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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…

“How long did you think I would wait?” Alice restlessly examined the bar’s dimly lit parking lot, each frame burning into her mind.

“It’s only been ten minutes.”

“Ten minutes is a long time for us, Sam.”

"There was a lot of traffic.” Sam opened the door of her old Toyota.

“Traffic? It’s three in the morning. It’s too early for traffic.”

“It was a joke. Learn how to take one sometime? Anyways, I’m here now so let’s just do what we need to do.”

“But what are we even doing? You don’t know anything and I don’t know anything and all of this is - ”

“Dammit Alice! You need to calm down,” Sam huffed as she walked towards the white Range Rover. She knocked on the trunk and waited for Alice to open the door.

“Alice are you there?”

“Sorry, it’s open.”

“Can you get into the car now, please? What are you doing outside anyways?”

“I wanted fresh air. I got nauseous.”

“That’s not possible.”

“But I was.”

“Then turn on the AC.” Sam shut the door and walked to the passenger seat.

“You want me to drive?”

“Is that a problem for you?”

“I told you I feel nauseous.” Alice gripped the handle of her car, “but I guess I can drive.”

“Just make a decision.”

“Can you drive?” Sam sighed as she made her way towards the driver seat. She opened the door and watched Alice trudge along through the wide windows.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps pierced the silent night. Sam hopped into the driver seat and attempted to rush Alice inside.

“Hey you! Girl in the pink skirt!” A man yelled from the across the parking lot.

“Shit, Sam! I think he saw me! What do I do?”

“Okay, uh, try to relax. He’s probably just another creep who’s looking for someone to escort him through the night.”

The man teetered towards Alice then slumped against the car.

“Oh two pretty ladies. Hello there!” The drunk man waved grandly to Sam. “Aw why do you two look so serious? Let’s have some fun! Come back to the bar with me, come on! I’ll show you a great time.”

“We’re actually on our way home right now,” Sam spoke up. “This little lady had her fair share of drinks already.” Alice crookedly smiled.

“Suit yourself then.” The man approached Alice and the smell of hard liquor engulfed the two. “Just be careful because there are tons of creeps out there at this hour.” Then the man turned around and staggered back into the bar, singing an unidentifiable tune.

“Well that was interesting.” Sam waited for Alice to get into her seat.

“That’s not funny. What if he remembers my face?”

“It was a joke.”

“I know, but it wasn’t funny,” Alice stirred in her seat. “And it definitely wasn’t interesting.”

“You’re right. How can anything be more interesting than what you did tonight, anyways.”

“Don’t say it like that. It wasn’t all me.”

“You were always like this, you know?”

“You were there too, Sam,” Alice quaked.

“Ever since the third grade, you were like this.”

“Like what?”

“You were always seeking adventure. Always looking for the nicest places to visit, the newest trips to take, the biggest challenges to overcome. Now you’re faced with your biggest challenge yet and you don’t want to figure out a solution? You don’t want to overcome this? This is what you wanted. Adventure, right?”

“What are you even saying? I never wanted it like this.”

“Well we’re here now.” Alice rubbed her palms anxiously. “And there are only so many options, Alice. You can either tell someone or we can leave.”

“It wasn’t all me.” Sam started the car.

“Let’s just decide on the road. We’ve been here way too long and that creep basically called us out. Who knows who could have seen.”

“Sam it wasn’t all me.”

“Yes, I heard you the first time.”

“Then acknowledge what I said!” Alice clenched her fists.

Silence filled the air. Only the sound of the car’s steady humming and Alice’s heavy breathing comforted the silent night.

“Look, I’m just trying to fix this,” Sam sighed as she pulled out the car keys and laid them on her lap.

“By blaming me? I have a lot to lose, Sam.”

“You say that yet you’re the one sulking while I’m the one trying to get you out of this.”

Alice stared up at the lampposts. “I don’t know if that’s what I want, Sam. I don’t know if I want to get out of this anymore.”

“What is that supposed to mean? You just said you have a lot to lose. What are you gonna do? You’re just going to give it all up?”

“I-I don’t know.”

“You never do. You always leave a mess then rely on others to clean it up for you.”

“Just stop it. I don’t want to argue anymore.”

“Someone had to tell you.”

Alice slowly unbuckled her seatbelt and began to open the door. “I’m getting nauseous.”

“I didn’t know that these grew out here during the springtime”

“What?”

“That tree, I think it’s called a Manchineel”

“A Manchi-what?”

“Manchineel. They’re known for their death apples, but it’s so weird. I remember reading about them. They only grow during the winter. Why is there one here?”

“How would I know, stop worrying about the tree. I’m getting nauseous.”

“How are you nauseous?”

“I can smell it.”

“I told you that’s not possible. Just get back in the car. Who knows how many people have seen by now.”

“Why isn’t it possible?”

“Because it’s only been three hours.”

“I just need some fresh air.”

“You already got fresh air, Alice. We really need to go.”

“I’ll just be a minute. I need something to drink, too.” Alice opened the door and slammed it shut, leaving Sam impatiently waiting for her return.

Sam watched Alice’s retreating figure under the fluorescent lighting of the bar’s parking lot. She watched her disappear into the western style double doors then slumped into her seat. The bar had been blasting old country music and the sound of laughter trapped Sam as she sat by herself in the all too spacious Range Rover. She fell deeper and deeper into her seat then pressed her knees to her face.

Twenty minutes elapsed and Alice was still nowhere to be seen.

“God where is she?” Getting impatient, Sam hastily got out of the car and went towards the bar. She made a beeline to the drinks and searched for the blonde bombshell.

"Alice? " Sam whispered as she searched the bar, “Alice?”

She moved on to the bathrooms, “Alice, are you in here?"

Sam searched the entire bar yet she could not find Alice. Everywhere she went, she was met with strange faces and no traces. Everywhere she went, she was met with silence from her biggest friend and adversary.

 

END

Kennedy Ribet was born and raised in Long Beach, California. She enjoys snowboarding, as well as watching and reviewing movies on both IMDb and Metacritic.

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