Horror

The Fair Exchange - Finale
When I groggily awakened the next morning in the hotel bed, I opened the business directory to look for somewhere to eat, but instead found an advertisement for Madam Marguerite’s Palm and Tarot Card readings. My skin flushed with surprise, surely the business was Rita’s, a sudden desire to see her again reawakening the feelings revived the night before. When I arrived at her place of business, a teenage girl had me sign the guest register and took the $30 payment in cash. Something in the sparkle of her eyes when she smiled reminded me of someone, but I could not bring her to mind before the girl led me to a darkened room for the reading.
By John Coxabout a year ago in Chapters
The Fair Exchange - Part 5
We drank one more pitcher of beer, the two of them getting a little soppy before the night finally came to its awkward end. Ed gave me a bear hug and asked for my forgiveness with tears running from his eyes. I forgave them both.
By John Coxabout a year ago in Chapters
Bound by Darkness
Chapter 7: Confronting Shadows After Mark's reappearance, quite a few different emotions Vincent had, but mainly it was confusion for him. He remained hell-bent on the community center project, literally losing himself to the task. Every new day brought new challenges, but on the other hand, they were chances to touch someone in a good way. The institution subsequently assumed the shade of a light regardless of many individuals being close to it as a burden and Vincent saw the part he f]ayed in the process of bettering the situation.
By yousif hajiabout a year ago in Chapters
The Fair Exchange - Part 4
I awoke three days later in the hospital. On the floor above my own Joey was fighting for his life. It was Little Ed who told me about it, taking an opportunity to give me a few minutes of unfriendly attention.
By John Coxabout a year ago in Chapters
Bound by Darkness
Chapter 6: The Fragile Balance Vincent's commitment to change as well as the new purpose he found in his camaradarie with those in need became the basis of his every day. This community center was more than just a place for work for Vincent; it was an asylum for him, where he found comfort and meaning. Nearly every day, Vincent went for a variety of activities—organizing events, meeting therapy groups, and counseling those who are in distress. It was only during those moments when he was helping people to fight their own devils that Vincent began to realize the extent of human misery and the existence of the human spirit's resilience.
By yousif hajiabout a year ago in Chapters
The Fair Exchange - Part 3
Driving across the bridge into Glenville revived long forgotten emotions. The old general store, Madison Avenue Grill, the Royal Theater, and so many other memorable landmarks had disappeared. In their places I saw knick-knack shops and second-hand clothing stores sitting side by side with shuttered businesses that I remembered from childhood, their dingy facades marred by graffiti and time. I had not expected to feel the loss of the home from which I once left without expectation of return but driving slowly through downtown I began to grieve what I had never grieved before.
By John Coxabout a year ago in Chapters
The Fair Exchange - Part 2
When I eventually regained consciousness, the air reeked of death and decay, the terrible stench so close at hand that it seemed to emanate from my own flesh, my limbs as stiff as if my muscles and skin had calcified to bone. With tremendous effort I finally managed to open my eyes to the faint light of individual flames moving slowly through the night, a blood moon weakly illuminating the surrounding stones.
By John Coxabout a year ago in Chapters
The Fair Exchange - Part 1. Top Story - August 2024.
Her memory pounded in my head like a feeling trying to drag me backward in time, the remembered closeness of her embrace and the wet press of her lips on mine surprising me with its intensity.
By John Coxabout a year ago in Chapters
Echoes of the Moon in the Forbidden Land
In a secluded village called Nargath, nestled at the edge of a dense forest and mysterious mountains, lived a young man named Arka. Arka was no ordinary human; he was a werewolf, a rare descendant of a lineage that possessed extraordinary powers inherited from his ancestors. In his human form, he appeared to be an ordinary young man, but during the full moon, he could transform into a giant wolf with formidable strength.
By kevin stevenabout a year ago in Chapters
Bound by Darkness
Chapter 5: Shadows of the Past Vincent breathed in his past, the heaviness encircling him as his past pressed on his shoulders. For the first time, he had never told anyone his backstory but Lily looked to be the only exception to this.
By yousif hajiabout a year ago in Chapters
Bound by Darkness
Chapter 4: The Road to Redemption The weeks following Lily's release were a tumultuous time for Vincent. Having gone back to his hideaway, it was a period like Vincent had never gone through before. He was now entangled in his own doubt and hope, and threw silence that was cozy loneliness, now felt like a thing of confinement, as he was grappling with his own need to question and hope.
By yousif hajiabout a year ago in Chapters
Bound by Darkness
Chapter 3: The Shifting Sands of Doubt In his hideout, Vincent's days turned out to be no less difficult than those of his prisoners, and the weeks seemed to melt in a whirl of colors Vincenia had built his life to be an example of the exactitude that could only be matched by scalet languages. Where every move was well planned where every move was frustrated only looked the same and it was supposed to stay that way. And although this scenario could barely happen, his terror likewise became the cause. Every day, right from the morning, Vincent took care of Lily giving her food and having conversations with her. In the beginning, their conversations were forced and more or less cheerful, but over time, they began to be more open to each other. Lily used to share the sweetest tales of her childhood, dreams, and the people she had once helped. Whereas, Vincent was revealing experiences that he didn't share with anyone else about his own life and what scares him the most in the moments of silence. Lily listened with Vincent to this empathy in a way that he had never experienced before. She listened and she did not judge him for what he had done, even though he had been wrong, was right. Instead, she showed that she recognized the pain that was so deep down. It was that recognition that clothed the first-sown doubt in Vincent's mind. In that very evening when the lazy orange sunlight trembled on the walls as the sun hid behind it, Vincent gingerly positioned himself on Lily's left. She had mercury the whole day, and spinned away [her] eyes, as lost sometimes in her own thoughts. The sight of her made him feel a gnawing worry inside the need of comprehension was urging him hence, though the feeling was too foreign for him to grasp it. "You're okay," he asked, in a questioning voice that was contrary to his natural tone. Lily looked up her eyes meeting his. There was a sorrow that resonated in his chest when he saw her like that. "Long moments spent reflecting about as tersely as life passes us by," she murmured softly, "that is what I was doing. The one event can determine the course of the rest of your life." Vincent nodded, knowing full well that there was more to it than he let on. "Absolutely," was his reply. "A single event is enough to alter everything." Lily gave a deep sigh, her back slightly curved. Question: Have you ever thought about what you could be doing now if your life were different? If you had chosen different things? Vincent gazed at her, the question still ringing in his mind. He had only resigned himself to the fact that his life was over. A brief consideration: whether or not I was right caught him off guard in Lily's presence. She was the person who stood firm by his side, however, thus indirectly opening the door to himself to think about change. "I am not sure, " he revealed, unable to express his voiced feelings. "It was too scary to have allowed time for thinking out loud." Lily reached out her hand and put it on his. The touch was soft, almost like a soothing feeling. "Vincent, it's not so late yet. You can always choose differently." Her words said would be the only things left in the air after some time. Vincent was overwhelmed by the mix of feelings. The darkness that had been the major characteristic of his life continued to exist but it was then mingled with an element of hope. He could hardly accept it, in fact. When the days turned into weeks, Vincent's personal conflict grew more intense. He was in a battle between what he had been familiar with and the possibility of something else. By Lily's presence, he was consistently reminded that change was possible and that he was not restricted to his past. One night, Vincent, without being able to fall asleep, was at the door of Lily. He heard the sound of her breath, which was stable and quiet. At that moment, he made his decision. He would take her back to the city. It was risky, but he could not keep her in confinement forever. So he might just become a new man again. The journey back to the city was tense and silent. Vincent was driving with a badly racing mind of things which are on his list. Lily was silently sitting next to him, with her eyes glued to the road ahead. On their arrival in the city, Vincent pulled over to the side of the road, and then he turned to face her. "You can leave," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "I'm sorry for everything I've put you through." Lily stared at him, her heart relieved but at the same deprived with sadness. "Thank you, Vincent," she said softly. "I dare you to find light in the darkness." After that, she opened the van door herself and walked away into the dark. Vincent was watching her go, losing his sense of possession. He had allowed her to leave, but her influence was present. She had given him a unique experience equal to the ones he gave to others, and now he had to determine if he would move towards the light or get stuck in the dark like he had for his entire life.
By yousif hajiabout a year ago in Chapters