Shortys2024 Stories

The story of Malcolm and the crack in his wall

[2024 Shorty's Winner] A verse novel that weaves through the woes and wonders of life and experiences - metaphoric to love. It redefines finality to the point that it becomes more like a beginning to second chances. Chase is determined to get her, despite knowing the impossibilities that come through. The more he changed things, the more the patterns remained the same. He believes changing the hows of his desires might change the whats, but would it really? Desirée is more of a wallflower, staying to herself. Always committed to un-cherished relationships, she's only desired as long as she's gone. When she's always chased as a pursuit, but never as a keeper, how long would history repeat itself til she's really loved? A perspective story on how parting ways can reshape another's destiny. The story transitions between two perceptions, hence categorized into Volumes I and II. Trigger Warning: This book contains themes of depression, anxiety, and alcohol and drug use. Readers who may be sensitive to these topics or who are experiencing similar issues might find certain passages distressing. Please proceed with caution and prioritize your well-being while reading.

A collection of sci-fi/adventure short stories for the Shortys Awards 2024

Lilith had been stalling to devour Theodore's soul for two years now. It wasn't supposed to be like this, something was amiss. Something that deviated her from her predatory instinct. Something, a lot like . . . Love. And no now she was on borrowed time. Either she kills him and continue living as an immortal witch or the demoness inside of her devours it's own host.

Bits and Bots, odds and sods, flotsam and jetsam - one-shots, really short contest entries, lyrics for imaginary musicals, poems...random stuff that you don't trash because maybe they'll fit into something bigger one day.

sτєℓℓє cαท∂єτi - sнσστiทg sταrs ɪᴛ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ'ᴛ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴛɪᴍᴇs ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪɴ. ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ɪs sᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟ. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒎𝒚 ❤︎ 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔. (𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔) ❤︎𝑺𝒖𝒃𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔. (𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒔) ❤︎𝑨𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔. (𝒊𝒏 𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔.) 𝑺𝒐 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓, 𝒋𝒖𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒆..... 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈!! ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴄʀᴇᴅɪᴛ - ʟᴀɴᴛᴇᴀ-

Poems, Stories. All my ships adrift, God take 'em- Every selfish wish, God break 'em-

In the vast expanse of South Africa's Karoo, where the earth meets an endless sky, Aria finds herself at the edge of her known world. Seeking refuge from the relentless noise of city life, she instead discovers a landscape alive with hidden rhythms and ancient whispers. Guided by Petrus, an enigmatic old man whose face is etched with the land's history, Aria witnesses the Karoo's secrets unfold under a canopy of stars. As night deepens, spectral dancers emerge, and visions of past lives flicker across the timeless plains. The earth pulses with a 'gumba-gumba' beat, a primal song that resonates in Aria's very bones. By dawn, Aria emerges transformed. The silence she sought reveals itself as a profound symphony of the land's enduring spirit. In the Karoo's red dust and under its vast sky, she finds not emptiness, but a connection to something far greater than herself. It's a tale of awakening, where the land itself becomes both teacher and sanctuary, reminding us that in the heart of silence, the cosmos sings its eternal song.

SHORTYS 2024 Longlister | Based on a prompt from Aim To Engage 2022. Becca Jones lives near a city that is world-renowned for its advanced tech, healthcare, and desirable jobs. Those who enter the city are never seen again. Permanent admittance into the city is decided by a competitive lottery, and her name's just been drawn.

❝ It was the first thing I had noticed when I walked into my room that night. ❞ (submission for the shortys 2024)

A fundraising bake sale is announced at school and lonely, recluse Mina takes on the role as team leader. She honours her late mothers passion for baking, and slowly makes friends, finds love, and breaks out of the shell that has encompassed her since her mothers passing. What starts as bonding with others through their stomachs, soon leads her to reach their hearts, and gain a new outlook on life. She realizes she's not the only one that shares her dream, or that's lost a mother too soon. Written as part of #Shortys2024 Word count: 4997 Started On: August 27, 2024 Completed On: September 1, 2024

The partnerships between the seven kingdoms are more fragile than ever. The « seasouls » , threatened by the warming of the Lorimean Sea, want to take full power and only the union of the seven kingdoms can resist the invasion of these extremely dangerous treacherous creatures. #Shortys2024 - All rights reserved.

In a city where personal AI implants are standard, every citizen relies on their AI for daily functions. Ava, a researcher working on AI-human integration, finds herself in a unique situation with her AI companion, Juno, and a voice she's always heard, known as Echo. Adapted from the prompt "The voice in your head is your only friend. The AI implant is your only ally. And she just started to become sentient."

❝ Love can create magic, and it never truly ends, even when the loved one is gone, It will remain in the memories and in the minds of those left behind, and will continue to inspire, comfort, and guide us. ❞ A young woman's boyfriend, Rain, has moved away for college, and she eagerly awaits his return. She has a vivid dream where they spend a day together, but it's revealed that Rain died in an accident and was given a chance to relive a day with her by "Mr. Time". The dream ends, and she wakes up to a message from Rain's friend informing her of his real-life passing. Despite her grief, she finds solace in the memories of their time together and the magic of their love.

Various contest entries.

"Dixie without family" written by AJCrazyEyes Fable, short story. A fable about family told in the form of poetry. Good reading.

[For The Shortys] When her friend visits her in the new house for the first time, Zahra notices odd things around the house. Her mind instantly goes to her best friend's tendency to pull pranks, but could he be involved? Could his prank be executed with such perfection? Or is it some unknown malicious force waiting to emerge from the shadows? *** A horror-filled Leon Kennedy Fanfiction

Dr. Ethan Carter is a brilliant scientist on the brink of a groundbreaking discovery. But as he stands on the cusp of changing the world, he's faced with a heart-wrenching choice: continue his top-secret project, Chronos, or prioritize the love he's built with Anya. Torn between his lifelong ambition and the woman who has given his life meaning, Ethan must decide whether to pursue the impossible or cherish the possible. Will he choose the future, or the past?

In the sprawling virtual realm of Tarob, a world steeped in Filipino mythology, Amaya, a mysterious fairy capable of shifting between human and tiny forms, finds herself entangled in a dangerous quest with the enigmatic Kaelan. As they delve into the heart of ancient ruins, their shared journey sparks an unexpected connection that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. With Kaelan's commanding presence and Amaya's enchanting allure, their bond deepens through thrilling battles, perilous adventures, and moments of unexpected intimacy. But as the stakes rise and the darkness threatens to consume them, can their love withstand the trials of Tarob? Join Amaya and Kaelan on a heart-pounding adventure filled with magic, danger, and the discovery of love in the most unexpected places.