Off-beat Gems 💎
11 stories
The State v. Free Will by thecelinevoss
thecelinevoss
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By 2150, astrology is no longer a matter of belief. Birth charts determine where people live, whom they can marry, and what crimes they are statistically capable of committing. Digital tarot programs calculate the future with near-perfect accuracy, and the law treats their predictions as fact. Nia, an unlicensed Cancer chart reader surviving in the port city of Pisces, has learned to question what the official readings leave unsaid. When a frightened stranger's cards predict that he will commit murder before sunrise--and identify Nia as his victim--she discovers a second outcome hidden beneath the approved forecast. Someone is not merely predicting the future. They are arranging it. With the help of a mysterious Libra hacker, Nia is drawn into a conflict spanning all twelve zodiac territories. To survive, she must uncover who controls the predictions before the system turns her rebellion into proof that it was right about her all along.
Adam's Apple by LemonyFrank
LemonyFrank
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    Parts 10
A world where croaky voices, loud sneezing, and loose change falling out of pockets are considered laughable is not a man's world. But here we are. In this world, men undergo voice breaking once a month for several days due to a cyclical decline in testosterone levels. The associated prejudices mean that men are less likely to pursue public professions, with fewer than 20% of politicians, business leaders, or TV presenters being male. Beau wants to change that. His confidence grows when he is hired as a staff member on a presidential campaign that aims to make history by electing the first man to the highest office. A small step for Beau, a giant leap for mankind. Little does he know that his presence will ruin everything. PROMPT: Self-love often starts small, like planting a single seed. With time, patience and a bit of light, it will blossom.
A Covenant Of Flesh by KayLunaTitles
KayLunaTitles
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    Parts 40
She was meant to vanish. Every Terran knows what it means to be Chosen: you never come back. Lyra Sefu is no exception. Just another name on the Ascendance list, selected for the Virexari breeding program under the guise of a peaceful exchange. But when she's claimed by Kaelen Tharien, a hybrid royal engineered for control, something fractures. Even though he is genetic perfection, Kaelen cannot look away. Her defiance undermines his directives. Her scent rewrites his instincts. Her touch ruins protocol. And when their psychic imprint triggers a forbidden bond, their bodies become battlegrounds for history, obsession, and the remnants of a broken covenant no one dares speak of. She is the last human who should have survived. He is the last Virexari who should have surrendered. But the covenant is cracking. ⚠️ Overall Content Note: This book is dark low sci-fi romantasy with heavy exploration of trauma, consent, systemic abuse, and erotic power dynamics. Readers sensitive to sexual violence, coercion, or psychological trauma should be advised before engaging.
Nine Lives, One Home by JadeGreen88
JadeGreen88
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    Parts 12
The Stray Society have been living in the abandoned house next to The Coulee for years, making it their home and fiercely protecting it and each other. One day, an evil presence enters the home, threatening their very existence. Will The Stray Society be able to save their beloved home, or will everything they've come to know and love be destroyed, along with them?
Weekend in the Woods by JadeGreen88
JadeGreen88
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    Parts 1
What starts out as a fun, carefree outting in the woods suddenly takes a sinister turn into chaos, fear and confusion.
Prehistoric Wild: Life in the Mesozoic by ZacharyDow
ZacharyDow
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Step into a world lost to time with "Prehistoric Wild: Life in the Mesozoic," a captivating collection of short stories that transport you to the ancient past. Each tale unfolds in a different fossil formation around the globe. Gain a glimpse into unseen times in natural history from the healing world of the Triassic, the ecological bloom of the Jurassic, and the waning days of the Cretaceous. Explore worlds much different from our own such as the sea of middle North America, the wetlands of southern Mongolia, and the forests of the Antarctic. Meticulously researched and vividly imagined, these stories strive to capture the authenticity and wonder of life during the Mesozoic era. Written in a style inspired by nature documentaries, each story offers a realistic and immersive glimpse into the behaviors, struggles, and triumphs of a diverse array of creatures that once roamed our planet. Whether it's the famous dinosaurs, the sky-faring pterosaurs, the long-forgotten marine reptiles, or the earliest ancestors of mammals, this collection brings the ancient world to life with compelling accuracy. Drawing inspiration from modern-day natural phenomena as well as the latest theories and discoveries in paleontology, these tales blur the line between fact and fiction, reviving the distant echoes of prehistoric life. Join us on this journey through time, where the wonders of long ago await your discovery. Experience life on Earth as it once was for over 180 million years. Welcome to the Prehistoric Wild.
PRION by MettaurReef
MettaurReef
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Chronic Wasting Disease, aka 'Zombie Deer Disease', has been around for a long time, though efforts to contain it are relatively recent. Unlike other diseases; this isn't a virus or a bacteria, and it can contaminate an area for years. Normal medical procedures aren't able to fight this; and the worst part? It just made the jump to humans, and now its effects are accelerating...
Boredom by Taylorj182
Taylorj182
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    Parts 1
When someone is so wealthy that they've done everything most people only dream of, what keeps them entertained? We all have goals and aspirations to be and do more, but when you've done it all then its easy to lose interest in what life has to offer. That's when someone starts looking for things that money can't buy... or can it? Can money buy the opportunity to take someones life?