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    429 Results with the "Literary" genre


    • Chapter

      Forty-Two Years

      Forty-Two Years Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Forty-Two Years had passed since Werryck last experienced the restfulness of sleep, a fact the protagonist learned during a series of late-night conversations. Werryck revealed that his choice to forgo sleep was motivated by an insatiable desire for revenge and control, a decision that had cost him his peace. This unsettling admission forced the protagonist to reflect on Lark's beliefs regarding redemption, specifically for those who had wronged her—like Large Beef, a man who once attempted to firebomb…
    • Skeletons Climbing Stairs in the Rain Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Skeletons Climbing Stairs in the Rain, the scene in the Shambles is one of suffocating heaviness. The air, thick with the smell of hot tar and the constant, monotonous hum of bilge pumps, fills the space with a sense of perpetual discomfort. Rainy, immersed in this grim setting, feels the weight of looming dread, especially as he is summoned to carry out his duties. As he moves through the darkened corridors of the ship, the silence is broken only by the distant noises from below, reminding him of the…
    • Lines of Poison Longitude Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Lines of Poison Longitude set the stage for a pivotal journey on the open sea, where a group of sailors faces mounting challenges under increasingly perilous circumstances. Sol, in her efforts to gain her grandfather Griff’s approval, continuously provides food and tries to keep the mood light, but a sense of dread looms over the crew. Griff, a man with dreams of grand adventures in the past, remains a figure of complexity, bringing to the table his fantasies of living the life of an astronaut and…
    • The Medicine Ship Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Medicine Ship presents the protagonist’s harsh reality, imprisoned in a cold, damp cell aboard a vessel that seems to embody despair. The ship’s corridors echo with the sounds of creaking wood and the persistent smell of mildew, creating an atmosphere of confinement and isolation. Within this grim setting, the protagonist’s thoughts constantly return to a child named Sol, whose life seems endangered by the protagonist’s current plight. Sol had been recovering from a difficult past, showing…
    • Stubby Golems on the Fretboard Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Stubby Golems on the Fretboard takes the protagonist into a reflective state, as he plays his beloved bass guitar, Mr. Fender, an instrument that has been his source of solace and connection throughout his difficult journey. As the familiar rhythms fill the air, memories of his time with Lark flood back—both the joyous moments they shared and the sorrowful reality of their separation. The sound of the bass, for the protagonist, is not just a distraction but a vessel that holds his emotions and nostalgia,…
    • The Phantom Gramps Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Phantom Gramps began to manifest on the third morning on the seawall, casting a shadow over Sol’s otherwise hopeful demeanor. As she climbed aboard for breakfast, the narrator couldn’t help but notice the unusual gleam in her eyes, the hollow, faraway look she carried as if a second presence lingered behind her. This unsettling energy, which the narrator referred to as the "waiting child," filled the air around Sol, making her seem like a different person altogether. In an attempt to draw her back…
    • the bitter ends in their teeth Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin As twilight set in, the atmosphere turned frigid as the protagonist and Sol prepared to make their escape using a sailboat. Following Essie’s precise instructions, they stripped the vessel of its canvas and tied the mast down, camouflaging it with muck from the water to escape detection. Earlier, the protagonist ventured into Brighton, a haunting ghost town, where the remnants of a community contrasted starkly with the signs of destruction; many homes were abandoned or charred. Essie's home was a somber…
    • Chapter

      The Djinn

      The Djinn Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Djinn plays a significant role in the unfolding chapter, where the protagonist, having crossed over the rocks, meets Sol, who is struggling to recover from a cold swim in the sea. She is hypothermic and physically weakened by the ordeal, needing urgent care and warmth. The protagonist, unsure of how to handle the situation, wraps Sol in a dry blanket and gives her coffee, his mind overwhelmed by a surge of conflicting emotions. While his protective instincts take over, a deep sense of anxiety about her…
    • Probably Doomed and Perplexingly Merry Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Probably Doomed and Perplexingly Merry, the narrator finds themselves steering their small vessel along the misty Michigan coastline, accompanied by Sol, a young girl who is sleeping soundly in the forward bunk. As the narrator reflects on the weight and warmth of her small frame, there is a sense of unease, a deep responsibility weighing on them as they struggle to adjust to the new dynamic of caring for Sol. The journey is long, and though the sea offers a sense of calm, the narrator cannot shake the…
    • Bad Thoughts About Authority Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin "Bad Thoughts About Authority" fill the air as the narrator and Sol find themselves anchored along a calm canal, surrounded by the peaceful beauty of orchards and fields. Sol, usually vibrant and full of life, shrinks under a blanket as she sleeps, which prompts the narrator to reflect on her vulnerability. The circumstances they’re facing weigh heavily on him, and although he wishes to soothe her with music from his bass guitar, his mind fails to recall a melody that could bring comfort in their shared…
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