(If you have problems with LGBTQ+ people don't read this story. The H-word is mentioned but not in a cursing way.)

I walk down the red carpet surrounded by shiny gold walls. To mortal mind it may sound crazy, but she was getting tired of the gold. Every room in the castle besides hers was gold. But since it was her fathers symbolizing color it had to stay that way. Since I was a kid I wanted to g...

"You are adopted."

I stare. "What!" My older brother looks me right in the eyes and repeats,

"You are adopted."

I take a deep breath. My body begins to shake. Shiver.

"I know this is hard," he says, "but it's the truth."

It hurts. My face is red. Anger, sadness, pain. A blend of emotions that I never truly felt to such an extent before. Everything, a lie.

"You're wrong."

"I'm not."

"But you ha...

Name: Elias “Eli” Mercer

Age: 32

Background: Raised in a secluded, tight-knit community with strict traditions and a deep distrust of the outside world. His parents, respected elders, taught him that their way of life was the only true path and that the rest of the world was dangerous and corrupt.

Belief (False Information): Eli firmly believes that the world beyond his community is uninhabitable...

Absolutely

Completely

It’s the truth

No clue

Yes I know

You gotta go

I’m not wrong

Not my song

You are lying

Don’t start crying

Live in the light

Don’t start a fight...

The arrow shoots from my hand, whistling pass my cheek and pass the reverberating wooden bow. It wobbles in the air, twisting as it strikes true. It buries deep in flesh, a gurgling cry of blood the last sound to leave the lips of the tyrant king. His body crumbles, I see his eyes dull before he is surrounded by his advisers, and nobles. I smile, knowing my job is done. I do not flee, like his cow...

Mavis and Teana sat on opposite ends of the sofa in awkward silence. Sipping her jasmine tea, Teana stole a glance up at her mother-in-law’s face. Trent looked so much like his mother when he was disappointed that Teana’s hand shook. Tea splashed Teana’s leg. She yelped and spilled the entire cup on the floor. Leg scalded, Teana hurried to the kitchen.

Soaking cold water onto a cloth, Teana place...

The king sat where he always did, on his large, gilded throne.

He felt like scaring the court jester, just a little. The littlest things helped him create better music, better jokes.“Play for me a song, Joker. You know, I do fear this is our last night in this world together.”

The Joker stumbled in his dance. “Your Majesty,” he bowed. “How do you mean?”

“The court mage told me this morning t...

“Deliver this to the western camp,” the officer said, handing Thomas a scroll that was sealed in wax. “These contain the latest troop movements across Appalachia, and General Amber needs that intelligence before he makes his move.”

Thomas knew little about the war effort, but he was sure the information he carried was vital. Since the beginning, Thomas had yearned to be a part of it and had asked ...

Prying eyes against the window

As young Greg waited on tiptoe

To azure sky betwixt clouds that sway

For some harried bearer on way

Perhaps on hour or day near

With a cherub; a baby dear....

The sign posted on the window reads "GHOSTHUNTING: Now Hiring!"

Blythe should've turned down the dare. Sure, there are mild social consequences for failing to complete the sacred ritual of sleepover games. But quitting her job to apply as a ghosthunter will never be worth the ridicule Blythe is going to face when she applies.

Blythe walks into the shop, and it's deserted. There is not a single sou...