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The Dreadful Oracle
The old temple at Delphi held secrets darker than anyone knew. Marina wiped sweat from her brow as she climbed the ancient stone steps in the fading light. Her grandmother’s warnings about visiting sacred places after sunset echoed in her mind, but she pushed them aside. The autumn air grew colder as she reached the…
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The Happy Escape
Sarah’s feet pounded against the wet pavement, each splash echoing through the empty streets of dawn. She wasn’t running from danger – not anymore. This time, she was running toward something better. The weight of her backpack reminded her of everything she’d chosen to leave behind in her small apartment: the photos of fake smiles…
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The Happy Wanderer of Gyeongbokgung
I drift through the ancient walls of Gyeongbokgung Palace like morning mist. After two hundred years, I still love watching the sunrise paint the curved roofs gold. My name was Park Min-ji when I lived, and now I’m the happiest ghost in Seoul. The guards don’t see me floating past the Gwanghwamun Gate. They never…
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The Joyful Silence
Maya had always felt different. In a world where everyone could read each other’s thoughts, she was the only one left out. People’s minds were an open book to everyone else, but to Maya they were a mystery, hidden behind an impenetrable wall of silence. At first, it was lonely. As a child, Maya watched…
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The Midnight Spin: A Chilling Tale
Ingrid sighed as she pushed open the door of the 24-hour laundromat in downtown Oslo. The clock on her phone read 2:37 AM. She hadn’t planned on doing laundry so late, but her work at the hospital had kept her overtime again. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a harsh glow on the empty rows…
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The Bitter Sweetness of Truth
Snow fell softly outside Café Vete in Stockholm’s old town, Gamla Stan. Inside, warmth and the rich scent of cocoa filled the air. Astrid and Erik sat at a small table by the frosted window, their hands wrapped around steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Astrid’s blue eyes sparkled as she raised her mug. “Skål!” she…