fiction
Mystery, crime, murder, unsolved cases. Contribute your own tales of crime to Criminal.
Bitter Payback
All it took was a golden strand of medium length curly hair, flattened and stuck within the middle pages of the bound canvas notebook, for S to know without a doubt who it belonged to. He inspected it for a minute, wishing he could go back, fondly remembering the dark thong panties he took from her that were stashed away in his drawer back home, and the confounding love/hate relationship tore at his heart.
By Rachel Scott5 years ago in Criminal
Strange Encounters
The bar is quiet tonight. Except for the bartender who is in the back somewhere, I’m the only one here. The TVs are also muted, as if they are somehow adding to the silence. But maybe that’s normal. My usual spot is at one of the booths and I never pay attention to them since I’m either chatting it up with somebody or on my laptop getting caught up on work.
By Jen Zaragoza5 years ago in Criminal
The Spot
Nicole was still dismayed over her twin brother Nolan’s burglary gone wrong, well at least that is what the cops are calling it. Supposedly, in the garage of his high rise apartment complex at gunpoint, but after they took what they wanted they shot him in the chest. That is what was seen on the surveillance camera at least. Nicole knew it was possible because robberies weren't unusual, it was 2020 and although they lived in Buckhead, a prestigious neighborhood in Atlanta it was still Atlanta.
By Harlo Black5 years ago in Criminal
The Psychopath
The difference between the violent man and the psychopath is the brutality of the act. Where the violent man is reactive, the psychopath remains personally absent, separated from the act itself, and thereby immune to its brutality. The psychopath is not a slave to rage or emotion. He is not prone to violent outbursts or a tidal wave of triggers and fissures. He is an equalizing effect in a society rubbed raw by two extremes: passivity and violence. The psychopath is not an inherently violent man, he is a calculating, rational being, and that is why he is so fucking dangerous.
By Aaron Steele5 years ago in Criminal
Lucky Day
Murphy adored the lamplights on the West Side. More than anything, he loved that moment of ignition. Every eve, at five o’clock, those gothic bulbs sprung to life, cool and hazy in the dimming vespers. That negative interference of tungsten and twilight always betrayed his familiarity. For a brief little wondrous moment each night on his stroll home from the studio, he felt as if lost in a foreign city amidst a romance of cigarette smoke and neon. The East Side where he worked wasn’t half as enchanting—those modern LED’s and industrial street lights were suffocating, really. No, that colonnade of glittering jewels in the West Side, hanging up in the misty evening air—it made each day worthwhile. That was home.
By Conor Newton5 years ago in Criminal
The Unnoticed
She watched them. Sometimes the man, sometimes the woman. As if they were misplaced floating among the ordinary passersby in the gallery. Some days stopping to stand in the corner, others poised on the bench staring at the painting on the wall. Scribbling.
By Jacqueline Curtsinger5 years ago in Criminal
The Sunset Murder
I stood on the balcony overlooking the wild, blue waves crashing along the shore. The sky was starting to darken and it looked as though a storm was rolling in. I watched as families and couples made their way from the beach and back towards the hotel for dinner. Trying to escape the weather before it downpoured on their heads. The air was especially warm and sticky for 5 pm, and I could still feel the sweat on my back from lugging all my bags up to the room, but I didn’t mind because I was in Tulum, Mexico and I couldn’t think of a better way to start spending $20,000.
By Calissa Kirilenko5 years ago in Criminal
The Little Black Book
I stumbled out of the life sciences building, shielding my face as the bright sunlight overwhelmed my weak, fluorescent-lighting adjusted eyes. I reached into the bag I had slung over my shoulder to grab my phone when some impatient student barreled into me from behind. The contents of my bag and I lurched toward the 3 steps at the entrance to the building. I flailed unceremoniously for the railing but missed. I landed hard on my hands and knees which were left exposed by the summery floral dress my roommate had talked me into wearing that morning. I jumped up quickly, cheeks burning from the eyes I could feel on me, and my head cracked into someone. I whipped around to see a guy rubbing his jaw. A handsome guy, a handsome guy who I had probably just flashed my underwear to and then concussed.
By Robyn Wiseman 5 years ago in Criminal
Star crossed love
I lay in my jail cell as they bring in a new inmate. She looks nice, friendly even when they get her inside she speaks “hi, I’m Haley, I’m in here for robbery, what about you?” I close my eyes before I spoke. I knew what was coming next. “My name is Royal, it’s nice to meet you!” She smiled, you seem nice what are you in here for” I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, it never gets easier telling my story.“Do not read that it’s the devil!” “If you believe in horoscopes then you don’t believe in God!” These are just a few of the things told to me, as I clicked on my app once again to see what the day had in store for me. I didn’t care what anyone felt in this small town. My horoscope gave me a peace of mind. A sense of self. I mean who isn’t looking for direction from somewhere? And if I was one of the millions of people, who believed that your horoscope had truth to it then so be it! “Good morning Royal The sun is in Leo today, which means you will have a great day! Don’t wear the color red, remember to look out for new relationships.” I mean how could you not get a great feeling about your day when you read that it was going to be a good day for you? My horoscope could not ever steer me wrong.. .. I mean they had my characteristics down to a science. I’m a strong, fierce, leader who loves being praised and worshipped like a baptist church on Sunday! I smiled as I closed my horoscope app. I looked over to my best friend, “you know one day you’re going to believe something in your horoscope and it’s not going to come true.” She gawked. I rolled my eyes in disbelief, just like a small town mind, to believe that the only thing real in this world is oxygen, and Jesus. Before I could give my response, the smell of YSL filled my nostrils. I knew that smell from anywhere! It was him! The love of my life, the man I was planning my future with, it was destined to be! I was going to be Riot Reid. Not only did my heart tell me so, but so did my horoscope, he just didn’t know it yet. I longed for the day he would wake up and come to his senses, but instead I just settled for small casual hellos. “Hey Royal, hey Jen” my mouth instantly went dry and wet at the same time. It was as if my throat was dry but, if I spoke my mouth would ooze with saliva! Luckily he didn’t wait for a hello and just continued his walk to the homework basket. I laid my head down on the hard cold wooden desk. Why did this boy make me so crazy? My friend Jennifer just rubbed my back, and said “how will you ever be his, if you can’t even say hello?” I hate that she’s such a realistic person. That’s the exact reason why I keep her around. I mean, someone has to keep my head out the clouds every now and again. “I knoooow! It’s like he just makes me forget anything that I’ve ever learned.” I whined. “What does your horoscope say about your compatibility?” I couldn’t tell if her question was sincere, or if she was making fun of me. Looked up at her to check her eyes for clues, but they gave away nothing. I decided to check it once again for good measure, and to show my friend why I’m the perfect girl for Riot. He was an Aries, and I a Leo we were a match made in heaven. I began to read the results out loud “both of you share creativity love to laugh and have big hearts, you both have a desire for independence. You are very vivacious signs. Aries rarely interferes with the life of Leo, and that is what makes this couple very compatible with each other. Need I go on?” I mocked her just in case the question was asked to make fun of me. “Then what’s stopping you girl?” I was taken back by this question. I mean if the horoscope have been so right about my characteristics, why wouldn’t I have faith in my budding relationship with Riot? Who’s to say that our love was not written in the stars as well! “I really don’t know.” I stammered I went on to give more excuses but I couldn’t think of any. It was the time. I had to let him know how I felt. Should it be a note? Should I walk up to him and tell him how I feel in person? I decided to just go ahead and let him know. How I felt in person. I tell Jennifer about my idea, and she has the bright idea to talk to him for me. I mean how could that not be the perfect solution to my issue? She’s my best friend, our horoscopes match up perfectly, and she’s knows me just as well as I know myself. She gets up and walks over to his desk. I wish there was a better way to explain the way my heart fell into my butt! It felt like forever, the longer they talked the longer it felt like my stomach was doing cartwheels! I tried to look busy as they chatted amongst themselves like my heart wasn’t on the line. She finally walked back to the desk with a sunken loom on her face. I waited patiently for her to tell me my fate. “I’m sorry Royal,” she said slowly. My eyes filled with tears “when I went over there he asked me on a date before I could explain to him my reason for coming over. I said yes, and before you get upset with me, he said that he didn’t see you in that way.” My tears ran hot down my face I wanted to attack her, so I did! “How could you! You’re my best friend!” She just sat there looking wounded, as if it wasn’t my cheat that was ripped open and my heart that was crushed into a million pieces by their infatuation. The night I lay in my bed still outraged. I had to make them hurt the way they hurt me. They had to know how it feels to watch live die! I lost a friend and my love in the same day. How? How could my horoscope not warn me of this?” I don’t know how I finally drifted off to slee. The next morning I wake and check my horoscope ‘Good Morning Royal, the sun is in Virgo today which means you will feel rather emotional today. Try to end any unfinished problems that may hurt you.” Say no more. I grabbed my fathers gun out the top of my closet and went to the car ready for school. When I stood outside class I could see them laughing, like they have loved each other for years. Before I knew it I had pulled the trigger and killed them both! I blacked out. I can’t really give details. But now I lay in this cell not knowing what tomorrow holds, there is no horoscope in prison.
By Tristyn Janai5 years ago in Criminal
A Surfeit of Daisies
Sylvie rooted around in the attic. Opening yet another box in search of inspiration for an art project, she rummaged around half-heartedly until her fingers brushed something smooth. She fished out a slightly moth eaten black diary and grinned; her Mom’s.
By Jen Jackson5 years ago in Criminal
