M I N I M

invidious | tragedy | Complete

The Demon Lord has fallen. The Hero has his victory, at the expense of everything he fought to save. Bereft of purpose, he begins a journey through the uncharted ocean beyond his archipelago on a pilgrimage to the mythological Spine of the World. M I N I Mis an experimental short story where each section is divided in two. It can be read sequentially - consuming each section holistically - or chronologically - reading the first part of each section until the story's end and then reading the second part of each section in reverse.

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

An Injection of the Universe

The Yobanashi Girouette | tragedy | Complete

Within every individual lies infinite possibilities. Any number of infinitely small changes in their lives, conscious or unconscious, could result in a wholly different individual, walking a wholly different path. An average person can only guess at what they could've been had things been a little different& But not Michael Ocenar. Every night when Michael goes to sleep, every Michael across all known and unknown universes is there, waiting for him. Whenever he's in trouble, he knows he can switch out, exchanging places with another Michael from another world. But now, the Michaels are dying. One by one, their numbers are dwindling across the countless parallel worlds. But what is causing this sudden string of deaths, and can a multiverse of Michaels come to the answer before they all die out?

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

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

The witch of Cerro Alto

davel.gomoz | horror | Complete

This is my testimony about the day I discovered the horror that lived in Cerro Alto. I wanted to forget about the matter as soon as possible, but today, I believe my words could serve the world. --- Hello! Davel here. This is a Lovecraftian, short story set in my country (M閤ico). The events of the story take place in the same world as in my story "The dweller under the waters", which you can find here in RoyalRoad

4.23 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 10:38

The Antithetical

Druadan | mystery | Complete

"The Antithetical" is a gripping tale of fantasy, horror, and adventure that transports readers to a world where gods and mortals coexist in a tenuous balance. However, when the kingdom of Allano is thrown into chaos and despair, its citizens are driven to madness and the protagonist, an undying being trapped in a place reserved for the broken and wretched, finds a glimmer of hope. Determined to uncover the truth behind the curse plaguing the kingdom, the protagonist embarks on a journey of self-discovery and redemption. As the protagonist delves deeper into the mystery, they encounter incredible obstacles and unearth secrets that challenge their beliefs and push the boundaries of their imagination. Through this journey, the protagonist grapples with themes of identity, morality, and fate, and comes face-to-face with their own limitations. The outcome of their journey is uncertain, but one thing is for certain: they will never be the same person again._____________________________________"The Antithetical" is my first (short) novel. It springs from my love of fantasy, philosophy, Lovecraft and From Software. I hope you enjoy it, and if so, please leave constructive feedback. Please remember that, as I said, The Antithetical is/was my first novel.As Brandon Sanderson said, "If you are a new writer, your job is to turn yourself into a person who can write great novels, NOT write a great novel."I'm not "satisfied" by any means, but I will apply what I've learned to my next novel.

11.16 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 10:40

Forest Trickster

Elizabeth Tschereda | horror | Complete

Deep in a tangled forest spilled out from a sleeping god live our protagonists, Cassie and Angus. Cassie lives a normal village life; Angus lives a life filled with evil cultists, gods, and magical powers. When their lives collide Cassie is forced to flee the only home she has ever known. Can they work together to make up for the mistakes of the past, and defeat the evil cultists once and for all?

19.17 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 12:00

Bitterness, Pity, and a Snowglobe

Fay Voss | horror | Complete

Tragic literary horror originally written for a contest. Written in 2nd person.

0.45 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 11:56

3 AM Anecdote(One-Shot)

LAHIN | mystery | Complete

An eerie car ride that ends abruptly. A short story//one shot.

0.30 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 11:57

Night Stalker - A Tome of Bill Adventure

rickgualtieri | horror | Complete

BEFORE HE WAS TRYING TO SAVE THE WORLD, HE JUST WANTED TO SAVE HIS OWN ASS. Bill Ryder has a problem: the vampires under his rule don't respect him. Unfortunately, in the world of the supernatural, that makes him as good as dead. In order to keep breathing, Bill must become someone else &somethingelse. Enter the Night Stalker, fearsome predator of the undead. In this menacing new guise, Bill hopes to strike terror into the hearts of his detractors. There's only one small issue  reading about superheroes and actually becoming one are completely different things. Bill must take a crash course in all things vigilante. Because if he can't convince his coven they need him, his tenure as an immortal creature of the night will be mighty short indeed. -------- Series note: This novella takes places betweenBill The VampireandScary Dead Things (The Tome of Bill - 2) New chapters posted on M-W-F

15.97 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 18:26

[Portuguese] Midoriya e sua vida

Satoshy | horror | Complete

Com uma midoriya sem sabre acabou com a vida dele vem muitas reviravoltas e intrigas

2.01 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 13:17

Reminiscence

GenXel | psychological | Complete

My website: https://putiancom.wordpress.com This is a short story about revenge or something along the lines. (This is my first story ever written so please go ham at criticising my work.) Death. It is a form of punishment or torture. And can be also be a form of salvation. Ultimately, it forms different perspectives depending on the beholder itself and on how the beholder take it as. Life. A point in time where finding your purpose. Purpose, of life itself and experience its flow, either epiphany or hell. Death. It is an end. A point of no return. It also makes the beholder feel free, breaking away from the chain of life. It makes the beholder recollect and reflect when crossing the boundary between life and death. Boundaries. A place where a path will ultimately, be chosen with or without consideration in the decision, free. . . . A place where recounting life, take it as a feeling. The joys and sorrow accumulated, playing back, making the beholder reexperience life. "Reminiscing."

9.15 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 13:24

A Slice of Life and Other Short Stories

Killerbee442 | contemporary | Complete

One big healthy serving of a slice of life. I saved the best for last.

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

Recovery

Silurian | horror | Complete

Michael Stanton is an overworked husband doing what he has to do to cope with the stress of trying to keep his family.

1.45 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 14:33

Affliction

SealSAURUS | horror | Complete

A News Paper article from the 13th of August, 1927 surfaced recently which details a freak accident in which many detectives go missing while investigating the case of Amber Foul. The paper includes snippets from one detective, Gray Becker's, side of the story. At first glance these writings seem to be nonsensical ramblings but perhaps there is some truth to this story? Affliction is a short story that intends to explore the psychological horror and existential dread that is central to the cosmic horror sub-genre. It follows the investigation of the disappearance of Amber Foul according to Gray Becker.

3.14 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 14:37

Lost Nine Lives

ArcaneSaga | mystery | Complete

Steel Sky is a nation with a large population. And this brings problems in case you happen to confuse a professional private detective with a total amature. Anton Stock got hired to find a missing robot in this massive city. Not knowing that things are going to get out of hand as he gets way over his head!

2.06 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 14:41

I say to you

Makez | mystery | Complete

A couple passes the time in their living room, sitting on a couch together at night.After a totally normal day, on an ordinary, stormy evening...However, everything might not be as it seems. A very short story inspired by the song "Sanon Sinulle", by the Finnish band "Disco".

0.66 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 14:41

Mellified Eternity

Goreman the Gormless | mystery | Complete

The strange record of a cult that worshipped honey and the mysterious death of their leader

0.64 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 14:41

Essokinesis

The Thaumaturge | contemporary | Complete

The fourth entry inThe Thaumaturge series. Jackie, a 17 year-old girl in Nevada, 2023, finds that she suddenly develops pyrokinesis. Kineses are potent superpowers that an extremely small amount of people around the world have developed. Her friend, Paul, who she meets in a government protection program to protect these few superpowered individuals, has a rare kinesis; dimensiokinesis, the ability to open gateways between dimensions. This draws the attention of Phineas, the owner of an extremely rich weapons company, who also secretly harbors a kinesis. This story follows the duo as Phineas attempts to kidnap Paul and utilize his powers for his own mysterious purposes. None of this goes unnoticed by Leviticus. The return of The Thaumaturge is imminent.

4.96 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 15:36

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

7 Envoys of the ends

Belto33 | romance | Complete

They run between languages and writings between various countries, of the existence of 7 sinister assassins so infamous that their visit is synonymous with a certain and unscrupulous death. Each according to the few sources that managed to catch them, were classified and defined as follows. 7. The duellist: The defiant of your last challenge. 6. The spear of judgment: The accurate judgment of heaven. 5. The actor: The one who is your side in good times and bad. 4. The crazy alchemist: The one with the scary poisons and pests 3. The guide: The guide of your own end. 2. The destroyer: The end of the cities. 1. The Death "I will be posting this story on scribblehub.com too" Timeline: the false master of death (at the same time) | not related The folly of a failed magician (at the same time) | not related The ice queen and the nobody (prequel) | insignificant related Hunger of affection (at the same time)| little related

19.52 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 16:15