Fiction

Before It Ends. Top Story - January 2025. Content Warning.
When we are children everything seems to have a conspiracy or scary story around it. We make up stories of the things that go bump in the night. We have such a naïve side that we often believe the stories we tell, exaggerating them more each time they are shared with our friends. Sometimes we make up stories based on bits and pieces that we hear the adults around us talking about, and other times we take actions based on those bits and pieces, not realizing what a mistake that can be.
By Luna Verityabout a year ago in Chapters
The Midnight Caller. AI-Generated.
Start writing...Detective Sam Harris sat in his cramped office, staring at the flickering light above his desk. It had been a slow week for the small town of Cormack, and the usual humdrum of missing pets and minor break-ins had left him yearning for something more substantial. His coffee was cold, and the papers on his desk were piled up in a half-hearted attempt at organization. The clock struck midnight, breaking the stillness of the room. The sound was followed by a sudden, shrill ring from the landline on his desk. Sam blinked, momentarily disoriented. He rarely received calls at this hour, especially not in Cormack, a town so quiet that even the police station shut down by 10 p.m. "Detective Harris," he answered gruffly, his voice thick with sleep. A breathy voice came through the line, hushed and frantic. "You need to come to the old church on Redwood Hill. It's happening tonight. You have to stop them." The line went dead before Sam could respond. He sat frozen, staring at the receiver in his hand. The old church on Redwood Hill was a place of local legends—abandoned for years, the crumbling building had become a point of fascination for thrill-seekers and paranormal enthusiasts. But no one in town had ever claimed to have seen anything unusual there. Sam stood, grabbing his jacket and hat, trying to shake the creeping sense of dread that washed over him. It wasn’t like him to jump at shadows, but something in that call—something about the urgency in the voice—wasn’t right. The drive up to Redwood Hill was eerily quiet. The streets were empty, save for the occasional dog barking or the rustling of wind through the trees. The headlights of his car illuminated the path ahead, the shadows stretching long and unsettling. As he neared the hill, the silhouette of the old church loomed in the distance, its spires reaching toward the sky like fingers from a forgotten grave. He parked his car at the base of the hill and began the steep walk toward the church. The air grew colder as he ascended, the wind carrying an unsettling hum through the trees. The once-grand structure stood before him, shrouded in darkness. The stained-glass windows, though cracked and broken, seemed to glow faintly in the moonlight. Sam pushed open the creaking door and stepped inside. The air smelled of mildew and decay, but there was something else—something metallic, like blood. He scanned the interior, but the church was empty. No signs of activity. No mysterious figures waiting in the shadows. Just the silence of abandonment. Then he heard it. A soft scraping noise, coming from behind the altar. Sam moved cautiously toward the source of the sound. As he approached, he noticed a figure hunched over something on the ground, their back to him. The figure didn’t move or acknowledge his presence. Sam’s hand instinctively reached for his gun, but before he could draw it, the figure turned toward him. It was a woman, her face pale and gaunt, her eyes wide with terror. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, a low, guttural sound filled the room, like the growl of some beast. Sam recoiled, his instincts screaming at him to run. "Who are you?" he demanded, trying to steady his voice. The woman didn’t answer. Instead, her gaze shifted toward something on the ground—a pile of old, tattered books and papers. The growling noise intensified, reverberating off the walls, growing louder and more frantic. Sam’s heart pounded in his chest as he bent down to inspect the pile. A leather-bound book caught his attention. It was old, its pages yellowed with age, but something about it seemed... familiar. He flipped it open, and as he did, a cold wind rushed through the church, blowing out the candles and causing the pages to flip wildly. In the dim light, Sam saw the words written across the pages: The Ritual of Redemption. He had heard of such things before—whispers among the locals about a cult that once practiced dark rituals in the church, performing strange ceremonies to summon the unknown. But those were just stories, weren't they? Before he could make sense of it, the woman’s eyes locked onto his, her pupils dilating. She suddenly lurched forward, her body jerking unnaturally as if controlled by some unseen force. Sam stumbled backward, dropping the book. It was then that he realized the truth: the call hadn’t been meant for him to stop something from happening. It had been a warning—for him. The ritual was already in motion, and he was the final piece needed to complete it. A cold hand gripped his shoulder, and Sam turned to find himself face-to-face with the last thing he had ever expected. A shadow—no, a man, tall and thin, his face hidden beneath a hood. He whispered one final phrase, “You’ve been chosen, detective.” The last thing Sam Harris heard before the world went dark was the sound of his own name, called by an unfamiliar voice. The next morning, the police found the church empty—no sign of Sam, no trace of the woman, no evidence of anything strange. The only thing they discovered was the old book, lying open on the altar. The words written inside were clear: The Midnight Caller was the key. And so, the mystery of Detective Sam Harris's disappearance remained unsolved, his fate sealed by an ancient ritual that no one truly understood.
By Zuechanabout a year ago in Chapters
Businesswoman Chapter 18
“Canard, we’re going to use a networking system,” Loreen informed. “We’ll set you up in one of my homes. You can band with other people within your current status and build businesses together,” she mentioned. “OneSheet would solve all the logistical issues in being either an entrepreneur or work your way up the corporate ladder. Somewhere, you might be mopping floors. Then, you’ll work the fries. Next, you’ll be a cashier. Afterward, you’ll be a supervisor and also manager. In the end, you’ll be a franchise owner. That's my commitment, but no promises.”
By Skyler Saundersabout a year ago in Chapters
Blackbird Fly (Part 13)
Blackbird Fly to where you are loved Blackbird Fly where the flowers bloom Blackbird Fly to the skies up above Blackbird Fly sing a happy tune Happy tune, happy tune, happy tune
By Rick Henry Christopher about a year ago in Chapters
Sometimes I wish, sometimes I hope, that I said it before.
I am proud of the way you tried, even when the world felt so heavy. I am proud of the way you smiled, even when your heart was breaking.
By MG210about a year ago in Chapters
Work in Progress. Top Story - January 2025.
Chloë and Luca spent the rest of that Thanksgiving weekend evening on the dance floor and, to Chloë’s absolute delight, exchanged telephone numbers and addresses for future correspondence. Chloë had always been a prolific letter writer, but she promised herself she would pace her communication with him. For his part, Luca wasn’t much for the written form, but he had her phone number and fully planned for a get-together when Chloë was back at university. He knew she lived with her parents so he’d have to play it cool, but he was taken – finally, Chloë thought – with her and planned to see her often, if that was something she’d want. He hoped that, on his return to university the following year, they would build on their budding relationship.
By Marie McGrathabout a year ago in Chapters
Businesswoman Chapter 17
She rode in the back of the Goudling ultra luxury sedan. Loreen Breen looked up from her tablet and saw a businessman offering a dollar bill to a beggar on the street.
By Skyler Saundersabout a year ago in Chapters
The Ultimate Guide to Travel Hacks: Save Money, Time, and Stress
1. Booking Hacks: Save Big on Flights and Accommodations A. Flexible Booking Strategies Fly on Off-Peak Days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays often have the cheapest flights. Travel During Shoulder Seasons: Visiting destinations just before or after their peak season saves money and avoids crowds. Be Flexible with Airports: Search for flights from nearby airports or smaller hubs for better deals. B. Use Fare Comparison Tools Flight Aggregators: Use platforms like Google Flights, Skyscanner, or Kayak to compare fares across multiple airlines. Set Price Alerts: Monitor fare drops by setting alerts on apps like Hopper or Skyscanner. C. Book Accommodations Smartly Use Loyalty Programs: Hotel chains like Marriott, Hilton, and IHG offer reward points for future stays. Consider Alternative Lodging: Use Airbnb, Vrbo, or hostels for budget-friendly stays. Last-Minute Deals: Apps like HotelTonight offer discounted rates for same-day bookings.
By Mr Aliabout a year ago in Chapters
Major Study Links 15 Factors to Early Dementia Risk
while dementia is tons extra commonplace in older adults, masses of thousands of people are diagnosed with young-onset dementia (YOD) every year, and an intensive examine published in 2023 sheds a few massive mild on why.
By John Williamabout a year ago in Chapters
Chapter Two
“I’m not telling you again, Jeffy. Leave your sister alone. Stop bugging her.” Jeffy was in no mood to stop what he was doing, but Esme started crying loudly to make the situation worse. He glared at her and willed her to stop before their mother came to sort things out. Jeffy knew his Mom was not feeling well. She hadn’t been the same since his Dad had been killed. At 7, he was now the man of the family and he didn’t much like that idea. He felt disloyal to his father, as if he were trying to take his place. The tears had stopped, but he still felt the world had turned against him and his family.
By Marie McGrathabout a year ago in Chapters
Two Lost Souls- Chapter One
A hooded figure scrambled up the riverbank. The dawn shadows of oaks greeted the entity as roosting starlings burst into flight, swooping over a gothic bridge nearby. The span’s withered stones sat between two halves of Karst College’s grounds. A river ran beneath and split the land down the middle. One half held the academic buildings and the other half, the stables.
By Elle M. Athensabout a year ago in Chapters
Abandoned Town
The "Abandoned Town" Incident in Mexico (2014): An Unsolved Mystery Mysterious incidents that capture curiosity and intrigue are among the most fascinating subjects for people around the world. One of the most perplexing cases that remains shrouded in mystery is the "Abandoned Town" incident in Mexico in 2014. This particular event, which has sparked numerous questions and speculations, remains unresolved to this day. In this article, we will delve into the details of the incident, explore the potential factors behind it, and analyze the various interpretations that might explain this bizarre occurrence.
By 💓 Pulse of Stories 💓about a year ago in Chapters