PublicApology | contemporary | Complete
In the eerie town of Darkwood, situated deep within the dense forests of Washington, a tragic incident shatters the lives of six teenagers at the heart of it all. As the new girl, unsocialized and sheltered, Grace finds herself thrust into a tumultuous world of confusion and torment, grappling with the aftermath of the tragedy. She struggles to find understanding behind the tragedy and wants to uncover the events and truth that led up to it. As she pieces the puzzle together, she grows close to her equally tormented friends and embarks on a jaded coming-of-age journey to discover who she can be. Cody and Emily are childhood friends, deeply in love, and are torn apart by guilt and insecurities. Cody blames himself for the tragedy and has been pushing Emily away as an excuse, unable to face the real sinister reasons. Emily has her own guilt and masks it by trying to ignore it while trying to fix the crumbling relationship with her childhood love. Amidst their struggles, both Cody and Emily embark on transformative journeys, seeking self-forgiveness, discovering the meaning of acceptance, and moving on. Twins Andrew and Sara carry the weight of their hand in the tragedy, haunted by the trauma that lingers within them. Andrew, a rebellious force of nature, delves deeper into the criminal underground. Tormented by his involvement, Andrew descends into self-destruction intending to cause as much chaos around him. Sara battles with depression and copes with hard drugs to escape the pressure of the secrets she keeps, slowly succumbing to them. Both siblings teeter on the edge of despair, desperately trying to hold on. Among this group of tormented souls, there is Chris, an enigmatic and brilliant young mind who believes he possesses the ability to foresee the future. Chris's tenuous grip on reality makes him relentlessly pursue an answer with no question. Along his journey, he encounters someone who shares his unique perception of the world, prompting both Chris and the reader to question his own sanity as he tries to prevent another tragedy from occurring. As these six friends persevere through their struggles, they uncover the tangled web of tragedy and uncover the malevolent curse that looms over them all. (This is a redux of Petrichor. I was unsatisfied with how the story went. I rushed things and left things to happen off-screen a lot. So I'm rewriting it, this time dividing the acts into their separate books to allow the characters to properly develop. The story will mostly stay the same but I'll fix all the plot holes I found and change some character motivations here or there.)
70.64 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 13:49
TedSteel | contemporary | Complete
Billy-Bob Bain plays BetterVerse to get away from his problems, but life in-game is not much better than his daily grind - he's broke, unappreciated, and there's no prospect of things getting better. Until he becomes the only player worldwide to receive a seemingly useless skill book... And becomes the world's first - and only - Dungeon Consultant. Dungeon Park is a hilarious tale of creativity, triumph over adversity, and cute skeletons. "It's a real rollercoaster ride of a story!"
55.54 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 16:58
kevin_writer2 | contemporary | Complete
Davis Archer was cut off by his family when he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for accidentally killing a friend when he was 13. Five years after his release, he has yet to overcome his past to build relationships and has now received a sudden request from his estranged family to return home. Will the family that once abandoned him welcome him back if it means saving a life? As Davis attempts to navigate where home is for him, those he cares about wrestle with what's more important: who we are or who we were. AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
37.74 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 16:09
Genuine55 | contemporary | Complete
Like any high school student, Sarah just wants to get through her day. It's not her fault she sees phantom fog everywhere she goes. It's not her fault that she suffers from a painful sensitivity to sounds, lights, and teachers who insist on playing music in class. But thankfully Sarah has gotten comfortable with her isolation. Her life begins to change when she discovers that the fog isn't just a hallucination. She can move it around, take it from the air, and infuse it into things she chooses. And she's not the only one. Along with her magic, Sarah finds friends, purpose, and even some confidence as she explores her new life. Updates M/W/F
48.48 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:33
AMBLE | contemporary | Complete
The arch-wizard Orton hasn't been an ordinary human for many years, but traveling back into his own past for a fifth chance at defeating the evil magus Gentry puts him back in the year 1997, in his teenaged body as punk-rock dishwasher Dennis Wilkerson. Now he must retrace his steps through his adventure yet again -- recruiting his allies, defeating his enemies, and accruing his spells and powers all over again. But this time, one thing is different -- he's not alone.This novel takes place in the setting of Entangled Shadows, an urban fantasy quantum-physics magic system in development for use in Tabletop RPG play!
77.91 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 15:33
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
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
Faenon | contemporary | Complete
A geeky highschooler develops superpowers and is recruited to an international peackeeping unit at the same time as struggling with mental health problems. * Gonzalo Lopez, nicknamed 'Weakling' by his bullies, is just a normal teenager except that now he has superpowers. Ever since that fight with the bully where his powers first manifested and he broke his attacker's hand by accident, everything has been spiralling out of control. Now all of a sudden he's getting invited to parties, his psychiatrist's started dating his Mom, and at least two different international organisations are trying to hunt him down. Then there's Ali--the new girl at school, the only other person who believes any of this is happening to him, who seems to be hiding a secret of her own. Is she really his friend like she says she is, or does she have some sort of ulterior motive for being so nice to him all the time? Should he tell her about Miracle Force, the superpowered United Nations peacekeeping unit he's just been recruited to? And is any of this really happening, or is it all just going on in his head? * You can read deleted scenes on my Patreon.
54.41 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:07
backoff | contemporary | Complete
Superpowers ... without capes. A man produces narcotic gas in his lungs, a woman turns into a wall of corrosive flesh. One girl creates tiny stinging 'mayflies' while another is assaulted by the emotions of anyone she touches. After the mysterious 'Seventeen Seconds' sweeps the globe, a handful of people develop extraordinary abilities. Rachel's father is one of them--and that's why she shoots him. But four years after she's charged with his murder, he reappears. He's rich. He's connected. And he's plotting to destroy a city. To stop him, Rachelenlists the help of Lark Larson, an easygoing slacker with bizarre abilities of his own. She doesn't have any powers herself, except for her unflinching willingness to put herself on the line. As far as Lark can tell, that's more than enough.
41.64 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-20 14:22
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
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
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
Etzoli | contemporary | Complete
Revised version now available! Amazon paperback, ebook, audiobook, Kobo, B&N, Google In the war-torn land of Cyraveil, four heroes strove to overthrow an empire. By cold steel and elemental sorcery, they brought peace to a warring land on the brink of destruction. As the flames died, the realm needed strong leadership, and who better than the champions who had saved the kingdom? But when the people sought out their saviors... they vanished. Matt, Blake, Jen, and Carl: the four mysterious companions, who together had deposed an insane ruler and saved countless lives, were gonespirited back in a whirlwind of magic to a sleepy suburb in Mellbridge, Oregon, never to return. The friends found themselves home inthe real world, exactly as they'd been the night they were taken, as if no time had passed... except only threecame back. Hi there! This was my entry for National Novel Writing Month, because why only write one series at a time? The more the merrier! (meanwhile, my keyboard bursts into flames...) I'm also the writer of The Last Science, an ongoing low-fantasy/speculative sci-fi series. If you're familiar with that, you know what to expect here: lots of character-focused drama and dialogue, not a whole lot of traditional action. However, I'm writing a bit differently than usual here, and in a very different structure, so there should be some surprises for returning readers. I hope you enjoy it! [Discord] for those of you who want to hang out and chat. Cover art (fullsize): Path of Revelation, by taenaron (Tobias Roetsch), modified by Etzoli. Normally I like to do my own cover art from scratch, but I was in a rush for the contest. Might be replaced down the line if I get time. [winner of the NaNoWriMo Royal Road 2018 challengeMost Favorites]
53.94 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 15:38
Fusiongun | contemporary | Complete
It began on April 14th. When a particle research lab is suddenly cut off from the rest of the world, journalism student Chase Adkins and the others trapped inside must come together to survive and try to find a way out. But when even more inexplicable things begin happening around the lab, will mounting tensions turn them against one another? And why can no one remember the time between 12:26 and 1 AM? It's been April 14th for over two weeks now. [Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]
32.29 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 16:54
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
PublicApology | contemporary | Complete
A year and a half after Elizabeth's suicide, Sara Mera's life settles back to normalcy from a battle of depression. Sara's life is thrown back into that pit of darkness when her hand in the suicide is exposed to the world. In a negative state of mind, she meets the girl who was Elizabeth's best friend who is still suffering from her death. Afraid another tragedy will happen, Sara selfishly becomes friends with the girl but never expected that she would be the one who light's up Sara's world in the darkness. -
39.88 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 11:14
rkgoff | contemporary | Complete
Emerra Cole died just short of her twentieth birthdaybut that won't stop Jack Noctis, the embodiment of death, from asking for her help. Not that Jacky raised her from the dead. He says she came back on her own. He only dug her up, pulled her from her casket, and gave her a place to stay. While he hates to impose, he hopes she'll lend him a hand with a murder that's been giving him trouble. The anthropology professor, Trevon Wayde, was shot in the chest. The police are looking for his murderer, but Jacky wants to know why his soul is missing. Emerra returned from death with the Eyes of the Sphinx, a legendary ability that allows her to see things others can't. Jacky thinks her new powers could be useful when it comes to uncovering what happened. When Emerra agrees to look around, she's dragged into a world of magic and monsters. There isn't much time for her to adjust. She'll have to get her bearings while working side by side with a vampire, making friends with a wolfman and a bog-creature, and learning how to deal with an abrasive teenage witch. Thank god the mummy is there to help. Life after death is going to be interesting.
53.82 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 18:51
DWS | contemporary | On going
Hideki is a young man who lives with his grandmother after the loss of his parents. Despite the tragedy he finds simple pleasures in his everyday school life and playing with the music club, of which he is a member. He greatly admires the council president, Reina, who he meets in the corridors after school. Hideki's life is turned upside down once again and he finds himself drifting with nowhere to go. Reina offers him a chance, an evening meeting between the two of them leads to Hideki taking on an entirely new life as her second sister, Miyako. But not everything is as it seems - and accepting the mercy of another isn't always easy.
30.81 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-04-02 15:00
rkgoff | contemporary | Complete
Even in a world with witches, sorcerers, and alchemists, psychics are rare. There are normally fewer than a hundred in a centurywhich is why the Torr is so confounded when they get a letter from the headmaster of an English boarding school who claims that there are over a hundred psychics studying at his school. When all their investigations turn up nothing, they call on the head of all Torrs, Jack Noctis, the embodiment of death. But Big Jacky doesn't know what to do about it either, and he's skeptical about his ability to do anything. He asks Darius Vasil, Conrad Bauer, and Emerra Cole to go in his stead. Between the vampire's super-hearing, the wolfman's amazing sense of smell, and Emerra's legendary Eyes of the Sphinx, he's hoping they'll be able to find what everyone else has missed. When they arrive, what they find is that the psychic powers are appearing more frequently and becoming more powerful every day. They need to figure out what's going on before the situation spirals out of control.
59.74 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 16:53
Kaylaellen92 | contemporary | Complete
Kevin's life changed forever when a mysterious girl named Zoey came knocking at his door. After his wife died, Kevin felt guilty that, as a doctor, he was unable to save her. He left his career and previous life and now liveswith his tiny dog, Ghost, across from the cemetery where he is the groundsman. He never dreamed his life would turn out thisway. Then one day, a mysterious girl knocks on his door. When Zoey comes into his life, he is intrigued when he realizes she has nomemory of her past. Kevin shares his home and eventually his love with this mysterious girl. When he discovers the truth about her,can their relationship survive?
8.21 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 14:10
