Stories

When Vickie Morrison's body is found in the river behind Grey Harbor High, all eyes turn to Caleb Holloway—the quiet, medicated boy who can't remember what happened that night. As the town closes ranks and whispers turn to accusations, Caleb discovers the pills his mother forces down his throat aren't just controlling his emotions—they're erasing his memories. Desperate to prove his innocence, he must unravel a web of blackmail, buried secrets, and a truth someone is willing to kill to protect. But the deeper he digs, the more he realizes: in Grey Harbor, everyone is hiding something.

When the body of Lukas von Keller, a third-year student at Veridien, a prestigious all-boys academy, is found at the bottom of a ravine on March 10th, 1986, life at the quiet elite institution is shaken to the core.

After months of investigation, authorities are ready to rule the death a suicide. Detective Whitlock, however, is not. A chance to solve the case, now a personal nightmare, presents itself when Marius Vassier, a local private eye known for his sharp instincts and impeccable fashion, approaches him with a plan.

An unorthodox plan.

(Full summary inside)

This one comes from Prompt #71.

Write a short story featuring only one character. No secondary characters at all. You might drop them in the woods and see how they fare, or come up with your own idea, but only one character is allowed.

Fraser Vogel knew it was dangerous to parachute in high winds. He wasn’t left with too many options in his Cessna 182 Skylane when its yoke seized and the engine failed.

Jump or crash? Pretty easy choice.

In a future where it never ceases to rain, Joel finds himself alone on the streets after curfew. How he got there is not clear, his memory is fragmented. Is it being rescued to find yourself in a sex club? Past, present, and future are interwoven, somehow there must be an answer? Perhaps, he is the answer? And what about the other boys? What about the planet? Is there a future?

Would you believe that, in the year 2083, it’s better to be a Guide than an Esper? Twenty years ago the Neo Party was voted out and their Trigon Policy abolished, meaning Guides are no longer forced into pairs. But is there such a thing as true equality? Espers are the ones who need guiding – and in the wake of a fracturing society could the old regime be making a comeback? Follow Asher as he navigates this political landscape at an academy for special individuals just like him.

Dr Kilroy Frost manages to separate his sexual desires from his professional life as a general practitioner. He volunteers as a sub at his anonymous BDSM club when the urge arises, but struggles with self-disgust afterwards, leading him to a cycle of heavy drinking and tranquilliser use. His life takes a turn after he is saved from a hotel fire by firefighter Todd Hansen. Their paths cross again at the fire station and later at the hospital on the day Kilroy learns of a homicide investigation linked to a member of his sex group, raising questions about his safety and what he should disclose to the police.

On Halloween night, Mason leads his friend up the old firewatch tower above Wilbur Falls — just to get away from the noise, the beer, and the same faces down by the creek. But something about the night feels different. The wind smells of smoke, the dark hums with electricity, and the space between them glows with something neither can name. High above their small town, mystery and longing blur together, and what begins as a quiet escape becomes a moment that will haunt them long after the night is gone.

A haunting Halloween tale about connection, silence, and the spark between two boys learning what it means to be seen.

Another episode from the files of Detective Gennaro Saggio. Detective Saggio is off for the fourth of July. Simon Gallagher, his partner, is copied on the murder email this time around.

Another episode from the files of Detective Gennaro Saggio. Things have been relatively quiet. Orono, Maine has once again returned to being a sleepy little town. Detective Saggio is working Memorial Day, not looking forward to investigating the excitement caused annually by drunks.

There was excitement, but not the kind he expected.