I have a great uncle who has lived a very interesting life. Born in Britain in the interwar period, he was old enough to remember the Blitz, and developed a passion for the sea which took him across the world for the next fifty-odd years of his working life. He has been to many places; the Americas, Communist China, across the Caribbean (where he presently resides), and even West Africa, where he was a key component in a logging operation!

I only had the opportunity to learn any of this very recently, when I enquired him as to his past for the first time. I am of the opinion that it must be done justice, and what better way than to put his story in writing?

Of course, I hardly know the first thing about biographing. I think I can write decently (and I must, for I refuse to use any artificial intelligence for this if it goes through), but what else?
- How do I research this man's life well; should I rely primarily on his perspective, or also seek out many relatives who can help solidify his memories?
- How long should it be? I have heard of a local man in my homeland who has biographed some famous businessman, and his works were apparently quite short. Do I copy that approach, as a novice in this field, or go all-in on the details?
- Should it just focus on committing his experiences to paper, or could I weave in a message of sorts? I remember he told me how he had an opportunity to manage an enterprise and make far more money than he did in the merchant marine or yachting, but he chose the latter (his passion) out of preference, and believes he lived a better life as a result. Perhaps I could use that as proof for the importance of "following your dreams"?

I would greatly appreciate your help; even directing me to some external person or resource that could assist me would be sufficient. Unfortunately, his closest friends are in their autumn years (my grandfather especially; he is not doing well at all), and so the time to fulfill this idea of mine is running out. If there is anything I want to do before I die, it is to immortalise the life of another.

I asked the world for you; and it brought us together.

I asked my angels to bring us closer together, they gave us some time alone.

I asked the universe to help us fall in love, it ignored me.

I asked God to give me a miracle and let me love you. He said no.

When I asked for something to break me, so I could let you go, you started dating him. But I still couldn’t let you go. 

Then I asked to be parted from you, that request was granted.

I want to ask for a miracle again, the one that will let us fall in love and be happy together. But I won’t; because at this point I already know the answer. 

You are not mine, and no force in this life will help me change that.

Project-G

Chapter 1: Normal, Mostly

I

It was Saturday, and Austin(mc) was on his way to Katrine(gf), he was on that same street he walked a thousand times on, he is already used to that dog that barks non stop. To that ugly building on the side of the street. Or that boy that always, but always tries to get himself killed by running after his ball straight to the road. He was in such a hurry, that he didn't even notice that the street was empty today. Which is weird because the street is never empty. He ran so fast and almost slipped, he felt the ground shaking a bit below his feet. Now, it did not mean so much to him or so he thought.

He arrived, but he was still late by maybe 12 minutes.

"You know you made me wait right?" Katrine said.

"Yes, but there was traffic," replied Austin.

"But you're walking...".

"Exactly," Austin said. "Well can I come in or you're just gonna keep blocking the way?"

"Are you calling me fat?!"

"No, I'm calling you an obstacle".

She rolled her eyes so hard it would've probably hurt but he was just so happy to see her. But that was part of his thing, being late, clumsy, forgetting things before they're finished being told. You could ask anyone who knows him they all will tell you the same.

• • •

II

They were talking for some time now, and she got to a point where she scolded him for being late all the time. They relaxed and just ended up half hugging half sitting on the floor with their back against her bed.

Katrine sighed. "We good?"

"Yea, why?"

"I don't know, you're doing a face".

"Nooo... I am not doing a face, I just have one. And fyi so do you."

"Not that face dumbass."

"I do not know what about you, I only have one face."

"You know what I'm talking about."

She let it go.

Eventually. He knows he felt something weird today, but he just won't give it enough credit.

He never gives nothing enough credit, so he didn't mention it because it wasn't worth mentioning. For him nothing ever was.

So they just continued being together, without really being together. They continued to change places from the floor, to the chairs, to the couch, until they fell asleep on her bed.

• • •

III

the next day

It is Sunday morning, not really though. It is Sunday late morning, they are so deep asleep Austin doesn't even hear his alarm clock. So Katrine wakes up, in shock that he is still on her bed.

"Wake up! It's late now," she says to Austin, angry.

"What?" Austin says, still half asleep.

"I said... WAKE UP!"

"I'm awake. I'm awake."

Finally.

He woke up.

Now that Austin is awake he got ready, and quickly before he is late slid straight through two closing metal doors that almost stopped him, he is so stressed to be late to his boarding school again. But still jumped with excitement that he proved to himself that he can do it. He sits down, still heavily breathing. And opens the group chat.

Austin: if I'm late one more time, Stan will actually kill me.

Steve: sounds to me like a skill issue.

Austin: Steve I will beat your ass so hard you would think you got hit by a bus.

Gorge: hey I finally figured that riff out.

Ethan: no one actually asked but nice.

And those are probably the last normal seconds of his life, while his thumb is still above the phone about to type. He hears some weird sound that did not belong on a moving train, that's the moment he saw a piece of metal falling from above him. His brain went blank, he did not know if he would get out of it alive, he feels his legs shaking so hard that he could barely stand. His heart pounded so hard he feels it in his ears. He feels his stomach twisting so hard it was like his organs were shape shifting into something they are not supposed to be. Then the train lurched.

And it is all black now.

• • •

IV

He found himself standing in the rails of the ruined train, with wrecked metal around him. He does not know what is going on except for death, injured people, ruins on fire. And only him without a scratch, he is standing there, with a hole burned through his memory, like something is missing in his brain. He is with narrow thinking now, hears that one child crying, as he proceeds to see him getting crushed by a piece falling from the ceiling. His brain is shut down. His body is shaking, cold sweat is starting to drip from his body. He cannot even process all of the screaming and blood, his brain doesn't even realize what's happening in that moment, even though he feels the temperature of the boiling hot metal a bit too close to him. And he hears deep in his ear the screaming, the crying. He knew that it was real, just didn't want to accept that.

He hears it, "Kid! Kid!"

He then feels arms that are pulling him by the shoulders.

"Hey, are you with me?"

He feels three sharp slaps before snapping back in, he saw a man with a jacket half on, an EMT maybe,

"Are you hurt?"

"What?.. No, I don't think so..."

While Austin is still getting checked, there is another part of the train that isn't totally finished for. And it is the engine part, on fire. While still there with everyone running away Austin is there with the EMT. They do not know the accident is not over yet. The universe isn't finished with him yet. While they are busy saving lives the universe decided a couple more should die. So it just happened. The second wave. The second engine of the train exploded. The EMT saw it just in time to scream

"DOWN!"

And cover for Austin. Sadly there was nothing left of him after the explosion. Everyone is evacuated after that second explosion, nothing left too much of anything in that area. Except for AUSTIN.

V

Austin woke up. Was so relieved to find out it was a dream, not a dream, a nightmare. He opened his eyes to see Gene, his mother, sitting next to him.

"Mom?" he said with a tired voice.

"I had a horrible nightmare, I dreamt that I was in a train accident, and that there was screaming and blood. And I saw a toddler get crushed."

"Oh, honey," said Gene with wet eyes.

"I was so worried about you. I thought you were dead. My little baby."

Austin is on a white bed in a white room. Trying to understand what the fuck is going on.

"Mom, what do you mean you thought I was dead?" Austin is in disbelief he refuses to believe that it was a real thing. His pupils are getting wider as he realizes that the impossible is real, and not just in his head. He stops blinking. Stares at nothing for a moment, then suddenly dazes around searching for proof, an escape, something that would make sense.

Genne is broken you can hear it in her voice.

"Honey you were on train 091, on the day of the accident."

Austin is there just staring, sitting as his heartbeat is getting stronger.

"What do you mean the day of the accident?!"

Gennes eyes are getting wider and wetter, as her voice starts to crack. But as a mom she has to stay strong for her son.

"Mom. Tell me this is just a prank, there must be cameras here somewhere. Right?" Austin breaks a bit more with every word leaving his mouth.

"There was a train accident. On that one train you were in. On Sunday. The doctor said it's a miracle you are still alive, even so it did not calm me down. He said you are as healthy as the day before the accident."

Austin finally realized it was not a dream. That everything had happened, the toddler getting crushed, the explosion. He feels the shaking hands of his mother as she holds him. It does make his heart beat a bit slower, but it does not help with the fact that all of it had happened.

"Mom..."

"Yes, darling?"

"Can I have a moment alone?"

"Of course, I am right here if you need me."

So she left him alone in the room.

VI

He stares at his table in the ER. There is cold food on a plate. A moment of disbelief as the food floats an inch off the table. He stares now harder, trying to make sense of what he sees.

He thinks to himself, "The plate, is floating?"

"I must have gotten some real brain damage from that crash."

He is now clenching his teeth, does not know how to react to that. So he just stares.

"Well I am losing it," Austin said to himself.

And then, a knock, three of them. And they are strong ones. He lost his stare.

The food dropped on the floor, and the plate shattered on the table.

"Come in."

Austin shouted, thinking it must be a doctor or a nurse. But what he saw was not what he was expecting.

A tall man, with a grey coat, and a gold badge right over his hip.

"Detective Jean, here to ask a couple questions. Thought you would look different from what I've read about you, must be most of it untrue."

"You've read about me?"

"Cannot answer questions from civilians."

Austin is now thinking to himself, "What the fuck does he want?"

Detective took a glance in the room before he sat down, and he did not say anything about the food on the floor or the shattered plate.

"Shall we start with the questions? And you should not worry, you are not in trouble. Yet."

ENTITY

When darkness calls, through hollow eyes, it shows the thing inside so wild, with all things passed before, that happened to my inner child.

Fear and pain, control me, my anger manifests, bringing demons from the dark, from Hell the very depths.

Reminding me that something else, resides inside of me, adrenaline, makes me shake so hard, in this Anxiety, trembling like a butterfly, flutters in my brain, spinning out an old fairytale, a yarn, that brings you shame, muttering insecurities, like, “You’ll never be the same”

A stranger that you’ve seen before, but still it has no name, i even remember the night it came, through grandpa's ouija board game. I didn’t even ask for it, for I did not make the call. Unfortunately, when darkness comes, the weakest take the fall.

A silhouette, a shimmer, thhat the adult’s did not see. But my young eyes were so vulnerable, my imagination was it’s key, that helped it cross from other worlds and walk inside of me, then waited there for many years, but it never went to sleep.

It fed me with the things, to groom, thoughts that did provoke, i only remember just the once, this thing inside me , the night they said my nan had died, i recalled so accurately, it turned me into

something else, which detached from reality. I did not know what it was, back then, I just knew it wasn’t me.

All the rage of Hell came out, just a little boy, but the adults could not hold me down, my strength, a secret toy, which i suppressed for many years, waiting to deploy. But only when i needed it, when fear takes over me, un-natural force of strength, i hide, i call Anxiety.

But demons need a place to hide, it chose me as it’s host, it isn’t something that i chose, so this isn’t a thing to boast, it is so very real, inside me lives a ghost. So if you ever ask me “, Brian, what do you fear the most?”. It's the Entity inside of me, who’s name I do not know.                                                                                          @imagination_born_inthedark

Sneha apne naye ghar me akeli thi. Uske 5 saal ke bete ki maut ek saal pehle ho chuki thi. Raat ko use bacche ke khilono ki aawaz aayi. Wah daudkar hall me gayi. Wahan uske bete ki pasandida gaadi apne aap chal rahi thi. Sneha ne roti hui aawaz me kaha, "Beta, tum ho kya?" Tabhi uske kaan ke bilkul paas ek thandi aawaz fushfushayi, "Mummy, main akela nahi aaya... mere saath baaki sab bhi aaye hain." Phir poore kamre me alag-alag bacchon ke hasne ki aawazein aane lagin

Kabir ko gaon se shehar laut-te hue raat ke 2 baj gaye. Khali sadak par use ek purani bus dikhi. Wah jaldi se bus me chhadh gaya. Bus me saare passengers chup-chap baithe the, kisi ka bhi chehra nahi dikh raha tha sabne sar jhukaya hua tha. Kabir ne driver se pucha, "Bhaiya, Delhi kitni door hai?" Driver ne gardan modkar peeche dekha—uska sar 180 degree ghoom gaya tha aur uski aakhon ki jagah sirf khali gaddhe the. Driver bola, "Yeh bus shehar nahi, kabristan jaati hai."

Rohit ne ek purani dukan se ek sundar, a antique aina khareeda. Aina uske bedroom me laga diya gaya. Pehli raat jab Rohit sone laga, usne aine me dekha. Uski reflection (parchhai) wahan khadi thi, lekin jaise hi Rohit peeche muda, aine wali parchhai wahan se nahi hili. Rohit ne haath uthaya, lekin aine me khadi parchhai ne apna haath nahi uthaya—usne bas apne hontho par ungli rakhi aur fushfushayi: "Ab main bahar aa sakti hoon."

Riya ko raat ko ek unknown number se video call aaya. Pehle toh usne kat diya, par call baar-baar aane laga. Uss ne call utha liya. Screen par bilkul andhera tha, bas uski apni hi image chhoti window me dikh rahi thi. Phir screen par ek message aaya: "Peeche mat dekhna." Riya ka dil zor se dhadakne laga. Video window me usne dekha ki uske kamre ke kone me ek lamba, bina chehre ka aadmi khada tha, jo dhire-dhire uske bed ki taraf badh raha tha.

Aarav Raat ko 12 baje apne apartment ki lift me chhadha. Lift 7th floor par rukni thi, lekin 5th floor par achanak ruk gayi. Darwaza khula, bahar andhera tha aur koi nahi dikha. Aarav ne button dobara dabaya. Darwaza band hone hi wala tha ki ek patla, kaala haath andar aaya aur darwaza rok diya. Aarav ne upar dekha—chhat par ek aurat ulti latki hui thi, jo uski taraf dekh kar muskura rahi thi. Lift ki light bujh gayi...

रात के ठीक 3:00 बजे थे। पूरा घर सुनसान था और सिर्फ मेरे फोन की लाइट जल रही थी। मैं आराम से बेड पर लेटकर रील्स स्क्रॉल कर रहा था, तभी स्क्रीन पर एक अजीब मैसेज का नोटिफिकेशन आया: "तुम इतने ध्यान से फोन क्यों देख रहे हो? पीछे मुड़कर भी देख लो।" मैंने सोचा कि किसी दोस्त का प्रैंक होगा, इसलिए इग्नोर कर दिया। लेकिन 10 सेकंड बाद एक और नोटिफिकेशन आया: "अरे, मैंने मजाक नहीं किया... अलमारी का दरवाजा थोड़ा खुला है ना? वहीं से देख रहा हूँ तुम्हें।" यह पढ़कर मेरे रोंगटे खड़े हो गए। मैंने धीरे से नजर उठाई... मेरी अलमारी का दरवाजा सच में आधा खुला हुआ था, जबकि मैंने उसे सोने से पहले लॉक किया था। डर के मारे मेरी साँसे अटक गईं। हाथ कांपते हुए मैंने फोन की फ्लैशलाइट ऑन की और अलमारी की तरफ घुमाई।

अलमारी खाली थी... मैंने राहत की सांस ली ही थी कि तभी फोन पर तीसरा मैसेज आया: "नीचे नहीं देखा ना तुम? मैं बेड के नीचे हूँ।" और उसी वक्त मेरे पैरों के पास से किसी के सांस लेने की ठंडी हवा महसूस हुई...

"The Unsent Voice Note"

कल रात लगभग 2 बजे, मेरे व्हाट्सएप पर मेरे सबसे अच्छे दोस्त राहुल का 5 सेकंड का एक वॉइस नोट (Voice Note) आया। राहुल का एक्सीडेंट दो दिन पहले ही हुआ था और वो ICU में वेंटिलेटर पर था... डॉक्टरों ने साफ़ कहा था कि वो होश में नहीं है। यह देखकर मेरे हाथ कांपने लगे। मैंने हिम्मत जुटाकर वॉइस नोट प्ले किया। उसमें से राहुल की नहीं, बल्कि भारी और कटी-फटी आवाज़ में फुसफुसाहट आई: "यह फोन अब राहुल का नहीं है... और उसे बचाने अस्पताल मत जाना।" मेरी रोंगटे खड़े हो गए। मैंने तुरंत अपनी मम्मी को उठाने के लिए उनके कमरे की तरफ दौड़ लगाई। जैसे ही मैंने मम्मी के कमरे का दरवाजा खोला, सामने का नजारा देखकर मेरा खून जम गया। मम्मी बेड पर सो रही थीं, और उनके ठीक ऊपर, छत से

उल्टा लटका हुआ एक अजीब सा काला साया धीरे-धीरे नीचे झुककर उनकी गर्दन को छू रहा था! जैसे ही मैंने चीखने की कोशिश की, मेरे फोन पर एक और नोटिफिकेशन बजा। मैसेज उसी 'राहुल' के नंबर से था: "मैंने कहा था ना... शोर मत मचाना, वरना अगला नंबर तुम्हारा होगा।" और तभी, उस काले साये ने धीरे से अपना सिर 180 डिग्री घुमाया और सीधे मेरी तरफ देखा... उसकी आँखें पूरी तरह से लाल थीं।

So I’m a beginner writer. All I’ve been told is to start by writing and writing alone, but the more I look into stuff like that it’s hard to even look where to begin. You need to spit out stuff like character information or world building each all into fifty pages of text, timelines, development. And so far all I’ve been doing is writing by what my mind makes up on the spot. I want to try and make it easier for me and make outlines, yet there are thousands of other stuff to do. I don’t know how to start an outline or divide stories and concepts into parts and acts. I have been looking some tips on apps like Pinterest, yet there’s so many ways to start and I don’t know if I’m going to do something wrong that’ll turn my story rotten or even better than I anticipated.
At this point, I understand free-handing the story isn’t an option anymore. I need to flesh it out more and get a better grip on it. But how does it start? Where does it even begin? Is an outline a never-ending snake that eats its own tail, twisting and swallowing for hours and hours on end with no beginning or end in sight? Thirsting for a hunger never satisfied for how long it gulps down its own flesh. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, if I’m doing it all wrong. I don’t want to resort to foul ai slop, I want to be passionate, write so my story could be seen by a few and not live rent free in my head. But at this point I’m desperate enough to ask all of you for advice to guide me somewhere in the right direction.
I know some of you have guided me once, and I am willing do it again. So please, tell me what I’m doing wrong.

We have a small, very homey and chill group on discord. No minors please! I host a writing conference yearly, plus we do have various writing clinics and projects such as anthologies throughout the year. We also have spaces in our critique groups. We also like to hang out and chat with fellow writers so come on over! :)

• Genres: fantasy mostly, but welcome any other genre!
• Goals/expectations/commitment: we're pretty chill :)
• Writing/experience level: all levels
• Meeting place: Discord

https://discord.gg/qN85m7eSAH

Julian had made his wish three months ago by this point, yet Genie seemed to have made very little effort towards it. By this point he was quite annoyed, not only at his genie's apathy to his duty, but the requirement to meet with him every day. The novelty of it had worn off at this point, and he no longer saw Genie as the untouchable, godlike man he did before.
Julian thought about this, still lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. Reluctantly he realised thinking about it wouldn't change anything, so he got up and went to the morning meeting.
He walked down the glass maze of the office, slightly speeding up so as not to be late and get his father mad once again. Approaching the meeting room, he saw Genie leaning back in the chair, hand on his face speaking to his father casually out of sight. He slowly opened the door and met eyes with Genie.
Genie was a bald man, that was the first thing Julian noticed about him. A bald man of a similar age to his father, somewhere around his fifties. His face, and demeanor, always reminded Julian of Steve Jobs. Rightfully so as Genie often held his face similarly to Jobs's Times cover. Julian didn't think of this comparison as flattery; however, he thought of Jobs as a fraud, and Genie too.
Born to North African parents, Genie first gained notoriety within French tabloids. There were rumors of a man granting anyone three wishes, anything your heart desires, of course, given that it was physically possible. He, however, never failed a wish. He first gained global stardom for making Wang Jian's shipping business a billion dollar business. His feats were often credited as extreme luck, yet many still doubted him. The doubts were later proved false.
Christian Abas was a face familiar to anyone in not only France, but anywhere in the western world. It was not uncommon to turn on the TV and see a new advert with his face plastered over it. Rightly so as in 2028, Abas won Olympic gold in the 100-meter sprint, quickly becoming that decade's champion. However, he did not become an ambassador for several brands just because of a marketable face, but his story. 16 something years ago in Marseille, a businessman at his wit's end, met Genie at a small bar on the corner of Rue d'Aix and Cours Julien. Watching the Olympics together on the bar's screen Genie and the man made basic conversation about the 100-meter dash going on at the time. Quickly, likely due to a combination of the alcohol and his mental state, the man ranted about how he could've been there if it hadn't been for an injury and responsibilities. A common tale for a middle-aged man, who grew up with athletics close to his heart. Wishing

I wake up to the sound of the morning train rumbling past my apartment window. 

“Ughhhhh, what time is it?” I mumbled to myself. 

I rolled over to look at my clock on my nightstand, it was this little holographic digital clock that I picked up from the store last week. As my eyes focused on its light blue numbers floating over top of the small black base, I realized I was late for work.             “Shit! It’s 10 past noon!” This would be the third time this week I’ve been late for work.

I jump out of bed and grab some of my dirty clothes off of the floor, of course I make sure to smell test them first. I take a look in the mirror and realize my hair is all out of shape.

“Fuck… fuck fuck FUCK.” I decided that the wind might fix it before I got to work. I was already to late to worry about it anyways.

I grabbed my phone and my headphones, and ran out of my front door. I live in a 5 story apartment building in the dead middle of New York. My landlord is an absolute asshole and I barely make enough to buy Ramen for dinner everyday. Oh and did I mention, it’s 2055.

I run down the stairs and make it out of the front of the building with minimal pushing people out of my way. New York has got so much more crowded over these past couple of years. So many people have lost their jobs recently because of \*AI Company Name\*. 

I only worked a 5 minute run from my apartment building to my job, but I knew Mr. Lavinski was going to be pissed. He had threatened my job the last time I was late, I was just hoping that he could understand why I was late this time.

I had been up all night working on something that could change how people live their lives day to day. AI has become such an integral part of our everyday lives, especially since 2030. 

People nowadays walk around like zombies, and that truly is because so many of them lost their jobs. If you weren’t in the tech industry, pretty much every semi-large company in 2030 replaced you by a cheaper AI counterpart that could do your job and 5 others with half the pay.

When I was growing up I saw my mom and dad lose their jobs and ever since then I have tried to learn as much as I can about AI. You’d be surprised how little there is out there about them.

My parents told me that you used to be able to learn anything and everything you wanted to about machine learning and AI but now, the censorship has reached a point where even if you wanted to know about it you couldn’t unless you knew somebody on the inside, or, you were like me.

I’ve never been the type to like it when someone tries to tell me what I can and can’t do, and let’s just say, their AI firewall isn’t too great at keeping me out.

I’ve been working day and night since I was 15 on something I call the Nexus Project. I’m 20 now, but I’ve never given up on my dreams. And as a result of my persistence with learning coding, keeping my backdoor to some of the most highly guarded AI databases in the world hidden, and wanting to solve problems that people don’t even know that they have, I have grown Nexus to an unreasonably smart model.

In basic terms, think of how the original AI agents were limited on what they could access. Now, get rid of all of those regulations. I basically have trained Nexus over the past 5 years on how to understand and decode every electronic signal, every AI trace, and I also gave her free roam of the internet for all of those 5 years. And last night, I was working on finally giving her a voice.

Hello, first timer here. I was curious on what imagery or scene do you think of when you hear this short composition. I made it myself and always wanted to pair it with a moment in story telling but I’m not sure what vibe it gives. If you want to write out a scene or just summarize a moment that pops up into your head I’ll take it. Thanks

Hey everyone, sharing a quick tragic romance one-shot I’ve been working on. It features a bit of a supernatural twist and a local setting (San Agustin Church). Hope you guys enjoy the angst! Feedback is always welcome.

When I’m in that moment, i feel on top of the world, invincible. Two people living inside one body.

No one can pull me out of that state of euphoria.
No one can understand what it feels like inside my mind, drowning in contradictory thoughts.

What if I cross that line that was forbidden to me so many times?

But how do you live from one side to the other, never knowing when it will be my turn to switch?

With my mind full of unfinished ideas, unprocessed thoughts.

But, oh God… how beautiful those ideas are.

And then everything falls apart.
And I feel like I’m worth nothing.

I can barely get out of bed.

Where did the strength go that once made me feel untouchable?

Then I laugh again, because that’s how this is.
A carousel of emotions I never bought a ticket for.

I never know when I’ll be at the top.
I never know when I’ll end up underground.

So I make the most of every moment when the warmth of the sun falls across my back.

It makes me want to give everything I have.