Bloody mannequins have been found in various parts of the city of Los Angeles; all dressed in the clothes of missing women, and wearing flower crowns. No bodies have been found, but Homicide Detective, Adrian DeWitt, is the lead investigator on the case. The Doll Collector, is a lonely man, who stalks his victims before luring them to his cabin in the woods, where he murders and stuffs them like animals. He turns them into beautifully dressed dolls he keeps in his private collection. They're his life, his young ladies, his most prized possessions. Maria Gonzalez is a young girl down on her luck in the dating world. When her best friend convinces her to join a dating app, just as she's about to give up, she meets a mysterious man named Bud. Their paths are about to cross in the worst way. Based on the original, 2017 Watty Award Winning Tap story! Image credit: Getty Images Originally Published June 11th, 2017 Originally Finished October 13th, 2017 This story is being reposted after being taken down due to being plagiarized too much.

A Paranormal Thriller Psychology professor Denton Reed has been pulled out of the classroom to find a killer. Bodies are turning up all over the quiet town of Bexhill. They are found dismembered and burned beyond recognition in a snow covered farmer's field, by the abandoned mill, and under the train bridge. The only clue linking the victims is the bizarre figure-eight patterns left behind in their homes. Denton must use his unique profiling techniques to uncover the murderer, who the police have dubbed Mr. 8. As he begins to unravel the mystery, a strange pattern begins to emerge. Before their deaths, each victim was seized by dark obsessions and inexplicable changes in behavior. Whatever strange forces are affecting the people of Bexhill, they may actually be more dangerous than any killer. As a wave of insanity sweeps the town, Denton will put his life on the line to get to the source of the madness and risk all to protect the woman he loves. But is it already too late? [Rated PG-13 For scenes of violence and strong language] *Cover art by Donald Cronkhite. Best RankingMay 12, 2014 - #1 Mystery/Thriller, #2 Horror