Fantasy

Daughter of the Pines
It started with a whispered name two weeks ago. Then more whispers. When I was getting some replacement school supplies for Cary, a book flew out of the shelf in front of me.
By Alicia Anspaughabout 2 hours ago in Fiction
Siren of the deep
The mermaid sits perched on a moss-covered ancient stone. The magnificent view overlooks a hidden waterfall cascading into a crystal-clear lagoon. Lush flora surrounds the scene, casting a soft, tranquil glow. There is a feeling of peace blending hyper-realistic fantasy concept art with macrophotography, emphasizing the textures of the moss, water, and scales.
By Antoni De'Leonabout 4 hours ago in Fiction
The Haunted House
After our financial situation worsened, my father and I were forced to leave the small house we had lived in for years. It was not much, but it had always felt warm and safe. Moving away from it felt like losing a part of our lives. With little money left and few options available, we found another place to stay—an old two-story building on the edge of a quiet neighborhood. The rent was cheap, and that was all we could afford.
By storiesabout 6 hours ago in Fiction
The Boy and the Alien Friend
A Sci-Fi Tale: Samer and the Alien Creature Samer was a diligent student, obedient to his parents, and loved by his friends and neighbors. Yet, he faced a significant challenge: his vision was extremely weak. Even with glasses, he struggled to see clearly, missing many school days and finding it hard to live normally. He always prayed to God for his eyesight to improve, dreaming of becoming a doctor one day—a dream that now seemed almost impossible. Every week, Samer visited his grandfather’s farm, enjoying the greenery, fresh air, and the calm of the countryside. One evening, as he sat under his favorite tree, the sun disappeared behind the horizon. He began walking back to the farmhouse when he noticed a sharp light moving behind one of the trees. Curious, he ran toward it. He discovered a small creature, no bigger than a newborn kitten, with soft, glowing skin. Its eyes emitted a bright light, and it made faint, pained sounds. As Samer picked up the strange being, a voice echoed clearly in his mind: “Stay away from me. Don’t hurt me.” Samer was shocked. The creature had not spoken aloud, and no one else was around. Another voice followed, also in his mind: “I am speaking to you, Earthling.” Bewildered, Samer asked aloud, “Who are you? How can you speak to me like this?” The creature replied through mental communication: “I am in your hands because you carry me. I communicate via telepathy since you cannot understand my language, and I cannot understand yours, Earthling.” Samer paused, unsure what to say. “Who are you, and why call me an Earthling?” “I am Kamo from the planet Cicada. We came to Earth to collect samples for study, but my ship malfunctioned and crashed here. I need time to recover and for my team to rescue me.” Though overwhelmed, Samer answered, “I don’t fully understand, but I mean no harm. I want to help if I can.” Kamo explained, “You can help me by bringing a power source to recharge my communication device so I can contact my team.” Samer thought quickly. “We have batteries, electricity, even coal. Which works for you?” “All of them,” Kamo replied. “Our technology adapts to any power source.” Samer carefully carried Kamo to his grandfather’s house. Using a small wall socket, Kamo plugged in his tiny device resembling a pen, and it began charging. As they communicated, Samer learned about Kamo, Cicada, and the creature’s intelligence. Despite his small size, Kamo was wise and kind. Hours later, Kamo contacted his team. Ready to return to Cicada, he handed Samer a small gift, a palm-sized bag, warning him not to open it until he left. With a tearful goodbye, Samer watched his new friend depart. After Kamo left, Samer opened the gift. Inside, he found Kamo’s communication device and a small bottle of “Lightflower Drops.” He pressed the device’s button, and Kamo’s voice spoke clearly: “Hello, my Earthling friend. This device will keep us connected. And the drops will help your eyes—you’ll see clearly soon.” Samer applied the drops and went to sleep with hope in his heart. The next morning, he awoke to a transformed world. His vision was perfect. Every leaf, every blade of grass, and the vibrant colors of the farm were crystal clear. Filled with gratitude, Samer exclaimed, “Thank God! Now I can return to school and pursue my dream of becoming a doctor!” He often thought of Kamo, cherishing their bond. The alien’s gift had not only restored his sight but also opened his mind to the wonders of the universe. Samer learned that kindness, curiosity, and courage could bridge even the greatest distances between worlds. Through this adventure, Samer realized the importance of compassion and bravery, understanding that sometimes, the universe sends unexpected friends to guide us and change our lives forever.
By storiesabout 6 hours ago in Fiction
Take My Hand
Fenrir waited outside the door for his Master. As a man he called no one Master. But as a wolf, such bonds were born of blood. Master was as good a word as any.
By Adam Kolozettiabout 6 hours ago in Fiction
A Message From the Future
When I was younger, I used to believe that the future was something distant, something that would arrive slowly and politely at the door of my life. I imagined that one day I would simply wake up and everything would make sense. My dreams would be clear, my path would be obvious, and the questions inside my mind would finally have answers.
By storiesabout 6 hours ago in Fiction
Kitsune's Intervention: A Very Inconvenient Yokai
"I'm telling you, Christie, he is CHEATING on you!" She sighed hard. "Min... I know you think that, but Darryl would never cheat. He is so thoughtful and so, so loyal. He is just the absolute sweetest. I lucked out so hard marrying him. It feels like a dream."
By Alicia Anspaughabout 7 hours ago in Fiction
Peace
Something's happening 'round here. Some folks just seem to be gettin' happy ever since Captain Groovy decided to run for public office. He decided to run as an independent on the Peace ticket and name the party the Groovy Party. The Groovy Party was the laughingstock of the political arena, their views on hate and violence were seen as ridiculous. No one took the party seriously, that is, until Captain Groovy became the party leader.
By John Scipioabout 8 hours ago in Fiction
Journey to the Unknown Planet
In the year 2274, humanity had conquered the Solar System, but the thirst for exploration pushed scientists to look beyond the known planets. Among them was Captain Mira Solari, a fearless astronaut chosen to lead the first manned expedition to the newly discovered planet, Xythera-9. The planet, hidden in a distant star system, showed signs of a breathable atmosphere and strange, shimmering landscapes captured by robotic probes.
By storiesabout 14 hours ago in Fiction
The Library of Hidden Worlds. AI-Generated.
Amir had always loved books more than anything else in the world. While other children spent their afternoons playing outside, Amir preferred sitting quietly in the corner of the town library, turning pages and discovering new worlds.
By storiesabout 15 hours ago in Fiction
The Painting That Watches You
Daniel had always believed that paintings were more than simple images on a canvas. To him, every painting was a story waiting to be discovered. The colors, the shadows, the expressions—everything carried emotion left behind by the artist.
By storiesabout 15 hours ago in Fiction
Helena's Journey
Smoke curling through the pale orange sky over the distant hill indicated to Helena that morning was on the horizon. The fires provided warmth for the remnants of that small village whose people hunted for rats or squirrels, cooking them over crude stone pits and metal grates. Sand stretched in either direction, making supplies difficult to obtain. In the distance, Helena had become a scavenger as well, digging through the heaps of destruction that occurred when one world state clashed with the other years ago. The war yielded no winners, only broken people, pawns struggling to survive.
By Barb Dukemana day ago in Fiction