fiction
Mystery, crime, murder, unsolved cases. Contribute your own tales of crime to Criminal.
The Budding Flower and the Withered Rose
In her last days I used to stand at the threshold to my mother’s room and watch her, so small under the blankets. She was always staring out the windows, looking past the droplets of water that slid down the glass and out at her rose bushes. Those flowers had been her every joy and pleasure; she would bury herself in the colours and scents whenever life troubled her. She would watch them grow as the tumour grew within her. I think she was contemplating what was to come next; what would happen? Where would she go? I never cried, which was maybe not so good, not even when one morning she didn’t wake up. There was an excruciating hollow pain inside of me like something was missing. I’d cared for her as best I could and that’s why it hurt so much when she died. My best wasn’t enough.
By Jarrah Behrmann5 years ago in Criminal
The Baby Cradle
Georgia wakes up in the middle of the night. A cloud of smoke wafts in through the open window, ominously. As Georgia checks to see where it’s coming from, she hears the sounds of the neighbours singing songs and dancing on tables, their fireplace roaring. She stretches her body across the bed to close the window, comforted now. Her lumpy pregnant belly presses into her husband, Robert’s sleepy face. He wakes a little and rolls over. “Hello… What up?” he says in a husky voice, “Nothing”, says Georgia. “There was smoke. It’s the neighbours. It’s okay baby, go back to sleep.” He groans: “Bloody neighbours.”
By Miranda Aitken5 years ago in Criminal
Philatelic Philter
John had worked at the Federal Mint for twenty years. He’d started sweeping floors as a teenager, then moved up to helping the electricians, mechanics and carpenters repair the machines. Those latter years brought him all over the printing plant, to every machine and every trade. The old timers were uniformly pleasant, greeting him as he lugged two heavy toolboxes, walking behind whoever he was assisting that day. They enjoyed seeing a young man with energy and ambition – a hard worker.
By William Altmann5 years ago in Criminal
It's All in the Drawings
“Ben, you have to pack a duffel!” His mom said with urgency through the phone. Ben had just found out that he had a distant uncle who had left him an entire estate on one condition, but the lawyer would tell him more when he arrived. A car was on the way to pick him up to take him to the airport, where a private jet was waiting.
By Katarina Frazier5 years ago in Criminal
Death by Deadly Nightshade
Breathless and terrified, Fatima double-checked the lock to her train cabin’s door. Still doubting herself, she checked the lock again. The door is secure you foolish woman, she thought to herself as she closed her eyes momentarily, thoroughly exhausted.
By Karen Anderson5 years ago in Criminal
