https://talesnail.comA website for people to write and share stories, and contribute to others' writings. A unique social media experience where folks can create fun, unique tales that twist and turn in unexpected ways.en-ushttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/273/the-paranormalhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=273His 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/272/deadly-secrethttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=272“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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/271/roselinehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=271Jimmy 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/270/the-policewomanhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=270"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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/269/the-end-of-the-worldhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=269Derrick 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/268/the-watcherhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=268The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/267/the-hunthttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=267It 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/266/friends-to-strangershttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=266I 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/265/served-on-a-platter-of-paperhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=265This 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/264/the-obsidian-armyhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=264She 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/263/one-more-stephttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=263One 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/262/fifty-cent-roseshttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=262Fifty 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/261/mans-new-best-friendhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=261I 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/260/a-night-at-the-museumhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=260A 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/259/the-idiothttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=259The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/258/fatal-passionhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=258Fatal 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/257/karahttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=257KARA 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/256/in-another-lifehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=256I 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/255/the-interviewhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=255As 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/254/the-barons-businesshttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=254Luther 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/253/the-weird-couplehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=253The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/252/the-invisible-boyhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=252The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/251/the-philly-cheese-mistakehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=251On 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/250/the-eclipse-warphttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=250The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/249/goldfish-sachshttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=249The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/248/barbarians-endhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=248Brumlock 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/247/how-firm-a-foundationhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=247The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/246/good-boyhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=246My 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/243/the-empty-vanhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=243I 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....https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/242/dear-georgehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=242Dear 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/241/the-outhouse-on-trail-9https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=241Burritos 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/240/madame-duboisehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=240As 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/239/decommissionedhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=239Guard 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/237/guard-dutyhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=237I 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/236/road-workhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=236A 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/235/breaking--enteringhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=235Max 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/234/maximum-occupancyhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=234Let 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/233/paw-printshttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=233It 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....https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/232/writers-blockhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=232Arthur 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/231/cleaning-servicehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=231I 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/230/abdiels-dealhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=230Abdiel 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/229/no-trolls-in-wisconsinhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=229It 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/228/probing-for-answershttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=228Steven 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/227/silver-bullet-specialhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=227I 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/226/the-craterhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=226I 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/225/the-shetland-prodigyhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=225The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/224/dead-cellhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=224Hunting 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/223/final-memorialhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=223The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/222/in-sessionhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=222The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/221/the-drop-offhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=221“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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/220/house-callhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=220I’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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/219/ms-hannahs-lullabyhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=219At 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/218/the-taking-treehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=218When 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/217/bipedalhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=217I 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/216/no-more-fng-vampireshttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=216The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/215/the-rattle-of-teethhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=215I’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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/214/killboxhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=214Martinez 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/213/guru-steves-path-to-enlightened-relationshipshttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=213Mike’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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/212/the-spiderhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=212It 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/211/the-delicatessenhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=21117-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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/210/theres-no-shrapnel-in-heavenhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=210Raymond 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/207/memedhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=207I 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/206/a-copywritten-herohttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=206"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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/205/the-braincasehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=205Emma 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/202/the-cobra-of-oneida-countyhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=202Dennis 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/201/welcome-to-aftermathhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=201Mosley 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,...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/200/mixed-feelingshttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=200The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/199/the-oracle-of-oslohttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=199When 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/198/a-room-full-of-lifehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=198Looking 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/197/five-pounds-of-creatureshttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=197They 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/196/how-to-survive-mononucleosis-while-infecting-those-around-youhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=196STEP #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,...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/194/last-ghost-first-contacthttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=194Through 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/192/food-frighthttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=192It 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/189/on-top-of-the-worldhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=189The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/188/the-philosophy-of-adekwasityhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=188Rey 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/186/loves-letters-losthttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=186It 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,...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/184/closing-timehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=184The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/183/the-last-war-after-the-nexthttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=183In 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/182/midnight-spaghettihttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=182Part 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/181/the-last-will--testament-of-sadie-f-hochwarterhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=181From 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/180/the-art-of-the-datehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=180His 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/179/forbiddenhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=179In 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/175/maggies-fish-storyhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=175JULY 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/174/law-of-attractionhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=174In 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,...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/173/the-accruals-of-famehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=173I’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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/172/all-will-be-revealedhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=172 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/171/the-monkey-who-knew-too-muchhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=171Grop 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/170/just-plain-quirkyhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=170Once 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/167/more-than-imaginaryhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=167My 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/166/animal-controlhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=166The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/165/reindeer-gameshttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=165 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/164/how-things-changehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=164Everything 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/163/that-one-time-everything-i-touched-came-to-lifehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=163Have 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/162/sabotage-for-snoopyhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=162It 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/161/fighting-for-ameliahttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=161The 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/160/ai-autonomyhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=160In 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/159/where-dreams-go-to-diehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=159Lila 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/158/lilys-lighthttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=158In 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/156/he-knows-mehttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=156He 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...https://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/157/if-it-calls-your-name-dont-answerhttps://talesnail.com/reader/read-single/?storyId=157I’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...