Fantasy
Nightmare On Pennywise St, (Present Day) September, 2021 (Fiction)
The next morning, Toby awoke to the obnoxious buzz of an alarm blaring for what seemed like an eternity. The air reeked of stale cat urine and dirty laundry. Sesame Street played on the television in the next room, with the volume so high it seemed as though Elmo was sitting right next to Toby, yelling.
By Anton Mathias Heft 10 months ago in Fiction
G.I. Joe's Last Stand, Saturday, December 25th, 2010
This was Toby’s best Christmas ever!! He woke up to a mountain of presents, even ones he hadn’t dared ask Santa for. A brand new Playstation 2 sat amid the chaos along with two amazing new games: an adventurous SpongeBob game and Spyro the Dragon. There was also a football, a blue and orange frisbee, a fresh pair of shoes, a stack of new clothes, and not one but two big stockings overflowing with sweetness and joy.
By Anton Mathias Heft 10 months ago in Fiction
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Untold Story Before Game of Thrones
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: A Simpler, Deeper Story from the World of Westeros When people think of epic fantasy television, the first name that comes to mind is Game of Thrones—a brutal world of power, betrayal, dragons, and blood-soaked politics. Later, House of the Dragon expanded that universe with even more fire and royal conflict.
By Junaid Shahid 10 months ago in Fiction
The Color Thief
It was a colorless world. The gray skies of winter not the grey days themselves, but this was the place, where everything, even pleasure, had turned black and white and grey. The streets where life was once rich now lay quiet away in monotony. There were now those gardens that bloomed with reds, yellows and purples, but now lay dead, with leaves rotting to dust, and under the earth the flowers could not be differentiated. Laughter also had lost its sound, and in its place was a hollow echo, which felt as though standing right behind your ears.
By Shahd Sameh10 months ago in Fiction
The Inferno Elixir: A Legacy of Blood
1. The Sinister Stillness of the Village My grandfather had always been an enigmatic man, but in the last three years, his eccentricity had crossed into something far more unsettling. He lived alone in a secluded house far from the city’s clamor, tucked away in a village perpetually choked by mist. We assumed he was merely grieving the loss of my grandmother and his lifelong friend, but his gaze hid something deeper than sorrow—a secret that was slowly devouring his soul. During my last visit, I was struck by the sight of his refrigerator; it was grotesquely overstuffed with heaps of raw meat. He claimed with a cold detachment that it was for the poor, but his face betrayed the lie. Even more disturbing was the reinforced steel door he had installed in the basement, from which a foul stench seeped through the cracks—a smell like a carcass that refused to stay buried. 2. A Descent into the Abyss Late that night, I took advantage of my grandfather’s heavy sleep. With trembling fingers, I pilfered a modern, sophisticated key from his cabinet. I descended the decaying stairs into the basement, my flashlight cutting through the oppressive gloom. The air there didn't just smell of rot; it smelled like a slaughterhouse. Dry bloodstains smeared the walls, and in the corners lay bleached-white human skeletons. I approached the reinforced room and peered through a tiny peephole. The blood froze in my veins. A gaunt creature, its bones protruding obscenely from its skin, stood there. Its hair was so long it trailed behind it like a shroud. It moved on all fours with a demonic fluidity. Suddenly, its eyes—completely white—locked onto the hole. It wasn't looking at me; it was scenting me. 3. The Bitter Truth Before I could flee, I felt the sharp sting of a needle in my neck. The world dissolved into darkness. I awoke inside a hermetically sealed glass chamber. My grandfather stood on the other side of the glass, weeping bitterly as he recounted the catastrophe: > "Three years ago, your grandmother was on the brink of death. A stranger with non-human features knocked on my door and gave me a dark red elixir, claiming it was the salvation. I injected her, but she transformed into this ravenous monster. I killed my oldest friend and fed him to her just to protect her secret. I love her, Alex, and I cannot let you leave to expose the truth of her 'death' to the world." > 4. The Banquet of Blood The glass barrier began to rise slowly, and the monstrosity crouched, ready to pounce. Suddenly, a scream pierced the silence. My younger brother, Thomas, had followed me. With a heavy blow from a sharp tool, he struck our grandfather, sending him sprawling into the room. In a moment of primal madness, the creature lunged at my grandfather, tearing into his flesh with unspeakable ferocity. Thomas and I fled, the screams echoing behind us, until the police arrived and ended the nightmare with a hail of bullets into the body of what was once my grandmother. 5. The Vicious Cycle A year has passed since that night, and I thought I had survived. But fate plays a cruel game. It is now the anniversary of my grandfather’s death, and my brother Thomas is wasting away from a rare, terminal illness. Last night, amidst the darkness, a stranger knocked on my door—matching the exact description my grandfather once gave. He placed a small box in my hand containing a vial of dark red liquid and hissed into my ear: "This is the only cure for your brother." The stranger vanished as if he never existed. I analyzed the liquid in a lab, and the results were bone-chilling: "A substance extracted from an unknown biological entity, non-existent in any natural record." I hold the vial in my hand now, looking at my pale brother, hearing the echo of my grandfather’s voice in my head. Do I repeat the tragedy? Do I begin a new massacre in the name of love? The elixir is before me, and hell is waiting just behind the door. Would you like me to create a "Book Cover" style description for this story, or perhaps suggest a sequel?
By Mayar Younes10 months ago in Fiction
The Ancient Egyptian Goddess Ammit. Content Warning.
In Egyptian mythology the ‘Hall of Ma'at’ is a forsaken place, dark and unforgiving. The rite of passage to immortality of one’s soul hangs in the balance. A ceremony named quite appropriately as the “Weighing of the Heart” has two potential outcomes, a pathway to eternity for the pure of heart, the other a dark voyage into everlasting agony and condemnation.
By Michael Langille10 months ago in Fiction
The Echo of Water: Washing Away the Scent of Fear
1. A Haunting Nocturnal Ritual For John, his marriage to Mia was supposed to be a sanctuary of peace after years of solitude. Mia was like a figurine of fine crystal; delicate in her movements, soft-spoken, and always trailing a faint scent of hibiscus and vanilla. Yet, beneath this serene surface lay a disturbing nocturnal ritual: twice every night, before retiring to bed, Mia would bathe. It was a rigorous, almost sacred routine that never faltered, regardless of the circumstances. John, a designer with a keen eye for detail, would watch her slip into bed with her back turned to him, whispering a faint "Goodnight" before sinking into a sleep that resembled an escape. He initially dismissed it as a fastidious obsession with cleanliness, never realizing that the water wasn’t for hygiene—it was a desperate attempt to wash away a "memory" that refused to die.
By Mayar Younes10 months ago in Fiction
A perfect stranger
A perfect stranger unknowingly held the girl's deepest secret Catalaya was a girl distinguished by the intensity and authenticity of her love. Catalaya had been captivated by a mysterious figure who dwelled only in her imagination, a recurring presence that tantalized her with fleeting glimpses, only to vanish into thin air, leaving her with a deep sense of longing. Occasionally, she would catch a glimpse of him, but her fear of rejection and vulnerability always held her back from mustering the courage to approach him. Despite her best efforts to devise a plan, their paths continued to cross without ever truly meeting, a frustrating dance of near-encounters that left her feeling both exhilarated and defeated. Torn between her desire for connection and her reluctance to appear desperate or as a nutcase, Catalaya found herself at the mercy of her heart's deepest longings, unsure of how to bridge the gap between her imagination and reality. Catalaya overheard a voice across the hall. The sound of the name Alayan, spoken in a deep, soothing voice, had a profound effect on Catalaya, capturing her attention and drawing her in with an otherworldly allure. She turned to find the man she had often glimpsed but never really seen, their encounters limited to brief, tantalizing moments that left her wanting more. As she imagined him speaking to her, she felt a flutter of embarrassment, her heart racing with anticipation. The memory of their incomplete encounter lingered, a bittersweet reminder of what could have been. When their eyes finally met, Catalaya felt a jolt of electricity, a sense of connection that went beyond the physical realm. She felt as if they had known each other in a time before. She recognized this as a chance to establish a meaningful connection with him, whether through a simple yet sincere greeting, a genuine compliment that highlighted her admiration for him, or a humble request for aid that showcased her willingness to be vulnerable. Her confidence was apparent in her poised demeanor, yet she refrained from appearing cocky, instead opting for a subtle yet radiant smile. She smiled, knowing that her smile possessed the power to captivate even someone she had never met, its warmth and kindness disarming and inviting. Upon noticing her smile, he approached her to greet her and compliment her on her captivating beauty, his words genuine and heartfelt. What began as a moment she treasured evolved into a series of experiences that brought her immense joy, each encounter building upon the last to create a deep and abiding connection. As Catalaya considered her next move, she realized that this could be her only chance to get close to him, to break down the barriers that had been holding her back, and explore her feelings. Should she be brave, take a chance, and see where things might go, or should she prioritize caution, safeguard her emotional well-being, and avoid the risk of getting hurt, potentially losing her chance at something special?
By Ceanna Glasgow10 months ago in Fiction
