Thriller/Suspense - Stories

My dearest Sir or Madam – Good society is not exempt from the ubiquitous underbelly of forks and cakes, though I confess I never expected to be so entirely undone by it. Nor by Oliver Fitzgibbon. Fair Oliver! Two years my senior and newly come to town – handsome, observant and possessed, I think, of the same gentle temper as myself. Yet in a world that demands discretion, I fear my admiration may prove a dangerous indulgence. With best wishes, I remain, &c., &c. – Timothy.

Half-elf ex-cop Flynn O'Briain is losing a war on a cellular level. His human DNA and Elven heritage are tearing each other apart.

When a murdered PI leaves Flynn a blueprint for a corporate energy project that uses magical beings as batteries, he and Poitr are pulled into a conspiracy that reaches from the streets of LA to the highest levels of power. The clock is ticking. Flynn's body is failing. And the only cure is in the hands of the woman they're trying to stop.

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.

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)

Julian Hayes has it all: a perfect family, a devoted boyfriend, a life of luxury. His world begins to crumble when buried secrets come to light. Suddenly, the life he built, the people he trusted, and even his own sense of self are thrown into chaos.

Julian finds himself torn and he must decide who he can trust—and what he’s willing to fight for. In a house full of wealth, secrets, and lies, survival comes at the cost of everything he once believed was real.

Special Inspector Kellen McAdams could do with a break, but duty is calling him to Barlow Bay, where mummified corpses of illegal immigrants are causing some headaches. With a battlemage scared of himself and a bubbly druid as supports, this should hopefully be an easy one…

Even on good days Damien is a neurotic bundle of nerves. He might be a freelancer for the Barlow Bay Police Department, but getting called in makes for a decidedly bad day. And a frustrated SI and an overly sexy druid are not exactly helping…

Robert, a contract assassin, is asked to kill Senator Elias Hutchinson but refuses, wanting to leave his violent life behind. When another killer is hired for the job, Robert turns against his former employers, battling rival assassins, Chinese hitmen, a persistent Homeland Security agent, and a mysterious newcomer. As the threat from the organization’s leader, Mehment, grows, Robert races to identify and stop his replacement before it’s too late.

Prompt #265

Write a story that begins with a phone call at three in the morning.

Trevor insisted the house phone be on his side of the bed. There was one problem with that; Trevor was nearly impossible to wake up. One night, the phone rings at three AM. Julius has a hard time waking Trevor, but finally succeeds. Trevor finally answers the phone on the ninth ring. The phone call starts something they never could have expected.

Ex-Military recluse Hank runs his isolated farm with measured violence and tactical clarity. When Jesse, a 22-year-old, stumbles into Hank’s world, the "math" of the farm changes forever. Jesse is more than a stray; and his dark past is about to catch up with him.

Hank doesn't offer pity; he offers an absolute, grounding ownership. But while trying to protect the boy, he realizes he can’t hold the line alone and calls in favors.

The debt is about to be paid in lead and spent fury.