Papers Please Novels & Stories

I shake my head fast, hard. “I did not sign anything.” My voice sounds shaky, desperate. “I would not. I never would.” He turns. Looks at me. No smile. No anger. Just cold. Empty. He picks up a paper from the table; thick, expensive paper. Cream color. Gold letters at the top. He holds it out toward me. I do not take it. I can’t. My hands will not move. He lets it fall. It lands soft on the floor. Opens like a book.

“You don’t get to decide that.” “I’m not deciding,” he said. “I’m telling you how this works.” “I don’t care how it works,” I shot back. “I care about what actually happened.” “And you think you’ll get that in one day?” he asked. “I’m not asking for everything,” I said. “Just something real.” He held my gaze for a long second. Then, quieter, “That paper is real.” I looked down at it again. It felt real. Too real. Because it didn’t try to soften anything.

Oliver scanned the detailed schedule Harper had emailed him, a small smile forming on his lips as he noted the 1pm lunch break. His mouse pointer hovered over the ‘reply’ button, tempted to type something flirtatious or demanding, but ultimately settling for a simple acknowledgment: Reply-to: HarperMiller@ThreadForm.com Subject Line: Daily Schedule Harper I have received your email and would like to acknowledge it. Thank you for your message—I will review it and get back to you if needed.

It would be very risky but worth every try. A person, a third or rather fourth or actually fifth party would come into existence in this cage even if they would just be at the threshold of the door. A normal, sane person, who would understand and possibly help me if I can get to give them a hint, or maybe I could write down something on a piece of paper or tissue or paper towel. There were two rolls in the kitchen that I could-

"We've made several copies already. Enough, in fact, to fill countless bookshelves." I took the paper, its texture rough and earthy, a stark contrast to the pristine, polished sheets I was accustomed to seeing in the capital or at Brightwing Academy. It was the color of rich, dark soil, as if steeped in mud or coffee, a testament to its humble origins. Yet, despite its unassuming appearance, the paper was surprisingly durable. Anything written upon it remained clear and legible, a testament to its practicality.

Because we lived in the same province, most of the time we went to sign papers to the province headquarters together. It was Saturday morning; the sun rose earlier than normal. On that day I had an appointment with Taylor to go bring the last papers, that’s when I decided to ask her out. I wanted to make a difference so that it’d be so Remarkable. I wrote a paper that looked like an official document we were seeking for. I managed to mimic the emblem and logos of the University she was joining. On the title, I wrote in big visible, bold letters. “LIVING ALLOWANCE AGREEMENTS’

These two grown wolves are bickering every chance that they get. "It's true that it was from a novel, but the question is, why is this piece of paper lying here?" Gior and Flo stayed quiet, waiting for her to finish. She looks extremely excited, confused, and worried. It's a question of how those expressions fit perfectly well. "It's from the book that I have been searching for," Aesthelia said with seriousness, and she added, in her low tone, "the novel I got myself in trouble with."

“I’m dog tired tonight and want to get my poke in soon.” “You don’t have to poke just because it’s your turn to poke,” one of the other card players said. “If I don’t, I’ll have to wait another two weeks. My balls will explode before then,” the complainer said. “You can always go into town,” said another card player. “Why should I pay for a poke when the boss is willing to provide it for free?” the complainer asked. “Besides, I’m afraid of diseases with those town whores. Boss makes sure they’re clean. It’s safer.”

Acre says to me, "Yeah ill do that now" I say getting up and heading to our tent. Once Im alone I try calling dad "Dad, can you hear me dad?" nothing, so I try again "Dad, please answer me if you can" Still nothing, so I try mom "Mom, mom?" "Ocean,honey" "Is everything ok?" "Yes, but they took your father, I havent seen him since yesterday" "What?" "Dont worry, I can feel hes safe, I think they are interogatting him again"

"You had your terms for the contract. It's only fair that I have mine." "Okay," I said slowly. "That's not unreasonable. What are your rules?" He reached for his phone and typed for about thirty seconds before turning the screen toward me. I stared at it for a moment. "Wouldn't it make more sense to just print this on paper?" He looked at me as though I had just suggested something completely ridiculous. "What is the difference, Genevieve?" "The difference," I said, taking the phone from him, "is that paper is a legitimate document. This is a notes app."