Fable

Layer of Permission
The first thing Mara noticed was that no one ever said no anymore. They said not available, pending review, outside your tier, not at this time; you know when the words were polite. Bloodless. They floated past her like customer service ghosts.
By Cadma9 days ago in Fiction
The Fight
As Beth walks towards her doom, she can’t help but realize that if she hadn’t adopted Greg the world wouldn’t be ending, for that was when all of this nonsense had started. She wasn’t sure if she should be blaming herself or Greg, it’s not like it was his fault, he knew nothing about it. Plus, at that age he was too young to understand, if Beth managed to save the world, this young 3-year-old wouldn’t even remember any of the events he had to endure. He may have a few vague memories as he grew up, with holes filled in by stories and tales. But, he would never remember his first adoptive mother.
By 143Rosey9 days ago in Fiction
Fumblin' About in the Dark. Content Warning.
“’Ere, Jimmy; switch the fucking light on, won’t cha?” “Ay, it’s dark in ‘ere and all, eh Harry?” “Shut your fuckin’ trap, Sammy; if I wanted the opinion of an arsehole I would’ve stuck me ‘ead between my legs.”
By Bryan Pike9 days ago in Fiction
You Promised This Would Be the Last Question
“You promised this would be the last question.” “I did.” “Then ask it.” “I already have.” “That wasn’t a question.” “It wasn’t?”
By Sound and Spirit10 days ago in Fiction
Don’t Read It Out Loud
“Is this yours?” “No.” “It was on the printer.” “I didn’t print anything.” “It doesn’t have a header.” “Let me see.” “Don’t touch it yet.”
By Sound and Spirit10 days ago in Fiction
This Isn’t the First Time You’ve Asked Me That
“Why are you looking at me like that?” “Like what?” “Like you’re waiting for me to say the wrong thing.” “I’m not.” “You are.”
By Sound and Spirit10 days ago in Fiction
You Said You’d Call If You Survived
“Hey. It’s me.” “I don’t know if this is even going to go through.” “The signal keeps dropping.” “I’m supposed to keep this short.”
By Sound and Spirit10 days ago in Fiction
Before You Leave
“Do you have everything?” “I think so.” “You think or you know?” “I know. Mostly.” “Mostly doesn’t help much when you’re already halfway out the door.”
By Sound and Spirit10 days ago in Fiction
Burnt, Buried, and Banished. Content Warning.
Carice had no children as most people would define the word, but she considered herself a mother all the same. After all, it wasn’t her fault that Nathaniel hadn’t figured out he didn’t want to be a father after all until after they were married and he’d moved them both away to the top of this mountain.
By Shannon Hilson10 days ago in Fiction
One by One
“Have you seen Dog, have you heard?” “Of Pig’s litter?” “No, no, that the farmer is sending the chickens to slaughter.”
By Laura Lann10 days ago in Fiction
"Remove That Hex!" - 2
This is Part 2 of an absurdist, romance novel-spoof horror-sprinkled tale of Elena, a 30-something divorced postal worker living in a high-rise studio apartment in any city in Russia. Once, she bought a talking fish who turned out to be a witch-hexed prince. The only way to remove the hex would be for Elena to fall in love and give him a human baby. Falling in love was the easy part. One day, Elena started to lay fish eggs and put them in the aquarium where her Prince lived in the fish form. She told him to watch them while she was at work, however, the eggs kept disappearing.
By Lana V Lynx10 days ago in Fiction
The One in the Well
The man stared back at what he had done with a sense of grim satisfaction. A brief moment of hollow silence rung the secluded courtyard like a churchyard bell.
By Ian Read10 days ago in Fiction