The flickering neon sign of the “Last Chance Diner” threw fractured light onto the rain-slicked asphalt, the words bleeding into the dark like a beacon to nowhere. Detective Jax pulled his coat tighter, stepping through the warped glass door into the stale air that smelled of coffee grounds and regret. Outside, rain beat against the windows in relentless fury, mirroring the tempest within him. The body lay sprawled near a booth, the businessman’s vacant eyes staring at the ceiling, his suit darkened by blood pooling beneath him. In his stiffening hand, a single crimson rose, petals flawless and vibrant against the backdrop of death. The scene was stark in its simplicity, yet harrowing in its implications. Jax crouched beside the corpse, his coffee forgotten on the counter. He reached for the rose, stopping short as its unnatural beauty struck him. This wasn’t an ordinary flower; it was an exotic bloom, far removed from the cheap bouquets that wilted in corner stores. It wasn’t local. It wasn’t seasonal. It didn’t belong here. The victim’s wallet, stuffed with bills and untouched cards, stuck out from his inner pocket. This wasn’t a robbery gone wrong. The killer had a purpose, a message painted in shadows. “Who found him?” Jax asked, his voice cutting through the diner’s oppressive quiet. Behind the counter stood the owner, a stooped man with gnarled hands and a face carved by years of solitary nights. He wiped the same section of countertop repeatedly, eyes darting to the body as if hoping it would vanish. “I did,” he whispered. “Came in for the morning prep. Didn’t hear nothin’ strange. Just him and… that rose.” Jax’s eyes narrowed. “Recognize it? The flower?” The old man’s hand stilled, the rag slipping to the floor. “I’ve seen pictures,” he admitted, his voice trembling. “They call it the ‘Shadow Rose.’ Only grows in a few places. Strange places.” “Strange how?” “Dark lands,” the owner murmured, his gaze distant. “Places where things… ain’t quite right. Rumor says it blooms where death’s had its fill.” Jax straightened, the words settling over him like the weight of the storm outside. The rose wasn’t just a calling card—it was a signature. Someone had gone to extraordinary lengths to craft this tableau, an artist painting in blood and fear. The diner’s cheap lights buzzed overhead as Jax replayed the scene in his mind. The victim wasn’t random; this was deliberate. Someone knew him. Someone wanted him dead. But who, and why? The rhythmic patter of rain against the windows grew louder, a steady cadence that seemed to echo the rising unease in Jax’s chest. He had been in this game long enough to know when he was being toyed with. The rose wasn’t just a flourish—it was bait. Whoever had done this was watching, waiting for Jax to take the first step into their trap. The detective lit a cigarette, his hands steady despite the turmoil brewing inside. “Get his name to me,” he said, nodding toward the body. “Next of kin, business connections, anyone who might’ve wanted him gone.” The old man nodded, but there was fear in his eyes. “You think this is… the start of somethin’?” Jax exhaled a plume of smoke, the glow of his cigarette casting fleeting light on his face. “It’s always the start of something.” As he stepped back out into the rain, the neon sign buzzed behind him, its erratic flicker casting the diner in ghostly hues. The storm swallowed him whole, but Jax wasn’t afraid of the dark. Not yet. Somewhere out there, in the shadows, a killer waited. And Jax, with his soul already bruised and battered, would follow the rose’s trail into the unknown.

Comment

Writing Community

The writing community, chat, and discussion.

JOIN NOW

1M SOULS

best

new

No comments yet!

Meet New People

40,000,000+ DOWNLOADS

JOIN NOW

#writing

Rie

16h

ISFP

Aquarius

💯

A man who can cook is always gonna be top tier. - ✍️

#writing

Sanya Gupta

13h

INFP

Aries

🤡

Why the hell whenever I trust someone, they have to betray me in someway or other........ What should I do, just isolate myself from everyone? 🤡 It's my roommate (edited)

#writing

Rie

ISFP

Aquarius

Think it over.

One day, you’ll realize that the same person cannot be found twice in life. Not everyone is replaceable. Be careful with the hearts you touch, and even more so with the ones you wound. In today’s fast-moving world, we’ve become accustomed to thinking that everyone and everything is temporary. We... read more

#writing

Rie

16h

ISFP

Aquarius

Listen carefully.

You didn’t lose the love of your life—you lost a parasite that was draining the life out of you. Narcissists aren’t soulmates; they are predators in disguise, and understanding this is crucial to your healing. The person you saw at the end of the relationship is who they truly are. Their true... read more

#writing

ISTP

Gemini

Remember this!

#writing

Thei

16h

ISFJ

Virgo

Hello! How's everyone doing here? 🙋🏻‍♀️💗

#writing

Candy

18h

INTP

Aquarius

😊

#writing

Ikram

ESTP

Gemini

Im well and you?😜

#writing

Sarah

11h

INTP

Leo

sadness

once again im crying and alone because ill be single forever and the only thing men see me as is a piece of meat 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

#writing

Siobhan

10h

INTJ

Scorpio

🤭

Never going to happen 😅 #memes

#writing

Rose

13h

INTJ

Gemini

I love mysel

#writing

sweetmistfairy

14h

INTJ

Aquarius

Close your eyes, little one, and let the moonbeams dance upon your face. May fairies sing you sweet lullabies and dreams of magic fill your sleep. Goodnight, and sleep soundly! ✨💖🧚🧚🌟🐻

#writing

Dale Marcella

15h

INFJ

Aquarius

Avoiding Unnecessary Pressure

1. Enroll your kids in schools you can afford. Expensive schools don’t guarantee good results. Just choose a good and affordable school. 2. Rent a house you can pay for easily. Don’t live in a place you struggle to pay for every year. 3. Plan your life and live within your means. Save more and... read more

#writing

Austin

INFP

Taurus

New word just entered the english dictionary

"Freedumb" Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more noun the power of being too free to act, speak, or think as one wants that they abuse such freedom in dumb moronic ways in which leads to the actual freedom being taken away. "we do have some freedumb of choice" Similar: right to be... read more

#writing

NIDHI B MINZ

16h

ESFJ

Virgo

THIS IS WHAT I HAVE SET MY PREFERENCE AND HOW BOO APP IS FUNCTIONING FOR ME.

1/2

#writing

Vaanieeeeeeeeee🧿🪷

INFP

Aries

It hurts 🤕

It hurts when u waited for someone whole night but that person slept in peace.... I know that when u cared for someone but that person didn't look at you just for once .... It hurts when u love them unconditionally but in return u got cheats..... It hurt when u got rejected by... (edited) read more

#writing

Debu

21h

ISFP

Men hear this

If a woman is available to you, anytime you call, she is there, anytime you need her presence she is there, you text her, she replies. You call her, she picks. She is 100% committed to you, available to you, don't take that kind of woman for granted because sometimes, it is when we loose the best... (edited) read more

#writing

Rie

16h

ISFP

Aquarius

2021 journal

I write without knowing whom my words will find Without thinking further than the next line When my heart grows too heavy to hold --- I write from the depth of my sorrow I write without dreams of awards or applause but for the joy rendering my soul into words To hold tight each feeling I am... read more

#writing

Mills

12h

ISFJ

Leo

What was I gonna say?

#writing

NIDHI B MINZ

ESFJ

Virgo

I get request from guys below 30 and sometimes of my uncle's age above 45 but where are people of my age, no one send me request around 32-36🤦🤦🤦🤦. Are those age group not here.

#writing

sweetmistfairy

12h

INTJ

Aquarius

Love note ..❤️❤️❤️ Every moment with you is a treasure I hold close to my heart. Your smile is sunshine, your laughter is music, and your love is the air I breathe. You paint my world in vibrant colors, and I cherish every second by your side. I love you more than words can say. 💖✨

#memes

Farai Emmanuel

23h

INTJ

Cancer

Being single is starting to feel illegal 🤣🤣

#single #funny #writing

#writing

Gaurav

23h

ENFJ

Sagittarius

Soft rays of sunlight shine through the curtain, Moving gently, calm and certain. Morning light touches the darkened room, Filling the space with a quiet bloom.

#writing

Necky

ESTJ

Leo

Ever met someone who doesn’t have a dark side? Or are they just too afraid to show it?

People who claim they have no dark side are like shadows at noon they vanish when you look closely

#writing

Debu

23h

ISFP

I will wait for you,🥺 until the day comes when you finally ask, “Have you been waiting for me all this time?” And when you do, I’ll smile—✨ not because of how long it took, but because you’re finally here😭🥺❤️

#learned #thisyear #communication #worthy #struggle #respect #loyalty #timemanagement #inspire #inspiration #motivation #motivational #motivationalquotes #relationshipadvice #quotes #thoughts #love #longtermdating #longtermrelationship #loyal #relationship #romance #introvert #dating... read more

#writing

Claire

ISFJ

Cancer

🧡

may we learn how to create a room for small joy. create a space to breathe in. create a healthy and gentle environment regardless of how small or big it may be. in life, you will learn that it is not what life throws at you makes ‘you’, but it is how you handle what life throws at you makes your... read more

#writing

sweetmistfairy

INTJ

Aquarius

Sunlight kisses your face, a brand new day to embrace. Rise and shine, my love, may joy fill your space. Good morning, beautiful. ☀️💖

#writing

Virat singh

12h

ENTP

Cancer

Jaat💪

#writing

Varun

12h

INTJ

Capricorn

💯

#writing

RajDeep

ENFJ

Sagittarius

“The real lover is a man who can thrill you by kissing your forehead or smiling into your eyes or just staring into space.”

#writing

sweetmistfairy

INTJ

Aquarius

Anyone else havin a bad migraine ?

#writing

Nishant

INFJ

Gemini

Kya ye saansein bs yu hi dhere dhere, guzar jayegi.. Bin tumare ?

#writing

Nonny

10h

ESFJ

Scorpio

I'm single and searching dm if you like me

#writing

Jass mehra

ISTP

Scorpio

Nazar

#writing

_op_kanhaiya_25

14h

ISTJ

Gemini

Photo

#poetry

The Silent Poet

INFP

Capricorn

Apothecary Courtesy

By me #poetry #writing

#writing

RajDeep

ENFJ

Sagittarius

“True love stories never have endings.”

#writing

Aditya Verma

INTJ

Leo

Question for guys

Do you get any match from girls here, unknowingly. Just wanted to know??

#writing

Ashley

ENTJ

Gemini

Get up

#writing

rosy

INTP

Aries

I write a story

Using wattpad it's About a girl getting her dream fulfill with few people on her side

#writing

NIDHI B MINZ

ESFJ

Virgo

PlZ RESPECT

I don't know why people have so much problem in reading someone's bio. I have wrote this thing several times and yet people send request without reading anyone's bio. It feels so irritating when you send request and after reading your bio I find that our preference don't match in any way. So,... read more

#writing

Carlos

ENTP

Leo

The Crimson Bloom - A short story

Writing Community

Related Posts

💯

🤡

Think it over.

Listen carefully.

Remember this!

Hello! How's everyone doing here? 🙋🏻‍♀️💗

😊

Im well and you?😜

sadness

🤭

I love mysel

Close your eyes, little one, and let the moonbeams dance upon your face. May fairies sing you sweet lullabies and dreams of magic fill your sleep. Goodnight, and sleep soundly! ✨💖🧚🧚🌟🐻

Avoiding Unnecessary Pressure

New word just entered the english dictionary

THIS IS WHAT I HAVE SET MY PREFERENCE AND HOW BOO APP IS FUNCTIONING FOR ME.

It hurts 🤕

Men hear this

2021 journal

What was I gonna say?

I get request from guys below 30 and sometimes of my uncle's age above 45 but where are people of my age, no one send me request around 32-36🤦🤦🤦🤦. Are those age group not here.

Love note ..❤️❤️❤️ Every moment with you is a treasure I hold close to my heart. Your smile is sunshine, your laughter is music, and your love is the air I breathe. You paint my world in vibrant colors, and I cherish every second by your side. I love you more than words can say. 💖✨

Being single is starting to feel illegal 🤣🤣

Soft rays of sunlight shine through the curtain, Moving gently, calm and certain. Morning light touches the darkened room, Filling the space with a quiet bloom.

Ever met someone who doesn’t have a dark side? Or are they just too afraid to show it?

I will wait for you,🥺 until the day comes when you finally ask, “Have you been waiting for me all this time?” And when you do, I’ll smile—✨ not because of how long it took, but because you’re finally here😭🥺❤️

🧡

Sunlight kisses your face, a brand new day to embrace. Rise and shine, my love, may joy fill your space. Good morning, beautiful. ☀️💖

Jaat💪

💯

“The real lover is a man who can thrill you by kissing your forehead or smiling into your eyes or just staring into space.”

Anyone else havin a bad migraine ?

Kya ye saansein bs yu hi dhere dhere, guzar jayegi.. Bin tumare ?

I'm single and searching dm if you like me

Nazar

Photo

Apothecary Courtesy

“True love stories never have endings.”

Question for guys

Get up

I write a story

PlZ RESPECT

Im working on a screenplay for a gritty reboot of goldilocks and the three bears but I'm having a hard time with the ending.