Short Story

Roots and Romance - A Fight for Nature and Love – Chapter 1
Chapter One "This is my own private torture chamber," she said to herself, as the beat-up bus rattled to a stop, spewing a cloud of dust that for an instant obscured the quaint depot facade. Time seemed to slow down for Britta as she stared out the window. Her forehead creased, intent on the task; her lips pressed into a thin line. Her fingers drummed a nervous rhythm on the windowsill, an overt clash to the stillness of the outside world. The bustling city life she was accustomed to felt like a chronicle. Here, in this scorching sleepy town nestled amidst rolling hills, silence stretched as vast as the sky.
By Kingsley Gomes, PhD.2 years ago in Fiction
Old Maui. Content Warning.
He didn’t have the nickname when I first knew him. Rumours flew about him, about his connections in Congress. But no one knew much about his history. Only that we had been assigned to his company, a mission to restore order to the Hawaiian territory. Not that we knew much about the situation on the ground before we landed.
By Alexander McEvoy2 years ago in Fiction
Golden Summer
The marigold had the finest dance in the garden. No withering sport was she. In fact she had plenty for her amusement. Her growth upward was when her head was met one day by a butterfly, a flowering thing herself. There was a cheerful holler followed by the light thumping of feet on the lawn as they tried to catch it. The marigold yawned.
By Canuck Scriber Lisa Lachapelle2 years ago in Fiction
Fire Girl
This is your power, Mother said, cupping my small hand in both of her own. She seemed unafraid of the spark of flickering flames in my palm, like nothing could ever burn her. What do you want to do with it?
By angela hepworth2 years ago in Fiction
The NeuralNet
The acrid scent of burnt circuits hit me as I crumpled to the lab floor. My neural enhancement, years of obsession, was sparking wildly. “This isn’t how it’s supposed to happen,” I muttered, my thoughts a chaotic blur, memories and sensations crashing over me.
By Aaron Richmond2 years ago in Fiction
"The Vanishing Virtuoso"
Amelia's fingers danced across the piano keys, creating a mesmerizing melody that captivated the audience. She was a renowned pianist, known for her technical skill and emotional depth. But what the audience didn't know was that Amelia possessed a mysterious gift – the ability to make objects vanish with a mere touch. As she played the final notes of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, Amelia reached out to adjust the position of a vase on the piano. In that fleeting moment of contact, the vase disappeared into thin air, leaving the audience in awe and confusion. Word of the incident spread like wildfire, attracting both admirers and skeptics. Some believed it to be a mere illusion, while others saw it as a manifestation of Amelia's musical prowess transcending into the realm of the supernatural. Amelia herself was bewildered by her newfound ability and sought answers to unravel the mystery. She spent hours experimenting, trying to understand the connection between her music and the vanishing objects. She practiced in front of mirrors, recorded herself, and even consulted with fellow musicians, but the answer remained elusive. One stormy night, a shadowy figure appeared at Amelia's doorstep. It was an old man with weathered features and eyes that seemed to hold ancient wisdom. He introduced himself as a collector of rare talents and revealed that he had been following Amelia's journey closely. He spoke of a long-forgotten legend of a virtuoso who possessed the power to make objects disappear through the purity of her music. Intrigued yet wary, Amelia listened as the old man recounted tales of the Virtuoso's Curse – a gift bestowed upon those whose music could move the heavens but came at a grave price. "The curse is a double-edged sword," the old man said, his voice low and mysterious. "It brings unparalleled success, but at the cost of one's very soul. Are you prepared to pay the price, Amelia?" Amelia was torn. Part of her was drawn to the allure of the curse, the promise of unparalleled success and recognition. But another part of her was terrified, sensing the darkness that lurked beneath the surface. The old man offered Amelia a choice – to embrace her gift and unlock its full potential or to renounce it and live a normal life free from its burden. Caught between fascination and fear, Amelia knew that her decision would shape her destiny. With resolve in her heart and music in her soul, she chose to confront the mystery head-on. As she played the piano that night, a crescendo of emotions surged through her, and with a final flourish, the room was filled with a blinding light. When the light faded, the old man was gone, and in his place stood the vanished objects – a testament to Amelia's acceptance of her extraordinary gift. From that day on, Amelia's music resonated with a newfound depth, captivating audiences not just with her talent but with the magic that dwelled within her. As her fame grew, so did the whispers of the Virtuoso's Curse. Some said that Amelia's music came at a terrible cost, that with each performance, she lost a piece of herself. Others claimed that she was cursed, that her gift was a result of a dark bargain. But Amelia knew the truth – that her music was a gift, a manifestation of her soul. She played on, pouring her heart and magic into every performance. And with each note, she felt herself becoming one with the music, her spirit soaring on the wings of melody. The vanished objects became a signature part of her shows, a testament to her unique gift. And though the whispers of the curse continued, Amelia knew that she had made the right choice. For in the world of music, she had found her true magic. As the months passed, Amelia's fame reached new heights. She performed to sold-out crowds, her name on everyone's lips. But with each performance, she felt the weight of the curse growing heavier. She began to sense that she was losing herself, that the music was consuming her. One night, after a particularly grueling show, Amelia stumbled upon an ancient tome hidden away in her dressing room. The book was bound in black leather, adorned with strange symbols that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. As she opened the book, Amelia discovered that it was the diary of a virtuoso from centuries past – a musician who had also possessed the gift of making objects vanish. The diary spoke of the curse, of the terrible price that must be paid for such power. Amelia read on, devouring the words as if they held the key to her very salvation. And as she read, she began to understand the true nature of the curse – that it was not a blessing, but a test. The curse was a challenge, a push to see how far Amelia would go to pursue her passion. It was a reminder that true art came at a cost, that the pursuit of perfection demanded sacrifice. With this newfound understanding, Amelia approached
By kylie fed2 years ago in Fiction
Legends
Most people have their own folktales. Some have their legends of old, and some have their own made-up beliefs. Fairies, mermaids, horses that talk, toys that come to life, sheep that are wise, demons that punish, princesses that enchant.
By Laiba Fahad2 years ago in Fiction
The Last Cigarette
My fingers glided almost lovingly over the back of the knife. The excitement at the thought of what I had just done with this knife released a powerful endorphin. I enjoyed the feeling of a thousand sparks tickling my spine and finally causing an explosion in my head, where the world turned, and I began to live again for a brief moment.
By Sergej Klementinovski2 years ago in Fiction
Mirror Images
The first thing I noticed about the trio was that they didn't recognise us. I stared at my older sister, willing her to remember the worlds we had explored together, the mysteries we solved so many years ago. Nothing.
By Ruby Red2 years ago in Fiction
Eternal Shadows
Chapter 1: The Awakening In the dimly lit streets of an ancient European city, where the cobblestone paths whispered of bygone eras, a young woman named Clara wandered with a sense of both wonder and unease. The city had always held a peculiar charm, a blend of mystery and history that drew her in like a magnet. It was on one such evening, as the twilight merged with the dark, that Clara’s life took a turn she could never have anticipated.
By Maryam Ibrahim2 years ago in Fiction
Vespertilia
There were a lot of things that Paulina Rívera didn't expect to happen. She didn't expect that her 10 year marriage would be over, and she also didn't expect that her ex-husband, Randall West, would move on with another woman. Paulina often claims that she was cheated on, but all of that was always in her head. Despite having no evidence at all, and her friends knowing that she habitually makes meritless accusations, Paulina expected to be believed.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 years ago in Fiction
The Ghoul and the Grand Vizier
Once, long ago, when the desert winds whispered dusty words to the ears of the foolish and the wise alike, there was a terrible old crone that lived at the edge of a beautiful oasis. Here, she practiced black magic and curses day and night, until she became a matter of ill-repute in the local towns and villages.
By Tom Baker2 years ago in Fiction