Survival Short Stories

An idyllic summer bike ride takes a turn into darkness. Ryan is excited about the first day of school, he is even more excited about seeing his best friend and his crush, Jen. Sometimes the road less traveled shouldn't be taken. "This is the first of the "Night Portals" series, which will consist of twelve short stories that are this author's equivalent of "The Twilight Zone" or "Black Mirror", telling darker tales about humanity and exploring "what if this happened" scenarios." Amazon Reviewer Chris Fried Night Portals is a metaphysical series that explores the hidden secrets of life ...

Wars have a way of dragging on, and sometimes you need a safe harbor. A Sanctuary, if you will. Having reclaimed the stolen mech, Firefly, Matthew is now concerned with saving Marie. After all, she saved him. He's bound by honor to do the same in return. With the twins Alois and Louise at his side, Matthew reasons that the odds are stacked in his favor. Problem is, they aren't. Join Matthew as he fights to save Allegra! Sanctuary is the sixth book in the short story military sci-fi series The Battle for Allegra. Dive into this thrilling story that is filled with all sorts of sci-fi warfare....

Hiding is no longer enough…she needed answers… What did Jackson see on the video…and how does he tell Simon… Daman and Niall are asking all the right questions...will they survive to find the answers... Mick Johnson might be dead but his killer is unknown and the clues leading to them are non-existent. Completely non-existent…which according to Jackson never ever happens… Elijah Sullivan, the father she adored all her life left clues…Ava just has to unravel them even as she comes to terms with her feelings about Harper…and his for her. It’s the middle of the twenty-third ...

From Stranded in the Heart of Darkness... "Red-shirted man speaks once more. In turn, I gaze at the interpreter, await his translation. “You have fought and killed many men?” he hesitantly asks. I shake my head. “No,” I say, taken aback. “I have never killed anyone.” “In the voodoo culture,” the translator goes on, “men who are able to wear such a band are considered to be powerful fighters.” Now gesturing towards the red-shirted man. “This man here envies you for your power.” _________________ In 2009, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Vincent Zandri ...

"Horror Movie. A Short Scary Story" isn’t just an audiobook–it’s a NIGHTMARE YOU’LL NEVER ESCAPE! Step into the shoes of five desperate filmmakers chasing their big break… and follow them straight into a theater that doesn’t screen horror–it creates it. Prepare to be SWALLOWED by a cinematic hellscape where the script writes you, the projector is alive, and your worst fears are the main feature. As each frame unfolds, you’ll FEEL the dread tighten around your chest, HEAR the whispers of past victims, and SEE the grotesque truth behind ambition gone mad.

Take a extraordinary journey with Emma Sinclair in "Stowaway to the Stars," a thrilling tale of courage, innovation, and the boundless possibilities of space exploration. Initially a genius yet isolated girl on Mars, Emma stows away on the Celestial Pioneer, bound for the uncharted realms of Pluto. What begins as a desperate escape transforms into an inspiring saga of Emma's evolution from a hidden passenger to a pivotal leader in establishing the first human outpost on Pluto. Through trials, triumphs, and the unwavering bonds of a newfound family, Emma and her crew face the daunting ...

A book about adventure, survival, and resilience of the human spirit. Sea Soul is the second book in the Big Little Stories series by contemporary Ukrainian writer Ivan Kuznietsov. Each book in the series is an independent, complete story and can be read in a free sequence. All stories have something in common—they are all about change. You will discover the adventures of different characters, but all of them, just like you and me, are essential parts of the big little story of our world. This book tells the story of an elderly man who has lost the meaning of life. One day he decides to ...

What if the president of the United States was the leader of a murderous motorcycle gang? Dive into a world where treasure hunts become deadly, houses are set aflame, and motorcycle gangs are connected to a Civil War-era homicidal leader. After a mysterious treasure hunt at the O’Neill’s ancestral home in Sterling, Illinois goes horribly wrong, Jim O’Neill takes his two children, Adrianna and Jay, on a getaway to Chicago. Seemingly leaving both the treasure hunt and the Quant motorcycle gang behind, the O’Neills embark on a quiet family vacation in the windy city. As Jim’s ...

In the first days of the zombie apocalypse, a military physician and small team of survivors must gather their wits, their weapons and their available resources to make a last stand. When nowhere seems safe and no-one seems immune to the rapidly spreading disease, they must choose a destination that is both attainable and sufficiently remote to assure their long term safety. It's a sheer stone tower standing alone over a remote frontier, as iconic as it is forbidding. It is also the location of humanity's last stand. Do zombies climb?

Cosmic Hellos - A Tapestry of Chance Encounters In a world of 8 billion, every meeting is a miracle. From a silent subway stranger to a payphone’s unexpected caller, a hillbilly everyman with a drawl as deep as his roots shares five heartfelt tales of connection. With a nod to the rarity of each “hello,” this short collection weaves a tapestry of small moments—proving that even the briefest encounters can echo across a lifetime. Perfect for readers who cherish the beauty in the everyday and the magic of the unlikely.

Leo Daly is looking forward to a family vacation and a break from his hectic hospital schedule. His dreams of kicking back, fishing, and hanging out with the wife and kids turn into a fight for survival when an electromagnetic pulse takes out the power grid leaving them stranded in the woods. Leo must use all of his skills to create a community of survivors from his family, the locals, and ill-equipped vacationers.

How many times can a boy lose his home? When Jacques is transferred to the Buckners Orphans' Home in 1916 at the age of six, he hopes that he's finally found a place to belong. Unfortunately, he couldn't be more wrong. Jacques' only choice is to run away to Dallas and live on the streets. He has no future, no guarantee he will even survive. Then he stumbles on a once-in-a-lifetime chance to change everything—if he dares to take it. Origin/Prequel novelette for Black Jade - A Daiyu Wu Mystery. Stand-alone fiction.

Speed Kyle is a master-builder of the hottest, fastest planes around. Cal Bradley’s a daredevil test pilot who pushes those planes to the limit. Add in Speed’s blond bombshell daughter who fears that Cal will go too far—and you’ve got a winner. And as far as Speed and Cal are concerned, winning is everything. Speed’s company is bleeding cash, and they need money quick. They’re competing in the upcoming National Air Meet, and to the victor goes the spoils—some extremely lucrative contracts.

A powerful EMP attack leaves the city in chaos, plunging society into darkness and uncertainty. Stephanie Dupont, a podcast host who exposed government secrets, must navigate the crumbling streets of Chicago with her teenage brother and a frightened stranger. With limited supplies, rising violence, and no power, they race against time to escape the city and find safety. As societal order collapses, Stephanie must confront her beliefs and decide whom she can trust. Will they survive the journey, or will the city’s descent into anarchy consume them all?

For the animals and plants of the Arizona desert, every day is about staying alive. But it’s all the other stuff—desire, fidelity, hope, envy, grief, betrayal—that bridges the gap between science and fiction, and highlights the interconnectedness of the human and natural worlds. A wealthy Gila monster suffers from halitosis. A young peccary chooses a side in war. A rattlesnake upends the historic enmity between serpent and man. A subterranean termite princess comes home. These and dozens more characters run, hop, slither, and fly through captivating storylines.

Sometimes saving something small saves something inside you. After years of watching a live eagle cam from the solitude of her apartment, Karen has fallen in love with a nest she’ll never touch, and eaglets she’ll never meet. But when a brutal winter storm hits and one fragile chick seems unlikely to survive, she makes a decision that shocks even herself: she’s going to find the nest. With no experience, no plan, and a bag full of snacks and worry, Karen steps into the snow. Her journey through the wild is harrowing, irrational—and maybe the most important thing she’s ever done. ...

Earth is quickly becoming an undead wasteland, that much is for sure. What isn't certain is the fate of her three children, as their desperate bid to find safety at their family cabin is cut off by the revelation of world-altering proportions. What seems like a lifetime ago, the secret battle to be the first superpower to perfect the perfect bioweapon has been corrupted into a scourge now headed straight for them. Suddenly Abby's past becomes just as unclear as her future.

Mister Tidwell is a scholarly Oxford professor snatched out of his bookish world and pressed into service aboard Lord Nelson’s legendary British fleet - in the position of schoolmaster. Such is the life of the land-loving, seafaring Mister Tidwell, Gunner. Thrust into service at the height of the Napoleonic Wars, Tidwell soon finds himself directly in the line of fire and way out of his depth. Fate has cast him into a terrible and terrifying spot - alone on deck to face the fearsome approach of a French man-o’-war.

Poor, frail Fatima in Bangladesh was desperate to earn bread for her daughters. Her daughters had already learnt to digest hunger. They mustered the patience to see if they would get some food. Business owners Joshua and Abel, from Israel, set their mind to start their family. One of them relocated his business to the other’s city. One of them was ready to risk a physical makeover to become parents. Can these parents cater to their respective needs? Maternal Might is a story of a woman's journey from poverty to prosperity. Also, it is a story about fathers building up a family. Maternal ...

Moving on is difficult Fifteen months after the traumatic hostage situation at the hotel, Cole and Amanda are ready to get things back in order. They arrange to go to an event that takes place at a stadium. What they don't know is that Mason's crew will be waiting for them. After learning from the mistakes of Ricky's crew, Mason's crew vows to capture Cole and Amanda. After all, nothing sounds better to Mason's boss than making some monetary profit and getting revenge at the same time. Mason's crew is heavily experienced and determined, while Cole and Amanda are left in a very vulnerable ...