Short Story

Chatroom 88AE
Mikhail unpackaged the dead server. It was supposed to be a fun salvage job. Just a weekend distraction to pass the time along. Productively. He had bought the dusty black drive from a University auction, the kind of forgotten tech no one bothered to catalogue. Half the lot was junk; cracked monitors, obsolete GPUs, cables that no modern port recognized. But this drive was different. Heavy. Warm. Even before he plugged it in. Like it had been thinking in its sleep.
By Kristen Keenon Fisher2 months ago in Fiction
Mittens. Content Warning.
“Did you put Mittens in her carrier? I need to leave in five, or the vet’s gonna charge us a no-show fee again!” “She’s in the carrier; I left it in the hall upstairs. Bye. Mom!”
By Jodie McMahon-Joseph2 months ago in Fiction
Ali Baba and the Forty Riders of Shadows
Ali Baba was a poor woodcutter who lived a simple life on the edge of a dusty old town. His small home was modest, but peaceful, shared only with his gentle and hardworking wife. Every morning, he walked into the forest with his worn axe and his loyal donkey, hoping to gather enough wood to sell at the market. Life wasn’t easy, but Ali Baba never complained. He believed that honesty and patience would eventually bring him something good.
By Salman Writes2 months ago in Fiction
When Everything Beeps. Content Warning.
When he walked through the door, there was a beep. It didn't bother him; maybe it was a security thing. He came in and put the television on, but before it came on, it beeped. Each time he changed a channel, it beeped. This was beginning to grate a little.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred - EBA2 months ago in Fiction
Our Family Home
Noell sat by the gaslit fireplace, picking at the missed dough under her fingernails. Laughter and voices throughout the house reached her ears but didn't penetrate her thoughts. A Christmas carol was playing in the background, adding to the buzz. The timer's bell went off but was ignored. Suddenly someone opened the front door, letting in a burst of cold, wafting the scent of fresh-baked cookies—finally waking her from memories.
By Nikki Torino Wagner2 months ago in Fiction
The Promise she let, GO!
Liyana once felt a quiet affection for a boy named Rayyan, someone she only knew through late-night chats and glowing phone screens. As time passed, her feelings dimmed, but the promises she had made to him stayed heavy like a knot she couldn’t untangle. She tried to walk away many times, yet guilt kept her tied to him longer than she should have stayed. Her parents sensed something was wrong and stepped in to protect her heart. They brought four marriage proposals, each one declined because Liyana believed breaking her promise to Rayyan was a betrayal.
By Syeda Tamseel Fatima2 months ago in Fiction
Bleep
Bleep handed me a glowing green present. I took it. “Who are you,” I asked? He adjusted the knob on his belt buckle before speaking telepathically.
By DJ Robbins2 months ago in Fiction
The Dining Room. Honorable Mention in The Forgotten Room Challenge. Content Warning.
“I need this sale,” she says into her phone while unlocking the front door of the Somerset home. “The money will mean I can finally put a down payment on a house of my own.”
By Polite Adjacent2 months ago in Fiction
Her Last Room. Runner-Up in The Forgotten Room Challenge. Top Story - December 2025.
I stand face-to-frontal with this latched door. Somehow, its hold over me is more than the sum of my cerebral parts. The door senses my hesitancy to move beyond it, to cross a threshold, to clasp its cold handle as a first steppingstone. They say the maiden stage of grief is the hardest part.
By Edward Swafford2 months ago in Fiction
The Room Behind the Stove
No one had opened the room behind the stove since before Lena was born. The old house sat on the edge of the river flats, where the bank curved like a cupped hand. The land held the kind of stillness that made every sound feel louder: a bird's wingbeat, a far-off truck on the concession road, the crack of the woodstove settling as it warmed.
By E.S.Flint 2 months ago in Fiction
The Closed Door
"You let your residednts and your co-workers down." Stepping out of the office, I gave in to my hurt and humiliation. Suppressed tears started to trickle down my cheeks. My hands, which I managed to keep still while I was subjected to my supervisor's tirade, started shaking. Why could I make her not see that it wasn't my intention not to let anyone down? All I wanted was to be spared the hurtful criticism of my colleagues for one night.
By Margaret Draper2 months ago in Fiction
The Lost Room
The wall felt smooth as Alex ran his hands along it. The room was not as it should have been, and yet nothing seemed out of place. The bookshelves were dusty, but no lever on any of them. It was said that the lady of the manor would disappear, and no one could find her spot. It was said that she hid some valuable items from her own family for safety. Yet Alex looked around the ornate room with the plaster ceiling and vibrant wallpaper. It was an old house that no one seemed to find the secret room. Alex looked at the beauty of the room, and yet it lay empty for so long. The walls were smooth, and there was no secret opening. It was a mystery that so many failed to find. The room was a puzzle box that Alex was going to test. The puzzle was the entrance point, and there was no indication yet.
By Sarah Danaher2 months ago in Fiction