Darvico Ulmeli

“The Mirror’s Lament” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #277

They call me “Magic.” They call me “Wise.” They call me the voice of truth. But they never ask what I am or what I want. For centuries, I have been nothing more than a cursed pane of silver, bound to reflect what the world demands of me. I have no name, no face of my own — only the echoes of a hundred queens who stood before me, whispering their fears into the void. Each one sought the same answer. Am I beautiful? Am I worthy? Am I the fairest of them all? The answer is never mine to give. I am a mirror, not a judge. The truth I speak comes ...

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“How I Met And Married Your Mother” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #276

Dear Mila Elena & Bjanka,"How I Met Your Mother."Remember that show on TV? Well, my story might be even more awkward! Before I begin, let me just say this: I know what I'm about to tell you sounds a bit crazy, maybe even too strange to believe, but I promise it's all true.I met your mother...on Facebook.Yes, I know how it sounds. But before you laugh, let me explain.Back then, Facebook was still new - a place where people could find new friends, join random groups, and feel part of something bigger. I didn't know many people, so I joined...

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“THE GRUMPY HITCHHIKER” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #275

I hate cats. There, I said it. They're furry, lazy, and think they're too good for the rest of us. And you know what? They get away with it because people think they're cute. I, however, am not so easily fooled. Cats are little emperors, rulers with invisible crowns who seem to think the world revolves around them. I can't stand them. So why, you ask, was I following one? Why did I skitter behind this black ball of arrogance, kicking up dust and muttering under my breath? Well, better late than never, right? Let me tell you how I ended up...

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“NINE LIVES EMERGENCY SERVICE” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #275

A chilly gust swept through the foggy alley, carrying the distinct scent of "you're about to regret this." Like "panicked floated," I hovered through the shadows, ducking behind dumpsters, clinging to walls, and praying Death's Reaper would lose interest in this undead goose chase. Time was running out, and each second felt like it brought the scythe closer to my neck."Oh, for the love of the Underworld, stop hiding and come quietly!" Death's voice boomed, the tone holding the same level of annoyance you'd expect from a DMV clerk with a 4 p....

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“SHADOWS OF THE STORYBOOK” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #274

"Beware the shadows of tales once told, For within their whispers, darkness unfolds. The paths to innocence are lined with dread. In forgotten pages, monsters are fed."Dr. Henrietta Jacqal had always been pulled toward the forbidden, a fascination that thrummed within her like a heartbeat, tightening its hold with each discovery. Every ancient, unfiltered fairy tale added a layer to her hidden world, where the innocent met their doom in dark forests, and witches bore teeth as sharp as knives.Her collection was vast; stacks of brittle, yellow...

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“THE SHADOW WITHIN” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #274

"The parts of ourselves that we fear the most haunt us, not ghosts.""I need help, doctor. ""What do you think about Brian?""…""Brian?""Hurting her.""Your wife?""Yes. I don't want to. But it's there. Just… there.""Do you think you're dangerous, Brian?" "…""Brian?""What does it matter? The thoughts come anyway.""It matters because you're here, asking for help. Do you know why these thoughts come, Brian?""No. They're just... there.""They're just there?""Always. I don't invite the thoughts. I just... can't stop them.""What exactly are these...

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“DON'T TELL ANYONE ” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #273

October 11.It keeps following me. All the time. I've been feeling it for days now - this eerie sensation of being watched. This morning, an envelope slipped under my door. No name, no return address. Just a single line written in red ink: "Come to the garden on Elm at midnight. Don't be late."My first thought was that it was a prank, maybe a mistake. But deep down, I knew it wasn't. I felt that same strange, heavy sensation in my chest - the feeling of being watched. Whoever's been following me wants me to come to this meeting.I should ignor...

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“MINISERIES: “PEOPLE ARE STRANGE” EPISODE 6: "THE LAST ECHO"” by Darvico Ulmeli

DISCLAIMER: "THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION. ANY RESEMBLANCE TO REAL EVENTS OR PERSONS, LIVING OR DEAD, IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL. The episode opens with a haunting montage. Across the world, the sound of "People Are Strange" plays everywhere, on radios, in cafés, through headphones, and in concert venues. The song is inescapable, infecting daily life. Once ordinary, the camera lingers on faces, now twisted with paranoia, fear, and confusion. People are acting out violently in small, fragmented bursts: a man attacks his friend in a coffee shop, a w...

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“THE HOUSE WHERE DEATH WAITS” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #272

"Did You Hear That?" The question slipped from my lips, though I knew no one could answer. I hovered in the thick shadows of the old house, watching the couple by the fire. The man shifted, eyes scanning the room, a furrow growing between his brows. His wife's fingers trembled around her wine glass, the deep red liquid shimmering in the flickering light. They couldn't see me. Not yet. It's strange being dead. Time loses its grip, and all warmth becomes a distant memory. I no longer feel the pulse of life in my veins. Only flashes remain of...

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“I AM THE SILENCE BETWEEN HEARTBEATS” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #272

"Did You Hear That?"I'm talking to you. Yes, you.Don't pretend you didn't notice. That creak that whispers you tried to dismiss as nothing, it wasn't. I've been watching. Listening. You've felt it, haven't you? That cold shiver crawling down your spine when you thought you were alone. When you told yourself, the darkness was empty. But it's not. And neither am I.You're not scared? Oh, you will be.Do you know what bones sound like when they break?It's not the quick snap you're thinking of. No, it's much worse than that. It starts with a groan...

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“THE ILLUSIONIST” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #271

“Before you get any ideas, let me clarify: I am not a fraud.”I can feel the skepticism from here.You've probably read the headlines, skimmed the articles, and now you think you've got me figured out. Some brilliant guy who flew too close to the sun, right? Another tech genius brought down by his own arrogance.Well, you're wrong. You don't know half of it.Let me tell you how it all started. Because you can't understand the fall unless you understand the rise. And let me tell you, my rise wasn't an accident.No, I wasn't born with a silver spoo...

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“MINISERIES: "PEOPLE ARE STRANGE" EPISODE 5: "THE FINAL RECORDING"” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #271

DISCLAIMER:"THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION. ANY RESEMBLANCE TO REAL EVENTS OR PERSONS, LIVING OR DEAD, IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL."(The sterile flicker of fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a cold, clinical glow over the small interrogation room. The air was oppressive, sharp with the tang of bleach, but underneath it was a smell Sarah couldn't ignore: the faint, metallic scent of blood. Her breath hitched every time she caught a whiff. The smell brought the nightmares back in full force.Sarah Townsend sat slumped in a metal chair, her blood...

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“THE EDGE OF DECEPTION” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #270

The aroma of rich espresso and freshly baked bread clung to the warm, dimly lit bistro, a hidden gem tucked away in a quiet Parisian alley. Candlelight flickered atop white linen tablecloths, casting restless shadows across the intimate space. At a secluded corner table, Sarah Monroe traced the rim of her coffee cup with a delicate finger, the porcelain cool against her skin. The soft hum of jazz music blended with the clinking of glassware, the air thick with unspoken tension, like the brief pause before lightning strikes.Across from her, V...

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“MINISERIES:" PEOPLE ARE STRANGE": EPISODE 4: "FACES IN THE RAIN"” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #270

DISCLAIMER:"THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION. ANY RESEMBLANCE TO REAL EVENTS OR PERSONS, LIVING OR DEAD, IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL. THE DOORS AND JIM MORRISON'S ARTISTIC WORKS ARE THE SOURCES OF INSPIRATION FOR THE STORY. STILL, IT IS IN NO WAY ASSOCIATED WITH, NOR DOES IT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT BY, THE BAND OR ITS MEMBERS. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IS INTENDED, AND THIS STORY IS PURELY FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES. ALL RIGHTS TO 'PEOPLE ARE STRANGE' BELONG TO THE ORIGINAL COPYRIGHT HOLDERS."(The episode opens with a rapid-fire montage, a vivid snapshot of d...

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“RECIPE FOR THE BIRTH OF THE UNIVERSE: THE BIG BANG” by Darvico Ulmeli

Submitted to Contest #270

Warning: This recipe is not for the faint of heart. Once created, it cannot be undone. Proceed with extreme caution.Ingredients:1 Void of Absolute DarknessNote: This isn’t a simple absence of light. This Void is a suffocating, consuming emptiness, devoid of warmth, sound, and existence itself. Found lurking in the cracks between dimensions, it clings like a predator. Handle it with care. It will stick to you like cold, wet death; pulling yourself free might be impossible.1 Single Point of Infinite Density and Heat (handle delicately)Note: Th...

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