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Latest Stories

March 19, 2024
Fantasy Stories Wondering Monk

Just My Imagination

The alarm clock went off and started playing an awful tune. Tom opened his eyes and closed them back, squinting. He reopened one eye and stood up to stop the torture. The phone was on the desk, in the furthest spot from the bed. Although he changed his way of…
March 19, 2024
Science Fiction Stories Ocelotlzin

Earth Is Dead

Recording… It doesn't matter who I was; I probably lived a long time ago, and I am now just a voice someone added to the audio-visual records. What is essential is the recollection of events that lead to the current state. So, a little history needs to be…
March 08, 2024
Flash Fiction Benoit

Some Enchanted Evening

It was a rugby tackle with tears: Chrissy burst in, sobbing and babbling, hugging James. Her face was all wet, eyes wild. What…? My parents split up, Dad has moved in with his boyfriend and I cannot join them. I am shut out. I have lost my dad. Torrent of…
March 08, 2024
Horror Stories Marvel Chukwudi Pephel

In The Hands Of My Legs

The car pulled up in front of the large salon. The neon sign, that sexy broad thing, on the salon'sroof read "Mr. Gil's All-night Salon". The exhaust pipe of the car was pumping solid smoke, theswirls moving from the car and towards the salon.…
March 07, 2024
Mystery Stories Vanessa Leigh Giles

Casualty of Love in the Time of Coronavirus

Chapter 1 Until Death do us Part ‘Ring, ring!’. I answered the telephone and asked, “Hello, good evening. Who’s this? “Hello.” This is Dr. Smith from Red Cross hospital. “Is this Mr. Locke, John?”, he asked, hesitantly scratching his bald head. “Yes, doctor.…
March 07, 2024
Crime Stories Robert Pook

Bar Room Trigger

Another return journey on footpaths so familiar. He strides across each crack in each paving stone. Regular loose drain covers sidestepped. Mapping long ago mapped in Richard’s desolate mind. His pace hastened by the sight of the oncoming storm. Quickening…
March 04, 2024
Horror Stories Ano Chinemerem

Sanctity

Where should I begin? I could begin by telling you about this comely boy, whom every notable person around the streets agrees his smile could charm the bills off one. Between one smile, there was his goodness, his dreams and humanity—a little far ahead?— but…
March 04, 2024
Flash Fiction Emanuel Diaz

Et Mortui Partium

As Rafael stepped out into the rain, it wasn't the ordinary drops that fell from the sky. Instead, it was a storm of souls, each one taking the form of shimmering jewelry as it cascaded toward the ground. Rubies, diamonds, and sapphires twinkled amidst the…
February 29, 2024
Poetry Jing Li Ava

London

‘Am I in London?’ "I am." Where is Elizabeth? Happy living story All of your chapter Bounlance joy Please my heart Power hand Wise mind Our baby Vow vow Love all love Miss I miss Endless wonder Bring us together Love all love Miss I miss For everything My…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Rob Pook

Life Sentence of The Smith

Born nine months after his country won the World Cup.A child prodigy.Cast off at age twenty-four.Husband, father, emigree, away on the other side of the world.The blue-collar life.The dreams of success.The search for fulfillment.The long years of empty…
February 29, 2024
Mystery Stories Joshua Lowther

The Operator

Jason looked over to his right, his eyes barely able to focus themselves on the subject of his attention. His neck ached terribly from the strenuous movement. He was tired. The captain’s gaze came to rest on the rookie sonar operator sitting tense at his…
February 29, 2024
Flash Fiction Salvatore Difalco

The Chute

At dusk, we left our unit with a soft pink bundle. I carried it through the wet streets and into the black woods. I said I’d take it all the way, the bundle, but that we had to drop it in together. My wife’s green eyes flashed. “Don’t make me do that.” I…

The curtain opened on the morning after Layla's birthday with a spectacular cast of slate grey skies, drought-killed grass and cracked pavement. Stale smoke from a burnt-out campfire drifted from the backyard of the house at the end of the block. Wet ashes still sat beside a blue plastic swimming pool, the water's silent surface peppered with half-deflated balloons. In the basement bedroom, seven girls in pajamas and varying states of wakefulness sprawled across pillows and camping mats strewn over the cement floor. Around them were scattered board games and cards from Uno and Dutch Blitz, the loose playing cards occasionally scattering due to a sleepy exhale. 80's movies on VHS were strewn around the room, the player and television in the corner still on. One girl was using a box set of Star Wars as a pillow.

Slow, unsteady footsteps made their way down the blue-painted plywood stairs. There was a louder thud, followed by the sound of water sloshing over the side of the bucket.

“SHHH! Shhh! You'll wake them up!” One voice whispered.

“Sorry!” A sandy head, belonging to a nine year old boy, poked around the corner. “But they won't wake up!”

“You can't be too careful.” A different boy, this one older and taller, but with the same blond hair, dropped down the stairs and around the corner, avoiding his brother. “Come on!” He held a finger to his lips and headed towards the door. The younger boy followed, walking slowly, weighted down as he was by the two ice cream buckets of water that both he and his brother were carrying. A close look outside would prove the pool to be slightly depleted.

The older boy pulled the door open, lifting it on it's hinges to keep it from squealing against the floor. The two stood framed in the doorway, observing the slumber party aftermath crafted by their sister and her friends. They shared a conspiratorial glance.

“On three?” The younger brother asked, preparing to hurl the bucket of pool-scummy water towards the pile of sleeping girls. The older brother nodded and grinned.

“On three.”

End

Grace Ruth lives in northern BC, Canada and enjoys playing hockey, snowboarding and writing

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