BareLin: Stories

21-year-old twins, Kirsten and Duane, who share a close bond as they navigate university life together. Kirsten faces an unexpected turn of events that leads to her being stripped of clothing as part of her probation, causing her immense humiliation and vulnerability. Duane, her brother, supports her through this challenging time and encourages her to face her fears head-on.

Patricia’s friends were frustrated at how obsessed she had become with the legend of the Empirella Hotel. Many of the urban legends have some truth in them but this one was the most notable. The historical hotel was located in the Blue Ridge Mountains roughly 200 miles from my home of Freedom, Virginia.

Sophia Hanson, 14, faces the excitement and fear of starting high school without her older sister Maddie, who’s leaving for an exchange program in Kalvovia. Known for its minimalist lifestyle and philosophy of a “natural state of nothingness,” Kalvovia intrigues and unsettles Sophia. Maddie’s departure shatters Sophia’s hopes of relying on her for guidance, leaving her to navigate high school alone while grappling with the mystery and strangeness of her sister’s new adventure far away.

Almena, a confident 16-year-old cheerleader at Crestwood High, battles vestiphobia—fear of clothing. Unexpectedly becoming head cheerleader, she confronts public speaking fears and skin irritation anxieties. A pivotal moment occurs when she reveals her struggles to her parents, marking the start of her journey toward acceptance and seeking professional help for this complex condition.

Lara could not believe what she was about to do what she was about to do. Here she stood in the window of Dee Monde Ladies Salon, where she had worked since early October, waiting for the curtains blocking the window to rise and offer the street beyond the full view to the shop interior. It was the last week of the Holiday rush and Dee Monde sales had not done as well as forecast.

Ghosts in the Gym tells the story of Elysia Hawthorne, the cheer captain who leads her team under the chilling legacy of Keira Schneider, a former flier who died tragically at homecoming two decades ago. Every October, strange events—missing uniforms, flickering gym lights—signal Keira’s restless spirit. When Elysia’s team attempts Keira’s final routine, the ghostly happenings intensify, leading to a final tribute that brings peace.

Camille Wynter, suffocated by corporate life and hollow relationships, abandons everything to live naked and wild in Unbar Blackwood Reserve. Renaming herself Lena, she becomes one with the land—until Kelvin, a government consultant, arrives with plans to "restore" the reserve. Initially hostile, Lena teaches Kelvin the canyon’s rhythms, and he abandons bureaucracy to join her.

Nellie initially resists but soon internalizes the concept, transforming her nudity from a source of shame into an unassailable "armor." Zara's psychological conditioning extends to Nellie's day job as a leasing agent, her home life with her husband Pete, and even her most intimate biological functions. As Nellie surrenders her autonomy, she discovers the gallery's founders are permanently sealed in glass coffins, their sacrifice part of a perpetual artistic legacy. Pete's horror turns to a grim

The policy mandates that students participate in non-contact sports in gym class while nude, cheerleaders, marching band, and color guard perform nude at all events, and one week a month, all students must remain nude for regularly scheduled classes and events. Even mandatory community service must be done nude.

In a near-future dystopia, mail girl Athena and her silent, harnessed pony Santa are bound by permanent contracts and public use. After years of abuse, a chance for legislative change sparks a desperate fight for freedom, bodily autonomy, and the right to speak, love, and escape the collar that defines them.