Sixguns and Spellfire

Fresh_Pursuit | contemporary | Complete

Completed Story. Texas Lawman Cash Renshaw gets pulled into a world of magic and mysticism that he never knew existed but finds himself uniquely suited to handle. Alhambra Sheriff's Office Detective Cash Renshaw is about to wake up. He learns that there is another world out there where all the creatures of nightmare and magic are real. Not only that but he finds that he is a special type of person called an "Archetype" that derives powers from the collective power of human imagination. Now he will join his new partner in the Agency for Metanatural Investigation to investigate a strange new type of Runic Tattooing that allows normal humans to tap into magic powers, at the cost of their lives. Cash will learn that his new reality is as deadly as it is mysterious, and his first case might be his last.

51.07 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-20 14:16

King of the Mountain

tenqui | contemporary | Complete

Normal over 30 science teacher is "abducted" and tested by the GREAT GAME as a beta trial inductee. The GREAT GAME will eventually be implemented and remake the world. Our protagonist however is the only one that actually passes the beta test, which was not designed to be survivable, through sheer dumb luck and thus has an extreme head start on all other citizens of Earth. Follow the journey of our hero as he tries to walk a thin line between preparing to save as much of his family and friends as possible while also trying to make sure that he will have enough power to make other people do most of the work while remaining safe and sound. Poor guy is just a proto-hermit who wants to be left alone but also realizes the importance of others and family. The new reality just complicates things.

96.47 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 15:38

Keep Breathing

T. A. Cambel | contemporary | Complete

Keep Breathing follows lung cancer survivor Eury as she returns to her sleepy hometown, dreading coming home to her parents and the complicated past that still haunts her. Even with every amenity afforded to her by modern society, Eury has a hard time staying alive. But when the townspeople are driven insane and begin attacking one another at random, Eury is cut off from everything and everyone she holds dear, and left with a dwindling supply of oxygen. Hardships and heartaches, bloodshed and violence, once she's through it all, will Eury be able to Keep Breathing?

53.55 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-20 14:25

Graven

Sharkerbob | contemporary | Complete

In 2029, thirteen unearthly structures called Doorways appeared across the world. Any human that entered immediately disappeared. Thousands were never seen again, but every once in a while, someone would come back out after a few days, garbed in strange clothing and possessing superhuman powers. Despite the odds, many of the desperate, ambitious, and hopeful surged through the Doorways in search of personal power.Eleven years have passed, and the world has undergone catastrophic changes as the result of superhuman conflict. Entire continents and civilizations have been lost, a supervillain epidemic threatens those societies that remain, and the world's greatest superhero team has just been destroyed. In the wake of this latest tragedy, a band of powerful superhuman bounty hunters comes together to track down the source of these disasters, and perhaps save what remains of the falling world.

65.96 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-20 14:54

Exit Sign: A Theatre of the Mind

RemingtonSloan | contemporary | Complete

Dave sees life as a theatrical performance; he's in the audience, but he didn't buy a ticket. He's not interested in the show, and nothing he can say or do will disrupt the story on the stage. What's to stop him from getting up and leaving? What's to stop him from walking through the door with the exit sign over it? Note: Exit Sign is literary fiction and a psychological drama. It's the first novel I ever wrote. The story is personal, and I'm proud of what's in there. It's been described as Seinfeld meets Sartre and as My Dinner With Andre meets Ralph Bakshi. My goal was to write a story full of sincerity while exploring the heaviness of the human experience. I wanted to write something that helps people wrestle with dread and meaninglessness. Writing Exit Sign certainly helped me figure out a few things in life, so I'm hopeful that it will do the same for a diligent reader. I'll write the sequels one day, but in the meantime I'm focused on my pulpier stories. I wrote Exit Sign for everyone who hates working in a drive through. Just keep going. Keep going forward. You might suffer, but if you love your friends and family along the way, it's worth it. The novel is complete, so there will be regular updates until all of it is posted.

32.62 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 15:40

The Game (short story)

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

A Kindness of Ravens

C.T. Yarrow | contemporary | Complete

A tale of sexy spies, Celtic deities, ancient magic and a little light Isekai. It's 2008. The Blanks are Britain's most valuable intelligence assets; dangerous, damaged people who sacrifice everything for a number, a code name and the chance to serve Queen and Country. Between them they can infiltrate anywhere, kill anyone and steal anything. But now someone is hunting them. Picking them off in ways that seem supernatural. Updates every second day. This novel is already complete. New content published every second day. If you want me to publish more often, or more stories with these characters, then you can always get my attention via Ko-Fi.

60.76 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 12:44

The Pale-Black Maiden

SRTudor | contemporary | Complete

Martin, longing for excitement in his monotonous life, decides to drink at a local pub. There he meets a strange woman who promises him an escape from mundanity. But at a great price.

1.53 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 14:11

Big Red Button.

Mad Sadie | contemporary | Complete

There is a button. It is red. It will be pushed. Semi-CYOA type story. Volumes are standalone. New ones appear like magic for every writathon.

61.70 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 11:09

Eyes of Bloodshed

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

The Killing Cat: Vengeance of the Wicked Girl

Mikkei | contemporary | Complete

In an alternative school for delinquent girls Holly Hayfield has no place to belong. Her kind and gentle nature is seen as weakness by the other students. They don't know that she has a dark past just like the rest of them. To make matters worse, the resident sociopath, Valentina, wants Holly's help with a mysterious plan to take over the school. Holly's quest to find a place to belong is hijacked when she uncovers the corpse of a former student. From that moment on mysteries and conspiracies enshroud the school. What begins as the far-fetched urban legend of the Killing Cat turns into grim reality. Will Holly make a place for herself in this dangerous new environment? Or will the school collapse in the shadow of a vengeful spirit? [Cover Details: The girl is Malorie, the former student that the synopsis refers to. She is holding the mask of the Killing Cat (Vigilante/Serial Killer). The cat with her is Nyx, the original Killing Cat.]

282.16 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 11:19

The Secrets of Soward's Mansion

Trish | contemporary | Complete

[Psychological Thriller] Soward's mansion was once a beautiful, historic example of Victorian architecture, but time has an ironic sense of humor. It's now an eyesore and magnet for crime and vagabonds. I know I'm not the ideal person to restore her, but this is an opportunity to do one last great deed for my town before time finds it funny to ruin me too. What's the worst that could happen? [Winner of the Royal Road Writathon challenge] The Secrets of Soward's Mansionhas been exclusively published on RoyalRoad. All other sites have stolen the story. If you find this title anywhere else, please PM me on RoyalRoad or email me at [email protected]. Thank you!

31.56 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:03

Friday Night Food Heist

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

This great witch's little blog

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

Swipe Right for Catfish

Kai Willow | contemporary | Complete

Autumn K黨n is done with dating. A proud, self-confessed romantic, she always imagined she'd find "The One" and win her happily ever after. But if love is a game, the rules must be written in ancient Greek.Annoyingly, her friends say it's her fault. That she's a sucker for a pretty face, and tends to overlook the lesser details, like personality. Even so, when her cousin suggests the limitless smorgasbord that is dating online, Autumn shudders. For about three minutes. Then she downloads the app.Autumn's hopes lift when she matches with a cutie who appears to read more than just her daily horoscope and understands Autumn in a way that's almost uncanny. But every rose has its thorns. Autumn is looking for chemistry, companionship, and commitment, but what she discovers instead could ruin her faith in love once and for all.In this funny and poignant new adult F/F romance, Autumn will discover that the path to true love is filled with twists and turns, but she might just find herself along the way.

10.74 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 14:14

They Think They Know Everything About Me

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

The Spell Struck Convenience Store.

Spleen23 | contemporary | Complete

Modern day world were magic is hidden, not out of fear, but because it's a limited resource. Mage who was kicked out of his family because his spells go wrong ends up sending the convenience store he works in to a ever changing fantasy landscape after being shot during a robbery. His shooter ends up in a copy in hell, and a Magical Incident Bureau agent is trying to figure out what just what exactly happened and why. Finished work

34.85 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 11:05

Swiped Me Right off my Feet

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

Among You: The Awakening, Book One of the Journey Series

JLBuchanan | contemporary | Complete

Robert was just an ordinary police officer, until one day while on the job, he sees something really weird. Like, sci-fi and aliens weird. The investigation leads him to make discoveries about himself and his past lives. A big crisis is upon him and if he intends to beat it, he needs to find the pieces of who he was.

60.05 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 10:17

A Page of Life

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