Short Story

Sins of the Father
Author's Note: This story was submitted as a second-round entry into NYC Midnight's 2024 Short Story Challenge. Sebastian Costello was a detective before he could talk to ghosts, but that was a long time ago. Now, he was a private eye, sitting in his car outside a mansion he could never afford, smoking one last cigarette before he went in.
By Bradley Ramsey2 years ago in Fiction
The GoldFinch. Top Story - October 2024.
A/N: The following story was created for the second round of NYC Midnight’s 500-Word Short Fiction Challenge. The prompts were A Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Forgiving, and A Pet Bird. The top 4 from each group moved on to the finals. I received 5th place and an honorable mention, just missing the cut-off.
By Kenny Penn2 years ago in Fiction
The Weight Of Empire
The light from the candle flickered in front of me, casting shadows that danced across the walls of my chamber. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the soft rustle of parchment. I was alone, yet the weight of the empire bore down on me.
By Timothy Emeh2 years ago in Fiction
The Dragon & the Moon. AI-Generated.
The village of Eldermoor sat nestled between two mountain ranges, where the sky hung heavy with stars each night, and the air shimmered with the whispers of old legends. The people believed that dragons were nothing more than myth, tales told to children to keep them in bed, a remnant of a forgotten past.
By Dr Humaira Yousaf Mughal2 years ago in Fiction
Eyes in the Night
A Hunter sat in the back corner of an old bar, spinning an empty casing with one hand while drinking with the other. For most, it was just another day of business. People were busy restocking or refueling, one or two local regulars stopping by with nothing on their minds except the passing of a few hours of drink between shift and sleep. And they all would eventually be on their way. Even though this appeared to be the usual day-to-day of this settlement, she took note of each detail, aware of one particular mystery. They seemed very comfortable for people this far away from the City. The door creaked, tearing her away from her observation. A stranger stepped in.
By The Chrestomath2 years ago in Fiction
The Old Note and The Sea
It was one of those days. In my little boat with the sea air filling my lungs. I was at peace. Wait, no. I’d been in the stuffy, suffocating office for hours. Pointless meetings about pointless stats and memos about “office supplies misuse”. Who’d be a stickler for staples and paper clips? Oh, I know. Moron Alan. Yes, Moron Alan capitalised for emphasis. The guy needs a life. But then. So do I. Since mother died after a long, soul-destroying battle with dementia, life felt heavy.
By Paul Stewart2 years ago in Fiction
Bugs
I feel them crawling all over my me before I'm even awake. On a bad night, they infest my dreams as well. If I double up on my meds, I sleep without dreaming. Bliss.
By L.C. Schäfer2 years ago in Fiction
Reaching the Edge of the Universe
Max Lane lay unconscious in his laboratory, utterly spent after countless unsuccessful attempts. His laboratory is located in the middle of a dense dark forest. It is almost impossible for humans to enter here. For the last twenty years, he has been working on a project through which humans can survive in the vacuum outside the earth without any technical aid. His only dream is to "swim in the universe and reach its final edge." He has spent the last twenty years of his life in his small laboratory and this dense dark forest.
By Karan w. 2 years ago in Fiction
A Love Story in Halloween Town
The moon hung low over Halloweentown, casting an eerie glow over the twisted rooftops and crooked tombstones. Jack Skellington wandered the foggy streets, the crisp night air rustling through his pinstriped suit. As the Pumpkin King, he had long found solace in the shadows, yet tonight, a strange feeling clawed at him. It was not dread or fear, but an unsettling restlessness that made the chill cut deeper into his bones.
By The Kind Quill2 years ago in Fiction
One Word- A Parable By Salty Vixen
There once was a beautiful woman who loved words. The woman kissed, fed and nurtured them as they loved her back. She let words crawl over her body and lay magical word eggs in the crevices of her soul.
By Salty Vixen2 years ago in Fiction
Imposter. Top Story - October 2024.
It's dark now. The patients are asleep; we don't want to wake them. My shoes squeak on the floor. I barely notice the antiseptic smell anymore, but right now it feels very strong in my nose.
By L.C. Schäfer2 years ago in Fiction
Imposter (daily micro edition)
It's dark. The patients are asleep. My shoes squeak. I barely notice the antiseptic smell anymore, but now it feels strong in my nose.
By L.C. Schäfer2 years ago in Fiction