Historical
When the Stars Forgot to Shine
The night it happened, the world didn’t notice at first. The stars simply… didn’t come. No one could explain it. The moon hung lonely and pale in the dark sky, surrounded by emptiness. Astronomers called it a “temporary celestial blackout.” Poets called it “the night heaven turned its face.” But to Mira, it felt like a reflection of her own fading light.
By Muhammad zahoor5 months ago in Fiction
The Bracken Will Wither
What happens when the looking eye notices you? That was a question Donald Finnegan asked himself as he was transfixed, bent over the door to the old cellar of the bar, where a saline-dripping, large iris looked from side to side before focusing on him. Salt crusted the handle as a thin layer of sea mist rose from under the door. As he knew full well the door led to nothing but an old, unused storeroom and then the thick back wall of the bar, he put it down to the whisky. He fell backwards, turned away, and ignored it. Daft bastard.
By Paul Stewart5 months ago in Fiction
Bujang Senang: The White-Striped Marauder
Their bodies were thrown into the river, and legend says that the gods, angered by the injustice, cursed Simalungun and his wife. Simalungun’s spirit transformed into a colossal crocodile, marked with descendants of his enemies. His wife, transformed into a crocodile as well, followed by his shadow. Thus, the legend of Bujang Senang was born – a “Crocodile King” feared along the Batang Lupar River.
By Doveryn Joyce 5 months ago in Fiction
The Painter of Forgotten Faces. AI-Generated.
The town of Windmere was known for two things — its endless fog and its quiet secrets. On the edge of its cobblestone streets stood a small art studio, its windows always glowing softly at night. Inside lived a painter named Jonas Vale, a man both admired and feared for his peculiar gift.
By shakir hamid5 months ago in Fiction
The Clockmaker’s Secret. AI-Generated.
In the heart of a small European town stood a little clock shop called Teller’s Timepieces. It was easy to miss — wedged between a bakery and a tailor’s store, with a dusty sign that hadn’t been repainted in decades. But those who knew the place spoke of its owner, Elias Teller, as a man who could fix any clock in the world — even those long thought broken forever.
By shakir hamid5 months ago in Fiction
The Last Passenger. AI-Generated.
The 11:40 p.m. train from Crescent City to Marrow Junction was almost empty that night. Only four passengers sat scattered in the dimly lit compartment — a young woman reading a paperback, a middle-aged man staring out the window, a student with headphones, and an old lady clutching a suitcase.
By shakir hamid5 months ago in Fiction
The Pot and the Ministry
“The Pot and the Ministry” A king was once passing through a region where people drank water directly from a canal. They bent down, scooped water in their hands, drank, and moved on. Watching this, the king paused for a moment, then turned to his minister and said,
By New stAr writer 5 months ago in Fiction
The Holy American Empire
The chamber of the United Nations stood silent. Delegates from every corner of the globe filled the room, their expressions taut with unease. The air itself seemed to bend under the weight of anticipation. At the center, under the seal of the world, the man who had shattered it rose from his chair.
By Logan M. Snyder5 months ago in Fiction
Home of the Free
The knocks came after dinner. Three raps at the front door: abrasive, aggressive, authoritative. Glen Finch put down the footrest of his recliner and stood from its familiar comfort. His middle school-aged twins looked up to him with widened eyes. He held his hand out calmly, shushing them.
By Ashley Lima5 months ago in Fiction
