3Whumptober 2024 » A collection of short stories for Whumptober 2024. Warning: Angst ahead.

3 Devil You Know Raph should have known better than to follow him. And now, he was trapped under fallen debris, pinned down with heavy slabs of concrete and brick. They pressed down hard on his shell, heavy and unforgiving, leaving him breathless. He was trapped. Leo was standing only a few feet away from him. But Raph had never felt less safe...

4 Nihilism The cashier slid his gaze across Leo without really seeing. That empty stare, heavy with complete indifference, filled his anxious, humming nerves with relief. There was nothing like the sweet freedom of complete and utter nihilism, experienced at a 7/11 at 2am. God lived in church; the quiet of the unfeeling universe lived in aisle nine of the CVS.

143The Smell of Apples » "The lair was filled with the song of mechanics. It was a hum that threaded itself through the very core of their home, twisted around the pipes, working its way into their rooms." One evening, the humming stops, and everything goes still. Something sinister fills the lair, and it wants its revenge. Will the turtles survive this game of cat and mouse? And who is in the most danger?

9 Fundamentalism "The entrance to the tunnel was his only way out. He could see shadows gathering at the corners of his vision. The concrete was crumbling beneath his feet and he felt it lurch, threatening to break into nothingness. At some point, the cracking land beneath his feet would fail him, and he would be left with nothing but the rushing face of death."

2 Fear "Panic tore at his chest. The air felt thinner, so, so thin. How long has he been in this trunk? How long since the boot of the car had been slammed down, bruising muscle and flesh and sending him plummeting into his own worst nightmare?" - A lot can happen in 10 years.

52 Taphophobia » "-One of the things which danger does to you after a time is kill emotion. I don't think I shall ever feel anything again except fear. None of us can hate anymore, or love-" When your brother is buried alive, you do everything in your power to save him.

5 Devil in The Church "It was as if the devil himself watched from the shadows as the church was defiled. His fingertips felt numb as they ran across the banister. His muscles protested as he lowered himself to the ground, one knee brushing the floor, before he slid into the pew. A cloak of reverence did not belong on a sinner." What happens when one commits the unspeakable? Is there forgiveness?

Feed The Rain " His voice was a whisper, drowning in the torrents of rain that fell around him, "Kami-sama." He crashed to his knees, clutching at the fabric of his jumpsuit like a lifeline. Maybe that's what it was, a mask of colour that protected him from the realities of the world. " - Everyone faces struggles.

4Jūmonji Giri "Left to right. Down. There was nothing but cold. A piercing cold and numbness that spread through his middle, across each broken muscle. His hand grew slick, and for a moment, all that Neji could think of was all of that blood. Not long now. Keep silent. Keep silent. He would not die with dishonour." Hyuga Neji's resolve.