M. Ainihi is a dark fantasy and horror author residing in the Chicagoland area. She writes atmospheric fiction that explores psychological tension, grief, and the uncanny, centering on deeply human characters caught at the boundary of reality and nightmare. Her published works include novellas, a multi-book series, and short fiction, and have earned honors from New Apple, Literary Titan, and Readers’ Favorite.

Homework

Anxiously scribbling. It’s my duty to debate and scrutinize. This chore, this mission, they say holds great significance. Will I be a prosecutor or custodian? I need an A. I cannot B left behind. Don’t you C that after D they skip right by the E and go straight to Failure. My hands get sweaty as I divide my attention and multiply my time. My theorem is chaos. If I don’t get a break, I may crack beneath the gravity of the situation. It’s pulling me to my bed so that I can distribute my mass and energy evenly between the sheets. Toss and Turn Flip and Flop. I cannot surrender while it remains unfinished, or I will be washed up with the tide on my way to the bus…

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Visiting Family

The hours seem like days. Snow falling faster. Who drives through five states in December? Shivering, but not from cold. I hear the crunch of snow and ice. Each passing hour my heart beats faster. Crystalline flakes obscure the view. This turbulent journey will never end. Tires spin on a thin sheet of black glass. Inevitable collision. holding tightly, my eyes widen. Unknowingly, I hold my breath.
Nothing, not even a tap.
Breathing again, chest pounding, I can’t wait for this ride to be over.
At the end I swear I will never go again.
Until next December.

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The Red Moon

The Moon was full and red.
Silently she wept,
lying in her bed.
While her husband slept,
dreams playing in his head.
Stealthily she crept,
down to the shed.
A secret that she kept,
causing her dread.
With her hand she swept,
bullets not of lead.
Then a gun she prepped,
shaking in her stead.
Her fate she did accept,
it would not end until the wolf was bled.
Into the night she stepped,
her sanity hanging by a thread.
Her wits she did collect.
Her senses pepped,
her life she must protect.
She saw it up ahead.
At her the wolf leapt.
Now the thing was dead.

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Concealed Realms is an author blog and reading hub focusing on dark fantasy, horror, atmospheric storytelling, and creative reflections on writing fiction.

Blog By M Ainihi

A collection of dark fantasy and horror stories exploring the sinister consequences of human desire, psychological tension, and uncanny realms where every wish carries a hidden price.

Be Wary of Wishes Gone Awry:

Tales of Horror and Dark Fantasy

Book By M. Ainihi

You can also connect with M. Ainihi on:

X (Twitter) Bluesky Website

Text © M. Ainihi

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