Free to read

Short stories for teens, ages 13 to 15

Rated 13+ means real stakes without gore: a pilot on hold with a reactor counting down, two strangers fighting over one bag of dumplings. Stories here are mostly six to nine minutes, written to be finished, and end with a sting that stays with you.

Lie on Your SideHorror · 7 min
The Steel RuleHorror · 7 min
Fourth CoatHorror · 7 min
Ten Past TwoHorror · 8 min
Checking OffHorror · 7 min
Three to FiveHorror · 7 min
The Noise in Cock LaneDocumented case · 4 min
The Height of a HouseDocumented case · 4 min
The ConstituencyGuilty in Every World, part 4 of 4
The State FuneralGuilty in Every World, part 2 of 4
What If the Billionaires Ended PovertyAlternate-history timeline · 12 min
The ImprovementSci-fi · 10 min
Dimension NineGuilty in Every World, part 1 of 4
What If the Carrington Event Never HappenedAlternate-history timeline · 5 min
The Brown Lady PhotographDocumented case · 4 min
The Rosenheim OfficeDocumented case · 3 min
The Soldiers in the CellarDocumented case · 4 min
The Greenbrier GhostDocumented case · 3 min
What If the Black Death Never HappenedAlternate-history timeline · 5 min
What If Titanic Never SankWhat If This Never Happened, part 2 of 2
Engine OnlyHorror · 9 min
Cold StartHorror · 9 min
Night LandingHorror · 9 min
What If Women Ran the WorldAlternate-history timeline · 4 min
What If Chicxulub Missed EarthAlternate-history timeline · 6 min
What If AI Had Stayed in the LabAlternate-history timeline · 5 min
What If COVID Never HappenedAlternate-history timeline · 5 min
What If 9/11 Never HappenedWhat If This Never Happened, part 1 of 2
The Station's BrainSci-fi · 9 min
The Kind VoiceSci-fi · 6 min
Count the BoatsHorror · 6 min
Don't Take the LanternHorror · 7 min
Under the GrainHorror · 6 min
90 Minutes Without PowerSci-fi · 6 min

Questions people ask

Is 13+ the same as PG-13?

Roughly. Expect peril, tension and grown-up feelings, but no gore, no sexual content and no slurs.