fiction

Mystery, crime, murder, unsolved cases. Contribute your own tales of crime to Criminal.

Gambling with your Life
Some people argue that life imprisonment would be a worse punishment than a death sentence but who can know. In this story, a young man willingly undertakes to give up his freedom for a sum of money to accept solitary confinement for 15 years in the belief that it will be no great punishment and indeed preferably to death.
By Ashleigh Chapman6 years ago in Criminal
The assassin and the poppies
The assassin leapt from rooftop to rooftop, her footing sure as she nimbly ran, jumped, landed and ran again. The night was dark and the streets were at their quietest. Her plan was simple, in and out, pick up her money and on to the sailboat currently anchored on the horizon.
By Nadia Cowperthwaite6 years ago in Criminal
My Nightmare
I come here every summer to put my feet in the sand. I love the smell of the ocean and picking up the seashells. Some days I just put my blanket on the sand and curl up with a good book. This is my favorite vacation spot. It's quiet and most of the people keep to themselves. Some days a glass of wine is all I need with the beautiful sunset. It allows me to clear my mind from everything that I have been through. I can't forget any of it. I have tried therapy and it only cracked the surface. I really couldn't handle it. In the back of my mind the nightmare is still there. I stay at the same condo every year. I don't really change my routine, I feel like I am living in a padded room. The fear is real. I survived a traumatic event. I was kidnapped and although I come here to the same place it happened I feel drawn to this same place every year. If I close my eyes I can see him. I can smell him. His hot breath on my neck. The way he whispered in my ear makes me shiver. His rough hands. The sweat that would drip down the side of his face due to the heat. I remember looking out of the window of the boat and seeing the coast guard through the window. Tears running down my face because I knew they couldn’t see or hear me. I couldn't yell because I was gagged. I could see the coast guard ship going further away from us. They had no idea they were so close to a monster. I thought everyone in this small town was so friendly. Most of them knew me because I had been coming here for years. I met Joseph when I arrived last year and he seemed like a great guy. He took me out to dinner and when he would bring me home just give me a peck on the cheek. He said he wanted to take it slow so we could get to know each other. I didn't get any weird feelings when I was around him. All these years of living in a big city I thought I was a good judge of character. Guess not. He had me on that ship for days. Doing horrible things to me. He thought that he had broken my spirit and decided to leave me on board after docking the boat to get more food and supplies. I was so scared he said he would make me pay if I made a sound. I knew this may be my only chance. I heard him leave and looking out the window he was walking away from the boat dock. When I couldn't see him any longer and I heard people walking by I kicked the small window with my foot. Although it hurt so bad from the gashes the glass left, I could hear people talking and saying something about the blood. So I tried to get my tied up hands out of the window, once they saw that a couple of people climbed on board and saved me. They were able to get me away from the boat before he returned. Someone called the police and he was arrested after trying to flee. They asked for my statement as I was recovering in the hospital. I told them everything. I broke down so many times, I didn’t think I would be able to get through it all. Now I live with a restless mind and a lonely soul. I don’t know what my future holds but I won’t let anyone stop me from coming to my favorite place. Although this is the nightmare I live with every day and every night. I will not let it continue to control me, I will find a way to get my light back.
By T. Cox6 years ago in Criminal
THE FARE
“I need you to take me out to the desert and leave me to die alone.” He was fully settled in the backseat and I didn’t know how to answer such a statement. I could tell he was in pain.
By Grant Whitehurst6 years ago in Criminal
Where’s the Fire?
Three people sat in the ancient Wilmington, Delaware theater. Gas lamps lit the place. The multi-billionaire Kellia “Sellz” Millken had rented the movie house to have a private oasis with her boyfriend rapper James “Hark” Wesley. They both had an affinity for silent movies. On this day, they watched a classic from 1927 titled Away, Away.
By Skyler Saunders6 years ago in Criminal
The Whale
Jonas thought of himself as a big man; successful, street-savvy, a soldier of the streets; a man of action and purpose; a born leader, able to bend others to his indomitable will; a man of sophistication and clout; charismatic. In actuality, he was a small man, not in size but in life; a thug, singular in his thoughts and actions, given to fits of rage and violence, striking out against anyone who dared question his motives. Unkempt and disheveled; stringy hair falling over his eyes, covering his malevolent gaze. Teeth chipped, yellowed and stained by his two-pack a day habit that comprised most of his forgetful thirty years of life
By Steve Anderson6 years ago in Criminal
Once A Soldier
The gun was old, like the man, but the hand was steady and the eyes were bright and alive. Shining in the shadows, just like old times, waiting, listening. Aware of every sound. Not dimmed by the years, but burning with the old fire.
By paul towson6 years ago in Criminal
Dead Silence
“Oh, shit” The lights went out, my eyes growing wide. Was it that time already? I look to my watch, which has stopped at exactly 10:59 p.m.
By Lindsay Dewolfe6 years ago in Criminal
Off the Port
The sea salt from the waves crashing into the shores blended while the stagnant force of the wind blew past me while standing at the foot of the bay. I waited, and waited for what felt like hours until I could spot the ship, remembering my confrontation with one of the big time mobster was, “You took someone I cared about from me, your bomber made a huge mistake. Now it’s time for me to get even… and believe me, you don’t know who you’re messing with… nor will you see it coming.”
By Guije 6 years ago in Criminal
Fine Mendelian Stuff
FINE MENDELIAN STUFF By David Perlmutter I. It was the middle of winter in the sector where the Mendelians dropped Pataki off to perform her appointed duties. But she didn’t mind. Being away from Earth, for her, was not a huge loss, ever since she had been recruited by the aliens as a courier. However, the climate of the distant planet where the alien race hailed from was far different from Earth’s, and that included not having anything remotely resembling winter as part of the forecast. Fortunately, Pataki had managed either to scavenge the clothes she would need (illegally, by the terms of Earth) or had told her superiors what she might need in that way to assist her on this particular mission. Therefore, she was ready and prepared when they dropped her off at the appointed time, in the snowbound northern United States she had once, reluctantly, called home.
By David Perlmutter6 years ago in Criminal
The Refuge
When they talk about me, they will call me a tragedy. My tragedy will be the latest thriller. Best seller. Legend. Myth.
By Laura Buonpastore6 years ago in Criminal
Case Four-The Damned
Trudy turned the borrowed pickup truck onto the snow-covered alley, careful not to run over the neighbor’s trash cans that were rolling over the icy roadway. A thud from the gear shifter erupted as she abruptly put the vehicle in park before opening the door. Frigid air blasted her cheeks when she bent down to pick up the wayward containers. The plastic handles were brittle from the negative temperature and crackled in her hands. After securing them against the garage she leaped back into the toasty interior of Jason’s truck. It smelled of new leather and his cologne. Rosewood and cardamom tickled her nostrils as she breathed deep. Her heart skipped a beat thinking of his arrival this evening and how she’d show him how much she had missed him while he was gone. A smile spread across her face, she knew Jason hated to leave and wondered how he was handling his ex-wife’s constant nagging. Lisa, who was also his real estate agent, was assisting him in selling his home. Last week the two had been at odds over curb appeal, Lisa wanting him to power wash the front porch and Jason balking over the impossible task in the freezing temperatures. A low chuckle escaped her lips thinking of Jason’s pained expression and twenty-minute rant as he had filled Trudy in on Lisa’s demands.
By Lori Zaremba6 years ago in Criminal