Now, she was a journalist, driven by a thirst for truth—no matter how dark it might be. She could hear the low hum of the old town square, the murmur of hushed conversations and the occasional creak of a door opening. As her boots echoed on the cracked pavement, she couldn't shake the feeling that eyes were watching her, hidden behind drawn curtains and half-closed blinds. It was as if the entire town knew she was here, but the people weren’t sure if they wanted her to stay. Or if they ever wanted to see her again. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her from her thoughts. A text message from her editor flashed across the screen: “Get the story, Raisa. This is bigger than you think.” She shoved the phone back into her pocket, her jaw tightening. She wasn’t here just for a story. She was here for the truth. And the truth, she had a feeling, would be much darker than anything she could write. --- It wasn’t long before she reached the old police station. The building, once a place of authority, now stood silent and decaying—its windows cracked, the paint peeling, as if even the walls had given up on remembering what it once stood for. Raisa’s heart pounded in her chest as she pushed open the heavy door. The musty air hit her like a slap, the scent of old leather and forgotten files lingering in the air. Behind the counter, a figure sat hunched over, scribbling notes into a ledger. “Raisa?” The voice was low, raspy, but it carried an authority that made her freeze. She looked up, eyes narrowing. Standing in front of her, as if he had been waiting for this moment, was Lorien. His dark eyes pierced through her, holding her gaze with a depth that felt unnerving, like he could see straight into her soul. His jaw was sharp, his posture rigid, and there was something about him that exuded an unsettling confidence. She hadn’t seen him in years, but the memory of him was as clear as the day they’d parted. There had been a time when they had been inseparable—two sides of the same coin, until everything fell apart. “What are you doing here?” Raisa’s voice was steady, though the sudden rush of emotion caught her off guard. The memories, the betrayal, it all came flooding back. Lorien didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he took a slow step toward her, his eyes never leaving hers. "You came back for the story," he said, his voice like a whisper against the thick silence. "But the truth... it’s not what you think." Raisa bristled, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. “What do you mean?” Lorien's gaze darkened. “There are things in this town—things you won’t want to uncover.” His words hung in the air like a warning, but Raisa wasn’t here to be cautioned. Not anymore. She was here to find answers, no matter how deep into the darkness she had to go. "You think I’m afraid of the truth?" she asked, voice trembling with something other than fear. Something dangerous. She had nothing left to lose. His lips curled into a slight, knowing smile. "No. But you will be." ---Thank
By Maimuna Parvez Raisa2 years ago in Chapters
The Light Beyond the Fog
In a small coastal village perpetually shrouded in mist, there was a tale whispered among the townsfolk about “The Eternal Beacon.” Legends spoke of a lighthouse that shone brighter than the sun, piercing through the densest fog, guiding lost sailors home. Yet, no one had ever seen it—not in living memory.
By Shiv Rabari2 years ago in Chapters
