Todd Beller

“The Silent Observer” by Todd Beller

Dr. Elena Reyes adjusted her lab coat, smoothing out non-existent wrinkles as she stood before the imposing steel door. The sign above read "Project Prometheus" in stark, black letters. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead. "You ready?" Dr. Marcus Chen, her colleague and friend, gave her a reassuring smile. Elena nodded, swiping her keycard. The door hissed open, revealing a state-of-the-art laboratory humming with activity. Banks of computers lined the walls, their screens displaying a dizzying array of data. At the c...

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“The Convergence” by Todd Beller

Submitted to Contest #273

Eliza Thorne stared at the crisp white envelope in her hand, her heart racing. No return address, just her name in elegant script. She slid her finger under the flap, extracting a single card: *Your presence is requested at The Convergence.**11:11 PM, June 21st**The old lighthouse on Raven's Point**Come alone. Tell no one.* Eliza's mind whirled. The Convergence? She'd heard whispers, urban legends really, about a secret society pulling strings behind the scenes. But surely that was just conspiracy theory nonsense? Yet here was an invitation....

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“The Weight of Silence” by Todd Beller

Submitted to Contest #273

I can't believe I'm actually writing this down. For years, I've carried this secret, letting it gnaw at me from the inside. But after what happened today, I need to get it out somehow. Even if it's just on these pages that no one will ever read. It all started ten years ago, when I was fresh out of college and eager to make my mark on the world. I landed a job at Meridian Technologies, a rising star in the tech world. I was thrilled, ready to prove myself. Little did I know that decision would change everything. May 20, 2024 I saw him today....

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“The Forgotten Floor” by Todd Beller

Dr. Emily Chen's footsteps echoed through the empty corridors of Blackwood Psychiatric Hospital. The fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting dancing shadows on the peeling walls. As the new head psychiatrist, she had volunteered to do a final walkthrough before the old building's demolition next week. The hospital had been abandoned for nearly two decades, its patients transferred to modern facilities after a series of unexplained deaths. Emily had read the reports, each more disturbing than the last. Patients found in their rooms, fa...

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“Whispers in the Walls” by Todd Beller

Submitted to Contest #272

Sarah's hand trembled as she inserted the key into the lock of her new home. The old Victorian house loomed over her, its weathered facade a stark contrast to the manicured lawns of the neighboring properties. At 28, she never imagined she'd be able to afford such a place, especially in this upscale neighborhood. But the price had been surprisingly low, and the real estate agent had been almost too eager to close the deal. As the door creaked open, a musty odor assaulted her nostrils. Sarah wrinkled her nose, making a mental note to air out ...

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“Hopelessly Lost” by Todd Beller

Submitted to Contest #249

The late afternoon sun was dipping lower in the sky as Sara pulled onto the lonely, two-lane highway. She was already running behind schedule, but she had an important business meeting in the city that she couldn't miss. Taking the back roads would shave 20 minutes off her travel time compared to sticking to the interstate. At least, that was the plan. Sara hummed along to the driving beats of the pop song playing on the radio as she watched the flat Nebraska landscape whiz by. After an hour of smooth driving across the desolate prairie, she...

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