Welcome to Short Tales
A collection of short stories for your reading enjoyment
Currently 12,517 short tales
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The Mysterious Package Haunts Mortise
It was a dark and stormy night, the kind that made you want to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea. But Mortise wasn't interested in curling up, he was too busy pacing back and forth in his small, cluttered apartment.
Mortise was a man in his mid-30s, with a round face and a receding hairline. He had always been a bit of a loner, content to spend his days holed up in his apartment with a good book or working on his latest project. But lately, he had been feeling restless, like there was something missing from his life.
As he paced, Mortise's mind wandered to the strange dream he had had the night before. In the dream, he had been given a mysterious package with no return address. Inside, he had found a small, intricately carved wooden box. The box had been adorned with strange symbols and markings that seemed to shimmer and glow in the dark.
Mortise had been both fascinated and terrified by the box, unsure of what it was or what it might do. He had tried to ignore it, to go about his day as usual, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him, waiting for him to make a mistake.
Now, as he pacing through his apartment, Mortise couldn't help but wonder if the dream had been more than just a dream. Had someone really sent him the box? And what did they want from him?
As the storm raged outside, Mortise's thoughts grew more and more frenzied. He knew he had to find out what was going on, had to figure out who was behind this strange package and why they had chosen him.
With a deep breath, Mortise steeled himself and reached for the phone. He dialed a number, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for an answer. When a voice finally picked up on the other end, Mortise blurted out his story, his words tumbling over each other in their haste to get out.
"Hello?" the voice said, sounding tired and irritated.
"Please," Mortise said, his voice shaking. "You have to help me. I've received a mysterious package with no return address. It's been giving me strange dreams and I can't shake the feeling that something's watching me."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then the voice spoke again. "Mortise, is that you? You're supposed to be resting."
Mortise's heart sank. It was his doctor, calling to check in on him after his recent illness. "I-I'm sorry," he stuttered. "I must have gotten your number wrong."
"It's okay, Mortise," the doctor said soothingly. "Just take it easy for the next few days and try to get some rest. I'll come by later to check on you."
Mortise hung up the phone and let out a sigh of relief. He had been afraid he might have to explain his strange dreams and feelings to the doctor, but now he could put off that conversation for another day.
As the storm raged on outside, Mortise settled back into his armchair, his mind still racing with thoughts of the mysterious box. He knew he had to figure out what it was and what it wanted from him, no matter how scared he was. After all, he was a man who liked to solve puzzles, and this one seemed like the biggest challenge of them all.
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! -