The Babylon Thing

      Peter Ackers
$value['title']

It begins as a simple mission to retrieve an artifact from a cave in a mountainous region of France. But it will lead rugged adventurer Adam "Jacky" Jackson across the globe on a dangerous search for an ancient king's tomb and the power it holds.It begins as a simple mission to retrieve an artifact from a cave in a mountainous region of France. But when a rich Irish businessman learns of what was found there, rugged tomb raider Adam "Jacky" Jackson will be propelled into his greatest and most dangerous adventure yet. From the infamous Money Pit in Nova Scotia, to a vast castle in Ireland and an abandoned prison in South America, he will tackle fiendish traps and face dangerous enemies who are also on the hunt for an ancient king's burial chamber and the power it holds.

Read online

  • 693

    Tooth & Nail

      Jonathan Maberry
$value['title']

What happened to Benny Imura and his friends after they reached Sanctuary—and discovered that it was far from the miracle they had thought it would be? Jonathan Maberry shares a glimpse into a formative moment in an exclusive e-short story that also features Joe Ledger (Patient Zero, Extinction Machine) and Iron Mike Sweeney (The Pine Deep Trilogy).

Read online

  • 693

    The Vampires of London

      Sebastian Alexander
$value['title']

So you have found my tale, I placed it here for you! Is this fate you may ask? Take a seat and make yourself comfortable, and read my tale. Unas has been waiting for you, yes! - for you since before you were born; Unas the devourer of souls and the drinker of blood.It’s 2461 AD. Some 400 years ago a woman died of cancer. But technology revived life in her corpse. She finds herself waking up in a ship, on the Earth which is on the verge of extinction. Humanity has axed its own beautiful planet by exploiting it to an irreparable extent. Life has returned to her, but survival is a challenge. Darkness pervades, in the present world outside, in future, below the oceans as well as inside her own self. But she got her second chance because of a purpose which was forgotten with the past life, which is sealed in the time she lay dead for in the cryo. A fight among the instincts of survival, revival, betrayal, revenge and strength of soul. A battlefield set in the apocalyptic future. A war is waging between the atrocities outside and toxicities of the inside; the cruelty of the world outside and the suffering of the heart; a war between hatred outside and revenge inside; a story founding the basis of another world war. The future world turns out nothing as she expected but it is appalling. We'll but have to place the blame on ourselves. But we'll fight for life on our raging planet lost to the aftermath of global warming. The war begins right about now.....!!! This is the first book setting up the background for a battle ahead

Read online

  • 693

    Strange Tales

      Philip R Benge
$value['title']

Three short mild horror stories.In the first tale a man finds that his immortal soul is in peril. In the second tale a man seeks to change his life and succeeds in a way he could never imagine.In the third tale a man is forced to fight against the forces of evil.Bryn Reyes is a real life sleeping beauty. Afflicted with Klein-Levin Syndrome, she suffers episodes of prolonged sleep that steal weeks, and sometimes even months, from her life. But unlike most KLS patients, she doesn’t spend each episode in a catatonic state or wake up with no recollection of the time she’s missed. Instead, Bryn spends half her life in an alternate reality made up of her memories. For Bryn, the past is a place, until one day a boy she’s never met before washes up on the illusory beach of her dreams with no memory of who he is.But the appearance of this strange boy isn’t the only thing that’s changed. Bryn’s symptoms are worsening, her body weakening as she’s plagued by hallucinations even while awake. Her only hope of finding a cure is to undergo experimental treatment created by a German specialist. But when Dr. Banz reveals that he knows more about her strange symptoms than he originally let on, Bryn learns that the boy in her head might actually be the key to understanding what’s happening to her, and worse, that if she doesn’t find out his identity before it’s too late, they both may not survive.

Read online

  • 693

    The Unforgettable Names Of the Forgotten Gods

      Jonathan Antony Strickland
$value['title']

Short comic story.In times of old, when the worlds had just formed, and mankind was still fresh and young, the One God fought for his right to rule over all. But as Gods go, he was not as clever or unique as he first thought and later found he was just one of many from a plethora of other divine deities striving to make a mark and be worshipped by humanity. THIS IS THE STORY TO END ALL STORIESA short comic fantasty/sword and sorcery type story.In times of old, when the worlds had just formed, and mankind was still fresh and young, the One God fought for his right to rule over all. But as Gods go, he was not as clever or unique as he first thought and later found he was just one of many from a plethora of other divine deities striving to make a mark and be worshipped by humanity. He needed a strategy to stand out from the rest. Unfortunately his first attempt at supreme power did not quite succeed as his tactic to overcome the other Gods was but a simple one; he would recruit a powerful warrior by the name of “Darse Yole” and get him to do his dirty work for him.This was my second story that i wrote way back in around 1999.If you read this story then why not leave me a review to tell me what you thought. Any feedback (be it good or bad) is always most helpful.

Read online

  • 693

    Incident In A Tomb

      Rik Hunik
$value['title']

A short H.P. Lovecraft-inspired horror story. When Joe and his cousin Ward broke into a tomb to try out a spell to raise an ancestor they got some unexpected results.“She speaks and they obey,” but even a supernatural ability can’t help this stay-at-home mom control her own life. Don't Rhine on My Parade is a laugh-out-loud urban-fantasy with an unlikely protagonist, a young mother who has an unusual power. Blessed, or perhaps cursed, with the ability to command obedience, Piper Cavanaugh’s normal life turns upside down in this full-length novel. A descendent of the sirens who sang sailors to their deaths, Piper has vowed to never use her power of command, but one little slip-up and her secret has come back to bite her – literally. Now she must gain permission to join the United Supernatural Beings, or it’s open hunting season on all of humanity. While juggling toddlers, keeping her husband in the dark, and babysitting her rebellious kid sister, Piper finds herself befriending a vampire, stealing from murderous witches, and doing battle with “Satan,” otherwise known as her mother-in-law. And she thought grocery shopping with her kids was hard!Don't Rhine on My Parade is a refreshing switch for readers who long for a more relatable heroine. With commonsense and sass, Piper handles diapers to decapitations as only a mother can. Filled with comedy, action, and thrills, Don't Rhine on My Parade expands the borders of urban fantasy into the suburbs!

Read online

  • 693

    Case of the One-Eyed Tiger

      Jeffrey M. Poole
$value['title']

When a shocking murder shatters the tranquility of a sleepy Oregon town, all fingers soon start pointing at new resident Zack Anderson.Determined to clear his name, Zack sets out to solve the case with the help of a feisty canine companion with an uncanny ability to sniff out clues.With evidence mounting against him, can Zack identify the killer before he ends up in the doghouse?When a shocking murder shatters the tranquility of a sleepy Oregon town, and a priceless sculpture turns up missing, all fingers soon start pointing at new resident Zack Anderson.Armed with a determination to clear his name, Zack sets out to solve the case with the help of a feisty canine companion with an uncanny ability to sniff out clues.With evidence mounting against him, can Zack identify the killer and locate the missing sculpture before he ends up in the doghouse?

Read online

  • 693

    A New Kind of High

      MB Mulhall
$value['title']

What if your greatest fears were used as a drug? Would it be a high you'd be interested in? Could you survive the ordeal? Or would it break you?Anna is about to find out.A New Kind of High is a 4,000 word short YA horror/suspense story.When addiction and obsession are confused with love, life becomes hazed.After Taylor Thompson receives an acceptance letter to a university an hour away, she can taste freedom. Her life is controlled by a small town and a strict father. When Taylor finds a local bar that’s hiring a waitress she applies and gets the position. However, one bartender leaves her questioning the acceptance of her new job.Hayze Clark, the bartender that keeps the customers coming back. His dark eyes pierce through your soul, drawing you near. The tattoos bellowing down his arms and the scar that lines his left eyebrow keep you at a safe distance; his carefree attitude lures Taylor into friendship. She's excited to have found the perfect distraction, and new friendship to pull herself from her misery. The closer she gets, the more secrets are revealed, lies are told, and tears are shed. Their relationship falters and Taylor is left unsure if she's willing to pick up the pieces of this broken guy.

Read online

  • 693

    Kayne - Crown of Dominion

      Adrian Juhl
$value['title']

The time has come for Prince Kayne to embark on his pilgrimage. The only heir to Methuselah and the worlds under its rule, he must prove himself worthy of the crown.A lost island hides a secret. Forbidden by law to visit, Kayne and his men are pursued by the Regent's Holy Guard. His fate lies in the hands of an Elemental caster and a young Ranger - both from worlds conquered by MethuselahCrown of Dominion is Adrian L. Juhl’s story of the adventures of the eponymous hero, Prince Kayne, son of King Jim and Queen Shannon. Kayne lives in a world where religion is controlled by powerful Apothecaries, magic and necromancy are rife, and monsters patrol the dark places. Even Kayne himself is secretly a Subjugator with his own set of special powers. His planet is one of a group that previously orbited a star, but which were thrown apart by ‘magic gone wrong.’ In order to qualify as a future king, Kayne needs to go on a quest, so he sets out on the good ship Oleander, accompanied by 180 men-at-arms and his mentor and friend, Jack. He also has the services of an Elemental – a powerful magician able to control the natural environment – and a Ranger – a magical hunter. Soon he is encountering hallucinogenic fog, silver wolves and flying snake gods, all in an environment of volcanoes and giant waves. Of course, his quest involves maps on ancient scrolls, magic crowns, and a sword that miraculously turns into a war hammer. -Reviewed by John A G Smith for Readers' Favorite. 4 Stars.

Read online

  • 693

    In The Beginning

      Derek White
$value['title']

Short story from the Unicorn Witch tales of Refuge.‘IN THE BEGINNING’ Is The First In A Collection Of Short Stories, ‘UNICORN WITCH’S CAULDRON’ Due For Release In The Summer Of 2013 And Featuring The Worlds And Characters You Will Know From The ‘UNICORN WITCH TRILOGY’.The short stories, including this one, whilst complete in themselves, would be better read after reading ‘Unicorn Witch’

Read online

  • 693

    The Little Wooden Chair -or- The Most Unlikely Hero

      MJ Ware
$value['title']

Maggy's grandfather knows he'll be dead by the time she's born. The only gift he can afford is one he makes with his own hands. As he finishes the little wooden chair, he has no idea that his gift will not only be her protector and companion, but it will teach her the meaning of Love.Includes a free bonus story: The Price of Friendship.Maggy's grandfather knows he'll be dead by the time she's born. The only gift he can afford is one he makes with his own hands. As he finishes the little wooden chair, he has no idea that his gift will not only be her protector and companion, but it will teach her the meaning of Love.Includes a free bonus story: The Price of Friendship.Independent Reviewer Captainlock: Amazing BookThis book may seem like a book for little kids, but once you start reading it, it gets better and better. Definitely a book I would recommend to a friend. Worth every penny. If you have doubts about buying it the forget them! You will not be disappointed, that I can assure you of.Independent Reviewer Book Junkie: Kleenex AlertThis short story was well written, it made you smile at points with the things the little girl came up with and then it made you fear what was going to happen next and in the end you are crying and fearful at the same time. The story is told from the view of the little wooden rocking chair in the little girls room, rocking chair recounts past events as well as what is happening in current time.

Read online

  • 693

    Old Ways

      David Xavier
$value['title']

A struggling writer in Paris comes to grips with relationships in an effort to rediscover inspiration.Enjoy a novel which has been beaten and molded into a short, yet, exciting brief of what takes place in the small town of Kinglake, Victoria, Australia. Then extends to San Francisco, New York and the world of bioengineering, agents, greed and loss.Blurb:A man wakes up in the middle of the wilderness covered in cuts and bruises, wearing only runners and shorts. Not sure of how he came to be there, he sifts through broken memories to recall just one fact: he works for a bioengineering company on viruses, not harmful, but beneficial viruses. His only problem is that rival companies and government agencies will go through anyone to steal it.

Read online

  • 693

    The Universal War

      Nikhil Dhingra
$value['title']

Nirem was just an ordinary teenager until his life was completely turned after being abducted by aliens. Now, Nirem (now known as Garion) is destined to fight an evil God bent on the universe's destruction! Join Garion in this epic sci-fi novel as he fights the evil God Draktos and his nefarious plans, each plan leading up to a master plan even the king of Mars couldn't dream of.Nirem was just an ordinary teenager, facing social problems and peer pressure as he struggled to fit into high school.  This all quickly changed though, when Nirem was abducted by aliens, sending him into a new life he couldn't even hope to imagine! Since then, Nirem, now known as Garion, has been destined to destroy the evil mastermind of Draktos in order to protect the universe he loves. Jump into this science-fiction tale as Nirem embarks on a quest like no other, and not only matures throughout his journey but also finds out secrets about the universe that will rock him to his core!

Read online

  • 693

    Mistaken Identity

      Paul Alan Fahey
$value['title']

What is the meaning of identity? A woman living in an isolated cottage on the central California coast watches the fog drift across a desolate landscape. Several miles to the south, another woman, a patient in a Santa Monica hospital who has survived a brutal assault, struggles to regain her memory and her identity. These two women are connected, but how? What brings them together?What is the meaning of identity? A woman living in an isolated cottage on the central California coast watches the fog drift across a desolate landscape. Several miles to the south, another woman, a patient in a Santa Monica hospital who has survived a brutal assault, struggles to regain her memory and her identity.These two women are connected, but how? What brings them together? Is intensive psychotherapy the key to unlocking the mystery, or will something more uncover their shared bond?

Read online

  • 693

    SHORT STORIES vol i

      Natacha Cutler
$value['title']

Two tales of love. "Moonlight Mile" a cursed love between two young kids and "Bows + Arrows" a girl's journey to self love through the eyes of her past lovers.The travel membrane named “The Empress,” was setup as a huge traveling warehouse, designed to provide merchandise and supplies to the entities of the Universe. The owner and skipper, named Ronnie Yutaka, thought of his vessel as a traveling General store. If Ronnie did not have it aboard The Empress, you probably did not need the fucking thing in the first place. Ronnie had a large clientele from all over the cosmos, and some of the Universes he visited required hours of travel, even using the latest technology in time travel computers. The planet Quantum was where Ronnie had been born and raised, but he no longer lived there, as he now had no permanent residence other than The Empress. Ronnie knew the planet Quantum and its people very well. Ronnie’s younger sister Janet was still living on the planet so Ronnie would often visit her and spend a day or so spoiling her two young daughters rotten. As two Intergalactic Federation Law Enforcement Officers materialized inside The Empress’s secure room, Ronnie realized they might not be there to make purchases as they had stated. They had a file folder with them and they began talking, without any pleasantries or introductions. Finally, the cops got to the point and explained they were planning to arrest Ronnie for raping a woman on his last visit to Earth’s surface. Ronnie explained they had the wrong man, but the cops were not going to listen. True, Ronnie had seduced the woman, but she was the one on top doing the actual seducing part. Apparently, her boyfriend found out and was screaming rape. Ronnie decided he was not going anywhere with these two, and told them they should leave now before they got into trouble. One on the cops drew his pistol and as it cleared his holster, he found himself shooting bullets into the vacuum of open space. Ronnie laughed aloud as the computer slid the floor panels back into place and began the cleansing process to remove the mess in his secure room. As The Empress slowly began moving, Ronnie could see the cop’s vehicle floating in space where they had boarded his vessel. Ronnie pressed the retractor button and the vehicle moved up behind The Empress, and then slowly moved inside the cargo bay door. As the retractor beam sat the vehicle down on the steel floor of the cargo bay, Ronnie decided he would check and see if there was anything usable inside before he jettisoned the hull into deep space. When the cargo bay was fully pressurized, Ronnie walked to the vehicle, looked inside, and then realized that the woman whom he had supposedly raped was inside the vehicle’s rear seating area. As Jill (now twenty-one years old yesterday) and the computer waited for Ronnie and Angela, (Connie changed her name to Angela at her wedding) to teleport back to the Empress from a three-day holiday at a luxurious Spa, Jill heard the computer speak her father’s name. It was just one loudly spoken word, “RONNIE.” Thinking Ronnie and Angela had contacted the computer before they teleported back to The Empress, Jill stepped to the travel console and then suddenly realized that a serious problem existed. Just as Ronnie, (holding Angela’s hand) had pressed the green button on his travel watch, the display flickered and the destination changed from The Empress to Timms’s address on the planet Keemus. When Jill had heard the computer speak Ronnie’s name, the computer had already realized the failure of Ronnie’s travel watch, but the computer was unable to prevent the teleportation from taking place. Ronnie and Angela had been teleported onto the antimatter planet of Keemus.Ronnie Coleinger

Read online

  • 693

    The School Store Robbery

      G. J. Irrera
$value['title']

The school store was robbed. The evidence just didn't fit the story that was being told.To celebrate the publication of Death at Noon a special discount for Marlow's friends is available, just visit her website at https://www.mysterygirljournal.com/landing-page-2/ for coupon code.The day started off with a bang, the school store was robbed. Just like any other school store they sell notebooks, pens and pencils just your average school supply stuff and of course, you can buy the books you need for your classes. They even have sweatshirts, book bags and other things with the school logo.Some of the students worked there as part of the school’s hands on learning program, I think they get some kind of credit for business or math, but I’m not sure. Anyway, the people involved in this little mystery are Wendy Parker; she was working in the store that morning.Miss. Lawton, who is in charge of the store she had just opened the store and gave Wendy her duties for the morning.Mrs. Henderson, she’s the school principal and of course, me. There were a bunch of things that just didn’t fit the story that Wendy told the police, and now that I think about it they should have been easy to spot.All the clues are there, why don’t you see if you can figure out what really happened that cold, wet morning in February.To celebrate the publication of Death at Noon a special discount for Marlow's friends is available, just visit her website at https://www.mysterygirljournal.com/landing-page-2/

Read online

  • 693

    A Flash of Silver

      David D Sharp
$value['title']

Being influenced by two, very different, mystical sea creatures, it falls on a young midshipman to travel through his own past, present and future to unravel the mystery and seal the fate of the English merchant vessel, The Windermere,1758 - In the mid-Atlantic, the Windermere, an English merchant vessel sinks in calm waters, on an empty horizon. All hands are lost.1758 - The Windermere, sails safely into harbour in Hudson Bay.Both of these realities are true and false. Being influenced by two, very different, mystical sea creatures, it falls on a young midshipman to travel through his own past, present and future to unravel the mystery and seal the fate of the Windermere.Praise for David D Sharp's work:"Charming, delightful and heartwarming.""Complete magic.""Delightfully quirky and delicate."This is a short fantasy story, totalling around 10,000 words. It also includes the bonus short "The Passing", a coming of age tale set in the Scottish Highlands.

Read online

  • 693

    Spider Lady

      Joy Bassetti-Kruger
$value['title']

Scared of spiders? This short story will help you to overcome this fear and maybe you'll even begin to take an interest in the spiders in your garden and document your findings. Its all about how a little bit of knowledge can change our perceptions of the things we fear most.Lola, the spider lady, came to the club to introduce the women to the world of spiders. She knew she would have to win them over by telling them about some of the interesting techniques that spiders used to catch their prey but it threw her a bit when one woman screamed at the sight of a big hairy spider and another person got up and ran from the room. Trying harder now, she showed them some slides and soon a few of the women came over to view Goldie, the big hairy spider that had initially scared them.The woman who had run from the room returned and soon asked a few questions and in no time at all she became Lola's biggest fan and even started a spider diary of her own. Here she recorded the activities of the spiders in her own garden and also introduced her family to the world of spiders.So if you have a fear of spiders, this short story might help you to overcome it.

Read online

  • 693