Latest Stories
Most recently published stories on Vocal.
The Weight of a Secret
Arthur was a man who prided himself on his silence. In the small, salt-crusted village of Oakhaven, he was the local locksmith a trade that required nimble fingers and a closed mouth. People brought him their locked diaries, their rusted safes, and their heavy oak chests, and Arthur opened them all without a single question.
By Asghar ali awan12 days ago in Horror
The world order likes to introduce itself as a set of principles.
From 2010 to 2025, that tension between military dominance and national interest did not fade. It became the soundtrack. Every headline felt like a reminder that power still matters, but power now travels in new forms: data, supply chains, energy routes, sanctions, alliances, debt, and the quiet leverage of who controls the platforms where money and information move.
By Sayed Zewayed12 days ago in Journal
The Clockwork Inheritance
The fog over Blackwood Manor didn’t just sit; it breathed. It clung to the jagged stone walls like a damp shroud, chilling Elias to the bone as he turned the heavy iron key in the lock. Elias was a man of cold logic a structural engineer who believed in blueprints, load-bearing walls, and the unyielding laws of physics. Ghosts, he often said, were merely drafts in old houses.
By Asghar ali awan12 days ago in Horror
You Shall Be Hanged by the Neck
A Cruel Love I finished watching the film “A Cruel Love.” I was initially drawn to it because of the actor Toby Jones, who plays a solicitor in the film. He was the main actor in the ITV drama “Mr Bates vs the Post Office.” This was a look into the prosecution of about 700 post office workers in Great Britain. It’s called the nation’s worst miscarriage of justice. I wrote about this in an earlier story as part of my “Dirty Dozen” series.
By Calvin London12 days ago in Criminal
My Big, Unpopular Opinions
Well, it's my birthday and so, it's my time to give some more of my unsocilited opinions about things - especially opinions nobody asked for. From the fact that I don't like fruit to the movies I think are underrated, from my hatred of croissants all the way to why I'm not a huge fan of religion being taught in schools. Here's some of my biggest unpopular opinions for my birthday, I hope you enjoy them!
By Annie Kapur12 days ago in Geeks
Book Review: "Sleep" by Nick Littlehales
Okay, so I might have already read a great book about sleep entitled Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, which tends to be the go-to for many people. I've also read Alex Edmans May Contain Lies which dismantles some strange statistics in the Walker book. But I think that Nick Littlehales may take the cake for the most comprehensive book about sleep I have seen in a while. A tiny book with very little scientific research compared to the Walker book means that we are meant to rely on the fact that this man is a sleep coach in order to receive the 'message'. That message: there are many myths about sleep - some aren't all that helpful.
By Annie Kapur12 days ago in Geeks
What Lies on the Mountain Path
The children knew they mustn't go too far up the mountain. They knew their parents would be cross at their muddied boots and red noses. They knew the mountain hike was long and they'd be late for supper. And they knew most of all, the rumors of Old Binder.
By Kera Hollow12 days ago in Fiction
A Natural Partner: US Treasury Secretary Weighs In on Alberta Separatism. AI-Generated.
In the ongoing political debate surrounding Alberta's potential for separatism from Canada, recent comments from US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen have added a new layer of complexity to the discussion. Yellen, who has long been an influential figure in US economic policy, described Alberta as a "natural partner" for the United States, highlighting the province’s vital resources and economic contributions. Her remarks, made during a speech at a global economic forum, raised questions about the possible ramifications for Canada-U.S. relations and the broader geopolitical landscape should Alberta pursue independence.
By Ayesha Lashari12 days ago in The Swamp
The Color of Our Conscience
We've all surely heard this quote by now: "History does not repeat, but it rhymes with a haunting rhythm." For those of us who spent our youth submerged in the archives of the 1930s, studying the psychological fracturing of a dictator’s upbringing or reading the visceral, skeletal prose of Elie Wiesel’s "Night," the present moment does not feel like a surprise.
By Sai Marie Johnson12 days ago in Potent
