Short Story

The Last Candle in the Library
The city of Avenfell had forgotten what stories felt like. No one spoke of dragons or dreams anymore. The streets were gray, silent, and obedient—lined with posters of smiling officials who promised “Peace through Order.” Books were banned years ago. The government said they caused confusion, rebellion, and “unrealistic hope.”
By Zahoor khan12 months ago in Fiction
Vanished During the Festival — Found 25 Years Later in Deserted Homestead
In the summer of 1995, two college students from Minnesota, Diana Reyes, 21, and Marcus O’Connell, 23, embarked on what was supposed to be a fun road trip. Their ultimate destination: the annual Desert Bloom Music Festival in Utah, a vibrant gathering of musicians and art under the open sky. But they never arrived. Their disappearance quickly became a high-profile missing persons case. They had stopped overnight in a small desert town near the festival, filling up gas, buying snacks, and checked into a modest motel. That was the last time anyone outside their circle saw them. Rumors circulated: did they get lost driving on unmarked roads? Was there foul play involved? But despite exhaustive searches, tip lines, and pleas from family — nothing solid turned up. Years stretched into decades. The case grew cold. Their families moved on in many ways, though every anniversary stung like fresh salt. Theories circulated among locals: that the two had gotten stranded, maybe taken by someone posing as a helpful stranger. Maybe they’d wandered into private land. Or worse, that they’d met with something sinister in the dark silence of the desert. Then in 2020, 25 years after their last confirmed day alive, hikers exploring ruins of an abandoned homestead in a remote stretch of the Great Basin Desert stumbled across something strange: what looked like fragments of a car frame half-buried in sand. Nearby was a derelict shack, its windows smashed, roof caving in. Inside, skeletal remains were found, along with a few personal effects: a leather wallet with Diana’s driver’s license, a musical festival wristband bearing Marcus’s name, a cassette tape of their favorite band, and one of their digital cameras - heavily corroded, but intact. Forensic analysis confirmed that the remains were indeed those of Diana and Marcus. Albert County coroners ruled that they likely died sometime shortly after their disappearance — hypothermia, dehydration, or a combination of injuries from exposure. Their vehicle had apparently broken down; desperate, they had made their way toward what they thought was abandoned shelter. The road there was unmarked and treacherous; no one traveled it often. Their path likely ended when they fell ill or lost consciousness, with the homestead as their final refuge. The discovery, while bringing long‑awaited closure, also opened a gallery of haunting questions: Did anyone see them after the motel? Why did no one find their tracks or hear cries? How did their car come to rest where it did without any note or report? Had the homestead been truly abandoned, or were there witnesses who saw something unusual but were afraid to speak? Family members, now middle‑aged and bearing the mark of decades of grief, expressed relief to have names attached to remains, to know what happened. But they also said no amount of explanation removes the pain of the years spent waiting. Local authorities, after the find, initiated new investigations: interviewing any folks who lived in surrounding areas during the mid‑1990s, tracking down motel and gas station staff who served them, searching for any surveillance or lodging records, however faint. A nonprofit specializing in cold‑case forensics stepped in to help with reconstructing their last day’s movements — from the motel stop, to the point their car failed, to the final walk toward the homestead. Some evidence remained frustratingly vague: a handful of footprints near the homestead that didn’t match theirs; some tools inside the shack that couldn’t be identified. But nothing to prove foul play. Officials eventually closed the case, calling the deaths accidental, albeit tragic. Diana’s mother said in a public statement: “We wished we’d had them back sooner. But knowing where they are, even after all this time, means my nights stop being haunted by the question of whether they were alive somewhere. We can finally say goodbye.” Marcus’s father added: “We think about what they must have gone through: scared, lost, trying to survive. It doesn’t bring them back, but at least we can imagine their last moments with dignity.”
By Israr khan12 months ago in Fiction
Competent Friend
By the time Harper arrived in Stuttgart, she had learned two crucial facts about Germany: bread is a national emotion, and the trains apologize more eloquently than most ex-boyfriends. She was an American teaching English, collecting bakery punch cards like rare stamps, and actively not interested in anyone who thought a uniform was a personality.
By Julie O'Hara - Author, Poet and Spiritual Warrior12 months ago in Fiction
Roses
YouTube Audio Version In the early 1960s, Stanley Milgram conducted experiments to see whether people would continue to inflict painful electrical shocks if ordered to do so. This fictional story draws inspiration from that experiment. However, none of the characters or events are meant to represent what occurred.
By Steve Lance12 months ago in Fiction
Door Knocker
It was very cold Friday evening. Lite snow continued to fall onto what was already snow-covered streets. The temperature was ten degrees below normal and normal was cold enough. Luke was walking home from work. He wasn’t driving because, like many in the neighborhood, his car would not start. He could not afford to have it towed to a warm garage and let it sit inside until the fuel line thawed. He was walking.
By Carl Hartman12 months ago in Fiction
A Shadow Eats the Light. Runner-Up in A Knock at the Door Challenge.
You live in a cabin in the woods. You left the world behind on purpose. You lived a good life back in those days but as you grew older and more of your cherished loved ones passed on, you preferred nature to the big city.
By C. Rommial Butler12 months ago in Fiction
How I Learned to Spot a Fake Profile on Hinge (Before It Cost Me $2,000)
Disclaimer: All names and details have been changed to protect privacy. I may earn a small commission if you use some of the services mentioned here — it helps support my work at no extra cost to you.
By Kameron Shayne12 months ago in Fiction
One More Round
There was a knock at the door. Three of them, actually. Jax froze with his hand on the arm of the couch, the sound cutting through the air. Nobody knocked on his door anymore, not in a long time, not since everything stopped feeling like a home. It sounded like Misty’s knock. He stood up slowly, his heart pushing against his ribs like it wanted out, and crossed the living room that still smelled faintly of her perfume, no matter how many times he cleaned. The door handle felt cold in his palm. As he turned it and opened the door, there she was, Misty, standing there with her hair pulled back the way she wore it when she was about to spar, eyes bright and wide. Her lips curled into a small smile that hit him right in the chest.
By Joey Raines12 months ago in Fiction
The Knock At The Door
The Knock At The Door It was late. The house had gone still. Only the hum of the fridge, the slow tick of the clock in the hall, and the whisper of her own breathing. Then came the knock. Hard. Sharp. Like a hammer against her skull.
By ♿ V+ Marie381Uk 12 months ago in Fiction
The Perfect Swing
For Golf enthusiasts, the 2025 Espirito Santo Trophy--an amateur golf championship-- takes place today. A small one--a start for those with great ambitions.
By Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin12 months ago in Fiction
The Loyal Dog of Darhiyar Mountain
The Loyal Dog of Darhiyar Mountain BY:Khan The mighty Kirthar Mountain Range, stretching for nearly 270 kilometers, forms a natural boundary between Sindh and Balochistan. Its rugged peaks stand tall, dividing lands and cultures, yet uniting them with stories that have survived for centuries. One of these stories belongs to a mountain known as Darhiyar, the highest peak of the Kirthar range, rising almost 7,000 feet above sea level. At its summit rests the grave of a dog—yes, a dog. But not just any dog. It was a companion whose loyalty and sacrifice carved his memory deep into the hearts of the people of Sindh. A Grave on the Mountain Long ago, a young Baloch shepherd was seen on the summit of Darhiyar. With a heavy heart, he dug into the cold, wet soil under a drizzle of rain. His hands blistered, his clothes were drenched, and tears mixed with the rain falling on his face. When the grave was ready, he opened a sack. Inside lay the lifeless body of his beloved dog. The shepherd gently placed the animal inside, covered it with stones, and broke down into sobs that echoed through the valleys. That evening, he descended the mountain with grief so heavy that even home could not comfort him. What could cause such deep sorrow between a man and a dog? The story begins years earlier in a small mountain village at the base of Darhiyar. The Foundling Puppy One day, while wandering in the hills, the young shepherd found a stray puppy—tiny, beautiful, and hungry. He carried it home to his hut, fed it, and nursed it into strength. Over the years, the puppy grew into a strong and loyal dog. Their bond deepened so much that people in the valley often spoke of the unusual love between the shepherd and his companion. Wherever the young man went, the dog followed—whether to the fields, the hills, or even the village market. But life in the mountains is never without hardship. One year, the rains failed, leaving the fields barren and the people struggling to survive. Food grew scarce, and the shepherd had no money to buy supplies. A Painful Bargain Desperate, he went to the only shop in the village and begged the shopkeeper to sell him food on credit. After some hesitation, the shopkeeper agreed—but on one cruel condition: the dog must remain with him as collateral until the debt was repaid. The shepherd froze, devastated. Parting with his companion was unthinkable. Yet hunger left him no choice. Kneeling, he hugged the dog tightly, whispering into its ears: "Be loyal to your new master until I return. Do not follow me home until my debt is repaid." The dog’s eyes filled with tears, as if it understood. With a heavy heart, the shepherd handed over the leash. The shopkeeper chained the dog in his yard. It had never felt the sting of iron before, but true to its nature, it accepted its fate and served faithfully. The Night of the Thieves Months passed. One dark night, thieves broke into the shopkeeper’s house. They looted gold, cash, and precious goods. The dog, still chained, barked furiously until the shopkeeper awoke. Realizing the danger, he unchained the dog. Like lightning, the animal darted into the night, chasing the thieves toward the riverbank. Startled, the thieves dropped their stolen goods as villagers, armed with sticks and axes, rushed to the scene. The shopkeeper was overjoyed—his wealth was saved, thanks to the brave dog. The next morning, he went to the animal, stroked its head, and said: "You have saved me from ruin. You are worth more than gold. Your debt is paid in full. Go back to your true master." He tied a small note around the dog’s neck, declaring the shepherd’s loan forgiven, and set the dog free. A Tragic Misunderstanding The dog ran with joy, leaping over rocks and streams until it spotted its master in the distance. As fate would have it, the shepherd was on his way to repay the shopkeeper with the season’s harvest. He had worked tirelessly, and the rains had blessed his fields. The dog bounded toward him, wagging its tail, expecting love and gratitude. But instead, the shepherd’s face darkened. "Shameless creature!" he cried. "You deserted your duty and ran away! You have disgraced me!" The dog whined, circling his master, trying to explain with its eyes. But the shepherd turned away in anger. Heartbroken, the faithful companion realized it had lost the trust of the one it loved most. Its legs gave way, and with a final sigh, it collapsed on the rocky slope—dead from grief. The Mountain Tomb When the shepherd reached the shopkeeper, the truth became clear. The note had explained everything. His dog had not betrayed him—it had saved a man’s livelihood and returned only when freed with honor. Overwhelmed with regret, the shepherd carried the body up the treacherous climb to Darhiyar’s peak. There, in the cold rain, he buried his friend and wept until his heart grew empty. The grave still remains, high above the clouds, where icy winds whistle year-round. Centuries have passed, but the people of Sindh still tell the tale of the Loyal Dog of Darhiyar Mountain—a story of devotion, sacrifice, and the tragic weight of misunderstanding.
By Khan 12 months ago in Fiction
The Priest, the Bear, and the Greedy Lumberjack
The Greedy Lumberjack and the Clever Priest BY:Khan Once, in a quiet village surrounded by fields and forests, there lived a simple priest. One afternoon, he set out to visit a wealthy man in the neighboring village. This man was not only rich but also famous for his generosity. He often gave alms to beggars, helped the poor, and treated priests with the utmost respect.
By Khan 12 months ago in Fiction