Fantasy

The Lamp
“Are you a currier?” asked the man in the doorway as I delivered his curry. “I didn’t make it, I just deliver for DoorDart,” I said, misunderstanding, or pretending to. The large man’s pupils were huge and he was sniffling. He clutched what appeared to be a very old bottle of wine in a meaty paw. The name on his order read “Mario.”
By J. Otis Haas6 months ago in Fiction
A New Home
Kit stared out across the cavern, knees tucked up to her chin, twirling a rose in front of her face. It was fading. It had been plucked weeks ago, in another nation, given to her by a man she’d not allowed herself a second thought about. Until now.
By Phoenixica246 months ago in Fiction
You Will Die At Daylight.
You Will Die At Daylight. The message was clear. Did I believe it? Not really. The promise of a sweet $1m was all the incentive I needed to prove the urban legend wrong and get my inheritance.
By Paul Stewart6 months ago in Fiction
A Thief's Game
As Tholien entered Queen Hyanna’s chambers, the elves attending to her halted their whispering. Tholien was not surprised. Ever since he was a boy he’d been accustomed to entering rooms and the conversation trickling away.
By D.K. Shepard6 months ago in Fiction
2 plus one night. Content Warning.
The air even feels blush against my habits. I say habits because it feels decided against as a baseline. As my normal temperament. Life’s normal temperament of allowance that is.
By 5enx6 months ago in Fiction
Footsteps in the Dark
Jessie sat in the car, their forehead pressed against the top of the steering wheel. Somehow, they managed a slow, deep inhale and exhale, and relaxed their body. The drive so far had been grueling, and there was still quite a bit left of the trip. The closest town with a hotel was still almost an hour away at this point. Not quite a quarter of the way into the trip, Jessie wondered why they had even thought this was a good idea in this weather, let alone at night.
By Karen6 months ago in Fiction
The Secrets my Mother Kept
Alexander fell into an uneasy sleep, Mr. Stuffings still clutched tightly to his chest. The dream came quickly, different from the ones that had led him to the attic.
By Parsley Rose 6 months ago in Fiction
The secret life of an object
Huuuhh When do I get to move around? I've been sitting in this same place for a week! I want to flex my joints, crack my arms and move around, explore the vast world out-there instead I've been here for a week staring at the same ceiling that only changes colours with the opening and closing of the light.
By Abdullah Talaat6 months ago in Fiction
Romells' Ride. Top Story - August 2025.
The land was still steaming from the day’s rain. The smell of sodden leaves and black loam rose about him, clinging to his clothes, insinuating itself into the flesh. Romells rode bare-headed, letting the night wind lay its cool hand along his hair. It felt good — so bloody good — to be out from under stone ceilings, to have the sweat on his skin drying under the stars.
By Aaron Richmond6 months ago in Fiction
The Potion
Pew Eponos was having a wonderful dream. Until he wasn’t. He was rudely plucked from his imaginings (of enjoying some goddamn peace and quiet), and thrust into the musty, dung-scented world of consciousness. His ears picked up on the trill of furious clucking around the same time as he felt a creature’s foul little beak peck him directly in the eye. He flailed his arms (damn they felt awfully heavy today), and waved them erratically, shooing the feathered vermin away.
By Alyssa Cherise6 months ago in Fiction
The Labyrinth of Ketu
The silence was surreal. After hours of rhythmic drums rattling her bones, heavy woodsmoke choking her lungs, and nearly fifty people passing her around like a doll, Sonia was exhausted. The ritual was finally over.
By Alyssa Cherise6 months ago in Fiction
The Porch Between Us. Honorable Mention in Leave the Light On Challenge. Top Story - August 2025.
The moment the Sun disappeared beyond the horizon I took my usual place on the porch swing. It was that day of the year again.
By Imola Tóth6 months ago in Fiction