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]]

In 2045, Psychwatch treats the mentally ill or cages them. Margo wants to bring empathy to every patient but a killer pushes her, and the system, to the limits ***** In a dark future, more than a third of the United States population suffers from mental illness and violent crime is on the rise. In response, Psychwatch is formed - an organization intended to combine mental healthcare and law enforcement - creating monitored areas and neglected ones known as the Psycho Slums. Margo Sandoval is the latest recruit to Psychwatch, bringing a new level of empathy to the controversial agency known for its unforgiving methods. Margo spends her days as an Empath treating everyone possible, until the arrival of a new serial killer upends her life and forces her to confront the evils of the human mind and the system that claims to be the solution.

2081. In a sinister world where human survival hinges on biotechnology, an oblivious sixteen-year-old possesses the one code to undo it all. Can she survive the devious world designed to eliminate anything - anyone - out of the ordinary before it's too late? Mia Love is nothing extraordinary. Just another teenager who wants to please her mother, make snide comments, and become an artist - if it's not too much to ask. But in her rigid, military world, she must do as everyone does; attend the stupid graduation camp that will assign her a boring job. One night, she wakes to a voice telling her to 'Get out. Run'. Moments later, in an eerie midnight camp gathering, she's trapped amid chaos -- bloodied and fighting for her life - when the harmless teens turns on one another; school against school, student against student. Mia survives with the help of her combat-trained best friend, Nate, only to be chased through the dangerous woods by the armed military. Her bio-nanotechnology chooses that moment to glitch, but Mia is determined to solve the mystery. Why on earth did the students turn on one another? Who warned her beforehand? How? If she can survive the night, she might find answers. *** WATTY 2021 SCI-FI WINNER. Featured on: - @action - Thriller [Content warning: This story contains themes of bullying and violence.]

Elyminai are rampant in Cyber City 354431. They hold no formal ties to any of the three gangs controlling the city, though they'll steal or kill for anyone for the right price. After her sister, Stellae, signed on to a CryoFuture project, testing the latest developments in prolonging human life, Sol assumed the alias Aurablade. While many Elyminai capture and sell the final breaths of their victims on the black market, Sol collects them for herself, using them to visit the underworld, where her sister's consciousness is supposed to dwell while she's in a state of suspended animation. Except after two years, Sol still has not found Stellae. Sol suspects there's more to The CryoFuture's project then they have revealed to the public. And she is determined to unmask it at all costs. Pronunciation: Elyminai: Elim-in-eye Sol: Soul Stellae: Stell-ay #ONC2024 61. Your new car just might be the doorway to the underworld, and it needs more than gas to run. ONC 2024 Shortlister Cover by @thatwomanlywoman321 Sticker by @SuVida777 Featured: @action & @sciencefiction

Jo has sacrificed everything to save her family. For two years, she has done whatever she is told, no questions asked. In return, her family and friends remain safe from the roving bands of gangs that now prowl the streets of what used to be America. After showing mercy during one of her assignments, she is given a guardian. A man sent to watch her and make sure she doesn't deviate from her orders again. A man she doesn't understand and refuses to obey. Her new assignment turns out to be much more complicated than any of her previous ones. In the process of executing her orders, she begins to learn some hard truths about herself. And, for the first time, she begins to question exactly who is giving her the assignments. And why. But Kerus is keeping secrets of his own. Sworn to not intervene, he finds himself breaking his promises as well. And soon, he must decide how far he is willing to go. And how much he is willing to trust Jo. For unbeknownst to her, the assignments are not what they seem. And the fate of their world may just rest on her success.

Noah Grey awakens to a world wiped clean by a global flood and reseeded with new life, but not all of it is good. When Noah wakes up on a space ark and discovers Earth has recovered from a global ocean, he meets Eve and learns about their mission to repopulate a planet where the reseeding didn't go according to plan. With Abraham guiding them from the space ark, they begin a new life safe in their habitat. They must come to terms with the relationship they are supposed to have and their growing attraction to each other. They also battle the overwhelming urge to venture outside and explore a world that is more vile than they could ever imagine. The temptation is real, one they can't deny or resist. Vile Planet Book One

In the future, everyone who's bitten by a zombie turns into one... until Diane doesn't. Seven days later, she's facing consequences she never imagined. * * * * * As civilization collapses under a relentless wave of zombies, Diane and her friends take shelter in a military base. However, while she's rescuing another survivor, Diane gets bitten by one of the monsters. She hides it and runs away, knowing she only has days left to live. But she soon discovers she isn't turning into a zombie - she's turning into something else. --------- Excerpt: I looked up and stared. My reflection looked back at me in the mirror of the dark room. My eyes were literally glowing, there was no mistaking it. It was not a reflection of light, or any of the other excuses I had used or others had assumed. They were glowing a light sapphire blue color. It was not a bright glow, but it was definitely a glow. Glowing eyes were not normal. Okay, at this point I had to admit it, I was no longer normal. What was I then? For that, I had no answer [[Word count: 495,000]] Copyright August 2016. All Rights Reserved. Readers may not copy, alter, or steal this story. Fanfictions are allowed to use my *world* and *zombie rules* as long as credit is given. Cover was lovingly made by JimenaVivancoo.

In which an introverted healer learns to deal with the greatest horrors of his life - socializing, dungeons, and psychopathic NPCs. Season 1 of Eliona's War *** Seth Veregin doesn't know the first thing about video games. But when he's gifted a beta copy of Eliona's War - a Virtual Reality online game that's the very first of its kind - he reluctantly gives it a try. Thus, Severance the healer is born. All he wants is to quietly explore on his own without having to deal with other people. Unfortunately for him, there's a few problems with that plan. Not only did he choose a class that's in high demand, but some players just won't take no for an answer. And the game NPCs? They definitely have a mind and an agenda of their own.

A young dream walker gifted with the ability to take over other people's bodies, becomes a spy and political assassin, venturing across worlds to save her realm from a devastating war brewing. Season 1 of The Skin Thief ***** Five Realms and two epic stories. Rowan Elliot is a dream walker; a being who can take over the body of another person. With her unique powers, Rowan becomes a spy and assassin for her government in the Second Realm. With the threat of war brewing, Rowan is sent on a dangerous mission to the futuristic, technologically advanced Fourth Realm. Every day she's at risk of capture, and any wrong move could mean her downfall. To make matters worse, she's been tasked with seducing a powerful and dangerous man - a man in charge of hunting down people like her. Kiora is a Winter Priestess. Carved from ice, she lives in her sacred temple with her beloved sisters in the Second Realm. That is until the Fool King of Orthanya comes for her and offers her up to the Dragon Emperor of the Fifth Realm as the newest wife for his harem. Kiora longs to be free, but with great dragons the size of cities at the emperor's command, she knows there is no chance she could ever leave. Not when he would hunt her down. So, the naïve priestess learns how to navigate the competitive political world she finds herself in. Soon, she discovers that power is a dangerous thing, and once you've had a taste for it, you can never let it go. WARNING: This story contains depictions of violence, torture, and sexual harassment. Reader discretion is advised.

A young woman must compete in a deadly televised competition, Grimm Games, to ensure her twin sister survives. Season 1 of Grimm Games ***** When twenty-year-old social activist Kam Wendall discovers her name among the contestants of the deadly television competition Grimm Games, she's stunned to realize her estranged twin sister, Millie, has stolen her identity to compete. Determined to save her sister, Kam enters the contest. At a secret and isolated location, they compete against others through nightmarish sets, perilous escape rooms, and sinister puzzles, and must outsmart the sadistic Grimm entities stalking them. Amidst the twisted challenges, can Kam and Millie rebuild their fractured trust all while evading the diabolical forces at play? And would even that be enough to help them survive the Grimm Games and emerge victorious? *** "Oh, I understand." I didn't blink as I spoke. "But the only way I'm ever stepping foot inside your set is if you force me." "Our contestants are volunteers," Ms. Holle went on. "We've always run the games that way and forever will. We're not accustomed to forcing anyone to partake, and that opportunity will be extended to you too."