Young Adult

A broken heart
Ben wandered off the cable car train and onto the clamoring streets of New York City. He had as of late started his lesser year at New York School, and not altogether permanently established to exploit it. Growing up, Ben had perpetually been based on his assessments, and he had made an assurance to himself to stay away from interferences, especially when it came to women.
By Michael Adewale2 years ago in Fiction
Oliver and the Cloud Kingdom
The storm had come out of nowhere. One moment, Oliver was lying on the soft grass, watching the clouds drift lazily across the sky, and the next, he was being pulled upward by an invisible force. His small kite, which he’d been flying all afternoon, was now yanked out of his hands, spiraling into the stormy gray mass above. Before he could scream or scramble for the ground, his feet left the earth. Up, up, and up he went, his heart pounding louder than the thunder rumbling around him. Where was he going? Was this a dream?
By mobeen islam2 years ago in Fiction
A Symphony of Souls
In the heart of Vienna, where cobblestone streets hummed with the echoes of centuries-old music, lived Clara Weiss, a gifted violinist. Her music was her language, speaking the words she could never voice. Each note she played told stories of longing and hope, resonating through the grand halls of the conservatory where she practiced endlessly. Yet, despite the applause and admiration, Clara's soul felt incomplete, as if a missing melody lingered just beyond her reach.
By Himansu Kumar Routray2 years ago in Fiction
The Clockmaker's Curse
Beneath the cobblestone streets of Evertide, nestled in the shadows of ivy-clad buildings, lay the workshop of Elias Grimsby, a master clockmaker. His shop, adorned with intricate brass cogs and chimes, was a beacon for those seeking to mend their broken timepieces or marvel at the artistry of his creations. But Elias bore a secret, one he shared with no one—not even the curious boy who often lingered outside his shop window. This boy, Thomas, was a child of the streets, his clothes tattered but his eyes sharp and inquisitive. He would press his face to the glass, mesmerized by the spinning gears and ticking clocks. Elias, though gruff and reserved, couldn’t help but notice the boy’s fascination. One brisk evening, he finally opened the door. “You’ll wear the paint off the glass,” Elias grumbled. “If you’re that curious, come inside.” Thomas hesitated, his bare feet brushing the threshold. “I won’t break anything,” he promised. Elias waved him in, and Thomas stepped into the warm, ticking sanctuary. The walls were lined with clocks of every shape and size, their hands moving in synchronized harmony. But one stood out—a massive, ornate grandfather clock at the back of the shop. Its face was adorned with celestial symbols, and its pendulum glowed faintly as if alive. “What’s that one?” Thomas asked, pointing to it. Elias’s expression darkened. “It’s not for sale.” “But—” “Not. For. Sale,” Elias snapped, his voice final. Thomas shrank back, but his curiosity was far from sated. Weeks turned into months, and Thomas became a regular fixture in the shop. Elias, despite himself, began to teach the boy the art of clockmaking. Thomas learned to handle delicate mechanisms, to shape gears with precision, and to respect the sanctity of time. Yet the grandfather clock remained a mystery, always watched but never explained. One stormy night, the shop’s bells chimed unexpectedly. Elias and Thomas exchanged a glance before Elias moved to the door. A cloaked figure stood there, dripping with rain. “You’re late,” Elias said grimly. The stranger stepped inside, throwing back their hood to reveal a striking woman with silver streaks in her hair. “I didn’t have a choice. The clock is acting up again.” Thomas watched in confusion as Elias led the woman to the grandfather clock. She placed a hand on its face, and the glow intensified, illuminating her worried expression. “What’s wrong with it?” Elias asked. “It’s… faltering,” she replied. “If it stops—” “I know,” Elias interrupted. “Stay back.” To Thomas’s amazement, Elias opened the clock’s front panel and stepped inside. It was no ordinary clock—it was a doorway. The woman turned to Thomas, her voice urgent. “Do not interfere, no matter what happens.” Before he could respond, Elias vanished into the clock, its pendulum swinging violently. Minutes stretched into an eternity. Then, with a deafening clang, the clock shuddered, and Elias staggered out, clutching his chest. His face was pale, his hands trembling. “It’s stabilized—for now,” he muttered. The woman nodded but looked unconvinced. “How much longer can you keep this up?” “As long as I have to,” Elias replied. Thomas, unable to stay silent, burst out, “What’s happening? What is that clock?” Elias sighed, his shoulders slumping. “It’s a prison,” he said. “For time itself. If it ever stops, the world will unravel.” The woman added, “Elias has been its guardian for decades, repairing its mechanisms when they falter. But the strain is… taking its toll.” Thomas’s gaze shifted to Elias, whose hands shook as he reached for a chair. “You’ve been doing this alone?” Thomas asked. Elias nodded. “It’s my burden.” “No,” Thomas said firmly. “It doesn’t have to be. You taught me everything about clocks. Let me help.” Elias looked at the boy, surprise flickering in his weary eyes. For the first time, he allowed a small smile. “You don’t know what you’re offering, boy.” “I know enough,” Thomas said. “And I won’t let you carry this alone.” The woman watched their exchange, a flicker of hope softening her stern expression. “Perhaps it’s time for a new guardian to learn,” she said. Elias hesitated, then nodded. “Very well. But this is no ordinary apprenticeship.” Over the next few weeks, Thomas learned the secrets of the grandfather clock. He discovered its intricate mechanisms, the arcane symbols that controlled its flow, and the immense responsibility it demanded. Elias grew weaker, but his spirit lifted as he watched Thomas embrace the task. One fateful evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Elias placed a hand on Thomas’s shoulder. “It’s yours now,” he said, his voice faint but resolute. Thomas nodded, his heart heavy but determined. As Elias closed his eyes for the last time, the grandfather clock’s pendulum glowed brighter than ever, its rhythm steady and unyielding. And so, the boy who once gazed longingly through the shop window became the guardian of time, a silent protector of the world’s fragile balance.
By COU2 years ago in Fiction
Poki's Mafia. Content Warning.
(First time using this website, formatting was definitely not imported correctly at first. I have tried to make everything as obvious as possible with excessive paragraph spacing. Thank you for reading)
By POKI2 years ago in Fiction
The Rose That Waits
Rose! On seeing Asher; Rose rushed into his arms. Rose couldn't help but cry as she melted into Asher's arms. She hadn't even looked at his face completely.
By Maryam Batool2 years ago in Fiction
SILENT WHISPERS CHRONICLES
"Discovery and the awakening of long-buried secrets". EPISODE 1: Whisper in the Night A flicker of light pierced through the dense veil of midnight fog as Amara clutched her shawl tighter against the biting chill. The wind carried a faint murmur—like a sigh, too human to be the wind, too fleeting to be real. Her steps faltered on the cobblestone street, her breath caught in the hollow of her chest. In the quiet town of Eldwyn, where secrets rested like shadows in forgotten corners, something was stirring.
By Raymond Bentum2 years ago in Fiction
The Unexpected Encounter. Content Warning. AI-Generated.
The night air was alive with the soft glow of twinkling string lights and the gentle hum of conversation, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside Alexandra. She had always been one for the finer things in life, but as she navigated the crowded room, a sense of restlessness settled in the pit of her stomach. It wasn’t the champagne or the canapés that had her on edge, it was the unspoken understanding that had been simmering just below the surface. The high-society gala, a night meant to see and be seen, had taken on a different tone altogether.
By Omasanjuwa Ogharandukun2 years ago in Fiction
Everything is not the same as it was before. Content Warning.
Volkan came home today with a sad face and a lowered head, taking slow steps. As soon as he entered, he quietly sat in his room and became busy doing his homework. He didn't even think about asking his mother for help today, as he does every day. Volkan never completed his homework because the punishment he received from Mr. Peev, which he could easily endure, did not seem painful to him. His mother, who did not believe in any such events based on the supernatural and mysteries beyond reality, found it very strange. She sat next to Volkan and said to him, "I am glad that you have started doing all the tasks on your own that you should be doing yourself. Volkan remained silent for a while; today, he was unusually calm, and he had a strange emptiness in his eyes. While fingering outside the window, he said, "Everything is not the same as it was before." Tears started falling on the book, quietly rolling down his cheeks. After that, he did not say anything. His mother was still surprised and staring at His
By Karan w. 2 years ago in Fiction
First Salary
I have been waiting for this day. Today is the day my son gets his first paycheck, and he told us there is a surprise for us. My husband may not know what that might be, but I know this mother is his favorite, so it is definitely a gift for me — or at least that’s what I thought. But after seeing it, I was really surprised. Before I tell you what the surprise is, I have to share a story first.
By Arjun Sahasya2 years ago in Fiction
The Photograph
Sarah stared at the photograph on her phone, a bittersweet smile playing on her lips. It was a candid shot: her two sons, eight-year-old Leo and six-year-old Finn, nestled comfortably in Emily’s lap, their faces flushed with the happy exhaustion of a long track meet. Emily, her ex-husband Mark’s fiancée, had an arm draped casually around them, her own smile warm and genuine.
By Tales by J.J.2 years ago in Fiction
TCoE: A Widow’s Hunt
A tan man stumbled through the dark forest, his brown gaze vast with fear as he caught sight of multiple glistening pairs of eyes throughout the shadows surrounding him. He panted as he frantically scrambled through the undergrowth, crashing through plants and thorns, ripping open his skin to draw blood from within his veins.
By Mel E. Furnish2 years ago in Fiction