Historical
Shakespeare in Love
I loved Shakespeare but when he turned up on my doorstep to declare his love, I was more than a little surprised. He wasn't dressed to impress, or at least, not me, in his ruff and tights. I'm no Elizabeth. He was just drawing attention to himself.
By Rachel Deeming2 years ago in Fiction
Whispers in the Dark: The Curse of Shroud
Elias Greaves had always been a man of shadows. An enigmatic figure with a brilliant mind, he spent his days buried deep within the bowels of a sprawling, decaying city—a city where corruption festered in every corner and the powerful feasted upon the powerless. Elias worked obscurely in the sterile, fluorescent-lit laboratories of a large pharmaceutical conglomerate. His mind was unparalleled, his discoveries revolutionary, yet the limelight dodged him. The fruits of his labour lay stolen by those above him, their names in the annals of fame, while his remained lost to the void.
By JOHN NHYIRA2 years ago in Fiction
Faith and Agony in 1865. Content Warning.
As we slowly approached Camp Sumpter, our noses were struck with a foul odor which caused many of the men to retch. All of us were accustomed to the stench of death and decay. The roads we’d marched for the past three years were littered with corpses whose lingering scent overpowered the air. This was much worse than decomposing flesh, a smell I never thought could be bested. Even our Confederate captors winced.
By Nancy Gwillym2 years ago in Fiction
A Real-Life Hunger Games
1. In the year 2000, a low-budget Japanese film titled Battle Royale was released, sparking significant controversy and leading several countries to impose outright bans on the movie. This reaction can likely be attributed to the film's unconventional premise, which involves a group of students being incapacitated during a school trip and subsequently transported to a remote island where they are compelled to engage in lethal combat. This is certainly not a narrative one would associate with Disney. Even if one is unfamiliar with Battle Royale, which has since attained the status of a cult classic, the storyline may still resonate due to its notable similarities to one of the most prominent book and film franchises of recent decades—The Hunger Games. Both narratives are marked by extreme violence and brutality, and they have garnered considerable acclaim from millions of fans globally for their entertainment value. However, neither The Hunger Games nor Battle Royale has been criticized for their realism; the concept of random individuals being abandoned on an isolated island and forced to fight to the death seems implausible in reality. Yet, it appears that such a scenario has indeed occurred. The real-life counterpart to The Hunger Games was far more harrowing than any fictional account conceived by a creative writer. In the 1930s, thousands of prisoners were abandoned on a desolate Siberian island without access to food or water, and the subsequent events were so profoundly disturbing that attempts were made to erase them from historical records. This account pertains to Stalin's Cannibal Island, one of history's most chilling illustrations of the consequences of pushing human beings beyond their limits. Joseph Stalin, in particular, stands out as a notably malevolent figure. If one were to create a card game featuring history's most notorious dictators, Stalin would undoubtedly compete with figures such as Hitler and Pol Pot for the title of the most formidable card in the set. He ascended to the position of General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1922 and, among other actions, he employed various oppressive measures.
By cathynli namuli2 years ago in Fiction
The Dolphin Guardian. Dedicated to Tiffany Gordon, our Vocal Superhero who loves dolphins.
It all began in 2021 when a kind heart met Vocal Media. "Not all heroes wear a cape". Some see their names up in bright lights, some quietly go about spreading joy and cheer practically unnoticed as they serve their medley-ed smorgasbord community with grace and kindness.
By Novel Allen2 years ago in Fiction
Wings of the Phoenix: A Journey of Rebirth
In the heart of ancient mythology, few symbols resonate as powerfully as the phoenix—a bird of radiant beauty, known for its cycle of death and rebirth. This mystical creature, consumed by flames only to rise anew from its ashes, serves as a timeless emblem of renewal, transformation, and the triumph of life over death. In many ways, the story of the phoenix mirrors the human experience, where adversity, loss, and failure are not endpoints but catalysts for profound change and growth.
By Adeshola Motunrayo2 years ago in Fiction
Valoria
As the echoes of Aeloria’s speech faded into the cool evening air, Thalos felt a tap on his shoulder. A young doe from his tribe handed him a scroll sealed with the Plains Tribe's mark. Unfurling it, he quickly scanned the contents, his brow furrowing. The message was urgent—he was needed back home to assist with an important matter involving the tribe’s ancient records and the selection of a new council member. Thalos sighed, the weight of duty pressing on him. Just as he was about to excuse himself from the gathering, Seraphina appeared at his side, her keen eyes noticing the scroll. “Leaving so soon, bookworm?” she teased, though there was genuine curiosity in her tone. Thalos explained his predicament, the conflict evident in his voice. Seraphina listened, then smirked, her usual confidence shining through. “Tell you what,” she said, “how about a detour through the tundra? It’ll give you a fresh perspective—and maybe even an edge—before you head back.”
By Digi Dragon 05 (Or Digi or Revely)2 years ago in Fiction






