Top Stories
New stories you’ll love, handpicked for you by our team and updated daily.
In the Dead of Night
Trigger warning: alludes to physical assault * * * Thump, thump, thump. The resounding sound of flesh pounding on the apartment door roused Sheena from her slumber. She sat up with wide eyes, her heart beating up through her throat. The room was swathed in sheets of black, the lack of light disorienting.
Heather HublerPublished 2 years ago in HorrorThere’s A Creature in The Woodshed
Growing up, it’s easy to ignore stories of monsters who lived here before us. Like they’re just fairytales our parents tell us to put us to sleep, or scare us out of misbehaving. We have enough pride at a certain age to scoff, roll our eyes, and claim how fake it all is.
Marley StarrPublished 2 years ago in HorrorMystery of the Flannan Isles Lighthouse
“A dreadful accident has happened at Flannans. The three Keepers, Ducat, Marshall and the occasional have disappeared from the island.” Telegram from Captain Jim Harvie of relief ship Hesperus, reporting accident at Flannan Islands Lighthouse. December 26, 1900.
Jen MouzonPublished 2 years ago in HorrorOne Dinner With Friends Reminded Me Why I Avoid Social Interaction
I’m notorious among my group of friends for turning down social invites. It’s amazing I have any friends left as often as I reply with a ‘no’ to their invitations. The guilt crushes me, but I feel helpless most days to offer another answer.
Scott NinnemanPublished 2 years ago in ConfessionsWhat Is Toxic Positivity and Why Is It Dangerous to One’s Mental Health?
Let me be frank: in today’s world of global calamities and significant uncertainties, keeping a positive outlook on life is a massive challenge. Even simply logging in to your social media accounts can lead to exposing oneself to concerning or anxiety-inducing news. Our engagement with the negative information space has become so habitual that psychologists have started coming up with new terms (e.g., ‘doomscrolling’) to describe such behaviours.
Ellie RichardsPublished 2 years ago in LongevityWritetober, Day 2 - Companion of Destruction
Alright, here is day two! Once again, the prompt is not explicitly mentioned in the piece - you have to guess! If you get it before I reveal it at the end, please let me know - that way I can make future pieces either harder or easier! :D
Hannah GrayPublished 2 years ago in PoetsWestworld Brains Are Neuromorphic Chips
Do you believe Westworld brains are so far away from reality? That they are only a work of complete fiction? If that is the case continue reading and you will find more about an extremely interesting and new field of science. The science of building artificial brains: neuromorphic computing.
Pircalabu StefanPublished 2 years ago in 01Millennial Kingdom
Our feet touch earth Collecting dust, debris Weights to push Or pull, Dragging us to center Where infernos blaze
Katrina ThornleyPublished 2 years ago in PoetsThe Murder of Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Dahmer wasn’t well-liked by inmates at Columbia Correctional Facility, but he understood. After the heinous crimes he committed, Jeffrey said he would not be surprised -or upset-if someone killed him, too. Besides, growing up he was unpopular, a pretty weird kid who dissolved animal parts in acid and scared his classmates with his awkwardness.
True Crime WriterPublished 2 years ago in CriminalChristopher Paolini Interview: Part 2 of 3
This is part 2 of a 3-part series in which Vocal interviewed world-famous fantasy author Christopher Paolini. In our interview with Christopher, we talked childhood, Montana, writing, and of course, fantasy and sci fi. It was a joy and education to speak with Christopher and we hope you enjoy his stories, thoughts and advice as much as we did.
Vocal Curation TeamPublished 2 years ago in InterviewMoths to a Flickering Light
At night we used to walk for hours. After dark, the light was strange on the west side of the city. The whiff of sulfur came from the streetlamps. They glowed a poisonous orange color that robbed the skin of its beauty and the sky of its stars. A cheap form of lighting, or so they said.
Amethyst QuPublished 2 years ago in HorrorGiving and Receiving Feedback
My own writing has improved, in my opinion, by leaps and bounds over the last year or so. Why is that? My theory is that it has a lot to do with the critiquing of work that I’ve both given and received.
KJ AartilaPublished 2 years ago in JournalHer Space
The warmth of his body, she is the size of a child in his arms as she melts into him. A long, deep breath he makes in slumber, tickling the base of her neck,
Jess BoyesPublished 2 years ago in PoetsNuggets
I’m a proud Tokyoite and have been for my 5 years living here. The alley I live on provides cozy spots to curl up for a nap, a variety of delicious scraps, and sometimes a passerby will give me a nice scratch on my back. I purr and rub against their leg and they might even give me a bit of their tuna sandwich. Unlike my alley-mates, I’m not scared of people. I’m the only one who knows my human given name, Takeo. When I was very young I lived with some folks and they were kind to me, but they were an elderly couple. They passed away a year apart from each other. The lady of the house fed me well and let me do as I please for the last year of her life. I had been mostly an indoor cat but I think she sensed my desire for the great outdoors. I was out roaming the streets when she took her last breath. I mourned her passing, but I expected it and we cats accept death better than humans.
Ryan McCombsPublished 2 years ago in Petlife- Second Place in Get Comfortable Challenge
Loss and Gain
I enter your fifth grade classroom. It’s writing festival and you’ve written an “I am” poem. “I am from never give up even if you can’t take it.”
F Cade SwansonPublished 2 years ago in Poets - Second Place in 24/7 Companion Challenge
Memento Amare
They say you don't know what you have till it's gone, but that was never true for you. We knew exactly what we had, and somehow that makes it so much harder.
Kelly RobertsonPublished 2 years ago in Petlife from the mouths of ghosts
i want you to jump into my bones. two fingers prodding at my lips rugged drag the beating heart back up my neck & pull it out my mouth
ghostsandrebelsPublished 2 years ago in PoetsA Moment of Magic
Her little hand is close in mine, I squeeze it as we near the time: Our full attention, A ball of gold, Sinking in the mirror sea.
Britni PepperPublished 2 years ago in Poets- First Place in Get Comfortable Challenge
Walking the Dog in Winter
The tree holds sky between its branches— a cloud and a blue so intense it reminds me of summer, as if it’s possible for a dying,
Lori LamothePublished 2 years ago in Poets - First Place in 24/7 Companion Challenge
Searching for the Light
There are moments in life, so fleeting and seemingly mundane, that it is only upon later reflection that we understand their profound significance. This is my journey to that moment.