Short Stories | John Derossett Publishing

Echoes of the Black Mist

The small town of Grayfell was a place where nothing ever happened. Tucked away in the crook of misty hills, it was a haven for retirees and hermits, a sanctuary for those seeking solace from the noise of the world. The most exciting event in recent memory had been the unveiling of a new clock at the town square—a clock whose ticks were now drowned out by the whispers of something sinister. It started with the mist. At first, it was unremarkable—Grayfell had always been cloaked in morning fog. But this mist didn’t fade with the rising sun. It lingered, thick and gray,…

The Lufthansa Heist: One of the Most Audacious Crimes in American History

On December 11, 1978, in the early hours of a bitter winter morning, one of the most legendary crimes in U.S. history unfolded at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City. Known as the Lufthansa Heist, it involved the theft of over $5 million in cash and nearly $1 million in jewelry from the German airline’s cargo facility. Adjusted for inflation, the stolen amount would be worth more than $24 million today. What made this heist unforgettable wasn’t just the scale of the theft, but the intricate planning, the betrayal, and the violent aftermath that followed. The crime has been…

The Last Goodbye

I wrote this story just after my dad passed away. I continue to miss him. It was a typical autumn morning when Sarah’s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and saw it was the hospital. Her heart skipped a beat. The doctors had said her father’s condition was stable the night before, but something in her gut told her the news wouldn’t be good. She answered with a shaky, “Hello?” The voice on the other end was calm, too calm. “Ms. Whitman, I’m sorry to inform you—your father passed away early this morning.” The words hit Sarah like a tidal wave.…

Through the Seasons

Maya sat by the window, staring out at the rain tapping rhythmically against the glass. Her thoughts drifted, as they often did, to Lucas. It had been six months since they’d last spoken, but she could still feel his presence everywhere. It was as if he had woven himself into the fabric of her life, even though he was no longer a part of it. They had met one summer, a time when the world seemed alive with possibility. She had been working at a small café near the harbor, spending her days serving iced coffees to tourists and locals alike. One afternoon,…

Echoes of the Deep

The first time the sound was heard, most of the townspeople dismissed it. The wind, they thought, or perhaps a large cargo ship docking further along the coast. But by the third night, even the skeptics couldn’t ignore the eerie, mournful wails that seemed to emanate from the depths of the ocean. The small coastal town of Brinecliff had always been quiet, a sleepy place where time seemed to pass more slowly, nestled between jagged cliffs and the churning waters of the Atlantic. Most of its residents were fishermen, their lives and livelihoods tied to the sea. But now, that same sea had…

The Last Leaf on Maple Street

Edith Miller sat by the large bay window in her living room, her hands cradling a warm cup of tea. Outside, the branches of the great maple tree stretched toward the sky like a skeletal hand, each twig trembling in the wind. It was late autumn, and nearly all the leaves had fallen, leaving behind bare limbs that swayed gently in the cold November breeze. But one leaf remained, clinging to its branch with a kind of determined fragility that caught Edith’s eye. It was a lone flash of yellow in a sea of dull gray. For years, that tree had been her…