“In the center of a garden reared a tree, glinting golden in the darkness, peppered with flowers that smelled of blood. The great yawning hollows of the trunk invited her in, promising a snug sanctuary. "They will suffocate you like a pillow of sand and you will never emerge alive," a chittering voice cried out. The patterns engraved on the tree's bark dizzied her eyes. "If your finger brushes against them, you'll know true madness." She glanced away from the bark, her eyes caught by a movement in the branches. A squirrel scurried down the trunk towards her. It didn't seem to be bothered that its tail was swathed in flames, or that something had eaten away at half of its rot-black face and torso. Death's pet project bared its teeth at her. "Do you really want to be here?” TreeMadnessNightmareDystopianDark FantasyTree Of LifeDystopian FictionSquirrelPet ProjectTree Of Death Book:The Wake Up Source: The Wake Up
“You wouldn't know, looking at him, that he'd been to Hell and back. He kept his scars tucked away beneath his clothes and behind his eyelids. Survivors often do.” WarHellSurvivorRefugeDark FantasyYemeni Book:The Wake Up Source: The Wake Up
“The sandpaper of Greg's laugh fascinated Lexi as much as it frightened her. It was why she always thought of him as the Sandman, an interpretation not as sinister as E. T. A. Hoffman's but one that seemed to match, suddenly, in its role as a harbinger of death. Greg's voice rebounded around the building, dry and abrasive. Mirthless laughter is one of mankind's trademark noises. It's been used to mask pain for centuries.” DeathFantasyMankindLaughterDark FantasyDystopian FictionAngels And DemonsSandmanMirthless Book:The Wake Up Source: The Wake Up
“She bit her lip, forcing the truth deeper inside until it caved her. She hunched over like a woman protecting her illegitimate unborn child. She brandished forks and knives and set them on the table, each fork crossed over each knife like a coat of arms, a pattern of X's.” FantasyDark FantasyDinner TableDystopian FictionAngels And DemonsHidden Truth Book:The Wake Up Source: The Wake Up
“She turned to face the door, knowing what she would find instead. "What big eyes you have," she whispered. "The better to see through your lies," he said. "What large hands you have..." "The better to strangle you with, my dear..." "What sharp teeth you have..." "The better to drink your blood with," he said with a laugh. "Is that what you expect me to say? I know this story better than you do. The wolf wins in my version." She thought of the black wolf she once knew in another life, a black wolf that never willingly left her side. "The wolf wins in mine, too.” Dark FantasyWolfFairytale RetellingRed Riding HoodLittle Red Riding HoodBig Bad WolfAdult Fairytale Book:The Wake Up Source: The Wake Up
“The vehicle screeched away. A pair of black tire-tracks scorched the asphalt in its wake, as if the ground had sprouted its own set of horns.” FantasyHornsDark FantasyDystopian FictionAngels And DemonsDevils Book:The Wake Up Source: The Wake Up
“The pink elephant barged into the room and trumpeted so loud she thought the ceiling might collapse. Memories erupted from its trunk. She snatched them up helplessly, holding them up to the light, studying their colors and pixels of pain.” MemoriesDark FantasyPainful MemoriesElephantTrumpetPink ElephantPixelPixel Of Pain Book:The Wake Up Source: The Wake Up
“It's a long story." Zach cupped his hands around his mug. He raised it to his lips, wincing as the liquid burned his tongue. His smile reached his eyes. "That's my favorite kind," he said.” StoriesStorytellingTeaDark FantasyLong Story Book:The Wake Up Source: The Wake Up