Top Stories
New stories you'll love, handpicked for you by our team and updated daily.
A place to lay her head. Runner-up in L*pogram Challenge. Top Story - August 2024.
The others all leave the place of pages, every day when the clock says seven. They can go home you see. Back to parents and a mum and a dad and hot food and enough sleep and no sounds and a real bed. That's what they have, and what she wants.
By Joe O’Connor2 years ago in Fiction
The Outbreak. Top Story - August 2024.
Another day of the week. Woke up at seven, thwacked the alarm clock to make that beastly gadget shut up. As usual, my body asleep one second and fully aware the next. The bedroom, the shower, the clothes chosen yesterday and carefully arranged on the sofa for me to put on today. The same as every day. And yet… My whole body felt out of sorts. Each step seemed more laboured than usual, and a tenseness around my temples was a sure symptom of a headache about to develop later on.
By K.D. Popiel2 years ago in Fiction
The Selfless Room. Top Story - August 2024.
The new entrant to my group forgot to leave phones at the door. Our project of the moment was a locket that, when worn, could make someone so sad that they forget about all loved ones. Our task was to hover around, a halo of no person, and focus on the troublesome aura to relocate to a secure capsule. As the force moved, a call buzzed from a pocket. The curse must have dashed to the phone. The locket was unburdened, but we were not successful. The phone screen flashed, a grad photo of a boy flanked by two parents. My breath caught.
By Penny Fuller2 years ago in Fiction
Call Me By Your Name. Top Story - August 2024.
“We rip out so much of ourselves to be cured of things faster than we should that we go bankrupt by the age of thirty and have less to offer each time we start with someone new. But to feel nothing, so as not to feel anything - what a waste!”
By angela hepworth2 years ago in BookClub
Revival. Top Story - August 2024.
Blustery winds buffeted the canvas walls of the little tent causing them to make a cracking sound so loud it woke Aaron and Jane from a deep sleep. While the two were resting the cold weather had coaxed the companions into unconsciously cuddling to stay warm. Now they were awake, both scurried to the opposite sides of the tent, each looking a little embarrassed. Aaron was the first to leave the tent to empty his bladder and start a fire. Jane, still looking a little uncomfortable from her close encounter, left the camp for a short time but returned a little later with some wood for the campfire.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Chapters
The bloom of a rare Blue rose . Top Story - August 2024.
A rare untruth By lucky or unlucky chance, or by sheer happenstance, there came to me the knowledge of an untruth most hurtful to my gentle heart. The learned truth of your falsehood as concerns the rare blue rose. For the gorgeous and lovely flower that you gave to me comes not by the naturalness of nature, but by means of doctored alchemy.
By Novel Allen2 years ago in Fiction
📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 08/08/2024
Our “Raise Your Voice Threads” are hosted most alternating Thursdays at 12PM ET to offer creators more avenues to uncover exceptional stories on Vocal. As we are continuously searching for fresh creators and inspiring stories, this thread provides an opportunity to exchange and discuss the stories that have moved and motivated us on Vocal.
By Raise Your Voice by Vocal2 years ago in Resources
The Record Shop ritual. Top Story - August 2024.
From The Smiths to WH Smiths, that was the ritual. Almost every Saturday, more often in the holidays. Shuffling from shop to shop, flicking through the racks. What’s new and exciting? What’s old but influential? What did I read about this one?
By Andy Potts2 years ago in Beat
The Eye Of Ludum. Top Story - August 2024.
"We shouldn't be here," Elna whispered. Jochen glanced towards her but didn't stop moving forward. Elna's face troubled him more than her words. For an elf, her complexion seemed unusually pale in the torchlight. He knew better than to ignore her words, though. Elna's foresight had saved his skin at least half a dozen times.
By Kenny Penn2 years ago in Fiction
A HBD Text Works.... Top Story - August 2024.
Demon deals are very dangerous. They can go left at any moment. The no contact method works for me 364 days a year. Except on the demon’s born day. Another venture around the sun, yay! Great. The day forever etched, thanks to my elephant type of memory and the Google calendar alerts. Oh yeah…that’s today. Each summer, my world gets rocked for three months back to back. June, July and August all make me pause and contemplate-- send a HBD text or no?
By Ariel Celeste2 years ago in Confessions
