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Prompt: Write a story where something tiny causes something HUGE.
Start with a harmless, boring moment (making tea, scrolling, walking the dog).
One tiny thing goes wrong.
By the end, everything is chaos (funny, dark, surreal—your choice).
Max 300 words (flash fiction vibes).
This week, you’re not writing the definition — you’re judging it.
I’ll post one word and one definition.Your task is to decide:
Is it real or invented?
And why do you think so?
Rules of engagement:
Pick a side: Fake or Fact
And the 25 points goes tp J.S. Collyer These will be added to your account.
Going forward, Dark Descent will release on a fixed monthly date: the 15th of every month.
To support that rhythm, issues will no longer carry the calendar month on the cover. They’ll remain monthly, identified by volume, issue number, and title instead.
With submissions closing on the 26th, this gives me the time needed to properly curate, edit, and produce each issue without end-of-month pressure or rushed finishes.
Nothing changes about the magazine itself. This is simply a steadier, more sustainable way of doing things — and it means you’ll always know exactly when to expect a new issue.
Thank you, as always, for being part of this. ShadowSphere genuinely helps make Dark Descent possible.
Dark Initiate
Dark Initiate
Dark Initiate
Dark Initiate
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February 1978 A True Night I'll Never Forget
After work, with ice storm stopping traffic,
accidents abounded. I stopped off at a pub to let it blow over. I had a few pints with a few lady friends. a guy at the end of the bar kept evil eyeing me. The barkeep sai, "He and Suzy broke up. He's a jealous A-hole. Ignore him, you're too funny tonight."
I stayed too long and drank too much. At closing time, the bartender gave me a free cup of strong espresso to get me home. I headed out, tippy, slipping and sliding across the ice-covered car park. Half way to my car, a driver trued to run me over. He skidded, stopped, rolled down his window and stuck a red flashing light on his car's roof. A siren blared from under his bonnet as he aimed right at me. I jumped up as he hit me, and landed on the hood. Weakness driving around the parking lot with me on his hood trying to shake me off he slammed on his breaks on a sand patch launching me sixty feet into a twelve-foot snow bank.
I made a nice pair of angel wings in the snow. I got up; he threw up all over the inside of his front window, and tore out of there.
He was the jealous ex-boyfriend, and son of the fire chief. The police booked him on 17 counts, including attempted murder. He pleaded guilty to all but the attempted murder was dropped. He got kicked out of the fire department, and four years. Out on parole after one year of expensive lawyers by his daddy, the fire chief.
As for myself, I got a free ride to the hospital, torn ligaments in my shoulder, with nothing broken.