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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…

Armand Charon, a very handsome man about 35, had black, curly hair and was a muscular 6’5”. He owned an art gallery in the upscale part of town where he catered to the wealthy, beautiful people. Women were attracted to him, and every day, two or three or four women would go to his gallery and walk around looking at an endless array of art pieces, all the while glancing at Armand and fantasizing.  He would acknowledge their glances with a smile that made the ladies swoon.

Jane Somers was drawn to Armand, and visited the gallery at least twice a week.  She was attractive, and, in a bikini, would have men drooling. Being single, she was free of guilt feelings the other married women had because they were so attracted to Armand.   Jane wandered around hoping to find a reason to talk to him.  As she wandered near him, she stopped at a statue of a beautiful woman.  “Uh, excuse me.  I was wondering about that statue,” she said pointing.

“Ah, yes. That is Aphrodite.  She was the goddess of love, beauty, pleasure and procreation.”

“She is beautiful.   I think every woman would want to look like her,” Jane said.

“The only difference between you and her is she’s not real, you are very real and as beautiful a woman as Aphrodite.

Jane blushed and fanned herself with her hanky.  “Well, you are very kind,” she said and felt weak as she looked into his eyes.  Uh, what was I saying? Oh, yes. Uh, how much do you want for her?”

“I’m sorry, but she is not for sale? If you look around, you’ll see that I have a number of statues you might like,” he said smiling and looking at her as though he was undressing her with his eyes.  Feeling herself blush, she turned and looked at the other statues.

“They’re nice, but…”

“I’ll tell you what.  I’m expecting some statues in a few days, and I’m sure one will be what you want.”

“Okay, I’ll drop by in a few days,” she said and left the gallery

Armand went to a painting that he wanted to straighten, and, as he put the step stool in front of the painting, a beautiful woman entered the gallery. She looked at Armand, who had his back to her, appeared put out, and put her hands on her hips. “You there, I’m waiting.”

Armand turned and looked at her.  He stepped down and went to her. When she looked in his eyes, she felt a wave of warmth surge through her body and her arrogance melted away. “Uh, I, uh, was looking for a painting,” she said captivated by his eyes.

“Any particular painter?”

“Uh, no. Just a nice painting.”

“How about the one I was straightening.  Come, take a look,” he said and she followed him to the painting.

“Yes,” she said.  “I like it. Do you deliver?”

“Of course. Would I be disturbing you if I delivered it at 8:00?”

“Not at all. I’m single, so there’s no one to disturb.

Janine Combs paid for the painting, gave Armand her address, and left.

At 8:00, Armand was greeted by Janine in tight-fitting leggings and a tight-fitting, sheer shirt. “Come in, Armand,” she said and he entered.

“Where would you like me to hang the painting?

“Oh, that can wait. Come have a glass of wine to celebrate.”

“I’m going to be in a movie, my first, and I’m excited. Come,” she said.  He leaned the painting against a wall and followed her to the living room where a bottle of wine and two glasses were on a coffee table in front of a couch.

After two glasses of wine, she stared into his eyes and appeared mesmerized.  “Why don’t we go back to my studio?  I have some excellent champagne that’s perfect for celebrating.”

“Yes. Yes. Let’s go,” she said staring into his eyes.

At the studio, they sat at a table reserved for customers, and he poured a glass of champagne for her. “Here, drink this.”

“She looked into his eyes, nodded, and drank the champagne. After a minute, Janine was unconscious.  Armand picked her up and carried her into his back room, placed her on a table, and undressed her.

“Yes, you are beautiful.  You are perfect,” he said, draped her long hair over her shoulder, then dragged a pump to the table, and sprayed her, front and back, with a coat of thick material.  Next, he dragged a form to the table, put her in, and closed the lid.  Then he stood on a ladder and, through a hole in the top of the form, sprayed a thick coat of liquid that covered her and, after an hour, he opened the lid, and inside was a beautiful statue.  He took her out of the mold, carried her into the show room, and stood her on a pedestal.   Two days later, Jane Somers returned to the gallery.

“Ah, Ms. Somers. I have a beautiful statue that just came in,” he said and led her to Janine.”

“Yes, she is beautiful.  Could you deliver her to my house?

“Would 8:00 be convenient?”

“Yes, it would.  I live alone, so there’s no one to be disturbed. She paid, gave Armand her address, and left.

“I’ll see you at 8:00,” he said and watched her leave.  “Nice.  Very, very nice.”

 

The End

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