Young Adult
Who's the real Monster
~ Anderson's POV I should be awarded an Oscar for acting surprised with Armstrong's declaration. Having done my research with a fine tooth comb on everybody here. I saw Armstrong's father and my adoptive one had a couple of things in common. They both served in the Vietnam and were in the same platoon.
By Lucy Torralba3 months ago in Chapters
The 0.99 Effect: How One Cent Transforms Modern Marketing Strategy. AI-Generated.
In the endless world of marketing tactics, some strategies are loud and dramatic, while others work quietly in the background, influencing customers without drawing attention. One of the subtlest yet most powerful tools in modern marketing is the 0.99 pricing strategy, often called charm pricing. At first glance, it appears insignificant — just a tiny digit at the end of a number. But behind that small shift lies a deep psychological mechanism that shapes buying decisions across industries.
By shakir hamid3 months ago in Chapters
The Universe Written on a Single Leaf
A philosopher discovered a leaf with veins forming patterns identical to star maps. He spent years studying it, realizing the design wasn’t coincidence but a reminder: the universe is not out there—it is in everything, even the smallest sliver of matter. When the leaf eventually decayed, the philosopher smiled instead of mourning. “Infinity,” he said, “doesn’t disappear. It only changes form.”
By GoldenSpeech3 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | The Women | Part VI of VI
I was working as a receptionist in a Congressional Bureau at the Department of Prominence, I was 26 years of age. Two women in my office were best friends. Their names were Lynette and Carolyn. They were always together. They arrived at work in the morning together, they went to lunch together, they took work breaks together, and they departed from work together. They ruled the office and often made my work life challenging, yet ironically, I ended up being the one to help one of them out of a tricky situation!
By Mia Z. Edwards3 months ago in Chapters
Sparrow on a Plank Chapter 4: The Voyage Begins
They sailed over the deep blue sea, flecked with brown patches of kelp and black forms just below the surface. Birds soared serenely, looking to strike at any fish that came near the surface, then diving, splashing, returning to the skies above with their squirming prey. The fish below were split between two groups: the fish that swam in well-coordinated schools, their very movement confusing those in the predators that preyed on those too slow to evade them. There are the plankton-eaters, those giants that created the largest, scariest shadows but wouldn’t harm a flea. And then there were the reptiles and killer whales, usually predators but sometimes just more of the plankton-eaters.
By Jamais Jochim3 months ago in Chapters
The Candle That Melted Upward
In an old cathedral, a candle burned in reverse—wax rising instead of falling. Pilgrims traveled from afar, believing it symbolized ascension. A young skeptic stayed overnight to understand the trick. Instead, he discovered something stranger: the candle responded to hope. Whenever he doubted himself, the flame dimmed. When he believed in possibility, the wax rose like a prayer. He left with a single lesson: faith is not believing in miracles—it is allowing yourself to burn upward.
By GoldenSpeech3 months ago in Chapters
Firebug: Chapter 6 - The Party
To say Theo was anxious about going to Chris' party was a laughable understatement. He was utterly bricking it on the ride over, calculating the odds of surviving a leap from a moving car. Part of him was actually considering it; the numbers were in his favor, and his maths were never wrong. All that changed when he heard a deep sigh from his left.
By Natalie Gray3 months ago in Chapters
Memoir | Machiavelli | Part VI of VI
My mentor’s advice to take on volunteer responsibilities while I was an office secretary for a director and desk officers paid off. When one of the desk officers was promoted, he offered me the position of his office secretary. With the approval of the Human Resources Division, I transitioned to his new office, known as the “Front Office,” where top executives worked. I was suddenly in a more prestigious setting, alongside our bureau’s other executive office secretaries who were often unfriendly and seemed to lack a strong work ethic. Thankfully, an advisor guided me in developing resilience to adapt to this new environment.
By Mia Z. Edwards3 months ago in Chapters
The Cloud That Refused to Rain
A single dark cloud hovered over a drought-stricken village, trembling but refusing to break. People cursed it until they learned the truth: if it rained then, the cracked earth would shatter. So they softened the soil, and only then did the cloud let go. Sometimes restraint is the purest form of care.
By GoldenSpeech3 months ago in Chapters
Who's the real Monster?
Ignoring my instincts entirely I went down to the sub-basement. All the while repeating my granddad's saying, "Every enemy has a weakness." Creeping out of the vents it was easy to stay hidden here. The hall was barely lit. Up ahead it split into two corridors. Moving to the right there was a window at waist height that almost reached the ceiling. Carefully taking a peek I saw a ring of lights keeping something big inside of it. Whatever was inside looked to be an animal made of shadows that didn't have a true shape that appeared to be resting. My blood ran cold once the realization hit me. No fucking way. That's It, that's the Thing that attacked me. Unable to look away I watched as It rose from the floor to look right at me. Those red piercing eyes. Just like mine now.
By Lucy Torralba3 months ago in Chapters
