Stories

The world ended at midnight, that was what most people agreed to although there weren’t many people left in the world at the moment. It ended when there wasn’t screams of terror or pain, but with screams of happiness as billions around the world gathered to watch the countdown

A child sits by a creek in the middle of the forest with beautiful, glowing blue butterflies flittering around. How did she get here? She didn’t remember wandering this far from home. In fact, she didn’t remember leaving home at all!

Lawson was walking back to the campfire with his playing cards when he realized all his friends had gone. "Where are you guys?" he asked nervously. Just then, he heard a rustle from the bushes—followed by a growl.

Jack grab snacks from movie Theater stand. Jack hear woman at stand and look up see worker give him popcorn and movie Ticket. Unknown stranger woman look at him not blank or take eyes off him. When man turn around to her Direction she disappear. Jack want in movie theater.

I stared intently at the hot dog as it fell and flopped lifelessly onto the pavement in front of me. With the power of the fall from my hand it propelled itself onto the road, where a speeding Honda Civic promptly ran over it and turned it into mush. What a horrible morning.

At first glance, there was nothing suspicious about the waffle laying in the middle of the road that Thursday morning, butter side down. Around 5:30 am, the air still heavy with fog, a pair of crows flew down from the wire and pecked at the waffle, investigating it.

"And your wish?" the genie asked Brian. "Well," Brian mused, "there is something." "No!" Colleen cried, "Don't do it, Brian!" but he ignored her. "I wish," he said, "that every time I got a song stuck in my head everyone else in the world also got that song stuck in their heads."

This is the story all about how my life got flipped turned upside down. It all started with my uncle's magnetic boots, my grandmother's iron ceiling tiles, & a bottle of Sprite. And a robot cricket named Ch33p3rs. And a YouTube video about cleaning the vents in a Datsun. Anyways

The crater trembled and six magnificent wings unfurled, each extending higher than the tallest tree in the forest. Above their rising head—a halo—shimmering like a shooting star. As the light dimmed, the celestial light became impossible to distinguish from that of the moonlight.

A crossroads. The man thought long and hard before turning left. He counted his steps as he went, as though counting would slow down his inevitable and unwanted arrival at the hospital.

I'm just a man working in a world full of crime.

There comes a time in every father's life when he has to answer a certain uncomfortable question from his son. It happened to me today. My boy James & I were playing catch in the backyard. It was the first nice day of spring. "Dad," he asks, "what does caviar taste like?"

The lone robot sat on a large iron plate. Or he would have, if there was any gravity to be able to sit, so it more like held onto it. They floated around, slowly, and the lights of the cosmos reflected off its big, glassy eyes. It smiled. It was happy. It's life here was simple.

Once upon a time in a galaxy far far away, a little alien called Wibee went to explore in his little and round ship. One thing he didnt know…his adventure was going to be out of this world.

Toni's dog Goober only obeyed one command: dig! So, Toni told it to dig anytime and anywhere just to show how obedient the dog could be. One day Goober dug too far.

"Tag!" I'm tapped on the shoulder. "Aw man!" Roy is already sprinting the other way, but closest to me is Alice. She sees me and starts down the hill, screaming and laughing. "Come here!" As she reaches the bottom, she screams, but this time, it didn't sound like the playful kind

So, she said. Here we are again. At work.

What started out as mere coffee talk has now transformed into a heated ministry. "I am disgusted with the modern writer," Jan says. I take another sip. "All amateurs." "How so?" "Look at these entries! Dull and void of the most ESSENTIAL thing: conflict! None of them are winners"

"Well? Don't you want to know how the story ends?" He wipes my wet cheek with his glove & I turn away. Despite my unwilling participation in this clowns performance, he jerks my chin back. And his red painted smile contorts into something far more menacing.

"So here’s the thing," says the crow, "if you’ve never heard of me, hear me now. I’m your least expected fortune teller. I’m the one that brings death and despair. Yield to me, so I shall spare you from your doomed fate." "Foolish," says the human.

The blade was inches away from her nose. She stared at it, in horror. How did she end up in this mess? And what to do to get out of it?

The strange, sandy whirlwind stayed above their heads. Some kind of a cavern was hidden under the big hot desert. How come the sand didn't get in here? Anyway - now they needed a light source to see much further than their noses. What was this place? Did it form naturally?

"This is not enough ketchup!" she screamed. The entire restaurant turned around to see her flip her table, root beer & fries flying. Most people murmured ill words about her, about the waste of root beer, about reasonable ketchup portions, but not me. I had fallen in love.

A knock hits the door, making Clarice freeze. "House keeping!" With gallons of sweat pouring down her neck, she shouts "Go away!" and continues scrubbing. As she does, she sobs in agony, for the blood that pools in the bathtub has stained her pretty blue dress.

"Guys, it's really not funny anymore!" My voice echoes off the twisting wooden figures, but no others come out. I cross from tree to tree with the flashlight's narrow beam and watch it disappear into thick black fog. "Guys?" But all that replies is biting silence.

"Yes, I'm pleased you stocked the bathroom with toilet paper but to be honest, with six rolls on the shelf, I worry our guests will think we use the toilet too much." Eve stared at her husband in disbelief. "Just put some clothes on," she said. "They'll be here any moment."

She was scared to death. Nobody has ever talked to her like that.

During his third night out of town, a travelling businessman discovers a voodoo doll in his hotel room.

Writing down her thoughts about what happened last year wasn’t as easy as she had hoped. She couldn’t hold back the tears when she wrote about Luka — the way he smiled and laughed at silly things.

As we ran down the hall, the teacher screamed at us. "Give me my phone back and get back to class! Or else ill send you both to the Principal's office!!" We laughed at her. The school police stopped us when we reached the end of the hall. "I guess we got to take a trip." I laugh

If you asked me where I thought I would be at 31 years of age I certainly wouldn’t have said dead. That was never my intention. I’ve never been plagued with a day of ill-health or suicidal ideation a day in my life. But here I am laying cold on the floor of

I know there's blood. I can feel it trickling down my leg. Don't look. Keep your eyes up. But naturally, my gaze starts to wander down my leg. A hole the size of a quarter and a fountain of glistening red is there to meet me. In shock, I begin to choke on my breaths.

This mailbox is mine, and this triagonal sign, that blue balloon, the month of June, they’re mine, mine, mine, mine, mine.

Hugo Kramer, royal calligrapher, toiled away at his desk til the wee hours of the morning, working by candlelight with such dedication that he didn't notice two dark figures approach.

Something strange was going on. It looked like something was moving under the dirt, close enough to the surface that it pushed a trail of it above as it went forward. People looked at it, puzzled and a bit alerted. A kid pointed at it but the mom grabbed the kid's hand and fled.

The icy slide was wild! The surface beneath was so smooth I didn't feel any bumps as I slid faster and faster down the hill. The way was clear but the chute was formed in a way that I didn't see that far, what was to come. In these speeds bumping against anything would be fatal.

The stars are not what they used to be.

“Apples to apples”, he said, “apples to oranges, whatever, it’s all fruit”. He shrugged as if to convey a sense of nonchalance, but I knew him. Of course he cared. He had shed a single tear the day it happened, but I’d never seen him cry before that, every single day for nine

“It’s been a tough year.” Sue sighed. “A tough few years, honestly. I don’t see it getting better soon, either.” Her friend, standing awkwardly, didn’t know what to say. She patted Sue on top of her head, 3 times. Sue looked up, fire in her eyes.

OK, OK, Iisten to me. It's not that complex. The oldest movie is Episode 4. Then Episodes 5 and 6 came out. Then a couple decades later we got the first 3 Episodes, which are also the prequels. What? They just are. Now we have 3 sequels: Episodes 7-9. No, really, it makes sense.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have some great news! Today, here in Cheesequake, NJ, in this famous garden, I saw it happen. The orange gourd saw it’s own shadow. This means that Pumpkin Spice Season has begun! Huzzah!”

We were deep in the hole. So deep that we didn’t know how we’d ever get out. So deep that it was hard to see the light of day.

A majestic beast stands on its strong legs in a distance. Should it get too close it can easily rip limbs off any living things. It sways its huge head in the wind and looks around. It almost looks like it's sniffing the air. Should it be ogled at, or evaded, or advanced towards?

Yessir and yes m’am. What you see is what you get. 3 bassists, a tuba player, a dulcimer, 5 triangles, a bass tambourine, an alto tambourine, and a Roland 808 drum machine. This is our band, and we rock the house. We call ourselves

Even though all of you on earth call it a station, those of us who live aboard call it a ship, and therefore a she. Sadly, her orbit is decaying. Her correction thrusters are offline. If we can’t fix her, she will fall to earth in 3 months.

There was something moving in the bush. It made a silent rattle but it was loud enough for the guards to hear. Both of them looked suspiciously at it but they couldn't see anything due to the night's darkness. The other bashed his spear against his shield but the noise persisted.

Abbey loves books and always wanted to be a writer. This poetry workshop was going to be awesome if not for Joel green.

He walked towards a small platform. There was a stand and a nice gift that was promised for him. The stony floor was cold under his bare feet and the enormous room looked so empty otherwise. He stopped at the stand and looked at the steel wings. They looked...elegant, magnificent

Sleepy & hungover at a screaming child's birthday party, wearing a raggedy Pluto the Dog costume that smelled of sweat and, strangely, Little Debbie snack cakes, Brian Leggaro wondered to himself, "How did it come to this?"

Hudson finished carving her last gourd and wiped the pumpkin seeds and sweat from her brow. She was about to light all the votives in her display when she spotted the neighborhood curmudgeon walking briskly toward her.

How would you describe your best friend?

Alexandria Marie Johnson was murdered on July 23 1993-at least that was what the newspaper said. She was 16. We were neighbors. I was the one who called the police. On July 23, 1994 I walked into my room and found Alexandria alive, standing by a window. Today is July 23, 1994.

The tower looks very tall and mysterious under the evening sun. The perimeter is empty and rocky and the wind blows dust around. Nobody knows what's inside...or who's inside. Is this going to be an opportunity, an adventure or just a false call of gluttony, leading to only death?

When Lincoln came back from the forrest he was a changed man. You could tell by his body, it was leaner. You could tell by his eyes, they were wearier. You could tell by his feet, they were redder.

Emma wiped the dust off her pants. I was just going to go through some things up in the attic. Grandma was a pack rat. I know that she was your mother but I bet you are happy that she is gone

"Do these jeans make me look fat?" "No. Do these sunglasses make me look vain?" "No. Does this cheese give me bad breath?" "No. Does driving this car make me look like a poseur?" "No. Do these snakes make me look like a gorgon?" "No. Do these dill pickles make me look desperate?"

Dudley’s face is a horror in the frosted glass. Her lies were creeping back into his consciousness. All he had was some promise of a future together. Some bullshit she’d laid on him a thousand times when he was stupid enough

When I arrived in a park, the streetlights turned off, everything was dark. I walked towards the exit to search light, but a foot blocked my way and I fall. I wanted to get up, but a hands grabbed me by the neck

Follow the pale green fish, I say, and follow her all the way, and you’ll find you can wish away for a brighter, better day.

Miriam sat at the train station clutching her purse. She was dressed formally, wearing sunglasses despite the fact that it was raining.

Jayla did as she was told. Jazz was her favorite music.

I feel better in the bear suit. I feel like myself. It’s not a realistic bear suit, and I don’t behave like a bear when I wear it. It does allow me to be one step removed from the human world, which I appreciate.

Saturday night, early spring, 1988. We were bombing into the city in a 12 year old sedan, blasting our favorite mix tapes. We had no specific plans but we were going to have some fun.

He typed furiously on his phone. He was using a collaborative storytelling app called “Myline”. He added to stories every day, and sometimes he started new ones. But the stories he started never turned out the way he envisioned!

Four days until Bella's birthday & Zach still didn't know what to get her. He stood in the Kohl's foyer & took a breath. He would go into the store, eyes closed, take 20 steps, reach out with his left hand, & purchase whatever he first touched. Twenty blind steps later, he held a

There was a cold breeze blowing. She walked along the pier on her way back to his house in the twilight. A fear of the unknown ran through her veins, her stomach was uneasy. She leaned down as if to throw up.… but her reflection made her snap out of it. She looked so tired.

Well I was shopping for a new car, which ones me, a cool convertible or an SUV? Too bad I didn’t know my credit was whack, and now I’m driving off the lot in a used sub-compact.

Gotta be fast. A comrade is lying in the sand, bleeding out. The bandits are still close by though so extra caution is needed for this to work. Can the comrade be sneaked out of the danger and patched up in time or do we need to add one more gravestone in this forsaken world?

You face an epic fighter before you. You eye them from a distance. They seem to be as cool as you are, their face straight and their stand firm. The clock seems to tick slower and then, stop completely. Nothing moves in the scenery. All you can hear are your own wild heartbeats.

Story unwritten. The pen rested at the table all alone and the ink bottle was stashed somewhere. The candle has burned out, leaving a small hint of smoke in the air. There was paper in an old wooden cupboard left untouched. The mind was dull, with no new ideas. Maybe it was time?

A palm tree was standing alone in the sand. A blow of wind moved it enough for a coconut to get loose. It snapped off the tree, rolled down on the tree's trunk and made a soft thump as it fell in the sand, quite deeply so. It didn't break at all but it got some sand on top of it.

A tremendous vortex appeared in the sky. Thunder cracked and gray clouds emerged. The change of weather was faster than seen before. The humanity was scared. It wasn't your everyday hurricane. It somehow seemed to be a gateway somewhere? Or for something to pass here...

Soft swaying. A warm breeze. Rustling leaves. When the eyes open the surprise is big - the scenery is upside down and the ground is above! Senses are pointing out of upside-down state. The leg is fastened to a branch. The ground is above, the sky is under. How did this happen?!

I pressed play on the tape recorder then waited. A white noise filled the air for a few seconds, then shifted into a dull buzz as a woman’s staticky voice came into focus. “Melody Pendras,” she said “May 17th, 15:45.” I strained my ears for signs of the song in the background.

Lifeline too be different or same, I asked Henry. Artist at heart he separated equally 4x4 then crossed out the different non-matching letters and below those letters their position in the English alphabet and handed it back replying with one word Solve.

When I looked in the mirror I knew the wig wouldn’t fool anyone. I looked at the plethora of makeup products strewn on the counter, the fashion magazines open as guides and sighed. After all the money and time I’d spent it was time to realize I was never going to be able to be

Some might judge me for eating a Jimmy Dean pancake on a stick (much less 3 of them) while I sit in my bath, but I stopped caring about what other people think a millennia ago when I was surrounded by people who didn’t even take baths because soap was witchcraft or some nonsense.

And we will make you our slaves.” It said as if speaking to a mere pet, and yet those words struck fear into their hearts for reasons they did not want to acknowledge. The being smiled a cruel smile of victory as it spoke; “We have waited for your arrival.”

The rocky floor was moving under their feet. The big, dark and empty room was quickly filled with loud noises created by the contraption one of them set off. Was this a trap? No visible signs of danger was seen yet...there were no regular patterns of the floor's changing either.

One of the floor boards came loose today. I had no idea there would be anything mysterious going around in this house. I have spent most of my life here. I wonder, does my parents know about this at all? I peeked under and - surely enough, there was a small hole in the ground.

When I got laid off earlier this year I initially thought my life was over. Without a stable job and income, I figured that I was screwed for the foreseeable future. What I didn't realize, however, was that I now had many hours a day to spend on my hobbies, such as

After months of searching the desert & the loss of my left pinkie, the Magic Mirror was mine. I could ask it any question I wanted & it would reveal all the Secrets of the Universe to me. "Mirror, Mirror," I said, "I must know—why can't flies find the window out after flying in?"

I crossed the bridge into Philly as the sun rose. I’d been driving all night. I had a vintage computer wrapped in a blanket, and an eager buyer on South Street. The sale would hopefully fund the rest of my trip, and be enough to get me started once I arrived.

“Are you of the intelligent sort? I suppose not.” “Well, I can assure you that I am a distinguished gentleman and scholar.” “Is that so? What, then, is the sum of the numbers nine and ten?” Why, that’s an elementary question! I spent no time figuring it out and loudly proclaimed,

The air was crisp, the cold pungent, and yet the sun shone: bright and warm and entirely at odds with the situation.

Digging through the back shelves of the pantry I found the last jar of pickles that grandma made before she died. "Well," I said to myself, "someone's got to eat 'em sometime." I assembled a sandwich, piled some chips beside it, & popped open the jar only to find that there was a

When the water began seeping under the door, Jack knew he was in trouble. He tried the door again, more forcefully this time, but to no avail. Sweat beaded on his forehead. He turned and looked around the dim room, searching for

If you knew, where and when to look for, you could see it. Different people see it differently, it doesn't depend on wit. For me it could be an old, friendly man, and for you, a black shade. To some it can be a worried child, and to some of beautiful promises made.

Mason Howard was a dentist who loved the library. He would always read books and check as many books as possible.

Its been three days. I haven't seen a single thing all day that didn't want to kill me. I'm out of food and my compass is still broken - great. My only choice is to wander deeper into the forest. I don't want to, but I'm so lost already I don't know how things could get any worse

Denise approached the wide, rapid river with an apprehension like none she’d ever known. Behind her, the rest of her party watched as she knelt on the bank and raised her palms to the sky. She was glad her back was to them so they could not see the fear on her face as she began

Fool me once… Shame on you Fool me twice… shame on me.

He grabbed the dices, shook them and threw them on the carpet. He looked at me, smiled and pointed at the first die he looked at. It had a symbol of a cat on it. "Once upon a time there was this sad, lone lion" he started the story. "Your turn" he said. Which dice should I pick?

The castle was extremely damp. Human feces could be smelled everywhere. A rat scurried away as a feminine shadow approached a wooden door. The woman held her breath.

A long time ago, In a land called Kentucky, There once lived a man, Who wasn't very lucky, And one day he fell, Right into a well, And his situation was very yucky.

Her eyes were about to close out of tiredness. She sat deep in her armchair, watching a show from a small television. The trailer around her creaked once in a while. It was nighttime. A loud falling noise made the woman jump in panic. She looked around to see, what was the cause.

“Mudfoot, Ogre Extraordinaire” read the business card. I raised one eyebrow, and opened my mouth to speak. But I couldn’t phrase the question politely. “I know I look like a teenage human,” Mudfoot said. “It’s a terrible curse.”

Once upon a time (which was actually 2 weeks ago) I had woken up to the sound of explosions, and I look out the windows to see someone robbing a bank!

The 20th of April had come at long last, I looked at my joint and I gave it a blast, I travelled so high in the sky oh so fast, visions of wonder and shadows were cast.

The only animal that could have made made the bite that killed Frank Floss was a saber-toothed tiger.

Jim ran a hand through his hair, “Bro I’m telling you, there’s just no way any chick can say no to the Jimster”. Eric rolled his eyes so far, they almost got stuck at the back of his head. “Get that girl’s number then, and you get bragging rights and $50,” Eric pointed ahead.

The screaming had finally stopped. James crawled to the window and carefully raised himself up from the floor and peeked out the dingy pane. Outside dusk was falling, and a light snow had begun to coat the trees and buildings. James licked his dry, cracked lips and shivered. He

They sat in a circle, legs crossed and arms outstretched. In the center was a comb, a brush, and a tub of pomade. "We beseech you, please grant our wishes for glorious body hair. Grant us the mustaches, beards, and back hair we seek. Please, Hairy Fairy, work your magic upon us!"

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today. We know you’re busy, and promise what we are about to share will be worth your valuable time. What you are about to see will change the world. I present to you, the.…

I swim through the oceans, I swim through the skies. Water and air are not so different, it’s just a matter of density. And of course, like you, I swim through time.

Matteo stood outside the estate, staring at a green garden hose, wondering how something so banal could be attached to something so extravagant. Suddenly, one of the leaded glass windows creaked open. “What are you doing here?” inquired a butler.

I stood up, microphone in hand! The song was selected and the countdown begin...I was ready to loose myself in that karaoke bar! But just when I was prepared to start showing my talent

In the middle of the night came a whirring, buzzing noise. I got up and went to investigate the source. Opening the door I saw that the printer was active. A sheet of paper slowly rolled out of the printer’s mouth. Two large bold words were on the paper. “Sample Text”.

There’s a place about a mile or so from here, up the hill through the woods and past the big pond with reeds all around. A little stone house, used to be pink but most the paint has peeled away, roof fell through and the garden is more like a jungle these days. Most folk know why

The waters were calm yet the clouds heavy in the evening sky. The reverberation of the ship’s engines penetrating. “Norwegian battleship eight kilometres four degrees north sir! It has a barcode on the hull!”. “Aye Lieutenant, you know why?”. “No sir!”. “So they can Scandinavian”

There is this presence in the house. I cannot quite put my finger on it, but sometimes I do sense it. The atmosphere just changes drastically, all of the sudden. If I have visitors, they don't notice it themselves. I'm not sure, should I worry, ignore or do something about it...

On day 43 things started to unravel. The plan had worked perfectly until then, like clockwork. On day 43 we ran out of blue ink. But that was just the first of our troubles.

They had been on the way to his little league game. Grandad drove his big old Caddy. Joe always loved the crazy big dashboard buttons, the funky tail fins. He remembered Grandad cussing loudly, leaning on the horn, and then the car slipped sideways. After that: darkness. Until

Long ago, before television or even radio, your great-great-great grandmother crafted a story into this quilt. See the images? Here's an acorn. Here's a cardinal. Here's a bowl of goulash. It's time you learned its tale...

There once was a mouse, and he lived in a house, with his daughter, and mother, and spouse. Along came a cat with a belly so fat, and under his hat there lived a small bat. And the villainous duo knocked down the whole house.

The Vallaynthian limped into harbour. It’s sails torn. It’s deck littered with debris and the rotting corpses of crew. Blood pooled at the edges. This was a massacre. The vessel had left Port Darrow 3 week hence en route to Ellamin in the West. It never arrived.

“What else?” I asked Charlene. “I’ve got the flour, mayo, artichoke hearts, sun dried tomato.” She nodded. “And don’t forget the knife sharpener, and the nylon rope.” I hate the holidays.

Fact No. 4675: In Icelandic culture a Fürdugøl is a mischievous spirit that often manifests in deep woodland during the moon’s waxing phase. It is a strange looking creature, not entirely dissimilar to a large bear but distinguished by its unique ability to

I’ve done it. I’ve secured the last Seasonal Goat Cheese Lover’s collection from the local creamery just in time for Christmas. It’s $50, but it’s worth it. At last, my spouse will know how much I still adore her and her penchant for the cheese of goats. Perhaps,

hi, my name is e-Emma. She said. she was really nervous

The cake was deliciously moist, fluffy, and sweet. In a word: perfect. Reggie hated every single bite. She chased the last bite with a cold glass of milk. Then she dabbed at her mouth with that perfect linen napkin. That was when she decided she was going to kill Lydia.

The consultant walked into the boardroom wearing shorts and a sports bra, her legs and arms covered in Pokémon tattoos. The roomful of unimpressive executives avoided eye contact and fidgeted in their seats. “I was brought here for one reason and one reason alone,” she said.

Its over. It was all over.

steady on his bulky feet. Tina raised the barbell higher and higher. His muscles flexing and straining. Then a loud ripping sound was heard-his leopard tights had torn at the seams. He squealed with embarrassment. This is not how he imagined his birthday.

I guess it was fair that was the last time I'd see him, I guess it was fine that he would be taken away. I can't understand why he would do something that... stupid. Why can't I give up on him, why can't I forget him. The Reason keeps on coming back to me over and over, he's my

The day I’ve long been waiting for has finally arrived. What devious plans have I in store for today? So many options! I rub my hands in anticipation with a very cheeky grin. Someone’s day is about to be ruined.

Later that day, once my hangover had subsided, I looked at my Byline comment: ‘Note to self: contributing to byline after a night in the pub is not as fantastic an idea as it seems at the time.’ - feeling ridiculous and delicate in equal measure I made a life-changing decision.….

"The tests are conclusive," said her oncologist "you are cancer free." Wynona could hardly believe it. After all this time she was going to be okay. "Honey," said Wantando her burly husband "that's incredible! Let's celebrate, anything you want." She looked thoughtful "Well,

What else would you expect to happen with a bunch of family members with digestive issues, living under one roof, eating unfamiliar foods, in a house with precarious plumbing? Fireworks, right? I was in my room having trouble sleeping when I heard the first toilet lid slam.

They call me a “hacker”. Look, I’m just a guy with access to the Mainframe and nothing better to do. But all of my skills combined couldn’t get me out of the situation I got into on March 31, 20XX. I was trapped, and simply logging off wasn’t an option. I didn’t have ANY options.

“I’m bored, Igor. What plaything can you offer me today?” The evil doctor asked his minion with undisguised malice.

This is the story of Ricardo a very unusual donkey known widely for doing things other donkeys couldn’t—or at least wouldn’t—do.

Nothing has been the same since the machines attacked. The five nations now live in darkness and despair, waiting desperately for the Chosen One to avenge them.

Lois didn't like that her brother named their pet pig "Bacon."

They just announced the lineup for this summer’s Clangfest and it’s straight fire! The Seagull Sisters are headlining. Easy Peasy Squeeze Cheese is performing. Sneak Squeak has gotten back together for one night only. DJ Doofus is spinning in the Stress Tent. We need tickets!

There are 5 rules to keeping your wife happy, my father told me. Mom always seemed content, so I've come to believe they must be true. 1) Keep her laughing. 2) Friday is bouquet day. 3) Don't buy the cheap gin. 4) Never underestimate the power of a whispered sweet nothing. And 5)

They say, be careful what you wish for. I really, really wish I had heeded that advice. But it’s too late to try to wish away the mess I created the day I found the odd, tarnished lamp in grandfather’s attic. Up among the spiderwebs and dust, I gave it a quick rub to shine it up.

“No no, not PGA, P “D” GA,” the director said. All the guests, in their finest tweed and suede, looked positively indignant. “This is the Professional Disc Golf Association,” the director continued. “I’m so sorry to disappoint you all.”

My cell phone suddenly crashed. When it started up again, there was only this long binary number on the screen: 010100110111010101100010011011010110100101110100. Then the car wouldn’t start. The same number scrolled across the digital dashboard. What the hell was going on?

She felt a chill run up her spine. As it reached her neck, her hair felt like it stood on end. She had the feeling she was being watched. She turned her head, looking over her shoulder. Her eyes went wide and her chewing gum fell out of her mouth.

OK, OK. Deep breath. Take inventory. What do I have? A spacesuit, with enough air for 2 days. A propellant pack. Water and nutrient gel in helmet tubes. A radio link to ground control. What I do not have is an intact spacecraft or a way to safely return to Earth’s surface.

“Ho! Ho! Ho!” Jared let out a big belly Santa laugh and leaned towards the elf standing next to him. “How long is that line now?” Sarah flicked the jingle bell dangling from her hat out of her eyes. “All the way down to cosmetics.” Jared groaned. “This was a terrible idea.”

One would think that a name like Ignacio Cumberbottomwich would be a social curse, never mind that the boy who it belonged to was also several latitudes south of both handsome or clever. But Ignacio was wealthy so none of those things mattered.

The unhappy little stone sat upon the forest floor. “I feel so irrelevant”, it said sadly. “How dya think I feel?”, said a nearby twig, “I thought I’d be a branch one day”. The stone looked at the twig, “But you could be a child’s imaginary wand, or give away an escaped convict”.

There stood a mighty statue of a man and woman, their hands locked, raised towards the sky, loudly proclaiming their defiance. One fateful day, the sky turned grey and a streak of lightning struck the statue, and the statue was no more. Its furious roar thundered across the land.

Spring was in the air, warm breezes were blowing, and the city was bustling with energy. I had to get out of my apartment. I wanted a drink, a laugh, maybe a chat with a pretty lady. I grabbed my phone, wallet, keys, and a light jacket and hit the streets.

Josh paced back and forth. He had never felt more nervous in his life. He knew Olivia loved him, but would she be ready for marriage? He felt in his pocket for the fifth time that afternoon, as if the ring would have magically disappeared while he was waiting for her.

"No!” I shouted. “You can’t leave! Not now!” But my cries were barely audible over the roar of the sirens. My vision was blurred by tears. I couldn’t take it. I wanted to run after the ambulance and tell the doctors that he would be okay, but I knew he wouldn't.

I was walking down the street of lively men when a swift voice approached. A young lad stopped before me, catching his breath. “Sire! Sire!” “What is it?” “The King hath sent for thee, arrive there with haste!” But why, I thought, would the King send for a lowly commoner like me?

I stand at the bottom of the stone steps and look up. Ridgegate Academy is tall and wide, almost grand, with pillars and columns reminiscent of old Roman architecture. I look around at the other students. Some are like me. Others are sitting and talking in groups.

The man walked over to the stage. He recognized the singers as Mary and William Duchance, the local crazy Christian family. Bizarrely, the couple decided to use karaoke night to spread their less-than-popular ideals.

Movie star Jaylen Clarke loved to be in the spotlight but she

I grip my knife; the blood is yellow. How long have I been dead for? The edge of the blade feels of flesh and blood. I check my body, no bruises or cuts. Who am I? Did I turn into the thing that killed me? Am I a

Once there was a handsome man named Link. He is known as the hero of time and was reborn a million times in a different body but still looked nearly identical. He has blonde hair, blue eyes, and is white skinned. One morning Link woke up in the 2000’s to someone calling to him

I used to tell the other kids at school that my dad was a treasure hunter. That was an exaggeration. He scuba dived the Great Lakes, searching sunken yachts & freighters for antiques—the plates we're eating off of came from a sailboat at the bottom of Lake Erie—but once he found

The donut tasted absolutely foul. From the outside, it looked like any other baked good of its sort, fluffy as a cloud and dusted evenly in powdered sugar. However, as soon as I sank my teeth into it, I came to the sudden realization that something was very, very wrong.

It was a shameful thing. A foul, disgusting, inhumane thing. Even so, the more I looked at it the more my eyes morphed it into something normal. How strange. It was like...

In the three years Roger and Shelley had been dating, Roger had won precisely zero of the arguments. He figured it was just a “battle of the sexes” type deal, where he couldn’t have won no matter what, but in fact it was

Sarah & April needed a drummer. Their high school's Battle of the Bands rules clearly stated "No drum machines," which April said was only made so their band, Lonely Horses, couldn't participate. "Frickin' Bobby Stroik," April said. "He's scared of us." Auditions were held in the

I saw her. People think I'm crazy but I'm not.

I can’t stop thinking about the boy next door. He moved into town a few weeks ago and hasn’t said one word to me. He seems to live by himself and doesn’t talk much. I often see him playing with his golden retriever in his front yard or reading on his porch while the sun sets.

A distant yet familiar clack sounded through the warm grass-scented morning air. Two squirrels sat together on an extended branch of an old, mossy oak tree further down the fairway of hole 8 of the golf course, heads synchronised tracking the trajectory of the silent, flying ball

For a long time the monks on the mountains had kept an eye on one of their monastery's sides. Even though they sit firmly on top of bedrock, the time had done enough erosion to one side. They started to worry at one point, waiting, when the first crumblings were to happen.

The first sunrays push through the curtains. A man sits on a sofa, in an elegant room, albeit a gloomy one. He rolls slowly a glass with some whiskey still left on the bottom in his hand and stares at a title in the newspaper. A pistol rests on the table as well.

He looked at with eyes brimming with fury and malice. The moonlight glimmered apon his dimly lit eyes as he said, " You have to- no need to kill them, Henry." His voice starts to go frantic "I know they used to be your friends but they're beyond saving" His voice echos louder

Hattie Hodge walked the halls of the storied toy store until she came across a curious shelf just above eye level with an unsettling sign stating, “Igor and Zelda are NOT for sale.” Hattie quickly eyed the shop then reached up.

I told him I was tanning and I was gonna go in the water but he did not listen.

I’m fascinated by our mailman. His laid back drawl reminds me of Hank the Cowdog and it’s impossible not to picture him loping across the high plains. He drops bon mots on you that seem childishly simple at first and then cut your heart as you lay awake at night.

The lady strode into my office like she owned the place. "You Twitching Curtains, P.I.?" she said, her voice as deep as a weighed anchor. She was built like a Venus, & I told myself not to fall in love. "What do you need?" I asked. "My name's Zdenka Zall" she said, "& I just shot

There is just one question I can’t help but ask: What, oh what, is the purpose of the Christmas tree emoji? Why would I get it, it’s just not clear to me. What does that even mean at all? And why is this Christmas tree so tall?

She laughed, sadly. “Remember in spring 2022, we thought the pandemic was ending? I guess we were technically right, because that first pandemic was almost over. We had no idea what was coming for us that summer and fall, though.”

His voice echos around the room, Roaring at any who come close. "Head my warning I may be your king, but I am not forgiving. If you step into this ring and challenge me, you will die"The room got quieter, then, a familiar group starts to laugh, it was the fox clan, they step into

Her boyfriend was mad she cheated. He smacked her

“A key fob,” thought Leon. “That’s what I need, a key fob! Of course! How could I have not seen that? I need to write that down.” He reached over to the tablet of legal sized paper on top of the stack of unread books. But when he reached for his pencil,

Walter’s eyes shot open. He sat up and looked around the room. Predictably, it was unfamiliar. “Great,” he said. “I’ve been transported AGAIN. Now where in the world am I?” He got up off the floor and headed for the only door the room had to offer. He took a deep breath and

Raindrops fell outside the window, with the sounds of thunder echoing in the distance. The fireplace crackled and gave off a gentle glow, illuminating the figure of a cat curled up on a rug. A lone bookshelf stood next to the fireplace.

A thousand steps lie before me, winding up the mountain and through the clouds. Legend speaks of a treasure so invaluable, and yet incomprehensible, waiting at the peak, and I would very much like to have a peek. With sweat running down my whole body I set foot on the summit, and

"He is physically abusing me!" I yelled hoping someone would hear me.

"Thank you for your custom, sir!", she offered cheerily, "Here's your free fart cup". I looked at the small half ounce foam cup she placed through the gap under the plexiglass, white with a single brown heart printed on the side. "My what?" I said, squinting at her plastic smile.

A flurry of thoughts went into my mind, as they ran rampid in my head the world felt as it had slowed down. "One bullet left and I can stop their tyranny. But who do I kill?" I aim the trigger shakily at them and remember who they are, my best friend and brother. I take a

The king sat on his golden throne munching on a juicy pork leg. He chugged a goblet of wine when the doors flew open. A messenger had arrived. Taken by surprise, the king choked on his wine. “What are you trying to do, kill me?” “Your Majesty, I have come bearing news! It appears

How could he do this? I thought. He cheated on me with her? Taylor swift was right. Boys only want love its torture. She warned me too. I will never open up to another person again

Ellen dropped her mace to the ground and trudged forward. Her heart sank and her eyes filled with the sting of tears forthcoming. This couldn’t be real. This couldn’t happen. Not now. Not when she needed him the most.

“You know,” started Morgrimm the II. “You are possibly the most incompetent spy I have yet to employ to aid my empire. I send you to gather intel on the advancing Callanti forces and you return with news of a new coffee shop?” “Oh you should try the latte master” “Please leave”

I pass my lonely hours by playing solitaire. Not a digital version on the computer, but with real cards at the kitchen table. I've lost probably 95% of these games, but those cards comfort me. Or at least they did, until that one game when I flipped a card & saw the Ace of Crabs.

The funny thing about everyone loving you is that you’ll never feel more alone once you’ve arrived there. You smile and laugh and accept the slaps on your back in good stride, but the moment things get quiet you start to feel the room expand and the despair creep in.

There were 19 things on Helena’s to-do list for the day. She knocked out 7 of them before lunch, and a further 9 by supper time. That left 3 items for the evening. 1 was easy: vacuum the entire house. Not a problem. The next was easy but time-consuming: reorganize her recipes.

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Scarlet . She worked at a amusement park in the summer of course.

"What's this button do?" "Are you sure it goes in that way?" "There are some things man was not meant to know." Then I woke up on the side of the wrong bed. I had no idea whose bed it was or where.

The clock rang aloud with a glorious chime. I looked up above. “Would you look at the time?” The hour at hand is pointed at nine, soon to reclaim this kingdom of mine.

“So I suppose you think you’re clever?” “I have my moments” “Jesus, Carl. Can you not for one second accept responsibility?” “For what?” “Are you being serious right now?” He shrugged. Louise scowled. “I can’t believe you right now. She was your best friend. You’re not sorry?”

Page 2678. The last page of the book Jennie had been trying to finish for about a year now. She takes a deep breath and begins to read- just then, she hears a loud banging noise coming from outside her window. “Not the time.”

If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a locked door. So, it’s a good thing I have my

Her boyfriend knew she was pregnant. He was gonna say something to her today. She got home and her boyfriend was sitting there. He said

How I got into this situation, I’ll never know. The last thing I remember was me taking a book off the shelf at the library. There was a loud crash, and gale force winds blowing everything over. A bunch of other stuff happened, then

A wisened scribe from the city of Elembria once spoke of an ancient valley sat between two majestic mountains. Through the valley ran the river Mort. Catching the sun it was said to resemble a river of fire to those luckily enough to see it. Dellen puffed out her cheeks.

Why did the chicken cross the road? That question crossed man’s mind since time immemorial.

The Netherghast It lurks. In your attic. In your wardrobe or under your bed. It feeds. On your most horrible of nightmares and the most wicked of your thoughts. You’ll never see it. You’ll likely never hear it. But it’s there. Waiting. Sssssssh. …

The tunnel seemed to narrow the further down Darrow followed it. The air was thick with a heady stench of urine and blood and progress was slow. Darrow unsheathed his sword. He wiped at his brow with a sodden sleeve and narrowed his eyes. A single shadow stood ahead..

It was early morning. Her hot boyfriend walked in and said Good morning sleepy. She all of a sudden felt like she was going to throw up. She pushed past her boyfriend and ran to the bathroom. She was thinking the worst. She might be pregnant from last week from what happened

“So this is how I die.” You stare up at the dimming fluorescent lights of the diner. You feel the chunk of burnt waffle lodged in your windpipe. It hurts, but there doesn’t seem to be much your body can do about it other than cough and spasm, which it’s doing less and less of.

“It’s green”. I mumbled, flipping it over in my hand a few times. “Why is it always green?” “What did you expect?” I look up at the sudden intrusion, shocked to see

Balázs has always loved Cindy, an adorable wine drinker with blonde eyelashes and strong forearms. Balázs had a sidekick called Levi who was friendly and helped sloths cross the road.

It was a cold day winter day in the beef box, but Sam was never bothered by the cold, if anything it invigorated him. “Today is the day” he thought “I will refactor brayne.website and finally get it compatible with Opera.”

I waited with bated breath as the sky turned into crimson red and the air turned from feathers into daggers. She did it, she single handedly ended the world. Not a single one of us heroes could stop her either. Then, my mind started to go blank, the world dark as my mind was take

You wake up to find yourself surrounded by orange walls and gigantic pieces of candy. You then look up in horror to see your gigantic sister looking down at you from an opening above. “ trick or treat my little candy brother..” she says. She then giggles and reaches in slowly.…..

Sam was a talented designer and developer. He was always dabbling in something whether it was helping colleagues debug code or turning them into rodents, he was always up to the challenge.

Keisha's mom always left a punny note in her lunch. "Hope your day is GRAPE!" "Have a FLANtastic day!" "You're 1 smart COOKIE!" Keisha would read the notes, smile to herself, then hide them in her pocket, hoping no one would tease her about them. One day she got a note that read

Ethel was displeased. How Aaron could’ve forgotten to do the laundry 16 days in a row was simply beyond her ken. “I’ll give him one more day,” she said. “But no more!”

There wasn’t a molecule in my body that wanted to know what biofilm slime tasted like, so imagine my enthusiasm at actually learning it firsthand.

In der Erwartung, ein Schmetterling zu werden, in der Hoffnung, große Flügel wachsen zu lassen und zu vermeiden, Frühstück, Mittag- oder Abendessen zu werden, entschied sich Mushy, eine Delikatesse für Blauvögel, von den Unterseiten der ausgewählten Blätter zu mampfen.

“FACKORFFFF!” - he leant forward stretching his neck, revealing tendons, face red, mouth wide. “FACKORR-GMPHH!” - suddenly his head was replaced with a giant

In the last 5 years, the desperado had grown to love the cat. La Palomillo had left town 5 months prior, but this was an event that she simply could not miss.

Gifts gifts everywhere and not a box for me. I kicked through discarded wrapping paper, bows, and tags, fruitlessly searching. I knew I was unlikely to find what I needed, but I had to look.

Once upon a time there was a boy named Sab

I saw her. She was right there. I lost it.

A mysterious figure cut through the haze-distorted beach horizon: long beard, tan skin, jeans, no shirt, bracelets for miles. Amazingly, his name was Ted Americano and the waterfront would never be the same after his arrival.

Most people don't know this, but the world's greatest cookie is housed in a special gallery in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. This is the story of how it got there.

Sleep is for the weak - those who don’t have a newborn and a six year old, those who wouldn’t survive 3 hours of sleep a night, spending countless more hours staring into the darkness, questioning their life choices. I am a mighty warrior, fueled by caffeine and forward momentum.

You woke up and realised that it wasn't your room and it scared you so much that you were paralysed while the fire was burning everything around you. You came out of there after several minutes frozen by panic. At the end of the corridor there was a person hiding in the flames...

How am I here? In this place. My tears are long gone, as too is my mental flipbook of faces, which I can no longer recall. I see an object, it looks familiar but what is it!? People are near me, I don't know who they are. I don't know how long I have been here. The walls are cold

It was still dark out when I got to the lab. I was looking forward to some alone time before the place filled up. I’d just found my flow when Brooks—who’s never early, and never social—walked in and chatted me up. Curiously, his voice sounded strikingly different.

In the jungle, a lazy panther was on the prowl for spectacles. Not wanting to admit his issue, he pretended to be hunting for elephants, the only animal he could still recognize at a distance.

Jenny stopped. She didn’t know what was going to happen next. Either her brother was going to be released from prison and all hell will break loose, or the jury will find him guilty and she can return to her normal life.

The people of Bettingen—a village high above Basel—agreed that this was the biggest plum they'd ever seen and these were folks accustomed to seeing large produce. They were debating the proper way to measure the fruit when it slowly began rolling toward the city center.

You awoke to the smell of burning. Ugh. Early morning and it felt like hell was making an appearance. Slowly, the smoke was getting unbearable. When you opened your eyes, the fire encircled your bedroom, its flames towering high above the ceiling.

The e-mail only gave a date, time, and location. But the moment I read it, I knew what it for what it was: not just an invitation but a challenge. I grabbed my gear from the locked steamer trunk in the basement, and loaded it in the car. In the dark before dawn, I left.

Once upon a time, a writer-in-a-different-life stumbled across a fun little app—a thoroughly enjoyable rabbit hole of collaboration and wackiness. In the spirit of the holidays she offers her most sincere thanks to Sam for developing Byline and bringing joy to all of us.

Muffin the tabby liked lots of catty things: string, catnip, napping. But he didn’t like boxes. All the other cats couldn’t get enough of them, sitting in them, slapping them, chewing them. Muffin didn’t get it. Until one night when he learned the true meaning of Boxmas.

“So, young man, you consider yourself a player. You enjoy toying with ladies’ hearts, do you?” She sighed, then chuckled. “There’s one little thing you didn’t know about your last conquest, though. She’s been walking the earth for 735 years.”

Oh it's happening. It's definitely here. You look around outside at what would be your first shop. Fluffy, warm pastries paired best with a steaming cup of coffee. The thought had kept you smiling down to this very moment. For now, somethin to eat. Some donuts.

Breathe. That's what everyone tells you when you start to panic and self-destruct. God knew I wanted to take the air in as much as I could but with the water rising steadily, was there any point? Breathe, Cassandra. Because it might as well be your last.

Seven thousand tonnes of snow. Bitter frost. I had to trek miles forwards for even a glimpse of light in this frozen over, barren wasteland.

There was a hairy man at Walmart shopping for Valentine’s Day.

The plane was crashing. I didn't know what to do.

Once upon a time, there was this little girl

It was a cataclysm of errors and screen misdirects, but the monks had come together to play this game, and the ball was in their court, so to speak.

The bird liked to dance. But Murphy didn't like her more than her sister, everyone knew that. Once he took a ride on the dog's back.

I must’ve hacked into this server a million times as the first step in accessing, well, a million other systems. An open port 22 on an obscure government agency tucked away in an old office building where they know how to send emails about corn and not much more. But this time

“Try the pasta,” Estelle said, “it’s out of this world.” So I did. And she wasn’t kidding, it really was - that became evident later that night when the Tupperware of it I brought home burst open. The “noodles” crawled from the container, onto the counter, and booted my laptop

The shaking only intensified as every clock on the wall of the clock store rang. The ringing was louder and longer than she’d ever heard. A white faced office clock was the first to shake loose and with a bang in hit the floor. It was quickly joined by a cuckoo, a grandfather,

An impassable force lied between me and the artifact. Neurograth, the Golem of Gold.

“Where am I?” she asked aloud, not expecting an answer. She stood in a cave illuminated only blue green light shimmering on the walls near the entrance. A brightly backlit forest visible just beyond. “A fantasy land built from your subconscious,” replied a man’s voice.

The sky was overcast but the mood in the Goldberg household was bright and warm. All the traditions and rituals were being dutifully followed except for one which was being radically reimagined by the black sheep of the family.

Despite the fact that it was a rainy, freezing fall day, Lyla decided to go for a walk. She stopped suddenly at the Delgado's house when she noticed two movers carrying the trunk of a mature Maple Tree out the front door.

The girl crouched on a hill of wild grass overlooking the river where her people fish for eel. A ragged elk skin dress hung loosely on her scarred and dirty skin. She watched the translucent image of vehicles and people silently traveling to their offices in downtown New York.

"I'm late again!" Karen yelled from across the house as she chipped away at the melted crayons that had been left to cool in the waffle maker.

"You like ginger ale, too?" Zuzka asked Binh. "Sprite's too sweet," he answered. Zuzka was a mail order bride & Binh was a mail order husband. They were flying to the US to meet their future spouses. The coincidence made for fun small talk, but as time passed, the convo deepened.

“At least he won’t wreck anyone else’s marriage. Not now, not ever, “ muttered Albert as he mortared the few remaining bricks into the basement wall. Albert’s wife Ann, tied at the wrists and ankles, cried through the gag in her mouth from the opposite wall where he’d placed her.

Do not go gentle into that good night. Do not go violent into that bad day. Do not run in the halls. Do not eat toothpaste. Do not kiss grandma with your eyes closed. Do not use the word irregardless. Do not seek the treasure. Do not use all the hot water before I take my shower.

You wake up to find yourself shrunken down to one inch tall. You look up and see your mother towering above you. She bends over and picks you up, holding you in her motherly palm. You are like a bug in her hand but she loves you.

I stared down at the paper I had been handed, incredulous. It read as follows: Dear Mr. Ellis: This notice is to inform you that your son has been suspended for three days for throwing flaming urinal cakes out the window.

You were out of time. You were chasing that bomb. But you WERE miguided. By who? Your iPhone. How? Right as I was given the mission a iPhone 5 fell from the sky. You said something to Siri and Loopie (an evil timeloop making Siri) pulled up. It got in my ICloud n hacked my iPad X

Rusty glanced up at the sky. Yep, the spaceship was still there. He lowered his head and trudged down the abandoned road. The spaceship had appeared about a week ago and then, people began disappearing. It was amazing how quickly everything went sideways.

The Council of Elders were meeting for the third time in a month. “Is this really necessary?” Ursula the witch asked. The head werewolf, Adalwulf, glanced at Gujjt, leader of the Trabalar goblin clan. “We wouldn’t have to meet if you hadn’t screwed up so badly,” said Adalwulf.

There are days in a young boy's life when everything changes. For Huxley Doyle that day came on a Wednesday. That was the day he first encountered Tim Hortons buffalo crunch doughnut and questioned everything. "Why would a loving god allow such a thing?!?" he screamed at the sky.

The man with the marble carried his marble wherever he went. In times of stress, or boredom, he would reach into his pocket and swirl the marble between his fingers. The small glass orb, like a tiny planet, made him feel large for a change like he held whole earth in his hand.

Through no fault of my own (those stupid orcs!) I’d somehow ended up in a glittering cavern. At the far end was a fireplace roaring with a cheery fire, in front of which paced a dragon. It was not just any dragon but one rumored to be long dead.

I was 12 years old when the ants rebelled against humanity. I remember how simple and easy life was, before. TV, internet, grocery stores, parades, public transportation - it was all so nice. And now it’s all gone.

I lay in wait. The darkness grows around me. I felt as if I had a key with no lock. Ace had said this was the key to my potential. These dice. “Everyone has a key. What you only need do is find your lock. Finding the key is simple. It’s only the thing you cherish most.”

You wake up in your room to find that you have been shrunken down to one inch tall. You jump up and run to the edge of your bed. Booming footsteps can be heard approaching, and you look up to see your mother enter the room looking for you. She towers high above your tiny body.

Suzie loves Rob, but Rob has a crush on Lois. Lois isn't interested in Rob; Jessi has caught her eye. Jessi has adored Sam ever since they were kids, playing in his sandbox, but Sam has had his eye on Alicia since those sandbox days. And Alicia? Well, the object of her affection

The deafening roar of a man being launched across a field by a singular punch was familiar, yet shocking.

Ask any truth seeker, meme peddler, or GIF archeologist worth their salt about feline mythology and they’ll chat your ear off about fine bois, chonks, and absolute units. But only someone truly depraved will tell you the twisted tale of Quincey the ill-fated Queen of Chonktober.

Rhonda was having a bad day. Woke up late. Spilled the coffee. And here she was, chasing her dog down the street. In her pajamas. “What else is going to go wrong,” she muttered.

Though it was a thick, muggy day in August when Makenzie ventured outside, she could feel Autumn in her bones. Everything was beginning to feel tense in her life. She slowly crossed the street after glancing at a group of nearby teenagers with suspicion.

"Captain, there is something on the long range sensors you should see." Ensign Butterbrickle reported. Captain Bort Jombloski leered at the Ensign. Oh, how he hated him. His golden hair, straight teeth, symmetrical face, could he be more perfect? "Show me." Jombloski growled.

Madison and Franklin was picking blackberries around their grandparents house. Madison picked the berries and Franklin held her little white bucket as she tossed them in one by one.

"Whatever happened to Doug?", read the sandwich board. The man wearing it was visibly bored, and making only a cursory attempt to hand out leaflets. I wanted to know who hired him, and why. But I couldn't just ask.

Why did you buy so many lemons? I mean, yes, we needed some, but so many? Where are we going to put all these lemons? There's only so many lemonades I can drink in a week. Where did you buy them anyway? A woman in a conversion van with a carpeted interior on the side of the road?

The face paint artist looked up at the detective and continued giving her side of the story. “He asked for something strange,” she said in a pained voice. “I can barely describe it.”

Her home was perched on the peak of a hill that happened to hold the very last patch of daisies in the entire world. Nonetheless, she picked one daisy each day in order to play, “she loves me, she loves me not” upon her green bump in the middle of the wasteland.

I write this letter hoping that its confession will be apology enough. Although my fame has brought wealth & romance, it's also burdened me with guilt. You see, I never wrote a single one of my songs. Rather I stole ideas from the ghosts of Lou Reed & Burl Ives who haunt my home.

Dabney saw the river and tightened his grip on the bottle. Water burbled in the morning sun and tall pines swayed in the breeze. In the bottle gasoline sloshed as he walked and he could smell acrid fumes escaping it's rag stuffed top. "Today those beavers will pay." he mumbled.

ok this isn’t really a story but JUST MAKE THE PHONE EVIL

“Young man, you need a lot of things. But what you need most right now is a cup of tea.” She gestured at the cabinet as she filled the kettle. I took the hint and grabbed a few things:

It was a brisk fall day in New England. School buses all over town, crossing guards on every corner. Scarlet, uncharacteristically nervous, looked out for children before backing out of her driveway. As she drove, she thought about the troubling assortment of gourds in her trunk.

“Ow! Dang it!” The coffee, black and bold, burnt Judith’s lips and tongue. She hadn’t been paying attention to what she was doing. “Let it cool off a bit.” Roland nudged the steaming cup a few inches away from her. The diner just opened and they were the first customers.

The acrylic painting of the English countryside hung crooked above the fireplace mantle. Beautiful, he thought, staring at her unfinished work of art, lost in memories past.

The phone, now mad, sits next to you at the theater

Orcs and Ogres hated each other. They hadn’t cooperated in over 700 years. They fought bitterly for a few hundred years, and avoided each other as far back as anyone alive could remember. They only had one thing in common: their complete hatred of Trolls.

"40 years old and I've never eaten an Oreo!"

I sat, bored out of my mind, chewing my pencil. I wished to myself, silently, that it would end. It just seemed to go on forever.

The phone, with the app open, sees the poisoning from the front row. The app thinks (How is she flying) The app

It was a hazy morning. I pressed the button on the coffee pot and stared out the window at the gloom. I turned on the sink and waited for water that never ran from the tap. Shoot, I forgot to pay the water bill again. Today would be just as horrible as I had imagined. A shower

Laurel stomped to the end of the pier and gazed into the murky water. He followed her. “You can’t do that! You just can’t!” A single tear cascaded down her cheek.

He Held the cannon to her face, she looked into it and saw the endless void."Daniel don't do this" She protested.Daniel looked at Tanya and said "You shouldn't have killed my daughter".Tanya realizes that forgiveness it off the table and acts quick In a split second Tanya.

The Troll King was very pleased with himself, more so than usual. He leaned back on his throne of skulls and picked his teeth with a chicken bone. Then he softly belched and giggled like a child.

It's not easy being green. I should know. I was a tree for 25 years. Most folks balk when I tell them this. "How can you, a swimsuit model, have been a tree?" they ask. They obviously never got in a fight with an angry dryad before. Well, I did, & this is how it all went down...

"Terry please, don't do this to me, to yourself" Her eyes lit as I held the trigger in my hands tears streaming down my face."R-Ramona if I don't do this we'll never get our child back, You know I love you sweetie". I hold the trigger up to my head and steady my breath"Tell jamie

"I'll have a Grandma's Uncle Fish." I blinked at the customer. "You got it," I said & turned around to grab a glass. I'd never heard of a Grandma's Uncle Fish cocktail before. I snuck a peek at our cheat sheet, a list of drink recipes we keep behind the bar, but it wasn't there.

I pushed the mop back and forth slowly as I circled near the door for a third time. I eyed the lock. They should’ve known better than assigning a former locksmith to mop in the prison laundry. That door was all I could think about now.

I smile as every strike hits his body, I could kill guilt knowing that the plan was going correctly I was able to wipe away the guilt I feel for hurting him.The boy gasps out"Why me?" I give him an answer,"Don't worry im not going to kill you, I just need enough of your blood to

The squirrels looked different today. The old man should know. He had been watching them for years now. Feeding them corn and seed. They looked different and it didn’t matter if nurse Kate believed him or not when she came around to check on him. The squirrels eyes were glowing.

The crab kingdom had existed for hundred of years in the bountiful bay. The water was salty, there was plenty to eat, the crabs scurried and played the days away. Until the event happened and changed everything.

A zombie comes over and the CPA who’s name is Gianni Conner gets bitten. The CPA-zombie shambles over a few blocks to find that Principal Brown (the CPA-zombie’s teacher) was using a dirt bike to ride to the

“Inhale through the nose, hold for 3, slow exhale through the mouth.” I began trying to remember the soft voice of the woman on my morning mediation app. It was no use. I opened my eyes and hit the steering wheel with both fists. There was nothing that could help me relax now!

I woke up at my own funeral—again. This is getting old.

I’m perfectly satisfied with half a bagel for breakfast. Put a hearty smear of cream cheese and some capers on it, and I’m ready for the day. Yet I can just as easily eat a whole bagel and not be too full. How is that possible?

Every once in a while I Google the name of my first girlfriend, Julie Schneider, just to see what comes up. You won't believe what I saw when I searched her name last Wednesday.

Morning, I am driving my kids to school, hearing Baby Shark for the tenth time now. I forgot to have my coffee so I am a bit grumpy. Red Light, I make a stop and an old lady start crossing the street.”Pick up the pace miss” I am thinking, not really verbalizing it

You realize something about the voice that has been following you and it is that the phone is PAL from that movie you watched called The Mitchell’s VS the Machines

I Cried as the ignorant and innocent boy lay before me, he had given his life up on a heartbeat so that I could live, My eyes became ember and my mind became crimson. I smiled and nuzzled his hair as I pulled the blade."I give the life of this boy back for my own,Goodbye chestnut

Everything was fine until the night a second moon appeared in the sky.

The pair woke up cozy and relaxed. Lori, a human, was Beth’s best friend in the world. Beth, a giraffe, was the best home Lori had found for her precious slap bracelet collection. Dozens of glittery colors, all on one long, luxuriant neck.

Her forehead touched the stone as she took a shaky breath. The flowers, clutched in her fists, begged for air as her knuckles turned white.

I don't know why my mother hates my boyfriend so. He's whip-smart, handsome to a fault, knows Japanese and English, and will never ever take advantage of me. I mean, really the only thing he hasn't got going on is that he's electronic. Y'see, he's a character from a video game.

Its eyes were filled with hunger and hatred as I stared into the eyes of the abyss, I could see her eyes illuminating out of the monsters evil snare. "I'll give her back to you, all you have to do is come over here..."My body moves itself without hesitation knowing its a trap.

Where am I? Is this a bed I'm lay on? It's cool linen. I don't open my eyes. I recall previous events of the day and days gone by - I feel content. I open my eyes, they're met with sunlight streaming in between gossamer drapes. I hear the sounds of the garden and children playing

It was morning, I was ready for my breakfast. I went to the fridge, got two eggs, some bacon and a slice of bread. I turned on the stove, and just when I was ready to crack one of the eggs I heard a small voice..”DON’T EAT ME!”

So you heard a HONK when you were gardening so you look back and see a goose holding a pictureframe and a blanket so you throw the pictureframe over your fence to Astrid Lu

“Alright team,” the captain said, making it clear with two words that she had elected herself captain and no one else was even close to being in consideration. “We have a lot of work to do. Right now this party barge is neither a party nor a barge.” Elise raised her hand. “Yes?”

You try to order again and the alien gets mad at you

The walk to grandma’s house seemed longer than usual. She loved the forest, but something about it seemed almost sinister today. She quickened her pace. “Going somewhere special?” A gruff voice asked from the shadows. She turned to see a long hairy face with sharp pointy ears.

You become the person you pretend to be.

“Destiny? What does destiny have to do with it?” asked the man in the suit. “I just want my cut of twenty-five million dollars. What you do with the painting, or how important it makes you feel is beside the point.”

"Well, it's not like any of us have ever been in a life-or-death situation before!" Jane said. Everyone around the table nodded, then looked at me when they noticed I wasn't agreeing. "Oh, I have," I said. "But this is the first time I've had an audience."

As you look at new apps for TikTok in the App Store you find a interactive story app named Untitled

Where am I? Is this a sidewalk I'm lay on? It's cold stone. I can't open my eyes. I try to recall previous events of the day... or of any time - there is nothing. I try my eyes again, they're gritty, salty but I open one. I'm on a sandstone building ledge, high above busy streets

She has always had a fascination in books.They can range anywhere from romance, fantasy and sci-fi.Her favorite genre would have to be sci-fi.Her soft brunette curls falling out of her simple braid as she flips a page.She glances up to see a cat watching her with it's amber eyes.

She looked down at the list—half the names had already been crossed off.

Grims Grigglesby hated space travel. It wasn't just the constant queasy grav orientation adjustments - just when you'd convinced your body up was still up and down was still down you transferred to a platform where down was now sideways and who even knew where up was - it was the

You could tell from the way she picked up the weights that she was certain she was going to win this tournament. The audience seemed to agree right up until the moment something truly shocking happened.

"The train approaching platform 5 is not for human use; please do not attempt to board this train."

"Well, that's that," I said, letting the shovel fall to the ground. "What now?"

It is a natural and unavoidable phenomenon that all sprints—no matter their scope nor intensity—come to an end. We, the agile, dash through the same valley, toward the same goal, carrying the same torch. None of us as keenly aware of this fact as our commander-in-beef, Brigor.

"I'm going to tell you my secret shame. I get Kool and the Gang mixed up with Earth, Wind, and Fire. And vice-versa. All the time." I blushed. "They've threatened to kick me off the roller disco team over this."

People trust me with their secrets—but they shouldn't.

There once was a girl. A girl who was just 16 years old. She was walking home alone, all she could her is her charm bracelet moving around as she kept picking up her phone. She heard only a couple cars driving by. She was a bit alarmed, she had the thoughts of someone watching...

I’m so tired of the rutine, doing the same job, walking on the same streets, eating basically the same. My heart is screaming for a change! An adventure, something!!!

She was telling me about research her lab at MIT is conducting that shows opening microwave doors during a cycle causes our brains to be bombarded with enough electrons that we’ll forget who we are and be compelled to run away. “Don’t worry. It’s cumulative,” she said.

“MEMORY LANE, All Trips Non-Refundable” read the sign on the door. I walked inside to find a clean white room with only a front desk, no chairs or ferns or any of the normal strip mall clutter. An old man appeared from a door just behind the front desk. “Welcome to

Madeline sat in the meadow behind Hempstead Place, the delicate pattern of her summer dress lost completely in wildflowers. Father had explained Mr. Rathford was due to stop by for tea and to discuss real estate and she didn’t want to appear overly eager to see him again.

Once upon a time in a isolated island, where a small but prosperous kingdom existed, there was a king who was a kindhearted man, everybody loved him, except one person...

The accident wasn't Meredith's fault but it was just easier for everyone to blame her.

I never thought this day would come...a strange disease has spread throughout the entire world. People is being held in quarantine facilities to avoid exposure. Food and water are limited, even toilet paper, who would thought of that!

Today is the cheerleading tournament. I am so nervous! I know we practiced a lot...the jumps, the dance...the moves...but still I can’t feel at ease. If we win this we will be able to go to the finals in Whynot, NC, I am so excited!

Or so I think my father thought. I wouldn't know exactly because that was the last time we all saw him. He knew he was risking his life out there, but when he promised me that he'd be back, he looked like he really meant it. Or maybe it's because I believed him that I broke down.

Alice was in trouble. She was floundering. She was sinking. The worst possibilities her friends had suggested were no longer abstract potentials. They were concrete and absolute. Waves of probability had collapsed and now formed the violent landscape she had failed to navigate.

I'd been following the man for 3 days when he finally noticed.

I wake up to find myself in a forest, tied to a wooden chair. I struggle to get out. Then, ahead of me approaches a figure. In the gleam of the moonlight, it is clear that he is holding a knife.

There seemed to be enough space in-between us, but this was the first time I’d ever sat next to a human being.

One day, when I was walking home from coding class....a zombie stopped me and asked me for directions. He was trying to get to

When the sun rose the next morning, Susan rubbed her eyes three more times than usual. The character of the light in her bedroom wasn’t the cool gray tone she’d grown used to over the last few weeks. But it also wasn’t golden and warm. It seemed, against all odds, to be pink.

"Well, that settles it," I said. "I am never doing that again!"

It took me a minute to fully register what I was seeing. Why was the apple in my hand PURPLE?

I had just arrived at Evelyn’s 4th birthday party, balloons in hand, when all hell broke loose. Nothing changes the power dynamic between an adult and a child faster than a pressurized garden hose.

The first thing you have to understand is that in 1990, every elementary school kid had—or desired—a slap bracelet. The second thing you have to understand is why they got banned.

A band of misfits, stoic and seasoned, stood at the city gates, the night wind whipping around them. They had traveled inland from the safety of the coasts, united in purpose. They looked onward with hope, their faces awash in neon light. Suddenly, the gates creaked open.

I felt a hand and my hair sprang from every nook and cranny of my body and when I turned around, my face went from pure fear to unbeatable disappointment. I laughed at the creature"

The soup is alive. The soup is angry. It wants revenge...

As predicted, Ariana woke up with a dull headache and a sore throat. Every breath she expelled felt warm and contagious. She got dressed without showering and stumbled out the front door in search of her next victim.

The garden. It is a special place. Roses, Chrysanthemums, Laurel bushes, Marigolds. Not squids though. Especially huge squids. There was one there now, twitching as it’s life dwindled away in the sunshine. A black helicopter hovered overhead, thudding, like an armed spider

So it’s like that, I thought, letting the letter flutter to the ground as I tossed my head back in exasperation. This was not the first letter of this sort, but this one seemed urgent to the point of coming off threatening. Should I even justify it by acknowledging it?

It turns out that the easiest part of life after death is the dying bit—after that, well, everything gets a little complicated.

The notes of the song flew from her mouth as if pulled by a string. The lights so bright, she was blind. The stage was alive, and the theater was swallowing her whole. There was only one way she was going to come through this performance with her life and her soul intact:

The homeless man signed heavily as he settled himself into the bench, relieved that there was no one nearby to hassle him, at least for a while. He began to unscrew the lid from his thermos, recently filled with hot coffee by a friendly waitress he knew,

She stood up in the run-down apartment, heaving and shivering in her sweater. Another day, she supposed. Better than the alternative. She gingerly opened the duct-taped curtains, grimacing in anticipation.

An anthropomorphic whale sat by itself on the beach. It admired everything around: the waves, the cliffs nearby. What a lovely world it had created. That was, until that stupid creature found it’s way out of the water. The whale was supposed to be the only god around here.

Barry, or Bazza to his mates, was a duck. An actual duck. The beak, the feathers and the webbed feet. His favourite activities were digging holes, swimming and bringing untimely demises to worms. Unlike more ducks, Barry had a secret.

I looked around the shed at what the previous owner had left behind: a hoe, the reel for a hose, some stakes, chicken wire... ah, just what I need! Gardening shears! I picked up the tool and tested the blades, then headed towards the overgrown hedges at the front of my new yard.

Laia laughed bitterly. "You're all utter fools," she spat. "I'm the most powerful witch here." The judge in the center shook their head. "Maiming other competitors is strictly forbidden." Later, shaken witnesses would say the only warning was Laia's eyes suddenly glowing red.

Once upon a time, in the fruit-filled jungles of Twibby-Dibby, there lived a giant snail known as...

It was 11:46am. You'd think the world would end at a more appropriate time, as the last rays of the sun touched the land at dusk or maybe when a full moon was high in the sky. But no, just before lunch it was. At least the end of the world wasn't the end for us.

There’s no way I’m letting some Worms take me out that easy. I paid 10 grains for the emergency DNA mods back in Milky Way and nearly that for my Hendrix album. Both thanks to these Wormhole pirates. But it looks like the Worms robbed the wrong shipper if he hired me to collect.

Monkey pressed the key with a single dot on it. It had used this one regularly over the last few weeks. But now it didn't feel like typing. Monkey looked up. In every direction, as far as it could see, there were others - all with the same keyboard. Suddenly, a siren sounded and

The echoing, creaking halls of the orphanage were empty. All the inhabitants were lined up like ragged rows of cornstalks. The Matron glared at them. She pointed with an ominous finger at the thermostat. “There will be,” she intoned, “TWO TEMPERATURES, and two temperatures ONLY!”

If I’d actually believed it was possible, I never would have done it.

"Happy birthday!" they sang—but it wasn't my birthday.

"I only agreed to this because you told me Danny DeVito would be here!"

Martin awoke to the sound of car horns blaring from the street below. Pulling on his robe, he down from the bedroom window and was surprised by the volume of smoke rising up from the intersection near the highway. Something large and dark appeared to be in the center of the

I finally got on dance moms but Abby lee miller kept screaming"...

then they thought...

I could watch everything they had done but this, this had crossed a line so far into the dark that the shadows were afraid of it, this heinous act had been so vilifying that the devil himself was ashamed of it, I watched them do it, and.. I let it happen, I grabbed the sword and

I'd lost him, he was mine, I....needed him, I caused this to him,I just wanted... I just wanted to stop him before- I just-I Hate- I can't be anything to him now since hes dead, I just- I wish he was still with me.

The blade that lit the surface of my skin ablaze sat there as I bled, waiting for the sweet release of death I held her, I was akin to die here so slowed my breathing, I waited for the call of death and as I answered I said to my kin"

My limbs wen numb as so did her heart, and for once, I cracked a smile she was dead, my killer was dead, The police look at me and hold pistols and shotguns that glimmer in the light,then, my world started to fade black, I laughed that same laugh over and over, The Time loop was

We decided to go to McDonald's and when we got there...

Death and taxes. The two things in life they say are certain. But there was a third truth they were now confident was an undeniable certainty. This was a terrible plan.

Clouds of dust plumed up as sheets of residue fell off the windowsills. Long abandoned, the house shuddered under the force of the bombs as they made impact nearby. It was a pity they weren't closer. They could have drowned out the wails of the sirens and the screams of the dead.

i died and went...

Admiral Baldwin finished his early morning tea and toast before pacing the deck of the S.S. Lean Coffee collecting his thoughts. He did this most days, often before sunrise. Today his thoughts leapt to the land mass looming on the horizon known to most as Falafel Island.

Suddenly the room went dark. Sam, Miguel & Michael were all alone now. The visitors were gone. An eerie quiet settled in the bedchamber. Then whispers began “Do you guys hear that”? Asked Michael. The two nodded in unison. They listened together as the whispers turned to chants..

They sat at the table, lit starkly by the bare bulb overhead. Between them the deck of tarot cards. Two cards face up; three of swords, romantic betrayal, five of swords, victory through deceit. The last card, face down. Licking her dry lips she reached out, flipped the last card

“Ed Every - Twitter superhero. Hire me to sort out your troll problem”. Too long - brevity was key for Twitter bios. “Ed Every - troll crusher”. Catchy, but maybe he needed a superhero name. Wait... “Everyman, your friendly neighbourhood troll crusher.” Perfect, now for some

We are building a bridge...a new path to a new town. This area was recently bought by a big company and they want to develop a new concept in housing. Modern, futuristic and environmentally friendly...with state of the arc technology...

I could no longer see my pod or my blaster, just this vision of inviting lava coupled with the intense cold. I reached in the direction of my volume controls and feeling that familiar texture cranked it all the way up. Hendrix guitar riff filled my helmet. Now I could see it—

She went into the woods and saw...

As a family of spellcasters, the Fosters knew all too well when to lay low. Once they made it to a dingy pub on the outskirts of town, the eldest daughter shook out her umbrella, eyed the clientele, and motioned for her family to enter. Just then, a wand fell from her sleeve.

Four sagely birds convened at the tallest tree in Vogel Valley, each carrying a branch from their respective homeland. After exchanging a minimum of words they laid down their gifts, completing a magnificent nest. Before the ceremony was complete a huge shadow engulfed them all.

"Hey guys, what's up! I'm Miles Trouquesor and in this video I'll be unboxing the brand new NecroHaus GCM28 Neural Oscillation Diffuser and giving it a test drive, it's a", I skipped ahead 15 minutes to see the results, Miles sat there silent, a broad rictus on his crosseyed face

Never leave a container of mint balls next to a witch's cauldron. But the trick to this is, what exactly is a witch? When I first came across this warning, I avoided every kitchen of every woman senior citizen that I came across. I even avoided my grandma. But a witch is nothing

The men are afraid to ask you but “Do you not crave blood sir” ? Listen well lieutenant, I take no pleasure in feeding. All things must end but I take no pleasure in being humanities executioner. Now be done and let’s move on to the capital. We have a castle to take by sun up.

Maybe it was the length of time I’ve spent in the silence of space, but music has meant a lot to me these last 5 years. I’d gotten used to only hearing my own breath and cursing inside my helmet, no matter how much damage my blaster did. Music helped. Time for some Hendrix.

Once, I had read how the mushrooms we see in the forest are not individual organisms, but part of a much larger whole that exists underground. But as best as I can tell, moving mushrooms don’t exist.

Her hands trembled as she took the reigns, knowing what it meant to leave. She tapped Lancelot with her heel and he left the open door of the stable. She covered her bald head with the child’s blanket and…

Sunlight poured in through the grimy hotel window, rousing me from my slumber. I yawned and consulted the bedside alarm clock, which claimed it was already after 2PM. Had I slept that long? And actually, how did I get here? I scanned the room for any indications of what might

Alice's life changes on a Tuesday morning. The coffee shop she works at, close to campus, is crowded with professors and students getting their caffeine fix before class. So when the bell above the door chimes yet again, she barely looks up. When she does, she sees the beautiful

The children heard the sudden gritty rubbery traction sound of approaching tyres and leapt off the narrow woodland path with only a second to spare as a sleek bike thundered past at full tilt, riderless yet with a crash helmet sat on it's seat, the pedals blurred like propellers

It's said there's a fine line between doing what you're told and getting what you want. But it's not a fine line. It's a sheer, icy crevasse. Greed, and curiosity draw many to the edge to steal a glimpse into it's bitter depths and many get too close. Yet some take a running jump

I took my sharpie and I wrote all over his car. I couldn’t believe that

My partner and I pulled up outside the scene of the crime, annoyed to find the news crew had already beaten us there. It was the third time this week at the same location which was, rather conveniently, just across the street from the news station. “This can’t be coincidence,” I

I took two weeks off of work and told everyone I was going to Mexico with my parents. The truth was that I was going to sit in my apartment, stream baking shows, and cry. The helpline I texted said I sound safe since I don’t have a plan.

Mitch and Mindy leapt up, terrified what lay beneath. They twirled around, examined the human remains occupying their chairs and, in unison, let out a shriek. Within moments the cloaked figure had dropped its clipboard and moved toward the pair with the determination of eternity.

Where am I going to find a box of grits at this hour? It’s an unconventional ingredient, as far as magical components go, but Southern Magic did things differently. For one thing, the incantations are spoken much slower, and for another…

It was a really hot day to be in the onion fields. The heat made the aroma of the onions strong and pungent. The citizens residing near the onion fields were used to the smell. For me, the smell of the onions burnt my nose hairs.

The boy suddenly woke up on the shores of a beach. Bitter cold and the familiar stench of coastal decay overtook him. The deafening cawing of seagulls and distant sirens clouded his mind. "I have to get back..", he grunted while trying to get to his feet..

Finally after 3 years of searching, I had found my little sister. There was only one problem, directly on top of the cage that she was locked in slept an emerald green elder dragon.

The giant’s body lay face down in what this morning had been Halbert Haversham’s home, stables, and small orchard. The giants left foot however had planted itself squarely into Jack’s bedroom on the second floor of his mother’s home. Even now, the beanstalk had begun to whither.

Humpty Dumpty was tired. He was tired of being glued over and over again...why did he had such a thin and fragile shell? He wanted to be stronger, the best egg ever! The Schwarzenegger of all eggs...

The doll continued sewing in the dark corner, greeting the needle spiders as they clattered across the wooden shelf. Many avoided her, if possible, so solitude was the only constant friend she could rely on. Besides that, she had patients who screamed at her tattered face until

He brought his hands together in glee, his eyes gleaming. He received looks as if he had lost his mind, but that just increased his initial excitement. He finally knew the truth.

I ran through the hallways trying to get to class. It seemed like one of those scenes in a movie where the main character is comically late. But it wasn’t I was a mess. A real life mess.

Grind the beans until they turn as smooth as sand in an hourglass. Pull the lever until the water streams down in an iridescent cascade. Pour the mixture from the pot into the cup elegantly and with a cold expression. Hope that you're not pretty. That is how you survive as a maid

He looked at the night sky and imagined other worlds. Alternative universes where he was happier, wealthier and maybe a couple of inches taller.

It had been eleven months to the day since the storms first began. Most cities were but flattened piles of crumbling brick and rotting wood. People—those who survived—lived in small shanty tent collectives under highway overpasses. My sister Gwen and I had found an empty trailer

I started out as any normal child. I’d pass the days away playing silly childish games, like duck-duck goose or tag with the neighborhood children. The day I turned 10, I noticed I was different. A weird mark appeared on my hand in the shape of a moon, and my mother hid me away.

How do you know if you’re crazy? What if you’re actually on to something you’re not supposed to know, and being labeled “crazy” is just a way to bully you into submission? Layla peered between the slats of the blinds at the black car parked outside, its tinted windows hiding

I watched the fire burn what was left of the rubble away. My nose filled with smoke, my heart with vengeance I walked to the woods knowing I would find her. I had only gone a few days when I spotted her shivering in a pink & blue matted robe. She was unaware of

The plane was landing, and I was running out of time. I frantically looked across the aisle at his slack-clad legs, crossed at the ankle. ‘Think, Marianne, think.’ I nonchalantly put my seat back into upright position as the crew performed cabin checks, and grit my jaw. Time to

“A hero’s journey is long and winding, but a hero always finds the way,” my mother read. “That’s the end of the story, Anya. Good night.” After she left, I pulled out the book and stared at the picture of the hero and her friends, wishing I could be one of them.

The buttery crumbs spilled out of my mouth and onto my velvet robe. As I devoured the ethereal croissant I began to feel drunk with power. Before I knew it I was licking my fingers and scanning the cave greedily for more.

I twisted the noose in my hands, curving it into a heart shape. Happy Valentine’s Day, I thought. Nothing else I’d done or tried to do had ever meant anything, so here I stood on my wooden stool, steeling myself to perform the one gesture that I knew would be appreciated.

“Please don’t hurt me...” Kay was curled up into a ball, her arms over her face. In the dark she couldn’t see who was there. “No, stop!” she cried as the footsteps drew closer. Just then, she felt a warm hand touch her forearm and she squealed in terror. “Shhh,” someone hushed.

Days later Houston, having recovered from the attack, stood in a dusty atrium in one of many deserted, faceless municipal buildings in the city. "Which one?" he asked Deego grinning and holding two button badges to his sleeveless denim jacket. "That's Pain, or You Cranial Joker?"

When humankind first encountered an intelligence equivalent to its own, it was not at all what we expected.

Fortune cookies. I've been making them for eons, directing entire Chinese restaurants in the delicate art and penning the predictions down myself. It was all supposed to be one big hoax, just a fun family thing to do. Never had I thought that I would be judged after death for it.

Once upon a time there was a man who likes seeing stars. That man was married and he had 2 daughters. One day, while he stayed at home, he had an idea.

Wearing a mask is a beautiful thing until the moment dawns on you that taking it off is a lot harder than putting it on. I had been wearing a mask for ten years before realizing it had begun to adhere to my face and to disintegrate the identity it hid.

I had always been an unremarkable demon. I came from a proud bloodline of many a well known incubus that had seduced some of the major players in history in order to alter its’ flow, but I was stuck with only the ability to ask charming questions and receive a truthful answer.

It was a beautiful night. The moon was shining over the mountains, illuminating the treetops and silhouetting the owls and other night birds as they elegantly swooped and dove across the night sky in search of prey. Hannah gazed up at them, fiddling with the dial on her radio.

There is snow everywhere. It keeps piling up. It is not melting. It’s almost June.

Whenever someone asks me about my childhood, I don’t smile and think of good times. I shudder. I think of the only thing from my childhood I remember. Cold, Darkness, Loneliness. Nothing else for 15 years. Cold, Darkness, Loneliness

The night was cold and foggy, the perfect scenery for a gruesome crime. Detective John Mason was assigned to the case, he was the best. This time the victim was a girl, between 20-23 years old, blond, thin, she was found near the lake with strange markings on her wrist.

Crunch. The bug bit into its snack once more, covering yet keeping in time with the ticking of the clock it was captured in. It gleefully eyed the nearing death of the minute spider. Whenever the spider died, a new snack appeared out of nowhere and it would start its 60-bite meal

Day 304: I am still all alone with no answers, just as I have been for the last nearly year. The lack of human companionship is finally beginning to chip away at what little of my sanity remains, and I find myself less and less able to enjoy the things that used to distract me.

You think you know me. But I’ve fooled you with my ordinary clothing and passive manner. I want you to think I’m weak, submissive. I want to gain your trust. If you only knew

The damp murk of the cellar, unaided by the arm of moonlight reaching in through the grime of a solitary window, was silent and still. Motes of dust, turbulent as stars, slowly twinkled in their passage through the blue light the nature of their disturbance unseen.

Before their eyes was the frozen ocean, fractured but solidified once more underneath. It seemed like an undulating ballroom floor of some psycho snow queen. Dark shadows the size of humpback whales moved restlessly underneath their feet encased in ice. It's been hours since the

Felce had always been a quiet town on the cliffs bordering the sea, the only racket emanating from it coming from the waves crashing against the rocks as the tide rolled in every full moon. If you asked the locals, that wasn’t the only occurrence every full moon. Those nights,

Well, it's not every day that you discover your mother is the most despised supervillain in the history of Mars.

I ran up as fast as I could. I could hear the loud booming voice ahead, bellowing "Giddy up, Giddy up! Last train out to your new life! Giddy up." I looked at my feet excitedly, clutched my single half-filled suitcase, and leapt up with all my strength into the

All was quiet in the Musick household save for a mechanical hum emanating from the attic. A keen observer watching from the across street might have noticed jet black clumps of material gently tumbling out of the chimney onto fresh, powdery snow.

How is it possible for a person to suddenly grow a second head? Of all the maladies that I have researched, I never suspected that I would fall prey to such a ridiculous ailment. Imagine waking up next to a stranger who is attached to your neck! It was an unnerving morning.

"Fellow Blockians, this is our hour of battle. We must not falter! To victory! Battalions 8 and 9, prepare for ambush!" The legoes crouched to camouflage themselves in between the multi-colored folds of the blanket. "Target in sight! Harden your armors! Brace for impact!"

Jim had been stuck in a time loop for—by his estimates—a hundred and fifty years. At least the day he inhabited was sunny and warm, although he was often sorry he’d never again get to experience Christmas. Or his birthday. Or any day that wasn’t June 23rd, really. But June 23rd

The flickering lamp was the only source of light in the darkened field of buttercups. The bunny couldn't pause to think of why it was there in the first place- it was too terrified. Quickly, it hopped up to the base of the lamp and surveyed the sprawl of impenetrable darkness.

The end of my life was near. I could feel it in my bones. “Make it a double,” I said to the bartender. What would a few extra drinks matter? They’d help to numb the pain, at least, and if I was going to die soon anyway, I could at least go out totally blitzed. He set the drink

I was walking, book in hand, when I bumped into someone. I was met by a familiar face. My friend, Kate, looked back at me. But then it hit me Kate died in an accident 3 years ago. And I saw it happen. There was no doubt it was her, but how could it be?

It was a crisp fall day. The end of our hike had led us to a clearing in the forest, just behind the CVS. Holly was standing still, staring at something. As I approached, I saw it and gasped. It was a full skeleton torso complete with ribs, spine and pelvis. But no skull.

I was there alone.

Everyone loved Lora's laugh. It was low, full of humor and light and everything you could want in a sound meant to elicit smiles. It was no wonder, then, that the day Lora stopped laughing was the day the town stopped smiling.

The gentle hum of the blowing fan in the corner, the slither of sunlight strewn across the room and settled on the tired, angelic and hopeful face before me. Powerless to do anything, holding her hands, I smiled, starring at the palm lines, in a daze, "Will I still remember?"

The tiredness enveloped her as she closed the call room door. She hoped for just an hour of sleep before the nurse called saying that her patient was ready to push. As she closed her eyes, she imagined a different life. Enrique's proposal was not what she was expecting.

One of the only good things to come out of the pandemic was this: by 2025, sweatpants have become acceptable garments in every situation. Of course, you'd need formal sweats for formal occasions, but there was no need to wear any pants without elastic or drawstrings.

Oblivious to my lifelong mental condition to which he had just contributed (motorcycle-phobia) RG09LBJ pootled down the street on his eponymously registered Lambretta, Rick-Rolling his head in time with nothing in particular, the little soprano engine whining petulantly. Suddenly

Somewhere outside, someone—or something—was wailing. A blizzard was due, and Cecelia wondered if perhaps it was a banshee warning the neighborhood of impending danger and death. Just then,

"...vanity plates are cheap in the USA, but here in the UK they can cost a fortune, so I saved myself a few thousand quid by changing my name instead of buying a personalised plate. Only costs about £20 to do that, and I'm pretty happy about it!" said RG09LBJ mounting his moped

Kim rolled over and snoozed her alarm, even though she knew there was no getting back to sleep. As the comfort of dreams wore off and the reality of her hellish life came flooding back, she bit back tears and tried to focus on the moment. She needed to be at 100% today.

The hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach was overtaking me. I reached for the bottle of Lorazepam, only to find that it was empty, and cursed. How could I be expected to function under such stressful conditions? It was like torture. Pure, unrelenting torture.

"Baloney!" cried the clown. "I'm telling you, thanks to Stephen King, all the children in the audience were terrified of your antics. One even called 911 before I could stop them!" His boss sighed as he rubbed his bald head. "Look, I'm sorry Danny. You're fired."

Every morning, before the day started me and Lucy would watch the military boys run along the country side. Everyday I would ask Lucy, “How come you don’t marry one of those boys?” And she would give the same look and say, “They were the ones that started this war.” But one day

There are so many beautiful and subtle things about this planet that make it unlike earth, but the most striking has to be the red snow. It never diminishes in vibrancy, despite the fact that winter can drag on up to a year. It’s also the reason I am as wealthy as I am.

Day 154 of the genetic mutation research: Subject D has started to repond to the treatment. The other subjects didn’t run with the same luck. I feel that sometimes we see progress and then hit a wall, but I am hopeful this time, we did some changes in the formula and I think

He approached me in the in plaza, smiling. Without a word, he handed me a card. It read “Marcus Wallaby the Third. Effing up the ineffable a specialty”. I was befuddled. He said “what can I do for you?”

"So you sold our perfectly good camel for those date seeds and not at the bazaar like I told you to?" I could see my father shudder in anger. My pleading eyes were blocked by curtains as my sisters and mother ducked back into the corner. "But father, you never heard of Jack and

This is how the story goes, how it ends, no one knows. Line by line, we fabricate it ‘til we sound inebriated. Using only context clues, cleverly we get to choose where the story goes from here. You’re up next! Good luck, my dear.

It was the weirdest plant Charlotte had ever seen- and she’d seen many in her 22 years as a Master Gardener. First of all, it seemed to have appeared from nowhere- one morning it was just...there, about two feet tall in the middle of a row of dahlias, with bluish leaves and spiny

It was over. It was finally all over. Completely and utterly finished, no chance of returning.

Ahhhhhhhhh! The girl screamed.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" The boy could hear the medusa hiss right next to his ear from behind him as he stared. On the wall opposite to the one he was chained to, he could see rows upon rows of petrified children, all with faces that might have made them celebrities one day.

"By Balu's beard mother, how many times do I have to tell you"? Gurok paused, holding the edge of the door looking back into the room. "When it starts you press down the record AND play button AT THE SAME TIME"! Irritated he stomped off into the snow leaving the door open wide.

The palm trees swayed in the breeze as Vivian gazed at her dog-eared airport novel—an airbrushed photo on the cover—not reading a word. So this is what it’s like she thought ...

Terry “The Terror” Lunderbuff was a local legend. It was said he was a cheat, a thief and an aggressor whose history as a secret agent (for the other guys) terrified his neighbors. None of that was accurate, of course.

| ##Problems: p.1- it's too big and doesn't fit | p.2- it makes a loud noise all of the time | p.3- squeezing it has no effect | p.4- it's always in the middle of the lawn when I wake up | p.5- Ludwig | p.6- everyone I ask about it claims they cannot see it | ##Solutions: s.1-

A stakeout wasn’t what David had in mind for Christmas Eve, but here he was, shivering in his car with a cup of cold coffee while “Last Christmas” played quietly on the radio. The building across the street had been quiet for hours, and now that it was nearly eleven o’clock, he

The night, like most nights on the Newfoundland coast this time of year, was appropriately dark and stormy. Eileen sat at the bar, silently making her way through beer number four - or was it five - as the clock's needles neared twelve.

Wiping sweat from my forehead, I took a step back to admire my work. The cat house was finally complete, and I couldn’t wait for my fuzzy buddies to enjoy it. There was just one final detail I still needed to add.

Byla jednou jedna malá chaloupka.

Do you know or at least imagine how is to live in a Pink world? That is my case, I live in the pinkiest, sweetest and most cloyiest world ever imagined. My name is Rose...yes imagine that! And I hate pink!

If John never saw another package again, he’d die a happy man. Lift a box out of the back of the van, scan it, trudge up to decorated houses, dump boxes on the porch, and repeat. All day every day, but since March, it had gotten worse. Now, on the day before Christmas Eve, it was

It was a very snowy day, depressing and bleak, when we had our first fateful encounter. His name was Jacob, and he wore a long, black coat which contrasted strikingly against the otherwise white world around us. I asked him what he was doing out in such a terrible storm.

Emily started seeing the fairies as a child. At first, they only came to her at night, rearranging her toys and giggling as they did so. She would be frequently awakened by the buzzing of their tiny wings and the musical lilts of their soft voices. Sometimes they sang in whispers

My parents got a call from the principal. The principal told them that I had punched a kid in the face today. When a got home, my parents were furious.

"I believe that your poor-" "Nachos!" "...cousin has caught a-" "Mozzarella, you ignorant fools!" "-very rare disease-" "Kimchi! Creme Brulee!" "-a very severe case-" "Onigiri! Roti! Pad Thai!" "-of constantly spouting international foods. Uncurable, I believe, unfortunately."

A siren sounded in the distance. Wendy ignored it, deeply involved in reading an article on her phone, but Alex’s entire body went on high alert. The siren grew louder, and he rose slowly, normally, trying not to appear as tense as he was. “Can I get you anything while I’m up?”

The house Harold haunted had been on the market for a year. It just wasn’t the same without people living in it. To emerge from a linen closet and shout, “Boo!” at realtors and people touring the home just made them less likely to buy it, only prolonging Harold’s solitude.

First things first. If you are reading this without fear of being caught, we won. I don't have much time, as I can hear the troops closing in on my position through the echo of the tunnels. We are here today because of a single man's bravery to stand up for what is right.

"So let me get this straight. You were walking home at 1300 AM when you saw these seven short men vandalizing your property by tap-dancing on your basketball court with ice skates?" My brothers and I quickly donned smiles as innocent as they come onto our faces when the policeman

The vacation rental was small, just a one-bedroom cottage in a semi-shabby urban neighborhood, but it was renovated and even had a new roof. “All metal,” the owner told them upon check-in. “Energy efficient. Plus it makes the rain sound cool.” Which it did, but it also kept Becca

The girl looked up at the creature. It was an alien!

Shi Ling and the dragon quickly turned their boat over and used it to shield themselves from the barrage of flame-tipped arrows heading toward them. Once the percussive thuds of arrows making contact slowed to a crawl, the emerald duo sprung into action.

We were living difficult times. Life was not the same since the last war. We lost a lot of people, a lot of friends...but although we thought for a moment peace was finally here, a new threat appeared.

Hi Mr. Monkey, my name is Banana Nana, I am a junior Ape scout and I am so excited to be here in this tree! I will win my climbing patch today!

The samurai era, synonym of honor, strength and wisdom. A group of samurais were ready to start the training that would define all. Who stayed or who would leave in disgrace. It was the time, to give all, at least it was the most important time for little samurai Shi Ling.

I clamped down harder onto my ears as the gale raged through the trees, leaving the ceramic leaves clank together in a never-ending cacophony. Even glass prism fruits badgered me as they scattered eye-burning lights in erratic harmony with the leaves.

“Where did you train?” the mage inquired. “The North,” I answered. “With Gwynevere, sorceress of the bakèd arts.” “Very good,” said the mage. “I have a recipe you might be interested in.”

I am a third grade teacher, a Math teacher to be precise. I love my job,I love my students, but sometimes I wish for a little change, something that makes me enjoy life a bit more

My name is Marty and I am a giant. I live in a world full of fantasy, and is not strange meeting someone like me...but the problem I have is that everything is so tiny for me, I have to watch my step, because one wrong step and it can be the end of a whole community

"I'm not going to say this twice, so listen hard." The drill sergeant took a deep breath and rattled off. "Throw a counter straight into the belly, take a half-step back then knock him over with your legs, punch three and a half times on the feet and avoid all the spikes. Now go!

The initial first tests of the planet are beginning. Contact has been made with Excalibur. They are expected to join Orion in orbit within the next 24 to 36 hours. I’d just received the results of the planetary analysis, and have transmitted our findings back to Earth

Charlie walked the length of the east wing of the family motel, stopping to straighten any tilted picture frames, replace any dead lightbulbs. The appraiser would be by that afternoon and he couldn’t leave anything to chance. His sister would have his head.

I watched as the automaton swiped the quill across the page with mechanical grace, adding an inky flourish to the last of my personal details. A single dotted line remained empty. The gears whirred as the bronze eyes turned to scan my blank face. "So, why do you want to live?"

“Could you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?” Daniel asked. “Umm,” the man in the pointed hat replied. “I think it’s about a mile that way, then on the left.” “Great, thanks!” Daniel said excitedly as he skipped in that direction.

Listen, kid. The world isn't what it seems to be. Never was. Not until those blasted plants started strangling people and taking over the world. How they got so strong, why they're doing this now isn't clear. But one thing's for sure. We became their slaves, hoping that

I don’t know how it started. I wasn’t awake at the time. As it is, even after 3 days, I’m still confused

His wingspan was similar to that of a small single engine plane as he soared over Center City. He came to land atop City Hall, the tip of his wing almost brushing against the face of the William Penn statue.

Ash pasted the Zoom link in the group email and hit “send.” As he waited for boxes to appear on his laptop screen, he popped open his beer can and fired up a playlist on his phone. New Year’s Eve wasn’t going to be a rager, but it would be good to spend the last minutes of 2020

Margaret slowly pushed her metal tray around the winding track, smiling nervously at the kitchen staff, as she acquired dish after decadent dish. Her precarious tray was beyond capacity when suddenly the lights in the cafeteria went dark.

From his seat on the couch in the corner, Mark spied Melissa flirting with Guy. Mark wrinkled his nose, not from any smell, but the realization that someone who pronounced his name “Gee”(with a hard “g” sound) would even be given the time of day by his ex.

I can’t decide if it was a vision or a dream. A vision in a dream? Whatever. I just know that if I don’t call off from work, something bad is going to happen. What am I going to tell them? I can’t come in to work because I had a vision? My boss already thinks I’m crazy! Oh sh@¥.

Deep off the coast, in the treacherous hills of Retrium, a close-knit band of developers, designers, and product owners huddled around a crackling fire in the dead of night. As was tradition, each member came prepared with criticisms and praise necessary to improve the tribe.

Officer Niles stood at the end of the alley which was dark, save for a dim yellow light near a side door of an old building. But that light gave just enough for her to see the silhouette of a body of to the side slumped over. Shining her flashlight into the alley, she walked

What no one warned the crew was that once they went faster than light, the air changed, and they lost the ability to speak out loud without a headset. At first, they kept them on, but after two weeks—once each crewmember got into enough of a routine with their job—they stopped,

With a sledgehammer and a smile. That’s how it happened. She had thought of other ways but they cost more than her job at Mongus Music Store permitted.

About a year ago, Sally’s favorite remote work location closed. It was a coffeehouse during the day, and a beer bar at night. She took her laptop there with her at least twice a week, sipping a cinnamon latté while classic rock played. The atmosphere was dimly-lit, perfect for

The first time I saw the version of myself from an alternate universe, I was five. At the time, I merely took it for a reflection in the mirror. It was only later I realized he was an actual different person.

The Lazarus Motel had remained in the family for three generations. While its looks had faded, it was impeccably clean and often full. Sarah Lazarus, the newest full-time manager, had only just turned off the blue NO VACANCY sign when a beat up minivan drove in from the snow.

Equipment is being loaded onto Shuttle 01B. There are 8 of us plus the equipment. Sitting there in those hard seats, I was really missing my SUV back on Earth. I couldn’t help but think the the people back on Earth could have built these shuttles just a little more roomier.

If I had a chance to do it all over again, I definitely would not have asked for the “mystery” topping on my pizza.

"Hello?" It was about time that he gave up, but Bane couldn't help but click the button on the battered walkie-talkie once more. "Hello?" His hollow voice echoed amidst the crackling static. It was working, sending his greetings into the air. But there was no receiver. As always.

She woke to the sound of roaring and knew that it wasn’t the roar of wind. More like something flowing over a rigged surface, perhaps like a train rolling over the tracks. But there aren’t any train tracks nearby. She laid there listening. She isn’t dreaming is she? Or was she?

Eva's the most beautiful woman I know. Her eyes are the color of agates. Raven hair frames her face like August thunderclouds. Her long thin fingers dance animatedly when she talks. Her voice has the lilt of an Irish folksong. She's lovely in all things—save her Stegosaurus tail.

Of all the things Cale Wyler missed about Earth was the taste of Diet Coke. Here, he almost didn’t want to drink it anymore. Almost. Health-wise, he supposed that was a good thing. But having it go immediately flat after popping the top didn’t stop him from drinking it.

Jack paced nervously around the hotel room. He had been thinking about this moment for a very long time, but now that it was finally here, doubts began to seep into his mind, like the gray light from outside coming in through the curtains that didn’t exactly come together.

“Every day I write the book,” Jack announced with a heavy sigh. Annie raised an eyebrow at him. “Isn’t that an Elvis Costello song?” she asked. Jack picked up his coffee. “Yes, but it’s also what I’m cursed to do. Every day I get up early and spend 12 hours writing the same book,

"Oh, you're awake again." The boy let out shuddering breaths. This couldn't be happening. It could nev- "It's all real, you know. Everyone thought the same as you when they first came." The tiny girl whispered through the bars of his cage, eerily giggling intermittently. "You're

"So. How are you going to deal with it?" The hooded figure sat next to me on my tombstone, holding a cigar in its skeletal fingers. The smoke extended to curl over the mounds of my family members and friends that came after mine, casting a shadow over their causes of death. "I...

It was the night before Christmas and Santa was sitting in his study, checking the list. “What’s this!?There a name in the list that shouldn’t be there!” He said out loud! Then Collywobbles the elf came rushing into the room. “Santa! We have an emergency!”

I was cursed the moment I was born. An evil fairy did it. She told everyone my birth was wrong, that I was a bad omen, but she was responsible. She was looking for revenge so she cursed me...I wasn’t able to love, I hated everyone, everything, I couldn’t feel happiness

Vera's tavern was a rare beacon of warmth on an otherwise cold mountainside. Each glowing window was adorned with a purple wreath and its modest chimney was expelling more smoke than would seem possible. For miles, one could hear laughter, cheer, and the occasional train whistle.

Improbably, the asteroid landed dead center in the royal cherry blossom orchard, sending pink petals deep into the atmosphere. On this day, a dynasty was forever changed.

At that moment I realized just how hot I had become. Why, oh why didn't I let them shear me? My fleece, so often the protective barrier between my delicate body and the cruel world, was now my wooly prison. I looked at my attacker, sweat pooling under my eyes, and made my move.

“I’ve done it again”, thought Herr Drosselmeyer. “Another year, another child sent to the unending service of the Sugarplum Fairy. No one has caught me yet.”

Over time this corrupted gaggle began to resent their new forms. They organized, aired their grievances, jettisoned any last shreds of humanity and took to the skies thinking only of revenge. They all would have been more menacing but for their comically large human noses.

Do you know how hard is to be a sheep? You go all mornings to the same spot guided by a weird dog, you grow your hair and then your are forced to be naked without explanation. This is a vicious loop that doesn’t end...

Narrator : In the world there are a few individuals who know are aware of the supernatural beings living amongst us. There are things happening in today’s society that are caused by these supernatural beings and no one knows about them.

My name is Wendyloopylyn Catrinalucious the Third. I was named after my grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle and neighbor’s dog. My story is a little weird, everything happened on a typical Monday morning, I was on the kitchen table eating my favorite breakfast,

“Knock knock, who’s there?” He asked...but no one answered...”ok,ok, I’m sorry I was trying to be funny...I know you’re mad at me, can you open the door so we can talk”? After a while the door slowly opened...a mad voice said “What do you want knucklehead?”

Frank woke up, squinting at the sunlight filtering through the drapes. He did not recognize the room. Looking at the decor, he decided it must be a motel room. He was wearing pajamas he did not own, but they fit. The thing he couldn't explain was the dead zebra in the other bed.

My plan..eating 100 burgers in 3 minutes. That was no easy task, I barely eat one burger in 15 minutes. But I need to train, I need to focus...This is important...

Harold breathlessly wolfed down his Eggs Benedict, crumbs flying in all directions. His disgruntled assistant, Patrice, watched on in disgust. “How can one person be both a refined wizard, and a total slob at the same time?” he asked. “Fetch me my wand,” Harold said dismissively.

It was Halloween Night. Or “All Hallows’ Eve” as your coworker Gary would probably say. The moon was full, just like Gary was full of BS. It was maddening how much you thought about Gary actually, despite the fact that you hadn’t seen him in person in over 7 months.

"You're insane!" The polished British accent of the victim doesn't faze you as you let out an evil laugh, starting off the bomb. You're one of the ones who always manages to get on the wrong side of the MI6 for no reason, after all. "Who cares! The world is already crazy anyway."

Contestants, welcome to the first episode of the first season of The Great British Babushka Show! You have the fabric, scissors, thread, and needles. Your goal is simple, but not at all easy. You will have to

Cookie duster, dirt squirrel, lip luggage, nose neighbor, face lace, mouth brow, or simply the prosaic stache. While they go by many names, not all mustaches are created equal. This is the tale of a particular soup strainer that changed the world—and the man it rode in on.

Sara strode up the hill. Malik struggled to keep up with her. She reached the crest of the hill, slightly out of breath, perspiration beading on her brow. She lifted one hand to shield her eyes from the sun. On the other side of the hill, Sara saw the source of the strange noise.

Wheaties. Olives. Spaghetti. Garbanzo Beans. AAA batteries. All-purpose flour. Toilet paper. Scissors. Sugar cookies. Advil. Dishtowels. Dark chocolate. Tomato paste. Peanut butter. Saltines. Heavy-duty trash bags. Maraschino cherries. Soy sauce. Shoelaces.

It was the morning after. Those of us who made it through gathered in the square. We were dirty, frazzled, and tired. One might call us she’ll shocked. But we knew one thing for certain:

As the sun set over the rocky horizon, Joe fell into a fitful sleep and dreamed of the city and his mother baking cookies. In his sleep his stomach growled. It had been many days since he’d eaten a meal or drunk anything but the brackish water he found along the trail. He woke to

Thunder shook the cornfields of the Sinclair estate just as a murder of crows descended upon the front steps. The eldest crow stepped forward and addressed the group. "Tonight we make history," she said.

Ask any kid in town and they’ll tell you McDougall Mansion is the spookiest house in the neighborhood. They’ll also tell you that all its original inhabitants perished mere weeks after moving in, having drowned, allegedly, in a boating accident on the pond bordering the property.

Bucky loved trees, like all beavers. Unlike most beavers, he loved trees best when they were alive and growing. Bucky desperately wanted to find a way to build a damn without killing any trees.

Peter is name my...problem a have I...backwards speak I...me understand to difficult Is...alone so feel I. Me help!

Tara walked through the door, joints aching, eyes bleary, and was greeted by a scene of pure chaos: candy wrappers everywhere, muddy footprints on the floor. Hanging from the ceiling fan were two masks tethered together by a boa.

"Did I ever tell you about my 47 children?"

It was a quarter to midnight and the fire raged at the old sawmill. The townspeople gathered along the Sequoia River, staring in disbelief at the vivid reflections, feeling the terrible warmth on their faces. The one question on everyone's mind: where was Mayor Beech?

It was the spookiest day of the year. The creepiest, scariest day. A day filled with ghosts, ghouls, goblins, and groans of despair. The day when horror is born anew and mortals tremble. You know what day I mean.

I sidled up to the bar. "I'll take a Swollen Headbanger on the Beach." The bartender looked at me funny. It's not a complicated drink: in a highball glass, you mix one shot of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky,

Our story starts, by a beaver being abducted by aliens. Yes, pretty WEIRD right? The aliens take this beaver to an earth... shaped like a square? The beaver gets dropped off at a castle and stumbles inside. The beaver falls in a machine and is fused with a human. Weird Beaver.

Tony the dancer was very famous. He was a star, an inspiration for other dancers in the area. He moved with grace and agility, something years of practice helped achieve. The Ultra Dancing Showdown was about to start, conquering this was his ultimate goal

Everyone in the trailer lurched forward as the hay ride abruptly ended. The engine went silent just as the headlights shut off. Where were they? It was too dark to tell. Then, barely visible in the moonlight, a huge form covered in vines rose up. "I am the pump king," it howled!

This is a quick story. Just seconds and everything will happen. Do not close your eyes, don’t even blink cause the story may end and you will never know the end. It starts now with a guy, he is running, going faster and faster

Sit back in your coziest chair, in front of your warmest hearth, and prepare yourself for this most ghoulish tale of one feline's harrowing journey from chonk to fine boi—cause oh lawd it's comin'.

Rachel leapt through the pumpkin patch, gourds under each arm, nervously looking over her shoulder. The freezing air hit the back of her throat with every gasp. She had almost made it to County Road A when she tripped on a vine.

It was dark and the growling sound behind her was getting closer. The monster was hungry and she knew it. How to escape, she couldn’t run. Maybe hiding in the dark would work.

"Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me," said the Godfrather. "But until that day, consider this justice a gift on my daughter's wedding day. A fravor, if you will."

Fading off to sleep she was startled by the sound of her ringer. Who could be calling this late? Bleary-eyed she answered the phone. She heard a frantic voice on the other end, but it was one that she recognized. She couldn't believe the story. She rushed to the police station.

The big clock in the tower next to town hall chimed noon. Ralph stood up straight, put his shovel down, and wiped his brow. He looked at the long trench he’d been digging for the past 3 hours. He would go and eat lunch now. Then he’d fill that trench back in. A good day’s work.

Fall had come early to Belleville. Julian swept the leaves from his stoop and flipped the sign adorning his bodega from CLOSED to OPEN. He hadn't made it to the deli counter by the time a shadowy figure burst through the door. "How fresh is your chicken salad?" she asked gravely.

Marvin the Mackerel lives a simple life: he eats, he swims and he poops. Today, however, would be different, unbeknownst to Marvin, a special friend would enter his life. And that friend was Toby the Tuna.

Let’s have a little conversation, you and I, shall we? I know you’re not fond of me but I’m the only person who will tell you the bare and utter truth about this - regardless of how...uncomfortable it may be. Oh, I know, you’re going to think about our past and say I have no

As he looked at his wife, her features became more symmetrical. Makeup appeared, and her hair took on an unnatural shine. A button appeared near her ear, reading “Upgrade now for €2.99!” He took out the contacts, put them back in the charger, and turned out the nightlight.

Once upon a time, in a small house in the forest there was a fairy called Tinky Winky. She was sparkly and full of joy, she liked to fly with the bees and run with the foxes. She also enjoyed eating some nuts from the walnut tree with the squirrels. Tinky Winky was special

What is to be a chicken you ask? Nothing special actually, you wake up early with the song of the neighbor rooster, you check the eggs (sometimes they disappear magically), you dig for some worms for breakfast and start an interesting conversation with your fellow chickens

A gust of autumn wind shook the hull of the decrepit RV sitting immobile before them. Three interlopers had traveled to this particular campsite to see this particular vehicle. They were sure it was empty until the door creaked open and a banana tumbled down to the forest floor.

“GO CUBBIES,” the hefty man belted at his TV. Even as the pandemic raged on, Sean insisted on drinking an entire 12-pack during every Cubs game and storming into Sluggers. “This is the Chicago dream,” he thought one night, surveying his 6-bedroom, 10 roommate apartment on Roscoe.

Keeping his feathers motionless and breathing as quietly as possible, Marvin the turkey hid behind the garden shed. Three years in a row he had avoided the fate due most domestic turkeys.

My story is no ordinary one. My name is Tilly and you still know nothing about who I am or how I got to be like this. I was just like you but I changed. Wanna know what happened..All started when I was eleven years old

It was a rainy and stormy night. The wind was howling and the trees in the darkness looked alive. She was alone in the old wood house. The noises were getting stronger as the wind whipped off the windows. She was scared so she hid. Flashlight in hand and a bit of water

A slow start to the day. Another mark made on a map that had been long forgotten, stored in the tiny chest of my grandma’s cabin up north.

Genevieve had no idea how it started. It had begun innocently enough, she supposed, but now it was- well - an obsession. She wondered what her friends would think if they knew - and more importantly, what David would think. But she didn’t want to think about that now- she wanted

The air was cool. The perfect temperature for a ‘night hike’, which is what Ted and his friends called smoking weed behind the local gas station. As he approached the station he slowed down. The building was enveloped by a bright blue fog, and it seemed to be coming his way.

Karen flipped idly through her alphabetized record collection, settling quickly on the B’s as she so often did. She’d met the most incredible person this morning and there was only one crooner who would understand. She chose the most well-worn album and gently removed the sleeve.

There was an usual scent in the air, sweet, with a hint of spice. It stopped her in her tracks. She had been lost in thought, the day had been difficult and her present task, running a another weird errand for her boss, an unpleasant one. She looked to identify the smell.

The glider was coming in low and fast, approaching from the north. The silent plane meant the pilot could hear snatches of conversation and bits of music and she flew over rooftops. The people in the city below had no idea what was right overhead.

Delaney and her mother left the groomer with a renewed sense of confidence. And with good reason: their show dog, Trudy Jenkins, had never looked better. They spent the entire walk home imagining her future fame. That is, until Trudy’s nemesis leapt out from the bushes.

The phone rang, loud and reverberating, the way only rotary phones do. Becky raced to pick it up only to be beaten by Valsecchi, who'd already been sitting at her desk since the early morning hours, sleuthing her latest models. "Becky and Valsecchi," she said.

Lynn was working out in her garage when the phone rang. She ran inside the house, sweaty and angry, stepped over two of her kids and clumsily picked up the receiver. “What is it?” she barked.

Sara bolted out of her house, visibly upset, clutching a cumbersome keychain with a dangling shamrock. She smelled the unmistakable scent of a skunk just moments before tripping over it.

It was just like any other school. The bells rang, the teachers taught and of course the girls gossiped. I found myself in front of them, the mean girls, saying my name and where I was from while they stared me up and down like a snake waiting to strike its next meal.

Humanity's greatest engineering achievement is also its most tightly kept secret. 50 years ago, hundreds of people contributed to the project without knowing the full scope. Only a handful of people understood the entire plan, and most of them took the secret to their grave.

Greta recalled her youth. She had been beautiful once, she thought. The couple passed by, the woman's skirt swaying in the breeze. The day she met Herman it was raining and she was meeting friends for dinner. Her umbrella had broken, leaving her stranded in a restaurant entryway.

contemplating on the meaning wherein the locus of “the meaned” is felt beyond the relation to only the object - that part - but in context of the gerund whole, the body within which mean-ing takes place.

"💧︎♋︎■︎⬧︎📬︎ ☟︎♏︎●︎●︎□︎ ⬧︎□︎■︎📬︎ ☟︎□︎⬥︎ ♋︎❒︎♏︎ ⍓︎□︎◆︎ ⧫︎♒︎♓︎⬧︎ ♐︎♓︎■︎♏︎ ❍︎□︎❒︎■︎♓︎■︎♑︎📬︎?" "Go away dad", Sans said, "I'm trying to find a way to erase the genocide path option". "🕈︎♒︎♋︎⧫︎ ♓︎♐︎ ⍓︎□︎◆︎ 🙵♓︎●︎●︎♏︎♎︎ ⧫︎♒︎♏︎❍︎ ♋︎●︎●︎✍︎". "Good idea dad". !DUSTTALE

A product of an affluent kevlar manufacturing family from Mexico City, Eduardo completed his annual six months of studying Buhdism in Nepal. He changed his flight home from Kathmandu to New York to catch the Pittsburgh Steelers playing in the AFC Championship.

The smell of cigarettes and beer filled the air. Mark was tense, his eyes scanning the room. Eleven Maple had been abandoned for years, since the crime that shook the town. His friends seemed happily unaware of the history. But he knew. He knew too well.

The weather was perfect and her bags were packed. She looked around the room. Yes! She thought. Today is the day. Once I make it to the Beach I’ll tell Gerald how I really feel.

Deep in the woods a creature stirred. Glowing eyes, iridescent mane, and a robust, sparkly horn protruding from the top of its head. Unlike the rest of his kind, secretive and discreet, this unicorn was destined for fame. His name was Dave.

It was a dark starry night when Lauren and Max ventured into the woods. They had been looking forward to this all week. It was the only night the Sporkle Comet would be visible and only for ten minutes. Not to repeat again for many lifetimes.

I’m a 175 year old Tribrid. My name is Nakkita. My mother was a Fairy/Witch and my father was a Vampire. Mother said father was killed by humans when she was pregnant with me. Mother disappeared 50 years ago and I’ve been on the hunt to find her ever since. I believe I’m getting

There was a time, many centuries ago, when Merlin and Mavis were trusted and true friends. They studied each other’s craft and sparred with the utmost respect. All that changed one fateful day. After that neither wizard was ever the same.

The crew set down their bikes and slowly inched toward the fence, each kid wanting to be furthest behind. Once close enough, what they saw was exactly what they were expecting. Tied to the fence was a doll, the size of a toddler, with a grimacing pumpkin in place of its head.

Three stubby sheep with fire red wool convened atop a majestic mountain at daybreak just as they had many times before. As they began their hushed incantations storm clouds rushed in and a nebulous being emerged—a swirling mass of wind and wool known to all sheep kind: Sheepnado.

Tabitha silenced her alarm for the 10th time, flopped out of bed, and shuffled to the bathroom. She squinted, rubbed the sleep from her eyes, and turned on the faucet. Splashing water on her face she gazed into the mirror. She stopped cold in shock. Her reflection wasn’t there.

The forest was fragrant in that woody, musky way that reminded him of his childhood. It had been years since he last visited the cabin. He rustled through his pocket to find the keys. August 1999. The summer he earned his least favorite nickname.

The air was warm and smelled sweetly of flowers, a rare treat so early in spring. Maggie looked around the yard. Would have been a fine day, except for that whole thing with Greg. She couldn’t get it out of her head.

The mere mention of Gerald the Great struck fear in the hearts of villagers. A ruler and tyrant, he taxed his people mercilessly and had a viscous temper which would flare up without warning. His rule seemed unending, that is, until the day of The Great Reveal.

UGH why do muffins smell so good, she thought as she passed through the kitchen. This diet was going to be the death of her. She looked at her diet app, only 400 calories left and it was only 2pm. This was going to be a long day.

As he hit ENTER, he closed his eyes. “Hi! How’s it going?” read the Slack message, the first in what Terrance hoped would be a long and beautiful conversation history. Some day they would read these messages back, but for now there was just eye contact at the cold brew keg.

Many moons ago, before the beginning of time itself, an ageless being was thrust onto the cosmic stage. A swirling mass—of youth, hair, FIFA, and recreational boating—asserted its rightful place in the universe. Before Eve, there was Adam.

The scent of spring was in the air. Floral. A pleasant change from the past few months of snow. Finally, a chance to wear my new shorts, thought Marvin.

"Well, you're the last person I ever expected to see here," Abraham Lincoln One said to Abraham Lincoln Two as he casually drew his sword.

Each member of the Hayward household boarded the train in navy formalwear, and clutching a carefully chosen possession. Between the five of them they brought: a yellowed photograph, a carefully folded map, two jeweled pins, and a ragged children's doll coming undone at the seams.

Gertrude twirled in her spacesuit, luxuriating in the freedom of zero gravity. She left earth many months ago, but only recently became relaxed enough to enjoy the genuine perks of an outer space existence.

Mildred rolled over in bed just enough to read the digital alarm clock sitting on her nightstand. When she saw how late it was she slowly rolled to her other side and began putting on a fluffy pair of slippers adorned with goat heads. The bed groaned under her significant weight.

Light poured through the canopy of the verdant glen, dancing upon the heads of Teri, Tabby, and Tim—the elder squirrels of the Acorn Clan. They came together on this crisp spring morning in order to discuss an issue of solemn significance.

Swirls of pinks and purples. It was a sunset to remember. If only she had remembered her camera, she thought regretfully. As she looked up, she saw something small, but fast, dart across the horizon. She had to look twice, it couldn't be...

Jefferson repeated the lines of the spell. “Omimum doridor. Omimum doridorrrr.” Outside, a flash. A hum. A door bell. “JEFF!” his mother called up the stairs. “Come down sweetie, there’s a girl at the door here to see you!”

The bustling street was alive with caroling and commerce. Snow had just begun to fall when two unmistakably eccentric old timers, Evelyn and Ebert, entered from the South end with plans and props in tow, chomping at the bit to rain mischief down on a town that didn’t accept them.

Rocky’s ears perked up in anticipation. Something moved in front of him. Was it a hand? A toy? Another dog? It didn’t matter. It was about to be in his mouth.

Lucy trotted across the wooden floors sniffing and licking every few steps. At last! She saw a pair of sturdy human feet by the kitchen table. She walked up right behind the unknowing feet, and patiently waited for her next adrenaline rush.

I never did trust Dane, and now I knew why. He clapped his hands, and a dozen human impersonators lurched toward me in perfect unison.

The forest shook with explosive energy. Before the dust settled, herds of feathered ankle-high dinosaurs scurried out. "It's happening," Amelia said, craning her neck to see beyond the treetops. Lenny bent down to examine the river of lizard birds flowing through his legs.

“Where to?” asked the driver. He had finished putting her bag in the trunk and was clearly anxious to leave. She hesitated to answer looking back at her apartment. “The Farm” she finally answered. With a huff the driver took off. The Farm was notorious, but not for its produce.

Tom and his co-conspirators made it through one last wall of evergreen and into a clearing. Out of breath, all three scanned the night sky before setting their sights on a majestic lighthouse, far in the distance.

Sometimes, things happen for a reason. The night Timmy slipped off the stage at his jazz band concert, he couldn't imagine what that reason could be. From the orchestra pit, he gazed up at the concerned faces of parents and peers alike.

Winds whistled through the pines as Fannie and her Alaskan huskies made their way to town from the wooded, remote outskirts where they dwelled. Fannie didn’t care much for “the city,” as she called it, but today she and her curmudgeonly canines were making an exception.

“We need more people if this is going to work! Invite everyone you can think of to join us”, he exclaimed.

For years the kingdom had been plagued by disease and famine. The sisters would need to work together to face their fears and keep their legacy safe.

"Pressure decreasing - now at 97%." Everything else about the ship seemed fine. But something was off.

It was the first real day of spring when Hannah and her brother decided to put their plan into motion. They packed their supplies and rode into town on matching B-1000 black and yellow mountain bikes.

“Have you tried the butter-laced fried socks,” he asked the beautiful woman at the bar. The minute the words we’re out of his mouth he felt foolish.

Jared woke to the gentle sound of soft thuds on his roof. He stumbled out of bed, roused his cat Jinkies, and went to look out from his kitchen to see where the noise could be coming from. Before he could open his window a pineapple came shooting towards him.

This weekend’s honored guests had traveled from near and far to be here tonight. The last couple arrived just before midnight; they approached the looming gothic doors, carrying nothing but one backpack between them, and knocked three times with determination.

Her toilet hadn't worked in 6 weeks and she was growing tired of using the bucket on the porch. She decided to finally overcome her fear of plumbers, and pulled out her phone book.

Rebecca nervously cut the turkey with her brand new carving knife. Once finished with the light meat she allowed herself to momentarily gaze down the packed banquet table at familiar faces. After a second or two she wiped the sweat from her brow and returned to the bird.

The bathtub was filled with white fluffy bunnies. Well, this is officially the strangest date I’ve ever been on, thought Gloria. There was a knock at the door.

It was the third Halloween since the incident. Marge looked in the mirror and considered her costume. Her whole year had been building up this day, the day of the Halloween Ball, and her chance to redeem herself once and for all.

Al mirarse al espejo, María no podía evitar advertir un tono amarillento subiendo por su cara hasta la mitad de la frente. Esto todavía podía pasar desapercibido con un poco de maquillaje, pero una vez salió de casa se asombró al ver lo que estaba pasando.

Far away in a grassy field there lies a treasure like no other. The direction to find it are hidden, and will be revealed only when the time is right, to the person that is meant to find it. Edgar felt he was that person.

Purple feathers rained down around Casey. Some stuck to her shoulders. Others grazed her face and landed at her feet. It was perfectly quiet save the gentle strumming of a nearby harp.

"What should we eat?" Jan scrolled through Yelp. "Ooh, there's a new Maronite place on Division." Elena stood up and started clapping excitedly. "Ooh, I love Maronite food!"

Darlene sat at the station watching the first snowflakes of winter land on the tracks. When the train arrived she boarded with a woman dressed all in black who walked briskly despite an obvious limp. Must be new to the area Darlene thought nervously.

Thunder rang out. Oh crap, he thought. Was it hide in a ditch? Under a tree? Why hadn’t he paid attention during those lessons? He army-crawled through the field, hoping that was the right thing to do. Three feet away his sister watched him, a bemused expression on her face.

Darlene sat at the station watching the first snowflakes of winter land on the tracks. When the train arrived she boarded with a woman dressed all in black who walked briskly despite an obvious limp. She must be new to the area Darlene thought uneasily.

Darion walked slowly out of the cold, corporate lobby rubbing his temples gently with both hands. He thought things would have gone differently. How had he been so wrong? As he ruminated, a gust of wind sent red autumn leaves falling down on his head.

A regular at all the football games, Reginald was locally famous. He was a descendant of the towns founders, who had famously started the Wagner’s Weenies company, selling a variety of German sausages. They were the sponsor as usual, but today’s game was anything but normal.

The minutes passed slowly, as they always did in Math class. Darla looked around the room in search of distraction. Most of the students looked equally bored, except Steve. STEVE. Always showing off his division skills. Today, however, would be different.

‚I don’t like purple‘ thinks the art piece to itself as its creator Finn moves the wet brush over the canvas. Besides the disagreement over color, the art piece can’t stand watercolors in the winter, so it dries the color faster than Finn can make use of it.

No one expects to get married on their 93rd birthday, but here we are.

The wind was strong, but no match for her spirit. She had been planning for weeks, taking the family boat out each day to ensure she would pass the sailing exam. Her father would be watching. After last year, failure was not an option. She approached the school with purpose.

In the glamorous, high stakes world of Grenade Polo, there are two types of players: the quick and the dead.

The floors were shiny and the rooms smelled like pine. Gloria was always proud of her work, but today especially. It had been a day like any other, until she reached the room 23.

Cora grabbed her umbrella and went outside, carefully winding her way down the brick path outside her home, occasionally stepping over puddles. It was scarcely dawn by the time she got to her car. Cora looked anxiously into her rearview mirror before hitting the gas.

He caught Steven's eye almost immediately. He was shiny and blue, right in the front of the pet shop. A big sign hung over his tank that read, "Meet Jeremy, Our newest fish!" Steven knew he had to have him.

Deep in the bayou lived an old man and his grandson. The pair typically kept to themselves and tonight was no exception. Just after dusk, as the first fireflies began to light up the purple sky, Grandpa Mac heard a rapping at the door.

Out of breath, Haley reached the intersection just as the railroad crossing arms were coming down. Frantically, she looked left then right before darting in front of a bright yellow freight train.

Everyone piled into the car and took out their personal items. Seat buckles clicked. Snacks crinkled. A destination was set: Door County. An epic trip began unceremoniously.

The subway doors opened and a mob of costumed tweens rushed in. There were a few superheroes, one pumpkin, two skeletons, and a lanky grim reaper. Madeline was already quite late for work and had a bad feeling about this ride. Where was their chaperone?

It was pouring so hard one could barely carry on a conversation at First Chicago Bank & Trust. Riley, the youngest teller in the whole office, wanted nothing more than to end her shift and crawl back into bed.

Marcus took off his sunglasses and put down his beer. "Hello? Is anyone there?" He craned his neck so he could survey the entire room. With his heart beating a mile a minute, he turned off the water and stepped out of the shower.

Joseph popped a marshmallow in his mouth as his space-car docked elegantly to the shiny space port of Amazia.

Taylor gardened while his wife and kids slept. The quiet morning hours seemed to be the only time these days he could find for this solitary pleasure. He had just finished weeding his last plant bed when an owl, one bigger than he’d ever seen, swooped in and stole his shears.

Jennitha winced as the spa technician smeared the nanobot gray goo on her forehead, but what did she expect? She was living in the future after all.

We make our own fate. We go around blaming others, or God, for our mistakes, but that’s because we can’t admit that everything happens to us because of consequences of our decisions. Until that day I cracked open that unfortunate fortune cookie and read what my fate had in store.

We make our own fate. We go around blaming others, or God, for our mistakes, but that’s because we can’t admit that everything happens to us because of consequences of our decisions. Until that day I cracked open that unfortunate fortune cookie and read what my fate had in store.

Without meaning to, he turned on to that street. His blind wandering had brought him back to the exact block he promised to avoid forever.

The further they drove, the fewer billboards they saw. The hotels and factories turned to homes, the homes turned to farms. The team was practically in a forest when they came across Company Town. The arch they passed under boldly implored, 'Go West.'

"Thank you for dining with us," the waiter said. "Tonight's dinner specials are wild monkfish dipped in chocolate pesto and peanut butter bison bathed in pine needle. For dessert, we have fresh ostrich gelato. Do you have any food allergies we should be aware of?"

The brochure had appealed to her ‘Romance on the High Seas,’ it had said. She looked at her ticket with a mix of anticipation and confusion. “What in the world does one pack for a pirate themed singles cruise?”

This one smells like muffins, thought Dottie. The aging Dalmatian was losing her agility, but certainly not her sense of smell. The world was her oyster as she wandered down the street. She stopped abruptly as she noted an unusual scent just up ahead.

Steve's time was running out. He had prepared and practiced, and done his absolute best. But now he only had 5 minutes left to finish.

Ted walked briskly out of the sporting good store, out of the breath and deeply humiliated. He knew going in that he would never be a great golfer but what happened in there was ridiculous.

While Steven P and Steven S had fought in public before, this was the first public food fight, and as they both went to bed angry, Steven P couldn’t help but feel a nagging pang of guilt.

The rain put out his cigarette as he stepped outside. Armando didn’t like the rain; he loved it. It reminded him that everything could be washed away. He wanted to believe that— no, he had to.

She sat as though Velcro’d to her vinyl couch. If you looked at her eyes closely you might be able to watch the reflection of whatever show she was watching— probably something about guns, mysteries, a criminal on the loose.

It was the first warm spring day in Paris. Marie threw open her window, and caught the scent of fresh baguettes from the bakery down the street. Marie had a sudden wave of happiness, and a feeling that summer 1923 was going to be fun. Little did she know,

The operation was long overdue. He approached the front desk. After the insurance pleasantries they said to wait on the side of the room by the turtle themed poster. He turned around and there it was. “EXPERIENCE IS WISDOM” it said, with a smiling cartoon turtle underneath.

It wasn't until she got to the reptile house that Annabelle realized her bracelet was gone, the one from her grandmother with jade stones. She panicked. What else had she seen that day? Penguins? Zebras? Could it have slipped off her wrist while feeding the petting zoo animals?

Edgar was about to embark on his least favorite activity of the day, the morning walk to his office. A short fifteen minutes and the reason he bought his house where he did. Little did he know what he would be facing every morning at precisely eight minutes past the hour.

“Scalpel, stat!” shouted Dreardra. She had never operated on a minotaur—no one had—but now the fate of the world was literally in her hands.

The war was winding down and all the villagers were talking about it. It had been a long winter and rations were running low. Reginald had gone missing the previous spring. Laura had asked after him to every visitor who came to town. As spring approached, hearts filled with hope.

With a curious mind but a tentative step, Marcus pushed the kitchen door slightly ajar. He'd been smelling his mother's famous chocolate chip cookies for hours, but hadn't his parents left for vacation the day before?

Waffles for breakfast were always a portender of something sinister.

This was the day. It took nearly a hundred years of research and experimentation, with dozens of failures along the way. But humanity had finally achieved it, the next stepping stone, the great dream fulfilled. Finally, we had it:

The line was long. She looked at her phone again. Fifteen minutes had passed. The couple at the front of the line was chatting up the cashier. She rolled her eyes, hoping someone noticed. Work had been a mess, and now she was late for dinner with the one person she wanted to see.

The pool glistened with promise. Gabi walked along the edge, scanning the scene. Today was a special day. Stan, the lifeguard she had her eye on, was back from vacation. She had spent the past two weeks planning a perfect scenario that was sure to turn his head.

Reese and Keri swam frantically to shore, not once looking back at the flaming shipwreck behind them. By the time they reached land they were sore and out of breath, each clutching the only things they were able to save.

Her toes tingled as she moved closer to the edge of the cliff. Heights had never been her strong suit. “Harold, is that you?” A hand reached over the cliff drop off.

"But won't it hurt?" She asked her dad tentatively, hovering her hand over the hot coals. "Only for a minute," he winked. "Once you're on the other side you'll be glad you did it. It's a rite of passage in the Scrampus family."

His hands shaking with excitement and nerves, Max carefully poured the molten gold down the floor drain.

Autumn winds picked up off the Smiths' deck, knocking their brown umbrella repeatedly against the kitchen window. Astrid watched the leaves swirl from her attic bedroom. She was home alone.

“Ever been to a pig smash before?” the hobo said. “Like cockfighting but with swine.” Mabel nodded while looking down at her yellow shoes. She had learned so many things since leaving home but that didn’t prevent her from occasionally feeling fearful.

By the time the day of the hot dog eating contest finally arrived, Merideth was in fighting form. She'd been slowly stretching her stomach out for weeks, eating a little more each day until her capacity for eating was unmatched. Her skin glistened as she approached the stage.

The night was dragging, and Franny knew it was only a matter of time before her last chance of leaving this city would come and go. She mumbled an excuse to her distracted mother, picked up her bag, and started for the back door.

An ageless woman walked briskly up to a coffee bar and ordered a drink in very few words. Her name was Penelope and she was draped, head to toe, in gilded paisley.

It was 6pm before the fog settled in over Petenwell Lake, one of Wisconsin's 15,000 bodies of water. The deserted cabin was devoid of people but full of outdated magazines and fast food wrappers. In the distance one could hear a freight train whistle.

It was only noon but Phil was already sweating profusely. His wife had been right, July was no time for turtlenecks.

In the end the reports were wrong; the storm had been devastating. There wasn’t a wall standing of Green Lake Elementary. The children were safe but exposed.

It was the last warm day of summer. The public pools were closed so Terry and his friends headed to the beach. It was nearly dusk by the time they arrived.