After escaping a stalled elevator into a zombie apocalypse, Emily must learn how to trust people again or risk losing everything in this terrifying world. ***** For Emily, every day of the last two years have been a blur. She keeps her head down, takes her college courses online, and only goes out to work at her mandatory internship. But all that changes on the day the office elevator breaks down, leaving her trapped when the screams begin. And when the doors finally open, revealing a dystopian world ruined by bloody teeth and disease, Emily is launched into a terrifying run for her life, caught between the strangers she's not sure she can trust and the man-eating monsters that hunger for her flesh. Now she must learn not only how to survive in this new and dangerous world, but also how to overcome her own inner demons before they cost her something more precious than her life. [[Wattys' Shortlist]] [[Promoted by AMC]] Content and/or Trigger Warning: The story contains some gore, violence, strong language, and dark themes. [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]

"You like it, don't you?" "What?" I managed to breathe. "The fear, Miss Night," he mused, "you crave it." _______________________________________ Sabina Night owes Antonio Marafi her life. But when he asks her to spy on the Russo crime family, Sabina starts to wonder if maybe her debt is too high of a cost. Gio Russo: ruthless, handsome, and intelligent. Too intelligent. He knows that Sabina's hiding something. But what is that worth when he can't seem to stay away from her? He's about to find out. ________________________________________ **Updated Weekly** **Mature Themes**

The year is 1950, when the Golden Age of Hollywood is at its peak and the hate of Communism is rampant in American society. Caught in the middle, are two unexpected lovers..... She is a wickedly handsome seductress with a tragic past and a hunger for fame in the Golden Age of Hollywood. In her pursuit of fame, she has lost her identity behind the mask of something she is not. He is an acclaimed screenwriter with a secret allegiance to a Communist spy ring and a guilty pleasure for duplicitous women. Through tragedy, scandal, and betrayal, how will their love story come to be?

Willing to risk her life, a seasoned soldier recruits a vengeful goddess to fight a war of the future. *** When UN Army Captain Akira Dunn is sent to investigate an outlandish legend, she doesn't question her orders. Realistically, she knows it's impossible that a goddess lives among them; even less likely is that said immortal is dead set on destroying the world's greatest enemy, Verus Rex. So when myth becomes reality, and she finds herself face to face with the goddess Danya, Akira begins to feel something she had forgotten over the last fourteen years of war: hope. Unfortunately, Concordia is far from an easy opponent, and the country in the sky seemingly takes pride in destroying the world beneath them. Danya's defiant personality, coupled with her sporadic outbursts of anger, doesn't help either, and it's Akira's job to keep the temperamental goddess in line. But Akira refuses to let that stop her. For the sake of their future, and for those that no longer have one, Akira intends to do whatever it takes to end the war once and for all. *** WARNING: This story contains depictions of suicide and violence that may not be suitable for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Falling into the fiery hell she created must've been the perfect way for her to die. The other woman would then become the heroine that saved the town's people from the mad queen that burnt half of the population down and the duke would become the hero that protected the heroine. They would then be wed and have little children. They would live happily in the new world that they would create after vanquishing the evil queen. They would then lead the people unto a prosperous era of peace. Just... Where?... Where did I go wrong? When I am reborn, will you please give me a simple life?

Maya, an innocent nurse, finds herself forced to accept protection from the Phantoms motorcycle gang, specifically the dangerous, irresistible biker, Jake Ford. ***** Maya has a normal life and a normal boyfriend, Sebastian. But one day she drops off a letter to a prison for a patient under her care, and finds herself being watched over by a dangerous, handsome biker. It turns out Maya is under the protection of Jake Ford, and despite her feelings for Sebastian, she can't resist the pull of Jake's strong arms, dark looks and chequered past. Soon criminals are coming after her, and Jake is the only one who can keep her safe. Will Maya hide behind her good-girl reputation, or let go and lose herself in the passionate world of Jake Ford? Content and/or trigger warning: This story contains scenes of violence and sexual activity, which may be triggering for some readers. [[word count: 150,000-200,000 words]] Cover designer: Ren T. Photographer: Michelle Lancaster Model: Jaxon Human

So how do you meet a killer, or in my case, a serial killer? You would think that I would meet him in a darkened alleyway, or perhaps on a hike through the forest as I unwillingly stumbled upon his bloody dumping grounds. That would make for an adrenaline-filled start to our story, our dance of death, but that's not how it happened at all. No, I met my killer where a lot of people meet these days. And no it wasn't on tinder or with any of those other damned dating apps. He wasn't that kind of serial killer. No, I met him at the local grocery store, I met him at my place of work. Just my luck right? Some would call it destiny, but in all honesty it was all just a throw of a dice, and a late night shift at work that needed to be filled. Warning: This twisted story is not intended for a younger audience. It will contain violence, sex, foul language, death, mind games, and so on. Stop reading if you are easily triggered by such things.

*Wattys 2018 Winner / Hidden Gems* CREATE YOUR OWN MR. RIGHT Weeks before Valentine's, seventeen-year-old Kate Lapuz goes through her first ever breakup, but soon she stumbles upon a mysterious new app called My Dream Boyfriend, an AI chatbot that has the ability to understand human feelings. Casually, she participates in the app's trial run but finds herself immersed in the empathic conversations with her customizable virtual boyfriend, Ecto. In a society both connected and alienated by technology, Kate suspects an actual secret admirer is behind Ecto. Could it be the work of the techie student council president Dion or has Kate really found her soulmate in bits of computer code? She decides to get to the bottom of the cutting-edge app. Her search for Ecto's real identity leads Kate to prom, where absolute knowledge comes with a very steep price.

When Cory's father suddenly dies his entire perfect world is torn apart. Gone is the loving mother, doting sister, lovely house, and the huge allowance. In stead Cory needs to deal with the bank auctioning off the home he gave his first steps in, a illness that befalls his little sister, and the depression that's eating his mother alive. Just as it can't get any worse, Patrick with the golden-brown eyes, the infectious laugh, and the rich life finally shows interest in Cory. The thing that Cory believed would have made his once almost-perfect world completely perfect now becomes his biggest fear as he tries to keep his new life a secret. With juggling his depression, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm; Cory just doesn't know if the boy with the infectious laugh has a place in his life anymore. "Out in the Wind" is not just the story of a teen who is forced to grow up sooner than any kid should. It is also a real story that happens to lots of people around the world on the daily. This is a story full of tears, sadness, hope, loss, faith, and love. Note: This story contains affection between two male characters. If that in any way offends you, please refrain from reading. This story may also have triggers for depression, self-harm, and suicide.

**1ST PLACE FEATURED IN HORROR 8-31** Alzar's mind wasn't the only thing that was falling apart. ---- After an emotional outburst lands him in the principal's office, Alzar Lorne forced into a series of in-depth sessions with the school's new counselor, Miss 'Fancy' Hastur. However, with each meeting, Alzar's anxieties only seem to worsen, and he can't shake the feeling that something is off with Miss Fancy. He couldn't be more right.