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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…

Wasn't it just daylight outside? Or maybe I'm thinking of earlier... The house seems to have changed or am I imagining it? Did someone slip me something? I....feel wrong. This house feels wrong. Walking down this corridor I'm trying to remember what's the same and hold on to that. The wallpaper is a sickly yellow color with a bland floral print. Definitely not with the times. And the ceiling is an off white. Like it's dimmed by the environment. Like it wants to be brighter but can't. I guess even houses sometimes wish they could be what they're not. There's no light. Except the daylight peeking in from the rooms on the left side. Oh wait, there's no daylight. What am I thinking of? But how can I still see? It's storming now. There's the puttering of rain and I hear restrained thunder. It's powerful but not out of control. And the cracks of lightning flood the hallway for a split second with blue-purple light. There's 3 doors on the right and 2 on the left. No, 2 on the right and 3 on the left? I swear it's changing! Houses aren't supposed to do this. I should feel stable here. But it's as shifty as my mind. If I can just get my bearings and remember why I'm in this house....who's that?

I see a silhouette at the end of the hallway just standing behind the open door. It doesn't seem to take notice until I call out "hello?". I can see it quickly turn its head then shift to the door and violently swing it open. It's still too dark until a couple flashes of lightning reveal it's a woman. Her hair is matted and tangled and she's in a tattered night gown. At first I assume she must be frightened as I look like an intruder but as I try to calm her down I begin to notice the details. Her gown is ripped and splattered with blood. Her light colored hair is also drenched in blood making it stick together in chunks. But her face is what terrifies me most. It's twisted and disfigured with madness like it can no longer contain the hatred and rage inside. I manage to pull my eyes away and notice feet sticking out just beyond the wall. Someone's lying face up on the other side of the door way, are they alive? One foot is twitching... This is when I notice the large knife still soaked crimson red.

I slowly begin to raise my hands to calm her down but she screams and charges toward me wildly with the knife raised to swing down at me. I turn to run but am instantly blocked by a wall. Dead end. I turn and she's two feet from me and as she strikes lightning flashes and I'm alone once again in the hallway. I frantically check myself over; no stab wounds. Where is she? As I raise my eyes forward everything is the same. Puttering rain, occasional flashes of light with thunder, tacky wallpaper and three rooms on the left, two on the right....right? Yeah, I'll stick with that.

At the very end of the hallway this time the door is closed. No crazed woman, no dead body. As I slowly creep down the hallway I quietly try each door knob I pass. Locked...locked...locked....all locked. Only door left is the one straight ahead....where she was. I carefully try the handle half hoping it's locked but of course it gives way and "click" the door creaks as it slowly opens. It's too dark to see clearly but as I step through the doorway it quietly shuts and another flash of light pierces through the blackness and I see what's transpiring. I'm in a bedroom and by the positioning it isn't difficult to tell what was happening moments before I entered. A man, the man from before perhaps? He's handcuffed to the headboard, feet to either side of the bed. From the muffling I can tell he's gagged. What is this? Why am I here? He's screaming, writhing and contorting in pain. She's straddling him, the crazed woman, she's not as blood soaked but she's getting there. She's meticulously cutting away. Slashing in his most vulnerable parts. More lightning flashes. It looks like she broke his ankles. There's a bat on the floor next to the bed where his feet hang limp. Wait...a bat!

Just as I think it the man notices me and screams inaudibly for help, his eyes full of fear and pleading like a helpless wounded dog. But the woman turns too and quickly starts to jump off, the insanity in her eyes so intense. I panic and try for the door behind me but it won't budge. I rattle and wail but it's not moving. I hear her screaming and turn to find her bringing the blade down to my eyes and I suddenly wake up back in the hallway. I sit up against one of the walls pulling my knees to my chest and burying my head. Is this some nightmare? I can't help but weep. I just want to forget what I've seen. I shouldn't be able to imagine what I've never actually seen but it's so vivid... All the blood, the man screaming, the room rank with the stench of his vomiting all over himself in agony. It looked like she was castrating him. Using the knife like a saw. What had he done to her? Was it unprovoked? I try to calm myself down. Then I notice it....The rain. It's stopped.

I reluctantly get to my feet and stand on my toes to look out one of the windows. Grey skies. It's lighter out. Sunset with rain threatening but quiet for now. Is this a different day? How long had I been out? Didn't she kill me? Twice, no less? I need to get out while there's still daylight. I dart to the bedroom, maybe I can stop her before she sees me. As I open it I find it empty. The bed is made, everything in order, there's even some incense burning on the the corner night stand. What in the hell is happening? I go back to the hallway but now there's a door at the end! I swear it was just wall before when the madwoman chased me down. Ignoring the other doors I walk up to it and put my ear against it listening. I hear voices, a man and woman. There's laughing and some inaudible conversation. Is it the same two from before? It can't be. I take a deep breath and open the door to find a wider living area with a kitchen and dining room attached. Warm light is flooding the expanse and as I'm surveying I see the couple standing in the kitchen with dirty dishes still in their hands just staring at me wide-eyed. They've just finished a candle lit dinner from the looks and were washing up until I walked in.

The woman looks amazingly different with fixed hair, makeup, and a form fitting elegant short dress...yet it's still the same woman. I must look just as stunned as them solely because I can't believe after all I've seen I find her somewhat attractive. She darts towards a closet in the living room as the man runs forward leaving me no time to explain myself. Not that I could explain any of this. He takes me to the ground and is hitting me as I try to block the blows. He relents just enough for me to see the woman running toward us with a bat. The same bat? The man moves and she swings downward at my head.

"Honey? Are you alright?"

I'm shaken on my left shoulder and I snap awake. Like I was in a trance. My....wife....yeah, I'm married. I almost forgot. She's looking at me inquiringly and I glance at the table and realize we're having dinner.

"What happened? Was I sleeping long?"

She laughs a bit:

"You weren't asleep, just daydreaming. Finish up your meal, it's our anniversary and I want plenty of time to celebrate."

She smiles at me as she carries her dishes to the kitchen. She looks amazing in that dress. What was I thinking about before? I can't remember. I'm finishing my plate as she stands over me and wraps her arms around my neck and chest from behind and whispers:

"I want to try something a little adventurous tonight" and with that we head down the hallway.

"Looks like a storm," I remark as I peer out the window.

"Mm-hm,"she exclaims as she opens the bedroom door. The door closes behind us.

 

End

"My name is Chris but when writing I prefer CL. I have always loved writing especially as an emotional release. I love motorcycles, coffee, cats, beer, music, and nerdy entertainment in general. I write what could be considered poetry mostly but I do short stories occasionally for special times of the season (Halloween etc.). I actually don't watch much horror as I scare easily. But I love the concepts it puts out in some of it's more original titles. My favorite author is John Lindqvist, author of Let The Right One In and that is who I am currently reading (Harbor)."

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