Short Story
You know what you did
I've been having these strange dreams lately. Every night, I see myself lying in the middle of the street, staring up at the blinding glow of streetlights. Pain engulfs every inch of my body, sharp and unrelenting, and something warm and sticky pools around me. I try to scream for help, but no sound escapes my lips. My body is too broken, too weak to move. The last thing I see before waking up is my mother kneeling beside me, tears streaking her face. She whispers apologies over and over, her voice trembling, before pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. Then, I wake up—always before I can grasp what’s happening.
By Deion Townes2 years ago in Fiction
The Tale of Vorath
In the primordial epochs, when stars ignited and died like fleeting fireflies in the vast cosmic night, whispers of power, like the sigh of dying gods, echoed across the infinite canvas of existence. From this celestial ballet of creation and destruction, Vorath emerged, not simply born of cosmic paradox, but forged in its heart. His genesis wasn't merely the chance collision of a fallen star and the primordial abyss; it was a deliberate act, a cosmic alchemy performed by forces beyond human comprehension, a desperate gamble against the encroaching entropy. This wasn't just his origin story, it was the source of his insatiable hunger for dominion, a desperate need to prove his right to exist in a universe that seemed to be constantly unravelling.
By Tales by J.J.2 years ago in Fiction
BLINK
I first noticed it during my morning commute. The digital billboard on 5th Avenue flickered differently—just for a millisecond. Not the usual ad transitions, but something else. A face, maybe? I rubbed my eyes, attributing it to lack of sleep. Working late shifts at the cyber security firm had been taking its toll, but something about this particular glitch felt different. Wrong.
By Ian Mark Ganut2 years ago in Fiction
The Witch, the Twins and the Fire That Lit Up Miami!. Content Warning.
The prison walls hummed with the fluorescent buzz of institutional apathy, but the two doe-eyed arsonists across from me seemed blissfully unaware. Hansel and Gretel, fresh-faced and annoyingly symmetrical (in an uncanny valley sort of way), had come to America with dreams of stardom and ended up burning down Miami’s most infamous nightclub, Candy Land. Their mugshots had already become icons, plastered on glittery pastel T-shirts and mugs. The media circus outside was relentless, each camera flash a reminder that infamy is just another form of celebrity. But here, sitting on hard metal chairs, they were just two naive kids trying to make sense of the chaos they had unleashed. Hansel frowned, his brows furrowing as though the effort of thinking was almost too much to bear. "Ve vorked so hard," he said, his accent thick and earnest. "Ze singing, ze dancing… ve did it all." Gretel nodded emphatically, her bleached hair bobbing like a rubber ducky in a bathtub. "Every day," she added, "at ze schools, ze malls—everyvere! Ve sang, ve danced, ve smiled until our faces hurt." "Ja," Hansel said, his unnaturally blue eyes widening with sincerity. "And ze vorst part?" He leaned in, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Ve veren't even paid!" I blinked, struggling to process. "You weren’t paid for any of it?" "No," Gretel gasped, her hands fluttering to her chest as if the thought alone was enough to give her a heart attack. "She said she vas investing in us. Building ze brand." The Witch—a Miami legend, her name whispered in the halls of every failing talent agency from here to Orlando. She had managed Tiana, Rapunzel, and Snow White—each of them now incredibly successful, raking in millions with solo careers and lifestyle brands. But Hansel and Gretel? They were just another pair of discarded dreamers, trapped in her web of promises. "When ve veren't singing," Hansel continued, "ve vorked in ze kitchen." "Baking candies," Gretel said, her voice tinged with bitterness. "For hours," Hansel added, looking genuinely traumatized by the memory of gumdrops and licorice. "Ve vere indentured servents,"Gretel declared.
By L.K. Rolan2 years ago in Fiction
What?
Introduction This is prompt number 22 from the Vocal Guide What? "I had never seen anything like it before..." Awoken by the noise outside, I looked through the window at what appeared to be a black column coming down from the sky into our town centre.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 2 years ago in Fiction
Pandora’s Unboxing
Let me set the scene for you: It’s a warm, lazy Saturday afternoon, and the world is scrolling through its phones in search of memes, drama, or makeup hacks. I, Raven, am holding a camera, sweating bullets as I record my best friend Pandora, a rising beauty influencer, during what was supposed to be her big break.
By Amanda Mitchell2 years ago in Fiction
Cover to Cover Success
The Reality of a Fascinating Book Cover Book cover design holds power over bookstore mall shelves as well as online marketplaces. Book covers occupy the number one spot for any passerby in bookstores and online marketplaces—the cover. A well-thought-out book cover is presented as a nonverbal marketing tool that helps attract the reader and gives a glimpse of the storyline and mood to the reader. Restaurating product attractiveness through covers stands as a vital promotional component that determines either failure or victory for books.
By Authors Publishing House2 years ago in Fiction
It was the Last time. Content Warning.
I wasn't sure what to do, I went too far, I don't remember how.... I went too far. My chest was heaving and I was hot. My sweat was dripping and mingling with the speckles of blood that decorated my face like freckles. I was still holding the cast iron pan, his body was twitching on the floor. Half of his face had this almost surprised look, the other half looked like a bowl of weird jello spilling out of a can.
By M. Bornhoffer2 years ago in Fiction
