Welcome to Short Tales
A collection of short stories for your reading enjoyment
Currently 12,517 short tales
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The Secret World of Dérailleurs: A Mysterious Encounter on a Summer Evening Train Ride
It was a warm summer evening, and the train had just pulled into the station. Passengers were getting off and on, but one man in particular caught my eye. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt and black pants, with a red scarf knotted around his neck. He had a small, leather satchel slung over his shoulder, and he carried himself with a quiet confidence that I found intriguing.
As I watched him from across the platform, he caught my eye and smiled. His eyes were a deep brown, and they seemed to sparkle in the fading light of day. I felt a sudden jolt of electricity run through my body, and I knew that I needed to know more about this man.
I introduced myself, and he told me his name was Pierre. We chatted for a few minutes, exchanging pleasantries and getting to know each other. But as the minutes ticked by, I found myself becoming increasingly fixated on Pierre's unusual clothing.
"What's with the red scarf?" I asked him, trying to keep my voice casual.
Pierre smiled again, and his eyes twinkled with amusement. "Ah, yes," he said. "The dérailleur. It's a tradition among my people, you see. You know how sometimes, when you're on a train, you feel like you're floating through the countryside? Like the train is moving beneath you, but you're not really a part of it?"
I nodded, intrigued. "Yes, I know what you mean."
"Well," Pierre continued, "for us dérailleurs, that feeling is heightened. We feel like we're floating through life itself, disconnected from the rest of the world. It's a strange, but beautiful feeling, don't you think?"
I was captivated by his words, and I found myself wanting to know more about this mysterious group of people. "What do you mean by 'my people'?" I asked him.
Pierre chuckled, and his eyes sparkled with mischief. "Ah, yes. You see, we dérailleurs are a secretive lot. We don't exactly...exist. At least, not in the way that most people think of existence."
I leaned in, eager to hear more. "What do you mean?"
Pierre glanced around, making sure no one was listening. "You see, we dérailleurs are...time travelers. Or, at least, we like to think of ourselves that way."
My eyes widened in amazement. "Time travelers? How is that possible?"
Pierre smiled again, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Ah, my dear, that's the magic of it all. You see, time isn't quite as linear as we like to think it is. There are...ways around it. Ways of moving through time, of existing outside of its constraints."
I was mesmerized by his words, and I found myself wanting to believe him. "What do you mean by 'ways'?" I asked him.
Pierre leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "Ah, my dear, that's the thing about dérailleurs. We don't exactly...exist in the same way as everyone else. You see, we move through time on our own terms. We skip and jump and loop around, however and whenever we please."
I was entranced by his words, and I found myself wanting to join him in his strange, magical world. "How do you do it?" I asked him.
Pierre smiled again, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Ah, my dear, that's the secret of the dérailleurs. It's not something you can explain or understand. You just have to...believe."
As the train pulled out of the station, I found myself wanting to believe in Pierre and his strange, magical world. And as the miles rolled by, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had just caught a glimpse of something truly extraordinary.
The A-Z Challenge: Where Creativity Meets Structure
Adventure Beckons: A Journey of Discovery and Power
Max's Mastery of Metalwork: A Tale of Detail and Admiration
Unveiling Aachen's Enchanted Realm: A Traveler's Journey into Magic
Aaliyah: The Star Who Shone Brightest Despite Criticism
Arnie's Adventure: The Little Aardvark Who Stood Up for What Was Rightfully His
Arty the Aardvark: The Unlikely Rockstar of the African Savannah
Aardvarks and Hyenas Unite for an Epic Journey and Lasting Friendship.
From Teenage Dreams to Global Acclaim: Aaron's Journey to Becoming a Music Producer Extraordinaire
Sailing into the Depths: A Young Man's Quest for Oceanic Wonder
Bringing Dreams to Life: The Magical Adventures of Ava
A World of Magic: The Ancient Tree's Lessons
The Ingenious Abacus: How One Man's Passion for Mathematics Changed History
Young Blacksmith Continues Legacy of Grandfather's Forge After Tragic Fire
The Abacus Master: A Legacy of Mathematical Brilliance
The Abacus Wizard: How Li's Math Skills Brought Prosperity to a Rural Chinese Village
The Math Whiz of the Village: Maria's Abacus Adventure
The Engine Room Enigma: A Mysterious Encounter at Sea
The Magical Adventures of Luna and Abalone: A Tale of Friendship and Wonder
The Secret Life of Abalones: A World of Wonder and Adventure
The Magical Abalone: A Tale of Friendship and Wonder
Abigails Journey: Finding Hope Amidst Regret
Abandoning My True Self: A Journey of Rediscovery
Abandonment: A Journey of Resilience
The Shadowed City: A Haunting Legacy of Disappearance
Maria's Mystical Journey: Unlocking Her True Potential
The Kind Heart of Abase: A Legacy of Compassion and Caring
The Brave Girl of the Rolling Hills: Abash's Quest to Save the Forest
Abashed: The Animal Communicator's Quest for Kindness and Protection
The Legend of Ash and Lila: A Tale of Unlikely Love
Emily's Gift of Courage
Unlocking the Art of Winemaking: A Small Village's Legacy of Passion and Excellence
The Sky's Great Mystery: A Massive Light Figure Appears in the Abatement
The Ancient Tree's Gift: A Boy's Quest for Communication
Ember's Legacy: A Young Girl's Quest to Protect the Natural World
The Secrets of Abattoir: A Gateway to Malevolent Spirits
The Magic Within: A Kind Man's Journey to Enchanted Lands
The Boy Who Wished for Adventure: A Magical Tale of Travel and Triumph
Ali's Journey: Pursuing Knowledge and Enlightenment in Baghdad's Great University
The Golden Age of Baghdad: A Love Story of Rebellion and Freedom
Amidst the Winter's Darkness, a Beacon of Hope: The Story of Abbé Pierre and His Café of Compassion
A Glimmer of Hope: A Priest's Encounter with Magic
The Wishes of the Abbaye de Bellevue: A Monastery's Descent into the Supernatural
Finding Peace in the Face of Doubt: The Story of Brother Thomas
The Abbess's Heart: A Tale of Love, Compassion, and Redemption
Finding Peace and Purpose at St. Agnes Abbey: A Story of Grief, Healing, and Redemption
Unlocking the Secrets of the Ancient Abbey: Sarah's Journey to Enlightenment
Finding Peace in the Ancient Walls: A Young Woman's Journey to Solace at the Abbey of St. Mary
The Eternal Sanctuary: A Place of Peace and Legacy
The Magic of Abbot: A Young Man's Quest for Ancient Power
Finding Inner Peace: A Journey of Discovery and Transformation
Finding Peace and Purpose in the Heart of Abbots
The Shroom's Sinister Spell: A Clever Inventor's Deadly Descent into Dark Magic
The Mysterious Case of the Disappearing Donuts: A Tale of Mischievous Treats
The Magic of Abbr: A Curious Girl's Journey to Mastery
The Secret of the Hidden Clearing: A Brave Girl's Quest for Adventure and Survival
The Guardian of the Woods: A Young Girl's Quest for Magic and Protection
Adventurous Brave Curious Expeditions in Enchanted Lands: Alice's Magical Journey
King Edward Abdicates, Leaving Behind a Legacy of Kindness and Compassion
The Kingdom's New Queen: A Reflection of Wisdom and Compassion
The Kingdom's Unlikely Abdication: King Edward's Journey to Simplicity
The Kind and Just King: A Legacy of Wisdom and Compassion
King Henry's Legacy of Peace: The Kingdom's Path Towards Selfless Leadership
A New Queen, a New Era: The Transition of Power in a Far-Off Kingdom
A New Era Begins: King Edward's Legacy Continues
Abduction and Experimentation on an Unknown Planet
The Nightmare Unfolded
Sarah's Journey: From Earth to Alien Ship and Back Again
The Shadow Watchers: A Chronicle of Fear
The Mysterious Abductions of Willow Creek: A Town Forever Changed
Abducted by Alien Zorbs: Sarah's Fateful Night
Escape from Captivity: A Tale of Determination and Freedom
Trapped in Darkness: Sarah's Escape
The Alien's New World
Abe's Community Garden: A Small Act of Kindness with a Lasting Impact
Abe's Elemental Magic: A Simple Tailor's Quest for Heroism
Sailing Through the Storm: Abeam's Heroic Rescue
Abed's Magical Grove: A Legendary Adventure of Wonder and Discovery
Abel's Quest: A Journey of Kindness and Adventure
The Craftsman's Quest: Unlocking Inner Power and Potential
The Passionate Pursuit of True Love: The Tale of Pierre Abelard and Heloise
The Curious Adventures of Abelson: A Young Girl's Quest for Magic and Bravery
Abelsons: The Portal to Infinite Journeys
The Secret Isle: A Journey of Discovery and Redemption
Finding Solace in Aberdeen's Cozy Cup
The Secret Heart of Abernathy: A Tale of Adventure and Homecoming
A Town's Transformation: From Industrial Hub to Artistic Oasis
The Evil Force Within
The Aberrants Tale: A Mysterious Encounter in the Rainy City
The Girl Who Saved Eleria: A Tale of Magic and Bravery
Alice's Enchanted Adventure: The Girl Who Could Talk to Animals
The Magical Friendship of Hootie and Betsy: A Tale of Joy and Wonder
Thieving in the Night: A Master Heist
The Book of Unlocking: A Tale of Ingenuity and Responsibility in a World of Advanced Technology
Finding Hope: Better's Journey to a Better Life
The Betters' Downfall: A Hero's Quest for Humanity's Future
The Magic of Community: Ember's Legacy
The Bettors Curse: When Desire Becomes a Living Nightmare
The Shadow Whispers: A Beta's Descent into Darkness
Embracing Abeyance: Finding Hope and Resilience in the Face of Adversity
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All stories are fictional works
- You may use any of these short stories as a base to create your own longer stories! -