Alien: Tribulation

Narayan | horror | Complete

The Year is 2183, four years after the tragedy at Hadley's Hope on LV-426. On the edge of theOuter Rim Territories, residents of an aging and outmoded sister-station to Sevastopol are embroiled in crisis. Socioeconomic, corporate and political considerations aside, the true threat to Ashkelon Station are dark secrets taking shape as Xenomorphs. Reese Castle and Wade Barrett are partners in crime, smugglers posing as spacecraft repair technicians until they can manage to steal their ship back. Weyland Yutani terminated their lease for the USCSS Casimir, an old M-Class Bison starfreighter, but they'll be damned if they let it get away so easily. A space truckers ship is their home and they're keen to leave the station while they still can. As a series of unfortunate events create a perfect maelstrom of chaos, death and upheaval, Agent Shella Roodt of the Interstellar Commerce Commission (by extension an entity of Weyland Yutani) and Chief Colonial Marshal John Coffee have a mandate to investigate wrongdoing and save lives. When they come face-to-face with the monsters however, there will be only one outcome. A final tribulation of survival of the fittest.

77.15 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 14:40

Play It Straight

Saiph | romance | Complete

An action-packed zombie western lesbian romance, with some minor game-based mechanics. Yee-haw! Time to strap in cowboys and cowgirls! Things are about to get messy! How does this involve mirrors not eating people? Well I guess you'll just have to read to find out. This is the story of Casey and Dodge. A troubled girl meets a girl who loves trouble. A town harassed by the dead. Their only saviors: two priests and a band of well-armed outlaws. The Gods get together for their Saturday gaming session and Aphrodite's not playing by the rules. One thing is for sure, heads will roll. But just whose heads will they be? [Written for the Royal Road Magazine] NOW COMPLETE! Warning: despite the comedy tag this story does involve the exploration of some heavy subject matter. Reader discretion advised. Ye have been warned!

18.64 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 14:49

Out of the Mist: The Rain Chronicles

EmPenn | action | Complete

In a world where demons rule, you either protect the wall or you survive inside it. Warrior-born are the nation's only defense against the demon hordes. With ethereal weapons summoned from ancient runes on their skin and added strength, they give their lives to serve the nationand their numbers are running out. Sixteen-year-old Rain Oren is a warrior-born, with secret abilities the other warriors don't have. He is the last surviving member of a once-heroic family, now branded traitors. He struggles to hide his growing powers, too similar to the demons' to be ignored. Ostracized and bullied his whole life, Rain lives for the day he can graduate from the academy and take up a quiet post guarding the wall in his hometown.To his surprise, he's assigned a coveted spot on the Elite Squad, a close-knit secret ops team of the best warriors stationed in Centrum, the nation's capital. When an increase of mysterious breeches to the wall occur around Rain, he uses his time in Centrum to find what really happened when he was a child. Surrounded by the leaders who condemned his family, he must keep his unpredictable powers hidden, survive the Elite Squad, and find a way to get sent home. Rain's search uncovers a hidden plot leading to more questions. Why are demons increasing their attacks? Is he the only warrior with these powers? What really happened to his family and will he be able to handle the truth? Updates will happen twice a week on Monday & Thursday mornings.Story is complete and available on Patreon or Ream *** Check out Book 2 - Into Darkness *** I'm super excited to share my very first completed story with you. I appreciate any feedback and would love to know what you think.I'm a huge fan of hidden worlds, other dimensions, and supernatural/paranormal manga and anime. I was inspired by Attack on Titan for the layout of this world and some character weapons from Blue Exorcist. I hope you enjoy!

59.33 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 15:28

Local Minima

ringe | psychological | Complete

[Entry for the June Royal Road Community Magazine Contest] A prisoner named Gemmei is gifted a chance to put her life on a better track after being transferred to the Hibiya Correctional Complex, a lower security prison allegedly intended for less violent offenders. However even though the walls keeping her in are no longer visible, plenty of barriers are in the way that prevent Gemmei from returning to the world she once took for granted. Chief among them is the Houzou Hakkyou, a special tattoo every prisoner in the system receives that alters how they can think and feel through forced sedation. The curse the Hakkyou enforces ensures compliance and docility among the inmates, but as Gemmei finds out, cruelty is born from more than emotion alone.

22.43 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 16:06

Jon Fuze | A Journey of 10,000 Kills

KeeperAbra | action | Complete

Jon meets an enigmatic goddess, and she's got an offer for him he can't refuse. The deadliest assassin in the modern world is dead  but not for long! Jon Fuze has a new employer, and she can give him anything he wants, but as with most things, ... it doesn't come for free. " A world of powder and magic" Dank cities, harsh deserts, icy mountains, lush forests, and fiery realms" Magical martial arts vs. trash, elites, supermen, and dragons" High-ranking targetsall the way to the throne! How will someone who has always just been a pawn adapt against the motions of a much bigger world? One man lured by a single hope and wish.  One life for 10,000  How far is he willing to go? Who does he need to kill? ----- Updates twice weekly! -----

79.01 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 16:44

Heroes of The Collective Volume Two : Regret

EnhancedBeing | drama | Complete

Enhanced Beings. Humans with the ability to do something astonishing. Some learn to use it for good. Others for bad. But most are content with the 9-5 and walks with the dog.But use it for bad, you'll answer to& The Enhanced Beings Collective! USA's taskforce in the fight against Enhanceds who threaten America's national and global interests.They say it's better to regret things you've done than what you haven't done. But for our heroes, the feeling is the same and cuts just as deep whatever the reason. Volume Two: Regret, explores the aftermath of Volume One's finale and how the team moves on with their own sources of regret.With some new additions to the team and a roster of new villains as well as some familiar, our heroes are busy travelling beyond the galaxies to more Earths, making bad judgements, uncovering secrets and fighting& for& survival!Woodland Warriors Vol 2 - Kimona aka Agw� joins the team temporarily as they reel from the attack on The Lodge. There's travel to colder climates, a flashback to Tobias getting his enhancements and the team changes again! It's not straightforward keeping things balanced within the heart of America... It's forests. The Rodeos Vol 2 - Effie and Reuben find themselves learning more about their past and what it has to do with defeating Outlaw and the curse upon him. There's a hostage situation at a dog food factory, a spider bite and an clash of two different worlds as our western duo saddle up once again!

73.50 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 17:01

The Blue Room

Aliantic | mystery | Complete

When Brian inherited his grandfather's house, he expected to do a lot of work to fix it up. What he didn't expect, though, is that his grandfather's house was once a brothel, and the women who lived there are still around. When they start to show themselves, Brian must find some way to deal with these ghosts and their history with his house.

28.27 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 17:24

Black Tears

Airam Zenemijil | tragedy | Complete

Senza is an assassin who is mentoring a young girl to become his successor by the time he dies. Khali is a teenage girl who is raised since birth to become worthy to inherit her master's name.

6.92 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 17:53

The Charm Fable: Mousey and the Golden Book

Nicholas S. Casale | comedy | Complete

Mousefred Souris lives in a world without humanity, and animals have risen to become like people. Mice like him live as slaves under the rule of a cruel cat, who lords over them with her armies of weasels and bats. For the crime of helping an injured stranger, Mousey is imprisoned and told he must either join the evil queen's army or die. But a chance encounter with a golden book sets Mousey on the path to freedom. The book teaches Mousey the secrets of magic, and with these newfound secrets he sets out on a journey to become the hero he was born to be.Note: This story is available in its absolute, complete form on Amazon.com, but most of the chapters can be read for free here.

28.80 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 18:11

Plumbeous Professor

Frostfire20 | horror | Complete

An Archaeologist's execution is put on hold when he is sent to another world as a scout. He wants to be a [Tourist]. Unfortunately for him, an ancient evil has other plans.

47.28 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 11:00

Witch Poison

VanessaFletcher | mystery | Complete

(COMPLETE STORY) 'One bite and you're gone' - That's what the boutique bakery usually boasts about its invisibility cakes but this batch has a deadly secret ingredient - so one bite really does mean you're gone...Who would want to kill the young girl no one seems to know outside Valencia Veemer's bakery - 'Spellbinding Treats'?Who is the scruffy man who they see hanging around - but who disappears just as quick?Who was the girl?Why are they trying to frame Valencia for the murder?And who has stolen her fairies? To make matters worse, no one in Spellica trusts half-witches like Valencia, it only makes their suspicions deepen.Can she and her best friend Talbot Acres discover who the murderer is, or will Valencia lose her business - and her life, trying?

8.01 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 18:57

Light Seekers

OriginalKingD | sci_fi | Complete

Najor has seen more than most boys his age should, but he's never felt the warmth of the sun on his flesh. His town has been blessed with the gift of sunlight for three years now. The elders believe that this will continue as they are in God's favor. Najor is smart enough to listen to the migrants who travel along with the beam of light which illuminates the sky. They know the light is to vanish soon, and with it will go any normality in his life. He faced with the choice of spending his life following the beam of light, or attempting to bring the sun back. The magic he wields is weak, and he can't use it for long without becoming sick. He's never left his town and only heard legends about the beasts that roam the wastelands and the sorcerers who reside high in the Phaethon Mountains. Still, he chooses to throw it all away and chase after a dream knowing he'll mostly likely die out in the darkness.

12.04 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 10:56

Other-Terrestrial Episode 11 - "Masquerade"

NolanConrey | drama | Complete

The holiday Darkeve has come, and the crew of the Craton get to relax, dress up, and have a good time! Apollonia Nor is able to experience the first real holiday in her life - if she can get left alone. For Pirra and Tred, a happy day may turn out to be less than they had hoped. While for Captain Brooks, an old friend comes calling to settle on a debt . . .

22.51 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 13:48

Stilted Waters Edge written by Travis Willier

Radiant Summer moon (TravisW) | mystery | Complete

In the far off Galaxy there is a planet that is 90% water. There are small villages throughout all of the water. These villages were small stilted building's cylinder in shape consisting of two to three levels where people lived a culture based around the water they live above. They pray to fish and monster beings that are said to thrive in the oceans deep. These are ancient people that are descendants of the land; the old ones speak of a Time when men fought over cities and land. Now people pass their time fighting each other over fishing territory and remnants of their distant past. This is their story.

9.80 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 14:22

Snake

CitrusIsUndecided | psychological | Complete

there was a snake in his bed. a 3 page story by the ever-obscure author of Schneiders Guide. warning: includes a terrifying lack of capitalization and a mortifying abuse of italics.

0.69 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 14:20

Towards the Valentine

Vertrex | comedy | Complete

The ups and downs of highschool, especially between childhood friends that love each other with the other not knowing about it. Author's Note I entered this short story in the recent WriTE Valentine's Competition and earned the "BestRomance Score" award. While it wasn't a total victory, it was something, and I'm thankful for it. Now, here's the uncut version with the full blown out short story that I had to cut down to 5k word limit to enter the competition. Enjoy!

3.59 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 14:55

Rodentia Wars

SCWhite | comedy | Complete

In this sort-of exciting sequel that nobody asked for, a mouse hero is forced to gather allies in order to stand against an overwhelming evil force. Oh, wait, sorry, that was the plot of Rodentia Adventures, the first book. Let's see... oh, here we go! In this story, a different mouse hero is forced to gather different allies to stand against a completely different overwhelming force. Yes. That's much better.

95.82 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 15:55

Good People Die (Twelve Monoliths Book I)

Ryan Geever | horror | Complete

Release Window: [3/14-04/03] Six players. One gun. One way out. Lucas Gray has no idea who he is or why he was captured to participate in the mysterious Roulette Game--A death game centered around trust in complete strangers in order to avoid being shot and killed. Pieces of the puzzle will begin to come together and a terrible truth shall be revealed. Trigger Warnings: Death, Gore, Animal Violence, Decay

44.51 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 16:12

To My Dearest Scorpio

forevercelest | psychological | Complete

In Japanese, "羘n ". Another classical edition written that blends in horoscopes and astrology signs into the story. Surrounding the 4 elements (Fire, Water, Air, and Earth) of the Western and Sidereal astrology, what happens when Scorpio O meets Virgo M? Let's reveal the mystery in this special release.

0.39 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 16:21

The Rite of Sanctuary

Spleen23 | action | Complete

Dozens, if not hundreds of worlds were destroyed or damaged by what amounted to a industrial accident on a higher level of existence. Many people and places however, were saved at the last instant and hastily slammed together into a makeshift world held together with magic and hope. The director was assigned to keep the whole thing going and stole the idea of a RPG driven system as a placeholder set of natural laws. One he is constantly having to apply ad hoc fixes and updates on the fly. The main character and the church he worked at end up being one of the places from modern earth that got saved. Possibly updating Saturday and Sunday if my schedule stays the same

35.35 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 16:57