Part 1

This is the Beginning as Far as We Know
“What is it to you if I sell her?” A woman speaks on the other side of the wall, and my feet stop in their tracks. Was Emmie saying what I think she was?
By Roses-are-red2 years ago in Chapters
Lustre
Lustre was at the height of their fame—a group synonymous with charm, talent, and impeccable harmony. Asaiah had always been the quiet one, the steady foundation holding them together while the others shone brighter. But what she lacked in flashiness, she made up for with her resilience and quiet brilliance.
By llaurren's reads2 years ago in Chapters
"Echoes of the Forgotten Realm"Chapter I
Chapter I: The Shattered Crown Beneath the skies of crimson dusk, Where stars lie veiled in ancient musk, A kingdom slept in whispered grief, Its heart undone by a stolen thief. The throne of gold, now cracked and bare, Once held a queen with raven hair. Her crown, the light of realms untold, Was forged in flames of runes and gold. But shadows crept on midnight's tide, A specter cloaked where secrets hide. With silent hands, it seized the jewel, And left the kingdom dark and cruel. The forest wept in hollow sighs, The rivers froze beneath the skies. No larks sang songs, no wolves did prowl, Only silence, cold and foul. Yet deep within the cursed land, A child rose with fire in hand. Her eyes of amber, sharp and keen, Saw truth within the haunted sheen. A voice from whispers, soft and near, Spoke of hope through fractured fear. "Seek the vale where shadows blend, And find the crown where worlds ascend." The child set forth, her heart ablaze, Through thorn-clad paths and twilight haze. For though the darkness sought her still, Her spirit bent not to its will.
By COU2 years ago in Chapters
The Whispered Truth Chapter 1:The Note. Content Warning.
Chapter 1: The Note The rain pelted against the window of Claire Dawson’s small apartment, creating a rhythmic tapping that matched the anxiety pounding in her chest. She sat at the kitchen table, staring at the folded piece of paper in her trembling hands. It had been slipped under her door just an hour ago. On the front, written in sharp, deliberate handwriting, were four words: “I know what you did.” Claire’s stomach churned. The words were like a cold blade pressed against her skin. She unfolded the note, hoping for more context, but the inside was blank. Nothing to explain who sent it or what they thought she had done. Her mind raced through possibilities. Could it be a prank? Or something more sinister? For the past three years, Claire had lived a quiet life, working as a librarian in the sleepy town of Blackwood. But she hadn’t always been Claire Dawson. She glanced at the clock. 9:13 p.m. The streets outside were quiet, the kind of silence that could only exist in a small town during a storm. She grabbed her phone and scrolled through her contacts, hesitating over the name “Detective Harris.” He had once told her she could call him anytime if she felt unsafe. But what would she say? That she got a creepy note? He’d laugh it off or, worse, ask questions she couldn’t answer. Claire set the phone down and locked the windows and doors instead. She double-checked the deadbolt, her heart pounding louder with each twist of the lock. She tried to distract herself, pouring a glass of wine and sitting on the couch with a book. But every creak of the floorboards, every howl of the wind outside, made her jump. By midnight, exhaustion overtook her. She fell asleep on the couch, the note clutched in her hand. Claire woke with a start. The clock read 3:47 a.m. Something had jolted her awake—a noise, faint but distinct. It sounded like the scuff of a shoe against hardwood. Her heart raced as she reached for her phone, but it wasn’t on the coffee table where she’d left it. She froze, her breath catching in her throat. Then she heard it again, closer this time. Someone was in the apartment. Claire’s mind flashed back to the note. Was this connected? Was someone here to hurt her? She reached under the couch cushion and pulled out the small kitchen knife she’d hidden there—a habit from her past life. Footsteps echoed in the darkness. The intruder wasn’t trying to be quiet anymore. They wanted her to know they were there. Summoning every ounce of courage, Claire crept toward the sound. The knife felt heavy in her hand, but she gripped it tightly. Her pulse thundered in her ears as she peered around the corner. The living room was empty. The door was still locked. Then she heard a whisper, soft and chilling, coming from her bedroom. “Claire…” She bolted for the front door, but as her hand grasped the knob, she realized it wouldn’t budge. The locks were jammed. Panic set in. The whisper came again, this time closer. “Claire, you can’t run forever.” She turned and faced the dark hallway leading to her bedroom. Slowly, a figure emerged from the shadows. They wore a black hoodie, the hood pulled low over their face. In their hand was her phone. “Who are you?” Claire demanded, her voice trembling. The figure tilted their head. “You don’t recognize me? I’m hurt. After everything we went through?” Her blood ran cold. The voice was familiar. It had been years, but she’d never forget it. “Marcus…” she whispered. He stepped closer, pulling back the hood to reveal his face. Marcus Trent, the man she thought she had escaped. The man she thought was dead. “Miss me?” he said with a smirk. Claire backed away, her mind racing. She had to get out, but Marcus blocked her only exit. “I told you, Claire,” he continued. “You can’t run forever. Not from me. Not from what you did.” Before she could respond, the lights flickered and went out, plunging the apartment into darkness.
By COU2 years ago in Chapters
Love
A soft chime signaled a new message on Amara’s phone. She reached for it, her heart skipping a beat. It was from Jason. Jason: “Good morning, Amara. Ready for another long day of reports?”
By Katina Banks2 years ago in Chapters
Rise and Soar: Unlock Your Inner Strength and Rise Above Challenges
Life has a way of testing us, pushing us to our limits, and sometimes leaving us feeling broken and defeated. But within every struggle lies an opportunity to rise, to discover our inner strength, and to soar higher than we ever imagined. This is the essence of the poem "Stand Up and Fly"—a powerful reminder that the strength to overcome lies within us all along.
By MG2102 years ago in Chapters
A Forgotten Dream
I can never see some things, because my heart is afraid to go into the darkness. Lucy! Why doesn't everything become quiet here so that I don't get lost in those voices? I can hear the loneliness inside me. Kezia, why do you want loneliness? Why do you always say such things which are difficult to understand? Everyone here wants to say something or the other, Lucy!, but no one wants to listen. It's hard to believe, that one day there can be peace here. But the day everything becomes quiet here, I will hear my mother's call clearly. The call that I have always wanted to hear, I have always been searching for her. Lucy! I have not even seen my mother's face yet, but I can feel her presence; those memories of hers, which we never shared, have become a part of my existence. Your mother... Kezia, where is your mother? I pray to God that you meet your mother soon." Lucy! Whenever I ask my father about my mother, he says she will come to meet me very soon. Your mother is a fairy, who lives far away in the fairyland, and fairies are always happy. My mother is still alive, my father says, but Lucy, it's hard to believe that she is a living fairy. Kezia, then your mother must be watching you from the fairyland. She will definitely come to meet you one day. Don't be sad like this, dear I feel very bad about you. Lucy! Why don't you understand., "Every attempt to peek beyond the veil of reality will pull you into such a whirlpool of imagination, where logic and consciousness start getting lost. The search there will shatter your inner peace and take you to the last threshold of madness. Kezia, you talk very strangely, sometimes I do not understand at all what you want to say. Kezia became silent. She looked at Lucy and smiled; now, she didn't want to say anything more. Lucy now turned right into a narrow lane, from where her house was a little further. While going, she said to Kezia, "Will you come to my house to play this evening." Probably, I will definitely come. Kezia smiled and nodded." And both of them went their own ways. She was watching Lucy go; she smiled for a moment, and her eyes sparkled. She wanted to say something, but then she bowed her head and slowly crossed that lane with heavy steps and moved forward. The sadness and emptiness that had entered the depths of her heart took away her smile; the sparkle in her eyes had disappeared somewhere. She lost all her creativity, she had made loneliness a means to satisfy her soul. The will to fulfill a dream makes a person lonely. She smiled, whenever she thought about her mother. At least when she was completely lost in the thoughts of her mother, then she had nothing to do with the real world outside. But the waves of loneliness rising inside her, silently drowned her soul in deep silence. It's hard to believe, Mrs. Eliana that we will meet in this life. "She said smilingly to herself." And started walking towards her house
By Karan w. 2 years ago in Chapters
The Silver Veil - Chapter 1
The story is set in a sprawling, magical city where the ruling elite wield arcane powers to maintain control. Cassian, a thief with a mysterious past, accidentally discovers a forbidden artifact during a routine heist. This artifact, the Silver Veil, grants him the ability to see into other dimensions, revealing a hidden barrier between worlds. However, this newfound power comes with a curse—visions of other realms that threaten to drive him mad. As Cassian grapples with his curse, he becomes the target of powerful factions, including the city's ruling council and a shadowy group of otherworldly beings. Selene Nightshade, a sorceress with her own dark agenda, enters the fray, seeking to use the Veil for her own purposes. Cassian must navigate a web of intrigue, betrayal, and danger as he uncovers the secrets of the Veil and its connection to an impending war between realms.
By Samrah Sayyed2 years ago in Chapters
Before It Ends. Top Story - January 2025. Content Warning.
When we are children everything seems to have a conspiracy or scary story around it. We make up stories of the things that go bump in the night. We have such a naïve side that we often believe the stories we tell, exaggerating them more each time they are shared with our friends. Sometimes we make up stories based on bits and pieces that we hear the adults around us talking about, and other times we take actions based on those bits and pieces, not realizing what a mistake that can be.
By Luna Verity2 years ago in Chapters
Focus on What We Can Control: A Journey to Inner Peace
A Simple Exercise for Clarity Here’s a helpful way to navigate this: take a moment to reflect and write down: What you CAN control. What you CAN’T control.
By MG2102 years ago in Chapters
Major Study Links 15 Factors to Early Dementia Risk
while dementia is tons extra commonplace in older adults, masses of thousands of people are diagnosed with young-onset dementia (YOD) every year, and an intensive examine published in 2023 sheds a few massive mild on why.
By John William2 years ago in Chapters
Lyra the Princess
In Lyra's world, going to school felt like a curse. For her, it was so dull and painful, “as if she had lost her entire life just by spending a few hours there.” She had no friends at school; she came alone and left alone. Though there was always a crowd of girls around her, they only spoke to her to mock her or tease her. She sat in the corner of the classroom, the one with the only window in the room. That corner was where all the muddy and dirty footprints accumulated, the dirtiest and most soil-covered part of the room. Lyra cleaned that spot every day, but by the next day, there was even more dirt and mud for her to clean. It was the only spot in the room "that needed to be cleaned daily." She was always a quiet and calm girl "because no one was there to listen to her." She loved playing relay races, “but no one wanted to play with her.” She spent most of her time sitting in that corner, watching the girls in the schoolyard play through the window. Sometimes, when the game reached its peak excitement, “she, too, would get thrilled, as if she were part of a team, playing on the field.” In her imagination, she crossed the finish line of the relay race, as if she were flying in the air. But when the curtain of dreams lifted from her eyes, Apart from sadness and pain, he could see nothing outside the window.
By Karan w. 2 years ago in Chapters