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The Masks We Wear Book

The Mask Never Slips

The Mask Never Slips In a world where morality is blurred, Shiva navigates the dark underbelly of crime while concealing the unbearable weight of his own existence. Emotionally detached yet deeply wounded, he wears a mask of indifference, suppressing a lifetime of trauma that manifests as relentless physical pain. He is a master manipulator, a deceiver, and a survivor—yet, at his core, he is a man consumed by self-disgust. Despite his hatred for himself, three fragile reasons tether him to life: his love for a girl who barely acknowledges him, his unwavering loyalty to the abusive family that broke him, and the little brother he raised to be everything he could never become. If even one of these reasons crumbles, so will he. As he maneuvers through the chaos of the crime world—both a participant and an outsider—Shiva finds himself drawn into a series of brutal conflicts, each forcing him to confront the contradictions within him. He claims to have no desire to kill, yet death follows in his shadow. He yearns to be understood, yet has perfected the art of deception. He wants to feel something—anything—but every emotion is buried beneath years of carefully constructed lies. When the past he’s tried so hard to bury resurfaces, Shiva’s carefully maintained facade begins to crack. Someone close to him is starting to see through the act. And as the weight of his suffering becomes impossible to contain, he is left with one question: Can he keep holding on, or is the mask he wears the only thing keeping him alive?
Shuhas · 1K Views

Beneath The Mafia's Mask

Power. Wealth. Fear. Dominic Valente built his empire with blood and ambition, rising from the crime-ridden streets of Palermo, Italy to become one of Europe’s most feared mafia bosses. Ruthless in strategy, unmatched in intelligence, he earned the name "The Hawk", orchestrating every move like a master chess player. But power came at a cost—a life devoid of peace, a soul weighed down by regret. When Dominic walks away from his empire, leaving the underworld behind, he seeks refuge in a quiet French village, living under the alias Antonio Leoni. He reinvents himself as a businessman, investing in legitimate enterprises, hoping to atone for his past sins. But redemption doesn’t come easy. Isabella Antenno, a passionate artist with a hidden past, enters his life, drawing him into a world of love, trust, and hope. Unaware of the darkness lurking behind his eyes, she sees in him a man struggling to escape his own demons. As their connection deepens, Isabella unwittingly becomes the one person Dominic cannot afford to lose. But the past is relentless. Enzo Mancini, Dominic’s former right-hand man, sees his departure as betrayal. Taking over the empire, Enzo thrives in chaos, determined to destroy the man who abandoned him. The hunter becomes the hunted when Enzo sends his men to track Dominic down, forcing him to make a choice—fight or lose everything. And in the shadows, Detective Adrien Moreau, an obsessed investigator from Palermo, inches closer to the truth. Moreau knows Dominic isn’t just a businessman—he’s the ghost of a crime lord who vanished without a trace. When Moreau sets a trap, Dominic must once again outmaneuver the system that hunts him. As old enemies close in and the life he’s built begins to unravel, Dominic faces an impossible question: Can a man like him ever truly escape his past? When the mask falls, will he be the man Isabella believes he can be—or the legend of crime the world still fears?
Nicholas_Stones · 2.5K Views

We are the fear

Hello everyone. I'm the creator of the horror short story collection *We Are the Fear*. For me, creating this work is like embarking on an exciting journey to explore the dark corners deep within the human soul. It's also a fantastical adventure of translating the thrilling inspirations surging in my heart into words. For a long time, the horror genre has had an irresistible appeal to me. The unknown and dangers lurking beneath the surface of daily life always stir up my boundless imagination. Many moments in life, whether it's the eerie shadow cast by an ancient building or the sudden strange sounds in the dead of night, can become the sparks for my creation, lighting the fuse of one terrifying story after another. I'm enthusiastic about excavating the most hidden and fragile parts of human nature. In my opinion, the complexity of human nature is an inexhaustible wellspring for horror stories. Everyone has seeds of fear within. It could be the fear of loneliness, the worry about loss, or the awe of unknown forces. I attempt to amplify these emotions in my works, placing them in extreme situations to showcase the diverse reactions of human nature in the face of fear. Each story in *We Are the Fear* is a painstakingly crafted crystallization of horror. I'm dedicated to creating an atmosphere that can make readers' hearts pound and send chills down their spines. Starting with environmental descriptions, I use delicate strokes to sketch out gloomy scenes, enabling readers to feel as if they're on the scene and experience the chilling sensation that rushes towards them. Then, I delve into the characters' inner worlds, depicting their psychological changes when confronted with horror, so that readers can truly empathize with the characters' fear and despair. When it comes to the narrative rhythm, I strive to achieve a proper balance. I artfully set suspense, keeping readers in a state of high tension and curiosity throughout the reading process, eager to uncover the mystery. And at appropriate times, I slow down the pace, giving readers a brief moment of respite while inadvertently planting new foreshadows to prepare for the next onslaught of fear. I hope this book can bring readers an ultimate horror experience. While reading, they can feel the excitement of an adrenaline rush, and after closing the book, they can sink into profound contemplation about human nature and the unknown. *We Are the Fear* is not merely a collection of stories; it's a testament to my love and pursuit of horror literature. I hope it can touch the unique perception of horror deep within each reader's heart.
Daoist8Sv6wH · 3.8K Views

The Fire We Feed

Taryn fights monsters. Lucien is one. Season 1: Forced to team up by the very council she’s made to serve, Taryn finds herself trapped with Lucien—a vampire with too many secrets and a smile that makes her blood run hot. In the midst of growing dangers, the two of them must work together to survive. But the closer they get, the harder it becomes to tell where the real threat lies—outside their walls, or between them. Lucien knows better than to care. He’s spent years perfecting the art of detachment, but something about Taryn makes it impossible to stay indifferent. The fire she carries is fierce, dangerous—and every moment with her only stokes the flames higher. Bound by circumstance and haunted by shadows neither of them can outrun, Taryn and Lucien are playing a game they can’t afford to lose. The fire between them grows hotter with every step, but giving in might cost them everything. Some fires are meant to burn. Others consume. This one could destroy them both. Season 2: Framed for assassinations they didn’t commit, Taryn and Lucien are thrust into a deadly game where trust is scarce and betrayal lurks in every shadow. As the fragile peace between powerful factions begins to unravel, they must navigate a labyrinth of secrets and lies, uncovering dangerous truths about those who seek to control them. As tensions rise, their bond is tested in ways neither anticipated, and their personal struggles threaten to fracture their fragile partnership. Against the backdrop of a brewing war, new allies and enemies emerge, challenging their notions of trust and loyalty. As the season hurtles toward its climactic revelations, Taryn and Lucien must decide what they are willing to sacrifice—and who they can rely on—in a world that seeks to tear them apart. Season 3: When safety is a fleeting memory and enemies circle ever closer, Taryn, Lucien, and Kah’el find themselves bound by necessity in a secluded forest haven. As mysterious threats prowl the shadows and signs of encroaching danger multiply, the trio works to fortify their defenses while grappling with unspoken tensions and buried truths. Strange tracks near their clearing suggest a threat greater than any of them anticipated, forcing them into a delicate balance of survival and trust. For Taryn, every decision risks fracturing the fragile alliance that’s formed between them, as the boundaries of loyalty blur and their individual pasts clash with their shared present. Season 4: After months of running, fighting, and barely surviving, Taryn, Lucien, and Kah’el have found something they never expected—stability. A quiet town. A steady job. A place to rest. But peace is a fragile thing, and none of them know how to live without looking over their shoulders. Lucien thrives in the chaos of tavern life, slipping effortlessly into his role, as if he was always meant for this world. Taryn, on the other hand, struggles with the illusion of safety, waiting for the inevitable knife in the dark. And Kah’el? He watches them both, steady as ever, knowing that nothing stays easy forever. But the past doesn’t let go so easily. And no matter how well they play the part, they are still who they have always been—fighters, survivors, something sharp waiting to cut. For now, they have warmth, stolen moments, and a life they could almost believe in. But peace is just another kind of lie. And sooner or later, every lie breaks.
JadedButCute · 221.5K Views
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