Suspension Disbelief Novels & Stories

Sharp as a blade piercing through her chest. Susan gasped and brought her hands to her heart, leaning slightly forward as if something inside her had been violently pulled. The tea she was holding spilled onto the carpet, spreading the hot, dark liquid. “S-Susan?!” Jenn ran to her, alarmed. “No… Don’t touch me!” Susan whispered, her pupils dilated, her eyes glassy and fixed on some invisible point. “He… He…” Her soul trembled. The bond… twisted, like a rope being wrung until it nearly snapped. A strange weight, as if a mirror had cracked inside her, scattering fragments of doubt, confusion, and despair.

" After sending this message, I blocked him on everything without hesitation. The airplane rose into the skies. Outside the window, the Black Moon Pack’s territory became further and further away from me, like past dreams scattering in the breeze. My heart was already set on my new journey. … On the other end, Arnold looked at the screen of his phone, rooted on the spot.

My mind raced, desperately seeking a plausible explanation, a web of lies to weave and shield our true intentions. Tania's eyes bore into us, her gaze unwavering. I could sense her suspicion, her instinctual recognition that something was amiss. Panic swirled within me, threatening to expose our carefully orchestrated charade. The fragile equilibrium we had painstakingly maintained now teetered precariously on the edge.

Hailey’s POV The words did not disappear. They stayed there. Burning into every screen. Every surface. Every nerve in my body. NOW THE TEST BEGINS. A strange silence followed. Not relief. Not safety. Suspension. Like the world had inhaled and forgotten how to breathe out. “This… isn’t a reboot,” the woman behind us said slowly. “We shut the failsafe architecture down years ago.” Dylan did not answer her. His hand was still wrapped around mine, warm, grounding, real. The only real thing in a place that suddenly felt like it no longer belonged to physics.

Rosette was shocked and gasped, but Rick continued to speak. "There is something about facing a creature they don't know exists that changes the way these people view the world. We are powerful and fantastic to them, but we do not appear in their history or their beliefs. It is as though everything they have been told is a lie. They begin to doubt. Soon their ability to discern fantasy from reality evaporates. Eventually, they can't function in their normal lives, and their world falls into bedlam." Rick took a step back and lowered his head submissively in front of her.

"Mom, what did that ungrateful bastard say to you? She used a kindness as leverage, slandered Lily, and even declared in front of the cameras that she wanted to sever ties with us. It's a good thing that Lily taught her a lesson! That way, she'll stop causing trouble all the time!" Grandma's right hand, which was holding the phone, began to tremble. She frowned, unable to understand what on earth was happening. "Is this what you mean by Lily teaching Laura a lesson? Laura's right arm is fractured, and there's a hole in her head! If I hadn't rushed back after seeing the news about the fire, she might have died on the pavement!"

“I adapted.” I stiffened. “Kieran,” I whispered urgently. “Stay quiet. Don’t let it isolate you.” “I’m here,” he replied faintly. The Architect continued speaking as if we had not interrupted. “You rely on mortal belief. You rely on emotional continuity. You assume it is stable.” My jaw tightened. “It is.” “Incorrect.” The word landed like a blade. “Human belief fluctuates,” the Architect said calmly. “Fear disrupts it. Doubt weakens it. Loss erodes it.”

Zelda stood frozen, unable to read or fully comprehend the scene unfolding before her. Susan was on the floor, clutching her stomach, tears streaming down her face as she looked up at Zelda with an accusatory glare. It was as if Zelda had committed some unforgivable sin, but all she had done was give Susan a reality check—a sharp slap that seemed to have shattered Susan’s carefully crafted illusion.

I wondered, my mind whirling in disbelief. As doubt and wonder swirled within me, a surreal thought crossed my mind. What if I was merely dreaming, and any moment now, someone would wake me from this dream I had no desire to leave behind? To confirm my reality, I pinched myself. Ouch! The pain was very much real. I blinked in astonishment, my voice momentarily failing me as I processed the whirlwind of emotions. I was utterly taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.

Each subtle expression and moment of hesitation crossed her face until it slowly transformed into what I hoped would be her acceptance. Complete silence filled the room with only the air conditioner's soft buzz and the faint paper rustling in her hands as background noise. Brayan remained stoic, a silent, watchful presence. Without uttering a word since she came into the room Carla had moved closer to me while her hand rested lightly against my arm in silent support. I kept reassuring myself that she would accept my deceit but felt a frozen and painful knot forming within me. All the intricate planning that spanned years depended on this exact moment. Each word and every movement from me ser