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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 woman of indeterminate age pointed at the sign over the davenport. “Dead! See, it must be a dead celebrity. Otherwise, the company would have a different name.”

“You said Carey Grant was taken.” The twenty something female seemed to have no other facial expression than bored.

The woman nodded. “Because it is true. Halloween is our busiest time. Mr. Grant is booked three, ah, four years in advance. I could put you down for 2019.”

“Not Hugh Grant?”

“Not dead!” The woman frowned as evil an expression as she had.

“Shakespeare!”

The woman shook her aged head. “He doesn’t speak English. Not modern English. You wouldn’t understand him. He’s no fun anyway. I know.”

“Hitler!” The girl giggled but still looked bored.

“Asocial. He doesn’t like parties.” The woman’s laugh sounded more than evil. “Except the Nazi party. Ha! And the English thing again.”

The girl’s face reddened. “They have sex and stuff?” She giggled. “Girl friend wanted to know.”

“Ghosts. Unsubstantial. Put it together.”

“What together?” The girl looked confused but it wasn’t much different from bored.

The woman sighed painfully, more a rasp. “No.”

“This is a joke, right? I’m being punked.” The girl looked up at the ceiling.

“You came to us.”

“Right.”

“Right.” The woman creaked as she stood up. Surprisingly, it didn’t change her height. “I would like to start a dead customer service.” She muttered to herself and then louder. “Fatty Arbuckle is always asking me to set something up.”

“Who?” The girl frowned looking up from her phone. “He’s really fat? Ugh. Jeffrey Dahmer! Yes, Dahmer. Perfect for Frank’s Serial Killers party. Yes, I’ll go to Frank’s.”

The woman laughed evilly. “Yes, perfect for you. Done. I’ll just go call him up.” Perfect, she had lied about the unsubstantial part.

THE END

Michael W. Clark a biologist and writer with nineteen short stories published.  Most recently his stories have appeared in Lost Souls, Surprising Stories, Trembles, 69 Flavors of Paranoia, Morpheus Tales, Imaginarum out of U.C, Berkeley, Dark Edifice, Death Throes and Black Heart Magazine.

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