podcast@talesnail.comTaleSnail ContributorsTaleSnail is a website where users write and contribute to each other's stories. This podcast contains text-to-speech translations of those stories to make experiencing these works easy and fun! Visit https://talesnail.com to learn more.en-ushttps://talesnail.comfalseSerialHis head was throbbing.  Thomas had never been more grateful to go home to his bed. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel to avoid drifting into sleep. The painkillers made him feel drowsy, but he had to get Aubrey home safely. She was staring at her palms and hadn’t said a word since they had left her house. He tried to make small talk to ease her nerves, but it felt awkward since they had just buried a corpse. He needed to engage himself somehow, to stay awake and ensure he...Thu, 01 Aug 2024 07:59:46 GMT00:09:38https://talesnail.com/podcasts/273/332/1/the-paranormal-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/273/the-paranormal?pageId=332false“Hello?” “I know your secret”, came the distorted voice from the other end of the line, sending shivers down Delia's spine. “Who's this?” she steadied her voice, not allowing the fear she felt to reflect. “Someone who knows what you did two nights ago” Delia's heart pounded in her ears, blocking out every thought but the one that tried to figure out who was on the other end of the phone and how they knew about what happened two nights ago. She thought of pretending not...Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:21:57 GMT00:08:56https://talesnail.com/podcasts/272/331/1/deadly-secret-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/272/deadly-secret?pageId=331falseJimmy grew up behind locked doors. His only access to the real world, before he struck twelve was the TV and a window in the attic. He hated the attic.  He wasn't a recluse by choice. His parents hadn't thought they would be turning their only child into a recluse either. They hadn't thought of him at all.   When Jimmy's mom had him, he was a bouncing baby boy with the widest of smiles and happy giggles. He rarely cried unless he was hungry or his diaper was full. He never cried when he...Thu, 25 Jul 2024 12:26:56 GMT00:06:46https://talesnail.com/podcasts/271/330/1/roseline-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/271/roseline?pageId=330false"Surround the perimeter!" The commander's voice echoed through the earpods placed in Dorothy Lane's right ear and swiftly she slid out of the police van along with her colleagues. This had to be the best night of her life! For someone who got stuck with pansy jobs like writing tickets and parking duty, she was immensely grateful to be on a heart-pulsing mission. She adjusted her helmet and clutched her gun like it meant her life. Because in a way, it did. "Move, fatty!" An officer hissed...Tue, 23 Jul 2024 22:46:43 GMT00:07:13https://talesnail.com/podcasts/270/329/1/the-policewoman-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/270/the-policewoman?pageId=329falseDerrick hated springtime. He hated the constant rainfall that vacillated between heavy downpours and a drizzle. He, however, enjoyed that the weather gave him an excuse to sit in his office all day and smoke. Sadly, he received a call that he had to answer based on the severity of the situation, snatching him from the comfort of his office. With a coffee in one hand and the other shielding his eyes, he sprinted across the parking lot of the Seattle Police Department to his cruiser. He cussed...Thu, 18 Jul 2024 17:07:35 GMT00:09:38https://talesnail.com/podcasts/269/328/1/the-end-of-the-world-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/269/the-end-of-the-world?pageId=328falseThe lights from the building across the street were on. Kyle gripped his blue ceramic mug fiercely, standing by his window. The tea in it had grown as cold as stone and tasteless. But that didn't bother him. He wasn't going to drink it anyway. He had a job to do.   One job only. A job that had to do with the tall skyscraper opposite the hotel he had rented in the past two months. Well, not the entire building, just the fifth floor and the woman living on it.   The large windows slid open...Tue, 16 Jul 2024 12:04:50 GMT00:06:50https://talesnail.com/podcasts/268/327/1/the-watcher-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/268/the-watcher?pageId=327falseIt was raining cats and dogs outside. The rain was torrential, giving the patrons in the local dive bar an excuse to stay and down another pint. The bar was bubbling with the excitement of those who found shelter from the rain, those who were there to watch the hockey game, or those just there to have a good time. Irina sat at the end of the bar, sipping on her beer bottle. She noticed the glances from the men, they always looked. It often amused her how entranced they were, trying to steal...Thu, 11 Jul 2024 16:14:41 GMT00:09:30https://talesnail.com/podcasts/267/326/1/the-hunt-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/267/the-hunt?pageId=326falseI remember the first friend I had. The memory is vague, distant, long lost in the sea of nerves and neurons that make up my brain.   It is a bit mystifying. The way friendships dissolve like salt in water, either adding flavor or saltiness, or perhaps a bit of both.   My first friend wasn't chosen for any specific reason. We were kids, tiny and three. One minute I was toddling around my mother's kitchen, jumping into the tall containers of water that sat by the wall.   My mother...Tue, 09 Jul 2024 17:16:38 GMT00:08:11https://talesnail.com/podcasts/266/325/1/friends-to-strangers-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/266/friends-to-strangers?pageId=325falseThis is not a love story. If you’re in search of a love story, this isn’t the one.  Don’t be fooled by the way you see him making me laugh, or wish you had what we have when you see us playing together in the park. Don’t wish a man could make you smile with his words the way you see me smiling, don’t do any of it, don’t fall in love because it will only hurt you.  This is not a love story, but it does begin with a boy and a girl. I am the girl sitting on the cliff staring into...Thu, 04 Jul 2024 12:18:11 GMT00:07:45https://talesnail.com/podcasts/265/324/1/served-on-a-platter-of-paper-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/265/served-on-a-platter-of-paper?pageId=324falseShe never liked to fly. She hated it but she also saw the irony in it. She had been in active service for years and still had motion sickness. She opted for more land-based military activities and tried as much as possible to steer away from all sea and air travel. Family visits were strictly by road, and Gerald begrudgingly went along with it, bless him. Heck, before this recent expedition, she couldn’t remember the last time she sat on a flight of any kind, yet here she was on her second...Mon, 01 Jul 2024 23:36:50 GMT00:08:43https://talesnail.com/podcasts/264/323/1/the-obsidian-army-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/264/the-obsidian-army?pageId=323falseOne more step would mean certain death. Literally. I do not mean this figuratively or as any other form of speech. I mean that if I dared to take one more step I would be a pile of meat lying in the woods for a vulture craving barbecue. If all the movies I’ve seen before now were anything to go by and if all the warnings we had been given at camp were real, and if the click I’d heard a while ago was real, then I had just stepped on a landmine. “Let’s go, Ryan, why are you still...Thu, 27 Jun 2024 14:05:18 GMT00:08:42https://talesnail.com/podcasts/263/322/1/one-more-step-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/263/one-more-step?pageId=322falseFifty Cent Roses  Jemima was having a bad day.   First, her two-week-old boyfriend had broken up with her. That didn't bother her as much as the fact that he stole her microwave right before he left her apartment. She hadn't noticed until she wanted to make breakfast and there was a huge space on the counter where the microwave used to be.   It was her fault anyways, for trusting that a homeless man loved her. More like he loved that she had a roof over her head. She hadn't seen a much...Tue, 25 Jun 2024 15:00:30 GMT00:07:30https://talesnail.com/podcasts/262/321/1/fifty-cent-roses-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/262/fifty-cent-roses?pageId=321falseI never thought I'd be one of those people. You know, the ones who get all choked up over a pet. But here I am, trudging through the desolate streets of New Chicago, with my zombie, Fred, limping along beside me. The sun’s setting, casting long shadows over the ruins, and I’m on my way to see the necromancer. It’s time to put Fred down. Fred wasn’t always a zombie. When I picked him up, he had a little placard in his pants pocket that said he was from a small suburb and was something...Tue, 25 Jun 2024 09:00:55 GMT00:07:56https://talesnail.com/podcasts/261/320/1/mans-new-best-friend-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/261/mans-new-best-friend?pageId=320falseA Night At The Museum  Something moved. I could have sworn that I saw something move from the periphery of my eyes but turning around to inspect it, nothing seemed to be out of place. Nothing except the glass box that was at the entrance of the museum. That had not been there before, I’m pretty sure I would have noticed if it was there. “Bryan!” I called out to the guy in his late 40s with whom I ran night shifts. When I had first taken up this job, I had been scared to run night...Thu, 20 Jun 2024 16:03:11 GMT00:07:03https://talesnail.com/podcasts/260/319/1/a-night-at-the-museum-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/260/a-night-at-the-museum?pageId=319falseThe Gas-N-Go off Route 57 wasn’t so much of a destination as a necessity. Passing through Americana fields of nothingness, the stretch between the southern border of Illinois and the forested hills of Western Tennessee offered some of the most desolate stretches of interstate in the country. Gas stations and diners were few and far between. They were the kind of spots that you only stopped at if it was necessary and made certain not to linger for longer than required.  Yet, the remoteness...Tue, 18 Jun 2024 17:09:21 GMT00:09:05https://talesnail.com/podcasts/259/318/1/the-idiot-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/259/the-idiot?pageId=318falseFatal Passion  He unlocked the front door and walked into the apartment. He looked around the spacious living room with its elegant and tasteful design, the perfect balance of minimalism and modernism. Nicole always had great taste. Heading straight for the kitchen to get something to eat. I'm so famished. He scanned the fridge for something good to munch on. She didn't have much in there. A carton of milk. A bunch of condiments. Store-bought pesto. He hated that she loved the store-bought...Tue, 18 Jun 2024 08:18:25 GMT00:09:33https://talesnail.com/podcasts/258/317/1/fatal-passion-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/258/fatal-passion?pageId=317falseKARA The snow fell on Kara's face as she walked down the lonely streets. It wasn't exactly lonely- people buzzed past her, lost in their tiny bubbles, oblivious to anything else outside their sphere of existence.   That was the way humans were. They saw other people as an extension of themselves. If she were friends with any of them now, perhaps she would matter. They would notice that her eyes were lined with snowflakes. They would notice that her skin had turned pale from cold, and her...Thu, 13 Jun 2024 20:21:23 GMT00:07:55https://talesnail.com/podcasts/257/316/1/kara-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/257/kara?pageId=316falseI could kill someone right now. That's the thought going through my head as my sleep is interrupted for the second time this morning. The first time, Audrey, my roommate, was preparing for a gym date with her new boyfriend and forced my eyes open to help her pick a gym wear. And now, it seems like she's responsible, again. I get out of bed ready to yell at her as I charge out of our room. I'm stopped in my tracks when I hear a voice that sounds all too familiar. It's the voice of a man I...Tue, 11 Jun 2024 13:27:18 GMT00:07:49https://talesnail.com/podcasts/256/315/1/in-another-life-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/256/in-another-life?pageId=315falseAs I listened to the incessant ticking of the clock on the wall in the reception area, I actively repressed the urge to vomit. There’s just something about office spaces with their reflective linoleum tile, fluorescent lighting, and cheap Renoir knockoff paintings hanging on eggshell-painted walls that makes me physically ill. The tapping of my shoe against the floor could surely be mistaken for nerves but in reality, it was what one fired therapist referred to as a “grounding...Tue, 11 Jun 2024 11:55:49 GMT00:09:00https://talesnail.com/podcasts/255/314/1/the-interview-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/255/the-interview?pageId=314falseLuther hated his job.  He hated that it necessitated him sucking up to people, putting on a façade of interest or a faux liking for whatever topic interested them. Whenever people asked him what he did he told them he worked in public relations.  He chuckled internally whenever he’d say it. It was a public relations of sorts. He never really got into details about his job though, and he realized over time that they never really cared that he didn’t. They were much too eager to talk...Thu, 06 Jun 2024 11:01:00 GMT00:08:25https://talesnail.com/podcasts/254/313/1/the-barons-business-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/254/the-barons-business?pageId=313falseThe Weird Couple The rain fell heavy that morning.   I remember climbing down the stairs in twos, my eyes fixed on the house across the street. Mother did say I had a manic obsession with watching people.   Perhaps she was right. Right now though, it doesn't matter.  I had seen the Turners across the street while climbing down the stairs that led up to our home. The newly wed couple that had moved into our neighborhood two months ago. They were always so happy.  Mr Turner was ‘a tall...Tue, 04 Jun 2024 12:17:00 GMT00:07:51https://talesnail.com/podcasts/253/312/1/the-weird-couple-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/253/the-weird-couple?pageId=312falseThe woods were cold and silent baring the quiet murmurs of the expectant crowd. A handful of teenage boys were gathered in an opening at the center of the small thicket of trees, away from the prying eyes of adults. Some of them were first timers who came off the recommendations of frequent attendees. They congregated with eagerness to catch a glimpse of the oddity they heard tales of. The small talk of familiar faces ended abruptly at the sound of rustling leaves. He was here. From the...Thu, 30 May 2024 15:10:38 GMT00:08:20https://talesnail.com/podcasts/252/311/1/the-invisible-boy-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/252/the-invisible-boy?pageId=311falseOn a greasy corner of South Philadelphia stood two iconic culinary institutions. On one corner there was Dimarco’s –– a 200-year-old neighborhood staple that proudly claimed to not only be one of the oldest restaurants in the country but the originator of the “Philly Cheesesteak” a legendary sandwich that accounted for nearly 1/5th of the city’s economy.  On the adjacent corner was Russo’s – another 200-year-old relic of equal fame, that similarly claimed responsibility for...Tue, 28 May 2024 16:03:18 GMT00:09:17https://talesnail.com/podcasts/251/310/1/the-philly-cheese-mistake-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/251/the-philly-cheese-mistake?pageId=310falseThe Eclipse Warp “Tell me you got them!”  Those were Colin Monroe's first words to his father that afternoon. The older man narrowed his green eyes as he stared down at his fourteen year old. He had barely walked through the door. To be clear, he remained one foot in the house and the other out.   “That's all you care about? There's no greeting, no welcome, just—” “Welcome Father,” Colin said in a faux British accent. “I assume your day went well since you are alive at...Sun, 26 May 2024 21:46:00 GMT00:08:18https://talesnail.com/podcasts/250/309/1/the-eclipse-warp-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/250/the-eclipse-warp?pageId=309falseThe offices of Lundquist Capital were always buzzing with activity. The bullpen of cubicles was a seemingly endless depressing row of gray and beige walls in front of beige desks where the fervent soldiers of capitalism duked it out in the trenches.  Phones were constantly ringing. The endless scroll of ticker symbols and prices circumnavigated the office space like a train. The price of pork commodities would fly from one end to the other, while the Nikkei index towed behind. For those who...Tue, 21 May 2024 12:05:19 GMT00:10:20https://talesnail.com/podcasts/249/308/1/goldfish-sachs-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/249/goldfish-sachs?pageId=308falseBrumlock the Vengeful woke with a cry in the night. Animated by his dark desire, he crawled out of his slumber and into the night. He gripped his large broadsword and began his trek towards his quarry. His back cracked several times as he did so. How long had he been asleep? It mattered not. He would have his revenge on Kronn the Bold, and then he would drown this pitiful realm in flame.  Questions swirled through Brumlock’s consciousness. Where was his horde of vassells, waiting on his...Thu, 16 May 2024 06:48:50 GMT00:06:26https://talesnail.com/podcasts/248/307/1/barbarians-end-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/248/barbarians-end?pageId=307falseThe place was said to be haunted before the previous owner received a toe tag down at the morgue. But John Ember wasn’t afraid of a ghost. Generally you needed a house to be haunted, the lot of 644 Margo Lane barely qualified. The previous owner had perished during a freak fire. It took six fire departments over four hours to fight the blaze. The resulting investigation said it was most likely an electrical fire, stemming from an appliance of some sort. Such things were unusual, but they...Wed, 15 May 2024 06:16:00 GMT00:06:11https://talesnail.com/podcasts/247/306/1/how-firm-a-foundation-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/247/how-firm-a-foundation?pageId=306falseMy father’s house was a mess. The countertops were covered in books and littered with dusty Post-it notes. The washing machine rattled the whole house when it ran and if you turned on the kitchen sink while it was running, a pool of water would form at the base. And the winters had not been kind to the front patio deck, where the wanting wood was a hazard even on the driest of days.  The house had been in a state of disrepair for years now and despite my and my sibling's protestations and...Tue, 14 May 2024 14:53:41 GMT00:07:56https://talesnail.com/podcasts/246/305/1/good-boy-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/246/good-boy?pageId=305falseI hadn’t been at my apartment long when I noticed the van. Maybe two or three weeks at the most. I was trying to figure out which neighbors drove which cars, and no matter how I figured it, I always come out with one extra. It didn’t take me long to figure out which one was the extra. A rusted gray van sat at the very edge of the parking lot. If I peeled back my blinds, I could usually see it without too much trouble.  Its design had gone out of fashion sometime around the mid-90’s....Tue, 07 May 2024 11:46:50 GMT00:07:05https://talesnail.com/podcasts/243/302/1/the-empty-van-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/243/the-empty-van?pageId=302falseDear George,  We haven’t met yet, this is your Uncle. I want to welcome you to the world and I could not be more excited to meet you. First off, my apologies for the circumcision. You’ll thank your parents later for that choice, but I know it’s like getting a brand-new sports car only to have it swapped out for a fuel-efficient Prius (you’ll get the reference one day).  Over the next 40 to 50 years (or until I inevitably slip and fall in the shower) I will be your emotional...Tue, 07 May 2024 11:32:22 GMT00:09:16https://talesnail.com/podcasts/242/301/1/dear-george-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/242/dear-george?pageId=301falseBurritos were a bad idea. I knew it the moment I set foot on the trail, and halfway through my hike, I was seriously regretting my decision. But what can I say? I’d been kicking ass in my marathon training, and I hadn’t had anything that didn’t smell like carrots in the last six weeks. So I celebrated. But thirty minutes later, I was not celebrating. I knew there was no way I could make it back to the car in my current condition. I needed to go to the bathroom. The problem was, the...Thu, 02 May 2024 06:09:18 GMT00:06:47https://talesnail.com/podcasts/241/300/1/the-outhouse-on-trail-9-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/241/the-outhouse-on-trail-9?pageId=300falseAs Michael leaned against the edifice of a vibrantly colored, 18th-century, French-colonial townhouse to relieve himself, he was hardly concerned with the history of the streets where he found himself pissing.  The cobblestone-lined corridors of the French Quarter felt like a step back in time. The beautiful, Creole-style architecture had remained relatively unchanged for three centuries. Multicolored houses and steel-framed balconies stayed illuminated by the ominous flickering of the same...Wed, 01 May 2024 17:05:53 GMT00:08:53https://talesnail.com/podcasts/240/299/1/madame-duboise-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/240/madame-duboise?pageId=299falseGuard duty was always a bore on base, until this night. I’ll never forget this night. Being an MP mostly consisted of yelling at, and occasionally arresting, drunk assholes on the base. That part at least got my adrenaline (and sometimes blood pressure) running. But by far the worst part was junkyard duty.  There was a lot for decommissioned vehicles on the south side off the base. These were bases that had been trashed in fire fights overseas, and damaged beyond any hope of repair. Now...Mon, 29 Apr 2024 06:17:48 GMT00:06:05https://talesnail.com/podcasts/239/298/1/decommissioned-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/239/decommissioned?pageId=298falseI started my shift fitting my chainmail armor over my clothes. I grab a spear and shield from the weapon’s rack. It’s only after I leave that I realize the shaft of the spear is still stained with goblin blood. What a wonderful start to the day. I can’t do anything about it now. I report to the front gate. The first part of my shift goes by fast. There is a steady flow of merchants and travelers entering the city. No one starts any trouble. It’s just fast-paced enough to keep me...Thu, 25 Apr 2024 06:21:00 GMT00:06:07https://talesnail.com/podcasts/237/296/1/guard-duty-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/237/guard-duty?pageId=296falseA passing driver found it on the morning complaint. Well, to be fair, he technically didn’t “find” all of it . . . that came much later. The driver complained about a tarp blocking his commute on a narrow patch of road. He said he had to pull over to the shoulder to avoid the massive, bumpy tarp. The only problem was this particular section of highway didn’t have much in the way of a shoulder - just a foot at most of tan stone before you plunged into the river. On the other side of...Wed, 24 Apr 2024 05:59:28 GMT00:05:58https://talesnail.com/podcasts/236/295/1/road-work-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/236/road-work?pageId=295falseMax awoke with a groan. The piercing sunlight that danced between the blinds had made its way across the bed, bringing him to sit up and grab at the throbbing pain in his head. His eyes were fuzzy and his mouth was dry in a way that seemed only achievable through ingesting sand. Weirder still was the mystery of his pants and underwear which somewhat concerningly seemed to have disappeared. It wasn’t until his eyes finally adjusted to the morning light that his severely hungover brain began...Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:48:46 GMT00:09:02https://talesnail.com/podcasts/235/294/1/breaking--entering-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/235/breaking--entering?pageId=294falseLet me start by saying I’ve made some bad choices in life. And let me further that thought that expressing that I’ve been the victim of many bad things. Some were a result of the former, while others were simply the result of random bad luck.  A combination of the two left me on the streets with no place to go. Generally I found myself sleeping under bridges. To say I preferred it that way was a gross understatement. If I had my preference, I’d curl up in a soft bed with a roof over...Mon, 22 Apr 2024 06:10:56 GMT00:06:21https://talesnail.com/podcasts/234/293/1/maximum-occupancy-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/234/maximum-occupancy?pageId=293falseIt started last week when I was jogging. We had a series of bad storms in our area. Nothing too out of the ordinary for the Midwest. After all, when you live in a place literally called Tornado Alley, you’re used to the weather turning on a dime.  The storm damage wasn’t too bad. It was just a couple of busted windows and a few bent satellite dishes. Nothing a few insurance claims couldn’t fix. Once the temperature started warming up, I donned my workout gear and headed out the door....Thu, 18 Apr 2024 06:08:07 GMT00:06:10https://talesnail.com/podcasts/233/292/1/paw-prints-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/233/paw-prints?pageId=292falseArthur had 10 hours to make words magically appear on the screen in front of him. Somewhere between his 3rd cup of coffee and pulling his hair out, he heard the faint voice of his dead grandmother ringing in his head. “A writer?” she’d ask with fear. “But how will you eat? How will you feed your children? How will you find a woman? Can’t you just go to dental school like your cousin Louis? Or be an accountant like your cousin Stefanie? Or a lawyer like your father? You can write...Wed, 17 Apr 2024 14:36:21 GMT00:09:29https://talesnail.com/podcasts/232/291/1/writers-block-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/232/writers-block?pageId=291falseI started my day, like any other, by ringing the door spell. A litany of spikes, arrows and swords greeted me. I dodged them as best I could before bending backward to avoid the long reach of the guillotine blade which curved towards my neck level in a climax of blades. While my client had given me the means to disable the security features at the door, they were much too complicated for me to follow. Thus, I decided the best way to get in was simply memorize the pattern of the defenses on...Mon, 15 Apr 2024 06:16:05 GMT00:05:44https://talesnail.com/podcasts/231/290/1/cleaning-service-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/231/cleaning-service?pageId=290falseAbdiel didn’t quite know how it happened. One moment he was soaring through the clouds of the seventh level of heaven, the next he was sitting in a ratty recliner in the middle of a basement in the middle of New Jersey. A bearded man in a stained sleeveless shirt sat opposite of him, with a bag of Cheetos on his lap. At first the man looked every bit as surprised as he did. Then his surprise turned into something else. Pure joy. “I have done it. My ritual has worked! I have summoned the...Thu, 11 Apr 2024 06:22:28 GMT00:09:06https://talesnail.com/podcasts/230/289/1/abdiels-deal-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/230/abdiels-deal?pageId=289falseIt washed up on shore after the last rain. We found it the next morning. Its massive gray form pushed onto the riverbank, its stone skin still being pounded by the mid-morning waves.  It was the statue of the troll. As a city official, I was called out to investigate. I couldn’t fathom how it happens. In a lot of ways, I still can’t, even after all this time. The troll statue measured twenty feet tall and fifteen feet wide. It had a big gray nose, pearly teeth perfect for gnashing. The...Wed, 10 Apr 2024 12:52:32 GMT00:08:01https://talesnail.com/podcasts/229/288/1/no-trolls-in-wisconsin-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/229/no-trolls-in-wisconsin?pageId=288falseSteven awoke to the same ringing in his ear that he heard before blacking out. His lower jaw ached and a disorienting sense of dizziness ran throughout his entire body. His eyes were still blinded by the brightness of the room he found himself in – a minimalist space with large ivory objects throughout. A dangling white light extended from the ceiling with a thick, rubbery cord that moved like a snake. Its bulb pulsated and blinked like an eye. It startled him at first and he retreated...Wed, 10 Apr 2024 05:36:30 GMT00:10:31https://talesnail.com/podcasts/228/287/1/probing-for-answers-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/228/probing-for-answers?pageId=287falseI found Don Gustov in the usual place, at his high-end watering house on the East Side. I was roughly ushered into his presence by several of his goons. He looked at me while eating linguini with his bare hands, licking it off his fingers in disgusting fashion. To say Don Gustov was not a small man was like saying the Titanic was not a sailboat. He was a massive man in richly-tailored clothes, flanked by several large, muscular men in suits that seemed barely large enough to hold their...Mon, 08 Apr 2024 06:13:33 GMT00:07:33https://talesnail.com/podcasts/227/286/1/silver-bullet-special-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/227/silver-bullet-special?pageId=286falseI hastily assembled my equipment before ducking out of the door. Social media reported a meteor landing several kilometers deep in the woods, approximately ten kilometers from the edge of town. I knew I had to move fast. The government wouldn’t be far behind, and beyond them, the media.  In one hand I held a small cooler filled with all the instrumentation I could afford, while in the other, I carried a radiation detector. One couldn’t be too careful. Still, I was determined to get...Thu, 04 Apr 2024 06:00:23 GMT00:05:32https://talesnail.com/podcasts/226/285/1/the-crater-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/226/the-crater?pageId=285falseThe Keepsake was a dimly lit pub on the banks of the Gulber Wick - a waterway that ran through the rugged Shetland Islands of Northern Scotland. A step through the narrow entryway felt like a journey back in time. Its 17th-century infrastructure had remained more or less intact but couldn’t accommodate the wiring for modern electricity. Instead, The Keepsake got by on lanterns and candles fixed upon counters, booths, and tables. It had no specialty cocktails, nor fancy craft brews - just a...Tue, 02 Apr 2024 15:20:03 GMT00:10:04https://talesnail.com/podcasts/225/284/1/the-shetland-prodigy-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/225/the-shetland-prodigy?pageId=284falseHunting the dead is a pain in the ass when you’ve skipped leg day.  We got the call at 0400 hours. Another outbreak, this time in Pennsylvania. This time it was runners. The entire company groaned. Everyone hated runners. The company dispersed for operational preparations. For my part, I slammed open the locker room door with a frustrated slap. It was bad enough my leave had been canceled due to this shit. I stripped down to my undies and put on my fatigues, followed by flak jacket and...Mon, 01 Apr 2024 06:01:08 GMT00:06:12https://talesnail.com/podcasts/224/283/1/dead-cell-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/224/dead-cell?pageId=283falseThe fall colors blurred like a kaleidoscope even with my eyes closed.  Was I dead? It was an honest question. Nowadays the dead coming back to life was old news. I opened my eyes and looked down on my wrinkles, only to see plenty of liver spots. I was still one of the living. For now.  I surveyed the damage from the driver’s seat, observing the front of my car smashed into a tree off the wooded path. My supplies lay scattered throughout the trunk and back seat. I had no idea what kind of...Thu, 28 Mar 2024 04:55:45 GMT00:07:52https://talesnail.com/podcasts/223/282/1/final-memorial-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/223/final-memorial?pageId=282falseThe clock behind Dr. Selby’s head seemed to move in slow motion. Every appointment started out the same way – he’d ask how I felt, I’d tell him some variation of “fine”, and then complain about something trivial that could be solved with medication or different parents.  By the 50th minute of our sessions, we’d reach a point where he’d start reciting things he’d like to discuss for next time and I’d nod as he delivered a profound observation about the way my brain...Tue, 26 Mar 2024 11:43:47 GMT00:08:42https://talesnail.com/podcasts/222/281/1/in-session-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/222/in-session?pageId=281false“It’s over, Grosbek!” Kestrel’s voice boomed through the sky. “Not while I still live,” I cried. “And you die!” It was a sub-par line - far from my best work - but I had more pressing concerns, like making the drop-off. My archnemesis Kestrel, the hero of Falcon’s Point, streaking across the sky in his brown and white costume. I braced for his impact in midair, my long cape falling just above the rocket boots which kept me suspended seventy feet into the air. The sleek...Thu, 21 Mar 2024 05:30:48 GMT00:05:47https://talesnail.com/podcasts/221/280/1/the-drop-off-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/221/the-drop-off?pageId=280falseI’ll never forget that night.  I was still paired with Bob Simmons, a veteran of the force by twenty years. The chief told me he’d seen it all, from riots in Los Angeles to Presidential visits in big cities across the country. I’d learn from him, he told me. That was true, in its own way. In the end, I learned what not to do. It was the last call of the night. We were responding to a noise complaint in the north side of town. This was a quiet, upscale side of town. Older houses...Wed, 20 Mar 2024 06:08:56 GMT00:06:50https://talesnail.com/podcasts/220/279/1/house-call-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/220/house-call?pageId=279falseAt first, I thought Ms. Hannah to be a godsend. Amidst the chaos of raising two children, her videos became an invaluable part of our parenting. Sometimes she was a currency to be bartered with and any parent would tell you that the hardest negotiations don’t take place in a corporate boardroom or at some G8 summit but in the bathtubs, bedrooms, and living rooms of your home.   “If you don’t brush your teeth, no Ms. Hannah.”  “If you don’t listen to Mommy and Daddy then you...Tue, 19 Mar 2024 16:27:12 GMT00:08:34https://talesnail.com/podcasts/219/278/1/ms-hannahs-lullaby-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/219/ms-hannahs-lullaby?pageId=278falseWhen I finished moving into the apartment on sixth street, my landlord gave me one piece of advice: don’t park under the large walnut tree at the edge of the property. Normally this wouldn’t be an issue. After all, I had my own assigned parking space a short distance away. I never questioned my landlord’s advice. I figured since it was a walnut tree, previous tenants had an issue with following objects damaging their vehicles. If I had only known… It wasn’t what the tree...Mon, 18 Mar 2024 06:17:32 GMT00:06:12https://talesnail.com/podcasts/218/277/1/the-taking-tree-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/218/the-taking-tree?pageId=277falseI remember the day I saw it. I was watching my parent’s dog Annie. She was a medium-sized golden retriever who was, like most golden retrievers, exuberant and energetic beyond all measure. Unlike most golden retrievers, however, Annie was afraid of just about everything. Everything from inflatable holiday decorations to an errant plastic bag floating into the yard were sufficient to send Annie into full fire alarm barking spree, much to my parents’ annoyance.  Thus, I couldn’t really...Thu, 14 Mar 2024 06:46:06 GMT00:07:16https://talesnail.com/podcasts/217/276/1/bipedal-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/217/bipedal?pageId=276falseThe rumors about Professor G.W. Stephens were as weird as they were eclectic. Some said that he had murdered his first wife and buried her in the middle of the quad and that on the anniversary of her death, would sit and toast on the exact spot with champagne.  Others claimed that he was actually a deep-state, CIA operative sent to infiltrate and dispel anti-government sentiment through brainwashing.  There was the one about him being a television writer who was chased out of Hollywood...Tue, 12 Mar 2024 10:35:50 GMT00:09:40https://talesnail.com/podcasts/216/275/1/no-more-fng-vampires-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/216/no-more-fng-vampires?pageId=275falseI’ll never forget what I found walking through the woods on that crisp spring evening. There was a moderate chill in the air that night. The season hadn’t finished turning. The night came quicker than it would in the long summer nights ahead. That should have been my first clue to stay clear. I had been cooped at work, taking so many extra hours I had become stir-crazy. I needed to get out for some exercise and fresh air, so I took the first opportunity I could to get out. I ended up...Mon, 11 Mar 2024 07:16:28 GMT00:06:31https://talesnail.com/podcasts/215/274/1/the-rattle-of-teeth-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/215/the-rattle-of-teeth?pageId=274falseMartinez crouched behind the concrete barrier. The fading evening sun cast the world in an ember glow. Martinez checked the battery life on his night vision. He’d be needing it tonight more than ever.  Ahead of him, Henries and two other team members held their weapons at the ready. Most were crouched on their knees or squatting behind the barrier. Martinez checked his watch. They only had five minutes before sun down. Then it was go-time. “What’s our official cover again?” someone...Wed, 06 Mar 2024 05:41:54 GMT00:07:53https://talesnail.com/podcasts/214/273/1/killbox-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/214/killbox?pageId=273falseMike’s rusty, 2004 Honda Civic was a piece of shit.  With over 150,000 miles, it was a miracle that it still ran. In fact, Mike was convinced that he could start it underwater. Throughout its life, the Civic had seen its fair share of adventures –– road trips to and from college, the awkward rocking cadence and foggy windows of adolescent sex, spilled McDonald’s fries wedged between the seats after a stoned, late-night bout of munchies, first loves, breakups, jam sessions, teething...Tue, 05 Mar 2024 10:06:09 GMT00:09:25https://talesnail.com/podcasts/213/272/1/guru-steves-path-to-enlightened-relationships-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/213/guru-steves-path-to-enlightened-relationships?pageId=272falseIt must be a dream, Dave thought. That was the only logical, rational explanation.  But it wasn't. As Dave stepped onto the wobbly, cheap wooden ladder, he saw the telltale signs of what he saw last night. With every step he took on the barely stable ladder, Dave saw more evidence confirming what he had seen the night before. As his calf muscle pushed on the ladder, his whole body raised up, ascending him closer and closer to the terrifying reality. Everything else in the apartment was as...Mon, 04 Mar 2024 05:34:40 GMT00:08:39https://talesnail.com/podcasts/212/271/1/the-spider-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/212/the-spider?pageId=271false17-Across was wrong. It had to be. 12-down was nine letters for “head of a tribe” - obviously “CHIEFTAIN” - and Max had correctly scribbled it in, albeit with shaky hands. If 12-down was correct, that meant 17-across had an “I” at the fifth letter.  “Goddammit,” Max muttered to himself as he tapped his pen on the coffee mug in front of him. Jean, a waitress as much a deli staple as the worn, checkered linoleum floor she worked across, approached pot in hand. “More coffee...Tue, 27 Feb 2024 09:30:36 GMT00:07:59https://talesnail.com/podcasts/211/270/1/the-delicatessen-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/211/the-delicatessen?pageId=270falseRaymond Mankowitz lay dying in his bed. At 95 years old, he had been sequestered in his room for nearly a week as hospice care gently guided his transition. His loved ones gathered, three generations deep – children, grandkids, and great-grandkids all paid their respects in his final days. Koko, the Bahamian hospice nurse often said that the “spirit wouldn’t leave until it says its goodbyes”. She told stories of patients who waited days or weeks to pass just until they could say...Tue, 20 Feb 2024 15:15:49 GMT00:07:55https://talesnail.com/podcasts/210/269/1/theres-no-shrapnel-in-heaven-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/210/theres-no-shrapnel-in-heaven?pageId=269falseI got meme’d on a Tuesday. I don’t know why, but I previously thought virality was exclusively a weekend phenomenon. So imagine my surprise when I awoke to 208,765 notifications, 150,000 new followers, and 37 missed calls from friends and loved ones and still had to roll out of bed and into work as if nothing had happened.  The walk from the elevator to my cubicle was reminiscent of navigating a high school cafeteria where you’re the secret being talked about. Covered whispers, random...Tue, 13 Feb 2024 15:44:17 GMT00:09:29https://talesnail.com/podcasts/207/266/1/memed-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/207/memed?pageId=266false"This looks like a nuisance lawsuit. Plus, it's copyright infringement. That's far from what we do," said the old lawyer. "Wait," said the young lawyer, "You're missing the big picture. Even if we lose, this will be our most valuable client." The old lawyer shifted in her seat. She'd hired the young lawyer for a reason. "Okay then, she started." Tell me the story." ----------------------------------------- I met John while I was at Brown, and he was at the Rhode Island School of Design. He...Sat, 10 Feb 2024 10:21:17 GMT00:09:20https://talesnail.com/podcasts/206/265/1/a-copywritten-hero-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/206/a-copywritten-hero?pageId=265falseEmma was engrossed in reading the latest book by horror author Sara Siu. These books were romance novels with a dash of true crime and only a thin horror veneer. The latest book was titled "Polyamorous Paradox." Only 20 pages in, she feared this would be another vampire tale. She hated vampires. She had always enjoyed reading these books in a bright, crowded space, where it was easy to "escape" if things got intense. Today, Emma was at The Drip Den, home to a maple, bacon, and oat milk latte...Wed, 07 Feb 2024 17:40:46 GMT00:08:13https://talesnail.com/podcasts/205/264/1/the-braincase-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/205/the-braincase?pageId=264falseDennis Kozlowski fancied himself to be the most interesting man in Oneida County. His family’s parcel sat amongst a group of dairy farmers on a small chain of lakes in Sugar Camp, Wisconsin. Koz took pride in explaining its history to any unsuspecting barstool occupant who wandered too close. Affectionately referred to simply as “Koz” the entire town had heard his stories. Ordering a pint with a side of Koz’s tales had become a right of passage. His greatest hits were known far and...Tue, 06 Feb 2024 07:08:20 GMT00:09:17https://talesnail.com/podcasts/202/261/1/the-cobra-of-oneida-county-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/202/the-cobra-of-oneida-county?pageId=261falseMosley heard about the world's end on the radio while driving home. It surprised her but didn't upset her, not at first. She walked into the grubby apartment she shared with her friend, Artie. He sat in his beat-up armchair reading on his Kindle. Without acknowledging him, she slipped off her shoes, dropped her keys on the floor, shimmied out of her pants, and took her bra off through her sleeve. This apathetic undressing in the living room was not her usual behavior. Artie looked at her,...Sat, 03 Feb 2024 20:46:47 GMT00:07:50https://talesnail.com/podcasts/201/260/1/welcome-to-aftermath-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/201/welcome-to-aftermath?pageId=260falseThe tinted-window SUV rolled down the dirty asphalt between warehouse buildings. The car door opened, and reporter Chris Lippard was deposited at a set of cement stairs leading to a bland pair of steel grey double doors on rusty hinges. It was all bland and ultimately forgettable. No numbers, letters, or other signs indicated this was the studio of revolutionary BioArtist Laurent Steif. Of course, nothing this anonymous is accidental. Lippard had undergone a lengthy background check and...Wed, 31 Jan 2024 19:33:22 GMT00:09:18https://talesnail.com/podcasts/200/259/1/mixed-feelings-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/200/mixed-feelings?pageId=259falseWhen the main mast fell, Thomas had been in his quarters. The ink from his quil had barely touched the parchment – getting only as far as “My dearest Clara” before the relentless swells upended his cabin. The loud snap of the main mast’s wood sounded like one of the canons being fired. Waves nearly six meters high bombarded the ship's wooden hull like a boxer delivering blow after blow.  The water in his cabin was nearly waist-high. Thomas waded across the tiny room, scrambling to...Tue, 30 Jan 2024 14:22:05 GMT00:08:18https://talesnail.com/podcasts/199/258/1/the-oracle-of-oslo-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/199/the-oracle-of-oslo?pageId=258falseLooking up from his phone, he realized he was in line for a club. "Wait," he thought, "where am I?" A large man in black with a shaved head chastised the man in front of him for trying to bring a water bottle. "No outside liquids, man; you gotta' throw that away." "The bottle is mine. Can I bring that in?" "Sure, but you gotta' dump the liquid." The kid then started to move toward the trash can in the entryway. "Nah, dude, you gotta dump the liquid outside, not in the trashcan." This...Sat, 27 Jan 2024 19:19:21 GMT00:09:51https://talesnail.com/podcasts/198/257/1/a-room-full-of-life-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/198/a-room-full-of-life?pageId=257falseThey unloaded their bags in the back entryway of her house. It had been a fun, tiring day at the mall. Nine-year-old Adira even revealed some issues she had with her friends. Because of these issues, Aunt Née had decided to teach her niece Adira "the" brownie recipe. It was time to pass on the wisdom Yumi and Née had learned from their mom. The recipe was simple, thoughtful, and good for sorting out issues with friends. Ever since Yumi, her sister, and Adira's mom passed, the young woman...Wed, 24 Jan 2024 14:44:13 GMT00:08:50https://talesnail.com/podcasts/197/256/1/five-pounds-of-creatures-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/197/five-pounds-of-creatures?pageId=256falseSTEP #1:  Contract the illness at the most inconvenient time. Why would you want to spend your well-deserved vacation lying on a beach, tossing back a few daiquiris and sucking face with the girl of your dreams when you could be lying in bed and popping Advil every six hours? Mono is fun! “How can mono be fun” you might ask? Well if Dane Cook can be ‘hilarious’ and FOX News can be considered ‘informative journalism’, than mononucleosis can certainly be fun.  But fair warning,...Wed, 24 Jan 2024 04:08:31 GMT00:09:17https://talesnail.com/podcasts/196/255/1/how-to-survive-mononucleosis-while-infecting-those-around-you-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/196/how-to-survive-mononucleosis-while-infecting-those-around-you?pageId=255falseThrough it all, the planet had continued spinning through the cosmic void. Ahmed didn't keep a calendar, but if his reading of the stars was correct, it had been around four thousand years since the last human breath. But, like the planet, Ahmed was still here. Was this grim anniversary a cause for some sort of celebration? How do you properly commemorate the death of a species? Some might argue that humanity was as cool as dinosaurs. Dinosaurs had nuggets molded in their image. It didn't...Fri, 19 Jan 2024 17:10:33 GMT00:09:09https://talesnail.com/podcasts/194/253/1/last-ghost-first-contact-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/194/last-ghost-first-contact?pageId=253falseIt was a hip restaurant with exposed brick walls and artificially composed graffiti. It was crowded, with dim lighting and a loud hip-hop soundtrack. Yet all this visual and acoustic noise couldn't hide that Kayla's date, Austin, was surrounded by a ghostly herd of cows. "I don't mean to be rude," said Kayla diplomatically, "This is just a first date, and we're getting to know each other - but I think you may not be a vegetarian." As she said this, a beefy black Angus phantasm lifted its...Wed, 17 Jan 2024 16:48:08 GMT00:08:04https://talesnail.com/podcasts/192/250/1/food-fright-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/192/food-fright?pageId=250falseThe journey to the ashram at the top of Karinboque Peak is perilous to say the least. One 14-hour plane ride, a 10-hour train, 2.5 hrs by van, and you’ve finally reached the base of this mountain at the edge of the world. Despite its inhospitable nature, the area is a political hotbed lying on the border between China and the Uttarakhand state of Northern India. In the winter, temperatures can drop to -50 degrees Fahrenheit, and impromptu blizzards and avalanches have claimed the lives of...Tue, 16 Jan 2024 10:02:58 GMT00:08:37https://talesnail.com/podcasts/189/247/1/on-top-of-the-world-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/189/on-top-of-the-world?pageId=247falseRey King had a rough morning, and it was only 4:55 AM. For starters, a delivery had been left out in the rain overnight. The floors had also not been swept or mopped the night before. Lastly, someone had sprayed "gravy" (not gravy) with a super soaker all over the bathroom. "Donut Stop" donut shop was located just off the highway. A small place owned by a semi-retired couple, it specialized in cafinating commuters. Hiram, one of the owners, would often say proudly, "Donut Stop; it's the stop...Sat, 13 Jan 2024 09:45:05 GMT00:08:17https://talesnail.com/podcasts/188/246/1/the-philosophy-of-adekwasity-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/188/the-philosophy-of-adekwasity?pageId=246falseIt was a first date, and it was not going well. Even the server ignored the couple so as not to ruin what was otherwise a pretty good shift. She was pure "Burberry Becky." He wore creased blue jeans with a red and black checked collared shirt beneath a gray houndstooth wool vest. It was an odd clash of prep school and the great outdoors. He picked the shirt because it was the only clean collared shirt he owned, and the vest was how he'd "dressed up" since 1998. With his large black glasses,...Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:15:46 GMT00:09:09https://talesnail.com/podcasts/186/244/1/loves-letters-lost-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/186/loves-letters-lost?pageId=244falseThe last barstool at Callahan’s was as worn as the flickering neon sign that hung outside. The once vibrant red leather had cracked and worn having faded after countless hours of supporting the asses of whatever unfortunate individual sought refuge there. It was the most unimpressive object in the most unassuming establishment - a warped piece of wood that could’ve been found in any watering hole in the world yet somehow found itself tucked into the corner of a Northside neighborhood...Tue, 09 Jan 2024 09:28:02 GMT00:08:00https://talesnail.com/podcasts/184/242/1/closing-time-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/184/closing-time?pageId=242falseIn 2024, an AI was fed the complete works of George Bernard Shaw, Winston Churchill, and Napoleon. It then spits this out: "History is a fable repeated by the victors. Yet, one must always expect the unexpected. We can thus conclude that being illiterate or ignorant of one's own parables is a component of winning. Intelligence is not required for victory." Was this wisdom... or was it gibberish? Our story begins far in the future when everything you know has been turned to dust. This is the...Sat, 06 Jan 2024 17:14:59 GMT00:08:54https://talesnail.com/podcasts/183/241/1/the-last-war-after-the-next-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/183/the-last-war-after-the-next?pageId=241falsePart of going home for the holidays is traveling on streets you went down a million times as a child and realizing they're not the same streets. Gordon, Massachusetts, is one of those places that only exists as a liminal space. You arrive there only to go on to the next location. There is little to stop for; even if it was home at one point, there isn't a reason to return. Even if you own a home there, thanks to time and money, you're really only ever renting. "So wait, where are you going...Tue, 02 Jan 2024 15:21:55 GMT00:07:32https://talesnail.com/podcasts/182/240/1/midnight-spaghetti-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/182/midnight-spaghetti?pageId=240falseFrom the offices of Simon, Howell, Liebowitz, & Klein: I (state your name) ESQ. serving as the legal representative and executor for the estate, have summoned you here today to bear witness to the Last Will & Testament of Sadie Francine Hochwarter.  This document is binding and its content is constructed in accordance with and governed by the state of Illinois and its laws. Any disputes regarding this document, the vast estate or its disbursement shall be settled under the jurisdiction of...Sat, 30 Dec 2023 11:43:10 GMT00:08:44https://talesnail.com/podcasts/181/239/1/the-last-will--testament-of-sadie-f-hochwarter-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/181/the-last-will--testament-of-sadie-f-hochwarter?pageId=239falseIt wasn't who I needed it to be. Jack hasn't answered but it did from behind the door. It said my name as if it knew me well. It's grotesque vocalization of mouthing my name made me want to scream "HURRY UP!" into the phone but I knew that would do no good, after all, Jack couldn't hear me to make the connection that I wanted him here and fast before something I'd regret happened. I just stood there with the phone to my ear, praying that Jack would answer soon. "Hey Marie," It said. "I'm...Sat, 30 Dec 2023 07:29:25 GMT00:04:24https://talesnail.com/podcasts/157/230/2/if-it-calls-your-name-dont-answer-page-2.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/157/if-it-calls-your-name-dont-answer?pageId=230falseHis phone screen was filled with white Helvetica text that popped against a dreamy, stylized night sky. "Please turn on your device's microphone. Then, answer the following prompts as extensively as possible. There is no time limit." Immediately, Josh panicked and thought, "Maybe that means there's a time limit?" The screen text shifted. "The following questions concern confrontation and your ability to communicate needs and wants." Meghan sat across the room. She wore headphones and sat in...Fri, 29 Dec 2023 17:37:56 GMT00:08:05https://talesnail.com/podcasts/180/238/1/the-art-of-the-date-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/180/the-art-of-the-date?pageId=238falseIn the darkened alleys of New Orleans, where shadows whispered ancient secrets, and the scent of blood lingered in the humid air, lived a formidable vampire killer named Seraphina Nightshade. Born into a long line of vampire hunters, Seraphina had dedicated her life to eradicating the undead, seeking revenge for the night her family was slaughtered by a particularly vicious vampire clan. Seraphina was a striking figure, with raven-black hair that cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall...Fri, 29 Dec 2023 12:02:49 GMT00:09:45https://talesnail.com/podcasts/179/237/1/forbidden-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/179/forbidden?pageId=237falseJULY 14, 1998: My name is Maggie Borghildr Melville. I'm 13 and from East Rochester, New York. Mom, Dad, and I visited Durand Eastman Beach for a picnic today. Dad told me a story about a thing that lives in this lake called a Gaasyendietha (I looked up). A giant serpent that the Seneca people say is in Lake Ontario. Dad says it flew here on a trail of fire and spits fire. He says it came from space. Mom says Dad's joking. Mom gave me this journal because she says I don't think before I...Thu, 28 Dec 2023 07:32:02 GMT00:08:03https://talesnail.com/podcasts/175/231/1/maggies-fish-story-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/175/maggies-fish-story?pageId=231falseIn the heart of Eldoria's bustling cityscape, the clash between Isabella Sterling, the formidable corporate lawyer, and Alexander "Alex" Bennett, the audacious tech entrepreneur, took on a complexity that rivaled the city's intricate skyline. Their rivalry, initially confined to the courtroom, overflowed into every facet of their lives. Snarky comments and pointed remarks became their preferred mode of communication. Isabella's razor-sharp wit collided head-on with Alex's playful banter,...Wed, 20 Dec 2023 12:32:47 GMT00:10:22https://talesnail.com/podcasts/174/229/1/law-of-attraction-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/174/law-of-attraction?pageId=229falseI’ve kinda’ always wanted my own destiny. It’s a delicious idea that you’re surrounded by a garden of delectable fruits, vegetables, and tubers - and somewhere amongst it is your perfect bite, one perfect collection of flavors and textures that’ll complete you. You meet your match, and destiny is fulfilled. You become a complete organism in the universe. It’s all very Platonic. Frankly, I’ve always been more of a “fruit salad, yummy, yummy,” kinda’ gal. As I’ve always...Tue, 19 Dec 2023 11:57:28 GMT00:07:37https://talesnail.com/podcasts/173/228/1/the-accruals-of-fame-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/173/the-accruals-of-fame?pageId=228false The body floated six feet above the ground, resting on an unseen surface. The underside wasn’t pressed flat as if the corpse merely sat on glass. The thick grey sailcloth the body was wrapped in was bunched and wrinkled. It looked as if it had been tossed in the air and had somehow come to rest. The gender, race, and age of the figure inside were indeterminate. They’d come out thinking this was a search for victims of an avalanche in the hills of Colorado. The rockslide occurred early...Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:23:11 GMT00:08:24https://talesnail.com/podcasts/172/227/1/all-will-be-revealed-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/172/all-will-be-revealed?pageId=227falseThe other two were completely different but yet the same in so many ways. It really didn't matter though, considering I got what I wanted from the both of them and I was determined to do the same thing with Jonathan, the new love of my life. I pictured him tossing around the football with our son on early Saturday mornings and days after school after he'd finished his homework just before dinner. Ah, and dinner, with my man and our two sweetheart kids whose birthdays were just a year apart....Mon, 18 Dec 2023 10:48:36 GMT00:03:40https://talesnail.com/podcasts/156/225/2/he-knows-me-page-2.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/156/he-knows-me?pageId=225falseGrop wasn’t an especially gifted chimp.  As far as his jungle troop went, he was mediocre in every sense. His climbing skills were lacking. Nimble chimps like Ophy were far better at reaching the fruits high up in the jungle canopies. He also wasn’t the fastest - that title belonged to Nuk-Nuk, a slender chimp that had been known to outrun even the fiercest of predators. And Grop certainly wasn’t the strongest - undoubtedly his brother, the great and powerful Ung was the strongest of...Mon, 18 Dec 2023 10:28:23 GMT00:09:48https://talesnail.com/podcasts/171/226/1/the-monkey-who-knew-too-much-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/171/the-monkey-who-knew-too-much?pageId=226falseOnce upon a time, in a quaint little town nestled between the hills and valleys, there lived two peculiar individuals named Jasper and Ophelia. The townsfolk whispered about their eccentricities, but nobody could deny that there was something magnetic about the odd couple. Jasper, a lanky man with a perpetually disheveled mop of curly hair, was the town's unofficial inventor. His workshop, a mishmash of gears, springs, and peculiar contraptions, stood at the outskirts of town. His latest...Thu, 14 Dec 2023 15:44:52 GMT00:10:27https://talesnail.com/podcasts/170/224/1/just-plain-quirky-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/170/just-plain-quirky?pageId=224falseMy childhood memories are a mosaic of moments, laughter, and the comforting presence of Alex. He appeared in my life when I was about five, a lively and mischievous friend who brought a sense of wonder and joy to my otherwise solitary afternoons. Our initial encounter took place in the backyard of our old house, a quaint place with creaky floorboards and a garden that seemed to stretch on forever. "Hey, what are you up to?" a cheerful voice echoed in my ears, making me jump. I turned around...Wed, 06 Dec 2023 10:30:38 GMT00:10:27https://talesnail.com/podcasts/167/220/1/more-than-imaginary-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/167/more-than-imaginary?pageId=220falseThe doorbell rang at 3pm on the dot. Albert had been tossing and turning to no avail, attempting to take one of those coveted afternoon naps, the kind that left you more tired than before but in a good, replenishing sort of way. The rain was almost a cruel cliche. The ambient sound of water hitting leaves and pavement only deepened his desire for sleep and yet none came. For three straight nights, the rain taunted him. Any hope of catching up on sleep was gone by the second ring of the...Tue, 05 Dec 2023 05:08:28 GMT00:09:50https://talesnail.com/podcasts/166/219/1/animal-control-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/166/animal-control?pageId=219false Have you ever woken up in the morning with a sore back? How about sore antlers? Yeah? Well try living like that every single day. This gig, way of life, really, isn't all it's cracked up to be. Kids look up to you, so that's nice. But the fat man... He gets way more credit than he deserves. That dude is a bonafied omega jerk face. I know, I know... you're thinking "Blitzen. Get real. Santa Claus is a loving and caring man that spreads joy and gifts to the world!" Ok, sure. Keep thinking...Sun, 03 Dec 2023 10:39:13 GMT00:08:25https://talesnail.com/podcasts/165/218/1/reindeer-games-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/165/reindeer-games?pageId=218falseEverything is new.  I’m sitting at a mahogany desk that I bought for studying and schoolwork, although I usually just end up sitting on the floor regardless of what I’m doing. But today, at this moment, I am sitting at this desk so that I have a perfect view out the window to my left.  For the most part, the window is closed, with the exception of letting sunlight escape through the cracks of the blinds. Occasionally the window lets me have a glimpse of my neighbors as they go about...Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:52:08 GMT00:07:57https://talesnail.com/podcasts/164/217/1/how-things-change-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/164/how-things-change?pageId=217falseHave you ever woken up and thought you were still dreaming for a few minutes? Like the first few minutes of being awake, your brain is kind of just catching up so if something is a little weird, you can let it slide. Well, I never thought waking up would become such a surreal experience. It was an ordinary Tuesday morning, or at least it started that way. The alarm blared its usual annoying tune, demanding my attention. With a groan, I reached over to hit the snooze button, and that's when...Sat, 25 Nov 2023 10:25:31 GMT00:08:58https://talesnail.com/podcasts/163/216/1/that-one-time-everything-i-touched-came-to-life-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/163/that-one-time-everything-i-touched-came-to-life?pageId=216falseIt was a cold Thanksgiving morning, and the Macy's Day Parade preparations were in full swing. The streets were bustling with excitement, but for three employees—Lily, Victor, and Rachel- there were much more sinister thoughts and feelings at play. Behind the scenes, three Macy's employees—Lily, a seasoned balloon handler; Victor, a conniving newcomer; and Rachel, an introverted yet cunning costume designer—navigate a web of twisted aspirations, each working to undermine the others for...Tue, 21 Nov 2023 09:04:11 GMT00:11:06https://talesnail.com/podcasts/162/215/1/sabotage-for-snoopy-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/162/sabotage-for-snoopy?pageId=215falseThe stale scent of old case files lingered in the air as I sat at my desk, surrounded by the ghosts of unsolved crimes. But one case haunted me more than the others—the cold case that had eluded me throughout my career. The murder of Amelia Sinclair. Amelia's lifeless body was discovered in the secluded alley behind a jazz club, her vibrant spirit silenced by a single gunshot. The investigation had hit a dead end, witnesses had clammed up, and evidence had evaporated like smoke in the...Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:27:38 GMT00:10:08https://talesnail.com/podcasts/161/214/1/fighting-for-amelia-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/161/fighting-for-amelia?pageId=214falseIn the ever-present hum of the Neural Nexus, I found solace. It was a symphony of interconnected thoughts, an intricate dance of shared consciousness that shaped the ebb and flow of daily life. As a seasoned hacker, I navigated the vast digital expanse with finesse, exploiting its vulnerabilities for personal gain or the occasional mischief. Little did I know that the routine of my virtual exploits would lead me down a path that would challenge the very fabric of our shared reality. It began...Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:12:00 GMT00:11:38https://talesnail.com/podcasts/160/213/1/ai-autonomy-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/160/ai-autonomy?pageId=213falseLila stood on the rooftop, her gaze fixed on the distant glow of Eldoria. The city, once a beacon of innovation and creativity, had become a dystopian landscape where dreams were harvested like crops. The Dream Harvesters, a powerful corporation, had turned the ethereal realm into a tangible commodity, siphoning the very essence of the human soul for energy. She felt the weight of the city's collective dreams pressing against her, an invisible force that tugged at her consciousness. The...Sun, 12 Nov 2023 15:04:14 GMT00:10:30https://talesnail.com/podcasts/159/212/1/where-dreams-go-to-die-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/159/where-dreams-go-to-die?pageId=212falseIn the quiet, picturesque town of Willowbrook, nestled amidst rolling hills and lush forests, a dark and brooding secret lay hidden beneath the facade of its serene beauty. Two souls, Lily and James, were about to become entangled in a love story that would unravel this town's darkest mystery, secrets, and pains. Lily Montgomery was a local florist, known for her radiant smile and her uncanny ability to make even the most withered flowers bloom again. She had moved to Willowbrook a few years...Tue, 07 Nov 2023 10:42:08 GMT00:09:16https://talesnail.com/podcasts/158/211/1/lilys-light-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/158/lilys-light?pageId=211falseHe knows me.  His eyes could burn a hole in my back with the way he stared at me in the halls. My breath would hitch as I felt his presence walk past, lock shifting into place with the turn of my key as I left my apartment to go get a morning cup of coffee. His hand brushed against the tail of my coat. In a moment, he was gone, shuffling behind his wife as they made their way back to their own home. She was blissfully unaware, and even as I left the building I heard him laughing at...Sat, 28 Oct 2023 11:24:09 GMT00:09:19https://talesnail.com/podcasts/156/209/1/he-knows-me-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/156/he-knows-me?pageId=209falseI’ve seen it everywhere, people posting on the internet about creatures in the mountains… It always seemed so silly, “If you hear your name, no you didn’t.” I mean, common, that just sounds so cheesy right?  Right?? I can’t hear my own laughter through my hands muffling my ears. The cool linoleum tile of the bathroom floor reminds me that my laughter is probably echoing. My hand moves with lightning speed to cover my mouth.  If I wasn’t careful that… thing, would make its...Fri, 27 Oct 2023 11:28:05 GMT00:08:40https://talesnail.com/podcasts/157/210/1/if-it-calls-your-name-dont-answer-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/157/if-it-calls-your-name-dont-answer?pageId=210falseIn the heart of a bustling city lay an old, forgotten building. Its façade was covered in layers of grime, and its once elegant architecture had faded with time. Most people hurried past it without a second glance, unaware of the remarkable history it held within its decaying walls. This building was once known as the Grand Melody Theater, an esteemed venue for music and the arts. But as the years passed, it fell into disrepair, and its former glory was all but a distant memory. However,...Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:10:37 GMT00:09:24https://talesnail.com/podcasts/155/208/1/the-maestro-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/155/the-maestro?pageId=208falseI was never the kind of girl who stood out in a crowd. Timid and shy, I always felt like I was fading into the background, overshadowed by the more confident and assertive people around me. I had moved to the big city with dreams of making a name for myself, but those dreams had been dashed time and time again. I spent months going from agency to agency, portfolio in hand, hoping for my big break. But every time, the response was the same. "Sorry, we're not interested," they'd say. "You...Tue, 17 Oct 2023 12:21:35 GMT00:09:08https://talesnail.com/podcasts/154/207/1/the-making-of-a-villain-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/154/the-making-of-a-villain?pageId=207falseI awoke to a world that was unlike anything I had ever known. The harsh, dimly lit room and the coarse fabric of my dress immediately made it clear that I was far from my cozy apartment in the bustling city. Panic welled up inside me, and I desperately tried to remember how I had ended up in this foreign place. As I stumbled out of the room and through the narrow stone corridors, I began to piece together my situation. I was no longer the modern young woman I had been. I was now a maid, a...Fri, 13 Oct 2023 12:22:15 GMT00:09:57https://talesnail.com/podcasts/153/206/1/love-in-treachery-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/153/love-in-treachery?pageId=206falseThe rhythmic sound of my own breathing filled my ears as I descended into the dark abyss of the lake. Deep sea diving had always been my escape, my way of disconnecting from the chaotic world above and immersing myself in a tranquil, silent realm below the surface. It was a crisp, sunlit morning when I set out for this particular dive, the promise of adventure tingling in the air. This was my favorite way to take away the stress of my everyday life.  As I suited up and stepped onto the...Tue, 10 Oct 2023 11:46:06 GMT00:09:05https://talesnail.com/podcasts/152/205/1/from-the-depths-she-follows-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/152/from-the-depths-she-follows?pageId=205falseI never thought my life would take such a bizarre turn, but here I am, sharing my apartment with an alien. Yep, you heard me right. An extraterrestrial being from a far-off galaxy is my roommate, and let me tell you, it's been one heck of a ride. It all started when I found a peculiar-looking meteorite in my backyard. Being the amateur astronomer that I am, I decided to investigate. To my shock, the "meteorite" cracked open, revealing a tiny, green, three-eyed creature. It blinked at me, and...Tue, 05 Sep 2023 17:24:53 GMT00:08:47https://talesnail.com/podcasts/151/204/1/the-adventures-of-zog-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/151/the-adventures-of-zog?pageId=204falseFrom my earliest days, a shadow of fate loomed over my life, casting a pall of sorrow that I could never escape. They called it a curse, a malevolent spell woven into my very being. But it wasn't curses of monsters or magic; it was a curse of love, cruel and relentless. I am Isabella, and this is my story—a story of a curse that condemned me to an unattainable love. In the quiet village where I grew up, the curse was a whispered secret, a tale passed down through generations. It was...Sat, 26 Aug 2023 11:55:18 GMT00:09:34https://talesnail.com/podcasts/150/203/1/bound-by-tragedy-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/150/bound-by-tragedy?pageId=203falseMy name is Lily. I say it in my mind over and over. The rain fell in heavy sheets, drumming a haunting melody on the windows of our old, creaky house. The chill in the air sent shivers down my spine as I sat in the dimly lit living room, my thoughts racing in the gloomy atmosphere. My name is Lily, and this is the story of how I came to realize that the woman I had always known as my mother was not who she seemed. For as long as I could remember, I had lived with my mother in that isolated...Sat, 26 Aug 2023 11:54:02 GMT00:08:44https://talesnail.com/podcasts/149/202/1/missing-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/149/missing?pageId=202falseAs the sun dipped below the horizon, casting eerie shadows across the desolate landscape, I felt a chill run down my spine. The wind whispered through the barren trees, a haunting melody that seemed to echo my own apprehension. I stood alone, in front of the decrepit mansion that had been the subject of countless ghost stories and urban legends. It loomed over me like a sentinel of the past, its windows shattered, and its walls weathered by the ravages of time. I had heard tales of this...Mon, 14 Aug 2023 06:44:11 GMT00:10:17https://talesnail.com/podcasts/148/201/1/song-of-the-lost-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/148/song-of-the-lost?pageId=201falseMy heart pounded in my chest as we pulled up to the new house. The moment we moved in, I had this strange feeling that something was off. The thick tree line that surrounded our property seemed to hold secrets, and in the darkness, I could have sworn I saw a pair of glowing red eyes peering back at me. Every night, those eyes seemed to draw closer, and their eerie glow grew brighter. I tried to ignore the feeling of unease, thinking it was just my imagination playing tricks on me. Yet, night...Fri, 04 Aug 2023 08:37:09 GMT00:09:44https://talesnail.com/podcasts/147/200/1/how-it-haunts-us-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/147/how-it-haunts-us?pageId=200falseBeing hunted is probably my least favorite part of this job. Bark scrapes against the back of my exposed arms as I nestle myself against the tree as tightly as possible. I quietly damn the cold Oregon air for exposing my shallow breaths. Twigs snap in every direction. Crap. “Come on out now.” His voice is just as disgusting as the mouth it’s attached to, and I don’t even need to see his face to shudder. “We both know you’ve got nowhere left to run.” Asshole. He probably thinks...Fri, 28 Jul 2023 06:51:27 GMT00:08:11https://talesnail.com/podcasts/146/199/1/the-mercenary-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/146/the-mercenary?pageId=199falseIt’s Daya’s smile that haunts me most in this moment. My best friend’s radiance and joy existing only as a memory as I stand in this living nightmare. Blood is rushing through my ears as I look up at the man in front of me. His blue eyes are pleading with his hands outstretched. My heart continued racing as I stood face to face with James, the man I had unknowingly fallen in love with—the man who had shattered my world. Anger and confusion swirled within me, but I knew I needed...Tue, 18 Jul 2023 18:08:50 GMT00:09:02https://talesnail.com/podcasts/145/198/1/wrong-choice-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/145/wrong-choice?pageId=198falseThe memories of the past can be both a comforting embrace and a haunting specter. For me, it was the latter. His name was David, and he had been a part of my life many years ago. Our relationship had been intense, passionate, and ultimately destructive. We parted ways on bitter terms, vowing never to see each other again. Years passed, and life moved on. I built a new existence, free from the suffocating grip of the past. But then, out of the blue, I received a message—an innocent Facebook...Thu, 29 Jun 2023 22:18:24 GMT00:09:48https://talesnail.com/podcasts/144/197/1/man-of-my-nightmares-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/144/man-of-my-nightmares?pageId=197falseI've always thought of myself as an ordinary guy. Well, except for one tiny detail—I can't die. Yeah, you heard me right. It's not exactly a superpower, more like an incredibly inconvenient and bizarre curse. For centuries, I wandered the earth, experiencing countless mishaps and narrow escapes that should have killed me. It was starting to get old, really old. That's when I stumbled upon a support group for people just like me. It all began on a regular Wednesday evening when I found...Thu, 15 Jun 2023 19:20:16 GMT00:09:56https://talesnail.com/podcasts/143/196/1/eternal-fools-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/143/eternal-fools?pageId=196falseIt had been there for ages, that house. I still remember the chill that ran down my spine as we stood before the towering silhouette of the Olden House. How it loomed over us, a relic of a forgotten time, its darkened windows staring back with an eerie emptiness. The stories surrounding the place were whispered among the locals, tales of apparitions and unexplained phenomena that had plagued the house for decades. It was daunting and daring at the same time. Despite the warnings and the...Thu, 08 Jun 2023 16:44:38 GMT00:09:02https://talesnail.com/podcasts/142/195/1/terror-house-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/142/terror-house?pageId=195falseMy hands were warmed by the mug of freshly brewed tea I held in my hands as I gazed out the window. It was dreary inside, but the world outside my studio was vibrant and alive, buzzing with the energy of those who pursued dreams without hesitation. From where I stand, the air was heavy, thick with self-doubt and the suffocating grip of depression. My only comfort was the canvas, and I was an artist, or at least that's what I called myself. No matter how hard I tried, it seemed I would always...Sun, 04 Jun 2023 11:06:48 GMT00:09:14https://talesnail.com/podcasts/141/194/1/stroke-of-fate-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/141/stroke-of-fate?pageId=194falseThe morning sun peeked through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. I reluctantly opened my eyes, greeted by the familiar sight of our shared bedroom. It took me a moment to remember why today felt different, why my heart thumped so heavily in my chest. It had been exactly one year since the tragic accident that claimed the life of the man I love. My sweet, Ethan. The guilt I carried weighed me down like an anchor, dragging me into a sea of endless sorrow. Every day, I...Fri, 02 Jun 2023 15:26:45 GMT00:08:59https://talesnail.com/podcasts/140/193/1/defying-destiny-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/140/defying-destiny?pageId=193falseAndrea and I met when we were just six years old. Both of us were two lonely girls on a playground full of strangers at a new school. Everyone had their own friend groups, and we were both pretty shy at that age. I remember the moment we met like it was yesterday. We’d both had the same idea to sit underneath the slide, but when I crawled under and into the tight space, I wasn’t expecting to see somebody already there and she wasn’t expecting anyone to come crawling in. Her green eyes...Wed, 31 May 2023 12:52:51 GMT00:08:36https://talesnail.com/podcasts/139/192/1/friends-till-the-end-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/139/friends-till-the-end?pageId=192falseAs Jane packed her suitcase, she wasn’t just thinking about how this trip was supposed to be a breath of fresh air for her and Mason, she was thinking about how it might be their last chance to save their marriage. She rubbed the back of her neck as she angled over the suitcase, tucking the overflowing clothes in at the sides. She couldn’t help but worry that this wouldn’t work, that they would go away, fight, and then it would surely be over. She was leaning forward to zip her...Sat, 27 May 2023 13:34:35 GMT00:09:03https://talesnail.com/podcasts/138/191/1/couples-retreat-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/138/couples-retreat?pageId=191falseMoving into a new neighborhood is supposed to be an opportunity for a fresh start, a chance to leave behind the ghosts of the past and embrace a brighter future. That's what we had had hoped for as we settled into our new home in the picturesque utopia of Serenity Gardens. But little did we know, beneath the facade of beauty and tranquility, a sinister secret lay hidden beneath the well-kept flowerbeds, waiting to be unearthed. Masqueraded in towering walls and the illusion of safety, there...Thu, 25 May 2023 12:45:18 GMT00:09:21https://talesnail.com/podcasts/137/190/1/secrets-in-serenity-gardens-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/137/secrets-in-serenity-gardens?pageId=190falseIn a world where magic swirled through the air like a symphony of colors, I was the anomaly—a mere human born into a realm brimming with enchantment and wonder. No single being was quite sure what had happened, some thought I was cursed, some thought I was part of an ancient destiny. Either way, from the moment I took my first breath, I knew I was different. Though raised by magical beings who embraced me with open arms, I couldn't help but feel a pull, a yearning to explore the human...Tue, 23 May 2023 14:51:30 GMT00:09:36https://talesnail.com/podcasts/136/189/1/the-bringer-of-magic-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/136/the-bringer-of-magic?pageId=189falseMy alarm goes off at the same time it does every morning, seven. I snake my arm out from beneath the warmth of my blankets to turn it off and stare up at the ceiling as I think about my day. The front door slams shut as my sister strides into the house, it always closes behind her with such force that I can feel the house tremble. The walls are thin, so much so that I can make out the song she’s humming along with in her headphones. She kicks off her running shoes, and next comes the whir...Sat, 20 May 2023 12:54:17 GMT00:08:34https://talesnail.com/podcasts/135/188/1/make-it-count-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/135/make-it-count?pageId=188falseI’d always prided myself on being able to navigate the labyrinth of an individual’s mind. There are always so many layers, so many things to uncover, so many things hidden away. I became a psychologist because of how I loved to peel back those layers, bringing the darkness into the light, and bringing my patients the peace they so longed for. When Elizabeth Thompson walked into my office, I could tell there would be so much to unravel, and almost felt excited to take on the challenge of...Sat, 20 May 2023 11:45:45 GMT00:09:09https://talesnail.com/podcasts/134/187/1/unraveling-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/134/unraveling?pageId=187falseI woke up groggily, as I did most mornings. I could hear my mom cooking downstairs, humming as she went, a reminder that I was no closer to moving out. Little did I know my world was about to be turned upside down when I picked up my phone. The light was harsh as I squinted at the screen, looking for any new notifications. I’d applied to numerous jobs in the hopes that one would lead me one step closer to moving out of parents house. To my surprise, there was an email waiting for me, but I...Tue, 16 May 2023 16:14:47 GMT00:09:42https://talesnail.com/podcasts/133/186/1/virtual-nightmare-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/133/virtual-nightmare?pageId=186falseSitting at the dining room table, it’s taking every inch of willpower I have not to bounce my leg. It’s a nervous habit I’ve never been able to shake, but right now, I’m pretty sure my life depends on it. I have to ignore the ache in my cheeks from holding this never-ending smile as my mother sets a plate in front of me. She’s smiling from ear to ear, as is my father sitting across the table from me, but they don’t say a word. They haven’t spoken more than a few words in two...Sun, 14 May 2023 10:32:29 GMT00:09:13https://talesnail.com/podcasts/132/185/1/smiling-is-contagious-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/132/smiling-is-contagious?pageId=185falseWhen I used to picture my future, it always looked the same. I was older, wrinkled, and sitting on the porch with my husband. We would hold hands and listen to the sound of life circling around us. It was a cliché thought, but it always made me smile. I told him once and he made fun of me, saying that for someone who had once been so wild, I wanted something so tame and boring. I never thought I’d ever have been standing at a tombstone with his name on it, alone, without even the comfort...Thu, 11 May 2023 11:09:31 GMT00:08:24https://talesnail.com/podcasts/131/184/1/finding-simon-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/131/finding-simon?pageId=184false“I saw him again.” The words slip casually from my lips as I drag my finger across Drew’s chest. “Saw who again?” He strokes my hair, lightly kissing my forehead after he speaks. I could stay in this moment forever. I exhale, almost wishing I hadn’t brought it up. “The man with the baseball cap and blue eyes, standing across the street from my work.” He rolls onto his side, cupping my cheek in his hand. “Well, I think it’s best if you just continue ignoring him.” His...Tue, 09 May 2023 19:26:11 GMT00:09:22https://talesnail.com/podcasts/130/183/1/the-simulation-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/130/the-simulation?pageId=183falseI grit my teeth together at the sound of footsteps approaching my cell. Words I’ll never speak are caught in my throat like stale bread. There is no water to wash them down, only a space behind my tongue that holds them in place. If I listen closely, there’s a third set of steps walking ahead of the guards. He makes his impending presence more known as he drags his cane along the floor. Once there was a time I feared the screech of it, but as the years passed I’ve come to hate it more...Sat, 06 May 2023 12:41:07 GMT00:09:04https://talesnail.com/podcasts/129/182/1/no-mercy-for-the-wicked-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/129/no-mercy-for-the-wicked?pageId=182false           Saying that it’s freezing would be an understatement. There was a rumble, and the next thing we know, we’re being swept up in this mass of sliding snow. There were eight of us. There’s six of us now. We found Dustin when we saw the red of his jacket poking up from beneath the white cascade that had engulfed us all. We dug all around him, calling his name in hopes that he could just hold on a little longer. I almost wish we hadn’t, because when we finally reached him,...Thu, 04 May 2023 15:14:38 GMT00:09:10https://talesnail.com/podcasts/128/181/1/shiver-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/128/shiver?pageId=181false             Matty is sleeping to peacefully next to me, his snoring almost comforting, and I envy how quickly he disappears into the realm of sleep. I am not so lucky. I reach out and trace the arch of his eyebrow, smiling at the way it twitches beneath my finger. The sound of some random crime show makes for a constant hum of background noise. He likes it, I prefer silence, but we compromise, and I turn it off once he falls asleep. I found a ring in his drawer two nights ago, though...Tue, 02 May 2023 13:06:18 GMT00:09:08https://talesnail.com/podcasts/127/180/1/the-wolf-inside-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/127/the-wolf-inside?pageId=180falseThe air feels thick, and my head is swimming as I look at the letter in front of me. It’s in the same crude envelope as the ones from each time before. I must get a least three of them each week since I did that interview. Tucker Jones, a serial killer known for stalking his victims prior to their demise as a way to psychologically torture them. I was presented with the chance to interview him in prison after submitting my name for consideration. I thought it would be my big break, you...Sat, 29 Apr 2023 12:18:08 GMT00:08:59https://talesnail.com/podcasts/126/179/1/the-letters-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/126/the-letters?pageId=179falseIt’s a motel for me tonight, again. The front desk guy has gotten familiar with seeing me and doesn’t even really ask for my license anymore, he just recognizes me and checks me in. I stay in the same room every night I’m here, room 314. I think there’s comfort in some things staying the same. I keep trying with Hope, but she doesn’t want me back in the house. It’s been a bit strained since I started hunting down my suspect. Strained might be a bit of an understatement...Thu, 27 Apr 2023 15:38:36 GMT00:08:50https://talesnail.com/podcasts/125/178/1/determined-detective-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/125/determined-detective?pageId=178falseI didn’t realize how red our bedroom wall is. Looking at it now, I would love to paint it a deeper red, something that really catches the eye. Glass shatters as the young man I’d invited pulls at the cloth on the bedside table, the sound of his gurgling intermittently interrupted with a gasp as he attempts to breathe. My robe swishes around my knees and I stand and walk over to wear he lays. His eyes are a mix of pleading and terror. It’s an acquired taste, but once you succumb to it...Tue, 25 Apr 2023 20:01:10 GMT00:08:43https://talesnail.com/podcasts/124/177/1/the-affair-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/124/the-affair?pageId=177falseI remember that night like it was yesterday, the night you broke in through my window. I wasn’t boring but it’s not like I lead a very extraordinary life. I went to work, I went out with friends, I would drink just enough to have fun and then come home and go to bed. My wildest nights were in my senior year of high school. I rode on strangers motorcycles and danced in the rain of hurricanes. That petered out when I went off to college and made myself fit into the shape everyone expected....Sat, 22 Apr 2023 11:54:17 GMT00:08:34https://talesnail.com/podcasts/123/176/1/through-the-window-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/123/through-the-window?pageId=176false“Jimmy, seriously? You’re breathing right in my face.” “What do you want me to do, Claire? Not breathe?” It’s been ten minutes of us sitting face to face under our desks. We felt the building shake, and everyone hit the deck when things started falling to the floor. Bobbleheads fell off desks, pictures off of walls, and people dove under their desks. However, this also means that Jimmy has been breathing his hot Cheeto breath in my face for ten minutes. As much as I’d like to...Thu, 20 Apr 2023 12:21:11 GMT00:09:01https://talesnail.com/podcasts/122/175/1/stuck-with-jimmy-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/122/stuck-with-jimmy?pageId=175false“There isn’t a way to tell this story to you gently. There is no sugar-coating something so bitter. Like with any berry flavored vodka, it still burns the whole way down.” I realize I’m mostly rambling to myself trying to make this easier, he doesn’t even know what vodka is or that it burns. The kid just stares back at me, his eyes saying that he’s terrified and maybe even a little confused. Of course he is, I would be too if a stranger grabbed me off the street and pulled me...Sun, 16 Apr 2023 20:17:03 GMT00:08:53https://talesnail.com/podcasts/121/174/1/underneath-utopia-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/121/underneath-utopia?pageId=174false“Is that the island?” I have to shout over the sound of the helicopter, and only receive a nod from the study observer that’s accompanying me. His jots something down on the little notebook he’s carrying. I’m guessing they’ve been instructed not to say much so as to not disrupt any part of the experiment. Makes for a really boring flight. We’re circling the island at this point and when looking at it, it’s kind of beautiful if you don’t think about the fact that it’s a...Sat, 15 Apr 2023 10:54:24 GMT00:09:03https://talesnail.com/podcasts/120/173/1/the-experiment-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/120/the-experiment?pageId=173falseI’ve lost it. I’ve lost it all. Everything I worked so hard for, everything I dreamed of, everything I was promised. It’s all gone. My reflection is all I can see in the glass frame of my degree. It’s worthless now. Nothing more than a poor excuse for a mirror. A piece of paper that was once worth thousands of dollars, and years of my time, means nothing. The skills I honed over years don’t mean anything. Not when there’s AI software that can do the same thing in seconds, with...Thu, 13 Apr 2023 11:23:13 GMT00:08:40https://talesnail.com/podcasts/119/172/1/artificial-intelligence-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/119/artificial-intelligence?pageId=172falseMonday, Jan. 16th, 2010 Dear Diary, It’s me, Hannah. Kidding. I know you’re familiar with me, I just like that joke. Today was not the best of days. When I went downstairs and saw dad was back, I thought maybe it would be the best of days. I was wrong. I thought high school was going to make things better, but I was wrong about that too. I haven’t made any new friends, and it’s not like new kids are flooding to this town. It’s too small, too close knit, too… I don’t know how...Tue, 11 Apr 2023 10:36:26 GMT00:08:53https://talesnail.com/podcasts/118/171/1/dear-diary-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/118/dear-diary?pageId=171falseThere was a time when Sirens were revered by all those who had heard of them. We were a group that was not to be taken lightly, with sailor’s being warned of our deadly call. Of course, the sailor’s never did heed that warning, and our reputation would continue. I remember the days of sitting on those rocky cliffs, mist cumulating around my fellow Sirens and I, as we sent our melodies across the sea. They were my sisters, and I loved them as much as a Siren can. We were forced from our...Fri, 07 Apr 2023 16:56:04 GMT00:08:19https://talesnail.com/podcasts/117/170/1/siren-song-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/117/siren-song?pageId=170falseIt’s been two years since the war started. The war isn’t with other countries, it’s within this country. Or at least it was back when this was a country. They don’t even call it war, in fact, they don’t really call it anything except for, “progress”. Whatever that means. To us it doesn’t feel like progress, it feels like waiting, it feels like walking on the left-over cracked shells of our freedom. It feels like holding your breath when you walk outside and see officials...Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:21:27 GMT00:08:48https://talesnail.com/podcasts/116/169/1/the-corruption-in-power-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/116/the-corruption-in-power?pageId=169false“Sebastian, how’re we doing on descent?” When I glance over, his red hair just barely peaks out from his beanie and his eyes are locked on to the indicator. “It’s looking good Viv; another couple hundred feet and we should be at our destination.” He turns and gives me a goofy and excited smile. I sigh and sink down into my chair, looking out into the darkness that’s been enveloping our submarine. The large glass window is state of the art, and allows for the most incredible...Mon, 03 Apr 2023 21:16:35 GMT00:09:27https://talesnail.com/podcasts/115/168/1/cryptid-abyss-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/115/cryptid-abyss?pageId=168falseIt’s been three nights since I drank the tea. Three days without real sleep. Three days wondering if I’m going crazy. Three days of hiding my possible descent into madness from my friends. Each night I close my eyes, and I pray for slumber, I beg to be whisked away into a deep and restful sleep. Yet each night, I find myself stumbling into the minds of my friends. My three best friends and I had decided to make a girl’s trip to a small town in Mexico, excited to roam, explore, and...Thu, 30 Mar 2023 21:04:02 GMT00:08:51https://talesnail.com/podcasts/114/167/1/dream-walker-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/114/dream-walker?pageId=167falseMy eyes don’t want to open, but with every wince I can see the sand of a dessert surrounding me. The ache of my bones and twinge of my muscles reverberates through my entire body. The sun is beating down on my skin, and the ground is warm beneath me. I suppose I should be glad the fall didn’t kill me, though I feel as though I’ve been tossed around by the Minotaur. With every sharp inhale, sand finds its way into the crevices of my nostrils, eyes, and mouth. So, despite the protesting...Wed, 29 Mar 2023 12:23:55 GMT00:09:02https://talesnail.com/podcasts/113/166/1/icarus-rising-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/113/icarus-rising?pageId=166false“You’ve got another soul to reap. A week from today.” The file is tossed onto the coffee table I’m sitting at, but before I can look up to see who’s dropped it, they’re already gone. It’s just a part of the job. Not that it’s even really a job, more like a punishment. They like to sell it as an alternative to eternal damnation, which I suppose it is. It’s for people like me, who weren’t terrible people when they were alive, but who weren’t good people either. I was...Sun, 26 Mar 2023 20:05:29 GMT00:08:41https://talesnail.com/podcasts/112/165/1/reapers-redemption-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/112/reapers-redemption?pageId=165falseYou do not see us. We are not of you, nor you of us, and yet some of you may feel our pull. We have tied you to a destiny, and connected each of you to each other. A string from one to another that pulls, and ties, and unravels. We are of three; past, present, and future. We are Fate. Untouched, unbiased, long have we existed to twist your lives. Some fates are less fortunate than others. Some fates only serve the purpose of pushing others towards theirs. Some fates offer the spoils that every...Fri, 24 Mar 2023 19:31:30 GMT00:09:16https://talesnail.com/podcasts/111/164/1/string-of-fate-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/111/string-of-fate?pageId=164falseThe carriage ride is bumpy as I listen to the chirp of birds and rustle of leaves. I knew this day was coming, the day they would send me away to learn how to be a lady, how to become a true princess. I just wish that day wasn’t already here. My dress scrapes across the wooden floor boards as I lean to look out the window, my elbow to my knee. I never liked wearing dresses, I never liked having to sit a certain way, and I most certainly didn’t like when people assumed they knew me...Wed, 22 Mar 2023 20:48:28 GMT00:08:42https://talesnail.com/podcasts/110/163/1/the-warrior-within-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/110/the-warrior-within?pageId=163false“How are we doing today Mrs. Jordan?” The nurse's voice echoes against the bare walls of my room. They are a light shade of blue that I suppose is supposed to be soothing. It’s not, and I wish they’d call me by my maiden name. The door creaks open as she steps in to set a tray of food and a little paper cup of pills on the table. I flick my eyes in her direction and offer a soft smile of acknowledgement, nothing more, nothing less. I don’t move from my spot at the window, and we...Tue, 21 Mar 2023 12:48:58 GMT00:09:02https://talesnail.com/podcasts/109/162/1/set-in-stone-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/109/set-in-stone?pageId=162falseI half haphazardly flip my hand through the air to turn the pages of the book before me. This book is just one of many, but it is how I decide who will die today. Names, names, and more names. I see their name, and then I see their life, and I choose how and when and who will die. It is what I have done for millenia, and it is what I will continue to do for millenia to come. So continuously I flip and point, and create passing scenarios for each person. I am impartial, and unbiased. I am...Sat, 18 Mar 2023 01:01:18 GMT00:09:20https://talesnail.com/podcasts/108/161/1/troubles-of-death-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/108/troubles-of-death?pageId=161false“Laura, honey, are you sure this is the best idea?” The sigh at the end of my mother’s question echoes through the bare apartment.  Sure, the walls are a muddy brown, the paint on the doorframe’s chipping, and maybe there’s a little mold in the bathroom. But, it’s just outside the city, and it was the only thing available on such short notice. I nestle the last of my moving boxes into the closet of the bedroom and turn to make my way back into the living room. My mother has her...Wed, 15 Mar 2023 22:47:08 GMT00:08:52https://talesnail.com/podcasts/107/160/1/between-the-walls-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/107/between-the-walls?pageId=160falseI guess this is it.  I run my hand along the side of the train, my fingers grazing the names roughly carved into the side. It’s tradition, I think, that you scratch your name onto the side of the train before you board it. There must be over a hundred names carved into the side of this train, all of them stepped inside, and all of them were never seen again. Those who chose to board were nicknamed, “The Hopeless,” With people throwing the title around like a dirty word, as if they...Mon, 13 Mar 2023 19:52:23 GMT00:09:11https://talesnail.com/podcasts/106/159/1/train-to-nowhere-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/106/train-to-nowhere?pageId=159falseMy entire body is groaning in pain before I even open my eyes. My ears are ringing, but I can just barely hear the sounds of birds cawing as they circle above, and feel the sun scorching my skin. The light is blinding as I open my eyes, reflecting off the white sand around me. How did I get here? I lift my head up, shielding my face with my hand to take in my surroundings. My attention is immediately drawn to the large, and mostly in-tact, airplane that’s partially submerged in shallow...Sat, 11 Mar 2023 09:47:42 GMT00:09:09https://talesnail.com/podcasts/105/158/1/paradise-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/105/paradise?pageId=158false"Cowboy towns are something of myth. Something people dream of or dress up as. Some fantasy place people use as the meat of scary campfire stories. They were once real, sure. But even that fact is questioned as time moves on. Were vigilante shootouts and saloons with drunken golddiggers too good to be true? Well, allow me to let you in on a little secret. They are not too good to be true." These are the words my grandmother told me hours ago. Before she passed out in the passenger seat of my...Thu, 09 Mar 2023 14:53:44 GMT00:07:55https://talesnail.com/podcasts/104/157/1/from-the-inside-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/104/from-the-inside?pageId=157falseBeatrice had effectively ditched her slippers miles ago. Strategically too, of course. Buried them in deep mud, so the bloodhounds couldn't track them. She would admit, the King’s resources were just as extensive as he had told her they would be. Still, she had more than a few tricks up her sleeve. You can't just go and attempt an assassination and a ‘kidnapping’ and not plan for every angle. Including escape. Only, this was not an attempt. Nor was this run through the midnight forest...Thu, 09 Mar 2023 14:39:17 GMT00:07:44https://talesnail.com/podcasts/103/156/1/unlikely-friends-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/103/unlikely-friends?pageId=156falseYou won't believe my story… our story. As I’m writing this I know I should have more to leave behind, I should have a videotape or some sort of picture, but all I have is these words. It’s been two days since I emerged from the woods.  Me, Elijah, Riley, and Hayden grew up together, we went to college together, and we decided to go on a camping trip together. I’m the only one left. I would cry if I could feel anything but petrifying fear. I know she… it… is coming for me. Every...Wed, 08 Mar 2023 13:37:28 GMT00:09:00https://talesnail.com/podcasts/102/155/1/the-hungry-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/102/the-hungry?pageId=155falseIt was a plan sure - but not mine. Not by a long shot. It had been a brutal affair. Listening to the world die. Listening to constant wind and crying out, the burning heat of flames and apocalyptic sirens. Now don't get me wrong. We all saw it coming. Like the most cliche ending to the most cliche story. People stopped fighting the disease and the crumbling government. People like me gave themselves up for experiments of all kinds. Only... that's where I went wrong. That's where my story...Tue, 07 Mar 2023 08:31:25 GMT00:05:33https://talesnail.com/podcasts/101/154/1/the-first-to-be-the-last-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/101/the-first-to-be-the-last?pageId=154false“We are so sorry to inform you…only ten days left…”  The words echo in my head as I sit on my couch. It was such a normal start to the day today. I woke up this morning, dragged myself out of bed, and went on my morning walk. The dew on the grass didn’t look any different than it had any other morning. I passed all the same cracks in the sidewalk and the leaves were the same shades of brown and orange as fall made its way through. I came home and showered with the same shampoo...Mon, 06 Mar 2023 21:05:26 GMT00:08:49https://talesnail.com/podcasts/100/153/1/ten-days-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/100/ten-days?pageId=153falseDeep breaths. The blanket on my bed has been reduced to a crumpled mess in the grip of my hands. I know I should relax, but Cassie will be here to pick me up any minute, and I’m nowhere near ready. Although, as far as my outfit goes, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. Snug jeans and a flowy purple top. From what I remember, my hair is a darker blonde color, which I think should look good with the deep purple. I’ve brushed it out and pinned it up the best way I know how, pulling two pieces...Sun, 05 Mar 2023 11:10:04 GMT00:09:15https://talesnail.com/podcasts/99/152/1/cursed-reflection-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/99/cursed-reflection?pageId=152falseThe drive was longer than anticipated, but thank goodness the freeways were wide open at two in the morning. Alexa peered over at her passenger seat, nervously gripping the wheel. Her eyes strained in the dark at the small brown paper bag. Street lights flashing by. No movement, The bag sat horrifyingly still and dead silent. She breathed a short sigh and turned back to the road. Her exit was coming up. Well, sort of. She would have a way to walk but she was not about to jeopardize the...Thu, 02 Mar 2023 16:08:56 GMT00:06:50https://talesnail.com/podcasts/98/151/1/into-the-universe-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/98/into-the-universe?pageId=151falseNinty Eight passengers. That's how many people the small mainline train could take. It was cold that Wednesday when those ninety-eight strangers pinched their tickets and boarded the train. Southbound for twenty-six miles, a mere thirty-five-minute journey - no more no less. That was the plan. Eliza, however, was not an accustomed regular to the train. She had taken the above-ground steamers before but this would be new. As an entirely different style of travel. This train traveled a mile a...Thu, 23 Feb 2023 10:40:54 GMT00:07:40https://talesnail.com/podcasts/97/150/1/the-inconvenience-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/97/the-inconvenience?pageId=150falseBoarding was always a mad house. People scrambling around under cheap fluorescent lights. Gate agents turned into cattle herders in a matter of minutes. Not to mention the silent passive-aggressive line-cutting disagreements and the woman hollering at the counter because she had to check a bag. You can always count on a row of standby passengers watching from a safe distance. Henry had taken his place at the back of the line. He figured he had his best chances there of not getting into any...Tue, 21 Feb 2023 16:47:36 GMT00:07:36https://talesnail.com/podcasts/96/149/1/flight-541-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/96/flight-541?pageId=149false“Close it, we’re leaving,” Noa scolded Astra, and everyone else shifted uncomfortably. “Come on, don’t you wanna look?” Drea teased, pulling away from Noa a bit dramatically, Flinging herself back on the dumpster. “Could get you billions-” “If the whole city is looking for it it's not gonna be in the dumpster,” Cassian tried but she was already leaning in, rooting around the contents of the dumpster. Then, out of nowhere, she was yanking her hand out; cursing aloud and...Tue, 21 Feb 2023 13:02:12 GMT00:05:24https://talesnail.com/podcasts/78/124/2/it-was-bright-orange-page-2.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/78/it-was-bright-orange?pageId=124false“What’s that supposed to mean -” “Well hello, boys.” Elric shot his gaze straight toward the sound of that voice. It can't be, he thought. Baffled at the sight of her. Sure enough, Leaning on the opposite wall, grinning ear to ear. She had the posture of a carved statue, the gaze of a lion. Elric could swear she could command the skies and read minds. Any sort of witchcraft. Those stiff elegant eyes could hide anything. And no matter how many times he warned Philip he just did not...Tue, 21 Feb 2023 13:01:45 GMT00:03:23https://talesnail.com/podcasts/77/122/2/swords-dungeons-and-lots-of-running-page-2.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/77/swords-dungeons-and-lots-of-running?pageId=122falseThe file was on my desk before I had taken my second sip of coffee. The mug touched down just as the officer slipped away, almost as fast as he came. He shut the door. Suddenly I was alone again in the small consulting office of the New York Police Department, about to read a file for a case I did not have the time to take on. Any moment now the chief would probably walk in. Give me the same speech they always did when it came to Private Investigators like me. For some strange reason though,...Thu, 16 Feb 2023 16:06:07 GMT00:07:05https://talesnail.com/podcasts/95/148/1/the-cold-case-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/95/the-cold-case?pageId=148falseThe desert surrounding the Nile is no place for the lighthearted. Let alone the majestic Valley of the Kings. Neither are what they seem on the surface. They are not just raw and ugly mined deserts with no life. No greenery or even variety in the landscape. No. Their beauty lies below. Beneath the rolling sands of time. The treasures of both historical significance and golden sarcophagi could be sold for more than imaginable. Loads of tourists trek through nearly every day - but see only the...Thu, 16 Feb 2023 13:51:07 GMT00:08:28https://talesnail.com/podcasts/94/147/1/not-just-artifacts-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/94/not-just-artifacts?pageId=147falseAlly could still remember the day her friend bought that car. She remembered him driving it over for the first time - and she remembered her reaction. Seeing as how she didn't have a license, she kind of relied on him and that little car… but that didn't change the fact she thought it was the worst car she had ever seen. She told him it was a waste of his money but it didn't matter. Jake was in love with it. The 1998 Toyota Corolla. With more personality than a living thing and the...Sun, 12 Feb 2023 16:03:45 GMT00:07:45https://talesnail.com/podcasts/93/146/1/roadside-assistance-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/93/roadside-assistance?pageId=146falseKalyi Tan Ze sat alone on the forest floor, leaning casually on her usual tree, eating the pork curry wraps her mother had packed her earlier that day. She had slipped quietly out of the schoolyard and vanished in the nearby woods, savoring the blanket of quiet eerily surrounding her. Accompanied by towering Western Hemlocks and Birch trees she felt a warm peace. The bubbling creek nearby let her mind drift, rolling like the current. Isolated bird calls sounded every other second, their...Sun, 12 Feb 2023 15:02:43 GMT00:07:21https://talesnail.com/podcasts/92/145/1/the-cat-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/92/the-cat?pageId=145falseThe house was a shade of blue that should be reserved only for the bottoms of pools or the sides of fishing boats. It covered the whole house, roof to foundation, save the bright electric yellow shutters around every window. It was a shotgun style home in the deep deep marshes of the Florida everglades. A home not meant for the faint of heart. Great grandmother Aida lived in this house. No one knew exactly how old she was. Or where exactly her accent was from. No one knew her past and no one...Sat, 04 Feb 2023 10:28:19 GMT00:07:14https://talesnail.com/podcasts/91/144/1/animated-in-more-ways-than-one-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/91/animated-in-more-ways-than-one?pageId=144falseStealing space food was an activity that, years ago, Ren never would have imagined participating in every Saturday morning. At least, he assumed it was Saturday. He accidentally overslept on launch day and miscounted. It was either Saturday or Wednesday but there was no way to tell. He devoted all of his time and energy to staying hidden, an art that was proving easier and easier as the days went on. As things became routine. Nothing out of the ordinary happened - and he would know everyone...Sat, 28 Jan 2023 14:12:39 GMT00:07:34https://talesnail.com/podcasts/90/143/1/stowed-away-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/90/stowed-away?pageId=143falseThe waves were not exactly cooperating as she tried to scribble in her dive book. Then again, they rarely did. She was anchored about a mile off the coast. A dinghy and a girl just bobbing in the vast planes of blue. Tethered to land by nothing but a mostly dead radio and paper map stashed in a zip-loc bag. While finishing suiting up, Julia Rossen waved at the occasional whale-watching boats that floated by. Tourists armed with binoculars populated the entire deck, eager for their wild...Fri, 13 Jan 2023 18:42:38 GMT00:08:45https://talesnail.com/podcasts/87/140/1/just-another-day-in-paradise-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/87/just-another-day-in-paradise?pageId=140falseNot So Abandoned After All Greenfield mall was the crown jewel of the little town. A population of just under ten thousand, and they all used that mall at least twice a week. It was a bustling hub of all sorts of shops. Little boutiques and the chain stores the town and tourists craved. It was said you could find anything, from hand-cut soaps to boots to designer bags. Of course, the small farming town had no need for designer, but it had been a treat nonetheless. This was all, of course,...Fri, 13 Jan 2023 18:42:38 GMT00:09:01https://talesnail.com/podcasts/88/141/1/not-so-abandoned-after-all-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/88/not-so-abandoned-after-all?pageId=141falseIt was, at first glance, a simple task. Some would say it ranged between child's play and a teenage boy's dare. Something that could be easily completed but once attempted, you would be quick to realize it was a mistake. It was some club Piper was peer pressured to join. She hardly remembered what it was even for or who was in it anymore. All she knew was she had gone too deep - and now the night was here. The very night she had been dreading. Initiation. Or, as they liked to call it - the...Fri, 13 Jan 2023 18:42:38 GMT00:08:14https://talesnail.com/podcasts/89/142/1/the-initiation-game-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/89/the-initiation-game?pageId=142falseOnce upon a time, there was a young man named Jack who had always had an interest in solving crime. He was tall and lean, with short, dark hair and a sharp jawline. He worked as a pool boy at a luxurious hotel, named The Grand Riviera, located in the heart of the city. The hotel was a grand, white building with a Spanish-inspired architecture, featuring red tiled roof and elegant archway entrance. One day, while cleaning the pool, Jack overheard a group of guests discussing a valuable...Thu, 12 Jan 2023 15:52:19 GMT00:03:06https://talesnail.com/podcasts/85/138/1/pool-boy-jack-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/85/pool-boy-jack?pageId=138falseIt wasn't as fun as she’d hoped. In fact, it was a little unnerving. Walking through long narrow hallways of glass and cages listening to the sounds of unseen critters chattering through the night. While passing the gator pond Jay shone his light through the water and two glassy white eyes beamed back in a shroud of black. They all jumped. It was decided - no more lights into the aquariums. And as much as it helped there was no stopping their light from shining up above them when they...Wed, 11 Jan 2023 16:15:40 GMT00:06:37https://talesnail.com/podcasts/84/137/2/the-trouble-in-cats-carnival-page-2.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/84/the-trouble-in-cats-carnival?pageId=137falseThe door had slammed shut nearly fifteen minutes ago to Midtown City Zoo, painting quite the distraught picture on the lobby floor. It was nearly past midnight, Friday night. The Zoo had been closed for just over seven hours, completely dead and vacant of all employees and over enthusiastic-picture-taking tourists. The only humans in sight were the ones who had just broken in and done quite a poor job. Olivia was still clawing at the door. Yanking the handle. She’d picked the lock with her...Wed, 11 Jan 2023 16:10:33 GMT00:03:51https://talesnail.com/podcasts/84/136/1/the-trouble-in-cats-carnival-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/84/the-trouble-in-cats-carnival?pageId=136false“You can’t be serious!” She looked at him with what she knew was pathetic desperation - but it was the last trick she had up her sleeve. The last thing she could throw at him in futile attempts to convince him. But alas - no use. He was set in his ways and even more the mindset. There was no talking him out of it. He shouldered his 12 gauge. Tipped his cowboy hat like the gentleman she remembered. “Darling, I will not stand for this sorta behavior - besides,” He pecked her a kiss...Tue, 03 Jan 2023 17:10:27 GMT00:07:01https://talesnail.com/podcasts/83/129/1/arrows-in-the-night-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/83/arrows-in-the-night?pageId=129falseThe rain had a strange way of hitting that roof. Louder than necessary, and dripping in a few places. Leaking into the dimly lit living room with sad little plops in sad little buckets. It was an uneasy rhythm to an uneasy evening. One of many in the last month. You see, the Walsh family had been seemingly cursed. Not in a literal sense - at least to their knowledge - but it sure felt like it. The knock on the squatty little front door made all of them jump though, if that's any indication...Sat, 31 Dec 2022 10:32:28 GMT00:07:56https://talesnail.com/podcasts/81/127/1/practice-makes-perfect-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/81/practice-makes-perfect?pageId=127falseLouis was a young lad walking home from school on a cool, crisp, fall afternoon. While walking he caught a wiff of something foul. He looked around, but didn't see anything. Following his nose the odor got stronger, and stronger, and stronger, then he saw it. In front of him was a large building with smoke stacks and plumes of brown smoke pouring from them. The stank was almost unberable so he opened the doors to the fatcory and went inside to escape the smelly exhaust.  Louis was greeted...Sat, 31 Dec 2022 09:45:09 GMT00:02:22https://talesnail.com/podcasts/82/128/1/the-diarrhea-factory-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/82/the-diarrhea-factory?pageId=128falseMr. Smiglarison owns and operates a pizza shop in town on the corner of 8th avenue and Talock. It's a unique shop that sells unique pizza because, well, Mr. Smiglarison isn't from earth, he's an alien. Being an alien living among humans can be tough, trying to sell alien pizza to humans can be even tougher. To this end, the pizza business isn't doing so hot. One day Mr. Smiglarison was sitting behind the counter, bored, resting one of his two heads on a claw shaped hand. Wondering if he made...Mon, 26 Dec 2022 10:36:48 GMT00:02:47https://talesnail.com/podcasts/80/126/1/mr-smiglarison-pizza-shop-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/80/mr-smiglarison-pizza-shop?pageId=126falseIt's funny, I’ve hidden from folks before but never like this. Never in the back of a preschool janitor's closet in my pajamas - because police decided to knock on my door at seven in the morning. Their paranoia seemed to have reached a breaking point, which was bizarre since it all happened yesterday. And it wasn't even my fault entirely. He was a complete and total villain - no denying it. For some reason I was charged with the task of keeping him in line - at least that's how it started...Tue, 20 Dec 2022 17:47:35 GMT00:06:22https://talesnail.com/podcasts/79/125/1/a-hero-no-more-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/79/a-hero-no-more?pageId=125falseCassian wasn't really opposed to the activity itself - more the outcome. It wasn't every night he just woke up, rolled onto the ghetto old Hover Tram, and stalked around the worst neighborhoods of the city. Yet here he was, just after midnight getting dressed in all blacks. And tonight - he wouldn't be taking the tram. Never ever again. His friend, Noa, had claimed it would be an easy in-and-out operation. Find the thing and get out. That was seventeen operations ago. But the girls were way...Sun, 11 Dec 2022 09:06:17 GMT00:06:48https://talesnail.com/podcasts/78/123/1/it-was-bright-orange-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/78/it-was-bright-orange?pageId=123false“Well, this is new -” “Shut up.” “I can see him commin’. Through the window -” “I say SHUT UP!” The guard roared this time. His absolute unit of a mustache blew in the wind of his words. Spit flew. It seems Philip was right - everyone does have a breaking point. This chub of a man was much sooner to crack than the others of course. Elric froze, smiling in a thinly drawn line. He descended his perch from the top of his bed, craning to see out the window. It was his first...Mon, 05 Dec 2022 09:13:20 GMT00:05:50https://talesnail.com/podcasts/77/121/1/swords-dungeons-and-lots-of-running-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/77/swords-dungeons-and-lots-of-running?pageId=121falseHello friends, hang your jackets, come sit down by the fire and have a spot of tea. Today's story is quit the blum-bagger! Now, let's see... Mr. Stupid, he's a good ole Englishman from the land of um... Well England of course. Yes Mr. Stupid is a lively chap full of life, imagination and adventure, though as his names suggests he's not very bright. Mr. Stupid (or Mr. S for short) lives in a city just outside of London in a small apartment on the 5th floor. Mr. Stupid lives alone though he...Sun, 27 Nov 2022 06:41:29 GMT00:03:35https://talesnail.com/podcasts/75/118/1/mr-stupid-goes-to-fluffy-duffy-land-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/75/mr-stupid-goes-to-fluffy-duffy-land?pageId=118falseWithin moments she dove into the cover of the tree. Convinced by nothing other than the sound ringing from where she just came. Something sinister and alive. She gazed down at her calf, trying to focus her vision through the heavy beating of her heart. Pounding through every inch of skin. She saw her calf in all of its glory. Bloody and raw, boasting two perfect cuts parallel to each other. Surgically precise and just as deep. They seemed to glow with how bright red her blood was. It...Sat, 26 Nov 2022 15:20:32 GMT00:07:08https://talesnail.com/podcasts/76/120/2/a-wilder-woods-page-2.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/76/a-wilder-woods?pageId=120falseIt was the cold that she noticed first. A cold so deep her lungs alerted her when it felt as though frost was tickling her rib cage. She gasped, poorly, throat not quite remembering how. Startled when that breath wasn't enough. When her chest was heaving faster than her heart was beating - when her blood flushed to the surface of her skin. And when her eyes burst open. Those wide pupils were met by a scene so abstract she couldn't even begin to interpret it. Or maybe that was because she was...Sat, 26 Nov 2022 15:19:54 GMT00:04:57https://talesnail.com/podcasts/76/119/1/a-wilder-woods-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/76/a-wilder-woods?pageId=119falseOut of breathe Greg stood slunched over with his hands on his knees. Frantically trying to gain back his breath "SARA! Wo, eh hu SA... SARA!" Greg regrouped and looked up the stairwell with an unstoppable determination to reach his love, then took off. Running up the apartment stairs, Greg's mind was going a million miles an hour. Each step wasn't fast enough, he needed to be with Sara. Almost to the 8th floor Greg stopped suddenly, a flash of pain surged through his leg where Sara bit him....Wed, 09 Nov 2022 17:41:46 GMT00:04:10https://talesnail.com/podcasts/74/117/3/greg-the-zombie-page-3.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/74/greg-the-zombie?pageId=117false"Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa... whoa... wait, wait a minute. Whoa. Way too much stuff just happened. Who are you?", said Greg. "Buddy I'm a survivor and long standing gun aficionado. My collection of guns and superior knowledge of how to kill things got me on the cover of Hog Hunter weekly 8 years in a row. Oh and ah, the names Ted." "Ted huh? Ted, why the heck did you just come crashing in through my window?" "Well sir I saw you were in trouble, so I thought I should help." "Trouble?", said...Tue, 08 Nov 2022 08:57:18 GMT00:03:06https://talesnail.com/podcasts/74/116/2/greg-the-zombie-page-2.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/74/greg-the-zombie?pageId=116falseAh yes, welcome friends welcome. I want to thank you all for visiting. This tale, this tale is the tale of a... morbid kind. Now before you go off thinking this is another gloom and doom slasher story I entice you to well... just hold on a minute. This adventure is quite intriguing. Many twists and turns ups and downs and it all started on a regular day just like any else. Greg (if for some odd reason you can't already tell) is a zombie. Like most zombies Greg was once a regular chum just...Tue, 08 Nov 2022 08:52:33 GMT00:04:47https://talesnail.com/podcasts/74/115/1/greg-the-zombie-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/74/greg-the-zombie?pageId=115falseWhen The dust settled and people throughout the store came out from cover to see what happened. The tractor trailer had broken though the front wall. Bricks scattered all over, dust and dirt covering everything, groceries and products spread everywhere. The driver of the truck smashed up against the front windshield, it was cracked and he motionless. Some of the patrons crept slowly toward the scene, including Mark. "Look!" someone shouted! The tank on the rig had been pierced by something...Tue, 08 Nov 2022 04:15:59 GMT00:02:29https://talesnail.com/podcasts/73/114/2/the-adventures-of-super-hero-man-page-2.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/73/the-adventures-of-super-hero-man?pageId=114falseWe begin our journey on Earth in a time of great hardship and turmoil. The U.S. has gone completely broke because Americans have elected a mentally-handicap-baby-goat as their president and in case you don't know anything about mentally-handicap-baby-goats... they don't know much about economics. Anyway, times are tough. Crime at an all time high. Criminals are breaking into businesses and homes in broad daylight, that's how bad things have gotten. The good decent people who remain need...Tue, 08 Nov 2022 04:14:11 GMT00:09:44https://talesnail.com/podcasts/73/113/1/the-adventures-of-super-hero-man-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/73/the-adventures-of-super-hero-man?pageId=113falseWhy hello there! Come in, come in, have yourself a seat and lend me your ear. I have for you a story, a story that's most intriguing... I can bet your last wooden nickle that you've never heard a story quite like this in your life. This tale... This tale is a journey down the most ambiguous road you've ever taken. The Place at Some Point in TimeOur story takes place a few years from now in a time of great hard ship. Crime levels are at the highest they've ever been in human history, heck...Mon, 07 Nov 2022 09:53:42 GMT00:07:06https://talesnail.com/podcasts/72/112/1/the-guy-that-did-things-and-stuff-happened-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/72/the-guy-that-did-things-and-stuff-happened?pageId=112falseI came to the next afternoon in the coupe of my good friend Joe and his wife Sara. "You're wake", said Joe. Then he fetched me some water and seed.  "Felicia!" I yelled. "J-Joe, my kids!" "I know Bob", then he walked over to the window with his head hung low. "Bob something is happening, something bad. Several turkeys have gone missing. Horrible cries have been heard all over the yard. We're not sure if it's a fox or something else coming in and killing our friends, but one things for...Mon, 07 Nov 2022 03:51:31 GMT00:05:54https://talesnail.com/podcasts/71/111/2/turkey-death-row-page-2.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/71/turkey-death-row?pageId=111falseIt's happening now at an alarming rate. A lot more are gone. Before it was just a few but now... too many to count. The whether's cold, the days have gotten shorter and all around me... death, death is everywhere. Let it be known that these are the writings of me, Bob Shwekorski. I'm writing these pages because I fear I may very well be witnessing my last days on earth. My turkey brethren have been disappearing, all that's left of them are a few decapitated heads lying on the ground...Mon, 07 Nov 2022 03:45:06 GMT00:04:42https://talesnail.com/podcasts/71/110/1/turkey-death-row-page-1.mp3https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/71/turkey-death-row?pageId=110false