BlueSky Prompts
The stories tagged with Bsky category have originated in one of two ways. Many were written after receiving a writing prompt. In August 2023, I'd asked my mutuals to give me a single word prompt that I could use to write a story for them. Majority of these stories have been compiled into The Forgotten Alley e-book. Other times, I'd see an interesting post on the skyline that really inspired me to turn it into a short story, and you have it here!
The Collector
Kakao was not a simple crow. He was a curator, and a connoisseur of all things that gleamed. His current hoard, tucked into the gnarled hollow of an old olive...
The Serpent's Embrace
Dr. Brian Vause arrived in Aurea with the certainty of a man mapping not just terrain, but minds. His boots crunched on the damp forest floor, a stark contrast to...
The Geometry of Shadows
Aditi had always been drawn to the peculiar. Her apartment, nestled in a quiet corner of Mumbai, was a testament to this fascination, each room a carefully curated collection...
A World of Jagged Spires
The humid air of the undergrowth hung heavy as sunlight dappled through the dense canopy of trees. Harry knelt, his lens focused on an unusual specimen. Instead of the...
The Maw of Karluminium
Karl Jackson ran his gloved hand over the cave wall. A wide grin broke through the mud caked on his face. His entire career had been an uphill battle...
Gratitude
The hum had been there for weeks. Not a loud hum, more of a deep, resonant thrum that seemed to vibrate in the very marrow of Zara’s bones. It...
The First Saturday of Forever
The world, for so long, had been a fluorescent-lit hum, a relentless thrum of laptop fans and the relentless metronome of deadlines. My mind, a perpetually saturated sponge, had...
The Shadow Realm
The old woman, Willow, traced the faded ink of the first sentence with a trembling finger. “Everyone is in a rush to reach somewhere late.” It had been years...
Petrichor
In the heart of the desolate city of Xericus, where the sun’s relentless gaze had scorched the cobblestone streets for eight decades, an eerie silence hung heavy. The once bustling...
Valence
Right then, let’s delve into this chilling tale of scientific discovery and cosmic horror. Here’s the proofread version with consistent verb tenses and British English spellings, along with explanations for...
The Adventure of Tasha and Booka
Once upon a time, on the edge of a bustling town, in a cosy little house, there lived a young girl named Tasha. She had no friends, but she had...
Lacunar
In the heart of our vibrant city, amidst its neon-lit streets and towering buildings, lay the research centre. My colleague, Dr. Maya, a woman whose passion mirrored the city’s vibrant...
End vs Hope
“Rain hammered against the shattered window, echoing the devastation that had ripped through their world moments earlier. Anya strained to hear the rhythmic beeping cutting through the dust-filled air. Each...
Galaxy
Their laughter once shook the fabric of reality, echoing through newborn galaxies like the roar of primordial giants. With a mere thought, they crafted celestial wonders, sprinkling stardust across the...
Alibi
The rain beat down on the dirty window, mirroring the turmoil in John’s chest. His hands, damp with sweat, clutched a creased flyer – Alibi Agency: Your Discreet Solution, Your...
Picnic
A gentle stirring roused me from sleep, a distinct feeling washed over me, whispering that today was a rare and precious day. I drew back the curtains, eager to unveil...
Renewal
In the cosmic realm of the Eldritch Gods, a minion named Pintling was facing a peculiar problem. The God’s godly licence was about to expire, and without it, their power...
Cat
Once, in a quiet town nestled between rolling hills and whispering forests, there existed an ancient force known as Cyarthluthponez, an eldritch god of unfathomable power. Unlike its ominous counterparts,...
Chaos Chaos
I was looking through my attic for some old wires and I stumbled upon a long-forgotten collection of old boxes tucked away in the corner. As I started poking around...
Ethnographer
Dr. Carter was an ethnographer who had spent half her life studying the cultures and rituals of various indigenous tribes around the world. She was fascinated by the diversity and...
Reinvention
He was a loner, had no friends, always being bullied by everyone. He would go to sleep wishing he were someone else. Someone smarter, stronger, more attractive, and he felt...
Parking
Certain workdays feel like they’ve been plucked straight from the depths of hell, and today happened to be one of those. It dragged on endlessly, sapping every ounce of my...
Eldritch
Amy loved crabs; she would read about them, draw them and would love going to the beach searching for them. It helped that her parents were Marine Biologists and would...
Apocalypse
We tried everything, but it was imminent. The leaders were old, and instead of wisdom were full of ego. There was no way to calm the situation down. The sirens...
Superior
When they announced his name, he was in shock. He had won the prize. The most prestigious prize in his field. The prize that recognised his brilliance, his innovation, his...
Depths
Growing up a latch-key kid, he had to spend a lot of time on his own. While he liked playing video games, he could never spend too much time on...
Violet
“Penny for your thoughts…” she looked up and said, “Mum, how did you and dad meet?”
Cunning
Weeks had passed since she started working there. She sees him sitting inconspicuously, far enough that someone else wouldn’t notice, but she has been given a task. She isn’t sure...