MichaelJSullivan | contemporary | Complete
I admit it; I'm a long-time gaming geek. When I started back in 1984, I played on a Compaq DeskPro outfitted with an 8 MHz 8086 CPU and an awesome monochrome display adapter. I said I was a geek, remember? During the golden age of computer gaming, otherwise known as the 1990s, each month brought quantum innovations, spurring a host of inventive game designs. For me, the pinnacle was reached with the invention of the MMORPG (massive multiplayer online role-playing game), and my wife and I became lost in the world ofEverquestfrom 1999 to 2001. In the land of Norrath, we made many friends as we rose from a pair of pathetic magic users to guild legends, and I saw how the lines blurred betweenrealityand thevirtualworld. People speak of how computer games are a waste of time. But a great many good things grew out of those days. One of them was a fertile seed of an idea that I pondered well over a decade ago...and still do. This story is the result. What people are saying about "The Game" "An impressive and thought-provoking short story." - Mikel on Goodreads "The Game" is a wonderful short story, asking profound questions about existence and the meaning of life. I really enjoyed and be glad to see more from Troth." - Gil Estel on Goodreads "Great short story...different from much of Michael's writing (at least that I am familiar with). Definitely thought-provoking and chilling towards the end." - Gabe Erwin on Goodreads ". . . this one is just . . . brilliant! Do yourself a favor, everyone, and just read it." - Christomir Rackov on Goodreads.
4.38 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 16:52
uncannyvin | contemporary | Complete
When a sketch artist gets interested in comic creation, she's met with speed bumps and second guesses. A short story about creativity and getting help with it.
0.47 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 10:24
maxxli | contemporary | Complete
what it means to love someone that no one else can
0.08 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 15:27
nicoshaw | contemporary | Complete
TheFriday Night Food Heistis fraught with danger, but some boys will do anything for free pizza. Ross Cameron is sick and tired of boring Friday nights. Of course, with friends like Mac, there's always the chance of a more exciting development. On this occasion, it's the chance of free food at the expense of someone nobody likes. The only problem - Mac's plan requires military precision to pull off and could leave the boys facing the wrath of the most dangerous man in the neighbourhood.
4.84 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 16:51
Aest Belequa | contemporary | Complete
Some men have demons inside them. Lou's stays in the mirror, stalking his wife. It's at the doctor's office. It's in the bathroom at their assisted living apartment. It even chases the car when they go shopping. It keeps getting closer. And as it does, he's having a harder and harder time remembering. Lou doesn't want to find out what'll happen if if reaches Abigail. He has to stop the demon. Content Warning: This story is about dementia. I'm trying not to pull punches. Edit: I'm incredibly honored to have won the June 2023 Community Magazine Contest. Thank you all for reading!
4.65 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-13 10:51
sarvashaktimaan | contemporary | Complete
By the grace of the Three, may their blessings touch you. May all around you prosper, as shall you. When you depart, may the only sin staining you be death. May your legacy not be forgot. This is very different from my usual writing. Hope it does not disappoint. Participating in January 2024 RR magazine. This is a self contained short story with no direct relationship with my other work.
6.13 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:01
Critical-meltdown1 | contemporary | Complete
This great witch will write some short stories from my life here. Updates will be irregular
7.79 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 14:09
OceansInTheSky | contemporary | Complete
It's been ten months since the incident, and Yuuko's moved to a new school. But there's one student he notices is different from the others, and his father's words echo through his mind everytime he sees her. How should a person cope with something lost? And just what is it that a child should, and should not, do?
27.34 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 16:51
The Last Tavern Open | contemporary | Complete
Back in 2011 I was working for a company doing a lot of electrical work. I was part of a project that had me driving all about Western Australia and assessing properties.On my trips I met many different people and heard quite a few stories.Some of them I wrote about, this is one.
0.22 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 10:13
noctelibri | contemporary | Complete
Is love worth the risk? This is for every person who has ever loved a pet. (Inspired by our own loss yesterday.) cover vectorDesigned by Freepik
0.69 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 11:27
Lady Siv | contemporary | Complete
Long ago Wendigos settled in the cold north away from most other Beings. Their almost secretive nature often gives Beings the impression of deep spirituality. And then there is Yrsa. Flighty at best she lives in her deceased grandparent's RV in the middle of the desert. Taking up the job of a mail carrier she earns enough money to keep her lights on and not much else. When a fairy on her route causes her to crash it triggers a chain reaction leading up to her finding a purpose.
20.21 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-04-10 16:02
Freya Stone | contemporary | Complete
Remdia, a once peaceful country, sends an army towards the unprepared nation of Caledorn. This single action sets off a chain of events that will uproot the lives of everyone involved. A recent graduate suddenly finds himself in enemy territory, struggling to shield his birthplace from angered citizens. A news broadcaster must present a horrifying report while maintaining her perfected poise. A doctor steals an ambulance in an attempt to aid the injured. A student is evacuated from school, while a father tries desperately to escape a prison. Watch the war unfold through the eyes of those most impacted while the bloodshed increases. A relay of short stories where each chapter follows the perspective of one person through a difficult time.A massive shoutout to the brilliant cover artist as well, Snooki.
20.14 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 11:08
Wulfrann | contemporary | Complete
Alex Wallen is the tall, blond, athletic cheerleader everyone loves.Nancy Campbell-Park is the nerd who wears glasses and gets shoved in the hallway for no reason.They could not be more different... But not everything is as it seems, and when the both of them collide, they can't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, this could actually work. (LGBT+ themes - F/F high school love story)
11.60 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 16:54
Welty | contemporary | Complete
A long-awaited reunion of two former lovers. James a now married man encounters his first girlfriend on the streets of a foreign city. Years have separated them as time often does, but how much has it diminished their love? Or has it grown in that time? How will James face his lustful desires when faced with the girl who owns the flame of his old passion?
2.46 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 10:24
trevorm | contemporary | Complete
In the quiet English town of Marrenforth, the dead are returning to life. The zombie apocalypse has begun. Zombie Shards is novella built from a collection of linked short stories and vignettes. These follow the early stages of the outbreak through an assortment of characters. Some will survive, others will not be so lucky; join them in their battle against the undead. This book is for over 18s only.
12.01 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 15:35
Sake Vision | contemporary | Complete
Long Dong is a young cultivator whom everyone underestimates! "That boy has no power!" his seniors say. Little do they know that his resolution will not break so easily! "I"ll show you all, and build a harem of jade beauties!" exclaimed the young man, pointing his fist at the moon. "Misha, calm down, do you want to fail another year?" "I don't care, as long as I have this demonic power!" Long Dong whips out a pack of over-the-counter codeine, leaving his friend in shock and awe. And thus a cultivation journey of eastern European delinquent begins! Wrtten for Fast Food Frontpage Competition, this novel is trash and don't take it as anything else.trigger warnings: all
8.78 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 15:36
Social_Knight | contemporary | Complete
Jim Corwin always wanted to become a Doctor since he was a child, and he succeeded. But before he knew it, he was still single in his thirties, living the nerd life, and still swiping single women left and right in the prolific phone app, Ember, resigned to the fact that he would never have the time to build a relationship with a special someone. But when one day, after a close run in with an 18-wheeler, he finds himself in a parallel contemporary world without realising, his right swipe changes his whole life...----------A romance, told from the alternating perspectives of the male and female protagonists, and their resulting culture shock. Now complete. It was written with the intent to be Light Novel sized (40K~ words) during release.Hope you enjoy!
22.69 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 16:49
Oinos | contemporary | Complete
This is the story of a glass window that gets installed on the fa鏰de of a train station. It's nothing serious, after all it spends most of the time just windowing there as people pass by and live their lives.
2.18 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 16:56
Brandon Dee | contemporary | Complete
Nico Moretti was a young man with no direction in his life. But that all changes when his mob boss grandfather gives him access to a System that seems tailor-made to transform him into the perfect mafioso. Will Nico be able to hold onto his values, or will this lifestyle and system bring out a darkness that he didn't know he had? Join him as he levels up and walks this dangerous new path. New chapters every Friday
24.43 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:01
PublicApology | contemporary | Complete
(I'm doing a complete rewrite as of 2/1/24. I hate the quality and the overall story changed so much that this has noncanon stuff to the petrichor series) Elizabeth Wilson commits suicide. She was the golden girl among her peers in Darkwood, Washington who stood above the pressure of her drug-riddentown. Explore the summer before her senior year that triggered the domino effect of Elizabeth's emotional and psychological breakdown that lead her to take her own life. This is the prequel to the main story, Petrichor and was never intended to be made. I wrote this because I wanted to explore Elizabeth's character and show how the main characters have changed since this event. I decided to release this first because Petrichor is undergoing a full rewrite. In the meantime, I'm writing a side story called Mourning Glory that takes place between thesecond and third act of Petrichor. Development is going rather fast so I suggest to to read that if you like this story
23.52 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:03
